#ElderWisdom | Stories from the Green Bench

Dee Preikschas - Dancing with Parkinson‘s and the importance of humour in our day

Episode #8 - Topics of Dancing with Parkinson's, laughter, humour, spiritual awakenings with a Guru in India, and romance.
The spirit and the spark, call her Dee 'Precious' as we hear her story on 'Dancing with Parkinson's', an improvement on balance and gait by using music throughout the day. "Whatever it is, the body has to keep moving no matter what." - Dee Preikschas 
The importance of laughter for Dee and how to help others smile and laugh together.
Dee meets a spiritual leader, a Guru, and travels through  India and learns to meditate with him.  
"you need those quiet times, to look deep within.  You need to sense the values and listen very carefully to what the spirit is giving to you." - Lloyd Hetherington
Being a nurse, she has helped bring humour to her work and her colleagues. Using dark humour, but be careful as "humour can build bridges, but it can also destroy bridges."
Creating an online profile allowed Dee to meed her husband Dave.  Both dealing with their own challenges, they continue to love and support each other at The Village at University Gates in Waterloo.  "It's for the long haul, the good, the bad, the ugly. A good caring relationship makes all the difference in the world."
"Even before you get out of bed, decide it is going to be a good day." - Dee Preikschas 
Let's all have a 'Perky Parky Person Party wearing Purple with Dee Preikschas'!
*Honouring our guest from Episode #4, Louise Jolliffe, who passed away earlier this year. Click to listen.
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Ron Schlegel - Family business in Senior Living and more, stories from the Olympics and Innovation

Episode #7 | A look back, a look ahead, and a look inside with Ron Schlegel. The green bench concept and the Schlegel Villages Wisdom of the Elder signature program come from Ron's message about the importance of tapping into the wisdom around us.
"The greatest untapped resource in Canada, if not the world, is the wisdom of our elders."
What is wisdom? Learn about Ron's father, Wilfred, and the role model he was to him and his grandchildren. Senior Living as a family business and the roles of Ron's children, Jamie, Brad & Rob.
The design concept of Schlegel Villages retirement and long-term care homes in Ontario allows for a social experience and makes for life purpose and enjoyment. Learn a little bit about how this came to be and how the Villages get their names.
"It doesn't matter whether one is 35 or 85, we should be enjoying life to the fullest."
Advice to business leaders, a talk about servant leadership, and research to drive innovation. "It's not what we do, it is what we enable others to do."
Twin mix-up: Hear how Ron MacLean mistook Jamie for Brad during an Olympic Hockey final and more from the Olympics 1992.
"Be yourself, be true to yourself, don't try to be something you are not." - Ron Schlegel
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Hank Floyd - A life with no regrets, servant leadership and various workplaces

Episode #6 | 94-year-old Hank Floyd has NO REGRETS, had a great, successful life & career.  Started working at a young age, worked his way up, changed companies and careers a number of times. Joined the Royal Canadian Navy at the age of 17 and served in WWII.  Hear about his management philosophy, his wisdom, and his advice for people who are entering the workforce.
"You don't have to be brilliant to be wise."
Hank is joined by our hosts Erin Davis & Lloyd Hetherington virtually from The Village of Taunton Mills in Whitby to share his wisdom from the green bench.
"We learn a lot by listening to people."
*Announcing that our podcast has been renewed for 2021 - that's 26 more episodes full of wisdom for you to listen to throughout the year.
Subscribe, rate, and review our podcast on your favourite network and share your thoughts on social media using the #ElderWisdom tag to help others find us.

Barry Hickling - Discrimination through ageism, working with the Ontario Association of Residents‘ Councils and hope for the future

Episode #5 | Ageism is stereotyping and/or discrimination against individuals or groups on the basis of their age. Ageism dictates that at a certain age you have to act a certain way.  We need to work together to eliminate ageism - starting with education, informing people with alternatives, and creating an environment where you value people and their contributions.  Hosts Erin Davis & Lloyd Hetherington welcome Barry Hickling from The Village of Aspen Lake in Windsor for a conversation about ageism on the green bench.
Barry is a Delegate Member of the Ontario Association of Residents' Councils (OARC).  Their values include: Compassion, Dignity, Inclusion, & Collaboration | Learn more at ontarc.com
Help up break down #ageism by signing the #ElderWisdom pledge at elderwisdom.ca; "I pledge to restore to a place of reverence the elders of our society, honouring the wisdom our oldest citizens have gained through lifetimes of trials, tribulations, joys and successes. I further vow to end ageism, once and for all counting this unjust form of prejudice unacceptable."
"Hope is the greatest encouragement we can give to one another" -Barry Hickling
"Caring and compassion are what it's all about. Don't put a label on it." - Lloyd Hetherington
Subscribe, rate, and review our podcast on your favourite network and share your thoughts on social media using the #ElderWisdom tag to help others find us.

Louise Jolliffe - Women in the workplace, loving the work you do, and a variety of hobbies

Episode #4 | Women in the workplace, loving the work you do, being fired due to pregnancy, making dreams come true & a variety of hobbies including knitting & crocheting are the topics of conversation on the green bench.  Erin Davis and co-host Lloyd Hetherington welcome Louise Jolliffe, a resident at The Village of Aspen Lake in Windsor, to share her stories and wisdom with us.
According to a piece in Bustle, called “11 Old Lady Hobbies it’s OK to Love in Your 20s” there is renewed and growing interest in what the younger generations are calling “lost arts” like knitting, sewing, quilting, gardening, and even old-fashioned games like Bridge and Canasta.
 
Both Stanley and Louise have passed away, both at 95 years of age, Stanley on December 31, 2020 and Louise on January 2, 2021.
 
Share with us on social media using the #ElderWisdom tag and let us know what your hobbies are.

Doug Gilmour - A story of a successful life amongst tragedies, overcoming adversity with persistence

Episode #3 | Erin Davis along with co-host Lloyd Hetherington join Doug Gilmour on the green bench (virtually) to share his life experiences, trials, triumphs, and wisdom with you.  Doug is a resident at The Village of Riverside Glen, a Schlegel Village, in Guelph, Ontario. His passions include family, trout fishing, square dancing, and writing - including his book, A Successful Life: Overcoming Adversity with Persistence.
*More about Doug's Book
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Sally Carter - A career educating in food service, traveling, family and relationships

Episode #2 | Erin Davis along with co-host Lloyd Hetherington join Sally Carter on the green bench (virtually) to explore relationships, family, travel, career, and more.  Sally is a resident at The Village of Erin Meadows, a Schlegel Village, in Mississauga, Ontario. She shares stories and knowledge gained through her work as an educator in the food industry, her travels, and family relations.
Subscribe for additional episodes on your favourite podcast network and join Erin Davis and Lloyd Hetherington as they explore conversations with seniors in our communities.
Listen and review on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify Podcasts

Douglas Robinson - Working in the hospitality industry, a brush with royalty, 60 years married, alzheimers and grief

Episode #1 | Erin Davis along with co-host Lloyd Hetherington joins Doug Robinson on the green bench (virtually) to explore life, love, and grief.  Doug is a resident at The Village of Sandalwood Park, a Schlegel Village, in Brampton, Ontario. He shares stories from his work in the hospitality industry, his brush with royalty, his relationship with his wife of 60 years, and discusses grief.
Subscribe for additional episodes on your favourite podcast network and join Erin Davis and Lloyd Hetherington as they explore conversations with seniors in our communities.
Listen and review on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify Podcasts