Age Friendly Cold Lake provides essential services and support for local seniors

Age Friendly Cold Lake is dedicated to supporting seniors in Cold Lake and surrounding areas through a wide array of programs. This organization primarily serves underserved seniors, including those who are isolated or have low income.  

The agency offers several key programs, including in-home support services funded by Healthy Aging Alberta and a frozen food program, distributing meals prepared by a chef from the Stepping Stones Crisis Center. These initiatives provide essential support such as light housekeeping and meal delivery.  

Transportation services are another vital offering. Seniors can access local transportation for activities like grocery shopping, medical appointments, and banking. Long-distance transportation is available for medical appointments outside the city.  

To address social isolation, Age Friendly Cold Lake hosts a monthly Feast to Friendship luncheon, which attracts around 50 attendees each month. This event fosters socialization and community building among seniors.  

Other important programs include caregiver and grief support groups, a Men’s Shed for communal projects, and a volunteer navigator program through NAVCARE, which helps those with palliative concerns. The organization also offers a seniors’ resource library with materials on dementia and palliative care, dementia resource kits, and light exercise programs for seniors with early to moderate dementia.  

Additional initiatives encompass a public awareness campaign, an end-of-life doula service, short-term caregiver respite, a tri-shop program with e-bikes, and a medical equipment loan service. The organization is focused on preparing for a growing senior population in the coming years.  

In a significant development during Seniors Week, the provincial government announces a $200,000 funding boost for Age Friendly Cold Lake. This investment, provided through Healthy Aging Alberta, aims to expand home and community support for seniors in Bonnyville and Cold Lake. This funding comes at a critical time, as Aberta’s senior population is currently at 790,000 and is projected to exceed one million by 2035.