About 578,000 Canadians reported trying cannabis for the first time in the past three months: StatsCan
By Troy Media A report released on Wednesday by Statistics Canada says cannabis use is less common among seniors than it is in other age groups but consumption has been accelerating at a much faster pace than it has among other age groups. The report said seniors use is seven per cent compared with 10…
Research supports the ‘use it or lose it’ theory of mental ability
Just as we need to exercise our bodies to keep them healthy as we age, we must also exercise our minds to keep them from deteriorating. Research shows that people who engage in more activities that stimulate the mind have sharper cognitive functioning as they age than people who do not challenge their brains. In…
Acute Care for Elders (ACE) is designed to treat elderly patients in a way that respects their abilities and limitations, speeds healing and promotes safe discharges home
Dr. Samir Sinha is Canada’s guru on aging. We should listen carefully to his ideas because 42 per cent of all hospital patients in our country are over 65 and they account for 60 per cent of all hospital days. Senior patients consume 60 per cent of acute-care budgets and almost half of all health-care…
A growing body of research shows that most older adults will get the same long-term outcomes from less invasive treatment
By Eric Bohm University of Manitoba and Ivan Wong Arthroscopy Association of Canada Nearly half of Canadians aged 65 and over experience osteoarthritis in their knees. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and occurs when the protective cartilage on the ends of bones wears down over time leading to pain, stiffness and decreased…
You can have too much of a good thing when it comes to medicine for older adults
Prevailing wisdom states that more is better – and it’s no different when it comes to our expectation of medical treatments. With the help of the Internet, patients and their families have come to expect intensive tests, treatments and therapies at every life stage. But sometimes, too much treatment can do more harm than good.…
A national seniors strategy needs to account for complexity in the aging process, including risk and vulnerability
By Russell Williams and John Muscedere Canadian Frailty Network Canadians 65 years and older now outnumber children 14 years and under, which means our needs as a society are changing. We’re succeeding in shifting the aging curve through preventive interventions and better public health – that’s good news. But the changing demographic is causing strains…
Hospitals need to identify vulnerable patients with complex needs so they can quickly address and minimize complications
By George Heckman and Paul Hébert Canadian Frailty Network Canadians are living longer. Unfortunately, our hospitals aren’t ready for them. Canadians over 65 years old use more than 40 per cent of hospital services, a demand that continues to rise. But as they age, Canadians hope to stay at home as long as possible. If…
Has your elderly parent recently moved into your home and you’re finding the transition a little more difficult than you anticipated? Does the household feel a bit off-balance, and as though everyone is trying to find their place in this new normal? If so, don’t feel you are alone. Just because you love your elderly…
Apparently, as you get older you get happier. Sclerotic, arthritic, calcified, deaf, blind, stupid and poor equals happy? Where do I sign up?
In a few years, people my age will get back pain, clogged arteries, brittle bones, hearing loss, cataracts, arthritis, heart disease, dementia and schizophrenia. What they won’t get, apparently, is unhappy about it. Citing a recent national survey, Canadian Press reports that older people in this country are generally more buoyant than younger ones. In…
But a study shows that residents in those regions are entering nursing homes with more complex care needs
By Matthias Hoben and Carole Estabrooks The most recent census, in 2016, showed that almost 17 per cent of Canadians are over age 65. In fact, those older than 85 have increased by almost 20 per cent since 2011, making it the fastest growing age group in Canada. We’re an aging populace, there’s no getting…