Once described by his doctor as “one of the sickest men in B.C.,” Phillip Moy lives life to the fullest today, thanks to cutting-edge treatments that saved him. At age 51, Phillip Moy knows that he has beaten the odds and survived an advanced stage of a relatively uncommon form of blood cancer. But getting there was not easy. Years … Read More
Seniors embrace downsizing and find a bigger and brighter life
While 90 percent of seniors still want to age in place, even when moving may make practical sense, some aging experts are looking at downsizing from a new perspective. They’re challenging preconceived notions often associated with trading in one’s house for a smaller place. One of the proponents of paring down is Dr. Bill Thomas, founder of ChangingAging, which explores … Read More
Warm Liver Perfusion: Innovative, Disruptive And Transformative
Research and Innovations Ground-breaking portable technology, which extends the time donor livers can remain viable outside the body, could help alleviate an acute shortage of Canadian organ donors which has resulted in one-quarter to one-third of patients dying on waitlists for liver transplantation. Warm liver transplantation “represents a really dramatic shift in our thinking and in our ability to preserve … Read More
How Smart Sensors Can Help People With Dementia Live Independently Longer
Acting as a dementia caregiver can be a tricky business, especially when your loved one wants to live on their own and you have concerns about their safety. Luckily, advancements in technology mean people with dementia can live independently longer. One promising technology is smart sensors, which have the potential to revolutionize dementia care once we figure out how to … Read More
Predicting Dementia Earlier – In a Manner of Speaking
What speech patterns can reveal about brain health If dementia could be diagnosed earlier in patients, or even predict who might develop the disease later in life, it would mean nothing short of a revolution in dementia care. If caught early enough, steps could be taken that might prevent or delay its onset. With one in 10 Canadians at risk … Read More
Why Movement is Better for Healing than Bed Rest
Forget rest: Movement is the way to heal and thrive post-injury, post-surgery and during chronic pain. As someone who lives with chronic pain, I know this first-hand. I developed neck and upper back pain after being hit by a car while cycling in Toronto in 2001. For almost three years I wrestled with my pain, finally going on disability when … Read More
Hastening Healing
Regenerative Tissue Shows Promise for Treating the Chronic Wound Epidemic Skin substitutes can be an effective method to treat the most difficult chronic wounds, some of which can take years, if not decades, to heal. In addition to hastening healing, regenerative tissue provides an alternative to using patients’ own tissue that introduces the risk of creating a secondary wound, according … Read More
Delivering Value-added Care Across Diverse Operations
Q&A With Sam Bagchi, M.D. Sam Bagchi, M.D., is chief medical officer and chief medical information officer at Irving, Texas-based CHRISTUS Health, where he supports physicians and other caregivers with the information and technology needed to promote patient safety and improve patient care. He spoke about the role of data in healthcare, CHRISTUS’ leadership development program and the lessons he’s … Read More
Battle of Wits: Preventing Dementia
How to detect, delay and even prevent cognitive decline With dementia affecting more than half a million Canadians, many of us have seen its impact firsthand in a parent, a relative or a friend. I definitely have – and wrote recently about my experience in this article. Thus, when I say it’s perfectly natural to feel bleak when someone in … Read More
Incorporating Wellness Into Elder Care Worldwide
The characteristics of wellness programs vary between countries because of demographics, cultural factors, health systems, and financial considerations, but providers everywhere are working to boost wellness and preventive care. One of the key challenges in a rapidly aging society is keeping older people healthy longer and delaying or avoiding disability and dependence. Luckily, there’s no shortage of innovation when it … Read More
If poor sleep leads to Alzheimer’s, I may be screwed
True confession time: 2015 has not been a stellar year for me in terms of anxiety, more specifically, my angst around Alzheimer’s. My once mild, self-involved preoccupation with developing the disease ramped up to high gear this winter after both my parents were diagnosed with dementia. I’m not actually worried about inheriting the disease—the genetic link has not been proven … Read More
The breadth and depth of loneliness
I was seemingly born socially awkward, inward-turning and easily hurt. So, at the age of eight, I was more than delighted when a new girl in our neighbourhood latched on to me. Despite my social liabilities and her social prowess, Dawn was unflinchingly loyal to me, even as other girls circled around her—the athletic ones, the daughters of doctors and … Read More