With your help, Cowichan will soon have a new modern facility for children at risk to learn, grow and develop for optimal wellbeing. Over the years, Sundrops Centre for Child Development has helped hundreds of children and parents through the Child Care Resource and Referral program, the Children & Family Support program and the Child Development team. This Christmas, when trying to find a gift for that hard-to-give to person, consider making a donation to the Sundrops Children’s Fund. Donations can be made in person at 5856 Clements Street, by phone at (250) 746.4135 or through Canada Helps. Your gift will continue to make a difference in the lives of children for years to come.

Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes have become worldwide pandemics. They are so common, doctors often refer to them as “Diabesity”. The pandemics prove conventional treatment for diabesity is not working, Counting carbohydrates and calories only is not enough to combat insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. The more overweight we are, the more fertile the ground is for diabetes to develop. The more processed food we ingest, with its colouring, flavour enhancers and hidden sugars, the more our waistlines increase. The less we exercise, the more lethargic our insides get, the more toxic our bodies become. We can halt or reverse this trend personally and globally. By changing daily eating and exercise habits, diabesity can be undone. Is it time for you to take action and control of your life? All it takes is a conscious decision and determination. There is help available to assist you along the way!

When you have found a well-fitting bra, you want to take good care of it. It should be hand washed in warm water with a detergent made especially for fine lingerie. Do not use bleach, fabric softener or wool wash soap. Soak for about five minutes to let the deodorants, perspiration and oils dissolve, then agitate and rinse. Do not wring. If you must use your washing machine, wash on the delicate cycle and use a washing bag to protect your bra. Bras should never be put into the dryer. Dry by hanging them from the centre front panel or lay flat.

How do you navigate the maze of the hundreds of brands of health and nutrition products available in the marketplace? There are so many products available in different locations that it is difficult to figure out where and what to buy. Your local health food store is a good place to start. It is staffed by knowledgeable experts who keep up with what is new in the industry. They will ask you questions and take the time to find out your needs. Once this discussion has taken place, they will be able to recommend the best products for you.

At Nanaimo Memory & Complex Care, they believe in and practice their proven-effective methods they call The Avenir Approach. They place residents according to their cognitive abilities and create an individual care plan for each individual. These essential principles define their daily dedication to the well-being of residents with memory loss. They provide support for the whole family, offering education and meaningful resources during initial consultation and on an ongoing basis. They focus on how they, as a team, can come together to provide the best quality of living for your loved one. This includes everything from how to start the conversation about memory care to making moving day as worry-free as possible. Nanaimo Memory & Complex Care offers a range of price points based on needed care to assist with your financial planning.

I bought my Dad a pair of socks. He is elderly and was not impressed that I was bringing him another pair of socks. He was probably hoping for chocolates! I just put the socks in his dresser drawer. A few days later, I was away on vacation so Dad calls my sister and says “I want more of those socks”. At first, she didn’t pay much attention because she knew he has lots of socks. When he asked her again, she took him more seriously. It turns out that Dad wears his new sock to bed every night and they calm his restless legs. Dad now has enough of these great socks to last him a week. His old socks are for sale.

Here in the South Cowichan Area, we have numerous opportunities for our seniors to stay active and engaged. South Cowichan Community Policing has an active role in the well being of our residents and our seniors. We offer programs like Block Watch, Friendly Phones, Speed Watch and many more and we welcome volunteers to be actively involved in them. BE ACTIVE! Bring your best self out and continue doing what you love or explore activities new to you. Let’s keep our amazing community safe and supportive for all.

There will soon be a new location for the SUNDROPS CENTRE for Child Development at 5814 Banks Road in Duncan. The new location will allow us to better assist children with developmental delays and provide support to families and caregivers in the Cowichan region. Our goal is to provide optimal services as we teach, learn and grow with our children, whether in our gym or therapy rooms, in preschool or at the playground . The new location will house a larger child development team, child care resource and referral program. It will also provide space for meetings and group interaction and offer services for healthy infant and child development.