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Seniors First BC is a charitable, non-profit, provincial society that provides assistance and support to older adults across BC who are vulnerable to abuse or mistreatment, as well as third parties assisting older adults. We also help older adults in navigating the legal system to ensure that their legal rights are protected. Our services are provided through our Seniors Abuse and Information Line, Victim Services Program, Legal Advocacy Program, Elder Law Program, and Public Education and Outreach Program. Seniors First BC continues to assist seniors through these challenging times.
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BC Wildfires and Smoke Safety

On July 27, the Regional District of East Kootenay announced a wildfire evacuation order for 41 properties in the Lazy Lake area, adding to the now more than 60 active orders in BC. This comes just a week after the BC Government declared a state of emergency due to the numerous wildfires blazing across the province. 

Since April 1, 2021, there have been 1,226 wildfires, of which 250 are still active. A total of 3,713 properties have been ordered to evacuate immediately, while 18,234 properties were given evacuation alerts, meaning that residents were notified to prepare to vacate the area on short notice. While most wildfires are caused by natural events such as lightning strikes, approximately 40% are the result of preventable human activity, such as open fire burning or dropping lit cigarettes. 

With an average of approximately 1,600 wildfires per year, BC is seeing an increase of such events partially due to the effects of climate change. For those living in areas at risk of wildfires, it is important to prepare in case one happens. Here are some tips from the BC Government to help you be ready:

  • Create a plan for what to do during an emergency, such as how you would contact your loved ones. It is also helpful to keep additional copies at your workplace and in your vehicle. Find downloadable fill-in emergency plans here
  • Older adults who live alone, are sick or have mobility issues may require assistance. Try to have a support network of 3 trusted people who can help you in an emergency. Ask them to check on you immediately in an emergency or if a disaster happens. Provide them with keys to your house for emergency access, let them know about your health conditions or medication, and instruct them on how to operate any important equipment such as scooters or lifts. 
  • Prepare a Grab-&-Go Bag in case you need to evacuate your home. For instructions on how to create one, visit here. Consider whether you need extra medicine, batteries for hearing aids, spare eyeglasses, or other special equipment.
  • Seek out insurance coverage in case of fire damage to your home. To find an insurance representative, call the Insurance Bureau of Canada at 1-844-227-5422.
  • Find trustworthy information through your municipality, regional district, band office, or local office’s website, social media, or phone number. Provincial sources can also provide you with updates. For example, EmergencyInfoBC.ca (@EmergencyInfoBC on Twitter) gives followers notifications for Evacuation Orders and Alerts, while BCWildFire.ca (@BCGovFireInfo on Twitter) advises on wildfires, response efforts, and fire danger ratings.
  • If you received an evacuation alert, ready your grab-and-go bag and any important belongings at your front door or in your vehicle. If you can, move outdoor furniture indoors and remove flammable curtains.
  • During an evacuation order, you must leave your home immediately. Close your doors and windows and remember to turn on both the interior and exterior lights to improve visibility for firefighters through heavy smoke. Also, abide by any instructions given to you by officials and follow evacuation routes.
  • Only return to your home after the evacuation order is rescinded but continue staying updated with new evacuation alerts or orders. 


The increase in wildfires also brings more smoke to regions across BC, which can significantly lower air quality. The particles in smoke can have consequences to your health by irritating your respiratory system and causing inflammation, and hence, it is important to take precautions to avoid it. While healthy people can be affected by smoke, it is especially important for older adults, those with pre-existing health conditions, infants and children, and pregnant women to minimize exposure. Here are some strategies to avoid the smoke and stay safe: 

  • Seek out indoor areas such as your home and try to keep the air clean by leaving windows or doors closed. Alternatively, public places, such as community centres, malls, or libraries, will have their own air flow systems and air conditioning. 
  • Considering the recent heat waves, try to stay cool by closing your blinds during the day, drinking plenty of fluids to stay hydrated, and taking a cool shower or a bath.
  • Those with asthma or other chronic illnesses should have inhalers or medication on hand.
  • Check the Smoky Skies Bulletin for daily updates on areas likely to be affected by wildfire smoke. 

More information:
BC Wildfire Emergency Declaration
Regional District East Kootenay: Evacuation Order
BC Wildfires: Quick Statistics
BC Wildfires: Causes
BC: Getting Prepared for a Wildfire
BC Fire Info: Bans and Restrictions
Make Your Emergency Plan
Community Evacuation Information for Seniors
EmergencyInfoBC: Wildfire Information, Resources, and Recovery
BCCDC: Wildfire Smoke
EmergencyInfoBC: Protecting Yourself from Wildfire Smoke
Smokey Skies Bulletin

BC Seniors’ Guide 12th Edition Release 

The BC Ministry of Health recently released the 12th edition of the BC Seniors’ Guide. Updated every 3 to 4 years, this short book offers a compilation of the resources and services available to seniors in BC, which are categorized as key resources, lifestyle, health, housing, transportation, managing your finances, or safety and security.

This edition includes new topics, such as resources for digital literacy, information regarding support programs for residential school survivors, resources for LGBTQ2S seniors, protecting yourself from COVID-19, and Medical Assistance in Dying. The guide also details resources that can help those interested in learning more digital skills, such as Gluu Digital Coaching Network, which trains older adults on a variety of topics, including managing accounts online, social media, and accessing government services. 

The 12th edition is available in 6 additional languages: French, Chinese, Punjabi, Vietnamese, Korean, and Farsi. To access the guide for yourself or a loved one, you can download it as a PDF or as an eBook here, or you can request a physical copy by calling the Office of the Seniors Advocate Monday to Friday, between 8:30am to 4:30pm toll-free at 1-866-952-3181, or at 250-952-3181 if you are in Victoria. 

More information: 
BC Seniors Guide

Virtual Town Hall for Canadian Seniors

Image courtesy of Seniors in Canada Facebook Page 

Deb Schulte, Minister of Seniors, and Stéphane Lauzon, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Seniors, are inviting Canadian seniors to join their town hall on August 11, between 10:30am to 11:30am PST. 

The town hall will be taking place virtually as a live stream on their Facebook page, Seniors in Canada, and no registration will be required. To join the event, follow their Facebook page and visit the stream starting at 10:30am. Questions will be taken during the event through the comment function on Facebook, but if you would like to submit questions beforehand, they can be submitted by email to NC-COMM-RSVP-CONSULT@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

More Information:
Seniors in Canada Facebook Page

Local BC Senior News

Here are some events and news that are relevant to BC seniors. 

Long-Term Care and Seniors’ Assisted Living Facility Restrictions Lifted
The BC Ministry of Health announced changes starting July 19, 2021, to ease the visitation rules of long-term care and seniors’ assisted living facilities, allowing residents to reconnect with their loved ones more easily after 18 months of COVID-19 restrictions.

  • Visitors are no longer required to schedule or book ahead of time to visit loved ones.
  • The limit to the number of visitors for each resident has been removed, though the number of visitors must be in accordance with site capacity rules.
  • People who are fully immunized can visit residents without masks.
  • Facility wide gatherings are permitted. Indoor gatherings can only include residents, while outdoor gatherings can include family and friends. 

In addition, there are new measures in place to protect residents: 

  • Workers and visitors who are not fully vaccinated must wear face masks.
  • Long-term care facility volunteers and personal service providers must be fully vaccinated. 
  • Sign-in lists will remain mandatory for each site for contact tracing.

More information: BC Gov News

MOSAIC BC DISCovery Network Musical Theatre Events (in person in Vancouver & online)
MOSAIC BC Seniors DISCovery Network is hosting Musical Theatre sessions every Tuesday in August between 2:30pm to 4:30pm both in person at MOSAIC’s venue at Boundary Road in Vancouver and online via Zoom. Participants can try their hand in acting, singing, and being in a choral group, all while meeting some new friends. No music or acting experience is required. To register, email Seniors@mosaicbc.org or call 604-362-4318. 
More information: MOSAIC BC

Electric Fan Donations for Burnaby and New Westminster Seniors
After seeing the need for electric fans for seniors during the heatwave in June, a group of Burnaby and New Westminster politicians and a local Burnaby based volunteer organization, the Caring Project, are collaborating to supply local seniors with gently used fans to prepare for the coming heatwave. The fans will be shared with seniors at the Seniors Services Society of BC and Burnaby Neighbourhood House South. To donate a fan, drop them off Monday to Friday between 10am to 4pm at either of their 2 locations: 105-6411 Nelson Ave in Burnaby and 110-888 Carnarvon Street in New Westminster. 
More Information: Burnaby Now

Calgary Senior Details Experience with Lower Mainland Scammers
A former Lower Mainland resident, Haoran Charlie Xue, has fled Canada after being arrested for his role in a series of financial scams that defrauded victims of large sums of money with individuals posing as Canadian Revenue Agency employees. In total, his group is believed to have scammed close to $1 million dollars from victims. According to one of his victims, a 67-year-old woman who lives alone in Calgary, she was contacted by someone on the phone who claimed to be an officer working for RBC, and he had convinced her to send $15,000 to a UPS location nearby. She recognizes that she was vulnerable, especially because when they called, she was looking to have a conversation and was not expecting a scammer. In addition, she was surprised that her local bank tellers allowed her to withdraw that much money, and that it took so long for the RCMP to do something about the scammer.
More Information: CBC News

Healthy Aging Tip: Signs of Hearing Loss

Hearing is one of our most important senses since it helps us communicate and be alert to what is around us. However, almost all of us will experience some form of hearing loss at some point in our lives. In fact, 1 in 4 adults report having hearing loss or a disability, while 65% of those over 70 have issues with hearing.

Hearing loss comes in 2 main forms: conductive hearing loss and sensorineural hearing loss. Conductive hearing loss occurs when there is an issue with the outer or middle part of the ear, such as if there is something blocking it, if you have a punctured eardrum, or if you have an ear infection. Some of these are temporary and often treatable. On the other hand, sensorineural hearing loss, which can be progressive and permanent, happens when you have issues with your inner ear or nerves that support your hearing, such as injury from loud noise, illness, certain medications, or other injuries. 

Hearing loss can have consequences to your quality of life. For example, lowered hearing can make you feel more anxious, tired, or embarrassed, which can take you away from doing the things that you normally enjoy. Hearing loss can also put people at a greater risk of cognitive decline and dementia, but also affect one’s balance, consequently increasing the risk of falling. If you notice your hearing abilities decline quickly over the span of a few days, seek emergency medical attention immediately.

In addition to difficulty hearing others during conversations and constantly asking people to raise their voices, other signs of hearing loss can include hearing clicking, hissing, or ringing sounds constantly. 

It is important to have early intervention if you are finding issues with your hearing since it can help preserve brain functions related to hearing. 

If you think you have hearing loss, make an appointment with an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor (ENT), an audiologist, or a Hearing Instrument Practitioner. They can diagnose your hearing issues and identify ways that can improve your hearing. To find a professional near you, visit Speech and Hearing BC’s Find a Professional Tool.

More information:  
Health Link BC: Adult Hearing Loss 
Statistics Canada: Unperceived Hearing Loss Among Canadians 40 to 79
Speech and Hearing BC: Find a Professional

Community Resource Highlight: Thrive

Image courtesy of https://www.bccsu.ca/thrive/

Our July community resource highlight is Thrive Family and Friend Caregiver Support Program.

Operated by the BC Centre on Substance Use, Thrive provides a number of services to friends, family, and informal caregivers of older adults who use alcohol, substances, or multiple prescription medications (polypharmacy). Thrive has monthly support groups online, peer support networks, workshops on how to care for older adults who use substances, and educational resources.

Their monthly support group empowers participants by providing educational resources and offers emotional support to help them feel heard and understood. They also help explore different means of self-care through communication and problem-solving exercises. These groups take place virtually on Zoom for one hour (with additional time afterwards for connection building) every 4th week of the month at a time and day that works best for the participants’ needs. The group sizes are a maximum of 10 participants with 2 co-facilitators. 

To register for Thrive’s programs or for more information, call Michee at 236-335-5793, or send an email to Michee.Hamilton@UBC.ca.


More Information: Thrive

Seniors First BC Programs

Seniors Abuse and Information Line (SAIL)
Our province-wide confidential Seniors Abuse and Information Line (SAIL) is a safe place for older adults and those who care about them to talk to a trained intake worker about their needs, as well as abuse or mistreatment and receive information and support about issues that impact the health and well-being of an older adult. For more information contact us at 604-437-1940 or Toll-Free 1-866-437-1940, weekdays 8 am to 8 pm and weekends 10 am to 5:30 pm (except statutory holidays).

Elder Law Clinic

The Elder Law Clinic operated by Seniors First BC offers pro bono legal services to eligible older adults residing in British Columbia on a wide range of legal matters, including:
•    Preparing wills, powers of attorney, representation agreements     
•    Understanding your legal proceedings and what to expect in court 
•    Reviewing court documents 
•    Preparing your own case and submissions 
•    Representation at certain court hearings
•    Assistance in matters of adult guardianship
•    General legal advice 

Contact our legal program at 604-336-5653 for further information or to arrange a consultation with a lawyer.
While we do not offer legal services in either family or criminal law, we can direct persons to organizations who may be able to assist.

To learn more about our programs, visit this page here.
 

Upcoming Seniors First BC Webinars

Frauds and Scams
Date/Time: August 9, 2021 at 1:00pm Pacific Time
Registration details here.

(New!) BC Opioid Crisis: Response, Safety, and Resources
Date/Time: August 13, 2021 at 1:00pm Pacific Time
Registration details here.

Elder Abuse: What is it? How Do We Deal With It?
Date/Time: August 16, 2021 at 1:00pm Pacific Time
Registration details here.

Powers of Attorney, Joint Bank Accounts, and Representation Agreements
Date/Time: August 20, 2021 at 11:00am Pacific Time
Registration details here.

 
Frauds and Scams
Date/Time: August 23, 2021 at 1:00pm Pacific Time
Registration details here.

(New!) BC Opioid Crisis: Response, Safety, and Resources
Date/Time: August 26, 2021 at 12:00pm Pacific Time
Registration details here.
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