National
Seniors’ Week June 3-9, 2018
2 Wednesday, May 30, 2018
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National Seniors’ Week
Pickleball
is a great way to exercise and socialize
June 3-9, 2018
BY TODD COLIN VAUGHAN todd.vaughan@reddeerexpress.com
The Red Deer Pickleball Club (RDPBC) continues to prosper and with an average club age of 55 — it is the ideal sport for seniors. Currently, there are over 200 members in the Club between the ages of 12 and 78, and the Club is looking forward to moving into their new home next year at St. Joseph High School, where 20 courts are being constructed to accommodate the needs of the growing sport. “The pickleball courts are going to be a big draw for Red Deer and also for tournaments,” Terry Hanasyk, vice president of of the RDPBC, said. Currently, the Club operates out of the Pines Community Centre outdoor courts — with players playing in multiple divisions according to their skills. Hanasyk said there are several competitive divisions, but many of the members go for the exercise of the paddle sport, which uses a wiffle ball on a area the size of a badminton court. “From a senior’s perspective, the motivation is to get people moving and get healthy,” he said. “From our perspective, keeping people active is part of what keeps people healthy and that can possibly reduce medical costs that would otherwise be needed.” Hanasyk reinforced the RDPBC is good for people of any age. “It is even good for kids who are 10 years old and playing,” he said. “They mix in well with the seniors and adults. Our average age is around 55 years old right now. “I’m 73 and I still play at a relatively high level. Our oldest
player is 78 years old and plays very well still. More young people are getting involved with playing pickleball now.” Hanasyk said the social aspect of pickleball is a real strength, especially for seniors who may be battling loneliness. “They may have no place to go or anyone to visit — their spouses may have passed away and they are sedentary at home,” he said. “We found with pickleball, it has given them a way to meet people and socialize.” Several of their members are also high-end athletes who are looking to continue to compete. “We are finding a large group of tennis players are moving over to pickleball,” he said. “They are moving over and like it quite a bit partly because you aren’t covering as much territory as a tennis court.” He added he hopes people from all over Central Alberta come try pickleball out. “We train people and we give them paddles to give it a try,” he said. “We will give them lessons and we find out if they like it and want to pursue it. “Even if they have never been an athlete in the past, they would be surprised to find people like them and they can be competitive at their own level of play.” He added the Club is excited to host their tournament from Aug. 10th-12th and they also are in the midst of making a bid for the national tournament once they have moved onto their new courts. “We are really excited about the new courts and there is a lot of buzz around the pickleball community,” he said. More information can be found at reddeerpickleballclub.com
Now renting the perfect space for Mom and Dad. Set on picturesque grounds in the city of Red Deer, Alberta, Victoria Park has been a trusted choice for area seniors since 1998. Our retirement community provides comfort, convenience and an all-inclusive range of services designed to give you the freedom to live as you please. Our talented staff caters to you every day with menu options full of flavour, variety and local flair, all brought to your table by a friendly server who knows your name, your favourite dishes - and even how you take your tea. Meals are personally prepared by our Executive Red Seal Chef. Please call Rob at 403-309-1957 to arrange for a free visit, and lunch.
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National Seniors’ Week June 3-9, 2018
Three tips
for preventing heatstroke this summer
Did you know that the feeling of thirst subsides with age? It’s true! As we get older, we feel less thirsty. That’s why the elderly are at greater risk of developing ailments such as dehydration and heatstroke. Here are three tips to help prevent discomfort this summer. 1. Drink lots of water Heatstroke happens when you neglect to keep yourself hydrated in a hot environment. Therefore, it’s essential to drink regularly and eat lots fruits and veggies with a high water content (e.g. citrus fruit, melons and cucumbers). Tip: always bring a reusable water bottle wherever you go. 2. Stay cool Turn your fans on and program your air conditioning system to maintain a comfortable room temperature. Keep your blinds and curtains closed during the day to prevent the sun’s rays from heating
up your home. When need be, find shelter in an air-conditioned area such as a grocery store, restaurant, shopping mall or pharmacy to keep your body temperature in check. 3. Exercise in the morning or evening When summer rolls around, plan your workout schedule according to the outside temperature. Exercise in the morning or evening when it’s nice and cool. Avoid strenuous activity during heat waves and those hotter times of day. Ask for help! Heatstroke should be treated as a medical emergency. If you or a loved one is experiencing dizziness, nausea, vomiting, headaches or any other worrying symptoms (e.g. rapid heart rate, irritated skin, confusion), call 911.
Are you
hydrated
enough?
Constipation, loss of balance, dementia, uncontrolled blood sugar — dehydration is a serious health problem commonly observed among the elderly. Why? With age, the body’s ability to feel thirst and retain water diminishes. Furthermore, age-related issues such as incontinence and reduced mobility can also lower the amount of fluids ingested overall. To prevent dehydration, make sure to: • Drink 1.5 to 2 litres of fluids each day (water, milk, juice, etc.). Tip: always keep a glass of water close at hand! • Avoid drinking too many diuretics (coffee, tea, etc.). • Eat lots of foods with a high water content (fruit, veggies, soup, fish, etc.). • Treat diarrhea and vomiting at the onset. Finally, pay careful attention to these warning signs: concentrated urine or reduced flow rate, dry mouth, weakness, weight loss, confusion, irritability, dizziness and extreme thirst. If you think you may be dehydrated, consult a health professional without delay!
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National Seniors’ Week Providing love and companionship for seniors June 3-9, 2018
OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2018
1-4 pm
MOVE IN
file photo
BY CARLIE CONNOLLY carlie.connolly@reddeerexpress.com
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ALL IN NCLUSIVE RETIREMENT LIVING
6 Daykin Street, Red Deer, AB Tel. No.: 403.309.6333 www.thehamletsatdeerpark.ca
Geared towards seniors’ comfort and enjoyment, Points West Living in Red Deer is dedicated to the Eden Alternative model of care. In other words, this refers to person centred care, focussing mainly on the individuals themselves and who they are in order to facilitate them in growing, learning and participating in thier own lives as they would in their own home. Points West opened their doors in 2016, starting off with one resident on Sept. 4th and expanding to 114 designated supportive living residents. Something unique is that they are pet-friendly, which can be a huge benefit to a senior’s mental health and overall well being. “The pet-friendly benefit comes from the Eden Alternative model of care, so essentially what is happening to our seniors in a lot of these supportive living communities is they are dying prematurely because of three reasons,” said Tracy Sutherland, general manager at Points West in Red Deer. Those reasons, she said, include loneliness, helplessness and boredom. “In order to combat those three – we call them three plagues – we develop an elder-centred community and create a human habitat where life revolves around close and continuing contact with people of all ages and abilities as well as
plants and animals.” She added that both their care partners and residents have animals in the building. “We have birds, cats, and a lot of our care partners bring their dogs to work every day. There’s rarely a day where you don’t see a pet wandering around,” said Sutherland. She added that by having these animals around the seniors, it provides love and companionship. They also offer a program called Opening Minds Through Art, which again gives seniors that sense of love and companionship. It was facilitated by the Alzheimer’s Society in conjunction with the Red Deer College nursing program and Points West Living. “We partnered a nursing student with one of our memory care residents on a one on one basis for 10 weeks. The residents got the same nursing student for 10 weeks so they formed a relationship and got together and created art,” said Sutherland. She added that it was mostly painting activities with their residents generating some amazing pieces of art. “It’s providing that love and companionship and it’s providing meaningful activities, so it’s something they can be themselves at and bring their passions out even if they didn’t know they had them.” Points West hopes to offer the program again on a regular basis with one in the fall and one in the spring.
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National Seniors’ Week June 3-9, 2018
Investor’s Group
Walk for Alzheimer’s
runs June 16th at Bower Ponds
BY MARK WEBER mark.weber@reddeerexpress.com
Join the Investor’s Group Walk for Alzheimer’s on June 16th at Bower Ponds to help fundraise for a most worthy cause. The walk starts out from the mainstage with registration set for 9 a.m. and the walk kicking off at 10 a.m. There is also a barbecue planned afterwards, said Kerrie Jobs, regional lead - community relations for the Alzheimer Society Alberta and Northwest Territories. Those interested in taking part can check out www.walkforalzheimers.ca. “The Alberta Alzheimer Society has provided more help for today and hope for tomorrow to more individual and families than ever before,” noted Jobs. “Last year, there were over 250 walks in places across Canada. In 2017, more than 25,000 walkers participated and raised over $4.9 million. “In Red Deer, we hope to again hit that $40,000 mark that we did last year,” she said, adding that in the Red Deer walk last year just over 100 people took part. The route at Bower Ponds is a 1.4km loop. “Some people do it twice, others do it three times. Some run around it, some walk - it doesn’t matter - whatever they like to do.” Pledges can be collected by participants - they can be picked up at the local Society office located at unit #1, 5550 - 45th St. or they can be downloaded and printed off from the web site as well. According to the Society, Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia, along with vascular dementia and other types such as Lewy Body dementia. Alzheimer’s disease makes up 62 per cent of dementia cases, whereas vascular dementia accounts for 18 per cent of dementias with the other types rounding out the total at 20 per cent. According to the Society, dementia is an overall term for a set of symptoms that are caused by disorders affecting the brain. “Symptoms may include memory loss and difficulties with thinking, problem-solving or language, severe enough to reduce a person’s
ability to perform everyday activities. A person with dementia may also experience changes in mood or behaviour. Dementia is progressive, which means the symptoms will gradually get worse as more brain cells become damaged and eventually die.” Meanwhile, the Investors Group Walk for Alzheimer’s is the Alzheimer Society Alberta and Northwest Territories’ largest community fundraiser. And with seven walks, more than 1,000 participants and more than $200,000 raised annually, the event is also described as a movement that galvanizes communities around a cause, according to the Society. “Funds raised go to our programs and services. Because we are 100 per cent non-profit, we rely totally on our donors so we can serve our clients.” Benefits from participating in the event run the gamut from being a community leader in supporting people living with dementia to engaging in meaningful conversations with walk attendees and promoting long-term relationships. It’s also an ideal way to show support for participating employees, clients, family and friends, according to the Society. “Each June, community members come together to raise both awareness and funds that help support the more than 42,000 Albertans living with dementia.” There are also lots of ways to help out with the Red Deer event including through cash sponsorship, in-kind support, donations of prizes as well as volunteering by helping out with the barbecue, handing out water, assisting with day of event management or joining a local planning committee. Jobs also pointed out how the Investor’s Group has now come onboard as the title sponsor for the entire country. Previously, they sponsored Alberta and B.C. and some other provinces, but now the company’s support is nation-wide which is a very welcome and thrilling development, she added. For more, visit www.walkforalzheimers.ca. The local office can also be reached by calling 403-342-0448.
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Celebrating National Senior’s Week June 3-9 -in able e ov vail m a es t i su
SENIOR LIVING IN A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY
www.collegesidegardens.com Located on the Red Deer College campus
403.357.3701
6 Wednesday, May 30, 2018
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National Seniors’ Week
Community Dining Program
June 3-9, 2018
an exciting service from the Golden Circle
BY MARK WEBER mark.weber@reddeerexpress.com
Staff and volunteers at the Golden Circle continue to develop and expand programming to reach more folks across the region. An exciting key way they are making yet more inroads into the community is via the
Community Dining Program. “The Community Dining Program was designed to work in the apartment buildings of the Piper Creek Foundation,” explained Monica Morrison, the Golden Circle’s executive director. “We have that partnership with Piper Creek, so we go into three of their buildings and have a dining program. The whole idea is to bring people
Drop-In Programs t Outreach Programs t Dining Room on Site t Rental Opportunities 4620-47A Avenue, Red Deer, AB
403-343-6074
together for an activity, a learning opportunity and some interaction to address social isolation as well as providing a hot meal. “We are also having the program here at the Golden Circle on Mondays and then we are expanding to Davenport Church with another community partnership this September - it will run the first and third Thursdays of the month,” she said. Morrison said anyone is welcome to sign up especially for the dinners at the Golden Circle and those planned for Davenport Church. “Community Dining Programs also work well for caregivers who want to bring the person they are looking after to get out of the house and get involved in some group activities. It can give them a little bit of free time as well because it’s staff-led, and there are volunteers involved too.” Ultimately, it really does go back to tackling the issue of social isolation. “We are reading more and more about the issue of social isolation, and that it’s really toxic to people’s health. There is so much research now. “It’s always been an issue,” she said, adding that it was being discussed several decades ago. But the demographics have changed significantly since then, and so has the scope of the problem. “It’s becoming a forefront issue because that whole demographic is expanding,” she said. “There are more people over the age of 65 now than those that are under the age of 14. “That means the 85-plus age group is also getting bigger as well. “So Community Dining Programs, the way I see it, are some of the first opportunities for our caregivers to connect with an out-of-home program. “The next step could be, for a longer period of time, into an adult day program.” Meanwhile, with the Community Dining
Program, Morrison said organizers also bring in speakers on an array of topics from heart and stroke, the Alzheimer’s Society and The Lending Cupboard among others. “It’s an opportunity for information and referral to other services that are available in the community as well.” There is a cost for the lunch of $8, and the food comes directly from the Golden Circle kitchen. “Transportation is also available for the clients who are either going to the Golden Circle dinner, or the ones coming up in Davenport.” Meanwhile, Morrison said other new services at the Golden Circle include escorted grocery shopping, telephone reassurance and security checks, telephone friendly visiting and program buddies. And overall, there continues to be much for folks to explore at the Golden Circle from fitness programs, musical concerts, Thursday evening dances, various support groups to all kinds of opportunities to learning brand new skills, she added. In terms of bolstering one’s fitness, there is the Sit and Be Fit program, the Zumba Gold Fitness Class, the Stretch, Flex & Strengthen program, the Move & Groove 50+ Fitness - just to name a few. A number of clubs are also held at the Golden Circle, including the Photography Club, Horseshoes Club, the Socrates Cafe (a philosophical discussion group) and the Red Deer Art Club. Looking ahead, on June 8th Shalom Counselling is coming in to do a workshop on downsizing, said Morrison. Also, on June 15th, which is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, there will be a presentation by Family Services on ‘No is an Answer.’ It’s open to the public as well. For more information, check out www.goldencircle.ca or call 403-343-6074.
Four great reasons
to stay active in retirement
Are you a recent retiree? While it’s completely natural to want to slow down a bit and get some well-deserved rest, keep in mind that it’s also important that you remain physically active. Here are four excellent reasons to keep exercising after you retire: 1. To prevent certain illnesses. Regularly taking part in physical activity is, unsurprisingly, excellent for your health. It helps stave off illnesses such as osteoporosis, diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure, to name just a few. 2. To stay happy. Exercise causes your body to release hormones (namely, endorphins and serotonin) that directly influence your mood. Studies also show a positive correlation between physical activity and reduced symptoms of depression.
3. To improve your social life. Retirement can leave your social life feeling a bit empty. Trying different group activities (swimming lessons, yoga classes, walking clubs) is a great way to meet new people and make new friends.
4. To achieve the best possible quality of life. Regular physical activity will help you sleep better, improve your balance and posture, reduce joint pain and stiffness, and contribute to maintaining your mobility and independence.
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National Seniors’ Week June 3-9, 2018
Lacombe’s Kozy Korner offers plenty for local seniors BY MARK WEBER mark.weber@reddeerexpress.com
Lacombe’s Kozy Korner holds plenty to enrich the lives of Lacombe and Central Alberta seniors There is also a full slate of events and activities planned to celebrate Seniors Week - June 4th-9th. “It was about 27 years ago or so that a whole bunch of folk got together and this hall was built by volunteers,” said Jack Friesen, treasurer at Kozy Korner. “Quite a few of them were farmers and were very handy, so they’d come out here with work bees and they would just hammer together the boards, plaster the walls and did everything to make this place what it is today. The Kozy Korner’s official opening was on Sept. 14th, 1979. “Since then it’s been continuously used — the purpose was and is to provide a meeting place.” There is walk-in coffee time every morning from 9 a.m. to noon and billiards runs those same hours as well downstairs. Other regular events through the week include Sunday music from 1:30 to 4 p.m.; carpet bowling and bridge on Mondays from 1 to 3:30 p.m. and dinner on Tuesdays from noon to 1 p.m. There is choir on Wednesdays from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. and also on Wednesdays are crafts and crib from 7 to 9 p.m. and church from 7 to 10 p.m. Enjoy cards on Thursday afternoons from 1 to 3 p.m. and round dancing from 7 to 10 p.m. On Fridays there is floor curling from 1 to 4 p.m. and church services run again on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. “We have over 200 members,” said Friesen, who along with his wife Trudy Friesen both attend functions at the Kozy Korner and volunteer their time as well. At to community events running through Seniors Week, kicking things off on June 4th, Lacombe FCSS is hosting an ‘Afternoon at the Movies’ at Lacombe City Cinema. Also on Monday from 8 to 9 a.m. is a free
water fitness class at the Kinsmen Aquatic Centre and a free low impact water fitness class from 11:15 a.m. to noon. On June 5th, a fun fitness session runs at Burman University from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., with a light snack served as well. An ice cream social is also set to run from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at the Lacombe Hospital Extended Care. A free water fitness class runs June 6th from 8 to 9 a.m. and a low impact water fitness class runs from 11:15 a.m. to noon as well at the Kinsmen Aquatic Centre. A Kozy Korner Strawberry Tea runs June 6th as well from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. On June 7th, enjoy a bus tour of local murals at 10 a.m. — meet at the Lacombe Memorial Centre. There is also a Lacombe Legion Tea & Entertainment Gospel set to run from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. On June 8th, there’s a Come & Go Coffee with the Lacombe Writers Group at the Lacombe Memorial Centre and a fashion show from 2 to 4 p.m. hosted by the Lacombe Foundation at the Seniors Lodge. Art in the Garden runs June 9th at the Michener House from 10 a.m. to noon. Meanwhile, there is always room for more folks at the Kozy Korner, both in terms of just being a part of things but also in several volunteer roles. The Friesens say it’s a great place to make new friends as well, particularly for those new to the community. “Come down, have a look and see what we are doing,” said Trudy. “Every Tuesday we have the dinner, so if someone feels like they want to work in the kitchen with us for example, they can come and see what we are doing and pitch in where every they want to.” Jack adds that he always enjoys dropping by for coffee. “And it’s at a senior price,” he added with a laugh. For more about the Lacombe Kozy Korner Community Centre, call 403-782-6216. For more about Seniors Week activities around town, call 403-782-6637.
Lacombe Express file photo
Discover five benefits of
knitting
Did you know that knitting has positive effects on both your physical and your mental health? Whether you’re a lifelong enthusiast or a curious beginner, these five benefits are sure to convince you to break out your needles more often! 1. Knitting fosters mindfulness. Studies have demonstrated that knitting, like meditation, can induce a state of calm mindfulness that has a positive influence on your mood and mind mindset. 2. Knitting helps h reduce stress and anxiety. Knitting contributes to lowering your heart rate and blood pressure, making it an excellent hobby for rela relaxing and escaping your troubles. 3. Knitting contributes c to keeping your brain healthy. The act of knitting stimulates communication between your neurons and may help to p event age-related pr age-rel prevent memory loss. What’s more, it may even help fight diseas such as dementia. diseases 4. Knitting helps ease arthritis. In addition to improving your agility and range of motion, knitting does a world of good for your joints. The constant involvement of your go ffingers and hands keeps joints moisturized and thus less llikely to develop arthritic pain. 5. Knitting boosts self-esteem. Like many other creative hobbies, knitting can become a great source of pride and h accomplishment. Making something from scratch with your own two hands is certainly rewarding!
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