It is often said that the retirement years are the best years of your life. While I don’t dispute that, there is a caveat. 

In our employment years, we were guided by others. We had a job to do, usually set out by the company or the boss. We simply did it. In other words, our weekdays were mapped out for us. We followed the path as determined by others. 

But times have changed. We are now older and most likely not in full-time employment. We may have a part-time job, or we may look after the grandkids, but each day can present the same challenge – “What am I going to do today?” 

So, how do we stay relevant? How do we keep busy? How do we avoid the dreaded retirement boredom? It can be a serious challenge for many of us. 

The solution is what I call “The three Principles of Activity”: 

1. Stay physically active 

2. Stay mentally active 

3. Stay psychologically active 

STAY PHYSICALLY ACTIVE 

Without doubt, as we age “up” our body starts to break down. We have medical ailments that persist. We may need medication more. The body slows down and sometimes the knees don’t get started until way past ten o’clock in the morning. Yet the solution is relatively straightforward – keep active. 

Brian O’Hara, former Chairman and CEO of the XL Group can certainly relate to this. He says, 

“(My wife) Nancy and I love to play golf and tennis and would do one or the other every day but for another issue that comes with age, the body begins to break down on some of us. For me, my knee required replacement and unfortunately it acquired a staph infection from the surgery which required three additional surgeries over the year. This year my hip required replacement which fortunately is recovering very well. Now I’m finally getting back to the golf and tennis plus using the gym equipment to rebuild strength and endurance.” 

STAY MENTALLY ACTIVE 

The brain is a wonderful organ. It has kept you going for decades, now it’s time you gave it a helping hand. It doesn’t like to be idle. In fact, your brain downright hates to be “asleep”. It needs to be intentionally stimulated because if you help your brain, your brain will help you to maintain purpose and relevance in life. 

Brian agrees. “While I read a lot of business articles online to keep up with the latest trends and developments, especially in my industry, I also took on the project of writing a memoir which kept me busy daily during the entire 2019 year. Brian’s book is called “It’s not the Score, It’s the Trip” and is available on Amazon. 

STAY PSYCHOLOGICALLY ACTIVE 

Perhaps the most important “activity” as we age is being at peace with ourselves, our life, and our approach to life. 

We may have to accept that our mind and body are in slower motion these days, but the trick is to essentially ignore this fact and get on with life. Losing interest in life is the fastest way to accelerate deterioration. We need stimulation or what I call “Psycho-Motivation”. 

THE PLAN 

As we approach retirement, we are often convinced that we need a plan. We need a list of things to do, or things we have always wanted to do, such as that Caribbean cruise. 

The problem, though, is sticking to the plan. It’s like New Year resolutions – we say we will lose weight this year and by January 15th we’ve forgotten all about it. 

The concern is that the resolution only lasted for a few days, but this retirement gig is for the rest of your life. Not a few days but many years – perhaps up to another third of your life. 

Brian said, “When I retired in 2010, Nancy asked me to not accept business activities for one year which I did and found to be a great choice. It allowed me to unwind from the intense stress I experienced from the Financial Crisis of 2008 – 2010. 

In 2011 I began to be open to accepting Insurance and Reinsurance business activities but only if they involved new and/or original products, or game changing activities which I have been doing with great satisfaction. I also ruled out being on any Public Corporate Boards – Private only.” 

But don’t be fooled into thinking that once you have developed your plan that your life is sorted. It isn’t. 

Things change day by day. What you thought a great idea when you retired didn’t work out, but instead of finding a substitute, you dropped it completely. Not good. 

Your plan must be realistic and achievable. It must be flexible, and you must adapt it to changing circumstances or new ideas or simply mood swings. You can’t beat yourself up for not accomplishing that grand plan from a few years back. 

The critical thing is to be aware that things will change, and you must adapt to changes – and seek new things to do, new ideas, new people to meet, new hobbies etc. These changes may be internal – where you decide to do something different – or the change may be external – where actions from other people or events cause you to re-think and re-structure. 

Regardless, staying relevant in your later years is essential to your well-being – physically, mentally, and psychologically. Purpose in life provides peace, comfort, and hopefully, lots of joy. 

The post Staying Relevant as You Age appeared first on RG Magazines.

Elizabeth Stewart’s mother was 67 when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and she had nowhere to turn for information or support. She was given no information about how to find a caregiver; what’s covered by insurance; advice on medications and medical check-ups; and many other questions that flooded her mind as she came to terms with her mother’s diagnosis. 

She said she felt a sense of isolation. “Back then you literally left the doctor’s office with a diagnosis and no advice or follow-up. There was nowhere to turn. 

“Mom seemed so young to have this condition and I needed to find ways to help her. We also didn’t know what to do, or who to turn to, as her condition progressed.” 

To spare other families from the stress and worry of no information or support, Liz founded Action on Alzheimer’s & Dementia (AAD) Bermuda in 2012. The charity organised a three-day dementia care-training workshop for Bermuda’s health care workers facilitated by trainers from Dementia UK. It was an approach that would help as many people as possible and the workshop – that trained more than 100 healthcare workers – was oversubscribed -showing strong interest and a wide knowledge gap. 

Ms. Stewart is still grateful for the support she received from XL for hosting that first workshop that launched the work of the charity. 

Nine years on, the organisation provides ongoing services for people with Alzheimer’s and Dementia, such as group activity sessions at church halls, music, arts and crafts, movement classes, and chair yoga. 

Ms Stewart said, “We also take these activities into care homes because there is otherwise a real lack of engagement for residents in care homes, unless they are in large enough homes to have an activities coordinator. Most residents have nothing to do all day except sit in a chair – which is not very stimulating.” 

Due to the pandemic, the activities are now online which has extended the reach of the programmes. Ms Stewart said, “We do activity sessions over Zoom now. If you’re on our mailing list, we send out the zoom details for anyone who wants to join by computer or iPad right from your home. The care homes can call in as well, for their residents. 

“The activities are really important. It keeps people moving and active, it gives them something to do and enjoy, along with a sense of purpose.” 

AAD also runs a support group meeting once a month for families of people with Alzheimer’s and Dementia. It’s a safe place for family members to ask questions and share stories. 

AAD encourages people to ask more about their diagnosis from their GP and to find out the cause of their Dementia. Is it Alzheimer’s diseases, vascular dementia, or some other form of dementia? There can be different treatment plans for different diagnoses. 

Marie Fay, Bermuda’s Occupational Therapist specialising in Dementia care, works with AAD. She provides free home assessments, occupational therapy, and weekly activity groups for those living with Dementia. 

Ms Stewart said, “It’s wonderful for the family to get a good, impartial picture of what’s happening with their loved one, especially if they don’t yet see the signs. You may think someone is fine but when an OT spends half a day with them and can report on how well they did, how self-sufficient they are, or not, and whether they are caring for themselves safely, these are things that the family doesn’t always see. Maybe they left the stove on – or they caught the bus and got off at the wrong stop – or they almost left their wallet somewhere – or were overly generous with their money.” 

“Seeing these early signs can help families plan ahead. We often see people at the point of crisis, when the condition becomes unmanageable and they need a caregiver in a hurry. It’s always better for the patient and the family when we start thinking and planning early in the process”, she said. 

Action on Alzheimer’s & Dementia maintains a large list of interested parties and sends monthly newsletters with information and articles to support them. They also share the latest information from Alzheimer’s Disease International with access to their online educational calls. 

Ms Stewart said, “We help people with any questions they have. We’ve helped find caregivers before, we’ve helped navigate the government system of financial assistance, ageing and disabilities and we’re filling a hole of what’s not available through the Government. We’ve been the social worker in some cases, the liaison between families and insurance companies, and more.” 

“We really encourage people over 60 to plan for their future now. We generally don’t like to think about ‘What happens when I die or if I become incapacitated’ – nobody wants to think about these things, but we really should.” 

More information and contact details for Action on Alzheimer’s & Dementia (AAD) can be found online at: www. Alzbermuda.com 

The post Action on Alzheimer’s & Dementia (AAD): Bermuda services for Age 60+ 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] 

The post Impact of the Pandemic on Seniors and Lessons Learned appeared first on RG Magazines.