Senior Living Magazine Vancouver Edition February 2011 by INSPIRED 55+ Lifestyle Magazine

SPECIAL HOUSING EDITION FEBRUARY 2011

Vancouverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 50+ Active Lifestyle Magazine

Residences offer Fine Dining When Caregiving at Home is No Longer Possible Retiring to the South Okanagan www.seniorlivingmag.com

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Our Mailbox Services are designed to make your life easier while on the road! • Mail forwarding available • A real street address, not just a P.O. Box. • Package acceptance from any courier • 24-hour access • Call-in MailCheck ® and Package Notification. There are over 45 stores in the Metro Vancouver area & 7 stores in the BC Interior. Find yours at www.theupsstore.ca

�� Senior Living Housing Directory is a valuable online resource for seniors and family members looking for alternative housing to match their desired lifestyle, or medical/mobility needs. Over 500 senior residences and housing communities throughout BC are listed in this comprehensive directory. Compare services, amenities, and prices. Sort your selection by region, or type of care. This directory is published by Senior Living, a monthly magazine distributed to approximately 850 locations across BC.

�� Coming soon: residential listings for Alberta and Saskatchewan.

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Senior Living’s online searchable senior housing directory is a perfect complement to its semi-annual senior housing special editions in February and August. Senior Living also publishes a 128 page book called “To Move or Not to Move? A Helpful Guide for Seniors Considering Their Residential Options.” We have sold over 3,000 copies of this book. No other magazine we know of has such a comprehensive, interconnected group of housing resources. For more information about any of these products or services, call (250)479-4705 or toll-free 1-877-479-4705. Or email ofﬁce@seniorlivingmag.com

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FEBRUARY 2011

Publisher’s This month’s feature is about housing for seniors. This topic is covered twice during our editorial year with a slightly different emphasis each time. This issue, we focus on senior residences – in particular, how their food services are setting a new standard because more residences are seeking the culinary expertise of professional chefs. Gone are the days of dishing up plates of non-descript food in a “take it or leave it” manner. Many of today’s residences are offering a gracious dining experience that equals or exceeds the standards of many high-class restaurants. Menu items like Salmon with Dill Sauce, Saffron Truffle Rice and Grilled Artichokes with a Raspberry Vinaigrette. Or champagne and hors d’oeuvres followed by NY Strip Loin Roast topped with Crab Meat, served with Duchesse Potato, White Asparagus and Grilled Red Pepper, and finished off with decadent Chocolate Lava Cake served on linen garbed tables bestrewn with fresh flowers, elegant cutlery, bone china and crystal flute glasses. I overheard my husband ask, when taking a tour of a newly opened senior residence, whether they were taking anyone under the age of 55. Certainly, he isn’t alone in wanting to live a well-situated, elegant lifestyle in a resort-style setting replete with in-house amenities that include a theatre, gym, library, pub, massage parlour, hairstylist, billiards room, woodworking shop and even a Starbucks! It’s a boomer’s dream come true! In the seven years we have been publishing Senior Living, we have seen a lot of change, improvement and innovation taking place around services being provided to seniors. As the baby boomers continue to age, you can be assured we will see plenty more. Bon appétit! 2

SENIOR LIVING

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SPECIAL HOUSING EDITION FEATURES

COLUMNS

6 Moving Mom

Retirees contemplate housing options, while also

dealing with those options for their elderly parents.

8 Directory of Senior Residences

A guide to residences participating in this issue.

10 Retiring to the South Okanagan

4 The Family Caregiver by Barbara Small

18 Forever Young by William Thomas

25 BBB Scam Alert by Lynda Pasacreta

One retiring couple considers their options in southern British Columbia – what they looked for.

29 Ask Goldie

14 For Whom the Dinner Bell Tolls

32 Reﬂections: Then & Now

Senior residences are serving up both gourmet meals and good ol’ favourites.

by Goldie Carlow by Gipp Forster

16 A Place to Call Home

One woman’s determination lead to safe and supportive housing for hundreds of others.

22 Threads of Life

Silver Harbour Senior Centre weavers keep the ancient art alive.

24 To Serve Others

Celebrating a life dedicated to volunteering.

26 Building Cultural Bridges

Helping New Canadians feel at home in Vancouver.

28 Music Makes the World a Better Place

Bluegrass musician Sue Malcolm shares her love of music.

30 Prevent Falls

Improve your balance with these activities. Senior Living (Vancouver & Lower Mainland) is published by Stratis Publishing. Publisher Barbara Risto Editor Bobbie Jo Reid editor@seniorlivingmag.com Copy Editor Allyson Mantle Ad Designer/Coordinator Faye Holland Advertising Manager Barry Risto 250-479-4705 Toll-free 1-877-479-4705 sales@seniorlivingmag.com Ad Sales Staff Mitch Desrochers 604-910-8100 Ann Lester 250-390-1805 Mathieu Powell 250-589-7801 Barry Risto 250-479-4705 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 HST, 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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Professional advice and information on a variety of products and services that suit your needs are published on the Senior Living website.

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SENIOR EXPO PAST & FUTURE

LOCAL EVENT LISTINGS

INSPIRING VIDEOS

SENIOR HOUSING DIRECTORY

ONLINE BOOKSTORE

ARTICLES ABOUT ACTIVE SENIORS & RELATED TOPICS

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We can help businesses market to seniors throughout the Vancouver Island and Greater Vancouver areas. Whether print, web, or a combination of both, you can place your advertising message with conﬁdence, knowing it will reach your intended audience. Over 120,000 readers per month Up to 75,000 unique visitors per month

COV UPS Store 6 Accessibility Solutions 10 Allegro 17 Northern Sound Hearing Clinics 19 Clear Choice 23 Carepanions

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Contact sales@seniorlivingmag.com or call 1.877.479.4705, ext 101 www.seniorlivingmag.com/advertising

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FEBRUARY 2011

THE FAMILY CAREGIVER

When Caregiving at Home is No Longer an Option

n many caregiving situations, there comes a time when providing care at home is no longer the best option. It may be that your loved one’s health has deteriorated to a point where he or she needs more care than can be provided at home, even with assistance from home support services. Or it may be that the family caregivers are burnt out or circumstances have changed in their lives where they are no longer able to meet the demands of caring. Deciding to move into a care facility can be a difficult decision for both the person who is moving and other family members. Many emotions can arise including guilt, grief and anger. As a family caregiver, you may feel you have failed or let your loved one down. But the reality may be that the person needing care will be safer and better cared for in a situation where staff is available 24 hours a day and trained to provide the personal care now needed. Two options are available for subsidized housing through the local health authority – Assisted Living

and Residential Care. The Vancouver Island Health Authority website states that Assisted Living is “for seniors and people with physical disabilities who need a safe environment to live, and help with daily tasks.” It includes accommodation, meals, housekeeping and personal-care assistance. In order to be eligible for Assisted Living, the resident needs to be able to make decisions on his or her own behalf or be living with a spouse who can make those decisions. Other prerequisites for tenancy include the ability to communicate with others and stable health. On the Lower Mainland, visit www. vch.ca and type Assisted Living into the search bar to find the eligibility criteria to determine if your loved one meets the requirements. Alternatively, Residential Care facilities are “available to adults with complex medical and cognitive care needs and an assessed and urgent need for 24-hour care.” Services include accommodation, 24-hour nursing care, meals, housekeeping, personal care assistance

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SENIOR LIVING

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BY BARBARA SMALL

and end-of-life care. In order to access these options and determine your loved one’s eligibility for subsidy, speak with your Home and Community Care case manager. If you do not have one, contact the Home and Community Care division of your local health authority. Both Assisted Living and Residential Care are also available through privatepay facilities. The Senior Living Housing Directory at www.seniorlivingmag. com/housingdirectory has information on both subsidized and private residential options. Caregiving does not end when the person you care for moves into a residence. Although no longer solely responsible for personal care, you will still need to make legal and financial decisions, visit, run errands and participate in care decisions. But you will also have the opportunity to revive your old relationship and once again focus on being a spouse, son or daughter and not SL only a caregiver. Next month: Balancing Caregiving and Employment Barbara Small is the Program Development Coordinator for Family Caregivers’ Network Society located in Victoria, BC. www.familycaregiversnetwork.org

SAFER makes rent more affordable for B.C. seniors When the company Bonita was working for in 2007 had to downsize, the then �� Shelter Aid For Elderly Renters (SAFER�� the most assistance to people with the least income, ��

ARE YOU ELIGIBLE? You may be eligible for SAFER if you meet all of the following conditions: 1. You are 60 or older. 2. You have lived in British Columbia for the full 12 months immediately preceding your application. 3. You and your spouse (with whom you are living) meet one of the following citizenship requirements: Canadian citizen(s); or authorized to take up permanent residence in Canada; or Convention refugee(s). 4. You pay more than 30 per cent of your gross (before tax) monthly household income towards the rent for your home, including the cost of pad rental for a manufactured home (trailer) that you own and occupy. If you are eligible, SAFER may subsidize part of the rent that is over 30 per cent of your income. To find out more about SAFER, including application forms: www.bchousing.org 604-433-2218 (Metro Vancouver) 1-800-257-7756 (elsewhere in B.C.)

Make your rent more affordable Low-income seniors, 60 years or older, who have lived in B.C. for the past 12 months, may be eligible to receive cash assistance towards their monthly rent payment through the Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters (SAFER) program. The Government of British Columbia helps make rent more affordable for more than 15,000 low-income seniors across the province through the SAFER program. To apply or learn more about SAFER, contact BC Housing: > 604-433-2218 (Metro Vancouver) > 1-800-257-7756 (elsewhere in B.C.)

www.bchousing.org H O U S I N G M AT T E R S

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FEBRUARY 2011

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MOVING MOM

BY JO-ANN ZADOR

he was a feisty one, my mother: always knew what she wanted and was never afraid to express it. This became clear to me as she aged, involving me more and more in her life. At 83, Mom was looking forward to aging in place with Dad, her groom of 60+ years. But fate had other plans; their lives took an unfortunate turn, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Dad’s placement in care meant Mom’s life took on a new focus; she visited him three times a week – a trip that took over an hour each way, while still living in their large home.

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Accessibility Solutions

The author’s mom Edith

SALES REPAIRS SERVICES RENTALS

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SENIOR LIVING

Photo: Jo-Ann Zador

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Eventually, this routine took its toll physically and emotionally, so I suggested she might want to move nearer to both Dad and I. She refused, but agreed to see what options were available, should she change her mind. The search was fruitless; nothing was right - too small, too many “old people.” Our hunt continued, while she grew more fatigued. Eventually, we found a large, one-bedroom apartment in an independent living residence. I was hopeful this was the one. It was perfect, with large, bright rooms, a scenic mountain view and sunny balcony. But it wasn’t right either. Leaving for a weekend away and feeling frustrated, I kept quiet. When I returned, Mom called to chat. How was my weekend, where did we go, told me about her lawn bowling score – the usual chit-chat. Just before saying goodbye, she asked me to go to the apartment we had visited and make a deposit for her. So, the move was on. Three months until moving day, time to list their house and clear out 20 years of possessions. What to downsize was the biggest decision, eased by my helpful husband, who sketched Mom’s new home and her furniture to scale, so she knew exactly what would fit.

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Not all Snow Birds Head South! Discover Amica For Your Winter Wellness Getaway Amica is the ideal vacation destination for mature adults who want to beat the winter blahs and still be close to home. Treat yourself or someone special to a vacation-like stay at one of our retirement communities. Our unique Wellness & Vitality™ Residences will rejuvenate you with amazing programs and amenities; will pamper you with superior services and will delight you with engaging activities. Stay for a week or two or more! It's a great place to meet new friends and enjoy the very best of vacation-style retirement living.

Call an Amica community today to book your personal tour. Port Coquitlam ~ Amica at Mayfair ~ 604.552.5552 Kerrisdale ~ Amica at Arbutus Manor ~ 604.736.8936 West Vancouver ~ Amica at West Vancouver ~ 604.921.9181 Burnaby ~ Amica at Rideau Manor ~ 604.291.1792 Victoria ~ Amica at Douglas House ~ 250.383.6258 Victoria ~ Amica at Somerset House ~ 250.380.9121 Sidney ~ Amica at Beechwood Village ~ 250.655.0849

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I soon realized this was the first major decision she had ever made without my father’s input. Her enormous guilt and anguish were obvious. “Your dad will know what I have done. What will he say? Where will he go when he comes home?” Logical questions, in a perfect world, which no longer existed for them. She needed to be constantly soothed of her guilt and reminded that Dad’s new world was a happy one – and this next chapter in her life was well beyond his understanding. Moving day arrived and went smoothly, but one tiny incident indicated how much pain she was feeling. With the moving truck loaded, all that remained to pack were Mom’s toiletries; I asked her to help me but she didn’t come. I found her at the kitchen sink. Her shoulders set firmly, her slight frame trembling. She was peeling apples, freshly picked from their apple tree. With impatience, I asked what she was doing. Her answer was simple: “Making applesauce!” The impact of the move on her struck me: Her life and all she held dear was wrapped up in this familiar task. The absolute finality of life without my dad, visiting the shell that was left of him, selling their house, cleaning out all his “junk” littering the garage, was too much. I made the applesauce at home for her that night. To her credit, she settled well into her new home. A bright and active 85 year old, she became part of a new community, on her terms. Solitary and interested only in what she wanted to do, there were no rides in the resident’s bus or any social events, except for afternoon tea. But with our outings, she became a familiar face to the local mall shopkeepers, made friends with two little girls on her daily walks and enjoyed our trips to Tim Hortons, where she doubled her chances to “roll up the rim” with two cups of coffee. Mom lived there for the next seven years; moving twice more within the home as her physical needs increased, each move fraught with some difficulty. She died at 92, in the end happy and well cared for, but still as feisty as ever. SL

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Home-like environment • 24-Hour on-site staﬀ • Home-cooked meals • Personal laundry • One month free

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We Guarantee the Best Rates in Chilliwack! 6980 Vedder Road • Chilliwack, BC • www.chilliwacklifestyles.com

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FEBRUARY 2011

Directory of Senior Residences BRITISH COLUMBIA Abbeyﬁeld Houses of Vancouver  * 604-261-1180; 1275 West 6th Ave., Vancouver www.abbeyﬁeldvancouver.com Garden; laundry facilities; near library; certain pet restrictions; all meals; scooter parking

Amica at Arbutus Manor   pg 7

604-736-8936;2125 Eddington Drive, Vancouver; www.amica.ca; 40 Units Activity programs; assistance offered; ﬂat laundry; ﬂexible meal choices; housekeeping

Amica at Mayfair  

pg 7 604-552-5552; 2267 Kelly Avenue Port Coquitlam; www.amica.ca; 86 Units Activity programs; cable TV; free laundry facility; community kitchen; ﬁtness centre; certain pet restrictions

Amica at Rideau Manor  

pg 7 604-291-1792; 1850 Rosser Ave., Burnaby www.amica.ca; 140 Units Games room; free laundry facilities; 24hr call system; housekeeping; parking; activity programs; insuite full or part kitchens

Amica at West Vancouver  

pg 7 604-921-9181; 659 Clyde Avenue West Vancouver; www.amica.ca Housekeeping; linen & towels supplied; games room; garden; hair salon; library; 24hr call system’

Arrowtarian Rotary Villa  *

250-265-3370; 212 7 Avenue, Nakusp www.arrowtarian.com; 43 Units Certain pet restrictions; free laundry facilities; parking; insuite cooking; lounge; crafts

Astoria, The 

back cover 604-998-1616; 2245 Kelly Ave., Coquitlam www.astorialiving.ca; 135 Units 5-star meals; social activities; wellness programs; ﬁtness centre; games room; lounge

Berwick On The Park  *

250-377-7275; 60 Whiteshield Cres, Kamloops www.berwickrc.com Activity programs; housekeeping; internet; cable; lounge; games room; ﬁtness centre

Bevan Lodge 

pg 15 604-850-5416; 33386 Bevan Avenue, Abbotsford www.bevanlodge.ca; 150 Units Recreational programs; day trips; strength training; housekeeping; linens and towels; dining room; beauty salon

SENIOR SENIORLIVING LIVING

Cavell Gardens 

pg 12 604-637-1207; 2835 Sophia St., Vancouver www.cavellgardens.com Library; computer; ﬁreside lounge; exercise room; 24hr emergency response system; weekly housekeeping; underground parking

Maple Ridge Srs Village    *

604-466-3053; 22141 - 119 Ave, Maple Ridge; www.retirementconcepts.com Activity programs; housekeeping; all meals; 24hr call system; dining room; garden

Mulberry, The 

pg 7 604-824-0109; 6980 Vedder Rd. Chilliwack www.chilliwacklifestyles.com Three meals a day; secure environment; homelike; in-room phone; housekeeping

pg 11 604-526-2248; 7230 Acorn Ave., Burnaby www.themulberry.ca In-house chef; weekly housekeeping; heat; hydro; cable TV; 24hr video security; laundry

Crofton Manor 

Paciﬁca, The  

Chilliwack Lifestyles 

pg 13 604-263-0921; 2803 West 41 Avenue, Vancouver; www.reveraliving.com; 108(I) 87(A) Units Library; guest suite; housekeeping & linen services; RN 24hr; recreation program; sprinklers; 2 dining rooms; exercise room

back cover 604-484-0588; 2525 King George, Surrey www.paciﬁcaliving.ca; 99(I) 16(A) Units Activity programs; housekeeping; linen & towels supplied; parking; social programs; beauty salon; library; resistance pool

Dunwood Place 

604-941-7651; 1142 Dufferin St, Coquitlam www.reveraliving.com; 140 Units Coffee/Tea service; hair salon; guest suite; games room; ﬁtness centre; theatre; wheelchair access; community kitchen, computer

pg 12 604-521-8636; 901 Colborne Street, New Westminster; dunwoodplace@telus.net 193 Units; full or part kitchen insuite; hair salon; lounge; near public transit; wheelchair access; woodworking room

Fleetwood Villa  

pg 13 604-590-2889; 16028 83 Ave., Surrey www.reveraliving.com Fitness programs; guest suite; library; laundry; lounges; patio/courtyard; housekeeping; private dining room; kitchenettes; computer

Harmony Court Estate 

pg 15 604-527-3300; 7197 Canada Way, Burnaby; www.harmonycourtestate.ca Activity programs; housekeeping; pet restrictions; ﬁtness centre; 24hr call system

Hollyburn House  pg 13 604-922-7616; 2095 Marine Drive, West Vancouver; www.reveraliving.com 36 (CC) 66 (I) Units Regular entertainment; restaurant; on site activity coordinator; housekeeping; laundry Imperial Place 

pg 10 604-581-1555; 13853 102 Ave., Surrey www.allegroresidences.com Full-service dining room; laundry service; kitchenette; social activities; Tai Chi; ﬁtness classes; bus outings

L.J. Christmas Manor 

pg 16 604-936-8122; 560 Austin Ave, Coquitlam www.ljchristmasmanor.com Cafeteria; parking facilities; pool tables; shufﬂe board; library; housekeeping; pub night; home cooked meals; bus WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

Parkwood Manor  pg 13

Peninsula, The  back cover 604-635-1774; 2088 152 Street, Surrey www.peninsulaliving.ca; 127 Units Restaurant; ﬂat linen laundry service; concierce services; social events & activities; therapeutic pool; computer room Poppy Residences, The 

pg 17 604-568-5563; 5291 Grimmer Street, Burnaby www.thepoppyresidences.com; 70 Units Library; lounge; bar; coffee/tea service; housekeeping; social programs; activity coordinator; craft rooms; computer station; pets allowed

Renaissance, The 

pg 10 604-539-0571; 6676 203 Street, Langley www.allegroresidences.com Concierge services; laundry service; in-suite storage; movie nights; Tai Chi; bingo; crib; painting club; bus outings; billiards;

TYPES OF HOUSING SERVICES PROVIDED

 (I) Independent / Supportive Living

 (A) Assisted Living

 (C) Complex Care

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(X) Campus of Care

Shannon Oaks 

pg 9 604-324-6257; 2526 Waverly Ave., Vancouver www.shannonoaks.com; 144 Units Cable TV; housekeeping; free laundry facility; all meals; hair salon; 24hr call system

Summerhill, The 

pg 11 604-980-6525; 135 W 15 St, North Vancouver www.thesummerhill.ca; 108 Units Activity programs; 24hr call system; free laundry facilities; garden; insuite kitchens

Sunwood (Purchasable) *

604-463-5527; 12241 - 224 St. Maple Ridge www.sunwoodliving.com; 93 Units Activity programs; games room; lounge; spa; theatre; housekeeping

Terraces on Seventh  

pg 14 604-738-8380; 1570 W 7 Ave., Vancouver www.terracesonseventh.com Private balconies; full kitchens; weekly buffet dinner; housekeeping; daily excursions; ﬁtness classes; Tai Chi; Wii; movies; billiards

Whitecliff  

pg 13 604-538-7227; 15501 16 Ave., S. Surrey www.reveraliving.com Cable; balconies; kitcheneets; library; underground parking; recreation program; religious services; theatre; wheelchair accessible

SASKATCHEWAN Parkville Manor  pg 16 306-933-9394; 625 - 25th Street East, Saskatoon www.parkvillemanor.com; 138 Units Library; computer centre; general store; heated swimming pool; sauna; billiards; sundeck; greenhouse; restaurant; guest suite

*** More information on these residences can be found at: www.seniorlivingmag.com/housingdirectory

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Search For Housing ��

The Senior Living Housing Directory is a valuable online resource for seniors and family members looking for alternative housing to match their desired lifestyle, or medical/mobility needs. Over 500 senior residences and housing communities throughout BC are listed in this comprehensive directory. Compare services, amenities, and prices. Sort your selection by region, or type of care.

Live Well and Stay Active WHEN YOU LIVE AT SHANNON OAKS YOU’LL HAVE MORE TIME TO ENJOY LIFE. An independent seniors living community, experience the freedom and independence to do exactly what you want, when you want. Stay active and live well. Life at Shannon Oaks includes a great selection of daily activities to choose from, delicious home-cooked meals, and weeklyhousekeeping of your private suite. Visit us today for a personal tour and come see why you’ll want to make Shannon Oaks your home. VA N COU V E R 6 0 4 .3 2 4 .62 5 7

VICT OR IA 2 5 0 .5 9 5 .6 25 7

www.shannonoaks.com Baptist Housing | Enhanced Seniors Living | Since 1964

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FEBRUARY2011 2011 FEBRUARY

Lifestyle

Retiring to the South Okanagan BY CAROL ANN QUIBELL

’m not sure this was a choice we wanted to make but retirement was upon us. At our home in Langley, we enjoyed fabulous amenities, but the cost in terms of dollars and the fast pace was not what we had planned for the next phase of our lives. Therefore, we looked further east into the interior of B.C. as a possible place to relocate. I like lists. It drives people crazy but before I can do anything major, I make lists of pros and cons or a list of relevant information to help me make a decision. So, researching a new home was definitely something to make a list for. What was important to us? What were our needs? What will our budget be? What would we like to have but don’t necessarily need? It became a very extensive list! We knew we would probably like to settle in the South Okanagan, so we focused on Keremeos, Osoyoos, Oliver, OK Falls and Penticton, and looked at each place in terms of what they have to offer and asked ourselves if we would be comfortable in one of these locations.

Important factors to consider: Housing: • What types of living accommodation is there – houses, condos, townhouses, modular homes? Are there rentals, if we decided to rent for a while? What is the cost of real estate or rent in each area? Is there senior housing, if we needed it in the future?

Transportation: • Is there bus service? Do they have an airport? Is there bike or walking trails? Is it easy to get around the area? Medical: • Is there a hospital? Are family doctors or dentists available? Is there a health centre?

Receive 2 months free rent When moving in before February 28th or

Receive 1 month free rent When moving before March 31st

Imperial Place • 604.581.1555 13 853 102nd Avenue, Surrey

The Renaissance • 604.539.0571 6 676 203rd Street, Langley

Our undivided attention | allegroresidences.com 10

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Amenities: • High on our list of priorities, it included such things as banking, restaurants, shopping, car repair, grocery stores, churches and a decent hardware store. Is it possible to order a pizza and have it delivered? Recreation: • Since we were going to be retired, the recreational facilities and availability was important and included golf, curling, skiing, boating, fishing, RVing and walking. I needed to have a library close by to satisfy my insatiable thirst for books. Does each town have an arena or recreation centre? Is there a movie theatre? Service Organizations: • What is available? We didn’t need anything at the moment, but if we should need assistance in the future, it would be nice to know if we could have a meal delivered or in-home care. Are there volunteer opportunities or service memberships available?

Each community in the South Okanagan is unique in its own way and the decision was a difficult one. Keremeos I love this little village, which actually is considered part of the Similkameen. We often stopped here to purchase fruit and vegetables at some of their excellent fruit stands and found people to be very friendly. Terrific services include the South Similkameen Health Centre, but there’s a limited variety of housing. The population is less than 1,500 and most of the recreation facilities are outdoors, such as the ice rink and swimming pool. All of the basic amenities are available and a person could manage well, even though there aren’t a lot of choices.

Friends and Family: • How far will we be from our families? Is it possible to still see our friends regularly and is it convenient for them to visit us?

Osoyoos This growing community is popular with retirees who enjoy the hot and dry summers and mild winters. Situated a couple of kilometres from the Washington State border, Osoyoos probably has most of what retirees need to live comfortably year-round with excellent services. Osoyoos Lake attracts thousands of visitors each year – it’s a popular tourist destination. The population is just under 5,000 and increases extensively during the summer months when the popular hotels and campgrounds are well utilized.

Play Together

Eat Together

What to do today? Play WiiTM golf with some friends. Chat about the latest book club selection. Work out with a ﬁtness class. Join the chorus in a sing-a-long. So much choice. Our residents love to connect with others. That’s why we offer plenty of social activities and lots of unscripted fun. Anything that appeals to the desire to stay active. What are you doing for fun today? Play at The Summerhill. Phone for your personal tour. 604.980.6525

What to have for dinner tonight? Barbecued ribs with scalloped potatoes. Maybe rotini pasta with sautéed shrimp and vegetables in a rosé sauce. Then a cream puff for dessert – or lemon meringue pie. So much choice. Through our exclusive TasteBuds™ program, our residents choose from a variety of wholesome, homemade meals that are served in the comfort of our dining room – and in the company of friends. What’s on your menu today?

Dine at The Mulberry. Phone for your personal tour. 604.526.2248 HIGHGATE VILLAGE MALL

135 West 15th Street (off Lonsdale) North Vancouver | 604.980.6525 www.the summerhill.ca

Me-n-Ed's Pizza Parlor

Edmonds Centre for 55+

7230 Acorn Avenue, Burnaby 604.526.2248 | www.themulberry.ca

To Edmonds SkyTrain

Part of Paciﬁc Arbour Retirement Communities

The Mulberry has received the industry’s highest professional designation, the BC Seniors Living Association’s Seal of Approval.

Where good things come together.

Where good things come together. FEBRUARY 2011

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CAVELL GARDENS ��

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Oliver With just under 5,000 residents, the Town of Oliver is a pretty community. Less busy than its neighbour to the south (Osoyoos), there are many options for living arrangements that include detached houses, townhouses, condos and modular home parks. Because the housing costs appear to be lower, many retirees have discovered the benefits of a place where you can practically walk everywhere. Okanagan Falls This little community is situated at the south end of Skaha Lake and is known for its fresh fruit, vegetables and its famous summer flea markets. It does have the basics in terms of amenities and for those people who like a small town atmosphere; OK Falls may suit quite well. Penticton Although Penticton still feels like a small town, its population is approximately 45,000 and offers most of the big-city amenities. Situated between Okanagan Lake to the north and Skaha Lake to the south, there is lots to do year-round. Accommodation is varied with plenty of choices and the city tends to cater to retirees and seniors. Most major service organizations for the South Okanagan are either in Penticton or Kelowna to the north.

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Each village, town or city in the South Okanagan offers a wide range of options. It is always nice to have fresh fruit and vegetables available from local growers and the opportunity to interact with other retirees. Three ski hills are within easy driving distance and there are ample golf courses. The international airport in Kelowna is easily accessible and there is bus service to each community. The South Okanagan takes

recreation seriously and there are many walking, hiking or cycling trails – plenty of activities to choose from. We decided to settle in Oliver, for now, and enjoy the small-town atmosphere and the people we have met. Most amenities are available and, if not, it’s only 30-minutes to Penticton, which gives us an excuse to go on a small road trip. The town boasts that it is the “Wine Capital of Canada” and offers enough to satisfy our current needs. If the time comes to relocate, a bit of researching and planning will ease the SL transition. Happy retirement!

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Housing

For Whom the Dinner Bell Tolls BY MIKE MATTHEWS

hroughout the Lower Mainland and across Vancouver Island retirees are hanging up home ownership in favour of easy living in residences that provide varying arrangements and degrees of care. One of the important aspects of that care inevitably includes planning, preparing and serving meals – because who doesn’t love to eat? Aging tastebuds, however, demand special attention. Gerontologists have noted that the loss of taste or smell can be a primary reason for nutritional shortcomings among seniors. Research indicates the senses have a direct link to physical and mental health, and that improving the quality and hence the enjoyment of food can boost the immune system. Will these senior resident-dwelling folks, no longer shopping and cooking, be spooning up gruel, listlessly aiming their forks at little grey messes, including freezer-burnt codfish, boiled beef and carrots? Not anymore! These days, a major selling point for many seniors’ residences is quality of life as experienced through quality of cooking. “About 40 per cent of our residents come here because of [Chef] Markus,

his reputation,” says Seona Stephan from Victoria’s Carlton House of Oak Bay, a seniors’ residence. Markus Hediger is Carlton House’s executive chef, who oversees and prepares the meals at this admittedly upscale residence, in both clientele and locale. It is typical, however, in its emphasis on a very high standard in its kitchens. Meals for residents include such dishes as parsnip and honey soup, escargot in mushroom caps, pan-seared scallops, turkey-asparagus crepes, and chocolate lava cake. Old standards like Caesar salad and surf-and-turf appear regularly, and theme dinners underline seasonal holidays. Trained in Basel, Switzerland, Markus previously operated The Coachman restaurant in Campbell River, followed by stints at popular Victoria restaurants. The major difference he finds in cooking for seniors is economics: his customers at Carlton House, while delighted to have the sort of meal expected in a fine restaurant, are contented with smaller portions, a three-ounce cut of chicken or beef, perhaps. He can often provide these seniors with fresher and finer fare than he was able to access at restaurants.

With quality a chief concern, Markus is delighted to use local seafood, wild B.C. salmon and Alberta beef, whereas in the commercial restaurants he often had to make do with frozen meat from Australia or Argentina. In commercial restaurants, with their shortcuts and economies due to the vagaries of daily business and uncertain food fashions, what a person learns, he chuckles, is “how not to do it.” For his senior clientele, he can also

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cook old favourites from scratch. “I’m using the Five Roses Cookbook!” he exults. Chef Catherine Cress came to Nanaimo Seniors Village after working for the Zanetti food company, suppliers to Costco and other retail outlets. The challenge in her new job is to combine restaurant style and scale of operations with home cooking. She particularly enjoys the contact with her clients at Nanaimo Seniors, the chance to mingle with diners and get their responses to her menus and cooking. “It’s relational, cooking here,” she smiles. “I get to know the folks. And you have to listen to your customers.” A glance at menus for Nanaimo Seniors Village confirms that those folks demand old favourites or standbys like English bangers with onion gravy, or Salisbury steak, and also desire newer adventures, such as salmon mousse with crostini, and candy cane beets. Chefs must run backward and forward at the same time for today’s senior clientele. Seniors like good old shepherd’s pie, but they are also ready for Moroccan lamb stew with spices and herbs unknown to their mums. Seniors residence Shannon Oaks in Vancouver is taking an extraordinary, if quite logical step in fostering and promoting interest in its meals. Following a visit and demonstration cooking by Michael Smith, a noted chef with international experience and expertise, Shannon Oaks is instituting cooking classes for its residents. To be sure, they eat in the dining room at the residence, but they have kitchens in their apartments, hence meals to prepare. Residents who have not enjoyed cooking in their later years can now, thanks to leadership and inspiration from Michael and from resident chefs, get back in touch with it. “Cooking and the love of food are ageless,” says manager Ron Abbot. “Dining is a daily highlight here.” As Adele Davis has written, “We are indeed much more than what we eat, but what we eat can help us to be much more than what we are.” And, even as people age, they can expand their horizons. SL

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acqueline Hooper admits her experience in the psychiatric ward of the University of British Columbia Hospital and her recovery from abysmal depression fuelled her fire. For three decades – against the odds – she managed to obtain affordable, safe, friendly accommodation for exmental patients. Her tenacity changed the future for many people. Of her hospital experience, which lasted for many months in the l970s, Jackie says, “The hospital was a peaceful haven in which to recover from the rigours of life. Being with other people with similar symptoms on Ward 1 West was a Godsend. I commiserated with my peers, took part in physical activity, and enjoyed the good food.” She spent a lot of time crying. “Crying is a common pastime in such a ward.” Jackie’s length of stays varied – usually about a month at a time, until she could function in the world again. “I was one of the lucky ones with a home to which I could return,” she says. “There were many patients with nowhere to go when they were discharged. Thinking of them, I remember stowing away my impressions of the hospital experience and planned to adapt them to suit people’s needs in my ‘outside’ life.” Those impressions included camaraderie, the day room – where patients could meet to make friends and build community – healthy shared meals and WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

the quiet comfortable bedrooms. They were all important stepping stones on the road to recovery. “I had worked it all out in my mind,” she says. “First, I looked for an apartment block in a transient neighbourhood where a communal day room or lounge could be fashioned. That way, tenants could meet to enjoy not only company, but also support; a public kitchen where they could share a lowcost meal at least once a week; a Resident Manager; and, if possible, a qualified social co-ordinator. I lucked out! With the help of a sympathetic realtor, I located such a block with 26 bachelor suites in Vancouver’s West End.” But that was just the beginning of Jackie’s venture. She couldn’t move further on her own, so she solicited help to fulfill her vision. Social Worker/Activist Helga Hicks was her first choice but she was busy setting up VENTURE, a crisis hostel for ex-mental patients. Not to be deterred, Jackie then approached the Coast Foundation Society (now called Coast Mental Health), whose large number of boarding home residents met daily at a “drop-in” house on St. Catherine’s Street in Vancouver. “I spoke with the Research Director of Coast Foundation Peter Tomlinson, who became very interested in my idea of involving Coast Foundation in housing for ex-mental patients,” she says. The future of Jackie’s dream started to take shape. She recalls, “At that time, the National Housing Act had changed and was helping groups bor-

row mortgage funds at low rates.” Coast Foundation was the first non-governmental organization in North America to take advantage of the offer. “So, with borrowed funds, we acquired the West End apartment building I had my eye on.” Jackie and Peter travelled to Victoria to meet with the fortuitously sympathetic NDP government ministers who formed the provincial government at that time. ”Norm Levi, especially, was very helpful,” Jackie recalls. “The government offered to supply funds for a resident manager, plus operating funds and soon turned the parking garage into an inviting day room for residents.” Jackie smiles as she reminisces, “The first ex-patients most from boarding homes – were happily moved into the suites in the summer of l974 with a social co-ordinator to help them cope with independent living. We called it ThreeQuarterway Housing as opposed to a halfway housing!” But it wasn’t all clear sailing. Some people still needed convincing. “The Board of Directors of Coast Foundation weren’t in agreement with the acquisition of housing although the large membership was positive about the idea,” says Jackie, “so we had to impeach the board and replace the ousted directors with those keen on housing.” It wasn’t a happy transition. It had to be undertaken with no legal loopholes, so Jackie invited Bary Coull of the Mental Patients’ Association to chair the momentous meeting, which brought about the necessary changes. “After the occupation of the West End property, we intended to continue looking for affordable housing, estimating that at least 400 ex-patients desperately needed such accommodation,” says Jackie. “Peter was instrumental in acquiring a 17-suite building near Clarke Drive. And when the neighbourhood residents said, ‘not in my backyard,’ they were promised only residents over age 40 would be allowed. That met with their approval.” But Jackie and her cohorts weren’t finished yet. Next came a building near Commercial Drive in Vancouver then another on Maclean Drive. Meanwhile, Coast Foundation was also subsidizing individual suites for ex-patients who could live independently. Almost 40 years have passed since Jackie left the mental ward at University Hospital with an idea. Coast Mental Health has expanded exponentially with l5 apartment blocks in the city of Vancouver and three more scheduled to open in 2011. It has 126 satellite suites throughout Vancouver, plus 12 licensed care homes and 14 family units with outreach support. In recognition of the success of her vision, Jackie had her first apartment in the West End of Vancouver named in her honour – The Hooper Apartments. SL

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FEBRUARY 2011

FOREVER BY WILLIAM THOMAS

The Woman Who Owns the Sun Wants Your Billing Address

ecently Angeles Duran, a 49-year-old enterprising woman from the city of Vigo in Spain’s northern Galicia province took possession of the sun. Some women aspire to become CEO of Sun Life Financial or retire in style at Sun Valley, Idaho, but not Angeles – she wants it all. And according to her lawyer, she got it. Angeles Duran now retains sole ownership of Spectral Type G2, commonly known as the sun. The United Nation’s Outer Space Treaty of 1967, ratified by 98 nations prohibits any country or government from owning celestial bodies. It does not specifically rule out a person from owning stars or planets. Angeles Duran spotted the loophole and registered ownership with a notary public in Vigo, specializing in deeds. And you’re about to get a bill for the special benefits you receive from that burning ball of fire 93,000,000 miles from your house. Once she begins to collect every human being’s fair share for the heat and light they receive from the sun, she intends to give half of the revenue to her home country. With Spain teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, the world is about to witness the first intergalactic bailout. The other half of the money would be split between Spain’s pension fund, world hunger and research. Angeles 18

SENIOR LIVING

will keep 10 per cent for herself, which is only fair because she came up with the idea of ownership and likely, she’ll get stuck keeping the books. The $300 monthly billings, particularly those going to warring tribes in the Amazon and deadbeat dads will be murder. By my math, Angeles could earn an annual income of $245,108,486,676, roughly the same amount as the United States national debt. When Washington gets wind of this, they’ll be borrowing from Angeles to pay off China. In Finland, where it’s dark most of the time, people will pay a lot less than $300 a month. People who live around the Arctic Circle where the sun shines 24/7 all summer will be nailed so badly, they’ll think Dalton McGinty came up with this energy plan. Sure, she will make tons of money from all the warmth and light, but the minute Angeles took possession of the sun she became responsible for the hundreds of thousands of melanoma cancer diagnosed every year, not to mention settling the estates of all those victims gone before. Plus, she’ll have to spend billions to buy up and then close down her competition. There are now as many tanning salons in the world as there are McDonald’s. She will also have to buy several tons of sunblock, if she ever wants to visit her property. She will need a surveyor’s deed to WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

complete the transaction of transferring ownership of the sun to her from – well, the universe. Try finding two guys with orange vests and surveyor’s sticks to take that job. At a return distance of 260,000,000 kilometres and a mileage allowance of 52 cents per kilometre, that trip alone is going to cost her $135,200,000. Maintenance costs for the sun could be as high as 10 billion a year because nobody expects that thing to rotate on its axis for several million years without some sort of replacement part or lube job. And what about a little thing we like to call the “parallel universe?” What if there’s another sun out there? That could cut her revenue in half. No, owning the sun is not all lightness and dark tans. The temperature of the sun’s surface is about 6,000 degrees Celsius so setting up an office there, even one with heavy drapes on the windows is out of the question. The intense heat is often compared to that of hell itself, so Angeles may create another business venture – offering the sun as final destination for Roman Catholics looking for an alternative to purgatory. She could pitch it as the “Ultimate Sunspot Destination.” Angeles Duran appears to be a very determined woman and she takes her newly acquired ownership of this flam-

ing planet of fire quite seriously. You can laugh all you want but if suddenly the earth goes dark and very, very cold because you didn’t pay your sun bill, it won’t be so funny then, will it? I know what you’re thinking but no, it’ll be way worse than hydro’s frequent power failures. All this is not new. Dennis Hope, a Nevada businessman, laid claim to the moon years ago and his Lunar Embassy Corporation has since sold plots of land on the moon to 3.7 million people who quite likely talk aloud when they think. Normally, I’m not prone to oneupmanship, but in these two cases of hostile takeovers of celestial bodies, I have made an exception. Yesterday, I marched into my lawyer’s office with a deed, complete with a detailed map and high definition photos of the universe. John Tuck has duly ratified my documents and filed them with not just any court but the world court. I now own the Milky Way. That includes our entire galaxy of 100 billion stars and all planets, meteors, that golf ball Alan Shepard shanked on the surface of the moon and the Mars bar. Don’t worry; I’m not going to bill you. The money Angeles Duran and Dennis Hope owe me for back taxes and unpaid rent from the sun and the moon will see me nicely into retirement. They have 30 days to make satisfactory payment arrangements with me before I start foreclosure proceedings. And I think they’ll pay up. Nobody wants to see the world’s economic meltdown spread to outer space. Oh, and as the proud owner of our galaxy, I’m immediately restoring Pluto to planet status; it’s the earth I’m not SL so sure about. William Thomas is the author of nine books of humour including The True Story of Wainﬂeet and Margaret and Me. For comments, ides or a signed copy of The Dog Rules, go to www.williamthomas.ca

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FEBRUARY 2011

Threads of Life Arts & Crafts

BY KEVIN MCKAY

Photos: Kevin McKay

eaving is believed to be one of the first crafts practised by humans and, while no one knows exactly when people started to weave, woven fabrics that date back more than 9,000 years have been authenticated. Evidence of the practice of interlacing lengths of fibre to make fabrics have been found all over the world and weaving was instrumental in the development of early clothing and items people used in their everyday lives. In today’s fast paced world of electronic gadgets, many people are surprised and reassured to know that a group of weavers keeps this ancient tradition alive. Silver Harbour Senior Centre in North Vancouver specializes in arts and crafts – calligraphy, dressmaking, paper tole, silk painting and stained glass are some of the programs offered at the centre – along with weaving. A room dedicated to craft activities holds the centerpiece of 22 looms. There is no other space like it in the Lower Mainland.

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Pat Pender, 76, is one of 20 current group members. “I have been weaving [at Silver Harbour Senior Centre] for 15 years or more,” she says. Pat has lived in Vancouver for more than half a century, though she claims her love for weaving stems from her Australian roots. “I taught elementary school in Vancouver and took my teacher training in Australia. One of the things they taught us was weaving,” says Pat. “Through my life, I have been a knitter, but weaving is something I always wanted to try. Eventually, I joined the Vancouver Weavers and Spinners Guild and started going to their meetings.” Pat signed up for a weaving course at the Place des Arts in Coquitlam, one of the only places for adults in the Lower Mainland to take instruction in the art. In the library there, she met two women who told her about the room full of looms at Silver Harbour. “I joined and found there are wonderful people there,” says Pat. “I really enjoy weaving. It’s something for your hands and for your brain. If you don’t get your project set up correctly, at the start, it is not going to work out well. There is a challenge to weaving and I really thrive on it.” A few years ago, the group had an injection of new talent. When the community centre in West Vancouver underwent a major construction project, the weavers wound up with limited space and decided to explore their options. “We were losing our space and heard about the group at Silver Harbour,” says Chris Robertson, 68. “We decided to join them and brought our equipment with us. They told us that we were a real shot in the arm to the group.” WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

Above, Chris (seated) with (l. to r.) Hjordis, Barbara and Marlene. Lower left, Hjordis works on her piece.

Chris is a retired Vancouver schoolteacher who likes to keep busy. “I was doing some forward planning for retirement and searched around for classes,” she says. “I certainly enjoy it. The most important thing about weaving is what it does for the minds and dexterity. I truly believe it keeps us out of the hospital wards, the care facilities and the doctor’s office. I feel it is important in helping keep the brain active.” One part of weaving is that the project needs to stay on the loom until it is finished, which makes it difficult to move the equipment around. The weaving group at Silver Harbour is fortunate to have some great space dedicated to their activity, so their looms remain in place at all times. Linda Ramsden, the Arts and Crafts Co-ordinator at the centre says, “In the early days of the centre, back in the 1970s, the co-ordinator asked someone at Capilano College if they would like to start a weaving group. She agreed to take

it on for a while and wound up launching what would become a very successful program.” Over the years, the centre accumulated many looms, mostly through the support of the service clubs on the North Shore. A volunteer provides all the instruction and none of the participants do it to make money. “They all weave for the pure joy of it,” says Linda. Toby Smith is the volunteer instructor. Chris says, “Toby has been weaving longer than most of us and is our mentor, especially for the newer members to the group. She provides guided assistance as opposed to lessons and we all work together. Weaving is an excellent activity because you have to use your brains and your fine motor skills. The work itself is quite solitary, so it is quite a privilege to be able to participate in the group where we can discuss our projects with each other and get the help we need. We are a very social group and have lunch and coffee together.” Silver Harbour weavers primarily use two types of looms: there are 18 table looms and four floor looms. On a table loom, weavers use only their hands to weave. On the floor loom, treadles (foot pedals) move the warp threads up and down while the weaver passes the shuttle back and forth with his or her hands. The floor loom allows one to get into a rhythm and can move quickly. One of the weavers uses a rigid heddle, which consists of a wooden frame and is a very simple piece of equipment. The great thing about this loom is that it is portable, so she can work on the same project both at the centre and at home. There are a number of different variables to consider while weaving: the weaver needs to decide what to make; what fabrics to use; the colour scheme; what the pattern will be; and even more. “Helping others plan their project is part of the fun,” says Chris. “You need to find colours that go together and consider the different fibres and patterns. I like playing with different fibres and enjoy the fun of it. Most of my projects wind up striped because I like to line up the coloured threads and weave.” Pat adds, “It’s exciting to look around and see what the others are doing and think that you want to do that too. When I travel around the world, I always seek people making rugs and carpets. There are many wonderful people weaving and making amazing art, and when you meet these people you realize you have something in common, no matter where they are from.” The Silver Harbour weavers create items to give away, for their own use and to donate to the craft sales at the centre. One of the highlights is when a weaver finishes working on a project. “Once I got used to weaving, I started to anticipate what my finished project would look like,” says Chris. “Cutting it off the loom is a big moment. It is very exciting and everyone crowds around to see how the finished project looks.” Though it is being practised less and less in Western cultures, the art of weaving is alive and well at Silver Harbour SL Senior Centre.

Are you a Care Giver or expect to be one?

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Valerie Green’s personal story as a care giver to her elderly parents is the most relevant book on “aging in place” I have read to date. It provides a powerful insight into the challenges faced by every care giver. It unveils the challenges, heartaches, struggles and agonizing decisions that often need to be made along the way. If you are currently a care giver, or anticipate being one in the near future, this book is a must-read. - Publisher Barbara Risto, Senior Living magazine

To order, please send cheque for $20.12 ($14.95 plus $3.95 S&H & taxes) payable to Senior Living. Please include your clearly written shipping address, phone number, and name of book you are ordering. MAIL TO: Senior Living 153, 1581-H Hillside Ave., Victoria BC V8T 2C1

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Allow two weeks for shipping. FEBRUARY 2011

Volunteering

TO SERVE OTHERS BY DEE WALMSLEY

SENIOR LIVING

Photo: Dee Walmsley

t 82 years young, Margaret Nielsen’s macular degeneration has stolen most of her sight and hearing aids crank up the audio but none of this interferes with the love of her life (husband excluded) – volunteering. She’s been sharing her time, love and skills for 42 years and has no plans for retiring. Born in Victoria, Margaret attended St. Ann’s Academy and graduated in 1945 from Oak Bay High School. Her volunteer career began at the age of 12, when, during the war, her mother took her along each Saturday to the Salvation Army canteen where they spent the day stripping and making up beds. In 1948, she became Mrs. Jack Nielsen. Today, Jack remains her biggest supporter and, himself, a volunteer at Kennedy House Senior Centre, where he has served as board treasurer since 1995. When the couple’s first child, a daughter, was born with Cerebral Palsy, Margaret became involved in the Cerebral Palsy Association, where as president of the parent’s association she spent many hours visiting parents of children with the disability. In her spare time, she took part in fundraising by organizing dances. Four more children followed and when her eldest son became a boy scout, so did Margaret, once again volunteering her time and energy. In 1964, the family moved to Vancouver just as illegal drugs were hitting the streets. By 1968, Margaret, with the help of three other parents, formed a group called Parents Anonymous to counsel troubled parents and to champion her “war against drug dealers.” To accomplish her goal, she worked closely with police and politicians in panel discussions and public speaking forums. It wasn’t long before she was sent to Ottawa to speak to cabinet ministers and the head of the R.C.M.P. She even sipped tea with Mrs. Diefenbaker, who showed her all the gifts they had be given while the then Prime Minister John Diefenbaker took a dip in his pool. Margaret’s celebrity spread and, from 1968 to 1972, she and Jack fostered 90 troubled teenagers. While the stays usually only lasted up to two weeks, it was often long enough to get the kids off the streets and into more permanent facilities. She prides herself with rescuing two girls, one from heroin and the other from a Valium addiction. In 1975, Margaret’s skills were solicited once again when she was appointed by the Family Court in Delta to sit on the bench under the Protection of the Children Act to decide the fate of atrisk kids. Much to her dismay, the government representative dissolved this appointment in 1976. After a short breather, Margaret enrolled in a pastoral-care training course, graduated as a chaplain associate and volunteered in grief counselling at Surrey Memorial Hospital and the Surrey

Margaret at the Memorial Wall at the Social Heart Plaza in North Delta.

Hospice Society. She is no longer a chaplain but finds her knowledge and skills useful when talking to seniors at Kennedy Seniors Recreation Centre, where she attends to her daily duties, including entertaining at concerts, visiting shut-ins, playing the piano, singing in the choir, serving as a board member, social director, instructional programs director, vice-president and director at large. She fulfilled her dream of building a memorial wall to honour Delta’s veterans and says, “The most satisfaction has been seeing 1,000-plus people attending the ceremony at the Memorial Wall at the Social Heart Plaza in North Delta, remembering those who have given their lives and those who put their lives on the line every day for our community.” Lately, Margaret has been involved in the expansion of Kennedy House to include a computer room, more seating in the cafeteria and a backstage green room. Today, she’s buzzing about Kennedy in the maroon T-shirt she designed, stopping to talk to house members and greeting anyone walking through the door with her warm demeanour. Not only has Margaret spent the better part of her life volunteering, but she has also passed the torch to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who give their time trying to keep up with grandma. At home, she proudly displays her Queen’s Golden Jubilee and Year of the Volunteer medals along with a well-read scrapbook of accomplishments. “One must enjoy every day you have here, take time to listen to others and see the best in them. Remember you are here for a purpose, to serve others. It will give you a warm SL and fuzzy feeling.”

WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

BBB Better Better Better Better

Business Business Business Business

Bureau Bureau Bureau Bureau

SCAM ALERT

BY LYNDA PASACRETA

Scams to Watch for in 2011

ach year, the Better Business Bureau compiles a list of scams that have the greatest potential impact on consumers across British Columbia. The following is a brief summary of what we predict will be the top scams to watch for and some simple tips to protect you from becoming a victim.

Door-to-Door Sales

Social Media Scams

Common elements of social media scams include offers of cash, a prize, or a gift to entice people to participate; you are asked to become a fan or follower and to invite others on your contact lists to get involved; personal information is required to participate; you are lured away from the original social media site to outside web links.

BBB received numerous complaints in 2010 about doorto-door salespeople who used aggressive sales tactics to bully consumers into purchases.

TIP: Like with most scams always be aware of unsolicited opportunities to win cash, a prize or take advantage of a too-good-to-be-true opportunity.

TIP: Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fall victim to high-pressure sales tactics. If you are uncomfortable with a salesperson, ask him or her to leave your home, and call the police if the person does not leave immediately.

Pyramid Schemes

Auto Rental Scams

TIP: Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get involved in any investment or business opportunity until you have researched it thoroughly and had it reviewed by your lawyer or accountant.

Car rental companies often employ a number of tactics to increase your invoice. When it comes to auto rentals be aware of overcharges related to insurance, gas, damages and additional fees. TIP: Before purchasing rental insurance from the auto rental company check your pre-existing coverage via your personal auto insurance, credit card coverage and home or life insurance policies.

Overcharges

Watch for tiny overcharges on all your receipts, bank and credit card statements. Scammers quickly make a small fortune robbing you pennies or dollars at a time. TIP: Review your bank and credit card statements on a monthly basis and compare your statements with your purchase receipts to make sure they match.

Watch for investments or business opportunities that appear lucrative and primarily focus on recruiting new investors or distributors, rather than selling a product or service.

Charitable Disaster Scams

Scammers use fake phone numbers, websites, emails, text messages and social media accounts to lure donors into giving away money and personal information. TIP: Do research before donating to any organization. When possible, seek out the charity to which you wish to donate. Always independently verify the charityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name, address and contact information, and learn as much as you SL can about the charity before you make a donation. For a more detailed description of the top scams that impact consumers and tips to protect you, visit mbc.bbb.org

Lynda Pasacreta is President of the Better Business Bureau of Mainland B.C. To contact Lynda Pasacreta, e-mail president@mbc.bbb.org

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FEBRUARY 2011

Volunteering

Building Cultural Bridges BY BEV YAWORSKI

Maggie Ip (left) visits with Yee Bing Law, a resident at the SUCCESS Austin Harris Seniors’ residence in Steveston.

Photo: Bev Yaworski

aggie Ip shares her secret to an active, healthy lifestyle. “Get busy and get involved.” This is a philosophy she has fervently followed as the founding chair of S.U.C.C.E.S.S. (United Chinese Community Enrichment Services Society) and present chair of S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Foundation. Her community commitment also included work as Vancouver City Councillor in the ’90s and recognition as one of the 2010 Top 25 Canadian Immigrants.

Maggie’s own personal history follows along closely with the growth of the S.U.C.C.E.S.S. organization. In the early 1970s, Vancouver saw a large number of immigrants coming from Hong Kong as part of the opening up of Canada’s immigration policy. “Many immigrants at that time were young and came to B.C. with higher education, skills and experience,” says Maggie. “But even with education, skills and money they were having a really difficult time adjusting and getting into the job market or into business.” Educated in Canada, Maggie graduated from Ottawa University with a master’s degree in education. In 1970, her 26

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family moved from Ottawa to Vancouver. “My daughter was only one year old, and I was expecting my second, so I didn’t work outside of the home,” she says. “I was a housewife, but soon found it difficult to stay home, so I started to do volunteer work for the YWCA. While working there, the Y in Vancouver’s Chinatown area began to get many new immigrants asking for help.” Maggie, her fellow volunteers and YWCA staff soon discovered that new immigrants asked questions that needed good information – not always easy to get with language and cultural barriers. “We saw a lot of families who were very frustrated. They came with hope, they had skills and experience, wanting to contribute and settle down in Canada and often they were not able to contribute,” says Maggie. “I always consider that if Canada claims to be a country of immigrants and if immigrants are one of our resources, then we don’t want to waste our resources,” she says. “Not only Canada will lose. For many new immigrants, they uprooted themselves and family and came with hope, and then are disappointed and disillusioned. So, it becomes a lose/lose situation.” Maggie subsequently helped the Y organize bilingual immigrant orientation sessions. As months progressed, it became clear that some families needed more professional help and a comprehensive service that could not be provided by volunteers. So, in the early 1970s, Maggie and a group of volunteers decided to form a society and apply for government funding to hire professional staff and create a more permanent immigrant service organization. “Fifteen community volunteers sat down and each contributed $10 – because $150 was needed back then to register as a charity,” recalls Maggie. In 1973, they held their first society election and general meeting, where Maggie was elected as founding chairperson. S.U.C.C.E.S.S. was born. Things moved quickly. “We got a government grant, rented a small 300square-foot office on Main Street near Hastings, rolled up our sleeves, painted floors and walls, got donated furniture, hired staff and opened the doors. People flocked to the office!” It wasn’t long before they had to move to a larger space to provide classrooms and playrooms to accommodate staff and clients. Today, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. serves a multilingual community with 27 languages and 22 offices in the Vancouver Lower Mainland. They also provide pre-settlement immigration help at their offices in Seoul, Shanghai and Taipei. Maggie likes to emphasize that the S.U.C.C.E.S.S. logo pic-

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tures two bridges. “S.U.C.C.E.S.S. serves as a bridge by helping new immigrants to cross the bridge to the mainstream, and also helps the mainstream cross our bridge to a better understanding of each other,” she says. “We need to help the new immigrant adjust into the community and, at the same time, the community must also be open-minded, receptive and understanding of new immigrants. It’s a two-way communication.” About 15 years ago, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. started to see families having difficulty looking after their elderly parents. “In the Chinese culture, it is still tradition that the family look after the elders,” says Maggie. “Most immigrant families, though, have both husband and wife working two or three jobs with long hours. How can they look after a senior who might need special help? As we see the population aging, there is a definite need. When we did try to refer seniors to nursing homes, some Chinese elders, due to language and culture would say, ‘I can’t eat that food.’ They would also be lonely. S.U.C.C.E.S.S. decided to help by providing seniors housing and programs respecting language, culture, food, diet, etc. of the elders.” The agency now offers a multitude of services for seniors: a multilevel care home, assisted living housing, adult daycare, visitation volunteers and a “campus of care” programming. Seniors can learn English, dance, exercise, paint, sing, make new friends and grow old with grace. Maggie often visits the S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Austin Harris Seniors Residence in Steveston and sings in a musical group that performs for residents. This residence provides unique hospitality services including two meals a day offered with both a Western and Chinese menu. In many ways, “success” is a guiding light in Maggie’s lifework. As a multicultural leader, visionary and volunteer extraordinaire, she was honoured with a National Volunteer Award – a community commitment that helped to create one of Canada’s most respected immiSL grant service organizations.

Next Month in Senior Living... Senior Entrepreneurs & Senior Workforce Read about Vancouver-area retirees who are tossing their hats back in the ring by starting a business or returning to a job – on their terms. WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

FEBRUARY 2011

Arts & Entertainment

Music Makes the World a Better Place

ue Malcolm’s life is full of music. Since she was a child, brought up in a musical family, Sue has been singing and playing an instrument. She learned to sing while harmonizing in the school choir and listening to the Beatles. Both her mother and grandmother were singers, but she was the only family member who pursued music as a lifelong vocation. During the ’60s, when she was a 20-year-old single mother raising two children, Sue took up playing the guitar and became involved with the popular folk music scene. Later, she learned to play the banjo in the “frailing” style, popular with old-time mountain music. She’s been playing bluegrass music for 30 years, and helped found the Pacific Bluegrass and Heritage Society. Now, she conducts bluegrass workshops for the Society and teaches others how to play in her popular Slow Pitch Jam Workshops. Her workshops at the annual British Columbia Bluegrass Festival held at the Sorrento Centre, Shuswap Lake have attracted as many as 100 players at a time. She also teaches beginner adult guitar classes for the School Board Continuing Education programs. Bluegrass may sound easy, she explains, but it’s a complicated three-chord structure, played fast with improvised solos and tight harmony. Sue is a master of this technique. “I love motivating people and helping them discover how much fun it is to play music,” she says. In addition to playing traditional bluegrass tunes, Sue also writes her own music. Her first solo CD Highrise Lonesome was recorded with some of her colleagues from the Sorrento Bluegrass Camp. Over the past 30 years, Sue has played with several different bands and her current group, Highrise Lonesome is composed of several original band members. They perform regularly at local venues. An attractive, youthful woman with a vibrant personality, Sue spent her career in counselling, as a youth worker with inner city troubled teens. She found music was a successful way of reaching the kids. Using her counselling skills, she introduced a novel concept in the schools in 1995 with her “Buddy System” program. She and her partner Paul Norton formed the West Coast Violence Prevention Society, a nonprofit society that did fundraising to support this program, using music to teach children, Kindergarten to Grade 3 how to get in touch with their feelings. “I created the program based on the curriculum taught in schools as it is meant to support this curriculum,” she says. 28

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She used children’s songs she wrote such as “Take a Deep Breath” to teach children how to calm down and control their anger. She hopes to continue this very successful program in the coming year, performing in solo classroom presentations. Sue has also used her music as therapy by playing at the Crossroads Hospice in Port Moody where she eventually worked full time as co-ordinator of the bereavement program. Working here made her realize the importance of following dreams while there’s still the chance.

Sue Malcolm (right) jamming with friends.

Photo: Colin Goldie

BY W. RUTH KOZAK

In spite of having retired two years ago at the age of 61, Sue is as busy as ever. Besides performing, writing and recording music, she co-hosts “In the Pines,” a radio show on CoOp Radio. She also enjoys visual arts and hopes she’ll have time in her busy music schedule to start painting again. She is actively involved in exercise programs, yoga and cycling. In 2009 and 2010, she did the 220km-ride from Vancouver to Seattle, raising $6,000 for cancer research in the Ride to Conquer Cancer, in memory of her mother and brother who both died of the disease. Her future plans include volunteering at the Vancouver Cancer Agency, bringing her music to the palliative ward as well as to patients undergoing chemotherapy who must spend long hours in the chair. “Everything I do I seem to gravitate toward a community development focus,” says Sue. “I really enjoy getting people together and helping to inspire them to do things together, whether at a workshop or camp, band or night school class. I SL think music makes the world a better place.” For more information, visit Sue Malcolm’s website: www. suemalcolm.com

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Photo: Jason van der Valk

ASK

Goldie

BY GOLDIE CARLOW, M.ED

Dear Goldie: Well, another Christmas has passed and left many good memories. Unfortunately, in our big family, there are a few individuals who never seem happy or satisfied with their lot in life. There are no financial or health problems evident, but they always find some small thing to complain about when we get together for our Christmas celebration. Perhaps this is common in many large families? We are fortunate as seniors to still have family members to celebrate with. The sounds of voices, laughter and music will linger in our memories long after the Christmas season and help us to get through another year. –D.C. Dear D.C.: I’m sure your family is not alone in having complainers. Some people seem to thrive on negative attitudes. Fortunately, in most families, the positive outnumber the negative by far. Most seniors have memories of Christmas as that time when all family members made a great effort to come home for the holidays. There were wonderful reunions and such an overpowering aroma in homes of cakes, cookies and pies mingling with sage dressing in a huge roasting turkey. Christmas music and singing filled the air. It truly was a time of love and goodwill toward one another. Hopefully, such memories will continue to live on and hold families together in the coming years. Dear Goldie: Seven years ago, my wife and I divorced after many years of bickering and fighting. It seemed like the best solution for both of us and for our six grown children. Things seemed to im-

prove. However, my ex persists in trying to keep tabs on everything I’m doing, which is extremely annoying. If I date a new lady friend, my ex manages to meet her also and soon my new relationship is over. I feel discouraged about the whole situation. Can you help me? –R.L. Dear R.L.: You sound depressed about your life, and with good reason. Living with this form of harassment can wear you down both mentally and physically. This is a serious situation. You need to get a lawyer, preferably one well recommended to help you as soon as possible. Your ex will be warned to stop such interference in your life or she will face court action. This may be enough to change her behaviour. If not, then you must proceed with the court action, however distasteful to you. The important goal for you is to maintain control of your own life. Start the process immediately. SL Senior Peer Counselling Centres (Lower Mainland) New Westminster 604-519-1064 North Vancouver 604-987-8138 Burnaby 604-291-2258 Richmond 604-279-7034 Vancouver West End 604-669-7339 Coquitlam – Tri-Cities 604-945-4480 Vancouver Westside 604-736-3588

Goldie Carlow is a retired registered nurse, clinical counsellor and senior peer counselling trainer. Send letters to Senior Living, Box 153, 1581-H Hillside Ave., Victoria, BC V8T 2C1. WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

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www.seniorlivingmag.com Each month, we email subscribers our latest newsle�er containing informa�on you won’t find in our magazine. You never know what we’ll include! We have ar�cles on: • successful re�rement • seasonal recipes • computer �ps • gardening • travel • health • fitness • housing • finances • caregiving, etc. PLUS: Info on upcoming magazine features, events, senior-focused adver�sers, advice ar�cles on our website and interes�ng videos.

Become one of our Newsle�er subscribers today. No charge. Just visit our website at www.seniorlivingmag.com and sign up for our newsle�er on the Home Page. FEBRUARY 2011

Health & Wellness

Prevent Falls

By Enhancing Your Balance BY PHILIPPE A. SOUVESTRE, MD & MICK MATHEUSIK, M.SC

ccording to the famous Wilkins retrospective study in 1999, falls are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in older Canadians: the sixth leading cause of death. One in three people over 65 years old and one in two aged 85 or over fall each year, and about half of these falls involve fractures. Non-fatal falls cause physical trauma, fear of walking and physical degeneration from immobility, loss of independence and having to leave one’s home. This impacts the victim, the family, the health-care system and society. Falls cost Canadians $3 billion annually. Fall prevention would be a major step toward enhancing mobility, letting people stay in their homes while saving health-care costs. Avoiding falls and accidents are a key part of remaining active. Conventional medicine mainly offers damage control in the form of drugs (with their side-effects), surgery (often with serious consequences) and physical therapies. None of these measures address the source of falling. A revolutionary approach, however, stops the cause of falling; the fundamental factors that underlie it relates to the health of the sensory-motor (input-output) areas of the brain. This approach intervenes only at the level of the brain and works as long as there is no actual brain tissue damage, but only neural pathway dysfunction. Both fall proneness and falling reflect the same condition dominated by a loss of postural balance always combined with many other physical, 30

SENIOR LIVING

cognitive, emotional, intellectual and behavioural symptoms. These include pain, stiffness, vertigo, balance and dizziness disorders, transient blurry vision, anxiety, mental concentration and short-term memory issues, co-ordination issues, sleep disorders and fatigue, depression/irritability, and reduced tolerance for other sensory data (for example, hypersensitivities), leading to a loss of balance control.

The usefulness of posture, gait, and balance testing is typically overlooked in Canada for the general population... Loss of equilibrium can occur either instantly, as when tripping, having a stroke, or gradually over a long period. Emotional or physical trauma can cause acute or lasting, deteriorating changes in the brain’s ability to process incoming stimuli and adapt appropriately by maintaining upright orientation. This slow decline in the brain’s functional ability to adapt and effectively sustain vertical posture and gait appears in the form of fall proneness. The usefulness of posture, gait, and balance testing is typically overlooked in Canada for the general population other than professional athletes or other specialized occupations such as pilots and astronauts. However, detailed assessments identify difficulties, which allow safe standing and fall prevention. The causes of difficulty in walking, WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

decreased range of motion, weakness, slower reaction time in co-ordination and body adjustments, increased stiffness and muscles spasms/tension, postural pain, a decrease in brain processing ability are all assessed and then can be addressed with specific treatments. The important message here, which bears repeating, is that fall proneness does not begin with the feet; it begins within the central nervous system, that is, the brain and spinal cord. Conventional medicine treats the peripheral symptoms and may not address the cause, which is brain dysfunction. The good news is that there is a way of stopping fall proneness by restoring the function of the brain controls in the relevant areas. Other than the traditional external factors (e.g. improved lighting, grab bars, non-slip floors, removing obstacles, added personal assistance, etc.) that are typically incorporated by occupational therapists, home care workers and/or family members, having an active lifestyle significantly decreases the risk of falls (assuming a healthy brain). Underlying this is training in sensory motor skills with a qualified healthcare provider and incorporating basic balance enhancing activities such as: • Walking as briskly as possible while breathing deeply, alternating with slow pace walks in the same session. The ideal is to walk at least one hour every day. The time can be broken up throughout the day and still be effective. Studies show that walking regularly decreases falls by 50 per cent.

• Stretching increases both flexibility and strength; ideally 20 minutes, two times per day. Head, neck, and back (bending), hips, ankles, shoulders, arms – rotation, flexion, extension. • Attention to posture – for example, avoid lying in bed with head bent against pillow watching TV. Be aware to stand up straight. • Enhance space perception – activities such as walking, dancing, breathing, stretching and tai chi are all effective. • Exercise visual perception – move eyes open, and then closed, in all directions of vision. This can be done sitting, standing, or lying down. Eye direction affects balance lean. • Promote efficient breathing – deep breathing exercises while walking or other activity. Increases heart-lung performance and improves oxygen in the blood, which also assists with brain function. • Drink plenty of water or other non-diuretic fluids. The brain contains a higher percentage of water than the rest of the body.

Spring Warm Up

PALM SPRINGS, SAN FRANCISCO, LAS VEGAS April 6 - 21, 2011 (16 DAYS)

Time to warm up and head south for some sun. This tour is a favorite as you experience the desert cactus in bloom, two nights in San Francisco, four nights in Palm Springs, Living Desert Park, Joshua Tree National Park, the Follies Show and Las Vegas.

Join us and explore!

Bob and Teresa Marshall are Driver and Escort. $2,295 PP Cdn Dble Occ. Includes 17 meals and whole lot of fun!

Registration 3561

• Exercise the mind with precision. Puzzles, building models, activities requiring fine-tune dexterity, sequencing and playing or even listening to music are examples. This is a multi-system approach as the balance control system is complex. Balance control requires a combination of both physical and mental function. The important point is to select the level of activities that are compatible with one’s abilities. Remember the old adage of “Use it or lose it.” If these lifestyle tips do not improve balance health, then there may be an underlying health condition that needs to SL be addressed.

604.596.9670 call for our full 2011 brochure

teresa@pitmartours.com www.pitmartours.com

CORRECTION NOTICE In the January issue, the article KEEP ON TREKKING did not correctly attribute the source of the information provided to the writer by the interviewee. We wish to correct this oversight as it was not the intention of Senior Living or the writer to publish information that came from a source and not attribute it properly. We apologize to Urban Poling Inc. whose information was used by the interviewee without their permission or knowledge. KEEP ON TREK KING Poling Urban N Inc. provides community education, certiﬁcation for instructors and highquality Nordic walking poles. They can be contacted at 604-990-7711 or online at www. urbanpoling.com Fitness & Recreatio n

Walmsley

www.braintrustc anada.com/resou rces www.homeinste ad.com www.NurseNex tDoor.com www.wecare.ca www.taoist.org/v ancouver www.neurokinetic s.com

ot all pole walke rs are Scandinavia BY DEE WAL n. In of happy wande MSLE Y rers, there is a retired our group er defenceman, Blue Bomba neurologist, some pensioned teachers, nurses , artists and a walking towards few who are still their gold card. We meet three mornings a week half hour treks for our one to averaging five one-and-akilom and aim towar ds 10km on Friday etres for two of the days, s as we build up the 10K Sun Run stamina for held each year in Vanco Residing in the South Surrey/Whit uver. choices. We can e Rock areas afford choose to walk s us by the sea, throug forests and aroun h parks, d local neighb urban ourhoods. In fact, many options that on Fridays we have so we pick three of “location cards. areas from a deck Nordic walkers ” train for their We walk, talk annual event – and share jokes, the Vancou rain or shine. Our is growing faster 10k Sun Run (below ver social club than the cotton ). tails on our woodl Nordic walkin and trails. g, or urban poling the whole body; , as it is also known walkers breath , works e deeper, and both lower body gets the upper and plenty of action . Janna Nicholson is the Community from the White Recre ation Co-ordinator Rock Community benefits of urban Centre and believ poling. es in the “It is easy to do and requires little ment,” she says. investment cost in equip“Participants need walking shoes comfortable, suppo (waterproof, if rtive walking in wet er) and Nordic inclem walking poles. ent weath” The sport takes walkers outsid e and encourages of the community. exploration It is both a cardio heart, lungs and vascular exerci circulatory system se (works ) and it provides the upper body toning for all muscles, which are not used in “Beneficial for regular walking. all ages, urban skiers use it for poling of both legs and their training during upper body, it impro provides a full workout the summer, which exercise first becam stability as there ves posture and is how are four points it provides e popular. of contact with So, get yourse Janna. “In additio the ground,” says lf a n, it helps keep to keep you motiv good pair of walking shoes, the crossing reflex to arm) strong, a partner ated and a pair (opposite leg which helps with beginning and of poles. If you balance and co-ord The three Ps is not are just wanting to spend ination often referred .” thrift shop for much, check out to as the proces and propel. One some ski poles, a s: plant, push local pole is placed cut them off at a customized fit. or “planted” on the arm is then the bottom for Stand up straigh the ground and used to “push” t with elbows angle to the groun down on the pole, pels” the oppos bent at right d. Little rubber which “proite leg forward. booties can be a pharmacy to The process is with the oppos purchased at add extra spring then repeated ite arm, leg, and to each step. A for car keys, water, so on. The pace walking and it light backpack gloves and cellph resembles crossis similar to along with a waterp country skiing. one is also a good Double poling roof breathable idea is used to provid keep B.C. green jacket for those e considered as a days that and beautiful. component of interv more intensity and can be Our group’s goal are used to plant, al training. When is the annual Sun both arms in push and prope each walk and l one leg forwa Run, but you can amount of muscl cross Canada or rd, double the log es are used in trek around the keep on trekking. the upper body workout intens world, just and hence the ity is increased. The technique SL is very similar to cross-countr For more inform y skiing; in fact, ation, visit the Canadian Nordi Association’s websi c Walking te: www.canadi anordicwalking.co WWW.SENIORL m IVINGM Photos: Dee

For more inform ation, visit the following website s:

AG.COM

JANUARY 2011

WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

FEBRUARY 2011

YOUTH IS WASTED ON THE YOUNG

have asked myself this question over and over again: “Why is it when a person gets beyond 60 or 70 years they get their second wind and finally get used to being young?” It hardly seems fair to be classed as old, instead. I feel no older than about 24. But my body refuses to go along with me. It doesn’t seem right that my mind is willing to boogie until 2 or 3 a.m., but my body insists I be in bed by 9 p.m. I used to be able to go up and down stairs two or three at a time. My mind can still do it. It’s the body that won’t co-operate. I tried one-and-a-half steps recently and ended up with a charley horse. My mind leaps to the top of the stairs, while my body is still struggling on the second step. When long hair on men was “in,” mine was falling out! Now, it seems, being bald is in fashion. I’m kind of caught between bald and long. (I’m so lonely.)

SENIOR LIVING

At one time, I wore tapered jeans. I was what the kids today might call “hot.” Now, if I try to wear tapered jeans, I look like toothpaste being squeezed out of a tube. I’m not hot; I’m singed and burned. I saw a pair of slacks advertised on television recently. The young guy modelling them was svelte and assured – much like my mind. So, I decided to get a pair. When the clerk in the men’s clothing store measured my waist, I heard him gasp! Then he excused himself, gathered with the other clerks and started to speak in whispers. At one time, this rebellious body wore a dozen chains around its neck and wore a shirt open to the navel. I tried it once more, in private, the other day – shirt open, chains on – to relive old memories. But I couldn’t see my navel. I’m not even sure I still have one. And when I tried to toss my long hair and bald head, like I used to do to impress the girls, the chains flew around and cut

WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

Photo: Krystle Wiseman

Reﬂections THEN & NOW

BY GIPP FORSTER

my ears, nearly giving me whiplash! Still, no matter what my body might say, my mind is still that of a twentyodd year old. (My wife just told me to put more emphasis on the “odd.”) I still feel young. To prove it, the other day I chewed gum for over five minutes. If my dentures hadn’t stuck, I would have gone even longer! Youth, indeed, is wasted on the young. They don’t even know they have it. They will only know they “had” it. They don’t appreciate it because they have nothing to compare it to. But we who are older, we know what being young is all about. Our bodies have passed through its pastures, while our minds remain there to frolic in the sun. I mentioned this to someone young the other day and they looked at me as though I were a stranger from another planet. But that’s okay! There are the young young and the old young. I’m of the latter. I may go to bed earlier than the young young, but I also get up far earlier than they do and have a good head start on the day. My mind is limber even if my body is an overgrown slug. And in my mind, I can still have all the adventures I’ve always had. Even great adventures! My body can lean back, relax, and watch my mind scale the mountain of dreams, and shout from the summit. Then it can whisper, “Well done,” and once again doze off to remember the times when it could keep up with the mind and all SL things were equal under the sun.

To Move or Not to Move?

BC EDITION

A Helpful Guide For Seniors Considering Their Residential Options

Published by Senior Living January 2009

ONLY

9.95

If you are a senior who has been wondering lately whether you should consider moving - either because you find the maintenance of your current home more difficult due to diminishing ability or energy, or you simply want a lifestyle that allows you more freedom and less responsibility - then this is the book that can help you ask the right questions and find the solution that is right for you. • What residential options are available? • Define your current situation - What residential option is right for you? • How to research and assess Independent and Assisted Living residences. • What do Independent, Assisted Living and Complex Care facilities have to offer? • How much does it cost to live in an Assisted Living residence? What subsidies are available? • Thinking of moving in with family members? Questions to consider before making your decision. • Are there any other residential options besides Independent, Assisted Living and Complex Care facilities? • If you choose to stay in your own home, what are your options and what should you plan for? • Who can help you decide what you can or cannot afford? • Funding sources available to seniors - tax deductions, housing subsidies, home care subsidies, equipment loan programs, renovation grants, etc. • Selling your home - how to find the right realtor or relocation services to assist your move. • Downsizing - Where do you start? How do you proceed? • Adapting your home to meet your mobility needs - tips and suggestions • Hiring home care services; do it yourself or hire an agency? • Legal matters - how to make sure you receive the care you desire should you not be able to communicate due to some incapacitating condition • AND MUCH MORE

Advice from professionals who are experts in the area of assisting seniors with their relocation questions and concerns. A handy reference guide for seniors and their families wrestling with the issues around whether relocation is the best option. This 128-page book provides helpful, easy to read information and suggestions to help seniors and their families understand the decisions they need to make.

ORDER FORM - “To Move” Name______________________________ City______________

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Postal Code____________

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___ BOOKS @ $14.87 each (includes shipping & applicable tax) = TOTAL $____________ ___ Cheque (payable to Senior Living) ___ Credit Card # _________________________________

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Mail to: Senior Living 153, 1581-H Hillside Ave., Victoria BC V8T 2C1

(Please allow 2 weeks for delivery)

��

�� Make a move to enjoy the carefree lifestyle of Resort Retirement Living. Avenir communities offer both Independent and Assisted Living suites along with unmatched affordability and flexibility. Amenities abound, including first class service, 5-star meals prepared by award winning Red Seal Chefs, enriching social activities, wellness programs and much more. Our luxury communities and spacious deluxe suites are unrivaled anywhere in the retirement industry. Come discover the Diamond Standard of resort retirement living.

All-inclusive from $2,300.

2525 King George Blvd, South Surrey

2245 Kelly Ave., Port Coquitlam

2088 152nd Street, White Rock

www.PaciﬁcaLiving.ca

www.AstoriaLiving.ca

www.PeninsulaLiving.ca

604.636.3967

604.998.1605

604.635.1775