Retired nurse Nita Levy and her husband, Michael, a retired accountant, established Paul’s Club in 2012. They were inspired to create a program appropriate for people’s ages and abilities after their brother-in-law, Paul, died as a result of early-onset dementia.
Category: Health
Health research in SA short R1.6 billion
Bongani Mayosi, head of the department of medicine at the University of Cape Town, explains the shortfall in government spending for health research and suggests how the problem can be corrected.
A third of South Africans affected by mental illness – expert
July is Mental Illness Awareness Month and the South African Depression and Anxiety Group is encouraging people to seek help.
Innovation is key to future of B.C. health-care system
More seniors, chronic illnesses, and tighter budgets will add up to mounting pressure on health services in the coming years — but this might not be cause for alarm.
Vancouver’s medical and tech sectors come together for innovative health apps
Auti-Sim, a game currently available for free online, was created by a developer, designer, and early childhood educator in Vancouver. Set in a virtual playground, the game allows users to see and feel what childhood play is like for someone with the hypersensitive hearing that can result from autism.
Mental Health Week encourages women to speak out
With her blond hair shimmering in the sun as she watched ferries sail by, the 27-year-old showed no sign of the mood swings and depression that have plagued her mind for much of her life.
A GP for Me program aims to help you find a family doctor
In Vancouver, it is estimated that over 100,000 people don’t have a family doctor and about 24,000 are actively looking for one, according to the Vancouver Division of Family Practice.
Discussing end-of-life care with family invaluable, experts say
Death isn’t a typical topic of conversation at the dinner table for most families. But in the event a person is nearing death and can no longer voice their wishes, their family is often left guessing what their loved one’s wishes would be.
New Hamburg couple struggles with end-of-life planning
Already experiencing a loss of mobility, fine motor skills including writing, and his sense of smell, the 70-year-old has begun to think about and plan his death to ensure the quality of life he wants to maintain is honoured.
Learning to ‘speak up’ about final wishes
No one enjoys talking about the prospects of their own death. But avoiding a conversation could mean not having your wishes carried out in your final days and burdening your family with difficult decisions.
Students draw attention to mental health issues
“We’re looking at mental health education on campus and to be able to provide that to all members of the Laurier community,” said Adrienne Luft, the university’s mental health and student support team leader.
Hospitals find ways to meet growing demand with tight budgets
According to data presented by Shilton, Ontario’s hospitals receive the lowest provincial funding per capita in the country. As a result, Ontario shows higher rates of patient care occurring outside hospitals.
Strategies to reduce ER wait times will bear fruit, officials say
From patients with non-emergency medical problems to delays in accessing medical test results, officials at the Waterloo Wellington Local Health Integration Network say there are many reasons why the region’s emergency rooms appear to be overflowing.
Kitchener mom appalled by emergency room wait
“He was left for eight and a half hours and he was checked three times (by nurses),” Brindley explained. “I brought him to them to check him. They didn’t come to see how we were doing and his condition worsened as the night went on.”
Baby boomers at risk of cardiac illness in old age, report says
A new report released by the Heart and Stroke Foundation found that baby boomers will experience a ten-year gap between how long they live and how long they live in good health.
Local forum sheds light on Alzheimer’s and dementia
With so much variation and overlapping between Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia, an individualized approach to treatment and support must be adopted by caregiving communities, Whitehouse said.
Bill paves way for national suicide prevention strategy
“It is a pretty serious situation that we have in our country … that alone is a good enough reason to have some sort of national framework so we can all work together,” said Rob Martin, chair of the local suicide prevention council.
Brain simulator could provide insight to damage, diseases
The technology, designed by a team at the University of Waterloo’s Centre for Theoretical Neuroscience, simulates 2.5 million neurons making it the world’s largest simulation of a functioning brain.
A place to call home
Meeting Dora Fernandes, a funny and joyful woman, it’s hard to imagine she was ever known for never having a smile on her face.
Universities, college speak out about mental illness
The University of Waterloo released a report last week that reviewed current services — health, counselling and support for disabilities — and made recommendations to improve ease of access and reach out to a wider range of students.