Comox Valley Senior Support Society is currently recruiting Board Members. If you have a passion for seniors, an interest in working with a collaborative Board, and supporting an active staff team, please contact Chris at [email protected] for more information.
Community News
Comox Valley Seniors Resource Guide
The 2023 Comox Valley Seniors Resource Guide is now out! This free guide is being dropped at locations around the Valley, but if you want one, or more, set aside for you, please contact the office (250-871-5940) and we will either hold one for you or arrange for delivery! 20,000 copies of this spiral bound guide were created in partnership between Comox Valley Senior Support and Denman and Hornby Community Health Care Services and are available free of charge.
We’re Here For You!
CONTACT US: Call SRWC at (204) 956-6650 or email [email protected] to make an appointment or get more information about our programs. DONATE TODAY: SRWC 2nd. flr. 225 Vaughan St. Winnipeg, Mb., R3C 1T7. DONATIONS can be made on line at srwc-mb.ca. For Credit Card, call (204)956-6650.
If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about Equine Assisted Learning Contact Meghan Wilson, SRWC Family Program Coordinator at (204) 956-6650 and/or visit sagehillstables.com for more information.
Reducing Senior Hospitalization
Professionals who work with seniors often observe that older adults who are hospitalized don’t always go home the same. Or they don’t go home at all. Research conducted by Home Instead, Inc., revealed these five preventative actions that could help keep an older adult out of the hospital: 1) Work with a trusted medical practitioner 2) Don’t ignore symptoms 3) Reduce risks of falls and accidents 4) Stay active physically and mentally 5) Maintain a healthy diet. Perhaps you are concerned about these issues for yourself or for someone you care for. We help seniors stay safe at home. Have questions? Let’s talk.
Benefits of Mobility Scooters
If you or your loved one are considering getting a mobility scooter, it’s good to know there are many benefits to using one: 1) Lower risk of injuries – using a mobility scooter can reduce the risk of tripping, falling, or aggravating painful conditions. 2) Increased independence – mobility scooters provide a safe and reliable mode of transportation that allow users to get around on their own. 3) More socializing – being able to get around on your mobility scooter means more visits with friends and family. 4) Increased comfort – mobility scooters offer more comfort than devices like walkers, canes, or crutches.
Presbyopia and Aging Eyes
Presbyopia is when your eyes gradually lose the ability to see things clearly up close. It’s a normal part of aging, usually noticeable around age 40. Your clear lens sits inside the eye behind your coloured iris and changes shape to focus light onto the retina so you can see. When you’re young, the lens is soft and flexible, easily changing shape. This lets you focus on objects both close up and far away. Although there’s no way to stop or reverse the normal aging process that causes presbyopia, the condition can be corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses, or surgery.
HOW IT WORKS
EAL seeks to help facilitate building upon coping skills and strategies through the use of equine supports. EAL uses experiential learning techniques such as role-playing, role-reversal, and mirroring, combined with equine-based activities including grooming, walking and sometimes riding a horse. The session begins with defining the session objectives, and co-creating a safe environment for participants, horses and facilitator. The facilitator guides participants to support them in meeting objectives by facilitating communication, and asking open ended questions to engage participants. After the activity, participants then process and debrief feelings and behaviors associated with the activities within the session (Emerge Equine, 2023).
How it Works
Eqine Assisted Learning seeks to help facilitate building upon coping skills and strategies through the use of equine supports. EAL uses experiential learning techniques such as role-playing, role-reversal, and mirroring, combined with equine-based activities including grooming, walking and sometimes riding a horse. The session begins with defining the session objectives, and co-creating a safe environment for participants, horses and facilitator. The facilitator guides participants to support them in meeting objectives by facilitating communication, and asking open ended questions to engage participants. After the activity, participants then process and debrief feelings and behaviors associated with the activities within the session.
WHY HORSES
Horses are a flight animal meaning that they are hyper-aware and observant of their environment. A horse can sense a person’s emotions and is highly attuned to things such as stress or anxiety. Horses are capable of sensing a person’s feelings instantly and giving feedback such as moving toward or away from the client (Emerge Equine, 2023). A horse can move off of the intention and energy alone creating a symbiotic relationship. Additionally, horses are large and powerful animals that have the ability to support and encourage participants as they overcome fear, gain confidence and self-esteem in this healing process.
Importance of Having a Grief Sherpa
Grief has the power to cleanse & heal or destroy & destruct. It can feel like a Tsunami that overpowers our entire system shaking us to our knees, affecting our core stability. A roller coaster that takes over our emotions, body and nervous system, reminding us that someone or something important has been lost. Our hearts broken open, in hope that they can begin to cleanse, heal, love and trust again. It offers the choice of stagnation or expansion depending on how we go about connecting to and with the pain. There is no easy way to walk through grief, its excruciating. Allowing someone you trust, that has walked the path before you helps to guide the way and shed light when the darkness feels too unbearable and heavy alone.
May is Celiac Awareness Month
During this month, help us spread awareness for Celiac disease. Celiac disease is a chronic digestive and immune disorder that damages the small intestine. The disease is triggered by eating foods containing gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. Over time, this reaction damages your small intestine’s lining and prevents it from absorbing nutrients. The intestinal damage often causes diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, bloating and anemia, and can lead to serious complications. Your doctor will explain the gluten-free diet and may refer to you a registered dietitian who specializes in treating people who have celiac disease.
