In Quebec, a senior on 5 does not have loved ones to count on. Isolation factors in persons of an older age can be the departure for retirement, the loss of loved ones, physical and cognitive limitations or better still poverty. This isolation causes suffering and is detrimental to global health.
To remedy this problem, the non-profit organization (NPO) les Petits Freres gave itself a mission to go against isolation of seniors who are alone (75 years old and over). In operation since 1962, the organization is present in 12 regions in Quebec and has 95 employees.
In order to better understand the functioning and impact of the organization, I interviewed the co-ordinator for Mercier – Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, and in addition meeting two Great Friends (seniors).
The co-ordinator for Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve
His professional path
Social worker by profession, the co-ordinator worked very much in the community sector, particularly in youth centres, homelessness, mental health, drug addiction, defense of the rights of the unemployed, etc. In 2020, he did an internship at Les Petits Frères, got a taste for it, and was hired. He asserts that the values of the NPO are consistent with his own, namely respect, empathy and social justice.
His vision of the mission of Les Petits Frères
According to the co-ordinator, the mission of Les Petits Freres is a little off the beaten track. Often, the organizations concentrate on food assistance or intervention, whereas Les Petits Freres offer to seniors the socialization:
“ We build a big family around these people. We go through volunteer action to break isolation. By matching a volunteer with a Great Friend and by the organization of social activities, we check that there is always someone not far that thinks about these people. ”
His responsibilities
The responsibilities of the co-ordinator are the hiring and training of new volunteers as well as to ensure that the matchings of volunteers and Great Friends go smoothly. The co-ordinator sometimes intervenes when a senior for example has more difficulties or when the matching goes less well. The responsibilities of the co-ordinator are also to maintain links between local partners (ex. CLSC, résolidaire, chic resto pop) and to be present on the borough’s round tables.
'' It's not pure intervention, I don't have an intervention plan, but it's to check in. I am a facilitator in difficult situations. In general, it goes well, I do not have to do this type of intervention, but if needed, I can do it. ''
The working atmosphere
According to the co-ordinator, the team of Les Petits Frères is made up of managers and accessible colleagues. It’s a job that makes it possible to deal with a lot of people, and there is a good diversity of things to do.
'' It’s really fun. It’s one of my first jobs where I get up in the morning and I’m motivated to go to work. Colleagues are very easy to approach. The managers are very transparent, very open, available especially. So, it’s a work environment that’s super positive. We also have good working conditions in general. ''
The strengths of the work team
The co-ordinator says that the managers are very attentive, very sensitive to what their employees experience and they are very close to the field. According to him, the principal strength of the work team is agility:
'' We are agile because if there is a complex situation, we adapt. We talk about food insecurity these days. There is a Great Friend that is facing this problem. We ask ourselves what can we do as an organization? ''
The co-ordinator maintains that les Petits Frères is an organization open to try new approaches, and that in this sense, it demonstrates agility.
Job retention
The co-ordinator maintains this job because he likes stability:
'' I see myself passing my career at Les Petits Frères. I may not see myself staying co-ordinator, but there are possibilities to move up the ladder. ''
Sense of competence at work
He feels that he is a good co-ordinator. Concerning aspects where he is less confident, this is compensated with training (e.g. training in office automation, on mourning, aging and movement of beneficiaries).
Opening up to new opportunities
Les Petits Frères relies heavily on the potential of its employees. Studies are encouraged by the organization, or even paid for to the extent that it is successful. Les Petits Frères puts a lot of incentives for the employees to develop their knowledge, skills and abilities. For example, the co-ordinator will start a certificate in organizational leadership at HEC next session. He plans to focus his training on non-profit organizations.
'' It’s important to name our ambitions. I’m not in a rush but I’m aiming for a management position. I prove myself on the field, but yes eventually it’s something that would interest me. And there is an interest from my managers to see me progress. ''
Proud of an accomplishment
The co-ordinator is proud to have contributed to the number of persons that are accompanied in Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve that have doubled since he has held the position.
'' And the volunteers are very happy. In general, I have a good relationship with my volunteers and they have told me so. ''
A challenge
The co-ordinator is sometimes a witness to situations of distress and ill-being experienced by the Great Friends. He puts in place resources to help them, but sometimes the resources are non-existent, there's a waiting time or there’s no availabilities.
'' There are elderly that call me. Can you come remove the cockroaches from my house? These are extremely difficult situations, we try to make up for it, but we cannot do everything. I have to refer, and even if I make a referral, it’s not a guarantee that there will be a follow-up. There are situations where you feel helpless. ''
A lot in the Cote-des-neiges cemetery
The co-ordinator says that les Petits Frères think about the Great Friends until the end and even after. The organization has a lot at the Cote-des-neiges cemetery and help the people who do not have funeral arrangements.
Funding for the organization
Les Petits Frères has a philanthropy department. With an annual budget of 6 million dollars, the organization receive a grant annually (15% of the budget) and benefits from the profits of the boutique les Petits Frères (15% of the budget). Les Petits Frères organizes annual financial campaigns; there are private foundations that are solicited; there are people that make donations through their estate. All in all, private funding gives the organization a lot of flexibility.
A Great Friend (X)
Her life history
X, a Franco-Ontarian, is 85 years old. After the death of his mother when he was in his early twenties, he joined les Pères Oblats. He studied religious studies and philosophy, and stopped his studies right before priesthood. He later worked at l'Office de techniques des diffusions nationales and at the Office national du film du Canada. He later became real estate agent, which led him to travel. He retired at the age of 60. On a relational level, he is single. He has been a member of les Petits Frères for 7 years. On a daily level, it is mainly the visits that occupy him.
What he loves about Les Petits Frères
X has known les Petits Frères because of a friend. He agrees that les Petits Frères is a necessity among seniors.
He loves going to Oka, a resort for the Great Friends and the volunteers.
'' Oka enables me to meet people and to take me out from my isolation. ''
X also benefits from the help of a volunteer from les Petits Frères (e.g. cutting hair, driving to appointments, etc.). They like to talk together.
'' I am lucky, I have someone from les Petits Frères that looks after me. ''
What should be improved within les Petits Frères
X says he is not officially paired with this volunteer because this last wants to take care of other people at the same time.
'' I am matched but I am not matched. ''
On the other hand, X lacks group activities: '' We have less opportunities to meet and fraternize than we had before. ''
He would like to replace the coffee-dessert formula at head office by a complete meal (as it was the case before):
'' Contrary to the coffee-dessert formula, with the meals, we really have the opportunity to talk with the people. And we have a chance to be matched with someone at that time. ''
A Great Friend (Y)
Her life history
Y is a lady of 96 years old. She started to study music at an early age. Music always was part of her life. Presently, she is teaching piano to 3 students.
'' If music would not have existed in my life, I feel like I would have been adrift. Because I had many trials in my life. So, that’s what helped me enormously because music is food for the soul and body. This is also what feeds my old age. ''
Y obtained her degree in piano from the Académie de musique de Québec. In addition to giving private piano lessons, she worked seven years for her father who was a notary. She was also a medical secretary in the operating room at the Sacré Coeur Hospital. Later, she got married and she had a daughter, who was born with a physical handicap.
'' When she was born, I asked myself what am I going to do? Today, I ask myself what will I do without her. '' Her daughter managed to overcome her handicap and studied for a long time (doctorate in law).
'' I think that God gives us strength, she drives her car, she is very independent, she travelled around the world. ''
Y states that she is living a nice period of her life and that it is well organized. A day she does an activity, the day after she rests, that’s the way she keeps her balance.
The pandemic
It’s the pandemic that led Y to knock on the door of les Petits Frères. She was very lonely. During this period, les Petits Frères would call her once a week and would send her a nice text.
Her pairing with a volunteer
Y has a very good relationship with her volunteer, who provides her with moral support: '' Les Petits Frères sent me a volunteer, a French woman in her early fifties, a marathon runner. She is so pleasant and extraordinary. ''
The two women see each other once a week (soon once every two weeks), they play scrabble together: '' Because my brain is important, I must make it work. '' They discuss of all sorts of things like world events. In addition, Y teaches piano free of charge to her volunteer.
Group activities
Y participated in an Easter brunch, an activity she enjoyed. She also liked attending testimonial conferences at a school.
In fact, Y would like that les Petits Frères organize more group meetings with discussion topics each time.
Conclusion
Les Petits Frères offers to seniors socialization and breaks their isolation.
The co-ordinator in Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve ensures that the pairings between volunteers and Great Friends go well. He reports a nice working environment and a team equipped with good adaptability. He is proud of the number of Great Friends that has doubled in his sector since he took office. He wants to have a career with les Petits Frères with the ambition to become a manager. He sometimes finds it difficult to witness situations of distress experienced by Great Friends.
According to Great Friend X, les Petits Frères is a necessity for the senior community. He likes particularly the resort in Oka, where he has the opportunity to break his isolation. It would be relevant to clarify the pairing of X, which is not completely satisfactory. In addition, the pairing between Y and her volunteer is very successful. Finally, the two Great Friends would like more group activities to be organized.