Senior Scene June 11, 2018

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is marked each year on June 15th. It is an official United Nations International Day acknowledging the significance of elder abuse as a public health and human rights issue. Since 2006, communities throughout the country and around the world have honoured this day to raise the visibility of elder abuse by organizing events to share …

Senior Scene June 4, 2018

It is only the beginning of June, but we have already experienced some very hot temperatures and high humidity. This combination of weather conditions might be considered ideal for some folks, but research suggests it appears to increase the incidence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or heart attack leading to death among the elderly – particularly when experienced in conjunction …

Senior Scene May 28,2018

As promised in last week’s column, I am going to provide a little additional information to help you avoid a pesky tick bite as we enjoy the spring and summer season. Here are ten tips for high-risk areas: • Use insect repellant with 20 percent DEET or higher on your skin and clothing. Carefully apply the repellent by hand to …

Senior Scene May 21,2018

It is that wonderful time of year that most of us are outside mowing our lawns, planting and mulching our flower gardens, trimming our hedges and raking up the remnants of last years leaves. While I am well known for expounding on the therapeutic value of gardening and other outdoor activities, I am also very cognizant about some of the …

Senior Scene May 14,2018

Did you know that every twelve minutes a Canadian develops a problem with their vision, and there are more than 836,000 Canadians who have significant loss of vision? With this in mind, May is Vision Health Month in Canada and the focus is raising awareness about the importance of protecting our vision health, and eliminating avoidable sight loss. This national …

Senior Scene May 7,2018

One of the markers of a life well lived must surely be the stories, experiences and memories that are told, retold, remembered and re-experienced throughout the life span. Life story writing captures the priceless and the poignant, the truly memorable and the humourously remembered, the historic and the unique. It leaves a legacy of living history for future generations. Very …

Senior Scene April 30,2018

It may be six weeks behind schedule, but I do believe Spring has finally sprung! Last weekend I had the pleasure of visiting my flower gardens and preparing them for a flourishing summer, I hope. Many seniors have enjoyed gardening all their lives and with some common sense and caution, there is no reason they cannot continue to pursue this …

Senior Scene April 23,2018

April signifies BeADonor month in the province of Ontario. This important annual event is helping to raise awareness about organ and tissue donation and transplantation. The best part about BeADonor month is that everyone is welcome to participate and it can be a rewarding way to give back to your community. Today in Ontario, there are over 1,500 people waiting …

Senior Scene April 9, 2019

Although the temperatures are not indicative of Spring, it is the time of year to think about clearing our mind of the hibernation dust webs and ridding our home of all the winter clutter. There are many things to consider when we embark upon the spring cleaning ritual, and while organization, preparation and assistance is paramount for all of us …

Senior Scene April 2, 2018

Tomorrow, April 3rd represents the second annual Family Caregiver Day orchestrated by the Ontario Caregiver Coalition. There are over 3 million unpaid caregivers in the province, providing support to loved ones facing illness, disability or challenges associated with ageing. Family Caregiver Day is a chance to recognize, celebrate and bring awareness to the value of caregivers to Ontario’s families, the …

March is National March for Meals month and a time when agencies such as CCSH celebrate their fabulous meal programs for older adults. With this in mind I will devote this column to the virtues of a healthy, well-balanced diet for seniors. As people age there are many factors influencing their ability to adopt and sustain nutritional well being. Once …

Senior Scene March 19,2018

Have you grown weary of the vacuum cleaner salesman who throws dirt on your clean floor and then proceeds to demonstrate the amazing product he is selling at a ridiculously low price that requires a degree in Engineering to assemble? In late February there was good news for Canadians concerned about coercive and misleading salespeople on their doorsteps. A ban …