Allen Unrau
Allen Unrau writes a weekly column relating to "reallife" seniors issues in Abbotsford BC. He is actively involved as a volunteer with numerous seniors' organizations in the Fraser Valley. He is a grandfather of eight and works as a licensed realtor specializing in seniors Real Estate, which helps seniors and their families with the purchase or sale of homes in the Fraser Valley.
Are Finances a Family Affair?
When you were growing up you always assumed that your parents had money. You probably weren’t sure how much they were worth or where they kept it but you were pretty certain there was a stache for a rainy day somewhere. They must have been able to save a fair amount because every once in [...] Read More >
Are You an Interfering Grandparent?
Grandma gets into the car and pulls the door shut a little harder than usual. She’s upset…her blood pressure is up. “Why don’t they listen? If I were raising those kids they would listen when they were told to do something! Why are they allowed to get away with things like that?” Sound familiar? Is [...] Read More >
Are You Being Set Up?
The doorbell rings and Robert looks out the side window to see who’s on the porch. It’s a woman, close to his age, who looks somewhat familiar. She doesn’t appear to be selling anything or taking a survey, so he answers the door. The lady introduces herself and explains why she’s there. Her name is Norma and [...] Read More >
Are you being stereotyped?
My grey hair got me into an interesting situation lately at the local supermarket. I brought my basket of purchases up to the teller and exchanged the normal pleasantries. I had selected various fruit juices, some fresh fruit and a copy of the daily paper. I paid with a debit card. When the transaction was [...] Read More >
Are You Setting Yourself Up for a Fall?
Falls are the biggest health risk for seniors today. Everyone takes a tumble once in a while but when seniors fall down it’s no laughing matter! We’ve all heard the story, “I don’t know what happened. I was standing up one second and on the floor the next! I guess I just slipped!” Falling down only [...] Read More >
Be Friendly and Live Longer?
Will keeping in touch with old friends guarantee to keep you younger? Are well-tended relationships part of a “long life formula?” Can you fight aging by staying as close to as many family members as possible? Do you want to live a rich long life? Then make some friends and plan to spend some quality [...] Read More >
Bill and Dorothy Went for the Gold!
Bill and Dorothy were married in a “double wedding” ceremony in a small church on the Prairies (Canada). It was late spring and the wind was warm as the two brides stepped from the Ford coupe in the dusty parking lot. The old pump organ played the familiar Wedding March as they were escorted down [...] Read More >
Clarence and the Cancer Cage
“You have cancer.” Dr. Marshall quickly went on to describe the treatment program…. Clarence only heard the diagnosis. The day he feared since his mother’s death had finally arrived. The predator that stalked him mentally now claimed its victim physically. It was real. This was the day he officially became a cancer patient. All those [...] Read More >
Did You Raise Them Right – Afraid to Ask?
Madge was serving coffee at a family gathering when a certain conversation caught her attention. A group of adult cousins and their spouses were discussing how they were raised. Gary: “Dad didn’t encourage or discourage our decisions. He just watched from a distance as mom ran the household. He was always at work.” Donna: “My [...] Read More >
Does Your Family Need to Break the Silence?
Join me as we listen in on a family meeting. The fact that there is a family meeting actually happening is a tremendous credit to everyone involved. Many issues have been popping up that nobody wanted to deal with, but now it’s time…. Ralph and Eva are 80 and 78 and still live in their [...] Read More >