Zoomer Week in Review

Politicians at Queen's Park plan to consider a private members bill that would ensure couples continue to live together in long-term care homes, even if their care needs are different. Waterloo New Democrat Catherine Fife is behind the proposal. THEN More than 700 patients, who'd been admitted to Ontario hospitals the past three years, were part of a local study that aimed to learn what affected their experience during their discharge and transition to home. Family physician and St. Michael's Hospital researcher Dr. Tara Kiran hopes the findings result in improvements in the transition navigated by one million patients every year in Ontario.

Toronto politicians are all in … approving the next step in the continuing focus on caring for the growing number of seniors in the city. You’ll hear about the new ‘emotion-centred approach’ pilot project from Toronto’s Seniors Advocate. AND Dispelling heart health misconceptions that have guided while also misleading patients for years. American cardiologist turned author Dr. Jignesh Shah will help you and your loved ones navigate the healthcare system … regardless of which side of the border you’re on.

There's one holiday list that isn't about being naughty or nice. Before clinking the New Year's champagne glasses, we should all sign off on a year-end financial checklist to put us in the best position for tax time. Libby went over it with Mark Halpern of WEALTHinsurance.com

Have you had any scam calls lately? For many of us it is a daily occurrence. Regulators are promising that we'll see a dramatic reduction because of a new requirement for call-blocking technology that just took effect. Will it work? And how can you protect yourself? Libby Znaimer chatted with tech expert Carmi Levy. AND There's one holiday list that isn't about being naughty or nice. Before clinking the New Year's champagne glasses, we should all sign off on a year end financial checklist to put us in the best position for tax time. Libby went over it with Mark Halperin of wealthinsurance.com.

Libby Znaimer talks to acclaimed producer Robert Lantos about his latest film, "The Song of Names". It's a sweeping drama that spans 50 years, about a man searching for his childhood best friend, a Polish violin prodigy orphaned in the Holocaust. who vanished on the night of his first public performance. AND At this time of year we hear a lot about people who are ill, about their caregivers...not so much. Veteran caregiver and author, Peter Rosenberger, offers 8 great tips for caregivers to give to themselves for this holiday season.

From the Christmas Song to White Christmas to Winter Wonderland - many of the most iconic Christmas songs were written by Jews. It's the ultimate yuletide irony and the subject of Veteran filmmaker Larry Weinstein's documentary "Dreaming of a Jewish Christmas." Libby Znaimer sat down with him when the film came out. AND Have you tried to deal with Air Canada lately? Just in time for the busy holiday travel season - hundreds of passengers are complaining about Air Canada's new reservation system which is preventing them from changing or booking flights and in some cases endangering their personal information. Don't even ask about reaching them by phone. Passenger Rights advocate Gabor Lukacs has some ideas on what to do.

Do you ever speed? Do you have trouble seeing cyclists and pedestrians in the dark? If the answer is yes, those are just two of many reasons it could be time for a driving update. Winter is here, and so is National Safe Driving Week. Expert driver Alex Kelly dropped by with tips to improve our performance on the road. AND As we head into the holiday season, the Christmas season, there’s a fascinating new survey on how Canadians view religion in public life. We are divided on the question - and our views don’t necessarily depend on whether we are believers or not. Libby Znaimer took a deep dive with Dave Korzinski lead author of the research from Angus Reid.

For nearly a year, Mary Sardelis was barred from visiting the nursing home where her 97 year old mother Voula lives. The owners claimed they had the right to do this under trespass laws. It took 316 days before Mary could get in front a judge who ruled that the home was misusing the law. It's not an isolated incident. Jane Meadus of the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly receives dozens of complaints from family members who say they have been barred for speaking out about conditions in the home. AND She had a career as an aerospace engineer before going into politics. Deb Schulte is one of seven Liberals promoted to the front bench. She is the new Minister of Seniors and we had a get-to-know you chat.

There is important new research that will change the treatment for thousands of patients with blocked coronary arteries. The work found that bypass surgery and stents are no more effective than medication in preventing heart attacks and deaths. Libby Znaimer talked with Cardiologist Dr. Vlad Dzavik at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, Toronto General Hospital. AND The holiday season is also prime time for charitable giving. But do you know how much impact your donations have? Or how many cents on the dollar actually go to the cause after administration and other costs. Charity Intelligence has done the research on 750 Canadian charities. Libby sat down with managing Director Kate Bahen.

This week we marked World Kindness Day. Before you roll your eyes, or join hands and sing Kumbaya, have a listen to the evidence of what kindness can do for you. Libby reached Professor Daniel Fessler at UCLA's Bedari Kindness Institute. AND This year drug resistant infections killed 5400 Canadians and those numbers are set to rise dramatically over the next 30 years. A landmark new report predicts superbugs kill nearly 400,000 Canadians and cost the economy $400 billion unless we are able to stop them. Libby reached report author Brett Finlay at his office at the University of British Columbia.

Canadians are often known for downplaying our own stories. As we approach Remembrance Day, author Mark Zuelke is highlighting a forgotten part of our contribution to winning World War 2. The River Battles is the story of one Canadian Corp's crossing of the Emilia Romana plain in Italy in 1944-45. The Italian campaign was the longest undertaken by the Canadian Army and by the time it ended more than 5000 soldiers were killed and nearly 20,000 wounded. Zuelke dropped by our studios to tell the story. AND A new film explores the life and work of Canada's most iconic writer - Margaret Atwood - as she approaches her 80th birthday. Filmmakers Nancy Lang and Peter Raymont got to tag along with Atwood for a year to make their documentary and they told Libby Znaimer all about it.

It was first described as a murder suicide when their bodies were found in a maccabre death scene at their Bridle Path home. It's almost two years after what turned out to be the double murder of Apotex founder Barry Sherman and his philanthropist wife Honey. We still don't know who killed the billionaire victims and why. But The Toronto Star's chief investigative reporter Kevin Donovan uncovered some tantalizing new details in his book: The Billionaire Murders. He stopped by our studios. AND She was one of the first women to rise to the top in Ontario's political back rooms and she was the architect of the unlikely victory of another woman, Kathleen Wynne. But Pat Sorbara, author of 'Let 'Em Howl: Lessons from a Life in Back Room Politics', was caught up in bribery charges that ended her career even though she was acquitted. She looks back on the lessons of a life in politics.

The votes were barely counted after this week's federal election before CARP issued a warning to the new government: The Zoomers advocacy group is demanding dramatic improvements to our healthcare system despite the fact that the issue was largely ignored during the campaign - a campaign that had 40% of CARP members feeling that none of the leaders represented their interests. CARP's Marissa Lennox and demographic expert David Cravit dropped by to mobilize some action. AND It strikes more women over 50 than heart attack, stroke, and breast cancer combined. And while the biggest risk factor for osteoporosis is simply age, most Zoomer women do not believe they are at risk. One in three will break a bone due to osteoporosis but that can be prevented. Libby talked with Family Physician Dr. Iris Gorfinkel about what we can do to protect ourselves.

Canadians go to the polls tomorrow after a polarizing campaign. Short on issues and long on personal attacks is the way many people describe it. And for the Zoomer demographic, there is an overriding feeling of frustration because of the sense that we have been ignored or taken for granted. With only hours left, Libby Znaimer is checking in with our ZoomerVote panel, Peter Muggeridge senior Editor at Zoomer Magazine, and David Cravit, Vice President of ZoomerMedia and our guru on all things demographic. AND Two out of 3 Canadians over the age of 65 take at least 5 different prescription medications. 1 out of 4 take at least 10. With every additional drug, there's also an increased risk of adverse reactions like memory problems and falls. Now a team of researchers at Mcgill University has come up with an online tool to figure out which drugs can be stopped safely. Libby reached Dr. Todd Lee, Associate Professor of Medicine at McGill University.

This week we marked World Mental Health Day, with mental or substance disorders affecting up to 20% of Canadians every year. It manifests in different ways as we move through the life cycle. Psychologist Dr. Oren Amitay told Libby Znaimer that Zoomers are more prone to depression, while he believes the younger generation lacks the resilience to cope with the ups and down of life. AND Two biographies of Justin Trudeau - with two very different takes - came out just in time for the election campaign. We featured John Ivison’s “Education of a Prime Minister” early on, but we held on to Aaron Wherry’s book rather than running it at the height of the blackface scandal which happened well after it was written. Wherry had lots of access to the Prime Minister as he wrote “Promise and Peril” , and his take is that Trudeau had a lofty ambitous agenda even it didn’t always work out.

Do you take Zantac for heartburn? Millions of us do. But the drug - whose generic name is ranitidine - has been recalled while authorities investigate whether it contains too much of a cancer-causing impurity. Meantime, the instructions are confusing: drug stores won't get new stock but they can sell what they have and patients shouldn't necessarily stop taking it. Libby Znaimer sat down with Pharmacist Billy Cheung to get some advice. AND Dr. Bob Bell is an orthopedic cancer surgeon who rose to head up the University Health Network before becoming the province's Deputy Minister of Health. In retirement, he's written a novel - a thriller about a new type of hip replacement that goes very wrong. He walked - very carefully - into our studios to talk about it - a few days after his own hip replacement!

Over the past 5 years, the number of physicians in Canada has skyrocketed - the profession has grown by 12.5% nearly triple the growth rate of our population. But the latest numbers, published by the Canadian Institute for Health Information, beg the question: why do so many people find it so hard to get in to see their doctor in a reasonable amount of time. Libby Znaimer drilled down on the numbers with Dr. Sohail Gandhi, President of the Ontario Medical Association. AND It captured the essence of being a single woman in the 1990's. Sex and the City began as a column Candace Bushnell wrote for the New York Observer before it morphed into a book and a hit TV series about the love lives of four New York women. Bushnell is back with another book based on her own experiences, this time as a Zoomer who leaves the City after the death of her mother, and her dog, followed by a divorce. Libby chatted with her about "Is there still Sex in the City?"

Following those explosive pictures of Justin Trudeau in blackface, we look at the history behind this harmful practice. Photos and videos of Justin Trudeau in blackface and brownface rocked the campaign and they have made headlines around the world. We have all heard extensive discussions about what the impact will be but there is a long and hurtful history to the practice of donning black and brown makeup to pose as characters of colour and Libby sat down with Zoomer Magazine Editor in Chief, Suzanne Boyd, to talk about it. AND Two Montrealers with degenerative diseases will now have access to Medical Assistance in Dying following a Quebec Superior Court decision that declared declared parts of both the federal and provincial laws unconstitutional. Nicole Gladu suffers from post-polio syndrome and Jean Truchon has cerebral palsy. They went to court after their applications for MAID were denied because their deaths were not imminent or forseeable - to use the language of the law. Libby talked to Corey Ruf, from the organization Dying with Dignity, about what this means for all Canadians.

The writ has been dropped, the campaign is on, and two new books take an in depth look at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's four years in power. Libby will take a feature look at both starting this week with National Post columnist John Ivison's "Trudeau:The education of a Prime minister." AND From the Prime Minister to his mother. Libby talks to Margaret Trudeau about her one woman show which lands in Toronto next week. "Certain Woman of an Age" is a no-holds barred account of her marriage to then-prime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau and her delayed mental illness diagnosis.

It was a brotherhood until it wasn't. Once Were brothers, the documentary that opened this year's TIFF, chronicles the story of one of the most iconic rock bands ever, The Band. It tells the story from Robbie Robertson's perspective and Libbie Znaimer sat down with the 76-year-old star earlier this week. AND It has been a conundrum for doctors treating patients after a heart attack caused by blocked arteries. Should they try to prevent a second heart attack putting stents in arteries that are only partially blocked or is that too invasive? A study out of McMaster University has answered that question decisively. Dr. Shamir Mehta is the lead author.

It's a milestone on the road to adulthood and many young people are marking it this weekend as they leave home for university or college. It can be hard for parents to let go and for kids to stop relying on Mom and Dad to deal with all their problems. Where is the balance? Harlan Cohen is the author of "15 Things Parents of First Year College Students Should Never Do". Libby Znaimer reached him in Chicago. AND At 42, Measha Brueggergosman is an internationally renowned soprano and the mother of two small children. But she is also the survivor of two major cardiac events. Ten years ago she nearly died from a dissected aorta, and just this June, in the midst of a hectic performance schedule, she suffered a heart attack followed by emergency bypass surgery. She stopped by our studios to talk about her recovery.

Coming out as gay when you're a Zoomer - the mayor of Ottawa did that just last weekend - at the age of 58. There's no question The LGBTQ community is more accepted now than when he was a young man. But there are still many reasons people delay acknowledging their sexuality - spouses, children, or religion to name a few. The Reverend Anne-Marie Zanzal (www.annemariezanzal.com) came out as a lesbian when her marriage ended and she now counsels others going through the process. Libby Znaimer reached her in Nashville, Tennesee. AND We are all familiar with the campaigns urging Zoomers to be aware of the signs of stroke and what to do if we experience them. But what if there are no symptoms? It turns out these so-called silent strokes are quite common. They are most likely to happen after surgery, and they can lead to major strokes within a year. Dr. P.J. Devereaux of McMaster University led the study that laid out the risks.

So you think you know how to raise children? But a lot has changed since you last diapered the kids who are now becoming parents - not to mention emotional minefields like grandparent wars! That's why Sunnybrook Health Sciences is offering a prenatal course for grandparents to be. Libby Znaimer talked with patient educator Kelly Grier. AND He spends much of his time doing something old-fashioned - making house calls for his palliative care patients. But Dr. Sandy Buchman has some very modern ideas about how to improve our healthcare. Libby talked to Dr. Buchman after he was installed as the 142nd President of the Canadian Medical Association.

Parents are not only helping their kids buy their first home, more than one in three say they’re also chipping in for rent. That’s according to a recent poll that followed another study on housing affordability, which found nearly half of parents plan on helping their children buy a place while one in four already had. None of this shocks Steve Ranson, President and CEO of Home Equity Bank and the CHIP Reverse mortgage. AND Unlike musical festivals now, that can have the eyes and ears of the world on them, only those who were actually at Woodstock could experience it while the rest of us played catch up courtesy of newscasts that reported on the music, masses, and mud. Helping us mark the musical milestone is Zoomer Radio’s own musician and host, Robbie Laine.

18.1 million new cases and 9.6 million deaths last year alone. Those are the latest numbers on the burden of cancer around the world. Libby Znaimer talked to Dr. Aaron Schimmer head of research at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre to learn what it means for us. AND Badass Beauty Queen is a documentary about the saga of Anastasia Lin, 2015's Miss World Canada. Her family in China was threatened and she was barred from the Miss World pageant in China because she spoke out about human rights abuses there. The story has special resonance now that 2 Canadians are detained in Chinese prisons in apparent retaliation for Canada's arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wan Jo. Libby reached Anastasia Lin at her home in New York.

The national Capital Commission lists its condition as critical. The problem with 24 Sussex Drive is that prime minister after prime has refused to spend money on renovations - presumably to avoid being accused of wasting taxpayers dollars on themselves. Now the Conservatives are blasting Justin Trudeau because the cost, estimated at $10 million in 2008 has skyrocketed to 34.5 million for a reno or $38.5 to tear it down and rebuild. But this fight started long before the last election. Libby Znaimer reached David Flemming from Heritage Ottawa. AND Andrew Scheer was speaking to an audience of dairy farmers when he said he would overhaul the Canada Food Guide. That group was instrumental in clinching the Conservative Party leadership for him. They are aggrieved because dairy is no longer listed as an essential food group. What do the experts think? Libby reached obesity specialist Dr. Yoni Freedhof to find out. He is an associate professor of family medicine at the University of Ottawa and the founder of the Bariatric Medical Institute.

Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin made history 50 years ago, July 20, 1969, during a decade that was as much about the space race as it was music and changing social norms. Former Canadian astronaut Bob Thirsk shares his recollections about the Apollo 11 landing and predicts where men and women will go next, and when! AND About 50-million people worldwide are living with dementia and Alzheimer’s is the most common form, a big conference in L-A has just concluded. Experts and scientists shared the latest findings on research in the field. The medical director of the Toronto Memory Program Dr. Sharon Cohen, joined us to share these findings with you.

So you’re finally taking that big trip on the bucket list only to find that you’re sharing your experience of ancient sites and breathtaking landscapes with hordes of other tourists. You may also be hurting the locals by using up their resources and pricing them out of the market. That was partly Libby's experience on a recent trip to Greece. It’s a fairly new phenomenon called "overtourism" and Libby checked in with Megan Epler Wood, Director of Harvard’s International Sustainable Tourism Initiative. And A new VisionTV series follows Zoomers and their children on their adventures of a lifetime, it’s called 50 Ways to Kill Your Mom. The concept is simple: celebrities take their parents on challenging, thrill-seeking inter-generational adventures and document it all in a reality TV series. Libby talked with Jon about his road trip with his mother.

The internet CAN be the wrong place to look for love is you get caught in a romance scam, now among the biggest threats online for seniors looking for human connection. It ranks up there with the more reported on scams like the CRA Scam, where an agent posing as an employee of with Canada Revenue Agency demands money for unpaid taxes. Durham Regional Police Sgt. Deb Anderton is an expert in these matters. Christine Ross reached her by phone. AND It's a memoir of mental illness from a unique perspective. For 10 years author Susan Doherty volunteered with severely schizophrenic and psychotic patients at Montreal's Douglas institute. Libby Znaimer talked with her about "The Ghost Garden."

Companies don’t give ageism the same attention as other forms of bias according to Forbes Insight survey. And the numbers suggest that age discimination is alive and well in the U-S with 2 out of 3 employees over 45 have witnessed age discrimination. Author and executive coach Bonnie Marcus is currently writing a book about women over 50 in the workplace. Christine Ross reached her by phone. And Zoomers are the happiest according to a new national poll. The Happiness Index by market research firm Leger, asked Canadians across the country to rate their level of happiness on a scale of one to 10 and note which factors they believe influence their happiness the most. Those over 55 who earn a higher income are happiest but also indicates that money is not a factor to their happy state. Christine Ross reached Leger Executive Vice President Dave Scholz.

This week the federal government unveiled its long-awaited dementia strategy which focuses on prevention and help for caregivers. But it will take more research to conquer the disease and that's why Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging received 46-million dollars to investigate the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of dementia. Dr. Howard Chertkow is leading more than 300 researchers in this effort. He dropped by our Liberty Village studios to tell Libby Znaimer about it. And The alternative meat market is booming, with plant-based fake meats taking over grocery stores and fast food restaurants. Part of the appeal is that eating less red meat can reduce health risks such heart disease. But nutritionists say ordering a meatless burger at a fast food chain might not be that much better for you. The nutritional profiles are strikingly similar, both pack the same amount of sodium, calories and fat content. And in all cases the meatless version were more expensive in most fast food menus.

Marie Henein is one of the most renowned lawyers in the country. Recently she took on the government, successfully defending former Vice-Admiral Mark Norman on breach of trust charges. But it was her defense of former CBC host Jian Ghomeshi that put her in the national spotlight. After that activists tried to stop her from speaking on campus… accusing her of promoting rape culture... which why she is the perfect person to speak on Democracy and Freedom of Speech at ideaCity. Libby and Marie chatted ahead her appearance there. And The job only pays $10,000 a year, but it is a huge honour. In his first 3 months as Toronto's Poet Laureate, Albert Moritz has written verse to mark everything from a high school graduation to the anniversary of the Yonge Street van Attack. He may be new as the laureate but he's written more than 15 books of poetry. He joins Libby in studio to discuss.

The report of the inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women was released earlier this week and the most startling conclusion was that the violence against these women amounts to a genocide. The prime minister was heckled when, at first, he refrained from using that word. Within 24 hours, he said he accepted the finding. Many others do not, and the use of this term has caused more debate than the actual recommendations. Libby Znaimer reached renowned Human Rights Lawyer and former Justice Minister Irwin Cotler in Montreal to discuss. And It's been called a tsunami and a rising tide. That's the prediction for the burden of Alzheimer's Disease as the baby boom generation ages. Dr. Carmela Abraham has been researching Alzheimer's for nearly 40 years. While the focus of much of the work has been on the amyloid plaques believed to cause the disease, Dr. Abraham is taking a different approach - one that may someday prevent Alzheimer's. Libby spoke with her ahead of her talk at ideaCity.

It’s a philosophical question as much as a practical one: Can money buy health? It’s the subject longevity and wellness guru, Dr. Mark Liponis, will tackle at IdeaCity later this month. And his experience makes his perspective truly unique. AND More and more patients are choosing medical assistance in dying as a means to end their suffering and to have what can be considered a good death. But the family home is often not the right place and neither is the hospital. Assisted Dying Resources Centres is a new charity stepping in to fill the void. Libby talked to CEO Tom Foreman.

More than half of Canadian households maintain a garden and we spend about 4 billion dollars doing it. But this season's weather is throwing a curve. With heavy rains and floods and cold that won't quit, Libby reached out to Gardening guru Mark Cullen for some advice. And It's something every level of government has promised to do and almost everyone would agree with: making our environment accessible for people with disabilities. But even if goodwill is there, the execution has been slow. That's why Man in Motion Rick Hansen is launching a new campaign to raise awareness. Libby chatted with him when he was in town.

May is Vision Health Month. Have you had your eyes checked lately? There's a lot to look out for beyond seeing if you need stronger readers... as Libby found out for herself... Dr. Ritesh Patel of the Ontario Association of Optometrists dropped by to talk about it And Has the legalization of marijuana made you canna-curious? Zoomer Media has teamed up with entrepreneur Derek Riedle of "Civilized" to answer all our questions.

We talk to the inimitable Dr. Ruth Westheimer about the documentary "Ask Dr. Ruth" about the tiny Jewish grandmother who became an unlikely pop culture icon. It's not just about sex. For, Westheimer this was the right time to open up about her past as an orphan of the Holocaust. AND Many of you are probably enjoying or about to enjoy a special Mother's day brunch. And chances are, the way you raised your kids is different from the way they in turn are raising theirs. From helicopter mothers, to snowplows and lawnmowers, the landscape is changing. Erica Diamond is an entrepreneur and parenting expert.

For 34 years the iconic comic strip ran in nearly 1400 newspapers becoming a humourous touchstone for women in a changing times. The real Cathy Guisewhite stopped by the studio to talk about her new book “Fifty Things that aren’t My Fault.” AND Paul Ehrlich’s 1968 book “The Population Bomb” gained wide acceptance with the dire prediction that millions would starve as we competed for scarce resources. Two new works explode that idea. Empty Planet by Darrell Bricker and John Ibbitson argues that the coming Global Population Decline is a bigger threat. Population Bombed! Exploding the Link Between Overpopulation and Climate Change takes aim at the idea that a growing population can only result in unsustainable increases in greenhouse gas emissions. Their argument is that ingenuity and economic development will provide the answers. The Global Warming Policy Foundation published the book. Libby talked to its Director Benny Peiser when he was in town.

"If You Can Read my Mind" is a song you, and many Zoomers, listened to growing up, and can still be found here on AM 740, but it's also the title of a new documentary about the life, career, influence of the Orillia-born superstar. On the line to talk about it with fill in host Bob Komsic are writers and directors Joan Tosoni and Martha Kehoe. And - What's the first thing you do when you forget something? Do you ask 'What was I looking for?' or 'What did I come here for?' Does it worry you? Or do you brush it off with a smile and call it a senior moment? A new American study has demonstrated that the secret to restoring memory loss, at least temporarily, could be through a series of brief, painless electric pulses to your brain. The study's author, Aneesha Nilakantan of Northwestern University's Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimers Centre, joined Bob Komsic on the line.

More and more older Canadians are interested in medical cannabis because of its potential to ease pain and improve cognitive function. CARP - a new vision of aging - is partnering with Spectrum Cannabis ... a wholly owned subsidiary of Canopy Growth Corporation. They will offer tailored educational initiatives for the more than 320-thousand CARP members ...who will received a 20% discount on strains that carry the ''CARP Recommended'' seal. Libby talked with Hilary Black, Chief Advocacy Officer at Spectrum Cannabis And - He’s led orchestras around the world and been a vital part of our sister station The New Classical FM for decades. Now Kerry Stratton is learning to conduct his life with ALS - Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Libby visited him and his wife Elizabeth ahead of a special concert in his honour.

She’s a beloved politician, a trailblazing woman and now a cover model at the age of 98... She’s on the cover of the May issue of Zoomer Magazine and has the distinction of being the oldest cover subject ever. Libby talked with the indomitable Hazel McCallion. And - Comedians Steve Martin and hometown guy Martin Short have no intention of retiring although their show alludes to it in the title: “Now you see them soon you won’t.” Libby chatted ahead of their show at the Sony Centre.

In a first in North America, every resident of Nova Scotia could soon become an automatic organ donor. The province is proposing legislation, to adopt ‘presumed consent’ around organ donation, which means everyone is deemed a donor unless they opt out. Families will continue to be consulted about their loved ones' wishes and those under 19 and people without decision-making capacity would be exempt. It’s a system that has worked well in places like Spain and the Netherlands. Libby talked with Dr. Stephen Beed, medical director of Nova Scotia's Legacy of Life and critical care organ donation program. And - 90 percent of women will have to manage their own finances at some point, because they become widowed, divorced, or have never married. “Bank on Yourself” is a primer on how to prepare. Authors Ardelle Harrison and Leslie McCormick dropped by our studios.

Imagine if new information doctors learn from treating a cancer patient here could be immediately available to help tailor a treatment for someone in St. John or iqualouit? That’s the idea behind $150 million item in Last week’s pre-election budget. The money will create a Marathon of Hope Cancer network in the name of Terry Fox so cancer centres, from coast to coast, can share data to personalize therapies using the newest “Precision Medicine”. Libby talked with Dr. Victor Ling President and Scientific Director of TFRI about what it will mean for patients. And - Buffy Sainte Marie is an iconic Canadian singer author and activist famous for her peace anthem “Universal Soldier.” The song was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of fame in 2005. Now the writer is about to receive the same honour. Libby chatted with Buffy Sainte Marie after she got the news.

For years, daily low-dose aspirin was being prescribed as a magic bullet to prevent heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular disease. Older Canadians were advised to undertake this regimen whether they had heart problems or not. Now there is evidence that the risks outweigh the benefits. The American Heart Association released the new guidelines and Libby reached Dr. Marc Ruel at the Ottawa Heart Institute to discuss. And - call it a manual with everything you need to know to push back against ageism. Author Ashton Applewhite says she wanted to erase many of the myths about later life. Libby reached her in NYC.

An unprecedented one-in-six Canadian adults is living alone - Whether by choice or circumstance. Statistics Canada found more than a quarter of Zoomers over 65 are solo dwellers - a number that’s actually declining in part because men are living longer. Nora Spinks CEO of the Vanier Institute of the Family unpacks the trend. And - Can you spot a real from a fake? Apparently, many of us can NOT! A recent survey conducted by Interac found 96 per cent were unable to identify a scam. And the Competition Bureau of Canada says Canadians lost 97 million dollars to fraud last year. That’s why officials are bringing us up to speed on the new and ongoing scams during this Fraud Awareness Month. Libby chatted with Sgt. Guy Paul Larocque of the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

First he became the world’s leading advocate of the slow movement. Now best selling author Carl Honore’s new book Bolder is a call to action for us all to redefine aging, which is our philosophy here at Zoomer Media. He joines Libby to talk about it. And – Although Zoomers have the potential to age better than ever before, older parents are also feeling the financial squeeze. A new study by RBC finds a staggering number are still financially supporting children into their mid 30’s. Libby speaks to RBC VP of Retirement Strategies Rick Lowes to find out more.

This week, the provincial government announced sweeping changes to modernize Ontario’s 60 billion dollar health care system. It’s creating a new super-agency by consolidating local and provincial health networks like Cancer Care Ontario, to create a central agency. Libby speaks with Christine Elliott, Minister of Health for Ontario, on what the changes mean for Zoomers. And – As the federal government prepares to pardon Canadians for simple pot possession….Chris James, the owner of a former Toronto pot dispensary, is suing the province for damages, after the Ford Tories capped the number of retail pot licenses at just 25. Chris James joins Libby to talk about it.

Have you ever received really bad customer service but you weren’t sure how to “fight back”? There’s a new way to resolve consumer complaints that takes the guesswork out of filing your grievance. Libby talks with founder and CEO of myresolver.ca, James Walker. And – Remembering a pioneering fashion icon. 85-year-old designer Karl Lagerfeld died this week, and was working until almost the end of his life. Libby talks with Zoomer Magazine editor-in-chief and veteran fashion journalist Suzanne Boyd.

With a federal election just 8 months away, the Trudeau government’s final budget is expected sometime next month. The Zoomer Advocacy group CARP has spent this last year calling for critical changes needed for older Canadians like financial security, healthcare and housing support. The man who will deliver the budget, Finance minister Bill Morneau, visited our Zoomer Radio studios this week. And – Table tennis CAN be a low impact sport with many health benefits for older Canadians. But a Toronto senior athlete is taking it to the next level. We’ll introduce you to the 75 year old who’ll compete in next year’s table tennis world championship. You may already know him…Libby talks with former city councilor Gordon Cressy.

Ground-breaking Canadian research is radically changing the way we think of vascular disease. For the first time ever, the connections between heart conditions, stroke and cognitive decline have been mapped, proving they’re more deeply connected than researchers knew. The Heart and Stroke Foundation calls it a troubling wake up call. Libby talks to director of Toronto West Regional Stroke Centre and U of T professor, Dr. Leanne Casaubon. And – We remember the remarkable life of Kitty Cohen, whose infectious spirit made her a celebrity. The 106-year-died this week. Her active life serves as a lesson to us all on how to embrace aging.