Baby boomers threaten the economy?

We subscribe to the Globe & Mail online. There is no delivery here. I'm always amazed at the stories I miss if I scroll online. They have a section I've never seen The Boomer Shift. I don't want fearmongering. I want facts,

Are you a boomer?

It depends upon where you were born, not just when. To quote a retired Statcan dude:

.if you correctly anchor the baby boom around its peak and mid-point in 1959, then the baby boom will, in fact, turn 56 in 2015. That means the bulk of the baby boom is still in the labour force and the explosion in our dependency ratio will not peak until 2024 -- a decade from now.

My 'old' husband dispatches Meals on Wheels weekly to 45 people who need help with meal supplements. There is a wonderful group of volunteers who do so.

There are many seniors and retirees who still make a difference in the world. They support those who are still working, some of our peers, who still choose to or must work. It IS humiliating. Aging is NOT a disease. Nor are we 'geezers.'

We're blamed for everything! We are blamed with the horrors of the Silver Tsunami, whereby all of us will need long-term care soon. Sigh.

Some are claiming that boomers are all upper class, stealing from the Gen Xers! We're rolling in RRSPs, and increasing housing sales. We retirees are doing no such thing. It's those upper classes working and living in Vancouver and Toronto who are raising such prices. My rich cousin, who moved to Gabriola Isl., is living off large incomes from a life time of being a medical doctor.

Now, you have to be 70 to be at that point where you MUST withdraw funds from RRSPs! There are few of us who use the TFSA in which to shelter a meagre $5 to 10,000 tax free. These are not the people in my circles!

We pay our fair share of taxes. The middle class truly do. We have few shelters. It is the upper classes, with after-tax incomes of more than $100,000 per year, where we must focus attention.

It's time for boomers to pay their fair share of taxes

ROB CARRICK

Let’s start with tax-free savings accounts. Since the Liberal victory in the federal election, some people have been complaining about the impending rollback in the annual TFSA contribution limit to $5,500 from $10,000. The Liberals explained the move by saying only wealthy people are able to take advantage of the 

$10,000 limit, which is not strictly true.

Many retirees can use a high TFSA limit to shelter money they are annually required to withdraw from their registered retirement income funds, but don’t actually need. 

A cautionary tale: Learn from those smart, stingy boomers and think before you spend

MARSHA LEDERMAN

I’ve been reading The Globe and Mail’s The Boomer Shift series with fascination, dread and, I admit, some envy this week. While boomers prepare to cash in on generous pension plans and cash out of real estate bought on the (relative) cheap, trouble is looming for the next generations, with rising health-care costs and a shrinking labour force – and slower economic growth.

Canada's Baby Boom Is Nothing Like the One in the U.S.

While it is fairly accurate to define the U.S. baby boom as having taken place in the period between 1946 and 1964, that is definitely not true for Canada.

The baby boom was not the result of frisky soldiers returning to Canada. It was, instead, the result of the very good economic times in the period 1952 to 1965 allowing for at-home moms and large families...

Generations in Canada- Statcan

Boomers, again: Old Canadians now outnumber children 
"this geezer bulge was coming. The 1946-1965 baby boom"
Statistics Canada says the country's population now features more seniors than children. Data released by the national agency today indicates the number of residents over the age of 65 now make up 16.1 per cent of the country's population as of July 1, 2015.

The Canadian baby boom years are different from the U.S.

By Robert Brown - See more at: http://umanitoba.ca/outreach/evidencenetwork/archives/22880#sthash.QpAh51j6.dpuf
As a retired demographer, I do indeed tire of the endless articles in the Canadian press that either just quote U.S.-based stories about the baby boom or make the incorrect assumption that the Canadian baby boom mirrored that south of the border (see, for example, a recent news item in the Globe and Mail). - 

The boomer’s dilemma: When to start collecting CPP?

As the baby boomers retire, the threat of intergenerational inequality looms

The boomer shift: How Canada’s economy is headed for major change

The case for an Advance Care Directive –dying with dignity

Jenn and Michele
–she is so proud that I wrote about her in my book!
We created a Celebration of Life for her!

Many know how long and hard I advocate for clients. We need to know their stories. We need to know how to help ourselves, as well.
Many, in cottage country, desire to die at home, in dignity. This is a personal choice. One best made by the entire family. Not all can manage the care of a palliative patient. It is emotionally, physically, mentally draining. My mother died at home. Dad died in long-term care.

There are three parts to Advance Care Planning to ensure that you die with dignity (see below). While Margot Bentley created an Advance Care Plan, the long-term care believed that her signed plan was precluded by their need to care for their resident. This is wrong on such a basic level.

This is a terrible situation in B.C., where they have one of the best hospice programs in Canada. This only works if you are sentient, do not have dementia, and are able to access hospice care.
Margot Bentley was adamant, in 1991, writing up her Advance Care Plan. She did not want extreme measures. Her daughter, as duly appointed decision-maker, respected her mother's right to dignity. The LTC insists on spoon-feeding her; her Advance Care Directive says she did not want this to happen.

Have the conversation

Dyingwithdignity.ca members and supporters have been incensed about the case of Margot Bentley, a woman in BC who has dementia and is now in an advanced state of extreme disability. Despite having taking pains to prepare a living will in which she deliberately rejected "nourishment and liquids" she is being kept alive by staff at the Maplewood Care Facility in Abbotsford who are prodding her mouth with a spoon and feeding her pureed foods in a bid to prolong her days.

 I have had several occasions when I have helped a resident, or their families, self-advocate. It is easier at home, where you can control what occurs. The issue, then, is accessing Primary Care (doctors, nurses, pain medications) when you need it. House calls tends to be a thing of the past. Nurses, hired by RFP by the CCAC, are working for for-profit agencies, and have their own protocols. If you have money, you can buy or rent equipment and supplies. If not, you are at the whim of the agency.

Michele has a 'secret admirer!'

The problem with long-term care is that all staff are trained to manage each person the same way, following the same direction. This is right, to prevent abuse, but not if special circumstances. My paraplegic friend, in pain 24/7, wanted to have dinner in her room.

Staff believed that Ministry of Health and Long-term Care policy and procedures precluded this. It is not so. The Ministry inspector, whom I phoned, and requested she visit my friend, managed an intervention, changed their policy, and Michele no longer has to eat P.B & J sandwiches alone in her room at dinner time. She experiences extreme pain when placed in a mechanical lift. She was forced up for breakfast and lunch, and preferred to stay in bed for dinner. There isn't enough staff to put her back into her bed when she needs it, and would stay in her reclining wheelchair until two staff could accommodate her.

The shame is that Margot Bentley made a conscious decision, legally, in writing, and her daughter was trying to enforce it. The Fraser Valley Health Authority ignored her directive.

I cannot tell you the number of people I have seen spoon fed, while in a coma. This is a personal

A mechanical lift requires 2 to operate it,
to put the resident in and out of bed.

decision, and one that must be made individually.
We regularly went in and fed my father either breakfast or dinner, when he no longer could manage to use a fork or knife. I have done the same for several clients over the years.

It broke my heart when one man, without teeth to chew, complained to me he was hungry while waiting for his lunch. The retirement home where he lived was unable to provide staff to feed him at lunchtime when the others were eating. They pureed the regular meals, and, after all were fed, brought his 'meal' and I fed this to him. I bought Ensure, something he could drink, as no one had brought such in for him. After this he regained some strength, and rallied for a couple of months.

Here is what you should know, from Wanda Morris. Visit www.dyingwithdignity.ca for more information

1. Create an advance care plan
2. Appoint a substitute decision maker
3. Review and update it annually.

What do you know about long-term care?

It is shameful - the horror stories about abuse in long-term care. The myths and the fearmongering are even worse. There is much joy in long-term care. Laughter, and kind, caring individuals who look after our loved ones. You know, also, that if it bleeds it leads. 

CARP, which publishes Canadian Zoomer Magazine, with many false American references, continues to assault us in the area of healthcare. It seems to me that CARP needs to understand that healthcare in Canada is vastly different from that of the USA. Moses Znaimer, Toronto media baron, is on the bandwagon advocating for the ability of one to end their own lives. I think it more important to determine the Barriers to a good death.

Long-term care homes across Canada...

Here is the latest (Nov. 2012) article that had me upset.
[PDF] 

Long-term care homes across Canada...

File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - Quick View

Long-term care homes across Canada have been rocked by horrifying reports of resident abuse. Why does the industry seem impervious to change?

CARP published an article in the November issues that disparages long-term care (LTC). Not all seniors in LTC are assaulted. Not all are at risk for the many things that they purport to be wrong.

Yes. Most of our retirement homes and LTC are for-profit in Ontario. (Approximately 500/600 are for-profit). That said, we have a good system to report abuse. (Myths around elder abuse, complaints about LTC). 
The incidents of abuse are truly few and far between. When they hit our most vulnerable seniors, they hit home and they hit the front page. We do not have accurate Canadian statistics of the incidents of financial, emotional, social abuse. In fact, many seniors engage in self-abuse than are abused by family members. Those with addictions, living in poverty and unable to navigate the system.

I was interviewed for a TVOntario program recently (TVOntario Video: End-of-life care), End-of-life care for those in poverty. There are ways to improve the care we get in LTC, as well as in Home Care, and increase the likelihood that we can prevent abuse of seniors.

Regulate and Track PSWs
Firstly, improve the training and begin regulation of personal support workers (PSW) who give most of the care. There might only be one nurse per shift, but many PSWs who are accountable to the busy nurse. PSWs change our senior's incontinence products, they get the, dressed in the morning, bring them to meals, feed them, if necessary. Yet, they are trained with a 14-module certificate program. They do not have a college or university degree. They know little of the psychology and sociology of geriatrics. Some employers insist on professional development, other do not. Part of this is being able to track those with little education, who are inclined to physically, emotionally, or financially inclined to abuse a senior. They are able to go from employer to employer, with no accountability. Aggressive professional caregivers in the healthcare field can do much harm in the name of good.

Legislate the Reporting of Abuse
Further, make it a requirement to report someone they see abusing another person, as we in education must do for our children. Now, the barrier to this is being able to differentiate seniors with dementia who believe they are being abused, from those who are truly unable to manage their money or their other ADLs. I cannot tell you the people, like my father, who are unable to understand what it is that they do not know or are unable to do anymore. He was unable to manage his finances but refused to hand over control of his banking, despite me having Power of Attorney.

Medical Upgrading
Secondly, both doctors and nurses must remain current on geriatric practices, end-of-life care and disavow themselves of the myths around pain management. I have had contact with many families whose physicians refrain from supplying them with a Pain Management Kit in their homes with a palliative patient. In fact, doctors are terribly reluctant to understand Comfort Measures, and fail to acknowledge that a patient is palliative. see: Signs of Pain - Pain Relief in Long-Term Care

disease trajectories

We know much about disease trajectories, yet little of this information is communicated to patients and their families. We know much about assessing the time of end-of-life, but physicians are reluctant to require nursing staff to administer these tools. I have found several:

Palliative Care and Pain Assessment Tools

I will never forget the physician who entered my client's hospital room, examined her in her coma, on CADD with morphine pump, her pain managed, and declared, 'She just won't die.' Hers was a good death. His was a criminal attitude.

Have you ever heard a physician declare, "I don't know, but let's find out." As an educator, I aid this to my students all the time. For physicians and nurses, with patients who face complex comorbidities, it is crucial that they understand end-of-life care, comfort measures, the important of 'do no harm', and when to create an atmosphere of support, rather than poking, prodding and treating patients to death. When I had a Nurse Practitioner, as part of my Family Health Team, she did her research for me, as does my current physician.

FIPPA vs. PHIPA

The healthcare profession has been handcuffed by the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA). They create policies, whether they be NGOs, profits, or non-profit organisations, that ignore the basic tenets of the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA), which says that if a patient is liable to engage in self-harm, they must be protected. In the case of a senior, with dementia, they are afraid of giving them a psychiatric dementia test, to determine their risk. My late mother and father's CCAC charge nurse was one such. Dad was beyond making adult, sentient decisions about his care, as have been several of my clients, yet they continue to believe more in protecting their rights to choose than determining that PHIPA over rides any privacy in order to speak truth to family members, who are trying to protect a loved one from themselves.

Patient navigators, frail seniors

This may be the way to improve the lives and deaths of those who cannot understand the system and manage their care. These are not people who are trying to dole out healthcare support to frail or dying patients, but people who will help them ask the right questions about their care and advocate for what is best for the patient, not the system or the family. Sometimes, it might boil down to helping a patient and their family have a good death, which is something I advocate for with my hospice clients.

Do you know the answers to the Five Questions?
Have you discussed this with your family?
My family knows my desires. No extreme measures. Do not put me on a feeding tube or hook me up to machines. That is my preference.

See also: The Conversation Project.

Celebration of a life worth living

Here is the video I created for 11/11/11 *One Day On Earth!
Kay will be 95 on December 20th, 2011!


One Day On Earth 11.11.11 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Perth Community Care Centre

This is a visit with my friend, Kay Devlin. She is 95-years-old. She lives in Perth Community Care Centre, with her husband. She is the chair of the Resident Council and attends Family Council meetings.

She writes and recites her poetry and she paints. She has an incredible attitude towards life and I love her!

She receives excellent care in her long-term care. There is always someone there to help her, or her husband. He has Alzheimer's Disease, and sometimes he is 'very much himself', she tells me! She tells a charming story in the video.
 I learned so much about myself and about others. Things I hadn't realized when I was nursing.

About being in long-term care,
"You have to realize it's not the end of your life; it's a part of it."
She was getting extra home support, but caring for her husband began to be too much. They had Meals on Wheels for awhile, but the demands of caring for loved ones with dementia, as we all know, can be overwhelming.

She is quick to let you know that her poetry is inspired by her current life situation, but she doesn't let that limit her mind. Her body has been limited in many ways, with aging.
She recognizes her health issues, and her vision challenges,
She learned to paint at age 75. She writes and recites fabulous poems.

Kay's painting table

*Founded in 2008, One Day on Earth's first media creation event occurred on 10.10.10. The collaboration was the first ever simultaneous filming event occuring in every country of the world. It created a unique geo-tagged video archive as well as an upcoming feature film.

Volunteers make the world go around

'It's the year of the volunteer but recruiting is tough'

By Craig Skinner (2001)

OTTAWA — The Canadian government is trying to encourage people to get involved in their communities, but the call is often falling on deaf ears.

I was quite shocked to hear a Carleton University leader complaining on the radio this morning that older Canadians aren't volunteering. This is why they have had to produce a conference to teach young people how to volunteer. In fact, it's the young people, the Me generation, who do not volunteer.

My goodness. I have volunteered in a number of fields. I ended up volunteering as a Victim Services Volunteer. Sitting on the Board of Directors of Muskoka's Children's Aid Society. Many of the volunteers are retired teachers, principals, or people working in a field of social justice. 

Nan, sandwiched by Howard (L) and Frank (R)
Habitat for Humanity volunteer Site Supervisors

In my work with Hospice in both Muskoka and Lanark County, I have found many retired nurses who pick up the slack in services. There simply are not enough Personal Suppor Workers (PSWs) or nurses in the field of senior services. Ads abound in local rural newspapers for both to fill vacant positions in Transfer Payment Agencies, like Red Cross, or non-profits, as well as institutional long-term care (LTC) homes. I volunteered as  Family Council chair in my Dad's LTC home, and in an Expressive Arts Therapy Group for children. My husband volunteered delivering Meals on Wheels. We both volunteered at the Habitat for Humanity Build in Bala, Ontario. Many of the volunteers were retirees. Some were in their 70s, like Nan, who was there EVERY DAY OF THE BUILD. 

The number of volunteers in these places would astound you. You see, I burned out caregiving for my parents while teaching, and retired at age 50. I realized, having done so much caregiving for my parents that there was a huge niche that needed filling. Since the healthcare professionals are not there to support caregivers, the volunteers are stepping in. I lost a great deal giving up a career caregiving, and needed to feel as if what I did made a difference. 

There are a great number of seniors living longer, better lives. This great myth of the burdens that seniors will place on health care is appalling. Seniors are living long, better lives. Many serve in a number of different organizations. Canadians aged 55+ are most generous with volunteer hours: A study revealed Canadians over 55 are the most generous with volunteer hours- Macleans.ca 

Firefighter volunteer

In fact...we are out there in droves, far above any other age group. I met people 50+, whose careers/jobs/work (photographer, crafters, artists, etc.) meant that they could carve out some time to volunteer. We have the education, the time and the inclination. We've learned, through our jobs, to be sensitive, we have life skills and experiences. Our generation has learned to be politically correct, we understand cultural differences, ethnic and religious morays. We have worked with  old style leaders and bosses; we know how to handle difficult clients!

The Characteristics of Boomer Volunteers
   • Clear leaders -- in terms of average hours of volunteering compared to other groups
   • Impressive overall participation rates – consistently among the highest
   • Meaningful engagement – boomers look for purpose in their volunteer activities

Myself and Mary - Hospice Muskoka volunteers

   • Available time and flexibility – boomers have more time and relatively flexible schedules compared to other groups
   • Expectation of organization – boomers want organizations to be efficient and effective in their management of volunteers and staff
   • Loyalty – Boomers indicated they are willing to stay at an organization for many years as long as they are treated well

New research shares practical information for use by volunteer organizations to attract and retain skilled, dedicated volunteers among four specific demographic groups: youth, families, boomers and employer-supported volunteers. (Volunteer Canada Survey)

Coaches volunteer

• Download the Fact Sheet »
• Download the Research Summary Report »
• Download the Full Report »

Respondents in the survey indicated that the optimal formula to engage volunteers strikes a balance between:

• Designing specific, set roles and being open to volunteers determining the scope of what they can offer;
• Being well organized but not too bureaucratic; and
• Matching skills to the needs of the organization but not assuming that everyone wants to use the skills related to their profession, trade, or education

Organizations reported five common characteristics of their volunteer programs:

Jack and Linda Hutton (Bala) receive awards
from (then mayor) Susan Pryke

    1. Their volunteer base tends to be younger;

    2. Many of their leadership volunteers are older;

   3. More new Canadians are seeking volunteer opportunities;

   4. Most do not have the tools, training, and strategies in place to engage youth, families, baby boomers, 

   and employer-supported volunteers, particularly using a skills-based approach; and

   5. Many do not have the capacity to involve groups

Many cities offer incredibly well-run websites for those looking to volunteer: Volunteer Ottawa.

Volunteer Canada: find an organization near you.

Volunteers make the world go around 

• which offer opportunities to give back to one's community

• the local church ladies, 
• the S.T.O.P. folks on the snowmobile trails
• Volunteers who garden,  
• Meals on Wheels,
• Victim Services,  
• Dignity House Day Hospice (Perth)
• Cranberry Festival
• Hospice home visitors.

What are your fears?

I was listening to a podcast interview, Tapestry, on FEARS (Aug. 29, 2010), having had a wee visit with Dr. Insomnia. Rather timely after my reflection about HOPES.  

When Bad Things Happen to Good People

This book was written after the death of his son. Rabbi Kushner's son was diagnosed with a childhood illness at age 3 and was only expected to live until his teenage years. (He lost his son 43 years ago.) The Rabbi felt that enjoying each day ensured that no day was wasted. He grieved at his son's death, found some catharsis in writing his book (research shows the benefits of autobiography), and comforting words for us all. How differently would we live our lives knowing the day of our or our loved one's demise?

Rabbi Harold Kushner has been written10 books so far! He has comforting words, as only a well-loved spiritual guide can write.

The most recent book he has written:

 Conquering Fear: Living Boldly in an Uncertain World

What are you afraid of?

For some, especially in the U.S., they fear losing their home. Many believe that the poor are poor because they aren't working hard enough. We know this isn't true. Some are only a pay cheque away from poverty and homelessness. In Canada we have been hit economically, and for those who have lived through the depression, many fear poverty. It is a very difficult fear and it changes how you live your life. Think of those with their cash buried in their mattress! 

Other fears, not phobias, that limit your perceived success and happiness in life: 

Success, public speaking, death, dying, pain, rejection, doing the wrong thing, not being there for a loved one, technology, poverty, failure, being single, being married, getting old, being alone.

Family love us for who we are;  not for what we have, or don't have; not what we do, or don't do; not for what we look like; or for our perfection. We cannot fear failure. If our loved ones and friends cannot accept our mistakes, then who can? We all perfect and we are allowed to make mistakes. The idea is to learn from them.

Easter: 1994

The saddest thing, he says, is to think of those with their dream girl one phone call away, afraid to make the phone call just in case she says no. Or that perfect job, with evil inertia holding one back from success or the joy that arises from taking a risk and winning. There is no shame in losing. I always counselled my students: you only lose if you fear failure and do not try.

Fear of trying. 

This isn't a world that condemns failure, the Rabbi tells us. We know that the media isn't very forgiving;  for this reason we have to endeavour to keep friends around us who do forgive us. You only lose if you do not try. It is more truly fear of rejection. This is shattering. This is why, methinks, being unfriended on Facebook is as serious as a slap in the face!  

Some fear singing in public. But look what happens when we lift our voices in song. Everyone smiles.

People complain. They have unrealistic expectations of us, of themselves. We image our dreams and create visions. My dream of being principal was shattered with my depression and caring for palliative parents. I dreaded not doing the right thing. Every day. I impacted me greatly. As with many in depression, I ended up having panic attacks, tied to something to do with my balance. A common story.

If something is facing us and we aren't sure we are up to it, we fear action. I know, when caring for my parents I was afraid of not doing the right thing. Friends can attest to managers who fear making a decision. It drives employees nuts!

To cope with fear of the unknown, have confidence in yourself. If you fail, forgive yourself. You will not be thought the less if you fail. You will be forgiven by those who love you.

Dad, in long-term care

As a caregiver I made some mistakes. I have forgiven myself for them. Some of my distant relatives have not forgiven me. They are out of my life, and have cut themselves off from me. I can live with this! As Maya Angelou says: you do the best you know how, with the information you have at the time.

There are times when you are asked to do something and you wonder if you can do it. When we reach deeply into our souls, the Universe sends us the energy or the person we need. Kushner says this is 'God at work in this world.' In my mind the Universe sends a teacher when we need one.

Here is to family!

We know that animals sense our fear. It is something in the fibre of our bodies that reflects in the way we treat one another. If we fear what someone will do to us we will reject them. The shell in which our soul is housed, the human body, is made up of 10²⁶ atoms. Our minds can play tricks on us. Our complicated selves, driven by ego, and by fear, can cause misalignment of our energies.

The Hebrew Bible says (82 times, Kushner says), 'Be not afraid'. Being afraid diminishes our humanity. If we let our fears take over our lives we rob ourselves of the joy of life. Live in the present.


Be not afraid. If you don't make any mistakes in a day, you aren't really trying!