Community News
Walking for Wellness

As we age, once-easy exercises can become challenging due to changes in mobility, past injuries, or fear of injury. Finding a suitable fitness routine is crucial. Walking is an excellent choice for seniors, providing various benefits from short store strolls to leisurely park outings. It enhances mobility, aids weight management, boosts mental well-being, supports heart health, maintains strength, fosters social engagement, and reduces pain. Incorporating walking into daily life is a lifestyle choice promoting healthy aging. For those concerned about walking alone, a medical alert system offers reassurance, ensuring help is available at the push of a button. Start your walking journey today for a healthier body, mind, and spirit.

Choose Your Lifestyle

Experience the lifestyle of your dreams at Pacific Carlton® or Sunnyside Manor®. Find warmth, friendship, and a welcoming staff that makes every day feel like home. Enjoy the convenience of all-inclusive independent living, including meals, housekeeping, and activities. Pacific Carlton® boasts spacious suites with full kitchens, in-suite laundry, and sizes ranging from one-bedroom to expansive two-bedroom layouts up to 1200 sq ft. Sunnyside Manor® offers warm & inviting floor plans with beautiful courtyard gardens and various layouts, including studios, one-bedroom & one-bedroom with den suites up to 630 sq ft. Book your tour today and embark on a new chapter of retirement living.

Making Life Accessible

Motion™ partnered with Humm financing to offer a special deferral on purchases up to $15,000: no payments or interest for 12 months! Post-deferral, payments transition to equal monthly installments with a low fixed interest rate. Humm extends third-party financing to Motion™ clients, accommodating flexible payment plans up to $30,000. With a swift application process, clients receive credit decisions in under 7 minutes. Payments can spread over 5 years in equal monthly installments. Humm facilitates access to mobility and accessibility equipment, easing financial burdens with fixed interest rates and predictable monthly payments. Don’t miss this offer ending March 29.

Income Tax Season is Here!

Through the Canadian Volunteer Income Tax Program, we offer free, simple income tax preparation. To be eligible to participate for free tax service, your Income must be under $35K for an individual and under $48K for a couple. Contact the office for more information.

Be a Catalyst for Change!

Are you passionate about making a meaningful impact in your community? Do you want to make a difference in the lives of vulnerable seniors? Comox Valley Senior Support Services is on the lookout for people like you to join our dynamic Volunteer Community.

Would you like to visit with a lonely or isolated senior? Or assist someone with accessing services in the community? If so, please contact us to learn more about providing support in your community. We offer training monthly so there are minimal delays to getting started. Volunteers are provided with monthly support meetings and regular education sessions. Contact us today to get started!

Better at Home Program

We are excited to announce that Comox Senior Support Society has been contracted to run the Campbell River Better at Home program. The Better at Home program helps seniors/elders continue living in their own homes longer and stay connected in the community by providing some basic non-medical home support services.

Residents in Campbell River who are 65 years of age and older, and who meet the program’s objectives can access the Better at Home services within the program’s resource constraints. Becoming a Campbell River Better at Home client involves an initial meeting with our Better at Home Program staff to discuss the program, confirm eligibility, and complete registration forms.
For more information or to contact the office call: 250-830-8709, or email: [email protected]

Ayurveda & Spring Time

Spring for Ayurveda encourages getting direct sun early in the morning, before 10 am (even with clouds). Consider a walking partner if this helps with accountability and enjoyment. Lean towards a warm, cooked, plant-based diet abundant in greens, clear fluids and a bit of heating spice. Letting go of heavy foods may present a challenge, but the payoff is well-being. Align with the seasonal shift by shedding excess weight like melting snow by engaging in more invigorating yoga postures. Opt for inspiring activities that feel fun and get you moving. In tune with the flowing spring rain, you’ll be in rhythm with the season.

Honor Loved One’s at Easter

As Easter approaches, coping with the loss of a loved one can find solace in honoring their memory through meaningful actions. Expressing internal grief outwardly through mourning actions brings an almost unexplainable sense of peace. To commemorate your loved one this Easter, consider personalized Easter baskets, themed with their favorite colors, candies, and meaningful items. Or, create a memory basket by encouraging family and friends to write special memories and placing them in plastic eggs. Keep their Easter traditions alive, fostering joy and connection. In these thoughtful gestures, their influence and impact endure, bringing comfort during the holiday.

Oral Health Nutrition

The nexus between nutrition and senior oral health plays a pivotal role in overall well-being, especially with the heightened risk of tooth loss in aging. Optimal nutrition can mitigate challenges associated with tooth loss, impacting overall health. Water, with its fluoride content, combats tooth decay and enhances saliva production, crucial for pH regulation. Crunchy vegetables like carrots stimulate gums and support dental health. Dark, leafy greens provide essential calcium and minerals. Fiber-rich fruits such as apples and pears neutralize mouth acids effectively. Protein-rich foods like nuts, fish, and meat contribute to mouth-healthy saliva production, highlighting the integral connection between nutrition, dental health, and overall well-being in seniors.

Signature Tea of the Month

Relax & Unwind Citrus Chamomile. Winter can often bring feelings of sadness, but you can combat those winter blues with a comforting blend of chamomile and fresh citrus tea. Chamomile’s gentle and soothing properties mix well with the invigorating citrus notes, creating a beverage that calms the mind and uplifts the spirit. This delightful infusion can become a beacon of tranquillity by reducing stress and promoting relaxation. Make a nightly ritual to sip on a cup of this tea before bedtime to enhance your well-being, and foster a peaceful night’s rest.

The Importance of Your Oral Health

As with many areas of the body, your mouth is full of bacteria that can cause tooth decay and gum disease. With proper oral hygiene and dental care, including daily brushing and flossing, you can keep the bacteria levels under control, reducing your chances of developing cavities and other teeth issues.

However, did you know that your oral health is also related to the overall health of the body? Research shows that problems with your oral health can impact other areas of the body. As your mouth is the entrance to the body’s digestive and respiratory tracts, research suggests that oral bacteria in the mouth can play a role in diseases in other parts of the body. Oral bacteria and the inflammation associated with a severe gum disease might play a role in other diseases, including endocarditis, cardiovascular disease, and pneumonia. In addition, some conditions may affect your oral health such as diabetes, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Due to the critical role that good oral health plays in the overall health of the body, it is important that the Federal Government has launched the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) in December 2023. This new plan will help ease financial barriers to accessing oral health care for eligible Canadian residents who:
• have an annual adjusted family net income of less than $90,000 and;
• don’t have access to dental insurance
For more information, check out the website at: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/dental/dental-care-plan.html. If you need any assistance with signing up, call us at: 250-871-5940.