LIVERPOOL, N.S. – The Queens County Senior Safety Association (QSSA) wants to enhance the personal safety and home security for seniors.
The goal is to allow them to live independently within their homes and communities.
One way to do this is through a noontime knowledge series happening every Wednesday until July 11 at the Brooklyn Baptist Church.
This is the first time these workshops have been offered in the area and resulted from an idea presented by QSSA’s treasurer, Audrey Dennison.
As senior safety co-ordinator Carole Hipwell says, she frequently puts on senior safety academies or presentations jointly with the RCMP community policing officer. For this series, they looked for presenters who could provide information to seniors who are living in their own homes within the community. Many seniors live alone and do not have immediate family living nearby or are able to assist themselves.
“These sessions help to let participants know the organizations that are available for assistance and in addition, provide valuable information to help them recognize potential warning signs of problems and for ways to ensure and enhance their own personal safety and well-being as they age,” says Hipwell.
Hipwell says she chose the topics based on her understanding of what would be of interest to seniors in the community and be interactive as possible.
Upcoming topics include healthy eating on a budget for seniors on June 13, activities available for seniors within Queens County on June 20, mental health on June 27, the role of the senior safety co-ordinator on July 4 and a physiotherapist will cover common areas of stiffness and weakness during aging and teach easy exercises to combat this and keep balance sharp on July 11.
Hayley Ewing, in-store dietitian with the Liverpool Superstore, is happy to participate in the upcoming workshop series. She will be covering healthy eating for seniors, saying many seniors live alone or with one other person, making it hard to cook nutritious meals.
Ewing says it is also harder to stay within a budget for one person because many sales and package sizes are geared towards 'family size.' Seniors often have a tighter budget and it can also be hard to keep fresh fruit and vegetables around if they are not eaten as often.
In her presentation on June 13, Ewing will focus on the three Ps: plan, purchase and prepare.
“Look at flyers, make a rough meal plan, make a grocery list, and do meal prep ahead of time when you have more energy and have freezer meals ready for when you are busy or don't feel like cooking,” she suggests.
Hipwell says seniors look forward to such sessions because they are educational and a way to get out and socialize. Social isolation becomes more prevalent as seniors become less mobile and the circle of friends and supports decreases due to medical challenges and death.
The sessions are free to participants and include a light lunch thanks to a Queens County Community Health Board grant.
Registration is required for each session by calling Audrey at 902-343-5555. People can sign up for one or more sessions independently, or for the series.
