Golden Circle Senior Resource Centre has partnered with Happipad, the developer of Canada’s first web-based companion housing platform, to expand affordable shared housing opportunities specifically for vulnerable population segments, including seniors, students, people with disabilities, and recent immigrants. This partnership is supported in part by funding from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) under the National Housing Strategy Demonstrations Initiative. To learn more, please contact Monica Morrison at 403-343-6074.
Happipad is a Canadian technology company founded in 2017 and based in Kelowna, BC. Happipad is a leader in developing innovations to support and expand companion housing opportunities and has created Canada’s first companion housing web-based platform, which enables safe, peer-to-peer formation and management of cohabitation arrangements.

Our Outreach program has volunteers who can drive seniors and people with disabilities to medical appointments, as well as to COVID vaccination appointments, if they are not able to get to appointments on their own. In order to access the service, please call the Golden Circle at 403-343-6074 and put in a request. If you have not received services from us before, we will open a file. The cost for transportation in the city is $8.00 round trip paid to the volunteer.

Diabetes is a chronic disease which affects more than three million people in Canada. About one-third of adults with the condition are unaware they have it. Understanding diabetes, its symptoms and available treatment options is an important piece of an overall wellness plan. If you are 40 or older, you should get checked even if no symptoms are present, because many people who have Type 2 diabetes display no symptoms. Your local pharmacist can help you manage your diabetes. They understand your situation and the challenges diabetes can present.

Did you know that previous research suggests that hearing loss and abnormalities in the eye are tied to memory loss and a higher Alzheimer’s risk? New evidence now indicates that addressing hearing and sight problems can slow down cognitive decline. Existing studies have pointed out that there is a link between the quality of a person’s hearing and their eye health and their exposure to cognitive decline. For those who adopted hearing aids, the scientists found the rate of cognitive decline was 75 percent slower following this intervention.

If you are naming an executor (or alternate) who is not your spouse, consider having that person review a draft before it is finalized. Their questions and input may be useful in ensuring that your wishes are carried out and problems are avoided. They should also know where to find the original of your Will and a summary of your current assets and liabilities, which they will need to complete the probate application. Making sure that your executor understands your wishes as set out in your Will and has access to the necessary information will ensure that they can complete their role with as little stress as possible.

A balanced diet and daily exercise, along with high-grade supplements, are your best bets for achieving your weight management goals. Natural Factors CLA Tonalin® provides the highest-quality CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) available and is sourced from safflower oil. It is a natural fat burner that works by revving up muscle metabolism and increasing lean muscle mass. Combine it with Natural Factors HerbalFactors® Green Tea for even more weight management benefits. Green tea extract supports healthy weight loss by decreasing the absorption of fat in the digestive tract and helps the body turn fat into energy without increasing your heart rate.

“Now, what are you planning to do about that excess weight you’re carrying around:” the doctor asked the patient.
“I just can’t seem to lose it, the man said “Must be an overactive thyroid.” “The tests show your thyroid is perfectly normal,” the doctor said. “If anything is overactive, it’s your fork.”

Humans were born to be hunters and gatherers. That is how our body was designed to move, to walk, but we tend to just want to sit. Functional mobility helps maintain independence. We must ensure that our muscles remain strong to do what we need to do to remain living at home. What are you doing to remain physically active? With the warmer weather coming you should take advantage of the outdoors. Go for walks, ride a bike, and check out the wonderful trail systems we have in our community. We need to keep moving to age well!

The Golden Circle has an outreach department that provides non-medical services to help people remain independent in their homes. The biggest service during COVID has been the frozen meal program followed by medical transportation, grocery delivery, and telephone-friendly visiting. If you need help to remain in your home, please call 403-343-6074 and ask for an Outreach Worker. They will be glad to talk to you about your needs and see what can be set up to help you live at home.