Page 3 - Brandon Sun - Retirement 2021

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AMAZING bENEFITS TO

SENIORS HAvING pETS

Pets bring much joy to the lives they touch. So chronic pain patients.”
it should come as no surprise that the 2019-2020 • FEELING OF PURPOSE: Caring for an animal not
National Pet Owners Survey, which was conduct- only stimulates physical activity, but it also can
ed by the American Pet Products Association, give seniors a reason to get up and go, which
found that about 85 million families in the United equates to a feeling of purpose.
States own a pet. In Canada, 7.5 million house-
holds are home to companion animals, states the • ALTERED FOCUS: Having a pet can help seniors
PetBacker blog. focus on something other than physical or men-
Pets offer companionship and unconditional tal health issues and preoccupations about loss
love. While they are fitting for any family, seniors or aging, according to New York-based psycholo-

may find that having a pet is especially benefi- gist Penny B. Donnenfeld.

cial. The organization A Place for Mom, which
helps match families with senior living residenc- • INCREASED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: Pets require care,
es, says pets provide a comfort system that pro- and that interaction can get seniors moving more
duces measurable health results. Caring for pets than if they didn’t have a pet.
and being around them can produce a chemical • IMPROVED HEALTH: Ongoing research from Har-
chain reaction in the brain that may help to lower vard Medical School has found dog owners have
stress hormones while also increasing produc- lower blood pressure, healthier cholesterol levels
tion of the feel-good hormone serotonin. and lower risk of heart disease than those who
This is not the only health benefit pets may don’t own a dog.

provide. A recent study from the Mayo Clinic,
which looked at 1,800 people between the ages • STICK TO ROUTINE: Caring for pets helps seniors
STAY THE COURSE almost half owned a dog. Having a dog was likely ment can be important to ward off risk of depres-
maintain a routine. Having structure after retire-
of 25 and 64 who had healthy hearts, found that
to spur heart-healthy behaviors, like exercising
sion. Staying on top of feeding, grooming and
with the pet, eating well and having ideal blood
sugar levels. other pet needs also can help prevent cognitive
decline.
Pets also provide emotional support and com-
panionship that can help seniors — including » Wire Services
IN RETIREMENT pLANNING those who may be divorced or widowed — feel
more secure and happy. The National Poll on
BY DREW MAY the business, some people on the cusp of retire- Healthy Aging found that, among respondents
ment are pushing it back by a year or two.
who had pets, 88 percent said their pets helped
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused huge chang- For those in the service industry, such as a bar- them enjoy life, and 86 percent said their pets
es in many aspects of life, but less so in retirement bershop or a restaurant, Auriat said the pandemic made them feel loved.

planning, according to one financial planner. Seniors considering getting a pet can explore
hit them hard.
the many benefits to doing so.

The pandemic resulted in an initial downturn in “Manitoba Hydro kept charging you and property
the stock market, but that quickly recovered over taxes are still due… and so it has pushed off their • REDUCE PAIN: A 2012 study published in Pain
the summer, said Kerry Auriat, an investment ability to retire,” he said. Magazine found therapy dogs provided “signifi-

advisor at National Bank Financial. As a result, cant reduction in pain and emotional distress for

many people’s finances are still in-tact.
On the other hand, many people in agriculture
had a more prosperous 2020 because of a pro-
“For many of my clients, they enjoyed very posi- ducing growing season.
tive years,” he said.
“If you’re a person who runs a business that’s OUR
“There’s a real recognition that there’s a pandem- considered essential it may well have been a good
ic happening out there, on the other side there’s year,” he said. MISSION
also a recognition that the pandemic does not To respect aging

necessarily equal finances.” by improving
Devron Jakeman, a wealth advisor at Fusion
Credit Union, said the pandemic wasn’t some- the personal
Many retirees are already out of the workforce, so thing anyone could see coming, but a strong plan wellness of our
they aren’t at risk of losing their jobs. While they is still key before retiring. He also said the impact members through
may have seen big changes in their day-to-day of the pandemic on retirement is highly depen- nutrition and
lives because of the health restrictions, their pen- dent on whether people are working, or if they are opportunities for
sions aren’t as at risk, he said. social interaction,
already retired.
recreation and
“It’s been an impact on the quality of life, but I’m The pandemic-induced volatility of the market volunteerism.
not seeing it from a financial planning perspec- may have caused added emotional stress for peo-

tive,” Auriat said.
ple over the past year, but a long-term vision is
key, he said.
The Bank of Montreal’s annual retirement survey
found similar results. According to BMO, 57 per “If you’re buying long-term and you’re in your
cent of Canadians surveyed living in the prairies earning years… have a long-term perspective
are confident they will have enough money to re- on it, don’t get too short-sighted on what’s going

tire on time, compared to 54 per cent nationally.
to happen in the next three to six months or the
next twelve months if that money is intended for Let Amanda and her staff
A total of 64 per cent of people in the prairies also longterm savings,” he said.
planned on making a contribution to their Regis- impress you with hot home
tered Retirement Savings Plan before the March “Really stay the course on planning, especially if cooked meals provided
1 deadline, according to the BMO survey. That you’re earning hasn’t been affected. It’s easy to get Monday through Friday.
number is just below the 67 per cent of people in distracted with COVID but make sure to keep fol- Cold meals are available for
$
Ontario and British Colombia who intended to lowing your plan.” weekends and holidays. Cooled or ALL MEALS ONLY 10 00
make a contribution, the highest in the country. frozen bulk orders are available for those out-of-town. including taxes delivered.
» dmay@brandonsun.com
The financial impact of the pandemic is also To order call Amanda at 204-727-6641 ext 104 or email amanda.fast@prairieoasis.ca

highly dependent on what kind of industry peo- » Twitter: @DrewMay 241 8th Street Brandon, Manitoba
ple are working in. Depending on the nature of
8 SIGNS YOU MIGHT

NEED A HEARING AID

Hearing impairments are common among older adults.
While a variety of solutions exist, it’s important to
recognize the signs of hearing loss so you can promptly
seek treatment and restore your auditory acuity. Here
are eight signs you might need a hearing aid.

1. You think your loved ones mumble more than they
used to

2. You confuse similar-sounding words and have prairiewealth.ca
trouble distinguishing consonants

3. You often need to ask people to repeat themselves
4. You struggle to follow conversations in noisy
environments such as restaurants

5. You have a hard time understanding people over
the phone

6. You find it particularly difficult to hear the voices of
women and children
7. You often increase the volume of the TV or radio

8. You no longer notice everyday sounds like birds
chirping or your phone ringing INDEPENDENT

If you notice these or other signs that your hearing
is declining, consult an audiologist. This health-care
professional can propose solutions that suit your needs UNBIASED Chris J. Veilleux
and lifestyle
ADVICE CFP, CLU, FMA, FCSI, CPCA, EPC

President & CEO

927-A 26th Street Brandon, MB R7B 2B7, 204-650-0909