Health In Retirement

The Canadian Dream is the same for most of us, baby boomers. Get a good job with a big company, have 1.6 children, and buy a big house.


By the time we reach 55 we should be in our highest income years looking forward to retiring soon. The last thing you think about is how your health will effect your financial life.

Last month at Kelowna's Okanagan Business Referral Group's Event on "Work Life Balance" Chiropractor Dr. Dan Walker-Delisle presented the results of a study done by Statistics Canada in 2004 on the reasons for Bankruptcy.



The most common reason seemed obvious, the over extension of credit but it was the second was a bit of a surprise, financial problems due to health. The sad part is much of this is completely preventable.


The fact is modern stress filled life is an ever increasing health risk. Here are some of the risks presented by Doctor Dan
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  • Chronic stress caused by taking on too much – both at home and at work – has been linked to a wide range of serious health concerns, from Alzheimer’s and depression to obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
  • In Canada, hypertension is the No. 1 reason people go to the doctor, and last year accounted for almost 20.7 million medical appointments.*
  • Stress-related absences cost employers more than $10-billion a year, with an additional $14-billion impact on the health-care system.*
  • “People complain about how overwhelming their lives are, but they don’t connect it in a biological sense with the problems they experience: eating too much, not sleeping well and not being physically active.” *
  • The presence of the stress hormones Cortisol and Adrenalin results from our conscious Perception of danger or lack of control.
  • 1 in 5 working persons experience “crunch time” stressful events on a weekly basis* 
(*Agrell, Siri. 2010. Work life Balance: Part 1-6. Globe and Mail publication, Oct 29 2010.)

So what can be done? Here are Dan 8 things he suggests that can improve our lives and contribute to a better life ...
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  1. Goal setting (weekly, monthly, yearly) 
  2. Plan your week ahead of time 
  3. Make exercise part of your routine, not an afterthought. 
  4. Control your Diet “you are what you eat”  
  5. Maintain a Positive Attitude 
  6. Have an attitude of Gratitude 
  7. Embrace Change when it happens
  8. Find solutions to workplace stress
There is no denying the cost of stress and its effect on our lives, even in Kelowna. The key is to take our health seriously so you can enjoy your life today and a financially sound retirement in the future.

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1 Response to "Health In Retirement"

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Ryan Deacon Says....

Good article Mike. I agree with those 8 items and truly believe in what was discussed by all of the speakers. I know that my life is out of balance and I am working hard to get it back in shape but it's a struggle. I only hope that I can alter my mind enough to take better care of my body and find that balance between work and the things that are actually important.

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