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w at er lo oc hr on ic le .c a W at er lo o C hr on ic le | T hu rs da y, Ju ne 11 ,2 02 0 | 8 250 Laurelwood Drive,Waterloo University gateS Our Village combines caring community with research and innovation When the Village at University Gates began welcoming long-term care residents into the Schlegel Villages family five years ago, the foundation for a unique partnership between the University of Waterloo, the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging and Conestoga College was solidified. On the northern edge of the UW campus, The Village brings care providers, researchers and students together in one place, and an exciting new phase of this unique partnership will begin when 229 new retirement suites open up in August 2020. When Ron Schlegel first envisioned a caring community for seniors, research and innovation was A fullcontinuum of living fortoday's older adult always back of mind; he knew the lived experience of older adults could inform the future of health and well being not only at Schlegel Villages, but in every corner of our society. "The Schlegel Villages mission is to create villages for older adults where everyone can thrive as human beings and pursue their passions, develop new friendships, learn and grow, contribute to their community and have fun together," says Jamie Schlegel, President and CEO of Schlegel Villages. "This has been the work of the Schlegel family for three generations since my grandparents Wilfred and Emma Schlegel opened a small nursing home in London, Ontario in 1953." The third generation operating Schlegel Villages today honours Wilfred and Emma's legacy by building homes and villages where strong relationships thrive and an honest sense of community binds residents, families, team members and community partners together. "I'm so proud of the Village at University Gates team members who have created a long-term care home that provides outstanding care to seniors and is also a vibrant, active and enriching community," Jamie says. This is the reputational foundation for expansion to a full range of retirement living options that will begin welcoming residents this August, and it's exciting to consider how the connections between residents, their loved, ones, team members, researchers and students will help make the world a better place. RETIREMENTSUITESOPENAUGUST Book a virtual tour! 519-904-0650 x 8041 and 8044 schlegelvillages.com Seniors' Month Stay Safe, Stay in Touch - June 2020 Celebrating Celebrations aren't the same at this time when social gatherings are not possible. There are ways to mark special occasions that comply with COVID-19 restrictions and one of them is the presentation of a special gift to mark a significant birthday or wedding anniversary. You can request a congratulatory message if you or a senior in your life is marking a milestone occasion. Get information about requesting a message from: • Her Majesty The Queen - for Canadians cel- ebrating birthdays of 100 years or more and for couples celebrating wedding anniversaries of 60 years or more (at five-year intervals) • the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario - for Ontarians celebrating birthdays of 90 years or more and for couples celebrating wedding anni- versaries of 50 years or more. • the Prime Minister of Canada - for Canadians celebrating birthdays of 65 years or more (at five-year intervals) and for couples celebrat- ing wedding anniversaries of 25 years or more (at five-year intervals). • the Premier of Ontario - for Ontarians celebrat- ing birthdays of 80 years or more and for couples celebrating anniversaries of 40 years or more. You can also contact your Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) or Member of Parliament (MP) for a variety of occasions. Marking milestones for seniors The Ontario Caregiver Organization reinforces the fact that during the COVID- 19 pandemic we need each other now more than ever. The group also suggests that the pandemic has made us all care- givers. The organization's website (ontario- caregiver.ca) states that it's important to follow Ontario Public Health guidelines on how to keep yourself and others safe, particularly if you are supporting a senior. With that in mind, here are some mean- ingful things you can do suggested by the caregiver group. • Pick up the phone and call a senior you know to see how they are doing. • Sending an email or text if they use this technology is also appropriate but let's not underestimate how much it means to hear another person's voice, particu- larly if the senior lives alone. • Offer to pick up groceries, prescriptions, pet food or other important supplies. You may be able to order food or prescrip- tions over the internet and have these delivered right to their door. Your offer to help will go a long way for a senior who is not comfortable with technology. If this service is not available and you deliver the necessary supplies, leave them at their doorstep instead of handing them over or bringing them inside, to ensure physical distance. • Set them up on a device. Do you have an extra laptop or tablet? Providing a device and setting a senior up with easy to follow instructions may be the differ- ence between a senior feeling isolated and alone or connected with family and friends. Before doing so, ensure settings are as user-friendly as possible, including enlarging text and increasing volume set- tings if necessary. Ensure any devices are fully sanitized before passing them on. Tips on how to be a caregiver