Installing a home elevator is a transformative upgrade that blends luxury with essential functionality. Primarily, it facilitates “aging in place,” allowing you to remain in your multi-story home safely and independently as mobility needs change. By removing the barrier of stairs, you significantly reduce the risk of dangerous falls. Beyond safety, elevators offer daily convenience. They make transporting heavy groceries, laundry, and luggage between floors effortless. Financially, this addition can increase your property’s value and marketability, appealing to a broader range of buyers who prioritize accessibility. Ultimately, a home elevator future-proofs your residence, ensuring comfort for a lifetime.
Community News
Now is a Great Time to Get Active
James Bay New Horizons Society invites you to join their community. Their goal is to help people maintain, improve, and develop new skills, interests, and social opportunities, and to enhance the quality of life of their members and visitors. Membership benefits include the opportunity to participate in all programs, services, and special events, including games, tours, movies, music, fitness, and many more. Borrow books, CDs, and movies at no cost. Become involved with volunteer work. Meet new friends and more. Contact them today for more information!
“The Hills are Alive …”
Sing your hearts out and climb every hill! The Sound of Music is the family classic that still hits all the high notes. Join Maria and the Von Trapps at The Vic Theatre for a heart-warming screening packed with laughter, nostalgia, and a few of your favourite things. See the website for times and to purchase tickets. All Ages and 19+ screenings.
Clean Eating Recipe
Cranberry-Cashew Energy Cups. 1⅔ c rolled oats; ¾ c unsalted cashew butter; ½ c unsweetened almond milk; ½ c 50% dried cranberries, chopped. 2 tbsp chia seeds; 1 tsp vanilla extract; ¼ tsp salt; ½ c dark chocolate chips; 1 tbsp coconut oil. Combine ingredients (leave chocolate & coconut oil aside). Divide mixture among prepared muffin cups (about 1½ tablespoons each); firmly press the mixture into the cup bottoms. Melt chocolate & coconut oil together until smooth and spoon mixture over the oat mixture in each cup. Refrigerate, uncovered, until chilled.
Save Money on Medications
Celebrating the holidays can be expensive, and with costs also going up for daily essentials, most of us are looking for price breaks without sacrificing quality or convenience. Ordering your prescription medications online is an excellent option in Greater Victoria. An online pharmacy can offer lower dispensing fees by minimizing overhead without compromising on quality. The prescription drugs are the same as those available from a traditional pharmacy, without the long queues. MyPharmacyonline.ca offers free delivery or pickup with optional expedited shipping. Their friendly and conscientious staff work hard for your business. Contact them today at 250.800.0187 to experience trusted, affordable care!
Take Time to Remember
Grief can feel overwhelming. Remembering loved ones through celebrations can offer comfort and healing. Whether it’s lighting a candle or sharing stories with family in a personalized celebration, these small acts help keep their memories alive. Celebrations of Life provide a sense of connection, allowing us to process emotions while honouring their legacy. They remind us that love doesn’t end with loss. It transforms into cherished memories that bring peace. Taking time to remember helps navigate grief with meaning and resilience, ensuring that those we’ve lost continue to have a presence in our lives.
Make Your Home Shine for the Holidays
The holiday season is a time for warmth, gatherings, and good cheer – it can also bring extra bustle! Before guests arrive, a little pre-holiday spruce-up can make your home sparkle. Focus on high-traffic areas like kitchens and entryways, polish those windows to let in the winter light, and don’t forget guest rooms for overnight visitors. Whether it’s a quick refresh or a full deep clean, a tidy home helps you relax and enjoy the season. TCB Cleaning Services can take care of the details so you can spend more time celebrating with the people you love.
The Brightest Gift This Winter
Rainy days and long nights can make winter feel lonely, especially for seniors. Connection is the greatest gift. A phone call, a visit, a shared story — these moments light up the season. At Everkind Home Support, we offer more than care: we bring warmth, dignity, and joy. From personal care to cozy drives to see the festive lights, we help seniors get out of the house while staying dry and comfortable. This Christmas and New Year, let’s remind our elders they’re never alone — because kindness, like family, makes all the difference.
Count Your Blessings
December is a perfect time to give thanks for our many blessings. We are passionate about sharing health and wellness information. We continue to publish our Choices for Healthy Living ® newsletters, including two SeniorsNews editions in Victoria and three WellnessNews editions on the central island. In addition to local newsletters, we offer the Wellness.News, our online resource, Wellness Expos and more. We thank our advertisers, readers, subscribers, distributors and community partners for helping us to spread the wellness message. We wish everyone Peace, Happiness and Good Health this Holiday Season.
Day Program
Are you or your loved one struggling to thrive? Would you or your loved one like to maintain or improve your physical and cognitive functioning? Are you a caregiver who could use a few hours of respite during the week? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you could be a perfect candidate to access Brella’s Adult Day Program!
People who participate in our Adult Day Program report:
• Enhanced cognitive and physical functioning
• Feeling more connected and less lonely
• Enjoy warm lunch and snacks provided
• Look forward to coming back and participating in activities
Find out how to access our Adult Day Program and we can help find the location nearest to you
Angela Nial at 604-599-0034 ext. 302 or email [email protected]
All About Poinsettias
The popular Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a welcome addition to our homes during the dark days of December. Local greenhouses start producing these plants in September where they are carefully regulated for specific lengths of darkness each day, temperature control, amount of water, and fertilizer to produce the lush plants we find in our stores.
Poinsettias originated in Mexico where they grow wild, often in ditches by the roadside. In the 1820’s, John Roberts Poinsett, who was a botanist and the first U.S. minister to Mexico, brought it back to North America where it rapidly gained popularity as a holiday decoration.
Because it needs high temperatures outdoors, we keep them indoors in the winter. They are very sensitive to cold, and since they grow locally in very controlled environments, when you buy a plant it’s important to shelter it on the trip from the store to your home. Cover it in a paper bag, with crumpled newspaper all around to protect it from our cold weather.
They are available in a wide variety of colours but the most common are red, pink, and white. The vivid blues and purples are actually dyed but certainly give our homes a dramatic effect.
If you want to grow them in your summer garden, when the leaves fall off during late winter, cut the stems back to 2 buds and reduce watering to a minimum. Store them in a cool place and plant in your garden after the last frost of Spring.
To assure the best-looking December indoor plants, keep them in a sunny area, water moderately without letting them sit in water, and mist them occasionally. The milky sap in their stems can be irritating to our skin, so they should be handled with care. Enjoy your plants and best wishes for a happy holiday season.
