What astronauts and seniors with frailty have in common For decades, researchers have been studying the effects of reduced physical activity on astronauts during prolonged journeys to space. But what is surprising is one of the uses of that research. Turns out understanding the effects of space travel on the body may be important to […]
Despite having diabetes and arthritis, Verne was a thriving independent 72-year old who lived at home with his wife when he had a stroke. He had excellent emergency care in the hospital and began his recovery there. But he didn’t adjust well after arriving home. He started to show signs of depression and was at […]
Canadians are living longer than ever, and we are also taking more medications than ever before. And this can make us sicker, not healthier. A report released last week by the Canadian Institute for Health Information found that one in four seniors in Canada are taking 10 or more medications. That’s a total of 1.6 […]
Does Ontario have enough doctors? This question may have a surprising answer for some: yes, we may have enough doctors. How is this possible when many don’t have a doctor or wait days, weeks or even months for a medical appointment? We have more doctors than ever before, but many aren’t located where we need […]
Older Canadians living with frailty tell us what they need to live better Within a decade, the number of frail, elderly Canadians will double. What does getting old look like in Canada? We need to start listening to the people with lived experiences of frailty and aging in planning and providing care, say Dr. Kathy […]
Many people have been faced with having to make critical decisions for family and friends who were at the end of their lives. This can create a great deal of stress and burden as family members try to navigate the social and health care systems and succumb to their own impending loss and grief. A […]
Older Canadians say their top priorities are better coordinated care systems and more community and home-based supports Today, over one million Canadians are medically frail — approximately 25 per cent of those over age 65 and 50 per cent past age 85. The aging of Canadian society and the growing number of older adults living […]
Alberta behind on leveraging art in healthcare The long-promised new Calgary Cancer Centre is finally breaking ground at Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary. The $1.4 billion state-of-the-art facility will have 12 radiation vaults, 160 in-patient beds, more than 100 patient exam rooms and more than 100 chemotherapy chairs. But will patients still feel like they […]
It is estimated that around 700,000 deaths occur annually as a result of infections by resistant bacteria – known as antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Without effective approaches to combat AMR, it is projected that by the year 2050, the rate could reach as high as 10 million deaths per year. From an economic standpoint, AMR is […]
The Canadian population is rapidly aging as the Baby Boomer generation heads into retirement. By 2030, almost one in four Canadians will be over the age of 65. Canadians are also living longer than ever, but how well they live while aging remains a concern. Individuals do not age according to a pre-existing timetable; rather […]
