Once a month, Trillium United Church brings personal care professionals together under one roof for a pay-as-you-can clinic.
For seniors, it provides them with the opportunity to receive a service they might not otherwise have access to or be able to afford.
Among the services are foot care from an experienced registered nurse, haircuts by a stylist and barber, and therapeutic massages performed by a registered massage therapist.
Ruth Thompson has been involved in the program since it began and sees the benefit it has on the community.
"We take an evaluation every time so we can track their reaction and everyone is very appreciative," Thompson said.
"We have waiting lists, for foot care in particular, because there aren't enough in the community. There's other organizations referring people to us. We know there's a big need."
Thompson is responsible for securing grants to run the program. Any money paid by those receiving the service is used to fund future clinics.
Organizers ran a planning project back in 2022 to look into what the needs of residents were and what they found was isolation and low income, especially among older adults and those with disabilities, were barriers to accessing personal care.
"It's an important thing to do to make sure people have access to these health services," Thompson said.
"With foot care in particular, we can keep people out of doctors offices. Haircuts are an esteem issue and massages are a definite health issue."
The parish nurse, Sally White, is also on site to assess basic body function indicators like heart rate and blood pressure.
Dianne is one of the seniors from Cambridge that has been taking advantage of the clinics and said if it weren't for the pay structure, it would be difficult for her to attend.
"I saw a post about it on social media," she said about how it came to her attention.
"I'm retired, so some of these things are a strain on the budget. Everything is a strain on the budget these days. Otherwise, I'd have to go without."
One of the aspects of the clinic she enjoys the most is the friendly atmosphere.
Since emerging from pandemic isolation, it's not something she takes for granted.
"It's a chance to chat," she said.
"Especially post-COVID, you really treasure that. In my situation, living alone it was hard. It has the double benefit of having social time with the care I need, at a cost I can afford."
One more clinic will be run in June before a break in the summer. The clinics, which are done by appointment, pick back up in the fall.
For more information or to donate visit trilliumchurch.ca.
