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Healthy living and disease prevention focus of talk for Seniors’ Week

Event was held June 5 at Abbotsford Social Activity Association
Black Press Media
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Dr. Shelley Dhillon-Bhalla was the guest speaker at an event held June 5 at the Abbotsford Social Activity Association hall in celebration of Seniors’ Week in B.C. (Submitted photo)

The Abbotsford Social Activity Association (ASAA) launched Seniors’ Week with an event on June 5 featuring a talk from a local doctor.

Approximately 120 people attended the launch at the ASAA hall on Essendene Avenue. Community resources, such as the Advance Care Planning team, provided information about what’s happening in Abbotsford for older adults.

Mayor Henry Braun welcomed participants and thanked them for their contributions to the community. He described the actions that the city is taking to support Abbotsford being an age-friendly community.

Sue Federspiel, community developer with the city, invited local organizations to join the city’s Age-Friendly Initiative.

Dr. Shelley Dhillon-Bhalla, a family physician in Abbotsford, spoke on Practical Actions for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention.

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Dhillon-Bhalla has a background in geriatric care and is the physician co-chair for the older adults health project and residential care program of the Abbotsford Division of Family Practice.

Her advice for preventing disease and promoting health included eating healthy, exercising, having up-to-date cancer screenings, quitting smoking, making social connections, and seeing a doctor regularly.

“I encourage Abbotsford community members to make health goals that are specific and to start taking steps to reach these goals,” Dhillon-Bhalla said. “It takes about 30 days to make a healthy habit.”

Dhillon-Bhalla took questions from the audience, and the event ended with participants having a healthy lunch and visiting resource booths.

Seniors Week is celebrated during the first week of June throughout the province.

The City of Abbotsford works with partners to host free and fun programs such as seniors’ yoga classes.

To find out more information about the city’s age-friendly work, visit abbotsford.ca/community and click on “social development” and then “seniors.”

For more about the ASAA, visit abbysocialactivityassoc.com.