Durham College (DC) students enrolled in the Personal Support Worker (PSW) program had a unique opportunity to learn outside of the classroom as a result of a collaboration between the college and the City of Oshawa. Recognizing the impacts COVID-19 has had on many vulnerable populations, PSW students studied the challenge of isolation in older adult communities during the pandemic and explored ways to address their unique needs, given that many do not have the financial resources or abilities to use digital technology.

Working with the Oshawa Senior Community Centres (OSCC55+), the students implemented a number of programs in response to the identified challenges, including:

• Pen pal initiative, delivering cards and letters to isolated seniors.
• Reading buddies, which paired isolated seniors with students who would read stories by phone.
• Senior-hour video segments, created by students from DC’s Future Writing and Publishing Course as a way to highlight the PSW student initiatives. The segments were made available to OSCC55+ clients through their website.

The collaboration offered students the chance to gain meaningful, first-hand experience in their future industry, while responding to real-life issues taking place in their own community.