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.

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.