Community News
Pharmacy at Home

Do you or your loved ones struggle with managing your medications or have challenges visiting the pharmacy? The Pharmacy at Home program can help. This is a complimentary, 100% patient-focused pharmacy service conducted in the comfort of your own home. The pharmacist comes to you and provides medication management, free prescription pickup and delivery and support for health and wellness. Other benefits include: personalized customer service, convenience and 25% off over-the-counter/non-prescription medications, supplements and home health products.

Mel & Kristen Azcarraga, Owners/Pharmacists, Medicine Shoppe, 4186A Departure Bay Rd., Facebook.com/MS0332

Missing Your Smile?

Studies show that missing some of your teeth do not only affect your general health and appearance but can also lead to depression and low self-esteem. Social embarrassment is a very real problem related to the worry of missing teeth and poorly fitting dentures. Having an incomplete smile greatly affects many patients. Don’t let tooth loss or improperly fitting dentures cast a shadow over the quality of your life. Your denturist can explain the best ways to restore the function and appearance of your smile. Properly fitting dentures can restore your self-esteem and bring back your smile.

Nanaimo Denture Clinic, NanaimoDentureClinic.ca

Community Profile – City of Nanaimo Activity Guide

We encourage you to pick up your copy of the Fall and Winter Activity Guide. This edition, with over 1,000 programs, has a simple but effective theme: “Take a Moment to Move”! Yes, we want you to find opportunities to move your body as a key component to a healthy lifestyle. Try a dance class, sign up for a fitness program, walk in our local parks and trails, participate in yoga or drop-in to our pools and arenas for a swim or skate. Studies show 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 more ideas? Contact our recreation experts at 250.756.5200 or visit our website.

City of Nanaimo, Nanaimo.ca

A Courageous First Step

Want more out of life? Need to make changes but not sure how to go about it? Talking with a skilled, compassionate counsellor is a great place to start. Counsellors help people solve and cope with problems in their everyday life. They teach you skills and give you confidence to improve your emotional and mental well-being. This includes managing stress, resolving family and relationship issues, coping with depression, anxiety and addiction and helping resolve grief issues, including relationship breakups. Acknowledging that we may need some help in our lives is difficult but also the most courageous first step. It means we care about ourselves enough to take action.

Michael Kuntz, MSW, RSW, MichaelKuntzCounselling.com

Do You Suffer with a Drop-Foot?

There are many causes of drop-foot ranging from a nerve injury to a stroke. Essentially a drop foot is the inability to lift ones foot up. It is most obvious when your leg is in swing while walking. Toe drag is a common sign. This problem commonly goes undiagnosed leaving people with a high risk of tripping and falling. While treating the underlying cause proves difficult, there is an easy solution to improve your walking. An AFO (Ankle-foot-orthosis) is a brace that spans your foot and travels upward behind the calf muscle. When worn with a shoe, the brace will prevent drop foot and allow one to walk safely heel to toe as they once did. AFOs come in many variations depending on specific needs, it is therefore important to ask your doctor and seek a referral to a Certified Orthotist for a consultation.

B.D. Mitchell Prosthetics and Orthotics, MitchellPandO.com

Wildfire Smoke Inhalation & Respiratory Infections

The effects of wildfire smoke inhalation can manifest weeks and/or months after our skies have cleared in the form of chronic colds, flu and upper respiratory infections. Inhalation ozonide therapy is good for any acute upper respiratory infection, such as sinus infections, bronchitis, flu, colds, and viral pneumonias. Both asthmatics and patients with chronic lung disease can use it. Ozone gas is bubbled through olive oil to the inhaler which turns it into ozonides molecules and is completely safe to inhale. The ozonides can last for weeks in the human body and have an incredible regenerative effect on our cells and organs. They increase the delivery of oxygen to the cells, which is critical for lung conditions. Then they stimulate the cells to generate more energy and that is the key to the vitality we all want to feel, in each breath.

Dr. Sterling Desmond, TCM, R.Ac., EvolveWithDesera.com

Floss is Boss

According to a national survey, over one quarter of people tell white lies to their dentist about flossing. (Pssst.. We see through them every time.) In fact, 7% of people would rather hear the sound of nails on a chalkboard than floss; 18% would rather wash dishes and 9% would rather do their taxes! The reality is, flossing should be a critical part of your daily oral hygiene routine and should never be skipped. Commit to flossing for just two minutes during your bedtime routine and you’ll have a clean, fresh mouth. Something we all want.

Lakeside Dental Clinic, LakesideDentalClinic.ca

Make Time for Yoga

Fall finds many of us back to our usual busy schedules and sometimes that regular yoga class falls off the “to do” list. Here are my top three reasons to squeeze in a weekly yoga class:

1. To relax: “Happy hormones” like dopamine and serotonin are released during yoga.

2. To cope with stress and emotions: In the long-term, yoga helps you cope with stress, anxiety, and even grief. Yoga teaches you to breathe through emotions, slow down and recognize your strength.

3. To improve your athletic performance: Yoga will increase flexibility and core strength, thereby helping to prevent injuries.

Susan Pederson, Owner, Suga Yoga, SugaYogaParksville.com

They Took My License Away!

After all those years of independence it can be devastating to be without wheels. Time to make a new plan. Many experts agree, it is best to sell the car and put that money into an account marked “My RIDE”. Then make arrangements to have a service be your driver. Check your calendar and pick your dates. A standing appointment allows you to plan ahead and to know Your Ride is available when you want it. Having YOUR RIDE means you can still have your independence. Take control; life can still be better than good! It can be meaningful and fun!

Dorothy Spencer, Oceanside Area, DrivingMissDaisy.ca

Men’s Personal Growth Program

Life takes courage. To be more courageous, simply gaining new information is not enough. We learn by doing. This is core for David Osborn, the facilitator of the SOS Men’s Personal Growth program. Some of the outcomes of the program include helping men to gain understanding of their anger and conflict style, improving their communication skills, and helping them develop a deeper sense of purpose. David provides new and practical experience while establishing an environment for men to become more assertive and compassionate with themselves and with others. Working as a school counsellor and a Registered Clinical Counsellor (R.C.C.) for over 25 years, David is passionate about restorative justice, energy psychology, and current brain research.

Lissa Alexander, Marketing Coordinator, SOS, SOSD69.com

Community Profile – Pioneer Wellness Centre

The Pioneer Wellness Centre at #1, 534 Pioneer Crescent in Parksville opens September 1st, 2017. The centre’s holistic practices include energy healing & balancing; individuals, couples, families & youth counselling; counselling services for grief, trauma, depression, anxiety and many other counselling areas.

The Pioneer Wellness Centre is made up of three enthusiastic women and their businesses:

Permelia Parham, Vibrational Healing

Sharon Thomas, Ocean Sky Counselling

Meghan Robertson, Cornerstone Counselling Services

GRAND OPENING is on Friday, September 8; 2pm to 7pm and Saturday, September 9; 2pm to 5pm.

RSVP: 250.240-2656. A great opportunity to check it out.

Pioneer Wellness Centre
CornerstoneCounsellingServices.com
VibrationalHealing.ca
OceanskyCounselling.com