Community News
Words to Live By

“How do we nurture the soul? By revering our own life. By learning to love it all, not only the joys and the victories, but also the pain and the struggles.”- Nathaniel Branden

Words to Live By

“Great thoughts speak only to the thoughtful mind, but great actions speak to all mankind.” -Theodore Roosevelt

Dreaming of a Post-COVID Vacation? Tips and Trends for Travelling with Hearing Loss.

Everyone is eagerly awaiting the chance to start travelling again as the possibility is looking brighter each week. A post-COVID vacation could come with stress for the average person, let alone someone who is deaf or hard of hearing.

People who deal with hearing loss have very different travel experiences than those with normal hearing whether its pre or post-COVID. It’s usually extremely stressful, agitating and difficult, but it doesn’t have to be.

So many destinations are becoming more inclusive to provide better accommodations for people with hearing loss so they can have a much more positive experience in their travels.

Australia provides an “Experience Australia in 8D Audio” video series that gives listeners the illusion of sound all around them in each particular scene. It provides people with hearing loss a vivid and immersive listening experience that is normally very uncommon for this community.

Other popular destinations with excellent opportunities for the hearing community are New York City, Disney World, cruises, Cairns and France. They all provide specialized tours, accommodations and services for the deaf and hard of hearing.

Here are a few tips in preparation for your trip:

Plan in advance
If you have a framework of what your travels will look like and set up accommodations, reservations, tours etc. to best suit your hearing loss, you can avoid dealing with communication issues during your trip.

Make the most of technology
Download relevant apps such as Maps, translation, transit and more. Any apps that can assist you during your travels can be extremely helpful.

Advocate for yourself
Don’t be afraid to tell people you have a hearing loss. Since hearing aids can be so discreet, most people wouldn’t know you are wearing one. Once people are aware, they can take steps to communicate with you effectively.

Pack extra supplies
Bring extra packs of batteries, cleaning supplies, cases and other important supplies to ensure that if a battery dies or a tube gets clogged, you can manage this on the go.

Before leaving contact your local NexGen Hearing clinic to order extra supplies.

Golden Circle Outreach

Golden Circle Outreach services connect people who need help to our basket of services or other services in the community that will make their life easier and safer. Our staff have helped apply for the Action Bus, connect them to Red Deer Meals on Wheels, so that they can get a hot meal delivered at noon Monday to Friday. We help them get a Lifeline system from the Friends of Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre. Help with Alberta Senior Benefits and income tax. Staff have helped people fill out application forms for CPP and OAS as well as AISH. We are here to help people get the supports and services they need to remain independent. We can provide medical rides to appointments. We also have a grocery delivery program in partnership with the Timberlands Co-op. Please reach out, ask your questions and we will help you get the information that you need. We are only a call away at 403-343-6074.

What is Happipad?

Happipad a new way to find someone to share your house with.
Golden Circle Senior Resource Centre has partnered with Happipad, the developer of Canada’s first web-based companion housing platform, to expand affordable shared housing opportunities specifically for vulnerable population segments including seniors, students, people with disabilities, and recent immigrants. This partnership is supported in part by funding from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) under the National Housing Strategy Demonstrations Initiative. To learn more, please contact Monica Morrison 403-343-6074.
Happipad is a Canadian technology company based in Kelowna BC. Founded in 2017, Happipad is a leader in developing innovations to support and expand companion housing opportunities. Happipad has created Canada’s first companion housing web-based platform which enables safe, peer-to-peer formation and management of cohabitation arrangements.

Golden Circle Events

Quilting starts Monday Sept. 13th from 10- 4 then every other Monday.
Canasta is Mondays at 1:00 pm in meeting room 1 and 2.
Golden Circle Singers Choir meet Mondays at 1:30. Starting Sept. 13th.
Ukulele Mondays 2 – 4 outside until further notice.
Cribbage is Tuesdays at 1:00 pm in meeting room 1 and 2.
Bridge Singles is Wednesdays at 1:00 pm meeting room 1 and 2.
Red Deer Art Club Thursdays 1:30 pm.
Euchre starts Sept. 17th 1st and 3rd Friday at 1:00 pm.
Military Whist Sept 10th 2nd and 4th Friday at 1:00 pm.
Scrabble is Fridays at 1:00 pm in the skate shack.
Come on out and meet new friends, get reconnected with your old friends, invite a friend to come with you. The Golden Circle is the place to be with people.

Update on the Golden Circle

Golden Circle is slowly opening their doors and welcoming people back for fun and fellowship. It has been a long 18 months but this is our new normal. The Golden Circle is going to continue to encourage people to wear a mask, social distance and keep washing their hands. We will ensure that there enough space between tables and we have reduced the number of chairs around the tables in the dining room. We need to see how things are going with everything opening up and with the Golden Circle supporting the vulnerable population we need to think of keeping people safe and that includes our volunteers and staff.

Hiking Fall with Red Deer Public Library

Welcome to Hiking Fall with Red Deer Public Library, part of our Four Seasons of Wellness program!
Pick up a ‘Hiking Fall’ Bingo challenge from any branch of Red Deer Public Library or download it at rdpl.org/wellness. Don’t miss out on our Trail ‘Kits to Go’ that will become available in early September at all branches. And lastly, tune into our Travel Memories virtual program, streaming live on our Facebook page on Wednesday, September 8 from 2 p.m. – 3 p.m., featuring guest speaker Dale Leckie, author of The Scenic Geology of Alberta: A Roadside Touring and Hiking Guide. Dale is a geologist and author, who blends storytelling with science to incorporate Alberta’s natural landscape beauty with art and history.

Connection Between Eyes and Ears

As we age, we’re more susceptible to hearing loss and vision changes. Both conditions can creep up on us, making preventive measures essential to sustaining the quality of life we’re used to. According to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB), you’re at greater risk of social isolation and reduced community participation if you have a vision loss. The same goes for hearing loss. Having both a vision and hearing problem can affect your ability to lip-read, which is detrimental to communicating with co-workers, family, and friends. A decreased ability to socialize is linked to a greater risk of dementia. However, Statistics Canada reports that 90 percent of people with hearing loss can improve communication with a properly fit hearing aid, counseling, or environmental changes.

Prepare & Strengthen Your Immune System

Do you have an underlying health condition that stops your immune system from protecting you the way it should? In today’s world you need a healthy body and immune system to protect yourself. Now is the perfect time to strengthen your immune system and increase your body’s ability to fight off infection. Your body needs to stock up on the immune boosting essentials it requires to fight the flu virus and Covid-19. Specific nutrients for the adrenals, spleen, lungs and lymph nodes are vital to boost your immunity. Now is the time to give your body what it needs to prepare for the months ahead.

Nutrition for School-Aged Children

As summer ends, school resumes adding stress & responsibilities that tax the body’s nutrient reserves. Make the most out of the school year by setting your family up for success with vital nutrients. Omega fatty acids, like from fish oil, can help improve brain function, focus, learning, memory, and behavior. Vitamin C can help fight inflammation & pathogens, keeping the immune system at top notch. Probiotics can help strengthen the immune system, improve brain function, behavior, and digestion. The great thing about using nutrition to get your family to be their best self, is it is all so versatile and can help with so much!