On Remembrance Day, as a nation we take a few moments for special recognition and reflection. To remember the courage and sacrifice of those who served their country and acknowledge our responsibility to work for the peace they fought hard to achieve.

For many of us, war is a phenomenon seen through the lens of a television camera or a journalist’s account. It is something that feels distant or long ago; but for older adults, war touched and changed their lives. Many seniors served in the military and many more have memories of growing up during times of conflict.

This year marks the 104^th anniversary of World War One.  To honour veterans and your aging loved ones, take a moment, at the 11th hour, to reflect with gratitude and grief on the heroes who served – and continue to serve – Canada.

All Seniors Care Living Centres Honours Veterans

Although Veterans Week in Canada is a time when we mourn the lives that were lost in battle, it is also a time to celebrate those who are still with us today. As such, our residences hold events to commemorate the heroic individuals who live within their walls.

Every event will bear the unique and thoughtful touches of residents and staff. We are happy to share that some retirement communities will be hosting Facebook Live streaming of their events.

• The Remembrance Day ceremony at Shaftesbury Park retirement home in Winnipeg will include bagpipes, the Last Post, and poems read by residents.
• Sturgeon Creek I will observe a moment of silence at 11 a.m. and hold their Remembrance ceremony in the afternoon. Residents will spend a portion of the day making cards for veterans who are overseas for the holidays.
• The 2 p.m. Remembrance Day service at College Park’s Regina senior housing is run by a resident who is a pastor. The service begins with a sermon on the purpose of the ceremony, prayer, and a hymn, “Faith of our Fathers”.    A special highlight this year includes a resident reading their original poem, “A Remembrance Poem”. College Park’s Veterans and Veteran widows will be piped in and out of the service.

Some of our resident veterans will again read Remembrance Day poems to show of their respect. The ceremonies are a great opportunity to reminisce and chat with veterans and other residents who want to share their memories and explain why the veterans’ emblem is the poppy.

Lest We Forget

If you know that your aging loved one served in the military or lived through war, ask some gentle questions about what they remember and how they’d like to recognize Remembrance Day. Even if they didn’t experience war directly, they likely have some  interesting stories passed on by older family members. Ask them if any of their relatives served in the military, and how they’d like to honour that person’s service and/or memory. You could end up learning a lot about your family history!

At any given moment, there are many opportunities available to anyone wishing to show their appreciation for those who served, including:

• Creating a Digital Poppy
• Making a donation to the Legion’s Poppy Trust Fund at any Legion Branch
• Saying “Thank you” to a Veteran
• Wearing a Poppy
• Honouring a fallen Veteran on the Legion’s Wall of Honour and Remembrance
• Planting poppy seeds or growing a garden of Remembrance
• Inviting a veteran to make a presentation at a school or community group
• Visiting the Canadian War Museum or a cenotaph
• Becoming a Legion member to support Veterans year-round

Where Caring is Our Number One Concern

At All Seniors Care, we put the effort in to acknowledge special occasions, including Remembrance Day. We do this to create a supportive, respectful, and engaging environment for our residents. If you’re interested in joining our care homes, you should click here to take a look at the All Seniors Care communities that we have across the country.

This year, All Seniors Care is proud to share the sometimes-untold stories of our residence’s heroes – men and women who served Canada.  Visit our Instagram or Facebook pages to view their stories. As we mark Remembrance Day, we look to them to find our common purpose to continue to work together to create a better world for future generations.

Writer  – Julianna McLeod

Julianna is a health and wellness expert at All Seniors Care. Her mission is to create content that empowers seniors to form sustainable solutions for lasting health and happiness. She is an experienced writer, editor, and Recreational Therapist living in Toronto.