There is a lot to Celebrate on October 1, 2012

“Canada’s seniors dedicated their lives to our country — they deserve our thanks as they continue to be influential mentors and leaders in our communities.”  

- Alice Wong, MP

At 23-years-old, I fight an internal battle and force myself to go for a run. At 102-years-old, Margaret Dunning of Michigan jumps at the opportunity to change the oil on her 1930 Packard 740 Roadster. Torontonian Ida Herbert, 96, rises at 5:30 a.m. every morning to perform her regular routine of yoga poses. Is there a problem with this picture? Yes. I clearly need to readjust my attitude.

Every day we rise to a new occasion, to another day, to another challenge. But this October 1^st brings something new to celebrate: National Seniors Day and International Day of Older Adults. A day for all Canadians to honour, appreciate and celebrate those individuals 65+. The Government of Canada states that the “establishment of National Seniors Day builds on the many concrete measures introduced by the Government to improve the well-being and quality of life of Canada’s seniors.”

To help acknowledge and celebrate this day, CARP, the advocacy association that works to promote and protect the interests, rights and quality of life for Canadians as they age, will be raising their flag at Toronto City Hall.

So, what will you do to commemorate this day? Will you call up your grandmother or reach out to an older, but wiser, family friend? Maybe engage in an activity of your mom or dad’s choosing. Or, celebrate the comfort of knowing you are altogether and reminisce on what times were once like to the way they are today. There is much to be thankful for, and it can be recognized in more ways than one!

Chronicles of Future's Past

Art is a form of expression. It doesn’t matter what form it takes (painting, sculpture, photography, etc.) or the level of expertise an individual has. What’s most important is the feeling that emanates from the design, what the artist wants you to feel.

According to Dale Chihuly, an internationally renowned glass artist and creator of the program ‘Seniors Making Art’, “Anyone can make art as long as one has imagination and life experiences to draw on. Making art is not about craftsmanship, it has to do with feelings and memories.” Does that sound familiar? It’s probably because I already mentioned the importance of expressing emotion through art in a previous post.

The population of aging adults is growing steadily and will be the largest generation by 2030. Staying engaged in every day activity, and with the many world changes is important. It helps build and maintain relationships while preserving a social atmosphere. Engaging in artistic frameworks (whether it’s woodworking, painting, sculpting, or sketching) keeps your mind and body active. Even better, you can participate in the activity with friends.    

And we want to help inspire you! The Sheridan Elder Research Centre proudly presents a unique exhibition of Jerry Friedman’s photographs of earth’s oldest people – supercentenarians, individual’s ages 110+.  The show, which has been exhibited in Tokyo, Amsterdam, Washington, and Boston, and in New York City at the United Nations, will be held on display at the Sheridan College Gallery in Oakville from September 21 – October 5, 2012. This Sheridan exhibition marks the first time these fascinating photographs have been shown in Canada. 

Gallery hours are Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Fridays from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

So come out and explore! Bring family and friends to see the beautiful photographs of these supercentenarians that will live on in Friedman’s work. 

What defines the word "old"?

“Creative Aging is about possibilities, freeing ourselves of limiting beliefs about aging and embracing the reality that individuals continue to grow, learn and contribute to their communities throughout the life journey.”

-President’s Creative Challenge 2012/2013 - Sheridan College

Is age really just a number? Do we define our fate? Is our ability to complete a task, any kind of task, all in our head? Are we really our own worst enemy? These questions, along with many more, are being asked every day in our community. We are aging, and we are living longer. And as a result, we are constantly trying to find the answers as to why we are able to, and how we can continue to do so.

When you think of getting older, what do you picture? Finally being able to get your drivers license? Voting? Moving off to college or university? Getting married? Getting that promotion you always wanted? Retiring, then travelling the world? Or, sitting with family and reminiscing about when you were younger? Getting older brings us to events in our lives that wouldn’t necessarily be attainable unless we turned a significant age. And when we do reach that phase that marks our ability to participate in a task we were unable to do so before, we feel a sense of accomplishment. Yes, I did it!

Every second I write this post I am aging, every second you read it you are too. But there are some who are already at a significant age that suddenly has the world on its feet asking, “What are we going to do next?” According to Statistics Canada, “seniors are already the fastest-growing age group in Canada and by 2051, one-quarter of the population will be part of the 65+ club.”

And as a result, The Globe and Mail reports, that many people are starting to answer that question:

“Researchers in engineering and occupational therapy are teaming up to create senior-friendly vehicle designs so older Canadians can safely enjoy the independence of driving later in life. A pathology and molecular medicine expert is studying how eating probiotics can work as a defense against respiratory infections -- a leading cause of death among seniors. A nursing professor is testing the effectiveness of a program that would teach seniors with diabetes how to self-manage their disease.”

Sheridan College is also doing it’s own part by introducing the President’s Creative Challenge 2012-13. This “provides a unique opportunity for Sheridan students, faculty, staff, administrators as well as external business/community representatives to examine this demographic shift through a creative lens.”

Sheridan wants to invite one and all to connect, get involved and propose innovative ideas and solutions to Creative Aging: Designing Communities for all Ages. Sheridan wants you to revolutionize and create, and express what you think will make a “fundamental change in society.” If you are a student, you can submit a project idea. Members of the community can participate by being mentors to these students.

Find out more information by clicking HERE, or like us on Facebook. 

What's Your Must-Have Gadget or Gizmo?

This week is an exciting week for high-tech gadgets, and even more so for older adults. The IFA, which is the leading trade show for consumer electronics and home appliances, opened its doors Friday for its annual six-day trade show in Berlin.  Companies flocked to show off their latest tech-savvy development. What’s even more impressive? This year, the electronics fair is offering guided tours for the over-60 age group, to show them what’s new and hot for the market of a certain demographic.

According to Eurostat, Berlin had the most inhabitants over the age of 65 in Europe. Along with the latest smart TVs, tablets and high-end coffee-makers, you could find new mobile phones with bigger buttons, robotic vacuum cleaners to make household chores a little easier, and the latest in hearing aid technology, reports Bangkok Post. 

With all these new developments, the aging adult will have a wider selection of technological toys to play with that will not only be fun to explore, but can help improve daily tasks. If doctors are starting to turn to the uses of smartphones and tablets to help them help their patients understand a diagnosis or prescription, then shouldn’t technology be developed so that anyone, regardless of age, can use it?

Leana Wen, 29, who is completing her medical residency in emergency medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, say’s that she “finds her smartphone as handy as her stethoscope. Its apps help her quickly figure out proper medicine doses for critically ill patients, or translate medical instructions for Spanish-speakers. That means she doesn't have to wait for a hospital translator to arrive, and she thinks it makes patient care safer,” reports the Calgary Herald.

As the health care industry moves toward the development of applications for phones that help patients monitor their own prescription doses, or set a reminder for when they should take their next pill, development of easy-to-use gizmo's are important, and demand for them is increasing.

So tell us – what is your must-have device? What gadget do you think needs to be improved? How do you think they can be improved? We want to hear from you!