Senior Living Magazine Vancouver Edition September 2010 by INSPIRED 55+ Lifestyle Magazine

SEPTEMBER 2010

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

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Have Fork, Will Travel

NEW Recipe Column

Acupuncture

for Pain Relief

Transforming Education

SFU Seniors Program

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

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

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

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SEPTEMBER 2010 MAGAZINE

(Vancouver & Lower Mainland) is published by Stratis Publishing. Other publications by Stratis Publishing:

• Senior Living (Vancouver Island) Publisher Barbara Risto

FEATURES

Editor Bobbie Jo Reid

editor@seniorlivingmag.com Contributors Reuel S. Amdur, Julian Benedict, Belinda Boyd, Ann Brandt, Goldie Carlow, James S. Ferguson, Julie H. Ferguson, Gipp Forster, Margaret Grangeaud, Sally Jennings, Eileen MacKenzie, Kevin McKay, Janet Nicol, Lynda Pasacreta, Barbara Small, William Thomas, Bev Yaworski Copy Editor Allyson Mantle Proofreader Holly Bowen

DEPARTMENTS

4 Getting on with Life

Daniel Westley turned tragedy into triumph and went on to become a Canadian champion.

by Barbara Small

16 Forever Young

12 The Practical Academic

by William Thomas

When Dalia Gottlieb-Tanaka offered to help a friend, she had no idea it would open the door to her passion.

Ad Sales Staff

Ann Lester 250-390-1805 Mathieu Powell 250-479-4705 Barry Risto 250-479-4705

15 Sexy Seniors

Contact Information – Head Ofﬁce

Good sex takes time, but it’s worth the effort.

Senior Living Box 153, 1581-H Hillside Ave., Victoria BC V8T 2C1

18 Life is Fun!

“Anti-drug pharmacist” Harry Caine continues to spread his wellness message in retirement.

Phone 250-479-4705 Toll-free 1-877-479-4705 Fax 250-479-4808 E-mail ofﬁce@seniorlivingmag.com Website www.seniorlivingmag.com

22 A Time to Dance

26 Finding the Real Paris

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 indepdendent publication and its articles imply no endoresement of any products or services. The views expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publisher. Senior Living Vancouver & Lower Mainland is distributed free in Vancouver, North & West Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Richmond, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Delta, Twawwassen, White Rock, Surrey, Cloverdale and Ladner. ISSN 1911-6373 (Print) ISSN 1991-6381 (Online)

24 Have Fork, Will Travel by Sally Jennings

29 Ask Goldie

by Goldie Carlow

32 Reﬂections: Then & Now by Gipp Forster

Cover Photo: Paralympic champion Daniel Westley shooting hoops in the park. Photo: Kevin McKay

For some fancy footwork, check out what Vancouver has to offer.

Subscriptions: $32 (includes HST,

COLUMNS 2 The Family Caregiver

The White Rock Lawn Bowling Club celebrates a milestone.

Barry Risto 250-479-4705 Toll Free 1-877-479-4705 sales@seniorlivingmag.com

28 Classiﬁeds

8 Acupunture for Pain Relief

Whether recovering from a sports injury or chronic pain, acupunture may be the answer.

10 75 Years and Counting...

Advertising Manager

25 BBB Scam Alert

Off the city’s beaten track, Paris holds some hidden gems.

30 Transforming Education

Challenge your mind and meet new friends through SFU’s Seniors Program.

Senior Living Vancouver is available at most Recreation Centres and Libraries in the following municipalities: • VANCOUVER • BURNABY • NEW WESTMINSTER • WHITE ROCK • NORTH VANCOUVER • LADNER / TSAWWASSEN • PORT MOODY • COQUITLAM • PORT COQUITLAM • SURREY • RICHMOND • WEST VANCOUVER • LANGLEY • ABBOTSFORD • PHARMASAVE STORES THROUGHOUT BC

MAGAZINE

Call 1-877-479-4705 for other locations. SEPTEMBER 2010

THE FAMILY CAREGIVER

Finding Balance

While Caregiving

alancing the demands of caring for another and taking care of one’s own physical, mental and emotional health is essential for family caregivers. It is hard to predict when caregiving might become part of your life and, when the time comes, the additional tasks are often squeezed into an already busy life packed with the responsibilities of children, spouse, work and daily chores. Many caregivers take on this new role without letting go of anything else and, predictably, end up exhausted and burnt out. Balance is important in order to stay healthy on all levels. “Just as your car runs more smoothly and requires less energy to go faster and farther when the wheels are in perfect alignment, you perform better when your thoughts, feelings, emotions, goals and values are in balance,” says best-selling author and professional speaker on human potential Brian Tracy. Maintaining personal wellness is just as important as anything you do for someone else. Think of the possible effect of neglecting to take care

of yourself might have on the person you are caring for. If you get sick, who will take care of the two of you? It is not selfish to focus on yourself. Make your health and wellness a priority. Take a few minutes to complete this exercise. Divide a sheet of paper into two columns. On the left side, make a list of all the people, activities and responsibilities that drain your energy. These include things that stress you, frustrate you, worry or anger you, and might include the barking dog next door, the bills that need to be paid or your chronically sore back. Focus on all areas of your life, not just in your role as caregiver. In the right-hand column, list all the people, activities and things that energize you, things you are passionate about, that interest you and you enjoy. Include activities you used to do, but might not take time to do anymore. These might include having coffee with friends, buying flowers or watching a funny movie. When completed look at the two lists and consider the following: How might you reduce, eliminate, change or minimize the draining im-

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SENIOR LIVING VANCOUVER & LOWER MAINLAND

BY BARBARA SMALL

pact of the items on the left-hand list? It might mean letting go of expectations or asking for help. How can you include more of the items on the energizing list into your life? By choosing to be with the people who bring you energy or participating in activities that feed you emotionally, physically or psychologically, your life will be more enjoyable, your energy will increase and you will be able to function more effectively in your caregiving role. You will be more patient, less frustrated and more able to set priorities and problem solve. Finally, choose three items from the energizing list you will make time for in the next couple of weeks. Make a commitment to both yourself and the person you are caring for. Creating balance in your life and practising good self-care allows you to care for another without lowering the quality of your own life. Everyone benefits. SL Next month: New to caregiving? Barbara Small is the Program Development Coordinator for Family Caregivers’ Network Society located in Victoria, BC. www.familycaregiversnetwork.org

News Brief

Dorothy’s Story: A new resource to support care for hospitalized seniors

Safe, Reliable, and Stress-free Accompaniment for:

Medical and Dental Appointments Personal Shopping Airport and Ferry Service Vacations and Social Events

BY BELINDA BOYD, LEADER, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT VANCOUVER COASTAL HEALTH

ancouver Coastal Health Community Engagement team has launched a new video resource to support senior patients and their loved ones during a hospital stay: Dorothy’s Story – Seniors, Families and Professional Partners in Care. This video resource shows how seniors, families and health professionals can partner to provide optimal care for elderly patients. It is illustrated through the story of Dorothy Margaret Donald and her journey through acute care. The goal of the video is to encourage elderly patients and their families to proactively participate in their hospital care. Dorothy’s Story uses a narrative format to emphasize how seniors can partner with health-care professionals and contribute to improved outcomes during their hospital stay by:

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• Asking questions • Expressing themselves • Being vocal about changes • Staying active • Getting enough to eat and drink

Patient/Client Resources

Patient and family resources are available on the VCH website www.vch.ca/ce. Groups are encouraged to view the video and engage in follow-up discussion using the questions and role plays in the brochure. Through learning how to partner with health-care professionals, seniors and families can improve their experience while in hospital. Hard copies of this resource are limited, but can be requested via email at ce@vch.ca or by calling 604SL 714-3779. SEPTEMBER 2010

Health & Wellness

Getting on with Life STORY AND PHOTOS BY KEVIN MCKAY

SENIOR LIVING VANCOUVER & LOWER MAINLAND

une 27, 1973 was the first day of summer vacation for 13-year-old Daniel Westley and his friends. After a long school year, the boys were eager to head outdoors to blow off some steam and have a bit of fun in New Westminster. But while their intentions were good, the fateful outcome of the events that afternoon were not what any of them expected. Daniel’s friends, all slightly older than him, had successfully managed to jump aboard a moving freight train in the Port Mann yard. “I had a bad feeling in my gut, but the moment took over. Sometimes when you’re young you know better than to do something, but you just go ahead and do it anyway,” recalls Daniel. “I was holding on, running next to the train as it went faster and faster. I hit a spot where the train tracks meet and stumbled, which threw me right under it, landing with my back right on the middle of the track and I knew instantly this was no place to be, so I kicked to get away, but the train ran over my legs, and it hurt, until it didn’t hurt anymore.” Three men who were working close by saw what happened and rushed over. One said he was a veteran and knew what to do. They stayed and helped Daniel until the ambulance arrived to take him to Royal Columbian Hospital. “It was the first time I had ever tried anything like that,” he says. On the same day, near Williams Lake, 15-year-old Rick Hansen had his spinal cord severed in an accident, and he also wound up at the hospital. The two boys became fast friends while they spent months in rehabilitation and physiotherapy. “They encouraged us to race our wheelchairs down the halls of the hospital,” says Daniel. “It was important for us to get moving.” Six months after the accident in the train yard, Daniel returned to school, eventually landing at North Delta Secondary. While there, his path once again crossed that of Rick’s when Hansen came out to his school to give a motivational talk to the students. In addition to his address to the kids, Rick had an idea to recruit Daniel to play wheelchair sports. Daniel agreed to give it a try and has never looked back. “In addition to Rick and I, there were a number of great athletes playing, including Terry Fox for a while,” he says. “We used to train together by racing our chairs up Burnaby Mountain via the Gaglardi Highway and then practise basketball at Simon Fraser University. It was a great time and I really got into shape. Sport is a really good thing. It gives you focus, and the training makes you feel so good. It is priceless. You see success when you work your plan and it can really keep you motivated.” Daniel got a taste of travel while on that basketball squad as they competed in the Pacific Northwest Conference against teams from Seattle, Spokane, Edmonton and other communities.

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Health & Wellness “Stan Strong was our manager and he was the true backbone of the team,” says Daniel. “He was one of the first quadriplegics with his level of injury to even survive, and he went on to be a real inspiration.” Daniel was on his way to becoming one of Canada’s greatest athletes, which was ironic as he never would have envisioned such a thing while being raised in North Surrey alongside his two brothers and two sisters. “In those days, I played tag and some tether ball, but that was it,” he says. “I was not into sports at all. It was great to learn to play basketball, but it was a challenge too.” “If you can imagine, you are in a wheelchair, with no seat belts, trying to do something athletic and they don’t really go together all that well. If you did turn too quickly, the chair would just fold up and spit you out right on to the floor. While trying to learn the game, I was also dealing with a lot more than just trying to make a basket.” Daniel got his start in basketball but his attention soon turned to racing wheelchairs. “Playing basketball raised my fitness level and it was a natural fit to start racing,” he says. “Basketball is primarily a winter and cold weather sport and racing became a natural complement for summer and when the weather is better. When I started racing, most of the competitions were on the track, but it quickly became embraced by the road racing series already in place for able-bodied runners.” Daniel moved back to New Westminster, the city of his birth, in 1986. “I really wanted that hometown connection,” he says. “It takes a whole community to raise a child, a whole

country to create a champion. The locals loved me and I loved them.” In 1988, Daniel competed in his first Paralympics in Seoul, Korea, representing his country for the first time. “It was definitely a big trip,” he says. “And very exciting to parade into this massive outdoor stadium for the opening ceremonies. I entered every race there was for us: The 100 metres, 200, 400, 800, 1,500, 5,000, 10,000 metres and the marathon. I probably would have thought otherwise if I had known there were preliminaries, quarter-finals, and semifinals just to get to the finals. Despite the crazy schedule,

London Marathon one year. “A lot of factors go into winning a race,” he says. “You have to pick a good line, you need a lot of luck with your equipment, and there are often team tactics to consider. I did not have a team when I went down to those races, but I was often competing against guys who understood the tactics of team racing.” Clearly, he became a gifted athlete, but Daniel credits more than his fitness level. “I’ve been practising meditation since 1980 to help with the training,” he says. “An athlete needs to be able to relax and focus on the task at hand. You have to separate yourself from the distractions and stay in the moment. I found it very helpful. When you compete at an international level, the competition is fierce even for wheelchair users.” “Most disabled sports are built on innovation. [Athletes] are forced to not only reinvent themselves, but also look at reinventing their equipment, be it a glove, a push technique, even the wheelchair. I’ve built innovation into every aspect over the years and that has really given me an edge in my competitions. You have to make it what you want, if you want results. Over the years, the equipment has improved and evolved into the rigid frame chairs that are popular today. We were the pioneers.” Now retired as a competitor, Daniel’s focus has shifted to working for Medichair where he helps people of all ages, even some veterans, adjust to their disabilities and get on with life. Recently, he was honoured to be part of the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Paralympics in his hometown.

“It takes a whole community to raise a child, a whole country to create a champion.”

SENIOR LIVING VANCOUVER & LOWER MAINLAND

I wound up winning two gold, in the 100 and the 800, three silver medals and two [bronzes]. Winning the 100 made me the so-called fastest man in the world!” Daniel also competed at the summer games in Barcelona in 1992 and then turned his attention to sit skiing. Like Clara Hughes, he became a star in both Summer and Winter Games, competing in the winter Paralympics in Lillehammer, Norway in 1994, Nagano in 1998 and Salt Lake City in 2002. “In Lillehammer, I was an also-ran, but in Nagano, I picked up gold in the Super G and a bronze in the Downhill. In my final games, at Salt Lake City, I won gold in the Slalom, silver in the Super G and bronze in the Downhill.” In addition to competing in the Paralympics, Daniel has raced in marathons and road races all over the world, though primarily in Canada and the United States. He even won the

He was one of the people who carried the torch inside BC Place Stadium as part of the final countdown. “I was part of the Games dating back to the bidding process, helping to present our vision to the International Olympic Committee. It was quite an honour to carry the torch in front of all those people, the energy was electric.” Daniel also enjoys giving presentations at schools and community groups, getting students and teachers playing against one another in wheelchairs and sharing his story. “They see each other in a better light from a chair and how we are all on the same level,” he says. “The public’s perception of a person in a wheelchair has grown. What looks like a pretty serious setback for someone can be an opportunity for growth. Hopefully, we can all see that a disability doesn’t prevent a person from achieving something. It’s not about what you can’t do, but about SL what you can do.”

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SEPTEMBER 2010

Health & Wellness

Acupuncture

for Pain Relief BY ANN BRANDT

cupuncture as a healing tool is becoming increasingly popular for relieving pain. Although this modality began in China thousands of years ago and spread to other Asian countries, it only became popular in the West the last quarter of the 20th century. The World Health Organization (WHO) now recognizes acupuncture as an effective treatment. Traditional Chinese Medicine is based on the philosophy of qi (pronounced chee). Qi is a life energy flowing through the body. One’s health depends on a balance of qi, carried by meridian pathways. Fourteen main meridians lead to various parts of the body, each with its own set of acupuncture points. Inserting needles at selected points and applying heat or electrical stimulation is a method of encouraging the body to promote natural healing and improve functioning.

still for 15 to 30 minutes and feel relaxed and sleepy. The practitioner will rotate the needles once or twice during this time to adjust the flow of qi. For maximum benefit, several

Acupuncture as a treatment for sports injuries became recognized during the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing when it was offered free to athletes in the Olympic Village. The needles are solid, usually stainless steel and very thin because they are not hollow like hypodermic needles. Acupuncture needles are designed to slide smoothly through tissues without causing bleeding or damage to muscles. Many practitioners use disposable needles. One may feel a dull, heavy or aching feeling when the needles are inserted. After the needles are placed, heat is applied with low frequency electrical stimulation. Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners often use moxibustion to heat the needles for greater penetration after insertion. “Moxa” is a weed grown in China, dried and used for acupuncture treatments. After needles are inserted and heat applied, patients lie 8

SENIOR LIVING VANCOUVER & LOWER MAINLAND

treatments are required over a period of four to six weeks. While energy flow is the term used in Chinese medicine, modern Western medicine defines this method of healing by explaining that the needles at specific points stimulate the nervous system to release endorphins in the muscles, spinal cord and brain. Physicians trained in Western medicine offer medical acupuncture. While students of Traditional Chinese Medicine attend classes and clinics for three years or more, medical acupuncture training demands fewer hours on the premise that physicians have already experienced instruction and practise in their field. Physicians in Canada may enroll in programs such as the Certificate Program in Medical Acu-

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puncture (CPMA) at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. Similar programs exist in other parts of Canada, the United States and other countries. Physician acupuncturists can readily integrate acupuncture procedures into their practice. Acupuncture is especially effective in treating pain from sports injuries. Some of the treatment techniques originated from the need to keep ancient Chinese martial arts participants in top condition. Acupuncture as a treatment for sports injuries became recognized during the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing when it was offered free to athletes in the Olympic Village. Common injuries treatable with acupuncture: shoulder rotator cuff tears and sprains, wrist or ankle sprains and tears, knee ligament and meniscus (the disc that cushions the knee) injuries, vertebral disc inflammation in the back or neck. Injuries in these areas result in decreased circulation and stagnation of energy. Acupuncture stimulates the circulation of blood and lymph fluid, which means fresh vital nutrients are more readily available to tissues, facilitating the healing process. Enhanced circulation carries the dead cells and cellular waste products away from the injury. Relief from pain is facilitated by improved blood circulation that cleanses the muscles of lactic acid, the substance that causes the sensation of soreness and fatigue. Thus, the body enjoys natural healing without commercial painkillers and possible side-effects. However, Dr. Tim Tanaka of the Pacific Wellness Institute in Toronto cautions against returning to exercise activity too soon after an injury. With the advice of a practitioner, practise controlled motion early to promote proper healing. Acupuncture is not a magic overnight cure, but it can be an important tool for pain relief and enhanced wellSL being.

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�� SEPTEMBER 2010

Health & Wellness

BY JANET NICOL

75 YEARS A

rlene McGinn will promote lawn bowling to anyone who will listen. And it’s not just because she’s president of the White Rock Lawn Bowling Club. Arlene continually sees the positive impact the sport has on its 200 members. “We have a dozen members who are over 90,” she says from the club’s entrance along a residential cul-de-sac of White Rock with a view of the sea. Founded 25 years before the Vancouver suburb was incorporated, the club continues to thrive. “Lawn bowling isn’t aerobic, but you need flexibility to bend and stretch,” Arlene explains, as she walks around the green dotted with men and women in “whites.” Some of the players are rolling dark-coloured balls (called bowls) toward a much smaller red bowl called a jack. 10

SENIOR LIVING VANCOUVER & LOWER MAINLAND

and Counting...

This morning, the 70-plus crowd has the green. “We would love to have more young people, but most of our members are seniors,” says Arlene. Also a golfer, Arlene says lawn bowling is more affordable. “Two games of golf at our local course will cost you $150. That’s the annual fee for membership in our club.” And since they installed an artificial green two years ago, members can now bowl year-round. Arlene, who lives two and half blocks away, took up the sport when a friend sponsored her and she joined the club. That was several years ago and now, as president, she works with an executive board and 10 committees, ranging from coaching to entertainment. Volunteers run the club. She points to one of the several male players on the green, “He’s over 90 and walks to the club every day with his dog to practise.”

Malcolm Harrington (left) and Bill Torrance (right) enjoy a late morning game of lawn bowling on the White Rock green. Photo: Janet Nicol

“Our club encourages both competitive and recreational bowling,” adds Arlene. The club also supports and accommodates members who are in a wheelchair (and have access to a mechanized “bowling arm”), the visually impaired (who can be aided by placing white lines on the green) and members with dementia. Inside the clubhouse, Arlene introduces Marlene Cleutinx, a member who represents Canada at international competitions. “I wish I started 10 years earlier,” says Marlene. “That’s something you’ll hear from lots of people who take up the sport.” Despite its popularity within commonwealth countries, lawn bowling has yet to qualify as an Olympic sport. “Not enough countries play,” says Arlene. Peggy Hansen has been lawn bowling since 1984. “Last year, I bowled on Christmas Day,” says Peggy. “Before the artificial green, we would spend the winters playing bridge in the clubhouse.” Peggy is part of the “over-90” set and lives in a house next door to the club. She joined with her husband in 1990 and, over the years, has been involved in “friendly” tournaments with the Mann Park Lawn Bowling Club (White Rock’s only other club), as well as bowlers from Langley and Surrey. Peggy says her vision is no longer clear, but it hasn’t stopped her from staying active. A trophy case lines the wall along with photos of the club founders. Bulletin boards announce a wide range of activities. Lawn bowling, it seems, requires the concentration and strategies of chess and has some of the features of curling. “You have to roll the bowl as close to the jack as possible,” says Peggy. The bowls weigh more than three pounds and fit easily in the palm, but feel heavy. Each asymmetrical bowl has its own bias, so the roll is always different. Added to this, the bowls roll much more quickly on artificial green than a natural lawn. “It’s not just a physical sport, but a mental game,” says Arlene. This month will mark the club’s 75th anniversary and SL celebratory festivities will abound. For more information about The White Rock Lawn Bowling Club, 1079 Dolphin Street, call 604-536-2616 or visit the website at www.whiterocklawnbowlingclub.com

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SEPTEMBER 2010

Health & Wellness

STORY AND PHOTO BY KEVIN MCKAY

The Practical Academic

hen Dalia GottliebTanaka turned 50, her husband and family threw a surprise birthday party and managed to catch her off guard. What surprised her even more, however, were the two

announcements she made at that same party with no preparation. “When I walked in and saw all the people I thought they were looking at someone behind me, but when I turned around no one was there,” she says. “This was a real surprise because

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usually I am the one organizing things like this. Everyone wanted me to say something and what I said became the pivotal moment of my life. I told everyone that I was going back to school and, within five years, I would be returning home to Israel.”

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SENIOR LIVING VANCOUVER & LOWER MAINLAND

Health & Wellness While she and her architect husband, Mineo Tanaka, did not move back to Israel, they did buy an apartment there so they have a place to stay when they visit. In 1980, Dalia earned her master’s degree in architecture from UBC and now, after raising her two daughters, she found herself returning to the Point Grey campus. “I got my PhD through the Interdisciplinary Studies Program and did it in record time,” she says. Returning to school as a mature student presented some challenges. While she did not care for the fact she was older than some of her professors, she enjoyed the freedom she had gained by no longer needing constant approval. “In some ways, it became an ordeal because of the friction caused by pitting the practical world against the theoretical one,” she says. “My professors wanted me to keep my approach purely theoretical, but I wanted to bring it into the practical world. In the end, I won for myself and for people with dementia.” Dalia first became interested in people with dementia some years earlier when she was asked to do a favour for a friend. An elderly woman living in a care facility needed stimulus and individual attention. Her family was too busy to give their mother enough quality time, so they were exploring options. “They asked me if I could do it,” says Dalia. “I had never done anything like that and had no experience with people with dementia. I was worried, but when I went in and met her and spoke with her, I just fell in love with her.” “I was supposed to be entertaining her, but she wound up entertaining me. It was a wonderful experience.” Wanting to understand what her new friend was going through, Dalia became quickly frustrated by the severe lack of reading material and resources available on the use of creative arts in dementia care. “I was taken aback by the fact there was such a gap in understand-

ing. Even though the baby-boomer masses are growing older, our society is not ready to receive them. But they are coming and so is their potential memory impairment.” While she worked towards her doctorate, Dalia was inspired by her elderly friend and concentrated on finding creative activities appropriate for people with dementia. This was groundbreaking work. In the late ’90s, only a hand-

ful of researchers were exploring the creative arts and how important they are to the quality of life of people with dementia. Dalia was one of them. She credits former art teacher, Sylvia Sinclair, as her second inspiration. Over a period of several years, Dalia filmed Sylvia and documented the slow deterioration of her cognitive abilities. The National Film Board of Canada funded the film. Sylvia exhib-

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Health & Wellness ited a wonderful sense of humour, which is still a great lesson: everyone needs to keep their own sense of humour and learn to appreciate it in those with dementia. “Wit and humour are very important tools for communication,” says Dalia. “While the brain deteriorates gradually, seniors with dementia still have life experiences that colour their life stories and they should not be treated as children. I discovered that if you give them appropriate creative activities, their

ing knowledge from the various types and methods of art therapy, Dalia knew she must act to bring them all together without worrying about how they fit in. This led to her establishing the Society for the Arts in Dementia Care, a registered, non-profit society. Through the society, Dalia and her Executive Board of devoted individuals have organized conferences and workshops, put out regular newsletters, presented at conferences, established ties with other like-minded groups around the

“I think when people develop symptoms of dementia, they are entering a new phase in their development...” reactions are fantastic.” “They live in a different world with different understandings. We need to meet them in their world. I think when people develop symptoms of dementia, they are entering a new phase in their development. We make adjustments when our children become teens, so why can’t we do the same when others get dementia?” People with dementia require specialized care and programs. Unfortunately, when money is tight and budget cuts must be made, recreation programs and the creative arts are often the first to go. Dalia thinks it is sad that creative arts programs are considered expendable and often unappreciated by those within the field of dementia care. “We knew the work we were doing was important, but we had to justify what we were doing all the time,” she says. “My colleagues were yearning for recognition and to be accepted as part of the core health team but that rarely happened.” Recognizing the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to the creative arts in dementia care and borrow-

world, and raised awareness about the value and significance of the creative arts in dementia care. One of the projects Dalia is working on with her colleagues, Dr. Peter Graf and Hilary Lee, is the Creative Expression Abilities Assessment tool that measures creative expression abilities of people with dementia and which can lead to planning appropriate activities for each individual. “This can help facilitators recognize whether or not they are doing the right thing with each person,” she says. Despite being the recipient of multiple honours and awards, Dalia remains grounded and focused on those with dementia. She says, “The most important thing is always the clients. If we can put aside the politics, squabbling and jealousy, then I am achieving my target. My mission in life is to bring the academic and the practical together for the SL benefit of our clients.” The fifth annual conference sponsored by the Society takes place from September 30 to October 2 in Penticton, B.C. For more information, visit www.cecd-society.org

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Health & Wellness

Sexy Seniors

BY REUEL S. AMDUR, M.S.W.

o seniors do “it?” According to Dr. Nathalie Gamache, a gynecologist at the Shirley Greenberg Women’s Health Centre of the Ottawa Hospital, “Age should never be a limiting factor in sexuality and intimacy.” Or, as nurse Carmen Rodrigue put it, “We are all sexual beings.” How people express their sexuality depends on many factors – culture, values and beliefs, for example. Remember, the youth of the swinging ’60s are now seniors. Other factors affecting one’s sex life include medical and drug issues. General physical health comes into play, along

Intercourse is different for older people. Arousal takes longer and requires more stimulation. Men’s erections are less firm and of shorter duration. There is sometimes a need to call on help from pharmacology. Some doctors recommend vitamin E. Testosterone can often help, but people need to get beyond the bad reputation testosterone has received because of its illegitimate misuse by some athletes. When used under medical supervision, in much smaller doses than athletes take, it is safe. Then, of course, there are Viagra and its cousins. In women, sensitivity of the erogenous zones decreases with age. Vaginal dryness may also occur. Dr. Gamache cau-

with fatigue and stress. As well, depression can lower sex drive. But, on the other hand, so can anti-depressants. Alcohol has the familiar paradoxical effect: it increases the desire but lessens the ability, especially for men. Hormonal changes, including menopause, also have an impact on sexual desire and ability to perform and enjoy sex. Sexuality is generally thought of as being genital, but it is much, much more. Humans’ most powerful sex organ is the brain. Sexual expression is also related to self-image and feelings toward the partner. Human sexuality can include touching, cuddling, closeness, tenderness, warmth, emotional support and companionship. “Wham, bam, thank you, ma’am” can be a real turnoff. Good sex can take time.

tions about what to use in case of dryness. A water-soluble lubricant, like Replens, is recommended. If in doubt, ask the pharmacist. Seniors are not immune to sexually transmitted diseases. A frank conversation with the other person about sexual history is good practise. In the heat of the moment, however, that kind of discussion tends to slip away. Consequently, if in doubt about a partner’s sexual health, use a condom. That, too, can be a bit tricky because of the limited ability of many older men to maintain a firm erection. If a lack of libido is the problem, talk to a doctor. It may be a symptom of some other underlying health issue. If there are no health issues and the desire exists, go for it! Have fun SL and stay safe! SEPTEMBER 2010

FOREVER BY WILLIAM THOMAS

My daily routine to health, ﬁtness and mental breakdown

ike most aging baby boomers, I am determined to stay healthy, fit, active and – “Hey! Get that rubber glove away from me!” – medically violated on an annual basis. I try every day to keep my body fit but Lord knows, it ain’t easy. For instance, a few years ago when the study came out that red wine contained resveratrol, which was quite beneficial for the heart, I went for it. When a follow-up study confirmed the resveratrol advantage but estimated a person would have to consume something like 20 bottles of red wine a day in order to experience real benefits, I went for that program too. I have no recollection whatsoever of 2008. Still, I soldier on in the name of mental and physical wellness. I follow a daily regimen that I hope will see me fit and feisty by 85. 7:45 A.M. The radio alarm goes off and CBC-Radio One informs me that Portugal has been eliminated from the World Cup, Bob Probert has died and Stephen Harper is still Prime Minister. I reach for the bottle of Tylenol and by mistake, I down four Fisherman’s Friend cough drops, which give me instant indigestion. 8:00 A.M. I pad down the beach steps, drop the towel on the railing and take my morning plunge. It wakes me up; I do 50 breaststrokes out, 50 back and I feel great. This sets up my day like a golf ball to a tee. 16

8:30 A.M. I remove my old-fashioned, whistling kettle from the stove for my tea, list my day’s priorities and catch the local weather report, which ends with an E. coli bacteria warning. Swimmers are instructed to stay out of the water. Symptoms include headaches, vomiting and diarrhea. 8:50 A.M. I scan the newspaper to learn that my stocks have been decimated, the city of Toronto is under siege by anarchists and storm troopers and a new medical study links Alzheimer’s disease to tin pots, like my favourite, old-fashioned kettle. 9:00 A.M. Depressed and slightly nauseous, I go out to my office in order to write something funny. 9:15 A.M. As I prepare breakfast, the smells of bacon and eggs frying, toast and fresh perked coffee still linger after all these years. I open a packet of Quaker instant oatmeal, which helps lower my bad cholesterol. I add hot water and stir. That’s my breakfast – goop. 9:35 A.M. I return to my office in the hunt for something humorous to write about when I come across a recent clipping of Darryl Durr. He’s a 46-year-old serial rapist and murderer in Cleveland who is asking for a stay of execution because he claims he will likely suffer a violent allergic reaction to the lethal drugs that the state of Ohio will use to kill him.

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10:00 A.M. After a few business phone calls, I go for a walk. It’s hot and humid. Great. I’ll sweat more. I do a brisk walk along the Bay and back. 11:00 A.M. I catch the news on CBC-Radio, which warns people against exercising in these record-setting temperatures. The symptoms of heat exhaustion are headaches, vomiting and diarrhea. 11:05 A.M. Hey, I might as well go for a swim! So I do. 11:20 A.M. I’m starving. Right about now I’d trade my car for a Dagwood sandwich with both mustard and mayonnaise. Instead, I throw a handful of raspberries in a bowl and smear them in vanilla probiotic yogurt. That’s my snack – pink goop. 11:45 A.M. Back to my morbid humour column, I come across a news item in which a woman who was put to death in Texas for murder, ordered Twinkies, Cheese Doodles and Diet Coke for her last supper. The closest I’ve come to crime is a speeding ticket and yet from that three-course meal “to die for,” I could only have the Coke. 12:10 P.M. After sorting my mail, I open my cheque from the government, which is supposed to help me get through the early stages of the dreaded Harmonized Sales Tax. The amount is $10.40. In the eight days since the tax kicked in, I’ve been H.S.T.’ed by about

$60. This reminds me to…

supplement, an aspirin, a Choless tablet and Niacin.

12:30 P.M. I now feel nauseous. I’m also confused because I don’t know if it’s due to E. coli bacteria, heat exhaustion or the goop.

2:46 P.M. My body is suddenly covered in hives, my face is on fire and my heart is racing. I look at my grocery list. Bad handwriting means I bought “non-generic Niacin” instead of “non-flush Niacin.” I take a steel brush to arms and legs.

1:30 P.M. I spot the flashing light on the mail delivery truck and I rush to the road to have a conversation with my postie because, according to the experts, engaging in social intercourse reduces stress. I want to talk World Cup. He talks tires. The postie misinterprets my offer of intercourse. Awkward. 2:00 P.M. Gallows humour column starts to gel when I locate the clipping confirming the town of Biritiba Mirim, Brazil has no more space to bury dead people and no land for a new cemetery so the mayor has outlawed death. He encourages residents to look after their health and lists the penalties if they break the “no dying” law. 2:30 P.M. I have a late lunch of wild salmon, Triscuits and carrot sticks. I’m eating so much food loaded with Omega-3 fish oils, two small openings have appeared on my upper arms. They look a lot like gills. 2:45 P.M. I take my pills – a multivitamin with mineral

3:30 P.M. Not tired, but I nap anyway to restore melatonin levels. 4:15 P.M. I awake and face the fact that my daily plan to stay fit and mentally sharp has become a serious hazard to my health. I realize the only way I’ll ever see 85 is to move to Biritiba Mirim, Brazil and obey the law. 4:20 P.M. Taking no chances, I stay perfectly still until 5:55 p.m. 5:55 P.M. Finally, preparations are made for the news hour and wine shooting or as I call it, “my resveratrol treatSL ment.” Today, I will have to increase the dosage. William Thomas is the author of nine books of humour including The True Story of Wainﬂeet. www.williamthomas.ca

Play Together

What to do in our garden patio today? Green thumbs never stop growing. Plant peonies, dig around dahlias and cultivate cucumbers. Armchair gardeners are welcome too – bask in the sun with a good book or sip lemonade in the shade. Play shuffleboard or challenge a chum to a life-sized checkers or chess match. Dip a toe into fun at a pool party or BBQ, all in the company of new friends. Enjoy summer at The Mulberry. Plant a new beginning!

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

135 West 15th Street (off Lonsdale) North Vancouver | 604.980.6525 www.the summerhill.ca Part of Paciﬁc Arbour Retirement Communities

Where good things come together. SEPTEMBER 2010

Health & Wellness

LIFE IS FUN!

o say Harry Caine believes in health and wellness is an understatement. He lives, breathes, walks and spreads the wellness message, both in his Tsawwassen neighbourhood and across North America. As a pharmacist, Harry, now retired, spent 25 years convincing seniors that the more they exercised, the less medication they would need. He became affectionately known as the “anti-drug pharmacist.” Harry practises what he preaches. His fitness routine includes a gym

BY BEV YAWORSKI

workout, which involves stretching for 30 minutes, the treadmill for 30 minutes and lifting weights for another 30 minutes. He played racquetball three times a week, later switching to tennis. His health regimen is even more impressive considering Harry, now in his 70s, once fell out of a Kelowna cherry tree and broke his back. He was told he’d be in a wheelchair in 20 years due to the injury – that was 35 years ago. While visiting China a few years ago, Harry was deeply affected by the acres and acres of park, where hundreds of Chinese seniors performed

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tai chi outdoors. “I wondered if you could get an outdoor playground with equipment to get more seniors [in Canada] to get outside,” he says. Returning to his Tsawwassen home, Harry began an extensive campaign of research and action on his dream of seniors’ outdoor fitness. He asked a friend, who teaches kinesiology at Langley’s Trinity Western University, whether they could design equipment to withstand B.C.’s rain and provide exercise for seniors. The reply: “Yes, it could be done.”

Health & Wellness Opposite page, Harry Caine (left) shows Doug Reynolds (right) how to use the ﬁtness equipment at the Tsawwassen Lions Wellness Park. This page, Harry acts as MC at the opening of Lions Centennial Beach children’s playground. Photos: Bev Yaworski

With help from Trinity Western students, a questionnaire was conducted asking seniors about their interests. The information gathered was used to create a design. With assistance from a playground manufacturer, the Tsawwassen-Boundary Bay Lions Club, Delta’s mayor and Delta Parks & Recreation department, Harry’s dream became a reality. The Lions Wellness Park is located in Tsawwassen’s Winskill Park surrounded by many seniors’ apartment buildings near KinVillage Retirement complex. The Lions Club and the provincial government aided fundraising. The country’s first Seniors’ Wellness Park has been re-created in 18 other B.C. locations, and even as far away as Texas. “The bottom line is it’s so nice to see these places get used,” says Harry. “It’s amazing, and it does not come easy.” The Wellness Park includes unique fitness equipment specialized to the needs of mature adults but, interestingly, the outdoor adult playground has turned into a multi-use fitness park with grandparents exercising with their grandkids. The facility features chipped rubber tires providing soft foot landings instead of hard gravel, making it almost impossible to get hurt from a fall. Equipment is geared to exercise specific body areas in a safe manner, including focus on balance and stretching exercises. Marked walking trails let users know the distance they have covered. Participants also benefit from movement in fresh air and sunshine. But Harry and the Lions were not

finished. The Tsawwassen wellness organizers added raised garden beds with a watering system and a garden club. Colourful, fragrant sweet peas and beans, climbing clematis, a pumpkin patch and more gardening treats add to the ambience. “I wanted to get people out of their apartments talking to each other,” says Harry. “The socialization factor with this garden club is phenomenal. I love it. People are coming down, interacting and talking to each other in the garden.” “You can’t be standing in a line-up with me and not have me talk to you,” says Harry with a playful twinkle in his eye. “A lot of people are generally shy and reserved, I may be more outgoing, but if you get people going, you can meet so many fascinating people. Just let yourself be open.” Harry also volunteers at the Vancouver International Airport every Wednesday at 5 a.m. as a “Green Coat” greeter welcoming passengers and answering questions. “You get to meet the nicest people at this job,” he says. “I really enjoy helping, teasing and having fun with passengers.” Harry believes that four factors de-

termine healthy aging and guide his own life and community work: psychological, physical, social and nostalgia. “Life is fun,” he says. “Life is enjoyable. If you do only one thing to keep healthy, walk. If you walk every day, you may not need other exercise.” Not one to sit still very long, Harry and his fellow Lions members recently created an innovative, safe, interactive playground for children of all abilities, kids who may find traditional playgrounds challenging. This playground had its official opening this past Father’s Day to an enthusiastic crowd at the stunning oceanfront Tsawwassen Centennial Beach. Children bounced and played to their heart’s content. Since then, the Delta Chamber of Commerce awarded Harry with the Citizen of the Year award for “providing extraordinary service to the community and conducting his life with integrity.” But this “citizen of the year” does not like to linger long on awards or accomplishments: he has more projects to plan and more trails to tread, while he spreads the wellness message with SL infectious energy and humour. SEPTEMBER 2010

Senior Living Vancouver & Lower Mainland Distribution Locations

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MAINLAND DISTRIBUTION LOCATIONS - CONTINUED TOM BINNIE PARK COMM CENTRE WESTMINSTER HOUSE WHALLEY LIBRARY WHITE ROCK/ S SURREY PUBLIC HEALTH UNIT VANCOUVER 1 KINGSWAY LIBRARY 29TH AVE SKY TRAIN STN 411 SENIOR’S CENTRE AMICA AT ARBUTUS MANOR ARBUTUS MALL BARCLAY MANOR BC WOMENS HOSPITAL BREAD GARDEN BRITANNIA ARENA / LIBRARY BROADWAY & BURRARD WALK IN BROCK HOUSE SOCIETY BURRARD SKYTRAIN BUS STOP - 750 BROADWAY CAPERS - 2285 4TH AVE CAPERS - 1675 ROBSON ST CAPERS MARKET CARE MEDICAL CENTRE CENTRAL MARKET - 830 THURLOW CHAMPLAIN HEIGHTS COMM CNTR CHAMPLAIN HEIGHTS LIBRARY CHOICES MARKET - 1202 RICHARDS CHOICES MARKET - 3493 CAMBIE ST CHOICES MARKET - 2627 16 AVE CITY SQUARE FAMILY PRACTICE COLLINGWOOD HOUSE COLLINGWOOD LIBRARY CROFTEN MANOR DENMAN COMMUNITY CTR DENMAN MALL DIAMOND HEALTH CARE CENTRE DOCTOR’S OFFICE 777 W BROADWAY

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VGH EMERGENCY WATERFRONT SKY TRAIN STN WEST END AQUATIC CENTRE WEST END SENIORS NETWORK WEST POINT GREY PUBLIC LIBRARY YMCA COMMUNITY SERVICES WEST VANCOUVER AMICA AT WEST VANCOUVER BUS STOP 2002 PARK ROYAL BUS STOP 2051 PARK ROYAL GLENEAGLES COMMUNITY CENTRE HOLLYBURN HOUSE SUPER VALU WEST VAN MEMORIAL LIBRARY WEST VANCOUVER COMM CENTRE WHITE ROCK HOME INSTEAD PACIFIC CARLTON STARBUCKS - 1730 152ND STREET SUNNYSIDE MANOR THE PENINSULA RESORT RETIREMENT LIVING WHITE ROCK ACTIVITY CENTRE WHITE ROCK MUSEUM & ARCHIVES

Now distributed at all Pharmasave stores throughout BC. VANCOUVER ISLAND EDITION DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT VANCOUVER ISLAND BC

VANCOUVER EDITION DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT MAINLAND BC

Recommend a Distribution Location Near You! Senior Living is looking for convenient, high trafﬁc distribution locations throughout the Greater Vancouver region. If you know of a place of business or activity centre that would be a convenient location for interested readers to pick up our magazine, let us know. Email: ofﬁce@seniorlivingmag.com Phone 1-877-479-4705 SEPTEMBER 2010

A Time to Dance

Health & Wellness

SENIOR LIVING VANCOUVER & LOWER MAINLAND

The author (left) and Paul Lowe doing a setting step – a typical Scottish Country dance step.

vian to participate in Scandinavian dancing. I added it to my list. They meet on Wednesday nights at Burnaby’s Scandinavian Centre. Polkas, waltzes, snoa, hambo and schottis dance steps are featured. If you are prone to dizziness, this might not be a good dance choice since couples are often spinning and moving around in a circle at the same time. I would recommend joining this group as a couple. I have danced as a single, but, again, there just don’t seem to be enough good men to go around. On Thursday nights, I enjoy the 55+ group that gathers at Burnaby’s Bonsor Community Centre for ballroom dancing. Here, we enjoy the foxtrot, rumba, cha-cha and various jives and waltzes. John, my dance partner, says, “Let’s face it, if I wasn’t here dancing, I’d be home watching TV and stiffening-up.” Sign up for lessons at community centres. They tend to be cheaper and senior discounts are offered, whereas private venues can get costly. However, if you want to try Maggie Bretton’s dance lessons offered the first and third Friday of every month at the Scottish Cultural Centre in Vancouver, she offers a one-hour lesson coupled with three hours of dancing for only $20. Singles are welcome, but I suggest bringing a partner. If you are looking for daytime dancing, why not try line dancing? Single women dominate here – I have only seen one brave male at these lessons. If dancing in your own space, with a group of people suits you, why not give it a try? Again, check community centre listings. Contra dancing is held monthly at various Vancouver

Photo: Margaret Grangeaud

hen I decided to ignore self-imposed roadblocks, I discovered an exciting, inexpensive, and varied world of dancing in Metro Vancouver. Many dance classes, clubs, and venues eagerly await new members. For dancing, all one needs is a desire to learn, some brainpower, a relatively mobile body and a smile. My own love affair with dancing began several years ago. At age 53, when preparing for retirement, I asked myself several questions: What did I want to do with my unstructured time? How did I want to challenge myself? I knew I wanted to be a lifelong learner. I also knew that I wanted an activity that challenged me emotionally, spiritually, socially, intellectually and physically. Financially, since I would be on a pension, it had to be inexpensive. Why not retire to dancing? It seemed to fit my criteria. I began by scouring the community events section of the local newspaper where I spotted an ad for Scottish Country dancing in Coquitlam. After several lessons, I knew I would never dance alone again. Partner dancing was for me! Duncan MacKenzie of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society says, “It’s never too late to join. It’s great exercise for both mind and body, and you will find some very nice people as classmates. Once you have the basics down, then everything starts to fall into place.” Men are really needed here. Women quite often dance as a man. Couples need to know that it is proper etiquette to share your partner. Soon after joining SCD, I discovered the rich community spirit that characterizes Scottish ceilidhs. Held monthly at the Scottish Cultural Centre (8886 Hudson Street, Vancouver, B.C.), these dance parties are simply joyous. All ages are welcome and everybody dances. “Don’t come if you don’t want to have fun,” says Duncan. On Tuesday nights, it’s time for international folk dancing. Since I dance as a single, this is my most enjoyable venue. The Burnaby International Folk Dancers meet weekly at the Charles Rummel Centre in Burnaby. This is folk dancing at its finest: friendly, positive people and superb teachers. As President Jane Kukpfer says, “We enjoy the fun, the exercise and the challenge, to our heads as well as our feet, of learning traditional dances from cultures throughout the world.” I was delighted to discover I didn’t have to be Scandina-

BY EILEEN MACKENZIE

locations on Friday and Saturday nights. All ages are welcome to join the set dances, done in long lines with couples moving simultaneously up or down the set. What an aerobic workout! Many men attend. Contra attracts free-spirited, fun, friendly and positive people. If you choose to get involved, you could find yourself dancing weekends and summers away all over North America. Try jazzing up your Sundays with English Country Dancing. A Jane Austin fan, I easily adapted to this elegant and sometimes theatrical style of dancing. Two highlights here are the live bands and June Harman, the main caller. June is a gentle, encouraging teacher/caller. After only a few sessions, she had me feeling confident and comfortable. In April, I attended the annual ECD ball. It was a grand event. Finally, dancing doesn’t stop in the summer. Vancouver Parks Board offers Dancing at Dusk. Held at Ceperley Meadow, Stanley Park, this evening dance series includes Scottish Country on Mondays, International folk on Tuesdays and ballroom dancing on Wednesdays. Partners aren’t necessary. All levels are welcome and best of all – it’s free! If you are still not satiated, try sassy summer salsa dancing at Ambleside Park in West Vancouver on Thursday nights. Open to the public, this annual offering requires no registration and costs only $6 to drop in. For an active lifestyle, try one, try some, or try them all. If you do, enjoy the challenge, fellowship, joy, beauty, fun and excitement of the dance. Wish I could tell you more, but I have SL to go dancing!

Health & Wellness BALLROOM DANCING DancewithMaggie@telus.net 604-437-9464 BALLROOM AND LINE DANCING Community Centres (Burnaby) Bonsor 604-439-5510, Confederation 604-294-1936, Edmonds 604-525-1671 BURNABY INTERNATIONAL FOLK DANCERS burnabyfolkdance.shawwebspace.ca E-mail: burnabyfolk@shaw.ca Phone: 604-522-2031 or 604-298-2983 CONTRA DANCING Website: purplehey@hotmail.com or phone: 604-420-4439 DANCING AT DUSK Vancouver.ca/parks/arts/danceatdusk.htm ENGLISH COUNTRY DANCING www.juneharman.com/ecd or phone: 604-926-0875 SALSA DANCING gallerywestvancouver.ca or phone: 604-925-7290 West Vancouver Parks Board 604-925-7200 SCANDINAVIAN DANCERS www.vcn.bc.ca/scandi or phone: 604-684-7405 SCOTTISH CEILIDH AND SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING www.rscdsvancouver.org Email: ceilidh@rscdsvancouver.org Phone: 604-536-9481

SEPTEMBER 2010

Have Fork, Will Travel BY SALLY JENNINGS

ummer pudding originated in spas and nursing homes in mid-18th century England, where it was served to patients as an alternative to heavy, fattening puddings made with pastry, suet or butter. It was known as hydropathic pudding, but summer pudding sounds more inviting. Although water spas have always existed, bathing was frowned upon for decades until 1702, when Queen Anne visited the ancient Roman city of Bath. When the fashionable Richard “Beau” Nash arrived in Bath two years later, the new regimen was established. Suddenly, the health benefits of drinking water and bathing were all the rage. Bath became the social capital of Britain, attracting the rich and famous over the summer to bathe and drink the water in the pump room, while amusing themselves with gambling and gossiping. The pump room has been seen in many Jane Austen movies. Diet was an important part of this health-based regimen so traditional puddings were now frowned upon. It is not known when fresh fruit became part of the mix and scholars argue over when the summer pudding, as we know it, originated. Before bread had additives to prevent it from drying, summer pudding was a good way to use up stale bread and summer fruit. It’s an old favourite in my family and has the advantage that it can be made any size with any fruit. In late summer, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, loganberries, black/red currants and gooseberries make a wonderful mixture. Once pitted, cherries, plums and apricots would also work. In winter, use canned fruit and omit the cooking. You can make one large pudding or individual teacup puddings for an event.

Correction Abbeyfield Houses of Vancouver’s address in the Directory of Senior Residences in the August Special Housing Edition should have been 1275 West 67th Ave. We apologize for any inconvenience this error may have caused. 24

SENIOR LIVING VANCOUVER & LOWER MAINLAND

Combine a mixture of soft berry fruit (2-3 lb) lightly cooked with sugar in a saucepan (don’t let the fruit lose its shape). Cut a loaf of white bread (no crusts), brioche or sponge cake into thick slices. Line a pudding basin (mixing bowl) with the bread, making sure there are no gaps. Pour in the fruit and juice but keep back some juice and a few berries for decoration. Cover the pudding with more bread (cut slices to fit). Put a plate on top of the pudding and a weight on top. Leave it in the fridge overnight. To serve, take the weight and plate off. Put your serving dish on top of the pudding and flip the pudding. Pour over the reserved berries and juice if needed. The pudding usually turns out with a spectacular marbled white and burgundy look. Serve with whipped cream, vanilla ice cream or Bird’s custard. Bird’s Custard is the original version of custard powder, which is cornflour-based and thickens to form a sauce when mixed with milk and heated. Bird’s Custard was formulated in England by Alfred Bird in 1837 because his wife was allergic to eggs, used to thicken traditional custard. He did the world a service because now you can make custard in a SL matter of minutes. Sally Jennings is a writer, editor, tour guide and author of Hunting for Ghosts in Victoria BC. She has lived and dined on ﬁve continents, with no regrets. pto_edit@yahoo.ca

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Fashion & Beauty

Fashion and Beauty tips and tricks from industry experts. Approaching personal style with humour. What’s your colour sign? Fashion ﬂare at Unique Boutique. Meet a local 50+ model.

Photo: Caroline Mufford

THE PROOF IS IN THE SUMMER PUDDING

BBB Better Better Better Better

Business Business Business Business

Bureau Bureau Bureau Bureau

SCAM ALERT

BY LYNDA PASACRETA

Don’t get burned by furnace fraud

all is the ideal time to have your furnace serviced – before the busy winter season starts. Better Business Bureau warns the public to be cautious of misleading door-to-door heating contractors who may use scare tactics to convince homeowners to buy a new furnace or authorize expensive, but unneeded, repairs to their existing heating system. Every fall, we see a spike in consumers contacting us about heating contractors showing up at their door offering everything from duct cleaning to furnace inspections. While most furnace companies are reputable, competent and fair, con artists may try to manipulate consumers into unnecessary installations or repairs using fear as their main tactic. The BBB has received reports of con artists who tried to frighten consumers into purchasing a new heating system with warnings that their heating system is leaking dangerous gases that could explode or poison those inside the house. In another example, a company has posed as representatives of a local B.C. municipality designated to do gas inspections on the city’s behalf. Before you choose a heating contractor, consider the following tips: Start with the BBB to find helpful information like owners, company addresses, and customer service information by visiting the company’s reliability report at: www.mbc. bbb.org Hire heating contractors who: • Are licensed with the B.C. Safety Authority, call 1-866566-SAFE (7233). • Are or employ certified gas fitters. • Are bonded and insured for liability and property damage. • Can provide a copy of the gas permit authorizing the company to work on your heating system. • Offer warranties that cover equipment, materials and

labour. • Offer maintenance and service after installation and after warranties have expired. • Provide customer references. Get at least two estimates for the work. All bids should be in writing and should provide a full description of the services to be provided and the materials to be used. Compare more than cost. Check the size and rated efficiency of the equipment each contractor recommends. Ask each contractor how he or she arrived at recommending a particular sized system. Check and make sure you understand the warranty they offer. Consumer Protection B.C. can help with allegations of misleading door-to-door sales practices. For complaints, contact them at 1-888-564-9963 or visit: www.consumerprotectionbc.ca SL

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

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Travel & Adventure

FINDING THE REAL PARIS BY JULIE H. FERGUSON

ames turns to the hovering waiter. “Encore, deux cafés.” The big cups of creamy coffee arrive and soon James has sketched out a plan for my seventh visit to Paris, his ninety-third. He fills our September week with authentic Paris, must-see places and events that any tourist can fit around the obligatory sightseeing. We meander down the oldest street in Paris, the Roman road to Lyons and Rome. La rue Mouffetard is an eclectic collection of specialty shops that ends in the Square St-Médard. La Mouffe is bustling with Parisians gossiping and shopping for dinner. The selection of French delicacies overwhelms me: displays of food overflow across the sidewalks and into the cobbled street – wild boar sausage and honey from Corsica, sea urchins and silver sardines, and rich wedges of Roquefort. Our mouths watering, we pounce on samples bursting with flavour while I long for a kitchen. We load up with olives, cheeses, and a duck terrine for diner en chambre at our hotel and later buy a decadent dessert from a patisserie. Savouring my last mouthful of lunch in the sunshine, I say, “It’s not hard to imagine what La Mouffe was like in the Middle Ages. All you have to do is visualize women carrying baskets full of live chickens.” Early the next day, we board a boat to cruise up le Canal St-Martin in the heart of Paris, an adventure few tourists try. The Seine delivers misty views of the Louvre, and after passing Notre-Dame to port, the boat enters a lock that leads into the Paris Yacht Basin. At the far end, I can just see a black hole – the opening to a 2.4 km tunnel below the Place de la Bastille where the infamous prison once stood. Napoleon ordered the canal built in 1802 to supply a growing Paris with fresh water and food. His tunnel is an eerie place, musty and cold. With no electricity, it is pitch black, too, except where light streams through large openings in the roof. I listen for the ghost said to play a clarinet, but the echoes are silent; all I can hear is the chug of the engine. Back in the sunlight again, we enter the residential part of 26

SENIOR LIVING VANCOUVER & LOWER MAINLAND

Paris called St-Martin. This old district is now the home of fashionistas. We glide on jade water under a canopy of trees, listening to an excellent commentary from our guide. Parisians throng the banks. Bridges for cars, trains, and foot traffic slide overhead or swing up to let us pass. The boat passes through 19 locks, each with its own keeper, before we disembark for lunch and a walk along the canal. We try to be in Paris on a Sunday because that is the day musicians from the orchestras of France play chamber music for an hour before dinner. Not only is the music superb, the location is divine. La Sainte-Chapelle, close to Notre-Dame, is the Chapel Royal of France. Built in 1248 for the saintly Louis IX, it is a double-decker Gothic marvel. Peeking into the lower chapel, once used by the court’s servants, visitors admire the vaulted ceiling decorated with gold leaf and scarlet, and tiny fleur-de-lis on an azure background. We climb the spiral staircase to the upper chapel where only the monarch and his family worshipped. The soaring, slender columns and tall, stained-glass windows are elegant and refined. Here the concerts take place amid exquisite acoustics. With mostly Parisians, we listen to Mozart. Afterwards, the notes whisper in our ears as we walk home along the Seine. The legendary and largest flea market in the world (seven

Travel & Adventure IF YOU GO: La rue Mouffetard: Métro – (closest) Censier Daubenton (Line 7); others – Place Monge (line 7) and Cardinal Lemoine (line 10). Closed on Sunday p.m. and all day Monday. Canal St-Martin: Several companies offer two-hour cruises; best is www. pariscanal.com. Cruises run daily from mid-March to mid-November with bilingual commentary. Boats sail at 9:30 a.m. beside the Musée d’Orsay (Métro: Solférino – line 12). Reservations required: phone 01 42 40 96 97. Another option is www.canauxrama.com with a shorter itinerary and different departure points. Sainte-Chapelle: Métro – Cité (line 4); walk up the rue de Lutece to the Palais de Justice. The entrance is on left of the Palais. Concert schedules and online tickets at www.classictic.com/en/Special/Concerts-in-La-Sainte-Chapelle. Details for the chapel only at sainte-chapelle.monuments-nationaux.fr/en Les Puces (the ﬂea markets) de Paris: Métro – Porte de Clignancourt (line 4). Rue des Rosiers is the street from which you access the separate markets. Open every Saturday, Sunday, and Monday all year (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.). For a map at www.antikita.com, click on “Access” on the top menu strip. Chez Louisette is in a corner of Marché Vernaison. La Grande Epicerie: Métro – Sevres-Babylone (line 10) or Vaneau (line 12). Address: 38 rue de Sevres. www.lagrandeepicerie.fr

Legendary Waterways of Europe Opposite page, top, A display on La Mouffe’s sidewalk. Bottom, The upper reaches of Canal St-Martin. This page, The Canal St-Martin. Page 28, One of the miles of alleys in Les Puces. Photos: Julie H. and James S. Ferguson hectares), Les Puces, has beckoned us for years. We arrive as the vendors are opening their permanent stalls and find the alleyways crammed with antiques, junk, jewelry, furniture, art, clocks – anything saleable, old and new. We rummage for hours and even find a marble staircase. Our efforts also reveal a “real” Russian tiara, an 11th century suit of armour, and a complete set of vestments for a bishop. I buy antique soupspoons and two pashminas after spirited bartering. By noon, the markets are getting crowded. We lunch at the boisterous Chez Louisette, where Edith Piaf got her start. This café is tucked in a corner of Marché Vernaison. Lousiette serves mediocre fast food, so this was not why we are here. In a corner is a minuscule stage and we listen to a young chanteuse belt out French bar songs and two sets of Piaf fa-

May 14,2011 16 Days ��41 Meals ��

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vourites. The patrons go wild – standing up, yelling, and throwing pieces of baguette at her, the barman, and anyone else who takes their fancy. When, at 2:30 p.m., the wine bottles are empty, the food eaten, and the singer gone, we leave to find the markets too crowded to enjoy. Besides, we are exhausted. Our last outing is to the supermarket for foodies, my husband has promised. La Grande Epicerie is the astonishing food floor of the Bon Marché on rue de Sevres. As I stand before the deli, my jaw drops. James asked me to buy a

couple of items for dinner, but I can’t choose – the deli section is bigger than my local grocery store. Counters groan with saumon en croute, quiches, boeuf Wellington, 29 different kinds of olives, and items I can’t name. Customers wait three deep for a turn to buy. About 350 kinds of cheese grace another section, and hundreds of sausages are in the next. My husband, prowling the olive oils from around the Mediterranean, won’t help. “Surprise me!” he says. And grins. The patisserie undoes me. I surprise James all right – with the final bill. SL

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BY GOLDIE CARLOW, M.ED

Dear Goldie: I am an 80-year-old widow in good health living independently. I walk every morning, attend yoga weekly and enjoy community volunteer work. Recently, I’ve decided to travel again. I did a lot of travelling in my 70s, but now my son and daughter-in-law are opposed to me travelling alone. What do you think? –O.W. Dear O.W.: I am happy to hear you are in good health and able to travel. You are also fortunate to have family who are concerned about your welfare. Perhaps you could find a travel companion among the volunteers with whom you work. Some reliable travel agencies cater to seniors and will find a companion, if you wish to share accommodation and cost. I suggest you research this option further. Happy Travelling! Dear Goldie: For so many years while I was working, I dreamed about retirement and travel. Unfortunately, my wife died soon after I finished work. My children are married and busy with their own families, so we do not see each other frequently. Many of my friends, also retired, are away on trips most of the year. I really feel my life is dull and uninteresting. Can you suggest some way for me to spice it up? –N.D. Dear N.D: I am sorry you lost your wife before you could enjoy your retirement together. We cannot plan all life events, but we do need to plan and initiate new beginnings, if we want situations to improve. It is important to make new friends as well. Some of my clients have met people after church at a coffee hour. Others met at swimming or walking groups and social afternoons playing cards. Senior centres and the daily newspaper can direct you. If you are not able to make a change, perhaps an appointSL ment with your medical doctor is needed. Goldie Carlow is a retired registered nurse, clinical counsellor and senior peer counselling trainer. Send letters to Senior Living, Box 153, 1581-H Hillside Ave., Victoria, BC V8T 2C1.

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

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SEPTEMBER 2010

Health & Wellness

Transforming Education BY JULIAN BENEDICT

SENIOR LIVING VANCOUVER & LOWER MAINLAND

well as professional development.” The couple decided to register for their next series of seniors’ courses together – delving into the intriguing world of visual anthropology – then switching gears completely to a diplomatic history course entitled China-Canada Relations: From Mao to Now. “The anthropology course raised important issues of ethics, privacy and control in our society,” says Jan, “whereas the diplomatic history course was like peering into a seemingly secret world of high-level negotiations on everything from trade treaties to war and conflict.” But learning more about a wide variety of subjects was just the beginning. The couple also realized that studying together helped them gain new insights into one another. “We found that we are very different learners,” says Barry. “Jan is very reflective; a quiet learner who tends to listen and Life-long learners Barry and Jan Stevenson

Photo: Greg Ehlers

his month, thousands of seniors across the province will head back to school, transforming college and university campuses that have traditionally been focused on the learning needs of youth aged 18-24. This trend is expected to accelerate as more British Columbians enter their golden years. The province already boasts one of the longest life expectancy rates in the country, together with one of the healthiest populations. But as new figures from Statistics Canada show, the boomer revolution is also about numbers. Beginning in 2011, the first wave of baby boomers will turn 65; by 2036, the total senior population across Canada will reach 10 million. The increasing popularity of lifelong learning programs for boomers and older adults has made the SFU Seniors Program – which specializes in intellectually stimulating non-credit courses for adults 55 or better – a success. Attracting some 2,500 adults annually in over 65 unique non-credit courses, the program also hosts a series of free public forums during its busy fall and spring terms, and a Canada-wide outreach project. The boomer generation is increasingly enthusiastic about lifelong learning, says Acting Director Dr. David Gordon Duke. “In 2009, we saw our fall enrolment jump 62 per cent over the previous year – the largest jump ever in the program’s history,” he says. “Today’s seniors don’t want leisure topics. In fact, most say they don’t want recreational courses at all. They want to learn about the world, exploring topics across every discipline, including history, the sciences, philosophy, sociology, music and beyond.” But for many older adults, who they learn with is as important as what they learn. Married couple Jan and Barry Stevenson are one such example. Jan is a retired teacher, who enrolled in her first Seniors Program course on the Middle East in 2006. “At first, I attended on my own,” says Jan. “It was time to start thinking about the future – and mowing the lawn did not appeal! Returning to the classroom was a great way to share my ideas with others, and grow my mind by learning from my classmates.” But Jan found her dinner table musings about the Middle East – gleaned from her weekly course material – soon captured the imagination of her husband of 41 years. Barry, a recently retired hospital administrator, saw the program as a way to explore the many liberal arts subjects he wasn’t able to enjoy while completing his science degree decades earlier. “I had always studied what I needed to learn for career advancement,” he says. “Now it was time to learn for personal as

offer fewer contributions in class. I tended to challenge ideas more directly, and engage in dialogue; I think we complement each other well.” Jan says that lifelong learning has also sparked a new interest in sharing her ideas with others. “Barry and I talked to many of our friends about the Seniors Program. Sometimes, [friends] think they’ve entered a lecture series!” she jokes. The couple has also experimented with purposely sitting apart from one another in classes. Jan says doing so has made it easier for both of them to meet new people.

Jan found her dinner table musings, gleaned from her course material, soon captured the imagination of her husband of 41 years. “By sitting in different areas of the classroom each week, we had valuable opportunities to meet new friends.” Barry agrees, “You meet seniors from all walks of life and experience – learning for oneself, not only for professional pursuits, can open up entirely new possibilities.” Similarly, retired nurse Hazel Nicholson says that learning is all about building friendships, as well as knowledge. She joined the Seniors Program after moving to Vancouver from the Island in 2009. The courses came up in discussions at the United Church, but she was hesitant at first about enrolling in courses. “I knew SFU had a good reputation, but I was a bit nervous, since I knew it would be rigorous,” she recalls. “It worked out well, though. I felt like I was eased in gently; I’ve been out of school for so many years.” Hazel likes the lecture style of the program, which ensures students can absorb information, and then contribute their ideas to the discussion when it feels right. Hazel soon found the program is a great way to meet new people and share ideas. She decided to start with a composition course called Music and Meaning: Exploring How Words, Music and Expression Come Together. “People are really interested in talking about what they learn here,” she says. “When you come in each week, people acknowledge you. You become part of the program.” In a world where increasingly busy lives leave less time for meeting new people, Hazel says the courses make conversations easier. “There’s a nice mix of male to female ratios. People even exchange phone numbers and make new friendships along with new learned information. A whole world of possibilities SL have begun for me after 65.” For more information on the SFU Seniors Program, visit their website at: www.sfu.ca/seniors or call 778-782-5212.

Are you a Care Giver or expect to be one?

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

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

Allow two weeks for shipping. SEPTEMBER 2010

THE DAYS OF MARY

ne Easter, while visiting the farmers market, my uncle purchased and brought me home three tiny recently hatched chicks. Two had been dyed with food colouring, I guess, and one little guy was his natural yellow. The little pink and blue chicks died within 24 hours. My guess is that the food colouring had entered their bloodstreams (a cruel act then, and one I hope no longer exists). But the little yellow chick thrived! I was allowed to name it, so I named it Mary. None of us knew, at the time, that Mary would grow into the biggest white rooster imaginable. But she did – or he did – or it did! As a five year old, I didn’t realize how ridiculous it must have looked when I walked down the street followed by a clucking white rooster. Dogs would follow other kids if they

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SENIOR LIVING VANCOUVER & LOWER MAINLAND

Photo: Krystle Wiseman

Reﬂections THEN & NOW

BY GIPP FORSTER

were fortunate enough to have one. But like Tommy Smothers used to say about his childhood: “I had a chicken, not a dog.” We had a flight of stairs at the back of our house and at the top of the landing my uncle had put out a large empty cardboard box. I don’t know how it got started, but each evening as the sun was setting, Mary would hop up those stairs, get into the cardboard box and wait for my uncle to bring the box and him into the outside shed for the night. Every evening, without fail, this ritual would take place, but only after another strange ritual. On summer evenings, we would sit on the front porch to watch the day wind down. We had a big sofa swing on a steel frame called a glider. At the same time every evening, we would first hear clucking, then, around the corner would come Mary on a very determined course. He would hop up onto the porch, strut to the glider and jump onto my uncle’s lap. Then Mary would snuggle against him, tuck his head under my uncle’s arm and stay there for exactly 30 minutes. It was routine and it never changed. Guests marvelled! I thought all chickens must do that, so I wasn’t too impressed! After the half hour, Mary would hop down, strut back the way he had come, around the house, up the back steps, into the box and wait to be retired. We were the talk of the street, but I still would have preferred a dog. Have you ever tried to teach a rooster to “stay,” “sit,” or “roll over”? It was embarrassing – even for a kid. Every now and then, these many years later, I still remember “Mary the big white rooster who took the place of a dog.” I’ve owned (or they have owned me) many dogs since the days of Mary, but I’ve never had another pet chicken. My wife just said something, but I told her cooked chickens don’t count! That’s a hint of what eventually happened to Mary. It broke my heart then, and I still get a little misty eyed when I see a white rooster or hear a rooster crow. I have had many pets in my lifetime from goldfish and lizards to monkeys and parrots, but I think Mary will always hold a special place. I wish I knew then what I know now; I would have warned Mary not to crow at sunrise each mornSL ing. But he probably wouldn’t have listened.

To Move or Not to Move?

BC EDITION

A Helpful Guide for Seniors Considering Their Residential Options

Published by Senior Living

JANUARY 2009

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

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

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