Seniors Active Living Centre

The HOPE Resource Hub, which started in 2018, is designed to be a collaborative community based model of information and services delivery, which is managed by dedicated staff, seniors and partner organizations to serve isolated seniors by;

1) Providing centralized coordination of information delivery and services

2) Offering programs to reduce seniors' isolation

3) Creating purposeful volunteer opportunities for seniors

4) Reducing technology barriers for seniors

5) Knowledge mobilization among organizations serving seniors

6) Providing a managed facility with important resources

7) Promote collaboration among organizations across Ontario

List of key services offered: Exercise and wellness sessions, information sessions, vaccination support, personal protective equipment distribution, day program for frail seniors with Alzheimer’s, dementia and stroke, community gardens, socialization, cooking sessions, technology education, tablet distribution, provincial technology advisory committee, and capacity building workshops.

Most of the services in 2020-2021 were online through zoom. However, activities like gardening and in-person meetings of small groups took place at the head office outdoor as per guidelines from the Ontario Government.  HOPE Resource Hub SALC offered more interactions to clients than pre-covid. In a survey, seniors identified that they were more engaged due to the availability of tablets, technical training & support, familiarity with technology and available online programs from HOPE Resource Hub.  

1. Physical activities (Such as music, yoga, chair fitness, Bingo, social interactions,  gardening)

2. Educational activities (Such as language classes), technology classes (using smartphones, tablets, email, apps), guest speakers                                                         

3. Health and Wellness (such as diabetes management, foot care clinics, falls prevention, nutrition and meal planning,  mental health,  COVID awareness, reducing vaccine hesitancy, hepatitis C, others)                                           

4. Congregate social activities (Such as celebratory events, socialization, music, presentations, misc.)

5. Transportation services (some services were offered during COVID for vaccination, food delivery and/or PPE deliveries)                                  

6. Booking of COVID vaccines for seniors                                                                       

7. Social activities (various online programs to keep seniors engaged, active and healthy through online programming during COVID).                                                                             

8. Others:  (resources distribution, online social groups via, Facebook, WhatsApp, inter-generational, prescription glasses, tablets/laptops donation, food, groceries etc. to mitigate challenges due to COVID)