For 16 years, Chilliwack's Time Out program has given Audrey Hohn a place to go, to socialize, learn new things, see new things. It's kept her brain fresh, and her heart beating.

"It's been my lifeline for 16 years," said the 82-year-old, who was one of the program's first participants when it started in 1993. "I'd be stuck without it."

Hohn, along with hundreds of other seniors in Chilliwack, now fear that lifeline may soon be cut.

Last week, the Fraser Health Authority notified the Chilliwack and District Senior Resources Society that it would be making a 100 per cent cut to the society's Time Out program, amounting to $77,000, starting Sept. 30.

If the society can't come up with $120,000, the total cost of the program, it will be scrapped.

Chilliwack residents did not take the news lightly.

More than 150 seniors, as well as a few teenagers and middle-age adults, gathered at the Mount Cheam Lions Club Hall on Tuesday morning to rally against the cut.

The Time Out program provides a variety of social and recreational programs for at-risk seniors, who otherwise would be stuck at home, often alone.

Ninety seniors are directly affected by the funding cut, and more than 800 indirectly.

"It's time the government got its priorities straight and realize where our money should be spent," said Time Out volunteer Myrna Sakata. "They should be bringing meaning to the people of this province."

"Give the money back to the people who need these programs," said senior John Boyle.

The FHA cited the economic downturn as the reason for tightening its purse strings.

But, Jillian Armit, support and education coordinator for the Alzheimer Society Chilliwack branch, said that a cut to the program would actually cost the government more money in the long run.

"This program reduces isolation, it gets people out of their houses, stimulates their brains, reduces depression ... losing it will actually leave a huge gap in services," said Armit. "I can see seniors' health declining more quickly, more people filling emergency beds and long-term care beds as a result."

Letters opposing the cut have been sent to Premier Gordon Campbell, the B.C. Health Minister, and Chilliwack MLAs John Les and Barry Penner. A Facebook page is also being created to recruit even more community support.

"We need help from everybody here," said Al Hunt, president of the society. "We need financial help and moral help ... we've been quiet for too long."

When contacted by The Progress, Chilliwack MLA John Les sympathized with the Senior Resource Society's concerns, but still agreed with the FHA's decision to cut funding.

"While this program is much appreciated and has value, it is not really directly health related," said Les. "The health authority is under pressure to balance the budget and it's had to make some less than popular decisions, this being one of them ... core health care services have to be funded first."

Given that Time Out operates under the direction of two paid positions and 27 volunteer positions, Les is hopeful the program will continue, even without FHA funding.

Senior programs in Langley and White Rock also had funds cut by the FHA.

krobinson@theprogress.com