Services for Canadian Seniors

The other day I was wondering if there was a single source of information on Programs and Services for Seniors that I could refer people to in Canada.  I knew that there are a variety of programs and services to help us ensure our later years are safe and secure. Our government has put links to some great information and I have it below for your use.

If you are not comfortable on the net, or you have friends who are not at ease on the Internet have them call 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232) to find out what services are available to seniors in Canada.

List of Programs and Services for Seniors

Canada Pension Plan

·         Overview - Canada Pension Plan

·         When to start the CPP pension

Guaranteed Income Supplement

·         Guaranteed Income Supplement

Old Age Security

·         Old Age Security

Caregiving Benefits

·         Caregiving Benefits and Leave

·         Canada Caregiver Credit

·         Dementia and Caregiving

·         Caregiver Readiness

·         Your Role, Care Conversations

·         Care Options

·         Balancing Work and Caregiving

Your Health

·         Physical Activity

·         Nutrition and Healthy Eating

·         Food Safety for 60+ Adults

·         Get Your Flu Shot

·         Mental Wellness

·         Dementia

Safe at Home

·         You CAN Prevent Falls

·         Safe Living Guide – Home Safety for Seniors

·         Age-Friendly Communities

·         Plan your future today

·         Plan your future today - Videos

Managing Your Money

·         Saving for Retirement

·         Budgeting During Retirement

·         Annuities

·         Working While Collecting a Pension

·         Pension Income Splitting

·         Disability Tax Credit

·         Powers of Attorney and more

·         Wills and Funerals

·         Financial Abuse

Services for Veterans

·         Canadian Forces and RCMP Veterans

·         Mental Health for Veterans

·         My VAC Account

Fraud Prevention

·         Protection from Fraud and Scams

·         Little Black Book of Scams

·         Report Fraud

·         Protecting Your Financial Information

·         Fraud Quiz

·         Protect Yourself Against Fraud

Funding Programs

·         New Horizons for Seniors

SOS approach to life

An Airbus 380 is on its way across the Atlantic. It flies consistently at 800 km/h in 30,000 feet, when suddenly a Eurofighter with Tempo Mach 2 appears.

The pilot of the fighter jet slows down, flies alongside the Airbus and greets the pilot of the passenger plane by radio: "Airbus flight, a boring flight isn’t it? Take care and have a look here!”

He rolls his jet on its back, accelerates, breaks through the sound barrier, rises rapidly to a dizzying height, only to swoop down almost to sea level in a breathtaking dive. He loops back next to the Airbus and asks, "Well, how was that?"

The Airbus pilot answers: "Very impressive, but now have a look here!"

The jet pilot watches the Airbus, but nothing happens. It continues to fly stubbornly straight, with the same speed. After five minutes, the Airbus pilot radioed, "Well, what are you saying now?"

The jet pilot asks confused: "What did you do?" The other laughs and says, "I got up, stretched my legs, went to the back of the flight to the bathroom, got a cup of coffee and a cinnamon cake and made an appointment with the stewardess for the next three nights - in a 5 Star hotel, which is paid for by my employer. "

The moral of the story is:
When you are young, speed and adrenaline seem to be great. But as you get older and wiser, comfort and peace are not to be despised either.

This is called S.O.S.: Slower, Older, Smarter.

Dedicated to all my friends who like me likes the S.O.S. approach!

Idle musings

THINGS T0 PONDER

1.                     I talk to myself, because sometimes I need expert help.

2.                     I don't need help with my anger, people just have to stop pissing me off.

3.                     There is nothing wrong with my social behavior. It’s the idiots that are to blame.

4.                     The biggest lie I tell myself is ‘I don't need to write that down, I'll remember it’.

5.                     When I was little, I saw taking a nap was a punishment. Now I see it as a mini-holiday

6.                     Not even duct tape helps with stupidity, but it does help to muffle the sound.

7.                     Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could put ourselves in the dryer for 10 minutes and come out three sizes smaller?

8.                     "Getting lucky" means entering a room and remembering what I went in for.

9.                   If the No. 2 pencil is the most popular, why is it still No. 2?

10.               Why do we press harder on the remote control when we know the batteries are getting weak?

11.               Why are you "in" a movie, but “on” TV?

12.               What was the best thing BEFORE sliced bread?

13.               Why do we drive on parkways & park on driveways?

14.               Why do "fat chance" &. "slim chance" mean the same thing?

15.               Why do British people never sound British when they sing?

16.               At a movie theatre, which arm rest is yours?

17.               When does it stop being partly cloudy & start being partly sunny?

18.               When French people swear do, they say "Pardon my English?”

19.               Why do people say “heads up" when you should duck?

19.

Remember these sayings when we were young and coming up with ways to say goodbye in a funny way.

1.            See You Later, Alligator

a.            IN A WHILE, CROCODILE.

2.            Out the door dinosaur.

3.            CHOP CHOP. LOLLIPOP

4.            See you Soon, Baboon.

5.            TAKE CARE POLAR BEAR.

6.            Give a Hug, Ladybug.

7.            IN AN HOUR, SUNFLOWER.

a.            Maybe two, kangaroo,

8.            BETTER SWISH, JELLYFISH

9.            Chow Chow, Brown Cow

10.      BETTER SHAKE, RATTLESNAKE

11.      Bye, Bye, Butterfly

12.      GOTTA GO, BUFFALO

13.      Let's jam, Sam.

14.      BLOW A KISS, GOLDFISH

15.      Be Sweet, Parakeet.

.

Golfing Tips

I am a duffer and every time I go golfing with my friends, who are good golfers I get lessons. The lessons have gone on for over 20 years and I am improving but ever so slowly. However, my friends who know the game and have been golfing for over 40 years, love to give me lessons. I listen to what they say and try some and ignore some of their advice.  One of my friends takes lessons and is always full of good ideas. 

When I started playing golf with them, they were golfing in the low 100’s t the low 90’s. I was golfing in the high 120’s to the low 120’s. Over time I have listened and learned well so now I am golfing in the low 100’s to the high 90‘s. They are still golfing in the low 100’s to the low 90’s. This season I have decided not to keep score that way I will have more fun and take the time to enjoy the outing without worry and stress.

I have learned that golf is not something that you can really learn while playing a video game. We have a Wii golf game and when I play it I do really well, shooting (with the computers help par or better) But the reality is learning how to play golf in real life is sometimes complicated and requires that paying close attention to the exact rules and form.  My friends take lessons, I did one year and it set my game back for three years. So while learning from a golf instructor is a wise idea, there are a few mistakes that many of us still tend to make.  Every time I go out, I try to overcome these mistakes to improve my chances of playing a good game of golf and walking away from the green after a successful game with my head held high.

One of the biggest problems that I have is from time to time I look up when I try to strike the ball.  My friends tell me that it is important to always look down until after you have hit the ball.  I have one friend who has eye problems so even if he did look up, which he does from time to time, he can’t see more than 100 yards. So, he never knows where his ball is going to land. Lucky for him we are his eyes and keep track of his ball. My problem is that I get used to watching the flight of the ball and so when I go to hit my ball I look up.

My friends say that to ensure that I stay down until after the hit ensure that I should keep my hips properly rotated. Easier said than done, since my hip replacement I have not yet relearned how to do this.

Additionally, I have been told to ensure that I keep my arms extended fully while swinging. A hint given to me by one of my friends is to count to five after I strike the ball before I look up. Great idea, but I get lost counting and trying to keep my arms extended. I know the counting is to help me pace myself and help me to not look up too quickly.

For over 17 years I have been playing my game by striking the ball to each side of the green, rather than straight ahead. This is a problem caused by many things but it can be corrected with time and patience. After 17 years, I was reminded by my friends that I always need to keep in mind is my stance. I find that if I don’t stand appropriately before I even swing the club, I am not going to have a successful stroke.  I was told analyze my stance before I swing, if I notice that my club is not squarely touching the ball then I back up a bit to ensure that I am not hitting the ball from the side of the club.  Ensuring a solid, square swing will help your ball go to the desired location with a bit of practice, and consistency.

Hooking is an issue but that can be correct as well.  My problem is with my stance that causes my ball to hook. My friends took a close look at my stance, to help me correct this error. I am lucky I have friends who want to share their new found skills from the lessons they take so that I can slowly become better and maybe one day I will move from playing in the low 100’s to high 90’s to playing in the low 100’s to the low 90’s.