Age Friendly Communities and seniors

The third topic I think is important is the issue of the concept of Age Friendly Communities. Since 2005, the provincial government has provided $6.25 million to support the program. To date, more than 148 local governments have completed projects or been approved for funding. There are two streams that a municipal government can apply to for funding. The first is adding an age-friendly or seniors’ lens to existing plans or policies, such as:

• Official Community Plans, Integrated Community Sustainability Plans, Health and Wellness Plans, or community or neighbourhood plans

• Zoning and other bylaws (subdivision, snow removal, parking, etc.)

• Development permit requirements

• Emergency response, evacuation and/or emergency social services plans

• Design guidelines

• Active transportation planning Age-friendly Projects

The second stream for funding is to support local governments to undertake local projects that enable seniors to age in place and facilitate the creation of age-friendly communities. In order to be eligible for Stream 2, eligible applicants are required to have a completed an age-friendly assessment or action plan, or demonstrate that their Official Community Plan, Integrated Sustainability Community Plan, or an equivalent plan, is inclusive of age-friendly planning principles. Under Stream 2, eligible activities must be cost-effective and may include:

• Support for persons with dementia

• Increased community accessibility (transportation, housing, services)

• Provision of recreation and healthy living activities and/or referral and support to link seniors with recreation and healthy living services

• Community gardens and healthy eating

There are many examples of programs that have been started as a result of this funding. Such as the town of Oliver developed an outdoor fitness park with input from partners including Interior Health, service clubs and seniors’ groups. The year-round park is well utilized and provides a no-cost opportunity for seniors to be physically active. Or the District of Invermere created an age-friendly business directory, companion program, monthly luncheons and a mentorship program. The companion program matched seniors with volunteers who will assist with everyday living activities such as shoveling the sidewalk, driving to and from the grocery store or appointments. Business owners and employees offered training on how their operations can be more age-friendly.

The issue is not that these programs have been funded, but the concern is how many projects undertaken in phase one have been developed to a stage two project. How many of these phase two projects are still being offered and are they still providing what seniors need to stay in place or where they one hit wonders and no longer operating?

Funding for Volunteer Services helping Seniors

    The second issue that I think is important and have not addressed is the issue of how programs that help seniors are funded. Any seniors, as well as others in society and in government, believe that seniors and society would be well serviced by seniors living at home. The home support program and the report into those services 19-June-19 show there is a need for more and better services for many seniors. The report was thorough but did not address the issue of those who are supporting the non-medical needs of older adults in BC. Those who volunteer to help seniors stay at home by providing services such as Friendly visiting Transportation, Light yard work, minor home repairs, Light housekeeping, Grocery shopping, etc. 

    

    Where I live we have programs like, Better at Home, Seniors Transportation Access and Resources (STAR), Meals on Wheels and some communities such as Richmond have their Seniors Community Support Services programs. All of these are great programs but are reliant on funding from Charity groups such as United Way or government grants to operate. The charities and the government funders are always looking at the most efficient and cost-saving way to deliver services. This means that many organizations that could provide the services may lose funding if another organization says they can provide the same service at a lower cost. 

     This change of service provider causes a chain reaction where recipients of the service have to adjust to new demands or changes in procedure and many volunteers who worked with the small group may decide to not work with another group, so new volunteers need to be recruited. This causes a disruption in service for seniors. I think it is a problem that is important because these volunteer programs make it easier for seniors to stay at home and supplement the home support programs but how they are funded and the effect a change of funder or service provider on seniors receiving the service is ignored when we talk about this issue.

Baking at Christmas

An oldie but a goodie. Once again, this year, I’ve had requests for my Whisky Christmas Cake recipe so here goes.

Please keep in your files as I am beginning to get tired of typing this up every year! (Made mine this morning!!!!)

1 cup sugar,

1 tsp. baking powder,

1 cup water,

1 tsp. salt,

1 cup brown sugar,

Lemon juice,

4 large eggs,

Nuts,

2 bottles Whisky,

2 cups dried fruit.

Sample a cup of Whisky to check quality.

Take a large bowl,

check the Whisky again to be sure it is of the highest quality

then Repeat.

Turn on the electric mixer.

Beat one cup of butter in a large bowl.

Add 1 teaspoon of sugar.

Beat again.

At this point, it is best to make sure the Whisky is still OK.

Try another cup just in case.

Turn off the mixerer thingy.

Break 2 eegs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried fruit. Pick the fruit up off the floor,

wash it and put it in the bowl a piece at a time trying to count it.

Mix on the turner.

If the fried druit getas stuck in the beaterers,

just pry it loose with a drewscriver

Sample the other bottle of Whisky to test for tonsisticity.

Next, sift 2 cups of salt, or something.

Check the Whisky.

Now shit shift the lemon juice and strain your nuts.

Add one table.

Add a spoon of sugar, or somefink.

Whatever you can find sample the whiskers

Greash the oven.

Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fall over.

Don't forget to beat off the turner.

Finally, throw the bowl through the door

Finish the Whisky and wipe the counter with the cat.

Advice on Children and other thoughts

One day a man went to an auction. While there, he bid on a parrot. He really wanted this bird, so he got caught up in the bidding.

He kept on bidding, but kept getting outbid, so he bid higher and higher and higher.

Finally, after he bid way more than he intended, he won the bid - the parrot was his at last!

As he was paying for the parrot, he said to the Auctioneer, "l sure hope this parrot can talk.

I would hate to have paid this much for it, only to find out that he can't talk!"

"Don't worry," said the Auctioneer. "He can talk. Who do you think kept bidding against you?"

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A woman was reporting her car as stolen, and mentioned that there was a car phone in it.

The policeman taking the report called the phone and told the guy that answered that he had read the ad in the newspaper and wanted to buy the car.

They arranged to meet, and the thief was arrested.

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A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.

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To those of us who have children in our lives, whether they are our own, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or students...here is something to make you chuckle. Whenever your children are out of control, you can take comfort from the thought that even God's omnipotence did not extend to His own children.

After creating heaven and earth, God created Adam and Eve. And the first thing he said was "DON'T!"

"Don't what?" Adam replied.

"Don't eat the forbidden fruit." God said.

"Forbidden fruit? We have forbidden fruit? Hey Eve...we have forbidden fruit!!!!!"

"No Way!"

"Yes way!"

"Do NOT eat the fruit!" said God.

"Why"

"Because I am your Father and I said so!" God replied, wondering why He hadn't stopped creation after making the elephants A few minutes later, God saw His children having an apple break and He was ticked!

"Didn't I tell you not to eat the fruit?" God asked.

"Uh huh," Adam replied.

"Then why did you?" said the Father.

"I don't know," said Eve.

"She started it!" Adam said, "Did not!"

"Did too!"

"DID NOT!"

Having had it with the two of them, God's punishment was that Adam and Eve should have children of their own. Thus, the pattern was set and it has never

changed. BUT THERE IS REASSURANCE IN THE STORY!

If you have persistently and lovingly tried to give children wisdom and they haven't taken it, don't be hard on yourself. If God had trouble raising children, what makes you think it would be a piece of cake for you?

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT!

1. You spend the first two years of their life teaching them to walk and talk.   Then you spend the next sixteen telling them to sit down and shut up.

2. Grandchildren are God's reward for not killing your own children.

3. Mothers of teens now know why some animals eat their young.

4. Children seldom misquote you. In fact, they usually repeat word for word what you shouldn't have said.

5. The main purpose of holding children's parties is to remind yourself that there are children more awful than your own.

6. We childproofed our homes, but they are still getting in.

ADVICE FOR THE DAY: Be nice to your kids. They will choose your nursing home one day.

AND FINALLY: IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF TENSION AND YOU GET A HEADACHE, DO WHAT IT SAYS ON THE ASPIRIN BOTTLE: "TAKE TWO ASPIRIN" AND "KEEP AWAY FROM CHILDREN"