SOS and Happipad have teamed up to tackle the housing crisis in the Oceanside area by launching the Parksville-Qualicum Beach Home-Share Program. This initiative aims to match verified hosts with screened renters, creating affordable, safe housing options. In an increasingly competitive housing market, residents are facing heightened rents and mortgages. SOS recognizes that residents with similar interests and lifestyles could benefit greatly from sharing accommodations. And more than just saving money, they may enjoy the company. This program is supported by the Oceanside Task Force on Homelessness and the Government of Canada’s Homelessness Partnering Strategy (OTFH-HPS). Visit www.happipad.com/pqb to learn more.
Community News
Acupuncture for Post Surgery Recovery
After a knee or hip replacement, acupuncture and cupping can significantly aid recovery. Acupuncture stimulates blood flow, reduces inflammation, and helps nerves and muscles by alleviating numbness, aching, and stiffness. Cupping enhances this effect by drawing stagnant blood to the surface, improving circulation, and easing muscle tension around the surgical site. Together, acupuncture and cupping accelerate recovery, enhance mobility, and provide natural pain management, making them excellent complementary therapies for post-surgery healing. Acupuncture and cupping are covered by extended health care plans. Consult a healthcare professional to ensure these treatments are appropriate for you.
Your Personal Pharmacist
Do you have a personal pharmacist on your wellness team? A personal pharmacist pays close attention to your needs and provides personalized care. Whether it’s managing your diabetes, heart health, or another chronic condition, they are invested in your health. Your personal pharmacist can help make sure your medication is the right fit and introduce you to tools that make day-to-day medication management easier. With the expanded role of pharmacists, they can assess and prescribe medication for certain minor conditions that do not require a doctor’s visit. When you have a minor condition, book an appointment with your Medicine Shoppe pharmacist for a free assessment.
Eat Protein to Improve Muscle Mass
You know that falling is a real issue for seniors, but why are seniors more at risk, and what are the repercussions? Well, as you age, you lose muscle mass due to a lack of protein in your diet and tend to become more sedentary. Your muscles help you with falls in two ways: you can prevent yourself from falling with more success if you have stronger muscles, and if you do fall, your muscle mass will cushion your bones. Solution? Increase your quality protein intake as you age, and get 30 minutes of exercise per week.
Do you Need Supplements?
The answer is maybe! If you have any deficiencies that you have seen from blood work or have been told about by a health professional, then yes, you probably need to focus on taking the supplements that would address the deficiency. For the rest of us, supplements are not necessary and probably expensive healthy fluff that might not be necessary. Meeting your micronutrient requirements should be done through a balanced diet that includes a variety of colourful fruits and veggies, quality protein sources, and healthy fats. If you eat this way, then you shouldn’t need to rely on supplements to be healthy.
Move to Keep Your Tissues Limber
The fascia is the organ that gives your body its shape. Fascia is plastic, which means it has the ability to change. It will take on the forms that you put it in the most. If you spend a large portion of the day seated in front of a computer with your head and shoulders forward, the front line of your body will likely shorten to help hold you in that position. This puts strain on your back, neck, and shoulders. To help keep your tissues limber and adaptive, try to get up from your desk and move around at least every 30 minutes.
Summer Friendships for Seniors
“Spending the summer in a senior home offers a wonderful opportunity to forge new friendships. Seniors often have fascinating life stories and wisdom to share, creating a rich tapestry of experiences. Participating in group activities like bingo, gardening, and arts and crafts fosters camaraderie and shared joy. Daily walks, exercise classes, and game nights provide regular bonding moments. Holiday celebrations, cultural events, and communal meals further deepen these connections. Seniors support each other emotionally, offering encouragement and understanding. Through mutual interests and new hobbies, friendships blossom, creating a vibrant, supportive community where everyone feels valued, safe, and less alone.”
The Future of Wellness in a Patch
The Super Patch Wellness line is designed to give you pain relief and better mobility, helping you live a happier, healthier, more active life. The patches have uniquely arranged ridges that look like a QR code, when these ridges touch your skin, your cells transmit unique signals that interact with your body’s nervous system to provide life-enhancing benefits. Clinically and dermatologically tested and approved, the patches are designed to be safe and easy-to-use, every single day. They’re also drug-free, gluten-free, paraben-free, latex-free, hypoallergenic, non-GMO, and certified skin-safe. Patches come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Meet the Practitioner: Debra Johnson
Debra is a Master Certified Coach and a member of the International Coach Federation. She has over 10,000 coaching hours and holds a graduate degree in Executive Coaching from Royal Roads University. As a certified Retirement Coach with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, she works with individuals surviving loss. Debra weaves her training in emotional, physical, and spiritual wellness into her coaching practice. Debra is a certified yoga instructor and practices yoga and meditation daily. Her practice is the foundation for her life and her work. She brings the stillness and presence of yoga into her coaching practice.
Summer Safety Tips for Seniors
*Hydrate: older adults are typically less aware of thirst. As we age, our bodies naturally lose the ability to conserve fluid. * Wear proper sun protection. When choosing sun protection, it’s important that seniors: opt for a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more; apply a generous amount of sunscreen every two hours; and use a water-resistant sunscreen. * Dress Right. Wear lightweight, long-sleeved shirts, lightweight, long pants, and wide-brimmed hats. * Avoid going out in high temperatures. Avoid unsafe temperatures by looking at the day’s forecast before leaving the house. Don’t forget to check the level of humidity throughout the day, too.
Swimming with Dentures
Swimming is a wonderful summer activity and a great way to stay cool during hot days. Swimming can impact denture wearers in several ways. *Water can disrupt the suction that keeps dentures in place, leading to loosening or dislodging. *Swimmers might accidentally swallow water, affecting denture fit and comfort. *Vigorous activities like diving can also cause dentures to shift. *Exposure to pools and natural water requires thorough cleaning afterward to remove contaminants. Denture adhesives can help secure dentures. Ensuring a good fit and maintaining proper hygiene are keys to enjoying swimming with dentures confidently.
