Volunteers conducting wellness visits with seniors
The Canadian Red Cross is partnering with the City of Ottawa to conduct wellness visits as part of the city’s emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Volunteers with the Red Cross are knocking on doors in Ottawa Community Housing buildings across the city to check on seniors who may be isolated and require assistance. Ottawa Community Housing workers have been reaching out to thousands of their tenants through phone calls. When they can’t reach a resident, that’s where the Canadian Red Cross comes in.
In teams of two, Red Cross volunteers are checking on pre-identified residents and residences and carrying out assessments to see how the residents are managing. In the first week of outreach, CRC volunteers visited more than 330 units by going door-to-door and checking with residents to determine if they require assistance or support.
Eighty percent of residents spoke to a Red Cross volunteer, and the volunteers were able to flag individuals who needed additional support. Whether they’re running low on food, need medication or medical support, volunteers connect with city staff for follow up and ensure that no one falls through the cracks.
Seniors in community housing are especially vulnerable at this time, as many are isolated or have underlying medical conditions. This makes it unsafe for them to get out to get groceries or their medications. Many have stopped going outside due to the risk of COVID-19, so the additional support and in-person visits from the Red Cross are helping to ensure their basic needs are met.
Overall, the seniors appreciated the visits and the opportunity to speak with someone. Some residents don’t have internet or phone service, making it difficult to reach them. The in-person wellness visits are key to ensuring that people’s needs are being taken care of while making the personal connection that many had been missing.
Shari DeJong, one of the Red Cross volunteers going door-to-door, said, “We were making people’s days; some of [the seniors] hadn’t seen anyone in many weeks. If they wanted to talk, we stayed and we listened. We want to know how they’re doing and let us know what is going on in their lives.”
This outreach was initially focused in community housing across the City of Ottawa and has now extended to neighbourhoods with high numbers of vulnerable, isolated seniors. The Red Cross is proud to be partnering with the City to ensure all residents are healthy and safe.