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Senior Care

The Benefits of Birdwatching

3 days ago
2 min

Health & Fitness

The Benefits of Birdwatching

Now that spring has arrived, finding suitable activities for your older adult's health and well-being is even easier, especially when the great outdoors calls us! Birdwatching is one of the best hobbies for older adults and the elderly as it can be done in the great outdoors or in the comfort of their own homes. "Birding," as some enthusiasts like to call it, is a great way to pass the time and get closer to nature. Getting Started One of the best things about birdwatching i

Allergy Season: Keeping Seniors Safe

5 days ago
3 min

Caregiver Resources

Allergy Season: Keeping Seniors Safe

Spring has sprung! Longer days, sunnier skies, and yes, seasonal allergies! While allergies are often considered a condition that presents earlier in life, seniors are not exempt from bothersome allergy symptoms. Age-related changes to the immune system put older adults at a higher risk for autoimmune diseases, infections, and allergic inflammation. Having chronic diseases and taking multiple medications can make it hard to diagnose, manage, and treat seasonal allergies in se

Pureed Diet Options for Seniors

6 days ago
3 min

Pureed Diet Options for Seniors

As we age, nutrition becomes increasingly varied and at times difficult to manage. Getting the proper nutrition for older adults can be a challenge due to dietary restrictions, injury, inability to chew specific foods, digestive upset or other health concerns. Oftentimes, in order to get the best nutritional health benefits, a pureed diet is key. What is a Puréed Diet? According to the Alberta Health Services, a puréed diet is needed for people who have trouble chewing or s

Vision Health for Seniors

Mar 22
3 min

Health & Fitness

Vision Health for Seniors

As we get older, we may start to notice a change in our vision. It may be that you start wearing glasses to read your favourite book or perhaps you've developed a sensitivity to light and glare. Whatever the changes may be, it's good to know the effects on vision caused by ageing, and how we can prevent or manage serious eye diseases. Changes in Vision Some changes to vision that you may experience as you age, are: Difficulty reading small print Taking longer to adjust from

Fraud Prevention Month

Mar 20
4 min

Caregiver Resources

Fraud Prevention Month

March is considered Fraud Prevention Month and we wanted to share some tips on what to look for and how to protect yourself from fraud and identity theft. We all know that technology has made a lot of things simpler in life. We can instantly share pictures and messages with our family and friends. But it has also made the fraudster's life easier, they don’t even have to leave the house to persuade someone out of their hard-earned money. Most of us have received them or heard

Benefits of Smoothies

Mar 19
2 min

Benefits of Smoothies

There are many options for getting in the nutrients and vitamins you need to keep yourself and your elderly loved ones healthy. Smoothies can help with digestion, inflammation, anemia, and even anti-ageing! It's all in the ingredients! Our eating habits change as we age, and we may not consume as much food as we once did. The reason for this is that our bodies slow down and do not require as much energy to complete the day's activities. Moreover, we may not have the same app

Facts About Tinnitus

Mar 15
2 min

Health & Fitness

Facts About Tinnitus

Ever think that there is noise or ringing in your ears? This is commonly known as Tinnitus. It is a common problem affecting nearly 35% of Canadians each year. What is Tinnitus? Tinnitus is commonly described as a ringing in the ears, but it also can sound like roaring, clicking, hissing, or buzzing. It may be soft or loud, high-pitched or low-pitched. You might hear it in either one or both ears. Tinnitus, however, isn't a condition itself — it's a symptom of what could be

Hospice Care: A Guide for Families

Mar 13
1 min

Caregiver Resources

Hospice Care: A Guide for Families

Taking care of someone with a terminal illness is one of life's toughest and yet, most rewarding challenges due to the care and support provided to the individual. It will not be easy, but there are ways that you can make their last days more comfortable. Care at this stage of life is called palliative care or hospice care. Palliative care is described by the World Health Organization as a means of providing the best quality of life to patients and their families at the end

Liver Disease

Mar 8
4 min

Health & Fitness

Liver Disease

Did you know that 1 in 4 Canadians may be affected by liver disease?! In Canada, March is Liver Awareness Month where organizations such as the Canadian Liver Foundation share resources, tools, and information about the importance of prevention and education on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). NAFLD is a liver disease which starts with fat accumulation in the liver without excessive alcohol consumption. If left untreated, NAFLD may progress to more advanced disease,

Communication Tips for Dementia Caregivers

Mar 6
3 min

Caregiver Resources

Communication Tips for Dementia Caregivers

Dementia and Alzheimer's disease double every five years in people aged 65 and older, and this number is expected to triple to 14 million by 2060. While these stats aren't exactly fun, knowing them can help you prepare and realize you're not alone. When you've had a parent or grandparent who has been impacted by this disease-or if you're experiencing it yourself-you know it's debilitating and painful. Having a community of people who know what you're struggling through can he

Healthy Snack Ideas for Seniors

Mar 5
4 min

Healthy Snack Ideas for Seniors

Often, mealtime can be quite challenging for the elderly, especially those in long-term care or living alone in their private home. Some meals can be too "heavy", too "much", or perhaps their appetite is not as strong as it once was, so they often opt out of the meal altogether. That's why ensuring a simple healthy snack is available can make a difference in keeping your loved one, or person in your care, healthy and happy. Changing Nutritional Needs Nutritional changes occ

Degenerative Scoliosis

Mar 1
2 min

Health & Fitness

Degenerative Scoliosis

When we think of Scoliosis, we often think about it affecting mainly adolescents, however, adult-onset Scoliosis is quite common. Degenerative Scoliosis, or adult-onset scoliosis, is described as a side-to-side curvature of the spine. This curvature is caused by the degeneration of joints and the moving parts of the spine called the intervertebral discs. How does it develop? Naturally, with age, our bones and joints start to degenerate, causing the spine to curve. However,

Senior Care Plans

Feb 27
4 min

Senior Care Plans

Seeking outside care for your elderly loved one requires sharing important information about the individual's health concerns and addressing any current challenges. Having an action plan, such as a Care Plan, can help in the organization of care and as a resource for others to provide and maintain care when change happens. Assessing Needs The first step in establishing and creating a care plan for your elderly loved one is by assessing their exact needs and gathering informat

Benefits of Calcium

Feb 26
4 min

Benefits of Calcium

Calcium is an essential nutrient necessary for a number of functions within the body and for maintaining overall health. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body with 99% found in teeth and bone. Benefits of Calcium As a mineral, calcium is often associated with healthy bones and teeth, however, it also plays an important role in blood clotting, helping muscles to contract, and regulating normal heart rhythms and nerve functions. In order to perform these vital roles

Visiting Elderly Loved Ones - What to Look For

Feb 20
3 min

Caregiver Resources

Visiting Elderly Loved Ones - What to Look For

During long weekends, holidays, religious celebrations, and family gatherings we are often seeing our elderly loved ones for the first time after some time has passed. Many caregivers are "long-distance caregivers" who may live an hour or more away, but who also provide physical, emotional, social, and financial support to their elderly parents. Relying on regular phone calls and check-ins by family or friends who may live closer to aging loved ones can be challenging to trul

Vitamin B12 for Immune Support

Feb 19
3 min

Vitamin B12 for Immune Support

Cobalamin, or vitamin B12, is a water-soluble vitamin that's needed for the nervous system to function. In terms of structural complexity, it's the biggest and most complex of all the B vitamins. The Role of Vitamin B12 The right levels of Vitamin B12 in your body are essential for proper health and a healthy immune system. A healthy immune system depends on vitamins B12 and folic acid. The body needs both to make enough red blood cells to carry oxygen. Deficiencies in folate

Heart Attack: Know the Signs

Feb 15
3 min

Health & Fitness

Heart Attack: Know the Signs

Did you know that heart disease accounts for nearly half the deaths in Canada and often heart attack symptoms go unrecognized by 53% of women? The reason for unrecognized symptoms could be due to how the heart attack feels to the individual. In some cases, a heart attack may feel like pressure in the chest, overall weakness, indigestion, or even "a touch of the flu". Knowing the common signs of a heart attack or cardiac arrest can save your life or the life of your loved ones

Tips for Handling Elderly Emotional Outbursts

Feb 13
4 min

Caregiver Resources

Tips for Handling Elderly Emotional Outbursts

When we hear the term "temper tantrum", we often associate it with young or teenage children, however as the population ages and dementia-related diseases, such as Alzheimer's, are on the rise, temper outbursts in the elderly are becoming more frequent. It can be quite challenging to see your elderly parent act in a way that is very different than what you have been used to throughout your life. It can be unnerving and leave you feeling unsettled and anxious. Emotional outbu

Vitamins C & E for Immune Support

Feb 12
3 min

Vitamins C & E for Immune Support

In our continuing series on understanding and supporting our Immune System, today’s blog features the benefits of adding Vitamins C and E into our daily diet. Vitamins C and E are antioxidants that help to destroy free radicals and support the body’s natural immune response. With ageing, the immune response becomes reduced or impaired. This can greatly affect our daily functioning and may lead to infection and risks pertaining to our health and well-being. Antioxidants, such

Water Aerobics for Seniors

Feb 8
2 min

Health & Fitness

Water Aerobics for Seniors

Looking for ways to continue your fitness efforts during these long cold winters? Try water aerobics! What is Water Aerobics? Sometimes called aqua fit, Water Aerobics is a series of aerobic exercises often performed in a swimming pool or body of water, such as at the beach or lake. This activity incorporates a number of low-impact exercises and resistance training while in waist-deep water (although deep-water classes are also available) and is generally led by a trained in

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