Category: Health and Wellness

Evaluating those ‘Brain Fitness’ Programs

Thinking of a brain fitness program as a Christmas gift? Learn whether they really help ward off dementia, and of less expensive alternatives. Read more...

Know the Facts: Chronic Kidney Disease

March is National Kidney Month - with National Kidney Day happening on March 10 - a time dedicated to increasing awareness of the importance of this organ and the vital functions it performs. This includes removing any waste, drugs, or excess fluid from the body (about two litres a day!), regulating blood pressure, controlling the production of red blood cells, promoting healthy bones and, last but cerrainly not least, regulating the body's salt, potassium and acid content.

Staging to Sell: Turn Your “Home” Into a “House”

The challenge for seniors selling their homes that they've owned for many decades, is overcoming the emotional connection to the home. Today when selling a home you must turn back into a house again to get the highest value possible.

Grandma's Four Tips To Keep Kids Safe By The Pool

Here in Arizona, there have been many children who have tragically drowned when they were being watched by a grandparent or when visiting a grandparent. There are many such cases around the country.

3 Reasons To Stay Active In Your Retirement

Staying active in some capacity throughout your retirement years is a very common trend for adults who are 55 or older. With so many opportunities to stay active physically and or mentally, there really is a sport, event or activity that can be enjoyed by the vast majority of people. And there are great benefits for individuals seeking to remain active within their community and through different organizations.

Five Ways To Fight Bladder Weakness

Bladder weakness is one of the last remaining health taboos in Canada, yet it is more common than people think. Young or old, urine leakage can affect anyone at any age, and for different reasons. Here are 5 ways to help combat a weak bladder.

Comfort Life News Round-Up: When Should Seniors Stop Driving?

With an increasing number of elderly drivers we've noticed a lot of news and discussion around seniors and senior driving. Here's what caught our eye this week:

Healthy Summer Eating Tips for Seniors

Ahh, summer! The months when food becomes superbly fresher, bedecked in dazzling colors, grilled to perfection, and packaged up in willow picnic baskets! While delicious and potentially very healthy, please be careful: summer foods are also very often laden with un-healthy amounts of salt, sugar, fats and even potentially harmful ingredients that you should try to avoid as much as possible

Its More Than Just Physical Care

Whether you've been a caregiver for a month or several years, you've no doubt figured out that your loved one requires more than just physical assistance with the daily activities of living. Just like you, a loved one who can observe, listen, or participate in activities enjoys them just because it makes him or her happy. Its more than just physical care.

Helping a Parent Dispel the Gloom of Depression

Depression is common in older adults as they are forced to deal with many difficult life changes that go along with aging. Although it's normal to feel "down" or "blue" when confronting illness, personal loss or death, it is not normal to feel sad or hopeless all the time.

Comfort Life News Roundup: Discussing (LBL) Light Bladder Leakage

With one in three women afflicted with LBL (Light Bladder Leakage), its not surprising to see a growing awareness and discussion on this topic throughout the media

Comfort Life News Round-Up: Seniors And Dating

Its no surprise that in light of the increasing divorce rate amongst new retirees and the younger seniors, (see last weeks news-round-up), that there is also an increase in the amount of seniors hitting the dating scene again. With that flood gate open, we've seen a lot of new services and resources available to help seniors prepare for date night!

Falling In Love Again: Focus 1 - Exclusivity

In our last advice on relationships blog, we navigated the waters of Stage Two of Dating: Uncertainty. Once you have decided to focus on a primary romantic relationship, you are entering the 3rd stage of dating: Exclusivity. Previously you were flushed with the anticipation of getting your needs met while testing to see if you really wanted to get involved. Now you are choosing to open up, give freely and experience getting what you need in return.

Speed Dating For Seniors On Tuesday, Sept. 6th!

Speed dating has been popular with younger participants for a while but now it’s finally available for the 60+ crowd. This event is perfect if you want to meet new people, a companion, or maybe even make a romantic spark, in a safe, relaxed setting.

Your Time

It is important to take time each day to spend for and on yourself. It may seem you don’t have the time, it is selfish, or there are more important things to do. In fact, in the scheme of things and as a caregiver, one of the most important things you can do each day is to spend at least ten to fifteen minutes on yourself. By doing so, you help yourself as well as those around you. Those ten to fifteen minutes spent on yourself can help you relax, ease tension, and refresh yourself. That time can help you return to your caregiver tasks with renewed energy and a new perspective.

5 Of The Largest Growing Senior Recreational Activities In Ontario

Everyone is now well aware of the push by health advocators and the senior demographic to stay active throughout their retirement years . The question is though, what are the activities that are of interest to me personally? Here are 5 activities that are becoming the talk of seniors across Ontario

A 12-Step Program for Caregivers

I want to share with you today a piece that was developed by two nurses who have worked extensively with the families of patients with Alzheimer's disease. It provides important guidance and wisdom to help us deal with our loved ones who are experiencing the symptoms of dementia.

Men and Depression: Seven Things You Need to Know…Now

Traditionally, men have been reluctant to acknowledge that they’re feeling depressed, and even more unwilling to seek medical help. However, say Todd Patkin and Dr. Howard J. Rankin, depression is not a sign of weakness—it’s a medical condition that men need to know about and watch for. It’s a matter of health!

Baby Boomers: The New "Dress for Success" Rules

Forever 21 is a retail phenomenon among the younger set, but despite the trend of businesses catering to Baby Boomers, there's no Forever 51 or 61 for those of us trying to find presentable, affordable office fashions. At least such a store would help us figure out the new dress code.

Seniors and Sexuality: Enjoying Intimacy and a Healthy Lifestyle

There is the belief that seniors are too old to engage in sexual intimacy or they are undesirable to potential mates. It may be news to many, but it’s time we all realized and rejoiced in the fact the seniors are indeed sexually active well into the Third Age.

Ontario election and seniors: Where the parties stand

Have you decided who to vote for in the Ontario election tomorrow? Each party told Comfort Life where they stand on seniors issues. Read their positions and make an informed choice on October 6th.

What Type of LTC Insurance Do You Need?

Economic times bring out the best and worst in insurance products. Hybrid or combination Life Insurance/ Long Term Care plans are associated with derivatives which mean you take the original product and then package it to make promises to people about a probability that may or may not occur.

Comfort Life Friday Funnies

Thank goodness its Friday! Being in the publishing business, we often come across funny comic pieces. Some better than others. Here are a few that we've certainly enjoyed over the past week!

Swallowing Reflex and Muscles: Considerations As We Age

As we age our reflexes begin to slow down, and this includes the swallowing reflex. In addition to our reflexes slowing down, our muscles also may not be as strong as they once were when we were younger – These changes can at times cause problems with the safety of our swallowing.

Dr. Amy: Making Decisions About Work

There is consensus around one point: it is best to share your situation with your employer and figure out together how to manage your work and home responsibilities. Otherwise, your employer and fellow staff members may think that you don’t care enough about the job on the days when you inevitably must be late or you are distracted in your work due to problems at home.

Tips On How To Prepare For Holiday Gift Expenses

It's time to pull back the spending reigns and prepare for holiday gift expenses. During a time when most shoppers are reducing their spending altogether, it's especially important to make a realistic budget for your gift list.

Fighting Inflammation With Food

If you suffer from arthritis and joint pain, or chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease, you should know that inflammation in the body can make symptoms much worse. But, there’s hope.

3 Ways to Stay Active and Warm This Winter

After one of the warmest summers in recent memory, the focus now shifts on ways for seniors to remain active throughout the winter months. It is important that seniors remain active throughout the entire year and not just when the weather outside is pleasant. Here are three ways that seniors across Ontario are braving the cold winter and staying active within their local communities.

How to Find Peace During the Holidays

Find Peace on Earth…(and Peace Within): Eleven Steps to Help You Tune into Your Inner Self and Forgive and Love Unconditionally

Caring For Someone With Alzheimer's During The Holidays: Seven Tips

If you have a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia, your instinct might be to cling to beloved traditions this holiday season. But you—and your loved one—might experience the most holiday joy by adapting your plans and expectations

Dr. Amy: Maintaining a sense of control during illness

Probably one of the most difficult parts of being ill is losing a sense of control of life. As caregivers, we can help our loved ones and ourselves continue to feel some control. Even though we may both feel powerless against the illness itself, we have many choices that we can make along t

Do You Need Perfect Health?

Life is not perfect. Things get in the way. That’s why, as Healthy Zoomers, we believe it’s important to live a balanced lifestyle instead of obsessing over every new food, new super supplement or new exercise program.

Goals Keep You Going

Last week, I wrote about the importance of finding balance in your life to fit everything in you want or need to do. To achieve everything you want, it is vital to have a well thought out plan by goal setting.

Can the Cardio

To speed-up fat loss and rev your metabolism (for ultimate fat burning), forget long and boring cardio sessions that last anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes.

Resistance Training to the Rescue

Once you reach your 40’s, you will begin to naturally lose lean muscle from the body. This slows the rate at which you burn up your food and drink for energy. Instead, you store it as body fat. To stop this muscle loss and maximize calorie burning to stay lean and strong, you must engage in a quality, resistance-training program that involves weights.

Holiday Hazards

For our first blog entry, we’re gearing up for a busy time – no, not for Christmas, but for the many calls that come in after the holidays! Adult children, home for the holidays, see Mom and Dad is a new light and call with concerns about their abilities to live safely in their home.

Six Ways to Help Seniors Stay Safe in the Winter

With so many winter safety hazards and accidents happening each year, prepare ahead with these six tips for helping seniors stay safe at home and around town in your community. Read more...

Exercise Your Brain To Keep Young

As humans age, our thought processes get slower which can have an effect on our language. The words can be harder find. We need extra time to respond to what is being said. We are slower to respond. The thought of losing half our brain by the time we’re adults is pretty depressing…

7 Ways Grieving Affects Your Health

The toll of grief goes beyond an emotional cost. Our mental struggles also affect our physical health. Don't hesitate to see your physician for advice and help as you go through this difficult time. Here are seven common symptoms mourners experience.

Inexpensive Ways For Seniors To Exercise

Exercise is a key ingredient in any senior's ambition to accomplish healthy aging. Participating in regular exercising will greatly benefit your physical and mental conditions. Unfortunately there are several myths out there suggesting that the elderly should save their strength instead of exercising or the common myth we all hear, "I am too old to get any value from exercising."

Is living in a retirement home a positive thing?

Dr . Amy: Health and Wellness for Caregivers

Caregivers need to tend to their own needs in order to be most effective in helping their loved ones who are ill. Our continuing quest for good quality of life needs to include ourselves as well as the patient. Read more...

Hypertension: Eight Important Facts You Should Know

These eight important facts about "the Silent Killer" can not only minimize the risk of causing hypertension, but they can also reduce the symptoms of it altogether and improve your overall wellbeing. Read more...

Finding the best Alzheimer's home: Nine tips

Choosing the right Alzheimer's home for your loved one can be a frightening experience but sound information makes it easier. When choosing the Alzheimer's right home, the philosophy and appropriate level of care, preferred location and budget all need to be considered. Here are nine tips to help you find the best Alzheimer's home for your loved one.

VIDEO: Positive People Live Longer

VIDEO: Studies show that positivity adds years to your life. Ethel Goldschmidt sure knows the power of positive thinking. She started her own brewery at 88!

Drug Abuse in Seniors: Tips For Managing Prescription Medications

Drug abuse in the elderly is a significant issue. As people age, they may have more illnesses, and the number of drugs prescribed to manage those illnesses rises as well. It can be difficult to balance the potential side effects and drug interactions with the benefits of the various medications. The following tips may help manage prescription medication use and lessen the overuse of prescription medications in seniors. Read more...

The benefits of an active adult living home

Active adult living is an emerging trend in retirement communities, which allows residents to live independently and receive services when they want or need them.

Four ways to beat the weather blues

The weather report is often bad even when it's spring. Don't buy into the hype. Here's how to enjoy the weather and get your life back in balance!

Caring for aging parents: Reduce stress by saying 'no'

When you are caring for an aging parent you may feel overwhelmed. Here's how to say no to tasks that are not a priority.

Six Simple Exercises to Prepare You For Any Activity

Getting into a daily exercise routine can be hard but these six simple exercises can prepare you for any activity throughout the day.