Michele Sponagle

Humber's innovation pain management programs are preventing long-term, post-surgery opioid abuse.

By Michele Sponagle
Dr. Marla Beauchamp feels fortunate to be leading a first-of-its-kind study looking at how technology can help older adults with their mobility – a vital health indicator. Called McMaster Monitoring My Mobility – or MacM3 for short – the AGE-WELL-funded study is now underway and recruiting as many as 2,000 participants ages 65 to 80.
Before Dr. Beauchamp became an AGE-WELL researcher and associate professor, CRC (tier 2), Mobility, Aging, and Chronic Disease, at McMaster U...

It’s no secret that digital innovations have had a profound effect on how we live over the last few years. How we travel, shop, and consume media has been completely disrupted — in a good way, courtesy of companies like Apple, Uber, AirBnB, TripAdvisor, and Amazon.
But when it comes to accessing health care, that same digital revolution has been lagging behind. We still have to go digging for information on medical professionals and services, from dentists to mental health practitioners, who ...

Freda Labianca was no stranger to the challenges of diabetes. She watched family members struggle with the disease throughout her life. But when the busy mother of two and blogger from Hamilton, ON was diagnosed with it herself 11 years ago, it still came as a shock. She was just 32 years old.

How an innovative app can help those with acne improve their skin and boost their confidence

Delays in diagnosis, rising health-care costs, and stigma underscore the need for a comprehensive approach to lung disease.
Lung disease continues to have a dramatic impact on the health of Canadians. One in five is affected by serious lung disease, and it’s an immediate problem for the country. Contributing to the issue is the stigma around lung cancer attached to the myth that only smokers get lung cancer. In fact, approximately 30 per cent of cases occur in those who have never smoked.
The...

The many hats of family medicine
Ontario’s family doctors are the foundation of our provincial healthcare system.
Family doctors care deeply for the health of Ontarians, and most often, they are the first point of contact for patients. In addition to primary care, family doctors are making important contributions outside of their clinics, motivated by ensuring the collective health of our communities.
Ontario needs family doctors.
From research to hospital care, health system leadership and c...

Toronto businessman’s support ensures top-notch children’s care for generations to come
At age 4, Gerry Bloch was diagnosed with a congenital heart murmur by doctors at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids); then at age 6, they reset his broken arm. It was the beginning of a meaningful and multigenerational relationship between Bloch, his family and this world-renowned institution.
Fast forward almost 70 years and Bloch, a successful Toronto businessman, feels fortunate to have had excell...

Rebekah Churchyard’s grandfather was diagnosed with dementia at age 63. A former Christmas tree farmer, he found himself with little to do and increasingly confused in his environment. He’d sit on the stoop of his home, refusing to go to a day program designed for people living with dementia. His granddaughter vowed to find better options for Canadians with dementia, and for their caregivers.
In 2022, Churchyard opened Green Care Farms in Milton, Ontario – the first of its kind in Canada – a ...

In June 1981, the very first cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) were reported in the United States. What followed over the last four decades has been filled with heartache and hope. Today, people with HIV can live dynamic lives because of the great advancements in treatment and prevention.

The buzzword of the last two years was “pivot.” For 2022, it is “metaverse,” often seen in news headlines. Though some feel the metaverse is primarily about virtual reality (VR) headsets and augmented reality eyewear, it goes beyond that. It marks a major shift in the way that technology will impact how we connect, create, think and look after our health. Older adults are ready to reap the benefits of the metaverse.

Since it was established in 1965, Simon Fraser University (SFU) in Burnaby, B.C., has been keeping up with the fast-moving pace of global change through constant reinvention and innovation.
The university has earned a national and global reputation for excellence in education, research and community impact. Building on that foundation while being poised to meet the education needs of the future is something SFU has excelled in, says Kris Magnusson, senior advisor at the Office of the Provost ...

The roads leading to many great food and drink trends often originate in Europe. After all, it’s home to legendary cuisines, like Spanish and Italian, one of the world’s oldest restaurants, Madrid’s Restaurante Botin, which opened in 1725, and the bulk of Michelin-starred restaurants. In short, eating well is a way of life.
“Europe has always been a trendsetter when it comes to what we’re eating,” says Mike Kostyo, vice-president of Menu Matters, a Chicago-based private consultancy specializi...

AGE-WELL News
In 2008, when Dr. Alan Hackel retired from his role as dean of continuing education at Auburn University at Montgomery in Alabama, he spent much of his time doing more of what he loves best—being with his wife, Joan, and his standard poodle, volunteering on the board of directors of Service Dogs Alabama and enjoying favourite meals like fresh, locally caught catfish. But, about three years ago, he began experiencing Essential Tremor, like that which had affected his father.
The ...

When stocking your coolers, ride the wave of popularity for enhanced waters with vitamins and other good-for-you ingredients.
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Heading into summer, the thirst for healthy water seems unquenchable. The category is estimated to grow about 10% from 2022 to 2028, according to a report from UnivDatos Markets Insights. By comparison, regular bottled water is expected to have a sales increase of just 2% in Canada for 2023. Consumers are looking for extra perks from their H2O, from ...