Community News
Coldest Night of the Year Fundraising Event

Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) is an annual event that supports people experiencing homelessness in your community. This fundraiser helps YWCA Regina provide shelter, care, and holistic support to women and families experiencing homelessness to heal and find hope. CNOY 2024 takes place on February 24th, 2024 – drawing individuals together to support the cause through raising money as well as taking part in a 2 km or 5 km walk. Across Canada, over 190 communities are involved with CNOY, supported by people who care about their communities and the most vulnerable people who live in them. Learn more + get involved at cnoy.org/regina

Benefits of Massage Therapy

Massage therapy offers numerous physical and mental benefits. It enhances circulation, promoting better blood flow and oxygen delivery to tissues, thereby aiding in muscle recovery and reducing tension. The manipulation of soft tissues helps alleviate pain and stiffness, enhancing flexibility and range of motion. Additionally, massage promotes the release of endorphins, reducing stress and anxiety while improving mood. It can also enhance immune function, boosting the body’s ability to fight off illnesses. Regular sessions contribute to better sleep quality and can alleviate symptoms of conditions like migraines and chronic pain. Overall, massage therapy fosters a holistic sense of well-being, addressing both physical and mental aspects.

Interment & Cremation

There are many options when choosing a final resting place for cremated remains. At a cemetery, you may choose an above ground niche or in ground burial. Some, express a wish to scatter cremated remains or take the urn home. Have you considered that these latter options, could affect your family in the years and generations ahead? What will happen to the urn at home in 20+ years? There is peace of mind in a final resting place that is permanent, secure and sacred, that allows you to honour a life and have a place that family & friends can come to gather, visit, and grieve- honouring family heritage for years to come.

Coldest Night of the Year Fundraising Event

Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) is an annual event that supports people experiencing homelessness in your community. This fundraiser helps YWCA Prince Albert provide shelter, care, and holistic support to women and families experiencing homelessness to heal and find hope. CNOY 2024 takes place on February 24th, 2024 – drawing individuals together to support the cause through raising money as well as taking part in a 2 km or 5 km walk. Across Canada, over 190 communities are involved with CNOY, supported by people who care about their communities and the most vulnerable people who live in them. Learn more + get involved at cnoy.org/princealbert

Recreational Therapy vs focusing on disability

Recreational therapy is a health profession using activity-based interventions to enhance individuals’ well-being. Therapists assess needs, plan personalized interventions, and employ activities like sports and arts to address physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges. The focus is on fostering inclusion, socialization, and skill development to improve overall quality of life. Applied in diverse settings, recreational therapy benefits individuals with conditions such as physical disabilities and mental health disorders. Ongoing evaluation ensures adjustments for personalized progress, making it an integral part of holistic healthcare. A focus on Residents abilities and well-being vs. focusing on disability, promotes life with meaning.

Valentine’s Day Smoothie

Did you know that the pomegranate has been a symbol of love and fertility as far back as ancient Greece? and they aren’t the only fruit with a story to tell.
Other berry meanings include raspberries (kindness) and strawberries (modesty, perfection, and “sweetness in life and character”).

Ingredients
1 ½ cup almond milk or coconut milk;
1 ripe banana;
½ cup frozen pomegranate seeds;
1 cup frozen berries;
Preparation
Add the almond milk, frozen fruits, and banana to your blender.
Blend until the smoothie reaches your desired consistency.
If it’s too thin, add more fruit; if it’s too thick, add more almond or coconut milk.

Substance Abuse Affecting Your Career?

Is substance abuse affecting your job or education? THE COST: Alcohol use and abuse in the workplace among full and part time workers aged 18-65 has now become a major source of revenue loss to small, medium, and national corporations. The direct and indirect costs of substance abuse cost to the Canadian economy, and Canadians is more than $38 Billion dollars per year. The costs to health care, criminal justice system, and lost productivity costs Manitoba over $1.4 Billion dollars, which amounts to $1,094 per person per year in Manitoba regardless of age. (Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse, Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research).
MYTH: It is the illegal drugs that are the problem – Opiates, Fentanyl, Heroin, Meth, etc.
FACT: While illegal, drugs are certainly a problem, Alcohol is still the #1 drug of choice of Canadians and Manitobans, resulting in staggering personal and economical costs for our economy, and devastating to the health of individuals and their families. We have not even begun to calculate the increased overall health and economic costs of alcohol abuse due to the stresses of COVID, such as Issues with relationship violence, absenteeism, sick leave, disability, Worker’s Compensation, insurance claims, damaged equipment, and litigation, to name a few. YOU CAN REGAIN CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE
SRWC is a unique recovery-oriented community-based agency which offers pre and continuing recovery and family programs as well as individual and couples counseling. We have gender specific as well as co-ed programs morning, afternoon and evening to meet your individual needs.

We are Here to Help!

Short wait time for intakes and entering individual counseling or programs and support. Our evening programs provide programming if you are unavailable during the day due to work, school, child care, or other commitments.

EXPLORING OPTIONS – Our co-ed pre- recovery evening program is designed for participants who may be awaiting a program in a residential setting, mandated to attend, experiencing problems and wanting to explore, if indeed there is a problem. The program is goal oriented, focused on participants’ recovery goals, whether harm reduction or abstinence, deciding to attend a residential program, or staying clean and sober while awaiting a residential program.

“Working a full-time day job limits my options for recovery programming. Exploring Options gives me the opportunity to continue working my regular hours while also working towards my recovery goals. The materials provide important information, and the sessions are always interactive and engaging. Exploring Options has helped me identify my reasons for continuing my recovery journey. The support from the group and its facilitators helps me make better decisions in my day-to-day life and keeps me accountable. I am very grateful for the Exploring Options group!”

WORK SOBER – Building a New Life for Recovery is designed to give participants who have been sober for a while, the skills and support to reinforce and strengthen their sobriety. We follow the principles of adult learning philosophies and motivational interviewing to engage our participants ensuring that topics covered meet their current recovery needs and skills. Topics focus on understanding what relapse is or isn’t, knowing and identifying the warning signs, managing triggers and cravings and planning for success. Other topics include: grief and loss in recovery, setting healthy boundaries, and dealing with boredom, etc.

“I’ve always come away with hope and a ‘new’ way to look at a personal problem. Listening to others who are on longer journeys than I, has been so very helpful presenting an issue or possibility – giving us time to react and discuss how we have dealt with this personally, or would like to learn to deal with it. This helped me rebuild relationships with friends and family by showing I can be honest with my church friends, and with my brother about my addiction and my journey. I am grateful I now have a place to go for support in my journey of recovery to a new life”
CONTACT US TODAY: Call SRWC at (204) 956-6650 or email [email protected] to make an appointment or get more information about our various programs.
DONATE TODAY: St. Raphael Wellness Centre Inc., 5th Flr. 280 Smith St. R3C 1K4 Donations can also be made online at srwc-mb.ca or E-Transfer [email protected]; or Credit Card, call (204)956-6650)

Embracing Comfort & Safety

Signs Your Aging Parents Need Help
Recognizing signs that aging parents require assistance is crucial for their well-being. Keep an eye out for changes in mobility, like difficulty walking or frequent falls. Notice shifts in memory, such as forgetfulness and confusion. Changes in personal hygiene and household upkeep can indicate declining capabilities. Look for unexplained weight loss, which might signal health issues. Social withdrawal or mood changes may hint at emotional struggles. Mismanagement of medications and unpaid bills could suggest cognitive decline. If you observe these signs, it’s time to discuss and arrange appropriate support, ensuring their safety, health, and quality of life as they navigate the challenges of aging.

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.