By Kim Hutchison
Staff Reporter:
The community of Ponoka successfully completed the requirements to become Alberta’s first designated senior friendly community by helping businesses and organizations provide services in ways that addresses the special needs of the aging population - a very important and growing segment of our society.
While health care is important to everyone regardless of age, there are information sessions and services specifically tailored for and available to any senior in Ponoka who wishes to use them.
At 1 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month, Wendy Volkart and Barb Hanson, nurses from the David Thompson Health Region, host senior resource clinics at Legacy Place. The meetings provide health education and an opportunity for seniors to meet one on one with a health care professional to discuss any concerns they may have.
“We help seniors learn as much as they can. We focus on managing chronic conditions so they can live as comfortably as possible,” said Wendy.
Roughly 20 to 30 people usually attend the clinics, but they are open to any resident regardless of location and are free of charge.
The next meeting is scheduled to take place on Dec. 9.
For more information contact Wendy Volkart at 403-309-8198 or Barb Hanson at 403-309-8197.