Be prepared, best defence against long ER wait times

Although much work has been done to reduce wait times in the Emergency Rooms, the article that appeared on the CBC news site clearly states that we still have a problem.

Wishing that things were different is not enough so preparing for the ER visit is your next best defence. Before leaving for the hospital or once you arrive, ask a family member to bring items that will make your stay more comfort.

• Bring a book, ipod or laptop that can play movies to pass the time


• Bring food, water and any medications that may be required prior to admission


• Also bring pillows and a blanket....better safe then sorry

Seek medical help if you need it but make sure you make your stay as comfortable as possible.

Aging issues get well deserved ink

Recently a number of books have been released that reflect the needs of our aging population.The Essential Hospital Handbook helps families navigate the hospital system and advocate for their ailing loved one's.

You could live a long time, are you ready? is another must read since we are all aging but we can learn little from previous generations since there has never been this many people, advancing in age, at the same time, with such a high life expectancy.

And, for my co-author and I, May will be a monumental month with the release of our book Now What? A Practical Guide to Dealing with Aging, Illness and Dying. The book is available at Chapters and can be ordered from our website http://www.officialnowwhat.com/

Written as if you were speaking with your best friend, we offer advise in a friendly, heart-to-heart manner with factual material in easy to read, short passages. Now What?? provides answers to questions you did not even know to ask.

Cost Containment limits CCAC services for seniors

Last week, just when I thought we were turning a corner on improving the emergency room services and the access to senior services at home, I was completely floored to find out that Community Care Access Centres (CCAC) are putting seniors on wait lists for homecare services and, at the time same, sending them home from the ER without proper care. I cannot understand a system that expects people, who have paid into the health care system for their entire lives, to accept this poor level of service. Should you be aging, or have a family member who is aging, please educate yourself on the services that are available to you and how to access these services or you may find yourself with no one caring for you except your family.

Marketing and Communicating to the "over 50's"

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  If you run a business, sell a product or provide a service, it is important to run your business with the “over 50” market in mind. They hold the largest disposable income that our industrialized world has ever seen and it is important to know this customer and make their experience a positive one.
  
  Use a minimum 12 point font size to ensure that older eyes can easily read about what you are trying to sell.
  
  Printed materials are easier to read if there is lots of white space and there is dark type on a light background
  
  Ensure your client care specialists speak clearly and slowly when answering customer inquiries
  
  When designing web pages, make sure there is a magnifier easily visible to adjust type to a larger size
  
  Offer easy access to a live person for questions not easily answered on line or through computerized menus

Clarington Older Adults anything but bored

The Adults of the Clarington Older Adult Association are vibrant and very connected to their community. They are involved in learning new activities and their 2010 winter guide is filled with great activities. With fitness, dance, art and photography classes to choose from there is little chance of getting bored over the winter months. It is a thriving association with over 800 members with 250 members recently joining. I will have the privilege of speaking to these new members on March 20th and I am thrilled to meet these vibrant, involved members of the community.

Signs of aging bubble to the surface during holiday season

Here we are in the second week of January 2010. The holidays can be a whirlwind and the return to routine is welcomed by many.

As we reminisce about our family times over the holidays, this may be the time that you realize your parents or relatives are starting to show signs of aging.
Did your Aunt, who lives alone and does not get out much, look un-kept or her house uncharacteristically dirty.
Did your Mom seem distant in the family get together because she was having a hard time hearing?
Did your cousin, who lost her husband last year, still appear to be depressed and having trouble living alone?
If any of these ideas strike a cord with you, don’t sit idly by. You care for these people and there are resources available to help. Open the dialogue and then research what help can be provided. Share your caring ways the whole year through. All the best for 2010.

Gifts seniors you love, will really love

With the holidays fast approaching, it can be difficult to know what to buy for the seniors that we love. Generally, more household items are not needed, in fact they are probably trying to get rid of stuff. Instead, try giving them items that are practical and add value to their lives:

Tim Horton Gift Cards – with a hand written note saying you will join them once a month for coffee.

Swiss Chalet Gift Cards – no cooking required, a gift we all love to get

Diabetic Socks - great for anyone with circulation troubles

Long Shoe Horn – no more bending over to put on shoes

Magnifier – makes that tiny print easier to see

Blank Cards – give them a year supply of a selection of various occasion greeting cards, saves them going out to buy them

Snow Shovelling/Grass Cutting - pay for a service cover household chores. Gives “peace of mind” to all

Subscriptions – pay for their annual magazine or newspaper subscription

Taxi Gift Card – give them gift certificates to take taxi’s. May really come in handy on a snowy day

Hair Dressers Coupon – inquire about gift certificates for the salon they frequent


We hope this will give you some ideas to show you care and happy holidays everyone!!

Elder neglect is abuse

For the past number of weeks, the Toronto Star has featured articles about Elder abuse. It is a crime of our time and something that the elderly and their loved one’s need to understand. Fallacies that the article noted were:

· Abuse of the elderly occurs more frequently by family members then strangers

· Abuse occurs more often in a home then in a care facility

· Neglect is abuse

· Abuse can be physical, psychological and financial

The Government of Ontario is running a series of ad’s to bring awareness of the problem into the public domain. If you suspect elder please contact the Elder Abuse hotline at 1-866-299-1011 or go to their website at http://www.onpea.org/