Misconceptions about trimming maple trees abound, often leaving homeowners unsure of the best practices for maintaining their prized yard additions.  Contrary to popular belief, trimming maple trees isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s a crucial step in ensuring their health and longevity.  Many assume that trees can thrive without regular maintenance or that trimming harms their growth. In reality, proper trimming promotes robust growth and reduces the risk of disease and structural damage. In Ontario, particularly in areas like Etobicoke, maple trees not only enhance the visual appeal of residential landscapes but also contribute significantly to environmental health.  Beyond their beauty, trees offer invaluable benefits to homeowners, especially seniors.  A well-maintained yard with maple trees and vibrant garden flowers can improve air quality, reduce stress, and even lower energy bills by providing natural shade and insulation. Moreover, for seniors, spending time in a serene outdoor environment can enhance overall well-being.  The presence of trees encourages outdoor relaxation and provides a perfect setting for social gatherings with family and loved ones. Investing in maple trees and maintaining a healthy lawn is undoubtedly a worthwhile endeavor, but it requires attention to detail.  Regular trimming and vigilant pest management are essential to enhance their growth. And neglecting signs of pests or disease can cause harm to occupants. To ensure optimal tree health and yard aesthetics, consulting a professional home management company like Custodia in Ontario is recommended.  Our expertise in comprehensive yard and lawn maintenance, including expert maple tree trimming and hedge maintenance services in Etobicoke and beyond, ensures your outdoor spaces thrive year-round. In this article, we’ll delve into the benefits of trimming maple trees and provide expert tips on maintaining a pristine yard with Custodia’s professional services across Ontario, Canada.  Let’s explore how proper tree care can elevate your outdoor living experience. Importance of Tree Trimming – Trimming Maple Trees in Etobicoke, Ontario Tree trimming is vital for maintaining the health and beauty of maple trees, especially in Etobicoke, Ontario.  Proper trimming ensures that trees grow strong and healthy, which enhances the overall landscape of your yard.  Maple trees, known for their stunning foliage and robust structure, require regular maintenance to thrive.  Without proper care, these trees can become overgrown, leading to potential hazards and decreased vitality. In Etobicoke, where seasonal changes are pronounced, timely tree trimming helps prepare trees for varying weather conditions.  Trimming removes dead or diseased branches, promoting new growth and preventing the spread of disease.  Additionally, well-trimmed trees are less likely to be damaged by strong winds or heavy snow.  This not only preserves the tree’s health but also safeguards your property from potential damage caused by falling branches. Do We Offer Tree Trimming Services Outside Etobicoke? Yes, we do!  Click here to check the areas we serve across Ontario. Our experts are available and eager to provide free professional consultation and quotes at no cost.  Contact us today at 1-833-410-4357 or book online to discover how we can enhance your property with expert tree trimming services tailored to your needs. Speaking of hazards, what are the potential hazards of overgrown maple trees? Potential Hazards of Overgrown Maple Trees 1. Structural Damage Overgrown branches can pose a significant risk to nearby structures.  Heavy branches can become excessively heavy and break, potentially damaging roofs, windows, and siding.  Branches growing too close to homes can scratch and damage walls and roofs, leading to the costly removal of trees or branches. 2. Safety Risks to People Overgrown maple trees can endanger people, particularly during storms or high winds.  Weak or overgrown branches are more likely to break and fall, posing a danger to anyone underneath.  Additionally, overgrown trees can block visibility on driveways and walkways, increasing the risk of accidents. 3. Electrical Hazards Maple trees growing near power lines can create serious electrical hazards. Branches coming into contact with power lines can cause outages, affecting entire neighborhoods.  Moreover, electrical sparks from branches touching power lines can ignite fires, endangering both property and lives. 4. Increased Pest and Disease Risk Overgrown trees are more susceptible to pests and diseases, which can spread rapidly.  Dense foliage provides an ideal environment for pests like aphids, borers, and caterpillars, which can damage the tree and surrounding plants.  Overgrown trees with poor air circulation are more prone to fungal infections and other diseases, potentially killing the tree and spreading to others. 5. Reduced Tree Health and Lifespan Neglecting to trim maple trees can compromise their health and longevity.  Overgrown branches can compete for nutrients, leading to stunted growth and weaker trees.  The weight of excessive branches can cause splits or cracks in the trunk, weakening the tree’s structure and potentially leading to its premature death. 6. Property Value Decline Neglected maple trees can decrease the aesthetic appeal and value of your property.  Overgrown trees can make a yard look unkempt and neglected, deterring potential buyers.  Potential buyers may see overgrown trees as a future expense for necessary trimming and maintenance, which can lower property appeal. 5 Top Benefits of Timely Trimming for Maple Trees 1. Promotes Healthier Growth Timely trimming of maple trees removes dead or diseased branches, allowing new, healthy growth. It improves air circulation, reducing fungal infections.  This helps the tree focus its energy on producing strong, vibrant foliage and maintaining overall health. 2. Enhances Safety Regular trimming prevents branches from becoming heavy and breaking, reducing the risk of injury or property damage.  It also keeps branches away from power lines, preventing electrical hazards. Maintaining your trees ensures a safer environment for your family and neighbors. 3. Improves Aesthetic Appeal Trimming helps shape maple trees, giving them a balanced and attractive appearance.  Well-maintained trees enhance the beauty of your yard, increasing property value and curb appeal.  A neat yard reflects your commitment to proper care and maintenance. 4. Encourages Fruit and Flower Production Trimming allows more sunlight to reach the inner parts of the tree, stimulating the growth of flowers and seeds.  Healthier trees with better sunlight exposure produce vibrant foliage and, in the…
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Thrill seeker Caroline Paul wants you to keep your foot on the gas and follow her roadmap for aging well. Adventuring outside is a glorious health booster sure to greatly improve our lives and wellbeing well into our golden years. The 60-year-old adventurer is into surfing, mountain biking and piloting experimental gyrocopters (see her fly on her Instagram) but you don’t have to skydive or bungee jump to soar to better health. It turns out, birdwatching or walking in a park offers all the benefits of adventure and can positively affect a person’s spirit, body, brain, and heart. Caroline is the author of Tough Broad: From Boogie Boarding to Wing Walking – How Outdoor Adventure Improves Our Lives as We Age, and the tough broads she writes about jump off cliffs, out of planes, and swim, birdwatch, bike, scuba dive and more. They are “super fun, kind of badass women” playing outdoors well into their 70s and 80s and beyond. There’s 80-year-old scuba diver Louise Wholey, 74-year-old BMX racer Miss Kittle, 71-year-old wing walker Cynthia Hicks, and 54-year-old base jumper Shawn Brokemond. Feel joy, awe and vitality Caroline admits to being utterly “gobsmacked” by the outsized joy and vitality of everyone she interviewed, many of whom had no outdoor experience before finding the adventure in later life that changed them so profoundly, and which they now love and shared with her. Caroline wants every woman to feel that joy, to be inspired to adventure, not shrink from it. Society tells aging women to retreat and wither away but the secret to a good life is to venture out in nature, set goals and try something new. “The biggest misconception about aging is that it sucks. The messaging to women is especially disheartening – the culture, the media, and our own deeply lodged beliefs insist that our future will be a white-knuckle ride through breaking bones, cognitive decline, and irrelevance. Supposedly, we’re boring!” We’re led to believe that it’s dangerous for women to engage at a later age in the uncertainty and physical risk of an adventure. Nonsense! “It’s actually a really powerful time, and perfect for exploration and exhilaration,” she says. “Being brave and curious and energetic aren’t just reserved for 20- or 30-year olds. We’ve assigned them those attributes but they belong to all of us.” Negative views impact aging Get rid of that limiting mindset because we are what we think. Research shows that the way we look at our own aging predicts how well we will age. “So if we have a negative view, seeing ourselves as unattractive, frail, forgetful and insignificant, then we are more likely to suffer cardiac events early and experience cognitive decline sooner.” More important, the opposite is true: if we believe that aging is a time of vitality and happiness and connection, we are significantly healthier physically and cognitively, and we live on average seven years longer, adds Caroline. So just how to believe in a dazzling future in the face of such toxic messaging about aging? Turns out outdoor adventuring is not just fun and healthy, it’s a direct rebuke to all that toxic messaging, says Caroline, who combines scientific research, cultural studies, medicine, psychology, and memoir in her book, sharing women’s narratives alongside her own incredible experiences. Learn something new now Caroline suggests bringing a friend along, and also don’t get stuck on somebody else’s concept of an adventurous activity. Adventure is defined by you. At one time she had a very high-octane definition of adventure – she regularly paraglided off cliffs, rafted down unexplored rivers and bike-packed through foreign countries. “But through the writing of Tough Broad, I realized that adventure doesn’t have to feature high risk and intense fear!” Now for Caroline, it’s about feeling excitement, exploration and physical vitality, maybe pushing comfort zones, sometimes experiencing awe, and often learning something new. Fortunately, these traits can be triggered by the mere act of walking outside, swimming in a lake, or birdwatching. And it doesn’t have to cost a lot: A pair of sneakers allows you to train for a 5K run or amble on a day hike. Outdoor equipment can be had on the cheap these days by perusing second-hand internet sites. Read more about Boost your brain health with 5 exercises. Better than medication “Maybe downhill skiing is still expensive, but snowshoeing is not. Sailing a boat costs, but a used sea kayak or stand-up paddle board is a one-time expense, and then all the lakes are open to you for free,” she says. Research has established that the crucial foundations for a fulfilling aging journey are community, novelty, health, purpose and, finally, a positive mindset about our own aging. “An outdoor activity offers this to all of us organically in one fell swoop, in ways that, say, joining a book club or going to the gym do not.” Need more convincing? “It’s worth pointing out that outdoor activities are often cheaper than pharmaceuticals, are better for you, more effective and have less side effects.”  Don’t wait – get gutsy and find your inner tough broad. Stepping out of your comfort zone will feel amazing. Your body, mind and spirit will fly with awe and good health.

There is no magic pill for dementia but adopting good lifestyle habits will provide a wealth of health for your brain and body, says Dr. Anthony Levinson, leading dementia researcher in Canada. Exploring various ‘ways to keep your brain sharp’ through these habits is essential for maintaining cognitive health.” We’ve all had an occasional memory lapse – you can’t find your keys or where you parked your car at the mall. Blanked out on someone’s name or a street in your neighbourhood. Occasional forgetfulness can happen at any age so relax – it’s not a warning of mental deterioration, or the onset of Alzheimer’s. We are not all destined for dementia! “While age is one of the strongest risk factors for dementia, dementia is not a normal part of aging, and most people will not develop dementia as they age,” reports Dr. Anthony Levinson, leading dementia researcher and professor of Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster University. Read more about: How To Prepare An Aging Brain To Re-enter The Workforce That’s great news and there are many manageable things you can do to keep your brain healthy and substantially reduce your risk of dementia – and remain independent for as long as possible. With almost 100 per cent of older Canadians surveyed planning to live independently in their own homes, it’s prudent to make healthy lifestyle choices that promote staying sharp, active and living safely. Adopt These Healthy Lifestyle Habits Today “Try to stay physically, mentally, and socially active; follow a healthy diet, don’t smoke and limit alcohol consumption; prevent head injuries and hearing loss; and look after your blood vessel health by managing high blood pressure and diabetes,” advises Dr. Levinson, co-leader of the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal, a trustworthy, evidence-based source of healthy aging information. It’s never too early or too late to get started: “The more healthy lifestyle behaviours you can do, the better; and what’s good for your brain is also good for your body!” Dr. Levinson recommends picking activities that you enjoy that are also good for your brain; if you choose things you enjoy doing, you’ll be more likely to stick with them. Think of your brain like a muscle of sorts – you want to challenge it, like you do with strength training your biceps or quads to maintain or grow muscle. “Conversely, social isolation and hearing loss may be associated with atrophy, or brain shrinkage. Hence the similarities to the ‘use it or lose it’ exercise/muscle training advice,” he adds. Now Hear This: Get Your Hearing Tested Don’t let your hearing loss go untreated. “There is a 90% increased chance of developing dementia if you have hearing loss compared to someone without hearing loss.” Adults with untreated hearing loss are at higher risk for social isolation and depression, less cognitive activity and head injuries through falls – other risk factors for dementia. Hearing aids can greatly help diminish cognitive decline, so too learning a new skill. Change helps build brain resiliency. Learn a language, a new game, a new hobby or learn to play an instrument. Sign up for cooking classes and feast on healthy plant-based recipes and elements of the Mediterranean diet. Take up an entirely new sport or fitness routine. Get Up And Move To Build Healthy Brain And Body What’s good for the heart is good for the brain. Instead of sitting, nourish the brain with moderate movement throughout the day. Take the stairs rather than the elevator. Ideally, aim for 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity weekly, along with strength-building and balance exercises, and seven to nine hours of sleep to stay sharp. Healthy habits can add years to life and life to years – and to your brain. Focus on healthspan versus lifespan. “Lifespan is the total number of years we live from birth until death. Healthspan is the number of years someone is healthy and without chronic or debilitating disease. “There is often a focus on longevity: living as long a life as possible or to a certain age – like 100. Whereas I think what many people are probably hoping for is living in good health, not just being alive,” says Dr. Levinson. Optimal aging requires getting smart about your cognitive, physical, psychological and social wellbeing. A positive lifestyle can make all the difference in how your brain operates today, tomorrow and years down the road. Bolster your brain health and live longer and better.

Nourishing your wellbeing is important. Our food choices have a huge impact on our bodies, and become even more important as we age. Eating well can enhance your quality of life, fuel vitality and longevity, and help you maintain your independence and connections. It boosts your immune system and can lower the risk of diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and other chronic diseases. “Spring is the perfect time to commit to making more informed food choices and developing great habits,” advises chef Jo Lusted, author of the cookbook Dish Do-Over – Family Favourites Reinvented. “Focus on including more nutrient-dense foods, being mindful of your body’s needs, and doing the best you can within your budget and time constraints.” Adapting and changing our diets can make a big difference in our health, how we feel and perform. “I find it’s often overlooked that a well-balanced diet is crucial for emotional well-being and cognitive ability as well,” says Chef Jo. “It’s essential as we age to make the best choices possible, and consult with healthcare professionals to ensure that our unique nutritional needs are being met. Read more about: Food For Good Mood Make meals easy and balanced Enjoy a variety of foods from each food group and get enough lean protein to maintain muscle mass. You want to limit too much sodium, sugar, saturated fats and complex carbs like white flour, refined sugar and white rice. Choose good carbs like beans, and bright-coloured fruits and veggies. Boost bone health with calcium-rich sources like diary products, along with tofu, fortified orange juice, broccoli, almonds and kale. Get important nutrients like potassium, vitamin D, dietary fibre and vitamin B12. Be sure to stay hydrated – drink water often. To make healthy eating an easier task for seniors, Chef Jo recommends simplifying meal preparation: That includes batch cooking, using pre-cut vegetables, frozen fruit and vegetables, pre-washed greens, and employing tools like food processors and an instant pot to make meal prep less labour intensive. Think about smart swaps. “Go for whole grains instead of refined white bread and rice, Greek yogurt instead of sour cream, and honey for white sugar.” Enjoy shared meals: Batch cook and swap with friends; invite friends or family over, it doesn’t have to be a special occasion! “Sharing meals makes mealtime more enjoyable and feeds social connections, and encourages more balanced eating habits and nutritional diversity.”  How to eat nutritiously on a budget With skyrocketing food prices, eating a well-balanced diet can take a big chunk out of fixed incomes. Chef Jo offers up these tips for those on a budget: A healthy Mac and Cheese makeover Here’s a taste from Chef Jo’s Dish Do-Over – Family Favourites Reinvented with ingredients that are affordable and widely available in most grocery stores. “The recipes are designed to be easy, lower in sugar/sodium and fat, with reasonable portion sizes, which would fit very well into a senior’s meal plan.” Macaroni N’ Cheese Quite possibly the most perfect food on the planet! “The original uses full-fat cheese, cream and white pasta; the whole dish is pretty much fat and carbs. My version uses creamy sweet potato to thicken the sauce and add nutrients and flavour, non-fat evaporated milk and brown rice pasta.” Serves 8: Ingredients  2 ½ cups sweet potato, peeled and chopped (one medium) 3 tbsp olive oil 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced 2 cloves garlic, minced ¼ cup brown rice or whole wheat flour 2 tsp mustard powder 1 370 mL can non-fat evaporated milk 1 cup low-sodium chicken or vegetable stock 2 cups grated low-fat old cheddar cheese ¾ cup fresh grated parmesan cheese, divided ¼ tsp ground nutmeg Dash hot sauce Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 4 cups brown rice or whole wheat macaroni (454 g pkg) 1 cup Oikos non-fat Greek yogurt 1 cup gluten-free panko breadcrumbs or fresh whole wheat breadcrumbs 1 tbsp chopped flat-leaf parsley Preheat oven to 375F. Place sweet potato into a steamer basket over a saucepan of boiling water. Steam potato until fork tender, about 15 minutes. Mash until smooth and set aside. Heat oil over medium heat in a medium saucepan. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring frequently until onions are softened and translucent, about 4 minutes. Add flour and cook, stirring constantly, for about 1 minute. Stir in mustard powder and sweet potato. Whisk in milk and chicken stock until smooth, and bring to a gentle simmer and cook, stirring frequently until thickened, about 5 minutes. Turn off heat, gradually stir in cheddar and ½ cup parmesan cheese until smooth. Season with nutmeg, hot sauce, salt and pepper. Whisk in Greek yogurt until mixture is smooth. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta according to package instructions for al dente. Drain, reserving 1/3 cup pasta cooking water. Return pasta to pot and stir in sauce, and reserved pasta cooking water as needed to loosen sauce. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer to a 9×13-inch baking pan misted with cooking spray. In a small bowl combine panko, parsley and remaining parmesan cheese. Sprinkle mixture over pasta and mist with cooking spray. Bake for about 30 minutes until sauce is bubbling and topping is golden brown and crisp.  

Common Home Modifications that Reduce the Risk of Falls  Did you know that the most common reason for hospitalizations of seniors in Canada is a fall around the house? To help you with practical advice, this article will provide essential tips to prevent falls around your home. It covers fall prevention education, including knowledge surrounding home modifications needed to keep seniors safe in their homes.  This article will cover some of the most common risk factors around the home and the modifications that can be made to make them safer. We’ll also go through your home and ask specific questions about the home’s safety.  Entryway residential ramps  As we age, simply getting into the home becomes much harder than it used to be. There may be too many steps, steep steps, or steps without a handrail. Sometimes as our mobility changes, we might require the assistance of a scooter or wheelchair, making taking the stairs up to your home very difficult.  There are two main different types of ramps: residential modular ramps and custom ramps. No matter what kind, ramps always have a non-skid surface and heavy-duty handrails to protect you. A modular ramp comes in pieces and is assembled on-site. These come in many different sizes, and you’re sure to find one to fit your home. (photo)  A custom ramp is built with wood or other materials to match the customer’s home and their exact and unique needs. (photo)  Simple bathroom modifications to reduce fall risk  The next part of the home we will look at is the bathroom. Falls in the bathroom are common for people of any age. The slick tile, hot water, and steam inside a bathroom can make for a dangerous combination. Unfortunately, as we age, a simple slip can be much harder on our bodies than it used to be. We must do everything we can in the bathroom to avoid this happening. Fall risk reduction In the shower and bath with a zero-step walk-in shower First, let’s look at bathing. Modifications can be as simple as purchasing a shower stool so we can relax and not have to use as much lower body strength, grab bars to help us move around the shower, as well as stand and sit from the shower stool, and a handheld shower head to bring the water to us. Something else to consider for the shower is a zero-step walk-in shower. This option can get pricier as it usually requires significant modification. However, removing the need to step over a tall ledge or bath to get into the shower can greatly help many people. (photos)  Consider installing a bath bench if your shower is attached to a bathtub and you cannot change that. This particular bench is installed over the top of the tub’s edge. Using grab bars to get on and off of it, you can now sit down without making any modifications to your shower other than a handheld shower head. (photo) Toilet-side grab bars  Another place in the bathroom that may need modification is around the toilet. Sometimes our toilets are very low, and it can be challenging to rise and sit down from them. So, a beneficial fix can be installing grab bars around the toilet. It’s essential that there are bars on the sides of the toilet, however, so if there is no wall or counter space to the side of your toilet, you will need to install a vertical grab bar that mounts to the wall and juts out beside your toilet. (photo) Of course, you can also look into installing a taller toilet or a seat riser, but grab bars are the most effective.  Grab bars make a huge difference in a slippery environment like the bathroom.  Use non-slip/non-skid strips on slippery floors.  Another helpful modification in slippery areas is non-slip/non-skid strips. Older homes and older bathtubs usually don’t come with non-slip areas built in. It’s a straightforward fix. You can purchase non-slip strips at any home improvement store. Simply apply them in the bathtub or slippery areas, but check them regularly for any wear and tear. Lifted strips can create a tripping hazard. (photo) While you’re at it, consider buying some larger non-skid strips for the outdoor steps or uncarpeted stairs. These surfaces can quickly become very slick, which will solve that problem.  Use lever door handles to make it easier to open doors. Many homes have rounded doorknobs. While this may have been no problem for you in the past, it can be tough to grasp and turn a rounded knob if issues like arthritis have arisen. It’s significantly harder to grasp a door knob if you’re coming from the bathroom or kitchen and your hands are slippery. Not only is it frustrating, but it could be dangerous if there is an emergency. Luckily, a straightforward solution to this is to install lever door handles. You can either purchase a lever cover that goes over an existing knob or purchase a lever door handle and have it installed. Now you simply just have to press down with your hand, fist, or fingers to open the door. (photo)  Reduce fall risk in the kitchen  As we become less flexible, reaching things in our cupboards can get difficult, whether up high or down low. Two beneficial tools that can help with this are a reacher/grabber and a step stool.  Reacher/grabbers are sold at most pharmacies or medical equipment stores and come in handy for taking small objects off of high shelves or picking up small objects off the floor. They are not recommended for picking up heavy objects. (photo)  Step stools are often not recommended for older adults, but sometimes they are essential to utilize the spaces around your home. If a step stool is needed, it is essential that the stool has four solid legs, a handrail to hold onto for stability, a non-skid surface on the feet of the stool, and a non-skid surface where you place your…
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By Joanne Richard. Entrepreneurial Spirit Soaring In Their 70s – Spring is in sight, and with it comes new energy and opportunities, possibly even a different career path and purpose. While some of us are happy to quietly retire and leave the grind behind, other seniors are finding purpose in launching brand new careers. Studies show that what contributes to happiness midlife and beyond is essentially not the size of your bank account, but finding new challenges and opportunities to help fill your emotional bank account. March is a great month for renewal, recalibration, and joyful celebration, including the widely-feted International Women’s Day. So let’s celebrate entrepreneurial wonderwomen who are regenerating and blazing online business trails in their 70s! Forget retirement – Joan Cohen is all about rewiring. The 73-year-old launched her own jewelry company, Ever & Ivy, during the pandemic and is busy building her shiny new brand. Cohen had a series of careers prior to jewelry design, including jobs in the photography and advertising industries, as well as owning a furniture and interior design shop which she sold 20 years ago to spend more time with her family. Throughout her journey, she consistently exhibited an Entrepreneurial Spirit, exploring various avenues and seizing opportunities along the way. Making jewelry was just a hobby until she began to learn goldsmithing – she studied at Fleming College with a goldsmith who taught her the basics of creating jewelry out of sterling silver and gold. She started out by selling her handmade designs at a few specialty boutiques and the odd gallery in Canada, and more recently, scaled to increase volume for her online Ever & Ivy. Described as classically-inspired, architecturally-styled personal adornment, pieces are generally oversized but not in the extreme, she says. “Research tells us that what we wear impacts our brain and can influence mood, emotion, and performance – I offer designs that speak volumes about a person’s personality without ever saying a word.” With her entrepreneurial spirit literally paved in gold and silver, Cohen’s career speaks to the immense benefits of being vital and connected. “I have been incredibly excited to wake up and have this challenge ahead of me every day. My husband and almost all of my contemporaries are retired or winding down their careers, so at times I feel at cross purposes with some. But my husband has been incredibly supportive, which is a huge help in keeping me on track.” Her advice to get on the entrepreneurial track? Don’t let the naysayers get you down. Believe in yourself and take advantage of all of your life experiences to provide creative and practical stimulation. “An extensive study in the U.S. found that the most productive age in human life is between 60-70 years of age. The second most productive stage of the human being is from 70-80 years of age, and the third is from 50-60 years of age. The average age of the Nobel Prize winner is 62 years. Don’t waste the most productive years of your life.” Although Cohen doesn’t feel too old in the least to start a business, she says she feels the effect of ageism and the negative societal attitudes to her age. “For that reason, I have been reticent to become the face of Ever & Ivy. I don’t want to pigeonhole the brand’s appeal to only one age group as I believe it has broad appeal.” While Cohen has designs for all ages, Joan MacDonald, 75, is sweating out a new career with a focus on other seniors and motivating them to get fit and feel fabulous just like her. “You can’t turn back the clock, but you can wind it up again,” says McDonald, who has built a following of 1.6 million on Instagram @trainwithjoan, and has launched fully-guided Train with Joan workouts in the app store. The fitness influencer lost close to 70 pounds and gained a wealth of health and energy – and fans. Her amazing transformation and training tips are featured with relentless positivity while wearing trendy body-hugging outfits, which some people have weighed in on as being shameful. McDonald posted: “I think the way a society treats its older population says a lot about that culture. Older people are not shameful.We are not a burden.We do not have to stay hidden.It is my hope that more of us older people shed some light on how to age well, give some real hope to others that it is possible to keep your vitality as you get older, and that older people have something important to contribute to society.” MacDonald is energized by helping others age a better way. Just a few years ago, she got winded walking up a flight of stairs – she was overweight and on multiple meds. The doctor suggested more meds. “My daughter Michelle, who is a transformation coach, was visiting at the time and gave me an ultimatum: change my health with her help or continue to decline. You know what option I picked!” She adds, “I was slowly dying – now I’m living,” and obviously living her best life. “Since making my health a priority, I feel like I can truly live my life versus just endure it. I have the energy to complete everything I want to do, from keeping up with my daughter to travel,” says McDonald, who divides her time between Cobourg, ON, and Tulum, Mexico. She loves sharing her story: “I love seeing others live their best life. I think others would enjoy my story because if this grandma can change, anyone can!” Her advice: Instead of focusing on everything out of your control, focus on what you can do that is beneficial for your life. It may be going for a walk daily, getting eight hours of solid sleep per night, or tracking your nutrition. “Habits propel us in a new direction each day.” And age has nothing to do with your potential,” she adds. “Age is just a number! So much of success…
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By Joanne Richard. As seasons change, so do moods. Chilly temps, shorter days, and being cooped up inside can zap our energy and have us feeling a bit blue. And that steady diet of doomscrolling – a new variant spreading, another pandemic winter – is messing with our brain. The cold, dark days of winter have the potential to add negative stress and create unpleasant moods such as sadness, worry, frustration, lethargy, and irritability,” says wellness expert Dr. Haley Perlus, of drhaleyperlus.com. Your sleep, appetite, physical movement, and overall energy levels can all be impacted, and take a toll on all aspects of your life. However, incorporating the right foods for good mood can make a significant difference. If you’re tempted to reach for bottomless bowls of chili or bag after bag of junk food, you’re not alone. “People have evolved to have subconscious urges to over-eat, and limited ability to avoid becoming obese, especially in winter,” reports a study by the University of Exeter in the U.K. Yikes. Obviously, mindful eating is tough, especially as we’re parked close to the fridge, but taking stock now – of what goes into your mouth – may help keep your spirits up in the toughest season of the year. “Eating light and often is a great way to boost your mood. It’s good practice to eat every two to three hours, never going four hours without food,” says Perlus, who specializes in sport and performance. “Just think, when is the last time you went more than four hours without eating and all you craved was kale? Never.” “Going hours without eating can have us craving unhealthy foods because our bodies crave quick glucose.“ It’ll help eliminate bouts of being hangry – being so hungry you get angry. Going hours without eating can have us craving unhealthy foods because our bodies crave quick glucose. “Although we do get a quick boost in energy, we feel worse in the long-term,” Perlus adds. “Eating light and often will steady your mood with the added benefits of consistent brain energy, decrease unhealthy cravings, maintain muscle mass, and prevent excessive fat storage.” Chef Michael Stevens-Hughes is witness to the power of food and its health-boosting benefits. Stevens-Hughes is a Chef de Cuisine at Ste. Anne’s Spa where healthy dishes are the primary ingredient in nourishing overall wellbeing. He sees firsthand how good food makes people feel good. His fresh and delicious dishes are created to deliver relaxation, healing and gastronomic joy. “A nostalgic dish can trigger fond memories of family or comfort and really help people relax, while exciting new flavours can help people forget about some of their troubles.” Times may be troubled and food can soothe the soul but not so much fats and sugars. While “our bodies crave comfort and the solace of a good show, a cozy couch and potato chips,” everything in moderation, says Stevens-Hughes. What will boost your mood, energy and immunity are nutrient-dense foods, including lots of dark leafy greens, beans and legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds, dark berries, and sustainably-caught fish like salmon and trout. Add in grass-fed beef, oats, bananas, and fermented foods, says Perlus. And dark chocolate, hot cocoa and coffee too – just regulate amounts. Meanwhile, delicious hot soup is especially soothing for the soul in the cold months and a great way to incorporate lots of good-for-you ingredients. Enjoy these health-boosting soup recipes from the cookbook Everyday Recipes from Ste. Anne’s Spa: Herbed Tomato Soup Ingredients: Method: • Heat oil over medium heat and sauté carrot, onion and celery for about 2 minutes. • Add garlic and spices and then add sugar; let cook for 1 minute, add vinegar and simmer for 2 more minutes. • Add tomato paste and stir until blended, then add diced tomatoes, vegetable stock and bay leaf. • Bring to boil and simmer for 15 minutes. • Skim impurities from top. • Add salt and pepper to taste and remove bay leaf. Yields 6 portions. Apple & Parsnip Soup Ingredients: Method: • Heat olive oil in large saucepan over medium heat; add shallots and cook for 1 minute. • Add parsnips and cook for 5 minutes; add apples and vegetable stock. • Cook approximately 20 minutes on medium until parsnips are tender. • Purée soup if desired; add honey and seasonings. Serves up 6 portions. Pureed Carrot, Ginger & Rosemary Soup Ingredients: Method: • Heat oil in large saucepan on medium heat and add onion; cook approximately 3 minutes until transparent. • Add carrots and celery and cook for 5 minutes. • Add ginger and rosemary and stock. • Bring to a boil and add potato; bring back to a boil, then simmer 15-20 minutes. • Purée the soup and add salt and pepper to taste. Maple Sweet Potato Soup Ingredients: Method: • Heat oven to 350ºF. • Roast unpeeled sweet potato, flesh-side down, until brown and soft (about 20 minutes); this can be done a day or two ahead of time while roasting something else. • When cool, peel off the potato skin, which should now be quite loose. • Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat. • Add onion and softened sweet potato; sauté until onion is transparent (about 4 minutes). • Add remaining ingredients and let simmer for 15 minutes. • Purée for a smooth soup; mash if you prefer a chunkier texture. Yields 6-8 servings. For a different flavour, try pumpkin instead of sweet potato and honey instead of maple syrup. *Recipes reprinted with permission from Ste. Anne’s Spa.

By Joanne Richard. Aging is sparking innovation. In exploring the future of aging, business leaders and entrepreneurs are strategically adapting their products and services to match the demands of seniors and deliver on unmet needs and consumption habits. Empathy and wellness are driving designs for the ever-growing population of older adults – the 60+ global population will encompass more than one in five human beings by mid-century, climbing from 962 million to 2.1 billion by 2050! As we contemplate this demographic shift, it’s imperative to consider the future of aging and develop solutions that promote dignity, independence, and fulfillment for seniors worldwide. Adults are not only living longer, they are expecting to “live longer better” and that, according to Colin Milner, requires solutions that embrace active aging. Older people want to retain their function abilities at as high a level as they can, for as long as they can, including physical, cognitive, and social function. “The better we function in all areas of life, the better our lives,” says Milner, CEO of the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) and a leading authority on the health and wellbeing of the older adult. According to ICAA research, 59% of senior living communities see themselves moving from a care-based community with wellness, to a wellness-based community with care. There is a stream of wellness trends that are empowering active aging, including innovative places and spaces, growing person-centered wellness solutions, and harnessing technologies to boost health, wellness, and quality of life, says Milner. These smart innovations and new approaches championing older adults will also fuel healthy economic growth. Older people have purchasing power! “The 50+ market now accounts for 70% of disposable income, a number that has grown from 50% twenty years ago,” says Milner, who hosts the podcast Colin Milner Rethinks Aging With… and features researchers, best-selling authors and thought leaders to help transform the conversation on aging and envision the future of aging. Here is what Milner is seeing on the new aging-driven frontier:

By Joanne Richard. As the pandemic lingers, so too the suspicion of touch. Do you flinch when someone reaches out to touch you? Anxious about a spontaneous hug or an encouraging pat on the back? If you’re feeling out of touch, you’re not alone. Eighteen months into the pandemic, and we’ve forsaken casual touch, from handshakes and hugs to pats, rubs, squeezes and strokes. And with dreary winter days looming ahead and continuing social distancing measures, who knows exactly the after-effects of this global experiment in touch deprivation. According to experts, people can experience touch starvation. “Human beings are uniquely wired to crave touch and to be touched,” says registered psychotherapist Joshua Peters, and we’re hungering for this form of communication but touch has become synonymous with fear and sickness in the pandemic. “Being held is one of the first ways we communicate feeling loved and connecting with others… touch reminds us that we are loveable and safe,” says Peters, a clinical supervisor at the Centre for Interpersonal Relationships, adding that there’s an increase in people in therapy describing their need to be touched and held. It’s an essential life ingredient but the pandemic has some of us enduring a solitary confinement of sorts, says Peters, and being touch deprived can make individuals more irritable or depressed. “Public health restrictions are essential for our greater health, but have no doubt taken a toll.” According to the 2020 BBC and Wellcome Collection survey, as the pandemic progressed, even those who lived with other people began craving more touch. Touch was the most vital nonverbal behaviour in the nursing profession when treating older patients. And the desire for touch may be felt more intensely by older adults, suggests a study published in Nursing Older People. It reports that touch was the most vital nonverbal behaviour in the nursing profession when treating older patients. “In old age, the tactile hunger is more powerful than ever, for it is the only sensuous experience that remains,” write the study researchers. Touch makes us tick, but according to Dr. Tiffany Fielding, we’ve actually been falling out of touch for quite some time. “It seems that the pandemic has only exacerbated the touch deprivation that was already happening.”  Fielding has been researching therapeutic touch for decades: “We studied touch at airport departure gates before the pandemic and folks were only touching 4% of the time. They were mostly on cell phones – and not talking – just texting and scrolling,” says Fielding, founder, and director of the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami Medical School. One of her studies shows that in the U.S., couples in a café touched once every 30 minutes. In Paris, it was 20 times every 30 minutes. The no-touch culture isn’t good for us – we need a daily dose of touch, says Feilding. “We know from our research that moving the skin is critical for health.” Practices like massage and exercise can help us find calm and cope better. Skin stimulation actually slows down the heart rate and the release of stress hormones like cortisol, says Fielding. “When you reduce cortisol you can save natural killer cells that ward off bacterial, viral and cancer cells. Ironically, during a viral pandemic we need more natural killer cells and natural killer cell activity but with less touching that is not happening.” “Human touch is a critical and powerful part of our existence, and integral to our bodies ability to heal and regenerate” Until now, few comprehended the strength of touch, and most took it for granted. “It’s silent but potent. Human touch is a critical and powerful part of our existence, and integral to our body’s ability to heal and regenerate,” says Jim Corcoran, a pioneer in the health and wellness industry and founder of Ste. Anne’s Spa in Grafton, ON. “When we’re deprived of positive human touch, there’s lots of cascading negative side effects to our health – that’s why we’ve required therapeutic treatment as part of our spa experience since we opened 30 years ago.” Corcoran is seeing an overwhelming demand for their holistic services, particularly body massages, head massages and facials. People don’t feel comfortable traveling far and have faced very restricted access to the health/wellness sector, and this has resulted in a surge to satisfy an insatiable hunger for stress relief and rejuvenation in the form of restorative, prolonged, well-intentioned touch at his destination spa. He has witnessed touch taking a backseat in modern life: The rise of busy lifestyles and technology have replaced healthy skin contact. Cell phones are held instead of hands. In addition, “we’ve seen western medicine move away from human touch – there’s latex, paper or stainless steel between you and the caregiver,” says Corcoran. We need to prioritize touch as an important component of wellbeing, agree experts. It will take time to decondition our fear response to touch but “our deeply human yearning to touch and be touched will no doubt re-emerge with time and patience,” adds Peters. Take therapist Joshua Peters’ tips to buffer against touch deprivation

By Joanne Richard. Social isolation is worsening and detrimental to seniors’ health. Dr. Nancy Jecker embraces robot companions as an answer for the aging and loneliness in the age of AI. “Companion robots can help the elderly age in place better and longer” Companion robots can help the elderly age in place better and longer, and provide much-needed social interaction and even physical affection, according to Dr. Nancy Jecker, a professor of bioethics and humanities at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. Jecker has been studying aging for decades and she sees a future of robotic technology integrated into the social lives of older adults in many supportive ways, including supporting emotional health and wellbeing and countering against ageism. It’s crucial to rethink aging and consider innovative approaches like robotic technology to enhance the lives of older adults. “Future robots could be designed to help alleviate the unmet social and emotional needs of older people. This could include being available 24/7 to serve as friends, caregivers, confidantes, and sexual partners,” said Jecker, who was interviewed by Custodia. “Being socially isolated not only feels bad, it literally makes people sick“ The bioethicist has witnessed the declining ranks of workers to help care-dependent older adults and the rapidly growing ranks of senior citizens who are living longer but are isolated. “Far more than any other age group, older people are socially isolated and lonely. Being socially isolated not only feels bad, it literally makes people sick,” and is strongly associated with an increased risk of dying, Jecker said. Robot-human relationships can fill a void and serve as an important new alternative to human-human relationships, said Jecker. She has written extensively about some of the key roles sociable robots can play for older people as caregivers (carebots), friends (friendbots), and in her most recent paper, as sexual partners (sexbots) and intimate companions. Jecker published a paper in the Journal of Medical Ethics entitled “Nothing to be ashamed of: sex robots for older adults with disabilities.” She is also the author of the E-book and print book: Ending Midlife Bias: New Values for Old Age (Oxford University Press, 2020). According to Jecker, robots are already increasingly emotionally intelligent and capable of serving as friends and companions. They can relate to us on a personal level, read our non-verbal cues, sing, play games, and be good companions. “This matters because sexual fulfillment is not just about physical satisfaction, it’s about being in a relationship and affiliating.” These robots present the possibility of forming a relationship and feeling close to another, which differs from other assistive devices, she said. Future robots will be able to touch, rub, hug, pat, and hold hands with older people without causing injury. “A promising new field of research is soft robotics. Soft robotics mimics soft-bodied creatures in nature, replacing hard metallic surfaces of traditional robots with softer, pliable surfaces.” She added that soft robots will be safe for older end users who, as a group, tend to be more frail, less agile, have worse balance, more porous bones, and less muscle mass. “This would all represent a massive rethink on our part regarding how we view ageism, sex and seniors, and robots as friends/lovers.” “… since people tend to attribute race to humanoid robots, we should deliberately design robots to cater to a racially diverse clientele.” Today’s sex robots are sexist, racist, ableist, ageist, and heterosexist, she said, and her latest paper is a bid for reimagining them. “From an ethical perspective, we need to support human dignity and to take seriously the claims of those whose sexuality is diminished by disability or isolation. Society needs to make reasonable efforts to help them.” She hopes that future robots will target more diverse end-users, including people of all ages, genders, abilities, races, and cultures. “For example, since people tend to attribute race to humanoid robots, we should deliberately design robots to cater to a racially diverse clientele. “As robots become increasingly integrated into our homes and workplaces, they bring with them implicit social norms and values. They have the capacity to rapidly reproduce and reinforce implicit social biases or to expand people’s thinking to be more inclusive,” she said. Robot-human relationships can enhance our quality of life and support human social needs in important ways. We could take a cue from our Japanese counterparts, offered Jecker. Some Japanese end users may find it easier to bond with robots compared to their Western counterparts. They may be less likely to think of robots as “empty” inside. For instance, the integration of technology like the Chaton AI chatbot reflects how technology can bridge cultural gaps and foster connections. “We can learn from the Japanese to avail ourselves of the rich possibilities human-robot relationships will increasingly offer. Robot-human relationships can enhance our quality of life and support human social needs in important ways. They will not be the same as human-human relationships; they will be something else.”