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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Monthly Satellite Legal Clinics at Minoru Centre in Richmond
As part of its Satellite Elder Law Clinic program, Seniors First BC is offering pro bono legal consultations to seniors residing in BC at the Minoru Centre for Active Living, located at 7191 Granville Avenue in Richmond. Held at the Seniors Centre, these free clinics will take place between 10am to 12pm on the fourth Thursday of each month. To schedule an appointment, call our legal program at 604-336-5653. Masks are required in the facility.
Digital Literacy Webinar Series Launch
Starting in October, Seniors First BC's Public Education and Outreach Program is launching a four-month digital literacy webinar series to help participants learn new skills in utilizing digital tools, stay safer when browsing online, and better connect with others. Each month will feature a different topic:
October 2021: Types of Devices and Accessing the BC Vaccine cards
November 2021: Staying Safe when Online Shopping
December 2021: Strategies for Securing Personal Information Online: Passwords and Social Media Accounts
January 2022: Resources for Online Banking and Government Benefits
Details about the webinar dates and registration will be provided at the webinar section at the bottom of our monthly newsletters, as well as on our social media and the events page on our website. If you provide services to seniors and would like us to offer one of our workshops to your community, please email Outreach@SeniorsFirstBC.ca.
2020-2021 Annual Report Release Seniors First BC released its Annual Report for the period of September 1, 2020, to August 31, 2021. The document provides reports from our president and executive director, as well as an overview of our programs during this period. In addition, the report highlights statistics regarding the clients that we served. For example, during this period, the Seniors Abuse and Information Line's intake workers received 5,390 calls, of which 1,905 were regarding elder abuse, with the most common types being emotional and financial abuse. To read the report, visit here.
COVID-19 Booster Vaccines for Long-Term Care and Seniors' Homes Residents
Long-term care homes and seniors' homes were the facilities that were most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, with residents of these facilities representing more than 10% of the country's total cases. Residents are often more at risk of infection due to the unavoidable contact between staff and other residents and may have a greater risk of having adverse outcomes from the virus due to their age and the presence of chronic health conditions. Additionally, research has also shown that the immune responses of older adults from the COVID-19 vaccines may be less persistent than those of younger populations, since the protection of the initial doses may wane over time.
To mitigate these risks, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommended that the residents of long-term care homes and other seniors living should receive a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to support immunity, in addition to the current 2 dose vaccines.
In a live briefing, the BC Health Ministry announced that residences of such facilities will begin receiving this additional dose in the first weeks of October. These booster shots will be administered concurrently with the seasonal flu vaccine. For updates on getting the third dose, visit the BC Government's How to Get Vaccinated Page here.
According to the police, victims in BC's Lower Mainland have lost a total of $22 million since the start of the year to Romance Scams—fraudulent schemes that involve scammers gaining the trust and affection of victims to dupe them of their money and other assets. The City of Surrey alone had 29 victims to these scams, losing a total of $1.3 million, with many of the schemes following similar patterns.
These scams typically begin through digital messages such as email or text messages, or as new connections made through fake profiles on social media and dating websites, also known as "Catfishes". Scammers develop relationships with the victim by messaging them and sending flattering pictures. They may also ask to meet in person to make themselves seem more credible. After some time, they will begin trying to defraud their victims. For example, they may ask for money, usually for something urgent, such as to pay for travel, medical emergencies, or family issues. Alternatively, they may recommend victims to participate in business ventures or invest in cryptocurrency. In other scenarios, they may ask victims to help receive money for them, which may cause them to unknowingly commit crimes. After receiving money, or after the victim realizes that they may have been scammed, the fraudster will disappear.
Scammers are often highly skilled and will utilize a variety of technology to scam victims. For example, they have been known to create fake dating websites that require victims to pay to send or receive messages.
Here are some red flags to notice when dating online, according to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre:
The individuals profess their love before meeting.
If using a dating app, they want to quickly switch to a different method of communication after first messaging, such as WhatsApp or Facebook.
They use frequent excuses to not meet in person or video call.
They send messages with many errors, such as using incorrect names when addressing an individual.
They claim to live nearby but are currently working overseas.
Send messages that apply pressure or guilt to send them money.
Ask individuals to not discuss their situations with friends or family, especially if they are suspicious of the relationship.
In general, never send money or provide financial details when dating online. Additionally, use legitimate and reputable dating websites, and learn which one's cost money or are free. If they cost money, know how to cancel.
For those who believe they may have been a victim of a fraud or a scam, contact the local police as soon as possible via their non-emergency numbers. Additionally, report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre online via their Online Reporting System or by phone toll-free at 1-888-495-8501.
October 1st of each year is National Seniors' Day, a day to celebrate and recognize the contributions of older adults to our society, including their experiences, expertise, and knowledge that they give to other generations, as well as to acknowledge the issues that they may face.
Coinciding with the International Day of Older Persons, several events took place across the province. Here is a recap of some of the events that happened:
City of Richmond
The City of Richmond celebrated National Seniors Day with a positive aging campaign, in which they displayed positive images of seniors to reduce ageism and other stereotypes. This year's theme for the campaign was about the effects in the community of one's positive actions. The campaign is available on their website here, on the City's social media platforms, and in person at City of Richmond community centres and other facilities. Additionally, the city hosted several free and low-cost events online and in-person for seniors, including a musical interlude event over Zoom, a social event at East Richmond Community Hall, a free Ukulele lesson, and a workshop on managing stress, anxiety, and depression.
City of Surrey The City of Surrey invited seniors, as well as their families, to a free online concert. The concert featured two guest speakers: a creative writing teacher and a story telling coach to discuss the benefits of using one's ability to be a storyteller. In addition, the concert included an acoustic musical performance from Tiller's Folly to show case Scottish, Irish and Maritime music traditions. This online event is available between October 1 to October 4. To view the online event, visit here.
City of Penticton The City of Penticton celebrated National Seniors Day with a project that highlighted the stories of 12 seniors in its community, who in total had 835 years of wisdom and experience. This project was undertaken with the help of practicum students from UBC Okanagan's School of Health and Exercise Sciences and the School of Social Work, as well as several organizations in the community. The highlighted seniors came from a variety of backgrounds, including athletes, volunteers for Okanagan organizations, and community builders. Their profiles will be shared on local newspaper ads, as well as on the City's website here.
Here are some events and news that are relevant to BC seniors.
People's Law School Zoom Webinar: Making A Will in BC: Town Hall Edition The People's Law School is a non-profit society in BC that provides free education and information to help make law more accessible to the public. They hosted a Zoom webinar on the process of making wills on October 5th, which was the first part of their trilogy about advance planning. To watch a recording of this webinar, visit here. The second installment, taking place on November 9, will be on Powers of Attorney, while the third, happening on November 23, will be on Representation Agreements. To register for these webinars, visit this page here.
Nidus Personal Planning Resource Centre and Registry: Personal Planning Events Online
Nidus Personal Planning Resource Centre and Registry is a non-profit organization that focuses on providing the public with tools and resources for personal planning. Nidus will be providing several webinars throughout the month of October on advanced planning, including powers of attorney, incapacity, informed consent for health care, how to read a legal planning document, and wills. To find a full list of webinar dates and topics, visit here.
Abbotsford Senior Takes First Flying Lesson for 101st Birthday
For his 101st birthday, Walter Martens, an Abbotsford resident, received a surprise gift from his son, Harv: a flying lesson on a single engine plane. His daughter, Eleanor, notes how her father was always adventurous, and described how happy he was during the event. In addition, Martens said that it was his best flight ever. Previously, Martens tried parasailing, water skiing, and has been on a helicopter over Agassiz and Harrison. More information: Nanaimo Bulletin
Healthy Aging Tip: Lowering High Blood Pressure
Roughly 6 million adults in Canada have high blood pressure, which is about 19% of the adult population. Approximately 9 in 10 Canadians will develop high blood pressure in their lives.
Blood pressure refers to how hard one's blood pushes against the walls of the arteries as it moves through the body. Blood pressure can change throughout the day. However, high blood pressure, also called hypertension, refers to when the pressure consistently stays up.
High blood pressure can gradually damage the blood vessels, heart, and kidneys, and it may go unnoticed since it can cause damage without individuals having any symptoms. This can eventually lead to heart issues such as heart attack or stroke. Very high blood pressure can also cause headaches and vision problems.
One's blood pressure level can be determined using blood pressure machines, which show two numbers: the systolic and diastolic. Someone with a 120/80 blood pressure will have a systolic number of 120 and a diastolic number of 80. The systolic number indicates how hard the blood pushes when the heart is pumping, while the diastolic shows how hard the blood pushes between heartbeats. High blood pressure occurs when one has a blood pressure of 140/90 or higher. High blood pressure can also occur when only the diastolic number is higher than 90, or only the systolic number is higher than 140.
Certain things can raise one's blood pressure, such as being overweight, consuming too much sodium, drinking too much alcohol, not doing enough exercise, having a family history of high blood pressure, and age.
Those with high blood pressure can discuss lifestyle changes with their doctors to meet their blood pressure goals. Also, doctors may prescribe medication to help lower blood pressure levels.
In addition, certain lifestyle changes can help improve one's blood pressure, such as:
Maintaining a healthy body weight.
Consuming more vegetables and fruit, which are both low in calories, high in vitamins and minerals, and can help satisfy hunger.
Partaking in regular physical activity, which can help lower high blood pressure, as well as lower cholesterol levels, manage stress, and help maintain a healthy body weight. Speak to a health care provider before starting a physical activity program.
Limiting sodium intake to approximately 1500 mg each day since excessive amounts can raise blood pressure and increase the risk of heart disease. To lower sodium levels, eat fewer ready-to-eat and take out foods, prepare home meals more often and use little to no salt, and try flavouring food with salt-free herbs and spices. Additionally, check the food labels to see the amount of sodium in the food.
Limiting alcohol use since it can raise blood pressure.
Avoiding tobacco products and secondhand smoke since they can damage one's heart and blood vessels. For information about quitting smoking, visit here.
Decreasing stress since it can increase one's blood pressure. Health Care Providers can provide resources to manage stress. Additionally, the Heart and Stroke Foundation has information on how to reduce stress here.
Our October community resource highlight is the Family Caregivers of British Columbia (FCBC).
There are more than 1.3 million people in BC who are unpaid caregivers—people who provide physical and/or emotional care to a family member, friend, or neighbour. They provide roughly 80% of the care in the community; replacing this care would cost the province approximately $3.5 billion. Hence, caregivers are an important part of our society. However, due to the dedication and commitment required to care for another person, in addition to the schedules and stressors of daily life, they can feel undervalued, unsupported, and isolated. In the report, "Caregivers in Distress: A Growing Problem", the Office of the Seniors Advocate in British Columbia acknowledged that caregiver distress is a growing problem, and that steps need to be taken to address the trend.
FCBC is a non-profit organization that supports caregivers by providing information, education, and other support to help them feel more confident and successful in their roles, including support groups, one-on-one emotional support, assistance with navigating the healthcare system, and other educational resources.
FCBC operates the BC Caregiver Support Line, which has staff that are experienced in dealing with the issues that caregivers face. The support line can provide information and referral services, healthcare navigation, emotional support, referrals to support groups, and resources relevant to the situations of callers. To get support, call 1-877-529-3267 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays between 8:30am to 4pm, and Tuesdays and Thursdays between 8:30am to 7pm.
For more information about FCBC and its programs, including its support groups and coaching, visit this page here.
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
Digital Literacy Webinar Series: Types of Devices and Accessing the BC Vaccine Cards
Date/Time: October 14, 2021 at 10:00am Pacific Time
Registration details here.
Digital Literacy Webinar Series: Types of Devices and Accessing the BC Vaccine Cards
Date/Time: October 20, 2021 at 11:00am Pacific Time
Registration details here.
Digital Literacy Webinar Series: Types of Devices and Accessing the BC Vaccine Cards
Date/Time: October 22, 2021 at 1:00pm Pacific Time
Registration details here.
Elder Abuse: What is it? How Do We Deal With It?
Date/Time: October 26, 2021 at 1:00pm Pacific Time
Registration details here.
Local Non-Emergency Police Information
For situations that require police assistance that are not emergencies, contact the local non-emergency police number. To find a list of these numbers and online crime reporting tools, visit here.
