June Connection Club Schedule 
This club aims to give seniors and caregivers the opportunity of staying connected in the time of physical distancing. During these online casual gatherings we will chit chat while taking a sip on our favorite drinks. The topics are light and meant to bring everyone joy through sharing our positive experiences and memories, skills, knowledge and creativities to cope with this different times.
Eligibility: Seniors (55+) and caregivers. Due to technology and time limitations we can only have limited number of participants on each session. Please register today before all spots are gone.
Registration: To register, please contact Faryar via email, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Schedule for June
Topic: My Life Achievements
Date: Tuesday June 2, 2020
Time: 3:30-4:30pm
Topic: Fun Summer
Date: Tuesday June 9, 2020
Time: 3:30-4:30pm
Topic: My Favorite Music and Singer(s)
Date: Tuesday June 16, 2020
Time: 3:30-4:30pm
Topic: Individual and Group Games
Date: Tuesday June 23, 2020
Time: 3:30-4:30pm
Topic: My Favorite Book(s)
Date: Tuesday June 30, 2020
Time: 3:30-4:30pm
Are you a Senior in Burnaby Who Needs Help?
Some useful numbers and links for seniors in Burnaby who need help during these challenging times.
[Click on image below for the full poster in pdf.]
Poster in other languages:
Arabic Chinese Traditional Chinese Simplified Farsi Hindi Korean Punjabi Spanish Tagalog
Staying Connected in Meaningful Ways
As we share another check in with you Faryar and I are pleased to report several new supports that BSOSS is able to offer to you. This week Alex Munroe, our ED, provided both of us with cell phones that will enable us to call you without needing to block our personal telephone numbers. We would like to be able to check in with as many of you as possible using our new phones. There is one problem, we do not have all of your telephone numbers. Many of you we only have your email addresses. If you would like a check in call please provide your telephone number either by email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call Dorothy at 604-230-3310.
As we have continued to adapt to Covid19 I have been seeking out information regarding how seniors are managing. April 24, John Leland published a thought provoking article in the New York Times titled, “I like It, Actually: Why So Many Older People Thrive in Lockdown.” Leland goes on to say “… the corona virus has been especially punishing for older people, isolating them in their homes or killing them at disproportionate rate…Yet many New Yorkers in this age group are thriving during this catastrophe -skilled at being alone, not fearful about their career prospects, emotionally more experienced at managing the great disruption of everyday life that is affecting everyone….they offer a counter narrative of resourcefulness and perseverance.”
The article goes on to say, research has shown that as a group older adults have a positivity bias, or tendency to see the good side of situations, said, Gary M. Kennedy director of geriatric psychiatry at Montefiore Medical Centre and professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He said, “Their pessimism and anxiety tend to abate with age. They’re no longer striving for material achievements.”
As a senior can you relate to some of the sentiments expressed in Leland’s article? Each of us is experiencing the dramatic adjustments to our day to day lives as we practice physical distancing, and make choices that contribute to the well being of British Columbia as shared by Dr. Bonnie Henry. What are some examples of your resourcefulness and tips for perseverance during these times? We would love to hear from you and share them with others.
Attitude can be such a powerful factor in how we experience life’s events. In the 1800’s Emile Coue a French pharmacist experimented with what he called optimistic autosuggestion by placing the following instructions in half of the orders, ‘every day in every way I am getting better and better.’ He was curious if belief could influence outcome. In following up with the patients he indeed discovered those who followed the mantra reported increased feelings of wellness compared to the group that did not receive the mantra. A great example of a resource available when we focus on the potential power of our own attitude.
As physical distancing remains the best way to protect everyone’s health BSOSS is no longer able to offer the many face to face programs we specialize in. We want to continue to connect with you using email, telephone or virtually platforms.
Faryar and I are looking forward to talking with you to learn more about how you are managing as well as how to offer meaningful supports to you as seniors, family caregivers, and those wishing to live well in our dementia friendly community.
Dorothy and Faryar
BSOSS
COVID-19 Resources from posAbilities
posAbilities provides a broad range of services to persons with developmental disabilities and their families.
For a list of COVID-19 resources from posAbilities click here.
A Message of Well Being
Dear Friends of Burnaby Seniors Outreach,
I am hoping that everyone is finding ways to stay physically and emotionally healthy as we cope with the Covid19 virus.
These are times that are testing our resilience and our resolve individually, as a community, a province and a nation. I have been amazed at the mutual respect I see as we adhere to Dr. Bonnie Henry’s briefings in how to best contain the spread of this virus.
We humans are hard wired for a variety of responses to stress. The best known response is known as the flight or fight response. When faced with danger we often choose between fleeing or standing our ground and defending ourselves. When it comes to an invisible virus less than half the diameter of a hair, our best defense has been to follow the advice of the experts--who knew that hand washing was a great fight strategy?
