ABBOTSFORD

Day Away program at Abbotsford House

By Julie Ireton

For Ian Calvert, whose wife Caroline has dementia, the Alzheimer’s-Dementia Day Away Program at Abbotsford House at the Glebe Centre gives him the respite he needs every week.

“I can feel pretty alone as a caregiver, but I don’t feel alone, because people at Abbotsford are on my team,” said Calvert.

For the past three and a half years, his wife has been attending the day away program. Prior to COVID-19, she would attend one full day a week. “For brain health we have to be physically and socially active. The variety of activities is great. The staff is terrific. They’re very caring, and they’re fun,” he said.

Due to pandemic restrictions, the program went online for months but returned to half days in late 2021. There are plans to go back to full days once it’s safe to do so.

While the activities and exercises keep Caroline engaged and active, he says it’s also a chance for him to take a walk or do errands on his own. “It’s a break for me,” said Calvert who’s her primary caregiver.

The program is important for the clients with dementia, but it also means a lot to all the caregivers, notes Shirley Lee, program facilitator at Abbotsford. They concentrate on three types of activities – physical, mental and social. “We try to incorporate an exercise class. It could be a game where they have to lift, bend, sit and stand quite often. We do a lot of quizzes and reminiscing. And the social component is connecting with others,” said Lee.

Before the pandemic, the program ran four days a week with 12 clients a day.

With the assistance of three or four volunteers, clients are able to gather in smaller groups based on interests and functionality. Games and activities are adapted and geared towards a person’s cognitive level. “So they can succeed in whatever programming we’re trying to do,” said Lee.

The program adapted quickly as the pandemic took hold in 2020, introducing “senior centre without walls,” a teleconference program in which clients could dial in and participate in trivia or music challenges. Since the program has a waitlist, the virtual program allowed potential clients who weren’t in the regular day program to start participating in the Zoom activities.

“People were isolated. They didn’t have support services. So we opened up the Zoom activities to anyone on the waitlist. It allowed us to get to know them,” said Lee. “When we reopened and they arrived in person, we were familiar faces and voices.”

Given the isolation during the COVID lockdowns, especially in the winter, caregivers have been anxious for the schedule to go back to normal. “My wife was always reserved, but now she’s more so. She has less confidence and doesn’t take initiative. But at Abbotsford, she really responds and she’s engaged. She’s clearly enjoying it,” said Calvert.

Clients for the Alzheimer’s-Dementia Day Away Program need a referral from Ontario Health, and there continues to be a waiting list. The cost is $20 for a half day and $35 for a full day. Round trip transportation is also available for $12 for those in the Abbotsford catchment area.

Shirley Lee leads a virtual fitness class

PHOTO: KAREN ANNE BLAKELY

Abbotsford is your community support centre for adults 55+. We are the community programs of The Glebe Centre Inc., a charitable, not-for-profit, organization which includes a 254-bed long-term care home. Find out more about our services by telephoning us: Mon.-Fri .9 a.m.– 4 p.m. at 613-2305730 or by checking out all of The Glebe Centre facilities and Abbotsford Community Programs on our website www. glebecentre.ca.

Julie Ireton is a journalist who contributes regularly to the Glebe Report on issues affecting Abbotsford.

ADVERTORIAL

WHY FAMILIES BELIEVE IN AMICA FOR EXCEPTIONAL CARE

By always putting the health and safety of our residents first, Amica is a trusted leader in providing exceptional care along with a choice of lifestyles, including Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care. “Our goal is for residents and families to feel connected, engaged, supported and valued,” says Sarah Moriarty, Community Relations Director of Amica The Glebe.

Here’s why families trust the care at Amica.

PERSONALIZED CARE

Whether requiring help getting ready in the morning, managing their medications or more, Amica residents feel supported with care that’s respectful to their personal wishes and schedules.

PRIORITIZED WELLNESS

Amica’s holistic approach to wellness includes enriching activities, cultural excursions and a vibrant social atmosphere all designed to support and empower each senior’s physical, social, emotional and cognitive health.

FLEXIBLE SUPPORT

As each senior’s needs change, so does their care. The professional staff at Amica The Glebe will provide the personalized care and support each resident requires.

CERTIFIED STAFF

The health and well-being of every resident is overseen by a Director of Wellness with specialized training. A Care Advisor is also on duty 24/7, with emergency response pendants monitored on-site.

To learn more or to book a private appointment, please call Sarah or LA at 613-233-6363.

142 Powell Avenue in August 1919. In this photo, courtesy of the Orr Family archives, two front yard saplings are visible. Street trees have been valued by residents and city planners from the early days of the Glebe. The Freeman maple, a hybrid of silver and red maple, is a popular street and boulevard tree known for its showy autumn foliage, here on display on Third Avenue in October.

This young oak on Fifth Avenue is the successor to an older oak that met the end of its lifespan. In a few years, it will begin to provide canopy, like its fellows along the street.

Tree myths and misconceptions

Why planting trees is good for the Glebe

By Jennifer Humphries

Funny thing about trees: Most people like them, but even when they do, some adamantly do not want any on their property.

What reasons do they give? Among others, they’re messy, they damage sewer pipes and foundations, and they’re dangerous.

Dig a little deeper and you find that people know the benefits of trees, but a few are still determined to forego them. But these views are rooted in myths and misconceptions.

Last autumn, on a door-to-door canvass of several streets, the Tree Team (members of the Glebe Community Association’s Environment Committee) set out to encourage neighbours to plant a tree or two. Where they already had good tree coverage on their property, we asked them to keep us posted on any tree gaps they detected in the neighbourhood. Where residents lacked trees but had space, we urged them to consider planting.

The Tree Team aims to encourage the planting and preservation of enough sturdy canopy trees to ensure a green Glebe for the next century. Our neighbourhood is known and even

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envied for its tree-lined streets. But trees planted in the early 1900s – think little-leaf lindens along the avenues – are declining. Big red Xs declaring imminent removal appear on a frequent basis.

Age isn’t the only factor in the disappearance of the iconic Glebe canopy. In addition to root disruption during services replacement in streets, development – both infill and demolish/rebuild projects – is accelerating, with trees considered by builders to be literally standing in the way of their work. This attitude prevails, despite a municipal Tree Protection bylaw which clearly states that tree preservation is preferred and despite the new Official Plan which recognizes trees as green infrastructure central to climate change mitigation.

Our Tree Team canvass will resume this spring. If you have a question or comment, please email us at environment@glebeca.ca (Trees in the subject line).

The Glebe top nine tree myths and misconceptions – debunked

1. Tree roots damage foundations.

This is a common refrain. But the truth is, roots can’t pierce foundations. They can get in to an opening caused by something else, but they can’t create the opening. “If there’s a crack and moisture associated with the crack, the roots can colonize the space to access water,” said Daniel Buckles, long-time advocate for Ottawa’s urban forest and Tree Co-Animator for Community Associations for Environmental Sustainability. “Keep your foundation in good repair. New foundations are built with an impermeable surface, which won’t leak, so roots can’t get in. Foundation damage isn’t due to trees, it’s due to cracks.”

When it comes to city trees, the foundation issue arises so frequently that the City has initiated a four-phase process to determine whether a tree is playing a role in damage reported and, if so, how it can be mitigated. Trees are valuable – if there is a solution that saves the tree, that’s the ideal. I asked the City for some specifics on foundations and trees – their responses are in a sidebar in the web version of this article at glebereport.ca. 2. Tree roots break sewer pipes.

The notion that tree roots are so strong that they can break sewer pipes is simply incorrect. What they can do is take advantage of a leak by penetrating the pipe in search of water and nutrients. While they are unlikely to block a pipe, they could reduce flow. A plumber can check the pipe from inside your house and clear out the pipe if necessary. By the way, most roots are found within the top 60 cm (24 inches) of soil, above sewer lines.

As for water pipes, the City of Ottawa now uses copper for water mains and pipes. They are designed not to break or leak. If you have the old lead water pipes prevalent in early Glebe construction, you may wish to change them before they develop leaks. It’s a good idea anyway, in order to reduce your lead consumption. The City may be able to help with costs. See the city website for its “Lead Pipe Replacement Program.” And if your street is being redone, make the switch at that time.

3. Trees hit and smash things.

When properly cared for, trees aren’t a nuisance, and falling branches rarely hit or smash parked cars, houses or poles. Maintenance is key – pruning and cabling, for example.

You can also choose a tree that is known for its wind resistance. I asked Owen Clarkin, first vice-president of the Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Club, about