Mental health remains low despite signs of re-opening
Morneau Shepell's Mental Health Index™ shows isolation has increased from the prior month and the mental health of those with reduced salary is slightly worse than those who lost jobs
TORONTO, June 1, 2020 /CNW/ - Morneau Shepell, a leading provider of total wellbeing, mental health and digital mental health services in Canada, today released the second of its monthly Mental Health Index™ report, showing a consistent negative mental health score in the country. The findings show that COVID-19 continues to have a negative impact on mental wellbeing, despite a slowing of infections, and most provinces proceeding with a phased reopening.
The Mental Health Index™ for May showed a 12-point decline from the pre-pandemic benchmark of 75. This month's overall score is identical to the score last month, however the sub-scores show a modest improvement in anxiety countered by a larger increase in isolation. The main factors contributing to poorer mental health in the month were anxiety (-14.0 points), depression (-13.9), work productivity (-13.5), optimism (-12.3) and isolation (-11.9). Additionally, this is the second consecutive month where Canadians report an increase in mental stress compared to the prior month. The continuing low Mental Health Index™ score, plus the continued month-over-month increase in mental stress, raises concerns regarding the potential longer-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Canadians' mental health.
Across the country, we see some modest improvement in the Mental Health Index™ in Alberta, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, the Maritimes and Saskatchewan, and declines in British Columbia, Quebec and Ontario. British Columbia had the most significant increase in stress compared to the prior month, and Manitoba and Saskatchewan had the lowest increases.
"As we enter the third month since COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic, there are still many questions regarding the reopening of the economy and what lifted restrictions mean for Canadians," said Stephen Liptrap, president and chief executive officer. "The continued compromise to Canadians' mental health and wellbeing demonstrates that there is still much work to be done to help mitigate this critical dimension of the public health crisis. As we start to see the end of the strict lock-downs, we need to remain vigilant about support for mental health and not take our eyes off that issue."
Continuing the trend revealed in April, individuals who identify as female are more likely to report a negative impact to their mental health as a result of the pandemic, with an average score of -13.9 (compared to the -9.2 score for those who identify as male). Other populations at higher risk include those aged 20-29 and those in the lowest income bracket (under $30,000 per annum). Among households, those with one child scored -13.7 and those with three or more children scored -9.2 on the Mental Health Index™. Comparatively, households with no children scored -10.7. For those with access to an employee assistance program either directly or through their partner, respondents reported better mental health (-10.7) compared to those who did not have access (-12.4).
Maintaining employment does not protect mental health if salary is reduced Sixty-one per cent of Canadians indicated that they remained employed at the same income level. Twenty-eight per cent of Canadians indicated either a reduction in hours or salary. Meanwhile, those who maintained their income had the best mental health scores (-9.4). Those who maintained employment, but with reduced salary had the lowest scores (-15.4)
In considering industry, those in healthcare fared slightly better in terms of mental health than the population overall (-11 vs -12). While the stressors in this sector are undeniable, the support and recognition shown by the general public may be softening its impact.
"Our Mental Health Index™ shows that Canadians are struggling to cope with changes on how they socialize, work and maintain overall health and wellbeing," said Paula Allen, senior vice president of research, analytics and innovation. "We also see that certain factors make a difference: losing salary even if you keep your job, the support and recognition you get for your work and the risks you face, whether your organization has an EAP. We need to continue to pay close attention to this evolving situation. With greater attention to mental health, and more support, we will hopefully see an improvement from the overall dire state."
About the Mental Health Index™ The monthly survey by Morneau Shepell was conducted through an online survey in English and French from April 30 to May 11, 2020, with 3,000 respondents in Canada. All respondents reside in Canada and were employed within the last six months. The data has been statistically weighted to ensure the regional and gender composition of the sample reflect this population. The margins of error for the survey are +/- 3.2 per cent, valid 19 times out of 20. The Mental Health Index™ is published monthly, beginning April 2020, and compares against benchmark data collected in 2017, 2018 and 2019. The full Canadian report can be found at https://www.morneaushepell.com/permafiles/92590/mental-health-index-report-canada-may-2020.pdf.
About Morneau Shepell Morneau Shepell is a leading provider of technology-enabled HR services that deliver an integrated approach to employee wellbeing through our cloud-based platform. Our focus is providing world-class solutions to our clients to support the mental, physical, social and financial wellbeing of their people. By improving lives, we improve business. Our approach spans services in employee and family assistance, health and wellness, recognition, pension and benefits administration, retirement consulting, actuarial and investment services. Morneau Shepell employs approximately 6,000 employees who work with some 24,000 client organizations that use our services in 162 countries. Morneau Shepell is a publicly traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: MSI). For more information, visit morneaushepell.com.
SOURCE Morneau Shepell Inc.
Plastic Surgery after COVID-19: One Third of Patients Will Continue Using Virtual Consultations
After the COVID-19 pandemic, some lockdown practices are here to stay. Plastic surgery clinic estimates that 20-30% of its patients will continue using virtual consultations. Otherwise, after a temporary overload, plastic surgery practice should return to its normal course.
June 1st, 2020. As the wave of the COVID-19 pandemic slowly subsides and the lockdown measures are lifted around the world, predictions about the future of plastic surgery start to emerge. Some experts see the pandemic as the major game-changer in the field of plastic surgery. According to the reports, online consultations will replace face-to-face meetings, safety procedures will be more rigid and because of that cosmetic surgery will become less attractive to patients. However, the director of Nordesthetics clinic - a leading international plastic surgery center in Kaunas, Lithuania, is more reserved in her predictions.
"Virtual consultations are definitely here to stay," said Justina Bartkute, the director of Nordesthetics clinic. "We will continue to offer them and expect some 20-30% of patients to prefer virtual consultations over face-to-face meetings. For the remaining patients virtual consultations are not attractive, because, for example, they feel uncomfortable undressing before the camera. The security of technologies is also a major obstacle for the development of virtual consultations as in doctor-patient relations confidentiality is the first priority."
According to Ms. Bartkute, the clinic is presently forced to work in the virtual mode with the majority of its patients. But the surgeons expect to renew face-to-face meetings with patients as soon international travel restrictions are lifted. Ms. Bartkute thinks that clinics should not extrapolate future predictions from current restrictions.
"Predictions concerning the rigidity of safety procedures and the reluctance of patients to come for surgeries are too far-fetched," she says. "Most of the COVID-19 containment measures are usual medical precautions, such as disinfection or measurement of body temperature. Contrary to the general public, hospitals did not have to change their usual mode of work dramatically. Such discomforts as visiting restrictions are temporary. They won't last forever and they won't have substantial influence on the demand for plastic surgery".
During the quarantine, all patients coming for consultations to Nordesthetics clinic have to measure their body temperature, disinfect their hands, wear face masks and gloves. Consultations are limited to 20 minutes with only 1-2 patients visiting the clinic at a time. Before surgeries, all patients have SARS-CoV-2 tests in addition to other pre-surgical testing. Accompanying persons or visitors are not allowed at the clinic.
According to Ms. Bartkute, these measures do not cause any major irritation or repulse among patients. She is much more concerned over travel restrictions as these are a major problem for an international plastic surgery center.
"Due to restrictions of international travel the average waiting time at our clinic increased to 6 months," explained Ms. Bartkute. "It means that we will experience a temporary overload once these restrictions are lifted. But we are already increasing our treatment capacity and will reduce the waiting time to 3 months. In the long run, we expect to return to our normal mode of operations with a steady increase in demand that we had before the pandemic."
Every year Nordesthetics clinic hosts over 2.000 patients, 90% of whom are medical tourists looking for affordable quality treatment abroad. The clinic offers tummy tuck, liposuction, rhinoplasty, breast augmentation and other popular plastic surgeries. Apart from the qualified doctors and medical staff, the patients receive logistical support and personal assistance while they visit Kaunas, Lithuania, including transfers to and from the airport.
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ABOUT NORDESTHETICS
Nordesthetics is a private plastic surgery clinic in Kaunas, Lithuania, part of Nordclinic, offering high-quality services and focusing on foreign patients. It is equipped with modern diagnostic and surgical facilities. Medical professionals at the clinic speak fluent English and show personal attention to every patient. www.nordesthetics.com/en/
Green Goo Donates Hand Sanitizer to U.S. Based Organizations and Individuals Affected by COVID-19
Women-owned brand expands mission to 'Spread Goodness' in face of global pandemic
LYONS, Colo., May 21, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- All-natural body care brand Green Goo, under parent company Sierra Sage Herbs, is honored to support frontline workers, medical facilities, and local and national organizations making a difference in the fight against COVID-19 with instrumental product donations, including FDA-compliant hand sanitizer and first aid items.
Green Goo Hand Sanitizer Donations Image
Pivoting at the onset of the global pandemic to produce an affordable hand sanitizer for those in need, Green Goo has leveraged its manufacturing partnerships to produce a steady supply of the 63.5% alcohol gel, in a variety of packaging options, in order to provide an in-stock solution for consumers and organizations alike. With production capacity and volume steadier and more reliable, Green Goo has been able to realign focus back to its philosophical cornerstones: philanthropy and humanitarianism.
"Our company mission is 'Spread Goodness,' and that never stops, regardless of the obstacles thrown in our way," Green Goo Co-Founder and CEO Jodi Scott said. "We recognized at the onset of the current situation that we not only needed to protect our families and our employees, but that we had an obligation to find a way to make a difference, no matter how big or small. We are privileged to be in a position to share these meaningful products with those in need. The organizations receiving our hand sanitizers -- major government and educational health authorities, hospitals, first responders, and shelters for at-risk populations, for example – are doing the kind of work necessary to keep people safe and informed during these uncertain times. To play any part in that world is the reason we started this company in the first place."
The following organizations have received donations of hand sanitizer and/or all-natural first aid products from Green Goo:
Alameda Health System – Oakland, Calif.
Bayshore Medical Center – Flanders, N.J.
Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times – Los Angeles
Central Texas Food Bank – Austin, Texas
God's Love We Deliver – New York
Harbor House of Central Florida – Orlando, Fla.
James A. Haley Veterans Hospital – Tampa, Fla.
McLeod Health Clarendon - Manning, S.C.
Navajo Nation with help from Orenda Tribe and The Lani Rhys Collective - Albuquerque, N.M.
Not 4gotten NY – Woodstock, N.Y.
OUT Boulder County – Boulder, Colo.
Providence Fire Department – Santee, S.C.
The Arc of Washington County – Hagerstown, Md.
The City of New York's NYC Health Department – New York
UCLA Health – Los Angeles
The preceding list ranges from hospitals and medical personnel to food banks, other first responder groups, and entities providing educational and protective services. Green Goo is also setting aside a percentage of monthly hand sanitizer sales to select local and national organizations. The recipients of the financial contribution for the month of April were L.E.A.F (Lyons Emergency & Assistance Fund, Lyons) and Direct Relief. Boulder Community Health Foundation (Boulder) and Johns Hopkins Medicine have been selected to receive financial donations following the month of May.
Additionally, donated products have been sent to numerous individuals working in hospitals with affected patients, social workers, small-business owners, and others defining the American response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Green Goo will continue to produce compliant hand sanitizer options and search for additional opportunities to offer related support for as long as deemed necessary by U.S. health officials.
Temporary Isolation Can Be TheOpportunity To Permanently Transform Your Weight And Health
Los Angeles, CA, May 29, 2020 ̶ Not sure how to eat and stay healthy this quarantine season without resorting to your familiar diet of spaghetti, bread, pizza, and sugar? Candice Rosen, R.N., MSW, and author of the upcoming book Forget Dieting: It’s All About Data-Driven Fueling! encourages "trophology," or "food combining," which is one of the foundations of Rosen's Data-Driven Fueling Plan. As you combine foods, Rosen adds that "monitoring blood glucose is the key to weight gain vs. weight loss; good health vs. poor health."
1. Make Wednesdays and Fridays Vegan Days. According to Rosen, avoid dairy! Try vegan yogurts, cheeses, and milks. Dairy is inflammatory and will deplete your bones of calcium (it’s true!). There are unsweetened milks of almond, hemp, cashew, etc., and all are available in grocery stores. A low blood glucose breakfast idea would be a sprouted grain English muffin, spread with a tofu or nut-based cream cheese, some sliced tomatoes, and topped off with sea salt or Trader Joe’s Everything But The Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend.
2. Eat fruits that are high in fiber. Apples, bananas, oranges, berries ̶ the list goes on! You will still want to avoid sugary fruit juices, as well as very sweet fruits like pineapples and mangos while trying to lose weight. Fruit is always eaten alone with two exceptions: they can be added to a vegan smoothie and they can be eaten with a nut or seed butter. These healthy fats reduce the chance of a blood glucose spike.
3. Nothing white. To lower blood glucose, do not eat or combine animal proteins with any white potatoes, bread, rice, or pasta… EVER. Sorry!
4. Eat More Sweet Potatoes. Think wholesome, nutritious, responsibly grown, pancreatic-friendly foods (food that doesn’t raise your blood glucose) like sweet potatoes and yams, which are an incredibly nutritious carbohydrate that are low in sugar levels and provide fiber. They’re best consumed baked or steamed, but can also be cooked in a variety of other ways. A great lunch or dinner option (and it is inexpensive) is a baked sweet potato, split down the middle with a large spoonful of black beans, a tablespoon of tomatillo salsa, and a side salad. To lower blood sugar, eat them with veggies and plant-based protein together… NOT MEAT!
5. Try Fish. Give your body a break from animal protein. Red meats increase inflammation and provide poor sources of fat. However, if you crave protein, try fish! For those who aren’t allergic, fish is a fantastic source of protein that’s low in carbohydrates and contains high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, one of the few consumable healthy fats! If consuming fish raw, remember only sashimi-style – no white rice! To lower blood sugar, combine fish with veggies, not starches or fruit.
About the author:
Candice P. Rosen, RN, MSW, CHC, is a registered nurse based in Los Angeles, CA. As the founding member of Gilda’s Club Chicago and its first executive director and program director, she created and coordinated a diverse array of wellness-related programs. She was appointed by Mayor Richard Daley to serve as Chair of Healthcare Initiatives for Chicago’s Sister Cities International Program (CSCIP). CSCIP provided an opportunity to advocate for preventive medicine, improve maternal and infant healthcare, stress disability access, promote nourishing diets, and bring awareness to the obesity and diabetes epidemics that now affect populations on a global level. She is married and the mother of four adult children and grandmother to a precious granddaughter. For more information on Candice, please visit https://candicerosenrn.com.
By Professor Georgina Ellison-Hughes, Dr Rocio Martinez-Nunez and Dr Rui Ribeiro Galao, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King’s College London
With promises of antibody tests being rolled out in the next few days to NHS and care staff in England, and retailers told not to send home-testing kits as their accuracy is questioned, it is timely to consider what we do and don’t know about these tests. What do we know about the immune response to COVID-19 and how does this differ by age, gender, co-morbidities or other traits? What are the different tests available? How reliable are they? Do the tests show immunity? And do we even know how long immunity to COVID-19 might last.
What do we know about the immune response to COVID-19?
The immune response to COVID19 can be split into a healthy antiviral immune response or a defective/overactive immune response, which is often implicated in the resulting damage to the lungs and other organs, and then the person can be severely ill. There is a high percentage of patients that get infected with SARS-CoV-2 and do not develop any symptoms, hence the importance of social distancing to protect others since we do not know who can be carrying the virus.
Initially, viral infection switches on antiviral defences. These include interferons and pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, which kill the virus and attract immune cells (neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages and T cells) to the site of infection. The virus enters cells employing ACE2 as a receptor, a protein that is expressed in many cell types and present in the epithelium in the airways.
In the healthy immune response, the innate antiviral defences fight against the virus and virus-specific T cells can later eliminate the infected cells before the virus spreads. Neutralizing antibodies in these individuals can block viral infection, and phagocytic cells such as alveolar macrophages recognize neutralized viruses and apoptotic cells and clear them by phagocytosis. Altogether, these processes lead to clearance of the virus and minimal lung damage, resulting in recovery.
In a defective immune response, there is a hyperactivation of the immune cells in the lungs causing overproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines (cytokine storm), which eventually damages the lungs. The resulting cytokine storm circulates to other organs, leading to multiple organ damage.
In patients that are severely ill there is a combination of multi-organ damage, increased coagulation and lymphopenia. Researchers are trying to elucidate the mechanisms underlying these responses and the causes for the hyperactivation of the immune response.
Longer-term immunity is acquired through antibodies made by the B cells of the immune system, which stick around in the blood post-infection. These antibodies can bind to the virus, either neutralizing it directly or marking it for destruction by other immune cells. Studies have found high levels of neutralizing antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in recently recovered patients. This is the principle behind new trials such as those at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals in which severely ill patients receive plasma from recovered donors. Memory T cells are another source of long lasting immunity and are generated when a person gets infected, remaining in the blood and responding rapidly when re-infection occurs.
How does the immune response differ by age, gender, co-morbidities and other traits?
As we have observed, everyone responds differently to the virus with most healthy, infected people under the age of 65 making a full recovery. However, there is increased severity with age, and if you have an underlying health condition i.e. cardiovascular disease or diabetes. Black and ethnic minorities also seem more affected.
A retrospective, multicentre cohort study has shown old age, being male and cardiovascular disease co-morbidity are risk factors for mortality of COVID19 (Zhou et al. 2020, The Lancet). The most common cardiovascular co-morbidity as a risk factor for mortality is hypertension, followed by diabetes. Moreover, prevalence of hypertension is highest in the elderly population and advanced age remains the strongest predictor of COVID-19 related death.
Because disease severity is due to not only the viral infection but also the host response, older individuals suffer because they have a progressive decline in immune function with increasing age, called immunosenescence.
Another risk factor to disease severity and dying from COVID19 is being male. The reasons for this are currently unclear, but it has been suggested that women may naturally have stronger immune defences than men. Another possibility is that comorbidities associated with poorer prognosis are more common in men.
What are the various antibody test being trialled in labs, and being sold to the public?
With no ‘gold standard’ for antibody testing and an incomplete knowledge of the immunology of COVID-19, it has been problematic to evaluate serologic tests. Several lateral flow immunoassays (similar to a pregnancy test) were initially trialled, with ease of use and affordability weighing heavily in their favour. Several of these have presented high sensitivities and specificities and are available to buy by the public (companies such as Alpha and Blue Horizon). The kits manufactured by Roche and Abbott will shortly be available on the NHS. There is a drive now to test different ELISA platforms including Abbott. ELISA takes longer than lateral flow tests but is quite reliable and is the preferred option for large scale testing.
What are the different ways you administer these tests?
These are all blood tests, and most of them just use a finger prick of blood. The Roche and Abbott tests must be carried out by a doctor and the blood is sent to a laboratory for evaluation. The most commonly used method is to take a blood sample, spin it down in a centrifuge to obtain the plasma serum content of the blood and analyse the presence of antibodies, including neutralising antibodies. Saliva may be another source for antibodies.
Will the antibody test show that the person is immune?
The test will detect whether you have the antibodies (immunoglobulins, IgG and IgM) against SARS-CoV-2. However, having antibodies does not automatically mean you are ‘immune’ against SARS-CoV-2. Neutralizing antibodies are more ‘effective’ against SARS-CoV-2 and most commercial tests detect only if there is presence/absence of immunoglobulins (Ig).
How reliable are the various tests?
The reliability can differ depending on what Ig’s are being detected and how long after you perform the test following testing positive for SARS-Cov-2. The antibody tests available are those that detect the presence of IgM and/or IgG and inform about current (likely in the case of IgM) or previous (IgG) infection with SARS-CoV-2. However, to determine presence of SARS-CoV-2, i.e. if a person is ‘infectious’, PCR remains as the gold standard.
Roche and Abbott have said the level of accuracy for its SARS-Cov-2 antibody test is high, and it was able to distinguish the antibodies from those for closely related coronaviruses, which have been known to produce positive results in tests made by other companies.
What are IgM and IgG antibodies and how do they affect the interpretation of the test?
Immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies are usually the first antibody produced by the immune system when a pathogen attacks. A positive IgM test indicates that you may have been infected recently (peaking at day 7-10 post-infection) and that your immune system has started responding to the virus. When IgM is detected you may or may not still be infected.
Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies develop in most patients within 7 to 10 days after symptoms of COVID-19 begin. IgG antibodies remain in the blood after an infection has passed. These antibodies indicate that you may have had COVID-19 in the recent past and have developed antibodies that may protect you from future infection. Therefore, an IgG antibody test is most reliable as a source of information about previous infection. Tests that combine measurement of IgM and IgG, and therefore do not distinguish between the two, cannot guarantee the presence of IgG antibodies, which are the ones that in theory confer longer immunity and remain in the bloodstream to protect from future infections.
How long does immunity last for?
In patients at least 14 days after discharge from hospital, studies show have high levels of antibody which suggests that their immune system is armed against further attack. Because SARS-CoV-2 has only been around for 6 months, how long the immunity lasts for is unclear. However, if SARS-CoV-2 is like other coronaviruses, like 2002’s SARS 1, or 2012 MERS, then immunity could last for several years. We think that we should err on the side caution because a recent study, by the group of Professor Lia van der Hoek from the University of Amsterdam tested 10 male individuals regularly over a time span of 35 years for four types of coronaviruses, which cause the common cold. Results showed an alarmingly short duration of protective immunity with frequent reinfections at 12 months post-infection and a substantial reduction in antibody levels as soon as 6 months post-infection. It is of note that respiratory viruses are not great at triggering long-lasting immunity.
Tammy Hembrow Healthy Burger & Fries Recipe From Tammy Fit
Serves 2 | 456 cals 🍔🍟
Ingredients
1 small onion, chopped 1 ½ tsp olive oil, divided 12 oz/340g 95% lean ground beef 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce or steak sauce ¼ tsp freshly ground pepper 2 sprouted whole grain hamburger buns 4 slices tomato 2 leaves romaine lettuce 2 tsp dill pickle relish 5oz/141g white potatoes, sliced into strips Salt and pepper to taste
Method
Step 1
Heat 1 tsp olive oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion, cover and cook, stirring often until the onion is softened, 4 to 6 minutes.
Step 2
Reduce heat to medium-low, uncover and cook, stirring occasionally, until very soft, 5 to 8 minutes more. Transfer to a medium bowl and let cool for a few minutes.
Step 3
Add beef, Worcestershire (or steak sauce) and pepper to the onion and gently combine without over mixing. Form into 2 patties, about ¾ inch thick.
Step 4
Coat a nonstick pan with cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat for 1 to 2 minutes. Add burgers, reduce heat to medium and cook, turning once (about 5 minutes per side).
Step 5
For the fries, preheat the oven to 400°F/204°C. Line a pan with parchment paper. Toss the sliced potatoes with ½ tsp olive oil, salt and pepper. Roast for 20 minutes, flipping halfway though.
Step 6
To assemble, place a patty on a burger bun with 2 tomato slices, lettuce and 1 tsp relish. Serve with ½ the fries. Save the leftovers in an airtight container for another meal.
About Tammy Hembrow
Mum-of-two Tammy is one of Australia’s biggest influencers, with over 11 million followers on Instagram (the rest are Hollywood A-listers) and over a million on YouTube– platforms she has leveraged to promote her health and fitness brands, with spectacular results.
Tammy Fit workouts have more than doubled since lockdown began and the app has been downloaded 55,000 times in the last four weeks.
An in-depth look at this and other subjects are covered in the current issue of the Morneau Shepell News & Views
TORONTO, May 28, 2020 /CNW/ - Morneau Shepell released the May 2020 issue of its monthly newsletter, News & Views, in which the company looks at the following topics:
COVID-19 pandemic brings unpaid leaves into focus – Several Canadian jurisdictions have introduced new unpaid job-protected leaves of absence for employees who are required to take time off work due to being under quarantine, having to care for family members, personal illness or public health orders. In addition, some existing unpaid statutory leaves may apply to COVID-19-related absences. Employers should be aware of these entitlements and the impact they may have on pension and retirement plans.
CRA suspends minimum contribution rule for DC pension plans – The Canada Revenue Agency has suspended the minimum contribution rule for defined contribution (DC) pension plans in 2020, which requires DC plans to maintain employer contributions of at least one per cent of pensionable earnings for active members.
FSRA releases additional COVID-19 update – The Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) published additional information on its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. FSRA reminds defined contribution plan sponsors that, in order to reduce or suspend contributions, they must amend the terms of their pension plans. Other items discussed include the availability extensions to the deadline for filing Pension Benefits Guarantee Fund certificates of assessment, and guidance on interpreting electronic communication and witness signature requirements in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Federal government announces moratorium on solvency payments – The Government of Canada has announced that it will be providing relief to sponsors of federally regulated defined benefit pension plans in the form of a moratorium on solvency payments through the remainder of 2020.
Tracking the funded status of pension plans as at April 30, 2020 – Morneau Shepell describes the funded status of pension plans since December 31, 2019 based on three typical investment portfolios. A graph shows the changes in the financial position of a typical defined benefit plan since the end of 2019. A table shows the impact of past returns on plan assets and the effect of interest rate changes on solvency liabilities of a medium duration pension plan.
The impact of pension expense under international accounting as at April 30, 2020 – Morneau Shepell has shown the evolution of the pension expense for a typical defined benefit pension plan. Since the beginning of the year, the pension expense has increased by 2 per cent (for a contributory plan) mainly due to the bad returns on assets (relative to the discount rate).
About Morneau Shepell Morneau Shepell is a leading provider of technology-enabled HR services that deliver an integrated approach to employee wellbeing through our cloud-based platform. Our focus is providing world-class solutions to our clients to support the mental, physical, social and financial wellbeing of their people. By improving lives, we improve business. Our approach spans services in employee and family assistance, health and wellness, recognition, pension and benefits administration, retirement consulting, actuarial and investment services. Morneau Shepell employs approximately 6,000 employees who work with some 24,000 client organizations that use our services in 162 countries. Morneau Shepell is a publicly traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: MSI). For more information, visit morneaushepell.com.
SOURCE Morneau Shepell Inc.
Finalists announced in startup competition that will showcase technology-based solutions for seniors and caregivers
TORONTO, May 28, 2020 /CNW/ - Fifteen Canadian startups have been chosen to compete in this year's AGE-WELL National Impact Challenge, it was announced today.
Finalists will be challenged to explain how their technology-based solution can positively impact older Canadians or their caregivers.
Five finalists will compete in each of three virtual events reflecting the broad spectrum of innovation that exists in Canada's AgeTech sector. The winner at each event will receive $20,000 in cash, plus in-kind prizes.
Finalists in Competition #1 (June 18 livestream):
eNable Analytics
HomeEXCEPT
Novalte
ServUs Health
Sparrow Acoustics
Finalists in Competition #2 (July 9 livestream):
Able Innovations
Braze Mobility
Neurofit
Stabilo Medical
VitalTracer
Finalists in Competition #3 (Sept 29 livestream, in conjunction with the BC Seniors Living Association annual conference):
To register to watch the first two pitch events via livestream, please visit the competition main page. Registered audience members will have a chance to win a Kobo eReader.
Each event also includes a lively panel discussion on the future of AgeTech and its impact on areas such as brain health.
"The need for technologies and services that benefit older Canadians and caregivers is more apparent than ever in these challenging times," said Dr. Alex Mihailidis, Scientific Co-Director and CEO of the AGE-WELL Network of Centres of Excellence. "This competition will spotlight top Canadian startups whose innovations can support the health and quality of life of seniors and those who care for them."
The competition will also support entrepreneurship in Canada's AgeTech sector, and advance our country's leadership in technology-based solutions that benefit people everywhere, Dr. Mihailidis said.
AGE-WELL, Canada's Technology and Aging Network, brings together researchers, older adults, caregivers, partner organizations and future leaders to accelerate the delivery of technology-based solutions that make a meaningful difference in the lives of Canadians.
AGE-WELL thanks all startups and entrepreneurs who submitted applications to the AGE-WELL National Impact Challenge, and congratulates the finalists. Each finalist will deliver a 5-minute pitch, followed by a 5-minute Q&A with a panel of expert judges.
Thank you to the sponsors of this competition: Aging2.0 Local I Halifax Chapter, BC Seniors Living Association, Bereskin & Parr LLP, CARP, IBM Canada Ltd., Impact Centre, Innovacorp, Innovation PEI, New Brunswick Innovation Foundation, Ontario Brain Institute, Spectrum Health Care, and YouAreUNLTD.
About AGE-WELL:
AGE-WELL NCE Inc. is Canada's Technology and Aging Network. The pan-Canadian network brings together researchers, older adults, caregivers, partner organizations and future leaders to accelerate the delivery of technology-based solutions that make a meaningful difference in the lives of Canadians. AGE-WELL researchers are producing technologies, services, policies and practices that improve quality of life for older adults and caregivers, and generate social and economic benefits for Canada. AGE-WELL is funded through the federal Networks of Centres of Excellence program. www.agewell-nce.ca.
SOURCE AGE-WELL Network of Centres of Excellence (NCE)
The Warrior’s Meditation Shares Best-Kept Secret In Stress Relief And Self-Improvement
Portland, OR, May 28, 2020 — The Warrior's Meditation by Richard L. Haight, the award-winning author of The Unbound Soul, makes transformative meditation accessible to the masses, with short, daily sessions that don’t require periods of isolation.
“The Warrior's Meditation is unlike any other meditation. This method is flexible in application, which allows it to blend with whatever your day has in store,” Haight says.
Perfect for people of all backgrounds and skill levels, The Warrior’s Meditationteaches an instinctive, non-religious form of Samurai meditation that is both practical and extremely effective.
Through daily meditation, practitioners can experience the following cognitive and physical benefits, among many others:
1. Improved immune function; decreased cellular inflammation and pain.
2. Increased positive emotions; less anxiety, depression and stress.
3. Increased emotional intelligence and compassion; reduced feelings of insecurity.
4. Increased gray matter in areas related to paying attention, positive emotions, emotional regulation and self-control.
5. Improved memory, creativity and abstract thinking.
Life is busy, and few people have time to spend hours a day in meditation. With The Warrior's Meditation, readers can experience profound clarity and awareness wherever they are and eventually embody meditation as a way of being.
Author Richard L. Haight is a master-level instructor of martial, meditation and healing arts. He began formal martial arts training at age 12 and moved to Japan at the age of 24 to advance his training with masters of the sword, staff and aiki-jujutsu.
During his 15 years in Japan, Haight was awarded masters licenses in four samurai arts as well as a traditional healing art called sotai-ho. He is one of the world's foremost experts in the traditional Japanese martial arts.
Through his books, his meditation and martial arts seminars, Haight is helping to ignite a worldwide movement for personal transformation that is free of all constraints and open to anyone of any level. He now lives and teaches in southern Oregon.
The Warrior's Meditation: The Best-Kept Secret in Self-Improvement, Cognitive Enhancement, and Stress Relief, Taught by a Master of Four Samurai Arts
Publisher: Shinkaikan Body, Mind, Spirit LLC
ISBN-10: 0999210092
ISBN-13: 978-0999210093
Paperback available at all online bookstores.
Webinar is focused on North America
Eden Prairie, MN – May 28, 2020 - DRI-STEEM Corporation (DriSteem), the leading manufacturer of humidification, evaporative cooling, and water treatment products, announced today that they are offering a free webinar addressing the role of humidity in reducing airborne virus transmission for HVAC and consulting engineers throughout North America. The webinar will be presented by DriSteem’s Global Business Development leader, Duncan Curd.
The discussion will focus on how maintaining relative humidity between 40 and 60% RH, as recommended by healthcare experts, decreases the amount and infectivity of viruses in the air, resulting in fewer respiratory infections among building occupants. The audience focus is fit for anyone involved in design, specification, installation, or maintenance of HVAC systems and consulting engineers.
Attendees will receive a .5-hour Professional Development Credit with a Certificate of Completion for all that attend the full presentation.
The webinar will take place Tuesday, June 16, 2020 at 10:30 AM CT (North America)
The webinar is free to all, however it does require registration. Please register by using the link below.
“In an unprecedented time with a pandemic dictating so much of how we do things, it is important for people to understand ways that businesses can keep employees and customers safe and healthy. We are pleased to offer this free webinar addressing the role that humidity plays in reducing virus transmission,” said Jennifer Montville, DriSteem Director of Marketing.
About DriSteem:
DriSteem is a premier provider of humidification, evaporative cooling, and water treatment solutions for commercial and industrial applications. DriSteem offers custom systems for critical indoor environments such as health care, data centers, and other facilities requiring precise control of moisture in the air.
DriSteem’s 50-year history of development and innovation has resulted in multiple patented designs that not only meet but anticipate customers' unique needs. DriSteem is a subsidiary of Research Products Corporation, manufacturer of Aprilaire®, the leading residential humidifier brand, as well as air cleaners, heat-recovery systems, and HVAC accessories.
