Spotting depression in Canada’s seniors and elders: according to the National Network of Depression Centers (NNDC), of those who are treated for depression, approximately 80% show improvement in symptoms 4-6 weeks after treatment.

The benefits of occupational therapy for Canada’s seniors: occupational therapy is a method of helping people lead independent and productive lives by allowing them to recover or develop skills needed to complete daily tasks. It has been known to be quite beneficial for seniors who feel as if they are no longer able to meet day-to-day challenges, both physically and mentally.

The importance of identifying and preventing alcohol abuse in Canada’s seniors: According to the NCADD, between 6 and 11 percent of elderly hospital admissions are due to alcohol or drug related problems.

Pneumonia is a major cause of mortality among seniors 65 and older. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, more people die each year from pneumonia than from car accidents. There are several primary reasons why seniors are more susceptible to contracting pneumonia.

47% of Canadians over the age of 60 suffer from hearing loss, ranging from the inability to hear certain voices to deafness. A senior with hearing loss may struggle with hearing alarms or telephones, or understanding speech on TV or radio; may be unaware that someone is talking or whispering; and may have a lack of understanding when talking on the phone, if several people are in a large room or many people are talking, or when a speaker’s face can’t be seen.

Every year over the age of 40, our metabolism slows. Though our nutritional requirements stay almost the same as younger adults, our energy needs decrease. To keep our bodies feeling good and functioning well, we need to be aware of how our diet needs are evolving as we age. Every stage of life brings changes to our bodies, and taking an active role in diet and nutrition can mean more energy and better disease prevention in the future.

Recovering from a health episode that lands you in the hospital can be challenging for the best of us, but for seniors who are socially isolated and struggling with loneliness, readjustment can be especially tricky—isolation and loneliness just may increase the odds that they will end up returning to the hospital with a recurring health episode.

Elder abuse encompasses a wide range of mistreatment, including physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, abandonment, and neglect. It most often comes from family members, friends, or surprisingly, even the seniors themselves in the form of self-neglect. Unfortunately, it is also greatly under-reported with one study estimating that only 1 in 14 cases is ever brought to the attention of authorities, medical professionals, or social service providers.

There are over 100 different types of arthritis and one in every three people, suffer from some sort of it. It is a disease of the musculoskeletal system, specifically the joints, and it is the main cause of disability among people over fifty-five years of age in industrialized countries. And although there is no cure for arthritis, as a caregiver you should know that there is a lot you can do to minimize its overall painful effects every day in the life of the senior you care for.

One of the best actions seniors can take to combat chronic disease is to get moving. Today almost 92% of seniors have at least one chronic condition and 77% have at least two. Chronic conditions are costly and are major contributors to disability and loss of independence.