When people have restrictions, physically or mentally, they may be entitled to apply for a tax credit. There are different ways in which a person can be eligible for the disability tax credit (DTC). In all cases, the impairment must be prolonged. Also, the person must meet one of the following criteria: 1. Is markedly restricted in at least one of the basic activities of daily living. 2. Is significantly restricted in two or more or the basic activities of daily living (can include a vision impairment). 3. Needs life-sustaining therapy. Expert help is available in applying for this substantial tax credit.
Community News
Why Good Hearing is Important
Many people don’t realize the effect good hearing has on their total body health. When we have hearing loss, early intervention and treatment is best. If our hearing loss is left untreated, research shows we are at risk for a number of possible complications. These include: depression from social isolation; cognitive decline, such as Alzheimer’s and dementia; and a greater chance of balance issues and falls. In addition, close personal relationships and social interaction were found to be the top two factors affecting longevity (over smoking and exercise). Don’t let hearing loss go untreated. Your health may depend on it!
Exercise for S.A.D.
S.A.D. stands for Seasonal Affected Disorder, which is mainly attributed to the reduction in sunlight hours in winter and is your body’s reaction to the changes in season. With S.A.D. you might feel sluggish or moody, have a loss of appetite, and even lose interest in activities you normally love. One way to combat these feelings and the wintertime blues is to get your body moving! Exercise, even light exercise, has been shown to improve mood and energy through increased blood flow and the release of certain endorphins, as well as improve sleep and alertness, and reduce anxiety and stress.
Treating Tennis Elbow
Lateral epicondylitis, more commonly referred to as tennis elbow, is a condition caused by inflammation of the extensor tendons that attach into the outer elbow. It is a type of repetitive strain injury where the tendon is repeatedly overloaded, causing microtears within the fibres. Rest, ice, and anti-inflammatories are usually effective for initial pain relief. The use of a counterforce brace may also help with symptoms, as it will disperse the forceful pulling at the elbow when you use your wrist.
Helpful tip: While recovering from tennis elbow, be mindful to do most of your lifting with palms up (supinated) whenever possible.
Quit Smoking, Live Healthier
Smoking cigarettes can result in nicotine dependence and serious health problems. Quitting has both immediate and long-term benefits, including: lowering risk for various forms of cancer, including lung cancer, reducing risk of heart disease within 1 to 2 years of quitting, reducing respiratory symptoms (coughing, shortness of breath, etc.), reducing risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and reducing risk of infertility in women of reproductive age or complications during birth.
If you are thinking about quitting or are ready to quit, feel free to contact your pharmacist to discuss the various options that can help you stop smoking.
Your Child’s First Eye Exams
Optometrists recommend that babies have their first eye examination between six and nine months of age to ensure their eyes are healthy, eye alignment and eye muscle movements are developing properly, and the eyes are focusing together. A number of serious eye conditions exist that can be identified during their first eye exam. If left uncorrected, these conditions can result in serious vision problems. Vision development continues into the preschool years – depth perception, eye-hand coordination, and visualization skills. Doctors of Optometry recommend children have at least one eye exam between the ages of two and five, and yearly after starting school.
The Painless Facelift
A microcurrent facial is often referred to as a “natural” facelift. This safe and painless facial helps erase fine lines and wrinkles, while firming your skin and defining your features. A microcurrent facial emits extremely low-voltage electrical currents (hence, ‘micro’ current), which mirror your own body’s electrical currents, on a cellular level to repair damaged skin and stimulate collagen and elastin production. Cosmetic microcurrent is beneficial for improvement in the appearance of aged and slackened skin, fine lines and wrinkles, acne scars, dark circles and puffiness, enlarged pores, and muscle tone.
Exercise Your Brain
Just as physical exercise can make and keep your body stronger, mental exercise can make your brain work better and lower your risk of mental decline as you age. Play games you are not already familiar with that involve strategy, like chess or bridge, and word games like Scrabble. Try crossword and other word puzzles, or number puzzles such as Sudoku. Read newspapers and books that challenge you. Get in the habit of learning new things like recipes, driving routes, or a musical instrument. Take a course in an unfamiliar subject. The more interested and engaged your brain, the more likely you’ll be to continue learning and the greater the benefits you’ll experience.
Depressed? Fight Back with a Float
It’s not uncommon to feel the effects of depression during the winter and holiday season. Floatation Therapy can help in the treatment of depression in a number of ways. Physically, it helps to clear cortisol and stress from the body, allowing the body to deeply relax. Also, it is well known that Floatation Therapy releases endorphins, (feel good chemicals) which have a positive effect on mood. The high levels of magnesium, which are an essential and important mineral, also plays an important role in helping depression, as it is commonly depleted in those who suffer depression and effects brain chemistry, particularly serotonin. Floatation Therapy can be a wonderful way to introduce the concept of mindfulness and meditation.
Quit Smoking this Winter
As the weather gets cooler, the longing to get cozy and stay inside with loved ones increases. Having even one cigarette outside in the cold (and temperatures will keep dropping!) takes you away from this. Why not look for better ways to deal with stress and pain that allow you to stay inside and improve yoir health at the same time? Consider a cardio workout at the gym – this way you can blow off steam and pump healthy endorphins through your body. Then your loved ones will see you bettering yourself in ways that you may be proud they follow.
Trust Your Gut
Your immune system works hard to protect you from injury, illness, and disease. This process usually involves inflammation, a natural response to stress, tissue damage, and harmful stimuli like viruses, bacteria, and toxins. Inflammation functions similarly to an engine warning light, alerting you to the presence of a problem through symptoms such as heat, pain, redness, swelling, and/or loss of function. 85% of the immune system is located in our gut. An anti-inflammatory diet rich in vitamins A, C, and E and the mineral selenium provides your gut with the ingredients it needs to bolster immunity and achieve optimal mental and physical health.
