October 29, 2021

by Gim Ong, MBA, MDiv As we age, we tend to be forgetful. The fear of losing brain capacity & memory looms large for the 14 million plus baby boomers in Canada.   Many of us worry about Alzheimer’s disease, but statistics show 80% of us will never get Alzheimer’s. Regardless of genetics or family history, the choices we make in lifestyle can slow the progression of age-related cogniti...

October 23, 2021

by Sandra Webber, PhD Most people don’t need to be convinced of the importance of being able to get around. It’s vital for independence. It means being out there in the community when and where we choose. It means easy connections to friends and family. Mobility is closely linked to both physical and psychological health. When mobility is impaired by problems such as arthritis or being ov...

October 16, 2021

by Rita Barbieri, BASc., RD & Tracy Morris BA, BASc. As we age, it is important to maintain a healthy weight. If an older person lives alone, eating enough can sometimes be a challenge. Cooking for one or two can be tough. Food may not be as interesting and may not even taste as good because we lose our ability to fully taste food as we get older.  This can make it hard to maintain your ...

October 8, 2021

A unique non-profit organization called Kéroul has dedicated itself to promoting tourism for people with physical disabilities within the province of Québec. Accessibility is a key issue for the disabled and elderly, and Kéroul offers more than 200 tourism experiences that meet its standards, forming what is called The Accessible Road. Kéroul has trained 1400 people in the hospitality and to...

October 2, 2021

by Sandra  J. Hartley, MPE, EdD Be honest. We all talk ourselves in and out of things. This “self-talk” is part of our psyche’s motivation system. But when it comes to getting more physically active, it may be best to stop listening to your inner voice and “just do it.” Research on the self-talk of older women found that unmotivated people self-talk a lot, and talk themselves into doing n...

September 25, 2021

Put very simply; it is a way of life. It is about maintaining a balance in your life of the physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual. It is about choosing activities that you enjoy, and including them in your daily routine. It is about staying connected with friends. Your mental health is as important as your physical health. It is about making good food choices. B...

September 18, 2021

Anyone can fall. But according to Health Canada, seniors fall more often, and the consequences are more serious. More than one in three Canadians over 65 will fall each year. Half will have an injury that reduces their mobility and independence. Physical changes that occur with aging increase the risk of falling. Muscles lose strength and flexibility. Balance reflexes slow down. Vision is poor...

September 11, 2021

by John C. Griffin, MSc As people get older, they lose mobility. It is the first area where most older adults become impaired or disabled. In fact, De Brito and colleagues (2013) found that the ability to rise from the floor was a significant predictor of mortality in 51- to 80-year-olds. That means that people who could not get up after sitting on the floor were more likely to die early than ...

September 4, 2021

by Nancy Cooley, Being involved with the arts is fun, but did you know that it can contribute to your health? The benefits come from active involvement like dancing, singing, and painting and more receptive involvement, such as going to a concert or the theatre, strolling through an art gallery, or going to a local arts festival. Researchers in the United States and Scandinavia found that the ...

August 28, 2021

Change is very difficult for anyone. There will be challenges, whether you are changing your diet, starting a new activity, or trying to quit smoking. It is natural to feel frustrated, anxious, nervous, uncomfortable, or unsure. The first step to success with any behaviour change is to be ready and willing to try it. Small steps add up to real changes over time. Be patient with yourself and ce...