After months of planning (and twice rescheduled due to Covid restrictions), the annual ‘Swing into Spring’ event was finally able to take place this past Wednesday at the Danube Seniors Leisure Centre where guests participated in a drive-through promotion of health and wellness.
Organized by Bradford’s CHATS (Community & Home Assistance to Seniors), Holland Gardens, The Elden, and The Danube Seniors Leisure Centre, the event ran from 10 a.m. to noon and could not have had better weather for all the vendors, entertainers, and guests who came out to support.
The event was geared to residents of Bradford ages 55 and up, and included a variety of vendors stationed under pop-up tents who passed out goodie bags filled with flyers, information packets, treats, and items to help assist seniors with day-to-day living like jar openers and magnifying glasses. Seniors were also treated to live music compliments of the Blue Grass Band.
Books and guides were also provided and included a list of services for seniors in Ontario, a File for Life card (usually placed on a fridge where paramedics can retrieve all medical history from homeowners in case of emergencies), home safety checklists, and bookmarks or fridge magnets with emergency hotline contacts available 24/7 specifically for seniors.
Guests had to pre-register for the event, and organizers had groups of 25-30 registrants staggered in 30-minute time intervals. In total, 129 participants registered including not only seniors but caregivers and community partners.
“This gives us a lot of people contacts,” shared Sue (who did not want to provide a last name), a client with Bradford CHATS who attended the drive-by event. “We get cards [about] places we don’t know… information is the best thing for us, it gives us knowledge as the world develops.”
Volunteers from Bradford CHATS and the Danube Seniors Centre guided cars into the south entrance of the parking lot where each car stopped at a different vendor booth to retrieve information packets and gifts. Carnations were also handed out, donated by Linda’s Floral Designs, and seedling starter kits compliments of The Elden.
“I love all my seniors!” exclaimed Officer Elisabeth Aschwanden, who was delighted to attend the event on behalf of the South Simcoe Police. “Coming here today, I came to see my friends… I was on cloud nine! Just to see the smiles on their faces, it’s really nice.”
Five ‘car’ prizes (in lieu of traditional door prizes) were also up for grabs. The main prize included a picnic backpack cooler complete with utensils, plates, glasses, and a blanket.
Linda Ind, program coordinator and caregiver support & community outreach with Bradford CHATS, shares they are planning another event in October, working on the idea of a ‘pancake breakfast’, and hoping it will be indoors by then (pending restrictions).
“That’s why we do these events, to get our seniors out,” explains Ind. “There’s a lot of issues with confinement syndrome right now… people that are ill because they are confined. If you’re confined, you’re not walking, you’re not getting exercise, you’re not socializing, and socialization for seniors is so important - they get sick otherwise! And the other side we’re seeing now is there are people who are too afraid to go out.”
For more information about the event or to register, contact Linda Ind at: [email protected]
