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provides current and helpful information on a variety of topics of interest to Senior Living readers, written by professionals in their field of expertise. The articles below will grow in number and diversity as various industry professionals provide us with information relevant to the 50+ reader.

Please check back often to see our most recent additions.

 

ARTICLES

Categories

End of Life Issues
Health and Wellness

Investments and Finances
Housing and Property
Luxury
Pet Care
Travel

 


 

END OF LIFE ISSUES

What To Do When Someone Dies
By Susan Veale, Simply Cremations
It is inevitable that at some point in time we will lose a loved one. This can be devastating, even when expected. At Simply Cremations, we understand this and are here to help. And, we keep it simple. READ MORE

 


HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Better with Age - Mobility Options
By MediChair
One of the biggest challenges facing Canada’s aging population is mobility. Being able to move in and out of your home and from one point to another are key factors in maintaining your freedom. READ MORE 

Four-Wheel Walkers: Walk With Stability
 
By Island Mediquip 
Walkers have come a long way from when the only one available was a steel, non-folding, four legged walker. While the four-legged folding walkers are still available and are still needed, the introduction of wheeled walkers with a seat, basket, and hand brakes give a safe walking alternative to a large population. READ MORE

June is Brain Injury Awareness Month in Canada
By Enabled Financial Solutions
Brain injuries can happen to anyone and the social, emotional and economic consequences for the survivors and their families can be devastating! Costs can be over-whelming. Enabled Financial Solutions Ltd can help recover some of those costs. READ MORE

Spring Home and Garden Assistance
By Medichair
It’s time to begin the yearly ritual of cleaning the house and sorting the garden. If you or your loved one finds mobility a challenge or if physical limitation is slowing you down with your passion this season, ‘the home medical equipment specialists’ can provide you with some advice and assistance.READ MORE

When Parents Resist Necessary Care
By Nurse Next Door - Victoria, Cowichan Valley, Nanaimo, Parksville

Nearly one-quarter of the population on Vancouver Island is age 65 years or older.  This means that there are MANY baby boomer adults looking after their parents locally.  The two most significant results for families having to care for elderly parents are a reduction in income due to missed work and a significant increase in stress.  Many families face these problems with surprise and shock but it is becoming increasingly important to recognize these issues in advance and plan for them.

Why is Consistency in Your Caregiver So Important?
By My Care Givers
Building a relationship of trust and respect does not happen overnight. When a caregiver is hired and comes into your home, they are also coming into an intimate part of your life. Building a rapport, a sense of trust and ease is vital for a great working relationship. READ MORE

 


INVESTMENTS / FINANCES

Costs Associated with Assisted Living: In Home or Through Facility Care  
By Long Term Care Funding Centre Inc.
More than ever before, Canadians are finding themselves requiring some form of health care assistance during their retirement years. One of the reasons is that we are living longer. This is very positive as medicine, diet and lifestyle continue to help push life expectancy further out. The unfortunate part about this is that a larger number of us will require some form of care or assistance during our retirement years. READ MORE 

Cutting the Costs of Lung Disease
By Enabled Financial Solutions
Perhaps the most common forms of Lung Disease in Canada are asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD.) These diseases affect your whole life, and have an impact on your pocket book too!  Enabled Financial can help. READ MORE

Did You Know?
By Long Term Care Funding Centre Inc
As we are living longer, more and more of us will require care during our retirement years. Today, the cost of private in-home or facility care ranges from $3200 to $8000 a month, and it is increasing every year. READ MORE

Don't Let Osteoarthritis Rob You of Your Retirement Dreams 
By Enabled Financial Solutions
Unanticipated diseases like osteoarthritis can be a pain in the wallet as well as a pain in the joints. Osteoarthritis, especially in the knees, is most often seen in people over the age of 45. It can happen to anyone and is caused by wear and tear to your joints, work related or sports injuries; excess weight may also be a factor. As the baby boomer population ages, one in ten Canadians will be diagnosed with some form of arthritis. LEARN HOW to take advantage of the Disability Tax Credit. Possible retroactive refunds and reduced taxes mean more money for retirement dreams. 

Heart Disease is a Medical Disability  
By Enabled Financial Solutions
f you suffer from a disability, such as heart disease, Enabled Financial Solutions Ltd. can help you take advantage of the Disability Tax Credit. Possible retroactive refunds and reduced taxes mean more money for retirement dreams when you are feeling better. READ MORE 

Long-Term Financial Solutions For the Disabled  
By Enabled Financial Solutions
Long-term financial security is a problem for most people, especially for the disabled. The Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) is a relatively new program that will compound your investments on a tax-deferred basis. In addition, if you qualify for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC), your RDSP may even receive an additional boost from the Canada Disability Savings Grant.READ MORE 

Tax Rebate  
By Enabled Financial Solutions
If you or someone you care for has a disability, “this lady,” Linda Chornobay from Enabled Financial Solutions Ltd., can help you get a tax refund, that you didn’t even know you had coming. It’s tax time once again and you may be entitled to a tax refund. READ MORE

The High Cost of Neurological Disease
By Enabled Financial Solutions
Neurological disease has a devastating effect on the quality of life and has a huge economic and social impact. If you are suffering under the burden of some form of neurological disease, you are probably entitled to a disability tax credit. FIND OUT MORE

 


HOUSING / PROPERTY

Changes to Your Home So You Can "Age In Place" 
By Changing Places
There are a number of ways you can adapt your current home to meet your needs and accommodate your arthritis, while allowing you to remain there for many years yet. Here are some of my suggestions.

Does Aging Mean You Need to Move? 5 Key Questions to Ask 
By Changing Places
It's hard to reconcile the active, busy parent we remember growing up with, to the slowing, sometimes frail person we become in our later years. But is asking them to move out of their home the answer? It's certainly a big decision, especially when you are relocating someone who has lived in the same home for 30 or more years. These 5 key assessments will help you and your parent determine whether moving is an appropriate action to take. 

Managing Your Parent's Move from Far Away 
By Changing Places
As adult children of aging parents, we often find that the roles start to switch. The adult children take on the caregiver role, and the parents become more dependent on their sons and daughters to be the “voice of authority”. When you live far from your parents, you may want to take on some of that role, but not know how to proceed. READ MORE

Real Estate: Assessed Value, Appraised Value & Market Value  
By Rick Hoogendoorn, CSA
There are several things to consider when determining the pricing of your home for sale. The most common benchmark people use is the Assessed Value. This is the value used by local governments to determine your property taxes. However, this is not a reliable standard of measurement for pricing your property for sale. READ MORE

The Emotional Side of Deciding Whether or Not to Move 
By Changing Places
You can see a number of excellent reasons why your relatives should move now, and if emotions were taken out of the equation, they may agree with you. However it may be difficult for them to face a “large” change like downsizing all at once. Sometimes, even when you can show them a long list of pros and cons that point to selling their home, emotional attachment wins. READ MORE

When Choosing Where To Live, Check Your "Fit" 
By Changing Places
There are no "bad" retirement living places, but there are bad fits. As you sort through your retirement living options, here are some of the worries that may come up for you. READ MORE

Your Checklist From Now Until Moving Day 

By Changing Places
Moving to a new home after many years is difficult for a variety of reasons. You have accumulated a generation’s worth of household items and memories, and as you age it gets harder to lug boxes out to moving vans. It’s even more difficult to decide what to take with you in the first place! Here is a look at the tasks that lie ahead.  

 

 


LUXURY

Gold, What's it worth?    
By Barclay's Jewellers
Are you thinking it might be time to part with some of your jewellery that has been sitting in a box or drawer for the past few years? And are you wondering if it is worth selling or if you should just give it away to someone? And how do you get the most for your gold? READ MORE to find out...




Appraising Your Jewellery

By Barclay's Jewellers
An appraisal is a typed certificate stating the description and value of your item. The value is determined based on the weight, measurement and type of metal used to create the piece; this is the Insurable Replacement Value. Insurance Companies require this if you want to have it included on your home insurance policy. READ MORE

 

 


 

PET CARE

A Healthy Pet is a Happy Pet
By Aussie Pet Mobile
Caring for the total health and happiness of your pet and other animals in your community is Aussie Pet Mobile’s number one priority. New to Victoria, this full service pet-grooming salon on wheels provides convenient one-on-one grooming expertise in a comfortable cage-free environment. READ MORE

 

 


TRAVEL

 

2010 Cruise Holidays Cruise Trends Survey Consumer Guide to Cruising
By Rhonda Parker, CTC, MCC, LCS, Cruise Holidays Pacific in Victoria
Cruise Holidays is providing precise booking data and identifying cruise industry trends based on actual bookings of the Cruise Holidays network thanks to its proprietary Web-based business operating system, CruiseWeb 6.0. Cruise Holidays is the oldest cruise specialty retailer in North America with stores and home-based locations in the United States and Canada. READ MORE

Cruise the Danube
By Rhonda Parker, CTC, MCC, LCS, Cruise Holidays Pacific in Victoria
Forever immortalized in Johann Strauss' "The Blue Danube" waltz, Europe's Danube river, and the countryside through which it winds, are as beautiful as the music. By taking a cruise on the Danube, you can see and explore European capitals, medieval towns, stately castles, rolling hills and vineyard-lined valleys. READ MORE

Cruising to Hawaii
By Rhonda Parker, CTC, MCC, LCS, Cruise Holidays Pacific in Victoria
Tropical beauty, warm hospitality, mysterious volcanoes, Polynesian culture, islands with their own distinct characteristics - all this is waiting for you on a cruise to Hawaii. As you plan your Hawaiian cruise adventure, here's what you need to know. READ MORE

Five Star Deluxe Cruising 
By Rhonda Parker, CTC, MCC, LCS, Cruise Holidays Pacific in Victoria

What makes Deluxe Cruising…Deluxe cruising? In some ways it is not a product one sees, but an intangible experience that makes the difference. These Cruiselines are always thinking in terms of the “WOW factor,” and they want to exceed the guest’s expectations. Some of the areas you'll experience more luxury are: service, dining, space, value, entertainment shore excursions, lifestyle, and onboard amenities. READ MORE about all the extras that make a cruise "Deluxe"

Is Antarctica on your Bucket List?
By Rhonda Parker, CTC, MCC, LCS, Cruise Holidays Pacific in Victoria
The number of large ships that will cruise the waters off Antarctica may be limited in the future, making now the perfect time to book a cruise to Antarctica during the upcoming December 2010-February 2011 high season. READ MORE

There's a Cruise for Any Season

By Rhonda Parker, CTC, MCC, LCS, Cruise Holidays Pacific in Victoria
Cruising offers a whole world of possible destinations – but, the time of year that you plan to Cruise may narrow the possibilities just a bit. READ MORE

Travel Expert Gives 5 Reasons to Get Local Advice When Making Summer Travel Plans
By Rhonda Parker, CTC, MCC, LCS, Cruise Holidays Pacific in Victoria
Residents may still be on the fence about making summer travel plans. If that is the case, Rhonda Parker, Owner and Senior Cruise and Travel Specialist of Cruise Holidays Pacific Victoria, recommends consulting with a local expert before trying to piece together a last-minute bargain vacation online.READ MORE