Falls are a leading cause of injury among seniors, often resulting in lasting mobility challenges. Maintaining and strengthening balance is essential for independence and confidence. The SuperPatch uses innovative vibrotactile technology to enhance body awareness and stability, helping to prevent falls naturally. Complementing this, acupuncture and cupping support balance by improving circulation, reducing pain, and calming the nervous system. Together, SuperPatch, acupuncture and cupping create a powerful, drug-free approach to help seniors stay grounded, steady, strong and active. They reduce fall risk while improving overall well-being and quality of life. Doreen offers FREE 15-minute consultations and balance testing.

As the holiday season approaches, some residents are looking forward to the festivities, while others are anxious about how they will manage. Many are concerned about where their meals will come from and how they will provide gifts for their children and grandchildren. Since 1968, the SOS Caring for Community at Christmas program has ensured that local children and youth receive something special under the Christmas tree. It also allows families and individuals to choose holiday food that is meaningful to them. Registration for the SOS Christmas program begins on November 18. To access or support the program, visit our website or call our office.

Resilience is the capacity to withstand or recover quickly from difficulties, adapting physically and mentally to whatever challenge is presented. One way to build resilience is to participate in Neuromovement lessons to make new brain connections. Resilience helps your body move more easily and enables you to find new ways of thinking, perceiving the world, and problem-solving. Your ability to adapt becomes hindered when you encounter the same moving or thought patterns. It is never too late to build resilience and new brain connections.

October is a special month. It is a time to honour and remember those touched and to support all who are facing this journey. Healing often calls for many hands—and many approaches. Most often, there is a Healing Team involved. In Chinese medicine, several acupuncture points help ease nausea and discomfort, while channels that travel up to the breast area offer support via energy flow and healing. When combined with Western medicine, acupuncture and Chinese medicine can bring comfort, balance, and hope. They are standing together—body, mind, and spirit. Doreen offers free 15-minute consultations.

As cooler weather arrives and social gatherings move indoors, it’s the perfect time to check your hearing health. Untreated hearing loss can affect communication, confidence, and even cognitive wellness. Regular hearing assessments help detect changes early, ensuring you stay connected to the moments that matter most. At Amplifon Hearing Care Experts, our professionals provide personalized solutions, from comprehensive hearing tests to advanced hearing aids designed for comfort and clarity. This season, take a proactive step—book your free hearing test and experience the difference better hearing can make in your everyday life.

The CHC is a group of professionally trained practitioners whose mission is to assist you as you travel on your healing journey. Our offices are at Knox United Church in Parksville, and online services are also available. We take a non-religious approach to our service; we can refer you to spiritual counselling if that is what you request. We are here to help if you or your family are experiencing: Depression, Substance abuse, Trauma, Abuse, Grief and bereavement or Relationship issues. Please see our website for practitioners’ bios and contact them directly. *If finances are a barrier, limited subsidies may be available.

Mobility training improves a joint’s range of motion and your body’s ability to move with control and efficiency through that range. Examples include: *Controlled movements through a joint’s full range of motion. *Building the muscle strength needed to control movements through the full range of motion. *Enhancing body awareness and stability. The benefits of mobility training include: *Enhances agility and movement quality for both sports and daily life. *Improves joint integrity and control – it minimizes strain and prevents accidents. *More efficient lifting, bending, and reaching. *Increases overall physical resilience. *Proper joint movement maintains the health of the surrounding muscles and tissues.

Are you a home owner with low or no mortgage debt but hardly any income beyond basic pensions to pay for living expenses? With a Reverse Mortgage, you can get up to 55% of the value of your home to travel, pay for home care or assist family. This October is a great time to apply for a reverse mortgage. I am offering 50% off the setup fees for successful new applications of over $250,000. This is a saving of $1,300 or more. Contact me today for a free, no-obligation consultation to determine if a reverse mortgage is right for you.