Seniors

A panel of experts with the Health Standards Organization has developed updated guidance for how care homes should operate in light of the deadly and tragic toll the pandemic took on Canadian residents and their quality of life. A man looks out the window at the Camilla Care Community centre overlooking crosses marking the deaths of multiple people that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic in Mississauga, Ont., on May 26, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Time is of the essence to bring in and enforce new long-term care standards: authors

The Health Standards Organization released updated standards Tuesday

 

Kathleen Sheret donated $34 million to the Greater Victoria Eldercare Foundation. (Black Press Media file photo)

‘Transformative’: Greater Victoria Eldercare Foundation receives $34M gift

The donation is one of Canada’s largest legacy gifts ever dedicated to senior care

  • Jan 24, 2023

 

A new UBC speaker series aims to answer questions around what people can do to live long, happy lives. (Credit: Pixabay/Pasja1000)

UBC promises to go beyond eating well and exercising in healthy aging speaker series

First lecture kicks off Jan. 23, with a discussion around daily stressors

 

Joe Sommer has completed 190 jigsaw puzzles, all of which are on display in the basement of his Chilliwack home. Seen here are about half of the puzzles. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

VIDEO: This B.C. man, 89, has spent 57 years completing 200 jigsaw puzzles

All given to him as gifts, Joe Sommer has spent 57 years doing jigsaw puzzles and then mounting them

Joe Sommer has completed 190 jigsaw puzzles, all of which are on display in the basement of his Chilliwack home. Seen here are about half of the puzzles. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)
A team of experts have released a highly anticipated set of standards to prevent the spread of infection in Canada’s long-term care homes. A man looks out the window at the Camilla Care Community centre overlooking crosses marking the deaths of multiple people that occured during the COVID-19 pandemic in Mississauga, Ont., on Tuesday, May 26, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Liberals mum on bill to codify standards in long-term care, despite new guidelines

Pandemic-fed crisis in long-term care prompted a feds to promise safety legislation in such settings

A team of experts have released a highly anticipated set of standards to prevent the spread of infection in Canada’s long-term care homes. A man looks out the window at the Camilla Care Community centre overlooking crosses marking the deaths of multiple people that occured during the COVID-19 pandemic in Mississauga, Ont., on Tuesday, May 26, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
At 82, Bruce Ives from Daajing Giids broke the Guinness World Record as the oldest male to perform a headstand. (Photo: Megan Romas’ Facebook)

VIDEO: Haida Gwaii man breaks world record for oldest male to do headstand

Bruce Ives was 82 years and 43 days old on the day he broke the record

At 82, Bruce Ives from Daajing Giids broke the Guinness World Record as the oldest male to perform a headstand. (Photo: Megan Romas’ Facebook)
A family member holds Ruth Harris’s hand in Vancouver General Hospital. (Submitted)

Questions about care after Abbotsford woman’s burns not taken seriously

Third-degree burns on elderly woman’s legs not given priority at ARH, but they were at Vancouver General Hospital

A family member holds Ruth Harris’s hand in Vancouver General Hospital. (Submitted)
A customer loads lumber into the back of a pickup truck in Maple Ridge, B.C., on Friday, June 12, 2020. Canadians are now eligible for a tax credit that will help pay for renovations to build a secondary suite for family member who is a senior or an adult with a disability.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Federal tax credit for multi-generational home renovations now available to Canadians

Credit will provide a 15 per cent tax refund on expenses of up to $50,000

A customer loads lumber into the back of a pickup truck in Maple Ridge, B.C., on Friday, June 12, 2020. Canadians are now eligible for a tax credit that will help pay for renovations to build a secondary suite for family member who is a senior or an adult with a disability.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Stuart Westie has been tracking his fitness and environmental impact each year since 2011, and his efforts add up. (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

B.C. senior tracks his shrinking environmental impact for over a decade

Stuart Westie started monitoring physical activity for health, then pivoted to environmental reasons

Stuart Westie has been tracking his fitness and environmental impact each year since 2011, and his efforts add up. (Ruth Lloyd photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
First Link® Dementia Helpline can provide you with the support and answeres you need.

Stand up against dementia stigma this Alzheimer’s Awareness Month

Jana Schulz of Cranbrook, B.C. – a registered social worker, working as…

  • Jan 9, 2023
First Link® Dementia Helpline can provide you with the support and answeres you need.
This image made from video, provided by KCCI 8 News in Des Moines, Iowa, shows Bessie Laurena Hendricks celebrating her 115th birthday in November 2022. Hendricks, an Iowa woman who was believed to be the oldest living person in the U.S., died Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, at the age of 115. (KCCI 8 News via AP)

Iowa woman believed to be oldest person in US dies at 115

Bessie Hendricks was alive to witness news of the sinking of the Titanic

This image made from video, provided by KCCI 8 News in Des Moines, Iowa, shows Bessie Laurena Hendricks celebrating her 115th birthday in November 2022. Hendricks, an Iowa woman who was believed to be the oldest living person in the U.S., died Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, at the age of 115. (KCCI 8 News via AP)
Sooke Region Communities Health Network and Sooke Seniors Activity Society have restarted the Sooke Seniors’ activity bus. (Shutterstock.com)

Sooke agencies merge to get seniors bus rolling

Trips begin in January with outings to the Victoria Health Fair and Victoria Art Gallery

Sooke Region Communities Health Network and Sooke Seniors Activity Society have restarted the Sooke Seniors’ activity bus. (Shutterstock.com)
Residents of Berwick House and Berwick Royal Oak are celebrating the season with crafts, gala dinners and the warmth of friends, family and staff. Courtesy Berwick Retirement Communities

‘Truly magical.’ New residents describe their first Christmas at Berwick

Events, uplifting atmosphere and welcoming community are making spirits bright

  • Dec 19, 2022
Residents of Berwick House and Berwick Royal Oak are celebrating the season with crafts, gala dinners and the warmth of friends, family and staff. Courtesy Berwick Retirement Communities
Merilyn Lentz serves up dinner during the annual Monterey centre Christmas dinner on Dec. 15 in Oak Bay. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Monterey Minstrels sing in Christmas at Oak Bay centre

Annual dinner event brings music, merriment to Monterey Avenue

Merilyn Lentz serves up dinner during the annual Monterey centre Christmas dinner on Dec. 15 in Oak Bay. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Shirley Lou Hansen, a resident of Parkwood Place, helps a student place her gingerbread house in the village. (Courtesy of Cheryl Chalifour)

Victoria seniors and students work together for Habitat for Humanity

Local seniors and students spread holiday spirit, building an intergenerational gingerbread village

Shirley Lou Hansen, a resident of Parkwood Place, helps a student place her gingerbread house in the village. (Courtesy of Cheryl Chalifour)
Name-changing rules in B.C. have been eased slightly, following a report from the Ombudsperson that showed the requirements were, at times, too stringent. (Credit: Pixabay/ Sabinevanerp)

B.C. name-changing rules eased following finding of discrimination against senior

Woman in 70s faced barriers when trying to correct misspelled name on birth certificate

Name-changing rules in B.C. have been eased slightly, following a report from the Ombudsperson that showed the requirements were, at times, too stringent. (Credit: Pixabay/ Sabinevanerp)
St. Paul's United Church will host new group aimed at helping LGBTQ2+ connect. (Courtesy of St. Paul's United Church)

Sidney church to host support group for LGBTQ+ seniors

St. Paul’s United Church aims to fill gap in providing LGBTQ+ seniors with resources and information

St. Paul's United Church will host new group aimed at helping LGBTQ2+ connect. (Courtesy of St. Paul's United Church)
Claire of Burnaby took part in the survey conducted by the Office of the Seniors’ Advocate in 2016-17. She found the experience very rewarding, as she connected with Cantonese-speaking seniors in their own language. (Special to The Star)

Asking long-term care residents their views

Comprehensive survey from Seniors’ Advocate seeks volunteers to connect with residents

  • Dec 5, 2022
Claire of Burnaby took part in the survey conducted by the Office of the Seniors’ Advocate in 2016-17. She found the experience very rewarding, as she connected with Cantonese-speaking seniors in their own language. (Special to The Star)
Comfort Companions – life-like robotic dolls designed to look and feel like a cat, puppy or infant doll – can enhance the quality of life for seniors in long-term care. The Saanich Peninsula Hospital and Healthcare Foundation is raising funds to buy one for each resident this holiday season. Photo courtesy SPHHF

This Christmas, give the gift of comfort to a Saanich Peninsula senior

Hospital foundation aims to purchase Comfort Companions for Long-term Care residents

  • Dec 5, 2022
Comfort Companions – life-like robotic dolls designed to look and feel like a cat, puppy or infant doll – can enhance the quality of life for seniors in long-term care. The Saanich Peninsula Hospital and Healthcare Foundation is raising funds to buy one for each resident this holiday season. Photo courtesy SPHHF
FILE - Jamie Lee Curtis appears at the Governors Awards in Los Angeles on Nov. 19, 2022. Curtis is this year’s recipient of AARP The Magazine’s Movies for Grownups Awards career achievement honor. The group announced Thursday that Curtis is receiving the honor at the AARP’s annual Best Movies and TV for Grownups ceremony. The event is hosted by returning host Alan Cumming and is premiering on PBS on Feb. 17, 2023, at 9 p.m. E.T. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)

Jamie Lee Curtis to receive award for overcoming ageism in entertainment

‘Curtis’ longstanding, ever-increasing career shatters Hollywood’s outmoded stereotypes about aging’

FILE - Jamie Lee Curtis appears at the Governors Awards in Los Angeles on Nov. 19, 2022. Curtis is this year’s recipient of AARP The Magazine’s Movies for Grownups Awards career achievement honor. The group announced Thursday that Curtis is receiving the honor at the AARP’s annual Best Movies and TV for Grownups ceremony. The event is hosted by returning host Alan Cumming and is premiering on PBS on Feb. 17, 2023, at 9 p.m. E.T. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)
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