Senior Living Magazine Island Edition September 2011 by INSPIRED 55+ Lifestyle Magazine

SEPTEMBER 2011 TM

Vancouver Islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 50+ Active Lifestyle Magazine

Reinventing Retirement

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SEPTEMBER 2011

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Publisher’s

FEATURES 6 Flashback Freddy

This month, we focus on people who are living healthy, wellness-centered lifestyles and enjoying life to its fullest. When was the last time you thought about playing table tennis? Going back to university? Taking up martial arts? Writing a book? Have you tried boogie boarding recently? If not, you’ll want to find out how this ocean sport is taking the 50+ crowd on a wave of adventure. How about a game of pickleball, combining elements of badminton, tennis and ping-pong while you keep out of the kitchen? Strange as the name may sound, this strategic game puts you through the paces, improving cardio, coordination and agility. If some of the activities mentioned above are not written up in the Senior Living magazine you’re reading, look for them online in our Mainland September magazine. Statistics Canada says seniors are living longer and staying healthier. This may be in part to a health system that has advanced the ability to prolong life, but seniors of today are a lot more proactive when it comes to their health. No longer willing to flex only their calves in a rocking chair, they are taking to the hills, to the ocean, and down the roads of new experiences in their quest to stay young, active and agile – both mentally and physically. Someone once said to me, “Life is good – you just have to live it.” It is my hope that the varied articles this month will propel our readers to higher levels of health and wellness in their quest for the good life. Happy reading! 2

SENIOR LIVING

One-time logger Fred Wortley is living his dream.

8 Hobby to International Acclaim

40 Balancing Your Life

Writer Naomi Beth Wakan reﬂects on her life’s juggling act.

42 Travel

Self-taught ﬁbre artist Ada Oegema.

Underwater wonders of Palau.

12 Keeping the Brain Active Going back to school later in life offers a rich and rewarding experience.

DEPARTMENTS

16 The Universal Game

46 Classiﬁeds

Table tennis is Dr. Oz’s favourite brain sport.

47 BBB Scam Alert

18 Scientist Turned Author

COLUMNS

Microbiologist Ruth Welburn is part scientist, part detective, part published author.

4 The Family Caregiver

20 Fit for Life with Nia

by Barbara Small

Nia classes combine dance, martial arts and yoga postures for a great low-impact workout.

44 Courageous & Outrageous by Pat Nichol

24 Dancing Keeps You Young

45 Ask Goldie

Square and Round dancers enjoy physical and mental ﬁtness, plus a whole lot of fun!

by Goldie Carlow

48 Reﬂections: Then & Now

28 A Dream Realized

A high-school drop-out turned valedictorian.

by Gipp Forster

31-37 Health & Wellness Supplement 37 Rebalancing

Osteopathy relieves back and joint pain, arthritis and more.

Cover Photo: Performer Flashback Freddy. Photo: Enise Olding Story on page 6.

38 Bitter is Better

Chocolate. Need we say more? Senior Living (Vancouver Island) is published by Stratis Publishing. Publisher Barbara Risto Editor Bobbie Jo Reid editor@seniorlivingmag.com Ad Coordinator/Designer Steffany Gundling Copy Editor Allyson Mantle Advertising Manager Barry Risto 250-479-4705 ext 101 For advertising information, call 250-479-4705 sales@seniorlivingmag.com Ad Sales Staff Ann Lester 250-390-1805 Mathieu Powell 250-479-4705 ext 104 Barry Risto 250-479-4705 ext 101 WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

Head Ofﬁce Contact Information: Box 153, 1581-H Hillside Ave., Victoria BC V8T 2C1 Phone 250-479-4705 Fax 250-479-4808 Toll-free 1-877-479-4705 E-mail ofﬁce@seniorlivingmag.com Website www.seniorlivingmag.com Subscriptions: $32 (includes GST, postage and handling) for 12 issues. Canadian residents only. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. Senior Living is an independent publication and its articles imply no endorsement of any products or services. The views expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publisher. Unsolicited articles are welcome and should be e-mailed to editor@seniorlivingmag. com Senior Living Vancouver Island is distributed free throughout Vancouver Island. Stratis Publishing Ltd. publishes Senior Living Vancouver Island (12 issues per year) and Senior Living Vancouver & Lower Mainland (12 issues per year). ISSN 1710-3584 (Print) ISSN 1911-6403 (Online)

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THE FAMILY CAREGIVER

Accepting Help is Essential

t is natural for a person to feel overwhelmed and stressed by the responsibilities of caregiving. An increased amount of time and energy is used to navigate the healthcare system, find resources or figure out how to meet someone else’s personal and medical needs. Don’t burn out; it is essential to ask for help and support. Asking for help is important to the well-being of both the family caregiver and the person receiving care. When you share the responsibility, you will have more time and energy for a normal relationship with your family member, and to take care of yourself as well. You are less likely to be angry and resentful. Having the opportunity to interact with more people will also enrich the care recipient’s experience. Despite the fact that family caregivers may be overtaxed with responsibility, they often do not ask for help or reject help when it is offered. Asking for help can be difficult when we don’t know what we need, we don’t want to be a bother, or we feel guilty that we

can’t do it all ourselves. Beliefs such as “no one can do this as well as I can” can also be an obstacle to asking for help. It’s true. No one will do it the same as you, but that does not mean that they cannot be helpful in their own way. Recognize that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. It means you are acknowledging the challenges of the situation and are being proactive in resolving problems and preventing stress. It is a sign of strength because it requires putting your pride aside and acting in the best interest of your family member and yourself. First, you need to admit that some help will make a difference to the care recipient’s quality of life and, therefore, yours. You need to identify what help you need: tasks that are easiest to ask others to do; what you want to do yourself; and if you can afford to pay for assistance. Discuss your needs with family members and friends who might be willing to help. They may want to

BY BARBARA SMALL

contribute but don’t know how. Create a list of tasks. Then focus on each individual’s strength. Some people may be better at personal care while others may be better able to help around the house or run errands. Contact your local health authority to see what services are available to assist you, such as home support and respite. There are many businesses, community and volunteer agencies that offer services to reduce your load. People may not realize you need help if you don’t ask for it. Remember, you have the right to ask for – and accept – help. Everyone will benefit from SL sharing in the caregiving. Next month: Coping with Loss Barbara Small is the Program Development Coordinator for Family Caregivers’ Network Society located in Victoria, BC. www.familycaregiversnetwork.org

The Family Caregiver column is brought to you by the generous sponsorship of Saint Elizabeth

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SEPTEMBER 2011

Arts & Entertainment

Flashback Freddy BY ENISE OLDING

SENIOR LIVING

Photo: John van den Hengel

f a young Fred Wortley had not succumbed to the lure of money, Flashback Freddy may not be performing today. Every time his sister wanted to practise for the school dance, Fred became her willing partner – at 50 cents a session. It was his love of rock ‘n’ roll music that accompanied Fred as a young lad of eight or nine years through those dance sessions, on into high school, during a career in the logging industry and finally as his alter ego Flashback Freddy, who sings and plays “rockin’ hits from the ’50s and ’60s.” Fred was raised all over Canada and in the U.S. Since his father was in the air force, he’s hard pressed to say where home is for him. He moved to B.C. in 1970 when he left high school in North Bay, Ontario and entered the logging industry in Campbell River at the age of 17. He tackled many different jobs in the industry: chokerman, hook chaser, rigging slinger, and on the water as a boat operator and working the log booms. If he had the chance to do it over again, he says he’d likely not follow that path, although, he admits, “There is something to be said for working outdoors and being fit.” He worked with, and met, many great people during those years. What helped Fred keep balanced the most in those isolated logging camps, was his guitar – he played a lot of folk music. Playing the guitar was an on-againoff-again pastime for Fred through his working years, but he recalls his first encounter with a guitar. “There was one in my house and it was never played,” he recalls. “It was an ancient old Gibson. I was about 10 years old and I decided I would have

a go at it.” Fred says he really didn’t know what he was doing and the guitar was so big he had to put it on his lap to strum it. Persistence resulted in his first musical accomplishment with “Lay down your head Tom Dooley.” “I didn’t know a thing about music but it seems I was born with an ear for WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

it. I could sit down and figure out how to play a song,” he says. Music lessons were available when he was young, but Fred says he was too much of a rebel and “it didn’t sound like much fun having to do regular learning.” In retrospect, he says, “I wish I had taken music training, it would have

been a lot easier. But, really I’m always learning and I put in a lot of hours to become more skilled.” Fred enjoys physical activity and, over the years, he played hockey in Port Alice and for 30 years in Campbell River. He trained as a fitness instructor, and when on the coast, he loves to scuba dive. “I’ve always taken care of my body and been interested in what I eat, and that has kept me [healthy] for today.” Active travel is another of Fred’s passions. He loves to put on a backpack for a month or two, move around by bus and explore in countries such as Mexico, Panama and Thailand. After a transfer to Chemainus, the logging industry took a downturn, so, with 40 years in that industry, Fred retired. It was time to rekindle his interest in motorbikes. Fred’s Harley-Davidson Road Glide touring bike is loaded with comforts, and it was on a group ride with other enthusiasts that he met his wife, Karen. Fred admits he’s always been fascinated with the music and lyrics of the rock ‘n’ roll songs from the ‘50s and ‘60s. “The songs seemed to be about more simple times with lyrics about going to school,” he smiles. “I started to do more research and grew serious about wanting to know the history of the performers.” He went through all the songs he identified with and had loved through the years, and asked people what songs would get them up dancing. Fred decided he wanted to perform good dance music for people to have a good time. With today’s technology, he began to realize he could indeed do it all himself. “I can play sounds like the Beach Boys with vocal backup and I can play a song and sound like a band,” he enthuses, “plus, I can fit me and my equipment in a smaller space, and keep the volume at a level the audience wants.’ Poised to embark on his lifelong dream of performing ’50s and ’60s rock ‘n’ roll, Fred received a loving nudge and the confidence to “go for it” from Karen. “I didn’t want to go out and perform before I was ready,” he says. “I am now living my passion. I have the white T-shirts and jeans, and Hawaiian shirts for the Beach Boys numbers. I feel like my life is just beginning.” He and Maybelline, Freddy’s Fender Telecaster, look forward to several upcoming engagements that run the gamut from private parties to public performances. “It’s never too late” is Fred’s mantra. If challenges try to block his way, he works them out. He recalls how he broke his back playing hockey a few years ago and, as a result, couldn’t even lift a coffee cup let alone play the guitar. He gave up hockey but not playing the guitar, refusing to let this setback take away his dream. Determination to get his hands working again, along with a good attitude, and a willingness to get up in front of people to play and sing has paid off. Fred is living his dream of taking people on a blast from the past as Flashback Freddy. Along with Maybelline, he gets people moving, grooving and having fun to good ol’ time rock ‘n’ roll. For more information, visit www.flashbackfreddy.ca

Home is where your Heart is.

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SEPTEMBER 2011

Artist Proﬁle

Hobby to International Acclaim BY ANNE SWANNELL

da Oegema is a self-taught fibre artist who has won international acclaim for her handwoven rugs and wall hangings. She works on a magnificently-crafted Harrisville rug loom, which stands six-feet (1.8-metre) tall and is set up next to her kitchen, in the space some people would use as a dining room. England’s Peter Collingwood, whom Ada considers the “guru” of rug weaving, designed it.

“A loom is simply a device to produce the necessary tension required for the easy manipulation of the warp threads, and for the easy beating down of the weft ones,” explains Ada. All the complexities that have been added to the loom are to save time or effort. This particular loom has four harnesses, which help to control the design, and allows for a weaving as wide as 60 inches (1.5 metres).

“The loom itself is beautiful, even without any work on it,” Ada says, stroking the smooth wood. “A loom has such lovely lines and holds so much potential: I just love being in its presence.” The special shaft-switching device simplifies the manoeuvring of colour and design, but the whole weaving process is still completely hand manipulated. 8

SENIOR LIVING

Photo: Barry Herring

Self-taught ﬁbre artist Ada Oegema. Right, samples of Ada’s work. Top: Victory. Bottom: Intimate.

After close to thirty years of weaving, Ada has used Collingwood’s technique to gradually develop her own signature designs for rugs and wall hangings. She favours crisp, clean abstract geometric lines and shapes, but her West Coast seascapes are also quite popular. In both genres, the gradually-gradated background shadings are a mesmerizing and unusual feature. WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

Born in Holland in 1950, Ada, who came to Canada when she was six years old, says she was uninspired as a child. “I don’t remember doing anything especially artistic,” she says. “My father was a farmer; I was one of seven; there

was always a lot of work to do!” But in her twenties, she felt the creative urge. Looking for a hobby, she initially took up pottery, but quickly realized that medium was not for her. “With a pot, you apply the glaze after you’ve formed it, then you put the piece into the kiln to be fired. You don’t see any colour until after the firing, and I found that frustrating. Also, not having ready access to a kiln was problematic.” In 1982, she took some weaving lessons from Victoria’s Jean Farrington, and fell in love with the gorgeously coloured yarns that were available, the rhythmical movement of the hands, the beauty of the loom, the way form and colour seem to grow out from the weaver’s body. In 1996, living back East, she had three of her weavings accepted into a juried mixed media art show put on by the Community Arts Council of Belleville, Ontario. It was the first time she’d submitted her work anywhere, and she was surprised – and very pleased – to be accepted. “That was the greatest imaginable encouragement; to have all three pieces cho-

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“Regular use of the WBV Trainer results in more stamina and energy; increased flexibility, mobility and coordination; and rapid recovery of muscles tissue,” says Sharry. “Managers of seniors residences tell us that the residents who use the Trainer are finding their incontinence improved and restless legs a thing of the past. They’re getting rid of their canes and walkers due to increased muscle strength and improved balance, and getting rid of inhalers while cutting down the amount of time they need to be on oxygen. Sciatica and back pain are relieved.” “People who use the WBV Trainer are always saying ‘thank you,’ ‘thank you.’ ‘I no longer have arthritis pain, I’m sleeping better now, my back pain is gone.’ Our clients are so grateful,” says Sharry. “It is a matter of personal integrity that our customers are not only happy with their purchase, but impressed with their overall improved health.” “I used to have a very fast heart rate - over 90 bpm - now my heart has gotten stronger and my heart rate has lowered to just over 80 bpm on average. And I am losing weight!” - Joanne, Regina, SK “I have sciatica from my hip to my toes and this machine reduces my pain for the full day. I don’t know what’s doing it but I generally feel much better. I wouldn’t be without it now!” - Dave (age 91) “My mother had a very severe stroke a year ago and we could never get her to go for physiotherapy. After starting to use the vibration machine, she got her balance back and started getting stronger. So now she is willing to go out for physio treatments.” - Ian,Victoria BC “I had a very bad accident falling off a ladder. My foot caught and was badly mangled. After using the Trainer just a few times, I have been pain free for the first time in 12 years.” - Randy, Wainwright, AB

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SEPTEMBER 2011

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sen was like a miracle for me, it told me I should go on, do more, try other things!” she enthuses. Since that initial success, curiosity has kept her mind and her fingers busy. She moved back to Victoria in 1999, and has been steadily weaving ever since, always striving to make each piece more interesting and more dramatic than the last. Her weavings have been juried into the Sooke Show and the Sidney Show, and have been exhibited in galleries as far away as Santa Ana, California, Toronto and Vancouver. She’s even been mentioned in a New York arts magazine, which led to a commissioned piece for a couple in Chicago, who later wrote: “As art, your weaving stands the test; it is continuously interesting the more we live with it.” Ada has also been invited to participate in the internationally renowned Florence Biennale, held every two years in Italy. “I may do that someday, if I ever get rich enough,” she laughs. “You have to pay an exhibition fee, your own transportation and accommodation, and the cost of

shipping your work.” Ada uses 100 per cent wool from New Brunswick for the weft and pure linen for the warp, “because it’s strong and sturdy, so it will withstand years of wear. That being said, these weavings don’t have to go on the floor. Many people say they love them too much to walk on them, and they hang them in entranceways, in living rooms, bedrooms, anywhere – they think of them like large paintings, only more-richly textured – and you don’t need a frame.” Though Ada does have a demanding full-time job as a paralegal, weaving has become her passion. She dedicates much of her time to perfecting the techniques involved in block weaving, and never repeats a design. Ada gets immense satisfaction out of watching her creations of fibre, colour and design move along on the loom, and can hardly wait for the moment of “truth” when the finished weaving is cut off the loom and viewed, for the first time, in its entirety: a one-of-a-kind richly SL textured work of art.

Celebrating International Seniors Day BC Seniors Living Association will be supplying over 12,000 National Seniors Day buttons to over 126 member retirement communities to commend and celebrate senior’s contributions, and recognize the positive impact they have on our daily lives. The button proudly states: National Seniors Day – LET’S DANCE! At 2 p.m. on October 1, the 126 senior communities will invite their residents to gather together and for 90 seconds the seniors will sit or stand and show their best dance moves. Incredible, 12,000 seniors dancing at the same time for 90 seconds to celebrate their day! Go ahead, dance – we will at the BCSLA offices – and we encourage you to join us! More information, contact Marlene Williams 604-689-5949 or visit www.bcsla.ca

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The Wellesley will be hosting two events on Friday, September 30th. The first is guest speaker Danda Humphreys, who will give a talk “Step Back in Time” at 1 p.m. The second event is a performance show and tea, featuring Wellesley Residents at 2:40 p.m. The Wellesley is located at 2800 Blanshard Street in Victoria. This event is open to the public. To RSVP or for more information, contact Margo McIntosh at 250-383-9099, Ext. #207. SL

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Health & Wellness

Keeping the Brain Active BY VERNICE SHOSTAL

in 2009, is working on her bachelor’s degree. “It is important to stay mentally active because it keeps one engaged in life,” she says. “If you stop doing things or having an inquiring mind, you disengage, and eventually withdraw.

Ray Illsley arrives on campus. Judy Duncan studying in the library.

The prerequisites are some life experiences and an interest in studying an area of the humanities. Some participants in this course still work while others are retired. Students who complete the Humanities Diploma (HD) Program successfully may use the credits they earn toward a degree, if they qualify based on current admission criteria. Many diploma recipients have already done that. Judy Duncan, a former certified dental assistant, who entered the program in the fall of 2004 and received her diploma 12

SENIOR LIVING

Photos: Vernice Shostal

recent study has shown that the brain, like a muscle, grows in size with use and exercise. When mental exercise occurs, specific actions in the brain take place as a result. Without exercise, both brains and muscles atrophy. Many people over the age of 50 are aware of the benefits of physical and mental exercise, and enjoy the rewards this brings them. One program that offers the “mature” person a chance to stay mentally active is the Humanities Diploma Program, a division of Continuing Studies at the University of Victoria. The program, designed for people who do not fit the traditional student mould of recent high school graduates, allows learners to deepen their ability to read actively, think critically and write about what it means to be human.

Besides, all the literature says staying mentally active will keep your brain pliable.” Judy became interested in the program when she was searching for new ways to “broaden her horizons.” The HD program fit her needs because it offered a good variety of courses and a flexible time frame for completion. She continues to take classes, mostly in Greek and Roman Studies and a few in Religious and Medieval studies, choosing classes that interest her and that she can apply toward her degree.

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Judy found returning to a community of learning challenging at first. Although her study habits were well entrenched, card catalogues had disappeared. In essay writing, she had to learn to expound on a given subject instead of condensing it like you would for business writing. She found that the available information for researching subjects had expanded and the databases available through the (virtual) library are enormous. But she soon got used to it. A perennial learner, Judy found the HD program her “way of re-entering the scholastic world.” The campus is “a vibrant place. One can see the young people applying themselves and also how dedicated they are to different causes that they support.” Ray Illsley got involved with the Humanities Diploma Program through a friend who said the program would fit his interests. Although a voracious reader all his life, Ray never thought himself “smart enough” to be able to attend university. Born in England, he left school at 16 with a “less than stellar academic performance.” A mandatory course in the Diploma Program, Humanities 100, covers mainly philosophy, Ray says, but within it, he was also able to take courses in two of his favourite subjects: history and English. In the program for only one semester, Ray is proud to have “passed with an A+ mark,” somewhat daunting, he feels, since having set the bar so high presents him with a challenge. At age 55, the chef of 35 years is the second youngest in his group. On campus, Ray enjoys meeting a variety of people from different backgrounds. He loves to roam the library, sit in the café and enjoy a latté while working on his latest essay. Ray has discovered that he loves researching information. Not only does he enjoy writing, “I am actually quite good at it,” he says. “I increasingly want to express myself through the written word.” When Ray started the Humanities course, he didn’t consider doing much

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SEPTEMBER 2011

more than achieving his diploma, but with his professor’s encouragement, after he receives his diploma, Ray plans to continue taking classes toward a BA in history. “We are at the top of the evolutionary tree because of our ability to use the enormous power of our brains,” says Ray. “To let this stagnate is a waste. Curiosity about our world, its history, its people, its achievement should be a constant source of wonder and instil in us the reality that knowledge is power, and that power can be harnessed for the greater good.” Laura Infield who began classes in 2010 learned about the HD program from the University’s Continuing Education website. As a responsible citizen and voter, Laura felt that issues were becoming more complex – sending troops to Afghanistan, the economic crisis, health-care funding and others. Laura wanted a better background to be a more educated voter. In addition, the former RCMP employee needed to feel that she was doing something worthwhile with her life. “I don’t think it’s healthy to become isolated into cliques made up of people that are all your own age,” she says. “The university provides an opportunity to meet a diverse group of people of all ages and backgrounds. It’s good to stay engaged, especially with all the new technologies and social networking.” In the beginning, Laura was not confident she would be able to manage the course load, and was concerned she would be a lot older than the general population at university, but

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Humanities 100, the first class she took, gave her the confidence she needed to carry on as a regular student the following semester. “It’s interesting to notice how differently I approach things than my younger counterparts,” says Laura. Although they can multi-task much better than she can, Laura can relate and retain a lot of information better because she has the life experience that makes the information relevant, so “it seems to balance out in the end.” Although she has always been a reader, Laura found the university environment disconcerting in the beginning – writing term papers, doing presentations, public speaking, working with other students on projects. But “it was very satisfying to learn that I could be successful in a university environment.” At the end of the program, Laura will transfer the credits she gains from her Humanities course to a degree with a double major in writing and linguistics. “It should be a good marriage.” Fifty-plus active men and women who have recently enrolled in the Humanities Diploma Program have illustrated that one is never too old to learn. Staying mentally active as one ages, is the best way to prevent dementia and to keep in touch with the rapidly changing world. For more information about the Humanities Diploma Program, visit the website at www.uvcs.uvic.ca/hdp or contact Maxine Reitsma at maxiner@uvic. SL ca or call her at 250-721-6477.

Whether you want to stay current in your ﬁeld, learn something new, or connect with others, tuition-free classes are an affordable way to go back to school. For example, seniors skip the $260 tuition for a Spanish class, and pay only for books, supplies, and a $10 student union fee. Hundreds of courses are available this fall including: �� Introduction to Literature: Short Stories & the Novel �� Basic Marketing Principles & Practice �� Space Science & Astronomy: Intro to Solar System Exploration

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SEPTEMBER 2011

Fitness & Recreation

The Universal Game “Playing table tennis is not just an excellent exercise, it’s fun too,” says Terry, 71. “Our club is just like a big family. I am enjoying every moment in the club.” Table tennis, affectionately known as ping-pong, has shown promise in the fight against early stage Alzheimer’s, which affects over half a million Canadians today. Steadily gaining media attention, even Oprah’s favourite doc, Dr. Oz, dedicated a whole segment of his TV show to the benefits of table tennis, describing it as his favourite “brain” sport, helping to reduce the risks of cognitive impairment and dementia as well as preserving mental abilities. The game is universal, with no language barriers, and is the second most popular organized sport in the world. That’s why Victoria’s David Smylie, 54, who travels extensively with his job, always packs his table tennis gear. “There is usually a club wherever I go, so I can get my table tennis fix,” says David. He calls it a “game for all ages. At 76, my dad, who introduced me to the game, still plays and credits table tennis to his being alert, agile and fit!” In Duncan the Cowichan Table Tennis Club, started over 20 years ago by Frank Enns, 71, to allow seniors to practise prior to participating in the B.C. Seniors Games, has since expanded and evolved

The author at Summit Rogers Pass with “High Hopes.”

The author plays table tennis.

into a drop-in club where coaching and lessons are available for all. Frank, the South Island co-ordinator for the B.C. Seniors Games, still enthusiastically runs the club. “Some members have played in the past and are taking the sport up again for exercise and the social aspect,” he says. “Some have decided to take up a sport that can be played all winter. Our oldest player is 88 years young and still playing!” Most players on the Island are recreational, but a significant number are looking for opportunities to test their game against different opposition, outside their home club, in an effort to improve. For these more competitive players,

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Photo: Robert Trudell

able tennis thrives on Vancouver Island, thanks to support from the 50+ crowd. After not playing since childhood, many are taking up the sport again for the excellent health benefits. Gerhard Sorger, 78, started to play the game in Europe when he was just 13 years old and played until the age of 23. Soon, life intervened and Gerhard joined the army, got married, opened his own business and, finally, retired and moved to Courtenay. After 50 years of not touching a table tennis racket, he heard there was a table tennis club in Courtenay, which he joined in 2005. “I participated in the 2007 Nanaimo B.C. Seniors Games but had no luck winning anything,” he says. “In 2009, again I tried my luck in Richmond, where I got a gold medal in the men’s singles at the age of 76. I will enter again this year and every year as long as I can, because I just love this sport.” Bodies are designed to move and be active and playing a game is a great way to get exercise. The game of table tennis delivers in so many ways. Terry Wei joined the Seniors Club in Nanaimo at the age of 55. As a beginner, she played at Bowen Park and now plays three times a week at the Departure Bay Activity Centre.

BY KEN HOLMAN

Photo: Ken Holman

this year sees the start of the Vancouver Island Table Tennis League. Five teams from Victoria, Nanaimo and Campbell River, involving the top players on the Island, will compete for the League Championship. All but a handful of the participating players are over 50 years of age. Details of upcoming matches, times, locations and results are posted on the Vancouver Island Table Tennis Association website: www.vitta. ca. Spectators are always welcome. Also new this year, Nanaimo will host the Vancouver Island Seniors Championships, on September 5th – open to Island residents over age 50. The VITTA website lists venues across the Island, many specifically for seniors, where players of all abilities are welcomed and encouraged to “get out of the basement” SL and play. For more information, visit www.vitta.ca

Nanaimo residents Terry Wei and Charlie Zhang playing mixed doubles.

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SEPTEMBER 2011

Author Proﬁle

Scientist Turned Author BY VERNICE SHOSTAL

SENIOR LIVING

Microbiologist and author Ruth Welburn in the lab. his team struggle to produce a vaccine against influenza at a time when viruses were unknown. The reader is left to uncover the clues and unravel the causes of the cataclysmic 1918 outbreak. Considering last year’s H1N1 hysteria, Ruth feels the story is relevant today. In addition to the medical and scientific facts, while she wrote her book, Ruth looked for insight into the feelings of the young men who served in the war. Having read the works of English poets such as, Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen, both of whom were also soldiers, Ruth decided, “that their voices must be heard through the characters in my novel.” Ruth was born and raised in Alberta WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

and worked with the Red Cross in Edmonton. Later, she transferred to Saint John, N.B. and intended to work her way around the world. Her plans changed when she married instead. Her accomplishments during the next 30 years included raising three sons, getting her master of science degree and working at the University of New Brunswick in virology, microbiology, analytical chemistry and exercise physiology. During that time, she also published several articles in scientific journals, presented at symposia, conferences, lab meetings, hospitals, universities, schools and for public interest groups. Ruth returned to Calgary in 1996 to teach biology, but gave it up to travel

Photo: Vernice Shostal

n her historical fiction, The Devil’s Ruse, Ruth Welburn looks for clues that might solve the enigma of the wave of Spanish flu in 1918. How was this flu so different from other flu pandemics? Why did it strike so suddenly and disappear so quickly? A microbiologist, Ruth wrote The Devil’s Ruse because she felt the real facts surrounding the 1918 epidemic weren’t being told. “I’ve worked in microbiology and infectious disease for quite a few years and I realized the 1918 influenza flu was very different from any other that came before or after it,” she says. “Usually the flu will start in Southeast Asia and spread around the world by migratory birds, but the 1918 influenza pandemic started in the army training camps on the eastern seaboard of the United States at the end of World War One and travelled via railroad lines across North America and via shipping routes around the world.” Intrigued by this mystery, when she retired, Ruth decided to investigate the underlying causes of the 1918 plague. She read fiction and non-fiction books by authors such as George Bernard Shaw, General Foch, General Pershing, Billy Sunday, and others who wrote in that period. From over 100 medical scientific journals from 1915-21, she pieced together the circumstances that surrounded the pandemic. From the biological and historical information she gathered, Ruth found that the flu “definitely had quite a connection to World War One.” With the results of her research, Ruth wrote a novel with a historical as well as a biological slant, where the main character, Dr. Nicholas Waring, a research scientist, takes on a risky medical experiment for the U.S. army. Waring and

to Southeast Asia and Australia. There, she landed a job in Melbourne at the Victoria University of Technology in the microbiology department. As an author, Ruth regularly enters competitions. She is working on some short stories and magazine articles for the 80th Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competition, for which she placed in the Top 10 last year. From her home in Sidney-by-the-Sea, Ruth is compiling her writing efforts in An Anthology of Life: on everything under the sun. The body of work includes hard science, science fiction, crime, mystery and historical anecdotes from the early years of Alberta’s history. Her third book, a non-fiction, about the paradigm shift in science and medicine towards the recognition that man is part of the interconnected web of life, will include material from two of her published articles. “While the idea is revolutionary, it is also archaic,” says Ruth. A stand-alone short story, for which she won honourable mention in a Writer’s Digest contest, will be the beginning of a fourth book, a science fiction called Search for the God Particle. In her leisure time, Ruth plays bridge, enjoys the opera and ballet. Her outdoor activities include sailing, hiking, skiing and swimming. The Devil’s Ruse is available at Bolen Books in Victoria, UVic Bookstore, Tanner’s in Sidney and Overleaf Café and Bookstore in Victoria. SL For more information, visit www.ruthwelburn.com

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SEPTEMBER 2011

Health & Wellness

Fit for Life with Nia BY DEBORAH REDFERN

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Photo: Rachelle Polsom

year ago last spring, I found out I was a diabetic. It was discovered during a routine checkup, but I wasn’t entirely surprised because my weight had been climbing steadily for a few years, even though I thought my eating habits were good. Since I wanted to avoid taking medication for diabetes (or anything else) I knew I needed to make a dramatic lifestyle change. I made two. No surprise, diet and exercise greatly help control diabetes (and a lot of other ailments too). My first step was to become a vegetarian. I already cooked healthy meals, rarely ate fried foods or desserts, and didn’t drink alcohol or soda. Since I seldom ate meat, I wasn’t that far from being an ovo-lacto vegetarian, but dropping the dairy made a huge difference. My body weight dropped steadily by a pound or two a week. Mind you, I was not “dieting.” As my weight dropped, I noticed my energy levels went up and the mid-afternoon drowsy slumps disappeared. The second big life change I made was to fully commit myself to movement. I was active in my twenties and thirties in dance and yoga, but in my forties things fell apart. I moved to Victoria when I was 45 and it took a long time to find my bearings. Eventually, I found Nia and attended a weekly class for about six months before the diabetes diagnosis. Nia is a no/low impact fitness technique that combines dance, martial arts and yoga postures. Uplifting music accompanies each class and the moves are adapted for people of different fitness capabilities. Debbie and Carlos Rosas developed Nia in the United States about 30 years ago, and classes are currently offered in about 35 countries. Through Nia, I met a teacher who in her early seventies clearly had a younger “body age” than me (I’m in my early

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fifties). Her agility and grace was beautiful and inspiring, and I decided that would be me – starting now. Modern science allows us to disguise much of the outer signs of aging, but a body conditioned by conscious movement, one that is strong, agile and flexible can defy age more than any cosmetic, dye or procedure on the market. So, I committed myself to Nia and signed up for the next training course held in Victoria. My goal: to teach. When I went back for my next checkup, my blood sugars were normal. My doctor didn’t use the words “reversed diabetes,” but she said I was managing the condition through my lifestyle. Now, I am a certified and licensed Nia Technique trainer. I teach a 50+ class at the Monterey Recreation Centre in Oak Bay, as well as classes at the Burnside Gorge Recreation Centre and the Fairfield Gonzales Community Recreation Centre. At times, it is difficult for me to grasp that leading Nia classes is really my job because it is so much fun. On a philosophical level, I am motivated by my belief that moving, whether through Nia, yoga, or something else, is (unless our work is physical labour) our real “job.” Our bodies were designed to move. I advocate a new vision where play comes first. Like having your dessert before your main course; like saving money by paying yourself first, we become fit for life by putting fitness first. If each of us did this, we could enjoy the world and improve the world at the same time, since there would be less disease and disability, and more productivity. We could turn our attention from the business of disease care to global health care. A study conducted on what made people happy as they get older revealed that money or lifestyle wasn’t the most important – it was health and mobility. It is possible the two are related – that those who have a certain level of wealth and a certain lifestyle have more time to spend on keeping fit. But it needn’t follow. It is more about an attitude. I want to stay healthy for rest of my life. Doesn’t everyone? Through conscious eating and conscious moving, it is a goal within reach. SL To learn more about Nia, visit www.nianow.com

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Tips for staying fit: 1. It doesn’t matter what you do as long as you get moving. Walk, swim, bike, hike, golf or dance: it’s all good. 2. Choose something you enjoy. If you aren’t having a good time, you’ll fall off the wagon. It has happened to me many times, all my good intentions swept aside. 3. Moving has to be thought of as a priority, not something you do when you can fit it in. Commit to it. 4. One way to commit is to make it your own. If you only walk when you have someone to walk with, or you play a partner sport, you’re giving your power to someone else. Make your primary way to keep fit something just for you. You will then have more energy for partner activities. WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

SEPTEMBER 2011

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SEPTEMBER 2011

Health & Wellness

Dancing Keeps You Young BY VERNICE SHOSTAL

SENIOR LIVING

with other dancers, joke around and know that their body benefits from the dance. “The feelings show in their faces with smiles and laughter,” says Jan.

Dancing “helps us mentally to keep alert and to be able to change with the times. To dance two hours non-stop does keep one focused,” says Jan.

Dancing has opened up a completely new life for Jan and John who travel the Island in their fifth wheel and meet other dancers at camp-outs during the summer. They have “tripped the light fantastic” with dancers from all over Canada, Europe and the United States.

After retirement from the military, Frank Cloutier, current vice-president of the association, went to work with the Department of National Defence. “Many of my friends who were square dancers seemed to be having so much fun that I decided to try it,

Photos: Vernice Shostal

esides the fun and many physical benefits, the British Columbia Square and Round Dance Federation maintains that dancing helps the body stay young, contributes to mental agility and decreases depression and loneliness. Dancing is healthy. A former health-care worker and member of the Lower Vancouver Island Square and Round Dance Association, Jan Doutaz, says, “I found I was watching too much TV and not enjoying this type of evening. As a schoolgirl, we did basic squares, so when I saw the ad in the paper I put the reminder on the fridge door, so that, come fall, I would be doing something active.” “I tagged along,” says Jan’s husband, John, current president of the association and owner of his own consulting business. “I’m high energy on the dance floor, singing along with the caller while adding a few extra steps, enjoying each minute.” Like most dancers, after two hours of dancing, Jan is ready to take off her shoes and slide into her slippers, “but it is a good feeling and my body is happy that it is not in front of the TV or the computer.” Many dancers still work and dancing gives them the time to unwind, visit

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To Move or Not to Move?

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and I have enjoyed it ever since,” he says. “It is a great exercise when you do both the square dancing along with the round dancing.” Frank’s wife, Trudy agrees. “I have met many exciting people and made many friends. Dancing two to three times a week is good exercise.” The satisfaction one gets from dancing is similar to the exhilaration experienced after exercising, jogging, or going for a good stiff walk, say the Frank and Trudy. “Your body feels good and the dancing gives you a feeling of physical accomplishment. You are doing something you enjoy, with people you like and exercising at the same time without feeling tasked after the evening is over.” Two years after walking past the Memorial Arena, where they heard music and saw hundreds of people in colourful outfits dancing, Les and Kathleen Quilter learned the people having so much fun were square dancers. They responded to an ad and have been dancing ever since. “During an evening, you will have danced several kilometres and at the end feel great,” says Kathleen. Les and Kathleen dance once a week. “Square Dancing keeps my mind and body active and is great as exercise for my diabetes,” says Les, a former electrician with the Royal Canadian Navy and current writer whose short stories have been published in two anthologies. Through their dancing, Les and Kathleen have met peo-

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SEPTEMBER 2011

ple from all walks of life. “They could be a doctor, teacher, office worker, or plumber, but we are all having fun together,” says Kathleen, a former department store secretary. On dance nights when they feel tired and are on the verge of staying home, Les and Kathleen force themselves to go. “And are we ever glad,” says Kathleen. “The music gets us going. In some

Jan and John Doutaz share a laugh on the dance ﬂoor.

of the squares, we have a song that we do actions to and we all participate. Everyone has fun and you forget how tired your legs are. I feel like I am 20 again.” Les encourages beginners. “Square dancing has a motto – ‘Friendliness set to music,’” he says. Novice dancers feel confident as long-term participants guide them through calls they might feel too difficult. Having to listen to and follow the calls “stimulates the brain.” Gisela Braniff was still teaching when a co-worker invited her to square dance. “This was perfect timing,” says Gisela, “since I had recently been diagnosed with osteoporosis and needed to get involved with a weight-bearing activity that I would enjoy and continue doing on a regular basis for years to come.” Gisela says her specialist “has confirmed that dancing has certainly benefited my bones, and encourages me to continue with this activity. Square dancing also assists me with strengthening my core in order to maintain my over-all balance.” Square dancing “brought back fond memories of when I first learned to square dance in school,” says Gisela’s husband, Jack, a former realty appraiser for the Provincial Government. “In addition to maintaining a healthy body, it stimulates the mind.” Having met people with similar interests, the Gisela and Jack now travel and have picnics together with other square

Square dancers Les and Kathleen Quilter.

dancers. According to Gisela, “there is a wide variety of people involved in square dancing, and I have found that everyone sees the dancing community as a strong support system. We have fabulous instructors who can teach almost anyone to become a dancer, both square dancing and round dancing. Square dancing is really just walk-

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ing to music, whereas round dancing is done with a partner only, and is closely linked to ballroom dancing with someone onstage helping you out with the moves. No one who thinks they have ‘two left feet’ should be afraid to square dance because if you can walk and listen to directions, you can square dance.” Gisela and Jack routinely dance three times a week, although some weeks, they find themselves on the dance floor five or more days a week. “A two-hour square dance is the exercise equivalent of walking eight kilometres, if you dance every tip and round dance,” says Bruce Irving, publicity chair of the Lower Vancouver Island Western Square and Round Dance Association. A low-impact weight-bearing activity that builds bones, dance involves both physical and mental stimulation significant enough to improve balance and co-ordination and reduce the risk of age-related memory loss. Like Jan, many of today’s boomers and seniors are replacing a sedentary existence with an active lifestyle that keeps them fit while they have fun – a prize-winning recipe for optimum physical and mental health. SL For more information, go online and view the video at www.dancingkeepsyouyoung.ca To find out where to square and/or round dance in your area, call 1-800-335-9433 toll-free from anywhere in B.C., or email info@squaredance.bc.ca

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SEPTEMBER 2011

A Dream Realized Health & Wellness

BY SELINDE KRAYENHOFF

Photo: Theo Holland

verything has a silver lining. It took my moth- of the terms the instructor used were Greek to me, and I could er’s death in the summer of 2008 to bring me hardly keep up with my note taking. My hand cramped. My face to face with my fears – and my dreams. fears were confirmed: “I knew I couldn’t do this!” Feeling like Her passing made it clear to me that life was not going to a conspicuous cast-out, I noticed everyone chatting, catching go on forever and that if there was something I wanted to up after the summer break. As I turned to go, a young woman said, “We all go and eat lunch together and talk about the lecdo, I’d better do it now. A familiar fear surfaced. Even after starting and running a ture. Want to join us?” I resisted the urge to say “no” and run successful business for years, I questioned my ability to suc- away. I never ate alone after that. The discussions were amazing, stimulating and inclusive. ceed in the academic world. My husband and friends poohpoohed my fears: “Of course you can get your degree, no People seemed interested in my ideas, my experience. I was problem!” But I wasn’t reassured. Doubt plagued me. I need- older than most of the students – as well as most of the staff. But I felt young, alive and hungry to learn. And I enjoyed the ed to prove to myself of what I was capable. Growing up, my brothers’ education was followed with energy, insight and commitment of the young people. Today, every time I drive past greater interest and supthe campus perched on port than my own and the hill overlooking the that of my two sisters. Nanaimo harbour, I feel This dynamic came to excited and grateful. my father’s awareness after he retired (as a proThe two years I fessor at UBC) and for spent there were life which he apologized. enhancing. I studied While I did very the great thinkers and well in public school, I artists whose work has was not engaged. I was influenced the way we bored, frankly, and as a think today, the way teenager, I dropped out we organize our lives, of two different high our societies, what we schools finally giving up value and how we exand returning to do my press those values. For high-school equivalency me, with all the life exat Vancouver City Colperience behind me, I found great satisfaction lege as a young adult. As my life unfolded, in stretching my ability The author celebrates a momentous achievement. to explore and express I never took the time or found the courage to think about going back to school. The that experience. The weekly seminars taught me how to clincher occurred when our youngest son enrolled at Vancou- share ideas without judgment. I hadn’t realized how eager ver Island University (VIU) in Nanaimo. A combination of I’d been to go deeper into the world of thought. On almost his excitement and the fact that there was (and still is) no pub- every paper I wrote, I expressed some version of “I love lic transit between Ladysmith where we lived and the campus this writer/thinker/artist.” That didn’t mean I agreed with 20 minutes north motivated me to apply. I was accepted into him or her, but I so appreciated having my understanding the same department as my son – Liberal Studies – except I stretched, challenged, expanded. There were many highlights, but one experience stands was accepted in third year, and he was beginning his first. We out. My son and I ended up in an upper level Philosophy carpooled together and the adventure began. My first day started with a lecture on Greek architecture. I class together. I offered to change to another class. He asked became increasingly upset as the minutes dragged on. Many why I would change and when I explained that he might not 28

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like having his mother in class with him, he assured me, “I think it would be neat!” At the end of term, my son asked me to partner with him on a class presentation. It was fun to work together. After the polite applause at the end of the presentation, I said, “I just want to express what an absolute joy it’s been to be asked to do this presentation with my son.” The place erupted. I had thought everyone knew we were related but evidently, most students did not. They were amazed that a mother and son could have such a relationship. I too was amazed at how our relationship had changed. Driving to and from school, sharing our experiences and ideas, opened up a more mature and mutual way of being together. Another highlight is more recent. My convocation took place in January – a month before my 55th birthday. I was chosen valedictorian. It was an absolute honour to try to capture the emotion and experience of my classmates, and to contribute to their special day. Most of my family was there: what a special occasion. I spoke to the people gathered to celebrate of how a lifetime is made up of moments; and that in each moment we can welcome, encourage, support, enjoy the people and the world around us. All the moments through which we live out our values create a life of purpose and meaning. In my speech, I referred to some of the people at VIU who had contributed to my positive experience as a mature student:

the teachers who went out of their way to make sure I succeeded, the students who gave me feedback and suggestions on my papers, the woman in the coffee shop who made me laugh every time I went in. I am a bigger person because of my education. I’m not as intimidated by books and thinkers I used to avoid. I’m more confident saying “I don’t know, I’d like to learn more about that.” I’m more interested in questions and discussion than in black and white thinking. Life has become more interesting as a result. I’m glad I returned to university and would encourage anyone who has any inkling of desire to grab the moment and sign up – even if only for one course. Because I know, one course will lead to another. The hunger for learning grows. My mother’s education was interrupted by the war in Europe. A lifelong learner, she was never able to complete a formal education. I know she would have been thrilled to learn of my accomplishment. It’s now been over a year since my evenings and weekends were taken up with reading, writing papers and constant conversations in my head and with others. I miss those days. And at the same time, I linger in the satisfaction of a SL fear faced and a dream realized. NOTE: Vancouver Island University has discontinued its continuing education program.

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SEPTEMBER 2011

Health & Wellness

Rebalancing BY GAIL KIRKPATRICK

s people seek out less common methods of rebalancing their bodies and spirits, treatments by a chiropractor, physiotherapist and acupuncturist seem to be more common adjunct or alternative choices. But in the world of healing, therapy with an osteopath or osteopathic practitioner is gaining in familiarity and favour. According to Simon Kerslake, a Victoria osteopathic practitioner and massage therapist, osteopathy works by simple, small adjustments to the structure of the body to relieve back and joint pain, arthritis and other ailments. Osteopathy is based on the work of Dr. Andrew Still (1828-1917) who believed that if the spine were healthy, other disease processes might be cured as well. An osteopath and an osteopathic practitioner have extensive training (five years, usually, at Canadian Academy of Osteopathic and Holistic Health Sciences or the Canadian College of Osteopathy) in anatomy and physiology, reading X-rays, understanding pharmaceuticals and holistic health. Osteopathy also makes use of an intuitive sense to re-balance and heal.

The osteopathic practitioner will do a very detailed history of the client and then examine the way a client stands and walks. While fully clothed and either in a sitting or lying position, the client receives slight adjustments to joints, ligaments, bones or fascia. These adjustments may seem incremental as they correct larger imbalances or disease.

“You cannot undo quickly what has taken maybe decades to set in...” “You cannot undo quickly what has taken maybe decades to set in – sitting at a desk for a lifetime, lifting and working under stress,” says Simon. “Sometimes, even the effect of a minor car accident can cause a person to move for years in such a way as to protect small dislocations or shifts in the skeletal system – things a person may not even be fully aware of.” Simon also studied with a French

physician, a specialist in fascia biomechanics, who believes that the alignment and suturing of an incision can affect how a person heals and recovers even years later. Treatment is individualized based on history. After the treatment, a reassessment is made for degrees of correction. Because osteopathy works with the body’s energy, some clients report feeling a little drained after a treatment, and may be told to go for an easy walk in the fresh air to reintegrate. With a doctor’s referral, osteopaths and osteopathic practitioners may be covered under extended health benefits, similar to massage therapy. The cost is comparable. It may take half a dozen treatments; it may take ongoing frequent adjustments. As with any adjunct therapy, be aware that it is sometimes difficult to tell how effective osteopathy is and at first only small improvements in an ability to garden or walk distances may be noticed. For a holistic approach to rebalancing, osteopathy may be worth considering. For more information, visit online at SL www.osteopathiceducation.ca

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nderstanding risk factors that lead to falls is the first step to reducing older adult injury. Such risk factors associated with falls tend to be categorized into two groups: intrinsic, or personal factors, such as fear of falling, age, gender, and extrinsic, or environmental factors, such as lighting or slippery surfaces. Falls are the leading cause of injury and accidental death in adults over the age of 65 years. Falls are not an inevitable consequence of aging, but falls do occur more often among older adults because fall risk factors increase with age and are usually associated with health and aging conditions.

�� Such risk factors include: •Biological risk factors involving mobility problems due to muscle weakness or balance problems, chronic health conditions such as arthritis and stroke, vision changes and vision loss, and loss of sensation in ones feet. •Behavioural risk factors including medication side effects, •Environmental risk factors such as home and environmental hazards (clutter, poor lighting), incorrect size, type, or use of assistive devices (walkers, canes, crutches, wheelchairs), and finally poorly designed public spaces. Prevention through effective fall intervention can reduce the fall risk factors. Through guided specific exercises or by combining exercises with other risk reduction approaches such as medication review and management, vision screening and correction, education, and safer living environments, you can decrease your risk of an unnecessary fall. Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists are trained in helping adults with a broad range of physical and developmental conditions through client centred therapy plans with the goal of preventing injury. By participating in effective fall prevention programs, you can reduce falls and help yourself to live a longer more independent lifestyle. Strong Point a division of Little Steps Therapy Services Ltd. is offering a falls prevention program to assist seniors in living a full and active lifestyle. Call or e-mail for more information Linda Amy – linda@mylittlesteps, phone #: 250-386-1171

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�� St. John Ambulance has been supporting seniors in residential facilities for the past fourteen years with our Therapy Dogs Visitation Program”, states Larry Odegard CEO of St. John Ambulance B.C./Yukon division. “Our First Call Medical Alert program now offers support to those seniors who are living in their own homes”. St. John Ambulance has partnered with SecurTek, a highly regarded monitoring and telecommunications company in Western Canada to offer a program that supports, informs and educates seniors living independently. Our Medical Alert system has the most technologically advanced fall detector, a two way voice transmitter and waterproof Personal Help Button. Trained responders stand by 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help in any emergency; medical, fire, flood, or intruder. Someone is there day and night ready to help

“We are excited to supply this unique fall detector. Not everyone has this device, and if a fall is detected, our system can call through to the monitoring station even if the buttons are not pushed. This extra layer of reassurance really makes our First Call Program stand out from the competition”, Odegard says. During the in home installation and orientation for the Medical Alert, fall prevention and home safety are discussed. Seventy

percent of all falls occur in and around the home; however falls are not an inevitable part of the aging process. Falls are preventable with education and awareness. To enhance home safety, St. John Ambulance then walks through the home with the customer to identify potential ‘hot spots’ that may pose hazards. Customers are left with a St. John Ambulance Family First Aid Kit, and a Lifelong Learning transferable gift certificate that can be used toward any CPR or First Aid Course.

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“Each of us want to live in our own homes, independent for as long as possible. It’s a more familiar and healthier place to be. This complete approach to independence is the type of product you want to invest in before you really need it. It’s reassuring for us and our families to know we are connected and can receive immediate help at the push of a button. More than just a great product, First Call Medical Alert is a great program”.

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SEPTEMBER 2011

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ost of us only think of wool when it’s time to wear sweaters and coats. But wool does so much more. Its health properties make it a powerhouse fighter against many of the conditions that keep us from getting the most out of each day. Wool’s natural healing properties mean it’s an effective medical option as a preventive, curative or palliative treatment. It absorbs and disperses a third of its own weight in moisture – almost five times more than cotton and ten times that of polyester. Skin is kept dry and pressure and chafing are reduced. This helps prevent painful conditions such as bedsores, eczema, and other irritations.

Wool’s hollow fibre promotes air circulation to prevent bacterial growth, infection, and inflammation while improving blood circulation. This often speeds patient recovery from surgery or injury trauma. Wool blankets, overlays and sheepskins are ideal for managing illnesses that impose long stays in bed or wheelchairs, such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, osteoporosis, or diabetes. Plus,

wool helps promote a great night’s sleep, which is important for a healthy body and mind. Canada’s leading supplier of sheepskin and sheep wool, Soul Comfort, is located in Duncan, BC. Owner Anyes deLaat and her team have created these natural products for almost 30 years. Beyond its medical line, Soul Comfort makes wool products to enjoy from head to toe. Footwear (including a new line of hemp/ wool slippers) clothing, baby and pet products are available. The newest additions include golf seat covers that are ideal for cars, boats, even RV’s. Everything is 100% machine wash and dry. Soul Comfort’s wool is a miracle fibre. In fact, The Children’s & Women’s Health Centre of British Columbia says, “Sheepskin has been used throughout the Intensive Care Units as the gold standard for pressure relief.” Every product is made from a unique three-wool blend, including merino, imported from Australia and is specially designed for the medical field for maximum strength and durability. Over 950 grams of wool are used in each square metre, the highest density available in the market. Soul Comfort’s medical line is available at Medichair stores and all products can be ordered at www.soulcomfortsheepskin.com. For more information or to schedule an in-home consultation, please contact 1.800.404.0622.

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y mother never recovered from breaking her hip. How can I prevent this from happening to me?

Bone health is an important part of health at for all ages but especially for those over 45. Throughout our lives two competing processes are occurring in our bones: bone synthesis and bone destruction. In our mid 20’s, we reach our peak bone mass, which is the strongest our bones will ever be. After this, bone destruction overtakes bone formation.

As we age, our bones start becoming brittle and weak. This is especially apparent in women during and after menopause. The architecture of our bones changes and less minerals, proteins and collagen are deposited, making the bones more porous. The extreme form of this is called osteoporosis, which results in a significantly increased occurrence of fractures. Osteoporosis not only causes these fractures, it also makes it incredibly difficult to recover from them. In a study of 50+ year old patients with a fractured hip, 13.5% did not survive past six months, and a further 13% required complete assistance to move, even after six months!

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Milk Basic Protein (MBP) is a safe and highly effective ingredient that has been studied in over eight human trials and is widely used in Japan. MBP is a natural protein derived from whey, a component of milk. MBP stimulates bone forming cells and suppresses bone destroying cells and finally, it also helps direct calcium to the bones, where it is needed most. This reduces calcium levels in the blood vessels, where high levels can lead to calcium deposits and hardening of the arteries! MBP is available from AOR, Canada’s own natural supplements company, in Advanced Bone Protection. Clinical results showed a significant increase in bone density after six months with a dose of just one small capsule per day. Dr. Nibber is the director of research at AOR. He has a degree in Pharmacy and received his Ph. D. in Pathology from the University of London. WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

SEPTEMBER 2011

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olistic dentist Dr. Deanna Geddo approaches each of her patients with the following question in mind: “How can I truly serve this person, giving them something precious, restoring their health and natural beauty?” The loving kindness she practices shows up in everything from the comfy waiting room where herbal tea is served, a yoga/ meditation room for patients who want to practice relaxation techniques, consulting with patients about their music preferences during treatment, and the lavender-scented hot towels applied at the end of a treatment.

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Holistic dentistry, explains Dr. Geddo, takes into account the biological aspects of a person, along with their values and spiritual, emotional, and psychological aspects. Her many clients obviously approve. Young people think she’s cool, seniors feel nurtured, and all feel respected as individuals. Sensitive patients benefit from her empathy and coaching in relaxation methods, and no longer fear going to the dentist. Twenty-five-year-old Kelsey Carter writes that “She has not just helped my teeth, she has helped me smile. She has been such an inspiration…She truly cares about your health and you as a person. She has made such a difference to my whole life.”

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Dr. Geddo stresses that each smile is unique. “The most beautiful smiles are the ones developed from what the person already looks like, minor imperfections included. There are diverse forms of beauty,” says Dr. Geddo. She urges her patients to bring in a photo of themselves as a young person, smiling. She explains that over time, not only do teeth themselves get dull or worn down, but that the whole bite can change, reducing the harmony of facial features. “Sometimes the back teeth need to be replaced or built up to restore the height of the face; this will often also transform the position of front teeth and therefore the smile.”

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Even denture wearers can be helped. Tears of joy well up in senior patients’ eyes when they “recognize” the original expression of their smile.Patient Dorothee Friese, a patient who showed Dr. Geddo a photo of herself at age 17, is thrilled with her transformation: “My smile is dazzling, with a uniformity of colour, yet still retaining the character of smile that I originally had…but the best change is that I have the confidence of my youth back.” Dr. Geddo believes a visit to the dentist should be a pleasurable and healing experience. Call her today to arrange a consultation.

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iny hairs inside your ear help you hear. They pick up sound waves and change them into the nerve signals that the brain interprets as sound. Hearing loss occurs when the tiny hairs inside the ear are damaged or die. The hair cells do not regrow, so most hearing loss is permanent.

There is no known single cause for agerelated hearing loss. Most commonly, it is caused by changes in the inner ear that occur as you grow older. However, your genes and loud noises (such as from rock concerts or music headphones) may play a large role.

Presbycusis is a gradual decrease in hearing sensitivity. Because it happens gradually, it takes many people years before they seek treatment, usually in the form of hearing aids.

“Hearing aids have come a long way” says Dr. Erin Wright at Oak Bay Hearing Clinic. “People who are seeking treatment from our clinic are younger and younger with the average age being 62 years old. The advancements in technology driven by the aging baby boomers has made the technology actually work.” It’s not all in the technology however. “Hearing aids are complex devices that require both art and science to program. At the Broadmead and Oak Bay Hearing Clinics, we make it our mission to end up with results that make people happy. The three month trial period allows us to try out a few different models and sizes so that the device people end up with will meet all of their needs,” says Dr. Wright.

�� “Our competitive difference is that we are independent from any hearing aid manufacturer which allows us to approach each patient without bias. It is their individual needs that drives our decisions. Our price match guarantee also ensures that we have competitive pricing. And as an added bonus, most of our customers get a three year supply of batteries! Until October 1, 2011, Broadmead and Oak Bay Hearing Clinics are offering complimentary diagnostic hearing assessments. To book yours, call 250-479-2969.

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SEPTEMBER 2011

Bitter is Better Health & Wellness

BY MOIRA GARDENER

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iron, magnesium and some calcium. The cold pressed process is crucial in maintaining the nutrients. The beans themselves have a much higher fat content of 55% (good fat), 12% protein, 9% fibre, 7% starch, 6% polyphenols, 5% water, 3% acid, 2% theobromin, 1% sugar, and a host of vitamins and minerals. Another fact is the benefits. According to Dr. Steven Warren, MD, with extensive experience in gerontology, pure cacao acts as an anti-inflammatory, a mood elevator, and can lower the risks of heart disease and cancer. Cacao is also rich in antioxidants, which are known to stop the harmful effects of oxidization in the body. Many books have been written on antioxidants and their effects, but to summarize: antioxidants stop free radicals (unattached molecules within the body) from doing damage. So, consuming antioxidant rich foods, like pure cacao, is like squeezing lemon juice on an apple to stop it from going brown. By turning back to natural plant-based nutrients high in antioxidants, people fight fatigue and build up resistance to disease. The weaning process from sweet to bitter may be a challenge. It’s an acquired taste over time, like becoming a connoisseur of fine red wine. Surprisingly, the powder with its strong chocolate aroma is quite satisfying in naturally raw fruit sweetener shakes. It may be a pleasant surprise, in a cacao smoothie or breakfast shake. Try mixing cocoa power in with honeysweetened oatmeal and almond milk, or spice up chili. Cacao can be a marvellous addition to an anti-aging regime when used in purer forms giving conWWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

sumers control on its use. Search the Internet for more ideas; experiment and have fun. Here are a few easy recipes to get started:

Tropical Chocolate Breakfast Shake 1/2 Banana 1/2 c Freshly sliced pineapple 1/2 c Orange juice or water 1/4 c powdered cacao Unflavoured protein powder Powdered probiotics Feel free to add supplements from your current health regime. Using a blender, blend until smooth. Enjoy! Alternatives: • Substitute pineapple with blueberries to increase the antioxidant factor. • Try strawberries and bananas. They go so well with chocolate.

Basic Chocolate Chili

Photo: Moira Gardener

he buzz around dark chocolate being nutritional can be deceiving; so don’t be fooled by a label just because it says “dark chocolate.” It’s only nutritional in its most natural form. What this means is consumers need to make a mental shift from sweet chocolate, which is a confectioner’s candy, to the fact that chocolate is naturally bitter. The bitter cacao obtained from the seeds in the large fruit pod of the cacao tree is nutritional. These seeds range in colour from dark purple to whitish pink – this is where the nutrients are. So, consuming cacao or cocoa as beans, nibs, or cold-pressed powder is really the true healthy dark chocolate that can be used as a dietary supplement. It’s not the bars laced with sugar and fillers. Raw cocoa beans have a nut-like consistency and are somewhat bitter. The cold-processed cacao powder is simply one more spice to use in smoothies, on oatmeal, or even to jazz up chili. This food source finds its origins in South America. Here, the cacao bean was used in a bitter drink. European explorers brought it back to their culture, and because their palate was accustomed to sweets, they altered the natural cacao and created the sweetened bonbons that are so prolific today. Like many things in North American culture, the challenge is to avoid the processing and manoeuvre through the forest of fillers and sweeteners to find the real deal. So, with boomers seeking healthier alternatives, cacao is one to add to the list. Here are some pure cacao facts: The nutritional value of 2 Tbsp of a quality cold-pressed cacao or cocoa powder is 6% fat, 12% protein, 38% fibre plus

Using a Dutch oven on the stovetop add: 2 Tbsp. (30 ml) water 1/2 lb. (.25 Kg) bison (more for meat lovers or firm tofu for vegetarians) 1 medium onion (diced) 3 garlic cloves (minced or pressed)

1/4 cup (50 ml) finely chopped fresh celery leaves Dash or 2 of ground cayenne pepper Brown meat mixture over a medium heat, stirring frequently. Bison (a lean meat) does not require draining and the water gives enough moisture to prevent overcooking. To this browned mixture, add: 1 large can (796-28oz.) diced tomatoes 2 cans (398-14oz.) drained kidney beans (OR if preferred 3 1/2 cups pre-cooked beans). 2 Tbsp (30 ml) chili powder (or adjust to taste) 1 Tbsp (15 ml) organic raw cocoa or cacao powder 1 Tbsp (15 ml) Worcestershire sauce 1 cup (250 ml) fresh mushrooms (sliced or diced) Optional: Add green or red peppers, or a carrot for sweetness. With the lid on, simmer for 1 hour. Taste and add more chili powder or cacao, if desired. Turn to low heat and simmer for another 30 minutes. If a thicker chili is desired, remove the lid for 30 minutes to evaporate some of the liquid. Stir frequently. Allow people salt to taste when served. (Note: There is salt in the canned tomatoes.) Makes 4 to 6 servings. Bon appetite! Comments or questions: moira-inthemoment@shaw.ca

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8/22/11 9:42:27 AM

Health & Wellness

Balancing Your Life BY NAOMI BETH WAKAN

ometimes in my life, I feel like I am juggling six balls in the air while tightrope walking on a slack line. There is my writing life, my partnering life, my concern for adult-children life, my housekeeping life, my gardening life, my participating in the community life all to keep polished and in good shape. Yes, I know others could add caregiving-for-parents and any number of items that need to be kept in balance, but at 80, six things are more than enough for me. Still, I feel stretched as I plan meaningful time with my husband only to have writing deadlines loom large, or I pick up the phone to keep contact with my children and the neighbourhood collector for breast cancer funding knocks at the door at the same time. I realize I have a roof over my head, have paid the mortgage and have enough food in the freezer and clothes in the cupboard to last me until I kick the bucket, so you may find that what I need to keep in balance is trivial. Still, as energies decline, to meet the demands that define my life and make it worth living, I scurry around most days trying not to neglect any of them. Scott Nearing, the organic gardener who influenced us “back-to-the-landers” in the sixties, at age 100, came in from the woodshed with the day’s firewood and told his wife that he could no longer fulfill his household duties. He decided not to eat any more and three weeks later was gone. While the story amazes me, I don’t feel we have to be that extremely dutiful to the demands in our life. In the last 20 years, I have let whole chunks of my “duties” drop away without the slightest guilt. Still, keeping mentally, emotionally, and physically sound while meeting com40

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mitments made to others and to ourselves is a fine art that bears further inspection. I’m sure keeping mental powers in shape by doing crosswords, jigsaw puzzles, and Sudoku helps. Trying a new language is often recommended too. After vaguely looking at the Japanese language, I’m thinking of taking a look at the Arabic script, which while looking like angelwriting, is a complete mystery to me. Besides learning a new skill, re-exploring some you already have can be fruitful for those neurons. For example, I can vaguely read music at a Grade 5 level, but I don’t really “understand” music – the way it is written, the harmonies, and the construction. So by taking a deeper look at how music is written may well be another way to keep my brain in shape, that is, by exploring an old skill in a new way. As far as emotions go, I am no longer under the whims of a menstrual cycle; still there does seem to be an ebb and flow, and overflow of my emotions that affects those around me. As a former therapist, I am well aware of when my emotions tip over, for example, from natural, reasonable fear into paranoia. Awareness is the secret to stopping negative feelings from swamping you and using up your energies needed to keep functioning well and cheerfully through most of the contingencies that life throws us. Buddhism extols the “middle way” and that is, of course, the ability to keep things in balance; to not let sadness move over into depression, or cheerfulness to get lost in manic behaviour that you’ll later regret. Relationships, another area that needs to be kept in balance, require compromise. For my first husband, I gave up eating kippers; for my second husband, I gave up reading in bed. As WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

a child, he loved to read with the book on the floor at the head of the bed, with himself lying on his stomach and reading over the head of the bed. In order to facilitate this childhood pattern, our bed is placed away from the wall and therefore I’m unable to sit up in bed, well-pillowed against the bed-head and enjoying a good book until I fall asleep. What have you compromised in order to keep your relationship running smoothly, I wonder? For keeping one’s physical state in some condition of equilibrium, a dog is recommended, for then you will be sure to get outside at least twice a day, dragged along on a leash by your eager pet. Our house, full of my husband’s sculptures, is not petproof, but we do have three floors and so I run up and down stairs frequently, stopping for breath occasionally at the top. In season, the bending and stretching of gardening adds useful exercise. When you are very old, it’s said that “breakfast seems to come every 15 minutes,” and indeed meals do seem to take on a certain importance as we age, that they didn’t when we were rushing madly to work each day. In order to keep our weight in check, the rule in our house is the old one, “Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and supper like a pauper.” My husband has the same shape he had in high school (although the muscles bear little resemblance). I am not doing quite so well, for I no longer seem to have a waist; but then I never had much of a waist anyway. Our body presents limits. If we are trapped too much by its outward obligations – to family, job, community, etc., we will feel drained, and it can lead to depression. On the other hand, if we concentrate on our own “inner quest” to the extent of ignoring any social, family or community responsibilities, it can lead us into a kind of

narcissism and isolation. How to keep the balance? The balance is between two extremes. In the first case, it is wrong to concentrate too much on “developing” oneself to the extent that one loses touch with the outer “reality.” At the other extreme, it is also wrong to merge too much with the world around us, for that causes us to lose the elements that make each of us unique. Somehow, living fully implies finding a balance between the two extremes. As Goethe put it, “All reflection and no plunging drives us mad. All plunging and no reflection, and we are brutes.” Otto Rank simplifies this advice by recommending that we mustn’t “separate too much, or unite too much.” Life is complex, but I think, even as I age, I have developed techniques for living great chunks of it perfectly satisfactorily. The parts I can’t cope with, as I mentioned earlier, I just let fall by the wayside, with no feeling of failure. You may be able to juggle more parts of your life than I can, and keep all those balls in the air at once. If you can, I am agog with admiration. For me, the less I need to do (or have) in order to survive creatively and keep my writing life flowing, the less I will do (or have). You’ve probably been reflecting on your own juggling act as you’ve been following mine. Please don’t feel too guilty about imbalances, for I’m sure you have come to the same conclusion I have: at some times, and in some situations, it’s healthiest to just throw the juggling balls wildly in the air, jump off the tightrope, and skip joyfully away into the meadow. SL

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SEPTEMBER 2011

Underwater Wonders of Palau

SENIOR LIVING

have eroded their undersides, giving each a cute bowl-style haircut. And contrasting with their verdant topcoats is an embracing patchwork of blue: from the palest celadon over the coral reefs to the richest sapphire where the deep drops beneath. Our flat-bottom boat glides over the pristine surface like a well-waxed surfboard, and while slicing effortlessly through protected glassy lagoons and riding the crests of white water waves, the lush rounded landscapes roll on by.

The author, riveted to the bow and spellbound by Mother Nature’s beauty. Above, Schools of tiger-ﬁsh give the author the eye as they breeze on by.

Photos: Brent Cassie

’m not a huge fan of Survivor. But as I prepare to jump into the swarm of jiggling jellyfish, I wish I were. A few tips from their Palau escapades might come in handy right now. “Just take that leap of faith,” Loreen Sugiyama says with a cheeky grin. It’s easy for her to say. She’s not wearing the snorkel. But there are a couple of things I know about my Palauan guide: she’s true to her word and she’s all about the adventure! Loreen does, after all, work for Fish ‘n Fins, a tour company that offers some of the best ways to check out Palau’s treasures. As well as land excursions that loop over the hilly terrain, their aquatic lineup caters to any water-baby – from veteran divers to us senior snorkellers. Either way, it’s like dipping into an aquarium – rain or shine! “No worries,” Loreen reassures, when we head out earlier under a dome of cloud. “It never rains for long in Palau.” I give her a questioning glance when monstersize droplets spill from the swollen skies. But instead of seeking refuge beneath the cruiser’s sheltering pop-top, I remain riveted to the open bow – spellbound by Mother Nature’s tropical wash and surrounding beauty. Whatever the weather, Palau’s famous Rock Islands seem to have that alluring effect. The 500 or so jungle-draped landforms in the western corner of Micronesia vary in size and appearance – from smaller atolls and mushroom-shaped mounds to larger undulating masses that sprawl out like sleeping serpents. Over their 40 million years of existence, pounding wave action and burrowing mollusks

BY JANE CASSIE

Birds constantly flit in and out of my viewfinder. Although too many to track and too fast to photograph, Loreen rattles the names off like they’re her best friends: bat-winged petrels, red-tailed tropics, plunge-diving kingfishers. “Palau is home to 149 species, 12 of which are endemic,” she proudly affirms. ConWWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

sidering the whirlwind of activity and cacophony of sing song, I’m sure half of them are hanging out right here. We also discover that our guide has a wealth of knowledge about Palau’s marine life. Thirty minutes after leaving the main hub of Koror, we glide into a tranquil bay, just north of Mecherchar Island, where a colourful coral garden is home to giant Tridacnas clams. “Some of these beauties are 100 years old,” she claims, “and weigh as much as 250 pounds.” My heart quickens, when thinking about the yawning creatures that thrive beneath. But after checking them out, it’s easy to see that they’re totally satiated by their in-house bounty. Spiky Staghorn and nodular Porites coral cling to the ocean’s sandy floor and provide essential nutrients for a vibrant array of tropical fish. And integrated with this marine maze are these massive jaw-gaping clams – all vying for sunlight in an attempt to synthesize solar energy through their black-eyed pores. Although the dazzling display has superseded my visual expectations, after coming up for air, Loreen assures, there’s more to come. “You’ll be blown away by the Cemetery,” she jests, as we troll into the next snorkelling site. Layers of more fragile organisms enshroud slabs of concrete that were dropped here many years ago. And after planting my facemask water-side down, I discover this ocean graveyard is anything but lifeless. Ironically, it’s drop-dead gorgeous. Schools of striped tiger and pretty parrotfish give me the eye as they breeze on by. Goat, lion and cowfish soon follow. And feeding this frenzied safari are flourishing sponges,

billowing sea grasses and more of that eco-rich coral: Flat tabletop, convoluted brain, tentacle torch – some look like mushrooms, others like clumps of cauliflower. Though I’m certainly not tempted to dig in, the riot of sea life sure is. Our lunch comes just a little later. After a quick skim over the turquoise surface, we reach an island that could dub as Eden. Swaying palms line the sugar-fine shore and thatched-roof shelters offer reprieve from tropical storms. Although Palau’s average temperature is a balmy 27 degrees C (82 degrees F) year-round, when it rains, it pours. Over this past week, Mother Nature’s faucet has turned on and off more than the one in my kitchen sink. But as quickly as it starts, it stops. Living up to her promise, Loreen’s weather prediction has panned out and while soaking up the rays on this Gilligan Island look-alike, we dine on delicious Bentos: teriyaki chicken, sweet sticky rice and tiny tasty bananas. Palau’s cuisine is a reflection of its history – a combo of homegrown, Japanese and all-American rolled into one; past dictators rotated through this country more frequently than London’s changing of the guard. Spain, Germany, Japan and the United States all enjoyed a piece of the Palau pie. And though this tiny nation of 20,000 finally gained independence in 1994, it still embraces the past, including sunken Japanese “Zero’ fighter planes and tales of Peleliu’s bloody battle that attract the war buffs. Traditional birthing and funeral ceremonies continue to lure cultural gurus and carbon dating of artifacts that go back as far as 1,000 BC are a hit with the historians. But right now, I’m fixated on the present. It’s been a day of visual overload and this final plunge is likely going to put me into overdrive. Jellyfish Lake, a tranquil interior gem that was formed by the rising seas more than 12,000 years ago has been named in honour of its inhabitants. Millions of these swimmers that have a symbiotic relationship with the sun and algae flap their way through the crystal clear water like wavering golden bells. And because they’re not threatened by any predators, and have lost their sting, they aren’t a threat to us. Although this adventure is on my must-do list, as I peer over the dock at the thriving swarm, I wish I were back at our Palasia Hotel. The courtyard pool, topped off with an hour-long massage, would suit me fine. “Fear not,” Loreen encourages, as if reading my mind. “It’s an experience you’ll never forget.” And after submerging into this bath-like ethereal lake and feeling totally connected with nature, I realize my tour guide is, once again, true to her word. Like the rest SL of this day in “Rainbow’s End,” it’s quite an adventure!

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SEPTEMBER 2011

COURAGEOUS and OUTRAGEOUS

Embrace the Journey - A Care Giver’s Story The very personal story of her own journey as a care giver to her elderly parents. This is a story which will touch many hearts and be relevant for numerous adult children who, in midlife, are faced with a similar challenge and must make agonizing decisions and choices. It painfully addresses the problems encountered of ‘aging in place’ and the desire for loving couples to stay together in their home until the end of their lives. 96 pages. Softcover. 5.5” x 8.5” Published by Senior Living. Price $14.95 To order, please send cheque for $20.12 ($14.95 plus $3.95 S&H & taxes) payable to Senior Living. MAIL TO: Senior Living 153, 1581-H Hillside Ave., Victoria BC V8T 2C1 Please include your clearly written shipping address and phone number. Allow two weeks for shipping.

Next Month in Senior Living...

Fashion & Beauty Tips to help you look your best. Interviews with boomers and seniors in the industry.

Photo: Frances Litman

by Valerie Green

BY PAT NICHOL

Renaissance Woman

alier Ethier, 80, is a Renaissance woman. Just in time for her 80th birthday, she published her first book, Distance. But let’s go back a few years. In 1954, few young women thought about university, and were not being pushed into higher education. Our heroine, however, discovered at university “for the first time, it was okay to be smart.” She graduated from UBC with degrees in geography and geology. Neither was a field that was generally open to women, but Valier had some role models in her family that made her want to achieve more. The geography and geology came from spending time in the outdoors and wanting to know more about the beauty of the mountains and why they were what they were. Also, at the time, the oil and gas industry was growing and there was less of a gender bias. If you could do the job, you got the job. In fact, she had three companies bidding for her talents. She did all of the usual things that women did during the ’50s; she worked for a while, got married, had children and then did some consulting. But, “I became restless; I wanted to run my

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own act. I began teaching within the industry.” Over time, however, she moved on to other things. Languages interested her, so she decided to volunteer at the Intercultural Association and took a course, one summer, in Teaching English as a Second Language. Valier’s life moved in yet another direction: “I decided I liked teaching refugees,” she says. “It was an opportunity to help others at a human interface level.” In 2005, she decided on a less physically demanding pastime and began her life as an author writing fiction. She took a creative writing course, joined the Victoria Writers Society and pulled ideas from stories and passing incidents that had caught her attention. From these came Distance – 11 short stories that pull the reader in, and don’t let go even when the story ends. “Like old age, these stories are not for wimps.” Whatever the basis for each tale, they are compelling. Let’s hope there are more stories where SL these came from. Pat Nichol is a speaker and published author. Reach her at www. patnichol.com

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ASK Goldie

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Dear Goldie: I am a widower of four years in good health. I have three children and five grandchildren. We have a good relationship and I see them often. The reason I am writing to you is my fear of the future. I have several close friends that I socialize with often, but I’m always fearful that I won’t live much longer. I don’t understand this because my health is good and my parents lived until their nineties. I’m just not sure what this fear is all about. –W.C. Dear W.C.: You don’t mention if you have recently suffered the loss of a family member or friend, but this is often a forerunner of such feelings. If this is not the case, it would be wise for you to have a visit to your medical doctor to allay your fears. Perhaps you could make more effort to socialize with your friends or make some new friends. There are many social groups to join such as swimming, bowling or dancing. If this feeling persists, ask your doctor for a referral to a counsellor. Dear Goldie: I am a 60-year-old widow with four children, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. The reason I am writing to you is that I have become a permanent babysitter. My family knows that I love them, but it has become convenient for them to say, “Oh, Mom will babysit.” I don’t want to create a bad relationship, but I need to get my life back. –L.N. Dear L.N.: I’m afraid things will not improve in your life unless you face the problem and tell your family what is wrong. Because you have so willingly agreed to babysit, your children think it is all you want from life. Only you can change the situation. Be clear. You have never complained, so they assume you are happy with life as it is. I can assure you they will still love and respect you for being honest. After all, they do love you as a SL mother and grandmother. SENIOR PEER COUNSELLING CENTRES Victoria 250-382-4331 Duncan 250-748-2133 Nanaimo 250-754-3331 Sidney 250-656-5537

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Goldie Carlow is a retired registered nurse, clinical counsellor and senior peer counselling trainer. WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

SEPTEMBER 2011

CLASSIFIEDS EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR A PRINT-READY MEMOIR Aldridge Street Publishing. Transcription - Editing - Cover Design - Book Layout. www.aldridgestreet.com Call 250-590-5910. THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU of Vancouver Island is located at 2201175 Cook St., Victoria BC V8V 4A1. Toll-free phone line for Up-Island 1-877826-4222 (South Island dial 250-3866348). www.bbbvanisland.org E-mail: info@bbbvanisland.org

BRIGHT IDEAS TECHNOLOGY In home computer support & training. 20% Seniors discount. Call Jason today 250-480-8259. We look forward to helping you discover today’s technology. www.brightideastech.ca DRIVING MISS DAISY ® Places to go? People to see? Appointments to keep? Choose one of we three! Susan: 250-588-4638 (Victoria) Heather: 250507-2336 (Sidney) John: 250-813-0440 (Westshore)

COLLECTOR SEEKING vintage/collectable cameras, binoculars and microscopes. Nikon, Leica, Contax, Rolleiﬂex, Zeiss, Canon, etc. Mike 250-383-6456 or e-mail: msymons6456@telus.net

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MOBILE FOOT CARE NURSE home visits in greater Nanaimo, Cedar to Parksville. John Patterson LPN, qualified nursing foot care for toenails, corns and calluses. 250-390-9266. SAANICH VOLUNTEER SERVICES wants you to ‘fall’ into volunteering and help a Saanich neighbour maintain their independent living. Call 250-595-8008. RUTH M.P HAIRSTYLING for Seniors in Greater Victoria. In the convenience of your own home! Certified Hairdresser. Call - 250-893-7082. LAWN AND GARDEN SERVICES starting at 30/hr. Certified Horticulturist - Fully Insured. References on request. Call Jason @ 250-893-8620 or email oliphantgardens@gmail.com WANTED: OLD POSTCARDS, stamp accumulations, and pre-1950 stamped envelopes. Also buying old coins, medals and badges. Please call Michael 250652-9412 or email fenian@shaw.ca

VICTORIA MALE VOICE CHOIR welcomes new members! Non-auditioned choir, monthly performances. Rehearsals Tuesday nights at Sacred Heart. 250-7279904, info@victoriamalevoicechoir.com WANTED 1 BEDROOM COTTAGE for healthy young senior, in exchange for security, maintenance, repairs, ﬁrewood etc. Clean, responsible ND/NS no criminal record. Farm background. Qualicum to Nanoose acreage preferred. Please call Albert 250-240-3274 Parksville. HEALING CONSULTANT - Specializing in Health Assessment in Home. Let Nurse Marcia Help You to Be Well. Call (250) 686-3081. TRISHA’S HOUSE OF MUSIC Piano lessons my studio/your home. Royal Oak / Peninsula. Classical/Modern/Pop. Trisha (250) 652-0305 trisha@islandnet.com

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2 bd, 1 bth unit on QUIET side of building overlooking manicured gardens & courtyard. Kitchen with eating area, liv/din room & balcony looking out to quietness. The unit is very well cared for with newer lino, carpets, light ﬁxtures & HWT. In-suite laundry/storage, u/ground secured parking, sep. storage & all appliances included! Workshop, guest suite & if you please optional meals/social room. Close to VGH, bus routes, highway for up island & shopping! You can buy Lunch, Dinner & Holiday Dinner’s all pay as you go or full mth meals with 10% discount, billed at end of mth. Call Tracy for more information or a private viewing 250-744-3301

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING $30 for 20 words or less. $1.25 per extra word. BW only. Add BW Logo - $25. Red spot color 10% extra. Boxed Ad - Small (2.2 x 1.2) $110. Boxed Ad - Large (2.2 x 2.4) $210. Plus tax. Ads must be paid at booking. Cheque / Credit Card accepted. Ph. (250)479-4705, Toll-free 1-877-479-4705. Deadline: 15th of the month. Make cheque payable to: Senior Living, Magazine 153, 1581-H Hillside Ave., Victoria BC V8T 2C1 OCTOBER 2009 39

SCAM ALERT Social Media Opens New Opportunities for Scammers

eniors are often the targets of scam artists who view this demographic as particularly vulnerable and trusting. Scams range from phoney lotteries to prize offers to business opportunities. The Better Business Bureau warns the public about the variations on these scams. One old scam has taken on an alarming new twist. The so-called Grandparent Scam generally worked like this - the grandfather receives a distressed phone call from who he believes is his grandchild. The supposed grandchild typically explains that she is travelling abroad and has been arrested or involved in an auto accident, and needs him to wire money to post bail or pay for damages – usually amounting to a few thousand dollars. The scammers’ basic tactic is to pose as a grandchild and let the unsuspecting grandparent fill in the blanks. For example, the scam caller might say, “It’s me, your favourite grandchild,” to which the grandparent will guess the name of the

BY ROSALIND SCOTT

grandchild it sounds the most like, and then the call proceeds from there. In the updated scam, callers identify themselves by the name of the grandchild or other family member. They say they are being held in jail in Mexico and they need bail money wired immediately. They lace their conversation with accurate references to other family members, increasing their credibility. One caller even knew that the person they were impersonating had a twin who was born two minutes later. There are many ways that scammers can get this kind of detailed information. One is through social media, where people update their status on Facebook or send a message on Twitter announcing details of their travel plans. A quick Google search on the user can yield a lot of information for scammers to take advantage of: name, hometown, employment, even relatives. To protect people from this nefarious scam, and other scams that may use a distressed loved-one tactic, BBB advis-

WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

es that you remain calm and confirm the status of the caller. Get their phone number so you can call them back directly, or verify the story with other family members before taking any further action. Even developing a secret code that is known only within the family can save lots of heartache and distress. The BBB also encourages people to limit the amount of personal information shared on social media sites, and to only “friend” people they know SL personally. For more advice, tips, and alerts, or to check out a business, visit BBB online at www.vi.bbb.org

If you believe you have been the target of a scam, call the Better Business Bureau Vancouver Island at 250-386-6348 in Greater Victoria or at 1-877-8264222 elsewhere on the Island, so others can beneﬁt from your experience. E-mail info@vi.bbb.org

SEPTEMBER 2011

Reﬂections THEN & NOW

BY GIPP FORSTER

ot long ago, I was sitting down on the cold curb of existence, inhaling the exhaust fumes of the past, contemplating the meaning of life. It was unfortunate that at that very moment, my wife called for me to take out the trash. It destroyed my poetic vision and yanked me solidly, and not too gently, back to the reality of who I am. And who am I? An overweight, balding, bearded older man who is winded playing solitaire. But that was not always so. At one time, I was dapper – even dashing! I had a 32-inch waist and was two inches taller than I am now. I had hair on top of my head and I could play “Red River Valley” on the harmonica without fear of cardiac arrest. I had fewer memories then, and because of it, got into more mischief. That is not to say I don’t get into mischief 50 years later. The other morning, I left the lid off the peanut butter jar on purpose. And that evening, I did the exact same thing with the toothpaste tube. I don’t want my wife to start taking me for granted or thinking I don’t have “it” anymore. This way, she knows I still live on the edge. When I think back to the things I could do all day without breaking a sweat that

now take me all day to do, I get very melancholy. This reminds me that my mom told me that horses sweat and people perspire. So, I’ve taken poetic licence in saying “without breaking a sweat” rather than “without breaking perspiration.” Because the wrong sounds right and the right sounds wrong! At one time, I could ride a bicycle, run up and down stairs and wink at pretty girls. Now, I avoid curbs and will only drive a car or a scooter with four wheels. Recently, to let my wife know there’s still a lot of life left in me, I winked at her with a sly smile on my face. She rushed out of the room and then slunk back in, sidled over to the chair I was in, grabbed my jaw, pushed my head back and leaned in close. I hadn’t expected that reaction, but I wasn’t at all surprised. When you have it, you have it! I was ready for a great romantic kiss! You can imagine my shock when she squirted my eye with Visine. I think, at least for a while, I’m going to hold back on the winks. Perhaps I’m no longer debonair and svelte, but I was told by a panhandler that I looked very distinguished. Of course, it was after I had given him five dollars. Still, he seemed like an honest and observant young fellow. I very proudly told my

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Photo: Krystle Wiseman

NO PERSPIRATION

wife what he said when I returned home. She just smiled. I could do a lot more when I was younger and young, but I don’t know if given the opportunity to go back that I would. It’s somewhat nice walking and not feeling I have to be running. I like counting my pennies instead of looking forward to a pay cheque that seemed to vanish in a few short days. It’s good to know my wife keeps Visine handy and that if my eye gets locked in a wink, she’s there to rescue me. It doesn’t matter if a person looks distinguished or not, I guess, as long as they can still laugh – especially at themselves. Even if I could still ride a bicycle, I have nowhere to ride it to. And I live in a rancher, so there’s no need for me to climb stairs. I may no longer be able to move fast, but I’m no longer racing, let alone trying to win the race. Slow is kind of a nice speed. Maybe I am winded playing solitaire, but I usually have time for a nap, so one works for the other. And what does it matter if I decide to explore my poetic side and sit on the cold curb of existence inhaling the fumes of the past and contemplate the meaning of life - only to have my wife call me to take out the trash? At least it shows that I’m still able to do something, and that I’m still needed. I don’t take up much space anymore, and the space I’ve got is a good space. So, if someone rushes by me and gives me a bump, I just say: “Hey, don’t worry about it. No perspiration!” SL (That last bit’s for you, Mom).

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