September 2012 is the first global World Alzheimer’s Month, an international campaign to educate and raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease.September 21st, is World Alzheimer’s Day, as assigned by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1994. Alzheimer’s is a devastating disease that has become a global health issue. The theme of this year’s World Alzheimer’s Month is “Dementia: Living Together“. Alzheimer’s … Read More
Dementia and the Importance of Music
We all have songs that evoke vivid and distinct memories of events or parts of our lives. They stir up old emotions of joy or sadness, and their impact is undeniable. We’re now beginning to understand why music affects us so profoundly. Using brain imaging techniques like MRIs, scientists have been able to look at what happens in the brain … Read More
Dementia at Meal Time
Meal times, and day-to-day eating and drinking, can become very challenging as dementia progresses. In the early stages, a person with dementia who lives alone may begin to experience difficulty with preparing food, acquiring food, or remembering to eat. Meal delivery services like Meals on Wheels may not be helpful as they may not remember to eat the meals that … Read More
Proper Nutrition For Seniors At Home
Proper nutrition is an issue for everyone. So many health problems could be fixed or completely prevented if we would all just eat the right amounts of the right foods. But, as we’re seeing high instances of malnutrition in the elderly, we need to make sure the seniors in our lives are eating well. The topic of nutrition for seniors … Read More
Canadian Seniors Have a High Incidence of Malnutrition
A study conducted by the Canadian Malnutrition Task Force showed a disturbingly high percentage of seniors in Canada, who are admitted to hospitals for other conditions, are suffering from some degree of malnutrition. 39% of admitted patients aged 65 or older were classified as moderately malnourished, and 12.5% were severely malnourished. These numbers are significantly higher than those of the … Read More
Making Home Senior Friendly
As we grow older, our sense of balance diminishes, and the stability of our stature is often weaker. It is well known that seniors are more prone to falling, and that injuries sustained from falls can be quite devastating. In Canada, falls account for 85% of injury related hospitalizations in those over 65. Almost 50% of seniors who fall sustain … Read More
Medication Risks for Seniors Discharged from Hospital
A recent study of almost 400,000 Ontario hospital patients showed that there was a significant risk that patients would unintentionally discontinue taking vital prescription medications after discharge. This study tracked elderly patients who were on at least 1 of 5 medications for chronic disease (statins, thyroid medications, anti-coagulants, inhalers for respiratory diseases and gastric acid suppressing drugs) when being admitted … Read More
Seniors and Exercise
As people age, exercise is the key to staying strong, energetic and healthy. As we grow older our body’s metabolism naturally slows down, making it increasingly difficult for seniors to maintain a healthy weight. the answer is exercise. Exercise helps speed up the body’s metabolism and builds muscle mass, so engaging in physical activity regularly makes it easier for seniors … Read More
Brain Exercises For Seniors
When a parent ages, mental deterioration is often the hardest thing for their children and grandchildren to cope with – even when the physical changes in the parent are more challenging. Arthritis, diabetes, loss of mobility – these are parts of aging. You can use medicine or equipment to deal with them. If the parents suffer in physical health, they … Read More
Fantastic Fitness Strategies for Seniors
Shedding pounds and keeping them off gets tougher as we age. We vow in January to make big changes, but by Valentine’s Day our motivation has vanished. Maybe it’s time for a new strategy. Here are a few easy-to-implement, small steps you can take to start down your path to personal fitness. Weigh yourself everyday Bump up your weekly weigh-in … Read More