Losing balance comes naturally with age. But as we age, the consequences of a fall becomes more serious. In fact, complications from a fall are the leading cause of injury and death among seniors aged 65 and older, and the risk of falls increases proportionately with age. At 80 years, over half of seniors fall annually. Voxx HPT socks and insoles will help improve your balance, providing an 8X reduction in fall risk! By reducing injury risk, seniors will have more confidence and freedom in day to day activities.
Community News
Learning-Related Vision Disorders Editorial
While 20/20 vision is a great start, our vision is also related to how well our eyes work together with our brain to process visual information. Many children who suffer with vision problems can go undiagnosed since learning-related vision disorders may not be revealed through a regular eye exam. Lack of eye movement control, focusing difficulties, poor visual memory, and much more can make learning seem overwhelming. Without fundamental visual skills, children may have more difficulty with reading, writing, and comprehension at school. A developmental optometrist diagnoses and provides treatment options for learning-related vision disorders.
Hooray For Spring!
Spring cleaning can be a pain in the butt – so here are a few tips to help make it more manageable. When the grass needs raking, be sure to alternate holding the rake on the right and left to avoid overloading the muscles on one side. When bending over to bag the grass, make sure you are bending from the hips (hip-hinge) rather than curling the lower back. If you need to work from the ground for a while, it is a better idea to kneel with kneepads or squat. If you start to feel your back muscles tightening, stop what you are doing and take a break.
Should You Stop Driving?
As we age, driving may become more difficult or stressful due to health issues, vision problems, or slower reaction times. So, how can we tell when it might be time to stop driving? If you answer yes to some of the following questions, consider having a conversation with your doctor or looking into getting a driving assessment done. Ask yourself: Have I had some accidents, even minor ones? Do I get lost even on roads I know well? Do I have trouble staying in my lane? Do other drivers often honk at me? Do things seem to appear out of nowhere?
Eye Care for All-day Computer Users
Depending on the study, 50 to 90 per cent of people who are on their computers a lot experience issues with their eyes, including eye strain, red eyes, and eye twitching. Unfortunately, those of us using computers for work can’t just turn them off and walk away; we need to find ways to care for our eyes in spite of our computer use. The first step is to get an eye exam to evaluate how your eyes are doing today. After that, there are actions you can take to protect your eyes as much as possible, such as reducing ambient lighting and using floor lights rather than overhead fluorescent lights.
Do You Need to Take Vitamin B12?
Vitamin B12 plays an essential role in red blood cell formation, nerve function, cell metabolism and DNA production. It can be found in meat, poultry, fish and dairy, or as a supplement. Your body can store vitamin B12 for many years so most individuals will not have a B12 deficiency. However, the following people may be more prone to deficiency: vegetarians/vegans, older adults, or people with digestive tract conditions that affect the absorption of nutrients. Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to fatigue, anemia, muscle weakness, intestinal problems, nerve damage, and mood disturbances. Visit your physician or pharmacist to discuss whether you should be taking a vitamin B12 supplement.
Garden Guru
Want to get the most out of your garden this year? Here are a few tips passed down through the years. When planting your seeds, always plant three in a hill: one for the good, one for the crow, and one to grow. Plant crops that grow above ground during a waxing moon, and plant crops that grow below ground on a waning moon. A homemade pesticide can be made from tobacco to spray your plants. And lastly, some have found that burying a piece of iron beside your roses will make them more fragrant. If it worked for our grandparents maybe it’ll work for us too!
Living an Intentional Life
Mind, body, and soul work together to make the best of our lives. Innate health and natural talent is amazing; however, it’s also necessary to be intentional. We need to put in the effort to care for each part of our being. Medical check-ups and dentist appointments are well embedded in our lives. Other expressions of healthy living, such as yoga and psychotherapy, have gained ground because they truly enhance our lives. This makes us stronger and more resilient. What are you doing in the studio of your mind, body, and soul to make the best of your life?
Celebrating Women
May is a month to celebrate women. Take a moment to breathe and just be. So much time is spent doing. You deserve your time too. Here are a few suggestions. Get more rest, whether it’s by taking naps or relaxing on the couch with a good book. Aim for five to ten servings of fruits/veggies a day; the fresher, the better. Talk with friends and take time to listen to their advice. A fresh perspective can be lovely. And of course, a little bit of exercise every day can make your body happy. Fresh air is health care too, help yourself! You’ll thank yourself!
Community Profile: Kelburn Estates
Kelburn Estates Mental Health & Addictions Recovery Centre is a private residential wellness centre on 45 beautiful acres along the red river, here in Manitoba. We pride ourselves in providing confidential and multi-disciplinary expertise for our guests to reclaim, develop, and sustain a meaningful life. A life free from the destructive mental health disease and related substance abuse. Our mission is to create and maintain a lasting relationship with our guests, families, and community service providers. At Kelburn Estates, we will walk with you on your journey to recovery.
Seeing is Believing
Getting glasses is a fun and easy process, or it should be – but what do you do if you are not mobile? Did you know that this service can actually be brought directly TO YOU? So rather than leaving the comfort of your hospital or senior home, an experienced optician can come to you with everything you need including the necessary equipment and a selection of frames based on your preference and prescription. Once you’ve chosen your frame, your glasses can be produced and delivered to you. Find out how to access this service in your area!
