Thinking out of the box, or off the farm, can help seniors find a variety of different ways to travel without breaking the bank or the budget
When her sister-in-law told her about a house-sitting opportunity, Emily Penman, recently widowed and reluctant to spend the winter at her somewhat isolated farm house, packed up herself and her dog and moved to the city for the winter. Once moved in, she assumed the duties of the homeowner. She kept the house clean, shovelled […] Read moreAuthor Archives
Life coach helps set clear vision
One of the most important life lessons Wayne Gibson learned in becoming a life coach is the value of a powerful question. “We need the right questions, the right perspective on how to look at something so we can see it a little bit more clearly than we did before,” says the Regina-based life coach. […] Read more
When is it time to decide to hang up the car keys?
Since 2010, senior drivers, that is folks age 65 and older, have been having the most automobile collisions in Canada. They are driving into more collisions than any other age group. No one knows exactly why this is happening. It was not always this way. From 2000 to 2007, seniors ranked third, fourth or fifth […] Read more
Farming smarter can often mean farming later
A farm couple from Saskatchewan say they have no plans to retire, at least not in the way that it’s been traditionally done
They have worked hard for many years, they have overcome challenges and age-wise they might qualify; nevertheless, Marj and Ernest Swehla have no intention of retiring now — or ever. At least not in the conventional way. “Our retirement just means doing things differently,” says Ernest at their dining room table in their farm home […] Read more
New gadgets help seniors stay at home longer
In Canada, more than 90 percent of people age 65 and older choose to stay in their homes and communities, according to Statistics Canada. Among seniors in their 90s, about half live in private households. If you or someone you love is among that number, there are many devices and gadgets that can make staying […] Read more
Knowing warning signs of deteriorating skills
The Canadian Automobile Association has compiled a list of warning signs that could signify whether a person needs to change driving habits, as well as information on a doctor’s role in managing this transition. Normal aging affects driving, but there isn’t a set age when a person is no longer safe behind the wheel. In […] Read more
Grey divorce
Retired farmers Jerry and Denise were catching up with their friend, Ross, at the local coffee shop. They’d covered the weather (could use a rain), the crops (not bad, but some worrisome reports of armyworm east of town), and they’d shared the latest cute grandkid stories. The server topped off their cups and moved down […] Read more
Woman stayed with abusive husband for love of a farm
Frank and Sheila had been married almost 50 years when he died five years ago. Seated at her retro red chrome table, in her sunny farmhouse kitchen, Sheila, a vibrant 73-year-old, looked back on her life and her marriage with mixed feelings. The young couple bought their first farmland soon after their marriage. An acquaintance […] Read more
Wills make divorce easier
It goes without saying that farmers and all adults should have a precise and up-to-date will, as well as other agreements in place at all times. A 2012 family law case in Ontario illustrates this point. Ronald Carrigan had been separated from his wife for 12 years when he died unexpectedly at the age of […] Read more
Two women made grey divorce a little less grey
Helen Rathwell and Irene Murdoch went to court in separate cases and changed the way farming assets are divided
Hypothetical couple Greg and Mariah married in 1980. Their marriage was somewhat unconventional in that while they both worked on the farm — they bought things together, shared the housework, yard work, garden work and they both looked after child care — Greg did most of the housework, yard work, garden work and child care, […] Read more
