theExpress Update
HealthNews
Friday, June 8, 2012
Page 5
Nelson organizations work towards security and support for seniors Imagine a community that is truly friendly to seniors. The Osprey Community Foundation believes Nelson could be that community. Two years ago Osprey launched a community consultation process that identified some of the gaps in service and needs for Nelson-area seniors. Now, it is contracting with Nelson
CARES Society to work with the community to address these needs. Nelson CARES was chosen for its existing infrastructure, its community development experience, and because its proposed plan is a good fit with Osprey’s vision. “We hope to move the community from “what is” to ‘what could be’,” says Nelson Ames, Osprey Board
member who is leading the Foundation’s work in this area. “How can the community support seniors to live full, rewarding lives? What kind of community do we want to live in? This is a discussion that should involve all of us because we’ll all be seniors one day.” The first step of the project will be to bring together members of the community
interested in this issue. An advisory steering committee will be formed and charged with hiring a project manager. This key person will work with the broader community to shape a made-inNelson plan to make this a place where all seniors can live well and age with dignity. Submitted by the Osprey Foundation
Support for those looking to improve mental health system
MindFreedom Nelson is an anonymous psychiatric survivor and allies peer support group that meets on the second and fourth Wednesday’s of each month, 1:30 p.m. at Ankors (101 Baker Street,) Nelson, B.C., in the basement. We talk about alternative and complementary therapies,
and patient’s rights advocacy within the medical and legal system. People of diverse experience and outlook are welcome. Come and join our anonymous, nonjudgmental group to share your story of psychiatric survival. MindFreedom Nelson is an affiliate of MindFreedom International, which
is a non-profit human rights organization working to change the mental health system. MFI is a non-violent activist group that advocates for truth, freedom, equality, and human rights, and is rooted directly in the international social change movement. Submitted by MindFreedom
A slippery question: Is anti-bacterial hand soap safe? variety of products includControversy has they have mutations that ing soap, deodorant, tooth- emerged in recent years on prevent triclosan binddr. science paste, mouthwash, clean- the effectiveness and safety ing or that cause overChristine Humphries ing supplies and many fab- of triclosan. The results expression of the triclosan Traditional hand soap rics and plastics. Triclosan from 27 studies reveal that binding protein to saturate works by breaking down was first thought to act as antibacterial soap is no triclosan binding. The the oil-based lipid chains a general bacteriocide and, more effective than plain emergence of these antiof bacterial cell walls like alcohol, kill bacteria soap at preventing infec- microbial resistant bacteand killing the bacteria. on contact. However, in tious illness and reducing ria has led some researchHowever, many hand 1998, researchers found the number of bacteria on ers to recommend that soaps have now added a that triclosan is bacterio- hands. Furthermore, many triclosan should no longer broad spectrum antibac- static at the concentration studies show that some be used by the general terial agent that suppos- found in soap and inhibits bacteria become resistant population in hand soap. edly makes the soap more bacterial growth by acting to triclosan and develop a However, people who are effective at removing on a specific bacterial tar- broad resistance to anti- at risk for infection may bacteria from the hands. get. Triclosan works by biotics. There are several benefit from antibacterial Triclosan is the most com- binding and inhibiting an ways bacteria can become soaps as triclosan remains mon antibacterial agent enzyme involved in fatty resistant to triclosan. Some on the skin surface and found, at a concentration acid synthesis, resulting in bacteria can pump triclosan may protect from bacteria of 0.1 to 0.45 percent impaired bacterial replica- out of the cell, while other contamination even after weight per volume, in a tion and spreading. bacteria become resistant if the hands are rinsed. Dr. Science, is in real life Dr. Christine Humphries, a molecular biologist