Community News
First Annual Spelling Bee

Thank you to those who attended the Comox Valley Senior Support Society’s first annual fund-raising Spelling Bee! A wonderful time was had! Comox Valley Senior Support extends its thanks to the wonderful sponsors of the Spelling Bee, Quantum Dental Group, First Credit Union, Berwick Comox Valley, Casa Loma & Casa Loma Seniors Village, Wellnessnews, and Sara Kempner Photography. And thanks to our give sponsors, Sunnyvale Golf & Country Club, Extreme Runners, Cons Bread, Wild Play, Laughing Oyster Book Shop, The Mustard Lady, K & V Nails, Bigfoot Donuts, Second Page Used Books, Country Market, Sara Kempner Photography, and Soul Star.

Volunteers Always Needed!

The strength of CVSS is its contingent of amazing volunteers. If you would like to visit with a lonely or isolated senior, or assist someone with accessing services in the community, or if you have another strength to offer, please contact us to learn more about providing support in your community. Beginning in September, volunteer training sessions will be done monthly so there will be only minimal waiting before you can begin! Volunteers are provided with monthly support meetings and regular education sessions.

Be a Santa to a Senior

Ready to Care® is a movement powered by Home Instead® to make the world a better place for seniors through programs like Be a Santa to a Senior. Help seniors in need this holiday season, by becoming a Santa to a Senior. FOUR easy ways to get involved. 1. Find a participating Be a Santa to Senior Business. 2. Remove the ornament with the senior’s gift request from the tree. 3. Purchase the requested gift(s) listed on the ornament. 4. Place the bulb and gift(s) in the designated box next to the tree. Visit BeaSantaToaSenior.com to find out how you can participate.

Healthy Play Guidelines

As we head into the holiday season and emerge from Covid restrictions, our gambling habits may have been stretched beyond our usual boundaries. Gambling or sports betting to make money is always dangerous, as is gambling to escape our day-to-day preoccupations. If you are not sure if your gambling habits fall within healthy playing guidelines, check Canada’s Low Risk Gambling Guidelines at GamblingGuideLines.ca. Using the 1-4-2 formula can help contextualize your play: No more than 1% of your income, Maximum 4 days per month and Only 2 types of game play. If you’re unsure, check out the self-assessment tool.

Scooter Maintenance for Winter

Scooter maintenance is necessary to keep your scooter’s batteries in good condition for the colder winter months. Batteries will lose charge faster when using the scooter in the winter. When not in use, the batteries should be kept on charge with the approved charger that came with the scooter. It’s also important to keep the scooter dry during rainy days, since moisture can damage the electronics and the cables to the motor. If using the scooter in the rain, avoid large puddles so that water and mud don’t splash up into your scooter and dry the scooter off afterwards.

Dentures vs Implants

Dentures are removable teeth which replace the natural teeth and cover a portion of the gum. Your denturist will recommend either full dentures, which replace all the natural teeth in the upper and/or lower jaw, or a partial denture, which replace some of the lost natural teeth. Dental implants, on the other hand, consist of an anchor or screw-like component that is fastened into the jawbone, then the denture is attached to the implant to hold it into place. Speak with your local denturist to learn more, and find out which option is right for you.

Questions about Diabetes?

We Have Answers. Getting diagnosed with diabetes can be overwhelming. But there are many things you can do to manage your diabetes—through diet, exercise, and medical support. We know what you’re going through and we can help. We can recommend diet changes, help you understand how exercise affects blood sugars, and explain how to get the most benefit from your medications. You can even join in on one of our online clinics for individualized support with managing blood glucose levels and adjusting your medications to gain better control.
The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy, MedicineShoppeCourtenay.ca

Needing Orthopedic Surgery?

Are you at your wits end? Are you in pain and tired of waiting for knee, hip, or spine surgery? ONZ Spine specializes in more than 10 years of assisting thousands of individuals in traveling to Germany for orthopedic surgery. Have you been told you are too young for knee or hip replacement? Dr Wolfram Steens at ONZ Spine in Germany can do up to 4 knee and hip replacements in a person’s lifetime, staring at a young age, if necessary, thanks to their state-of-the-art technology. Newly available to Canadian patients is knee cartilage replacement – with use of technology not yet available in Canada.

Sleep Hygiene – Ending Insomnia

When insomnia is ongoing, try altering your sleep habits. There is ample clinical evidence supporting the effectiveness of a concept called Sleep Hygiene – recommendations that help with the specific aim of improving sleep quality. Even a few slight adjustments can mean the difference between sound sleep and a restless night. Have a bedtime routine, let your body know it’s time to sleep. Don’t go to bed hungry or stuffed and avoid nicotine, caffeine and alcohol. Create a restful bedroom environment that is cool, dark and quiet. Schedule ‘worry’ time for the next day and go to bed worry-free!

Current Programs

Cost is $2 for members and $4 for non-members. * Programs are subject to change.

Morning Walking: Monday-Friday 8:30-9am.
Coffee Corner: Monday-Friday from 10 am.-12 pm.
Pickleball: Monday – Friday 9-10:30am.
Beginner Pickleball : Monday-Friday 10:30am-12pm, Tuesday 2-3:30pm, Friday 1-3:30pm.
Evening Pickleball: Mondays 7-9pm
Registration required at patporteralc.com.
Cards: Card games are played Monday to Friday from 1-3 p.m.
FITNESS CLASSES
Laughter Yoga: Monday 1-2 p.m.
Fitness Drumming: Tuesday 1-1:45 p.m.
Pace: Wednesday 1-1:45 p.m.
Floor Curling: Wednesday 1-3:30pm
Yoga with Carrie: Friday 9-10 am
Old Time Country Jam: Wednesday 7-9 p.m.
Craft Corner: Friday 1-3 p.m.
Games Night: Monday and Wednesday 7-9pm
Choir: Wednesdays 10:00 – 11:30am
Steinbach Rockin’ Rollers: Sunday 5-7 p.m. A fun new roller-skating program is now being offered at the Centre. All skill levels and ages welcome, and no pre-registration required. Cost to participate is $5 ($3 for Pat Porter members). Please bring your own roller skates.

Keep a Healthy Home This Winter

As a homeowner, it is your responsibility to help keep your household warm and cozy in order to keep your loved ones comfortable and healthy. With colder temperatures approaching, it’s a good time to consider the health of your home’s furnace. As a rule of thumb, if your furnace is older than 15 years, or it needs frequent repairs, it may be time for a replacement. Scheduled tune-up services are essential for thwarting off the need for repairs, especially emergency service. Regular maintenance makes it possible for a heating expert to monitor your furnace and make minor repairs and adjustments along the way. This keeps your system in the healthiest condition possible.