Home care during the summer months is essential to ensure comfort, safety, and well-being. High temperatures can pose risks, particularly for the elderly and those with chronic conditions. Home care professionals help manage hydration, ensure air conditioning is functioning, and monitor for heat-related illnesses like heatstroke. They can also assist with daily activities, reducing the risk of accidents due to heat-induced fatigue. Additionally, home care provides companionship, which can mitigate the isolation often felt during long summer days. Overall, professional care supports a healthier, safer, and more enjoyable summer season for vulnerable individuals.
Community News
Athletic Therapy for Everyone
Athletic Therapy is not just for athletes. It’s a healthcare
profession focused on preventing, assessing, and rehabilitating musculoskeletal injuries, including emergency care. Athletic therapists improve muscle and joint mobility and provide pain relief using manual therapies, exercise prescriptions, and taping. They address workplace and motor vehicle accident injuries, chronic or recurring issues, and injuries from sports, falls, or daily activities. Athletic Therapy follows the Sports Medicine Model of Care to ensure effective care. Despite the name, Athletic Therapy is for everyone, offering comprehensive care to enhance overall
physical health and well-being. Kirsten McDougall B.Sc (Kin), CAT(C) Prairie Trail Physiotherapy and Sports Injuries Clinic. PrairietrailPhysio.ca
Look for Local
Grey Ridge Coffee is now available at Sobeys South in Brandon! Indulge in the rich flavors and aroma of freshly brewed coffee. Swing by and grab your favorite blend today! Crafted in
Minnedosa, Grey Ridge Coffee sources high-quality beans and roasts them to perfection, creat-ing a complex symphony of flavors. Their curated roasting process brings out each bean’s unique profile. Enjoy a coffee experience that engages all the senses, from aroma to texture. With blends ranging from light and fruity to bold and robust, discover Grey Ridge Coffee at So-beys Brandon and never settle for less.
Beat the Summer Heat
Summer is here, bringing the heat! Stay safe by preventing these heat-related issues: 1) Dehydration – drink more water and electrolytes to avoid weakness, headache, and fainting. 2) Heat stroke – cool down with shade/AC and water, seek medical help for body temperatures of 40°C or higher, fast pulse, and hot, dry skin. 3) Heat exhaustion – rest in shade/AC and drink fluids to counteract heavy sweating, weakness, and nausea. 4) Heat syncope – lie down with feet up and drink water if you faint due to high temperatures. Senior residences offer air-conditioned spaces, safe outdoor areas, and social activities, enhancing comfort and well-being.
Avoid Summer Food Poisoning
Foodborne illness peaks in the summer, as more people are cooking outside without the safety controls of a kitchen. It doesn’t take long for food to spoil in the hot sun. Symptoms of food poisoning typically include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever. The severity and duration of symptoms vary depending on the type and amount of contaminated food ingested. It is essential to practice good hygiene, proper food storage, thorough cooking, and regular handwashing to prevent foodborne illnesses. If food poisoning is suspected, seeking medical attention, staying hydrated, and resting are crucial for recovery and avoiding complications.
A Night in the Enchanted Forest
The BRHC Foundation and Gala Committee are thrilled to announce that tickets for the 2024 Gala Dinner & Dance are now available! Join us on Saturday, September 21, for an enchanting evening starting with a Champagne reception, followed by exceptional food, fabulous prizes, and dancing to the sensational Graydon Cramer Band! This year’s theme, “A Night in the Enchanted Forest,” promises magic and wonder. Proceeds will support the purchase of vital equipment for BRHC. Don’t miss out on this extraordinary night!
Cavity & Dental Disease Prevention
A cavity happens when bacteria in the mouth produces acid that attacks your teeth. Over time, this acid can dissolve away the tooth enamel and cause a hole, or cavity. Unlike some other diseases or injuries, a cavity will not heal by itself, but if the early signs of dental decay are promptly treated before a cavity forms, it can be stopped or even reversed by your dentist and your home care. To prevent dental disease: brush twice a day, floss once a day, eat a balanced diet, limit eating and drinking between meals, and visit your dentist regularly.
Heat Exhaustion vs. Heat Stroke
Heat stroke and heat exhaustion are two distinct heat-related conditions with varying degrees of severity. Heat exhaustion is typically the precursor to heat stroke and occurs when the body becomes overwhelmed by excessive heat. Symptoms include heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, and nausea. Prompt action, such as moving to a cooler environment, resting, and hydrating, can prevent progression to heat stroke. Heat stroke, on the other hand, is a medical emergency and requires immediate attention. It involves a dangerous elevation in body temperature, accompanied by a cessation of sweating, confusion, rapid heartbeat, and even loss of consciousness. Heat stroke demands urgent medical intervention to prevent life-threatening complications.
Summer Serenity for Older Adults
Living in a senior residence during the summer offers numerous benefits that enhance both comfort and well-being. These communities provide air-conditioned spaces, shielding residents from extreme heat, and often feature beautifully maintained outdoor areas perfect for safe, enjoyable strolls. Social activities and events are plentiful, fostering companionship and reducing isolation, which is especially crucial during longer summer days. Access to medical care and emergency services ensures peace of mind. Nutritious, chef-prepared meals eliminate the hassle of cooking in hot weather. Overall, senior residences offer a supportive, engaging, and temperature-controlled environment, making summer not only bearable but enjoyable.
Book of the Month:
Quick Functional Exercises for Seniors: 50 Exercises to Optimize Your Health by Cody Sipe. Contains more than fifty exercises for seniors, with beautiful full-color step-by-step images to illustrate each. An award-winning expert on functional exercises, Dr. Cody Sipe offers exercises to improve balance and mobility, strength and power, posture, core stability, and much more. Available to borrow from Red Deer Public Library at rdpl.org.
July Events for Seniors at RDPL
Summer Reading Club for Adults! Complete this year’s BINGO Reading Challenge for a chance to win great prizes! Details at rdpl.org/SRC
Summer Book Bundles for Adults
Downtown Walk & Talk (every Tuesday at 12:15 p.m.)
Collicutt Walk & Talk (every Thursday at 9:30 a.m.)
First Thursday Concert Series (first Thursday of each month)
Happy Ever After Book Club (last Monday of each month)
Red Deer Cancer Connect (July 2 and 16) Lit Line: Call 403-342-9100 to test yourself on Canadian Trivia every day in July! For full details, visit rdpl.org/events.
