Seniors trickle into the brightly lit room, where rows of tables are adorned with colourful tablecloths and paints.. A hum of voices follows as everyone hangs up their coats and settles into their seats. Most begin working on the bookmarks laid out in front of them, while one table of less artistically inclined participants deals out cards.
It’s a typical Friday for Squamish’s Making Connections Community Society, who offer free drop-in sessions for people living with dementia and their caregivers.
The non-profit was set up by the Squamish 55+ Community Society to make use of leftover funding from the pandemic. Bruna Tabak, the program coordinator, modelled Making Connections after an existing successful program in Whistler of the same name. Before it launched in Squamish, many residents were commuting to Whistler each week to attend the paid sessions.
That commute proved a major barrier for many elderly, and Making Connections saw an opportunity to fill a gap in local services –and even do so at no cost to participants.
An important aspect of the program is that it supports not only people with dementia, but also their caregivers.
“For caregivers, what we hear is that it can be very, very lonely,” said Tabak. “ What we offer is support and the possibility to be with their partners in a happy place and not surrounded by illness and care.”
The program runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Friday at Westwinds on Third Avenue in downtown Squamish. Each session starts with a rotating list of activities run by paid facilitators.
For participant Margo, music is a clear favourite.
“It brings out a lot of emotions and good memories,” she said. “The facilitators have been phenomenal.”
One mainstay of the program is the fitness class, taught by local instructor Senay Bastug, who is certified in senior group fitness and as a recreation therapist assistant. The classes focus on strengthening muscles used in everyday activities, with exercises such as wall push-ups and seated leg and arm movements.
“It’s not about getting buff at the gym,” said Bastug, who wants the exercises to help seniors pick up groceries or maintain their balance getting out of chairs.
“All I can do is observe for one hour a week,” Bastug said. “But they keep coming back stronger.”
Making Connections relies heavily on community support. A roster of about 10 volunteers helps with weekly set-up and ensures sessions run smoothly, while local businesses Domino’s and Nestor’s Market donate food and beverages for coffee and lunch breaks.
While Tabak is proud of what the program has accomplished so far, she says there is room to grow.
“It’s only three hours per week, which is important, but it’s not enough,” she said.
The program is currently funded through October, but Tabak spends much of her time applying for grants and seeking additional sponsors in hopes of expanding to more days.
“Fridays are my favourite part of the week,” said Tabak. “It makes me really happy to see the room filled with people.”
