Call all word enthusiasts, language lovers and champions of compassion! Are you ready to make a difference in the lives of vulnerable seniors in our community? Step up to the challenge and have fun while raising crucial funds to support those in need. The Comox Valley Senior Support Society (CVSS) is holding their Second Annual Adult Spelling Bee fundraiser. This is a fantastic, inclusive event, with all funds raised going to support programming for vulnerable seniors in our community. How you Can Participate: 1. Spelling Participant: Register for the spelling bee and have a fantastic time trying to spell words with your team. Lunch and refreshments provided, as well as incredible prizes for best and worst spelling teams! 2. Attend & Cheer: Don’t want to spell? No worries! You can still be a vital part of our event by joining us at the event to be a part of the excitement, cheer for spellers and learn more about the cause. Your presence makes a difference too!
3. Sponsor: Support our event by becoming a sponsor for the event. Not only will you be supporting a great cause, but all sponsors also receive a table at the event to play along. 4. Spread the Buzz: Share our event with family, friends, and colleagues. Encourage them to participate, donate, or sponsor the event. Together we can create a buzzing community of support! 5. Donate: Can’t attend? Donate to support the event. Mark your calendar and spread the word! Let’s create a heartwarming, impactful and unforgettable experience as we come together to have fun and spell our way toward a brighter future for vulnerable seniors. Let’s create a buzz that truly matters – a buzz of positive change! See you at the Spelling Bee. For information and tickets: https://comoxvalleyseniorsupport.ca/events/annual-spelling-bee/
Or, to donate directly: https://comoxvalleyseniorsupport.ca/donate/
For any inquires, reach out to Christopher Bate, Executive Director, at
250-871-5940

Maintaining relationships and spending time with others is essential to our emotional and mental well-being. It can help prevent depression which affects 20 percent of the population over 70 years of age. Socializing also keeps the mind active and improvements are greater when the person is involved in fun interests with other people. Plan regular get-togethers with friends, such as a weekly lunch date or coffee with another senior or loved one. Scheduling social interactions give us something to look forward to on a regular basis. For those who are truly adventurous you can enjoy new experiences and meet new people by signing up for travel tours, book clubs, and much more at your local community centre.

Nutrition plays a major role in dental health, helping to ensure gums, teeth and tissue are healthy and free from tooth decay, gum disease and other issues. It’s important to eat a healthy, balanced diet for dental health, which includes enough protein, calcium, iron, zinc, phosphorus, folate, and omega-3 fats. Vitamins A, B, C, and D are also important, as are antioxidants. Some great things to include in your dental diet are probiotics from fermented foods, cranberries, soy products, CoQ10, echinacea, garlic, ginger, ginseng, arginine, and green tea. It’s best to avoid heavily processed foods, especially ones high in sugar.

The strength of CVSS is its contingent of amazing volunteers helping provide services to nearly 300 seniors each month. If you would like to visit with a lonely or isolated senior, or assist someone with accessing services in the community, or if you have another strength to offer, please contact us to learn more about providing support in your community. Volunteer training sessions are done every year in September, thru November and then January thru May. Volunteers are provided with ongoing support and regular education sessions. Please contact Shirley at office@comoxvalleyseniorsupport.ca or 250-871-5940 to find out more, or to register for the next orientation.

The Wicking Dementia and Research Centre offers free online courses. Based in Tasmania, Australia, these programs use data from around the world to provide excellent information for students. Links to the following course can be found here: https://mooc.utas.edu.au
Understanding Dementia
The ageing of human populations across the globe has contributed to dementia being identified as one of the public health issues of the 21st century. The MOOC curriculum addresses this health issue by drawing upon the expertise of neuroscientists, clinicians and dementia care professionals from both within the Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, and beyond.

Each year, October 1st is set aside to recognize the important contributions of Canadian seniors. Intended to coincide with the United Nations’ International Day of Older Persons, National Seniors Day gives us all an opportunity to pay tribute to the seniors who have helped to build our country and to raise awareness of their concerns.
There are many ways to celebrate this important occasion. Whether you’re attending a local event or spending some time with a senior you love, Federal Retirees wishes you a happy and healthy National Seniors Day!

This fall, seniors have a golden opportunity to embrace the joy of learning new skills. Whether it’s mastering digital photography, delving into creative writing, or exploring the intricacies of gardening, the season offers a perfect backdrop for growth. With a wealth of online resources and community classes, seniors can engage their minds and passions, fostering a sense of accomplishment and connection. Learning not only enhances cognitive function but also brings fulfillment and a renewed sense of purpose. Embracing the vibrant hues of autumn, seniors can embark on a rewarding journey, proving that it’s never too late to acquire fresh skills and enrich their lives.

If you are part of a family that includes a loved one living with Alzheimer’s disease, it’s important to remember that one of the keys to aging at home is doing so safely. Safety at home begins with adapting the environment to support the changing abilities of the person with Alzheimer’s. Tips to help safeguard the home include: Install safety latches/locks on the doors and fenced/gated exteriors; Limit access to knives and harmful chemicals; Install grab bars for safe movement; Keep furniture in the same spot to avoid confusion; Install alarms on the doors, and store car keys in a locked container.