New buses help seniors

[attach]1103[/attach]To a passerby they might look like just a couple of buses, but for dozens of isolated and frail seniors in Toronto’s east end, they mean freedom.

On Dec. 4 Woodgreen Community Services celebrated the launch of two new buses for their Community Care and Wellness for Seniors department.

The buses, including one designed for people in wheelchairs, will be used to help ferry seniors to and from medical appointments, grocery shopping and Woodgreen’s Adult Day Program.

“These are folks that don’t typically have a family or friend network of support around them to help them with this type of thing,” said Woodgreen’s executive director Kate Halpenny.

Having these buses means the seniors who use them can remain in their homes Halpenny said.

“It’s really a critical service,” she said.

Bus user Lee Chun Hop agrees. She says that the buses allow her to leave her South Riverdale home to join Woodgreen’s Adult Day Program.

“The buses are essential for frail seniors to access to community support program like Woodgreen’s Adult Day Program,” says Michael Tong, a Woodgreen manager responsible for overseeing seniors’ programming. “It is important for frail and/or home bound seniors to keep active and be connected with various community services.”