--- title: Retirement Insider | Pat Fream (2) description: (2) --- # Retirement Insider Select Category Activities Advice for Family & Friends Advice for Seniors Health & Wellness Meet Our Residents Posts by: ## Pat Fream ![](https://living.agecare.ca/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Fruit-Cake.jpg) ### [Holiday Stories from the 30s & 40s ~ Elizabeth’s Story](https://living.agecare.ca/retirement-living-blog/holiday-stories-from-the-30s-40s-elizabeths-story) Dec 20, 2018 3:50:47 AM ##### **Christmas in Belleville, New Brunswick** One of my favourite Christmas memories surrounds mom’s wonderful Christmas fruitcake. My mouth waters just thinking of it now!  ... [Pat Fream](https://living.agecare.ca/retirement-living-blog/author/pat-fream) [Read More](https://living.agecare.ca/retirement-living-blog/holiday-stories-from-the-30s-40s-elizabeths-story) ![](https://living.agecare.ca/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/shutterstock_101525698-copy.jpg) ### [Holiday Stories from the 30s & 40s ~ Marie’s Story](https://living.agecare.ca/retirement-living-blog/holiday-stories-from-the-30s-40s-maries-story) Dec 19, 2018 8:07:43 AM ##### **Christmas in Ashern, Manitoba** Christmas in our home growing up was a very exciting time for us kids for many reasons, not the least of which was that there was baking in... [Pat Fream](https://living.agecare.ca/retirement-living-blog/author/pat-fream) [Read More](https://living.agecare.ca/retirement-living-blog/holiday-stories-from-the-30s-40s-maries-story) ![](https://living.agecare.ca/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Popcorn-Decor.jpg) ### [Holiday Stories from the 30s & 40s ~ Alice’s Story](https://living.agecare.ca/retirement-living-blog/holiday-stories-from-the-30s-40s-alices-story) Dec 19, 2018 8:07:41 AM ##### **Christmas in Yellow Creek, Saskatchewan** Growing up on the prairies during war and depression was challenging. But Christmas was always a wonderful celebration in our... [Pat Fream](https://living.agecare.ca/retirement-living-blog/author/pat-fream) [Read More](https://living.agecare.ca/retirement-living-blog/holiday-stories-from-the-30s-40s-alices-story) ![](https://living.agecare.ca/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/iStock_000001469159XSmall-1.jpg) ### [Staying Active During the Cold Winter Months](https://living.agecare.ca/retirement-living-blog/staying-active-cold-winter-months) Dec 3, 2018 5:33:18 AM It’s cold and icy outside. A stroll around the block or even the few steps to a waiting car is now hazardous for seniors. A sunny park bench across the street might look tempting, but a fall between here and there would be catastrophic. So what other options are there to keep your aging loved one moving and stimulated this winter? [Pat Fream](https://living.agecare.ca/retirement-living-blog/author/pat-fream) [Read More](https://living.agecare.ca/retirement-living-blog/staying-active-cold-winter-months) ![](https://living.agecare.ca/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/VV-Resident-Profile-2.png) ### [Meet Our Resident ~ Sophie (AgeCare Valleyview)](https://living.agecare.ca/retirement-living-blog/meet-resident-sophie-agecare-valleyview) Nov 6, 2018 3:55:16 AM When you meet Sophie, it’s hard to believe she is about to reach her century milestone! Sophie was born in 1918 in a farmhouse on a homestead near Bitter Lake School, Saskatchewan. She is one of nine children born to parents who emigrated from Yugoslavia. When she was in grade 7, Sophie was pulled out of school to help out on the family farm. Because of her excellent work ethic, she was promoted to ‘header box’ driver – driving a team of horses pulling the ‘header box’ full of cut wheat to be thrashed. [Pat Fream](https://living.agecare.ca/retirement-living-blog/author/pat-fream) [Read More](https://living.agecare.ca/retirement-living-blog/meet-resident-sophie-agecare-valleyview) ![](https://living.agecare.ca/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/VV-Resident-Profile-3.png) ### [Meet Our Resident ~ Alberta (AgeCare Valleyview)](https://living.agecare.ca/retirement-living-blog/meet-resident-alberta-agecare-valleyview) Oct 30, 2018 5:04:10 AM While Alberta tends to be quiet, she loves to be around people. Just a simple kind word or a smile makes her day. [Pat Fream](https://living.agecare.ca/retirement-living-blog/author/pat-fream) [Read More](https://living.agecare.ca/retirement-living-blog/meet-resident-alberta-agecare-valleyview) ![](https://living.agecare.ca/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/VV-Resident-Profile-.png) ### [Meet Our Resident ~ Mary (AgeCare Valleyview)](https://living.agecare.ca/retirement-living-blog/meet-resident-mary-agecare-valleyview) Oct 22, 2018 4:55:06 AM If you’re in the mood to get beat at crib, stop and see Mary at AgeCare Valleyview! Mary will soon be 100 and she may have a few creaky bones, but she’s still got her wit, she keeps a close watch on bank statements, occasionally uses her iPad and her crib game is spot on! [Pat Fream](https://living.agecare.ca/retirement-living-blog/author/pat-fream) [Read More](https://living.agecare.ca/retirement-living-blog/meet-resident-mary-agecare-valleyview) ![](https://living.agecare.ca/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Senior-Woman-in-Wheelchair-with-Nurse.jpg) ### [Today I felt like my young self](https://living.agecare.ca/retirement-living-blog/today-felt-like-young-self) Sep 4, 2018 3:30:23 AM We all want it – that feeling of independence; that sense of pride and purpose; the feeling of being seen and heard.   This doesn’t change with ageing, in fact, for some it amplifies. Such is the case with Hazel Peterson.   **“All my life I’ve felt smart and capable. Now, just because I’m old and wrinkled, everyone decides it’s their business to mind my business,”** said Hazel. “I just want to remind everyone; my eighty-three-year-old brain has learned a thing or two … I’m still pretty sharp!”   Hazel is a friend of my mom’s, living in the same retirement community in south Calgary. Whenever I’m visiting over the dinner hour, I love to seek her out and soak up her insight of the day. Her political knowledge is spot on, and her views on most other current affairs tend to be informed, enthralling and often entertaining.   But it was Hazel’s articulate rant about seniors and their purpose that really got me thinking. I was glad I asked her if I could tape our chats. I told her I might like to blog about her sometime. She said she was flattered … she said I made her feel like Michelle Obama.   [Pat Fream](https://living.agecare.ca/retirement-living-blog/author/pat-fream) [Read More](https://living.agecare.ca/retirement-living-blog/today-felt-like-young-self) ![](https://living.agecare.ca/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Hot-Cereal-1.jpg) ### [Tips on Proper Eating and Nutrition as You Age](https://living.agecare.ca/retirement-living-blog/tips-proper-eating-nutrition-age-2) Aug 8, 2018 4:55:17 AM ### Bread for the Journey As we prepare to head into fall it is the perfect time to reinforce the importance of eating well. This can be especially challenging for seniors who live independently and alone and are not inclined to put the thought and time into preparing a proper meal just for themselves. [Pat Fream](https://living.agecare.ca/retirement-living-blog/author/pat-fream) [Read More](https://living.agecare.ca/retirement-living-blog/tips-proper-eating-nutrition-age-2) ![](https://living.agecare.ca/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Background-Moving-Day.jpg) [Advice for Seniors,](https://living.agecare.ca/retirement-living-blog/tag/advice-for-seniors) [Advice for Family & Friends](https://living.agecare.ca/retirement-living-blog/tag/advice-for-family-friends) ### [Taking the STRESS out of a Senior’s Move](https://living.agecare.ca/retirement-living-blog/taking-stress-seniors-move) Jul 20, 2018 2:56:58 AM Often the thing that keeps seniors from considering a move from their home to a Retirement Living community is the daunting task of …. well everything to do with moving!   [Pat Fream](https://living.agecare.ca/retirement-living-blog/author/pat-fream) [Read More](https://living.agecare.ca/retirement-living-blog/taking-stress-seniors-move)