Like clockwork, Bob and Carol hit the gym every Tuesday and Thursday morning. Wearing hiking back packs, they turn on the tread mills and start walking purposefully under the weight of their gear. Plot twist? They are both over the age of 70, and training for a two-week walking trip through Patagonia.
“As soon as I realized what they had planned, I thought ‘Blue Zone!”, says Lizzie, a fellow gym patron. “Here we are, all in our 40s and 50s, thinking we’ve created this little Blue Zone of our own through our group gym class and book club. These guys, though. They’re so impressive to me every time I walk into the gym. That’s some serious blue zoning.”
In 2024, the term has found its way into the spotlight. A recent documentary brought fresh attention to the “Blue Zone” link between how and how long we live. 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. It’s a way of living that Bob, Carol and Lizzie are each incorporating differently within their daily habits and routines, in the hopes of laying the groundwork for healthy golden years. It’s also the very same theory that formed the basis of TheKey’s Balanced Care MethodTM more than 20 years ago.
Bridging the right factors can help seniors live longer, happier lives in Manitoba and beyond
As a leading in-home, senior care provider with locations across the Winnipeg area, TheKey’s team built its reputation by adopting a proprietary strategy for living and aging well at home. First and foremost, the Balanced Care MethodTM is centred around moderation and variety. TheKey’s caregiving teams help clients stay active, pursue interests, eat healthy, enjoy companionship and find a sense of purpose.
The power of that last element can’t be underestimated. Studies reinforce the fact that happier people live longer. A greater sense of purpose in life is also tied to 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. Among them, some 56% of people living in the Prairies report a strong sense of meaning and purpose. That’s something Fancy and his team are intent on cultivating over the long term.
“When you think about it, a lot of different factors play into our wellbeing at any age,” Fancy says. “The same can be said for seniors. When we provide in-home care, of course we focus on the tasks of daily living that require additional support as we age, like bathing or meal prep. But we invest just as much energy helping people keep busy and stay connected to the kinds of things they’ve always loved to do. That’s what really sets our method apart.”
Transforming caregiving from a transactional relationship to a more balanced experience comes in all shapes and forms. Creating an indoor garden to cope with Winnipeg’s long winter days. Bringing a jigsaw puzzle onto the patio during the summer months. Even planning a special outing (a planned lunch at The Forks Market; a mobility-friendly visit to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights) once every few months. There are endless ways to weave balance into daily life as we age. That’s something Fancy’s team is happy to help with.
“We’ve built our services on the research. We train our caregivers to think about all the factors that can help people live longer and better at home,” he says. “Our Balanced Care Method is a big part of what makes our caregiving so special, and so beneficial for the seniors we work with daily.”
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.