Medications play an important role in maintaining health and longevity for many of us as we get older. Taking multiple medications can be challenging. Here are some helpful hints to manage your medications effectively: *Follow the instructions for each medication carefully, *shake bottles of liquid medications before use, *take all medications as prescribed, *use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, *report any unusual symptoms to your doctor, *never stop taking a medications suddenly without checking with your doctor and most importantly, *conduct annual medication reviews with your doctor or pharmacist.
Community News
Celebrate Important Relationships
As February arrives, people are reminded of the importance of spending time with family and about the importance of relationships in their lives. Valentine’s Day brings up mixed emotions for many, with some looking to celebrate it, while others, for various reasons, try to avoid it. If we look at Valentine’s Day as we used to when we were children, we can see the day as a way to celebrate the important relationships we do have, regardless of type, and connect with all of them to let them know we are thinking about them.
Join the WellnessHub Today
Are you a health care practitioner? Do you have a health and wellness business? If so, you want to get a listing on the WellnessHub – Basic listings are FREE. The WellnessHub is Vancouver Island’s local online health and wellness resource. It features practitioners, businesses, health tips, a monthly contest and much more. Monthly memberships are available for people who want extra exposure. The WellnessHub is supported in print, social media, radio and more. We work with you to get your message out to your potential customers. The Hub attracts thousands of local visitors every month.
Three Steps to Achieving Your Goals
Do you have a hard time sticking to your health goals? Maybe you made a New Year’s resolution, then by February, it was a faint memory. Here are three steps to help you achieve your goals. 1. Find your WHY. Your why will be what gets you going even when it’s cold, rainy, and the bed is so cozy. 2. Identify the HABITS that are needed to reach your goals and focus on those. 3. Have FUN! If you don’t like what you are doing, you won’t do it, especially over the long run. It can be that simple.
Rebalance, Reset & Relax
The human body is amazing. It can be rebalanced and reset on a physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual level. A therapy session in The Harmonic Egg, a uniquely engineered bio resonance chamber, activates the body’s repair mechanism to promote profound relaxation. With the fusion of advanced technology and ancient wisdom, it uses the vibrational energies of sacred geometry, light, colour and sound. These frequencies vibrate to create a 360 degree amplified resonance experience that returns the body to homeostasis. Each energy therapy session is individually tailored and is precisely controlled, consistent, and repeatable. It is completely non-invasive and 100% safe.
Independence in the Home
Many seniors wish to stay in their own home as long as possible; daily living aid products can help. These products ease the strains of daily activities at home or play. Whether you live by yourself, your spouse or with family, you can minimize change and stressors using assistive products. They can help you improve your quality of life, maintain your sense of independence, and reduce illness and injuries. If you need help selecting products that could benefit you, give us a call, we can help you get the right products into your home.
How to Write a Condolence Note
Finding the words to write a note of comfort to friends and family who have lost a loved one can be difficult. It does not need to be a lengthy message. Generally, a few heartfelt sentences are enough. Simply express your sympathy and let the recipients know that your thoughts are with them during this difficult time. Acknowledge the loss and refer to the deceased by name. Sharing a fond memory of the deceased is a wonderful addition to the message. End the note with a kind word, a hope, a wish or expression of sympathy
The Cryptocurrency Craze
Crypto! We are hearing about it everywhere now. There are hundreds of cryptocurrencies available, wide-ranging in value. Have you seen the crypto ATMs at the mall? Have you noticed the uptick in crypto advertising during sporting events, including at hockey, football, and basketball games? What is crypto anyways, and how does it work? Is it investing? Playing the market? Gambling? All of the above? None of the above? If you’re curious about crypto, or if it is negatively impacting you or someone you love, please reach out to vigamingsupport.ca. We can help you untangle crypto.
Dating Someone with Hearing Loss
So your partner has a hearing loss. They struggle every day with situations that people without hearing loss can never truly understand. It can be difficult for you as the partner without a hearing loss at times too. Your loved one’s hearing loss doesn’t take away from who they are or your love for them, but it does present a unique challenge in relationships. It can cause arguments, resentment and frustration that nobody wants affecting their relationship.
We have 6 things to remember when dating someone with a hearing loss so you can support your partner the best way possible and strengthen your relationship.
Be Patient
Constantly struggling to listen and hear is exhausting for someone with a hearing loss. It requires a lot of extra energy and effort that can wear them down. Certain environments are more difficult for your partner such as a noisy restaurant with multiple voices and sounds or a dark place where they can’t read your lips. Each situation brings a challenge and it’s important to be patient.
Remember, they are doing their best. Even with hearing aids and lip-reading techniques, it isn’t always enough. They understand and recognize your frustration because they’ve likely dealt with it throughout their whole life. But, as a hearing person, your experience is very different from theirs. Be compassionate and patient as they are trying.
Communicate Clearly
People with hearing loss struggle to hear clearly and it can be annoying for both parties involved in conversations. Mumbling is the common perpetrator of poor communication. Make sure you are speaking clearly, enunciating and directly facing them to make it easier for your partner to hear you. With these practices, they can read your lips and their hearing aids will pick up speech better.
Be Willing to Repeat Yourself
As irritating as it is when you have to repeat yourself for the third time because your partner can’t hear what you are saying, remind yourself that it isn’t their fault. They can sense your frustration and once you start refusing to repeat yourself saying, “nevermind, it wasn’t important,” it will hurt their feelings. It’s incredibly discouraging for your partner because it is important for them and they’re doing their best.
Your partner genuinely cares to know what you said and wants to carry on the conversation. Remember, it isn’t their fault and it’s upsetting for them too. Negative reactions remind them that they’re different and may make them feel unworthy or less than. By staying positive, calmly repeating yourself as many times as necessary and understanding their position, you can avoid hurt feelings, resentment and fights.
Ask Questions
Don’t be afraid to be curious and ask questions. It shows you care and want to learn more about your partner’s experience. Ask about their hearing loss to learn more, work together and be open to finding new ways to improve your communication. It may be an adjustment at first, but your partner will appreciate the effort and it will make a difference in your day-to-day lives.
Help Them Understand, Not Just Hear
It’s easy to hear sounds or words, but to truly understand them is a bit more difficult. Processing words is harder for someone with a hearing loss because their brain and ears don’t function together the same way as someone without a hearing loss.
Your partner may ask you to speak louder, slower or face-to-face so they can understand. It’s common to become annoyed when it frequently happens, but it’s important to remember that all your partner wants is to hear what you said and talk to you. If they didn’t care, you would know.
Don’t Baby Them
Babying your partner looks like a number of things. It can be telling new people about their condition, speaking for them, not inviting them places because it will be hard for them to hear, or treating them as though they can’t deal with it on their own. For you, it comes from a good place, but for your partner, it’s usually a sensitive situation. People with hearing loss are usually used to feeling like outsiders so they try to be as normal as possible. They want to do the same things as others, have the same opportunities and be independent.
It’s worth noting that each person has different boundaries when it comes to hearing loss. What is acceptable for one person might not be for another. Allowing them to advocate for themselves and starting the conversation about it will define boundaries so you know when it’s okay to step in and help.
If you’re concerned about hearing loss affecting you or your partner, choose the NexGen Hearing clinic nearest you to book your no obligation hearing assessment
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Fresh Air & Exercise Boost Wellbeing
Have the icy roads and snowy conditions kept you from enjoying your daily walks? We know the importance of daily exercise and fresh air to our health. Luckily, February on the coast usually comes with more favourable walking conditions. Outside our door is the beautiful nature of Vancouver Island. Whether it is just a walk around the block or a hike up a mountain, the fresh air and exercise boost our wellbeing. So lace up your shoes and wear VoxxLife socks with HPT for enhanced balance and stability. Additional benefits include; enhanced pain relief and management, especially PDN pain and improved mobility.
Coldest Night of the Year
The Coldest Night of the Year is Canada’s National Walk for Homelessness. Since 2011, it has raised more than $43 million. The Coldest Night of the year is a winterrific family-friendly walk to raise money for local charities serving people experiencing hurt, hunger, and homelessness. Team up, walk, and fundraise! It’s cold out there… but there’s no place like home. The event takes place on February 26th in 168 locations in Canada. The event features family-friendly 2 or 5 km walks and Covid-friendly virtual options. See the website for more details on how you can get involved with your local event.
