Changing Landscape of Care
Last month, the Canadian Home Care Association, which is considered the voice for home care in Canada, released the 2013 ‘Portraits of Home Care in Canada’ Report. Released every five years, this extensive report is a reflection of critical home care as a component of an integrated, person-centred health care system. Some of the key areas of focus in this report include governance, access, funding, service delivery, quality assurance, challenges and opportunities. Some of the staggering statistics that came out of the report follow: No. of individuals in Canada receiving home care in...
Read MoreA pain in the butt
This morning I awoke with a jolt. A vicious cramp in my left hamstring is definitely not my favourite way to start the day. I had become increasingly aware, over the past month or so, that my derriere was trying to communicate some discomfort to me – a result of too much sitting. A couple of nights before this rude awakening, I had actually had a discussion with someone about pains in the butt. I was informed that a recent article has declared that sitting has now become the “new smoking” – the danger of too much sitting translates into a heightened increase of many...
Read MoreWhen only you will do
Last article we looked at some best practices for family dynamics and planning for care of aging parents. And typically, what can happen during that planning process is that the parent declines outside help in favour of your help! Declining assistance outside of the family might come in a few different ‘packages’: • “Your mother and I are doing just fine on our own” • “Your father and I don’t want strangers coming in to our home” • “We have you around … Aren’t you able to help us?” (Ouch! Pulling at the guilt strings!) • “Maybe with you and a few of our...
Read MoreAbreast Of Life
“You take on rough waters with the challenge of winning Dragon Boat competitions – it is a brilliant metaphor for your own individual battles and for your many victories over this disease.” Thus did BC’s then Lieutenant-Governor, Her Honour Iona Campagnola, welcome nearly three hundred breast cancer survivors at Government House in 2006. The gala reception and dinner celebrated the tenth anniversary of Victoria’s survivor team, Island Breaststrokers. Our own Central Vancouver Island team of survivors, Abreast of Life was there to hear Her Honour continue, “This is the...
Read MoreFamily preparations are key
Last month, we discussed the primary areas to consider when aging parents are on the cusp of needing some support to remain independent and safe at home. These included discussing expectations, managing at home, identifying additional services, future health wishes, finances, and of course, happiness. In this edition, we will take a deeper dive into the family preparations for upcoming care needs for aging parents. These are not necessarily your parents’ need to prepare, but as you will eventually find out either way, what you need to do as their son or daughter to prepare. And trust me...
Read MoreSharing What We Know
Growing up, my mom kept a large vegetable garden, as did her mom. My paternal grandparents also kept a large garden along with cows, pigs and sheep. We had our own chickens for eggs and meat. My dad hunted wild game and fished for food. I both watched and helped with preserving fruit, vegetables and sauces, freezing corn and peas; watched my dad skin and butcher deer and moose, I helped my mom with wrapping cuts for freezing. We also had fresh (unpasteurized) milk from a neighbour’s milk cow. Although we had treats here and there, Mom was strict about what we did buy from stores: we...
Read MoreNew to Aging Parents?
Many of us are now starting to encounter the demands of ‘Aging Parents’. We love our parents of course, but we are busy at work, busy at home, busy with kids, busy, busy, busy. And when aging parents need help, they can’t (or won’t) take a back seat. Mom or Dad needs us right now, and it is more urgent than urgent! And no one else can help! Just us! As you might have guessed, this is quite common and probably deserves some attention sooner rather than later. So here are a few things to consider when aging parents start demanding more of your time due to health...
Read MoreHRT and Hearing Loss
A few years ago I noticed an influx of women in their sixties who were coming to see me about hearing aids with the same type of hearing loss – normal hearing in the low frequencies gradually sloping to a moderate hearing loss in the higher frequencies. This type of hearing loss makes it difficult to clearly distinguish speech. They found they were missing punch lines, the beginning and ending of words and felt that people were mumbling. While taking a detailed case history, I noticed a common thread. Many women had taken the most common form of hormone replacement therapy (HRT)...
Read MoreThe Things They Carried
Decades ago I bought Viet Nam war veteran Tim O’Brien’s book The Things They Carried because I was intrigued by the title. I was a teenager in the 70’s and had always been moved by what young soldiers had gone through. The title resonates with me now as I am a 52 year old psychologist with aging parents. Having done a workshop recently on the topic of family dynamics and caring for parents, and having an increasing number of clients who are struggling with this difficult mix of emotions and logistics, I am more keenly aware of how the issues which may emerge at these crossroads are...
Read MoreIntuition and decision-making
Intuition – it’s become a “new age” catch phrase, and is often seen as being airy fairy. Yet, it’s a basic instinct and primitive tool that has been vitally important to the survival and advancement of the human race. In many ways, it’s a tool that the advent of logic and the need for proof has pushed to the side. I’m not saying that logic and proof don’t have a place I’m just suggesting that it’s important to make room for intuition too. So, what exactly is intuition? According to Wikipedia, “The word ‘intuition’ comes from the Latin word...
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