When you are faced with a sudden situation such as the illness of a loved one, in order to make any medical or financial decisions, you will need to have a power of attorney or representation agreement in place. A power of attorney gives the power to take care of financial and legal matters. A representation agreement can be set up to handle personal and health care matters for your loved one if they have become incapable of making decisions on their own. The time to get these set up is before they are needed. Talk to your local notary.

Studies have shown that low levels of serotonin are often linked to depression in individuals. These low levels can be caused by factors such as genetics, as well as a person’s environment, which may include physical and emotional trauma. Laser acupuncture using cold non-invasive lasers can stimulate the release and synthesis of serotonin, as well as the release of endorphins, both of which can improve emotional wellbeing. Laser therapy offers a comprehensive process for recovery that can be used as part of a treatment program for depression that may also include physician-prescribed medication and/or psychotherapy.

Although hearing loss can be hereditary and a natural result of aging, there are proactive steps you can take to keep your hearing sharp and healthy. Your ears receive sounds, but your brain processes all the wonderful, (and maybe not so wonderful,) sounds that you hear. So, keeping your brain healthy can help to keep your hearing healthy too. Puzzles like Sudoku, crosswords, and word searches help to maintain healthy brain tissue and the neural connections necessary for processing sensory information. If you suspect that you are suffering from hearing loss, be sure to speak to a hearing professional.

“Eating well gives a spectacular joy to life, contributing immensely to goodwill and companionship.” Elsa Schiaparelli.
In many cultures, food has a ritual component, including the preparation of colorful, varied and nutritious meals to be enjoyed with family and friends. However, many seniors in our community embrace the ‘tea and toast’ trap. Lacking motivation to cook for themselves, seniors may revert to simple meals, often of poor nutritional value. Comfort Keepers can suggest healthy recipes, help get ingredients, cook, and provide companionship. Combatting two mammoth challenges facing seniors: isolation and malnutrition.

Moms-to-be, are you aware of the ‘Happy Baby’ acupuncture point? By stimulating this particular point around the 28th week, the transmission of toxins from mother to child can be minimized. This increases the health of the baby and its resistance to disease, as well as it strengthens the mother’s immune system. Classic TCM education says that needling the “Happy Baby” point during pregnancy allows the mother to have a happy baby that sleeps through the night.

Skin rejuvenation is the superior treatment to safely and comfortably fade the appearance of skin imperfections such as brown or red spots and rosacea caused by the sun. Depending on your skin’s condition, gradual and cumulative improvement of skin tone is typically achieved in 2-4 treatments. A chemical grade peel prior to your skin rejuvenation treatment enhances your skin rejuvenation as the breakdown of dead skin cells enables the laser to penetrate deeper with better result. ELOS is the first and only technology that uses combined energies to effectively and gently restore and rejuvenate the appearance of your skin.

What steps are you taking toward your own personal growth? When life is busy, we forget about the importance of our own personal journey. The feedback we received about SOS Personal Growth Groups reveal their importance to community members. A male participant wrote, “I would recommend this group to anyone looking for tools and a sense of communion around the journey of being a man.” Another participant shared this insight on the Women’s group, “We can join together and be that shoulder to lean on. I’ve grown a lot and I always leave there feeling really good.” Take time to ensure you are advancing your personal goals.

Skin feeling a little “Blah” after summer? Here’s how to get your skin back in shape! Use a good quality serum or moisturizer containing antioxidants like vitamins C, A, E or beta carotene. These ingredients encourage production of new skin cells, as well as preventing and repairing any damage. You find these antioxidants in many fruits and vegetables too, so eat up! Antioxidants break down free radicals leaving behind wastes and toxins to be flushed out, so drink plenty of water. Exercise to increases circulation. An Ultrasonic Squeaky Clean Facial will gently exfoliate your skin to round out your new skin care routine.