Blog Posts: Assisted living

What is co-housing? Explore how shared living spaces can offer older adults community, support, and financial savings while balancing privacy and connection.

Finding qualified and trusted staff to care for your loved ones during the day is one thing. But with staff shortages plaguing all employment sectors, finding qualified and trusted staff working night shifts is a big challenge.

Many people under the age of 65 are living in nursing homes. Who are these young residents and how can we improve their quality of life?

Getting out and about! Preliminary research shows that engaging in meaningful activities outside of aged care facilities may have positive effects on the health and well-being of people living with dementia.

The long-term care sector has been hit very hard by the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada and abroad. Many policymakers and stakeholders are now turning their attention to renewing the long-term care sector and exploring alternatives to long-term care homes.

Despite the high prevalence of this disease in the elderly, early diagnosis seems to be neglected in nursing homes. How can we make decisions that seek to balance the potential benefits and harms of cancer treatment in older adults living in nursing homes?

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected those in long-term care homes in Canada more than others. With governments moving to address many of the concerns that have received attention during the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a unique opportunity to examine the potential of technology to strengthen long-term care homes. This blog post is the first in a series which examine evidence and experiences related to the role of technology in long-term care homes in Canada.

More and more smart technologies are making their way into our homes. While smart technologies appear promising to support aging at home, can it maintain our privacy?

As the level of autonomy and needs evolve, it may become more challenging to meet the care needs of older adults at home. If you think you might have to explore other housing arrangements, but are still active and independent, what are your options?

Support for family caregivers of people with dementia cannot be overlooked – it is a necessity. If the stress of caregiving is left unchecked, it can take a toll on a caregiver’s mental, physical and social health. Multicomponent strategies may be a good way to keep a caregiver grounded and healthy.

Feeling off-balance? Stand up to falls with exercise. Exercise combined with other fall prevention strategies is a promising way to lower the rate of falls in older adults living in long-term care.

Socially assistive robots have been developed to deliver care to older adults or to assist caregivers and health professionals. The future is here — are we ready for it?

Everyone – including those with dementia – has the right to make decisions that affect their own health. Staying involved and engaged for as long as possible is key to a better quality of life.

One of the pleasures in life is spending time with family and friends. Another is getting together to relive those good times and memorable moments. Research shows that group activities involving reminiscing can help relieve social isolation/loneliness and depression.

Providing care for family members with challenging chronic diseases like dementia can be highly stressful and take a toll on caregivers’ physical and psychological health. When caregivers become “burnt out” are their loved ones more likely to be placed in long term care facilities?

Providing unpaid care offers both rewards and challenges. A panel of caregivers share their thoughts and suggestions about how to better support caregivers.

Receiving care and treatment in their own homes helps older, frail and homebound adults get the medical attention they need and can improve their health and quality of life.

Home and community based care, assisted living and nursing home care all have related risks and benefits. Decisions about long term care settings should consider the needs and unique circumstances of older adults and the people caring for them.