August 29, 2012

This is the Life!

A Living 60+ Magazine

Helping Seniors Get Around Making a Difference Scams That Affect Seniors Planning Your Estate Pets Are Always Your Friend And more

Serving Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows since 1978

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August 2012

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2 – This is the Life 2012

Helping seniors get around

By Andrew Bucholtz

A key concern for many seniors is finding a way to get to medical appointments, particularly those with out-of-town specialists. One attempt to address that issue is through the Community Action For Seniors’ Independence program, a pilot project started in 2010 that provides rides for seniors.

It’s a collaborative effort between M a p l e R id g e -P it t Me a d o w s Community Services, the United Way, and the provincial government. Joanne Leginus, the director of administration and seniors’ ser v ices for Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Community Services, said transportation to medical appointments is a key part of the demand for the service.

“We have a lot of seniors who need transportation out of our community for medical appointments,” she said.

The program also helps seniors get to other services they need, including grocery shopping, banking and more, and it’s just one of several seniors’ programs offered by the community services group.

Leginus says the demand’s been

strong since the program was introduced, and it continues to grow.

“We have over 300 seniors registered since July 2010."

The program is about more than just transportation, as they also offer housekeeping services, handyman services and visiting services for seniors. Leginus said handyman services in particular have been hotly requested.

Beyond t he C ASI prog ra m, which runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday each week, Maple R idge-Pit t Meadows Community Ser vices also offers meal delivery on weekdays through Meals on Wheels.

The overall goal is to make it so seniors can stay in their ow n homes longer; something many have expressed interest in.

She sees providing seniors with the help they need to remain in their homes as an important mission.

“That is t he best t hing for seniors. Seniors are living in their homes longer, and we want to help them live in their homes.”

Leginus said the Maple RidgePitt Meadows area can present particular challenges for seniors who can’t drive, as many houses are relatively isolated.

That can make it particularly difficult for seniors to access vital services such as out-of-community medical appointments, so Leginus said the program is there to give seniors critical help that allows them to stay on their own.

“It’s just to give them the extra support they need."

The CASI pilot project expires at the end of this year, but Leginus said the provincial government has already committed to a replacement called Better At Home that should allow them to provide many of the same services.

Leginus says the amount of use the program has received has shown it’s a valuable resource for seniors.

This is the Life 2012 – 3

Farm-fresh produce for seniors

By Monisha martins

Two new programs are making it easier for Maple Ridge seniors to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at the Haney's Farmers Market this year.

Both programs are being run by the Golden Ears “Food Education & Action Strategy Table," or FEAST. The Gourmet Grannies began manning the "Try it, You'll Like it" booth when the market opened for the season. Funded by federal New Horizons Initiatives for Seniors grant, the volunteer grannies, who are all over 55 years, dish out samples and entice shoppers to try something new.

Candance Gordon, with FEAST, says the grannies get market bucks to spend on fresh fruits and veggies. So far, she's recruited 12 women but hopes to recruit a few

men - who'll be called Gourmet Roosters.

"It's also a way to get seniors connected to the market," says Gordon.

"They are becoming part of the farmers' market com mu n it y. My f irst recruits keep coming back. They want to come every week. They really enjoy it."

T h roug h a se c ond program, FEAST is offering five $5 coupons to low-income seniors, who can't afford to purchase fresh food.

Gordon would have liked the coupon program to help more seniors but says it's a start.

The Haney's Farmers

This is the Life A Living 60+ Plus Magazine Published August 2012 by the Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows News

Jim Coulter, Publisher Michael Hall, Editor

4 – This is the Life 2012

Carly Ferguson, Advertising & Creative Services Manager

Market applied for a grant from the province, which announced last week it was investing $2 million to increase access to farmfresh produce.

The investment by the province provides loweri ncome fa m i l ies a nd seniors $15 and $12 a week, respectively, for 14 weeks to spend on produce sold at farmers' markets in 21 cities and communities across B.C. Maple Ridge however missed out.

Editorial Phil Melnychuk Monisha Martins Robert Magelsdorf Colleen Flanagan Andrew Bucholtz Robert Prince Layout & Design Brian Holt Mel Onodi

Although the Haney Farmer's Farmer applied for the grant, they were turned down this year, says Gordon.

"We are quite disappointed because we have monitored and tracked the growing incidents of hunger in our community and we felt we did qualify for such a program. It is much more substantial than what we can put together."

Creative Services Kristine Pierlot Annette Waterbeek Annie Sarazin Kathy VanHaster Advertising Michelle Baniulis Marshall Mackinder Jaime Kemmis Karen Derosia

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This is the Life 2012 – 5

No matter how old you are, pets are always your friend

By Robert Prince

Cleaning cages, emptying litter boxes, feeding and grooming dozens of cats, not to mention taking care of felines infected with a variety of illnesses: some might ask why anyone – let alone a 67-year-old woman – would bother to put in the time but Katie’s Place volunteer Audrey says the question should really be, “Why wouldn’t they?”

“I don’t know why people wouldn’t want to do this,” says Audrey (she asked that her family name be withheld for personal reasons), a “Grand Meow” volunteer with Katie’s Place for the past six months.

A Grand Meow, she explains, is a grandma to the cats, just as a “Grand Paw” is a male volunteer who comes to visit the cats at the rescue shelter on a weekly basis.

Prior to becoming a Grand Meow, Audrey volunteered by helping to 6 – This is the Life 2012

clean cages and empty litter boxes, but because her knees are no longer up to the task, she now spends some time helping to feed and groom her furry pals. Mostly, however, she just cuddles and loves them for a couple of hours a week.

It’s great for the cats says Audrey, but she believes she gets as much, if not more, satisfaction from the interaction between herself and the cats at the shelter. It also allows her to do something meaningful with

her free time.

“I just chat and play with them.

They just want some love and affection.”

She says the Grand Meow/Grand Paw program is worthwhile, especially for those seniors who can’t have a pet in their place of residence for whatever reason. Audrey says she’s lucky because she still has three cats at home, but she knows plenty of seniors who miss that interaction with a pet, and she advises anyone who likes animals to try volunteering with any of the local animal shelters because they always need help.

Tracey Bon, a long-time volunteer and board member with Katie’s Place, says volunteers at the shelter come in all age categories, but the Grand Meow/Grand Paw program is especially for seniors who want to engage with cats but aren’t able to help with the more physical aspects of volunteering.

“There are a lot of studies that show that pet interaction is very therapeutic for human beings,” says Bon.

“Purring, for instance, can positively affect the human heart rate.”

For those who are capable of looking after an animal at home, the benefits of animal companionship are tremendous, she adds. For those being deprived of animal love at home because of circumstances, the best remedy is to visit a shelter and do a little volunteering.

“A lot of seniors live alone and miss having someone to care for, not just physically but emotionally.

It sounds simplistic, but it can be critical for someone’s basic health needs. It has defi nitely helped my own mother, who got a cat and loves having another creature to care for again.”

Lorie Chortyk, general manager for community relations with the BC SPCA, is enthusiastic about seniors as a great resource for helping at shelters because they have so many life skills to offer, and because they enjoy giving back to

their community.

“We have more t ha n 4,000 volunteers throughout the province in 37 branches, and a great many of those are seniors,” says Chortyk. “We couldn’t function without our seniors.”

Animals are such agreeable friends – they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms.

— George Eliot

Bon says the Grand Meow/ Grand Paw program is great for those seniors who can’t have a pet

So nice

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Everyone on staff is exceptional!”

at home, but there are plenty of seniors who can have pets in their place of residence and Katie’s Place is more than willing to place a cat with a senior provided management is convinced the home will be a good place for the feline.

The emphasis, she notes, is on the cat’s well-being so they don’t place their charges with anyone they’re not convinced can handle the care duties required.

Though primarily a cat person herself, Bon says dogs make great pets for some seniors as well, although she does point out that dogs are usually a bit more work than a cat so they’re not always ideal for everyone.

"Basically, however, it comes dow n to whether you’re a cat person or a dog person as to which pet is best for you.

"Either way, a pet is a great way for seniors to stay connected.”

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This is the Life 2012 – 7

You're never too young or old to help out

By Robert Prince

It’s often said that people are never too young to make a difference, but two groups of local seniors also believe you’re never too old to make a difference.

Which is why the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows chapters of the Raging Grannies and the Go-Go Grandmas are out in the community, striving to make the world a better place for all the children and grandchildren on this planet.

“We want to leave a better world for our grandchildren,” says Marguerite Marchand, a Raging Granny who gets together with about… Story continued on page 10

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dozen other local women to raise awareness about numerous social and political issues by singing at different events.

The same goes for Linda King and her companions in the Golden Ears GoGos, a local chapter of an umbrella organization that raises money for the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

The program’s mission is to assist tens of thousands of grandmothers in Africa who have found themselves the primary caregivers in their families because the AIDS epidemic on that continent has devastated the generation that was their children.

One group sings protest songs and the other raises money for Africa but each, in its own way, is attempting to do something positive for the community, and for the next generation.

King says the motivations for seniors to get out of their rocking chairs and on to the front lines of difference making are manifold.

“It’s boredom avoidance, friendship, making a contribution, caring, empathy, an opportunity to help, sharing… we can’t just sit around when there’s so much to do,” says the longtime social activist and former municipal councillor.

“We’re not unengaged people and we’re all aware of how interconnected we are in this world.”

If every retiree did a bit of community work, what a fabulous community we’d have because we have so much talent — former councillor, Linda King Oosha Ramsoondar, another member of the local Raging Grannies gaggle (as each chapter is called), says the group sings its protest songs whenever it has the opportunity. Sometimes they’re invited to events, and other times they just show up. They replace the words of popular tunes with social and political commentary to come up with songs like “Radical Environmentalists” (sung to the tune of Coming Round the Mountain), “HST” (sung to the tune of Robin Hood, Robin Hood, Riding Through The Glen), and “Rockabye Enbridge” (sung to the tune of Rock A Bye Baby). The result is entertaining activism.

“Who would listen to us if we just stood on a corner and

talked about these issues,” says Raging Granny Darlene Morrey. “We sing and people listen because it’s fun.”

“There are 10,000 lobbyists in Ottawa who are paid to promote specific agendas,” says Raging Granny Janet Amsden. “We’re giving our wisdom and experience as a counterpoint.”

“And we’re doing it in a way that is not offensive,” chimes in singer Brenda (last name withheld by request), “so that people can have a bit of a laugh and still be educated.”

King says members of the Golden Ears GoGos (gogo is the Zulu word for grandmother) aren’t all grandmothers, but most are, and they’re raising funds through garage sales and greeting card sales for their

African counterparts because they see great need.

“In Africa, a mother who is HIV infected almost always passes the disease on to her child, but in North America a woman with HIV is given the necessary antivirals so that her child is not born with HIV. Many of these grandmothers in Africa have lost all of their own children, and are trying to raise the next generation of children by themselves. We look at ourselves and say, ‘What if we had to do this every day ourselves, all the while mourning the deaths of our children?’”

As for seniors pitching in to make a difference, King says, “The retirement years are not a time to do nothing. We’re healthier than ever, and living longer than ever, and that’s a long time to do nothing meaningful.

"If every retiree did a bit of community work, what a fabulous community we’d have because we have so much talent.”

For her part, Amsden says the younger generation is so pressed for time these days that they don’t have time to speak out, so it’s up to the older generations to do the talking for everyone when they see injustice.

For more information about the Raging Grannies call Oosha Ramsoondar at 604-466-3144. For information about the Golden Ears GoGos, call Linda King at 604-467-2688.

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www.mapleridgelighting.ca This is the Life 2012 – 11

Recreational opportunities to keep seniors healthy

By Andrew Bucholtz

Health isn’t just about the physical dimension. An active social life can be crucial to keeping seniors in good shape.

Paddy Godbehere, manager of the Ridge Meadows Seniors' Society, said the social dimension of health shouldn’t be overlooked. “Socialization is really important, because loneliness leads to depression,” she said.

To that end, the Seniors' Society tries to offer a diverse selection of recreational and social programs, making it so there’s something that might appeal to anyone. The society offers programs at both their Maple Ridge facility (12150 224th St.) and at the Pitt Meadows Seniors' Lounge (12027 Harris Rd.).

“We offer a wide variety of different programs,” Godbehere said. “We have over 70 programs between the 224th Street site and our location in Pitt Meadows.”

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Those programs range from entertainment-focused activities like bridge and carpet bowling, to classes teaching new skills such as computer use or Spanish, to fitness classes. Godbehere said a key element of their programs is they’re not intimidating or restricted to people who are already experts, and they provide opportunities for seniors to interact with others, which can improve their health.

“They’re activ ities you ca n improve in at the senior level,” she said. “All these kinds of programs help [health] changes occur.”

The fitness classes in particular range from programs for those with limited mobility to those who are still in great health, making them work for almost anyone.

It’s not just about the organized programs, though. Godbehere said the Seniors' Society also focuses on providing a space for seniors to interact regularly in a casual setting.

“It’s a place for meeting and talking with peers,” she said. “It’s really important that people are coming in, seeing the same people and saying Hi.” One effort along those lines comes from providing meals. “We do lunch every day,” Godbehere said. “People come in and socialize.”

They also have a hairdresser, a reflexologist and an esthetician in the main Maple Ridge building, and they host a health and wellness clinic every Tuesday.

“Those are resources for people to come and drop in,” Godbehere said. “We’re sort of that hub for people to get information.”

There will be more resources available in Pitt Meadows soon as well, as the society will be opening the new Pitt Meadows Seniors' Centre this fall.

The society’s a non-profit organization run for the benefit of its almost 2,000 members, but

Godbehere said one of their key goals is making it easy for new seniors to join. The society has a good combination of long-time members and new faces, which can make it inviting.

“We are seeing more and more new members,” she said. “There’s a nice mix of new people and people who have been around.”

What really makes the society work is the efforts of its volunteers and its focus of having seniors making key decisions.

“We’re an organization that’s built on the concept of seniors working for seniors,” Godbehere said. “The motivators and decisionmakers have been volunteers.”

Volunteers have been crucial to the society’s success. “We have about 250 volunteers,” she said.

“They’re a mainstay here.”

She said the focus remains keeping seniors active, connected and healthy.

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This is the Life 2012 – 13

Women, regardless of age, now used to travelling alone

By Robert Prince

When Connie White’s husband passed away unexpectedly in the mid-1970s she was naturally devastated. One saving grace was that her children were all old enough at the time that she didn’t have to raise them alone.

Though she was still working, not having children to look after produced an interesting situation for the young widow because she suddenly found herself with lots of time on her hands.

She’d never travelled before, what with five children and a husband to look after, plus her job as a mobile home park manager, but she thought it was something she’d like to do.

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And so Connie White became something of a pioneer in a trend that has been growing for the past 30 years – middle-aged and senior women who travel alone.

There are no definite statistics about how many older women are travelling these days, but it is estimated that North American women will spend more than $125 billion on travel in the next year. In addition, about 80 per cent of travel decisions are made by women.

It’s a trend that is not going unnoticed by the travel industry, as the number of agencies catering exclusively to women has exploded, and programs geared towards female travelers have boomed.

Connie White’s fi rst travel experience was a cruise in 1984, and the experience hooked her on the joys of travelling. Since then, she has taken 17 cruises plus other kinds of trips to destinations all over the world.

“I loved it immediately,” says White. “You could do anything you wanted on a cruise ship and I still love it.”

Though it’s the case that lots of women are travelling by themselves these days, White has never gone alone, primarily, she notes, because she couldn’t afford to go it alone.

“If I had had the money I might have travelled alone occasionally, but I’m a companionable sort of person and I like have someone to share the experience with when I travel, so I’ve always gone with a friend or a group.”

White is not alone in that regard, says travel agent Leslie Polidoro of the Marlin Travel Group in Coquitlam.

Many of the older women in particular who book through her are keen to travel with someone for a variety of reasons, the foremost being companionship, cost cutting and safety.

Her 20 years in the industry have shown Polidoro that there are more older women travelling today than ever before for a few reasons. First off, she says, women tend to outlive their spouses, so if they want to travel as widows then they have no choice but to go it alone.

Secondly, the divorce rate is high and so there are many older women who suddenly find themselves alone. And thirdly, women tend to want to travel more than their spouses, which means they’re still married and wanting to travel, then they have to go without hubby.

Solo travelling is becoming big business for travel agents, says Polidoro, who has plenty of experience dealing with individuals who don’t have someone close to them to travel with. In fact, she’s currently setting up a program t hrough Ma rlin Travel ca lled “Travel Match.”

Story continued on page 16

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This is the Life 2012 – 15

Story continued from page 15 …

“It’s a free travel club for those who enjoy travelling, meeting people, and making new friends, yet are tired of paying a single supplement or travelling alone,” says Polidoro.

The goal, she adds, is to match up like-minded compatible travelers via monthly meetings and mixers through 14 Marlin Travel offices throughout the Lower Mainland, including the Maple Ridge branch. It’s not a seniors’ club, or a women’s club, but Polidoro is betting, based on her experience with similar groups in the past, that the majority of participants will be women, with a healthy dose of those being middle-aged and above.

So what advice does White have for women like her who want to see the world?

Start by finding a good companion to travel with says the 86-year-old, whose favourite spots to visit so far have been Hawaii and New Zealand. And if you’re travelling with one person, or a whole group of people, be companionable yourself. There’s nothing worse than travelling with someone who’s cranky or withdrawn.

Finally, says White, be able to laugh at the crazy things that will happen along the way… and there will be crazy things happening.

Scams that can affect seniors

By Andrew Bucholtz

There are plenty of scam artists out there, and many of them go after seniors.

Cpl. Alanna Dunlop, the Ridge Meadows RCMP’s media relations officer, said a sizable number of the reports of scams they receive involve seniors.

“Seniors can be targeted,” she said. “Some can be seen as a vulnerable sector.”

According to the federal government’s national Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, a wide variety of tactics are used by scammers, including offering free vacations, sending e-mails that indicate the recipient’s won a prize or promising jobs such as a “mystery shopper."

Scammers can target people by e-mail, over the phone or even in person, and they can take money

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directly or gather personal information to steal the recipient’s identity. Dunlop said Ridge Meadows RCMP receive plenty of reports of scams targeting local residents.

“We do have people alerting us to things,” she said.

She said those reports are valuable.

In most cases, callers are encouraged to report scams to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, but some require more of a local follow-up. Fraud prevention in particular is something the Ridge Meadows detachment focuses on.

“We work on a lot of prevention,” Dunlop said.

That includes a particular focus on seniors. Special Const. Steve Terrillon serves as the detachment’s seniors’ coordinator. His job description involves working with seniors on a wide variety of issues, but part of it involves speaking to seniors’ groups about ways to prevent scams.

“He’s there to work as a support for seniors,” Dunlop said. “He speaks to them on topics like fraud.”

Scam artists use a wide variety of approaches, and ones that are often changing, so Dunlop recommends concerned people check out the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre’s website (antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca) for information on how to recognize and avoid scams.

In particular, having bills or statements missing from

your mail can be signs of potential identity theft, as can receiving information that you’ve been approved or denied for an application for credit you didn’t make.

Telemarketing scams can be particularly difficult to identify, and they don’t always stand out from legitimate offers. The centre offers a list of several key points that usually delineate these kinds of scams, though, including an announcement that you’ve won a prize in something you didn’t enter, an indication that you need to send money to claim your prize, a request for private fi nancial information (including asking for a bank account or credit card number without you requesting to pay that way), pressure to make a decision immediately and a demand to be paid by cash or cheque (as many scammers can’t establish themselves with credit-card companies).

E-mail scams can be a little easier to pick up upon, as there are several standard variants that are frequently used and there’s no pressure to make an immediate decision. Samples on the centre’s website include letters from false charities, the infamous “money trapped in Nigeria” letters and claims that your e-mail address has won a lottery you didn’t enter.

Dunlop said the best overarching way to identify scams is how they seem better than is reasonable.

“If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”

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This is the Life 2012 – 17

Three essential estate planning solutions

By Sherri Robinson, Becker & Company Lawyers

We have all heard the slogan, "the only two certainties in life are death and taxes."

So why are so many of us not planning for these foreseeable events?

It’s likely because it’s difficult to think about our own mortality.

So, instead, why not view estate planning as an opportunity to prov ide for t he securit y a nd comfort of our loved ones? A proper estate plan that sets out our wishes clearly, helps to avoid conf licts that often arise among our family members after we are gone.

An estate plan could involve any number of components depending on your assets, beneficiaries and

your overall objectives with respect to the distribution of your estate.

However, there are three essential documents that everyone should have in place. These are: Last will and testament A will allows you to appoint a trusted executor to deal with your assets and liabilities on death. A will also sets out how and when your assets should be distributed. If you die without a will, your family members will have a more difficult time dealing with your affairs and provincial laws will determine how your estate is distributed.

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Power of Attorney A power of attorney allows you to appoint someone to deal with your fi nancial affairs if you were in an accident or otherwise incapable of managing your own financial affairs. Without a power of attorney in place, family members must make an expensive court application to obtain authority to manage your affairs.

Representation Agreement While a power of attorney provides financial authority to another person, a Representation Agreement authorizes a person to make your health-care decisions for you, should you be incapable of making your own health-related decisions.

Often, this includes decisions relating to where and with whom you reside, whether to proceed with surgical procedures or treatments, and the difficult decisions relating to life support. Without a Representation Agreement in place,

family members must resort to making an expensive court application to obtain authority to manage your personal care and well-being.

Families that make these applications do so under a great deal of stress. Often they are attempting to oversee your care, yet they are unable to make quick decisions that are necessary to protect your best interests.

Other considerations After your death, your executor will administer your estate in the manner you have set out in your will.

In B.C., probate fees are approximately 1.4 per cent of the gross value of the assets in your estate.

Planning strategies are available to reduce or avoid paying probate fees in the appropriate circumstances, particularly for people over 65 years of age. Consult your legal adviser to learn more about potential probate savings.

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distribution of your estate to your children, including children from a prior relationship, consult your legal adviser as to how best to avoid possible legal claims against your estate.

You are deemed to have disposed of all of your assets at your death and to have immediately reacquired them at fair market value.

Depending on your assets, there may be a large tax bill payable by your estate following your death. If you have a business, vacation property, rental property or other assets that you wish to pass on to your family members after your death, it would be worthwhile to consult with your legal adviser to ensure the best planning strategies are in place to reduce taxes and to fund any taxes that will be payable.

The few hours you will spend with your estate planning adviser now could save your loved ones time, effort and money after you are gone.

Seniors are the foundation of Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.

Thank you for building and supporting our communities.

If these are the questions you’re asking yourself these days, let’s schedule a time when we can sit down and answer them together.

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www.michaelsather.com m This is the Life 2012 – 19

It's always better if you get better in your own home

By Robert Prince

When you’re not well, or someone you love needs help, the last thing you want to hear about is delays.

But the reality of the B.C. healthcare system is that things take time, and the process of determining what kind of assistance a person requires and services they can access, is no easy task, especially when it comes to in-home care.

Just ask Brenda Volkmann, a longterm care case manager with Fraser Health, whose job it is to undertake the assessments that lead to such determinations. She spends her days dealing with people who need long-term care because of medical or other conditions, and she says people have to understand – these

assessments take time because resources are limited.

“We’re not magicians,” says Volkmann. “We have to work with the resources we have. The system takes time and that’s unfortunate, [but] the team I work with here in Maple Ridge is awesome; they really care and they’re very conscious of not wasting money.”

The goal when dealing with patients in the health-care system is to get people home as soon as possible, and to keep them at home as long as possible.

“The goal is to keep you at home

because not only is it cheaper, it’s better for the patient,” says Volkmann. There are several benefits to being at home, she adds. For instance, it’s usually quieter [than a hospital], plus your family is around you more often, and you’re less likely to pick up infections.

So what goes into determining the kind of in-home care a patient requires?

Volkmann says anyone can refer a potential case to Fraser Health’s Home Health department, but the client must be at least 19 years of age. An intake nurse will gather the pertinent information and make a referral determination. There could be more than one interview, and the family doctor will be consulted.

The intake process will determine which services the client requires from five different categories, which include: homecare nursing (wound care, meds, palliative care), occupational and

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physical therapy (mobility issues, exercise, transfer assessments), long-term care (home support, housing option assessments), social work (caregiver stress, domestic violence, legal, etc), or home support for community living (for those with developmental disabilities and their families). In some instances, services from more than one category are required.

Once the categories are determined a caseworker will do a more intensive assessment to determine exactly which services are required… and which aren’t.

T he a ssessment s a re ver y detailed, says Volkmann, and can include everything from healthrelated issues to the financial status of the client. In most instances the family doctor is involved, and there is no cookie-cutter approach to making these determinations, as each situation is assessed individually because no two cases are

exactly the same. Again, the goal is to get the patient the services he or she needs without doing more than is necessary in order to conserve resources for other clients.

If a patient is being discharged from the hospital, a liaison nurse begins the assessment before the patient leaves so that there is a continuum of pertinent care. In other cases, where referrals come from a doctor or a relative, for instances, the process starts with the intake nurse.

In her department, long term care, Volkmann deals primarily with seniors who are contemplating having to give up some level of independence because of health or age-related issues. That can be traumatic by itself, so part of her job is to help people deal with the inevitable. In the meantime, like all of her colleagues, she does her best to walk clients and their families through the process with

compassion and understanding.

The time-consuming nature of the process is what usually leads to frustration for patients and families, says Volkmann. The key to successfully navigating the system is to realize from the beginning that nothing is going to happen instantly, and to react accordingly.

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This is the Life 2012 – 21

Seniors vulnerable to many types of abuse

By Robert Prince

Type “elder abuse” into your computer’s search engine and you’re inundated with stories about the rising number of incidents, increased reporting, signs to watch for, strategies for prevention … and on it goes.

Across North America the various forms of abuse perpetrated against the elderly are being dragged out of the shadows into the light of day. Sexual abuse, physical abuse, spiritual abuse, rights violations, f ina ncia l abuse, inst itut iona l abuse, and neglect… all part of a disturbing trend that may be getting worse as the population on this continent ages.

It’s hard to put defi nite statistics

on how much abuse against seniors actually exists. When the RCMP reports crime statistics, for example, they aren’t broken down into age categories, says the Ridge Meadows detachment media spokesperson, Cpl. Alanna Dunlop.

“We don’t keep specific stats on seniors,” she says. “When we are alerted to a situation we treat it like any other potential crime and we Story continued on page 24

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Story continued from page 22

investigate accordingly.”

Dunlop says if they look into a potential abuse incident and it turns out to be criminal in nature, then the police treat it appropriately. If no actual law is being broken, but it appears something is taking place, then the police will refer it to their partners in the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Katzie Seniors Network.

The Seniors Network is headed

by Heather Treleavan, who says the group works with a variety of agencies to ensure reported cases of elder abuse are treated with the urgency and care they require.

One such agency is Fraser Health.

Leanne Lange, a clinical specialist in adult abuse and neglect, says she has to deal with too many instances of elder abuse for her liking.

Her job is to respond to all reports of abuse and neglect, which is a wide job description considering

all sorts of people can fall into this category given the variety of mental, physical and other forms of abuse that can happen to seniors.

Anyone can report suspected abuse, says Lange. They can call the police, Fraser Health, the Seniors Network, or any competent agency that can start the ball rolling on an investigation.

The reporting mechanism is wide open, she adds, because the authorities want people to report suspected abuse, and the only way to ensure that happens is to investigate every reported incident.

“If we can get to a problem early [enough] we can usually make a difference,” says Lange.

So what should be reported?

Well, Lange says a radical change in behaviour in a person is often a sign something has gone wrong.

For example, a friendly, outgoing person who suddenly won’t come out of their house could be

Thanks, for building

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an indication that they’re hiding something – perhaps bruising from being beaten, or shame from having been swindled.

Isolation, physical signs such as injury, sudden and/or ongoing emotional changes, mental stress, and changes in fi nancial resources are all things to watch out for in your elderly neighbours, friends and family.

Because the forms of abuse are so varied, and because not all of them are obvious, it can be difficult to help someone who is suffering from abuse.

One major problem, says Lange, is the overwhelming majority of abuse situations are perpetrated by a member of the family, so it’s then up to other family members or friends and neighbours to be paying attention.

Complicating the matter even further is the fact that self-abuse Story continued on page 26

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(not eating properly, failing to take medications, not caring for oneself) falls into this category.

But it’s not all gloomy news, says Lange. “[Two years ago] where we were as a society was that we tended to ignore this problem because it was a ‘private’ family issue and people didn’t want to air [other people’s] dirty laundry.”

Over the past couple of years, however, there has been a huge uptick in awareness, in part because of government advertising focusing on the issue, and in part because people have started reporting suspected incidents.

“I think now we’re coming out of the shadows,” says Lange. “Still, it is estimated that only one in five cases actually come someone’s attention.”

Lange says anyone who suspects an abuse situation should do a little homework before contacting the authorities. Be a nosy neighbour, she advises; go talk to the person and engage them in a conversation. It doesn’t have to be about your suspicions, but keep your eyes and ears open, and trust your instincts. If you still think something is off, call the RCMP or Fraser Health and make a report.

After all, it’s better to err on the side of caution than to ignore a potential abuse situation, says Lange.

Whether it’s a tiny herb garden on your balcony or a large garden estate, enjoy your love for gardening with the Maple Ridge Garden Club. We meet on the third Wednesday of the month, nine times a year. A guest speaker is invited to speak and generally gives a forty five minute presentation.

Coffee and snacks are served after the presentation, followed by local garden tidbits, general club updates and door prizes.

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• Member Open Gardens • Photo Contests • Plant Displays

Membership: $20.00 per person, $25.00 per couple Non-members are welcome to regular meetings for a $2.00 drop in fee. $5.00 discount for seniors [65 plus].

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Join today. Contact mrgcpresident@gmail.com or visit our website at www.wix.com/mrgardenclub/mapleridgegardenclub

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Thursday October 11, 2012 | 7:30pm | Main Theatre tickets: Adults $38.50 | Seniors $35.50 | Students $15

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Celebrate years gone by and the best of the big band era, along with jazz, rock and pop standards with this annual tradition at The ACT. Sunday November 11, 2012 | 2pm | Main Theatre tickets: Adults $32 | Seniors $29 | Students $15

Winter Harp A special tradition at The ACT, Winter Harp is one of the most hauntingly beautiful Christmas concerts you will ever attend.

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Sunday December 16, 2012 | 3pm & 7pm | Main Theatre tickets: Adults $42.50 | Seniors $39.50 | Students $15 11944 Haney Place Maple Ridge, BC V2X 6G1 tel 604.476.2787 www.theactmapleridge.org

For ticket information please call 604.476.2787 or visit www.theactmapleridge.org

www.theactmapleridge.org This is the Life 2012 – 27

Health and Wellness Clinic to stop macular degeneration

By Andrew Bucholtz

Macular degeneration’s a frequent cause of eyesight loss and blindness in those over 50, but it can be much easier to deal with if detected early.

To that end, the Ridge Meadows Seniors Society’s Health and Wellness for Seniors clinic has been working with local optometrist Dr. Murray Hurlbert to try to inform seniors about the disease and enable them to catch it as quickly as possible. Peggy Lambert, the coordinator of the program, said macular degeneration has been a focus for them.

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“We held a session earlier this year on macular degeneration,” she said. “We’re planning another one in the fall.”

Lambert said it’s a critical topic for seniors to learn about, as macular degeneration is often one of the fi rst eye problems that arises.

Macular degeneration involves either cell debris or blood vessels growing between the eye’s retina and its choroid, which contains the eye’s blood supply. One of the first signs can be yellow deposits known as drusen showing up in the middle part of the retina, known as the macula. Other symptoms can include eye pigment changes, missing areas of vision, difficulty

identifying colours and blurred vision. Lambert said it’s a serious disease.

“It can cause blindness if it goes unhealed."

Pick ing up macular degenerat ion ea rly is critical.

“It’s good if it’s picked up early,” Lambert said.

“You can take medication to slow it down.”

Macular degeneration isn’t the only eye issue the clinic deals with, though.

Hurlbert comes in on the fi rst Tuesday of every month to talk to seniors who have eye issues or are worried about them.

That’s far from the only thing the clinic does, though. The clinics are open every Tuesday from 9 a.m. to noon in the Ridge Meadows Seniors

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Centre, and can give seniors medical treatment and advice. There’s a $1 drop-in fee for those who are able to pay it, but Lambert said the focus is just on keeping seniors healthy. “We don’t turn anyone away.”

They provide services l i k e b l o o d -p r e s s u r e checks, but also have various regular guests drop in to deal with particu la r issues. Someone from Crystal Vision and Hearing comes in to fix hearing aids and clean contact lenses for free ever y second Tuesday, and Safeway pharmacist Elaine Cook comes in on the third Tuesday of each month.

“She’ll help seniors with their medications,

go through it with them,” Lambert said.

The fourth Tuesday of each month involves an Alzheimer’s group coming in to provide information on that disease.

The clinic’s proved exceptionally popular.

“We have 40 to 50 people on an average day,” Lambert said. “I’ve had as many as 60 to 70.”

They’re able to handle the demand, though.

“I have 12 retired registered nurses that work with me,” Lambert said.

She said the key goal for the clinic is to act as a supplemental resource to the traditional medical system, not replace it.

“We’re not tr ying to replace the family physician at all.”

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Gardening in the good earth can cure what ails you

By Graham Hookey – As we age columnist

For many seniors, particularly those who are still in their own home, one of the most therapeutic activities that can be done is gardening. There are several reasons for this, both physical and mental.

Let’s begin with the fact that gardening requires exercise. A little digging, weeding, pulling, not to mention walking back and forth 10 times before every tool needed is remembered, provides both bigand small-muscle activities.

Related to exercise, a well-tended garden needs daily attention. That means daily exercise, and over a period of time this can only improve overall health and fitness.

On the mental health side of things, gardens provide many

benefits. First, they offer a purpose to every day. As mentioned previously, a well-tended garden needs daily work and so getting up to work in the garden puts a little bounce in any senior’s step. It exercises the mind for planning out the day, and such mental exercise is just as important as the physical exercise.

Second, gardens grow, blossom and bring forth “bounties” that are visually and emotionally satisfying.

Who doesn’t like to look out and see flowers blossoming that were

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planted with one’s own hands? And what tomato ever tastes as good as one picked from a backyard vine?

It’s not surprising that gardening is used in many forms of therapy as a way to improve focus, reduce stress and provide a true sense of fulfi llment for effort. For many seniors who are no longer able to contribute to a workplace, or to raising a family, the growth and development of their garden is as much their “baby” as any activity they did in their youth.

Finally, gardening offers an activity that can be shared with any level of family. Children of the elderly can help them plan and create a garden, grandchildren can help plant and weed and pick fruit, and visitors can enjoy the view or the bounty of everyone’s efforts.

While not for everyone, those who need a little more exercise and purpose to their day, a garden could be just what the doctor ordered.

After fifty years of good morning

and good night kisses…

It’s nice to know that things don’t change in a Chartwell retirement residence Bill and Anne have enjoyed over 50 years of marriage and couldn’t see themselves apart. But keeping up their home had become too great a burden for both of them. The worry and work were taking a toll.

Living in a Chartwell retirement residence has taken away the worry of having to maintain a house while allowing them to focus on their time together.

If the time has come to start considering your options, we can help.

BRIGHT

CELEBRATING TWO BEDROOM SUITE 10 YEARS NOW AVAILABLE IN YOUR Call Wendy Today

COMMUNITY

for more information or to book your personal visit.

WILLOW

SENIOR LIVING RESIDENCE

12275 - 224th Street, Maple Ridge, BC

Call 604-466-8602 www.chartwellreit.ca

Scan our QR code and find out more about us!

Making People’s Lives Better!

This is the Life 2012 – 31

So nice to come home to.

Independent, Assisted Living and Residential Care offered.

Safe and secure, all inclusive seniors living.

Beautifully appointed studio, 1 and 2 bedroom suites.

Delicious home cooked meals prepared by our Red Seal Chef and his team.

A variety of recreational activities.

24 Hour staff – We’re always here.

Call us today to arrange your personal visit 604.476.4306 22141 - 119th Ave., Maple Ridge, BC

mapleridgeseniorsvillage.com