One of the side effects of aging is our muscles and joints tend to weaken over time, as does our range of movement. Stretching is a simple, easy way—no fancy exercise equipment needed!—to age actively and keep the body limber.

Benefits of stretching include:
·     Improve flexibility
·     Increase circulation and blood flow
·     Maintain strength

The best time to stretch depends on your mobility. For active seniors, stretch your muscles while they’re still warm at the end of routine exercise. If you don’t regularly exercise, try to start slow with an easy warm-up walk to get the muscles loose first thing in the morning or to relax at the end of the day, then try the stretches below.

Best Stretches For Seniors

1.    Standing quadriceps Stretch
Good for mobility and flexibility, this stretch focuses on the muscles in the top half of your upper legs. Start by holding on to the back of a chair or couch for support and stand on one leg. Bend the opposite leg at the knee, and with the hand not holding the support, clasp your ankle and gently pull your foot towards your bottom. Hold for 10 – 30 seconds and repeat on the opposite leg.

2.    Seated knee to chest
This stretch serves to improve mobility in your hips and knees, as well as the flexibility in your lower back. Sitting comfortably in a chair, grasp your right knee and slowly pull it towards your chest. Once you feel tension, hold for 10 – 30 seconds and then let your leg down gently. Repeat on the opposite side.

 3.    Calf muscle
Stand facing the wall with your palms flat against it in front of you, arms straight and one foot in front of the other, your front knee slightly bent, so you look like a runner about to take off! Keeping your back knee straight and your whole foot planted firmly on the ground, lean towards the wall until your feel the stretch in your calf muscle for 10 – 30 seconds. Switch legs.

4.    Seated side stretch
Loosen up the abdomen, back and shoulder muscles by sitting comfortably in a chair, your feet hip-width apart and facing forward. Then, raise your right arm and lean slowing to the left while keeping your torso long and lean. Hold for 10 – 30 seconds, then repeat on the left side.

5.    Shoulder and tricep stretch
Upper body mobility is important for daily tasks. This simple stretch uses a towel: Hold it by the end in one hand over your head so that it dangles behind your head. Then, grasp the other end of the towel with your other hand and gently pull both ends until you feel the stretch for 10 – 30 seconds. Switch arm positions.

TIPS!

• Don’t forget to breathe! Steady, intentional breath can help bring you into your body and focus on each muscle group; listen to what your body is telling you. This can help reduce the chance of over-stretching.
• Hold each stretch for up to 30 seconds, but never to the point of pain! Try to keep still and ground into the stretch.
• Always do some light walking first to warm up.

It’s always a good idea to speak with your doctor or physical therapist before starting anything new, including a stretching routine that’s good for your body! Let’s celebrate our differences and stretch our way to good health for the New Year.

Download the Delicious Apple Pie Recipe Here

National Pie Day was such a success across all of our communities that we couldn’t help but share a taste of our favourite recipe from the event so that you, too, can enjoy yourself…

Gift giving is one of the best parts of the holidays; finding that perfect something to gift that special someone as a way to show them how much you care. However, it can also be stressful, especially if the person is hard to buy for, or in the case of most seniors, they already have or feel like they have accumulated everything they need over their lengthy lifetime!

The trick is finding something they’ll love that can also check the “useful” box. We’ve put together a list of our top ten favourite gift ideas to inspire a senior in your life all year round.

1. Family Photo Album

Yes, we all carry our albums in our pockets these days, but chances are your parents or grandparents still prefer the real deal printed version. Developing a few photos and popping them into a nice photo album or pre-loading a digital photo frame can go a long way. This can be an especially great gift for those living with dementia as a comforting reminder of the people they love. Bonus points for getting together and going through the album together!

2. Tickets to the big game…

Or theater, show, restaurant gift certificate or homemade “coupon” for a walk in to their favourite place (pending restrictions in your area, of course). Because the best gift you can give a senior (or really, anyone special in your life) is your time. So include a ticket for yourself and make a new memory together.

3. Brain Game books

Just like any other muscle group, the brain needs exercising! Whether it’s crossword puzzles, sudoku, or even an adult colouring book, these kinds of activities (also available in big print!) help mental stimulation to keep the elderly mind active. Even a good jigsaw puzzle with large pieces can act like a brain game! Check out Indigo.ca or your local bookstore for a good selection.

4. Weighted blanket

A weighted blanket works to reduce anxiety and can help with insomnia; perfect for those living with Alzheimer’s and dementia who experience frequent unrest.

5. A Joywell Sofa Armrest Organizer

For the person who has everything to organize it all: A durable armchair caddy to organize and keep their remotes, phone, glasses, books and necessities close at hand while relaxing in their favourite armchair. Available from Amazon.ca

6. A link to the past with Ancestry.com

Seniors generally love telling stories, especially of their youth, to share with the next generation. Membership to a site like ancestry.com will not only give them an activity, but put them in closer touch with their past.

7. Non-Slip Socks

To keep warm and help prevent painful falls, non-slip socks are great for everyone, but extra useful for those living with physical frailties. Find some for every personality at amazon.ca

8. Light Therapy Lamp

The long, dark winter months can have adverse effects on mental health. Light therapy is one way to brighten your loved one’s day—literally. Daylight lamps are said to improve mood, sleep, and focus attention by mimicking the outdoors without the hassle of “get up and go” for seniors who aren’t as mobile.

9. Windowsill gardening kit

For the avid gardener who no longer has a garden, a gardening kit for indoor Green Thumbs complete with everything they need to grow useful herbs, or even just some fresh greenery to help oxygenate their air. A plethora of options are available on Etsy.com

10.  Adaptive Clothing

Solve dressing issues with Silverts and Buck & Buck for those with Alzheimer’s, arthritis or dementia with adaptive clothing that addresses issues such as not being able to fasten buttons and zippers to swollen feet and those that repeatedly undress themselves.

Happy Shopping!

Download and share this recipe:

Verve Senior Living – Turkey Medallions with Cranberry Shallot Sauce

Download and share this recipe:

Black bean, lentil & sweet potato burger

To view more Living Loving Local recipes, click here!

I often think about the people who work in senior care and why they chose this work. It can be challenging, particularly when dealing with a global pandemic. Therefore, I believe it comes down to the genuine desire to positively impact the life of a senior and the personal fulfillment that brings. I know it’s what attracted me to the industry, and I feel our team at Verve embodies that spirit.

As the Omicron variant spreads, we are integrating all the lessons the pandemic has taught us over the past two years to face this next challenge—the most significant of which remains maintaining our staffing levels while keeping our residents and team members healthy and safe.

Thankfully, we have a very high percentage of residents who have already received their third vaccination. In the rare case when a resident tests positive, the symptoms have been usually limited to mild symptoms. We continue to work with the local health authorities to get our double-vaccinated team members their booster as quickly as possible and respond to any community outbreaks while maintaining the quality of our residents’ experience as much as possible.

I have the utmost confidence in and respect for our team members who’ve committed to caring for our seniors and inspiring them to be their best selves. We continue to be thankful for our entire community, from the residents, their family, and our team members, for their unfailing patience, support and commitment to each other.

Our Verve community is here for you and continually strives to protect the health of our residents and team members. Together, we will take 2022 as it comes and prevail.

David Bird
President and CEO
Verve Senior Living

Join host Brian Keyes as he immerses himself in the day-to-day life at one of our many Verve retirement communities across Canada. From incredible dining experiences with professional, Red Seal certified chefs to exploring the cruise ship-like amenities with our cheerful and experienced staff, discover the many opportunities for you to live life to the fullest at Verve.

In this episode, we learn some cooking tips, mingle with actual residents, and virtually tour the array of dining options a Verve property has to offer because good nourishment goes beyond the body to feed the mind + soul.

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

by Deborah Bakti

Last week, Verve hosted a webinar where I shared three key concepts to help you navigate through this ‘age and stage’ of life, where you may be worrying and wondering if your parents need more help. If you couldn’t join us on the webinar, you can watch it here or click on this link . As promised, here’s a summary of the key concepts:

Let me start by saying this; if you think your parents need more help, you’re probably right. Perhaps you’re noticing your parents a bit ‘out of their ordinary’ such as a change in eating patterns, less social engagement, or a change in mood or memory. Or there’s been an event, like a fall, or car accident, or a phone call that they’ve forgotten where they parked their car.

Much like how financial advisers say “the best time to start investing is now” … you can invest in the future well-being of both your parents and you by doing some of the work now to prepare for and plan your parent’s care needs.

There are two ways to approach it. You can white knuckle and react to a crisis, where you’re forced into making a rushed decision, because now due to that crisis, your choices are very limited. That can lead to a whole world of hurt that I want you to avoid.

The other (better) way is to have an intentional and proactive approach that gives you the competence and confidence to be the very best support for your parents.

Below are three key ways to help you be intentional and proactive with Now What?

Take the lead and be the guide your parents need

 You may feel some role reversal with your parents, as you’re providing more of the care, advice, and guidance, and this can also feel awkward and “not how it’s supposed to work!”

Here’s an opportunity to step into your new role as their guide, confidante and even as their

Now What? Navigator with intention and clarity. These are questions you can work with:

• What are you committed to?
• What does being their guide look like?

In the video I share how I worked with these questions, which can give you some ideas to apply to your situation.

You’ll also benefit from doing the Current State/Ideal State exercise. Take a piece of paper and draw a line down the middle. On the left side write all the issues or concerns you have with your parents’ current living arrangement. On the right side write what you want things ideally to look like with your parents’ living arrangements.

This exercise can help you pragmatically look at the facts and create clarity with what themes may emerge as it relates to what’s keeping you up at night with worry about your parents.

These two questions can also help you prioritize your concerns and ideal outcome:

• What’s most important to your parents?
• What’s most important to you?

Challenge your Beliefs, Assumptions and Emotions

Coming to terms with our parents aging and their care needs is incredibly stressful, frightening, and overwhelming! It’s not like we’ve had any preparation or training for this, right?

Coupled with that, most people don’t have a solid understanding of seniors’ care, the full spectrum of care levels, and how it works. So, it’s possible, through reading media reports, or hearing stories from friends, that what you think you know, belief or feel about seniors’ care may not be serving you and your parents’ best interests right now.

When you look at the current state list you created, work with these questions:

• What are you most worried about?
• What’s your biggest concern right now?
• What’s the real challenge now for you?

What these questions are really getting at is this: What’s currently not working (or not working so well) that’s keeping you up at night? What are those 3:00 am thoughts that you’re wrestling with?

These questions can help uncover some of the emotional turmoil you may be feeling about your parents’ health, wellness, and safety with where they’re currently living and managing (or not).

Then it’s important to look at what you know and don’t know about your options. You can use these questions to help build your competence and confidence as their guide, with insight and information.

• What do I know about retirement living?
• What resources can I tap into to learn more?
• What’s most important for me to understand?
• How can I be the best guide for my parents to help us make the best decision?

Clarify and adjust Expectations (of your parents, yourself/siblings and of the home)

Disappointment = Expectations – Reality

The biggest contributor to family frustration and disappointment is unmet expectations.

Now that you have created some clarity around the current state and ideal state, and what’s worrying you the most, you can now look at what you can focus on that you CAN influence and control, to create the best possible outcome

Use this question to help get your ideas onto paper

What does Success look like to You?

Imagine you’ve helped your parents move into a wonderful retirement home community. They’ve lived there for six months now, and you’re telling a friend or co-worker how thrilled you are with your parents’ new retirement community. What needs to be in place for you to rave about it? How do you feel when you visit? What do you appreciate the most?

Share your success vision with your contact at the home, so you can see if what you expect aligns with reality (to avoid disappointment) or where adjustments may need to be made.

Every family has different definitions of success so it’s important that the home has clarity about yours.

Now is the time to equip yourself with confidence and competence so that you can be the best guide and support for your parents and family by making the best choices possible, with information and insight.

About Deborah Bakti

Deborah worked as an executive in seniors’ care for 11 years, and during that time she became a resident’s family member three times, with her husband, mom and dad. That life changing experience inspired her to leave her corporate career to start her company THINK Breakthrough, where she helps seniors care homes build their culture on the way in, one family, one conversation at a time.

Deborah’s the author of two books, her first is: “RECIPE for Empathy: Six Strategies to Transform your Families into Fans in Seniors’ Care and her most recent book:

Now What? Managing the Emotional Journey of Long Term Care for Families with over 8,000 copies sold in the first 6 months of release.

Website:  DeborahBakti.com

Get your best 1920’s costume on and join host Eric Everett as he takes The Village Langley through a tale of scandal, deceit and, of course, murder!  All are welcome, so join as a character or just watch!

RSVP by October 25th, 2021 by calling 604-427-3755 or email cr.mgr.tvl@verveseniorliving.com

As our parents age and we start feeling more concerned about their well being and safety, it can be overwhelming to figure out what they need and how to best support them.

If this is something you’re currently thinking about, we’d love to help!

Please join us on Wednesday October 27th at 2:00pm EST, for a special virtual presentation, by Senior Care Consultant and best-selling author, Deborah Bakti who will share three key concepts that will provide you with timely insights and knowledge so you can be more prepared with your parents changing lifestyle and safety needs.

Please register by October 26th to receive a Zoom link invite.

Register on Eventbrite