January 1st has come and gone, but we’ve still got eleven fresh months ahead – That’s over 300 days to set new goals for yourself and develop a plan for building a healthier lifestyle. You can create a more positive version of yourself at anytime. If you’ve been trying to quit a bad habit, but have trouble sticking to your Ney Year’s Resolutions, consider laser therapy. Laser therapy can help get rid of those unwanted cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Clinical studies have shown a noticeable change in patients who are trying to quit smoking and a higher success rate.
Community News
Product Review: Thieves Household Cleaner
Thieves Household Cleaner is an all-in-one cleaning product that could replace most of your household cleaners. It’s a concentrate made from Therapeutic-grade Thieves and Lemon essential oils, which have the highest quality and purity components, and renewable vegetatable-based sources. For most all-purpose cleaning, dilute 30 parts of water to 1 part of Thieves Household Cleaner. Try it with a spray bottle and easily wipe off most surfaces in your home. It’s effective, non toxic, and made with 100% plant-and mineral-based ingredients. A fresh way to clean your home.
Janelle Silver Hague, JanelleSilverHague.com
Gramma’s Home Remedy
Did your gramma ever put honey on your skin when you got scrapes and bruises as a child? The saying is that putting honey on our wounds will help them heal faster and reduce the appearance of scars. The honey is antibacterial and will kill germs and bacteria on your face. Dermatologists agree that it will help scars fade, especially ones caused by acne. Some have found that honey in face masks has done beautiful things for their skin. Natural Ingredients that have partnered well with honey are lemon, aloe vera, coconut oil, and apple cider vinegar. (Not intended to replace consultation with a qualified medical professional) Maggie Makaruk DD, Anna’s Denture Clinic
Words to Live By
“I am a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.”
– Thomas Jefferson
Laughter is the Best Medicine
Q: Where did the hippo go to study about the brain? A: The hippocampus!
FUN FACT: The hippocampus is a region of your brain that helps form, organize, and store memory. It is the most sensitive area to stress.
Words to Live By
“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” – George Bernard Shaw
When a Senior Loved One Has a Gambling Problem
Gambling is a huge industry in Canada. Casino gambling is more popular than ever.
Seniors enjoy bingo, racetrack betting—and especially, casino gambling. Retirement-aged consumers are an especially desirable demographic for the gaming industry because they fill the floors during off-peak hours. Casinos market to them aggressively, offering discounted meals, ‘Golden Oldies’ entertainment shows, and complimentary shuttle service.
For many seniors, gambling is harmless entertainment. They hop on the casino shuttle, socialize with others and casino staff, bet a few dollars and take advantage of senior discounts on meals, drinks and perhaps a show. They’ve set aside part of their entertainment budget for gambling, and they stop when they reach their limit. However, some older adults develop a gambling problem that seriously impacts their financial well-being.
What is problem gambling?
Problem gambling—also referred to as gambling addiction, pathological gambling or a gambling disorder—happens when a person becomes obsessed with gambling and has an uncontrollable urge to keep gambling. According to the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling, “For the problem gambler, making a bet is not just about having fun or winning money. Gambling becomes an emotional response to change the way they feel.” In addition, warns the NCPG, a person might have a gambling problem if they are:
- Bragging about gambling, exaggerating wins and minimizing losses
- Restless and irritable when not gambling
- Gambling in hopes of winning back what they have lost
- Borrowing money for gambling
- Lying to hide time spent gambling or unpaid debts
- Doing something illegal to get money for gambling
- Jeopardizing a significant relationship or job by gambling
Why are seniors at higher risk?
The NCPG explains that boredom, isolation, depression and cognitive impairment affect judgment and make it harder for senior gamblers to stick to their limit. Seniors on a fixed income—who can little afford to gamble away their money—might hope that they will strike it rich and improve their financial situation. In addition to the signs above, family may notice that their loved one has withdrawn from the activities they used to enjoy. Possessions may have disappeared from their loved one’s home, and their loved one is vague about what happened. A senior may be neglecting their personal needs—food, medical care, or exercise. And here’s a sign experts often cite as a red flag: Seniors with a gambling addiction show little interest in the buffet, entertainment or social aspects of a casino trip, instead heading straight for their “lucky machine” and settling in.
What can family do?
The first step is to review the warning signs of problem gambling to get a better picture of whether your loved one has a problem. You can’t step in merely because you don’t approve of gambling, or you think Mom should spend her entertainment money somewhere else.
The next step is to determine whether there are medical reasons behind the problem. Gerontologists say problem gambling might be a sign that a senior is dealing with early Alzheimer’s disease or other cognitive impairment that impairs judgment and impulse control. The side effects of some medications also can make a senior more susceptible to compulsive gambling. For example, certain drugs prescribed to control the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease have been linked to impulse control—including pathological gambling. Urge your loved one to be evaluated by a healthcare provider to rule out or diagnose these problems.
Having a conversation about problem gambling can be very difficult. Your loved one may resist talking about it and may insist that there isn’t a problem. Assure them that you have their best interests in mind, and that you want to help, not judge. Encourage your loved one to talk to a professional. Treatment is available for gambling addiction and includes support groups, psychotherapy and sometimes medication. Consider bringing in a geriatric care manager (also called an aging life care specialist) to mediate the conversation and to help you locate treatment resources. Talk to your loved one’s financial manager, or consult an elder law attorney. Sometimes, if a senior is no longer able to manage their money, families must take a larger role. (Read “Stepping In, Stepping Up: Legal Issues for Family Caregivers” in the August 2016 issue of the Caring Right at Home newsletter to learn more. A poll in that issue found that many Caring Right at Home readers have held a durable power of attorney or guardianship for a senior loved one at some point.)
Not every gambling habit rises to the level of addiction. A senior who goes to the casino several times a week to stave off boredom and loneliness might find even more mental stimulation and companionship through a senior recreation program, volunteer service, events at their faith community, or taking a class. Help your loved one locate appropriate activities in the area. If your loved one has become isolated due to mobility challenges, consider hiring home care to provide companionship and transportation. Even computer games can be a substitute for folks who enjoy relaxing with a machine—and as a bonus, these games offer far more mental stimulation and brain exercise than a slot machine.
New Year, New Love
Is one of your New Years’ Resolutions to find a loving, meaningful relationship? In a world with more than 7.28 billion people, finding love should be an easy task. As humans, we tend to complicate things, especially when our emotions are imprinted by our relationship history. If the methods you have used in the past to find love have not worked for you, then it is time to change things up. It’s a new year, why not try something different? A professional matchmaker handpicks potential partners who are screened and presented to you one by one. Their intentions have been determined and many of the important compatibility factors have already been established.
Product Review: RC Essential Oil
This time of year brings new memories and resolutions, but sometimes may also bring discomfort to your respiratory system.
RC Essential Oil blends the scents of cypress, spruce and eucalyptus to provide a refreshing aroma to the air in any office or home. RC promotes a restful sleep when diffused in a bedroom. It also provides an invigorating experience when added to a bath or shower. When applied to the throat or chest RC also promotes a refreshing respiratory experience.
Mental Health in the Workplace
Mental health is an issue that impacts every workplace in Canada. The workplace can contribute positively or negatively to a person’s mental health. Employers and employees both benefit from a psychologically healthy workplace, as it can contribute to better employee engagement and morale, reduced absenteeism, and increased employee recruitment and retention. Some simple ways to create a psychologically healthy workplace include: 1. Promote work-life balance. 2. Have conflict resolution practices in place. 3. Help employees successfully manage workloads. 4. Encourage and model respectful behaviours. 5. Allow for employee participation and decision-making. 6. Clearly define role expectations and duties.
Soup up Your Gut
Our intestines are responsible for the breakdown and absorption of nutrients from the food and liquids we consume. In order to accomplish this, the gut lining must be semi-permeable. Sometimes this lining is more porous than it should be – a condition called leaky gut – which allows undigested food to enter the bloodstream. This causes inflammation, a potential root cause of most illness and disease including mental illness. One effective way to repair the gut lining (and warm up on a cold winter day) is to drink mineral and nutrient rich bone broth made from organic beef, chicken, or fish bones.
