Community

TheReview

Telephone reassurance program helps elderly

by Glenn Werkman
The Review

Six weeks of training is over and
a team of volunteers is ready to
help the lonely in the Saanich
Peninsula community. ©

At a graduation ceremony
Thursday, 11 volunteers received
certificates from Victoria Geronto-
logy Association president Murray
Halkett.

“Tt really is astonishing that so
much can be achieved by people
such as yourselves,” Halkett said
in making the presentations.

Seniors Visiting Program direc-

tor Jane Abramson told volunteers
it isn’t going to be easy but with
the training they have received,
volunteers have the ability to tum
visiting into a pleasant expemence
for clients and volunteers alike.

The program, organized in asso-
ciation with the Mt. Newton
Centre and the Peninsula Com-
munity Association, is designed to
help curb loneliness.

Volunteer Muriel Nesbitt, a
valedictorian, can see the day
when she will be a client.

“T like driving my car, ve been
doing it for 50-60 years now, but
the time is coming soon when I

can’t drive anymore.

“Eventually that will mean I
will have to leave my darling little
house and go into an apartment.
Now I will be able to go into
people’s homes (for visits). Thank
you for getting me into the pro-
gram,’ Nesbitt said.

At the PCA, co-ordinator Donna
Godwin said the program will
begin as a telephone reassurance
program, where volunteers call
those in need from a list to offer
companionship and conversation.

Volunteers, with an average age

group themselves and benefit from
helping others, she said.

Interested people can call the
PCA or Mt. Newton Centre for
information on becoming a client
or a volunteer

READY TO TALK and be a
friend to shut-ins and the
lonely is PCA volunteer
Muriel Campbell, a former
volunteer office worker
who just graduated from
the Seniors Visiting Pro-
gram.

Wednesday, January 23, 1991

of 65-70 years, have a support

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