Author: Ted Hudson

October 23, 2024

Essex County, ON – The Essex County Library has taken another step forward in its effort to highlight the wealth of wisdom found in the lived experience of the oldest generations in the region. In partnership with Long-Term Care and Retirement Living provider Schlegel Villages, the library has installed an #ElderWisdom Green Bench at the LaSalle Branch – a symbol to remind visitors that seniors deserve a place of reverence in our communities.

The #ElderWisdom campaign began in 2015 with Green Benches popping up in prominent locations across Ontario during Seniors Month. The idea was to encourage passersby to take a moment to sit and share conversation with an elder, often a resident from a Schlegel Village. The focus in June, 2024, was library settings, and the Essex County Library was fully committed as soon as the invitation to participate came along.

Manuela Denes, Manager of Community Relations with Essex County Library, says expanding outreach programs and opportunities to engage with older adults has been a priority for the organization. The Green Bench and what it represents tied in perfectly, and she says events in June hosted at the Tecumseh and LaSalle Branches were so successful that making the concept permanent was a logical extension.

“Libraries are filled with stories and information, either on the printed or digital page,” Denes says. “How wonderful that they can also be a safe space for people of all ages and backgrounds to come and sit for a while to listen to someone share their stories in person.”

Schlegel Villages founder Ron Schlegel is humbled to know that an idea he had more than a decade ago has grown and planted its roots in communities across the country, such as Fredericton, New Brunswick, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and now Essex County, where the bench will be featured at branches throughout the seven municipalities that make up the county.

“Through all my life, I’ve always learned from the older generations I grew up with, and I still learn from them today,” Schlegel says, noting that now in his early 80s, he’s among the seniors he once looked up to. “Every older person has a unique perspective on the world to share, and our communities grow stronger and more connected when we honour the perspectives of others.”

For more information, visit www.elderwisdom.ca and take a moment to commit to the #ElderWisdom pledge: 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.

9^th Annual Series of Event Invites Ontarians to Sit alongside Seniors in their Community and Reconnect with the Wisdom of our Elders

ONTARIO, May 29, 2024: As Ontario marks Seniors Month for June 2024, the organizers of the #ElderWisdom campaign are inviting community members and younger generations across Ontario to engage with older adults and discover the wealth of knowledge, talent and experience they have to offer.

The campaign was first launched in 2016 based on the vision of Ron Schlegel – a humble philanthropist, an urban developer with a unique vision of community, a visionary in health and long-term care and a hard-working farmer, all tied into one brilliant and cheerful package. He is an elder in society with a wealth of wisdom to impart, but perhaps one of his greatest specialties is his understanding of elderhood.

Mr. Schlegel is the founder of Schlegel Villages, a collection of 18 long-term care and retirement communities across southern Ontario that embraces basic values of family and community. His vision of a social model of living to counter the institutionalization of long-term care continues to expand, and that vision is certainly inspired by the experiences he had as a child working with older adults in their final years.

“The greatest untapped resource in Canada, if not the world,” Mr. Schlegel once said “is the collective wisdom of our elders.”

It is this thought that grew into the #ElderWisdom campaign, which throughout Senior’s Month in June the past eight years has reminded community members of the value that older adults have in lived experience.  Throughout June, the green bench will appear in local libraries or in a few specific cases, Villages will host events. Residents from our Villages will be there upon the benches and the community is invited to sit and share conversation.

“It’s sad to say but agism seems to be the last acceptable form of prejudice in our society,” says Ted Hudson, one of the key organizers of the campaign, “but when younger people get past the stereotypes that come with getting older and just sit and talk with an elder, those ageist barriers break down. That’s what makes the #ElderWisdom campaign so special and it’s amazing to see the conversation spread.”

The opportunity to sit with older adults for a little while during this specific campaign reminds us all of the value to be found in such depth of experience, and encourages people to see past the stereotypical views that follow aging to see that, in the minds and hearts of seniors, much remains on offer.

Media Contact:

Ted Hudson
Ted.Hudson@schlegelvillages.com
519-496-5984

Kristian Partington
Kristian.Partington@schlegelvillages.com
705-313-0472

Events and Locations:

• Tuesday, June 4th – Burlington Public Library
• Saturday, June 8th – Essex County Library, Tecumseh
• Saturday, June 8th – London Public Library
• Monday, June 10^th – Mississauga Library
• Tuesday, June 11^th – St. Jean de Brebeuf Catholic Secondary School, Hamilton
• Tuesday, June 18th – The Village of Humber Heights, Etobicoke
• Wednesday, June 19th – Whitby Public Library
• Thursday, June 20th – The Village of Sandalwood Park, Brampton
• Saturday, June 22nd – Essex County Library, Windsor
• Saturday, June 22nd – Waterloo Public Library
• Monday, June 24th – Guelph Public Library
• Tuesday, June 25th – Barrie Public Library
• Tuesday, June 25th – Kitchener Public Library

Click here for more information in our #ElderWisdom toolkit or visit elderwisdom.ca

About Schlegel Villages: Schlegel Villages is a leading seniors’ living and care provider in Ontario. Schlegel Villages designs, builds and operates village-style retirement communities with their signature main street and town square designs and which include independent apartments, retirement living, assisted care, memory care and long-term care.

Intergenerational connections are vital for fostering a sense of community, understanding, and mutual respect between different age groups.

These relationships bring together the energy and fresh perspectives of youth with the wisdom and experience of seniors, creating a rich tapestry of shared knowledge and support. In our fast-paced, technology-driven world, nurturing these connections is more important than ever.

Why Intergenerational Connections Matter

1. Cultural Continuity: Seniors carry with them a wealth of cultural traditions, stories, and historical knowledge. Sharing these with younger generations helps preserve cultural heritage and fosters a sense of identity and belonging.
2. Mutual Learning: Interactions between youth and seniors provide opportunities for mutual learning. Youth can learn practical life skills, wisdom, and historical context from seniors, while seniors can gain insights into modern technology and contemporary cultural trends from youth.
3. Emotional Support: Intergenerational relationships can combat loneliness and social isolation, especially among seniors. For youth, these connections offer mentorship and guidance, contributing to emotional and psychological well-being.
4. Breaking Stereotypes: Engaging with different age groups helps break down age-related stereotypes and prejudices, promoting a more inclusive and understanding society.

Tips for Building Intergenerational Relationships

Building strong intergenerational relationships requires effort, empathy, and an open mind. Here are some practical tips for both youth and seniors to foster these valuable connections:

For Youth:

1. Show Respect and Patience: Approach seniors with respect and patience. Understand that they may have different ways of communicating and different perspectives shaped by their experiences.
2. Ask Questions and Listen: Show genuine interest in their stories and experiences. Ask open-ended questions and listen actively, demonstrating that you value their insights.
3. Share Your Knowledge: Offer to teach seniors about new technologies or contemporary trends. This can be a fun and educational exchange, allowing both parties to learn something new.
4. Volunteer Together: Participate in community activities or volunteer programs that bring different age groups together. This creates a shared purpose and common ground for building relationships.

For Seniors:

1. Be Open-Minded: Embrace the curiosity and enthusiasm of youth. Be open to learning from them and exploring new ideas and technologies.
2. Share Your Stories: Don’t hesitate to share your life experiences, wisdom, and skills. Your stories are valuable and can provide important lessons and inspiration for younger generations.
3. Engage in Shared Activities: Find common interests or hobbies that you can enjoy together. This could be anything from gardening to cooking to playing games.
4. Offer Mentorship: Provide guidance and support to youth, whether it’s through formal mentorship programs or informal interactions. Your advice and experience can make a significant impact on their lives.

Intergenerational connections enrich our communities and our lives, fostering a culture of respect, learning, and mutual support. By making a conscious effort to build and maintain these relationships, both youth and seniors can benefit from the shared wisdom and energy that comes from bridging the generational gap. Let’s work together to create a world where every generation feels valued, heard, and connected.

For more information on fostering intergenerational connections and to get involved in community programs like the #ElderWisdom Green Bench Community Visits, visit our event page.

Early on the second day of the Schlegel Villages 2023 Operational Planning retreat in Niagara Falls, a special panel of residents and a team member take their place alongside podcast hosts Evelyn Brindle and Kathy Buckworth. This unique panel comes together just as #Elderwisdom: Stories from the Green Bench reaches a milestone of 100,000 downloads – the perfect time for a live podcast recording. The audience of 500 people gathered in the convention centre are eager to hear the discussion about what it means to provide high-quality care in a senior’s living environment.  

“We are diving into what makes exceptional care, how people and relationships make an impact, and what people and care do for the quality of long-term care and retirement living at Schlegel Villages,” Kathy explains as she sets the stage. As co-host and a resident at the Village of Erin Meadows with her husband, Evelyn is the first to weigh in before welcoming the first guest, Ann Baxter, who lives in the Egerton Neighbourhood at The Village of Wentworth Heights.

“I visited a number of retirement homes before we moved into Erin Meadows,” Evelyn explains. “We found that the majority of them had a very lovely decorated main floor, but there were no people.”

“Whenever I’m in Erin Meadows, whether walking through the main street or in the elevator, I’m always greeted with a smile and often by name from many of the residents and the staff,” she continues. “People are everywhere and they’re enjoying the variety of programs and activities that are available.”

Indeed, it is in relationships that the foundation of quality care is formed, and Ann’s relationships with the team members at Wentworth Heights are strong enough that she jokes about wanting to adopt them. Their gentleness and compassion, even when offering intimate supports, is unwavering.

“One thing that really struck me, talking to a couple of the helpers where I live, each one individually said they considered their time, they didn’t say job, they said their time there is a vocation,” Anne shares. “I thought, that’s absolutely beautiful. It isn’t a job or a task, but it is a vocation.”

Anne is followed by Riverside Glen resident Barb Merkley and Tamara White, who works with the People Team at the Schlegel Villages Support Office. Theirs is a story of connectedness that illustrates how people of any age can find true friendship, just as they did while travelling to Pittsburg for a conference with several other Schlegel ambassadors. Barb also shares the story of how she arrived at Riverside Glen for a short stay following a medical procedure; she was instantly made to feel comfortable, so she chose to make her home there. Like Ann, Barb says the team is what made that sense of comfort so strong, and the third podcast guest, Royal Hamel, zeroed in in that same theme in his remarks.

Royal was struck with sudden illness that robbed him of his mobility and he urgently needed the support of a long-term care setting. He says he was blessed when he was placed at The Village of Winston Park. Royal’s insights are profound, and he speaks of the importance of residents acknowledging the team members when they see or feel those exceptional care moments.

He admits to being nervous when he first moved to the Village, because he wasn’t sure what the care would be like. Not long after arriving, however, he saw what compassion looks like in the interactions of a young personal support worker with a fellow resident. He later tracked the team member down to share his thoughts with her.

“She is a person who not only gives effective care,” Royal explains, recounting that conversation, “she gives affective care and she reaches out with compassion just in a natural way.” When he shared his insights with the young PSW, she teared up with gratitude.

As he wraps up the discussion on exceptional care in this live podcast recording, he offers some advice to the leaders in the room about what to look for in new team members.

“I think when people are hiring a person,” he says, “they should deliberately and specifically look for compassion.”

True compassion and genuine, meaningful connection are the key ingredients for exceptional care, and who better than the residents themselves to offer such valuable insights. Subscribe and listen to this episode and more on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and wherever you listen to podcasts.

Jun 03, 2023 / Village Voice Posted by: Kristian Partington

Their passions are wide and varied. From motorcycles and magic to social justice and neuroscience.  

As Schlegel Villages marked the beginning of Seniors Month, the Village at University Gates was focused on the wisdom, experience and passion our oldest generations offer the world around them. All along the Village’s Main Street, a series of 29 exquisite photos highlighted the passion that guides some of the residents of Schlegel Villages.  

This was the first of a series of events across the province that celebrates the incredible stories and wisdom of residents who call a Schlegel Village home, but it is much more than that. It is an opportunity to combat ageism, challenge stereotypes, and create a more inclusive society that values and cherishes the experiences and contributions of our elders. 

As Ron Schlegel, the founder of Schlegel Villages, addressed the large crowd gathered in the Village’s Town Square, he spoke of his passion for community building and creating space where neighbours and friends converge and foster the relationships that keep a society strong. He also spoke of the responsibility older adults have to share their wisdom and recognize the role they have in inspiring the next generations. 

“Every one of us has a unique story,” Ron said, addressing the residents of University Gates and, indeed, all the seniors of our communities. “There’s wisdom in every story and we need to get out there and share it.” 

Emily and Bob Leland live at University Gates. From their suite upon the 8th Floor, they look northward to the Laurel Creek Conservation Area, and they spoke of their passion for the outdoors. They spoke of their passion for ongoing education in history, geology, theology, and music.  

They spoke of their passion for each other.  

In each of the 29 displays in this unique gallery, which will travel to four other locations throughout the month, we see individual beauty and dedication honed over lifetime upon lifetime.  

We see passion, wisdom, and strength, and all our older generations can offer the world around us.   

Here are the upcoming events: 

• June 8th at The Village of Taunton Mills, Whitby 
  Doors open at 2:00 pm, formal agenda at 3:00 pm 
• June 14th at The Village at St. Clair, Windsor 
  Doors open at 2:30 pm, formal agenda at 4:00 pm 
• June 21st at The Village of Erin Meadows, Mississauga 
  Doors open at 2:30 pm, formal agenda at 3:30 pm 
• June 29th at The Art Gallery of Hamilton 
  Doors open at 2:00 pm, formal agenda at 4:00 pm 

Visit the webpage here for more information.  

June 30, 2022 – Kristian Partington

At the end a pedestrian avenue near Victoria Park in Downtown Kitchener, and older man with silver hair and a silver moustache stops walking to look over at a sign that has the hashtag #ElderWisdom upon it.  

“There is a lot of wisdom in the minds and experiences of our oldest teachers,” he says in an accent that’s hard to place. It could be Serbian, maybe? Albanian? Greek?

“I came to Canada from Cyprus when I was 21,” he says.

Though I have never been to Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, I once travelled from Athens overland to the Southern tip of Europe’s mainland in the Greek Peloponnesus. His eyes light up when I tell him about my travels, and a long conversation ensues.

His knowledge of ancient history and theology in the region is vast. He describes the ancient Gods for whom theatres and monuments I saw were named, and he describes the simplicity of the Greek language in terms of how each work breaks down in parts logically.

I ask if he perhaps taught history at the university, or had a background in philosophy.

“I worked my life in construction with a pick and a shovel,” he says. His daughters are the ones with the advanced degrees.

“Intelligence is what you make it,” he tells me. “There are many books in the library, and when I would feel depressed or down, I would go to the library and read philosophy or history or religion.”

He says intelligence, no matter how it comes, allows you to know that what you are doing in life is good or bad and what the consequences of your decisions might be.

His name is Chris Kyprianou and for nearly an hour he shares his wisdom with me. He is not among the residents from five local Schlegel Villages who had come to sit upon the Green Bench as part of the #ElderWisdom campaign, but that is what makes this conversation special.

Throughout the month of June, the green benches have successfully descended upon five Ontario cities with various residents sharing their insights with others, reminding people of the wealth of wisdom our elders hold and encouraging them to take the time to learn from them.

The conversations have been varied and rich, just as this one is with Chris. He was a stranger when I met him and after an hour, we know each other as friends.

To all the residents, organizers and guests who took time to heed the message and share a moment with a stranger, offering wisdom and conversation, thank you. The spirit of the #ElderWisdom campaign will carry on well past the end of June, and we hope more people will take the time to see the life experience of our older citizens as a gift to be opened any time a conversation opportunity arises.

April 20, 2021
By: Kristian Partington

When the idea of auditioning to co-host a new podcast alongside respected broadcaster Erin Davis was put forth to Lloyd Hetherington, he fully admits he didn’t have a clue what a podcast was and he’d certainly never taken the time to listen to one. Never one to shy away from a new educational opportunity, Lloyd, who calls The Village of Riverside Glen home, decided to go through the process, eager to help showcase and highlight the extraordinary lives of ordinary people who happen to be in their later stages of life.  

“Much to my delight,” he says, “I was accepted as the co-host for this podcast; it excited me then and it excites me even now to be part of this lovely venture reaching out to people to share the wisdom of the elders.”

In mid-April of 2021, almost exactly six months after the first episode of Stories from the Green Bench first aired, Lloyd, Erin and the entire production team celebrated a remarkable 10,000 downloads of the show.

“We have always believed that the people we serve in our Villages have so much to teach us through the rich experiences of their lives,” says Ted Hudson, one of the key developers of the podcast and the online engagement manager with Schlegel Villages. “It’s amazing to know that this podcast is helping others discover a taste of that experience and maybe helping them rethink the role of older adults in our communities.” 

When Ron Schlegel, the community builder and visionary behind the Schlegel Villages organization, speaks of the immense amount of wisdom our community’s elders collectively hold, he describes it as the greatest untapped resource in our society. The #ElderWisdom campaign first brought the stories of Schlegel Villages residents to their communities in 2016 upon a “green bench” placed in prominent locations. It was a way to inspire others to recognize the wealth of wisdom seniors carry while “challenging ageist stereotypes,” Ted says, “and the podcast has been a way to carry that message forward.”

The idea of the podcast has been simmering for a few years, Ted adds, but when the COVID-19 pandemic struck in early 2020, limiting the ability of residents to physically be out in their community, the green bench became a virtual symbol and the podcast conversations began. The short episodes are authentic and honest conversations between the hosts and their guests. Personal philosophies mingle with memories and lessons learned, and we are reminded that it is often the simple things in life that carry the most meaning.

“I just love Lloyd,” says co-host Erin Davis as she reflects on the evolution of the Podcast. “In a way, he reminds me of my Dad who is in a senior’s residence in B.C. and is soon to be 88 years old. My Dad and Lloyd and so many other of our guests on #ElderWisdom share their stories, their perspectives, their loves, lessons and losses. It’s like having a heart-to-heart every time and we really want to listen to what these elders say because when they’re gone, many of the stories they share will be gone with them.”

“That’s why this Podcast is such a gift,” says Erin, who is recently retired from a long career in radio and is now an author living on Vancouver Island.

The show is a preservation of history for us to savour, she says, remembering the wisdom of ordinary people who, over the course of lifetimes, lived extraordinary lives. 

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