Seniors in isolation in Osoyoos now have access to a new support line. (Pixabay)
Sophie Gray
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Seniors in Osoyoos and surrounding communities are now be able to access the 211 seniors support line to aid them during their self-isolation. The feature, which has been in practice in the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island previously, received provincial funding to expand its reach on Thursday, March 26. The services offered have also been expanded under the new funding to include grocery delivery, prescription pick ups or virtual visits for seniors feeling lonely at this time.
The expansion of the 211 senior’s line is intended to centralize volunteers and those in need in. The idea, said provincial Seniors Advocate Isobel McKenzie, is to have one phone line and web portal to streamline the process of matching volunteers with seniors in their community that need help.
“We thought we have to find a way to put together the people that want to help with the people that need to help,” said McKenzie. “And the simplest thing we know is if you give somebody a 3 digit number and get it out there people will call us.”
The line functions using what McKenzie calls a “hub and spokes model.” This means a senior or volunteer can call 211 to speak to an operator, who will note down their location and reason for calling. That operator will then contact one of 68 Better at Home community agencies in the province that deals with the area where the caller is located, who take over the process from there.
McKenzie said in Osoyoos, for example, a call would be directed to One Sky Community Resources in Penticton who would then match seniors up with a volunteer in Osoyoos or pass the call on to Desert Sun Resource Centre to do the same.
The result, said McKenzie, is a network of volunteers matched up with seniors in their home communities to help fulfill their needs. McKenzie stressed the importance of helping these seniors who are living on their own to minimize their need to leave their homes. This service will provide a volunteer to do this, to avoid those in the high risk categories from contacting Covid-19.
“If this was a crisis that was going to last three or four days, we probably wouldn’t have to do all this,” said McKenzie. “But I think we’re going to find the ‘don’t go out’ is going to be in place for four more weeks given what we want to see happening.”
The expanded service is already seeing a large increase in volume, which McKenzie said she believes will peak next week. She asked that people be patient as her and the team behind the 211 line work out the kinks as they arise.
If you are a senior needing assistance or lonely from isolation, you can call 211 to access services. Volunteers are also encouraged to call the line if they wish to sign up.
