The Most Helpful Prescriptions you will never receive...

We know that it is not inevitable that with advanced age comes physical disability and mental frailty.  In fact, we know a lot about strategies for aging well.  Somehow, this knowledge seldom passes from the medical and health journals to the health professionals' clinical practices and on to their patients.

For next number of days, I will highlight some well researched, well known, easily accessible, drug-free "prescriptions for health".

First, there is the obvious...If you still smoke, quit.

No smoker should be allowed out of his/her doctor's office without this encouragement.  Smoking negatively affects all aspects of health, including boosting your risk of developing Alzheimer Disease.

Then there is the very general advice of "getting more exercise".  What does that mean? 

Well, findings of the Deptartment of Radiology at the Universtiy of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania showed that greater amounts of physical acitivity were associated with greater brain volume and that cognitively impaired people needed to walk at least 58 city blocks, or approximately five miles, per week to maintain brain volume and slow cogintive decline.  Healthy adults, they suggest, need to walk at least 72 blocks, or six miles, per week to maintain brain volume and signifincatly reduce rthe risk for congitive decline.

Of course, exercise in general, and walking in particular brings with it many other positive health benefits.  Stay posted for more on that...

Alzheimer Society: Public Education Series

We often find ourselves with the opportunity to work with Clients who have Alzheimer Disease.  For that reason we have our staff complete a certification program through the Alzheimer Society and we keep on top of the latest research developments.  In the latest newsletter, I came across a listing of educational events being offered and thought you might find them to be of interest.

Alzheimer Society: Public Education Series
1. Understanding Alzheimer's Disease: Learn the signs, symptoms and risk factors of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Discover what services are offered by the Alzheimer Society of Toronto. 2. Brain Health: Learn practical steps that you can take that may reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and how to maintain or improve your brain health. 3. Caregiver Stress:Learn to cope with the stress of caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias. Please note: Registration is required.
When:	Mondays, September 12, 19, 26. 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Presented by:	Alzheimer Society of Toronto
Where:	Upstairs@Loblaws, Scarborough Town Centre (HWY 401 & Brimley Rd).
To Register:	Call 416-322-6560 or Email contact@alzheimertoronto.org
For More Info:	dementiatoronto.org/events/2011Sept_Loblaws.pdf
Heads Up for Healthier Brains
This workshop is for anyone interested in learning strategies to keep their brain healthy and to enhance wellness. Please note: Registration is required.
When:	Monday, September 19. 5:50 to 7:00 p.m
Presented by:	Alzheimer Society of Toronto
Where:	Alzheimer Society of Toronto (Yonge & Eglinton).
To Register:	Call 416-322-6560 or Email contact@alzheimertoronto.org
For More Info:	alzheimertoronto.org/edu_pwd.htm
Lessoned Learned
Family caregivers and people with dementia are the true experts. Come and learn what others found helpful and difficult during their own personal journey. Please note: Registration is required.
When:	Thursday, October 13. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Presented by:	Alzheimer Society of Toronto
Where:	Alzheimer Society of Toronto (Yonge & Eglinton).
To Register:	Call 416-322-6560 or Email contact@alzheimertoronto.org
For More Info:	dementiatoronto.org/events/2011Oct_LessonsLearned.pdf

Sponsoring the Parkinson Foundation Speakers Series

We are pleased to announce our participation as a sponsor for the Parkinson Foundation's Speakers series.  We will be on site at the Toronto Botanical Gardens on October 12, 2011 where Dr. Mario Masellis will speak on the topic of Mind, mood & memory. The evening runs from 6:30pm-9:00pm and is free to attend.

Shouldn't Care be delivered 7 days per week?

Today is August 1st, a civic holiday (not a stat day).  And yes, those of us who work at Eldercare Home Health are working.  This includes front line careproviders, the Registered Nurse Case Managers, the Bookkeeper, the Administrative Assistant and me, the President.

You may find it surprising to know that many people in a hospital or facility setting, who have care and other responsibilities, are not at work today.  Many of these same people are also not available to their patients on weekends - any weekend.

Last week I was contacted by a family whose father suffered a broken hip.  He underwent surgery and was transferred to a rehabilitation setting.  The transfer occurred on Thursday. When the family found out that no therapist would be available on Saturday, Sunday or Monday, to work with their father, they took matters into their own hands and hired a private physiotherapist to provide care on each of these three days. They could not bear for their father to sit around idly for three days and wait for the therapy he so badly needed in order to resume his life of independence. They were astonished to find that the hospital operated in this manner and that this practice was commonplace.

I've never understood this organization of care services myself.  If a person is in an acute care setting and it has been deemed that they would benefit from therapy services, why are the therapists not scheduled, on a rotating basis, to work on each of the seven days of the week?

We already have examples of this kind of scheduling in an acute care setting.  That is how nurses work and dietary staff.  Nobody works every weekend, but everybody works some weekends. 

If it is important and necessary that a person be in an acute care facility, it is important and necessary that they receive the best care services each day that they are there.

By not scheduling therapy on a weekend, we are literally taking 5 steps forward and 2 steps back every single week!!