news&views Spring 2020 | Page 10

Join Us for the ARTCF Charity Golf Classic Amanda Shaw | Director of Marketing, ARTA Golf is a wonderful way to connect with people and make new friends. It’s a great game to play regardless of experience level, and this year, it’s a great way to make a difference in the lives of seniors in Alberta. ARTA’s annual golf tournament — the ARTCF Charity Golf Classic — will be hosted by the Alberta Retired Teachers Charitable Foundation on June 11, 2020, at the Ponoka Golf Club in central Alberta. Proceeds raised will be used by the foundation to support charitable organizations that are making a diff erence in the areas of housing, health care, and English as a second language. Support of the ARTCF allows for success stories like the following from the Alzheimer Society of Calgary. ARTCF Charity Golf Classic June 11, 2020 Ponoka Golf Club 10 | arta.net Education Was the Turning Point for Local Caregiver, Sandra Sandra was the primary caregiver for three people: her mother and her father, both living with dementia, and her sister-in-law, who was living with young-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Recently R ecentlly retired, retiired d, Sandra S and dra had h ad d fallen into the role of caregiver for all three family members and was struggling to cope with her new role. One afternoon Sandra saw an ad at the library for an education session being off ered by the Alzheimer Society of Calgary. She decided to attend. As she listened to the speaker, she felt a huge hu ge wave w av avee of relief r el elie ieff sweep swee sw eep p over ov er her. So many of her questions were being answered. Looking around the room, she realized there were many other people in a similar situation. She was not alone. At the end of the session, she approached an Alzheimer Society of Calgary staff member. As they chatted, Sandra learned that there were more resources available to her. Before long, she was connected with a peer support group where she met other caregivers who shared useful strategies and ideas. “Each family seems to have t their th e r own ei ow tips t ps and ti a nd d tricks, t rick c s, and a nd d hearing those can be really benefi cial,” says Sandra. When it was time to move her parents into care, Sandra once again connected with the Alzheimer Society of Calgary. As a result, she was able to work successfully with the care facility to move her parents into rooms on the same fl oor, with her sister- in-law moving into the same building. b uil ildi ding. The Alberta Retired Teachers Charitable Foundation is proud to support the Alzheimer Society of Calgary as they provide these education sessions, which help to ensure local caregivers like Sandra can access the knowledge and tools they need to cope. If you would like to make a diff erence in the lives of seniors in Alberta, join us on June 11 for a day of golf, including breakfast, BBQ dinner, and on-course activities. We look forward to the continued success of the foundation through a fun and sociable day on the course! For more information and to register as an individual or a team in the golf tournament, please visit artaevents.net/golf. ●