OTF Grant Helps Senior Stay Connected Virtually
MEDIA RELEASE January 9th, 2023
Abbotsford House Seniors Active Living Fair $96,300 OTF Grant helps Seniors Stay Virtually Connected
Ottawa, ON – On Thursday, January 5th, local MPP Joel Harden of Ottawa Centre joined the Abbotsford House team and local community gathered at the Abbotsford Seniors’ Fair as the organization recognized the $96,300 Resilient Communities Fund grant received from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). The funding has been used to connect older adults to online programs, family, friends and volunteers using tablets on loan from the Tablet Project.
“Abbotsford House has done an amazing job supporting seniors in our community by giving them a place to socialize, learn new skills, and stay active,” said Joel Harden, MPP for Ottawa Centre. “The staff and volunteers at Abbotsford House did incredible work in keeping their programs going with proper COVID-19 regulations, and I am excited to see how they have used their Ontario Trillium Grant to combat the social isolation many seniors have felt throughout the pandemic.”
Powered by the OTF grant, Abbotsford House has been able to rebuild and recover from the impacts and challenges of COVID-19. This was achieved by hiring staff and procuring 100 tablets for member use. This project started in May 2022 and gives older adults in the community improved access to online programs at Abbotsford House, reducing the social isolation that many seniors have experienced at an increased rate since the start of the pandemic.
Karen Anne Blakely, Director of Community Programs stated, “Many older adults have found that using the tablets was not as hard as they first thought. With the help of Shirley Lee, the Abbotsford House Program Facilitator, seniors connected with their adult children and grandchildren through video chats, shared emails and photos and participated in fitness and yoga programs online. Some learned to do online grocery orders, video chats with their doctors and participated in online art classes. Winter storms may stop some people from going outside but with the tablet knowledge they have gained, older adults will continue to connect, enjoy the company of others and continue to be active in their leisure activities in a virtual way.”
Abbotsford House is a vibrant community centre for adults 55+. Abbotsford House is the community programs of The Glebe Centre Inc., a charitable, not-for-profit, organization which includes a 254-bed long term care home. Find out more about programs and services by dropping by 950 Bank Street in Ottawa, Mon- Fri 8:30 to 4:30 pm, telephoning 613-230-5730 or by checking out all The Glebe Centre facilities and community programs on our website www.glebecentre.ca.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations celebrates 40 years of grantmaking in Ontario and making a lasting impact in communities. Last year, OTF invested nearly $209M into 2,042 community projects and partnerships, which included funding for the Government of Ontario’s Community Building Fund. Visit otf.ca to learn more.
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Organization Contact for Media Inquiries:
Karen Anne Blakely, Director of Community Programs
Abbotsford House
The Glebe Centre
613-230-5730 ext. 322
kablakely@glebecentre.ca
