Every day comes with its struggles for people who are deaf and live with hearing loss. There are side effects of dealing with a hearing loss, especially if left untreated. Often, they deal with listening fatigue and an increased risk of burnout, which can be linked to mental health issues. But there are solutions available, and technology is advancing every day to improve the well-being of the deaf and hard of hearing community. If you’re concerned that you or a loved one may have hearing loss visit www.nexgenhearing.com to book your free hearing test.

Would you like to highlight an outstanding senior in the Comox Valley? Send a brief paragraph, explaining why, to Chris at [email protected]. We will need contact information for the senior you are recommending as we will need to attain consent from them to share their story. We will feature as many as possible in upcoming issues!

The vital component of most of our programs at CV Senior Support are volunteers! While staff coordinate the pieces to make programs work, it is our incredible volunteers who venture into the community and provide the supports many of our clients depend upon.
Volunteering at Comox Valley Senior Support can range from a weekly phone call or in person visit to grocery shopping or assisting seniors to fill out forms and find resources. Volunteers are provided with training and support and opportunities for ongoing education.
As our volunteers retire, we need to replace them! If you have an interest in supporting seniors in your community, please contact the office at [email protected] or 250-871-5940 to find out more.

• Peter Mark Roget published the first edition of Roget’s Thesaurus at 73 and oversaw every update until he passed away at 90.
• Grandma Moses began painting art at age 76 and painted almost daily until her death at age 101.
• Nelson Mandela was elected President of South Africa at 76.
• Laura Ingalls Wilder’s first book in the “Little House on the Prairie” series was published when she was 64.
• When Harriette Thompson ran in her fifteenth marathon, the Suja Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Marathon, in 2014 she was 91.
• In 2018, at 95, Chau Thi Vo of Vaughan, Ontario, a prominent advocate for seniors in the Vietnamese community, was representing the Golden Age Village for the Elderly at fundraiser events and accompanying the Village’s board of directors to meetings with local politicians. She was also knitting hats and scarves for the homeless and leading charity efforts for disaster relief funds.

Winter months bring on more then cold temperatures; they often bring on winter blues. Many seniors experience depression due to lack of sunshine, activities, and socializing.
Come in out of the cold into the warmth of the Comox Seniors’ Centre at 1801 Beaufort Ave in Comox. Enjoy a coffee and meal at Dei’s Cafe with friends or meet new acquaintances. Pick up Dei’s hot meals to go; ask what’s on the menu. Check out our library for a good book, DVD, or puzzle. Looking for a handmade gift for someone special; our best kept secret Gift Shop is waiting for you. Become a member and participate in the many activities available.
The Centre is always looking for volunteers. Chase those winter blues away at the Comox Seniors’ Centre.

Help Parents Stay Independent
It’s common for seniors to lose some independence due to health problems or mobility issues. Mobility scooters can help! No matter where your parents live, a mobility scooter can allow them to gain a sense of independence by enabling them to get out of the house more. Since mobility scooters are powered by an electric motor and simply need a charge after use, your parents just have to sit back and relax while getting to wherever they’d like to be. Some models are portable, making them easier to transport if taking people out and about in a car is important.

Thinking about some resolutions for the New Year? Quitting smoking may be the most important change you can make to improve your health. There are numerous immediate benefits to quitting smoking including reducing your blood pressure and heart rate, improving your sense of taste and smell, and improving your circulation making it easier to exercise. With every year that you are smoke free, your risk of stroke and lung cancer decreases. After 15 years, your risk of a heart attack is the same as someone who has never smoked. (source: www.quitnow.ca). Talk to your healthcare professional today about quitting. It’s never too late!