As the weather gets colder and the ground freezes over, we all start to feel a little unsteady in our footing. But for people living with dementia, the fear of falling can be more than an occasional thought in the wintertime. November is Fall Prevention Month, and we want to discuss why, for older adults and people living with dementia, falls are an everyday worry. In fact, falls can be dangerous, if not deadly. The concern of falling isn’t one…
Offering a safe, secure, and nurturing environment for a loved one who is living with dementia is the goal of many caregivers. In addition to some of the physical modifications you can make to your space, here are 5 lifestyle changes that may be help to promote well-being and independence at home: Get support in your community You may have family, friends, or neighbours who can help. Regular visits can both help to reduce social isolation for your loved one,…
What if a simple change to your home could make a huge impact for a loved one who is living with dementia? Caregivers need to look no further than some simple modifications to make their homes more dementia-friendly. Home safety modifications for dementia Here are 5 easy modifications to make your home more dementia-friendly: Lighting matters Adequate lighting is very important for someone who is living with dementia. Here are some quick tips to maximize lighting: Increase wattage, and place…
For someone who loves gardening, there is nothing like the meticulous, careful work of planning, planting and caring for a garden. The creative and tactile experience of being near to nature is not only good for our well-being, but it may in fact help to relieve the symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Living well includes many lifestyle factors, including diet, exercise, social contact and more. All of these can improve our cognitive health, no matter our age….
Did you know that head injuries, and particularly repeated concussions, may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease? A traumatic brain injury that results in the loss of consciousness has been shown to increase the risk of dementia by as much as four times [i]. According to some research, this is because head injuries may increase the levels of protein in the brain that are associated with Alzheimer’s disease, such as amyloid [ii]. Who is most affected by traumatic brain…
Our caregiver tax refund series continues! So far, we’ve talked about the difference between tax credits and deductions, and demystified the Canada Caregiver Credit. You may now be wondering, what are the tax credits that caregivers tend to overlook? Glenn Hayter, Certified Financial Planner with Hayter and Associates Inc., answers some of the most common to get his insights on the credits that may apply to you! I support someone who is living with dementia. How do I qualify for…
Memory lapses in early stage Alzheimer’s disease have been linked to depression, anxiety, and stress. As recipients of a Quality of Life research grant through the Alzheimer Society Research Program (ASRP), Hudon and Goulet want to know if mindfulness meditation cannot only relieve those symptoms, but if it might actually slow down cognitive decline. This year, the ASRP celebrates 29 years of funding Canadian researchers in the field of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Through the results of their research,…
March in Ontario can be a drag: Our New Year’s resolutions are losing their spark, flu season has taken a toll, and now we’re about to be hit by the dreaded Tax Season. Not to worry, we have some information to help you through the Tax Blues. The good news: If you’re a caregiver in Ontario, you may be eligible for caregiver tax credits! We reached out to Glenn Hayter of Hayter and Associates Inc., Certified Financial Planner, to get…
There is no question that caregivers are the unsung heroes of Ontario’s health system. While we can’t send you all a certificate of our appreciation, we can point you in the direction of some helpful caregiver tax credits that may relieve the financial burden that comes with caregiving. The Canada Caregiver Credit (CCC) is a tax credit that is made available to people residing in Canada who must submit an Income Tax Return. It’s provincial counterpart, the Ontario Caregiver Credit…
February is National Heart Health month, and did you know your heart and brain health are directly related? As part of the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA), researcher Dr. Carol Greenwood and her team have been studying how lifestyle can become a risk factor for dementia, and whether changes to lifestyle – even later in life – can lower that risk. “Thankfully, we can say that lifestyle, which includes activity and diet, absolutely impacts both the heart and…