September 2012 Senior Living Magazine by INSPIRED 55+ Lifestyle Magazine

SEPTEMBER 2012 TM

50+ Active Living Magazine

No Age Limit to Getting Fit Bolster Your Aging Brain How to Talk to Your Grandkids About Sex Looking For Love Online Dr. Julio Montaner

Earthwise:

Growing Organic in Tsawwassen

aims to banish ish HIV/AIDS in BC within one generation www.seniorlivingmag.com WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

HEALTH & WELLNESS 1 EDITION SEPTEMBER 2012

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SEPTEMBER 2012

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FEATURES

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Use these simple activities to bolster your executive functioning skills.

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5 A Healthy Aging Brain

24 Capturing the Image

8 Sharing the Harvest

28 Seniors Have Their Day

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12 No Age Limit to Getting Fit

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A 60-year-old single immerses himself in the world of online dating to investigate the possibilities.

6 St. Paul’s Persistent Hero

Dr. Julio Montaner of St. Paul’s Hospital is adamant he can rid the province of HIV/ AIDS within a generation. Earthwise is a charitable society operating a two-acre community garden and farm in Tsawwassen that promotes a healthy, local, organic foodie lifestyle.

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22 Searching for Love on the Internet

Studies show people 65-plus can build aerobic endurance, strengthen muscles and burn body fat just as easily as younger people.

15 Making Surrey Fit One Hour at a Time

Fitness Instructor Larissa Sokolova’s students range in age from ﬁve to 92.

18 How to Talk to Your Grandkids about Sex

You may think your grandchildren know more about sex than you do, but don’t believe it. Cover Photo: Dr. Julio Montaner, Director of the British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS at St. Paul’s Hospital. Story page 6. Photo: Fernando Prado

Retired Math Teacher Jim Swift combines his passion for photography with his love of Haiku. This year marks United Nations’ 11th annual International Day of Older Persons.

DEPARTMENTS 27 Classiﬁeds

COLUMNS 4 The Family Caregiver by Barbara Small

32 Courageous & Outrageous by Pat Nichol

Senior Living is distributed at all BC Pharmasave locations.

Senior Living is published by Stratis Publishing. Publisher Barbara Risto Editor Bobbie Jo Reid editor@seniorlivingmag.com Advertising Manager Barry Risto 250-479-4705 ext 101 For advertising information, call 250-479-4705 sales@seniorlivingmag.com Ad Sales Staff Ann Lester 250-390-1805 Mathieu Powell 250-479-4705 ext 104 Barry Risto 250-479-4705 ext 101

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Head Ofﬁce Contact Information: Box 153, 1581-H Hillside Ave., Victoria BC V8T 2C1 Phone 250-479-4705 Fax 250-479-4808 Toll-free 1-877-479-4705 E-mail ofﬁce@seniorlivingmag.com Website www.seniorlivingmag.com Subscriptions: $32 (includes GST, postage and handling) for 12 issues. Canadian residents only. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. Senior Living is an independent publication and its articles imply no endorsement of any products or services. The views expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publisher. Unsolicited articles are welcome and should be e-mailed to editor@seniorlivingmag. com Senior Living is distributed free throughout British Columbia. Stratis Publishing Ltd. publishes Senior Living (12 issues per year). ISSN 17103584 (Print) ISSN 1911-6403 (Online)

Arts & Entertainment

New TV Series Redeﬁnes Seniors

“F

inally, a show that tells it from our point of view.” This was the comment by one senior who watched the pilot of Senior Living’s new television series Senior Living On Location back in March when the show’s first episodes were being filming and edited. “We need more programs that look at the lives and activities seniors endorse,” said another senior who, along with about 30 others, viewed and commented on the test show. “This one, un-

doubtedly a winner, is a must see!” Senior Living is finally coming to TV! Viewers can tune in on Sunday, September 16th at 2:30pm to see the first episode of Senior Living On Location broadcast on CHEK TV. After eight years of successfully profiling inspiring seniors in its magazine, Senior Living has struck another obvious chord with this new television series. Senior Living On Location provides video proof that life is far from ordinary when it comes to today’s seniors. Filmed in high-definition, professionally narrated by recognized Victoria broadcaster Barry Bowman, and tightly edited to hold the viewer’s attention from beginning to end, this is the calibre of show seniors in BC have been waiting for. “I don’t know of another show that so vividly demonstrates that seniors are actively and enthusiastically attacking life,” says Senior Living Publisher Barbara Risto. “If our magazine has captured one thing, it’s that seniors are up

for just about any adventure. Our television series shows the reality that society is slowly but surely coming to embrace – that life is not over at 65.” The 13-episode series contains over 50 unique segments profiling seniors and senior groups throughout Vancouver Island and the Lower BC Mainland. One thing is sure, the individuals you will meet during the series will motivate, inspire and challenge your views on what it means to be a senior. Each carefully packaged segment bears witness to the diversity, creativity and sheer courage that abounds in the human spirit. Tune in on Sunday, September 16 at 2:30 on CHEK TV and be prepared to laugh and cheer – because these seniors SL know how to bring it! Turn to page 11 in this issue to view the Senior Living On Location September show schedule. For more detailed information on episode content, visit www.seniorlivingmag.com/episodes

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SEPTEMBER 2012

THE FAMILY CAREGIVER

BY BARBARA SMALL

Time Management Tips for Family Caregivers

inding balance in life, while meeting the demands of caregiving, can be challenging. Caregivers often take on their new responsibilities without letting go of anything else. Living a balanced life doesn’t just happen. It is created by choices. We have to continuously self-correct in response to what happens in life to maintain balance. Our well-being is based on our ability to restore balance in the face of continual disruption. Also, time is finite. We can’t create more time, but we can make choices as to how we best use the time we have by saying no, scheduling less, adjusting our expectations or asking for help. This is called self-management. Self-management is what we do with ourselves during the time we have and is the key to effective time management. It includes: • Making choices that fit our values • Managing commitments • Managing our energy throughout the day • Deciding how to handle what we’ve told ourselves we should do • Managing the “undone” stuff we keep in our minds or on our to-do lists. • Capturing everything into a system that works for us, whether in a Blackberry or on a calendar. • Deciding what is truly important. Every time we say YES to something, we say NO to something else. When we say

YES to something we don’t really want to do or don’t have time to do, we need to ask ourselves what we are giving up in order to meet this commitment. Sometimes what we are giving up is more important to us than what we are saying YES to doing. • Recognizing what is disruptive and unbalances us; and what balances us and allows our life to simply flow. By being attentive, we begin to see patterns more clearly and can act on them. Make a list of what drains your energy, stresses, frustrates or nags at you. Write down as many things as you can think of. Then make a list of what gives you energy, makes you happy, and that you are passionate about. Take a look at your two lists. What stands out for you? Is there a theme to your drainers or your energizers? In order to achieve balance, the aim is to increase your energizers and decrease your drainers by eliminating them or changing how you perceive them. Be creative. What is one thing you can do this coming week to manage SL your life more effectively? 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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A Healthy Aging Brain BY BRIAN LAM, BSC, MA

reparing a birthday dinner; completing your family’s taxes on time; planning a multi-day trip to Europe. Cognition is the key skill common to all three activities. Cognitive skills enable us to initiate, plan, coordinate, execute and seek solutions to problems, and are examples of executive functioning skills. Developmentally, executive functioning skills are the last to mature. For example, consider the typical behaviours one might attribute to someone in their late teens and early twenties. This age group is capable of living independently without parental support; attending to higher levels of education; travelling abroad on their own; initiating career paths; and considering larger responsibilities such as starting a family. These activities are typically beyond the ability of someone in their early to mid-teen years. Their brains haven’t fully developed. And because executive functioning is the last set of cognitive skills to develop, it’s the first set of cognitive skills we lose as we age. In other words: “the last shall be first.” This natural change with executive functioning is further impacted as we move through key stages in life – from school, to work, and ultimately to retirement. Retirement influences the degree to which we utilize those executive functioning skills on a daily basis. This transition leads us to the “use it or lose it” phenomenon. To illustrate, executive functioning skills are heavily used during our

formal school and work years. In retirement, those daily opportunities are still present; however, those opportunities are not there in the same quantity or complexity. Just as our muscles, if not used, will atrophy, the same holds true for our cognitive skills or in this case our executive functioning skills. Strategies Consider these three simple activities to bolster your executive functioning skills: 1. Exercise – it enhances our muscles, bones, heart and lungs. It also supports our brain by developing new pathways in our brain through a process called neurogenesis. 2. New/Novel – try new or different activities. Change up your daily routine, and seek new opportunities and challenges. This gives us the chance to “use” and apply our executive functioning skills so that we don’t “lose” them. 3. Nutrition – eat regularly. The average adult brain weighs about 1,500 grams. That brain consumes about 2025 per cent of your totally daily caloric intake. So, eating well and eating regularly will keep our brain well fueled for new and novel opportunities. Collectively, these three simple activities will enable your brain to function at its best. Your executive functioning skills will be routinely challenged and you’ll consequently find improvements in your daily performance and SL hence your quality of life. WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

SEPTEMBER 2012

Health & Wellness

St. Paul’s Persistent Hero BY JOHN THOMSON

SENIOR LIVING

Photo: Fernando Prado/St. Paul’s Hospital

r. Julio Montaner, Director of the British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS at St. Paul’s Hospital in downtown Vancouver is adamant he can rid the province of HIV/ AIDS within a generation. Internationally recognized as a leader in his field, he’s already saved thousands of lives by creating the world’s first anti-HIV cocktail, a treatment known as Highly Active Retroviral Therapy or HAART for short. HAART is recognized around the world as the go-to solution in turning a deadly epidemic into a chronic but manageable condition. “It stops the replication of the virus,” says Montaner. “The day I give you HAART, the HIV virus stops multiplying. It allows your immunity to come back and you live a near-normal life as long as you take the medication.” Born in Buenos Aires in 1956, Montaner didn’t set out to be a medical hero. He wanted to be a clinical researcher specializing in chest medicine like his father, a distinguished respiratory clinician in Argentina, but independent of him too. Montaner arrived in Vancouver in 1981 after attending a medical conference in Ecuador. “I was at a workshop and there were two guys explaining stuff I always had trouble understanding and it made perfect sense to me,” says Montaner. “I understood everything.” The topic was lung injury and the clarity with which the two physicians expressed themselves impressed the young student. Self-conscious about his limited command of English, he approached the one with the “easy accent.” “I was the one with the easy accent,” laughs Dr. James Hogg, currently an Emeritus Professor of Pathology at UBC, and the head of respiratory research at St. Paul’s Hospital at the time.

“So I approached him during the coffee break,” continues Montaner “and I said ‘this experiment that you’re talking about; if you were to do it the other way around... and he said ‘that’s an interesting proposition. Why don’t you come to my lab and we’ll do that together in Canada.’” “I was impressed with him because of his persistent nature,” says Hogg. “Six months later, he showed up at my office door.” Montaner joined St. Paul’s as a resident. Two years later, he was assigned to a unit specializing in HIV.

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“Pneumonia was the number one killer of people with HIV,” says Montaner “and my boss said ‘pneumonia cannot be fixed without fixing HIV.’ So I said, ‘Okay, let’s try it.’ I started doing work on pneumonia and HIV.” He applied his knowledge of respiratory diseases, particularly tuberculosis, to the task. “One drug didn’t do very well so we tried two drugs and the next thing I did was I started copying the TB model, which was my dad’s specialty. I said, ‘Look, let’s try three drugs.’” The result was HAART and its impact was immediate. The British Columbia death rate from AIDS was almost cut in half when HAART was first introduced in 1996.

The program is halfway through its term, and the results are so impressive, the province wants to take it to other cities, making BC the first jurisdiction in the world to implement treatment as prevention. Montaner would like to see the concept expanded across the country but, so far, Health Canada is unresponsive. “This is stigma and discrimination at its utmost,” he says. “It’s a blame-thevictim kind of mentality. The only issue they’re willing to talk about is a vaccine. Why? Because a vaccine, in my opinion, addresses the needs of those that are not affected – the good people – as opposed to those infected with HIV, which is not their constituency.” A vaccine, if one is to be found,

“My goal is to see how far we can go in terms of eliminating HIV from British Columbia and hopefully elsewhere in the world.”

–Dr. Julio Montaner

“Within five days my viral load dropped 90 per cent,” says Vancouver artist Tiko Kerr referring to the number of pills he had to take before HAART. “Within a month, I was stabilized. The same thing happened for the other four in the group. Julio was our champion. If I hadn’t been with Julio, I’d be dead.” HAART works but it’s not a cure; it’s a respite. Now Montaner’s obsessed with getting HAART to the people who need it the most, those folks who can’t get to the doctor’s office. The solution, he says, is to send nurses into the city’s shelters and rooming house, to test people on their own turf and follow up with therapy if necessary. The theory? Getting to people infected with HIV early and quickly will stop it from spreading. It’s an idea Montaner pitched to the provincial government in 2010, and which the government agreed to explore in a four-year pilot program centered in Vancouver and Prince George.

is many years away and as Montaner points out, controlling the spread of AIDS by addressing the needs of those at risk is a strategy that has been tested and proven. “Canada could be leading the world in the elimination of HIV, but the federal government isn’t interested.” Frustrated over what he perceives as a lack of political will at the federal level, Montaner doesn’t flinch from his goal. “At first, my goals were modest,” Montaner admits. “I wanted to make it better one day at a time. Today, my goal is to see how far we can go in terms of eliminating HIV from British Columbia and hopefully elsewhere in the world.” “This is what’s right for the patients, what is right for the public health effort and what is right for the public purse. Make no mistake. We’re going to win this fight.” SL His father would be proud. WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

SEPTEMBER 2012

Health & Wellness

SHARING THE HARVEST Eat Well, Age Well

BY BEV YAWORSKI

sawwassen retirees Graham and Maja Willoughby signed up for a garden plot a few years ago at a community garden called Earthwise, a 5-minute drive from their home. Along with tending their own green crop of veggie heaven, they became Earthwise volunteers – a dedicated involvement that has blossomed into many meaningful hours helping the farm and garden with seeding, feeding, weeding and much more. Earthwise is a charitable society operating a two-acre community garden and farm in Tsawwassen promoting a healthy, local, organic foodie lifestyle. The Willoughbys’ participation grew when they spotted the farm’s tomato greenhouse plants were in need of extra tender loving care, so Graham and Maja jumped in to help. “It’s all been quite a bit of fun,” says Maja. “And some challenges,” adds Graham. “Two main things we are trying to do here is to have the most nutrient-dense fruit we can get, and to get as many nutrient-rich tomatoes as possible,”

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where they grow healthy vegetables like beets, leeks, kale, cabbage and onions. Canada’s Food Guide recommends seniors have seven servings of vegetables and fruits per day. “Scientific studies have shown vegetables and fruits – especially dark green, orange, yellow and red ones – contain natural disease-fighting ingredients called phytochemicals along with other valuable nutrients.” “Eat well, Age well,” is the motto in the BC Ministry of Health publication Healthy Eating for Seniors: “healthy eating can help maintain and improve health, along with preventing the prog-

Volunteers Maja and Graham Willoughby tend the tomato plants at the Earthwise Farm.

seed in April, nurtured for transplanting in May and tended for late summer and fall harvesting. Some of their varieties have exotic names like African Queen or Japanese Black Trifele – with the Willoughbys able to tell the intriguing tales behind the development of many of these heirlooms. “The most important thing here is the soil,” Graham emphasizes. “This area has clay, so we have had to double dig and add plenty of organic matter. These tomatoes have loads of minerals – due to ingredients such as fish fertilizer, glacial rock dust, leaves and compost added to the soil.” Graham and Maja also take care of their own Earthwise vegetable plot,

Photos: Bev Yaworski

emphasizes Graham. “And we also want them to taste good,” adds Maja. The Willoughbys have become resident tomato experts while amassing a storehouse of information about organic gardening. “This year we are growing about 35 varieties of heirloom tomatoes,” says Maja. “We grow red, yellow, orange, green and even white ones. We’ve also got striped and multi-coloured ones.” It’s not uncommon to see the Willoughbys at the farm at 8 a.m. pruning, fertilizing, staking or watering the tomato plants. The watering alone can take two people three hours to complete. These are plants they have started from

ress of many chronic illnesses.” Food gardening has been experiencing a resurgence as people recognize its many benefits: fresh air, sunshine, exercise and delicious fresh fruits and vegetables. Earthwise Society offers more than 50 community garden plots on their fertile Tsawwassen farmland. The spaces have become so popular there is now a waiting list. Local residents, who may be downsizing into smaller living quarters with limited or no outdoor yard space, are particularly appreciative of their gardens here while growing a diverse selection of crops – everything asparagus to zucchini. These enthusiastic gardeners ex-

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change gardening successes and challenges – while learning from Earthwise gardening programs with expert advice about which seeds to plant each month, how to grow organically and how to get the most out of a garden space. Growers here are also known to swap seeds and food recipes to further enhance their healthy living experience. “Earthwise Society recently began a new program specifically geared for seniors,” reports Earthwise Director Patricia Fleming. “Recognizing that many older adults have expertise they would love to share, this program seeks to engage them in teaching and mentoring others, and in taking on leadership roles in the organization. If you are looking to put your skills and knowledge to work for a good cause, contact us and let us know how you would like to be involved.” Earthwise Garden and Farm, with the help of volunteers like the Willoughbys, will also be hosting a Tomato Festival on Saturday September 15, where visitors can sample tasty freshly-picked tomatoes and enjoy some of the heirloom varieties. This is the time of year when their abundant autumn harvest of champion heritage tomatoes is prominent. “We welcome you for a celebration of these seasonal gems,” says Patricia Fleming. There will be contests, music, displays, and produce sales including many, many handSL grown tomatoes! For more information about the Tomato Festival or volunteer opportunities, phone 604-946-9828 or visit the Earthwise website at www.earthwisesociety.bc.ca

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airs First Episode 16th Sunday Sept at 2:30pm on CHEK TV

presents

senior living MAGAZINE

Now Senior Living brings to life the stories you have been enjoying in our magazine. Episode 1 Life is fun Airs: September 16th, 2012 �� Topics: Laughter Yoga, Al Greenwood - Clown, Go Rowing & Paddling Association of Canada, Victoria Ballroom Dance Society��

Episode 2 Making Fitness Fun Airs: September 23rd, 2012 �� Topics: Garden City Wanderers, Saanich Recreation, Warrior Martial Arts, Cross Canada Cycle Tour Society.

Episode 3 �� Airs: September 30th, 2012 �� Topics: Damali Lavender Farm, Angela Au Hemphill - Artist, Mary Gavin - Storyteller, Ann’s Island Photography.

Episode 4 Senior Adventure Seekers Airs: October 7th, 2012 �� Topics: UASBC Scuba Divers, Vic Lindal - Coach/Speaker, Doug Alderson - Kayaking, Alison Murdoch - Golf.

�� www.seniorlivingmag.com/episodes �� www.seniorlivingmag.com/episodes/order WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

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Health & Wellness

No Age Limit to Getting Fit! BY EVE LEES

ging isn’t an obstacle to getting fit, or staying that way. Studies show people 65-plus can build aerobic endurance, strengthen muscles and burn body fat just as easily as younger people. It’s never too late to build aerobic (heart/ lung) endurance. One study on inactive men and women aged 57 to 70, found significant cardiovascular improvement after nine to 12 months of aerobic training. Their VO2max (a person’s maximum capacity to transport and use oxygen) increased as much as 38 per cent; similar results as in younger subjects. Muscular strength is also not affected by aging. We can lose about 30 per cent of our strength between the ages of 50 and 70, and another 30 per cent per decade after that. But much of this weakness is preventable if muscles stay active. Strong muscles promise increased functional ability as we age: Resistance training reduces risk of falling, relieves arthritic pain and is critical in preventing osteoporosis. At the Tufts University Research Center, nine people aged 87 to 101 improved their leg strength with weight-training exercises. In eight weeks, they strengthened their front thigh muscles by an average of 175 per cent. One of the participants, a 101year-old retired dentist, increased his strength by 200 per cent over what it was at 95. We’re never too old to build muscle, either. A 90-year-old

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has nearly the same capacity to create new muscle fibre as a 30-year-old. Research shows after only six weeks of training, muscular definition (depending on diet and body type) is just as visible as in a younger person. About a third of muscle mass is lost by the age of 80. However, lost muscle can be regained with strengthening exercises. Various studies show we can reverse two decades of muscle loss (of both strength and mass) with just two months of resistance training. The ability to lose excess weight is also not age-affected. In a recent Australian study, sedentary women aged 50 to 70 were able to lose weight and body fat after following regular swimming and walking programs. Another study at the University of Pittsburgh showed inactive 60- to 75-year-old participants lost weight after following a sensible diet and exercise program. Many symptoms blamed on aging are also symptoms of inactivity. If we aren’t physically active, our metabolic rate (internal activity) slows drastically. A slower metabolism affects the ability to lose weight, the efficiency of absorbing nutrients from food, and the effectiveness of the immune system. As a result, the risk for health problems can increase. However, being active will improve and maintain good health as we age. For the older inactive adult beginning an exercise program, the exercise recommendations are the same as for an inactive person of any age – especially getting a doctor’s approval. How-

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ever, the recovery process after physical exertion takes longer as we age. Therefore, it’s important to listen to your body and train sensibly. Despite this caution, older athletes are showing us we can continue our physical pursuits for as long as we like. Eleanore Cross, 97, began participating in the Vancouver Sun Run at the age of 72. She’s missed only one run in 25 years. Christa Bortignon 75, of West Vancouver, led a sedentary adult lifestyle until she began training in track-and-field events at 72. She was encouraged and coached by Olga Kotelko, 93. They both continue to compete, most recently at the 2012 World Masters Indoor Championship in Finland. The average age in the Cross Canada Cycle Tour Society is 65 – and it’s not a seniors-only group. At 79, Sister Madonna Buder completed the Ironman Canada Triathlon in Penticton in 2009. Her time was an impressive 16:54:30. She competed in 2010 and 2011. Buder plans to participate again in 2012, making the 82-year-old the oldest person to finish an Ironman triathlon. Regardless of age, regular activity prevents fatigue, improves sleep and memory, reduces heart disease risk, and increases self-esteem. As we age, staying active becomes a wise investment to enhance the quality of life. It will reduce muscle loss, keep bones dense, and lower the risk of many other complications associated with inactivity. Active, older people continue to prove we don’t stop moving because we age – we age because we stop moving. SL

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Welcome Back to the Saanich Commonwealth Pools THE POOLS RE-OPEN SEPTEMBER 17, 2012 We’ve missed you and look forward to welcoming you back. Join us for Waterfit, Water Walking, Aquatherapy, Lengths Swimming, Rehab and much more! www.saanich.ca

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Making Surrey Fit One Hour at a Time

BY MALA ASHOK

Photo: Mala Ashok

After 19 years at the telephone company, Larissa immigrated to Canada. It was a bold move – giving up a flourishing career and moving to a new country, where her credentials were suspect and the language was foreign. Larissa took these challenges in stride and, armed with high school English, she landed in British Columbia. Her engineering degree was Fitness Instructor Larissa Sokolova not questioned, but she was not able to pass the required hen Larissa Sokolova moved English Language exam’s grammar to Surrey from Russia, fit- component. Still, Larissa was not disness training’s gain was couraged. She took up a job as a store electrical engineering’s loss. clerk and worked on improving her Larissa was born in 1960 in Moscow English skills. and had a childhood that would make anyAt this point in her life, Larissa debody proud. She started ballet training at cided she was going to start a new cathe age of five, and skating and gymnas- reer in her new home. Since her fitness tics at the age of seven. She enjoyed all training credentials were not valid in these activities and worked hard at them. BC, she retrained as a fitness instructor, Thus, she excelled in all three activities, and by 2005 she was working as a fitand aimed to do something in her life that ness instructor in Surrey. would keep her physically active. Larissa’s students range in age from “When I completed high school, I five to 92: her youngest students attend wanted to train as a fitness instructor,” re- the Kids Yoga class she teaches; and calls Larissa, “but it was seen as a hobby the oldest are in the 55+ Chair Exercise and not a career, so I had to go to uni- Class. versity for a ‘proper career.’” This overachieving young woman studied the challenging electrical engineering curriculum, and succeeded at this too! �� In 1981, at 21, Larissa became a qual�� ified electrical engineer. She began a satisfying career at the prestigious Moscow Telephones. But, in the back of her mind, �� Larissa was not satisfied. “I did not give �� up my goal, and trained as a fitness in�� structor as a hobby,” she says. Little did �� she know then how important her hobby �� would become in later life. ��

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Larissa has undergone training to qualify as a Third Age Trainer, enabling her to work with seniors. While the certification is a requirement, what makes Larissa eminently suitable for the job is her natural empathy. Most of the time, she has at least three handicapped students in her seniors’ classes. “I want every student to benefit from my classes; this is why I have alternate exercises for handicapped students and students in wheelchairs,” says Larissa. In one class, she has a student who is both visually and hearing impaired. Larissa comes in early, learns a sentence or two to communicate with him and enables him to participate fully. Larissa’s strength is motivating her students. She varies movements such that no class is a repetition of an earlier class – “I do this to avoid boredom and also to work different muscles,” she says. Larissa teaches Kids Yoga, Chair Yoga, Chair Exercises, Fit 55+, Zumba, and Cardio Fit classes like Boot Camp and step. Her classes take up about 25 hours of her time each week and, in addition, she is available for one-on-one personal training in the city of Surrey’s recreation centres. Larissa spends a lot of her free time researching, studying and perfecting exercise forms, as well as attending classes and doing online research on nutrition. She is a strong proponent of healthy eating and one of her hobbies is gardening. “I grow all my vegetables and never need to buy any,” says Larissa. She oftentimes brings a salad to her classes to show how healthy food can be grown at home and be so tasty. She also spends a few minutes after each class sharing gardening tips with her students. In her free time, Larissa enjoys downhill skiing, biking and swimming. She enjoys spending time with her daughter, Elena, and is thrilled that Elena is also a qualified fitness instructor and is going to college to learn more about the subject. “It’s never too late to start exercising or working out,” she says. “One can always start at any age so long as it is done SL under supervision.”

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SEPTEMBER 2012

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Health & Wellness

How to Talk with Your Grandkids about Sex

ou may think your grandchildren know more about sex than you do, but don’t believe it, says Meg Hickling, a sexual-health educator who has been working with young people for more than 35 years. “There is so much misinformation out there.” Meg, 71, a Registered Nurse and author of 11 books and DVDs, has been honoured with both the Order of British Columbia and the Order of Canada for her work. Now retired, she still speaks occasionally in schools, and to groups of parents, grandparents, doctors, nurses and other health-care workers. Her interest in the subject began when she was nursing and encountered adults with sexual health problems who didn’t know how to talk to the doctor about them. “They didn’t have the language,” she says. When her own three children were young – she now has six grandchildren – her concern increased. Meg firmly believes even the youngest child can learn the proper names for her or his body parts, and that boys and girls should be educated together. This can be a question of both health and safety, she says, describing an experience with a

young elementary school boy who was afraid to tell his mother his urine was bloody, because he was worried she’d be angry with him if he used a slang term for “penis” – the only term he knew. Meg encourages parents and grandparents to persuade kids to take a “scientific” approach to the subject of sex. “Try saying, ‘I am going to teach you the polite words – scientific words – for your private parts,’” she says, explaining that, when children are very young, “body science” is a friendlier term than “sex education.” We go through five stages in our attitudes toward sex, says Meg. Very young children – the innocents – have neither the language to talk about sex, nor the baggage that encumbers older kids and teens, making them ideal subjects for learning. The second stage includes children in kindergarten through Grade 3. These kids – “the bathroom humour types” – tend to view sex as disgusting, and hilarious. To counter the “yuck factor,” Meg tells her young audiences they are “body scientists,” and that body scientists never, ever exclaim, “Oh yuck! That’s disgusting!” when they are investigating. “They always say, ‘That’s interest-

Meg Hickling with her grandson.

ing,’” she explains, putting her forefinger on her chin and looking serious. “Children really do appreciate learning the scientific words. They love being scientists.” Most eight- to 14-year-olds are in the third stage of sexual knowledge, and are exposed to enormous amounts of “schoolyard tales” regarding sex, as well as pornography and music videos, says Meg. Children are maturing as early as age seven and they are full of curiosity, but tend to think sex is “gross.” Meg counters this by telling them it’s good they think sex is gross, because children their age are not

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supposed to have sex. These young people don’t like to be told, “We’ll talk about that when you’re older,” she notes. In addition, some 80 per cent of abused children fall in this age group. Statistics indicate the children most vulnerable to abuse are those with minimal knowledge. Teenagers, in the fourth stage, “don’t know that they don’t know,” says Meg. “The challenge with teens is to get past that bravado.” And research suggests that the more adolescents know about sex, the less likely they are to be sexually active. The final stage, of course, is the mature adult, who can discuss sex without blushing and stammering, and can teach their children the “scientific names” for body parts. Some parents tell Meg they haven’t spoken to their children about sex because they don’t seem to be interested. But sometimes children don’t know the right words to use to ask questions. Once they have the language, their communication increases, she says. Meg’s books include Speaking of Sex, initially written for parents, but a book that professionals find useful. The most recent edition, More Speaking of Sex, was published in 2005 by Northstone. Meg suggests that anyone with teenagers in the house leave it in the bathroom, where adolescents will pick it up, perhaps believing they have discovered some forbidden literature. Another book, Boys, Girls and Body Science, is directed at children aged three to eight years. But, she says, “all ages love it, and people tell me, ‘I can’t believe how much I learned from a book written for three-year-olds.’” She has since produced a series of four DVDs, all titled Sex Spelled Out for Parents. The first in the series is an overview; the second is aimed at preschoolers; the third at children in Grades 1 to 3; and the fourth at children in Grades 4 to 7. She has also written a book for seniors, Meg Hickling’s Grown-Up Sex subtitled “Sexual Wholeness for the Better Part of Your Life.” Meg’s books and DVDs are available through most public library systems and those written for children are for sale at Kids’ Books in Vancouver, North Vancouver and Surrey (www.kidsbooks.ca), and SL other bookstores.

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Health & Wellness

Searching for Love on the Internet

BY DAVID HARRIS

began my investigation by pure happenstance. Well, perhaps the combination of happenstance and a real desire, at the age of 60, to find a new partner in my life. I was online one day and noticed an ad for an Internet dating service and thought, “What the heck?” The way I was living my life wasn’t helping me find the partner I was looking for, so I thought maybe I should try this new approach. Over the last eight months, I have immersed myself in this world investigating the possibilities. The Internet site I tried requires you prepare a “profile.” This profile describes your personality and what kind of a person you think you are looking for. You use your best writing skills to make yourself sound interesting and attractive, add some photos of yourself, pay a subscription fee and it all gets posted as your profile on their website. Two things then happen: you can search for members who match the qualities you are looking for; and members can check out your profile to find out if you might be a match for them. When you find someone who attracts your attention, you send them an email and see if they are interested in “talking” and further exploring your mutual attraction. To get the attention of the kind of person you are looking for, it helps if you understand a bit about the qualities she (in my case) finds attractive. You can then write honestly in your profile about your qualities in a way that intrigues her. There are five characteristics that seemed to be universally appealing. Finding ways to show you have these qualities when you prepare your profile will advance your position on the “attractivity index.” Number One: This may sound politically incorrect or just plain wrong, but almost everyone uses appearance as the first screening measure. This is not to say that a potential date or mate needs to be beautiful or handsome. What it is saying is that everyone needs to find some kind of visual attraction to their partner in a new relationship. Here are what some writers had to say: • “I am a very visual person, I will not reply to anyone without a photo of themselves.” • “Please no winks or messages from members with no picture.” Despite this, once a potential partner makes it by this first cut; appearance often becomes the least important characteristic. If you are thinking of putting yourself out there in this brave new digital world, it is probably important that you have a current photo showing you at your best. Number Two: Everyone wants to know they are loved; they want to feel appreciated; and they want to know their partner is 22 24

SENIOR LIVING

sexually attracted to them. Here are comments some writers made: • “I must mention the kiss; you must love to kiss passionately and playfully.” • “We enjoy each other, value each other and take the time to find out what makes the other feel loved.” • “I would like to kiss you when we are sitting in a restaurant and not have you do the duck and cover.” If you are searching for a new relationship, or even if you are not, consider that for a relationship to work well, you need to demonstrate affection to your partner. As a potential date, you should show you have this capacity.

Number Three: Almost every woman said their potential partner must be witty, and able to make them laugh. This acknowledges the joy laughter brings to everyone’s life. The saving grace for those of us who don’t think we are funny is that everyone has a different sense of humour, so we can always hope to find someone who thinks the same things are funny that we do. Here are some things writers say about humour/joy: • “You love spontaneity and hilarity.” • “If you can make me laugh every day, you are a keeper.” As a potential swimmer in this dating sea, it is important you know how to bring joy into your own life before you start trying to find a lasting relationship. Number Four: An ability to communicate is cited as very important by a large number of ladies. Here are some things they said: • “You have two ears and one mouth.”

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• “I am drawn to someone who enjoys thinking, talking, discussing and imagining.” Poor communication underlies many relationship problems. Wanting to avoid repeating past failures, the writers are looking for a good communicator. If communication was a problem in your last relationship, it is likely to be a problem in your next, unless you can take the initiative and teach yourself better ways to interact with your partner. Number Five: It seems to be universally recognized that no matter how good looking, how funny, how affectionate a potential mate is, no matter how closely they seem to match the characteristics you think you are looking for, until you meet them and spend time with them, you won’t know if there is “chemistry or mutual fascination” that will make the relationship a success. Here are some things writers had to say about chemistry: • “I am not into endless texting, let’s meet and see what we think of each other.” • “You are thoughtful, tender and real, and tend to drool in my presence.” What it comes down to is that while Internet dating sites can help you find potential partners you may never meet in your everyday life, you will need to spend time with them to find out if you are a good match. And to answer your question: Not yet, I’m still working on SL Number Five.

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Artist Proﬁle

CAPTURING THE IMAGE The Long and the Short of Photographic Haiga

BY MARGARET GROWCOTT

athematics teacher and computer specialist Jim Swift, of Port Alberni, never imagined he would be an acclaimed photographer and poet when he retired. “I have always been interested in photography,” says Jim. “But I came to poetry late in life.” But it’s not just any poetry that inspires Jim. Haiku, which is a Japanese short form of poetry, characterised by three short/ long/short lines, is what attracts him most. One would guess that Jim’s mathematical sense of perfection led to haiku. “Some modern performance-type poetry leaves me cold,” he says. “I like poetry that brings out unexpected connections. Haiku does that routinely. I love the brevity and good imagery in a poem that shows something familiar from an unusual point of view.” Jim’s hobby is to combine his photography with poetry. His idea of perfection is to create imagery with his photo-

Photographer and poet Jim Swift

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graphs and add haiku, an art known as Photographic Haiga. Born in Lancashire, England, Jim attended London University and then Cambridge University in the mid-’50s. He was introduced to computers at a time when there were only a few computers in all of England. “At London University I was asked to look into the Physics Department to see the computers,” recalls Jim, who was intrigued by the possibilities. “I could have gone into Astronomy or Aerodynamics, but decided to become a math teacher.” He started teaching in Sidcup, Kent, where he met his wife Judy, an artist. The enterprising and adventurous couple left England for Kenya, four days after their wedding, where Jim would teach at the Alliance High School, just outside Nairobi. Their two children were born during their 10 years in Kenya. Instead of returning to England, they opted to immigrate to Ontario, where they stayed for six years, eventually coming to Nanaimo in 1976.

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Pot Luck Impressions – Journey from Catalonia

It was during a spell in North Carolina that Jim fell in love with poetry. He had gone to North Carolina in 1990 to work for IBM to develop software for mathematics. His “short-term” contract lasted four years. During this time, Jim went on a weekend conference on Living & Working, held by the Society of Friends (Quakers) led by poet David Whyte. Jim was inspired by the method in which David Whyte used poetry as a means of talking to his audience in a spontaneous, intuitive, rather than an academic or analytical way. “The conference made an impact on me as David Whyte used poetry to make his points,” says Jim. “It was very effective.” In 2002, when he retired, Jim switched to digital photography; his favourite subjects were abstracts and nature. His introduction to haiku came as a result of his retirement holiday on Gabriola Island. While there, the Swifts met the widely published poet, Naomi Beth Wakan. Naomi saw something haiku-like in Jim’s poetry and invited him to the annual gathering of poets that takes place on Gabriola each summer. The experience resulted in a creative flow of poems and photographs for Jim. His individual work has been shown in Simply Haiku, an on-

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SEPTEMBER 2012

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Ted Cole, Christina Nicholaou u SeaShine Design u David Cooper Photography

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line journal, and World Haiku Review and he is a contributor to World Tempos Journal. He has published a handsome book, in Photographic Haiga style, aptly named Impressions, and he has an online album for Photographic Haiga – http://js-ca.net Living in Port Alberni since 1996, Jim has had four successful photo exhibitions at the Rollin Art Centre, one in collaboration with his daughter, Sylvia. Jim and Sylvia have been featured in Haigaonline. He has also participated in a group photography exhibition in Parksville. One of his photos has attracted fame, appearing in Portfolio II, published by the Royal Photographic Society in U.K. Of retirement, Jim says he enjoys “the freedom to choose where to put my energies.” And recently he has been unstinting with his energies, choosing to put them into a new local company that benefits the Alberni Valley Hospice, Pot Luck Ceramics, for whom he has designed a website.

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Jim had never done a commercial website before. “I had to learn from scratch about websites that are based on a Content Management System (CMS) Platform,” says Jim. “It was a challenging task for me, plus I had to photograph over 400 items for the online catalogue.” In addition, Jim designed the Photoshop images for the Pot Luck Ceramics van, an eyecatching, colourful vehicle that can be seen at various markets throughout the Alberni Valley and central Vancouver Island. Jim likes to have his work evolve into art and has also made a book – an attractive coffee table book based on photos taken for the catalogue – for Pot Luck Ceramics in a print-on-demand format. Receiving kudos from many quarters for his huge contribution to what is, primarily, local fundraising, Jim modestly says, “How else could I use my time and hobbies in such a SL rewarding way?”

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Seniors Have Their Day BY JAMES ELLSWORTH

he United Nations has set aside October 1st to celebrate the older person in society and seniors are proving their mettle every day in several ways. Demographically, seniors are one of the fastest growing segments of society. In the latest census in Canada (2011), made public on May 29, 2012, data shows that three out of 10 Canadians are so-called boomers, born after 1945. That makes almost five million Canadians over 65 and almost four-and-a-half million are the near-seniors, aged 55-64.

examine issues that affect their lives. This year marks the 11th International Day of Older Persons and the UN has been monitoring rights and activities in various regions of the world. There is also an International Federation on Ageing (IFA), which coordinates non-governmental agencies, such as the American Association of Retired People (AARP). They focus on aging issues and run conferences worldwide. Montreal was the site for the 9th international conference on aging in 2008 and India recently held one on human rights of the older per-

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Charlotte Stringam, General Manager of the Nk’Mip Cultural Centre in Osoyoos. Seniors make up almost 15 per cent of the Canadian population, out of a population of approximately 35 million. Indeed, seven of the top 10 communities with the highest proportion of older persons are in British Columbia. Victoria exceeds the national average with 18.4 per cent, and Parksville is the oldest populated city in Canada with a median age of 58.2. So, seniors are on the rise, if not on the march, and should be noted. In 1990, the United Nations designated October 1st as the day to honour older persons, to recognize the contributions they make and to WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM

son in the Asia-Pacific region. October 1st is a day to pause and remember the growing influence of seniors. However, seniors have had important status in societies for generations. Native Elders First Nations cultures have always valued seniors as mentors, teachers, and heritage-keepers. BC Elders Council has held annual gatherings for over 35 years. The Vancouver Island University First Nations program incorporates elders as part of the curriculum and students of-

ten refer to them as “Auntie” or “Uncle” as a sign of respect. The Assembly of First Nations’ (AFN) leadership has relied upon the historical and cultural knowledge of its elders, especially in matters relating to Treaty rights and First Nations governance. Obviously, elder input is valued. Usually one must be between ages 5070+ to be an elder. Elders follow a process that is elemental to the culture. They must be aware of the native way of life and practice it as a role model. One description says that “in the past, elders held the knowledge, history, ceremonies, songs, dances and cultural background for the nation. They passed this knowledge down from generation to generation. Elders were knowledgeable about Mother Earth. They knew the medicines and the culture.” Charlotte Stringam, the General Manager of the Nk’Mip Cultural Centre in Osoyoos, was recently appointed as an elder for the Osoyoos Band at age 60 and considers it a great honour. “I must be responsible and realize there is different knowledge needed in the modern world,” says Charlotte. “It is the role of the old to remember and the young to listen.” Being a senior member of society does not mean not contributing nor does it mean not learning. Road Scholar An international organization that believes in lifelong learning for seniors has a British Columbia branch that is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. The BC branch of Elderhostel, now known as Road Scholar, began in 1992. However, Elderhostel itself had its inception in 1975. The concept and organization began with a backpacking social activist, Marty Knowlton, and the director of residential life at the University of New Hampshire, David Bianco. Knowlton had been impressed with seniors in folk schools in Scandinavia offering skills to younger people in hostels. Why not have opportunities for older persons in inexpensive lodgings in North America too? Within six years, Elderhostel had grown from 220 participants in one state to 20,000 in all 50 states, most provinces and parts of Europe. The programs combine education and travel for unique experiential learning and are

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Our culture has treated the mind and body as separate entities. But the study of Neuroscience is now reconnecting the two. We now know that exercise cues the building blocks of learning in the brain. Exercise has an impact within brain cells. In a study at Duke University they discovered that patients suffering from depression showed a significant drop in symptoms of depression, equal to the effectiveness of medication, after adding exercise. Exercise actually changes brain chemistry! 6 months after the study it was found that exercise worked even better than medicine over the long term. Specifically, every fifty minutes of weekly exercise correlated to a 50% drop in the odds of being depressed. Exercise elevates and balances levels of serotonin and dopamine which, in turn, influence mood, impulsivity, anger and aggressiveness. These are traits commonly associated with Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Research has shown that the forebrain of people who don’t use their legs becomes atrophied (shrunken). The implications are wide-ranging given that the fundamental cause of degenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s is dying and damaged cells. The same factors that can reduce our risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes can also reduce the risk for age-related neurodegenerative disorders. A study from Quebec’s Laval University followed 4,615 elderly men & women over 5 years. Women over 65 who reported higher levels of physical activity were 50% less likely to develop any form of dementia. In the Nurses’ Health Study which began in the 1970’s, researchers began to see effects at modest levels of about 1.5 hours a week. The brain is constantly rewiring itself and adapting – provided there’s

enough stimulation to spur the growth of new connections. Neurons are born as blank-slate stem cells and go through a development process in which they need to find something to do in order to survive. It takes about 28 days for fledgling cells to plug into a network. Most of them don’t. And so the old adage applies: if you don’t use it you lose it! If your brain isn’t actively growing, then it’s dying! But the incredibly heartening piece of news is that these crucial areas of the brain can be remodeled in just 6 months of exercise – it reverses cell deterioration associated with aging. New cells need environmental enrichment – variety – to survive. Along with standard exercise, it is important to mix in some form of activity that demands coordination. Include some skill acquisition such as balancing drills, yoga, or dance. Dance is particularly good if you move to an irregular rhythm such as Latin. So join into the latest dance craze and learn to Salsa! Novel experiences demand more from your brain. Also, contact with other people helps you live better and longer. How does Vibration Training fit into this? Standing on the vibration platform stimulates muscle movement in 10 minutes that is equivalent to the amount of movement in one hour of running. It has also shown to stimulate the neuromuscular transmissions up the body from the legs to the brain. We have customers who report improved balance, improved memory and getting rid of “brain fog”. And all of this with no stress to the body and taking only 10 minutes of your time. Get all these benefits with VibraFit training! Go to www.HotHealth.ca for other articles on the benefits of Vibration Training or call 403-393-6114.

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now offered in 150 countries. All 10 provinces and two territories have Road Scholar programs, with British Columbia offering 14. These can involve hiking, biking, skiing, or boating; urban or wilderness; and one program even includes a focus on the history of Doukhobors and Japanese Canadians in the Kootenays. The popularity and growth of the Road Scholar movement for seniors have been nothing short of marvelous. By the end of its first decade of operation in 1986, Elderhostel had more than 100,000 enrolled and had launched its first intergenerational program, pairing grandparents with grandchildren. It had expanded to all continents and, in 1998, even had ships and bargebased courses on the waterways. Elderhostel renamed its program organization Road Scholar in 2010. Not to be confused with Rhodes Scholars funded from the estate of Cecil Rhodes, the 19th century diamond mining magnate; these Road Scholars represent the richness of senior life and learning. The rationale on its website says, “‘Road’ connotes a journey and real-world experience, and ‘Scholar’ reflects a deep appreciation for learning. Together the words capture the heart of our program experience: learning from expert instructors, enhanced by direct discovery of an idea, issue, subject or place.” Road Scholar Ambassadors Ten years ago, Elderhostel launched the Elderhostel Ambassador and Alumni Association, which planned initiatives to help spur the organization’s grassroots network. Seniors could become more integral to the programs and share their wisdom and experience. An ambassador must have participated in five or more Road Scholar programs and have a desire to share their experiences and promote the Road Scholar mission of lifelong learning. Ambassadors make presentations to libraries, retirement groups, distribute information, and handle media requests. In the past decade, the ambassadors have made more than 5,000 presentations to 125,000 people. Both elders and ambassadors definitely have a sense of purpose so important in life, especially for a senior’s life. Researchers have been studying the relationship of aging, having purpose in life, and the consequent qualities which that focus can bring. Patricia Boyle, an associate professor at the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center at the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago defined a purpose in life as “the tendency to find meaning from life experience, to be intentional and focused. It’s an indicator of well-being, that life is good and you are contributing to your life, you’re making decisions.” The United Nations took the first step to legitimize seniors with a day of recognition on October 1st. Although First Nation elders and Road Scholar seniors commemorate anniversaries, they have known for decades that both recognition and purpose SL in life are critical. For more information on the UN recognition, visit www.un.org/ en/events/olderpersonsday For a list of BC First Nation Elders, visit www.bcelders.com/bc-elders-council.php For more on Road Scholar and its history, visit www.roadscholar.org

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BY PAT NICHOL

Turn Your Passion into Pesos

s we age, one of the things marketers convince us of is that there will always be enough. Enough money, enough food, enough friends, enough work when we wanted it, enough leisure time, and the wherewithal to enjoy them. But, for many that is not the reality. Rather than “Freedom 55,” most people I speak with are working on a “Freedom 95” plan. In other words, they will be working forever. I’ve read stories about long-term employees facing the prospect of subsisting on annual pensions that will never increase to meet the rising cost of living. According to David Dodge, the former governor of the Bank of Canada, Canadians who wish to retire at age 65 with 70 per cent of their working income, will need to save from 10 to 21 per cent of their pre-tax earnings every year – if they save for 35 years! Fine, if you are 30, but what about those who are 55 or 60? Notice the faces of people in the workforce, and you’ll see

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COURAGEOUS and OUTRAGEOUS

not 20-somethings but 60-somethings. One solution a number of my friends have adopted is the concept of multiple streams of income, where they earn extra income in addition to their 9-to-5 jobs. A close friend recently decided to share her love of fashion by selling a line of clothing at home parties. Others find pleasure and extra income by selling nutrition, skin care or health care products. I have always believed in the concept of network marketing and multiple income streams. As options for traditional income start to recede and nest eggs shrink, consider turning your passion into a source of income. Look around, the possibilities are endless. Additionally, new opportunities keep your mind active and bring new, younger friends and acquaintances into your life SL (more about this next month). Pat Nichol is a speaker and published author. Reach her at mpatnichol@gmail.com or visit www.patnichol.com

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