Community News
Support Communication: Make a Journey Stick

Next time you go one a hike, try making a “Journey Stick”. This activity is a tradition of the Aboriginal people of Australia that offers many ways to support communication. Have your child find a stick and help them tie on nature items that they find along the way. This activity provides an opportunity for your family to practice mindfulness as you take notice of your surroundings. Tie the items, starting at the top of the stick and work your way down. When finished your adventure, invite your child to retell the story of their adventure using the items on the stick as their guide. Depending on their age and communication abilities, you may need to help them tell the story. Build on their vocabulary by commenting on what they have shared, instead of asking them to repeat after you.

A New Sunshine Coach

The Clements Centre is so excited to be the recipients of a new Sunshine Coach from Variety Children’s Charity to replace our older Van. This new 24 seat vehicle will be used primarily by the Clements Children Family Support Program to take children on fun adventures in their after school program and for transport during summer/spring break camps. Be sure to wave when you see them in our shiny new Bus!

Time to De-Clutter

As we move from the wet and cool spring months into our warmer and sunnier summer months, we are reminded of renewal and growth. A sure way of bringing in some clarity in life and to make room for growth is through spring cleaning. When we de-clutter our surroundings, we help to de-clutter our minds, and therefore better engage in the world around us. Take the time through the warmer month of May and do that spring cleaning of your surroundings and mind!

Gaming Disorder Support

Gaming disorder can be a significant barrier to living a fulfilling life. Yes, there are friends and a deep sense of community in the virtual world but nothing replaces a hug, or the feeling that your friend genuinely cares about your wellbeing. At VI Gaming Support, we care about people’s wellbeing, sense of belonging, efficacy, and desire to be part of a loving caring community. That’s why we are dedicated in supporting people to restore their sense of health and wellbeing. We believe that by providing rejuvenating services, we can support people to reset, regroup, and restore their lives.

Do I Have Hearing Loss?

Hearing loss is invisible but there are telltale signs. Signs include asking others to repeat themselves, not being able to hear the television over background noise or difficulty hearing over the telephone. Hearing loss occurs at any age for various reasons. Getting your hearing checked even if you don’t suspect an issue is a great way to indicate your baseline so future changes can be monitored.

Spring (or Anytime) Wellness Tonics

A tonic herb tonifies the organs, blood, and helps make the whole body work better. Here are some top picks of tonifying herbs: * Nettle tea – nourishing, rich in C, silica, and iron. Excellent for seasonal allergies, * Burdock root – great for inflammation, skin disorders, liver cleanser, blood sugar balancer, * Dandelion leaf and/or root – nutrient rich, aids digestion and supports liver and gallbladder health, * Ginger root – aids digestion and intestinal health, anti-inflammatory, a decongestant. Available as a tea, tincture or capsule, herb tonics are best taken first thing on an empty stomach, and again later in the day. Happy tonifying!

Surviving the Allergy Season

The warm sunny weather means spending more time outside. If you suffer from seasonal allergies caused by plant pollen, here are a few tips to help you survive allergy season: *Consult weather forecasts to check pollen counts in your area, *Avoid outdoor activities on windy days or early in the morning (before 10 a.m. when pollen counts are highest, Pollen is less present in the air on rainy days, *Wear a mask when mowing the lawn and working in the flower beds.*Don’t hang your laundry to dry outside. If you have questions about how to treat seasonal allergies, your pharmacist can help.

Have a Happy Retirement

As retirement age draws near, most of us develop a vision of what those years will look like. Active senior living communities give older adults the support they need to live their best life. Research shows that older adults who have purpose often live longer, healthier lives. Moving to an active senior living community will provide you with access to life-enrichment programs, volunteer opportunities, the companionship of peers, and a variety of activities and programs to participate in. Each of these can aid in finding purpose once you are no longer raising a family or pursuing a career.

Related Fall Risks

In addition to mobility, there are other risk factors that can lead to falling: Sensory Deficits; problems with sensation, whether it be with the eyes, ears or feeling in the feet, can increase your risk of falling. Have your eyesight and hearing checked regularly and talk to your doctor if you’re experiencing numbness in your feet. Low Blood Pressure; when we quickly go from lying or sitting to standing, our blood pressure drops, this can interfere with balance, vision and coordination. If you feel dizzy or lightheaded when standing, sit down until your head clears, stand up slowly and ensure you have good footing before taking a step.

Community Partnership

Sundrops Centre for Child Development, part of Clements Centre, is excited to announce its partnership with Wellnessnews Choices for Healthy Living® Central Vancouver Island. This partnership allows us to give monthly updates on Centre programs and to provide health and wellness information. It also helps us to raise funds for our Centre which provides early intervention and therapeutic services for over 800 families and children in the Cowichan Valley. Find out how you can help – connect with us at ClementsCentre.org. Don’t forget to subscribe to the WellnessHUB to receive monthly notifications.