Are you making the healthy choices you need to lead a fulfilling life? There are many factors to consider: physical, emotional, social, intellectual, spiritual, occupational, and environmental. Information is a key element to support you and your loved ones. What supports do you require to live life to its fullest as you age? Find out what Cowichan can offer: Volunteer Cowichan’s Aging Well Seniors’ Expo will answer many of your questions. We’re bringing businesses and organizations together to support you with a range of topics: health, financial, legal, medical, physical-care, volunteer opportunities and more!
Community News
Sclerotherapy for Spider Veins
Did you know that there is a safe, simple and effective method to cosmetically treat the condition of spider veins and some varicose veins? Spider veins are small dilated vessels that usually appear on the legs and face. Spider veins on the face are treated by laser while spider veins on the legs are treated by sclerotherapy. Sclerotherapy is an injection of a sclerosing solution directly into the vein using a fine needle. Fading of the spider veins is gradual but a 75 – 90% improvement is possible. Sclerotherapy treatments are performed by a LPN, under doctor supervision.
Help for Thinning Hair
Have you noticed your hair thinning or signs of male pattern baldness? Collagen Activation Therapy may help. The wound healing response from skin needling can stimulate the production of the proteins that are responsible for new hair growth. The induced blood circulation increases nutrients including human growth hormone to your follicles that can reactivate follicles that have become dormant. Ideal candidates include men with male pattern baldness and men or women with thinning hair. It may also help hereditary hair loss known as alopecia. Talk to a professional to see if Collagen Activation Therapy can help you.
Plasmalift-Fibroblast Skin Tightening
Have you heard about Plasma skin tightening? This new anti-aging treatment is taking the world by storm! It is the only cosmetic treatment known to shrink excess volume of skin on contact. As we age, our skin starts to lose elasticity and texture, leading to wrinkles and loose skin especially around the delicate eye area. Plasma skin tightening is a non-surgical procedure, that instantly removes excess skin volume and tightens your skin, giving you a more youthful appearance. This procedure is popular for tummy tightening, jowls, cheeks, facelifts and is especially effective for non-surgical upper and lower eyelid lifting
Acupuncture for Pregnancy
Having acupuncture throughout your pregnancy is a safe, drug-free way to enhance the good development of your pregnancy. Acupuncture can help supplement, regulate and harmonize the processes that are taking place in the body, and supports recovery once baby arrives. Labour preparation acupuncture from week 36 on, supports ripening of the cervix and the relaxing and softening of the pelvic ligaments and tendons so that the baby gate will open easily. It also strengthens the mother’s stamina to labour, and ensures that internal conditions are optimal for baby to stay in good position to spin and descend.
Laser Therapy for Quitting
Quitting smoking can be difficult and those who are looking to kick the habit can often use all the help they can get. Low level laser therapy (soft laser) can be a safe, affordable, and effective tool. Laser therapy sessions can help you quit smoking by addressing all three parts of addiction: physical, psychological, and detoxification. For the physical aspect, laser therapy helps stimulate key neuro-chemical pathways to produce endorphins and curb nicotine cravings. Laser therapy sessions can help with relaxation and allow you focus on the psychological reasons for nicotine cravings, and as part of the sessions, detoxification techniques can also be discussed.
Urinary Tract Infections and the Elderly
A ‘UTI’ is a bacterial infection that occurs anywhere along the urinary tract. There are many reasons why elderly people tend to be more vulnerable to UTI’s. One of these is their overall susceptibility to all types of infections because of a suppressed immune system that comes with age. Elderly men and women often experience weakening of the bladder muscles which results in incomplete emptying of the bladder. This leads to more urine being retained in the bladder and incontinence, which in turn can lead to UTI’s. UTI’s can present with symptoms of confusion and other cognitive difficulties.
Theatre – Murder in Green Meadows
Nanaimo Theatre Group opens the season with Douglas Post’s Murder in Green Meadows, a murder mystery filled with so many twists and turns the audience will be second guessing themselves right up to the final curtain. Thomas Devereaux, a successful architect and local contractor and his lovely wife, Joan, have recently moved into their dream home. They are soon visited by their new neighbours, and a friendship develops between the two couples. But underneath the cool, Middle American exterior, something is truly rotten. The show opens October 18 at the Bailey Studio.
Take a Moment to Move
“Nanaimo’s Parks and Recreation fall slogan is “Take a Moment to Move”! Try a dance, fitness or yoga program, walk in our local parks and trails, or drop in for a swim or skate. There are so many opportunities to move your body in your community.
Studies are showing that active people can prolong their life by several years, and being active has countless health benefits that are above the obvious physical ones!
Need some ideas to help you get or stay active? Contact our recreation experts at recreation.nanaimo.ca.”
How Can I Manage Hearing Aids?
Selecting hearing technology and a treatment plan for an individual with hearing loss is very thorough and takes all aspects into consideration. If physical limitations such as reduced dexterity or vision loss are present, Hearing Care Professionals will find the best way to accommodate and meet your needs. They look at various options and work with hearing aid manufacturers to add and/or modify features to accomodate these limitations. In addition, they have alternate ways to manage insertion, removal and maintenance of the hearing aids. Hearing Care Professionals will work with you to solve these and any other issue in question.
Visiting Loved Ones in the Nursing Home
Visiting your loved ones in the nursing home helps them stay emotionally engaged. Here are some things to keep in mind when visiting. Respect the resident’s privacy. Knock before you enter the room and step out into the hall when personal care is being provided. Be warm in your interactions and use a gentle touch. Keep the conversation positive and refrain from arguing, especially if visiting a person with dementia. Don’t bring food or beverages unless you check with the staff first. Don’t stay too long. Look for cues that your loved one may be getting tired or stressed.
