Seniors need to get adequate nutrients from their meals to help them reduce the risk of serious health conditions, stabilize their mood, and maintain their mental health. Retirement communities help meet seniors’ nutrition needs by providing meals that are low in saturated fats and have moderate amounts of unsaturated fat, which promotes a stable body mass index (BMI) and metabolism. Healthy portion sizes support a healthy weight for older adults by preventing excessive calorie intake. If you or a loved one have questions about proper nutrition and eating habits for seniors, reach out to your care provider or retirement community.
Community News
Share Love with an Online Obituary
An online obituary allows a family more opportunities to share about their loved one. Photos, special moments and a life story are centralized in the guestbook and allows for digital condolences. It can also act as a permanent memorial that the family can revisit to re-read the messages left by family members and friends. Online stories can be read around the world and will be seen by loved ones near and far. When posting your message of sympathy and support, try to share something that the family may not know and appreciate learning. A funny story from your times together can bring surprising comfort.
Spend Family Time Enjoying Nature
It is well known that nature and fresh air is a tonic for the soul. Reconnecting with nature is good for our physical and mental health. Living on Vancouver Island, we are lucky to have some of the world’s best nature in our own back yard. Strathcona Provincial Park, designated in 1911, is the oldest provincial park in British Columbia. Located 25 minutes west of Courtenay and just steps away from Mount Washington Alpine Village, it is a mountain wilderness that offers an incomparable nature experience. Summer activities include hiking, zip lining, mountain biking, swimming and relaxing while soaking in the natural beauty.
Meet the Pharmacists
Neel and Rupal Tanna are the Remedy’s Rx pharmacists at Duncan Pharmacy and also in Crofton. Their personalized service includes; *Everyday 20% discount for seniors, *Free prescription delivery, *Immunizations services because even during Covid, these are important to keep you and your family healthy, *Medication Reviews to explain each of your medications in detail, *Blister packaging for easier management of medications, *Compliance packaging with instruction labels in larger print or translated into icons to make them easier to follow, *Advice on natural supplements. As Remedy’s Rx pharmacists, they believe in providing in the best possible pharmacy care.
Making Brain Injury VISIBLE
People with disabilities and illnesses want to do more than recover functioning; they want to build a life of meaning and engagement, according to Carruthers & Deyell Hood (2007). Cowichan Brain Injury Society (CBIS) uses a recreation therapist (RT) in the rehabilitation journey for individuals with concussions, brain injury, and strokes. Using an interactive digital cognitive assessment to understand the survivor’s neurofunction, the RT gains unique insights allowing for the creation of more targeted treatment plans. 85% of brain injuries are classified as mild to moderate. CBIS makes the invisible effects of brain injuries VISIBLE together. To learn more, contact us.
Gambling Support – Fold Em Podcast
Do you gamble from time to time? Has the pandemic increased your feelings of loneliness and isolation? Do you listen to podcasts? Are you concerned about someone’s gambling behaviour, or possibly your own? You are not alone. Connect with others by tuning into the Fold Em podcast on your favourite app or check out www.gamblingproblemhelp.ca and click “listen now”. You can listen in on how others have sought help to overcome problematic gambling behaviour. On the island, reach out Tracy Tsui for FREE, confidential support.
Communicating with Individuals with Hearing Loss
Communicating effectively with someone experiencing hearing loss can be a challenge. Here are some tips to help: *Find a quiet place – create the best conditions for them to understand you, *Understand level of loss – understand the unique set of challenges they face, *Say it a different way – choose uncomplicated words so it’s easier for them to understand, *Make eye contact – Eye contact allows someone to read your expression for context, * Get their attention – make sure they know you’re speaking. If you or a family member are concerned about hearing loss, be sure to schedule a hearing test today!
Does Getting Dental Implants Hurt?
The placement of dental implants causes only minor surgical discomfort because the jaw bones have few nerve endings, Bone grafting may have a little more discomfort associated with it. Many patients are able to work within a day of surgery. Any post-operative discomfort is controlled with prescription pain medication. Patients are placed on a soft diet and antibiotics for a few days and told to use an antiseptic mouth rinse several times daily. If sutures are necessary, they will be removed 7 to 14 days after the implants are placed. New techniques developed are always geared to improving patient comfort.
Shovelling Snow? Injury Prevention
In our area, winters usually mean rain, but there are days when we need to do some snow shovelling. With that comes an increased risk of sprains and strains. Prevent injuries by employing a few tips: *Do a 5 minute full body warm up before shovelling. *Scoop and push small amounts of snow. *Lift and move weight with your legs. *Engage core muscles to assist in stability, balance and limb movement. *Check your posture. As we tire our posture tends to fail. Take a break, sip hot cocoa and reset yourself. For instruction on effective posture and core awareness, ask your Physiotherapist!
Let’s Drive Our Brain
Driving is a privilege. RoadSafetyBC mandates every person at age 80, and every two years following, undergo a Driver Medical Examination Report. The report is the primary tool to assess conditions such as mental ability to drive. Anyone (19+) who needs their license reinstated due to a stroke, brain injury or other situation also requires this report. Cowichan Brain Injury Society offers a program, ‘Let’s Drive Our Brain’, for cognitive training. It has a brain workout to prepare for this test. Testing and training include verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning, abstract, deductive, and inductive reasoning to evaluate logic skills. To learn more contact Tracey Nyhan.
Diabetes Foot Care
Foot care is an important part of managing your diabetes. High blood sugar levels associated with Diabetes causes potential damage to the nervous and circulatory systems. Wearing well-fitting shoes and quality socks are a key part of foot care. Use socks that will keep your feet warm and dry, as well as provide protection from foot injuries. Keeping your feet warm can help improve blood circulation and is beneficial to the health of the nerves in the feet. Look for socks that provide extra cushioning in the heel and bottom of the foot and are non-binding at the top.
