“Tea and toast syndrome” refers to malnutrition in seniors when a lack of desire or inability to prepare and/or eat proper meals results in them relying on simpler meals like tea and toast. Seniors who skip meals almost daily, have gained/lost more than 10 pounds in the past six months, take medications, have dental issues, or have a disability can be at risk for malnutrition. Some common signs to watch for include unexplained weight loss, fatigue, memory issues, digestive issues, a weak immune system, muscle weakness, and anemia. There are support services available to help seniors eat well and regularly!

When buying a big-ticket item, we don’t hesitate to buy extended warranty to protect that purchase. But we often hesitate about spending money to protect our family, their future, and our children’s education. If you’re the main breadwinner, what will your family do should anything happen to you? A life insurance policy is a way to replace that loss of income. Nothing will ever replace you, but the insurance will provide your loved ones with a sense of security and allow them to carry on as best they can. That is the warranty that should be top of the list.

Did you know that chewing is the first step in the digestion process? Chewing your food properly and thoroughly helps create more surface area for your digestive enzymes to break down your food into useable parts for your body to function, re-build tissue, and fuel your body and your brain. If you suffer from bloating or heaviness, or feel sleepy after meals, an easy way to help your stomach feel better is to slow down while eating, by thoroughly chewing and avoiding distractions such as smartphones and TVs. Take time to enjoy your food and feel better by doing so!

A professor of mine once said, “To end well, is to live well”. This is so true. Whether the ending is through death and our subsequent grieving, or through circumstances, choosing to end well is important. With every ending, there are losses AND gains. Acknowledge them, speak about them out loud, and engage in some kind of ritual to mark the change. Honour yourself, your experience, and any others involved. Not everyone experiences endings the same way, so do what feels right. Endings are inevitable; avoiding them is optional (and not good for your mental health).

We are pleased to announce that finally, after a year and a half of hard work and much deliberation, we received our letter of No Objection from Health Canada! We are going ahead with our research project investigating the use of stem cells for osteoarthritis. If you would like more information about this ground-breaking research project, the first of its kind in Canada please visit www.pagdinhealth.com and www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03984461.

Many find it hard to stay active during the long winter days. Once spring arrives, aches and pains can stand in the way of carrying on as you remember. Joints, muscles, and tendons decondition rapidly. Often, a little bit of concerted effort can get you back on track. A proper diagnosis and treatment plan will outline realistic options. Non-surgical interventions are often sufficient. Recalcitrant problems may respond to precisely administered injections; ultrasound imaging and careful local anaesthesia make this well tolerated by virtually everyone. This smooth and effective treatment brings early and reliable improvement in pain, often allowing return to activity within days.

Are you depressed? By definition, it is not sad or low mood, but rather “depressed affect” or lack of affect. Not sad, not mad, not happy – just flat. In this state, it is difficult to care about anything. What is the antidote? The five pillars are: sleep, outside time daily, exercise weekly, social connection, and healthy diet. Make small moves like going for a walk every day, take vitamin D, go swimming, and reduce alcohol consumption. These can go a long way. If you can’t pull yourself out of your depression, counselling and medication can help too.