Diversity and Inclusion

There was a news story the other day about a 92-year-old Chinese man with Dementia being attacked in a 7-11 store. The attack was racially motivated as the attacker shouted racists taunts at the old man. None of the bystanders intervened and the man as the attacker threw the old man out of the store. The attacker was identified a day later due to extensive news coverage of the incident.

In Canada, we pride ourselves on the idea that we are not racist, but we don’t acknowledge that we have a racist past. As a country we, I think are getting better but we have a long way to go. If we are to overcome our history, we have to understand how important it is for us to embrace diversity. However, diversity without inclusion leads to exclusion, segregation, or integration. In order to fully see the benefits of diversity, people must feel validated, respected and included.

In some communities, there appears to be a group that is, on the face of it, diverse, people. However, people with diverse characteristics are peripheral and find it difficult to fully utilize their skills and experiences to add value to the group. Because these people are on the side-lines the group is unlikely to see the benefits of diversity and inclusion. In some cases, this outcome can even be used as a false justification for not engaging further with Diversity and Inclusion because a group has ‘tried it and it didn’t work’. This leads to the exclusion of some members of society.

When my grandparents came to Canada they moved to an area where people that came from their area (Romania) lived. This was because they had much in common with these people. This is understandable as people with diverse characteristics gravitate towards other diverse people with whom they consider themselves to have more in common. What this does for society is effectively form a sub-group that operates on the periphery of the main group and faces many of the problems associated with exclusion.

As my mom and her cousins grew up, they became more accepted into the larger society, but I know many of my cousins felt like outsiders. This happens when a diverse sub-group is incorporated into the group slightly more, but it is treated as a group within a group and is not fully included or valued. Integration can be particularly damaging because the group appears to take diversity and integration seriously, when in fact the sub-group is not given the same opportunity to perform. This can reinforce prejudices towards the marginalized group and its members.

Society has changed in Canada and I believe that over time, we have moved from the integration of minority groups to a more inclusive model. We are still not as perfect as the news of the attack shows. But we know that inclusion occurs when we as a society actively enable all of our members to fully participate, irrespective of their individual characteristics. Inclusion is positively embracing differences to create a group where different ideas and opinions are valued and encouraged and I believe is still a strong Canadian value and goal.

How you can help in your community in this time

Food Bank Donations

Food Donations are down & Demand is up. The food bank needs canned meats, canned tuna & salmon, pork & beans, rice, & other non-perishable items--or better yet--Cash, as this is better for their buying power.

Donate Blood Our hospitals still need blood supply for regular operations. Do a google search for Blood Donations in your area to find a location. In Canada go to https://blood. Challenge your family members to give blood.

Stay at home and clean surfaces at home.

Wash your hands often,

Physical distance while staying in touch. Keep social contact with family & friends by phone or video, or facetime.

Beware of the many COVID-19 Frauds & Scams out there now.

Don’t go stir crazy. Use the time to learn a new hobby; Take a look at YouTube videos to learn new skills; Make a list of inspirational quotes; Do a puzzle or read a book; watch movies on Netflix or Crave; or clean out some closets, Start a garden, Clean out your storage space or garage; Write, Read, and try to enjoy the luxury of the time you have with family.

Keep in touch with family, friends, & neighbours. My neighbours meet every day, making sure they keep the social distance required by the pandemic.

Be nice. Stay Calm and Smile.

Send an e-flower bouquet to a friend to say Hi!  & then to more friends.

Be a volunteer to help seniors in and others who are isolated in your community. Deliver groceries, phone people.

What other ideas do you have to help out in your community?

Personal Planning in a Pandemic

We are in the middle of a Pandemic and we don’t know when we will see a new “normal” or what that will even look like. Seniors (those of us over the age of 60) are at higher risk of complications and death due to this new disease. We are also at risk every time the flu season comes. The irony appears to be that as we age, we are in more danger of dying 😊 not from old age, but from infectious and chronic diseases.

The pandemic or the flu can strike anyone at any time. I think you need to ensure that if you are diagnosed with COVID-19 or some other fatal disease that your values are Expressed, Documented, and Respected. This can be done by preparation, planning and talking about your plans.

To start the process, here are some ideas.

First ask yourself:

What brings my life meaning and joy?

      If you don’t know, who can assist with clarifying facts and values (e.g., spiritual advisor, social worker, family physician)?

Have you considered your values and wishes and chosen someone who you trust to make decisions on your behalf, in your best interest, of benefit to you and who will speak for you and your values while protecting your autonomy, dignity and worth?

Do you have any beliefs and values that will impact on your care, such as receiving a blood transfusion?

Do you want lifesaving care or comfort care?

Do you want drastic measures to save your life and under what circumstances?

What are your wishes and do you have any specific instructions?

Have I recorded my wishes?

Have I shared my wishes with those who are close to me and my health care provider(s)? After you have clarified your thoughts and wishes, I suggest you write them down. Once you have done that then you need to have a number of conversations with family, friends and those named to represent and follow your wishes.

What do I understand about my current health? If I don’t understand, who can I ask that I trust to explain it to me? If I know and accept my situation is it time to have my Representative or Substitute Decision Maker take over the running of my affairs so that I can concentrate on my situation.

In BC we have the ability to choose someone to represent us and become a Substitute Decision Maker. This person must have the knowledge, experience, and available time to do the job properly. Once we have chosen this person we need to plan ahead and discuss our wishes regarding the quality of life and end of life care.

By taking the above steps you will know that your wishes will be followed and that you are easing the burden of those you love.

Retirement a richly deserved break?

Most of us in Canada dreamt about and looked ahead to retirement as a well-deserved rest after a lifetime of labour and we still do. For a long period, the dream was reality. In 1977, about 46% of all Canadians were covered by a registered pension plan (RPP). But time and practice worked against us. Many of those who had a pension plan had a defined benefit pension plan, which promised to pay a benefit regardless of how the underlying investments perform. In the ensuing decades, however, pension plan coverage declined, with less than 40% of Canadians having an RPP in 2011. Defined benefit plans declined even more sharply.

With employer-sponsored pensions on the decline, we looked to other ways to fund our retirement. The sources we use are the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Old Age Security (OAS), and savings through Registered Retirement Savings Programs (RRSP) or Tax-Free Savings Accounts (TFSA) if we have any. Up until the late 1970s, defined benefit pension plans provided Canadians with comfortable retirement income. During the '80s and until today we have had to come up with other means to fund our retirement, as employers moved away from defined plans. The unfortunate truth is that retiring comfortably is getting harder and harder for most Canadians. The following three facts explain why that is.

CPP and OAS won’t cover your expenses

According to a Sun Life Financial report, the average Canadian has $2,611 in monthly expenses in retirement. That includes food, shelter, taxes, and transportation. In larger cities, that figure is higher, because rent and mortgage payments are typically higher in urban centres. Unfortunately, CPP and OAS won’t cover $2,611 in monthly costs. In 2019, CPP paid $679 a month on average, and OAS paid $613 a month at maximum. Together, that’s only about $1,300 a month. That’s 49% what you’ll need to retire on! Or from another point of view, you only have to save enough to give you an income of $1300 a month which is about $400,000. (400,000*.04 =16,000/12=$1333.00 a month).

Defined benefit pension plans are on the decline

Registered pension plan coverage is declining in Canada which is not good, but the other pension plan is the defined benefit pension plan (the kind that pays a guaranteed benefit). The decline in this type of plan has been even steeper. According to the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI), the proportion of RPP plans that had defined benefits decreased from 80% to 67% from 2006 to 2016. That implies an even sharper decline in defined benefit pension plans than in pension plans as a whole. That’s a problem because only defined benefit pensions pay a guaranteed amount: with other plans, your payout depends on how the underlying investments perform.

Inflation will eat into your spending power

Inflation is one harsh reality that many Canadian retirees are familiar with. Although CPP is supposed to be inflation-indexed, the CPI excludes many categories of items. As a result, inflation can really eat up your purchasing power in retirement.