An event at the Prince Albert Legion during happier pre-COVID times. (File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Alison Sandstrom

COVID-19

Local seniors look forward to ‘getting on with living’ as vaccine roll-out plan announced

Dec 9, 2020 | 5:00 PM

While the post-COVID recovery may yet be months away, the announcement of Saskatchewan’s vaccine delivery plan has some Prince Albert seniors cautiously optimistic about the prospect of gathering again in the future.

The Kinsmen Community Heritage Seniors Centre, which operates out of the Margo Fournier Centre, has been closed since the start of the pandemic in March. President Bill Norman told paNOW he frequently receives calls from some of the groups’ 300 members asking when it will reopen. Seniors who live alone have found the last months particularly hard, he said.

Once immunization is underway, Norman said the centre will be able to think about welcoming members back. But they won’t do so until it’s absolutely safe, noting seniors are among the most vulnerable to COVID-19.

But the vaccine, in some ways, represents the hope that the centre will be able to get back to regular gatherings. Norman said pre-COVID on any given day, around 40 people would be at the centre visiting and drinking coffee. On special days like Wednesday, music and dancing would draw even more.

“We generally have between nine and a dozen musicians that show up to play and they say we’ve got the best music in town,” he said. “So, everybody’s looking forward to it that’s for sure.”

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Prince Albert senior Walter Parenteau said news a vaccine is on the way is “great” and he’s excited to get back to activities he usually enjoys but hasn’t been able to do this year.

“It’s getting to the point where I’m going stir crazy here because you’ve got nothing to do,” the Carment Court Seniors Housing resident said, noting residents can’t even play shuffleboard, cards, or pool like they normally would. “I’ll be golfing, fishing, visiting family and friends – stuff that I could do before that I can’t now.”

Ed Bannerman, a resident of Northcote Manor Seniors Housing said he’s looking forward to receiving the vaccine so he can “get on with living.” He’s been missing weekly events like the Legion’s Saturday dinner.

Brenda Cripps, a service officer and zone commander with the Royal Canadian Legion said the cancellation of those events has been hard on everyone, not just seniors.

“It’s been tough cause you can’t just pop in or have a coffee or visit with people,” she said.

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom