Where do I Roll From Here?

 Over the past three articles, I talked about being born with Nemaline Myopathy and the doctors telling my parents I would only survive a year. A year would turn into living at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. When I turned seventeen years old, upper management approached my mom and

28 years later: A look back at how I changed the system

 ABOVE: Ryan Lythall holds the keys to his new apartment with CHEO nurse Lisa Rouleau. (Photo: Ottawa Sun, March 17, 1994) . . . but the fight continues. On March 16th, 2022, I celebrated my 28th anniversary of living independently. It wouldn’t be a big deal for most, but for me, well, I’m not

Welcome to 2022. It’s time to review, and begin anew.

 Right off the bat, or in my case, the wheel, I want to say Happy 2022 to everyone. I hope that this year brings you happiness, good health, kindness, and an end to the pandemic once and for all. Since this is the first full week of January, the holidays

To all business owners: don’t forget about PWD when you reopen

 By the time this comes out, I’ll be training another caregiver. This week, I’ll be training at least two new people. I believe there will also be another person the following week. Of course, things can always change, but that’s currently the plan. I hope that I’ll be done with

How the need for healthcare workers will only increase after 2020

 Healthcare workers comprise all parts of the healthcare sector—physicians, nurses, physical therapists, caregivers, and other allied healthcare professionals. Their primary responsibility is to provide excellent patient care through different services depending on their educational background, experience, skills, and expertise. The need for healthcare workers has only become more apparent due

Covid vaccine and the race to the front of the line

 As I’m typing this, the long-awaited and much talked about Covid-19 vaccine is on its way to Canada. Starting Tuesday, December 15, 1500 people in Ottawa will be among the first to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine. This week, I’ll be taking a look at the rollout of the vaccine

Caregivers of young children need a different kind of mask

 By Nicole Letourneau and Mandakini Jain Everywhere you look, responsible adults are wearing masks in public. This is great news and sure to help contain the deadly contagion COVID-19 from spreading and keep more of our friends, neighbours and community members safe. Evidence is mounting on the effectiveness of masks

How Covid-19 has impacted myself and PWD

 Covid-19 has impacted many peoples lives in a magnitude of ways. Jobs were lost, small businesses were forced to close, and many people are no longer with us. The list is long in terms of the different ways in which we’ve all been affected. For people with disabilities, it’s been

Pretty damn crazy!

 “Hey mom, I just can’t do it anymore! . . . It’s over! . . . He’s out and I’m a mess!” “Can I crash with you while I sort myself out?” That desperate call came to my friend Leah, about one year ago. “Another one bites the dust!” she

What Kind of Health Workforce Will Be Needed to Serve Our Aging Population?

 By Gregory Huyer and Ivy Lynn Bourgeault We know that Canada’s population is aging. Among the many statistics that have been reported is how in 2015, the proportion of Canadian seniors surpassed that of youth under 15 for the first time. The gap will continue to widen over the next

Honouring Our Veterans

 While members of the Métis Nation fought alongside other Canadians in wars and peacekeeping initiatives, their contribution has rarely been recognized. That is starting to change. In  the  past,  Métis  veterans,  like Métis fought in both World Wars, the Korean War and other conflicts such as Afghanistan, and have also served

Does Canada Have Enough Money to Fund Senior Care?

 Will the cost of senior care in Canada one day break the bank?  Probably not, contrary to common perceptions. Four health policy experts, Dr. Robyn Tamblyn, Dr. Ivy Bourgeault , Dr. Neena Chappell and Dr Michel Grignon explain why money is not the biggest issue when talking about senior care

Older adults living with mental illness need specialized housing

 New Calgary report warns more homeless seniors a real possibility By Pat Cashion and Lee Tunstall Older adults living with mental illness often face a double stigma in our society—both from aging and from mental illness. They are some of the most invisible and most vulnerable individuals in our communities,

Canada Relying too Heavily on Unpaid Caregivers—At a Cost

 Almost half a million Canadians go without necessary homecare. The unexpected and largely unreported good news about homecare in this country is that the vast majority of Canadians who receive home help or homecare for a chronic health condition are getting all the services they need. According to a recently

Enjoy Some Digital Family Time Together

 No negative behaviour associated with kids’ use of video games in households with strong parent-child bond We live in a digital age. Technology has become an integral part of how we see, learn about and interact with the world. From computers at the office, to televisions at home, to smartphones