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Category: Caregiving

Mother and daughter holding hands
After a dementia diagnosis, an easy decision to help with care

After a dementia diagnosis, an easy decision to help with care

When Moira was diagnosed with young onset dementia at the age of 51, she and her family had some difficult decisions to make. She had to take early retirement from her job as a high school math teacher in Brampton, Ontario, designate her oldest daughter and husband as primary caregivers, and enrol in a day program for people with dementia while her family is at work. But there was at least one easy decision: joining the MedicAlert® Safely Home® program,…

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Dan of Winnipeg, Manitoba
Father’s Day 2018: What Dan learned from his Dad

Father’s Day 2018: What Dan learned from his Dad

It’s been four years since my dad, Denis, passed away after living with dementia for 11 years. My family and I did everything to make sure Dad enjoyed life, first during the early stages, and later when he lived in a care home. My experiences with my father inspired me to help others learn to appreciate quality time with a family member with dementia.

Mother and daughter
MedicAlert® Safely Home® gives families living with dementia peace of mind

MedicAlert® Safely Home® gives families living with dementia peace of mind

It was a cold, rainy December morning in Vancouver when paramedics spotted a woman in wet clothes, looking out of place at a bus stop. Kathryn had been missing for 27 hours by then. Her daughter had dispatched a small army of friends to look for her after she failed to come home from her walk the previous morning. “It was brutal. I thought she was dead. The paramedics brought her to the hospital and they admitted her,” recalls her…

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How to enhance safety for people with dementia
Enhancing safety for people with dementia

Enhancing safety for people with dementia

Imagine if someone you love goes missing. The worry can be agonizing. When the person has dementia, it takes it up a notch or two. That’s why MedicAlert Foundation Canada partnered with the Alzheimer Society of Canada in 2013 to help people living with dementia who are at risk of getting lost. MedicAlert’s service—along with its well-recognized engraved bracelet—was launched in 1961 to help emergency responders treat people quickly and effectively when they couldn’t speak for themselves. .

Jane Kennedy, and her mom, Eileen
Mother’s Day 2018: Why Jane Kennedy appreciates her mother

Mother’s Day 2018: Why Jane Kennedy appreciates her mother

“Your mom is so strong.” These were the words I often heard people say to describe my mom. I never really understood what they meant while I was growing up, being the youngest of six children. Why was my mom this strong person everyone kept referring to?

Happy adult mother and daughter smiling.
“SMILE” – Helping dementia caregivers

“SMILE” – Helping dementia caregivers

Dr. Christopher Frank, of Kingston, Ontario, particularly appreciates the caregiver’s role—after all, he focuses on areas where caregivers provide crucial help, such as geriatric rehabilitation, acute care consultation and palliative care. In this guest blog, Dr. Frank shares five pieces of inspirational advice from one of his patient’s relatives, a caregiver herself.

Caregiver tax guide: Your caregiver tax credit questions, answered

Caregiver tax guide: Your caregiver tax credit questions, answered

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…

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Caregiver tax guide: What’s the difference between a tax credit and tax deduction?

Caregiver tax guide: What’s the difference between a tax credit and tax deduction?

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…

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Caregiver tax guide: The Canada Caregiver Credit – What’s New?

Caregiver tax guide: The Canada Caregiver Credit – What’s New?

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…

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