Wanting to strengthen your relationships? Allow them to feel cherished and thought of often. By reaching out and telling them what you really enjoy and like about them, it makes them feel appreciated. Taking someone for granted leads to complacency and dulls the relationship connection. Everyone wants to be seen, acknowledged and celebrated even if they don’t say so. Most of us are conflict avoidant, so having a clearing model that is easy to use when differences arise is necessary to help work things through. Taking full ownership of our feelings, naming the specific behaviors that upset us and asking for what you need instead of blaming or becoming defensive is a game changer. Every relationship at some point needs to clear resentment or misunderstandings, when you can do it quickly and efficiently, they don’t build up.
Community News
Healthy Blueberry Crisp
Healthy Blueberry Crisp. Preheat oven to 350°F. In a bowl, toss 4 cups fresh or frozen blueberries with 1 tbsp maple syrup, 1 tsp lemon juice, and 1 tbsp cornstarch. Pour into a baking dish. In another bowl, mix 1 cup rolled oats, 1/3 cup almond flour, 1/4 cup chopped nuts, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, and 2 tbsp coconut oil or butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over berries. Bake for 30–35 minutes until golden and bubbly. Serve warm, with Greek yogurt. Enjoy!
Stay Social with Hearing Loss
Socializing can be tough for those with hearing loss, but a few thoughtful adjustments can make all the difference. Always get their attention before speaking. Talk at a natural pace—don’t shout—and use pauses to help them keep up. Keep your hands away from your face so they can see your lips. Stick to one topic at a time and let them know if the subject changes. Choose seating where they can see everyone’s faces clearly. Most importantly, check in often. If they seem confused, repeat the message in simpler, shorter sentences to help keep them connected and included.
Sleep & Weight Gain: What’s the Link?
Lack of sleep can seriously affect your hunger and weight. When you don’t get enough rest, your body produces more ghrelin—the hormone that makes you feel hungry—and less leptin, which signals fullness. This imbalance can lead to increased cravings, especially for high-calorie, sugary foods. Sleep deprivation also affects how your brain makes decisions, making it harder to resist unhealthy snacks. Over time, poor sleep can slow your metabolism and lead to weight gain. Getting consistent, quality sleep helps regulate appetite, supports better food choices, and plays an important role in maintaining a healthy weight.
Local Spotlight: Heart to Home Meals
Heart to Home Meals delivers delicious, nutritious meals right to your door. The company’s team of experts has developed a wide-ranging menu to suit many tastes, dietary needs, and lifestyles, including high-protein, low carbohydrates and/or saturated fat, low sodium, high fibre, vegetarian, and no added sugar options. Heart to Home Meals has a useful diet coding system to help you choose meals that are right for you. Meals also come in mini versions (for smaller appetites), hearty versions (for larger appetites), as well as minced or pureed options. It’s as easy as ordering online or by phone!
Organize for Mental Wellness
Clutter isn’t just a physical nuisance; it’s a mental burden too. Research underscores the direct link between clutter and mental health. In a cluttered space, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and out of control. Home organizing services offer more than just a clean house; they provide a pathway to mental well-being. Clear the clutter and get organized with comprehensive suite of services, including decluttering, downsizing, styling, packing, and unpacking. Embrace the transformative power of organization for a happier, healthier life.
Sleep & Weight Gain: What’s the Link?
Lack of sleep can seriously affect your hunger and weight. When you don’t get enough rest, your body produces more ghrelin—the hormone that makes you feel hungry—and less leptin, which signals fullness. This imbalance can lead to increased cravings, especially for high-calorie, sugary foods. Sleep deprivation also affects how your brain makes decisions, making it harder to resist unhealthy snacks. Over time, poor sleep can slow your metabolism and lead to weight gain. Getting consistent, quality sleep helps regulate appetite, supports better food choices, and plays an important role in maintaining a healthy weight.
Friendly Visitor Feedback
1. Why did you become a Friendly Visitor Volunteer with Brella?
I became a Friendly Visitor Volunteer with Brella because I care about older adults, especially those who are isolated, as it can be quite lonely. Older people often feel invisible and I hope to help them feel seen and heard. I love listening to their stories about their lives. I was raised in the Maritimes where we cherished and respected our elders and lent a helping hand whenever we could.
2. Tell us about your time with your Friendly Visitor match.
My person when I was a Friendly Visitor was Lorraine. I truly enjoyed our time together. We had lots of laughs and fun. Lots of meaningful talks, stories, and little walks. I also enjoyed helping her with practical things and being creative. Lorraine was one of a kind. She enriched my life and I will treasure our memories. We were kindred spirits.
3. What is your most memorable memory from your time as a Friendly Visitor?
My most memorable memory of my time with Lorraine was Christmas 2021. I helped her put up a little Christmas tree and bought her a gold sparkly star to put on top of the tree. I didn’t know that she loved sparkly things — but of course, because Lorraine was a sparkly girl at heart.
A Sparkling Connection
Lana became a Friendly Visitor with Brella out of a deep sense of care for older adults — especially those facing loneliness or isolation. Older adults “often feel invisible,” she says. “I want to help them feel seen and heard.” Raised in the Maritimes, where elders were respected and community ties ran deep, Lana grew up surrounded by the idea that lending a hand to someone older was just what you did. That early value stayed with her and eventually inspired her to step into a volunteer role with Brella.
Her match through the program was a woman named Lorraine, and their connection quickly became something special. Lana describes their visits as filled with laughter, meaningful conversations, and small adventures. “We had lots of fun together — little walks, sharing stories, and being creative,” she says. “I also enjoyed helping her with practical things when I could.” Their time together was easy and full of warmth — a reminder of how powerful simple companionship can be.
One particularly fond memory for Lana was decorating for the holidays. “I helped her put up a little Christmas tree and bought a gold sparkly star for the top,” she remembers. “I didn’t know she loved sparkly things, but it made perfect sense — Lorraine was a sparkly girl at heart.” That moment, like so many of their visits, reflected the quiet joy that can come from paying attention and sharing in someone else’s world.
Lana’s experience as a Friendly Visitor didn’t just make a difference in Lorraine’s life — it had a lasting impact on her own as well. “It was incredibly rewarding and inspiring,” she says. “When I think back on our time together, I feel grateful. She reminded me to stay strong, to find joy in small things, and to always approach life with positivity.”
To anyone considering becoming a Friendly Visitor, Lana wholeheartedly encourages it. “It’s such a meaningful way to give back,” she says. “You learn so much about yourself, and you gain a new perspective. Building a connection with an older adult, sharing time and kindness — it enriches your life more than you might expect.”
The Friendly Visitor program is more than just regular check-ins — it’s about building friendships, creating community, and making people feel valued. Lana’s story is a beautiful example of how a volunteer experience can turn into something truly memorable. “I feel honoured to have had the opportunity,” she says. “It’s something I’ll always carry with me.”
Downsizing Solutions
In an evolving real estate market, many clients are turning to reverse mortgages to secure new properties for downsizing. Reverse mortgages provide financial flexibility, allowing clients to buy a new home before selling their current one. Some keep the old home as a backup, while others move out and renovate it for a higher sale price. With traditional mortgages and secured lines of credit becoming harder to qualify for, homeowners are leveraging reverse mortgages, which have no income requirements, to position themselves advantageously.
Occupational Therapy for Disability Support
Occupational therapy plays a vital role in helping individuals with disabilities live more independently and improve their quality of life. Therapists work closely with clients to build skills needed for daily activities such as dressing, bathing, cooking, or working. They may also recommend adaptive tools, modify home or work environments, and teach strategies to manage physical or cognitive challenges. The goal is to promote independence, boost confidence, and support participation in meaningful activities. Whether recovering from an injury or living with a lifelong condition, occupational therapy offers personalized solutions that empower individuals to navigate life with greater ease and success.
