Brella is excited to welcome back our in-person caregiver support groups. We understand being a caregiver can be difficult, but we are here to help. Come together with caregivers on a similar journey to yours to share, listen, and learn. The Caregiver Support Group is beneficial to caregivers in all stages of their caregiving journey. This group focuses on providing education, support, camaraderie and relaxation. There are 2 sessions being offered on a bi-weekly basis on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s from 12:30 PM to 2 PM. For more information or to register contact our Care Coordinator, Nisa, at [email protected] or call 604-531-9400 ext. 219.
Community News
Join Today
Brella Society allows individuals to stay engaged in the community even if it is from the comfort of their own home. We offer programs that stimulate individual’s cognition, provide emotional support, food security and have them engaged in physical activities. Our priority is the well-being of the seniors in our community; therefore, we take initiative in advocating for them and assisting them in navigating support. Please visit our website for more information and events.
In Your Community
For 38 years, La Baia Italian Restaurant has a popular place for lovers of Italian cuisine. Accomplished Italian-born executive Head Chef, Jose Alberto Mata Alfonzo, has created a menu with inspired creations from Northern Italy and delicious in-house fresh pasta, with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. La Baia offers weekly specials, events and custom menus for special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, and catering. Tues. & Wed. – Pasta Nights 20% discount. Sat. & Sun. 12 to 5 – Happy Hour 15% discount on alcohol and appetizers. High-Tea from Tues. – Sun. Call to reserve a table today (604) 531-6261 or order online. We deliver.
Staying Social as a Senior
As we get older, health conditions, mobility limitations or a lack of energy can keep us from being as socially active as we once were. A diminishing social life might happen gradually as close friends experience the same conditions and family members grow busy. We may not even notice how long it has been since we last spent time with a friend! Isolation has many physical and emotional health risks. Especially if you live by yourself, staying socially active is critical to enjoying a healthy lifestyle. Volunteer at a local organization, join a senior living community or find a group that focuses on similar interests (e.g., knitting, water aerobics, cooking). Get back to living your best life!
Healing with Salt Therapy
Salt therapy offers a number of benefits and is safe and effective for everyone, including children, older adults, and those who are immunocompromised. Salt therapy has an antimicrobial effect, which helps kill bacteria and fungi in the respiratory system and on the skin. The magnesium content in salt therapy offers relaxation, calming, and pain-relieving effects for adults, and can assist with reducing hyperactivity and growing pains in kids. The natural antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties of salt therapy make it helpful for a variety of conditions, including allergies, asthma, cystic fibrosis, emphysema, dermatitis, and bronchitis, among many others.
Preventive Healthcare for Winter
It’s time to start thinking about preventive healthcare before winter arrives! Beta Wellness Centre is an innovative facility that offers full-scope therapies, services, and prescription rights recognized by the College of Naturopathic Physicians of BC. Beta Wellness Centre identifies your unique needs and merges the best of natural and conventional healthcare to maximize your health using: 1) Professional-grade custom formula nutritional supplements. 2) Therapies and services – Naturopathic Consultations, Advanced Laboratory Analysis, Nutrition Consultations, Intravenous Therapies, Acupuncture, Allergy Therapies, Hormone Balancing, Weight Loss, Brain Function Regeneration, Pain Relief, Aesthetic Medicine, Body-Oriented Psychotherapy, Bio-Photonic Therapies, Intramuscular Injections, Ozone Therapies, and Nebulizer Therapies.
Laughter is the Best Medicine
My doctor told me to start my exercise program very gradually. So today I drove past a store that sells sweat pants.
Conditions Affected by Hearing Loss
Hearing loss is connected to many other health conditions of the body. While hearing loss may not be the cause of these diseases or conditions, it is considered a risk factor for many. *Tinnitus refers to the sensation of perceiving sounds that have no external source—in other words, hearing sounds that are not there. *Meniere’s disease is a chronic inner ear disorder that causes recurring episodes of severe dizziness (vertigo), ear pressure, tinnitus and hearing loss. It typically affects only one ear, although some people experience symptoms in both ears. *Treating hearing loss aggressively can help ward off cognitive decline and dementia.
Benefits of Pet Therapy
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.
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.
