Many Retired Canadians Head South For the Winter

From every province, thousands of retired Canadians have started their annual migration to spend winter down south. A few years ago the attraction to go south was the poor US economy and the declining US dollar. Almost everything in the US is a lot cheaper than Canada. From rent to groceries, the cost of living in the US is low. Plus, the US real estate with spacious yards, a swimming pool and two car garages is only a third of the cost of what it would be in Canada. Finally the biggest attraction of going south is the weather-which is simply beautiful.
However, things have changed over the past few years for Canadians. The first thing is that the Canadian dollar has taken a downward spiral over the past few years. With a Canadian dollar worth only US 75 cents, everything is going to be costing a lot more. And with the ailing Canadian economy, this can amount to a lot of money, especially when buying something big in the USA like a car or a home. Most snowbirds across the nation will need to closely watch their spending this year.
An estimated 500,000 Canadians spend a significant time in the US but with the decline of the Lonnie, most will cut the duration of their visit. With the weak Canadian dollar, buying US property will be out of the question for many retirees and renting may be a better option. For those retires with US property who are planning a home extension or a major repair, paying an extra 25 cents for every canadian dollar may now lead delays in any planned home improvements.
The other thing that the snowbirds need to be aware off is that the Canadian government has now installed a border exit tracking system to avoid paying millions of dollars in social benefits which are currently being given to Canadians who should not be receiving any benefits due to their prolonged absence from Canada. With the Canadian economy stalling, the government is now trying to save money by going after the retirees who stay out the country for long periods. The Canadian government has sent up a security pact with the US which allows each other to track entry and exit information on each traveler. In the past the entry/exit of Canadians was never well documented but things are changing. In addition to collecting information on Canadians leaving by air, Canadian officials are also going to be tracking Canadians who cross and enter at the border by car.
Finally all retired Canadians need to be aware of the new American taxes that the US internal Revenue Service has in place this year. Anyone spending more time than allowed in the US will be facing a whole host of problems. The rule is that Canadians need to keep under the 182 day limit, otherwise they risk creating a US claim on their world wide income, getting barred from the US for 5 years and even losing their highly prized free healthcare.
Best advice for all retired Canadians who plan to go south and stay for long periods or invest is that they need to be know the US laws before they embarking on their journey. If all this sounds to complicated, speak to an immigration lawyer.
Dr. David Tal has more than twenty years of clinical experience. He strongly believes that medical treatment can improve the life of Alzheimer's and memory loss patients. His participation at the Age Matters Clinic allows him to understand that having an Alzheimer's patient influences the whole family.

Dementia and Music

As the population of Canada and the rest of world ages, so will there be an increase in the number of people with dementia. Alzheimer disease is the most common cause of dementia and there is no cure for the disorder. Besides use of pharmaceutical medications, most people require some type of social support. Eventually many individuals with dementia end up in nursing homes, where the quality of life is guarded.
Over the past 2 decades, anecdotal reports have indicated that music can have a significant impact on people with dementia. A few smaller studies have shown that music can uplift mood and improve behavior in many patients afflicted with dementia. The type of music is not important; what has been observed is that different people respond different to different music. Some respond positively to soul and jazz, others respond to songs from the 70s and 80s and yet others respond to classical music.
Besides just listening to music, it has been observed that singing also has the ability to unlock memories and kick start positive behaviors which were thought to be irreversibly damaged. Music seems to reach the deeper parts of the brain in ways which neither communication or medications can reach.
Experts in speech and language state that most humans remain musical to the very end of life. It is known that the auditory system of the brain is one of the first to develop and become functional at just 16 weeks of life as a fetus. This indicates that even during pregnancy the fetus is fully receptive to music before anything else. Because it is the first system in, then it is most likely the last system out.
Today, music therapy is now begin offered to individuals with dementia in many cities. There are both music students and professional musicians who now offer music as part of home care. As well as being of enormous benefit to the individual with dementia, it is also rewarding for the musician to see someone respond in a positive manner.
Many organizations that support music as therapy exist today and include Music for Life, golden Oldies, Singing for the Brain and Lost Chord. These organizations make it possible for patients with dementia to have access to live musicians.
Almost on a daily basis there are reports of amazing transformation of demented patients after being exposed to music. Some have started to sing, others have found the ability to play a musical instrument and yet others have a positive change in behavior, language and mood. For people with dementia who are not able to talk, music has become an avenue for engagement and communication as it seems to access areas of the brain that are unaffected by the ravages of dementia. Today many home care groups are trying to harness music therapies not only for dementia but for people coming to the end of their life. This non pharmaceutical solution is now being investigated for broader uses in medicine because it positively touches the brain irrespective of color, culture or race.
Dr. David Tal has more than twenty years of clinical experience. He strongly believes that medical treatment can improve the life of Dementia patients of any age. His participation at the Age Matters Clinic allows him to share his knowledge with patients and their families.