Edmonton Excitement for Retirees

[Mangosteen]

I have a dilemma.

My 80 year old Italian ( Calabrese ) father in law who is widowed is getting very lonely. Depressed actually as he has been widowed for the last five years. Starting to hit the home made wine too much.

The root cause is there is no excitement or social activity in his life. In summer he enjoys growing his tomatoes in his greenhouse up there in West Edmonton.

But in winter he is totally cocooned in the house. Most of his best friends have kicked the bucket.

He is definitely not ready for a care center. Not yet. He still lives in his house.

All his older relatives of the Ital Canadian type do nothing but stay home.

When I was visiting Madrid Spain one year I noticed there was a huge social dancing event for the pensioners downtown Madrid every day. Latin dancing.

What does Edmonton have for venues for the retired. Besides Bingo halls.

He is so depressed he does not even want to come and visit a sporting goods store any more.

Maybe if he found a new lady in his life it would lite s firecracker. Who knows.

Are there any real social venues for the elderly in Edmonton to enjoy or does society just forget about them and ship them off to old age care centres.

We are all going to get there quite soon. Is it a problem in Canada due to lack of funds or other?

Any suggestions in Edmonton would be appreciated.

[FishingMOM]

When my son was still in daycare they would go visit the seniors and they kids would sit and play cards, read books and do puzzles or other activities with them.

Now that we moved into a different neighbourhood, my son has found a couple seniors that still live in their homes. He found them outside gardening and he has popped over to say hi when they are outside and he will sit there and talk with them for a while. He even likes to help them. Even better if they have dogs cause then he gets to play with the dogs too.
The one lady has 2 dogs.

I think what your dad needs is a young person to interact with and get the zest of life back in him. Someone to go do things with. Surely he has stills or knowledge he can pass on to a younger generation.

There are also senior daycamps where they can go and get together with others.

[Bushrat]

It's the age old problem of aging. Most all your friends are dead or institutionalized. Today families are scattered and broken up. Our health care is so good it keeps us living an unnaturally long life span mostly dependant on drugs and extended care business interests. Even in retirement the aged are seen as nothing more than a cash cow for the extended care corporations, a drain on the gov't and a nuisance to the rest of society. And we wonder why old people are depressed??

Don't believe the lies of the Golden Years, it is a myth for most who are unlucky enough to not have died when they naturally should have. The sad truth for most is they live a far worse existence than your father in law. If you really want to help, build a grampie suite in the basement so he can have a bit of a family life and feel a part of something instead of abandoned. Do this for a few months or years before he needs extended care and gets stored away in some $2600 a month warehouse for the old and infirm where he can get a sponge bath once a week and eat microwaved fish sticks and instant no name jello everyday..

Yah, I thought so.

[Dean2]

There are a ton of things for him to do if he is willing to get out of the house. The City of Edmonton site has an exhaustive list of activities they supply, there are also all kinds of places to play cards, chess, checkers, dance, play Boccie ball, swim and on and on. The amount of things to do goes on forever, get off AO and start looking around a bit. Start with Senior Centres, drop in type, close to home. Once he finds a few new buddies to hang out with he will be a lot more interested in going out.

[Mangosteen]

Checked the City of Edmonton site recreational activities.

Are you sure these ones you are pointing out are for seniors only or for kids?

Maybe I did not have the correct link.

Cannot see him going to a family type city of Edmonton event but rather ones focused for retired people before they get shipped off to the money making care centres entirely owned by rich CIA watch list Swiss money. ( Glencore )

They own pretty well the controlling factor in all the old age homes in Edmonton and Canada for that matter through their Ontario holding Revera Group. The same ones under investigation for only providing one diaper per week.

Glencore is and has been on the CIA watch list for trading in illegal global crude ( Bad boys Crude )

Long story short hence to reason to stay away from extended care centres if you can help it in your old age.

Much better to form an association between about 20 people and hire Nurses like French maids and cooks that are private some day.

[Dean2]

Hopefully this will help.

http://www.edmonton.ca/programs_serv...ecreation.aspx

http://www.edmontonseniorscentre.ca/

http://www.westendseniorsactivitycentre.com/

http://www.nesa1.ca/

http://www.seniorscouncil.net/programs

If thoose aren't enough choice, below is the link to Seniors specific publications to specialise in things for seniors to do around Edmonton.

https://www.google.ca/webhp?sourceid...niors+magazine

[Ronji]

My dad took an early retirement to care for mom until she passed away. He got in a severe rut, with zero motivation. Depression, drinking, and being alone eventually killed him. I tried everything possible, and even the firefighters he worked with for 35 years could not help. The only thing that brought a twinkle to his eye was my son as a baby.
Looking back, I think I should have insisted that he move into the house with us, so that we could ensure he was eating proper, help around the house, yard, and cabin, and unfortunately a reason to get up in the morning.
I am not saying this option will work for you, as you have your own life, family etc. But it might be something to consider.
I know what you are going thru.

[Mangosteen]

Originally Posted by Dean2

Hopefully this will help.

http://www.edmonton.ca/programs_serv...ecreation.aspx

http://www.edmontonseniorscentre.ca/

http://www.westendseniorsactivitycentre.com/

http://www.nesa1.ca/

http://www.seniorscouncil.net/programs

If thoose aren't enough choice, below is the link to Seniors specific publications to specialise in things for seniors to do around Edmonton.

https://www.google.ca/webhp?sourceid...niors+magazine

Thanks Dean there looks like many choices. I will pass all these links to the in laws.

[huntsfurfish]

Check and see if there are any Senior centers near by. Good places to get together for seniors.

[avb3]

Some good thoughts here. You might also try some meetup groups. And winter? Take him ice fishing.

[lannie]

This may be odd but how about some type of volunteer work. Nothing better for someones soul that to help another. Self worth and esteem sky rocket if there are others for him to help.

[HunterDave]

Originally Posted by huntsfurfish

Check and see if there are any Senior centers near by. Good places to get together for seniors.

x2 My Mom in Calgary belongs to one in Bowness and it has done her the world of good.

[purgatory.sv]

http://www.mysage.ca/

[Opa]

My father from the age of 70 would drive into town every day from the farm, collect the mail, and go to the seniors' centre for coffee, cookies, a farmers' bs session, and a nasty game of snooker. Then he and a few of the buddies would go to the nearest watering hole for a beer, to settle up, and then home. He followed that protocol for near 25 years, up until he packed his tent at 95. Tough old Saskatchewan German immigrant farmer!!!!

[Mangosteen]

Originally Posted by Opa

My father from the age of 70 would drive into town every day from the farm, collect the mail, and go to the seniors' centre for coffee, cookies, a farmers' bs session, and a nasty game of snooker. Then he and a few of the buddies would go to the nearest watering hole for a beer, to settle up, and then home. He followed that protocol for near 25 years, up until he packed his tent at 95. Tough old Saskatchewan German immigrant farmer!!!!

Yep my grandmother was still milking a few cows by hand at the age of 80 on the farm east of Edmonton. She lived until 103 years old. Of course she has the best genetics being from Ukraine.

The city slickers have no idea and are trapped. Hopefully the city of Emonton has some programs that are not too sophisticated and are meaningful fun for the older generation.

Maybe they are better off being on a farm. Like a colony.

[260 Rem]

Check out south east Edmn seniors ass'n... Also one on the north side. Lots of stuff for seniors.

[220swifty]

Would he be open to an adult living complex? Not assisted living just a building or small subdivision strictly for independent seniors. My grandparents split up in their late 60's, and lived alone in regular housing for some time. They got depressed and miserable, and were moved into buildings in Edmonton and Leduc by their kids. They are now both much more social, and I have no doubt it has been good for them. Grandpa is in a 4 storey in Leduc and at one point I'm
pretty sure he had a 'lady friend' on each floor.

[Mangosteen]

I think the lady friend is a winner.

[hjd]

Can you afford a girl/boy Friday kind of person? Say 3 days a week. She can take him out, hang with him and do some of his interest. There is lots of young students looking for any kind of work. And lots of these kids enjoy being around seniors to learn about the past, and the future. I'm thinking this gentleman is a knowledge gold mind, and that should not go to waste. We all need to "Say hello in there" to these great people.