Editor: Silvana Saccomani

#804, 7015 Macleod Trail SW, Calgary, AB T2H 2K6

(t) 403.276.5541 • (f) 403.276.9152 contact@silvera.ca • www.silvera.ca

SILVERA TIMESSilvera’s Community Newsletter - Summer 2015

silvera.ca | 403.276.5541

QUESTION PERIOD

Edmonton MLA Sarah Hoffman is Alberta’s new Minister of Seniors.

She was named as part of the swearing-in of Premier Rachel Notley’s new government on May 24 as the first non-Progressive Conservative government since 1971 took shape.

Hoffman, who was also named Minister of Health, serves the riding of Edmonton-Glenora and is the former chair of the Edmonton Public School Board. She holds a Master’s degree in educational policy studies.

NEW MINISTER OF SENIORS

Alberta’s new Minister of Seniors, Sarah Hoffman.

In Question Period, we answer questions from our residents. This issue, we focus on questions about outbreaks.

LIGHTS, CAMERAS, HOUSING!

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What does Silvera do to end an outbreak?Any outbreak — defined as having an unusually high number of residents ill with a contagious disease in a community — is taken very seriously at Silvera because of its potential negative impact on the safety and well being of our residents and staff.

Working closely with Alberta Health Services, Silvera calls on each department, as part of our team, to help bring outbreaks to an end. Here are some examples of what Silvera departments do when an outbreak is declared:

Silvera Times is happy to receive your questions. Use the Comment Cards in your community or send an email to: contact@silvera.ca (attention: Silvera Times)

It seemed like it took Aspen Community a long time to get over the recent gastrointestinal (GI) outbreak? Why was this?This year, we were hit by a perfect storm of a mutated strain of influenza that made flu shots less effective and a particularly strong strain of GI virus. Aspen was especially hit hard, with the recent GI outbreak lasting five and a half weeks, as were many other housing providers in Calgary.

Are we over the flu season?Flu season typically goes from October to April, but it can still make you sick year-round. According to Alberta Health Services (AHS), this past influenza season was one of the most serious in years. Some Silvera communities were affected, along with many other seniors’ residences across the province.

Community Management• Notifies residents, their families and staff that the

community is in outbreak and provides updates throughout the outbreak;

• Coordinates outbreak response within the community;

• Monitors the number of new cases, sick residents and their status and reports back to AHS daily; and

• Connects daily with CBI (Silvera’s Home Care provider), AHS and Sandstone Pharmacies.

Maintenance• Continues to respond to urgent issues in the

community during the outbreak, e.g. clogged toilets and leaks.

Sandstone Pharmacies• Continues to operate the Tuck Shop to provide

medications to residents; and• Responds to resident questions around any

medication administered.

CBI• Delivers meal trays to sick residents who receive

Home Care.

Housekeeping • Cleans and disinfects hotspots with bleach

around the community each shift, including handrails, doorknobs and light switches;

• Cleans and disinfects hotspots such as bathrooms, phones and light switches in sick residents’ suites twice daily; and

• Disinfects laundry machines with bleach tablets daily.

Dining Services• Prepares and delivers meal trays to sick

residents;• Suspends salad bar service and serves salad

at each table instead; and• Removes condiments, salt and pepper and

other items on dining tables. Instead, they are provided only during meals.

Activity Coordinators• Cancel all activities during an outbreak

and support other Silvera teams at the community until the outbreak ends.

Silvera is preparing to meet the growing need for affordable seniors housing by collaborating in the RESOLVE Campaign — nine organizations that are working together to raise $120 million for affordable and supported housing for 3,000 vulnerable and homeless Calgarians. Silvera’s fundraising goal is $11 million.

When Ruby Friesen, a resident at Bow Valley Community, heard we needed someone to tell their story to show why more affordable housing for seniors is so important, she volunteered. Ruby has faced many obstacles in her life and faces them “with

great zeal.” She worked hard all her life, including at Silvera’s Confederation Park Community years ago. She never anticipated needing an organization like Silvera herself, but loves her home here.

Ruby invited us into her home for the whole day to shoot a video promoting Silvera’s involvement with RESOLVE. Her story, like that of so many others, is a vital component to showing Calgary why we need more affordable and supported housing for seniors. The video with Ruby’s story is still in production and will be released later this summer.

Dream Haven Community’s very own band, Sass, Class and Crash (Ericka Sanders, Carole Hayes and Paul Raugust), performs in the Dream Haven lounge every Friday night. Read more on Silvera’s blog: silvera/ca/blog

SILVERA’S GOT TALENT: SASS, CLASS AND CRASH

ALBERTA SENIORS’ WEEK 2015

Silvera’s CEO, Arlene Adamson, went on a sleepover at Aspen

Community in connection with Alberta Seniors’ Week (Jun. 1-7) to get insights from our residents and

understand their experience.

Ruby Friesen during the RESOLVE video shoot at Bow Valley Community.

Continues on page 2

ASK US!

SILVERA GAMES 2015 (STORY ON PAGE 2)

Sheila Hansen and Wilfred Erikson from Bow Valley Community.

Thelma Parker and Thelma Robinson from Aspen Community.

Josip (Joe) Petrus and Phyllis Reid from Valleyview Community.

Muriel Shea and Reynaldo Villaflores from Shouldice Community.

Willow Park on the Bow resident Bridget Given at the Bridgeland-Riverside Community Association Seniors’ Week luncheon. She helped organize the event for Silvera residents and other seniors in the Bridgeland community.

For the first time ever, seniors are expected to outnumber children under the age of 15 sometime between 2015 and 2021 (Statistics Canada, 2011).

Activity Aide Vanessa Jarmuske, Joan McCarthy from Shawnessy Community and Activity Coordinator Sarah Rabishaw.

Activity Coordinator Sarah Rabishaw, and Henry Bakker from Aspen Community.

Ardyce Krogstad and Sylvia Sinclair from Aspen Community.

Joan Pierce and Adrian Wind from Beaverdam Community.

Marlene Zelinsky and Eunice Albertson from Spruce Community.

Patricia Cooper and Rosanna Jensen from Beaverdam Community.

2 silvera.ca | If you know someone who needs a Silvera home, please contact us at 403.276.5541 silvera.ca | 403.276.5541 3

Silvera is in the process of installing vinyl flooring in our communities and some residents have expressed concern as to whether the material being used here is safe.

The type of flooring being installed is not the same material as was featured in 60 Minutes, and tests on the vinyl planks show they are compliant with Health Canada’s

Residential Indoor Air Quality Guidelines. Silvera makes sure we use materials that are safe, affordable, durable and easy to maintain. While vinyl flooring is slightly more slippery compared to carpet, it has better traction than other materials such as ceramics and linoleum. Compared to carpet, vinyl flooring is easier to clean, maintain and it looks better.

Unless you live in Westview or Willow Park on the Bow Communities, every year Silvera asks all residents to submit their Notice of Assessment (NOA). Canada Revenue Agency sends you an NOA every year in the mail, and Silvera needs your NOA to make sure your rent is affordable and to help us get funding.

If you are unsure whether you have submitted your NOA or have any further questions, contact your Community Manager.

SANDSTONE PHARMACIES IS HERE FOR YOU

Residents felt the presence of Sandstone pharmacists in Silvera communities was both beneficial and handy. Residents specifically commented on how informative they found their medication review. They saw it as an opportunity to better understand their medications, as well as to address questions and concerns. They also expressed their appreciation of the regular blood pressure clinics.

Residents gave Sandstone pharmacists high praise for their response to the flu outbreaks at Aspen and Westview communities this past December. Individuals appreciated having the opportunity to speak directly with a pharmacist and getting their questions answered.

Sandstone pharmacists also tried to follow up with each person to make sure residents had no adverse reactions to the Tamiflu treatment.

Sandstone pharmacists are here to serve you. Your feedback matters and your encouragement is greatly appreciated. Contact the pharmacy representative at your community, write a Comment Card or find contact information for your closest Sandstone location at sandstonepharmacies.com.

NEW FLOORING – IS IT SAFE? AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF PAPER

Residents at Spruce Community cross the finish line on March 19 after “returning” to Calgary on a Virtual Trek Across Alberta.

Silvera’s Community Resource Coordinators (CRCs) can help you connect with resources, benefits and services available to seniors in Calgary. Do you need glasses, a walker, a hearing aid or other aids to daily living? Are you not sure that you receive all the financial benefits available to you? Are you stressed or need someone to talk to? The CRCs can help you with all this and much more. Call a CRC at 403.390.3988.

This April, Calgary Meals on Wheels offered presentations at Austin Nixon, Friendship Manor, Gilchrist and Dream Haven communities.

Our Independent Living residents were invited to learn about the many meal services available and sample lasagna from the Meals on Wheels kitchen.

Meals on Wheels is a non-profit organization that prepares and delivers nutritious and affordable meals to your door up to seven days a week, regardless of your age and income.

To learn more, call Calgary Meals on Wheels at 403.243.2834 or visit mealsonwheels.com.

Meals on Wheels presentation at Friendship Manor Community.

MEALS ON WHEELS

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Veronica Salwach, long-time resident of Shouldice Community, turned 100 on Apr. 29.

HOW CAN OUR CRCs HELP YOU?

Sandstone pharmacists asked Silvera residents for feedback so they can better serve each of you.

A TREK TO PREVENT FALLS

In Spruce Community, five residents stepped up to the challenge and continued the trek into 2015. In March, the group had grown to 18 residents, who celebrated a milestone in their virtual trek after completing 1078 km, the equivalent distance from Calgary through Jasper to Edmonton and back. Now they will continue the trek in southern Alberta.

The Falls Risk Management Program is another falls prevention initiative that Silvera

has started up in a number of Supportive Living communities in partnership with Alberta Health Services and Mount Royal University’s School of Nursing & Midwifery. The collaborative approach to preventing falls among our residents has attracted attention from across Canada, and this May, Sarah Price, Director of Service, co-presented the program at the Canadian Gerontological Nursing Association Conference on Prince Edward Island.

In connection with Falls Prevention Month this past November, some of Silvera’s communities participated in a Virtual Trek Across Alberta campaign where residents were encouraged to stay active by counting steps and minutes of activity towards the trek.

A recent episode of 60 Minutes revealed that Chinese-made laminate flooring sold by Lumber Liquidator in the United States contains high levels of the cancer-causing chemical formaldehyde.

Residents at Shawnessy Community mark Easter with an Easter egg hunt.

Jessie Fleischman and Tom Sugden celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at Westview Community.

Confederation Park and Dream Haven residents get together for a Spring Festival Party.

SILVERA GAMES 2015

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Want to know the secret to a longer life? Ask these Silvera residents who recently mixed exercise with fun at the third annual Silvera Games.

In Silvera's own version of the Olympic Games, held at Spruce Community on May 21, residents competed in bean bag toss, shuffleboard, rollerball and bowling.

How can I help prevent an outbreak?• Practicing good hand hygiene is key to prevent yourself

from getting sick.• If you get sick, please notify management and stay in your

room until you are symptom-free to prevent infectingothers. Visits by friends and family should be postponed.

• Getting a flu shot each year is a good first step to preventgetting catching the flu. Silvera typically offers flu shotclinics every fall in our communities.

The past influenza season by the numbersFlu outbreaks at Silvera (Aspen, Westview): 2Gastrointestinal (GI) outbreaks at Silvera (Beaverdam, Aspen): 2Flu outbreaks in Calgary hospitals and other care facilities this season: 60Flu-related hospitalizations in Alberta: 721Flu-related deaths in Calgary: 42Flu shots administered in Calgary: 511,151

Question Period (continued)

Teresa Paul from Bow Valley Community.

Michael Szabo from Bow Valley Community.