UPGRADING SILVERA’S
LAUNDRY FACILITIES
Laundry facilities in Silvera’s Supportive Living communities will undergo an upgrade this spring, with the help of Phelps Laundry. Silvera has contracted Phelps to install and take care of the new machines. The machines will be a pay-for-use on a card system that residents won’t have to go digging for coins to use. Beth Fulton
COME VOLUNTEER You’ll find her serving ice cream, selling 50-50 tickets, and helping out at bingo. But you’ll rarely find Beth Fulton bored. Since moving into Silvera’s Confederation Park Community nearly two years ago, Fulton has spent a lot of her time volunteering. “What inspired me is I don’t like staying in my room!” she says, noting that Thursday is her busy day of the week. “I go to the doctor and then we have T and C [tea and conversation], then I serve ice cream and we have supper and then we have the pub night when I sell the 50-50 tickets. That day is pretty well spent!” Fulton has lived in Calgary since 1950 when her family moved from a farm near Pine Lake. “Calgary was a big place in 1950 – but look at it now!” she says. “But I wouldn’t change it for anything.” Fulton had four children by the time she was 21 – three boys, one girl – and lived in a second-floor apartment until climbing stairs became too difficult with a walker. When she isn’t enjoying the company of her fellow residents, or keeping up with her six grandchildren and six great grandchildren, Fulton can be found working on embroidery projects. “I enjoy being with people. I hope I’ve made some friends!” she says. EDITOR: SILVANA SACCOMANI
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“Based on feedback from our managers, a card-operated system would be the best option,” Silvera Management says. “You’ll load up the card at a terminal for however many loads you want.” Each load will cost $1 for washing and $1 for drying, less than half what it costs in other residential laundry rooms. Residents in Silvera’s Independent Living communities already pay for laundry. Introducing new machines was a decision driven by the constant need for repair and upgrade of the existing machines. “Silvera is not looking to make any money off this. We needed to replace our machines and wanted to have better machines and have them maintained at a better level,” Silvera says, adding that the cost per load has been set at a level that is covering the cost of having Phelps install and maintain the machines . “Weekly linen services provided by housekeeping will not be impacted.” There are currently about 80 sets of machines in Silvera’s Supportive Living communities, and Silvera says the changeover will take place through the spring. Residents will receive information and training about the new card-operated service in next month.
Arlene Adamson with Andrea Bosnjak and Marcelle Leveille from Nexen.
SILVERA FOR SENIORS AND ROTARY
On February 11, Silvera CEO Arlene Adamson spoke to the Rotary Club of Calgary about the state of seniors in Calgary. Guests of Silvera attending the event included: Darrel Janz (CTV); David Parker (Calgary Herald); Sheryl Barlage (RESOLVE Campaign); Pat Gordon; Peggy and Brian Perry (Willow Park Wine and Spirits); Jeri Sherban (BMO Bank); Marcelle Leveille and Andrea Bosnjak (Nexen).
INVESTING IN SILVERA
The province has approved capital funding for improvements to lodges and Silvera is excited to be able to complete some of the capital improvements to each of the Supported Living communities. “The province … has preapproved funding under the Seniors Lodge Renewal Program,” Silvera explains. “To start, we begin work at our Aspen and Spruce communities.” These include new common-area flooring at Aspen and Spruce, upgrades to Aspen’s front entrance, and upgrades to both communities’ fire-detection systems, nurse-call systems, and public address systems. Funding has even been approved to install jump seats in the elevators, Silvera says.
SILVERA TIMES Silvera’s Community Newsletter Winter - Spring 2014
PREMIER ALISON REDFORD
PAYS A VALENTINE’S VISIT TO WESTVIEW COMMUNITY
Timeframes for these improvements are still being confirmed. A number of Silvera-managed communities have also been approved for new roofs, with funding still pending for other proposed upgrades, Silvera adds. Silvera Chief Financial Officer Linda Wyatt says government funding is crucial to helping non-profits like Silvera make capital improvements. “It’s hugely important … funding from external sources is essential to what we do,” she says.
LIFE WITH MEANING FUND
SILVERA GAMES MARKING A A GREAT WAY TO STAY HEALTHY MILESTONE AND MAKE FRIENDS (STORY ON PAGE 2)
SECRETS OF TURNING 100
(STORY ON PAGE 3)
As a not-for-profit organization that serves low-to-moderate-income residents, Silvera for Seniors looks to the Calgary community for ongoing support. The Life with Meaning Fund was created as one way for Calgarians to help support qualityof-life programs and services for our residents. “It is a fund that allows us to provide enhanced programs for our seniors,” says Pamila Fonseka, director of fund development. “It could help us facilitate bus trips to the zoo or a play, or it might help us purchase exercise equipment for one of our Supportive Living communities.” Hillhurst Rebekah Lodge supports the Fund through its casino. “We try to support [causes] that don’t get a lot of funding from the United Way, etc.,” says treasurer Ina Thurber. “The Fund was something the Lodge was interested in supporting, and our organization has a lot of older members. We were happy to support it.”
Ike Doerksen and Maria Pernal
Sarah Anne Payne and Anny Fransen
THUMBS UP! Propellus (formerly Volunteer Calgary) recognized the nomination of Christine Payne,
Activity Coordinator at Spruce Community, for the Volunteer Manager Award and Silvera Resident Jim Phelan of Friendship Manor who got the thumbs up for his work with WinSport. The awards will be decided and presented in April.
For more information about the Life with Meaning Fund, call Pamila Fonseka at 403.567.5311.
silvera.ca | 403.276.5541
MARKING A MILESTONE
SECRETS OF TURNING 100
SILVERA GAMES
Perseverance, hard work, faith and healthy living.
FOCUS ON BEING ACTIVE Forget Sochi—when it came to intense competition, Spruce Community was the place to be on Feb. 19 when it hosted the second annual Silvera Games.
give them opportunity to stay connected with friends and enhance their quality of life and perhaps try a new skill,” says Silvera CEO Arlene Adamson. “It’s the camaraderie that is really important.”
Residents from across Silvera gathered for a day of fun while aiming for gold, silver and bronze – all in the name of staying active.
Adds Pollack: “It’s wonderful the opportunities Silvera presents to seniors to stay young and engaged.”
“I’m pretty active, but I intend to stay that way and this is how you do it,” says Verna Pollack of Shouldice Community, who won silver in the first-ever Synchronized Dance competition with her partner, Doris Salmon. “Doris uses a cane – so she is going to dance in her chair, and you’ll see that’s just as much fun as dancing around the floor! She is from next door in the residence, so we represent the two branches.” Salmon was the day’s double medalwinner, also taking home silver in the fast-moving beanbag toss. Valleyview’s team came in fourth in the toss, but that didn’t stop Dick Hill from having a great time anyway. “They asked me at the last minute because the girl that was going to come wasn’t feeling good,” he says. “My eyesight is bad to start with, but it was fun.” Joan Pierce of Spruce Community took bronze in bowling and says she enjoyed “trying to win” – especially as these were her second Games. “I played shuffleboard in the first big games, and I came in second. I had two strikes and a spare today!” she says. ”Lucky” Jack Pritchett of Beaverdam Community was on the gold-medal shuffleboard team. “I used to play [shuffleboard] at the Kensington Legion,” he says. “We had quite a bit of fun today!” Florence Jordan of Bow Valley Community says the Games were a great morale-booster – she’s one of the High River flood evacuees who came to live with Silvera. “We hope to go back home in June,” she says.
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Maria Pernal of Spruce Community survived one of the darkest periods in history – the 1939 Soviet invasion of Poland, which saw her family relocated to Siberia where they lived in terrible conditions for several years, suffering starvation and lack of water.
THE WINNERS PAIRS DANCE
GOLD & AUDIENCE CHOICE
BEAN BAGS GOLD
Roselle Miller & Bob Ferris (Westview Community) SILVER
Stanislawa (Stella) Prucnal & Eunice Albertson (Spruce Community) SILVER
Verna Pollock and Doris Salmon (Shouldice Community) BRONZE
Doris Salmon & Hanna Krile (Shouldice Community) BRONZE
“We left everything we had… Siberia was very cold and it was a very hard time for us,” says Pernal, who turns 100 on July 7. “After [being released], we were in lots of places like Iran, and Africa like maybe you see in the Tarzan films. A scorpion bit me and you could not take it, this pain.” She credits a “hard life,” but also healthy habits for her longevity. “All my life, I never smoke, I never drink, never,” she says. Dutch-born Anny Fransen of Shawnessy Community turned 100 on March 9 and can be found every morning walking around her building. “Working is good – doing nothing is no good,” she says. “Do something that is hard-working. You keep your legs moving. Too many [don’t] walk because they say, oh, no, that hurts. Taking it easy is no good – you have to keep going!”
“I think you have to live one day at a time,” Doerksen says when asked for his secret. He also kept physically active well into his 80s, swimming and also walking through Nose Hill Park. He also crafted cowboy hats and boots from stone, winning first prize at the Stampede. Today, he enjoys reading. Sarah Ann Payne turned 100 at Shawnessy Community on March 2. She was born on the outskirts of Calgary and worked as a housekeeper and also helped her family manage a homestead at Rocky Mountain House. Married at 26, she raised three children and today has eight great-grandchildren. Her younger sister lives in Shawnessy, too. “I’m lucky – I can still walk around and everything,” says the spry centenarian. And what’s her secret? “God! I figure he follows me around, everything I do!”
Ike Doerksen, born March 17, came
Apex Pharmacies, which operates Silvera’s Tuck Shops, is excited to announce its new name:
SANDSTONE PHARMACIES. The new name aims to unite Sandstone’s 14 independent pharmacies in Calgary and surrounding area, enabling the company to better serve its customers. Many of Calgary’s spectacular heritage buildings are constructed with sandstone. Sandstone is a very strong and flexible material, and this is what inspired the new name. Watch for new signage, logo and new staff uniforms coming soon to your Silvera community. Despite these changes, Sandstone’s caring and dedicated team remains the same, as the company strives to continually improve and give its valued customers the highest level of personal care.
TAX CLINICS Silvera for Seniors will not be hosting Income Tax Clinics for residents in 2014 based on demand. However, it is still important that you file your taxes on time in order to continue receiving monthly benefits such as Old Age Security, Canada Pension Plan, Alberta Seniors Benefit and/or the Guaranteed Income Supplement. There are a number of community organizations within Calgary that will be offering free-of-charge income taxpreparation services, such as the Kerby Centre. The Canada Revenue Agency will be publishing a list on its website this coming February, and Silvera residents will also be able to obtain this list from their Community Resource Co-ordinator.
SPOTLIGHT ON…
LINDA WYATT, CFO
Ruth Martens & Joyce Wesley (Valleyview Community)
BOWLING GOLD
Val Graham (Beaverdam Community) SILVER
Ena Culshaw (Westview Community) BRONZE
About 50 residents took part in bowling, shuffleboard, beanbag toss, synchronized dancing, and non-medal rollerball. “For seniors to be active is key to their own health, and [the Games]
Several Silvera residents have or will soon turn 100, and these are some of the things they credit for a long life.
to Canada from the Ukraine at 13. He grew up in small-town Saskatchewan where he ran a barbershop before moving to Calgary and opening one on Centre Street. He also worked as a Fuller Brush salesman. “I’d buy them for 49 cents and sell them for a dollar,” he laughs.
APEX: NEW NAME
Joan Pierce (Spruce Community)
Helen Madill & Arlene Kent (Beaverdam Community)
SHUFFLEBOARD GOLD
Lucky (Jack) Pritchett & Florence Freywin (Beaverdam Community) SILVER
Ed Lariviere & Larry Poffenroth (Spruce Community)
For Linda Wyatt, being Silvera’s Chief Financial Officer is about more than a job and managing budgets and finances. She takes it personally, knowing that Silvera is a not-for-profit with limited resources, providing quality services and safe, affordable housing for 1500 seniors. “At home, when you look at your own personal finances, you look at every cost and make sure you are getting the best value for it,” she explains. “In the same way, not wasting money is very important to me and to Silvera.” It’s that philosophy that Wyatt is practicing and encouraging across Silvera’s communities. Working closely with Community Resident Managers, she is moving the organization towards becoming financially strong and self-reliant. “At the end of the day, we want to be spending more on services for our residents,” she says. “To get there, however, we need to be looking across the organization to eliminate waste.” When it comes to our employees, Silvera knows it needs to do more, says Wyatt. “We want to invest in our staff and we have started by focusing on training and development,” she says. “At the same time, we are working towards making sure we are paying our employees appropriately.” Wyatt will certainly be drawing on her past work experiences to set Silvera up for success, not just today, but for tomorrow. With an accounting designation and MBA, Wyatt has built her career working in construction, healthcare, oil and gas and at the Bethany Care Society. “I find Silvera’s commitment to providing the best possible services and homes to our residents is very inspiring,” she says. “I’m proud to be able to draw on my previous experiences to do this.” silvera.ca | 403.276.5541 3