Lolcs_community_support

Jeff Green | Apr 20, 2006

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Land o' Lakes CommunityServices:Community Support Program

byCheryl Hartwick

The Community Support Program (CSP) is the largest of the programs offered from LOLCS, providing a variety of support services to seniors, people with disabilities and people recovering from illness/surgery. Funding is through the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, and community donations. The service focuses on ensuring seniors remain in their homes longer. The CSP partners with Community Care Access Centre, Pine Meadow Nursing Home, local physicians and other agencies to ensure adequate health care services are accessible to everyone.

There are three coordinators for various programs. Marlene Dacuk coordinates Meals on Wheels and Transportation; Charlene Behnke-Kellar coordinates Meals on Wheels, Diners Club and Exercise classes in Denbigh; and Pam Lemke coordinates Adult Drop-In, Caregiver Support & Counselling, Palliative Care, Education & Training, Friendly Visiting & Telephone Reassurance and Social Recreation. Volunteer Peggy Rahm coordinates the Community Bus and Tuesday night Euchres.

Meals on Wheels are provided to Cloyne, Northbrook , Flinton, Kaladar, Denbigh and surrounding areas. Individuals can order meals regularly or just for a treat now and then. The meals in Denbigh are prepared by the Swiss Inn. On average there are 12 meals each week delivered by two volunteer drivers and Charlene. Currently, the cost for a meal is $5.50 in Denbigh and $5 in Cloyne area.

In Cloyne, volunteer cooks plan and prepare all the meals at the Barrie Township Hall. The cooks inform Marlene what they will be cooking and she prepares a six week menu for the clients. Working in teams, pairs or individually, 12 cooks volunteer their time on a rotating schedule. Approximately 40 meals are delivered each week by three volunteer drivers and Marlene; there have been as many as 70 meals prepared and frozen meals are also available.

The transportation program currently has nine volunteer drivers providing trips to appointments, shopping, and to various social activities. Approximately 40 trips are provided each month, both locally and to urban centres. Clients who qualify for the program pay a small fee for service. The cost to these clients is currently .20/km. (LOLCS makes up the difference to the drivers). Veterans or people on other programs may qualify for the service to be paid for by the other organization (Veteran’s Affairs, ODSP…).

Another popular program, Diners’ Club, in Denbigh, serves a hot nutritious meal to participants. The Diners’ Club is on the first Monday of each month at the Denbigh Hall and all meals are planned and prepared by volunteers. There are 5 volunteers for this program and they all pitch in, sharing jobs to ensure that meals and clean up are looked after. Approximately 40 meals are prepared each month. Charlene also provides an exercise group each week in the Denbigh United Church basement; the class is every Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.

Due to space limitations, I will continue the Community Support Program information next week. If you are interested in any of the programs, or in becoming a volunteer for the agency, please call LOLCS at 613-336-8934.