Executive Director’s Message

Did you know that the Saskatoon Council on Aging (SCOA) serves over 80,000 older adults in Saskatoon and area?  SCOA is a non-profit organization which began operations in 1991 and is dedicated to promoting positive aging for all in an age-friendly community.

Positive aging means feeling good, as you grow older. The key to positive aging is staying ACTIVE, ENGAGED and INFORMED.

• You can stay ACTIVE through SCOA’s Globe Walk Program.
• You can stay ENGAGED through SCOA’s Senior Neighborhood Hub Clubs, Century Club, and Lifelong learning programs.
• You can stay INFORMED through SCOA’s information/resource centre and caregiver information and support centre and our publications.
• Through SCOA’s Age Friendly Saskatoon Initiative the City of Saskatoon now belongs to the World Health Organization’s Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities.   The network was established to foster the exchange of experience and mutual learning between cities and communities worldwide who are striving to better meet the needs of their older residents.  .

Some SCOA key projects and partnerships in the last few years that have emerged from the age-friendly initiative include:

• Development of an Age-friendly lens that is used to encourage organizations to become age-friendly.
• Building Respectful Inclusive Communities (training for older adults in congregate living how to combat bullying).
• VIDEO with Saskatoon Fire, Police and Preston Park 1 (training police and fire to work with seniors).
• Development of a Community Police and Fire Academy for older adults
  The “Remembering When” project with Saskatoon Fire (volunteers will visit you in your home to educate about fire safety)
• VIDEO with City Transit (learn how to serve older adults and show older adults how to use City Transit).
• Bus Buddy program(volunteers show older adults how to use transit)

Join Us! Become a full member of SCOA

Did you know?  Growing older can be the best time of your life.

The key to aging well is staying active, engaged and informed. The Saskatoon Council on Aging [SCOA] is a non-profit organization that promotes positive aging for all in an age-friendly community.

Our programs and services can help you feel great, as you grow older –
Stay active, engaged and informed with us!

5 Great reasons to be a full member!

1. Access learning, fitness and social opportunities for older adults

• Keep your mind active: SCOA offers technology classes, crafts, Life skills workshops
• Keep your body active: The SCOA Globe Walkis a free monthly fitness challenge – Join a team, stay fit and have fun!
• Social activities promote health and well-being:  Seniors Neighbourhood Hub Clubs, are free monthly socials – now in 5 locations city wide!

2. Stay informed with information that matters to you! You receive…

• The latest happenings and community events delivered right to your
  inbox with a monthly eNews
• Coming of Age newsletter with useful articles, classes & programs for seniors and news

3. You receive discounts from participating sponsors and our special coupon pack

4. You have a vote at our annual general meeting and learn more about your community

5. You help us build an age-friendly communitywhere older adults are valued and included

Make your voice heard – Be part of a friendly, growing community of older adults [3600+]

You can help us build a better future with older adults –
Become a member today!
Single memberships $25/Couples $35/Corporate $250/Nonprofit $25/Associate Free
Memberships renewed yearly [April 1 to March 31]

1. Phone 306.652.2255 to pay with credit card

2. Sign up online scoa.ca

3. Visit our office 2020 College Drive[ Field House ]

Executive Directors Message for October 2019

The staff and volunteers have been quite busy over the summer months organizing programs and events for the fall.  I hope you enjoy reading this issue which is produced by our talented Fund Development/Communication Coordinator, Virginia.

Recently SCOA’s Co-Presidents and I met the Honorable Warren Kaeding, Minister Responsible for Seniors.   He advised that he will be an advocate for older adults at the Ministerial Cabinet table bringing the right people together to make necessary connections.  He is working on gathering a snap shot of what each Ministry does for programs for older adults and collate these findings for a central registry for older adults.  You may find the following link useful from the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers Responsible for Seniors Forum that was held this past May.  At the forum new and emerging issues related to older adults and ways to work collaboratively on key projects were discussed.  Reports and policies that have been approved can be found on this link as well as a variety of resources for seniors.   Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers Responsible for Seniors Forum

The Minister also discussed social isolation of older adults.  Our Volunteer/Program Coordinator, Sheila, has been working hard to have social programs established in Saskatoon for older adults!  SCOA is happy to announce that St. Martins Church and Silverwood Community Heights Association have will be part of the Seniors Neighbourhood Hub Clubs bringing the total now to 5 clubs in Saskatoon.  Please check out the Hub Club for more details.

No Patient Left Behind: Electronic Health Record Use in Saskatchewan

We want to hear from you! No Patient Left Behind: Electronic Health Record Use in Saskatchewan

 Have you ever wanted to see or even access information in your medical record? Are you interested in learning more about what an Electronic Health Record (EHR) is? Or how it works? 

Your EHR is a secure and private lifetime record that gives you access to much of your health data through electronic devices (e.g.: computer, tablet or phone). In Canada, the EHR stores and provides information on your lab results, medication profiles, key clinical reports (e.g.: hospital discharge reports), diagnostic reports from x-rays or other similar tests, and your immunization history. This information can be seen by authorized health care providers and is becoming available for more and more patients to access across the country.  

This technology offers many benefits for patient and health care professionals. For example, the EHR gives patients the ability to see test results and previous and current prescriptions. Access to this data can reduce test duplication and increase communication with doctors and nurses saving time for both parties.  There are also potential challenges with EHR use, including technical difficulties, access to electronic devices and or internet connectivity and concerns about privacy and confidentially. 

Dr. Tracie Risling from the College of Nursing at the University of Saskatchewan is partnering with SCOA on a new research project, No Patient Left Behind: EHR Use in Saskatchewan. This study is about supporting patients across the province to uptake and use their electronic health records. We want to hear from you! How would you want to learn about EHRs? What do think some of the challenges might be when it comes to using EHRs? What type of supports could be developed to support EHR users?

In the coming weeks, Dr. Tracie Risling and her team will be announcing dates for information sessions about EHR use in Saskatchewan and this research project. We are excited to start this research, working with SCOA and looking forward to meeting with those who are interested in sharing their thoughts about this technology and how best to use it.  

For more information on this project contact RisTech Research Coordinator Courtney Carlberg at courtney.carlberg@usask.ca 

This research is funded by the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF) and the Saskatchewan Centre for Patient-Orientated Research (SCPOR). 

This research has been approved by the U of S Behavioural Ethics Board (BEH 1259). 

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 

Saskatoon Tech Company Using  virtual reality to improve dementia care

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.