LibGuides: Patient Education: Healthcare Information for...

Those Looking for a Family Physician

Looking for a family practice in NS?

Register yourself or a family member on the Need a Family Practice Registry. This a list for people living in Nova Scotia without a family doctor or nurse practitioner. You must register to be added to the list. When a primary care provider in your area is accepting new patients, Nova Scotia Health Authority will contact you by phone and/or email.

Caregivers

Essential Starting Points for Caregiver Information

COVID-19 Toolkit for Family/Support Person(s) and Caregivers
COVID-19 Toolkit for Designated Caregivers in Long-term Care
AARP Caregiving Resource Center
Formerly known as the American Association for Retired Persons, this site provides comprehensive information on a wide variety of health topics for those providing care to others. Topics range from tools and tips to articles on how to cope with caregiver stress, accessing leave from your employer, and planning for long-term care for loved ones.
The Caregiver's Handbook from Caregivers Nova Scotia
Information on services for caregivers in Nova Scotia on such topics as financial matters, legal issues, health crisis planning, and local health organizations and much more.
Government of Canada - Being a Caregiver
Links to benefits and services offered to caregivers in Canada.
Family Caregivers: Protect Your Loved Ones from Falling
Quick tips on how to prevent your loved one from falling.
Fall Prevention Checklist
WB85-1649 -- Provincial Falls Prevention Committee (2016) -- French version: FF85-1657
Preparing for Death and Dying - A guide for people with life-limiting illness, their families, and their friends
Nova Scotia Health Authority, 2017.
Se préparer à la mort et à la fin de vie - Guide à l’intention des personnes atteintes d’une maladie limitant l’espérance de vie, de leurs familles et de leurs amis
Nova Scotia Health Authority, 2017.

Caregiver Populations

General Populations

Handbook for Long-Distance Caregivers: An essential guide for families and friends caring for ill or elderly loved ones
Information from Family Caregiver Alliance on how to assess a care situation, develop a care team, hold a family meeting, access community organizations and private agencies, and balance work and caregiving.
Maintaining Senior's Independence Through Home Adaptations
Information from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation about adaptable housing design. This guide identifies the types of difficulties seniors can experience in the home and describes adaptations to overcome these difficulties.

Specific Patient Populations

Alzheimer Society of Canada
Tips for how to prepare for caregiving journey, suggestions for reducing caregiver stress, and suggestions for helping people with Alzheimer's Disease.
National Institute on Aging: Alzheimer's Caregiving Tips
Provides short video and tips on bathing a person with Alzheimer's.
Parkinson Society of Nova Scotia
Helpful suggestions to keep yourself strong as you support your loved one on the Parkinson’s journey are provided, as well as information on support groups.
World Parkinson's Program
This program provides free Parkinson medications globally to those that cannot afford them. Brochures for caregivers are provided in 22+ languages. You can also request free assistive devices for your loved one if your family is unable to afford them.
Nova Scotia Cancer Care Program - Patient Education
The publications listed on this site have been created to answer questions about cancer treatment in Nova Scotia.

Children & Teens

Essential Starting Points for Children & Teen Information

IWK Health Centre Resources and Patient Pamphlets
IWK Health Centre - Children's Health
Canadian Paediatric Society's Caring for Kids
Information for parents from Canada's paediatricians.
Child Safety Link
Child Safety Link is a Maritime wide program at the IWK. They work to prevent injuries by providing resources to parents, professionals, and the general community. Main focuses are car seats, home safety, helmets, poisoning prevention, and playground safety.
About Kids Health
From The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto; evidence-based information for parents and children. Includes info on how the body works (with animated video and quizzes), life stages, and education. All information is in English, French and simplified Chinese, plus lots of info in more languages.
American Academy of Pediatrics - healthychildren.org
Healthychildren.org is backed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and provides parenting advice on ages & stages, healthy living, safety & prevention, family life, health issues, news, as well as tips & tools.

Children & Teen Mental Health

Kids Help Phone (children and youth)
Canada’s only 24/7, national support service; offers professional counselling, information and referrals and volunteer-led, text-based support to young people in both English and French.
IWK Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
What to do if you need help right now, helpful websites, and a list of resources for Halifax and Nova Scotia.
TeenMentalHealth.org
Information on disorders, brain injuries, understanding stigma, healthy sleep, the teen brain, suicide, teen behaviour, mental health emergencies, as well as resources for friends, health professionals, educators, parents.
NS Early Psychosis Program
Clinical program with the Department of Psychiatry at Dalhousie University. This program provides services for young people between the ages of 15-35. It lists specific signs and symptoms for when to contact them and resources for getting help in Halifax and throughout Nova Scotia.
eMentalhealth.ca - Mental Health Services, Help and Support in Your Community
This site is a non-profit initiative of the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) dedicated to improving the mental health of children, youth and families in partnership with the IWK. It provides a directory of mental health services - you can search your location and topic. It has info sheets and screening tools to find out if you or a loved one has a mental health concern.
Teen Mental Health Glossary - teenmentalhealth.org
A glossary of mental health terms to help youth understand the words used by doctors and nurses.
Autism Nova Scotia
Autism Nova Scotia's site provides access to local resources, programs, events and links to local chapters.
What is Bullying and Cyberbullying? (Government of Nova Scotia)
Provides resources, links, what to do if you are being bullied, importance of digital citizenship, etc. Also provides a link to an online reporting form where parents/guardians or students can fill out a form to report bullying or cyberbullying at their school.
PREVNet
A Canada-wide network of researchers and organizations (government and not-for-profit) focused on making sure children and youth in every community receive the latest evidence-based research on bullying and the most effective intervention techniques.
mindyourmind.ca - Reach out, Give Help, Give Help
Mindyourmind.ca is a program of ConnexOntario (a program by the Government of Ontario) that provides people with access to addiction, mental health, and problem gambling services. It provides apps and tools for people aged 14-29 to build capacity and resilience.
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)
(go to "For Parents & Caregivers") Outlines what events cause trauma, what trauma looks like in children, and how to help.
Advocating for your Gender Independent Child
This brochure created by Rainbow Health Ontario provides tips and resources for advocating for a Gender Independent Child in schools and health and social service settings.
Are You Worried About Your Child's Gender Expression?
This brochure created by Rainbow Health Ontario reaches out to parents who are struggling to understand and support a Gender Independent Child.

Medications & More

IWK Health Centre Drug Information
The IWK Drug Information Service is a resource for Maritime health professionals who practice in and outside of the IWK Health Centre. It exists to support the safe and effective use of drug therapy in pediatric and obstetrical patient populations, including post-partum and breast feeding patients.
IWK Regional Poison Centre
Poisoning information for the public and health care professionals.
List of Medications (St. Jude Children's Research Hospital)

Teen General Resources

Youth Health - Canada.ca
From the Government of Canada comes plain language information targeted to youth on a wide range of health topics such as cannabis and mental health, smoking, substance abuse, etc.
MedlinePlus: Teen Health
Information on how to stay healthy, nutrition advice, coping, specific conditions, health check tools, ages and stages, questions to ask your doctor, etc.
TeensHealth® (Nemours)
Plain language info about teens' health from nonprofit foundation Nemours.
About the Body Basics Library (for Teens) - KidsHealth
A list of articles created by TeensHealth from Nemours (a non-profit children's health system with doctor-reviewed advice) that explains how body processes and systems work. All articles are written in plain language for teens.
Common Health Concerns for Girls and Young Women - Georgetown University
This guide provided by Nursing@Georgetown, the Online Women's Health Nurse Practitioner Program aims to empower girls to take control of their health and answer any questions they may have. The guide discusses common health concerns that 10-19 year old girls may experience.
Girls' Rights and Self-Advocacy in Health Care - Georgetown University
This guide provided by Nursing@Georgetown, the Online Women's Health Nurse Practitioner Program aims to empower girls to take control of their health and answer any questions they may have. The guide helps young women advocate for themselves before, during, and after health care appointments.

Teen Sex & Sexual Health

Sex?— A Healthy Sexuality Resource
Developed by the Nova Scotia Department of Health & Wellness, this resource aims to provide youth in Nova Scotia with the info they need to make healthy sexual choices.
Halifax Sexual Health Centre
A clinic that offers free medical services, STI testing and counselling services.
The Youth Project - Nova Scotia
The Youth Project is a non-profit charitable organization in Nova Scotia dedicated to providing support and services to youth, 25 and under, around issues of sexual orientation and gender identity. The Youth Project travels around the province to meet with youth in their communities. They provide a variety of programs and services including support groups, referrals, supportive counselling, a resource library, educational workshops, and social activities.
Sex & U
Info about understanding your changing body, birth control, STIs, and much more.
Teen Health Source - Planned Parenthood Toronto
Provides definitions and info on birth control, sex, and STI's.
teachingsexualhealth.ca - Calgary Health Region
This site has tips for talking to your children about sex at different age groups, gives a list of sexual health topics, and also gives helpful tools such as webisodes (e.g., videos that show parents dealing with their child's questions about puberty, birth control, etc.).
Scarleteen
Sex education site created to provide teens with practical, inclusive, comprehensive, and supportive resources on sexuality and relationships. Inclusive of LGTBQ+
Resources for Gender Questioning, Non-binary & Transgender Youth and Their Supporters
This PDF includes a list of resources compiled by the IWK. Topics include: essential general health guides for youth and families, parenting a transgender child video links, books for parents and families, books for teens, books for kids, youth and family websites, local drop-in centre: the Youth Project, social media, school and teacher information, legal gender marker and name change, clinician resources: practice guidelines and books.

Health Care Providers

Essential Starting Points for Health Care Providers

Health Literacy

American Academy of Pediatrics - healthychildren.org
Healthychildren.org is backed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and provides parenting advice on ages & stages, healthy living, safety & prevention, family life, health issues, news, as well as tips & tools.
Health Literacy and Patient Safety: Help patients understand
A video from the health literacy educational toolkit developed by the American Medical Association Foundation.
Health Literacy Studies
From Harvard University's School of Public Health.

Clear Communications

Canopy Speak - Medical Translator
App to help communicate quickly with patients using translated medical phrases in Spanish, Chinese, French, Arabic, Russian, Haitian Creole, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and more. Show phrases with written translations, and play with audio.
Translation Aid
"A Practical Language Translation Aid for Health Care Professionals" from St. Michael's Hospital.
Communicating risk
Ideas for explaining risks in different ways so people can understand and make an informed decision.
Plain Language Medical Dictionary

Maternal and Child Health

Infant Feeding Policy - Brochure
Information for Nova Scotia Health and IWK Staff, Physicians and Volunteers

Pregnancy & Parenting

In this Playlist

Support for New Parents - I Have a Baby - Nova Scotia Health Authority
This link provides resources from Public Health for new parents in Nova Scotia. Topics include feeding your baby, home visiting program, Loving Care books, and more contact info.
IWK Health Centre
The IWK Health Centre provides care to women, children, youth, and families living in the Maritimes and beyond. The "Women’s & Newborn Health" tab includes information about having a baby, newborn health, infant feeding, breast health, women’s health and more.
Loving Care eBooks
Developed by the Nova Scotia's Department of Health & Wellness in partnership with Public Health, this link provides PDF downloads for a series of free e-books for parents of children from birth to age 3. The aim is to help parents to better recognize and build on their own strengths as parents.
Pregnancy Info
From the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, this site covers such topics as fertility & human reproduction, health & nutrition before pregnancy, what to expect during pregnancy, the labour & delivery process, and how to care for yourself & your newborn.
The Sensible Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy
From the Public Health Agency of Canada, this resource will help you to learn about planning a healthy pregnancy. Topics include: prenatal nutrition & folic acid, alcohol & pregnancy, physical activity & pregnancy, smoking & pregnancy, oral hygiene, and emotional health. A pregnancy calendar is given to track your pregnancy.
OMama
From Better Outcomes Registry and Network (BORN Ontario) comes a variety of helpful links and resources from across the country. Topics include: pre-pregnancy, early pregnancy, mid pregnancy, late pregnancy, labour & birth, the postpartum period, and caring for your newborn. You can also download the free OMama app.
Healthy Parents Healthy Children
Information about your pregnancy and birth, your baby’s development, getting off to a healthy start, and what to expect for you and your baby in each trimester. You will also learn about different periods after having a baby, including the postpartum period, birth to 6 months, and 6 to 12 months.
La Leche League Canada
Everything you need to know about breastfeeding, including general information, access to helplines across the country, and answers to breastfeeding questions. You can also search for a leader in your province, ask questions online, and share your feeding and parenting stories with others.
211 Nova Scotia
This free and confidential referral service links you to programs and services in your community by phone, online, or text messaging. For example, searching “prenatal and parenting” shows organizations that offer supports, programs, and services that are taking place in your local area and their contact information.
Mother's Mental Health and Wellness - CMHA Nova Scotia Division
From the Canadian Mental Health Association, this site provides supports and resources to improve mother’s mental health. A list of programs/resources which are available locally, across Canada, and internationally are available to women who are thinking about becoming pregnant, are pregnant or have become a new mom.
811 Nova Scotia
Call 811 to speak to a registered nurse around the clock, seven days a week. The nurses can give you information and advice about health, answer questions about your health concerns, and provide information about services in your area. This free service is available in over 125 different languages including Farsi, Cantonese, French, Chinese, and Arabic.
NS Early Childhood Development Information for Families
This site provides tips for parents when choosing a daycare, allows parents to search for licensed daycare facilities, how to apply for subsidy, inclusion support, and intervention services in NS.

Women

Essential Starting Points for Women

Women’s Health Matters
A Canadian source for trusted, evidence-based and timely information on women's health. Contains feature articles on health topics that affect Canadian women. Expert answers to women's health questions. Discussion forums for women to share stories and experiences as well as send questions to experts at Women's College Hospital.
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada - Public Resources
This page directs you to patient resources on such topics as HPV info, menstruation, contraception, pregnancy, etc. Their material has been reviewed and endorsed by the SOGC’s subject matter experts.

Men

Essential Starting Points for Men

Mayo Clinic: Men’s Health
Expert answers on in-depth topics, top men's health threats, resources, and multimedia tools.
MedlinePlus: Men's Health
Evidence-based resources on a variety of topics of men's health, curated by the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
NIH: Men and Mental Health
Information and resources on men's mental health from the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health.
Healthy Male
Informative resources providing evidence-based information on a variety of topics including male reproductive and sexual health.

Older Adults

Essential Starting Points for Older Adults

Ageing Well Together Coalitions
Connect with Ageing Well Together coalitions across Nova Scotia. Focus on healthy ageing, physical activity, and falls prevention.
Canadian Virtual Hospice
A network of information and support for people dealing with life-threatening illness and loss.
Geriatric Mental Health Foundation
Basic information on depression, anxiety, keeping your mind sharp later in life, and other topics. Gives a useful list of resources (links to other sites) under Resources tab.
Healthy Living: Seniors (Health Canada)
Info to help seniors stay healthy, from safety in the home, nutrition tips, and oral health, to a range of topics from Health Canada.
Preparing for Death and Dying - A guide for people with life-limiting illness, their families, and their friends
Nova Scotia Health Authority, 2017.
Nova Scotia Hospice Palliative Care Association
Provides resources on advance care planning - how to do it, tips for starting the conversation, why do it, etc.
Let’s Talk About Personal Directives
This pamphlet helps guide you in making your wishes known.
Family Communication Guide
This site gives tips and specific examples of what advance care wishes may look like and how to initiate these conversations with your family - all written in plain language.

Advance Care Planning Workbook - Nova Scotia Edition by National Advance Care Planning Task Group
Publication Date: 2016
Speak Up: start the conversation about end-of-life-care. This workbook provides an introduction to advance care planning as well as tips on how to begin the process of thinking and talking about the patient's wishes should they not be able to speak for themselves.

Social Connections
This handout explains why being part of a healthy social network is important for your health.