Canadian winters are known to be long and frigid and can be especially dangerous and isolating for less mobile seniors. Another result of staying indoors is having less exposure to sunlight and, in turn, vitamin D. Vitamin D is an essential component of healthy aging and we need a higher dosage as we age. According to the Mayo Clinic, the recommended daily amount of vitamin D is 400 international units (IU) for children up to age 12 months, 600 IU for people ages 1 to 70 years, and 800 IU for people over 70 years. Many older adults are found to be lacking in this crucial nutrient, especially throughout the winter months.

Vitamin D can also play an important role in brain health and function and exert various neuroprotective effects in brain areas essential for cognition. Being severely deficient in vitamin D is associated with a more than twofold increased risk of developing dementia.

What is Vitamin D?

Vitamin D is called ‘the sunshine vitamin’ because it is made when a chemical in our skin comes into direct contact with sunlight. Throughout the winter, as the days get shorter and colder, we begin to retreat indoors and spend less time outside. Unfortunately, this results in having less exposure to the sun and our best natural source of vitamin D. During the winter, it is important to obtain the recommended daily amounts of vitamin D through food and supplements.  

Benefits of Vitamin D

There are many reasons why we need a sufficient amount of vitamin D in our bodies:

• Improves mental health and boosts cognitive function
• Promotes bone health and combats osteoporosis in older adults
• Protects oral health
• Improves cardiovascular health
• Can help to prevent cancers and infections
• May lower your risk of Parkinson’s disease

How to Get the Recommended Dose of Vitamin D 

As we know, sunshine is the best natural source of vitamin D. A 30-minute exposure should be enough to reach your daily recommended amount. Of course, sun exposure also heightens your risk of skin cancer so applying sunscreen is very important. In the winter you could invest in a UV lamp to reap the benefits of vitamin D without having to leave the house.

Supplements, such as cod liver oil, are a great alternative source of vitamin D. Additionally, cod liver oil is also high in other nutrients, such as vitamin A and omega-3 fatty acids, which play a role in heart health.

 Other sources of vitamin D can be obtained through the food we eat, such as fatty fish like salmon, herring, and sardines, as well as canned tuna and egg yolks. Some foods are specifically fortified with vitamin D, such as milk, juice, yogurt and cereals.

Eating healthfully is important, which is why we make sure the residents at our retirement homes eat well. Carefor Richmond Care Home for women living with dementia and our Carefor Civic Complex and Mackay Centre in Pembroke know how important healthy and delicious food is. It’s not just a highlight of the day but helps seniors stay well.

 Find out more about our retirement options at www.carefor.ca/retirement 

Over the past couple of years many of us have reduced our levels of activity. We’ve become a little more reclusive, more homebodies. This has especially been the case with seniors. At Carefor we’re seeing the effects of this with our clients with seniors requiring other supports like physiotherapy more frequently.

As we age, we have to make that extra effort to keep our bodies functioning not only to for the sake of our mobility but also our immunity. As autumn arrives, cold and flu season arrives with it, which means extra effort on our behalf to stay healthy. We’ve all become quite good at doing that recently but boosting your immune system is about more than just washing your hands and wearing a mask.

Here are a few of the ways in which you can boost your immune system this autumn:

Eat a healthy and well-balanced diet. A well-balanced diet includes a variety of vegetables, whole fruits, whole grains, fat-free or low-fat dairy, and a variety of protein foods. Fill your plate with immune-boosting foods packed with vitamins and minerals. Cruciferous vegetables such as kale, broccoli and cabbage are helpful immune-boosting foods for seniors.

Get plenty of rest. Poor-quality sleep or too little sleep greatly affects your immunity levels. Sleep is important to keep your body functioning properly and so you should be aiming to get at least 7 hours of good-quality sleep every night. If you consistently have trouble falling or staying asleep then you may be suffering with a sleep disorder and should talk to your doctor.

Hydrate! Drink plenty of water to flush out any toxins, help your body absorb nutrients and minerals, and keep yourself hydrated. Aim for 8 to 9 glasses of fluid per day. Keeping a filled water bottle with you to sip on throughout the day can be helpful in ensuring you are consuming enough fluids.

Get vaccinated. Complications from diseases such as the flu, pneumonia, and the coronavirus can be much more serious in older adults. Are you up to date with your vaccinations? If you aren’t sure, check with your doctor. Getting your annual flu shot will give you the best and healthiest start to the winter season.

Fresh air and sunshine! Sunlight is one of the best ways for our bodies to absorb vitamin D, which is vital for proper cognitive function, strong bones, and cardiovascular health. Vitamin D has also been proven to improve your mood and your sleep patterns. Luckily in the fall, the sun isn’t as hot or as strong so it may be easier for seniors to spend time outside. However, sun protection is still important, to lower the risk of skin cancer, so make sure to apply sunscreen to any exposed skin.

Get your body moving. 30 minutes of physical activity a day is recommended to keep your body running in tip top shape. Whatever is within your capabilities is perfectly acceptable, whether that is gentle stretching, a brisk walk, or swimming. You can find plenty of exercise videos specifically for seniors on YouTube, so you can work out from the comfort of your own home.

In Ottawa, Carefor’s new fitness program for people living with Parkinson’s Disease is showing remarkable outcomes. PWR!Moves helps seniors keep the neural pathways in their minds active to slow the deterioration of inactivity on the body and the mind. If you’d like to know more visit our website: carefor.ca/PWRMoves  

In Pembroke, our recreation team at Carefor Civic Complex and Mackay Centre retirement homes are working hard to keep residents active. Winters can be hard for this, so we’re offering winter stays at our  retirement homes to help people get out of the house for the winter, make some friends and keep busy. Find out more at www.carefor.ca/retirement 

Carefor’s transformational shift during a time of great change

Steve Perry
CEO

Few aspects of our society evoke the response that healthcare does. It affects us all without regard for age, financial circumstances, skin color or religious beliefs. The creation of a system that satisfies the needs of all who use it is the elusive quest of all who are part of it. Carefor is no exception. While we don’t serve everyone in Eastern Ontario, as one of the largest not-for-profit health and community services organizations within the Champlain Region, our client base is broad and diverse. More than this, the needs of our clients are among the most immediate and complex of anyone in our region. For this reason, the ways in which Carefor has grown and had to adapt in such times of change had to be done with deliberate intention. The costs of not doing so are too great.

Over the past three years as CEO, I’ve been focused on strengthening and positioning Carefor for a transformational shift in how health system partners work together in a new integrated system of care. With this goal in mind, I spent my early days in this role recruiting new leaders, engaging with key partners in the community and across the province and supporting the development of new strategic directions incorporating diverse stakeholder input that will help position Carefor for a successful future filled with growth opportunities and innovation. As a unique and diversified organization, offering a full range of home health and community-based services, and with health system transformation fast-approaching, there was no better time to demonstrate Carefor’s value as an integral partner for Ontario Health Teams.

With the creation of Ontario Health, we quickly mobilized in response to invitations from emerging health teams across the region. Fast forward several months, we are one of 11 convening partners with active contribution in an approved Ottawa Health Team/Équipe Santé Ottawa and a valued partner supporting several other teams in development and on their way towards approval. Reflecting back on this past year, I believe Carefor has experienced more change in one year than it has in its 100+ years of history serving people in our community. As CEO, I could not be more proud of the team at Carefor and our contributions in helping to inform and shape a new integrated, people-centred health care system in our community.

“The best view comes after the hardest climb” has become my living mantra these days. Just as we were settling into a new rhythm with health teams, the COVID-19 pandemic consumed the world’s attention, overwhelmed health systems, crippled the global economy and impacted our physical and mental health over the past number of months. This rate at which this virus has spread forced us all to retract and retreat within our own organizations to protect our people and safely provide much needed care and service to the most vulnerable members of society. In a matter of days, our focus shifted from operational growth and the formation of health teams to supply chain management and procurement of personal protective equipment to keep our staff and clients safe. As we approach the end of our third month of responding to COVID-19, Carefor’s values have been put to the test in this unprecedented time of uncertainty.

·       Partnership. Working with government, funders, system partners, vendors, foundations and donors to ensure we have the right tools and resources to provide continued services.

·       Respect. Respecting the safety and security of our people and those most at risk in this pandemic, our vulnerable seniors and those living with chronic health conditions. 

·       Innovation. Leveraging our creativity and resourcefulness to provide care in new and different ways to support those living with limited means and support systems while in isolation.

·       Responsiveness. Responding without hesitation; thinking fast on our feet and acting quickly to maintain confidence in our people, our systems and our partners.

·       Excellence. Striving for the best, regardless of what curve balls are thrown our way; delivering exceptional quality of care and services and in that vein, continuing to be the provider of choice for people and partners alike.

Guiding the direction in which Carefor operates, these five core values keep me and my team focused and connected to what’s most important while motivating us to sustain, innovate and expand our programs and services in the community. Having said that, leading a team of 1600 health care employees through a global health pandemic is not something I had anticipated in my early tenure as Carefor’s CEO. Over the past three months, I’ve learned more about crisis management and organizational resilience than I’ve experienced in my 20+ years as a leader. Unfortunately, there is no one playbook that guides you when confronted with an unprecedented crisis. While I’ll be the first to admit that Carefor’s response to the pandemic has not been without its challenges,  I believe the secret to our teams’ success in these first three months of the pandemic  can be attributed to: 1) leading with a calm and steady focus; 2) acting quickly and decisively; 3) communicating clearly and often; 4) taking care of oneself and the team; and 5) looking for opportunities to innovate.   

Lead with a calm and steady focus: during times of uncertainty, staff quickly look to their leaders for a calm response and clear plan of action. In the early days of the pandemic, like others in health care, our team launched quickly into emergency response mode with a focus on staff and client safety, while sustaining our business operations. Supported by daily huddles, where we discuss such things as the number of cases of suspected/confirmed COVID-19, staffing availability, program status and closures, isolation of residential clients, etc., our goals were achieved due to creativity, persistence and a “can do” attitude. Well-chaired huddles with a focused structure and action plans enabled us to efficiently and effectively manage incoming public health and Ministry directives to make quick decisions. 

Act quickly and decisively: COVID-19 hit the world hard and fast this past March. With no time to spare, this element of speed drove our team into fight or flight mode as we mobilized to protect our people, our clients/residents and our organization. At the beginning of the pandemic, we spent long days and evenings interpreting public health and Ministry directives, moving people to remote work arrangements with appropriate technology, procuring PPE from diverse sources, setting up safe workspaces at client homes and in clinics, in our hospice and at our retirement facilities. Each of these decisions required quick action, but only after careful review of the evidence and consideration of the implications. With people’s health on the line, the motivation to think quickly, ethically and decisively has never been more important. I am convinced that Carefor had and continues to have low rates of COVID-19 cases among our people due to our early responsiveness, our collaborative approach and our ability to act quickly and decisively in our actions.  

Communicate clearly and often: in the home and community care business, communication can be a real challenge as the majority of staff work remotely, travelling from client home to client home with very little downtime to catch up while in transit. Add to that, many of our staff have multiple employers requiring different information technology and mobile communication tools. Our goal over the past several weeks has been simple – communicate clearly and often. Our communications team was central to our efforts, implementing a multi-pronged approach to getting our key messages to our people in several ways. Using email, video, virtual meetings and an intranet site designed for COVID-19, our staff have received weekly direction, resources and support from their leaders. Although at times staff have sought answers to questions more quickly than we are able to respond to through this pandemic, we have maintained an open, transparent and thoughtful approach to communicating those decisions that have been made in addition to the information and directives available to us from public health, Ontario Health and other credible sources.

Take care of yourself and your team: the physical, mental and emotional toll that COVID-19 has taken on people all over the globe is unprecedented. Moving into week 12 of balancing the significant pressures at work and challenges of home life in this time of uncertainty is draining.  As we hear about restrictions being lifted, there is a degree of fear and concern circulating about a second wave coming this fall. I recognize the toll that this pandemic has had on my own resilience over the past few months. As a leader tasked with taking care of my team, I must make it a personal priority to be that role model that others desire to follow. Practicing self-care is key to managing long-term, high stress situations with a calm, collected and strategic response. My mission at this stage of the pandemic is to support my team by encouraging them to slow down, rest and re-build those energy reserves over the summer months in order to be ready for whatever situation comes our way in the fall.

Look for new opportunities: I love great quotes… one of my favorites is “challenge = opportunity,” so much so that it stays on my office wall as a visible reminder. Short, simple and undeniably true in all scenarios. We know that innovation evolves from times of struggle, strain and testing of societal, workplace and industry norms. Humans are like all other species on this planet; when tested by crisis we generally rise to the occasion and find alternative ways to evolve and grow. In healthcare, we’ve likely witnessed more innovation and change in the last twelve weeks of this pandemic than we have seen in a decade. Despite new partnerships and action teams that have evolved over the past year within emerging Ontario Health Teams, the health system continued to struggle with concepts like true team-based and virtual care. With the emergence of a global pandemic, merely weeks later health care agencies are mobilizing to work collectively to deal with COVID-19 and deliver virtual health care services like never before. In our own organization, we have partnered with aTouchAway by Aetonix Systems Inc. to connect residents with their loved ones, while in isolation. We are preparing to pilot a virtual care and remote home monitoring program for use with clients. Another great example of innovation is our efforts to develop a ‘working from home’ culture at Carefor. As a not-for-profit organization, our mission is focused on providing services at low cost. This has become even more critical as our organization continues to grow. COVID-19 impacted us at a time when we were gearing up to explore new physical space options forcing us to focus on quickly relocating office staff to their homes. Within days, we procured equipment and had people working effectively from the safety and security of their homes. We are now taking advantage of this opportunity to rethink and inform our space plans for the future.

None of these five success factors would be possible without a supportive and engaged board of directors and a strong, dedicated and resilient leadership team; each bringing their own knowledge, expertise and energy to the table. I feel very fortunate that I am surrounded by a group of passionate people who wasted no time mobilizing into action at the first sign that the pandemic would impact us here in Eastern Ontario. Finally I would be remiss not to mention the quality and commitment of our staff at Carefor. Leadership through a crisis is made easier when you’re working with a team that is as resilient, professional and compassionate as Carefor’s.

Climbing this proverbial ‘mountain’ over the past several months has been both challenging and rewarding for us in many ways. My success in leading our team through this first wave of the pandemic is undoubtedly attributed to our steadfast commitment to Carefor’s core values; values that act as our moral compass and guide our efforts forward. However, leading in the face of a crisis requires more than just values, it requires a calm and steady focus, quick and decisive actions, ongoing clear communication, a healthy and mindful approach as well as openness to new opportunities. It also requires a sense of collaboration and teamwork that goes beyond typical levels. Organizational and personal resiliency is the name of this game and will continue to be the goal as we support our people and our clients through this pandemic. As we continue our climb, we must maintain our focus, keep ourselves healthy and take in the view when we reach the summit.   

[Photo Credit: Ashley Fraser/Postmedia]

It is perfectly normal to be nervous or anxious sometimes, however, when those feelings become overwhelming and start negatively affecting a person’s life and the lives of those around them, it may become apparent that they are suffering with an anxiety disorder.

Older adults can be particularly susceptible to anxiety disorders, which can be brought on by the stresses of aging. Certain things that could contribute to an anxiety disorder include: a recent bereavement or chronic grief, stress or trauma, a family history of anxiety disorders, and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s or dementia. Substance abuse, including prescription medications, alcohol, caffeine, and both over-the-counter and illegal drugs can also contribute to feelings of anxiety and depression.

What should you be looking out for? Here are a few signs of anxiety disorder in older adults:

• Avoiding social interactions
• Not sleeping well
• Worrying an excessive amount
• Refusing to take part in routine activities
• Alternatively, being obsessed with routines
• Depression
• Hoarding or collecting items
• Tense muscles
• Feeling weak and shaky
• Shallow breathing, racing heart, sweating
• Self-medicating with alcohol or other drugs

Aging presents many changes and situations that may trigger an anxiety disorder; these can include declining health, memory problems, and even loss of friends and loved ones.  Older adults may express concerns about living alone, financial problems such as how they will afford food or medications, being dependent on others, and even death. These are all common and understandable fears about aging that can lead to extreme worry and fear. Often anxiety and depression can go hand in hand, so knowing the signs to look out for is important in ensuring that your loved one is getting the help and support they need.

If you suspect that an older adult in your life is suffering with an anxiety problem, there are a few things to bear in mind:

• Talk to them calmly and help to reassure them
• Gently encourage them to engage in social activities
• Be supportive without feeding into their anxiety
• Acknowledge their concerns and help them to address them
• Assist them in seeking help from a medical professional

Carefor offers numerous programs and services which can help seniors and their loved ones alleviate stress and anxiety.

In Pembroke-Renfrew County: Living in a retirement home can be a way to combat feelings of anxiety as a compassionate and trained staff are there to make sure you’re taken care of. Outside of that you’ll have friends to share a laugh with so you can stay busy and socially engaged. Carefor’s Civic and Mackay Retirement Homes offer exceptional living at an exceptional price.

In Ottawa: Health complications often arise as we age, sometimes to the point of not being able to leave the house to receive services. In Ottawa, Carefor is best known for our home care services which help seniors and their families have the peace of mind of knowing that a trained health professional will be there to make sure they’re okay. 

In Eastern Counties: Aging can come with challenges. One of them is eating properly. Not doing so can decrease health and reduce the anxiety that comes with it. Carefor’s Meal Delivery Program out of our seniors support centres helps seniors make sure they’re getting the nutrition they need, with the added bonus of a friendly face dropping it off.

Caring for those living with dementia means dealing with a number of various symptoms and behaviours that can affect their health and safety. One of these symptoms is known as ‘sundowning’. Sundowning describes the feelings of restlessness, confusion, and even aggression, that can be exhibited by dementia patients in the late afternoon or early evening. According to the Alzheimer Society of Canada, it is thought that sundowning can affect as many as 66% of people with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. Sundowning is most common in the middle stages of the disease, though it can occur at any time. It can be exhausting for the patient, as well as for their caregiver.

Some behaviours typical with sundowning can include:

• Becoming demanding or aggressive
• Experiencing delusions and hallucinations.
• Pacing or wandering
• Doing impulsive things
• Attempting to leave home
• Having difficulty understanding others
• Having difficulty doing tasks that were done without difficulty earlier in the day

Our Richmond Care Home specializes in dementia care so we are well acquainted with sundowning and the impact this has on our residents and staff. In partnership with esprit-ai, a west Ottawa company that uses 5G technology to keep seniors safe, we have been using a system of electronic sensors to monitor the nighttime activities of our Richmond Care Home residents.

The sensors monitor when a resident gets out of bed, moves around their room, or opens the door. This data is sent to esprit-ai, who will analyze it and contact the nighttime staff if required. Having access to this data is incredibly helpful in tracking any patterns of behaviour in our residents, enabling us to adjust their routines and medications accordingly. For instance, if we are aware that a resident has been particularly restless throughout the night, we can watch them the next day knowing they will be tired and at a higher risk of falls.

Our Richmond Care Home is a unique 16-unit residence that caters to women living with dementia. Our staff are knowledgeable about dementia behaviours and are well-trained to provide your mom with the care and attention she deserves. For you, it’s peace of mind that costs far less than most memory care retirement homes. For more information, or to book a tour, please contact our supervisor, Jasmine Sears, by calling (613) 617-2187 or by email at jsears@carefor.ca.

Can you live well after a diagnosis of dementia?

Robin Meyers, 
Director, Community Support Services & Personal Support Services

Like many, my husband and I never thought we would have to think about life with dementia, but when he received a diagnosis of Young Onset Dementia – Probable Alzheimer’s three years ago at the age of 57 suddenly we did. I often think about the day we heard the diagnosis and what it felt like; it is incredibly difficult to describe. There was a part of us that was relieved to finally know after three years of seeing specialists what it was, but I can’t pretend our lives haven’t changed.

The person who shared this information with us was compassionate. My husband was told to go get his affairs in order, stop doing financial work, and get counselling, but what seemed to be missing in this advice was about the things we can do to live well.

I recall coming home from the appointment, walking in our door, and my husband saying, “So I guess that’s it.” When he was ready to, we talked about how we would work to live with dementia/Alzheimer’s.  I encouraged him to tell people about it and he noticed it got easier each time he did. We accepted it more.

Over the years of working with people living with dementia and their families I learned from them that we needed to have the right attitude about how to support each other following a diagnosis of dementia to be able to live our best lives.

How has dementia changed our lives?

• We have to try to be more patient with each other (this is easier and harder on different days)
• Travel is more challenging
• Social events are more challenging
• Fatigue is a real thing
• It can be lonely and isolating
• Routine has become more important than ever
• Daily life changes (increased frustration, changes in confidence)
• Some people don’t know what to say or do, so they pull away – people feel sad for us. (We don’t want or need that.)
• It affects more than just the person living with dementia; your whole family lives with dementia
• We use technology more than ever, such as Amazon-Alexa, Apple products and wireless speakers
• We have met some amazing people we likely otherwise would have not met
• We have support of our families, friends and colleagues and others

What can communities, family, friends and co-workers do to support living well with dementia?

A big part of a person living well with dementia comes from his or her support system. Encourage a focus on the things that a person can do rather that the things they might need help with. It helps to talk openly and work to accept the diagnosis and support from those around you (families, community, colleagues) – not only for the person living with dementia, but also their care partners. 

• See the person, not the diagnosis
• Encourage education about living with dementia
• Ensure the voice of the lived experience stay present in planning. To do this, create ways that a person living with dementia or their care partners can be present in working groups – consider timing of meeting, location, last minutes changes or long meetings.
• Change the messaging at time of diagnosis and ensure it includes suggestions on how to live well
• Form and use peer support groups
• Tax benefits that are real and take into consideration the real needs
• Make technology available and show people how to use it to improve autonomy and independence
• Create standards in training of staff
• Change the language around living well with dementia
• Fully fund Dementia Strategy (including the voice of lived experience in planning)
• Hobby for flexible & sustainable funding not just for organizations or programs but for families (self-directed funding)

Here we are three years after diagnosis and we are living well with dementia. My husband and I (with support from our families, friends and workplaces) signed on to be advocates for Alzheimer’s Society of Canada on their campaign to reduce the stigma that exists around a diagnosis of dementia.  You can see our story here and the story of others https://ilivewithdementia.ca/. My husband has been able to continue to work, to drive and to be an active advocate, only recently changing to part time work.

We travel, spend time with our children and grandchildren, show patience with each other, take breaks when we need them and help to change the way people think about a person living with dementia. When we signed on to be partners in life we signed on to support each other. My role does not change just because of a diagnosis. We have supported and cared for each other for years and plan to continue to do this.

What can you do to live well after a diagnosis of dementia?

• Create a routine
• Write lists, keep things in the same place, use technology (if it helps)
• Have patience and take breaks
• When the person living with dementia is speaking don’t interrupt (they may not be able to recall)
• Visit often and consider shorter visits with fewer people
• Laugh
• See the person not the diagnosis
• Help family and friends accept when plans gets cancelled because today is just not the best day
• Encourage the person living with dementia not to isolate themselves and stay actively engaged
• Try a day program or support group (online or in person)
• Share – Tell people and share the diagnosis. It makes it easier for you and helps people see living with dementia differently.
• Accept changes as they come (this is easier to write down that is to do)
• Eat well, stay active

My husband is my person and Alzheimer’s doesn’t change that. We are in this together and we will do our best to live the best lives we can. We try not to look over our shoulder and accept changes as they come with as much grace and understanding as we can.  It’s important that our community, friends and government help us to do that. We work hard each day to live our best lives. My husband often says, “You can live with dementia, but you do have to live like you’re living the diagnosis”.

Carefor’s programs and supports for living with dementia

We are fortunate at Carefor to be able to support people in the communities we work in to live with dementia. We have respite programs like the Guest House and adult day programs where people living with dementia can come together while their care partners/caregivers can take time to rest or catch up on a task they need to get done. We also have the beautiful Richmond Care Home, an intimate 16-bed home for women living with dementia. I have worked at Carefor for 10 years and have been lucky enough to work with some amazing teams who support people using our programs to live well every day after a diagnosis of dementia.

At Carefor, we have grown our programs over the years and in the past year two years we have created a day program in Orleans, 50 additional spaces at our existing day programs, and have adapted our program at Guest House to have greater flexibility. In October of 2019, in partnership with Carleton University, we also opened The Club, a day program for people living with Young Onset Dementia. Club members are encouraged to seek a personal connection with others experiencing a similar life experience while being supported in a recreational setting (peer to peer connect is a key component). The programming is flexible and members co-design their day with staff based on their needs, abilities and interests.  Members have access to a wide variety of facilities and activities, such as swimming, badminton, basketball, fitness classes and use of an indoor track for walking/running, additionally programming themes include educational topics, art and music.  Our team supports Club members ensuring meaningful activities, self-confidence and independence.

For more information about The Club, contact info@carefor.ca.

For more information on our journey of living well with dementia: https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/yes-i-live-with-dementia-let-me-help-you-understand 

Older adults account for an important and substantial proportion of our society, a number which is only continuing to grow. According to Statistics Canada, Canadian seniors made up approximately 15% of the total population in 2013. By 2036, this number is expected to increase to between 23 and 25%. When our seniors are socially isolated, we miss out on the wealth of experience they can contribute to our society and the impact and loss that is felt can be significant. While social isolation for seniors was already considered a problem prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, it has only gotten worse over the last few years as we, as a society, have had to keep our distance from others for our own safety.

The effects of loneliness on seniors

The older population are especially susceptible to loneliness and social isolation due to a number of factors including declines in mobility and health, loss of loved ones, and oftentimes geographical separation from their families. Isolation can be especially detrimental to their health as socially isolated seniors are shown to have a higher risk of negative health behaviours including drinking, smoking, poor eating habits, and a sedentary lifestyle. They can also have a higher risk of falls and a higher likelihood of being admitted to hospital.

The emotional effects of loneliness on seniors can go beyond just feeling sad. Isolated seniors have been shown to decline quicker mentally than their more social counterparts. Other negative mental health repercussions of loneliness can include cognitive decline and a higher risk of dementia, as well as feelings of depression and low self-esteem. 

How can loneliness be overcome?

One obvious way to combat loneliness is to maintain interpersonal relationships and stay socially active within the community. For seniors who have mobility issues, however, this can be especially difficult. Social programs, such as those that involve volunteers visiting the homes of house-bound seniors, are especially important in giving them a friendly face to talk to.

At Carefor much of what we do is to help seniors reduce the isolation and loneliness that often comes with aging.

In Eastern Counties: Our five seniors support centres in Winchester, Lancaster, Alexandria, Finch and Ingleside offer numerous programs such as congregate dining to help seniors stay connected and share a meal together. Click here to learn more.

In Pembroke-Renfrew Country: Carefor offers numerous programs in the community including our Friendly Visiting and Frozen Meal Delivery to help isolated seniors know a friendly face is only a phone call away.

In Ottawa: Loneliness is a common product of living with dementia. Our day programs and Guest House offer people living with dementia the chance to get out of the house and connect with other people – to dance, bake and share a laugh. These respite programs are a great way to reduce loneliness.

Building our identities, individually and together

Trevor Eggleton, 
Manager, Communications, Marketing, Fundraising 

I have two daughters quickly approaching adolescence. It’s interesting to watch them play with their developing identities. This is normal for any child of this age, in any culture. The questions of “Who am I?” and “Where do I fit in in this world?” may not be something they articulate but you can see these questions permeate nearly everything my kids do.

Modern technology in the form of social media and games has both altered and enhanced this experience beyond anything I knew as a child. Platforms like Snap Chat and House Party allow them to play with their identity not only within their minds, but also in connection to their culture in a completely new way. Their phones are a constant link to the culture of youth that I myself engaged with in the hallways of school or by watching MuchMusic (yes, I am dating myself). As they grow and explore their identities and their culture, you can see how the two are inextricably linked. You can’t have one without the other, but which comes first?

The same is true in organizations. Is an organization’s identity born from its culture or vice versa? And is there a difference? I believe there is. Identity is how one sees him or herself; culture is how that identity aligns with the identity of those within a group. The collective ‘I’.

Carefor staff know that the work they do is essential to the people and families we support. Staff have an identity of themselves as professionals and see their work as valuable to the clients and the larger community we serve. But as an agency that offers nearly 40 different programs and services across Eastern Ontario, that collective ‘I’ is more of a challenge to create when there’s such diversity of service and geography. 

To help our staff connect their professional identities to one another we have been sharing stories internally of the impact of their work with the goal of creating a collective identity as an impactful healthcare organization. The hope here is that even if the story isn’t about them or their program, each staff starts to feel a sense of connection between their own identity and their colleagues’.

Creating a culture is a deliberate activity and involves connecting the dots between staff, programs and geography. Historically Carefor has operated in three distinct but connected regions: Pembroke-Renfrew County, Ottawa and Eastern Counties, each operating  fairly independently of one another. Over the past few years, Carefor’s leaders has been taking great strides to create a one-Carefor approach where we speak more often, both internally and externally, with one voice. From this is born a sense of connected identity, which aims to create a cohesive culture.

Carefor is a not-for-profit. It is also a charity. Many don’t know us as either. If you ask our clients many might assume that we’re a government agency. The path that brought most of our clients to us is that they saw a doctor who contacted the Local Health Integration Network (LHIN), who in turn contracted us to provide them with a PSW, nurse, OT, PT, adult day program, meal program or transportation service, etc. When Carefor enters a client’s life, we want them to know we are different. We are a not-for-profit home and community care organization that raises funds to help fill needs within our communities. We want them to know we are here for people, and use donations to adapt, strengthen and extend our programs and services to those who need them most.

To effectively raise money an organization must create and promote a charitable identity. This identity is similar to a company’s brand but goes further and deeper, asking people to make their relationship supportive in nature, rather than transactional. To in essence join the organization in achieving its goals. Effective brands and organizations do more than just tell the what and the how of that. As Simon Sinek says, they “Start with why.”

An organization’s charitable identity promotes the ‘why’ an organization raises funds and how it will use those funds to benefit the lives of others. Successful charities do a great job of drawing the line between the donor and the beneficiary. They also do a great job of promoting that line so the donor sees themselves as an active part of the story and solution. I believe to be successful at fundraising, an organization must do more than build a relationship with its donors, it must also cultivate a culture of giving inside the organization, at all levels.

Having worked for several not-for-profit organizations in my career, I’ve seen first hand the discomfort that programmatic staff often have with being part of the fundraising process. Many bristle with the idea of going out “cap in hand” as that’s not part of their job description. Although they may see the benefits of donations, they tend to view fundraising as someone else’s responsibility.  

My goal as Manager, Communications, Marketing and Fundraising at Carefor is to evolve this mindset and help our team see that everyone in the organization has a role in fundraising. Whether it be passing along stories of clients whose lives were changed as a result of our work, sharing with clients and future donors the good work Carefor does in the community or simply allowing fundraisers to fundraise.  

By sharing and imbedding our charitable identity within our program and services teams across Carefor, we will start to feel the collective impact of our fundraising success, and thus organizational success in achieving our mission. We will see nurses volunteering to tell the story of their work and its impact, directors seeking our support in developing new programs to service those in need and board members picking up the phone and thanking donors. To take fundraising to a place of culture it has to exist within each employee and volunteer’s identity in some small way.

On December 10th, Carefor will host a celebratory Virtual Safe at Home Gala in Ottawa and Eastern Counties and a No Show Gala in Pembroke-Renfrew County. With in-person fundraising events being canceled this year we, like many organizations, have turned to technology to tell our story. The concept is exciting and daunting for an organization that has often found it tough to sing its own praises from the roof-tops. Well, we are ready to change that.

In one evening we will put our collective identity in front of our communities in hopes that our work will mean something special to people. We can only control so much about how people react, but like my children using their technology to promote and define their identities, we’re excited to be building and sharing ours – individually and together.

First and foremost, we want to remind everyone just how important summertime is for our general health. Not only does the nicer weather and daily dose of Vitamin D boost spirits, but the nice weather naturally encourages people to walk, swim, hike, garden and bike, increasing exercise unintentionally! Here are some of our seniors favorite ways to have fun all summer long:

1. Soak in some rays at the beach
2. Try indoor or outdoor swimming and aquatics classes for seniors
3. Gather friends and family for a fun picnic in the park
4. Attend a local farmers market, fair or neighborhood event
5. Take in an outdoor movie in a park
6. Learn Tai Chi or Yoga, often offered outdoors all summer long
7. Go berry picking with friends
8. Take the grandkids for ice cream (and indulge yourself!)
9. Go birdwatching
10. Finally, do nothing! Just relax beneath the warm wind and enjoy ????

Before you head out for your outdoor summertime adventure, remember to do so safely. Wear a sunhat and loose clothing, use sunscreen regularly and stay hydrated to ensure that you can keep having outdoor fun all summer long.

Whatever your age, learning a new skill, craft or game can positively impact your cognition, confidence, and mental acuity. One study in Psychological Science concluded that there are particular skills seniors can learn that will not only keep their minds active, but will directly improve their cognitive function.

The study identifies the value of sitting less and moving more, even if those movements are small and simple. Furthermore, it suggests that learning a new skill is not enough to create long term and sustainable changes in memory and cognitive function. Rather, seniors must continually engage in learning new skills.

“It seems it is not enough just to get out and do something—it is important to get out and do something that is unfamiliar and mentally challenging, and that provides broad stimulation mentally and socially,” says psychological scientist and lead researcher Denise Park of the University of Texas at Dallas. “When you are inside your comfort zone you may be outside of the enhancement zone.”

This is especially true for people already dealing with cognitive impairments such as dementia. Often as people age or deal with cognitive decline they remove themselves socially or stop doing things that offer mental challenges, which speeds up mental decline causing a downward spiral.

Offerings such as the Carefor Day Program for those living with dementia, are so essential to the overall well-being of seniors. Not only can trying a new hobby or skill improve brain functioning, but it also serves as a tool to socially connect and integrate seniors into society, new friend groups and communities.

Some particularly powerful new skills to learn in old age include:

• Photography
• Quilting
• New exercises
• Woodworking
• Word/Board Games
• Gardening
• Music

Whether or not activating the brain by learning a new and challenging skill can slow down the pace of aging for the brain is still being studied. What is certain, is that every new skill developed will help increase the value and quality of one’s life and their ability to live, move and enjoy life independently.