The aging population is deemed vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing practices are something they are all too familiar with, so Janine Christmas has made it a point to keeping them active.
“This was their normal. They’ve been stuck at home and we're seeing life through their eyes now,” said Christmas, the program coordinator of the Membertou 55-plus society.
“It's sobering to live life this way.”
The 52-year-old says many of the seniors have mobility issues, so grocery shopping or visiting family was already a struggle. But now that social distancing is part of the everyday norm, we’re beginning to see how they live. And adjusting to it is a challenge.
“It was all so sudden, I didn’t even have time cry but trust me, the tears did come,” said Christmas.
She's spent over a decade dedicated to getting the senior population in Membertou active. She's taken them bowling, hiking along the Cabot trail, brought them on trips to the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo and other activities to combat loneliness.
One of her fondest memories was taking the elders to a yearbook-style photoshoot. All of the seniors had a moment to shine.
“They loved it”, said Christmas.
Now, she's adjusting to not seeing them as much, and only at a safe distance. But she is still trying to keep them connected. She’s made sure they have ways to get their groceries, that they have masks and hand sanitizer. Christmas also schedules activities online for them.
She’s connected them to the Mi’kmaq kitchen party as a platform to share their musical talents and sent them herb seedlings to get ready for a senior's community garden when social distancing measures are lifted.
“When you have something taken away from you, you value it even more," said Christmas.
She mentioned many of the elders miss their grandchildren and each other so she's encouraged their families to stay connected to them. And has taken a series of photos so they can still see each other.
The group has over 100 members, so Christmas spends a lot of her time trying to ensure their safety and that they feel connected. She's also learned a lot from them.
“You learn a lot about being patient and to be kind with people,” said Christmas.
She remembers her mother, Myrtle Christmas, caring for seniors from an early age. And community members of Membertou still remember her mom.
“It was almost like continuing her legacy back here in the community, it was kind of like bringing her back to life," said Christmas.
'When you have something taken away from you, you value it even more' — Janine Christmas
Like her mother, she also has passionate about cooking and catering. And catering is a major source of fundraising for the senior's activities. But the pandemic has put that on hold, so Christmas is trying to find new ways to raise the money.
In the meantime, she's been gathering traditional foods for them as well, like gathering fiddleheads and fishing for smelts. Next, she's planning a paint night for the seniors' group and promises when this is all done to take them to a restaurant for a nice meal, vowing to spoil them when they're finally all together.
“It's something that is inside you, it's something that drives you,” said Christmas.
Oscar Baker III is a local journalism initiative reporter, a position being funded by the federal government. He lives in Sydney.
