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 at 403-343-6074.
Happipad is a Canadian technology company founded in 2017 and based in Kelowna, BC. Happipad is a leader in developing innovations to support and expand companion housing opportunities and has created Canada’s first companion housing web-based platform, which enables safe, peer-to-peer formation and management of cohabitation arrangements.
Community News
Medical Rides Available
Our Outreach program has volunteers who can drive seniors and people with disabilities to medical appointments, as well as to COVID vaccination appointments, if they are not able to get to appointments on their own. In order to access the service, please call the Golden Circle at 403-343-6074 and put in a request. If you have not received services from us before, we will open a file. The cost for transportation in the city is $8.00 round trip paid to the volunteer.
Diabetes Often Goes Unrecognized
Diabetes is a chronic disease which affects more than three million people in Canada. About one-third of adults with the condition are unaware they have it. Understanding diabetes, its symptoms and available treatment options is an important piece of an overall wellness plan. If you are 40 or older, you should get checked even if no symptoms are present, because many people who have Type 2 diabetes display no symptoms. Your local pharmacist can help you manage your diabetes. They understand your situation and the challenges diabetes can present.
Natural Factors CLA & Green Tea
A balanced diet and daily exercise, along with high-grade supplements, are your best bets for achieving your weight management goals. Natural Factors CLA Tonalin® provides the highest-quality CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) available and is sourced from safflower oil. It is a natural fat burner that works by revving up muscle metabolism and increasing lean muscle mass. Combine it with Natural Factors HerbalFactors® Green Tea for even more weight management benefits. Green tea extract supports healthy weight loss by decreasing the absorption of fat in the digestive tract and helps the body turn fat into energy without increasing your heart rate.
Clean Eating Recipe
Lemon Herb Quinoa Salad INGREDIENTS: 1 ½ cups CO-OP GOLD PURE Quinoa, 2 ¼ cups water, 2 Tbsp fresh mint, leaves only, chopped, 2 Tbsp fresh basil, leaves only, chopped, 15 cherry tomatoes, halved, ⅓ cup finely diced red onion, 1 tsp finely grated lemon zest, 1½ Tbsp lemon juice, 2 Tbsp olive oil, ½ tsp salt. DIRECTIONS: Place water and quinoa in a medium pot. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook for 8 to 9 minutes, until tender. When cooked, remove from heat and spoon into a mixing bowl to cool. Add all remaining ingredients and mix well.
Sitting is the New Smoking!
Humans were born to be hunters and gatherers. That is how our body was designed to move, to walk, but we tend to just want to sit. Functional mobility helps maintain independence. We must ensure that our muscles remain strong to do what we need to do to remain living at home. What are you doing to remain physically active? With the warmer weather coming you should take advantage of the outdoors. Go for walks, ride a bike, and check out the wonderful trail systems we have in our community. We need to keep moving to age well!
Annual General Meeting
On Monday, April 26th The Golden Circle will be holding their Annual General Meeting virtually. It will be done by Zoom. The meeting starts at 10:30 am. Please call 403-343-6074 to register so we can send you a Zoom invite. All participants will have their names put in a draw for free membership for a year. Come and find out what is happening with your Golden Circle.
Laughter is the Best Medicine
“Now, what are you planning to do about that excess weight you’re carrying around:” the doctor asked the patient.
“I just can’t seem to lose it, the man said “Must be an overactive thyroid.” “The tests show your thyroid is perfectly normal,” the doctor said. “If anything is overactive, it’s your fork.”
Outreach Services
The Golden Circle has an outreach department that provides non-medical services to help people remain independent in their homes. The biggest service during COVID has been the frozen meal program followed by medical transportation, grocery delivery, and telephone-friendly visiting. If you need help to remain in your home, please call 403-343-6074 and ask for an Outreach Worker. They will be glad to talk to you about your needs and see what can be set up to help you live at home.
Need Something Sweet?
Have a craving for something sweet; enjoy Grandma’s Pies, a social enterprise brought to you from the Golden Circle. Call 403-343-6074 and order 5” pies or raisin butter tarts. They cost $6.00 each and are picked up Fridays between 8:30 and 4:00. This venture helps us raise funds to provide outreach services to the community.
Starting the Conversation
Starting a discussion about care needs with a senior loved one can be difficult. Deciding when to start the conversation is important. It is never too early to discuss what care might be needed and the desires of the person that will be receiving care. Nine out of 10 seniors want to remain in their home as they age and in-home care can help them. There are many options for in-home care, from the type of care services to the number of hours a week. Making plans before there is an emergency or sudden problem in the senior’s home helps alleviate stress for everyone.
