It might come as a surprise, but there is a connection between heart health and hearing. Both rely on blood flow, so heart problems that cause plaque buildup in the arteries and restrict blood flow can potentially damage ears. Nerves in the ears can also be damaged by poor circulation. Studies have shown that the better someone’s cardiovascular health, the better their hearing tends to be. It’s important that older adults eat a healthy, balanced diet; get regular exercise; quit smoking and have their hearing tested every two years, to help maintain a healthy heart, and therefore healthy ears.
Community News
Senior Moving Preparation
Not quite ready to commit to a move but want to get a head start on preparing? Here are a couple suggestions you can work away on to make things simpler when the time does come! Filing cabinets and desks are notorious for holding papers that are unnecessary. Take one drawer per day and make friends with your shredder! Do you only use items on 2 shelves in your 4-shelf linen closet? Pet shelters and rescues appreciate used towels and donation centres are always happy to accept bedding, to sell at reduced prices to folks who can really use them.
What is a Green Burial?
Green burials, also sometimes called eco-funerals or natural burials, provide a simple, green option for saying goodbye to a loved one. Green burials typically don’t involve embalming – instead, family and friends may choose to wrap their loved one in a shroud made of eco-friendly, biodegradable material and choose an eco-friendly casket. Using land sustainably for burial purposes, such as choosing communal memorialization and planting with native plants, is also often part of a green burial. Your local funeral director can provide advice about and help you plan a suitable green burial for your loved one.
Get a Yearly Denture Check-up
Your dentures should be checked on an annual basis to ensure you still have a correct fit. Your face and the tissues in your mouth change over the years, while your dentures are rigid and stay the same. Your appearance and comfort can be compromised the longer you delay receiving care from your denturist. Annual visits to your denture clinic can help ward off many potential problems including headaches, neck and joint pain, irritated gums, indigestion, problems with chewing, and even bone loss and occasionally changes in facial contour. Are you due for a check-up?
Enriching the Life of Your Pet
Keeping your pet in good physical shape is an important part of their wellness, but it’s crucial to provide mental stimulation and enrichment for them as well. Depending on the breed and personality of your dog, a walk doesn’t always provide enough stimulation. Drop-in visits from a pet sitter give your dog the opportunity for an extra play session during the day. For high energy dogs, or those needing more socialization, daycare is a great option. Even if it’s not every day, it gives your dog something to look forward to during the week. There are also many cognitive enrichment toys and puzzles you can purchase for your dogs, cats and birds to keep their minds sharp.
International Overdose Awareness Day
Thousands of people from all walks of life die each year from drug overdose. On August 31, International Overdose Awareness Day aims to raise awareness and reduce the stigma of a drug-related death. It acknowledges the grief felt by families and friends remembering those who have died due to drug overdose. On Aug. 31 – and throughout the month – you can help raise awareness, memorialize a lost loved one, inspire change and save lives. While it can be scary or upsetting to think about overdose, the good news is that education and preparation can help prevent it from happening. Learn how you can help by visiting www.overdoseday.com
Medical Cannabis & Pain Relief
More and more people are looking for natural ways to relieve pain caused by a variety of health conditions. Medical cannabis in many forms is becoming an increasingly popular option for those looking for help to ease their chronic pain. Cannabis contains compounds like cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which may relieve pain, nausea, and other types of symptoms. THC is similar to the cannabinoid chemicals that occur naturally in our bodies and stimulates the brain’s cannabinoid receptors when smoked, vaped, or ingested. CBD also interacts with pain receptors in the brain to provide pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects.
What is Financial Planning?
We all have goals and dreams, however establishing a plan to achieve them is key. Your Financial Planner will put together your Personal Financial Action Plan (PFAP) that will provide a step-by-step strategy to achieve your goals. We look at all areas of budget and cashflow management providing guidance for savings. We then look at tax effectiveness; should you use a TFSA or an RRSP, etc. Then we factor in risk management, which is looking at what you want to happen if you should die, become disabled or get sick. The final area is “estate planning”, which is a way of planning for whatever you don’t spend.
Heat Exhaustion & Heat Stroke
The temperatures this summer have been extremely hot – and heat exhaustion/heat stroke have been increasingly common problems. Heat exhaustion can occur if the body loses an excess amount of fluid through sweating and does not have it replenished. When left untreated, heat exhaustion may progress to heat stroke, a life-threatening condition. At this stage, your body temperature rises to a dangerous level and the body may no longer sweat due to extreme dehydration. A person suffering from heat stroke may be in a state of confusion and disorientation. If you suspect someone is experiencing a heat stroke, call 911 immediately and apply cold compresses on the body to lower body temperature quickly.
Brace Yourself
When you have knee osteoarthritis, the space between the bones in your knee becomes narrower as you lose cartilage. As your condition worsens, and without the protective layer of cartilage, the bones begin to come in direct contact with one another. The result – pain, inflammation, and reduced function of the knee. One solution to resolve these symptoms is to wear an off-loading knee brace. The function of these braces is to increase the space between the bones of the knee and to off-load the bone on bone contact. The outcome – decreased pain, decreased inflammation, and increased function of the knee. Talk to your doctor to see if an off-loading knee brace is right for you.
Acupuncture for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Inflammatory bowel diseases like ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are typically treated with anti-inflammatory and
immunosuppressant drugs that work to stop inflammatory responses in the body. Studies have shown that acupuncture can be a helpful option alongside medication for potentially making patients’ symptoms less severe. Acupuncture patients often report that they experience less pain, fatigue, and gastrointestinal symptoms after acupuncture treatments, perhaps because acupuncture treats the mind, body, and spirit. Researchers have found that acupuncture can help increase hemoglobin levels and reduce C-reactive protein levels, which can aid in lowering inflammation in those with an inflammatory bowel disease.
