FALL 2011 | Volume 7 Issue 3

plus

Warm, Sweet Home

Fall’s Hottest Accessories

Battling Acute Anxiety

ABCs of Healthy Eating

and much more

mAking cAre A BusinessAs Boomers age, Joseph Gulizia aims to make the living easier for seniors

6 whateVer magazIne | Fall 2011

What’s Inside

Warm, sweet HomeIs it starting to get cold out-side? Create a sense of warmth inside your home by using the colours of the season to guide and inspire your décor.

also In ThIs IssueCredits .................................................................. 8From the editor’s Desk .................................... 10about Us ............................................................. 12

in the communityroom for Business ............................................ 22angel hair for Kids Day ..................................... 28Paint It red ......................................................... 28mother-Daughter Breast Cancer awareness Brunch ............................................ 30Inspire 2011 ........................................................ 32event Calendar .......................................... 34

home & garden 10 Simple tips to accessorize Your home .. 42a Cooler Space ............................................. 46

reviews Storyteller Isaac makes Quite the entrance.... 50

health & fitness the not-So-Sweet truth about Sugar ............. 56

lifestyle Staying On the happy track ........................... 60lacquer Up ......................................................... 64Fall head Over heels for the Season’s hottest accessories ........................................... 66

business & finance Keeping the Cottage in the Family ...................70

plus Coffee Break .................................................. 78last word: giving thanks, every Day .............. 80

as Canada’s population ages and lifespans increase, Vaughan businessman Joseph gulizia is introducing a new class of retirement home that will make the living easier.

making care a

business

14

38

74

crippled by Anxietyhaving a sense of anxiety is normal in some situations. But when it becomes hard to control, it might be time to look for some help.

ABcs of Healthy eatingwith kids back in school, it’s time to address that eternal challenge: getting them to eat healthy. luckily, designing the ideal meal is as easy as a-B-C!

52

Cover Story

14 whateVer magazIne | Fall 2011

There’s a silent storm gathering steam in Canada, and it’s one that should make every family sit up. at the core of this storm is this simple truth: the

country’s population is aging in greater numbers than ever before. as Baby Boomers head into retirement, our healthcare system is going to face its sternest test yet.

Vaughan resident riky moldaver has already had a taste of the dilemma an increas-ing number of families are starting to face. her 90-year-old mother gisella Braun had been suffering from short-term memory loss, but with her condition starting to worsen, 24-hour care was becoming necessary. moldaver is an only child, and with no other family to turn to for help, she was forced to apply for a place in a seniors’ home.

Unfortunately, provincial waiting lists for long term care beds are long and it took a year-and-a-half to get a spot; and even then, it was in moldaver’s least-preferred seniors’ home. It was a secured unit within a home, with very restricted freedoms because some

by Filomena rosati

Silver Tsunami

pr

ep

ar

ing

f

or

Th

e

as canada’s population ages and lifespans increase, a new class of retirement home aims to make the living easier

OppOsite pAge: gulizia accepts a prize

tomato from mario cocunato, who tends

Villa colombo Vaughan’s vegetable garden.

cocunato has been a resident of Villa

colombo since 2007.Pictures: isAAc DYkOpF

whateVer magazIne | Fall 2011 15

as canada’s population ages and lifespans increase, a new class of retirement home aims to make the living easier

16 whateVer magazIne | Fall 2011

cover story

it’s important to create

communities that are

able to care for seniors

who are independent

and wish to live full lives

rather than staying at home just

staring out the window.

of the residents had mental health issues that created the potential for dangerous situations.

the major challenge, says moldaver, is that pro-vincially governed Community Care access Centre (CCaC) takes a use-it-or-lose-it approach when it offers a place in a seniors’ home. “when they offer you a place, you must take it, even if it’s not your first choice… if you don’t, you will lose your place in line.” She reluctantly took it, but admits, “It broke my heart to have to say goodbye to her and watch her from a small window in a locked door.”

the dilemma moldaver faced is symptomatic of a wider, growing problem, one that a bold young Vaughan entrepreneur has made it a mission to address. Joseph gulizia, President and CeO of UniversalCare, calls the impending storm “a Silver tsunami”. Children of parents who are getting to be (or already are) seniors need to plan for the future, he says, or else the impact on the entire family could be debilitating.

gulizia is someone who should know. he is only 37, but he is already an industry veteran, having worked in the trenches of senior care – both pro-actively and reactively –for more than 15 years. he has seen first hand the problems people face as their parents, or they themselves, approach an advanced age. the options available are limited and far from ideal: quitting a job to take care of an elder, hiring a nanny, or placing them in a govern-ment-run seniors’ home.

Finally gulizia decided to take matters in his own

hands and spearhead the kind of change he want-ed to see. the result was the launch last year of UniversalCare, which aimed to alter the landscape of senior living and care.

Instead of a one-size-fits-all seniors’ home, UniversalCare is taking the lead in establishing or managing a range of senior living residences that are targeted at active seniors as well as those that cater to those who require assisted living or long term care.

richview manor, the fourth and newest private retirement facility to come under their wing, opens this fall, and is a perfect example of what sets UniversalCare apart. aimed primarily at seniors with an active lifestyle, “it could easily be mistaken for a downtown condo or resort,” as gulizia puts it.

located in a picturesque setting in north Vaughan, just off eagles nest golf Club, richview manor offers resort like living, care and services in an all-inclusive package. “a friend once said it’s like a cruise ship on land, only much less expensive,” laughs gulizia.

at richview manor, quality of life is top priority, he says. “all your meals are prepared, your suite is cleaned, entertainment provided, access to medical/nursing care is 24/7… maintenance of the home, hydro, taxes and amenities such as the aquafit pool, piano lounge and theatre room are all included. no other fees are charged.”

Seniors will have choice of one- or two-bedroom,

gulizia at Villa colombo Vaughan, one of four

senior care facilities he currently manages.

‘‘

18 whateVer magazIne | Fall 2011

complete independent living or assisted living suites. a high standard of care will be maintained. “we will only allow registered practical nurses and registered nurses to dispense medications,” says gulizia. “For safety, there will be alert but-tons in your bathroom and bedroom, and you enjoy secure entry into your own private suite.”

lillian Dixon, still relatively active at 86, can hardly wait till richview manor opens its doors. She has booked a one bedroom private suite there and is set to move in this fall.

“I am getting so tired of shopping and cooking for myself. I live in a three-bedroom condo and it is just too much for me. I only have one friend my age left in toronto, the rest have either passed away of are in other homes,” she says.

Unlike many seniors who rely on their children to find a residence for them, Dixon picked richview manor herself. “I would encourage seniors to make their own choices while they can,” she said. “with my sister, the kids chose for her and she was hurt and shocked. I didn’t want to go through that.” She is looking forward to meeting people her own age, and although her asthma prevents her from long walks, she is excited about her

cover story

families (with senior parents)must ask themselves if their decision is based on what’s best for everyone… be realistic about what it takes to care for someone in their home.

new home and meeting new people.

the emergence of private, quality seniors’ resi-dences like richview manor could hardly have come soon enough.

“the main concern is that waiting lists for assisted living and long term care facilities for seniors are not only long but these homes are already in very high demand, especially if people are looking for quality care. By that, I mean healthy food, activi-ties, social structure, freedom, connection to the outside world and health care,” says gulizia.

like anything else, doing one’s homework is crit-ical in someone looking for a retirement home, long term care home or assisted living home. they all vary widely in terms of amenities, sup-port, wait times and cost.

“as a family, this is something that cannot be left to the last minute,” says gulizia. “the first Baby Boomers just turned 65 this year and in a few short years the ‘silver tsunami’ will be upon us. we need to prepare!”

the issue becomes even more critical when there are complicating factors like infirmity or illness. with riky moldaver’s mother gisella Braun, for example, the CCaC could only offer a bed in a secured unit within a long-term Care home, with little freedom to walk around. apart from her short-term memory loss, she was an alert, fairly active person, so the institution was hardly the ideal choice for her.

when moldaver found there was an opening available at the York Central hospital’s long-term Care facility, run by UniversalCare, she jumped at the chance. She now has peace of mind knowing her mother is in a place that not only cares for her but also allows her to live a respectable lifestyle, allowing for interaction with people her age.

apart from richview manor and the York Central long term Care facility, UniversalCare also sup-ports mariann home, a 64-bed home in richmond hill, and Villa Colombo Vaughan in Kleinburg. two very special long-term Care homes.

gulizia, who is a Political Science graduate, also studied and graduated with honours from ryerson’s long term Care administration program. even when he was younger, he had an interest in helping seniors, but reading the book Boom, Bust and echo (which spoke about Canada’s changing demographics) also alerted him to the business potential. he knew early on that any work in the area of seniors was going to do well in the years to come.

“this industry is about helping people,” says gulizia. “I feel that it is important to create com-munities that are able to care for seniors who are independent and wish to live full lives rather ’’

gulizia with Domenico Baldassara, who is an active participant in Villa colombo Vaughan’s physiotherapy program. Baldassara has been a resident there since 2006.

whateVer magazIne | Fall 2011 19

than staying at home waiting for the next phone call or just stare out the window. I quickly became aware that the govern-ment cannot do it all and the private sec-tor needs to play a leadership role in this regard.”

life can become challenging both for seniors as well as their families. If the family is able to care for elderly par-ents, it’s one thing; however if the other adults in the family have work and other demands on their time like driving their children to various activities, it may not be possible to do so. It’s a scenario that can easily create stressful or emotionally-charged situations.

“a significant impact will be felt primar-ily by adult children aged 45-64,” says gulizia. “although seniors typically will remain in their own communities and homes as long as they are well and healthy, often times additional care out-side the home becomes necessary.”

the solutions for senior care outside the home vary in both cost and quality. the main objective is to have a parent or par-ents in a place that can accommodate the needs of everyone involved. Depending on the age and physical and emotional needs, there are different options for senior living and care. however, it is criti-cal to plan ahead for this chapter in life, whether it is for your parents or yourself. If possible, gulizia advises that “the par-ent be involved as much as possible in the decision process to avoid hurt feelings and emotional stress.”

For those who plan on caring for elderly parents in their own homes, gulizia says that there are many factors to consider. “First of all, families must ask them-selves if their decision, whatever it may be, is based on what’s best for everyone – including them and their family. Be realistic about what it takes to care for someone in their home.”

he offers four questions for children of seniors to ask themselves:

• Can you provide the safety, medical attention and round-the-clock supervi-sion that could be required?

• will your loved one be able to partici-pate with friends in the activities s/he enjoys?

• how do your spouse and your children feel about the impact it will have on your time and attention? a good test for a reasonable compromise is that all

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cover story

20 whateVer magazIne | Fall 2011

cover story

lives end up better, not just one.

• have you considered the financial and emotional means needed to be responsible for your relative’s care on a constant basis? what about when care requirements become more complex, as they often do?

In his role with UniversalCare, gulizia asks these tough ques-tions often to many of his clients. “Facing them head on, and involving your senior relative to whatever extent possible, will help you find the best possible retirement or long term care home for your loved one,” he says.

the right decision and home comes down to the right fit for your loved one, says gulizia. “not only is their current situation a consideration, one must also ask what will their needs be in the longer term.”

Persons with medium to high activities of daily living needs such as bathing, dress-ing, toileting etc. may be admitted to a long term care facility, he says. the appli-cation process can be lengthy and requires planning, interviewing and much waiting.

If the needs are minimal, one may want to consider an application to a retirement home, which you must do directly. gulizia offers that whether you are in a long term care home or retirement home one has to pay rent. the fees can range from $2,500 to $7,000 per month. Obviously the level of services, amenities and care differs. the rates in a long term care home are deter-mined by the province of Ontario, while the fees in a retirement home are determined by the home itself. One should visit all homes to investigate what is included in the price and who is providing the service (is it registered nurses or unregulated staff). this is where the consumer must know to ask the right questions.

though there are many retirement homes and long term care facilities, the gray-ing of the population (many still pursu-ing active lifestyles) has seen a rising demand for private retirement complexes and “resort” type facilities. these facilities cater to a group of seniors that are interested in quality living and are willing to explore offerings beyond industry standards.

So what does it cost to live/retire in a complex such as richview manor? “many seniors can afford our services,” assures gulizia. “Our prices range from $2,750 to $4,500 a month for an all inclusive package. we do not set a minimal price and then charge you for extra services, care and/or meals when you live in our home. Frankly speaking, most retired indi-viduals who are homeowners spend between $25,000-$40,000 per year. Owning a home is very expensive. If one paid for all of the services offered at richview manor within their own home, the costs would be greater.”

when a decision needs to be made on whether or not to sell a

residential home and take retirement, one may want to con-sider the winter months, says gulizia. “If living alone, this iso-lation at home during the winter time can be daunting for any individual, let alone for a senior. In fact, most seniors who live in a retirement home quickly realize that their quality of life greatly improves. they have an environment that gives them the opportunity to socialize more, eat better (balanced meals), and have quick access to medical care/assessments from mDs and/or nurses.”

with demand projected to spiral, UniversalCare is constantly looking for new partners in exploring new opportunities such as richview manor. “although currently most of our clients/homes are either publicly owned by a hos-pital corporation or a not-for profit board of directors, we will continue to explore and develop senior living communities for ourselves or for individuals, companies or organizations that share our vision to provide great communities and homes for seniors,” says gulizia.

last year, York Central hospital selected UniversalCare to manage its 148-bed long term care home. Starting this fall, UniversalCare is also going to manage Villa Colombo Vaughan. “Villa Colombo is the crown jewel of the long term care com-munity, not only in Vaughan or Ontario but even across Canada,” says gulizia.

when we asked gulizia if he truly believes that people can live longer given the prop-er environment, he replied: “absolutely. residential homes are created with the able bodied person in mind. For seniors, such environments can pose a risk, such as with falls. homes like richview manor are specifically designed for seniors.”

there is the socialization factor as well. Says gulizia: “I strongly believe that we require interaction with people. these social connections – especially for seniors – minimizes depression, slows down

dementia and enhances quality of life.”

there is no question that gulizia loves the work he does, the enthusiasm is plain to see. So what exactly makes him tick? “the fact that we get to care for individuals and make their lives better is fulfilling. every day I realize that I can make a differ-ence. I get to meet a lot of people. whether it’s individuals, who fought for our freedom, who created our infrastructure or who taught the next generation, they all played a vital role in mak-ing Canada as great as it is today. we owe a lot to them and my work allows me to give back.

“at a certain point, the daily battles we take on to build wealth and legacy – as important as it may be – doesn’t replace the need for love, comfort and peace of mind. this is why I am so passionate about my profession as we play an important role in maintaining the above for our seniors. It is said that wisdom comes with age. I get to see and hear it everyday.” W

• Seniors constitute the fastest growing population group in Canada.

• In 2010, an estimated 4.8 million Canadians were 65 years of age or older, a number that is expected to double in the next 25 years to reach 10.4 million seniors by 2036.

• the growth of the seniors population will account for close to half of the growth of the overall Canadian population in the next four decades.

• the financial situation of seniors has improved in recent years. Between 1980 and 2003, the average total income (after tax) received by senior couples increased by 18%, from $36,300 to $42,800.

• Seniors age 65 and over account for 40% of all injury hospitalizations, the largest proportion of all injury hospitalizations. Falls accounted for 85% of injury hospitalizations in this age group.

Sources: StatsCan, Public health agency of Canada, human resources and Skills Development Canada

fast facts