Community News
Comprehensive Home Health Solutions

Mara Home and Health Services Inc. is committed to delivering exceptional home and community-based health care. We specialize in personalized care, offering services that cater to diverse needs, ensuring clients receive top-quality support in the comfort of their homes. Our offerings include foot care, home support, respite, dementia care, healthcare aides, nurse practitioners, pharmacy services, mental health therapy, and rehabilitation assistance. With a team of experienced professionals, comprehensive care plans, and a holistic approach, Mara Home and Health Services Inc. is dedicated to enhancing the well-being and quality of life for our community members.

Arthritis & Nutrition

Arthritis, an inflammatory joint disease with acute crises and dormant periods, brings fatigue, joint stiffness, and pain. Focusing on your diet can help manage symptoms: Control Weight: Excess weight strains joints; maintain a healthy weight through balanced meals. Embrace Omega-3: Fish with omega-3 fatty acids may ease inflammation. Sardines, herring, and mackerel are rich sources, or consider supplements. Balanced Diet: Contact a nutritionist for a personalized plan, adjusting during crises if needed. Seek Assistance: Arthritis’s impact on daily activities may necessitate help, enhancing overall quality of life. Consult with one of our pharmacists to explore how we can assist you.

Workouts For Your Mind

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.

Lifestyle Mentorship for Men

Since changing health habits can be especially challenging, men can benefit greatly from external support that provides personalized 
guidance and a structured path towards practical and sustainable routines. Mentorship offers the opportunity to learn from someone with more experience, it fosters accountability and motivation, and it encourages men to set and achieve goals that previously felt daunting or otherwise unlikely. Most importantly, a mentor acts as someone to effectively and safely connect with and to bounce ideas and personal challenges off of.  By providing tailored support where it is needed most, mentorship significantly improves the likelihood of attaining standards that were previously out of reach.

The Complex Nature of PPD

Postpartum Depression (PPD) is a complex and multifaceted condition, meaning there’s no single cause behind it. Instead, it stems from a mix of biological, psychological, and social factors that intertwine in intricate ways.
● Hormonal Changes Post-Delivery: Your body goes through major hormonal shifts after giving birth which can impact brain function, leading to PPD for some.
● Genetic Predispositions: If you have a family history of mood disorders, you may be more likely to experience PPD.
● History of Depression or Anxiety: If you’ve faced mental health issues before, you might be more susceptible to PPD. Your past experiences shape how you handle the stress of new motherhood.
● Stressful Life Events & Trauma: Big changes or traumatic events can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re adjusting to life with a newborn. These added stresses can increase the risk of PPD.
● Cultural Influences on PPD: In some cultures, mental health issues are viewed differently, which can lead to mothers not feeling comfortable sharing what they’re going through.

Treating Skin Issues with Microneedling

Are you dealing with enlarged pores, fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmentation or acne scars? Microneedling is an effective treatment that uses your body’s own healing properties to rejuvenate your skin by stimulating the production of collagen and elastin, resulting in smoother, firmer, even-toned, and more youthful-looking skin. At Uptown Salon & Spa, we use the latest techniques and equipment to provide safe and effective microneedling treatments. Our experienced team will guide you through the process and answer any questions you may have. You can trust us to provide a comfortable and relaxing experience that will leave you with glowing, revitalized skin.

The Impacts of PPD

Impact on Mothers: For many mothers, PPD can bring long-lasting mental health challenges. Without timely support, it might lead to ongoing depression, anxiety, and even thoughts of self-harm. These issues can linger for years, making it challenging to handle daily family life and can impact careers and personal dreams.
You shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that it’s okay to seek help and take the time to heal. You deserve to feel capable and valued in all areas of your life.
Effects on Infants
Developmental Delays & Attachment Issues
When a mother is struggling with PPD, it can sometimes affect her baby’s development. PPD can make it hard for moms to engage in the positive and stimulating interactions that are so important for their baby’s growth. This can lead to language, motor skills, and social development delays. PPD can also make it challenging to respond to your baby’s needs in the way you want to, which might lead to attachment issues.
Breastfeeding & Infant Nutrition
Breastfeeding can be particularly challenging when you’re dealing with PPD. Depression can make it hard to start and continue breastfeeding, which can affect your baby’s nutrition and immune protection. These challenges can add to your stress and feelings of inadequacy, creating a tough cycle. A key thing to keep in mind is that this isn’t your fault, and reaching out for help is a crucial step.

PPD & the Whole Family

PPD can put a lot of strain on relationships with your partner and other family members, leading to conflicts, reduced intimacy, and emotional distance. Your family might feel helpless, frustrated, or even neglected, making you feel even more isolated and guilty. In the case of partners, if these feelings aren’t addressed with support and counselling, they can sometimes lead to relationship breakdowns, adding to the family’s emotional burdens.
Remember, it’s crucial to understand that each relationship has different struggles and challenges. Open communication and seeking support together can help you navigate these tough times.
Supporting the Family Unit
In conclusion of this section, the effects of PPD are profound and far-reaching, touching not just you but your infant, partner, and entire family. Recognizing these impacts and risk factors highlights the importance of early detection, comprehensive treatment, and robust support systems.

Speaking with New Dentures

New dentures (whether complete or dentures) can sometimes change your speech…for a few days, and in some cases weeks. The tongue is a muscle, and all muscles in our body have a “memory”. Therefore, your tongue may need some time to adjust to its new surroundings. By speaking and/or reading aloud, your tongue will become familiar with the new thickness of the acrylic, the frame (with partial dentures), as well as the tooth placement and size. Soon enough your speech will be back to normal. Contact your denturist if you have speech difficulties lasting more than a few weeks.

Sympathetic Resonance Technology™

The Science of Resonance. Every material object and living thing has a natural resonance frequency determined by its physical structure. When exposed to external frequencies matching its unique resonance, an object becomes stronger, more stable, and its natural energies more coherent. This applies to humans as well; we sense and experience this energy in moments of relaxation, focus, and connection with nature or loved ones. Q-Link® products, featuring Sympathetic Resonance Technology™ (SRT™), reinforce the body’s resonance, returning it to a balanced state. SRT™ has shown effectiveness in numerous studies and has garnered positive feedback from users over three decades.

The Importance of RSV Vaccines

The RSV vaccine protects against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), a common virus that can lead to severe respiratory issues like bronchiolitis and pneumonia, especially in infants and older adults.

Who Should Get Vaccinated?

Adults 75+: Particularly those at higher risk of severe RSV.
Adults 60+: Especially residents of nursing homes or chronic care facilities.
Pregnant Individuals (32-36 weeks): To protect newborns from RSV.
Approved vaccines include AREXVY and ABRYSVO. Consult your healthcare provider to see if the RSV vaccine is right for you.

 The RSV vaccine is not currently publicly funded in BC, but some private health insurance plans may cover the cost. If you’re considering the vaccine, our pharmacy team is here to help. Feel free to reach out to us with any questions or for more information on coverage options.