Senior Living Magazine March 2014 by INSPIRED 55+ Lifestyle Magazine

CAREGIVING GUIDE MARCH 2014 TM

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Rekindling Romance in the Capital City

A Taste for Island Cuisine

A Self-Confessed Chocoholic Lands Her Dream Assignment

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BCSC Senior Living Magazine

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FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

6 Cowichan Locomotion and Locavotion

42 Classiﬁeds

Recreational cyclists and locavores hit the trails of Vancouver Island for a weekend of movement and munchies.

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10 Hooray for Chocolate! 13-22 Caregiving Guide

30 Bygone Treasures

Resources and articles for family caregivers.

24 What is Shingles?

What to look for and what to do about it.

32 Not to be Missed!

Upcoming shows in entertainment – from ballet to live theatre to legendary musicians.

36 Romance and Foodie Fun in Victoria

A mid-week sojourn to the capital city rekindles romance – for food and each other.

�� www.donerightmoving.ca 24

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by Barbara Small

23 Fit for the Adventure

A classical composer, conductor and artistic director by day; a jazz pianist by night.

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4 The Family Caregiver

A self-confessed chocoholic investigates the health beneﬁts at Victoria’s chocolatiers.

34 A Jazzy Journey to the Classics

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COLUMNS

by Eve Lees

by Michael Rice

41 Courageous & Outrageous by Pat Nichol

43 Ask Goldie

by Goldie Carlow

44 Reﬂections: Then & Now by Gipp Forster

Cover Photo: Locavores Joan and Ken Boxall sipping Merridale Ciders at the Marina Bistro overlooking Ladysmith Harbour. Story page 6. Photo: Joan Boxall

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Subscriptions: $32 (includes GST, postage and handling) for 12 issues. Canadian residents only. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. Senior Living is an independent publication and its articles imply no endorsement of any products or services. The views expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publisher. Unsolicited articles are welcome and should be e-mailed to editor@seniorlivingmag. com Senior Living is distributed free throughout British Columbia. Stratis Publishing Ltd. publishes Senior Living (12 issues per year). ISSN 17103584 (Print) ISSN 1911-6403 (Online)

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THE FAMILY CAREGIVER

Do You Know a Family Caregiver?

n BC, there are over one million family or friend caregivers. Do you know one? • Family caregivers provide care and support to family members, friends or neighbours who are in poor health, frail, elderly or disabled. • The person they are caring for might be an elderly parent, a chronically ill spouse, an adult disabled child, a sibling with mental health issues or… • The person receiving care may either live in his/her own home, with the family caregiver or in a residential care facility. • They could also be a long-distance caregiver and care for someone who lives in another city. • Family and friend caregivers are not paid for the work they do. • They may have become a caregiver because of a family member’s health crisis or accident or they may have found

themselves gradually taking on more responsibilities as their family member or friend became less independent. • The support they provide can range from picking up groceries once per week to providing one-on-one personal care 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Family caregivers are good at putting others first. As the demands for caregiving increases, their own needs often get pushed aside. Caregivers can quickly become exhausted, overwhelmed and burntout. Before this happens, it is important that caregivers make time to take care of themselves. Many family caregivers do not selfidentify as such and they don’t realize resources in their community exist to assist in alleviating some of their burden and help them stay well while caregiving. The Caregiving Guide in this issue includes lists of caregiving resources, sup-

BY BARBARA SMALL

port groups and educational sessions that family caregivers can access for support in their caregiving journey. The Guide also has articles from family caregivers and people working with them, including information and tips on how to avoid caregiver burnout and how to be a more effective caregiver for the long term. Please pass along this BC Caregiving Guide to any family or friend caregivers you know. Also, feel free to read over the Guide yourself to help you better understand your family or friend’s caregiving experience and how you could best help support them while they care for another. SL

Next month: I Can’t Remember the Last Time I Took a Vacation Barbara Small is the Program Development Coordinator for Family Caregivers’ Network Society located in Victoria, BC. www.familycaregiversnetwork.org

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

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Food/Travel

Cowichan Locomotion and Locavotion BY JOAN BOXALL

The bicycle is a curious vehicle. Its passenger is its engine. –John Howard

A refreshment stop awaits at Merridale Ciderworks Bistro and Spa. With an orchard brochure in hand, the cider house, orchard spa, English and French apple trees, all spread out before us. Making room for panier-sized bottles of award-winning Merri Berri Cider is easy. Shelagh John of Marifield Manor has rhubarb cake and a steaming pot of tea ready for us in her Edwardian Marifield Manor salon. We’ll pace ourselves for a morning feast given Shelagh’s 20-year experience as restaurateur at the popular eatery, The Pioneer House. That pacing comes by way of the fully-licensed Village Chippery with its cod, halibut and salmon ‘n’ chips, Fanny Bay Oysters, chili or chowder. Shelagh wears her starched chef’s

The author and her husband Ken pause along the path.

Photos: Joan Boxall

e love to cycle. Not too far, nor for too long because we’re locavores. Locavores eat locally and move minimally. We roll off the British Columbia Ferry at Swartz Bay terminal on southern Vancouver Island onto Lochside Trail, cutting across Saanich Peninsula. Our first stop is Seahorses Restaurant where a warm hedgehog (a soft unbaked chocolate biscuit) wiles our wait time for the Brentwood to Mill Bay ferry. Boaters dally in the sparkling bay. Being first aboard to relish the lithographic blues of ocean and sky, we chat with fellow passengers who perch like gulls along the rail.

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apron and offers starters of granola, yogurt, fruit salad and freshly-brewed coffee. Pancakes follow with egg dishes served sunny-side up, down or sideways. From Marifield Manor, it’s an easy road-ride to the Kinsol Trestle on the Trans Canada Trail: the world’s longest multi-use recreational trail spanning 16,000 kilometres. By 2017, Canada’s 150th birthday and the trail’s 25th, it will span more than 22,500 kilometres linking 1,000 communities nation-wide. At the trestle’s bridge, the highest in the entire Commonwealth, we spend an hour trekking down and back up both sides of its magnificent $7.5 million-dollar reconstruction, open since July, 2011. We peer along its 187.6-metre length and its 38-metre depth to the Koksilah River. When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race. –H.G. Wells Back in the saddle, we fall under the trail’s spell. Green pools of light meld and mottle to a gush-gurgle on the watershed’s edge. After a Holt-Creek-Trestle snack, we marvel at an NGO trio who’ve floated downriver counting Cowichan River trout. The river is one of the island’s healthiest for fishing and floating enthusiasts. Kidd’s B&B hospitality greets us with a pontoon tour of Cowichan Lake. A dip cools while a blanket, Comox Valley Brie and a beverage warms, and we putter around the second-largest fresh water lake on Vancouver Island, after Kennedy Lake near Ucluelet. It is a dazzling centerpiece for small communities like Mesachie Lake, Honeymoon Bay, Youbou and the town of Lake Cowichan itself. The region is resplendent in recreation: boating, golfing, fishing, canoeing, wind surfing, water skiing, whitewater kayaking, hiking and biking. We, and the other guest pontooners, can’t cover all the bases, but we talk it up… over a veggie curry rice bowl at the Cow Café. After a stroll along Cowichan Lake’s floating boardwalk, Kidd’s muffin-tin frittatas set us up for a marvelous morning ride. The wheels go ’round and the region’s flavours flood through us.

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Next to a leisurely walk, I enjoy a spin on my tandem bicycle… a delicious sense of strength and buoyancy, and the exercise makes my pulse dance and my heart sing. –Helen Keller Duncan’s stately totems point the way up Maple Bay Road to the Quamichan Inn where landscaped grounds once traversed 300 acres. Set well back from the road, the 100year-old heritage house pairs beautifully with rare Garry oaks, the only native oak in Western Canada. The Cowichan Valley is brewing culture. One never knows where it might bubble up: Cowichan Theatre, Co-

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MARCH 2014

wichan Valley Arts (fine arts, music, dance), Cowichan Valley Museum and the nation-wide September Culture Days which spawns initiatives like the Mushroom and Salmon Festival in Lake Cowichan. Home to over 76,000 residents in nearly 20 Native reserves and as many small communities, the Cowichan Valley Regional District offers cultural events where visitors take in what’s on offer. That’s a fine roast of food and culture. Two options for the return trip to Tsawwassen are via the Gulf Islands ferry from Crofton to Salt Spring Island, or the Southern Vancouver Island Rotary Route to Chemainus. Marking the 100th anniversary of Rotary International, six Cowichan Valley clubs delivered a scenic route spanning 110 kilometres. Option One: Salt Spring Island and its Fall Fair. We catch the Fulford Harbour ferry and mosey on to Harbour House Hotel, Restaurant & Organic Farm. Proximate to the Long Harbour

Sharing refreshments in the shade near the Trans-Canada Trail.

Ferry to Tsawwassen, and walking distance to Ganges Village, we hop the shuttle bus to take in a fall fair extraordinaire. Stemming back to 1896, this fiesta includes hobbies, crafts, food, zucchini races, livestock and organic-farm shows, along with demos of sheepshearing, maple syrup making and bee-keeping. It’s all there from rooster calling to muffin madness: the Rotary Club’s fundraiser where you guess the grid where the cow-patty drops.

Option Two: Follow the Rotary Route from Maple Bay Road to Chemainus. We listen to an open-air dulcimer/ concertina serenade after seeing murals depicting mill-town occupations and hunter-gatherer cultures of old. Lovely Ladysmith tempts with charming storefronts and coffee shops. Destination Kiwi Cove Lodge at the head of Ladysmith Harbour. Nearby is the Marina Bistro patio. Merridale ciders revive and roasted veggie and

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gruyere flatbreads refresh. We saunter Tasty soups at Quamichan through the kiwi grove to watch Inn. Purple Martins, North America’s largest swallow, swoop into their boxes. Canada Geese honk sunset salutations. Peggy Kolosof’s steaming scones with sumptuous kiwi jam motivate a morning get-away. Pedal push north to the Duke Point ferry along Cedar Road unless you relish Yellow Point Road searing a lasting impression on your thighs. Either way, a return to the Cowichan Valley can’t be far off. We locavores love to linger and lollygag… while we locomote. Life is like riding a bicycle – in order to keep your balance, SL you must keep moving. –Albert Einstein

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Saturday, March 15th 10:00 am - Noon. This fun and interactive workshop presents you with facts, tools and tips to take the stress out of your upcoming move. Free workshop led by Professional Move manager, Anney Ardiel of Act Together Moving Services. A $100 value oﬀer. Complimentary lunch will be served afterward.

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For IF YOU GO information, including routes and distances travelled, visit www.seniorlivingmag.com/articles/ cowichan-locomotion

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Cuisine

HOORAY FOR CHOCOLATE!

n a mission to investigate chocolate’s healthy benefits, I decided to nibble, oops, I mean, “research” a few of the smaller, local chocolatiers in Victoria. Bernard Callibault’s website says the healthiest benefits are in dark chocolate’s abundance of flavonoids, the natural compound in cacao beans that gives some chocolate a bittersweet taste. Milk chocolate contains fewer flavonoids because it’s diluted with milk and contains more sugar. White chocolate contains no cacao liquor and, therefore, no flavonoids. Great! I never liked white “chocolate” anyway. The Cleveland Clinic claims that flavonoids improve blood flow to the brain and to the heart; helps lower blood pressure and reduces the risk of blood clots. Flavonoids are also found in fruits, vegetables, herbs, legumes, nuts and grains. Chocolate, especially dark, is rich in antioxidants, protecting us from some cancers and slowing the signs of aging. Fitday states dark chocolate’s

low-glycemic index won’t cause huge spikes in blood sugar levels, if eaten in moderation. The Mayo Clinic defines moderation as 85 grams of chocolate containing 65 per cent or more cacao content to be beneficial. They also recommended adjusting one’s daily caloric intake by 450 or adding more exercise to compensate for the treat. My first stop is Pure Lovin Chocolates, owned by chocolatier Leah Blackburn and her mom Cyndy Blackburn. A Mother’s Day gift of vegan chocolate truffles from Leah prompted the two women to start their vegan line of chocolates. I watched Cyndy packaging delectable assortments of truffles in raspberry, sea salt, hazelnut, mint, chai tea and espresso flavours. “Our chocolates don’t use any dairy or soy,” says Leah. “We use coconut milk because it’s dairy-free. The coconut cream mimics the fat content of regular dairy cream. We use only organic ingredients. The taste of Fair Trade 72 per cent dark

Pure Lovin Chocolates’ co-owner Cyndy Blackburn.

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Photo: Judee Fong

BY JUDEE FONG

chocolate with the flavours of the various fillings makes it difficult to detect any coconut flavour. Our chocolates are simple, appealing and pure with no preservatives.” Eagerly, I bit into a dark Espresso Truffle. The rich, creamy ganache tucked sinfully inside the dark chocolate, tasted too delicious to be healthy and vegan. For research purposes, I also sampled a Dark Raspberry Truffle. I departed Pure Lovin’s kitchen thinking you don’t have to be vegan to indulge in these impressive chocolates. Angela Pappas, owner and chocolatier of Fort Street’s Chocolat, enjoys the taste of 85 per cent dark chocolate. “I don’t eat a lot of dairy and have always loved my sugarless dark chocolates,” she says. “The taste of the 85 per cent chocolate isn’t bitter to me at all.” Chocolat carries a range of 55 per cent to 85 per cent dark chocolates in a variety of fillings, truffles and bars including delicious mugs of specialty hot chocolates. Chocolat has the exclusive rights to sell the “rarest chocolate” in the world, Fortunato No.4 made with Pure Nacional, a cacao plant believed destroyed in 1916 and then rediscovered in Peru in 2007. The cacao plant was DNA tested to confirm this was the same rare plant. It’s the rarest chocolate because it survived and adapted to create purple and white cacao beans, producing a bitterless chocolate with an exceptional flavour. “My Fortunato Truffle is small, decadent and should be enjoyed slowly, never swallowed quickly!” Angela offered me one. I did not gulp the tiny truffle down in one bite but slowly nibbled and savoured the rich dark chocolate with its delicate flavour – heavenly! The mouthwatering display of handcrafted chocolates grabs my attention at Victoria’s Dutch Bakery. Brook Schaddelee, third-generation chocolatier, says, “Growing up in the bakery business, I remember watching my dad and uncles making the chocolates and pastries and thinking, ‘I’d like to do that.’” “We usually keep to our popular cherries, ginger, nuts and creams made without preservatives and using the original recipes,” says Brook. “We use Belgian chocolate for all our darks. If you start with a good source of chocolate, then you’ll have the start of excellent chocolates.” Savouring my Dark Chocolate Kahlua, I nodded in blissful agreement, trying to contain my ear-to-ear grin. This research is fun and I feel so much healthier! CORRECTION: In last month’s Housing Directory, Legacy Senior Living, a new senior residence in Vancouver (Oakridge) offering Independent housing, was incorrectly labelled as Assisted Living housing. We apologize for this error.

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Terrible Truffles chocolatier David Booth is also a genial Innkeeper, sharing duties with his wife Vlasta and motherin-law, Mila, at Humboldt House. “I learned a lot of the techniques and working with chocolate at Murchie’s and at Montreal’s La Brioche Lyonnaise where I honed my pastry and chocolate making skills,” says David. “This all became a good fit for the bed and breakfast.” Wanting a sassy name for his popular chocolates, David settled on Terrible Truffles because they were deemed so terribly delicious by all his guests. I learned from David that contrary to popular beliefs, chocolate contains only a trace amount of caffeine. Theobromate is the enzyme in chocolate that gives us energy and that feel-good feeling. David makes small batches of handcrafted truffles, using a good quality chocolate, fresh local dairy, pure cane sugar, no other fats except the cocao butter, pure vanilla, no preservatives, no soy and some liqueurs in the fillings to extend the life of the truffles. I was offered a Classic Dark Chocolate with a hint of orange brandy. The truffle caressed my tongue, melted slowly in my mouth and left me with that feel-good feeling. I barely started my research, but Victoria is clearly a city meant SL for chocolate lovers!

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MAGAZINE

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MARCH 2014

Empathy: A Key Ingredient to an Effective Caregiving Relationship BY BARBARA SMALL

mpathy plays a major role in the overall health of the caregiving relationship, especially during difficult times when everyone is feeling stress. Empathy can help us feel less frustrated with and judgmental of other people’s behaviours and choices. It encourage us to try to understand and be curious as to where the other person may be coming from. Empathy can be expressed in both directions in the relationship between the family caregiver and the care recipient. It also plays a key role in the relationship between various other family members. When my siblings and I were caregiving my dad, who had colon cancer, I discovered I was a lot less irritated and frustrated with him, and the situation, when I took the time to put myself in his shoes. I imagined what it must be like for him to be in pain, facing his own imminent death, dependent on others for the simplest daily tasks like eating or going to the bathroom, having strangers (home support) or his children providing his personal care and no longer having any privacy. He couldn’t watch TV when he wanted or go outside for a walk. He could no longer eat the foods he enjoyed because they made him nauseous. When I was able to put myself in his place and realized what he was likely experiencing, I was more patient and caring. I realized he was embarrassed and scared by his complete dependence on others. And if I had to experience all that, I would probably be grumpy, needy or “uncooperative” sometimes too. This realization shifted my view of the situation. He wasn’t trying to make things difficult or to make more work for us. I felt less frustrated and let go of resentment I had been feeling. I experienced more compassion toward his situation. I have shared this experience with many other caregivers because it was an important shift for me – and one that made my caregiving journey easier. Similarly, although we may be tempted to make decisions for our care-recipient or do what we think is best for them (or what would make our own life easier), it cannot be helpful for many reasons. We need to remember they are adults used to making their own decisions. In addition, they may be experiencing feelings of loss and frustration around changes in their health, independence and mobility. This will impact how receptive they are to suggestions from you. 16 14

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The more you try to do for them without checking with them first, the stronger these feelings of loss and frustration will grow. Rather than telling them what they should need or do, ask them how you can help them or what they need from you. Put yourself in their shoes. Think about how you would like to be treated, regardless of your physical or mental limitations. Empathy can also help the care-recipient and other family members to acknowledge and understand what the primary caregiver is experiencing as well. What might it be like for your son or daughter to be providing care to you while also caring for their own family and going to work each day? How might your spouse be dealing with the awareness that he or she may be alone soon? What about your sister who has temporarily put her life on hold in order to move in with your elderly parents? How might you feel if you had the responsibility of making important decisions about someone else’s health needs and future care? What would be helpful to you if you found yourself in a similar situation? Everyone responds to circumstances in their own unique way. Frustration can occur if you expect everyone else to feel or act like you. Everyone has their own perception and reality of the situation. Each person in the family comes with a different experience within the family, a different relationship with the person who is ill and a different comfort level with illness and the associated emotions. Expect and accept differences of opinion and reactions, and find ways to compromise. Keep in mind that everyone has the right to their own feelings and point of view. You can agree to disagree and still complete the caregiving tasks as needed. By putting ourselves in the other person’s shoes and being curious about the feelings or motivation that may be underlying their behaviour or comment, we can change our own emotional response. We will be less likely to be triggered and react with anger or defensiveness. We can come to recognize that their response is not about us personally, it is their reaction to a challenging situation. Validating someone’s experience and feelings can go a long way toward opening up communication and improving a relationship. SL Barbara Small is the Program Development Coordinator for the Family Caregivers’ Network Society.

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Live-in Caregiver Program

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BY BARBARA SMALL

any families reach a point where they realize that in order to safely continue to care for their family member at home they need to bring in paid help in the form of a home support worker or an eldercare nanny. Dependent on the amount of care needed, a full-time live-in worker may be your best option both financially and time-wise. The Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP), through Employment and Social Development Canada/Services Canada, permits “families to hire a foreign live-in paid caregiver when Canadian citizens and permanent residents are not available.” If you decide this route will work best for your caregiving situation, you, as the paid worker’s employer, must meet all the LC program requirements regarding wages, working conditions, occupation and advertisement requirements. Under the LCP, foreign live-in workers must provide care for a minimum of 30 hours per week, live and work in the home where they are providing the care and meet requirements established by Citizenship and Immigration Canada and Employment and Social Development Canada for the LCP.

...touching lives in practical ways through care and companionship in your home or care residence.

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...you, as the paid worker’s employer, must meet all the LC program requirements regarding wages, working conditions, occupation and advertisement requirements. In addition, there is a processing fee of $275/position for the cost of processing a Labour Market Opinion (LMO) application. An LMO “assesses the likely impact that hiring a temporary foreign worker will have on the Canadian labour market and is required in some cases to complete a work permit application.” For more detailed information on hiring a foreign live-in home support worker through the LCP, visit Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) at www.hrsdc. gc.ca/eng/jobs/foreign_workers/caregiver/ and Citizen and Immigration Canada at www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/applyhow-caregiver.asp or call ESDC at 1-800-O-Canada (1-800SL 622-6232). Barbara Small is the Program Development Coordinator for the Family Caregivers’ Network Society.

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MARCH 2014

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How Family Caregiver Support Groups Can Help BY LIZ DUCHSCHERER

ccording to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, 1 in 6 Canadians are providing unpaid care for seniors experiencing distress or poor health. Jeanine Hanson was one of those caregivers. Jeanine was confused, depressed and scared when she found out her husband was sick. “When I found out Bill had dementia, I had no clue what that was about,” she says. “I felt alone, depressed, sorry for myself – so many emotions I can’t describe them all.” Then she found the East Kootenay Senior Caregiver Network. “After I started going to the support group, I didn’t feel alone anymore. I felt the closeness that someone cared what I was going through and understood,” says Jeanine. The Senior Caregiver Network for East Kootenay Se-

niors Society is a non-profit agency that was created in 1992 in Cranbrook, in part by a caregiver who saw a need in our communities. “When I was a caregiver for my husband, I received support from the Community Care home support program,” says East Kootenay Senior Society Board Chair, Louise Stropky. “It really helped me through the process, and I thought, ‘Why aren’t we doing something like this for everyone?’” The program currently provides emotional support and information for family caregivers of seniors who live either with them at home, alone in the community or in a care facility. The Network became a regional service in 2003, through funding by Interior Health Authority, to provide support groups in six communities through the East Kootenay, and a regional toll-free number for telephone support

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and information. Experiencing stress over long periods of time will affect a caregiver’s health. Jeanine knows this first hand. “I had a heart attack while I was caring for Bill,” she says. “I was stressed right out and felt huge amounts of guilt when I could no longer care for Bill and had to place him in a home. The group helped; we were all going through similar things. I felt revived after a meeting and it gave me the energy to make it through another week or two.” “I called the telephone support line as well. Liz was a fountain of support, so patient and understanding, I could talk about things I didn’t want to mention in group and that extra support was invaluable,” says Jeanine. The Network’s regional toll-free telephone line provides support to caregivers who are unable or unwilling to attend group meetings. It also allows privacy for those who want it, and provides information to caregivers about resources in the area.

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Navigating the system can be difficult for caregivers since they are usually in crisis when they reach out. The Caregiver Network can help them access the resources in the health care system and the community. Jeanine’s role as a family caregiver for her husband ended just over two years ago when Bill passed away. “It changed me,” she says. “I am more patient, more of a giver. I find myself still being the caregiver.” “I am a strong person and I look forward most days, but I miss him. He was a caring man and I miss his presence in the house. It is hard, but I want to share my story to help other people and encourage them to attend a support group. I don’t know what I would have done without the support SL group and the support line.” See page 18 and 19 for information about caregiver support groups offered by the East Kootenay Senior Caregiver Network and other caregiver support organizations throughout the province. Liz Duchscherer is the Regional Program Manager for the Caregiver Network for East Kootenay’s Senior’s Society. To reach her, call 1-877-489-0803 or 250-489-0802 or email lizd@shaw.ca

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Family Caregiver Support Resources in BC Vancouver Island

Lower Mainland

Family Caregivers’ Network Society #6 – 3318 Oak Street, Victoria, BC V8X 1R1 250-384-0408, 1-877-520-3267 Email: caregiversupport@fcns.ca www.familycaregiversnetwork.org Victoria Support Group: 1st Monday, 7:00 - 9:00 PM #6 – 3318 Oak Street, Victoria Sidney Support Group: 3rd Tuesday, 10:00 AM – Noon Shoal Centre, 10030 Resthaven Drive, Sidney Salt Spring Island Support Group: Wed, 11:00 AM – Noon Seniors for Seniors Centre, Ganges

Burnaby Family Caregivers Project Burnaby Seniors Outreach Services Society #106 - 2101 Holdom Avenue, Burnaby, BC V5B 0A4 604-291-2258 Email: bsoss@telus.net www.bsoss.org Caregiver Support Group: Altern. Saturdays, 10AM - Noon

Cowichan Family Caregiver’s Support Society PO Box 13, Shawnigan Lake, BC V0R 2W0 250-743-7621. Call for locations and times of support groups. Email: info@familycaregiverssupport.org www.familycaregiverssupport.org Duncan: 1st, 3rd & 4th Tuesdays, 2nd & 4th Mondays Ladysmith: 2nd Tuesday Chemainus: Last Thursday Lake Cowichan: As needed Youth Carers: 1st & 3rd Wednesdays Mid-Vancouver Island Caregiver Support Line Tel: 1-866-865-2221 (M – F) Mid-Vancouver Island Caregiver Support Groups Isobel Gemmell, 250-468-5687, Email: relationships123@shaw.ca Parksville: 2nd Tuesday, 1:30 PM, Serious Coﬀee Qualicum: 3rd Thursday, 2:30 PM, The Gardens Nanaimo – Day: 2nd Wed, 3:30 PM, Woodgrove Save-on Foods Nanaimo – Night: 1st Mon, 7:00 PM, Woodgrove Save-on Foods Gabriola Island Caregiver Support Group Angela Nutter, 250-247-9732, www.phcgabriola.org 1st Wednesday, 2:00 PM, PHC Community Resource Centre Comox Valley Senior Peer Counselling Society #491A – 4th Street, Courtenay, BC V9N 1P6 250-871-5940 http://comoxvalleyseniorpeercounselling.com/our-programs/ caregivers/ Women’s groups: 1st Tuesday and 3rd Monday, 1 – 3 PM Men’s group: 3rd Tuesday, 1 – 3 PM

Delta Caregivers’ Education and Support Network Space provided at Delta Hospice Society 4631 Clarence Taylor Cres, Ladner, BC V4K 4L8 604-943-3921 (Laurie) Call for information on services. Email: info@deltahospice.org Langley Caregiver Support Group Langley Senior Resources Society 20605 - 51B Avenue, Langley, BC V3A 9H1 778-328-2302, ext. 2 Email: info@lsrs.ca www.lsrs.ca Every Thursday, 1:15 - 2:30 PM Lion’s Den Caregiver Support Group Encourage Lion’s Den Adult Day Centre 770 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, BC 604-718-5848 http://seniors.vcn.bc.ca/caregiver_support 3rd Thursday, 6:00 – 8:00 PM North Shore Community Resources, Caregiver Support Program #201 - 935 Marine Drive, North Vancouver, BC V7P 1S3 604-982-3320 Email: Karyn.davies@nscr.bc.ca www.nscr.bc.ca/information/caregivers.html Caregiver Network Group: 1st Thursday, 7:00 - 9:00 PM and 2nd Wednesday, 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM, North Shore Community Resources Room, #203 - 935 Marine Drive, North Vancouver Richmond Caregivers’ Education and Support Program Volunteer Richmond Information Services 604-279-7020 (Carol Dickson) Email: cdickson@volunteerrichmond.ca www.volunteerrichmond.ca Support group for Cantonese family caregivers every two months. Call for details. Seniors Come Share Society, Caregiver Support Program 15008 26th Ave., Surrey, BC V4P 3H5 604-531-9400 ext. 202 Call for times and locations of support groups. Email: staylor@comeshare.ca www.comeshare.ca

For a complete list of provincial resources, visit the FCNS website: http://www.fcns-caregiving.org/resources/provincial-resources/. Many of the disease-speciﬁc organizations in your community, such as the MS Society and the Alzheimer’s Society, will also oﬀer support for family caregivers caring for someone living with thatWWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM particular condition. 20 SENIOR 18 LIVING

Java Caregiver Support Group - White Rock/South Surrey: 3rd Tuesday Java Caregiver Support Group - Surrey: 4th Wednesday Parkinson Caregiver Support Group - White Rock/ South Surrey: 1st Wednesday Tri-Cities Caregiver Support Program (Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody) 778-789-1496 Email: SeniorCaregiverProgram@gmail.com Central Coquitlam: 2nd & 4th Fridays, 10:00 - 11:30 AM Dogwood Pavilion North Coquitlam: 4th Thursday, 10:00 - 11:30 AM Glen Pine Pavilion Maillardville: 2nd Thursday, 6:30 – 8:00 PM Maillardville Community Centre Port Coquitlam: 2nd Thursday, 10:00 – 11:30 AM Shaughnessy Care Centre Vancouver Coastal Health, Caregiver Support Program 2450 Ontario Street, Vancouver, BC V5T 4T7 604-709-6437 Email: caregiversupport@vch.ca www.vch.ca/caregivers East Side Support Group: 1st Wednesday, 1:00 – 3:00 PM, Renfrew Park Community Ctr. Central Vancouver Support Group: 2nd Wednesday, 6:30 – 8:00 PM, Raven Song Community Health Ctr. West Side Support Group: 3rd Tuesday, 1:00 – 3:00 PM, Paciﬁc Spirit Community Health Ctr.

BC Interior

Upcoming Events for Family Caregivers Many Caregiver Support Organizations oﬀer workshops, tele-workshops and webinars for family caregivers. Some of these events are free and others have a minimal fee. Please call the organization in your area or visit their website for details about upcoming events and programs. The Family Caregivers’ Network Society oﬀers free BC-wide webinars. (www.familycaregiversnetwork.org) Upcoming topics include: �� do about it) �� Full descriptions and information about many of these events can be found at:

www.seniorlivingmag.com/caregiving-events

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Caregiver Network for East Kootenay Seniors’ Society 1-877-489-0803 or 250-489-0802 (Liz Duchscherer) Email: lizd@shaw.ca Cranbrook 2nd & 4th Mondays, 1:00 – 3:00 PM Joseph Creek Care Village Board Room Kimberley 1st Thursday, 1:00 – 2:45 PM “The Pines” Day Program Room Creston 1st & 3rd Fridays, 1:00 – 3:00 PM Community Room – Public Library Golden 2nd Wednesday, 6:30 – 8:30 PM Hospital conference room Invermere 3rd Tuesday, 3:00 – 5:00 PM Columbia Garden Village Fernie 1st Tuesday, 1:00 – 3:00 PM Board room – Public library

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My Memories of Caregiving: Laughter Kept Me Sane Homecare Options Assessments

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octors generally ignored me. I’m the person who drove Aunt Joan and accompanied her into the office, explained what medications she was taking and described her symptoms. They listened to Joan as she told them what they wanted to hear, checked that her heart was still beating and sent us away. Did they ask how I was coping? No. It’s okay though – I learned to laugh. Most of us who are family caregivers call this a thankless job. My mother, who was blind, believed I really wanted to go grocery shopping with her, not with anyone else and certainly not by myself. The idea! It was sometimes difficult to laugh, but laughter kept me sane through my years of caregiving. In 1990, I was diagnosed with multiple

WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

BY BARBARA WARMAN

sclerosis and, at that time, the symptoms were exacerbated. By spring of 1991, the worst of that flare up had passed, but some residual damage remained. In August of that year, Dad had a seizure behind the wheel of his car while driving to town – his driver’s license was revoked that day. He already had emphysema and considerable deafness. One week later, Mom was told she had macular degeneration and was going blind. They muddled through. Visiting while they watched the TV series Columbo was hilarious. “What did he say?” Dad would ask. Mom would yell, “He says he’s got a gun – what did he do?” Dad would answer, “He pointed a gun at him.” In 1992, my husband was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. By 1996, he was in bed, watched TV, used the bathroom and returned to bed. They gave him morphine for the pain. Meanwhile, Dad was in and out of the hospital with small strokes, congestive heart failure and worsening emphysema. In 1997, Dad died. One of mom’s brothers, Johnny, presented with symptoms of dementia. His wife was already in long-term care and there were no other relatives in town, so I took over his care as well as I could. He was the sweetest man in the world, and he told me long involved stories about people who parked in front of his building. He believed they were breeding and selling dogs from their cars. By March 1998, he, too, was in long-term care. His dementia was aggressive and he died in November that year. Then Mom’s widowed sister, Joan, got dementia. Her daughter lived in London. She came over when she could, but a family and a job limited her availability. Once a week, I took Joan shopping and for lunch. Mother always joined us, and it became my greatest wish that I could leash them to maintain some sem-

blance of control. Mom wandered along peering closely at Kotex boxes, wondering if they were cereal, while Joan was in the soup aisle and I was looking for both of them. The up side? When Joan moved into a facility we had enough soup to keep the food bank going for a week and enough Kotex to insulate our walls. Visiting my aunt who was 98 was wonderful. Elizabeth was in a facility, wheelchair-bound and full of stories. Not current stories, not even stories about the last 75 years, but stories of her childhood in Saskatchewan in the ’20s and early ’30s.The one thing missing was Elizabeth’s hearing, making visits loud and wearing. On one visit, we were alone in the dining room. Elizabeth asked me how Nancy, my sister, was doing, “She’s doing well,” I said. “She has a new job in the cheese department.” “What?” “She has a new job in the cheese department.” “What department?” “Cheese.” “What?” “Cheese, like cheddar cheese.” “What?” “Cheese,” and this time I mimed eating cheese. “Oh,” said Elizabeth, “Teeth.” “No, cheese.” “Teeth?” “Cheese.” “Oh, cheese.” “Yes,” I said, sinking back into my chair, exhausted. That was when I noticed a lone staff member sitting across the room eating his bag lunch, trying to watch TV. I felt sorry for him, as my explanations had gotten louder. I went to get a coffee for my parched throat when the staff member walked past. He leaned in close to me and said, “I got it, your sister has a new job in the cheese department,” and he left the dining room. One day, Mom wanted to mail her talking books back to CNIB. She spotted a mailbox that I didn’t see. I told her there was no mailbox at this mall, but she didn’t believe me. She grabbed her books, leaped out of the car and walked quickly up to a man in a red sweatshirt. As she reached forward to open the “mailbox,” she caught a glimpse of the man’s startled face and realized he was not a mailbox. When she got back into the car and found me laughing, she said stiffly, “It’s rude to laugh at people’s disabilities.” She said the same thing when the home support workers laughed at her cat. Buttercup has some neurological problems, staggers and sways through her days. I chat with Buttercup now and then about Mom and I wonder what her memories are. Does she remember me as I sat on a stool beside the sofa holding Mom’s foot in my lap while I cut her toe nails? Her skin felt like soft warm crepe paper. I stood in Mom’s room while she slept, curled on her side, so tiny. I pictured her cradled in my hands. Yes, those memories are my companions now and, yes, those memories make me smile. When I talk about Mom or Dad, my aunts or uncles, I choose to remember those laughing moments and to use them to build my life after caregiving – for there is a SL life after caregiving.

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A Key to Caregiving: Setting Limits

BY ISOBEL GEMMELL

aregivers face many challenges. In addition to caring for their loved one, there are tasks that can include: caring for a home/car/garden, preparing meals, handling finances, maintaining a connection to family and friends, plus often working part- or full-time. These additional demands add pressure to a full-time caregiver, often leaving them feeling as though they are merely juggling responsibilities, without actually accomplishing anything. It is, therefore, important to make choices and set limits. Learning to say “no” is the key to setting these limits. Understanding that caregiving is about cooperation and collaboration – and not

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limitless giving – will often provide a myriad of positive changes and benefits. For example: • By sharing tasks, the family caregiver’s stress is reduced because they get a well-deserved break and are allowed time to pursue other interests and passions; and the care recipient is given the opportunity to gain some independence, self-esteem and confidence. Caregiving becomes more of a partnership. • Allowing family, friends or paid helpers to assist, at times, can provide the family caregiver with time to refocus. The break can be something to look forward to; a time to rest or complete an unfinished chore; plus, it revitalizes the caregiver. At the same time, it allows the care recipient to experience care from someone new, and affords others the opportunity to experience the rewarding act of giving care. • Setting limits can be beneficial to a caregiver’s health. Caregivers are at a high risk for illness, stress and burnout. • Setting limits does not mean one is being selfish or avoiding responsibilities, rather it allows the caregiver to continue providing quality care to their loved one. The following are some helpful hints for setting limits: • Decide what you can and cannot

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do. When asked to take on additional tasks, remain steadfast that your workload, family needs and personal life are already full and you cannot commit to anything more. • Be open and honest with your care recipient and family members, so there is no surprise when you say “no.” • Don’t let emotions like guilt, anger or anxiety distract you from the limits you set. Negative emotions have no place in doing what needs to be done in order to have a positive caregiving experience. • Sometimes family caregivers fear criticism if they say “no.” Remember, you are setting limits for practical reasons and positive results – for you and your care recipient. • Invite family and friends to assist you with caregiving. Sharing the care doesn’t mean you are avoiding your role as a caregiver; rather, it offers you some flexibility and a more balanced life. • When setting limits do not feel as though you are anything but the loving, caring person you are. Your family and loved one will realize that you too have SL needs.

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Fit for the Adventure BY EVE LEES

Dial 8-1-1 for Nutrition Information

any of us are confused about diet and nutrition because we are constantly inundated with the latest fads and we don’t know where to go for credible help. When you have questions about fibre or calcium, how to read food labels or even where to find a dietician who makes house calls, who ya gonna call? Credible help is as close as a phone call away with a service called Dietician Services at HealthLinkBC (formerly known as Dial-A-Dietitian). This free non-emergency service allows you ask a Registered Dietician about nutrition and healthy eating, says Lori Smart, Manager of Dietician Services at HealthLinkBC. It is available weekdays (8am-8pm, Monday thru Thursday and 8am-5pm Fridays) in Greater Vancouver at 604-732-9191. A toll-free number, in BC only, is 8-1-1 (7-1-1 for the hearing impaired). Translation services are available in more than 130 languages. A Registered Dietician (RD) is the “rocket scientist” in the field of food science. Nutrition is a complex science and it takes years of applied knowledge to comprehend the many issues relating diet to good health. RDs spend a minimum of five years completing their degrees. Though we’re quick to spend money on the latest diet book, consulting with an RD is more effective. Their knowledge allows us access to credible, sensible and more personalized dietary information.

Registered Dieticians are found in private practice, or are connected with health centres, clinics and hospitals. And they are also a phone call away at 8-1-1. HealthLinkBC also offers Nursing Services at HealthLinkBC (anytime, non-emergency only), and Pharmacist Services at HealthLinkBC (every night from 5pm to 9am, non-emergency). Callers with multiple concerns can be connected to a dietician, a nurse and/or a pharmacist, all in the same call, says Smart. And the 8-1-1 toll-free number makes it affordable, as well as convenient, for those living outside the Greater Vancouver area. These health services can also be accessed round-the-clock by a mobile app, or via the website: www.dialadietitian.org This website offers a Resource Order Form, to order information brochures, posters and magnets.

Other services offered by HealthLinkBC include BC HealthFiles, and the BC HealthGuide. Dietician Services at HealthLinkBC has been around for some time, says Smart. It began serving the Lower Mainland in 1972 as Dial-A-Dietician and became a province-wide, toll-free service in 1991. In 2008, it joined HealthLinkBC. Two years later, HealthLinkBC officially joined the BC Government Ministry of Health. For sensible and credible dietary information, or to find an expert in your area (who may even make house calls), SL put 8-1-1 on speed dial!

Eve Lees was a Personal Trainer and Nutrition Counsellor for 30 years. Currently she is a Freelance Health Writer and Speaker. www.artnews-healthnews.com

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What is Shingles? BY LIN GREEN

hingles (or varicella zoster) is caused by the virus that causes chickenpox, and is listed in the same sub-family of viral infections as herpes simplex. If you’ve had chickenpox – and 98 per cent of North Americans have – you can develop shingles. The zoster virus can lie dormant in nerve roots for years and reactivate at any time as a painful rash in a narrow band or strip on one side of the body, usually involving a small area from the spine around to the belly or chest. Only five to 10 per cent of patients do not develop a rash. The rash produces blisters that break and develop into small ulcers that dry and form crusts that fall off in two or three weeks, sometimes leaving scars. Along with the rash, symptoms can include headache, sensitivity to light, flu-like symptoms with no fever, abdominal pain, chills, itching, and tingling of the skin. The severe pain of shingles can often require opioid pain relief. In a patient survey, 96 per cent reported experiencing stabbing, throbbing or burning pain at the site of the rash, with 42 per cent describing the pain as “horrible” or “excruciating.” The virus can often evolve into Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, which affects facial muscles, and causes joint pain and swollen glands when varicella zoster infects nerves in the head. The symptoms of Ramsay Hunt can include a red painful rash on the face or in the ears or mouth, facial paralysis, ear pain, hearing loss, vertigo, dry eyes and possible changes in the sense of taste. Optic shingles occurs when the virus has invaded the ophthalmic nerve and causes painful eye infections with temporary blindness or permanently impaired vision. The Center for Disease Control reports that 70 per cent of the estimated one million annual cases of shingles occur in people 50 and older or in those with a weakened immune system from physical or psychological trauma, surgery, AIDS, and as a result of taking certain medications. While lab tests can confirm active zoster, there is no medical test to predict who will get shingles or how severe it will be in each individual case. Post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) is the most common complication of the varicella virus. PHN can last months or years.

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One in four shingles patients develop this condition, which can result in serious bacterial infections, pneumonia, or cranial and motor neuron palsies. PHN can result in disordered sleep, chronic fatigue, weight loss, migraines, anxiety and depression. You can’t catch shingles from someone else, and you can’t come down with chickenpox from direct contact with the associated rash. However, if a pregnant woman gets chickenpox, the baby is at a higher risk to have shingles in the first two years of life. In treating active varicella zoster, anti-viral medications can reduce severity and duration if a seven-day treatment is started within 72 hours of onset. There are several prescription medications that can block the replication of zoster, along with other drugs that can be used for nerve pain. When the lesions crust over, doctors will prescribe topical medicines that can be used on the site of the original rash. There is a vaccine for the preven-

tion of shingles, but the immunization doesn’t insure immunity. The injection can prevent only half of the cases, and reduces post-herpetic neuropathy pain by only two-thirds. But the vaccine does reduce the severity of the disease and the risk of PHN. The vaccine is not recommended for those who have had a reaction to gelatin or neomycin, or for those with weakened immune systems, those who use corticosteroids, or who have TB or a history of lymphatic or bone marrow cancer. Researchers are studying other vaccines for the prevention of shingles, and are drawing closer to the development of one that will prevent all cases of varicella zoster. In the meantime, doctors are urging patients over 50 who have had the chickenpox virus to receive the current vaccine. SL This article is indended for information purposes only. Please consult your physician to determine if immunization is right for you.

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March 2014 March is Embrace Aging Month! The Greater Victoria Eldercare Foundation invites you to discover resources, activities and educational opportunities available to help embrace the journey of aging.

In Celebration of Embrace Aging Month: Have Fun; Be Entertained; Discover Resources Senior Living Magazine presents: Senior Expo - March 11th - Pearkes Recreation Centre, Victoria Be Well; Be Secure; Be Connected; Be Enriched Free Workshops, Events and Resources for seniors and their families Various Times & Locations during March

For details, contact the Eldercare Foundation. supported by:

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1454 Hillside Ave.,Victoria, BC V8T 2B7 250-370-5664 ��www.gvef.org WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

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Embrace Aging…Get Connected Get connected to inspiring people, ideas, activities and valuable resources during the month of March. There is so much to see and do! For more information, go to www.gvef.org and follow the Embrace Aging links or call the Greater Victoria Eldercare Foundation at 250-370-5664. In March 2014 the Eldercare Foundation and our Vancouver Island community partners will celebrate the 9th Embrace Aging Month; a time dedicated to connecting seniors and their families with resources, activities and educational opportunities available to help navigate and embrace the journey of aging. We invite you to explore the possibilities and discover the wealth of resources that are available year-round. There are free workshops, activities and events island-wide and all ages are welcome…after all, we are ALL aging!

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Senior Expo Country Hoe-Down March 11th from 9am – 4pm at the On Vancouver Island: Pearkes Recreation Centre. Free events, webinars Join artists from four and tele-workshops care facilities for: offered throughout Embrace Aging Through Vancouver Island can the Arts & Community be found by visiting the Art Exhibition ‘Community Sessions CACGV Main Gallery & Events 2014’ calendar at Cedar Hill Rec Centre, on our website’s Embrace Opening: March 6th, Aging page. 1:30pm to 4:00pm. Exhibit: March 6th - 18th These are just a few of the ways you can get Visit Ross Place connected during March. Retirement Residence For a complete listing, visit March 25th from our website at gvef.org 2pm – 4pm and learn how and click on the Embrace healthy skin is key to a Aging logo or call the healthy body at the Skin Eldercare Foundation Care Info Fair. at 250-370-5664.

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urking at the back of everyone’s china cabinet cutlery drawers are little metal doo-dads that should come out more often. I like fish. If I were told I could no longer eat meat, I’d be happy with fish. When folks come to the door expounding their philosophical beliefs, I tell them I’m a pescetarian. At that point, they nod their heads wisely and go away. Somewhere in your drawer are fish knives, charming pieces with wide ornate blades that would love to reacquaint themselves with a nice piece of cod. While pickles have a salty personality, pickle forks do not. These can be found in your drawer too, chatting amiably with your fish knives. A healthy snack food around our home consists of roasted florets of cauliflower and broccoli, lightly olive oiled with a hint of spice added. A pickle fork is great for picking these up, and saves licking your fingers every few minutes. Nuts are a wonderful food if you’re not allergic and can digest them. My regimen includes 16 unsalted dry-roasted almonds with breakfast. No, I’m not obsessive-compulsive, and sometimes I cut the straps loose and have an extra one. First came nuts, then came the nutcracker. There’s satisfaction in popping a shell between the jaws, squeezing hard and muttering “Take that, government agency of my choice.” Nut picks are a first cousin and are a great improvement over extracting nut meat with a fingernail. Hands up those who’ve used grape scissors in the past year. Grape scissors are those things tangled with your nutcrackers in the back of the drawer. In Victorian times, it was not de rigeur to touch food with fingers, and grapes were usually served on the vine in a bowl. Stabbing a grape with a fork was a messy option, and grape scissors allowed snipping off a piece of vine then, behind a hand, nibbling a grape and extracting the pulp, discreetly placing the skin on the edge of a plate. Baby spoons are often encountered in estates, and the Victorian “don’t use your fingers” admonition extended to very small children. The little tool in the drawer resembling a hoe

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is a baby food pusher. A child’s introduction to cutlery began with pushing BY MICHAEL RICE food onto a spoon, reducing cleanup time, particularly if, including twins, one had 14 children under age 10. With a focus on healthy eating, fish, roasted vegetables, grapes and nuts all have well-documented health benefits. To keep things in balance, there were eating utensils for not so healthy food, too, such as marrow scoops, butter picks, cake breakers and Saratoga scoops – used for serving potato chips more politely than ripping a bag open and dumping them in a plastic bowl.

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A bon-bon scoop.

Also, for those who think a “spork” is a great new invention… not so. The first one was created in the later 1800s for eating ice cream! All of these items are collectable. Older pieces are often ornate, many are sterling silver, and their histories are written up in countless books on Victorian dining etiquette. I find these a pleasant read and a nice break from perusing Car Wash Tokens of Ontario and similar volumes on my bookshelves. And now a plug for Senior Expo 2014! If you have any small-sized old items (e.g. coins, medals, postcards, photos, strange cutlery or anything else you’ve ever wondered about) – and would like to know their history and if they have collector value, stuff a bag and bring it along to the Expo at Pearkes Recreation Centre in Victoria on Tuesday, March 11. I’d be delighted to see what you have – and this SL service is absolutely free! Comments and suggestions for future columns are welcome and can be sent to Michael Rice, PO Box 86, Saanichton, BC V8M 2C3 or via email to fenian@shaw.ca

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“The Rite of Spring” shows different relationships and dynamics. Becoming the group’s leader is like a rite of passage.

photo : Derek Ford

Seats for Seniors: $45.00 Senior groups please call

250 380 6063 or email to:

attendance@balletvictoria.ca

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SENIOR LIVING

Not to be Missed! Snowbird: A Tribute to Anne Murray

“Canada’s Sweetheart” Anne Murray entertained audiences for four decades before announcing her retirement in 2007. Murray was the first Canadian female solo artist to go No. 1 on the American Billboard chart, and sell a gold record in both Canada and the US. She was the first woman and first Canadian to win Album of the Year. Anne has received a jaw-dropping 24 Junos, along with four Grammys over her 40 year career. This “girl next door” from Nova Scotia has sold 54 million albums with 33 No. 1 singles. Billboard Magazine, the music industry bible, has ranked her #10 on their list of 50 greatest adult contemporary artists ever. She has her own star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, as well as in Canada. In a sweeping tribute to this music legend, fellow Nova Scotian, Laura Gillespie, and her band deliver a multimedia show that will take you back over the hits, career highlights, and songs like “Cotton Jenny,” “Could I Have This Dance,” “What About Me,” and the one that started it all, “Snowbird.” This tribute show is a cavalcade of non-stop hits and imagery that will instantly transport you through time. Shows coming to Victoria, Sidney, Port Alberni, Campbell River, Nanaimo, Duncan, Courtenay, Maple Ridge, Trail, Salmon Arm and Mission. Tickets available at discount pricing at the upcoming Senior Living Senior Expo on March 11 at Pearkes Recreation Centre. Don’t miss Laura Gillespie as she joins us on stage at 1 p.m. to perform a couple of Anne Murray’s most wellknown songs. See details on upcoming shows on page 33.

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Jeeves in Bloom at the Chemainus Theatre

The peaceful English countryside will never be the same after Bertie Wooster and his unflappable valet, Jeeves, pay a visit. The stakes are high as romantic entanglement, hilarious escapades and begrudging burglary come together – and only Jeeves can save the day! From the stories by P.G. Wodehouse. Adapted by Margaret Raether. More info at www.chemainustheatrefestival.ca See show dates and details on page 35.

Civic Orchestra of Victoria

The Civic Orchestra of Victoria presents a concert at the Alix Goolden Performance Hall featuring German Romantic music including Weber’s “Der Freischultz Overture,” Mendelsohn’s selections from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” and Schumann’s Symphony No. 4 in D minor. Music Director Yariv Aloni, with assistant conductors Nathan Jacklin and Evan Hesketh. Tickets: Adult $22, Senior $18, Student $10. More info at www.civicorchestraofvictoria.org See show details on page 33. Ballet Victoria presents The Rite of Spring Ballet Victoria has been working all year on a new choreography for what is probably the 20th Century’s most daring dance work. This unique production by Stravinsky demonstrates relationship dynamics and how becoming a groups’ leader is like a rite of passage. With a fine young company, choreographer Paul Destrooper consistently produces excellent productions. Performances on March 22 and 23. For more information, visit www. balletvictoria.ca See show details on page 32.

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One of the best-selling, and mostloved recording artists world-wide comes to Victoria. Nana Mouskouri returns to the stage with her “Happy Birthday Tour,” starting on her birthday in Athens and taking her around the world for one year. “Singing was my first love, which always helped me to breathe,” says Nana Mouskouri. “Singing helped me to hope and realize that there was love and peace around! Since I had the chance to come this far in my life, I thought it would be worth celebrating, singing songs of my favourite composers and writers, for all my dear friends, the audience. Happy Birthday to all who have given me the answer that love still exists. And as long as there is music for me and my friends, there is love!” One performance only on March 30, 8pm. For more information, visit www. uvic.ca/auditorium SL See details on page 35.

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Nana Mouskouri at the University Centre Farquhar Auditorium

Arts & Entertainment

A Jazzy Journey to the Classics

hen Sidney formed their Art Council in 1992, the township had some funds for a music program. They approached Stephen Brown, classical composer, conductor, Victoria Music Conservatory teacher/adjudicator/examiner and member of the Bastion Jazz Band, about what to do with the money. Without hesitation, Stephen replied, “Let’s start an orchestra!” And the Sidney Classical Orchestra (SCO) was born. As Artistic Director and Conductor Stephen provides a warm friendly program of classical music for people of all ages in Sidney and the Saanich peninsula. However, many SCO supporters from other areas gladly travel to hear the concerts, too. One of the goals of SCO is to encourage and provide opportunities for young people to enjoy and participate in classical music. “Victoria Conservatory is full of talent and SCO has two or three chairs earned by students who can play as well as any professional musicians,” says Stephen. Also, each year, notices are sent all over Vancouver Island for young musicians to apply and audition for one of

the five to eight coveted youth soloists spots in one of SCO’s concerts. Stephen’s musical odyssey began at 13. “I hounded my parents for an electric guitar,” he says. “My brother was already playing acoustic and steelstring. I tried the rock ‘n’ roll thing, but I didn’t play the guitar well then.” As a college student, he was exposed to all types of music: country, blues, R&B, as well as jazz, classical and rock ‘n’ roll, but he was already gravitating to classical. At 22, Stephen decided to do something with his life and music was the one thing he cared about next to his family. He bought a piano and took lessons. Three years later, he became a full-time student at Toronto’s Royal Conservatory. Stephen had his initial introduction to New Orleans jazz in the 1970s. He had a young family, driving taxis and going to school. “A jazz band in Toronto needed a piano player,” he recalls. “To earn extra cash, I played weekends and stayed for a couple of years.” Driving taxis and playing jazz fueled his determination to complete his music education. “It was hard work as an older stu-

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BY JUDEE FONG

dent, but I felt I was in the right spot for who I am,” says Stephen. “The more I learned, the more I was convinced this is what I wanted to do.” It is this passion that reaches students at the Victoria Conservatory of Music where Stephen teaches the language of music: harmony, counterpoint, analysis and composition. Although he enjoys playing piano and guitar in his leisure time, Stephen candidly admits, “I conduct and compose classical music. I enjoy playing piano for myself but to become a Chopin takes a special skill and years of training.” Some musicians are amazingly talented to compose music they hear in their heads with specific instruments playing their part. “I wrote a piece in 30 minutes for a string quartet and piano. When I wrote it, I knew what it would sound like without having it played first. Other times, composing can be more difficult when the initial attempt produces only garbage.” His numerous compositions include a symphony, a piano concerto, two overtures, two suites for orchestra and six suites for cello. Many of Stephen’s pieces have been played by the Victoria, Vancouver and Toronto Symphonies. One of his past students, Hannah Addario-Berry, a prominent cellist, has recorded some of Stephen’s cello compositions. Smiling impishly, Stephen recalls an earlier memory of travelling in a Toronto snowstorm to the rehearsal of his first symphony composition: “At that time, I was driving a rolling ghetto, a Ford Maverick with all kinds of rusty holes. I had filled the holes with old socks and roller-painted the car baby blue. The back quarter panels had been glued together with roofing tiles and we had stuffed blankets in the trunk to stop the gases from coming in. I didn’t know the

Photo: Sandy Henderson

quarter panel had separated, opening up a huge gap at the bottom of the car and this bright orange blanket had fallen through.” “Part of the blanket had caught on a rusty nail and I was dragging behind me – a 10-foot orange blanket all the way through downtown Toronto in a snowstorm. I pulled into the parking lot of Roy Thompson Hall, filled with expensive cars and found a space between a Rolls-Royce and a Mercedes. My wife and I had someone waiting to guide us to the rehearsal room, but my car had ‘run-off’ — that’s when the ignition is turned off but the car still rumbles and snorts for about five minutes. Our guide couldn’t stop laughing at this whole scene.”

Classical composer Stephen Brown plays jazz piano for his enjoyment.

As for his symphony, Stephen says, “It was about nine minutes of rehearsing my symphony in starts and stops before the actual concert. I remember asking the conductor, ‘My God, what does it sound like?’ and he replied, ‘I don’t know, ask me after tonight!’ The Toronto Symphony performed it beautifully.” In his leisure time, Stephen indulges his love of jazz playing guitar, piano and doing vocals with the popular Bastion Jazz Band. His band-mates Denny Box, drums, Eugene Dowling, tuba, Alf Sleigh, trombone, Aaron Watson, guitar, accordion and saw, plus Alfons Fear on trumpet get together every Saturday night at Victoria’s Ocean Island Backpackers’ Café for a lively jam session of jazz, blues, country, R&B and more. “Classical music is my first calling because it’s what I do,” says Stephen. “I teach it, I write it and I conduct it. Jazz is what I play on my days off. That’s when I play piano and guitar for SL my enjoyment.” For more information, visit www.seniorlivingmag.com/articles/jazzy-journey

Seek culture, creativity, community. Find it at the Farquhar Auditorium.

Nana Mouskouri

One of the best-selling and most-loved recording artists worldwide. The Happy Birthday Tour

March 30, 8pm tickets.uvic.ca 250-721-8480

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Travel & Adventure

Romance and Foodie Fun in Victoria S

BY JANE CASSIE

ucculent baron of beef, doused with a demi glaze. Curry-infused chicken coupled with sweet Jasmine rice. Mushroom ravioli, topped with flavourful tomato-parmesan. My husband and I salivate over the line-up of selections at the amazing spread. “Gotta love this ferry food,” says Brent, when he also loads up at the salad bar. “And check out the chocolate dessert table!” Whether you’re first-time BC ferry cruisers or veterans like us, you can’t go wrong with the Pacific Buffet. The cost of this all-inclusive meal comes with bottomless cups of a rich Canterbury blend – and is always topped off with a premium roving view. With the mid-week 50 per cent seniors’ discount, walk-on cost is easy on our bankbook and this dining option makes the voyage feel more like a high-end cruise. Even getting from Swartz Bay to Victoria’s hub is a breeze. In less than an hour, public transit fast tracks us, double-decker style, for a mere $2.50 each. What a deal! The purpose of this visit is two-fold – to treat our daughter and wee grandson to a few city attractions, (Read April’s issue of Senior Living for the full coverage!), and to have some foodie fun while re-kindling a little romance. The Magnolia Hotel and Spa certainly caters to this need! The contemporary gem snuggles seamlessly into Victoria’s Old World charm and is just steps away from the bustling Inner Harbour. We’re ushered into the intimate lobby that’s decked out in fine marble, rich mahogany and exquisite décor. Adjacent is the trendy Catalano Restaurant & Cicchetti Bar, one of the newer kids on Victoria’s culinary block – where homegrown ingredients are wizardly crafted into Mediterra-

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The author and her husband enjoy a little deck time en route to Vancouver Island.

nean fare. In addition to offering intriguing lunch and dinner menus, this is where our complimentary breakfast is served each morning – whether it’s the buffet that includes everything from fresh fruit and mouthwatering pastries to meats, cheeses and Belgium waffles, or hot à la carte made-to-order options – it’s a scrumptious way to start each day!

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Delicious perks extend to all 64 recently-rejuvenated rooms. We bump up the romance-metre by going for a spacious fireplace suite that flaunts a view of the BC Parliament Buildings. A fruit plate is waiting on arrival. Freshly-brewed coffee and The Globe are assured each morning. Dutch Bakery sweets are presented at turndown. And our deep soaker tub is continually stocked with divine products from Aveda. We could also discover supreme serenity at The Spa Magnolia, where their Intelligent Nutrient products are as organic as they come. If only we had more time! With Victoria boasting so many restaurants, there’s a lot of sampling to squeeze in during our short stay. On a three-hour culinary tour, Karma Brophy shows us the best way to do just that! This effervescent gastronome has been enriching the minds and palates of foodies for over 20 years and, since 2010, she’s been the proud owner of Feast Concierge. While leading the way on foot, she integrates her The author samples marvelous meatballs and succulent porchetta at Roast.

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Photos: Brent Cassie

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vast knowledge of regional edibles with personal anecdotes. And like followers of the Pied Piper, we’re lured by the tantalizing trail and her charming tales. The majority of our taste trek takes place in the newly opened Victoria Public Market, a 1,762 square-metre foodlover’s haunt that would satisfy the hungriest appetite. Farmers, fishers, butchers, bakers – all work symbiotically under one huge roof (formerly the Hudson Bay department store) to showcase their local bounty. “It’s a growing and very caring community,” says Brophy passionately, as we saunter from shop to shop. “And many of these vendors utilize islandsourced goods, which benefits all.” Our first stop is The French Oven Bakery, where owner, Sandra Castro, churns fresh, regional ingredients into favourites from France: buttery croissants, decadent Pain Au Chocolat, savoury brioche – yum! It’s not surprising to hear

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that her husband and solo baker, Nick, was born, raised and trained in Lyon. Next door, the epicurean secrets come all the way from the Marche region of Italy. Olive the Senses is family-owned and operated by Steve and Emily Lycopolus and here we have a choice of sixty-plus virgin olive oils and aged balsamic vinegars to sample. “It’s like trying a fine wine,” Brophy says, while swigging back of a spicy Chilean blend. We follow her lead, swishing and sniffing a few of the heady elixirs. It’s a tough decision but eventually we decide on our purchase –a fabulous fig-infused balsamic. The Italian-inspired rotisserie, Roast, is next on our edible sojourn. Proprietor and accomplished chef George Szasz, who works closely with local producers, dishes us up marvelous meatballs and succulent porchetta. “We even season some of our selections with sea salts from Vancouver Island Spice Factory,” he explains. “It’s a delicious win-win partnership.” These interconnections within Victoria’s culinary community clearly help sustain the regional supply. The business Szasz is referring to is just two doors down. Spanish paprika, banana pepper, Mandarin orange and lime – these unique, unrefined sea salts that are harvested from Vancouver Island waters, stack up next to an array of spices and edible seeds. I look forward to trying out the potpourri of treasures that have been plunked into my goodie bag. But for now, this sauntering smorgasbord continues.

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Sutra’s spicy pakora and Punjabistyle poutine (cassava fries deliciously doused in a pungent tomato compote) is to die for; Cowichan Bay Seafood’s crab cakes and candied salmon melt in our mouths; and Silk Road Tea’s fruity brew awakens our taste buds. And every scrumptious tidbit is accompanied by one of Brophy’s tales. But there’s still more tromping and noshing to do. It’s just a good thing I hadn’t started that diet yet! Up to Fort Street we rove, nipping, sipping, savouring – Spanish-style cured meats and fine cheeses at Chorizo & Co, smoked wild salmon at the fish-lover’s Hook and, finally, the grand finale – a generous selection of handcrafted unique sweets at Chocolat, a family-run business that’s been satisfying chocoholics for over 25 years. Praline, pumpkin, lavender, lemon – each delectable morsel is quality-made and infused with the finest ingredients. “How ’bout a little more sampling?” Brophy suggests after we polish off these

Owner of The French Oven Bakery treats the author and her tour guide to her favourites from France.

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sinful pleasures. “I offer an even more indulgent culinary tour of Oak Bay.” Although we’re familiar with this quaint seaside village that has an eclectic array of eateries, and these tours The couple relaxing in their chichi suite at Magnolia Hotel & Spa.

are a fabulous way to experience the flavours of our capital, we still need to make room for one more spread. And that’s SL for the Pacific Buffet as we cruise back home. For IF YOU GO information, visit www.seniorlivingmag. com/articles/romance-and-foodie-fun

Drop by for a drink. You may even want to stay a while. Tuesday, March 18th, 2 pm – 4 pm Enjoy a sip, a nibble and a peek at what Revera’s all about. Be our guest to enjoy a live Celtic band and Irish pub fare at our St. Patrick’s Day Celebration. Stop by to mix, mingle and meet some new friends!

Personal tours available.

Call to RSVP by March 15th! The Kensington 3965 Shelbourne St Victoria

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Join us for a St. Patrick’s Day Celebration at Revera – The Kensington.

BY PAT NICHOL

The Gypsy Life is Not All That!

was brave in talking of the gypsy life I was going to live. The reality, however, is quite different and a whole lot less romantic! I walked away from my home of 35 years on December 12, knowing I had lots of options to house and animal sit. I made a courageous leap of faith. BUT, three-and-a-half decades as a homeowner with the security of knowing where my head was going to rest each night is difficult to overcome. I have learned that, unless you’re 22, living out of the trunk of your car is not the most fun thing to do. I guess I am not as courageous as I thought I was. By December 28, I was looking for somewhere to nest – somewhere that was mine all mine. Sort of. What should it be? A small pied-à-terre in a grand mansion? A high rise condo? A practical basement suite? Deciding was such a challenge! My biggest obstacle is that I don’t need my own place 365 days a year. Last year, I spent approximately four-and-a-half months in my own house. So, how to handle this? My dream abode is a large sunny room on the second floor

Photo: Frances Litman

COURAGEOUS and OUTRAGEOUS

of an older house with lots of windows. A private bath is a must. If you have ideas or have face similar circumstances, please share them with me. What challenges have you come up against – and overcome? Now, as we move into 2014, how have you been doing with your kindness acts? Easier or more difficult than you thought? Set a goal to do at least three kind things each day then, next month, move it up to five. Keep track and watch your heart grow. A kindness may be simply a smile as you pass someone on the street; a compliment on work done well; having a conversation with that person on the bus seated beside you. I guarantee that by the end of March, you will be feeling so much better about yourself – and life. Spread love this month and watch it come back to you. I look forward to seeing you at the Senior Expo! SL Pat Nichol is a speaker and published author. Reach her at mpatnichol@gmail.com or visit www.patnichol.com

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FAMILY CAREGIVER WORKSHOPS An endorsed program developed by dementia care experts. • Alzheimer’s Disease or Other Dementias • Capturing Life’s Journey • Techniques to Manage Behaviours • Activities to Encourage Engagement Call to register for March. Mar 11 & 13 6:30pm to 8:30pm. These free family workshops are held at the Home Instead Senior Care Resource Centre. 250-382-6565.

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ASK Goldie

How can we make them understand it is their time to enjoy life? –W.L.

Dear W.L.: This is a more common issue among seniors than BY GOLDIE CARLOW, M.ED you may realize. When Dear Goldie: some people get into this “save-for-aMy mother has been in a seniors’ resi- rainy-day” mode of thinking the habit dence for two years. Everything has been becomes difficult to change. They need satisfactory until three months ago. At to be reassured that you and your siblings that time, a new male resident moved in are self-sufficient now. Perhaps a family next door, and life has been quite unpleas- meeting to talk about their dreams of travant for her since. He is continually at her el will get their wheels turning. SL door and she feels that she has lost her priGood luck! vacy. My brother and I have each spoken to management but nothing has improved. Goldie Carlow is a retired registered nurse, What do you suggest? –N.C. clinical counsellor and senior peer counselling trainer. Send letters to Senior Living, Box Dear N.C.: 153, 1581-H Hillside Ave., Victoria, V8T 2C1 I suggest you, your brother and your mother speak to management together to Senior Peer Counselling have a stronger voice. Emphasize that you Centres – Island do not want to move your mother, but if Campbell River 250-287-3044 nothing changes you have no alternative. Courtenay/Comox 250-890-0099 Management has many issues to deal Duncan 250-748-2133 Nanaimo 250-754-3331 with on a daily basis and this may not Port Hardy 250-949-5110 have been given top priority. A reminder Salt Spring Island 250-537-4607 may be all that is required. Dear Goldie: My parents have been independent for many years, having raised four children and two grandchildren. Finally, they are talking retirement and travel. Having spent so much time and money on family, they are reluctant to now spend a little on themselves. They are inclined to put every cent in the bank for a rainy day and never spend on themselves.

Sidney 250-656-5537 Victoria 250-382-4331

Senior Peer Counselling Centres – Mainland Burnaby 604-291-2258 Coquitlam – Tri-Cities 604-945-4480 New Westminster 604-519-1064 North Vancouver 604-987-8138 Richmond 604-279-7034 Vancouver West End 604-669-7339 Vancouver Westside 604-736-3588

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Reﬂections THEN & NOW hen I was a boy, all men wore hats. They were called Fedoras. They came in black, different shades of brown and grey, with a silky band around the crown. A man walking down the street without a Fedora, especially in the winter, looked strangely out of place. Hat shops, where you could have your Fedora cleaned and re-blocked, always seemed to have a three-seat shoeshine bench. You would climb up, put your feet on the raised-up shoe-stops, raise your pant cuffs, and wait your turn for a shinier-than-shiny shine. These shops smelled of steam and shoe polish and cigarette smoke. The bench you sat on while having your shoes shined was stretched brown leather with one or more newspapers to read while the shoeshine guy slapped your shoes with polish, then brushed them (a brush in each hand) rapid-fire until his hands were a blur. Then, the snapping rag that not only added the extra shine, but seemed to massage your foot as well. As you sat there, you could stare at all the clean blocked hats on the shelf on the far wall with little tickets in their ��

bands, waiting for their owners to claim them. I remember, in particular, BY the little bald man who cleaned the blocked hats. His name was Stan and he never smiled. When the customer would try to point out stains or wear on his wounded Fedora, Sam would mumble: “Yeah, yeah, yeah! Leave it with me. Come back in a few days!” His sidekick, who shined the shoes, had thick black hair and a smile missing two front teeth. His name was Vic and he insisted on smiling all the time. They never spoke to one another. At Christmas, it was kind of like visiting Ebenezer Scrooge and Bob Cratchit. The boys in my neighbourhood and I waited anxiously for our dads’ Fedoras to get so old they were beyond cleaning – and then we would rescue them for our own. Our dads would cut off the brim, remove the band on the crown, cut jagged teeth edges around the lower part of the crown, three or four small holes in the crown itself, turn the ragged edge upward, and lo, we had a beanie! We would put any small thing we could find on our beanies: ribbons tacked with safety pins, badges, Crack-

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SENIOR LIVING

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GIPP FORSTER

er Jack prizes, all kinds of things. We felt like Mugs McGinnis from the Bowery Boys. The last Fedora I really took notice of was one I bought in the mid-’60s to prove to the world I was now a man. By that time, the Fedora was fading into history – no one seemed to notice I had arrived at the squeaky door of maturity. I only wore my Fedora three times. I threw it away eventually. Very few men were wearing them and no one seemed to know what a beanie was. Lots of things that were a positive part of my childhood are no longer around – the old Victrola phonograph, the pedal Singer sewing machine, the icebox, the horse-drawn bakery and milk wagons and, of course, the Fedora. By the time I had reached the age of participation, I was only allowed a “taste” of what I had waited so long to be part of. But I am grateful for that taste. Today, I savour the recollection of a time when men got their shoes shined on a regular basis, of a time when men wore hats and visited shops where they could get their hat cleaned and blocked, where you could smell the steam and the shoe polish, and hear the rhythm of the cloth as it danced across your shoes. I am grateful for the splendid FeSL dora. Sadly, Gipp passed away on April 15, 2013. He left us with some unpublished writings, so we are honoring his love of Senior Living and its readers by continuing to publish his work for as long as we can.

Photo: Krystle Wiseman

The Fedora

        



  

   

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