Many of us have compression socks for travelling. On the day of travel, put them on when you get up; that is when your legs are less swollen. This allows your body to adapt to the socks. Make sure to leave them on for a few hours after you land to again allow your body to adapt. Wearing the socks for the extra time can reduce any swelling of the legs much more effectively than if they are taken straight off. Travel socks do not work unless you wear them. Voxxlife socks provide comfort compression that clients love to wear.
Community News
Music and Dementia
The effects of dementia are devastating to individuals and their families. Researchers are keen to find ways to ease its symptoms and restore abilities and memory. Studies on music and dementia have shown promising findings. Did you know that the area of the brain associated with musical memory tends to be least affected by dementia? Music therapy may help reduce cognitive decline while improving the memory of people with dementia. In one study, test subjects performed better on memory tests when they listened to music. It has also been found that the emotional content of music can bring back emotional memories.
Ask Your Pharmacist
Do you have questions about vaccinations, how to quit smoking or other health issues? Your Pharmacist can help provide information and answer many of the questions that you may have. Vaccines can help prevent disease and save lives. Ask what vaccines might be right for you. Is 2023 your year to QUIT SMOKING? The B.C. Pharmacare’s Smoking Cessation Program helps eligible B.C. residents of any age stop using tobacco products by covering the full cost of nicotine gum, lozenges and patches. Ask your Pharmacist for more information about this program and vaccinations today.
Remember 1-4-2
Have you heard of Canada’s Low-Risk Gambling Guidelines (#LRGG)? Guideline 1: Gamble no more than 1% of household income, e.g.: $60,000 annual gross income = $50/month. Guideline 2: Gamble no more than 4 days per month = roughly once a week. Guideline 3: Avoid regularly gambling at more than 2 types of games, including lotteries, sports betting, table games, slot machines, scratch tickets, horse racing, bingo, video lottery terminals (VLTs), and online gambling. Mental health & addictions, gambling type and reasons for gambling can make these guidelines difficult to follow. Reach out to VI Gaming Support! We’re here for you.
Clarity is Key
When making any changes to your lifestyle, having a clear understanding of why and what you are changing is key to long-term success. If you’re unclear about the direction you wish to move towards you may find yourself being pulled in another direction. Clarity is the first of many baby steps to take when reaching a goal; it’s a common place to get stuck especially if you’re a perfectionist. Clarity can be refined as you progress. Reflecting on how you’re proceeding is the best tool to get more clear about how, why and what you do to reach your goals.
Laughter is the Best Medicine
I feel as if my body has gotten totally out of shape, so I got my doctor’s permission to join a fitness club and start exercising. I decided to take an aerobics class for seniors. I bent, twisted, gyrated, jumped up and down, and perspired for an hour. By the time I got my pants on, the class was over!
Do You Drink Filtered Water?
Many people believe that the water coming out of our taps is safe. This may not be true. Whether it’s contaminants from the reservoir or the pipes or the addition of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) used by the local governments, most tap water contains things that are bad for the biology of our cells. DBPs can be endocrine disruptors. An additional concern is the concentration of fluoride in tap water, which is of particular concern to the thyroid hormone system. Too much fluoride can be toxic to the body and its cells. There is a huge benefit to drinking some form of filtered water.
Aronia Berries and the Liver
The liver is vital for digestion and detoxification. It can suffer from inflammation, scarring or fibrosis due to various stressors. Scientists working to address liver problems recently made three exciting discoveries involving Aronia melanocarpa, a super-berry now growing in BC: 1) Certain components of Aronia berries may inhibit the secretion of inflammatory compounds in the liver; 2) Extracts from Aronia improved liver function in mice that were fed a high-fat diet; and 3) Aronia berry components significantly reduced signs of liver injury, and helped to restore a balanced microbial ecosystem in the gut. See our website for more information.
National Volunteers Week: April 16 – 23
Are you looking for a fulfilling volunteer opportunity? At Nanaimo Lifeline, we have two wonderful opportunities for you to give back. Our Check-In Service offers a daily friendly phone call to our clients, providing reassurance to those who might be isolated. Best of all, you can make these calls from home! Are you techy? Another volunteer opportunity is to also install our plug-and-play equipment in new clients’ homes in your area. We will provide the training and accompany you until you’re ready. For more information about our volunteer opportunities, please go to the About Us section of our website.
Retirement Lifestyle
When is the best time to start thinking about downsizing and moving to a smaller house or a retirement community? The answer is … well before you need to do so. Downsizing is often a stressful process. Start slowly and give yourself plenty of time to make it seem less overwhelming. Take photos of cherished items to remember them by. Research and look at the various options for retirement living before you need to make a move. It will take the fear and stress away knowing that you have done your homework and have started the downsizing process.
Nutritional Insecurity
“I always find that as the weather changes, I move from eating lots of soups and winter roots to lighter fruit and vegetables. However, sometimes it is hard to get my hands on my favourite healthy foods and I wind up eating the stuff that is easier at hand and faster to prepare.” Does this sound familiar? For approximately one-third of seniors in Canada, factors including ease of access, cooking time, mobility, loneliness and more, contribute to nutritional insecurity. Comfort Keepers caregivers can help you shop, prepare and enjoy healthy home-cooked meals! Contact us.
