August 28, 2013

This is the Life!

A Living 60+ Magazine

Planning for retirement Square dancing, fitness & love To move or not to move?

The "Seniors' Pharmacist" Is your will current?

Fall prevention strategies

Fall 2013

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2 – This is the Life, Fall 2013

Lucille Harsch and Peter Lysne of the Town and Country Swingers are square dancing partners.

- Photo by Colleen Flanagan

Square dancing all about fun, fitness, socializing, and for some…love

By Robert Prince

“Square dancing is supposed to be fun, and we have a lot of fun in our club.” - Peter Lysne If you’re looking to stay active, have a lot of fun, and do something super social, then square dancing is the activity for you. And who knows? You might even find love the way Lucille Harsch and Peter Lysne of the Town and Country Swingers did almost four years ago after partnering up one evening.

They’d met on and off at dance events over a couple of years, but Peter was partnered with his wife, and Lucille was dancing regularly with another fellow.

Then Peter’s wife passed away in August of 2009, and Lucille’s partner informed her that he was going to be dancing with his daughter, who wanted to get involved.

Suddenly, the pair found themselves partnerless, and so one fateful evening Lucille exited her comfort zone, walked over to Peter, asked him to dance, and the rest, as they say, is history.

The four years of their courtship included lots of square dancing, and culminated August 24th with their wedding.

“It’s been so much fun,” Lucille stated during the interview for this article, her face as radiant as any bride-to-be contemplating her wedding day, even though this is her second marriage and she just celebrated her 73rd birthday in August.

Peter's big smile indicated he was equally happy about the pending nuptials.

Lucille and Peter agreed that square dancing has been a good thing in their lives. Aside from the romance and wedding, they lauded the benefits of square dancing when it comes to staying fit, keeping active, getting out of the house, having some fun, and keeping the mind sharp.

The Town and Country Swingers, which dances at the Seniors Centre on 224th Street in Maple Ridge, recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. The group has about 60-70 members, according to Lucille and Peter, who are also the club’s President Couple this year.

“Square dancing is supposed to be fun,” said Peter, 63, “and we have a lot of fun in our club.”

It’s also about keeping active, said Lucille, who wore a pedometer to an event one evening and recorded 17,000 steps over a two-and-a-half hour period, which is pretty great considering the recommended number of steps for a whole day is 10,000.

“It’s definitely a good way to stay fit,” she added. “We (Peter and her) usually try to be on the floor for every dance, including the square and round dancing,

but some people take breaks, or sit out the round dancing and socialize. It’s really whatever they want to do.”

The Town and Country Swingers are not just for seniors. Club members range from teens to people in their eighties. Both Lucille and Peter sang the praises of club caller John Corrigan, who works equally well with seasoned veterans and newcomers.

“There are some very good callers out there, and some not so good, but we have an extremely good caller,” said Lucille.

That’s important, she added, because it makes things easier for new dancers to become involved, and the club is always accepting new participants.

To ease new people in, the Town and Country Swingers have newcomer classes, as well as “angels” who help new dancers through the steps and patterns so they don’t feel too awkward.

“Our caller guarantees you will be able to dance at the Mainstream level by the end of our 10-week introductory program,” said Peter.

“If you come with a positive attitude, and you’re willing to attend regularly, then you shouldn’t have any problems.”

The cost is pretty reasonable, Peter said.

“Our regular drop-in fee is $7, but the newcomer program is a flat fee that works out to less than the regular fee.”

Anyone interested in joining the Town and Country Swingers can call Lucille at 604-809-1426 or Peter at 604-365-1207.

This is the Life, Fall 2013 – 3

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Retirement planning

By Robert Prince

Retirement is not a goal, but a transition.

If you don’t already know what you want to do during your retirement years long before you actually pull the trigger, chances are good your retirement is going to be less than satisfactory.

That’s the opinion of Tom Manion, owner and advisor from Manion and Associates Financial Services, who tries to impress that philosophy upon all of his clients when they come to him for advice.

“You really need to plan what you want to do in retirement long before you actually get there,” Tom opines. “Decide what turns your crank and make plans accordingly, because the reality is, after you retire you’re probably going to be doing most of the same things you did before you retired… except working.”

“If you’ve always enjoyed golfing, you’re probably going to keep golfing, and if anything, you’ll probably do more of it.”

However, if you’re one of those people who has always talked about traveling but never done it, the studies show you probably won’t do much of it once you’re no longer working, says Tom, who’s been helping people to find the ideal retirement plan for the past 17 years.

People are creatures of habit, he notes, and most won’t change their habits dramatically just because they’ve retired.

“There’s basically a three-year honeymoon period after a person retires when they think, ‘Wow! I can do anything I want.’ continued on page 8

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This is the Life, February 2013 – 5

To move or not to move?

That’s the tough question

By Robert Prince

Marianne Soltau sits with her husband outside their apartment at The Wesbrooke in Pitt Meadows.

- Photo by Colleen Flanagan

In 2009, Marianne Soltau tripped on the second last step of the staircase leading down to her basement and shattered her ankle. It was a traumatic occasion, not just because of the pain and long recovery, but because the inability of her and her husband to take care of each other during that awful time. It made the two of them realize the house they’d called home for 30-plus years might not work for them anymore.

With both of them in their seventies, and their health situations only getting worse, they eventually came to the decision that it was time to give up their home and find a place to spend their final years that would be a bit safer, a bit closer to

family, and which could provide more amenities and services as they aged.

The decision was not arrived at lightly, Marianne confesses. Her husband was reluctant to leave New Westminster because he didn’t want to leave his long-time home, their neighbours and friends, but eventually the practicalities of their situation won the day, and they moved into the newly-completed Wesbrooke Seniors Living Community in Pitt Meadows last December.

“It was just too much to handle, especially our general health issues,” Marianne recalls. “I couldn’t look after him when I was injured and he couldn’t look after me. There were mobility issues to consider, but I’m still pretty active and I wanted a place where there were things to do, and there’s a lot around here.”

Being closer to their daughter, who lives in Maple Ridge, was important. Two grandchildren and two great-grandchil-

dren also live nearby, so now the Soltaus get to see their grandkids way more than they used to.

“It (The Wesbrooke) is the perfect spot for us; it’s been very good for us,” says Marianne, “but it certainly wasn’t an easy decision to give up our home.”

Such a decision is rarely easy, says Barbara Risto, author of a book that deals with just these questions. It’s called “To Move Or Not To Move” and it was published the same year Marianne broke her ankle.

Barbara, publisher and owner of Senior Living Magazine, says the concerns and issues faced by the Soltaus are pretty common for most seniors at some point.

Used to living in the same home for many years, the day eventually comes when they have to think about alternative living arrangements – primarily for health and safety issues. continued on page 7

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6 – This is the Life, Fall 2013

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continued from page 6 - To move or not to move?

“I did a lot of research and read a lot of articles to compile this book, plus I had a lot of hands-on experience because I was a caregiver to my husband’s mother,” Barbara says. “I had a lot of experience with the kinds of questions people have about whether or not to move.”

Common concerns include questions about independence, convenience of services, keeping one’s dignity, lack of mobility, quality of life, plus nearness of family and friends.

How people approach the questions is all over the map, she acknowledges. Some plan early, and some wait for the crisis stage to hit. However, the sooner one starts planning to put some safeguards in place, she adds, the better off the person will be.

Some lucky people will never have to deal with the situation because they’re in good health, but the majority will eventually have to ask these questions of themselves.

There are a wide variety of solutions to the problem of making the big move, but the most important thing is to start thinking about the situation.

“There is often a reluctance to discuss this issue with family,” says Barbara. “It’s something some families don’t want to talk about because they don’t want to admit the parents are aging.

Also, for some, the family dynamic doesn’t allow for easy dialogue on the matter.” Friends can help, she offers.

“Basically, just reach out to whomever is best able to help.

Start with family if you can, but talk to friends, or your financial advisor, or your lawyer. Look on the Internet. Visit some seniors homes and facilities and think where you might like to live.”

The planning will take some time, so think about what you want and not just what’s available, Barbara advises.

To acquire a copy of the book “To Move Or Not To Move,” visit: www.seniorlivingmag.com/bookstore.

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continued from page 4 - Retirement planning

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But if they spend that time trying to figure out what they want to do, then they’ve wasted it, and they’ll likely just settle into old patterns.”

Tom says retirement should be more of a gentle transition – when you have more control over your time and you don’t have the same responsibilities. For example, some people continue to work after they’ve officially retired because they like their work, but now they don’t have to punch the clock because it’s not as urgent that they be there.

Naturally, the state of one’s finances will go a long way to determining how enjoyable those retirement years are going to be, but Tom says new studies have shown that most retirees get by these days on about 50 percent of their pre-retirement income, so that provides some real flexibility.

“The key is the preservation of capital, and trying to get more out of what you have rather than trying to get more,” says Tom. “Watching what you spend is important, and keep in mind that as you age you’re likely to spend less per year, so your money will go even further if you’re careful.”

Health issues are always a concern, and keeping the mind and body active will definitely make a difference in the quality of life after retirement. Volunteering is a great way to stay involved, and it gives a person a reason to get up in the morning.

“It’s also a great way to avoid isolation,” he says, “because ensuring your world doesn’t shrink too much is important, and staying connected to people helps a lot.”

The bottom line, says Tom, is that “if you want to have a successful retirement you want to have as much control of your time as possible, and the best way to do that is to plan everything early.”

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This is the Life, Fall 2013 – 9

Is your will current?

By Robert Prince

Do you know what happens to your estate if you don’t have a valid will?

Perhaps it’s part of our cultural adversity to talking about death, but Pitt Meadows lawyer Sherri Robinson says not a lot of people know that there’s a set of rules under the B.C. Estate Administration Act that kick in when a person dies intestate. More importantly, they don’t understand that those rules cannot be altered, even if they don’t reflect what the deceased would have wanted.

“If you care what happens to your estate after you die, it’s important that you have an up-to-date will,” says Robinson, a wills and estates specialist at Becker and Company Lawyers in Pitt Meadows. “I cannot emphasize that enough.”

The key to that is the “up-to-date” part, she adds, noting most people have some kind of will, but it’s often out of date owing to changes in the person’s life and family situation.

Robinson suggests a will should be reviewed every five years, or immediately after a major life change – a marriage, divorce or death.

• If you don’t have a will, set up a meeting with a lawyer to talk about options, and to get proper advice. They’re the only ones allowed to dispense legal opinions when it comes to estate planning.

• If you have a will, review it if you haven’t done so in the past five years. If it’s out of date, update as necessary.

• Get proper power of attorney and representation for health care agreements in place.

• If you have special circumstances (joint tenancy with children, estranged children, tax implications), then you should definitely seek advice.

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This is the Life, Fall 2013 – 11

Fall prevention

By Kevin Gillies

Bob Sutherland of the Ridge Meadows Fall Prevention Society educates children on how to prevent their grandparents from falling .

- Photo by Colleen Flanagan

The Fraser Health Authority advises that many falls are preventable and there are four things a senior can do to prevent falls: 1) Begin a regular exercise program. Exercise is one of the most important ways to lower your chances of falling. It makes you stronger and helps you feel better. Exercises that improve balance and coordination (like Tai Chi) are the most helpful.

2) Have your health care provider review your medicines. As you get older, the way medicines work in your body can change. Some medicines, or combinations of medicines, can make you sleepy or dizzy and can cause you to fall.

3) Have your vision checked. You may be wearing the wrong glasses or have a condition like glaucoma or cataracts that limits your vision.

4) Make your home safer. About half of all falls happen at home. To make your home safer remove things you can trip over (like papers, books, clothes, and shoes from stairs and places where you walk. Have grab bars put in next to your toilet and in the tub or shower. Use non-slip mats in the bathtub and on shower floors.

Improve the lighting in your home. Have handrails and lights put in on all stair cases. Avoid going barefoot or wearing slippers.

Falls are the main reason seniors lose their independence and while risk factors increase with age, falls are not an inevitable part of aging.

According to the BC Falls and Injury Prevention Coalition, about one third of people aged 65 years and over typically fall once or more each year in B.C. The advocacy group says people above the age of 65 year typically fall once or more every year and that almost 50 per cent of admissions to long-term care facilities are fall related. And, they say, preventing falls can save your life.

“It’s a very serious issue,” says Fabio Feldman, director of fall prevention for Fraser Health Authority, and he adds that his group is doing all it can to educate local seniors about fall prevention.

“We have quite a few programs in Maple Ridge. One of them is we’ve developed a fall prevention mobile clinic,” Feldman explains.

“This is a clinic that can be set up in a hospital or a stationary setting where we can take health professionals on the road. One of the main areas that we go is Maple Ridge. We take a nurse, a pharmacist, a kinesiologist, a physiotherapist and we have lots of referrals from physicians.”

Feldman said the clinics are set up in hospitals, recreation centres, churches, temples, and other places seniors gather like continued on page 13

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continued from page 12 - Fall prevention

seniors facilities or assisted-living sites and there, they provide assessment and accommodation about fall prevention to seniors, which is then linked back to their family doctor.

“We’ve done over 15 of those clinics in Maple Ridge,” he says.

In Canada, falls are the most common cause of injury and the sixth-leading cause of death for seniors. These amount to about $3 billion in annual expenditures on seniors’ fall injuries.

About 40 per cent of seniors who fall and need to be hospitalized involve hip fractures and half of those never regain their full function capability from before the fall.

The injury prevention coalition also says women are three times more likely than men to be hospitalized for a fall.

“Women fall more often than men but men get more serious injuries from falls,” Feldman explains. “They’re usually more-serious falls for men, and they tend not to seek medical attention from their falls. When they go it’s late or it becomes more serious. So the rate of that is actually higher for men than women.”

Often seniors can develop a fear of falling that causes them to restrict activities and thereby increase their risk of falling due to weak muscles, stiff joints and poor balance.

Falls usually happen in seniors’ homes, in the course of typical daily activities, and for a variety of reasons that can be prevented.

For more information of preventing falls, seniors can go online to Fraser Health’s fall prevention site at http://www.fraserhealth.ca/your_health/seniors/falls_and_injury_prevention/ falls_and_injury_prevention.

You can also visit the BC Government resource page at http:// www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/topic.page?id=42DF704053A64158ACD3C 4377EB8CC14.

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This is the Life, Fall 2013 – 13

“Seniors' Pharmacist” still loves helping people

By Robert Prince

Whenever Elaine Cooke leaves the house, it’s a sure bet someone will recognize the “Seniors’ Pharmacist” as she goes about her day.

The “Seniors’ Pharmacist” – that’s how Elaine’s known about town, in part because of her work as a local pharmacist for many years, but largely for her work for the drop-in health clinic at the Seniors Centre that she’s been doing since 2003.

When the third Tuesday of the month rolls around, Elaine can be found at the Seniors Centre on 224th Street, checking up on local elderly residents who need advice on a wide range of issues – from pharmaceuticals and diabetes to blood pressure and nutrition. She even does flu shots.

At 61, Elaine is still going strong even though she’s closing in on senior citizen status herself. Though no longer behind the pharmacy counter, she still works for Safeway – primarily as a diabetes consul-

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tant who meets with patients to discuss their needs and lifestyle. She also does a lot of travelling to various B.C. cities to train and consult with other Safeway pharmacists so they can help their patients better, and she’s always giving talks to organizations about a wide variety of health-related topics.

“My goal is to help people… that’s why I got into pharmacy in the first place.”

Diabetes being the ever-expanding health epidemic that it is, Elaine is never without people to talk to about the subject.

She’s been a certified diabetes educator since 2002, and does public clinics about diabetes for Safeway, as well as meeting one-on-one with patients when requested.

“I was the first certified diabetes specialist for Canada Safeway in Western Canada,” the effervescent pharmacist says with just a hint of pride in her voice.

A lot of what she does focuses on self-

Elaine Cooke: The "Seniors' Pharmacist" management of the disease, because most patients see their doctor or a specialist about the subject so infrequently during any given year.

“I read recently that the typical diabetes patient spends about 12 hours a year talking to a medical professional specifically about their diabetes. That means that 364.5 days of the year they’re self-managing; my job is to help them do that better.”

Anyone interested in consulting with Elaine about their diabetes situation can call her at Safeway, 604-941-8213, or drop by the seniors’ health clinic the third Tuesday of the month at the Seniors Centre, 12150 224 Street in Maple Ridge.

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