ie ne Bax EEA Me 28 aE COMBA TING ISOLATION WITHIN COMMUNITY liness program would enefit N. Shore seniors This is the third in a Series of articles to appear on the Lifestyles front Sundays on the work being done by the North Shore Seniors’ Services Providers Forum in initiating coordinated community action in the care of the elderly. MARY B., 76, has an apartment in a seniors’ compiex. She doesn’t know any of the other residents. She usually eats just soup or toast although her doctor has given her a diet. She doesn’t like shopping in this neighborhood, no one knows her. More and more she stays in her apartment. There are many seniors like Mary in the community. They live independently, but they can become withdrawn and _ isolaied and: their physical and emotional health deteriorates. Often, the sit- vation goes unnoticed until a crisis occurs that leads to hospital or an institution. . ‘s.Gail -Kinloch, associate nurse coordinator .of ‘the North Shore’s Long Term Care Program on the North: Shore, is one of the people who became involved in the crisis. - She thinks a preventive health promotion program known as Seniors Weliness.could avert many crisis :situations .by helping seniors maintain a. good. level: of physical. health and emotional well- -being. She is pleased that the North - Shore Seniors’ Services Providers Forum has made Seniors Wellness Programs, coordinated by a. paid health professional, a priority. rec- ommendation in its Action Plan. The coordinator, probably a community health nurse based in a centrally located seniors centre, would work with seniors groups anda icpresentative committee as well as service” providers: and vo unteers to prioritize needs. and set . - up programs. She would: hold reg-.. ular health clinics and:arrange for experts such as nutritionists to talk to groups. . A. Seniors Wellness. Program might include a hot lunch: pro- Unico 100% Sunflower Oll SAVE 50° LIMIT 2 PER COUPON Expires Apri! 30/87 Unico Assorted Pasta 900 g. SAVE 20¢ LIMIT 4 PER COUPON Expires April 30/87 ete Relel aleie nade anal | a 8 a 4 : “@ Unico Whole or ' Unico ! crushed Tomatoes 4 Red Kidney Beans ' . 28 02. ' 19 02. ' SAVE 20° ‘ SAVE20° , LIMIT 4 PER COUPON ‘ LIMIT 4 PER COUPON ' Expires April 30/87 \ Expires April 36/87 ' H aaa haat | unico Marinated i Unico Tomato Paste ‘ Artichokes ’ - BY OF t 6 oz Jar a SAVE 206 : ¢ SAVE 20 & ON 2 TINS \ LIMIT 4 PER COUPON LIMIT 4 PER COUPON ' Expires April 30/87 ' Expires April 30/87 i a er eee ee ed | ' program — . JO DUNAWAY Con gram, exercise classes and counselling. Mary’s life could be much improved if there were hot lunches at a nearby seniors centre and someone to encourage her to attend. A Good Morning Program, where complex residents place tags on their doorknobs each morning so that fellow residents know that they are al] right, is another exam- ple of a safety net of seniors help- ing seniors. A telephone-tree can serve the same purpose for a group who does not live in the* same building. Some of these activities take place now on the North Shore — . at least one centre has a hot lunch but coordination would’ make them available to more seniors. For exainple, the West Vancouver Cardiac Program, in which nurses visit homes, could greatly. increase the number of people served by providing the __ program in‘a group setting. Successful Senior Wellness Pro- grams. are underway in New Westminster and in a large Van- -couver high rise that houses more . than 600 seniors. The two pro- grams are very different, says Kinloch, and that very difference is their value. ro Ser ee ere ee ‘Seniors Wellness must be operated by and for seniors and respond to specific needs identified by them,” says Kinloch. ‘‘Each Wellness Program is unique to its community and the seniors themselves are trained to operate ine programs they decide are need- ed.’’ Peer counselling for health issues and personal concerns such as bereavement is very successful, says Kinloch: ‘‘Advice is always more acceptable from someone who has shared experience. The seniors are trained by the coor- dinator who is always available to provide professional backup.”’ A Seniors Wellness Program is cost-effective, Kinloch points out. It would require a coordinator, but programs operated by the seniors themselves would be eligible for federal New Horizons funds. Ser- vice groups could also be ap- proached for help. The goal is an effective, efficient network of programs and services directed by the people they serve. The payoff is more seniors able to live more productive and enjoyable lives in their communities for a longer time. The North Shore Seniors’ Ser- vices Providers Forum wants your .comments and ideas. To obtain a summary of the Position Paper and Questionnaire call 986-7111, 988-3131 or 984-9511. North Shore residents are invited ‘to participate || in a call-in program to’ disciiss’ issues concerning to- day’s seniors with a panel of ex- perts, Thursday, April 2, 7 to 8 p.m., Shaw. Cable 4. The show will be re-broadcasted April 3, 9:30 : p.m. and April $, 6 p.m. i * North & West Vancouver Stores Only Su- oa gu gecccncoocuobosexcneaKL ALL REGULARLY PRICED MEMBERSHIPS FACILITIES & SERVICES EXCLUSIVELY FOR WOMEN © MODERN WEIGHT TRAINING EQUIP. © PROGRAMS FOR TONING, TRAINING & BODY SHAPING * AEROBIC CLASSES 2 * NO-BOUNCE AEROBICS * CUSHIONED WOOD FLOOR © FREE-WEICHTS ° WHIRLPOOL * SAUNA © PRIVATE SHOWERS * INDIVIDUAL LOCKERS © LIFECYLCE AND FAN BIKES « PRIVATE DRESSING BOOTHS # OVER 400 CLUBS ACROSS NO. AMERICA * AND MUCH. MUCH MORE! NEW ADULT PATRONS ONLY North Vancouver | 980-5635: Ga aa Marine Drive ‘GduuddooOOOoOoOoOIo 35 - Sunday, March 22, 1987 - North Shore News HEWS photo Stuart ‘Davis GAIL KINLOCH, associated nurse coordinator of the Long Term Care Program watches as Bernadette Boydell serves Joe Arduini lunch at the North Shore institution. Mtonien