Our medical director Dr Kim Panovka and her family get the flu shot each year.

Visit ontario.ca/flu to find a flu shot clinic near you.

Below, we include an article from Dr David Williams, the Chief Medical Officer of Health for Ontario.

Article from Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer

See bottom of blog post for a Wall Street Journal article on this study as well as a video from Dr Sanjay Gupta of CNN.   I also include a link to the computer game used for speed training called Double Decision.

Screen Shot of Double Decision Speed Training Game

Study Summary and Context:

The encouraging result was that even adults who only did 11 to 14 hours of speed training for a period of weeks at the start of the study had a 33% lower incidence of dementia ten years later.     As parents we tell our children to play less video games, but in this case a specific video game that helps seniors process visual information more quickly turns out to be very beneficial.

We should remind you that while this was a credible long term study, it has not yet been peer reviewed and more research is required on optimal speed training.   There is no cure for Alzheimer’s, and no consensus on the mechanics underlying the disease.    In general terms, brain exercises are believed to work by leveraging neuroplasticity – the brains ability to re-organize itself by creating new connections.

The study was funded by the US based National Institute on Aging, and studied over 2,800 health adults for 10 years.    Adults were split into memory training, reasoning training and speed training.   The study was released at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Toronto in July of this year.

See Links Below:

WSJ Article on Speed Training Study for Dementia

CNN’s Dr Sanjay Gupta on Dementia Study

The primary computer game used to conduct speed training is called Double Decision.  See below for the website that sells that game (no affiliation to our company).

Site to Purchase Access to Double Decision Speed Training Game

At My Healthcare Concierge, we assign an Occupational Therapist on each case since we believe that every seniors should be “active” and engaged, whether they are using a walker, recovering from a stroke, or struggling to find new routines after the loss of a spouse.   We believe that OT’s are the secret sauce for better seniors care, whether you have been discharged from hospital or simply wanting a high quality of life despite normal physical and mental declines that come with aging.

https://www.thestar.com/life/health_wellness/2016/10/17/doctors-notes-how-occupational-therapists-can-help-with-transition-from-hospital-to-home.html

Many of us at My Healthcare Concierge are runners, so we know that most runners (in their 30’s and 40’s) aspire to run a marathon in under 4 hours.    I have tried twice and failed, so I am particularly proud of Ed to do it at his age.

While Ed is the exception, he is a reminder of the power of remaining active and healthy.   Life can throw many health curveballs at us even if we do everything right, but it certainly helps to exercise regularly and live life to the fullest.

Congratulations to Ed Whitlock!   See the great article below in the Globe and Mail.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/more-sports/record-busting-marathoner-ed-whitlock-sets-new-mark-at-age-85/article32395454/

The poll was part of the annual report from the Canadian Medical Association.    At My Healthcare Concierge, we see families struggling with gaps in the system in those  areas.    There have been suggestions that the funding formula is changed so that provinces with a larger percentage of elderly residents receive additional funding.     That makes sense.

Given funding challenges of all governments, there will always be gaps.   Governments should certainly address seniors health, mental health, drug costs, palliative care and home care.  However families and caregivers will always need to advocate for themselves and, where they can afford to, supplement with the additional support and services they need to improve health, solve care challenges and maintain quality of life.

See the Globe and Mail article:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/more-federal-funds-needed-to-deal-with-aging-populations-health-costs-cma/article31484696/?platform=hootsuite

The overall issue is that roughly one billion in dispensing fees were paid to pharmacies over five years to dispense drugs that cost 800 million.  Part of the issue is the practice of weekly dispensing for all residents in nursing homes versus monthly.    While there are good arguments for this for some residents (frequent changes in dosages and drugs and desire to not waste medication) the data shows that most residents do not require it.    Dispensing fee’s gain greater scrutiny for nursing home residents given efficiency  / volume gains for pharmacies compared to their retail operations where they must speak with each family about each prescription.   Pharmacies servicing nursing homes deal only weekly with medical staff at the nursing home.

While it is good that seniors benefit from the Ontario Drug Benefit Plan, clearly there is room for improvement to make it more efficient and reduce dispensing charges for seniors.

Read Toronto Star Article on Dispensing Fees in Nursing Homes

It is important to remember that other drugs which performed well in early trials, later proved to not work, or had significant side effects.   For aducanumab (we are not sure who comes up with drug names), there were reported side effects in some participants who were on higher dosages, including minor brain swelling and headaches.     So while this clinical trial does show a “breakthrough”, science is still a long way away from being able to help your loved one suffering today.

See Article From Nature

See How the Press Reported This

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/fitness/older-athletes-offer-a-master-class-on-aging/article29804974/?platform=hootsuite

According to the article from the Hamilton Spectator, “…Two-thirds of caregivers suffer major depressive symptoms in the first week after patients leave the hospital……A year later, more than 40 per cent still show signs of clinical depression….”.   The study included 280 caregivers with loved ones who received at least seven days of mechanical ventilation before discharge from intensive care units.    Read the article at:

http://www.thespec.com/news-story/6694765-caregivers-at-high-risk-of-depression-finds-hamilton-study/

See Globe and Mail Article on Poll