Pet therapy is a great form of compassionate care that has been popularized over the years, primarily on school campuses and across communities. The research on pet therapy’s effect on our aging population is remarkable. Pet therapy has been shown to decrease stress and anxiety. By providing connection and comfort through animals, pet therapy is extremely beneficial for feelings of stress and anxiety. Some studies even show positive results on mental functioning through pet therapy. Playing with animals is also a fun way to increase mobility as we age.
Community News
Cognitive Functions Decline with Age
Cognitive decline is a fact. Another fact is that there are exercises that you can do to combat this decline. Cognitive Therapy Exercises can help you think faster, focus better and remember more. You can build happy neurons for healthy aging. Happy Neuron Pro has nine categories for executive functions: *Verbal Memory, *Visual Memory, *Verbal and Visual Memory, *Spatial Memory, *Visual and Spatial Abilities, *Visual Attention, *Processing Speed and *Auditory. There are 45 exercises that are uniquely designed to be engaging and relevant so that you can practice skills and learn strategies to overcome cognitive obstacles and decline. Contact us to find out more.
Medical Emergency Hearing Loss
There are many causes of sensorineural hearing loss, including noise exposure, aging, exposure to ototoxic medication, head trauma and illness. Typically hearing loss declines gradually over time, however in cases of sporadic hearing loss it is important to seek immediate assessment to ensure the best treatment plan is established.
With the help of Oksana Melnichuk, a Registered Hearing Instrument Practitioner (RHIP) at NexGen Hearing, we have compiled a list of symptoms that could suggest the need for urgent medical intervention.
1. Sudden Hearing Loss
A Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSHL) occurs when there is a significant decline in hearing over a 72 hour window. This condition commonly affects only one ear and may present independent of other symptoms or in combination with a feeling of aural fullness, tinnitus and/or dizziness. A sudden decline in hearing requires immediate medical intervention to ensure treatment can be provided in a timely manner. Treatment should be received within 48 hours of the onset of a SSHL. An untreated SSHL can significantly impact an individual’s communication abilities and quality of life.
2. Fluctuating hearing loss
Fluctuating hearing loss can occur as a result of several different conditions, such as Ménière’s disease (MD), autoimmune inner ear disease (AIED), head trauma, and/or ototoxic medications. It can occur in individuals with normal hearing or individuals who already present with hearing loss. The fluctuation may be noted in one ear or both and may occur on an irregular basis. It is important to contact your physician if you notice hearing fluctuations to establish the cause and treatment plan.
3. Tinnitus
Tinnitus is not a condition itself, but rather a symptom of another condition. Causes of tinnitus can range from prolonged exposure to loud sounds, aging, injuries to the head and neck, certain medications and/or other medical conditions such as high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease to name a few. Tinnitus is often described as a ringing in the ears; however, it can also be described as buzzing, hissing, chirping, whistling, etc. The sound can be intermittent or continuous and can vary in loudness. While there is no cure for tinnitus, some individuals find the perception of tinnitus can be reduced with the use of external masking devices. Medical treatment should be sought if tinnitus leads to an increase in stress, sleep disturbances, is pulsatile, and/or perceived in one ear only.
4. Ear discharge
The discharge of earwax from the ear canal is a normal occurrence, however if blood or fluid is noted medical intervention should be obtained as it may be indicative of a more serious medical condition, such as infection, trauma to the ear canal, middle ear space and/or skull bone and/or swimmer’s ear. If left untreated discharge from the ear can lead to reduced hearing abilities, discomfort and/or damage to the structures of the middle ear.
The staff at NexGen Hearing are dedicated to working alongside other health care professionals to ensure all patients receive timely access to care, information, and assistive technology.
If you or a loved one is currently or has experienced one or more of the above symptoms, please contact your local NexGen Hearing during business hours and advise you need an urgent diagnostic hearing assessment. If it is outside of normal business hours, please visit the Hospital Emergency Room for urgent assessment.
Join the WellnessHub Today
Are you a health care practitioner? Do you have a health and wellness business? If so, you want to get a listing on the WellnessHub – Basic listings are FREE. The WellnessHub is Vancouver Island’s local online health and wellness resource. It features practitioners, businesses, health tips, a monthly contest and much more. Monthly memberships are available for people who want extra exposure. The WellnessHub is supported in print, social media, radio and more. We work with you to get your message out to your potential customers. The Hub attracts thousands of local visitors every month.
Enriching Quality of Life by Helping Others
Did you know that when you greet each day with a sense of purpose and meaning, your mental health and overall well-being improves? One of the fastest ways to move beyond feelings of worry or anxiety is to be of service to others. Charities like SOS would not be what they are today without the selflessness of volunteers and the benevolence of donors. Strong communities enrich the quality of life for all of us. To learn how your donation of time or resources can help others, contact us or come by our Community Services Centre in Parksville.
Importance of Social Interactions
Social interactions are critical to happiness even when those social interactions occur with an acquaintance or stranger, as opposed to a close friend or partner, according to Iris Lok, a UBC Ph.D. student in psychology. The pandemic severally restricted our social interactions. It is now time to prioritize social interactions given that loneliness is terrible for our health. Social isolation is associated with many health risks including; high blood pressure, heart disease, depression, cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease. A retirement residence can provide the perfect balance of social interaction and independence, which is good for our overall health and well-being.
Supporting Individuals with Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s disease presents unique challenges for individuals living with the disease and the people caring for them. Here are three approaches you can consider as you care for your loved one: *Engage them with meaningful activities such as folding clothes or working on a puzzle. *Accept your limitations as a caregiver and recognize when and where you need support. *Learn helpful communication strategies. There isn’t one “right” way of communicating with all individuals, so try different strategies to find what works best to help your loved one feel supported. Learn more on our blog at CBI.ca.
3D Healing for Trauma
When a traumatic event happens, emotional information is created and then stored in two places – as a memory in our brain and as an emotion/feeling in the body! Stored and unprocessed emotional trauma is the root cause of many health issues as proven in numerous scientific clinical research studies around the world. The energetic stored negative emotion can be easily removed without pain through the use of a new 3D-Healing application based on Quantum Hypnotherapy. If you experienced a traumatic event, seek help. PTSD can be resolved so that life can continue to be in a happy place.
Focus on What You Want
When someone heads towards their goals, versus trying to move away or reduce something, the outcome is more positively directed. By looking to something rewarding, success has a better chance of taking place. It also helps to focus on what you want to bring into being, as opposed to dwelling on what you don’t want anymore. A positive attitude is very powerful. When you have a positive attitude, negative thoughts are much less likely to come to mind. Positive thinking can help to control stress and also improve health.
Our Bodies Need Antioxidants
A balanced diet is important for providing the nutrients our cells need on a daily basis. In spite of an otherwise healthy diet, exposure to toxins and sunlight may result in cell damage caused by free radicals. We may be able to slow cell damage by increasing the amount of antioxidants in our diet. The antioxidant capacities of foods are measured on a scale called the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) scale. High on the ORAC scale are berries, including blueberries, raspberries, pomegranates, strawberries, and goji berries. At the top of the scale is the Aronia berry – a fabulous source of antioxidants.
Health Fun Facts
You don’t actually breathe through both nostrils at the same time.
Human noses can remember 50,000 different scents.
Humans share 60% of their DNA with bananas.
