Many of us visited elderly parents over the holidays and found out that mom and dad aren’t doing so well; perhaps dad’s memory is failing, and mom is having trouble getting around. We feel the responsibility and obligation of keeping them safe and healthy. Although it may be hard to initiate serious conversations about the future, it’s important to start the discussion. Make a New Year’s resolution to start that conversation and be sure to include your parents! Plan ahead now so you and your parents can be prepared for what the future may bring rather than waiting for the midnight crisis phone call.

One of the top resolutions for the New Year is to be healthier. The whole process can feel like an impossible task so here are some tips: •GET MOVING: you don’t have to run marathons. Getting out for a brisk 30-minutes daily walk burns calories and is a free, easy way to be active. •FIND AN ACTIVITY YOU LOVE: Our Active Passes offer unlimited entry to all of our public swimming, skating, weight rooms and gymnasium activities. •BUDDY UP: invite a friend to join in your wellness journey. It’s more fun, and it holds you more accountable.

Dealing with grief can be twice as hard during the holidays. The first holiday after the loss of a loved one changes the way a family celebrates. Although family traditions and rituals are sacred events, they can be adapted to the changing dynamics in the family. Planning for the change, whether it be starting new family traditions or updating old ones, creates realistic expectations around significant events. It is important to acknowledge that things are going to be different. Adjusting to a family member passing is a big transition; accept it for what it is – an opportunity to create stronger family bonds and traditions.

To start, you will meet with a Hearing Care professional and a thorough history will be taken. An inspection of your ears will take place to confirm good ear health. You will be asked to respond to tones in a sound treated room. The tones tested are specific and range from the low to high frequencies that are important for hearing speech. You will undergo word testing to measure your communication abilities and how you hear speech in quiet and in noisy situations. Results are recorded to guide the Hearing Care Professional in forming a treatment plan if hearing loss is present.

Smell is amazing. It is far more than just a sniff or a whiff of something. Smell is the most primal of all of our senses and is the only one embedded in the limbic brain. The limbic brain is our emotional brain and in the end EVERYTHING boils down to how we FEEL. Our ability to smell has the ability to alter mood and behaviour. Changing how we feel changes behaviour. Instead of striving for a scent free environment, get rid of synthetic scents and toxins. Replace them with the smells of nature to improve mood and motivation. Viva our sense of smell!