Tyze Networks

02/09/2023

This post on Aging and Healthcare watch made me think. Is it possible that the Aging in Place hype is actually bad?

"The hype of aging in place -- so bad for so many
Wed, 02/08/2023 - 17:35 - Laurie Orlov
The articles and tech industry focus on ‘aging in place’ and fear. And it’s not unlike the ‘I’ve Fallen and I can’t Get Up’ fear. AARP fuels it with survey results (77% of the 50+ want to age in place). Free-lance writers follow up with an Aging in Place story citing the survey. It capitalizes on the recent CES with a laundry list of tech offerings that could help with fears -- like sensors, medication management, motion sensors and smart watches to mitigate fear of falling. And AARP helps add brand recognition to the term ‘Age Tech’ with a collaborative of companies at the Nexus of Longevity and Technology to deal with health issues and mitigate fear. But wait…

What if aging in place is media-fueled, but bad long-term for many (most) people? What could go wrong? Perhaps aging will be solo – no spouse, partner, children or nearby siblings. Perhaps it will be in a rural area, on a property with considerable land, but no nearby services. Perhaps it will be in a home that needs ‘age-proofing’ -- a large house with stairs, no nearby relatives and no first-floor bedroom. Perhaps that retrofit is not affordable. Perhaps the house is old and requires significant maintenance. Perhaps the grounds are too much to mow, plow or traverse up or down.

Who should be worried – it’s not those aged 50-65. The odds are good these days that the 50-65 are still working and can afford where they live. AARP’s 50+ segmentation misrepresents who is really worried about 'aging in place' – and that means 65+ and (way) beyond. They could worry about a too-big house they can’t sell. A house they can't maintain, but panic about leaving -- they too read the same hype. So they stick it out, reading the upbeat stories in Fortune and then not-so-upbeat articles in Time Magazine (with its insulting title). They have high hopes about AgeTech -- how it will help them stay in their homes. If they can afford it, they buy suites of sensors to help -- otherwise their families, ever-optimistic, spend the money. They are hopeful about the new technology designed to help them.

Finally, the struggle to stay independent, aging in place, gets to be too much. Home care agencies are contacted, transportation providers of rides to-from appointments arrive, food is delivered, and other services are brought in. The numbers of care recipients in home care, senior living, and adult day services has likely crossed 5 million by now. The number of home care providers is exploding due to demand, much of it from people who should be in senior living or nursing homes but they (or their families) are too stubborn or lack the cash to make the move. So the average move-in age to assisted living is 85 – and the majority of residents are women, now exhausted by living alone. They look forward to eating meals with others, served by others. Many will say they should have moved earlier. Contrast that with the home care recipient. She is also an aging woman – and the only person she meets during an average day is the worker. But she is 'aging in place.' "

07/08/2022

GRANDFLUENCERS? 7% OF REVOLUTIONARIES SAY, "SIGN ME UP!"

Just had to share. Older adults are getting as tech savvy as their grandkids.

A few weeks ago, we introduced you to a new breed of social media influencers called “Grandfluencers”. These mature adults are creating original content and racking up millions of views on sites such as TikTok and Instagram.

We showed community members three examples of this type of content and asked them to rate their enjoyment of the content. Over half of Revolutionaries thought the videos were fun and would watch content like this again, with 11% saying they would actively look for and follow some of these content creators. One in three of you said the videos were “not for them” and 19% suggested they could not understand why anyone would enjoy this type of content at all. When asked how they felt about Grandfluencers, 7% were ready to hop online and become one themselves. Let’s get those cameras ready and start recording!

07/04/2022

Why digital health data still has a long way to go before it is safe to use.
https://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/news/meta-platforms-sued-alleged-unlawful-collection-patient-data #:~:text=The%20Pixel%20tracking%20tool%20is,computer%20devices%2C%20the%20lawsuit%20said.

06/01/2022

Seniors were asked what they planned to do on the first long weekend of the year. This was the best (and most honest response)

03/29/2022

Over the past few years we've noticed this trend. The number of younger caregivers is growing. Are their needs any different from older caregivers?

It’s important to take some time out, just to be yourself. Go for a walk, listen to music, read a book – whatever brings you joy and helps you relax.

03/21/2022

CBC marketplace episode about the state of homecare. Industry response? Give us more money! Much like long term care, the home care system is broken, not because it is underfunded, but because the goal is not about providing care it's about building shareholder value.

01/25/2022

Because, sometime you just need to laugh.

The Amazon Echo Silver is specifically designed for the greatest generation (Kenan Thompson, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones, Kyle Mooney, Aidy Bryant).Subscribe...

12/31/2021

Happy New Year!

12/24/2021

Dear Friends,
We know this past year has been difficult for many of you. There have been losses to grieve and new challenges to face. It has also been a period of reflection, a time to decide what we value most, and what to leave behind, and what be grateful for.

At Tyze, our goal is to provide a solution that enables a team manage the care of a loved one, and in doing so decrease the challenges of providing care on a single individual.

In 2022, we will continue to expand our mission to make healthcare, community, and social services a more integrated part of each care team.

On behalf of the Tyze team, we wish you and your loved ones a peaceful holiday season and health and happiness in the New Year.

12/21/2021

A great interview with Donna and Maggie, so many great insights into caregiving and caregiver advocacy.

A conversation with Donna Thomson and Maggie Keresteci

12/21/2021

A Christmas Bauble Story

Baron Justus von Leibig’s most visible contribution to Christmas may well be hanging on your Christmas tree. Christmas trees have their roots as far back as the Roman saturnalian celebration of the winter solstices – a religious festival involving drinking, singing and exchange of gifts, dedicated to the Roman god Saturn. Later, probably sometime in the 16th century, decorated trees were brought into homes and this German idea was then popularised by Queen Victoria in the mid 19th Century.

Some of the first reported glass decorations for trees, dating back to the 16th century, were garlands of beads produced by the Greiner family in Lauscha, Germany. Some 250 years later, the family were still making ornaments, and Hans Greiner became famous for his ornate glass nuts and fruits, decorated with mirrored internal surfaces.

At the time, mirrors were prohibitively expense for most and were made by adhering a thin tin film to glass using mercury. The process was extremely hazardous as it generated highly toxic mercury vapour, which could also leach off the mirror for decades to come. In fact, antique mercury mirrors may be identified by droplets of mercury pooling at their base.

At the same time as Hans Greiner was creating his baubles, Liebig was developing much safer ways to silver glassware for use in his laboratories. His method utilised silver nitrate, ammonia, and simple sugars. And it resulted in a fabulously uniform, crystal-clear film of silver metal deposited on the glass. This was soon adapted for use in other areas of science, including telescope mirrors, and soon Greiner caught wind of the development and incorporated it into his ornaments. Eventually the process also led to mass-produced mirrors which were cheap enough to make them commonplace.

Shortly after Liebig developed his silvering method the process was tweaked by another German chemist, Bernhard Tollen, who turned the process into an analytical technique for identifying chemical groups called aldehydes. Tollen’s technique has the rather beautiful side effect of quickly silvering the vessel it is carried in. Seeing a mirrored surface form in your hands is a real delight, making it a favourite of chemistry lessons the world over.

11/12/2021

If you are embarking on the caregiver journey this article has some good tips on how to assemble and manage a support team. TYZE can be invaluable in keeping everyone on the team in touch, involved and informed.

Caregiver family meetings help you get the assistance & support you need. See the 5 key things you'll need for a successful & productive family meeting.

11/02/2021

The Sheridan Centre for Elder Research has partnered with Tyze Networks Inc., a company that provides a web-based application and corresponding app that enables caregivers to create a digital support system of (primarily) family member and friends to manage the care for an older adult or an individual living with a disability. The research being funded by a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Partnership Engage Grant will help Tyze broaden their understanding of how supportive health care and social support organizations perceive and manage their interactions with unpaid caregivers.

We are seeking unpaid caregivers (of any age) of older adults to participate in an online survey that will take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete. You will also have the opportunity at the end of the survey to enter a draw for one of five $50 Indigo or Amazon gift certificates. If you would like to participate, please click on this link to start the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QC97YQ5

We are also seeking employees who work for health care or social support organizations to participate in an online survey that will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. You will also have the opportunity at the end of the survey to enter a draw for one of five $50 Indigo or Amazon gift certificates. If you would like to participate, please click on this link to start the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RVBLKQ9

Feel free to reach the Centre for Elder Research Team if you have any questions about the research.

Thank you once again for your interest in engaging with the Centre for Elder Research.

10/15/2021

Shared by Donna Thomson

When our son Nicholas was two, he had an operation to insert a feeding tube in his tummy. It was a tough decision made a little easier by th...

09/29/2021

Or, you can do all the organizing and much more with Tyze. And it's free!

Caregivers manage scheduling and important paperwork. To reduce stress and get more control, use 10 inexpensive products that help caregivers get organized.

08/25/2021

As a caregiver you may have some concerns about the medications prescribed for your loved one. There is a list of medications called the Beers List which can be of help.

How caregivers can use the Beers Criteria
The AGS no longer makes the Beers list publicly available, but knowing that it exists can help when you speak with your older adult’s doctor.

When their doctor does a full medication review or prescribes a new medication, it’s a great opportunity to ask if any of their medications are on the Beers list.

If they are, you could ask if that’s the best option or if an alternative might be better or less risky.

You’re not trying to second guess the doctor.

Your goal is to get a better understanding of why a specific drug is needed and what the potential side effects or interactions are so you catch potential issues early.

At the end of the day, the doctor is the medical expert. But to get the best care for your older adult, it’s necessary for you to understand their health conditions and why specific treatments are right for their situation.

And as their health advocate, you have every right to ask for the information and explanations that you need.

We can know the Beers Criteria exist, but it is not available to the public. Hmmmmmmmm!

08/24/2021

In Toronto today is expected to reach 31 degrees with a humidex of 37. So if it's as hot where you are, here are a few recipes that may help you keep cool, or at least forget how hot it is, for a few minutes. 😎

We've all heard of them, yet some of the most famous of all cocktails are also the simplest:...

07/27/2021

Hi to all. I am looking for some input from people who are caregivers. Our company in collaboration with a college are doing a survey of caregivers and healthcare, social and community service organizations.

The questionnaire includes items that are considered important in understanding the role of caregivers as care partners. Care Partners are family, friends, or loved ones who collaborate with healthcare, community, and social services systems to provide critical and ongoing care.

What we are looking for, is how organizations integrate caregivers into their system of care, what role they think caregivers play in the wellbeing of a care recipient, and what attitude the organization has to the value of collaboration with caregivers.

If you have a questions you would like answered or experiences (positive or negative) you've had in the past we would like to hear it.

06/29/2021

We are excited to partner with Sheridan Centre for Elder Research. We look forward to gaining a better understanding of the needs and challenges caregivers face in their interactions with healthcare and social services on behalf of their care recipients.

“Congratulations for receiving a , enabling partnership with to explore the value and challenges of caregivers within existing care systems. ”

05/27/2021

There are many common misconceptions about what caregivers should do or how they should feel that cause guilt that isn’t deserved.

Myth #1: If you don’t provide full-time, hands-on care, you’re not doing your job as a caregiver

Truth
That’s absolutely false! There are many roles a caregiver can take on.

Everything you do for your older adult is important and makes a difference in their lives.

Some caregivers are able to go with their older adult to medical appointments and advocate for them. Many regularly buy groceries, deliver meals, do household chores, or go for long visits.

If you didn’t take on those responsibilities, your older adult would suffer for the lack of help and companionship.

Being a critical part of their support system makes you a wonderful caregiver.


Myth #2: You should be able to do everything by yourself and shouldn’t need help from anyone

Truth
Caregiving requires a team. It doesn’t matter if your caregiving team is made up of family, friends, hired professionals, or care programs.

Trying to do everything completely on your own often causes chronic stress that can lead to burnout and serious illness.

Check out the Tyze WEB app to see how easy it is to create and coordinate a care team.

05/21/2021

What you need to know about medications and risk of falling in older adults.

Falls are a major reason for seniors to lose independence. To reduce fall risk, it’s essential to know about 10 common medications that cause falls.

05/10/2021

Now that we are hopefully coming to the end of the 3rd Covid-19 wave I came across some useful information about our needs for social interaction. The take away was not to social distance but to socialize with physical distancing.

"Here are four tips to help fill the need to socialize during the pandemic, but also to remain happy in life.

1) Focus on various forms of physical distancing and not social. We are social beings and it is extremely difficult for us to live without the contact of others for a long period of time.

2) Adopt a reasonable and temporary use of technologies because they will never replace the need to see each other in person. This is true in all aspects of life.

3) Create opportunities to meet - when allowed - in order to strengthen one’s social capital. Do this by connecting with those close to you, one’s community or social network (bonding); by connecting with people from different or more distant networks (bridging); or by connecting with the right resources and services of institutions, organizations or authorities (linking).

4) Adapt your know-how and expertise to the new social rules. The Public Health Agency of Canada gives us recommendations and guidelines to continuing our activities. It is for everyone to adapt according to their field of expertise, respecting guidelines as much as possible without forgetting that a human being must also be in a social relationship to be happy.

No response model is perfect but we have the capacity to learn from others and adapt constantly to improve ourselves. It is time to stand together and rely on each other.

Finally, do not forget that some may be suffering fatally from isolation and that whole generations may be affected by this crisis.

An African proverb says “it takes a village to raise a child.” Despite the pandemic, we shouldn’t forget this. "

04/27/2021

Some good information for those who are just embarking on the caring journey, or those who need some help with getting organized.

When aging parents need help, it can be an overwhelming challenge. These 7 steps help you figure out what to do and create a practical, realistic plan.

04/15/2021

While more than 90 per cent of Canadians aged 75 and older are willing to be vaccinated – compared to 76 per cent of the general population – less than 75 per cent of those within this group have been vaccinated thus far.

“Older Canadians have accounted for more than 95 per cent of Canada’s COVID-19-related deaths,” says Dr. Samir Sinha, Director of Health Policy Research at the NIA and lead author of the report. “Eliminating the barriers older Canadians face in accessing COVID-19 vaccines is critical. Providing older adults with vaccination is a highly efficient and effective strategy for protecting Canada’s most vulnerable population while also slowing the virus’ spread.”

The NIA has developed five policy recommendations that would support provincial and territorial governments to deliver vaccines more quickly and equitably to older Canadians and save the most lives. These include:
1. Create more culturally targeted information campaigns that speak to older adults from a diversity of backgrounds
2. Provide a variety of methods to book vaccination appointments, beyond online options
3. Expand vaccine administration to primary care providers, pharmacies and community clinics
4. Develop comprehensive mobile outreach strategies, especially targeting homebound older adults and areas where there is a concentration of older Canadians living in close proximity
5. Shorten the interval between first and second doses for older Canadians to expedite becoming fully immunized

04/06/2021

A great piece from the National Institute on Aging about Covid-19 vaccines and older adults

03/25/2021

Many great reasons to use the Tyze app to create and manage a care team.

Providing care for your parents can be complicated. When your brothers and sisters are also involved, caregiving can become even more complex. While your siblings can be enormously helpful and your best support, they can also be a source of stress.

03/22/2021

Is the situation the same in other provinces?

As Ontario ramps up vaccination efforts for older adults in the community, health-care workers say elderly seniors living at home need to be better accommodated to ensure high-risk residents don't slip through the cracks.

02/23/2021

A good article on the pros and cons of assisted living.

The pros and cons of assisted living aren't always what you might expect. Understanding them is important for seniors and caregivers.

02/07/2021

The pandemic has demonstrated that seniors at home are safer and happier at home. Now is the time to advocate on their behalf. Keeping people out of LTC is better for seniors' wellbeing and makes economic sense.

As the Ontario government pledges to build more long-term care beds, seniors' advocates say that investing in robust home care would not only allow people to age where they want to be, but also save money.

02/04/2021

The first and most important part of caregiving is accepting the fact that a loved one needs help.

Family in denial about seniors needing help makes caregiving even harder. Use 3 techniques to overcome their refusal to accept the reality of the situation.

01/27/2021

Some of the most catastrophic outbreaks of COVID-19 in Canada have occurred in long-term care homes. While residents in these homes tend to be older and at greater risk for COVID-19, that’s only part of the reason these facilities are being hit so hard during the pandemic. Another major factor is the way the long-term care sector is staffed in Canada: low-wage workers in precarious jobs with no paid sick leave

One of the factors that has made COVID-19 so catastrophic in long-term care homes was lack of paid sick leave for low-wage workers.

01/27/2021

7 Tips for caregivers on being a health advocate for a loved one.

Improve medical care by helping seniors manage and coordinate complex medical info. Get 7 tips for being their health advocate at doctor’s appointments.

01/13/2021

This article points out how poorly Canada manages support for seniors. This needs to change. It's not just about spending more, it's about spending in the right areas based on need.

Canadians are living longer, but are they living well? The challenges to aging well go beyond the problems in long-term care. Substantial change to Canada's support service systems is long overdue.

01/04/2021

Some good tips for the New Year.

We often forget to give ourselves credit for all we do. 7 positive New Year’s resolutions for caregivers help us notice and find ways to increase well-being

12/24/2020

All of us at wish you and your family a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a Happy New year

12/22/2020

Some good advice

Get information about symptoms, testing, what to do if sick, daily activities, and more.