After being put on hold for over a year, we are happy to announce the restart of our friendly visiting program coming this September. Friendly visiting is a one-on-one companionship program that allows for volunteers to participate in activities that seniors enjoy doing the most. Whether it’s going for a walk, doing puzzles, or simply just chatting over a cup of coffee, our volunteers will accompany you. To join this program please contact Simren at 604-536-9348.
Community News
Introducing Happy Pad
Seniors Come Share Society has partnered with Happipad, the developer of Canada’s first web-based companion housing platform, to expand affordable shared housing opportunities specifically for vulnerable population segments including seniors, students, people with disabilities, and recent immigrants. This partnership is supported in part by funding from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) under the National Housing Strategy Demonstrations Initiative. To learn more, please contact Noel at (604)-531-9400 ext. 214 or by e-mail at [email protected]
Join Today
Seniors Come Share Society allows individuals to stay engaged in the community even if it’s 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. Visit comeshare.ca or SHAREvirtually.com for a list of our programs and events.
In Your Community: Happipad Workshops
Happipad has partnered with Seniors Come Share Society to make it safer and easier for individuals to share homes with compatible people. Happipad, the developer of Canada’s first web based companion housing platform, was founded in 2017 and is the leader in providing companion housing solutions that help people live in a way that is more sustainable, resilient, and socially conscious. Happipad will be hosting a series of workshops that are intended to help older adults learn about companion housing and how to take the first steps. The workshops will be hosted monthly via Zoom. You can register at www.happipad.com/companion-housing-workshop, or call Seniors Come Share Society for more information.
Relationships & Aging Well
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a difficult experience for everyone, but seniors have been particularly hit hard by aspects like social distancing measures. Experiencing additional isolation has meant that many seniors have seen a decline in their physical and mental health. Having strong connections with others is crucial to “staying young” by supporting physical and mental health through the aging process. It’s important for seniors to have opportunities to maintain connections with family and friends, even during these challenging times. Meaningful human connection can ensure seniors’ minds, bodies, and spirits are as healthy, lively, and “young” as possible.
What is pleasure anyway?
Pleasure, as many of us know it, comes from outside of ourselves, from someone or something else. But pleasure, in its essence, is embodied. It is from within us. This is the pleasure that most of us have lost touch with. The sensations on your skin, the sensations inside your body – warm, buzzy, airy, heavy, open, tight. Feeling that touch on your skin, or the ocean water embracing you. When you surrender to that sensation, you are sinking into pleasure. When did you last experience this? Have you ever experienced it?
This is Intimacy.
Second Home for Seniors in the Valley
The Comox Seniors’ Centre, located at 1801 Beaufort Ave in Comox, offers a wide range of opportunities to socialize, be physically fit, and stay mindfully active. The Centre re-opened in July with an on-site meal service and more than 40 club activities ranging from Yoga, Carpet Bowling, Table Tennis, Line Dancing, Mah Jong, Bridge, Spanish Conversation, etc. For many seniors this Centre is their second home. For more information, drop in or call 250-339-5133 or visit our website www.comoxseniors.ca/ Comox Seniors’ Centre.
How Art Therapy Can Help
Art therapy provides a number of both physical and mental benefits to people of all ages. It can help improve your overall mental health and wellbeing by staving off depression and anxiety, improving your self-esteem, and giving you a greater sense of control. Practicing artistic pursuits can also boost your cognitive functioning and sense of identity, and when done in a group setting, can provide important opportunities for social connection. From a physical perspective, painting can improve your hand-eye coordination and dexterity, and studies have suggested that the positive mental health effects of art therapy can also improve physical wellbeing.
Fall Prevention Tips
Falls in the home are all too common and making a few modifications in the home can prevent dangerous situations, such as slippery floors, poor lighting, loose rugs, electrical cords and clutter. Visit each room in your home. Then look at the space objectively and ask: Is this safe? Are there objects or items that present a falls risk? If so, think about the many ways to create a safer home: wear non slip socks or slippers, use night lights in dark hallways, remove throw rugs, keep electrical cords safely hidden behind furniture and organize your projects so they are off the floor and out of walkways.
Community Resources
ALZHEIMER’S SOCIETY: www.alzheimerbc.org Support and education
1-800-462-2833
BC NURSELINE: 811 For the hearing impaired call: 711
(Health Link BC)
CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY: 1-888-939-3333 www.cancer.ca
COMOX VALLEY DIABETES EDUCATION CENTER call 250-331-5964 for an appt
Comox Valley Hospital, 101 Lerwick Road, Courtenay, B.C..
Drop in clinic on Tuesdays 11 am-12 Noon
CV HOSPICE SOCIETY: 250-339-5533
CV RED CROSS: 250-334-1557 #10 – 2683 Moray Ave, Courtenay, BC
250-334-3974 fax
DEMENTIA CARE HELPLINE: 1:800-936-6033 Call for information about Alzheimer’s
disease and Dementia, getting a diagnosis, future planning,
maintaining independence, caregiving, support groups,
workshops and seminars, resources in your community.
ELDERDOG CANADA 1-855-336-4226 or www.elderdog.ca
Our goal is to enable older adults, living at home and with challenges affecting dog care, to continue to benefit from their relationship with their canine companions.
KEYSTONE ELDER CARE 1-250-650-2359
Private Geriatric Case management & caregiver support
www.keystoneeldercare.com
ARRANGING FOR PRIVATE HEALTH CARE?
• Are your staff bonded and insured?
• Have your employees been through a criminal record check?
• Do you have WorkSafe BC coverage?
• Do all workers obtain a pre-employment medical examination before they are hired?
• Do you have any policies in place to protect my right to privacy?
• What documentation is in place to show commitment to quality care?
• Does your agency provide 24-hour service?
• What is your payment schedule? Payment option? (Visa/Mastercard/Cheque/e-transfer)
• What do I do if there is a dispute?
• What is your cancellation policy?
• Is there an extra cost for service on weekends or Statutory holidays?
• Are you a member of good standing with the Better Business Bureau of Vancouver Island?
• Is there a care/cleaning plan?
• Does the agency provide training to upgrade the knowledge and skill of its workers?
