Category: Health

It seems many people are under more general stress these days on multiple levels – the pace of daily life,  the global pandemic, political unrest, and the economy – so who couldn’t use a little laughter in their lives, especially around April Fool’s Day? United Active Living is regularly incorporating Laughter Yoga into their program schedules.

Laughter Yoga doesn’t require headstands or other sometimes difficult physical positions. It’s a series of gentle movement and breathing exercises designed to stimulate laughter and bring more joy into our lives. There are no jokes involved, but rather it’s a blend of deep breathing, gentle stretching, laughter exercises, and playful games and activities.

“I started doing Laughter Yoga in 2001 after a serious car accident that left me with a broken back and paralysis from the waist down,” said Cheryl Oberg, who shares her gift of humour and laughter at conferences as a keynote speaker, with families and children in hospitals, seniors communities, corporate workplaces, schools, college, and universities. “It took me three years to recover, and I used laughter yoga to help me manage my pain.”

Laughter yoga was created in 1995 by Dr. Madan Kataria, a doctor in India who wanted to find an alternative way of treating his patients, many of whom were suffering from stress-related illnesses.

“The whole point is to get more oxygen into our bodies,” said Cheryl, who works with other laughter facilitators through Calgary Laughter Yoga. “As we get older, we are less mobile, and getting more oxygen improves our mood and reduces stress and pain.” She likens it to a child’s teeter-totter. Fear, anger, and pain are on one side, joy, laughter, and play on the other. The two sides can’t exist at the same time, so by increasing our joy, laughter, and play, negative emotions are reduced.

Cheryl says a simple smile can work wonders. “Walk into a room with a smile on your face, and it becomes contagious. Everyone begins to feel better. In my sessions, I will demonstrate a few exercises, and the participants follow along. At first, the laughter may be forced, but eventually, it becomes real and the whole room is laughing.”

“I think as we get older we have to give ourselves permission to laugh out loud. Children do it naturally, but adults control themselves more. We should open ourselves to more opportunities to laugh. There are no downsides, so try to find something every day that brings a smile or laughter into your life.”

Photos by United Active Living. Videos by Sherana Productions.

Speak with one of our active living advisors about life in a United community. They can arrange tours of our Garrison Green and Fish Creek communities. If you know a friend or family member who could benefit from living in a United community, send them a link to our website or blog, or arrange a future visit. We are happy to help! 

To learn more about life at United’s Fish Creek community, watch this short video.

Or, to find out more about life at United’s Garrison Green, watch this short video.

Did you know that United Active Living’s two communities have trial stay and respite suites available for anyone who needs a little extra care after an illness or who wants to see what living in an older adult community is all about? The respite/trial stay suites – one at Fish Creek and two at Garrison Green –  are intended to help you recover from surgery, to provide a supportive environment while your caregiver is away, or to give you a taste of living in one of our communities.

“Our respite services are very flexible,” said Kera Redlack, United’s director of health and wellness. “Anyone can use them, and the reasons are varied. Perhaps a spouse needs a break from caregiving, or you are recovering from surgery and the home environment may not give you the rest you need. Whatever your circumstance, our respite suites are there for you.”

A respite stay includes three professionally prepared meals each day, a private furnished suite, and access to all of United’s amenities including art studios and musical performances. Should you need additional health care, our professional nursing staff can create a plan for you.

“Spending a few days or a couple of weeks in our respite suite, which can also be used simply as a guest suite, is a great way to experience the community,” said Carolyn Smith, active living advisor, Fish Creek. “People gain a better understanding about what living in an older adult community would be like, and when they go home many people tell us they really miss the community.”

Maddison Klein, active living associate at Garrison Green agrees. “I think the experience of a short-term stay really helps someone get over any nervousness about living in an older adult community. A respite stay also helps the family understand the support the parent will have in the community, which gives them peace of mind.”

“When someone chooses to stay with us, we will do a wellness consultation with them when they come in,” said Kera. “Our focus in this case would be to determine their immediate needs and short-term goals. From that, we develop a wellness plan for them. This helps us determine whether there are any food allergies, what medications they require and whether they might need help showering or getting dressed. At the same time, we introduce them to the community and answer any questions they may have about meals, programs and their time with us.”

Kera knows there is increasing demand for respite stays in a community setting rather than in hospital or at home. “Generally, respite stays are used by families to give the caregiver a break or as a trial stay to see what life would be like in one of our communities.”

At United, you will find a range of independent, assisted and memory care lifestyle choices, world-class arts and culture programs, fine and casual dining that fits your lifestyle and your schedule. Our kitchen is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. with no restrictions on meal times or table assignments.

Photos by United Active Living. Videos by Sherana Productions.

Don’t hesitate to talk with one of our active living advisors about life in a United community. They can arrange for a tour at your convenience. If you know a friend or family member who could benefit from living in a United community, send them a link to our website or blog, or arrange a future visit. We are happy to help! 

To learn more about life at United’s Fish Creek community, watch this short video.

Or, to find out more about life at United’s Garrison Green, watch this short video.

Falling is a major cause of injury among Canadian seniors. Statistics show that 85% of all senior injury-related hospitalizations are caused by falls, with falls being the cause of 95% of all hip fractures. So what can be done?

“Staying active and educated are two incredibly important ways to keep from becoming part of those statistics,” said Heather Wiebe, kinesiologist at United’s Garrison Green.

As part of Fall Prevention Month in November, United’s full-time kinesiologists, Heather at Garrison Green and Cynthia Chiu and Amanda Rande at Fish Creek, have created a wide range of activities including risk assessments, exercises, games and education for residents to increase their overall health by improving balance, strength and proprioceptive awareness (the body’s ability to sense its location, movements and actions).

“We have chosen two valid and reliable tests to provide residents with insight into their fall risk as part of the Fall Prevention Month activities,” said Cynthia. “The Berg Balance and TUG tests give us information to help our residents understand their fall risk and what they can do to improve their balance.” The Berg balance scale is used to determine a person’s ability to balance during a series of 14 tasks. The Timed Up and Go test, known simply as the TUG test, is used to assess a person’s mobility to get out of a chair, walk a short distance, then return to the chair.

“Being educated about fall prevention is very important as we age,” said Cynthia. “Balance can affect an individual’s risk of falling, so completing assessments, staying active and being educated are all important components.”

Fish Creek resident Hugh Balkwill has Parkinson’s so is very aware of balance. “Cynthia assessed my ability to balance and I do exercises to help me improve my sense of balance. Because of my work with her and Amanda, I’m more aware now of my concerns with balance so I use a walker or walking poles to improve my stability. Just being aware of your limitations is an important first step in improving balance.”

“One of the interactive, social and team programs is based on well-known TV programs such as Jeopardy and Family Feud where residents are challenged to find the right answers, and/or participate in the physical challenge, which also improves their knowledge and skills around fall prevention,” said Heather. “Another program is a floor-to-standing workshop where we teach residents how to return to standing should they take a fall. It’s an area that doesn’t get much attention, however we think is very important to a plan if a fall happens.”

Garrison Green resident Allan Holbrook is involved in the fall prevention programming. “It can be quite debilitating when a person falls. I’ve been lucky. I’ve had the odd fall but haven’t broken anything. But I now work with Heather on exercises to keep my balance and strength up.”

While fall prevention and balance gets a special focus in November, they are foundations of all of United’s fitness programs. “This month we amplify our educational strategies around fall prevention for the residents to participate in. There are different levels of mobility in our community so we offer a variety of programs to address this, ranging from physical challenges and assessments to educational and game-style learning so all residents can be involved. They know how important preventing a fall is so they are eager to engage in the activities and discussion,” said Heather.

Photos by United Active Living. Videos by Sherana Productions.

Don’t hesitate to talk with one of our active living advisors about life in a United community. They can arrange for a tour at your convenience. If you know a friend or family member who could benefit from living in a United community, send them a link to our website or blog, or arrange a future visit. We are happy to help! 

To learn more about life at United’s Fish Creek community, watch this short video.

Or, to find out more about life at United’s Garrison Green, watch this short video.

Wellness sessions for residents of United’s two communities are lifting spirits and injecting a sense of optimism into their lives after more than 18 months of restrictions caused by COVID. United is one of the first communities in Calgary to bring a clinical psychologist into the communities to hold sessions of this kind.

“There was a sense of loss for the toll the virus took on lives, choice, freedom and routines,” said Kera Redlack, director of health and wellness. “Nobody thought we would be where we are more than a year later. We found we needed to acknowledge that loss, that things aren’t back to normal yet, and let the residents voice how this has affected them.”

“During the sessions, residents have voiced a sense of isolation, loss, loneliness and uncertainty,” said clinical psychologist Dr. Paras Persad who is facilitating the sessions. “They are grieving for lost family and friends. They haven’t been able to say goodbye, the meaningful ceremonies around that have been denied them by COVID restrictions. In a future session I’m going to hold a service of memory for them to help bring closure, and the residents want to have a give-a-hug session once they are able to, to bring back the human contact we’ve all been missing.”

“Paras has a very special way of connecting with people. He shows them a positive way forward that is tangible and realistic,” said Kera. “It’s a cathartic experience, and I’ve heard from residents that his sessions are some of the most beneficial experiences they’ve had. It’s exactly what the residents need.”

“I usually take my guitar and play songs for them that are light and fun,” said Paras. “It gets the residents moving, which gives them a healthy physical and emotional release. I also don’t lecture to them. I listen to their stories and affirm their experiences. They are given the freedom to express themselves. I can see it in their faces, their eyes and hear it in their voices. There is a renewed sense of hope that we will soon be able to return to normal.”

“I was very impressed with the session,” said Fish Creek resident Sheila Brinsmead. “His approach is very personable, low key and relaxed. He offered us very practical, simple ways to be more positive such as offering a kind word, thought or gesture to people we meet. We will feel better about ourselves and avoid some of the negativity that has come from being isolated. He really lifted our spirits and people left the session smiling and excited!”

With Dr. Persad’s help, United is expanding the sessions to include employees. “Employees are experiencing the same challenges as residents so it’s important that we recognize that, keep them informed, and give them the tools they need to be successful,” said Kera. “They too need to take the time to grieve over their losses. They haven’t been able to take part in family events such as birthdays, weddings and funerals. These are major events that normally bring people together. Residents have told us that they are getting so much from these sessions with Dr. Persad that they want to keep holding them. We will do that because everyone wants to get back to normal as quickly as possible.”

Photos by United Active Living. Videos by Sherana Productions.

Don’t hesitate to talk with one of our active living advisors about life in a United community. They can arrange for a tour at your convenience. If you know a friend or family member who could benefit from living in a United community, send them a link to our website or blog, or arrange a future visit. We are happy to help! 

To learn more about life at United’s Fish Creek community, watch this short video.

Or, to find out more about life at United’s Garrison Green, watch this short video.

United is hosting a free webinar June 3 to provide advice on how to plan for your next stage of life. Entitled, Planning Your Next Stage – Making Informed Choices, the hour-long webinar will provide suggestions for ensuring the necessary steps are in place so that you or your parent can enjoy the next stage of life worry free.

“During the webinar, we will discuss the importance of being prepared,” said Kera Redlack, director of health and wellness. “In many cases Wills, Personal Directives (PD) and Powers of Attorney (PoA) are left until the last minute. It is really important to be proactive rather than reactive, to talk with the older adults in your life to understand what their goals are for aging and what lifestyle is important to them.”

Ross and Ellenore Campbell, who will be on the webinar panel, said that while the PD and PoA are important, lifestyle considerations are equally so. “We knew that we wanted to continue to live independently. United offered us the lifestyle, amenities and other options that we were looking for. After moving, we realized that the lifestyle here opened up a whole new world of possibilities. Living here matches our lifestyle expectations plus the peace of mind that should we need care in the future, it’s all right here.”

“It’s not always as simple as making a decision to move from the family home into a community such as United Active Living,” said Amy McDonough, United Minds manager. “Even if you are completely independent, it’s still a good idea to have your wishes written down so family members know exactly what you want should you no longer be able to decide for yourself.”

Having a Will in place always makes sense, but there are other documents to consider such as the PD and a PoA. A PD allows you to name someone to make personal decisions on your behalf should you lose the ability to do so, and lists areas such as health care in which someone else would have the decision-making authority. A PoA is similar but it names someone to handle your financial affairs.

Having the difficult discussions with family before an emergency arises can be difficult, but families want to do what is best, so knowing ahead of time what decisions should be made makes everything easier.

“Having the discussion can be emotionally challenging,” said Kera. “What one family member expects may not be what the older adult wants. Expectations need to be set so there is no second guessing. There may be a lot of things a family doesn’t know about the parents, so getting that written down is very important.”

“There are instances where families are unaware of what is required to have these documents fully enacted,” said Amy. “It’s the missing link, because you need a capacity assessment done by two physicians before they can be enacted. We talk about these documents when you decide to move into one of our communities, so if you are independent and healthy they aren’t urgent, but if an older adult moves in who already needs assistance or memory care, having the documents in order is more important.”

The webinar panel will include professionals  Amy McDonough and Kera Redlack who can provide the professional guidance you need, as well as two residents of United’s Fish Creek community, Ross and Ellenore Campbell, who live an independent lifestyle at Fish Creek West. They decided early to have all of their preferences written down, and talked with the family about them. You can read more about them here.

The webinar is free to attend, but we ask you to register with us. Spaces are limited, so let us know as soon as possible whether you wish to attend. Send an email to residentrelations@unitedactiveliving.com with your name, email and phone number, and be sure to mark your calendar for June 3 at noon (MDT). We will send you login instructions prior to the event.

Photos by United Active Living. Videos by Sherana Productions.

Don’t hesitate to talk with one of our active living advisors about life in a United community. They can arrange for a tour at your convenience. If you know a friend or family member who could benefit from living in a United community, send them a link to our website or blog, or arrange a future visit. We are happy to help! 

To learn more about life at United’s Fish Creek community, watch this short video.

Or, to find out more about life at United’s Garrison Green, watch this short video.

Contact us here!

The mood was a festive one at both United Active Living communities last week as residents received the first doses of the Pfizer vaccine. Residents were given appointment times, and there were cheers after each vaccination, and ice cream and stickers to mark the occasion.

“It was such an exciting moment,” said Kera Redlack, director of health and wellness. “It was the most anticipated event of the year. There was a very positive atmosphere. Lots of hoots and cheers. It was a milestone and so uplifting. This will one of those times when we will all look back on this and remember where we were. Everyone was doing the same thing at the same time and that’s the first time that has happened in more than a year.”

Resident Maureen Miller was looking forward to the clinic. “It’s very important for everyone to get that first dose. It’s another big step forward in getting back to normal for sure.”

The turnout was very high, about 98% in both communities. A few residents were out of the communities when the clinics were held.

Residents were asked to fill out cards that asked, why is this important to you?  Many said they did it to be safe and to get back to a normal life and hug their grandchildren again. Residents saw it as the first step in resuming a somewhat normal life.

Is that overly optimistic? “You can’t really bank on what might happen. With immunization rates high, I am hopeful we will see a return to a somewhat normal life later this year,” said Kera. “Maybe not quite what it was before, but we could soon be having family gatherings again. I’m really optimistic. We all need to connect with our friends and families.”

Programming is returning with live music and university lectures and discussions, but both communities are proceeding slowly. Programming will likely open up further once residents and employees are fully immunized.

While the arrival of the vaccine was good news, Kera suggests we remain cautious. “The vaccination doesn’t make one invincible. The risk is still out there. So we have to continue to adhere to the health regulations. It can take several weeks for individuals to achieve full immunity, and a second dose is expected in early to mid-April.”

This is an important time as the vaccine becomes available to our employees and the broader community and population. The vaccination program is not the only solution but it is an important part of the solution.

Photos by United Active Living

Videos by Sherana Productions

Don’t hesitate to talk with one of our active living advisors about life in a United community. They can arrange for a tour at your convenience. If you know a friend or family member who could benefit from living in a United community, send them a link to our website or blog, or arrange a future visit. We are happy to help! 

To learn more about life at United’s Fish Creek community, watch this short video.

Or, to find out more about life at United’s Garrison Green, watch this short video.

Contact us here!