2020-07-21_info_TimThomas_HomeCareAssitance.docx

July 21, 2020

Dear Tim,

Wondering if you can help?

October 1st is national seniors day. As you have witnessed Covid-19 has been hard on seniors. For the past 5 years I have been working on a project, a self-published illustrated children’s book, it’s goal is to suggest new language when a senior faces a change in autonomy. The soft launch for Grandma’s Place was April 2, 2020, to celebrate international children’s literature day. October 1st, on National Senior’s Day, it is my wish to have the hard launch, surrounded by the artwork found within Grandma’s Place and throw an industry party. That was the plan before Covid-19. Now that wish and desire has gotten stronger and there is no better time to make this happen.

The vision of the actual party is not completely clear in my head as I need to see who is willing to contribute, whether online or an actual set-up but certain elements are 100% clear. Here is some concrete background:

Seniors need to be seen, heard, and provided with the respect they deserve whether they live at home alone, use a wheelchair or are bedridden, and wherever they live.

The current language we use is to ‘put’ or ‘place’ a senior in retirement residences.

This current language increases the level of guilt, shuts down conversations and makes us all avoid the subject of aging especially when there is a change in skill.

Our language shapes our thoughts and every action that follows.

Grandma’s Place brings attention to the current language we use, language so engrained that no one even hears or sees the impact of our words.

Through images and new language, Grandma’s Place offers a new approach and perspective when someone faces a change in autonomy.

The book was intentionally conceived with a horizontal wide page span to be shared by a young reader and an adult, to create change with 2 generations at the same time.

The illustrations were built to deliver the message as they stand alone without being accompanied by the book.

La Place de Mamie is a few weeks away of being available in French.

Covid-19 has highlighted that our society desperately needs change when it comes to seniors.

Our language is the core that we stand on, and to me our language is where the fundamental change needs to occur. A slight change in our words modifies a negative to a positive.

Helping Seniors has been dedicated to working with seniors and their families when something becomes off balance which heightens the need to find solutions to maintain safety and security as well as in the senior living field for the past 21+ years.

We want to see change towards aging and we have created tools to help that change to occur.

Here are some thoughts about the industry party:

The artwork found in Grandma’s Place is hanging on the walls or is shared virtually.

The goal? To create an attractive approach and invite people to open up conversations about the realities of aging and to minimize taboos that surround this loaded topic.

Invited to the party would be the industry…the public sector, the private sector, the politicians, the builders, the professionals, the seniors…..anyone and everyone who works with seniors and is in the senior industry…let’s celebrate a ‘thank you for all your hard work’ and let’s have them leave with an ask for change by sharing a copy of Grandma’s Place with them.

May we stop saying to ‘place’ or ‘put’ a senior in a retirement residence and let’s start helping them adjust to new realities and current needs.

Do you wish to contribute to this fundamental cause that starts in all our homes and with the person in the mirror? Are you interested in exploring how we can make this event happen? Are you willing to contribute financially, through resources or sponsorship?

If so, let’s talk, 514-209-5888 or info@HelpingSeniors.ca.

Marie-Claude Giguère

Author/Stay or Move? consultant/Change seeker for our elders

P.S. If you wish to find our more about Helping Seniors or Grandma’s Place please visit: https://helpingseniors.ca/ or https://helpingseniors.ca/grandmas-place/