VON Canada will be starting an adult day program in Summerside in mid-September.     This has the potential to be of great benefit to participants as well as to their caregivers.    A doctor's referral is not necessary, but an assessment will be done by a VON nurse to determine eligibility for the program.   Please call Linda at 436-6689 or 432-4411 for more information.

LEARN, LEARN, LEARN

Many people credit their good health with the fact that they stay active and try to learn new things on a regular basis.   September is quickly approaching, and there are many ways you can experience lifelong learning in East Prince this fall.   Three of them are:

EPSI's educational sessions will be starting up again soon, with two sessions per week--one morning and one evening--on many, varied topics of interest to seniors as well as the general public.    All of these sessions are free and open to anyone.   Stay tuned for our schedule.

PEI Seniors College will be holding registrations at Holland College's new Waterfront Centre on September 19.   Their website is www.seniorscollege.ca      The schedules will be out shortly and course descriptions are available now.  

PEI Community Schools are getting their SIS Fall program started with registration on Tuesday, September 11.   Check out their website at www.peicommunityschools.com for more details.

Drop by our office at Credit Union Place to find out about new programs and resources available to you.    Or give us a call at 888-2177.   We would love to hear from you!

PLEASE NOTE THAT EDUCATIONAL CLASSES WILL BEGIN AGAIN IN SEPTEMBER.

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME DIVERSE, INTERESTING, AND INFORMATIVE SESSIONS FOR YOU THIS YEAR.

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US WITH ANY IDEAS YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT TOPICS AND PRESENTERS. 

AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT, LET US KNOW!

You can reach EPSI at 902 888 2177 or 2174.

LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN THE FALL.

Here is the information from the 2012 SIS community school.    Most community schools run after Christmas, but the SIS classes begin in September.   Please note registration dates.  

Summerside Intermediate Community School

Chair: Donna Matthew

Phone: 436-1174         Location: Summerside Intermediate, Central St., Summerside

Early Registration: Tuesday, September 11, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. at the school (bus entrance).

 Registration: Tuesday, September 18, 2012 at 5:30 p.m. (classes to follow at 6:45 PM)

Fee: $15.00                           Age Limit: 12 years and over (as per instructor discretion)

Classes Begin: Tuesday, September 18, 2012 at 6:45 following registration (If possible, please register on the 11th). Classes Run 6:45-8:45 PM each Tuesday night following.

Courses Offered: Organic Farming; Beginner Fiddle; Scrap Booking; Line Dancing; Garden Art; Dancing with Pain (easy on joints); Cro-Hooking; Rug Hooking; Cooking; Computers; Jewellery Making; Craft A Night (Christmas Crafts); Topic A Night; Cross Stitch and Embroidery; Knitting and Crocheting; Jam Session; Therapeutic Touch (minimum of 10); Cards or Games for fun.

 Tentative Courses: Quilting; Photography; Guitar; Watercolour Painting; Basket Weaving; French; Japanese; Fly Tying; Belly Dancing; Home Decor.

 Please Note: Some classes requite extra costs for supplies, etc., i.e.; Garden Art fee is an additional $65 and Jewellery Making $10-$15 (depending on cost of supplies). Materials are supplied with this extra cost.

There may be other courses made available, check our  website http://peicommunityschools.com/summerside-intermediate-community-school or Summerside Intermediate Community School PEI Group on Facebook. We will also be putting ads on Kijiji.ca and Used PEI. Hope to see you at our school this fall!

 

In recent years, the media has published many articles on how seniors are a drain on our health system or how the national pension system will not survive a growing population of seniors. This article is a reminder of why seniors should be celebrated within their communities.

 

The View from the West

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

'Grey tsunami' spreads a whirlwind of wealth

By: Verena Menec

 

STORIES abound in the media about how seniors are going to bankrupt the health-care system or how the Canadian pension system will collapse under the burden of a growing senior population.
What we don't hear in the midst of all of these doomsday stories -- which are not based in evidence, and are simply wrong -- is how seniors contribute to society.
The fact people live longer than ever should be celebrated as one of the biggest success stories in history. As the saying goes: "Getting old is better than the alternative."
How do seniors contribute to society? As with any younger person, they shop, they use services (which employ people) and they pay taxes. They also volunteer; in fact, many organizations would be hard-pressed to function without their older volunteers.
Seniors also give generously; they make more charitable donations per capita than any other age group.
Seniors babysit; they look after grandchildren. One can only imagine what would happen to our economy if, suddenly, no grandparents were available to look after grandchildren. How many parents would have to scramble to find other care options (already scarce) -- or would have to miss work because they couldn't find alternatives? How many soccer games or ballet classes would be missed if Grandma or Grandpa were not there to drive the grandchildren?
Seniors do housework, home maintenance and yardwork -- not just for themselves, but for others as well. They provide transportation and run errands for others. They provide emotional support and friendship, like the senior who looks in on a housebound friend to make sure everything is all right and stays for a chat.
Seniors provide care for spouses or friends. Think of the wife who takes on more and more responsibilities in and outside the home as her husband starts to get frail. She may not think of herself as a caregiver, but without her, what would happen to him? Who would get the groceries, run errands, do the cooking, take him to medical appointments?
Other family members are not always available to help. They may live too far away or have health problems themselves. There are organizations that can help out -- but the bulk of these supports are made possible because of volunteers.
And the volunteers are typically seniors.
Then there is the husband who takes care of his wife who has Alzheimer's, who, from moment to moment, can no longer remember what day of the week it is, never mind what month or year, whether she has eaten, or what she just did; who keeps asking the same question over and over again, forgetting the answer as soon as it is given. He makes sure she gets dressed, eats properly, takes her medication, accompanies her to the doctor, and keeps her life as normal as possible. Without him, she would not be able to live at home anymore, but would have to be admitted to a care home.
Because of him, she is able to stay in familiar surroundings for as long as possible. Because of him, she is not a "burden" on the health-care system.
Rather than creating catastrophic visions of the impact of the "grey tsunami," it would help if we took a more balanced approach to the aging population. We need policy solutions to address the real challenges, such as: How do we ensure family and friends who care for older adults and play such an important role in their lives receive the supports they need? How do we provide supports in communities to make them as age-friendly as possible so seniors can continue to contribute to society and have the best quality of life?
Acknowledging seniors' contributions would help to make ours a more age-inclusive society that does not pit one generation against the other. It would also be a more accurate reflection of how most of us engage with each other in our everyday lives.

Verena Menec is an expert adviser with EvidenceNetwork.ca, a professor in the department of community health sciences at the faculty of medicine, and director of the Centre on Aging at the University of Manitoba.

-- EvidenceNetwork.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition August 23, 2012 A11

 

PASSPORT TO EMPLOYMENT IS COMING TO SUMMERSIDE! The Passport to Employment program is a joint initiative of the Federal and Provincial government to address the employment needs of mature workers while providing a service to local business.

The goal of the program is to help people aged 55 - 64 improve their skills in order to rejoin the workforce. It is a five week course on job search skills, knowledge and confidence building and skills identification. During the five weeks participants are encouraged and assisted in the process of seeking employment.
 

AN INFORMATION SESSION FOR THE SUMMERSIDE AREA COURSE will be held on Tuesday, August 28 at 2 p.m. in the Boardroom at Access PEI, Harbour Drive,Summerside.

The program begins September 11. Drop by and get the answers to any questions you may have – the organizers would love to see you there.

Some food for thought - How will the findings in this poll affect the workplace?   What if more and more seniors find themselves having to work part-time or full-time to supplement their retirement income?   Could this help employers who are looking for someone a day or two a week to round out their staff complement?

Poll: most fifty somethings plan to work in retirement to offset low savings

Published on August 21, 2012

The Charlottetown Guardian

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TORONTO — A new survey of Canadians in their 50s found that 53 per cent of those polled said they plan to continue working after retiring in their 60s, in many cases to supplement their income.

The national online survey, conducted last month for CIBC (TSX:CM) by Leger Marketing, found that Quebec respondents were least likely to say they'll work after retirement, at 47 per cent.
Manitoba and Saskatchewan respondents were the most likely to say they planned to work after retirement, at 59 per cent.
Atlantic Canada (54 per cent), Ontario (55 per cent), Alberta (57 per cent) and British Columbia (49 per cent) were closer to the national average of 53 per cent.
Meanwhile, about 29 per cent of those surveyed said they were not sure if they would work after retirement, while 14 per cent said they would definitely not work post retirement.
According to the survey, almost half of today's 50-59 year olds polled have less than $100,000 saved for retirement and many planned to use employment income in retirement to make up for lack of savings.
``The retirement landscape is shifting as baby boomers reach traditional retirement age with a smaller nest egg than they expected to have,'' said Christina Kramer, executive vice-president, retail distribution and channel strategy at CIBC.
``Many Canadians are now planning to draw on multiple sources of income including employment to fund their retirement, and that makes getting advice about how to manage your income, savings, and investments even more important.''
Overall, the survey found that of those who plan to keep on working, 37 per cent said they would do so part time.
And only one third of those who plan to work post retirement said they would do so just for the money.
Two-thirds _ or 67 per cent _ saw working either as a way to either stay socially active or that they just found work enjoyable and wanted to stay involved in the workforce in some capacity.
The average age at which the respondents plan to retire varied by region, with those in Atlantic Canada, Quebec and Manitoba and Saskatchewan looking to retire earliest at age 62. Ontarians were next at 63 and followed by those in Alberta and British Columbia at age 64.
CIBC says results are based on a poll conducted online by Leger Marketing via the LegerWeb panel that it says comprises more than 400,000 households. It said the poll used a sample of 805 respondents aged 50 to 59 and was conducted between July 5 and July 8.
The polling industry's professional body, the Marketing Research and Intelligence Association, says online surveys cannot be assigned a margin of error because they do not randomly sample the population.

SENIORS COLLEGE REGISTRATION at Holland College Waterfront Campus on Wednesday, September 19 from 10 a.m. until noon.   The full list of courses is available at www.seniorscollege.ca 

This is a link from the Journal-Pioneer--and it's a great example of what a group of dedicated seniors can accomplish in their community.   Congratulations to all of the committee members!

 

A walk to remember

Nancy MacPhee/Journal Pioneer

Al Poirier looks down at his brick in the Walk of Honour at the Air Force Heritage Park at Slemon Park. A rededication of the walk is taking place Aug. 24.

                               

Published on August 16, 2012

Nancy MacPhee

 

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SLEMON PARK — Al Poirier glances down at his name, one of almost 600 forever etched in stone, part of the Walk of Honour at the Air Force Heritage Park.

When Poirier signed on to help turn what was essentially a field with three abandoned aircraft into a park honouring military service, the senior, a former military man himself, never envisioned what it would become.
“Four years ago, there were three decrepit looking airplanes and a field of weeds. Today, there are three beautiful, like-new airplanes, and a park that has won a design award from the province,” said Poirier, beaming.
To the tune of almost $700,000, the park was completed, officially opening last year.
Next week, leading into the Atlantic Canada International Air Show, another ceremony, this time rededicating the park’s Walk of Honour, will take place.
The walkway is edged with granite bricks, each purchased in memory or in honour of someone who served or currently serving in the Canadian Forces Air Element, Second World War or the Canadian Military.
It’s a fitting tribute since the land it lies on was once part of CFB Summerside.
“In the 51 years of Air Force service, there are so many people from all over North America and Europe, too, that were here,” said Poirier.
When the concept was first envisioned, Poirier, a member of the Aviation Heritage Society of P.E.I. — the group behind the park — never expected the overwhelming interest it would receive people from all over the world.
The orders were so many that not all stones will be ready for the rededication.
“We never ever thought we would get near 600 stones. We overwhelmed the Windsor Monument people in Nova Scotia,” he said, with a laugh. “They have to cut the granite, design the face of the stone and it takes people who are experienced.”
Poirier often strolls the walkway, glancing down at the names.
“I get little shivers. They are names of people that I’ve met, grew up with and even older than me and also of people from the military that I have served with that I have never seen since I left the military,” he added. “You get a little twinge and think I must try to get a hold of that guy.”
Poirier hopes to see the walkway wind its way completely through the park.
“It’s perpetual.”
He also has dreams for the park and hopes it can become sustainable.
Half of the $100 cost for each brick goes to maintain the park, not near enough to cover costs, said Poirier.
“Our hope is to find patrons,” he added. “We have expenses. Insurance for the place is expensive and we must have that or Slemon Park would close us down.”
For now, Poirier is content knowing that the service of those now immortalized in stone will be forever remembered.
“They put their name in the ground here and in 100 years, hopefully, the name will still be there.”
The rededication takes place at the entrance to the park on Friday, Aug. 24, at 2 p.m.
For more information about the park and the Walk of Honour, visit www.airforceparkpei.ca.

nmacphee@journalpioneer.com

Our free educational sessions will resume in September, after a brief break this summer.    If you have any suggestions for courses/workshops that we might host this fall/winter, please do not hestitate to contact us at 888-2174 or email director.epsi@live.ca.    We plan to have two sessions per week, one in the evening and one in the morning.    See you this fall!

OK, maybe it's too hot to talk about this right now, but........The City of Summerside and go! PEI have teamed up to offer a new go! walking program and another Learn to Run program.   Both are starting August 21 at 6 p.m. at Queen Elizabeth Park.   They are free of charge, designed for beginners, 10 weeks in length, open to all age groups, and lead by trained facilitators.   Are you kidding?    What's not to love about this?    You must pre-register by emailing gosummerside@gmail.com or call 724-3175.   Check out www.gopei.ca for more information. 

Summerside Rotary Library is offering WORD PROCESSING TUTORIALS Saturday August 18 at 3 p.m.    They are located at 192 Water Street.  Sounds great! 

There is a new HOME LIBRARY SERVICE for anyone who has a disability and cannot get to the library regularly.

The service relies on volunteers to deliver books. If you are intrerested in helping out, why not drop by the Summerside Rotary Library at 192 Water Street or give them a call at 436-7323. What a great idea----and a great service!

Please check out go!PEI's newsletter at http://www.gopei.ca/ for some tips on how to be active in the hot weather. You can sign up for their newsletter, which always contains excellent information!

                          GREATER SUMMERSIDE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 
                                       BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARDS
                                     

Well, this is exciting! EPSI has been nominated for a Greater Summerside Chamber of Commerce Community Impact award! We attended a mixer this morning at the Silver Fox Curling and Yacht Club where the nominees were announced.   

There is certainly no shortage of excellent businesses and organizations in our community, that's for sure. We are displaying our nominee status at our Seniors Access Centre with pride. Drop by and visit us at Credit Union Place.  We'd love to see you!