The Road to Wellness: Strategies for Well-Being Among Seniors

Eat lots of vegetables, exercise, take time to smell the roses and wake up every morning with the thought that 'today, I am going to be happy'.

Dr. Willy Molloy

That's not exactly scientific stuff but according to Dr. Willy Molloy, a member of the Department's Gerontological Advisory Council (GAC), this often overlooked, dare we say it -- "folksy" advice -- should be part of your personal "wellness plan". "Although most people can anticipate living into their 80s or 90s," says Dr. Molloy, "only about 30% of Canadians say they've adopted a wellness program." This lack of planning may be the single greatest pothole facing Canada's aging society, the McMaster University professor and geriatrician told Veterans Affairs Canada staff, Prince Edward Island health care professionals and the general public who gathered in Charlottetown in early June to participate in the Department's second major education symposium, The Road to Wellness: Strategies to Promote Well-being Among Seniors.

Despite Canadians' poor track record in wellness planning, GAC Chair Professor Victor Marshall noted there are many potential intervention points for health promotion. "Health education now looks beyond behaviour to put in place mechanisms that alter attitudes and motivations. The underlying model is known as the K-A-B model where K is for knowledge, A is for attitudes and B is for behaviour. We can also influence health behaviour through social marketing and advertising, legislation, both prohibitive (no smoking by-laws) and enabling (tax incentives to farmers who produce healthier foods), administrative mechanisms and service enhancement, community development and advocacy," says Professor Marshall, a leading Canadian social gerontologist who recently accepted a position as Director-designate of the University of North Carolina's Institute on Aging.

The Symposium featured a variety of information exhibits introducing a range of services and programs and interactive demonstrations, including this exercise class hosted by the Charlottetown Fitness Centre.

Deputy Minister David Nicholson reported that the Department is exploring many of these avenues through the introduction of appropriate client-focussed policy, program and service models that are designed to provide clients with the right care, at the right time, from the right professional. Like many Canadians, Mr. Nicholson said that his personal "road to wellness" was triggered about 15 years ago by a serious health concern that "suddenly and in a very real sense, placed me at a crossroad in my life." Mr. Nicholson acknowledged that he quit smoking, adopted more sensible eating patterns and has become "well acquainted with Charlottetown's marvellous boardwalk."

Honourable J. Angus MacLean

Decorated veteran and former premier of Prince Edward Island, the Honourable J. Angus MacLean, told the audience that his experiences while evading capture behind enemy lines during the Second World War had shaped the course of his life as well as his attitude toward life. "I carry with me a profound sense of gratitude to those who helped me. I owe them a debt I can only repay by living life in a way that honours the ideals for which they died." Mr. MacLean, who recently turned 85 years of age, said his sense of well-being is directly proportional to the good he can accomplish and he advised members of the audience never to turn down the opportunity to help another, learn from another or repay another's kindness.

Doug Rapelje

In discussing how health practitioners can improve the well-being of seniors in institutions, a Council member and long-term care consultant, Mr. Doug Rapelje, said staff attitude is crucial. "Environment contributes to the quality of life but it is not the bottom line. What happens in the environment really makes the difference as to whether or not a facility is a place to live or merely a place to die." Those who design or staff long-term care facilities should try to create a home-like environment that keeps residents connected to familiar sounds, like door bells and dishwashers, and familiar sights, like pets, plants and children. The benefits to residents can include a higher level of social interaction, along with a reduction in the use of medications, a decrease in the incidence of difficult behaviour and a slower decline in functional capacity.

Geriatrician Dr. Chris MacKnight, a Council member and assistant professor with Dalhousie University, added that the well-being of community-based and institutionalized seniors can often be improved by introducing innovative measures that reduce the risk of injury. Falls are a major risk factor for older people, says Dr. MacKnight, and a pilot study now under way on the benefits of providing seniors with hip protectors may be a way to reduce injuries that compromise mobility, a leading factor in early institutionalization.