Community News
Enjoy the Outside this Winter

December on Vancouver Island often brings cold and wet weather. Don’t let that stop you from enjoying the outside. Wear warm clothing to stay comfortable and to help prevent frost bite and achy muscles. Proper warm insulated boots with good grips will keep your feet warm so you can still be outside to do what you love to do! Add a good pair of Walking Poles to your outdoor adventures. They keep your balance inline, provide extra stability and give you a light workout! Our physiotherapists can show you proper poling technique and help you with all your poling needs.

Does Your Spouse Need a Hearing Test?

If your loved one is repeatedly asking others to repeat themselves, it is an indicator that they may be experiencing some form of hearing loss. Lovingly explain to your spouse that it is becoming increasingly frustrating having to repeat yourself as frequently as you are. Propose that for one-week, you will track the number of times you need to repeat yourself. Discuss the results, and gently encourage them to get a hearing assessment, even if it is just to get a baseline of their hearing. Call today to arrange for a hearing test.

The Gift of Gratitude & Reflection

As we move into the darkest and shortest day of the year on December 21st, we enter a month of reflection and appreciation for what we have and who we have in our lives. Creating a gratitude list, sending notes of thanks and appreciation, taking inventory of the significant moments of our past year in review. Taking the time to reflect, sets the stage and allows us to better figure out where we want to put our energy and move towards the new year to come.

Holiday Greetings

Our community came together in 2020; we stayed home when asked and wore masks because we cared about each other. At 7 pm, we stood and banged pots along with our neighbours. We kept in touch through the computer screen and found ways to reach out to those shut-in. Supporting our local businesses became paramount. With no Expos in the near future, our new WellnessHUB connects our community with health and wellness resources. We are thankful that we were able to print this newsletter throughout 2020 and will continue to do so in 2021. We wish everyone Health, Hope and Love this Holiday Season.

Medication Review Services

If you are a BC resident with a valid BC Services Card and have been prescribed at least five medications in the last six months, you may benefit from Medication Review Services. Medication Reviews may identify issues such as an interaction between your medications, changes that may be needed in dosage, etc. This service provided by your Pharmacist, helps British Columbians better understand their medications. When you understand your medications – why you are taking them, when to take them, and how to best take them – you make informed decisions and have greater ownership of your overall health. Speak to your community pharmacist.

Dental Implants Care

During these interesting times, dentists are noticing a greater number of people coming in with pain and infection due to decay and gum disease. We have also noticed patients coming in with implants that have not been cleaned for many years. These patients are now calling us because they have swelling and soreness around their implants caused by an infection. If you have implants, they need to be looked at by a dentist, evaluated and cleaned to prevent infections and loss of the implants.

A Phone Call Brightens Their Day

Seniors are among the most vulnerable during this pandemic. They are restricted and even those with family near, feel isolated and alone. A phone call can cheer them up and make them feel “noticed” and cared for. The daughter of a parent living in a Senior Residence stated; “I fear seeing mom in person as she has many pre-existing medical challenges making her medically vulnerable to Covid-19. My mom has shared with me that her phone calls with the family are all she needs to feel loved and cared for on a daily basis. The connection by voice brings her some peace.”

Say Goodbye to Tiny Hearing Aid Batteries

Rechargeable hearing aids allow you the freedom to experience high quality sound without the worry of carrying spare batteries. Traditional hearing aid technology did not allow for this freedom; hearing aids required spares and replacement batteries. Utilising Li-ion battery, rechargeable aids allow you to carry on with your active life with simple and reliable charging. Li-ion is the battery technology utilising the power of lithium ions, this means you can reuse the same battery simply by recharging the hearing aids with the supplied charger.

Invest in Your Health

I often hear that organic veggies are too expensive or that paying for preventative health care costs way too much! Yet most of us look after the engine in our cars correctly and do maintenance on our house to prevent a huge expensive job in the future. Why not look after and invest in our health? As we age, our bodies tend to absorb less nutrients and may carry many toxins. Products such as Black Oxygen Fulvic/Humic minerals have been shown to be a chelator and offer powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Ask me how you can get these minerals into your hands.

Do You Have a Feeling of Overwhelm?

Giving and Gratitude are important elements that should be included in our everyday life. Having a warm feeling of thankfulness towards the world and a concern for others, helps us be grateful for what we have instead of focusing on what we don’t have. Gratitude is consistently connected with greater happiness, it helps people feel more positive emotions and improves health. Expressing gratitude every day assists in releasing the feeling of Overwhelm. A Certified Body/Emotion Code Practitioner can help you release the unprocessed negative (trapped) emotion of Overwhelm which will allow you to live a more joyful life.

Winter Programs to Help You Stay Active

Studies continually show the benefits of being active and socializing as an important part of being healthy – both physically and emotionally even during a pandemic. The City of Nanaimo is excited to be offering winter programs that take place from January to March. Registration for these program starts on Wednesday, December 2. Join us this season for swimming, skating, fitness, yoga, art, language courses and more! Parks & Recreation offers classes that have safety protocols in place to keep you safe from COVID-19. See our website for a listing of all our upcoming winter programs.