Happy Seniors’ Week from Calgary Housing Company!
Seniors’ week is June 1-7, 2020. Help us celebrate seniors’ week by supporting, recognizing and honouring seniors in your community.
Seniors are a vital part of our communities. As parents and grandparents, mentors and friends, employees and employers, they make a difference in our lives. And it is important that we continue to recognize, celebrate and support seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Seniors’ Week has been celebrated since 1986 to celebrate and recognize seniors throughout the province. This is a great opportunity to honour and recognize all that seniors have contributed to making our families, communities and our province stronger.
In Calgary the theme for this year’s Seniors Week is Resilience. The City is asking all citizens to come together and celebrate the resilience of the older adults in our community. All events to celebrate this week are being held virtually, so that people can maintain safe, physical distancing.
There are things you can do to celebrate and support Alberta seniors and recognize this week safely and responsibly!
Get involved!
Record your interactions (video or photos) and post on your favourite social media platform using the hashtag #abseniors
Keep connected & support seniors
There are so many great opportunities to stay connected with the older adults in your life, say thank you, make sure they are safe, and see if they need anything. To do so safely, here are some ways to stay connected:
- Make an audio or video call, email or send letters to check in
- Host a family dinner online
- Host a virtual games night with family and friends
- Write letters and send cards, drawings or photos to seniors in local continuing care facilities
- Arrange outdoor visits that observe physical distancing restrictions
Offer assistance
This is a great time to support the emotional, mental and physical well-being of older adults and to spread good cheer throughout your community.
- Offer to assist with grocery and prescription purchases – online or delivery
- Organize a local group to offer physically distanced yard cleaning for seniors
- Drop off gift baskets and/or homemade cards at seniors’ homes
- Volunteer with organizations that support seniors, like telephone check-in program
- Recognize outstanding supports for seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic
Share your stories
- Interview seniors and capture their stories and history
- Host a virtual music concert
- Host an online poetry reading
- Host a podcast with guest speakers
- Invite older adults you know to participate in online educational, activity or cooking classes
- Conduct a “drive-by” parade – make signs, honk your horns and wave
- Host a physically-distanced dance or musical performance outside a seniors complex
- Have a virtual story-telling evening
Get more info
Seniors Week Events
Seniors’ Week: ‘More than a Number’ Livestream Reading | Wednesday, June 3, 2020, 7 – 9 p.m.
A humorous play follows five friends through a game of cards that gets sidetracked as things heat up over whether ageism really exists and what form it takes in their personal lives. Participate via Facebook
Fact or Fiction – Seniors Housing in Alberta | Thursday, June 4, 2020, 6 – 7 p.m.
A presentation from the Calgary Seniors Housing Forum Society about the true realities of seniors housing today and potentially dismiss some recent myths circulating about seniors housing today. Register via eventbrite
Seniors’ Week: Dementia and Risk Reduction | Friday, June 5, 2020, 9:30 – 11 a.m.
Learn the different types of dementia, signs, symptoms, diagnosis, ways to reduce risk and programs/services available. Register via Alzheimer Calgary
Seniors’ Week: Watch Party – Feature Film: ‘The Great Disconnect’ | Friday, June 5, 2020, 6 – 8:15 p.m. Explores what some experts are describing as the “age of loneliness”. Despite Western advances in technology, living conditions, education and healthcare, we as a society are isolating ourselves from one another because of this, facing a health crisis that affects all ages, genders, races and cultures. Register by Eventbrite
Senior Specific Supports
The following resources have been collected to support seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Way In: supports for Seniors – a collaboration of Calgary based agencies providing a coordinated response to seniors requiring supports and services. Call 403-SENIORS (403-736-4677) for assistance. [Added 5/13]
Elder Abuse Resources from Alberta health – visit the website for resources or call the Calgary Elder Abuse Resource Line at 403-705-3250. Call 911 if you or someone you know is being abused and is in immediate danger. [Added 5/13]
Essential numbers for seniors in Calgary – [PDF] an easy to reference page with contact information for essential services including the Way Inn, the Distress Centre and the Elder Abuse Resource line. [Added 5/07]
Information Resource from Alberta Seniors and Housing – Alberta Seniors and Housing has compiled information geared specifically to Seniors. Seniors who need information and supports can still contact Alberta Supports at 1-877-644-9992. [Added 4/22]
The Kerby Centre is providing a Grocery Delivery Program for seniors in the community, and they have lifted the income requirements. Call the program at 403-234-6571. [Added 3/27]
COVID-19 Seniors Information Hotline – senior-specific services including food security, emergency shelter, prescription and grocery delivery and emergency financial support. [Added 3/27]
Seniors Support Resources from the Kerby Centre – Kerby Centre is closed to the public, but is still supporting vulnerable seniors. More information is available on their website. [Added 3/27]
