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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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LISTEN, SUBSCRIBE, RATE & REVIEW

Apple • Google •  Spotify • iHeartRadio • Podbean • TuneIn • Amazon
Or ask your smart speaker to play “Elder Wisdom stories from the green bench podcast”

In October 2020, we launched our #ElderWisdom podcast featuring Erin Davis and co-host Lloyd Hetherington exploring friendship, tragedy, love, life, learning and so much more as they have conversations with seniors on the ‘virtual’ green bench.

Our Hosts

Erin Davis built a career as a morning radio host whose voice is familiar to hundreds of thousands of Toronto-area listeners. Today she is a best-selling author, keynote speaker, interviewer, and storyteller with a gift for conversation that brightens up each episode.

Lloyd Hetherington is passionate about education, spending most of his working life as an officer with the Salvation Army all across Canada and in the heart of central Africa. He’s a proud father, grandfather and he believes that no matter your age, there is always something to offer and to learn; he inspires others to find wisdom in their pursuit of education 

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Subscribe and listen on your favourite podcast network using the links below

Apple Podcasts // Google Podcasts // Spotify // TuneIn // Stitcher

Podcast brought to you by Schlegel Villages

The residents at The Village of Riverside Glen share their #ElderWisdom with Graduates of 2020.

• Learn as much as they possibly can. Do lots of reading and don’t hesitate to sit down and do a little homework on their own. You will benefit from it in years to come.
• Be sure you’re early for work, never be late. Make sure you have a good breakfast before you go to work. Make sure you get along with all of your colleagues. Have a good dinner and be sure your done work early.
• Really be themselves and enjoy themselves but also think of others.
• We all have dreams, don’t wait to fulfill them, make that your goal. When you turn 40, make a bucket list and make sure you covered everything by the time you turn 50 because when you get older things happen and you cannot keep going to fulfill your dreams. Dream high, fly high and get it done.
• Always be yourself. Be on time. Respect everyone. Be happy.
• Enjoy every minute of everyday because the time passes so quickly and we can’t get it back. Hang on to every moment of everyday.
• Your future is bright. We wish you all the best and may your dreams come true.
• Have a good time. Follow your passions.
• Try something new and enjoy it!

Watch the video at https://www.facebook.com/RiversideGlen/videos/1584664165049364/

Congratulations to all graduates!

By: Kristian Partington

There’s an image of long-term care most people tend to carry in their minds that Kaye Brown would like to change. One of the best ways to do that is to venture out into the community and share her insights and wisdom with as many people as possible, which is how she came to find herself at the LaSalle Night Market recently on a lovely summer’s eve.  

There she sat upon the familiar green #ElderWisdom bench, greeting passersby and making new friends with just about anyone who chose to stop by. She mentions that her father was the mayor of Windsor, England, so perhaps her chatty nature flows from the genes of a seasoned politician. 

Kaye may not seem like a “typical” long-term care resident; at 66 she much younger than most of her neighbours in The Village at St. Clair in Windsor, yet her health needs are such that she does require the support the Village provides. And yet, that doesn’t mean she isn’t active. She’s the chairman of the Village’s residents’ council, she participates in countless outings, she has ideas on how to continue to improve village life and she’s eager to share her knowledge with others.

“People don’t really know what long-term care is,” Kaye says. “They picture a lot of people laying around in their beds but it’s not like that. I’m very active and I have lots of ideas.”

She came to St. Clair not long after it opened five years ago, and she couldn’t be happier with the community and the friends she’s made in both team members and her neighbours.

Connecting with people at the LaSalle market offered another opportunity to make new friends and help dispel some of the misconceptions some people hold about aging and life in long-term care.  

“I think #ElderWisdom is telling people about what long-term care really is and how nice it can be,” Kaye says. “That is the most important thing.”

Perhaps the most important thing is the fact that The Village is so much more than a community: it’s a family, Kaye says.

“I enjoy living here,” she says. “I enjoy the people and we have an A-1 staff here. We’re all family here and that’s the lovely part about St. Clair, and that’s an important way to look at it.”