Resources for Older Canadians Living with Frailty

Aging can be hard. If you are struggling with any of the issues below, we recommend you talk to your doctor. The information and links provided can help prepare you for this conversation by helping you explore your options and weigh the pros and cons of each option.

You and your caregiver should be partners in your own care. Research shows that when patients and families are engaged:

  • health outcomes are better
  • patients and providers have better experiences, and
  • care planning is more effective.

That’s why we’ve created the following resources to help you with some of the changes associated with aging.

Different things work for different people, and there are advantages and possible disadvantages to each activity or action. Together with your family doctor (or primary healthcare provider), we hope you can find the right approach for you.

Resources for Older Adults

Are you finding that you are feeling sad or worthless?

All is not lost. Depression is complex, but there are a number of things that can help. We’ve created a decision box that can help you determine if options such as physical therapy, psychotherapy, antidepressants, massage therapy and light therapy could be right for you.

For more information, view:

Are you losing the ability to perform some everyday tasks?

Do you find it more difficult to eat, get dressed, bathe, clean your house, cook, use the phone, get around or manage money? Want to improve your ability to perform these activities? We’ve created a decision box that can help you determine if options such as physical activity, smart homes, self-management programs, brain exercises or yoga could be right for you.

Are you finding that your nutritional intake is too low to meet your needs?

This can lead to a decline in health and strength, reduce your ability to do things independently, such as walking, dressing and bathing, and increase your risk of dying. It can also lead to hospital admissions. Is this you? Want to improve your nutritional intake? We’ve created a decision box that can help you determine if options like oral nutritional supplements, nutrition counselling, meals on wheels or watchful waiting could be right for you.

For more information, view:

As you age, are you finding that you are experiencing mental loss and difficulties with thinking, problem-solving, or language?

Does this make you feel anxious? Want to improve your mental capacity? We’ve created a decision box that can help you determine if options such as brain exercises on the computer, physical activity or watchful waiting would be right for you.

Are you a caregiver? Want to improve your well-being?

A caregiver is someone who provides unpaid, personal, social, psychological or physical support to someone who is frail, sick, or dying, has serious illness, or physical, cognitive or mental disability.

Being a caregiver can be demanding and stressful, and often leads to feelings of anger, anxiety, depression, exhaustion, lack of sleep, health problems, or social withdrawal.

If this is you, we’ve created a decision box that can help you determine if options such as physical activity, support groups, psychotherapy, psychoeducation or respite care would be right for you.

The content in these resources was adapted from the Decision Boxes at the Université de Laval. If you can’t find what you need here, you may be able to find it at their website: https://www.boitedecision.ulaval.ca/en/.