Watch Out: People are going crazy!

Thanks to my friend David for the following:

Good Morning everyone,

Just be careful because people are going crazy from being in lockdown! 

Actually, I've just been talking about this with the microwave and toaster while drinking coffee and all of us agreed that things are getting worse. 

The Blender was spinning out of control when I had to turn her down due to her being too juiced to understand the situation.

I didn't mention anything to the washing machine as she puts a different spin on everything. The dryer listened and then said that everything I was hearing or thinking was being fluffed up.

Certainly not to the fridge as he is acting cold and distant. While I thought the freezer took being cold to an extreme.

In the end, the iron straightened me out as she said everything will be fine, no situation is too pressing.

The hoover was very unsympathetic... told me to just suck it up, but the fan was more optimistic and hoped it would all soon blow over! 

The toilet looked a bit flushed when I asked its opinion and didn’t say anything but the doorknob told me to get a grip. 

The shower said I should lather up and let the situation wash all over me.

The sofa suggested that I should just sleep on it and let sleeping dogs lie and that might cushion the blow. 

The TV just went blank and refused to show any more images.

The front door said I was unhinged and so the curtains told me to ........yes, you guessed it .....pull myself together.

Go ahead and steal it - I did!!

Town Hall on Senior's issues

I recently went to a Town Hall of Senior's Issues, and I thought the event was interesting as it addressed many of the topics I talk about here. So I thought I would share my notes.

ISSUES RAISED BY THE MP

Seniors caregivers and family are going to their MP’s and MLA’s for assistance and needed access to Medical, dental housing. There has been an increase in OAS but only for those over 75 to help some seniors.

ISSUES RAISED BY THE SENIOR CENTRE

There appears to be a downloading of services from Service Canada to Senior Centers who are using volunteers to help seniors with issues with their GIS, Old Age Security, Medical and Disability forms and Income Tax. There is a dramatic increase in the number of homeless seniors in the area, making affordable housing a priority. Vancouver defines affordable rent as $1647.00 a month.

The trend to digitizing services, (finding, using and paying for services) at the local, the provincial and federal level is causing hardship for seniors, who, cannot afford computers, or the internet or do not have the digital literacy required to use these tools.

ISSUES RAISED BY Council Of Senior Citizens Organization of BC

Issue of the number of medications being used by seniors and the costs associated with these medications. The issue around who will decide what drugs are available for seniors being left to a committee of Economists and Civil Servants who until asked by COSCO and the Federal Pensioners Association did not consider any issues of medications that seniors might have. COSCO in their conference in October will be addressing the issue of ageism

ISSUES RAISED BY MOSAIC

41%of all seniors in BC are immigrants according to MOSAIC. These seniors have issues with Language causes barriers to socialization, integration, getting housing, medical and other services they need. They also are more likely to suffer Elder Abuse

ISSUES RAISED BY SERVICES CANADA

Services Canada cannot by regulation help seniors fill out forms they need to access a range of services, they can help by answering questions. This has led to the belief that Services Canada is downloading its work to Senior Centers. Services Canada will come to seniors’ centers to talk to groups about how to best access their services. One hint is given if you have to phone any federal government office phone on Wednesday or Thursday after 2:00 if you are in the West. Also, if you get a “Busy signal, dial 10 and you will be put back to the main menu, may save to do these five or six times to get into the cue, but you still have a long wait

ISSUES RAISED BY QUESTIONS FROM SENIORS AT THE MEETING

There were issues raised about:

·         Isolation

·         Access to information about programs

·         How do people with dementia can get help?

·         Ageism in the healthcare system and the issue of no longer having a yearly medical check up.

·         The disability tax credit

·         OAS and GIS not being tied to inflation

·         Affordable housing

·         National Pharmacare and what it would look like and when it might be implemented.

Thoughts on RRSP's

My brother retired and his wife is still working and she can contribute to the spousal Registered Retirement Savings Plan she set up for him a few years ago. We were talking about the best way to go, and he said that if she invested the maximum dollars she would move to a lower tax bracket, so they were going to put the money into a Tax-Free Savings Account.  Over the past couple of years, they have been going back and forth between investing in their RRSP and their TFSA,  

They have looked closely at both options and understand that there are two schools of thought on the RRSP. The first is that some believe their tax rate will be higher in the withdrawal phase than in the contribution phase, and they know that their tax bracket will be lower for him and either the same or higher for her. They also understand that they are using the deduction they received to lower their taxes and that is why they invest in the RRSP in the first place.

RRSPs are meant to work as a tax-deferral strategy, meaning you get a tax deduction on your contributions today and your investments grow tax-free until it’s time to withdraw the funds in retirement, a time when you’ll hopefully be taxed at a lower rate. So contributing to an RRSP makes more sense during your high-income working years rather than when you’re just starting out in an entry-level position.

The issue that I have with them is they put the money they invest into a bank account that earns very little interest but they put the money in the TFSA into stocks and earn a fair rate of return. I have addressed this with my brother but he and his wife are not going to change and they are doing well. She will retire in about five years and they will have a solid income from their pensions and their RRSP accounts and their TFSA accounts.

What conditions can be linked to oral health?

Yesterday I said the Mayo Clinic made a link between oral hygiene and health so I need to expand on that idea. Certain medications — such as decongestants, antihistamines, painkillers, diuretics and antidepressants — can reduce saliva flow. Saliva washes away food and neutralizes acids produced by bacteria in the mouth, helping to protect you from microbes that multiply and lead to disease.

Studies suggest that oral bacteria and the inflammation associated with a severe form of gum disease (periodontitis) might play a role in some diseases. And certain diseases, such as diabetes and HIV/AIDS, can lower the body's resistance to infection, making oral health problems more severe.

Your oral health might contribute to various diseases and conditions, including:

·       Endocarditis. This infection of the inner lining of your heart chambers or valves (endocardium) typically occurs when bacteria or other germs from another part of your body, such as your mouth, spread through your bloodstream and attach to certain areas in your heart.

·       Cardiovascular disease. Although the connection is not fully understood, some research suggests that heart disease, clogged arteries and stroke might be linked to the inflammation and infections that oral bacteria can cause.

·       Pregnancy and birth complications. Periodontitis has been linked to premature birth and low birth weight.

·       Pneumonia. Certain bacteria in your mouth can be pulled into your lungs, causing pneumonia and other respiratory diseases.

Certain conditions also might affect your oral health, including:

·       Diabetes. By reducing the body's resistance to infection, diabetes puts your gums at risk. Gum disease appears to be more frequent and severe among people who have diabetes.

·       Research shows that people who have gum disease have a harder time controlling their blood sugar levels. Regular periodontal care can improve diabetes control.

·       HIV/AIDS. Oral problems, such as painful mucosal lesions, are common in people who have HIV/AIDS.

·       Osteoporosis. This bone-weakening disease is linked with periodontal bone loss and tooth loss. Certain drugs used to treat osteoporosis carry a small risk of damage to the bones of the jaw.

·       Alzheimer's disease. Worsening oral health is seen as Alzheimer's disease progresses.

Other conditions that might be linked to oral health include eating disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, certain cancers and an immune system disorder that causes dry mouth (Sjogren's syndrome).

Tell your dentist about the medications you take and about changes in your overall health, especially if you've recently been ill or you have chronic conditions, such as diabetes.

Oral health for everyone is more important than most people may realize. The risk factors of osteoporosis, diabetes, heart disease and pneumonia also increase as we age, simply because we…age. 

Adding poor oral health to the mix just increases the chances more, so upping your toothbrushing, flossing game should be a priority.