After staying at home for 16 months, I became accustomed to this other routine. I slept in every morning, stayed up very late every night, and depended on grocery or restaurant curbside pick-up for food and meals. In certain ways, I became leery of other people. All this wearing of masks and keeping six feet from others helps us to stay healthy. Still, it does have surprising psychological effects too. Now, like me, you might be thinking of expanding the reach of your daily activities, and you’re not precisely certain how to do that. If you’re single and living on your own, you might be considering jumping back into the dating pool.
A home equity reverse mortgage is a loan secured against your home and is available to Canadian homeowners aged 55-plus. For a reverse mortgage, home equity is an essential component, because the amount of equity will determine the size of the reverse mortgage home equity loan available to you. A reverse mortgage home equity loan allows you to cash in up to 55% of your home’s value but included in that 55% will be any loans you already have against your home, which will be paid off by the reverse mortgage.
It became increasingly clear that more awareness around injury prevention was necessary, and for the last five years Injury Prevention Day in Canada’s focus around education and resources on ways to prevent injuries has been unwavering. The Division of Aging and Seniors is committed to decreasing hospital visits and injuries through various public education initiatives, by developing policy around injury prevention, and through community based programming that focusses on ways to prevent injuries and teaches Canadians 65+ how to avoid injury in their day to day lives. National Injury Prevention Day Canada serves as a reminder to Canadians of all ages that small changes, and a little added caution could be the difference between a great day and an unexpected trip to a hospital.
Canadian National Men’s Health month is upon us! Every June, heightened focus is placed on men’s health, men’s wellness, and men’s healthy diets across Canada. Throughout Men’s Health Month, men of all ages are encouraged to show their minds and bodies a little extra love by setting health goals, focusing on disease prevention, and incorporating healthy habits like having a men’s healthy diet that can be sustained beyond national men’s month.
As increasing numbers of Canadians line up to receive a second jab and more older Canadians have already been double vaccinated, the time has come to emerge from our pandemic caves. After 16 months of social isolation and near-total reliance on digital media to connect with others, our moment has arrived. As an organized person, who relies on my calendar and checks it frequently throughout the day, I’m beginning to plan. For me, planning is half the fun of doing. If the data is correct, at two to three weeks out from my second shot, I’ll be able to do much more than I can today.
There are trailblazers, and then there is Sue Pimento. In August 2005, at the age of 49, Sue married her partner Bonnie. That was only 1 month and 4 days after same-sex marriage became legal in Canada.
Friendship, both intimate and casual, plays a significant role in overcoming loneliness and illness as we age. The famous most extended longitudinal study of human development, the Harvard Study of Adult Development, which began in 1938 and continued for more than 75 years, explored these basic questions.
Before we delve into how to stay active at home, let’s look at why it’s good to stay fit and active. Movement is good for the mind, body, and soul. Most importantly (especially these days), its good for your immune system. Activity promotes healthy circulation, it helps prevent common diseases, and it keeps the body strong and agile. Canadians 55+ are often long standing members of their active adult communities and spend much of their time staying active after retirement. Many have found great social opportunities by participating in active games for Canadians 55+, while others have found fun ways to stay active at home.
Aging in place is our number one choice for good reason. Canada’s National Research Council has implemented the Aging in Place Challenge Program, which supports a sustainable model for long term care by shifting the focus toward preventive home and community based care based on four pillars: safety, health, connections and standards.
