Older Adults

This book is about the many problems and pressures experienced by families caring for aging parents. It offers practical solutions to help manage the constant struggle between the heart and reason, difficult decisions, many stressors and emotional turmoil that comes with caring for elderly parents.

These pages explain how depression develops in older adults, what are the causes, symptoms and types of depression. Each aspect of depression is accompanied by a video presentation. A list of additional resources is also provided.

This is a practical guide to making decisions about staying in your home, adapting it to your changing needs and maintaining a great quality of life.

This Federal Government page lists resources for seniors available on the Government of Canada and on the provincial governments' sites.  The Benefits Finder may help you to find benefits, programs and services available from the federal, provincial and territorial governments.

Combining demographic predictions with current examples, Koenig et al. make a convincing case that religion will be an important resource for coping with the coming elder care crisis. They argue that religious participation contributes to healthy aging. Both membership in a faith community and individual spiritual practice are significantly correlated with longer life spans, shorter hospital stays and reduced incidence of depression. Authors suggest that religious organizations, volunteer networks and especially local congregations will be indispensable in caring for older adults and helping them care for each other.

The Community Navigation and Access Program (CNAP) is a network over 30 community support service (CSS) agencies in the Toronto area that are collaborating to improve access and coordination of support services for older adults, their caregivers and others involved in seniors' care. A list of participating organizations and a list of available services are provided.

This booklet informs about services available through Community Care Access Centres (CCAC) and what you can do if you are not happy with your home care services, or you are not getting the services you want. This resource also outlines who is eligible to receive services, and how to go about filing complaints.

This is a practical, non-technical guide to minimizing the occurrence of falls as well as their devastating effects. The book recommends taking stock of one's current level of health, physical abilities, ongoing medical concerns and current medication. It covers the risk factors of falling, how to alleviate them, as well as some general practices for living a healthy life.

Located in Toronto, Baycrest is one of the world's premier academic health sciences centers focused on aging. Through its strengths in research and education, Baycrest is using the power of inquiry and discovery to improve the health of tomorrow's elderly while at the same time care for and enhance the quality of life of the elderly today. Baycrest provides care and service to approximately 2,500 people a day through the Baycrest Geriatric Health Care System which includes a unique continuum of care from wellness programs residential housing and outpatient clinics, to a 472-bed nursing home, and a 300- bed complex continuing care hospital facility with an acute care unit.

SPRINT Senior Care provides a range of services and programs for seniors and for their families. Services include home care, counselling transportation, meals, day programs, safety and more. Services are provided at home and in the community at low cost. Caregiver relief, educational resources and support group information is also available.

A Guide to Programs and Services for Seniors in Ontario is a good source of information on social and financial programs and services that are available to Ontario’s seniors. It provides contact information for government and community agencies and access to legislation and other related documents.

HouseCalls is an interdisciplinary community-based primary health care model for home bound seniors living in a defined affiliated area. The physician led team of medical professionals provides ongoing medical care for frail, vulnerable, marginalized and home bound seniors. The team provides integrated in-home primary care, geriatric care, chronic disease management and end of life care. The team also facilitates linking clients and caregivers to resources in the community.

The Active Living Canada promotes a society where all older Canadians are leading active lifestyle which contributes to their overall well-being. The website offers active living tips  for specific conditions in several languages, healthy living workshop resources, age friendly guides and a series of short videos with tips for the easy daily exercises.

This webpage explains different types of anxiety, signs of anxiety and their impact on an older person's daily functioning.  It also gives practical advice on dealing with anxiety problem and provides contact information if further help is needed.

This webpage addresses variety of issues related to safe housing options for older adults who would like to continue living in their home or in their community. It covers new accessible home design options and modifications to existing homes that enable independent living for persons with disabilities or other limitations.

This resource provides examples of questions that can be found on the written portion of the driver's examination. This is a helpful tool which gives you an idea of what to expect on the knowledge test. Drivers over the age of 80 must take a driver's examination every two years.

The book takes us on journey through the health and financial issues encountered by many parents.  It provides practical advice on empowering parents and helping to manage their health and taking charge of their wellness. It gives pointers on how to create a sense of trust to have honest conversations about mental abilities, finances, taking care of daily needs and planning their future living arrangements. Chapters include such vital issues as estate planning, taxation, insurance and other issues related to financial security.

This resource provides information on the 55 Alive Driver Refresher Course for seniors. Operated by the Canada Safety Council, the course offers seniors the opportunity to update their driving skills, and addresses common problems that older drivers face.

This government web page covers selected topics of interest to seniors and their caregivers. Topics include injury prevention for seniors and age-friendly communities. There is also a list of frequently asked questions about seniors' health issues.

Better Living has been delivering services in the Don Mills area since 1983. Essential services such as Home Care, the Adult Day Program, Meal Delivery, Case Management and Transportation provide assistance to seniors and disabled adults wishing to live independently at home and allow respite for people in a care giving role.

This resource discusses the importance of making a will and other end-of-life arrangements that can be carried out by family and friends of a loved one after they have died.

The Canadian Coalition for Senior's Mental Health (CSMH) web site provides access to high quality information and resources for seniors experiencing mental health problems and for their families. Guides cover different mental health topics and may help seniors and their family members to understand occurring mental problems and to make informed decisions regarding available health care options.

Older Adult Centres' Association of Ontario provides resources, expertise and leadership for older adult centres and seniors groups through advocacy, education, networking and innovative direction. The OACAO has a membership of 145 centres, organizations and individuals involved in working with older adults representing over 300 staff and 150,000 older adults across Ontario. Older Adult Centres' Association of Ontario provides ongoing liaison and advocacy with government and other provincial associations in matters which affect older adult centres and older adults, and educational programs for members through workshops.

This is a list of warm water swimming pools which offer programs for seniors such as aquafitness, gentle aquafitness and other water exercise classes.

This website provides information about and access to government services for seniors. It covers many areas including: housing, driving and transportation, health and wellness, government pension and benefits, safety, latest changes in legislation and others. It also provides  access to government publications for seniors including " Seniors' Guide to Programs and Services".

Sinai Health System’s Healthy Ageing and Geriatrics Program provides compassionate and quality care to older adults, their families, and caregivers. The program uses an interprofessional, team-based approach to enable older adults to live independently for as long as possible in the community.

The book shows how you can recognize your nutritional shortfalls, deficits in your diet that will increase your risk of the degenerative diseases of age, including diabetes, osteoporosis, dementia and others. It helps you to understand how to optimize health with selected vitamins and other supplements, increase energy, strengthen your immune system, maintain a healthy brain.

The guide gives information about the causes and symptoms of delirium. It provides advice on what to do if you, or someone you care about, is experiencing delirium. The guide also gives helpful tips on managing delirium and on effective communication with health care providers.

This resource provides tips to the elderly on how to improve their sexual health. Emotional, mental and physical obstacles are discussed and advice is provided on how to overcome such obstacles. Importance of sex to seniors is discussed and related articles are listed.

This resource answers many questions older adults and their families may have about the flu shot. It defines influenza, outlines how it is spread, and suggests when seniors should get the influenza vaccine. The page also describes situations in which such a vaccination would not be recommended.

This checklist can be used to determine whether or not an older person is safe living home alone. The checklist includes exterior and interior of the house, mobility, communication issues and personal safety.

In this new book, authors show how to overcome the aches, stiffness, and unsteadiness in your muscles and joints. Using their simple, self-administered tests, you will assess your level of physical performance in these five critical domains: posture, balance, strength, flexibility, and endurance. The authors also help you develop a personal profile according to the results of these tests.

Aging related changes greatly increase our risk of injury. The book provides guidance on how to prevent injury due to threats that abound in and near your home. The author, a safety expert, explores the home environment and points out potential hazards and the ways of preventing them. Information on hazards encountered by people with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia is also provided.

Caregivers will be made aware of what care receivers truly want during life's final chapters. Exploring issues of housing, spirituality, personal care and death, Cheryl Kuba has created a testament to the dependent elderly. The author also delves into such aspects as guilt, role reversal, changing family dynamics, financial stress, and caring for oneself while caring for another.

As this book shows us, when a loved one dies we search for meaning in our own lives while struggling to hold onto memories of a precious life lost. Separate chapters of this book address the struggles older people face, difficult transitions, concerns and issues brought by the bereaved, and those who care for them.

Dr. Daniel G. Amen shares ten simple steps to boost your brain to help you live longer, look younger, and dramatically decrease your risk for Alzheimer’s disease. He uses brain imaging to illustrate changes in aging brain and suggests strategies to reverse or stop brain damage from happening.

Care Watch is a volunteer-run advocacy organization which is commitment to the overall wellbeing of all older people. It is advocating for accessible, affordable and consistent quality home and community care.  The website explains what supports are available to seniors and lists websites and organizations that facilitate access to services.

Presents a set of gentle sitting exercises with illustrations which are intended to improve mobility and prevent falls. Exercises can be easily done at home on your own.

This guide offers a systematic fitness program that addresses the unique conditioning needs of people over the age of sixty. The focus is on helping seniors to maintain flexibility, strength, balance and aerobic capacity. Special attention is given to the neck, wrists, back, knees and feet along with specific movements to improve balance. The strengthening exercises are age appropriate with the emphasis on developing and maintaining functional strength. The guide includes demonstration pictures for each stretch and exercise to ensure correct positioning and form. It also shows many adjustments to suit individual needs.

This article compiled the top 10 “bad” behaviors that elders exhibit, some of the most common mental and physical causes, and tips for coping with them. It also provides links to further reading on selected challenging behaviors in older adults.

 This is a book of hope, a guide to aging without fear or anxiety. It show us how to turn back our biological clocks, limit occurrence of the normal problems of aging (weakness, sore joints, bad balance) and eliminate serious illness and injury. Recommendations are based on the latest findings in cell physiology, evolutionary biology, anthropology, and experimental psychology.

The author has become the international voice on the subjects of spirituality, health, and aging. In this book he is joined by two other experts on aging and human development. They present a compelling look at one of the most serious issues in today’s society: health care in North America. In the challenging reality there are reasons for optimism. Innovative programs created and maintained by volunteers and religious congregations are emerging as important factors in meeting health care needs. The book presents practical steps that individuals and institutions may emulate for putting similar programs in their communities.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) offers simple strategies for senior on managing medications safely.

This resource provides information for older drivers about the program, including the latest changes affecting seniors. It also provides information about the Group Education Sessions where a group of about 15 drivers aged 80 and older will receive information about new traffic laws and how aging affects driving, driving tips to help older drivers and a review of road signs.  Information is available in 16 languages.

This resource provides information on medications which may be inappropriate or potentially harmful to people who are 65 or older. It includes lists of medications with explanations about their harmful effect and they should be limited or avoided when treating older adults. 

This resource provides a comprehensive analysis of sexuality and sexual behaviour in the elderly. Outlined within this resource are the normal physical changes that occur with age and its associated sexual problems, various emotional barriers to achieving satisfying sex, and tips to help one ensure an active and healthy sex life.

The book draws on the very latest science of aging to show how men 50 or older can become functionally younger every year for the next five to ten years, and continue to live like fifty-year-olds until well into their eighties. Presented science, simplified and demystified, ranges from the molecular biology of growth and decay to how our bodies and minds evolved.

Longevity expert Dan Buettner draws on his research from extraordinarily long-lived communities, Blue Zones, around the globe to highlight the lifestyle, diet, outlook, and stress-coping practices that add years to peoples' lives. The recipe for longevity, Buettner has found, is deeply intertwined with community, lifestyle, and spirituality.