Visiting with seniors is mutually rewarding. You can be a comfort, provide assistance as permitted, socialize and learn as well as share histories and experiences. Seniors have so much to offer through the exploration of their life achievements. Visitors will be amazed; activities, entertainment and more are always at hand at Independent Living Centres. Spending time with seniors, especially family, reinforces bonds of love and respect. These carry on even during times when they have less contact with friends and family. It is important for the physical and mental health of both visitors and residents; nothing replaces the personal touch.

Many people think that dentures are just for senior citizens. However more people wear dentures than you might think. Here are some signs that you may need dentures, or partial dentures, now or in the future: *Gaps between your teeth or your teeth are loose and shifting *Red, swollen, tender or bleeding gums *One or more missing teeth *Struggle with eating some types of foods. *Hiding your smile because of missing or damaged teeth. Take the time to care for your teeth so you can keep them as long as possible! If you do need dentures, there are many options available to you.

How would you like to look after all your gift giving needs and support a worthwhile cause at the same time? The Clements Centre for Community Living is pleased to present The Holiday Bazaar on November 10th, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm at 5856 Clements Street, Duncan. Come and shop for hand and homemade products ranging from pottery to jewelry and baked goods; all made by local vendors as well as clients and caregivers of the centre. Enjoy a Soup and Sandwich lunch for only $5.00 in the dining room. Clements Centre has 175 adults with developmental disabilities. The Holiday Bazaar helps fund adult services and support for them.

Hearing loss affects people of all ages. It can happen not just from aging, but also caused by genetics, medical reasons, and exposure to loud noise. You can be proactive about your hearing by getting a hearing test if you suspect hearing loss. As people are becoming more proactive about their health wearing hearing aids earlier in life to correct hearing loss is easier to adapt to. Improved hearing in your daily life will help overall quality of life as well. Untreated hearing loss can be more noticeable to other people than a hearing aid.

Feisty Ferdy Organics originated in AUSTRALIA from a wish of Dr. Blanche Tsetong to make safe, effective, nourishing and pampering skincare for her sister Dr. Sharon Tsetong, who suffers from dry skin and eczema. She is allergic to many of the chemicals found in most skincare products which are bad for you. The products that were developed for Sharon are now available in Canada! Feisty Ferdy Organic skincare does not have petrochemicals nor synthetic preservatives and is totally nut and gluten free. Feisty Ferdy works under the skin to help EVERYONE with normal skin, dry skin, sun-damaged skin, lines and wrinkles, and eczema.

While the common cold and flu is actually not a season, we have become programmed to think of it as the months of October through March. We can avoid the cold/flu by implementing healthy habits and taking care of ourselves throughout the year. The best way to treat a disease is prevention. Traditional Chinese Medicine helps prevent cold/flu for the entire family. Regular acupuncture treatments help boost immunity, while balancing and regulating the body’s Qi (Energy). Acupuncture can reduce the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections and shorten the length of time that somebody is ill. If you’re already sick, help is available.

Cataracts are one of the leading causes of reduced vision in adults. They occur when the lens inside the eye becomes cloudy due to sun exposure over the years. Symptoms include blurred vision, glare when driving at night, and more rarely, double vision. Wearing good quality sunglasses outdoors is the number one way to block Ultra-Violet radiation from the sun. This will slow down the onset and progression of cataracts.

Glaucoma refers to a family of diseases that damage the optic nerve and is one of the leading causes of blindness in Canada. It is a progressive disease that most often occurs in individuals over the age of 40, with the risk of the disease increasing with age. Elevated pressure within the eye damages the optic nerve, which if not detected and treated early, can lead to serious vision loss. There are usually no symptoms until the disease is advanced. Regular visits with an optometrist can detect the disease early enough to prevent vision loss.

The Clements Centre Society provides services for adults with developmental disabilities and child development services. Services are available for all eligible individuals in the Cowichan Region with eligibility and referrals provided through Community Living British Columbia. Adult services include, Community Integration programs, Life Skills programs, Supported Independent Living programs, Residential supports, and Employment services. Services for children and youth include, After School programs, Summer camps and Spring Break camps for children and youth with special needs. Preschool child development services including Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy, Infant Development program and Supported Child Development program

Melanye Walker is a Certified Colon Hydrotherapist who practices at the Naturally Health Clinic. She has more than six years of colonics experience and uses top of the line equipment with safety and comfort being a priority. Colon hydrotherapy is something that many have heard of BUT (no pun intended) are hesitant to talk about. This therapy was considered essential by the Egyptians and many other ancient cultures. Even hospitals performed this therapy in years past. It’s just as important as maintaining good oral health. After all, it is the other end of the digestive system! Colonics done seasonally, work towards optimal bowel health providing toning and cleansing of this very important organ. Melanye is happy to answer any questions you may have and strives to make colon hydrotherapy a positive and informative experience.