Influenza is one of Canada’s top 10 infectious diseases and has a catastrophic impact on society's most vulnerable
Did you get your flu shot this year? Many Canadians did not, even though safe and effective flu vaccines have been available for more than 60 years. And while the consequences of not having a flu vaccine are inconvenient for some – a few days of feeling unwell – they can be devastating for others.…
The majority of deaths and injuries resulting from natural disasters involve seniors
By John Hirdes and Sandy van Solm University of Waterloo The combination of an aging population with increases in natural disasters has had deadly consequences for seniors. Quebec health authorities estimated that as many 70 people died as a result of the 2018 heat wave with a humidex of over 40C. Most heat-related deaths in Montreal involved…
Older Canadians say their top priorities are better co-ordinated care systems and more community and home-based supports
By Katherine McGilton University of Toronto and John Muscedere Canadian Frailty Network More than one million Canadians are medically frail – approximately 25 per cent of those are over age 65 and 50 per cent past age 85. The aging of Canadian society and the growing number of older adults living with frailty poses unprecedented societal…
In-bed cycling in intensive care units improves patient health and has the potential to save significant money
Frail and critically ill patients can safely bike in the intensive care unit, even early in their stay. These exciting findings come from an in-bed cycle program that aims to get hospital patients – even in ICU – pedalling as soon as possible, so they're functioning better by the time they leave hospital. Why add a fitness plan…It’s time we improved the quality and quantity of care for frail Canadians – and improved the health system for everyone in the process
By John Muscedere Canadian Frailty Network and Fred Horne University of Alberta Canada's health system too often fails to deliver the complex care that frail patients need between urgent health events. When a frail older patient has an acute health crisis in Canada, the system usually delivers excellent service. But health – like quality care –…
New Health Accord should reject per capita funding model – and consider the precise and evidence-based concept of frailty instead
By John Muscedere Canadian Frailty Network and Samir Sinha National Institute on Aging Canada's per capita health funding formula fails to address the clear and growing need created by our frail population. When the previous Health Accord expired in 2014, the Conservative government unilaterally established a new funding model for federal health transfer payments to…