Installing gyms on Deer Lodge Centre’s geriatric rehabilitation units has improved quality of care for patients and families, and boosted collaboration between healthcare teams. By Ryan McBride At Deer Lodge Centre, we bring the gym to you. That’s the basic idea behind recent changes to how Deer Lodge provides physio and occupational therapy to patients on its geriatric rehab units. …
Everything you wanted to know about your pelvic floor but were afraid to ask
Pelvic floor muscles that are weak, tight or loose may be the culprit behind frequent urination. Lifestyle changes and a visit to a physiotherapist may bring all the relief you need. By Lindsay Mykes They’re the hardworking muscles nobody wants to talk about. In fact, nobody really thinks about them until they stop doing their jobs. They’re the pelvic floor …
How your vision changes as you age
You can’t prevent many of the changes to your eyes that come with age, but you can protect your vision and reduce your risk of developing eye disease. The eyes have it. Until they don’t. For most of us, our eyes begin to show signs of aging in our mid-40s. From there, our vision deteriorates with every passing year. In …
How your hearing changes as you age
Do you have trouble understanding what people are saying in a noisy place? Do you think everyone is mumbling? Hearing loss may the culprit—and it can take a toll on your wellbeing. Help is available! Aging is the number one cause of hearing loss So says the Canadian Hearing Society, which also reports that the incidence of hearing loss is …
How your mouth changes as you age
Regular dental checkups and hygiene can help prevent or catch age-related problems of the mouth, including cavities, gum disease, stomatitis and oral cancer. By Ryan McBride Open wide and say “Ahh” It used to be thought that tooth decay and an overall decline in dental health were inevitable consequences of getting older. Not so, today. Thanks to advances in dental …
Serving wholeness
Occupational therapists construct a therapeutic approach for clients based on each individual’s particular needs and goals. Occupational therapists are healthcare professionals dedicated to helping clients adapt to the challenges of everyday life By Lindsay Mykes Imagine a river. It flows down a mountain into a valley. Along the way, the river follows many different paths. The water runs over, around …
A Delicate Balance
“Balance is not just one sense, but a complex puzzle comprised of many interlocking pieces, including stability, strength, range of motion, the ability to anticipate and react.” A research collaboration between Deer Lodge Centre and the University of Manitoba aims to give therapists better tools for assessing falls risk By Ryan McBride Not falling over is harder than you think. …
Strength training for older adults
It’s never too late to start a strength training program—and doing so may be vital to your health. Story by Shawna Culleton. Photos by Twila Cuthbert (BKin, CSEP-CEP, CSCS), strength coach at Pure Lifestyle, When it comes to fitness, strength training offers the greatest rewards for your time and money, no matter what your age. But if the very …
Aches and pains and aging, oh my!
Feeling sore? You’re in good company. Millions of Canadians suffer from some sort of chronic pain (chronic meaning the long-term kind that sticks around after an injury or illness). Millions more suffer from short-term (acute) pain. The good news is, knowing what aches and pains to expect can help you prevent and treat them. Here are seven types of pain …
Everyday tips on lowering blood pressure
What are your numbers? The very question can make your blood pressure to soar. High blood pressure, or hypertension, carries an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. But it’s called the silent killer for a reason: it often carries no symptoms, at first. The damage to your blood vessels and heart progresses without you even knowing. There’s good news: …
What your doctor wish you knew about aging
School prepares us for a lot in life, but one thing none of the courses really covered is aging. What happens to us as we get older? What will each stage feel like? What problems should we expect, and how should we deal with them? Most of us simply blunder into it and take each change as it comes. The …
Proper hydration: the key to good health
By Victoria Beechum Summertime is the season of sipping cool drinks. When the mercury rises, nothing beats a thirst-quenching, icy cold beverage. But when temperatures start to drop again, and we don’t have our thirst to constantly remind us, it can be easy to forget the importance of proper fluid intake. Water is essential to life Our bodies are made …