Managing Forgetfulness & Aging Successfully

An archived webcast from the The Irving K. Barber Learning Centre is available online.

Managing Forgetfulness & Aging Successfully: A Public Forum and Webcast was held Monday, March 12, 2007

Three of Canada's top brain researchers speak on memory loss and how it can be managed at a free public symposium held on March 12, 2007 at UBC's Life Sciences Centre.

Drs. Max Cynader, Howard Feldman, and Jonathan Schooler, all of UBC's Brain Research Centre, joined media doctor Art Hister, host of Canada's longest running health radio show and emcee of the symposium, to discuss disorders of the aging brain, strategies to help improve memory, and how to age successfully.

View webcast.
A short printable summary of the contents of forum is available.
Additional resources on Memory and Aging is available here.

For links to other webcasts available at the

Bipolar Disorder: A review of Medication & Self-management Strategies

TIME SENSITIVE

Bipolar Disorder: A review of Medication & Self-management Strategies is an education night for consumers and their families

July 10th, 2007
7:00 - 9:00 pm
UBC Robson Square Theatre
800 Robson Street
Vancouver, BC

Pre-registration required (seating limited)
Cost: $5.00 (waived in cases of financial hardship)

Contact:
Heather Armstrong
UBC Mood Disorders Centre
Room 2C7-2255 Wesbrook Mall
Vancouver, BC V6T 2A1
phone 604-822-8045
email hla@interchange.ubc.ca

A flyer with speakers and topics is available.

New Canadian health website: What Older Women Want

A Canadian study of older women's health needs and concerns published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal in July 2005, and reported widely in the media, has sparked a new website directed at both patients and health practitioners: http://www.wowhealth.ca/

Known widely as 'WOW' or the 'What Older Women Want' study, conducted by Drs. Cara Tannenbaum, Nancy Mayo and Francine Ducharme, the study asked 5000 older women across Canada which of their health needs they felt were not being met or addressed adequately by their health practitioners.

Among the top unmet concerns Canadian senior women mentioned were: screening and treating urinary incontinence; counselling about memory loss (or perceived memory loss); and exercise strategies to address falls and functional decline.

"Women were very satisfied with the care they were receiving to treat their blood pressure and prevent heart attacks and stroke, but emphasized gaps in care surrounding more 'taboo' issues, such as discussing urine or memory loss," says Dr. Tannenbaum, a Geriatrician at the Institut universitaire de gériatre de Montréal, and lead author of the WOW study. "It may be that women are uncomfortable talking about these issues with their physicians because it is embasrassing, because they believe it is a part of normal aging or because they are unaware that treatments exist."

In order to address this gap in primary health provision and give older women what they want, Dr. Tannenbaum teamed up with the Canadian Women's Health Network and the Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal to create the WOW website: http://www.wowhealth.ca/

The website contains a portal for health consumers that provides health information on the three unmet health needs of older Canadian women: urinary incontinence, memory loss and exercise. The information is clear, straight-forward and easy-to-read, with engaging illustrations and diagrams. The focus is on prevention, with tips on diet, lifestyle changes and exercise; treatment options are also provided.

The WOW website also has a portal for health practitioners, outlining the kinds of questions that practitioners should be asking their older female patients routinely, and the ways in which they can provide prevention and improvement strategies to their patients for urinary incontinence, memory loss, as well as the particular exercise needs of older women.

For full study details on the What Older Women Want study, visit: http://www.wowhealth.ca/pdf/wowCMAJ.pdf

Summer '07 "Tips for Living Well" newsletter is out!

The summer issue of Tips for Living Well newsletter from the BC Coalition of People with Disabilities' Wellness & Disability Initiative is hot off the press! If you subscribe to the paper copy, you'll be receiving your issue soon. If you access the PDF version from our website, you can start reading today.

In this issue ...

• Learning the Language of Feelings by Mark Linden O'Meara (an excerpt from his book, The Feeling Soul)
• Living with Hope--a video about hope and people with terminal illness
• How to Support a Family Caregiver--a new booklet about supporting caregivers from the UVIC Centre on Aging
• Watermelon Anyone?--more about watermelons than you could ever want to know!
• Pets & Wellness--a special two-page spread with pictures and pet news
• HIV/AIDS Reality Check column--this issue is information from Health Canada about condoms
• Top Tag Pet ID--a nifty flash drive containing all that important info about your pet... worn as an ID tag
• Access to Health Awards--it's not too soon to begin thinking about who you will nominate for the 2007 awards. Deadline for nominations is October 31st.
• Living a Health Life with Chronic Conditions--this program is now available throughout BC
• Cleaners and Pesticides Can Be Fatal--use them properly, or better yet, use alternatives
• Seven Myths about Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Tips for Living Well--headache tips, laughter, improving your memory, and volunteering
• Most People with Arthritis Don't Get Enough Exercise
• Sunscreen and Summer Sun Safety
• Online Book Helps Children Understand the Effects of Stroke
• Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIAs)--a personal account

Don't miss out. Subscriptions to the paper copy are free in Canada. Contact wdi@bccpd.bc.ca to subscribe or to order multiple copies for your office or organization.

Caregiving Conference in Cranbrook October '07

A Prescription for Caregivers: Giving Care, Taking Care is a conference featuring speaker Wendy Lustbader in Cranbrook, BC October 15, 2007.

Location: Heritage Inn
9:00 a.m. -4:00 p.m.
$15.00/person

To register, send name, address, phone number and email address with a cheque payable to Interior Health Authority to:
Cranbrook Health Unit
co/ Darryl Oakley
20 - 23rd Avenue South
Cranbrook, BC V1C 5V1

Sponsored by the East Kootenay Foundation for Health

Brain Injury Conference October 18-19 in Abbotsford

The Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association (FVBIA) is hosting a conference:
What Does It Take:
A Holistic Look at Recovery afer Acquired Brain Injury
October 18-19, 2007
Cascade Community Church
35190 Delair Road, Abbotsford, BC

Workshop topics include:
Thursday October 18th: "The role of Effective Case Management," "Working with Mentally Disordered Offenders," "What We Know Now about Attention Training in Children with Acquired Brain Injury," "Aging Parents and ABI Outcomes," Key Worker Model for Children with Complex Needs," "Intervention Strategies for Brain Injured Adults in Prison," "Behaviour Issues with Acquired Brain Injury," and "Housing and Housing Supports."

Friday October 19th: "Educating the Student with Acquired Brain Injury in College," "The Role of the Forensic Nurse," Protecting Settlement Funds," and "The Role of Recreation (Peer Support, Art, Social Inclusion)"

Contact the FVBIA by email at info@fvbia.org, phone 604-557-1913 or visit the website at http://www.fvbia.org for information.

"Mind Matters: BC's Mental Health E-news"

Mind Matters is published by the Canadian Mental Health Association's (CMHA) BC Division. Delivered to your email box each month, Mind Matters contains "CMHA news, programs, resources and events in BC, as well as:

• mental health news and research
• new mental health programs and resources in BC
• public education events
• courses, workshops and conferences for people with mental illness, family, friends, caregivers, advocates, and health/mental health professionals.

The following selected headlines from the June 2007 issue of Mind Matters provide an example of the range of information available:

• Coping with Suicidal Thoughts ... a short guide
• New Look and Video Resources for AnxietyBC Website
• DepressionLifelines.ca is a new website that connects you to the knowledge accumulated by mental health organizations across Canada
• The latest edition of CMHA Ontario Division's Network magazine, now available online, reflects on the theme of social inclusion
• Family Matters – A Tool for Teens is a new online resource from mindyourmind.ca
• New Website for Parents of Kids with Special Needs--Our Special Kids is a web resource for parents of children with special needs who are looking for information relevant to their situation and understanding from others
• Planning Guidelines for: Mental Health and addiction Services for children, Youth and Adults with Developmental Disability is available in PDF format at http://www.healthservices.gov.bc.ca/
• Working Effectively With Interpreters in a Mental Health Setting
• BC Launches Pilot Program for Parents of Children with Mental Illness
• Scientists Encouraged to Focus on Psychological Needs of Cancer Survivors
• Mental Illness Targeted by Workplace Screening Program
• Movie Mondays in Victoria
• Frames of Mind Mental Health Film Series – I Have Tourettes But Tourettes Doesn’t Have Me
• New Writing Group for People With Mental Illness

Read back issues or subscribe to Mind Matters at http://www.cmha.bc.ca/news_events/enews.

"Shared Voices" MS Society Newsletter great source of tips

Shared Voices is an excellent newsletter published by the MS Society of Canada's Lower Mainland chapter. The Summer 2007 issue is packed with terrific information for people living with MS—much of it of interest to people with other types of disabilities or health conditions as well. Copies are available at the website. Check out this issue for the following items and more:

• tips for keeping cool during the summer heat (p. 1-2)
• a report on a Nordic Pole Walking Workshop at the WestEnd MS Support Group (p.3)
• Lower Mainland Chapter educational workshop September 22nd 2007 (p. 4)
• A Light-hearted Parody of Your Summer Horoscope (p. 6-7)
• information about accessible pools, beaches, and musical events in the Lower Mainland
• Massage and more ... information about the West Coast College of Massage Therapy's Inreach Program for people living with MS. Over a 14-week term, massage therapy students provide weekly 60 minute massages (under supervision). "Besides the many benefits of massage, a mini support group usually develops. Some have found their fear of becoming less mobile lessens when they see those who use various aids—canes, walkers, wheelchairs and scooters—living successfully." (p. 5)
• Therapeutic and Research Issues: Mitoxantrone (might-oh-zan-trone) (p. 4)

Note: The West Coast College of Massage Therapy is located in New Westminster. Each massage is $10.00. The program is currently full, but if you're interested, call Brenda at 604-451-8616 to be placed on a cancellation list.

Paralympics Paramedic Training for BC Aboriginal People with Disabilities

Reported in Voices & Visions, the newsletter of the BC Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS) (April/May 2007 p. 6)

"For the past several months, BCANDS has had discussions with the Vancouver Olympic Committee, Health Canada, Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance, Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation and Service Canada in promoting the training of Aboriginal People with Disabilties as Paramedic Assistants for the 2010 Games. The intent of this program is to train a group of Aboriginal People with disabilities to a minimal level of Emergency Medical Responder (EMR). ... All individuals who are successful in their training will then have the opportunity to compete for at least 14 positions that will assist the Vancouver Paramedic Team at the 2010 Olympic Games."

While the program has yet to be approved, interested individuals are encouraged to contact the BCANDS office. Email Robert Harry at robert@bcands.bc.ca or Andrew Cowie at andrewcowie@bcands.bc.ca.

Richmond: Leadership Program for Youth with Disabilities

Time Sensitive

Reported in the June 2007 issue of Connections: The Newsletter of Volunteer Richmond Information Services (volume 7, number 2 p. 4)

"The Better Community Project for Youth Leadership for persons with a disability between the ages of 16-30 is now accepting applications.

Starting in August, participants will enjoy a seires of skill-builidng workshops and learn about healthy lifestyles, first-aid, safer communities, emergency preparedness, independent living skills and self empowerment. The curriculum also includes mentoring, working on a group project and much more."

Application deadline is July 13th.

Information:
http://www.drcrichmond.ca
email randalldrc@shaw.ca
phone 604-232-2404

Using Comedy to Fight Mental Illness and Stigma: CBC Passionate Eye Documentary

Cracking Up is a life-affirming documentary about people with mental illness who embark on a quirky quest to become stand up comics. The film follows 11 courageous people who suffer from mental illness as they pursue a year of stand up comedy.

Part fun and part therapy, the course, entitled Stand Up For Mental Health is the brainchild of Vancouver counselor, stand-up comic, and author of The Happy Neurotic: How Fear and Angst Can Lead To Happiness and Success David Granirer. “It’s like ‘The Full Monty’ except people want us to keep our clothes on”, he says.

Doing stand-up comedy has had an amazing effect on the people in the course. For the first time in their lives, they have embraced the word "crazy," and learned to laugh at their mental illness–and their audiences are laughing right along with them. They have discovered a talent they never dreamt they had.

Airs nationally on August 30 at 9 p.m. On CBC’s Doc Zone.

For more information contact:
David Granirer, Founder
Stand Up For Mental Health–Using stand-up comedy to empower people with mental illness
3633 Triumph Street
Vancouver, BC V5K 1V4
Phone: 604-205-9242; Fax: 604-205-9243
Email: david@standupformentalhealth.com
Web: http://www.standupformentalhealth.com

Health Issues for Canadian Children & Youth: Online Consultation

TIME SENSITIVE

The Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health, has announced the launch of on-line consultations to gather opinions from Canadians on the health issues of Canada's children and youth.

"We have an important opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children and youth," said Minister Clement. "Still, we need input on how to truly make a positive and lasting impact not only on our kids, but on Canadian society as well."

Dr. Khristinn Kellie Leitch, Advisor on Healthy Children and Youth, is examining the health issues facing Canada's children and youth. Since her appointment on March 8, 2007, Dr. Leitch has met with a number of stakeholders from across the country as well as provincial and territorial government representatives. The opening of the on-line consultations marks an important step in Dr. Leitch's mandate.

"The responses that I receive from this on-line consultation, combined with the information I am gathering from face-to-face meetings, will assist me in forming recommendations on key federal priorities and opportunities in the domain of children and youth health," said Dr. Leitch.

The consultations will be held on Health Canada's Web site from June 19, 2007, and will close at 23:59 (Pacific time) on June 29, 2007.

Dr. Leitch will report on the on-line consultation to the Minister of Health later this summer. Her advice and recommendations will inform the federal Health Portfolio on what actions it can take to best contribute to enhancing the health of Canada's children and youth.

To participate visit:
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/public-consult/consultations/col/child-enfant/index_e.html

Participants Wanted: Osteoporosis & Physical Activity Research Study

"Drs. Philip M. Wilson and Diane E. Mack are requesting your assistance in regards to their federally funded research study entitled Osteoporosis and Physical Activity. The purpose of this study is to examine the measurement of lifestyle physical activity in those diagnosed with osteoporosis. "—From The Ontario Health Promotion E-bulletin (OHPE) June 21, 2007. Click on the link to read the full post.

Consider subscribing to the weekly OHPE, produced by the Ontario Prevention Clearinghouse and The Health Communication Unit.

BC Legal Aid Newsletter

ELAN: Electronic Legal Aid Newsletter for Community Workers is an electronic newsletter published nine times/year by the Legal Services Society.

Each issue includes geat tips and resources, such as:
"Do you have a client looking for free legal services? Check out the Pro Bono map of BC. Search by city or region, and get easy-to-use online maps and driving directions to the nearest locations." (February 2007 issue of ELAN)

To subscribe, visit: http://www.lss.bc.ca/admin/elan_signup.asp

To read back issues, visit: http://www.lss.bc.ca/resources/elan_archives.asp

Women’s Stories about Surviving Stroke

A new book by Canadian Sociology Professor, Sharon Dale Stone sheds light on how women experience hemorrhagic stroke [bleeding within the brain which damages nearby brain tissue].

A Change of Plans: Women’s Stories of Hemorrhagic Stroke is a collection of eleven stories by women who experienced hemorrhagic strokes before the age of 50. The author herself experienced a stroke as a young girl. It came on suddenly and the symptoms were misdiagnosed. Who would think that an eleven-year-old girl would be having a brain aneurysm?

As she grew into adulthood, the author thought deeply about the silence that had surrounded her experience and the psychic trauma she wasn't allowed to talk about. In the 1990s, she happened upon an article written by a woman who had suffered a hemorrhagic stroke at the age of 24, and for the first time she felt less isolated in her experience. With her new awareness that there were others like her, she embarked upon a journey through Canada, the US, England, and Scotland to find and publish their stories.

The book opens with a background discussion of hemorrhagic stroke and the disabling consequences that follow. The women's stories are told honestly and movingly, and touch on the themes of recovery and rehabilitation; being a medical patient; self-image; being or not being recognized as disabled; relations with family, friends and co-workers; and how the stroke so suddenly changed their lives.

The book was published by Sumach Press and can also be purchased through Amazon.ca.

Dr. Sharon Dale Stone is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Sociology at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, ON. As an activist and academic, she is committed to giving voice to groups of people whose experiences are marginalized in mainstream society, and has published widely on the many issues facing women with disabilities.

Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions

A health education program to help people with chronic conditions—such as arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, asthma, fibromyalgia, depression and others—manage their illness is available throughout British Columbia. The Chronic Disease Self-Management Program, “Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions,” developed by the University of Victoria’s Centre on Aging, is free.

Trained and certified local volunteers, many living with chronic health conditions themselves, deliver the program in pairs once a week for six weeks. Groups take eight to 15 participants and each session lasts two-and-a-half hours.

The program offers practical tips on how to cope with the emotional and physical challenges of day-to-day living with a chronic condition. The sessions provide participants with skills for gaining more control over their illness and for boosting their self-confidence. The program, which receives funding from the BC Ministry of Health, is also open to friends, family and caregivers of people with chronic conditions.

For more information, or to register for one of the six-week courses, call the toll-free line at 1-866-902-3767 or visit the website at http://www.coag.uvic.ca/cdsmp.

Vancouver Women's Health Collective (VWHC) Tidbits

Tidbits are fact sheets "designed to provide concise and useful information on women and health from a gendered perspective." Topics covered include:

Finding a New Doctor
Taking Charge of Your Health Part 1
Taking Charge of Your Health Part 2
Medical Services Plan
Pharmacare
Accessing Abortion
Endometriosis
Depression
Women's Hearth Health
Health Care User Fees: A Gendered Perspective
Women & Health Care in BC: A Gendered Perspective
Rural Women and Health
Facts on Aboriginal Women's Health
Women, Poverty, and Health
The Vancouver Women's Health Collective Menopause Kit

Tidbits are available free of charge as PDF files which you can download from the Vancouver Women's Health Collective website at http://www.womenshealthcollective.ca/newstitbits.html

Study: access to health services and information in the UK

Accessing Information about Health and Social Care Services
Picker Institute Europe
April 2007

Executive Summary
This is the second of two research studies on patients’ information produced for the Department of Health by the Picker Institute. The first, published in 2006*, found that few health information materials included a clear presentation of the likely outcomes of treatment, a discussion of clinical controversies and uncertainties, or an understanding of the patient’s decision-making role. Thus, they did not go very far to help patients make decisions.

This new study examines how patients, service users and carers currently find out about locally available services and how to access them.

Key Findings
1. Health professionals—who are often responsible for first diagnosis, or are an initial port of call for help with a condition—do not systematically or proactively provide their patients with information about accessing local services

2. There is a lack of co-ordination between information providers across boundaries—geographical, sectoral and organisational. It is rare for an individual or an organization to take responsibility for providing relevant information about the entire range of services available

3. There is a lack of effective signposting. There is no shortage of information—a significant amount of information is being designed and produced—but the service user is often left to dig it out for themselves, and may not know what it is they need to know

4. The types of information most commonly requested by service users include:
-details of voluntary sector support groups
-support for the family or carer(s)
-condition-specific services
-the financial benefits available, and how to claim them
-how to comment on or complain about services

5. With regard to the quality of information provision:
-users report that most telephone information points offer a friendly service, but do not always lead to helpful or appropriate information
- most health and social care websites contain useful information, but some are poorly designed
-some telephone advice services and websites fail to update regularly
-social care services appear to perform better than health agencies in offering information in various formats, thus making them accessible to people with disabilities

Note:
*Coulter A, Ellins J, Swain D, Clarke A, Heron P, Rasul F, Magee H, Sheldon H. Assessing the quality of information to support people in making decisions about their health and healthcare. Oxford: Picker Institute Europe, 2006

To download the full report (108 pages), visit:
http://www.pickereurope.org/Filestore/Publications/Information_access_final_web.pdf

For other Picker Institute Europe publications on health care and access to health issues, visit: http://www.pickereurope.org/page.php?id=48

[Executive summary reprinted with permission.]

Drug information too hard to read and understand

To make drug information easier to read, researchers recommend:
• using short, familiar words and short sentences
• using short headings that stand out
• using the largest possible type size
• leaving plenty of white space
• using bullet points to organize lists.

Earlier this year, researchers announced the results of a systematic review of studies examining the usefulness to patients of medication information sheets. The review covered the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia and the United States and found that information does not meet the needs of patients. Poor layout and complex language often hinder communication.

The reviewers emphasize that patients want written information in addition to—not instead of—spoken instructions from their health care professionals. Many people would like information that better helps them evaluate potential benefits and harms of a drug treatment. Lead author D.K. Raynor, Ph.D., of the University of Leeds in England says that one key finding was an apparent dichotomy between prescriber and patient views of the fundamental purpose of drug leaflets.

Some providers see increasing treatment compliance as a primary function. In contrast, patients say an informed decision not to take a medicine is also an acceptable result. “Patients see the role of written medical information as guiding them in terms of which medicine is right for them and, if they take the medicine, how best they can use it,” Raynor said. To that end, patients would also like to see more balance between benefit and harm information.

Current drug information focuses too heavily on warnings and adverse effects of the medication, Raynor said. “Patients also need to know how it might benefit them and how likely it is to benefit them.” Exactly how to convey the likelihood of benefits and harms most clearly remains in question. Verbal descriptors like “rare” or “common” are too vague, according to the review.

Yet, more scientific terminology like percentages or “numbers needed to treat” can also confuse the lay public. More research is needed in how best to communicate probability data to consumers, the reviewers say.

To read the full report:
Raynor DK, et al. A systematic review of quantitative and qualitative research on the role and effectiveness of written information available to patients about individual medicines. Health Technology Assessment 11(5), 2007.

We're back!

The Health Literacy Network News blog is up and running again. Please send us news about resources or programs you know about (especially BC or Canadian) that helps to make health information and services more accessible.

You can email them to wdi@bccpd.bc.ca. Thanks!