Community News
Dementia-Friendly Technology

Dementia affects parts of the brain responsible for language, learning, and memory. Those living with dementia can find it scary and overwhelming, but there are some devices that can help make them feel safe and secure. An easy-to-read clock placed in clear view can help with daily routines and reduce anxiety. A wearable GPS tracker device can help locate someone with dementia in cases of emergency. Automated pill dispensers open automatically with an alert sound when it’s time to take medication. Finally, a wearable monitoring device can detect falls and alert medical responders to ensure those with dementia are safe.

My husband is in the early stages of Alzheimers. He continues to enjoy riding his bike and I used to get very worried as he would sometimes have difficulty finding his way home. Getting him a Live Life mobile alert was the best thing we have done as now I can readily find out quickly where he is. He recently went out cycling and was gone for some time so I called him on his alert pendant. Not only could I talk with him but the Mobile Alert sent me an automatic return text showing his exact location on Google Maps. This has given me so much confidence now and allows him to continue doing what he loves.

Vicki Ogston, Vancouver, BC
An Important Step to Solving Reading Difficulties

When a student struggles with reading and learning it is important to first rule out the possibility of a vision problem. Often this can be an eye coordination problem which means that your child will pass most vision screenings in school and even at the pediatrician’s office. Vision screenings typically test for how clearly one can see the letters on the eye chart (“20/20”) which is only 1 of 17 visual skills required for reading and learning. If reading is difficult and homework takes longer than it should, be sure to schedule a developmental vision evaluation, for more information or to schedule an appointment call our office.

Workplace Wellness

Creating a Resolution to Model.
Want to make your work a place where you can be healthy and productive? The best way to do that is to be an Ambassador of well-being yourself. All it takes is some passion, energy and action. Ask your boss if you can spend 5% of your week (only 30 mins!) to generate workplace health and productivity ideas. Some ideas to get you started include walking meetings, putting up posters by the elevator to encourage stair use, organizing a monthly healthy potluck, or dedicating a meeting room for mindfulness or meditation during the lunch hour.

Seniors and Stress

Chronic stress is harmful to people of all ages, but its impact on older adults can be particularly severe, increasing the risk of age-related diseases, hastening cognitive decline and even triggering falls. Stressors that are common amongst the elderly include: loss of control, personal loss, declining health, financial worries, personal safety and loss of independence. To reduce stress, get regular exercise, eat balanced meals to ensure the mind and body are properly fueled and ask for help. Talking with a trusted family member, friend or healthcare professional, at the very least, releases pent-up stress and may even lead to a solution.

Magnesium Deficiency?

Symptoms of Magnesium deficiency include restless leg syndrome, irritability, and insomnia. Some experts estimate that over 80% of the population are deficient in Magnesium, while others argue it’s closer to 95%. Either way, the statistics aren’t good, and it is something we need to remedy. That’s where Magnesium Premium Lotion by Pure Joy Naturals comes in. This gentle concentration of magnesium chloride is a nourishing natural skin product which is fragrance-free and contains Arnica essential oil for effective symptomatic relief. It takes advantage of the absorptive properties of your skin (your body’s largest organ), putting it to work so you can reap the benefits.

Your Yearly Denture Check-Up

Natural teeth wear down and stain over the years, and dentures will, too. Your mouth and jaw also change over time so your dentures may require adjusting or rebasing periodically. It is wise to see your denturist at least once a year to ensure your dentures continue to fit well, and to have any necessary adjustments made. In most cases and with optimum care, your dentures should last between 5 and 10 years. Being proactive with denture care is always more effective than waiting until you have a major problem and trying to back track.

Prepare for your Healthy Vacation

Help to make your next vacation free from developing a travel-related illness. Plan ahead and speak with your pharmacist about how to stay healthy while travelling away from home. Your Pharmasave Pharmacist can give you vital health information regarding managing your medications, recommended vaccines and medications to prevent illness, useful travel products, and basic first aid supplies to have on hand while travelling. Your pharmacist will ensure you have the information and products you need to be prepared for health issues that may arise while you are away. Stay healthy on vacation. To find out more, speak to your Pharmasave Pharmacist before your travel.

Fight Colds & Flu

Your immune system needs a strong thymus and spleen to produce antibodies and specialized white blood cells that help prevent disease. Do you know how yours are functioning? Nutritional testing or Biofeedback are great ways to find out if there is a weakness or imbalance in these immune organs. If a weakness or imbalance is identified, specific nutrient formulations designed to naturally support and strengthen the thymus, spleen and immune system can be taken. This will help you to better fight against influenza, rhinovirus (common cold), pneumonia, and other bacterial infections – or avoid them altogether.

Safe Disposal of Expired Medications

It’s not uncommon to have bottles of expired medications sitting in your cupboard or medicine cabinet, but why hold on to them? Start the new year off right by going through your health products and getting rid of anything you no longer need. To dispose of expired prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and other natural supplements properly, bring them into your local pharmacy instead of flushing them down the toilet, placing them down the sink, or throwing them in the garbage. Medications that aren’t disposed of safely can cause health risks for people and animals who might unknowingly ingest them.

Plantar Fasciitis

When tiny tears occur in the thick, fibrous band of tissue reaching from your heel to your toes (called “fascia”), inflammation and pain are the result. This is plantar fasciitis and left untreated, can produce heel spurs. A number of things can contribute to plantar fasciitis. While men can get plantar fasciitis, it’s more common in women. Plantar fasciitis is more common in runners, people who are overweight and those who wear shoes with inadequate support VoxxLife socks and insoles are proven to reduce pain and improve circulation, thereby encouraging healing.

Daily Disposable Contact Lenses – Part Two

Daily disposables are a great option for teenagers. With all that’s going on from school to sports to social lives, teenagers are apt to forget or ignore cleaning and changing contacts. Daily disposables make cleaning unnecessary and changing lenses an easy daily routine. While most people who choose to wear contact lenses hate wearing their glasses, it is important that you ensure you have a back-up pair of glasses. If you have an eye infection or intense allergies that make your eyes red and itchy, you may need to go without your lenses for a day. So please make sure you like your back-up glasses.