Welcome to December! It is shaping up to be a busy month virtually.
We had a very informative Seniors Teleconference on December 3rd with Kim Gordon-Krushnell, CRPCN Nurse, speaking on Covid 19: Did you know Covid 19 is the 7th Strain of the SARS virus from 2002? And did you know the 19 stands for the year, 2019, it was discovered? Did you also know the virus lasts on Cardboard approximately 24 hours, and on Stainless Steel for 2-3 days? You need to sanitize with 60% + alcohol to kill the virus. Seniors can watch for symptoms like:
• Shortness of breath, cough, runny nose, sore throat, exhausted feeling, loss of taste and smell, increase in falling, increase in phlegm, or chest pain. Only 20-30% of seniors get a fever.
• The second week of Covid19 positive patients, the symptoms tend to progress.
• Please call 811 and have patience to speak to a nurse. They will advise of where and when to go get a swab done, usually nose but can be throat, both are effective to diagnose Covid19. You can then let them know how you want to be notified, either by text or phone call on your result at the time of testing.
• There are currently 69 active cases in Chestermere at time of submission. Chestermere remains on Enhanced status.
• Please plan ahead if you test positive for the 2-week isolation. Isolation can be very difficult for anyone during this time. Call neighbors or family to let them know you are needing support during isolation. Make sure you have your Greensleeve or Goals of Care on your fridge. Check in with your Family Dr. to let them know that you are positive, and they will check in on you regularly. Call 811 back if you have more questions. If you do test positive, please let people know who you or your family have been in contact with for the previous 48 hours so that they can be tested as well.
• Treat Covid19 with fluids, plenty of rest, over the counter cough medicine, Tylenol or Advil.
• Do not be afraid to go to any Emergency for more help if your symptoms get worse, especially in the second week. The Emergency is able to support you with COVID19.
• Please do not avoid and Emergency in an Emergency!
• Vaccines are coming in January, 2 Injections, likely 21-28 days apart. You will need both to have full immunity from Covid19. Continue to take all precautions between the vaccine doses.
Resources:
Seniors Resource Handbooks
- Please be aware the new 1st Edition of the Seniors Resource Handbooks are here in Chestermere. They are available for free at the Library at the front door, all Pharmacies and Dr’s Offices, Whitecappers as well Sharron and Leslie have a supply. Please pick yours up and for a neighbor too!
-We heard you: all the resources in one place for seniors! You may also see a digital version of the resource book on the city website. - Many thanks to the Seniors Coalition subcommittee for gathering all this information and getting into this book. Also, thanks to FCSS through our Human Services Advisory Board and CRPCN for the financial support to complete this project for the community.
Mental Wellness Resources in Chestermere
- The Mental Health Coalition has designed a poster, Brochure and Business cards to let you know what Mental Wellness Resources we have available in Chestermere. These will be available in the New Year through Synergy or by contacting Leslie Racz, CRPCN: leslie.racz@crpcn.ca
- The poster is available on the City of Chestermere website: chestermere.ca
as well as Synergy website: yoursynergy.ca under the tab: Wellness. - Many thanks to the Coalition for compiling this important resource for our community needs.
- Are you aware we have mental wellness services available through Synergy called Connect and Care, barrier free support for any member of our community.
And now for some merriment: –
The Wellness Challenge:
• Through our Mental Health Coalition, we will be starting a Wellness Challenge in the New Year, all virtually of course. This entails a question: How is your Five’s?
• Your sleep, diet, exercise/movement, relationships, work. That is the five!
• You will want to work in a team of four and gain points for addressing positive behaviors that improve these 5 areas of your wellness. There will be prizes! Stay tuned for our teasers here.
Camp Chestermere:
• You can make a donation to Keep Camp Alive to ensure next years staffing and summer camps! The need is great this year to support this Community Not for Profit that gives back so much to our entire community. A true Community Icon in Chestermere needs your support!
• Christmas Baking: They have a Christmas Baking drive launching this week and you can order your baking, and have it delivered or sent to someone in the area at a very reasonable price. Please check out their website; www.campchestermere.com for details, or call Shannon Dean, Camp Director, 403-272-6030.
• Also they are offering Candy Cane my Yard! A fun event: for $20 you can register your yard to have hidden candy canes by the Camp elves. Then have the family over safely to hunt for Candy Canes! You can also have this done for someone else as a gift. Creative ideas!
Chair Yoga Virtually:
• Harmony Health and Fitness is a local studio that is offering virtual fitness classes, including 3 Chair Yoga classes for the month of December.
• Harmony Health and Fitness is excited to be offering 3 Chair Yoga Classes in the month of December. These classes are for anyone and everyone. If you are a person that may experience limitations in mobility through the hips, knees, and shoulders, you will be able to find success in this class. These classes will be a gentle flow yoga style, seated comfortably in a chair. While listening to your body, we will move our body in many ways, elevate the heart rate, and gain flexibility and balance. We also like to incorporate some positive mindset and awareness, especially during these dynamic times.
• Harmony has over 15 classes offered virtually each week for all levels and experiences with yoga and fitness. You can join us LIVE in real time by just clicking the exclusive Harmony Link that I send to you. We also have a Virtual Studio that allows you to take a recorded class at any time that fits your schedule, mood, and energy level. For more info on our variety of class styles, please see our website https://www.harmonyhealthandfitness.ca/class-descriptionsSeniors Advisory Committee
• Did you know that the City of Chestermere has also heard from our seniors during the Task Force for Seniors and has taken the advice to strike a Senior’s Advisory Committee.
• This group, mainly members of our senior community, was established this fall for the sole purpose of ensuring the recommendation and strategies from the final report were addressed. This is a 2-year term.Chestermere RCMP – have introduced the Security Screw Program. Chestermere residents are encouraged to pick up the security screw fastener at locations, including the Chestermere RCMP detachment, Chestermere Fire Services, Tire Craft, Chestermere Lake Registry, and Jiffy Lube free of charge.
For more information on the Security Screw Program, please visit the City of Chestermere website at https://www.chestermere.ca/202/RCMP.
Seniors Teleconference
The next Seniors Teleconference – Is A Christmas Special on December 17th 10:30am -12 midday. Come and have some fun, sing carols with a local musician, a little comedy and lots of surprises, you don’t want to miss this one!
You must register by December 16th at 5pm.You can join by either audio(telephone) or video. No cost to participant, please contact Sharron at smatthewman@chestermere.ca or call 403 804 0817 for more information.
What can you do to Combat isolation and loneliness this COVID-19 Christmas?
• Plan outdoor activities (e.g., snow shoeing, cross country skiing, ice skating, building a snowman, a fire pit, tobogganing, viewing Christmas lights, Zoo Lights)
• Using humour (e.g. COVID-19 Christmas bingo, have a wacky Christmas face mask competition, best-looking dessert contest)
• A distanced potluck
• A short doorstep visit
• May be especially difficult for elderly -explain that you are visiting them because you care
