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    Home Care Magazine

    STORIES AND IDEAS FROM Home Care Assistance

    Care Diaries

    Parkinson’s disease requires a holistic blend of caregiving options

    The Smyth’s weekly calendar looks a lot like a jigsaw puzzle.

    Care Diaries

    Heartfelt stories from Canadians about the reality of caring for an aging loved one.

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    Care Diaries

    Companionship is core to balanced, in-home senior care

    Older adults can live well and happily at home.
    Care Diaries

    A senior’s guide to the perfect summer stroll

    At 78, Patricia has never walked more. What started years ago as an early-morning tradition with neighbours has evolved over time. She’s moved away from the old neighbourhood, to embrace condo living. But that hasn’t slowed down her walking routine.
    Care Diaries

    The why behind our what at Home Care Assistance

    Caregiving is a highly personal experience—especially with seniors. For Timothy Thomas, who heads up Home Care Assistance’s Canadian division, that premise has always been the driving force between the team’s presence in Montreal, and beyond.

    Care Diaries

    6 reasons seniors can get excited that spring has finally sprung

    Spring fever is real—and it’s not just for kids. Seniors who’ve been disproportionately isolated during the long, cold winter and pandemic waves have a lot to gain as the clock springs forward, and the seasons change.
    Care Diaries

    Easy health checks to keep wellness on the up and up

    When Louis met his new family physician six weeks ago, his family was relieved. At nearly 87, he’s navigating the intricacies of diabetes, diminished hearing and vision issues. While his daughter keeps close tabs on his evolving medical needs, the pandemic itself has slowed some of the regularly scheduled appointments that Louis counts on annually.

    Care Diaries

    Feeling burned out? You’re not alone.

    At 62, Wendy* is burning out. Not yet retired, she pulls daily double duty between a full-time office manager job, and the evolving needs of her octogenarian parents. Even so, it’s not the exhaustion that gets her down, but rather: the guilt.
    Care Diaries

    New vaccine, new hope for seniors

    For Miralda and Luigi, the waiting game is finally over. After 62 years of marriage—and 12 months locked down together at home—they’ll be among the first wave of the general public to be vaccinated against COVID-19 this month. Their relief, even over the phone line, is palpable.
    Care Diaries

    Caregiver of the Month

    This month, we’re celebrating every caregiver who worked so hard to make 2020 a safer, better, happier year for our seniors.
    Care Diaries

    Help! Talking to your parents about home care

    It’s 5:30, you just left the office and know that your day is not over. In fact, it’s far from over. The kids have baseball and soccer practices, there is homework to help with, gym uniforms to be washed, and who knows what’s for supper. While you sort through the dinner options from what you think is in the fridge, your phone rings.
    Care Diaries

    The 3rd Floor

    A very personal story written by our scheduler Amanda Steben-Allard, who prior to joining our office team worked as a caregiver.
    Care Diaries

    A Day in the Life of a Caregiver

    A very personal story written by our scheduler Amanda Steben-Allard, who prior to joining our office team worked as a caregiver.
    Care Diaries

    An Extraordinary Man

    He is a wonderful being, a dedicated and generous man. Everything he did had to be perfect.
    Care Diaries

    He's an Artist. A Musician. A Dreamer

    Before my mom died, we couldn’t really tell if there was anything other than normal aging happening to my Dad. Well, yes, but no… it was hard to tell at first because my Dad is so easy going. He never stressed about anything, he never complained.
    Care Diaries

    Living With Alzheimer's: A Journey Across Generations

    His diagnosis hasn't been easy. For us to see him like this...to see his mind go has been really hard
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    How To

    Smart and simple advice on how to navigate the aging process.

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    How To

    Delivering exceptional home care across Montreal

    Every senior is unique. True, too, for the kind of home care support they may require. The most successful caregiving relationships are based on clients’ individualize needs and preferences. That personalized care experience is exactly what Joey Taylor’s Home Care Assistance Montreal team delivers across the city’s nursing homes.

    How To

    Year-in-review: our best tips and advice from 2021

    Our needs evolve as we age. That’s true for the seniors in our lives, and the families who support them along the way. This year, we explored a whole host of leading research, fresh perspectives, and best practices geared to empower seniors—and their loved ones— in living their best possible lives.
    How To

    What matters most when hiring a caregiver?

    Whether you’re looking to staff up a retail operation or nail down a general contractor, Quebec’s growing labour shortage is putting extra strain on all sectors—including healthcare. That can be a real concern for any family seeking to hire home care professionals to care for aging loved ones.
    How To

    Afraid to deconfine? Tips for seniors.

    When Sam’s* mother resorted to washing her clothes in her bathroom sink during the pandemic, it didn’t seem outlandish. At 78, the earliest days of the COVID-19 crisis saw her fearful of interacting with neighbours in the communal laundry room of the seniors’ apartment building she calls home.
    How To

    5 for 5: The top benefits of home care

    Every family is different. That goes double for the kind of home care that works best for a given senior. At Home Care Assistance, we start every client relationship with a deep dive into the senior we’ll be caring for.
    How To

    How are you preventing Alzheimer’s?

    Scrabble time is sacred time at Vivian’s house. As a full-time caregiver to her octogenarian parents, she knows better than to disturb their daily afternoon match.

    How To

    Updated: How much does home care cost? Can we afford it?

    We’re living longer than ever, according to the World Health Organization. For the most part, this is good news. Living longer gives us more time to spend with family and friends. More time to contribute our talents to the workforce and our communities. More time to indulge in leisure activities.
    How To

    Love your plants, and they’ll love you back

    “Mom, sometimes I think you love your plants more than you love me,” 73-year-old Angela* recalls her adult daughter saying a few years ago when she asked her to tend to her houseplants while she was away.
    How To

    Cutting through the noise of home care funding

    The best care comes down to what works for each unique individual, and their family. Personal preferences, specific needs, personality and mobility all play a part. The solution also needs to make sense financially.
    How To

    Yes, you can improve brain health at any age. Start with a puzzle.

    Before the pandemic, Elizabeth* had the kind of social life some 30-year-olds would envy. The 72-year-old met regularly with friends—some of whom she’s known since primary school—for lunch and dinner. She sang in her church choir, volunteered with Victim Services, attended stretch and yoga classes at her local leisure centre and squeezed in time for weekly art classes at a seniors’ centre.
    How To

    Caregiving, dementia & COVID-19: McGill’s Claire Webster talks coping

    When Claire Webster’s mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2006, it didn’t affect her life; it transformed it. A working mother of three young children, Webster found herself suddenly thrown into a world of caregiving she admittedly knew nothing about.
    How To

    Sending thanks across the circle of care

    Words are hard to find these days. There are many, many things we want to say about the weight of what we’ve collectively endured; especially, the oldest among us. The more we talked as a team about how best to close out the year, the more certain we felt that this holiday message should absolutely be about one simple thing: the power of giving thanks.
    How To

    Caregiver tips for less stress, more cheer this pandemic holiday

    Like many adult children, Alexandre and Martine* are struggling to help their mother stay engaged this holiday season. At 77, she lives independently in a seniors’ apartment complex. But, the thought of her spending Christmas alone is difficult to accept.
    How To

    Lighting up a senior’s mood as the sun sets on fall

    Like clockwork, Anna’s* mood starts to dip in early November. At 81, she’s felt the impact of shorter days, and longer nights, more sharply over the last few years. Even though she lives amongst family, the added stress of social distancing is making the darkest days of the calendar year a little darker still.
    How To

    4 guiding principles for where seniors hang their hat

    This month, we sat down with Home Care Assistance Montreal founders and father-son team Tim Thomas, and Timothy Thomas, to tackle the classic question: should we keep mom at home, or move her to a seniors’ residence?
    How To

    Hitting the easy button on healthy eating

    They say: you are what you eat. We say: then you better eat well.
    How To

    4 questions to ask caregivers now

    This month, we sat down with Home Care Assistance Montreal founders and father-son team Tim Thomas, and Timothy Thomas, to get a from-the-frontlines view of key elements families seeking senior care should be considering now.
    How To

    Top 3 Tips for Crushing Loneliness Now

    Loneliness is hard to handle. It’s also bad for our health. More and more research links feeling lonely directly with impaired immunity – making those who experience loneliness less resistant to infection and disease.
    How To

    5 for 5: Core tenets of balanced care

    Holistic care is better care. Full stop. We all define ‘successful aging’ differently, but studies show: aging well means much more than simply being free from disease.
    How To

    Why is my Power of Attorney no Longer Valid?

    In Quebec, once a bank or investment advisor is made aware of the incapacity of their client they stop honouring the Power of Attorney on file even if it has an incapacity clause. Read on to understand why and what to do about it.
    How To

    Dementia at a social distance

    You know and we know: monitoring someone’s overall health has become even more complex as we collectively cope with COVID-19. That gap widens if you’re watching for red flags around Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia in someone you love right now.
    How To

    Bring in the drive-in

    Nothing says summer escape like a night at the movies, and that’s never been truer for seniors who may be feeling isolated in the face of COVID-19.
    How To

    Take Care Plans From Good to Great

    Everyone has questions as we look towards a post-pandemic world. For seniors, that conversation is only just beginning. What should senior care look like now? And most importantly: how can we ensure it’s better?
    How To

    Hitting the High Notes on Mood

    There’s science behind that instant mood boost we get when a favourite song comes through our ear buds or car speakers. Even more importantly: the benefits that music can bring extend well into our senior years.
    How To

    Caregiver Rx: 15-minutes to a better, calmer you

    We get it: self-care sounds like one more thing to get done. But for anyone balancing caregiving with social distancing, working from home, schooling little ones and other responsibilities – self-care’s not just a nice to have. It’s essential.
    How To

    Big picture view: 3 Fitness finds for feeling well

    Exercise makes us happier. And let’s face it, everyone could use a little more happiness right about now.
    How To

    Keep calm and clean on.

    Spring cleaning has new meaning this year - especially if you’re helping a high-risk senior stay safe at home.
    How To

    Happiness isn’t cancelled

    Want some good news? You can help a senior travel the world, explore their passion or find a little joy even as they self-isolate to stay safe at home – all at the click of a mouse.
    How To

    Housebound? Tech ideas for seniors

    COVID-19 has changed everything overnight – especially for seniors, who are disproportionately at risk. Even as we work hard to collectively flatten the curve, Québec’s gone one step further asking anyone over 70 to stay home unless absolutely necessary.
    How To

    5 steps to using tech well

    Seeing the upside of technology is one thing. Helping someone effectively embrace it is another. More and more, we’re seeing the ways that technology can help seniors maintain their independence and live at home longer.
    How To

    Caregiver Rx: Top tips for taking care of your ticker after 65

    Heart-shaped chocolate boxes. Fresh bouquets delivered right to your door. And… heart disease? With all eyes on Valentine’s Day this month, we tend to forget it’s also heart health month – and a wonderful time to show your cardiovascular system some love.
    How To

    Big picture view: It’s February. So, we wrote a love letter to aging.

    It’s the month of love. Where we profess our feelings for one another through cards, flowers and chocolates. But wouldn’t it be great if we talked about self-love, too – especially loving and being kind to ourselves as we age?
    How To

    Raising the red flag on Alzheimer’s disease

    Not all memory loss is created equal. Everyone forgets little things from time to time. But when those little things start to become consistent or pervasive, they might be a sign of something bigger.
    How To

    Caregiver Rx: Taking doctor’s visits from good to great

    Knowledge is power, but that doesn’t make a conversation about Alzheimer’s disease any easier.
    How To

    Big picture view: Three tips for emotional wellness this winter

    Snow. Ice. Freezing rain. Winter brings a fresh wave of anxiety for caregivers worried about how the seniors in their lives will cope.
    How To

    Caregiver Rx: 6 steps to a safer winter

    Aging isn’t always easy. Same goes for caregiving. Layer in the added complexity of dementia or mental illness, and small obstacles can become much bigger. What’s more, both of these health issues are increasingly common among Canadian seniors.
    How To

    Caregiver Rx: Six ways to nurture brain health and mental wellness

    A dementia diagnosis can transform many things. What doesn’t have to change is someone’s ability to live a meaningful life. Finding the right activities to weave into the daily or weekly routine of a senior with dementia is important.
    How To

    Big picture view: 3 tips for differentiating between dementia and mental illness

    Aging isn’t always easy. Same goes for caregiving. Layer in the added complexity of dementia or mental illness, and small obstacles can become much bigger. What’s more, both of these health issues are increasingly common among Canadian seniors.
    How To

    Caregiver Rx: More than a question

    Asking your way to the right caregiving model
    How To

    Bridging the gap: Which red flags should your family be watching for?

    It takes a village to raise a child. But having a strong support network is meaningful at every stage of life – including the senior years.
    How To

    Caregiver Rx: A helping hand

    Myth-busting your way to getting the help caregivers need
    How To

    A little help from my friends:

    Encouraging social connections for seniors with dementia
    How To

    Simply Vital: 4 key take-aways on vital signs and the elderly

    Like every element of our health, vital signs are just one piece of a bigger puzzle. Taken alone, they’re stats. Considered together, they paint a picture of how we’re doing overall. That goes double for seniors.
    How To

    Slow Travel: The Senior's Guide to Seeing Australia

    Australia is a popular travel destination for many reasons. Not only does a trip to Australia let you escape to summer weather in the depths of winter, but as an English-speaking country, it's also an easy place for travellers from the US and Canada to get around.
    How To

    What (Not) to Say After Your Parent’s Dementia Diagnosis

    Your loved one just heard three difficult words: “You have dementia.” Then your head starts swirling with a million questions.
    How To

    15 Reasons You Need to Try a Low Sodium Diet (and the Trick to Beating Those Salt Cravings)

    Did you know that you have five different taste receptors? They are salty, sweet, bitter, sour and umami (savory). The first two are the ones that can cause health concerns. Salty and sweet cravings can be easily triggered.
    How To

    Coping with Each Stage of Dementia

    Many people with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia can live at home for many years, especially in a household with support from family or private caregivers who can ensure their safety and take care of things like cooking and general household chores. Yet the behaviors that emerge when someone has dementia can frighten or offend people who have never been around someone with dementia or who are not adequately prepared beforehand.
    How To

    Are you feeling SAD? Learn more about Seasonal Affective Disorder!

    Winter months can be rough on most however, this is particularly true for older adults. With a decrease in sunlight and an increase in extreme cold weather, older adults are more at risk for falls and are more likely to be socially isolated in the colder months. Due to snowy and icy conditions, leaving home becomes more difficult and strenuous.
    How To

    Juggling Your Loved One’s Independence and Safety — at the Same Time

    Help your parents stay safe at home while maintaining their independence
    How To

    Dementia, Relationships and Intimacy

    Learning to cope with the changes that a loved one experiences following the diagnosis of dementia can be a major stressor...
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    News

    Stay up-to-date on the latest news from Home Care Assistance.

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    Research

    Smart insights into the world of aging and care.

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    Research

    How to Reduce Falls and Injuries Among Seniors

    Believe it or not, falls and fall-related injuries among the elderly are considered a global health concern.
    Research

    Alzheimer’s Facts You Might Not Know but Should

    There are a lot of myths surrounding Alzheimer’s. Below are 10 facts about Alzheimer’s that aren’t as well known and will help you get educated about the disease.
    Research

    What is Late-Onset Alzheimer’s and How Can You Defend Against It?

    Alzheimer’s is the third leading cause of death in our elderly population today. And what we call “late-onset Alzheimer’s” is the most common form of the disease, generally affecting people over the age of 65. However, the consensus is that late-onset Alzheimer’s typically manifests itself in the brain for many years before symptoms appear. Let’s dive deeper into understanding what late-onset Alzheimer’s is and how we can help protect our brains from developing it.
    Research

    Immunity and Alzheimer's: Your Brain's Healing Process

    These are compelling days in the study of neurological illness. The rate of the expansion of neurological research for brain health is astounding. This article is intended to inform you about some relatively new research that will give you a broader perspective on what causes Alzheimer’s disease. Let’s enhance our understanding and appreciation for what the scientific community is up to in developing useful treatments for Alzheimer’s disease.
    Research

    Sleep and Alzheimer’s: How Sleep Problems Can Contribute to Developing Alzheimer’s Disease

    Did you sleep well last night? If you did, well done! If you didn’t, and this is a common occurrence, you may want to consider having a conversation with your physician.
    Research

    New Research Suggests Alzheimer’s Starts Outside of the Brain

    Learn how studies indicate that the whole body impacts a healthy brain and one’s susceptibility to Alzheimer’s
    Research

    How One Protein Could Erase All Damage Caused by Alzheimer’s

    The latest Alzheimer’s research brings hope for future cure
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