Bayshore Home Health has its eye on seniors' health with the launch of monthly e-newsletter

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, September 19, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Today, Bayshore Home Health officially launched the first edition of its new monthly e-newsletter, Eye on Health. The newsletter is designed to support families and informal caregivers in caring for their elderly loved ones.

Each month, Eye on Health will feature a new theme related to seniors' health and well-being, and offer tips and solutions to help manage health issues and alleviate the stresses associated with caregiving. The inaugural newsletter focuses on Arthritis Awareness.

"Nearly 4.5 million Canadians are currently affected by more than 100 forms of arthritis and by 2031, the number of Canadians aged 15 and older affected is expected to increase to approximately seven million," 1 says Jackie Hickey, a registered nurse and Community Health Advisor for Bayshore Home Health. "While the exact cause is not known, there are a number of simple steps that we can all take to help prevent and manage this disease."

In the not so distant future, seniors will comprise 13 per cent of the Canadian population, with Statistics Canada predicting that by 2026 this will increase to 21 per cent.2 As seniors become a greater proportion of the Canadian population, arthritis and other common diseases will become more prevalent if the necessary preventative steps are not taken.

"The first major steps toward prevention of arthritis and related diseases are awareness and education," says Hickey. "Bayshore Home Health is generating national awareness and providing a valuable resource to family caregivers with the launch of Eye on Health."

In each newsletter, Bayshore Home Health will provide Canadian readers with detailed background information on the featured theme, resources and possible solutions to a wide-range of topics affecting our loved ones.

To access and subscribe to editions of Eye on Health, please visit www.bayshore.ca.

About Bayshore Home Health

Bayshore Home Health has been enhancing the quality of life, dignity and independence of Canadians in their homes since 1966. Canadian owned and operated, it is the country's largest provider of home and community health care services, with more than 50 home care offices and two-dozen community care clinics. It delivers nursing, personal care, home support and companion services to more than 70,000 Canadians annually, and also offers nurse and caregiver staffing services to health care organizations and corporate clients. Its subsidiaries provide specialty pharmacy, infusion and pharmaceutical support services (Bayshore Specialty Rx), physiotherapy and rehabilitation services (Bayshore Therapy & Rehab), and dialysis services (Bayshore Dialysis).

The Scarf

This wonderful short film from Carla Feldman reveals a period in a young boy's life when his aging grandmother, dealing with the on-set of Alzheimer's, comes to stay with his family. Leonard is naïve and puzzled by her increasingly odd behavior and seeks stability in their strained relationship, which is unraveling very much like her gift of a scarf.


A young boy's world is forever changed when his aging grandmother comes to stay. Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2011 ASIFA Atlanta 'Roll Yer Own' - Best in Show Atlantic Film Festival Chicago International Children's Film Festival Hearts...

The Scarf has additionally been included in the resource libraries of North York General Hospital's geriatric program (Toronto) and Shalom Manor & Gardens.

The Scarf from Carla Veldman on Vimeo.

Ontario Pharmacists' Association announces top policy priorities

Pharmacists hope to play larger role in patients' circle of care by 2015

TORONTO, September 15, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - With Ontarians set to go to the polls on October 6, the Ontario Pharmacists' Association (OPA), the professional association that represents the views and interests of more than 12,500 pharmacists, has announced its policy priorities for the 2011 provincial election and beyond.

Included in OPA's Vision for Pharmacists' Role in Health Care 2011-15, available at http://www.opatoday.com/files/public/documents/OPA_Vision2011-15.pdf, are nine key priorities including an expanded scope of practice for all pharmacists.

By 2015, it is hoped that Ontario's highly-educated community pharmacists will be better utilized and fairly compensated for providing essential health care services, especially for seniors and those suffering from chronic illnesses.

"Better access to health care services is a top concern for voters during this election, and the Ontario Pharmacists' Association will continue to advocate strongly for a greater scope of practice for pharmacists," said Darryl Moore, Chair of the Ontario Pharmacists Association. "Ontarians need and expect community pharmacists to provide more patient care services, just as pharmacists do in other jurisdictions around the world. Routine immunizations and the authority to assess and treat minor ailments are just two examples of services that OPA hopes pharmacists are able to provide in the near future."

Pharmacists are medication experts with in-depth knowledge about hundreds of prescription and non-prescription drugs. Many also undertake additional training to become certified as diabetes or asthma educators, or specialize in areas such as geriatrics or menopause.

According to a March 2009 Ipsos-Reid survey, 86 per cent of Ontarians said they would rely on their pharmacist to provide medication for minor ailments, and 71 per cent said they believed pharmacists could do more to help them manage their health.

"We know it can be done," said Dennis Darby, Chief Executive Officer of the Ontario Pharmacists' Association. "Many other jurisdictions have authorized pharmacists to provide routine injections of immunizations and vaccines, with great success and improved uptake by patients. Other provinces and countries have authorized pharmacists to prescribe drugs for minor ailments, like pink eye or poison ivy."

The Association emphasizes that by expanding Ontario pharmacists' scope of practice, pharmacists can improve patient care; take pressure off family physicians, emergency rooms and walk-in clinics; reduce wait times and hospitals stays; and increase the efficiency and effectiveness of Ontario's health care system.

A more significant monitoring system

Another key priority is to create a comprehensive plan aimed at reducing the misuse and abuse of prescription narcotics - one of the most serious public health and safety issues in Ontario.

"The current government made a good first move by creating the prescription drug database, which will allow the province to monitor prescriptions; however we are also calling for increased patient education, improved addictions treatment, and coordinated efforts with law enforcement to ensure the safety and security of pharmacists and all of the patients they serve," Darby said.

To help pharmacists better fulfill their medication management role and to reduce growing public anxiety about the likelihood of drug shortages, OPA is also recommending the creation of a drug supply monitoring system comparable to that of the United States' Food and Drug Administration. Drug shortages faced by pharmacists in the past year posed significant problems for pharmacists, patients and prescribers. A drug monitoring system would ensure pharmacists are able to provide the most appropriate medication needed to patients at the correct dosage.

About Ontario Pharmacists' Association

The Ontario Pharmacists' Association is the professional association that represents the views and interests of more than 12,500 pharmacists and pharmacists-in-training across the province. The Association works to inspire excellence in the profession and practice of pharmacy, and to promote wellness for patients. For more information, visit www.opatoday.com.

Make your coffee count!

Alzheimer Society hosts Canada's biggest Coffee Break® to raise funds for Alzheimer support

TORONTO, September 15, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Alzheimer Society is encouraging Canadians to take part in the country's largest Coffee Break® on September 15, 2011.

Held every September, from Vancouver to Toronto to Halifax and points in between, Coffee Break events raise funds in exchange for a cup of coffee. Donations support Alzheimer Society programs and services that improve the quality of life of individuals and their families living with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. Anyone can host a Coffee Break - friends, families, or corporations - at home, at work or other public venue. This year's goal is $1.5 million.

"For many Canadians living with this devastating disease, the Alzheimer Society is their lifeline," says Andrea Grimm, Chief Fund Development Officer at the Alzheimer Society. "We provide practical support, training and information in communities across Canada, while our programs make a tremendous difference to the individuals and families living with dementia. We're encouraging Canadians to get involved and spread the word so we can help even more people with this disease."

Demand for these services is steadily climbing as the number of Canadians with dementia surges. An estimated 1.1 million Canadians will be affected by 2038. This number does not take into account thousands of caregivers who already clock a staggering 231 million hours a year in unpaid care. Burgeoning baby boomers will compound this trend. The risk for the disease doubles every five years after age 65.

While Coffee Break officially kicks off September 15, participants can host their event any time during the month and into October, and can be as simple or elaborate as they like, from organizing corporate challenges to holding trivia nights, to staging events at local coffee shops or shopping malls.

Those interested can also donate by purchasing Coffee Break decals from this year's campaign supporters: Bulk Barn, from September 7 through 22, and Kent Building Supplies, throughout September.

For registration, tips and information on how to get started, visit www.alzheimercoffeebreak.ca

About Coffee Break

Coffee Break® is the Alzheimer Society's largest nationwide fundraising event. Since launching in 1996, it has raised more than $13 million. Funds remain in local provinces and communities. The Alzheimer Society thanks Bulk Barn and Kent Building Supplies for their generous support and Mother Parkers for their in-kind contribution.

About Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia. It is a fatal brain disease that progressively impacts memory, speech and behaviour. Eventually those affected will become dependent on others for every aspect of their care. The disease can start to develop 10 to 20 years before symptoms appear. Age is still a major risk factor, but the disease can also strike people in their 50s and 40s.

About the Alzheimer Society

The Alzheimer Society is the leading nationwide health charity for people living with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. Active in more than 150 communities across Canada, the Society offers Help for Today through our programs and services for people living with dementia and Hope for Tomorrow… ® by funding research to find the cause and the cure.

Expanded University Centre Transit Hub Opens

GUELPH, Ontario September 13, 2011 - University of Guelph Campus Bulletin

Bus service to the University of Guelph will increase and improve, thanks to an expansion to the University Centre transit hub.

Construction took place over the summer on new bus bays and shelters and new passenger platforms. There were also changes to adjacent parking lot exits.

Guelph Transit and GO Transit will run more buses to and from campus. In total, about 620 buses will travel through the expanded bus loop every day.

“We expanded to accommodate a planned increase in bus service and to make improvements to address some operational concerns,” said Ian Weir, Guelph’s manager of parking services and transportation planning.

Guelph Transit will be improving service to nine routes, with frequency increasing to one bus every 15 minutes. Four new Guelph Transit bus bays and new bus shelters were built south of South Ring Road on the east side of the loop.

New walkways and crossings with pedestrian-activated signals were installed on each side of the South Ring Road and University Centre main-entrance intersection to help ensure pedestrian safety. New concrete sidewalks were added from Christie Lane to connect with Winegard Walk on the north side.

GO Transit will increase its weekday bus service as well. To make room for the expansion, the connection to the bus loop entrance at parking lot P42 was closed.

Greyhound and Aboutown, which provides bus service to and from Hamilton, will continue to use current stops in the bus loop.

Vehicular access on the north end of the bus loop will continue to be restricted to buses and emergency vehicles.

“These changes will create a more efficient and accessible environment for all transit users,” Weir said.

Retired University of Guelph English Professor Named to Royal Society

GUELPH, Ontario September 12, 2011 - University of Guelph News Release - University of Guelph professor emerita Elizabeth Waterston has been elected to the Royal Society of Canada, considered Canada's senior academic honour. She will be inducted at a Nov. 26 ceremony in Ottawa.

Founded in 1882, the Royal Society of Canada is the country’s oldest and most prestigious scholarly organization. Scholars are selected for the honour by their peers and are those the society believes have had a profound impact on sciences, arts and humanities in Canada.

Waterston, professor emerita in the School of English and Theatre Studies, was honoured for her distinguished career in writing, research and teaching.

“Elizabeth Waterston has contributed to Canadian culture as a teacher, writer, editor, public speaker at home and abroad, and mentor to young writers,” according to the citation from the Royal Society. “She pioneered interdisciplinary studies and in the applicaiton of computer technology in studies in the humanities.”

An expert on Canadian authors, Waterston has fostered the study of Canadian literature in high schools and universities since the 1950s and mentored writers such as Mordecai Richler and Guelph graduate Jane Urquhart.

She taught literature at U of G for more than two decades.

Waterston is a leading expert on the life and writings of Lucy Maud Montgomery, author of the Anne of Green Gables series. Along with U of G professor emerita Mary Rubio, she has travelled the globe researching the famous Canadian author’s life and legacy.

Waterston’s book Magic Island: The Fictions of L.M. Montgomery explores the Anne stories, drawing parallels between Montgomery’s personal life and professional career and the characters in her novels. Along with Rubio, she edited The Selected Journals of L.M. Montgomery and wrote the short biography Writing a Life: L.M. Montgomery.

Survey Finds Ontario Patients Say Naturopathic Medicine Reduces Use of Prescription Medications and Emergency Room Visits

An estimated 2 million Ontario residents now see a naturopathic doctor

TORONTO, September 8, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - A new survey commissioned by the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine reveals that almost half of Ontarians treated by naturopathic doctors report naturopathic medicine has helped reduce their use of prescription drugs. Further, approximately 4 in 10 of those individuals report fewer visits to their family doctors and 3 in 10 to hospitals as a result of the care they receive from naturopathic doctors.

Ontarians seeking more natural approaches to health and wellness are increasingly turning to naturopathic medicine. The survey conducted in August 2011 found that 72% of Ontarians familiar with the practice view naturopathic medicine positively, 43% say they are familiar with the practice and an estimated 18% of all adult Ontarians— an estimated two million people—have seen a naturopathic doctor.

According to the survey, women are both more likely to be familiar with naturopathic medicine (49% versus 36%) and more likely to have a positive impression of it (77% versus 66%) as compared to men. Of interest, the Ontario Ministry of Finance reports that females in Ontario enjoy a life expectancy which is over four years longer than their male counterparts.

"These results show more Ontario residents are not only increasingly using complementary therapies, but also indicating that naturopathic medicine is an effective alternative to help relieve the cost pressures on the publicly-funded provincial health system," says Nick DeGroot, a naturopathic doctor and dean of the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine.

The demand for naturopathic medicine continues to grow with 41% of respondents indicating they are likely to see a naturopathic doctor in the next few years, and over half of these anticipating a visit within the next 12 months.

Moreover, the survey showed that there is a general movement moving towards selecting naturopathic medicine as a treatment option based on a strong desire for more natural approaches to boosting and maintaining health. In fact, survey respondents currently seeking treatment from naturopathic doctors indicate they are seeking more natural approaches to health and wellness (67%) as opposed to being motivated by a dissatisfaction with traditional health services (4%).

"The naturopathic treatment for my psoriasis has allowed me to make outstanding progress, despite the fact that I'd been treated for the past three years with steroids and other traditional treatments with limited success," says Andrew Tappin, a patient at the Robert Schad Naturopathic Clinic. "My psoriasis gradually and consistently diminished, and I've also experienced a new burst of energy, clarity of thought and tremendously improved sleep patterns. The naturopathic care I've received has given me my life back," adds Tappin.

This study was conducted by Innovative Research Group Inc. through random digit dialling telephone interviews among a sample of 606 English speaking Ontarians, 18 years of age or older. The interviews were conducted between August 17th and August 23rd, 2011. Up to eight call-backs were made in the case of non-response. Using 2006 Census data from Statistics Canada, the results were weighted according to region, age and gender to ensure a sample representative of the entire Ontario adult population. After weighting a sample of this size, the aggregate results are considered accurate to within ±4.0% (19 times out of 20). The margin of error will be larger within each sub-grouping of the sample.

About the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine

The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM) is Canada's premier institute for education and research in naturopathic medicine. CCNM offers a rigorous four-year, full-time doctor of naturopathic medicine program. The College educates, develops and trains naturopathic doctors through excellence in health education, clinical services and research that integrate mind, body and spirit.

In Ontario, naturopathic doctors (NDs) are regulated health-care practitioners. Currently, the profession is transitioning to new regulation within the Regulated Health Professions Act. Visits to naturopathic doctors are typically half an hour or more in length, and involve standard medical diagnostic assessments as well as a range of therapies including lifestyle counselling, nutrition, botanical medicine, acupuncture/Asian medicine, homeopathic medicine, and hydrotherapy/massage.

University of Guelph Professor Wins Grant to Study Excessive Shoppers

GUELPH, Ontario September 7, 2011 - University of Guelph News Release - So-called “shopaholics” may appear to share the same urge to “shop ‘til you drop” but the underlying causes may be very different, according to University of Guelph marketing and consumer studies professor Sunghwan Yi.

Differentiating between compulsive and impulsive shoppers, and what motivates excessive buying, is the focus of a new study supported by a $105,000 grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

Yi aims to determine if some shoppers are motivated by a need to escape from negative self-perception.

“I believe that, among pathological compulsive shoppers, excessive buying is primarily motivated by the need to escape from negative feelings about oneself, such as shame and sense of worthlessness,” he said.

“In contrast, for impulse buyers, other motives, like the need for sensory stimulation and materialism, are likely to be more important. Our empirical study will help test this idea.”

Yi will assess the strength of different motives for buying utilizing a technique called “Response Time.” It involves detecting the strength of a person’s positive versus negative associations with a focal concept by measuring automatic response time.

Study participants will press different computer keys as soon as word strings, related either to shopping or to a control concept, appear on the computer screen. This procedure is analogous to how quickly the thought of going shopping pops up in compulsive buyers’ minds when they feel shame or a sense of worthlessness compared with impulsive buyers.

“How quickly or slowly negative emotional words activate the concept of shopping in consumers' minds is a surreptitious way of assessing the strength of the negative emotion motive behind excessive buying,” he said.

“Measuring this strength is vital to distinguishing pathological compulsive buyers from impulse buyers.”

In the past, research on excessive buying relied on one-on-one interviews among small samples of self-identified pathological shoppers, Yi said.

“It is difficult to get to the heart of the matter by asking directly why a person shops so often, or how bad a person is feeling when they get the urge to go shopping. For one thing, their recollection may not be accurate, or they may not be consciously aware of their feelings; or maybe they’re simply too embarrassed to be fully revealing.”

“This study is different in that we will examine motives of excessive buying in a less disruptive manner with a larger sample of consumers that encompass impulse buyers as well as compulsive buyers.”

Excessive buying is a hot topic in psychology and marketing fields alike and a social problem that Yi hopes to address by scrutinizing the hidden motives behind people’s shopping habits. He will work with colleagues at the University of Western Ontario and Concordia University on the three-year research project.

“Understanding why people shop as much or as often as they do is important in order to distinguish compulsive buyers from impulse buyers, and to develop appropriate solutions for the two groups of buyers,” Yi said.

Canadians urged to check if their joint pain is osteoarthritis

TORONTO, September 6, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Canadians who never have their joint pains and aches examined by a doctor could be making the problem much worse, The Arthritis Society warns. The Society is encouraging people during Arthritis Awareness Month in September to complete a short quiz at www.arthritisquiz.ca to help them determine whether they have osteoarthritis (OA) and prevent long-term joint damage.

"Joint pain is a daily reality for millions of Canadians, but unfortunately many never follow up with their health-care provider. Some think it's an inevitable part of aging, others hope it will go away," says Steven McNair, President and CEO of The Arthritis Society. "Learning more about what lies behind your joint pain is a major quality of life issue. Establishing an early diagnosis of osteoarthritis is critical to the outcome of the disease, since it only gets progressively worse and therapies work best when started as early as possible."

OA is the most common type of arthritis, affecting more than three million Canadians. While anyone can get OA, it is more common as we age. It occurs when cartilage, the tough elastic material that covers and protects the ends of bones, begins to wear away. The result is pain, stiffness, swelling and bone-on-bone movement in the affected joint. Joints commonly affected are the end joints of fingers, the middle joints of fingers, hips, knees and the neck (cervical spine). Over 90 per cent of the more than 58,000 annual joint replacement surgeries in Canada result from the end stage of joint damage caused by OA.

While there is still no cure for OA, appropriate treatment and a healthy lifestyle can allow someone to take control of their disease.

"Managing body weight through physical activity and a balanced diet is one of most effective ways of reducing joint pain," Dr. Joanne Homik, Chair of The Arthritis Society's Medical Advisory Committee, explains. "Losing 10 pounds reduces the pressure on each knee by 40 pounds. Being overweight puts an extra burden on your weight-bearing joints, such as the hips, knees, ankles and feet."

Every September, The Arthritis Society aims to heighten awareness of the prevalence of arthritis in Canada and to raise much-needed funds for arthritis research and programs. In addition to useful resources, such as the toll-free Arthritis Information Line (1.800.321.1433) and website (www.arthritis.ca), The Society offers the Arthritis Self-Management Program and Chronic Pain Management Workshop, programs that inform participants on how to handle pain and stress, eat healthy and exercise with arthritis.

About The Arthritis Society

The Arthritis Society is Canada's principal arthritis health charity empowering the nearly 4.5 million Canadians with arthritis to live their lives to the fullest by combating the daily limitations of arthritis. In the last 60 years, The Society has invested more than $175 million towards arthritis research to develop better treatments and, ultimately, find a cure.

Round-trip from Philly to NYC to DC is Just $3.50. Say What?!

Photo Credit: Gerard Donnelly via Flickr

from TreeHugger.com
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA

Josh has posted on how to make a cross-country bus trip more comfortable, and Jennifer reported before that Megabus was seeking to reinvent the long-distance bus riding experience in the US. Yet it's a fair bet that many people are still avoiding long distance bus travel for fear of inconvenience, discomfort or (usually exaggerated) horror stories about personal safety. But in these budget conscious times, maybe this will persuade you—a multi-city round trip from Philly to NYC to DC can set you back as little as $3.50.

And guess how much they'll charge you for wi-fi...

Insanely Cheap Inter-City Travel

Donna Freedman reports over at the ever-fabulous, ever-frugal GetRichSlowly.com about why she loves the Megabus. On a recent month-long trip around the East Coast she flew into Philly, and then proceeded to travel from city-to-city using this newcomer to long distance bus travel. The total cost of traveling from Philly to NYC to DC and then back up to Philly came out at an astounding $3.50.

Budget Airlines Provide Model for Cheap, Low-Carbon Transport

Much like the budget airlines it was modeled on, Megabus keeps overheads insanely low, and varies ticket prices based on when you purchase and how much demand there is. While few folks will save quite as much as Freedman, the economics of it all still look pretty amazing:

Megabus has no bus terminals to maintain, insure and staff. Instead, it picks up and drops off on city streets or at existing facilities such as 30th Street Station in Philadelphia. You buy your ticket online and present a reservation number to the driver.

Ticket prices vary based on when you buy and how many seats have already been sold. As the vehicle fills and/or the departure date approaches, fares gradually go up. The average ticket price is $20 -- but again, you could pay a lot less, especially on short trips.

Sure, folks who value speed over money will still be wary, but with each leg of her journey taking at most an hour or two longer than the train, and with the avoidance of airports and security and such, this starts to look like a pretty good deal.

Free Wi-Fi is Icing on the Cake

Add to that the fact that wi-fi was provided free of charge (hear that, airlines!?), and Megabus starts looking pretty darned attractive, if you live somewhere that it serves. (Freedman tells us that Megabus currently operates as far west as Missouri, as far north as Boston and as far south as North Carolina, and also serves Ontario and Quebec.)

Head over to Get Rich Slowly for the full scoop on Freedman's low budget bus travel, including some alternatives to Megabus. And check out the Megabus website if you are ready to hop on the bus.

Check out TreeHugger for 30+ fresh, green stories every day!