Langley Senior Resources Society
Moving is always an expensive thing to do. But what happens when a non-profit is faced with all those extra costs?
That was the problem facing Langley Senior Resources Society (LSRS) earlier this year when they moved their Adult Day Centre program into a larger building and needed new furniture to fill the space.
“Not only did we have to furnish a bigger area, but a lot of our existing equipment and furniture had to be replaced because it was nearly 30 years old,” explains Sharon Birnie, Director of Operations at LSRS. “Although the Society is partially funded by Fraser Health, ultimately we’re responsible for raising those capital funds.”
That’s when the First West Foundation stepped in and provided LSRS with a $6,734 grant for new tables, chairs and lounge furniture through its Envision Financial Community Endowment. “The Society serves about 150 seniors through its Adult Day Centre Program,” says Seline Kutan, executive director of the First West Foundation. “It’s incredibly important for these clients to have access to safe equipment and furniture that will meet their health care needs.”
Birnie adds that special attention must be paid to seniors when it comes to their health and safety—a factor that greatly influenced the Society’s decision to move to a larger space. “Our clients with dementia and those using wheelchairs and walkers needed more room to wander around, while the bathrooms in the existing building were too small to safely accommodate our frail clients. This new space addresses all these issues and we’re very grateful to the First West Foundation for their support.”
LSRS’s Adult Day Centre program provides specialized care and recreation for adults with physical or mental illnesses. Services include health care monitoring, meals and dietary counselling, caregiver support & counselling, transportation to and from the centre, and a variety of physical fitness, recreation and social programs. The program has greatly minimized the need for institutional care for hundreds of seniors in the Langley area.
Since 1982, the Langley Senior Resources Society has been providing health, recreational and food services to seniors and adults of all abilities. An independent, not-for-profit charitable organization, the Society is managed by a 12 member voluntary board of directors who come from a variety of backgrounds and who work or live in the Langley community. The Society employs more than 30 staff members and benefits from the time and talent of approximately 250 volunteers. For more information please visit www.langleyseniorscentre.com
