Without guidance and support, transitioning a loved one to a care home can be an overwhelming responsibility. Here are some steps to get you started. *Research homes in the area and ask friends and family for recommendations. *Call the homes and share your loved one’s story. They may be able to recommend homes to suit your loved one’s needs.*Book a tour to experience the home in person and to ensure that the atmosphere feels right for your loved one. *Ask all the questions you need to ease your mind. Don’t know what to ask? Refer to our website for Questions for Care Homes as a starting point.

Peace of mind is perhaps the most compelling reason to pre-plan and pre-pay for your final arrangements. Preplanning can be a simple as having a conversation with your loved ones to let them know what your wishes are. Planning ahead helps to ease the emotional burden for your loved ones at a time of great emotional stress, alleviates any questions, problems or differences that can occur among family members, and assures that your wishes will be fulfilled. The next step, pre-payment, prevents a potential financial strain for your loved ones and guarantees costs

Falls are a real concern for older adults. One out of three people over the age of 65 fall each year. The good news is that most falls are preventable by changing risky behaviour, taking steps to proactively manage health, and by safety proofing homes. Additionally, it’s important to ask yourself: If I were to fall tonight, how would I get help if I couldn’t reach the phone? Subscribing to a medical alert service is a great way to ensure that, if you do fall, you can access help 24/7 with the press of a button. Some services also offer automatic fall detection.

A daily skin care routine is important to protect skin from environmental hazards and combat fine lines, wrinkles, and dull, uneven skin tones. You need a routine that cleanses, moisturizes and protects your skin. Look for a gentle, non-drying cleanser, an exfoliant and broad-spectrum protection from sun damage. Choose cleansers that will remove dirt and bacteria while moisturizing the skin with emollients and humectants to draw water into the top layer of the skin. Finally, using a sunscreen every day even when it is cloudy protects against UVA and UVB rays and may prevent wrinkles and skin cancer.

Sometimes it can be very difficult to accept help. Many seniors feel that if they accept help they are losing their independence. They think that admitting that they need help tells the world that they are no longer able to live on their own. Installing a medical alarm system can actually increase independence and reduce the risks of living alone or being left alone at 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.

Since the jaw bones have few nerve endings, the placement of dental implants causes only minor surgical discomfort. Bone grafting may have a little more discomfort associated with it. Many patients are able to work within a day of surgery. Any post-operative discomfort is controlled with prescription pain medication. Patients are placed on a soft diet and antibiotics for a few days and told to use an antiseptic mouth rinse several times daily. If sutures are necessary, they will be removed 7 to 14 days after the implants are placed. New techniques developed are always geared to improving patient comfort.

Did you know that the Chemainus Theater membership program provides wings to the Chemainus Theatre Festival, supporting each season of programming? Donations to the membership program provides foundational support enabling them to plan confidently, and expand their theatrical & education programing. In return (along with their eternal gratitude) they strive to open up the world of Chemainus Theatre through exclusive member events and have a lot of fun at the same time. In 2019, exclusive events include Fireside Chats, Dress Rehearsals, the ever popular Season Launch Party and Member Day. Contact the theater about the various levels of membership available.

Is your house filled with stuff from too many trips to the thrift store, from storing things for the kids who moved out years ago or from holding on to possessions of a loved one who passed. Too much clutter can affect mental health. It is stressful to be in a cluttered environment because of its excessive visual stimuli. It also signals to our brains that our work is never done and creates guilt, anxiety and the feeling of being overwhelmed! When it is all too much, bring in help to sort things and to take it away to be reused and recycled. One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.

Amplifon is a global leader in hearing healthcare, helping over 5 million people worldwide. Yet, there’s still a taboo in society surrounding hearing loss. The longer a person delays getting help, the more challenging it is to assist with speech “discrimination” or understanding sounds. Several studies have shown that people with untreated hearing loss experience an overload of the brain’s cognitive functions — which may lead to an earlier onset of dementia. Be proactive and schedule a complimentary hearing test with your Amplifon team in Nanaimo and complete the journey to better hearing.