Community News
Time to Sell the House?

When the responsibility of home ownership becomes overwhelming, it may be a good time to sell the family home. Today’s seniors have the option to live in beautiful surroundings where their independence is respected but assistance is available if required. Say goodbye to the responsibilities of grocery shopping, preparing meals, cleaning and maintenance and say hello to chef prepared meals and snacks, weekly housekeeping, 24 hour emergency response, access to wonderful amenities and lots of recreation and activities. Begin looking for options BEFORE you have to and be sure to try a meal before making your final decision.

Wear the Right Socks

Have you ever worn socks that were too tight around the calf and left an ugly red welt? Or the ones that fall down and work their way under your foot? Traditional cotton socks hold water and leave feet clammy and wet and not smelling very nice. Wearing the right socks make a difference in your day. Look for socks that have a soft touch top and an ergonomic y-heel that keeps the heel from slipping or socks that guard against blisters with moisture resistance and anti-bacterial protection. Voxxlife socks with HPT technology can also provide stability, support and increased balance.

What Causes Sensitive Teeth?

If tasting something hot or cold is painful on your teeth, you may suffer from sensitive teeth. It is a common problem that may be caused by worn tooth enamel or an exposed tooth root. Tooth enamel protects the crowns of healthy teeth and cementum protects the tooth root under the gum line. When the dentin that is underneath the enamel and cementum loses its protective covering, hot, cold, acidic or sticky foods reach the nerves and cells inside the tooth causing hypersensitivity. Following proper oral hygiene helps prevent the gums from receding and causing the pain of sensitive teeth.

Take Care of the Caregiver

In Canada, over 4.5 million individuals play a role in caring for elderly family members. Caregiver stress and burnout is a real issue. If you find yourself in a caregiving position, be honest about how much care you can realistically provide. While most caregivers want to be present 24/7, this is impossible while juggling other family and career responsibilities. Reach out for help available in the community. Today’s caregivers deserve respect and gratitude. Whether motivated by love, duty or simply a selfless desire to help others, they play an invaluable role in the care of our senior population.

Residential Care – Access to 24/7 Assistance

Residential care, sometimes known as complex care, offers 24/7 nursing and care support. This level of care is designed for those in need of intermediate care, extended care, dementia care, respite care and palliative care. Residents receive: *Three meals a day customized as per the individual’s dietary needs, *Medication support and management, *Assistance with personal care, including bathing, dressing and other hygiene-related tasks, *24 hour on-call nurse, *Housekeeping and laundry services, *Access to entertainment, activities and socializing. A multidisciplinary team of nurses, physicians, pharmacists, dieticians, occupational and physiotherapists ensure both the body and soul of residents are nurtured.

Fun Hearing Facts!

Here are some fun facts about how other species hear. *Snakes hear through their jaw bone as well as through a traditional inner ear. In essence, snakes have two distinct hearing mechanisms, which helps them hear and catch prey. *In the hopes of attracting a mate, mice serenade each other with sounds inaudible to humans. *Male mosquitoes hear with thousands of tiny hairs growing on their antennae. Humans can rely on technology to improve their hearing. If you are wondering about your own hearing ability, the first thing to do is to book a hearing test.

Digital Presence after Death

Receiving a birthday notification for a friend that has passed away is rattling and painful. Planning your own funeral is important and so is thinking about what happens to your online presence after your death. For close family and friends, your social media may be something they want to keep to reflect on times shared with you. Your social media profiles may also be used as a way for people to share condolences. Once you’ve decided what you’d like to happen to your digital footprint, consider including your wishes in your will or in a separate letter to your chosen legacy contact.

Good Posture Can Prevent Pain & Injuries

Having good posture makes you look strong and healthy and it’s also a critical factor in preventing pain and injuries. For recreational activities like golf, skating, yoga or running, posture actually plays an important role in performance. Posture is critical in preventing workplace injuries that come from repetitive stress or sitting at a desk in front of a computer all day. Physiotherapists can help you discover how to improve your posture by demonstrating positions and stretches for when you start to feel the tension in your body. Make the move to see a physiotherapist!

Managing Stress

Awareness and management of personal stress continues to be important as we navigate through COVID-19. Mental Stress may include decrease in concentration and short-term memory as well as trouble making decisions. Prioritizing ‘timeout’ breaks can help with maintaining mental function balance. Emotional Stress symptoms may include feeling tense, nervous or anxious, being angry, frustrated or impatient and feeling depressed. Set time limits for how much you watch the news and talk about the pandemic. Shift your attention to something different. A technique called Reframing helps to change your perspective and can ease your stress.

Medication Review Services

Your pharmacist is a medication expert who can help you better understand your medications. Accessible and convenient, your pharmacist is available to help you with a variety of clinical pharmacy services, such as Medication Review Services and more. If you have been prescribed at least five medications in the last six months and you are a BC resident with a valid BC Services Card, you may benefit from Medication Review Services. The aim of the service is to help British Columbians better understand their medications. Book your Medication Review with your Personal Pharmacist at Medicine Shoppe Departure Bay Road in Nanaimo.

Summer Contest

After a long year with many restrictions, we are looking forward to more freedom and a change of scenery. We are thrilled to offer our readers a chance to win a Summer Adventure at Mt. Washington. The prize includes 3 nights of accommodations at Paradise Ridge, a gift basket to enjoy along with mountain adventures. The winner will be able to soak up the mountain vistas and enjoy getting out in nature. Draw date is July 31, 2021. Prize can be redeemed between August 14 and November 1, 2021 or between June 1 and November 1, 2022. Good Luck.