CJNU radio’s Frank Stecky talked with Aging Well Together Coalition organizations and other invited organizations about resources and opportunities available for older Manitobans. Here we provide highlights from the CJNU conversation with 2-1-1 Director, Daniel Leonard. To listen to the full interview (originally aired July 7, 2023) go to: https://www.cjnu.ca/agingwell/
“Having a real person to talk to…has been a real boost for people” – Daniel Leonard, Director of 2-1-1 Manitoba (radio interview CJNU)
What is 2-1-1 Manitoba?
2-1-1 Manitoba is a free telephone service that provides information on health, community, and social services throughout the province of Manitoba. 2-1-1 Manitoba is managed by the United Way Winnipeg. By dialing 2-1-1 on your phone, people are connected to a System Navigator— a trained person who can help find services and programs and resources in Manitoba.
211 Manitoba is the front door to community-based government, health and social services designed to meet the needs of diverse populations, across all different aspects of life. It is a free, confidential service available 24 hours a day, seven days a week in more than 150 languages, including 4 Indigenous languages. (Taken from: About 211 MB | Manitoba)
Highlights from the CJNU radio Interview
One of the topics that Daniel Leonard spoke about during the radio interview was the value of being able to talk to a real person and in a language of preference.
“Having a real person to talk to… has been a real boost for people” – Daniel Leonard, Director of 2-1-1 Manitoba (radio interview CJNU)
“We offer services in 150 different languages” – Daniel Leonard, Director of 2-1-1 Manitoba (radio interview CJNU)
Daniel Leonard also spoke about the benefits of being able to get assistance and help in finding health services, legal services, social, and community services that are all tailored to where an individual lives in Winnipeg and Manitoba.
“If you call 2-1-1, we are going to get you where you need… in the best way that we possibly can… you can call us and we can find something that is an appropriate service for you and that is close to you.” – Daniel Leonard, Director of 2-1-1 Manitoba (radio interview CJNU)
“Navigating different systems can be challenging… With the 211-phone line, you can talk to a trained operator, who can help you right away.” – Daniel Leonard, Director of 2-1-1 Manitoba (radio interview CJNU)
In discussing how older adults can access the confidential and free telephone line, Daniel Leonard discussed how a significant proportion of calls come from older adults, and for a variety of reasons such as isolation, and underscored the importance of having a trained person who can connect people to the services they need.
“Approximately 20% of our calls are from seniors… Especially in the pandemic, and continuing, we get a lot of phone calls from people who are feeling isolation… maybe they are dealing with mental health, maybe they are dealing with grief… a whole bunch of different things… When you call 2-1-1 you get a person to talk to.” – Daniel Leonard, Director of 2-1-1 Manitoba (radio interview CJNU)
More information:
There is also a 2-1-1 Manitoba website that has a searchable on-line database of organizations and programs. Live Chat is also available on the website for text-based help. Visit: https://mb.211.ca/
To listen to the full CJNU interview as well as other Aging Well Updates go to: https://www.cjnu.ca/agingwell/