Kamloops Connector January 2023

New Year's resolutions for seniors

Resolutions can be made at any age.

Seniors who may feel that they are past the point in life where trying something new or setting goals is relevant to them can reconsider, as it’s never too late in life to have aspirations big or small.

The golden years may be different from any other period in a person’s life, but seniors can still embrace making positive changes. In fact, according to studies by Rush University, people who view life with a sense of purpose are two to four times less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. The following are some potential resolutions for seniors.

• Focus on safety. Aging sparks certain changes to the body and mind. Recognizing that you can’t do all of the things you did when you were younger doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to improve upon those things you can do, especially if you make some safety-minded tweaks. Resolve to improve home safety, such as removing tripping hazards, installing grab bars, checking smoke alarms, and installing a security system.

• Find new and enjoyable workouts. The exercise routines you engaged in just a few years ago may no longer suit your physical abilities or interests. Investigate new fitness regimens or methods of movement. Tai chi,

yoga, water aerobics, walking clubs, and more can be incorporated into your daily habits.

• Organize medical records. Seeing health pictured systematically and clearly can help you stay on top of appointments and wellness measures. There are many different organizing systems to embrace; find one that works for your needs.

• Declutter your home. Resolve to get rid of extraneous items that are no longer serving a purpose beyond collecting dust. Having more room to move around can be safer, particularly if you need a cane or another assistive device, and there will be less to clean if you remove some clutter. If you plan to downsize soon, clearing clutter can make the move easier.

• Learn something new. A language, skill, or hobby are all within reach when you map out the steps to achieving your goal.

• Make new social connections. Socially active older adults have better cognition and lower risks for depression than those who do not consistently reach out to friends. Aspire to make some new companions or to get back in touch with those you haven’t spoken to in some time.

Seniors can focus on key resolutions to make positive changes for the future.

Photo: Carolyn McNeely/KTW Photo Contest

"Winter makes a bridge between one year and another..."

~Andy Goldsworthy

Three-Step Social

Activation Guide for Host Communities

By Emily Pletsch - Food Security and Emergency Response Coordinator, Kamloops Food Policy Council

On the week of Nov. 15, 2021, I remember being on a call with some of my closest colleagues, discussing the thousands of evacuees that had just arrived in Kamloops due to the extreme flooding in nearby areas. By this point, thousands of people were in hotels throughout Kamloops. We were asking questions such as, which hotels? Were they feeling safe? What did they need? How could we get them connected to the resources they need? These questions were something I and many other people were continuing to ruminate on. So many of us wanted to do something, to find

out what their needs were and how they could support them. We spent the following days calling hotels, hosting response meetings, hosting a community meal, and sharing resources with as many people as we could connect with. At the time, it felt difficult for everyone to get a pulse on what was really happening, and how we could best support evacuees in the ways they needed.

In the months following the floods, we reflected on our response as a host community. We wanted to find out how we could increase collaboration and connect evacuees with the support and resources they need from the moment they arrive. We began the project “Working Together in an Emergency” where we hosted workshops, engagement groups, and struck an advisory committee. The question guiding our work was: To improve collaboration between non-profit agencies, Indigenous organizations, and government

(municipal, provincial, and federal), what systems or practices need to be in place, in order to enhance the collective community response during an emergency? (i.e.: What is needed to provide localized, wraparound services for evacuees and for those returning home?)

Our search for answers led us to the development of the Three-Step Social Sector Activation Guide for Host Communities. The document is a step-by-step guide that provides structure for a coordinated social response that can be adapted to meet distinct communities’ emergency response. The purpose of this guide is to offer recommendations on how a host community’s social sector can work alongside Emergency Support Services (ESS) to better support evacuees. Host communities can take many steps before an emergency to lay the groundwork to respond in a holistic way. Emergency response approaches can meet unique needs by establishing a foundation

for this work rooted in relationality, safety, and equity. The true impact of these events is how we respond before, and during, that will determine the deep and lasting impacts. This work encompasses how to foster connection in emergency response and show up prepared with intention. The development of the guide would not have been possible without the support, insight and feedback from multiple dedicated communitydriven people and organizations in Kamloops and throughout the province. My dear colleague and friend Kristi Rintoul with United Way BC has been a steady anchor in this work. It has been an absolute honour witnessing the drive and passion from these sectors to establish ethical practices that recognize people as their whole selves, and this desire to transform emergency response to support every facet of each person affected by

these disasters.

On Dec. 14, 2022, the Guide was introduced provincially at Emergency Management BC and the Justice Institute of British Columbia’s Webinar Series. Our hope is the guide will make it to the hands of communities across the province for them to shape and transform it into any way that meets their community’s needs and those they are supporting. These events

will be affecting each of us far into the future, how we work together now will impact what our future can look like. It is only by doing this work together that we can discover approaches to emergency response that meet the unique needs of everyone. The full guide can be found at www.

kamloopsfoodpolicy council.com/our-libraryof flower bulbs will give you beautiful colours in the spring.

Emily Pletsch

Guide Summary Image

family immunized against influenza

The best way to protect children and families from influenza is to get the influenza vaccine.

In B.C., everyone six months and older is recommended to get an annual influenza vaccine. Getting vaccinated is especially important for those at greatest risk from infection including children under five years of age, adults 65 years and older, people who are pregnant and people with chronic illnesses.

There is still time to get your infants and children vaccinated to prevent serious illness. Interior Health immunization clinics offer a choice of nasal spray influenza vaccine or the influenza shot for children.

Families with children can now drop-in at all Interior Health immunization clinics for influenza immunization

and COVID-19 boosters, making it quick and easy to get immunized.

To find a clinic near you, visit the Immunization Clinics page on the IH public website.

As we anticipate an increase in demand, we ask that people visiting the immunization clinics be patient.

Appointments are still recommended for adults and teens. To book an

appointment, visit Get Vaccinated BC.

As a reminder, children under nine years of age receiving their first-ever influenza vaccine dose will need a second dose of the influenza vaccine after four weeks. Those who have been vaccinated for influenza in previous years only require a single dose.

To learn more visit interiorhealth.ca.

Finding Hope in Dementia

This year, during Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA) is presenting a free online public event on January 25th, 2023 at 3 pm PT

• What does a diagnosis of dementia mean?

• How can one find hope and a sense of belonging on this journey?

• is the place of people with dementia in society and in the community?

These questions and more will be discussed in a public conversation between researchers and people with lived experience of dementia and carers representing various perspectives. The panel will reflect on practical ways to find hope, social connectedness, and empowerment on the journey.

Visit ccna-ccnv.ca to register to attend this event.

Doing better in 2023

As we collectively tip-toe over the threshold of another year into 2023, I hope this coming year brings about more good things than bad. I genuinely feel like we all need a break.

of

My two cents

Moneca Jantzen Editor

I am loath to dwell on the negative and write an unhappy column despite the fact I am acutely aware that life is hard for so many these days. The last three years have brought us to a very strange place economically, politically, socially and environmentally. I, personally, find it all rather overwhelming and while I do pay attention to much that is going on, I’m hardly an expert and have few solutions.

I find it easier to focus on my personal realm and just try to “do better” generally-speaking. Unless one is a mover and shaker and the holder of power and resources, one can make but a small ripple of influence in anything we do or say. Collectively there is power in all of us doing our part as individuals. Knowing this fact is how I remain motivated to keep doing the small things even though it feels like there are so many forces working at crosspurposes these days.

I typically use the advent of a new year to navel-gaze and produce a vision board as well as a few resolutions to modify my life in some way for the better. The vision boards are generally quite successful and they definitely show results over time. The resolutions—not so much. The resolutions are usually a matter of breaking bad habits of which we all have a few. I am no different.

My usual suspects include losing weight, getting fit, eating healthy (whatever that means these days), practicing good sleep hygiene, decluttering and getting organized. As it has turned out, these have ended up being lifelong projects, all of which I have realized varying degrees of success at different times. Luckily I don’t have to worry about heavy-duty addictions like smoking, drinking or gambling but apparently being overweight in our society is one of the absolute worst things you could be, so this remains my number one albatross. One camp tells me I’m a pariah, another says I’m perfect just the way I am. It’s a nasty fence to straddle.

Six months ago I was fortunate enough to find an activity that I love and that gets me moving for a minimum of 45 minutes to an hour each day. I have yet to miss a day (touch wood) of donning my virtual reality headgear and jumping into the lifesaving app Supernatural for a couple or three workouts each time. Not only does it take me to a beautiful place in the world virtually, the coaching is upbeat and inspiring and the workouts make me sweat and change my state for the better. Everyday.

I haven’t lost a bunch of weight but I have numerous non-scale victories and it keeps me moving. I have stupidly fallen 3 times in recent months with mild injuries and had a cold at one point but I still managed to workout, just not as hard.

I have also been going through an odyssey of sorting out my sleep issues. I have always been a night owl but in the last couple of years I have been avoiding sleep because I have been feeling horrible when I wake up. I asked my now retired doctor to send me to a sleep clinic to find out what was happening when my head does hit the pillow. Finally, after an 8 month wait, I got into a sleep clinic in Kelowna and was assessed. Yes, I snore (a lot). Yes, I have sleep apnea. What was really scary to discover was that I wasn’t getting enough oxygen throughout the night and this explains some of my headaches, brain fog, fatigue, inability to lose weight, etc.

I’m definitely NOT an anti-masker. I now have three lifesaving masks in my life.

Sometimes I wear a mask when out in crowds to help prevent catching or transmitting air-borne illness. Everyday I wear my VR headset to exercise doing something that doesn’t seem like exercise to keep me moving. Every night I mask up just so I can breathe as I sleep.

On a very personal level I am excited about the upcoming year as I continue working on improving my health now that I have a couple of very powerful tools to work with. Beyond that, as a human I want to remain hopeful and optimistic that things will get better in the near future for more people. As individuals all we can do is keep trying to “do better.”

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Editor: Moneca Jantzen editor@connectornews.ca

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Kamloops Arts Council welcomes all applicants to Art Exposed

by Keiko Bolen, Kamloops Arts Council

Art Exposed, the Juried Art Show, returns to the Old Courthouse Cultural Center in March of 2023. Now over a decade old, the community-centered visual arts exhibit is set to run from Friday, Mar. 3 to Sunday, Mar. 12 and aims to fill every nook and cranny of the Old Courthouse with artwork of all forms. From more traditional mediums such as paintings, drawings, and photography to more atypical mediums such as sculpture, jewelry, and pottery, the gallery is sure to be a feast for the eyes to all in attendance.

Art Exposed is unique in many ways, but primarily because it takes a non-curated approach to gallerymaking. This ensures that everyone, from emerging artists to established, working in whatever medium inspires them most, can participate. While the pieces featured in the exhibit are evaluated by a panel of judges and prizes are awarded, the emphasis of Art Exposed is not on competition; the Kamloops Arts Council hopes to “offer community artists a chance to share their work in a professional

setting, gain exposure, and receive valuable feedback” in order to “[take] their careers to the next level.”

So, how, exactly, does Art Exposed work?

Quite simply, artists are invited to submit up to two works of art each, which are then displayed at the Old Courthouse for the duration of the exhibit, with the option to purchase any pieces specified as for sale. The KAC holds an opening night reception during which a team of three respected arts authorities award prizes and honourable mentions to the artworks they have collectively selected. The following day, artists will receive feedback on their work from the jurors. At its core, Art Exposed is an

excellent opportunity for new artists to be exposed to professional critique, as well as the gallery-showing experience, and for established artists to display their works for all to admire and, perhaps, purchase.

If Art Exposed strikes your fancy, artists have until February 14th, 2023, to submit their original artworks to the Kamloops Arts Council. For more information on how to apply as an artist or as a juror, please visit https:// kamloopsarts.ca/ galleries-exhibitions/. If you are interested in sponsoring Art Exposed, please contact Tanya Nielsen, KAC executive director at 250-372-7323.

Tuesday Night Badminton

Tuesday night Badminton. 7:00 p.m. in the OLPH Gym (635 Tranquille Road) Drop-in fee is $5.

We provide the birds and play for an hour and a half. Adults of all ages and capabilities are welcome in our three courts.

Call Robert at 250-579-0193.

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When should you begin receiving CPP and OAS?

while late might make sense from another perspective. Which is correct? While it’s often a matter of personal preference, it’s important to consider your own unique circumstances when making this decision.

Timing considerations

income ceases, while others may have additional options available.

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CHIANNE V. JONES

Advisor

Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security (OAS) retirement benefits both have a normal start date of age 65. Yet, CPP benefits can begin as early as age 60, or as late as age 70, while OAS can begin anywhere from age 65 to 70. When should you start receiving your CPP and OAS benefits?

There are many different approaches and angles to consider. Early might make sense from one perspective,

When deciding when to start receiving your CPP and OAS retirement benefits, consider the following factors when making your decision:

• What is your current tax rate? CPP and OAS are both fully taxable.

If you’re already in a high tax bracket in the current year, it may be beneficial to defer your CPP and OAS to a later year.

• What are your other sources of retirement income? For some, government pension income is a necessity when employment

• Are you subject to OAS claw back? OAS is income-tested, and subject to a 15 percent recovery tax. If you have a higher income in the current year, deferring OAS may help minimize claw back.

• Are you in good health? If you have a shortened life expectancy, it may make sense to start CPP and OAS benefits earlier rather than later in order to maximize the overall benefit received.

• What is your risk tolerance and current asset allocation? If you have a low risk tolerance, deferring CPP and OAS can offer a better return than typical GIC (or similar) returns.

• What is your lifestyle? There is tremendous value

in having additional income while you’re still young and healthy enough to enjoy it and make good use of it – it’s not just about the math.

Bottom Line

Determining the optimal time to begin your CPP and OAS benefits is not a one-size-fits-all type decision. Sound advice for one person may be completely inappropriate for another. Consider the items indicated above, and any other relevant considerations in your own personal situation to determine the best time to start your CPP and OAS retirement benefits.

Member Canadian Investor Protection Fund. Member – Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada.

There’s no such thing as a dumb question

THAT TECH GUY JEFFREY READE

Ihear this a lot in my line of work. “I have a question that you’re probably going to think is dumb,” honestly I

don’t. I never do. I find questions brave. Why brave? Because those people are trusting me enough to be vulnerable with me. I never judge someone based on what they don’t know. We all started at that exact same point. I just started earlier in my life and broke my own computers enough to learn to fix them.

Technology is intuitive to younger people because we’ve grown up with it. I can honestly say that my dad had to teach me to use a gas pump. Why? I’d watched him use it for years but I had never done

it myself, and it certainly wasn’t taught in school. Today technology in schools are as common as books were when I was there, more so probably. I’ve had people ask about volume controls on a smartphone, screen brightness, you name it. These are not dumb questions. These are people brave enough to want to learn and explore a world alien to them. I know it can be daunting, and certainly terrifying to choose to be that vulnerable in front of someone who has made a career in my field. Think

of it like asking a lawyer a question, they certainly don’t expect you to know everything about the law. I don’t expect anyone to know anything about technology besides what they want to do with it.

I also don’t expect people to work as fast as I do. I can do things in 5 minutes because I’ve been trained to work fast. I know what I’m doing because I have done it so many times it’s almost a reflex. Repetition is something that will help you learn so much. If you only use the knowledge once or twice a month,

then yes, it will take longer to learn. Use it every day and you’ll have it down in a couple weeks easy. That’s why schools use it to teach students. I hated writing out words and multiplication tables every night, but it taught me very quickly. That’s the only secret to learning. Keep asking questions and trying until you’ve got it down. And if you want a small ego boost, ask the kids in your family to use any tech pre-2000, I can promise you they won’t have a clue; or ask them to write in cursive.

Trust me. I’ve been

there and I’ve learned so you can too. I know so many people are afraid of “messing up” their technology. I promise you there’s no button you can push that I can’t un-push. Merry Christmas, and if you get new technology for the holidays, feel free to ask me. I promise; I’ve done things to my own technology that would make you crack up laughing from the stupidity. Have a happy new year and stay safe online.

Travel Insurance 101

Legal ease

KERRI D. PRIDDLE

January is here and during these cold, gloomy times we all long to get on a plane and head south to a beach for some vitamin D and vitamin “sea.”

Travel insurance has long been a thorn in our side. The insurer asks you in the application to complete a long list of every ailment you’ve ever suffered from in a set period

of time and if you fail to disclose one thing, the insurer can use this as a basis to deny insurance! They refund your policy fee and leave you to deal with the high medical bills you incurred on vacation. If your travel was to the USA, this can be steep!

The reason the insurance company can do this is because they do not actually ‘approve’ insurance coverage until you make a claim. Many, many Canadians have fallen victim to this because they have suffered an injury or illness while on vacation only to be denied the insurance coverage because they forgot to disclose a visit to their doctor a year ago to check

for a sore back, high blood pressure or diabetes.

Thankfully, BC has now introduced the BC Service Card App.  Once you go through the rigorous registration process, you have access on the app to every medical appointment, x-ray, lab result and hospital visit. You can use this list to complete your travel insurance application, or better yet, print off the list and attach it to your travel insurance application. Then the insurer can never say you missed disclosing something and you can rest easy that your insurance will be approved if you become injured or ill while on vacation outside Canada and need to

make a claim. Also important to remember, if your insurance is denied, MSP will pay a small portion of the medical bill (the amount they would have paid if you used services in B.C.) and the American hospitals will negotiate the amount owing with you because you are now ‘un-insured’ and therefore fall under a different pay rate. You can also ask the foreign hospital for an ‘itemized invoice’ which will usually reduce the total as well because the hospital will reduce things like the cost of band-aids and other common items to avoid looking like they are price gouging.

Five signs it is time to replace your carpet

Flooring

PAUL MORRIS Nufloors

New carpet does wonders for adding new life and value to your space and home. Whether your style preferences have changed, you are prepping to sell your home or anything in between, we are sharing five signs that it is time to replace your carpet.

Wear & Tear

A typical carpet that is well maintained can last for fifteen-plus years, however, no carpet is

invincible. Over the years natural wear and tear will happen, such as actual tears in the carpet, worn patches, matting, and fraying. High-traffic areas like hallways, stairs, and living areas will see the most wear due to the frequency of walking on them. If you notice your carpet looking a little worse for wear, then it is probably time to replace it.

Stains

Do you find yourself strategically placing furniture and/or area rugs to hide unsightly stains, even after having your carpet professionally cleaned?

If you answered yes, then it may be time for new carpet. Stains can be caused by everyday wear, pets, food, wrong cleaners, or an accident with a drink. While some things may be

easy to clean out of your carpet, others like red wine and coffee are not so easy.

Water Damage & Mold

Water damage will leave stains on your carpet and it is one of those stains that is difficult to remove. What is worse is that water damage can lead to mold and mildew stains, which can be dangerous or even deadly. If you notice a musty smell it may be time to investigate new carpets.

Style

These days, this has become the most common reason to change carpet. Just like fashion, people often grow tired of their carpet colour or look and look to add some new life into their space with a new carpet choice. If you are selling,

brand-new carpet will add value to your home and make it more attractive to buyers. If you are renovating for yourself, new carpet can be a great place to start your space overhaul.

Underpad

We have said it once and we will say it again! Do not underestimate the importance of your underpad. If you notice that your carpet does not have much cushion left when walking on it, it could be a sign that your underpad has packed down. Packeddown underpad will cause carpet to wear much more rapidly.

If you have any questions regarding flooring, don’t hesitate to stop by our showroom or call us!

On behalf of all of our Nufloors team, Happy New Year!

Delivering joy

Submitted by Kathy Roberts

On December 13, 2022, we delivered 130 gifts—one for every senior residing at Ridgeview Lodge on Desmond Street. We started this campaign 3 years ago when the gentleman, Bruce Leggett, (someone I had taken care of for 10 years) had to be placed into a home. For the last 2 years we have adopted Ridgeview Lodge on Desmond as our home of choice. They treat all of their residents with kindness and compassion. Our main donors are Linda Turner from Re/Max; Sheila Doherty’s family day care; and Fresh St. Market who are all very generous to our cause.

Rosemary Rinehart and Kathy Roberts do the

purchasing of the gifts with the donated funds and then the bags are all filled and delivered to the Residents. This year the nurses all greeted us outside as the residents are in lockdown due to a COVID breakout. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my partner, John Atkinson, and my friend Barb Hawkes who are always there to lend a hand in completing the gifts. In March, we will

start collecting donations and purchasing gifts for Christmas 2023 which will be stored and packed at my home. This could not be possible if not for the generous donations we receive each year. I just want to add that the nurses and staff at Ridgeview treat their patients with kindness, compassion and love. It’s a beautiful facility right here in Kamloops.

T: 778-696-4LAW E: info@muracanotary.ca 301-619 Victoria Street muracanotary.ca

Be An Angel

The snow has come early this year, which means our Kamloops seniors need your help!

The Snow Angels program is looking for volunteers to clear snow from driveways and walkways of the homes of our seniors Having safe access allows them to retain independence, be able to get groceries and to go to medical appointments. They also need their driveways and walkways clear for in-home care to be able to get to them safely. Without your help, they are trapped. With this snow, we have many seniors reaching out for help

Simple ways to lessen your financial load after 50

By the time people reach their fiftieth birthday, many have begun to imagine what their life in retirement may look like. While some will have to work as long as possible, the majority of professionals will still call it a career sometime during their 60s.

Around this time thoughts of what retirement could be compel many people to seek ways to reduce their financial load in anticipation of the day when they will no longer be working.

Cutting back needn’t be complicated, and the following are some simple ways for individuals 50 and over to save money.

• Address unsecured debt. Unsecured debt, which can include

credit card balances and medical bills, tends to carry higher interest rates than debts that carry a collateral requirement. If possible, people over 50 should pay off these debts immediately or make their best effort to pay extra each month so they are paid off as soon as possible.

• Pay in “cash.” It’s not enough to simply pay off unsecured debt like consumer credit. It’s also important to stop accruing additional debt. Individuals over 50 should resist the temptation to use their credit cards, instead paying with cash or debit cards.

• Reexamine your housing situation. Adults 50 and over who purchased their home in their late 20s or early 30s

are likely nearing the maturity date on their mortgages. If so, paying a little extra toward the principal each month will help you pay off that mortgage a good deal earlier than if you keep paying the same amount you’ve been paying for years. Though paying extra money each month may not seem like reducing your financial load, it will do so considerably over time. Since housing costs are many people’s greatest expense, removing a mortgage payment from your financial ledger by the time you reach 55 could create significant financial flexibility as you get closer to retirement.

Our Snow Angels program is sponsored by Pizza Now which gives each Snow Angel a personal pizza every time they clear snow, not to mention the monthly draw of a Family Meal.

Feeling good about helping seniors out and free pizza! That’s a winning deal.

Be an Angel. Apply today at volunteerkamloops.org to join our Snow Angels team.

Bring on the heat

“Bring on the heat” is a baseball term for a pitcher to throw a fast ball. In discussion with a close friend they asked me to explain how does a vehicle heater work and what are the optimum settings or circumstances for best output. Since this is not baseball but a cold B.C. winter, we will be discussing the heater in the car.

A heater provides warmth by forcing air through a heater core located in the housing mounted to the dashboard of the vehicle. Inside are vent doors that direct or re-direct airflow to the heater core. The heater core is of a honeycomb design constructed of hollow tubes with light metal fins attached to them. Hot coolant, which is composed of an antifreeze/water combination, usually a 50/50 mix, is pumped

through the tubes by the engine’s water pump. Incoming air from the heater fan passes through and around the tubes absorbing the available heat from the fins.

Since physics dictates that energy goes from a situation of high to low, heat which is full of energy passes temperature from hot to cold. Cold has significantly less energy and is willing to absorb any sent it’s way thus warmth is transferred into the cooler passing air.

In the case of air conditioned vehicles, which most are now today, the A/C system, through a similar process as the heater, removes moisture out of the incoming air. That is why when you are stopped with the A/C system on you will notice a puddle of water usually located to the rear of the passenger side tire. That is the result of the A/C

Submitted by Gary Miller, Retired Service Advisor & Certified Automotive Specialist

evaporator removing the moisture which also dries the air at this time.

As the process continues, the net result of the previous actions is that dry air is sent to the heater core which then warms it up providing now dry warm air to hit the windshield on it’s final destination. Dry warm air does a much faster defog than just warm alone which is why you may notice the A/C is on when you have selected the defrost mode of your heater system.

A helpful hint when defrost is first turned on, pull down your sunvisors. This will cause the defrost air to be redirected back at the windshield instead of the air just going up and towards the back of the interior of the vehicle. Also when full cooling is wanted in the summertime utilizing the A/C system, it is recommended to use

the “re-circ” setting for the system. This allows for faster cooling of the inside of the vehicle. This same procedure is totally detrimental to cold weather use because it does not allow for the removal of moisture caused by occupant breathing. You will end up with fog on the inside glass that never seems to go away. In summary, re-circ for summer and flow through for colder temperatures.

*How does the heater get it’s heat you ask? Good question.

The heater receives coolant from the engines cooling system which, when it is at operating temperature, is approximately 82-88 degrees Celsius (180195 degrees on the old Fahrenheit system). There are some varying factors to this condition though, which I will explain.

This process works if, and only if, the engine has heated up the coolant sufficiently, meaning, if the engine isn’t warm enough and additionally it is very cold outside, interior heat may not be adequate.

Two factors really affect heat creation, have you run the engine long enough to reach it’s operating temperature and how cold is it outside. Large engines will heat up way faster than small ones, but use excessively more fuel to do so and in turn, small turbocharged engines will take longer to produce the volume of heat you require. Because of the small engine’s operation, it will also use considerably less fuel to get you from point A to point B. Yes, there is a correlation between fuel usage. No matter what happens, fuel is required to make heat. Smaller engine = less fuel use and

heat creation and large engines the opposite.

To assist a vehicle, in warm up mode, installed block heaters have kept engines at a warmer temperature for faster results. This process warms up the coolant, the engine block and the oil thus allowing easier starts and heat creation. Winter grade oils also decrease internal engine friction so start up is easier allowing for oil to reach the top of the cylinder head sooner minimizing wear.

Some vehicles use an oil pan heater and a dipstick heater to aid in the process. When I lived in Saskatchewan, drivers needed auxiliary seat and interior warmers, it was just so darn cold!

Any concerns or questions please don’t hesitate to contact me at bigsix8280@yahoo.ca.

HOLIDAY TRADITIONS

Bonnie decided to use some common sense and scale back on the tiresome Christmas finagling—particularly all the cooking and baking she did using her mother’s special recipes. Throughout the toil-free countdown, she froze ready-made tart shells instead of pastry from scratch, and she decided to bake half a turkey rather than a big Butterball. Other time-savers were: frozen veggies, canned cranberry sauce and a pound cake served with Dream Whip.

The local grocer was surprised. “I can’t believe you’re not going to pick out the choicest cranberries from my fresh supply, Bonnie. What’s going on?”

“As you know, we recently relocated, and this year I can’t find my late mother’s great recipes. They might still be in storage.”

“Well, good luck, but you’re bound to miss the old traditions!”

“I know, but I can’t help it.” She laid the no-name brand of canned cranberry sauce near the small sack of grub. “I even have a fake tree this year!”

Bonnie’s daughter, Jill, popped over and helped put the groceries away. “Holy cow, mom, where’s the stuff you usually get in for the Christmas baking… like yeast n’ ingredients for gingerbread houses with gumdrops?

Gee, mom, canned vegetables?”

“I’m changing things up. I’ve even dropped off decorations at the Salvation Army

thrift store. It was hard to let them go, but I’m considering others who may truly welcome them. I’m concentrating on celebrating in more meaningful ways.”

“I get it, but Christmas won’t be the same without Granny’s traditional dinner on the menu!”

“Your dad and I are retired and tired! So, like the old cliché goes, I’ll ‘keep it simple, stupid’; you remember ‘k.i.s.s.’, right?” She gave her daughter a big one on the cheek.

Bonnie’s changes included a lot less shopping and more leisure time. Jill wanted to debate with her mom about the plans but was told to scram. That afternoon, she came up with an idea and called her dad. “Can you talk or is mom around?”

“She’s out.”

Privately, they discussed a plan Jill came up with. Ralph understood his wife’s and his daughter’s needs and, if they could convince Bonnie of it, the new tradition would serve to satisfy them both. The main thing was to respect Bonnie’s wishes to cut back on the timeline challenges and work involved to make Christmas festive.

During the countdown to December 25, Bonnie attended an annual concert she’d never had time for before. She joined in carol singing and visited hospitalized children. She hand wrote cards, and snail-mail carried them to long-distance friends and family. She visited elderly shut-ins

and, when there was time, took leisure laps in snowshoes around the park with other enthusiasts. They sipped hot chocolate from thermoses. Bonnie relished having a spiritfilled countdown to Christmas. The value of time wisely used for others, without indulging in the spoils of commercialism, brought rich seasonal blessings which she had rarely experienced other years.

Ralph saw his wife’s contentment and at the dinner table, remembering Jill’s proposal, revealed a well thought out idea on making Christmas easier on his wife. He moved in closer to her and spoke quietly.

“Mrs. Claus, let me take you out for dinner on Christmas Day!”

Bonnie was moved but frowned, “Uh uh, honey, I’ve arranged an easier menu, so dinner will be no problem.”

“I know that, sweetheart, but I talked with Jill and Arty, and all of us figured you’d love an evening out.”

Still holding back, Bonnie insisted she was up for a simple scaled-down meal, and her hubby couldn’t change her mind about that.

Ralph took his woes to Jill.

“Well, dad, you have to convince her that stepping out for some fine dining would be easier on her!”

“I thought I did that. I’ll make a better effort.”

Spooning his wife that night, Ralph whispered, “Mrs.

Story by Rita Joan Dozlaw

Claus, I need you to want my gift. It’s my way to pamper you, my little bon-bon. Let me take you out, please honey.”

Ralph’s sentiment made Bonnie gush. “Oh, Santa, I love that you feel that way, but what about Jill and Arty; they always expect a traditional Christmas day over here.” Bonnie couldn’t have known that Ralph and Jill had covered those bases.

“What do you think of using the quick n’ easy menu and foods to prepare a quick n’ easy family dinner party on New Year’s Eve… or on New Year’s Day? Suit yourself.”

“I never thought of that! We better call the kids about that.”

“No need! Jill and Arty want us to pick them up n’ hang out at their place long enough for a toast before we all head out together for Christmas dinner.”

“Oh my, that sounds lovely; we can do that, honey.”

Ralph went to the phone to share the good news and, excited to go for the idea, Bonnie grabbed it and announced boldly that she would host their New Year’s celebration.

“Terrific, mom! We’ll start a new tradition!”

“Yes. Oh, by the way,

dad won’t tell me where he’s taking us for dinner. Do you know?”

“It’s a surprise, mom. Dress up!”

On Christmas day, pushing the gifts under Jill’s tree, Bonnie picked up on the aroma of roast turkey! She was shocked to see the table set with a Butterball and all the trimmings including her late mother’s favourite holiday foods! The family lifted their glasses, of thick homemade eggnog, and toasted to a blessed Christmas. Ralph gave grace, then, following the hot borscht, they dined

on succulent slices of turkey with decadent dressing and fresh, whole-berry cranberry sauce, plus yams royale, and of course smooth-whipped potatoes with gravy. Eye-popping, multilayered traditional German feast cake, butter tarts, ambrosia, and chiffon pumpkin pie enthralled Bonnie. Remembering her mother, she broke down in tears.

“How did you know how to do all this, Jill?”

“Don’tcha remember, mom? The special recipes were in granny’s metal recipecard holder that you gave me last spring!”

Mystery of the backwoods Snow Angels

Kamloops birdwatch

NAOMI BIRKENHEAD

Anew year has once again crept up and pounced on me. As I sit and reflect on all the events that formulated in its 365 days, the ones in the woods are always some of my fondest. Now it may surprise you to learn that those adventures into the depths of the forest served a dual purpose, and this purpose found Daniel and I racing the clock, braving the -25

degree temperatures to bag us a glorious four point buck. The season was closing fast and replaying over and over in my mind was the shot I had missed weeks previously. With our rifles slung, and our bodies bundled, we waddled like penguins up a trail following fresh tracks.

With snow up to our knees, traipsing was tedious. Scanning the winter-scape I noticed dozens of tiny tracks criss-crossing the glistening white surface. As we ventured further down the trail, many of these tiny, three toed tracks ended in what looked like tiny snow angels; perfect imprints of feathered wings nestled alongside, medium sized, plump, round bodies. They dotted the snow banks

and tree wells and appeared in the midst of the trail with no tracks at all. Around us the distinct song of the Black-Capped, Mountain and Chestnut Sided Chickadees rang out, but their tiny fluffy bodies were not responsible for the snow angels.

Woodpeckers and Sapsuckers wandered up and down the trunks of the trees, their hammering search for bugs echoing across the silence, but their bodies rarely touched the snow.

A sudden flutter and movement to my right finally reveals the origin of the mysterious backwoods snow angels. Five Ruffed Grouse came bursting out from between the branches of snow laden pine trees, their wings

and bodies leaving magical impressions behind. Landing only a few feet in front of us we watched as they navigated the drifts with ease. This ability is attributed to a curious characteristic that literally grows only for the snowy seasons.

A modification of the scales that already cover the Grouse’s foot begin to appear as a comb-like structure that protrudes off and around each toe creating a larger surface area for their weight to be supported. These tiny tentacles are called Pectinations and will fall off along with the additional winter feathers that are produced.

Both of the most common Grouse you see around these areas; Ruffed and Spruce Grouse, sport this

unique feature. Easy Identifiers between the two are: the tufted feathers cresting the Ruffed Grouse and the black neck and chest patch the male Spruce Grouse wears (female appearance is very similar to Ruffed Grouse, but lacks the crest of feathers on head and has a shorter tail with no black band). Both are Chicken sized birds with tawny, barred feather patterns that aid in camouflaging.

Once again nature left me smiling and my nerd brain marvelling, and as I sit and think about all it has shown me I can’t help but imagine what other secrets it still has yet to reveal as another year of adventures await!

Stay Curious Kamloops and never stop believing in the magical, marvellous, wonders of not only nature but of each other!

Tips for building friendships in your golden years

Making friends as a child or even as a parent to school-aged children is relatively easy. Classrooms and school functions facilitate the building of friendships. Even as one gets older and enters the workforce, it’s not uncommon for people to become friends with their coworkers.

As people near retirement age, their situations may have changed considerably. Children have moved out, careers are coming to an end and friendships may be hard to maintain due to people relocating or traveling. Older adults may aspire to make new friends, but they may not know how.

According to Irene S Levine, Ph.D., The Friendship Doctor and contributor to Psychology Today, it is not unique for seniors to want to make new friends. Age can be a barrier because there are stereotypes that pigeonhole people of certain ages. But Levine notes that state of mind and physical ability is not directly

tied to chronological age. Making friends is possible at any age. These guidelines can help along the way.

• Volunteer your time. One way to meet new people is to get involved with causes or activities you love. This serves the double benefit of getting you outside and active and puts you in touch with people who share your passions and interests.

• Attend alumni events. If you have an interest getting in touch with someone from your past and reconnecting, make the time to attend school reunions and other alumni activities. It can be fun to reconnect with friends from high school or college.

• Join a gym. The local gym isn’t just a great place to get physically fit. Group exercise classes also can be ideal places to meet other people who enjoy working out. Strike up a conversation with another class participant you see on a regular basis. Once you develop a rapport, schedule lunch dates so

your friendship grows outside of the gym.

• Explore online connections. A 2016 study published in the Journal of Gerontology found seniors (even those in their 80s) who stay connected with friends and family using social media report feeling less lonely and better overall.

Connected seniors also demonstrated higher executive reasoning skills. There are plenty of ways to meet new people online by joining social media groups that cater to your interests. In person meetings in particular cities or regions of the country also can make for great ways to make new friends. Exercise caution when meeting people in person after contacting them online. Bring another person along, whether it’s a spouse or an adult child, to ensure that you are safe.

Making friends is not just for the young. Men and women over 50 also can find ways to build new friendships.

The Chamber Musicians of Kamloops presents “Surrounding the Silence”

On Saturday, Jan. 14, at 7:30 p.m. at Kamloops United Church, 4th and St. Paul, Chamber Musicians of Kamloops presents a concert, Surrounding the Silence. Featured performers

are Martin Krtaky, cello and Paul Dykstra, piano. This will be a highly charged program spanning the meditative (Part), the intense and absurd (Schnittke), capped with the utterly

decadent Rachmaninov cello Sonata. Check the Chamber Musicians of Kamloops website for ticket details: chambermusicians ofkamloops.org.

Book Review

By Marilyn Brown

We Are All Perfectly Fine: A Memoir of Love, Medicine and Healing

By Jillian Horton, M.D. Harper Collins Publishers, 2021,

290 pages

Can a reader be immediately caught in the stream-ofconsciousness of a writer? Just read the first page of this book and see.

Dr. Jillian Horton, a general internist whose job is to help very sick people, is on a flight from Toronto to a conference when she observes a disturbing anomaly in the plane’s wing and takes a photo. As she foresees imminent catastrophe, she questions whether her photo will upload to “the cloud” if the plane crashes! She is a writer who shares her quirks with us. What follows is a clever, thoughtful, tender rendition of why this woman becomes a doctor, the brutal experience of medical school, and the relentless challenges of the job which often result in minimal self-care – one result being the stunning suicide rate of doctors.

Horton is a successful professional, with a loving husband and young children, but she is at the brink of no return. She takes a side-step from her duties and enrolls in a five-day healing retreat for doctors. This independent thinker hasn’t got high expectations that she will fit in with the methods of meditation and compulsory silences. She shares her highs and lows with a few of the other participants she bonds with. Humour and pathos intertwine in each of the stories of extreme distress that some of their patients endure. Horton herself struggles to find peace with the troubling events in the life of her older sister Wendy, who, as a child, was misdiagnosed, the brain traumatized, extreme disabilities the result.

This is an intimate look at the bravery of individuals who strive to understand and let loose the burdens they carry in order to be at peace with themselves. That Jillian Horton is able to do this and share her journey is a remarkable thing. She currently mentors doctors and health care workers in self-care.

Highly recommended.

Budgeting for long vacations abroad

Seniors typically have more time to travel than other groups. That freedom entices many to travel overseas, often for extended periods of time.

The cost comparison site CostAide indicates that the average twoweek vacation for two to Amsterdam can run around $5,000 to $6,000. Lengthen that trip to a month, and a vacation of one’s dreams can set a couple back $12,000. Change the destination and costs could get even higher.

The last thing any traveler wants is to run out of money during a dream vacation. This makes figuring out costs and budgeting for such trips essential. Seniors planning the trip of a

lifetime can consider these tips to budget effectively and maximize their vacation dollars.

Air travel

Transportation abroad undoubtably will be one of the largest expenses travelers incur. Check prices from multiple airports in your area for the best rates, even if it means having to drive a bit further. If you have only one local airport, book a separate flight to a travel hub, such as Vancouver or Calgary, so you can comparison shop more affordable flights to your final destination.

Plan a year or two out for the trip and shop around for travel rewards credit cards that provide reward earnings in the way of airline miles; start

accumulating them with everyday purchases. If you use airline rewards wisely, you won’t need to budget for the flight and may enjoy extra perks like priority boarding or free baggage check.

Calculate pre-trip prices

Start shopping destinations to see which locales align with your budget. Compare and contrast estimates as to how much each destination may cost on a daily basis. Prices can vary widely depending on the destination, and this is a great way to get some pre-trip notion of what your dream trip will cost.

Look into lodging

There is a lot of wiggle room when it comes to lodging and price points. You can

stay in five-star hotels and pay a premium or consider hostels if bells and whistles aren’t your priority. Keep in mind that a longer stay could come with a discount. Airbnb, for example, lets hosts list weekly or monthly prices, with monthly discounts running 40 to 60 percent less than daily rates.

Food

Food is a priority when traveling. If you can stay in accommodations with a kitchenette, you can reduce dining costs and make meals as desired.

Food plans are another consideration. Book destinations that offer an all-inclusive or a meal plan option. It may not be the cheapest alternative, but you’ll have peace of mind knowing food costs

already are covered.

Budgeting for a long trip means understanding average costs, deciding on priorities and utilizing discounts at one’s disposal.

Seeking advice from a travel agent is critical when planning a trip of a lifetime and will

help avoid common pitfalls faced by travellers in these fickle and mercurial times. It will help ensure that things like travel insurance and the like are covered when the time comes and they can also offer relevant and timely advice for travel conditions.

The recently released 2022 Monitoring Seniors Services report shows wait times for four of the top five surgeries have fallen over the past five years and access to preferred long-term homes is continuing to improve. While some services, such as HandyDART, are beginning to rebound from the initial impacts of the pandemic, the overall, five-year trends show a number of services are struggling to meet the demands of a continually-growing seniors population in B.C.

The report provides an annual check-up on the state of B.C. seniors’ services in the key areas of health care, housing, transportation, income supports, community services and safety. For the first time this year, the report includes new data on fatalities and surgical wait times.

“Overall, we are continuing to see the B.C. seniors population increase both in absolute numbers and as a proportion of the population,” said BC Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie. “The number of seniors in our province has grown by 17 percent in the last five years and 20 percent of B.C.’s population is now over the age of 65 - a 10 percent increase over the last five years.”

Most of the growth is ‘younger’ seniors, people aged 65-74 who represent almost 60 percent of the seniors population in B.C.

The number of seniors 85+, while growing in number, remained relatively stable over the past five years as a proportion of the total

population.

“It is important to understand most of the seniors population in B.C. is relatively healthy. This tells us we have not yet begun to feel the real pressures that will come to many programs and services as the ‘baby boomers’ begin living into their 80s. We need to act now to ensure supports are there for them in the future,” continued Mackenzie.

While the report highlights the progress made in surgical wait times and access to preferred long-term care homes, it also shows the need to improve access to home support, assisted living, and long-term care; provide more relief for seniors who rent through additional subsidized housing units; increase the Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters subsidy; and a continuing increase in reports of seniors abuse and neglect.

The Office of the Seniors Advocate is an independent office of the provincial government with a mandate of monitoring seniors’ services and reporting on systemic issues affecting seniors. The office also provides information and referral to seniors and their caregivers by calling toll-free 1-877952-3181, BC211, via email at info@ seniorsadvocatebc. ca, Canada Post and the OSA web site https://www. seniorsadvocatebc. ca/. One can find the 2022 Long-Term Care and Assisted Living Directory here: https://www. seniorsadvocatebc. ca/long-term-caredirectory/

Trends over five years:

· The main growth in the senior’s population is in the 65-74 age cohort which grew 17 percent compared to a 10 percent growth in people 85+. Overall, while people 65+ increased as a proportion of the population, people 85+ continue to be 2 percent of the total population.

· The life expectancy at 65 years in British Columbia is 21.8 years; 23.3 years for females, 20.4 years for males and has remained relatively stable.

· Emergency department visits per 1,000 seniors (65+) has fallen 10 percent and hospitalization rates have fallen 6 percent.

· The rate of publiclyfunded long term care beds per 1,000 of population age 75+ has fallen 12 percent.

· The proportion of long-term care residents taking antipsychotic medications without a diagnosis of psychosis increased 5 percent last year and is at its highest level in the past five years.

· 95 percent of seniors live independently in private dwellings, while only 5 percent of seniors live in assisted living or longterm care. A higher proportion of seniors live independently compared to five years ago.

· While the rate of home ownership among seniors has remained relatively stable at 80 percent, the rate of seniors with a mortgage is increasing and now represents 32 percent of senior homeowners.

· New users of the

Property Tax Deferment program decreased, falling 23 percent from last year and 50 percent compared to 2017/18.

· The average rent for seniors using the Shelter Assistance for Elderly Renters subsidy increased 13 percent while their rent subsidy increased by 3 percent.

· There has been a consistent decrease in the average rent subsidy for SAFER clients over the past three years.

· The waiting list for Seniors Subsidized Housing has increased 50 percent.

· 79 percent (814,010) of seniors maintain an active driver’s licence, a 3 percent increase from last year and 19 percent compared to five years ago.

· Overall, 93 percent of B.C. seniors receive Old Age Security, 29 percent receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), and 7 percent receive the BC Seniors Supplement (BCSS). These percentages have remained relatively stable.

· Calls to Designated Agencies, the Seniors Abuse and Information Line and BC 211 reporting potential abuse and neglect of seniors (including self- neglect) have all increased as have reports to RCMP and Vancouver Police regarding property crime and physical harm to people age 65 and older.

sphcaregiver nanniescanada@gmail.com www.sphpoweratwork.com 250-314-6555

Enough to go around

Submitted by Erin Chambers, Life Coach/End of Life Doula

There is no question that this can be tough.

If it was easy, we wouldn’t be pondering or contemplating, we would just do it.

There can be a myriad of reasons why relationships fall apart or grow stale. Chances are, however, if it is a relationship you are thinking about renewing or repairing, there was value in that relationship at one time. So the question would be how important is it for you to regain that connection?

Is it more important to be right? Is it a matter of forgiving or being forgiven? Can you even remember why the relationship fell apart to begin with? And, if so, is that worth hanging on to? Perhaps it was just a matter of going separate ways.

You realize you want to make amends…now what? It might be helpful to remember why you had this relationship in the first place. What happy memories do you hold? How did you initially meet this person? What is valuable about this relationship for you?

Think about what you

want to say, leaving blame, shame and judgment at the door. This goes for yourself as well as the other person. Remember the times of shared smiles and laughter. Remind yourself of what this person taught you and how they made you feel when you spent time together.

Telling someone you want them to be a part of your life can make you feel vulnerable and awkward but it can also make you feel joyful and valued. It’s important to remind yourself why you are doing this. It is for YOU. And it is equally important to remember, you have no control over the outcome, although deep down, of course you want it to be favourable.

Now, take a deep breath, reach out and contact them. Still hesitating? Fast forward and think of your future self, reminiscing… Are you feeling disappointed that you missed an opportunity? If that is the case, then you need to take action now.

Step forward with love. Don’t look back with regret.

Just outside the window, in a space with a 10 foot radius, there is a flurry of activity. While they move too quickly to be counted, we estimate there are over 30 birds visiting the bird feeder, colourful feathers vibrant against the white snow. Sparrows, juncos, chickadees, starlings, blue jays and our beloved red cardinals have gathered for a feast. My mother has just filled the bird feeder with a gourmet sunflower seed mixture.

Birds fly from the nearby bush, now barren of leaves, to fill their beaks with seeds, then float to the ground or the ledge on the railing around the deck to pound out the small gift of life tucked inside the seed’s hull. Birds come

and go, come and go, for hours. But for a small lull in the early afternoon the feeder is busy from dawn to dusk.

After years of experimenting and finding success in keeping the squirrels from raiding the little house perched atop a metal pole, even they partake by sifting through the detritus under the feeder to find random seeds either dropped or shoved out in the frantic scramble for more.

There is no order to this buffet line. Except for the blue jay who demands to stand alone on the ledge of the feeder, but even he fills his beak and flies off, leaving room for others to come. There is a sacredness to this space: a sense of trust that there is enough for all to share, a faith that there is a source for this food, and a gathered and diverse community willing to share from this space of abundance.

I ponder the joy that comes from watching this scene, and I wonder whether

I live from a place of abundance and trust or a place of scarcity and fear, knowing that I’ve lived in both realms at different times in my life.

As Mom and I walk out to the car for an afternoon errand run, the air is filled with birdsong.

“I wonder what all the chatter is about,” Mom says.

“It sounds like a song of praise and gratitude to me,” I reply. “Maybe they’re singing out a song of thanks to you for providing such a nice feast for them every day.”

More likely it’s a song of praise to the Maker –to the Source –Creator for this life-sustaining gift of sunflower seeds. And for the warm sun, the puddle of water where they gather to drink, the abundance of trees offering homes and shelter, and the gift of another day.

We’ve been gifted with a new year and a fresh start. I rarely fare well with New Year’s resolutions, but I think this year I will resolve to be more like the birds, willingly sharing from my space of

abundance, taking only what I need, and remembering the Source of all life. Whether your faith recognizes Creator. God, Allah or Gaia, everything we need to live (air, food, water) comes to us as gifts from the natural world, where we are all interconnected and dependent on one another for life. While I can’t sing like a bird, I can express my gratitude in many ways.

Welcome to 2023! May this year offer you much for which to be thankful. And may we all learn to see one another as birds of a feather, making room for diversity and difference in our commonality.

Rev LeAnn Blackert works with Michele Walker, Lesly Comrie and Linda Clark in ministry with Wild Church in Kamloops, Sorrento and the Okanagan. She considers herself a seeker in her faith journey and wanders the wild world looking for the Great Mystery and the “wild Christ.” To find out more, visit wildchurchbc.com and be in touch!

DrakeSmith, MSW President

Step forward with love. Don’t look back with regret.

outsideColouring the lines

REV. LEANN BLACKERT Wild Church

What on Earth did you just sign, Alice? The funeral contract. Happy New Year!

a huge responsibility to earn and keep that trust. For the rest of this column I’ll try to outline some of the areas you should know about, even if you don’t read the fine print when the time comes for YOU to sign a funeral contract (please try to read it!).

Murray to be embalmed. Like so many people we serve, Alice wants to say goodbye to Murray (it’s called ‘a viewing’ or a Drake Wake) but in almost all circumstances we can prepare Murray’s body without the cost of embalming. So Alice leaves that box blank.

SMITH Funeral Director

Murray died in the middle of the night. Alice went to the funeral home the very next morning to make arrangements for Murray’s cremation. She was exhausted and in kind of a fog but she felt she needed to get this done. At some point the funeral director presented Alice with a contract to cover the services. “Sign here” he said.

So Alice signed here. She got a copy and added it to the other documents she received from the funeral home. Alice was pretty organized; she had a Ziploc bag to put all the stuff in. She plopped it all together, along with other scraps of paper, Murray’s IWA card, his fishing license and just about anything else of Murray’s she could find. She wasn’t sure what the funeral director might ask for so she brought it all!

Most people (including Alice) are pretty clear under normal circumstances, but these weren’t normal circumstances. An emotional wreck, Alice just signed the contract. She didn’t read it thoroughly. She definitely didn’t read the small print. And there was a LOT of small print!

As a funeral director I’m amazed at how much faith and trust people put in me. They’re not only placing someone they love into our care, they’re also trusting that we won’t take advantage of them financially. It’s

The funeral contract is about money, but it’s also about some other things. By signing it Alice is confirming that she has the legal authority to do so. It’s the funeral director’s responsibility to confirm this with Alice by asking certain specific questions. Alice must only sign the contract if she is the person with the legal authority. Having said that, our funeral home contract (not all funeral homes do this) requires a second signature – that of the person paying for the services. Usually one person signs both lines but not always. Maybe Cousin Leroy wants to pay for Murray’s cremation. If so, Leroy would sign the line as “Purchaser,” Alice would sign the line as “Executor or Next of Kin.”

The contract also indicates where Alice was when she signed it. We have four locations, so we tick the box beside the applicable address.

The small print on the contract informs Alice that she may cancel at any time without penalty but she has to pay for services rendered to that point.

It also informs Alice where Murray’s body is being kept. The fine print informs Alice that Consumer Protection BC (the government created agency that regulates funeral homes) is charging her $40 for this protection. Finally, the fine print informs Alice that embalming is not a legal requirement in BC, except under certain circumstances.

If Alice wants Murray to be embalmed she must indicate in writing on the contract that she gives permission for

Now for the MONEY part of the contract. Almost everyone we serve chooses cremation, so our contracts just take the prices from our price book and print them out clearly on the contract. We leave space to add incidentals like extra death certificates and newspaper obituaries. But our contracts are pretty straightforward, until you get to the ‘fine print.’

The fine print says we can charge Alice a monthly fee for holding on to Murray’s cremated remains (his urn) after 60 days (there is no charge for the first 60 days – that’s the law in BC). It also tells Alice (and she agrees to it by signing the contract) that we can charge interest if she doesn’t pay for our services within 14 days.

In my experience there are two groups of people. The first group consists of people who can (and would like to) pay within the first few days or after services are rendered (i.e. within the 14 day period). That’s the largest group. The second group consists of people who would find it difficult to pay for the services within 14 days, 14 months, and in some cases 14 years! That’s neither meant as a criticism or a joke, but reflects the reality that many people live under a very tight budget; the idea of paying over $2000 can be daunting for a lot of people.

Fortunately, I can’t remember ever charging interest, even when the 14 days had passed.

How do we avoid having to charge interest? A big part of my job is to take away any financial stress Alice may be feeling. Firstly,

if Alice can’t afford Murray’s cremation we discuss other available resources. This includes helping her with the CPP Death Benefit application. Although we can no longer wait the two or three months it usually takes for the $2500 death benefit to arrive (we used to wait for payment this way but too many people forgot to come back to pay us when they received the cheque from CPP!) often there is someone in the family who steps forward to pay us by credit card and then pay themselves back when the $2500 comes in from CPP (Cousin Leroy, for instance). If that route isn’t possible (e.g. Murray isn’t eligible for the death benefit), we contact the BC Ministry department that assists people with funeral costs. The BC government claws back the CPP death benefit if there is one but it sure takes the stress off people like Alice when they know that they are eligible for help from the BC government.

So, when Alice signs the contract she invariably gives a huge sigh of relief. She’s now able to focus on her emotional journey as she begins to deal with Murray’s death and she doesn’t have to worry about the money part. I must confess that I love that part of serving people like Alice – seeing them leave feeling better than they did when they arrived because they aren’t going to have to go into debt to pay for Murray’s cremation or services. I sometimes see a lot of worried faces when people first walk in. Next month we discuss a form that often comes as a pleasant surprise to the people we serve – the Notification Form.

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Ask Drake

DRAKE

Join the Club

If you have hearing loss, you’re in good company. It’s the third most common physical condition affecting older adults after arthritis and high blood pressure.1Millions of people around the globe have hearing loss, including:

1 in 3 people 60 years old and older 4 of 5 people 85 years+ Two-thirds of adults over 70 years old

Know the effects of hearing loss

Many people ignore hearing loss because they falsely think the consequences are not that bad. But years of research shows otherwise. Untreated hearing loss has been proven to impact our physical and mental health and, ultimately, our quality of life.

The growing list of issues linked to hearing loss includes:

• Relationship issues

• Social isolation • Depression • Cognitive decline and dementia 20 JANUARY 2023 www.connectornews.ca

Hear better. Live better.

Don’t wait until hearing loss leads to bigger, irreversible issues Treat it as soon as possible. Start treatment by making an appointment with a hearing healthcare professional. Only they have the experience and equipment needed to perform a thorough and proper audiological evaluation, then prescribe the solution and treatment protocol that best fits your unique needs.

It’s proven that hearing health is connected to our overall health and well-being and treating hearing loss has numerous benefits. It improves relationships and quality of life.