Mary Segal
Contributing Columnist

WE seniors who have lived
on the North Shore for
many years want to remain
here for the rest of our lives.

We may have come here. as I did,
when we had young children and
wanted an affordable house with a
garden.

Now our children are grown and
we find that a large home is too big
and too hard ta manage.

Many older women, in particular,
have arthritis or osteoporosis, miak-
ing it painful and difficult to go up
and down stairs and to do yard work.
Ss

0, We start looking for an apart-

22 — Sunday, May 3, 1998 - North Shore News

north shore news

4 SENIORS
Affordable housing options available .

ment and this is where we run into
trouble.

The North Shorz has high rental
rates, and condominium apartments
are also expensive.

Since many of us will five into our
90s, we are worried that if we sell our
house, the money will not last as
long as we do.

And we definitely do not want to
ask our children for help.

What are our opdions?

We can move to Chilliwack or
Vancouver Island, where rents are
lower and with the hope of fiving a
more rural life style.

This may sound great in theory.
However, the down side of such a
move :s that we will probably be
leaving behind our triends and fami-
ly, not to n ention the family physi-

cian, seniors’ centre, church and
businesses we have grown accus-
tomed to over the vears. >

An ideal situation would be ro
find an affordable rental apartment
on the North Shore, near a bus route
and shopping.

In the past, tederal and provineial
governments provided funds so that
non-profit organizations and service
clubs could build apartment blocks

where rents would not evceed 30% of

one’s income.

These funds have now dried up,
so very few new buildings are being
constructed.

Many groups such as the legion,
RNiwanis, and Lions clubs continue to
provide affordable housing for
seniors and families in their eyisting
buildings. Untortunately most of

them have Jong waiting lists.

However, J. Garey Ham, presi-
dent of the Mount Seymour Lions
Housing Society writes that one of
their seniors” housing developments,
Lions Libby Lodge in) Horseshoe
Bay, is accepting applications tor res-
ident.

The lodge consists of 37 bachelor
units for singles, six one-bedroom
units for couples and nwo one-bed-
room units for the handicapped.

All units are for independent
seniors and at least one of the tenants
should be 60 years of age.

The portion of the rent paid by all
tenants Is based on 30% of their gross
monthly houschold income. Rent
maximums and minimums apply.

Assets are also taken into consid:
eration. Proof of income and assets is

required when the applicant is
offered a unit. Heat, light and basic
cablevision is included im the tenant's
rent contribution,

Anyone interested in completing
an application for housing at Lions
Libby Lodge is asked to contact
Jeannic at the society's administrative
ottice, 929-9499. Or write to #147 -
1300 0 Parkgate Ave. North
Vancouver, BC. V7H 2Y2. Office
hours are Tuesday to Friday. 10:30
am. to 3:30 p.m.

_.. Mary Seqal is coordinator of
Lionsview Seniors’ Planning Society.
Ideas for future colurins are welcome.
Contact Seqal at 985-3852 or drop a
line sa Lionsview Seniors’ Plaining
Soctery, North Building, 600 W.
Queens Rd, North Van, B.C, V7N
213.

Volunteers needed for dental implant study

Gavin Wilson

beyond the reach of many

in the department of clinical

years.

Walton and other clinicians

unteers whe will receive

Contributing Writer

ANYONE who has suf:
fered the loss of their
teeth will tell you that
few things in life are as
inconvenient, embar-

rassing — and costly.
“The advent in recent years
of titanium implant technolo-
gy has greatly improved the
lives of those who wear den-
tures, but its high price puts it

who need it most.

Now a $400,000 four-vear
Faculty of Dentistry study is
looking at the cost and design
of dental prostheses used with
implants, to sce if they can be
better made, and at a lower
cost.

“We are investigating
which designs work best, as
well as the cost of making and
maintaining prostheses,” said
project director Dr. Joanne
Walton, an associate professor

dental sciences.

‘Practitioners have their
own sense of what works, but
it is not backed up by
research. Bv looking at com-
monly used designs, we may
find that one of the least
expensive dentures is just as
good as the most expensive. If
so, it makes sense to offer that
alternative to patients,” she
said.

“We want to know what
will bring the greatest yood to
the greatest number of peo-
ple.”

Abour 70% of — the
Canadian population over age
65 has at least one denture.
And between 30% and 40% of
those seniors have no teeth at
all in either jaw.

Conventional dentures —
difficult to fit, sometimes
paintul —~ are often poor sub-
stitutes. That’s what made
titanium implants the biggest
advance in dental care in 50

The expensive procedure
sees TWO or more titaniuni
cylinders implanted into the
bone of the lower jaw.
Titanium is a biologicatly
compatible metal thar bone
cells can adhere to, firmly
attaching it to the jaw.

Short studs are left pro-
truding above the gum and
dentures equipped with spe-
cial fasteners simply snap onto
them.

“Many people who get
implants say they have not had
such a good, firm fit since they
had their own tceth,” Walton
said.

“We see a iot of people
who are severely handicapped
by tooth loss, and sometimes
they ery and hug as because
they are so happy at the differ-
ence it makes. As a dental clin-
ician, it is a very exciting field
to be in.”

But as

implants have
become

more common,

The North Shore

have found that problems can
develop with the prostheses
they retain. The research liter-
ature has little to sav shout
this.

The UBC study will
attempt to remedy this by
looking at issues such as pros-
theses breakage, patient satis-
faction and keeping dentures
properly — adjusted, said
Michael MacEntee, professor
of clinical dental sciences.

Another major focus is
cost. With as many as five
implants required to fit a pros-
thesis, the cost can be as high
as $12,000, prohibitive for a
senior on 2 fixed income.

“It is not a trivial amount
of money. That's why we feel
it’s important to look at the
economics and cost etfective-
ness of implant prostheses,”
MacEntee said. “Nobody has
really analyzed the cost and its
implications before.” :

The study is asking for vol-

News presents

Every mom who comes to the races at Hastings
Park-an Mathers Day, Sundas, May 10d, will

reecive free admission and a free Players’ Guide.

Plus.a chance to be in the Winner’

Circle as

special gucst presenter to the winner of

The Daffodil, the feature race on Mothers Davy.

Plus..d chance Co win one of ten-C1Q) Betting
“Vouchers for S25 and one of ten (10) Buffet

Lunches in The terrace Restaurant.
it

Plus..a chance towin the Grand Prize of a
“Private Party Jor oventy six (26) peoples

~ Gnome and 235 friends) in our Directors’ Lounge,
‘ high above the racetrack.

Bring mem out to

The North Shore News

Mother's Day at the Races

for a great day of fin

- and excitenicnt.

First race bl pm

implants and dentures for just
$1,800, including follow-up
repairs and adjustments for
TWO years at no cost.

AH dental work will be
done by qualified profession-
als, not students, and will use
only proven techniques and
materials. All that is asked of
participants after the implants
are in place is to attend regu-
larly scheduled — dental
appointments.

The study is funded by the
national health research devel-
opment program of Health
Canada and Nobel Biocare,
the Swedish company that
produces the — titanium
implants.

For more information or
to participate in the study, call
the Oral Implant Chic at
822-5583.

— Reprinted fram UBC
Reports

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