The Shores of Port Credit recently hosted Virtually Verve: A Culinary Tour via Zoom!

Watch this in-depth look at our Living Loving Local culinary program with our Red Seal Chefs, and be sure to download our signature Pan Seared Ontario Maple Glazed Sea Bass and Ontario Local Maple Chocolate Mousse recipes to try at home!

Caring for an elderly loved one can be a 24/7 job. While done from a place of love, it can still be a draining task that may take a toll on both the caregiver and senior alike. Respite care offers professional, reliable support to give you both a revitalizing break.

Think of it like any healthy habit — we all benefit from exercise, restful sleep, and a good diet. Those three things can improve our overall health, making us stronger and enabling us to focus more efficiently on the task at hand. A respite stay for the senior loved one in your life can be thought of as a little vacation from your regular routine which, over time, like all healthy habits, helps to build internal strength and can give our mind and bodies a chance to rest and recuperate.

What is Respite Care?

Essentially, the definition of respite care is a short-term stay at a senior living community, like Verve. Respite care offers professional care for seniors, which includes socialization and life enrichment, while providing their primary caregiver a chance to restore energy.

Caring for someone elderly or someone who is unwell can be overwhelming day-in and day-out. Caregivers can start to suffer from exhaustion both mentally and physically, feel isolated from their personal life, and become burned out.

Respite care is a great opportunity to restore balance back into not only your life, but your senior loved one’s life, too.

 Types of Respite Care

Respite care is useful in situations where the senior resides in the home of the caregiver full-time, or during transitional periods. Occasionally, the caregiver may need to leave for an extended period of time, or simply need a short break for themselves. Alternatively, the senior may need some extra professional support if they’ve just been released from the hospital and are re-adjusting to life at home while they heal.

In each of these situations, healthcare from in-home services or a respite stay at a local senior’s home are good options. In the case of a stay at a senior living community such as Verve, we’ll explore the many additional benefits to both the caregiver and the senior that go beyond the physical.

How Respite Care Can Improve Your Peace of Mind

Taking time away for yourself as a caregiver may feel self-indulgent or cause feelings of guilt at times, however, it’s important to remember that practicing self-care benefits not only you, but everyone else in your life. Giving your mind and body a break from your usual day-to-day demands will reinforce peace of mind that your senior loved one is safe and comfortable in a professional, trustworthy environment. When you return, you’ll be able to interact with a fresh perspective and understanding. Sometimes, just knowing that scheduled relief is coming — much like a planned vacation — makes all the difference in your positive emotional health.

The Benefits of Respite Care

• PERSONALIZED SUPPORT

Seniors in respite care receive personalized support from professional, caring staff. Verve’s whole-body wellbeing approach ensures we provide the seniors in our care with purposeful and compassionate support however they need it. For seniors with cognitive decline, this kind of support also offers caregivers the peace of mind to enjoy their well-deserved break, knowing their loved one is in a safe, comfortable space.

• ENERGY & RENEWED HAPPINESS

Caregivers are afforded the freedom to re-engage with their own lives while their senior loved ones are in respite care. This break allows for rest, relaxation, and the chance to do the things you love that you might not otherwise have the time for!

Respite also offers seniors another component of aging gracefully because while we never stop growing older, this kind of care provides the environment and stimulation that improves cognitive health and thus slows age-related conditions.

• SPACE AND PERSPECTIVE

Re-energizing your life by doing something that brings you joy has the added benefits of a decreased heart rate and elevated mood. By re-establishing your sense of self by taking the occasional opportunity to do what you love, you become better equipped to handle the rest of your life with a better perspective. Taking that space to gain understanding can even help you to be more present for the senior loved one in your care.

• SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT

Interacting with peers in a senior living community during a respite stay is a huge benefit to seniors. Just as much as you as the caregiver might need the break, your loved one does, too!

Having the chance to participate in community-focused activities can stave off feelings of isolation in seniors, as well as giving them an opportunity to reset by creating new connections and experiences.

This includes:

• PARTICIPATION IN ACTIVITIES

Verve’s exceptional Health & Wellness programs and amenities are designed to restore purpose and passion into the lives of our seniors. This can include activities to improve cognitive and social abilities, as well as physical fitness — all organized by a team of professionals to be safe, fun, and entertaining.

•  STRESS RELIEF

Respite care is a proven stress-reliever that can also reduce levels of anger and depression in caregivers, and for all of the reasons stated above, actually improve overall wellbeing.

How to Get Started with Respite Care at Verve

As much stress as you experience as a caregiver, the senior in your care can see and feel this. You may feel guilty about booking them into a respite stay, but they also feel guilt and anxiety over the stress they can cause you. Open, honest conversation is a good starting place!

If you both go in knowing that respite care is something like a “vacation” and not a permanent change, trust and comfort will be established from there, opening both of you up to all of the positive possibilities that can come out of it!

Conversely, perhaps the senior in your care is nearing the age where more support is required.. A respite stay is an excellent way to test the waters by getting a feel for the senior living community, your loved one’s level of comfort, as well as your own. It’s a good way to try the amenities and services, experience the suites, and connect with the community. That way, when it comes time to make the decision to permanently move out, both of you will already be prepared with all of the information you need!

The Bottom Line

It is absolutely, one-hundred percent normal to have nervous feelings associated with embarking on a respite stay, whether you are the caregiver or the senior. As a caregiver, you’re used to “doing it all”, so we’re here to provide the help that the both of you likely need.

Interested in a respite stay for a senior loved one or yourself? Contact us today to get the process started with one of our Health & Wellness managers at your local Verve community. We look forward to meeting you!

Embarking on our third year of the Covid-19 pandemic, the landscape looks considerably more hopeful, though we must still proceed with caution. Three years of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion has taken its toll — especially on the often more isolated, older generation. The recent Omicron variant, though exhibiting milder symptoms, appears to be even more contagious than its predecessors. And while vaccination does significantly improve one’s odds — much like the flu shot — it’s not always a guaranteed solution.

As we age, our immune systems simply aren’t as adept at making antibodies, making us more inclined to fall ill. Seniors are also more prone to high blood pressure, diabetes, and high blood sugar levels — all factors making them more susceptible to Omicron. The lasting repercussions? That still remains to be seen.

In the meantime, our best practices for keeping seniors safe during the pandemic include:

• Caregivers and loved ones should be vaccinated & boosted
• When it comes to indoor activities, consider continuing to keep the headcount low, or moving outdoors, if possible
• Well-fitting masks if the senior is going to be around a lot of people
• Having honest, in-depth, and easy-to-understand conversations about Covid-19 and its effects will ensure seniors are receiving proper education in an effort to avoid misinformation

Socializing is an important part of our lives for our emotional and mental wellbeing. While we encourage taking the appropriate safety precautions, it’s important to remember that completely isolating seniors during this time can also have far-reaching, adverse effects beyond Covid-19.

Managing the Mental Effects of Covid-19

Stress, fatigue, and fear have permeated every level of our lives since 2020. During this time, it’s important to recognize which coping strategies are working, the ones that aren’t, and to swap out the ones that aren’t for more nourishing and revitalizing ones.

Good coping strategies to introduce your loved one to may be:

• Encouragement to keep an open and honest line of communication. Knowing that there is someone there for you when you need to talk can work wonders for a senior’s mental health. Make it clear that talking to a professional is an option, too. Sometimes, the stress and the worry is just too much for one person to handle on their own.

• Implementing a routine that includes healthy food, expressing gratitude, regular exercise, and social connection.
• Embracing flexibility and lowered expectations. With guidelines and safety measures changing periodically, learning to go with the flow can reduce anxiety.
• Trying to reinforce a positive state of mind through daily meditation and gratitude. These kinds of healthy habits can help improve memory and cognition, as well.

For the Caregivers

We see you, and we appreciate you. Have patience and be kind to yourself especially. If you feel burnout coming on, reach out to loved ones, a professional, your local crisis line, or search out a peer support group. Talking is the best thing you can do to work through it all.

We will continue to follow public health measures in our Verve properties to protect our seniors, our staff, and all of their families.

We need our brain to think, feel, breathe, and move; it’s got a big job to do, which means it deserves big love. By eating healthy foods, we nourish not only our body, but our brain’s functions through vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, flavanols, polyphenols, and omega-3 fatty acids. Because we need all of those things, in turn, we need a good variety of healthy foods to make it happen.

It’s been said that eating certain combinations of food can help to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. For more in-depth information on that, we suggest looking into the Mediterranean diet, DASH diet (good for high blood pressure), and as always, speaking with your healthcare provider about what’s best for you.

For now, here’s your shortlist of healthy foods to give your brain health a boost:

1. “Oily” or “fatty” fish such as salmon, mackerel, tuna, herring, and sardines are all packed with brain-boosting omega-3 fatty acids.

2. Berries — such as strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries — contain flavonoid antioxidants which help to reduce inflammation, increase plasticity for brain cells to form new connections, and can reduce or delay cognitive decline by improving brain cell communication.

3. Nuts & seeds — such as walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, and sunflower seeds — contain the antioxidant vitamin E which can help protect brain cells from oxidative stress.

4. Eat your greens! Kale, spinach, broccoli, and avocado are all great sources of nutrients. Research has suggested that plant-based foods may help to slow cognitive decline. Avocados are a great source of monounsaturated fat, which can reduce high blood pressure which ultimately can lead to cognitive decline.

5. Drinking green tea is a delicious way to boost brain function. Green tea is known to improve alertness, memory, focus, and is rich in polyphenols and antioxidants which can help to prevent mental decline, potentially reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Verve’s signature Living Loving Local culinary program ensures that we are continually sourcing the freshest local ingredients (like the ones above!) for their health benefits and tasty addition to our menu. Cooked to perfection by our professional Red Seal Certified chefs, our whole-body approach to wellbeing is part of the Verve Difference.

Keeping your medications straight for safe self-administration can get tricky. Fatigue, forgetfulness, and even such factors as lack of a regular routine can make it difficult to keep track of what you’ve taken and when — especially if you’re on more than one medication.

Here are our top tips for how to manage your medications and reduce the risk of complications.

1. Talk to your doctor or even the local pharmacist on how best to manage your medications. They can advise on the proper dosage for your condition, when it’s best to take the medication in question, and if there are any contraindications to other medications you’re on. They will also be able to discuss possible side effects with you.

2. Never, under any circumstances, self-medicate according to your own rules. Always take a prescription as prescribed (how much, when, and for what) — and see tip #1 above if in doubt! Increasing or decreasing dosage amounts without consulting your healthcare provider first can cause unforeseen complications. Even if you’re starting to feel better and decide to skip doses or stop suddenly altogether isn’t a good idea. Medication only works when used as directed!

3. Get into a good routine by setting a reminder timer, and/or taking your medication at the same time every day. This will start to feel like a natural part of your daily routine and make you less likely to forget. If it helps, keep a log of what medications you’re on, what they’re for, and when you take them. This is especially helpful if you’re on more than one and will ensure you’re taking the correct dosages of each.

Other helpful hints to keep your medications on track:

Try to fill your prescription before the current one runs out so you stay on track! Store your medications properly, in their original packaging, in a cool, dry place. Weekly pill organizers are another great tool to keep multiple medications and their doses organized. Note that some medications might require refrigeration! Always check with your healthcare provider or pharmacist about over-the-counter medications to see if they have any contraindications to your prescriptions.

Filling all of your prescriptions at one pharmacy will help your pharmacist to ensure that you aren’t mixing the wrong medications. If you live in a retirement community, ask them for a suggested pharmacy. At Verve, our preferred pharmacy is CareRx. CareRx offers convenient access, free delivery 24hr/7 days a week, as well as collaboration with doctors and wellness teams within long-term care homes, retirement residences and specialized care centres.

Remember: you are your own best advocate! If you feel like a medication isn’t doing its job, making you feel worse in other ways, or like it’s lost its usefulness, talk to your healthcare professional! Something might need to be adjusted to keep you feeling your best. The key is being open and honest about all of the particulars — and second opinions are always an option.

Click here to watch our Virtually Verve: Explore our Culinary Program

February is a time to celebrate Black art, achievements, and voices. One way to do so is to expand what we watch, as movies and television offer a vital lens through which to view culture both today and historically in a way that expands our empathy, understanding, and therefore actions.

From documentaries to comedies, horror films to examinations of systemic racism, each one amplifies Black voices in an impactful way.

1. When They See Us (2019)

The true story of five Harlem teens who are falsely accused of a brutal attack in Central Park. Watch Oscar nominee and Emmy-winner Ava DuVernay’s 4-part miniseries about the “The Central Park Five” on Netflix.

2. Just Mercy (2019)

Based on the true story of world-renowned civil rights defense attorney Bryan Stevenson trying to free wrongly condemned death row prisoner Walter McMillian. Starring powerhouses Jamie Foxx and Michael B. Jordan, Just Mercy is based on Stevenson’s memoir of the same name.

3. 13th (2016)

An in-depth look at the United States prison system and how it reveals America’s history of racial inequality. This Academy Award-nominated documentary was brought to light by acclaimed filmmaker Ava DuVernay.

4. Hidden Figures (2016)

The true story of a team of Black female mathematicians who worked at NASA during the U.S. space race, when the unit was still segregated by race and sex. Starring a lot of familiar faces, this Oscar-nominated film is based on Margot Lee Shetterly’s book of the same name.

5. Judas and the Black Messiah (2021)

William O’Neal is offered a plea deal by the FBI to infiltrate the Chicago Black Panther Party to gather intelligence on Chairman Fred Hampton, which leads to his death. It was nominated for six Oscars with Daniel Kaluuya winning for Best Supporting Actor.

Honourable mentions films in all genres that are worth a watch for their stories, music and beauty:

• 12 Years a Slave
• The Hate U Give
• One Night in Miami
• The Help
• Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
• Sylvie’s Love
• Black Panther
• Soul

Join our host Brian Keyes as he immerses himself in the day-to-day life at one of our many Verve retirement communities across Canada — this time, through a game of pool with several of our residents! In a Verve community, we want you to live more, and do more.

In this episode, you’ll also meet Verve Life Enrichment Manager, Bobbie Seaton, who’ll tell you a little more about how Verve infuses fun and engaging themed days with signature programs, thanks to the help of our incredible staff. These are great ways to boost spirits and keep the mind active, safely, in these challenging times.

Thanks for watching, and see you next time for more inspired senior living!

Enjoying a pet by your side just makes things better. Those thousands of cat memes on social media can’t be wrong, after all. They provide endless entertainment and infinite love. Having a pet has also been known to help reduce stress, lower blood pressure, provide social interaction and physical activity — all good things to keeping the mind and body active and engaged as we age.

1. Pets give purpose

Your furry friends can automatically overlay structure onto the day. A dog needs to be fed, taken on regular walks, have playtime, cuddles, and the occasional grooming. Even fish require regular maintenance in terms of feeding, tank cleaning, etc. Any type of pet means that you’re not just getting up for you in the morning, you’re getting up for your new BFF — Best Furry Friend.

2. Pets provide love

It’s true. Pets offer up their own brand of adoration, whether it’s curling up on your feet, coming in for playtime, or purring, they physically express what they can’t say. Pets also have an uncanny knack for knowing when you’re down. They’ll stay close and often their whole demeanor softens as if they “understand” that you need them.

3. The physical benefits of pets

The simple act of walking the dog around the block (several times a day) can have immense benefits: Improved cardiovascular health and an increase in other healthy habits, for example.

4. Pets are something to talk about (and to)

Pets, especially dogs, often inherently force their owners to be more social; they talk to their pet, to other dog owners they meet on their daily walk, and even pet playdates. Having a pet also gives seniors something to dote on and therefore share about with their peers and caregivers.

5. Pets are a great distraction

It becomes increasingly easy to fixate on our problems, the woes of aging, and the people we’ve lost along the way as we age. A pet can refocus that attention into the present and provide an anchor to the here and now, in turn diminishing depressive thoughts and negative spirals.

The key to pet companionship for seniors is finding the perfect match, just like in any relationship. Going into pet ownership fully prepared with an understanding of all factors will help determine just the right type, age, sex, and temperament of the pet. If you are giving the senior in your life a pet, some questions to ask are:

· Has the senior owned a pet before?

· Does the senior have any physical or monetary limitations?

· Is the pet healthy?

· Is there a backup plan for the pet if the senior were to suddenly pass away?

If you or the senior in your life tick all the right boxes, it might be time to consider pet adoption! Adoption is often a great route, providing an aging dog that a young family might not want with a senior who has the patience and time to work with them, and giving the pet a beautiful last few years of life.

Happy National Pet Day!

Verve Senior Living is proud to offer many pet-friendly facilities among our communities — click to watch the vlog!

While your taste in books is as personal as what you choose to watch on TV, once in awhile there are books that span genres to captivate the collective consciousness. Between 2021’s “Best” lists and buzzworthy books slated for 2022, we’ve narrowed down our favourites to these top five novels that should grace your nightstand.

1.    The Strangers by Katherena Vermette

Winner of the 2021 Atwood Gibson Writers’ Trust Prize for Fiction, longlisted for the 2021 Scotiabank Giller Prize, Indigo’s #1 Book of the Year and a Heather’s Pick, The Strangers follows the entwined lives of four Métis women in Winnipeg, exploring themes of race, class, and the heartbreaking reality of intergenerational trauma in Indigenous communities.

2.    The Bomber Mafia by Malcolm Gladwell

Acclaimed author Malcolm Gladwell is back with this New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice and Heather’s Pick History & Political Science exploration into the impact of WWII’s precision bombing and the resulting moral consequences.

3.    The Paris Apartment: A Novel by Lucy Foley

Coming February 21, 2022, New York Times bestselling author, Lucy Foley, weaves a tale of intrigue and family drama in the City of Lights. Anyone who binged Only Murders in the Building on Disney+ or love(s) the game Clue will enjoy this thrilling escape.

4.    Between Two Kingdoms by Suleika Jaouad

This deeply moving memoir from the 2021 New York Times Bestseller List and Heather’s Pick follows leukemia survivor and author Suleika Jaouad’s cross-country road trip in search of purpose and will leave you feeling inspired long after.

5.    Run, Rose, Run: A Novel by James Patterson & Dolly Parton

While the superstar pairing of famed author James Patterson and beloved Country star Dolly Parton just screams “movie in the making”, the plot of this thriller sounds good, too: A young singer-songwriter on the rise is also on the run, and the glitz of Nashville might just be the thing that destroys her — coming March 6, 2022.

From memoir to thriller, historical fiction to touching tales, there’s something for everyone — a perfect start to a new reading routine for 2022. By incorporating reading into your daily routine, you can help reduce stress and prevent cognitive decline, among many other benefits beyond a great escape for the long, dark winter months.