Seniors and Suicide
This article bugged me all weekend. On Saturday morning, the Saturday Life section of the Ottawa Citizen led off with a front page story about the increase in suicide among the elderly - especially men. While the experts gave varying opinions an underlying theme was...
Alzheimer’s Disease and Coconut Oil
Recently at a presentation I was giving on cognitive interventions with individuals with Alzheimer's disease I was asked if I'd heard about the use of coconut oil as a treatment regime. I have to admit that I didn't really have an opinion on it as I had not studied it...
Reflections on Aging
Cicero called old age - " the autumn of life" and certainly each stage of life has its own beauty and its own tasks. There is a dignified maturity to autumn that is restful and calls upon us to reflect...a certain sharpness to the air and shadows that focuses the mind...
Alzheimer’s – the Caregiving Crucible
I was spending some quiet time thinking about a recent talk I have to give at a conference in March. I was mulling over different ways to approach the topic on maintaining connections in relationships where Alzheimer's is part of the equation. As I was thinking about...
Alzheimer’s Did Not Dim Her Shining Eyes
Last week I had the opportunity to work with an Alzheimer's Day Program using the InterAct™ kit. We had a lot of fun with great interaction and engagement by the individuals who participated. One woman, in particular, really stood out for me. While I don't know her...
Play to Your Strengths
We've all heard it before - 'Play to Your Strengths". This adage applies in all sorts of situations in life and I was reminded of its applicability when I was presenting to an Early Stage Alzheimer's Group at the Lanark County Alzheimer's Society this week. One of the...