Our offices will be closed Friday, December 20 at 3:00 pm for the Christmas holidays and reopen in early January. We are doing some small renovations to the lab to accommodate added equipment and are unsure how long it will take. To all, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Diwali, Happy Kwanzaa! There are at least eight significant religious and cultural celebrations at this time of year, including a time of rest and renewal practiced by First Nations peoples. Work for peace around the world; the “War to end all wars” didn’t. Contact us here at Accura Denture Clinic for all your denture needs.
Community News
Wishing You Health
As we settle into the busy holiday season, we like to honour our relationship with our customers. Thank you for trusting our team to take care of your overall health and well-being and for choosing a locally-owned pharmacy for your healthcare needs. We will continue to provide personalized pharmacy services, including free local delivery, medication reviews, compounding, vaccinations, and so much more! Your pharmacist can help to make sure your medication is the right fit and introduce you to tools that make day-to-day medication management easier. We care about your health!
Neck and Shoulder Pain: A Common Affliction
Neck and shoulder pain affects millions of people worldwide, ranging from dull aches to sharp, mobility-limiting sensations. Common causes include poor posture, repetitive motions, stress, and injuries. Sufferers often experience tension headaches, reduced range of motion, and numbness in the arms. The pain can be debilitating, decreasing productivity and quality of life. While painkillers may offer temporary relief, many seek long-term solutions. Therapies like acupuncture and cupping address root causes, offering more comprehensive relief. These techniques may provide lasting results for those struggling with persistent neck and shoulder discomfort. Don’t let neck and shoulder pain control your life. Call today.
Blue Christmas Service – Dec 21, 2024
It has been and is our pleasure to reach out with this Blue Christmas Service. All Welcome! The service takes place on Saturday, December 21, 2024, at 2:00 pm at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, located at 4235 Departure Bay Road, Nanaimo. “Perhaps you are grieving the loss of a loved one; feeling sad, sick, lonely, and anxious about the holiday season or future while others are celebrating. We want you to know you aren’t alone. When you leave the service and God’s house, our prayer is that you will feel uplifted, peaceful, comforted, and experience God’s love for you.”
Making Christmas Magic for Residents in Need
The SOS Caring for Community at Christmas program has been spreading the joy of Christmas to local residents in need for over 50 years. With community support, we can ensure that children and youth in the area find a special gift under their tree on Christmas morning. Additionally, families and individuals will receive grocery store gift cards, allowing them to choose food that is meaningful to them during the holidays. You can support the program through a financial donation. Help us fill the SOS Toy Shop by donating a new, unwrapped gift. For more information or to register, please visit the SOS website.
Words to Live By
“This is a time of peace and great joy. Among the rush of worldly coming and going, choose to remain calm and peaceful in your heart.” – Keith Macpherson
Reducing Your Dementia Risk
Dementia prevention focuses on reducing risk factors that contribute to cognitive decline. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle plays a key role, including regular physical activity, a balanced diet (like the Mediterranean or DASH diet), and staying mentally active through learning and social engagement. Managing health conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol is crucial, as they increase the risk of dementia. Avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption also helps. While there’s no guaranteed way to prevent dementia, research suggests that staying physically, mentally, and socially engaged may delay or reduce the likelihood of developing cognitive impairments.
Staying Social with Hearing Loss
For someone with hearing loss, social situations are challenging. Help improve communication with them by following these simple tips: • Gain their attention before you begin talking. • Speak naturally and don’t shout. Speak distinctly, at a normal rate, using pauses to give the person time to process speech. • Keep your hands away from your face while talking. • Avoid sudden changes of topic. And if the subject changes, tell them what you are talking about now. • Seat them where they can see as many faces as possible. • Check in. If your listener is not following, convey the information again in shorter, clearer sentences.
Tips to Stay Healthy
With the change in weather comes the potential for colds, flu, and COVID! Everyone is encouraged to get their flu and COVID booster shots. Remember to sanitize regularly out in the community, especially if you are in the grocery store (the handles of the carts) and when you get back into the car. Comfort Keepers can help by doing your shopping for you, or if you get sick, we can help by just giving the care needed as you convalesce. Contact us today to set up a meeting and get a regular schedule in place for times like this. Let’s stay well this winter.
Fall Prevention Month
It’s fall prevention month, and that’s an extremely important one for us at Nanaimo Lifeline. 20%–30% of hospitalizations from injuries among older Canadians each year are attributed to falling. Not only that but falling is the leading cause of hospital admissions for children aged 0-14 months each year as well! To prevent falls, it’s important to engage in balance and strength-training exercises, avoid alcohol and substance abuse, and find out about any side effects of medications that may cause cognitive or balance impairments. And as always, eating a healthy diet contributes to strong bones and muscles. Stay safe!
TBD
Fall is here, and we are blessed with all the amazing colours as the trees store food for the winter. It is a great time to have your dentures evaluated as well. New as of November 1 for the government dental program is coverage for partial dentures and softliners. These services need to be preapproved, so they require a little planning. There is no word yet on the dollar value, but keep in touch and read these articles regularly. As of January 2025, ALL Canadians are eligible for coverage; look into it! Contact us for more information.
