by Sonya Kuitenbrouwer

For the past forty years, the West End Seniors’ Network (WESN) has worked to aid older adults living in the West End and Coal Harbour neighbourhoods, providing accessible senior-specific resources and programming. Headquartered at Barclay Manor in Barclay Heritage Square, the organization operates three locations to serve the community.

West End Seniors’ Network executive director Claudine Matlo and events and communications coordinator Yathu Radhakrishnan on the porch of Barclay Manor.

Among the many programs run out of the Manor are weekly bridge, mahjong, and Texas hold’em poker sessions, TED-style talks, a sing-along get-together called “Heritage Harmonies, and noon-hour movies. Out on the West End’s high streets WESN sponsors a Men’s Breakfast at Denny’s, a Sunday brunch at the Sylvia, and “Happy Hour Hoppers” at the Bayside Lounge. And that’s barely the beginning of their busy calendar of events and activities.

Better at Home is the network’s most popular program. Services — such as minor home repairs, grocery delivery, and transportation to and from appointments — are offered by WESN’s 260 volunteers, many of whom are seniors themselves.

Employing seniors as volunteers emphasizes the importance of community for all, not just older adults who require support, said Claudine Matlo, WESN’s executive director. “By engaging seniors and applying the skills they already have to good use, it becomes a place where people can share and feel valued for their knowledge and history,” Claudine explained.

Another of the Better at Home program services is minor housekeeping. Due to the nature of the job, the Seniors’ Network does not use volunteers for the position. Instead they employ partner organizations to provide housekeepers. But the wait list for the service is currently over 100 people long. “We have two partnerships [with housekeeping organizations] and we’re trying to find other ways of doing it, because they’re having difficulty getting enough housekeepers too,” Claudine said.

Kay’s Place, located in the Denman Place Mall, is an information and referral centre that provides older adults with access to various resources. This is done in an effort to have their needs supported in a way that works for them. Trained volunteers and staff offer support with filling out governmental forms, accessing tech support, finding a family doctor, legal services and more.

Also available at Kay’s Place are housing support services, which have seen a large spike in interest. “Our housing appointments and needs for housing support have doubled. Just in the last couple of months, even the number of appointments that our housing navigators are taking has doubled,” Claudine said.

WESN also operates a thrift boutique out of Denman Place Mall, called Clothes and Collectibles.

Those interested in donating or volunteering with the West End Seniors’ Network are encouraged to visit their website here.