Holidays are often difficult for seniors. A lack of mobility, or friends who have passed on, can leave many feeling alone and isolated.
Some seniors have absolutely no one in their lives, but a province-wide organization is helping to break that isolation.
Little Brothers, a group dedicated to keeping the elderly company when they have no one else, provides year-round services to seniors 75 years and older.
“They have no children, no brothers or sisters, or no spouse, so they’re totally isolated and if it wasn’t for Little Brothers, they’d be totally alone,” executive director Caroline Sauriol said.
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On Sunday, the Little Brothers hosted its annual Easter dinner in downtown Montreal, with 400 guests in attendance.
The celebrations included fine dining, a bit of wine and some great music, followed by dancing.
But for Sauriol, the event is about much more than good food.
“It’s about sharing a moment,” she said. “We want to show them that they are part of this family, and that this family really cares about them… That they are important.”
Sauriol explained that each senior — referred to as an elder friend — is accompanied by a volunteer. The volunteer picks them up at home and spends the day with them.
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It’s an outing the elder friends really look forward to.
“Some of them went to the hairdressers’ this morning, and some went to buy a new dress,” Sauriol said.
The average age of the attendees is 86 and Sauriol explained why the Easter dinner takes on even more importance in their eyes.
“Throughout their lifetime, Easter was the biggest celebration of the year in a more religious era,” she said.
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Cécile Bédard has been taking part in Little Brother activities for over 10 years.
She said she enjoys the dinners for the company, and also because she can celebrate her religious beliefs.
“I believe that he did come back, and he’s still there, you know, somewhere.”
The gathering is also an opportunity to show appreciation for the volunteers. Across the province, there are more than 1,700 volunteers who donate their time and energy to the cause.
But for Sami Belaidi, it’s a worthwhile pursuit.
“When you volunteer here, you help directly, and see the smile on their faces,” he said. “You feel really happy about it.”
Similar events were held in 15 cities across Québec.
For more information about the organization, visit the Little Brothers website.
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