Saskatoon Quality of Life For Seniors 2016

QUALITY OF LIFE FOR SENIORS

Quality of Life

for seniors

Postmedia Content Works

There are 79,000 seniors in Saskatoon, and the number is growing – which makes the work of the Saskatoon Council on Aging (SCOA) vitally important.

SCOA, whose mandate is to help seniors age well, was established in 1990. It came out of a seniors’ health workshop in Winnipeg attended by Wilma Mollard, a retired Saskatoon nurse. She shared the idea with several other retired nurses and social workers, and the Saskatoon Council on Aging was born.

The organization started with 300 members and offered one program: Abuse of Adults. Today it has 2,000 members and 15 different types of programs. It is administered by five full-time staff plus casual employees and work placement people.

“Anyone can be a member of SCOA,” said Executive Director June Gawdun. “You don’t have to be a senior, rather a person interested in resources, information, and programming for seniors.

Some members are our partners in community work for adults, like the City of Saskatoon, the U of S and the Saskatoon Health Region.

We also have a variety of other non-profits, as well as for-profit businesses that focus on seniors as their clientele.”

Gawdun highlights a number of major achievements in SCOA’s 25year history.

One is being a resource, a social hub and a voice for older adults.

Another is SCOA’s Positive Aging Resource Centre, located at the Saskatoon Field House, which provides a wealth of information, programs and services.

“If a person’s elderly mother is getting out of the hospital, for instance, the caregiver might call our Caregiver Information and Support Service to learn how to prepare for the homecoming. We have a comprehensive caregiver guide with information on everything related to caregiving, including how to care for yourself as the caregiver.”

Caregiver Information and Support Service also holds mini-workshops on various pertinent topics and hosts an annual caregiver forum. Its website (saskatooncaregiver.ca) has a database offering a wide variety of valuable resources.

An exhaustive list of pertinent services can also be found in the 200page Saskatoon Council on Aging directory which highlights 200 services and organizations.

SCOA’s Age-Friendly Initiative supports older adults in being active and socially engaged, and lead-

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SASKATOON COUNCIL ON AGING CELEBRATES 25 YEARS

The life-long learning opportunities offered by the Saskatoon Council on Aging (SCOA) include art classes in acrylic and watercolour painting. Art is a relaxing pastime and also a means for self-expression, healing and creativity. Ph ot os: sC o A

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ing healthy, independent lives. Part of the program involves coaching businesses, organizations and services in making changes so Saskatoon can become an age-friendly city.

“Our Century Club is an exciting program for seniors aged 90 and over,” Gawdun says. “We have about 180 members and it’s growing. Five are 100 or older. The purpose of the club is to provide opportunities for socializing. We host outings five times a year, and have compiled their stories in a memory book.”

One 100-year-old Century Club member participates in the Seniors’ Globe Walk which encourages physical activity for seniors.

Partnering with Saskatchewan Seniors Fitness and inMotion, seniors are organized in teams. A captain tabulates how much time each team member spends in exercise and converts it to miles. Last year, the cumulative team totals were enough to go the moon and back, plus around the world several times.

SCOA is justly proud of its intergenerational programming that partners seniors with high school students. Holy Cross High School is already involved in the Senior Tech Buddy Program where seniors can bring their laptop, ipad, iphone, or whatever new technology they may have and a student will show them all they need to know about operat-

SCOA’s Age-Friendly Initiative supports older adults in being active and socially engaged, and leading healthy, independent lives. Part of the program involves coaching businesses, organizations and services in making changes so Saskatoon can become an age-friendly city.

SCOA offers a men’s cooking program. The classes do more than teach cooking skills; they provide an opportunity for fun and fellowship.

ing it. Mount Royal Collegiate and the Saskatoon Restorative Action Program or RAP will come on board with the program in the fall.

Another student/senior project is Age Alive, a photo exhibit featuring people aging in a positive way.

Volunteers accompany the exhibit to high schools, give a presentation on ageism, and answer any questions the students have about aging.

Evan Hardy Collegiate’s Media Class is shooting videos of SCOA programs and activities. They will be used to raise awareness in the community. The videos will be premiered at the upcoming Annual General Meeting.

Another popular project is Seniors’ Neighbourhood Hub Clubs in which SCOA works with community associations to establish drop-in programs for seniors in their area. One in Eastview meets monthly; another is planned for the Mayfair district.

SCOA’s funding comes from three levels of government, grants, donations, and fund-raising events. One fundraiser is Spotlight On Seniors, a seniors trade show. The other is Saskatoon Zoomer Idol, a senior talent show which is held at TCU Place.

“We have auditions in June and pick eight acts,” Gadwun says. “The groups perform at our gala show and dinner in October and audiences vote for the People’s Choice

Singer/poet Pat Thomson was the People’s Choice winner at the 2015 Saskatoon Zoomer Idol event.

Award with their money. All donations are tax receiptable.”

Gawdun says SCOA is the leading organization in Saskatoon and area serving older adults. “In 25 years, one out of four people will be over 65. We are committed to making sure our community is providing

what our older adults need – a high quality of life and a high quality of care.”

The public is invited to attend SCOA’s Annual General Meeting at the YWCA on May 26 at 2 p.m.

For more information on SCOA, visit www.scoa.ca.

The Seniors Globe Walk encourages seniors to increase their level of physical activity. Last year, the cumulative team totals (measured in miles) were enough to go the moon and back, plus around the world several times.

ABOUT THIS CONTENT: QUALITY OF LIFE FOR SENIORS wAS prOdUCEd By pOSTmEdIA CONTENT wOrkS AS A rESUlT Of AdvErTISErS’ INTErEST IN rAISINg AwArENESS ABOUT THIS SUBjECT. pOSTmEdIA’S EdITOrIAl dEpArTmENT HAd NO INvOlvEmENT IN THE CrEATION Of THIS CONTENT.

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Quality of Life

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QUALITY OF LIFE FOR SENIORS

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LIVING LIFE OUTSIDE THE LINES

C a ro l T o d d Postmedia Content Works

As children, we are told to “colour inside the lines,” and as adults, we are required to stay within manner of boundaries. Yet, for one Regina senior, art and life outside the lines has brought freedom and peace.

“I am having the quality of life that I never had before,” says Jim Toth, who will turn 79 years young this summer. “It’s a quality that, at my age, I am absolutely delighted with and happy with, because I’m at peace,” he says.

The journey to that place has not always been easy, but he found his way through his art and his faith.

“Religion is an aspect that I have grown and matured in in life to where I am no longer confined by the mores and standards and rituals of everyday church practice,” he says, adding his worship is based on the biblical definition of a church as wherever “two or more are gathered in His name.” At the same time, his faith has helped shape his life in many ways. He has been a Lutheran lay pastor since 1961, and his second wife and his daughters from his first marriage are ordained ministers in their respective churches.

Toth was born and raised in Regina and he and his family continue to live there. He holds Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education degrees from the University of Saskatchewan, and a post-graduate diploma in Education Administration from the University of Regina. He recently graduated with a Masters of Divinity degree from Carey College at the University of British Columbia. He’s performed as a hypnotist and as Petals the Clown and continues to be an active volunteer, serving with the Regina Leader-Post Foundation, and, in the past, the Rotary Club, the Regina Exhibition Association

Don’t put me in a shoebox.

J i m to th , r e g i n a a r tist

and Taylor Field.

But, it’s his faith, and his art, that continue to be the driving forces in his life. “I worship religion outside the lines as I paint outside the lines,” he says. He began studying watercolour painting in the 1950s before branching into oils and, eventually, acrylics. Today he paints mainly in oils, though he says that “acrylic painting has snuck back into” his studio. He and his wife travel extensively, with the vistas they see finding their way onto his canvasses.

The other artists he visits contribute to his growth as an artist.

A recent high point was a meeting with Canadian wildlife artist Robert Bateman. “It was magic. We were so blessed with this wonderful opportunity and experience,” he says. He’s looking forward to a trip to the Grand Tetons National Park next month to visit artist Scott Christensen to, he says, “help me fine tune my brush.”

For the last six years or so, he has focused on plein air painting, from the French term meaning open (in full) air. He jokes that he was driven to search for places to paint outdoors by the Prairie winter. “With winter comes the cabin fever,” he says of trips to places like the Anza Borrego desert in Northern California or Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island to wield his brush outside.

His brush doesn’t seem to need much tuning: his first solo show

Regina senior Jim Toth’s passion for art has elevated his quality of life. In recent years, Toth has focused on plein air (outdoor) painting. Ph otos cou rte sy J im t ot h

and sale of his work at the University of Regina The World Through My Eyes, saw six paintings sold in the first two hours. He terms himself “delighted” with the response.

“I am thrilled. I hope more go the same way. This is very uplifting,” he says. The show continues until June 24 at the University Club at the U of R. More information on the show, and on the artist himself is online at jimtothprairieartist.ca/ blog.

While marketers encourage “thinking outside the box,” outside the box is where Jim Toth lives. “Don’t put me in a shoebox,” he says. That and painting outside the lines have brought him peace and a high quality of life. Good advice for the rest of us who are still searching.

Qualicum Beach, oil on canvas by Jim Toth.

Find a hobby that works for you Hobbies can serve many functions. Some men and women turn their hobbies into careers, while others rely on their hobbies to provide a relaxing respite from the hustle and bustle of daily life.

Inspiring hobbies can make life more rewarding. While many people experience some trial and error as they seek something to fill their downtime, the following are a few tips to finding a hobby that will enrich your life and maybe even the lives of others.

Consider your interests

A hobby is a great way to enrich your life and find new friends who share the same interests. Ph o t o : mNs

Much like you consider your interests when choosing a career path, you can benefit from doing the same when the time comes to find a hobby. If your work remains your passion, look for ways to share that passion with others. Perhaps you can teach a class at your community’s learning centre or volunteer to work with high school kids who might have expressed an interest in your line of work.

If you want to leave the office behind in your downtime, consider

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your other interests. Avid readers may want to start a local book club, while film buffs may enjoy starting a local film appreciation group. The more passionate you are about a topic or activity, the more likely you can turn it into a successful and rewarding hobby.

Consider your needs

Another way to find a successful hobby is to consider why you want one in the first place. If your workdays tend to be hectic and you want a quiet escape, then a peaceful hobby such as painting might do the trick. If you’re looking for a hobby that can add some spice to your social life and help you meet new people, look for something that encourages teamwork or interaction with other people your age.

Consider your availability

Another thing to consider when choosing a hobby is how much time you will have to pursue it. If your schedule is especially hectic or unpredictable, avoid hobbies that

Many people find that the best hobbies are the ones that allow them to spend more time with their loved ones, whether those loved ones are their own children, their parents or their close friends.

Parents may want to find an activity that allows them to bond with their children, while young working professionals may want to find an activity that provides them with opportunities to spend time with their equally busy friends. (MNS)

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require a big time commitment, as such activities may prove too difficult to commit to. In such situations, a hobby that allows you to embrace it on your own time will likely prove more enjoyable than one where you must adhere to a schedule that you simply can’t honour. If you have a substantial amount of free time, then something that requires more involvement on your part might be right up your alley, whereas hobbies that don’t require much regular participation likely won’t provide the respite or fulfillment you’re

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for seniors We want to ensure seniors who may have mobility issues or transportation issues can access healthy food, reasonably inexpensively and reasonably frequently. len t ur P le, CheP G ood food inc .

Len Turple, with CHEP Good Food Inc., helps a customer at a Seniors Store – a mini-grocery store that makes frequent appearances at seniors residential complexes around the city. S P f il e P h o to

CHEP Seniors Stores offer safe access to nutritious food J e n n i f e r Jac o by- S m i t h Postmedia Content Works

For some senior residents of Saskatoon, getting to and from the grocery store to buy a weekly stock of food can be a near-impossible endeavour. Some have no access to personal transportation and rely on taxis or public transit to get to a grocery store. Others are hampered by mobility issues. Add in bad weather or snow and ice, and seniors in Saskatoon can suffer from limited access to affordable food.

That’s where CHEP Good Food Inc. steps in. Formerly Child Hun-

ger Education Program, CHEP seeks to improve access to good food for all residents in the community.

“We want to ensure seniors who may have mobility issues or transportation issues can access healthy food, reasonably inexpensively and reasonably frequently,” said Turple.

With their Seniors Stores program, they’ve brought the store to the seniors. The Seniors Stores are pop-up mini-grocery stores that make regular visits to nine seniors complexes in the city – three get weekly visits, the other six get bi-

weekly visits.

“Our typical customer is an 80 to 85 year-old-woman who no longer drives and lives in the complex,” said Len Turple with CHEP Good Food. “She moved in there after her husband died and she sold the car because she no longer drives.”

He added, “Fifty per cent of our customers have walkers, so getting to a mainline grocery store is awkward.”

That can be especially true during the long winter months when ice and snow impede travel even for the most able-bodied. And getting a taxi to the store is one thing. Turple

said, he’s heard of some residents waiting up to two hours for a ride home from a grocery store.

So having access to good food without leaving their building is hugely important for many. Turple and his pop-up stores focus mainly on fresh produce such as apples, oranges, bananas, grapes, pears and various seasonal fruits. For veggies, he routinely stocks broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, tomatoes, lettuce, onions, potatoes, and more.

Plus, he generally offers staples such as eggs, margarine and milk.

Most of the products are sourced through Federated Coop’s wholesaler. Some of the produce is sourced locally towards the end of the growing season when local produce is more abundant.

While many may have wondered if the closure of the Good Food Junction store at Station 20 West had impacted the program in anyway, Turple said the Seniors

Stores program pre-dated the Good Food Junction store. While they did source their milk through the Good Food Junction, it was merely a matter of reconnecting with former suppliers.

CHEP does offer other food programs geared towards seniors – such as the More Store to Your Door program where seniors can order basic amenities over the phone and have the items delivered to their home at no extra cost.

However, the program has never been as popular as the Seniors Stores.

Ensuring seniors have regular access to produce and other essentials not only ensures they get enough healthy food to eat, it creates independence and adds to their quality of life. Customers regularly express their appreciation to Turple.

“They’re quite enthusiastic,” he said. “They say things like, ‘This is a great service. Just keep coming.’”

Eating right can improve quality of life Legend states that on April 2, 1513, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León was the first European to discover modern-day Florida when he traveled on a quest for the mythical “Fountain of Youth.”

While modern science has proven that there is no mystical fountain or body of water that can reverse or slow down the aging process, there are many steps people can take to age well and prolong their lives.

Eating the right foods is one way to age well. According to Ralph Felder, M.D., Ph.D., coauthor of “The Bonus Years Diet,” reversing the aging process internally is more difficult than outward cosmetic changes. But the right foods can go a long way toward increasing both life expectancy and quality of life.

Those who want to employ diet to increase their life expectancy may want to start adding more of the following foods to their breakfast, lunch and dinner plates.

■ Broccoli, grapes and salad: According to Health magazine, researchers have found that compounds in these three foods boast extra life-extending benefits.

■ Berries: In addition to their abundance of antioxidants, berries have other benefits. A 2012 study

Berries and whole grains are nutritious foods that can help men and women live longer, healthier lives. Ph oto: M nS

from Harvard University found that at least one serving of blueberries or two servings of strawberries each week may reduce the risk of cognitive decline in older adults.

■ Fruits and vegetables: Produce is good for the body because it’s low in calories and high in fibre, vitamins and other nutrients.

Numerous studies have indicated

that diets plentiful in fruits and vegetables help people maintain a healthy weight and protect against cardiovascular disease.

■ Whole grains: Whole grains pack a lot of nutrition into a lowcalorie food. Whole grains help protect against type 2 diabetes, and researchers at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center found study participants whose diets included plenty of whole grains and fruit cut their heart disease risk by almost half compared to those whose diets favoured meat and fatty foods.

■ Red wine: A glass a day for women and no more than two glasses

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daily for men can be beneficial.

Moderate consumption of red wine has been shown to slow agerelated declines in cardiovascular function, according to the American Heart Association.

■ Fibre: Increase your fibre intake for a longer life. Research from The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition finds that the more fibre you include in your diet, the lower your risk of coronary heart disease.

The daily recommendation is 25 to 35 grams.

While there may be no such thing as the fountain of youth, a healthy diet can help men and women prolong their lives. (MNS)

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Fitness after

50

ABOVE: Personal trainer Heidi Rainville leads a small group in intermediate strength training at ProACTIVE Fitness. Groups meet for 30 minutes, two or three times a week.

LEFT: Shelley Turk, Certified Functional Aging Specialist at ProACTIVE FItness, instructs a client in TRX resistance training. P hot oS: hilary

Functional fitness sessions designed for the 50-plus crowd

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Not everyone is a body builder or bikini babe. Shelley Turk started ProACTIVE Fitness last fall because she identified a gap in the fitness world.

Turk had been working at Mawson Fitness as a health and fitness trainer and noticed a lot of her clients were 58 or 59 years old.

“All the older ones were gravitating toward me because I was the oldest trainer there,” she says. “I noticed a lot of their wants and needs were different. It wasn’t about the bikini bodies or the sixpack abs.” Clients just wanted to get off the floor after playing with their grandkids or ease the aches and pains associated with things like gardening. They wanted to move better and feel better, and if they looked better, that was a bonus.

“A lot of people came to me and said, ‘I’d like to train with you but I don’t feel comfortable at a regular gym because it’s full of body builders and bikini babes.’ And people are not confident, they’re uneasy in that situation,” says Turk. “That’s when I realized, there’s no place for them.”

Turk says she’s been a gym girl forever. She first taught aerobics, then moved on to weight training where she observed greater changes. Most recently, she’s become a Certified Functional Aging Specialist.

“Functional fitness helps middleaged and mature clients move well in everyday life. It’s going to translate well into real life situations,”

says Turk. She suggests that bench pressing and using all the machines in the gym really isn’t very applicable or translatable and may not help you move better in real life.

Instead of classes, at ProACTIVE Fitness, small group training sessions help clients increase flexibility and agility. Stepping up onto a step stool in the pantry and putting a small appliance away is one real-life example. “We’ll have people step up onto platforms and lift a weighted ball over their head.”

Clients want to be able carry groceries and hold a grandchild.

They want to do hiking and go on adventure vacations. “We can train them for all those sorts of things,” says Turk. They can generally ex-

tend their quality of life, play golf longer, improve their tennis game and maintain their independence.

Group size is limited to six people and everyone is supervised either by a Personal Trainer, a Functional Aging Specialist or a Certified Exercise Physiologist (CEP). This approach offers a distinct advantage over classes of 30 to 35 people with one instructor. There’s no way to correct form in that situation.

“Here we check form all the time and we can adjust exercises as needed for personal limitations,” says Turk. One-on-one personalized training is possible in the group at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. ProACTIVE offers multiple components of fitness including balance, strengthening, agility, coordination and proprioception.

Small group sessions are 30 minutes and meet two or three times a week. The best results come from three sessions a week, but two sessions a week will also generate results. Private training sessions are also available.

Turk is also a Canfitpro trainer.

Two other trainers on staff have their kinesiology degrees. Personal trainer Heidi Rainville is also Precision Nutrition Certified.

Turk invites clients to hang their artwork in her fitness centre. A beautiful birch forest landscape hangs near the reception desk. A bit of a community is forming as people come in, sit on the couches and connect between groups.

ProActive Fitness has created a comfort level among clients. For the 50 plus crowd, or basically anyone, there’s an acceptance of different body types and stages of life.

Turk would love to open a second location eventually and finds the demographic she serves to be a wonderful group of clients. “I love that I get to help people. I think there was a real void for something like this in Saskatoon. I’ve got people who have never exercised in their life and they’re thinking, ‘maybe I should do this.’

ProActive Fitness is located at 3602 Taylor Street East. For more details, visit www.proactivefit.ca.

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TechBuddy program pairs sTudenTs wiTh older adulTs Pau l S i n k ew i c z Postmedia Content Works

Brian McSheffrey is no stranger to high-tech gadgets. After all, he says, he lived through the information revolution brought about by radio and television.

Sure, tubes and transistors are old news compared to touch screens and dual core processors, but the basic premise is the same: something new comes along and if you embrace it, you will open up new worlds.

McSheffrey, 80, is a retired paediatrician who volunteers with the Saskatoon Council on Aging to teach older adults how to use computers, smartphones and tablets.

It’s work he loves.

“Usually what happens is that a family member has bought them an iPad and pushed them off the end of the dock and said ‘Here, go and play with it,’ ” he said. “So we start out

going through the very basic stuff with them.”

McSheffrey says that older people often have a fear of electronics, mostly because they think they can inadvertently permanently damage a device.

“Our main goal in getting people acquainted with these things is to get them over that fear so they’ll go in and explore,” he said. “Unless people have kept up with technology, there’s a big knowledge gap that you just have to leap over.”

His own penchant for teaching comes from years working with small groups of medical students.

Patience is the key for success in working with older adults, he said.

“When the light goes on it’s really quite gratifying.”

SCOA runs a Computers and Technology group class which starts with the basics, and also offers one-on-one instruction on Apple products like the iPhone

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The TechBuddy program, established by the Saskatoon Council on Aging, enlists high school students to teach seniors how to use the latest digital devices. Above, Rachel Piatt (left) helps Kay Cullam to learn about the many functions of her smartphone. Ph oto: S CoA

and iPad. There are also second-level classes for advancing students, which cover things like Facetime, or more specific applications like photography and storage. “We’re going to be doing the Cloud, because that’s a big mystery to people,” said McSheffrey.

In conjunction with those core programs, SCOA has partnered with Holy Cross High School to offer the TechBuddy program, which is aimed at beginners who have already taken one of SCOA’s tech courses and are ready to further their skills.

It began as a pilot project in 2014 and the response was so good it returned in 2015. This past year, about 40 seniors worked with 30 student volunteers from the high

school for one-on-one learning about their devices and social media.

TechBuddy runs September through November and February through April around the school calendar. It is designed to help older adults connect with the world around them.

“First and foremost it’s an intergenerational project which brings different generations together.

Who better to teach technology than kids?” said Sandra Schweder, interim program volunteer co-ordinator at SCOA. “The classes are structured in two, one-hour sessions because we found that when you give too much at once some of it’s lost.”

She says the clients learn on whatever device they choose – so

they can bring their laptop, their iPad, a tablet – and they get the first hour of tutelage and are able to go home and practice. Then they come back with questions and are able to further solidify their knowledge.

“We’re hoping to extend the program with Mount Royal Collegiate in the fall, so that’s exciting,” said Schweder.“Often, we have all these programs and they’re always concentrated on one side of the city. We want to spread them out so we can capture a different demographic.”

Anyone interested in finding out more about TechBuddy, or any other SCOA program, is invited to call 306-652-2255 for more information.

Or better yet, take a first step into a new world of technology and visit their website at www.scoa.ca.

Smart phone safety tips These days, the world is just a touchscreen away. Smart phone technology is fascinating but for seniors especially, it’s important to balance convenience with security and privacy precautions. Here are three tips to heed: 1. Be App SAfe

From games and daily planners to health care and transportation solutions, there are apps for almost any need. But some have been designed to gain access to personal data.

Limit risks by first, only downloading apps from trusted sources, such as Google Play and the Apple App Store, and also by choosing strong privacy settings, paying attention to permission settings, and disabling tracking features, like GPS, when not in use. Keep your device operating system upto-date so you have the latest security software.

Never engage with unknown senders or click suspicious links – and never transfer money to strangers.

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318 Maguire Court 322 Maguire Court

306.220.9324

306.260.0801

(Silverspring Area)

FACSIMILE 306.249.2901

#9 – 2605 Broadway Avenue, Saskatoon (Avalon Shopping Center) Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

NEW PATIENTS WELCOME NO REFERRAL REQUIRED

(including Wii Exercises)

KONIHOWSKI RESIDENCES

AVALON DENTURE CARE Josh Laewetz DD and Ashley Ball DD

Full service clinic offering: • Complete Dentures • Standard and Precision Dentures • Immediate Dentures • Partial Dentures • Implant Stabilized-Dentures • Relines, Repairs & Adjustments

(Willowgrove Area)

Please call to book an appointment today for your COMPLIMENTARY CONSULTATION: 306-384-0790 www avalondenture com www.avalondenture.com

FACSIMILE 306.382.4037

Email: info@qualitycarehomes.ca • www.qualitycarehomes.ca SAS00347724_1_1

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2. Don’t tAlk to StrAngerS

“Criminals often target seniors with text messages, emails, and social media messages promising too-good-to-be-true investments, contests, or low-cost medications,” explains Shelly Smith, director of Telus Wise. “Typically, these are supported with professional websites and seemingly legitimate company names, so it’s no wonder they work.” Never engage with unknown senders or click suspicious links – and never transfer money to strangers.

3. In CASe of loSS

Before your smartphone goes missing, you can safeguard your information in a few ways. Invest in a warranty program. Install software that allows you to remotely erase data – some devices already have this built in. Create strong passwords using acronyms, combinations of letters and numbers, and different cases and special characters. If your smartphone disappears, immediately contact your phone company, says Smith.

“They can help you find or replace it promptly.”

Learn more about smartphone safety for seniors at telus.com/wise.

(News Canada)

YOUR ONE YOUR ON NE ES STOP TOP T OP SHOP SH HOP OP F FOR: OR: HOME HEALTH AND MOBILITY AIDS! Retirement Residence

SALES, RENTALS, SERVICE

514 23rd St. E.

Located Downtown just off Spadina Crescent Across from the Medical Arts ENRICHED LIVING INTERMEDIATE CARE HOME

Services Include: Studio 1 or 2 Bedrooms Full Kitchen in Each Suite Nutritious Meal Program Housekeeping and Linen Service Wellness Clinic and Foot Care Emergency Response System

PRESTON AVE SOUTH MARKET MALL

Services Include: Nutritious Meals and Snacks Medication management Housekeeping and Laundry Service Resident and Family Support Services Foot Care Secure Environment 24 hour Staff

SASKATOON

PH: (306) 955-7243

To book a Tour call 306-653-3995 | www.thepalisades.ca SAS00349945_1_1

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S6

T U E S D A Y, M A Y 3 1 , 2 0 1 6

Quality of Life

for seniors

QUALITY OF LIFE FOR SENIORS

S A S K AT O O N S TA R P H O E N I X

ON-LINE ACCESS TO REPORTS Everything’s more automated and efficient. It provides more up-to-date information to the public to assist them with selecting a care home.

Saskatchewan personal care home inspections go digital Pat R e d i g e R Postmedia Content Works

Care home inspection reports conducted by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health can be viewed online, at http://personalcarehomes.saskatchewan.ca. Ph oto: G e t ty I m aG e s

ing in a safe, secure environment and they’re receiving safe and appropriate care.”

Care home inspection reports are now housed online at http:// personalcarehomes.saskatchewan. ca. Information is available for home inspections completed after Sept. 24, 2015, the date when Saskatchewan Health unveiled the new software. Inspection reports prior to the switch are available as online PDFs. The first thing one notices when visiting the site is a list of all of the personal care homes in the province. Visitors have the option to view this information as an inter-

active map – where a quick scroll or a few clicks will bring up all the options in your area – or a traditional table embedded in the site. Once a care home is selected, detailed information about the facility is presented, including the address, contact information, approximate monthly rates and attributes.

The file also displays the infractions at the time of last inspection and total unresolved infractions.

Some examples of infractions include personal care homes not storing, preparing, cooking and serving food properly to prevent or minimize risk of illness, poisoning, or injury to residents; not ad-

ministering medications according to the 6 R’s (Right Resident, Right Time, Right Route, Right Medication, Right Amount, and Right Documentation); and failing to have proper door alarms installed on each exit and activated at all times to eliminate the risks of residents wandering off property.

Despite infractions that may occur at the time of the last inspection, it’s common for there to be no current unresolved infractions.

That’s because personal care home consultants work with licensees – often during the inspection itself – to address deficiencies and coaching them to facilitate compliance

with the requirements. The new technology allows consultants to quickly update listings when the deficiencies have been addressed.

“If you are looking for a care home, you have a good idea of what the home is like. You have access to quite a bit of information online,” said Skalicky-Souliere. “We’re certainly finding it a lot easier to track infractions.”

Skalicky-Souliere said that around 30 per cent of the personal care homes in the province have been inspected since the new software was introduced.

Beyond the inspections, the FAQ section of the website offers a bevy of information, including how to report a problem with a personal care home and information on applying for a personal care home licence. There’s also a link to the document “Selecting A Personal Care Home That Is Right For You”, which contains general information on things to consider when selecting a home.

“The document is a very good resource for people who are looking for a personal care home,” Skalicky-Souliere said. “It suggests some questions for people to ask when they’re meeting with personal care home operators. It also suggests some things to take note of when you’re looking at homes. It kind of sets the tone for the whole process.”

Bo ok

W e’ re

90

S Yo to % ur p b To y o Fu ur r ll!

To da y!

Personal care home consultants in Saskatchewan are trading in their pens and papers for tablets.

These consultants are employed by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health and are responsible for inspecting the province’s personal care homes – typically on an annual basis – to ensure that the residents who live in these homes receive safe and appropriate care in the best possible environment.

In 2014, the Saskatchewan Legislature passed a law that enables these inspection reports to be posted publicly on the internet. As part of the digital transformation process that followed, the consultants now have the tools to share up-todate information with members of the public who are examining potential care homes.

“Up until recently, we had always done our inspections with a pen and paper. When the regulations changed, the consultants would put the information into a PDF and we’d post that online,” said Dawn Skalicky-Souliere, Director of Licensing for Saskatchewan Health. “Now, they can conduct their inspections using tablets.

Everything’s more automated and efficient. It provides more up-todate information to the public to assist them with selecting a care home. When the standards under the Personal Care Homes Act change, so do our evaluation tools.

At the end of the day, we’re looking at making sure the residents who live in personal care homes are liv-

Everything is the same, except p for the name.

Brightwater Senior Living of Stonebridge is now “Stonebridge Crossing – An Esprit Lifestyle Community”.

Rest assured though, we will continue to provide the same welcoming, friendly and secure environment. Our staff, quality of care and service remain unchanged.

One exception is the Esprit Living philosophy, which is born of the belief that a joyful retirement comes from extended vitality of the whole self. Residents now enjoy amenities and activities that engage the body, mind and spirit.

We’re better, yet we’re the same…right down to our signature fruit loaf.

102 Wellman Crescent, Saskatoon, SK., S7T 0G3

306 974 7990 www.stonebridgecrossingrc.com

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