It goes without saying that the events of the past year have challenged families to pull together like never before. In your seventies, where you once might have looked forward to weekly or even daily visits with the grandchildren to the point that you almost took this time together for granted, you now savor even the simplest form of human interaction.

As much as it is tempting to long for the things you have lost, the social distancing requirements of the pandemic are also an opportunity to strengthen your internet skills and stretch yourself to become more virtually connected to your younger family members than ever before. 

Trying to work, supervise home schooling, get the groceries ordered, and cook three meals a day can be a stressful juggling act for even the most accomplished millennial mom, and internet-savvy elders can provide them with a much-needed break by spending some quality time online with the grandkids. 

The many ways to help virtually with schoolwork include helping children to practice their reading skills, quizzing them on their times tables, helping them study for an upcoming spelling test, or assisting with research assignments. And don’t underestimate how much your younger grandchildren might enjoy a virtual teddy bear tea party or a simple bedtime story.

You can also spend quality time online with teens by watching a video together, supervising baking or pizza making, or doing crafts and art projects together, thereby creating the perfect opportunity to chat with them about their goals for the future, or help them investigate online courses, career options or employment possibilities.

If you are able-bodied, you might also be able to lend a “social-distanced” hand walking the family dog, weeding the garden, planting a family vegetable patch, assisting with exterior home repairs, or swinging by your local grocery store for their curbside grocery pickup and then depositing the shopping bags on the front porch of your relative’s home. 

You’ve heard the expression that “families that play together stay together” but have you considered all the other little ways that families depend on each other for advice and support, or just a safe place to vent their frustrations? 

Yes, it might be a little awkward to ask your younger relatives how they are managing financially during a group video call, but don’t rule out the idea of scheduling someone one-on-one time with your adult child to go over the numbers and strategies for stretching a dollar in new ways. 

The key to maintaining strong family bonds in the age of COVID-19 is simple – be open minded and flexible, listen when they just need to talk, and offer virtual support and assistance in any way you can think of.

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Your neighbourhood pharmacist has long been a trusted figure that people turned to for wellness advice. This role has intensified since the arrival of COVID-19, with pharmacists worldwide playing a key role in helping people stay well while they are social distancing – and also to minimize the spread of the pandemic.

Here in Bermuda, all pharmacists are committed to ensuring that access to health services remain readily available and that they can continue to safely interact directly with members of the community. In addition to following all Ministry of Health guidelines, pharmacies from Robertson’s in St. Georges, to Somerset Pharmacy in Mangrove Bay are also offering free delivery to encourage island residents to stay home and stay safe.

Your neighbourhood pharmacist has long been your trusted advisor on everything from sprained ankles, to blood sugar monitoring, constipation, headache remedies and vitamin supplements.  But now, like never before, your pharmacist is also your “go-to” expert for advice on wellness, social distancing, hygiene strategy, disease prevention, and infection control.

“At the moment, pharmacists are the only healthcare professionals that anyone can consult face-to-face without even making an appointment,” commented Siân Bowen, Chief Pharmacist for Phoenix Stores. “A lot of people have been putting off seeing the doctor due to the pandemic and we offer extended hours seven days a week to accommodate everyone.”

Even pharmacies in outlying parishes have noticed an increase in business over the last year. Once the lockdown started, Robertson’s in St. Georges began to see new shoppers who were suddenly working remotely from home and these customers have continued to visit the store.

In accordance with government guidelines, plexiglass has been installed in all pharmacy locations to protect both customers and staff, and pharmacists are rethinking their interactions with customers to limit touch points as much as possible.

“That said, customers are welcome to discuss their medications in person and our pharmacists are also happy to provide phone consultations for anyone who is elderly, or quarantining and can’t get out”, Ms. Bowen explained. “Thanks to the internet there are all sorts of COVID-19 wellness trends floating about, and we play an important role in helping to dispel myths and ensure that people get correct information”.

Bermuda pharmacies also offer a range of wellness services including blood pressure and weight monitoring at Clarendon, the Phoenix, Collector’s Hill, and Warwick locations; and many stores can also provide a free generic meter for diabetes management.

Given the high cost of medications, it is not surprising that many people are currently struggling to pay for their prescriptions and local pharmacies are supporting their customers with a variety of initiatives including seniors’ discounts.

Head Pharmacist at the Bermuda Diabetes Foundation Melissa Levy explains: “As a result of the pandemic quite a number of people are either under-insured, or un-insured and are finding it difficult to afford medication” she said. “We want people to know that our pharmacy is for everyone, not just those with diabetes.

Given that one of the best ways to reduce the cost of your medications is to take better care of yourself, we have introduced a number of new programs to improve and promote wellness of island residents.

Our ‘Know Your Diabetes’ program is a teaching breakfast workshop which focuses on self-care, meal planning, and starting the day with a healthy, safe breakfast as a means to promote wellness, and thereby reduce the incidence of complications which can be very expensive.”

The “Know Your Medications” program offers individuals the opportunity to make an appointment to have all of their medications reviewed by a pharmacist who will offer advice including the best time to take medications to improve effectiveness, help avoid side effects, as well as looking for possible adverse drug interactions. 

“As we are a charity, the Bermuda Diabetes Association also has a Client Assistance Program (CAP) to help individuals cover the cost of medications on a short-term basis, and recipients are selected as a result of an interview process,” she shared.

For more information regarding the location of your nearest pharmacy, their hours of operation, and the services that they are providing, please consult google maps.

The post Filling the Gap During the Pandemic appeared first on RG Magazines.

Looking for a way to get a little fresh air, exercise and boost your vitamin D intake this winter? Look no further than Bermuda’s many golf venues where sun, sand-traps, and social distancing are the new normal.

All of Bermuda’s golf venues are open and adhering to the Ministry of Health’s guidelines to ensure health and safety of staff and patrons alike and offer a range of activities to suit enthusiasts of all ages, stages of life and skill levels. 

Starting at the East End you can enjoy a nine- or eighteen-hole round of golf at Tucker’s Point golf course whose undulating fairways feature elevated tees, dramatic water views and quick putting surfaces. In addition to regular rounds of gold they feature a year-round “9 Hole Sundown Series” and also offer a Senior’s Discount. Unsure your game is up to scratch? Not to worry, they also offer a myriad of private and group lessons to help you brush up everything from your short game to bunker shots.

Heading over to Devonshire, Ocean View Golf Course on Barkers Hill has a 4-Star Golf Digest rating and offers a nine-hole course with a tricky Par 70 in tranquil surroundings just a short seven-minute drive from the City of Hamilton. Their budget friendly “Play All Day” fee and $5 driving range make golf an affordable option for just about everyone.

As you start to drive westward, don’t forget to check out Belmont Hills Golf Course whose narrow fairways and multi-tiered greens offer a challenge for any handicap and also has dining options available at both Divots and Blu Bar & Grill. 

Despite the fact that the hotel is closed for renovations, the Turtle Hill Golf Club on the grounds of the Fairmont Southampton Princess is open all winter and features a par three course with manicured fairways and water vistas making it no wonder that it was Winner of Golf Digest’s “Best Places to Play Golf”. Check out the back nine for a leisurely round of “Sunset Golf” and be sure to take advantage of their Walking rate for a budget friendly option.

They have also pioneered Foot Golf, a fun activity for the young and young at heart and the newest sport to come to Bermuda, which is played by kicking a soccer ball into extra-large “golf” cups on the golf course. To make your reservations, contact the golf shop at Turtle Hill.

Looking for a PGA level challenge to go with your whale watching? Check out Port Royal on Middle Road, home of the Bermuda Championship and the island’s longest golf course which offers sunset golf, a special rate for island residents, as well as an added discount for seniors.

If a fun family outing is more to your liking why not try the Bermuda Golf Academy on Industrial Park Road, Southampton? Bermuda Fun Golf at the Dockyard, with holes inspired by famous golf courses, offers a driving range as well as mini golf and is currently operating Thursday to Sunday from noon to 10:00 pm.

For more information, or to book a tee time, visit your favourite golf venue website. 

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We know that there are some residents who are concerned about getting vaccinated now that the Pfizer-BioNTech is available in Bermuda. In this article, I will outline some of the main benefits.

To start, let me speak about vaccines in general. Globally, vaccines save millions of lives each year and prevent countless more from contracting a variety of viral diseases. Indeed, the only human disease ever to be eradicated (Smallpox) was by vaccination. After clean water and good sanitation, vaccination is the single most important action an individual can take to protect themselves and their loved ones. This has never been more important as we seek to reduce the social, economic, and health impacts of the COVID-19 onslaught.    

The COVID-19 vaccination will help keep you from getting COVID-19 disease.

All COVID-19 vaccines currently licenced have been shown to be highly effective at preventing COVID-19. Indeed, the Pfizer vaccine that we currently have has been shown to be 95% effective when individuals take the two doses that are recommended.

Getting vaccinated yourself will also protect people around you.

If sufficient people in the country are vaccinated, the virus is less able to spread as the number of susceptible people is low, creating dead end infections. This means that you are not only able to protect yourself but also help protect the people you interact with, especially those at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Those individuals in higher risk groups include the elderly and those who are extremely clinically vulnerable. If you have any questions about your vulnerability, please talk with your primary care physician.

COVID-19 vaccination is a safer way to help build protection

Getting COVID-19 may offer some natural protection, known as immunity. However, experts don’t know for sure how long this protection lasts, and the risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 far outweighs any benefits of natural immunity. COVID-19 vaccination will help protect you by creating an immune response without having to experience sickness. Protection from the vaccine has been shown to be superior to that from natural infection.

COVID-19 vaccination will be an important tool to help stop the pandemic

Wearing masks, physical distancing, good hand hygiene, and downloading the WeHealth Bermuda app will help reduce your chance of being exposed to the virus or spreading it to 

others, but these measures are not enough. Vaccines will work with your immune system so it will be ready to fight the virus if you are exposed. We owe it to ourselves, to our loved ones and to the Bermudian community at large to use every tool at our disposal to try and slow the spread of the coronavirus.

For information on vaccines and how the COVID-19 vaccination will be administered, as well as frequently asked questions on the vaccine, visit www.gov.bm/vaccines.

To register your interest in receiving the vaccine go to https://forms.gov.bm/covidvaccine

The post The benefits of getting the COVID-19 vaccine appeared first on RG Magazines.

The challenge of steering an organization that people turn to in crisis is that you are forever trying to anticipate what will happen next. Rather than hope that you won’t be needed, you train to be ready to serve regardless of when or how the threat emerges. 

Diane Gordon, Disaster Manager for the Bermuda Red Cross, has devoted eight years to assisting the organization in building up its capacity to respond and assist during any community crisis. “Bermuda doesn’t really have disasters nationally but 2020 was a year like no other,” she explained, “and it tested everything we have been training for all this time.” 

Not typically considered a first responder like the police or the fire department, the Bermuda Red Cross is now a major participant in the field of disaster preparedness and recovery. They have trained 42 responders to assist on a national and community level and have worked closely with the Ministry and Department of Health since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 to be a global pandemic in March 2020. 

From the outset, the Bermuda Red Cross has assisted the Department of Health with the tracing and tracking of returning residents. “We placed 19,000 phone calls between March and July last year. We also processed paperwork and checked on individuals who were self-quarantining, as well as those who were placed in the government quarantine facility during the lockdown,” said Ms. Gordon. 

“Thanks to an initial donation of 120,000 masks, and funding through The Bermuda Community Foundation, we were able to procure and distribute 261,000 masks island wide to rest home residents, essential services who ran low on PPE supplies, churches, seniors and Bermuda’s most vulnerable populations.” 

In May, Bermuda Red Cross also began operating a help line which is manned by trained Psychosocial First Aid Responders (PSFA) who are available to assist any members of the community who are feeling overwhelmed or anxious. “People are being bombarded with information and often don’t know what to believe. Seniors in particular who don’t have a lot of family can benefit from having someone to chat with about what is going on,” she explained. “Our volunteers are also trained to refer individuals needing more comprehensive assistance to the appropriate agency.” 

However, regular members of the community are not always comfortable reaching out to a helpline when they feel stressed. In an effort to help the general public (as well as the first responders themselves) gain access to information on dealing with stress, and coping with grief and loss, Ms. Gordon also made regular appearances on Miss Thang’s radio show on ZBM 95 FM this past summer with a variety of different speakers to let people know that the feelings they are experiencing are normal. 

Heading into 2021 Ms. Gordon is optimistic but cautious as the efforts of the Bermuda Red Cross move from simply responding to the onset of the pandemic and social distancing measures, to looking at how to protect the mental, physical, and economic health of island residents and weary first responders alike on a sustained basis. 

“We have learned much during the past year,” she explained. “I knew that our 42 responders would come to the aid of our community like never before during this challenging time, and they have exceeded my every expectation. Thanks to the outstanding performance of everyone on our team, the Bermuda Red Cross is now a key disaster and recovery co-operator with other agencies and government bodies across the island.” 

Currently, the Bermuda Red Cross is discussing with Government the best way to assist with vaccination efforts. They have also embarked on a vaccine public education campaign to ensure that the elderly and members of the community “most at risk” receive printed copies of accurate information, and they are also looking at the feasibility of providing rides for seniors with appointments for vaccinations. 

For more information on the services provided by the Bermuda Red Cross consult www.bermudaredcross.com 

The post THE BERMUDA RED CROSS – Serving the Island During the Pandemic appeared first on RG Magazines.

This time of pandemic has been a great challenge, and an amazing testament to our mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual strength to carry on toward a new normal. 

No matter our community outcome of this challenge, it is always helpful to assess where you are in your personal life. 

Being financially healthy means that you are in harmony with your relationships in work, retirement, family, relatives, community, and your money. 

In other words, you must take care of you first before you can take care for others! 

The general financial components of a financial health review are: 

Cash management 

o Do you have enough cash savings to draw on? 

Advisors recommend three-six months of current expenses, however, in this current environment, a year of savings is a more comfortable goal, particularly if your extended family needs assistance. 

Is it easily accessible? 

o Do you keep some cash at home in a safe place? 

We won’t quickly forget the Friday blackout where digital cash and credit was unavailable while old-fashioned ordinary cash worked. 

Debt management efficiency 

o Do you still carry debt? 

o What is your percentage of good debt and bad debt? 

Appreciating assets are low interest rate borrowings: home, education, vehicle, etc. 

Bad debt is using high interest rate credit cards to purchase ordinary household items, food, etc. 

o Can you reduce or eliminate bad debt payments? 

Risk / contingency planning 

o Life insurance – Do you own any? 

Struggling to pay premiums on a life policy? Rather than cancelling the policy, can you convert to a term policy to keep the protection with a lower cost? 

o Property insurance – Carry as much replacement value coverage as you can afford. 

Remember Hurricane Fabian – 50% island of our island roofs were covered in blue tarps! 

o Health insurance – A valuable benefit if employed. Challenging cost if unemployed. 

Do yourself a favour to protect yourself as best you can. Start now to work hard to maintain good physical health. It will place less demand on your valuable resources. 

Asset appreciation in investments, tangible property, and your human capital 

o Investments – are they diversified enough? 

Stressful personal financial times don’t support investing in highly volatile securities, e.g. penny stocks, bitcoin, or large amounts in one security. 

o Your pension should have same thought process – diversified. 

If still working, put away that voluntary one-two percent, you will never miss it – and it will be welcome extra cash at retirement. 

o Real estate may be your biggest life-time investment. Make it a premium goal to pay off your mortgage before retiring, before any other investing! 

o But your human capital is an even greater appreciating investment. It lasts forever – no matter how dire your circumstances. Keep up life-long learning and continuing education to further enhance your problem-solving skills. 

Your estate legacy 

o Check pension and life insurance beneficiaries, executing a will, and correct titling on all assets – make sure they reflect your wishes! 

Achieving equilibrium in your financial health can lead to powerful changes in confidence, better family and personal relationships, significant career successes, and a more comfortable retirement. 

The post Are you financially healthy? appeared first on RG Magazines.

By Jeremy Deacon 

There are few people who have not been touched by COVID-19 – a relative or friend who has been infected, a lost job, isolation, and loneliness. 

The Island’s seniors have not escaped the impact, with helping agencies seeing both good and bad effects, as routines are interrupted and the ability to get out and about curtailed. 

Calvin Ming, of the Salvation Army, says the immediate impact of the pandemic was “a little bit disastrous for some of the elderly” – the people the organisation services, and those that might be unfortunate or marginalized in society. 

“It was scary in the beginning because many of their connections were cut. And of course, for the elderly, that was a serious thing. When connections are severed, it leads to a huge increase in anxiety,” said Mr Ming. 

“Now, ironically, this is the group that also went through some tough times years ago. I heard someone say, ‘We’re right back to where we were during the war’. That was a little bit scary for them. 

“But I responded, ‘Well, what did you do then? How did you survive?’ Then they started to tell their stories about how they had to live. We were then able say, ‘Look, God got you through that. He’s going to get us through this.’” 

It gave seniors something they could associate with, said Mr Ming, “and helped them understand that they were going to be taken care of, if not by The Salvation Army, by other churches and charities.” 

That changed when shelter in place ended. “Now that they could leave their homes, they were feeling a little bit disconnected again and anxiety levels started to increase. We had to actually make sure that we provided telephone numbers to call for things like transport.” 

He added: “It wasn’t all bad. I think many families got a chance to spend some time together, which they would not normally have been able to do. The part that I didn’t like was the shelter in place.” 

“Many seniors were lonely and had to find some other things to do. We said, ‘Look, go next door or (have) some other folks come around and see what we can do about building your own little bubble.” 

On the overall impact, Mr Ming said: “I think positive and negative. There was a sense of loss, that ‘I was losing part of me because this is what I’m used to doing, and I’m no longer connected, or I find it hard to connect.’ It’s this that I believe many of our elderly were feeling.” 

“But there was also a sense that ‘somebody was taking care of me, somebody that I didn’t know, and I hadn’t met before. I now know some new people. I now know some new avenues of connecting.’ Somebody said, ‘I was afraid of using a computer, but in order for me to worship, I have to learn how to use a computer’. Now, how could that be bad?” 

Speaking on his fears, hopes and expectations for the people the Salvation Army helps (especially seniors), Mr Ming says, “First of all, I would hope that seniors understand that they are loved and cared for. Number two, I would hope that the marginalized will understand that they can gain a sense of independence. It’s an opportunity, I believe. 

“Every crisis is an opportunity to learn. And I believe people have to say, ‘What can I learn out of this? What can I learn for me or for my family? How can we come together as a family and pull with what we have?’” 

Meals on Wheels has been hugely impacted in the way it operates but has managed to maintain its operations. It has 45 seniors currently volunteering, five in the kitchen and 40 as drivers/deliverers. However, the percentage of volunteers who are seniors has dropped from 83% before COVID-19 to 60% now. 

“When the problems started, most seniors stepped aside out of caution, understandably, but many have come back, feeling the driving/ delivering roles are pretty safe if done carefully,” said Peter Smith, the President of Meals on Wheels. 

He added: “Our volunteers, the backbone of our organization, have had to adjust their lives to the new reality. That, of course, meant many of our old stalwarts stepped aside and new ones had to be found and trained.” 

He said during COVID-19 about 100 people have served as volunteers, including a number of professional kitchen staff who supported the charity during the time their restaurants were closed. “We now have about 75 active volunteers and are always in need of more,” he added. 

“We are currently serving about 180 clients regularly or about 720 meals a week. These clients are all unable to produce a meal for themselves and have no one they can depend on to do this for them. Many also have specific dietary requirements such as diabetic or renal diets. 

“The process of evaluating an applicant, of ensuring they meet our criteria and of establishing their dietary needs is an important part of our operation. Our client services manager tries to personally interview each applicant, visit them in their home, and speak to their doctor to confirm dietary needs. Carrying this out has been particularly challenging during the pandemic.” 

Mr Smith added: “The impact of the coronavirus has placed significant financial burdens on our clients. Prior to the pandemic approximately 60% of our clients were able to pay something towards the cost of meal production and we had a sliding scale of charges to meet their ability to pay. However, many who had previously been able to contribute something towards the cost of the meal suddenly found themselves unable to do so.” 

As a result, the meals were provided for free and it is hoped to be able to continue this until the coronavirus crisis is over and the economy has started to improve. 

While some are, necessarily, being provided with food, others have taken it upon themselves to grow their own and Chaplain Dr. Kevin Santucci, who runs the Grow Eat and Save Gardening Workshop, has seen many seniors take advantage of his scheme. 

“In 2017, the Health Department and I stepped out with the first classes,” said Chaplain Santucci. “Our aim was to enhance the development of a National Nutrition Policy for food security on the island. We recognized that this could only be done through the people of Bermuda having accessibility, affordability, and sustainability through growing their own healthy foods.” 

Now in its fifth year, the workshop offers two classes a year for eight weeks. Chaplin Santucci still serves as the senior garden instructor, alongside other garden instructors and 15 volunteer gardeners. The goal of the garden class is to see that every class member has a good foundation in gardening. 

“In 2000 I spoke with former Minister Dale Butler about the need to prepare Bermuda for a day when the wholesalers and grocery stores will not be able to provide fresh vegetables as they would like for our citizens. 

“I went on to say, Bermuda should look at a plan to help its people grow their own foods. Since COVID-19, we have seen these things come to pass. The impact has been greatly felt by all, but especially by our seniors, who for the most part live on a fixed income. 

“During this time, the Grow Eat and Save Workshop has been able to still teach, and I am happy to report that our seniors have taken advantage of these classes with other citizens to learn how to grow food and save money.” 

He added: “During this pandemic, staying at home, avoiding public spaces, and working remotely are all important steps required to reduce the spread of the virus. But for many people, especially our seniors, this is not the safest option. 

“The stay-at-home orders and shelter-in-place options have also become a life-threatening area for our seniors and others. Their physical and mental health has been compromised in the very place where they should feel safe, which is their home. 

“Gardening can help connect us with nature, and helps us focus on the bigger picture, which can alleviate symptoms of depression. Also, the physical aspect of gardening releases feel-good chemicals in the brain such as serotonin and dopamine. A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; it teaches industry and thrift; above all it teaches entire trust. 

“We have seen an increase in all ages of class members to the Grow Eat and Save Workshop. But the seniors have shown a higher interest and we have a number of seniors helping in different ways in the gardening workshop, even as plot leaders.” 

Chaplain Santucci added: “Today I appeal to Bermuda to take out a little more time to support our seniors because they have the wisdom, but not the strength, to do the needed work. Let us take out a moment for them, and in return, you will leave much wiser than you came.” 

For more information and registration on the Grow, Eat, and Save Gardening Workshop. You can contact Mrs. Mellonie Furbert, BS, RD Public Health Nutritionist at the Department of Health. Telephone: 441 – 278 6467 / Extension: 6467 / Email: [email protected] 

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