Aging in Peel

Aging is inevitable.   And in a fast-paced society that develops quickly, sometimes it feels impossible.  Keeping up seems harder while being in “the know” seems irrelevant, considering something new will inevitably come along.  Television, once a created entertainment value, is now equally full of reality TV shows.  Whether it’s The Bachelor or Bachelorette, Jersey Shore, Big Brother, Hoarders, Survivor… the list is endless.  The question is, how does this become relevant to living today?  Depending on who you are and what you enjoy watching, these shows can either be creative geniuses or a waste of time.  Personally, I’m of the latter – with the exception of Big Brother – but I digress.

As an aging adult, coping with the environment that appears to be dominated by brands and the hottest “it” product can be challenging.  Why do you need Abercrombie & Fitch’s newest line?  Who’s Hollister? Guess what?  Now, by no means am I telling you what does, or does not, matter, because by all means, you may have been able to tell me that the last three things I mentioned were clothing stores – rock on!  What I am here to tell you, is about Rogers TV and its partnership with Peel Senior Link to bring you a weekly program about senior’s issues and independent living.

Rogers’ website describes this new show – Aging in Peel – as one that “will provide the public with knowledge and information about a broad range of topics of interest and challenges faced by a large, diverse, and rapidly growing aging population in Peel, and how to access support services for clients and caregivers.” 

Tune in on Wednesday nights at 6 P.M. (cable 10 in Mississauga), and see SERC’s Pat Spadafora co-host; let us know what you think!   

Click here for Mississauga & Brampton showtimes.

Click here for Orangeville, Caledon and Bolton showtimes. 

Heart Health Month

Valentine’s Day is around the corner and the stores are filling up shop.  The gift-giving season continues to celebrate a day in history that is equally red – however, not as flattering.  It’s a day some individuals dread, take in stride, or don’t seem to recognize at all.  It’s one day a year to remind ourselves that love is celebrated; and what more to remind us, than the symbolic heart. 

February is Heart Health Month, and this year, the Canadian Heart & Stroke Foundation is challenging the nation to make 1, 000, 000 healthy actions by the end of the month to help “Make Death Wait.”  According to Heart & Stroke, “nine out of 10 people have at least one risk factor, and 40 per cent have three or more.”  Eighty per cent of premature heart disease, however, is preventable. 

Now, I’m not asking you to run outside and start jumping rope or run to the nearest track and start training for a marathon. But making better lifestyle choices can reduce your risk from suffering a stroke or a heart attack.  Dr. Beth Abramson, HSF spokesperson and cardiologist, stated in a press release report, “This can be anything from being physically active for 150 minutes a week, knowing and controlling your blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and eating healthy.”     

Other ways that the Heart & Stroke Foundation has listed to reduce your risk: being tobacco-free, maintaining a healthy weight, reducing stress, managing diabetes and limiting your alcohol consumption. 

What will you do to help make a change?  

Retirement, it isn't the end

I don’t think that retirement is easy.  It appears as if there is an assumption that has been made – once you get to the point in your life where you are ready to step away from the workforce, and really “start living,” you essentially travel.  But not everyone can, or wants to, pick up and backpack across Europe, climb mountains in the Andes, or sip champagne within the shadow of the Eiffel Tower. 

Sometimes it may feel like retirement living is not a stage anyone looks forward to, or wants to risk “going into.”  But that’s the wrong idea!  There are many different activities that older adults can partake in besides spending time with family (but by all means that is not discouraged!).

If you are living in a retirement home, finding and participating in a workshop, art class, or other events within the community becomes beneficial to your social engagement.  It encourages seniors to make relationships and bond over similar interests.  Maybe I’m naïve, but I’ve played a few good rounds of bocci ball and shuffleboard with my grandparents.  Competition is healthy, and it keeps older adults active!  The important thing to consider when looking for a retirement home is to review the number of planned activities each centre may offer and determine whether or not it caters to you.

Community outings are also a commonly planned event with seniors.  Many residences plan outings throughout the year to museums, shopping, bowling, casinos, breakfast, luncheons, dinners and all that in-between.  Retirement isn’t a trap; it offers an abundance of opportunities that keep people 65 + going!

Support is the number one key for making seniors comfortable with their decision to not only move into retirement homes, but can be essential to health and well-being of the older adult.  SERC is conducting a needs assessment to determine the ways in which an Internet‐based network might benefit both support providers and support recipients. A particular goal of this questionnaire is to explore ways to connect support providers, regardless of where they live.

The Centre is interested in hearing your thoughts about the function of this proposed network to help us better work towards its implementation.

If you are interested in participating, please click here.