A Garden of Memories
They say ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ and it seems this can apply to gardens too. As I take stock of all the plants from friends’ gardens, I realize that what I have is a garden full of memories. They go back to my earliest days when I had a gardening business in Victoria called Forget Me Not Gardening, and I was taking care of 30 gardens. That meant I got to know my plants pretty fast, and some were more arresting than others. Margaret Gordon was a 95-year old spinster living in the same house she had grown up in, in Oak Bay. One day I walked into her backyard where the...
Read MoreThe Man Who Couldn’t Smile
He looked like a mischievous little gnome standing at my office door with his twinkling eyes. His short physique accentuated his balding head. He had the most incredibly small and crooked hands I had ever seen. The other outstanding feature about him was the lack of expression on his face. You see, Don couldn’t smile. I found him to be a dynamic seventy-two-year-old man. His philosophy was that “age had nothing to do with happiness”. He just wanted to make the most out of the rest of his life. He hoped I could find him someone to love. Don didn’t believe he had a disability, but...
Read MoreWomen’s Institute made it happen
As a proud member of the Cedar Woman’s Institute it continues to astound me at the role the organisation has played into the fabric of the Canada we know today. Most people know little or nothing about the Woman’s Institute and its origins. The W.I. is a worldwide success story that was founded in Canada in 1897 by rural women as a vehicle to address serious health issues of the day. Their vision and tenacity has played, ands continues to play, a huge role in the well being of children here on Vancouver Island today as can be seen in the wonderful article from the Times/Colonist...
Read MoreElder Abuse Awareness Day
Canada’s growing senior population means more British Columbians at risk of elder financial abuse, expert says With the number of Canadian seniors at an all-time high—now outnumbering children for the first time in history, according to the most recent census data—financial abuse of older adults is likely to be a growing issue. “In recent years we’ve seen more cases of elderly members of the credit union victimized by financial fraud than we have previously,” says Kevin Haarhoff, a senior investigator of corporate security at Island Savings, a division of First West Credit Union....
Read MoreKnocking on Heaven’s Door
When my mother died in 2000 I was devastated. I was also relieved – relieved that her suffering was over. In all honesty, my brother and I had wondered for several years when she’d decide she’d had enough of this life. I was 31 when she died; she was 54. It didn’t have to go the way it did. She’d made many choices for her health and well-being that took her in the direction she followed. All I’d ever wanted was for her to be happy and healthy. She never seemed to get her feet back on the ground after she and my father separated and divorced when I was 15. My mother experienced one...
Read MoreThe Diet Theory & Alzheimer’s
The food we eat has a profound effect on our health. A diet low in proper nutrition and high in fats and sugars can lead to many chronic health problems and illnesses such as diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. As we age, the risk becomes progressively worse. Many researchers believe that diet is a major factor in the etiology of Alzheimer’s disease. Considering the illness’ devastating toll on patients, families and communities, any possible contributing factor is well worth investigating. Finland, United States, and Canada have the highest Alzheimer’s / Dementia death...
Read MorePlanning Ahead.
In today’s times, the chance that someone retires single or spends some time during retirement alone is high. Yes, it could be by choice; but it could be through a critical situation such as an illness, divorce or death. With women living longer than men on average, it is often the women who are left alone. Estate planning before circumstances dictate is vital for the survivor. There are a number of areas that can be addressed prior to the unexpected taking place; for example, spend time documenting what financial institutions hold your bank accounts, investments and safety deposit...
Read MoreRunning (for office)
At 61, I don’t do a lot of physical running any more, although I keep telling myself that I could if I wanted to. For me, physical running is associated with being in my 20s and 30s. I slowed down after that. But this past spring a whole new kind of running hit my life – running for office! I’ve been on Boards and Commissions, Advisory Groups, Non-Profits and PTAs or PACs, depending on where I lived. Watching the world on a path to self-destruction (actually, human destruction) was no longer an option for me, however. I had to step up. I have been Green since the ‘60s, before there...
Read MoreThe Eden Philosophy of Care
The old adage it takes a village to raise a child as a unique and specific relevance here in the Comox Valley. In this region, the aging population is one of the most deserving of our attention. The populace aged 75 years and older will nearly double in the next 20 years, which will bring increasing demand for access to quality residential care and other services for seniors. The Views, a not-for-profit residential care facility at St. Joseph’s General Hospital, is currently home to 117 residents all of whom are at different stages in life related to age, ability or mental and physical...
Read MoreChoosing Homecare
One of the most difficult decisions adult children make when caring for aging parents is where to turn for in-home care. The myriad of choices can be overwhelming. Essentially, there are three choices: private hire, Domestic Referral Agencies and full service companies. With a PRIVATE HIRE CAREGIVER, the family or older adult becomes responsible for all steps of the hiring process. They must advertise, interview, and conduct background checks. Once a caregiver is selected, the older adult or family member must negotiate schedule, salary and benefits. A written contract, signed by...
Read MoreWhat is the Right Breakfast?
I don’t believe in the old saying “breakfast is the most important meal of the day”. It may not be the most important meal. But it certainly is an important one. Starting off with the right breakfast raises your blood sugar gradually and keeps you full for hours. It’s like armor protecting you from the tempting, junky foods that surround us all day. The great news is that there isn’t just one perfect breakfast. Many foods can make up the “right” breakfast. Here are the 4 important characteristics of the “right” breakfast (and some food ideas): Produce. I highly doubt that...
Read MoreThe Rules of Fashion
Fashion is all about having fun, and expressing yourself. So why do we place so many limitations on what we should or should not do when dressing ourselves? Clothing is your way of showing the world who you are and what you love, without having to say a word. Holding yourself back from dressing how you want, just because it doesn’t follow convention, is a form of self-censorship. Let me preface this by saying that if you feel self conscious in a certain type of clothing, don’t wear it! The purpose of this article is not to force you outside your comfort zone. The goal is to...
Read MoreWhat Women in BC Should Know
Do you know if you have dense breasts? No worries, if you don’t. When Dense Breasts Canada surveyed 900 women across Canada, women in British Columbia knew less about their breast density than women in other provinces. Why is that? The answer is simple: unlike many other provinces, British Columbia does not share information about a woman’s breast density. When you have your mammogram, a radiologist assesses and records your breast density, but this important piece of your breast health is never told to you or your family doctor. Does it matter? Yes, it really does matter! If you have...
Read MoreThe Briefcase
There was nothing else in the briefcase. I set the gun down on the floor and checked more thoroughly. I ripped the lining out, ruining the briefcase in the process. Why? I wondered. Why had they left me a gun but no instructions? What was I supposed to do with it? I picked the gun up again and checked. It was loaded. I wrapped it in the torn lining and put it back in the briefcase. Before I left the hotel room, I searched the closets and drawers, even the bathroom. Nothing, unless you counted the Gideon Bible in the bedside table. Damn. This wasn’t meant to be a guessing game, was it?...
Read MoreAn ongoing daily challenge
Is mealtime a struggle for you and your loved one with dementia? Anger, frustration, or refusing foods are signs that your loved one may be overwhelmed. There are several reasons your loved one may not enjoy mealtime anymore. The amount of food in front of them, background noises, distracting design patterns on the serving plate, or even the use of utensils may add to the confusion. Here are a few tips to help. Remove distractions. Turn of the TV and phones. Use a plain but colored plate; blue and red work well. The contrast between the plate color and the food makes is easier to see what...
Read MoreGardening in a Changing Climate
Is it just me or has it been looking pretty bleak outdoors? I know every tim I see the sunshine I soak it up like a starved person. This winter has been just plain depressing, colder with more snow and rain and less sun than ‘normal’. It seems to me there is no normal anymore. Once the weather gets messed up you have to take what you get, but it can play havoc on some peoples livelihoods, and it definitely affects the rhythms of food production. That’s what it’s been like for farmers and growers over the years, with climatic conditions changing to longer cooler spring seasons. With...
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