Our client Christine (left) moved back to Australia after living in Montreal for 40 years.  This is an excerpt of a letter we received from her sister Angela (right).  Christine now lives in a Seniors’ Residence not too far from Angela’s home in Adelaide.

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My dear Lesley,

How can I begin to thank you for your compassion, loyalty and friendship that you have so generously given to Christine and me over the last tumultuous months?  You have been a lifeline to me and to Christine.  I cannot imagine what would have happened to Christine if you had not been such a sincere and devoted friend to both of us…..

You have no idea how wonderful it is to be with her for whatever years remain in our lives and despite her sadness at leaving Montreal and all the wonderful memories, she is enjoying being “home”….she is loved by the nurses at Fullarton Lutheran Homes.

Angela D., Adelaide, Australia

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).

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

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.

Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Montreal has recently implemented a programme to provide companionship for lonely Seniors who live in Cogir- managed Seniors’ residences.  The program is called Par-Aîné and it twins lonely Seniors and volunteers who are committed to bringing sunshine into the lives of Seniors.  Volunteers must undergo a rigorous selection process including interview, questionnaire, criminal record check and training in how to deal with the elderly.   The Quebec Government has given a $30,000 grant to Big Brothers Big Sisters to run the program, and should it be successful it will be applied in other locations as well.

Our beloved federal government has set up a website with pertinent information for Seniors.  Take a look at www.seniors.gc.ca.

A new book that may be of interest has come to my attention.  It is called “Our Turn to Parent:  Shared Experiences and Practical Advice on Caring for Aging Parents in Canada”, by Barbara Dunn and Linda Scott.  It is published by Random House and is available at Chapters or Amazon on-line.

Film maker Chris Wynn’s father suffered from Alzheimer’s.  Chris came home to the Laurentians to help his mother, the primary caregiver, care for him.  A beautiful film, “Forgetful not Forgotten” chronicles Chris’ experience as a caregiver for his Dad.  Chris has also put up a website http://forgetfulnotforgotten.com as a resource for those people caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s.  Check out both the film and the website.