Chapter September 2015 Newsletter

In these newletters, you will find information and updates about things that matter to you, your friends and your family. Below is a Chapter contact list:

Chair - Ken Eden, carpniagara@gmail.com

Vice Chair - John Meguerian, carpniagara@gmail.com

Treasurer - John Gardner, jcg13@cogeco.ca

Secretary - Pat Roden, carpniagarambr@gmail.com

• Communication - John Meguerian, carpniagaracomm@gmail.com

• Membership - Pat Roden, carpniagarambr@gmail.com

• Social/Recreational - Susan Sutherland, carpniagarasocial@gmail.com

• Advocacy - TBD

• PR/Education - Linda Zoeger Mooney, carpniagaraed@gmail.com

Chapter technical and photography - Denis Grantham, dgrantham@baytech.ca

We are your CARP Niagara Chapter # 31 members and we share your interests, concerns and generation. Everyone is welcome to sign-up to receive our newsletters. Feel free to share this with your friends and family. Send an email to carpniagaracomm@gmail.com to add their email to our mailing list.

The first meeting of the fall was on Tuesday September 15th and there was a good turn out. The meeting opened with Ken (Chair) reminding the members that the events, speakers and projects/causes that this chapter plans and provides are driven by the membership.

Therefore any member can bring any ideas they may have for topics for speakers and any trips, events for future meetings, to the executve members (listed above under Chapter Message).   

The topic for the first four meetings was presented by Susan (Social Coordinator) and they are updated below in Coming up in your Chapter. Please mark your calendar and remember to come out at 2 pm on the third Tuesday of each month at the Royal Henley Retirement Residence in St Catharines. Meet your board members and fellow CARP members, have a coffee and cookie. 

PLEASE NOTE: Denis Grantham, our Chapter Photographer, will be taking photos of our Members over the next few meetings for inclusion on our website along with a brief bio. Please bring along a short write-up about yourself.

See you on the third Tuesday of the month

October 20, 2015 at 2 pm - Royal Henley Retirement Residence, 582 Ontario Street, St Catharines

Optometrist from IRIS Eye Care to discuss your aging eyes. Please come out and support one of your Chapter's advertiser, IRIS Eye Care.

Royal Henley Retirement Residence in St Catharines provides the meeting room with coffee and cookies for a two dollar donation to the Alzheimer's Society by those attending.

Please support your Chapter

We look forward to welcoming all members and their friends.

According to statistcis people age 65 and older are more than twice as likely to die in a home fire as the population at large. Older adults can reduce their risk of dying or being injured by following simple fire prevention rules.

The following eight tips can help protect you and your loved ones:

1. If you smoke, smoke outdoors
2. Give space heaters space - at least 1 meter away from anything that can burn
3. Stay in the kitchen when frying food
4. Stop, drop and roll - if your clothes catch on fire , stop(don't run), drop to the ground and cover your face, roll over and over to put the fire out.
5. Smoke alarms save lives - smoke alarms should be installed in all floors in a home and inside each bedroom and outside sleeping areas.
6. Plan and practice your escape from fire and smoke
7. Know your local emergency number, 911
8. Plan your escape around your abilities - telephone near your bed and other necessary items such as medications, walker, glasses, cane or scooter.

Remember to replace your battery in the smoke or CO alarm when daylight saving time changes which this year is November 1st. Also even if the smoke alarm is wired to the house it may have a backup battery, replace it.

Bill 31, The Making Roads Safer Act, came  in to effect on Ontario roads on Sep 1st. Changing road rules for three initiatives: Distracted driving, slow down-move over, and cycling safety.

Here's three ways these changes could affect you:

Distracted Driving The fine for drivers convicted of a distracted driving will be nearly double the previous amount. Three demerit points will also be assigned, and novice drivers will have distracted driving added to their list of "zero-tolerance" conditions, with an immediate 30-day suspension on first conviction.

Slow Down, Move Over Bill 31 extends current legislation focusing on emergency vehicles to tow truck drivers as well. Requiring drivers to slow down and move over to the next lane when a tow truck's amber lights are flashing. This is great news for roadside service teams!

Cycling Safety Cyclists are now permitted to use the paved shoulder on unrestricted highways, and drivers are required to maintain at least one meter distance when passing. Additionally, motorists convicted of dooring (opening a vehicle door directly in the path of an oncoming cyclist), the fine has been set at $300 and three demerit points will also be applied.

Click here to reach your CARP Niagara website

National Seniors Day October 1st, learn more about appreciating and celebrating seniors

International Older Persons Day On 14 December 1990, the United Nations General Assembly (by resolution 45/106) designated 1 October the International Day of Older Persons

health services information and referral line, serving Hamilton, Burlington, Niagara, Haldimand and Brant and everywhere in between.

Niagara Region offers non-medical programs to support seniors, their families and caregivers.

Ontario Attractions for CARP Members

Community Support Services of Niagara  is a volunteer based not-for-profit agency providing comprehensive client-driven community support services to help seniors and adults with disabilities live independently in their own homes. 

Health Services for Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant healthline to provide the community with resources to navigate the health care services offered to Ontarians.

Thorold Community Theatre a non-profit 100% volunteer organization produces two proffesional quality theatrical shows a year. More details are available by calling the box office 905-682-8779 or visiting http://facebook.com/thoroldtheatre

Bridge Centre of Niagara non profit Bridge club located in St Catharines for more details call 905-688-1317 or email boreilly@cogeco.ca.

Family Councils Forums are presenting a one day forum " Pathways for Emergency Resident Care " at the Linhaven Home, 403 Ontario st., St Catharines on October 21. More details are available by calling Helga Henson at 289-253-8220.

Life Long Learning Niagara is a not-for-profit organization established in 2015 to engage older adults in Niagara in continuous learning. Additional information can reached by emailing lifelonglearningniagara@gmail.com or by calling 905-834-4442. Checkout the fall listing of lectures, click the link.

The bus day trip to the Zoomer show on Saturday October 31 has been cancelled because we did not get the numbers needed for a bus.

GO Transit from Niagara to Exhibition station which is then 15 minute walk to the show is discounted 50 % for seniores 65 and older.

Oct 20 - Optometrist from IRIS Optical will provide a presentation on aging eyes, macular degeneration, plus things that can effect your eyes on a daily basis such as sun light and the computer

Oct 31 - Bus day trip to the Zoomer show in Toronto

Nov 17 - Pharmacist, presentation on variuos health issues and medication management

Dec 15 - Holiday Pot Luck

Jan 19 - Tax Specialist from Federal Ministry of Finance with tax tips and pitfalls, Questions & Anwers