Montreal lawyer Ann Soden was well ahead of her time when she founded the national elder law section of the Canadian Bar Association in 2002.  This section now includes 1,300 lawyers who have an interest in the law and aging.  Today Ann Soden is working tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure that the rights of older people, with or without dementia, are protected.  As well as practicing law, Ann teaches and lectures on the subject, which goes beyond wills and estate planning to include advising on legal aspects of medical care, housing, financial or nursing home abuse and other issues of concern to older people.  If you would like to know more about Ann Soden’s pro-bono legal clinic, visit www.elderlawcanada.ca. 

Also of interest is the website of the Public Curator, www.curateur.gouv.qc.ca/cura/en/index.html.

(Some of the information in this posting was taken from Kathryn Leger’s article in The Montreal Gazette, January 8, 2010).

The Winter/Spring 2010 programme runs from Feb. 18 to May 27, 2010.  Art Focus offers lectures on fine arts, architecture, decorative arts, private gallery and museum visits, Italian language classes and spring architectural walking tours.  Call 514 – 937-6391 for a brochure.

Dear Lesley,

Thank you so much for accompanying me to my CAT scan.  I am really glad that you were there with me! 

Mary L., Westmount

Marguerite Blais, Minister responsible for Seniors in the Province of Quebec, announced today that the government will be joining forces with philanthropist André Chagnon to create a $200 million fund to provide support to exhausted caregivers who take care of seniors with degenerative cognitive conditions.  The money will be given to non-profit groups so that they can develop programmes to provide respite and other support to caregivers.

There are about 300,000 people in Quebec who take care of a cognitively disabled loved one at home.  Education programmes on Alzheimer’s will also be offered.

The money will be spent over the next 10 years. 

(from K. Wilton, Montreal Gazette, November 24/09)

An interesting undertaking has just wrapped up in Albert Lea, Minnesota.  The residents of Albert Lea took part in an AARP/Blue Zones project.  The Vitality Project offered the town’s residents the chance to make simple changes in their lifestyles with the possibility of extending their years of life.  Examples of such changes include exercise, diet, adding moments of peace and quiet, having the right outlook, and so on.   The website, which includes daily updates and videos, is at www.bluezones.com/vitality-project.

H1N1 Vaccination Centres in the province of Québec will be listed on the  website below, starting Saturday, October 24, 2009.  This website – set up by the Government of Québec – will also be your most up-to-date source for information on H1N1 as it relates to the population of Québec.

www.pandemiequebec.ca

The Atwater Library has sent us a brochure outlining their Literary Programme which we share here.  These events are really excellent, and  provide some stimulation and companionship for a few hours.

The Atwater Library Lunchtime Series (Coffee Served, Free Admission, Donations Invited) includes:

Friday, October 23 at 12:30 p.m. – Terry Mosher (Aislin) gives an illustrated presentation of his new book, Aislin’s Shenanigans, featuring his best cartoons of the past three years.

Thursday, October 29 at 12:30 p.m.  Karolyn Smardz Frost speaks about her book I’ve Got a Home in Glory Land:  A Lost Tale of the Underground Railroad, winner of the 2007 Governor General’s Literary Award for English Non-Fiction. 

Tuesday, November 10 at 12:30 p.m.  On the eve of Rememberance Day, Desmond Morton, McGill University Emeritus Professor of History, gives a talk entitled, “Remembering both November 11ths“.

Wednesday, November 18 at 12:30 p.m.  Tom Perlmutter, Government Film Commissioner and National Film Board Chairperson, makes a presentation on the 70th Anniversary of the NFB.

Thursday, November 26 at 12:30 p.m.  For St. Andrew’s Day, Richard Feltoe gives a talk on John Redpath, the 19th century Scots-Montrealer business leader and philanthropist.  Mr. Feltoe is John Redpath’s biographer and is also the Curator of the Redpath Sugar Museum in Toronto.

Not to be forgotten….The Atwater Library Book Club, lead by author Mary Soderstrom

Wednesday, October 28 at 7:30 p.m.  The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery

Wednesday, November 18 at 7:30 p.m. Distantly Related to Freud by Ann Charney

Wednesday, December 16 at 7:30 p.m. Lives of the Saints by Nino Ricci

Wednesday, February 17 at 7:30 p.m. Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones.

All activities will be held at the Atwater Library, 1200 Atwater Avenue (at Tupper), Westmount, Quebec.  Metro Atwater.  Tel. (514) 935-7344.

Dear Lesley,

My mother really enjoyed the time she spent with you and Elizabeth.  My sister Anne and I could not have been happier.

Thanks again!  Meg McCallum, NDG

(as reported in The Montreal Gazette; Charlie Fidelman, Gazette Health Reporter; July 9, 2009)

McGill University needs volunteers to test a web-based personal electronic medical record system called MedforYou.  The system will allow patients to enter their medical information on-line.  It will monitor illnesses, medications and doctor’s appointments, as well as track allergies, blood sugar and hypertension levels; it will store results of lab tests, personal research on chronic diseases as well as lifestyle choices such as nutrition and exercise.

MedforYou will eventually be a subscriber-based service.  Dr. Arthur Porter, Head of the MUHC, said that in the future MedforYou may link up with other e-health tools.  The Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Services is also developing electronic health records.  

If anyone is interested in being part of the test group, Public Relations at McGill (muhc.public.relations.and.communications@muhc.mcgill.ca) is the place to sign up.