New vision of long-term care must be person-centred

 By Jim Mann When the long-term care system is revolutionized, as it must be, we should learn from people who live with dementia It’s time we talked.    No longer can the discussion of the care of people living in long-term care facilities be ignored, be sloughed off, for another

What Kind of Health Workforce Will Be Needed to Serve Our Aging Population?

 By Gregory Huyer and Ivy Lynn Bourgeault We know that Canada’s population is aging. Among the many statistics that have been reported is how in 2015, the proportion of Canadian seniors surpassed that of youth under 15 for the first time. The gap will continue to widen over the next

Combating the Over-medication of Seniors

 Time to accelerate the rate of change. The case of ‘too much medication’ in Canadian seniors is finally starting to be recognized for the serious problem it has become.  Seniors are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of too many prescription drugs because aging affects their ability to process medications.

Advanced Directives for Assisted-Dying a Dangerous Step

 The moment we are born, our lives take flight; and the longer we are airborne, the greater the chance of encountering turbulence along the way. While every flight is destined to land, some landings are harder to contemplate than others. The parliamentary committee tasked with advising the federal government on

Why Canada Needs a National Plan to Address Dementia and Alzheimer’s

 One of the biggest threats to quality of life and health in ageing is the loss of cognitive abilities and functional autonomy that are associated with dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. The projections of the number of Canadians living with dementia are staggering, with over 750,000 individuals affected today, an attendant

Dear Health Minister – Please Reinstate Funding for Cochrane Canada

 Cochrane is a key global healthcare resource that needs Canada’s involvement Imagine you’re our new Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau. Despite a grueling election campaign, you’re flush with energy and idealism in a country where “better is always possible.” One key priority is improving Canada’s prosperity but there are also many

Why Has My Brain Stopped Working?

 Gillian, 42, a mother of two children, 4 and 6, worked as an accountant. She had a loving husband and a successful career she had worked very hard to create for herself. Gillian always had an incredible memory and could always count on her brain. However, over the past few

Older adults living with mental illness need specialized housing

 New Calgary report warns more homeless seniors a real possibility By Pat Cashion and Lee Tunstall Older adults living with mental illness often face a double stigma in our society—both from aging and from mental illness. They are some of the most invisible and most vulnerable individuals in our communities,

Fall Reading List

 It is hard to beat a cool fall afternoon spent cozying up on the couch with a hot tea and a must-read. That is why OLM is bringing you its fall reading list. Choose from a variety of sci-fi to romance, or challenge yourself to read them all (more time