january 23, 2013

Health& Fitness

RetirementLiving

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MONTHLY RENT INCLUDES:• Three meals a day plus snacks • 24 hour staff care• Emergency call bells • Cable in suites• Weekly housekeeping/laundry

103 Duncan AvenuePenticton, BC V2A 2Y3

[email protected]

A Community Where Health & Happiness Are a Way of Life250-490-8503

103 Duncan AvenuePenticton, BC V2A 2Y3

[email protected]

Please call The Hamlets at Penticton to book a tour of

Assisted Living or Complex Care

OTHER FEATURES:• Therapeutic pool• Hair salon• Spa room• Chapel• Recreational activities and our own Hamlets bus for group outings

The Hamlets also provides COMPLEX CARE

• 24 Hour Professional Nursing Care• Dementia Care• Young adult/acquired Brain Injury Care• Developmental Disability Care• Respite Care

View

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Please call The Hamlets at Penticton to book a tour of

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seniors on the go2 www.pentictonwesternnews.com Penticton Western News Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Planning ahead for a major lifestyle change

Tracey van de Laar, For the Western News

Most of us have experienced major life-style changes as we progress through what-ever life may hand us — moving out of the family home, getting married and mov-ing away to live in a new city or country, moving away due to a new job or to follow your spouse’s work, downsizing as the kids leave, etc. When these situations arise, we typically sit down and analyze the pros and cons of making such a move and how we will handle all the specific details of execut-ing major changes to our lifestyle.

It appears that, as we age, we truly pro-crastinate with the planning that is neces-sary to work out the details of how we will live out our lives in our very senior years. Realistically, it is not a topic that many of us want to address and yet it is probably one of the most important decisions that we will make in later years, in order to ensure the highest possible quality of life.

Here are some suggestions on how to put a plan into action to streamline the process of making the decision to move into an as-sisted living or care home:

n Make a detailed list of your current living expenses ie: food/heat/electricity/ water/ (mortgage/rent — if applicable)/ca-ble/phone/internet, etc. Determine exactly what your monthly costs are in your current residence. Be sure to factor in the costs that won’t change either, ie: clothing, medica-tions, etc., as this will give you a complete picture of your total monthly expenditures. Compare this with the total amount of mon-ey coming in each month.

n Make a list of care homes in your community that offer the type of care or liv-ing environment that you are looking for. Independent living/assisted living or com-plex care. If you are not sure exactly what you are looking for — be sure to phone and ask.

n Narrow down your list of residences to those that you would like to take a look at the actual suites. Phone and inquire as to the monthly rates and what exactly the monthly rate includes and if it sounds good, make an appointment to have a tour of the residence.

n Converse with either family or friends (or both) that you are interested in pursuing the idea of making a move to a care home — even if it is down the road. You may want to encourage their input in assisting you with this process and suggest that they come along with you on the tours? It is ul-timately your decision, however, they may see different pros and cons to each of the residences. The more input the better.

n Once you have completed touring these various residences, continue the pro-cess of listing the pros and cons of each site. Things to consider: location, prox-imity to shopping, medical appointments, transportation. What extras does the resi-dence offer? Is it easy to physically get around the building? Can you both be ac-commodated as a couple, with perhaps two different levels of care? Is there a friendly, caring, cozy atmosphere about the place? List all the qualities that you personally feel are important to you and your specific lifestyle and look for these to be offered in the residence.

n Go back to your original list of monthly expenditures/income and calcu-late what costs will be covered by the care home and what costs will be left for you to pay out of your income?

n Once you have narrowed down which assisted living or care home interests you most, consider putting your name down on their waitlist. Each residence will handle their waitlists differently, so find out how their system works.

No one really believes that the time will come that moving to a residential care home will be necessary, however, the re-ality is that there are no guarantees to our future good health.

If it should unfold that we are suddenly told that we cannot return to our home, and that we will need to move to a residence that provides different levels of care — this decision will be much easier on ourselves, family and friends, when we have put some plans in place for this major lifestyle change.

Tracey van de Laar is the business assistant for The Hamlets at Penticton.

Mark Brett/Western NewsMakiNg dreaMs coMe true — Penticton Fire chief Wayne Williams serves customers last year at the Wendy’s dreamLift day. this year’s event takes place at the restau-rant’s nine interior locations Wednesday, Jan. 30.

seniors on the goPenticton Western News Wednesday, January 23, 2013 www.pentictonwesternnews.com 3

Sclerotherapy: Safe and EffectiveRené Serbon

Penticton Laser & Skin Clinic

Sclerotherapy is an effective, safe and proven way to treat varicose and spider veins and has been used for over 75 years. Treatments are performed in the clinic and takes approximately 20 min-utes. A tiny needle is used to inject veins with a medication that causes the veins to collapse and disappear. They are reab-sorbed by the body usually within four to six weeks. Following the treatment session, compression stockings are to be

worn for a specifi c period of time, de-pending on the size of the treated vessel. Walking is an important part of the treat-ment plan, and patients are instructed to walk immediately following each treat-ment for 30 minutes. It is normal for the injected area to bruise and swell.

In some situations, ultrasound guided injections are needed to treat deeper veins that are not visible.

Initial assessment, which includes ul-trasound examination, will indicate the most appropriate treatment.

Consultations at the Penticton Laser & Skin Clinic

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ADVANCED SKIN ANALYSIS: 90 minutes. The fee for an Advanced Skin Analysis (non-medical) with our medi-cal skin therapist is $100.00. At your analysis, you will receive a $100.00 patient debit card that may be used for any non-medical service in our clinic, or to purchase any of our skin care or cos-metic products.LASER HAIR REMOVAL CONSUL-TATION: 30 minutes. There is NO

FEE for a Laser Hair Removal Consul-tation with one of our practitioners. At your consultation, we will give you all the information necessary to help you achieve the desired outcome of Laser Hair Removal treatments. We will also analyze and look at hair and skin color, to establish whether you are candidate to have this treatment. MEDICAL CONSULTATION: 15 minutes. There is NO FEE for a medi-

cal consultation. (Your consultation may be covered by the governments’ medical service plan, but there is no direct charge to you from us. Vein Assessments are done in the same manner.) Medical Con-sultations establish whether or not your condition requires medical treatment, or to get medical approval for other treat-ments you may want to consider in the clinic.

We Care supports families with Alzheimer’s & other dementiasWe Care’s caregivers have specialized training in supporting clients and families affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia. Our caregivers are trained in gently encouraging reluctant clients, responding to aggressive behaviours that accompany different forms of dementia, interacting with memory-impaired clients, and in providing support for the activities of daily living such as eating and bathing.

If you or a family member has been diagnosed with dementia, or is exhibiting symptoms that necessitate in-home support, call We Care.

Free Caregiver GuideCall us toll free or visit us online to order your free copy of our Alzheimer’s Disease Caregiver Guide. It’s filled with helpful advice, tips and essential information.

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Alzheimer’s caregivers can’t overlook their own needs

Are you a caregiver to someone af-fected by Alzheimer’s disease or a re-lated dementia? If so, remember that caring for yourself is one of the most important — and most often overlooked — things you can do.

When your needs are taken care of, the person you are caring for will ben-efit, too.

The following suggestions will help you stay fit and better able to manage your caregiving role.

n First and foremost, if you need it, get some rest. Ask someone you trust to take over your duties so that you can take time to sleep, watch TV, read and collect your thoughts and feelings.

n Create a realistic calendar that in-corporates time for you to do what you enjoy or need to do to remain in control of your life.

n Try to give time and attention to these important “F” factors: Family, Friends, Faith, Forgiveness and Fun.

n Avoid stressing over unknowns;

consult professionals who can alleviate unnecessary concern. If possible, dele-gate this responsibility to another family member.

n Use a personal journal to chronicle your feelings, concerns and thoughts. Don’t be afraid to write about your feel-ings of loss, anger or frustration but also be sure to record the little things that bring joy and happiness to your day.

n If you feel like the stress is begin-ning to take its toll, check for the follow-ing list of typical symptoms: weariness and exhaustion; inability to eat or sleep; inability to concentrate or think clearly; increased dependence on tobacco, alco-hol or drugs; weight loss or gain; loss of contact with friends; and irrational out-bursts or frequent moodiness. See your health care professional if you have any of these symptoms.

A number of resources are available; start your search at www.wecare.ca and click on the resources menu to order your copy of the Caregiver Guide.

The benefits of active agingRhonda Roth

For the Western News

Why, as people get older, does it seem to be so hard not only getting into shape but also staying in shape? Why does it seem that you have to work twice as hard to see half the results? Why is there a loss of mus-cle tone, strength and stamina? Why is it so hard to maintain weight? Why does it seem to be such a struggle to be fit as we age?

As people age there is a lot of pressure to understand and make allowances for the increase in health issues. There is a loss of muscle mass and tone, strength, and me-tabolism can be affected. There is a greater risk of weight gain, osteoporosis, arthritis, knee replacements, back issues, diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol and their related conditions. Some of these is-sues can be related to aging and some can be attributed to lifestyle.

The loss of muscle mass can be due to many factors including being seden-tary, age related (sarcopenia), medication and disease related muscle weakening. As people age, skeletal muscles (also known as lean muscle mass) start to deteriorate (www.dummies.com/how-to/content/what-happens-to-aging-muscles.html).

These are the muscles that attach to bones and are under voluntary control. As a result of deterioration, people begin to look flabby, or lose muscle tone. These changes may start as early as age 30, but most people see the biggest changes between 40 and 50.

A recent study concluded that total mus-cle mass decreases by nearly 50 per cent for people between the ages of 20 and 90. On average, people lose about 30 per cent of their strength between ages 50 and 70, and another 30 per cent of what’s left per de-cade after that. Generally, people lose about one per cent of their lean muscle mass per year after age 40.

Muscle deterioration is a natural process, but a sedentary lifestyle can accelerate it. You can rebuild muscle mass lost from a sedentary lifestyle — all you have to do is get off the couch and do something physical.

Age-related muscle loss is called sar-copenia and is not an inevitable part of aging; it is the result of the loss of around ten ounces of muscle a year that isn’t re-placed due to a sedentary lifestyle. You can win this muscle back with a strength-training program.

Strength training increases muscle mass, strength and muscle tone. As you gain muscle, you also raise your me-tabolism. Each pound of muscle burns approximately 50 calories, so the more muscle you have the more calories you burn. This aids in weight management. The more lean muscle mass you have, the stronger your bones have to be to support it. This results in greater bone density, which aids in the fight against osteopo-rosis. As your muscles get stronger, your activities become easier to do with less effort and pain. As a result your stamina increases and so consequently you have a better quality of life.

Strength training is accomplished by using exercise machines (especially the Keiser Air Circuit), resistance bands, free weights, or even your own body weight at least three times each week. Any activ-ity that increases your heart rate is called cardiovascular training and rounds out your complete exercise program. An ex-ercise program should include both car-diovascular and strength training.

If you are unsure of what kind of a program that is right for you, first consult your health care provider to find out if you have any limitations. You could then consult a personal trainer who will help set up an individual program or help di-rect you to something that you will enjoy, stick with and is suitable to your needs.

Do not use aging, a sedentary lifestyle and health issues as an excuse for not get-ting and staying in shape. Find a physical activity that you enjoy. You can be fit at any age and have fun doing it. What have you got to lose?

Rhonda Roth is a fitness trainer and active ag-ing specialist at City Center Health and Fitness.


Cancer society honours longtime volunteersSteve Kidd

Western News Staff

When the Summerland chapter of the Ca-nadian Cancer Society shut down last month, it marked the end of a decades-old institution.

And while the last group of volunteers haven’t been with the organization quite that long — the Summerland chapter was started in the early years of the CCS, which is ap-proaching its 75th anniversary — they do ac-count for nearly a third of the time it has been in existence.

Altogether, the volunteer time put in by May Lalonde, Lillian Thomson, Joan Lans-dell, Ann Pomer, Roy Elander, Nellie Johan-sen and Shirley Troubridge totals up to more than a century, with individual contributions ranging from 15 to more than 30 years. They were honoured last month in a presentation ceremony with Summerland Mayor Janice Perrino, joined by Sally Ginter, regional di-rector for the CCS, and Shannon Jolley, team lead, annual giving.

“This is the end of an era. Summerland still continues to be an important stakeholder for the CCS. We look forward to new ways to engage the community,” said Ginter. “It is very important that all the hard work and awareness that you ladies have instilled in Summerland remains part of your legacy.”

These volunteers have helped to fight back against cancer through participating in numer-ous awareness and fundraising campaigns, by providing education, helping celebrate those lost to cancer, and by helping those in their cancer journeys find support along the way.

But like many other service groups, the

Summerland CCS volunteers are aging.“Sorry that we have to close down, but we

can’t get any young ones to come in,” said Thomson, who began volunteering with the CCS in 1988.

Her colleague, Joan Lansdell, has only been at it for 15 years. She said it has been a wonderful opportunity to get out in the com-munity and meet more people, but times are changing.

“All the different societies are getting old and people aren’t joining again,” said Lans-dell. “But it is changing … people are doing things now to raise money individually. It’s a whole different aspect of fundraising. People are willing to give and they do it in different ways.”

Jolley said it is very difficult to replace people who have this degree of history and service, agreeing that the nature of volunteer-

ing has changed, with people becoming more oriented to campaigns, rather than joining one group for the long term. But the Summerland volunteers stand out, she said, for staying to-gether for so long.

“Talk about spirit … this is amazing, it’s very unusual,” said Jolley. “What I find is there is a real difference in the generations. They (older volunteers) tend to be formal, they follow processes, they are very consis-tent and reliable. And we don’t see the same thing in a lot of the younger volunteers com-ing forward.”

The camaraderie, Lansdell said, was one of the things that kept them together, both in the local chapter and with the CCS volun-teers.

“It was a wonderful group to get involved in,” she said. “It was something that you could see the results in the community, you could see it wasn’t something that was a one-time thing. And it is a larger community because you have everyone in the province doing the same thing.”

May Lalonde, the chapter president, had more than two decades of service.

“The co-operation from all of them and the help and the encouragement was nothing like anywhere. It takes all of us to make it go and make it a success,” she said. “I am sorry we had to quit doing this. It wasn’t all give, we all learned from it too.”

Jolley said the CCS will continue to be ac-tive in the Summerland community, and while they may not have an official office, they will still be recruiting volunteers and conducting campaigns. CCS chapters continue in Pentic-ton and Kelowna.

Steve Kidd/Western NewsShirley Troubridge, a volunteer with the Summerland chapter of the Canadian Cancer Society, is overcome with emotion as regional director Sally ginter presents her with a certificate honouring her 32 years of service.

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Pets can provide improvements to healthRather than heading to the pharmacy for solutions to

common ailments, a majority of people may be able to stop at the nearest pet store or animal shelter and find a finned or furry remedy instead.

Studies that link positive health benefits to pet owner-ship abound. According to WebMD, one study found that 48 stockbrokers who adopted a pet experienced lower blood pressure readings in stressful situations than did people who did not own pets. Another study found that in-dividuals suffering from serious diseases, such as cancer or AIDS, are far less likely to experience depression if they have a strong tie to a pet. Plus, pets have proven beneficial to seniors struggling with loneliness.

Any pet can try a person’s patience at times, especially when a kitty has used a sofa as a scratching post or when a pooch needs to be let into the yard at 3 a.m. But for many pet owners, the benefits of having a pet far outweigh the negatives. Here are some of the many ways that pet owner-ship can be good for your health.

n Lower blood pressure: Petting a dog or cat can lower blood pressure, as can watching a fish swim around a tank. Those with hypertension may want to purchase or adopt a companion animal to help lower their blood pressure.

n Reduce stress: Stress is something people face on a daily basis. According to a National Health Interview Sur-vey, 75 percent of the general population experiences at least “some stress” every two weeks, and many times that stress is moderate to severe. Research has indicated that when people spend time with a pet their levels of cortisol, a hormone associated with stress, is lowered while their level of serotonin, a hormone associated with improved mood and well-being, is increased.

n Lower cholesterol: Lifestyle factors associated with pet ownership, particularly a focus on increased physical health and activity, can help lower cholesterol levels. Also, having a pet works to reduce stress, which may keep indi-viduals from looking to fatty foods as sources of alleviating anxiety.

n Fight depression: Many therapists have prescribed pet therapy as a method to alleviating and recovering from de-pression. A pet is an unconditional friend and can provide that listening ear a person needs to talk through problems. Also, walking and taking care of a pet devotes attention away from problems and inward thinking.

n Improve physical activity levels: Heading to the gym is one way to get a workout, but spending an hour walking the dog or tossing around a ball for a game of chase and fetch is another way to get the heart pumping. Many dog

owners benefit from the “forced”exercise that goes with daily walks. Some people choose to exercise with their pets, enjoying the companionship and the physical activity.

n Reduce stroke incidences: There has been evidence that cat owners are less likely to suffer strokes than people who do not have cats. Researchers are not sure of the con-nection, but surmise that cats have a more calming nature than other types of pets.

n Greater opportunities for socialization: Humans are social animals and need to interact with others. Pet owners have a tendency to want to share time and experiences with other pet owners. Pets can provide opportunities for people to get together.

n ADHD therapy: Children and adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder often benefit from working with a pet or having a pet as a family companion. Playing with a pet is a great way to release excess energy and focus on tasks. Also, a pet with his or her unconditional love can help someone with ADHD overcome self-esteem issues. Similar results are possible when pets are used as therapy animals for children with autism and other behavioral dis-abilities.

n Reduce propensity for allergies: Children who grow up in homes with cats and dogs are less likely to develop common allergies and even asthma, research suggests. In fact, children who live around two or more dogs or cats before their first birthday are less likely to have allergies of any sort, according to a study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association.

Research presented at the 10th International Conference on Human Animal Interaction found pet owners were the least likely to have to visit the doctor. The survey of more than 11,000 respondents from Australia, China and Germa-ny found that over a five-year period pet owners made 15 to 20 percent fewer annual visits to the doctor than non-pet owners.

The companionship and love pets provide could be a key benefit in promoting good personal health.

Mark Brett/Western NewsBesides providiNg joy and amusement to their own-ers, pets can also bring numerous health benefits, such as reducing stress, alleviating depression and improving physical activity.

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Retirement is a goal for nearly every working adult. Long considered a time to enjoy the fruits of a life’s worth of labours, retirement has become something else entirely over the last several years, when the struggling economy has convinced many aging workers that their opportunity to safely retire may never present it-self.

But retirement does not have to feel like a wild goose chase with the end goal nowhere in sight. In fact, many men and women who develop a plan early on can retire early, reaping the rewards of their success at an age when many people are still wondering if they can retire at all, much less retire early.

n Conduct an immediate audit of your finances. The road to early retirement be-gins, quite frankly, very ear-ly. If your retirement goal is to retire early, conduct an audit of your financial situ-ation as soon as possible, even if you are a relative newcomer to the profes-sional sector. Examine all of your debts and other liabili-ties, as well as your income and your potential earn-ings. It may be difficult to forecast potential earnings, but paint a realistic forecast with regard to your earning potential, and then use that to determine your standard of living and how much money you will need to maintain that standard upon retirement. This should give you an idea of how close or how far you are from early retirement and what you need to start doing now so early retirement can be a re-ality later on.

n Don’t sell savings short. Men and women who retire at the traditional re-tirement age can count on certain benefits that early re-tirees aren’t eligible for. Se-nior discounts can decrease the cost of living for typical retirees, who can also access retirement accounts without paying a penalty. Younger retirees are not eligible for senior discounts, and ac-cessing a retirement account before a certain age can re-sult in a substantial penalty.

So men and women whose goal is to retire early should not underestimate the value of a healthy sav-

ings account. Retiring early will require a more robust savings account than if you were to retire at a more typi-cal age, so calculate how much more you will need to save in order to retire early. Once you have calculated that figure, ask yourself if it’s realistic that you can save that money and what effect this increased empha-sis on savings may have on your quality of life between now and the day you’ve targeted for early retire-ment? If you cannot realis-tically save enough money or if you have to sacrifice too much to make early re-tirement happen, then you might want to reconsider this goal.

n Accept sacrifices. Making sacrifices with an end goal of early retirement may be easier for younger men and women who have yet to grow accustomed to a certain standard of liv-ing. Regardless of their age, however, those who hope to retire early will need to ac-cept that they will have to make certain sacrifices to achieve their goals. These sacrifices can be consider-able, such as downgrading to a smaller home, or rela-tively minor, such as can-celling a cable television

subscription, but for the average worker they will be necessary to make early re-tirement happen. The earlier you can make these sacri-fices the easier they will be, as it won’t be as hard to sac-rifice something you’re not used to having. In addition, the earlier you make these sacrifices the quicker you will be on the road to early retirement.

n Periodically reassess how it’s going. The road to early retirement will have its peaks and valleys, so pe-riodically reassess how your plan is going and if you need to alter the plan in any way to make early retirement a reality. This reassessment should be conducted annu-ally, and you must be com-pletely honest with your-self. If the plan is going off course, determine the cause and if there’s anything you can do to catch up or if you need to change your target-ed retirement date.

Early retirement is a goal for many people. And de-spite the uneasiness many people feel with regard to retirement, early retirement can become a reality for dil-igent men and women who develop a plan and stick to that plan in the years to come.

Early retirementcan be a reality

Making sacrifices early in life makes it easier to achieve your goals for retirement sooner.

What KeepsYou Up At Night?Jennie Birzins, Investment Advisorat CIBC Wood Gundyinvites you to an exclusive event.

Do your New Year resolutions include?

• Paying less income tax• Creating an estate plan• Eliminating your old age security claw back• Getting good advice on your investments• Generating more income from your assets• Understanding Tax-Free Savings Accounts (TFSAs)

Does this sound like you?

• You’ve recently had a change in your family situation• You’ve moved to the area and need help with your investment portfolio• You’re frustrated with the low rates of return in the market and don’t want to “have” to buy stocks• You’re losing sleep worrying about your hard earned savings

Special Guests:

MICHAEL DAVIS, CFP, CLU, CHS• Estate Planning Specialist – CIBC Wood Gundy

JODIE ANNE TAYLOR, B.A., L.L.B., Partner• Pearce Taylor Schneiderat

DOUG TAYLOR, Vice-President Sales• NexGen Financial

Date: Thursday, January 31, 2013Location: Penticton Visitors Centre 553 Railway Street, Upstairs BoardroomTime: 11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. (hot lunch will be served)

Space is limited and reserved seating is required.

Please reserve your seat by calling:

Jennie Birzins, RRC, PFP,Investment Advisor at 250 770-2105or [email protected]

A donation to the PentictonFood Bank is welcome.

CIBC Wood Gundy is a division of CIBC World Markets Inc., a subsidiary of CIBC and a Member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund and Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada. Clients are advised to seek advice regarding their particular circumstances from their personal tax and legal advisors. If you are currently a CIBC Wood Gundy client, please contact your Investment Advisor. Transactions in insurance products, including segregated funds, are made on your behalf by CIBC Wood Gundy Financial Services Inc., or in the case of Quebec residents, CIBC Wood Gundy Financial Services (Quebec) Inc.

CIBC Wood Gundy is a division of CIBC World Markets Inc., a subsidiary of CIBC and a Member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund and Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada. Clients are advised to seek advice regarding their particular circumstances from their personal tax and legal advisors. If you are currently a CIBC Wood Gundy client, please contact your Investment Advisor. Transactions in insurance products, including segregated funds, are made on your behalf by CIBC Wood Gundy Financial Services Inc., or in the case of Quebec residents, CIBC Wood Gundy Financial Services (Quebec) Inc.

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Do your New Year resolutions include? • Paying less income tax• Creating an estate plan• Eliminating your old age security claw back

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Date: Thursday, January 31, 2013Location: Penticton Visitors Centre 553 Railway Street, Upstairs BoardroomTime: 11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. (hot lunch will be served)

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Safety measures can helpreduce bathroom injuries

Falls cause many injuries inside a home. Seniors are especially susceptible to harmful falls in the bathroom, where slippery tiles can prove too difficult for older men and women to navigate.

A 2011 study from the Centers for Dis-ease Control and Prevention found that nearly 234,000 Americans ages 15 and older were treated in an emergency de-partment for non-fatal bathroom-related injuries in 2008. That adds up to roughly 640 people per day. More than 80 per cent of bathroom-related injuries were caused by slips and falls, mostly while getting in and out of the tub or shower, and about 30 per cent of those injuries in-cluded cuts, scrapes and bruises.

Bathrooms can be more dangerous than other rooms of the house for a va-riety of reasons. The bathroom is gener-ally comprised of hard surfaces that can become slippery when wet or exposed to high humidity. A bathroom may become hotter than other rooms because of the steam that accompanies a hot shower. Heat may dilate peripheral veins and lower blood pressure in some people. This may lead to dizziness that can re-sult in falls. Furthermore, people tend to rush in the bathroom as they get ready for work or school. Rushing around can lead to slips and injuries on wet surfaces.

Installing safety features in the bath-room is a key way to reduce the risk of accidents. Many manufacturers have even designed these features so they blend with bathroom decor.

When renovating bathrooms for safe-ty, consider the following options.

Anti-scAld feAtures: Burns can be serious business. Few people have been spared the momentary burst of hot water that occurs in the shower or at the faucet when another household member flushes a toilet or uses a large amount of cold water elsewhere in the house. Anti-scald showerheads and faucets prevent sudden

bursts of hot water. Use in conjunction with turning down the temperature of the hot water heater to eliminate burns.

nonslip mAts: Bathroom injuries of-ten occur when people are getting in and out of the shower. Having a non-slip mat on the inside of the shower or tub as well as one with a grippable surface and plush top layer on which to step after exiting the shower can reduce falls. Don’t step out of the shower onto a flimsy towel that can slip out from underneath your feet.

BAth Bench: The elderly or those prone to light-headedness in the shower may want to invest in a bench or seat to put into the shower. This enables sitting while washing.

sAfety BArs: It can be tempting to grab onto towel racks or faucets to get in and out of the shower, but these items cannot provide the necessary leverage to safely move in and out of the shower or bathtub. Safety bars with a brushed sur-face for traction are more secure. Grab bars need to be securely attached to a wood stud in the wall and not into dry-wall or the tub enclosure.

rAised toilet seAt: A raised toilet seat reduces the amount of squatting and the distance that has to be covered to sit on the commode. Grab bars on the raised seat itself will provide added safety.

telephone: The bathroom may seem an odd place to install a telephone, but having one nearby in the event of injury can ensure help gets to the injured party much more quickly.

regulAr cleAning: Routinely rid-ding showers and tubs of soap scum and mildew can reduce the slippery coating that forms as a result of these substances. Also, be sure to keep clutter in the bath-room to a minimum to stop trips and falls over errant items in the area.

Bathrooms can present many dangers, but certain safety tools and renovations can help reduce the risk of injury.

Mark Brett/Western NewsStaMp of approval — president Gus Boersma (right) and Wayne Dods of the pentic-ton and District Stamp Club look over some of the catalogue of materials at the recent meeting in the organization’s new location at the downtown United Church, lower level. regular sessions are the first Sunday of the month starting at 2 p.m. visitors are always welcome.

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Different conditions can comprise low visionMillions of people have significant visual impair-

ments that can make daily life challenging. Although many vision problems are readily treated with correc-tive lenses, treating low vision may not be so simple.

“Low vision” is a term used to describe the inabil-ity to see clearly. Even after correcting for vision with glasses or contact lenses, many people still cannot see well and test at lower than 20/40 vision. The Ameri-can Academy of Opthalmology defines low vision as what happens if ordinary eyeglasses, contact lenses or intraocular lens implants do not provide a person with clear vision.

Anyone with reduced vision that is not corrected by some method of lenses or surgery is considered to have low vision or be visually impaired. Low vision may cause slight vision loss or even blindness.

Causes of low visionThere are many factors that contribute to the onset

of low vision, including disease, aging, injury, and he-redity. The following are some of the more common causes of low vision.

Age-relAted mAculAr degenerAtion (Amd): This is a common eye condition among people age 50 and older. In fact, it is the leading cause of vision loss in older adults, says the National Eye Institute. When a person has AMD, the macula, which is the most sensi-tive part of the retina responsible for fine-tuning imag-es received by the eye, deteriorates and does not work properly. Though there might be some vision, images won’t be clear. The most common form of age-relat-ed macular degeneration is known as nonexudative, or “dry” form. This generally causes vision loss that develops gradually. More rapid and severe vision loss comes from exudative, or the “wet” form, of macular degeneration. This occurs when abnormal blood ves-sels develop under the macula and leak fluid and blood.

cAtArActs: Cataracts are a clouding of the lens of

the eye that usually develops with aging. It may be present at birth or be the result of an injury to the eye. Depending on the severity of the cloudiness of the lens, vision can be impacted greatly. Cataracts may form as a result of long-term exposure to ultraviolet light, ex-posure to ionizing radiation, secondary effects of dis-eases such as diabetes, hypertension and advanced age, or trauma.

glAucomA: When a person has glaucoma, eye dam-age occurs to his or her eye when there is a buildup of fluid pressure within the eye, also known as intraocular pressure. This pressure can damage the optic nerve and cause visual field loss, which over time might escalate to blindness. Glaucoma is often dubbed “the silent thief of sight,” because in most cases it progresses slowly and vision loss is not immediately apparent.

diAbetic retinopAthy: Vision can fluctuate daily

as a result of diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy can cause blood vessels in the retina to develop abnormal off-shoots that leak blood and interfere with vision, even-tually causing severe damage to the retina.

retinAl detAchment: This occurs when the retina separates from its underlying layer. The portion that detaches may be rendered useless and cause total im-pairment of vision. Some retinas can be surgically reat-tached, and vision may be restored partially if surgery occurs promptly.

AnAridiA: Anaridia occurs when the iris, which is responsible for controlling the diameter and size of the pupils and regulating the amount of light reaching the retina, fails to develop normally. If the iris is not func-tioning properly, extreme sensitivity to light and an in-ability to see clearly may result.

Treatment for low visionTreatment cannot begin until your vision is assessed

by a professional. An optometrist may conduct vari-ous vision acuity tests to determine what might be the cause of vision loss. Each type of low vision problem requires a different approach to treatment, so it’s im-portant to correctly diagnose the problem before begin-ning treatment.

Some treatment options for low vision may include specialized optical systems, video magnification, ther-apeutic filters, or special prescription glasses. There also may be the need to perform eye exercises that help maximize existing visual function. Individuals may have to use a combination of devices to find the ones that help the best.

Only a doctor can determine the culprit behind vi-sion loss. Routine visual exams are recommended at least every year and may need to be more frequent if a person is suffering from deteriorating vision. If caught early, many eye conditions can be managed to help pre-vent further loss of vision.

Routine visual exams are recommended at least every year and may need to be more frequent if a person is suf-fering from deteriorating vision

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Society aims to reducestigma of Alzheimer’s

For their annual awareness month, the Alzheimer Society has set the goal of reduc-ing the stigma that has become, as with many other medical conditions, attached to the dis-ease.

If a close friend told you she has demen-tia, would you avoid her for fear of being embarrassed by what she might say or do? If you answered yes, according to Alzheim-er’s Disease International, you’re not alone. According to a recent poll conducted by the group, 40 per cent of people with dementia reported they had been avoided or treated dif-ferently after diagnosis.

It’s no surprise, then, that one in four re-spondents cited stigma as a reason to con-ceal their diagnosis, said Laurie Myres, the Penticton and South Okanagan-Similkameen support and education co-ordinator for the non-profit Alzheimer Society of B.C.

That’s why the society has chosen “See me, not my disease. Let’s talk about de-mentia” as the theme of national Alzheimer Awareness Month, which runs through Janu-ary.

The goal is to address myths about the dis-ease, shift attitudes and make it easier to talk about dementia, said Myres.

“Stereotypes and misinformation are what prevent people with dementia from getting the help they need and stop others from tak-ing the disease seriously,” she said.

For example, Alzheimer’s disease is more than having the occasional “senior moment” or losing your keys. It is a progressive degen-erative brain disorder that affects each person differently. It is fatal and there is no cure.

“Although one in three Canadians know

someone with dementia, it is not discussed as openly as other chronic illnesses, so the prevalence is there but the conversation isn’t yet and that’s what we hope to address,” said Myres.

Today, 747,000 Canadians have demen-tia, 70,000 of whom are British Columbians. While dementia can affect people as young as 40 years of age, the risk doubles every five years after 65.

The number of Canadians with dementia is expected to double to 1.4 million in the next 20 years, including more than 177,000 British Columbians.

“By talking more openly about dementia, we can all help to increase awareness about the symptoms, encourage earlier diagnosis and provide support for families to have the confidence and skills for the journey ahead,” said Myres.

To help change the conversation, she said, area residents can do their part if they: Learn the facts about dementia; help to dispel in-accurate information to change society’s at-titudes and opinions towards people with the disease; maintain relationships with people with dementia at home, in the community or at work, especially as the disease progresses; and stop making jokes about Alzheimer’s which trivialize the condition.

”We don’t tolerate racial jokes, yet demen-tia-related jokes are common,” said Myres.

For more about the Let’s Talk About De-mentia campaign, visit www.alzheimerbc.org. For information on local assistance, in-cluding support and information groups and educational seminars, contact Myres at 250-493-8182 or [email protected].

Preventing falls helps seniorsmaintain their independence

Falls are the most common cause of injury for B.C. seniors, despite evidence that shows most are preventable.

One in three British Columbians over the age of 65 will experience at least one fall every year. Injury from a fall often results in chronic pain, disability, reduced quality of life and is the main reason why older adults lose their independence. Nearly 40 per cent of all fall-related hospitalizations involve a hip fracture — which greatly impacts the health and well-being of seniors, as well as the B.C. health-care system.

The government of B.C. is working to help educate British Columbians on fall prevention in order to keep seniors safe, active and inde-pendent. There are many resources available to help older adults stay fall- and injury-free, including videos, brochures, booklets and guides. The new edition of the B.C. Seniors’ Guide also provides tips on healthy aging and fall prevention.

In addition to providing resources, the B.C. government supports the prevention of falls by working with health authorities, health-care professionals, injury-prevention experts and the public in developing fall-prevention projects and programs, including:

Strategies and Actions for Independent Living Falls Prevention Project — a training program for community-health workers and home-health professionals that addresses falls and related risk factors among clients of pub-licly funded home support services. Health authorities are currently implementing the

program and are expanding its scope across their regions.

Framework and Toolkit for Fall Related Injury Prevention in Residential Care — re-sources for health-care professionals to sup-port planning, implementation, distribution and evaluation of fall-prevention programs in residential care.

The Canadian Falls Prevention Curricu-lum: www.canadianfallprevention.ca — ev-idence-based training for health-care pro-fessionals on how to design, implement and evaluate a fall-prevention program.

Primary Care Fall Prevention resources for physicians and other primary-care pro-viders to assist their patients to identify and reduce their fall risks.

Most falls can be prevented through five easy steps:

n Doing exercises to increase muscle strength and improve balance.

n Reducing medications known to in-crease fall risk.

n Correcting vision problems. n Ensuring adequate levels of vitamin D

and calcium through healthy diets and supple-ments.

n Through home and outdoor modifica-tions to reduce tripping and slipping.

n Seniors with fall-related injuries tend to stay in hospital twice as long as seniors hos-pitalized for all other reasons.

n Injuries from falls cost the B.C. gov-ernment over $195 million annually in direct health costs.

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Auxiliary members are everyday heroesJanice PerrinoFor the Western News

Every hospital in B.C. has them. You know the delightful volunteers who run the gift (or thrift) shops, hand out maga-zines, coffee/tea, water, give directions to friends and family of patients and most important; they know just when to smile. They are the auxiliary members.

They are predominately women’s organizations, however, they are fast recruiting the men. As a group they volunteered more than a million recorded hours this past year. Truth is, this figure is only what was officially recorded. We know the num-ber of unofficial volunteer hours are staggeringly higher.

What you might not know is that every auxiliary group raises funds for their hospitals and I’m talking about “serious” fund-raising. The kind of fundraising that makes a professional fun-draiser twitch with excitement. Last year the auxiliaries prov-incewide raised nearly $6 million dollars and granted back out more than $7 million.

They raised these funds in a variety of ways such as their lo-cal thrift shops, hospital café’s, organized events and donations. They support their own local medical foundations and commu-nity hospitals by purchasing everything from stretchers to beds to ultrasound machines to MRIs, CT scans and digital mam-

mography machines. Everything they purchase has to do with medical equipment and or patient comforts. Another important fact it is that they help supplement what government money isn’t able to fund.

The group is well organized and they are an important piece of our history. In fact, some groups have been operating since the late 1800s. Over the years, their total fundraised dollars ex-ceeds the $300 million mark and then some. Now that is a tre-mendous legacy.

The auxiliaries in our own region of the South Okanagan and Similkameen are the Summerland Health-Care Auxiliary, the Penticton Hospital Auxiliary, the South Okanagan Health Care Auxiliary, the Princeton General Hospital Auxiliary and the Penticton Hospital Gift Shop. They all support our main re-gional hospital, their community hospitals, health centres and the care facilities for our most elderly frail residents. Last year alone they raised and are pledged to raise more than $486,000. An amazing feat.

Every year the medical departments provide the medical foundations with a list of equipment they are unable to purchase within their own budgets. The foundations call upon the auxilia-ries do what they can to support this vital work. In our case the list reached well over 150 items of equipment costing more than $2 million. We ask for the public’s support through donations

and planned gifts (a bequest in a will), however, without the dedication of our health care auxiliaries, we simply wouldn’t be able to fundraise enough to purchase much needed equipment. Their work is essential to providing the best medical care avail-able.

If you’re considering volunteering in your spare time and you want to know your work will be valued and that it’s impor-tant to the community, the auxiliary is an organization you ought to consider. The work is enjoyable, requires all types of skill sets and means everything to the staff, patients and their families.

You might hear them call themselves “little old ladies” (or old men) or “I’m just a volunteer” but they are dynamos at their work and they make a profound difference in all of our lives.

The care and comfort auxiliaries give to patients is what we all know about but they also help provide the newest and best technology in medical equipment found anywhere in the world. We are indeed fortunate to have them. Join your local auxiliary today and if you aren’t able to help right now, be sure to say to them; thank you. They are our everyday heroes.

For more information, call the British Columbia Association of Health-Care Auxiliaries head office at 604-714-2392.

Janice Perrino is the executive director of the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation.

Treat Old Man Winter with respect to avoid hazardsIzayana PinedaFor the Western News

Seniors who want to stay safe need to treat old man winter with respect. When snow falls, ice forms or winter storms blow, seniors are at increased risk for injury.

For example, the U.S. National Weather Service, which tracks weather-related fatali-ties, notes in its 2011 report that 68 per cent of fatalities arising from winter storms were aged 50-plus. The age group recording the greatest number of fatalities due to extreme cold were those 60 plus, accounting for 13 of 29 deaths.

Although not as dramatic as fatalities, winter can also lead to increased injuries, including falls on slippery ice, chills and hy-pothermia, or even heart attacks brought on by shovelling snow.

But a little caution can keep seniors safe. The following guidelines address some of the biggest winter hazards for older adults.

Ice and SnowAvoid walking on ice and snow if at all

possible. Try to have groceries delivered or ask friends or relatives to pick up items for you. For older adults, a fall on ice can result in broken bones, a shattered hip or perma-nent disability.

If you must walk on icy surfaces, make sure you are wearing non-slip shoes and stay on the sidewalk or on surfaces that have

been treated with sand or salt. Remember motorists are also dealing with hazardous conditions, so wear brightly coloured or re-flective clothing to increase your visibility and try to stay off the road.

Move slowly and carefully and avoid car-rying heavy packages, which might throw you off balance.

Cold weatherExtreme cold outside can also be hazard-

ous inside if the home lacks sufficient heat. But while ensuring there is sufficient heat, also make sure to inspect furnaces, ensure space heaters are safe, and smoke detectors are working. If using a fuel-burning heater, install a carbon monoxide detector.

Older adults often need to maintain a higher temperature in their homes. An es-timated 50 per cent of those who die from hypothermia are aged 75-plus. Due to com-promised circulation or respiratory condi-tions, even a mild cold snap can result in hypothermia for some elderly adults.

Warning signs of hypothermia are shiv-ering, cold skin that is pale or ashy, feel-ing tired and weak, problems walking and slowed breathing or heart rate. If the body temperature falls below 95 F, medical help should be sought immediately.

Anyone spending time outside should watch out for frostbite, which is the freezing of body tissue from exposure to cold. Symp-toms are a loss of feeling and a white or pale

appearance in areas such as fingers, toes, ear lobes or the tip of the nose. Seek medi-cal help, care for affected areas and slowly warm the body. Do not warm the extremities first, since that could send cold blood cours-ing through the heart, causing damage.

Increased exertionThe link between snow shovelling and

heart attack is not a myth. Sudden strenuous exercise, especially in cold weather, can trig-

ger a heart attack or angina. Even if you are in generally good health, check with your doctor before picking up the snow shovel.

Learn how to safely shovel snow and if you have cardiac conditions or asthma, re-member that your body may not tolerate the same activity level in the cold that is pos-sible in warmer months.

Izayana Pineda is the manager of Sun Vil-lage Retirement Residence.


Program builds timeless bonds of friendshipMark Brett

Western News Staff

Home is where the heart is, and Myrna Demers and others like her are doing their part to keep it that way.

As volunteers with the South Okanagan Seniors Wellness Society visitors program, the goal is to help people who might not otherwise be able to, live their lives the way they want to — independently.

In many cases it may only be a matter of stopping by the person’s home to share some companionship once or twice a week, going for a drive or just lending an ear for a couple of hours.

One of the first people Demers was matched up with was a 100-year-old area resident who was still living on her own but did not have any family residing nearby.

They quickly became friends and the bond grew stronger right up until the wom-an’s passing in late September.

During their all too brief time together, the two women shared much about their lives and Demers quickly discovered she benefited as much or more from the time to-gether.

“I was so blessed to have been placed with this very special person,” said Demers, who moved to the Okanagan from northern Ontario several years ago after her own hus-band died. “We tend to forget older people need a connection to our world, they need to be listened to, they need to laugh, they need to love and be loved. Not only do they need this connection, but we do also.

“This lovely lady has given me this ten-

fold. I was also in the need of a friend and having my lady — I call her my lady because I’m not supposed to say her name — it really was a treasure.”

While Demers was deeply saddened by the passing of her friend, it was not unex-pected.

They had even talked about the fact the end would one day come.

“She always said to me, ‘As long as I’m in my home, as long as I can still cook and do the things I want to, I will be fine, but if there ever comes a point when I am no lon-ger in my home, then it will be my time,’” said Demers.

It was in July the woman, despite the vis-its and help from others, was moved to a se-niors care facility.

Demers still regularly went to see her and despite the woman’s usual happy demean-our, there was a noticeable change.

“Then I went to visit her on Sept. 19 before I went on holiday and I said to her I would be back on Oct. 1 and she told me, ‘Well I really don’t think I’m going to be here when you get back, Myrna it’s my time,’” recalled Demers.

That was the last time she saw her lady.“I miss her terribly but I know she chose

her time and that’s what she wanted so it makes it better,” said her friend. “To me the wonderful thing was being able to be a part of her life, to enable her to be where she wanted to be for as long as she was able.”

Demers still has another woman in her 60s she visits through the wellness society and plans to find a second person in the new year to share her time with.

“It’s a wonderful program and it just gives me such great peace to know that I’m

helping somebody live their lives the way they want to and it’s something I think more people should do,” she said.

At age 97, Penticton’s Stewart Pierce also still lives in his own home and remains fiercely independent.

“You bet, this is where I want to stay as long as a can,” said the former mechanic.

He too has a friend from the society by the name of Nigel Alakija who comes by to talk about current events and, of course, the good old days.

When asked how they get along, Pierce replied: “Oh, we do just fine, we kind of disagree a little bit. I have my own thoughts about a lot of things and he has his, but we don’t actually argue we just talk things over but I probably have a broader viewpoint than he does.”

Alakija just laughs as he slaps his friend on the back.

“To be fair about the whole thing, I think I get as much from it (visitor program) as I’m supposed to be giving, there’s no doubt about it, and I think that’s the reason people do this for so many years,” said the retired BC Tel employee. “I plan to keep doing it until I can’t do it any longer. You’re sup-posed to talk with them and make them feel OK, but what I found at the end of the day is they make you feel OK.”

Pierce has no doubt the visits help keep him sharp and is one of the main reasons to be where he wants to.

“Because once you stop keeping your mind and body active, you’re done for,” he said.

While program volunteers receive some training and are expected to remain some-what at a distance, Nicole Peters, the soci-ety’s outreach program co-ordinator, admit-ted it can be a difficult challenge but in the end everyone benefits.

Since taking over the job in October, she has come to know many of the people who give of their time and energy and has nothing but praise for their efforts and commitment.

“The volunteers are fabulous and we couldn’t do this without them, they just make so much of a difference in the lives of these people who so badly need their help,” she said.

Peters added there is still a waiting list of people who would also like to have a “friend” of their own, and in the new year she will be looking for additional people.

Anyone who is interested in helping or would like more information can contact Pe-ters at 250-487-7455 and leave a message or at [email protected].

Mark Brett/Western NewsNigel AlAkijA (right) and his friend Stewart Pierce, 97, share a laugh while reading the newspaper at the Pierce residence during one of their regular weekly visits. The pair got together through the Seniors Wellness Society visitor program

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