ABC Health Matters

Empowers Canadians to manage their health more effectively by increasing their confidence when talking about and making decisions regarding health issues with family, friends and health professionals. Through the program, adults develop a deeper understanding of how to advocate for their and their family’s health and better understand how to access health care.    

The Adult Protection Act protects adults who are at risk of abuse and neglect, and who do not understand or appreciate that risk. Contact your Regional Health Authority at 1-855-376-4957 to report an adult who may be at risk of abuse or neglect and who does not understand or appreciate that risk. No long distance charges will apply. You can report confidentially. Call 911 for emergencies or situations requiring the police.  

Imagine you are in a hospital and you cannot speak-up. Protect your health care choices.

AGE-WELL is a national research and innovation network.  A wide range of partners work together to create technologies and services that benefit older adults. They promote the conversion of an idea or invention into a good or service that may satisfy a need or improves a life. Check out this dynamic network.

Alert Ready is designed to deliver critical and potentially life-saving alerts to Canadians through television and radio. The Alert Ready system is developed in partnership with federal, provincial and territorial emergency management officials, Environment and Climate Change Canada, The Weather Network and the broadcasting industry and wireless service providers, to ensure you receive alerts immediately and know when to take action to keep yourself and your family safe. Alerts can now be sent to compatible call phones. If you hear a specific Alert Tone on television, radio or your wireless device,  they ask that you please pay attention and take action right away.

The Advance Care Planning Resource aims to help you understand the laws in place in Canada to protect your right to choose the kinds of care you will receive now and in the future. This resource may also help you determine the legal requirements you need to make decisions and plan.  

Veterans Affairs Canada  presents "My VAC Account".  It is a simple and secure way for veterans  to do business online with VAC.

This Network in the UK is campaigning to end loneliness. As they say, “...nobody who wants company should be without it”. The website features a quick links and resources section and an extensive video Library (the videos do not have closed captioning or oral description).

The Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health main focus areas are: Delirium; Depression ; Long-term Care (mental health issues are common among seniors in LTC); Suicide Prevention. This site presents: Tools for seniors (pamphlets), their families, for Clinicians (pocket card and/or CCSMH National Guidelines) and Tools for Educators (power point slides)

Dr. Christian Caron, Professor of Gerodontology at L’Université Laval, introduces the Canadian Oral Health Screening Tool for Seniors. The tool is a plain-language, evidence-based screening tool for use by non-dental professionals to assess oral abnormalities and the dysfunction of dental prostheses in seniors. NOTE: Once you select the link for The Canadian Oral Health Screening Tool for Seniors you have the option of: Guidance for Administration - no photos Intervention Guide - photos of mouth, teeth and tongues as examples Illustrated Tool - photos of mouth, teeth and tongues as examples Record Assessment Description - no photos Final Report - towards the end - - photos of mouth, teeth and tongues as examples

Central Intake provides clients, families and others with one central phone number to call directly for information and self-referral to various mental health and addictions services in the St. John’s region (709) 752-8888.  

Victims, witnesses and accused persons who have a disability that affects their communication, may require support communicating with police, legal and justice professionals. Communication Intermediaries facilitate two-way communication with persons with communication disabilities, not caused by significant hearing loss. This database provides a way to search for and communicate with qualified Speech-Language Pathologists (Communication Intermediaries) nearest to the desired location. The communication intermediary will respond in a confidential manner to your email to get information, negotiate services and payment. If this is an emergency, contact CDAC at admin@cdacanada.com  

Crisis Text Line - Text ‘Talk’ to 686868   The Crisis Text Line is now available to residents of NL. Powered by Kids Help Phone, individuals can text ‘Talk’ to 686868, to speak to a trained crisis responder. Every texter is connected with a Crisis Responder, a real-life human being trained to bring texters from a hot moment to a cool calm through active listening and collaborative problem-solving. All of the Crisis Responders are volunteers, donating their time to helping people in crisis.   This service has been added to Bridge the gApp and should be promoted broadly throughout your networks and among people you serve/work with.

As many as half of hospital patients age 65 and older develop delirium. Once thought of as something ordinary — something that “just happens” to people as they get older — today, geriatricians and hospitals across the U.S. recognize the dangers of delirium and are increasingly creating programs and protocols to prevent, detect and treat it. Delirium refers to a change in the brain’s neurochemistry that causes a person to become highly confused and unable to think clearly. People with delirium often can’t remember recent events or where they are. The condition usually comes on quickly, but the symptoms can come and go. Besides hospitals, delirium is also common in long-term care facilities and often one of the first signs that a resident has become very ill, says Dr. Paul Takahashi, a geriatrician at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

Dietitians of Canada works with members to raise the profile of the profession. The Seniors page provides posts on  healthy eating such as Shopping for One or Two (Planning), Eating Alone, and Cooking for One or Two.

NEW WEBSITE from Eastern Health. Hi or Health information is a guide to wellness. It has a search bar and a menu with topics under Healthy Living , Life Stages, For Communities, All Topics from A-Z, and Hot Topics. Life Stages include Adult (ages 18+) and Seniors (ages 65+).

The Hope for Wellness Help Line offers immediate help to all Indigenous people in Canada. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to offer: counselling crisis intervention Call the toll-free Help Line at 1-855-242-3310 or connect to the online chat at hopeforwellness.ca (not on the Canada.ca site). Telephone and online counselling are available in English and French. If you ask, telephone counselling is also available in: Cree,  Ojibway, and Inuktitut Ask counsellors to work with you to find other wellness supports that are accessible near you..  

Questions often asked by people who have to be away from work for a short time (temporarily) to provide care or support to a family member who is seriously ill with a high risk of death within 26 weeks.

Do you know a senior who has not applied for the Guaranteed Income Supplement? This is a monthly, tax-free, benefit paid to seniors who have low income and receive Old Age Security, or OAS. This application is for single or married persons or persons living in a common-law relationship, living in Canada with low income.

Guide to Programs and Services for Individuals and Families- Government of NL

This guide can help people find out what Provincial Government programs and services are available. See PDF version as link. Printed copies or alternate formats are available upon request by calling 1-866-883-6600 or via email at guidetoservices@gov.nl.ca

The Hope for Wellness Helpline – On-Line Chat Counseling Service Call the toll-free Help Line at 1-855-242-3310, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or use the chat box  to connect with a counsellor on-line Phone and chat counselling is available in English and French. On request, phone counselling is also available in: Cree,  Ojibway, or Inuktitut.  

As their event, "The Big Tea" indicates, Independent Age is a United Kingdom site.  Contact numbers, events, language, and many resources are specific to Great Britain and Northern Ireland. There are other resources available on the site. Advice Guides, Factsheets & Leaflets are free to download and printed copies are available for a price.

This website is dedicated to helping us all help older adults in abusive situations.

NOTE: The Consumer Health Awareness Network of Newfoundland and Labrador, formerly known as CHANNAL, will now go by the name Lifewise Mental Health Peer Services.  Lifewise has self help groups throughout the province and runs a warm line. Do you need someone to talk to?       "We're here to listen." The Warmline offers support and information from trained Lifewise staff to the public Lifewise Warm Line Toll Free: 1-855-753-2560 English Local 753-2560 (St. John's Metro) English Call our Warmline 10AM to 12AM (midnight) Daily, 7 days a week Toll Free: 1-833-753-5460 French   Confidential Peer Support for People Living with mental health issues. The Warm Line is a non-judgemental pre-crisis telephone peer support service.      

The Provincial Medical Care Plan (MCP) is a far-reaching plan of medical care insurance. It covers the cost of physician services for residents of Newfoundland and Labrador. Did you know?  Barcodes have been added to newly issued MCP cards to enable a user to self-register for scheduled appointments at health care facilities throughout the province that have self-registration kiosks on site. Self-registration will also be available by entering your MCP number. MCP will only issue cards with barcodes to new registrants and beneficiaries renewing their coverage by way of a renewal notice. The addition of a barcode to all cards will take up to five years, depending on the five year renewal process.

The Medical Transportation Assistance Program or MTAP gives financial assistance to people who receive the Medical Care Plan (MCP). These MCP beneficiaries  build up a high level of out-of-pocket travel costs to access specialized (MCP) insured medical services. Those services are not available in their immediate area of residence or within the Province. These individuals may receive money to cover their airfare, to stay at a hostel, and for other eligible expenses.

It can be hard talking to your doctor (General Practitioner) or nurse about your mental health. Mind for better mental health (United Kingdom) made a free guide to help you talk to your family doctor (or GP) or nurse about the things you might find hard to express. They present a video with closed captioning. The videos, guides or publications help you 'Find the Words" to make the most of your short visit with your doctor or nurse.

Are you having finding the mental health and addiction system too difficult to navigate or connect with? It is often difficult to find Information on and contact to resources needed. The Mental Health and Addictions Provincial Systems Navigator helps improve the client’s mental health journey by

• increasing knowledge/awareness
• problem solving to figure out next steps;
• consider options to help find the right mental health or addiction service; and/or;
• help make connections.

Contact Barry Hewitt by phone at 709-752-3916 or 1-877-999-7589 or by email at barry.hewitt@easternhealth.ca. video relay service (VRS) calls are welcome

Mood Disorders Society of Canada hosts the DepressionHurts.ca website MDSC provides national leadership on issues relating to mental health through the consumer perspective. They carry out consultations, research,  collaborations and projects and work on systems advocacy. Contact through facebook (see link below), call 613-921-5565 (long distance charges will apply) or e-mail at info@mdsc.ca  

CRITICAL CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM Hydro’s Critical Customer Notification Program helps identify customers that provide essential services (i.e. hospitals) and also individuals who use electrically operated life-supporting equipment in their home. In advance of planned power outages, NL Hydro will make every effort to contact customers on the Critical Care Notification list, so that they are informed and prepared.  

Stay Informed with Outage Alerts Newfoundland Power will send Texts and/or emails directly to you when an outage is affecting your neighbourhood. This is in addition to our other forms of outage communications such as website and telephone. It’s Easy To Sign Up Phone: Sign up for text alerts Online: Log into your Newfoundland Power My Account to sign up for text and/or email Outage Alerts. NOTE: If you do not have a My Account login, you can create one using your account number and meter number.

Osteoporosis Canada works to educate, empower and support individuals and communities in the prevention and treatment of this disease. Osteoporosis is a disease in which the bones become less dense. This weakening of the bone can lead to an increased possibility of bone fracture.  Complete the Know Your Risk quiz to find out what your risks are for Osteoporosis. Make an appointment to talk to your doctor about your bone health and the risk of breaking a bone today.

Access to Sexual Health services is a concern for seniors.  Planned Parenthood-NL Sexual Health Centre clinics,  inclusive and safe spaces for all adults, are staffed by caring professionals and medical professionals.  Sexual Health Clinics for: pap testing; breast exams; screening and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs); trans health; testicular exams; and planned parenthood. The sexual health clinics operate on an appointment only basis; there are no walk-in clinics. Call us to book an appointment at (709) 579-1009 or 1-877-666-9847 Toll free Email: clientservicescoordinator@ppnlshc.com

The toll-free Gambling Help Line 1-888-899-4357 (HELP) is a 24-hour support for individuals impacted by their own or someone else’s gambling.  

Canadian Bankers Association promotes financial literacy to help Canadians make informed financial decisions. The financial literacy program, Your Money Seniors, has three modules: Cash Management, Financial Abuse, and Fraud Prevention

The Provincial Advisory Council on Aging and Seniors (PACAS) is a volunteer council of thirteen individuals from throughout the province. PACAS advises and informs the Provincial Government on issues, concerns, and requirements of older adults. The Council ensures that the Provincial Government considers the perspective of older adults when developing current and future policies for service delivery. Council provides a strong voice for seniors in the development of programs and services that support independence and well-being. Email: PACAS@gov.nl.ca

The provincial cancer care program is responsible for providing services to cancer patients throughout the province of NL and the operations of the Dr. H. Bliss Murphy Cancer Centre in St. John’s and the regional cancer care centres in Corner Brook, Grand Falls-Windsor and Gander. This program helps you access screening services and manage your diagnosis, treatment, follow-up care, survivorship,  palliative care and pain and symptom management. Over 200 staff include the Cancer Patient Navigators. Located in St. John's, Clarenville, Gander, Corner Brook,  St Anthony, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, and Labrador City , they support you and your family, and help you access services. 1 (855) 848-3888 (toll free), or call your local cancer patient navigator:

The Paid Family Caregiving Option provides money so that certain seniors and adults with disabilities can pay a family member to do approved home support. To see if your loved one is eligible for this program contact your regional health authority.

COVID-19 UPDATE:  OCTOBER 14, 2021 Both PLIAN offices are OPEN in both St. John's and Happy Valley-Goose Bay.  Staff is working in both offices to serve clients for the Legal Information Line, Lawyer Referral Service, and The Journey Project by phone, email, Zoom, or in person. In-person clients are advised to book an appointment in advance before coming into the office. Masks and contact tracing is required for all in-person clients at both offices. PLIAN working on vaccine protocol for staff, clients, in-person sessions, and community partners. In-Person Presentations: Case by Case basis, in accordance with public health guidance and restrictions (They try to ensure Zoom sessions are offered as well). Staff continue offer PLIAN's Legal Information Line and Lawyer Referral Service Have a general legal question or need to speak with a lawyer? Telephone: 1-888-660-7788 (province-wide) OR  709-722-2643 (St. John's local) E-mail: info@publiclegalinfo.com Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm (island time) PLIAN's OFFICE in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL Telephone: 709-896-5235 E-mail: labrador@publiclegalinfo.com Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 3:30 am (Atlantic time) ----------------------------------------------------------------- The Public Legal Information Association of Newfoundland and Labrador provides general information and education about the law to all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, with the intent of increasing access to resources, information and justice.

PLIAN has developed a number of publications about many different areas of the law: Wills and Estates; Family Law; Criminal Law; Other Areas of Law; Links and Resources

Check out PLIAN's  Family Law Form Builder publiclegalinfo.com/builder NOTE: PLIAN is located at: 291-293 Water St. Suite 301, 4th Floor, St. John's, NL A1C 1B9. People can access PLIAN via the Merchant Tavern entrance and then come up the stairs or elevator. Walk-ins just call ahead to make sure someone in the office.

Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers Responsible for Seniors Forum represents different levels of government. The forum was created to share information, discuss seniors issues, and work together on key projects.

The Seniors and Aging Division works with other government departments and agencies to promote healthy aging across the lifespan. The Division acts as a centre of expertise and knowledge on aging and seniors. The main functions of the Division is are to oversee the implementation of seniors and aging initiatives and adult protection. Goals of the division include: creation of a more age-friendly province; eradication of ageism; and the protection of vulnerable adults who lack the capacity to protect themselves. The division also serves as the secretariat for the Provincial Advisory Council on Aging and Seniors (PACAS) and works with the Council, other government departments, seniors’ organizations and retiree groups, the federal government, other provinces and territories and multiple key stakeholders to achieve its goals. 1-888-494-2266

Find a Service Canada Office will help you find services close to your home. Search by Postal code, City, or Browse by Province  or Territory.  

Help is available to those who wish to quit smoking:

1. Phone-based support. Toll Free Smokers Help Line 1-800-363-5864 or call the number on your cigarette pack and speak to a trained smoking cessation counsellor.
2. Online.
3. Text programs Sign-up online through the smokershelp website or text 709-700-7002
4. A web-based app available at https://kickash.ca/ https://www.facebook.com/smokershelp/

Email: shl@nf.lung.ca

Veteran Emergency Fund  The health and well-being of Veterans involves multiple factors that go well beyond the scope of traditional health services and benefits. The new fund would provide Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) with the flexibility needed to financially assist Veterans and their families quickly and efficiently in their time of urgent need. The Veteran Emergency Fund will be in place to ensure the overall well-being of Veterans and their families as a short-term support mechanism while other longer-term support arrangements are made. It would be available to any Canadian Veteran, or their spouse/common law partner, orphan or survivor living in Canada whose well-being is at risk as a result of an urgent or unexpected situation. Contact VAC at 1-866-522-2122 (toll-free) Effective Date: This new Fund would be put into place April 1, 2018.

Plan your future: aging in place. This short video talks about the importance of home and neighbourhood. Video transcript is included.    

This short video talks about the importance of reaching out to family, friends, and neighbours.  Keeping contacts with supports of all ages is needed when  planning to age in place. Video transcript is included.            

This short video talks about the supports and services you may need to stay in your home and community.  Video transcript is included.

This short video answers the question “What is aging in place?”. Video transcript is included.

The Violence Prevention Initiative (VPI) is a  multi-departmental government - community partnership. This initiative is working to find long term solutions to violence against those most at risk in our society. Persons at risk include - women, children, youth, older persons, persons with disabilities, Aboriginal women and children and other people who are vulnerable to violence because of their ethnicity, sexual orientation or economic status. The Violence Prevention Initiative is coordinated by the Office for the Status of Women. Contact the VPI at vpi@gov.nl.ca or (709) 729-5009.