Age Friendly Moose Jaw published its first Seniors' Resource Guide and simultaneously opened a Seniors' Drop-in Resource Centre in October 2023, and the supportive aging organization said its efforts have helped increase services to individuals and caregivers.
"The Age Friendly goal is to support individuals as they age," explained Christine Boyczuk, chair of the Age Friendly Moose Jaw committee. "Aging in place is the concept that most underlines our work. We are aware that when people remain in their homes, the quality of their lives is thought to be better if they have the supports they need as they age."
Part of the Saskatchewan Seniors' Mechanism, Age Friendly Saskatchewan and its local chapters are volunteer groups who dedicate time for the purpose of helping people over age 55 stay active and independent as they age, preferably in their own homes.
The committee wanted to create a Seniors' Resource Guide for Moose Jaw to summarize services for older adults.
With an initial printing of 400 and a second, updated printing on the way, the guide covers all kinds of available supports, such as social opportunities, senior-specific exercise classes, and mental health resources. It is available throughout the city at places like the Moose Jaw & District Chamber of Commerce, the Moose Jaw Public Library, long-term care homes, and others.
It also contains information on adapting homes for people who want to age in place. Handrails, ramps, wheelchair-accessible doors and showers, emergency alert devices, and more are part of preparing for and adapting to age-related issues. Because of the Saskatchewan climate, help with tasks like clearing snow and ice, senior-friendly transportation, and keeping appliances functional are also important.
The drop-in centre at Timothy Eaton's, home of the Moose Jaw & District Seniors' Association, was opened to provide face-to-face interaction and help with navigating the guidebook.
Drop-in hours are 12 to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and 9 a.m. to noon on Fridays. Interested parties can also call 306-690-2977 for more information.
Boyczuk said that partnerships with the Blue Cross and YMCA have also enabled the Age Friendly Moose Jaw committee to offer 'Forever in Motion' and 'Health Connect' sessions at Timothy Eaton's on Tuesdays from 1 to 3 p.m.
"So, these are free programs that improve seniors' health literacy and answer questions like, 'how do I keep myself physically active in a safe way,' and then afterwards we have Health Connect, which is really our coffee and conversation time, and we have some really interesting discussions," Boyczuk explained.
"And once a month we have a sort of bigger presentation on things like, for example, next Tuesday (Jan. 30) we'll be talking about 211, and then we have a presentation coming up on taking your medications safely, and I did a presentation on scams, so how to avoid being scammed over the phone or the internet."
On the Age Friendly Moose Jaw committee's 2024 agenda is a possible 'Social Prescribing' initiative. Boyczuk said the Sask Seniors' Mechanism is looking at piloting the program in a larger centre and a medium- or smaller-sized centre — Moose Jaw, for example.
Social prescribing is gaining popularity in nations like the United Kingdom and tries to recognize the impact of social isolation on health.
"This would involved hiring a 'connector' that health practitioners in our community could refer people to," Boyczuk said. "And so, if you were diagnosed with depression, instead of medications or in addition to medications, a doctor or nurse practitioner might say you need to have more social activity and more exercise, and our connector would help you find those opportunities."
Boyczuk said it's an exciting prospect, and could provide many people 55+ with the knowledge and network to age as healthfully as possible.
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