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It鈥檚 an image that sends chills: An elderly family member, living alone, suddenly falls and breaks a hip, lying on the floor for hours unable to call for help.
It doesn鈥檛 have to be that way. With your help, the Eldercare Foundation is throwing a聽lifeline to vulnerable, low-income seniors. A $14,200 grant from the Rapid Relief Fund to the foundation means 19 seniors living in Greater Victoria will be given a free medical alert, known as the SAFE Lifeline.
鈥淪AFE stands for specialized assistance for elders,鈥� executive director Lori McLeod said Wednesday. 鈥淎nd we want to make sure the minute a senior is in trouble, that friendly voice comes right on the phone and stays on the line with them until emergency help arrives. It鈥檚 very comforting and it鈥檚 immediate and it鈥檚 a wonderful program.鈥�
This week, the Rapid Relief Fund put another $869,000 to work in the community to support people in need. The fund 鈥� set up by the Victoria Foundation, the Jawl Foundation and the sa国际传媒 鈥� has now raised more than $4 million.
Seniors tend to be the forgotten ones when it comes to charitable giving, said McLeod.
鈥淭his gift will enable us to clear our waitlist and provide piece of mind to 19 more seniors and their families. This is one less worry during this very difficult time.鈥�
The Eldercare Foundation has partnered with Philips Lifeline and Island Health to deliver the program.
Island Health has home- and community-care case managers who support low-income seniors with health needs, said McLeod. 鈥淲hat became apparent was a lot of these seniors are living at home alone, at risk of a fall, which could lead to hospitalization or long-term care placements, but there was no real way to protect them,鈥� she said.
Having a medical-alert system will help seniors stay in their homes longer. If they fall, someone will know they鈥檝e had a fall. 鈥淭hey won鈥檛 end up on the floor with no one knowing. That鈥檚 just horrible.鈥�
The medical alerts will be given to those with the greatest need, low-income seniors who could otherwise end up in hospital or long-term care.
鈥淲e want to keep them at home as long as possible. That鈥檚 where everybody wants to be. And that鈥檚 the best place for people.鈥�
The SAFE program has already helped 86 seniors this year. McLeod notes that Island Health is trying to keep hospital beds open for COVID-19 patients, and long-term-care facilities are not wanting to take admissions, 鈥渟o keeping seniors in their own homes safely is the right thing to do.鈥�
The grant from the Rapid Relief Fund is a great start, said McLeod. And the generosity of the community continues 鈥� Robert Janus, director of communications for the Victoria Foundation, said a huge stack of cheques was opened this week and three were for $20,000. 鈥淭his is amazing. It just warms your heart,鈥� said Janus.
鈥淣ot that the big donations are so much more meaningful. The small donations are equally impressive. We have people who comment when they send in their electronic donation. They鈥檒l say: 鈥楬ere鈥檚 my $20 donation. I wish I could give more but I just think this is such a great thing and this is what I鈥檓 able to give.鈥� It really has been just an incredible community response.鈥�
Nearly 8,000 people have donated to the fund, some more than once, he said.
The Rapid Relief Fund is working with trusted community partners in a variety of charitable organizations.
The new goal is to raise $5 million, Janus said.
鈥淭he need continues. We鈥檝e helped a number of organizations, but there is more to be done.鈥�
HOW TO DONATE TO RAPID RELIEF
Tax receipts will be issued. If you are open to receiving your tax receipt by PDF, please include an email address with your donation.
鈥� Online:
鈥� Phone: 250-381-5532
鈥� Mail: Send cheques (made out to the Victoria Foundation) to RapidRelief Fund, Victoria Foundation, 200-703 Broughton St., Victoria V8W 1E2
The Rapid Relief Fund was created by the Victoria Foundation, the Jawl Foundation, and the sa国际传媒 to help people in need as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. CHEK Television, Coast Outdoor Advertising and Black Press are helping to boost awareness. Every dollar received from donations goes out as grants to the community.
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