Spring is a great time to start new and healthy habits. Here are a few to try: *Sleep – Getting enough sleep makes you feel good and has a positive impact on your physical and mental health. Strive for 7 to 9 hours daily. *Nutritious meals – Cooking meals at home is a fun activity that often brings people together. *Go outside – Spending time in green space has an array of health benefits. *Visit your doctor annually. *Check your hearing health once a year and *Visit your dentist. Are you ready to start new, healthy habits? We’re here to help.
Community News
Overcome Physical Employment Barriers
“We’ve learned that we can help people get close to one hundred percent of their physical capability through the use of assistive technology, whether it’s high tech, low tech, software, hardware, or ergonomics,” says Nate Toevs, Marketing Manager for the WorkBC Assistive Technology Services program.
WorkBC Assistive Technology Services is for people who have a barrier to their employment or self-employment activities. The focus is on people with disabilities, but it’s also for people who have an old injury or chronic pain. The program provides funding for assistive technology, ergonomics, restorative supports including canes and crutches, hearing aids, vehicle modifications, and more.
Help with Filing Low-Income Tax Returns
Filing your Income Taxes can be the key to unlocking unclaimed government benefits and recovering overpaid taxes. It also helps relieve the stress of piles of unfinished business. SOS works in conjunction with the Revenue Canada Community Volunteer Income Tax Program to help low-income residents file basic tax returns at no cost. This service does not assist with bankruptcy, deceased, or self-employment returns. The income threshold is $35,000 for one person and $45,000 for a couple (limit increases by $2,500 for each dependent). To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, this service will be offered by phone. Contact us for more information.
Reluctant to Accept Help?
It can be difficult to accept help. Seniors often associate accepting help with losing their independence. It sometimes feels that by accepting help, we are telling the world that we are no longer able to live independently. Installing a medical alarm system can increase your independence and reduce the risks of living alone or being left alone in your home. In fact, with a locally monitored system, you may be able to remain in your own home, comforted by the fact that if something should happen, help is just a button push away.
March Brain Teasers
1. Name one meal you can never eat for breakfast? 2. What type of cheese is made backwards? 3. A mother has six children and five potatoes. How can she feed each an equal amount of potatoes? 4. What kind of apple is not an apple?
The Cryptocurrency Craze
Crypto! We are hearing about it everywhere now. There are hundreds of cryptocurrencies available, wide-ranging in value. Have you seen the crypto ATMs at the mall? Have you noticed the uptick in crypto advertising during sporting events, including at hockey, football, and basketball games? What is crypto anyways, and how does it work? Is it investing? Playing the market? Gambling? All of the above? None of the above? If you’re curious about crypto, or if it is negatively impacting you or someone you love, please reach out to vigamingsupport.ca. We can help you untangle crypto.
Fresh Air & Exercise Boost Wellbeing
Have the icy roads and snowy conditions kept you from enjoying your daily walks? We know the importance of daily exercise and fresh air to our health. Luckily, February on the coast usually comes with more favourable walking conditions. Outside our door is the beautiful nature of Vancouver Island. Whether it is just a walk around the block or a hike up a mountain, the fresh air and exercise boost our wellbeing. So lace up your shoes and wear VoxxLife socks with HPT for enhanced balance and stability. Additional benefits include; enhanced pain relief and management, especially PDN pain and improved mobility.
Coldest Night of the Year
The Coldest Night of the Year is Canada’s National Walk for Homelessness. Since 2011, it has raised more than $43 million. The Coldest Night of the year is a winterrific family-friendly walk to raise money for local charities serving people experiencing hurt, hunger, and homelessness. Team up, walk, and fundraise! It’s cold out there… but there’s no place like home. The event takes place on February 26th in 168 locations in Canada. The event features family-friendly 2 or 5 km walks and Covid-friendly virtual options. See the website for more details on how you can get involved with your local event.
Health is a Precious Asset
The last two years have brought home the realization that health is a precious asset that we need to preserve and protect. In the upcoming year, a number of us will adopt healthier habits that include revamping our diets and exercise. Reducing risk factors are another way to improve our health. We participate in risk reduction by wearing masks and physical distancing. For seniors, one of the biggest risk factors is not being able to quickly access help in an emergency. Whether fall or an emergency, quick access to help is directly correlated to improved outcomes.
Relocation Stress Syndrome
While remaining at home is possible for some seniors, many others may need to move to Independent Living with Services to get the best care possible. Since moving is a major life stressor, some seniors may experience relocation stress syndrome, with symptoms like confusion, loneliness, and anxiety. To help make the transition to assisted living as smooth as possible, it’s important to 1) avoid rushing the process; 2) focus on their well-being; 3) make their new home look familiar with personal belongings; 4) help them get involved in their new community; 5) ensure they have frequent visitors.
Assistance for an Ageing Workforce
“We’re dealing with an ageing workforce that will have more people with chronic pain issues, more people with vision or hearing loss, and there are different supports available depending on the degree of challenges you are dealing with,” says Nate Toevs, Marketing Manager for the WorkBC Assistive Technology Services program. “We know we can bring a lot to the table that can make a huge impact for that individual, which in turn will impact the company that they work for.” The program provides funding for assistive technology, ergonomics, restorative supports including canes and crutches, hearing aids, vehicle modifications, and more. Contact us for more information.
