World Elder Abuse Awareness Day – June 15

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) was developed & launched on June 15, 2006, by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA). WEAAD involves planning activities to bring greater recognition of the mistreatment of older adults everywhere they live worldwide and highlight the need for appropriate action. It is intended to give the abuse and neglect of older adults a global relevance that will sustain and move prevention efforts forward throughout the year and for years to come.

WEAAD involves national and international activities developed by countries, communities, neighbourhoods and organizations collaborating in multigenerational and multidisciplinary initiatives. It can encompass volunteer and educational programs, cultural and art events, and the use of information technology, all aiming to create awareness of elder abuse and neglect and how it can be prevented.

The World Health Organization defines elder abuse as “a single, or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an older person.” It can take many forms, including physical, emotional or financial harm, and may not be intentional. The issue is closely tied to ageism, an underlying prejudice against older people leading to discrimination and neglect.

Did you know that:

• 1 in 2 people is prejudiced against older people (Global Report on Ageism, World Health Organization)
• 1 in 5 Canadians say older people are a burden on society (Report on Ageism, Revera, 2012)
• An estimated 7.5% of Canadians 55 and older experienced abuse (Into the Light National Survey on the Mistreatment of Older Canadians, National Initiative for the Care of the Elderly, 2015)
• 1 in 6 people over the age of 60 are victims of elder abuse (World Health Organization)
• In 2021, Women aged 55 and older represented 28% of all victims of femicide (Call it Femicide Report, Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability, 2021)
• Nearly 8 in 10 seniors report age discrimination in healthcare (Report on Ageism, Revera, 2012)

Each year on June 15, many communities within Prairie Mountain Health recognize World Elder Abuse Awareness Day as an opportunity to recognize local and regional efforts to raise awareness of the abuse towards older adults. Raising awareness of elder abuse and neglect is challenging, and no effort is too small. Public education and awareness raising are important elements in preventing abuse and neglect.

If you are being abused or neglected or know of someone who is, the MB Senior’s Abuse Support Line 1-888-896-7183 is available 24-7. Calls are free and confidential. You can speak to a trained counsellor who will provide one-on-one support to older adults experiencing abuse and other concerned community members. 

For more information and resources on Elder Abuse, please visit WEAAD Manitoba at www.weaadmanitoba.ca or The International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse at www.inpea.net websites.  

Let’s all “Wear something purple” and celebrate World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15 to show the world we care about ending elder abuse and neglect.    

June 3rd is National Health & Fitness Day!

National Health & Fitness Day (NHFD) is an initiative to make Canada the Fittest Nation on Earth, starting with marking one day, the first Saturday in June as the day when Canadians get out and get active in any way they wish. Communities across the country have proclaimed the day and the National Health and Fitness Day Act, Bill S-211, became law in December 2014.

Current Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines for ages 0-4 recommend at least 180 minutes of physical activity of any intensity per day; at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity for children and youth (aged 5-17) per day; and at least 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity per week for adults and older adults (all those over 18 years of age). Data from across Canada shows that only 15% of adults and 9% of children and youth are meeting current physical activity guidelines. The good news is that 84% of 3-4 year-old children are meeting the guidelines. As you can see, intensity of physical activity matters! Moderate-to-vigorous intensity activity includes all activities that make you huff and puff. Moderate means you should still be able to have a conversation but are starting to work up a sweat; vigorous intensity means you’re out of breath and can’t maintain a constant conversation.

Children and youth who meet the activity guidelines are less likely to be overweight, have better bone health, do better in school, and have better scores for mental health. Meeting the activity guidelines for adults is associated with significant reductions in the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, high blood pressure, colon and breast cancer, and type 2 diabetes. Other benefits include higher energy levels and better sleep, better mental health and higher brain function and memory.

On Saturday June 3rd get your kids, spouses, parents and friends outside and get active! A family that plays together stays together! Here are some activity ideas for you and your family:

1. Let your kids plan the activities for the day! If you’ve never played Grounders or Octopus, you’re missing out! Check out these fun, no-equipment outdoor games from Active for Life.
2. Head to the park or playground and set up a fun obstacle course.
3. Make a splash at your community pool, splash park or local recreation centre.
4. Get together with neighbours for a game of all-ages ball hockey, races (egg-on-a-spoon, three-legged and sack races); a scavenger hunt; a pool party; or a game of soccer.
5. Play walking bingo! Find the game card here.
6. Go for a walk – walk around the neighbourhood and discover a new park or ravine.
7. Tour the community … on bikes!
8. Take your dog for a long walk. Or, if you don’t have a dog – take your neighbour’s dog for a walk!
9. Introduce the kids to something new. Bocce ball? Ladder golf? Cricket?
10. Crank up the tunes and have a crazy outdoor dance party! See who can make up the best new dance moves.

Let’s do our part in making Canada the Fittest Nation on Earth and on Saturday, June 3rd get up, get out and get active!

International Harm Reduction Day | May 7

Harm reduction can be defined as an understanding that drug use has been and continues to be part of our world.  Working with client’s where they are at to minimize the harmful effects of substance use promotes health autonomy and personal choice.  The guiding principles include non-judgemental care that does not promote or expect abstinence as the goal of our clients. Provider-client relationships are prioritized through trauma informed and client driven care.  Harm reduction approaches within PMH include safer injection and safer smoking kits, overdose recognition and response, opioid agonist therapy, working towards reducing stigma, health inequalities, racism, and cultural safety.

Discover a Harm Reduction event in a community near you, where testing and free supplies will be available.

• Brandon | May 5th | 12-2pm | Princess Park
  • Condoms,  Safer injection supplies, Safer Smoking supplies, and Naloxone Training (no testing)

• Swan River | May 9^th | 1-4 pm | 524 Main Street E
  • Condoms, STBBI urine & blood testing, Safer injection supplies, Safer Smoking supplies, safer sex supplies and Naloxone Training

• Russell | May 9^th | 11-2 pm | Medical Clinic Parking Lot Shell River Ave  
  • Condoms, STBBI urine & blood testing, Safer injection supplies, Safer Smoking supplies, safer sex supplies and Naloxone Training

• Minnedosa | May 11th | 10 am-12 pm | 48 Main Street South  (East Entrance) 
  • Condoms, STBBI urine & blood testing, Safer injection supplies, Safer Smoking supplies, safer sex supplies and Naloxone Training

• Wuskwi Sipihk | May 11^th | 1-3 pm | Cultural Building  
  • Condoms, STBBI urine & blood testing, Safer injection supplies, Safer Smoking supplies, safer sex supplies and Naloxone Training

• Rossburn | May 12 | 11-2 pm | 23 Main Street  
  • Condoms, STBBI urine & blood testing, Safer injection supplies, Safer Smoking supplies, safer sex supplies and Naloxone Training

Learn more about Harm Reduction

Chief Provincial Public Health Officer Position Statement: Harm Reduction

Manitoba Harm Reduction Network

Toward The Heart

National Harm Reduction Coalition

World NO Tobacco Day: May 31 Grow Food, Not Tobacco

May 31 marks the 36^th annual World No Tobacco Day.  This day, established by the World Health Organization serves to “draw global attention to the tobacco epidemic and the preventable death and disease it causes” (WHO 2023).  The theme this year is Grow food, not tobacco and aims to encourage governments to support farmers to switch from growing tobacco to growing food thus improving food security and nutrition around the world.  To find out more about this global advocacy work visit the WHO World No Tobacco Day webpage.

Closer to home in Canada, a number of organizations are regrouping to identify key actions to bring us closer to Canada’s target of less than 5% smoking rates by 2035.  Significant strides have been made in the past couple of decades to substantially decrease smoking rates and the associated harms.  However, the recent rise in vaping threatens to stall the progress we have made and create a new generation of nicotine users.  The tobacco industry which owns most of the vaping products continues with heavy marketing to attract new people to use their products.  If you are a parent, consider talking to your child about the harms of both smoking and vaping.  More information can be found at Health Canada or the Consider the Consequences campaign website.  

If you smoke or vape and are ready to make a quit attempt, we can help!  Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health.  There are several options available in Manitoba to support individuals making a quit attempt from one-on-one counselling and quit aids to online, phone and text support and we encourage you to check out our website for a full list of options.  You can also call PMH’s Chronic Disease Education Program Toll-Free line – 1-877-509-7852, to arrange an appointment with a nurse educator and to enroll in the Tobacco Quit Card and Counselling program.