Category: Retirement

Quality Senior Services Has a New Member! (Me)

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Quality Senior Services – Trusted Professionals for All Your Needs. Member Angela G. Gentile.

Who can you trust to provide you with services and products that tried, tested, and true? Who do you call when you need professional services, products, or advice? If you are not sure, I have the answer for you!

I am proud to announce I am now a member of the Quality Senior Services network of trusted professionals in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Who are we?

We are dedicated to providing quality products and services to seniors.

Are you a senior looking for assistance or someone caring for an older person? The goal of QSS is to help meet the diverse needs of older adults providing easy access to a variety of products and services. Call one of our trusted professionals or visit our website at qualityseniorservices.com to discover how SQQ members can help you or someone you care about.

Quality Senior Services, 2023

Our brochure and website lists an impressive variety of professionals, including:

  • Realtor
  • Financial Planner
  • Disability Tax Credit Advisor
  • Licensed Insolvency Trustee (Accountant)
  • Lawyer
  • Mortgage Broker
  • Clinical Social Worker (me!)
  • Dental Care
  • Nurse Practitioner
  • Pharmacist
  • Speech and Swallowing Therapy (SLP)
  • Private Home Care
  • Home Medical Supplies
  • Professional Movers, Transition Specialists, and Estate Sales
  • Funeral Services
  • and MORE!

Quality Seniors Services (QSS) was founded in 2007 to provide a trusted and reliable space for seniors and caregivers alike, to find credible professionals with a strong rapport in the older adult community. QSS strives to offer a comprehensive variety of health services providers, professional service providers, and quality of life services providers. Each member of QSS is held to a high standard and is required to have an up-to-date criminal record check, vulnerable persons abuse registry check, and industry certification and professional requirements.

Quality Senior Services, 2023

Many of our members provide mobile or home visits. Accessibility is key. We know.

Our membership is always evolving and we are open to having new members who provide services to older adults and their families. All service providers are vetted and trusted, whether they are health sector, quality of life, or general professionals. We all come with a wealth of experience.

You will see us out at the “Pros Know Expos” and we are always willing to chat with you about your needs.

Angela G. Gentile, MSW, RSW

Clinical Social Worker for Quality Senior Services

For more information on QSS or email us at qseniorservice@gmail.com.

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A One-Month-Old Retiree’s Perspective

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Grand Beach, Manitoba

Angela G. Gentile, MSW, RSW

My official last day of “work” was on Monday, June 7, 2021. I am reflecting on my last month as a new retiree and I wanted to share my thoughts with you. Most of my thoughts are good ones, so if you are into that sort of thing, you may enjoy what I have to say.

I had read in many places that it is good to retire with “a plan.” Instead of retiring FROM something, you should know what you are retiring TO. My plan for the three months following retirement was to rest, reflect and rejuvenate. One month into it, and I think I am accomplishing that. What I am going to do in the fall has not yet been determined.

Being newly retired after working in various social work positions feels like being on vacation. I felt the immediate sense of pressure, burnout, and overwhelm lift in the first couple of days of my retirement. I started feeling like “me” again. I was sleeping better (and longer), looking after myself, and enjoying the FREEDOM of not having any pressing plans or demands on my time and energy. Getting back to making myself a priority included serious and fun stuff, like:

  • colouring my hair blue, then purple
  • painting my finger nails and toe nails
  • reading/listening to books
  • started a “Diamond Art” project
  • saying “No” to some opportunities and commitments to honour my time of reflection and rest
  • shopping for new non-work clothes, shoes, and other fun things
  • getting a three-month yoga membership and doing yoga three times weekly
  • catching up with my friends and talking with them on the phone or FaceTime
  • going for walks
  • enjoying my backyard and my flower garden

The other things I have enjoyed is our camping trips with our travel trailer to two of our provincial parks. We went to Spruce Woods and Grand Beach. Although the temperature was around 30 degrees celsius, we made the beset of it!

Now that I have reconnected with myself and my husband (on our camping trips for sure!) my mind and heart are now starting to think about what I want to do with my time starting in the fall. As my energy and passion starts to return, I feel that the sky is the limit on what I can do. I am open to new opportunities, but I don’t want to overwhelm myself just yet.

I have taken my mom’s advice and have written a list of things I want to do each day. Getting a routine and building some structure to my day is helping. (And if I don’t get to it one day, I can carry it over to the next day!)

The biggest surprise so far is how fast the days fly by. I would have thought the days would drag on, but that is not the case for me! This is a reminder to make sure I am intentional with how I spend my time, for fear of “wasting” my life away. No other negatives have been experienced thus far.

I asked my doctor, “What advice would you give me, as a newly retired person?” She said, “Stay active.” I will definitely take her advice seriously.

I am still waiting on my retirement pension papers to arrive. It’s weird not having an income. Hopefully that will get sorted out soon.

No one has asked me (yet) “How’s retirement?” If someone asked me, I would say, “Great!” It still feels like a vacation to me – which is a good thing. How long will this feeling last? Only time will tell. I’ve never been retired before, so this is all new and exciting in it’s own way.

Aging in Place is Preferred by Nearly 80% of Adults Aged 50+

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RetireGuide: Your Guide to a Better Retirement

Guest post by Carolina Jimenez.

Aging in place is the process of staying in your own home as you grow older instead of moving to an outside facility. To properly age in place, you should create a budget, discuss options with your family, connect with home health services and identify necessary home modification projects. 

Nearly 80 percent of adults ages 50 and older want to remain in their current homes as they age, according to American Association of Retired People (AARP). Aging in place is often more affordable than transitioning to institutionalized care and allows someone to retain independence in a comfortable, familiar setting. However, aging in place isn’t right for everyone. It requires careful planning, research and coordination. 

What Is Aging in Place? 

Aging in place occurs when someone makes a conscious decision to grow older in their current residence instead of moving to an assisted living or long-term care facility. Aging in place works best for people who create a plan, modify their home and establish a supportive network of family and home care services. Affordable, accessible and suitable housing options also make it easier for older adults to age in place and remain in their community for years to come. 

The choice to either age in place or transition to assisted care is a complex and personal decision influenced by emotional, physical and financial factors. 

Is Aging in Place Right for You? 

Staying in a familiar setting is a priority for many seniors. But aging in place isn’t always as easy as it sounds. Maintaining independence can become increasingly difficult as age increases and health declines. 

Everyone’s situation is different. It’s important to evaluate and be realistic about your own circumstances. 

For more information on Aging in Place and the RetireGuide website> www.retireguide.com 

Retirement News – Reflecting on My Next Steps

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Angela G. Gentile

Retirement is not the end of the road; it’s the beginning of the open highway.

On the heels of the launch of my sixth book, “Flourish or Fade,” and after 21 years of working full-time, I have made the decision to retire. I have been working in the healthcare field for most of my social work career, with positions in long-term care, home care, and most recently geriatric mental health.

Retirement at this stage in my life means retiring from a job that no longer suits me. It’s been eight months since I started thinking about leaving my current position of 11 years. Perhaps it was the Covid-19 pandemic that was the icing on the cake. I had burned out while working in Home Care, so I didn’t want it to happen again. I wasn’t able to find a more suitable position so I decided to retire. My last day with my current full-time job will be on Monday, June 7, 2021. 15 more working days. The countdown is on!

I have heard it said in order to not be disappointed in retirement, an attitude of retiring TO something, versus retiring FROM something can help with the transition. With that said, I am retiring to a lifestyle where I can decide if I want to work, how much I want to work, and what kind of work I want to do. I am blessed with a great pension, some savings, and a supportive partner who helps makes this possible.

I am looking forward to the next chapter in my life. To kick off my retirement I plan to slow down, take stock, and reflect on what I want and need. I am not sure what my next steps will be – but I am keeping all my options open.

Angela G. Gentile