Your gums are constantly changing. When the remaining gum or residual ridge atrophies or “shrinks”, it changes the shape of the face and mouth. These changes happen gradually and then your denture no longer fits properly. Your denturist is the most qualified person to tell you if refitting or “relining” the denture base to compensate for these changes can be made or if your dentures need to be replaced. Here are some signs that your dental prosthesis need to be checked. *Problems chewing certain foods, *Thinning lips, sagging mouth or change in facial features, *Prosthesis loose or falling out when speaking or laughing *Discoloration and odor.
Community News
Problem Gambling vs Entertainment
Problem gambling is defined as any gambling behaviour that compromises, disrupts or damages one or more areas of a person’s life. This can include problems with personal relationships, family, friends, finances, school or work. Problem gambling can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, race or social status. The gambling continuum illustrates how, as a person spends more time, money and energy gambling, the risk of developing a problem increases. Likewise, the risk for problems increases when, instead of viewing gambling as purely a form of entertainment, a player feels compelled to gamble either to make money or to win back lost money.
Seniors and Stress
Chronic stress is harmful to people of all ages, but its impact on older adults can be particularly severe, increasing the risk of age-related diseases, hastening cognitive decline and even triggering falls. Stressors that are common amongst the elderly include: loss of control, personal loss, declining health, financial worries, personal safety and loss of independence. To reduce stress, get regular exercise, eat balanced meals to ensure the mind and body are properly fueled and ask for help. Talking with a trusted family member, friend or healthcare professional, at the very least, releases pent-up stress and may even lead to a solution.
Wealth of “Real Wellth”
As many may agree, wealth is about having money and possessions (our net worth). However, you may have also heard that ‘money cannot buy happiness’. By shifting the concept of wealth to “Wellth”, we shift the priority from finding the tangible/objective (wealth) to the internally realized/subjective (wellth), which leads to greater wellness and health for individual and for our community. By emphasizing “Real” we highlight that it is in the here-and-now, not focused on the future or past. Building wellness and health today is what really makes us wealthy, which supports our idea of “Real Wellth” and why it needs to be a priority.
Staying Social as a Senior
As we get older, health conditions, mobility limitations or lack of energy can keep us from being as socially active as we once were. A diminishing social life might happen gradually as close friends experience the same conditions and family members grow busy. We may not notice how long it has been since we last spent time with a friend! Isolation has many physical and emotional health risks. Especially if you live by yourself, staying socially active is critical to enjoying a healthy lifestyle. Volunteer at a local organization, join a senior living community or find a group that focuses on similar interests.
Getting Online
About 71% of seniors are online every day. Of those who are online, their main reason is to stay connected with family and friends. Whether it’s joining forums or sharing photos and stories with loved ones, social media and email allows seniors with limited mobility the opportunity to interact with others. If you’re interested in getting online but don’t know where to start, community centres and local senior groups often have programs to teach seniors about the internet and how to participate in online communities. It is important as we age to continue to stay socially connected to friends and loved ones.
Trouble Falling Asleep?
If you have trouble falling asleep, here is something that you may not know. The National Sleep Foundation suggests warm feet when going to bed sends a signal to your brain that it is bedtime. Sleep research indicates a correlation between falling asleep quickly and increased blood dilation in our extremities. Another thing that may keep you from sleep is Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), a condition that causes an uncontrollable urge to move your legs. Today there are socks with built in technology that will not only keep your feet warm but may provide relief from restless leg syndrome.
Optimize Your Fall Routine
There are a few baseline supplements that are highly recommended and proven to improve and enhance your state of health and nutrition profile, and to help you feel your best self! These include: Vitamin D, Probiotics, a good greens powder, Omega 3 EFAs, and a good multi and/or B complex. Taken daily, these supplements together with a whole foods diet, stress management, sufficient exercise, and creating more joy in your life will take good care of you and your loved ones this Autumn season.
Stay Brain “Fit”
Our brain is the most amazing part of our body. It comes up with creative ways to express our thoughts and emotions, coordinates movements, stores our most precious childhood memories, and solves the Sunday crossword. But it’s easy to take these powers for granted. As we age, our brain needs more activity to keep it young. Learning to play a game or music increases brain stimulation. In-depth reading stimulates the brain to think, focus and analyze. Research studies indicate reading just 30 minutes a day boosts memory because it uses many parts of the brain. It is believed reading fiction enhances brain connectivity and function.
Be Aware of the Risk Factors
In today’s stress-riddled world, maintaining a balanced lifestyle is quite challenging, and so is staving off addictive behaviours like gambling. Be aware of the risk factors. These include having experienced a big win early in our gambling history
and/or having had a recent loss or change and/or financial difficulties. Gambling behaviour is concerning when used as an escapist activity, anxiety-relief and/or when it distracts us from our families and health. You have more control over your life than you realize. In fact, recognizing a problem is powerful and is the first step in healing. Reach out for help!
Are Rechargeable Hearing Aids Right for You?
Tiny silver batteries are the unsung heroes behind hearing aids, but as technology advances, they are set to become a thing of the past. Rechargeable hearing aid technology is changing the game as they are convenient, easy to use and environmentally friendly. Popular among consumers for their comfort, versatility and ease of use, hearing aids are simply placed into their own recharging unit at bedtime. Visit one of our hearing clinics and talk with a qualified hearing healthcare professional about rechargeable hearing aids to see if they are right for you.
