This year more than ever, the Cochrane community has come together to show their support for residents living in Cochrane's long-term care facilities.

The town's senior population has particularly felt the effects of COVID-19, and Cochranites have shown support through window visits, car parades and making hand-crafted cards. Now, there's an opportunity for Cochrane residents to 'Adopt a Senior Artist' at Points West Living.

Local Cochrane resident Wendy Maguire is the owner of Crock A Doodle in Royal Oak. Maguire's business has teamed up with Points Living in Cochrane to host a number of arts initiatives for the residents of the facility.

She says that while Crock A Doodle is able to offer the events at discounted rates, the cost has still been a factor for many of the seniors at the facility.

"We always do the best that we can as a small business, especially with these particular groups to kind of reduce our cost and pricing to them," says Maguire."I know that [for] some of the seniors there it was almost subsidized by Points West. They were paying half, Points West was paying half. We were trying to find a way to make it affordable for them."

Crock A Doodle and Points West are teaming up for an upcoming "Spring Birch Tree Project," and in trying to ensure that cost isn't an obstacle for the senior residents wanting to participate Maguire came up with the 'Adopt a Senior Artist' program.

"I wondered if it was getting to be a bit much in regards to how much was out of pocket, how many people might have been feeling unable to attend or constrained by the cost," says Maguire. "I proposed to them that maybe we could work something where 'what do you think? maybe we could put it out there and this way the seniors on-site could paint and not have to pay out of pocket directly and not affect their pocketbooks as much."

Cochranites who would like to adopt a senior artist and help to support them in a fun and creative outlet can do so online.

Maguire says that if you wish to support an artist anonymously you can, or you can also send your senior artist a personal message of encouragement.

"We do have a comments section online if you did want to indicate and let them know that this family says hi, or this family is supporting you in the arts," says Maguire. "We can definitely pass along any information they wish and if they want to remain anonymous as well, that's totally their call."

The Spring Birch Tree Project is scheduled to take place at Points West Living in Cochrane on Sunday, February 28, from noon to 2 pm and there are currently seven spots still available to adopt a senior artist.