ELDERLY

To benefit from our services and activities, one must be a member or be registered.  This is a $10. annual fee.  This membership also gives you the privilege of discounts on courses.  Go to our membership fee page to register on-line.

We provide the following services to support our elderly:

• Accompaniment for medical appointments
• Explanation of correspondence, filling out forms and applications
• Friendly visits or calls
• Courses
• Social and recreational activities
• Preventing senior mistreatment

ACCOMPANIMENT FOR MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS

If you or a loved one are experiencing mobility problems or have difficulty expressing yourself in either French or English, contact us to book an accompaniment appointment.  We have a small group of volunteers who speak English and or French who can accompany you to a medical appointment or who help with groceries during the winter season, some drive, some accompany on public transportation. We require two weeks notice for this service.

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EXPLANATION OF CORRESPONDENCE, FILLING OUT FORMS AND APPLICATIONS

We speak, read and write your language. We can translate or explain the content of any document or letter, help you fill out an application  in either English, Greek or French.

If you would like us to assist you in order to communicate on your behalf with the government about your pension, or your bank or your utility company concerning your latest bill or another problem, we can do this if you have authorised us to do so and are with us when the call is being made.

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FRIENDLY VISITS OR CALLS 

With the help of our volunteers, our service offers friendly visits or telephone calls to elderly who live alone.  The Elderly person can be in a  residence or living at home. This service is operated by volunteers who are willing to listen and to make a new friend. Advance notice is required in order to make the appropriate arrangements.

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COURSES

PIED PROGRAM FOR SENIORS

EXERCISE PROGRAM

COMPUTER PROGRAM

CREP- FRENCH PROGRAM


SOCIAL & RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES

It is important to remain socially active.  Many of our clients who join our social activities make friends in the process. Besides our courses that are offered on a regular basis, our service offers the occasional outing to the sugar shack or to a museum, party or other fun activity.   Visit our upcoming events section to or contact us for more information or to provide you with suggestions.

Refer to our latest Annual Activity Report to learn about what social and recreational activities we organised in the last year and how many clients benefited.


PREVENTING SENIOR MISTREATMENT

Our service usually holds one information session of senior mistreatment, usually on June 15th which is the Annual World Elder Awareness Day.  There are six forms of abuse and abusers are usually caregivers who are paid (at home or in an institution) or natural caregivers (family members).  We are available to accompany and to counsel seniors who have been mistreated so that they can receive the appropriate help and support.  Below we have outlined the six forms of senior mistreatment:

  •  PHYSICAL ABUSE
    • Pushing, shaking, biting, hitting
    • Restraining or confining a person
    • Under or over medicating to facilitate treatment
    Signs and symptoms of physical abuse:
    • Unexplained injuries such as fractures, bruises, cuts
    • Fear, anxiety, anger

2.  SEXUAL ABUSE
• Sexual harassment, forced intercourse (without consent)
• Intimately touching a senior
• Exhibitionism
Signs and symptom of sexual abuse:
• Pain in the genital area
• Sudden and exaggerated need of privacy

3.  PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE
• Insulting, threatening, humiliating, ignoring
• Treating the person like a child
• Isolating the senior  their friends, family or usual activities
Signs and symptoms of psychological abuse:
• Anxiety, fear, shame
• Depression
• Isolation

4.  FINANCIAL ABUSE OR FRAUD
• Misusing/stealing a senior’s property or money
• Cashing a person’s cheques without authorisation
Signs and symptoms of financial abuse:
• Excessive difference between standard of living and incomes
• Delinquent account

5.  NEGLECT
• Withholding care or medical attention (institutional or by caregiver)
• Not providing food, liquid, proper clothing or proper hygiene
Signs and symptoms of neglect:
• Substandard housing, malnutrition, lack of proper clothing
• Irregular medical follow-up

6.  VIOLATION OF RIGHTS
• Denying a person privacy/intimacy
• Restricting a person’s freedom
• Withholding information.
Signs and symptoms of rights violation:
• Incapacity to choose one’s living environment, to receive visitors, to express oneself
• Disrespect of a person’s intimate and private life


Many seniors who are mistreated are very hesitant about coming forth, because the abusers are usually family members and they do not want to create trouble for the family member or themselves (The senior could have transferred ownership of their house to their offspring while still living together and therefore the senior is no longer owner of their house).   If you, or a relative or friend is being mistreated,  contact us  or the Quebec senior mistreatment telephone service 1-888-489-ABUS (2287).