FREE Webinar: December 13th at noon

TAKING CARE OF YOU: Loss, grief & coping with change

Presented by: Kamara Tayo-Jones, MSW, RSW, Clinical Social Worker &Therapist, Wellness Institute

Funded by the Government of Canada's New Horizons for Seniors Program

Learning Objectives:

• Explore loss, grief and the grieving process
• Describe the relationship between grief, anxiety, sadness and stress
• Recognize the causes of stress and why managing stress is important.
• Identify lifestyle changes that you can make to help you cope.
• Discuss strategies that can help you make those changes.

To register https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/regi.../5556495688030312461

Senior Centre Without Walls through A & O: Support Services for Older Adults offers free educational and recreational programs over the phone. The program reaches out to socially isolated older adults 55+ living in Manitoba. Individuals and groups are welcome. There is no cost to register.  We will call in all registered participants 10 minutes before programming begins.  Participants will also be given a toll free number to access programs on their own if needed (no pins or access codes required).

Please view our upcoming Program Guide in the attachment provided, which is now live on our website at: https://www.aosupportservices.ca/our-three-pillars/social-engagement/senior-centre-without-walls/.

In our guide you will find the following topics and more!

• Welcome to Senior Centre Without Walls!
• Fact or Fiction
• Canadian Pacific Railway
• The Tudors
• Men’s Sheds
• Health and Wellness Presentations: Pharmacy Safety, Homecare, Thyroid, Psychology
• Travelogues:  Drumheller, Northeastern United States and more!
• Music Therapy, Art Therapy and Meditation
• Celebrity Bingo, Fun and Games
• Book Club, Short Stories and Poetry (read aloud)
• Observances & Celebrations:  Black History Month, Valentine’s Day, Rabbie Burns Day and more!

Archwood 55 Plus Inc. 2022 Fundraiser with Ron Paul Garden Centre

Purchase holiday poinsettias and gift cards from Ron Paul Garden Centre.  Your purchases will help raise funds to support our club and keep us going strong!

PLACE YOUR ORDERS by:

1) Phoning the Ron Paul Garden Centre; or 2) personally going into the Centre.

• 1)     PHONE: 204 -257-2893 AND PRESS 1 to speak to staff to place your order.  Pay over the phone, using a credit card.  Or pay in person when picking up your order.
• 2)     DRIVE to Ron Paul Garden Centre address: 2641 ST. MARY’S ROAD, Winnipeg (south of the perimeter). Pay in person using cash, debit, credit or Ron Paul Garden Centre gift cards.

Note: For each order, (phone or in-person), be sure to tell them that this is an order for the Archwood 55 Plus Fundraiser.

HOLIDAY POINSETTIAS (6 inch potted plant)

Price per plant: $20.00 (Includes tax).  Three colours available: red, white or pink. Order early to get your favorite colour! 

NOTE: Deadline for poinsettia purchases: Wednesday, December 14/22.

GIFT CARDS (Cards have no expiry date)

Purchase for any dollar value and use to buy any product for sale at Ron Paul Garden Centre. 

NOTE: Deadline for gift card purchases: Thursday, December 22/22.

Holiday Extended Hours of operation: Mon-Sat: 9 am-9pm and Sun: 9am-6pm

Tell Us - What Supports and Service do You Need to Age in Place?

We want to hear from you. We are pleased to be working with Parachute Canada on this initiative to hear from older adults across Canada. Join us on Wednesday, Nov. 23 from 12-1:30pm (Eastern) at the third event in a series of Community Conversations. This online session will focus on maintaining independence through community supports and services. Together, we’ll have a virtual discussion on the supports and services you feel you need to age in place and how to proactively plan for the future.

Registration information here:

https://us14.campaign-archive.com/?e=__test_email__&u=2c6611109dd93b6c70f4aee89&id=5c17846100

Volunteer Opportunity: Dementia-Friendly Community Presentations

The Alzheimer Society of Manitoba is currently recruiting volunteers aged 55+ to visit community groups to share information about dementia-friendly communities between December 2022 and March 2023.

Under the direction of the Dementia-Friendly Community Program Manager, volunteers will travel to various organizations to provide 1-hour presentations on how to make businesses and communities more accessible to people living with dementia.

Mileage costs are covered for volunteers. Times, dates, and locations of presentations will vary.

For more information, please contact Nicole McDonald at nmcdonald@alzheimer.mb.ca

Applied Business Management Students will host a Winter Market on Saturday, November 26 from 10 - 3. Admission is free.  The day will include a pancake breakfast from 10:00 - 11:30, pictures with Santa, and fun activities for children. There will be booths featuring arts, crafts, and food items from community crafters.

Everyone can fall down. But as we get older, changes happen to our body that can increase the risk of falling. For seniors, falls are a top cause of getting injured and ending up in hospital.¹ 

Many factors increase our risk as we age. Here are some examples:

·     Vision: Problems like cataracts make it harder to do things like safely step off a curb.

·     Leg strength: When we were younger, we could rebalance and recover if we tripped on something left on the floor. As we age, reduced leg strength might mean that we fall instead.

·     Foot problems: Issues like foot pain, week muscle strength, poor range of motion in your ankle, and bunions can increase your chance of a fall.

·     Bladder control: People who have urinary incontinence might need to rush to the bathroom. That increases the risk of tripping and falling.

·     Your surroundings: The environment you live in can put you at risk. For instance, loose rugs on the floor or clutter can create tripping hazards.

New guidelines for preventing falls

Researchers have recently published up-to-date guidelines for preventing falls.² These new guidelines tell health care providers how to assess your risk for falling and what to do about it. 

The good news is that there are actions you can take to prevent falls! The guidelines describe how to reduce risks. Some focus on the person themselves, their health and their fitness. Others focus on the environment a person moves in. This article will focus on recommendations for exercise for community-dwelling older adults. Tips on reducing other risks are in the resource section below.

Exercise guidance to prevent falls

The guidelines describe the type of exercise that can help prevent falls, depending a person’s level of risk – low, intermediate, or high.

 

Low risk for a fall

‘Low’’ is defined as not having had a fall in the last year. The goal is to prevent falls in the future and the recommendation is to follow current physical activity guidelines. By being physically active and maintaining your fitness, you decrease fall risk indirectly through its positive impact on stating physically fit, avoiding muscle loss and frailty and having good heart health.

 

Canadian physical activity guidelines recommend doing aerobic, muscle strengthening, flexibility, and balance exercises. You want to build up so that the activities are challenging and keep setting goals to get fitter and stronger.

The recommendation also includes attending a falls prevention or age-well information session in your community. Ask your health care provider for a referral to a fall prevention program.

 

If you live with osteoporosis, it is a good investment to get advice from an exercise professional. They can reduce your risk of fracture while being active.

 

Medium risk for a fall

This is defined as having had a fall in the last year, plus having issues with mobility or balance. For this risk level, it is important to concentrate on improving your balance and your lower leg strength. Then you can take part in a wider range of activities safely and with confidence.

Your exercises should be challenging and focus on the balance and strength you need for the tasks of daily life. Look for supervised exercise classes that focus on balance, gait, and leg strength. This is a great way to learn about these exercises in a safe environment and ensure you have an effective program.  

 

High risk for a fall

High risk means one or more serious falls in the last year, particularly if the fall needed medical attention. The goal is to prevent falling again with an overall assessment and plan. This would take a look at you as a whole person -- your medical issues, what you can do physically, and what kinds of activity you prefer. If you are at high risk for another serious fall, talk with your health care provider and other people in your life who help support or care for you. Together, you can discuss the benefits and burdens of each part of the plan. When you are ready for exercise, a safe, supervised routine with a qualified therapist is your best choice.

 

This November, make the effort

Physical activities can be changed to suit anyone’s physical ability or health condition. So, this Fall, take action to prevent falls. Physical activity is a big part of that!

 

All of Active Aging Canada’s network articles are available here.

Resources

World Falls Guidelines Resources: https://worldfallsguidelines.com/resources

Take this self-assessment quiz to learn more about your falls risk: https://findingbalancealberta.ca/risk/

Fall prevention among older adults: https://parachute.ca/en/injury-topic/fall-prevention-for-seniors/

Online resources for older adults and caregivers including home safety, healthy eating, and staying active, and vision-related tips: https://www.fallpreventionmonth.ca/adults/additional-resources-adults/information-for-older-adults-and-caregivers

 

Learn more about specific balance exercises to reduce falls:

https://www.activeagingcanada.ca/newsletter/active-aging-network/v01-issue005-2021-04-Take-Your-Exercise-One-Step-Further.htm

Foot health: A ground-up approach to preventing falls: https://www.mcmasteroptimalaging.org/blog/detail/blog/2019/07/23/foot-health-a-ground-up-approach-to-preventing-falls

Foot issues like foot pain, week muscle strength, poor range of motion in your ankle, and bunions can increase your chance of a fall. Get help from a foot specialist (a podiatrist):

https://www.podiatrycanada.org/useful-links/

From the Free Press Community Review:

There will be ceremonies and services at Vimy Ridge Memorial Park, Brookside Cemetery and elsewhere around the city, including these places:

• RBC Convention Centre (375 York Ave.) — Winnipeg’s main Remembrance Day service. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. and the public will be seated at 10:30 a.m. The ceremony begins at 10:45 a.m.
• Manitoba Legislative Building (450 Broadway) — Annual 21-gun salute on the south grounds at 11:11 a.m.
• St. Norbert Cemetery (70 rue St-Pierre) — service will honour the 13 fallen soldiers whose names are carved on the cenotaph in the St. Norbert Cemetry. The ceremony begins on Nov. 11 at the cemetery, located on Avenue St. Therese, at 10:45 a.m. Their will be light refreshments at the Eagles Club (3459 Pembina Hwy.) following the service.
• St. James Legion Branch No. 4 (1755 Portage Ave.) — Remembrance Day parade will be held at Bruce Park (1966 Portage Ave.) beginning at 10:40 a.m. The parade will step off from Lyle Street, west of the Assiniboine Hotel on Portage Avenue, followed by a reception at the branch.
• South Osborne Legion Branch No. 252 (426 Osborne St.) — Service on Nov. 11 beginning at 10:30 a.m.
• Minto Armoury (969 St. Matthews Ave.) — Service from 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Doors open at 9 a.m. and the museum will be open from noon to 3 p.m.
• Elmwood Legion Branch 9 (920 Nairn Ave.) — Service at 11 a.m. in the hall. Branch doors will be open at 9:30 a.m. The branch is also hosting a brief service at 10 a.m. at the Field of Honour at Elmwood Cemetery, weather permitting.
• Henderson Legion Branch 215 (215 Maxwell King Dr.) — Main service will be held next door at Eastview Church at 11 a.m. Participants are asked to be in attendance by 10:30 a.m.
• Norwood Boniface Legion Branch No. 43 (134 Marion St.) — will host a modified service at the branch, with limited attendance. Doors open at 10 a.m. with service at 11 a.m.
• Prince Edward Legion Branch 81 (300 Trent Ave.) — Service at St. Alphonsus Hall (341 Munroe Ave.), doors at 10 a.m., service at 11 a.m., with the branch open after.
• Transcona Legion Branch 7 (117 Regent Ave. E) — Parade from the branch to the Transcona East End Arena, beginning at 10 a.m. Those wishing to attend the ceremony at the arena are asked to be there for 10:30 a.m., with service to begin at 11 a.m. Second World War veteran Robert Bullen is expected to attend.
• Rural Municipality of Cartier — Service at 10:45 a.m. at the cenotaph outside St. Eustache Church. Receptio and refreshments afterward at St. Eustache Cartier Hall.