Here are some tips to make the move as easy as possible. *Create personalized floor plans so you can envision how and where your possessions fit in your new space. *Start the decision process as early as possible as to which belongings are going to make the move with you and which ones to repurpose to a charity or consignment service. *Don’t do everything alone; enlist help from a family member, loved one, or a professional moving company. Genie Senior Services can help you with every step of your move, including downsizing, decluttering, moving, transporting, and setting up your new home.
Community News
Relaxation and Self-Care
Client Testimonial: “Raindrop and endocrine treatments are a regular part of my self-care practice. They are a little break out of the busyness of life where I simply slow down and relax into my body. I feel the release and flow of stuck energy and always leave feeling more clarity and grounded. I’m beyond grateful for Jennifer’s knowledge and expertise in essential oils, her healing touch, and her loving care.” A Raindrop Technique Massage combines massage, distinctive energy approaches, intuitive wisdom, and pure essential oils. An endocrine massage is a relaxing soft touch massage using Young Living essential oils and crystals.
Eat for the Season
Welcome to Autumn, a season of transition and reflection in Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). This time of year corresponds to the Lung and Large Intestine, calling for nourishment through warming, digestible foods that support immunity. Soups are ideal, stoking digestion with ginger, garlic, onions, and seasonal vegetables such as squash, carrots, and sweet potatoes. These foods warm the body and support lung health. Adding warming spices like cinnamon enhances digestion and fortifies the body. Pairing this with digestion-supporting acupuncture creates a holistic approach to staying balanced and healthy during the seasonal change.
Caring for Community at Christmas
As some residents eagerly anticipate the holiday season, others are anxious about how they will manage. Questions about where the meals will come from and how to provide gifts for their children and grandchildren are weighing on their minds. For 56 years, the SOS Caring for Community at Christmas program has been ensuring local children and youth have something special under the Christmas tree and that families and individuals can choose food that is meaningful to them over the holidays. Registration begins November 19. For information on how to participate in or support the program, visit our website or call us.
Take Care of Your Heart
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.
Eating Healthy at Holiday Meals
Holiday and special celebration meals are amazing. The endless array of baking, casseroles, and other rich foods can make your mouth water long before the meal. Sometimes “too much of a good thing is—too much!” To stay on track with healthy eating during celebrations, plan ahead of time. Decide what you cannot live without and plan to enjoy it without guilt. Allow yourself to indulge in small portions and savour them. Be sure to include fresh vegetables and drink plenty of water during the celebration to keep hydrated. Water helps flush out the extra salt and fat that you consume.
Recognize Hearing Loss Signs
October is National Protect Your Hearing Month, 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.
Are Your Vaccines Up to Date?
Fall boosters for COVID-19 will be available in October. This is also a great time to update vaccination schedules for travel, pneumonia, shingles, and more. Your pharmacist can help provide information and answer many of the questions that you may have regarding vaccines. Vaccines can help prevent disease and save lives. Individuals most at risk are: * people over 65 or under 5; * pregnant women; * residents of long-term care facilities; and * people with chronic diseases such as diabetes. Please book online to choose the day and time that will work for you to come in for your COVID-19 and additional important vaccines.
Live Theatre – Perfect Arrangement
It’s 1950, and new colours are being added to the Red Scare. Two U.S. State Department employees, Bob and Norma, have been tasked with identifying sexual deviants within their ranks. There’s just one problem: Both Bob and Norma are gay and have married each other’s partners as a carefully constructed cover. Inspired by the true story of the earliest stirrings of the American gay rights movement, madcap classic sitcom-style laughs give way to provocative drama as two “All-American” couples are forced to stare down the closet door. Tickets are on sale now for October 6–26, 2024.
It’s Not the “Things” that Matter
“The secret to having everything in life, is believing that you already have it.” Many seniors will tell you that the things that you thought mattered in your younger years were not really what mattered. It’s not the ‘things’ that matter. It’s the people, the experiences, the memories that you carry with you throughout your lifetime. Retirement communities are great places for retirees to continue to make new friends, have new experiences and make more wonderful memories. We should all strive every day to learn something new or meet someone new – it’s what keeps us young at heart!
Dangers of Social Isolation
Social isolation in seniors is a very serious problem affecting thousands of people across Canada. Health changes that prevent people from visiting others, such as the loss of a driver’s license or the death of loved ones, can contribute to the loss of social opportunities and contacts. These challenges can lead to depression and premature moves to assisted living facilities. Fortunately, there are many resources out there to keep seniors connected. Contact Nanaimo Lifeline, and we will be happy to connect you with organizations and services in our community that can do everything from daily phone calls to driving you to appointments.
