Community News
Great Socks for Travel

Many of us have compression socks for travelling. On the day of travel, put them on when you get up; that is when your legs are less swollen. This allows your body to adapt to the socks. Make sure to leave them on for a few hours after you land to again allow your body to adapt. Wearing the socks for the extra time can reduce any swelling of the legs much more effectively than if they are taken straight off. Travel socks do not work unless you wear them. Voxxlife socks provide comfort compression that clients love to wear.

Free Hearing Test Components

Hearing loss is a fairly common health issue for adults in Canada.

The good news is that it is treatable, especially when addressed at earlier stages. If your hearing is not what it used to be, why not schedule an appointment to get it checked as soon as possible.

To help with this, NexGen Hearing is pleased to offer free hearing tests at our hearing clinics across Vancouver, Lower Mainland BC, Vancouver Island and the British Columbia Interior.

What can you expect during this hearing test? That’s what we’ll explore in this edition of the NexGen Hearing blog.

What Does a Hearing Test Entail?

Being proactive about your hearing health today will pay off tomorrow.

That’s why we recommend getting your hearing checked, especially if you have concerns regarding hearing loss or feel as though your hearing has deteriorated over time.

Our free, three-step hearing test includes:

1. Air Conduction

You will be listening to tones of decreasing volume until they are no longer audible.

Both left and right ears will undergo this test independently.

2. Word Discrimination

You will listen to spoken words in both ears.

Since you won’t be able to read the speaker’s lips, this will effectively measure your ability to identify speech.

3. Tympanometry

In a tymnpanometry test, we will check whether your eardrums and middle ear system are working properly.

This way, we will be able to determine if your hearing loss is coming from your inner ear or your middle ear.

Hearing assessments are painless and take less than one hour of your day. All you have to do is choose a NexGen Hearing clinic near you to book your free hearing test.

Reasons to Test Your Hearing

While most adults get their eyes examined frequently, many people do not get their hearing tested as often as they should.

While hearing aids cannot repair hearing damage, they can help restore the sounds of the world around you.

Still, it is preferable to maintain the hearing level you already have and use preventative measures to ward off further hearing loss. A hearing test can help determine where that hearing loss is occurring, so that you can take measures to preserve your hearing from here on out.

Here are 3 reasons to visit an audiologist:

To catch hearing loss early

One in five adults in Canada experiences hearing loss.

The longer you wait, the more difficult it will be for your brain to adapt to hearing aids.

For health reasons

Hearing loss does not only occur due to aging.

It can be a symptom of several health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes.

Also, if you work in a noisy environment, getting your hearing tested can help you protect your ears better.

To establish a baseline

If you are in your 50s or more, and you haven’t gotten your hearing tested recently, it’s time to visit your local audiologist.

Even if there is no significant hearing loss, your test will serve as a benchmark for future assessments.

If you find yourself turning the volume up while your family complains about your hearing issues, or you are frequently asking other people to repeat themselves, you might be experiencing hearing loss. Do not postpone your hearing test any longer!

Listen to Your Body

Having established the importance of getting one’s hearing checked, we invite you to contact us today to schedule your free hearing test.

By examining your unique hearing requirements, our specialists will determine the best next steps for your hearing needs and assist you with any questions you may have.

Plant Positive Intentions

April is here! Flowers are blooming! It’s time to plant intentions! Your intentions should be positive, uplifting and in the present tense. When you state your intentions, do so in a positive tone. Avoid using any negative words. Intentions are what you want, not what you do not want. Say the intention out loud to yourself. Reading and hearing it makes it more powerful. Are you ready to plant & birth JOYful intentions for your life? If you are not yet ready, book a Body Code session to release those negative emotions and put JOY back in your life!

Are You Doing A Spring Detox?

Spring is the season of cleansing and renewal. Before starting a detox, consider the following? 1) Are you under stress? If yes, your body may not be able to get rid of toxins. Your Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) regulates voluntary and involuntary physiological processes in the body – including detoxification. An ANS that is out of balance is inefficient. 2) Are you drinking enough good quality water and replenishing electrolytes to stay hydrated? 3) Are your emunctories (pathways of elimination such as liver, intestines, and kidneys) ready and well to eliminate the toxins from your body? Detox safely!

Every Child Needs the Chance to Play

Studies show that when children participate in recreational activities, they benefit from more than just physical development. Play teaches important life-skills such as cooperation, leadership and how to handle adversity. It builds self-confidence and a sense of belonging. Many parents are finding it challenging to afford these activities. That’s why SOS Child, Youth & Family programs and the SOS Recreation Assistance for Children & Youth program are so important. To learn more about these free programs and how to access or support them, visit our website or come by our Community Services Centre in Parksville.

FIT Fitness into Your Life

Fitting regular exercise into your routine can seem like a daunting task, but with a few simple tips, it can become a manageable part of your lifestyle. One key strategy is to start small – aim for just 10-15 minutes of exercise each day at first and gradually build up to longer workouts. You can also try: *incorporating physical activity into your daily routine, * scheduling your workouts into your calendar, *finding an exercise buddy or *joining a fitness class. Remember, any amount of physical activity is better than none – prioritize your health and well-being by making exercise a consistent part of your routine.

Nutritional Insecurity

“I always find that as the weather changes, I move from eating lots of soups and winter roots to lighter fruit and vegetables. However, sometimes it is hard to get my hands on my favourite healthy foods and I wind up eating the stuff that is easier at hand and faster to prepare.” Does this sound familiar? For approximately one-third of seniors in Canada, factors including ease of access, cooking time, mobility, loneliness and more, contribute to nutritional insecurity. Comfort Keepers caregivers can help you shop, prepare and enjoy healthy home-cooked meals! Contact us.

Retirement Lifestyle

When is the best time to start thinking about downsizing and moving to a smaller house or a retirement community? The answer is … well before you need to do so. Downsizing is often a stressful process. Start slowly and give yourself plenty of time to make it seem less overwhelming. Take photos of cherished items to remember them by. Research and look at the various options for retirement living before you need to make a move. It will take the fear and stress away knowing that you have done your homework and have started the downsizing process.

National Volunteers Week: April 16 – 23

Are you looking for a fulfilling volunteer opportunity? At Nanaimo Lifeline, we have two wonderful opportunities for you to give back. Our Check-In Service offers a daily friendly phone call to our clients, providing reassurance to those who might be isolated. Best of all, you can make these calls from home! Are you techy? Another volunteer opportunity is to also install our plug-and-play equipment in new clients’ homes in your area. We will provide the training and accompany you until you’re ready. For more information about our volunteer opportunities, please go to the About Us section of our website.

Puzzles for a Strong Mind

Puzzling is a mental workout that stimulates both sides of the brain. Studies have shown that jigsaw puzzles can help improve visual-spatial reasoning, short-term memory and problem-solving skills, as well as reduce the rate of cognitive decline and dementia. It can help improve your mood by boosting dopamine production. Puzzling helps reinforce connections between brain cells, improving mental speed and thought processes. Engaging yourself in puzzle-making can serve as an exercise in mindfulness and help relieve stress. Puzzles are a great way to exercise the small muscles in fingers and eyes especially for those with arthritis or who have experienced a stroke.

Keep Betting in Perspective

March Madness (NCAA Basketball) is one of the biggest sports betting events across North America. According to a study at AmericanGaming.org reported on 888Gambler.org, in 2019, 47M Americans gambled on March Madness, with an estimated $8.5B wagered. More than 40M participants filled in over 149M brackets, with 18M Americans wagering about $3.9B on sportsbooks alone. And these are strictly American statistics. In Canada, online sports betting was recently legalized (August 2021), however, 3rd party apps abound, offering sports betting enthusiasts many opportunities and types of gambling. Keep sports betting fun and in perspective. Don’t let a game you can’t control, control you.