George A Heckman – The Conversation

A chronic condition is a health problem — physical, mental, developmental or age-related — that usually requires lifelong care, often causes disability, and sometimes shortens life expectancy. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

February 19, 2026

‘It’s chronic disease, stupid!’ The central challenge facing health care

George A Heckman, University of Waterloo and Robert McKelvie, Western University

People living with complex chronic conditions are poorly served by our health-care system, which was designed to care for acute illness.

Retirement homes might seem like less of a lifestyle choice and more like relocation imposed upon older adults by fragmented and under-resourced primary and community care services. (Shutterstock)

September 26, 2023

Are seniors being pressured into retirement homes by lack of community services?

George A Heckman, University of Waterloo and Andrew Costa, McMaster University

Publicly funded primary and home care should be accessible to all older adults, regardless of where they live.

Delirium is a preventable condition often caused by hospital practices. (Shutterstock)

August 24, 2022

Preventing delirium protects seniors in hospital, but could also ease overcrowding and emergency room backlogs

George A Heckman, University of Waterloo

Delirium doesn’t just harm vulnerable seniors. It prolongs hospital stays, ties up beds and clogs emergency rooms. Mandating senior-friendly hospital care protects patients and the health-care system.

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