Community News
Telephone Tree

The Telephone Tree program offers support services to older adults over the phone. Our volunteers make weekly social calls offering participants a chance to be heard by providing emotional support, companionship and a sense of community. Volunteers can also provide you with information and referral services as well as keep you informed about the programs and events in the community. It is a great way to stay connected with the community from your home. Call us today if you would like to receive weekly calls. For more information, please contact Nisa Moman. 604-531-9400 ext. 219
Email: nisa.moman@brellasociety.ca

Day Program

Are you or your loved one struggling to thrive? Would you or your loved one like to maintain or improve your physical and cognitive functioning? Are you a caregiver who could use a few hours of respite during the week? If you answered yes to one of these questions, you could be a perfect candidate to access Brella’s Adult Day Program!
People who participate in our Adult Day Program report:
·Enhanced cognitive and physical functioning
·Feeling more connected and less lonely
·Enjoying the tasty hot lunches and snacks provided
·Looking forward to coming back and participating in activities

Find out how to access our Adult Day Program, contact the location nearest you:

South Surrey: Raj Sahota at 604-531-2502 ext. 210 or email raj.sahota@brellasociety.ca
Newton: Angela Nial at 604-599-0034 ext. 302 or email angela.nial@brellasociety.ca
Guildford: Kim White at 778-735-0955 ext. 254 or email kim.white@brellasociety.ca

Better at Home Services

Better at Home supports seniors by meeting their non-medical needs. By providing assistance with these simple, day-to-day tasks, Better at Home assures seniors continue to live independently in their own homes and remain connected to their communities. Services vary from community to community but may include the following:
• Friendly Visiting
• Transportation
• Light Housekeeping
• Grocery Shopping
To find out more about the services, please contact Elizabeth at 604-536-9348.

Start Changing Lives Now

We are meeting a need in the community, and we can’t do it without you. Please give generously and make a difference in the quality of life for our seniors. Your donation will go a long way to continue providing just the right programs and services and help people reconnect with the community in a safe way. Every $100 donated provides an hour of services to three older adults and caregivers.
Ways to donate: Online: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/m/36058/donation
Mail: 15008 26 Ave. Surrey, B.C. V4P 3H5. By Phone: 604-531-2502 Ext. 209

Underlying Health Issues?

Beta Wellness Centre is an innovative naturopathic clinic in Surrey that strives to merge the best of natural and conventional healthcare in a warm and welcoming environment. The Beta team offers comprehensive and specialized lab tests such as Food Sensitivity, Hormone Balance, GI Effects, and Metabolomix+ to help determine if you might have underlying health issues that can cause a range of symptoms. Armed with detailed information about your underlying health issues, the team can work with you and create a personalized plan to help address them, including using customized supplements, IV Therapy as well as Low Dose Allergy Immunotherapy (LDA).

Physiotherapy after Spinal Surgery

Persistent low back pain and sciatica can be disabling, and sometimes surgery is necessary. When physiotherapy accompanies your surgery (before and after), the outcome can be much better. Your surgeon can’t access the spinal surgery site without impacting the small stabilizing muscle called multifidus. If you’ve had back surgery and have never had an assessment of this muscle’s function, it may be a game-changer for your recovery. Physiotherapists who know how to ‘wake up’ this muscle after surgery and help you build segmental strength again can help you get back to the gym, the trail, the pool…your desired life!
For more information check out the following webpages.
Spinal surgery: www.dianeleephysio.com/services/rehab-after-surgery/pre-post-spinal-surgery. Multifidus: www.dianeleephysio.com/education/core-training-vs-strengthening.

Healing with Salt Therapy

Salt therapy offers many benefits and is safe and effective for everyone, including children, older adults, and the immunocompromised. Salt therapy’s antimicrobial effect helps kill bacteria and fungi in the respiratory system and on the skin. The magnesium content in salt therapy offers relaxation, calming, and pain-relieving effects, and can assist with handling spring allergies and boosting immunity. Salt therapy’s natural antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties are helpful for breathing easier, combatting allergies, and boosting immunity, while also reducing the severity and symptoms of asthma, chronic cough, sinusitis, smoker’s cough, and throat irritations. For more information and March specials, visit www.HealingSalts.ca.

Puzzles for a Strong Mind

Puzzling is a mental workout that stimulates both sides of the brain. Studies have shown that jigsaw puzzles can help improve visual-spatial reasoning, short-term memory, and problem-solving skills, as well as reduce the rate cognitive decline and dementia. Puzzling can also help improve your mood by boosting dopamine production. It also helps reinforce connections between brain cells, improving mental speed and thought processes. Engaging yourself in puzzle-making can serve as an exercise in mindfulness and help relieve stress. Puzzles are also a great way to exercise the small muscles in fingers and eyes, which is especially true for those with arthritis or who have experienced a stroke.

Caregiver Support Groups

Brella is excited to welcome back our in-person caregiver support groups. We understand being a caregiver can be difficult, but we are here to help. Come together with caregivers on a similar journey to yours to share, listen, and learn. The Caregiver Support Group is beneficial to caregivers in all stages of their caregiving journey. This group focuses on providing education, support, camaraderie and relaxation. There are 2 sessions being offered on a bi-weekly basis on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s from 12:30 PM to 2 PM. For more information or to register contact our Care Coordinator, Nisa, at nisa.moman@brellasociety.ca or call 604-531-9400 ext. 219.

Social Prescribing

Social prescribing is a way for local agencies to refer people to a Seniors Community Connector. Seniors Community Connectors give people time, focusing on ‘what matters to me’ and taking a holistic approach to people’s health and wellbeing. They connect people to community resources and services for practical and emotional support. Your Community Connector will work with you to develop wellness goals and will provide ongoing support that meets your individual needs and enables you to achieve your goals. Your Community Connector can support you to gain information, advice, guidance, support, as well as assisting you to access a range of services that meet your needs. For more information, contact our Seniors Community Connector, Janice, at janice.gunn@brellasociety.ca or call 604-531-9400 ext. 204.