Welcome to the CCAA Outreach Website!

What's New

Summer 2010

Mark your calendars!

June 18 and 19, 2010 the CCAA will host the second Research to Action: Activity and Aging Continuing Education Conference. Not only is the conference for CCAA trained individuals but it is also open to anyone with an interest in the field of physical activity and aging. The two-day event will be held at London Hall, located at the University of Western Ontario.

Research to Action: Continuing Education Conference - Registration Form - PDF Format

Here’s what to expect:

Friday, June 18 – Get Inspired and Get Moving!

Listen to the dynamic Dr. Kevin Shoemaker from the University of Western Ontario discuss exercise, aging and their effects on the brain. You will also learn about the latest advances in physical activity and aging from top researchers working at the forefront of this rapidly evolving field, as you warm up to your conference experience in the morning. Other highlights of the first morning include Loving your Heart and the Skinny on Pole Walking as well as information on the latest advances in rehabilitation from the experts at Shoppers Home Health.

Don’t get too comfortable in your chair though, because for the second part of the first day you will be on the move! This is your chance to start to tailor your conference experience, choose from a variety of fun and dynamic workshops to motivate and inspire you. Finally, we will help you wind down at the end of your first conference day with informative presentations and a question and answer period during the Trainer Discussion Panel.

Saturday, June 19 – Brush up your skills!

Today you really get to make your conference what you want it to be. Your choice of workshops both morning and afternoon will help you get the most out of your time spent with us. Whether your interest is in higher functioning or lower functioning older adults, we have the information you need to make your time with your participants and clients well spent when you get back to work!

Register!

Early bird registration deadline: April 15, 2010 (1 day fee - $125.00, 2 day fee - $175.00)
Regular registration deadline: June 16, 2010 (1 day fee - $150.00, 2 day fee - $200.00)
Please register with Sarah Merkel. Ph: 519-661-2029 F: 519-661-1612 E: smerkel2@uwo.ca

Research to Action: Continuing Education Conference - Registration Form - PDF Format

Accommodations

A block of rooms have been reserved for your convenience, so you can stay and play on site at the Essex Residence at Western. The special conference rate is just $50/night and includes free breakfast! To book your room, contact

Patty Scheerer
Conference Services
Room 150, Lambton Hall
1421 Western Road
London, ON N6G 4W4
519-661-3545
conference.services@uwo.ca

Refer to “Aging Conference”

Winter Spring 2010

Functional Fitness for Falls Prevention Workshop (FFFP)

As part of a 2010 falls prevention initiative, fuelled by the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion’s Healthy Community Fund, the CCAA recently travelled around the province to deliver our new, one-day, Functional Fitness for Falls Prevention (FFFP) training course. The goal of this course was to better educate staff working with older adults on the importance of physical activity programming in any falls prevention initiative and to provide staff with the skills and knowledge to help older adults improve their functional status and reduce their risk of falling. The CCAA delivered one course in each of the four regions of Ontario – North, East, Central and West – and trained 136 individuals across the province.

Participants in the FFFP course were provided with the resources to:

Assess residents’ functional mobility levels & screen for residents with increased fall risk
Use appropriate exercise programming guidelines to design, implement and evaluate, outcome based, functional fitness programs for residents
Facilitate resident improvements in strength, balance, flexibility and overall mobility
Design, implement and evaluate, outcome based falls prevention exercise programs
Contribute to decreasing fall rates among retirement residences in Ontario

The implications of promoting and improving fitness levels of our older adults (specifically muscular strength, balance and flexibility) will not only decrease their overall risk of falling, but will also improve their functional independence, increase their resilience to environmental stressors and chronic conditions, and improve their outcomes post-fall [among many other physical and psychological benefits]. Once the evaluation phase of this project has been completed and all surveys and evaluations have been analyzed, the CCAA plans to include the FFFP training course as part of our standard educational course offerings in hope of improving falls prevention exercise knowledge among frontline staff working in various senior care settings.

Elders in Motion Training Gathering

In February 2010, the Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging took part in the Elders in Motion Training in the North West Territories (NWT). This event focused on engaging elders, community volunteers, youth, and professionals who work or spend time with Elders in the area of fitness, health, wellness and recreation. Two members of the CCAA outreach team travelled to the NWT to participate in the Training Gathering. Sarah Merkel, CCAA Project Coordinator delivered the Seniors Fitness Instructor Course (SFIC) and CCAA Program Director, Clara Fitzgerald delivered the Home Support Exercise Program Facilitator training and the Balls, Bands and Balance workshop to the Gathering participants. Staff trained through this initiative will deliver CCAA programs to the Elders of fourteen communities. In partnership with Elders in Motion the CCAA will be modifying the Home Support Exercise Program DVD to include 5 different local languages in additional to providing evaluation services and ongoing support as this project continues over the next six months.

Also from this web page:

COURSES

CCAA Newsletter Subscription:

Calendar of Events

Contact

Clara Fitzgerald
Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging
Phone 519.661.1603
Fax 519.661.1612
Email: ccaa@uwo.ca