CARLTON HOUSE NEWS

spring 2014
Te seniors in attendance
at last months Oak Bay Ac-
tivity Association AGM sat
in stunned silence as Carl-
ton House presented a $5,000
cheque to the non-proft or-
ganization that runs the busy
Monterey Centre.
Tere was dead silence
in the room, said OBSAA
president Ena Cooke. People
couldnt get over it. It was a very
generous donation.
Te money will go towards
funding new audio equip-
ment in the centres Garry Oak
Room a room that is used
for a number of OBSAA and
community events, including
NoteAbles performances,
Sunday brunches and the an-
nual Oak Leaves Bazaar.
According to Cooke, the
current audio system is outdat-
ed and prone to problems. New
equipment, including smaller,
more modern speakers, will
beneft the more than 2,200 se-
nior members who patronize
the centre for its courses, clubs
and food services, as well as
the community members who
visit for special events and per-
formances.
Carlton House gives back
to its community each year by se-
lecting a charitable organization
working to enrich and improve
the lives of seniors in Oak Bay.
Community Relations
Consultant Alanna Hardinge-
Rooney said they chose OB-
SAA because they wanted to
help out the seniors association
and show their support.
[OBSAAs} slogan is life-
long learning, adventure, and
community, and that really
resonates with us, she said.
We wanted to support the
work that theyre doing with
seniors in Oak Bay and enable
them to keep doing it for many
years to come.
From the fountain...
It might not be as iconic as the ornateTrevi fountain in
Rome, but the Carlton House fountain has become a
tourist attraction in its own right, according to our Build-
ing Services Manager Roy, who recently recovered coins
from about a dozen different countries from its bowl.
Mexican pesos, British pence and South African rand
were all pulled from the water: tokens of wishes from
around the world. Next time youre on the Avenue,
come by and make a wish... it just might come true!
mothers day brunch
One of our most popular dining
events of the year, our talented
culinary team will be pulling
out all the stops in honour of
our favourite people our
mothers, grandmothers and
even great-grandmothers!
ipad instruction
A how-to lesson for everyone
whos been given an iPad by
their family and wants to learn
more about it. Learn the ins and
outs of apps, clouds and Face-
Time!
sidney day trip
A favourite destination for
tourists and locals alike, well
be heading to Sidney for a day
of shopping, exploring, and of
course a delicious lunch on the
water at Beacon Landing!
Oak Bay tea party
As per tradition, Carlton House
staf will be donning their red
aprons and serving up piping
hot Baron of Beef barbequed
right on Willows Beach at
the 52nd annual Oak Bay Tea
Party, Saturday June 7th!
CONNECT WI TH
CARLTON HOUSE!
Follow us on Twitter:
@CarltonHouseOB
Or look us up on
Facebook!
surround sound for seniors
Whats happening
at Carlton House
this spring
Carlton House of Oak Bay | 2080 Oak Bay Avenue | Victoria BC | 250-595-1914 | www.carltonhouse.ca
Carlton House Executive Director Seona Stephen and Community
Relations Consultant Alanna Hardinge-Rooney present their $5,000
cheque to Oak Bay Seniors Activity Association President Ena Cooke.
Avoid driving at night if
you have trouble with
your vision.
Avoid driving during
periods of high traffc,
typically during mor-
ning, lunch, and evening
commute times.
Keep your windshield,
headlights, and mirror
clean to improve visi-
bility.
Raise your seat high
enough so you have a
clear view of the road.
Sit on a small pillow if
necessary.
Limit distracting noise
inside the vehicle. This
includes the radio and
conversations with pas-
sengers and use of cell
phones.
Keep a safe distance
between you and the
car ahead so you have
ample time to brake
safely if necessary.
Get periodic vision
and hearing tests. Get
hearing aids and new
glasses when needed.
Carefully read medica-
tion labels to see if they
may impair driving skills.
Drive on familiar streets,
and limit trips to those
close to home.
Talk with your doctor
if you have concerns
about continuing to
drive.
stay safe behind the wheel
Anyone whos ever seen a
car commercial knows what
owning a car is all about in-
dependence, convenience,
freedom. Its not surprising
then that getting someone
to hand over the keys can be
a challenge, especially when
it comes to older adults who
have been driving for decades
and rely on their cars both for
mobility and for their sense of
self-sufciency.
Its important that seniors
and their families understand
the ways that aging afects
driving, recognize the signs
of unsafe driving, and keep up
their skills if they are going to
be on the road.
For those who can no lon-
ger drive (or who choose not
to) its also important to know
the benefts of not driving, and
to have access to transportation
alternatives like public transit,
ride share programs and mo-
torized scooters.
According to Statistics
Canada, people 70 years of age
and older are more likely to be
involved in a collision than any
other group except for young
male drivers. Tey are also
more likely to be killed in col-
lisions than any other group on
the road.
Ofen, these accidents are
due to physical limitations that
afect older adults, including
reduced peripheral vision, im-
paired hearing and slowed mo-
tor refexes. Certain illnesses
(as well as medications used to
treat those illnesses) can also
adversely afect vision, reac-
tion times and energy levels.
Its normal for abilities to
change as a person ages, but if
there are indicators that these
changes are afecting driving
performance, it is important
to consult a physician. A regu-
lar check-up is the best way to
keep in top form, catch driving
impairments early and avoid
potential accidents.
Te best way for seniors to
stay safe behind the wheel is
to stay ft and to practice their
skills. While driving to the gro-
cery store might not constitute
a work-out, it actually does in-
volve fexing your muscles and
stretching your body in ways
that become difcult if the
movements arent performed
regularly.
Similarly, the less seniors
exerise their skills, the more
theyll deteriorate from lack
of use.
Senior drivers also ofen
sufer from confdence issues,
meaning that a key component
to keeping seniors on the road
for longer could be as simple
as a little encouragement and
practice.
If it is time to stop driving,
its important to recognize the
difculty of the transition. Just
as getting a drivers licence or a
frst car is a very exciting time,
losing a drivers license can be
an exceedingly difcult one.
Be respectful of their feel-
ings and be supportive in help-
ing them to fnd alternative
ways to get around and to still
feel independent and pur-
poseful.
For more information, the
Canadian Automobile Asso-
ciation (CAA) ofers a fantastic
online resource that can help
seniors and their families assess
driving skills, learn about chang-
ing abilities and modify habits.
Safe driving tips
for seniors
Fact or fction? Debunking common misconceptions about senior nutrition
carlton house welcomes john bailey
Carlton House of Oak Bay
is pleased to announce the ap-
pointment of John Bailey as its
new Head of Culinary Servic-
es. A highly talented, creative
and award-winning chef, John
brings a wealth of experience,
artistry and professionalism to
his role.
Born in Jamaica, but raised
and educated in Berkshire,
England, John attended Read-
ing College before completing
his chef s apprenticeship at the
St. George and Dragon in near-
by Wargrave.
He was appointed to chef
at Harborne Hall in Birming-
ham in 1986, where he over-
saw the hotels restaurant and
catering services, from cooking
up traditional English fare to
planning elaborate menus for
special occasions (including a
luncheon for His Royal High-
ness the Duke of Edinburgh!).
Since relocating to Canada,
John has continued to hone
his culinary skills at a number
of well-regarded restaurants,
including Lake Okanagan Re-
sorts Vantage Point Lounge
and Grill, where he was respon-
sible for both the creative devel-
opment of a fne dining menu
and the supervision of a staf of
a dozen chefs.
He also spent nearly a de-
cade as the chef and manager
of the upscale Freddys Bis-
tro, where he was awarded the
Judges Choice Award in the
Taste of Kelowna competition
two years in a row.
In fact, John has taken
home a number of prizes at lo-
cal and international culinary
competitions over the years
whether called upon to con-
coct one of his renowned spicy
Balti curries or prepare an Ital-
ian four-course meal, Johns
creations consistently outshine
those of his competitors.
With more than 30 years
experience in a diverse array
of culinary settings, Carlton
House is proud to have added a
chef with such talent and vision
to its team.
Te right diet and nutri-
tional intake is arguably more
important for seniors than for
any other age group. Seniors
have unique nutritional needs
that can only be addressed when
they are understood. Unfortu-
nately, many false beliefs about a
seniors nutritional needs persist
to this day. Here are just a few of
them we need to stop believing.
its natural for older
people to lose their
appetite
Its true that seniors need
slightly less food than younger
adults because of metabolic
changes and decreased energy
output, but an outright loss
of appetite is not normal, and
could be a sign of serious health
problem.
seniors have slower
metabolisms and need
fewer nutrients
While seniors may need
slightly fewer calories and food-
bulk than younger adults, they
need just as many nutrients, if
not more. One reason is that
as we age, our ability to absorb
nutrients decreases. Specif-
cally, physicians recommened
that older adults increase their
intake of calcium, as well as vi-
tamins D and B12.
it doesnt matter
whether seniors eat
alone or with others
- food is just fuel for
the body
Elderly people who live
alone and are lef to prepare
food by themselves, ofen have
negative health outcomes. Phys-
ical and cognitive problems of-
ten cause seniors to become un-
able to prepare adequately nu-
tritious or flling meals. Eating
almost every meal in isolation
can also exacerbate loneliness,
stress and anxiety. In other
words, constantly eating alone
can put seniors at risk. Its ideal
for seniors to, at least some of
the time, eat with others.
being moderately
overweight is a sign of
robust health
While one highly publi-
cized study suggested that those
who are moderately overweight
have slightly longer lifespans,
most doctors correlate being
moderately overweight with a
decreased lifespan. Tere are
numerous documented risks
to being overweight, including
type-2 diabetes, heart disease
and even Alzheimers disease.
Whats more, being overweight
can limit mobility, and lead to
falls, and decreased self-esteem.
senior communities
have awful food
Tis is a common stereo-
type regarding senior living.
It probably originated in the
days before independent liv-
ing residences, when only
nursing homes were available,
which were highly institution-
alized and probably did have
quite awful food. Tese days,
residents of senior communi-
ties not only get the nutrients
they need, but the food is tasty
and varied. At Carlton House,
all meals are cooked to order,
using only the fnest, freshest
ingredients - nothing cold and
mushy here!

those who have lived
to advanced old age
need not worry about
their diets
Tis type of attitude about
seniors is nihilistic and ageist.
It essentially says that elders
have nothing to live for, so are
therefore free to let themselves
go, although ones lifestyle and
nutrition habits have a big in-
fuence on lifespan. Its never
too late for anyone to make
eforts to improve their health
and diet, which can make ones
quality of life more enjoyable.
with better tasting meals and
better health.
Chef John Bailey in his natural
element.
Located in the heart of Oak Bay, Victoria, just steps away
from local amenities, Carlton House is an ideal place for
seniors looking to enrich their lives through commun-
ity living, improve their general wellbeing and relax in
beautiful surroundings, free from daily chores.
With 87 comfortable suites, beautifully landscaped gardens
and elegant common areas, Carlton House satisfes ex-
pectations for a physically-attractive, well-maintained and
secure home, while also fostering a supportive community
of enjoyment, camaraderie and pride.
Whether its the access to heath, education and commun-
ity programming you seek, the peace of mind of 24-hour
security and round-the-clock staffng, or the joy of being
part of a thriving community, youll fnd it here.

Call Alanna Hardinge-Rooney, Community Relations to
learn more and book your tour.

250 - 595-1914
the gentlemen of retirement living
Whats the ratio of
men to women in your
residence?
Its a question I hear
a lot from prospec-
tive residents and their
families, and it almost
always comes from the
men that I meet with.
At Carlton House,
the answer is that theres
about 3 women for ev-
ery one man, but in many plac-
es, the divide is much greater.
According to the Assisted Liv-
ing Association of America, the
average is about 7 to 1, and it
jumps to about 10 to 1 in nurs-
ing homes.
Te easy explanation
for this is life expectancy on
average, men live about seven
years less than women. But for
years now, the gap has been
shrinking, and the complete
picture isnt quite so straight-
forward.
While the aging process
can be difcult for everyone,
research has shown that men
ofen have a harder time ad-
justing to the changes, be they
physical, mental or social.
Many men of the 70+ genera-
tion are used to being strong,
capable providers to their fam-
ilies, and active contributors to
society. Tey value indepen-
dence greatly and resist the
notion of being cared for far
more than their female peers.
Teres also the matter of
retirement residences not ap-
pealing to many mens sensi-
bilities. From the dcor to the
activity calendar, many resi-
dences cater more to feminine
tastes than masculine ones
with frilly accent pillows in the
common areas and things like
spa night on the daily agen-
da. At Carlton House, we do
our best to appeal to both sex-
es, from the colours we
paint on the walls to
the types of programs
we ofer.
While many men
I meet joke that they
wouldnt mind be-
ing surrounded by so
many women (a thorn
amongst the roses is a
phrase that gets used a
lot) most of them ad-
mit that they would prefer to
have some male neighbours
and dinner companions.
And since men are living
longer and longer lives, and as
men (hopefully!) grow less at-
tached to the traditional male
identity of strong, capable pro-
viders, retirement residences
like Carlton House will inevi-
tably need to grow and adapt
to meet the needs of both
men and women as they age.