Community News
Get Mobile!

Do more of what you want – when you want. If you ever find yourself waiting around for people to assist you with daily tasks and errands, a mobility scooter could allow you to take matters into your own hands. Confinement can be the most depressing situation that people with mobility issues can experience. Nobody wants to stay inside for a long time, especially when it isn’t necessary. Electric scooters have come a long way and are now more affordable than ever. They provide the freedom to get around, they conserve physical energy, and they also provide you access to places you may not have previously been able to go.

The Journey to Better Hearing

Recognizing the signs of hearing loss in yourself can be difficult, and taking steps to address hearing loss can be even harder.  Many individuals with hearing loss delay treatment 7-10 years and are often not sure how to seek assistance.  With the right steps, creating a treatment plan can be simple.

Don’t Wait – Have Your Hearing Assessed

Once you start to notice signs of hearing loss, the first step is to obtain a hearing assessment.  You can do this by contacting a local hearing health professional or obtaining a referral from your primary care physician.

During the hearing assessment, the clinician will determine your lifestyle and communication needs as well as the type and degree of hearing loss present.  If a medical condition is identified a referral will be made to the appropriate health professional.

Hearing Aid Selection & Fitting

If hearing aids are recommended, the clinician will work with you to find the right product that will meet your hearing and lifestyle needs.  A trial period with the chosen hearing aid is an important part of the process, as it provides you time to adjust to the hearing aids so you are able to assess the benefit accurately.  It can sometimes take multiple visits to the clinic to have the hearing aids adjusted.  It is important to establish a trusted relationship with your hearing health professional as hearing aids require ongoing maintenance and at a minimum should be checked annually.

NexGen Hearing offers free hearing tests and hearing aid consultations, hearing aid fittings, leasing options and sales. Book an appointment at one of our 45+ clinics in the BC Interior, Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island by clicking here or calling 1-877-606-6671

Keep Betting in Perspective

March Madness (NCAA Basketball) is one of the biggest sports betting events across North America. According to a study at AmericanGaming.org reported on 888Gambler.org, in 2019, 47M Americans gambled on March Madness, with an estimated $8.5B wagered. More than 40M participants filled in over 149M brackets, with 18M Americans wagering about $3.9B on sportsbooks alone. And these are strictly American statistics. In Canada, online sports betting was recently legalized (August 2021), however, 3rd party apps abound, offering sports betting enthusiasts many opportunities and types of gambling. Keep sports betting fun and in perspective. Don’t let a game you can’t control, control you.

Board Members

Comox Valley Senior Support Society is currently recruiting Board Members. If you have a passion for seniors, an interest in working with a collaborative Board, and supporting an active staff team, please contact Chris at [email protected] for more information.

Income Tax

The Senior Information and Access Services Team will once again be offering its expertise to assist seniors with their taxes! Beginning March 15, the team will be ready to go. Seniors must register with CVSS to access this service (a fast and painless process!). Please contact Chris or Tiss at 250-871-5940 or [email protected] to register.

Family Caregivers of BC

Caregiving can be hard! Don’t do it alone! Provincial Toll-Free Caregiver Support Line – Unpaid family and friends’ caregivers can call this toll free number for one-to-one telephone support. 8-4 Monday- Friday. 1-877-520-3267. Caregiver Coaching assists caregivers in developing their own action plan that will support them in the very important role they fulfill as caregiver. Referral to this program id through the Caregiver Support Line. The Caregiver Learning Centre is available free of charge for anyone who needs it. It’s on the website at www.familycaregiversbc.ca.

5 Tips for Being Physically Active

1. Start where you can and set reasonable goals. If you feel you have little opportunity to exercise, start by adding a bit of physical activity into your daily routine.
2. Think of it as “activity”, not “exercise”. Choose activities and sports that you enjoy, and physical activity won’t seem like a chore or task to tick off.
3. Once you get going, aim for at least 1 ½ hours of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week.
4. Consider aerobic activities. Aerobic activities, such as walking, swimming, hiking and dancing, can help maintain general fitness.
5. Plan out your physical activity with someone you know. That way, you are more likely to keep active while you also gain the brain-health benefits of social interaction.

5 Tips for Being Socially Active

1. Make the most of your daily opportunities to socialize.
2. Practice a random act of kindness. It could be as small as smiling at someone else passing by – paying your happiness forward will not only brighten someone else’s day, but yours as well!
3. Find time to volunteer. Whether it’s participating in service clubs or joining a hobby group, you’ll find that there are many health benefits to volunteering. It can build self-esteem and confidence and expand your network of social support.
4. Combine social interaction with an activity. It could be a physical activity like walking together or a fitness class, or it could be something like a book club or a play. Ask someone to try a brain-challenging game together. Enjoy yourself while you positively impact your brain health.
5. Maintain old friendships and make new ones. Stay social through work, volunteer activities, travel, hobbies, family and friends. Be open to new experiences – accept invitations and extend a few of your own.

The Sandwich Generation

Are you a caregiver to your children and your aging parents? If so, you’re part of the “sandwich generation,” a group of adults who are “sandwiched” between caregiving responsibilities for their young and elderly loved ones. This generation of caregivers has its own unique stresses and challenges, spending on average about three hours per day on unpaid care while also working full-time. These challenges can take a toll on this group’s health, finances, and emotions. Thankfully, home care agencies can help relieve some of the stress by providing quality care for senior loved ones in their own homes.

Freedom at Any Age

These days the mobility market is full of possibilities. Rather than being confined to the inside of your home or relying on friends and family to take you out, consider the freedom of a mobility scooter. Battery powered scooters have come a long way and are now more affordable and reliable than ever before. They provide the freedom to get around, they conserve physical energy, and they also provide you access to places you may not have previously been able to go. Along with the freedom, mobility scooters offer an element of safety.