Q: Mia, thanks for sharing you time, thoughts, and opinions with us today. In our previous discussions you mentioned that you started out, career-wise, as an engineer so can you please tell us when you knew you wanted to become a full time artist and why?

A: After spending ten years working in the UK in manufacturing industry I decided to take a year “off” to see if being creative was important to me. This led me to Vancouver where I attended some part time courses in art and photography and eventually I was accepted at Emily Carr College of Art and Design to study Industrial Design. However, after three semesters I realized that I did not enjoy the constraints of design and I transferred into the studio department where I found the freedom of expression that I was seeking. I had my first solo show the year I graduated: 1994. I have considered myself a professional artist ever since.

Q: What motivates you as an artist and where do you get your inspiration?

A: I am an artist because I believe passionately in the power of art to reawaken us and to encourage us all to become more present and engaged in our world. I am particularly inspired by images of nature.  My hope is that viewers of my art of nature become re-enchanted by the truly marvelous in the everyday. I often work with botanical specimens that are in the process of decay because especially in their passage through death, they lead to regeneration, new beginnings, and exhibit extraordinary beauty.

Q: Offline, we’ve discussed art as a form of therapy. Are there studies that demonstrate that art can contribute to a person’s well-being and, if so, where might we find this evidence?

A: Currently, I am not specifically focusing on art therapy, I am more interested in the beneficial effects of having art around us and the implications for our health and well-being. There are various studies that have demonstrated the benefits of the arts: a Swedish study found that people who go to lots of cultural events live longer; another study showed that having artwork in labour wards reduced labour times; landscape images are more suitable for healthcare facilities than abstract images. Dr. Roger Ulrich, of Texas A & M University has done research on how design can improve medical outcomes. He found that what patients see from their bed can affect their recovery times: cardiac patients who had a window with a view got better faster than those looking out to a brick wall.   One of Ulrich’s articles that has important information about various ways to use design to improve healthcare outcomes is “Evidence Based Environmental Design for Improving Medical Outcomes”. It also has an extensive list of references. Another resource is The Society for the Arts in Healthcare.

Q: Does colour have a beneficial effect to our well-being? Or can it make me happy?

A: Yes, colour can certainly affect your mood however when choosing colours we need to take into account that different cultures have different traditions regarding the meaning of colour. DuPont, who manufacture a commercial surface material called Corian® even have a “Corian® Healing Colors Collection” and explain on their website the reasons why the colours and textures found in nature help provide a positive impact on patient health.

Q: If possible, how can art or colour keep minds sharper?

A: I heard of a study that found when Alzheimer patients that had not been verbal were taken to an art gallery they could talk when looking at a painting. Later on, when these patients were back at their residence they stopped talking, but when they were reminded of the paintings they talked again.

Another interesting article I came across last year in the Vancouver Sun “The healing power of horticulture” by gardening expert Steve Whysall.

Q: And lastly, where can we see your art?

A: My art can be seen on my website; on my Facebook page ; at Latitude 44 Gallery in Toronto, and people can arrange to come to my Vancouver studio by contacting me through my website.

Examples of Mia’s art below and they can also been viewed on her website.

Benefits of an Alkaline Diet

Are you experiencing low energy, poor digestion, weight gain, aches and pains, or dis-ease?  Perhaps this is the time for you to take a serious look at what you are putting or not putting into your body.  Everything we eat and drink has a pH factor which indicates whether the food/drink is either of an alkaline or acidic nature.  This factor is based on the residue left in the body after the foods and drinks have metabolized.  Maintaining a balanced diet of 80% alkaline and 20% acidic foods/drinks is vital to our wellness.

To determine your pH level, you will need to buy pH strips (try your pharmacist); place a strip in your mouth, and your saliva will show your pH level as compared to the color chart.  Ideally, a healthy range is between 6.5 and 7.5.  This optimum balance is especially important when the body is in healing mode from surgery or disease.  Making the necessary dietary changes is really quite simple.  Here is the best pH Food Chart that I have found: www.naturalhealthschool.com/acid-alkaline.html.

Recently, I had the opportunity to meet a gifted musician, Craig Addy, and he related a story to me about a how his friend Donna had experienced first hand the transformative power of music. What follows is the letter Donna wrote to Craig.

“On Saturday April 18th, a friend and I visited Marion who is a resident [in a care facility] in Vancouver. Lois and I have known Marion since 1948, when we 3 went to school together in the Okanagan. Marion was very musical – I’d played for her many times when she sang solos, as well as in school musicals.

Marion has had a form of dementia for a few years. On Saturday, she was unable to speak one sentence that made sense, which was very upsetting for Lois and me. I saw, in the large lobby, a piano, and decided to see if Marion would respond. Lois and I brought her over to the piano, sat her down, and I started to play. Songs like “Danny Boy”, “When Irish Eyes are Smiling”, “Edelweiss” etc. etc. I played for 25 minutes, and to my real delight, Marion immediately started singing with me, and she was able to sing every song I played, and she’d remembered most of the words. Lois and I were so thrilled at this response, and, also, the room was filling up with residents, who’d been sitting in the adjacent dining room. They, too, joined in the singing. As I was getting up to go, suddenly, Marion started singing, by herself, “Amazing Grace” – I looked at Lois and said that we couldn’t leave just yet, sat back down at the piano, and accompanied Marion, and the rest of the group, in “Amazing Grace”. There was such a contented look on her face throughout this whole experience – needless to say, I`ll be back there, hopefully, to repeat this wonderful time we shared together.

Donna”

Thanks Craig for sharing. Craig Addy can be found at http://www.underthepiano.ca/.

Congratulations Stephanie!

With over 35 years in the fitness industry, Penny Stratas is the owner of “Now’s the Time Fitness and Coaching” – a personal training practice based on a commitment to informed, supportive guidance to her clients. Her philosophy is to encourage lifelong fitness, a ‘healthy body/healthy mind’ approach with emphasis on regular exercise, sound nutrition and balanced lifestyle choices.

As a fitness instructor first in Ottawa and, since 1999, in North and West Vancouver, she is BCRPA certified in Group Fitness, Weight Training and Personal Training. She has extensive additional training, including specialized training with seniors – the Third Age population.

A talented presenter on fitness, nutrition, balance and fitness for healthy aging, Penny has presented to “Eldercollege” at Capilano University and at the Mollie Nye Seniors Centre in Lynn Valley. Presentations on “Walking for Fitness” and “Mindful Eating” are scheduled for Fall 2011 at the West Vancouver Seniors Centre.

Penny has volunteered with the Vancouver Sun Run “Learn to Run” and “Walk 10K” clinics since arriving in BC in 1999 and particularly likes engaging novices of all ages.

At P3 Wellness, our personal trainers have been trained in working with older adults and can help you or a loved one develop an exercise routine that will help prevent falls. Contact us at 604.681.6641 to learn more.

Exercise is the key to feeling better and living longer in one’s own home. And exercising at home or outdoors is a relatively inexpensive way to get fit. Here are some pointers on how to exercise on the cheap and create a home gym on a limited budget.

1. Do not buy anything that is going to gather dust or something that takes up a lot of room. For people living in a condo or small place the idea of buying a treadmill is not a good one; go outside and go for a run or walk – weather permitting, of course.  Instead spending $2000 on a treadmill, buy a good dry-fit jacket from your local sporting goods store to protect you from inclement weather while exercising outdoors.

2. Look at what you have at home.  A towel can be used as a yoga mat.  Chairs can be used for step ups or dips.  Empty milk jugs filled with water can be used as weights. You can also make your own jump rope with rope or cords.  Jumping rope is a great workout.

3. Buy the basics. Go to a fitness store to purchase some dumbbells.  For women I would recommend anywhere between 5-12 lbs.  Men can start anywhere between 15-25 lbs.  Medicine balls are also a great piece of equipment to use for both lower body and upper body exercises.

4. Think videos.  Buying exercise videos are a great way to exercise. You can do them in your living room or wherever the television is located.

5. Don’t forget the shoes. You need to have a good pair of shoes to support your feet. I would recommend you go to a shoe store where they can properly fit your foot and see if you have any issues with pronation or supination.

6. Remember the outdoors. Push ups outside or a run around the park costs you nothing, but your time.  Gym memberships can be expensive and getting outside and using your own body weight is a great alternative.

Is a Reverse Mortgage right for you? That depends…

Reverse mortgages are often seen as an attractive way to generate funds to provide for the care of seniors or your parents. For instance, many seniors are in some form of long-term or home care which can cost anywhere from $900/month to $8,000/month. If you need to support a parent and they require active, continuous care for 10 years, it will cost you approximately $300,000 – $400,000.

What are reverse mortgages?

They are mortgages designed for seniors who own property and need additional funds to supplement retirement. You must be 60 or older and own a home or condominium to qualify. You will have the freedom from paying monthly mortgage payments or defer mortgage payments. The mortgage will be resolved when the property is eventually sold. You can typically borrow up to a maximum of 40% of the equity in your property.

How are reverse mortgages used?

Reverse mortgages are essentially similar to other mortgages and allow you a number of options:

1. Many seniors are facing cash flow shortfalls and need an additional monthly income. You can either borrow a portion of your equity each month to fund expenses or you can borrow a lump-sum amount and invest. If you borrow $100,000 and invest it to generate a monthly income, you will be able to deduct a portion of your mortgage payments for tax purposes.
2. Some seniors will be retiring with debt – usually from medical or care expenses and it may be held in a line of credit, credit card or another unsecured debt product. By exchanging your “unsecured” debt for mortgage debt, you are often able to reduce your interest rate and in the case of reverse mortgages, you can defer payment until the property is sold.
3. Some seniors will want to buy additional property or a family vacation home to spend with their kids. If you do not want to tap into your retirement savings, you can borrow against the value of your current property to fund the property purchase.

What is the catch?

There is no free lunch when it comes to money. The amount that you borrow against your property will continue to accumulate until it is paid off. A loan that is 40% of your home value initially will likely grow to 50% of your home value after 10 years, 60% after 15 years and 80% after 25 years.

Case Study

Sandra is a 65 year old grandmother with a house worth $500,000 in Greater Vancouver that appreciates at 3% per year. Long-term borrowing rates are historically 6%. Life expectancy is age 90 which is slightly above average.

Maximum loan is 40% of $500,000 = $200,000

After 10 years of no payments, your outstanding loan could be $358,000 and it will snowball the longer you have the loan. A very profitable business for mortgage lenders as they can be confident that you will repay the loan and pay exorbitant amounts of interest!

Conclusion

If you want to finance expenses or borrow against your property, you will be taking on mortgage rate risk, real estate appreciation risk and your home equity will erode over time.

There are other more cost effective ways to finance expenses as a senior than borrowing money! If you absolutely need to borrow money, explore different financing options with your advisor.

Reverse mortgages will be an effective tool in some situations, but not all. Also be aware that a real estate agent will advocate buying more property to either generate a cash flow or to further leverage your home equity. A mortgage broker or agent will advocate reverse mortgages because it will bring in more business for them. You should sit down with an independent Certified Financial Planner (CFP) or a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and really figure out what the best course of action is for ensuring a dignified retirement and management of expenses.

References

Sunlife BC Long-term Care Costs

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