Seniors

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

 

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)
Walk in tubs and showers make it easy for those with with balance or low mobility issues.

Bathe or shower safely with walk-in tubs and showers

As we age and begin losing balance and mobility, many of our…

  • Jan 9, 2023
Walk in tubs and showers make it easy for those with with balance or low mobility issues.
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)
A walk-in tub is much safer than a conventional bathtub, allowing you to sit down and bathe in comfort. Photo courtesy Walk-In Tubs Fraser Valley

Walk-in tubs provide confidence and safety for seniors

As people age and begin losing balance and mobility, bathing can not…

  • Dec 19, 2022
A walk-in tub is much safer than a conventional bathtub, allowing you to sit down and bathe in comfort. Photo courtesy Walk-In Tubs Fraser Valley
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)
Jeff and his Ears to You team bring their production right to your door, rolling out the red carpet to ensure you can hear the soundtrack to your life at any volume.

Island mobile hearing clinic wants to help you give the gift of hearing

Some things in life are priceless—there’s just no way to put a…

  • Dec 12, 2022
Jeff and his Ears to You team bring their production right to your door, rolling out the red carpet to ensure you can hear the soundtrack to your life at any volume.
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