Travel insurance that covers medical emergencies, trip cancellations and interruptions is highly recommended; especially for seniors. A medical emergency in a foreign country is not covered by your provincial health insurance; a hospital stay can easily cost $100,000 or more. If you do get sick and can’t travel home from your destination, trip interruption insurance will cover your costs while you recover. If you become ill before you travel, trip cancellation insurance will reimburse travel costs. Travel insurance buys peace of mind. If you travel several times a year, you may want to consider annual travel insurance.

Readmission to the hospital after an illness or injury is a serious health issue for seniors. It is important for seniors and their loved ones to remember that in many cases, readmission is avoidable and can be prevented with a thoughtful post-hospital care plan. Consider having the following in place: *Medication assistance and management, *Discharge plan for patient and family members and *A helping hand at home. A helping hand can be family, friends or professional caregivers. For many seniors, a professional caregiver can help them overcome some of the main preventable causes of returning to the hospital.

Do you have a personal pharmacist on your wellness team? A personal pharmacist pays close attention to your needs and provides personalized care. Whether it’s managing your diabetes, heart health or another chronic condition, they are invested in your health. Your personal pharmacist can help to make sure your medication is the right fit and introduce you to tools that make day-to-day medication management easier. With the expanded role of pharmacists, they can assess and prescribe medication for certain minor conditions that do not require a doctor’s visit. When you have a minor condition, visit your pharmacist for a free assessment.

During the warm, sunny days of summer, older adults are at an increased risk of heat-related illnesses. During extreme heat, stay indoors, stay as cool as possible and drink plenty of clear fluids. Avoid drinking alcohol and wearing tight-fitting clothing. A symptom of too much heat is swollen feet and ankles. More serious symptoms are dizziness, fainting, a change in behaviour, dry, flushed skin and a lack of perspiration. If you suspect someone is suffering from heat stroke, call 911 and apply cold wet cloths to the armpits, neck and groin area. Have a safe and enjoyable summer!

Each year, an alarming number of people over the age of 65 experience a fall. Research has shown that as many as one in four older people fall every year. Falling in their homes is a serious risk that seniors face when they are alone. Here are some tips to help prevent falls before they happen: *ensure you have adequate lighting in your home, *always take a cordless phone or cell phone with you if you are going downstairs and *try not to move around your home more than you need to after taking medication that can impair your balance.