Relocating Seniors with Comfort and Ease

Our Blog

1. Communicate what you need from the beginning. Just lay it all out there – that way there are no surprises, and everyone is on the same page.

2. Communicate what you want beginning! Just because something isn’t a need, doesn’t mean that it won’t make life easier for your in someway.

3. If you do not understand what is happening, or you’d like more details, please ask – anyone providing you with honest, quality service will be happy to answer your questions.

4. Itemized estimates, inventory, receipt and invoices should be concise and complete. If you feel something is missing, ask for clarification!

5. If you do no feel safe continuing a transaction, working relationship, or even a consultation, do not hesitate to ask something to leave. Your home is your safe place, and those not respecting that, well – do you really want or need their help?

6. Sometimes putting ourselves out there is difficult, but at the end of the day, you deserve service from an organization that will respect you, your wishes, and your property.

7. Hiring a company like Elder Move Inc. gives your that safe representative to communicate with about your expectations, hopes and concerns. I don’t have been serving the Edmonton area for 12yrs, and we look forward to serving you, and it’s comfort and ease.

At Elder Move we want to ensure you are in the best hands possible!
Elder Move

The Elder Move Inc. team is committed to your health and well being. While we continue to be operational at this time, please know that we do so while adhering to the strict guidelines set forth by AHS and the WHO. Our highly trained staff promise to respect you and your home. If you would like any further information on the specifics of our plan to minimize our client’s exposure to covid-19, please contact us at 780-668-9767.

We have been a part of your community for the last 10 years, and have had the privilege to work with hundreds of people across the greater Edmonton area. In doing so we have invaluable experience with working amidst quarantine and lockdown procedures and will always defer to the health authority, and respect their decisions. Our staff have not been in attendance at any large gatherings, (including the recent NASMM conference in Houston) or travelled out of the country, (by plane or otherwise) in the last 60 days.

Remember, if you have questions pertaining to your health, you can call 811 or access the AHS website at Alberta Health Services

To all the women out there who have given their time, energy, and love to ensure we become the best we can! It takes a village to raise a child and it’s never been so true! To the Mother’s, Step Mom’s, Aunt’s, and Grandma’s! Happy Mother’s Day from us at Elder Move!

By Stephanie Chamberlain
Carole Estabrooks
University of Alberta

EDMONTON – LIVING – What happens when a person grows older and can not make health and financial decisions for themselves – but also doesn’t have family or friends who can make those decisions on their behalf?

Health and social services use a hard-hitting term to describe this growing population: unbefriended.

Unbefriended individuals may have experienced homelessness, mental health issues or substance abuse; they may be estranged from their family, have outlived their family or never had a partner or children. Although the unbefriended can be of any age, they’re often older adults.

Unbefriended seniors are the most vulnerable of the most vulnerable — and we need to do more to safeguard their access to basic daily needs, including companionship, and improve their quality of life.

Not much is known about this population, which is why we undertook a study – the first of its kind in Canada – examining the quality of care and quality of life for the unbefriended across seven long-term care homes in Alberta.

Our study found that many of these individuals are low-income, living on limited government-provided pensions. Even though they’re living in long-term care facilities where they have food and shelter, few can afford basic personal care items, such as clothing, lotions or denture adhesive. Similarly, uninsured services, such as dental, hearing and eye and foot care, are beyond their financial means.

Even those who can afford these basics frequently go without these items because they have no one to purchase them on their behalf or arrange for appointments.

Our study found that overworked care aides in long-term care facilities – who often make a basic wage – frequently purchase supplies out of their own pockets to help the unbefriended. One care aide reported buying dental adhesive out of her money so the residents in her care could put in their dentures. Another reported seeing unbefriended seniors in worn and threadbare clothing so they scouted out second-hand clothes for them.

We also found that unbefriended individuals have limited social interaction, especially if they exhibit challenging behaviours due to mental illness or dementia. Little social interaction contributes to a lower quality of life. Those with more financial means could hire a companion for social interaction, but most are unable to afford this luxury or are unable to facilitate hiring someone.

In Canada, unbefriended seniors are assigned a government-appointed public guardian to take over decision-making responsibilities on their behalf, such as for their health care and living arrangements.

But public guardians are not care providers or family members. They don’t spend much time with their clients who live in long-term care facilities because they’re deemed safe and housed. Many public guardians carry large caseloads of well over 50 clients. While they’re supposed to visit their clients four times a year, they often struggle to meet this goal.

What can be done to improve the quality of life and access to basic daily living needs for someone deemed unbefriended?

We could expand the public guardian role to include basic living needs beyond food and shelter, such as quality of life markers and social interaction. Alternatively, governments could fund organizations to work alongside public guardians to systematize such services so that no individual is left neglected or forgotten, or relying on the charity of care aides.

But first and foremost, we need to simply put the unbefriended on the map. We can’t address what we don’t count and measure, and largely, they are the forgotten population in the policy landscape.

With the numbers of single households rising dramatically, more of us could find ourselves in this position as we age. We owe it those who are at their most vulnerable to provide a life of basic dignity and security.

This article published by the Financial Post is a really good read and I recommend it for any age. It’s important to know what the future holds for us as we age. Questions to ask ourselves, will be have enough money to survive? What will taxes be like? Is there additional help for me if my income is less? Where will I live?

This article talks briefly about what living expenses will decrease, tax credits that are helpful, additional funding available, personal care expenses and more!

“There are five important factors that make the monthly expenses much easier to handle” – Ted Rechtshaffen

What better time than Fall to declutter, clear out, and clean up! Starting next Tuesday, October 9, 2018 we are sponsoring a 15-day declutter challenge where you can get some helpful tips, information, and win prizes as you declutter your home.

We know it can be tough to declutter and to stay motivated, especially if you have a lot to do. If you’re someone with a lot of clutter, you’re probably familiar with how one day you can be raring to go and make your living room look welcoming, but a few days later you can’t find your keys (or wallet, or phone, or the book you were reading, or whatever!). We set up this challenge to help you with motivation, information, and to have some fun.

At Elder Move Inc., we work almost exclusively with baby boomers and seniors in the Edmonton area, but we also know that we have people reading our blog and visiting the Facebook page from afar, and we want to help everyone. So, this 15-day decluttering challenge is for all to jump in, whether you want to get things tidied up, you are getting ready for shifting space, or you just want to create a more comfortable home and get rid of some clutter.

To Declutter is Different than Downsizing

First, let’s differentiate between downsizing and decluttering. Downsizing can be a HUGE undertaking, including methods for making better use of a space, creating storage, and decluttering. If you are downsizing for the first time, it can be overwhelming, and we’d like to make this challenge easy and fun, so we are going to focus on decluttering only.

Each declutter challenge during the 15 days will take just 15-30 minutes. That’s it! To be successful, make sure you set aside 30 minutes so you aren’t being interrupted by the phone or a visitor. Put the time in your schedule or a planner so you’re not tempted to fill it with something else. The challenges will be posted on our Facebook page each morning by 7:00 a.m. Mountain Time, so you can start anytime you like.

Each weekday will include one decluttering task, and it’s designed to be completed in 15-30 minutes. Complete all the tasks, and your home is going to be a more pleasant, safe, and wonderful place to be in. If we set up a task that you don’t need to do, you can either complete a task of your own choosing, or you can have that day to yourself. It’s up to you! You’ll also get the weekends off to catch up on any challenges that needed more than 30-minutes, or to spend some time curled up with a good book. Click here for some recommendations! In between, we’ll post some motivational and interesting tidbits on our Facebook page for you.

This coming weekend is Thanksgiving in Canada, so we will launch declutter challenge next Tuesday, October 9. In the meantime, check your supplies. Make sure you have some supplies ready to help with the challenge. Handy items include:

  • Black or green bags for garbage
  • Clear or blue bags for recycling
  • Bins or boxes for items that you want to donate
  • Packing tape for the boxes
  • Felt pen for labelling

This challenge is open for anyone who wants to have some fun while decluttering, and it’s open to anyone between the ages of 18 and 118. Encourage your parents, relatives, and neighbours to get involved.

About Prizes

Anyone who takes part in at least seven of the challenges AND posts their before and after pictures on our Facebook page (or you can email them to us if you’re shy) will be entered into a draw for a special little treat that won’t clutter up your house.

Now, where are those bags and boxes?!

Until Tuesday!

Nastional Association of Senior Move Managers Circle of Service Logo

We’re looking for examples of seniors being connected to their communities. It’s a simple concept, and the motivation behind it is that people who live in seniors’ residences can sometimes find themselves shut in, or at the very least, disconnected from their previous neighbourhood. The problem gets compounded when they aren’t able to drive or have trouble with mobility and can’t take a bus, or afford a cab.

Photo of jam and cookies

 

A fun, healthy business where you can learn how to make your own meals, or simply go in and purchase healthy, pre-made meals, is Simply Supper. Have you been to their kitchens yet? Did you know they also do classes on location in two kitchens in Edmonton? Plus, they will also do classes for special occasions, groups, etc. that you set up. I spoke with Monita, the owner, and she said that things are very busy in their kitchens because people are committed to eating right, even when they are too busy to cook. Check out the fab reviews on their Facebook page, here.

Have you noticed the Fresh Express Bus in your neighbourhood yet? This is a service started by Andrew Lineker, in Edmonton. Mr. Lineker’s background includes working at farmers’ markets, and now he is bringing the markets to neighbourhoods and communities on a bus. The company was featured recently on CTV News Edmonton, and the reviews from customers are ecstatic! The bus has stops all over the city, with plans for a larger fleet in the works. Check out the video here.

Making Something Old New Again

Having groceries delivered might seem novel, and I chuckle since that’s how people used to get a lot of their groceries around here. Some of the newer options are great, though, including green box and organic box deliveries, or meal kits in a box that you can put together in a hurry, or even click and collect at the big grocery chains. Look around for what’s available near you.

Some of the boxed meals are designed for a minimum of two people, and if you’re single you’ll have to be prepared for leftovers or invite a friend over. Simply Supper also offers a single serving option, and other options are handy where they offer delivery to your home or work, or a handy pick up spot.

So Many Options

Community kitchens, travelling markets, and grocery delivery are all terrific options for healthy eating, and for gathering with others. The sense of belonging that comes from joining friends at the table can’t be beat, and if you prefer to eat on your own, shopping at businesses like these can help you keep connected, and full of healthy grub.

A big problem for seniors is that of loneliness. We’ve written this article to help seniors, their families, and professional caregivers to help create healthy, active lives that fight  loneliness.

You may have connected with organizations that will help you help others. If you’re not connected, have a look for local agencies in your city by Googling the name of your city and adding the term “seniors association” to find local support. You can also speak with a social worker, staff in your doctor’s office, and checkout the Caregiver’s Association of Alberta.

Some folks enjoy time to themselves, and they may not feel lonely. Being lonely is about a sense of isolation that can bring on feelings of sadness, decreased appetite, and contribute to people closing themselves off even more. The list here are some practical things you can do to help fight loneliness for people you care for, including your parents, grandparents, neighbours, and yourself.

Start talking

If you’re going to visit someone you don’t know that well and find it awkward, create a list of conversation starters. Although this idea may sound silly, it really works because you’ll always have something to talk about! Avoid topics that you know are hot buttons for the other person. Ask open questions so that you don’t accidentally kill the conversation or make it awkward. Since loneliness can be worse if someone spends a lot of time living in the past, it’s important to try and learn about the person while encouraging them to appreciate the present. For example, if they loved playing football and you know of a high school or university football team in the area, you could find out when the next game is and go watch it together.

  • What are the most important lessons you’ve learned in life? (Great discussion starter)
  • What’s your favourite lunchtime snack? (You could make lunch together)
  • What kind of reading / shows do you enjoy? (How about a trip to the library?)
  • Who were your friends when you were growing up? (More great discussions)
  • What were your favourite activities / sports at school? (A great way to connect with activities of interest in the community)

Get out of the house

If mobility is not a challenge, offer to take someone out for a fancy tea or coffee and get them out of their home. There are lots of independent places, or you could visit a big chain. Stopping at a local park and taking in an outdoor exercise class for seniors, or having some fun with an activity reminds people what is happening in the community.

If mobility is a challenge, bring a fancy drink to them or bring a picnic lunch and enjoy it together. Sharing pictures from your laptop or a tablet can help bring the outside to someone who is confined indoors.

Help the kids

If your kids are shy or find it awkward to go visiting with you, help them out by giving them a list of conversation starters, too. They might be fascinated by some topic but find it hard to ask about something and you can help them out. You can also take a game that’s kid and family friendly that everyone can play – cards, board games, and puzzles (get the right sized pieces for your crowd) are often a hit. If you don’t have any games handy, you can often pick them up inexpensively at Value Village or borrow them from the library. Get creative with this, and don’t think you have to stick with old fashioned games. Modern card games for older kids and adults like Mad Gab, or Cards Against Humanity, are a hoot.

wooden game pieces with cute wigs and faces painted

Take a class together

With great little businesses like Clay and Cupcakes, Plant Nite, and Paint Nite available, plenty of fun can be had in stress free, short, creativity based outings. Of course, there are always longer classes to commit to, and seniors love classes that are short one-time events (like a how-to class on computers, for example), and longer series of classes, too. If you know of a group of seniors who share interest in a topic, you can even bring the instructor to them to make things easier to coordinate.

Do something

If you know a senior who is lonely, speak with them about what they want to do. They may need just a little help, or a few ideas. They might want to do something that makes them feel appreciated, or needed, or valuable. They may want to do something that offers a distraction, or do something creative, or perhaps they really need some medical help and are afraid to ask. If you can’t help them get what they’re after, get their permission to speak with a social worker, health care provider, and whomever else you need to. Regular social visits, activities, and outings can make a huge difference in people’s lives, replacing loneliness with purpose and motivation.

At Elder Move Inc. we help seniors to downsize, organize, and relocate. We’re specialists at making sure that your home is the place where you feel comfortable, safe, and content. If you’re interested in getting some help and you’re in the Edmonton, AB, complete the contact form and get in touch!

 

 

Elder Move Inc. © 2019. All rights reserved.
Home / About Us / Services / Moving Tips / Testimonials / Blog / FAQ / Media / Contact Us
Design & Developed By:
Website Designer Edmonton