The Toronto Home Care Digest for December 20, 2013

Posted by Steve Jones

Fri, Dec 20, 2013

Get the latest home health care tips, news, and updates!

FROM OUR BLOG…

How a Personal Support Worker Can Enhance Your Life

As Canadians age or become ill they become more dependent on family members and caregivers. Inevitably, the responsibilities of their adult children grow and the need for outside support may become necessary. Fortunately, a personal support worker (PSW) can alleviate much of the workload placed on a family while providing companionship, healthcare services and peace of mind to loved ones.

6 Benefits of Hospital Support

Emergencies, accidents and even scheduled surgeries can put the elderly in the hospital for days or weeks at a time. While under the care of nurses and doctors, these people receive top-notch healthcare, but little thought is put towards what comes after their discharge from a medical facility.

FROM AROUND THE WEB…

Rare gene variants double risk for Alzheimers disease

A team led by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has identified variations in a gene that doubles a persons risk of developing Alzheimers disease later in life. The research is published online Dec. 11 in the journal Nature. Over the past two decades, scientists have discovered a number of common genetic variants linked to early-onset (which strikes before age 65) and the more common late-onset forms of Alzheimers disease. But those variants account for only a fraction of Alzheimers cases.

Old and young team up to beat stereotypes about ageism

Sarah Scheffer, 30, expected residents at the retirement home where she was making a short video to be polished and proper. But what she got was Mickey Radmore, 94, a man full of fun and great stories, although, he admits, all not necessarily true. Mickey made me laugh and cry more than anyone in a long time, says Scheffer. He completely changed my ideas.

Former Santa Claus Fund recipient finds joy in giving

Darlene Kelley still remembers the brown sweater. She was 11 at the time and used to hand-me-downs. But this knit turtleneck was new. It had never kept anyone else warm. The memory of that sweater ” or perhaps her jubilant feelings toward the ribbed garment ” explains in part why Kelley has volunteered with the Santa Claus Fund for more than four decades.