just for
SENIORS SEPTEMBER 2016
Activities, Stories, Tips and Tricks, all inside!
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West Kelowna Cultural Days Art Show October 1 & 2, 2016 Live Demonstrations, music, wine, free admission.
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X2 | JUST FOR SENIORS | SEPTEMBER 23, 2016
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Signs To Indicate You Should Have Your Dentures Checked: Sore and irritated tissues
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X3 | JUST FOR SENIORS | SEPTEMBER 23, 2016
Taste of downtown The Downtown Kelowna Association Presents the Sixth Annual Taste of Downtown Kelowna on Saturday September 24, 2016 from 12:00pm – 3:00pm. 33 restaurants across Downtown Kelowna will open their doors and welcome Taste of Downtown passport holders, treating them to a complimentary sample of food or drink while supplies last. The only way to enjoy this event is with a Taste of Downtown passport and this year it’s a fundraiser for the Kelowna Community Food Bank. Passports are available now at Mosaic Books (411 Bernard Avenue) by making a minimum $2.00 cash donation which in turn will be donated to the Food Bank. “It just makes sense,” says Peggy Athans, Executive Director at the Downtown Kelowna Association. “In the past the passports have been free, but because of its popularity we thought making a donation to the Food Bank was the right thing to do.
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Visitors still receive a complimentary sample of food or drink, but this year the Food Bank benefits as well.” The event is designed to allow visitors to experience a number of different foods and drinks from Chinese to Italian cuisine along with various coffees and teas throughout Downtown Kelowna. Everyone is welcome to participate in the Taste of Downtown as long as they are holding a Taste of Downtown passport. Visitors can pick up their passports at Mosaic Books while supplies last. For a complete list of the 33 participating restaurants and the unbelievable prizes visit Taste of Downtown at downtownkelowna.com
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X4 | JUST FOR SENIORS | SEPTEMBER 23, 2016
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Lifestyle B.C. invests in digestive health for seniors
Health Minister Terry Lake announced this summer that $100,000 will go to the Gastrointestinal Society to support their three-pronged community outreach programming aimed at helping support the digestive health of B.C. seniors. “Our bodies undergo many changes as we age and our gastrointestinal system is no different,” said Lake. “Taking control and becoming partners in our health management allows us all to stay independent longer and increases our quality of life.” The society’s program will include the delivery of a series of BadGut lectures to provide information to patients and their support circles to help them take control of their digestive health and become partners in their quality of life.
There will also be a video on diverticular disease, a condition that weakens the muscles in the colon wall and impacts seniors’ digestive tracts. The video will be available in both English and French, and will provide the audience with an overview of the symptoms and conditions they may be facing, outlining treatment options and ways to manage their symptoms. In addition, there will be an informational pamphlet on prevention and symptoms to watch for, as well as gastrointestinal diseases associated with aging. The information will be presented clearly and simply to help inform seniors, their families and caregivers. “This vital support from the Ministry of Health will help us reach seniors throughout the province, including visiting many of them right in the
assisted living facilities where they reside,” said Gail Attara, CEO of the Gastrointestinal Society. “It is rewarding to allay some common fears and to share the warning signs of serious digestive health issues.” The information and supports have been created in partnership with gastroenterologists, pharmacists, physiotherapists, nursing specialists and registered dietitians to make sure it is safe, accurate and up-to-date. Common digestive illnesses that affect seniors include irritable bowel syndrome, diverticular disease, Crohn’s disease and celiac disease. These illnesses affect different parts of the digestive system. The Gastrointestinal Society provides evidence-based information on all aspects of
gastrointestinal health. Through research, advocacy, education and awareness, the society promotes gastrointestinal and liver health to help patients and their caregivers manage their illnesses. To learn more about the Gastrointestinal Society, including information on digestive illnesses, visit www.badgut.org.
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X5 | JUST FOR SENIORS | SEPTEMBER 23, 2016
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Vet & RAT POISION CONVERNS Kelowna veterinarian Dr. Jason Rowan is warning his neighbours and clients not to poison wild rats despite the exploding population, for fear of other outside pets being poisoned. “My daughters were walking home from school yesterday when they saw a dead rat right on the road,” said Dr. Rowan. “They Veterinarian Dr. seem to be Jason Rowan walking everyhis Irish Wolfhound where; sevTully in Osprey Park. eral of our Pandosy Village neighbours have spotted wild rats in their yards.” Over the last two years the feral rat population has been exploding in the central Okanagan. This summer the City of West Kelowna made $25,000 worth of office repairs due to a rat infestation.
The City of Kelowna has a video about rat-proofing homes on the city website. Dr. Rowan’s neighbourhood clinic, Pandosy Village Veterinary Hospital, is located in a densely populated urban area of Kelowna. “My concern is that folks decide to poison wild rats and then our neighbourhood cats and dogs will eat them,” stated Rowan. “If people are concerned about rat control, I’m encouraging them to be very cautious. First, rat-proof your yard and remove all sources of food such as compost. If you can’t trap the rats, call a pest control company, to ensure the safety of pets and children.” Rat poison works as an anticoagulant, depleting the body of Vitamin K and disabling blood clots. If your outside cat or dog experiences signs such as lethargy, seizures, bleeding gums, bruising under the skin, blood in urine or feces, or bleeding from the nose, see your veterinarian immediately. City of Kelowna residents that observe wild rats in parks or public places can place an online service request to have the rats removed.
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X6 | JUST FOR SENIORS | SEPTEMBER 23, 2016
Rat Pack
Barry Gerding For anyone under the age of 30, ask them about the ‘Rat Pack’ and they may conjure up thoughts about calling an exterminator to deal with a rodent problem. But in reality, a Burnaby man has partnered with another show business friend to create yet another tribute to the Rat Pack musical era of the late 1950s and early ‘60s in Las Vegas, featuring the songs and personalities of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. The tribute tour makes it way here for a performance at the Kelowna Community Theatre on Sept. 24, 7:30 p.m. Christian Tannis said he and Seth Abrams, who plays Dean Martin in the Rat Pack revue, are fulfilling a dream they have talked about doing since the two first met while performing together on a Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines ship 18 years ago and became best friends. Tannis
was a dancer back then and has since moved into the production side of the stage entertainment industry, while Abrams was starting out with his singing career. “Seth was doing a one-man show about Martin for the past two years, and I went to a casino near Seattle to watch the show, and I felt it was something we could rewrite and turn into a show about the Rat Pack,” Tannis recalled. They formed a production company and launched the show at several theatres across Vancouver Island, and are now looking east, coming to the Okanagan with the hopes of carrying on with a national tour. Tannis says the response from those attending, engaging a demographic of 50 and over, has been positive. “There is a lot of music in the show but it is also kind of edgy in
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the ad-libbing and jokes from the three talking to each other and with the audience throughout the show,” Tannis said. “I like to say it is a little like having three Donald Trumps on stage.” Along with Abrams playing Martin, playing the roles of Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra are Douglas Starks and Bruce Hammond respectively, both who have performed solo acts of both legendary singers for many years on stage. “All three of them really take over those characters on stage and bring them to life, recreating what it would have been like to see them back in their heyday in Las Vegas,” Tannis said. The enduring fascination with the Rat Pack era, through music, books and movies, is something Tannis said still finds an audience, albeit the older crowd. “I think it was more than just the music, it was the ad-libbing and
e iv t c a , y h lt a e h g in Build older adults.
edgy humour that went on on stage and hadn’t really been seen before at the time. I think performers today are still trying to copy that same magic today that Sinatra, Martin, Davis and the others had in that era,” he said. Tannis is the nephew of Paul Anka, a legendary singer in his own right who wrote one of Sinatra’s signature hits, My Way. “My uncle was close friends with those guys back in the day but this show is really something that Seth and I have taken on ourselves without any outside help,” Tannis said. “It’s a dream opportunity we have talked about for much of our adult lives since we originally met and we are having a lot of fun with it.” Tickets for the Kelowna show are available online at selectyourtickets. com or call 250-762-5050.
At the YMCA, we have dedicated professionals to help support you through preventative and restorative health programs, including: Healthy Hearts 50+ Fitness Classes Aquafit Health Coaching Socials & Drop-in Sports Wellness Seminars Health Assessments
Questions? Drop in or call Kelowna Family Y 250- 491-9622
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X7 | JUST FOR SENIORS | SEPTEMBER 23, 2016
CAPITAL NEWS
Peachland 50 Plus Activity Centre
Susan Van Noortwyk Well here we go. We hope everyone has enjoyed their summer but now school is back and so are we. Those activities that took a break over the summer are all going to be back up and running this next week. No excuses, we have something for everyone over 50. Please call us or drop in. Our office is open again Monday to Friday from 9:30 to 11:30 am. Mondays we have Yoga, TOPS, Variety Singers, Tai Chi, Needle Arts/ Quilting, Bridge, and the Wood Carvers in the evening. Tuesday is Carpet Bowling and A.A., Wednesday is Yoga, Aerobics, Regular and Duplicate Bridge, Chess, and Clogging in the evening, Thursday is AA, Ukulele, Iron & Silk exercises, and of course BINGO in the evening, Friday is Aerobics, Yoga, Art Club, Saturday morning is Carpet Bowling, and Sunday afternoon Ukulele. Wow, where to start. All our leaders are friendly and welcome new participants If you have questions about participating give us a call and we will put you in touch with them. Unfortunately we had to scrub our last Pancake Breakfast of the
season when the Triathlon was canceled. It was scheduled Sunday, Sept 11. The Breakfasts on holiday weekends over the summer were certainly popular. Our special fruit compotes were a hit. We really appreciated the support of the community and are looking forward to next May long weekend when they will resume. Our first Potluck Friday Dinner will be on September 23. Dinner is at 6 pm. Everyone is welcome, you don’t have to be over 50 or a member. Admission is by donation. Attendees are asked to bring one dish of their favourite main, salad, appie, or dessert and their own dishes and cutlery. We are pretty pleased to have “Lucy Blu” coming at 7 pm to entertain us for an hour.
Mark Sunday October 2, 2 pm on your calendar, Stars on Stage Peachland is back. Local performers; Laverne Crozny, Melita Ree, Wendy Rodocker, Syd Kendrick, and Arron Halliday will be performing Country & Western songs from Alan Jackson, Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynna and more. Tickets are $10 each and available from the Peachland Visitors Information, Peachland 50 + Activity Centre, UPS Store in West Kelowna, Melita Ree, and Laverne Prozny at 250 7688555. This registered non-profit group will be donating
profits from this event locally.
Our hall is available to rent at a nominal rate. Please give us a call for those meetings, events, birthday parties, memorials, reunions or any gathering you may have coming up. We have a stage, sound system, kitchen, bar, dance floor and can accomodate up to 200 people. You can also find us on Facebook and the web by searching: Peachland 50 Plus Activity Centre peachland50plusactivitycentre.ca
X8 | JUST FOR SENIORS | SEPTEMBER 23, 2016
CAPITAL NEWS
Pet therapy can combat homesickness John Tyler Binfet, seen with his dog Frances, conducted a study on the effect of pet therapy on homesickness. Binfet runs the Building Academic Retention Through K’9s (B.A.R.K.) program at UBC’s Okanagan campus.
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The expression dog is man’s best friend might have more weight in the case of first-year university students suffering from homesickness, according to a new UBC study. The study shows that animalassisted therapy can help students combat homesickness and could be a useful tool in lowering postsecondary drop-out rates. “Transitioning from high school to university can prove to be a
challenge for many first-year students,” says Assistant Professor John Tyler Binfet of UBC’s Okanagan campus. “Given that students who experience homesickness are more likely than their non-homesick cohorts to drop out of university, universities have a vested interest in supporting students during their first-year transition.” In the study, 44 first-year university students who selfidentified as homesick were given CON’t. on page 10
X9 | JUST FOR SENIORS | SEPTEMBER 23, 2016
CAPITAL NEWS
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X10 | JUST FOR SENIORS | SEPTEMBER 23, 2016
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Cont. Pet therapy can combat homesickness a survey to measure levels of homesickness, satisfaction with life and connectedness with campus. Half of the students completed eight weeks of dog therapy, while the other half were informed that their sessions would begin in eight weeks’ time. Dog therapy included 45-minute weekly sessions involving small group interactions with the dogs and handlers, and engagement with other first-year students participating in the study. Following the initial eight-week session, participants in both the
treatment group and the nontreatment group completed the survey again. Participants who completed the eight-week program experienced significant reductions in homesickness and greater increase in satisfaction with life. Participants reported that sessions “felt like they were at home chatting with friends who brought their puppies.” While the non-treatment group reported an increase in their feelings of homesickness. According to a 2009 report
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conducted for B.C. Stats, students who left post-secondary happy were almost twice as likely to have felt a sense of belonging compared to students who left unhappy. Students who left university unhappy were almost twice as likely to say they did not feel a sense of belonging on campus. A total of 29 per cent of students who dropped out cited more interactions and friendships with other students as a factor that would have influenced their decision to stay longer. While further study is needed, a university’s ability to influence campus connections could be a useful tool in lowering dropout rates in first-year students, says Binfet. “Many first-year university students face the challenge of integrating into their new campus community,” says Binfet. “Homesick students are three times more likely than those who manage their homesickness
to disengage and drop out of university.” “Moving to a new city, I did not know anyone at the university and became very homesick and depressed,” says UBC Okanagan student Varenka Kim. “I was mainly secluded in my dorm room and did not feel like I belonged here. Coming to animal assisted therapy sessions every Friday gave me a sense of purpose and kept me enthusiastic about life.” “Hounds and Homesickness: The Effects of an Animal-Assisted Therapeutic Intervention for FirstYear University Students” was recently published in the journal Anthrozoos.
Do you have good hearing but find listening tiring? Research has shown that even people with minimal hearing loss find listening to be tiring. Swiss based hearing aid technology can help by limiting the effort needed by the brain to understand speech.
Listening effort may be reduced for some clients through the new rechargeable Phonak Audéo B-R hearing aids. This cuttingedge hearing technology allows hearing aids to automatically adapt to any listening environment. In addition to understanding speech easier, less effort is required to listen. The rechargeable system is easy to use and provides 24 hours The brain requires more mental energy of hearing with only one charge. when listening in difficult environments. Connect Hearing is currently looking This effortful listening in turn leads to not only improve hearing, but also to fatigue. to lower the listening effort required to increases in stress, tension, and to hear. We are particularly interested fatigue. A person who is straining in candidates who find listening in to hear is using more brain power to the presence of background noise to understand speech. The more brain be exhausting and can benefit from power needed, the more tired that a free trial to see whether they notice person is going to feel. an improvement.
Listening and understanding speech are an important part of everyday communications. However, this can be challenging for people with normal hearing, and even more trying for people with hearing loss. Many of our everyday environments are not ideal. Poor acoustics, lack of visual cues (e.g. on-the phone or talking from another room), muffled speech, and background noise limit our ability to understand speech. This results in asking people to repeat themselves, straining to hear, and possibly avoiding group discussions. A growing body of research suggests A rising field of study by hearing that hearing aids may reduce researchers is listening effort. This listening effort, and in return mental can be defined as the amount of fatigue when processing speech in cognitive resources that are being noise. Digital Noise Reduction used to process and understand technology has been shown to speech. Research suggests that reduce the cognitive processing continued listening effort is linked needed to understand speech.
Interested people can register for a free hearing evaluation and a noobligation trial of the rechargeable Audéo B-R hearing aids by calling 1.888.408.7377 or visiting connecthearing.ca/recharge.
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X11 | JUST FOR SENIORS | SEPTEMBER 23, 2016 BATHROOM
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Ensure that you have non-slip surfaces in the tub or shower. Install grab bars by the toilet and bath to help you sit and stand. Make sure they are well anchored. Use a raised toilet seat, and a bath seat in the shower, if you need them. Wipe up moisture or spills immediately.
can fall
LIVING ROOM AND BEDROOM
But as we age, our risk of falling becomes greater. That’s the bad news. The good news is that falls can be prevented. The first step to avoiding falls is to understand what causes them. For example, poor balance, decreased muscle and bone strength, reduced vision or hearing, and unsafe conditions in and around your home can increase your chance of falling. Staying safe and on your feet is a matter of taking some steps to protect yourself. You can prevent falls by making the needed adjustments to your home and lifestyle, and by making sure you eat well, stay fit, and use whatever devices will facilitate your daily life while keeping you safe. Your independence and well-being are at stake.
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Reduce clutter! Get rid of loose wires and cords as well as any other obstacles. Consider using a cordless phone to avoid rushing to answer. Have good lighting throughout the house and install night lights. Make sure the path is clear between the bedroom and bathroom. Scatter mats are tripping hazards. Get rid of them or make sure they are non-slip. Move slowly out of your bed or chair. Getting up suddenly can make you dizzy.
STAIRS Make sure your stairs are well lit. Have solid handrails on both sides of the stairway. Remove your reading glasses when you go up or down the stairs. Never rush up or down the stairs. It’s a major cause of falls.
EXTERIOR Keep front steps and walkway in good repair and free of snow, ice and leaves. Keep front entrance well lit. Put gardening implements such as hoses and rakes away when not using them.
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Store kitchen supplies and pots and pans in easy-to-reach locations. Store heavy items in lower cupboards. Use a stable step stool with a safety rail for reaching high places.
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FALLS ARE THE LEADING CAUSE OF INJURY AMONG OLDER CANADIANS. 20-30% OF SENIORS EXPERIENCE ONE OR MORE FALLS EACH YEAR. FALLS ARE THE CAUSE OF 85% OF SENIORS’ INJURY-RELATED HOSPITALIZATIONS. FALLS ARE THE CAUSE OF 95% OF ALL HIP-FRACTURES. 50% OF ALL FALLS CAUSING HOSPITALIZATION HAPPEN AT HOME.
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X12 | JUST FOR SENIORS | SEPTEMBER 23, 2016
CAPITAL NEWS
CHIP program good for Canada Larry Shipowack Contributor A recent medical communique stated that diabetes is up 40% in North America. That probably means that cardio vascular disease such as stroke, heart attacks, obesity, high blood pressure, and arthritis are up too as they are usually related. So what can we do to reverse the trend? Do we have the science and technology to do it? The answer is yes.
How do I know? Well, the average life expectancy for people on the SAD (Standard American Diet) is 79 years; for people on the CHIP lifestyle it’s 89 years. So why is Health Canada promoting the 79-year diet when we know better through research and science? Back in 1963, the Surgeon General’s Report declared smoking caused cancer of the lungs, mouth, lips, esophagus, etc. It is also a (major) factor in causing heart attacks
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and prevents healing after facial surgery. Yet there were doctors who promoted smoking as a cure for lung disease and even stated that it would help produces smaller babies. We have the same real indifference among the medical community, government, and society in general to promote a non-costly prevention program that gives 10 more years of quality life. The problem in North America is that agriculture and the pharmaceutical companies lobby to promote their unhealthy products. Let me quote two examples: In a nutritional update for physicians was published in the official journal of Kaiser Permanente, the largest managed care organization in the United States, they stated “too often physicians ignore the potential benefits of good nutrition and quickly prescribe medications instead of giving patients a chance to correct their disease through healthy eating and active living. Physicians should therefore consider recommending a plant based diet to all their patients, especially those with high blood pressure, diabetes, cardio vascular disease or obesity. Locally, read November 14, 2015 Tania Gustafson’s article – Reverse Chronic Disease with Diet. Are there common foods that are plugging us up? From Washington DC the Physicians Committee for
Responsible Medicine, this past week, asked the White House to block the USDA from sending 11 million pounds of cheese to schools and food assistance programs such as food banks, and asked that the cheese be used to fill pot holes in Washington DC: “However, with childhood obesity remaining a major problem and with economically disadvantaged people suffering disproportionately from obesity and diabetes, the physicians group has asked President Obama to stop the USDA from piling more cheese on an already burdened population. Typical cheeses are 70 percent fat and are among the foods highest in cholesterol and sodium.” So locally, in past years there were some amazing reductions in cholesterol amongst CHIP participants ranging from 15% to 49% in 30 days. Marianna Sattler was able to reduce her cholesterol, thereby lowering her meds from 80 to 10 and hopes to be off completely as she has now totally embraced the advantages of the CHIP program. The CHIP program starts October 2 at 6:00 pm. Come see how you can be healthy by choice not by chance. Call 250-764-8638 or 250861-3186 for more information or to register. Larry Shipowick is a facilitator with the CHIP initiative in Kelowna.
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X13 | JUST FOR SENIORS | SEPTEMBER 23, 2016
CAPITAL NEWS
Seniors with diabetes Caring for an elderly parent, relative or close family friend often involves managing one or more age-related health problems, including diabetes. At first, learning all you need to know about diabetes may seem daunting, perhaps even a little frightening. Depending on your parent’s physical and cognitive abilities, you may be required to help with medications, test and track blood glucose (sugar) levels, and ensure they are eating well. Fortunately, many services are available to help you and your parent learn more about diabetes and what you can do to help manage the disease. Here are some suggestions to help you and your parent adjust to life with diabetes: Take your parent to see his or her diabetes health-care professional on a regular basis to discuss your parent’s diabetes management and its impact on overall health, and to ensure they receive important regular tests for blood pressure, cholesterol, eye health, etc. Enquire about other professionals who can become part of your parent’s diabetes team – such as pharmacists, nurse educators, dietitians and social workers. They offer invaluable expertise about caring for seniors with diabetes. A pharmacist can be particularly helpful if your parent requires multiple medications for a number of health conditions. Learn the signs of low blood glucose (hypoglycemia) and how to treat it. Some
symptoms of low blood glucose (sugar), such as confusion and disorientation, can be mistaken for other age-related conditions, such as dementia. If your parent displays such signs, test his or her blood glucose (sugar) level immediately. When in doubt, it is best to err on the side of caution and treat for low blood glucose (sugar). Ensure that your parent is eating well. Following a healthy meal plan is a crucial component of good diabetes management, but impaired physical or cognitive abilities often prevents seniors from eating when and what they should. It may help to have healthy pre-prepared meals and snacks readily available for your parent or to arrange for a meal delivery service. Encourage regular physical activity. Both aerobic and resistance training have been shown to improve blood glucose (sugar) management and overall health. Many seniors’ centres offer age-appropriate activities. Offer to check your parent’s feet regularly. Proper foot care including daily inspections for cracks, cuts or ingrown nails, is very important for people with diabetes, but many seniors find these tasks difficult. Your parent may require assistance. Work as a team. While it may be tempting to try to take over your parent’s diabetes care, it is important to not treat your parent like a child or get into a power struggle over treatment. Encourage your parent to take ownership of his or her health, while you offer support as needed.
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X14 | JUST FOR SENIORS | SEPTEMBER 23, 2016
Synthetic heart valves will help doctors improve surgical skills Mohammadi and Fradet’s research was recently published in the journal Cardiovascular Engineering and Technology. A UBC invention has made it possible for doctors to vastly improve their bypass surgery techniques without relying on animals. The invention—synthetic heart valves, arteries and veins made of polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel, that
resembles human tissue—was developed by researchers at UBC’s Okanagan campus The polyvinyl “tissue” makes it possible for surgeons and medical residents to practise bypass surgery techniques using the synthetic material as opposed to the current method of using arteries and veins from dead pigs or human cadavers. “One of the major issues with using arteries from human or
CAPITAL NEWS animal cadavers is that they break down very quickly if they are not treated with preservatives,” says inventor and assistant professor Hadi Mohammadi. “This synthetic material doesn’t decompose and can’t be contaminated, meaning doctors can practise their technique almost anywhere. “An added benefit is that this material can be created safely and cheaply, which could solve any issues
“We Honour Our Veterans Every Day” The Legion Service Officer is available to offer assistance to any Veteran, Legion member or not. Please call 250-763-3927 for an appointment if you or a Veteran you know require assistance. The Royal Canadian Legion, Branch No. 26 1380 Bertram Street, Kelowna, BC V1Y 2G1
B
surgeons currently have in accessing practise materials.” The invention, currently only used for teaching purposes, is already being used by a number of surgeons and medical residents at the Kelowna General Hospital (KGH) in B.C.’s interior. The new synthetic material feels like living human tissue and provides a number of benefits over what is currently used, says coinventor Dr. Guy Fradet, head of cardiovascular surgery at KGH and an associate professor in UBC’s Faculty of Medicine. “A problem with using arteries from animals or human cadavers for practising bypass surgery is that they feel different than living human tissue,” says Fradet. “The more realistic we can make surgical practise, the easier it will be to prepare surgeons for the operating room, which can only benefit patients.” The synthetic heart valves, veins and arteries are currently being used to practise bypass surgery on actual hearts harvested from pigs. The two inventors are now working towards creating a synthetic heart with the new material, which could then be used to largely eliminate the need for any animal or human cadaver tissues and organs when practising heart surgery.
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X15 | JUST FOR SENIORS | SEPTEMBER 23, 2016
Behind the Counter
Registered Education Savings Plan
I think this is one of the best plans going and probably the one with the most rules and the one that is the least understood. It’s a great way to get some government money into your child’s hands. You don’t need to make a lot of money to open up a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP). This plan can be opened by grandparents for the grandchildren and you can even set one up for yourself. The reason why this plan is great is that any income earned in the plan grows tax free and will probably grow faster than using another avenue. When the money is paid out of the plan to the student
(beneficiary), it is taxed at the student’s income tax rate which is usually lower than the contributor’s (parent’s) rate. Finally the government will match your contribution with a grant of 20% of 2,500 ($500) a year. You may also qualify to receive an annual Canada Learning Bond of $100 per year. Unfortunately the contributor to the plan is not entitled to a tax deduction, but if there is a reason that the contributions are returned to you, you can receive them tax free. You would need to pay tax on the income earned in the plan. If the beneficiary does not get the funds of the RESP, the government grant portion in the plan is also returned to the government. If you were to open up an investment account for your child or grandchild, you would need to pay tax on the income made by the investment due to the attribution rules of the income tax act. An RESP is an alternative vehicle to invest in your child or grandchild’s future. You can open multiple plans at multiple banks
CAPITAL NEWS for one child up to a lifetime contribution limit of $50,000 per child. You can also open up one plan and have it cover multiple children or beneficiaries. The plans can also be transferred from child to child. If one child decides not to pursue higher education, the plan can be transferred to the next child that might. You can contribute to a plan until the beneficiary child is 31 years old or 35 years old if the child is disabled. It is mandatory that a plan be liquidated after 35 years or 40 years if the child is disabled. The government grant adds to the plan of 20% of $2,500 or ($500) as long as more than the
$2,500 was contributed in the year. The lifetime grant per beneficiary is $7,200. These additional funds also produce income within the plan which is why the plan grows faster than a regular savings vehicle. The Canada Savings Bond provides $500 at birth for children in families that qualify for the National Child Benefit Supplement of the Canada Child Benefit program and the child will qualify for an annual amount of $100 per child if they have an RESP. Gabriele Banka is a CPA, CGA and the owner of Banka & Company, CPA. She can be reached at 250-763-4528 or info@bankaco.com
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X16 | JUST FOR SENIORS | SEPTEMBER 23, 2016
CAPITAL NEWS
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