Christmas Handibus wish

Sharon McLeay
Times Contributor

 

Christmas is the season to dream of things wanted and not held.
Elaine Wathen has a wish: she would like to see the Handibus Association have enough funding to provide after-hour and weekend social trips for the elderly and mobility challenged.
“They used to run weekends and after hours. Anything you go to, entertainment-wise, runs in the evenings or on weekends. I am kind of stuck here and haven’t been doing any fun things lately. I used to watch my grandkids on the weekends and go to the singing and other presentations held in the evenings,” said Wathen.
“I won’t be able to get out much longer, but while I can I would like to. People in wheelchairs really don’t have much choice.”
She said she and others like her are missing out on the special moments in their family lives, and on community events. She said her family doesn’t have transportation means to help her.
There are a lot of studies on the Internet that confirm socialization is important for physical, mental and emotional health.
“It is good for your frame of mind to get out,” said Wathen.
There are also plenty of documents available on provincial and federal government websites identifying the need for socialization in the elderly and handicapped populations, and that it aids in keeping health care costs down.
However, little money is directly contributed by those governments to get people with mobility problems out of their homes and to the functions they enjoy.
By the year 2030, one in seven people in Canada will be a senior citizen. Wathen hopes there will be some way to address this ongoing issue now and for the future.
“It’s not the Handibus fault really – they don’t have the funds – but I think there should be some investigation and fundraising for this. The crux of the matter is it comes down to money,” said Wathen.
Wheatland County councillor Alice Booth sits on the Handibus Association board. She was asked what it would take to provide evening and weekend services. She estimates it would cost an additional $100,000 annually. She said currently keeping the vans operational is an ongoing struggle. Provincial licensing and operation standards have to be adhered to and there is no financially sound way of extending the service to include the extended hours.
Booth said the board works tirelessly to find a way for extended hours and to keep donations coming in. She said it has come down to supporting the service during regular hours for the long term. Even if drivers volunteer, there are still costs for the equipment, gas and insurance. Booth expects the new carbon tax will also add additional costs for the service.
It doesn’t look like Wathen will have a secret Santa step up this year, to put a set of wheels under her tree. Santa’s elves might consider writing letters to the provincial and federal government, asking that these services be given sustainable funding. It would be a small action, directed by those blessed with two good legs, healthy bodies and a way to get around, to move mountains toward a practical wish granted to our neighbours in community.