May is Vision Health Month, a great time to prioritize your eye health and protect your sight for the future. Here are four important things to look for and do: First, schedule a comprehensive eye exam. Many eye conditions, like glaucoma or macular degeneration, develop without obvious symptoms, so early detection is key. Second, pay attention to changes in your vision. Blurriness, eye strain, headaches, or difficulty seeing at night shouldn’t be ignored, these can signal underlying issues. Third, protect your eyes from UV rays. Wear sunglasses with 100% UV protection when outdoors to reduce the risk of cataracts and other damage. Finally, support your vision with healthy habits. Eat foods rich in omega-3s, lutein, and vitamins C and E, take breaks from screens, and stay hydrated. Taking small steps now can make a big difference in preserving your vision long term.
Community News
Navigating Perimenopause
Perimenopause is a time of significant hormonal change, and many women describe not feeling like themselves. Fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone can impact sleep, mood, energy, and cognitive function—leading to symptoms like insomnia, anxiety, low motivation, and brain fog. These changes are real, common, and often very disruptive to daily life. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can be a safe and effective option to help restore balance and improve quality of life when appropriately prescribed. At Uptown Integrative Health, we take an individualized approach to care. Comprehensive hormonal testing with Ann Nzeruem, NP, helps us better understand your unique hormone patterns and guide treatment decisions.
Independence: A Key to Longevity
Independence plays a crucial role in promoting longevity among aging adults. Maintaining the ability to perform daily activities supports physical strength, coordination, and cognitive function. When seniors make their own choices and control their routines, they experience a greater sense of purpose and self-worth, which improves mental health and reduces stress. Homecare services can support this independence by aiding with daily tasks, medication management, and safety monitoring, allowing seniors to remain in their own homes longer. Beyond practical help, homecare promotes social engagement and emotional well-being through companionship, encouraging seniors to stay active, maintain hobbies, and participate in community activities.
Safer Ways to Improve Sleep
Better sleep starts with simple, healthy habits. Begin by checking in with your doctor to rule out issues like pain, depression, or restless legs. Regular exercise can improve sleep, but avoid intense workouts close to bedtime. Stick to a consistent sleep schedule, even on weekends. Try not to eat within three hours of going to bed, and limit caffeine after mid-afternoon. While alcohol may make you drowsy, it can disrupt sleep later in the night. Create a calm, dark bedroom environment and reduce screen time before bed. If you can’t fall asleep, get up and do something relaxing until you feel tired again.
Show Your Love & Appreciation
Flowers are a timeless way to show love and appreciation on Mother’s Day. Their vibrant colors and sweet scents beautifully express the gratitude we feel but sometimes struggle to say. From classic roses to cheerful daisies or elegant lilies, each bloom carries a message of care, admiration, and warmth. Gifting flowers is more than a tradition—it’s a heartfelt gesture that brightens a mother’s day and reminds her how deeply she’s cherished. Whether given in a bouquet or planted in a garden, flowers say “thank you” in nature’s most graceful language, making Mother’s Day a little more special and full of love.
Unlocking Healing with Block Therapy™
Block Therapy™ is a self-care practice that uses a wooden block to release deep fascia restrictions in the body. By lying on the block and using gentle pressure with focused breathing, adhesions from injury, stress, or poor posture begin to soften and release. This improves circulation, reduces pain, and supports cellular healing. Unlike traditional massage, it works with gravity to reach deeper tissue layers. You’ll need enough mobility to safely get onto the floor and back up, as some positions are done on hands and knees. No block? A rolled-up towel can be a simple substitute.
Book of the Month:
Finding Flora by Elinor Florence
A rollicking historical novel set in turn-of-the-century Alberta about a young woman on the run from her abusive husband who uses a legal loophole to claim a homestead in the Wild West. Available to borrow from Red Deer Public Library at rdpl.org
Brokered Workers Needed
We have been fortunate to receive grant funding to expand our Outreach Programming beyond Red Deer and into Red Deer County and surrounding rural communities. We are looking for Brokered Workers in these communities to help support older adults to age in their homes.
The Golden Circle’s Brokered Worker program is administered through the Outreach Department and involves housekeeping, home maintenance, and yard care services. Some of the services provided are:
• Light housekeeping
• Lawn and garden work
• Minor handyman repairs
• Snow shovelling
• Painting
• One-time cleaning
The Golden Circle screens and interviews the Brokered Workes and matches them with clients. Reimbursement is $20.00/hr, with a two (2) hour minimum charge for housekeeping and a one-hour minimum for snow shovelling. Clients pay the Brokered Worker directly. Are you interested in becoming a Brokered Worker through the Golden Circle? Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at: Phone: 403-343-6074 or Email [email protected]
Tired of Watching TV?
Why not join The Golden Circle and enjoy activities and events? Our coffee shack runs from 8:30-12:00 Monday – Friday. We also have exercise classes and various games happening throughout the week. Please go to www.goldencircle.ca for more information. Or call 403-343-6074! We look forward to welcoming you!
Outreach Services
Our Outreach Department comprises dedicated Coordinators, trained volunteers, and brokered workers who assist and encourage older adults to age in place, maintain their independence, and promote a positive quality of life. And the best part? We come to you!
Need help applying for Alberta Seniors Benefit? Have Government forms you need help filling out?
Do you need home maintenance and Yard care services? Are you looking to relocate and need a Housing Resource List? Do you need transportation to and from medical appointments?
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.
Referrals can be received from individuals needing assistance, such as their family, friends, neighbours, caregivers, other agencies, or medical professionals. Clients are paired with an Outreach Coordinator who completes an intake appointment to assess the individual’s situation. Then, a care plan is designed, involving referrals to Golden Circle programs or external agencies.
May Events for Seniors at RDPL
After the Garden by Jeremy Robinson: New Play Reading (May 3)
Red Deer Cancer Connect (May 5 & 19)
Travel Memories: China (May 6)
First Thursday Concert Series (May 7)
Wellness Exchange (May 6 & 13)
Readers’ Theatre (May 21)
Sip n’ Stitch (May 21)
Затишні Вечори: Cozy Evenings for Ukrainian Seniors (May 21)
Jigsaw Puzzle Competition (May 28)
Roots and Branches: Genealogy at the Library (May 30)
Bike Repair & Tune-Up Café (May 30)
Book Clubs (various dates/times)
For full details, visit rdpl.org/events
