November 2010 - Ramsay Community Association in Calgary

Snow Angels1. Q: What is Snow Angels?A: Snow Angels is a social marketing campaign initiated byThe City of Calgary, Seniors Services Division and BylawServices to raise awareness with the citizens of Calgaryof the need to remember their neighbours when shovelingsnow, especially if they’re older adults or if they havehealth concerns that prevent them from clearing their ownwalks. Snow Angels is NOT a snow clearing program forolder adults. It is a way to encourage people to be goodneighbours. For snow removal talk to your CommunityAssociation or call 3-1-1.2. Q: How do I become a Snow Angel?A: You can become a Snow Angel by helping your elderlyneighbours clear the snow off their sidewalks. Talk to yourelderly neighbours. Offer to shovel the snow for them.Approach your community association to see if the communityhas a snow removal project or has considered developinga community based program to assist older adults.3. Q: What do I get for being a Snow Angel?A: There is no pay for being a Snow Angel. You get the satisfactionof knowing that you’ve made a difference in the lifeof an older adult who will be able to stay in the house theylove for a longer period of time.4. Q: Why is snow removal so important?A: Snow that remains on sidewalks is a hazard to:• Persons who have limited mobility and are at risk for falls.Persons such as older adults or those who have disabilitiesmay suffer severe injuries in a fall on ice and/or snow. A fallon an icy walk could lead to an injury that would preventreturn to one’s home.• Persons whose jobs require them to walk from house tohouse or who make home deliveries. Such persons delivermail, read water/gas meters, voluntarily deliver for Meals-On-Wheels and visit those who are unable to get out.What is Aging In Place?Carla Berezowski, CAPS (Certified Aging In Place Specialist)Aging In Place is the ability to remain living in the home ofyour choice independently, safely and comfortably regardless ofyour age or ability.Aging In Place is based on Universal Design principleswhich basically state that anyone can live safely in a spacedesigned using these principles, regardless of age or ability.The space is user-friendly for all, easy to maneuver around ifyou are in a wheelchair or if your arms are full with kids andgroceries.The changes required to enable you to stay in your homemay be minor ones like replacing door knobs with lever handles,installing D-shaped cabinet pulls and removing trippinghazards like area carpets.Other changes could be a bit more in depth such as upgradinglight fixtures, changing flooring, moving switches and outletsfor easier access or changing cabinets to accommodate slideout shelves and drawers.Then there are major renovations such as building a masterbedroom on the main floor, renovating a bathroom shower tomake it wheelchair accessible or widening halls and doorways.There are many different options to make your home safeand comfortable for you, your parents, or someone else youlove for years to come. Many modifications are simple andinexpensive; it just takes a little bit of creativity and understandingthe needs of the client to find solutions.In Calgary, 9.4% of the population is over 65 years old(StatCan2009). Of these, 90% live in their own home. Thatmeans there are just fewer than 100,000 people who are agingin their homes. Further, these homes tend to be older, datafrom the 2006 census indicates that over 40% of seniors livingin their own homes which were built prior to 1971. Thesehomes tend to have poor lighting, narrow doors and hallways,smaller rooms and no considerations at all for ease of maneuverabilitythroughout the home.Aging In Place Calgary wants to educate as many people aspossible about the opportunities and independence that ourknowledge and understanding of universal design offers. Insome cases people do have to move out and into an assistedliving or long-term care situation. However, a much larger percentageof the population is able to live in their homes for theduration of their lives – they just need a few modifications toensure it is safe.Ramsay News page 11