Active Aging

SEPTEMBER 24 - 30, 2017 | ACTIVE AGING WEEK 3 www.minuksmile.com | Ph: ( 204 ) 589-6329 Home and Institutional Visits Available 10 Main Street (at River) | Winnipeg, MB | R3L 2R1 • Geneva 2000 Dentures (The only trained and certified Geneva clinic in Manitoba) • Denture Repairs (While you wait) • Denture Relines (Same day) • Complete Upper and Lower Dentures • Partial Upper and Lower Dentures • Metal Free Partials (Totally natural) • Teeth Grinding Appliances (Night guard) • Cutter Bars (will offer you a better chewing experience) • Soft Cushion Denture Base (for more comfort) • Implant Supported Dentures Dental Implants are giving pleasure to thousands of denture wearers worldwide. Ask us for more information. • Tooth Extractions and Dental Implants performed in office • Inquire about our Best Price Policy Celebrating NEW 30 MINUTE TEETH WHITENING 40 YEARS T here's no time like the present to ignite your passion and lead a life filled with activities you truly enjoy. During Active Aging Week Sept. 24-30, Manitobans can embrace this year's theme to "Ignite Your Passion" by signing up for an activity, starting a personal project, joining a group or taking other steps to do something they love. The Active Living Coalition for Older Adults in Manitoba (ALCOA-MB) hopes everyone aged 55 and older will discover the spark of motivation to live the best life possible. For Jim Evanchuk, executive director of ALCOA-MB, this year's theme serves as an invitation to take actions towards personal fulfilment. At the same time, Active Aging Week also kicks off Seniors' and Elders' Month, which spans the entire month of October. "We're talking about living life to the fullest by getting immersed in something. There are so many different ways that we can do that," he says. "Maybe there's something you haven't done for a while that you used to love doing, so we're inviting you to reconnect with that experience you thoroughly enjoyed. For those who may have some interest in something they never tried, we encourage them to actually take the steps to try it out." Some people might find ways to connect through their nearest 55-plus active-living centre or perhaps at their local library, he adds. "There are worlds of experiences and opportunities to ignite your passion. When you think of this as a stimulus or maybe a friendly challenge to get out there and make that connection, there are some very positive spinoffs for each person who takes that step," Evanchuk says. "This is the warm-up act to ongoing activity that will be socially engaging, personally fulfilling and will also contribute to the health and well-being of others in the older adults' lives." If anyone is looking for ways to connect with inspiring activities and individuals, ALCOA-MB offers ample volunteer opportunities for Manitobans aged 55 and older. "We have a peer volunteer leadership program that people could participate in if they would like to become exercise leaders within the residences where they live," Evanchuk says. "Through the Steppin' Up With Confidence program, we provide the information resources and the proper techniques so they can encourage others to participate in a regular exercise programs." Another option is to get involved with the ALCOA-MB Speakers Bureau, which prepares older adults to share credible health information on a variety of healthy aging topics. "If people are inclined to share and present to older adult groups, we have information that will enable them to do that. We have quite a few requests coming in from a variety of groups, so we match them up with a volunteer speaker," Evanchuk says. "We're trying to translate health-related information into everyday language so people will actually understand and apply that in their lives." ALCOA-MB also works in partnership with the Manitoba 55+ Games committee. Plans are already in the works for the 2018 games, which will be held in Glenboro June 12-14. The Manitoba event is an ideal lead-up to the 2018 Canada 55+ Games, which will be held in Saint John, N.B., Aug. 21-24. "There is a great opportunity to participate as an athlete in the events or to be a volunteer on a variety of levels," Evanchuk says. "With our Manitoba 55+ Games committee, we would very much like to strengthen that committee, to bolster it, to have boots on the ground in the communities to make sure information is flowing to our target population." In addition, ALCOA-MB encourages anyone who is interested in promoting healthy active aging to consider serving on its board of directors. "We also want to reach out to communities outside of Winnipeg, so if there are people from any part of Manitoba who would like to be a part of this organization, they could connect with us as well," Evanchuk says. "You often hear the phrase that it takes a village to raise a child. It also takes a village to contribute to the health and well-being of older adults." For more information or to get involved, call 204-632-3947 or toll free 1-866-202-6663 or email info@alcoamb.org. Information is also available online at alcoamb.org. Fire up your passion BY JENNIFER MCFEE If anyone is looking for ways to connect with inspiring activities and individuals, ALCOA-MB offers ample volunteer opportunities for Manitobans aged 55 and older.

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