Linda met Colin by chance. They noticed each other in the same coffee shop, tucked onto Lakeshore Road in Burlington. Initially sitting at two different tables, the two octogenarians got to talking one sunny morning as they sipped their coffee, and watched the early rush go by.
That was four years ago. The duo has now become a group of five. Aged 72 to 84, the coffee drinkers expanded their circle, organically welcoming curious fellow customers looking to get in on the chat. This ritual is the highlight of Linda’s day.
“Everyone working there assumes the five of us already knew each other or that we live in the same building,” she laughs. “But it all just sort of happened. We were meant to find each other. Now, we meet for coffee every morning. We talk about what’s going on with our families and in the news. We laugh a bit. We go on about our days.”
That activity has been good for Linda. She’s lived on her own a long time. Regular coffee dates provide a welcome opportunity to feel connected, share stories and interact. It’s the kind of engagement her adult daughters have been hoping to find for her. Linda got quieter after she retired from her career as a bank teller. But her daily coffee mornings changed things.
“She’s her bubbly self more often now,” says eldest daughter, Nancy. “I think she needs that stimulation. And it’s different from talking to my sisters and I on the phone or coming by on the weekend. We’re all still working. It’s hard to balance everything. But my mom’s carved out a little something of her own and we love that for her.”
Activity and social connectivity is great for seniors, especially those living with dementia
As recently as this year, research has shown that an estimated 30% of Canadian seniors are at risk of becoming socially isolated. Isolation can detract from quality of life for seniors, leading to loneliness, depression and poor physical and mental health. On the upside, maintaining relationships and feeling a sense of safety and community spirit within the neighbourhood can mitigate isolation’s negative impacts. True, too, for participating in regular activities — and that doesn’t have to be as formal as you may think. A trip to the Art Gallery of Ontario, a stroll through one of the parks that dot the waterfront all along the Greater Toronto Area or a good old coffee circle can help.
“We care for seniors from Burlington and Oakville right through to Whitby and the benefit of regular activities and engagement is undeniable for our team,” explains Timon Page, General Manager, TheKey Toronto. “The most important thing is to find activities and foster connectivity that ties to the individual’s likes and interests. It has to feel meaningful to be fun and really support wellbeing.”
While Page says activities benefit all seniors, he sees additional benefits for those living with dementia. For someone at the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, Page’s team of elder and in-home senior care specialists might initiate simple crafts, puzzles or a sing-along. Among those with more advanced dementia, working together to gently bat a balloon back and forth, chat over a cup of tea or listen to music from someone’s past might be just the thing.
“For a senior with dementia, the activity must be feasible and fun. Using our Balanced Care MethodTM, we consider the whole person and focus on their specific needs, capabilities and interests in order to find the right activity for them,” Page says.
According to the latest national data, some 477,000 people aged 65 and over have been diagnosed with dementia in Canada. Ontario is expected to outpace other provinces and see the most new cases of dementia by 2050. That means more Ontario families will be looking for ways to help seniors feel engaged and in some cases, staying active can help. Singing, theatre and visual arts activities may improve health, wellbeing and independence among older adults in general. For those with dementia, the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada suggests finding ways to adapt activities to someone’s changing capabilities and moods to help them stay engaged.
“We actually receive a lot of calls from families looking for us to come into seniors’ residences or assisted living facilities and provide additional cognitive stimulation and activity for people,” Page says. “We also help folks stay engaged in communal activities, like getting them out to their favourite community centre or park for some fresh air and a change of scenery. At the end of the day, seniors —including those living with dementia — need a bit of interactive fun just like everyone else. We’re happy to help with that.”