Senior's News Archive

By Julie Steenhuysen, Reuters

Measuring certain proteins in spinal fluid can accurately diagnose Alzheimer's and predict which patients with memory problems will develop the fatal brain-wasting disease, Belgian researchers said Monday.

And they may also help identify early signs of the disease in healthy people, the team reported in the Archives of Neurology.

"The unexpected presence of the Alzheimer's disease signature in more than one-third of cognitively normal subjects suggests that Alzheimer's disease pathology is active and detectable earlier than has heretofore been envisioned," Geert De Meyer of Ghent University in Belgium and colleagues wrote.

Fraser Health region received most complaints: Vancouver Island highest per capita

By Pamela Fayerman, Vancouver Sun

The Fraser Health region received the most patient complaints in the province, according to the first report of a new agency set up to improve accountability and transparency in the health care system.

But on a per-capita basis, Vancouver Island outstripped Fraser Health, receiving 2.16 complaints per 1,000 population, compared to 1.37 for Fraser Health, said Dr. Nigel Murray, CEO of the Fraser Health region.

Dr. Jack Critchley, chair of the patient care quality review boards for Vancouver Coastal Health, Fraser Health and the Provincial Health Services Agency, said communication is at the crux of most complaints.

By Janaya Fuller-Evans, Burnaby Now

Seven Burnaby seniors' care homes are getting additional funding from Fraser Health after rate adjustments were made in January.

The health authority is providing an additional $12 million in funding this year for 43 facilities throughout the region. Fraser Health is slated to provide $8 million in additional funding next year as well.

"The target is to increase direct care," said Ray Thorpe, spokesperson for Fraser Health.

He added the funding is also intended to standardize care throughout the region.

According to Thorpe, seven seniors' facilities in Burnaby will receive additional funding this year:

• Carlton Lodge has 76 funded beds and will get an additional $243,996.
• Dania Manor has 67 funded beds and will get an additional $6,364.
• Finnish Manor has 60 funded beds and will get an additional $320,215.
• George Derby Long-term Care Centre has 300 funded beds and will get an additional $1 million.
• Harmony Court has 55 funded beds and will get an additional $304,143.
• New Vista Care Home has 236 funded beds and will get an additional $71,007.
• Willingdon Park has 95 funded beds and will get an additional $48,967.