Seniors

A 93-year-old senior is left with nothing but bitcoin receipts after being scammed out of $15,000 in July. She’s hoping that sharing her experience will prevent others from being hurt. (Heather Colpitts/Langley Advance Times)

Cloverdale senior hit by tag-teaming scammers, defrauding her of $15,000

93-year-old grandmother doesn’t want to see this happen to other seniors

 

Duncan Watson learns the basics of pickleball provided by OPC Pickleball Club’s pilot program to help people with Parkinson’s disease. (Maire Watson photo)

Pickleball for Parkinson’s: B.C. club hopes program can help provide exercise for life

Parksville players learning the game in bid to add life-extending activity to their regular routine

 

(Pixaby photo)

B.C.’s seniors advocate urges seniors and caregivers to prepare for rising temperatures

Dual focus during high temperatures is to keep the room cool and to keep the body cool

 

Louis Brier Home and Hospital is a long-term care facility in Vancouver, pictured in 2019. CEO David Keselman said guidelines need to reflect how care has become more complex since he first became a nurse roughly 30 years ago. (Photo: Google Street View).

‘We are still not prepared’: B.C. care home advocates call for action amid recommendations

Experts say it is time to re-evaluate staffing ratio guidelines in the province

Louis Brier Home and Hospital is a long-term care facility in Vancouver, pictured in 2019. CEO David Keselman said guidelines need to reflect how care has become more complex since he first became a nurse roughly 30 years ago. (Photo: Google Street View).
Liberal MP Hedy Fry speaks during a news conference in Ottawa, on June 15, 2017. Fry introduced a private bill in late June, Bill C-295, that would amend Section 215 of the Criminal Code to specifically criminalize owners and managers of long-term care homes for failing to provide the “necessaries of life” to vulnerable adults. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Ottawa exploring criminal reform as Liberal MP tables bill on long-term care neglect

Bill C-295 looks to criminalize care home owners who fail to provide residents with necessities

Liberal MP Hedy Fry speaks during a news conference in Ottawa, on June 15, 2017. Fry introduced a private bill in late June, Bill C-295, that would amend Section 215 of the Criminal Code to specifically criminalize owners and managers of long-term care homes for failing to provide the “necessaries of life” to vulnerable adults. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
B.C. Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie held a Town Hall meeting at the Campbell River Seniors Centre Wednesday, July 6 to hear issues and concerNs from Campbell River seniors. Photo by Alistair Taylor/Campbell River Mirror

Majority of seniors in B.C. live independently in their own home

B.C. Seniors Advocate provides snapshot of the state of life as a senior in the province

B.C. Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie held a Town Hall meeting at the Campbell River Seniors Centre Wednesday, July 6 to hear issues and concerNs from Campbell River seniors. Photo by Alistair Taylor/Campbell River Mirror
Pictured during 2015, Aaron Craven (right) is with his mother, Patricia Craven (center), and his father, Donald Craven (left), who passed away in 2018. (Photo: Aaron Craven/ B.C. Alzheimer's Society).

Advocates want more consistency in B.C.’s extended care visitation policies post-pandemic

Constantly shifting rules around essential visitors hard on people’s mental health

Pictured during 2015, Aaron Craven (right) is with his mother, Patricia Craven (center), and his father, Donald Craven (left), who passed away in 2018. (Photo: Aaron Craven/ B.C. Alzheimer's Society).
Chris Wilkinson, right, is inspired by Hank Andresen, a senior who has turned his health around. (Chris Wilkinson photo)

Chris Wilkinson column: Get healthy with Hank – local senior inspires better health

Hank unintentionally got into some unhealthy habits

  • Jun 26, 2022
Chris Wilkinson, right, is inspired by Hank Andresen, a senior who has turned his health around. (Chris Wilkinson photo)
B.C. is investing another $12 million into the BC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupon Program, and upping the weekly amount participants receive from $21 to $27. (Photo: BC Association of Farmers’ Markets)

B.C. upping access to farmers’ market coupon program with $12-million injection

Program provides low-income households, seniors, pregnant people with weekly coupons for local goods

B.C. is investing another $12 million into the BC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupon Program, and upping the weekly amount participants receive from $21 to $27. (Photo: BC Association of Farmers’ Markets)
Vancouver Island is hardly immune to an ever-increasing number of seniors being targeted by frauds and scams. File Photo

RCMP campaign aims to prevent Vancouver Island seniors from falling victim to scams

Team works to create awareness and provide strategies for protecting seniors against financial loss

Vancouver Island is hardly immune to an ever-increasing number of seniors being targeted by frauds and scams. File Photo
The interior of Ucluelet resident Katharine Fleming’s van was demolished on Friday morning when a bear became trapped inside and desperately tried to break its way out. (Andrew Bailey photo)

Bear destroys Vancouver Island van after getting trapped inside

RCMP officer frees black bear, but not before it obliterates the vehicle’s interior

The interior of Ucluelet resident Katharine Fleming’s van was demolished on Friday morning when a bear became trapped inside and desperately tried to break its way out. (Andrew Bailey photo)
Asger Bentzen and his friend Liz Huff were walking on the grounds at Tsawaayuus Rainbow Gardens on April 26, 2022 when Asger spotted this special ‘adventure’ rock along the path. The rock originated in Port Angeles, Wash. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Retired geologist discovers travelling ‘adventure rock’ in Port Alberni

Rock originated in Port Angeles, travels Vancouver Island

Asger Bentzen and his friend Liz Huff were walking on the grounds at Tsawaayuus Rainbow Gardens on April 26, 2022 when Asger spotted this special ‘adventure’ rock along the path. The rock originated in Port Angeles, Wash. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
David Black owner of Black Press Media (left) and Judi Prewett, president of Carlton House, flank veteran John Hillman, 103, as he laps the Oak Bay courtyard to raise funds for Save the Children. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Downpour doesn’t dampen Oak Bay veteran’s spirit as 103-year-old walks to Save the Children

War in Ukraine adds inspiration for third consecutive fundraiser by John Hillman

David Black owner of Black Press Media (left) and Judi Prewett, president of Carlton House, flank veteran John Hillman, 103, as he laps the Oak Bay courtyard to raise funds for Save the Children. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Residents are shown at Idola Saint-Jean long-term care home in Laval, Que., Friday, February 25, 2022. The latest census release on aging marks another milestone on the slow march to what experts warn will be a crisis in care for Canada’s elders. CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

2021 census shows number of seniors over 85 expected to triple in next 25 years

Last year the oldest baby boomers turned 76, and most probably live independently

Residents are shown at Idola Saint-Jean long-term care home in Laval, Que., Friday, February 25, 2022. The latest census release on aging marks another milestone on the slow march to what experts warn will be a crisis in care for Canada’s elders. CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
The B.C. 55-Plus Games, the province’s largest annual sporting competition, requires 1,500 volunteers and is expected to contribute over $3 million to the region’s economy. (Courtesy of 55-Plus BC Games)

1,500 volunteers needed for Victoria’s 55-Plus BC Games this year

Saanich Commonwealth Place host kickoff to volunteer drive on April 30

The B.C. 55-Plus Games, the province’s largest annual sporting competition, requires 1,500 volunteers and is expected to contribute over $3 million to the region’s economy. (Courtesy of 55-Plus BC Games)
A Minds in Motion session with the Alzheimer Society of B.C. (Photo courtesy of Alzheimer Society of B.C.)

Alzheimer Society offering in-person and online services

Cowichan Valley residents can access the support they need in ways that work best for them

  • Apr 24, 2022
A Minds in Motion session with the Alzheimer Society of B.C. (Photo courtesy of Alzheimer Society of B.C.)
The crowd was buzzing at the Cowichan Lake 50+ Activity Centre during their April 7 Ukraine Relief Fund luncheon. The event was sold out with 125 tickets sold and roughly $3,300 was raised. (Sarah Simpson/Gazette)

Mid-week Luncheon yields ‘out of this world’ results for Ukraine relief fund

Cowichan Lake 50+ Activity Centre fills the house for fundraiser

The crowd was buzzing at the Cowichan Lake 50+ Activity Centre during their April 7 Ukraine Relief Fund luncheon. The event was sold out with 125 tickets sold and roughly $3,300 was raised. (Sarah Simpson/Gazette)
While on his daily morning coffee run, Saanich resident Robert Davies, 90, found a large sum of cash and reported it to the police, who were able to reunite the person with their lost money. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)

Saanich senior discovers $1,600, ‘does the right thing’ by alerting police

Robert Davies finds cash on morning coffee run; police reunite money with owner

While on his daily morning coffee run, Saanich resident Robert Davies, 90, found a large sum of cash and reported it to the police, who were able to reunite the person with their lost money. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)
Lennie and Al share some stories about their incredible life together. (Chris Wilkinson photo)

Chris Wilkinson column: Lennie and Al show us what life is all about

Lennie and Al met in 1952

  • Mar 27, 2022
Lennie and Al share some stories about their incredible life together. (Chris Wilkinson photo)
Michele Work is an advisory board member as well as instructor with Elder College. Work and Suzanne Thur co-lead Cowichan Valley Cycling for Women course this spring. (Photo courtesy of Elder College)

Elder College in Cowichan goes outdoors for spring

April is the college’s busiest month yet with eight offerings

  • Mar 26, 2022
Michele Work is an advisory board member as well as instructor with Elder College. Work and Suzanne Thur co-lead Cowichan Valley Cycling for Women course this spring. (Photo courtesy of Elder College)