A SALUTE TO OUR EMPLOYEES
Good Friends The Rotary Club of Calgary (RCOC) and Silvera for Seniors have a long history of working together to make things better for seniors in our community. From hosting “pipe-smoking” contests in our early history, to providing city tours, banquets and seniors Christmas luncheons in later years, the RCOC has been a good and long-lasting friend to Silvera. The RCOC has also provided a number of quality board members to Silvera throughout the years, including Don Campbell, Ernie Hawrylyshen, Rosemary Crawford and Ron Middleton, who currently sits on Silvera’s Finance Committee. One of Silvera’s early leaders, David Turner, was even a member of the RCOC in the 1970s and 1980s.
As the Calgary Rotary Club celebrated its 100 anniversary recently, Silvera was there to thank them for their support.
Silvera for Seniors’ Arlene Adamson, left, Shane Homes’ Kevin Taylor and Silvera’s Pamila Fonseka celebrate.
Silvera recently recognized a number of employees for their commitment to our residents and for supporting our values.
in profile Ten years ago, Vicky Jones was 48 with a high-powered career in the insurance industry. Then a brain aneurysm, followed by a stroke, changed her life forever. “I even had to learn how to sit up again,” Jones recalls. “After about four-and-a-half months, I was up on a walker and released to go home. I was home for six days and had another bad stroke; it was a deepbrain stroke and I lost my sense of balance.”
Editor: Silvana Saccomani
#804, 7015 Macleod Trail SW, Calgary, AB T2H 2K6 (t) 403.276.5541 | (f) 403.276.9152 contact@silvera.ca | www.silvera.ca
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Whether it’s a housekeeper who goes out of her way to comfort residents, or dietary aids who make mealtime a pleasure for everyone, to the behind-thescenes folks who help keep the lights on, each honoree brings their unique talents to ensure Silvera lives up to its reputation as a caring, thoughtful place to call home. The next time you see these folks hard at work, be sure to thank them for helping make Silvera a great place to live!
2014 Service of Excellence Award Recipients
“It’s about the support – everyone involved who has had a stroke knows where you’re coming from and the hard work you’ve done, and the social activities are wonderful,” says Jones, who continues to lead the association after recently moving into Silvera’s Willow Park on the Bow Community.
Randy Adrian Maintenance Supervisor
Jones says there are many misconceptions about stroke. “No two strokes are the same,” she says, adding she hopes to raise awareness about the association and offer support to fellow Silvera residents who have gone through what she has, or who are themselves caregivers to stroke survivors. “There are 2,100 strokes a year in the Calgary district, from pre-natal to elderly,” says Jones. “I’m on call with the Foothills Hospital, so if they have someone who is depressed or needs extra encouragement, I’ll go up there and talk to them. I find it absolutely energizing when I can help somebody.” For more information about the Stroke Recovery Association, visit sracalgary.com.
Silvera’s Community Newsletter Spring/Summer 2014
Each day, these hard-working people work together to solve problems, emphasize safety, and make a positive difference in the lives of everyone around them.
But Jones refused to give up, and joined the Stroke Recovery Association of Calgary, which provides support for those adjusting to life after a stroke. Eight years ago, she became its president.
Jones says the stroke forced her to re-examine her priorities. “Before, all I did was work and take care of my kids,” she says. “If anything, it has gotten me more involved in the community.”
SILVERA TIMES
Monica Bachman Administrative Assistant, Valleyview Community Natalia Baggayan Community Evening Attendant, Shouldice Community Sandie Blondia Housekeeping, Beaverdam Community Lynnette Chong-Friesen Former Activity Coordinator, Westview Community Linda Cormier Cook, Bow Valley Community Hanan Ghoneim Administrative Assistant, Main Office Susie Gozum Dietary Aid, Aspen Community Bavani Jayaweera Dietary Aid, Shawnessy Community Patricia McKay Dietary Aid, Willow Park on the Bow Community Elsa Mengstu Housekeeper, Confederation Park Community Laarni Ragasi Dietary Aid, Spruce Community
The Foothills Foundation hosted a BBQ lunch recently to thank organizations, including Silvera, for THEIR help during the flood.
Al Brander – Foothills Foundation, Chair | Carole Oliver, Silvera Manager | Lauren Ingalls , Foothills Foundation Chief Administrative Officer
Senior flood evacuees find
closure in new homes
A year after the June 2013 floods forced them to evacuate their lodge in High River, a group of seniors have found a new permanent home with Silvera for Seniors in Calgary.
number would peak at 24 in July. Today, four evacuees, including McDonald, have made Silvera their permanent home as they seek closure from the disaster. “I was very impressed with how everything was handled,” says McDonald.
Carol McDonald, 94, was one of those evacuated from Medicine Tree Manor as it was threatened by floodwaters. “It was very sudden,” she says. “My daughter lives not far from the Manor. She said the water was coming … (and) going toward the Manor. When I got off the phone, I heard the warning we had to evacuate.” McDonald barely had time to grab her purse and prescriptions before she was bundled away. “The water was so deep, we were driving around trying to find an exit we could go through,” she says. McDonald was one of eight Foothills residents who found temporary beds with Silvera’s Shawnessy Community – the
“We called it the perfect storm,” recalls Foothills Foundation Chief Administrative Officer Lauren Ingalls. “We reached out to Silvera, and the fact they were experiencing their own crisis and preparing evacuation of their own sites in Bridgeland … their ability to accommodate us was amazing.” Balancing the evacuation of more than 600 Silvera residents from four locations in Bridgeland while
helping the Foothills evacuees was a challenge, says Bromley. “We were one of the few places where we had rooms available,” she says. “The residents here were brilliant. We put out a call to see if they had clothing or toiletries they could donate. Apex Pharmacies (now Sandstone) reopened their Tuck Shop that night to provide things like toothbrushes and toothpaste,” says McDonald. “I was very proud of how our staff and residents helped a fellow seniors’ housing organization in need,” says Silvera CEO Arlene Adamson. “But this event also illustrates how vital it is that the Calgary area increase its capacity for affordable supported- and independent-living housing housing for seniors.” In addition to Carol McDonald, there were three others who now call Silvera home: Penny Blake, Sheila McLeod and Margaret Knapp.
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your voice matters
Our goal is to keep you safe and comfortable, so if you have any problems in your suite, please don’t hesitate to let our staff know about them!
At Silvera, our purpose is to give seniors the respect they deserve and make it great to be a senior in Calgary. One way to do this is by giving residents ways to become engaged in their community, such as providing feedback on our programs and services. Each year, Silvera conducts a resident survey, but this year it has been expanded to include town hall meetings and focus groups at two communities so far, with more to come. “We’re working for our residents as part of our vision to give them the opportunity to live in place with dignity – but does our vision and our values resonate with our residents?” asked Sarah Price, Director of Service. “So we took the idea of presenting town hall meetings at Shawnessy and Confederation Park Communities. “We presented our values and what they mean – at Shawnessy. We had 50 out of 81 residents come out. We then went back
Our Purpose Our purpose is to give seniors the respect they deserve and make it great to be a senior in Calgary.
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two days later and did focus groups and were able to discuss our values, vision and purpose in more detail. Feedback from these meetings is invaluable as Silvera looks to improve its programming and services, Price says, adding she hopes to hold more town halls and focus groups at other Silvera communities in the near future.”
Demolition work starts at Jacques and Elbow Valley
As part of the maintenance team in 1967, Phil Miquelon worked at the Elbow Valley site.
MEET A SILVERA SUPPORTER! Silvera for Seniors thanks ICOM Productions for supporting its training programs. The company specializes in developing learning courses utilizing technology and video. This has helped Silvera deliver programs to employees on dementia basics and other programs.
If you’re interested in having a town hall and focus group session at your community, please speak to your Community Resident Manager.
Silvera will be a leading advocate and caring provider of affordable homes and services for seniors to live in place with dignity.
VOLUNTEER Clutching her coveted White Hat, Riva Wolf says her hours of volunteering at the Calgary Stampede are worth it because of the kids.
“I love the kids – they’re so happy to get a pancake and you’d think they never had it before in their life,” Wolf says. “They give you a smile that’s worth a million dollars.” Wolf has lived in Calgary all her life and her father ran a store across from the grounds for many years, so you could say Stampede is part of her DNA.
“It ties in with why we changed our name to Silvera for Seniors – it was a signal that we are all about the Silver Era generation and how we want to serve our residents as individuals,” says Communications Director Silvana Saccomani. “You’re not a number, and it’s not just about a bunch of words on a page – we want to make our purpose, vision and values come alive.”
Our Vision
MEET A SILVERA
The Spruce resident, now 96, was 89 when she began volunteering to help serve pancakes during the traditional BMO Kids’ Day breakfast.
A new video explains Silvera’s values and our residents are in it.
Backrow: Albert Mendonsa, Aspen Resident | Helge Daly, Bow Valley Resident Front Row: Silvana Saccomani, Silvera Communications | Phyllis Turner, Bow Valley Resident | Brigitte Dresel-Roesler, Aspen Resident | Krista Tweed, Silvera Training and Development Missing: Owen Donald, Willow Park on the Bow Resident | Angela Desa, Aspen Resident To see the video, called “Now at Silvera” go to Silvera’s YouTube channel. www.youtube.com/user/silveraforseniors
DID YOU KNOW?
Spring cleaning is well under way at Silvera, and our staff will be paying your suite a visit in the coming weeks.
Our Values
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Service Teamwork Safety Creating Homes Making a Difference
Today he lives at our Spruce Community and is happy to know Elbow Valley will become home to more seniors’ housing.
Apex Pharmacies, which operates the Tuck Shops in Silvera’s communities, has changed its name to SANDSTONE PHARMACIES. By the end of June, new signage and sharp new uniforms should be visible at the Tuck Shops. Nothing has changed but the name, which the company has updated to unite its 15 stores — city and rural — under one branding. Silvera residents will continue to receive the highest level of personal healthcare from Sandstone’s professional pharmacists and excellent customer service at the Tuck Shops. And remember, patients of Sandstone Pharmacies also receive a 30% discount every day at any of Silvera’s Tuck Shops. Please let Sandstone’s Tuck Shop staff know how they can be of service to you.
“The Stampede is only about four or five years older than I,” she laughs. “The Stampede meant that much more because I was in there all the time.” Wolf didn’t have a lot of time to volunteer. In the 1960s, she and her sons opened the popular men’s store Lord Wolf, which was initially inspired by the Beatles-Flower Children generation. But the Stampede was still a highlight of each summer. “I love crowds and noises,” she says. This year, Wolf was honoured as one of the Stampede’s oldest volunteers at an official White Hat ceremony. She says her long ties to Calgary and the Stampede make the award even more special. “When I stood up to get my hat, I think that was the epitome of excitement,” says Wolf, who says attitude is the key to being a successful volunteer. “I just love to say hello and smile,” she says. “I feel it takes a certain type of person to be a volunteer for the kids. It’s fun and I have a great time.” Wolf says she’ll be back helping serve pancakes at this year’s BMO Kids’ Day. To volunteer for Silvera go to our website.
If you are on Alberta Financial Assistance for Seniors (Alberta Seniors Benefits), you could be eligible for financial assistance with laundry costs through Alberta Special Needs Assistance for Seniors. This could amount to a maximum of $40 a month. To be eligible, you must have a: • yearly income of less than $20,700; • receive Alberta Seniors Benefits; and • have a copy of the letter sent to you from Silvera on Feb. 7, 2014 titled “Upgrading of Laundry Facilities in Silvera for Seniors.” If you no longer have this letter, please contact your Community Resident Manager for a copy. Your Community Resource Coordinator can help you apply for this assistance: Jocelyn Cuthbert 403.689.2725 or Pam Birch 403.390.3988
SILVERA’S ANNUAL EVENT FEATURING THE
“SADDLESORE” SHOWBAND
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Silvera for Seniors invites you to join us for this year’s celebration presented by Sam Switzer at no cost to you.
When: Where: Time:
Wednesday, Sept. 3 Palomino Room, Stampede Park 10:30 am – 3:30 pm (including drop off & pick up)
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Free Transportation by Motor Coach to and from venue (Pick up time to be determined)
The •Stampede Grounds will play Please Confirm your Attendance as are limited. host tospaces Silvera’s Annual Residents’ Event, coming Sept. 3 toJune the Sign Up Deadline: 30thBMO Contact your Community Activity Coordinator or Designate Centre. The SaddleSore Showband with Richard Popovich will keep everyone’s toes tappin’. Watch Thank you to our benefactor, Mr. Sam Switzer who sponsors this event! for more information about this popular event in the weeks ahead!
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