55 Plus March 2024

MEMORY CARE SHOULD INCLUDE ENGAGING ACTIVITIES THE VISTA

CHANGES IN HEARING MIGHT BE THE CANARY IN THE COALMINE HEAR INC

HOW TO AGE WELL SILVER THREADS SERVICE ASK THE DENTIST! DR. C ROSS CRAPO DDS

THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING WELLNESS THROUGH LIFE’S JOURNEY TAPESTRY VICTORIA

6 CREATIVE IDEAS TO HONOUR YOUR LOVED ONE SANDS FUNERAL VICTORIA HEART TO HOME MEALS

THE SERENGETI – A PROVEN WINNER WHEN IT COMES TO SAFARIS LION DOG AFRICAN SAFARIS

Memory care should include engaging activities

The Vista strives to help residents to stay engaged and enjoy their days. When you or your loved one’s memory and sensory perceptions become less reliable, it’s reassuring to know there are services available in your new senior living community, with specialized individual care for such cognitive challenges as Alzheimer’s and other dementiarelated diseases.

Known for luxury and comfort, the well-appointed contemporary and resort-like retirement community by Avenir Senior Living is designed to meet your lifestyle and personal care as your needs evolve. Welcoming social areas are sophisticated yet feel like home, and most have stunning ocean views. In a safe and secure environment, memory care will be provided to residents in 48 furnished studios on two floors, with 24-hour nursing support. The spacious studios allow each new resident to bring their own personal belongings to make it feel more like home. Each studio comes equipped with its own heating and air conditioning, private bathroom and shower.

Unique to Avenir communities, is the Cognitive Lifestyle program, through their nursing assessment process, identifies each resident’s individual cognitive skills and abilities. “As we fill up our second

and third floors, we will separate our residents according to their cognitive level,” explains Jason Gurash, vice president, sales and marketing for Avenir. “Residents with early onset dementia will reside on the second floor, which includes a large outdoor patio for their enjoyment, and those with later stages will reside on the third floor.” He adds, “This allows our life enrichment coordinators to really get to know the residents and understand where they’re at so we can structure their daily activities and engagement accordingly.”

PRE-MOVE-IN, ORIENTATION

The Round Table Discovery Meeting is a process where the management team and nursing staff meet with each new family prior to their loved one becoming a new resident. “This meeting is an opportunity for us to learn as much about our new resident as possible so our staff can support a smooth transition,” says Gurash. “It helps us get to know their personality, medical history, their likes and dislikes, and allows us to focus on developing a person-centered care plan.”

A person-centered care plan takes into account the resident’s dignity, individuality, spirituality, preferences and meaningful engagement. These plans also include what’s important to the

individual resident and what is relevant to their treatment and care. These plans are developed with the resident and family members involvement, allowing them to have a voice in their personal care and treatments. For example, an individualized care plan for each resident will include: when and what type of care they’ll receive, medication times, food preferences, personal privacy, personalizing their private space, activities they enjoy, and more.

RESIDENT’S ENGAGING ACTIVITIES

The care team guides residents through engaging activities focused on the seven dimensions of wellness: physical, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, social, environmental, and vocational. They take a holistic approach to enrich the quality of their life each day. “We really strive to have our residents know they can do rewarding daily activities and feel fulfilled, so they are accomplishing things and engaging and enjoying

their day,” says Gurash. “We know there’s a demand in the market right now and we’re excited to offer our services so families can have a sense of peace and comfort knowing their loved one is being compassionately cared for.”

For more information about The Vista, visit liveatvista.ca or call 778-247-0780. Tours are offered daily. Open seven days a week. Avenir Senior Living is

a proven leader in developing, designing, marketing, and operating exceptional senior care communities across North America. Avenir’s newest boutique retirement community, The Vista, in Esquimalt, is a resort-style living experience offering seniors different lifestyle choices and support services to comfortably age in place.

PHOTO BY THE VISTA

Breaking the stereotype of how traditional institutional care

The Vista caters to seniors with memory-related diseases.

Rendering of The Vista.

Changes in hearing might be the canary in the coalmine

Autoimmune diseases occur when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissues, leading to in ammation and damage. Autoimmune diseases, like type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus can affect different parts of the body, the ears included.

When our immune system is functioning normally, it helps protect us from harmful bacteria and viruses. However, with autoimmune diseases, the immune system becomes overactive and starts attacking healthy cells and tissues. In some cases, the immune system mistakenly targets the inner ear, leading to in ammation and damage to the structures responsible for hearing.

Due to the delicate nature of the structures of the auditory system, hearing loss can sometimes be the rst symptom of an autoimmune disease – the canary in the coalmine. Damage can manifest

as a sudden loss of hearing in one or both ears or may show up as a gradual decline in hearing sensitivity over time. In some cases, the hearing loss may be accompanied by other symptoms such as dizziness, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), or a feeling of fullness in the ears.

Treatment for hearing loss related to autoimmune disease typically involves addressing the underlying autoimmune condition and may include medications to suppress the immune system and reduce in ammation. If the hearing loss is persistent, hearing aids may be prescribed.

While hearing loss can be a symptom of an autoimmune disease, that’s de nitely not the only possible cause. A comprehensive evaluation is essential for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate management of your hearing loss. Contact Hear Inc. to schedule

an evaluation with one of our experienced Board Registered Audiologists.

If you notice a sudden change in your hearing, especially when it is accompanied by other symptoms, it is essential that you seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Donna Stewart, Audiologist and Owner,

Hear Inc.

Phone: 778-426-4876

Martine Schlagintweit

SILVER THREADS SERVICE

HOW TO AGE WELL

We all know this, but we will say it again. As we age staying physically active helps in many ways to keep us fi t for aging well. Regular exercise lowers your risk of health issues such as heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and diabetes. It can help with balance, coordination and prevent falls. It will aid in improving sleep. Mood, energy levels and mental health are enhanced.

Now, how to start or restart. Silver Threads Service o ers two locations for individuals 55 years and better to exercise, socialize, learn and play with other like-

5 LETTER WORDS: stein snits nites sifts inset feint

fi ts sent

fist site nest

4 LETTER WORDS: nefi

ANSWERS

minded folks. No matter if you are new to exercise or work out regularly there will be a program to suit you. Our instructors are well qualified, classmates are supportive and the environment is relaxed. Membership is valid at two locations, and there is a choice of 9 di erent classes a week to suit a variety of fi tness levels.

A lively, easy to follow choreography is provided.

The Saanich Centre is located at 286 Hampton Road near the Tillicum Mall with plenty of parking and easy Handy Dart access. Chair Fitness is a great class for those getting back into a fi tness routine or who have balance and / or mobility challenges. This class is completely seated. It includes a gentle warm-up followed by strength and flexibility exercises using weights, bands, and balls, ending with a relaxation stretch. The classes run Mondays and Thursdays

From 11:15am to 12:00pm $4 members $7 non-members.

Our Winter Program Guide is now available online at www. silverthreads.ca and our Spring 2024 Guide will be released early in March. All of our programs require registration, and you can phone to book your spot. Silver Threads Service has been serving seniors in Victoria for over 67 years, and prides itself on creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for those looking to try out new experiences and classes. For more information or to register, call the Saanich Centre at 250 382-3151 or the Victoria Centre at 250-388-4268.

BRAIN POWER CHALLENGE

If you are ready to amp up your cognitive function and take a proactive approach to your brain

health, Silver Threads Service o ers programs that can support you in this health practice. Our Spring Programs start in April and include Memory PLUS, Brain Games and Dynamic Discussions. These programs are for those 55+ who would like to enhance their memory skills in an active and social group setting. Call 250 382-3151 or visit silverthreads.ca for more information.

THE CHALLENGE THIS MONTH IS TO CREATE WORDS FROM THE LETTERS IN “FITNESS.”

4 LETTER

5 LETTER WORDS

Give yourself Bonus points for any 6 letter words!

The Victoria Centre is located at 1911 Quadra Street, near the Police Station. In our winter session we have several classes that run on Tuesday and Thursday later in the day, especially for those of us who may still be working or have other daytime commitments. Hatha Yoga and Essentrics provide full body work outs, that will improve overall wellness.

Hatha Yoga runs 5:15 to 6:16pm on Tuesdays and 3:45 to 4:45pm on Thursdays.

6 classes are $54 for members or $78 for non-members.

For the more adventurous there is Bollywood Dance on Thursdays starting at 5:15pm.

Silver Threads Ser vice

Ripped out & ripped off at fourteen! A Second Chance Please

Ask

The Dentist!

by Dr. C Ross Crapo DDS

Q: When I was fourteen years old I went to the dentist. I had decay in eight teeth. The dentist talked to my parents and convinced them I was a bad risk as far as decay was concerned, and so they decided to take out all my upper teeth. I didn’t have any decay on my lower teeth, just my upper – why was that? Anyway, I went in, the dentist hauled out all my upper teeth and gave me a denture. It was the most traumatic experience of my life. I was scared, I was embarrassed to be the only teenager to have a plate –imagine it, a plate at fourteen, and finally I was angry. But in those days, nearly fifty years ago, you didn’t express anger or you’d get at least verbally slapped around, if not physically. I have lived with this all my life, but now I’ve gotten the courage up to investigate my options and though I’m frightened, I want to know if I can get implants and get rid of this denture. I saw a dentist and he said I didn’t have much bone, that I had big sinuses, so there wasn’t any room to put implants in. I’ve read the ads about teeth in a day and I wondered if that was different and if I qualified. I have to know my options, or if I have any at all.

A: It’s always astonishing to hear these stories, but from folks in their mid-fifties and beyond, I’ve heard similar stories from every part of the country. My goal, and that of all conscientious dentists, is that this legacy will be permanently replaced in the future.

Without seeing you I can’t give you all your options, but this I can say: if you have large sinuses and they’re clear and

healthy, you can have any kind of teeth you want.

Sinus surgery sounds terrible to most people, but it turns out to be a very straight forward and predictable surgery. These surgeries are accomplished by trained implantologists every day, all over the world, with very few problems in the thousands that are done. There may be some bruising, but very little pain. The surgery is done to place bone that will partially fill the sinus, allowing implants to be placed six to eight months later. I have never seen or heard of problems with breathing, stuffiness, pain or nasal drip arising out of this surgery.

It is a surgery I would undergo if I needed it and would recommend it for any family member who needed it.

Once the bone is in place and becomes part of your upper jaw, implants can be placed that will provide a foundation that will give you beautiful, strong and wonderfully functioning teeth.

If we can help, we’d like to. Call 778-410-2080 for a consultation. Based on actual patient cases

©Calvin Ross Crapo

Victoria Implant Centre

778-410-2080

VictoriaImplantCentre.com

The importance of maintaining wellness through life’s journey

Tapestry at Victoria Harbour understands the importance of maintaining wellness through life’s journey. Remaining active helps individuals at every age increase energy, improve sleep and maintain strength, stability and balance. We also believe you are never too old to try new pursuits – even belly dancing!

As part of a community collaboration with Dance Victoria and their annual Dance Days festival, Tapestry recently offered an older adult belly dance fusion class that was open to the public in addition to residents.

Through this partnership, which re ects Tapestry's commitment to broader community engagement, the general public could experience the wonderfully unique wellness activities that residents enjoy every day.

“Tapestry has a commitment to being authentically local,” says Amber Reis, General Manager at Tapestry at Victoria Harbour. “We also love to support likeminded organizations, and Dance Victoria has a history of giving back to the community,” she adds.

Fatima Rabago, who is an on-site Kinesiologist at Tapestry and a former dancer, says dance is not only excellent for improving your cardiovascular system, it has other bene ts that tie directly into Tapestry’s 7 Dimensions of Wellness. “All of your senses are activated,” she says, “Dance also has great cognitive effects because you have to work to make the mindbody connection, and performing repetitive steps is good for your memory.”

Fatima set out to design a class that would allow participants to explore the beauty of belly dance, fused with elements from various other dance styles. “We focused on simple steps to the music, starting with a full body warm up, and worked on steps to increase mobility, coordination and balance,” adds Fatima.

The beaded skirts worn by participants helped to bring more awareness to their hips along with motivation to move them a bit more. “Everyone had so much fun, they said it didn’t even feel like working out,” Fatima says.

Dance is a perfect blend of tness and social enjoyment, tailor-made for Tapestry’s active-aging community, with the added bene ts of the emotional and spiritual connection that can come from exercising to music.

If you are an independent senior looking for a unique community that offers endless opportunities to enhance your wellness, visit TapestryVictoria.com or call (250) 419-4261. Call to book a tour and lunch and ask about our enticing move-in incentives.

Senior driving education vs assessment

Many geriatric researchers presenting at safety conferences agree that education, not testing, is the answer to seniors driving longer and safer.

Prior to intervention by family, government, medical personnel or police, seniors should take charge of their driving situation.

It is best to prepare for an impending driver assessment well ahead of time. It will relieve the stress of the unknown and the arrival of the dreaded letter. Seniors should be proactive, not reactive, when it comes to all sorts of things, particularly as it pertains to driving.

Many people believe seniors have a higher-than-normal crash frequency.

This is not true.

They do have a much higher chance of injury in a crash because of the frailty brought on by

advanced age, particularly those over 75 years of age.

Two presenters at a Driving School Association of the Americas conference made a very strong case that senior-driver harassment by governing bodies exists throughout North America.

The most common crashes listed in order of frequency and cause of injury are:

• The left turn at intersections, crossing multiple oncoming lanes of traf c, causes injury for all drivers. This type of crash is often due to declining depth perception in seniors and lack of experience in teens.

• The fact that oncoming vehicle drivers could change to the outside through-lane at an intersection, without warning, and be hidden behind the inside lane of two lanes approaching, was also a factor.

For both seniors with slower reaction times and teens lack of experience, lack of scanning contributes to this crash.

• Rear end crashes are very common. This is caused by all drivers not understanding time and distance for stopping. Understanding the consequences of tailgating is a lesson to be learned by all.

Again, seniors are more likely to experience more injury than a teen.

Joan Wallace Driving School offers a free seminar for seniors at 2 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of every month.

To sign up, call 250-383-7483

Six creative ideas to honour your loved one at a celebration of life

Written By Arbor Sta

Taking time to celebrate the extraordinary life of your departed loved one can be a healing and uplifting experience. To honour their legacy, we’ve put together 6 creative ways that you can celebrate their life. From recipe books to a simple photo collage, there’s something for every family.

1. SHARE YOUR FAVOURITE MEMORY ON A CHALKBOARD

Put up a large chalkboard at your gathering and ask everyone to write their favourite memory with that person. With fond memories on display, you can read stories you’ve never heard before. When everyone contributes, you’ll learn more about your loved one. It’s easy to source materials for your chalkboard from your local stationary or dollar store or a craft store like Michael’s.

2. CREATE A RECIPE BOOK WITH THEIR FAMOUS CREATIONS SO OTHERS CAN RECREATE THEM

Was your loved one known for their delicious pastries or cabbage rolls? Compile all of their dishes into a recipe book. For a more personalized book, you can add photos of them making these items, if there are any. Send a copy to a photo book company like Blacks or PIKTO and give them out to family and friends.

3. MEMORIAL COLLAGE

This is a great way to involve the entire family. Ask everyone to bring in their favourite photos of your loved one. Go through their yearbooks and photo albums and nd any images you’d like to include. Your Arbor funeral home will provide resources, like poster board and frames, where you can attach photos using glue or sticky tack.

Make it digital: Will some family members join your event by video call? One way to immerse them is by working with your Arbor funeral home to create a slideshow version which can be played both online and by projection for those in person. Plus, by making it digital, you can also include video content.

4. CREATE A UNIQUE PLAYLIST OF THEIR FAVOURITE SONGS

Was your loved one a music lover? Why not compile all of their favourite songs to play during the event? Then, you can put all the songs onto a thumb drive and give them out as keepsakes afterwards. Alternatively, you can add them to a playlist on a streaming platform like Spotify or Apple Music so everyone can enjoy them whenever, wherever they are.

5. CREATE MEMORIAL STONES

Here’s a great opportunity to get a bit artsy. Stones can be placed in your garden as a unique and personalized keepsake of your

loved one. You might source these from nature or from your local plant nursery or outdoor decor store. Set up a station at your event with paint, glitter, beads, and other materials people can use to decorate their stones.

6. MAKE A TRAVEL BOARD

If your loved one travelled a lot, consider putting a large map on display during the celebration of life. Then, stick thumbtacks on all the places they’ve visited. You can take it a step further and include any plane tickets, passports, or postcards of theirs.

Remembering your loved one can be as dynamic and special as their life.

At Sands Victoria by Arbor Memorial, we’re dedicated to helping you memorialize and uniquely remember your loved ones.

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

A Victoria Times Colonist publication

Publisher: Dave Obee

Director of Advertising: Ed Kennedy #201-655 Tyee Road, Victoria, BC V9A 6X5

To advertise in the next issue and or submit content please contact: Aaron Ross, 250-380-5313 aross@timescolonist.com

Heart to Home Meals

Ever yone recognizes the challenges facing us with cost-of-living and global economic uncertainty on the rise

I’m here to support you.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to me:

250-472-8528 @leg.bc.

Murray.Rankin.MLA@leg.bc.ca

SIDNEY WATERFRONT HOME FOR RENT.

- Private location 8 blocks N. of Beacon Ave.

- Wheelchair Friendly Rancher

- Quality Custom 1998 built with heat pump, security system, two car garage, etc.

250-361-8483

That’s the premise behind Heart to Home Meals, which aims to empower individuals with healthy food choices and bring meals to your door.

The business, launched in Victoria in June of 2022 by Scott & Debra Downton, offers more than 200 meals, soups and desserts prepared to the highest standard.

“Our chefs follow the Canada Food Guide, and we have a global executive Four Seasons chef who has travelled the world, cooked for celebrities, and makes nutritious

food taste really good,” said Scott. “He creates all these options and then at the peak of cooking, the meals are ash frozen to lock in the nutrition and avour.

You get the meal, put it in the oven for 30 minutes or in the microwave for 10 minutes, and it’s almost as though the meal was just cooked. The smells ll your kitchen, the avour bursts in your mouth.”

Serving Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands, the business has rapidly grown, with approximately 1,800 customers, including a network of veterans. Meals come in three different sizes: mini, standard and hearty for larger appetites.

Nutrition options are colour coded for easy classi cation. They include meals for limiting sodium and carbohydrates, gluten, saturated fat, high- bre diets and additional protein, to name a few.

“The COVID-19 pandemic drove the ‘aging in home’ concept, where people preferred to stay in their homes and communities,”

explained Debra. “This exacerbated the “tea and toast syndrome,” where people would have a piece of toast and cup of tea for supper.” Your body doesn’t get the nutrition it needs and, just say after surgery, the hospitals will tell you that one of the things that brings people back is malnutrition, and the rising price of food and everything else makes it worse.”

The “aging at home” group is the business’s main customer base, followed by individuals coming out of the hospital..

hearttohomemeals.ca

Meatballs with Mushroom Gravy

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The Serengeti – a proven winner when it comes to safaris

AuthenticAfricaToursAndSafaris.com travel@africatourssafaris.com

When going on a safari for the first time, people are often overwhelmed by the choices that present themselves when researching Africa. There are many areas to consider, and each area has its own characteristics making them different from any other.

But there is this one Safari area that just seems to have it all. Spectacular landscapes, an abundance of wildlife, and its own Natural World Wonder – The Great Migration.

Year over Year the Serengeti in Tanzania is voted one of the best - if not the best safari area in Africa. With its central location and easy accessibility, it is a

fantastic and easy way to explore a part of Africa. The park has a well-developed infrastructure with numerous lodges, camps serving different comfort and budget levels, and airstrips, making it convenient for visitors to explore the area and enjoy a comfortable safari experience.

The Serengeti is renowned for hosting the annual Great Migration, where millions of wildebeest, zebras, and other herbivores migrate in search of fresh grazing grounds. This natural spectacle is one of the most remarkable wildlife events

bird species. This biodiversity provides an exceptional safari experience for wildlife enthusiasts.

And for those who are not here for wildlife alone, Tanzania also offers a chance to experience the rich cultural heritage of the Maasai people amongst other tribal groups. Authentic Africa Tours and Safaris can craft safari packages including cultural visits to Maasai villages, providing visitors with insights into their

traditional lifestyle and customs.

While opinions on the "best" safari area can vary based on personal preferences and specific interests, the Serengeti's combination of wildlife, landscape, accessibility, and cultural experiences make it a top choice for even the most seasoned safari enthusiasts in East Africa. Contact us to let us craft YOUR Authentic Africa Experience in Tanzania or join our escorted small group tour in November 2024.

in the world, attracting visitors who want to witness the dramatic river crossings and predator-prey interactions. The Migration can be witnessed year-round in different areas of the Serengeti, offering options to travel outside of the high season when visitors are fewer in numbers.

But the Migration is not all there is to see. In addition to the migratory herds, the park is home to the "Big Five" (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhinoceros) and a wide variety of other species, including cheetahs, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, and numerous

Combine Gorilla trekking in Rwanda with a Serengeti safari

Sayari Camp activities include game viewing at Mara River crossing.