Should I Take a Multivitamin?
One of the most common questions that I’m asked as a registered dietitian is “should I take a multivitamin?” Here’s what I think about multivitamins for women. First I need to tell you that when it comes to nutrition, one size doesn’t fit all. We each have different nutrition needs – based on our sex, age, physical activity, health concerns, etc. And, our eating habits vary widely. That’s why when I work with clients, the first thing I do is a nutrition assessment of you. It’s from the results of my nutrition assessment that I create your individual action plan. So, without...
Read MoreB.C. Seniors Advocate survey
B.C. Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie released provincial results of her office’s survey of publicly subsidized residential care homes today. This is the most extensive survey of residents’ quality of life ever conducted in Canada. “For the first time in this province, we have heard the collective voices of some of our most frail and vulnerable seniors across all of our care homes,” said Mackenzie. “What they are telling us is that while some are satisfied in some areas, overall, we need to be doing better, and in some cases, much better in ensuring the needs of residents are...
Read MoreAre You Dehydrated?
The “I only drink when I’m thirsty”approach can trip you up. The summer is almost over. The sweating and basking in the sun moments are still fresh in our memory, and we may even long for the cooler breeze of early fall. You’ve heard it all summer long: stay hydrated, drink 8 to 12 glasses a day. But don’t think to pack that habit away along with your shorts and summer attire. Hydration is important all year long. Research has shown that active and healthy seniors are managing their hydration well, evidenced by little difference in hydration status compared to younger folks....
Read MoreOf Brains And Books …
What? Why? How? When someone close to you suffers a stroke, you suffer too … groping for answers to questions you never expected to ask. Some questions go without answers, but many of the answers are out there just waiting to be found. When my dearest friend and partner suffered a stroke eight years ago his friends and mine rallied round with sympathy, support and suggestions that might help both of us. Some offered suggestions for a book or an article that could help shed some light on a phenomenon that we knew little about and never expected to deal with. And then came an invitation to...
Read MoreFighting The Stigma.
Adele was called into the Principal’s office to discuss her twelfth grade son. She was not surprised. He had been in two fights and had been acting strange. She supposed he would be expelled if his behavior did not improve. Deep down Adele feared there was another problem, but she chose not to acknowledge it. After all, he was just a teenager, sometimes teenagers had problems. The meeting went badly. They discussed the fighting. Adele defended her son. Why blame him for everything, did he start it? The Principal appeared to be trying to get something else across, she did not want to hear...
Read MoreWhat Is Pain?
The root cause of all pain is the inability of cells to communicate with each other in one specific area of our body. This can be caused for example by stress, not drinking enough water, accidents, injuries, repetitive movement, or wrong posture. Pain is a sign that something is wrong and the body needs help. Suppressing it with pills is the wrong approach, is a downhill road and may lead to chronic pain. Perhaps even Opioids. with the risk of overdosing. The best approach is to help the cells to communicate again with each other. The Chi/life-energy has to flow. Sometimes a warm water...
Read MoreTreasuring the Past
When people have dementia, the short-term memory suffers the most. A person may easily recount an incident that happened thirty years ago, but will not remember what you said a few seconds ago. This is a source of great distress to the affected person and it is very frustrating for caregivers and family members trying to engage with their client or loved one. New research is showing that communication channels can be successfully opened up when the person’s ability to remember past events is used to facilitate the process. People love to talk about the past and reminisce about their...
Read MoreStay Hydrated This Summer
How Much Water Do I Need? You’ve likely heard the common adviceof drinking 8 glassesof water a day. But is that really how much water you need? The fluid recommendations are 2.7 Litres of total fluid per day for women. This is for us women who are between 19 – 70 years old who aren’t intense athletes, living in 30 degree C or hotter weather, or pregnant/ breastfeeding. (Men need 3.7 Litres of total fluids). You may have noticed that I used the term “fluid”, not “water” in the last paragraph. That’s because the recommendation is for total fluids – including everything you...
Read MoreReflexology & Multiple Sclerosis
For those unfamiliar with Multiple sclerosis, (also known as MS), it is a chronic disease that attacks the central nervous system . The cause for MS is still unknown . We do know that it is an autoimmune reaction that results in inflammation which damages nerves. Nerve damage is always a part of this disease and the pattern it shows up in differs from person to person. It can even change in how it shows up in the same person, fluctuating over time. In MS, the damage occurs in the covering, or myelin, of nerves. This process is referred to as demyelination. This damaging of the myelin sheath...
Read MoreMalnutrition, double trouble.
Malnutrition in the community may not be always visible. Yet, it is a big problem: one out of two people admitted to hospital are in a malnourished state. People who have a chronic disease and are older than 65, are especially at risk for malnutrition. This is because when you suffer from a chronic disease and it is getting worse, you are not feeling well, and not feeling inspired to cook. You may have physical limitations curbing your ability to prepare a good meal. It is troublesome when you have difficulty cooking meals. But when you have a chronic disease, it means double trouble: your...
Read MoreWhen ‘normal’ is not ‘normal’
Whew! If you’ve ever had a mammogram, you know that feeling of relief when that letter arrives in the mail saying your results are ‘normal.’ Most women exhale and then toss the letter in the garbage. But we ask, hold on! You’ve done great going for your mammogram, but you need to do one more thing for yourself: ensure the accuracy of your mammogram by finding out your breast density. Sometimes a ‘normal’ mammogram result may not be accurate, especially if you have dense breasts. If you have fatty breasts, you can be reassured: mammograms are about 98 % accurate in picking up...
Read MoreIn search of the invisible army
I still serve in an invisible army. There’s no six star general to guide us but we have no doubt about our personal marching orders. I have a theory though. I believe that if our army acts together, we might shift the culture of care just a smidgen. It could be a campaign of communication, and our army leading that charge is called Family Caregivers. One in four Canadians is on active duty. There are many services. Mine was caring for my aging parents, and was limited by their passing on after a decade of growing need. A sudden death incident did not spirit them away, as they might have...
Read MoreThe Diet Theory & Alzheimer’s
The food we eat has a profound effect on our health. A diet low in proper nutrition and high in fats and sugars can lead to many chronic health problems and illnesses such as diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. As we age, the risk becomes progressively worse. Many researchers believe that diet is a major factor in the etiology of Alzheimer’s disease. Considering the illness’ devastating toll on patients, families and communities, any possible contributing factor is well worth investigating. Finland, United States, and Canada have the highest Alzheimer’s / Dementia death...
Read MoreThe Eden Philosophy of Care
The old adage it takes a village to raise a child as a unique and specific relevance here in the Comox Valley. In this region, the aging population is one of the most deserving of our attention. The populace aged 75 years and older will nearly double in the next 20 years, which will bring increasing demand for access to quality residential care and other services for seniors. The Views, a not-for-profit residential care facility at St. Joseph’s General Hospital, is currently home to 117 residents all of whom are at different stages in life related to age, ability or mental and physical...
Read MoreChoosing Homecare
One of the most difficult decisions adult children make when caring for aging parents is where to turn for in-home care. The myriad of choices can be overwhelming. Essentially, there are three choices: private hire, Domestic Referral Agencies and full service companies. With a PRIVATE HIRE CAREGIVER, the family or older adult becomes responsible for all steps of the hiring process. They must advertise, interview, and conduct background checks. Once a caregiver is selected, the older adult or family member must negotiate schedule, salary and benefits. A written contract, signed by...
Read MoreWhat Women in BC Should Know
Do you know if you have dense breasts? No worries, if you don’t. When Dense Breasts Canada surveyed 900 women across Canada, women in British Columbia knew less about their breast density than women in other provinces. Why is that? The answer is simple: unlike many other provinces, British Columbia does not share information about a woman’s breast density. When you have your mammogram, a radiologist assesses and records your breast density, but this important piece of your breast health is never told to you or your family doctor. Does it matter? Yes, it really does matter! If you have...
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