Many of us take our vision for granted. We assume that if we can see fine then we do not need an eye exam. Periodic eye and vision examinations performed by an optometrist are an important part of caring for your eyes, vision, and overall health since many eye and vision problems have no obvious signs or symptoms. Obvious signs that it is time for an eye exam include; difficulties seeing in the distance or up close, unexplained headaches or trouble reading at any distance. Early diagnosis and treatment of eye and vision problems can help prevent vision loss.
Community News
Profile: Westshore Dental Centre
Taking care of their patients’ teeth for life is important at the Westshore Dental Centre. The dental practice is devoted to restoring and enhancing the natural beauty of your smile. They offer a broad range of services, including: *Routine family dental care, *Cosmetic dentistry, *Zoom!®/Sapphire™ bleaching, *One-appointment Crowns. For the comfort of their patients, they offer oral or IV sedation and a TV on the ceiling. Understanding that some patients may feel uneasy about their dental visits, the entire team is dedicated to providing excellent, personalized care and service to make your visits as comfortable and pleasant as possible.
New Health and Wellness Resource
Today, more than ever, people are searching for local health and wellness resources. We are proud to bring Wellnessnews Choices for Healthy Living® to the Westshore. This is the sixth edition on Vancouver Island. To us, Healthy Living means making positive choices and taking ownership and action to improve and enrich our lives in all key areas; physical, mental and spiritual. In order to achieve Healthy Living, we need information about positive health practices and a guide to the resources available to us. Wellnessnews Choices for Healthy Living® is proud to present a One-Stop Resource where our community can find local health and wellness information. Our Wellness Hub enables people on Vancouver Island to easily find and support local businesses, read health tips and find out what is happening in the community.
Exercise Helps Depression, Anxiety & Stress
During these times we must take care of our emotional health. Strength training provides similar improvements in depression as anti-depressant medications. Currently, it is not known if this is because people feel better when they are stronger or if strength training produces a helpful biochemical change to the brain. It is most likely a combination of the two. Strength training helps to ease stress and anxiety by reducing stress, it helps sharpen brain-power and increasing self-esteem. Lifting your mood can help relieve depression, boost your energy level helping you cope better with whatever comes your way in the run of a day.
Brain Teasers
.1 I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have no body, but I come alive with wind. What am I? 2. I’m tall when I’m young, and I’m short when I’m old. What am I? 3. What can you hold in your right hand, but never in your left hand? 4. What has to be broken before you can use it? 5. What did the doctor say to the patient when he finished removing his appendix?
Book Club
“Choosing Hope: One Woman. Three Cancers,” is the story of how Munira Premji battled three advanced cancers: Stage 4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Stage 3 multiple myeloma, and Stage 3 breast cancer. Written as a series of anecdotes from a blog the author started shortly after her first diagnosis, it tells an inspirational story about resilience, courage, and hope in the face of overwhelming odds. Choosing Hope captures the psychological, physical, and emotional trauma of a cancer diagnosis and treatment. It is easy to read and will have special appeal to recently diagnosed cancer patients, survivors and their families, to caregivers, and to many others facing health challenges.
Clean Eating Recipe
Butternut Squash Soup. Ingredients: 15 ml olive oil. 1 onion. 1 butternut squash. 2 celery stalks. 2 garlic cloves. 1 potato. 2 ml pepper. 1, 5 L vegetable broth. 250 ml cooking cream. Directions: Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat and sauté onions for 4 minutes. Add squash, celery, garlic, potato, and pepper. Pour in vegetable broth and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Simmer uncovered for 30 minutes. In a blender, puree mixture into a smooth soup. Return soup to the saucepan and add cream. Reheat over low heat before serving. Stir in 1 tbsp (15 mL) finely grated ginger and 1 tsp (5 mL) hot pepper flakes for a warm, spicy kick.
Dreaming of a Post-COVID Vacation? Tips and Trends for Travelling with Hearing Loss.
Everyone is eagerly awaiting the chance to start travelling again as the possibility is looking brighter each week. A post-COVID vacation could come with stress for the average person, let alone someone who is deaf or hard of hearing.
People who deal with hearing loss have very different travel experiences than those with normal hearing whether its pre or post-COVID. It’s usually extremely stressful, agitating and difficult, but it doesn’t have to be.
So many destinations are becoming more inclusive to provide better accommodations for people with hearing loss so they can have a much more positive experience in their travels.
Australia provides an “Experience Australia in 8D Audio” video series that gives listeners the illusion of sound all around them in each particular scene. It provides people with hearing loss a vivid and immersive listening experience that is normally very uncommon for this community.
Other popular destinations with excellent opportunities for the hearing community are New York City, Disney World, cruises, Cairns and France. They all provide specialized tours, accommodations and services for the deaf and hard of hearing.
Here are a few tips in preparation for your trip:
Plan in advance
If you have a framework of what your travels will look like and set up accommodations, reservations, tours etc. to best suit your hearing loss, you can avoid dealing with communication issues during your trip.
Make the most of technology
Download relevant apps such as Maps, translation, transit and more. Any apps that can assist you during your travels can be extremely helpful.
Advocate for yourself
Don’t be afraid to tell people you have a hearing loss. Since hearing aids can be so discreet, most people wouldn’t know you are wearing one. Once people are aware, they can take steps to communicate with you effectively.
Pack extra supplies
Bring extra packs of batteries, cleaning supplies, cases and other important supplies to ensure that if a battery dies or a tube gets clogged, you can manage this on the go.
Before leaving contact your local NexGen Hearing clinic to order extra supplies.
Daily Routine Important for Seniors
People are afraid of the unknown. If an older adult is losing control over their physical abilities, independence, or cognitive abilities, their world gets filled with more and more unknowns. Establishing routine is extremely important for seniors. A daily routine offers a level of stability that individuals often enjoy, as it allows them to settle into a schedule they understand. Doing the same basic activities like eating, dressing, and bathing at the same time every day is known to improve sleep quality. A predictable routine also helps to reduce stress and anxiety.
With Grace and Ease
Welcome each day with grace and ease. Grace is the state we are in when we are doing nothing, just being who we are at our best. Not pushing or making it happen, instead allowing and in that which is ready to be received. Who we encounter and what we experience throughout the day is not always in our control, but how we approach and take it in is our choice. When we meet life with frustration and resentment, the energies boomerang back and a viscous circle incurs as the energies get trapped. When we raise our own internal vibration, shifting to meet that of grace and ease, it gives us hope, connects us to our humanity and makes us more generous and loving beings. Allowing life to run smoother, welcoming in small gifts of connection along the way.
AJ Pedal Wheelchair
Whether your mobility has been impacted by Parkinson’s, MS, a stroke, or knee or hip trouble, the AJ Pedal Wheelchair is designed to get you moving again. Like a bike, it’s powered by you – so you can reconnect with your body, rebuild muscle tone and improve your cardiovascular system. Designed to maneuver in tight spaces like narrow halls and doorways, the AJ rides easily into elevators, buildings and shopping centres. More robust than a wheelchair, the AJ allows you to pedal through parks, along sidewalks and even ride public transit. One-handed, dual hydraulic brakes allow you to stop quickly with just a gentle squeeze of the brake handle. The comfort-ride shock and pneumatic tires keep you comfortable and confidently in control. Each AJ is hand built in Victoria, BC, using the highest grade aluminum and other durable materials for a safe and sturdy ride.
