Media Coverage 2003

The Toronto Star
December 2003

Investigative series by reporter Moira Welsh “Future of Nursing Homes: A blueprint for change”
Baycrest’s Vice-President of Nursing, Joy Richards, was among the healthcare experts interviewed in this insightful series.

CBC Radio “Ideas”
Dec. 11 and 18, 2003

Siblings caring for aging parents (2-part series)
Baycrest social worker Mona Munro is interviewed in this insightful two-part documentary on a growing trend: children caring for aging parents. Family members who are caring for aging parents were also interviewed.

The Medical Post
December 9, 2003

Frontal lobe damage can affect ability to stay on the job
Rotman Director and world-renowned frontal lobes expert Dr. Donald Stuss is interviewed about his study published in BRAIN. Dr. Stuss found important indicators in the frontal lobes that may explain why adults who have suffered even a minor head injury may have trouble performing tasks consistently – a key requirement for holding a job.

Discovery Health
October 12, 2003

"Medical Hot Seat"
Baycrest psychiatrist and researcher Dr. Robert vanReekum joins a panel discussion on the controversial use of "chemical restraints" in nursing homes.

DiscoveryHealth - "Health on the Line"
October 9, 2003, repeat Dec. 5

"Early onset Alzheimer´s"
Baycrest clinician scientist Dr. Tiffany Chow joins panel discussion to talk about the diagnosis of early onset Alzheimer´s and current treatments.

CTV The National ´W5´
September 27, 2003 (repeat)

Depression: Fighting the Dragon
Rotman scientist and world-renowned depression researcher Dr. Helen Mayberg is among the experts interviewed in this acclaimed documentary by W5.

The Globe & Mail (front page), The Toronto Star (front page), Canadian Press, CTV The National, BBC News, Washington Times, Times of India, Japan Times, The Guardian (UK), The Medical Post
August and September, 2003

"You’re never too old for a good laugh"
A Baycrest study on humor and aging captures headlines around the world, including front pages of two Toronto dailies. The study, led by psychologist Dr. Prathiba Shammi, found that emotional appreciation of humor doesn’t change with age – older adults still enjoy a good laugh. However, the ability to comprehend more complex forms of humor diminishes in later years as cognitive function declines.

CBC Radio New Brunswick
August 25, 2003

Baycrest clinician scientist Dr. Tiffany Chow, Behavioral Neurology Program, is interviewed about the latest advances in Alzheimer’s treatments.

USA Today
August 6, 2003

“Frantic search on for memory loss cures”
Rotman scientist Dr. Cheryl Grady, who uses imaging technology to compare brain function in younger and older people, is among the experts interviewed.

The Globe & Mail
August 2, 2003

“April’s Lost Years”
Rotman scientist Dr. Brian Levine is interviewed in a feature story about a young woman who suffered isolated retrograde amnesia in a traffic accident a few days before her wedding. Dr. Levine has a research interest in traumatic brain injury and its impact on memory function.

Workplace.ca
July 2003

Web magazine features article written by Angelo Pesce, Baycrest’s Vice-President of Human Resources. The topic: how employers must value and hold on to aging employees who bring a wealth of experience to the job. This is crucial in light of the forecasted labor shortage in years to come.

Maclean’s Magazine
June 9, 2003

Maclean’s features a special insert about the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario’s new Centre for Stroke Recovery. Baycrest is featured as one of the research partners that will play a key role in developing more effective rehabilitation treatments for stroke survivors to enhance their quality of life.

The Toronto Star
June 2003

Rotman scientist Dr. Helen Mayberg is among the leading researchers featured in a three-part series on depression. Out of the Dark looked at the skyrocketing use of anti-depressant drugs, the current treatments, and cutting edge research to find more effective therapies.

TVOntario’s “Big Ideas”
May 2003

Baycrest’s Director of Psychology, Dr. Guy Proulx, presents the lecture: Wisdom versus Dementia: A Walk Through the Aging Brain.

CBC Radio Here and Now
April 2, 2003

Linda Jackson, Director of Social Work and Community Services at Baycrest, is interviewed about the impact the SARS visiting precautions are having on clients and staff.

Workplace.ca
April 2003

Angelo Pesce, Vice-President of Human Resources at Baycrest, is profiled. Pesce talks about the importance of creating a workplace that values the contributions and experience of "older" employees. He also reflects on his long career and road to retirement.

The National Post
Front Page, March 10, 2003

‘Age of restraint’
A British study published in the journal Age and Ageing prompts The National Post a closer look at the controversial use of anti-psychotics to control elderly patients in nursing homes. Baycrest psychiatrist Dr. Robert van Reekum, and geriatrician Dr. Paula Rochon, are interviewed on this issue. Both are scientists at Baycrest’s Kunin-Lunenfeld Applied Research Unit. Dr. Rochon is studying the prevalent use of anti-psychotics with a grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Dr. van Reekum has published a study on the effect of taking patients with dementia off this medication.

Workplace Today
March 2003

Older workers are wiser: study
Good news for older workers: with age comes wisdom, a study suggests. Older people do get wiser and are more efficient at processing and interpreting memories in a more holistic manner, according to researchers Brian Levine and Eva Svoboda at Baycrest’s Rotman Research Institute.

Reader’s Digest (Canada)
March 2003

Your parents are depending on you!
Dr. Michael Gordon, head of geriatrics and internal medicine at Baycrest, and co-author of Parenting Your Parents (Dundurn Press), is interviewed about the challenges of caring for aging parents.

Reader’s Digest (Canada)
February 2003

Never too late to get fit
Baycrest geriatrician Dr. Shelley Veinish is interviewed about the importance of exercise throughout one’s life. “Establish good exercise habits as early as possible,” she advises.

Hosptial News
February 2003

The case of the ‘zinc whiskers’
Baycrest discovers micron-sized culprits are behind a mysterious series of intermittent server failures. Stephen Tucker, Director of Information Technology at Baycrest, recounts a full year of detective work to catch the nefarious intruder.

CARP 50-PLUS
February 2003

Coping with aftershock
When you’ve been the caregiver for someone you love, one of the hardest realities is getting through your grief when they’re gone. Shawn Fremeth, Baycrest social worker and facilitator of the Spousal Bereavement Group, is interviewed in this article.

VoiceAmerica
February 3, 2003

Baycrest geriatrician and Vice-President of Medical Services, Dr. Michael Gordon, is interviewed on internet-based talk radio, reaching listeners around the world. He spoke about the responsibility of caring for frail, aging parents and how this impacts the workplace. Dr. Gordon is co-author of the book, Parenting Your Parents (Dundurn Press, 2002).

The Globe & Mail
February 1, 2003

Exercising the brain may keep memory alive
Baycrest psychologist Dr. Angela Troyer and Rotman scientist Dr. Gordon Winocur are interviewed about the importance of keeping our minds active as we age. Doing activities that are intellectually stimulating, such as puzzles, crosswords and card games, are a great way to exercise the brain.

Maclean’s Magazine
January 20, 2003

Baycrest President & CEO Stephen W. Herbert is among 50 outstanding Canadians to watch in 2003, according to Maclean’s. The magazine cited Mr. Herbert’s leadership in helping to “transform the Jewish nursing home on Bathurst St. into a world leader for senior’s care”. Other notable Canadians on the list included Paul Martin, Izzy Asper and Ted Rogers.

The Globe & Mail
January, 6, 2003

Study shows that the ability to extract meaning from memory sharpens with age Rotman Research Institute memory study shows that younger adults are better at remembering “details” of events they’ve experienced in different periods of their life, while older adults excel at interpreting the meaning of autobiographical events in a broader, more worldly context because they have a lifetime of experience to draw from. With age comes wisdom! The research was lead by Rotman scientist Brian Levine and doctoral student Eva Svoboda. Canadian Press, BBC Radio and ABCNews.com also reported on this study.