Pacific Pearl Dental Hygiene Clinic Inc. was founded in Ladysmith in 2019 by Ricki Weissbach. Fast forward to 2022, when she met her now-business partner, Natalie Cuthbert. It wasn’t long before they realized that they shared a passion for dental hygiene and entrepreneurship. These two women are very excited to be expanding the Pacific Pearl business, with a second office now open in Nanaimo. With 25 years of experience between Ricki and Natalie, they both strive to make their clients feel welcome and cared for. These women make dental hygiene comfortable, easily accessible, and provide a service with minimal wait times.

Wellnessnews Choices for Healthy Living® is thrilled to present the 4th Annual Wellness Expo on March 23 at Beban Park Social Centre in Nanaimo. The Expo is FREE to attend. It will be a day to explore various approaches to health, nutrition, fitness, and overall well-being. Explore, transform, escape, and shop! You will find great fashion and products for your home that all contribute to feeling good. Check the Wellness Expo website for a list of exhibitors, health talks, and door prizes.

NTG has been entertaining audiences of all ages for over 60 years. Their next production is “Leading Ladies.” In this play, two actors, Jack and Leo, find themselves so down on their luck that they are reduced to playing “Scenes from Shakespeare” at a Moose Lodge. When they hear that an elderly lady is about to die and leave her fortune to her two long-lost nephews, they resolve to pass themselves off as her beloved relatives and pick up the cash!! Romantic entanglements abound, and the mayhem begins when they arrive and discover that the relatives aren’t nephews but nieces!

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.

It’s heart month! Heart disease is the second-leading cause of death in Canada. A heart-healthy lifestyle means eating right, sleeping enough, and exercising every day. But what does that mean? Eating healthfully: you don’t have to give up cookies; add in fruits and vegetables every day. Exercise: walk for 5–10 minutes a day, or do windmills with your arms if mobility is an issue. Sleep—try for at least 7 hours per night. Heart health doesn’t have to mean huge lifestyle changes that can feel overwhelming. A little bit at a time is all you need!

Every year, more than 60,000 Canadians suffer a heart attack. A healthy diet and regular exercise can reduce the risk. If you have cardiovascular disease, follow your treatment carefully and take medicine as prescribed. Common signs of a heart attack include: *chest pain; *discomfort or pain in the neck, jaw, shoulder, back, or arm; *shortness of breath; and *dizziness. If you are having a heart attack, call 911 immediately, follow operator instructions, stop all activity, stay calm, and rest in a comfortable position while waiting for help. Ask our pharmacist for more information about heart health.

For seniors, maintaining social connections and staying in touch with loved ones not only improves quality of life, it improves health. Socially isolated seniors have a 59% greater risk of mental and physical decline than those who do not experience social isolation. Socialization has been shown to slow Alzheimer’s and Dementia patient’s decline. Having care givers can help stem the existence of loneliness in the lives of our seniors. We enjoy conversations, daily walks, shopping, cooking and folding the laundry together. These can be moments of joy when done together in the right way. Comfort Keepers engage the human spirit.