7. Passmore Seniors – Branch 116
Report to West Kootenay/Boundary Regional Meeting – Balfour, B.C.
April 3, 2018
Good Morning, I am Linda Martin, President of the Passmore Seniors, Branch No. 116.
We have 28 members. We meet at the Passmore Hall on the second Sunday of the month at 2 p.m. including an afternoon potluck.
During the week, we play cards of choice on Wednesday at 1 p.m. and Friday at 6 p.m. we alternate between crib and whist.
In 2017 we had the occasional speaker at our meetings. In January, Sandi McCreight presented “It’s Not Right”. How you can Identify Abuse and Help Older Adults at Risk.
In October, Erica, a pharmacist from Castlegar Safeway came to speak.
On Mother’s Day, we had a Pancake Breakfast which is our annual fundraiser, including a silent auction and vegetable plants for sale by one of our members, who donates the funds raised to our branch.
In late summer, Sandi McCreight from IRIS, which stands for Increasing Recreation Involving Seniors, facilitated a program presented by Deb Chmara, a Red Cross disaster management team lead and Emergency Services Director approved by the City of Castlegar. She spoke about wildfires and other disasters covering emergency measures, preparing for and guidelines of evacuation.
In the fall, John Braun, one of our long time and oldest members passed away at the age of 94. We certainly miss his presence, support, participation and his many stories shared about the Slocan Valley. He used to walk from his home to all reaches of the mountains, hunting and trapping. John was a full-time trapper most of his life, along with working as a game warden and driving a school bus.
In December, we gathered at the hall for our Christmas Luncheon, inviting guests and residents of the Passmore Lodge. It was a potluck with music provided by one of our members and a sing-along was enjoyed by all.
In 2018 we did not meet in January or February due to the cold and flu season affecting members and the last big dump of snow. In March, we had a visit from Desiree Profili our community paramedic. She is part of a pilot project called Community Paramedicine. To obtain these services you require a referral from your family doctor or other healthcare professional. The community paramedic will provide services as outlined in your care plan and requested by the referring professional. These services may include checking blood pressure, assisting with diabetic care, helping to identify fall hazards in your home, medication self-management assessment, post-injury or illness evaluation and assisting with respiratory conditions. The community paramedic may not diagnose a medical condition, prescribe medications, or develop a treatment plan. The services provided support you in managing your health so you can continue to live at home safely.
Our branch has also participated in the Intergenerational Café. We meet with the High School students at Mount Sentinel Secondary School. The students prepare and serve us lunch. We spend time in conversation getting to know each other. We enjoy talking and learning about their lives in the present world comparing ours of long ago.
We are looking forward to another fundraiser this spring either in May or June.
We have had another memorable year together at the Passmore Seniors.
Respectfully submitted by Linda Martin.