SENIOR LIVING- FEBRUARY/MARCH 2020
Lake City Works Clients Offer Lost-Cost Home Services Support to Seniors
Lake City Works Senior’s Program Client Kerry Balcom with former service provider, Loretta Thornhill.
Housekeeping has become a real challenge for 65-year old Kerry Balcom over the past few years but he’s found a solution thanks to a new employment program for Nova Scotians living with mental illness.
“I have trouble getting around because my mobility is limited so I was put in touch with Lake City Works Seniors Program, and it’s great. They come out to my home once a week and they clean the apartment,” says Balcom. “They’re very meticulous. They do an excellent job. I would recommend them to anybody.”
Lake City Works Seniors Program provides training opportunities and waged positions for individuals living with mental illness who face barriers to employment. The Seniors Program provides housekeeping, yard work, meal prep, and companionship for Nova Scotians aged 65 and over— filling a gap in the non-medical home care services market.
“There are lots of home care services out there but that resource in general is fairly tapped,” says Liam O’Rourke, Lake City Works Executive Director. “There are long waiting lists, and people are not able to get the support that they need so we’re trying to plug the holes that exist there, and those holes are different depending on where you’re located.”
Lake City Works is one of 10 organizations from the Directions Council for Vocational Services Society involved in this initiative throughout Nova Scotia. The Home Services Nova Scotia Project— which started as a pilot project at Shelburne Association for Social Inclusion— is funded by the Department of Community Services in conjunction with SHIFT, the province’s action plan for the aging population. The premium service allows seniors to stay at home longer while providing employment for people with disabilities.
“There is significant value in trying to connect people,” says Mike Townsend, Executive Director Directions Council. “Seniors are often an isolated population and people with disabilities can really see a lot of benefit from developing these connections. It has tremendous social value.”
Lake City Works Client Navigator Michelle Deveau manages the Seniors Program. She’s a natural fit for the role with her background in long-term care and she has increased the volume of services offered five times over in the past four months. She says it’s incredibly rewarding to lead people on the path to employment.
“I see people bloom,” smiles Michelle. “It’s a real jolt to their ego, a boost to their confidence, and you can see that in the way they present themselves. You see them walking a little bit taller. They change their clothing. They look better, they sound better, and they’re learning things that maybe they were never taught.”
At Lake City Works, fourteen individuals have gone through the Seniors Program since it started two years ago. It allows clients to expand their skillset and gain confidence while developing a sense of purpose and belonging. Nearly a third of its participants have gone on to find permanent employment including Balcom’s former service provider, Loretta Thornhill.
“She was such a nice girl,” says Balcom. “It was awesome to know that she got a full time job. That’s the purpose and I think that it’s an amazing organization. Giving somebody a job that really needs it.”
The Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia is proud to support Lake City Employment Services through its Community Grant Program. To learn more about the Lake City Works Senior Program visit lakecityworks.ca or call 211 to find a Home Services Nova Scotia provider in your area.