Pain Knowledge Needs of Family Caregivers and Persons with Dementia

The Saskatoon Council on Aging [SCOA] is pleased to collaborate with Dr. Susan Tupper on the research project “Pain Knowledge Needs of Family Caregivers and Persons with Dementia: Role of Virtual Reality as a Training Modality”. As a leading organization in the province dedicated to supporting positive aging through programs and services that enhance health, dignity, and independence for older adults, SCOA recognizes the importance of this research project for our community members.

Dr. Tupper and the Pain Dementia Virtual Reality Research Team have proposed to create an innovative training program on pain management for family caregivers and people with cognitive impairments related to dementia. Incorporating virtual reality videos into the training materials is an exciting new way to teach family members and people with dementia about pain. The training materials will be developed based on family member input, and their perspectives on the new virtual reality video will help shape the training program in ways that truly support older adults in Saskatchewan. This education will help our families to better cope with pain and prevent suffering and the many negative consequences of living with pain.

In the news: 

CBC Saskatoon May 20, 2019: Pain researcher uses VR to help caregivers deal with dementia patients’ pain. 

CBC Blue Sky May 29, 2019: Managing Acute and Chronic Pain: A panel of Saskatchewan Experts 

The research is funded by the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation and Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation Advancement Inc.

 

Take the bus to the EX and Folkfest!

The Saskatoon EX (Aug 6-11) and FolkFest (Aug 15-17) are quickly approaching.  There is limited parking and increased traffic volumes around both the Saskatoon Ex and FolkFest.

Saskatoon Transit is once again offering FREE service to EX Superpass and FolkFest Passport holders. You can plan your route to and from the EX or FolkFest on the mobile app called Transit (or Google Maps on desktop).

Saskatoon EX Superpass holders can ride free every day on regular Transit routes to and from the exhibition grounds by showing their Superpass when boarding and all older adults (60+) ride FREE all day Thursday (August 8) on regular bus routes.

FolkFest Passport holders can ride free after 4pm on Thursday and Friday (August 15 – 16) and after noon on Saturday (August 17) by showing their Passport when boarding a Saskatoon Transit bus!

The Folkfest Bus Terminal – located on 3rd Ave. in front of City Hall – serves as the main transfer point for all Folkfest buses. Board a FolkFest bus at any pavilion, Market Mall, and participating hotels (Hilton Garden Inn, Delta Hotels by Marriott, Delta Bessborough and Sheraton Cavalier). You can also use the regular #1 and #19 buses to Prairieland Park.

OR take advantage of FolkFest’s Park ’n Ride service at transit terminals around the city. Park your car at one of several malls and ride to the Downtown Bus terminal to transfer at City Hall and ride the FolkFest buses for FREE.

 

June 2019: Message from the Executive Director

I recently celebrated 25 years of working for SCOA with the Board of Directors. When looking back at the past 25 years I have seen the agency grow in many ways. I am truly blessed to have the pleasure of working with very talented volunteers and staff that are key to many successes we see today. SCOA has been working to create an age-friendly community that supports older adults to stay active, engaged and informed. We all win in an age-friendly community

Highlights:

• Our organization has grown from 300 members in the beginning years to almost 4000 members!
• This past year SCOA has assisted 35,042 individuals through phoning our Resource and Information Centre, emailing us, stopping by, visiting our websites, attending our presentations, events, workshops, courses and participating in our programs.
• We will be holding our annual general meeting June 5 at 1:30 p.m. at Crossmount. Come join us and find out how we are building a better future with older adults and changing the conversation about aging.

May 2019: Message from the Executive Director

We have been busy getting ready for our Annual General Meeting to be held June 5 as you will read later in this newsletter.  Come join us and see what we have been up to the past year.  We are also gearing up for our annual fundraiser at the Western Development Museum called Grand “Old” Opry – Zoomer Style to be held March 27, 2020.  We currently are looking for bands and singers to audition for this event.  Please note if you are interested to audition to contact our office by June 3^rd.

In the next few editions of this newsletter, you will find some notices from the University of Saskatchewan looking for focus group participants.  We are happy to be a partner with the U of S for these research projects. The projects range from accessing your electronic health records to how to recognize pain when caring for someone with dementia to how to manage medications if you have had a serious illness and have cancer.  You will hear more about these projects in future once the researchers are ready to start recruiting for participants.

Message from the Executive Director

Thank you for supporting the Saskatoon Council on Aging through your donations and renewing memberships recently.   By giving, you are supporting many of the free programs and services SCOA offers.  If you renew or become a new member you can receive valuable coupons from various vendors as a thank you.  They are available to pick up at our office.

Due to construction the Saskatoon Field House where our office is located will be closed from June 15, 2019 until September 15, 2019.  During this time we will be temporarily working out of the Community Health Centre located in Market Mall.  Our phone numbers [306-652-2255] and emails will be the same and it will be business as usual.

If you are 65 plus and are interested in learning more about the Police and Fire Services we have partnered together to create a fun, innovative program called the Community Police and Fire Academy.  More details are in this edition of the eNews.

Do you want to let Saskatoon know you are a talented country and western music performer? Please take note in this eNews the details about our call for auditions for the Grand “Old” Opry Zoomer Style event we will be holding at the Western Development Museum on March 27, 2020.

Spotlight on Seniors – Celebrate 20 Years!

Spotlight on Seniors is a tradeshow for older adults (55 and up) hosted by the Saskatoon Council on Aging and TCU Place in Saskatoon.  Now in its 20th year, Spotlight is an important fixture on the autumn agenda for older adults in Saskatoon. The show usually corresponds with Seniors Week in Saskatchewan, a week proclaimed by the province to celebrate the contributions of older adults.

This year the show features a look back at 20 years of Spotlight, great entertainment with Spectacle, Young at Heart and lively dancing with Bridge City Cloggers and Free Flow Dance Theatre Company. Other features include 50/50 tickets, “Wall of Photos” and much more!

1.     Date & location: Tuesday, October 1, 2019,  9 am to 3 pm
TCU Place – 35 22nd Street East, Saskatoon
Details: trade show booths, entertainment, displays, free draws, refreshments
Admission: $10 pay at the door

2.     To purchase a trade show booth contact  Joan TCU Place 306.975.1466
Corporate, Small Business and non-profit rates are available.

3.     To become a sponsor which includes a booth and advertising contact SCOA 306-652-0149 or download documents  from this page.

Thank you to our sponsors:

Goal of Spotlight on Seniors:

To raise awareness of community services to enrich the lives of older adults and support positive aging.

Background: The first Spotlight on Seniors was held on November 1, 1999 to recognize the International Year of Older Persons (IYOP).  The show was held in a downtown hotel and featured trade show booths and entertainment. Spotlight has expanded since then and the venue has moved to TCU Place, our downtown auditorium in Saskatoon.

Highlights of Spotlight on Seniors:

·        70 + trade show booths

·        Entertainment and music

·        Speakers and demonstrations

·        Refreshments and lunch

·        Raffles and prize draws

Annual General Meeting

Annual General Meeting for Saskatoon Council on Aging

Where: The Crossmount Village – From the Western Development Museum drive 5 kilometres (3 miles) south on Lorne Avenue.

Date: Wednesday June 5, 2019

Time: 1:30 p.m. Business Meeting
2:15 p.m. Refreshments
2:30 p.m. Presentation by Bourassa and Associates Rehabilitation Centre – Your Lower Back Through The Ages
3:30 p.m. Adjourned

Support SCOA by renewing your membership at this meeting. Buy or renew a membership and receive a coupon pack valued at $117.00 and be entered to win  a prize.