Resources

  The Patient as Partners – Working Dialogue Group held its two-day conference in Vancouver last week. The BC Ministry of Health recently identified patient-centered care as one of their priorities and the purpose of this conference was to receive input from stakeholder on what patient-centered care should look like in BC. I was lucky… Read more…

In the past month, I’ve had numerous calls from individuals asking about various private home-care agencies and the ins and outs of private care. It seems like a good time to reprint this column, with a few updates. Mrs. Robson is a 92-year-old widow with Alzheimer’s disease. In her younger years, she was a schoolteacher… Read more…

  In the past month, I’ve had numerous calls from individuals asking about various private home-care agencies and the ins and outs of private care. It seems like a good time to reprint this column, with a few updates. Mrs. Robson is a 92-year-old widow with Alzheimer’s disease. In her younger years, she was a… Read more…

For most of us, February finally feels like life is back to normal and we are back into the swing of a more even-perhaps-less-busy routine. However, for family caregivers caring for a spouse or older parent, life is always busy juggling the many demands of caregiving and everyday life. Family members who are feeling overwhelmed… Read more…

  In my previous column, we met Mr. Tinsel and discussed the importance of goal-setting as it relates to continued independence. If you missed the column, you can find it here. The seniors and family members I meet in my work all have unique circumstances leading up to a life transition. A common denominator is… Read more…

Happy New Year to everyone! Although I’m not a huge fan of making resolutions, I do like to reflect on the past year and think about a few possible goals for the year ahead. My biggest need and want is finding more time for me. Yes, it is very cliché not to mention a rather… Read more…

Yesterday, I had the lovely opportunity to connect with one of my clients over lunch. One of the greatest gifts I receive in my line of work is having the chance to share life stories, be it theirs or mine. Working with an aging population provides an appreciation to sit and think about life –… Read more…

As I write this column, I am getting ready to accompany my daughter’s Grade 2/3 class to Stevenson Place. The children are conducting mini-interviews with some of the seniors and we’ll be bringing a little extra good cheer in the form of singing. With the magical sprinkling of snow out there, there is no doubt… Read more…

  “I read your columns all the time, Wendy, but why haven’t you written about someone in a similar situation to mine? Surely there are others like me that need the same type of help I receive.” Mrs. Emerson is a 92-year-old widow who lives in her own home. She’s had her share of hurdles… Read more…

The question, “Who is going to care for our aging population?” isn’t new in Canada. Anyone reading this column knows eldercare is the new “normal” as countless Canadians take on the role of caregiver. According to Statistics Canada (2007), approximately 2.7 million Canadians aged 45 and over provided some form of unpaid care to seniors… Read more…