Community News
Your Personal Pharmacist

Do you have a personal pharmacist on your wellness team? A personal pharmacist pays close attention to your needs and provides personalized care. Whether it’s managing your diabetes, heart health, or another chronic condition, they are invested in your health. Your personal pharmacist can help make sure your medication is the right fit and introduce you to tools that make day-to-day medication management easier. With the expanded role of pharmacists, they can assess and prescribe medication for certain minor conditions that do not require a doctor’s visit. When you have a minor condition, book an appointment with your pharmacist for a free assessment.

Reduced Reverse Mortgage Fees

Are you a homeowner 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, and use the funds to enjoy hobbies, travel or assist family. This is a great time to apply. Until the end of the year, I am sharing my commission with you. Receive 50% off the setup fees for successful new applications over $250,000. Contact me today for a free, no-obligation consultation to determine if a reverse mortgage suits you.

Protect Yourself & Others: Get Vaccinated

Influenza and COVID-19 can cause serious illness, hospitalization, and even death—especially in older adults and those with health challenges. Vaccination is a simple, proven way to protect yourself and those you love. Each shot reduces the risk of severe illness and helps prevent outbreaks in our community. Getting vaccinated truly saves lives. At Comfort Keepers, we understand that appointments can be difficult for frail or elderly adults. Our caregivers provide safe, reliable transportation to vaccination clinics and other important health visits—helping you stay healthy and independent.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

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.

Prioritize Your Hearing Health This Fall

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.

Embracing Autumn Wellness

Fall is a wonderful season for seniors to focus on wellness while enjoying the beauty of autumn. Taking walks among colourful leaves offers fresh air and light exercise, while seasonal recipes like hearty soups and roasted vegetables provide warmth and nourishment. As days grow cooler, gentle indoor activities such as stretching, yoga, or crafting can keep the body and mind active. Seniors can also embrace social opportunities by attending local harvest festivals, joining clubs, or volunteering in the community. Preparing the home for colder months and supporting immune health ensures a safe, vibrant, and enjoyable autumn season.

Recognize Hearing Loss Signs

October is National Protect Your Hearing Month, and Thanksgiving is a perfect time to recognize signs of hearing loss. Keep an eye out for these warning signs: frequently asking others to repeat themselves, needing to turn up the TV or radio volume, or experiencing persistent ringing in your ears. Difficulty understanding conversations in noisy environments, missing everyday sounds, or having trouble hearing when your back is turned to someone are also key indicators. Speaking too loudly or finding phone conversations challenging may also signal hearing issues. Early detection is crucial for better outcomes, so prioritize your hearing health this month and schedule a free assessment with your local Beltone clinic.

Profile: Counselling and Healing Collective

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.

What is Mobility Training?

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.

Reduced Setup Fees in October

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.

Community Profile: Comfort Keepers®

Comfort Keepers® helps clients maintain independence and quality of life with local, loving in-home care. Providing long-term care for a loved one can be very taxing and time-consuming for family members. Comfort Keepers reduce this stress by providing a wide range of in-home care services for seniors. The leading CK team is a Registered Nurse with 40 years of experience in the care of the elderly. The team writes care plans for each client and watches over them as the situation changes, adapting the care plan and the care as the needs change. In-home elder care provides family members with peace of mind.