Food is the fuel your body needs to perform all activities, including breathing. Your body uses food for energy as part of a process called metabolism. During metabolism, food and oxygen are changed into energy and carbon dioxide. You use energy for all of your activities – from sleeping to exercising.                                  metabolism food and oxygen——–> energy + carbon dioxide […]

This is the time of year when influenza is on the rise, and the risk of both contracting and spreading infection is prime. Why not do all you can to stop the spread of germs by simply washing your hands properly. There are five steps to keeping your hands bacteria-free: 1. Wet your hands with warm running water. 2. Add soap, and then rub your hands together, making a soapy lather. Do this away from […]

Taking care of someone with dementia – or other older adult disease or frailty, requires time and energy. It can be a demanding and stressful task. Knowing and recognizing the signs of stress in yourself or someone you care about is the first step toward taking action. If the following symptoms occur on a regular basis, call your doctor, ask your family or support network for help, or look at putting some respite into place […]

MYTH: Ageing means declining health and/or disability. Fact: There are some diseases that become more common as we age. However, getting older does not automatically mean poor health or that you will be confined to a walker or wheelchair. Plenty of older adults enjoy vigorous health, often better than many younger people. Preventive measures like healthy eating, exercising, and managing stress can help reduce the risk of chronic disease or injuries later in life. MYTH: Memory […]

Among older adults, falls are the leading cause of injury deaths, unintentional injuries, and hospital admissions for trauma. Falls can take a serious toll on older adults’ quality of life and independence. Falls occur due to a loss of balance and an inability to recover balance. The complex set of conditions and circumstances that lead to this loss of balance are known as fall-related risk factors. There are four main systems that work together to […]

  Maybe you’ve noticed that dad’s unopened mail is piling up. Or mom, once meticulous about her appearance, is wearing wrinkled clothes and not doing her hair. Perhaps there are bruises on your aging parent’s arms. When you bring up the subject, you hear, “Everything is fine. There’s no need to worry.” Admitting they need help would mean they can’t take care of themselves anymore, and no one wants to lose their independence. “Denial is the […]