Visitations-Senior Care Facilities

To address the loneliness, gaps, and barriers identified by Dr. Jordana Salma's study 'Muslim Seniors in Edmonton' and Dr. Stephanie Chamberlain's study 'Loneliness of Ethno-cultural Seniors Living in Supportive Care Facilities,' our Outreach and Senior Support Committee took the initiative to start a visitation program supporting vulnerable Muslim seniors in care. Our committee conducted research and groundwork for this project in 2023. Our research revealed that the only way to determine which facilities Muslim seniors reside in is through community outreach and direct contact with the facilities. There are nearly 50 supportive care facilities in Edmonton. We decided to focus on facilities in South and West Edmonton to keep the project manageable, especially since Al Rashid mosque already has a program in the North. Collaboration with other Muslim organizations was crucial for this project. In June 2023, our Education Chair, Khansa Rashid, provided training to 20 volunteers on the 'dos and don'ts' of visiting older adults. The volunteers received orientation of the facilities before commencing visits.