As the provincial government announces its plan to move forward into phase 3 of the pandemic strategy it is a good opportunity to take a look back over the last few months along the road we have travelled and consider where it is leading.  As students of social work, one of the things we learn is that when supporting clients during transitional phases, it is important to recognize the challenges that the client has overcome. Acknowledging these challenges are an instrumental part of preparing for and navigating the future.

The last five months have been a historically significant and personally significant time. Looking back, I am grateful to be here and grateful to be able to share my thoughts with all of you. God only knows the trials and tribulations that living in this time has brought to you. I think of those who have been unable to visit sick loved ones. Those of you who have had friends or family members pass on and were unable to hold funerals or feel the physical support of those who needed you most.  My own father passed away during the course of this pandemic and I know first-hand how it feels to postpone funeral arrangements so that family members across the border would be able to attend.  I think of others who live alone and have no choice but to physically distance and socially isolate from their social circle of friends. Others who rely on public transit or cabs to get around and who have been directly impacted by new restrictions and the change to the workforce. Some of us have had the luxury of being able to use digital mediums to connect but there are some for whom this is not available to them. Spouses who have visited their significant others through screens and glass. Grandmothers, grandfathers who have not been able to hug and kiss their grandchildren and children. There are some who have been part time or full-time caregivers to their parents and loved ones and who find themselves unable to provide support. Those who have lost jobs, treasured volunteer positions or have given up hobbies that provided stability and meaning in their lives.

 When asked about the impacts of the pandemic on his life, a good friend of mine of 72 replied “Although my children call me regularly and drop off meals, I still miss spending time with them and my grandchildren...Being on your own makes it harder and I tend to become lonely and bored.” He adds that during the time of lockdown “phone calls are so important” and adds that those phone calls helped to “perk [him] up”.  My friend’s sentiments echo what many of his generation have experienced and continue to experience. Stories like his are why SKIP developed Buzz Me and why programs that address the challenge of isolation in the senior population is so important.

Recently, when working the lines of Buzz Me as a volunteer, I had the opportunity to connect with an 80 year old woman from Brant County. Living on her own and having little contact with anyone besides her adult daughter who brought her groceries, she was a classic example of someone who had experienced the negative effects of social isolation. As we talked, she shared her story with me and fascinating details about her life-the majority of which had been lived in this area.  She shared with me that social isolation had been challenging for her. She had children, grandchildren, and even great grandchildren that she missed. An avid scrabble player and word puzzle enthusiast, this gentle and wonderful soul who didn’t watch tv or even own a computer expressed to me how wonderful it was to be able to chat on the phone with someone to pass the time. I found myself smiling a lot during our conversation. Speaking with her was a bright and happy spot in my day and gave me a surge of energy that I had not expected. As we ended the call, I found myself searching for the words to tell her that I enjoyed our time together as much as she did and that she had been the best part of my day too.

That conversation taught me a great deal about the value and importance of intergenerational connectedness in times of crisis. I realized that the lens through which I viewed my participation in the conversation was influenced by my desire to provide a service that could uplift others. What I had not realized until that moment was that connecting in this way was mutually beneficial. Like speaking to an old friend, the conversation was so comfortable, and warm. It brought me a lot of joy. I came to realize in that moment that though there is joy in service, joy is a two-way street. That road, the joy road...is one I would like to travel along as the journey through the pandemic continues.

At SKIP, we are looking for ways to expand our programming as we look to the future. As we navigate this new reality, we expect that there will be some changes and some adaptations. In offering services that connect the generations, SKIP will always hold tight to the values that were present from the beginning. Loneliness is ever present and if the pandemic has taught us anything its that we need to continue connecting the generations to offer each other some relief. Some meaning even.  We have so much to learn from each other and each generation has so much to give. So, keep connecting and keep reaching out. You never know, the person on the other line just may need it as much as you.

Be safe, be well and be there for each other.

Tina