Apple Magazine – Fall 2015

Fall 2015 | Issue 19
be healthy | be well | be informed
applemag.ca
The
Giving &
Sharing
issue
Khushboo Goyal gives
by teaching tennis
and helping seniors
Table of contents
42
A gift of life
COVER STORY:
Khushboo Goyal was
photographed for the Get the
Giver’s Glow story on page
59 by Kelsy Nielson at the
University of Alberta’s Saville
Community Sports Centre in
Edmonton.
Alberta researchers are
working to increase the
number of organ donations
and find alternative
treatments
BY JANET HARVEY
Departments
9
AHS MESSAGE
Throwing something back
10 BITES
Get a grip
Talking about alcohol and
pregnancy
Watch for wildlife
Point, pause, proceed
10
34
Furnace fix
14 BUILDING BRAINS
16 GREAT EXPECTATIONS
Helping one child welcome
another
Older siblings need to understand baby’s
care and abilities
18 THE EARLY YEARS
Mine! No, MINE!
Children learn to share after age 3
20 YOUTHFUL
Positive contributions
Youth volunteers help build healthier
communities
22 KEEP IN MIND
What’s up with our attention
span?
Technology may be shrinking our ability
to focus
24 50+
Seniors give back
Giving your time and talent improves
health, longevity and happiness
4 Apple Fall 2015
49
Sharing family
meals
Tips for sharing meals together
BY COLLEEN SETO
54
You need help.
Networks want to
give it
A network is standing ready to
offer support and services in
your community
59
Get the giver’s
glow
Any act of giving can make you
happier, healthier and more
satisfied with life
BY VALERIE BERENYI
BY CHERYL MAHAFFY
26 YOUR MOUTH—WHERE HEALTH
BEGINS
A special insert by the College of
Registered Dental Hygienists of
Alberta
39 Exploring the link between
weight gain and fibre
Study shows a non-digestible
carbohydrate could help keep the
pounds off
34 MEAL DEAL
Unexpected apples
46 Researching from a new
angle
Study teams turn to patients,
families and public for insight
Apples add sweetness, tart and crunch
37 A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR
CHILDREN WITH BOWEL DISEASE
Alberta research is leading the
way to more effective treatment
39
66 PRAISING PASSION
Learning you can learn
Krista Poole and the CanLearn team help
others overcome obstacles to literacy
applemag.ca 5
6 Apple Fall 2015
applemag.ca | [email protected]
PUBLISHED BY
Alberta Health Services
President & CEO
Vickie Kaminski
VP, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
& COMMUNICATIONS
Carmel Turpin
SENIOR PROGRAM OFFICER, COMMUNICATIONS
Colleen Turner
EDITOR & PUBLISHER
Terry Bullick
[email protected]
403-943-2892
ASSOCIATE EDITOR & DISTRIBUTION
Amy Sawchenko
[email protected]
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Jennifer Allford
ADVERTISING
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EDITORIAL DIRECTION & REVIEW
Marlis Atkins, Farah Bandali, Suzanne Blair, Cheryl Bourassa,
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CONTRIBUTORS
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Kat Gill, Kristjanna Grimmelt, Jon Hagan, Greg Harris,
Janet Harvey, Image Source Photography, Kelly Knox,
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Catherine MacBride, Cheryl Mahaffy, Kyle Metcalf, Danil
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The information contained in this magazine is not intended
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Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified health
professional before starting any new treatment or
changing or stopping current treatment.
Statements, opinions and viewpoints expressed by the
writers of this publication do not necessarily represent the
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Copyright 2015 by Alberta Health Services.
No part of this publication may be reproduced without
express written consent from AHS.
Canada Post Publication Agreement Number: 42468524
ISSN 1927-0305
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8 Apple Fall 2015
AHS message
Throwing
something back
shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both
hands; you need to be able to throw something back.”
Life really is more fulfilling when we give and share.
It’s also healthier. In this issue of Apple, we look at how
sharing enriches the lives of those who give and those who
receive.
As Kathryn Ward writes in Mine! No, MINE! on page
18, sharing is a learned skill we begin to grasp as toddlers
and perfect through practice, practice and more practice.
For some of us, that practice may be encouraging a child to
share with a new brother or sister (see Helping One Child
Welcome Another on page 16). When parents help their
little ones understand that there’s enough of their love for
all the kids, they’re creating a safe, secure and trusting
place for their children to thrive.
Another place parents can build safety, security and
trust is around the breakfast, lunch and dinner table. At
our house, we don’t make gourmet meals, but we do make
time in between sports, music lessons, school and work
to share several meals a week. As Colleen Seto writes in
Sharing Family Meals on page 49, it’s time well spent.
Of course, giving and sharing goes beyond family
life—and can last a lifetime. Jennifer Allford gives us a
glimpse into how teens across the province are making
communities healthier by giving their time, energy and
effort in Positive Contributions on page 20. In Seniors Give
Back on page 24, Seto looks at how volunteering keeps
older adults engaged and active, which is essential to
independent living.
Carrying on with the theme, Valerie Berenyi looks at the
health benefits of giving in her story Get the Giver’s Glow
on page 59. “Kindness and generosity trigger the release
of feel-good brain chemicals that give us warm fuzzies or
Photo: Michael Interisano, Mirror Image Photography
Maya Angelou wrote: “I’ve learned that you
what some call a ‘giver’s glow,’ ” she writes. Berenyi also
reports that studies show when older adults give, they
sleep better, hear better and have a stronger hand grip.
These folks are all throwing something back, and are
healthier as a result. Sounds like a good deal all around.
Colleen Turner is the senior program officer with Community
Engagement and Communications at Alberta Health Services.
Sponsors
Apple magazine is pleased to acknowledge its partners:
Founding Partner
For more information on where to find
Apple magazine, or to have it delivered
to your door, visit applemag.ca.
applemag.ca 9
Bites
STORIES BY KATHRYN WARD
ILLUSTRATIONS BY KYLE METCALF
Watch for wildlife
Talking about alcohol and
pregnancy
If you are pregnant, your nurse, doctor or
pharmacist may strike up an honest, respectful
talk about alcohol and pregnancy. The
messages: no alcohol is safe at any stage of
pregnancy and help to stop drinking is nearby.
It’s all part of the Alberta’s Prevention
Conversation: A Shared Responsibility, which
shows health-care professionals who work
with women of child-bearing age how to talk
with women and their partners about alcohol
and pregnancy. The goal is to reduce fetal
alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).
— Kristjanna Grimmelt
Visit fasd.alberta.ca or call Alberta
Supports at 1-877-644-9992 if you or
someone you know needs help to stop
drinking while pregnant.
10 Apple Fall 2015
Heading out on the highway can be an
adventure in the fall. It helps to remember that
you aren’t the only one out there “born to be
wild.” Alberta wildlife also tend to be around
highways more.
For them, it’s mating season and they
are prone to running across roads. Plus, as
animals bulk up for winter, they can forage
along roadsides and are attracted to road salt.
Many species are more active at dawn
or dusk, when visibility is poor and traffic
volume high. Alberta Transportation offers the
following tips to help keep your journey safe:
• Watch for wildlife warning and animal
crossing signs, or shining eyes and
silhouettes at night
• Be prepared to stop—animals can be
unpredictable
• Be aware some animals travel in groups
• Brake if an animal is in your path; do not
swerve to avoid it
• Honk in short bursts to chase animals
away
• Report all collisions to your insurance
company, police and the nearest
Sustainable Resource Development or
Parks office
• Contact the nearest Sustainable Resource
Development office in cases where an
animal is injured or poses a threat to
public safety.
Get a grip
Winter tires aren’t mandatory in Alberta, but
they are one way to increase road safety.
Winter tires are geared to temperatures of 7°C
and lower, the point where all-season tires
have less grip and require greater braking
distance.
Whatever kind of tires you drive on, check
them regularly for proper tread depth. When
it’s reduced, snow doesn’t disperse properly,
builds up and decreases your control.
Tire-tread depth gauges are available from
stores such as Canadian Tire. As well, all tires
have a wear bars. They’re not always easy to
spot, but if they’re smooth on any spot across
the tread, it’s time to replace the tire.
Point, pause, proceed
Vehicle collisions involving children happen
most often in September and October, followed
by May and June, says Parachute, a national
injury prevention organization. Back to school
is a busy time with new routines and daylight
decreasing. Teaching your child how to safely
cross the road and recognizing when he is
ready to do this alone are important.
Before letting your child cross a road alone,
he needs to show you he can do it safely. To
do this, he needs to understand where it’s
safe to cross (such as corners and marked
crosswalks) and be able to judge vehicle
speeds and traffic gaps. He also needs to
know how to make eye contact with drivers.
“Most children develop the skills to cross
roads alone between nine and 11 years old,”
says Carrie Herrick-Fitzgerald, a coordinator
with AMA School Safety Patrol.
The School Safety Patrol emphasizes
teaching your child to:
Point Stop and extend your arm and
fingers
Pause Look in all directions for traffic,
make eye contact with drivers and
wait until all vehicles stop
Proceed Cross the street, keeping your arm
and fingers extended and staying
alert.
Your child learns pedestrian safety by
copying you and other adults. Help him by
following and talking about the rules and
avoiding distractions such as talking on a
cellphone while walking.
applemag.ca 11
Furnace fix
Your furnace and heating ducts are the lungs
of your home.
To keep them breathing easy this winter
(and keep you cosier), Atco Gas offers these
tips:
Each month:
1.Change or clean dirty filters
2. Check gas burners for a blue flame;
if it’s yellow, call a certified heating
professional
3.Also call a furnace pro if your vents are
rusty, sooty or blocked.
Always:
• K eep vents uncovered and unblocked to
supply air for the proper, safe operation
of gas appliances
• Keep the area around your furnace clear
• Keep the fan door, panels and grills in
place when your furnace is running
• Only do what’s realistic; for everything
else, call a professional.
Next time in Apple
We turn our attention to the air that we breathe, including:
Living with and without perfumes and fragrances
How communities are clearing the air
Gasp! The health of Albertans’ lungs
Out January 1, 2016.
12 Apple Fall 2015
Subscribe
to Apple
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today!
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a year
Email us at apple.mag@
albertahealthservices.ca
or call 403-943-1993
applemag.ca 13
Building brains
When a
gift goes
ungiven
Photo: Kelly Knox
Brain development is
different when children
don’t have nurturing care
and attention
When children face ongoing neglect and abuse, any number of social problems can result.
Among the most powerful
gifts children can receive is stable,
nurturing attention and care from
their parents and other adults around
them. Such support gives them the
security and skills to go through
life with confidence and a strong
foundation for lifelong health.
Not every child receives these gifts,
and their absence is often because of
ongoing neglect or abuse.
When a child is on the receiving
end of neglect and abuse early in
life, this usually means adults are
spending little time with her to help
“scaffold” her thoughts.
“A child who’s neglected and
14 Apple Fall 2015
hungry,” says Judy Cameron, a
professor of psychiatry at the
University of Pittsburgh, where she
serves as director of science outreach,
“will spend a lot of time thinking
about how to get food and get fed.
She will use some neural circuits
over and over again and those will
strengthen and she’ll get really
good at solving problems such as
how to get food and looking out for
herself.”
Cameron says a similar process
happens when a child is abused. A
young boy abused by an adult will
spend a lot of time thinking about
how not to be hit or yelled at. He’ll
become very good at getting out of
the way—hiding in his room or being
extra careful to not say anything that
could cause anger.
“The brain develops strong circuits
to keep him alive and to protect
him,” says Cameron, a frequent
speaker in Alberta. The result is
the boy becomes hypersensitive to
anger.
“He sees hints of anger the minute
they’re there and he’s going to react
to them. So you can imagine this
child grows up and is in junior high
school, any little bit of anger he sees,
right away he does something to
avoid it.”
In a well-known study by Seth
Pollak at the University of Wisconsin,
children were shown faces with
expressions ranging from very happy
to very angry and asked to point
out where they thought the person’s
expression was going from happy to
mad. Children who lived through
adverse childhood experiences
(ACEs) picked out images much
earlier in the spectrum than children
without ACEs.
When children face ongoing
neglect and abuse, any number of
social problems can result: it’s hard
for them to make friends, trust
people or recognize when someone
is actually trying to offer the gift of
real care and attention. Speech and
language development can also lag.
“They’re going to grow up with
weaker brain circuits for the things
that they missed and stronger ones
for the things they spend time
thinking about,” Cameron says. “It’s
easy to see how they may see anger
in the world. They may fend for
themselves better. They may steal.
They may get into trouble with the
law. Not because they’re trying to be
bad, but because they have strong
neural circuits that may see the world
as an uncaring place.”
Adults—from parents and
grandparents to those working
with young children in a variety of
settings—often don’t understand
how adversity affects children, says
Chaya Kulkarni, the director of Infant
Mental Health Promotion at Toronto’s
Hospital for Sick Children.
“It’s harder for adults to empathize
with children, especially young
children, because how they
experience neglect and trauma is
very different from what adults
experience,” she explains. “And
infants, toddlers and young children
don’t have the skills to say exactly
what they’ve experienced or are
feeling. For this young population,
neglect and trauma take a direct toll
on their development. ”
Kulkarni says giving care and
attention to a child is simple. “It’s
responding to her in a nurturing way
when she needs you.”
Complexities within families and
what Kulkarni calls an erosion of
the “it takes a village” philosophy
in many communities can make this
difficult.
For her part, she thinks of any
time spent with a child, no matter
how short, as an opportunity to do
something that can support positive
brain development.
“You never know when you will
make a difference in a child’s life.”
That difference can be a gift.
— Terry Bullick
applemag.ca 15
Photo: Marta Locklear
Great expectations
Whatever their age, it’s important for older children to learn to share the most important thing to them—their
parents’ love and attention.
Helping one child welcome another
Older siblings need to understand baby’s care and abilities
You may be excited about the
arrival of your next baby.
Your older children may not. It’s
normal for some children to worry
that their parents will no longer have
time for them, although they might
16 Apple Fall 2015
not be able to say that. Whatever their
age, it’s important for older children
to learn to share the most important
thing to them—their parents’ love
and attention.
Warmth and structure help
children as their family grows, says
Leslie Barker, a health promotion
facilitator with Alberta Health
Services’ Provincial Early Childhood
team.
“Your older child needs to feel
that she’s not being replaced—that
your love for her hasn’t changed.
You can help her adjust by keeping
routines as normal as possible and
by showing your love with your
patience, kind words and actions,
giving your child information, and
letting her help depending where she
can.”
You can also give your child
warmth and structure by:
• Telling and showing her how
much you love her
• Spending some time alone (even
a few minutes) every day with
her
• Letting others know how helpful
she’s been to you and baby
• Talking about her birth and
what it was like when she came
home; this helps her see how
much she’s grown
• Reading stories with her about
babies and big sisters and
brothers
• Helping her understand:
T
he care new babies need
H
ow she can help (such as
getting you a diaper or singing
a song to baby)
• H
ow to be gentle with babies
• T
hat babies can’t do some
things (running, playing,
climbing and reading) until
they’re older.
Also try to keep family routines,
such as mealtimes, bath times and
bedtimes, as normal as possible. If
your child is about to start toilet
training, you may want to wait until
you’ve settled in with your new baby
and life is more predictable.
•
•
— The Apple team
For more ideas about talking to
your children at different ages and
stages about sexual health matters,
visit teachingsexualhealth.ca or for
tips on welcoming a new baby, visit
healthyparentshealthychildren.ca.
Where do babies come from?
Sooner or later, every child asks: Where
do babies come from? Especially when
a new brother or sister arrives. Answer
your child’s questions honestly and use
simple language and correct words
when talking about parts of the body.
For example, you may want to say that
a baby grows in the uterus and is born
through the vagina.
“By keeping the explanations
clear, accurate, and based on your
understanding of your child’s stage
of development, you will help satisfy
their natural curiosity,” says Jennifer
Munoz, a health promotion facilitator
with Alberta Health Services’ Provincial
Reproductive Health Team. “Another
key factor is repetition. Children often
don’t understand fully the first time, so
be prepared to tell your story several
times.”
Oral health is about more than teeth
See the special section from the
College of Registered Dental Hygienists
of Alberta on page 26
applemag.ca 17
The early years
Mine! No, MINE!
Photo: Image Source Photography
Children learn to share after age 3
Sharing is a learned skill that children usually don’t learn until the age of three.
An 18-month-old is asked to
share his toy with his baby sister. He
passionately refuses and takes away
all the other toys, including baby’s.
He is upset, the baby is bothered.
The result? Two unhappy children.
At a play date, a two-year-old takes
away another’s blankie, tearing it
in the process and bringing both
children to tears. Sound familiar?
Lots of parents wonder why their
kids aren’t sharing. The truth is,
children under three don’t know how.
Sharing isn’t something we’re
18 Apple Fall 2015
born with. It’s a learned skill that
only comes after children have
passed other milestones, such as
learning about identity, feelings
and ownership. Suzanne Blair is the
program coordinator of the Early
Childhood Team at Alberta Health
Services. She’s also a mom. “Until a
child is about three,” she says, “he is
not capable of sharing—it’s a concept
he can’t grasp.”
What’s essential for young children
is the space to explore and learn how
to do tasks on their own and learn
that they have control over certain
parts of their lives. “Children are
also learning about their feelings and
how to express themselves during
this period,” Blair says. “There
will be many times when they are
overwhelmed by their feelings and
don’t know what to do.”
Around age three, children start
to grasp the concept of sharing.
At the same time, they’re learning
language and need to say and hear
words. To do this they need lots of
encouragement.
Blair offers tips for parents helping
their youngsters learn to share:
• Give them opportunities to
practice every day
• For very young siblings or
multiples, try to have duplicate
sets of toys
• When other children are
visiting, put special toys away
• Show sharing by taking turns
with your toddler
• Talk about sharing and taking
turns (for example, saying “my
turn, your turn, Billy’s turn”)
• Remember, guidelines are only
guidelines—you know your
child best.
Blair says it takes time for a child
to be able to share. But sharing
generally starts at around age three,
and gets better from there.
Stages and milestones
Suzanne Blair, the program coordinator of the Provincial Early Childhood Team at Alberta
Health Services, offers these general developmental milestones, stressing every child is
different.
From 12 to 18 months, children:
• S ee themselves as an extension of their primary caregiver
• S tart learning about themselves and what belongs to them—such as their feet, nose and
fingers
• S tart learning about identity—there’s a you and there’s a me.
From 18 to 24 months, children:
• S tart doing more with other children
• Focus on themselves more than others
• S tart learning about possession (for example, they want you and other adults in their lives
close by)
• S tart learning to take turns
• Learn more when you talk as you do things: now I’ll roll the ball back to you, here’s a piece
of apple and let’s stack the blocks together.
— Kathryn Ward
applemag.ca 19
Photo: Michael Interisano, Mirror Image Photography
Youthful
Marisa Vigna, 22, started volunteering nine years ago at the Child and Youth Advisory Council (CAYAC) at
the Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary.
Positive contributions
Youth volunteers help build healthier communities
A high school student starts
a Twitter campaign to challenge
his classmates to raise $500 for
the Canadian Mental Health
Association and ends up bringing
in nearly $20,000. A young cancer
survivor takes a give-back trip to
help build houses for families in
20 Apple Fall 2015
El Salvador. These are just a couple
of examples of the thousands of
young people in Alberta who are
making communities healthier by
volunteering their time, energy and
effort.
Penny Hume meets hundreds
of these kids every year. She’s the
executive director at Youth Central,
a Calgary group with 3,400 junior
and high school students signed up
to volunteer for many community
service programs. Every year, Youth
Central hands out awards to young
people for everything from helping
other kids on crisis lines to raising
Volunteering helps youth build valuable
skills such as teamwork, communications,
decision-making and being on time
awareness about bullying in schools.
Hume says the students get much
from their experiences. “Youth
build valuable skills: teamwork,
communications, decision-making,
the responsibility of being on time—
all of those kinds of things,” she says.
“They also gain experience and that
leads to higher resiliency and higher
confidence.”
Marisa Vigna, 22, has been
volunteering for more than nine
years. She started her community
service career with the Child and
Youth Advisory Council (CAYAC)
at the Alberta Children’s Hospital
in Calgary, helping to improve
children’s health programs and
services. She has also served in a
variety of other volunteer roles in
health care.
“Volunteering allows me to make
a positive difference in the lives of
patients and family members who
are going through a very stressful
time,” she says. “Listening to
different perspectives allows me to
broaden my understanding of other
people’s life situations and helps me
to become a more compassionate
individual.”
Vigna, who received a community
engagement leadership scholarship
at the University of Calgary, says
that reward isn’t why she volunteers
her time. “I think it’s really great
to see that universities and other
institutions are beginning to look
at the whole person, not just their
grades, and value what individuals
do in the community to make a
difference.”
Making a positive difference
in a community contributes to its
residents’ overall health and wellness.
“Some may initially be attracted
because it looks good on a resume but
ultimately it’s much more for them,”
adds Marie McNaughton, CAYAC’s
family and youth engagement
coordinator. “It’s an opportunity
to participate in a diverse group of
youth and develop leadership and
team-building skills while making a
meaningful difference (in this case)
to the quality of health care.”
Alberta’s young volunteers are
improving communities in countless
ways. “Communities can benefit
from having energetic and young
people ready to take on any task,”
says Sharon Mvundura, the program
coordinator at the Edmonton
Chamber of Voluntary Organizations.
When youth volunteers, it often
becomes a lifelong pursuit. “Teens
often continue volunteering far into
adulthood and contribute their time,
money and skills throughout this
time,” says Mvundura. “They’re also
great recruitment tools—they often
bring their friends and family into
volunteering for communities.”
By starting young and staying
committed to volunteering, youth
develop skills that can be used
throughout life while also building
a stronger community. That win-win
benefits everyone for years.
— Jennifer Allford
applemag.ca 21
Illustration: Michael Byers
Keep in mind
More things are competing for our attention, making it very difficult to focus on any one, says
psychologist Brent Macdonald.
What’s up with our attention span?
Technology may be shrinking our ability to focus
You will not believe what
happens in the 11th paragraph of this
article. But don’t skip ahead, yet.
In this age of clickbait and constant
distraction, we struggle to stay
focused at almost every turn. The
phone chimes and announces an
email. A colleague pops into your
cubicle and wants to chat. Or hey—
this other magazine article looks
interesting, too. It’s akin to having
a chorus of creatures howling at the
22 Apple Fall 2015
top of their lungs at you.
How do we protect our fragile
attention spans when the world
around us chips away with each
advertisement, text message and
interruption?
“Human beings have always
had problems with being easily
distracted,” says Dr. Brent
Macdonald, PhD, a Calgary
psychologist who specializes in
learning disabilities and anxiety.
“But today there are more things
competing for our attention—it feels
very difficult to focus at any one
time.”
Don’t surrender just yet—
Macdonald says several strategies can
keep the chaos at bay.
Clear away the visual clutter
Stimuli that draw your attention from
the task at hand, such as the weather
widget on your computer screen or
the piles of paper on your desk,
are distractions you can control.
“People may say their messy desk
is organized chaos, but it’s often
more chaos than organized,”
Macdonald says.
Despite what parents and many
people might think, there is no such
thing as true multi-tasking. “You’re
really just dividing your attention
Reach out to someone
Finally, when distraction affects
your performance at work or school,
a “distractability coach” might help
keep you on task. “It sounds extreme,
but that little bit of accountability
to someone else, whether it’s a coworker or family member, often
works wonders.”
Congratulations! You made it to
the 11th paragraph. You’re well on
your way to improved focus. Your
attention span is longer than the
average Canadian’s. A recent study
by Microsoft Corp. found the average
Canadian has an attention span of
eight seconds, down from 12 seconds
15 years ago. Try not to let it distract
you.
Clear away the auditory clutter
Silence the electronic devices that
might lure you into another activity,
with one exception. “If you’re trying
to get something done, listening to
music can be an effective strategy for
limiting distractions from noises or
conversations,” Macdonald says.
Clear away the cognitive clutter
Trying to maintain an ongoing
mental to-do list is a fast track
to exhaustion, not to mention
inefficiency. “Writing things down
and making checklists can really
free up your mind to focus on what’s
important.”
as you might if you just focused on
one.”
between several things, which means
you’re not doing any of them as well
— Greg Harris
applemag.ca 23
+50
Seniors give
back
Photo: Aila Images
Giving your time and talent
improves health, longevity and
happiness
An increasing number of seniors are volunteering after retirement.
As career and family demands
lessen, many older adults are looking
for other meaningful things to do.
Many are finding that volunteering
or working with non-profit
organizations uses their skills and
knowledge and helps them give back
to their communities.
Volunteer Canada’s 2013 report,
24 Apple Fall 2015
Volunteering and Older Adults,
estimates seniors could make up
as much as a quarter of Canada’s
population by 2036 and that many
baby boomers and seniors volunteer.
As the number of seniors grows, so
will their contributions.
Giving back through volunteering
keeps older adults active and
engaged—critical for healthy aging.
Studies have shown that volunteering
can reduce depression and functional
limitations, and lead to better
overall health and greater longevity.
Aside from physical, emotional and
cognitive benefits, volunteering also
improves social support, inclusion
and civic engagement.
Examples of this can be found across
the province. In Red Deer, at non-profit
groups such as the Lending Cupboard,
which lends medical equipment at
no cost, and Golden Circle, a senior
resource centre, older adults are
the core volunteers. “Just about any
successful volunteer program will
utilize seniors,” says Kareen Lambert
with Red Deer’s Volunteer Central.
The same goes for Meals on
Wheels programs in many Alberta
communities. “About 66 per cent of
our volunteers are 60-plus,” says
Christine Conley, community
outreach coordinator at Calgary
Meals on Wheels. “We find that a lot
of folks start getting involved in their
retirement years. After the initial
excitement of not working wears
off, folks want to get involved with
good causes and give back to their
community.”
For paid work, Reach Hire and
Charity Village feature non-profit job
postings of all kinds, while Social
Venture Partners Calgary offers
a fellowship program specifically
for older adults who are at or near
retirement age, but still want to work.
Social Venture Partners’ Encore
Fellows program connects retiring
workers to non-profit organizations
in need of their skills.
“Virtually every organization
will have at least one area where
they would benefit from additional
expertise,” says Rod Garossino, the
program’s manager. Through the
fellowship, organizations get the
expertise they need at a rate they
can afford, while fellows continue
to apply their knowledge with a
reduced workload.
“They want to do work that is
meaningful to them and gives
them a sense of contributing to the
greater good,” says Garossino. “This
experience often serves as a stepping
stone to a new, more fulfilling career
phase in the non-profit sector for the
fellow.”
Garossino knows this first-hand.
After a corporate restructuring left
him rethinking his next career move,
he became the first Encore fellow
and joined Social Venture Partners
Calgary to launch the program. “It
felt good to be valued and to see the
impact of my work,” he says. “It felt
especially good to be actively and
purposefully engaging with my
existing network and to be expanding
it through my new role.”
— Colleen Seto
Take your pick
Our special reprint series includes issues on brain development,
healthy eating and nutrition, healthy seniors and healthy children.
For free copies, contact [email protected] or visit applemag.ca.
applemag.ca 25
Photo: Kat Gill, Katch Studios
Your mouth
Where health begins
26 Apple Fall 2015
A message from the members of the
College of Registered Dental Hygienists of Alberta
The College of Registered Dental Hygienists of Alberta
provides information to help individuals and communities
prevent oral disease, maintain good oral health and increase
awareness of the relationship of oral health to general health.
In striving to achieve these objectives, it is our hope that we
can better serve Albertans.
Registered dental hygienists work with every age group
from young children to elderly people. Through screening,
education, therapeutic and preventive procedures, they can
help reduce your risk of oral health problems.
You can get care from registered dental hygienists through
dental offices, stand-alone offices and mobile services, such
as in care facilities, across Alberta.
Care for your mouth and
your whole body benefits
Dental hygienists help guide a lifetime of good oral health
Many people think only of healthy teeth when they hear the
words “oral health,” but it’s about more than just your teeth.
Oral health also includes healthy lips, cheeks, tongue, throat,
and the roof and floor of your mouth.
Oral health is essential to general health and quality of life.
Good oral health is being free from tooth decay, tooth loss,
periodontal (gum) disease, mouth and facial pain, oral infection and sores, oral and throat cancer and other conditions that
limit your biting, chewing, smiling, speaking and psychosocial
well-being.
Your oral health is closely tied to your overall health. In fact,
much research is being conducted into the relationship between
periodontal disease and diabetes, cardiovascular (heart) disease
and pneumonia.
The two most common oral diseases (dental decay and
periodontal disease) are chronic infections that can be
prevented. Alberta’s registered dental hygienists play a critical
role in helping you prevent oral disease. Dental hygienists
first provided preventive services in Alberta’s classrooms and
community health centres in the 1950s. Today, dental hygienists
are champions of oral health in a variety of practice settings,
with some dental hygienists in private dental hygiene practices
providing care to the home-bound and to residents in long-term
care facilities.
The College of Registered Dental Hygienists of Alberta is
the regulatory body for the province’s 3,200 practising dental
hygienists. It ensures all dental hygienists are registered and
deliver top-notch care. The CRDHA sets the practice standards
and code of ethics and investigates concerns about professional
conduct.
Dental hygienists work with every age group from young
children to elderly people. They provide advice on preventing
oral disease, provide treatment for periodontal disease and
screen for dental decay, oral cancer and other oral problems.
Through mobile clinics, dental hygienists are reaching Albertans who can’t always access care in a traditional dental or dental hygiene practice. To help you connect to oral health services,
see the resources listed on page 31.
applemag.ca 27
Your child’s first teeth
Good oral health begins long before the first
tooth appears
From birth, you can be wiping your baby’s gums with a clean,
damp facecloth. Doing this every day, for example at bath time,
helps your baby get used to an oral care routine that becomes
increasingly important as your baby grows.
Photo: Kat Gill, Katch Studios
Melanie Garrison, a dental hygienist who has worked with
children for more than 20 years, warns that pooled milk or
formula in an infant’s mouth can increase the growth of bacteria
and cause tooth decay. “Dental problems are the leading reason
for children’s emergency surgeries,” Garrison says.
Keeping your child’s first set of teeth healthy has lifelong
implications. With preventive care, early teeth are less likely to
decay, break or need to be removed. Maintaining healthy baby
teeth helps with eating, speech development, self-image and the
positioning of permanent teeth.
“Children with less decay will be adults with fewer dental and
other health problems,” Garrison says.
An adult can set a good example for good oral health care habits at home.
That includes helping a child brush his teeth until he can do it on his own,
around the age of seven or eight.
Tips for a strong start
Start routines early—wipe your
1
infant’s gums from day one; keep
oral hygiene routines throughout
childhood.
Take charge of the toothbrush—
2
parents need to brush their children’s teeth from the appearance
of their first tooth to the age of seven or eight, when children can do
it themselves.
See a dental professional—a first
3
visit is recommended when your
child is one year old or six months
after his first tooth appears.
Set the example—children like to
4
copy the grown-ups in their lives;
28 Apple Fall 2015
they need to see you brushing and
flossing (and being brave during
dental appointments).
Eat well—set the right path for
5
lifelong good health habits; avoid
sugary snack foods and drinks.
6 Play safe—wear proper, well-fit-
ted safety gear and mouthguards
for all sports and activities to
avoid dental injuries (at any age).
Prevention is key—good oral
7
hygiene is less expensive than
repairs or surgeries; ensure your
child uses a fluoridated toothpaste. It’s the number one way to
prevent problems.
Seek advice—ask a dentist or
8 dental hygienist before introducing fluoride toothpaste to children
under age three. If your child is
under three, he is at risk of tooth
decay and the use of a fluoride
toothpaste is recommended. The
amount of fluoride toothpaste
used only needs to be about the
size of a grain of rice.
Teach them well—for children
9
three years of age and older,
place only a pea-size amount of
fluoride toothpaste on their toothbrush. Supervise brushing to discourage swallowing toothpaste.
Teach your child to spit out all excess toothpaste after brushing.
Yours for life
Good oral health habits help you keep your teeth
healthier, longer
Today’s aging baby boomers have taken a bite out of the
assumption that as you age you will lose teeth and end up with
dentures.
“Not many years ago, many seniors had to face the challenges
of using full or partial dentures,” says Arlynn Brodie, assistant
clinical professor, Dental Hygiene Program, University of
Alberta. “Today, seniors benefit from the use of fluoride, daily
brushing and regular dental hygiene appointments. This is
helping them keep their natural teeth for a lifetime.”
Teresa Bateman, director of Professional Practice with the
College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta, says it is
important for nurses to learn from dental hygienists to improve
care for older adults’ oral health.
Research shows that improved oral health care for elderly
people reduces the risk of aspiration pneumonia. Oral hygiene
strategies used by seniors in hospitals and nursing homes can
reduce the incidence of pneumonia.
Getting help
Registered dental hygienists and other health-care
professionals can offer older adults and their caregivers
advice about coping with:
z Limited dexterity: how to use special toothbrushes, picks,
inter-dental brushes.
z Dry mouth: special toothpastes and mouth rinses to combat
dry mouth, which is a side effect of many medications.
z Cognitive challenges: training and guidance for helping
individuals “retrieve” their skills. People with dementia have
increased risk for dental decay, periodontal disease and
oral infections.
z Financial support: dental care coverage for which seniors
may be eligible (see page 31).
z House-bound individuals: accessing dental hygienists who
make house calls (see page 31).
“Aging doesn’t have to mean bad breath, bad teeth or dentures,”
Brodie says. “However, oral care has to be adapted to each new
stage of life.”
Oral health care after 60
z Care for your mouth daily
z Keep up regular dental appointments
z Use fluoridated mouthwash and toothpaste
z Talk to your dentist or dental hygienist about other products
that can strengthen enamel and root surfaces
z Ask about fluoride varnish applications
z Watch dietary choices and avoid sugary snacks and drinks
z Keep your mouth plaque-free
z Avoid using tobacco or excessive alcohol
z Ask about saliva substitutes for dry mouth.
applemag.ca 29
Photo: Michael Interisano, Mirror Image Photography
oral health is good
for our communities
Regular care can lead to better health and
stronger communities
When you look after your mouth, you’re healthier, have a higher
quality of life and need less medical care. Our communities
benefit as well. For example, good oral health helps children do
better at school. When children have healthy mouths, they avoid
dental pain and can sleep, eat, develop, learn and focus better.
In adults, good oral health translates into higher productivity at
work and less time away from the job.
Alberta’s registered dental hygienists are hitting the road to
share these messages. “We are trying to help people learn about
the links between the mouth and overall health,” says Denise
Kokaram, program lead for Calgary’s Alex Dental Health Bus.
The bus is equipped with two X-ray machines and a wheelchair
lift so dental hygiene care can be taken into the community.
Kokaram also works with public and private dental professionals
to organize SMILE dental clinics that provide free dental care
to underserved children and youth aged six to 24.
Everything that is happening in the body is reflected in the
mouth, and vice versa,” says Alexandra Sheppard, associate
clinical professor of the Dental Hygiene Program with the
Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta. An
examination by a dental hygienist is part of a patient’s care plan.
30 Apple Fall 2015
Dental hygiene examinations include
screening for:
z Oral cancer: Some people have a higher than average risk
of developing oral cancer. You could be at a higher risk if
you:
zsmoke,
zdrink
zhave
use smokeless tobacco or both
alcohol, especially if you are a heavy drinker
a precancerous condition of the oral cavity, such
as leukoplakia, erythroplakia or oral submucous fibrosis
z Dental decay: A dental hygienist will determine your risk of
developing dental decay and assess the presence of dental
decay.
z Gingivitis and periodontal disease: These infections of
the gums (gingivitis) and bone surrounding the teeth
(periodontal disease) can be indicated by bleeding
gums and bad breath. Loose teeth are a result of severe
periodontal disease. Osteoporosis could be a contributing
factor. Hormonal changes during pregnancy, nursing and
post-menopause can also make women more susceptible to
gingivitis and periodontal disease.
z Diet: Healthy food choices positively affect oral health and
the development of the teeth and supporting structures.
z Oral habits: Thumb-sucking or other oral habits can affect
the development of the mouth and teeth.
Did you know?
Finding help
These resources can help you find oral
health services where you live.
z Every time you eat a food that
contains sugar, acids are produced
that dissolve tooth enamel for 20
minutes.
ACROSS ALBERTA
Independent dental hygienists
z From 2007 to 2013, about 37,000
Albertans went to an emergency
department because of a toothache.
zcrdha.ca
(search independent
practitioners)
zRegistered dental hygienists providing
care in stand-alone or mobile settings
Alberta Health Services
z
a lbertahealthservices.ca
(search dental
treatment) or call 811
zDental programs offered by AHS,
including eligibility and coverage
criteria
CALGARY
Newcomer support
communityconnectionsfornewcomers.
blogspot.ca
zA listing of clinics and programs for
newcomers and low-income families
z
Mobile services
t healex.ca (click on health programs,
then mobile health)
zPreventive oral health services for youth
in high-needs areas
z
EDMONTON
U of A dental and dental hygiene
clinics
z
ualberta.ca
(search patient care)
zDental hygiene, implant, dental,
orthodontic, pain and pediatric dental
clinics run by the School of Dentistry
and Dental Hygiene Program
Boyle McCauley Health Centre
bmhc.net
zFree treatment for children and youth
without dental insurance
zSubsidized services for people living in
Boyle Street, MacCauley and Norwood
neighbourhoods
z
SENIORS DENTAL PAYMENT
COVERAGE
Alberta Health
z
seniors.alberta.ca
(search dental plan)
zA listing of services and procedures
covered by Alberta Health. Includes
eligibility criteria for pro-rated dental
and vision coverage
Alberta Blue Cross
z
ab.bluecross.ca
(search seniors plan) or
call 1-800-394-1965 toll-free
zDental and vision plans offered by
Alberta Blue Cross
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Low income
a lbertahealthservices.ca (search
community dental, reduced fee)
zServices offered by AHS, clinics and fees
for low-income Albertans
z
Child health benefit
z
humanservices.alberta.ca
(search child
and youth support programs)
z 1-877-469-5437 toll-free
zCoverage for dental and other services
for children under 18 in low-income
families
Adult health benefit
z
humanservices.alberta.ca
(search
Alberta adult health benefit)
zCoverage for dental and other services
for low-income adults
z Human papilloma virus (HPV), which
causes cervical cancer and genital
warts, is related to oral cancer and
is a growing risk to older adults. In
Alberta, HPV vaccines are available
to girls and women from nine to 45
years old and to boys and men nine
to 26 years old.
Project editorial council
Arlynn Brodie, registered dental hygienist
and assistant clinical professor in the Dental
Hygiene Program, University of Alberta
Teresa Bateman, licensed practical nurse
and director of Professional Practice, College
of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta
Sharon M. Compton, registered dental
hygienist and professor, director and
associate chair of the Dental Hygiene
Program, University of Alberta
Darlene Fraser, registered dental hygienist
and Member Services coordinator, College
of Registered Dental Hygienists of Alberta
Cindi de Graaff, registered dental hygienist,
registered dental assistant and Oral Health
team lead, Population, Public and Aboriginal
Health, Alberta Health Services
Melanie Garrison, public health registered
dental hygienist
Barbara Gitzel, registered dental hygienist
and clinical professor, Dental Hygiene
Program, University of Alberta
Denise Kokaram, registered dental hygienist
and Alex Dental Health Bus program lead
Alexandra Sheppard, registered dental
hygienist and associate clinical professor and
assistant director, Dental Hygiene Program,
University of Alberta
Brenda Walker, registered dental hygienist
and registar, College of Registered Dental
Hygienists of Alberta
applemag.ca 31
2 eggs =
a single
serving
1 egg
contains 70
calories, lots of
protein (6 grams),
a little fat (5 grams
fat/1.5 g saturated)
and a single gram
of carbohydrates.
Most of an egg’s
goodness is in
the yolk.
Eggs
3 simple ways
That’s enough to keep you
feeling full from one meal to
the next. Two eggs also deliver
all of your recommended daily vitamin B12 and a good
part of your daily intake of
vitamins A, D and E, riboflavin and folate.
to mix up your scrambled eggs:
1) add a dollop of fiery Sriracha
sauce before cooking
2) add a hearty spoonful of grainy
Dijon mustard before cooking
3) top with a spoonful of yogurt
and chopped green onions
after cooking.
4 ever
You can enjoy
eggs from the
time you cut
your first tooth
to when you’re
“long in the
tooth.”
6
This -egg
Spanish tortilla
is the perfect size for a family of
four and comes together quickly.
Bonus: you can eat this any time
of the day, warm or cool. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). In a
large, ovenproof skillet, toss 3 diced
potatoes and 1 diced red, orange or green
pepper with 2 tsp (10 ml) oil and a sprinkle
of pepper. Roast for 20 to 30 minutes,
or until potatoes start turning golden.
5 p.m.
time crunch!
Meanwhile, whisk together 6 eggs and
stir in 4 oz. (114 g) crumbled soft goat
cheese. Pour over the vegetables and
return pan to the oven for 15 minutes,
or until set. Serve warm, in wedges,
with a tossed salad and steamed
vegetables. You can also cool and
refrigerate for up to two days and serve
cold, cut into squares or triangles.
It takes about
7 minutes
to cook many eggs from start to finish.
That’s way faster than ordering
delivery. For perfect eggs every
time, see the Egg Timer App at
eggs.ab.ca/egg-timer-app.
8
Average
number
of eggs
a chicken lays
in a little less
than 10 days.
What to have for dinner?
See #6.
Sponsored content
9 bonus recipes:
see Apple’s Facebook page for
nine healthy egg recipes including:
Egg Dip for Veggies; Eggs in a Spud
and Breakfast Burritos.
Saturday and
Sunday mornings at
Brown egg vs white egg:
which chicken laid which egg?
(See answer at bottom of page.)
Coun
temp
e
10 a.m.
are peak egg eating times.
Weekend breakfasts and brunches
owe much of their appeal to eggs.
ter in
rature
o
tellig
ence:
n the
bring
your e
ggs to
nter b
room
efore
cooki
ng.
kitche
n cou
How to peel an egg:
Boil; remove from heat for
10 minutes, drain, cool in
ice water—effortless.
11 ways to cook eggs
Did we mention eggs are versatile?
They can be scrambled, boiled, baked,
poached, served sunny side up or over easy,
devilled and in omelets, quiches and frittatas.
Of course, that’s just a few . . .
12 eggs = a dozen.
That carton of eggs in your fridge is one of 50
million dozen laid every year in our province.
A: Quite simply, white eggs are laid by white hens and brown eggs are laid by brown hens.
Illustration by Bambi Edlund | Content by Apple and the Egg Farmers of Alberta
People love to get cracking
on the weekends:
34 Apple Fall 2015
Sage leaves, for garnish (optional)
1/4 cup (60 ml) low-fat plain yogurt or sour cream, for garnish
(optional)
1 cup (250 ml) apple cider (optional)
1 medium butternut squash, peeled and cubed
4 cups (1 l) low-sodium chicken or vegetable stock
1 tsp (5 ml) dried sage or curry powder
1 tart medium apple peeled and chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
Ingredients
2 tsp (10 ml) canola oil
Squash and apples are a classic fall pairing. This smooth,
flavourful soup is perfect for chilly days and nights.
Creamy butternut squash & apple soup
Recipes and food styling: Julie Van Rosendaal
Photos: Shallon Cunningham, Salt Food Photography
Remove from heat and puree with a hand-held immersion
blender or in batches in a blender until smooth. Serve hot,
drizzled with yogurt or sour cream. Serves 4 to 6.
Preparation
Heat the oil over medium-high heat and sauté onion for 4 to
5 minutes, until soft. Stir in apple and dried sage or curry
powder and sauté for another minute. Add the remaining
ingredients and bring to a simmer; reduce heat and cook for
20 minutes, until squash is very soft.
Fall is apple season, that time of year when we see dozens of apple varieties,
all firm, crisp and at their peak. It’s the perfect time to include apples in your
meals. Beyond their central role in crumbles and pies, apples add sweetness,
tartness and crunch to soups, salads and even the main event.
Unexpected apples
Meal deal
HealthMatters
september 2015 Issue 2
mypcn.ca
DOCTORS
IN THE
HOUSE
Website helps
patients find
family doctors
Get your prescription
to Get ActiveP ii
TIPS FOR Back-toSchool Lunches
P vi
Recovering from
a Heart AttackP vii
Health Matters is published by Calgary and
area Primary Care Networks (PCNs) to give
you information about the programs, services
and health teams available to you through your
family doctor.
Research shows when people visit a family
doctor regularly, they are healthier and live
longer. People with chronic diseases also receive
more care, make fewer emergency department
visits and are hospitalized less.
More than 1,300 family doctors in 346 clinics
belong to PCNs in the Calgary area. They
provide care for about 1.1 million patients.
Health Matters, September 2015
Issue publication team:
Paula Beauchamp, Keith Bradford, Terry
Bullick, Anne Georg, Bart Goemans, Harder Lee
Photography, Cory Leyte, Dr. Christine Luelo,
Jimi Scherer, Erin Sutherland, Chrissie Worth,
Neil Zeller.
We appreciate your feedback and article
suggestions. Contact our editorial team at
[email protected].
To find your PCN, visit mypcn.ca
›Bow Valley Primary Care Network
›Calgary West Central Primary Care Network
›Foothills Primary Care Network
›Highland Primary Care Network
›Mosaic Primary Care Network
›Calgary Rural Primary Care Network
›South Calgary Primary Care Network
ii Health Matters Fall 2015 • mypcn.ca
Get your
Prescription
to Get
Active
Program inspires,
motivates active living
Active living is a pillar of healthy living. But simply
knowing that is not always enough to get people
up and moving. That’s why the award-winning
Prescription to Get Active program—a partnership
between Calgary-area PCNs and municipal
recreation facilities—gives people free passes to
fitness centres.
The starting point
Lyndsay Waymouth received her Prescription to
Get Active in January 2015. She has become an
inspiration for friends and family. She invites them
on hikes; they join her for Zumba classes. Her
mother does deepwater workouts with her, and
her boyfriend is now more active.
Waymouth wasn’t always an advocate of exercise,
but that changed about one year ago, when the
licensed nurse practitioner had back surgery for a
badly herniated disk.
“I wasn’t feeling good about myself. I knew I
needed to lose weight to deal with the back pain
I was experiencing,” she recalls. “I didn’t feel like
exercising because I was afraid I’d hurt myself.”
A doctor’s perspective
Waymouth went to Dr. Mark Sosnowski, a member
of the Mosaic PCN, and as a firm believer in the
program, he happily wrote her a Prescription to
Get Active. “We need to make active living part of
everyday living,” he says.
Photography by Neil Zeller
Your
Health
Matters
Lyndsay Waymouth has become an inspiration to family and friends.
“I feel better about myself.
It would never have happened without my Prescription to Get Active.”
Active living reduces the risk of colds, prevents
dementia and aids in managing depression,
cancer, arthritis, high blood pressure and diabetes.
Waymouth agrees. “My main goal is to strengthen
my core and my body to help my back get better.”
Facilities partner for healthier
communities
Waymouth is one of more than 250 people who
have filled their prescriptions this year at partner
facilities in Calgary and area. In Airdrie, Genesis
Place is one of those partners.
“This facility was built for people to become
more active,” facility manager Greg Lockert says.
“The program is an opportunity for people who
are not active to get into the facility, become more
active and make healthy lifestyle changes.” He
adds that the program’s values mesh well with the
facility’s focus to create a healthier community.
A rewarding journey
Waymouth says the first week of the program was
difficult but she forced herself to keep at it. “Then
I noticed that my back wasn’t as stiff and that I
could stand on my feet longer. I was feeling better
and that kept me going.”
We need to make active living
part of everyday living
After going to a variety of classes at a nearby rec
centre for several months, Waymouth has moved
her activities outside for summer. During weekend
camping trips, she finds campsites near water so
she can paddle board and near trails so she can
hike. Once camping season is over, she’ll resume
classes in the rec centre.
Being active is part of her life now. “I’ve met
amazing people and my relationships are better
because my mood is better,” Waymouth says.
She also has more energy and her back pain
has eased.
Who qualifies?
Patients of PCN family doctors in the Calgary area
who need to become more active and can exercise
without supervision or medical restrictions.
— Anne Georg
FIND OUT MORE
Visit prescriptiontogetactive.com to learn more
about the program and participating facilities.
Supplement to Apple magazine iii
Back-toschool
lunches
It’s back-to-school time
and these ideas can make
packing nutritious and
delicious lunches easier
for your family
Tips for
KidApproved
Lunches
1) Talk about it
If children come home with uneaten food,
ask them a few simple questions. Was the food
the right temperature? Was it too hard to open
or eat? What lunch would you like again?
2) Get all hands on deck
Children are more likely to eat food they have a
hand in preparing, so brainstorm healthy lunch
ideas with them and then shop for the food
together. Making and packing lunches is something
most school-aged children can help with or do on
their own the night before.
3) Stock up
• Freezer: homemade muffins, leftover soups
or stews in individual portions, whole grain
pitas/tortillas
Grade “A” lunch ideas
• Whole grain crackers + cheese +
leftover chicken breast + grapes + carrot sticks
+ water
• Whole grain pita + hummus + canned salmon
+ bell pepper strips + milk
• Chili or bean soup + whole grain roll
+ tomatoes + chocolate milk
• Sliced turkey wrap with cheese + melon balls
+ yogurt + homemade cookie + water
• Whole grain pancakes + yogurt + sliced
strawberries + hard-boiled egg + water
• Pasta salad with beans, corn and bell peppers
+ cheese cubes + mini oranges + water.
iv Health Matters Fall 2015 • mypcn.ca
• Fridge: leftover meat for sandwiches, fresh fruits,
cut-up vegetables, cheese, yogurt, hummus,
salsa, hard-boiled eggs
• Pantry: canned tuna and salmon, whole grain
bread/crackers, black or refried beans, avocado,
nuts, seeds, fruit packed in water or juice
• Supplies: various sizes of reusable containers,
plastic bags, insulated containers, frozen ice
packs, water bottles, insulted lunch bags,
napkins, cutlery.
4) Think three to four food groups
Pack three to four food groups from Canada’s
Food Guide to ensure your children are ready to
concentrate, learn and play. Try making a chart
with options from each food group and then
mix-and-match!
— Erin Sutherland, registered dietitian
Teams of health
professionals help
patients regain health
When you meet Calgarian Ray Morton, you are
greeted by the strong, friendly handshake of
a former professional hockey player, and the
confident demeanour that comes from a long
and successful media sales career.
But all his strength and confidence weren’t
enough to prevent a heart attack in June 2014.
Morton had just completed his final business
appointment of the day and felt unusually tired,
sweaty and short of breath. During the drive
home, he lost consciousness and woke up in an
ambulance as paramedics were defibrillating
his heart.
“The pain was tremendous,” says Morton.
“I was asking the paramedics to stop shocking my
heart, because it hurt so much.”
They kept going, and he was admitted to hospital.
After undergoing heart surgery to insert a stent,
he was back home under the watchful care of
his cardiologist, family physician Dr. Scott Forsyth
and a health team at the Calgary West Central
Primary Care Network.
PCNs across Alberta have health teams that work
alongside doctors in their clinics. Helping with
Morton’s care was registered nurse Shawna Curry.
Curry spent time with Morton carefully reviewing
his diet. Because he has high blood pressure,
changes were needed, especially around his
sodium intake and eating habits.
BY THE NUMBERS
328:
Number of health professionals
who make up the health teams in
Calgary and area PCNs, including
nurses, registered dietitians,
pharmacists, kinesiologists and
social workers, to name a few
Photo: Harder Lee Photography
Recovering
from a
heart attack
After Ray Morton (second from left) had a heart attack, registered
nurse Shawna Curry, (left), his wife Darleen and family doctor
Scott Forsyth (right) worked with him to speed his recovery.
“We had a lengthy discussion around food
quality, focusing on Eating Well with Canada’s
Food Guide,” says Curry. “It is difficult to
dramatically change your diet and part of the
PCN’s role is to help people make the change
through understanding and by setting goals.”
As part of his health team, Morton’s wife
Darleen helps him stay on track with his
medication and healthy eating. Forsyth and Curry
also give him information on managing coronary
artery disease.
All this support has helped. Over the last few
months, Morton has lost nearly 15 pounds and
tracked his blood pressure for his followup
appointments.
“The road to recovery can be a long one,”
says Forsyth. “Patients need support to cope
with immediate changes in their lifestyle,
whether dietary or activity-based—change can
add additional stress. Many people have helped
Ray back to his full potential . . . it took a team
effort.”
— Bart Goemans
Supplement to Apple magazine v
DOCTORS
IN THE
HOUSE
A new website (calgaryareadocs.com) helps
Calgary and area patients find a family doctor
Olena Badham’s growing baby bump added a
sense of urgency to her search for a family doctor.
But thanks to a new website that connects
Calgary-area residents with doctors who are
taking patients, the 27-year-old found one just in
time—two months before her due date.
“I wanted a doctor really close to where I live
so that when the baby is born I can get there
quickly,” says Badham, a first-time mom-to-be.
She spent months searching for a regular family
doctor and received care from a few different
clinics before she was referred to the Find a
Doctor service at calgaryareadocs.com.
“I had been looking for a while but I always
seemed to have bad luck. When I found out about
the website, I clicked on a few options and I saw
one I liked. I made an appointment right away. I
was surprised how easy it was,” Badham says.
A 2014 Health Council of Canada report suggested
about six per cent of Albertans—compared with
the national average of seven per cent—don’t have
vi Health Matters Fall 2015 • mypcn.ca
a regular doctor or clinic where they go for care.
Despite another 2014 study showing an all-time
high number of Canadian doctors, anecdotes such
as Badham’s suggest access is still an issue.
Badham and her husband Scott are among
the first patients to benefit from the Find a
Doctor service, which launched in July 2015.
Developed by seven local Primary Care Networks
in partnership with Alberta Health Services, it is
designed to make it quicker and easier for patients
to find a family doctor. Through the user-friendly
website, patients search an interactive map that
shows which PCN doctors in Calgary and area are
accepting patients. Users can search areas close
to work, family or wherever is most convenient.
Patients can call the clinic immediately and
request an appointment. Currently, more than 250
family doctors listed on the website are accepting
patients.
Patients can also complete an online form for a
PCN to find them a family doctor — an updated
and streamlined version of the Need a Doctor
service that’s been in existence since 2010. Both
BY THE
NUMBERS
250:
Approximate number
of Calgary-area PCN doctors
taking patients
1,197:
Number of PCN doctors
listed on calgaryareadocs.com
Photograph by Neil Zeller
The Find a Doctor service is designed
to make it quicker and easier
to find a family doctor
options are also available by calling Health Link at
811. A province-wide online service is available at
pcnpmo.ca.
After using the website, Badham booked an
appointment with Dr. Alana Luft, based at the
Foothills Primary Care Centre. Research shows
that when people have a family doctor and visit
them regularly, they are healthier as they age and
live longer.
“It really makes a difference when I know my
patients. Having that relationship adds a lot of
value” says Luft, a member of Calgary Foothills
PCN who began building a practice earlier
this year with her colleague, Dr. Andrea Behie.
“Not everyone needs an annual checkup in the
traditional sense, but at any age there is benefit
Olena Badham and her husband Scott both found a family doctor
using the Calgary and Area PCN Find a Doctor website.
from having routine screening and preventative
care. When new issues come up, having a
relationship with a family practitioner who is
familiar with your history and social context makes
diagnosis and treatment planning easier.”
Growing up in Strathmore, Badham had the same
family doctor throughout childhood and into her
late teens. When she began searching for a new
doctor as an adult, her September due date wasn’t
the only consideration.
“I was looking for someone to care for my children
as they grow up,” Badham says. “My doctor is
young so she will be able to stay with us for some
time. I was looking for something long term.”
“You get to know each other and she will get to
know how I parent and what kinds of things I want.
I definitely lucked out.”
— Keith Bradford
Supplement to Apple magazine vii
applemag.ca 35
Preparation
Layer or toss together salad ingredients. To make the dressing,
whisk together oil, lemon juice, mustard and honey and drizzle
over the slaw; toss to coat and serve, or refrigerate until
serving time. Serves 6 to 8.
2 tsp (10 ml) honey
1 Tbsp (15 ml) grainy mustard
3 Tbsp (45 ml) lemon juice or rice vinegar
Dressing:
1/4 cup (60 ml) canola oil
Apple & herb stuffed turkey breast Per serving: 210 calories, 6 g total fat (1.5 g saturated fat), 550 mg sodium, 11 g carbohydrate, 2 g fibre, 28 g protein.
Crunchy fall slaw Per serving: 130 calories, 9 g total fat (1 g saturated fat), 40 mg sodium, 12 g carbohydrate, 2 g fibre, 3 g protein.
Creamy butternut squash & apple soup Per serving: 130 calories, 3 g total fat (0.5 g saturated fat), 65 mg sodium, 23 g carbohydrate, 3 g fibre, 5 g protein.
The lowdowns
1/4 cup (60 ml) green pumpkin seeds or unsalted sunflower
seeds
1/2 cup (125 ml) chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
1 apple, thinly julienned or grated
1 medium beet, peeled, thinly julienned or grated
1 large carrot, peeled, thinly julienned or grated
1/4 small purple cabbage, thinly sliced
Ingredients
1/4 small green cabbage, thinly sliced
Apples add sweetness, tartness and crunch to this fall slaw.
Brilliant purple beets and sweet carrots can be grated raw into
a slaw that makes the most of fall-to-winter veggies.
Crunchy fall slaw
Place turkey on a cutting board and slice through breast
crosswise, leaving one side uncut. Open like a book and place
between two pieces of parchment paper. Using a meat mallet
or rolling pin, pound to an even thickness. Spread stuffing
inside turkey (you may have some extra—bake it in a small
ramekin alongside the turkey) and roll it up. Using kitchen
twine, tie turkey a few times to keep it rolled. Place on a
parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 25 to 30 minutes,
or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part
reads 165˚F (75˚C). Remove from oven and sear in heated
pan to add colour. Let stand for a few minutes before slicing.
Serves 4 to 6.
Preparation
Preheat oven to 400˚F (200˚C). Heat the oil to medium-high
and sauté shallot and celery for 3 to 4 minutes, until soft.
Add the apple and herbs and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until
the apple releases juice and softens. Add bread and stir to
combine. Remove from heat.
1 skinless, boneless turkey breast
2 slices whole grain bread, finely torn or processed into
rough crumbs
1 tsp. (5 ml) dried sage or oregano, or 1 Tbsp. (15 ml)
chopped fresh
1 small apple, cored and chopped
1 celery stalk, finely chopped
1 shallot, finely chopped
Ingredients
1 tsp. (5 ml) canola oil, plus extra for cooking
This simple stuffed breast makes a quick and comforting
family meal. As a bonus, it takes a fraction of the time it takes
to cook a whole turkey, leaving more time to share with your
family.
Apple & herb stuffed turkey breast
A brighter future
for children with bowel disease
Alberta research is leading the way to more effective treatment
Inflammatory bowel
disease (IBD) is a chronic, painful
Photo: Kelsy Nielson
and sometimes life-threatening
condition that inflames the colon, or
large intestine.
The two main types of IBD are
Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
Common symptoms are stomach
cramps, diarrhea, fatigue and weight
loss. The disease affects one in 145
Albertans, compared to one in 150
people across the country.
IBD is recognized as a childhood
disorder because children under the
age of five can develop it. The number
of new cases in Canadian children
Changes to Elizabeth Decorby’s medications for
inflammatory bowel disease have given her the
energy to take highland dance, harp and snare
drum lessons.
applemag.ca 37
Researcher Shairaz Baksh is hopeful
a drug used for childhood leukemia
can treat childhood IBD
has almost doubled since 1995,
which is particularly troubling
because the disease is difficult to
treat in children.
“There are not a lot of IBD
medicines children can tolerate,”
says Dr. Shairaz Baksh, an Alberta
Innovates – Health Solutions
researcher at the University of
Alberta.
Elizabeth Decorby knows that
from experience. Now 15, she has
tried many medications since being
diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at
age six. For a long time, the steroids
that helped control the inflammation
in Elizabeth’s colon had serious
side effects, causing her to miss up
to three months of every school
year. Even when her IBD was under
control, she was so tired that she
couldn’t stay awake past 8 p.m.
This past fall, changes to her
medications gave her energy for
Highland dancing, harp and snare
38 Apple Fall 2015
drum lessons. Best of all, she missed
only two weeks of the school year.
Her improved health can be
credited to Baksh and other
researchers who are learning more
about how IBD progresses and, in
turn, new ways to treat it.
Baksh is particularly hopeful about
Gleevec, a drug used for childhood
leukemia. In lab tests, he found the
drug reverses or prevents colon
inflammation up to 80 per cent of
the time.
Most children can use Gleevec with
minimal side effects. Even its severe
side effects, such as dizziness, muscle
or joint pain, and trouble sleeping,
are rare, and most children handle
them well. Baksh hopes that within
two to five years, he will secure
approval for trials to use the drug
to treat children and young adults
with IBD.
— Debby Waldman
Dr. Shairaz Baksh
Controlling inflammation
to prevent colon cancer
Studies show people with inflammatory
bowel disorder are more than twice as
likely as other people to develop colorectal
cancer.
So controlling inflammation in the colon
and large intestine is important.
“We’ve done a lot of research in
understanding what cancer is and how
it spreads,” says Dr. Shairaz Baksh, an
Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions
researcher at the University of Alberta.
“Now we want to step back and
understand how to prevent cancer from
occurring later in life.”
Photo: Danil Nevsky
Exploring the link
between weight gain
and fibre
Study shows a non-digestible carbohydrate
could help keep the pounds off
BY CAITLYN CRAWSHAW
An apple a day keeps the doctor
away. But the humble banana just
might hold the key to healthy weight.
That’s because bananas (as well
as onions, garlic and chicory root)
contain oligofructose, a dietary fibre
that helps good bacteria grow in
your gut, or gastrointestinal tract.
applemag.ca 39
Photo: Catherine MacBride
40 Apple Fall 2015
Oligofructose is a prebiotic dietary
fibre, a non-digestible carbohydrate
that feeds gut bacteria. A recent
Alberta-led study shows the fibre
could potentially help people
maintain or achieve a healthy weight,
even if their genes are predisposed to
weight gain.
“Prebiotic dietary fibre in general—
but particularly this fibre—has
been shown to have weight-loss
benefits,” says Nina Cluny, an Alberta
Innovates – Health Solutions-funded
researcher and a post-doctoral fellow
in the Hotchkiss Brain Institute at
the University of Calgary. What’s less
understood is how the fibre affects
metabolism—the breakdown of food
to make energy—particularly in
those whose genes are programmed
for obesity.
Working with U of C researchers
Keith Sharkey and Raylene Reimer,
Cluny led a study testing the fibre
An oligofructose
fibre supplement
could help prevent
weight gain
Left to right, researchers Keith Sharkey, Raylene Reimer and Nina Cluny.
The fibre’s role in growing
healthy gut bacteria is the key
in rats. It looked at two groups—one
genetically prone to obesity and
the other to thinness. The rats were
fed a diet high in fat and sugar. In
each group, some rats were given
an oligofructose supplement, while
others were not. By the end of the
study, the rats given the oligofructose
had gained one-third less weight
than the others.
“It’s not a massive weight-loss
solution—it’s not something that
would treat extreme obesity—but
we think this fibre is going to be
beneficial to avoid creeping weight
gains of one to two pounds each
year,” Cluny says.
The bigger story, however, may be
how oligofructose works. Rats given
the supplement had more stable
blood sugar at the end of the study
and higher levels of two hormones
known to curb appetite. This may
explain why they gained less weight,
despite their genetic programming
for weight gain and having access to
high-calorie foods.
Reimer says the fibre’s role in
growing healthy gut bacteria (known
as the microbiota) is the key. “We
think the way oligofructose brings
about its benefits is by changing the
microbiota,” she says. Oligofructose
breaks down differently from other
elements in food (starch or protein,
for example). It moves through
the digestive system intact until it
reaches the lower intestines, where
gut bacteria live. There, bacteria
ferment the fibre and produce an
appetite-curbing hormone.
To understand the link between
microbiota and hormones, the
researchers also studied the
microbiota of the rats. “From what
we looked at, there were different
levels of bacteria in the obese and
lean animals,” Cluny says. While
obese rats started with far less of
one bacteria than their lean peers,
“The fibre restored bacteria to levels
we’d expect in a more lean animal.”
By restoring bacteria, the fibre made
the rats’ genetic differences less of a
factor in their weight gain.
The study made headlines this
spring, although all three scientists
stress more research is needed. “This
isn’t a wonder drug that will cure
obesity tomorrow,” Sharkey says.
The fibre supplement is already
considered safe and is sold in grocery
and health-food stores.
This study adds to the
understanding of how prebiotic
dietary fibre can affect human health.
“There’s a consistent message here
that prebiotic fibres have the potential
to play a role metabolic health,
weight maintenance and overall
gastrointestinal health,” Sharkey
says.
applemag.ca 41
A
gift
of
life
42 Apple Fall 2015
The miraculous benefits of organ and
tissue transplant are clear, but many
challenges remain. Janet Harvey
looks at how Alberta researchers
are working to increase the number
of organ donations, combat the side
effects of anti-rejection drugs and find
alternative treatments
More than
100,000
Albertans are
registered organ
donors
Organ and tissue may be the
ultimate act of giving. Just one donor
can save up to eight lives by donating
organs such as heart, lungs and
liver, and can help up to 75 others
through donation of tissues such as
corneas, tendons and cartilage, says
MyHealth.Alberta.ca, an Alberta
government website. And the need
is clear—the lives of some 4,500
Canadians hang in the balance as
they await life-saving transplants.
Many will die on those waiting lists.
Yet Canada suffers from a shortage
of tissue and organ donors, and
Alberta’s donation rates are among
the lowest in the country. It’s a
problem that Alberta Innovates –
Health Solutions (AIHS) researcher
Dr. Lori West, a world leader in
pediatric heart transplant and
immunology and a professor at the
University of Alberta, is keenly aware
of. “For reasons that are complex and
not completely clear, Alberta went
from the best-performing province in
terms of organ and donation rates to
one of the lowest in the past decade,”
says West, who is also director of
the Canadian National Transplant
Research Program and the Alberta
Transplant Institute.
To address the problem, West
worked closely with the Alberta
government and other partners to
create the Alberta Organ and Tissue
Donation Registry. More than 100,000
people have registered their intent to
donate since the registry began
in 2014.
But the registry on its own is
not enough to solve the problem.
Research may offer another answer.
West and Dr. James Shapiro, an
AIHS-funded researcher and U
of A colleague, are leading some
of these efforts. Shapiro made
headlines around the world in 2000
as part of the team that pioneered
the Edmonton Protocol. The
breakthrough treatment for type
1 diabetes involves transplanting
islet cells from donated pancreases
into the livers of patients to produce
insulin. (In type 1 diabetes, the body
stops making insulin, a hormone
that helps cells use sugar for energy.
In type 2 diabetes, the body cannot
use the insulin it makes). In April
2015, the clinical islet transplant team
performed the Edmonton Protocol for
the 500th time.
“Five hundred procedures later, the
Edmonton Protocol has come a long
way,” Shapiro says. “We’ve learned
that the treatment is very safe but
there are still issues with perfect
long-term functioning of the cells.
Intensive research holds the key,
and we are constantly refining what
is a good treatment today into a cure
for tomorrow.”
Part of that refining might mean
finding a treatment that doesn’t rely
on donated pancreases. Every year,
only about 500 Canadians become
organ donors. Yet 200,000 Canadians
suffer from type 1 diabetes and
another 60,000 are diagnosed with
type 2 each year. In addition, the
Edmonton Protocol is only suitable
for about five per cent of patients
with type 1—those with a version
called brittle diabetes that is hard to
control and leads to dangerous lows
in blood sugar.
With funding from AIHS, Shapiro,
West and their team are leading
clinical trials to test two potential
solutions. One trial is designed
for patients recently diagnosed
with type 1 diabetes. It involves a
combination of treatments already
used in islet transplants and aims
to switch off the immune system,
allow the islets to regenerate and
repair, and reduce inflammation. “If
we could treat someone at the time
they’re diagnosed, stop the process
applemag.ca 43
The transplant
procedure
itself is only the
beginning of a
lifelong journey
and repair the injured cells, we could
save a patient from a lifetime with
diabetes,” Shapiro says.
That would be a miracle to Jacquie
Holko and her daughter Gabriela, 12,
who know first-hand the burden of
managing the disease. Diagnosed at
the age of four with type 1 diabetes,
Gabriela spends her days hooked
to an insulin pump that must
accompany her everywhere she
goes. She and her parents constantly
monitor her blood sugar to make
sure it doesn’t go too high or too
low, which could lead to serious
complications including loss of
consciousness. “To not have diabetes
would mean she could just be a kid,”
says Holko. “It brings tears to my
eyes to think about what this kind
of research could do for families
like ours.”
In fact, the second trial might be
more relevant for patients such as
Gabriela who have been living with
44 Apple Fall 2015
diabetes for several years. It involves
transplanting stem cells into patients.
The cells can then be coaxed into
making insulin—a treatment that,
if successful, could also be used for
type 2 diabetes. A company called
ViaCyte Inc. produces the cells.
Because stem cells can be grown
repeatedly from a single source,
ViaCyte can produce a limitless
number, eliminating the need for
pancreatic organ donors. This trial is
also unique because the transplanted
cells have a feature that protects them
from attack by the immune system.
If successful, it would open new
frontiers for treating and eradicating
diabetes.
This is where West comes in. She
focuses on how to get the body to
tolerate transplanted organs and
cells. Placing the stem cells inside
a device for transplant helps shield
the cells from direct contact with the
immune system and might also help
prevent rejection.
It might seem odd for West, who
came to fame for her advances in
pediatric heart transplantation, to
work on a team looking for new
diabetes treatments. But in reality it is
not a stretch at all. “Transplantation
defines what we do, more than the
specialties we come from,”
she explains.
One of the shared challenges is
reducing the effects of anti-rejection
drugs called immunosuppressants
that transplant patients must
take for the rest of their lives to
prevent organ or tissue rejection.
Miraculous though organ donation
and transplantation may be, it does
not come without a cost. Reliance on
The conversation about presumed consent
Canada lags far behind many countries in the western world when it comes to organ
and tissue donation rates. Our rate of about 14 deceased donors per million people is
approximately half the rate of the United States and one-third the rate of Spain. This has
prompted some to suggest a new approach to donation for Canada: presumed consent.
Also known as “opting out,” presumed consent means that authority is granted to remove
organs for transplantation after a person’s death unless that person or their family has
registered an objection. Spain, Belgium and Austria have presumed consent policies, and
all three saw donation rates increase after passing the legislation.
However, presumed consent is not the only reason for improved donor rates in those
nations, says Dr. Lori West, an Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions researcher. For
example, Spain employs hospital-based donation specialists who meet with families of
potential donors early in the process. The Spanish government has also invested heavily
in education and advertising about organ donation.
“To really make a difference, we need to establish a true culture of donation,” says West.
“Donor registries like Alberta’s are a great step, but we need to talk to families and the
public, and do everything we can to make donation an easy choice.”
Page 42: kidney recipient Ron Hahn. Page 43: lung recipient Joyce Werk and surgeon Dr. Jayan Nagrendran. Page 44, top: double lung recipient Karen Hamilton
(left) and Nagrendran. Page 44, lower: heart transplant recipient Abigal Fraser with sister Hailey. This page, top: surgeon Dr. Norman Knetman and liver recipient
Vernen Foreman. This page, lower: Rick Galloway, double lung recipient and Dr. Jim Kutsogiannis. Photos courtesy: Alberta Health Services
these drugs to suppress the immune
system can allow cancers such as
lymphoma (cancer of immune cells
called B cells and T cells) to grow.
Transplant patients whose immune
systems are suppressed have higher
rates of lymphoma than the general
population: 10-fold higher in adults
and almost 100-fold higher
in children.
Enter Dr. Jutta Preiksaitis, another
AIHS-funded researcher and
infectious disease specialist at the
U of A. She explains that a virus
called Epstein-Barr is one of the most
common links to lymphoma. EpsteinBarr virus infects almost everyone at
some point and causes no symptoms
when acquired in childhood. Most
healthy immune systems can control
the effects of the virus even though it
persists for life in an almost invisible
form in white blood cells that are
found in all organs. Transplanting an
organ into someone who has never
been exposed is risky. And most
children who are patients have never
been exposed to the virus. “This
means we’re transmitting EpsteinBarr virus in these patients at a time
when their immune systems cannot
handle it, leading to higher risks of it
turning into cancer,” Preiksaitis says.
To combat this problem, Preiksaitis
screens transplant patients to detect
their previous exposure to EpsteinBarr and identify those at higher
risk of developing lymphoma. She
then monitors the patients’ blood for
evidence of the virus. “The idea is
that we monitor the level of the virus
and let the transplant team know
if the patient is starting to develop
infection. Then the team can lower
the amounts of anti-rejection drugs to
allow the patient to fight it off.”
It’s one more piece of the medical
miracle of transplantation. And
according to West, it’s important to
link these pieces and tell the whole
story. “The general public may think
that transplantation is a surgical
procedure—a new kidney or islets or
liver or heart or lung—and that’s it,”
she says. “We need to educate people
to understand that’s not the whole
picture. The transplant procedure
itself is only the beginning of a
lifelong journey.”
To learn more about organ and tissue
donation or to register to become a
donor, visit MyHealth.Alberta.ca and
search Alberta Organ and Tissue
Donation Registry.
applemag.ca 45
Illustration: Jori Bolton
Researching from a new angle
Study teams turn to patients, families and public for insight
For Marty Enokson, living
with obesity also means living with
others’ views of the illness. From “eat
less and move more” to “you made
yourself this way,” he’s heard all
kinds of views and opinions.
“Do you honestly believe a
500-pound man wants to be a
500-pound man?” Enokson asks.
“Trust me, he doesn’t. It’s so much
more complex than saying ‘eat less
and move more.’ ”
Attitudes such as those Enokson
faces can also be found in research.
“We need to open researchers’
minds to what we are going
through,” he says.
Patient-oriented research, which
involves patients in all stages of
research, is fast becoming the norm.
Enokson supports the trend: “I think
it would make the research that much
more valid.”
Former patient Allison Boudreau
agrees, adding: “It’s important to
engage everybody who’s involved
in health care. That includes
practitioners, researchers and
patients.”
After Boudreau had a heart
attack and pacemaker surgery, her
husband Raymond participated in
a project by researcher Dr. Virginia
Vandall-Walker that looked at
nurses’ roles in supporting families
dealing with a loved one’s critical
illness. Vandall-Walker recently
asked Boudreau to join Alberta’s
Strategy for Patient-Oriented
Research (SPOR) SUPPORT Unit, a
five-year project funded by Alberta
Innovates – Health Solutions and
the Canadian Institutes of Health
Research.
Boudreau, the first patient on
the unit’s steering committee, says,
“Engaging patients in research
could be a win-win for everybody.
It means the experiences of patients,
together with the expertise and
scientific rigour of researchers, can
help develop solutions for big health
issues in the province.”
— Jon Hagan
Alberta’s SPOR SUPPORT Unit
provides services and expertise to
researchers who do patient-oriented
research. Researchers, patients
and the public can learn more at
ResearchAlberta.ca.
It’s important to
engage everybody
who’s involved in
health care
46 Apple Fall 2015
Giving
Sharing
The miracle is this:
The more we share, the more we have.
— Leonard Nimoy
applemag.ca 47
Illustrations: Kiersten Eagan
sharing family meals
Mealtimes are more than a matter of eating. When
families sit down together at the table for a meal,
children can build important skills and everyone tends
to eat healthier and be more connected. Colleen Seto
offers insight and tips on sharing family meals
applemag.ca 49
A
good meal with good company can satiate your belly and your spirit.
And yet, many families are starved for a meal together.
Given busy work, school and extracurricular schedules, long
commutes and increasing competition from technology, it’s not
surprising families find it challenging to eat together regularly. But doing so
can be easier and more important than you may realize.
Research shows that benefits include building social skills (developing
confidence and manners), school readiness, healthy eating habits (including
lower rates of obesity and eating disorders), learning how to make a meal, and
above all, unifying your family.
“We are losing the knowledge to make healthy, informed food choices,” says
Sharon McCormick, president and CEO of Poppy Innovations, which offers
cooking and gardening programs for kids and adults in Calgary. “To regain
that knowledge, we need to talk about ingredients and preparation. We need to
resurrect the value of cooking by having families eat together.”
B
onding Time
“Mealtime can be when we reconnect,” says Theresa Riege with Alberta Health
Services’ Nutrition Services. “A time to relax, recharge, laugh, tell stories and
catch up on the day, all while developing a sense of who we are as a family.”
Spend mealtime together
It helps young children learn to talk more, practise how to be with others
and learn etiquette. It also helps kids, including teenagers, develop a sense of
belonging connected to positive self-image.
For these reasons, Airdrie mom Sarah Deveau and her husband Keith Kucharski
sit down with their three daughters five times a week for dinner. “Family meals
are our chance to focus on eating healthfully, and to pay attention to our meal
and each other,” she says. “We’re just as busy as the next family, but we feel
carving the time out to listen and connect with our kids is important.”
Pass on family and cultural traditions
Food is an easy way to share cultural roots by introducing different ingredients
and dishes, and discussing where they came from and their cultural meaning.
“Make mealtime fun and engaging for the whole family,” says McCormick.
“It’s not the time to talk about conflicts. Keep the focus positive so benefits like
building vocabulary, confidence and manners can materialize.”
50 Apple Fall 2015
O
ne Parent
Counts
P
LAN, PLAN, PLAN
A meal plan goes a long way toward
making family meals happen, as does
keeping weekday meals simple.
Think ahead
“If you come home at the end of the
day without a plan, it’s more likely
you will divert to eating out, ordering
in or reaching for something more
processed,” says Kristyn Hall, a
nutrition consultant and dietitian
with Nutrition and Culinary
Solutions. “But if you arrive home to
supper simmering in the slow cooker
or a pork tenderloin marinating and
vegetables chopped up, you will be
well on your way to a nutrient-rich
and satisfying meal.”
Cook strategically
“Make extras so that today’s supper
can be reinvented into tomorrow
night’s supper. For example, pork
tenderloin can be used in a soft taco
or a flavourful frittata,” she says.
Make a plan
In Deveau’s home, a weekly menu
board in the kitchen keeps the whole
family on track. “The girls and I plan
the meals and the grocery list, based
on what we have in the house and
what’s on sale at the store. I prep the
night before when possible, and do a
lot of batch or freezer cooking to save
time.”
Order healthy
The occasional family dinner out
works too, especially if you choose a
healthy option. “This gives us even
more time together, and no dishes!”
says single mom Jill Roberts.
If you must eat in the car (let’s face
it, it happens), once you’ve arrived at
your destination, take a few moments
to just check in with one another
while you finish eating.
Having one parent engaged at a meal
can offer the same benefits as two.
Calgarian Jill Roberts is a single mom
of eight-year-old Olivia, and even
though there’s just the two of them,
she makes sure they have at least
one family meal together every day.
“I think it’s so important to savour
food and good company,” she says.
“It’s also a time where we’re face to
face to talk about our days before we
move to the next activity. Things can
be hectic in a single-parent household
so I try as much as possible to take
this break to instil good eating habits,
manners and conversation skills. I
can’t honestly imagine doing it any
other way.”
Kids who eat with a
parent or caregiver
eat more vegetables,
fruit, dairy and have
lower risk for
being overweight
The same goes for two-parent
families where only one parent is
present much of the time because
of work schedules. Each parent can
individually set a good example for
and connect with the kids.
Eating together can happen at any
meal, suggests Riege. “Instead of a
traditional dinner, it might be healthy
balanced snacks or small meals
before and after the rush.”
“If you can’t get together for a meal,
you can still do something foodcentred,” adds McCormick.
applemag.ca 51
N
O DISTRACTIONS
D
ELEGATE!
Instead of mealtime falling to one
person, share the responsibilities.
“Regardless of age, there is
probably something kids can do,”
assures McCormick. “Divide the
labour so everyone can sit down at
the same time.”
“Kids who help out learn more
about food, and they are more
likely to eat what they have helped
prepare,” adds Riege. Plus, teaching
kids to cook gives them practical
life skills and helps them grow an
appreciation for the effort required
to make meals.
Give everyone a role
Someone can set the table, prepare
a salad, do some food assembly,
and depending on age, kids can
turn the oven on and put dinner
in. “And everyone can help clean,”
says McCormick.
By simply eating
together, your whole
family’s physical and
psychological wellbeing will benefit
52 Apple Fall 2015
Make mealtimes screen-free. Making technology off limits during a meal
encourages family members to engage, as well as realize that nothing bad
happens if you unplug for a half-hour. In fact, something good happens: you
plug into your family and your food instead. For Roberts, “Meals are to enjoy
our food and share time together, let the phone ring.”
And keep in mind that busy schedules can be a distraction in and of
themselves. If possible, try to schedule activities around mealtimes. “We
deliberately look for extracurricular activities that don’t interrupt mealtimes,”
says Deveau.
D
ON’T GIVE UP
The reality is having family meals requires time and effort. But it can be done.
“The key is for a family to plan time for shared meals and snacks alongside
their activity schedule,” emphasizes Riege. “Every shared meal or snack time
counts when the focus is on enjoying the company and the food with no
distractions.”
“If you are a family who never eats together, start with small steps,” suggests
Hall. “Set a goal of eating together once a week.”
Think of eating together as an opportunity to strengthen your family. “The
notion is that everyone gets together and dedicates their attention to the people
in front of you, not what’s on TV or your phone,” says McCormick. “Meals
provide a good forum for this. Everyone’s got to eat, and it’s fulfilling in so
many ways.” By simply eating together, your whole family’s physical and
psychological well-being will benefit.
Meals are a way
to pass on family
traditions and share
cultural roots
5
tips for getting kids
excited about food
To make family meals truly a family affair,
involve your kids in all the steps of the meal, not
just the eating. Sharon McCormick with Poppy
Innovations shares five tips to get your kids
excited about food and eating together.
1.Take kids to the store
Build their exposure to food at the grocery store
and farmer’s market and give them an idea of
how much food costs.
B
2. Make grocery shopping fun
e a healthy eater to raise
a healthy eater
Riege points out families that eat
together develop healthy mealtime
habits that last a lifetime. “Children
learn healthy habits by watching
their parents and caregivers, so by
eating together and sharing a
positive attitude about food, you
can help your children develop
healthy eating habits.” And it’s not
just the kids who benefit. Parents
who want their kids to eat vegetables
wind up eating more veggies
themselves.
“You can moderate what you
and your kids are eating,” adds
McCormick. “That can only happen
when you’re together. Over- and
under-eating tend to happen when
you are distracted, and no one else is
around to notice what you’re eating
or how much.”
“In school-aged and adolescent
kids, we see that those kids who eat
with a parent or caregiver eat more
vegetables, fruit, dairy and have
lower risk for being overweight,”
agrees Hall. “Eating together as a
family seems to also offer protection
from the development of eating
disorders, especially for girls.”
Get your kids to pick out three different-coloured
veggies to try. And do it yourself too.
3. Build confidence
Observing and practising making food builds
kids’ confidence. Have your kids do meal-prep
tasks they are ready for, such as measuring and
chopping, and let them watch you do the ones
they’re working up to. Use positive reinforcement
so they’ll want to keep doing it.
4.Get comfortable in the kitchen
Take a cooking class with your child and learn to
be comfortable in the kitchen. Together, you can
learn and encourage one another.
5. Eat and cook often with your
kids
It will help them understand where food comes
from and learn about ingredients and meal
preparation.
applemag.ca 53
You need
help.
Networks
want to
give it
When you need a little help, receiving can definitely
be better than giving. As Cheryl Mahaffy writes,
chances are a network is standing ready to offer
support and services in your community
Photos by Ewan Nicholson
Set assistance by Amy Sawchenko
A network is a place you
can turn for support, advice and
guidance. In many parts of the
province, finding that is as simple
as dialing 211. Available by phone
in Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer,
the Regional Municipality of Wood
Buffalo and the Bow Valley, 211
connects callers to a broad range
of human services, government
programs and health care.
“Many people typically make seven
54 Apple Fall 2015
calls before they find what they’re
looking for,” often more, says Nancy
McCalder, executive director of The
Support Network, which operates 211.
She says 211’s operators ask callers
lots of questions so they can give the
best fitting answers.
If your community doesn’t have
211, you can call 780-482-4636 (north)
or 403-264-3388 (south) for similar
information.
In addition, 211’s website (ab.211.ca)
lets you search for services in nearly
50 communities.
Many communities also operate
their own information and referral
centres, often through the local
family, community and social
services office or municipal office.
Information on provincial
programs and services is available
through Alberta Supports at
albertasupports.ca, and toll-free
at 1-877-644-9992 (780-644-9992 in
Edmonton).
“Reach out for those supports early
on, before you’re in a crisis situation,”
McCalder says. “You might not need
it right away, but when that time
comes, you’ll know where to go.
If you’re a new parent, newcomer,
senior or coping with an illness,
Alberta networks offer all kinds of
support.
In many places, finding help is
as simple as calling 211
Parents
The flurry of nesting, giving
birth and a baby’s early days can
sometimes be replaced by isolation,
especially when one parent stays at
home.
Peter Imhof, the executive director
of Family Centre, the Lethbridge
Parent Link Centre, recommends
parents explore community resources
and build a strong network even
before their baby is born. “Having
places to turn to before you’re in
crisis is a really big preventive
measure. And it doesn’t need
to be a professional. It can be a
neighbour, somebody who works
at a daycare, a co-worker. Without
those connections, things can become
overwhelming a lot quicker.”
Whatever the common bond,
parent networks work best when
everyone takes ownership and helps
each other, Imhof adds. “There are
crisis moments in every family, and
it’s important for those who are just
fine to support those families that
have just hit a rough spot.”
Where to turn
Why to connect
When to connect
What’s available
Alberta’s network of Parent
Link Centres. To find one near you,
visit parentlinkalberta.ca or call
Service Alberta toll-free at 310-0000.
Because kids don’t come with
instructions. And parenting
resources can help build
connections and friendships that
can help with babysitting, play
dates and more.
During pregnancy or right after
birth, preferably before you feel
overwhelmed or in crisis.
Welcoming surroundings that
sometimes offers free or low-cost
parent-child playgroups, positive
parenting programs, developmental
assessments, individual and group
counselling, and support and referrals
to other services. “Come just as you
are,” Imhof says. “Parent Link Centres
will identify your strengths and help
with whatever you want to address.”
Many parents also find great value in
networks based on shared interests
such as culture, faith, sports, music
and the environment.
56 Apple Fall 2015
Where to turn
Start your search for supportive living services by calling Community
Care Access where you live:
• Edmonton: 780-496-1300
• Calgary: 403-943-1920 or 1-888-943-1920
• Central, including Red Deer: 1-855-371-4122
• South: 1-866-388-6380 or 403-388-6380 in Lethbridge and area
• North: 1-855-371-4122.
If you’re unsure where to call, phone Health Link at 811.
Independent living
Why to connect
What’s available
To find the care and services you need as
you age.
Assessment by a case manager, and services such as:
When to connect
Reach out if you have concerns such
as reduced mobility and increased
incontinence or forgetfulness, or when
you need to streamline your care.
• Nursing
• Medication management
• Personal care
• Psychiatric care
• Social support
• Occupational, physical and respiratory therapy
• Nutrition coaching
• Swallowing, speech therapy and translation
• Wound care.
As a case manager for Edmonton
seniors receiving home care through
Alberta Health Services, Shannon
Levac knows what being plugged into
a network can mean for aging adults.
She recalls coordinating services for
a man who only realized he needed
help when he couldn’t get his socks
on by himself. In another case, she
saw a woman in her 90s with a
fracture get back on her feet thanks
to equal doses of determination and
support from her care team.
“The biggest joy for me,” Levac
says, “is seeing people recover or
regain their independence when they
don’t think they can.”
Many seniors, especially the very
elderly, resist asking for help, fearing
they’ll end up in long-term care.
Quite the opposite, Levac tells them:
“I’m here to help you stay in your
own home as long as possible by
seeing if you need more assistance.”
applemag.ca 57
Newcomers
she turned to the local multicultural
association for help figuring out
her new community. When she
moved to Fort McMurray this past
September to work with the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo, she
Linda Thompson-Brown arrived in
New Brunswick from the United
Kingdom five years ago with no
job and a resume sprinkled with
Briticisms. Despite speaking English,
turned to another favourite port of
call: the public library.
Multicultural centres and libraries
are two of the many places that can
help newcomers connect to their new
communities.
Where to turn
Why to connect
What’s available
• Local settlement agency
and/or multicultural centre
• YMCA or YWCA
• Parent Link Centres
• Health Link (811 for health
information)
• Public library (information,
programs, free use of
computers, language learning)
• S ome communities also have
local information centres.
People who are part of their
community enjoy better physical
and mental well-being than
those who aren’t. Connecting,
says Thompson-Brown, helps
you feel that you belong. Being
engaged, whether to receive
services or to volunteer, can
open employment doors, she
says.
Many services are free and
can include:
When to connect
Before moving, upon arrival and
whenever needs arise.
Coping with illness
“You are each other’s best resource.”
That conviction prompted Janine
Giese-Davis to launch Alberta
CancerBridges, an information-rich
resource that invites cancer survivors
to connect with each other online and
in person. “Oftentimes when patients
Where to turn
are diagnosed with a serious illness,
their first response is to hide or go
lick their wounds in private,” she
says. “Yet I think the very best thing
for people is to find others who have
gone through the same thing.” People
seeking to connect are “either faceto-face people or Internet people,”
Why to connect
Health Link (811) or MyHealth.Alberta.ca for “Just to have the support
to express your feelings
health advice and information about local
and talk about what’s
health-care services.
going on in your life
For those living with cancer: Alberta cancer
almost immediately
centres (albertacancer.ca/cancer-centres),
releases something, and
CancerBridges (cancerbridges.ca) or
your body kind of lets the
Canadian Cancer Society (cancer.ca,
stress go,” Giese-Davis
1-888-939-3333).
says.
Societies focused on other illnesses are
When to connect
also excellent sources of information, peer
As soon as you’re
groups and other support, as are many
diagnosed.
spiritual and cultural groups.
58 Apple Fall 2015
What’s available
• Help with navigating
and understanding
health services
• Support groups and
counselling
• Spiritual care
• Art therapy.
• Settlement services
• Job search support
• Family programs
• Financial coaching
• Help finding housing and
negotiating with landlords
• Bus passes
• Information about cultural
and faith groups
• Recreation guides and
event schedules
• Support during tough
times.
Giese-Davis says. While some crave
the intimacy of sitting in a group,
offering a hug and perhaps going
to coffee together, others prefer not
to meet in person, and prefer more
private connections such as on the
Internet. Any act of giving—from sharing your
time to helping a cause to sharing
good fortune—can make you happier,
healthier and more satisfied with life.
Valerie Berenyi looks at the health
benefits of giving
Photo: Kelsy Nielson
Get the
giver’s glow
At 18, Khushboo Goyal (right) of Edmonton is a seasoned volunteer, giving her time
to coach tennis, teach Hindi language and dance and help out at the CapitalCare
Grandview continuing care centre.
applemag.ca 59
Photo: Jerry Gerling
A dedicated volunteer at the age of 85, Eunice
Gole (left) of Didsbury says giving to others is
what keeps her going.
Giving activates the
pleasure centres of the brain
where we process rewards
In our quest for better health, we
often focus on food and fitness and
overlook a powerful way to reduce
stress, improve body and mind, live
longer and bask in warm fuzzies.
This powerful health tool isn’t
a new drug, exercise program
or superfood. It’s giving: the
compassionate and generous
donation of time, money, talent and
treasure (new or gently used).
Researchers are adding up the
evidence and discovering that giving
is good for us. Their findings show
charitable giving makes us happier
and positively benefits our mental
and physical health in several ways.
It starts in the brain. “Giving
activates the pleasure centres of the
brain where we process rewards,”
says Lara Aknin, an assistant
professor of social psychology
at Simon Fraser University in
Vancouver. She studies what
makes people happy, including the
emotional effects of kind or generous
60 Apple Fall 2015
behaviour. “That area just lights up.”
Kindness and generosity trigger
the release of feel-good brain
chemicals that give us warm fuzzies
or what some call a “giver’s glow.”
Khushboo Goyal says she often
feels joy after giving. The 18-year-old
Edmontonian volunteers coaching
tennis, teaching Hindi language and
classical Indian dance classes and, for
the past six years, lending a hand at
CapitalCare Grandview, a continuing
care centre for elderly people.
She’s helped in the Grandview’s
gift shop and with residents’
recreation activities and
physiotherapy. The high-school grad
recently took CapitalCare’s Loving
Spoonful Mealtime Companion
Training Program and now spends
time on weekends helping residents
eat breakfast. “Initially it was difficult
for me. Often I didn’t get a response
from them . . . You don’t want to
overfeed, or cause them to choke,”
Goyal says.
Experience and help from centre
staff has helped boost her confidence
and residents look forward to seeing
and talking with her every week.
“Some talk so much their food goes
cold! It’s interesting to hear what they
have to say, and it helps take away
their isolation and loneliness.
“It’s rewarding. Knowing I did
something good for someone else and
they’ll be happier makes me happy,”
she says about the 10 to 12 hours she
volunteers every week.
The happier a person is, the more
likely she is to give, something Aknin
and her colleagues call a positive
feedback loop. “When people give
and it makes them feel good, it
encourages them to do it again,” she
says. “[Giving is] like chocolate cake.
If eating chocolate cake makes you
feel good, you’ll want to eat it again.”
The warm glow of giving can be
experienced with relatively little
effort. In a 2008 study published in
the journal Science, Aknin, Elizabeth
Dunn of the University of British
Columbia and Michael Norton of
Harvard University gave people on a
university campus a $5 or a $20 bill.
Half were told to spend the money
on themselves; the rest to spend the
money on someone else. Those who
spent the money on others said they
felt happier at the end of the day than
those who spent it on themselves.
That warm glow may be universal.
Aknin and her fellow researchers
Volunteering makes me happy.
I enjoy it or I wouldn’t do it
have found a positive connection
between charitable giving and
happiness in 120 of 136 surveyed
countries, rich and poor alike.
Growing evidence shows that
giving affects our physical health. In
a 2010 study, Dunn, Aknin and other
researchers gave $10 to some students
in a large classroom but nothing to
other students. The “haves” could
donate to the “have-nots” if they
wished.
The students’ levels of cortisol—
the so-called stress hormone—
were measured before and after
the experiment. The results? The
more money students gave away,
the happier they felt. On the other
hand, those who kept the money for
themselves felt ashamed; the greater
their sense of shame, the higher their
levels of cortisol.
Over time, high levels of cortisol
can suppress the immune system
and lead to a host of health problems,
from depression and weight gain
to high blood pressure and heart
disease.
Several studies have shown that
when older adults give, they sleep
better, hear better and even have a
stronger grip shortly after donating.
Years of this positive behaviour may
pay off, too. A 1999 study of older
volunteers in Marin County, Calif.,
found they were 44 per cent less
Communities are giving back to health research
When it comes to health research, small charities make a big difference. Just ask Dr. Shairaz
Baksh, an Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions (AIHS) researcher at the University of Alberta.
(Baksh is also featured in A Brighter Future for Children with Bowel Disease on page 38.)
Funding from the Edmonton-based Hair Massacure helped Baksh do the research he needed
to apply for his current AIHS grant for a project looking at the links between inflammation and
cancer. He’s using his findings to develop more effective treatments for inflammatory bowel
disease.
The Hair Massacure, which started in 2002 as the St. Valentine’s Day Hair Massacure, has
raised more than $10 million, much of it for the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation and the
Make-a-Wish Foundation.
“The nice thing about these charities is that the amount of research dollars we get definitely
helps us develop our projects for applications to provincial and national funding agencies,”
Baksh says.
Grassroots giving
Every year, the 69 foundations and trusts
partnered with Alberta Health Services raise
$200 million for Albertans’ health care.
“Our foundations and health trusts are
critical partners in our health-care system
and understand their communities’ healthcare needs,” says Jennifer Wood, the senior
provincial lead for Alberta Health Services’
Foundation Relations. “Whether fundraising
for equipment, programs, research, education
or infrastructure, these organizations help
enrich community health and wellness and
contribute to our patients’ well-being.” For example, the Jasper Healthcare
Foundation raised money for a new assistedliving facility, and paid for self-directed
physical therapy programs for older adults in
the Jasper area.
Through its 21st annual Festival of Trees,
the Red Deer Regional Health Foundation
raised more than $1 million to help create
two new surgical suites in the labour and
delivery unit at the Red Deer Regional
Hospital Centre in 2014.
And generous donors to the Alberta
Children’s Hospital Foundation helped the
hospital’s pediatric oncology team launch
a pilot program called Hospital at Home.
Children with cancer can now receive some
of their chemotherapy at home.
To donate, or to learn more about the
community foundations and trusts
working for your health, visit
albertahealthservices.ca/give.
applemag.ca 61
likely to die over a five-year period
than were non-volunteers.
Eunice Gole says giving to others
is what keeps her going. The retired
licensed practical nurse volunteers
three or four hours twice a week at
the Bethany Care Centre in Didsbury.
She visits with many residents,
including a 72-year-old woman who
has MS and is partially paralyzed. “I
do her fingernails, curl her hair, chat
with her, take her outside for a ride in
her electric wheelchair and tidy her
room,” says Gole.
“She’s the youngest one in there.
Sometimes, I think ‘if that was me,
how would I react?’ I hope there’s
someone to look after me if I need it.”
Gole is 85.
Before the Bethany opened a year
and a half ago, she did volunteer
home care: bathing, feeding and
cooking for those in need. “I don’t
expect to be paid. I just love people,”
Gole says. “Volunteering makes me
happy. I enjoy it or I wouldn’t do it.”
At the other end of the age
spectrum, Aknin examined if and
how children experience the joy of
giving. The study include 20 toddlers
under age two, their parents and a
monkey puppet. Researchers gave
each child a pile of cookies and
crackers and asked them to feed one
of their treats to the hungry monkey.
The facilitator also “found” an extra
treat, which she asked the children
to give to the puppet. Researchers
videotaped and coded their facial
expressions.
The study, published in 2012, found
children were the happiest—they had
the biggest smiles—when they were
giving, not receiving, especially when
sacrificing that extra treat.
From sharing cookies and crackers
62 Apple Fall 2015
to donating money to spending time
with those in need, there are endless
ways to give and get the glow.
Besides volunteering at the
Bethany, Gole and her husband knit
24 blankets every year for women
and children who come to the Sheriff
King Home emergency shelter in
Calgary to escape family violence.
Similarly, Goyal has sold handmade beaded lanyards and eyeglass
holders to raise money for a dining
room renovation at CapitalCare
Grandview. Instead of presents for
her birthday that year, she asked
people to donate to the cause and
raised $2,000.
Or, take Nigel Brockton, a research
scientist in cancer epidemiology with
Alberta Health Services. He gives by
combining cycling with fundraising.
Brockton beat Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare
and highly aggressive cancer twice,
25 years ago. He joined the Enbridge
Ride to Conquer Cancer in 2009.
That same year, he started a
training group to help new riders
prepare for the annual 200-kilometre
cycling event that raises money for
the Alberta Cancer Foundation.
From spring through fall, Brockton,
44, leads four or five training rides
every week in and around Calgary.
“I’m the sheepdog,” he says of
herding cyclists of all levels. In the
process, he’s transformed his own
physical fitness, created a tightly knit
social circle and helped turn people
into athletes.
His team of about 105 members is
called One Aim and has raised $1.6
million over the past six years. His
target for the 2015 Ride to Conquer
Cancer: $2 million.
“Being able to help others makes
me feel pretty good,” Brockton says.
Photo: Michael Interisano
Calgary cancer researcher Nigel Brockton (in front)
combines cycling and fundraising to combat the
disease that he studies and has survived.
heading
Charitable giving
makes us happy
and creates a
bunch of positive
benefits for
our mental and
physical health
applemag.ca 63
You can change the
lives of residents at
CapitalCare
Your financial help deeply affects the residents of
CapitalCare. Forever.
We like visitors
and friends!
From tables and chairs to renovated dining rooms to
specialized beds and lifts, when you make a donation
to CapitalCare Foundation you are changing lives.
Forever.
The CapitalCare Foundation is a registered charity
that raises needed funds to purchase equipment,
renovate facilities, provide staff scholarships, and add
to the quality of life of residents.
Help us help others.
To make an easy, secure online donation visit:
www.capitalcarefoundation.net
64 Apple Fall 2015
Like us:
Facebook.com/applemagca
Bring community home
We’re looking for volunteers for friendly
visiting or assisting with groceries for
isolated and housebound seniors on Home
Care. Some weekday availability needed.
Call 780-342-4421 or email carole.alves@
albertahealthservices.ca if you can help.
Praising Passion
Our Praising Passion column celebrates inspiring Albertans who go above and beyond to improve the health and well-being of
people in their communities. Vote for the person below you’d like to see featured in the next issue of Apple by emailing apple.
[email protected] or calling 403-943-1993. Voting is open until Oct. 15, 2015.
The nominees are:
Jan-Willem Henning
Tammy Shaw
Jan-Willem is an oncologist at the Tom Baker Cancer
Centre and leads more than 120 cyclists in the annual
Ride to Conquer Cancer to raise money for cancer
clinical trials.
A correctional worker at the Calgary Remand Centre,
Tammy created a unique program that helps inmates
improve their overall health through special services,
education and skills training.
Susan Lynch
Charlotte Sommerfeld
Early childhood and education is Susan’s life work. She
leads the Early Childhood Mapping Project in Alberta,
which is helping Alberta families raise healthier children
and shape policy and community action.
A cancer survivor, Charlotte is a passionate advocate for the
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Since remission, she has
participated in more than six half-marathons and countless
other society events.
Praising passion
Learning you can
learn
CanLearn Society CEO Krista Poole is like a
literacy coach: she helps children, youth and adults get off
the educational sidelines and onto the playing field.
She and CanLearn’s team of 25 educational
psychologists, literacy coordinators, physician-associates
and a digital librarian focus on root causes of hampered
learning, the physical equivalent of sprained ankles and
twisted knees. These are often lagging literacy, learning
disabilities and attention disorders. They can lead to
mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression.
Poole comes from an ESL (English as a second language)
background, and describes herself as, “old to literacy,
new to attention disorders and learning disabilities, and
immersed in mental health concerns.
“CanLearn works with anyone facing a learning
difficulty and will work with them until we find a
solution,” says Poole. A common result, she adds, is clients
build competence and unleash confidence and hope.
“We’re at our best when working with people who have
the highest needs,” she says. “We know 30 per cent of kids
start school behind in learning skills; that 30 per cent are
well behind by grade six; and that 30 per cent eventually
drop out.”
Demand is growing for CanLearn’s services. And, Poole
is up to the leadership challenge, according to Gerry Meek,
the society’s board chair and recently retired CEO of the
Calgary Public Library.
66 Apple Fall 2015
Photo: Sarah Vaughan
Krista Poole and the CanLearn team
help overcome obstacles to literacy
Krista Poole (front) and her team help people get off the education sidelines
and onto the playing field.
“Krista is positive in her outlook, handles stress well,
enjoys a good laugh, and is sensitive and adaptive,” Meek
says. He describes Poole as insightful, caring, encouraging
and skillful in relationship building.
Under her leadership, CanLearn has become a centre
of excellence in helping families identify, cope with and
overcome learning disabilities.
Poole credits part of CanLearn’s success to reaching
children early, before they enter school. “Early is best, but
it’s never too late,” Poole says.
“We offer a life-changing service at CanLearn. Every
single day I wish I didn’t wait so long to become part
of it.”
­­— Scott Ranson