Music & mindfulness, 2022 | THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Our Music & Mindfulness seminar, held on September 22nd, was greatly received by those who attended in person or virtually. Dr. Mitch Abrams, Founder and CEO of NexGenHealth, presented key tools to help build resilience and confidence, along with vital skills to re-enter the community and deal with anxiety. The free event focused on older adults who have been isolated and or feel anxious after the COVID years.
"Coherence is not just about the individual cultivating a state of optimal physiology but about creating coherent communities." Dr. Mitch Abrams touched on coherence and what that means for interconnectedness in our society.
A big Thank You to our partners Chartwell Retirement Residences, Community Justice Initiatives - The Just Community and the City of Cambridge for their tremendous support in making this a successful event for all.
Follow @NGHSolutions on Facebook for more information about Dr. Mitch Abrams and NexGenHealth.
EVENTS & workshops
The Cambridge Council on Aging engages on emerging social issues, such as ageism, elder abuse and other issues concerning older adults. From time to time we will host events or workshops that may be of interest to you.
Since 2015, we have hosted free Creative Aging Events and Education Events. They will be listed on this page.
Previous zoom workshops
Education Event - aging in the right place
Free Zoom Workshops for Older Adults
These free Zoom sessions were designed to help older adults make decisions about planning, housing, and transportation as they age.
OCT. 14, 2021 - 10 am - Pathways to Ageing: How to get where we want to go
OCT. 21, 2021 - 10 am - Co-Housing and Home Share Arrangements
OCT. 28, 2021 - 10 am - Transportation Options for older Adults in Waterloo Region
PREVIOUS EVENTS
Education Event
Elder Abuse Awareness and Prevention
This event was hosted by Community Justice Initiatives and the Cambridge Council on Aging. There were keynote speakers and a performance by Harmony Interactive Theater Troupe.
DATE: Tuesday, March 10, 2020 - 9:30 am - 2 pm
LOCATION: Toyota Room - 62 Dickson Street, Cambridge
Creative Aging Event - our 5th event this year
Mindfulness and Music
Older adults have opportunities as they age to acquire new skills, and use other skills to ensure a positive lifestyle and more successful aging. This also improves our resilience and our mental focus. By being aware of physical and mental aspects of our lives we can learn to feel and accept what is happening in the present moment
Creative aging allows us to disrupt our aging by participating in arts programs that also allow us to engage with others while we master new skills. Creative aging is about possibilities and embracing the fact that as we age we continue to grow, learn and contribute to our communities.
We are grateful to our sponsors: City of Cambridge, SPCCND, Chartwell and Housing Cambridge. and to The Blue Grass boys, with their amazing music and to Dr. Mitch Abrams, who led us through the mindfulness and music day. We had about 100 participants and we all went forth with a renewed sense of purpose. Creative aging improves both our mental and physical health and our social connections and sense of belonging. A win/win for us all.
DATE: June 18th, 2019
LOCATION: Cambridge City Hall - 50 Dickson Street
Education Event - aging in the right place
Senior Co-Housing and Home Share - "Safety, Security & Belonging"
The Cambridge Council on Aging, in conjunction with Community Support Connections Cambridge is running a pilot program in Cambridge in regards to Co-Housing for seniors. This session is open to potential renters, landlords, and anyone who has questions or concerns in regards to this program.
DATE: June 4th, 2019 2 - 4 pm
LOCATION: Social Planning Council, 55 Dickson St. Unit 14, Cambridge
Education Event
Weighing Risks and Benefits of Drugs, Alcohol and Cannabis for Older Adults
Dr. Mike Beazley, OlgaBaleca NP at the Cambridge Rapid Access walk-in centre, and Don Johnson addiction counsellor Family Counseling CND. 80 persons attended this education seminar to learn about the current information available, and to find out where they can obtain more information ( links are posted on the CCOA website). Often older adults use multiple prescriptions and 72% also consume alcohol, talk to your pharmacist about the possible interactions, especially if you think you want to use recreational or medical cannabis.
Questions included: Is there technology that will help adjust dosages? What are some ways to address prolonged use of alcohol in older adults? Are all cannabinoids safe? Why are walk-inpharmacists not involved in the procurement of medical cannabis or marijuana? Is it possible for anyone to just reduce their drinking or is it all or nothing? Are other illicit drugs being tested for medical treatment? Are known drug interactions pointed out on cannabis labels?
Is a referral to RAAC needed? -no its walk in Mon and Friday.
DATE: March 21st, 2019 2 - 4 pm
Education Event - aging in the right place
Senior Co-Housing and Home Share - "Safety, Choice, Belonging"
- 1:00 pm - Welcome: Anne Tinker chair CSCMOW and more
- 1:10 pm - Valerie Spring and her family's experience with home share
- The Halton Home Share experience - Sharon Livingstone chair of Cambridge Council on Aging. Home share is about sharing your space with someone looking for space. A match is facilitated and monitored. You as the homeowner have the final say. An opportunity to earn extra money, be connected to your community.
- Facilitated discussion Q and A led by Diana Drackley
DATE: November 26th, 2018 from 1- 2 pm
LOCATION: Wesley United Church (parking at City Hall)
Education Event - AGING IN THE RIGHT PLACE
Caregiver Support Sessions
Caring for a loved one can be fulfilling, challenging, isolating and so much more. Support groups or a quick conversation can make things easier.
All are welcome to attend free Caregiver Support Information Sessions that address the unique role and needs of caregivers, which run for four weeks.
Topics include: reflections on aging, effective communication, and self-care. A caregiver is anyone who provides practical or emotional supports to a family member, friend or neighbour.
DATES: Sept., Oct., Nov., 2018 - specific days throughout the months
LOCATIONS:
Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic, 13 Water Street North, Cambridge
Community Support Connections, 61 Woolwich St. N., Box 29, Breslau
Education Event
Cambridge Ride A Bus Event
The Cambridge Council on Aging has held 3 Ride a Bus events in conjunction with GRT (Grand River Transit) to encourage and teach bus techniques to older adults who can't drive and / or need to use the bus. For the past two years, these events have been held virtually. CLICK HERE to read more.
DATE: June 2018, 2019, 2020
CREATIVE AGING Event
Celebration of the Arts
CCOA participated at the Cambridge Celebration of the Arts Event, which was held at the Age-friendly stage.
DATE: June 2018
CREATIVE AGING Event
Creative Aging
Cambridge Council on Aging presented this Creative Aging Event with musical entertainment, presentations and light refreshments.
DATE: June 5th, 2018
LOCATION: Cambridge City Hall
Education Event - aging in the right place
Aging in the Right Place
Cambridge Council on Aging, CMHC, Social Planning Council of Cambridge and North Dumfries held a roundtable discussion to explore options and best practices.
Contributors were Greg Bechard ED of Elmira Community Living, on the good neighbour project in Elmira, Heather Thompson, Manager of age-friendly initiatives on Home Share and Steve Garrison on Housing Cambridge's efforts to keep older adults housed and engaged.
A fruitful discussion on how Cambridge can develop options was held and further steps were recognized.
DATE: March 27th, 2018
Education Event - aging in the right place
Taking the I out of Isolation
This event cosponsored by CCOA, Housing Cambridge, Social Planning CND and Cambridge self hself-helpelp food bank was attended by 170 people - half were older adults, half were organizations providing services to seniors.
Various programs from Halton, Hamilton and the Cambridge area were discussed and a presentation was made by Rachel Weldrick a PhD student at McMaster.
Social isolation and loneliness are not new, but much more extensive, less family contact, less neighbourhood involvement, more of an issue if you have health issues, lose a spouse or speak another language.
Peer mentor/connector programs work well but need sustainable funding, and we need more intergenerational opportunities.
DATE: March 8th, 2018
Findings from Take the "I" out of Isolation
Findings from Take the "I" out of Isolation
Findings from Take the "I" out of Isolation
Creative aging marketplace event
Findings from Take the "I" out of Isolation
Findings from Take the "I" out of Isolation
Creative Aging Marketplace Event
Seniors as Mentors and Leaders Project
The Social Planning Council of Cambridge and North Dumfries (SPCCND) announced the launch of a new project called Seniors as Mentors and Leaders. This project aims to address loneliness and social isolation among the local senior population and will be implemented in collaboration with the Cambridge Council on Aging (CCOA); the Cambridge Self-Help Food Bank (CSHFB); and Housing Cambridge.
The project was funded in part by the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program. “The Government of Canada is proud to support the Social Planning Council of Cambridge and North Dumfries through the New Horizons for Seniors Program,” said the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development. “Their inspiring Seniors as Mentors and Leaders project will give local seniors the opportunity to participate in workshops that will go a long way to reducing social isolation within the community.”
Studies have shown that low-income Canadians across age groups feel a diminished sense of community belonging, and experience more social isolation and exclusion. Cambridge has an increasing number of older adults living in poverty, and the Seniors as Mentors and Leaders project will enable the SPCCND, the CCOA and the CSHFB to work together to address social isolation in this group.
One of the ways this will be accomplished is through partnerships with the CSHFB, Housing Cambridge, and the CCOA. Both the CSHFB and Housing Cambridge run senior support groups, and project mentors will be able to recruit participants from these existing senior groups. Project mentors will also facilitate social isolation workshops on-site at partner locations. The SPCCND will collaborate with the CCOA throughout the project as they are a recognized local leader in addressing seniors’ issues.
The core activity in this project will involve engaging and training local senior volunteers to be mentors for other seniors. Mentors will be trained to run workshops on social isolation where participants will receive mentoring, encouragement, and support toward increasing their civic involvement and building and maintaining a more robust social network. This project will benefit the continued development of the City of Cambridge as an age-friendly community.
The Seniors as Mentors and Leaders project will be launched in June at the third Creative Aging Marketplace organized by the Cambridge Council on Aging. Please watch for more details on this event and join us for an opportunity to celebrate positive, creative aging through the arts. Entertainment and refreshments will be provided at this event.
DATE: Tuesday, June 20th, 2017 - 9:30am - 1:30pm
LOCATION: Cambridge City Hall, The Bowman Room
Creative Aging Marketplace Event
Creative Aging Marketplace
Entertainment, information, story boards and a variety of one of a kind crafts and art will be showcased at this Event to Celebrate Creative Aging Awareness Week.
Admission is free and everyone is welcome.
DATE: Friday, June 3rd, 2016 - 9:30 am - 11:30 am
LOCATION: Cambridge City Hall, The Bowman Room
Education Event - Riding the wave of change conference
Managing Transitions in Housing Older Canadians - A Place for Everyone
Cambridge Council on Aging partnered with CMHC, to explore housing options: Home Share, Visitable Housing, Abbeyfield and other alternative housing for older adults.
CLICK HERE for more information about this Event.
DATE: September 30th, 2015 - 9 am - 3 pm
LOCATION: Region of Waterloo Police Association and Recreation Centre
Creative Aging Marketplace Event
Creative Aging Marketplace
Entertainment, information, story boards and a variety of one of a kind crafts and art will be showcased at this Event to Celebrate Creative Aging Awareness Week. Admissions is free and everyone is welcome.
DATE: Monday, June 1st, 2015 - 9:30 am - 11:30 am
LOCATION: Cambridge City Hall, The Bowman Room