Maintaining a driver’s license is an important issue of independence for mature Canadian drivers, especially for those who have been driving most of their life. However, the ageing process brings forth changes that can affect the older driver’s ability to drive safely. These include: reduced vision, particularly at night; a decrease in depth perception; and movement-limiting disabilities such as arthritis …
Senior Scene August 13, 2018
The last few days in the Quinte area have certainly been filled with plenty of weather watches and warnings with varying levels of severity. I am prepared to confess publically that I am terrified of thunder and lightning. As opposed to reveling in the strength and magnitude of Mother Nature’s force, I am huddled in my basement praying for it …
Senior Scene for July 23, 2018
As we age, changes in our body can affect the way medications are absorbed and utilized. We become more sensitive to medications, and we are more likely to experience increased side effects, drug interactions, and other adverse drug reactions. For medications to be effective, they have to be absorbed in to the body (usually through the intestine), distributed in the …
Senior Scene July 16, 2018
Unless you have been incredibly healthy throughout your lifetime, you are all familiar with the side effects of medication. We may take a drug to relieve pain, itching or heart attack risks, and end up drowsy, pudgy and unable to operate heavy machinery. We typically accept those consequences as a small price for the relief of our original problem. But …
Senior Scene July 2, 2018
Parachute (a national charitable organization dedicated to preventing injuries and saving lives) is excited to announce the 2nd annual National Injury Prevention Day: July 5th – a day to raise awareness around the importance of injury prevention and aid Canadians to live long lives to the fullest through education and advocacy. Injury prevention is critical to saving lives: Did you …
Senior Scene June 25, 2018
Next weekend heralds the 151st birthday of Canada. Having travelled across this beautiful country by vehicle many times in my life I thought I was fairly well versed in the history of Canada Day but I might be mistaken. Canadians across the country and around the world show their pride in their history, culture and achievements. It’s been a day …
Senior Scene June 18, 2018
This past weekend was certainly a warm one and the arrival of summer typically signals the onset of heat, sun, and humidity and the need for seniors to be aware of heat related illnesses and exercise appropriate caution. Older folks are particularly susceptible to the effects of heat stress because their bodies do not cool down effectively and it takes …
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 …