Every time the women slip their kayaks into the waters off the Sunshine Coast, someone invariably says “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.
“So, they say that people in Okinawa and other ‘blue zones’ have more centenarians than other places in the world, and we want that for ourselves,” explains Jennifer.
With their own spin on moderation and variety, they enjoy healthy diets, physical activity (whether kayaking or challenging each other on the tennis court) and sharp minds (think book clubs that offer social connections and meaningful conversations). The women are creating their own version of a blue zone along British Columbia’s coastline during the summer, and back in North Vancouver throughout the calendar year. This ad-hoc approach lays 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.
Offering a distinctive, balanced approach to in-home care for Vancouver seniors
As a leading in-home, senior care provider in Vancouver, 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. It’s also geared to create a sense of purpose in someone’s day.
“We like to call it whole care for the whole person,” says Cathy Gerth, Client Success Manager at TheKey Vancouver. “Yes, we take care of the daily tasks of living that seniors may struggle with as they age. But we’re equally invested in the bigger picture. We know that happier people live longer and we build care plans that support our clients and their families across every aspect of their day.”
By the numbers, Gerth is certainly onto something. 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 cite a strong sense of meaning. Interestingly, those numbers are actually stronger among older people. Some 65% of seniors aged 65 to 74 report having a strong sense of meaning and purpose compared to just over half of the population aged 15 to 24. Gerth is intent on keeping it that way.
Whether that means taking a few minutes to get outside and enjoy Vancouver’s cherry blossoms and daffodils in springtime or dusting off a jigsaw puzzle to bring a little light to a dark November day: TheKey’s caregiving teams help clients pursue interests, keep busy, eat healthy, enjoy companionship and find a sense of purpose.
“We help our clients experience joy, stay engaged and feel a sense of companionship,” Gerth explains. “By training our caregivers on the Balanced Care Method, we’ll continue offering local seniors these benefits through holistic, in-home care.”
Considering in-home dementia care or have questions about the types of support we offer? Our specialists are here to help determine the best plan to meet your parent’s or loved one’s needs. Contact TheKey today to get started.