January 2010 Senior Living Magazine Island Edition

JANUARY 2010

Vancouver Island’s 50+ Active Lifestyle Magazine

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POWERWALKER

Jacquie Farris

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JANUARY 2010 1

FEATURES 4 The Bend in the RoadPower walker Jacquie Farris goes the distance for causes she believes in.

8 Swish, Swagger, SwoonFormer engineer Steve Ashton is using his skills to bring kilts into the 21st century.

12 City of DreamsBeautiful Barcelona offers something for everyone – and more!

18 Living with the “A” wordWhen Alzheimer’s affected her mom, Eve Millington took up the cause and began her volunteer journey with Walk for Memories.

20 Ping-PongMembers of the Victoria Chinese Seniors’ Association pick up paddles for fitness and friendship.

26 Stitched TogetherThe Victoria Knitters Guild brings people together to socialize while they knit for family, friends and charity.

31 Saving LivesComing from a family touched by heart disease, Volunteer Helen Lee keeps herself fit – when she’s not giving back to the community.

Cover Photo: When Power Walker Jacquie Farris enters a race, the charities she supports win. Story page 4. Photo: Scott Morrish

JANUARY 2010

(Vancouver Island) is published by Stratis Publishing.

Publisher Barbara RistoEditor Bobbie Jo Reid [email protected] Norman K. Archer, Tiffany Auvin-en, Goldie Carlow, Judee Fong, Gipp Forster, Barbara Haley, Eve Millington, Scott Morrish, Patricia Mullen-Baker, Pat Nichol, R.A. Propper, Candice Schultz, Rosalind Scott, Vernice Shos-tal, Barbara Small

Proofreader Allyson MantleAdvertising ManagerBarry Risto 250-479-4705For advertising information, call [email protected] Sales Staff RaeLeigh Buchanan 250-479-4705 Terry Cushing 250-479-4705Ann Lester 250-390-1805Mathieu Powell 250-589-7801Barry Risto 250-479-4705Contact Information – Head OfficeSenior Living Box 153, 1581-H Hillside Ave., Victoria BC V8T 2C1Phone 250-479-4705Toll-free 1-877-479-4705Fax 250-479-4808E-mail [email protected] www.seniorlivingmag.comSubscriptions: $32 (includes GST, postage and handling) for 12 issues. Canadian residents only.No portion of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. Senior Living is an inde-pendent publication and its articles imply no endorsement of any products or services. The views expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publisher. Unsolicited articles are welcome and should be e-mailed to [email protected] Senior Living Vancouver Island is distributed free throughout Vancouver Island. Stratis Publishing Ltd. publishes Senior Living Vancouver Island (12 issues per year) and Senior Living Vancouver & Lower Mainland (12 issues per year). ISSN 1710-3584 (Print) ISSN 1911-6403 (Online)

DEPARTMENTS23 Classifieds25 BBB Scam Alert30 Resource Directory

COLUMNS 2 The Family Caregiver by Barbara Small

10 Victoria’s Past Revisited by Norman K. Archer

17 Outrageous & Courageous by Pat Nichol

29 Ask Goldie by Goldie Carlow

32 Reflections: Then & Now by Gipp Forster

2 SENIOR LIVING

• Be realistic in your expectations as to what each person is able to do.

• Express appreciation to each other for the help each is able to provide.

• Expect and accept differences of opinion and reactions and find ways to compromise. Keep in mind that every-one has the right to his or her own feel-ings and point of view. You can agree to disagree and still complete the caregiv-ing tasks as needed.

• Take a moment to recognize what is old conflict and what is related to the current situation. Try to put aside long-time grudges for now so everyone has the energy to deal with caregiving.

Next issue: Can you prepare in advance for being a caregiver?

THE FAMILY

CAREGIVER

Family Dynamics and Caregiving

Barbara Small is Program Development Coordinator for Family Caregivers’ Net-work Society.

BY BARBARA SMALL

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Providing care for a family member can bring out the best – and the worst – in everyone

involved. People can come together to support each other or the stress can lead to frustration and conflict between fam-ily members.

Past dynamics and family roles of-ten re-surface when dealing with the stress of caregiving. All those old issues and unresolved tensions can often re-emerge.

Important to keep in mind is that everyone will respond to the situation in his or her own way. Frustration can occur if you expect other people to feel or act the same as you. Everyone in the family comes with a different history and perspective; a different relationship with the person who is ill; and a differ-ent comfort level with illness and the associated emotions.

Also, family members each have their own strengths. Some will excel at the personal care aspect of caregiving, while others cringe from it. Others may thrive by doing housework, gardening, repairs or dealing with finances. Let people work in the areas where they shine.

Even when two people are both do-ing the same duty, they may still do it

differently. How you provide personal care to your spouse may be different than how his sister does when she re-lieves you. Different does not mean wrong. Ask yourself whether it is really worth butting heads over.

Family meetings are important for keeping everyone up-to-date regarding the care-recipient’s health, as well as to delegate duties. The goal at these meet-ings is not to resolve long-time family issues, but to ensure everyone is on the same team, and to sort out what needs to be done. It can also be an opportu-nity for current concerns to be aired and miscommunications to be cleared up.

Here are some suggestions for how family members can work together when caregiving:

• Start early. Clarify tasks and re-sponsibilities. Be concrete, specific and ensure everyone has interpreted the plan the same.

• Have one person (usually the pri-mary caregiver) be responsible for co-ordinating what needs to be done and for keeping family members in the loop.

• Let others know their help is both wanted and needed.

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4 SENIOR LIVING

Jacquie Farris goes the distance for causes about which she is passionate. And she does so one step at a time.

Jacquie, who turns 60 in April, is a long-distance power walker who cultivated her enthusiasm through a se-ries of life-altering events. Now, she participates in various long-distance runs and walks, including the Royal Victoria Marathon, the Great Lake Walk around Lake Cowichan and the Great Walk from Gold River to Tahsis.

For many of the ultra events, which are classified as any distance longer than the traditional 26.2-mile marathon, Jac-quie connects her participation to a fundraiser.

The transition to power walking came from trying to find a balance between work and life. “I was always athletic in school and enjoyed team sports, but distance running was not in my vocabulary,” she says. “To make a long story short, I

became a critical care nurse and sports went on the wayside. In 1994, I realized I was pretty much married to my work, and decided that there was more to life, so I stepped back from my career quite a bit.”

Jacquie was already a swimmer and a cycler, so she got involved in triathlon.

“One day, I was out at Elk Lake and in the quietness and privacy of myself, I thought, ‘Let’s see what I can do here.’ If I could run or walk, I could do triathlon. I walked really fast, and realized I got around [the lake] in reasonable time. I did some slow-paced running with triathlon in the ’90s.”

In 2002, however, Jacquie developed a work-related bilat-eral hand injury called Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome. The complication, which affects her secondary sympathetic nerv-ous system, brought Jacquie’s life crashing down.

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JANUARY 2010 5

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“I basically, overnight, lost my career. That threw the tria-thlon out the window. Swimming was very painful. I have limited use of my hands now, and signifi cant pain.”

Around the same time, Jacquie’s mother, Ellen Rae Farris, was diagnosed with dementia. Jacquie attended, and later fa-cilitated, support groups at the Alzheimer Resource Centre in Victoria. Although in pain and unable to work, this sequence of events made Jacquie realize she still wanted to contribute to her community.

“In so helping others, you help yourself,” she says. When Jacquie gave up driving four years ago and began

walking for transportation, she was relieved. “I went to turn into my [parking] stall, and I had splints

on my hand at the time,” she recalls. “My hands slipped and I scraped the side of my car on a pillar. I brought the car to a stop; nobody was hurt. A car can be fi xed. I turned the ignition off and I never got in the car again. I think I already knew.”

Soon after, Jacquie began power walking in running events. “I knew that I would be last, but I didn’t care. It was about participating. I don’t do anything fast. I’m the endur-ance kind of gal,” she says with a grin.

Jacquie has lost count of the number of half marathons, marathons and ultra events she has participated in. The en-dorphins from the physical exercise relieve her pain, boost her self-esteem and allow her to contribute to her community in a meaningful way, all of which are motivating factors in Jacquie’s power walking. “I’m interested in participating and achieving my own personal goals,” she says. “I love pushing myself for the distance.”

Although Jacquie is modest, her event times and fundrais-ing efforts are impressive. In August 2008, Jacquie walked the length of the Galloping Goose and the Lochside Trail – a total of 80 km – in 10 hours and 55 minutes in support of the Family Caregivers Network. Jacquie’s mother matched her fundraising contributions and donated them to the Alzheimer Society of B.C. Between mother and daughter, they contrib-uted over $12,000 to the organizations.

Jacquie’s other passion revolves around someone much younger. In July of 2004, 21-year-old athlete Sean Marlowe was on his way to pick up his race package for a pre-World

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Cup triathlon event when he was in-volved in a motor vehicle accident with a tractor-trailer. The athlete, who once trained for the Beijing Olympics, sus-tained a permanent brain injury that left him immobile and unable to speak.

Three years later, Jacquie read a newspaper article about Sean’s moth-er, Cherith. She learned that it was the family’s goal to bring Sean home from Aberdeen Hospital in Victoria. At the time, Jacquie was preparing to do the Great Lake Walk. A few nights later, she bolted upright in bed with an idea.

Jacquie contacted Cherith and dis-covered that although the bigger pic-ture was to bring Sean home, what his mother really wanted was to make him more mobile. Jacquie turned her par-ticipation in the 2007 Great Lake Walk into a fundraiser, and raised $6,000 for a custom-built adult jogging stroller for Sean, called the Red Racer.

When the Red Racer arrived, Jacquie planned a community celebration at Beaver Lake Park the following April.

“The event was both to present the

Red Racer to Sean and to thank the community,” Jacquie says. “Nothing inspires me more when I’m doing ultra marathons, than when I have a cause that I’m passionate about.”

At the celebration, Jacquie announced a commitment to annually complete the September Great Lake Walk as a fund-raiser to support Sean’s ongoing needs.

Now at home, Sean requires 24-hour care and support. At last year’s Great Lake Walk, Jacquie raised enough mon-ey to purchase a modifi ed recumbent stepper for Sean so he can exercise.

For her 60th birthday, Jacquie plans to power walk 100 km for another cause. Until then, her inspiration comes from her parents, helping others and her favourite saying, “the bend in the road is not the end of the road as long as you’re willing to take the turn.”

“If I didn’t have my power walking, I don’t know where I would be with my pain,” says Jacquie. “It isn’t about high performance. More important is that I can get out, walk to see my mom and walk to town to do chores I need to do.”

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When Jacquie looks back on power walking, she thinks of her mother, once an avid walker, who appreciated the sense of community and connection with the environment that accompanied an afternoon stroll.

“Now, I look back and I really hon-our my mother,” she says. “Yes, she did get dementia, but she has handled it so much better with her prudent lifestyle. My gratitude for some of my philoso-phies and values in life and my ability to move on are because of my mom.” SL

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“When I first wore a kilt, I was immediately impressed with the comfort of the kilt and the attention that the kilt garners,” says Ste-

ve Ashton, Victoria-based designer and tailor of custom-made kilts. “The beauty of the kilt is its versatility. I can wear it with a T-shirt and boots for a casual look or I can wear a dress shirt, tie and jacket for a more formal look. Yet it’s the same kilt.”

Earning a master’s degree in engineering in 1978, Steve first designed large sailboats and yachts in Florida. Moving to Canada, he worked with a company designing and building kayaks. When the company closed, Steve cast about for new employment.

Examining a traditional kilt, he noticed a few problems. “I’m an ‘ideas’ guy because it’s the way my engineer’s brain works. There were no pockets in the kilt; it was entirely hand-stitched and it was made of wool. From an engineering standpoint, I felt I could make it better by bringing the kilt, kicking and scream-ing, into the 21st century!”

By moving interfacings, adding pockets and including ma-chine washable fabrics, Steve and his team fashioned everyday, wearable, contemporary kilts. Casually slipping his hand into a cleverly hidden pocket of the kilt he’s wearing, Steve pulls out two bunches of keys, a pipe and a lighter – no bulge divulges the existence of a pocket.

Steve believes there is a huge reawakening in wearing kilts.

Men are discovering the comfort, the practicality and the al-lure. Recently, he became the owner of www.xmarksthescot.com, which is the largest international online community for over 9,000 kilt-wearers. “You can blog or learn about tradi-tions and stories behind the kilts,” says Steve. “Xmarksthescot has its own tartan, which I’m wearing, clan crest and our own clan plant. In the olden days, clans recognized other clans by the sprig of plant they wore on their plaid or bonnet. Because Xmarksthescot is an international organization, we chose the dandelion, which is everywhere!”

Steve’s claim to a Scottish background was an ancestor who stated on a census form that his father was from Scotland. “This ‘thing’ about the kilt is not necessarily Scottish anymore,” he says. “Yes, it is the recognized national dress of Scotland, but there are other kilts that do not belong to a Scottish heritage or clan.” Of the 7,000 registered tartans, only 1,000 are clan-affili-ated. The others are regional, district, occupational and corpo-rate tartans. There is even an official Scottish-Chinese tartan.

“There is a young man, Todd Wong, who lives in Vancou-ver,” says Steve. “He started the tradition of ‘Gung Haggis Fat Choy,’ which combines Chinese New Year with Robbie Burn’s birthday. It’s incredible having haggis as part of the dim sum! And, yes, Todd wears a traditional kilt.”

Tartan colours are meaningful only to the designers. Steve shows the “Victoria City of Garden” tartan he designed, which will be adopted as Victoria’s official tartan on January 14, 2010 by city council. “Mayor Fortin will be wearing the first Victoria City of Garden kilt at the 2010 New Year’s levee,” he says.

Steve took the six colours from the First Nation’s poles and combined them into his tartan design. The blue represents the ocean that surrounds the Island. The band of green is the trees and the city’s green space. The black lines are the roads that connect citizens; the red represents the bricks of Victoria’s her-itage buildings; and the white and yellow lines are the splashes of colour from the city’s famous hanging flower baskets.

Steve’s kilts have found homes around the world and his kilt wearers have their stories and special requests. He recalls one gentleman who wanted a durable, hand-washable kilt with a specific arrangement of pockets. Apparently, he was an arche-ologist and needed a kilt to work in the fields.

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He remembers another request for a kilt with 22 pockets. “This client was a Celtic musician who had an entire collection of 22 pennywhistles,” says Steve. “Before going on stage, he would select the pennywhistles he would need and snapped them onto his kilt. As he swings into his musical numbers, the pennywhistles swirl around his various kilt pockets. It’s quite funny to watch!”

Every kilt wearer cringes when asked the age-old question. “If I asked a woman what she wears under her skirt, I would get arrested, so what’s the difference asking a man what he wears under his kilt?” Steve says. “It’s nobody’s business but your own.”

However, Steve has had his embarrassing moments. “We have a large pear tree in the front yard and we let people pick the pears when they are ripe. My neighbour came over and couldn’t reach a few pears, so I got my stepladder. I was half-way up the stepladder when two of the legs sank into the soft ground and knocked me off. I did a complete fl ip in the air, landed on my head and answered The Question for every-one!” Steve laughs.

Steve has made kilts for clients as young as six months to the oldest at 94 years. Serious fi rst-time male kilt-wearers are often between 45 and 55 when they make that major decision to purchase their kilt.

“If you’re going to have a mid-life crisis, purchasing and wearing a kilt is a lot cheaper than buying that red convert-

ible,” says Steve. By middle age, kilt-wearers have acquired enough matu-

rity to feel comfortable and confi dent wearing their kilts. The biggest obstacle to overcome is the fear that people will ridi-cule them for wearing a skirt-like garment.

“The reason the kilt is so attractive to women is because a man shows confi dence wearing it,” says Steve. “A man who wears a kilt walks proud.” Smiling broadly he adds, “Remem-ber, ‘Swish’ plus ‘Swagger’ equals ‘Swoon!’”

For more info, contact Steve Ashton at 250-386-5458 or [email protected]. The online forum for kiltaholics is www.xmarksthescot.com

SL

10 SENIOR LIVING

A Boy Named TomVICTORIA’S PAST

They called him “Happy Tom.” A delightful teen-ager, he always whistled a merry tune and greeted those he met with a cheerful smile. He was tall,

athletic and remarkably intelligent. His simple philosophy of life: “I can’t imagine how any man can be unhappy as long as he walks straight and acts right. I don’t mean to do anything wrong all my life.”

Yale was tough country in those early pioneer days of the 1850s and poor Tom didn’t have much of this world’s goods. His clothes were ragged and his boots had holes, but nothing could daunt his hap-py disposition. He never swore, never stole, never gambled, never drank and never smoked. Every-one loved him for his exuberant personality, twinkling eyes, infec-tious laugh and his melodic whis-tling that never seemed to end.

About 20 years later, an Eng-lishman arrived in Victoria named Harry Forman, who settled in James Bay. Harry was a wid-ower and he brought his young daughter, Ellen, with him to help keep house. Ellen had a teaching certificate and since teachers were in short supply, School Superintendent John Jessop hired her quickly. Not long after their arrival, Harry Forman re-married and the three lived very happily in their six-room bungalow.

One day, the city became alive with news of a rich vein of silver that had been discovered near Hope. The princi-pal owners were Dunbar, Moody, Sutton and Chooley, who were reputed to be the four richest men in British Columbia. They came to Victoria to sell shares, which were fetching a

high price. Harry Forman was excited by the prospect of joining the

ranks of the rich and famous so, one evening, he invited Chooley to his home. Chooley was a striking man, but un-married. One look at the pretty and demure Ellen Forman and it was love at first sight. Although Chooley was at least 20 years older than Ellen, Harry thoroughly approved of the match, imagining gold, silver, silks, satins and furs for his only daughter.

The wedding, only a few short weeks later, was a daz-zling affair. No expense was spared and it was the talk of the town. The couple went to San Francisco for their honeymoon in an opulent hotel; and Victoria predicted a glorious future for the happy couple.

While in San Francisco, how-ever, another side of Chooley’s character emerged. He had fits of

anger, especially when he had been drinking and became abusive to his young bride. He accused her of infidelity without any cause. The quarrelling that ensued was bitter.

They returned to Victoria and lived at the Forman family home, but relationships were strained. A child was born, but this did nothing to improve Chooley’s surly temperament. Harry Forman tried to remonstrate with him on one occa-sion, so Chooley flew into a rage, pointed a gun at him and threatened his life. Forman ordered him out of the house, and Chooley took rooms at the Driard Hotel. After a few days, Chooley returned and an uneasy truce was declared.

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A delightful teenager, he al-ways whistled a merry tune and greeted those he met

with a cheerful smile.

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when a second shot rang out and entered his lung. The fam-ily fl ed for shelter at the Anderson home and as they left, Chooley fi red again, narrowly missing his baby. Harry For-man died early the next morning.

The militia was now called to assist the police. Entering the Forman house, they found Chooley, passed out on the fl oor in a drunken stupor. Chooley was taken to the cells and charged with murder. Each day, as he was led to the courtroom for trial, angry crowds followed him. Feelings ran high in the city. Harry Forman was a popular Alder-

man and his daughter a much-loved teacher. One day, Chool-ey’s lawyer was attacked by the infuriated mob.

The jury returned a guilty ver-dict after only the briefest of de-liberations and Mr. Justice Gray passed a sentence of death. Six weeks later, on a bright spring morning, the miserable, surly

wretch was led to the gallows, climbed the steps and paused. Suddenly and very unexpectedly, this ugly, loathsome mur-derer pursed his lips and began to whistle a beautiful mel-ody. Chooley’s fi rst name was Thomas, now unhappy Tho-mas, but known in his younger days as Happy Tom.

BY NORMAN K. ARCHER

The murder of Alderman Harry Forman

SL

Norman Archer is an historical city tour guide in Victoria and the author of Tales of Old Victoria. Contact him at 250-655-1594 or [email protected]

productive as was originally imagined. The ore petered out and so did Chooley’s wealth. This caused him to treat his wife even more viciously and his fi ts of violent temper were ever more frequent. His drinking became excessive. Many times, he thrashed his wife and, many times, he and Harry Forman came to blows because of it.

On the evening of January 22, 1874, there was a heavy snowfall. A banging on the door of James Anderson at about 6:30 p.m. brought him to his entrance, where he saw his neighbour Harry Forman fall in a heap on the door-step, blood gushing from a bullet wound in his chest.

Chooley, who had fi red the shot, barricaded himself in the Forman house with several load-ed guns by his side. The police arrived, knocked down the door and were greeted by a hail of bullets. The police returned the shots, but all missed their mark. The offi cers retreated to safety, while Chooley erected more barricades, yelling death threats to anyone who dare cross his threshold.

Meanwhile, Harry Forman lay dying in Anderson’s home across the street. He recounted the events that led to the shooting. Apparently, when Forman arrived home that evening, Chooley was roaring drunk and refused to let any-one into the dining room. To try to keep the peace, Mrs. Forman prepared dinner for the family in the kitchen and as they started to eat Chooley appeared at the door, brandished a weapon and aimed it at Forman. He fi red. The bullet went through Forman’s hand. The wounded man leapt to his feet

Chooley, who had fi red the shot, barricaded himself in

the Forman house with sev-eral loaded guns by his side.

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12 SENIOR LIVING

Somewhere around the third century BC, legend has it the father of Hannibal, Hamil-

car Barca, founded the city of Bar-cino named after his family. Another legend says Hercules founded the city 400 years before the building of Rome. Somewhere along the line, the city be-came Barcelona, now firmly settled into the 21st century as the second largest

city in Spain, capital of the semi-au-tonomous province of Catalonia and its fashion capital.

Many famous artists and architects have lived and worked in Barcelona and their dreams nurtured the life and excitement of the city. Everywhere we went history flourished just a few blocks from where we stood. Roman ruins are exposed under the Plaça del Rei, and the

layout of the old historical centre: Barri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter) of Barcelona re-tains the typical Roman city grid-plan-ning style. Barcelona’s cathedral, also known as the Basilica de La Sue, was founded in 343 and has remnants of Ro-man walls embedded in its structure. Fought over for centuries by the Visig-oths, Moors and Christians, Barcelona’s art and architecture is a living trail of

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Sculpture on the corner of 4 Cats Café building

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cultures that passed through the city as history unfolded.Outdoor cafés thrive throughout the city, and some are

world famous. Take the café “Four Cats” or Els Quatre Gats. This café opened in 1897 and also operated as a hos-tel, cabaret, pub and restaurant. Around the turn of the cen-tury, Four Cats became one of the centres of Modernisme or, as we know it, art nouveau. The bar had revolving art exhibits including one of the fi rst one-man shows by Pa-blo Picasso. The bar closed in 1903 because of the owner’s debts. In 1989, a group of restaurateurs reopened it. Today, you can enjoy the café’s creative atmosphere while dining, and imagining Picasso arguing with Dali and Miró about the fi ner points of painting.

Art nouveau’s infl uence abounds throughout the city - from store windows to whole buildings - especially in the work of architect Antoni Gaudí. Gaudí designed many architectural works in Barcelona and became synonymous with the city. His Cathedral of the Sacred Family (Sagrada Familia) was his greatest work. Gaudí died in 1926 with the Cathedral unfi nished. Drive by the Cathedral today and see scaffolds, cranes, and workers still fi nishing Gaudí’s grand dream.

Did you know that the Eiffel Tower was originally to have been built in Barcelona for the 1888 World’s Fair of lights and new technology? Time was too short so, voila, it was built in Paris for the next World’s Fair. The Fair’s grounds are still there, but turned into a park with the same street lights that illuminated the Fair in 1888 – and they still work!

One of the earliest submarines was built in Barcelona. The Ictineo II was originally constructed in 1862 from the plans of Narcís Monturiol i Estarriol (1819 -1886), and the original Ictineo II navigated the waters of the Port of Barcelona. The Ictineo II was the fi rst vehicle of its time to submerge and navigate below the surface of the water. A full-size replica of the sub can be seen at the harbour.

Christopher Columbus stopped at Barcelona’s harbour af-

City of Dreams

Casa Batllo by Gaudi

14 SENIOR LIVING

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ter his discovery of the new world, and there is a statue in the city of the great explorer shown pointing his finger in the wrong direction. He is pointing toward India, which he as-sumed he discovered – America was the other way.

Hotels in Barcelona range from five stars to modest. For example: the Hotel Continental Barcelona on Las Ramblas Avenue is a modest hotel overlook-ing the broad avenue and costs about $150 dollars a night and includes all meals, with food and espresso avail-able mostly throughout the day. Many other hotels have similar deals. Las Ramblas Avenue, a major thorough-fare, is also the stage for many street performers. Night and day, Las Ramblas is alive with crowds of pedestrians meandering down this long delightful street.

There are many places where both tourists and city dwellers min-gle. Families with kids watch pup-pet shows and eagerly grab bal-

loons given out by performers. Seniors chat with their friends on park benches fitting in with the city’s ambience.

Barcelona’s old city of narrow streets can be difficult to navigate. A ride on a modern day super rickshaw is the best way to tour this part of the city. The bi-cycle driver/tour guide, can easily pull

over for a quick shot of a monument or street scene. It’s no limousine, but at bicycle speeds, the small bumps are hardly noticeable and passengers are at eye level with pedestrians.

Barcelona has the only pre-modern-ist arch in the world that doesn’t cele-brate a military victory; Arc de Triomf built in 1888. Speaking of arches, the architect who designed France’s Arc de Triomphe also designed a townhouse in Barcelona.

If you happen to be travelling along the Carrer de Provença, you might run by the Casa Milà, otherwise known as La Pedrera, an amazing apartment house designed by Antoni Gaudí, built 1906 to 1910. Located at 92 Passeig de Gràcia, it was originally built for the Milar fam-ily, a wealthy patron of Gaudí‘s. Much of its interior had been abandoned and allowed to deteriorate, but it has been restored and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Free concerts are held on the roof every day from 7-9 p.m. Pro-grams consist of jazz, classic, piano and other special events.

Street Angel

– a performing

artist on Las Ramblas

Do you or someone you love have Epilepsy or Parkinson’s?

“Make Plans . . . Live Life”

V i c t o r i a E p i l e p s y a n d P a r k i n s o n ’ s C e n t r eV i c t o r i a E p i l e p s y a n d P a r k i n s o n ’ s C e n t r e813 Darwin Avenue250-475-6677 [email protected]

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JANUARY 2010 15

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ThisÊisÊMargaretÊandÊherÊMotherÊClara.ÊInÊorderÊforÊClaraÊtoÊcontinueÊtoÊliveÊinÊherÊhome,ÊMargaretÊhasÊmovedÊinÊtoÊhelpÊcareÊforÊher.ÊMargaretÊdoesnÕtÊhaveÊchildrenÊandÊisÊwonderingÊwhoÊwillÊdoÊtheÊsameÊforÊher.

TodayÊmoreÊthanÊeverÊbefore,ÊCanadiansÊareÊrequiringÊcareÊduringÊtheirÊretirementÊyears.ÊAreÊyouÊwonderingÊhowÊyouÊwillÊpayÊforÊtheÊhighÊcostsÊassociatedÊwithÊprivateÊin-homeÊorÊfacilityÊcare?ÊTheseÊcostsÊcanÊrangeÊfromÊ$3200ÊtoÊ$8000ÊaÊmonthÊandÊareÊincreasingÊannually.ÊWhatÊkindÊof ÊimpactÊwillÊthisÊhaveÊonÊyourÊassetsÊandÊestate?Ê

If ÊyouÊwantÊqualityÊcareÊbutÊdoÊnotÊwantÊtoÊdecimateÊyourÊestateÊhavingÊtoÊpayÊforÊit,ÊfindÊoutÊhowÊyouÊcanÊtransferÊthisÊriskÊandÊpayÊforÊtheÊcostsÊof ÊyourÊfutureÊcareÊÒeffectivelyÓ.Ê

MakeÊtheÊchoiceÊtoÊattendÊoneÊof ÊourÊupcomingÊinformationÊmeetingsÊtoÊfindÊoutÊmoreÊorÊgiveÊusÊaÊcallÊforÊyourÊcomplimentaryÊconsultation.

For an unusual outdoor experience, visit Parc Güell, an extraordinary architectural outdoor environment designed by Gaudí, originally part of an unsuccessful real estate project and named for Count Eusebi Güell. The site was a rocky hill with few trees and little vegetation. Gaudí’s intention was to enhance the beautiful views from the site. Today, it is one of the premiere places to visit and enjoy in Barcelona, taking leisurely walks through the complex seeing Gaudí’s build-ings integrated into the wide expanses of open space.

Barcelona is full of attractions. Good public transportation is available and is recommended. Special bus tours are also offered, as well as the metro. Museums are plentiful, includ-ing a special one just for Picasso. The El Parc de Collserola is a preserve of Mediterranean forests of pine and oak trees with fi elds of rockrose, heather and broom.

Montjuïc, a hill overlooking the city, has many fi ne art gal-leries. On the north side of the city, the Plaça de Braus was a former bullring that now features various performances and where The Beatles played in 1966. Behind it, lies Parc Joan Miró named after the famous artist. The Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya has an extensive collection of Roman-esque art. La Font Màgica, the largest fountain in Barcelona, features free musical shows on summer evenings. The Centre d’Estudis d’Art Contemporani is Barcelona’s tribute to Joan Miró, the greatest Catalan artist of the 20th century and has the largest single collection of his work.

If we could stay six months in Barcelona, we still couldn’t see and do all that Barcelona has to offer. After all, a city that has its history written in millenniums defi es easy understanding. The dream still lives and thrives, and will do so long into the 21st century.

Trixi taxi driver/tour guide and prospective tourists

SL

Do you or someone you love have Epilepsy or Parkinson’s?

“Make Plans . . . Live Life”

V i c t o r i a E p i l e p s y a n d P a r k i n s o n ’ s C e n t r eV i c t o r i a E p i l e p s y a n d P a r k i n s o n ’ s C e n t r e813 Darwin Avenue250-475-6677 [email protected]

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16 SENIOR LIVING

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JANUARY 2010 17

CourageousBY PAT NICHOL

Pat Nichol is a speaker and published author. She makes her home in Victoria, but travels the world. She can be reached at www.patnichol.com

Phot

o: F

ranc

es L

itman

Outrageous

SL

I wish you all a new year of great adventures. Remember adventures are exactly what

you make of them. What seems like a trial today, in six months may seem like a miracle. The following tale has

been around for a long time. I am learning that having faith in what is, is an impor-tant aspect of life. I also am learning that sometimes – Things aren’t always what they seem.

Two travelling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion’s guest room. Instead, the angels were given a small space in the cold basement. As they made

their bed on the hard fl oor, the older an-gel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied, “Things aren’t always what they seem.”

The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but hospi-table farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food they had, the couple let the angels sleep in their bed, where they could have a good night’s rest.

When the sun came up the next morning, the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the fi eld. The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel “how could you have let this happen?”

“The fi rst man had everything, yet you helped him,” she accused. “The second family had little, but was will-ing to share everything, and you let the cow die.”

“Things aren’t always what they

seem,” the older angel replied.

“When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed that there was gold stored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn’t fi nd it.

Then last night as we slept in the farmer’s bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave him the cow instead. Things aren’t always what they seem.”

Sometimes that is exactly what happens when things don’t turn out the way we think they should. Have faith to trust that every outcome is al-ways to our advantage – eventually.

THINGS AREN’T ALWAYS WHAT THEY SEEM

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18 SENIOR LIVING

It was a typical workday. While sipping my early morning cof-fee, I called my mom in Ot-

tawa for our ritual weekly chat. Al-though she answered the phone with apprehension, I greeted her cheerfully and asked, “What was new.” I sensed something was amiss and after much prodding and reassuring her that I would not be angry, Mom reluctantly divulged that she had just given all her banking information to a stranger on the phone. “He had such a nice manner and was so friendly,” she said, “but I’m not sure if I should have told him my account numbers.”

It was the third or fourth time in a year that Mom’s behaviour had been com-pletely out of character, and her confusion made her feel stupid and at fault.

She had set the table for a Christmas birthday in October. She giggled loud-ly at my dad’s funeral and then wept, telling everyone she was his widow, even though they had divorced 20 years earlier. She purchased a life in-surance policy that she couldn’t afford. She suddenly forgot birthdays and the names of anyone new. I urged her to see her doctor.

He recommended that Mom take a memory test. Angry and confused, Mom walked out on the first test. It took almost a year before another test could be scheduled but, this time, my brother waited nearby while Mom was encouraged to stay the course. The test showed what we had sus-pected; Mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

Mom was angry, in denial, and of-ten cried in confusion, unable to recall everyday details that shaped her life. Once the stalwart mother hen who al-

ways fussed and fretted over her six children, she was the life of the party and loved to entertain. She had many dear old friends and used to love to make new ones. The mother of the past knew everyone’s birthday.

As the eldest daughter, I was used to taking charge and I laid out a plan for Mom’s care. First, my elder brother and baby sister would have power of attorney over Mom’s affairs. Her finan-

cial situation required assessment, and a long-term plan for Mom’s care need-ed urgent discussion and execution.

It came down to two choices: Mom would sell her condo and either move into our home in Victoria, or she would move into a new assisted living resi-dence a few minutes from my sister Patti’s home in Ottawa. Mom did not want to leave Ottawa, despite the fact that its familiarity of 40+ years would soon fade into oblivion.

Fearful that Mom would burn the house down or be lost wandering the streets, we devised a plan to ease her transition into a new home. My sister took her out and at day’s end surprised Mom with a weekend stay at a beautiful care facility. Some of Mom’s favourite paintings and family photos were al-ready on the wall in her new room and she admired the familiarity of it. Mom went along and soon became used to the idea that this new home was per-

fect for her. Long unable to cook for herself, a

warm and welcoming staff now served her meals. She made new friends quickly, though unable to recall any-one’s name. Mom’s happiness was and is paramount and I encourage every-one around her to keep conversation light and cheerful.

Although I am fortunate to visit Mom every year, it’s tough to be far

away from a loved one. I’m thankful to my sibs in Ot-tawa – Mike, Dorothy and especially Patti, for looking after Mom.

When Mom’s diagnosis was confirmed, the first call I made was to the Alzheimer Resource Centre in Victoria. A kindly gentleman answered the phone and the empathy and compassion in his voice was a huge comfort. I needed

to educate myself on the disease, how an individual and family could best deal with it, available resources for long-term care and support services. A few days after our conversation, I re-ceived a large package in the mail, re-plete with a myriad of useful informa-tion. I was so grateful; I decided then that I needed to get involved.

Serendipity played a hand in my chatting with one of the executive staff at the Fairmont Empress, one of my clients. Barb and I quickly discovered that we both had mothers with Alzhe-imer’s, and she was involved with the Walk for Memories fundraiser. Barb invited me to come to the walk that was just a few days ahead.

I asked her if the event needed any-thing in particular and she mentioned that something colourful would be welcome. I showed up in a bumblebee costume and helped lead walkers at the beginning of the walk route out of

Living with the “A” wordBY EVE MILLINGTON

The hundreds of people who had come out to walk on a chilly January morning, in support of loved ones, moved me. I joined the volunteer walk committee

that year, four years ago.

JANUARY 2010 19

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the University of Victoria’s Centennial Stadium.

The hundreds of people who had come out to walk on a chilly January morning, in support of loved ones, moved me. I joined the volunteer walk committee that year, four years ago.

In 2008, I took on the co-chair po-sition with a wonderful young father of two, Jason Heflin. We have a great team of dedicated volunteers; each with their own heartrending story of Alzheimer’s or other related dementia.

The Investors Group Walk for Memories event has grown into an up-beat, yet poignant, celebration of ordi-nary people dealing with the realities of an aging population and the effects of living with dementia. Alzheimer’s and the many forms of dementia are amongst the last great societal taboos, particularly amongst today’s elderly. We hope that through events such as the walk, we raise awareness of the disease and inform patients, families and caregivers that they are not alone and it’s okay to talk about it. An esti-mated 70,000 British Columbians have Alzheimer’s or a related dementia and of these, 10,000 are under age 65.

The next walk will take place on Jan-uary 31, 2010. For more information, to make a donation or register for the walk, visit www.walkformemories.com & a s s o c i a t e s

cell 250-896-7099

toll free 1-888-388-6359

email [email protected]

www.garmanandassociates.com

Sutton Group– West Coast Realty

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Living with the “A” word

The author with her mother Carol Mullin, 77.

Phot

o: P

atric

ia M

ullin

-Bak

er

SL

20 SENIOR LIVING

In a small room, just large enough to set up three Ping-Pong tables, over 20 people fill the space with positive energy in a rustic building in downtown

Victoria. The players, who belong to the Victoria Chinese Seniors’ Association (VCSA) located in the Victoria Silver Threads Centre, socialize through healthy and challenging games of table tennis.

“As soon as you touch the paddle, you win because your confidence grows as well as your happiness,” says Shaohu

Xu, a member of the VCSA Board and head of the Table Ten-nis Project. “So many individuals enjoy playing for fun and not for the competitive reasons. They want to make friends. This event allows seniors to break the isolation of the Chinese immigrants and allows them to make friendships with people outside of their culture. The Chinese Association applies the principle of including others from different communities in the organization.”

The event was the Greater Victoria Seniors Table Tennis

Ping-Pong STORY AND PHOTO

BY TIFFANY AUVINEN

“A Morning Musical Offering”Thursday February 4th 2010 - 11 amAlix Goolden Hall907 Pandora Ave. Tickets $20

Chamber concert with Marc Destrubé (violin), Natalie Mackie (violone), Elissa Poole (flute), Colin Tilney (harpsichord)

Dietrich BUXTEHUDE - Trio for violin, viola da gamba and harpsichordGeorg TELEMANN - ‘Paris’ Quartet in e minor, for flute, violin, viola da gamba and harpsichordJ.S. BACH - Trio sonata from the ‘Musical Offering’

JANUARY 2010 21

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Tournament, held on November 16th. The Project set the fol-lowing goals: facilitate and teach skill development through playing Ping-Pong; increase socialization and interactions among seniors; teach seniors how to organize and run recrea-tional activities, including a tournament; provide the infra-structure to keep seniors fi t, active and involved in the sport; and encourage seniors to create and build cross-cultural friendships with the non-Chinese community.

With funds obtained from a Federal New Horizons Program grant, a new Ping-Pong table and equipment was purchased and a local expert player hired to help seniors learn technique and develop their skills. A pilot project began in mid-March to determine interest and assess abil-ity of the players.

The volunteer Steering Committee invited seniors from Monterey, Saanich, Juan de Fuca, James Bay New Horizons and Fairfi eld Seniors to join.

“This is part of the fabric of Victoria,” says Donna Hum-phries, a Public Relations Volunteer for the VCSA. “Organ-izing to help others is an important community activity.”

“One lady who took up Ping-Pong,” says Shaohu, “never went to school, but she learned Chinese writing and was en-couraged to stay with the ESL class, offered through the Chi-nese Association. Now that she plays table tennis, she makes progress with her English and participates in the dancing pro-gram. Her confi dence has increased and people see her in a positive light.”

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AUGUST 2009 VANCOUVER ISLANDSenior Living

Special Housing Edition

TO ORDER a copy...Please mail a cheque for $5.25 ($5 plus GST), along with your name, phone number and address, to Senior Living, 153, 1581-H Hillside Ave., Victoria BC V8T 2C1. We will mail you a copy of this resourceful hous-ing guide upon receipt of payment.

Up-to-date listings of senior housing facilities throughout Vancouver Island, including Independent/Supportive Living, Assisted Living and Complex Care. This guide is an indispensable resource to: • seniors looking for alternative housing • seniors moving to Vancouver Island from other parts of BC or out of province • children of seniors who are assisting their parent to

Listings include addresses and contact information, housing costs, number of units in the housing complex, hospitality services, optional home care services, amenities and security features.

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22 SENIOR LIVING

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��

��Visit us online for program

Nanaimo Travellers Lodge

��

1298 Nelson Street Nanaimo 250-760-2636 www.nantralodge.bc.ca

Accredited Canadian Facility Since 1994

Duke Chu is the President of the VCSA. “Our group is growing larger and larger. We teach people language skills, such as key phrases that help them get directions, make doc-tor’s appointments, and other basic communication skills that any Canadian would know,” says Duke. “We help newcomers and teach them about Canadian society and encourage them to get out and play mahjong and cook Chinese delicacies. Or-ganizing the Ping-Pong tournament was one way to increase awareness of our organization.”

In the Chinese community, some people feel lonely and isolated in their new city. Joining an organization that com-bines fun activities with meeting new people helps them feel as though they are part of the larger community.

“We even participated in the fall Moon Cake Festival, and we created a production line for making dumplings,” says Pe-ter Hsu, a member of the board. “It was so exciting because we were singing and entertaining each other. Our members are healthy, more active and enjoy their life a lot more than inactive seniors. We even participate in ballroom dancing.”

The Ping-Pong tournament serves to integrate Chinese people into Canadian culture by reaching out and inviting Canadian senior centres to participate. Regular Ping-Pong sessions will continue throughout the winter. Everyone is welcome. For more information, contact the Victoria Silver Threads.

HISTORY OF PING-PONGLike many other sports, table tennis began as a mild social diversion. It was popular in England in the second half of the 19th century under its current name and various trade names such as Gossima and Wiff-Waff. After the name Ping-Pong (an imitation of the sound made by the ball striking the table and the vellum bats that were used) was introduced by J. Jaques & Son, the game became a fashionable craze. The game was popular in Central Europe in 1905-10, and before this, a modifi ed version was introduced to Japan and later spread to China and Korea. It dropped out of fashion in Europe, but was revived in England and Wales in the early 1920s. By that time, Ping-Pong was a registered trademark, so the earlier name of table tennis was re-introduced. National associations were formed and standardized rules began, both in Europe and the Far East. Over the next 60 years, table tennis has devel-oped into a faster and more demanding game. It is now a major worldwide sport, played by nearly 30 million competitive players and millions more who play less seriously. In 1988, table tennis was intro-duced as an Olympic sport in Seoul, South Korea.

ClassifiedsWANTED ROOM AND BOARD. Quiet, clean, 40’s male. Will trade chores for lower rent. Or house sitting. Call John 250-891-2489.

A LOT OF JUNK WON’T FIT IN YOUR TRUNK. You’re in luck, I own a truck. Seniors discount. John 250-891-2489.

UP TO $5000 PAID FOR OLD PRE-1970’S GUITARS by Fender, Gibson, Gretsch etc. Estate appraisals undertaken. 30 years experience. Call John Newman 250-537-9197.

FOOT CARE NURSE with years of experience offering in-home visits. “Nursing Your Feet to Better Health.” 250-592-4788.

RUTH M.P HAIRSTYLING for Seniors in Greater Victoria. In the convenience of your own home! Certified Hairdresser. Call - 250-893-7082.

BUSINESS / VIRTUAL ASSISTANT Correspondence; general bookkeeping; faxes; document editing/finishing; of-fice organizing. Business services for small businesses and individuals. 100% Confidential. CHW Inc. 250-886-3975. [email protected]

SAANICH VOLUNTEER SERVICES seeks volunteer drivers, visitors and home handymen. Start the New Year by committing to volunteer and call 250-595-8008.

WANTED: OLD POSTCARDS, stamp accumulations, and pre-1950 stamped envelopes. Also buying old coins, med-als and badges. Please call Michael 250-652-9412 or email [email protected]

COLLECTOR SEEKING vintage/collectable cameras, binoculars and microscopes. Nikon, Leica, Contax, Rol-leiflex, Zeiss, Canon, etc. Mike 250-383-6456 or e-mail: [email protected]

HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CARE - Would you like a little assistance? Meal preparation, light housekeeping, laundry, shopping, appointments, or respite. We also hire seniors. Call 250-382-6565.

HISTORIAN FOR HIRE. I can help you capture your personal or family history and genealogy, for the benefit of your children and grandchildren. In Victoria, 250-477-6989.

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING $30 for 20 words or less. $1.25 per extra word. BW only. Boxed Ad - Small (2.2 x 1.2) $110. Boxed Ad - Large (2.2 x 2.4) $210. Add BW Logo - $25. Red spot color 10% extra. Plus 5% GST. All Classified ads must be paid at time of booking. Cheque/Credit Card accepted. Ph. (250)479-4705 or toll-free 1-877-479-4705. Deadline: 15th of the month. Make cheque payable to: Senior Living, 153, 1581-H Hillside Ave., Victoria BC V8T 2C1

OCTOBER 2009 39

INVACARE PROSPIN X4 - 1.5 years old. 4 wheel red Fortress 1700 - 4 years old. $1500 each / OBO. Lorna 250-721-3671. Leave message.

USING HYPNOSIS YOU CAN MANAGE: stress, pain relief, habit control. Tap into motivation and creativity. No-hands-on deep relaxation. Safe, comfortable, confidential. Judith Grey, Registered Clinical Counselling Hypnotherapist. 250-388-3925.

DOWNSIZING? Consider our spacious apartments to make your transition easier in peaceful Oak Bay. Not assisted living, but we enjoy a dynamic community with many planned events you can join and make new friends. 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms avail-able. 250-885-0751.

COMPUTER BASICS IN YOUR HOME. Patient senior com-puter lady to show you e-mail, surfing. Hourly fee. Connect with your world. 250-516-5980.

WRITTEN A BOOK? Aldridge Street Editing can get your manuscript print-ready. Transcription - Editing - Cover Design - Book Layout. www.aldridgestreet.com Call 250-595-2376.

Taoist Tai Chi ��

Improve balance, strengthand flexibility.

��

��

��

��

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Special rates for seniors 55+��

JANUARY 2010 23

ClassifiedsWANTED ROOM AND BOARD. Quiet, clean, 40’s male. Will trade chores for lower rent. Or house sitting. Call John 250-891-2489.

A LOT OF JUNK WON’T FIT IN YOUR TRUNK. You’re in luck, I own a truck. Seniors discount. John 250-891-2489.

UP TO $5000 PAID FOR OLD PRE-1970’S GUITARS by Fender, Gibson, Gretsch etc. Estate appraisals undertaken. 30 years experience. Call John Newman 250-537-9197.

FOOT CARE NURSE with years of experience offering in-home visits. “Nursing Your Feet to Better Health.” 250-592-4788.

RUTH M.P HAIRSTYLING for Seniors in Greater Victoria. In the convenience of your own home! Certified Hairdresser. Call - 250-893-7082.

BUSINESS / VIRTUAL ASSISTANT Correspondence; general bookkeeping; faxes; document editing/finishing; of-fice organizing. Business services for small businesses and individuals. 100% Confidential. CHW Inc. 250-886-3975. [email protected]

SAANICH VOLUNTEER SERVICES seeks volunteer drivers, visitors and home handymen. Start the New Year by committing to volunteer and call 250-595-8008.

WANTED: OLD POSTCARDS, stamp accumulations, and pre-1950 stamped envelopes. Also buying old coins, med-als and badges. Please call Michael 250-652-9412 or email [email protected]

COLLECTOR SEEKING vintage/collectable cameras, binoculars and microscopes. Nikon, Leica, Contax, Rol-leiflex, Zeiss, Canon, etc. Mike 250-383-6456 or e-mail: [email protected]

HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CARE - Would you like a little assistance? Meal preparation, light housekeeping, laundry, shopping, appointments, or respite. We also hire seniors. Call 250-382-6565.

HISTORIAN FOR HIRE. I can help you capture your personal or family history and genealogy, for the benefit of your children and grandchildren. In Victoria, 250-477-6989.

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING $30 for 20 words or less. $1.25 per extra word. BW only. Boxed Ad - Small (2.2 x 1.2) $110. Boxed Ad - Large (2.2 x 2.4) $210. Add BW Logo - $25. Red spot color 10% extra. Plus 5% GST. All Classified ads must be paid at time of booking. Cheque/Credit Card accepted. Ph. (250)479-4705 or toll-free 1-877-479-4705. Deadline: 15th of the month. Make cheque payable to: Senior Living, 153, 1581-H Hillside Ave., Victoria BC V8T 2C1

OCTOBER 2009 39

INVACARE PROSPIN X4 - 1.5 years old. 4 wheel red Fortress 1700 - 4 years old. $1500 each / OBO. Lorna 250-721-3671. Leave message.

USING HYPNOSIS YOU CAN MANAGE: stress, pain relief, habit control. Tap into motivation and creativity. No-hands-on deep relaxation. Safe, comfortable, confidential. Judith Grey, Registered Clinical Counselling Hypnotherapist. 250-388-3925.

DOWNSIZING? Consider our spacious apartments to make your transition easier in peaceful Oak Bay. Not assisted living, but we enjoy a dynamic community with many planned events you can join and make new friends. 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms avail-able. 250-885-0751.

COMPUTER BASICS IN YOUR HOME. Patient senior com-puter lady to show you e-mail, surfing. Hourly fee. Connect with your world. 250-516-5980.

WRITTEN A BOOK? Aldridge Street Editing can get your manuscript print-ready. Transcription - Editing - Cover Design - Book Layout. www.aldridgestreet.com Call 250-595-2376.

Taoist Tai Chi ��

Improve balance, strengthand flexibility.

��

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Special rates for seniors 55+��

Linda ChornobayDisability Refund Specialist

(250) 514.2699 or [email protected] Douglas St.

www.enabledfinancial.caGet Fi$cal About Your Disability

Many people think they do not qualify, or are intimidated by the process. Some have tried and were denied by CRA due to technical errors. With a 95% success rate we can help! Our average tax reimbursements are over $5,000 and can be retroactive up to 10 years. Unless we are successful you pay nothing.

We concentrate on ensuring you get what the law entitles you to. Visit us online to complete our evaluation form or for more information on the extensive list of conditions that may qualify for the disability tax credit.Call today for your free eligibility assessment!

Do you qualify for the Disability Tax Credit?

with Sharon MarchLet’s Paint!Where Friends Gather!

Over 500 Painting Classes * Art SuppliesDiscover Your Artistic Talents

Bring Out The Artist In You!

Acrylic Painting, Ink & Oil Rouging & Oil PaintingIncluding the Styles of Bob Ross, Sherry C. Nelson,Brenda Harris, Sharon March & many more!Specializing in Landscapes, Florals & AnimalsBeginner - Advanced, ages 3 & up!Group or Private Classes AvailableBirthday Parties & Special Occasions too!

Email: [email protected] www.letspaint.ca#103-721 Station Rd Tel: 250-391-0511

24 SENIOR LIVING

Presented by:

Courtesy of: in partnership with:

10 am - 4 pm | Pearkes Recreation Centre 3100 Tillicum Rd., Victoria BC

Contact: Jill Stefanyk at McAllister Media Phone: (250)380.2299E-mail: [email protected]

Last Chance to Book Booths

Win a 7 Night Alaska Cruise for 2Onboard the Celebrity Mercury

A Full Day of Activityand EntertainmentExciting, Interactive Demonstrations and Displays.Meet active, enthusiastic participants over the age of 50.

�� Discover new hobbies or join a new club�� Enjoy a variety of entertainment all day long�� Over 65 exhibits by groups and individuals over the age of 50�� Performance Stage 10am - 4pm dancers, musicians, singers, storytellers, etc.�� Over 55 exhibits by senior-focused businesses and organizations�� On-site antique appraisals (small items or photos only, please)�� Free Parking�� On-site Cafe

If you are over the age of 50, we invite you to come share your passion and interests with others at the 50+ Active Living Celebration. We are seeking individuals over the age of 50 who are actively engaged in a special interest such as sports, fitness, hobbies, crafts, art, writing, travel, learning, outdoors, collecting, volunteering, performing, etc. Applications must be submitted to the Event Planner for consideration. Selection begins January 1, so complete and send in your application as soon as possible.

Application fee: $15 to share an 8’ table or $25 for a 6’ table.

JANUARY 2010 25

If you believe you have been the tar-get of a scam, call the Better Business Bureau Vancouver Island at 250-386-6348 in Greater Victoria or at 1-877-826-4222 elsewhere on the Island, so others can benefit from your experience. E-mail [email protected]

BY ROSALIND SCOTT

SCAMALERT

Scams to Watch for in 2010

Every effort is made to ensure our CUSTOMER SATISFACTION,

but most importantly, AFTER the sale.

www.car-corral.com

1658 Island Highway, Victoria 250-478-1128

Shop at Victoria’s Most Trusted

Independent Auto Dealer.

2009 BBB Torch Award Winner

Call 1-877-258-6429

Let ADT help you protectthe things you value most.

Get an ADT Safewatch® QuickConnect Security

System, including a Keychain Remote, installed

for only $199 after $50 mail-in cash back*

*Installation price you pay of $249. $50 cash back certificate will be mailed to you within 1-2 weeks after the installation purchase. To receive your $50 mail-in cash back, complete and return the original certificate to ADT Security Services Canada, Inc. with a copy of your signed ADT Residential Services Contract. Please allow 6 to 8 weeks for receipt of cheque. This cash back offer is valid only with the installation of a new ADT Safewatch® QuickConnect System and customers and monitoring services contract from ADT Security Services Canada, Inc. Not valid on upgrades to existing ADT customer. Not valid on purchases from ADT Authorized Dealers. Valid only after system installation is complete. Limit one offer per new ADT customer and cannot be combined with other offers or discounts.

The Safewatch® QuickConnect package includes Burglary monitoring. Two Way Voice, and Quality Service Plan (QSP) Monitored Fire protection requires additional purchase of the installation of ADT smoke or heat detection devices. Medical Alert devices are an additional installation charge. Medical Alert services not available in all markets. System to remain property of ADT. Prices subject to change. Prices may vary by market. Some insurance companies offer discounts on homeowner’s insurance, please consult your insurance company. Does not include one-time Communication Connection fee. Quality Service Plan (QSP) is ADT’s Extended Limited Warranty, 36-month monitoring agreement required from $42.99 per month, including QSP, Local permit fees may be required. Satisfactory credit history required. Additional monitoring fees required for some services. Offer subject to change. Photos are for illustrative purposes only and may not reflect the exact product/service actually provided. RBQ 3019-4070-50 © 2009 ADT Security Services Canada, Inc. ADT, the ADT logo, ADT Always There and Safewatch are registered trademarks of ADT Services, AG, and are used under license.

Offer expires 06 30 2010

SL

JANUARY 2010 25

Each year the Better Business Bureau compiles a list of the scams that have most signifi-

cantly impacted consumers across Brit-ish Columbia. The following is a brief summary of the top scams from the past calendar year and simple tips to protect yourself from becoming a victim of fraud in 2010.

Not So “Free” Trials – Many websites that offer a free trial for products do not disclose the billing terms and conditions or do not prominently display such de-tails on their website. TIP: Before giving the company any credit or debit card information, review the website fully and be aware that free trials typically result in repeated billing.

ID Theft – when someone uses your personal information to obtain loans, goods, or services and does not pay the bills. TIP: Never give out your personal in-formation (especially your SIN, PIN, account numbers and passwords) to an-yone, unless you have a personal reason to initiate a conversation in which such information is required.

Home Repair Rip-Offs – Beware of “contractors” who use scare tactics to encourage you to perform unnecessary or over-priced home renovations. TIP: Do your research and comparison-shop before starting a renovation. Start with the BBB and search for a company reliability report at vi.bbb.org

Free Government Money Schemes – Consumers have reported a number of companies that promise “free” advice on how to get government grants when in reality they charge a fee for participa-tion. TIP: Federal grant-related information is readily available for free on the Serv-ice Canada website servicecanada.gc.ca

Investment Opportunities – Watch for investment opportunities that appear lucrative, but often are more hype than substance. TIP: Go to the BC Securities Commis-sion’s investright.org website for infor-mation on what to look out for when choosing to invest.

Cashback Fraud – Be aware of situa-tions in which you are sent a cheque for a sum of money and asked to return a portion via money transfer. TIP: Never wire money to a stranger. If you believe you are a victim of fraud contact phonebusters.com

For a more detailed description of the top scams impacting consumers and tips to protect yourself, visit vi.bbb.org

26 SENIOR LIVING

The Victoria Knitting Guild, a non-profi t organization with

a current membership of 94, elected its offi cial executive and adopted a constitution in 2003. The seed was planted when two knitters, Amy Ayres and Mary Byrne, knitting in the bleachers while watching their children play tennis, became friends. Together with a small group of knitting companions from a lo-cal yarn shop, they began meet-ing regularly on Newport Street, charged $10 for membership and called themselves the Newport Knitters.

The group expanded until it became the current Victoria Knitters Guild and has proudly featured knitters on the local Go Show and Knit Together, a Canadian

Knitters Guild quarterly publication. As well as hosting other knitters,

including a group on a Vogue knitting Cruise to Alaska, the guild has hired teachers and well-known designers and held one daylong workshop on mosaic

knitting and knitting with beads. Their own day trips have taken them to Salt Spring and Gabrio-la Islands and retreats to Yellow Point and Kiwi Lodge. A “knit out,” a gathering of knitters and markets related to knitting, is held outdoors every June at the Saxe Point grassy area.

Having knitted socks and mitts for her children, grand-children and great-grandchil-dren, Mavis Butlin knitted a doll for each of her 12 great-grandchildren. One of her dolls, a sort of Mascot for the Guild,

won fi rst prize in the “over-80” catego-ry at the Saanich fair this year. Now, she says, “I knit a few hats for Afghanistan. Otherwise, I usually just chat at the meetings.”

An Air Radio mechanic in the British

STITCHED TOGETHERBY VERNICE SHOSTAL

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Pat Sembaliuk, Val Kolsun and Mary Kozicki

JANUARY 2010 27

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Brenda EllisCertified Senior Advisor

»Fleet Air Arm, Mavis tested and fi xed radio and radar for various aircraft in England. She came to Canada as a war bride in 1946 and lived in Ontario and Quebec, where she took a Red Cross Water Safety Course and taught swim-ming to children, adults and seniors.

“At one time, about 40 years ago,” she says, “I taught Jean Chrétien’s wife to swim.” Six years ago, Mavis moved to Victoria.

A perennial athlete, Mavis says that tennis is her greatest joy. “I play several times a week.”

Guild President Marjory MacDuff, whose Grade 1 teacher taught her to knit, joined the guild fi ve years ago. Having retired from a nursing career in psychia-try, Marjory was introduced to the guild through a friend. “During the years I worked as a night nurse, it seemed most nurses knit,” she says. “We were always sharing ideas and patterns.” She joined the Guild to learn new techniques.

Growing up in Alberta on a farm that her father homesteaded in 1906, Marjo-ry went to the school built on a piece of land her father donated for the purpose. The school, which housed Grades 1 to 9, had an average population of 13. “It was not diffi cult for me to be the top of my class,” says Marjory, who was the only one in her grade.

Marjory obtained her RN from Uni-versity Hospital in Edmonton. In 1961, she married and moved to Victoria and got a job at Royal Jubilee Hospital, where she worked for over 40 years.

Joyce Marshall knits one-of-a-kind, special hats with an intricate interlace pattern, a knitting technique that pro-duces a woven appearance – tiers of tilting blocks appear to run over and under each other, but are worked in one piece to create an interwoven look in a variety of textures and colours. Pro-ceeds from the sale of these hats go to the Stephen Lewis Foundation for the benefi t of African Grandmothers and the children they are caring for.

Returning to knitting after a long hiatus, former teacher Barb Beukema learned about the Guild through an on-line group sponsored by Knitter’s Mag-

azine. She began knitting in 1961. Her fi rst project was a little white tie-on hat, which she learned to knit from a class-mate at Kalamazoo College. The next item was a pair of garter-stitch slippers in pink acrylic followed by a pair of ar-gyle socks for the man who became her husband two years later.

“These days, I am knitting multi-coloured hats for local charities,” says Barb. Over the years, she has knitted wool socks for children in Afghanistan and babies and toddlers in Russia. “One

of the things I enjoy about the Guild is that a number of us are knitting for various charities. Members are invited to participate in this knitting. Some do, some don’t, and that’s okay.”

After Toronto and Barbados, where she taught for two years, Barb and her family chose Victoria as their home, and Barb continued her career as an educa-tor in learning assistance and teacher-librarian at South Park Family School for 16 years, a school her daughters also attended.

CHARLES (CHUCK) PALMER, [email protected]

(250)-727-9191

PHILIP BISSET-COVANEIRO B.Sc [email protected]

™Trademarks owned by IGM Financial Inc. and licensed to its subsidiary corporations. Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fund investments. Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. MP1106 (12/2007)


We know you have questions.We want to answer them!

Call us, email us, or reach us through Senior Living’s Ask a Pro.

We’ll give you answers.

STITCHED TOGETHER

28 SENIOR LIVING

Barb hosts the at-home gathering of knitters two or three times a year. This year’s editor of the Guild news-letter, Barb enjoys being part of a supportive group with similar interests.

Besides a weekly social event and knitting for themselves, the Guild knits for charities such as Afghans for Afghanistan (done in pure wool to very specific standards); baby hats for the newborn at Victoria General nursery, knitted mainly by Brenda Ferguson; and baby hats and sweaters, knitted by Sylvia Hatfield for Canada Comfort, a compassionate ware-house that ships material resources to developing countries from Victoria. Other charities include Blankets for Canada, scarves for Children at Christmas at Queen Alexandra, hats for Extreme Outreach, which works with children aged three to 18, and slippers for Cancer House Victoria, knitted by Janet Harper.

The Victoria Knitting Guild meets every week with a short break after their potluck Christmas dinner. Members turn up regularly to knit, show off their projects and share their knowledge with less experienced members. The group meets at Saint Aidan’s every first and third Wednesday of the month and at members’ homes the other Wednesdays. Their annual fee is $20.

For further information about the Victoria Knitting Guild, or to join, call Membership Co-ordinator Elizabeth Henry at 250-477-4231.

SL

The Cost of a Leaking ToiletDid you know that a leaking toilet can cost you up to $355 per year?

Free, easy-to-use leak detector tabletsare available from CRD Water Services.

High volume water leaks often come from toilets.They are hard to detect and are usually causedby worn or misaligned parts. A toilet that continuesto run after flushing could be wasting 20-40 litresper hour if not repaired. That’s 175,000 to 350,000litres per year, enough water to fill a swimming pool.

Check your toilet annually for leaks.

250.474.9684www.crd.bc.ca/water

If you are a senior who has been wondering lately whether you should consider moving - either because you find the maintenance of your current home more difficult due to dimin-ishing ability or energy, or you simply want a lifestyle that allows you more freedom and less responsibility - then this is the book that can help you ask the right questions and find the solution that is right for you.A handy reference guide for seniors and their families wrestling with the issues around whether relocation is the best option. This 128-page book provides helpful, easy to read information and suggestions to help seniors and their families understand the decisions they need to make.

Published by Senior LivingJanuary 2009�ONLY $9.95

A Helpful Guide for Seniors Considering Their Residential Options To Move or Not to Move?

Books may be also purchased at these Island locations:

(Please call first to confirm availability) • Falconer Books, Nanaimo (250-754-6111) • Home Instead, Victoria (250-382-6565)

• Medichair, Victoria (250-384-8000) • Medichair, Nanaimo (250-756-9875) • Medichair, Duncan (250-709-9939) • Munro’s Books, Victoria (250-382-2464)

• Pharmasave Campbell River ((250-287-3222) • Pharmasave Comox (250-339-4563) • Pharmasave Cook St (250-386-6171) • Pharmasave Duncan (250-748-5252)

• Pharmasave Esquimalt (250-388-6451) • Pharmasave Hillside Ave (250-595-8106) • Pharmasave James Bay (250-383-7196) • Pharmasave Ladysmith (250-245-3113)

• Pharmasave Quallicum (250-752-3011) • Pharmasave Sidney (250-656-1348) • Pharmasave Tuscany Village (250-477-2225) • Pharmasave View Royal (250-881-8887)

• Pharmasave Westhill Centre Nanaimo (250-740-3880) • Tanner’s Books, Sidney (250-656-2345) • Volume One Books, Duncan (250-748-1533)

BC

EDITION

___ Cheque (payable to Senior Living) ___ CREDIT CARD # _________________________________ Expiry ___________

Name on Card ____________________________________Mail to: Senior Living 153, 1581-H Hillside Ave., Victoria BC V8T 2C1

ORDER FORM - “To Move”Name______________________________Address _______________________________ City______________ Prov ___ Postal Code____________Phone ____________________

___ BOOKS @ $14.60 each (includes $3.95 S&H plus 5% GST) = TOTAL $____________

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JANUARY 2010 29

she held a family gathering to discuss who should gather personal belongings. With each of her four children gathered, Anna shared family history and stories that went with the important posses-sions in her life, wishes were expressed, and decisions made. When Anna died six months later, her children not only held onto her possessions, but they also cherished the stories of her life. By mak-ing inheritance decisions ahead of time (about non-titled possessions), Anna also prevented disagreements about who should receive what items.”

I hope this is helpful. –A.G.

Dear A.G.Thank you for the information re-

garding the manual workshop for sen-iors who are involved with dividing non-titled personal property. This cer-tainly is a troublesome issue, especially in large families. It is truly amazing to discover what some descendants deem valuable when grandparents or great-grandparents die.

I am quite sure some senior groups wishing to hold a workshop for their members will contact you. Their vol-unteers are asked to help elderly clients with these concerns and this manual could prevent many headaches and even lasting feuds in their families. SL

ASKGoldieBY GOLDIE CARLOW, M.EDPh

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SENIOR PEER COUNSELLING CENTRESVictoria 250-382-4331Duncan 250-748-2133Nanaimo 250-754-3331Sidney 250-656-5537Courtenay/Comox 250-334-9917Salt Spring Island 250-537-4607Port Hardy 250-949-5110

Goldie Carlow is a retired registered nurse, clinical counsellor and senior peer counselling trainer.

Dear Goldie:I hesitate to take issue with you, but

feel your November column does not respond adequately to O.L.’s problem when a previous fiancé meets her again many years later and wishes to renew their relationship.

Granted, O.L. was jilted, but wars do impact people’s lives, especially those facing danger and loneliness far from home. They can result in heart-break and more. Granted, too, that she has neither forgotten nor forgiven but, since she enjoyed his company, I ques-tion why the possibility of rapproche-ment and other options was not con-sidered before suggesting alternative ways to deal with loneliness and a pos-sible new relationship.

The problem is far too complex to be resolved without more information (was there contrition? The whys and hows of the divorce, what sort of life had he led since then? Even what is meant by rela-tionship – it is not necessarily marriage, and exploration of O.L.’s current life).

Perhaps this is the difficulty in a brief column. –D.H.

Dear D.H.Your last paragraph hits the nail on

the head. It is impossible to indicate resolution to a difficult problem in a confined space. Occasionally, prob-lems can only be dealt with in a clinical counselling session, as I have stated in previous columns.

I do have to condense my answers. However, when problems are multiple and serious, I reflect on them from vari-ous viewpoints before replying. In this particular case, I contacted the client, and I assure you all possibilities you mention were explored.

As you state, my “November col-

umn does not respond adequately” and perhaps this was not a suitable topic for condensation. Thank you for expressing your concern. I will keep it in mind.

Dear Goldie:

I read with interest the letter in the October 2009 issues of the Senior Liv-ing magazine from W.S. expressing concerns about the issue of dividing “non-titled” property, a dilemma shared by many seniors.

Several years ago, when I retired and researched the same issue, I sourced some research and writings from a cross-section of authors. I ended up putting together a short workshop that I have offered several times at places where seniors gather. The workshop is a discussion stimulated by an excellent practical workbook, which I found in the U.S. and which can be used in a self-guided process. I have an extra copy that I can send to W.S. ($20 postage included – the manual retails for $12.50 US, plus postage of $6.50 US). If it is not useful to her, I will gladly buy it back.

One of the authors of the manual writes: “Almost everyone has personal belongings such as wedding photo-graphs, a baseball glove, a pie plate, a clock or jewelry that contain meaning for them and for other members of their family. What we’ve learned by listening to families and attorneys is that often the non-titled property is what creates the greatest challenges for families when es-tates are divided – not the money. When doing real estate planning, families too often talk about the house or the invest-ments; but they forget to plan ahead or discuss personal possessions.”

One of the examples given was:“Just before Anna Krueger was about

to enter a nursing home at the age of 85,

If you are a senior who has been wondering lately whether you should consider moving - either because you find the maintenance of your current home more difficult due to dimin-ishing ability or energy, or you simply want a lifestyle that allows you more freedom and less responsibility - then this is the book that can help you ask the right questions and find the solution that is right for you.A handy reference guide for seniors and their families wrestling with the issues around whether relocation is the best option. This 128-page book provides helpful, easy to read information and suggestions to help seniors and their families understand the decisions they need to make.

Published by Senior LivingJanuary 2009�ONLY $9.95

A Helpful Guide for Seniors Considering Their Residential Options To Move or Not to Move?

Books may be also purchased at these Island locations:

(Please call first to confirm availability) • Falconer Books, Nanaimo (250-754-6111) • Home Instead, Victoria (250-382-6565)

• Medichair, Victoria (250-384-8000) • Medichair, Nanaimo (250-756-9875) • Medichair, Duncan (250-709-9939) • Munro’s Books, Victoria (250-382-2464)

• Pharmasave Campbell River ((250-287-3222) • Pharmasave Comox (250-339-4563) • Pharmasave Cook St (250-386-6171) • Pharmasave Duncan (250-748-5252)

• Pharmasave Esquimalt (250-388-6451) • Pharmasave Hillside Ave (250-595-8106) • Pharmasave James Bay (250-383-7196) • Pharmasave Ladysmith (250-245-3113)

• Pharmasave Quallicum (250-752-3011) • Pharmasave Sidney (250-656-1348) • Pharmasave Tuscany Village (250-477-2225) • Pharmasave View Royal (250-881-8887)

• Pharmasave Westhill Centre Nanaimo (250-740-3880) • Tanner’s Books, Sidney (250-656-2345) • Volume One Books, Duncan (250-748-1533)

BC

EDITION

___ Cheque (payable to Senior Living) ___ CREDIT CARD # _________________________________ Expiry ___________

Name on Card ____________________________________Mail to: Senior Living 153, 1581-H Hillside Ave., Victoria BC V8T 2C1

ORDER FORM - “To Move”Name______________________________Address _______________________________ City______________ Prov ___ Postal Code____________Phone ____________________

___ BOOKS @ $14.60 each (includes $3.95 S&H plus 5% GST) = TOTAL $____________

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2 w

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30 SENIOR LIVING

• Companionship • Meal Prep.• Housekeeping • Shopping• Errands • Respite & Personal Care

Live safely and independently in your own homewww.bclifeline.com

Contact the program nearest you. Victoria Lifeline 1-888-832-6073

Eldersafe Support Services1-866-457-8987

South Vancouver Island and Ladysmith

Nanaimo Lifeline Program(250)739-5770 or (250)947-8213

Mid Island, Cassidy to Bowser

Comox Valley Lifeline Society1-866-205-6160

North Island, Cowichan Valleyand Chemainus/Crofton

Moving? Downsizing?We Can Help Get You Moving!

SENIOR RELOCATION SERVICES Free 1 Hour Consultation

(250)240-2816Insured & Bonded

Parksville, Nanaimo and Surrounding Areas

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RESOURCE DIRECTORYA concise reference guide of services and products offered

by businesses and organizations on Vancouver Island

250-812-0400 www.fourwheelsfreedom.com

Low Overhead Prices from the Island’s only Mobile Showroom

• Service all makes and models • Sales of new and used scooters, powerchairs and walkers • Free in-home demonstration • Road-side assistance • Free service loaners • Financing • Processing secondary insurance claims • Safety orientation seminars

RECEIVE CARE IN THE COMFORT OF HOMEProviding your family with superior live-in & live-out nannies and elderly caregivers

[email protected] • www.platinum-care.com(604)668-5929 • 1-888-308-7971

Resources to maintain an independent lifestyleCompression stockings, diabetic socks, fashionable canes, Dr. Comfort diabetic/orthopaedic shoes, an

excellent book selection, & full prescription services.Feel at home here.

204 - 1530 Cliffe Ave. Courtenay 250.338.5665toll free 1.877.214.6337

��

Support ServicesThe most trusted name in

home health care

• Better Business Bureau A+ rating• Consistent caregivers• RN-supervised staff• Not-for-profit - all proceeds go to improving quality of care

250-385-0444www.eldersafe.com

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Affordablelive-in care for seniors

www.internationalnannies.com

250.881.0885

"When home is where you want to be"

LTD

250.590.9521

HERITAGE MANOR - DUNCAN(250)748-3488

Monthly rent from $2600 (includes all meals). Laundry, housekeeping, hairdresser, transpor-tation to appointments, bathing, personal care & medications. 24hr RCA on site. Beautiful grounds near Hospital. Family environment.

• ECONOMICAL

• 12-MONTH EXPOSURE • TO LIST YOUR BUSINESS

IN THIS DIRECTORY, CALL 250-479-4705

JANUARY 2010 31

tion centres,” she says.Getting involved, volunteering and

keeping busy doing activities she en-joys also adds to Helen’s balanced life. “I am very fortunate that I do have good health and am able to do these things,” she says. “Volunteering at the Heart and Stroke Foundation has been a very re-warding experience for me. The staff are effi cient, capable, and fun to work with, and genuinely appreciative for any tasks that I perform. I look forward to my four-hour shift each week.”

The Heart and Stroke Foundation, a volunteer-based organization, leads in eliminating heart disease and stroke and reducing their impact through the advancement of research and its appli-cation; the promotion of healthy living, and advocacy.

According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, every seven minutes some-one dies from heart disease and stroke in Canada. Now, more than ever, the Heart and Stroke Foundation needs vol-unteers.

For more information about volun-

teering, visit www.heartandstroke.ca/HELP

The Heart and Stroke Foundation is a leader in setting the standards for CPR techniques and instruction. To fi nd out about local courses, call 1-888-473-4636 or the local offi ce.

SL

A long-time volunteer of the Heart Stroke Foundation in Victoria, Helen Lee enjoys

giving back to the organization. Helen’s father died of a heart attack. Her late husband suffered for many years with heart disease and passed away three and a half years ago after triple bypass surgery. His entire family had a history of heart disease. In addition, Helen’s mother passed away after suffering a stroke.

In fact, one in three people will die from a heart-related disease, and only one in eight women realize it’s their biggest health risk. Profoundly im-pacted, Helen is aware of the astound-ing heart facts.

“I feel that through the efforts of the Heart and Stroke Foundation, great strides are being made in the form of research,” she says. “Many of my fam-ily members, in-laws included, would probably be alive today with all the ad-vances that have been made as a result of this research. Regular exercise and activity, companied with a healthy diet can promote a healthier, stroke-free life-style for [everybody].”

As part of her active lifestyle, Helen enjoys playing golf three to four times per week during the peak season. “I love to walk and, over the past years, I have taken part in stretch and strength programs at local recrea-

��ARTHERITIS CHRONIC BACK PAIN FIBROMYALGIA

��BLOOD PRESSURE HORMONES WEIGHT

4-2042 MILLS RD WSIDNEY, BC 250-655-9642��

100-1620 GARNET RDVICTORIA, BC 250-590-3467��

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EMMY CLEAVES, 81BIKRAM YOGA

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Try something new this year!

SAVING LIVESBY TIFFANY AUVINEN

Get Medical Treatment Quickly Learn to recognize the signs of a heart attack, in order to react quick-ly to save a life:• Pain• Nausea/indigestion/vomiting • Sweating/cool, clammy skin • Fear/anxiety/denial

If you experience any of these signs:• Call 9-1-1. • Stop all activity and sit or lie down. • If you take nitroglycerin, take your normal dosage. • If you are experiencing chest pain, chew and swallow one adult 325 mg ASA tablet (Aspirin) or two 80 mg tablets. Acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) or ibuprofen (e.g. Advil) do not work the same way and will not help in the emergency described above. • Rest comfortably and wait for the ambulance to arrive.

Volunteer Helen Lee

Phot

o: B

arba

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aley

• Companionship • Meal Prep.• Housekeeping • Shopping• Errands • Respite & Personal Care

Live safely and independently in your own homewww.bclifeline.com

Contact the program nearest you. Victoria Lifeline 1-888-832-6073

Eldersafe Support Services1-866-457-8987

South Vancouver Island and Ladysmith

Nanaimo Lifeline Program(250)739-5770 or (250)947-8213

Mid Island, Cassidy to Bowser

Comox Valley Lifeline Society1-866-205-6160

North Island, Cowichan Valleyand Chemainus/Crofton

Moving? Downsizing?We Can Help Get You Moving!

SENIOR RELOCATION SERVICES Free 1 Hour Consultation

(250)240-2816Insured & Bonded

Parksville, Nanaimo and Surrounding Areas

��

��

��

��

� ��

��



RESOURCE DIRECTORYA concise reference guide of services and products offered

by businesses and organizations on Vancouver Island

250-812-0400 www.fourwheelsfreedom.com

Low Overhead Prices from the Island’s only Mobile Showroom

• Service all makes and models • Sales of new and used scooters, powerchairs and walkers • Free in-home demonstration • Road-side assistance • Free service loaners • Financing • Processing secondary insurance claims • Safety orientation seminars

RECEIVE CARE IN THE COMFORT OF HOMEProviding your family with superior live-in & live-out nannies and elderly caregivers

[email protected] • www.platinum-care.com(604)668-5929 • 1-888-308-7971

Resources to maintain an independent lifestyleCompression stockings, diabetic socks, fashionable canes, Dr. Comfort diabetic/orthopaedic shoes, an

excellent book selection, & full prescription services.Feel at home here.

204 - 1530 Cliffe Ave. Courtenay 250.338.5665toll free 1.877.214.6337

��

Support ServicesThe most trusted name in

home health care

• Better Business Bureau A+ rating• Consistent caregivers• RN-supervised staff• Not-for-profit - all proceeds go to improving quality of care

250-385-0444www.eldersafe.com

��

��

�� ★��★��★��★

��

� � � � � � � � � � � � � � �

Affordablelive-in care for seniors

www.internationalnannies.com

250.881.0885

"When home is where you want to be"

LTD

250.590.9521

HERITAGE MANOR - DUNCAN(250)748-3488

Monthly rent from $2600 (includes all meals). Laundry, housekeeping, hairdresser, transpor-tation to appointments, bathing, personal care & medications. 24hr RCA on site. Beautiful grounds near Hospital. Family environment.

• ECONOMICAL

• 12-MONTH EXPOSURE • TO LIST YOUR BUSINESS

IN THIS DIRECTORY, CALL 250-479-4705

32 SENIOR LIVING

ARM-A-JELLO

But at the rate those outlaw years keep stealing from me, I wonder about tomorrow. If years steal away any more “parts,” I may not be able to part-ici-pate! Get it? “Part”-icipate. At least they haven’t stolen my sense of humour! My wife just advised me to check again. “Corn,” she says, is not humour. (How did corn get into this?) She’s a strange woman, but I love her! Corn?

I’m starting to fear sleep – I never know what will be missing or traded come morning. But at least I don’t have to wear Coke-bottle glasses to see, al-though I still need glasses. I own my own teeth (I should, I paid a fortune for the plate!). I can still drive, as long as it’s not at night. And I can still dance, as long as I’m sitting down.

But I’m upset that my arm muscles are missing and arm-a-jello keeps jig-gling around with me wherever I go!

Until I get my arm muscles back, I guess I’ll wear long-sleeved shirts and sweaters – even in the summer so as not to advertise the theft of years.

But all of you over 50, be warned! The thieves are out there and when you least expect it, they will pounce! Go to bed one night; wake up the next morn-ing with your arm muscles missing.

The time bandits leave arm-a-jello where youth used to be. Ah yes! I re-member it well.

Refl ections THEN & NOW

Phot

o: K

ryst

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isem

an

SL

If anyone should happen to fi nd some loose arm muscles lying about, I’d appreciate it if you

would pick them up and put them in a safe place. They’re mine!

I’m sure I had them yesterday (or maybe it was the day before!). But when I woke up this morning, someone – with-out so much as an “If you please” had put “arm-a-jello” in their place. I don’t know who coined the term arm-a-jello, but they know what I’m talking about.

Where my biceps (I call them arm muscles) used to bulge, they now jiggle like a bowl full of jelly. I mean, what’s the world coming to? Go to bed feeling like Charles Atlas or Sylvester Stallone, and then wake up feeling and looking like George Burns on his 100th birth-day! Something strange is afoot.

Someone said, “It comes with years.” What comes with years? Sadis-tic thieves? They have no right to take away my yesterday and disrupt my to-morrow. What nerve!

It’s too bad there isn’t a law against years. They’ve been getting away with this nonsense far too long. They’re okay for the fi rst half-century, but then they seem to lose control.

They draw lines on your face when you’re asleep. Wrinkle your lower arms

and paint ugly spots on your hands that even lemon won’t take off! And, of course, steal your muscles and leave arm-a-jello to infuriate and frustrate.

What is it they used to say about the progression of years? “Some bring cheers, some bring fears, some bring tears, followed by leers and then comes sneers.” I’m right in the middle of leers and sneers!

It’s bad enough when one’s chin starts to grow other chins. And one’s second stomach overlaps the original. But when your upper arms on the underside start waving like fl ags in a gentle breeze, that’s just a bit too much to take!

I remember when the theft occurred in my Mom and Dad’s lives. Even friends before and now are going through the same thing.

I wonder if there’s a lost-and-found for missing muscles and taut skin. If not, there should be. But I refuse to quit or surrender!

I still wear runners though I can no longer run. And sneakers though I’m now too tired to sneak. I even wear a windbreaker when there is no wind and continue to belong to the human race even though my racing days are over!

No sir! I’m not used up yet!

Reflections,Reflections,��

and Other Breakfast Foods

A Collection of Published & Unpublished Writings by Senior Living Columnist Gipp ForsterMAGAZINE

Limited Edition

128 pages REDUCED PRICE

$10.00

Name_____________________________________Address___________________________________City______________________________ Prov ____ Postal Code____________ Ph _________________ ____ BOOKS @ $10.00 each = $_________SHIPPING ($3.95 PER BOOK) = $_________ SUBTOTAL = $_________GST (5% on SUBTOTAL) = $_________ TOTAL = $_________

“Reflections” MAIL-IN ORDER FORMReflections, Rejections, and Other Breakfast Foods

by Gipp Forster

Please allow two weeks for shipping.

Make cheque payable to Senior Living MAIL TO: Reflections Book Offer 153, 1581-H Hill-side Ave., Victoria BC V8T 2C1

A collection of Gipp’s humorous and nostalgic columns. A wonder-ful read for yourself, and a thoughtful gift for friends and family members.

BY GIPP FORSTER

Bringing Our “Neighbourhood” to YoursInnovative Alzheimer’s care at Sunrise of Victoria

Sunrise of Victoria provides specially designed Alzheimer’s care based on each resident’s rich history and individual needs. The result is a personalized environment as loving as it is innovative. We call it the Reminiscence Neighbourhood.

And because each resident is gently guided along in a place that looks and feels like home, every day is a pleasant day in the neighbourhood.Call today and visit our Reminiscence Neighbourhood

LICENSED RESIDENTIAL CARE

Sunrise of Victoria • 920 Humboldt Street • 250.383.1366www.sunriseseniorliving.ca

AN EXCEPTIONAL LIFE

Carlton House of Oak Bay is one of Canada’s most sought after senior’s residences, designed for the total enjoyment of our residents. Among the highlights are inviting gathering places such as our bistro, lounge and conservatory — great spaces in which to share wonderful moments with fellow residents and friends.

Learn more about an exceptional life at Carlton House. All-inclusive suites are available from $2495 a month. Call Seona Stephen today at 250-595-1914 www.carltonhouse.ca

an exceptional moment, among friends.

PREW_5589_PREW0016_N.indd 1 7/6/09 10:12:50 AM

BACK OCT09

The Proof is in the Pudding.

For more information on this award winning residence and to arrange a tour please call us today at 250-386-4680.Berwick Royal Oak, 4680 Elk Lake Drive, Victoria. www.berwickrc.com

Nominated for the 2009 BC Georgie Awards.Best Multi-Family Landscape Design | Best Multi-Family Low Rise Development

And the Pub.And the Spa.

And the Gardens. And the Suites.

And the Services.And the Theatre.

And the Finishings.And the Location.

And the People.

V i c t o r i a ’s P r e m i e r R e t i r e m e n t R e s i d e n c e

BERRO_5790_BERRO068.indd 1 11/19/09 11:33:03 AM

Documents

January 2010 Senior Living Magazine Island Edition