Photo Courtesy: Tammy Schulte

By Caden Fanshaw

SENIORS

PG Senior thankful for community gift-giving program

Jan 5, 2021 | 7:57 AM

.PRINCE GEORGE – The holiday season wasn’t easy for many seniors as COVID-19 fuelled feelings of loneliness and isolation.

For one PG senior living at the Gateway care facility, that’s exactly what she’s going through, usually, she’s able to see multiple family members, but not since the start of the pandemic.

Elvina Botrakoff says she misses seeing her other kids, and misses going into the common areas of the Gateway facility, yet another thing she can’t do anymore because of COVID-19 protocols.

Botrakoff is thankful though for a bit of joy she received over the holiday season as she benefited from the London Drugs program that lets people buy gifts for seniors, getting an Elvis Presley calendar.

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“It is just unbelievable that people continue to do these things, it made my day,” says Botrakoff. “I love Elvis.”

This little feeling of joy in what has been a difficult time for seniors according to the Canadian Mental Health Association.

“Seniors could be going through a lot of things right now, whether it’s feelings of isolation or seasonal affective disorder because of the lack of sunshine,” says Mary Lu Spagrud from CMHA.

Spagrud says if you feel this way, or even if you aren’t sure, the best way to get help is to call your doctor or visit the CMHA website you can find here.