Tough conversations: how to talk to senior parents about personal support care

 On average, how many times a day do you call your mom or dad? There’s the morning call to say good morning and ensure they’re eating breakfast; then there's the mid-morning call to confirm your dad took his meds, and don’t forget the lunchtime check-in to see what your mom's

4 ways to help your senior parents age safely and comfortably at home

 Most seniors would choose to spend their golden years in the comfort of their own homes and communities. If you have had this conversation with your senior parents, the importance of their continued independence has likely already become clear. As an adult child, you want the best for your senior

How to add quality of life for Canada’s older adults? — AVOID frailty

 By John Muscedere The global pandemic has struck a death blow across our senior population. Canada has had almost 9,000 deaths from COVID-19 so far, with the vast majority (97 per cent) occurring in those over age 60.  Canada also holds the unenviable record among developed nations for the highest

It’s time to shorten the Cabinet bench

 The NHL Stanley Cup playoffs are scheduled to start in two weeks, and we’ll soon hear sportscasters expounding on players’ performances: plumbers – not the best players but those that will go into the corners and do the dirty work; floaters – often the most talented players but not the

COVID-19 shows support for home care long overdue

 By Kelli Stajduhar, Tanya Sanders The global pandemic of COVID-19 has brought long-standing gaps in the Canadian care system sharply into focus, particularly for older adults who cannot live independently. As we collectively grasp the enormity of the troubling living conditions for Canada’s residents of long term care, and the

It’s time to stop warehousing Canada’s seniors in long-term care

 By John Muscedere and Russell Williams Canada need to initiate a bold long-term strategy for healthy aging The COVID-19 pandemic has made it clear that Canada needs to change the way we care for our older adults. We have failed in our duty to safeguard the most vulnerable members of

Best apps for seniors

 Nowadays there is an overwhelming number of apps available for smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices. With an app for just about everything, it can be difficult to navigate the world of Candyland and Angry Birds. Today especially, as we battle the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a wide range of apps

Don’t leave older Canadians behind in COVID-19 preparedness

 (Kingston, 03/15/20) — There are approximately 1.5 million Canadians living with frailty right now and they are at an increased risk for severe, adverse health outcomes from even minor illnesses and injury. They will be hardest hit by COVID-19. Dr. John Muscedere, an intensivist and respirologist at Kingston General Hospital and

The questions you need to ask before moving into a senior apartment in Ottawa

 Choosing a retirement home is not something you want to do in a hurry. This is a major life move and you shouldn’t have any lingering questions when you first move in. Fortunately, Ottawa has a wealth of options for seniors who want to downsize into an age-restricted active living

Putting patients first can save our health system

 By: Kapil Khimdas and Danyaal Raza  It’s no secret: Ontario is getting older. The number of seniors in our province has been steadily increasing and over the next twenty years, will double.  Including factors like increased use of health services and evolving technology, this will result in a substantial increase

A ‘Volunteer Rendezvous’ at City Hall

 In exactly one week, Volunteer Ottawa will be hosting its Volunteer Rendezvous at City Hall – connecting prospective volunteers with a wide selection of organisations looking for help. On September 22nd between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Volunteer Ottawa welcomes one and all to come join the fun, learn about

People Need Less Money to Live As They Get Older? If Only.

 Pension plans for teachers, hospital workers and public servants target of study hype By Michael Wolfson Last week the C.D. Howe Institute released a short study just in time for the finance ministers’ meeting – rolling out the tired, old argument that as people age, they do not need as much money

Time to Re-Think Health Care Policy for the Elderly

 As the Canadian population continues to age, there is a need to revisit conventional thinking regarding the provision of health care services for seniors to ensure that the system is sustainable for all Canadians. There are a number of misperceptions in current thinking. First, there is a belief that a

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

Reforming Healthcare Funding to Address the Needs of Our Aging Population

 Why we need a publicly funded insurance program for home care and long-term care By Réjean Hébert Funding home care and long-term care is fast becoming the main challenge of our outdated medicare system – a system developed in the mid-twentieth century for a young population that mostly required acute

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.

John’s Reno Tips Spring Into Reno Season

 Photos courtesy of John Gordon.  As we enter the key renovating season, there are certain trends that are turning up everywhere. Fresh from the Ottawa Home Show, here are a few of John's hip tips. Kitchens and Living Areas Mixed materials in kitchen such as rustic wood beams, stone columns,

Health Reform in Ontario Must Include Oral Health

 A healthy mouth is part of a healthy life. The Ontario government’s proposed reform of the provincial health care system is going forward with a glaring omission: primary mouth care. To make this reform truly "Patients First," Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long Term Care, must include primary

The YMCA’s Still Got It

 A shot from the YMCA-YWCA's annual cliffhanger event. Photo by John Enaje. The Capital’s YMCA-YWCA has a lot to offer locals. Founded in 1867, the Y works to advance the health and well being of children, youth and families. The Y provides services that tackle issues such as children’s health, unemployment,

Seniors Housing Can be Affordable

 Older adults living on low and fixed incomes need options It was recently reported that Calgary has some of the most expensive seniors’ housing in Canada, at $3,100 a month, some $1,000 over the national average. Headlines like these catch people’s attention, especially during an election. There’s no doubt that

Pharmacare is for Kids Too

 Written by Avram Denburg and Steve Morgan You are the parent of a sick child. You have a limited budget and you must decide to buy the medicine the doctor prescribed for your child or provide food and shelter for your family instead. What do you do? Sadly this dilemma is one too

Why We Need to Think Twice About Adopting an Australian Model of Pension Reform

 In a recent nation-wide commentary, authors Charles Lammam and Stephen Kirchner of the Fraser Institute urge the Province of Ontario to adopt an Australian model of pension provision instead of expanding the Canada Pension Plan as proposed in the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan. This creates an interesting debate as it

The Real Costs of Informal Caregiving in Canada

 National strategy needed for unpaid caregivers in the workplace The phenomenon is not exactly marginal: according to a recently released government report, one in every three workers in Canada is assisting a chronically disabled person--many of them seniors--with transportation, household maintenance or day-to-day tasks. The 6.1 million employed workers who

Ottawa Art Gallery Launches ArtWise

 Bridging the gap between older adults and younger generations is exactly what the Ottawa Art Gallery hopes to do with ArtWise, its new volunteer programming council. Collaborating with gallery staff, local artists and invited guests, the OAG ArtWise council will aim to provide opportunities for a broad range of ages

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,