HELP AVAILABLE FOR THOSE FEELING ISOLATED

being isolated.

Papaioannou said seniors who are socially isolated are also more likely to be less active and more likely to suffer a fall.

Her advice to seniors feeling socially isolated is to get moving, go for a 10minute walk each day and take advantage of local programs them.

Support programs include the GERAS Centre for Aging Research that offers several free programs including dancing for cognition and exercise to older adults at the YMCA Hamilton Burlington Brantford once COVID restrictions are lifted.

The centre can be contacted

available

to at 905-521-2100 ext. 12437.

There is also the Mac Phone-A-Friend program where volunteer McMaster University students are paired with seniors.

The students make regular phone checks and offer support and friendship.

For more information, contact MacSeniorIsolationPrevention@gmail.com.

General information about programs aimed at reducing seniors' isolation can be obtained from the Hamilton Council on Aging at 905-777-3837 ext. 12434.

"Everybody can make a difference," Papaioannou said. "Think about calling older people in your life."

At the Hamilton Community Food Centre on the west Mountain, they recently began a Seniors Without Walls program where seniors and others who are unable to get out due to physical or health reasons can take part in a free weekly conference call.

"It's as easy as dialing your phone and pressing an extension number," said Krista D'aoust, director of family services at Neighbour to Neighbour Centre (N2N) and the and the food centre which is run by N2N.

"You can have 10 or 12 or more people on the call at the same time, so everybody can meet each other by phone and chat with each other."

An N2N staffer guides the weekly conversations that are available in English, Spanish and Arabic.

The calls last up to 90 minutes.

Seniors can register for the program by calling 905574-1334 ext. 213, or via msarmiento@n2ncentre.com.