Hello again friends,

This month, I wanted to highlight the important work of senior caregivers. Recently, SKIP has had the opportunity to collaborate with individuals in caregiving roles as we sought to create and promote programs for seniors in the community.

While in her field placement role, BSW student Layla from Wilfrid Laurier University had the opportunity to facilitate a pen pal program between seniors at a local LTC and students from a local elementary school.

Taking into consideration the added health and safety measures instituted in LTC facilities as a result of pandemic protocols, it stands to reason that LTC facility activity coordinators face incredible daily challenges. Though lockdown procedures during outbreaks in LTC's are nothing new, the particular challenges associated with Covid-19 have put a tremendous strain on the resources and emotions of many who work in caregiving roles.

In these times, any effort to venture outside the everyday necessary daily care routines of residents and the never ending cleaning protocols must take a truly Herculean effort. Yet, day after day, we have the opportunity to encounter those special individuals who with nothing short of a fiery passion, find a way to address not only the physical needs of seniors in their care, but the emotional, psychological and social needs of seniors as well. These individuals are the people who seize opportunities for remote social engagement that can be found in local programming like SKIP's and who with energy and passion, are there to implement these services for those in their sphere.

These individuals are, without a doubt, the unsung heroes of our community.

Some support seniors who participate in our intergenerational pen pal program. Others, who take the time to personally interview seniors in their care so that their thoughts, wisdom and knowledge can be recorded and shared with future generations. These individuals are, without a doubt, the unsung heroes of our community.

I think of the many men and women in our community whose parents have reached the stage of needing care. These are the working heroes...the sandwich generation. Some have children still residing at home while they juggle full time jobs and the full or part time care of elderly parents. In our modern phraseology, it is a recognized trope that "not all heroes wear capes". While this is indeed true of the people I am attempting to celebrate in some small way here, I would add to this that "not all heroes can be seen". By this I mean that these individuals have made serving others such a common practice in their day to day lives that we as a culture fail to recognize their heroic efforts. Those engaged in the work may wonder "why would we?" as it is with a deep sense of humility and a "do unto others" attitude that tends to be a common characteristic amongst the quiet caregivers among us.

They are our neighbours, our bosses, our friends and our fellow church members.

These are those who consider it an honour to feed their mothers, bathe their grandmothers and run errands for their aunts or uncles.

These are the precious souls standing on the battles lines of dementia or Parkinson's alongside those they love, silently serving without complaint while simultaneously managing their own homes and lives. To these individuals, I express my gratitude. Thank you for being a part of the network of care for the precious seniors in our community. While it's true that you may not have capes, and thus do not fly... it is also true that in many ways, your care and service enable those around you to do just that.

With all the love,

Tina