Mission’s John Michaels used to be a very different person.

After losing his sight, the ability to drive his own car, and less contact with the community, he sank into a powerful depression.

Michaels, who lives in an apartment on 12 Avenue, was getting regular visits from a mental health nurse until one day the depression lifted, and the nurse said he didn’t require her help anymore.

It was the Friendly Visitor program, administered by Mission Community Services Society (MCSS), that he asserts pulled him through the veil of depression.

And the Friendly Visitor program is one of the dozens across the Fraser Health Authority getting axed to help make up an over $130-million budgetary shortfall.

“I think that’s a terrible mistake,” said Michaels. “I don’t think the costs are all that much.”

Carole Farrier comes to visit with Michaels once a week, between three and four hours a time. They’ll go out for coffee, get groceries or just chat. The Mission volunteer said there are lots of shut-ins locally, and many are on waiting lists for a Friendly Visitor.

According to MCSS, the FHA provided approximately $20,000 annually to the program, which helped hire staff to provide professional supervision, training and screening to volunteers, which ensured the program met its goals.

“The cutbacks are an unfortunate reality in tough economic times,” said MCSS executive director Tony Lapointe. “It’s a short-term solution that will ultimately cost Fraser Health more in the long run. We are looking for alternative funding.”

The program manager for senior services at MCSS said this cut will have a “huge impact” on the lives of seniors.

“The seniors who it serves are usually not able to get out on their own and are often physically and socially isolated. Many live at-risk yet are not yet eligible for a care home placement,” said Suzanne Vermeer.

The program is the watchful eye of a volunteer who through years of visiting often is now a primary support and friend to the senior, she continued.

NDP health critic Adrian Dix was in Mission Wednesday afternoon speaking to MCSS about the local program.

He contends many of the programs for seniors, such as the Friendly Visitor program, have been in place for decades, and now government has said they’re finished within 30 days.

“These are the programs that help keep people out of acute care hospitals,” he said. “These are key programs. There’s been no notice and no consultation. Mission seniors are paying a serious price.”

Service by the numbers

Mission Community Services has provided services to seniors since 1972.

During 2008, 77 volunteers provided information and referrals to 2,800 seniors, completed over 800 income tax returns, delivered 4,557 meals, transported seniors on 205 local shopping trips and 530 medical appointment rides, provided 27 field trips and 1,320 hours of friendly visiting.