Funeral directors are caregivers and administrators, event planners, as well as listeners and supporters. They make the arrangements for transportation of the deceased, complete all necessary paperwork and implement the choices made for final disposition and memorial service. It is important for your family to know your choice whether cremation, traditional, or green burial. Have the conversation with family now to find out what arrangements may already be in place or to help put them in place for the future. Planning ahead can be as simple as a conversation to record your wishes. Your funeral director is there to listen at any time.

Brain-imaging techniques have revealed the brain’s plasticity and have identified networks that music activates. The brain areas activated by music are not unique to music. These networks also process other functions. Musical and non-musical functions share systems. For example, motor control and executive control share circuits with music. Music can activate and drive complex patterns of interaction between the other two, so that a stroke patient and someone with Parkinson’s increases movement, and someone with traumatic brain injury increases cognitive functioning, such as problem solving or decision making.

Sheri Willlick is a REALTOR® and Associate Broker with Coldwell Banker Signature in Saskatoon. Sheri holds extra designations as a Seniors Real Estate Specialist® and a Seller Representative Specialist®. An SRES® is a REALTOR® who is uniquely qualified to assist seniors in housing sales and purchases. What qualities make an SRES® different? *Has knowledge, experience, and compassion in dealing with senior issues. *Takes a no-pressure approach to the transaction and has a strong service orientation. *Tailors the marketing of a home to the needs of an older client.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second-most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer’s disease and the fastest-growing neurodegenerative disease. A 2021 research study showed that Photobiomodulation (PBM) resulted in significant improvements in patients’ mobility, cognition, dynamic balance, and fine motor skills and could be a safe and potentially effective option, with no side effects observed. Improvements were maintained for as long as PBM continued, for up to one year in a neurodegenerative disease where decline is typically expected. Home use of PBM by the person themselves or with the help of a caregiver might be an effective option for many PD symptoms.

Maintaining muscle as you age is vitally important in preventing frailty, keeping weight in check and sustaining good health in general. But women over 50 tend to consume less protein than they should to prevent sarcopenia, also known as age-related muscle loss. Currently, Health Canada doesn’t have recommendations specific to older women, but research suggests consuming 25g of protein per meal or snack for a 150 pound woman is beneficial. That’s a lot more than many of us are used to, so talk to your doctor or dietician first. When you get the all-clear, try eating protein throughout the day to help the body digest and utilize it better, as opposed to all at once or in very large doses.