Blog Archives

Free Seniors’ Exercise Classes Twice Per Week

2/27/2015

According to the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines, to achieve health benefits and improve functional abilities, adults aged 55 years and older should accumulate at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity per week, in bouts of 10 minutes or more. It is also beneficial to add muscle and bone strengthening activities using major muscle groups, at least 2 days per week. Those with poor mobility should perform activities to enhance balance and prevent falls.

As you grow older, an active lifestyle is more important than ever. Regular exercise can help boost energy, maintain your independence, and manage symptoms of illness or pain. Exercise can even reverse some of the symptoms of aging. And not only is exercise good for your body, it’s also good for your mind, mood, and memory.

There are four building blocks to senior fitness:

Cardio endurance: uses large muscle groups in rhythmic motions over a period of time. Cardio workouts get your heart pumping.
Strength: builds muscle with repetitive motion using weight or external resistance from body weight, machines, free weights or elastic bands. Strength training helps prevent loss of bone mass, builds muscle, and improve balance – both important in staying active and avoiding falls.
Flexibility: challenges the ability of your body’s joints to move freely through a full range of motion. This can be done through stretches to keep muscles and joints moving easily so they are less prone to injury.
Balance: maintains standing and stability, whether you’re standing still or moving around. Yoga, Tai Chi and posture exercises are all good exercises to gain confidence with balance.

Classes, conducted by Rhonda Etmanski, are held twice a week:
- Monday mornings at 1:30 p.m. at Ronnoco House
- Wednesday mornings at 10:00 a.m. at the Legion

If you are 55 or older and are interested in participating in these free classes or have questions, please call Rhonda at (705) 569-2636 after 6:00 p.m. Please wear loose, comfortable clothing and running shoes and bring a yoga mat if you have one available.

These free classes are being made possible with funding from the NE Local Health Integration Network.

The Temagami Medical Centre and Family Health Team ...
committed to keeping you as healthy as possible!

What to Know When Having Blood Work Done

2/20/2015

Blood work is done as part of your annual health exam or to assist in monitoring certain medications or illnesses.

The average healthy person needs their blood work done every 1-3 years. As a person ages, as health problems develop or prescriptions change, blood work may need to be done more often. This is especially true in cases of diabetes or with the use of Coumadin, a medication that helps make the blood less “sticky”. In these situations, the patient is usually asked to come in more often. In most other situations, such as increased bad cholesterol or triglycerides, the blood work really only needs to be checked once every year.

The following is information that might be helpful before you come in for blood work:

If you are thirsty, you can and should drink small amounts of water while you are fasting for blood work.
Fasting means no food or drink (except water) or smoking for 12 – 14 hours prior to having your blood drawn. This also means no gum.
Most medication can and should be taken prior to having fasting blood work done. The exception would be diabetic medication or medication that must be taken with food.
If you are diabetic, you do not necessarily have to have fasting blood work done every time you have your blood drawn. If you are unsure, ask your provider.
Wear loose clothing especially around the arms. Short sleeves are best.
Let the provider know if you have ever felt “light headed” or have fainted when having your blood drawn.
If you cannot get an appointment in the desired time in Temagami, you can take your requisition to another laboratory. This is sometimes helpful if you have plans to be out of town during the timeframe that you want your blood work done.
Relax – drawing blood is easier when you are relaxed. Sometimes it looks like a large amount of blood is being drawn, but remember each vial contains no more than 1 – 1 1/2 teaspoons

Blood work is an important part of monitoring you health. It usually does not need to be done frequently but it does need to be done. If you haven’t had either your blood work or an annual health exam done within the last few years, contact the Temagami Family Health Team to schedule an appointment.

Preventative Health Care – the Easiest Way to Protect Your Future!

Your Responsibilities as a Patient

2/13/2015

Heath care is a team effort. You, as the patient, are a primary team member and as such, you are expected to be an active participant in your health care.

Your responsibilities include:

Ensuring your health care provider has accurate and complete information about current symptoms and complaints; current medications and treatments; allergies and past medical history including illness, injury and treatments;

Keeping all appointments and NOTIFYING THE OFFICE IN ADVANCE if this is not possible;

Returning to the clinic if you are still unwell after treatment;

Notifying your primary care provider of any significant change in condition or reaction to treatment or diagnostics;

Actively participating in all decisions about treatments and asking questions if there is any confusion—please continue to ask questions if you still don’t understand;

Complying with prescribed treatments and lifestyle changes or discussing options or alternatives with the provider(s), and asking for help if you don’t understand how;

Scheduling your own diagnostic imaging appointments, e.g. ultrasound. A requisition will be provided to you by our office, but it is your responsibility to call and schedule your appointment. No one knows your schedule better than you do!

Booking an appointment to follow up when your provider orders diagnostic testing, i.e. lab work, x-rays, ultrasound, etc. especially if you are unwell;

Calling the pharmacy to have your prescriptions refilled (if you have refills) or calling to make an appointment BEFORE you run out if you have no refills. We would like to see you once a year to renew all of your medications (narcotics not included); please keep your medications in their original containers.

Calling the office to enquire about test results or specialist appointments if a reasonable amount of time has elapsed without hearing from us.

Informing reception of any changes to your address, phone number, health card number or change in pharmacy. It’s important to keep this information up-to-date!

Be an active member of your health care team!

Assisted Living Program for Seniors Extended to Temagami

2/13/2015

The NE LHIN recently announced new funding to provide assisted living services for eight seniors in their own home or senior’s apartment in Temagami.

This program targets high risk seniors with complex needs who are able to continue living in their own homes and direct their own care as long as there is access to frequent, urgent and intense personal supports throughout a 24 hour period.

Features of the Program:

Access to service 24 hours per day, 7 days per week
24 hour urgent response by trained and qualified staff allowing clients to immediately connect with services in the event of an unplanned situation

Scope of Services:
The program includes non-medical personal support, essential homemaking, safety checks/reassurance services, medication reminders and assistance when needed.

Who is Eligible for Referral to the Program?

A senior who is 65 years of age or older
The person is insured under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP)
The person demonstrates a need for personal support on a 24 hour basis and has care requirements that cannot be met solely on a scheduled visitation basis
There is a need for frequency, i.e. multiple/intermittent visits throughout the day on a 24/7 basis
There is a need for urgency, i.e. (the person warrants a prompt response that cannot always be scheduled)
There is a need for intensity, i.e. (the person’s condition demands direct personal attention)

How to Make a Referral?
Referrals can be made by contacting the CCAC at (705) 672-5222, Timiskaming Home Support at (705) 672-2254 or by calling our office at (705) 569-3244.

The Temagami Medical Centre and Family Health Team…
committed to keeping you as healthy as possible!

February is Heart Month

2/6/2015

DID YOU KNOW?

More than 1.6 million Canadians are living with the effects of heart disease and stroke
9 in 10 Canadians have at least one risk factor for heart disease and stroke
Each year, there are more than 60,000 visits to the emergency department for stroke, many of which are preventable with a healthy lifestyle.

RISK FACTORS YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT:

High blood pressure (hypertension)
High cholesterol
Diabetes
Being overweight
Excessive alcohol consumption
Physical inactivity
Smoking
Stress

RISK FACTORS YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER:

Age
Gender
Family History
Ethnicity
History of stroke or TIA (transient ischemic attack)

Cardiovascular disease (heart disease and stroke) is a leading cause of death for Canadian men and women, so it’s important to understand how to prevent them. The more risk factors you have, the greater your risk is.

You may have heard the term “metabolic syndrome” -- this refers to a group of risk factors that increase your risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. These factors include high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity (particularly abdominal fat), high blood sugar, and low HDL (“good”) cholesterol. Three or more of these conditions need to be present for an individual to be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. If you are diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, your provider may prescribe medications and recommend lifestyle changes to reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

Know your risk and if there are factors that you can do something about, but you need some help to know what you can do, please call the office at (705) 569-3244 to make an appointment with your primary care provider.

The Temagami Medical Centre and Family Health Team…
committed to keeping you as healthy as possible!

Free Seniors’ Exercise Classes Twice Per Week

What to Know When Having Blood Work Done

Your Responsibilities as a Patient

Assisted Living Program for Seniors Extended to Temagami

February is Heart Month

Author

Archives

Categories

Patient Survey

What's New?

Further information

About

Programs

Support