Community News
Denture Adhesive; Friend or Foe?

While denture adhesives offer a temporary boost to denture stability, it’s essential to be mindful. Relying too heavily on adhesives might inadvertently hide underlying issues with your dentures. This may delay crucial dental check-ups and adjustments that your dentures need for optimal comfort. Improper adhesive application can lead to discomfort, affect the taste of the food that you eat, and present cleaning challenges that may impact oral hygiene. Remember, adhesives can’t replace regular denture check-ups. Keep those friendly appointments with your denturist to ensure you maintain your smile, stay comfortable, and that your mouth remains healthy for the long run.

Community Health Centres in Victoria

The Victoria Community Health Co-operative is currently offering Nursing services based on a Community Health Centre model. Services are available at no cost with a BC MSP card. We are located in Cook Street Village at #200-1075 Pendergast Street. Our nurses are able to assist you by providing a nursing assessment and recommendations. We provide navigation services to assist you to connect with other healthcare providers as required. In keeping with the principle of community well-being, we offer wellness sessions on a regular basis. Contact us or visit our website to find out more.

Sleep Changes & The Elderly

Seniors generally wake up more often during the night and earlier in the morning, have a harder time falling asleep, and spend less time in deep, dreamless sleep. Some measures to help you sleep better include: 1) Eat a light bedtime snack. 2) Avoid caffeine for at least 3 or 4 hours before bed. 3) Avoid napping during the day. 4) Exercise regularly, but not within 3 hours of bedtime. 5) Practice relaxation techniques at bedtime. 6) Don’t watch TV or use devices while in bed. 7) Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day.

Fall Prevention Clinic: Feb 16, 2024

Please join Comfort Keepers for a free fall prevention clinic on February 16th from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at The Victorian at McKenzie, 4000 Douglas Street. The clinic includes presentations from: Heather Fudge, a retired VIHA fall prevention specialist; Jeff Campbell, owner of Ears To You, a mobile hearing clinic; and Gina Martin, owner of DiverseAbilities, who coined the phrase “Having a disability does not change who you are. It changes your interaction with the world.”. The clinic also includes free hearing tests by Ears To You, a question and answer period, onsite tours, and refreshments from the kitchen at The Victorian at McKenzie.

Falls Can Be Serious

Falls are the cause of 85% of injury-related hospitalizations among Canadian seniors; between 20% and 30% of seniors fall each year. These result in $2 billion a year in direct healthcare costs. Over one-third of seniors are admitted to long-term care following hospitalization for a fall. (Seniors’ Falls in Canada, Phac-Aspc.gc.ca) As we age, the severity of falling is immense, and the outcome can be devastating. A broken bone for a senior can lead to many other health issues, long-term disability, and the possibility of losing independence. Comfort Keepers believes prevention is the best measure to stay safe, mobile, and continue your best life.

Property Assessments

Property assessments are in! What do they really mean? Your municipality needs to determine how much your contribution to the overall budget should be, so they apply a “mill rate” to the estimated value of your house. You probably have never had a physical assessment, nor have you reported upgrades or renovations. The assessment number is a guess at best. It’s always interesting that owners want their assessment to be low when paying taxes but high when trying to sell! The assessment is irrelevant to market value; it is only determined by what a buyer is willing to pay. We’d be happy to chat about your real estate needs.

Sleep Changes & The Elderly

Seniors generally wake up more often during the night and earlier in the morning, have a harder time falling asleep, and spend less time in deep, dreamless sleep. Some measures to help you sleep better include: 1) Eat a light bedtime snack. 2) Avoid caffeine for at least 3 or 4 hours before bed. 3) Avoid napping during the day. 4) Exercise regularly, but not within 3 hours of bedtime. 5) Practice relaxation techniques at bedtime. 6) Don’t watch TV or use devices while in bed. 7) Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day.

Support is a Game Changer

2024 Post-holiday debt can pile up quickly and become overwhelming. The stress of overdue bills can tempt us to use gambling as a quick fix. Gambling can cost us everything—not only our money but our mental and physical health, especially when we are seeking financial or emotional relief. Free tools and confidential supports are available, including voluntary self-exclusions, gambling-blocking apps (GamBan, GamBlock), a 24/7 toll-free phone line, credit counsellors, financial advisors, ministers, pastors, podcasts (Fold ’Em), or connect with us. Support is a game-changer!

January 2024 New Year’s Resolutions

A common ritual around the New Year is to make resolutions for the upcoming year. For many, these resolutions are typically broken within the first couple of weeks. The greatest challenge with these resolutions is that they are focused on what we ‘think we should do’ as opposed to what would be really helpful to us. Common resolutions are: to exercise more, lose weight, quit smoking and so on. Now, all of those ideas are healthy; however, they are not always a good plan for self-care. Make your New Year’s resolutions about increasing self-care, which is about finding activities you enjoy doing and doing them regularly!