Steven Greenland, Charles Darwin University and Robert Joseph Gill, Swinburne University of Technology   The cost of hosting Paris 2024, the 33rd Olympics, is predicted to be more than A$14 billion. So what’s in it for the French? Will this oldest of sporting events shine for them, or as has happened with some previous Olympics, […] The post Brand Olympics: Do the Famous Rings Deliver Value to Host Countries? appeared first on Good Times ..read more

By Olev Edur   My friend suggested that I save my charitable donations for five years and then claim them all together instead of making smaller claims each year. Supposedly this would give me a bigger tax break, but how exactly does that work? You can continue to donate every year; you need only keep the tax receipts. And you’d get a bigger tax break by saving them up for five years (five is the carry-forward limit) because of the tiered structure of the charitable donation tax credit. In any given year, the first $200 you donate is accorded a 15 per cent federal tax credit, while anyth ..read more

Thank you so much for your wonderful article “The Good and Bad Sides of Reverse Mortgages” [May/June 2024]. Olev Edur certainly explained the pros and cons of such mortgages much better than the TV ads do. Everyone thinking about getting a reverse mortgage should read your article very carefully so they know in detail what they’re getting into. Heather Turchyn, Brockville, Ont. The post Wonderful Article appeared first on Good Times ..read more

By Wendy Haaf   Protecting yourself from the hazards of summer weather simply takes planning and paying attention Summer offers a plethora of pleasures, from gardening and golf to lazy days at the lake or the seashore. But those of us 55 or older are more susceptible to the health risks of seasonal factors such as sun exposure, extreme heat, and wildfire smoke. What measures can help you stay safe and healthy this summer while you’re enjoying your favourite outdoor pastimes? We posed that question to several experts. Sun Safety Skin-cancer risk increases with the amount of sun dam- age ..read more

Wendy Haaf answers your questions about health, nutrition, and well-being   What’s all the hype about Ozempic? Should I be concerned? I’ve been taking it for a year for my diabetes. Given the press—both positive and negative—Ozempic has received, it’s understandable that people might be confused. This medication (semaglutide) and others in the same class—GLP-1 receptor agonists—are generating legitimate excitement, according to Dr. Stewart Harris, medical director of the Primary Care Diabetes Support Program at St. Joseph’s Health Care London (in London, Ont.) and a professor and Diab ..read more

Thank you for a magazine geared to seniors. The stories are all pleasant to read and very helpful. I especially liked “Learning to Like the Age You Are” in the March/April 2024 issue. It was very uplifting. I think it’s a great idea to celebrate our birthdays and not worry about our age—and to practise gratitude. It’s very important to keep moving and keep busy, too. Thanks again. Mildred Burgess, Kingston, Ont. The post Thank You! appeared first on Good Times ..read more

By Erika Tremblay   Keeping your feet looking good for those lazy days at the pool or the beach is easy with a little extra care at the salon or at home. Foot Care at Home • Wash your feet in the shower with a gentle soap. Even better: add Epsom salts to lukewarm water and soak your feet for about 10 minutes. As dry skin on the feet is an ongoing problem, Josée Aumais, a podiatrist aesthetician and the owner of Montreal’s Institut Josée Aumais, recommends removing dead surface skin cells by exfoliating. • Dry your feet, including between your toes, to remove all moisture and prevent ..read more

By Chantal Tellier   It’s common for couples to go through phases during which their sex life is less active and passionate than it used to be. How can you rekindle the flame and stimulate your imagination to rediscover an intimacy that is satisfying? What do vibrators, smartphones, and TV remotes have in common? A simple button turns them on. But the human body doesn’t work that way. Movies and TV shows often give the impression that spontaneous desire—instant or unplanned excite- ment—is the norm. Although this can happen, especially at the beginning of a relationship, it’s not the o ..read more

By Isabelle Huot   Sparkling water is available in many varieties—flavoured or not, with fine bubbles or big bubbles—but what do you really know about it, and can it meet your hydration needs? Bottled fizzy waters are all the same. FALSE. You can find bottled sparkling spring water and mineral water. Both varieties come from groundwater, but their mineral salt content isn’t the same. In Quebec, for example, the Food Products Act stipulates that min- eral water must contain more than 1,000 mg of mineral salts per litre (1,000 ppm); below that level, it’s considered spring water. (For r ..read more

By Olev Edur   Whether a reverse mortgage is right for you depends on your situation It’s a question usually asked at some point by retirees who are house-rich and cash-poor but don’t want to move: should I consider taking out a reverse mortgage? And for many, this may indeed be a good way to leverage the value of their home; for some, it may be the only option. But these arrangements are definitely not for everyone, and many financial advisers suggest that they be considered only as a last resort. The main reason, as we’ve noted in past issues of Good Times, is that reverse mortgage ..read more