No matter what end of the planning cycle you are on, being prepared and asking the right questions can help ease stress and ensure your wishes, or those of your loved one, are achieved. Pre-planning your funeral can save time and stress for your grieving family members, and give you the opportunity to personalize your celebration of life. Everyone is different, so take on funeral planning when you are comfortable and give yourself as much time as you need. The more details you have, the easier it will be for others to carry out your wishes.
Community Profile: Bastion Physiotherapy
Bastion Physiotherapy offers many different services for all ages. Our #1 goal is to make sure that you receive the best care and leave feeling satisfied with your treatment. Come and receive treatment in our new cozy environment where our staff will treat you like family. We welcome all Worksafe, ICBC, MSP and private with or without health insurance patients! We are now operating at full days and new patients are always welcome. Free walking pole seminars are up and running in a socially distanced environment. Call us today and get back to doing what you love to do!
Saliva; Not Just Moisture in Your Mouth
Saliva and its benefit is something we often take for granted. When production of your saliva is less than adequate it can present a number of genuine difficulties and health concerns. The bulk of saliva is derived from three pairs of glands in the mouth. They produce approximately three quarters of a teaspoon of saliva every minute during mastication (chewing) which provides lubrication to aid in chewing and swallowing. Saliva also acts as a protective layer on natural dentition, bathing the teeth with minerals to help prevent cavities. The enzymes in saliva work to limit bacterial, viral and fungal growth which, if left unchecked, can lead to infections and tooth decay.
Product Review: RELEAF Stick
ACTIVE RELEAF aims to encourage active wellness through the use of nature’s most powerful ingredients. With a synergistic blend of coconut oil, shea butter, essential oils, and broad spectrum cannabinoid-rich hemp plant extract, ACTIVE RELEAF’s topicals offer a natural alternative for pain relief. Try the Original Formula RELEAF Stick as a reliable remedy to soothe everyday aches and pains. For extra stubborn discomfort associated with joint stiffness, and inflammation, the Extra Strength RELEAF+ Stick is specially formulated to soothe quickly and be long lasting. Apply liberally to affected areas 3 – 4 times a day or as needed.
Drug Free Wellness Solutions
VoxxLife combines the best of modern technology with decades of research in neuromuscular science to provide drug-free, non-invasive wellness solutions. These solutions offer the physical benefits of traditional OTC alternatives, without all the side effects. Human Performance Technology (HPT) is embedded in their socks, insoles and now wearable patches. The socks, with just the right amount of stretch, provide the pain relief and mobility support you want at home, work or at the gym. The convenient, trim-to-fit design of the insoles, fit easily into your everyday shoes for greater comfort and performance. The Neurotech Patches offer the benefits of HPT in a simple and convenient way for all aspects of your life.
Gambling and COVID-19
COVID-19 has impacted everyone’s life, including people who gamble. Although in-person gambling venues such as casinos and bingo halls have been closed, online gambling remains available 24/7, not only on the sanctioned BCLC site, but also internationally. Concerns about increased time and money spent online gambling have been top of mind in the helping community here at the BC Responsible and Problem Gambling Program. Our FREE services continue, including virtual options (telephone and videoconferencing) for counselling, outreach support as well as prevention and education. The Gambling Support Line (1-888-795-6111) remains available 24/7. Any other inquiries can be made at [email protected].
Your Choice of Skin Care Matters
Our skin is an organ that absorbs everything on it, passing it along through the bloodstream. This includes any skincare products we apply to our skin. Mainstream skincare and beauty products have a long shelf life and look and smell nice. However, most of them contain chemicals such as parabens, phthalates, synthetic colors, formaldehyde, fragrances and propylene glycol. These can trigger or exacerbate an array of problems including allergies, hormone disruption and can even act as irritants and carcinogens. When looking for skin care products, look for brands that are truly transparent and list ingredients you understand.
Help at the Push of a Button
Falls are a real concern for older adults. The good news is that most falls are preventable. Seniors can lower their risks by changing risky behaviour, proactively managing their health, and safety proofing their homes. Talk to your primary care provider about a fall-risk evaluation. Ask yourself, if I were to fall tonight, how would I get help if I couldn’t reach the phone? A medical alert service ensures that you can access help 24/7 at the push of a button. Some services also offer automatic fall detection. It’s never too early to protect yourself before a fall. Take these precautions today to live more independently and confidently.
Keep Moving!
Daily movement is essential for physical and mental wellness especially during COVID-19 restrictions and isolation. Healthy movement can be as easy as a bike ride with your family, a walk on the beach, playing tag with the kids or doing your stretch routine. At minimum, keeping up a gentle movement routine such as stretching or prescribed stretches and exercises from your Physiotherapist is beneficial. Whatever movement you do, do what you love because that is what makes it worth doing!
Explore Parks and Trails in Nanaimo
The City of Nanaimo’s “Find the Golden Bucket Contest” is a great opportunity to explore our parks and trails and a chance to win some cool prizes. Each Wednesday, check our website, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram (@nanaimoparksandrec) for a clue that will take you to a local park. Find the Golden Bucket Sticker in the park for a question about that park. Submit your answer for a chance to win weekly prizes and the grand prize of a Kayak Tour for you and four of your friends courtesy of Coastal Expression Adventure Centre. Contact us for more information.
Funerals During COVID-19
A funeral can be extremely difficult under the best of circumstances. Losing a loved one during a global pandemic adds another layer of challenge to loss that we couldn’t have previously imagined. With strict physical distancing mandates that limit the number of people who can gather, many wonder if you can even still have a funeral. The answer is yes, but by finding different ways to say goodbye. Funerals during COVID-19 are more personal and intimate. Many families view this funeral as the first act of memorialization and have postponed a more fulsome service until it is safe for a larger group to gather for a celebration of life.


