A Nice Way to spend a Saturday!

Kudos to the PEI Seniors Secretariat for putting on a terrific day for seniors at Centre Belle-Alliance in Summerside today. The speakers were excellent, and the day was well organized. Congratulations to Maggie Cameron who won our Yankee Candle tart warmer prize. It was nice to meet so many new people and to say hello to a lot of our EPSI friends.

HOME SAFE HOME PROGRAM IS ROLLING OUT

Shown are the volunteers for EPSI's Home Safe Program getting ready to hit the road to do some home safety visits and distribute our beautiful home safety kits.   They are Resident Care Worker students from the Marguerite Connolly program.

HOME SAFE HOME

Keeping Seniors Safe in Their Homes

An East Prince Seniors Initiative program

Funding provided by Insurance Bureau of Canada, and

supported by Home Instead Senior Care,

Callbeck’s Home Hardware, and City of Summerside Fire Services

 

Home is where the heart is, but for Canadian seniors, it’s the place where most injuries are likely to happen.    The good news is that there are steps you can take to minimize your risk and keep you safe and comfortable at home.   (Seniors’ Guide to Living Safely—Insurance Bureau of Canada).

 

The Home Safe Home program was begun to help seniors take an objective look at their surroundings and point out some areas that could be risk factors.  At least one-third of all falls in seniors involve hazards in the home.

 

Home assessments will carried out by volunteers who will be using detailed checklists to point out potential safety hazards in the home.  The volunteers will be resident care worker students from the Marguerite Connolly Resident Care Worker program, who will have training in using the checklist.   The assessments are free, and the visit should take approximately 30 minutes.

 

The volunteers will assess seniors’ dwellings using the checklist, and leave behind suggestions (such as, taking up cotton mats, considering installing a deadbolt lock for the door, putting slip guards in tub, etc.)    Assessments will not include checks of electrical, heating or plumbing systems.    The checklist is focused on home safety, fall prevention, and accessibility issues…..some of the most prevalent causes of accidents.    These visits are not intended to replace occupational therapist roles.

 

A safety kit will be given as a thank you to homeowners who participate, compliments of The Insurance Bureau of Canada.   This kit will include slip strips for the tub, an electrical outlet bar, plug-in emergency light, microwave pot holders, printed information about programs and safety topics, and other items.    The City of Summerside Fire Department has provided a number of fire alarms for residents who do not currently have working alarms. 

 

The intent of the Home Safe Home program is to help seniors stay in their homes safely.  We encourage family referrals for loved ones.  Seniors who own their homes or are renting are eligible.  

 

The program will be offered to the first 100 seniors who live in Summerside who register, and the target date for these assessments is the end of March and first part of April, 2014.  To register, please call East Prince Seniors Initiative at 888-2177.   

TRE - Tension Release Exercises Demonstration

Hi everyone -  On Thursday, March 27 at 10 a.m. Sherri Barrett will be with us to introduce TRE.    These exercises are gentle, and you can do them on your own.    The whole idea is to reduce stress and tension.......and who wouldn't love that?

Please call our office at 888-2177 to register.    Sherri was booked for this demonstration previously, but Mother Nature did not allow travel.     The people who were registered will all be called to see if they can still attend.   We have a FEW spaces left, so call as soon as you can.     Sounds like a dandy!    PS:    The class will be held in the group fitness room upstairs from the arena seating.

SOME LOVELY TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES

Had a visit from Vance Bridges yesterday.   They are planning a motor coach tour to Ottawa, Niagara Falls, Montreal and Quebec City for May 16-25.     As well they are hosting a one-day trip to the Nova Scotia International Tattoo on July 6.    For more details on either of these tours, give Vance a call at 902-436-3650 or 1-800-503-8883.

OPEN HOUSE MARCH 11 11-1 ALZHEIMER SOCIETY OF PEI

The Alzheimer Society of Prince Edward Island is inviting anyone interested in volunteering to join them for an open house at 166 Fitzroy Street, Charlottetown, March 11th, 11 am- 1 pm, to learn more about their Just for You: Volunteer Companion Program. The program aims to match volunteers with individuals with dementia to provide 1-2 hours of companionship each week in the individual's home. They ask anyone interested in attending the open house to sign up by calling 370-3135 or emailing education@alzpei.ca.

This wonderful group is so active and helpful - we are happy to spread the word!!   

HOME SAFE HOME PROGRAM

Hi everyone!    We’re excited to tell you about an upcoming project we are launching called HOME SAFE HOME.    Many people are hospitalized each year due to accidents in their homes.   The folks at EPSI are focused on helping seniors remain safe in their homes, and we have received funding from the Insurance Bureau of Canada (with support through Summerside Home Hardware,  Home Instead Senior Care, and City of Summerside Fire Services) to carry out assessments that will help identify potential safety hazards.

 Volunteers will go into your home with a safety checklist and ask you some questions about home safety.    All volunteers will have police checks, and two of them will meet with you to go over the checklist and make recommendations.

 We will be visiting the first 100 homes in Summerside that register, and the assessments will take place the end of March.

 As a thank you for participating, we will leave you with a home safety kit.

To register for the program, you must be a senior (age 65+) and live in Summerside.    It doesn’t matter if you own or rent your home.     Give us a call at East Prince Seniors Initiative (888-2177) to register.    After you have done so, and the assessment dates are confirmed, we will call you to make an appointment.

 

We welcome family referrals on behalf of a family member!

TENSION RELEASE EXERCISES

 

 

Are you experiencing stress and tension? Why not register for EPSI’s session on TRE – Tension Release Exercises? This session will be held at Credit Union Place on Thursday March 13 at 10 in the morning. Sherri Barrett, a TRE facilitator will go through the six simple exercises that are the basis for this process. Because of limited space and anticipated interest, we are asking that you register at EPSI by calling 888-2177 or by email at eastprinceseniors@live.ca You really don’t want to miss this one.

Please remember that EPSI sessions are free and open to everyone! Thanks!See More

This is for all of you WONDERFUL caregivers out there!!

HEART AND STROKE FOUNDATION
CARING FOR CAREGIVERS
Caring for Caregivers meetings are held monthly for stroke
caregivers to come together in a safe, confidential,
non-judgmental environment to discuss common concerns.
Date: Second Tuesday of every month
(February 11; March 11; April 15)
Time: 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Location: Wedgewood Manor auditorium
For more information please contact the Heart and Stroke
Foundation at 902-892-7441
WHAT A WONDERFUL SERVICE TO CAREGIVERS!!!