Dogs are my kids and key to a longer life A 108-year-old woman attributes her longevity to a life surrounded by dogs instead of children. She asserts that unconditional love, companionship, and daily walks with her canine have played a pivotal role in her health and happiness. Emphasizing the joy and sense of purpose provided by her dog. She had announced that the positive impact on her pets’ overall wellbeing is the main factor of why she is still around. AI identifies vulnerable folks for preventative care To reduce unnecessary hospitalization, four British GPs are testing an artificial int ..read more

Blue Zones now on Netflix This is an ideal opportunity to travel the world with National Geographic Fellow and Blue Zones founder Dan Buettner. Learn more about the science and lifestyles behind longevity as you “visit” the five unique communities where people live extraordinarily long and vibrant lives.  What is BioWellness?  Today there is an growing movement towards the use of a variety of alternate technologies and methodologies designed to help us alleviate the angst in our lives. While caution is recommended many believe there is a role for them in preventative mental healthca ..read more

Thumbs UP…to Sobeys stores in Nova Scotia are now hosting bi-weekly sensory-friendly shopping hours to make store visits more comfortable for autistic people. Lighting is reduced, music and sounds from grocery scanners are turned off. This aims to ease shopping for people on the spectrum or have other sensory sensitivities. First introduced in Prince Edward Island on Sundays from 6-7 pm. Sensory shopping hours have since been adopted in sister provinces every other Sunday from 6-7 pm. Thumbs UP…to Wab Kinew of Manitoba’s Anishinaabe people, the 1st First Nations premier of a Canadian province ..read more

Vindstyrka Air Quality Sensor Vindstyrka is both a clock and an air quality sensor. By keeping an eye on things as harmful particles, temperature, humidity and volatile organic compounds you can improve your homes air quality and help prevent mold and mildew growth. Give yourself a sigh of relief and a calming deep breath. Video Smart Lock The new Video Smart Lock S330, from eufy, uses AI to reduce false alarms. With 99% accuracy to detect trees, pets and cars in motion so you don’t get an alert unless there is truly something suspicious outside your home. This new video lock even comes with ..read more

Deep Work  By Cal Newport Skyrocketing our productivity to new heights, ‘deep work’ is simply the ability to focus without distraction on a demanding task. Professor Cal Newport strives to transform your mind and habits so you can easily practice what he describes. The book explores why this effective methodology can bring benefits to those in any profession, and presets actionable steps for readers to enter this state.  Hatchettebookgroup.com Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to Say, and How to Be an Ally By Emily Ladau An approachable guide to being a thoughtful, infor ..read more

One in ten Canadians over the age of 65 experience some form of abuse and neglect and that number is expected to rise as the number of older adults increases According to the World Health Organization, domestic abuse, also called “domestic violence” or “intimate partner violence”, is explained as a pattern of behaviour in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain control over a close partner.  The violence or abuse can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic, or phycological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. It can occur within a range of relationships ..read more

Difference Maker of the Year, Caden Teneycke raises awareness about accessibility and inclusion   With a TikTok following of over 800,000, Caden uses his platform to advocate for accessibility. Across TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, Caden seeks to spread awareness to his 1.2 million followers about living with his rare form of dwarfism. His posts provide a sense of community for others who face similar accessibility challenges. Caden is a recipient of the Rick Hansen Foundation School Program (RHFSP) Difference Maker of the Year award (each year, RHFSP accepts nominations to lear ..read more

THUMBS UP… to the Canadian Paralympic Committee for their dedication to building a more inclusive sporting landscape nationwide. With eighteen 2023-24 Paralympic Sport Development Fund grants being distributed to deserving organizations, Para sport programs in Canada are set to flourish. These grants will be pivotal in expanding sport pathways and opportunities for Para athletes and will enable the purchasing adaptive equipment, boost coaching expertise, and help grow Para sport competition and training opportunities. Source: Canadian Paralympic Committee Thumbs UP…to airports and other grou ..read more

…and other frontline health-care providers handle challenging return-to-work cases Participants find support and expert advice in world’s first ECHO program on occupational and environmental medicine. Family physician Thushiyanthy Sriharan runs a two-doctor practice in the suburbs of Toronto. Her caseload of about 2,000 patients means work-related matters—for example, sickness absences—come across her desk about two or three times a month. Most of the cases are straightforward, but she is sometimes challenged with more complex issues. Often, when a specialist’s care is needed, the wait ti ..read more

…and also the most expensive to treat. My name is Antonio and I suffer from spinal muscular atrophy (SMA, for friends). My life expectancy was only a few years when I was born, almost half a century ago. And all because I “got” a rare, neurodegenerative disease, which is among the genetic diseases with the highest associated mortality. What happens, simply put, is that my motor neurons (the “cables” that link the spinal cord to the muscles) gradually degenerate and end up dying. This has kept me in a wheelchair for most of my life. And over time, the involvement of the respiratory muscles can ..read more