INSPIRED 55+ Lifestyle Magazine - February 2019

INSPIRED 55+ lifestyle magazine

FEBRUARY 2019

ARTIST GATHIE FALK

STRUTTING AROUND STOCKHOLM THE 50 OVER 50 PROJECT JUSTIFYING THE COST OF RETIREMENT RESIDENCES

Inspiration for people over 55

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Gathie Falk: It’s the Simple Things

by Toni O’Keeffe Strutting Around Stockholm

by Jane Cassie BC HOUSING DIRECTORY

by INSPIRED Staff Breaking New Ground

by Sherry Conly Darling, You Got to Let Me Know

by John Kelly Justifying the Cost of Retirement Housing

by Sherry Conly The Ageless Beauty of Women

by Kate Robertson My Big Fat Greek Tiny Home

by J. Kathleen Thompson Salute to the Sockeye Keepers

by Joan Boxall Bugs and Bowels: A Healthy Gut

by Nancy J. Schaaf

FASHION 27 FOREVER FIT 35 TRAVEL 38 REBOOT 41 FAMILY CAREGIVER 42 MARKETPLACE 43 COURAGEOUS & OUTRAGEOUS Cover GATHIE FALK Award-winning Canadian artist Gathie Falk celebrates the simple things in life – and makes them more beautiful and interesting.

Photo by Tom Gould 4 2

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Artist Gathie Falk in her home studio.

Photo: Tom Gould 6

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GATHIE FALK:

IT’S THE SIMPLE THINGS

by TONI O’KEEFFE As I step over the threshold into the home of Canadian artist Gathie Falk, there is an immediate understanding that this is no ordinary place. The foyer expands into a bright, airy, open concept sitting-dining room that is home to some of Gathie’s – and Canada’s – most noteworthy pieces of art.

After being greeting by Gathie and welcomed into her home, my eyes are instantly drawn to a perfectly stacked grouping of shiny ceramic red apples. I have seen the apples before, on the websites that promote the work of this iconic artist and on the cover of her new book Apples, etc.: An Artist’s Memoir by Gathie Falk with Robin Laurence.

The apples have a story unto themselves. Entitled “A Stack of Apples,” they were created by Gathie in the 1970s.

They have been displayed in galleries around the world and now here they sit, casually presented waiting for visitors’ eyes to feast upon them. Gathie says the apples represent a time during the 1950s when, on the corner near her home in Vancouver, there was a grocer that always had a shining pile of apples on display. “They were stacked perfectly, like a pyramid,” she says. “The shimmer, the shape, just called out to me. The stack was simple and attractive, yet, I knew I could make them look better.” And she did. Her arrangements of glimmering ceramic apples and other fruit have become trademark pieces within her collection.

Gathie is casual in her manner. She possesses a calm, nonchalant warmth about her. If one did not know of her legendary life and work, her modest demeanour would lead one to conclude she is just another 70-something resident passing time in this east Vancouver neighbourhood. But there is nothing ordinary about the 91-year-old artist, other than the fact that her art is inspired by ordinary and simple things. “I enjoy transforming simple things into art and making them better and more interesting,” she says.

Gathie’s art weaves together everyday objects. The clothing we wear, the food that grows in our gardens, the

weather, and simple times spent enjoying the people in our lives.

However, life has not always been simple or easy. Gathie was born January 31, 1928 in Alexander, Manitoba to unassuming Russian immigrant parents. Her father died when she was 10 months old and her brothers, Gordon and Jack, were nine and three. “My father was very creative and musical,” says Gathie.

“I am much more like him than my mother.” Gathie also speaks fondly of her mother and says they had a close bond until her mother died in 1972.

As a child, Gathie spent her free time and holidays drawing and painting. She cannot recall a time that she wasn’t compelled to draw.

“I always knew I would be an artist, but as a young child there were no crayons, paint or paper in our house, so I drew on what I could find with what I had,” says Gathie. “But when I started school, I had access to pencils and paper and became obsessed with drawing.”

“Around the age of 13, one of my teachers saw that I had a talent for art and encouraged my mother to enrol me in art lessons at the Winnipeg Art Gallery,” she says. “The lessons were painful, and I eventually dropped out. I preferred to draw on my own, to create on my own; I didn’t want to be bothered with the technical aspect of drawing.”

Gathie’s mother remarried when she was still in school in Manitoba. “My mother did not have an easy life. My stepfather treated her poorly. He drank and had a very angry temperament,” says Gathie. “It took a great deal of courage for my mother, who spoke no English, to leave him, especially in those days. It also left us in a rather sad state financially.”

In her memoir, Gathie describes the hardships her mother endured over many years and recalls the night her mother died: “My friends and family could hardly believe my sorrow. How could I explain to them that I wasn’t crying because of her death?

I was crying because of her life.”

At 16, Gathie was forced to quit school to help support her INSPIRED | FEBRUARY 2019

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Snapshot with Gathie Falk

If you were to meet your 20-year-old self, what advice would you give her?

“I would tell her that I am proud of her.

I would encourage her to keep doing what she is doing. And, I would tell her not to worry; it’s all going to work out.”

Who or what has influenced you the most? And why?

“A teacher by the name of Jim MacDonald that I met at UBC’s Summer Art Camp. He understood my work and understood what I was trying to achieve.

Other artists such as Vincent van Gogh. And my friends and family because they have always supported me and still support me.”

What are you most grateful for?

“Everything. My family, my friends and the kindness of people in my life. I’m grateful for the parishioners from my church, my friends in the art world, including all the teachers and mentors I’ve had along the way. I’m grateful that I’ve had a good life and continue to have a good life. I’m grateful that I have been able to use my creative gifts to make a living and that I get to do what I love every day.”

What does success mean to you?

“A life filled with work that one appreciates and the ability to use your gifts to make a living.” |

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family and pay off the family debts. She took on a variety of jobs over the years, including picking fruit, plucking chickens in a smelly processing plant, waitressing and working in a luggage factory to support her and her mother. After struggling financially for several years, Gathie, then 19, and her mother moved to BC. In 1952, she enrolled in a teaching program and became an elementary school teacher. “I hated teaching,” she says. “But I stuck with it because the money was good, and we had to pay our bills.” In her second year of teaching, Gathie began taking summer classes and spent two years in Victoria studying design, drawing and painting with artist Bill West.

Over the next few years, she took several summer and evening arts classes with artists such as J.A.S. (Jim) MacDonald, Roy Oxlade, Jacques de Tonnancour and Lawren Harris.

She says MacDonald was one of the most influential and supportive forces in her life.

“He always liked my work and understood what I was trying to do.” Then, in 1965, having eliminated most of their family debt, Gathie quit teaching to pursue her art full time. She has been creating ever since.

On a visit to her studio, Gathie was both accommodating and enthusiastic. She walked me through her home, which she designed in the mid ’80s.

The house was built by her nephew, Bob, and is adorned with many of the pieces she has produced over the years, including a papiermâché shirt that sits in her window and was created as an homage to Bob. Other pieces from a collection titled “Shirting” and various works from her solo exhibit entitled “Paperworks” also add grace to the interior of her home.

The courtyard outside her studio took us by an apple tree filled with fruit.

The tree is perfectly situated as the focal point of the backyard. Sitting on a table near the tree was a crate of

FEBRUARY 2019 | WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

apples Gathie had picked, emphasizing the uncomplicated way she looks at the world and translates it into art.

As we entered her studio, I was struck by the warmth and natural light that flowed into all corners of this artist’s haven. The walls are adorned with paintings, both large and small. Paint palettes lay about, stained with the colours that are now the DNA imprinted in her work.

A white wicker chair sits not far from her easel and I wonder how many creative sparks have been born from the artist as she sat here pondering the simplicity of life.

Several colourful paintings depicting neatly set tables of afternoon tea and simple suppers dot the room. Tables covered with artists’ brushes, tools, decadesold tin cans from cherries, tomato juice and coffee that are used to clean her tools or mix paint, left no doubt that this place is well used.

I approached a large piece of art mounted on the wall that displayed 20 paper squares showcasing a pair of petite female ankles gracefully crossed, presented in monochromatic grey scale.

“Whose ankles are these,” I ask. Gathie says the owner of the ankles shall remain a mystery. That mystery unto itself adds to the allure of this work-of-art.

Gathie judges herself as a visual artist

A mystery woman’s ankles.

Photo: Toni O’Keeffe

and has worked in various mediums, including ceramics, paint, drawing and papier-mâché. Evidence of all these mediums still live throughout the studio.

She says there is not one thing, in particular, that inspires her. “My work is inspired by everyday things. There is not one piece that is more important than the others. Nor is there one that is more meaningful than the other. They are all just art,” says Gathie.

It seems absurd to ask if she has other hobbies to help her escape the world of art, but I did. “I don’t need other hobbies,” she says, “I never feel a need to get away from what I do. My life is simple and good, and I don’t feel a need for a break.”

However, when she is not producing art she likes to read, primarily fiction. She is also diligent at staying both mentally and physically fit. She enjoys playing piano and spending time with family and friends.

Of what she is most proud, she says, “I’m proud of the people I know, the friends I have and I’m proud of what they have accomplished in their own lives.”

Gathie’s attitude about her life, her art and what she looks forward to each day is simplistic and perfectly her. “I look forward to church, to choir and visiting friends. I look forward to having breakfast then going into the studio. The simple things like going for a walk, “A Stack of Apples” by Gathie Falk. that’s what I wake up to do Photo: Toni O’Keeffe every day.”

Highly organized, she takes pleasure in maintaining a daily routine that includes: waking around 8 a.m. Monday to Friday; having her coffee and toast with an aim to be in her studio by 9 a.m.; and she wraps up her art by 4:30-5. Gathie exercises daily to stay fit and to help her manage acute back pain. Although she doesn’t look forward to exercise, she says it is necessary if she wants to continue to create art.

Gathie is happy with her life and has no plans to stop doing what she loves. “I have no plans to retire,” she says.

“Why would I do that? I love what I do. I have no desire to travel anymore; I am quite satisfied staying home, producing art, spending time with my family and friends and enjoy the simple things in life.”

While she had one short-lived marriage in the seventies, which she addresses in her memoir, Gathie confesses her true loves are creating art, her family and friends.

Although she possesses a tough outer shell, there is a warmth and tender nuance that radiates from her. A spark flickers when she speaks of the people in her life that give her joy – her niece, her nephew, her artistic colleagues, fel-

low parishioners, her best friend, Elizabeth, and the memory of her brothers and her parents.

What advice would she pass on to other aspiring artists, especially seniors? “It is never too late. Just get started. Stop thinking about it and do it. You don’t have to take lessons, you just to need to start doing it.”

Gathie has been bestowed by several prestigious awards, including The Governor General’s Award in Visual and Media Arts, which she says is the one award she is most proud of. She has also been awarded the Audain Prize for Lifetime Achievement in the Visual areas, the Gershon Iskowitz Prize and both the Order of British Columbia and the Order of Canada. She is humble and nonchalant about her success. She also has a good sense of humour and, in her memoir, ponders the possibility of an “after-the-lifetime-award award, that she can aspire to.

Gathie is represented by Equinox Gallery in Vancouver and Gibson Gallery in London, Ontario. According to Hannah Reinhart, Exhibitions Manager with the Equinox Gallery, her work elevates objects of the everyday experience into extraordinary things.

“Gathie works in a variety of media that includes performance art, sculpture, ceramics, painting and drawing, says Reinhart. “She creates work that feels surreal and dreamlike, reinventing clothing, fruit, plants, shoes or baseball caps into objects of much greater significance.”

Gathie’s work can be found in private and public collections including the Vancouver Art Gallery, the Winnipeg Art Gallery, the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal, the Burnaby Art Gallery and the National Gallery of Canada. According to Reinhart, Gathie will be creating an exhibit of new work for the Equinox Gallery in 2019 (dates yet to be determined).

Before I left her home, I took a final glance across the room at one of Canada’s most creative and beautiful art collections.

I tucked my notepad and pen inside my bag and thanked Gathie for her time. As I walked up the street to my car, contemplating how inspired I had been, I heard a voice call out to me.

Gathie was running up the street waving to me with my jacket hung over her arm. I walked back towards her and she smiled.

She handed me my jacket and I humbly thanked her again for her time. She reached out and embraced me, such a simple act of kindness that meant so much.

Indeed, it’s the simple things that inspire us all. | Apples, etc.: An Artist’s Memoir is available through major book retailers online and off.

INSPIRED | FEBRUARY 2019

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STRUTTING AROUND STOCKHOLM

by JANE CASSIE

TOP | Skyview in winter. Photo: Soren Andersson MIDDLE | Long boats are equipped to handle the tourist trade.

BOTTOM | After 325 stairs, the author comes to the top of the City Hall tower.

TOC PAGE | The author’s husband, Brent, decides on a tasty treat after a day of trekking. Photos: Brent and Jane Cassie 10 8

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Pretty panoramas of Stockholm aren’t hard to find. We could hop on SkyView, a breathtaking gondola that transports us to the roof of Ericsson Globe, the largest spherical building in the world. Or bus it above Finland Ferries to Fjällgatan, where there’s a gorgeous vista of Djurgården and Skeppsholmen (popular but impossible to pronounce). Kaknästornet is another bird’s eye beauty. This transmission tower rises 155 metres from Gärdet, a meadow north of Djurgården. And while drinking in the scene from this thirtieth floor’s observation deck, we can also sip on a cocktail. Now that’s my kind of a viewing platform.

But when given the option of either taking the easy route, or one that requires more exertion, my exuberant husband usually chooses the latter.

“You can do it,” Brent encourages. “Only a hundred more steps to go.” Is he kidding me? My heart is drum-rolling, quads are seizing and I’m regretting eating that buttery croissant for breakfast. But I continue to huff and puff my way skyward, through the brick-encased tunnels and up all 325 gruelling steps. And after summiting, I receive my visual reward.

Stockholm’s red-brick City Hall, topped by three golden crowns, is one of the city’s most recognizable buildings and, from this 106-metre tower, we’re offered a 360-degree panorama: Saltsjön, an inlet of the Baltic Sea is in the east; Riddarfjärden, part of Lake Mälaren, lies to the west; the downtown hub is north; and the island of Södermalm is south – along with many poplar landmarks that have made Stockholm a world-famous destination to visit.

Over the next three days, we put our cross-trainers to work and enjoy closer encounters with a number of these tourist haunts. Thanks to our Stockholm Pass, one price provides admission to over 60 top attractions – everything from museums and monuments to land and water excursions.

The Hop On Hop Off boat and bus tours are first on our list. While travelling these scenic circuits, we’re able to get our bearings and give our legs a break. But not for long. With 24 stops en route, there’s a lot to hop off for.

Gamla Stan, the island of Old Town, is a great place to

burn off (and add on) the calories. Restaurants and bars intermingle with gift stores and souvenir shops that hug up along the narrow cobblestone streets. Founded in 1252, this medieval centre is one of Europe’s best-preserved.

The largest attraction here is the striking eighteenth-century Royal Palace, boasting over 600 rooms. We check out the Orders of Chivalry, gaze at Queen Kristina’s silver throne in the Hall of State and learn about the Swedish monarchy while meandering through a maze of authentically furnished rooms.

“We’re one step away from royalty ourselves on this trip,” I say to Brent as we browse through the adjacent Treasury. It’s true. During this Stockholm stay, we’re being generously hosted at Danmarks Hus, a second home to our daughter-in-law’s parents who work for the embassy. And while they are away travelling, we have the massive four-story residence all to ourselves.

Located in the heart of this energized city, we’re a short ride away to most attractions. (Or a doable walk away when travelling with my husband.)

“Let’s try a cruise,” I suggest to Brent on our second day, when looking at our pass options. “As well as the Hop On Hop Off boats, there are lots to choose from. And while getting a different perspective of this amazing city, my feet will get some downtime.”

A fleet of long boats that are moored in neighbouring harbours are equipped to deal with the bustling tourist trade. Some cruise under bridges, others through canals, some to lakes, others to islands. And while weaving their way through the waterways, they connect modern-day offerings with tidbits from the past.

We could also do a longer jaunt, like the one to Skokloster Castle, an impressive baroque monument built in the 17th century, or to Roserberg Palace situated on Lake Mälaren. This posh spot was constructed by the well-to-do Oxenstierna family and was home to Karl XIII in the 18th century.

“Some of these take the entire day,” Brent says, while scanning his must-still-see list of attractions. “If we go for the threehour archipelago route, we might be able to fit in a museum.”

Where does my guy get his energy? It must be from all those tasty pastries he’s been devouring!

We board the MS Östanå I, a 1906 traditional beauty with a turn-of-the-century feel. Seating encircles the outer deck, and it’s here where we claim our space to revel in the roving view.

Just a few minutes away from the city’s pulse, the archipelago begins. Around 30,000 islands, islets and rocks are scattered between Öregrund in the north to Landsort in the south. And each one possesses its own character and charm: rugged forests, rocky cliffs, sandy beaches. Some are uninhabited, others host summer cottages and their outstretched docks. Our guide, Elsa, provides an in-depth commentary along the way and while listening and learning about this beautiful region, my resting feet are in their happy place.

But they get a grand finale workout on day three. Stockholm is a shopper’s paradise and guess what? My guy likes to shop nearly as much as he likes to walk. We stroll Biblioteksgatan and neighbouring Birger Jarlsgatan where highfalutin names like Prada, Gucci and Louis Vuitton rub elbows, then get into our

comfort zone along Hamngatan and through Gallerian, a mall which boasts 28,000 square metres of shops.

But Drottninggatan is the queen bee street when it comes to popularity, prices and pickings. Throngs flood this pedestrian pathway bordered by every retailer imaginable. We browse H&M, Monki, Zara and pretty much every shoe store along this bustling strip. And just in time, as the treads on our Nikes are wearing thin.

“There are still amazing museums to check out,” Brent says after we’re shopped-out. He provides the run-down of his favourites: The Vasa, which showcases a sunken warship that sank in 1628; the Nordiska that spans the Nordic lifestyles from the 16th century onward; and Skansen, the world’s first open-air museum and zoo, a favourite for kids of all ages.

Our pass also gets us into Gröna Lund, Sweden’s oldest and largest amusement park that hosts 31 rides and attractions.

“There are seven roller coasters,” Brent says excitedly, as if he’s six-years old instead of 65. “And the Jet Liner is supposed to be a real screamer.”

Although we’re two decades older than anyone else in line, we hop aboard this thriller, which definitely wakes up our inner child. And as well as being treated to another pretty panorama on the first ascent, our lungs get a workout instead of our legs. | For IF YOU GO information, visit www.seniorlivingmag.com/ strutting-around-stockholm

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bc senior housing directory ABBOTSFORD Trillium Bevan Village 604-850-5416; 33386 Bevan Ave.; info@bevanvillage.ca Capacity: 141 units Starting Price: $1800

Amenities/Services: Secure grounds with gazebo and walking paths; outdoor patio with raised garden beds; activity lounges; games area; hair salon; library/tech room; nutritious meals and snacks; recreation calendar; bus outings

CAMPBELL RIVER Berwick by the Sea 250-850-1353 / 1-844-418-1353; 1353 16th Ave. www.berwickretirement.com Capacity: (I) 131 units; (A) 30 units; private Starting Price: call for rates Amenities/Services: ocean view; chef prepared meals; housekeeping; linens; 24hr emergency response; recreation programs; theatre; fitness centre; games room; rooftop lounge; transport

CHILLIWACK Auburn Seniors Residences 604-792-3545; 8531 Young Rd. aub.info@retirementconcepts.com Capacity: 54 units Starting Price: call for rates Amenities/Services: shopping nearby; recreation & entertainment; 1 & 2 bedrooms available; gardens; 50’s diner Waverly Seniors Village 604-792-6340; 8445 Young Rd. waverly.info@retirementconcepts.com Capacity: (A) 69 units (C) 53 units Starting Price: call for rates Amenities/Services: (I/A) 2 meals/day; (C) 3 meals/day; (A) home support available; 24hr emergency response; recreation; hairdresser; (I/A) small pets allowed

COMOX / COURTENAY Berwick Comox Valley 250-339-1690; 1-866-1690; 1700 Comox Ave. www.berwickretirement.com Capacity: (I) 168 units; (A) 23 units; private Starting Price: call for rates Amenities/Services: chef prepared meals; housekeeping; linens; 24hr emergency response; recreation programs; transportation; rooftop garden & lounge; theatre; fitness centre; games room

L.J. Christmas Manor 604-936-8122; 560 Austin Ave.; www.ljchristmasmanor.com Capacity: 133 units Starting Price: studio $1320, incl. 1 meal Amenities/Services: 24hr staff; 1 bdrm, studio, & all-inclusive suites; dining room (3 meals/day available); afternoon tea; cable tier 3 & all utilities; housekeeping/linen service; yoga; hair salon Residences at Belvedere 604-939-1930; 750 Delestre Avenue; www.belvederebc.com Capacity: 114 units Starting Price: $3300 Amenities/Services: 24hr professional assistance; 2 chef prepared meals; recreation & leisure program; in-suite emergency call system; weekly housekeeping & linen/towel service; respite care

DUNCAN Biscay Manor 250-746-4173; 3034 Biscay Rd.; www.biscaymanor.ca Capacity: 8 units Starting Price: $2000 Amenities/Services: meals; bedding; laundry; furniture; cleaning; cable TV; wireless Internet; off street parking; gardening opportunity; visiting pets only

housing directory legend We use three housing categories to define the residences – Independent/Supportive, Assisted Living and Residential Care.

Independent/Supportive Living (I) Independent/Supportive Living includes a combination of housing and hospitality services for retired adults who are capable of directing their own care.

Comox Valley Seniors Village 250-331-1183; 1-844-603-4663; 4640 Headquarters Rd. www.retirementconcepts.com Capacity: (I/A) 221 units; (C) 136 units Starting Price: call for rates Amenities/Services: shopping shuttle; housekeeping; bistro breakfast; lunch & dinner; recreation; entertainment; fitness classes; theatre; library; salon; patio; pets in designated suites

Assisted Living (A) Assisted Living residences offer housing, hospitality services and personal assistance to adults who can live independently but require regular help with daily activities.

By law, all Assisted Living residences must be registered with the Assisted Living Registrar of BC.

Stevenson Place 250-339-7012; 1683 Balmoral Ave.; stevenson@novapacific.ca Capacity: 33 units Starting Price: $2900 Amenities/Services: We are smaller and more like a large family.

We have a great sense of community with residents and their extended families. Pets with restrictions.

Residential Care (C) Sometimes called Complex Care, these units also provide care and supervision for retired adults who are no longer capable of directing their own day-to-day activities.

Complex Care settings typically provide a combination of housing and hospitality services, as well as extensive support services.

The Housing Directory on INSPIRED Senior Living’s website has a complete list of all senior housing in BC. You can find it at www.seniorlivingmag.com/housing

COQUITLAM Belvedere Care Centre 604-939-5991; 7399 Alderson Ave.; www.belvederebc.com Capacity: 147 units Starting Price: $205/day Amenities/Services: 24hr professional nursing; 3 meals; comprehensive range of social & therapeutic programs; respite care; hospital rehab; transitional care; resident/family centered 12 10

Dufferin Care Centre 604-351-2200; 604-552-1166; 1131 Dufferin St. www.retirementconcepts.com Capacity: 153 units Starting Price: call for rates Amenities/Services: chef prepared meals; housekeeping & linens; nurse on-site 24/7; recreation programs; secure building; garden & patio; on site dietitian; beauty salon; music therapy

FEBRUARY 2019 | WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

10 AIN Y L M ON S RE E M HO

SECURE YOUR ONE-BEDROOM HOME WHILE THEY ARE STILL AVAILABLE! Trillium West Shore Village offers spacious one-bedroom suites designed with your ease and well being in mind. You’ll have the comforts of home in your private suite, and a variety of premium amenities just an elevator ride away. From our Café to the Fireside Lounge and Pub, we’ve designed West Shore Village to bring people together to enjoy a lifestyle centred around comfort and community.

LOC ATED AT 333 WALE RD VICTORIA | C ALL 250.478.7527

LIVEATWESTSHOREVILLAGE.COM The developer reserves the right to make changes and modifications. Project renderings are not to scale and are for information purposes only. Pictures, drawings, and digital renderings are for illustrative purposes only and should not be relied upon. E. & O.

INSPIRED | FEBRUARY 2019

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Wedgwood House 250-746-9808; 256 Government St. wedgwood@novapacific.ca Capacity: 40 units Starting Price: $2900 Amenities/Services: Very wonderful group of friendly residents who love to do things together. Residents Group are helpful and welcoming. Wedgwood feels like home! Pets with restrictions.

KAMLOOPS Berwick on the Park 250-377-7275; 1-866-377-7275; 60 Whiteshield Cres. S. www.berwickretirement.com Capacity: (I) 119 units; (A) 27 units; (C) 32 units; private Starting Price: call for rates Amenities/Services: valley view; chef prepared meals; housekeeping; linens; 24hr emergency response; recreation programs; transport; games room; fitness centre; library; theatre; gardens Kamloops Seniors Village 250-571-1800; 1-844-603-4663; 1220 Hugh Allan Dr. www.retirementconcepts.com Capacity: (I/A) 101 units; (C) 114 units Starting Price: call for rates Amenities/Services: beautiful mountain/valley views; chef prepared meals; shuttle; recreation/entertainment; fitness classes; theatre; library; salon; guest/respite suites; (I/A) small pets okay

LANGLEY Harrison Landing 604-530-7075; 20899 Douglas Cres.; www.harrisonlanding.com Starting Price: $2700 - $3150 Amenities/Services: toast/juice/coffee breakfast bar; 2 meals; light housekeeping; pub nights; socials; bingo; dining & fireside lounges; outdoor patios; recreation & wellness areas; fitness; bus

SENIORS LIVING COMMUNITY

The Freedom & Security You Deserve

Harrison Pointe 604-530-1101; 21616 52 Ave.; www.harrisonpointe.ca Starting Price: $2290 - $3440

Amenities/Services: toast/juice/coffee breakfast bar; 2 meals; light housekeeping; pub nights; socials; bingo; dining & fireside lounges;

outdoor patios; large rec hall; wellness areas; fitness; bus

Magnolia Gardens 604-514-1210; 5840 Glover Rd.; www.magnoliagardens.net Capacity: (I) 115 units; (C) 40 units Starting Price: $2350 Amenities/Services: daily fitness & social activities; Red Seal chef-prepared meals; housekeeping; courtesy shuttle; bus outings; hair salon; guest suite; close to amenities. Licensed 24hr residential care centre.

Sunridge Gardens 604-510-5091; 22301 Fraser Hwy.; www.sunridgegardens.net Capacity: 145 suites Starting Price: $2150 Amenities/Services: daily fitness & social activities; Red Seal chef-prepared meals; housekeeping; courtesy shuttle; bus outings; hair salon; guest suite; close to amenities; theatre; courtyard gardens; pets allowed

MAPLE RIDGE Maple Ridge Seniors Village 604-466-3053; 1-844-603-4663; 22141 119th Ave. www.retirementconcepts.com Capacity: (I) 49; (A) 33; (C) 108 Starting Price: call for rates Amenities/Services: (I) 2 meals a day; (A) 2 meals a day; (C) 3 meals/day; (A) home support avail; (I/A/C) 24hr emergency response; recreation; hairdresser; small pets allowed in (I/A)

Beauty, dignity and the best value in Victoria.

The Oak Bay Kiwanis Rose Manor Society invites you to join us at Rose Manor, a comfortable, warm and friendly home in downtown Victoria.

3 meals and 3 tea times Weekly laundry & housekeeping Activities & much more

Independent Living...

Assisted Living...

ALL INCLUSIVE RENTAL ACCOMMODATIONS: JUNIOR STUDIO, STUDIO, 1 & 2 BEDROOM SUITES • Nutritious meals by certified chef • A Life Enhancement Program of activities • Home of Pitt Meadows Senior Rec. Centre • Spacious comfortable suites with full kitchens & appliances

Call today for a viewing appointment (250) 383–0414

The Care & Comfort You Deserve Our Manor experience has...

• A registered 30 suite assisted living residence • Certified nurse on staff • 24 hr. staffing for security & comfort • Private Manor dining room & lounges • Specialized wellness programs • Services available for your individual needs • Jr. studio, studios & 1 bedroom suite

Developed by ALLEGRO PROPERTIES INC.

Managed & Operated by CASA GROUP

CALL TODAY OR REGISTER ONLINE FOR YOUR PRIVATE SHOWING Newly Opened ininin full operation Newly Openedand and full operation Newly Opened and full operation

Newly Opened and in full operation THE WESBROOKE 12000 190A Street, Pitt Meadows BC www.thewesbrooke.com | 604.460.7006 Open 9am - 4pm Daily

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857 RupeRt teRRace, VictoRia

(250) 383–0414 www.rosemanor.ca

NANAIMO Berwick on the Lake 250-729-7995; 1-866-525-3111; 3201 Ross Rd. www.berwickretirement.com Capacity: (I) 120 units; (A) 28 units; (C) 36 units; private Starting Price: call for rates Amenities/Services: lake view; chef prepared meals; housekeeping; linens; 24hr emergency response; recreation programs; transport; fitness centre; library; theatre; games room; gardens

A charming home in the heart of Vancouver.

Nanaimo Seniors Village 250-729-9524; 1-844-603-4663; 6085 Uplands Dr. www.retirementconcepts.com Capacity: (I) 56 units; (A) 152 units; (C) 150 units Starting Price: call for rates Amenities/Services: (I) 1 meal a day; (A) 2 meals a day; (C) 3 meals a day; (A) home support avail; (I/A/C) 24hr emergency response; recreation; hairdresser; small pets allowed in (I/A) Oak Tree Manor 250-716-1799; 325 Hecate St.; www.oaktreemanor.ca Capacity: 61 units Starting Price: $1450 Amenities/Services: downtown location; waterfront views; 24hr medical alert button; continental breakfast; 2 meals/day; housekeeping/linen service; activities program; small pets on 1st floor Origin at Longwood 250-751-7755; 6205 Oliver Road Capacity: 176 units Starting Price: call for rates Amenities/Services: gourmet meals; 24hr emergency response; enrichment programs; arts/crafts; woodwork; fitness classes; pool; Nordic pole walking; think fit; housekeeping; pets welcome Trillium Woodgrove Manor 250-390-1036; 6304 Metral Dr.; www.trilliumcommunities.com Capacity: 43 units Starting Price: call for rates Amenities/Services: Lovely outdoor gardens; activity lounge & program; 24hr care & memory care; nutritious meals & snacks; housekeeping; personal laundry service; emergency call system; hairdresser; foot care, no pets allowed

NEW WESTMINSTER

Vancouver 604.324.6257 Victoria 250.595.6257 www.shannonoaks.com Baptist Housing | Enhanced Seniors Living | Since 1964

SENIOR LIVING MAGAZINE: HOuSING GuIdE Size: 1/4 Page, 3.5” w x 4.75”h, colour

Dunwood Place 604-521-8636; 901 Colborne St.; dunwoodplace@telus.net Capacity: 191 units Starting Price: call for rates Amenities/Services: in-suite full kitchen; salon; activities lounge; near transit; wheelchair access; woodworking room; 24hr manager; lockable suite doors; café; patio; dining club

PITT MEADOWS Wesbrooke Seniors Living Community 604-460-7006; 12000 190A St.; thewesbrooke.com Capacity: 114 units Starting Price: call for rates Amenities/Services: 3 meals chef prepared; housekeeping; linens; 24hr emergency response; 24hr care aides; recreation & fitness programs; bus trips; central; family owned; warm & friendly

QUALICUM BEACH Hawthorne Place 250-752-4217; 750 Memorial Ave.; hawthorne@novapacific.ca Capacity: 33 units Starting Price: $2900 Amenities/Services: skylights, vaulted ceilings & generous floor space make these Independent Living with Services apartments an easy transition out of the family home! Pets with restrictions.

Every line tells a story Look into the faces of seniors.

Every hard-earned line is a legacy, and lessons for us all. Since 1981, we’ve championed quality of life for all seniors. Let us help you add a wonderful new chapter to your story.

Sunrise of Victoria provides:

• Exceptional licensed residential care • Excellent accommodation and hospitality services • A special neighbourhood for memory care

Please call 250-383-1366 or drop by for your personal tour.

Also visit our website for a virtual tour.

920 Humboldt Street

www.sunrisevictoria.com INSPIRED | FEBRUARY 2019

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SIDNEY Norgarden 250-656-8822; 2300 Henry Avenue www.welcometonorgarden.ca Capacity: 42 units Starting Price: $3300 Amenities/Services: individualized lifestyle; underground secure parking; salon/spa; activities; bus; spacious suites; refrigerators; family owned; near amenities; guest suite; pets welcome Peninsula, The 250-656-8827; 2290 Henry Avenue www.welcometopeninsula.ca Capacity: (I) 42 units; (A) 25 units Starting Price: $3600 Amenities/Services: individualized lifestyle services; underground parking; salon/spa; activities; bus; spacious suites; locally owned; near amenities; guest suites; pets welcome

SURREY Amenida 604-597-9333; 13855 68th Ave.; www.homecareliving.ca Capacity: (I) 134 units; (A) 20 units Starting Price: $1950 Amenities/Services: fitness & recreation programs; easy access to: park, senior/recreation centre, library, shopping & services; visiting medical professionals - no office waits; phone, cable, internet & emergency pendant included; pets welcome Guildford Seniors Village 604-582-0808; 1-844-603-4663; 14568 104A Ave. www.retirementconcepts.com Capacity: 98 units Starting Price: call for rates Amenities/Services: personalized 24hr nursing care; memory care; secured; furnished studios w/ en-suite; 3 meals; snacks; therapeutic spa; recreation; laundry/housekeeping; courtyard gardens

Peace Portal Seniors Village 604-535-2273; 1-844-603-4663; 15441 16th Ave. www.retirementconcepts.com Capacity: 84 units Starting Price: call for rates Amenities/Services: 24hr full nursing care; controlled access community; furnished studio suites w/ en-suite; housekeeping/ laundry; 3 nutritious meals and snacks; therapeutic recreation Suncrest Retirement Community 604-542-6200; 2567 King George Blvd.; www.belvederebc.com Capacity: (I) 78 units; (C) 124 units Starting Price: call for rates Amenities/Services: 24hr professional care; 3 meals (C); 2 meals (I); recreation; lounges; outdoor space; tea/coffee; snacks; resident/family centered care; large, inviting, spacious areas to relax & socialize

SUMMERLAND Summerland Seniors Village 250-404-4400; 1-844-603-4663; 12803 Atkinson Rd. ssv.info@retirementconcepts.com Capacity: (I/A) 120 units; (C) 112 units Starting Price: call for rates Amenities/Services: chef prepared meals; shuttle; recreation/entertainment; fitness classes; theatre; library; salon; guest/respite suites; (I/A) small pets okay

TSAWWASSEN Waterford, The 604-943-5954; 1345 56 St.; www.WaterfordForSeniors.net Capacity: (I) 108 units; (C) 36 units Starting Price: $4100/month Amenities/Services: daily fitness & social activities; Red Seal chef-prepared meals; housekeeping; courtesy shuttle; bus outings; hair salon; guest suite; close to amenities. Licensed 24hr residential care centre.

Retirement Communities

The Camelot, Victoria | Wedgwood House, Duncan Hawthorne Place, Qualicum Beach | Stevenson Place, Comox Independent Retirement Living with supportive services Delicious chef prepared meals, 24 hour emergency response, Weekly housekeeping & your linens refreshed, Each Home centrally located in charming neighbourhoods

Spectacular Waterfront and Mountain View Units Available for Couples or Singles

50% off First Month with this advertisement Contact Gerard & Carol Ann Sullivan

Saint Francis Manor by the Sea

1128 Dallas Rd., Victoria BC

250-382-7999

www.saintfrancismanor.com 16 14

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Managed by a Licensed Strata Property Manager

Visit our homes at www.novapacific.ca Rental Inquiries: 250-737-1435 or at each Residence

Our 65th Anniversary serving the needs of physically disabled throughout B.C. Our Mission is to help fund & support organizations and individuals facing challenges, and improve quality of life and independence.

Help us to help others!

Our Accomplishments include: •Technology for independent living •Noble House •Education programs •Support of Ronald McDonald House

Please support our programs! www.kinsmenfoundationofbc.ca Thank you for 65 years of support!! We have a variety of ways that you can help!!

For more info, Email: kinsmenfoundationofbc@shaw.ca

Wexford, The 604-948-4477; 1737 56 St.; www.briacommunities.ca Capacity: 65 suites Starting Price: $4000/month Amenities/Services: daily fitness & social activities; Red Seal chef-prepared meals; housekeeping; courtesy shuttle; bus outings; hair salon; guest suite; fitness centre; rooftop garden; private dining room; pets allowed

VANCOUVER

Our View on Independent Seniors Living:

Chelsea Park 604-789-7132; 1968 E. 19th Ave.; kdupont@newchelsea.ca Capacity: 74 units Starting Price: $2350 Amenities/Services: For a sense of belonging and total community “Seal of Approval” recipient, Chelsea Park offers well-designed, comfortable, affordable living for seniors. Right next door to John Hendry Park, Trout Lake.

The view from our deck is awe-inspiring.

Inside, you can count on dedication to caring for your aging but still independent loved ones. Clean, modern, bright suites; housekeeping support; healthy, homecooked meals (including the best soups in town); an activity and recreation program; VIHA care aide services available in-house 7 days a week; secure, safe, supportive, and friendly environment.

Opal by Element 604-871-9265; 438 W. King Edward Ave. VeronicaDC@ElementLiving.com Capacity: 130 units Starting Price: call for rates Amenities/Services: intergenerational suites; amenities; play; classes; art; wellness spa; private function rooms; patios; interactive culinary; shuttle; pets with restrictions Shannon Oaks 604-324-6257; 2526 Waverly Ave.; www.shannonoaks.com Capacity: 145 units Starting Price: $3830 Amenities/Services: housekeeping; activities; fitness studio; auditorium; library & computer lounge; dining; coffee bar; salon; A/C in suite; courtyard gardens; 24/7 emergency assistance; pets welcome

Oak Tree Manor is located in the heart of downtown Nanaimo, and is also the most affordable seniors independent living facility in the area.

Give us a call or drop us an email to set up an opportunity to discuss whether OTM is a good fit for your loved one.

Email: enjoylife@oaktreemanor.ca

THE GLENSHIEL

VICTORIA

Affordable Living for Independent Seniors Aquara by Element THE GLENSHIEL 250-940-5155; 110-645 Tyee Rd.; aquarabyelement.com Affordable Living for Independent Seniors Friendly, All-Inclusive & Downtown Capacity: 160 units Starting Price: call for rates Friendly, All-Inclusive & Downtown Amenities/Services: Our discovery centre is located at 110-645 Tyee Rd, Victoria, BC. An active living retirement living community offering Independent & Supportive Living condominiums and rentals, and Complex Care.

Berwick House 250-721-4062; 1-866-721-4062; 4062 Shelbourne St. www.berwickretirement.com Capacity: (I) 99 units; (A) 25 units; (C) 37 units; private Starting Price: call for rates Amenities/Services: chef prepared meals; housekeeping; linens; 24hr emergency response; recreation programs; transport; fitness centre; library; theatre; games room; gardens Come Join Us...

Berwick Royal Oak “This is a great place to be spoiled” 250-386-4680; 1-866-721-4680; 4680 Elk Lake Dr. “I Capacity: (I) 201 units; (A) 25 units; (C) 27 units love all the activities they offer here” “I don’t have to worry about what to cook” Starting Price: call for rates Amenities/Services: chef prepared meals; housekeeping; linens; 250.383.4164 24hr emergency response; recreation programs; transport; fit606 Douglas Street ness centre; library; theatre; games room; gardens

theglenshiel.bc.ca

Camelot, The 250-384-3336; 455 Kingston St.; camelot@novapacific.ca Capacity: 34 units Starting Price: $2900 Amenities/Services: Location, Location, Location!!! Short walk to Victoria Harbour and all of the wonderful attractions and shopping of Victoria’s James Bay. Pets with restrictions.

Come Join Us...

“This is a great place to be spoiled” “I love all the activities they offer here” “I don’t have to worry about what to cook”

250.383.4164

606 Douglas Street www.theglenshiel.bc.ca INSPIRED | FEBRUARY 2019

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The Cridge Village Seniors’ Centre 250-384-8058; 1307 Hillside Ave.; www.cridge.org Capacity: 38 private units; 38 VIHA units Starting Price: $2515 - private pay Amenities/Services: beautiful heritage building; walking paths; excellent food; modern construction; grand lounge; extensive recreation programming; common areas; visiting pets only

Revera - Parkwood Court 250-598-1575; 3000 Shelbourne St.; www.reveraliving.com Capacity: 79 units Starting Price: $6200 Amenities/Services: licensed residential care; nurses 24/7; private studio and 1bdrm suites; chef prepared meals; recreation programs; bus trips; patio/garden; spa bathing rooms; hair salon

Glenshiel Retirement Residence 250-383-4164; 606 Douglas St.; www.theglenshiel.bc.ca Capacity: 68 units Starting Price: $1300 Amenities/Services: social activities; movies; exercise classes; three home cooked meals a day; daily housekeeping; laundry facilities; hair care available; 24 hour bistro; no pets

Revera - Parkwood Place 250-598-1565; 3051 Shelbourne St.; www.reveraliving.com Capacity: 100 units Starting Price: $2075 Amenities/Services: spacious studios; 1&2bdrm suites; 3 chef-prepared meals daily; fitness studio; 24hr emergency response system; full recreational package; basic cable & hydro; near Hillside mall, doctor’s offices, pharmacies; pet friendly

Heron House 250-475-2270; 507 Government St.; garthhomersociety.org/services/residential-services Capacity: 12 units Starting Price: call for rates Amenities/Services: meals cooked fresh on site; laundry & housekeeping; daily & weekly activities program; organized trips/outings; individualized care services available; pharmacy & nursing services as required Legion Manor 250-652-3261; 7601 East Saanich Rd.; legionmanorvictoria.ca Capacity: 146 units Starting Price: call for rates

Amenities/Services: Legion Manor offers 78 Independent affordable housing suites, 68 Supportive/Assisted Living suites. We are situation on 5 acres in the beautiful Saanich Peninsula & close to all amenities.

Minton House (Rent or Own) 250-380-4977; 1070 Southgate St.; www.mintonhouse.ca Capacity: 26 units Starting Price: call for rates Amenities/Services: weekly housekeeping; 3 course evening meal; personal emergency response system; seasonal events; opportunity for social engagement; small pets allowed; fully functional kitchens

Revera - The Kensington 250-477-1232; 3965 Shelbourne St.; www.reveraliving.com Capacity: 115 units Starting Price: $2210 Amenities/Services: chef prepared meals; 24hr emergency system; housekeeping; recreation/fitness; walking path; community vegetable garden; library; salon; lounges; pets okay Rose Manor 250-383-0414; 857 Rupert Terrace; www.rosemanor.ca Capacity: 70 units Starting Price: $1300 Amenities/Services: 3 meals and tea times daily; weekly laundry and housekeeping; entertainment and activities; no pets allowed Saint Francis Manor by the Sea 250-382-7999; 1128 Dallas Road; www.saintfrancismanor.com Capacity: 12 units Starting Price: $1975 Amenities/Services: Saint Francis Manor by the Sea is a Supportive Living Senior Residence on Dallas Road in Victoria, BC. There are spectacular mountain and oceanfront views to enjoy with 3 home-cooked meals daily.

Baby Boomers, I’ve Been Expecting You. Whether moving closer to family, downsizing or closer to care, as a SENIOR REAL ESTATE SPECIALIST, I will personally help you find your dream location.

Patient * Understanding * Respectful Gina Wakeham PREC gina@ginawakeham.com www.dfh.ca 250-477 - 7291

2011-2018

Mention this ad and receive up to 8 hours MOVE OUT CLEANING services when you successfully sell your home with me.

eart In the h k St o of Co e Villag

Come HOME . . . to Minton House Delicious Meals

Served each evening

Convenience

Cook Street Village & Community Centre right around the corner

Support

Weekly housekeeping & heavy laundry done for you

Security

Condominiums are available to own or rent 18 16

24 hour CPR trained support staff & in suite First Responder monitoring

1070 Southgate St Victoria BC • www.mintonhouse.ca Inquiries: 250 380-4977 mintonhouse@shaw.ca

FEBRUARY 2019 | WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

GOLD

Selkirk Seniors Village 250-940-1028; 385 Waterfront Cres. selkirk.info@retirementconcepts.com Capacity: (A) 52 units; (I) 217 units Starting Price: call for rates Amenities/Services: heart of Victoria; beautiful gardens and secure courtyard; chef inspired meals; entertainment & recreation; gardens; 24/7 emergency assistance; pets welcome Shannon Oaks 250-595-6257; 2000 Goldsmith St. Capacity: 102 units Starting Price: $3810 Amenities/Services: dining; housekeeping; activities; fitness studio; library & computer lounge; salon; A/C in suite; courtyard gardens; 24/7 emergency assistance; pets welcome Sunrise Senior Living of Victoria 250-383-1366; 920 Humboldt St.; www.sunrisevictoria.com Capacity: 93 units; private Starting Price: $5200/month Amenities/Services: 24/7 nurse & care; emergency call system; memory, complex & palliative care; secure environment; walking club; activities; bistro; salon; lounge; pets with restrictions Trillium Clover Point Care 778-817-1139; 90 Linden Ave.; www.trilliumcommunities.com Capacity: 14 units; private Starting Price: call for rates Amenities/Services: Lovely outdoor garden & patio; 24hr care & memory care; nutritious meals & snacks; activities & daily walking program; housekeeping; personal laundry service; emergency call system; hairdresser; foot care; small dogs considered Trillium Craigdarroch 778-817-1139; 1048 Craigdarroch Rd. www.trilliumcommunities.com Capacity: 16 units; private Starting Price: call for rates Amenities/Services: Lovely outdoor garden & patio; 24hr care; nutritious meals & snacks; activities & walking program; housekeeping; personal laundry service; emergency call system; hairdresser; foot care; small pets considered

LEGION MANOR VICTORIA Come join us for a cup of tea and a tour.

Your comfort is our goal.

A Great Place to Call Home Legion Membership Not Required

Independent and Supported Living Suites for seniors located in a rural setting in Central Saanich.

Call us today for information or to book a tour 250-652-3261 legionmanor@shaw.ca | www.legionmanorvictoria.ca

7601 East Saanich Road, Saanichton

Trillium Douglas Care 778-817-1139; 660 - 647 Niagara St. www.trilliumcommunities.com Capacity: 28 units Starting Price: call for rates Amenities/Services: Outdoor garden w/raised garden beds; 24hr care & memory care; nutritious meals & snacks; activities & walking program; weekly bus trips; library; heated atrium; craft kitchen; hair salon; emerg call system; small pets considered Trillium Hart House 778-817-1139; 1961 Fairfield Rd. www.trilliumcommunities.com Capacity: 20 units; private Starting Price: call for rates Amenities/Services: Outdoor garden & patio; 24hr care & memory care; nutritious meals & snacks; lounge w/ocean view; activities; daily exercises; bus outings; housekeeping; laundry service; emerg call system; hairdresser; footcare; small pets considered Trillium Highgate Lodge 250-472-0077; 1538 Cedar Hill X-Rd. www.trilliumcommunities.com Capacity: 54 units Starting Price: call for rates Amenities/Services: Lovely outdoor garden & walking paths; 24hr emergency response; 3 meals/day & utilities included; housekeeping; linen service; activities & exercise programs; bus outings; library lounge; craft room; woodworking shop; no pets Trillium St. Charles Manor 778-817-1139; 1006 St. Charles St. www.trilliumcommunities.com Capacity: 53 units Starting Price: call for rates Amenities/Services: Lovely outdoor gardens & patios; 24hr care & memory care; nutritious meals & snacks; activities & weekly bus outings; TV lounges; arts & crafts room; games room; emergency call system; hairdresser; footcare; small pets considered

RENEW THE JOY OF BATHING ™

Safety, comfort & luxury.

What else could you ask for?

Family Owned & Trusted Since 1971 FenwickBath.ca 250-479-3166 SHOWROOM AT 506 ALPHA STREET INSPIRED | FEBRUARY 2019

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15th Anniversary

INSPIRED Blow Out Sale For a limited time we are selling our popular senior housing book for ONLY $5 (while supplies last).

Regular price $14.95.

DIAN ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY. CANA ELLER

B EST

S

To Move or Not to Move?

A Guide for Seniors Considering Their Residential Options To Move or Not to Move?

Are you a senior who has been wondering lately whether you should consider moving?

Perhaps the maintenanc e of your current home is more difficult due to diminishing ability or energy. Or you may want a lifestyle that allows you more freedom and less responsibili ty. In either case, this book will help you ask the important questions and find the solution that is right for you.

For some, the right decision might be to stay right where downsize your possessions you are, but and look at acquiring support services to fill whatever need arises — such as help with shopping, meals, household chores, preparing personal care, or getting around.

Others may determine the responsibility of looking after their current residence is too great and they would like to move to a place where they still have a high degree of independenc e but access to staff to take care of the things that are proving to be a bit of a headache.

There are also those whose health and safety is enough of a concern to them that they want to live in a place with all the supports and services necessary to give them the peace of mind they are currently lacking.

How to manage any of these scenarios, is what this book offers. It will give you insight into each option, the pros and cons to expect, and how to navigate the process of going from where you are now, to where you want to be.

For seniors, or families of seniors, this book is the ideal place to start asking the questions and discovering the answers.

$14.95 in Canada

Magazine

Published by INSPIRED Senior Living magazine, a division of Stratis Publishing Inc.

INSPIRED Senior Living

This 128 page book provides helpful, easy to read information and suggestions to help BC seniors and their families understand the decisions they need to make.

O N.L0Y0 $5 PING Whether you decide to stay in your + SHIPGST home or move, this book will help you & navigate to where you want to be.

To Move or Not to Move?

A Helpful Guide for Seniors Considering Their Residen tial Options

British Columbia edition

INSP IRED senior living magazine

NAME___________________________________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ PHONE _________________________

TOTAL $9.40 (includes GST and S&H) Call 1-877-479-4705 (ext 100) to order with credit card. Or send cheque to: Senior Living, 3354 Tennyson Ave., Victoria BC V8Z 3P6

Sexual wellness is essential to your health and happiness and should continue to be as you age.

At Pollock Clinics we offer both physiological and psychological treatments for erectile dysfunction, including : • • • •

Shockwave Therapy Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy Testosterone Replacement Therapy Sex Therapy with a certified and experienced Sex Therapist

Patients will undergo a comprehensive initial assessment (MSP covered) with a doctor’s referral.

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Trillium West Shore Village (Opening Spring 2019) 250-478-7527; 333 Wale Rd.; liveatwestshorevillage.com Capacity: 122 units Starting Price: call for rates Amenities/Services: In-suite laundry; two-burner cooktops; ample storage; library; tech room; fireside lounge, pub, movie theatre, café; salon; multi-purpose room; small pets considered Victorian at McKenzie, The 250-381-9496; 4000 Douglas Street; www.atriaretirement.ca Capacity: 117 units Starting Price: $2400 per month Amenities/Services: 3 chef-prepared meals/day; housekeeping; shuttle bus; all day cafe; life line; 24/7 on duty personnel; calendar of activities; exercise classes; games room; library; residents’ computer; pets welcome Wellesley of Victoria 250-383-9099; 1-844-603-4663; 2800 Blanshard St. www.retirementconcepts.com Capacity: (I) 141; (A) 24 Starting Price: call for rates Amenities/Services: salon; store; bistro; housekeeping; room for private functions; library; recreation; shopping shuttle; rooftop gardens; patio; theatre; AC; secure parking; pets w/ restrictions

WHITE ROCK Concord Retirement Residence 604-531-6198; 15869 Pacific Ave. www.concordretirementresidence.com Capacity: 43 units Starting Price: Cottages $1700; Main $2470 Amenities/Services: 3 home cooked meals; snacks; weekly housekeeping & laundry; 24hr emergency response; recreation; transportation; concierge service; pets allowed

RETIREMENT. LIVING!

Independent Living and Care Centre 604.514.1210 LANGLEY

All Aboard for Brighter Days Launch into the best days of your life with these tips on how to stay buoyant when the weather is dark and dreary.

STAY CONNECTED Engage in social

LIGHTEN UP Vitamin D from the

BRIA COMMUNITIES seniors’ living

activities and connect with others, this is the key to staying upbeat especially during the winter months.

sun can elevate your mood. Make a offers a brilliant solution to dreary point to open your curtains and soak days. Enjoy bright, spacious suites, up as much daylight as you can. delicious meals prepared fresh by our Red Seal chefs, and fun KEEP ACTIVE Take a daily walk, fitness activities. Best of all are the perhaps to a mall or a community friendships you’ll make while you centre with an indoor track. Join a dine together, dance to live music, senior-friendly fitness centre. and drive on delightful adventures in the Bria bus.

EAT WELL Sometimes comfort foods can slow you down; stick Brighten up your day; come for a to lean proteins, vegetables, and tour and we’ll treat you to lunch. complex carbohydrates like wholeVisit us online at BriaCommunities. wheat bread and brown rice. ca to book a tour at your choice of location today!

1.844.969.BRIA (2742)

Independent Living 604.510.5091 LANGLEY

Independent Living and Care Centre 604.943.5954 TSAWWASSEN

Independent Living 604.948.4477 TSAWWASSEN

BriaCommunities.ca

INSPIRED | FEBRUARY 2019

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BREAKING NEW GROUND

by SHERRY CONLY As demand for senior housing increases, the options are limitless with these new builds, from urban lower-income housing to oceanside, resort-style living.

MCKAY APARTMENTS – BURNABY Opened December 2018 Available for seniors 55 and up (50+ with a disability) this four-storey, 145-unit apartment is managed by the Fair Haven Homes Society and has been created with financial support from BC Housing. With a modern interior and contemporary design, these affordable senior residences are available in studio or one-bedroom formats, with 15 onebedroom wheelchair-accessible suites.

Fully appointed with convenient laundry on each floor, a full kitchen, parking and secure storage on the sub-basement level, the goal of McKay Apartments is to provide safe and community-oriented housing with 90 per cent of rents below the market rate.

Amenities include a courtyard, garden spaces with raised garden plots for tenants, and a wellness walkway and exercise equipment generously donated by the Rotary Club.

BERWICK QUALICUM BEACH Opening spring 2019 An arts and crafts designed residence meant to blend in with the surrounding area of cozy Qualicum Beach, this new care home by Island owned and operated Berwick Retirement Communities will offer independent and assisted living in the heart of downtown.

“We make sure that the building really fits in with its surroundings, so this one has a very English manor feel to it to match the town,” says Director of Sales and Marketing, Lena Foran.

Similar to other Berwick properties in terms of amenities, Berwick QB will feature a theatre, fitness room, dining room, coffee house/bistro, and a games area, as well as a private dining room for residents and their family and friends to use. A rooftop lounge will be a great gathering space while providing a lovely view of the town and waterfront, and residents will be within walking distance of all amenities, shops and restaurants.

“Most of our communities really vary in terms of dietary preferences and hobbies, so we design our programs based largely on resident feedback,” says Foran.

“We try to take a collective group’s desire and cater to 22 20

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that,” she adds. Pets are allowed, and suites range from studio to two bedrooms.

Berwick Qualicum Beach

VIVIAN APARTMENTS – VANCOUVER Opening summer 2019 The same concept as McKay Apartments, and a similar contemporary design with fully appointed suites, Vivian Apartments is another innovative project by Fair Haven Homes Society. A four-story building with 139 units consisting of studio and one-bedroom suites and including six wheelchair-accessible units, this community is being designed with recommendations from the City of Vancouver’s Urban Design Panel to incorporate the building into the thriving Killarney neighbourhood.

There will be a courtyard for outdoor activities and gardens, a large multi-purpose room and many common areas meant to help foster community and social activities. The subbasement level includes parking for vehicles, bike storage, and storage for tenant belongings.

OCEANA PARC – WHITE ROCK Opening July 2019 A 23-floor resort-style community meant to encourage a comfortable, independent and active lifestyle, PARC’s newest independent living residence will feature some of the best amenities available. There will be many options for premium upgrades including, but not limited to, air conditioning, walkin soaker tubs, fireplace and a choice of colour scheme.

The generously sized suites are designed with a modern west coast feel and range from studio to three-bedrooms plus den with the option of a raised ceiling and include in-suite

laundry, wall-mounted TV, walk-in shower, and the choice of a kitchenette or full kitchen.

“We’re aiming to meet everyone’s style preferences and needs by providing many options and customizations,” says GM Shelley Grenier.

With a focus on health and recreation, there will be two storeys packed with activities and opportunities for fitness, including multi-purpose rooms and lounges, large fitness centre with daily instruction, putting green, a greenhouse, plus a partially covered infinity walking loop to allow residents to exercise outdoors in all weather conditions.

PARC is also focused on flexibility, which is why they offer a select meal plan in addition to the traditional set meal plan, which allows residents to choose when and where they’d like to have their meals, depending on where their day leads them.

“Our philosophy is around health and wellness, and a proactive rather than reactive approach to health,” says Grenier. A registered nurse will be on site to provide tips and advice for healthy living and self-care, and there is an option for residents to obtain outside health support.

Casual dining at PARC Oceana. (artist’s rendering)

AMICA – WHITE ROCK Opening summer/fall 2019 Amica’s new residence at the site of Abbey Lane Health Centre will feature a full continuum of care, as well as direct access to BC’s largest medical clinic. With independent, assisted living and memory care suites available, Amica aims for all residents to age in place. On the memory care side, the studio suites include dens, providing additional living and entertaining space.

With easy access to shopping, services, entertainment, outdoor activities and cultural events, residents will remain a part of the White Rock community they know and love.

“This community has a mix of a high-end hotel, but also that feel of a place where locals would go and feel comfortable,” says GM Kelvin Monteiro.

Amica places emphasis on recreation, with a fitness centre, 40 ft saltwater pool, and four rooftop terraces with stunning panoramic ocean and mountain views. A hobby kitchen will be available to allow residents to host private family dinners, or to attend monthly cooking demos of favourite dishes.

“We try to do things that are unique and simplistic, so all residents can participate, regardless of age, cognition or overall health. One of my favourite examples is cooking Thanksgiving dinner. Residents can go into the hobby kitchen, cook up a storm, and staff will clean it up afterwards,” says Monteiro.

Meals are also available whenever the mood strikes, from 7 am to 7 pm. “You don’t have to change your routine to fit our schedule, we will change our schedule to fit your routine, so if you want to have your eggs benny at 11 am, you can have your eggs benny at 11 am,” says Monteiro.

THE SUMMIT AT QUADRA VILLAGE – VICTORIA Opening late 2019 Replacing Mt. Tolmie Hospital and Oak Bay Lodge, The Summit at Quadra Village will be a four-story assisted living care residence with an emphasis on dementia care. Developed by the Capital Region Hospital District, it will be the first facility in the province with an on-site hemodialysis clinic and is being designed to integrate seamlessly with the surrounding Quadra/Hillside neighbourhood.

The entire building has been designed in multiple levels, called “houses,” and centres around a courtyard as a point of reference for residents, as well as the backdrop to the entire lobby and town square, and there will be several outdoor spaces for the residents as well as extensive space available to the larger community.

“We’re working with the Quadra/Hillside Community Association to put a community garden in one of the outdoor spaces. Things like this not only provide useful amenities for the neighbouring community, but a focus for residents as well,” says Project Manager David Wilkinson.

Residents moving into the Summit will have private rooms as well as access to a host of amenities including a physio gym, bistro and hair salon. Other amenities include a day program with day trips and therapeutic work, and a half-kilometre-long walking path circumnavigating the entire property for families to take their loved ones for a walk.

“Every attempt is made to make this feel more like a Scandinavian country hotel. It has a simplicity to it like an apartment or a house, and a private space rather than a facility,” says Wilkinson. |

The Summit at Quadra Village (artist’s rendering) INSPIRED | FEBRUARY 2019

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Westshore Village, Trillium Communities (artist’s rending).

DARLING, YOU GOT TO LET ME KNOW

by JOHN KELLY It’s like playing the stock market – hang on, hang in, have spent your entire adult life in? Maybe the transition for patience… jump! Knowing when to leave your home to a teenager from home to school away from home is a similar downsize or to move to a retirement or assisted-living shift. But at least they’ve got Friday’s kegger and a trip home environment is a delicate balancing act – one that involves at Thanksgiving to lessen the blow. Still, good will come from good timing, honest assessments and some exquisite luck. the change. Why such resistance?

Some get the timing just right and reap the rewards on “I feel that many seniors see a stigma around retirement both sides of the move. For too living,” says Denise Tidman, Exmany, the bubble bursts, the ecutive Director at Norgarden/The bottom falls out, and they are Peninsula in Sidney. “They rememleft scrambling and wishing ber places that their own parents or they’d made the move sooner. family members had gone to and If one can make a transithose memories were not good ones. tion to a new living environGenerally, people are so surprised at ment while everything else in how beautiful the communities are their life remains relatively and what amazing services they have unchanged, the outcomes are to offer.”

–Denise Tidman, Executive Director, generally positive.

This ain’t your grandmother’s Norgarden/The Peninsula in Sidney “Staying at home is a wonnursing home. derful gift if it’s safe and some“Often, the move is motivated by thing that families are able to their children or a concerned relative afford,” says Lesley Sikorski, Director of Marketing & and that can create counter will, one more thing that they feel Community Relations at Trillium Communities in Victoria. they are losing control over or are being told to do,” says Tid“But one of the discussions I have with families who find man. “In all my years in the business, I can count on one hand themselves faced with the predicament – do we keep mom the number of people that have moved in and said, ‘no, this is home a bit longer, or should we move her now while she’s not for me.’ Most are bemoaning the fact that they didn’t do it still healthy – is that if the loved one/parent is able to make many years before, so they could enjoy it for a longer period. I the move when they still have some of their independence, encourage people to just be curious.” whether that be their mobility, their cognition or transitionLike in college. ing from the familiarity of their own home, we see them “I always tell people to start doing their due diligence far settle into their new environment a lot faster.” before they think they will need to,” adds Tidman. “It puts Change is good, but seldom easy. What bigger change them in the driver’s seat and allows them ample time to exthan, as a senior, packing up and leaving a home you may plore and educate themselves.”

“Generally, people are so surprised at how beautiful the communities are and what amazing services they have to offer.”

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The difficulty comes perhaps with the inability to embrace the move. Afterall, notwithstanding the fact that this is one of many changes a person sees in their life, it does come in the relative twilight and, for many, can be a reminder of what comes after twilight.

Sikorski is adamant, “We need to be able to set our seniors up for success, and I believe that being proactive about transitioning them before a crisis happens is a very important step when considering the next move for your Connect Hearing, with hearing researcher Professor Pichora-Fuller and her team are Professor Kathy Pichora-Fuller at the trying to find out how people learn to live loved one.”

University of Toronto, seeks participants who with hearing loss and how new solutions Once, we were all 10 feet tall and are over 50 years of age and have never worn could help these people take action sooner bulletproof. With a little aging comes hearing aids for a hearing study investigating and live life more fully. wisdom, and most seniors will concede factors that can influence better hearing. All It is estimated that 46% of people aged participants will have a hearing test provided they have shrunk a little and don’t take 45 to 87 have some degree of hearing loss1, at no charge and if appropriate, the clinician a bullet like they used to. The honest but most do not seek treatment right away. may discuss hearing rehabilitation options In fact, the average person with hearing discussion that we need to have with including hearing aids. Qualifying participants loss will wait ten years before seeking help2. ourselves and with loved ones needn’t may also receive a demo of the latest hearing This is because at the beginning stages of technology. The data collected from this study be as difficult as we might imagine. And hearing loss people often find they can “get will be used to further our understanding of if we wait too long, the talk may come by” without help, however as the problem hearing loss and improve life-changing hearing worsens this becomes increasingly harder too late, making for stress and anxiety healthcare across Canada. to do. For some people this loss of clarity is that could have been avoided.

Why participate in the hearing study? only a problem at noisy restaurants or in the “With these types of situations, the Hearing problems typically result from car, but for others it makes listening a struggle individual is already having to cope damage to the ear and researchers have spent throughout the entire day. By studying decades trying to understand the biology people who have difficulty hearing in noise with new, unfamiliar surroundings like behind hearing loss. More importantly, or with television, we hope to identify key hospital and lack of consistency with researchers now realize the need to better factors impacting these difficulties and caregivers. They may be experiencing understand how hearing loss affects your further understand their influence on the severe pain and delirium. All these everyday life*. In this new hearing study, treatment process. factors can take a major toll on a senior If you are over 50 years of age and have never worn hearing aids, you can register to be a part of and push them further into decline. It this new hearing study† by calling: 1.888.242.4892 or visiting connecthearing.ca/hearing-study. then takes them much longer to settle into a brand-new care home, having to meet another set of new staff in another new environment,” says Sikorski. * Pichora-Fuller, M. K. (2016). How social psychological factors may modulate auditory and cognitive functioning during listening. Ear and Hearing, Should I stay, or should I go? We ask 37, 92S-100S. † Study participants must be over 50 years of age and have never worn hearing aids. No fees and no purchase necessary. Registered under the College of Speech and Hearing Health Professionals of BC. VAC, WCB accepted. 1. Cruickshanks, K. L., Wiley, T. L., Tweed, T. S., Klein, B. E. a version of this question all the time.

K., Klein, R, Mares-Perlman, J. A., & Nondahl, D. M. (1998). Prevalence of Hearing Loss in Older Adults in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin: The Epidemiology of Hearing Loss Study. Am. J. Epidemiol. 148 (9), 879-886. 2. National Institutes of Health. (2010).

I did after my third martini at lunch the other day. But when it comes to the difficult decision about leaving home to address present or future needs, the opCREATION DATE: 10/20/17 MODIFICATION DATE: August 17, 2018 2:54 PM OUTPUT DATE: 08/20/18 PROOF # 1 erative word needs to be, well… needs.

APPROVALS Prod Mgr.: CG DOCKET #: 111150561-23 CLIENT: CHCA DESCRIPTION: Hearing Study Ad - September Producer: “Yes, it will be challenging, at first, FILE NAME: 111150561-23_CHCA_Study_Ad_September_4.75 x 7.25_COL 2.indd Acct Exec.: CK for most,” says Sikorski. “But, if you Accounts: TRIM: 4.75” x 7.25” BLEED: 0" Art Director: -have done your due diligence and choCopywriter: IMAGE RES: 300 dpi Copywriter: -sen a home that you feel is the right fit Senior Copywriter: NOTES: Assoc. Creative Dir.: -for you or your loved one, then I believe Art Director: Software: InDesign C M Y K SPOT Creative Dir: -Version: of CC an incredible you have the possibility ACD/CD: #600 –in 1085 Homer Street, Vancouver BC, V6B 1J4 | p: 604 647 2727 | f: 604 647 6299 | www.cossette.com Operator: SK quality of life, which is the No. 1 goal PLEASE DOUBLE CHECK FOR ACCURACY. PLEASE NOTE: Colour lasers do not accurately represent the colours in the all of this.” finished product. This proof is strictly for layout purposes only.

If you go, yes, there may be trouble.

But if you stay too long, it may be double. |

University hearing study seeks participants.

INSPIRED | FEBRUARY 2019

AD #: 4.75 x

Pub: Inspired Insert:

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Tea in the garden at Bria Sunridge.

JUSTIFYING THE COST OF RETIREMENT HOUSING

by SHERRY CONLY Sticker shock is a significant deterrent for families searching for the next level in care for their loved one. Monthly fees for senior care range from around $1,400 to $6,000, according to the Government of BC, and this number varies widely depending on the type of community and level of care required. While initially daunting, with a bit of a research and light accounting, it becomes clear that this number is simply a grand total of what would be the new living expenses of a simpler, easier lifestyle – budget permitting.

Overnight, private health care costs, car insurance and maintenance costs, household bills, property taxes, strata fees and grocery costs can all be reduced or disappear entirely. For instance, if you’re looking into a senior’s residence that includes a complimentary shuttle or that has a great walk score, you could very well kiss your fuel, maintenance and insurance costs goodbye.

According to Jane Bryce, Marketing Manager at Bria Communities, an often-overlooked expense of remaining at home is renovations and upgrades to improve accessibility. If you or your loved one requires renovations to the home to make getting around more manageable, those 26 24

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costs can be prohibitive. And those changes are important to carefully consider, as they can affect the resale value of a home and appeal to all demographics, if or when you decide to sell. Stairlifts, specialty bathtubs, and lowered cupboards are just a few typical changes that can affect the home’s overall sale price.

Improved accessibility and onsite healthcare are two of the biggest benefits to transitioning to a senior’s residence and key reasons for making the move. Factoring in how much a private LifeLine service and home care costs per month, seniors and their families may find, depending on the level of care needed, the cost of living dips dramatically and those health care costs can be quickly absorbed by the benefit of around-the-clock staffing and onsite care. The cost for home health care support varies depending on income and eligibility, so there is no hard and fast number as to how much home care costs.

“When you factor in the different needs for each person, it becomes more affordable,” says Bryce. “You really do need to look at the whole picture, cost excluded, and consider how the benefits outweigh any potential cons.”

For residents who require complex and daily care, their

rental rates can certainly undercut the undoubtedly higher costs of using a home care or monthly LifeLine service.

Onsite care ensures that there is immediate medical response and daily assistance. Monthly costs are built into the rent, eliminating additional bills and scheduling, and the confusion they can often create for seniors and their caregivers.

The peace of mind that comes with in-house care is an immeasurable benefit to family members who typically arrange home care and assistance as a stop gap measure to keep their loved one looked after, whether they can’t be there or lack the capacity to provide medical care. At Oak Tree Manor, a Residential Care Facility in Nanaimo, there are no nurses or care aides on staff. Instead, Island Health provides onsite care aides who can assist residents as needed and staff members keep a watchful eye on residents in the close-knit community of 63 residents and eight staff members.

Another plus, according to Paul O’Neil, Manager of Oak Tree Manor, is that once a family member moves to a retirement home, the quality of the visits increase. Now, loved ones can visit

Relaxing at Bria Sunridge.

whenever they like without needing to bring the groceries or chauffeur to appointments, and the burden is lessened, freeing up more time and energy to just enjoy being together. At Oak Tree, close family members are provided with a key to access the suite, which helps them feel more welcome and like they are visiting a private residence, increasing comfort for everyone involved. At night, after staff go home, the residence is patrolled by a security outfit.

Bryce also reports that many seniors and their families experience an elevated peace of mind, knowing that they’re not going to be home alone at night and that staff members are available 24/7 and assistance is always offered.

A huge factor in good health is a healthy diet, and having meals provided daily is a large perk to switching from living in a private residence.

Both O’Neill and Bryce say that many seniors really enjoy no longer needing to budget, shop for, prep, and cook those three-square meals per day, or needing to spend time and energy with clean up.

Recognizing that many seniors would miss the ability to cook and host large family meals when they choose to, a growing number of residences are now offering a hobby/craft kitchen and oversized private and public dining rooms, to allow matriarchs and patriarchs to make a big holiday meal and enjoy it with their families and friends without having to worry about not having enough space, or having to take care of the dishes.

This growing trend reflects the diverse needs in today’s senior residences and is just one of many features included in newer establishments. Some also offer flexible meal plans that allow a resident to choose when and where they want to have their meal.

“Some seniors stop eating; they stop cooking meals for themselves and eating wholesome foods,” says O’Neil. “Paired with living in an apartment somewhere, they may not have any social interaction at all, and that combined with not eating properly, people get sick.”

Even basic meals on a set schedule can drastically improve the quality of life for seniors, who, when living alone,

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may lack the ability or desire to get groceries, cook and clean up.

This builds on to the benefits of living in a cohesive community. Whether small or large, regular and frequent socialization and the fostering of new relationships can eliminate the loneliness and boredom that tends to accompany aging in a private residence. As mobility gets to be more of a challenge, it’s tougher for seniors to get out and socialize, and a pattern can set in over time that can be difficult to break, until they are in a livelier setting surrounded by potential friends.

It’s often reported that when joining the community of a senior’s residence, there’s suddenly much more colour and activity in the days and nights, from the opportunity to join in at the gym, to the ability to hop on the bus and go for outings to local theatres and events, to simply enjoying an evening with friends playing cards or taking part in a workshop.

“The majority of people do want the social interaction.

Everyone is shy when they come in, but eventually someone will be grabbed into a crib game or something, and then they blossom,” says O’Neil.

Many of today’s residences are so diverse and offer many different indoor and outdoor activities suited to all lifestyles.

Workout facilities are a huge draw for many residents who can simply walk down the hall and begin a workout or enjoy an in-house fitness class in the common room, instead of spending valuable time and money driving across town and paying membership fees to a public gym.

Covered walking/fitness loops, saltwater pools and hobby buildings for various crafts are all becoming recreational staples, and gardening is a classic hobby that’s getting plenty of attention from developers of newer care homes as an important physical and mental activity. Emphasis is being placed on creating shared gardens within the surrounding community, on rooftop terraces, and within greenhouses on the properties. Everything from seeds to soil are typically available at a resident’s disposal to encourage this hobby. No longer do residents need to pay someone to come in and help, or toil over weeding or lawn mowing. Now, gardeners and maintenance workers will do all the hard work, and residents get to simply enjoy the fresh air and all the therapeutic benefits of growing fresh fruits and vegetables.

With an ever-growing array of amenities, options and extras, no two residences are exactly alike, and the key to transitioning to an affordable retirement lifestyle is find28 26

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Terrace view at Oak Tree Manor.

ing which one suits your various needs and wants, within a reasonable budget.

“There certainly are a lot of options out there for our seniors, which allows seniors to tour around and ultimately find the place that feels just like home to them,” says Bryce.

Some seniors prefer a quieter, smaller residence with the option to stroll through the neighbourhood on sunny days, while others prefer to live in a larger resort-style community with endless amenities and activities. It all comes down to personal preferences on location, amenities, lifestyle and, ultimately, affordability. |

When affordability is a real issue, residents eligible for publicly subsidized living pay a monthly fee of 70 per cent of their after-tax income for rent, hospitality services and personal assistance services, up to a maximum amount.

Visit gov.bc.ca for more information.

A rundown of costs generally included in a senior residence: •Heat •Electricity •Cable •Meals •Housekeeping •Security •24-hour emergency response •Transportation •Secure parking •Fitness and recreation •Health care

SPRING/SUMMER FASHION PREVIEW 2019

by CALLIE MARTIN When the cold grasp of winter begins to cease its grip as the floral scent of spring wafts through the air, fashion once more has switched up its styles for the upcoming seasons, bringing you three new trends to incorporate into your wardrobe this year.

Beige on Beige on Beige Though spring and summer are often popular for their uses of colour in clothing, 2019 has opted to add in some neutral options for those who prefer more classic looks.

Designers like Tom Ford, Burberry and Balmain have created all-beige ensembles for their runways, keeping the sandy colour on trend and street-ready this coming season.

Though some may shy away from “boring” beige, the trick to rocking a subdued look is in the accessories.

Burberry, for example, outlined their beige coat in golden rings, allowing for a change of texture and lighting in the piece. If you’d like to keep the look true to the runway (thus avoiding any accessories with bright colours), pair your beige look with golden jewellery to keep the palette cohesive. A simple necklace or pair of earrings can truly elevate the look and allow you to seamlessly blend in to any casual or formal function.

return in style. Designers like Alexander Wang, Missoni and Christian Dior have all leapt onboard the trend, supplying tastefully faded, acid-washed denim for those who want to be both comfortable and chic for the upcoming season.

This casual look can be incredibly simple to incorporate into your wardrobe, given denim’s unparalleled ability to blend into all seasons and pair with nearly all colours and other fabrics. Both jeans and jackets can be paired together or separately, with many or no accessories, as well as with sneakers or heels (depending on the desired look).

For those interested in rocking this trend, a pair of jeans is the easiest item to incorporate into your existing wardrobe and can be paired with a light or dark hued blouse or top. If a jacket is more your style, be careful not to accidentally pair your light denim jacket with a dark-wash denim pant (which can cause the look to appear disoriented). Look for intentional variations in texture, and pair your jacket with a cotton dress to keep you light and breezy on a warmer day.

From beige to bright, pick your hue to stand out this year – at the beach or in the park. |

Suit It Up For those who prefer a little more colour in their lives, however, the runways of Emporio Armani, Gucci and Boss offered a different, more vibrant vision: bright colour, in the form of suits. Suits for women have become increasingly popular in recent years, with many choosing to forgo their dresses for the often easier-to-wear (and move in) suit. For 2019, however, these suits show up with both the blazer and pant in the same bright, solid colour, for those who want to look both professional and bold, at the same time.

If wearing a vibrant, one-colour suit, keep in mind that your shoes are of the upmost importance, in which there are two schools of thought: “power clashing” or “keep it simple.” If you’d like to join the “power clashing” club, pick a shoe that is just as strong in hue as your suit, but in the deliberately “wrong” colour (i.e. red and orange, purple and yellow, etc.), to illustrate how confident you are in your look. For those who prefer to “keep it simple,” opt for a neutral flat or heel in order to keep the “brightness” of your look intact, while not causing a distraction with your footwear.

Acid-Wash for Everyone Denim has always remained a year-round favourite, but 2019 is doing away with the dark and allowing the ’80s to INSPIRED | FEBRUARY 2019

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THE AGELESS BEAUTY OF WOMEN

by KATE ROBERTSON Societal standards for what makes a woman beautiful constantly shift: heavy black eyeliner in Ancient Egypt; white powdered faces in the 18th century; or a curvy feminine shape in the 1950s.

Over the last couple of decades, fashion media, which predominately promoted thin, young models (a look made popular by Twiggy in the 1960s), has tried to include some plus-sized models and women over 50 (although generally thin with nice teeth, like Helen Mirren). Despite this move towards greater diversity in the media, many women over 50 feel invisible and unattractive.

Victoria portrait photographer, Regina Akhankina, is working hard to change that mind-set by inviting women over 50 to be part of the 50 Over 50 Project, a photo shoot complete with hair and make-up session. With this venture, Regina wants to celebrate the essence and wisdom of women in their 50s, 60s, 70s and beyond to prove that beauty does not diminish with age. Launched in the spring of 2018, the project will wrap up when 50 women have had photo shoots, culminating with an exhibition, where all participants will meet each other to celebrate.

When INSPIRED Magazine’s publisher, Barbara Risto, was approached about the 50 Over 50 Project, she wholeheartedly endorsed it (and yes, Barbara will be a participant).

“Since starting the magazine in 2004, I’ve wanted to offer a different perspective,” says Barbara, “that age is something to celebrate and honour as a rite of passage. This project was one I felt I needed to support.”

The idea for the 50 Over 50 Project was hatched when Regina realized her 59-year-old mother hadn’t had a portrait done for over 10 years.

“My mom is a beautiful woman, but it breaks my heart that she can’t see that,” says Regina. “She considered herself old when she was in her late 30s. So, when I was in Russia, recently, we did some portraits together. To my surprise, she liked herself in these images.”

Regina has also struggled with her body image over the years and believes we should talk more openly about the issue. For her, the turning point was walking into a Pilates class when she first moved to Canada.

“That’s where I learned about absolute acceptance of my body, and that’s what I wanted for my studio – no judgment. I don’t care about your age or weight or if you prefer jeans over designer dresses. It’s our job to make you feel beautiful and have fun.”

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So far, Regina’s objective seems to be working. Jeanne Millis, one of the 50 Over 50 participants, learned about the project on Facebook.

“The title intrigued me, so I clicked on the website and was impressed with Regina’s work,” says Jeanne. “I decided to apply.

Had the post merely been advertising photography, I likely would not have pursued it. The project was the hook.”

Although Jeanne had had professional portraits done throughout the years, generally for work, her most recent was a family portrait when her only daughter graduated high school.

ABOVE AND TOC PAGE | 50 Over 50 Project model Jeanne Millis.

RIGHT PAGE | 50 Over 50 Project model Willy McCrea. Photos: Regina Akhankina

“I am glad we had these family portraits taken, but I would not say I loved them,” she confides. “I am very uncomfortable having my picture taken – and am satisfied if it isn’t ‘horrible.’”

But Jeanne’s experience with Regina was different. “Initially, I was slightly nervous the make-up and hair would be overdone; I usually wear minimal make-up. However, as soon as we started, I felt at ease and frankly, just started having fun.”

Another participant, Willy McCrea, learned about the project in her fitness class. “I thought it would be fun to celebrate women over 50 – with me being over 60 and feeling good,” says Willy. “I was totally excited, but I was also nervous. I have never felt photogenic in any way, so this was breaking out of my comfort zone.”

“The day of the shoot, I gathered my favourite items of clothing and jewellery and arrived at the studio,” Willy continues. “The make-up and hair artist made me feel glamourous, and Regina, with her brilliant photography using natural light to capture the look and her guidance to create the best pose for the shot, put me at ease. The hardest part was learning to relax and to trust her implicitly as to how I should stand, tilt my head, and so on, which turned out to not be so hard after all. Regina really created a platform to make me feel glamourous and to see myself from another perspective – we are all beautiful in our own way, no matter what our age or ethnicity.”

Because Jeanne was so unsure about the portrait process, she didn’t tell anyone about it until it was over.

“My women friends were curious about the process,” she says. “When I showed them my photos, they felt as if I was sharing something very intimate (many have now scheduled their own photo shoots with Regina). My family became quite emotional when they saw my pictures – my daughter got tears in her eyes. They were very moved, as I was. I love my photos, they make me feel good about myself, my age and how I look. I can’t remember when I could last make that statement.”

Willy had only told her husband about the project. He was so proud and supportive of her participation that he joined her at the end of the shoot and they had photos taken together as an anniversary gift to each other.

Even though Jeanne lives on Vancouver Island, a place that she believes to be more progressive with respect to aging women than some other parts of the world, she says there’s still a long way to go.

“I would like the views of aging men and women to be more in line – that with age comes wisdom and that beauty occurs at any age. I’d also like to see less of women trying to be beautiful by erasing their age – like obvious hair colours and cosmetic surgery.”

Like Jeanne, Willy thinks the view of women’s aging in society is slowly improving. And she agrees that women’s aging is viewed differently than men’s.

“Silly, isn’t it? Women are gorgeous at any age,” she says.

“I have been teaching fitness for 32 years. The fitness industry has certainly been one of the key factors in women feeling stronger, mentally and physically, and taking charge of their health. I have slowly seen women start to accept and become

proud in how they look and embrace their age. I hope this trend continues – finding women that other women can relate to, who can inspire and encourage other women to be the best they can be – like Regina is doing with this project – that’s my wish.” | For more information, visit: https://couture.photography/50over-50/ INSPIRED | FEBRUARY 2019

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MY BIG FAT GREEK TINY HOME

by J. KATHLEEN THOMPSON

TOP TO BOTTOM | The author’s tiny home in Greece. The cosy, private terrace.

Pathway to the sea. Photos: J. Kathleen Thompson 32 30

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Little did I know that a sideways glance at a small traditional house on a Greek island would lead headlong, at the age of 60, into the ownership of what many might call “a tiny home.”

It had plenty of features that were undeniably vintage Greek: the spacious stone terrace, the outside-accessed bathroom, the obligatory whitewashed walls and wooden shutters, the uncomplicated kitchen (a fireplace and good-for-guttingfish sink), and its enjambment in the warp and weft of a tightly knit village. Its bones, however – small, strong and simple – made it a poster child for that trend in housing this side of the pond known as the tiny house movement.

The notion of downsizing our homes, and lifestyles to fit them, appeared on our radars about 20 years ago. With “The Not So Big House” (1997), American architect Sarah Susanka’s treatise on the “build better, not bigger” concept in residential architecture, homeowners began to seek ways to live more simply and sustainably.

A subsequent memoir by one of the founders of the Small House Society entitled Put Your Life on a Diet (Johnson, 2008), added a graphic punch to the movement, and the urgency of eschewing runaway consumption and wastefulness.

With the size of an average home in North America rising from 1,780 sq feet to 2,662 sq feet between 1973 to 2013, and consumer debt in Canada reaching two trillion by 2016, reducing the size of one’s home demanded a serious rethink about our domestic needs.

Initially, the “rules” of this tiny-home-inspired diet were stringent. Building codes set the maximum size for a tiny home at 400 sq ft or less (another 50 sq ft would vault it into the “small house” category).

Economic use of space – utilizing furniture and fixtures that could double as storage spaces and optimizing the house’s vertical space (like installing a mezzanine floor to house a sleeping loft) – became essential to the design of a breathable micro-house.

Maximizing energy efficiency and using space-saving equipment and appliances ensured that the tiny home met the desired environmental goals. Optionally outfitting the tiny home with wheels, enabling the owner to roost where conditions were most favourable (often within a community of other tiny-home dwellers), reduced the home’s footprint even more.

Convincing in its philosophical form, the reality of living in

a tiny home has met with varying degrees of success.

The savings, the prudent use of space and materials, and the keen sense of familial togetherness that micro-housing engenders are all outcomes that invariably delight owners. And just as often become the project’s Achilles’ heel.

In “Teeny Homes, Big Lies” (Globe & Mail, January 6, 2016), writer Erin Anderssen reports that, after 10 weeks in their summer cottage the size of a birdhouse, her family looks forward to real rooms and private spaces.

“It’s good we’re leaving while we still like each other,” observes one of her sons, and she concludes “it is the ocean that brings us back each year.”

There are others whose ardour for tiny living wanes over time. A couple in Arkansas despair “How can you grow a human in that space?” after trying to live in each other’s pocket for 18 months.

A retired couple find their tiny home perfect as a second home when the sun is shining, and their living space is doubled by their patio, but are only too happy to up-size to their rancher when the weather confines them to one room and a rainsoaked view. The consensus is clear: tiny homes are best appreciated from outside.

Luckily, I had intuited the importance of sun and sea before embarking on the “Mediterranean diet” necessary to slim down our lives enough to wriggle into 400-square feet of stone, and wander on a Greek island.

While the house’s two rooms are a snug fit, life enlarges the moment you step outside. We look down onto a bay as wide as a smile bordered by a harmonious gaggle of harbourside buildings and a rank of beach umbrellas between shore and tamarisk trees. On the horizon hover the mountains of Turkey.

At night, when the lights of the town emerge, the scene changes to a luminescent canvas of lights that sweep from harbour to sky.

A quick scamper down the steps from our terrace, through a zigzag of lanes and stairways, brings us to the village square.

Here, the kafeneios and tavernas invite you to linger a while with your cuppa and conversation under the flowering fig trees. You can’t help noticing that, like

your Lilliputian home, the scale of the square, the shops and restaurants clotted around it, and the three-wheeled trucks and miniature island bus that rattle by, are equally bijoux in size. No strangers, the Greeks, to “living with less.”

Terrace, village square, footpaths by the sea. Beyond the village, “outside” expands to an island small enough to be explored on foot. Goat paths and kalderimia (ancient cobblestoned trails) hug hillsides high above the Aegean and meander past a few toppled castles, a couple Byzantine monasteries, countless tiny white chapels hidden in groves of oleanders, and plenty of relics from bygone eras.

It is easy to give in to imaginings of life long ago and let the words of writer Patrick Leigh Fermor nudge you still further into the hills: “All of Greece is absorbing and rewarding. There is hardly a rock or stream without a battle or myth or a peasant anecdote or a superstition; and talk and incident, nearly all of it odd or memorable, thicken round the traveller’s path at every step.”

The rich flora and fauna on this island – fed by a network of underground springs – has reputedly drawn both gods and mortals to its shores. Telos, the son of the sun god Helios, came looking for herbs to heal his mother, and a poetess – Erinna – was inspired by its beauty A little piece of paradise Retirement in an idyllic setting 2,500 years ago.

Retirement Your home byResidence the sea!

On this spring day, I follow the Residence paths of gods and poets until one A little piece of paradise in an idyllic setting A little piece of paradise in an idyllic setting 43 independent garden or ocean begins to spiral down to the sea. Wiry view suites, 3 home cooked clumps of wild thyme and sage, chutes meals, weekly of loose shale, and scattered 43stones independent garden or ocean viewhousekeeping suites, 3 home & linen services, 24 hour garden or ocean view suites, 3 home of the old terrace walls demand that I43 independent cooked meals, weekly housekeeping & linen services, emergency response, recreation, cooked meals, weekly housekeeping & linen services, pay attention to my feet rather than the 24 hour emergency response, recreation, entertainment, entertainment, 24 hour emergency response, recreation, entertainment, transportation & concierge services.transportation Pet Friendly! turquoise shimmer of the water below. and concierge services.

A goat, startled by the cascading transportation & concierge services. Pet Friendly! rock and brightly coloured figure tumbling past it, skitters out of my way, and turns to eye my progress from a safe distance below.

I scramble down the hillside over the final terrace, and after releasing myself Pet Friendly Pet Friendly from the spikes of the gorse guarding 15869 Pacific Ave, White Rock 15869 Pacific Avenue, White Rock 604-531-6198 the shore, I step onto the beach.

15869 Pacific Avenue, White Rock 604-531-6198 604-531-6198 Throwing off my clothes, I teeter concordretirementresidence@shaw.ca concordretirementresidence@shaw.ca drunkenly across the pebbles, and plunge into the purifying waters of The Great Sea. Tiny home. Big fat world. |

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INSPIRED | FEBRUARY 2019

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SALUTE TO THE SOCKEYE KEEPERS

by JOAN BOXALL This fish story is a whopper. It begins with an egg, an eye, an alevin, a fry, a smolt, a silvery juvenile, a mature adult and a red-spawner journey back to a fresh-water home.

Pivotal are a school of people intent on ensuring safe spawning grounds.

Our three-and-a-half-hour drive from Vancouver brings us to shelter at Kamloops’s Fairfield Inn. We’ve migrated to where the north and south fork of the Thompson River meet near Thompson Rivers University (TRU).

The Fairfield is set back from the highway and perfectly situated for a further 45-minute drive along the salmon route, past Little Shuswap Lake to the Adams River, one of the largest Sockeye Salmon returns in North America.

Our incredible fish tale begins and ends along a 12-kilometre stretch of river between Adams Lake and Shuswap Lake. The park is Tsútswecw Provincial Park (pronounced choo-chwek), meaning many tributaries – formerly known as Roderick Haig-Brown Park. That’s where we’re headed… to meet the sockeye keepers.

President of the Adams River Salmon Society, Don Patterson says, “We promote education and outreach. The premise is everybody is in; nobody is out… to get both (activists and fisheries people) at the same table to get from policy to practice.”

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Don, 78, was raised in Montreal, studied medicine in Winnipeg, and headed west 40 years ago to begin a practice and a family.

“We became totally involved in wildlife. Our home was in the wilderness, our kids were raised with every imaginable kind of animal… a natural lead into something like this.”

By this, he means a society of 200 volunteers, of which 40 red jackets work steadfastly at the Salute to the Sockeye October-fest. This year’s dominant theme is Call the Salmon Home.

ABOVE | The Adams River Salmon Society President, Don Paterson (left) and Vice President, Dave Smith, on site at the ‘Salute to the Sockeye’ event.

PAGE 34 | (Top) The male sockeye with his distinctive humped back and canine jaw readies to deposit milt on his mate’s egg deposit. (Bottom) The author and her husband, Ken, on the banks of the lower Adams River.

Photos: Joan Boxall

This is the Cridge Village, this is Home. �������������������������������������� One of the red jackets, Blair Acton, is Adams River Salmon Society Board Director. She’s directing traffic alongside an educational zone, stage, souvenir and artisan tent and food trucks: a kilometre’s walk from the river.

“When I got involved with the salmon society, they didn’t have any younger people,” says Blair. “As people came and went, I became keeper of the knowledge. We have interpretive tours; we plant trees in the riparian zone (along the banks of rivers and streams); this event basically funds us for three years to do other projects.”

Blair goes on to say, “I have an International Youth Hostel… 25 years ago I started it up and was the first business in the interior (of BC) to put in U/V sterilization. I didn’t want chlorination to go into the system because of my concern for the salmon (who go right past my house). As I got more concerned, I got more involved.”

Rob Mathew, Principal of the Chief Atahm Immersion School says the school is based on five First-Nation principles of which the first is foremost.

“We are all related (principle No. 1) – plants, insects, people – and if we’re all related, we’re supposed to look after our relatives. Bringing the salmon home should mean they have a clean home (not polluted with industry). In the three years they are away, we keep their home safe for their return,” says Rob. “We share the fish and share the well-being of the fish; that’s what we teach in the school. What sets people apart is their language and their land,” adds Rob. Dr. Kathryn Michel, along with a half-dozen women from the Adams Lake Indian Band, leads a language lesson. We twist our tongues around the word for sockeye, sqleltenuw?i.

“Most important is the connection to the land and our history,” she says of the Secwepemc language. Kathryn spearheaded a language nest initiative (babies-to-grade-four immersion) back in 1987.

“Some linguists say that the oldest form of the (Salish) language may be

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from this area,” she says. “Language embodies a lot of information about the land.”

That land’s history swirls around salmon, whose eyes develop first inside the egg (4,000 eggs per female); who school as smolts in Shuswap Lake for a year; who travel downstream over 400 kilometres into the Salish Sea; who grow from juvenile to adult to swim into the North Pacific; and who circle back to struggle upstream – a 4,500-kilometre round trip.

Two remarkable fish out of all of these will reach adult spawner status to return to the river where the cycle began.

Despite many obstacles (predators, pollution, habitat loss, overfishing and global warming), it is a celebration that brings people from all over the world to witness.

Rick, one of three Adams River Salmon Society interpretive guides, tells us of a visitor sitting along the river bank,

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staring at the red salmon. “It’s like staring at flames in a campfire,” she answered when asked how she was doing. “So soothing; I could sit here all day.”

Jim Cooperman, 72, is president of the Shuswap Environmental Action Society (SEAS). His book, Everything Shuswap, is a first volume that covers the watershed, geology, ecology, Secwepemc People and early settlement of the area.

“My role as an environmentalist is raising awareness of the issues and working to convince government, where possible, to change what they’re doing… improve management, protect species… writing and communicating, and writing a book, carrying on the work of being a spokesperson for conservation.”

Oliver Arnouse, Chief of the Little Shuswap Lake Indian Band since 2014, tells us how the band have their own fisheries crew “who do a really good job of looking after the area up here. We do keep records and work with Fisheries and Oceans Canada and other bands in the area to maintain the return of the sockeye.”

Of the Salute to the Sockeye event, Chief Arnouse says that the First Nations People celebrate the new park name, and “last year, we were the first First Nation to have our flag fly in a provincial park. What can we do to play our part in the survival of the sockeye? We’ll continue to make the public aware of what’s going on by bringing people in.”

We met a diverse group at Tsútswecw Provincial Park: all swimming in sync. | For IF YOU GO information, visit www.seniorlivingmag.com/ adams-river-sockeye-keepers

THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF TEA Regular tea drinkers may be getting more in their cup than they realize. Tea contains a family of naturally occurring chemicals – polyphenols – that researchers suspect may prevent disorders such as heart disease and cancer.

Tea leaves are processed differently to produce green, black and oolong teas. These are the basic teas, but there are about 3,000 variations in the tea plant family of Camellia sinensis (like Darjeeling or Orange Pekoe).

All three basic teas are dried and then crushed. However, green tea is not fermented but briefly steamed, rolled then crushed and quickly packaged. Black tea leaves are fermented; the leaves are warmed for a few hours, and then heated at higher temperatures to complete the drying stage. Oolong tea goes through less of a fermentation process than black tea.

Since it’s the least processed, green tea retains more of its polyphenol content – likely promising the most health benefits. Black and oolong teas also have polyphenols, although not as much as green tea. But black tea is rich in many other compounds with health-boosting abilities, such as flavonoids.

Research shows polyphenols, flavonoids and other chemicals act like antioxidants. Antioxidants fight against unstable molecules in the body called free radicals, which can damage the normal structure of cells and lead to diseases like cancer. Studies found green tea prevented tumour formation in rats and lowered blood cholesterol in rats and hamsters.

The few studies so far on humans look very promising in preventing many diseases and disorders, but they have conflicting results. Therefore, there’s no hard evidence yet on how well tea can protect our health nor how much is needed.

Herbal teas are not really considered “tea” because they come from other plants, not Camellia sinensis. However, herbal teas are used as effective natural remedies for many health issues.

Herbal teas also have no caffeine. Green tea and black teas offer up to 40 mg of caffeine – far less than the 100 to 200 mg in a cup of coffee – making tea less likely to give you the jitters. Tea is a good choice (as well as decaffeinated coffee) to wean yourself off coffee. It’s not advised

by EVE LEES

FOREVER FIT to quit caffeine cold turkey – the withdrawal symptoms for even moderate coffee drinkers can be severe. Switching to tea, however, allows a more gradual withdrawal.

In any case, drinking tea isn’t the only way to ensure good health: It can’t replace the full health benefits of a sensible diet.

Researchers are continually discovering all kinds of healthprotecting properties in many foods. The best guarantee you are getting all of them is to choose from lots of healthful foods and beverages – including tea. |

Eve Lees has been active in the health & fitness industry since 1979. Currently, she is a Freelance Health Writer for several publications and speaks to business and private groups on various health topics. www.artnews-healthnews.com INSPIRED | FEBRUARY 2019

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BUGS AND BOWELS: A HEALTHY GUT

by NANCY J. SCHAAF, RN, BSN, MEd As we add years to our lives, we cannot eat as we used to.

We do not tolerate fried foods and large meals as we once did. The digestive tract, although a very resilient system, changes as we age causing some distress. Both a gradual slowing of the system and a decrease in the secretion of saliva and enzymes necessary for digestion occur. As a result, problems with indigestion, elimination and absorption of nutrients can happen. Seniors often experience constipation, heartburn, gas, bloating and cramps.

The human digestive tract contains trillions of bacteria that are key to a healthy system. A study conducted at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel and the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto proved that the number of bacteria in the human body is about 39 trillion. Scientific research shows that these bacteria influence the body’s health. Usually the gut bacteria benefit digestion and nutrient absorption, contribute to the immune system function, and keep harmful pathogens from overgrowing.

Because the effects of aging on the digestive system can greatly affect one’s life, eating well can diminish and prevent many of the negative health issues from occurring. Maintaining a healthy digestive system requires some changes in the diet. Medical experts suggest eating foods 38 36

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containing fibre, probiotics (live bacteria naturally created by the fermentation process) and prebiotics (non-digestible carbohydrates that feed beneficial bacteria, including probiotics) to maintain good gut health.

Fibre regulates the rate at which food moves through the intestines, so it is essential for alleviating constipation. Probiotics found in fermented foods are beneficial microorganisms and need prebiotics to thrive. Probiotics play a very important role in regulating proper intestinal function and digestion by balancing intestinal microflora. These good bacteria are “live microorganisms, which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host,” according to the World Health Organization.

Apparently, the adage that “you are what you eat” is true as food plays a major role in the bacteria type inhabiting your gut. Eating the correct foods as opposed to taking a supplement is best. Gerard E. Mullin MD, a gastroenterologist and professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore says, “Depending on what you eat – and what you don’t – you can proactively lower your risk for disease and maximize your chance for a long, healthy life.”

Your body requires a certain number of bacteria to function properly. Probiotics, the “good” bacteria, aid in the digestion

of complex carbs, support your liver functions by eliminating toxins, and help care for your immune system. Probiotics guard against infectious bacteria that cause food poisoning and stomach viruses.

The diet we feed our gut bugs determines how we feel physically and emotionally. Adding whole foods such as fruits and veggies, grains and non-dairy fermented products to our diet makes a real difference and is simple to do. Probiotics found in fermented foods such as pickles and sauerkraut are excellent sources of essential nutrients especially vitamin K2, which is important to prevent arterial plaque buildup and heart disease. The beneficial bacteria in fermented foods contain powerful detoxifiers.

Adding prebiotic rich foods such as artichokes, asparagus, bananas, garlic, onions, lentils, chickpeas, brown rice, oats and popcorn is another step to increase the good gut flora.

According to a study published in the Journal of Food Science and Technology, some health risks are associated with milk-based probiotic foods. These include lactose intolerance, allergy to milk proteins, high fat and high cholesterol content.

To alleviate the disadvantages of dairy-based fermented foods, several non-dairy-based fermented foods have been developed. Fruit and vegetable-based drinks using beets, bananas, tomatoes and coconuts are good choices. Fermented cranberry, pineapple and orange juices provide probiotics

and necessary vitamins. Kombucha, a fermented sweet tea, has been around for over 2,000 years and is packed with vitamin B, antioxidants and probiotics (be warned, it’s an acquired taste). Non-fermented soy and cereal-based products including oat and rice are suitable selections. Probiotic-fortified products are also available, such as chocolates and flour.

Dietary changes such as adding probiotics and eating wellbalanced meals that include fibre prove beneficial. Remember that fibre works with fluids, so an adequate fluid intake is vital. Women need 25 grams of fibre per day and men need 38 grams of fibre per day according to Health Canada. Most Canadians are only getting about half that much. Legumes such as chickpeas, lentils, navy beans and white beans provide almost half of the required fibre intake in just one cup. All whole grains like bran, barley and bulger are generally good sources of fibre as are fruits like raspberries and blackberries.

Nuts and seeds provide fibre and are great snacks or can be added to salads.

You are what you eat, so eat healthy and enjoy not only a rich quality of life but a longer one too. Aging can be enjoyed if you are aware of possible future health issues and understand ways to prevent them. Your healthy gut bugs depend upon you! | Note: This article is informational only. If you have concerns about your health, visit your healthcare provider.

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CZECH REPUBLIC: THE RELATIVITY OF TIME

by KATE ROBERTSON As a fourth generation Canadian, when it comes to history, I tend to use Canada’s European settlement as my reference point for “old.” Like 1534, when Jacques Cartier sailed across the Atlantic into the Gulf of St. Lawrence and planted his cross at Gaspé to stake claim to the new territory. Or 1608, when Quebec City’s fortressed old town was founded.

To think of history so long ago never fails to thrill me.

You can imagine, then, how an old European country like Czech Republic would excite me. Over its 1,000 years or so of recorded history, Czech has revolved through dynasties, culminating with the powerful Austro-Hungary Empire that collapsed after World War I, when Czech finally gained its independence. Said independence was short-lived, however, when along came the German occupation during World War II, and the subsequent communist coup d’état in 1948. Eventually, with the non-violent resistance of the Velvet Revolution in 1989, Czechoslovakia freed itself and, in 1993, peacefully split into Czech and Slovakia.

In 2018, this “new” country celebrated 100 years since its independence – a fitting time for me to visit and get my history fix.

The Handsomest City in Europe My exploration starts in Prague, Czech’s vibrant capital, deservedly called “the handsomest city in Europe.” A jaw40 38

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dropping 866 hectares of the city is UNESCO protected for its gothic, renaissance and baroque mix of architectural wonders.

Compared to other major European cities, Prague’s structures remained relatively unscathed during wars, because it lacked industries to be bombed. For me, architecture makes history more definite.

I start with a visit to the Prague Castle complex, where I follow the knowledgeable guide past horse stables and sweeping cathedrals, through stunning gardens and too many rooms and courtyards to count. As she shares information of the castle’s renditions from monasteries and convents, to nobility and the seat of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV, to current office of the President of Czech, there’s so much history, it’s hard to focus.

ABOVE | Old Town Square, Prague.

RIGHT PAGE | Old-world charm at Café Louvre.

PAGE 40 | (Top) A display car at Skoda Museum. (Bottom) Ajeto Glassworks.

TOC PAGE | Cathedral at Prague Castle. Photos: Kate Robertson

In the courtyard in front of the Presidential Palace, the guide points to a window and explains that President Havel, the country’s leader after the Velvet Revolution, climbed through it onto the balcony followed by members of the Rolling Stones, to wave to the crowd in 1990. Nobody could find the key to the balcony door. New history, but this tidbit of casual behaviour that seems totally out of context in such royal surroundings, I will remember.

My wanders of the endless cobble-stoned streets bring me to more historical sites: the 1357 Charles Bridge, packed full of tourists admiring the view of the Vlatava River and watching street buskers perform classical music. And across the bridge to 13C Old Town, where I find the 1410 Astronomical Clock, the world’s oldest operating clock positioned to the sun and moon.

Further along, I come to the golden-roofed National Theatre, opened in 1881. Music and theatre are important to Czechs, who declare it has helped them survive the hardships of different regimes. “It’s very normal to have a theatre subscription,” says my tour guide, Eva, “and theatres are usually full. Many people go twice a week.”

Coffee with Einstein By now, I’m ready for a coffee. I cross from Old Town into New Town (don’t let the name fool you, it was established in the 14C), and then cut back a block or two to take some space from the touristic masses. I climb the stairs to Café Louvre,

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opened in 1902 (for context, Alberta didn’t join confederation until 1905), and sit at a small wooden table.

In the 19 and early 20C, Prague was a hotbed for intellectuals and artists as Bohemian culture swept Europe. Café Louvre went strong until the communist coup in 1948, when the extravagant café fixtures were thrown out windows onto the street. The café was completely restored in 1992 maintaining its ornate turn-of-the-century décor, and as I sip my espresso, it’s easy to imagine it in its heyday when the likes of Karel Capek, Franz Kafka and even Albert Einstein hung out here.

The Countryside History I’m cognizant though, that Czech is so much more than Prague, so to widen my scope of learning, I venture into the countryside.

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41 39

Just an hour away in Mlada Boleslav is the Skoda car factory, one of the best-selling Czech brands in the world (which I admit I’d never heard of). Its two founders, Laurin & Klement, started with bicycle manufacturing in 1895 before joining forces with Skoda, a heavy-equipment manufacturer to produce cars in 1905. The museum is a car collector’s dream. Across the road, at the car factory, today’s production line is mesmerizing – skilled employees performing the same task repeatedly, knock out a completed vehicle in 24 hours.

Next, I continue through countryside filled with picturebook half-timbered houses, verdant green pastures and pretty barns to Ajeto Glassworks. World-famous Bohemian glassmaking started in this region back in the 13C because of the special sandstone found here. The tour walks us through an explanation of the raw materials and culminates at a showroom of the fragile glassware. What I like best, though, is watching the glassblowers melt the glass in 1,200-degree ovens before expertly blowing it into the final, intricate creation.

In nearby Jablonec my glass exploration continues.

Jablonec was established in 1904 as an imperial centre, where people came from all over the world to buy glass. Today, the Museum of Glass & Jewelry has one of the biggest collections in the country, with exhibits like the jet-black jewellery Queen Victoria popularized by wearing when she went into mourning for Prince Albert.

Pondering Over Beer In the end, perhaps the best place to muse upon history is at a brewery. And really, no visit to Czech is complete without learning about the beer, as Czechs are credited with founding hopsbrewing as we know it. Beer’s not really considered an alcoholic beverage here, and Czechs fondly refer to it as water or “liquid bread.”

I visit Brewery Cvikov, a brewery initially opened in 1560.

Through the subsequent ages, however, it has gone through as many makeovers as the country itself – a veggie market, a disco, abandoned, a mushroom-growing warehouse, and now re-opened as a craft brewery in 2014.

It’s here, as I lick the foam off my upper lip, a sign of good quality beer in Czech, that I ponder more dates. The oldest brewery in Canada is the Molson Brewery, opened in 1786. Pretty old too, right? But the Czechs have also found evidence of a Prague monastery brewery dating back to 993.

I’m sure many have sat at this brew pub before me, maybe in 1560, contemplating what came before. There will always be old, older and oldest. I guess, like Einstein said, time is relative. And travel is the perfect way to remind ourselves of that. | For IF YOU GO information, visit www.seniorlivingmag.com/ czech-republic 42 40

FEBRUARY 2019 | WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

Now an accomplished artist in Vancouver, whose 2014 Impressions of Argentine Tango watercolours were showcased at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Lorna says that on her return from Vegas, Vancouver Burlesque “pulled me out of hiding” and got me involved as a legendary mentor to the local community.

In this capacity, she now encourages new dancers to get to the core of who they are, stripping away any pretexts when dancing and when connecting to their audience.

“It’s important to reveal something personal about yourself when you are performing,” says Lorna, who continues to be a nude model at Emily Carr University of Art and Design. “I’m comfortable with who I am.” |

T BOO

RE

by VERENA FOXX

IAN WADDELL, the energetic and exuberant long-time federal MP and provincial MLA, now turned filmmaker (The Drop – Why Young People Don’t Vote) and author, recently launched his newest work to an audience of artists, lawyers, judges and business people in the Historic Courtroom at the Vancouver Art Gallery.

Take the Torch: A Political Memoir is Ian’s way of giving a leg up to the next generation of political activists. “They – the millennials – are the smartest generation ever with lots of available resources,” says Ian, “but the challenges are different. In my time in politics, we worked together, across party lines.

There is more polarization now.”

Glaswegian by birth, Ian says that when he was growing up in Canada, “you could do anything.” He has continued to do just that. After retiring from an illustrious career, first in law and then politics, Ian continues to apply his youthful energy to his projects.

“I hope to pass on some of the lessons I’ve learned,” he says, adding that he anticipates Baby Boomer readers will enjoy his memoir as a historical refer-

ence, and Gen Xers and Millennials will take the lessons forward in their political advocacy. His next project? Uncle Vlad – a political satire of international proportions.

LORNA SCHWENK, a Penticton native, was astonished when she was recently recognized and celebrated as a Legend in the Las Vegas Burlesque Hall of Fame. Lorna was invited to receive this honour last June at the annual worldwide convention of burlesque dancers in Las Vegas.

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43 41

Navigating the End-of-Life Journey: A Roadmap for Caregivers

By Jeanne Sedun Finding out someone you love has been diagnosed with a terminal illness can be overwhelming. How do you support a loved one through their end-oflife journey? Here are some practical strategies to help you navigate this difficult, but natural, part of life.

Take a moment to reflect on what you’re feeling. Coming to terms with the fact that someone you love has been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness is a lot to process. One of the common reactions to events like this is anticipatory grief – intense sorrow knowing death is imminent. Caregivers can feel a range of emotions, including: • shock and numbness; • anxiety and fear about death, pain and suffering, and what life will be like without them; • anger and sadness about why this is happening; • denial and an unwillingness to believe the diagnosis is accurate; • an inability to cope with daily activities, and a feeling of being overwhelmed; and

Practical Considerations for the Time that Remains It may seem insensitive to consider the practical parts of dying. Working with your loved one to locate and organize important documents and information in the time that remains can make it easier for friends and family to carry out their wishes after they’re gone. Arranging the affairs of your loved one can be less stressful if you can talk with them about relevant documents such as: • A master contact list of friends, family and key advisors; • Financial information including bank accounts and investments; • Final wishes and advance directives such as a living will; and • Pre-planning for arrangements after death.

Many decisions need to be made after someone dies.

Some of the immediate steps include caring for their body, arranging for a funeral or celebration of life, writing an obituary and carrying out their wishes for the distribution of their money, property and belongings.

Working through the arrangements after death can be emotionally and physically exhausting. Grieving is a highly personal process that can take months for some, and years for others. Don’t be afraid to reach out for support from friends, family or counsellors to help you in your journey through grief. |

• despair and hopelessness.

A terminal illness has an emotional and a physical impact on family and friends, as well. Understanding and acknowledging your feelings is a critical part of caring for your loved one. Allowing others to help you in ways that are meaningful for you is also important, since taking care of yourself will help you be able to support and care for your loved one.

Jeanne Sedun draws on her training as a teacher, Protestant minister and government executive to create a roadmap for navigating the end-of-life journey. She is the author of Someone I Love is Dying.

Are you caring for a loved one with a terminal illness?

Feeling overwhelmed? Uncertain what to do next?

Join our webinar on February 21, 2019 with Jeanne Sedun.

This learning event will help you think through the practical things that need to be done as you support your loved one on their end-of-life journey. www.familycaregiversbc.ca Caregiver Support Line 1-877-520-3267 Office: 250-384-0408 Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm 44 42

FEBRUARY 2019 | WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

Marketplace COLLECTOR SEEKING vintage/col-

lectable cameras, binoculars and microscopes. Nikon, Leica, Contax, Rolleiflex, Zeiss, Canon, etc. Mike 250-383-6456 or e-mail: msymons6456@telus.net Victoria

FOOTCARE: Happy, Healthy Feet make Happy, Healthy People. The more the merrier. Call FootNurse Marcia R.N.,B. Sc.N. 250-686-3081.

SENSUAL MASSAGE. Are you missing touch? I’m a Certified Sexological Bodyworker, I work with Couples and Individuals. Sher 250-889-4166 or email sexeducator@telus.net WANTED Danish Mid-Century Furniture from the 50’s & 60’s. Teak & rosewood, pieces any condition. Wanted records & LPs - jazz, blues, classic rock. 250-3807022. lacknerwayne@gmail.com DOWNSIZING?

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Victoria and V.I. Call Bob, 250-896-2268, northtowns26@gmail.com ARE YOU A SENIOR who wants a

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ALWAYS GREAT FEET. Nanaimo’s professional mobile foot care nurses.

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Wednesdays • 9:30-11am Location varies. Join our weekly newsletter to get current info.

Our weekly gathering has 20 -30 people.

Come see if it’s a fit for you!

UPCOMING EVENTS Feb 6 - Quality Foods Feb 13 - Quality Foods Feb 20 - The Kensington Feb 27 - Silver Threads We request participants to get to know each other by attending our group meet-ings prior to signing up for a trip.

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45 43

LEARNING FROM NATURE

by PAT NICHOL

&

COURAGEOUS OUTRAGEOUS During the last days of November, I spent a week on Bowen Island studying Compassion. Compassion for ourselves (a tough one); and compassion for others, those close and far away. We also studied compassion for nature.

Our exercise during this part of the week was to go outside and spend an hour in nature, find something that spoke to us and attempt to write their story. It could be a tree, a rock, a leaf or anything from the natural world. Luckily, it had stopped raining. We wandered off in all directions.

When we came back, we shared what we had discovered.

First with one other and then with the group, if we chose.

Some amazing poems were shared.

My adventure went this way: for those that remember the movie Paint Your Wagon, you will remember that Clint Eastwood sang, “I talk to the trees, but they don’t listen to me, I talk to the trees, but they never answer.” The trees, arbutus, fir and cedar, were preparing for winter and pulling their energy into the centre of themselves.

I talked to the clouds, but they hurried on a mission, you see, to the west of here. The sun was busy doing what it needed to do after all the rain of the past few days.

Several small birds chirruped to let me know they were pleased to see me, but as with all small birds, their attention span was minute.

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46 44

FEBRUARY 2019 | WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

A lone mushroom shared that she was waiting for the garden fairies to appear and create a picnic, but perhaps it was the wrong season for that. She had faith, however, that some would appear.

Finally, as my time outdoors was running out, I came upon three orphans. Three brilliant-red maple leaves. I could not see the tree they may have come from, so they were pleased to be acknowledged and began, as a trio, to sing the song of their unfurling in spring and dancing through the summer with many of their kin. Then came the exciting days of fall, where colours changed, and they knew it would soon be time to dance with the wind and fly away free.

Together, we concluded it was fine for me to pick them up and lay them on a log, so they could sing their swan song and share their beauty with me. Sharing that impermanence is the way of creativity – and life.

If we listen, we can learn from all species, from nature – and each other. |

Pat Nichol is a speaker and published author. Reach her by email at mpatnichol@gmail.com or visit Pat’s website at patnichol.ca

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The Harrisons, Langley’s Premier Retirement Living Communities

Independent & Assisted Living

We are always Serving Up Fun at The Harrisons and you should join us!

Here is to living in a loving retirement community enjoying

A Better Way of Life!

People don’t just move into a Harrison Residence because of What We Do. They move in because of Why We Do It! The Harrisons Offer: Complete Condo-style Suites, Chef Prepared Meals, Active Lifestyle Options, Assistance 24/7 if needed, Outstanding Essentials, Amazing Amenities, Wonderful Optional Services and so much more!

Come for a TOUR & COMPLIMENTARY CHEF PREPARED LUNCH anytime and see Why The Harrisons Really Do Offer A Better Way of Life!

Harrison Landing 20899 Douglas Crescent Langley, BC V3A 9L3 604.530.7075 www.harrisonlanding.com 48 FEBRUARY 2019 | WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

Harrison Pointe 21616 -52 Avenue Langley, BC V2Y 1L7 604.530.1101 www.harrisonpointe.ca

The Harrisons