Yorkton This Week | www.YorktonThisWeek.com | Wednesday, October 30, 2019
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SENIORS Our Monthly Feature
…For Seniors and about Seniors
Veteran reflects on his life By Cory Carlick Staff Writer Bill Stubbings is a familiar face at the Legion. The well liked veteran, with an easy smile and a mischievous sense of humour, is, you could say, a local legend. Working with General Motors in the golden period of cars, both before and after the Second World War, he is one of Yorkton’s last WWII veterans. It is only fitting, then, that with his larger than life personality, plenty of adventures abounded in his remarkable life. Serving in the Canadian Army during the Second World War, cars always just seemed to be around the family. “My dad was a janitor for General Motors. He worked in the GM Garage, and I guess I sort of steered that way. While I was still going to school, on my several holidays, I went down there. I worked at delivering parts around town.” Bill learned firsthand what it took to get a sale at General Motors
in those days, even if it meant having to collar someone who was leaning in on your turf. “First time I ever saw two salesmen fight,” Bill chuckles. It seems that the two distinguished gentlemen had a bit of a dispute over who was to get the sale. One of them broke a gentleman’s agreement, and an unspoken code of honour had been violated. Vehicle options were, apparently, to customize his face. That correction, as legend would have it, was a battle royale in front of the customers in the stately early 1940s serenity of the sales floor. “I was at the counter and all of a sudden I heard sort of a ruckus in the front showroom. Anyway, there were these two old car salesmen. They’d been there for years; they were in their 50s or 60s. Well established as salesmen, you know. Had their customers, Cadillacs and all that. I guess they got into a tussle over a guy, some customer that came in, and the other guy sold him the vehicle.”
Bill Stubbings at the Legion It got physical quickly, turning into a little bit of a donnybrook over this sale. “They were actually fighting [over this car]! A little bit of a scuffle. Didn’t last very long...I guess they realized they were making fools of themselves quickly. Over the sale of the vehicle! “I never noticed before. They seemed like kind old fellas! But there is a certain rule, you know? If some stranger comes in off the street, and he’s talking to you about a vehicle, then you’re coming around and then he goes out, comes back two days later, and buys a car off me. You know he walks up the door, I go to him, say, ‘Can I help you?’ and I sell the vehicle. Well, there’s a little bit of discussion there,” he says with a chuckle. The Second World War, however, was at that point in full force – with the efforts of millions of
brave Canadians doing their part. It wasn’t long before young Bill was also called up to serve his country, not long after his birthday. “I turned 18 in ‘44, and then I was called up [to the military]. I’m the youngest WWII veteran here in town, and I’ll be the last one. There’s only about five or six of us left. “Anyway. I got called up, and the interviewing officer was a Grade 10 school teacher. But first, before that, I tried to get into the [Royal Canadian] Air Force, because I’d been in Air Cadets, and they rejected me because of my hearing. So then I thought, oh, ok. I’ll try the Navy then. So I went down to the Navy and all they were taking was cooks! Well, I didn’t want to be a cook! Finally I went to the Army where I interviewed with that Grade 10 school teacher, but all the Army was taking then was infantry. But he says ‘Bill, I think I can
Bill Stubbings and Julia Mackey
306-782-1793
process of building this bridge, we ran out of food. “The Sargeant came to us one day, and we say, ‘We’re a little short on food!’ [He says] ‘Well, OK. We’ve got some rice and tomato soup. So that was our meal. Well, we kind of went on strike after that,” he laughed. “You know, we’ve gotta eat; we’ve gotta work. Guy kept coming in by horseback. So anyway he comes up to the tent and we all gathered around the tent, looking at this horse. Well that Sargeant comes out and goes, ‘Fellas, leave that horse alone. That’s what culls us from civilization!’ “Well, we slept in the open, branches over us and that sort of thing. Finally, a convoy came in and dropped some food on this road, had some boxes of food. “Here we were, soldiers, and didn’t have a gun with us, but the Sargeant had a gun. Not a rifle, but he had a gun. “He asked everybody if anyone had any hunting experience. I just put my hand up. So he gives me the gun and says, ‘ See if you can find anything to shoot.’ Well, I came back empty handed.” After the war, Bill ended up working with GM for many years, active in the Legion. While he may have come back without any deer meat, he did come back with plenty of stories to tell, his engineering leanings never far behind.
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find a place for you in the Royal Engineers. So I got into the Royal Canadian Engineers and got sent out to Chilliwack, BC. “It was interesting out there, working with explosives,” he says. “Blowing up trees! We put together a Bailey bridge. Anyway, the airforce was having an air show over in Seattle, and I think there was only one main bridge there. So they had us bring up all our bridge equipment, and trucked it up to Seattle. Never built one before, you know. They lined us all up, according to size, and they had the big guys carry these heavy transoms for the big side panels, and when they got down to me, I was ‘pin boy’ – ‘Put the pins here!’ One particular story he recalls with a snicker. “We were building a road, out in the sticks somewhere, and there was a little creek. They needed a temporary bridge built so that the machinery could get across, and that sort of thing. “So they put us in trucks and we went a certain distance, by truck, because we couldn’t get any further. We got off the box, the rest of the way. They gave us little mess cans. First time I’d ever eaten out of a mess can. “Anyway, we get out there in the middle of nowhere, and we started by cutting down some big trees. And then, big long trees to form the bridge itself, and planks across the logs. So that was a temporary bridge. In the
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just for SENIORS
October 2019
Giving back to seniors in your community The strongest communities tend to be those in which members make a concerted effort to give as much as they get. Giving back to one’s community can foster strong relationships with fellow residents and ensure that everyone, including the less fortunate, is in position to live happy, healthy lives. Certain people in a community may be more vulnerable to issues that can adversely affect quality of life than others. For example, the National Institute on Aging notes that, as men and women age, many are alone more often than when they were younger, leaving them vulnerable to social isolation and loneliness. Such feelings can prove very harmful to their health, potentially
contributing to problems such as depression, cognitive decline and heart disease. Volunteering to help the aging members of one’s community is a great way to give back, and such efforts can prove rewarding for both seniors and the volunteers who lend them a hand. • Pull an extra chair up to the dinner table. Many a meaningful connection has been made and maintained over the dinner table. Breaking bread with a senior from your community is a great way to foster such connections and provide an avenue for social interaction for seniors. Seniors who live alone might not enjoy cooking for one each night, but they might jump at the
to determine if there are any financial assistance programs that can help seniors effectively manage their money and take advantage of age-specific perks, such as programs that may help seniors lower their energy costs.
chance to eat dinner with a neighbor and even help prepare the meal. Invite a senior over once per week, encouraging them to share stories about their lives as well as how the community has
If you’re looking for something to do when you retire, consider going back to school. It can be a challenging, engaging and fulfilling way to occupy your golden years. Here are some reasons it may be right for you. 1. Financial benefits. Learning new skills at school could lead to you securing an additional source of income, thereby making your retirement more comfortable and keeping you busy to boot. If, for any reason, you
need to stay employed after you reach the age of retirement, developing new skills or honing the ones you have could open the door to better jobs. 2. Fulfill your goals. Many people end up putting aside their youthful aspirations to deal with the financial realities of life. In this type of case, retirement could be an opportunity for you to pursue passions you had to put on hold and complete courses, or even a degree, in a field of study you love.
3. Be mentally stimulated. Research suggests that seniors who are mentally active are less likely to show signs of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Plus, taking courses can have beneficial psychological effects and provide you with something to focus on and work towards. 4. Avoid isolation. Social isolation is a serious concern for seniors and going back to school can help prevent it. Some classes are specifically designed for older stu-
developed over the years. • Help seniors manage their finances. Many seniors struggle to manage their finances, as laws regarding taxes and investing are subject to routine changes. A little
help in this area can go a long way for seniors. Adults who want to help but don’t know where to begin can do the legwork for their aging neighbors. Contact agencies such as AARP
• Offer to help around the house. Seniors who reside in single-family homes may not be able to keep up with routine home maintenance. Neighbors who want to help can offer to mow the lawn, tend to the landscaping and tidy up inside. Keep an eye open for other issues, such as clogged gutters, that can be fixed easily but prove costly if they go ignored. Helping aging neighbors is a great way to give back and build strong communities.
Four reasons for seniors to go back to school
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dents, which allows you to learn new skills while building your network. Social connections can be a source of support and improve your overall
quality of life. Many universities and colleges offer discounted rates for senior students, and you may be able to audit some classes for
free. This information is usually available online. Otherwise, you can call the institution you’re interested in to find out more.
Four tips for being an awesome grandparent When it comes to becoming a grandparent for the first time, there’s something of a learning curve involved. Here are four tips to help you thrive in your new role. 1. Be available Though family dynamics differ greatly from household to household, the most important thing you can offer is to be available for your grandchildren. In some cases, all that will be requested is that you watch them from time to time. However, some parents need a little more help. 2. Respect parental rules
It’s important to talk to your grandchildren’s parents to establish ground rules as well as aspects of their routine that should be maintained when they spend time with you. Occasional changes are often welcome but try to avoid undermining their parental authority. 3. Don’t interfere Keep in mind that your grandchildren’s parents may not raise their little ones the same way you would. Let them approach parenting in their own way and provide input only when asked. 4. Be a positive presence
Children are sometimes more comfortable opening up to their grandparents than their parents, and it’s important that you make the effort to listen to them and take them seriously. This will lead them to feeling loved and cared for and help them develop their self-esteem. Finally, do your best to find fun activities you can take part in together. While spoiling grandchildren with presents and sweets tends to be a part of the grandparenting gig, the most meaningful thing you can do is dote on them with your time, attention and love.
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Yorkton This Week | www.YorktonThisWeek.com | Wednesday, October 30, 2019
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OCTOBER 2019
What is long-term care insurance? No one knows what the future has in store. While the future might be unpredictable, it can still be planned for. Financial advisors often tout the benefits of saving for retirement, and for good reason. A carefree retirement that affords retirees a chance to pursue their passions without worrying about money is a dream for many people. However, studies show that people are not necessarily doing all they can to make that dream a reality. For example, a recent study from Northwestern Mutual found that 21 percent of Americans have no retirement savings at all. The picture is even more bleak in Canada, where a 2018 poll from CIBC found that 32 percent of Canadians between the ages of 45 and 64 had nothing saved for retirement. The freedom to travel
might be something many people look forward to in retirement, and it even motivates many to open retirement accounts. But saving for retirement should not be seen as a means to simply financing a lavish, post-professional lifestyle. It’s essential that people also see saving for retirement as a means to account for unforeseen medical expenses, including personal and custodial care. Long-term care insurance is designed to provide such support, making it something anyone with an eye on their future should consider. What is long-term care insurance? According to L o n g Te r m C a r e . g o v, long-term care insurance policies reimburse policyholders a daily amount, up to a predetermined limit, for services to assist them with the
activities of daily living. Policyholders can typically choose from a host of care options and benefits that can dramatically improve their quality of life should they ever prove incapable of caring
for themselves. Seniors who live alone or those who live with an aging spouse who also has physical limitations can often use a helping hand to perform activities such as bathing, dressing and
Learning about the causes of adult hearing loss By learning about what impacts hearing loss, people can make changes to prevent damage. Hearing loss is quite common and can impact people’s lives in profound ways. Although there are some treatments that can improve one’s ability to hear and communicate, many people are interested in learning about the ways they may be able to prevent hearing loss in the first place. Medical experts advise that hearing loss can be caused by different factors. Learning about these causes can help individuals make smart decisions at a young age to prevent future hearing loss when possible. In certain circumstances, hearing loss may be unavoidable. In such instances, audiologists, or doctors specializing in hearing, can help. Conductive hearing loss Conductive hearing loss refers to problems with the ear canal, ear drum or middle ear and its bones. Some of the causes of conductive
hearing loss include: • Otitis media is an infection of the middle ear in which fluid accumulation can interfere with the movement of the eardrum and ossicles. • Impacted earwax also can cause hearing problems. • Fluid in the middle ear may obstruct hearing. • Otosclerosis, which is a middle ear disease, can make it difficult for the tiny bones in the middle ear to move. Surgery can correct the problem. • Malformation of the outer ear, ear canal or middle ear structure can impact hearing as well. Sensorineural hearing
Did you know?
loss Sensorineural hearing loss, or SNHL, occurs due to problems of the inner ear. It is often referred to as nerve-related hearing loss. • Aging is a common cause of hearing loss that may not be reversible. Age-related hearing loss is called presbycusis and is marked by muffled or unclear speech. Treatment with assistive hearing devices can help improve hearing. • Trauma to the ear or head may impact hearing. Wearing protective gear during sports or other activities can protect against neurological damage that may cause hearing loss.
• Damage to the inner ear can result from prolonged exposure to loud noises, states the Mayo Clinic. These noises cause wear and tear on the hairs or nerve cells in the cochlea that send sound signals to the brain. When these hairs or nerve cells are damaged or missing, electrical signals aren’t transmitted as efficiently, and hearing loss occurs. Using hearing protection and turning down the volume can help. • Ménière’s disease is an inner ear problem of unknown origins. It usually starts in people between the ages of 30 and 50. Dizziness and ringing of the ear are common, and hearing loss comes and goes. Some loss can become permanent. · Viruses and diseases as well as family history also may play a role in SNHL. In some instances, hearing loss may be the result of a combination of factors. Anyone finding their hearing has become less acute should visit with an audiologist.
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The Administration on Aging notes that medical underwriting is typically part of opening a long-term care insurance policy. As a result, adults who are in poor health or already receiving longterm care services may not qualify for long-term care insurance. Other circumstances may limit the amount of coverage a person can buy. Various factors may affect the cost of a long-term care insurance policy. Such factors include a person’s age when he or she opens the policy and the daily payout a potential policyholder wants. For example, the older a person is when opening a policy the more expensive that policy is likely to be.
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OUR NEXT FEATURE - WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27