Podcasts about interior health

There have been 70 emergency room closures in Interior Health and Northern Health in July alone, with double-digit closures in communities like Williams Lake, Chetwynd, and Prince Rupert in 2024. The closures, primarily due to staffing shortages, included recent shutdowns in Mackenzie and District Hospital and Chetwynd Hospital. Guest: Adrian Dix, BC's Minister of Health Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Seg 1: How did Neanderthals go extinct? In 2010, scientists discovered that early humans and Neanderthals interbred, impacting modern humans' circadian rhythms, immune system, and pain perception. However, the reverse gene flow—how humans influenced Neanderthals—remained unclear. Guest: Dr. Joshua Akey, Professor at the Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics Seg 2: Scott's Thoughts: What's worth spending the money on? Guest: Scott Shantz, Contributor for Mornings with Simi Seg 3: View From Victoria: How could we re-structure our health regions? The Vancouver Sun's Vaughn Palmer is here with his take on the day's headlines. Seg 4: Is the stock market going to crash? Wall Street experienced its most significant drop in nearly two years amid increasing fears of a slowing U.S. economy. The threat of a recession is a significant concern, potentially impacting both current economic policies and future political strategies. Guest: Dr. Steven Pressman, Professor of Economics at The New School in New York City Seg 5: How significant is the Chilcotin landslide breach? People are being advised to avoid the banks of the Chilcotin and Fraser rivers due to water breaching a dam caused by a large landslide. The situation remains volatile, with ongoing assessments and updates provided through a newly launched information portal. Guest: Tyler Olsen, Managing Editor of the Fraser Valley Current Seg 6: Scott's Thoughts: Should we have tighter border restrictions on dogs? Guest: Scott Shantz, Contributor for Mornings with Simi Seg 7: Should BC be doing more to prevent ER closures? There have been 70 emergency room closures in Interior Health and Northern Health in July alone, with double-digit closures in communities like Williams Lake, Chetwynd, and Prince Rupert in 2024. The closures, primarily due to staffing shortages, included recent shutdowns in Mackenzie and District Hospital and Chetwynd Hospital. Guest: Adrian Dix, BC's Minister of Health Seg 8: Why did the Park Board launch a complaint against the mayor's office? Vancouver's Integrity Commissioner has released two reports highlighting the strained relationship between Mayor Ken Sim's office and some park board commissioners. The reports were released shortly before a council decision to freeze ongoing investigations by Commissioner Lisa Southern, pending a third-party review of her office. A special council meeting is set to consider the review and suspension of Southern's investigations. Premier David Eby stated that the province would not address the request to abolish the park board until after the provincial election. Guest: Brennan Bastyovanszky, Vancouver Park Board Commissioner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a can't-miss episode for fans of the podcast, hosts Jade Chaboyer-Kondra and Nicole Taylor-Sterritt challenge three of Interior Voices' self-proclaimed biggest fans to a trivia contest based on previous episodes from this season! Listen to Natalie Daniels, Indigenous cultural safety and practice lead, Darcy Doberstein, manager, strategy and accountability, Indigenous Partnerships, and Becca Britton, Métis health systems advocate, show off their podcast knowledge for a chance at the crown.  Relive the best of the season, with fun, laughter, and conversation about the important themes and learnings Interior Voices brought to life in 2023. Are you an avid listener? We encourage you to play along! As the fifth season draws to a close, we also acknowledge the work and legacy of two individuals who have been integral to Interior Voices throughout the years.  Beth Blew, one of the original co-founders of the podcast, edited Interior Voices for 4.5 seasons in addion to marketing the podcast. Her behind-the-scenes contributions allowed it to flourish and grow, to become the podcast it is today.  We also acknowledge Jody Wagner, one of our excellent hosts. Jody recently took a new position within Interior Health and will no longer be working as a host of the podcast - but her insight, creative ideas, and compelling questions will leave a legacy.  Have you enjoyed this trip down memory lane? Revisit Season 5 by listening to previous episodes:  Season 5, Episode 1 – Peer Inclusion Project Season 5, Episode 2 – Aboriginal Partnerships Leadership Team Season 5, Episode 3 – Indigenous Health Emergency Management Liaison Tamara Sommer Season 5, Episode 4 – Indigenous Nurses Day Season 5, Episode 5 – Moose Hide Campaign Season 5, Episode 6 – National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Season 5, Episode 7 – Climate Change Season 5, Episode 8 – Métis Nation British Columbia Season 5, Episode 9 – Indigenous Foods in IH Facilities  

This week Gavin and Pierre are on the panel to discuss federal vote buying, we mean dental insurance. Groceries cost more, but the healthcare system will help you kill yourself if they stop firing doctors. Intro Hello to all you patriots out there in podcast land and welcome to Episode 412 of Canadian Patriot Podcast. The number one live podcast in Canada. Recorded Dec 11th, 2023.   We need your help! To support Canadian Patriot Podcast visit patreon.com/cpp and become a Patreon. You can get a better quality version of the show for just $1 per episode. Show you're not a communist, buy a CPP T-Shirt, for just $24.99 + shipping and theft. Visit canadianpatriotpodcast.com home page and follow the link on the right. What are we drinking And 1 Patriot Challenge item that you completed Gavin - CC & Pepsi Zero Ian - Polar Bear, ,water, exercise.  Reloading Pierre - whiskey and brandy when that one is done   Grab the Patriot Challenge template from our website and post it in your social media Listener Feedback We'd love to hear your feedback about the show. Please visit  canadianpatriotpodcast.com/feedback/ or email us at feedback@canadianpatriotpodcast.com A version of the show is Available on iTunes  at https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/canadian-patriot-podcast/id1067964521?mt=2   Upcoming Events Strava https://www.strava.com/clubs/ragnaruck News Federal government to announce details of dental insurance plan https://www.cp24.com/news/federal-government-to-announce-details-of-dental-insurance-plan-1.6681990 The federal government hopes to avoid gumming up the works of its new dental-insurance plan by gradually phasing in enrolment over the course of the next year Seniors over the age of 87 will be the first cohort to be able to apply to join a new federal dental-insurance plan. It will be slowly expanded over the course of 2024 to include all qualifying seniors, children under the age of 18 and people with disabilities. Holland announced the rollout of the program, which is currently budgeted to cost $13 billion over the next five years The program is aimed at people with an annual household income under $90,000 who don't have access to private insurance. Coverage will include preventive, diagnostic, restorative and surgical services — including X-rays, fillings, root canal treatments and dentures, among others Once eligibility is expanded to all qualifying Canadian residents in 2025, it will be the government's largest social program. The insurance plan is a key pillar in the Liberal's supply-and-confidence deal with the New Democrats to secure the opposition party's support on key votes.   'I'm so broken': Grieving family speaks out after B.C. cancer patient awaiting treatment chooses MAID https://bc.ctvnews.ca/i-m-so-broken-grieving-family-speaks-out-after-b-c-cancer-patient-awaiting-treatment-chooses-maid-1.6675742 Kathleen Carmichael says B.C.'s health-care system let her family down. Her partner, Dan Quayle, opted for a medically assisted death It was a choice he made after waiting for chemotherapy and treatment that didn't come fast enough. The oncologist would come in and say, 'We're pretty backlogged right now so hang in there But Quayle ran out of time. The 52-year-old grandfather – described as jolly, big-hearted and playful – died on Nov. 24. Quayle was diagnosed with esophageal cancer months after first feeling ill. While he waited for treatment, his health declined, which led him to choose MAID The family's pain emerges as numbers reported on radiation therapy reveal that only 75 per cent of patients in B.C. are receiving it within the recommended 28-day benchmark — lower than the 77 per cent in May when the province started sending patients to the U.S. for radiation due to long waits in B.C. The province has hired 61 oncologists and 27 radiation therapists since April. The health minister says those waiting longer than the benchmarks for radiation are being prioritized. “Those numbers — the people waiting 28 days are going to fall — because there are fewer people now on the waitlist,” said Dix Tuesday.   Here's how much more it's expected to cost to feed a family of 4 in Canada next year https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/here-s-how-much-more-it-s-expected-to-cost-to-feed-a-family-of-4-in-canada-next-year-1.6675985 In 2022, a report estimated the overall food price increases would be between five to seven per cent — the latest data from Statistics Canada pegs the food inflation rate at 5.9 per cent. In the latest edition of the annual report, the authors believe the overall rate of inflation will be lower in 2024, falling to somewhere between 2.5 and 4.5 per cent. According to Charlebois, things are "much calmer now," which could result in more deals and potentially some price wars between the big grocers. "Margins are going to be everything," he said. "And because consumers don't have any money now, grocers will be fighting for our business." Over the next year, Charlebois believes grocery stores will be offering more incentives to consumers like loyalty programs and deals to entice people. One of the tactics used is selling items at a loss, which brings the customer through the grocer's doors, but then the store would increase the prices for other items, hoping the consumer will buy those as well, he explained.   One way to save money on groceries… no more cantaloupes   Death toll rises to five in cantaloupe salmonella outbreak, as cases almost double https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/death-toll-rises-to-five-in-cantaloupe-salmonella-outbreak-as-cases-almost-double-1.6678564 Five people have died in a salmonella outbreak linked to Malichita and Rudy brand cantaloupes sold in six provinces. The Public Health Agency of Canada says 129 people have been confirmed with salmonella linked to the outbreak, almost double the number at the last update on Dec. 1, when a single death had been recorded. There are also 17 cases in Ontario, 15 in British Columbia, and two each in Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador. The agency says 45 per cent of those who became ill were aged 65 and older while more than a third were children five and younger. people became sick between mid-October and mid-November, and 44 have been hospitalized People who are infected with salmonella bacteria can spread salmonella to other people several days to several weeks after they have become infected Widow takes Ontario police to court over declaration misconduct in her husband's death was 'not serious' https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/widow-takes-ontario-police-to-court-over-declaration-misconduct-in-her-husband-s-death-was-not-serious-1.6681891 A grieving widow is taking the Ontario Provincial Police to court as she challenges its decision to call the misconduct of an officer that contributed to her husband's death “not of a serious nature” – a decision that denied her access to a public hearing in the case. A CTV News investigation shows that the OPP has declared misconduct by its own officers not serious about 80 per cent of the time in the last five years, and sends identical paragraphs that don't explain its reasoning in cases from neglect of duty to unlawful use of force. Courtney D'Arthenay said she couldn't believe she received a boilerplate letter informing her that the OPP would resolve her complaint without a hearing after an officer accidentally struck and killed her husband Tyler Dorzyk while speeding near Barrie in 2020. B.C. doctor fired for refusing COVID-19 shot loses bid to get hospital privileges back https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/theresa-szezepaniak-bc-hospital-appeal-board-covid-vaccine-1.7046988 Dr. Theresa Szezepaniak was fired from Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops in 2021 The Hospital Appeal Board has found that Dr. Theresa Szezepaniak's refusal of the shot in 2021 amounted to neglect of her obligations as a hospitalist at Royal Inland Hospital, and the decision to take action on her privileges was appropriate. "The appellant [Szezepaniak] says that IH is required to respect her exercise of her Charter rights," an appeal board panel wrote in a Nov. 20 decision. "The implication is that in order to respect her decision IH must not take any steps that hold the appellant accountable for the consequences of that decision. Having the right to make a decision, and your right to do so acknowledged, or respected, is not the same as being held responsible for the consequences." in other words, the decision says, Interior Health didn't challenge Szezekpaniak's right to refuse the vaccine, but it did hold her accountable for the fact that choice left her unable to work under provincial law. Outro We're on Guilded now https://www.guilded.gg/i/k5a9wnDk Andrew - https://ragnaroktactical.ca/ Visit us at www.canadianpatriotpodcast.com   We value your opinions so please visit www.canadianpatriotpodcast.com/feedback/ or email us at feedback@canadianpatriotpodcast.com and let us know what you think.   Apologies to Rod Giltaca Remember, “you are a small fringe minority” with “unacceptable views”

On today's episode, hosts Nicole Taylor-Sterritt and Jade Chaboyer-Kondra sit down with Becca Britton, Métis Health Systems Advocate (Interior Region) for MNBC's Ministry of Health and Eva Habib, the Métis Health Equity Manager from Métis Nation British Columbia, or MNBC. In a compelling conversation, they discuss the history of the Métis, the importance of culturally safe and distinctive health care, and the working relationship between MNBC and Interior Health. This discussion was had in honour of Louis Riel Day, earlier this month. This episode is a must-listen for anyone working in health care who wants to learn about Métis culture, history, and how to work toward achieving better health outcomes for Métis people.  If you'd like to learn more about Louis Riel, check out these previous episodes of Interior Voices:  Season 4, Episode 8: an interview with Métis historian Brodie Douglas Season 3, Episode 8, Part 1: an interview with Debra Fisher, Director, Region 4 from Métis Nation BC Season 3, Episode 8, Part 2: an interview with Dean Gladue, Director, Region 3 from Métis Nation BC

On today's episode, hosts Nicole Taylor-Sterritt and Jade Chaboyer-Kondra sit down with Savanna Brown, Direction, Quality Standards & Initiatives, to learn how Interior Health has integrated traditional Indigenous food options into Interior Health facilities.  The legacy of colonization in Canada can be felt through the systemic inequities that remain, such as the loss of traditional foods for Indigenous peoples - food which is integral to Indigenous culture. Through the Traditional Food Initiative, Savanna's work has started with her own learning and unlearning journey including a Ministry of Health led piloted learning journey to introduce Indigenous foods into health care. In partnership with the Support Services leadership team, she looks forward to collaborating with Indigenous community members to understand their needs and help create a menu that embraces traditional recipes and their history.  Learn more:  Home on Native Land, an educational site recommended by Savanna

Bonita Kay Hodgson's greatest desire is to help people to learn to hear and trust their own intuition, fall back in love with all aspects of themselves, and transform limiting beliefs and fears into motivation and creativity.Bonita helps individuals, entrepreneurs, and organizations unlock their inner strengths. She is a psychic life and business coach assisting clients to understand the subconscious patterns impacting their personal and professional decisions as well as offering them strategies for success in the workplace, and happiness and connection in their personal relationships. With a varied professional career, she is in a unique position to help entrepreneurs. She has been a journalist, freelance writer, editor of a national business magazine, software developer, university administrator and crisis counselor, before she devoted herself full-time to being a coach. Bonita's interactive workshops and speaking engagements have benefited employees at Interior Health, consultants with Mary Kay Cosmetics, and staff at Nurse Next Door, among others. She is the author of a digital oracle deck, "Shadow to Light", available on the Deckible app. Her online course, "Soul Decison Leadership" is available at https://www.souldecisionleadership.com.  In this episode we ‘get into'Finding loveThe law of attractionRelationshipsRaising vibrations, and We end it off with a live reading.You can catch Bonita's podcasts on YouTube, and  learn more her services spiritkelowna.com.

Dr. Hoffe was one of the first Canadian doctors to blow the whistle on large scale mRNA vaccine injuries. As a family doctor in Lytton, BC, he has worked as a rural physician and emergency room physician for more than 30 years. As a result of his outspokenness, he has lost his ER room privileges and had his income slashed in half. He is currently in the process of suing Interior Health for wrongful suspension. Get our Podcast Here: https://lauralynnandfriends.podbean.com/ The Wellness Company: https://twccanada.health/products/long-haul-formula?ref=8ZFnkJOYhIHEZ8 Zstack Protocol: https://zstacklife.com/?ref=LAURALYNN Sun City Silver and Gold: sovereignize@protonmail.com      ☆ We no longer can trust our mainstream media, which is why independent journalists such as myself are the new way to receive accurate information about our world. Thank you for supporting us – your generosity and kindness to help us keep information like this coming! ☆ ~ L I N K S ~                                      ➞ DONATE AT: https://www.lauralynn.tv/ or lauralynnlive@protonmail.com ➞ SHOP: https://teespring.com/stores/laura-lynns-store-2 ➞ TWITTER: @LauraLynnTT ➞ FACEBOOK: Laura-Lynn Tyler Thompson ➞ RUMBLE: https://rumble.com/c/LauraLynnTylerThompson ➞ BITCHUTE: https://www.bitchute.com/channel/BodlXs2IF22h/ ➞ YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/LauraLynnTyler ➞ TWITCH: https://www.twitch.tv/lauralynnthompson ➞ DLIVE: https://dlive.tv/Laura-Lynn ➞ ODYSEE: https://odysee.com/@LauraLynnTT:9 ➞ GETTR: https://www.gettr.com/user/lauralynn ➞ LIBRTI: https://librti.com/laura-lynn-tyler-thompson

On this episode of The Digital Patient, Dr. Joshua Liu, Co-founder & CEO of SeamlessMD, and marketing colleague, Alan Sardana, chat with Brent Kruschel, Vice President, Digital Health at Interior Health, about "Why Listening is a Superpower for Digital Health Success, How Enabling Autonomy leads to Healthcare Worker Retention, Learning from Failures to Drive Innovation, and more..."

The dangers posed by fires and floods are increasing each year. Earlier this summer, Interior Voices podcast hosts Nicole Taylor-Sterritt and Jody Wagner met with OKIB Chief Byron Louis and Kady Hunter, Climate Change & Health Lead with Interior Health. Their discussion focused on the crucial partnerships IH is developing with First Nations in response to the changing climate and its impact to our health and wellbeing. Learn more: IH Climate Change and Sustainability Roadmap   

In this episode, I sit down with Registered Dietician Haeli Draper to discuss: Nutritional considerations leading up to birthThe effects of constipation on the pelvic floor and nutritional suggestions for softer stoolsAre there ideal foods to consume leading up to birth?Suggestions for eating in the postpartum periodTips for family and friends that want to bring meals for the new momNutrition for milk supplyThe nuances that come from pressure to lose weightWhen it may be helpful to consult with a registered dietician Haeli is a Registered Dietitian practicing and living in the beautiful Okanagan for the last 9 years.  She has worked in private practice focusing primarily on plant-based nutrition and living and is currently working with Interior Health as apart of the Primary Care Network. In this role, she works with patients in the community to help navigate a range of issues, from chronic disease management, gut health, disordered eating, pediatrics as well as those going through their pre and postpartum journey's. She values connecting with people and being a part of their journey to better health, whatever that means for them. In her spare time, you'll find Haeli chasing an active toddler around and preparing for baby number 2. Links to Contact HaeliInstagram TwitterMore about the C-Section Program:This initiative is sponsored by Health Canada as a part of the competitive Innovative Solutions Canada program, for which RxPx has been selected. The program is designed for mothers who are expecting a planned c-section, or who may have to undergo an unplanned c-section. The program includes evidence-based content to help mothers prepare for and recover from their c-section.  Participants will also have the opportunity to connect with and support other mothers who are anticipating a c-section or educating themselves about a c-section in case it is something they will need.How to join the app:STEP 1: download the ‘Stronger Together' App from Google Play or Apple App Store STEP 2: use code C-SECTION when onboarding STEP 3: attend weekly expert Q+A sessions in FebruarySTEP 4: participate in group chats and share what information you would like to haveThanks for joining me! Here is where you can find out how to work with me:  mommyberries.comSupport the show

Kalea (kay-lee) Kulbe and I am a certified Foot Zone practitioner. I graduated from WeDoFeet Seminars in October 2021. I was trained by Vanessa Young and Brad Noall (founder of WeDoFeet) over the course of 10 months. Throughout the course I studied anatomy and physiology, energy work, essential oils, and emotional work. I am also an essential oil specialist certified through doTerra Essential Oils. Foot zoning!! I had to work with my hands, be creative, help people heal, spread love in the world, and connect with the intuitive side of myself. I have worked on people with neuropathy, poor circulation, diabetes, ADD, ADHD, autism, cancer, pregnant, infertility, back pain, blood pressure, head trauma, brain aneurism, just as a monthly tune up and more! I have worked on people from age 4 to 84.

 Youtube version https://youtu.be/rQZPII3Vj1E Kalea (kay-lee) Kulbe and I am a certified Foot Zone practitioner. I graduated from WeDoFeet Seminars in October 2021. I was trained by Vanessa Young and Brad Noall (founder of WeDoFeet) over the course of 10 months. Throughout the course I studied anatomy and physiology, energy work, essential oils, and emotional work. I am also an essential oil specialist certified through doTerra Essential Oils. Foot zoning!! I had to work with my hands, be creative, help people heal, spread love in the world, and connect with the intuitive side of myself. I have worked on people with neuropathy, poor circulation, diabetes, ADD, ADHD, autism, cancer, pregnant, infertility, back pain, blood pressure, head trauma, brain aneurism, just as a monthly tune up and more! I have worked on people from age 4 to 84.

On today's episode our hosts sit down with Dr. Martin Lavoie, Interim Chief Medical Health Officer for Interior Health. Dr. Lavoie shares his ongoing journey around the importance creating meaningful Territory Acknowledgements. Learn More:  FNHA Territory Acknowledgements booklet What Do Land Acknowledgements Really Mean?  Beyond Territorial Acknowledgements Interior Voices podcast Territory Acknowledgment Episode from Season 1 An Overview of Territory Acknowledgement FAQ and Policy Guide (InsideNet) A map of First Nation Territories in the Interior Health service area (InsideNet) Assistance with pronunciation (InsideNet)

Mal Griffin, Vice President of Digital Health at Interior Health Authority joined the podcast to discuss what led him to work in healthcare, challenges he is currently preparing for, what he's most excited about going into the end of the year, and more.

Mal Griffin, Vice President of Digital Health at Interior Health Authority joined the podcast to discuss what led him to work in healthcare, challenges he is currently preparing for, what he's most excited about going into the end of the year, and more.

Kukpi7 (Chief) Willie Sellars recently sat down with podcast hosts Tracy Mooney and Jade Chaboyer-Kondra to discuss Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Serving as Williams Lake First Nation (WLFN) Chief since 2018, Chief Sellars also sits on Interior Health's Board of Directors. Learn more Chief Sellars biography Williams Lake First Nation St. Joseph's Mission Investigation Orange Shirt Society National Day for Truth and Reconciliation How will you commit to truth and reconciliation? Register for the free HRx Truth and Reconciliation Webinar Sept. 26 ‘Embracing Truth for Meaningful Reconciliation' Check out the Orange Shirt Day Toolkit on the InsideNet Familiarize yourself with the Residential School sites in the Interior Region Read the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)'s Calls to Action Additional Orange Shirt Day resources and events Watch Phyllis Webstad - On Orange Shirt Day Register for the Yellowhead Institute's Calls to Action Accountability: A 2021 Status Update on Reconciliation, 10 a.m.-12:30 pm. (1-3:30 p.m. EDT), Sept. 29 9th Annual Orange Shirt Day, Williams Lake Stampede Grounds, 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Walk for the Children in Penticton on September 30, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, hosted by Okanagan Nation Alliance Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society (442- Leon Avenue, Kelowna) is hosting two events: National Day of Truth and Reconciliation Day - Thursday, Sept. 29, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. - E-mail KFS or call 250-300-3075 for information Sisters in Spirit Vigil - Tuesday, Oct. 4 - 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. E-mail KFS or call 250-300-3075 for information

ch.1 The British government held an emergency response meeting Saturday to plan for record high temperatures after authorities issued their first ever “red” warning for extreme heat early next week.Guest: Redmond Shannon, Global News European Correspondent   ch. 2 Nearly 400 law enforcement officials rushed to mass shooting that left 21 people dead at a Uvalde elementary school but “systemic failures” created a chaotic scene that lasted more than an hour before the gunman was finally confronted and killed, according to a report from investigators released Sunday.Guest: Chris Fox, CBS reporter in Uvalde, Texas ch. 3 As research suggests that COVID-19 has infected roughly half of the Canadian population, the emergence of an even more contagious version of the virus means some people may be in for another round.Guest: Dr. Brian Conway, medical director of the Vancouver Infectious Diseases Centre ch. 4 The emergency department at Clearwater's Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital was closed again due to staffing shortages over the weekend.Merlin Blackwell, the mayor of Clearwater, has said these closures have been concerning and frustrating for residents, tourists along the highway corridor, and workers at nearby industrial sites.Guest: Merlin Blackwell, Mayor of Clearwater ch. 5 The much anticipated Surrey-Langley SkyTrain will be completed by 2028, meaning train service will arrive in Langley earlier than expected but delayed for passengers in Surrey-Fleetwood. Guest: Bowinn Ma, MLA for North Vancouver-Lonsdale and BC Minister of State for Infrastructure   

Kamloops Last Week 45 packs a serious punch. Chris Foulds talks about which areas of Kamloops may be most vulnerable to extreme heat and cold, flooding and smoke, using maps created by Interior Health. Fraser Minten and Drew Englot of the Kamloops Blazers join us in studio ahead of the Western Conference final. Minten plays piano and skates on a lake; Englot’s parents Zoom in from a tractor on their farm in Candiac, Sask. The brand new Gord’s Appliance and Mattress Centre commercial makes its debut and includes Foulds’ dog, Darby. Not to be outdone, KTW reporter Jessica Wallace’s pup, Macy, makes an appearance in the Last Week Clique. Macy plays Toto in the Wizard of Oz, a Western Canada Theatre production, and is earning rave reviews, along with the show. KLW seeks a mascot. Is Jenna Kansky watching? Our new segment — Foulderdash — keeps track of Foulds’ activity on social media and this week includes a scathing post about Paul Bissonnette. The Foulderdash word of the day? Fouldscolding. We’re closing in on 200 subscribers. Join the #LastWeekClique by subscribing on YouTube and following on your favourite podcast provider. Thanks to our title sponsors, Gord’s Appliance and Mattress Centre and Nu Leaf Produce Market. We drink exclusively McDonald’s coffee on our show, which recently celebrated its one-year-anniversary and is closing in on 50 episodes. We thank Brandy Sekhon (McDonald’s), Herman Hothi (Nu Leaf) and Steve Rodgers (Gord’s) for their support. We’ll see you Last Week.

Kamloops Last Week celebrates its first birthday by welcoming to the show American Idol star Cameron Whitcomb (at 7:35 mark) and B.C. Lions' head coach Rick Campbell (18:21). A new sponsor — Gord's Appliance and Mattress Centre — hops on board to join the KLW consortium, which includes Nu Leaf Produce Market and McDonald's. Whitcomb, who lived in Kamloops for two years, shows some skin and reveals his tattoos. He talks fidgety criticism, Got 2 B Beach Matte, relationship status, Kamloopsian voice coach Sabrina Weeks, Black Sabbath, social-media hate, backflips and acting and music future. With B.C. Lions' training camp underway in Kamloops, Campbell talks labour dispute, QB Nathan Rourke, proving pundits wrong, Latvian giant Karlis Brauns, females in football, nomadic sports upbringing, using his teaching degree on the field and hiking and breweries in Kamloops. Foulds talks of problems at Royal Inland Hospital and addresses Interior Health communication woes in Above The Foulds (32:24), and takes aim at coffee prices at Sandman Centre in our brand new segment — Foulderdash (27:03). Hastings talks crowd size at Blazers' playoff games and says thanks to the Last Week Clique, listeners and viewers, Tim Shoults, Bob Doull, co-host Foulds and Magic Mike and Bonnie of Lee's Music.

This week on the the podcast, host Tracy Mooney talks with Shari McKeown, Lucie Poisson and Natalie Daniels about Interior Health's new Aboriginal Patient Care and Quality Consultant positions that provide culturally safe recourse for patient and client concerns.. Learn more: In Plain Sight Report and Recommendations Interior Health Patient Care Quality Office (contact us to share your feedback) Download our Patient Care Quality Office brochure for printing and sharing with others

The Omicron wave arose in Revelstoke sometime in the first half of December, 2021, and now is experiencing the highest COVID-19 case rates out of any Local Health Area in B.C. since the pandemic started. We spoke with Interior Health Medical Health Officer, Dr. Karin Goodison, about the situation here in Revelstoke and Interior Health's response to Omicron since testing demand started to spike on Dec. 15, 2021.

Gavin and Pierre catch up on current events; COVID, Ontario stay-cations, and Veterans Affairs can't keep up with their case load. Intro Hello to all you patriots out there in podcast land and welcome to Episode 322 of Canadian Patriot Podcast. The number one podcast in Canada. Recorded Nov 8th, 2021. Gavin Pierre We'd love to hear your feedback about the show. Please visit  canadianpatriotpodcast.com/feedback/ or email us at feedback@canadianpatriotpodcast.com A version of the show is Available on Stitcher at and iTunes http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=77508&refid=stpr and iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/canadian-patriot-podcast/id1067964521?mt=2 We need your help! To support Canadian Patriot Podcast visit patreon.com/cpp and become a Patreon. You can get a better quality version of the show for just $1 per episode. Show you're not a communist,  buy a CPP T-Shirt, for just $24.99 + shipping and theft. Visit canadianpatriotpodcast.com home page and follow the link on the right.   We're doing a pre-order of hoodies with Pierre Off The Wall Customizing email them at offthewallcustomizing@gmail.com and tell them you want a CPP sweater to stay comfy during the winter the price is  65$ + 15$ shipping. The pre-order closes on December 1. You can get a Canadian Patriot Podcast or Ragnarok Tactical hoodie, in any colour you want, as long as it's black.  What are we drinking Gavin - Signal Hill & Diet Pepsi Pierre - forty creek straight Patriot Challenge We're asking patriots to do 5 things everyday; Exercise for at least 45 minutes Practice a skill for at least 10 minutes Read a book for at least 15 minutes Drink at least 2 liters of water Complete 1 task that will improve your life Grab the template from our website and post it in your social media Section 74 Challenges GoFundMe link… https://www.gofundme.com/f/s74-appeals?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet   To get involved emails74process@gmail.c News COVID Update Up to 27,000 federal public servants miss deadline to affirm they are COVID vaccinated https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/up-to-27000-federal-public-servants-miss-deadline-to-affirm-they-are-covid-vaccinated Approx 10% unvaxed Have until Nov 15th to declare or get at least 1 dose or may face unpaid suspension Have additional 10 weeks if they get at least 1 dose prior to nov 15   B.C. postpones some surgeries due to shortages caused by unvaccinated workers, Dix says https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-bc-postpones-some-surgeries-due-to-shortages-caused-by-unvaccinated/ 127,448 health-care workers in the province (2.6% not vaccinated) Some outlets have been running a similar story and citing 4,000, vs 3,325 in this article five per cent are in Interior Health (166.25 people) four per cent are in Northern Health (133)   Doug Ford refuses to make COVID-19 vaccines mandatory for Ontario's hospital workers https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/mobile/doug-ford-refuses-to-make-covid-19-vaccines-mandatory-for-ontario-s-hospital-workers-1.5650760 He said the "small number" of COVID-19 outbreaks in Ontario hospitals is not worth enforcing a provincial vaccine policy. Six of Ontario's 141 hospital are currently experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak Health Minister Christine Elliott took questions from reporters after Ford's announcment. She said while "this is the right decision for right now," the province is open to re-evaluating if more outbreaks occur. Elliott said that if Ontario was to implement a mandatory vaccine policy there would be "significant job losses." Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca said Wednesday that this decision means Ford has "chosen anti-vaxxers over cancer patients." "He's putting our most vulnerable patients in harm's way because he's scared that the Conservative anti-vax community won't support his re-election otherwise," Del Duca said in a tweet. "He should be ashamed. NDP Leader Andrea Horwath also said Ford is "catering to anti-vaxxers" by making this decision."Unvaccinated staff should not be allowed in the ICU, in pediatric wards with sick babies, in the homes of vulnerable home care patients, or anywhere at all in health care, or in our children's schools," Horwath said. The Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) also expressed their disappointment over Ford's announcement, saying the province "can't afford to let its guard down." "There's a strong consensus among Ontario's hospitals for a provincial policy requiring health-care workers to be fully vaccinated," a statement from the OHA said. According to the OHA, 120 out of the 141 hospitals agreed to a mandatory vaccine policy.The OHA said health-care workers are already required to be vaccinated against 17 different conditions, including measles, rubella and tuberculosis. "COVID-19 should be treated no differently,   Students in Ontario will not require COVID-19 vaccination to attend schools https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-students-in-ontario-will-not-require-covid-19-vaccination-to-attend/ The provincial government says it won't be adding COVID-19 vaccinations to the list of immunizations students are required to have to attend schools.But the province's top doctor says he'll be exercising caution when it comes to lifting public health measures in schools.Dr. Kieran Moore says the province will look at the trends and the – quote – “ongoing threat” of COVID-19.If the virus is an ongoing threat, Moore says the government will then review the integration of COVID-19 vaccination status into the law. Ontario's health minister says a plan is coming next week about third COVID-19 vaccine doses for residents.Christine Elliott said on Twitter Friday that the plan will involve timing for third shots, with information “for all Ontarians.”Her comments came after the National Advisory Committee on Immunization issued new guidance to provinces and territories about who should be eligible for boosters.The committee now recommends third shots for people fully vaccinated with the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, people over age 70, more front-line health-care workers, and people from Indigenous communities. Ontario is reporting 419 new COVID-19 cases and no new deaths from the virus.The case numbers are based on 29,592 completed tests.Elliott says 279 cases are in people not fully vaccinated or with unknown vaccination status.She says 140 cases are in fully vaccinated people.There are 130 people in intensive care with COVID-related critical illness including 89 people on ventilators.   The Rest of the News Man shot in police incident was gunsmith, neighbour says https://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/news/local-news/man-shot-in-police-incident-was-gunsmith-neighbour-says-2 OPP & TPS executed a firearms search  Toronto is 142km away SIU spokesperson Kristy Denette said the interaction involved members of the Toronto police service. She said the Norfolk OPP were not involved. Fraser Pringle lives a couple doors down from the Kotanko residence. He and Kotanko have known each other for years, Pringle said.“They shot a gunsmith,” Pringle said Thursday. “You have to put that in there. He has guns because he's a gunsmith. He had a customer with him too. That's what Rodger has always done. He was a gunsmith. He kept to himself. He was harmless.” Veterans Affairs staff overwhelmed by number of vets assigned to them https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/veterans-affairs-staff-overwhelmed-by-number-of-vets-assigned-to-them-1.5655038 This past June, Marie-Paule Doucette was asked if she felt she had enough time to help Lionel Desmond in the months leading up to Jan. 3, 2017 -- the evening the Afghan war veteran shot and killed his wife, daughter and mother before turning the gun on himself.The question came near the end of two days of testimony before the Nova Scotia inquiry examining the circumstances surrounding the tragic event. Throughout, Doucette had laid out the many challenges she faced as a case manager at Veterans Affairs Canada.In particular, Doucette had shared a long-standing source of frustration and concern for veterans and their advocates, an issue Ottawa has repeatedly promised -- and even now failed -- to address: the sheer number of veterans assigned to case managers "This is not me dismissing Lionel Desmond or his problems, but he is one of anywhere from 35 to 40 people needing co-ordinated services," Doucette told the inquiry. "I understand when you say things like: `Could you be more proactive?' Of course I could, if I had 10 people on my caseload." Case managers help veterans with severe disabilities develop plans for their successful re-entry into civilian life after veterans leave the military for medical reasons. They are responsible for co-ordinating the different medical and financial resources needed for that transition. In 2018, a parliamentary committee found veterans without case managers had a harder time understanding what support is available. When they were first elected to power in 2015, the Liberals promised case managers would not be assigned more than 25 ill and injured veterans. The pledge came after deep cuts by Stephen Harper's Conservative government had seen the ratio skyrocket to a high of 40 to one.The Liberals have doubled the number of case managers, but Veterans Affairs says they still, on average, have 33 veterans assigned to each of them. Virginia Vaillancourt, national president of the Union of Veterans' Affairs Employees, says many have even more than that. This past summer, the union surveyed those case managers about their workloads. The result: While a fraction reported having 25 or fewer veterans assigned to them, the majority had more than 35. Some had more than 50. Meanwhile, an internal review released in 2019 found case managers spent more time filling out paperwork than helping veterans directly. The same report found most veterans saw significant improvements in their physical and mental health when they had case managers.   Ontario announces plan for staycation tax credit and here's how it works https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/ontario-announces-plan-for-staycation-tax-credit-and-here-s-how-it-works-1.5652434 The Ontario government has announced its plan for a staycation tax credit.Anyone planning a getaway within the province in the 2022 tax year could be eligible under the new "Ontario Staycation Tax Credit" program.The program was announced as part of the Ford government's Fall Economic Statement, which was tabled on Thursday. Ontarians would get a 20 per cent personal income tax credit on eligible accommodation between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, up to a maximum of $1,000 for an individual and $2,000 for a family, for a maximum credit of $200 or $400 respectively. Ontario residents could apply for this refundable credit when they file their 2022 personal tax returns and benefit even if they do not owe any tax. According to the government, an eligible accommodation expense would have to be: For a stay of less than a month at an eligible accommodation such as a hotel, motel, resort, lodge, bed-and-breakfast establishment, cottage or campground in Ontario  For a stay between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31 of 2022 Incurred for leisure Paid by the Ontario tax filer, their spouse or common-law partner, or their eligible child, as set out on a detailed receipt Not reimbursed to the tax filer, their spouse or common-law partner, or their eligible child, by any person, including by a friend or an employer Subject to Goods and Services Tax (GST)/Harmonized Sales Tax (HST), as set out on a detailed receipt. The government said this tax credit will help the tourism and hospitality sectors recover and encourage Ontarians to explore the province. The credit would provide an estimated $270 million to support over one-and-a-half million families to further discover Ontario, the government said. Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said Thursday she believes the staycation credit won't help families and says it should have been a full $1,000 refund on costs spent on a vacation in the province. "This thing that is in the update today - about $200 is what it comes out to - that's really not going to help families a great deal," Horwath said. "That's why our $1,000 tax credit idea might be helpful to some families who normally would have taken that vacation right now."   Book Club November A Handbook for Right-Wing Youth Julius Evola  December Small-Unit Leaders' Guide to Counterinsurgency: The Official U.S. Marine Corps Manual USMC Janruary The True North Tradecraft Disaster Preparedness Guide: A Primer on Urban and Suburban Disaster Preparedness Boris Milinkovich Outro We're on discord now https://discord.gg/rwA4yeeaC8 Pierre - Off The Wall Customizing on facebook and instagram and email offthewallcustomizing@gmail.com Andrew - https://ragnaroktactical.ca/ Visit us at www.canadianpatriotpodcast.com   We value your opinions so please visit www.canadianpatriotpodcast.com/feedback/ or email us at feedback@canadianpatriotpodcast.com and let us know what you think.   Apologies to Rod Giltaca Remember “You are the True North Strong and Free”

SUMMARY The over-65 age group is the fastest-growing demographic in Canada, with rates of mental illness for seniors over 70 projected to be the highest of any age group by 2041. Add to that the impacts of COVID-19, and you have a complex and costly national challenge that requires urgent attention from all sectors, in the move toward upstream seniors' mental health care. Join Marjorie Horne (seniors' advocate and founder of CareSmart Seniors Consulting), Naomi Mison (caregiver and founder of Discuss Dementia), and Dr. Anna Wisniewska (geriatric psychiatrist) in Part 1, as they share their personal stories and professional insights about the mental health challenges seniors face, and the opportunities that abound for improved care and enhanced quality of life. TAKEAWAYS This Part 1 podcast will help you understand: Current and projected statistics related to seniors' mental health and care Personal stories of caring for family members Reflections on COVID from caregivers and a geriatric psychiatrist Lessons learned from COVID to improve the mental healthcare system Common myths associated with seniors' mental health Common mental health challenges (e.g., depression/anxiety) and opportunities for care available to seniors and their families Risks of marginalized groups, experiences of men vs. women, and roles of ethnicity, genetics, ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences), epigenetics Common mental health challenges for seniors in residential care and their families Challenges and opportunities associated with caregiving and advocacy Transitional challenges experienced by seniors of all ages Need for intergenerational knowledge and connection Terms such as “eldering well”, “eldercare”, “death cafes”, “end-of-life doulas” SPONSOR The Social Planning & Research Council of British Columbia (SPARC BC) is a leader in applied social research, social policy analysis, and community development approaches to social justice. The SPARC team supports the council's 16,000 members, and works with communities to build a just and healthy society for all. THANK YOU for supporting the HEADS UP! Community Mental Health Summit and the HEADS UP! Community Mental Health Podcast.   RESOURCES World Health Organization Canadian Coalition for Seniors' Mental Health Mental Health Commission of Canada Active Aging Canada Alzheimer Society CanAge Canadian Association for Retired Persons (CARP) Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction Canadian Frailty Network Canadian Mental Health Association Canadian Suicide Prevention Network Deprescribing Network Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario National Institute for Care of the Elderly (NICE) Seniors First British Columbia The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Caregivers Alberta Carers Canada Caregivers Nova Scotia Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association Families for Addiction Recovery: FAR Canada Family Caregivers of British Columbia Canadian Research Centres on Aging   GUESTS  Marjorie Horne, Dipl. T. Nursing Marjorie Horne was 16 when she knew that the way we see and treat elders had to change. Her journey involved training as a registered nurse, becoming the Executive Director of the Central Okanagan Hospice Society, working in management in seniors housing and, finally, starting her own business, CareSmart Seniors Consulting Inc. She is also a Conscious Aging Facilitator and a Certified Professional Consultant on Aging. As an entrepreneur, Marjorie's goal was to bring a holistic, ‘Circle of Care' approach to supporting seniors and their families through the many transitions encountered in the third chapter of life. Her community endeavors of creating and hosting her own radio show, Engaging in Aging, every Sunday morning on AM1150, writing a bi-weekly column, facilitating workshops on Conscious Aging, and speaking at local events, are all driven by the desire to be part of a new paradigm where we reimagine later life with courage, resilience, passion, and purpose. Phone: 250-863-9577 Email: resources@caresmart.ca Website: www.caresmart.ca Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caresmartseniorsconsulting Twitter: https://twitter.com/caresmartsenior Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marjorie-horne-46bb8937/ Naomi Mison, BA Naomi Mison is a public speaker, vocal advocate, and a champion of change. She has spent the last four years bravely sharing her journey as she cares for her mother who was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, when Naomi was just 22 years old. She has spoken publicly through the Alzheimer Society of Canada National Anti-Stigma Campaign, CBC's Out in the Open podcast, Globe and Mail, Embrace Aging Okanagan, Pecha Kucha, and many more. Naomi volunteers with the Alzheimer Society of BC's Leadership Group of Caregivers, is on the planning committee for IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer's, and for the Seniors Outreach and Resource Centre. Naomi holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and English, and a Diploma in Public Relations.  Phone: 780-885-3956 Email: mailto:naomi@discussdementia.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nam956 Twitter: https://twitter.com/NaomiMison Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naomimison/ Dr. Anna Wisniewska, MD, FRCPC Anna Wisniewska completed her undergraduate medical training at the University of British Columbia and her postgraduate training in psychiatry at the University of Calgary. Her clinical career has always focused on the care of the elderly and their families. Dr. Wisniewska is currently a consulting geriatric psychiatrist at the Kelowna General Hospital and the Kelowna Mental Health Centre. She also works in her private practice in Kelowna and is a sub-investigator with Medical Arts Research.  Her passion for her work and compassion for her patients were inspired early on by her very close relationship with her grandparents, and maintained by the many wonderful patients, families, and colleagues met along the professional path. Email: DrAWisniewska@gmail.com HOST Jo de Vries is a community education and engagement specialist with 30 years of experience helping local governments in British Columbia connect with their citizens about important sustainability issues. In 2006, she established the Fresh Outlook Foundation (FOF) to “inspire community conversations for sustainable change.” FOF's highly acclaimed events include Building SustainABLE Communities conferences, Reel Change SustainAbility Film Fest, Eco-Blast Kids' Camps, CommUnity Innovation Lab, Breakfast of Champions, and Women 4 SustainAbility. FOF's newest ventures are the HEADS UP! Community Mental Health Summit and HEADS UP! Community Mental Health Podcast. Website: Fresh Outlook Foundation Phone: 250-300-8797   PLAY IT FORWARD The move toward optimal mental health becomes possible as more people learn about the challenges, successes, and opportunities. To that end, please share this podcast with anyone who has an interest or stake in the future of mental health and wellness. FOLLOW US For more information about the Fresh Outlook Foundation (FOF) and our programs and events, visit our website, sign up for our newsletter, and like us on Facebook and Twitter.   HELP US As a charity, FOF relies on support from grants, sponsors, and donors to continue its valuable work. If you benefited from the podcast, please help fund future episodes by making a one-time or monthly donation. Marjorie Horne, Naomi Mison, Anna Wisniewska Interview Transcript You can download a pdf of the transcript here. The entire transcript is also found below: RICK  0:00 Welcome to the HEADS UP Community Mental Health Podcast. Join our host Jo de Vries with the Fresh Outlook Foundation, as she combines science with storytelling to explore a variety of mental health issues with people from all walks of life. Stay tuned! JO  0:05 Hey, Jo here. Thanks for joining me as we explore the complex world of seniors' mental health. In this two-part podcast, brought to you by the Social Planning and Research Council of BC, we'll study the challenges, gaps, successes, and opportunities for seniors through the eyes of a geriatric psychiatrist, a young caregiver, and a seniors' advocate and entrepreneur. But before I jump into our discussion with these amazing women, I'd like to set the stage for you. Given that the over-65 age group is the fastest-growing demographic in Canada, seniors' mental health will be an increasingly critical issue for healthcare systems, all levels of government, academic institutions, healthcare-related businesses, and nonprofits that focus on either seniors' mental health or specific mental health conditions such as mood or cognitive disorders. Taking a closer look, we see that almost seven million Canadians, or about 18% of Canada's 38 million residents, are 65 or older. The rates of mental illness for seniors over 70 are projected to be higher than for any other age group by 2041. This scenario presents serious social, cultural, and economic challenges for individuals, families, and communities in Canada and beyond. On the bright side, a Statistics Canada study showed that almost 70% of seniors consistently report having good or excellent mental health, and that they are more satisfied with their lives than those in younger age groups. More than eight in ten seniors reported they always or often have someone they can depend on to help when they really need it. On the other hand, about 20%, or almost 1.5 million Canadian seniors, experience mental health challenges caused by a range of medical conditions, social situations, lifestyle choices, cultural influences, and economic circumstances. To help us dig deeper into this vitally important topic, Rick joins me to share what he learned from a variety of research and advocacy organizations in Canada. RICK  0:30 Up to 20% of older adults, or as many as 1.4 million people, report being depressed. And 40% of seniors in long-term care homes are depressed. More than 10% of seniors, and up to 30% of those with major late-life depression, misuse alcohol. JO  0:30 What about anxiety? RICK  0:30 About 10% of seniors, or about 700,000 people, have diagnosed anxiety disorders, and seniors have the highest rate of hospitalization for those disorders. JO  3:37 What about other kinds of mental health challenges? NAOMI  3:41 More than 500,000 seniors in Canada have dementia, of which there are more than 130 types. And more than 90,000 seniors have schizophrenia or other delusional disorders. JO  3:55 What about seniors and suicide? NAOMI  4:00 More than 10% of seniors seriously thought about suicide in the last year that was studied. That's probably higher now due to COVID. The overall rate for death by suicide is about 11 per 100,000. And the rate for men 85 and older is 29 per 100,000. JO  4:20 Great info, I just hit the big 66 so your stats hit a little close to home for me. Did you find evidence of personal traits that predispose seniors to mental health challenges? NAOMI  4:35 I did. mental health conditions are often affected by innate characteristics such as gender, ethnicity, and genetics. Developmental factors such as childhood experiences and educational status also play a role. JO  4:45 How does a senior's circumstances affect his or her mental health outcomes? Mental health challenges are often intensified by factors such as poverty, poor health, loneliness, inadequate nutrition and or housing, lack of independence, and loss of loved ones. NAOMI  4:59 We'll talk about those more later on in the podcast. But for now, what about more broad-based social risk factors? JO  5:06 Society-wide, or what are sometimes called macro-social risk factors, include lack of available health resources and the impacts of negative social influences such as stigma, ageism, inequality, systemic racism, and gender bias. NAOMI  5:21 Thanks, Rick. We're going to talk about those a little later as well. When you take all of that into account, seniors' mental health is staggeringly important, and needs to be addressed at all scales. JO  5:31 To help with that I welcome our first guest, Marjorie Horne, a community seniors' advocate and entrepreneur. She has diverse experience as a registered nurse, hospice volunteer and executive, residential care services manager, columnist, broadcaster, and founder of CareSmart Seniors Consulting. As a Certified Professional consultant on aging, she uses her education and work experience to meet the transitioning needs of seniors and their families. She was also a caregiver for her elderly mother, caring for her in her own home for the last year of her mother's life. Welcome, Marjorie, and thanks so much for joining us. Oh, thanks for having me, Jo. JO 6:25 Marjorie, first, can you share the parts of your personal story that pertain to seniors' mental health. MARJORIE  6:27 My journey in seniors' care began really when I was 15 years old here in Kelowna, and I decided to go and work in what we used to call residential care, then in care homes. And that was an experience that really affected me very deeply. And it was where I really felt and was part of this sense of isolation that so many of the residents felt, and they would talk to me about their families not coming to visit. That they didn't feel that anybody really heard them. And I just, for some reason, found this just so touching, and I wanted to be there for them individually. So, when I began listening to their stories and just being really present for them... this was even in my teenage years... I began to see a light come back in their eyes that was sort of deadened when I started working there. And it really had a profound impact on me. And it led me into nursing when I graduated from high school. And I think it's what still really drives me to this day, in wanting to make things better for our older population. When I was caring for my own mom in my home, the last year of her life, it gave me a really close and real personal experience. Even though I do this professionally, it's different with your parent, and I was there for her for a good part of the day, hearing her go through her life review and reflection of her life experiences. And my mom had been diagnosed as being bipolar in her late 30s, and she had been put on a combination of quite a number of psychotropic drugs at that time, which she has stayed on for over 35 years. And of course, this really impacted me and my three sisters and our family life. And when she was 75, we actually took her off everything to have some major surgery done. And all of a sudden, I had gone to stay with her, and I saw this light come back in her eyes that had been really missing for about 35 years. So, this has had a dramatic influence on my life, around my thoughts around mental health, by living that experience for so many years. And she began to tell me once we had her off these drugs about sexual abuse that happened her life that she had never told anyone. She talked to me about some very traumatic experiences she'd gone through, that again she just hadn't shared with anyone. And it was quite heartbreaking to hear her in her early 80s tell me about a roommate that had hung herself, and my mom came home and found her. And that all of the emotion and everything around this had really been locked inside of her. As she began to verbalize this to me over sort of a ten-year period, and especially when she was coming to the end of her life, I think it affected me in a way where I really feel that just listening sometimes to our older seniors, as they're going through their aging journey is such a very important relevant thing. And the grief that my mom had held inside of her for so long, I really feel that it influences how our older adults are doing as they're getting older. JO  10:20 Thanks for sharing, Marjorie, I know that each person is unique. But given that you've worked with hundreds of seniors in transition, can you paint us a picture that reflects your observation about what that looks like? MARJORIE  10:35 I do think everybody's unique. And that's a very important thing to remember... that we don't lump people together and try to label them. I so often hear from seniors, as they're growing older, that they tell me they begin to feel invisible. They don't feel seen anymore, and they don't feel valued. Even my older sister who's had a remarkable career, earned every type of award that you can imagine and has had such a successful life. But five years after she retired, she said to me that she was beginning to feel invisible. And it shocked me, but it's an expression that people start to look at you differently as you're growing older, as the wrinkles are starting to come and maybe you're walking a little bit slower. And she was verbalizing to me how she just isn't asked for her input on things. And she was quite shocked within herself that she's beginning to feel depressed at this realization. That after everything she's been through, society really doesn't honor us as we're aging. I think you know, when you have that personal experience for somebody, you're looking at admire, and they're telling you that, you can see how across the board that I think, no matter what you've done over your life, we start to feel this way. And we find it hard, I think to reach out for support. So many people just start to turn in, I even saw this with her, separating herself more being quieter or for somebody who had been so outgoing. And so, I think this, of course, affects our physical health and our sense of joy in life tremendously. And I think I see in many, many seniors that I am involved with, it can begin sort of a downward physical cycle as well. And that becomes sort of the centre of their life talking about that. There's a lot of different things around how society views, people as they're aging that I think we need to have a shift in. JO  12:40 Marjorie, is there a flip side to the heartbreak you see? What do you see, that's heartwarming in your work? MARJORIE  12:48 I have many, many heartwarming things. I'm working with somebody who's 93 right now, and I go over and play crib with her, and I thank God she says sharp is a tack. I really have to work hard at beating her at the crib. And I see a lot of people in their late 80s and 90s that really still have a sparkle in their eye. Even people with quite severe physical handicaps. They have a mindset that they have chosen. They want to stay optimistic, they want to stay involved, they want to be sharing their wisdom. And I have many, many experiences of that. And it inspires me on my own aging journey, to remain openminded and optimistic about my future. They inspire me to keep becoming better, because there are many people out there aging that have that mindset. And I think we need to help it flourish. JO  13:49 Thanks, Marjorie, great insights. Next, I'd like to introduce our second guest, Naomi Mison, founder and CEO of Discuss Dimentia and an advocate for the Alzheimer's Society of BC, Cycling Without Age, and BrainTrust. For 13 years, since she was 22, Naomi has been caring for her mother, who was diagnosed with early onset dementia when she was only 53. Naomi, thanks for joining us and agreeing to tell your story and how it brought you to where you're at now. NAOMI  14:26 Thanks, Jo, for allowing me to share my story with you and with your listeners today. So, from a young age, my mother had lived with mental illness. But in 2006, when she was found wandering outside of a train station in her nightgown, it had surpassed a regular dealing with mental illness and moved into a different area. I got a call that she was being placed in an institution. So, I flew to the UK where she was living to bring her back to Canada. When we arrived, she was quite delusional and at risk for wandering. While her GP recognized that there was an issue, she did make a referral to her neurologist,  but the symptoms continued to progress and worsen. And my brother and I grew more desperate for answers. We took her to an emergency room, and unfortunately were chastised for bringing her there under perceived false pretenses as I mean, I don't know how much and direction you have in this regard. But I find sometimes when you're caring for somebody with mental illness, they know when to really show that they are thinking clearly and making the right decisions, when you actually need them to show the struggle that they're facing. So, after some more incidences of trying to find support, we were finally able to locate a crisis team who came and conducted an assessment on my mother's mental health. And at that time, they recognized that she was really struggling and recommended that she be hospitalized and was admitted into Alberta Hospital. So, at the time, she was initially treated for bipolar disorder, and that was about six months when they were trying different methodologies to see if they could stabilize her symptoms. But after a PET scan showed atrophy of the brain, we were given a diagnosis of Pick's Disease, what is now commonly referred to as frontotemporal dementia. And then instance, we were asked to make a life-altering decision on her behalf. And unfortunately, there was no time to really accept, grieve, or even wrap my head around her diagnosis. In that moment, my life was never the same again. Eventually, my mother's condition stabilized, but we could not provide her the level of care she needed. So, when a bed became available, we moved her into long-term care and into the home that she presently lives at today. So, after 10 years of caregiving, I decided I wanted to become a public speaker and advocate for people living with dementia and their caregivers. I want to share my story in hopes of meaning other people like me, and I want to fight on behalf of people and for people that don't have this strength, energy, or capacity. And that's what brought me here to where I am today. JO  17:29 Thank you for your candor. Naomi, it takes courage to be so vulnerable. Can you share with us the toll this multi-year commitment has taken on you personally? NAOMI  17:41 Having this level of responsibility thrust on me at such a young age was life altering, to say the least, I really lost out on the majority of my 20s and the dreams I held. For myself, I always wanted to be a world traveler. I had big grandiose dreams of going to a different country every year and working on a holiday visa. I even had an idea of possibly having a family one day, but that for me is no longer a consideration. When I received the diagnosis, I essentially became the mother to my mother. I've lost out on a chance to have those Mother's Days that you share celebrating your mother's life and contribution, brunch at my house on a Sunday, maybe sharing some bubbles together. Or even the comfort of calling her when I've had a hard day and you just need your mom. The consequences of this disease are a measurable and suffice to say, my life has never been the same. JO  18:47 Are there any silver linings to this experience? Maybe what you've learned about yourself that you can put to good use. NAOMI  18:55 I've really learned that the caregiving journey is not linear. A lot of things are learned through trials and tribulations. And this can cause a lot of stress, especially coupled with your loved one's behavioral changes... it can be trying. From that extreme difficulty, I should say, this experience has taught me how determined and resilient I truly am. From these experiences I have found my passion, even my calling. I am determined to make systemic change to honor my mom. I believe that by sharing my story, it shows vulnerability. And I hope that it will build awareness, understanding, and bridges. Most people have a connection to dementia in one way or another, and I can empathize with that struggle. But if we don't stand up and share our story, then we won't build the awareness needed to make the changes. JO  19:52 Thanks Naomi. We'll bring both you and Marjorie back in after we hear from our third guest, Dr. Anna Wizniewska, a geriatric psychiatrist with Interior Health in British Columbia, Canada. Great to have you aboard, Ania. ANIA  20:09 Thank you, Jo. It's lovely to be here with you, and Marjorie and Naomi. JO  20:14 So, given all of your medical training and all the opportunities available in medicine, what drew you to geriatric psychiatry? ANIA  20:23 Thank you for asking, Jo. It's interesting that the three of us probably reflect on our experience and where we are right now in our lives, going back to our family, and our sometimes formative years. And I think when I look back on my own decision to pursue this career, I really think started in my childhood. I was especially close to by grandparents, and especially my grandfather. And it's sort of, I think, developed a sense of affinity and closeness with seniors in general. It also offered me an opportunity because I grew up with my grandparents living next door to listen to their life stories and to be very interested in their experience. They both survived the war, my grandfather was a POW for six years... there was a lot to learn from them, and a lot to really come to understand through their experience of their lives. And then later on, once I became a teenager, my grandmother, unfortunately, developed dementia. And her dementia was particularly challenging because she had a lot of psychosis. She was quite delusional, particularly around my grandfather. And that led to a lot of distress for our whole family, understandably, but most of all, for my grandfather. And what I always found so fascinating about that relationship was, even though my grandmother would do things that are really quite awful when she was ill, my grandfather never complained. And I always felt that it was so fascinating that, in spite of the things that were happening to him, he never had a word of complaint. And as a teenager, I found it difficult to understand. Why would he be so understanding so forgiving, and seemingly so uninfected? And of course, as I got older, I think I came to understand it a lot more, I hope. And I came to understand it as basically a sense of love and a sense of devotion. And I think that's, in the end, what actually led me to this field. I always wanted to be a doctor, that wasn't something that came later in life. And I think I was always drawn to the idea of helping others and caring for other people. And when my long journey into medicine kind of came to fruition, I actually had an interest more in the opposite-end age spectrum... and that is a care of children. I was quite interested in pediatrics. And I was also very interested in psychiatry, and specifically child and adolescent psychiatry. So, when I actually got into training in psychiatry, it was with the idea of becoming a child adolescent psychiatrist... but I kind of ended up at the other end of the spectrum. That occurred primarily, I think, through the fact that I realized that child and adolescent psychiatry was not really for me for various reasons. And then being influenced by preceptors, who were really quite outstanding, and really showed me how enriching the work can be and how wonderful that work can be. And I think for me, the reason for choosing geriatric psychiatry, and staying in it for almost 20 years, and looking forward to every day that I got to work, is I really like my patients. And that includes patients who, by some standards, may be perceived as quite difficult and unreasonable because of their illness. Because I still see that humanity and the stories that they have in their lives, with our children and grandchildren. As I said, it's that sense of affinity for them, and the appreciation of the stories of their lives and the desire to understand them as people not just in the moment that they are ill or unwell, but to understand them through their whole life experience. The other part of what I love about my job, of course, is our job is challenging and it's stimulating. In geriatric psychiatry, we have to pay a lot of attention to general medical conditions, medications that our patients take. There's not a boring day when I go to work, which again, I appreciate. I know it sounds a bit selfish, but it's also wonderful to have that stimulation. And in the end, it's just extremely rewarding. Many of my patients I have known for more than ten years, and their families have known for more than ten years. I have multi-generational patients, so patients who are from the same family but from different generations, because I have been in this community for so long to see improvement in symptoms or sometimes maybe symptoms can be improved by the quality of life can. It's extremely rewarding to see my patients improved to see their families maybe feel a bit less distressed or feel a little bit more at ease. really wonderful to see. JO  25:02 Another wonderful story... thank you. We know that each senior's mental health journey is unique, but do you see patterns, say of symptoms, of experiences, of behaviors that you can weave into a composite story for us. ANIA  25:20 The one thing that I mentioned is, I sort of see myself as someone who's sort of in the trenches. And so, I typically really look at people as kind of an individual story or individual family. And yes, there can be some patterns. But I think it's important also appreciate that every experience is very, very unique. And even certain elements of the story that may be similar for one family or one patient can lead to sort of different outcomes because of the age group of my patients. My practice is sort of from late 40s to over 100, but I would say the average age my patients is into their 80s. Many of my patients have experienced or were affected by the depression in the 1930s, quite a few of them by war, during World War II, mental displacement and the trauma that came with it. So those are some of the fairly common themes that I hear from my patients and their families. Other things that tend to sort of be maybe a bit of a pattern is, of course, adjusting to the process of aging. Some patients may be a bit more concerned about some of the more superficial changes that come with aging. But for many of my patients, the adjustment to the loss of physical stamina, or occurrence of physical disability, and of course, quite often concerns about cognitive decline as well. So, I think those would be some of the parents that I see. But again, I do need to emphasize that every experience is very individual. JO  26:49 What are the most common myths about seniors' mental health? ANIA  26:53 Things that typically I hear about from either families or patients is that having some forgetfulness as we age is a definite confirmation of a diagnosis of dementia. That is, quite often what I hear from patients when I see them about cognitive decline. So, it's the sort of worry that as we age, if we started becoming a bit forgetful, that necessarily means that we have dementia, which is usually not the case. Another one is, I guess, more so perceptions from the society that as we age, we become somewhat less useful. And I think that was reflected in some of Marjorie's comments, that sense of being invisible. So that's one of the worries that my patients will describe as their concern that they may be sort of perceived as less useful or a burden on their families or societies. JO  27:41 Rick noted earlier that depression and anxiety are the most common mental health challenges experienced by seniors. Why are they so prevalent? ANIA  27:51 I think part of it comes from the fact that we're much better at recognizing their existence. I'm not sure that they were necessarily less noted before or experienced before, I think it's more that we are better, at least I'm hoping we're better, at recognizing the presence of depression or anxiety. And I think seniors are becoming a little bit more open about actually reaching out for help sometimes. And we have to keep in mind that there are very generational differences in approach to how we deal with mental illness or mental health in general. So, I think part of it is that seniors are becoming, some of them anyway, becoming a little bit more open or the idea of reaching out for help when they are unwell. There are other reasons for it, however. Patients that I look after, because of their age, are more likely to experience loss. So that could be a loss of a spouse or a partner. Unfortunately, even loss of other family members, including children, who, depending on what's going on, may have their own health concerns. So, there are a lot of losses of course, loss of friendships, those who have friends in the similar age group will unfortunately lose their friends because of the age and the risk that comes with that. There are also changes that happened physically... certain medical conditions will increase the risk of depression or anxiety. Certain medications can also cause increased depression and anxiety, and, of course, seniors are more likely to take multiple medications. But unfortunately, depression and anxiety are fairly common amongst all age groups. But as I said, I think we're just a little bit better at recognizing it in seniors and looking for it when we see patients, especially in primary care. JO  29:27 So, in that seniors age group, are the treatments for anxiety and depression different than for other age groups? ANIA  29:37 The treatments in general are essentially identical. What makes the seniors more unique, compared to say a younger adult patient, is that the treatment becomes a bit more complicated because of the fact that older patients are more likely to have other medical conditions... so some medications may be contraindicated with some medical conditions. They are also more likely to be taking more medications, and again, you have to consider interactions with other medications that you're thinking of prescribing. So, there are some differences in terms of your approach. But in terms of the actual treatments that we would prescribe, be it medications or electroconvulsive therapy, commonly known as shock treatments, or psychotherapy... the approaches can be more or less identical, except for consideration of medications, medical conditions, and things like that. JO  30:28 What's the link between seniors' mental health and healthy lifestyle choices? ANIA  30:34 Well, I'm glad you bring that up, Jo. I think we need to get a little bit better at having those discussions around lifestyle factors and choices. There is no doubt that certain lifestyle choices are detrimental to not just physical well being, but also mental well being. For example, let's say increased BMI or obesity is associated with decreased well-being. And that can lead you to say, pain, because if you are overweight, you're more likely to have joint issues, particularly in your lower extremities. Issues that relate to poor mobility, for example, that can come from it. And that could lead to isolation. And pain, of course, can also increase the risk of depression, especially. So, certainly the lifestyle choices we make a great difference, say alcohol or smoking, be another lifestyle factor that would be important to consider. So, I do think we need to get a little bit better or a lot better at promoting healthy lifestyle choices. And helping people understand that the decisions we make now will have some consequences even later on in our lives. JO  31:42 So, Marjorie, you've been watching seniors in a variety of settings for decades. What are the most common transitional challenges you've seen? And why are they so difficult? MARJORIE  31:55 Well, the third chapter of life brings around many, many changes. And when I was doing work within residential care settings and seniors living sites, I saw just such an angst developed within a family when an older adult was becoming frailer. And there was just so much stress involved. Everybody was in more reaction around whatever change was happening. And so, when I decided to start sort of a holistic model of elder care and move into running my own business, it was because all of these transitions, and there's so many aren't there... when I started, it was the older, frailer senior. And often they were having to look at making a move out of perhaps the family home or a home that they had been in for a long time. And there'd be so much disagreement that would come up within the family and different ideas about what should be done. I think we all like to hang on to our independence, and so that was one of the major transitions that I was dealing with a lot was trying to support the family, looking at the physical change or transition that might need to happen as far as their living environment. But then try to help the family to understand all the emotional aspects that were going on, from the different perspectives of the older senior. And then often the adult children, and everybody was viewing things differently. So that's one of the major things that I have been supporting people with initially, to try to help the family as a whole move through this and stay supportive of each other, and also compassionate and understanding of the loss that is occurring, because any transition we make in life, whether is moving from a position that we're in, thinking about retirement, letting go of that part of our identity, if it's a loss of a family member, spouse or child... this deep loss in a lot of ways we don't understand that any transition brings forward losses that perhaps we haven't felt or dealt with that have occurred over our lifetime. Especially the silent generation, often, they weren't given permission to feel the emotions of loss when there was something that really was needing that. And so that grief comes forward. And I think people don't understand that. And so there becomes a lot of reactionary difficulty that comes up with families. So that's one of the big transitions is actually, even though 90% of seniors when studied want to age in place in their home, that's just not always practical. And so, it kind of evolved as I was supporting families as a whole and going through that type of transition. I then began to hear more from the adult children. And this just happened organically that were beginning to consider retirement. And they seem to need a lot of support. mostly as boomers, wondering how they were going to cope with this. Who were they going to be? How are they going to see themselves? How were other people going to see them? And so that is a lot of transition I deal with now, of the sort of the journey of moving into the eldering years, and how we need to change our way of thinking about ourselves... often let go of the past, of things that we're regretting or holding on to that will continue to cause us stress if we can embrace kind of... well, I call it conscious eldering, but it's really looking at all the different aspects of aging. So, of course loss for me, as I've been working with this so intimately for 10 years in this way, is the loss that comes forward over and over and over again, and how people are afraid to be vulnerable within perhaps a grieving that hasn't been resolved. But also thinking and knowing that as we go through all these transitions in the third chapter, whether it's physically, emotionally, cognitively, or perhaps we are developing a different spiritual attitude towards life, as our death is coming closer, and I know we're going to talk about this more, but that just seems to be the majority of my work now is trying to help people to talk about that, as they're going through transition. JO  36:45 Given that we all face transitional challenges in the third chapter of our lives... and at 66 I'm already starting to feel some of those... what is 'eldering well'? I know you talk about that as a concept. And also 'elder care', can you tell us more about those. MARJORIE  37:04 I've just turned 70 myself, so I am definitely well into this whole process myself. And it's kind of an interesting journey to the aging at this point, and still involved in working. So, the things that I am trying to talk to other people about, obviously, I'm having to look at within myself, as I'm now really moving through my own eldering journey. There are so many people as they're going through these transitions in this chapter that they fight against getting older. I do a lot of teaching and workshops, and I just hear it so much. And I watched my own mom, too, because she was living with me as she was going through her last year of her life, fighting it the whole way. And I came to realize that this is really such a key aspect of how we go through this stage of our life. Do we fight it? Do we fight that even having to become a little more interdependent, that is part of this stage of life? And if we fight it, wanting to use this word, "I want my independence, I want my independence," we're actually shutting ourselves off from what I think are some of the gifts of this circle of life that we are all in. And so, I talk to people a lot about that. This stage of life is, I realize every year that passes now, you know, even between 65 and 70, is very different, the changes we're going through than in our middle years. Being present with where you're at whether you're in your 60s or 70s, your 80s, or for more and more people who are living into their 90s now, I think elder care is, to me, it's really understanding that growing older does take resilience. We have to cultivate a resilience because there's a great sense of impermanence as you're getting older. And as you see friends die suddenly, or your spouse die much sooner than what's expected, it takes resilience. And I think the more we can improve how well we elder is taking and looking at each other from a more holistic viewpoint of all the emotional changes, the physical changes, the cognitive changes, and also how do we move towards accepting that death? We are all going to go through that. JO  39:36 Well, and that's a perfect segue into my next question. When you and I were preparing for this episode, we talked about dying well, and how death cafes and end of life. doulas can help. Tell us more about that. MARJORIE  39:52 I've done a lot of palliative care and I was intimately involved with both of my parents' final year of life. My dad, when he was dying with cancer, and I left my job to take care of him. And with my mom as well, from really not dying from cancer, but dying, really from old age. I really had to look at this and explore my own fears of death, even though I thought I was more comfortable with it than some people, having gone through that with my parents so closely. I think this is another big part of, I guess, us opening more to the vulnerability that we're all going to die. And we're all going to experience more death, particularly at this stage of life. And so, understanding that it's closer as we crossover into our 60s... I think right then you start to feel... wow, gee, this came awful fast. And we know that the completion of our life comes at the end of this chapter. But can we really talk about that? Can we really face what our fears might be about that? I think it's a very important part of shifting this paradigm to embracing this stage of life, both the challenges of it... and also, as we embrace the challenges, I think we can open more to the joys that there are at this stage of life. There are many... even sitting with your parents as they're coming to their death. There are so many gifts in that, I think as we can talk about this more and be more willing to embrace the aspect of our parents coming to their death, and being with them, I just can't tell you the gifts I received from that. And then it has helped me from how I watched my parents come to their deaths, one fighting at completely and the other just surrendering to it. It showed me that I wanted to just start surrendering and letting go more at this stage of my life. JO  42:02 My mom and I were very close. She died when she was 88 and she had two requests. One was that she die at home, and that she die in my arms. And that actually unfolded that way. And I have to say that it was one of the most, if not the most meaningful, experience of my whole life. It was transformative. MARJORIE  42:26 It was for me, too. It absolutely transformed me going through at the age of 40 my dad's death and that time I spent with him. I think there's a real trend moving to end of life doulas... I have two on staff myself because I feel it's an important part. People need support with it. It is not easy to sit with somebody you love who is dying. It's hard. It's hard. It's rewarding. But I think that we are seeing more and more end-of-life doulas being educated. I talk a lot to families of how much value I got from this, and encourage and support them, and that's what end-of- life doulas do. That's important part of us moving forward to embracing death in a much healthier way. I think society is still in the dark ages around it, to be honest. JO  43:20 Naomi, let's bring you now back into the conversation. I so admire your devotion to your mother's care. I'm really interested to know what drives this devotion. NAOMI  43:33 For me really, when I was growing up, my mother was my best friend. We talked about all kinds of different things, she was very open, and created a safe space for me to share. So, we were quite close. And I'll always hold those memories at the forefront of my mind, even as her behavior changes, or her cognition declines, I just still hold those memories ever present. And so that really does inspire my devotion, as well as I know that if the roles were reversed, she would do her best to care for me. So, I feel inclined and really drawn to do the best for her. And moreover, if I don't provide the care, who will? Who is there to step up and provide that level of care? So, it's both an obligation as well as a gift. JO  44:27 One of the things we talked about while preparing for this podcast was the need for intergenerational knowledge and support related to seniors' mental health issues. As a young person who lives in that world, what do you think other young people need to know? NAOMI  44:46 There seems to be a stigma around aging, which we've touched on, and I know we will talk about later, where somehow older adults aren't always held in the same regard as youth. And that goes to show as well for dementia, where it's more of an out of sight out of mind, where we've really constructed our society around that. And I find that extremely disheartening, because I think there's exceptional knowledge to be gained from engaging older adults, as well as people living with dementia. I really think that there's immense knowledge that can be derived from building these relationships with older adults. And I'll just give you an example for myself. I know at the onset of the pandemic, I really wanted to try to make a difference, and I know there was a lot of seniors being isolated. So, I had reached out to the Seniors' Outreach and Resource Center locally and just express my interest in helping out. I was paired with a senior that was also looking for support. And basically, what I would do was to call her once a week for about a ten-minute conversation... just ask her about how her day was, what her plan was for the weekend, how she was feeling. And I couldn't believe the immense amount of gratitude I felt for my time... it was just so touching and rewarding. She had expressed how it was really helping her... I actually really felt like it was helping me, and I was really making a difference in contributing in a meaningful way. I really think to foster these intergenerational discussions is really about seeing the value that can be offered by really just engaging that conversation and engaging older adults. JO  46:40 Along that same vein, we talked about bringing young people into the conversation early, by way of what you call "courageous conversations." Tell us about that. NAOMI  46:52 I've been advocating for this for years, because realistically, aging and death is a part of life and an inevitability. Yet I find that we don't often have open and honest discussions about this topic. So, I routinely encourage people to have these courageous conversations... to really talk about those hard, often not discussed, topics so that you can have these discussions while your loved one still has all of their faculties and can express their wishes. For instance, asking a parent if they would prefer to be buried or cremated, or do they want to do-not-resuscitate order in place? If they were on a ventilator, and they were in a vegetative state, would they want to continue in that state? Or would they want to move past that? These conversations that you have, while difficult will really inform future decisions. That way, you won't have to run into the same scenario, or people will not have to run into the same scenario as I did, where I'm making a decision on behalf of someone else, rather than bringing their wishes to actualization. You'll be more grateful and thankful that you had these conversations than if you had not. JO  48:12 Tell us about other opportunities we have to help seniors mental health by bridging that generation gap. NAOMI  48:20 By bridging this intergenerational gap. It can really fight isolation and loneliness, which we know is so prevalent at the moment. And I think one way to do that is really working towards intergenerational programming. So really bringing together people from different age populations around activities that focus either on young children or older adults. And there are some examples where this is being undertaken successfully. There is a St. Joseph's Home for the Asian Hospice in Singapore, that's not really adhering to the typical nursing home. The facility includes a childcare centre that accommodates about 50 children. And at the centre of St. Joseph's courtyard is an intergenerational playground that really fosters spontaneous interactions between older adults living in the nursing home and the little ones that are being cared for at the childcare centre. And I think these creative solutions really do promote that intergenerational and community connection that's needed to combat isolation and loneliness. JO  49:30 Earlier, Rick talked about the onset and extent of seniors' mental health challenges being affected by innate personal characteristics such as age, gender, ethnicity, and genetics, and developmental factors such as childhood experiences and educational status. So, let's have a bit of a free for all here. First of all, how do risks and experiences differ between younger seniors and elderly ones? Ania, maybe you could jump in first. ANIA  50:04 I think one way that I think of it is, unfortunately, as we become older, there are some risks that increase the numbers will be risks of, say, for example, cognitive impairment or dementia. So, of course, much older seniors will have a higher risk of developing a cognitive disorder. Other factors that come in through, again, increasing frailty or other medical conditions as increased risk of falling or mobility issues. And of course, that can result in increased risk of isolation, decreased quality of life, as say, an arthritic condition advances that can cause more pain. So, that again, impacts the sense of well-being as well as a sense of decrease in quality of life, or decrease access to activities because of pain or stiffness, and things like that. So, I would say there's definitely a difference there. JO  50:53 Marjorie, what do you see? MARJORIE  50:56 We're seeing, obviously, as people are getting into their upper 80s, definitely, I see a lot more risk and with people living in their own home, and with the cognitive changes that do occur. It seems we're seeing more of the early onset types of dementia as well, which is quite shocking and worrisome. There's risk at any stage of life, because of the unexpected physical things that can happen. My brother-in-law had a massive stroke at the age of 61. And no one expected that at all to happen at that time. We may be faced with extreme physical challenges. So, it sort of runs the whole gamut, I think, between this stage of life. JO  51:40 Naomi, any comments? NAOMI  51:42 I have a unique case because my mom was diagnosed at such a young age. And I found for me personally, what I find is that in terms of accessibility, and funding for services, is quite a bit of a disparity between a younger senior and an older senior. So, I find that if you're 65 and under, and you're looking for services, it seems that the responsibility often falls to the family to cover expenses. Whereas once you pass the age of retirement and go to 65, then there's old age security, guaranteed income supplement, and so on different medical and government benefits that kick in that do assist, and the financial responsibilities not in the same way to families. I find that's what I have been seeing, and it is a concern for me as Marjorie had mentioned, with the increased prevalence of diagnosis around younger onset. JO  52:44 What are the risks for men versus women? MARJORIE  52:47 Men, in my experience, as I see them going through the transitions, particularly moving from their work positions into retirement, seem to have a higher risk of depression. Often their identity was very well defined within their work environment. Somebody that I've experienced that went through that and shared his story with me, it's quite interesting, after his wife died and he had moved into retirement, he did find himself becoming very depressed. I think men and women respond to this differently. I think women reach out much more to their women friends and tend to be able to talk about that more openly sometimes the men can. JO  53:36 Ania, what does your clinical practice show? ANIA  53:39 One of the things that I think that's what Marjorie has spoken to is the increase in depression amongst men. And I think the big thing that I always think of in terms of those differences is that men are at a much higher risk of completing suicide, in terms of senior women versus senior men. So that's always a big concern. When we do see depression or severe depression is that increased risk of suicide. In terms of women one thing is that, unfortunately, women are more likely to develop cognitive disorder or dementia type of illness. And because they live longer on average than men, they may experience more sense of isolation or loneliness because of losing a partner or losing their friends or other family members. So that can also be a concern. NAOMI  54:22 If I might interject, one thing I find that's very interesting in this regard, and I don't know if you guys have heard about this, but it's called the widowhood effect. When it comes to life expectancy, after a spouse dies, if the husband dies, her life expectancy is twelve-and-a-half years. However, if the husband is the surviving spouse, that life expectancy is about nine-and-a-half years. So, it's quite a big disparity between those two life expectancies, and I do think it has to do a lot with connection. Husbands and men often turn to their wives for that social connection, whereas, and this is a generalization, women often have friends that they seek out and are more able to discuss what's going on in their life. And so, I see this as part of the reason for this discrepancy in life expectancy. JO  55:16 What about the mental health risks for marginalized communities such as indigenous folks, or LGBTQ communities? MARJORIE  55:27 I was asked to come and just talk to a seniors' group of LGBTQ here in our community, because the person running the group felt that there's just so much pain and sadness being expressed by people who were dealing with so much negativity around, non inclusiveness of this group. Many of them felt that they didn't know where to turn as they were getting older, because there doesn't seem to be an openness, even within seniors housing, to even talk to them about it, or create a space where they feel accepted. There was just so much pain expressed in that meeting that I had with them. I did go and talk to a couple of the retirement communities hear about it, and just started trying to create a dialogue. Because I think it's just something they don't think about, that there are a large number of people in this group, and they're seeming to suffer with it. So, I think it's another area where there needs to be a lot more discussion and dialogue and creating an openness that they need to feel included, and they still have the barriers that have sort of been there for a long time for them. JO  56:46 So, Ania, what's your experience with people from marginalized communities? ANIA  56:52 I think it's definitely an important topic to discuss, as Marjorie has mentioned. One of the things that I've noticed is, as we get older, we sort of carry with us our life experiences. And looking at Indigenous elders, a number of them would have likely experienced the residential school system, and the trauma associated with that separation from family... potential for abuse. So, those are the kinds of traumas that they will carry on. We know that Indigenous folks also are at much higher risk for struggling with adequate housing or adequate supports. I know within our communities, there are more resources,  but if you look at smaller communities, that becomes a significant concern. And also, some of the difficulties they experienced within their families, because we know that Indigenous people are, unfortunately, more affected by violence and substance use. So of course, that has an impact on the elderly as well. And then in terms of LGBTQ patients... one thing that I find interesting talking with my patients who have lived these lives for so many decades, is obviously being a member of an LGBTQ [community] is much more accepted now in our society. But it wasn't always the case, and sometimes it was completely unacceptable so-called lifestyle. And so to speak to my patients about their experience, and it was like for them to eventually come out or to transition to a different gender and what I was like them in terms of the impact that had on them, personally, their families, their job opportunities, and things like that, and our younger adult life is really humbling to hear what they have had to go through and how much it's still impacting them now. So, I do agree, I think we need to pay more attention. I'm not suggesting that being a member of the LGBT group is now easy, because there are certainly challenges and struggles that continue. But I do think that for the folks in the age group of my patients, that definitely was a very different experience than it's the one that after decades can be very traumatizing for my patients. JO  58:54 Naomi, what do you see in your work? NAOMI  58:57 I really see... especially in long-term care, homes... customs, and traditions that are outside of, I guess, the norm, or what's been created around or not really being considered, let alone incorporated into programming. So, I find that when these marginalized communities, or if they do actually seek support, the supports that are available to them aren't really designed for them, and don't help in the way that they need. So, I definitely think having them play a part in the creation of programming and designing of programs is really crucial to ensure that we're accounting for those considerations, those customs, those traditions that maybe are not thought of otherwise. JO  59:49 This is amazing! I'm just so thrilled that you're all coming at this from such different perspectives. It's very robust. Ania, this is a question for you. What about the role of genetics? ANIA  1:00:02 Genetics definitely will play a role in certain aspects of our physical and mental well being. There are certain conditions that are more likely to be impacted by genetic influences. For example, early onset Alzheimer's Disease is unfortunately associated with higher risk because of genetic influences. Certain other conditions, for example depression, can also have a genetic component to it as well. And then, of course, genetics around other medical conditions that will impact the quality of life and sense of well-being of a senior can also be important. For example, breast cancer... there are some types of breast cancers that are very strongly associated with a genetic risk and can result in developing cancer in your 20s or 30s even. There's certainly a role there to be considered for patients who may have a family history of particular conditions. NAOMI  1:00:55 Genetics does play a role. I also think prevention does play a key role. But for me, as a child of someone that was diagnosed with younger onset dementia, that means I have a 50% likelihood of developing the disease. I already have genetics working against me. So realistically, I only have prevention at this point, especially given that there is no treatment or cure for dementia at this point. So, I'm taking every precaution, but that's something that is already working against me. JO  1:01:30 What does prevention look like in your particular case? NAOMI  1:01:34 Personally, staying mentally well is very important. Continuing to expand my mind, continuing to really stretch my cognitive activity, whether it's learning a new language, or doing anything outside of my comfort zone, that's really going to push me... that's another way. Really maintaining those social connections. One thing I've definitely been trying to work on because my mom was a bit of a worrier, herself. So, unfortunately, whether genetic or not, I seem to have taken on that attribute, as well. So, I've really been working to be a bit more mindful and really harness the practice of meditation, to calm the mind and really get connected and rooted. Healthy eating... some things that we know through research that have a dramatic impact on the likelihood of developing a cognitive impairment. JO  1:02:33 Marjorie, any observations? MARJORIE  1:02:36 I think this is so significant, Jo, and what Naomi is saying, because having grown up with a parent that when I was eight was diagnosed as being bipolar... and living in really an environment that is traumatic in itself because of the uncertainty that went on constantly... and the behaviors that you didn't understand as a child. And so, I think for both Naomi and myself, having experienced this with a parent... having very difficult mental health issue... there almost isn't enough support, I don't think, for the children of parents that do have mental health major concerns. Because it really plays on you just even this aspects of the genetics, because I used to often be thinking and worrying about it, because there's history genetically too with bipolar, but it creates a fear. And I think sometimes we need to be providing more support in different ways for children of parents with mental health concerns. I don't think we do enough with that, to be honest. JO  1:03:44 We touched on the risks for people from marginalized communities. What about ethnicity? Are certain racial groups more prone to specific mental health challenges? Ania, let's start with you. ANIA  1:03:59 One of the things that comes up in research, and it's not necessarily maybe an issue of ethnicity but more of immigration, is that some studies have shown that immigrants are at a higher risk of developing an illness that involves psychosis. So, that could be schizophrenia, for example. And that seems to be a factor. The thing that I think about the most in terms of my own experience within my family, or my experience as a physician... treating patients from different ethnic backgrounds... it's more really about cultural expectations that families and patients bring into the discussion. This may be around accepting of diagnoses. This may be around expectations around caregiving. In many cultures, different ethnicities, there is definitely a different approach to providing care to elders, typically in the home and typically by the family, which is a little bit different from some of the more kind of Anglo-Saxon Western nations. And also, expectations around seeking help and even accepting mental illness for what it is because of stigma... or even very practical things like challenges around language, especially for more recent immigrants that may be a challenge or senior immigrants who come to Canada who have not had an opportunity to learn English to express some of their concerns. And sometimes it's about access as well. And again, that ties in to the maybe sometimes the language concerns. So those are the kinds of things that I sort of look at, in terms of impact of maybe ethnicity or cultural differences. JO  1:05:33 Marjorie or Naomi, any comments? NAOMI  1:05:36 It's like she took the words right out of my mouth, I was going to say the exact same thing, I think cultural sensitivity about mental health. In a lot of different cultures that's not accepted to talk about, or it's not recognized in the same way. So, I wholeheart

BC plans to have COVID vaccines available for children 5 to 11 by early November Covid vaccines for children over the age 5 coming soon? With more, we check in with Richard Zussman, Global News reporter at the B.C. Legislature Three emergency rooms in Interior Health hospitals temporarily closed Continuing our look into the situation of closures of emergency rooms throughout the Interior Health region of B.C. What should Canada's relationship with China be like from now on? What to do with China? With more we discuss with Terry Glavin, author, journalist, and National Post columnist Rae Luk's family emigrated to Canada from Hong Kong before the handover in 1997 Hear from Rae Luk as he describes his family's journey to Canada from Hong Kong  The 2021-2022 NHL season kicks off tonight! What are some of the intriguing futures bets to wager on this year? Jawn Jang brings you your 2021-22 NHL betting tips as the puck drops on the new season!  2022 municipal elections are a year away. Will Surrey voters give Doug McCallum another term? Previewing the 2022 Surrey municipal election with former Surrey mayor Dianne Watts  The new Superman comes out as bisexual in new issue, DC Comics says Introducing the new Superman! With more on this groundbreaking news, hear from Gareth Gaudin, Owner of Legends Comics and Books in Victoria See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three emergency rooms in Interior Health hospitals temporarily closed Barbara Roden, Mayor of the Village of Ashcroft gives un an inside look at hospitals within the interior of British Columbia  Canadian auto production is being ‘hit hard' by global semiconductor shortage How has the automotive industry been doing during the covid pandemic? With more we check in with Jeremy Cato, Vancouver correspondent for Automotive News Canada, three time Automotive Journalist of the Year and online at www.CatoCarGuy.com 'Unforeseen limited staffing' forces temporary closure of emergency department in B.C.'s Interior The toll that covid-19 has taken on hospitals throughout B.C.'s interior. With more we're joined by Merlin Blackwell, Mayor of Clearwater How has Alberta fared since introducing a new Health Minister 3 weeks ago? Are things getting better or worse in Alberta? Pauline Worsfold, Registered Nurse at the University of Alberta hospital in Edmonton discusses.  2022 municipal elections primer -- One year this week! A preview of the 2022 Vancouver municipal election with Frances Bula, urban issues + city politics writer for The Globe + Mail Multiple nations agree to a 15% minimum corporate tax rate -- Why is this happening and what does this mean? We discuss with Werner Antweiler,  Associate Professor with the UBC Sauder School of Business It's a “Golden Meteor!” - Golden woman is rudely awakened by a meteor that crashed through her roof! Ruth Hamilton had a meteor crash through the roof of her Golden B.C. home. Hear her tell the story of what happened. 

Continuing our look into the situation of closures of emergency rooms throughout the Interior Health region of B.C. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Barbara Roden, Mayor of the Village of Ashcroft gives un an inside look at hospitals within the interior of British Columbia 

The Acting Interim Chief Medical Health Officer with Interior Health speaks to the rules around competitive sports, what is and is not permitted and notes that there appears to be an increase in those wanting a vaccine across IH since the news of a BC Vaccine Card came down.

Join Adrian Dix, Minister of Health; Dr. Bonnie Henry, BC's provincial health officer; and Dr. Sue Pollock, chief medical health officer of Interior Health; for an update on the COVID-19 response in the Central Okanagan region.

Cases of COVID-19 infections are rising in Interior Health region, driven by the Delta variant according to officials. ER physician Dr. Michael Curry joins us to talk about vaccinations and how to stop the spread. In our second half, we talk about DIY clothing projects, and how to spruce up your wardrobe.

Chapter 1  New COVID-19 restrictions for Kelowna as cases there continue to climb Hear from our provinces health officials on the latest in the Central Okanagan  Chapter 2  With smoke in the Metro Vancouver forecast, here's what that means for you Michael Brauer, Professor at the UBC School of Population and Public Health joins us with more on the smoke set for Vancouver skies  Chapter 3  Why is the vaccination rate in the Interior and Northern Health regions relatively low? Dr. Heidi Tworek, Associate Professor in History and Public Policy at UBC, Public health communications expert joins us to discuss vaccine hesitancy  Chapter 4  BC heatwave: how can we prevent a repeat of the high number of deaths we saw last time? Isobel Mackenzie,BC Seniors' Advocate joins us to discuss how we can better protect our seniors  Chapter 5  BC heatwave: appeals for help to protect Downtown Eastside residents during the heat Eric Chapman chats with Sarah Blyth - Executive Director, Overdose Prevention Society Chapter 6  Victoria Mayor calls for changes to Police Act Lisa Helps - Mayor of Victoria joins us to talk about what changes need to be made to the Police Act  Chapter 7  The latest on BC's wildfire fight Karley Desrosiers,Fire Information Officer with the BC Wildfire Service gives us the latest on the BC Wildfires  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wilfred Laurier University sports psychologist and Peak Resilience registered clinical counsellor Jennifer Hollinshead discuss American gymnast Simone Biles' decision to withdraw from two Olympic events in order to prioritize her mental health. Health minister Adrian Dix, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Interior Health medical health officer Dr. Sue Pollock announce a COVID-19 outbreak in the Central Okanagan region, and a number of region-specific measures including mandatory masks in indoor public areas and discouraging non-essential travel to the area; UBC evolutionary biologist and COVID-19 modeling specialist Sally Otto reacts.

I recently sat down with  anesthesiologist, Dr. Hardave Gill to ask some of your questions about epidurals.As a physical therapist, my focus is on helping women feel better connected with their body in order to help you feel in control during your birth.Here is what we covered:Is epidural use on the rise?What would make a labouring mom NOT a candidateThe details around 'walking epidurals'What are the risks of epidural?How long does it take for pain relief?What does the prep look like?and the most important question I asked Dave:"Would YOU choose an epidural"I LOVED his answer.Dr. Hardave Gill is a Royal College of Physicians of Canada certified Anesthesiologist. Prior to his medical training and specializing in Anesthesia, he trained and worked as a pharmacist. He has been serving the population of Interior Health for the past 5 years, and is a Clinical Professor for the department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, and Therapeutics at the University of British Columbia.Thanks for joining me! Here is where you can find more:my online course to walk you through pregnancy, birth prep and postpartum recovery: https://mommyberries.comFollow me on:InstagramFacebookYouTubeSupport the show

After a long and nervous month at Royal Inland Hospital, Interior Health says the COVID-19 outbreak there is over. In total, 69 staff, 36 patients and four deaths were connected to the outbreak, which was first declared on January, 22. Medical Health Officer for Kamloops Dr Carol Fenton joins Newsday to discuss the matter.

“Since we last reported, we have had 392 new cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 856 new cases in the Fraser Health region, 58 in the Island Health region, 92 in the Interior Health region, 135 in the Northern Health region and no new cases of people who reside outside of Canada.“To date, 171,755 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in B.C., 22,914 of which are second doses. Immunization data is available on the COVID-19 dashboard at: www.bccdc.ca

This week, host Vanessa Mitchell talks with Dr. Sean Wachtel, Senior Medical Director, Aboriginal Health. Vanessa asks him about his role with Interior Health and they cover important ground related to cultural safety and humility in health care.   Episode 1 Resources Vanessa and Dr. Wachtel discuss the importance of Territory Acknowledgements  The X-Change Session 3 – Aboriginal Health: A Physicians Journey to Cultural Humility The Four Agreements of Courageous Conversations Racist Like Me — A Call to Self-Reflection and Action for White Physicians

SUMMARY Citizens expect and deserve mentally healthy communities. To that end, we connected with Ken Christian (City of Kamloops' mayor and former environmental health professional) and Randy Sunderman (social economist and chair of the Aberdeen Neighbourhood Association) to explore local governments' unique role in planning and building mentally healthy communities. They gauge Kamloops' success in supporting mental health as recommended by the World Health Organization's Healthy Community approach, which originated in Canada. They also talk about the realities of local government spending for social infrastructure, and the impact of COVID-19 on community mental health. TAKEAWAYS This podcast will help you understand: Concept and benefits of ‘community mental health' Roles of all levels of government in community mental health Evolution of local governments' focus on social health, including mental health Social determinants of mental health Factors associated with the Healthy Communities/Cities approach Political commitment Citizen engagement Health-based public policy Inter-governmental and multi-sectoral collaborations Asset-based community development and mental health Impacts of COVID-19 on community mental health Role of local government planning in community mental health Realities of local government spending for social infrastructure Structural/bureaucratic barriers to community mental health   SPONSOR The Social Planning & Research Council of British Columbia (SPARC BC) is a leader in applied social research, social policy analysis, and community development approaches to social justice. Lorraine Copas and her great team support the council's 16,000 members, and work with communities to build a just and healthy society for all. THANK YOU for supporting the HEADS UP! Community Mental Health Summit and the HEADS UP! Community Mental Health Podcast.   RESOURCES City of Kamloops Planning Documents Aberdeen Neighbourhood Association World Health Organization Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan for 2013-2020 Healthy Communities approach Plan H: How to build healthy communities Social Determinants of Mental Health   GUESTS  Ken Christian Ken Christian is Mayor of the City of Kamloops and a former senior environmental health professional. A Kamloops resident for more than 40 years, Ken has served his community as an elected representative continuously since 1993. He served as a school trustee for 18 years, including eight years as chair. He was first elected a Kamloops councillor in 2011 and then again in 2014. He was elected mayor in a September 2017 by-election, and then re-elected as mayor in 2018. Before retiring, Ken's day job was with Interior Health as a senior environmental health professional. Throughout his 37-year career, Ken was a leader in water and air quality, food safety, community sa

Interior Health's Medical Health Officer for Kamloops Dr. Carol Fenton discusses the outbreak at the Brocklehurst Gemstone long term care home and how the vaccine rollout is going in the long term care sector.

COVID-19 cases are rising in B.C.'s Interior Health region as the rest of the province's health regions numbers are trending downwards. CBC Reporter Brady Strachan joins us to give us an overview of the numbers, then we're joined by 100 mile house's mayor Mitch Campsall to talk about his community's cases. Later, we're joined by chairperson and co- founder of the Anti Racism Coalition Kamika Williams, and steering committee member of the BC Alliance Markiel Simpson, to talk about Black Shirt Day, which is taking place in schools today as an effort pushing for more Black history in the B.C. school curriculum.

Interior Health's Medical Health Officer Dr. Carol Fenton joins Newsday to talk about the rise in COVID cases in the Interior, the exposure event at NorKam Secondary and where cases may be coming from.

Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 2,249 cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 3,428 in the Fraser Health region, 184 in the Island Health region, 460 in the Interior Health region, 186 in the Northern Health region and 84 cases of people who reside outside of Canada.

This week’s episode was recorded earlier this year before the start of the pandemic and before Sheila’s departure. IH Vice President for Human Resources Mal Griffin joined Sheila, Vanessa, and Kris to discuss diversity and inclusion and Mal’s career with Interior Health. Episode 6 Resources IH Aboriginal Recruitment Season 1 Episode 13: IH Aboriginal Recruitment and Retention Season 2 Episode 1: Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)  

Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 2,077 cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 3,201 in the Fraser Health region, 180 in the Island Health region, 451 in the Interior Health region, 174 in the Northern Health region and 79 cases of people who reside outside of Canada.

A recent spike in COVID-19 cases in July in Interior Health has brought the virus transmission prevention part of the overall pandemic story to the fore once again. We reached out to Dr. Sue Pollock, the Interim Chief Medical Health Officer for Interior Health, to talk about what's been happening in the region and what that means for Revelstoke.

Chapter 1: If you're thinking of buying a car, now might be the time.  Nuno Loureiro is the director of business intelligence at autoTrader DOT C-A and their latest price analysis shows that it's a buyers market. Guest: Nuno Loureiro, Director Business Intelligence at autoTRADER.ca Chapter 2: Bianca Hayes is a young woman who has overcome an incredibly difficult past to achieve an incredible accomplishment. Biance just finished a 6-thousand km cycle from Vancouver to Halifax in under 20 days to raise Awareness for Ovarian Cancer. She has thus completed the fastest mainland crossing of Canada by a woman.  Guest: Bianca Hayes Chapter 3: If you are or if you have been collecting CERB, there is one very important thing you must remember. Our Niki Reitmayer has more. Chapter 4: A couple months of ago we learned that talented young local actor Logan Williams, known from The Flash, passed away from an opioid overdose. Well his mother Marlyse has spoken with us about how difficult it was to find help in BC, because she wants his story to inspire the kind of change that will help adolescents in the same situation. Chapter 5: Interior Health have now identified four locations in Kelowna that were attended by people infected with COVID-19 between July first and July ninth.  Interior Health Medical Health Officer Dr. Silvina Mema joins us on the phone this morning to talk about how they're tracking these cases, and where they were detected.  Guest: Interior Health Medical Health Officer Dr. Silvina Mema. Chapter 6: More people in British Columbia died from an overdose in the month of May than from COVID-19, and the BC Coroners' Office is set to announce the number of overdose deaths from June later this week. Guest: Judy Darcy, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. Chapter 7: How do you plan for the unknown? Even with some people returning to work, a lot of them are returning part time or are earning less money because of COVID-19. Guest: Melissa Leong, personal finance advisor.

Adrian Dix, Minister of Health; Susan Brown, president and CEO, Interior Health; Ronna-Rae Leonard, Parliamentary Secretary for Seniors; and Michelle Mungall, MLA for Nelson-Creston, share an announcement about long-term care in the Interior. A proposal for over 400 long term car bed for the British Columbia Interior Health Region. The BC Health Ministry is work on improving the care for our elderly and is increases number bed and quality of care for those over 75 and in care homes.

New numbers on COVID-19 show 44 new cases in BC over the past 24 hours, including three in the Island Health region, bringing the total here to 92, and province-wide to 1561.The daily death count from the virus continues to rise, with three more fatalities reported since Tuesday, including the first death in the Interior Health region. The provincial health officer says that the case was a man in his 60s, with an underlying health condition. Dr. Bonnie Henry says the man had been recovering at home but died shortly after being admitted to hospital. Meanwhile, the Island Health Authority has launched an intensive at-home monitoring program to ensure people suffering from COVID-19 don't take a sudden turn for the worse. Those being monitored include people who live alone, who are immunocompromised, over the age of 60 and anyone with underlying health conditions such as heart or lung disease, diabetes or hypertension. Patients will be given equipment to monitor their temperatures and oxygen saturation levels. Registered nurses will connect with them several times a day, via telephone. Dr. Henry says health researchers are discovering that some people recovering from COVID-19 can go downhill quickly at the 5 to 7-day mark.Local citizens will have a chance to ask questions of their regional health authority officials and political representatives, in a series of virtual town hall meetings. BC's Minister of Health says the first will take place this Friday in the Vancouver Health Region. Adrian Dix says he'll be announcing meetings for other health regions in the coming days.The Premier says he's pleased with what has been happening at border crossings since new measures were put into place last Friday. All travellers returning to Canada must self-isolate for 14 days, but travellers returning to BC must also provide self-isolation plans. John Horgan says 4700 travellers have returned to BC since last Friday, and only 84 of them have been forced into federally supervised quarantine because they had inadequate plans for isolation. On Monday, the federal government expanded the isolation plan requirement to include all Canadian airports and border crossings. The time has changed for the free live stream concert on Thursday that will feature musicians from around BC The concert will start a little earlier, at 4 pm. The lineup includes Kym Gouchie, Alex Cuba Desirée Dawson and Dan Mangan. It's the first in a series being put together by the province, to provide grants to musicians and free music to housebound citizens. You can catch the live stream on the provincial government's Facebook page or at the ShowCase BC website.Written and reported by Lisa Cordasco. Senior Reporter and News Director for CHLY 101.7FM.Have a tip? Email: news@chly.caTwitter: @lisacordasco / @chly1017FMFunded in by the Local Journalism Initiative of the Government of Canada through Heritage Canada in partnership with the Community Radio Fund of Canada.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix provide an update to the media on COVID-19 in BC.For more information on provincial support related to COVID-19 visit http://gov.bc.ca/covid19Total confirmed cases in B.C.: 1,291New cases since April 6, 2020: 25Hospitalized cases: 138Intensive care: 66COVID-19 related deaths: 43Recovered: 805Long term care and assisted living homes currently affected: 21Confirmed cases by region:- Vancouver Coastal Health: 603- Fraser Health: 458- Island Health: 79- Interior Health: 128- Northern Health: 23

BC Health Minister Adrian Dix discusses what is happening in the province as we deal with the novel coronavirus and how the response has been from Interior Health.

Public Services and Procurement Minister Anita Anand joins me to talk about what is being done to make sure we have the equipment we need in our health care system across the country to deal with the ongoing pandemic. Drake Smith with Drake Cremation and Funeral Services talks about how the business is being impacted by COVID-19. The CEO of Medimap Blake Adam joins me to discuss a new service that can connect patients across B.C. with an available walk-in clinic doctor over secure video call. And BC Health Minister Adrian Dix discusses what is happening in the province as we deal with the novel coronavirus and how the response has been from Interior Health.

In today's episode there is a focus on concerns about two doctors who are set to leave the Logan Lake community in less than a month and there is nobody set to replace them just yet. I speak with the Mayor of Logan Lake about her concerns around the soon to be vacant positions and I am also joined by Interior Health's Executive Director Clinical Operations Rural Acute & Community who fills me in on what the process is to find a replacement and what the interim plan is for health care in Logan Lake. I also speak with the BC Teachers Federation President regarding a rally that was held at the NDP Convention over the weekend. And I also speak with the President of the BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association about facial recognition technology.

In Episode 22, host Sheila Lewis talks with Aboriginal Health Leads Darcy Doberstein, Rose Melnyk, Kris Murray, and Vanessa Mitchell about their roles within Interior Health and in the communities they support. Aboriginal Health Leads’ Regional Focus Aboriginal Health Strategy 2015-2019 Aboriginal Mental Wellness Plan Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

In Episode 21, hosts Sheila Lewis and Vanessa Mitchell talks with IH board chair Doug Cochrane about his career and role with Interior Health.

In today's episode I am joined by the step-father of Lisa Dudley was murdered along with her boyfriend Guthrie MacKay, in a Mission, home in 2008. Thomas Robert Holden was the last of four men charged in connection to the deaths. He was sentenced to 10 years in 2017, but Holden is now out on day parole after serving fewer than three years of that 10-year sentence. I am joined by Ashcroft Mayor Barbara Roden to discuss last night's meeting with Interior Health about issues around health care delivery in the community and surrounding area. Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo Green Party candidate Iain Currie comes in studio 3 days before the 43rd federal election and the show begins talking Halloween costumes with a representative of Value Village.

I speak with Interior Health's Tobacco Reduction Coordinator as he continues pushing to make BC smoke free which included a presentation to Chase City Council earlier this week. I talk to the Youth Services Coordinator with the TNRD about expanding youth programming in area libraries. The Executive Director of the Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Society talks about 50 years of service in the province and I also talk about the 43rd Canadian federal election with Toronto Star Reporter Alex Ballingall as he travels with NDP leader Jagmeet Singh during the campaign.

In this episode, we speak with Melissa and Malgosia (on location) who organized a fantastic FASD Day celebration in the park on Sunday. Melissa, a parent, saw that there wasn't anything currently planned for FASD Day in her community and wanted to create an opportunity for people to get together and not only learn and raise awareness, but also to celebrate those with FASD. She contacted the local Key Workers in the Fraser Valley and together they created a fantastic community event. Our second guest features POPFASD District Partner, Cori Christensen (SD 23), who along with FASD Awareness Committee organized a fun-filled family and community celebration in Kelowna to raise awareness of FASD. The FASD Awareness Committee is made up of families, supporters and community agencies including: ARC Programs, John Howard Society, Claro Family, Spec-Team Assessment Society, School District 23, MCFD and Interior Health.

In Episode 15, Sheila Lewis sits down with members of the Aboriginal Mental Wellness and Substance Use team to discuss Interior Health’s response to the opioid crisis. Episode 15: Resources IH Aboriginal Mental Wellness Plan Indigenous Harm Reduction Policy Brief Indigenous Harm Reduction Principles and Practices Not Just Naloxone Training Rural and Remote Harm Reduction Conference

In Episode 7, Vanessa, Kris, and Sheila trace the evolution of Interior Health’s cultural safety program and Vanessa interviews cultural safety team members Rachel Cutler and Stacy Turchot. Episode 7: Resources only accessible inside the IH network iLearn Courses for all new and current staff: Course ID 1844: Differing Perspectives on Health and Wellness through a Cultural Lens Course ID 1843: The Aboriginal Landscape Course ID 1845: Colonization as a Social Determinant to Health Course ID 1842: What is Aboriginal Cultural Safety? From Truth to Reconciliation: IH Library resources

Hosts Sheila Lewis and Kris Murray meet with members of Interior Health's new team for a discussion of the Journey to Cultural Safety.   Episode 6: Resources PHSA Sanyas Indigenous Cultural Safety Course  (IH purchases seats annually for staff to access this training) First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) Cultural Humility Transformative Change Accord Indigenous health part 1: determinants and disease patterns Indigenous health part 2: the underlying causes of the health gap First People, Second Class Treatment: The role of racism in the health and well-being of Indigenous peoples in Canada CBC Radio “First Nations, Second Class Care” Racism as a Social Determinant of Health for Indigenous Peoples (ppt) Letter to Sir Wilfred Laurier Medicine Unbundled  Kent Monkman, Indigenous two-spirit artist   Episode 6: Resources only accessible inside the IH network iLearn Courses for all new and current staff: Course ID 1844: Differing Perspectives on Health and Wellness through a Cultural Lens Course ID 1843: The Aboriginal Landscape Course ID 1845: Colonization as a Social Determinant to Health Course ID 1842: What is Aboriginal Cultural Safety? From Truth to Reconciliation: IH Library resources

On today's Woodford Show we discuss the latest bombshell turn in the controversy gripping the legislature with opposition House leader Mary Polak. Then NL News Director Shane Woodford is joined by retiring Executive Director of the Kamloops Symphony Kathy Humphreys. We then turn our attention to the overdose crisis and discuss Interior Health's findings after an assessment of the two mobile supervised injection sites in Kamloops and Kelowna with Dr. Silvena Mema. We finish the show getting caught up on the latest in the Trump Russia investigation with Jeffrey Meyers.

Welcome to Interior Voices, an Interior Health podcast series. Please join us for bi-weekly installments produced by Aboriginal Health and Wellness Communications where we’ll explore the intersection of health and culture in the workplace, our everyday lives, and patient care. In this first episode, we’ll get to know our hosts and talk a little bit about future episodes in the series.

In the newest episode of "Speculum," I speak with Teri Plante, a Health Outreach Nurse with Interior Health who has special interests in HIV screening and education. We discuss her role as a Health Outreach nurse, providing education and harm reduction while being mindful to a patient's social determinants of health. For all the budding health care professionals like myself (or the seasoned ones that could use an update), Teri also gives pointers on how to have effective discussions about sexual health with patients of any age group. For more information on the Health Outreach Team at Interior Health, please visit www.interiorhealth.ca/YourCare/HIVHealthOutreach.

Over the past month, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (the CFIA) has embarked on a concentrated effort in the West Kootenay region of British Columbia, threatening area businesses with fines unless they remove their ungraded farm-fresh eggs from store shelves. Close to a dozen businesses that Deconstructing Dinner is aware of have received such a visit This episode hears from a number of those businesses including comments on the issue from the BC Egg Marketing Board, the CFIA and the regional health authority Interior Health. While the availability of eggs from local farms in the region has been significantly curtailed following this "crack" down on local eggs, the increasingly popular alternative to store-bought eggs (backyard eggs) is too being met with a crack down of its own. In December 2009, Nelson B.C. resident Monica Nissen was paid a visit by a local bylaw enforcement officer who demanded that Nissen remove her chickens from her backyard, or too face a fine and the possible confiscation of her birds. The City's bylaw enforcement officer was acting on two supposed complaints... and we say "supposed" because according to all of Nissen's immediate neighbours, none of them took issue with the chickens... leaving Nissen and Deconstructing Dinner wondering just what constitutes a valid complaint if it clearly didn't come from an immediate neighbour? We'll also be joined by Nelson city councillor Kim Charlesworth, who recounts the past year's efforts to revise the local bylaw that prohibits backyard chickens within city limits and we'll hear from Ian Fraser - a senior animal control officer for Victoria Animal Control Services - a city that does permit backyard chickens and hence, backyard eggs. Join us for this important broadcast as we explore what Kootenay businesses and residents are calling an afront to food sovereignty following these latest efforts by local and federal authorities who appear determined to ensure that the only eggs easily accessible to Canadians are the factory-farmed options. Guests/Voices Kevin Smith, farmer/baker, Old World Bakery (Balfour, BC) - The Old World Bakery produces a line of baked goods for their own retail customers and many local businesses. Kevin Smith and his wife Darla also farm in the community of Ainsworth. Bonny Kavalov, co-owner, Nature's Den (Rossland, BC) - Bonny and her husband Sid operate this small health store in Rossland, BC. Wayne Popoff, owner, Kootenay Liquidators (Castlegar, BC) - Wayne is a hobby farmer just outside of Castlegar and operates a store that sells feed products and farm-fresh eggs among other things. Amyn Alibhai, board member, BC Egg Marketing Board (Kamloops, BC) - Since its inception in 1967 as the first egg marketing board in Canada with quota, the British Columbia Egg Marketing Board (BCEMB) serves as a non-profit, producer organization financed solely by its Registered Producers through a levy system. The BCEMB is one of eleven provincial and territorial egg marketing boards that meet under the umbrella of the Egg Farmers of Canada (EFC) to address industry issues of regional, national and international importance. Amyn owns Sunshine Eggs - a large producer of graded eggs. Deanna Zgrablic, food processing specialist inspector , Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) (Abbotsford, BC) - The CFIA is Canada's government agency which seeks to "safeguard food, animals and plants, which enhance the health and well-being of Canada's people, environment and economy". Ron Popoff, environmental health team leader, Interior Health (Cranbrook, BC) - IH is one of five geographically-based health authorities created in 2001 by the Government of British Columbia. It is responsible for ensuring publicly funded health services are provided to the people of the Southern Interior. Monica Nissen, former backyard chickener (Nelson, BC) Kim Charlesworth, city councillor, City of Nelson (Nelson, BC) Ian Fraser, senior animal control officer, Victoria Animal Control Services (Victoria, BC)