Representation Agreements planning for end-of-life, incapacity and the future

British Columbia has excellent legislation for personal planning to ensure people’s wishes are carried out if they are incapable or cannot communicate. Representation Agreements are a legally enforceable document to cover health care as well as personal care decisions in the event of incapacity, at end-of-life and for other support needs.
 
Join us on Friday March 11, 2016 to learn more. Nidus invites you, your colleagues, and your clientele to a special in-person presentation on Representation Agreements.

You will also learn the role of living wills and Enduring Powers of Attorney.
 
Free Presentation on Representation Agreements
 
Friday March 11, 1:00 to 3:00 pm
 
at Holy Trinity Anglican Church
1440 West 12th Avenue
Vancouver, BC
on the 3rd floor - google map
 
No registration required

More info about the Nidus Personal Planning Resource Centre at:
www.nidus.ca

Guest post by Marie Villeza

As the Baby Boomer generation enters its golden years, Canada’s population is aging.

And more and more, older adults are foregoing moving to senior living or retirement communities. Instead, they’re opting to age in place in the homes that they’ve lived in for many years.

Successful aging in place, however, requires careful planning and preparation, and that includes properly winterizing your home’s exterior to cut down on heating costs and to prevent damage to your home from ice and snow.

Close and Seal Basement Doors:
If you have an exterior entrance to your basement, close and seal the doors as tightly as possible. This will prevent cold winter air from seeping in and forcing your home heating system to work that much harder to reduce the chill.

Weather sealant for your garage door can be purchased cheaply at a local hardware store and is easy to install.

Cut and Remove Dead Tree Limbs:
It may be challenging for some seniors to cut and remove tree limbs on their own, so hiring a professional to take care of this job could be the wisest investment you make to protect your home this winter.

That’s because when snow and ice accumulate on weakened branches, they’re more likely to break and fall on their own. For branches that hang over your home, this can be disastrous for both people and property.

Take Care of Hoses and Exterior Faucets:
It’s time to pack up the garden hose. Before temperatures drop below freezing, drain and store your garden hose. Draining any remaining water in the hose means there’s no water left to freeze and expand, potentially leading to cracks in the hose.

You should also drain and turn off exterior faucets, for the same reason. Do this by turning off your home’s interior valve for exterior faucets, if you have one, then drain the remaining water from the drain cap using a bucket.

Finally, turn off the exterior faucet. If your home doesn’t have an interior valve, you should ensure that your exterior faucets don’t have any slow drips, which can freeze and block the hose bib.

See if Your Power Company Offers Energy Conservation Help:
Energy costs can jump up quite a bit during winter months when we’re using indoor lighting more often and have the heat cranked up to stay warm and cozy. But don’t look at your utility company as the enemy.

Often, power companies offer programs to help their customers conserve energy and, in turn, save money. For example, British Columbia’s BC Hydro offers a free energy saving kit, which comes with directions on how to install each component.

The organization also provides free home energy assessments and free installation of products to help your home become more energy efficient. Check with your power company to see if any similar offers are made.
 
Clear Your Home’s Foundation:
Killing and removing any weeds that have grown around your home’s foundation may seem unnecessary, but overgrowth of weeds in this area allows water to build up around your foundation. When this water gets into even small cracks in your foundation and freezes, the expansion will widen those cracks and possibly create additional cracks.

When your foundation is surrounded by overgrowth, this plant matter prevents water from flowing and draining away from your foundation. Make it easy for water to follow its proper drainage path by clearing the weeds and plant matter growth around your foundation.

Handle Air Conditioning Units:
If your home has central air conditioning, you probably have an outside condensing unit. To protect the unit from the harsh winter elements, clear it of debris and cover the unit with a breathable, waterproof cover. Taking these steps before winter will extend the lifespan of the unit and enable it to operate more efficiently.

If you have window air conditioning units, the best way to winterize is to remove them in the fall. However, it’s not feasible for some seniors due to the physical challenges of installing and removing these heavy units.

If you can’t find an able-bodied family member or friend to help, the next best thing is to cover window air conditioning units with a tarp or specially designed cover to help prevent cold air from seeping through to the interior of your home.

Install Storm Doors and Windows:
Installing storm doors and windows is another winterization trick for your home that can reduce cold drafts in the winter. Storm doors and windows create a pocket of air between your usual windows and doors and the harsh outdoor temperatures, which can act as a thermal barrier to reduce energy loss and keep your home warmer inside.

Additionally, this added layer of protection between your home’s cozy interior and the cold winter air on the other side can reduce the likelihood that cold air will seep through as well as provide a buffer against strong winds and winter precipitation.

Some of these tasks you can complete with the help of family and friends. However, others are best done with the help of an experienced contractor.

​A great way to find reliable help is to see how your local contractors are rated by the Better Business Bureau. As this listing for Duval Roofing, a contractor in Massachusetts, shows, BBB provides information about companies along with customer reviews so that you can find honest, affordable help.

Once you’ve tackled these steps, your home will be safe from the elements this winter and as an added bonus, your home’s energy efficiency will have improved. You can get cozy with the peace of mind of knowing that you’ll be saving money on home heating costs until temperatures warm up.
 
Author, Marie Villeza was inspired to start ElderImpact.org after she watched her son teach her father how to play Angry Birds™ on his smartphone. In that moment, she realized the importance of bringing the generations together so they can usher each other into the future, breaking down walls of fear and time. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, hiking, and taking part in her monthly book club.

WORKSHOP COMING UP!
​TransLink Workshop:
Compass Card Q & A 
Thursday, August 10, 2017​
- 10:30am-12:00pm
Ever wonder how to travel in Metro Vancouver without your car? Ever wonder how do I take public transit from one place to another place? A representative of TransLink’s TravelSmart team will be on hand to talk about all you need to know about public transportation and some of the alternative modes of transportation in Metro Vancouver. From how to use a Compass Card to how to get assistance on the system, it will all be answered. You will also get a chance to win a Compass Card! With Christopher Chan.
Room 211 - Free with Killarney Community Centre Membership.
Held at:
Killarney Community Centre
6260 Killarney Street, Vancouver, BC
- google map
- www.killarneycentre.ca
- Tel: 604-718-8208

Free Compass Card Information Sessions were held on February 4th and January 16th at South Vancouver Neighbourhood House.

During the 2-hour sessions, Linda McGowan, Consumer Advocacy Manager from MVT Canadian Bus Inc., shared updated information on Compass Card, answered questions, and collected feedbacks to TransLink for future services.

Q: What is a Compass Card?
A: Compass Cards can be loaded with the fare product of your choice including Monthly Passes, Day Passes and Stored Value. Travelling with Stored Value gives you the same rate as Fare Savers and allows you to pay-as-you-go.

Q: Which card is good for me?
A: Adult Compass Card: The most commonly used card – it can be loaded with pass products or Stored Value for pay-as-you-go trips.

Concession Card: For children 5 to 13 years of age, secondary students 14 to 19 with a valid Go Card, and seniors 65+ all qualify for discounted fares. (Not available at  'CVMs' - Compass Vending Machines)

Compass Tickets: Available from CVMs, Compass Tickets and Day Passes are great for occasional adult or concession riders/visitors.

Q: How to use my Compass Card?
A: Using your Compass Card is easy. Simply tap in when you start your journey and tap out when exiting or transferring.

Remember, buses are tap in only, so there's no need to tap out when exiting. When you tap out, the system calculates the fare zones you've travelled and charges you the correct fare.

This applies to all products, including Monthly Passes. Card readers are located at all SkyTrain and SeaBus fare gates, near bus doors, and at the entry and exit points to West Coast Express stations.

Q: How to Tap?
A: Remove the card from your wallet to avoid interference.
​
Hold it flat against the card reader until you hear a beep and see a check mark to proceed.

When you tap out, the card reader will indicate the fare deducted and the remaining balance, or date the pass expires*.

*This information will appear on your first tap upon boarding a bus.

Q: Where to Tap?
A: On buses: Tap in at the card readers located near the bus doors when boarding. Please note all buses are tap in only. You are not required to tap out when exiting buses.

SkyTrain and SeaBus: Tap in and out at the fare gates when entering and exiting.
Metrotown Station and West Coast Express*: Tap in and out at the validators when entering and exiting.

*West Coast Express customers must tap their Compass Cards as they pass all fare gates and rail validators. The only exception is the concourse validators at Waterfront Station in the morning.

Q: How long is the Transfer Time?
A: You have 90-minutes on bus, SkyTrain, and SeaBus (and 120 minutes with a West Coast Express fare) to make your final transfer without being charged a new fare.

Q: Where to purchase a Compass Card?
A: You can purchase a Compass Card at the following convenient locations:
Compass Vending Machines (CVMs)* located at:

• SkyTrain, SeaBus and West Coast Express stations
• BC Ferries Tsawwassen and Horseshoe Bay terminals
• 18 London Drugs stores (See next Q&A)
• Compass Retailers
• Online at compasscard.ca
• By calling 604.398.2042
• Compass Customer Service Centre at Stadium-Chinatown SkyTrain Station
• West Coast Express Customer Service, 2nd floor, Waterfront Station

Compass Vending Machines (CVMs) accept cash, credit and debit.

Online and telephone sales require a credit card, and it can take up to two hours for your Compass product to be available for use.

If you purchase fare products at a CVM, they'll be available for use immediately.
*Concession Compass Cards are not available for purchase at CVMs.

Q: Where are the 18 London Drugs Stores?
A:

• 100–555 6 Street New Westminster
• 7280 Market Crossing Burnaby
• 2585 Hastings St E Vancouver
• 1650 Davie St Vancouver
• 5639 Victoria Dr Vancouver
• 875 Park Royal N West Vancouver
• 2032 Lonsdale Ave North Vancouver
• 2230 Broadway St W (the Vine) Vancouver
• 2091 42 Ave W Vancouver
• 3200–11666 Steveston Hwy Richmond
• Trenant Park Mall, 5237 48 Ave Ladner
• 7303 120 St Delta
• 2340 Guildford Town Centre Surrey
• 821–17685 64 Ave Surrey
• 1B–20202 66 Ave Langley
• 100–15355 24 Ave Surrey
• Coquitlam Centre Mall, 1030–2929 Barnett Hwy Coquitlam
• Valley Fair Mall, 101-22709 Lougheed Hwy Maple Ridge

Q: What can I do if the card is lost?
A: Register your card after you purchase it by calling the number at the back of the card.

If you lose your card, you may call the number again, and the staff will transfer the fee left in your card to a new card. However, you need to pay another &6 for the new card.

Q: How can I get the $6 Refundable Card Deposit?
A: When you get a Compass Card, you'll pay a $6 refundable deposit for your card. You can get your $6 deposit back by returning your card to the Compass Customer Service Centre at Stadium–Chinatown Station or the West Coast Express Office at Waterfront Station.

You can also mail your card with the Refund Request form to:

Compass Customer Service
PO Box 2212 Station Terminal
Vancouver BC
V6B 3W2
Tel: 604.398.2042

Also, here is translink page to Compass Card rates for Seniors.

More info at www.compasscard.ca

Two ESL events are happening at the
Champlain Heights Branch Library
​7110 Kerr Street
Vancouver, BC

​See posters below: