NEWSLETTER

May 2018

ACTIVITIES FOR THIS MONTH

  • May-08         ArtsWay Concert 2:15 pm in the Garden Room
  • May-09         Mother’s Day Tea 2:15 pm in the Lodge Dining Room & 3:00 pm in Manor 3
  • May-15          Birthday Party Manor 1 at 1:30 pm
  • May-16          Birthday Party Manor 2 at 2:30 pm
  • May-17          Birthday Party Lodge Activity Room at 2:15 pm  music /Peter Paulus
  • May-24         Birthday Party Manor 3 and 4 at 2:00 pm.
  • May-22         Entertainment Lodge Dining Room at 2:15 pm Music /Darcy Morduch
  • Sundays and Tuesdays Sonia Marie plays piano at 7:00 pm in the Lodge Dining Room

FOOD SERVICE

Spring is in full bloom and it’s wonderful to see all the cherry blossoms everywhere! We celebrated Easter Sunday with a special Baked Lamb Dinner which was rumored to be very enjoyable. May’s special meal will celebrate Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 12th. The menu has not been finalized yet, so stay tuned.

With the warmer weather coming our way, we’ll be changing over to our summer menus on Sunday, April 29th, so look for more salads & cold plates on the menu, as well as more fresh fruit.

As the weather gets warmer, we will start to emphasize the importance of drinking more fluids to reduce the risk of dehydration. As always, water is the best choice. Soon we will be offering more water on snack wagons at the nursing station. Lemons will be added to the water to make it more appealing and refreshing.

GUEST MEALS

Unfortunately, we have had to increase the guest meals. As of May 1st, 2018 the new prices will be:

  • Lunch – $8.00
  • Dinner – $10.00

Thank you!

NUTRITION BITS AND BITES

Older Adults and Obesity — is Dieting the Answer?

While weight loss often is the best answer to obesity, reducing chronic disease risk, and promoting health in other populations, when it comes to older adults, it’s not that cut-and-dried. Weight loss can lead to additional lean muscle loss and decreased physical strength. Though losing weight certainly can benefit older adults who are obese or overweight, experts say it must be done safely and methodically.

There are several factors that contribute to obesity in the aging population. Some individuals always have been overweight or obese and have simply carried those extra pounds into their older years, but a key reason some individuals become overweight or obese as they age is the decrease of their caloric needs and physical activity. (Decreased activity which reduces growth hormones and testosterone levels, poor nutrition, medications, hypothyroid disorders, and lowers metabolic rates). Some additional factors that can cause weight gain and contribute to obesity in older adults.

While it may seem as though dramatic weight loss is the best answer for obesity, when it comes to older adults, weight loss can produce negative effects that must be taken into consideration. With aging in general, we have [significant] muscle loss—the condition of sarcopenia—and obesity can complicate that. They’re carrying around greater weight and don’t have much muscle, so the older obese population is at a higher risk for falls and frailty already. The controversy with weight loss is that the individual also may lose additional muscle mass. You already have muscle loss from aging, and when you couple that with muscle loss from weight loss, it can significantly affect functional status and bone density.

Incorporating some exercise is vital for older adults so they can prevent muscle loss. It’s important to emphasize weight-resistant exercises to minimize muscle loss.

As dietitians begin developing weight-loss diet plans for elder clients, there are special considerations that may come into play. Medication and medical history are two key concerns. But it’s also important to note that older adults occasionally have naturally occurring loss of taste or difficulty chewing that can make adhering to certain dietary recommendations challenging. This is significant because it can hinder the amount of protein they consume, particularly if they get most of their protein from meat. This is concerning because protein is critical for maintaining the immune system and rebuilding muscle mass. It’s essential to assess whether older clients have barriers to getting adequate protein and develop solutions.

Baby boomers are still booming, and as more people age, we’re going to be dealing with more and more obesity among older adults. We’re living longer than ever, and there’s unbelievable opportunity to really seize this population and not only help them live longer but live better, too.

MESSAGE FROM THE NEW DIRECTOR OF CARE – BETTY WILLS, RN, MICM, PHD

Hello everyone. This is my first official message to you as the newly appointed Director of Care for Lynn Valley Care Center (LVCC). I am a registered nurse from Edmonton, Alberta and have been working in the Long Term Care sector for over 10 years. It’s been only 2 weeks since I had the pleasure of walking through the doors to take on the DOC position at LVCC, and I would like to officially introduce myself and my role to the staff and contracted partners at LVCC.

 I am honoured to be able to contribute to the pursuit of our mission to provide a safe, supportive and person-centered environment and innovative services and to achieve healthy aging for seniors on the North Shore. I firmly believe that the most important factor in achieving our goal is your incredible support, whether as dedicated volunteers, staff or advocates for our seniors. Thank you for all that you do to help LVCC and for delivering exceptional and safe care to our seniors. Finally, I must also acknowledge with gratitude the support I have received from the staff, contracted partners, residents and families. Together, we will work collaboratively with our community partners to take LVCC to new heights. Thank you again for your continued commitment to LVCC and our mission. I look forward to working with you all.

OPPORTUNITIES to HELP SUPPORT OUR LYNN VALLEY CARE CENTRE

Please consider joining our Volunteer Program.

Examples of Volunteer positions available:

  • “Tea Times” (9:30 am to 11 a.m. OR 2:30 pm to 4 p.m.)
  • Games
  • Reading Programs/News & Views
  • Escorting Residents to our in-house hairdresser
  • Musical Entertainment
  • Pets & Friends
  • One-on-one visits with Residents
  • Mealtime assistance
  • “Security”
  • Men’s Club

Call or e-mail the Coordinator of Volunteers:  Eunice Kruse
Phone: 604-982-3709
e-mail: ekruse@nsph.ca