Community News
Second Home for Seniors

The Comox Seniors’ Centre, located at 1801 Beaufort Ave in Comox, offers a wide range of opportunities to socialize, be physically fit, and stay mindfully active. The Centre re-opened in July with an on-site meal service and more than 40 club activities ranging from Yoga, Carpet Bowling, Table Tennis, Line Dancing, Mah Jong, Bridge, Spanish Conversation, etc. For many seniors this Centre is their second home. For more information, drop in or call 250-339-5133 or visit our website www.comoxseniors.ca Comox Seniors’ Centre.

Life Stages and Hearing Loss
Hearing loss can affect people of all ages for various reasons such as genetics, exposure to loud noises, presbycusis, autoimmune issues and sometimes ototoxic medications. More dangerously, untreated hearing loss can cause issues, often psychological, which also tend to be the indicators.

If you’re concerned that you or a loved one may have hearing loss, here’s a list of signs in each stage of life that may indicate a hearing loss.
Children
Signs of hearing loss in children often go unnoticed, hence it’s important to look for signs as early as infancy for quick treatment. If a hearing loss isn’t indicated now, it’s still a possibility as they age.
Here are some of the signs to watch for:
  • Lack of attention to sound and sound localization
  • Delayed speech development
  • Unable to monitor their own voice or follow verbal instructions
  • Behavioural changes and hyperactivity
  • Poor school performance
Teenagers
Diagnosing teens is easier because they’ve developed communication skills. Personalities influence any diagnosis because they affect our verbal interactions and reactions to different situations.
The following are some indicators:
  • Struggles with verbal cues and instructions
  • Often ask people to repeat themselves
  • Lack of participation in school activities, poor school performance
  • Isolated from social situations
  • Behavioural changes – may act out or do nothing at all
Adults and Seniors
In adults, signs of hearing loss present differently with age due to developed coping mechanisms. Seniors often lose their hearing as they age, but they can take action to treat it for a better quality of life.
Here are signs to look for:
  • Regularly ask people to repeat themselves
  • Talk very loud or quiet
  • Difficulties understanding verbal communication
  • Isolate themselves in noisy environments and don’t participate
  • May present with depression or anxiety
  • Complaints of dizziness, ringing in ears and exhaustion

If you’re concerned about hearing loss affecting you or a loved one, NexGen Hearing provides free hearing tests and hearing aid consultations, sales and fittings. NexGen Hearing’s team is dedicated to helping you find solutions and discussing your hearing needs, goals and options to find the best outcome and support you every step of the way.

Author: By NexGen Hearing, NexGenHearing.com
The Perfect Workout for Seniors

As you age, some types of physical activity can become more difficult. The good news is that swimming, an activity that many seniors find easy, has many health benefits. Here are just a few of the health benefits of swimming you should take advantage of. 1. Bone Health. If you’ve developed joint pain and lower bone mineral density, swimming will give your joints a break while also lowering your risk of osteoporosis. 2. Heart Health. Swimming helps lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart disease and improve overall cardiovascular health. 3. Mental Health. Swimming can boost cognitive function, reduce stress and even help combat depression.

Local Spotlight: Canada Scooters

Canada Scooters is the leading supplier of electric mobility scooters – offering a wide rage of 3 & 4-wheel new and used scooters, portable scooters, accessories and rentals. They deliver right to your door for an in-home demonstration or a test drive. They also carry mobility products such as walkers, canes, crutches, power chairs, wheelchairs and bathroom safety products or equip your home with lift chairs, ramps, railings, and bathroom renovations. Canada Scooters offers service and repairs, safety courses and expert professionals with service across all Vancouver Island, all with flexible financing and payment options.

Light Therapy for SAD

It is hard to imagine that summer is now behind us, but it’s true. As we head into winter, we’re encountering shorter daylight hours and more grey skies. As a result, we sometimes find that winter will trigger Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). How do we treat SAD? In severe cases, medications may be needed, and as adjunctive treatment, light therapy may be added. Effective light therapy is achieved by exposure to 10,000 lux cool-white light. Optimal exposure is for 30 to 45 minutes early in the morning upon awakening.

Overcoming Challenges & Gaining Confidence

Many women avoid gym programs for their exercise routines because they are self-conscious. It’s normal to feel this way, especially at the start of a weight loss program. So first, give yourself a break. Then, give yourself a kick. The hardest part is showing up, so think about what might help you do that. Here are some tips: Mid-morning and mid-afternoon are likely to be less crowded than lunchtime or before or after work. Bring a friend! It’s easier to try something new when you have support. Also find comfort in knowing that many of the women you see in the gym are embarking on the same journey as you.

The Gift of Great Teeth

This holiday season, why not give your loved ones the gift of healthy, great-looking teeth? Electric toothbrushes make fantastic gifts because they offer: 1) Better plaque removal – electric toothbrushes decrease plaque and gingivitis more than manual ones, especially if they have rotating heads. 2) Ease of use – electric toothbrushes do most of the work for you, making them easy to use for people of all ages and abilities. 3) High-tech features – some advanced features include timers, pressure sensors, and brushing modes. 4) Whiter teeth – the bristle design and motion of electric toothbrushes can lift stains for an even whiter smile.

Does Your Skincare Regime Need a Change?

The iS Fire & Ice Facial is an intensive clinical treatment which rapidly and safely resurfaces the skin, diminishing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while smoothing, softening, and encouraging overall skin rejuvenation. The treatment is a multi-step process that deeply cleanses the skin, utilizing a resurfacing mask, peel, serums, and moisturizers. Enjoy a combination of an intensive exfoliating peel and a luxurious facial in one single session. Awakening your senses, this phenomenal system incorporates both active and soothing formulas, which evokes aromas of warm cinnamon spice and brisk cool peppermint. You’ll find your skin glowing, blocked pores cleaned, and wrinkles lessened, leaving behind a smooth, healthy glow.

Bioavailable Sunshine

Sparkling and twinkling, this is a time of year we celebrate light. We recognize it for its beauty but light is also necessary for our cells to function well. Certain wavelengths of light can help power up our cells, affect hormones and neurotransmitters, balance our mood, enhance physical performance, hasten recovery from stress, increase alertness, improve sleep and positively affect the expression of our genes. Red light & infrared acts to stimulate our mitochondria and increase cellular energy. Book an introductory light therapy session and warm up from the inside out! Book at https://whitecedarclinic.com/booking/

Possible Cause of Chronic Pain

Central sensitization is where a person’s nervous system becomes hardwired to feel pain more
often, and the pain sensation is more extreme. Research points to a correlation between stress
and mood disorders causing central sensitization, which leads to a greater likelihood of the
onset of chronic pain. This theory explains why one person heals completely while another
person suffers for years after the same injury. It also means we have the ability to change our
pain response by rewiring our brain using the magic of neuroplasticity through stress
management techniques such as mindfulness training.

Class IV Laser for Chronic Pain

Chronic Pain? Acute Injury and a lot of swelling? Try Class IV Deep Tissue Laser which kick starts your body’s own healing capacity 2-3 times! It’s clinically proven by the World Health Organization to reduce pain and restore function to tissues. Injuries need blood flow and circulation to heal and laser does just that. Common ailments that have proven successful are: muscle strains, tendon injuries such as rotator cuff tears, as well as joint sprains. Even acute swelling or bruises can be treated with laser to accelerate the healing process and decrease scar tissue formation!