Q. How can I communicate more effectively with a loved one with hearing loss? A. Here are some helpful tips: • Always face the person you’re talking to. This allows the person to lip-read and use visual cues. • Speak clearly and naturally at a moderate pace. Allow extra time for the person to process what was said. • Don’t yell or scream. Yelling causes you to speak abnormally, making it difficult for the person to understand you. • Repeat and rephrase if needed. If there was a chance you were misunderstood, say it again. • Use other communication techniques. Text messages, email, or writing notes are effective ways to get your message across.
Community News
Smile Confidently
Dental implants offer a great way to replace missing teeth and also provide patients with the option of having removable partial or complete dentures. Implants provide excellent support and stability for these dental appliances. Dental implants are artificial roots (titanium) that are surgically placed into the upper or lower jaw bone by a dentist or periodontist (a specialist of the gums and supporting bone). The teeth attached to implants are very natural looking and often enhance or restore a patient’s smile! Dental implants are strong and durable and will last many years. On occasion they will have to be re-tightened or replaced due to normal wear.
Understanding Breast Cancer
Early detection of breast cancer can increase the success of treatment, so knowing what the signs and symptoms are is important. These can include a permanent lump in the breast that feels hard or tender and that might feel like it’s attached to the skin or chest wall, a lump in the armpit, visible changes such as dimpling, puckering, or thickening of the skin of the breast, redness or swelling in the breast, visible changes to the nipple, or itchiness of the nipple or breast. While these don’t necessarily indicate cancer, speak to your doctor if these symptoms do occur.
Words to Live By
“Fear less, hope more, eat less, chew more, whine less, breathe more, talk less, say more, hate less, love more, and good things will be yours.”
~ Swedish Proverb
Words to Live By
“Every ceiling, when reached, becomes a floor, upon which one walks as a matter of course and prescriptive right.”
~ Aldous Huxley
Book Club
When You Need a Good Laugh: Finding Contagious Joy by Phil Callaway. Bestselling author Phil Callaway believes in making laughter a part of the everyday experience. By way of humorous and heartwarming stories, Phil addresses some of the issues that steal away the joy between friends and within the family. As readers learn to lighten their loads, they are encouraged to replace fear with faith, worry with prayer, and a frown with a smile. When paired with Kevin Rivoli’s candid, life-engaging, live-in-the-moment photos, readers find a sure way to pack a laugh with them wherever they go!
Matchmaking Testimonial
“I joined Camelot Introductions and found the love of my life! If it wasn’t for Lianne’s persistence, and her innate ability for matching people, then I would still be floundering. On-line dating was a waste of my time. Camelot was exactly what I was looking for – a professional service dedicated to matching people with similar interests and dreams. Getting married in November – I’ve never been happier! Thanks Lianne!”
~Brian.
Benefits of Companionship
Whether it is a close friendship or an intimate relationship, social interaction is needed to prevent health decline in seniors. Loneliness is a risk factor for functional decline in adults over the age of 60. Something as simple as a friendship can enhance aging hearts and strengthen the immune system. Companionship can decrease the physical risk of disease by lowering blood pressure, heart rate, and cholesterol. The psychological benefits include increased self-esteem, decreased stress, and a sense of belonging. If you are finding yourself lonely, while living on your own, you may want to connect with others by joining senior’s fitness classes, activity groups, or learning a new hobby.
Prescriptions From Your Pharmacist
Did you know that your doctor is not the only healthcare professional who can provide you with a prescription? The list of minor ailments that pharmacists can prescribe medication for continues to grow, helping to ease busy clinic waiting rooms and provide you with a convenient and safe alternative. Whether you have a rash or skin infection, are interested in birth control, or are dealing with cold or flu symptoms, your pharmacist can discuss your options with you to find the best treatment. Talk to your pharmacist today to get timely prescriptions for you and your loved ones.
The Hearing Loss/Alzheimer’s Connection
Recent research suggests that improving hearing loss with hearing aids reduces the risk for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. In 2011, a team of Johns Hopkins medical school researchers discovered a significant association between hearing loss and the risk of developing these unwanted cognitive conditions. The worse someone’s hearing gets, the greater their risk of developing Alzheimer’s or dementia. The researchers believe their findings could have substantial implications for individuals and public health because hearing loss is treatable with hearing instruments. These findings underscore how important regular hearing tests are as part of preventative health care.
The Power of Touch
There are approximately 5 million touch receptors in your skin and 3000 on the tip of your finger. Whenever we get touched or when we receive a massage, our body releases endorphins that are natural pain- killers. Massage not only helps us relax, but it also gives our immune system a boost! Receiving a 45-minute massage has been found to increase the number of white blood cells that help defend the body from disease. Do you suffer from sleep problems? 60 minutes of massage have the same effect on your body as 7 to 8 hours of good sleep.
