How old do you feel? While getting older can’t be avoided there are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to discussing age. • Chronological age: The number of years you’ve been alive. • Biological age: Which refers to how old your body’s cells appear, a measure based on biological markers. • Subjective age: This is how old you feel. Can a banana improve your mood? With about 30 per cent
By Caroline Tapp-McDougall All’s been well for the last few years and then suddenly, in the middle of the dinner, the dreaded phone call comes to say that Mom, who
As a society we often value youth over aging, but it’s common wisdom that some things, like wine and cheese, tend to get better with age. For many people, getting
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By Dan Buettner Just like with dating, making friends as an adult means putting yourself out there. A recent study found that most adults hadn’t added to their social circle
By Ken Pope, Rafiga Gurbanzade, and Crystal Terris How can changes to the Caregiver Tax Credit—now the Family Caregiver Amount Tax Credit—benefit you and your family? Supporting and caring for
Your role in medication safety By Pat Irwin Seniors take more medications than the rest of us. In fact, data suggests that 25 per cent of Canadian seniors are prescribed 10+ medications and as many as half of them are either taken incorrectly or are overprescribed. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that in the average senior this situation is a potential Molotov cocktail increasing the likelihood of adverse drug reactions, unwanted side effects and dangerous interactions. There’s a lot of medication rattling around in medicine cabinets, on night tables and tucked away in glove compartments and handbags! But who keeps track of these pills, when and how they are administered, their renewal and their potential side effects as Mom and Dad become older and perhaps a little more at risk. Whether you’re a paid caregiver, an adult child with aging parents or an allied healthcare professional,
Time to stop driving? By Anna Sharratt Driving is a lifeline for many but sometimes cognitive, vision, hearing or mobility issues can creep in, making driving less satisfying and unsafe.
Tackling tactlessness My sister-in-law is not very tactful. Yesterday she blurted out, “Do you actually have to bathe her? I wouldn’t.” I snapped back, “Grandma is not a cat who
Brain Health A recent survey conducted by Baycrest found that despite aging being an inevitable part of life, Canadians are unsure about the appropriate resources to help them make informed
Flex your muscles while flying One of the most classic air travel health tips involves avoiding deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Those who have poor circulation, smoke, have heart disease, are
Your role in medication safety By Pat Irwin Seniors take more medications than the rest of us. In fact, data suggests that 25 per cent of Canadian seniors are prescribed 10+ medications and as many as half of them are
Foodie Tours Good food tours introduce you to the best local bites and leave you with a full belly. The best and often, most popular food tours, do so much more than that. They act as a prism to view
Three evidence-based benefits of music What do radio, vinyl records, cassettes, CDs, YouTube, and Spotify have in common? They are all ways that people can listen to music, the universal language that breaks down barriers—like space and time—and builds invisible
Misplaced your car or house keys? Can’t remember what you went to the store to buy? Worry not. According to experts, it’s totally natural to forget a few more things as we age. The brain, like any other part of the body, needs exercise. So, while later life changes in memory may be bothersome, it’s often simply a matter of paying closer attention and concentrating or finding ways to adjust our behaviours. Lifestyle changes such
Constant basting is the trick to a glistening baked ham. Do slice the meat thinly. This fruit-studded centerpiece of a main course is among the most popular recipes from the original Silver Palate Cookbook. Once you make it, you’ll see why. Serves: 20 Active Time: 30 min. Total Time: 2 hr. 2 min. Ingredients 1 (16 to 20-lb) ready-to-eat, bone-in ham Whole cloves, to cover surface of the ham ¼ cup Dijon mustard 1 cup
As the weather heats up, we start looking for new no-bake desserts to avoid turning our apartments into saunas. This one is great because it can be done with a homemade or store-bought pound cake! Yields: 8 servings Prep Time: 0 hours 10 mins Total Time: 4 hours 40 mins Ingredients 1 (8-oz.) block cream cheese, softened 2 tbsp. sour cream 1/2 c. powdered sugar, sifted 1 tsp. lemon zest 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract Pinch
Pickling the eggs in their cracked but intact shells creates a unique tie-dye effect on each one. 6 servings Ingredients 1 cup distilled white vinegar 2 tablespoons kosher salt 2 tablespoons light brown sugar One of the following depending on desired color: 2 small red beets, shredded on a box grater, 2 tablespoons ground turmeric, or 1 cup blackberries 6 unpeeled Hard-Boiled Eggs Preparation Step 1 Heat vinegar, salt, brown sugar, and 1 cup water
I must confess that the spark of an idea for this recipe started in a department-store café, when I tasted something similar, loved it and decided to try and recreate it at home. It soon became a family staple and it’s one of the few dishes that my daughters actively sought out the recipe for. The sharp tang of the lemon combined with the nursery comfort of the pasta is reminiscent of the zingy crêpes
By Sarah Tranum To help seniors age safely and with dignity we need innovative solutions. From co-housing to community paramedicine programs, home-based primary care to publicly funded dementia villages, there is hope on the horizon. As a social innovation designer, I study complex challenges with the aim to find the common approaches needed to solve issues, not just manage the symptoms. Recently, to better understand the challenges of Canada’s LTC system, I interviewed stakeholders involved
How old do you feel? While getting older can’t be avoided there are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to discussing age. • Chronological age: The number of years you’ve been alive. • Biological age: Which
Q) Who will help me drive my brother to the doctor? He’s missing appointments because there is no one to take him. A) Depending on the type of appointment, you might be able to draw assistance from federal or provincial
Selecting a mobility aid can be a daunting process. It can be easiest to think about mobility aids in different categories, such as canes, walkers, rollators, manual wheelchairs, power wheelchairs and scooters. By Linda Norton, BSc OT, OT Reg. (Ont),
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