This Seniors Month, under Ontario’s theme of “Let’s Get Moving,” we’re celebrating the older adults in our community, and the programs and initiatives that promote wellness, social engagement, and education for older adults, including those run by us at HF Care.
During this past February and March, we ran HF Care’s Exercise Buddy Program.
Over four weeks, seniors joined a weekly online exercise class focused on building balance and strength. The next day, each participant received a check-in call from a youth volunteer they had been paired with. These youth volunteers encouraged participants, followed up with them, and helped keep them engaged.
In total, 20 seniors and 10 youth volunteers participated. Over time, the regular check-ins began to make a difference. As one senior peer shared with us, the buddy element made a huge difference:
“Because of this support, I’ve been doing the exercises constantly—at least once a day!”
Across Canada, fewer than half of older adults meet recommended physical activity levels, and long periods of inactivity are linked to increased risk of falls, reduced mobility, and social isolation. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, falls remain one of the leading causes of injury among older adults in Canada, making prevention an important part of staying active and independent.
To help address this issue, our program also included a fall prevention workshop led by an HF Care youth volunteer and a peer supporter, offering practical tools to support everyday movement and safety. In the process, the program also became an opportunity for intergenerational learning and connection. Our staff noted that the youth involved also gained something valuable:
“We saw them developing confidence when interacting with seniors, forming a meaningful intergenerational connection they don’t usually get to make.”
If you know of any youth interested in getting more involved, we invite them to explore HF Care’s Youth & Families activities calendar, or to browse the current youth opportunities on our volunteer page.
And if you’d like to learn more about healthy aging, wellness, and community supports for older adults, consider joining us on June 8th at the Living Well and Beyond – A Chinese Health Fair, run by the Toronto Chinese Health Education Committee.
