OVER TO YOU
Where our residents comment on everything and anything that’s top of mind.
During Alberta Seniors’ Week, we asked a few of our residents what it is like to be a senior in today’s age.
We are out there. Look for us. We are “The Grey Community” and seniors rock!
GOOD HEARING IS IMPORTANT TO YOUR HEALTH SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT SENIORS
By Verna Pollack Shouldice Manor Community
In this age of transitions where the “Gay Community” is being accepted and valued more and more, I would like to put in a word for the “Grey Community” — our seniors. We are all around you and welcome the respect and affection that speaks to our value in the community. While “the young and the restless” dominate our TV screens, let’s not forget the beauty to be found in silver hair, the wisdom in a life of experience and the joy and laughter to be shared from a life well lived. In recent conversation with a delightful elder, we discussed how time will write an interesting story upon the blank page of a charming enthusiastic young face, adding lines of experience and wisdom as we age. How comforting it can be to share the gifts of one’s life experiences — joys and sorrows — that so fully express our humanity. It is often there for all to see, right on the lovely face of one who is aging. Our world moves faster every day and our young people and children rush right along with it. Do you know how pleasant it is to slow down once in a while to enjoy some quiet with a senior? Don’t for a minute think that those seniors have bowed out, either. Rather say they have discovered a balance, for most seniors know how to invite their soul once in a while. Life lessons have taught us that. I have a friend in his 70s who still runs in marathons and others who still hike and climb our Rocky Mountains. This year, raising funds for the Alberta Wildlife Association, the oldest person to climb the stairs to the top of the Calgary Tower was a friend of mine in his 80s. Think the old folks just sit around? Not so! Most of us are very busy living our life to the fullest of our abilities.
Consider your hearing health this summer. Hearing our friends and family is important to our emotional health and wellbeing. Many people don’t realize that they have hearing loss because it is typically gradual. Hearing loss is very common in our senior populations; approximately one in four Canadian seniors suffer from significant hearing loss. Treating hearing loss early is important to keep our brain’s ability to understand what we hear throughout our lifetime. If you have two or more symptoms mentioned below, it is important that you have an audiologist evaluate your hearing, and that you get treatment sooner rather than later.
JUNIOR HIGH STUDENTS ENJOY DAY AT SILVERA
CPO performs at the Annual Resident Event. Page 3
SILVERA TIMES Silvera’s Community Newsletter – April to June 2013
At the time of printing, Calgary was hit with floods that forced the evacuation of a number of Silvera communities.
Fifty grade 7 and 9 students from Master’s Academy and College volunteered recently at our Confederation Park and Shouldice Communities.
We are working on a special issue of Silvera Times to give you a first-hand account of what occurred.
KICKING OFF STAMPEDE
Residents Charles Driscoll and Chris Quigley of Confederation Park Community kick start Stampede by building their own wagon.
The issue will be out by mid-July.
NEW MEAL PLANS ON THE MENU
HEARING QUIZ
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Do you ask people to repeat what they’ve said? Do you think people mumble? Do you have difficulty hearing in a crowd? Do you turn up the television louder to hear it? Do you have difficulty hearing on the telephone? Do you avoid activities simply because you can’t hear?
For more information go to: www.audiologyinnovations.ca Contributed by Dr. Carrie Scarff, Hearing Specialist and Board member with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Society.
OOPS!
In the Winter issue of Silvera Times, the couple listed in the Valentine’s section should have read Harvey and Vi Gadway, not Muriel and Douglas Nicholson. Our apologies.
Join Apex for your highest level of personal health care and savings. Call 403.217.5163
Silvera’s Director of Communications Silvana Saccomani strikes a pose with Darrel at the ceremony.
CTV NEWS ANCHOR DARREL JANZ WINS AWARD THANKS TO SILVERA! Silvera recently nominated Darrel for The City of Calgary’s Community Advocate award and he has won. Darrel has been a constant friend and supporter of our organization, having attended many annual resident events in that past, and helped kick off Silvera’s Guinness World Record event last September. Darrel received his award at an event at City Hall on June 12.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Do you have a story to tell? Have a comment about something in this issue? We want to hear from you! 4 silvera.ca | 403.276.5541
CALGARY CARES!
Maintenance Supervisor Randy Adrian and Safety Superhero PPE. Page 2
E-mail us at times@silvera.ca, phone 403.567.5308 or write us at Silvera Times, c/o Silvera for Seniors, 804-7015 Macleod Tr. S.W., Calgary, AB, T2H 2K6 (attn. Silvana Saccomani).
Dawn Barbara Alexander Roberts
Lois Dougan
Citrus mustard pork chops with raisin. Veal with sweet apple pepper sauce. Not to mention old favourites, like roast beef dinner. By the time you read this, you’ll have tasted some of the dishes on the new menus for our Supportive Living communities, and Willow Park on the Bow. “The last menus were developed in 2009,” explains Dawn Alexander, Dining Service Manager. “Silvera knew it was time for an update, time for new healthy options for our residents.” She and colleague Nathalie Fleury drew up the new menus in April, with input from the cooking staff and approval by a dietitian. Fleury and Alexander built the new meal plan around the Canada Food Guide
Vighnesh Kumar
Michael Sutton Katherine Secord
for those aged 51 or more, and met provincial standards set for nutrition in supportive living facilities. There is a strong emphasis on whole grains and high nutritional value, Alexander says. Fleury and Alexander discussed the menus with the cooks. “Many of them have been with Silvera for 25 years or more,” Alexander says. “And we’re leaning on their expertise to use the whole foods.” “The biggest commitment was to have menus that satisfy all communities with the different ethnic and age bases. But we need to keep on the same page so we know we’re providing the nutrition we want to provide, and keep to standards.” “The communities have very different flavour palates,” says
Nathalie Fleury Ruperto Millan
Gilmars Bacani Mohit Chand
Fleury. “How do you standardize a menu and keep the flavour intact? We looked at things that have worked.” Every community will still have a salad bar. Alternative meals for diabetics have been developed, and Alexander and Fleury are now working on additional options for those with other medical conditions. The two expect feedback through comment cards, the residents’ food committee, and from the cooks, and will use that information going forward. Sarah Price, Director of Service, says Silvera looks forward to hearing from the residents on the new choices and adds, “The new menu supports Silvera’s commitment to ensuring the wellbeing of our residents.”
silvera.ca | 403.276.5541
MAKING HEALTH AND SAFETY FUN! Staff members in the Silvera communities were up to all kinds of hijinks in May – with a serious purpose.
EMPLOYEE CONFERENCE
IN THE NEWS
SERVICE OF EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNERS
SILVERA’S SASSY SENIORS SEASON TWO
Reprinted from Global Calgary. North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week ran from May 5-11 across the continent, and Silvera staff joined in once again this year.
Representing Aspen Community: Fred Burrill, Mary Belmore, Wilfredo Anselmo, Frank Diggins and Isaac Emami
“We had participation from all the communities, supportive and independent, and from every group from maintenance to administration,” says Jeremy Wood, Silvera’s Health, Safety and Disability Advisor.
A group of residents who live at Silvera for Seniors are acting in a series of videos, out to prove they are young at heart. Some feature the cast screaming as they hurtle down slides, while others show a couple of older men dressed in hoodies, carrying skateboards through the mall. “Younger people think that we should be sitting around knitting or not doing much of anything,” says Bernice Chase, who’s taking part in the videos in hopes of changing opinions.
Aspen Community wins top health & safety prize.
Beaverdam Community’s Paul Kane and Carla Ramirez -Aragon standing in front of their trophy.
Westview Community’s Nathalie Fleury, Vicki Minard with Superhero Clara
CALGARY- Forget rocking chairs and bingo; some sassy seniors are breaking down stereotypes in a high-tech way.
Spruce Community’s Dorothy Britten posing with Super-Silvera Wo-man.
RECEIVED, WITH THANKS! CHEQUE PRESENTATION
Adds Jim Phelan, “Really we hit a certain age and just are sitting around, unfortunately in God’s waiting room to pass away or whatever, and that isn’t the case at all.” Arlene Adamson from Silvera for Seniors says many of their residents are behind closed doors, and are not seen as being engaged in the community. “So the videos for us are saying ‘pay attention, we’re all going to get there.’ You don’t want to be forgotten.”
CTV Morning Live Aisling Tomei poses with Sassy Senior Jim Phalen and CEO Arlene Adamson on the set. To see this year’s videos, go to www.Silvera.ca Thanks to our Sassy Seniors’ actors: Helen Brimacombe, Willow Park on the Bow Community Bernice Chase, Queens Court Community Bob Ferris, Westview Community Peter Greaves, Alder Court Community Frank Herceg, Shouldice Manor Community Maxine Holgate, BoxWood Place Community Lorraine Sloane, Mountview Community Margaret Marshall, BoxWood Place Community Peter Matiowsky, Willow Park on the Bow Community Bill Papadopoulos , Shouldice Manor Community Jim Phelan, Friendship Manor Community Titus Vollmer, Spruce Community, Madeline Wagner, Spruce Community NB: The Silvera Sassy Seniors’ Season One was named among North America’s top five creative PR campaigns in 2012.
Fourteen of Silvera’s staff were recognized for service above and beyond the requirements of their jobs at Silvera’s 6th Annual Employee Conference in April. The theme was ‘Celebrating Silvera Staff’, and it was the second annual Service of Excellence awards ceremony. Employees submitted nominations for their co-workers based on core values of respect, integrity, life enrichment and accountability. A committee then chose the award winners from the nominations. The following employees received awards at the Employee Conference: Shirley Reddy, Administration Mirella Frank, Aspen Community Susana Estolas, Aspen Community Nancy Draga, Beaverdam Community Zahra Mohamed, Bow Valley Community Wai Lie, Confederation Park Community Jonathon Krieger, Maintenance Community Pat Zoller, Shawnessy Community Laura Gardiner, Shouldice Community Celina Buno, Spruce Community Merlita Le, Spruce Community Lorna Rendon, Valleyview Community Jessica Sinclair, Westview Community Marilyn Blain, Westview Community
WESTVIEW COMMUNITY OPENS IT DOORS
SILVERA’S ANNUAL RESIDENT EVENT – A BIG SUCCESS
Resident and neighbours alike joined in on the fun at Westview Community’s Open House and Wellness Fair in April.
More than 500 Silvera residents, staff and volunteers enjoyed another memorable evening at Heritage Park this year, coming together in friendship and fellowship. This years’ annual resident event was made all the more special by including the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and Western BBQ.
Volunteers Debby Bullock and Karin Longard and Ruperto Millan - Supervisor, Dining Services
FATHER’S DAY DERBY MLA Moe Amery, Silvera Community Resident Manager Carole Oliver, Board Chair Jim Hubbard.
MLA Cusanelli chatting with Silvera resident Jim Sinclair.
Christine Cusanelli, MLA for Calgary-Currie was our guest at Valleyview Community on June 7 for a very special presentation. The Province of Alberta, through the Community Facilities Enhancement Program (CFEP), has awarded Silvera for Seniors a grant of nearly $150,000. This money will be used to support our future Jacques site development. 2 silvera.ca | 403.276.5541
Thanks Sam Switzer!
For the past two years, this annual resident event has been made possible thanks to Calgary philanthropist Sam Switzer, whose generosity has allowed us to present this event to our residents free of charge. A special thanks to the following Silvera employees who led the organizing committee.
Nearly 70 men from Silvera got competitive recently in a car racing derby.
The Stampede Princesses join Silvera’s CEO Arlene Adamson and Board Chair Jim Hubbard at Silvera’s annual resident event.
Selina Clary Carla Ramirez-Aragon Stacey Gavan Karen Sampson Hanan Ghoneim Mary-Ann Smulders Wai Lie
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