“Close the door, you are letting in the cold air”. Our homes are built to be energy efficient and we diligently seal any cracks that may be allowing cold drafts into the house. Unfortunately, this also seals off our home from fresh air. In turn this increases the concentration of VOCs from the use of cleaning products, traditional air fresheners and scented personal products. To keep your air healthy, try unscented products, add certain indoor plants and open windows when seasonally possible. There are also a growing number of natural, scent-free air fresheners that absorb both odours and chemicals.
Community News
What is Caregiver Burn Out?
If you are a care giver of a loved one, it’s important to also take care of yourself. Signs of burn out are: withdrawal from family and friends; feeling blue, irritable and helpless; changes in sleep patterns; getting sick more often; and feelings of resentment. What can you do to support yourself? Talk to a trusted friend or co-worker; set reasonable goals; be realistic about your loved one’s disease, especially if it is a progressive disease such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s. Use respite care services when you need a break or while you are assessing care plan changes.
What not to buy for Christmas!?
A popular woman’s magazine ranked socks as the number 2 item on the list of things men definitely do not want for Christmas. What do they know? What could be better than sharing the feeling of wellbeing with someone you love? When you fill the man of your life’s Christmas stockings with the right socks, he will enjoy a gift of wearable technology that can reduce pain, increase strength and endurance and increase stability and balance for months to come. And to make sure that you are fair in your gift giving, don’t forget the women in your life. They too will thank Santa Clause for the socks.
Coping with Holiday Stress
The holiday season is a special time but for some, it can be a time of grief and sadness. Sometimes the holidays include stressful situations that lead to more time and money spent on gambling than anticipated. If you plan on gambling during the holidays, here are a couple of strategies to keep things fun and mitigate the risks: Don’t gamble alone; keep it a social activity; leave your bank cards and credit cards at home; and finally, set time and money limits and stick to them. If you feel the need for a distraction such as gambling to escape the holiday stress, look for a healthier alternative: take in a movie, go out for dinner, connect with a friend and please feel free to call our 24/7 confidential helpline at 1-888-795-6111. Our counsellors and support workers are here to help!
Holiday Wishes
With all the hustle and bustle of deadlines and meetings, we sometimes forget to take the time to reflect on the important things in our lives; our health, our family and our friends. We are grateful for these and many things that we take for granted; clean air, water from the tap and feelings of wellbeing. With Christmas just around the corner, we want to take the opportunity to wish our many readers, advertisers and friends, Peace, Happiness and Good Health this Holiday Season.
Who Ya Gonna Call? Friendly Phones!
“Good morning, Joy. It’s Patricia and I’m a volunteer caller with Friendly Phones.” These simple words open endless conversations at South Cowichan Community Policing (SCCP) through our free, Friendly Phones service. If you live alone, or cannot leave your home, then you may want to receive morning telephone calls from our volunteers. You can also contact them by email, or leave a voicemail at the SCCP office. The Friendly Phones service lets you share your thoughts, opinions, and experiences with people who care about your well-being. Several times a year we have gatherings where our Friendly Phones clients can meet our Friendly Phones Volunteer callers as well as staff and directors. Volunteer callers are welcome to join the SCCP team. Come visit our office at Mill Bay Centre.
Missing your Smile?
Studies show that missing some of your teeth do not only affect your general health and appearance but can also lead to depression and low self-esteem. Social embarrassment is a very real problem related to the worry of missing teeth and poorly fitting dentures. Having an incomplete smile greatly affects many patients. Don’t let tooth loss or improperly fitting dentures cast a shadow over the quality of your life. Your denturist can explain the best ways to restore the function and appearance of your smile. Properly fitting dentures can restore your self-esteem and bring back your smile.
Benefits of Diffusing Essential Oils
Do you want to help purify the air in your home, create an ambiance and maybe even trigger positive memories? Diffusing essential oils can do that! Many products available mask odors in our homes but are filled with synthetic and sometimes harmful chemicals. Pure therapeutic grade essential oils are chemicals that, in their natural, unadulterated state, can actually have beneficial effects when inhaled. They can help you feel relaxed, uplifted, invigorated or calm. There are many options for diffusing oils from jewelry to fancy ultrasonic diffusers with LED light displays, music options and even remote controls! This allows you to create the perfect ambiance in your own home.
Give Your Immune System a Boost
With the cold and wet weather, we spend more time indoors and in close quarters with those around us. Now is the time when our immune system could use a boost. Our immune system protects us from bacteria and viruses and harmful substances in our environment. To help your immune system, take advantage of any sunny day to catch some rays, avoid smoky areas, limit alcohol consumption and consider adding some supplements. Immune system boosting supplements available at your health food store include, probiotics as well as supplements made with plants, herbs and minerals used to prevent and fight infections
Fear of Falls Causes Unsafe Behavior
When someone is fearful of falling, they start to avoid everyday activities by staying at home and doing less. This lack of activity leads to loss of strength, reduced muscle tone, and loss of coordination and balance. This physical deterioration increases the risk of falling and if a fall does occur, it further heightens the fear. Turn your fear of falling into positive actions; remain active, exercise regularly, use assistive devices such as walkers or grab bars and wear sensible shoes. Consider joining a group session designed especially to teach balance exercises for fall prevention.
Christmas Chaos or Christmas Comfort?
The average person will eat about 6,000 calories on Christmas day. This is 3,500 – 4,000 calories more than they need and will add more than a pound of fat to the not-so-secret stash. And Christmas day is only one day of the season! The chocolates, party buffets and endless cookies go on for weeks. Unfortunately, the excess Christmas pounds are not going to melt away like snowmen. They’ll become part of that year-on-year upward creep. A bit of smart limiting and determination to plan ahead will help you stay on track without spoiling the festive feeling or fun. It also may make your self-talk a bit sweeter when you first step on the scale in January!
