VACCINE DREAM TEAM
Tigrena Domi, centre, general manager and registered nurse at Shoreview at Riverside, is joined by her colleagues, from left, Carrie Hollinsky, Erin Charney and Nadia Mancini, pictured on Friday. The group created and participate in a volunteer program to help get seniors registered and then taken to get COVID-19 vaccinations.
Tigrena Domi has experienced too many final farewells and counted too many tears during the pandemic to allow a struggle with technology to keep another senior from a life-protecting vaccination.
Motivated by the frustrations of a 78-year-old woman she was making a wellness check on, Domi and a small group of nurses on staff at Shoreview at Riverside retirement home have become “vaccination angels.”
Working in their spare time, the group of five began registering seniors through pharmacies to get their shots this past week.
“We're doing it on our own time because we've all seen the devastation COVID has taken on the elderly in the last year,” said Domi, Shoreview's general manager and a registered practical nurse.
“We're determined to not see another elderly person die because they couldn't get registered for a vaccine. The last year has felt like a war against an enemy you can't see.”
Domi said when seniors reach out to her team by phone, they collect their OHIP information and postal code and enter it into the registration system.
“We list ourselves as contacts, so that we also get an email when their appointment has been set, so we can ensure the individual is aware,” Domi said. “We'll even provide transportation for those that need it.”
With Shoreview residents and staff now protected through vaccinations, the program isn't an internal one.
It's aimed at the outside community and, since the 78-year-old woman became the first person they've helped get a vaccination this past Wednesday, Domi said 10 more seniors have been registered.
Three churches are now partnering with her group to help identify others.
Those needing help or anyone interested in assisting with the program can reach Domi at 519819-0518.
“We have to remember this is a generation of pre-boomers and early boomers who didn't grow up using computers daily or may not even have a computer or smartphone,” Domi said.
“The system isn't user friendly for the elderly. They're used to picking up the phone and talking to someone.
“That's not happening and they feel they're getting bounced around and they give up.”
Domi said those seeking help are coming from the city's core and west end, both known COVID-19 hot spots.
While some seeking help have no family in the area, other seniors are limited by transportation and mobility issues.
“Many have family here, but because of socio-economic situations, their family members have to work two or three jobs and can't take them for vaccines,” said Domi, who hopes to take advantage of the Windsor-essex Regional Chamber of Commerce's new free cab ride program to vaccination sites for support.
Though it's early days for the program, Domi has seen what getting a shot means to seniors and their families.
“The relief they compare it to is the elation in the air after the Second World War was won,” Domi said. “Anne (the 78-year-old woman) was ecstatic after getting her shot. She told us she'd pray for us every day.
“She said she'd been living in fear for a year, mostly locked away in her apartment. This was a step toward normalcy.”