Several workshops and programs were held throughout the week at the Veiner Centre as staff and volunteers work to support seniors during Mental Health Week.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
bmiller@medicinehatnews.com
In an effort to support seniors dealing with mental health issues and to raise awareness around the mental health of those over 50, volunteers at the Unison Veiner Centre held a variety of programs aimed at assisting seniors with information of the risks of self isolation.
The nonprofit’s president told the News it’s vital the Veiner Centre is able to offer several programs for free, as rising costs of housing and inflation for fixed-pension seniors can make it difficult to purchase an annual membership.
This year the annual cost of memberships has increased by $30 as the Veiner Centre has had to tighten its operating budget due to less than anticipated community support and higher than expected operating costs.
“We definitely don’t want people to feel like, There’s nothing for me if I can’t afford it.’ explains Larry Mathieson, president and CEO Unison Veiner Centre. “I mean, there’s activities and there’s workshops and so on that go on all month that are at no cost.”
Mathieson says the Unison’s website is designed to clearly mark all free programming and events offered at the Medicine Hat location.
He encourages all members and non-members to register and participate in the activities that typically enrich social engagement and well-being among seniors.
“Most of our support groups, there’s no fee,” says Mathieson. “We have workshops that are free and people can just either look at our website, or check the registration.
“The volunteers are also good at posting (paper signs) all around the centre as to what’s coming.”
Workshops and programs this week were focused on reducing the risk of seniors becoming isolated, which can have a variety of negative mental and physical health outcomes, by partnering with behavioural specialists who have been on location to provide meets and sessions with seniors.
However, in a softer approach, the Veiner Centre also offers a pet therapy program.
“I think that most seniors that participate in a pet therapy program don’t actively think, ‘I’m improving my mental health,’ but in reality it is one of the more fun strategies,” says Mathieson.
Part of the centre’s overall holistic approach, explains Mathieson, is the support and partnership between the Veiner Centre and groups like the Alzheimer’s Society and Parkinson Canada.
The Veiner Centre is reaching out to businesses and members of the community to assist in reaching a fundraising goal of $130,000 to ensure these kinds of workshops and programs can continue.
Donations can be made in person or online. Online donations to directly support the Veiner Centre in Medicine Hat can be made at unisonalberta.com/donate, and click the orange ‘donate to Veiner Centre’ tab.
