Developing a Better Community Support for Ontario Konkani Seniors
by Sadanand Mankikar
SOCIO-CULTURAL SUPPORT SYSTEM
The goal of this program is to improve access of OKA seniors to social and cultural activities, provide community-based avenues for non-medical support, and increase knowledge about the practical aspects of retired living. Shraddha Pai is coordinating various programs identified as being important to OKA seniors during the Focus Group meeting in April, and specific OKA members are leading individual activities.
1. Resource page on OKA website: A webpage with links to services and documents of relevance to the people in our community, with a focus on seniors. It will contain links to public services such as WheelTrans/Darts, and also OKA-driven programs like Carpool and Buddy system. Lead: Shraddha Pai
2 Interactive forum for seniors and support: We are creating a community mailing list to share information, events, and ask questions within the community, A program called OKA Aadhaar Chat will be launched soon. Lead: Shraddha Pai
3. Carpool: Community members wanting rides to/from OKA events can now co-ordinate this through a single person. We have already communicated the initiation of this program. Lead: Ajay Rao
4. Buddy system: Seniors who would benefit from routine phone or in-person contact can now have a “buddy” or contact point in the community. We have a bank of volunteers ready to support, but need to identify who needs what support. We have already communicated the initiation of this program. Lead: Shraddha Pai
5. Emergency awareness: During a crisis, having a complete medical and non-medical emergency kit and information for contacts (within or outside the community) can improve how the situation is handled. This program will familiarize the OKA members on how to prepare such kits. OKA will also establish Emergency Coordinators and a central place with relevant resources (e.g. priest contact numbers, funeral homes, legal matters, government services etc.) Lead: Suvarna Mankikar
6. Information sessions/workshops/seminars: This program will improve community knowledge on health, legal, financial planning and important services available for seniors from governments and communities. Lead: Mahesh Nileshwar, with help from Veena Shanbhag and Sadanand Mankikar
7. Social Activities: The leads will organize regular outings, networking opportunities, and regular club-style get-togethers for the seniors. Committee: Kashi Nayak, Mahesh NIleshwar, Hemant Tallur, Ajay and Chitra Rao
8. Tech Support: Seniors can now learn how to navigate new and emerging technology from those more tech-savvy in the community i.e. computers, programs, smartphones, etc.,. Lead: Minakshi Pai
LONG-TERM HOUSING OPTIONS
The goal of this initiative is to identify the extent of shared long-term community living options for OKA seniors. It has been already determined that there is no critical mass in the Konkani community to have our own facilities. Hence we have to work with other like-minded communities. Sadanand Mankikar is the lead co-ordinator on this project. Following the Focus Group Meeting on April 23, Amita and Ashok Bhatt, Ramanath Kamath, Suvarna and Sadanand Mankikar, Gita and Sathish Shenoy had a highly productive meeting on April 30, with a few representatives from Marathi Bhashik Mandal and the “Nirvana Project”. Nirvana is a group of a few like-minded friends who had started informally exploring the possibility of a suitable community living for South East Asian seniors.
This group has come to the agreement that there is a definite need for a community-based adult life style housing to facilitate independent and assisted living. It was also noted that this can be achieved only with collaboration of various communities. Seema Majithia, a member of the “Nirvana” project with extensive experience with the builders shared useful information. Concerns discussed included: Readiness and commitment from the seniors to move; location and availability of land; the cost for a feasibility study and for building/purchasing the facility; regulatory requirements; expertise, experience and knowledge needed; time and efforts needed on the part of volunteers as well as professionals, etc. Regardless, the group felt that it is worthwhile to continue to work on this project.
A core group of nine dedicated and committed individuals with their spouses, representing OKA, Marathi Bhashik Mandal and the Nirvana Project has been set up to work on a White Paper. Two subgroups have already developed first drafts of papers on “Concept” and “Implementation”. Soon a final draft will be ready. In the meantime, the group is planning to conduct a survey to identify the needs and expectation of the target audience.
Those who are interested in additional information and/or want to be on the waiting list, may call either Sadanand Mankikar or Ashok Bhatt.
