Making final arrangements ahead of time is a wise and considerate decision made by more and more families today. It guarantees that your wishes are observed and spares your family from undue pressure at a time of great emotional stress. By planning step-by-step while minds are clear, families can discuss creative and budgetary options. Payments can be made in today’s prices. Perhaps the most important reason to plan your own cemetery arrangements in advance is that it provides a special peace of mind. With everything in place, you can go about the business of living.

It is hard to watch the health of your loved one decline. Choosing residential care is an emotional and difficult time for the individual and their family. Exercising due diligence when choosing a home will pay off with a lot of peace of mind knowing that your loved one’s physical and medical challenges are met. Look beyond the decor and focus on the inner “gut” feeling you get when walking into a facility. Smaller private residential care can be a great alternative to the large institutions. It is also a solution while waiting for your turn for an Island Health subsidized bed.

Here are some tips from Parks and Recreation to help you stay active this fall season: * Change Your Perspective – Being active keeps you healthy. * Try Something New – Parks and Recreation now has Zumba drop-in classes at Oliver Wood for only $7. * Get Creative at Home – Invest in a few pieces of equipment and exercise for a few minutes each day. * Buddy Up – Make a commitment to exercise with somebody else. * Set a Goal –How about getting in 10,000 steps every day for three months?
Looking for ways to stay active? Check out the Activity Guide or visit recreation.nanaimo.ca.

Hearing aids have a life span of about 3-5 years. With good maintenance and care, they can last many years after that. However, to receive the best care and technology, it is recommended to invest in new hearing aids after the initial 3-5 years. Faster processing within the hearing aids, improvements in speech-in-noise, rechargeability and wireless connectivity are just some of the technological advancements. Hearing aids are programmed specific to your hearing loss and process sounds to best meet your needs. Contact your hearing professional to find out more about the best investment in technology for your hearing loss and lifestyle.

Nanaimo Theatre Group opens the season with Douglas Post’s Murder in Green Meadows, a murder mystery filled with so many twists and turns the audience will be second guessing themselves right up to the final curtain. Thomas Devereaux, a successful architect and local contractor and his lovely wife, Joan, have recently moved into their dream home. They are soon visited by their new neighbours, and a friendship develops between the two couples. But underneath the cool, Middle American exterior, something is truly rotten. The show opens October 18 at the Bailey Studio.

“Nanaimo’s Parks and Recreation fall slogan is “Take a Moment to Move”! Try a dance, fitness or yoga program, walk in our local parks and trails, or drop in for a swim or skate. There are so many opportunities to move your body in your community.

Studies are showing that active people can prolong their life by several years, and being active has countless health benefits that are above the obvious physical ones!

Need some ideas to help you get or stay active? Contact our recreation experts at recreation.nanaimo.ca.”

Selecting hearing technology and a treatment plan for an individual with hearing loss is very thorough and takes all aspects into consideration. If physical limitations such as reduced dexterity or vision loss are present, Hearing Care Professionals will find the best way to accommodate and meet your needs. They look at various options and work with hearing aid manufacturers to add and/or modify features to accomodate these limitations. In addition, they have alternate ways to manage insertion, removal and maintenance of the hearing aids. Hearing Care Professionals will work with you to solve these and any other issue in question.

Visiting your loved ones in the nursing home helps them stay emotionally engaged. Here are some things to keep in mind when visiting. Respect the resident’s privacy. Knock before you enter the room and step out into the hall when personal care is being provided. Be warm in your interactions and use a gentle touch. Keep the conversation positive and refrain from arguing, especially if visiting a person with dementia. Don’t bring food or beverages unless you check with the staff first. Don’t stay too long. Look for cues that your loved one may be getting tired or stressed.

Sitting down with your loved ones to talk about their lives can be a rich and satisfying experience. Learning about people, places and events that they find memorable, can help bring you closer to the ones you care about. Have the Talk of a Lifetime with the people you hold dear—your parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, your spouse. Sometimes, using a visual prompt such as a photo album, souvenir, or memento, can be a great way to start a conversation. Your conversation can take place anywhere at any time, not just near the end of life.