Blog

Relationship with a family doctor is crucial for healthy aging

By Phyllis FootzHealthy Aging Nurse There are over 76 million baby boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964) who will soon be known as senior citizens. The perception of old age has changed because of this generation who believe 61 years is considered middle age. On average, Albertans today say that 71 years of age…

Why I teach relaxation

By Luc TherrienBehavioural Health Consultant What has convinced me to teach relaxation to everyone? I could tell you that relaxation and meditation have been studied extensively over the past 40 years and that we’ve even observed a change at the genes’ level after only one session of relaxation, but that may seem abstract. Instead, I…

Clinic staff feel like a family

Mercy Odusote considers herself as part of the Good Samaritan Seniors’ Clinic family. Since seeing Dr. Bing Li as her family doctor for the last five years, she feels she can turn to any member of the clinic team for help. Mercy was referred to Dr. Li after having her second stroke and was rehabilitating…

Minimizing stress is key to a healthier life

At 97, Henry Schroder isn’t worried about his health. He still lives at home, shovels his own driveway and builds his own airplanes. Henry still remembers growing up during the Russia Revolution and can outline specific details of his childhood and his time in the Canadian Air Force during World War II. He was married…

COPD patient becomes stronger with exercise

Sabine Brouillette credits her health team at Edmonton Southside PCN for saving her life. The 67-year-old COPD patient’s breathing was becoming worse. When she was refused treatment at her dentist because of her breathing, she went to see her family doctor, Dr. Colleen Johnston, at Town Centre Family Clinic. Dr. Johnston referred Sabine to a…

Health scare forces patient to start moving

A hospital scare forced Lorraine Henry into a wakeup call about quitting smoking. In June, Lorraine was feeling extremely tired and had tightness in her chest. She visited her family doctor, Dr. Dennis Wong, had told him she thought she had a sinus infection. She was given antibiotics but her feet and ankles started to…

Physical activity leads to stronger patient

Waiting for a diagnosis caused Audrey Karpetz to become inactive and gain weight. Audrey had difficulty breathing and it took eight months to pin the cause of sarcoidosis, a lung disease that inflames the organ and left her with no energy. “There was a long time when I couldn’t walk. The pain was so bad,”…

Patient succeeds with small steps

Step by step is how Maha Chehayeb achieved her goal of becoming more physically active despite health issues. She was told by her family doctor, Dr. Rafi Husain that she needed to lose weight before considering knee surgery related to advanced arthritis. Her medical history also includes diabetes, high blood pressure and a large abdominal…

Baked pakora

Our primary care dietitian Robin Arora-Desilet provides the recipe for a baked pakora on her website. Watch her demonstrate how to make the pakora on this video.

Cinnamon quinoa porridge

Ingredients (Makes 1 serving) 1/3 cup of quinoa flakes1 cup or less of milk or milk alternative1 tsp of cinnamon1 heaping Tbsp of nut butter3/4 cup of berries or 1/2 chopped bananaHoney (~ 1 tsp) Directions Mix quinoa flakes, milk and cinnamon together in a microwavable safe container. Microwave for 2 minutes or less. Add…