New Year, New Websites!

 We wanted to update you on what's been happening the last few months. For those who follow us, you may know that for several years we have been developing a new website called SeniorCareAccess.com. The last little while has been spent getting things ready for our full transition as we move things from one site to the other and let our followers and advertisers know. 

SeniorCareAccess.com takes senior information to a whole new level. We have two different housing databases - one sponsored and the other unbiased, covering all of Canada, with information on multiple types of housing and care levels; we are in the process of building a resource database, again across Canada, with the potential for up to 160 categories of service per city; and we have developed a consulting service where professionals assist seniors with every aspect of transition or life challenges that one may encounter. 

In addition, our sponsored housing platform has the option for homes to have us create an immersive 3D tour of their home and integrate meeting software within the tour. Most definitely an industry first and so very needed during a pandemic!

You can read more about our new site in our recent Press Release at https://www.seniorcareaccess.com/media/pdf/PRESS%20RELEASE%20Dec2020.pdf

January 1, 2021 will see the complete transition of the existing Senioropolis.com to our new SeniorCareAccess.com platform. 

That being said, we also have plans for Senioropolis.com - in the coming months we are revamping it and turning it into a whole new site for seniors! It will be filled with articles of interest to seniors and their families and, easily redirect those who are lost and looking for housing information, to SeniorCareAccess.com until all of our regulars are used to the new domain. 

We encourage you to visit both sites in the coming weeks and months to see what's new and different. We promise you, both sites are unique, fact-filled, and unlike anything currently in existence for Canadian seniors and their families. 

This will be our last post for 2020 so happy holidays to all of our followers; whatever you celebrate, we wish you peace, health, and happiness.

A Senior's Guide To Self-Care This Winter

 As winter approaches, so can healthcare challenges for seniors. This can be challenging, especially with COVID-19 cases hitting an all-time high. Whether you’re a senior looking for some guidance or a caretaker trying to find ways to minimize health risks, it’s still important to make this an enjoyable and fun season.

 Here is a guide to keep you feeling your best this winter season.

 Create Healthy Habits

You might have heard the phrase, you can’t teach an old dog new tricks but creating positive habits are the foundation of living a healthy and longer life. Habits grow stronger over time, so make sure you’re developing the right kind. One way to create healthy habits is to make a plan and identify areas where you struggle. This will give you a better idea of what unhealthy patterns are affecting you.

 Habits like your sleeping pattern can have a great impact on your health, so if you’re struggling to go to bed at a reasonable time, then try to go to sleep and get up at the same time every day. Having a strict sleeping schedule will help set your internal clock and give you the best quality of sleep. It might not be easy at first, but be patient and reward any small successes.

 Stay Active

Exercise is an essential part of maintaining your health, but it also plays a major role in maintaining your mental health. If you have spent the majority of the pandemic indoors, you might have found yourself becoming somewhat of a couch potato, which can have a negative impact on your overall health.

Start small with your exercise goals, especially if you struggle with movement. With the winter months approaching, you might find it too cold to go for a walk around the neighborhood but you can walk around your house. You can even set up a home gym to help create some motivation. Equipment such as exercise bikes and treadmills are great for targeting that cardiovascular exercise you might need.

 Focus On Your Diet

You are what you eat, and if your diet consists of overly processed and fatty foods, you are doing yourself a disservice. Proper nutrition is an area where most seniors struggle to get right. Especially if you require a specific diet due to your medications or health restrictions, and although it might seem easier to go to your favorite fast food places for dinner, you should be prioritizing healthy foods.

 If driving or getting to your local grocery store is a challenge due to lack of transportation or if you’re at high risk for COVID-19, there are alternative opinions for you. Every community offers Meal Delivery organizations (or websites) which are easy to use services that offer healthy meals. They also come straight to your door, so there is minimal to no contact needed. Your body needs good foods in order to fight off diseases and help you feel good.

 Do Things For Yourself

What makes you happy? If you’re stuck at home with nothing to do, then this is the perfect time to pick some old hobbies or start new ones! Journaling or knitting are all fun ways to express yourself while at home. You can even find virtual events like a book club online to meet new people and socialize.

 Use this time to even buff up your overall look. If you struggle with insecurities like male pattern baldness or wrinkles, then talk to your doctor about hair loss medication or browse the internet for the latest in skincare. It’s important to treat yourself every once in a while. Try to change up your everyday look by adding some fun and vibrant colors back to your wardrobe. Getting dressed sets the tone for your day, so make sure to add the fun to your everyday life.

 Self-care can mean a variety of things, and whichever way you implement it, make sure you’re prioritizing it this season. Wintertime comes with a lot of challenges for seniors, so take care of yourself during these cold and uncertain times because spring is right around the corner!

Remember. Honour. Thank.

 11.11.2020

Today we remember and honour the sacrifice of our Veterans, the brave men and women, including those in the indigenous community, who volunteered, served, fought and in some cases, died, so that we can enjoy the freedom, peace and democracy we have today. To those who served, and continue to serve our country, we are forever grateful. #Rememberanceday #Lestweforget #CanadaRemembers

SeniorCareAccess.com - our new and improved platform!

 As some of our readers may already know, we have been working on a new website for some time. An idea that started 3 years ago, has finally come to be a reality after many revisions, changes and additions. 

A few years ago I recognized that there was a need for more than what Senioropolis.com, and other sites like it, had been providing. Clearly we needed a way to amass more information in an unbiased format, to meet the ever changing needs of Canadian seniors. My original idea was to create a unique format for retirement homes where money was not a factor in their inclusion. I recognized that a membership model would allow for more extensive information being made available to professionals and consumers as opposed to the traditional model where listing information was virtually an advertisement for properties that had budgets and an inclination to post their information on a website that was not their own. 

As my idea came to fruition, I met a person who saw things differently. A year later we became business partners and my idea was advanced to a level never before tried in the sector, as we grew the concept and the site, to have many uses and many portals. We have just relaunched the site in what is its final (for now) form  and are tremendously proud to share our concept with you. 

While the membership concept still exists, it has been expanded to include data on every possible level of care for seniors - everything from independent apartments all the way to palliative care with many different levels and options in between. Additionally, we are expanding that data across the country. Our questionnaire has over 400 fields to cover every permutation we could think of!

We have also created a resource portal which we will be starting to populate shortly . We have come up with over 160 categories of services for seniors and have the ability to add more as others come to pass. What is unique about this portal is that it is, just like the housing section of the site, based on province and then city or town. Those that we list are in areas where there is senior housing in some form or another recognizing that where there are seniors, there will be resources for them. Within each area, categories will appear as they are populated, offering a 'filtering' process for those that choose to access our information (membership for use is not required). 

Our third area is consulting services. Here too, we are locating and training professionals by area/region/city who can work with seniors on any aspect of transition. We have the ability to connect people with professionals from many backgrounds and can walk them through the process of anything related to aging and transitioning. While it is private pay, it is very client-centered, unbiased and in the control of the client. Nothing is done without client consent and approval and they can determine the budget and what they want us to do for that budget. 

Our latest addition to the site, is the amalgamation of what we know to be our Senioropolis platform into SeniorCareAccess.com. Because we know that some homes do wish to 'advertise' and consumers may not need or want a membership, we have begun the process of creating a database similar to what we have on Senioropolis.com but, very much geared to consumers and the changing landscape, as people look to 'visit' homes virtually before making a trip for a physical tour. Filled with information that a consumer wants, including photos and videos, this portal will replace Senioropolis.com as of January 1, 2021. 

For the next few months we will be working on promoting this new platform, and populating it with data, as we move toward the transition (and growth) of the old site to the new one. 

A website like this one, is never static and I suppose, because of that, never really complete. We will always be looking at new ways to do things, new things to add, and innovative ideas to serve our senior population. Our goal, as always, is to be the one-stop-shop for all things senior!

Please take some time to look around SeniorCareAccess.com; if you are a home or resource and interested in joining us, send us an email and we will be sure to get back to you ASAP. If you have thoughts or feedback, we are always open to hearing it and, what you think will make our site even better....... we encourage you to visit us often to see what's new!

June is Seniors Month - Stay Safe, Stay In Touch

This is a June like none other I have experienced. Three months of isloation has been difficult to say the least.

I can only imagine how difficult this has been for seniors; especially those without families to check in on them or, those in residences that have had to make the difficult decison to stop families from visiting their loved ones.

As the weather warms up and we yearn for life to get back to normal, given the long term restrictions in place, it clearly will not be the 'normal' we know, any time soon. We will all need to adjust to a 'new normal' and live with the possibilty of another period of isolation later in the year.

That being said, it is still Seniors' Month. A time to celebrate seniors in our communities for all of their contributions to the world we live in. In previous years there were events in different communities for seniors and their families to participate in. Group activities. Group events. This year, the hope is that communities will "demonstrate safe and innovative ways to celebrate the positive impact that older adults have on our lives" (https://www.ontario.ca/page/celebrating-seniors-ontario).

Every year the Ontario government creates a theme - this year its 'stay safe, stay in touch' - an appropriate one given the current situation. Several seniors activity centres have created virtual programs for seniors in the last few months. I'm certain that some have integrated seniors' month into their offerings. If you are looking for a seniors' program or event in your community or, want to know if a local centre has anything planned, you can look up their contact information on the government of Ontario's seniors' month webpage at https://www.ontario.ca/page/celebrating-seniors-ontario.
For other provinces, simply google "seniors month 2020 + your province or city" - there are bound to be similar provincial or city webpages or links to community centres with virtual events.

If there is a senior in your life, reach out either virutally or on the phone. Let them know you are thinking of them and appreciate all they have done to contribute postively to your life and the world we all live in. As restrictions lighten, ensure you make the time for a visit even if its is one with 6 feet between you! While we should celebrate seniors and their contribution to their families and society every day, with all that has preoccupied us in last few months, acknowledging and celebrating seniors' month is a good reminder to appreciate the elders who enrich our lives every day. Stay safe.

Staying Sane During Social-Distancing

With social-distancing orders in place, it can be easy to feel disconnected not only from those we love most but from our usual daily routines too. Luckily, there are many creative ways and resources to help bring back some normalcy. From writing old fashioned letters to utilizing video chatting tools, today’s technology allows for frequent socialization even when stuck inside. Keep reading to find out how to stay sane by staying connected!

Check-In with Your Family

It’s important to keep your family members up to date on how you’re doing and how you’re feeling. Since it’s encouraged not to see one another right now, it’s easy to feel left out of the loop. This is avoidable by interacting with your loved ones through video chat, text messaging, or social media platforms like Facebook or Instagram. There are even devices available that allow voice-commanded communication to occur. Talk with your family about getting you set up with one of these tools for safe face-to-face communication through a screen. Alternatively, old fashioned letter writing is a great way to stay connected and is a great activity to bond with grandchildren, if you have any.

Stick to a Routine

Although it may seem tempting to spend every day in your pajamas and just lounge on the couch, there can be serious consequences if too many days start to unfold like this. Make it a habit to rise each morning with a grateful heart and a positive mindset. Start your day with something that brings you joy and take care of yourself. Whether that be enjoying a cup of coffee with your partner or reading a book, sticking to a routine will give you something to look forward to every morning. Carry on with your day by practicing your favourite hobbies or learning a new skill. Start a project that you’ve been meaning to get done or find new outdoor places to explore at a safe distance. Get some daily exercise by going for a walk or taking an online video class. Make sure that you fill each day with activities that bring you happiness and make you smile during this stress-inducing time.

Communicate with Your Doctor

As we age, we tend to experience more medical issues, so it is a given that we’ll have to go to more routine doctor visits. In a time where physical contact is discouraged, it may seem difficult to continue with these visits. However, many physicians have shifted to online medical care, also known as telehealth. Check with your primary care doctor to see if they are offering visits through phone calls or video chatting. There are also telemedicine companies available that deliver prescription medication right to your door, so you don’t have to go anywhere to pick up daily medications that you may rely on. With the increase of telemedicine companies in Canada, there’s easier than ever access to healthcare from your own home. Be sure to take advantage of it during this time to minimize travel. 

Use Delivery Services

There are numerous delivery services available so that we can avoid leaving the house and coming in contact with potential carriers of the virus. Just like how you can get medication delivered, it’s also just as easy to get essential items like groceries delivered to your home. Be sure to sanitize anything delivered to you before using it with disinfecting spray or wipes just to be safe. You can also get takeout delivered, arts and crafts supplies, and other items to make this time inside go by before we know it.

Give Back to Others

Most importantly, take this time to support healthcare workers and essential employees on the frontlines by completing little acts of kindness. If you are skilled in sewing, consider making fabric face masks to donate to those who need them. Make monetary donations to local charities that help fund food banks if you can spare any change or give educational resources to underprivileged students. Create thank you cards to send to those that you know who are helping your community. Showing your appreciation will not only make those working hard to feel noticed, but it will also bring you happiness by knowing that you’re making others smile! Above all, stay at home to protect yourself and others. We will get through this together and in the meantime, enjoy this excuse to talk to your family every day and get some projects done. 

Musings from Isolation

What a difference a few weeks can make! As with most people I know, the last month has been spent at home with my family as we self-isolate; our living space has become a workplace and school. We hope daily, like the rest of the world, for a return to normalcy, to routine, and to everything else we took for granted. Our weekdays and weekends have melded into one and weariness has set in. We miss human contact. We miss family and friends. We miss our freedom to come and go without thought, planning or a set of gloves in our pockets. We miss being able to go to a grocery store and not wait in line. We miss being able to walk next to someone without a mutual fear of catching a virus. There are days I feel like we are in the midst of an apocolypse. It is as if we are at war but our enemy is something we cannot see. And we worry. We worry about who we know who will fall ill. We worry about businesses that will not survive. We worry about the long term economic impact. How long will it take us to recover, as individuals and as a nation?

There is more uncertainty than I care to acknowledge right now, but I've come to realize that if we hope to function in this 'temporary new normal', we need to remove what we can't control from the equation.

We need to focus on what we can control and what we are grateful for. Each day, find one thing to be thankful for. Write it down. Say it out loud. Be grateful for the health of your loved ones, having people who love and care for and about you, the roof over your head and the food on your table. When it comes down to it, those are the only things that really matter.

Create a routine. Whatever that might be; something to give you a reason to get up in the morning and begin a new day different from the one before. Reach out to family and friends virtually. It's not quite the same as in person, but it does provide human interaction. Reach out to those in need. Look after your neighbour who needs help or groceries or a meal. Reach out to seniors in your life who are especially feeling isolated right now. Exercise. Read that book you have been wanting to read but never had time to. Try a new recipe or ten. Enjoy the outdoors when the weather is good. Spend time with those who are home with you; when this is over and everyone gets back to work and school and friends, you may long for that time when everyone ate a meal together. And remember, this too shall pass; one day, this experience will simply be a distant memory.

Stay safe, and stay home. #flattenthecurve.