Frailty and functional decline
The number of frail elderly Canadians is today estimated at 1.1 million. Recognizing frailty is a key to improving patient care. Frailty is usually associated with noticeable losses in a person’s physical, mental or social functioning such as; walking speed, weight and muscle loss, fatigue, grip strength, level of physical activity and memory loss.
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Assistive technologies: It’s not for me, I’m not there yet!
In Canada 1.1 million older adults use assistive technology to compensate for physical or cognitive limitations. However, despite the potential benefits of these technologies, some older adults remain reluctant to use them. What can explain this reluctance? -
Supporting caregivers of frail older adults
Frail older adults have significant care needs, and often rely heavily on caregivers to support them. Despite their crucial role, support for caregivers is often lacking or inconsistently available. -
Having ‘the talk’: The benefits of making your wishes known about end-of-life care
Advance care planning and having discussions about end-of-life care with family members and healthcare providers can have positive impacts for everyone involved. -
Walking: An age-old strategy to boost your health
As you get older, getting from one place to another can be a challenge. To put you on the road to better health, invest in a sturdy pair of shoes and use the power of your own two feet to get you to where you need to be. -
Conquer your fear of falling with cognitive behavioural therapy
Many older adults have a fear of falling. Cognitive behavioural therapy may help people overcome this fear by reducing negative thoughts about falls and shifting their focus to what they can do to curb their falls risk. -
Watch your step! Fall prevention for seniors living in the community
For seniors still living at home, falls are a concern. Fortunately, exercise alone or in combination with other fall prevention strategies can help keep one’s feet firmly planted on the ground. -
Feeling unsteady? Exercise can help prevent falls in long-term care
Feeling off-balance? Stand up to falls with exercise. Exercise combined with other fall prevention strategies is a promising way to lower the rate of falls in older adults living in long-term care. -
The research based benefits of music for walking
Walking speed reveals a lot about your overall health and walking ability changes with age. Research shows that music can help! -
Worried about breaking a bone? 5 tips you should know before it happens
Breaking up may be hard to do, but breaking a bone is easy – especially as we age. Get tips on how to protect yourself. -
Avoid falls with these 4 simple tips
Many older adults experience a fall as they get older. But it doesn’t have to be that way! Here are four evidence-based tips to lower your falls risk and promote healthy aging. -
Physical exercise can help combat signs of frailty in older adults
Physical exercise can help improve some conditions associated with aging and frailty, such as improving walking speed. -
Exercise programs can help reduce falls and prevent injuries
Fall prevention exercise programs, in a group or home setting, can help prevent falls. Exercises to improve balance are the most effective in preventing falls. -
Frailty in the eye of the beholder
Frailty represents a form of vulnerability or weakness in the older person and is different from simply growing old. It is important even though there is no agreement on the signs for frailty.
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