The City of Edmonton has developed a number of resources useful for seniors organizations aiming to make their organizations welcoming and inclusive for all seniors.

Senior Serving Organizations: A Toolkit for Inclusion
The purpose of this toolkit is to provide resources to help organizations build capacity and to support the ongoing and important work of making senior serving organizations more welcoming, accessible and inclusive for all seniors.

Ambassador Program Curriculum and Facilitators Guide
The goal of the Ambassador Program for Edmonton's senior serving organizations is to contribute to an overall vision of inclusion so that the organizations reflect the diversity of the community they serve and meet the diverse needs of their membership.

Senior Serving Organizations: A Guide to Planning Inclusive Meetings & Events

The guide is a practical and easy to use resource that staff and volunteers at senior serving organizations can use to ensure that meetings and events are planned and implemented to maximize the inclusion and participation of all seniors and community members.

Contact Shelley Kwong at [email protected] or 780-496-5905 if you would like a print copy of the resources.

Issues and barriers that affect older LGBTQI2S people are often overlooked. Policies and program aimed at improving the health and well-being of older people and the ageing population often do not take into account factors such as gender and sexuality when being created. Questions to be addressed in this webinar are:

• What issues, challenges, and barriers do older LGBTQI2S people face in their particular region?
• What are some promising approaches to supporting the rights of older LGBTQI2S people in their region and from their organizational perspective?

If we want to increase the healthy years of life, we first need to change the conversation about our aging population. We focus on costs related to health care and paint a picture of frailty and dependence for the masses that is not always supported by evidence. Our view and subsequent messaging will impact on whether people expect good health in later years or believe certain outcomes of frailty are inevitable. 

Many of the stereotypes that exist about seniors are not supported by the facts. While it is true that the proportion of seniors is increasing, the degree to which society will be "transformed" may be exaggerated. We need to look at how much "confirmation bias" is affecting the language we use to describe issues related to seniors and aging.

This webinar will focus on debunking some of the myths about seniors and highlight some of the policy challenges facing all levels of governments to ensure that incentives align with desired outcomes.

All physicians, residents, nursing and other allied health professionals interested in geriatrics are invited to attend. The diverse program includes sessions on caring for caregivers, quality of life in long-term care, medical assistance in dying, promoting active aging for frail seniors, and much more.
The early bird registration deadline is April 15. View program information and register.

Get help from knowledgeable and personable U of A student instructors. Call 780-433-5377 to enroll.

CLSA's second intake of winter program registrations is happening now and it's not too late to get involved. The following programs are a sampling of what's offered. Visit www.clsaedmonton.ca for a complete listing.

• Intro to Computers: March 20 - April 10, 1- 4 p.m., $121 members; $151 non-members
• Holistic Decluttering: March 22, 1 p.m., $24
• Meditation - The 'Letting Go' Process: March 24 and 31, 1:30 p.m., $16
• Stained Glass Suncatcher: April 3 and 10, 1 - 4 p.m., $34 members: $64 non-members plus supplies
• Diabetes & Complications Presentation: April 5, 1:30 p.m.

You can register online at www.edmonton.ca/eReg or www.clsaedmonton.ca (you will need a city login ID number and account PIN). You can also register by telephone by calling 311 or in-person at the centre between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Call 780-496-7369 for more information.

The Edmonton Public Library will do an information session on basic iPad operations as well as the EPL app and other senior friendly apps. Bring your iPad and have some fun with other seniors. Call 780-476-6595 ext. 2 for more information.

Learn about the six pillars of financial planning: maximizing cash flow; building your portfolio; managing tax; lifestyle insurance (life, critical illness, disability, long term care); retirement readiness and planning and leaving a legacy. RSVP in advance. Call 780-496-2997.

Feeling the burden of less money and high taxes? The Retirement Income Blueprint program is designed to show retirees how to address special issues and draw out retirement income in the most tax efficient manner. Topics covered include the key differences between the accumulation and the "income" market, tax-efficient disassembly of Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs), and more. Call 587-987-3200 for information.

This presentation by the Primary Care Network provides an overview of physical activity in your daily life and tips on pacing yourself. Call 780-451-1925, email [email protected], or visit the centre to sign up. 

Have you been interested in BrainFitness but the 12-week time commitment was too much? Try Sage's new 4-week (8 class) express program. Keep your brain in shape with these tailor-made computer programs designed to stimulate the mind, sharpen hearing and enhance visual memory, improve problem-solving skills and improve memory and balance. These programs require no previous computer experience and are guided by an amazing instructor. Pre-register by calling 780-423-5510 ext. 301. You do not need to be a senior or Sage member to register. You can pre-book a demo with the instructor anytime by calling 780-423-5510 ext. 305.

Edmonton's Plan to End Homelessness has been our community's tool for coordinating services and addressing homelessness since 2009. Homeward Trust and the City of Edmonton are working in partnership to update the plan and create further momentum on ending chronic homelessness in Edmonton. Members of the public are invited to provide input by completing an online survey by April 13.