The threat of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is impacting lives worldwide, and although it may not yet have reached your community, you can expect it to in the coming days or weeks.

One vulnerable group that cannot be ignored is the elderly in the community.

Many B.C. communities have higher-than-average population of seniors, based on the popularity of the province as a retirement destination.

BC Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie said at times such as this, it害羞草研究所檚 important to ensure everyone has a strong support system - neighbours helping neighbours.

害羞草研究所淲hen the provincial health officer calls on British Columbians to consider what we can we do, obviously taking care of ourselves is number one, but the other thing we can do is reach out to the seniors we know around us and see what extra help they might need right now,害羞草研究所� said Mackenzie. 害羞草研究所淭he impact of COVID-19 could mean that their care worker is under the weather and can害羞草研究所檛 provide help. It could mean that their adult children who would normally help them, aren害羞草研究所檛 feeling well and can害羞草研究所檛 help them. It may mean that they really shouldn害羞草研究所檛 be in crowded situations害羞草研究所� somebody else could go do their grocery shopping for them.害羞草研究所�

Mackenzie recommends exchanging phone numbers with your neighbours (if you don害羞草研究所檛 already have them) and keeping in contact with each other via phone or text.

Mackenzie said a crisis like this tends to galvanize communities, and she expects the most communities will take the time to rally around each other and get through this pandemic together.

害羞草研究所淔rom my years in homecare, that is the kind of thing we would see. I was in homecare during the blizzard of 害羞草研究所�96 here in Victoria, and the way people came together to help each other out at that time was phenomenal. Now that was a different issue, in terms of why there was a crisis. But the effect on seniors being shut in and not getting what they needed害羞草研究所� there is the potential of that, today.

害羞草研究所淲e are going to see a lot more seniors needing help with things害羞草研究所� so if we are healthy, we should help.害羞草研究所�

The Office of the Seniors Advocate (OSA) has an information and referral line for seniors or others looking for community resources not related to health care.

害羞草研究所淲e have a toll-free number that people can call to find out about community resources that might be available, and we have just partnered with bc211 to expand our hours of operation,害羞草研究所� said Mackenzie.

Seniors with non-medical related inquiries can phone the OSA害羞草研究所檚 toll-free number at 1-877-952-3181. For medical questions, please phone 8-1-1.