On this International Day of Older Persons, Néomédia would like to highlight a local organization that looks after the physical, mental and cognitive well-being of the region's seniors. Interview with Lucie Gascon, activities coordinator at the Centre communautaire des aînés de Vaudreuil-Soulanges.

"We offer the people who frequent our organization a wide range of activities to maintain their physical, cognitive and mental vitality. The program includes artistic events such as art workshops, fun activities such as board game afternoons, and physical activities such as chair yoga sessions. Our Musclez vos méninges activity is also popular, and helps maintain the intellectual vitality of those who take part," she explains.

Among the activities offered by the CCAVS is Brin de jasette, an opportunity for seniors to learn about a specific topic. The most recent event of this kind dealt with old-age pensions and more. Soon, Rigaud-area seniors will be able to learn more about healthy relationships.In the past, a conference on fraud affecting seniors was also offered. Otherwise, board game activities, including a meal, are also held regularly to keep interested customers busy, at a cost of $15.

In addition, there are occasional get-togethers organized to mark holidays such as Christmas or Easter, with a traditional outing to the sugar shack.How does Ms Gascon plan the activities offered to the seniors who frequent the Centre? "It's a bit of trial and error, to be honest. I also look at what's being done elsewhere. I always try not to offer activities that are already held in the Golden Age groups, to vary the offer. We also don't go into municipal areas where there are several activities for seniors, like Saint-Lazare, unless there's an exception or a conference," she adds.

A well-established resource

On a daily basis, the CentOn a daily basis, the Centre communautaire des aînés de Vaudreuil-Soulanges is present in five of the region's municipalities, at its offices in Saint-Polycarpe and at 1255 rue Émile-Bouchard in Vaudreuil-Dorion. The organization can also count on the collaboration of the Town of Pincourt to offer activities at the Omni-Centre, the Municipality of Les Cèdres where it meets with interested parties at the Pavillon des bénévoles, and Rigaud where the municipal library and Salle Paul-Brasseur welcome it for its activities. 

"We serve the four cardinal points of our territory. We wanted to enable the seniors who attend to be as close to home as possible. This was important to us because some seniors have issues with travel, accessibility to public and adapted transportation services, or because they no longer drive or don't drive at all. We invite them to carpool to our activities in these regions. Sometimes, we can even try to organize carpooling for them, but it's never guaranteed to work " she says.

Most of the activities offered to seniors in the area are free, but not all. "If we need to bring in a professional for a conference or workshop, such as line dancing, we have to ask for a contribution from the participants."

The average age of people attending CCAVS is 65." We have older beneficiaries and others who are less so. We accept people aged 50 and over.H owever, we are not ageist. For example, we can accept someone aged 45 who suffers from fibromyalgia and would like to take part in our yoga sessions. We adapt" she says.

Another CCAVS activity that is much appreciated in the region is Meals on Wheels. "We try to meet the ever-increasing demand for this essential service for our region's seniors" she says.

A concert by Guylaine Tanguay

To mark International Day of Older Persons on Sunday, October 1, CCAVS organized a concert by Guylaine Tanguay at Pavillon Wilson in Coteau-du-Lac at 3pm. Tickets, priced at $20, quickly sold out.

Otherwise, on Friday, September 29, the CCAVS, along with the Table de concertation des aînés de Vaudreuil-Soulanges, took part in a dinner-show activity at the Centre Multisports André-Chagnon in Vaudreuil-Dorion. The event was organized in partnership with other Table member organizations. 

The CCAVS can be reached at one of its two numbers. For the Soulanges region, call (450) 265-3548 and for the Vaudreuil area, call (450) 424-8503. You can also visit the organization's Facebook page or website at https://www.centredesainesvs.com/.