Community News
Outreach Services

Do you need help applying for Alberta Seniors Benefit?
Have Government forms you need help filling out? Need Home Maintenance and Yard care services?
Are you looking to relocate and need a Housing Resource List?
Need transportation to and from medical appointments? Our Outreach Coordinators can help! The team is ready and able to assist – call the front desk at 403-343-6074 to make an appointment to be connected and to have an assessment done.

Avoid Trips, Slips & Falls

Do a quick evaluation of your home for potential hazards! Ensure proper lighting in all areas, especially stairways, hallways, and bathrooms. Remove loose rugs, clear cluttered pathways, or remove low-lying furniture to prevent avoidable slips, trips and falls. Install grab bars in the bathroom and consider using non-slip mats or rugs. Sturdy handrails along stairways can provide stability and support. And make sure you have proper footwear on. Flip flops may seem like a quick option, but you really want to make sure you have well fitted footwear with non-slip soles to help to keep you safe!

Eating Healthy During Summer

Shining rays and longer days are great ways to enjoy summer, unlike cooking. Choosing healthy, wholefood, nutrient dense options can keep your energy high, waistline small, and your time free for the good stuff. Look for quality brands with foods high in fiber & healthy fats, low in sugar & processing (or even better, raw!), for low blood sugars, and help being your best self. To support the challenges of our fast paced world, nourish yourself with choices that are better for you, and the planet. Need help? Come into Mortar and Pesto Natural Pharmacy for a simple healthy raw cookie recipe that pleases the whole family (and is great cold on a hot day!).

Book of the Month: Enchantment:

Awakening Wonder in an Anxious Age by Katherine May. Many of us feel trapped in a grind of constant change: rolling news cycles, the chatter of social media, our families split along partisan lines. We feel fearful and tired, on edge in our bodies, not quite knowing what has us perpetually depleted. In Enchantment, Katherine May invites the reader on a journey to reawaken our innate sense of wonder and awe. With humor, candor, and warmth, she shares stories of her own struggles and begins to explore the restorative properties of the natural world. Available to borrow from Red Deer Public Library at rdpl.org

Effectively Managing Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic condition and requires specific, lifelong management. It’s estimated that more than 6 million Canadians are at risk of developing diabetes. Prediabetes is a condition where blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not enough to be type 2 diabetes. Managing your health is critical to helping delay or prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes. Your pharmacist can support you in managing your diabetes effectively by reviewing any current medications, educating you about diabetes symptoms to be aware of, supporting you with healthy lifestyle changes, and offering products and tools to monitor your blood glucose.

The Power of Embracing Discomfort

Suffering doesn’t mean something is wrong. It is a normal part of life. How often are you trying to fix or change your uncomfortable emotions of irritability, sadness, guilt, fear, and anger instead of sitting with them and trusting that this is all part of the human experience? When we learn to trust, surrender, and let go of the need to control situations and feel positive emotions all the time, that’s when anxiety goes away. Where in your life are you always trying to control the outcome? What happens if you don’t?

Book Club: Real Self-Care

A Transformative Program for Redefining Wellness. From women’s mental health specialist Pooja Lakshmin, MD. Real self-care, in contrast, is an internal, self-reflective process that involves making difficult decisions in line with our values, and when we practice it, we shift our relationships, our workplaces, and even our broken systems. Find it at your local bookstore.

Clean Eating: Mixed Berry Crisp

5 cups mixed berries, fresh or frozen. ⅓ cup honey or maple syrup. 2 tablespoons arrowroot starch. 2 Tbsp. Lemon juice. 1 cup old-fashioned oats. ½ cup packed almond flour. ⅓ cup packed coconut sugar. ¼ tsp. sea salt. 4 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted. 3 Tbsp. plain yogurt. Preheat the oven to 350. In a 9 by 9-inch baking dish, mix the berries, honey, starch, and juice. Set aside. In a medium bowl, stir together the oats, almond flour, sugar and salt. Mix in the butter and yogurt. Stir. Dollop the oat mixture over the filling. Bake for 50 minutes. Serve with Greek yogurt.

Community Dining at the Golden Circle

Studies have shown that socialization is an important part of our mental wellness as we age and there is nothing like the feeling of sharing a nutritious meal while enjoying the simple pleasure of conversation, companionship and recreation.

The Golden Circle’s Community Dining program provides social activities followed by a nutritious meal catered by The Golden Circle for $9.00/person hosted by our Community Outreach Program Coordinator, Sarah Kolibab.

Activities are based on the group’s interests, we encourage input and ideas for new activities. Previous ideas have included:
• Guest Speakers
• Music/Dancing
• Arts/Crafts
• Games
• Information and Referral presentations

Community Dining is currently being held at the Golden Circle Senior Resource Centre, Barrett Place and Waskasoo Towers on Mondays. Please call us for scheduling information at 403-343-6074 or email Community Program Coordinator, Sarah Kolibab [email protected]
If you are interested in hosting Community Dining within your building or community centre, connect with Sarah!

Caregivers

Did you know that in 2018, 929,000 Albertans (26% of the population) provided care to at least one family member or friend with chronic illness, disabilities, or aging-related conditions? One third of Canada’s labour force also has a care responsibility. Summer is seen as a time for relaxation and taking vacation, but many caregivers don’t get that break. Family caregivers are the shadow workforce of our society, and many of them need support as caregiving can come at great cost to their social relationships, health, finances and employment.

The Golden Circle has programs that can support caregivers as well as older adults in our community. Our various programs and activities are a great way to get older adults AND caregivers involved in social activities. You don’t have to be a member to participate in our activities, and all ages are welcome.

Our frozen meal program is also a great way to help ensure folks are getting nutritious, homestyle meals. This program gives caregivers a break from cooking while giving peace of mind that the people they care for are getting well fed. All meals are produced here at the Golden Circle in our AHS Inspected Commercial Kitchen!

Beat The Heat – Stay Hydrated!

Dehydration is a real risk in the summer months so staying hydrated is important – especially for older adults aged 65+. Staying hydrated means that you are drinking enough fluids to make up for the fluid you lose (through sweat and urine for example) and helps you to feel alert and well. Drinking enough fluids also helps with digestion, regulation of body temperature and function as well as supporting organ function and preventing constipation. Some easy tips to ensure you are staying hydrated are:
• Sip on fluids throughout the day;
• Keep a pitcher of water in the fridge or on your table to remind you to drink;
• Drink fluids at and between meals;
• Carry a water bottle with you;
• Include foods in your diet with higher fluid contents, like fruits and vegetables; and
• Take medications with a full glass of water instead of just a few sips. While the amount of fluid you need to drink per day depends on many factors, most older adults need at least six cups and up to ten cups of fluid each day!