For today's seniors, retirement is not a withdrawal from life but an opportunity for trying new things, accomplishing goals that were delayed while raising a family and perhaps even slowing down the pace of living to enjoy life.
The Delta Seniors Planning Committee is offering a free workshop to seniors and those approaching retirement to learn about ways to reduce health risks and maintain good health to get the most out of retirement years.
The workshop is on Saturday, Sept. 15 at 10 a.m. at McKee Seniors' Recreation Centre, 515547th Ave., Ladner.
Sepia Sharma, Delta community health specialist with Fraser Health, will talk about the many health benefits of physical activity and how to prevent falls.
Seniors that are physically active will have lower rates of falls and fractures. They will have a better quality of life with less chance of developing chronic health conditions.
Walking is an easy way to add physical activity to daily routine, especially if you are able to walk while doing daily errands.
Following the workshop presentation, there will be a discussion of the "walkability" of the Ladner area - where is it easy to walk and where are there barriers.
The information collected from the discussion will be used by the Delta Seniors Planning Team to conduct a survey on the "walkability" of Ladner.
The workshop and survey of Ladner is the last in a series of workshops and walkability surveys in Delta - one for each community. The Delta Seniors Planning Team will compile the results of the information gathered about barriers and how to improve walkways to help people get to where they need to go.
When planning for retirement, individuals plan for the day when they might drive less or not at all due to physical or financial limitations. Walking is an option when community streets are safe and barrier free. This helps seniors to stay active and maintain their independence.
Improvements to sidewalks, pathways and streets not only benefit seniors but are also beneficial to youth, families with young children and people with disabilities. With the number of seniors increasing in Delta annually, it will be important to plan for the changing needs of the community.
The workshop is free and open to anyone interested in this topic. For more information, call 604-946-9526 or email lynw@deltassist. com.
For more information about Delta Seniors Planning Team, visit www. deltassist.com/deltaseniorsplanning.html.
