#ElderWisdom | Stories from the Green Bench

Episode #39 - Formerly of New Hamburg now living at The Village at University Gates in Waterloo.  Doug & Erin welcome to the green bench, Joyce Stankiewicz, as they chat about the buddy system, caring for a loved one with dementia, and the importance of forgiveness, humour, and memories. Sharing marriage stories from 70 years with her husband Bill and the tough conversation when required to take away someone's car keys.  A journey through dementia as Joyce cares for her husband through this process. What is aphasia?  Aphasia is a language disorder caused by damage in a specific area of the brain that controls language expression and comprehension. Aphasia leaves a person unable to communicate effectively with others. Bill was diagnised with Nonfluent Variant Primary Progressive Aphasia. People with nonfluent variant primary progressive aphasia (nfvPPA) tend to come to the doctor’s office with complaints about pronouncing words or increasing trouble getting words out. Their speech may sound slurred, or their voice may change. As time goes on, people with nfvPPA have more trouble putting sentences together, and they eventually begin to speak slower and slower. Doug's wife also lives with dementia sharing his experience as he noticed changes at home. "If you have a problem and cannot find out how to solve, then get someone to help you solve it." -Joyce Stankiewicz "The buddy system: to connect a person who lives at University Gates and knows the routine with someone who just moved into the Village." -Joyce Stankiewicz Joyce has published two books about her mother. 1. My Journey, by Aida Sauder 2. Famous quotes and quips from Mother Sauder and others Saying such as, "you get more flies with honey than vinegar", and more quotes shared by Joyce. Advice for someone who cares for a loved one living with dementia.  "A comfort to be able to talk about it and to know that other share your pain." -Joyce Stankiewicz "Joy shared is multiplied and pain shared is divided." -unattributed   Subscribe, rate, and review our podcast on any network and share your thoughts on social media using the #ElderWisdom tag to help others find us.

Episode #38 - Erin Davis & Doug Robinson sit on the virtual green bench with Anna Piccoli and daughter Franca Smith to continue the conversation on our theme of connection, family, and service. Anna lives with her husband of 62 years, Aldo, and her sister Josephine at The Village of Glendale Crossing in London, Ontario. "I love everybody, especially my children and my grandchildren ...  and nobody smokes." -Anna Piccoli Anna left Italy to live with her sister Josephine in Canada.  While writing back and forth with Aldo for a year, she convinced him to come over to Canada and got married. Why Canada?  Tony and Josephine moved to London, Ontario as there were lots of job opportunities.  As more family arrived in Canada, the whole family stayed close in the same neighbourhood. “Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city” - George Burns What is your favourite Italian dish to cook/eat? Anna's answer - Lasagna. She continues to cook at The Village of Glendale Crossing with the recreation team. Il pane apre tutte le boccheBread opens all mouths. If you want to get to know someone, invite them to eat with you. Good food can bring good conversation. Everyone gives Anna yarn so that she can crochet items for them. Franca shares about the Art Show: Home and Away, asking local artists to share their art about where they came from and what brought them to Canada asking the question which felt like home and which felt like away. Interested in getting a book?  Reach out to elderwisdom@Schlegelvillages.com and we will connect you with Franca. "Family comes first. Everything revolves around family, and food."  -Franca Smith "When you learn about where your family came from and what they have been through to get us to where we are.  It is quite amazing." -Franca Smith Anna shares scary memories from being 14 years old and living through the war. Her uncle understanding the German language supported them to be able to get away as they jumped home to home to survive. Grazie   Subscribe, rate, and review our podcast on any network and share your thoughts on social media using the #ElderWisdom tag to help others find us.

Episode #37 - Reta Baechler is the first centenarian guest to join Erin Davis and Doug Robinson on the green bench-as she shares her many years of wisdom and wit with us.  Aunt Reta as we know her is the Aunt to Ron Schlegel who you heard from in episode 7. A Prestigious Club:The number of centenarians in Canada rose to 12, 822 as of July 1st, 2021. Aunt Reta is the sister to Wilfred Schlegel who is the father of Ron Schlegel.  Five siblings with 3 older brothers and one younger brother and one younger sister, grew up on the farm outside Tavistock, Ontario.   "Every Saturday morning we had to trim the wicks to make sure they would burn evenly." - Reta Baechler A large German presence in Southwestern Ontario - Aunt Reta talks about growing together as a community, speaking Pennsylvanian German and learning English.  Growing to know each other. "I felt so good being at home and having my neighbours around me so there was never a barrier.  We were all like one people." - Reta Baechler Reta shares stories of her family connections with her father Wilfred and with her Grandmother. Jump rope: Aunt Reta loved skipping when she was young. Her brothers made her jump ropes, and she fondly remembers receiving her very first store bought skipping rope. It had wooden handles, and she would skip her way to the barn to do chores, and then all the way home again.  What was the invention that made your life easier?  Reta shares about the light switch being a fantastic invention with electricity.  "I remember when we turned on the light tap for the first time. This is so incredible, all we have to do it push a button and the light will come on." - Reta Baechler A tradition of always having an extra plate set at the dinner table for a guest to join.  Reta remembers a plaque over the table that read “Christ is the head of this home, the unseen guest at every meal, the silent listener to every conversation.” Very important to her, and can picture it to this day. She says it is so important to have faith.  “Well, I woke up again in the same bed I went to sleep in last night. There must still be a plan and a purpose for me today.”  - Reta Baechler “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift- that’s why we call it the present.” – Alice Morse Earle Subscribe, rate, and review our podcast on any network and share your thoughts on social media using the #ElderWisdom tag to help others find us.

Episode #36 - A conversation that is raw in its emotions, very honest and open with Jack Paleczny of The Village at University Gates in Waterloo. A beautiful example of the connection among us all as he shares his story from the Green Bench. Jack lives at The Village with and cares for his wife Diana Lynn who lives with both dementia and Parkinson's disease. He lives a life of service first as a leader to his community, serving God, serving the people around him, and today, serving up a whole lot of wisdom and perspective. The 12s in Jack's life:12 Years of Education12 Years of Graduate Studies12 Years as a Priest12 Years as a Hospital Chaplain12 Years as a Pastor of the United Church His sister is a nun who just returned back from 12 years in Africa. Learn about the decision Jack made to leave the priesthood and how his mother stood up for him among his 8 siblings. "The big part of chaplaincy training is that although you are grounded in your own faith, you are able to walk with others in their faith." -Jack Paleczny "Chaplaincy is a beautiful experience." -Jack Paleczny "Our higher power is GOOD." - Erin Davis "The meaning/value of life is the very goodness of people and the desire of people to do good." -Jack Paleczny When Jack first got to The Village at University Gates, everybody he met he would ask them their name.  "It was important to greet people by name and to hear their stories at The Village at University Gates." Jack shares his tips to being an effective listener. "If you can stay with the person and ask a question that unfolds their story a little bit more. They feel a connection, a bond, and trust in sharing their story." -Jack Paleczny How do you remember people's names? Subscribe, rate, and review our podcast on any network and share your thoughts on social media using the #ElderWisdom tag to help others find us.

Episode #35 - An enjoyable conversation about family connectivity, stories from his role as Governor-General, being a grandparent, hockey, and growing up in Northern Ontario. Erin Davis & Doug Robinson are honoured to be joined by The Right Honourable David Johnston, 28th Governor-General of Canada and Chair of the Rideau Hall Foundation on the green bench.  "Who are you anyway?"In a story from Repulse Bay, during a Terry Fox Run, about a young Inuit lad who approached David with this question. "The question, 'Who am I?' Permits you to see yourself through the eyes of others." -The Right Honourable David Johnston Born and raised in Sudbury, Ontario, Davis shares stories about playing hockey with the Esposito Brothers and the aspiration of being a professional hockey player. Doug asks, are you a Toronto Maple Leafs or Ottawa Senators suppoter? Answer, "Any Canadian team in the finals." "In Northern Ontario, you learn to skate before you walk." -David Johnston Married to Sharon in 1964, although more years together as David was her first date in high school when she was 13.  Coming up to their 60th anniversary, they plan to gather the 5 daughters and 14 grandchildren to celebrate as a family. Honourary Doctorates for more than 25 Universities and learning institutions, law degrees from Cambridge and Queens University, Officer of the Order of Canada and promoted to Companion (the orders highest level).   Learn about the importance of family connections and human connectivity, something David Johnston & Ron Schlegel have discussed on the #ElderWisdom bench. (Video) "If the day was a little difficult, you come home, join your family and say all is well." -David Johnston "All the important things in life I've learned from my children and now my grandchildren." -David Johnston Hear how David & Sharon received the names: Grandpa Book & Grannie Sunrise What names do you have for your grandparents or how do your grandchildren call you?  Share with us on social media using the #ElderWisdom tag. In the USA, citizens are paid to give blood and charged to receive blood.  A great story in Canada, that Canadians give just to look after their neighbours without needing to know where it is going. "I've changed dramatically 5 times, all to the credit of my daughters." - David Johnston Erin & Doug have been fined for how they addressed David on this episode and invited to donate to the Rideau Hall Foundation.  Hear more about the work of the foundation and some of the initiatives to create a smarter more caring country. Partnership with Mastercard Foundation to fund 10,000 Indigenous young people to become teachers Governor General's Innovation Awards The Queen Elizabeth Scholars Michener Awards to celebrate finalists for public media and journalism Roméo LeBlanc - Caring Canadian Awards for Volunteerism/Sovereign's Medal of Volunteerism The Rideau Hall Foundation is an independent and non-political charitable organization established to mobilize ideas, people, and resources across the country to tap into our national spirit and help realize our shared aspirations. The RHF works closely with the Office of the Governor General and our many partners to connect, honour, and inspire Canadians. Donations can be made to: https://rhf-frh.ca/donate/ Subscribe, rate, and review our podcast on any network and share your thoughts on social media using the #ElderWisdom tag to help others find us.

Episode #34 - The seeds for Pam Wiebe's work in nursing and quality improvement in long-term care were planted at her grandfather's feet.  She shares her story of changing careers, the joy of being a great-grandparent, and the feeling of family as a team member at Schlegel Villages.  "There's nothing like being a grandparent" - Doug Robinson "I try not to think about getting old and I certainly don't think old." - Pam Wiebe Formerly an accountant, at the age of 46 changed lanes to focus on nursing.  This came from a tragic situation with her mom passing away.  She made the decision, worked and studied hard, and became a nurse in 1999. Pam supports 10 of the Schlegel Villages as a Quality Improvement Specialist.  In her role, she supports the variety of programs to meet the ministry's regulations. How do we mitigate risk and still honour resident choice giving residents a quality of life they deserve? Prior to nursing at Schlegel Villages she worked with Toronto Rehab and talks about a Preceptorship program she was involved in: ASK ME (Attributes Skills & Knowledge for Maximizing Excellence) Hear about Pam's early influences that pointed her down this path as she shares memories of her grandfather and the #ElderWisdom he and his friends offered her as a young girl. A message to those looking at a career in long-term care, "Be brave to take that step to work in long-term care and don't give in to ridicule." - Pam Wiebe "It's never too late to find your passion" - Erin Davis Pope Francis was a bouncer and janitor for a nightclubJulia Child didn't write her first cook book until she was 50Grandma Moses started her painting career at 78 "It's never too late to re-write your ending." - Erin Davis Working or living in a Schlegel Village is being part of a family. Bill, Pam's husband also feels as part of the Schlegel Family and she talks about the strong connections that are made within the organization. Schlegel Villages Team Member Aspiration CULTIVATE THE ULTIMATE TEAM MEMBER EXPERIENCE At Schlegel Villages, we have an amazing culture that stellar team members want to be a part of. We care about our team members as much as we care about our residents. As one family, we learn, grow, and move forward together. We are passionate and find fulfillment in making a difference in people’s lives. Our caring community honours and encourages well-being, and team members are appreciated in personally meaningful ways. Through mentorship, ongoing support, and education we are empowered to go beyond the status quo, and unleash our full potential. “You can be you while being a part of our family.” Learn more about joining our team Subscribe, rate, and review our podcast on any network and share your thoughts on social media using the #ElderWisdom tag to help others find us.

Episode #33 - Corrine Richard shares her stories from the green bench with Erin Davis & co-host Doug Robinson from her home at Coleman Care Centre in Barrie.  We hear of growing up in Callandar, Ontario, meeting the Dionne Quintuplets at the age of nine, and stories of family relations and working the summer carnival in Wasaga Beach. "It was a crazy proposal, and it was right up my alley." - Corrine Richard In Wasaga Beach at the age of 20 was quite happy working with the carnival and tried traveling with them as well all while raising her son, Chris.  Corrine met her future husband, Leo, during her first summer at the carnival.   "I've been married 62 years, and did 4 years of courting at the carnival every year.  Strolling around the carnival holding hands." -Doug Robinson "Just do your own thing and keep yourself safe." - Corrine Richard Co-host Doug Robinson is a resident of The Village of Sandalwood Park long-term care in Brampton.  Doug was our first guest on the podcast in October 2020 (Listen Here) Subscribe, rate, and review our podcast on any network and share your thoughts on social media using the #ElderWisdom tag to help others find us.

The Green Bench is a symbol of elder wisdom. Physically or virtually, the bench invites us all to sit alongside a senior, share a conversation, or give and offer advice. It challenges the stigma seniors face; the ageism still so prevalent in society. It reminds us of the wealth of wisdom our elders offer and in doing so, helps restore them to a place of reverence. "The greatest untapped resource in Canada, if not the world, is the collective wisdom of our elders." -Ron Schlegel Subscribe, rate, and review our podcast on any network and share your thoughts on social media using the #ElderWisdom tag to help others find us. This podcast is brought to you by Schlegel Villages, retirement & long-term care homes in Ontario, Canada.