By Mike Renzella
The Haldimand Press
HALDIMAND—June is Senior’s Month, and Haldimand Norfolk Community Senior Support Services (HNCSSS) is hoping to solve growing staffing issues that continue to negatively impact operations. HNCSSS will be hosting open houses across the county on June 17 from 1:30-4:30 p.m. to give people a peek behind-the-scenes at how these critical operations function.
“Where would we be without all that our seniors have done for us in our own families and our community? They offer a unique level of experience and legacy that needs to be appreciated and from which we can learn so much,” said Leila Thompson, Program Manager, Caledonia/Cayuga/Hagersville area, and Suzy Duncan, Adult Day Program Manager, in a statement to The Press.
The open houses will take place simultaneously at all HNCSSS locations. The statement describes the events as a chance to “stop in and see our offices, and in areas that have Adult Day Programs (ADPs), to see how these programs operate.”
Participants will be able to speak with staff and learn about the various volunteer-based and paid job opportunities currently available. According to Thompson and Duncan, staffing has been an issue for a while, with the pandemic further compounding the problem.
“During the pandemic there was a reduction in our service levels as many clients had virtual appointments and family may have been not working and able to help their seniors more. As well, pandemic gathering restrictions limited the numbers in our Adult Day Programs and other congregate events we hold, like our monthly Diner’s clubs. Now that we are seeing an increased demand, the staffing pressures are felt even more.”
HNCSSS currently has six wheelchair accessible vans, but not enough drivers to operate them on a regular basis: “We are regularly having to tell clients requiring important medical appointments that we are not able to provide the service. It is of course frustrating and troublesome for our clients,” they said, adding that other available options, such as taxis, can be difficult for a client on a fixed income to afford.
ADPs have also been limited due to a lack of staffing, despite the client demand for the service. The statement said the organization has tried various forms of advertising, word-of-mouth requests, and asking current volunteers and clients for suggestions, but have yet to fill the available spots.
The pair described the ideal candidate for the driver position as “a people person who enjoys working with seniors and knows the Haldimand-Norfolk area. There is no need for a special license to drive the van – a class G license is all that is required. Of course, we are looking for safe drivers who can respect the needs of our clients and who have a positive attitude when faced with keeping to a driving schedule…. The job really suits a retired person who wants to work a couple of days a week and who really wants to help people in their community.”
HNCSSS has also been hoping to attract new graduates in the fields of Therapeutic Recreation and Personal Support Worker for their Adult Day Programs.
“The ideal employee would have a passion for working with people in a fun, social, and inclusive environment. We are looking for individuals who have dynamic and enthusiastic personalities, as well as some experience working with people with varying abilities,” said the statement.
Although COVID impacted operations, ADPs offer critical services to the community, including dementia-specific programming and an integrated program: “Our ADP exists to give people a fun and social place to belong. We also help caregivers by providing valuable respite so they too can take care of themselves.”
The pair laid out some of the challenges the program is facing due to a lack of adequate staffing.
“We have more clients that want to attend, but we are still operating as we did during the height of the pandemic,” they explained. “This means that we are seeing longer waitlists, clients only being able to attend one day a week and waiting for a second or third.”
The pair concluded their statement with a call-to-action for the community: “Senior Support has been serving the needs of seniors and adults with disabilities in Haldimand and Norfolk for over 25 years. We have a dedicated staff and volunteer team who go above and beyond to help our clients and it is truly devastating to be in a position where we cannot help our clients. We hope that there are community minded individuals that are interested in becoming a volunteer or in a paid position as a van driver or to support our clients by working in the Adult Day Program.”
To take part in an open house and learn more, you can visit the Caledonia location at the Riverside Exhibition Centre, in Dunnville at 111 Broad St. E., or in Hagersville at 73 Parkview Road.
To learn more about HNCSSS and the various opportunities to get involved, visit seniorsupport.ca.
