Zoomer Week In Review

Finally, it’s officially spring…a time for renewal. What better place to start than with the largest organ on your body..your skin. Libby talks to dermatologist Dr. Sandy Skotnicki about her new book Beyond Soap, and why we need a skin care diet. And – A sure rite of spring is the perennial “spring cleaning.” But who likes to clean…it can be overwhelming and not very fun! Libby talks to cleaning guru Melissa Maker, who shares some of her favourite tips to make it easy!

Have you thought about planning your funeral? More Zoomers are turning their attention to the inevitable and like everything else they are changing the way it’s done. Libby talks to David Garvie from Ogden Funeral Home to get his take. And – Have you ever been called “over the hill” or “of a certain age”, or maybe someone referred to you as a little old lady or a grumpy old man. Libby talks to AARP’s Amanda Duarte about her new article that focuses on ageist language and what to do about it.

Bob Komsic fills in for Libby Znaimer. It’s a sure sign that spring is on the way! Daylight Saving Time is here. We’ve changed our clocks ahead an hour to gain sunlight, but how does that 60 minutes affect our internal clocks? Bob finds out from Dr. Colleen Carney, the director of the Sleep and Depression Lab at Ryerson. Plus – March is nutrition month and food in senior living centres has come a long way from the days of meat and potatoes for dinner. Bob talks to Chef Gary McBlain, from Amica Mature Lifestyles, about the changes he’s seen in the menus and dining options for residents.

Bob Komsic fills in for Libby Znaimer. The 90th Academy Awards this week. The much sought after gold statuettes will be awarded to those who have achieved the very best in filmmaking from 2017 – and it’s no surprise there are quite a number of Zoomer nominees in the running. Bob talks to Zoomer Magazine’s Mike Crisolago to give the Zoomer perspective. And – It’s a technological milestone! Canada’s first Humanoid Robot “Pepper” has taken up residency at Toronto’s Humber River Hospital. Bob talks to Vanessa Burkowski, Chief of Nursing Executive at the hospital to find out about what “Pepper” can do for patients.

Christine Ross fills in for Libby Znaimer. Billy Graham reached millions through his ministry on TV and Radio, but he also had a strong connection to Canada. Fred Weiss was just 12 when he first heard Reverend Graham speak in Calgary. He calls the experience transformative. Fred is now the executive director of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association of Canada. Christine talks to him about the impact that Bill Graham had on him and many others. Plus – We’re living longer..and that’s playing a huge role in how and when we retire. The traditional 65 age is being pushed up as zoomers continue working well past that age, either by choice or financial need. Christine speaks with ZoomerMedia’s David Cravit to get his perspective on the issue.

It is the place where life and death hang in the balance – one Toronto doctor splits his time between a cutting edge Emergency Ward here and a rudimentary operation in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Libby talks to Dr. James Maskalyk about his experiences and his new book:”Life on the Ground Floor. Letters from the Edge of Emergency Medicine.” Plus – March Break is around the corner and there is a new trend in inter-generational vacations. It’s called “skip gen”. Libby talks to Zoomer Magazine’s Vivian Vassos to get the details.

February is heart and stroke month. Did you know a woman dies of heart disease in Canada every 20 minutes? And early signs of heart attack in women are missed 78 percent of the time? Libby finds out more from Professor Sherry Grace, who authored a new study that blames gender bias in healthcare. Plus – Gardening can play a huge role in healthy aging. And with thoughts soon turning to spring, Libby talks with Zoomer Radio’s Charlie Dobbin about Ageless Gardens, a new VisionTV series that celebrates gardens and the gardeners behind them.

Best-selling author and historian Niall Ferguson has a knack for taking the long view of events shaping our world. His new book argues that networks like Facebook are nothing new and have always been a force for change. He joins Libby to talk about it Plus – Today is World Cancer Day, and the focus is on survivors. There are more and more every year, but also an increasing number of people who suffer lasting side effects – including one that is just being recognized: PTSD. Libby speaks with Dr. Gary Rodin of the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.

Ontario residents were shocked rocked by Patrick Brown’s resignation as head of the Ontario PC party after receiving allegations of sexual misconduct. He’s just one of the politicians forced out for that reason. Libby talks to crisis communications expert Allan Bonner to get his take. Plus – It’s been recognized as an epidemic as real as diabetes or opioid addiction. Recently, British Prime Minister Teresa May appointed a Minister for Loneliness to tackle the scourge of social isolation. Libby talks to CARP’s VP advocacy Wanda Morris to get her perspective.

Three years ago, author John Leland started following the lives of 6 New Yorkers over 85. What emerged were stories focusing NOT on declining health, but rather on the things they can still do that are rewarding. He has put what he learned into his new book “Happiness Is a Choice You Make” and he joined Libby to talk about it. Plus – Are you ready for self driving cars? Or looking to buy the latest luxury vehicle on the market? With the Detroit Auto Show underway, Libby talks to car consultant Denis Desrosiers about the latest automotive trends for the Zoomer demographic.

Bob Komsic fills in for Libby Znaimer. The number of divorces among baby boomers in long term marriages represented close to half of all divorces in Canada ten years ago. Bob talks to Toronto lawyer Rick Pettica, to learn more about the so-called “Grey Divorce” and why the number tends to rise in January. Plus – Like something from science fiction, inventors are creating robots to be partnered with seniors to help improve social and physical well being. US based science writer Gene Demaitre has just returned from the annual electronics show in Las Vegas and joins Bob to share what he’s seen.

Bob Komsic fills in for Libby Znaimer. Do you plan to downsize and sell your home this year? Bob talks to Royal LePage real estate specialist Rick Pecman to get some tips on the current housing and condo market. Plus – It’s Alzheimer’s awareness month. And a staggering half-million Canadians are currently living with dementia and that number is expected to soar with an aging population. Bob talks to Baycrest’s Head of Neurology, Dr. Morris Freedman to get an update about the disease, and to find about his recent research project.

It’s time again for New Years resolutions and 96 year old Hazel Mccallion, former Mayor of Mississauga, recommends thinking BIG when setting goals. Plus, we wrap up 2017 with our year end Zoomer Panel.

The holiday season is meant to be an uplifting time of year surrounded by family and friends. But it can be emotionally challenging and lonely for seniors, especially those with specialized and complex needs. Toronto home care agency Circle of Care, part of Sinai Health System provides support for people who are isolated. To find out how to make a difference, not just at Christmas but year round, Libby speaks with Carey Lucki, the CEO of the Circle of Care. Plus – What will you serve at your Christmas holiday feast? As consumers, we are apparently becoming increasingly mindful about our food choices. Libby talks to nutrition expert Shannon Crocker about our changing eating habits and emerging trends

The new documentary “Dreaming of a Jewish Christmas” explores the ultimate yuletide irony – that many of most iconic Christmas songs were written by Jews. From White Christmas to Winter Wonderland to the Christmas Song – the film explores the reasons behind the phenomenon. Libby sat down with the man behind the documentary, veteran filmmaker Larry Weinstein. Plus – How long have you had to wait for medical treatment that you needed? The Fraser Institute is out with its annual report called “Waiting Your Turn” and it shows wait times going up! You can expect to wait more than 41 weeks for a hip replacement but if you need cancer treatment you will access it in just three weeks. Libby speaks with the report’s author, Bacchus Barua, in Vancouver.

The numbers confirm a trend we’ve been telling you about for awhile. Zoomers are working well past the traditional retirement age! Libby talks to Halifax resident, and CARP board member, Bill VanGorder about how he makes it all work. Plus – He’s not retiring, but the man who launched the first billion dollar fundraising campaign in Canadian healthcare is leaving his job – Libby talks Paul Alofs, the outgoing President and CEO of the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation.

It could be the end of seniors’ discounts in the public sector. The City of Kingston is looking at eliminating discounts on services like bus rides and recreation programs, and London will definitely scrap its seniors price break on transit come the new year. Libby talks with Kenneth Wong, Professor of Marketing and Business Strategy at Queens University to get his take. Plus – The prestigious C.D. Howe Institute recently called on the government to revisit a policy it reversed after the last election: raising the age of eligibility for old age security to 67 from 65. CD Howe says it’s necessary because aging Boomers are breaking the bank. Intergenerational expert David Cravit disagrees and joins Libby to explain.

Authorities in the United States have lowered the guidelines for diagnosing hypertension. It means that another 30 million Americans will be considered to have high blood pressure, which already afflicts half of U.S. adults. Libby talks with Dr. Chi-Ming Chow, staff cardiologist at St. Michael’s hospital to find out what it means for Canadians. Plus – Orhan Pamuk, the Nobel-prize winning Turkish writer, collected objects to showcase the events in his novel “The Museum of Innocence” while he was writing the book. Two years later, he opened a physical museum of the same name, in a 19th century building in Istanbul. Libby talks with him to learn more about it.

This week marked both Remembrance Day and Holocaust Education Week. As we get further away from the two World Wars, the question of how to pass on this history becomes more urgent. Scott Masters, a teacher at Toronto’s Crestwood Preparatory College devised a unique solution. He is behind a widely acclaimed oral history project that pairs veterans with students who interview them and then edit, digitize and post the material. Arielle Meyer, the granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor interviewed 94-year-old Charles Scot-Brown, a Captain with the 51st highland division who landed on the beach at Normandy on D-Day. Plus – With all hoopla around the legalization of recreational marijuana, it’s still not easy to get medical cannabis. Libby talks with Brent Zettl, CEO of Cannimed Therapeutics about the impact on patients.

It sounds like something out of a novel. Controversial writer and broadcaster Tarek Fatah is well known as a passionate secularist who takes on radical Islam. While visiting India, he started hosting a TV show. It became a huge hit, but that led to a plot to assassinate him, and Indian police have recently arrested a second suspect associated with this plot. Libby talks with Tarek about the whole strange saga. Plus – What can we learn from the happiest places on earth? Explorer and educator Dan Buettner shares some lessons from two years of research.