Debbie Hertha is on a mission to take the stigma out of aging and make it easier for people to ask for help during this amazing and celebratory stage in their lives.
And she’s uniquely equipped to do precisely that.
As the founder of Creative Aging Company – and a trained gerontologist – Hertha combines her expertise as a coach and facilitator to guide seniors and their families through the complexities of the aging journey
“As a gerontologist and aging coach, I look at everything through a senior’s lens to understand what they are going through and how to make their aging years more meaningful and enjoyable,” Hertha says. “Our system is not set up to make it easy for us to age. Nor does it make asking for help in our later years as acceptable as it is when we are younger. In our younger years, we hire someone to do our taxes, clean our houses and cars, babysit our children and deliver our food.” Hertha has tailored her services to address this with a one-stop solution to help people with any age-related tasks they struggle with the most and at any time throughout their aging journey.
Working together in person or via online appointment, Hertha’s gerontology-based sessions take away the stress, confusion and frustration experienced by anyone trying to navigate and manage age-related challenges but are unsure of what to do and where to begin.
No referral or long-term commitment is required to begin those sessions and if a family member is accessing services, the older adult does not have to be present during a session.
Beyond breaking down the stigma around aging, Hertha is also acutely aware of when clients and their family members may notice something amiss, and when it’s time to act. There are the more standard cues -- increasing forgetfulness, physical changes or difficulty accomplishing everyday tasks – along with more subtle signs like decreased ability to perform activities they once were able to or lack of socializing or getting out of the house. Hertha says other signs that may be missed may include behavioural changes like increased frustration, stress or confusion with household chores like paying bills, cooking and meal planning.
Hertha’s helping hands can assist with any number of issues, from simple everyday annoyances to more in-depth needs: Identifying adequate ways to get around without a license; helping with accompanying a client to tour a Care Facility; linking families up with the appropriate service agencies; assisting clients as they navigate the health system and so much more.
Once contacted, Hertha’s plan for action is as all-inclusive as it is comforting. Far from simply developing a list of tasks and leaving it to clients and families to contend with, Hertha actually puts those plans into action.
Hertha gets asked the most for simple tips that allow clients to stay in their homes longer. Picture the client who has trouble reaching items in the kitchen — Hertha will source and help purchase special equipment or help re-arrange the kitchen setup.
But then there’s the more practical services Hertha offers as well: finding an occupational therapist for someone experiencing mobility challenges, arranging a companion for outings or appointments, help with meal preparation or cleaning and helping a client access homecare services should the need arise.
“These are the types of things I see more older adults are struggling with — whether it is due to their own declining health, caring for their spouse full-time, a busy lifestyle or other responsibilities. Adult children who help to support their aging parents may also find it difficult to manage because of demanding careers, personal commitments or the needs of their own families,” Hertha says. “I put together all of those pieces and develop a personalized plan.”
Hertha’s plans are put together with the backing of the necessary know-how from both an educational and practical standpoint. She holds a master’s degree in gerontology from Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, and a bachelor of applied science in gerontology degree from the University of Guelph. It’s an educational foundation that’s solidified her 25 years of experience working with seniors across Canada.
It is Hertha’s hope that people will be more comfortable asking for help for the tasks that frustrate them the most as they age, and it will eventually be more than acceptable for them to do so.
To learn more about Creative Aging Company, visit creativeaging.ca
