By Celeste Headlee Despite our constant search for new ways to optimize our bodies and minds for peak performance, human beings are working more instead of less, living harder not smarter, and becoming lonelier and more anxious. In Do Nothing, award-winning journalist Celeste Headlee
WHO PAYS FOR CARE? Q) My parents think they can’t afford a nursing home. How is it funded? A) Long-term care is provincially subsidized. For instance in British Columbia, residents pay a monthly rate of up to 80 per cent of after-tax income subject to a minimum and maximum. The best advice: visit your provincial Ministry […]
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 can lick herself clean!” Unfortunately, Gran heard and was embarrassed. Now she wants to go back to bathing herself again but it’s not safe. Agreed. […]
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 decisions about brain health, and aging. Additional findings include: • Less than one in five people are confident in their knowledge about preventing dementia (23%). […]
A look at multi-generational caregiving Men and women, and all age groups—from kids to seniors—are taking on responsibility for providing care to a family member. Here are some facts and real-life stories that will give you a snapshot of the reality. Children and teens Until recently, these youngsters were known as “invisible caregivers.” They can […]
Ready to sell? There are some smart things to do that real estate agents may also recommend: • Curb appeal: Time to take care of the shabby lawn and cracked walkway. Shake off the sawdust and swap out your tool belt for some gardening tools. • Goodbye bold: Real estate agents would rather dip their […]
It’s common knowledge that daily exercise helps keep a body fit and a mind healthy, but when planning an exercise regime for an older adult, a caregiver has additional issues to consider beyond the obvious health benefits. First, always consult a doctor before starting any exercise routine to confirm the types of exercise that he […]
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 lives in another province, seems lost and confused. Her helpful neighbours who watch over her well-being have taken her to the hospital and the doctors are suggesting that […]
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 older does come with new challenges, but embracing the positives, building on past experience and enjoying the fruits of your labours brings many a joyful […]
By Tara Schuster By the time she was in her late twenties, Tara Schuster was a rising TV executive. By all appearances, she had mastered being a grown-up. But beneath that veneer of success, she was a chronically anxious, self-medicating mess. No one knew that her road to adulthood had been paved with depression, anxiety, […]