Did you know that in 2018 the number of people older than 64 surpassed the number of children under five years old? It was the first time in history that this was the case. The timing of this change, though, varied significantly between countries.  In higher-income countries with low fertility rates and longer life expectations, it has been shifting for decades. Take the United States, for example, where the under-fives were already outnumbered by those older than 64 in 1966; in Spain, it...

Did you know that nearly 25% of all households are providing care for the elderly? Although you may be willing to help, you may find unexpected challenges in doing it. Matters you never thought about are now your responsibility: healthcare, housing, financial, legal matters, day-to-day issues involving nutrition, and personal safety. With these, you may find yourself worried, overworked, and exhausted. Listeners, being primary caregivers, can relate to this. Today, we have with us Dr. Marion...

Did you know that over 50% of people over 60 years old in Asia and Africa live in extended family setups? This number is approximately 40% in Latin America and the Middle East. Meanwhile, in North America though, that's only 7%. In North America, people over 60 living as a couple is close to 50% while those living solo ager or those living by themselves are over 25%. Living alone brings its own unique sets of challenges and needs. What are these challenges and needs? To talk about these and...

Did you know that the population of seniors, ages 65 and older, in Canada will grow approximately 70% over the next 20 years? While the older seniors, ages 75 and older, will grow at an even faster rate of 100% over the next 20 years, which is a steep increase in the number of seniors. With this information at hand, there is a need to improve care and advocacy for seniors in Canada and internationally to get more attention towards the subject.   Fortunately, today we have Erin Galyean,...

In this episode, Rafiq shared his top 5 tips from Season 1 on how he became a better caregiver for his loved one. He will discuss each tip and recap each episode.   Tip 1: Teepa Snow's Episode 6 Title: Using A Positive Approach To Dementia Care Link: https://www.seniorspodcast.com/2020/01/episode-6-using-a-positive-approach-to-dementia-care/   Tip 2: Mary Sue Wilkinson's Episode 9  Title: The Power Of Music In Dementia Care Link:...

I have four facts to share with you today: First, did you know that every day in North America, over 10,000 people turn 65? Second, seniors tend to rent as they age. 83% of seniors up to the age of 79 own a home, but when they enter the age category of 80+, the ownership statistics go down to 63%, a 20% drop, people tend to like to rent more when they age over 80. Third, 60% of seniors say that they have more things than they need and a whopping 75% say that the amount of these things that...

Did you know that over 25% or 1 out of 4 Canadians will be over the age of 60 by 2036? Did you know that 80% of retired Canadians have a fixed income with approximately 27,000 dollars for the median income?  With these facts in mind bundled with the sub-standard system for long-term care for seniors and shortage of retirement homes, there is a need for a lot more work for seniors. Caregivers also play an essential role in this as companions of their loved ones in their old-age journey.  ...

Death is inevitable. However, talking about death and dying are uncomfortable or upsetting, much more challenging to talk about someone we dearly love, and all the more if we talk about death while that loved one is still living. Study shows that having conversations about these subjects within families and communities can help the caregivers prepare emotionally and financially. There is so much to prepare for the death of a loved one. Among these are preparing for the funeral, expenses,...

Fact check! Did you know that the elderly are the fastest-growing age group? And did you know that only less than 4% of people over Sixty-Five years old are in nursing homes? In today's world, we get these stats all the time, right! We have the information and the data.  However, elderly care and caregiver challenges were little known facts in the 90s, and having the foresight in the 90s of this upcoming silver tsunami is something.  Our guest today, Denise Brown, launched caregiving.com. It...

Did you know that 40% of caregivers are in high-burden situations? Older caregivers who are above seventy-five years old provide over thirty hours of caregiving work a week. Primary caregivers of people with dementia spend an average of nine hours per day, providing care. It truly is a lot of hours! A lot of tired burned out caregivers indeed. Thus, caregivers need help! They need guidance and a support system around them all the more.   Today, we have with us someone who has been helping...

Now, let us talk about facts concerning caregiving in society today: Number 1: Did you know that an estimated 50 million-plus people in North America are caregivers for a family member or a loved one?; Number 2: Approximately 75% of caregivers are women who may be spouses, partners, siblings, children, or neighbours even.; Number 3: About 15% of caregivers care for two or more people, right, so that is an even bigger job.; Number 4: Although men were traditionally not in the role of family...

Did you know that 60% of people with dementia will wander?  Anyone who has memory problems and can walk is at risk for wandering.  It is risky for dementia patients because they may not remember their name or address and can become disoriented even in familiar places. It is just one of the many potential risks and challenges a caregiver has to work around while caring for a loved one with dementia.  Today, we have Karen Tyrell, a dementia expert, who has over 25 years of experience on this...

Did you know that women have a higher risk of dementia? Nearly twice as many women have Alzheimer's disease as men. Alzheimer's disease also worsens more quickly in women.  Also, did you know that heart disease can raise the risk of getting Alzheimer's disease? Other conditions that cause heart disease such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and deficient diet are all links to a higher risk of getting Alzheimer's disease. Whatever the gender or the cause, once dementia...

Did you know that there are over 10 million new cases of dementia every year? That is one new case of dementia every three seconds or so. By the time you will be finished listening to this episode, that will be close to a thousand new cases of dementia worldwide. That is scary! It is not a country-specific challenge but a worldwide phenomenon.  It is a fact that there is no cure for dementia. However, some great minds are playing their part to make a dementia caregiver's journey relatively...

Did you know that according to the 2019 University of Michigan National poll on Healthy Aging, 55% of participants age between 50 and 80 own at least one pet and majority of these older adults felt aging was easier, both physically and mentally, because of their pets? Approximately 80% participants said pets reduce their stress. Also, over 25% of pet owners reported that their pet's needs take priority over their own health needs. These stats and more prove that pets play a very important...

Did you know that worldwide, around 50 million people have dementia and there are nearly 10 million new cases every year? Dementia is one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older adults worldwide. Not only it impacts the life of a person affected by dementia it can be overwhelming for the families especially their caregivers.  Physical, emotional, and financial pressures can cause great stress and support is required from health, social, financial, and legal systems from...

Did you know that for most people a routine is pleasant and useful to keep us grounded during the stressful time?  For those with dementia, routines are key components of staying healthy. Typically, people with dementia have trouble forming new memories and learning new information. For them, routine and repetition are critical to function. While they can learn new things, it is very difficult and takes much longer. A good routine includes consistent sleep and wake times, hygiene, meal...

Did you know that according to a 2020 Aging in Place report, 86% of baby boomer homeowners in Canada's key metro areas want to live in their current home for as long as possible? Thirty six percent of those are likely to move. So, why do people feel that they will be compelled to move?  Almost half of the survey participants referred the reason to be their mobility or their ageing needs—things like elevators are now required. Also, a large portion used safety as their reason for moving....

Did you know that baby boomers represent nearly 20% of the American and close to 30% of the Canadian population? By 2030, all baby boomers will be older than 65. Most people want to age in place (i.e. they want or they love to continue living in their homes). But for many older adults, the decision of ageing in place comes with it's own challenges like transportation needs, limited socialization opportunities, meal preparation help, or medication reminders. There are many needs that still...

Did you know that barring a medical breakthrough, the number of people aged 65+ with dementia may nearly triple by 2050? It means there will be more need for dementia care.  On the other hand, according to a 2020 survey of primary care physicians, nearly half of those physicians say that the medical profession is not prepared to meet this increased demand. Bottomline is, there is a huge gap between the need for dementia care and what our current medical system is offering.  To fill this...

Did you know that there are over 6.5 million Canadians over the age of 65? Our older adults and loved ones have some unique needs and evolving challenges. They need advocacy, they need a voice, they need a change in elder care system. A change in the mindset that enables and empowers our seniors in our communities. Let's have an insightful chat with someone who has been in the elder care industry for over 30 years now--Joy Loverde. Joy has a reputation for being a path carver and a visionary...

Did you know that a baby boomer is a person who was born between 1946 and 1964? This group represents nearly 20% of American and 30% of the Canadian population. By 2030, all baby boomers will be older than 65 and many won't have a family caregiver to help them take care of themselves.  Question is, who will take care of them when they are old? Yes, there are government programs that provide healthcare and other support but there has to be a change in the mindset that enables and empowers...

Did you know that there are currently over 75 million unpaid caregivers in North America? Mostly, family caregivers of individuals who want to be able to care for themselves. Being a caregiver is arguably the hardest job in the world. What's the secret to being an excellent caregiver? Self-care—put your oxygen mask on first, show up for your self—so that you can show up for others.  In this episode, we discussed caregiving with Dawn Renee. She is the founder of Traveling Caregivers, a...

Did you know that there are over 6.5 million Canadians over the age of 65? Almost 11 thousand of those are over the age of a hundred. Our older loved ones and community members have some unique needs and evolving challenges. They need advocacy and they need a voice. In this episode, we have two such experts representing their organisations whose work over the years have proven pivotal and has helped older adults not only in Canada but around the world.  First, let me introduce Gregor...