We are reaching out to each of you this week to check in on your wellness and commend you all on your resilience to navigate this pandemic virtually! So many of our seniors will have received this Anchor via email and we are striving to keep you connected to our community via the local news.
A special shout out to Steve Jeffrey, editor and owner of the Anchor News, who has provided so much support to this column, seniors and so many other organizations, community members and businesses. Thank you, Steve, for all your dedication along with your team at the Anchor News.
We heard your voice seniors, when you told us through the Seniors Task Force that you liked your local news in print. We had organized the Anchor delivery for those seniors shut in at home when Steve had to move to fully online editions only, for several reasons. Now the Seniors’ Coalition is happy to email out a weekly edition of the Anchor News to you if you email us at _chestermerecoalitionforseniors@gmail.com with a request. Also, if you have projects, information, awareness topics or stories, that you would like to reach our seniors, please email us at the above coalition address.
On the heels of a very different Seniors Week, we salute you Seniors!
Your wisdom, tenacity and acceptance of this COVID time has been remarkable. We had great plans to celebrate you through our Senior’s Week Itinerary but I think celebrating you all year by showing you how much you are appreciated is even better. On that note: June 1st was dedicated as Intergenerational Day, where we celebrate and honor the richness of intergenerational partnerships through varied initiatives and encourage connections and understanding between age groups. We do this because from a health and wellness perspective because we know these connections enrich both the senior and the youth.
During this COVID isolation time, I’m sure your younger adults, grand children have encouraged you to stay connected through electronics, either by cell phone, computer email, or Facetime. Some of you may have ventured beyond to Zoom, Instagram, or even Tik Tok.
Take a look at Connecting Generations Cyber-Seniors at https://cyberseniors.org. Their goal is to bridge the digital divide and connect generations through technology. Free membership for Seniors!
Your ability to adapt has been remarkable. Thank you to the City of Chestermere, Community Resources staff, for providing a teleconference call to assist us all to have another platform to connect.
Please tune in on Thursday June 11 from 10:30 – 11:30 am to hear a lawyer speak about Personal Directives and the importance of this document that all of us should have in place. You may ask questions too. Please register by Wednesday with Sharron.
Not for Profits:
Camp Chestermere continues to offer their Grocery Program, with pick up at the Camp. Please visit their website at www.campchestermere.com
Also of note, Camp Chestermere has begun Day Camps Monday to Friday for ages 4-15years.
I’m sure they would love to have our Seniors join in anytime. Next week’s theme is Pirate’s Cove! Our beloved Camp Chestermere has been in existence for over 75 years!! Headed up by Shannon Dean and his team, we are so fortunate to have their fun, passion and caring for our youth. Thank you, Camp Chestermere, a pillar in our community.
Another Pillar in our Not for Profit is Synergy, our Youth based Community Programs and Services: one endeavor is their Grand Letters Program along side their Shout Team: this is a great Intergenerational initiative for teen girls to connect with Grand Ladies to create new friendships and share ideas and support! A pen pal program via email for now, but after COVID they hope to bring back the “ancient art” of Handwriting! Please reach out to Ashi Saini at Synergy, Program Facilitator at ashi@yoursynergy.ca Thank you so much Synergy for fostering this initiative.
Medical Update:
Please be aware your Family Doctors are available to you via phone call and in person if necessary. Please call the office and ask for a telephone consult with your Doctor. Reorders of prescriptions can be done via phone with your Doctor and pharmacy. There is talk of lifting the 30 day refills this coming week.
You can now have a voluntary COVID Test done at SW Calgary Assessment Centre (Old Children’s Hospital) by driving up and having a throat swab taken. You will not be in isolation for 14 days after and you will get a call from public health with your result in 2-4 days. Remember this test will only show your current status of the COVID virus. It does not show if you have had it or have immunity to the virus.
Thank you Chestermere for all your great work at Social Distancing, handwashing and awareness around community spread. Our numbers certainly speak to the hard work we each have maintained through out these last 12 weeks. Please be aware we still have some donated cloth masks available through Sharron by calling 403-804-0817 or emailing her at smatthewman@chestermere.ca and we will have a maximum of two per household delivered safely to your doorstep.
Remember the Senior’s Coalition meets the third Wednesday of the month and will meet next June 17th at 1:30 pm via Zoom meeting. Please email leslie.racz@crpcn.ca to be included on the invite. We would really like to see you.
NEW – Armchair Travel
Let’s travel to some of our favourite places without leaving home. Enjoy sensory and magical experiences with opportunities to learn about faraway places, travel across the globe and take a trip down memory lane and many more exhilarating moments.
Please join us for our virtual trip, around 10 of the best Beautiful Gardens Around the World. If you want to travel around Canada only, take a look at the video on the beautiful flower gardens.
Gardening is truly an art form. Having a living thing to care for, gives us a sense of responsibility. The nice thing about gardening is that it can be right out of your back door.
To prepare for our trip, please follow the steps for a relaxing journey. Step 1 – Pour yourself a cup of tea or your favourite tipple, Step 2- kick off your shoes, Step 3 – pull up a comfy chair and ready? Let’s go!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXxnAr7e8cI 10 of the Most Beautiful Gardens Around the World 11:18 mins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BF2Rc3r54EE Canada beautiful Flower Gardens 10:08 mins
