Every time the women slip their kayaks into the Lake of Two Mountains, someone invariably shouts “Blue zone!”.
It’s a throw back to a documentary these middle-age moms binge-watched last fall. Sparked by a National Geographic explorer’s journalistic quest to understand why people in Okinawa, Japan — and other so-called blue zones — live longer and healthier than any other place on earth, these woman are taking the theory’s grounding principles to heart.
“What they found is that people in Okinawa and other spots have more seniors living to be 100 than typical towns and cities do,” explains Frankie. “And there are some core traits or characteristics of the way people live in these areas that fuel longevity. We’re looking ahead at the second half of our lives and saying: we want that, too.”
These friends actively embrace the lifestyle factors highlighted at the core of the research. With their own spin on healthy diets, physical activity (whether kayaking or tackling twice-weekly work-out classes together) and sharp minds (think book clubs that offer social connections and meaningful conversations), the women — aged 42 to 55 — are creating their version of a blue zone in a lakeside neighbourhood, just 20 minutes off the Western tip of Montreal.
This ad-hoc approach is laying the groundwork for what each hopes will be a flourishing path towards the golden years. It’s the very same theory that formed the basis of TheKey’s Balanced Care MethodTM more than 20 years ago.
A balanced approach to providing Montreal seniors with personalized, at-home care
As a leading in-home, senior and elder care provider in Montreal, TheKey’s team built its reputation by adopting a proprietary, holistic strategy for living and aging well at home. First and foremost, the Balanced Care Method is centred around moderation and variety.
“These two elements ground our philosophy,” says Timothy Thomas, Head of Canada Division, TheKey. “Many of the families we meet across the Montreal area don’t realize how transactional caregiving can be. Our caregivers are trained to go beyond simply delivering medications or helping with hygiene. They engage with every client and find appropriate activities that allow people to feel seen and have fun over the course of their day.”
Whether making trips to a local garden centre, so a client can get close to the plants and flowers they once loved to work with, or playing a round of cards in the comfort of home: TheKey’s caregiving teams help clients stay active, pursue interests, eat healthy, enjoy companionship and find a sense of purpose.
That last element is particularly important. Studies suggest that a higher sense of purpose in life is associated with a lower risk of early death. In Canada, more than eight in 10 people who report high life satisfaction also reported a strong sense of meaning. At nearly 70%, Quebec has the most people reporting a strong sense of meaning and purpose.
Thomas is buoyed by those numbers, and happy TheKey’s caregiving teams can support that trend among Montreal seniors. “The research has long shown that in Okinawa and beyond, these factors really help people live not only longer, but well. Through continuous training programs and our Balanced Care Method, we make sure our caregivers are ready to deliver on that for our clients.”