Archive for February, 2011

• Alzheimers:Drs Christine Jonas-Simpson and Gail Mitchel educational video

  Posted in Brain-works on February 28, 2010 by kathy

  I felt fortunate to learn about the DVD, I’m Still Here, when I was talking to Theraputic Recreation specialist, Joan Johnston of Baycrest. She loaned me the DVD, and teaching guide. I was blown away. Both made me privy to the (many aspects of) the inner world of people with Alzheimer’s – written, [...]

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• Physicians on patient experiences: very moving

  Posted in Feel Good Stuff on February 25, 2010 by kathy

  I’m (possibly the only non-healthcare-professional) member of Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, (STFM)and find the conferences and publications give me an insight into goals, objectives, struggles, and learnings from a specialty that’s required to know something about everything, and where and who to get us to for more in-depth needs.
  Sister organization to STFM is [...]

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• Shirlee Sharkey, Saint Elizabeth Healthcare: on coming home from the hospital

  Posted in Conversations with... Planning for the future on by kathy

  

  Shirlee Sharkey CEO
  Saint Elizabeth Healthcare

  Thinking of the immediate, and extremely practical, Shirley Sharkee , President and CEO Saint Elizabeth Healthcare at KLARU-Lunenfeld Conference talked about:

  getting home from the hospital – even more challenging if your parent’s having a hard time moving, or getting in and out, or is in pain;
  getting medications;
  getting help with light [...]

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• Alzheimers: Caregiver support group stories

  Posted in Brain-works Day to day living Sources and Resources on February 23, 2010 by kathy

  

  Dementia Caregivers share their stories: a support group in a book
  Authors: Lynda A Markut, Anatole Crane

  Dementia Caregivers, written by two people who’ve cared for loved ones with Dementia, gives much-needed definitions of types of dementia (Lewy Body Disease, Vascular Dementia, Pick’s Disease) and their different symptoms, and provides that much needed, ’someone [...]

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• Family Doctor, person with Diabetes

  Posted in Conversations with... on February 22, 2010 by kathy

  

  Arnold Goldberg is a wiry and wry 55-year old who still has a full head of dark hair. He loves comics, baseball, and music. Although physically, he doesn’t fit the overweight-leads-to-diabetes body type, his is genetic: ‘“I inherited it from my mother, who died too young, because she didn’t properly control her Diabetes.”
  Goldberg holds out [...]

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• Seniors Exercise Specialist, Judy Chu

  Posted in Conversations with... Planning for the future on by kathy

  

  Judy, who works at the Baycrest Center, sees people who are desperate for help. “They’re miserable with their pain”.
  Judy’s population of 70, 80 and 90 year olds need a high level of assessment and care. “They have arthritis, osteoarthritis and Parkinsons and, many have never exercised before”
  Before embarking on any exercise, a thorough assessment: [...]

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• Occupational Therapist, Nira Rittenberg

  Posted in Conversations with... on February 20, 2010 by kathy

  

  Geriatric Occupational Therapist
  Geriatric Psychiatry Community Service, Baycrest
  Lecturer, Dept. of Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto
  Nira Rittenberg is passionate, compassionate and extremely thoughtful in her responses to my questions.
  An occupational therapist, working out of Baycrest, Nira’s home visits often include us adult children and our spouses – for whom there may be different issues, and will [...]

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• Dr Paula Rochon, Geriatrician. Specialty: Medications and the elderly

  Posted in Conversations with... What is in the Medicine Cabinet on by kathy

  

  Dr Paula Rochon, Geriatrician
  Vice-President Research
  Women’s College Research Institute
  Adjunct Scientist Kunin-Lunenfeld
  Applied Research Unit
  I heard Dr Paula Rochon speak to a small group of senior seniors on the topic of Medications as relates to the elderly. A Geriatrician by training, her research concentrates on medication and seniors. Considering her audience, I thought she might have acknowledged that [...]

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• Siblings, Relatives and Aging Parents

  Posted in Fearful Topics Planning for the future Who's the boss? on February 13, 2010 by kathy

  

  Oh, the complications of dynamics, patterns and historical roles and expectations within families. How quickly a conversation can turn into a heated argument, and cause life-long rifts. For some insight and understanding to help forestall WWIII, check out the podcast on the Family Caregiver Alliance site, developed by the very astute Social Worker , [...]

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• Multiple Medications: too many for too many of us

  Posted in What is in the Medicine Cabinet on February 12, 2010 by kathy

  By age 65, two thirds of us are taking 5 or more prescription medications a day so reports the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). Not included in that total is the number of times a day meds are taken. And it doesn’t include whatever non-prescription therapies we take.
  That’s a lot of swallowing, a lot [...]

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