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Outdoor activities to break the isolation of Liège senior citizens
The City of Liège, led by mayor Willy Demeyer, is launching a new initiative for isolated senior citizens: they will have the opportunity to go, among other things, for a walk with volunteers and animators.
Following the measures decreed by the government authorities, the City of Liège had to decide, for the second time, a few months ago, to suspend all activities in the Seniors’ Houses and the Intergenerational Houses. These activities are, for many seniors, their only social contacts and punctuate their week. Everyone has already seen that social isolation due to confinement has affected all age categories, in particular the older ones.
In this context, initiatives such as the Liège Solidaire make it possible to maintain an essential link with other people and to get any kind of needed help.
In order to break the isolation of senior citizens in the City of Liège, always respecting the health rules, the City is proposing a new initiative. The goal is to get seniors out of isolation through an outdoor activity that allows them to get some fresh air and chat in complete safety.
At the moment, outdoor gatherings are limited to four people. With this parameter to be respected, the City of Liège therefore wishes to propose a resumption of contacts between the leaders and the seniors within the framework of external gatherings with three participating seniors and a maximum of one guide. These meetings could also be an opportunity to go for a walk or, for example, to practice Nordic walking.
Depending on the requests, there will be the possibility of following walking routes in the neighborhoods prepared by the animators or taking tourist walks, visits to cemeteries or some urban heritage.
A call for volunteers who could take part in these outdoor activities will be launched. For example, a person could take three seniors for a walk in their neighborhood, a young physical education student could offer adapted coaching, etc.
The call for volunteers will take place via the Liège Solidaire call center, by email and through social networks. Naturally, all protocols will be respected and even if the activities will take place outside, wearing a mask will be compulsory.
