The Eldercare Foundation
1454 Hillside Ave V8T 2B7 Victoria, BC, Canada

More holiday awesomeness from Happy Valley Elementary School. Check out these heartwarming snow-people from Mrs. Hancock's Kindergarten Class for seniors living in the Priory.

Where does a snowman keep his money? In a snow bank! What does an elf study in school? The elfabet!... Thanks to Sully, Frankie, and all the students at Happy Valley Elementary School who put together these beautiful cards filled with kind messages and holiday humour for local seniors living in long-term care.

Today we thank Ruth King Elementary School for creating some absolutely adorable holiday cards that will be delivered to more local seniors in long-term care. (Fringe benefit: these cards are creating a lot of smiles in the Eldercare office too!)

More cheer on the way to local seniors living in long-term care! Today Eldercare thanks Mrs. Pohl’s class at Shoreline Community Middle School for making fabulous table centrepieces and holiday cards. We are grateful for the many smiles these will bring to our elders who have faced a lot of isolation this year.

"The most difficult thing for me is not being allowed to leave the building. And along with that is finding something to keep me busy during the day and especially in the evenings." Kathleen's home, Aberdeen long-term care, has been closed since March. Friends and family can only visit her through an exterior window. Her usual entertainment and therapy programs have all been cancelled. In this difficult year, we've all felt alone and separated from the people and places we love at times. But let's keep pulling together for our most vulnerable neighbours. People like Kathleen are counting on us.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ0FP-QXZUA It feels just like playing a video game, but these specially designed apps on OMI projectors help seniors with dementia improve moods and access memories. Best of all, the projectors are portable, and project onto any flat surface, making it easy to provide care during this pandemic. Eldercare is currently working to purchase 5 OMI projectors for Aberdeen, Glengarry, Priory, and The Summit long-term care facilities in Greater Victoria. Find out more at www.gvef.org/SoClose.

Have you seen the beautiful video of the Ballerina with Alzheimer's? While the video has sparked many news stories about the dancer, Marta Cinta, viewers may not have realized they were also witnessing the power of music therapy. For seniors who have lost their homes and independence, outlived their spouses and friends, and - perhaps worst of all - lost some of their memories to dementia and Alzheimer's, music can be a powerful tool. It can remind seniors of who they are..., what they've achieved in their lives, and help them connect with parts of their brains not yet touched by their disease. Donations to Eldercare provide this treatment to long-term care residents in the Greater Victoria area...thank you to everyone who helps make this possible! https://thetravelingballerina.com/ballerina-with-alzheime/

We're 83% of the way there! Can you help us reach our goal to combat loneliness and isolation for local seniors during the pandemic? Please visit www.gvef.org/SoClose today!

Stocking Stuffers for Seniors is back! Right now, at the London Drugs at Harris Green on Yates Street, there's a very special Christmas tree. On it are the names of local long-term care residents who love to celebrate Christmas, but no longer have family with whom to celebrate. Help us surprise these residents on Christmas morning by fulfilling their wish lists in store...many of the wishes are simple -- a warm blanket, new socks, a dog poster, or a box of chocolates -- but they'll create gigantic smiles!!

Today we say thanks to Mrs Colton’s Kindergarten class at Millstream Elementary School. These heart-warming creations will be delivered to residents at Aberdeen long-term care facility. Thank you!!

Why do local seniors in long-term care need your support? Here’s the story of just one of the more than 700 care residents Eldercare is currently working to help: "My mom’s 89th birthday is Nov 25th. She has Alzheimer’s but up until the last 8 months, has had a slow decline. She is still her fun and chipper self some of the time, yet, mid afternoon, she struggles with sundowning. She gets confused, she thinks she works at the Summit, or thinks she has to pack up her item...s and move. So heartbreaking. But the worst is... it breaks our hearts that she has to see her sons through a window. Possibly forever. HER forever. This just crushes my soulespecially as we face the first COVID Christmas." Eldercare can’t make the pandemic go away. But, with your help, we can help local seniors find connection, comfort, and safetyin time for Christmas. Make your gift to the So Close and Yet So Far campaign today. www.gvef.org/SoClose

THEY'RE HERE!!! As promised, Al Pearce's Inspirational 2021 calendars now on sale at https://gvef.org/alsart/ You can also buy them in person at Heirloom Linens in Broadmead Village. ... Missed the backstory? See how Al's art came to be: https://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/victoria-man-with-dement