Mental illness is not a normal part of aging. All seniors have the right and deserve to receive services and care that promotes their mental health and responds to their mental illness needs. The Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health (CCSMH) is hard at work ensuring that seniors’ mental health is recognized as a key Canadian health and wellness issue. To see the services and supports offered by CCSMH, please see their website: https://ccsmh.ca
Community News
BounceBack®
Sponsored by the Canadian Mental Health Association, BounceBack® is a free skill-building program designed to help adults manage low mood, mild to moderate depression, anxiety, stress or worry. Delivered online or over the phone with a coach, you will get access to tools that will support you on your path to mental wellness. BounceBackBC.ca
Did You Know?
Comox Valley Senior Support…
– Provides service to an average of 300 Comox Valley seniors monthly. – Provides support to families of Seniors seeking guidance. – Is the only non-profit in the Valley solely dedicated to supporting Seniors and their families. – Utilizes resources from the Valley, the Island, the province, and beyond, to provide the best service possible. – Is a member agency of the Comox Valley Coalition to End Homelessness. – Partners with LUSH Valley Food Action Society to help increase Food Security for seniors.
Cumberland 50+ Drop In
The Cumberland Drop-In Social Club, in Buchanan Hall, is a volunteer-led initiative that welcomes mature adults (50+) of all abilities to play games, pursue favourite leisure pastimes and enjoy the company of friends and neighbours. Tuesdays and Fridays from 10am to 12pm. $3 drop in fee, or free with a Cumberland Recreation membership.
Comox Senior’s Centre
Come and enjoy the welcoming atmosphere of the Comox Seniors’ Centre at 1801 Beaufort Ave in Comox. Enjoy a coffee and meal at Dei’s Cafe with friends or meet new acquaintances. Check out the library for a good book, DVD or puzzle. Check out our Gift Shop. Become a member and participate in the many activities available.
First Annual Spelling Bee
On October 18, from 11:30 – 1:00 the Comox Valley Senior Support Society will host its first annual fund-raising Spelling Bee! At an hour and half long, this event will promise to test your skill at spelling and will provide an entertaining time for all who attend. Lunch and refreshments provided. Prizes for the winning table. Each seat is $50, with $25 eligible for a tax receipt. Or buy a table for 6 for $300. Only 36 seats / 6 tables left! See ad in this issue of Wellnessnews.
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 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!
Blockchain and Online Gambling
Blockchain is a method of tracking transactions using a public, globally-distributed ledger. It is most commonly used for cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin. Blockchain automatically and securely keeps a historical record, or ledger, of all transactions; working across a network of computers, cryptocurrencies can operate without a central authority. It is already revolutionizing online gambling and is now emerging in video games. For example, an emerging trend in gaming culture is the integration of cryptocurrency and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). NFTs allow blockchain to issue one-of-a-kind digital assets with unique attributes, meaning that players can acquire securely stored in-game assets.
What is an End-of-Life Doula?
End of Life Practitioners, or doulas, are highly trained in skills that involve providing practical, psychological, social, and spiritual support for the dying, their loved ones, and caregivers. They are proficient in advocating, end of life practices (vigil, companion, end of life rituals, and home death), and the training, knowledge, skills, and presence needed to address the practical, psycho-social, and spiritual dynamic journey of dying. Doula-client relationships engage the difficult and complex emotions while navigating the signs and symptoms of the dying process. Dynamic Journey End of Life Practitioner Service’s are offered from Comox Valley to Parksville, including surrounding islands.
A Prescription for Exercise
Being active can reduce risk of chronic disease by as much as 80%, yet fewer than 25% of Canadian adults meet physical activity guidelines. Exercise can also do what medications cannot (e.g., improve balance, reduce risk of falls). If you’re making lifestyle changes, you may be able to reduce the number of medications you are taking. As your pharmacists, we can help you do this safely. Please visit our website for the full article about prescriptions for exercise.
Seniors and Stress
Chronic stress is harmful to people of all ages, but its impact on older adults can be particularly severe, increasing the risk of age-related diseases, hastening cognitive decline and even triggering falls. Stressors that are common amongst the elderly include: loss of control, personal loss, declining health, financial worries, personal safety and loss of independence. To reduce stress, get regular exercise, eat balanced meals to ensure the mind and body are properly fueled and ask for help. Talking with a trusted family member, friend or healthcare professional, at the very least, releases pent-up stress and may even lead to a solution.
