Q: Should I get my kid to wear sunglasses? A: Yes. Ultra-violet light puts young eyes at risk for eye problems that often occur in adulthood such as cataracts, macular degeneration, and eyelid cancers. Many of my patients with skin cancer rue the fact that their parents did not get them protected from the sun adequately in childhood. Kids can be pretty fussy with their clothing (including eyewear), but for their sake it would be worth getting them to wear sunglasses. Getting brand-name sunglasses might be a good way to get a youngster to wear them, but inexpensive sunglasses will do the trick as long as they are certified to be UV protective.
Community News
The Do’s and Don’ts of Dentures
To get the most out of your dentures, it’s important to take proper care of them. Here are some do’s and don’ts when it comes to denture care. DO: 1) Handle your dentures carefully. 2) Remove and rinse after eating. 3) Remove before bed and soak overnight. 4) Rinse before putting them back in your mouth. 5) Brush dentures daily. 6) See your denturist regularly. DON’T: 1) Use whitening toothpaste, abrasive cleaners, bleach products, sharp objects, or hot water to clean your dentures. 2) Use tugging motions when eating. 3) Neglect your dentures. 4) Wear ill-fitting dentures.
Senior Summer Safety Tips
Skin cancer is one of the most common and preventable forms of cancer. Apply SPF of at least 30 to 50—every two to four hours you are outdoors or riding in a car. Routinely wearing a quality pair of sunglasses protects the eyes from cataracts, a condition common among older adults. Look for a pair with a label showing they block 100% of UVA and UVB rays. As we grow older, the body doesn’t adjust to changes in temperature and humidity as quickly as in younger days. This puts seniors at higher risk for dehydration and sun-related illnesses, like heat stroke – so make sure to keep hydrated!
Pets and Bee Stings
Hot weather, blooming plants and buzzing insects can all spell trouble for your pets. If your curious pooch or pouncing feline gets stung by a bee, here’s what you can do: Scrape away the stinger if you can find it. Pulling the stinger with fingers or tweezers could rupture the poison sac allowing toxin to enter the bloodstream. If no medical history or treatments contraindicate, administer 1 mg Benadryl® per pound of your pet’s body weight and apply a cold pack for short periods at a time. If swelling is severe or if ANY breathing difficulties develop, do not delay—seek veterinary attention immediately.
What’s Happening in July
Our on-site classes wrapped up in June but we will have a number of special events during July and August. For example, we have managed to acquire tickets for Folk Fest at Birds Hill Park, July 8th, 2022. A bus will take you out to the Birds Hill festival site for a day of music, food and fun! We will be adding events as they become available so please check our website or call us at 204-416-1067 for details.
Volunteer Opportunities
We currently run our club with one staff member, in addition to our class instructors, so we are extremely grateful and reliant on our member volunteers to help us with running our programs. We are always looking for talented individuals that can share their crafty side for new programming as we develop more activities. Interested in giving back? Whatever your skill or your age, we can find a place for you. To find out how you can help, call 204-416-1067 or email us at [email protected]. Remember we are a club of people that look out for each other, and volunteering is an important way to give back!
Start Changing Lives Now
Archwood 55 Plus is meeting a need in the community, especially after the pandemic where the need to get seniors out of their homes for mental and physical stimulation has never been greater. However, we can’t do it without you. Please give generously and make a difference in the quality of life for our seniors. Your donation will go a long way to continue providing just the right programs and services and help people reconnect with the community in a safe way. Every $100 donated provides an hour of services to older adults
Ways to donate:
Online: https://archwood55plus.wildapricot.org/sys/website/
Mail: 565 Guilbault Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R2J 0R2. Phone: (204) 416-1067
Who We Are
Archwood 55 Plus is a community-based non-profit, charitable organization offering lunches, art and fitness classes, social activities, bus trips and other services to adults ages 55 and older living in the Winnipeg area. Our goal is to encourage graceful aging and empower older adults to lead healthy and active lives while socializing with their peers.
Improve Your Vision Naturally
Lenses or surgery are necessary in most cases to help correct vision, but there are also some ways you can improve your eyesight and eye health on your own. The best way to improve or maintain your eye health is to eat foods that contain vitamins and antioxidants necessary for your eyes to function well. Vitamin A and lutein are two substances found in food and supplements that can help. Vitamin A is found in foods like carrots, kale, spinach, collard greens, liver/cod liver oil, and sweet potatoes, while lutein is in foods like greens, zucchini, and brussels sprouts.
It’s Your Turn to Quit Smoking
Laser Therapy is an accu-pressure point therapy similar to acupuncture but without the dreaded needles. It is a modernized natural approach to help heal the body without the use of drugs. The entire procedure is external, and the laser treatment conducts low energy to accu-pressure points to your ears, face, hands, arm, legs, and feet. The first hurdle in quitting smoking is to get through the nicotine withdrawal phase, which people often dread. The laser treatments significantly reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms, so people generally sail through this phase with greater ease and break their nicotine addiction.
Community Announcement
Emergency Lock Box
Have your ever asked yourself, how could I be rescued if my door was locked? Time is of the essence during a fire or medical emergency. Install a Lock Box – a small weather-resistant metal box that securely holds a set of keys. Should an emergency occur while you are unable to open the door or get out of the residence, Brandon Fires & Emergency Services can access your property without having to break in. Contact Brandon Seniors for Seniors Co-op Inc. for more information.
40th Anniversary Celebrations
We have many exciting activities coming up this year to celebrate our 40th Anniversary at Brandon Seniors for Seniors Co-op Inc. To commemorate we held a High Tea gathering in April and conducted a ceremonial opening of our Patio and Vegetable Garden with a Volunteer Recognition BBQ on June 1st. We recently held our AGM highlighting the successes and a promotional video that was prepared by students from Vincent Massey High School in Brandon. We are planning a Trade Fair, Yard Sale and BBQ for Saturday, August 13, 2022. We are also planning for an Open House coming up in October and the Official 40th Anniversary Celebration in November. Please be watching for these events in our Newsletter, on our bulletin board and on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/brandonsfors
Men’s Club
Did you know that Brandon Seniors for Seniors Co-op Inc. had a Men’s Club? For approximately 2.5 years, the Men’s Club has created a workspace where like-minded men can work shoulder-to-shoulder. Local volunteer men created this club to address a growing need to provide a safe space for men to meet weekly, share ideas, life experiences and provide value to Brandon. If you are interested in becoming a member to participate in workshops, presentations, games, small projects or just a friendly male voice, then please feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] or (204) 571-2050. The group meet every Wednesday from 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM at 311 Park Avenue East in Brandon.
TAPS (Technology Access Program for Seniors)
Brandon Seniors for Seniors Co-op Inc. recently concluded the iPad training however we plan to conduct one-on-one technology training over the summer once we have our three (3) students in place. We will continue to host various social workshops at our facility. For more information on upcoming workshops, we suggest following our Facebook page or by emailing us at [email protected] or (204) 571-2050.
Promotional Videos
Brandon Seniors for Seniors Co-op Inc. has worked with the Media Arts students at Vincent Massey High School to create multiple promotional videos. We are excited about these latest videos as they will support our marketing efforts across various media platforms. Please keep a watchful eye as we slowly introduce these videos through our various marketing mediums throughout the year.
