We are pleased to share the Spring 2024 issue of the Hamilton Council on Aging Newsletter with you. In this edition, you can read about our annual Walk4Health Fundraiser, hear from the Hamilton Police about scams to avoid, see the Spring recreation schedules, learn about the latest from the Landmark Study, and more! Keep an eye out for a special Thank You to our Volunteers!
If you are coming to this newsletter for the first time you may want to know more about the Hamilton Council on Aging. We work to make positive aging visible in Hamilton. See more about us on our website.
Our last newsletter shared information about our work to make Hamilton more Age-Friendly and we introduced readers to our Seniors4Change workshops. You can read our last newsletter here.
Join us on June 1, 2024 for our Walk4Health Fundraiser!
By: Heather Watson, Sustainability Committee
Our Walk4Health fundraiser takes place at 10:00 am on Saturday, June 1, 2024 at T. B. McQuesten Park (rain or shine). Our goal is to raise $25,000 for HCoA and The United Way! Last year, it was a gusty day but we still had about 75 walkers participate in the 5 km walk and met our goal of raising $15,000. This year, we are hoping for sunshine, moderate temperatures, and at least 100 walkers!
To help reach our goal, we have new corporate sponsorship opportunities available. Like last year, we still have our Gold, Silver, and Bronze sponsor categories for donations of $1,500 to $3,000 (each come with their own perks to promote the donor business). But this year, we have introduced the option to sign up as an Exhibitor for a $125 donation which reserves you a space to set up a booth/table to catch the eyes of our walkers.
The walk itself is age-friendly! We welcome you to “walk what you can” at the paved loop around the park, with each lap being about 0.5 km. We invite you to please register as a walker, either solo or with a team, by visiting our website and clicking on the Walk4Health banner which will redirect you to our Canada Helps donation page.
See you on June 1st!
To learn more, please email [email protected] or visit our Walk4Health Fundraising webpage here!
Recognizing and Avoiding Common Frauds and Scams
Frauds and scams are on the rise in Hamilton, with over 2,600 reported cases last year. As your partners in community safety, the Hamilton Police Service is committed to keeping you informed and empowered to protect yourself against becoming a victim.
Common Frauds and Scams
Seniors are often targeted by fraudsters due to their perceived vulnerabilities, making them particularly susceptible to various scams and fraudulent schemes. From sophisticated online scams to classic telephone fraud, seniors face a myriad of threats designed to deceive and exploit their financial resources and personal information. Some common scams are listed below:
Advance Fee Scams: Con artists may request upfront fees for services or opportunities. Always verify the legitimacy of offers and obtain detailed contracts or payment plans before committing any funds.
Automated Teller Machine Fraud (ATM): Criminals steal debit or credit card numbers and pin codes at ATMs, resulting in unauthorized withdrawals. Protect yourself by always covering your PIN and being vigilant for suspicious devices attached to ATMs.
Credit and Debit Card Fraud: If you suspect unauthorized transactions on your account, contact your bank immediately. Regularly check your statements for any unusual activity and get a credit check annually to monitor for fraud.
Emergency Scams: Scammers impersonate government officials and demand immediate payment, often threatening legal action or deportation. Remember, legitimate organizations will never demand payment over the phone, ask for personal information or demand payment by bitcoin or gift cards.
Grandparent Scams: Scammers typically pose as a grandchild or relative in distress, claiming to be in urgent need of financial assistance due to an emergency situation. They may fabricate scenarios such as being involved in a car accident, arrested, or stranded in a foreign country, and request immediate funds to resolve the supposed crisis. Victims are often urged to send money via wire transfer or prepaid gift cards, preying on their desire to help their loved ones.
Lottery and Prize Scams: Be wary of unsolicited calls, letters, or emails claiming you’ve won a prize. Legitimate contests never require upfront payment to claim winnings.
Romance Scam: Scammers create fake profiles on dating websites or social media platforms, portraying themselves as charming and attractive individuals looking for a genuine relationship. They often invest time and effort into building a rapport with their victims, showering them with affection and compliments to establish trust. Once a connection is established, the scammer typically concocts a story involving financial hardship or a sudden emergency, prompting the victim to send money or personal information.
Steps You Can Take to Prevent Fraud:
- Always cover your PIN when using cards and never share it with anyone.
- Avoid giving personal information to unknown callers or businesses.
- Verify the legitimacy of online sellers before making purchases.
- Check your bank statements regularly and report any unauthorized transactions immediately.
- Don’t be pressured into making a decision. If you’re unsure about the validity of a request, check with friends and family.
How to Report Fraud:
If you’ve been a victim of fraud, contact the Hamilton Police Service non-emergency line at 905-546-4925 to report the incident. Additionally, resources like the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, Competition Bureau’s Information Centre, and Canadian Consumer Handbook offer valuable advice and support.
Request an Educational Seminar:
If your community group or organization is interested in learning more about fraud prevention, you can request an educational seminar. Stay informed, stay vigilant, and together, we can combat fraud and keep our community safe.
Please see the flyer about upcoming presentations on Frauds and Scams by Hamilton Police Services. To request a seminar, contact the Senior Support Officer at 905 540-5351
Thank you to the Hamilton Police Service for providing HCoA with this informative article.
HCoA is bringing back the Hamilton Seniors Month Calendar of Events!
The 2024 HAMILTON SENIORS MONTH CALENDAR OF EVENTS provides opportunities to advertise special events, activities and recognize the contributions of older adults in our community! The 2024 Hamilton Seniors Month Calendar of Events will be released on June 1 at the HCoA 5K Walk4Health and ONLINE! 1000 printed copies will be available for older adults to pick up free-of-charge at key locations throughout the greater City of Hamilton in June!
Do you have an upcoming activity taking place in June 2024 that you would like to promote FOR FREE in the 2024 Hamilton Seniors Month Calendar of Events? You can share up to 3 special events/activities that you would like included in the 2024 Hamilton Seniors Month Calendar of Events, free of charge.
Do you have something to PROMOTE or SENIORS MONTH GREETINGS to share with our audience of 2000+ seniors? PLACE AN AD in the 2024 Hamilton Seniors Calendar of Events!
To be included in the 2024 Hamilton Seniors Month Calendar of Events, please submit this form (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HamiltonSeniorsCalendar), no later than May 6, 2024 or contact Shelagh at [email protected] or 905-920-7721.
Spring 2024 Senior Recreation Schedules are here!
Did you know that local 55+ Active Living Centres in Hamilton offer drop-in recreation classes? The schedules for these activities were released in April 2024 and run until June 30, 2024. They include a wide variety of activities such as crafting, playing card, woodworking, music, and knitting groups, as well as shuffleboard, billiards, table tennis, volleyball, and the increasingly popular pickleball! Though there are drop-in options, you can go online to make sure there is space, so you are not disappointed by visiting: https://rec.hamilton.ca/enterprise/program/index and clicking “Drop In Programs” on the left and then select “Senior Centres” from the “Activity” drop-down menu. You can also call your preferred Senior Centre at the number shown on the Schedule. Step into spring by trying a new activity!
Please click on the links below to access Drop-in Program information for your local Seniors Active Living Centre:
- Ancaster Senior Achievement Centre (622 Alberton Rd. South, Alberton)
- Flamborough Seniors Centre (163 Dundas St. East, Waterdown)
- Sackville Hill Seniors Centre (780 Upper Wentworth St., Hamilton)
- YWCA Hamilton MacNab Active Living Centre 55+ (75 MacNab St. S., Hamilton)
- YWCA Hamilton Ottawa Street Active Living Centre 55+ (52 Ottawa St. N., Hamilton)
There are also Seniors Clubs located throughout the City, where you can access local programs, with various drop-in schedules available here.
The Social Participation Resource Guide is also available here.
6 HCoA Volunteers will receive Ontario Service Awards!
On May 6, 2024, 6 longtime HCoA volunteers will be in attendance at the Ontario Service Awards at Liuna Station, where they awarded with Service Awards, recognizing 5+ years of commitment and outstanding volunteer contributions to the Hamilton Council on Aging! Thank you and Congratulations to Cheryl Fenn, Frances Lester, Anne Pizzacalla, Mary Tice, Catherine Thomas, and Diane Vanmeeteran! Words cannot express our gratitude for your incredible long-term commitment and contributions to HCoA and for all that you do to make positive aging a reality in our community.
Meet the amazing women behind the HCoA-United Way Seniors4Change Program!
In 2018, the Hamilton Council on Aging called upon retired healthcare professionals and educators to volunteer for a transformative project: the Seniors4Change Positive Aging Series. Eight dedicated volunteers formed the original team, bringing diverse expertise and a shared passion for helping seniors to age well.
Over the past five years, the team has evolved, adapting workshops to new challenges like COVID-19 through creative delivery methods and the addition of new topics like “Navigating the Healthcare System.” With backgrounds ranging from medicine to finance, and skills in writing, coaching, and event planning, the team is a powerhouse of knowledge and experience. Their own experiences with aging have deepened their understanding and compassion, making them effective educators and mentors.
Seniors4Change volunteers each possess a wide array of personal traits, with HUMBLE being one that applies to them all! With this, each did agree to share one word that describes their fellow teammates, words we are happy to share with you. If you are fortunate to attend a Seniors4Change workshop, these are the special people you are signing up to meet!
Nora Curran Blaney: generous, intelligent, strong, knowledgeable, kind, articulate,funny
Shannon Cuzen: engaged, kind, helpful, accepting, grateful, wicked-but subtle-sense of humour
Cheryl Fenn: creative, colourful, energetic, compassionate, relaxed, thoughtful, giving
Frances Lester: curious, modest, knowledgeable, wise, resourceful, kind, genuine
Anne Pizzacalla: keen, impressive, competent, organized, dedicated, level (calm), funny
Elaine Royds: smart, adventurous, organized, fashionable, confident
Cathy Thomas: active, enthusiastic, funny, passionate, quick-witted, kind, compassionate
Diane VanMeeteran: energizer bunny, helpful, inclusive, maternal, gentle, funny, “my favourite person to work with”
Volunteering for Seniors4Change provides them with a sense of purpose and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in their community. As one member put it, “I volunteer because engaged people are smarter, healthier, and better for it. I volunteer for this organization because we are doing something really worthwhile and I want to be a part of it.”” The team’s unanimous advice for positive aging? Stay social and connected.
Thanks to funding from the United Way of Halton and Hamilton, the Seniors4Change program will continue its vital work for another three years. For organizations interested in hosting a workshop, reach out to Shelagh at [email protected] or 905-920-7721.
Join us in celebrating these women and their commitment to empowering positive aging!
Landmark Study – New Report: The Many Faces of Dementia in Canada
By Lori Letts, HCoA President
Photo: Alzheimer’s Society Canada
The Alzheimer Society of Canada just put out their second report in a series of three reports called the Landmark Study. The first report came out in 2022 and talked about what is happening with dementia in Canada right now. This new report, named “The Many Faces of Dementia in Canada,” looks at diverse groups in Canada who might be more likely to get dementia and gives ideas on how to make sure everyone feels included. You can check out the report here: https://alzheimer.ca/en/the-many-faces-of-dementia-in-canada-landmark-study-volume-2.
The report has useful information about risks that someone is more likely to get dementia. Some of these risks cannot be changed, like getting older or having certain genes. But there are also things we might be able to change, like how active we are or whether we use hearing aids. The report also provides details about dementia in Indigenous peoples, people from different ethnic backgrounds, and sex and gender differences when it comes to dementia. Finally, the report presents challenges faced by people who develop dementia at a younger age.
The report includes stories from people all over Canada who are living with dementia and their care partners. Two of the people featured, Ruby and Andrea, were part of the HCoA Faces of Dementia Campaign (see https://coahamilton.ca/faces-of-dementia/).
The report has suggestions for Alzheimer Societies, healthcare systems, the federal government, and provincial and territorial governments, and people doing research. Even though it does not specifically talk about local communities or Councils on Aging, shouldn’t we all be working to make our communities more inclusive for people with dementia? What could you do in your community to make sure people with dementia and their caregivers feel included?
Create with M.I.C.E. Project in Haldimand
By Anita Gombos Hill, Project Co-Lead
M.I.C.E. stands for Memory+ Inclusive Communities Everywhere. The M.I.C.E. team describe themselves as “a group of citizens from Haldimand County who are sharing our experiences with memory loss and cognitive challenges to inspire and create a kinder, more understanding, helpful and inclusive community for everyone.” Group members have different diagnoses, experiences, and journeys. They are committed to using their insight and personal experiences to inspire a more understanding, helpful and inclusive community.
In 2023, M.I.C.E. applied for a funding with a project entitled “Create with M.I.C.E.” to New Horizons of Canada. They were successful with their proposal! From September 2023 to March 2024, M.I.C.E. designed, created, and developed five community-based workshops and events in Haldimand county, to educate, inspire, and to engage with local community members.
Regarding the 2023 activities and events, in September, the “Ceramics with M.I.C.E.” event was organized by M.I.C.E. at Edgewater Gardens Long-Term care Home in Dunnville. At this event, M.I.C.E. members and local community members painted beautiful ceramic pots together on a sunny afternoon. In October, the group organized a boat paddle painting event at the local Dunnville library. Approximately thirty people came together to learn about art painting from one of Haldimand’s most acknowledged artists, Gina Wilson-McIntee. In November, a poetry event in Dunnville at the Minga Café was organized with Dr. Ellen Ryan who is a professor at McMaster University focusing on reclaiming identity through writing in dementia and other age-related disabilities. This event was a favorite for many people. Several event participants noted how much they had being together creating poems on various topics. As for December, the group organized a “Choir Sing Along Pop Up” event at the Minga Café where M.I.C.E. members sang jolly Christmas songs with local community members.
As for 2024, in February, M.I.C.E. developed a “Free Seminar” with health care professionals. The event was held in Dunnville at the Haldimand Memorial War Hospital (HWMH). The event was organized to offer insights for health care professionals and caregivers about dementia in the community who are dealing with clients, patients or loved ones.
Finally, but not least, M.I.C.E. organized “The 2024 M.I.C.E. Final Showcase Event” at the Dunnville Lifespan Center on March 20th. The event was a success! It was featured in the Haldimand Press. Close to one hundred people attended to celebrate with the MICE+ Group. The event was visited by Haldimand Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley and Councillor John Metcalfe. It also featured live music by Dunnville local pianist John Rawlin and a delicious Turkish buffet from Nurish Kitchen in Grimsby.
On top of these five fantastic events and activities, in February 2024, M.I.C.E. won the trivia nights which was organized by the Haldimand Norfolk Community Senior Support Services (HNCSSS)! The group’s success and photo were featured in the Haldimand Press.
The Hamilton Council on Aging (HCoA) has been awarded an additional two years of funding to further support the development of Empowering Dementia-Friendly Communities. The new 2023-2025 Project will continue to support the development of dementia friendly communities in Haldimand. As well, it will build on established partnerships with organizations and communities of Halton, Hamilton, Six Nations of the Grand River (SNGR), and Haldimand County to support existing groups and pilot new groups.
Mary Buzzell Annual Scholarships for Resilient Aging
By Ellen Ryan
Hamilton Aging in Community announces that we will honour the late Mary Buzzell, a founding member of Hamilton Council on Aging, with annual scholarships to McMaster undergraduate and graduate students.
Mary Buzzell, McMaster faculty member in Nursing, was a recognized pioneer in resilient aging, especially through innovative educational and community programs. Through her generous and skilled mentoring, she shaped several generations of regional leaders in the field of Aging and Health.
Hamilton Aging in Community (led by Ellen Ryan, Professor Emeritus at McMaster, and Loretta Jaunzarins) promotes resilient aging in community by disseminating information, enhancing lifelong learning, cultivating mutual support, facilitating opportunities for older adults to contribute, and fostering intergenerational engagement.
Having received an initial donation to fund the first awards, Hamilton Aging in Community is fundraising to support this annual program in Mary’s name.
If you would consider making a donation, you may click here or visit the Hamilton Aging in Community website. You may specify that your donation is for the Mary Buzzell Scholarships. For further information, contact Ellen Ryan at [email protected].
Ways to Give
Regular support from grassroots donors (like you!) do so much to help supplement the funding that we get from grants to help us continue to support and plan future programs for seniors!
Did you know? You can donate to HCoA for free!
