Seniors and their families in the Charleswood area are disappointed a day club will no longer be open. Ed Ferbers’ 97-year-old mom attends the Charleswood Adult Day Club, where seniors socialize with one another and participate in activities. Ferbers says the program has benefited his mom, who lives with dementia and at times depression. “Days and evenings after she’s attended here, I can actually see a cognitive and a substantial difference,” Ferbers said. But the program, run by the Lions Housing Centre, is ending after 30 years. In a letter, participants and their families were told the Lions board made a “difficult” decision to close the program at the end of October, with no explanation provided. “This decision was reached only after careful and thoughtful consideration,” the letter says in part. “I’m sad and upset, largely because there’s not a lot of this type of service in the area,” Ferbers said. Others are upset too. Barbara Mackey has been going to the program for 12 years. “I felt like somebody had kicked me in the stomach,” Mackey said. “It’s a horrible feeling.” PC Roblin MLA Kathleen Cook says her phone has been ringing off the hook. “I think it’s really important that the provincial government, step up, act now, to make sure that we don’t lose this program,” Cook said. The program is run by Lions, with funding from the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA). In a statement to CTV News, the WRHA said Lions Housing Centre recently notified them it had ended its lease for the Charleswood Adult Day Club program location. Manitoba Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara says they were not happy to learn about the closure. “The decision by Lions to close this program, pretty abruptly, is a concern,” Asagwara said. The health authority says affected seniors will be moved to other adult day programs, including across the river at Deer Lodge. They are adding spaces and programming at other sites. Asagwara says the WRHA will also look at re-establishing one in the Charleswood area. “The health authority understands the importance of folks having this service and this care in their own community, or as close to home as possible,” Asagwara said. Ferbers says logistically, he’s not sure his mom can go elsewhere. “It’s a shame, because you know, if anything, we have a growing senior population even in this area,” Ferbers said. Any kind of move or disruption to the routine can be hard for seniors like Mackey. “I like the people I’m with,” Mackey said. “We have a feeling of family there.” CTV News has reached out to Lions for comment and is awaiting a response.
