Jan 17, 2012

Sharing Happiness

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room.  One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room’s only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the... read more

Oct 5, 2011

Dad’s Driving. What Can I do to Help?

I am Concerned About my Dad’s Driving. What Can I do to Help? Q. I followed my dad, 78, enroute to a family party, and was quite concerned by his driving – erratic speed, unsafe lane changes and dangerous hesitation at on-ramps. He’d be devastated to give up his license – what can I do? A. Research confirms that older drivers are involved in more accidents – per kilometer... read more

Oct 5, 2011

Addressing Incontinence

Incontinence, or the loss of bladder or bowel control, affects over 1.5 million Canadians: one in five Canadians over 65, more than half of all seniors in long term care, and women more than men. Incontinence, in most cases, can be successfully treated, managed, or even cured. However, embarrassment, frustration, fear and social stigma prevent most people from discussing incontinence. The incontinence may... read more

Jun 1, 2011

How Can I Help my Mother Keep Her Medications Organized?

Q. My mother must take several medications at different times of the day. She has always managed them herself, but recently I notice there’s a mini drugstore on her night table. Does she really need all those drugs, and how can we be sure she’s keeping them straight? A. You are right to be concerned about this issue – it’s estimated that 50% of prescription drugs are ineffective because they are... read more

Apr 7, 2011

Trying to Get My Parents to Spend Money on Themselves is Like Pulling Teeth! What is That About?

A – This question points us to a good example of the impact of Age-Effect and Cohort-Effect on attitudes and behaviours in todays seniors. We know that all of us tend to become more conservative as we get older. This is an age-effect. We become more risk-averse; we place more emphasis on safety and security in our attitude towards money and how we use it. Many of todays seniors were touched by the... read more