Many people exercise for weight loss, but what about working out so you are better prepared for the activities of everyday life, like carrying in groceries and putting them up? Like having the stamina for a busy day of errands and grandkids? Or climbing up and down the stairs without getting winded? That’s the idea behind functional fitness, an approach that’s increasingly popular with all sorts of people, including those over 50 who want to maintain their independence and quality of life without spending countless hours in a gym.

When your loved ones reach a certain age, deaths and funerals become common place; scanning the obituaries becomes a morning habit. Dealing with these losses can take a toll. Funerals play an important part in honouring and remembering the life of someone who was important to you. The living can come together, support each other and share their grief. If your loved one has recently attended a funeral, talking about what they liked or did not like about it, may lead to not only discovering what their wishes are for their funeral, but can help them cope with the loss they have just experienced.