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Stay current on issues affecting seniors in Canada and progress toward a national seniors strategy. We constantly scan the news and post the latest developments here.
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Healthy Canadians Grant Spotlight Nourishing our Seniors at Home
Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House, a community group that provides services for everyone from seniors to babies in a culturally diverse population, used their $10,000 grant from the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) Foundation to start their Nourishing our Seniors at Home (NOSH) program.
Read moreWEBINAR – Federal Forum on Dementia
September 16, 2019
Dementia Advocacy Canada is inviting you to their webinar on September 19th at 7 pm EST
Read moreThe Future of Virtual Care: Support and Care for Seniors in the Comfort of Home
August 30, 2019
Just over a decade ago, Dr. Clare Liddy, a family doctor with The Ottawa Hospital Academic Family Health Team, and endocrinologist Dr. Erin Keely collaborated with the Bruyère Research Institute to develop a digital tool called eConsult.
Read moreWaiting to Feel Good Again: The Human Cost of Waiting for Surgery
August 30, 2019
According to Montreal orthopedic surgeon Dr. John Antoniou, the impact of Canada’s current wait times for joint replacement surgery go far beyond a patient’s need for a new hip or knee.
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WEBINAR – Federal Forum on Dementia
September 16, 2019
Dementia Advocacy Canada is inviting you to their webinar on September 19th at 7 pm EST
Read moreThe Future of Virtual Care: Support and Care for Seniors in the Comfort of Home
August 30, 2019
Just over a decade ago, Dr. Clare Liddy, a family doctor with The Ottawa Hospital Academic Family Health Team, and endocrinologist Dr. Erin Keely collaborated with the Bruyère Research Institute to develop a digital tool called eConsult.
Read more
Waiting to Feel Good Again: The Human Cost of Waiting for Surgery
August 30, 2019
According to Montreal orthopedic surgeon Dr. John Antoniou, the impact of Canada’s current wait times for joint replacement surgery go far beyond a patient’s need for a new hip or knee.
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Virtual Care in the North
July 31, 2019
Dr. Norman Smith, an emergency physician, sees the value of virtual care firsthand in his work in Inuvik, the Northwest Territories, where he is responsible for seven small communities.
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Seniors Are Among Canada’s Most Active Volunteers
July 17, 2019
Volunteering is a way for seniors to retain a sense of self and to continue to cultivate meaning in their lives; Canadian seniors are volunteering in record numbers.
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Remote Monitoring Technology Can Help Seniors Breathe Easier
July 15, 2019
Breathing conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are a major cause of hospital admissions in Canada.
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The Aging Crisis, Long Term Care & the Role of the Federal Government
July 8, 2019
In late June, several of Canada’s leading health care experts gathered for an Economic Club of Canada lunchtime event.
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Federal Government Announces Dementia Strategy
July 3, 2019
On June 17, the federal government announced Canada’s first national dementia strategy. The guiding principle of this ambitious strategy envisions a future wherein all Canadians living with dementia and their caregivers are supported.
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Geriatric Day Hospitals
June 17, 2019
Geriatric day hospitals are community-based or hospital outpatient programs intended to prevent unnecessary emergency department visits, hospital admissions and nursing home admissions
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Quebec City hospital uses mobile clinic to treat seniors at home
June 12, 2019
Treating senior patients at home, where they feel most comfortable: it’s such a simple idea, but making it happen in Quebec City required both inspiration and follow-through.
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Using technology so that seniors can continue to live at home
June 3, 2019
What if technology could be used to enable seniors with reduced autonomy to live at home for as long as possible?
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Health Human Resources: Effects and Challenges for Seniors Care
May 29, 2019
In November 2018, the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), along with other stakeholders, attended a roundtable meeting hosted by the Canadian Association for Long Term Care (CALTC). The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the widespread effects of shortages in the health care workforce (known as health human resources or HHR) on seniors care.
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Six in 10 people believe Canadians will have to delay retirement to afford health care: CMA tells seniors ministers it’s time for federal action
May 27, 2019
Seniors ministers and parliamentary secretaries from nine provinces, along with their staff, attended a special briefing last week, sponsored by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), on the looming seniors’ care crisis.
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Multidimensional Home Visit Programs: Helping Seniors Age in Place
May 15, 2019
For aging in place to be maximally effective, multidimensional preventative home-visit programs (MPHVPs) focusing on multidisciplinary assessment, diagnostics and intervention targeted to keeping seniors at home are essential.
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Quality of service for seniors with reduced autonomy varies widely in Quebec
May 13, 2019
Due to the lack of beds in hospitals and public residential and long-term care centres (CHSLDs), the Quebec health care system has for several years housed seniors with reduced autonomy in 212 private residences
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Healthy Canadians Grant Spotlight Nourishing our Seniors at Home
May 10, 2019
Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House, a community group that provides services for everyone from seniors to babies in a culturally diverse population, used their $10,000 grant from the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) Foundation to start their Nourishing our Seniors at Home (NOSH) program.
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What if there is something we can do to help our seniors with dementia?
May 9, 2019
Does someone you love suffer from dementia?
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May 1: National Physician's Day
May 1, 2019
Today the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) is celebrating National Physician’s Day.
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Technostress among Seniors
April 30, 2019
Researcher Galit Nimrod surveyed over 500 Internet users aged 60 years and older in Israel to explore how ICT use affects older populations.
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Healthy Canadians Grant: Les Sorteux
April 24, 2019
Read more about these recipients of a Healthy Canadians Grant and how they’re making their community better.
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2019 Budget and seniors
April 15, 2019
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ministers Visit Seniors Communities to Promote 2019 Budget
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The 2019 federal election and you: “Getting Health Back on the Agenda”
April 4, 2019
Fill our CMA's election survey and let us know what's important to you.
Read moreCanada's 2019 budget released yesterday
March 20, 2019
Budget makes important strides to support Canadians, but greater commitment from Federal government needed to improve health, especially for seniors.
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Canadian Grandparents: Older, More Multicultural, with Fewer Grandchildren to Spoil
March 19, 2019
As of 2017, there were over seven million grandparents in Canada, aged 45 years and older. Two years later, that group is continuing to grow and evolve.
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Canadian Seniors Among the Most Generous Charitable Donors
March 14, 2019
According to a report released by Statistics Canada...
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New federal seniors care benefit needed to help seniors and caregivers with increasing health expenses
March 11, 2019
New report highlights shortfalls in current tax credits and identifies new solutions to better support seniors and caregivers
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Becoming an empowered patient: a conversation with Elke Hutton
March 5, 2019
She talked to us about the lessons she learned caring for her dying husband and the health care challenges facing rural seniors.
Read moreSpotlight: Dr. Clare Liddy, Accelerating Seniors’ Access to Specialists
March 1, 2019
Dr. Claire Liddy discusses the eConsult model and how it helps patients.
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Input from Patients is Key to Developing a Pan-Canadian Dementia Strategy
February 12, 2019
Roughly half a million Canadians are currently living with dementia; by 2031, the Alzheimer Society of Canada expects that number to double.
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Seniors and caregivers need more financial support!
February 8, 2019
A new letter writing campaign.
Read moreMarguerite Blais: the woman looking out for Quebec’s caregivers
January 30, 2019
Quebec is the first province to appoint a minister responsible for caregivers.
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Is your home ready to grow old with you?
January 23, 2019
The ability for seniors to age in place may have more to do with “place” than “aging.”
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January is Alzheimer’s awareness month
January 18, 2019
This year we’re Alzheimer’s awareness month is fighting social stigma.
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How do we make our hospitals senior friendly?
January 14, 2019
Our hospitals were designed as acute care institutions, and not much about their focus has changed in the six decades since Canada’s health care system took shape.
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CMA Patient Voice: Twelve patient members ready to start work to inform CMA advocacy
January 9, 2019
CMA Patient Voice – a new patient liaison group that will bring insights from patients and their families to the CMA’s work.
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The Results Are In: Fall Prevention Polls
December 19, 2018
Throughout November, we asked for your feedback on issues related to fall prevention to better understand where our readers were coming from. Here are the results!
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Healthy Canadians Grant Spotlight: St. Ann’s Bay
December 17, 2018
Thanks to a Healthy Canadians Grant, a community group in rural St. Ann’s Bay, Nova Scotia, is introducing an innovative program targeting isolated seniors in the community.
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Universal Access to Healthcare: Tackling the Unique Callenges of Canadians with Disabilities as Seniors Population Rises
December 13, 2018
The significant increase in the population of seniors means it is more important than ever to make adaptations to physical environments and transportation so that they are accessible to people with differing levels of independence and who use mobility aids such as walkers, wheelchairs, scooters and canes.
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Healthy Canadians Grant Spotlight: Pilgrims Hospice
December 10, 2018
Thanks to a Healthy Canadians Grant, Pilgrims Hospice in Edmonton, Alberta, is expanding their popular Adult Respite Day Program with a new initiative focused on providing care for seniors suffering from dementia.
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Healthy Canadians Grant Spotlight: Ocean View Continuing Care
December 5, 2018
Alzheimer’s disease and dementia rob those affected of their most precious possession — their memories. A new project funded in part by a Healthy Canadians Grant aims to improve memory recall in seniors living with these conditions by allowing them to virtually visit familiar places from their past.
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The State of Caregivers Across the Globe
December 3, 2018
Supporting caregivers and the vital role they play in home care across Canada was the focus of a conference held recently in Toronto by the Canadian Home Care Association and its affiliate Carers Canada.
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Conference Report – This is Long-Term Care: Disrupting the Norm 2018
November 28, 2018
Our contributing editor for Fall Prevention Month, Dr. Eoghan O’Shea, attended a long-term care conference on behalf of the CMA from Nov. 14 to 16; he heard presentations relating to the intersection between the different facets of long-term care and fall prevention.
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Canadian Association on Gerontology 2018
November 22, 2018
Canadian Association on Gerontology 2018 — Making It Matter: Mobilizing Aging Research, Practice & Policy
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Fall Prevention resources
November 19, 2018
This list of fall prevention resources was compiled by Dr. Eoghan O’Shea as part of his collaboration with Demand a Plan for Fall Prevention Month
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Prevent Falls This Fall 2018
November 14, 2018
Many things can contribute to a person’s risk of falling. But what are some of the steps we can take to reduce those risks?
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Fall Prevention in images
November 12, 2018
Take a look at this infographic to learn common causes of falls, and some easy things you can do to reduce your risk!
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Fall Prevention Month: Addressing the Needs of Caregivers
November 7, 2018
Fall prevention awareness is essential for anyone living with frailty – and those who assist and care for them.
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Fall Prevention: Awareness and Risk Minimization Are Key
November 5, 2018
Many people might not consider the occasional fall to come with too many risks,but for seniors, the consequences can be serious.
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Ask the right questions about your medications
October 31, 2018
Patients and caregivers can ask their doctor, nurse or pharmacist for a medication review. Use the 5 Questions to Ask About Your Medications to guide your conversation.
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Not All Meds Get Along
October 29, 2018
The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) and its’ campaign Demand a Plan are proud to participate in Canadian Patient Safety Week 2018, taking place from October 29th to November 2nd.
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CMA Healthy Canadians Grant Spotlight: Intergenerational Cooking Project
October 24, 2018
Many seniors in our communities are isolated and don’t have access to nutritious foods.
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For Seniors, Influenza can Pose a Serious Health Threat
October 17, 2018
For many Canadians, a bout of the flu is an inconvenience; perhaps even representing some downtime to be pampered by a partner and binge on Netflix for a day or two. But for Canada’s 5.9 million seniors, influenza can pose a serious health threat.
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CMA Healthy Canadians Grants Spotlight: Global Walkers
October 15, 2018
Imagine walking around the world without ever leaving your hometown.
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CMA Healthy Canadians Grant Spotlight: Therapy Dog Program
October 10, 2018
For many people, animals are an important part of their lives. For seniors, especially those who are socially isolated or living in nursing homes, hospitals or retirement residences, animals can provide comfort and companionship, reduce stress and promote a sense of joy and well-being.
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Female Seniors Making the Most of Golden Years
October 3, 2018
More and more women are facing the realities of aging alone, but this doesn’t have to be a negative thing.
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Women Carry A Lot On Their Caring Shoulders
September 27, 2018
Being an informal caregiver requires devotion and involves a great deal of sacrifice and stress. More often than not, the brunt of that responsibility, sacrifice and stress falls to women.
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Hear! Hear! Hearing Loss in Seniors a Growing Health Challenge
September 20, 2018
Hearing loss is one of the most prevalent chronic conditions affecting Canadians over the age of 65, and the number of older Canadians with hearing loss is growing fast.
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Better eye health for seniors is good public policy
September 17, 2018
The reality is that many eye diseases have no symptoms and a verdict of 20/20 vision doesn’t necessarily mean all is well.
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British Columbia Plans Diversity Village to Care for Multicultural Aging Population
September 12, 2018
In Surrey, British Columbia, plans are underway to build a long-term care home that provides services for members of the “aging and diverse multicultural population” who are unable to care for themselves.
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Intergenerational Home Sharing: Tackles Housing Crisis, Saves Money And Creates Unlikely Friendships
September 10, 2018
In Toronto, an elderly widow decided it might be a good idea to get a roommate; so, she opened her doors to young strangers — mostly international students.
Read moreAge-Friendly Communities for Healthy, Independent Aging
September 6, 2018
Walk a mile in Ben's shoes and see the importance of age-friendly cities.
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RISE on a Mission to Combat Loneliness and Isolation of Older People across Canada
September 3, 2018
Launched in 2015, the RISE campaign exists to help Canadians of all ages and in all regions gain a greater awareness of the impact of loneliness and isolation on older citizens.
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‘I felt welcomed’: 25 patients attend the CMA’s first-ever Health Summit
August 29, 2018
Alongside more than 700 physicians and health stakeholders, the patient group took part in two days of presentations and panels related to this year’s theme: innovation in health care.
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Transportation Hotline for Vancouver Seniors
August 27, 2018
Transportation presents seniors and their caregivers with more than a few challenges
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Researcher at Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital in Montreal Working to Uncover the Secrets of Alzheimer’s Disease
August 22, 2018
Alzheimer’s disease is a devastating, yet enigmatic illness that affects hundreds of thousands of Canadians and even more people worldwide. There is no cure, no way to halt its attack on the brain, and very little that can be done to predict who might acquire the disease and why.
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CMA Health Summit: Watch the sessions live
August 20, 2018
A livestream will be available on the Health Summit website starting at 7 am CDT (local Winnipeg time) on Monday, August 20 so you can watch the sessions in real time!
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CMA Health Summit Spotlight: Philip Edcumbe
August 15, 2018
As a student in the MD/Phd program at the University of British Columbia, where he is pursuing a medical degree and has completed his PhD in engineering, Edgcumbe has helped develop many new medical technologies: an augmented-reality display of ultrasound images to help surgeons better “see” patients’ organs, and the pico lantern, a device that maps and projects a patient’s tumor(s) and blood vessels – in 3D – onto their body during surgery.
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Spotlight: The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Canada’s New Minister of Seniors
August 13, 2018
On July 18, 2018, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau named Hamilton West MP Filomena Tassi as Canada’s new Minister of Seniors. The portfolio dedicated to seniors that Tassi is in charge of is a new, welcome addition to cabinet for long-time seniors’ advocates – including the CMA and Demand a Plan.
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CMA Health Summit Spotlight: Zayna Khayat
August 8, 2018
After a year in the Netherlands, working as “Innovation Sherpa in Chief” at the REShape Health Innovation Centre, Zayna Khayat returned to Canada in January with a fresh perspective on what that future could look like.
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Fun. Laughter. Love. — Peel Region Long-Term Care Home Helps Seniors with Dementia Live Better
August 7, 2018
Imagine being trapped. Reliving your darkest moments, over and over. Being isolated. No one to talk to, to break the cycle of darkness. For most of us, it’s a terrifying thought. But for many of the hundreds of thousands of seniors living with dementia, this is the reality.
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New Pilot Project Could Deliver a New Level of Health Care to Seniors
August 1, 2018
In October 2017, the Perley and Rideau Veterans’ Health Centre (Perley Rideau), together with The Ottawa Hospital (TOH) and the Champlain Local Health Integration Network (LHIN), launched a pilot project to assist elderly patients who no longer require hospital care but are not yet well enough to return home.
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Creation of federal minister of seniors moves the dial on the CMA’s call for a national seniors plan
The federal government has created a new cabinet post for seniors, fulfilling one of the key recommendations in the CMA’s seniors care campaign.
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The CMA Takes its Work on Seniors Care to the International Level at the United Nations
July 25, 2018
On July 24, CMA President Dr. Laurent Marcoux was in New York City to support the creation a new UN convention on the rights of older persons and to advocate for Canada to champion its adoption.
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Canadian Government Responds to HUMA Recommendations for Seniors
July 23, 2018
On June 20, 2018, the federal government responded to a report by the House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (the HUMA Committee) entitled Advancing Inclusion and Quality of Life for Seniors in which they addressed six of the HUMA Committee’s recommendations in the report related to income security, housing, home care, informal caregivers, age-friendly communities and a national seniors care strategy.
Read moreNew federal cabinet minister appointed for seniors
July 18, 2018
Your support led to action!
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“Retirement” Isn’t What It Used to Be: Many Seniors Want to, Do Keep Working
July 18, 2018
As life expectancies are much longer now and when people retire they often have several decades of life ahead of them.
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Combating Loneliness and Isolation in Seniors with Community Engagement
July 16, 2018
Your life shouldn’t stop when you become a senior, or when you retire; you should be able to remain actively and meaningfully engaged with the world.
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Aging with a Disability: Flipping the Script of the Healthy Aging Paradigm
July 11, 2018
Many Canadians age into disability, meaning that they will acquire conditions and limitations as they grow old. But what of seniors who age with a disability?
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Senate Adopts Motion to Implement a National Silver Alert System
July 9, 2018
Silver Alert operates in a similar way to the AMBER Alert system for missing children but instead broadcasts alerts for missing adults who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.
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Frailty: It's Not Just About Age
June 27, 2018
The Canadian Frailty Network (CFN) is Canada’s leading network for seniors living with frailty. But the CFN takes great care to make it clear that frailty and age are not interchangeable terms, discussing how complex the issue is and how proactive efforts can help in caring for the frail population.
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2018 AgeWell Celebrations
June 25, 2018
On Friday, June 8, the CMA took part in the 7th annual Age Well Solutions conference in Ottawa, along with 31 exhibitors.
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Considering Dedicated Housing for LGBT Seniors
June 21, 2018
LGBT seniors say going into residential care can feel like going back in the closet. What are ways to address concerns about being out and open in a residential care setting?
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Quebec Government Intoduces 5-Year Action Plan for Seniors
June 19, 2018
On June 4, 2018, the Quebec government released its second five-year action plan to support active aging in the province.
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Dr. Chris Simpson on “Canada’s Wait Time Problem”
June 13, 2018
Former CMA president Dr. Chris Simpson publishes article on the wait time problem in Canadian health care; stresses the effect on seniors.
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Pharmacare is back on the national agenda; what it means for the CMA
June 11, 2018
Pharmacare is once again on the national agenda, with the parliamentary health committee issuing its report on the topic, and the Liberal government launching a federal advisory council on a national pharmacare plan.
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Dan's Law
June 6, 2018
The Duma family and Dr. Cargill are devoted advocates, raising awareness about necessary access to palliative care for so many patients who cannot wait three months.
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The patient perspective: CMA Patient Voice call for nominations now open
May 23, 2018
Are you interested in being a part of a vibrant patient group?
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New Alberta Law Set to Empower Seniors Living in Long-term Care Facilities
May 14, 2018
A new Alberta law titled The Resident and Family Councils Act, in effect as of Apr. 1, 2018, will give seniors living in long-term care and licensed supportive living facilities the right to establish self-governing resident and family councils.
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Quebec Improves Senior Abuse Complaints Process
May 9, 2018
Quebec is addressing the rise in senior abuse with new legislation that streamlines the process for complainants, with one consolidated committee handling complaints to ensure a quicker and more effective response.
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New Healthy Canadians Grants to support grassroots health initiatives
May 7, 2018
Healthy Canadians Grants to support seniors health in its first year.
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Quebec Tightens Safety Standards for Most Senior Residences
April 30, 2018
Quebec government has tightened regulations in residences that house elderly people with significant loss of autonomy, while softening standards in institutions for more autonomous people.
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PEI paramedics fill in the gaps for home care, helping palliative care patients and seniors stay home longer
When home care providers are not available, who can patients turn to? In Prince Edward Island, paramedics are helping to fill in the gaps.
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How can Canada support informal caregivers?
A new white paper, Why Canada Needs to Better Care for Its Working Caregivers, produced by the National Institute of Ageing (NIA) at Ryerson University, examines the financial, social and personal health burdens borne by caregivers in Canada.
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Presenting CMA Patient Voice
The Canadian Medical Association’s (CMA’s) newest patient engagement initiative, the CMA Patient Voice aims to further enhance our ability to advocate for a healthy population and a vibrant profession.
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HUMA Committee releases its recommendations on seniors care in Canada
April 16, 2018
On Mar. 29, 2018, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (the HUMA Committee) presented a report titled Advancing Inclusion and Quality of Life for Seniors in the House of Commons.
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New appointments to the National Seniors Council
April 11, 2018
On Feb. 23, 2018, the face of the National Seniors Council was renewed with the appointment of a new chair and four new members.
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Paramedic Home Care Programs Increasingly Popular
April 9, 2018
Ontario’s Prescott and Russell area is already set to expand their paramedic home care program in July 2018.
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International report compares seniors care in Canada to that in other developed countries: here are four paradoxical findings
April 4, 2018
In 2017, The Commonwealth Fund published an international report on seniors health care across 11 developed countries.
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