Many seniors, whether they need short term or long-term care, prefer remaining in a place most familiar to them – their home. By removing elderly loved ones from their home we often take away years of memories, relationships with neighbors and communities which can lead to a decline in health and leave them feeling sad and isolated. If Mom or Dad is willing to explore the idea of home care, involve them in the process and remember to take it slow at first. Home is still the safest place to receive care!

We can’t travel to the tropics, but we can bring the tropics to us! Enjoy this delicious and healthy fruit smoothie. INGREDIENTS: 1 cup CO-OP GOLD Tropical Banana Blend Strawberries, ½ cup Strawberry Liberté Kefir, 1 ½ cups Vanilla Silk Oat Beverage, 3 tbsp CO-OP GOLD PURE Hemp Seeds, 2 tbsp chia seeds, 2 tbsp oats, 1 tbsp honey, 1 tsp lime juice, 3-5 ice cubes. DIRECTIONS: Place all ingredients into a blender. Run on high speed for one minute or until smooth.

Varicose veins are usually due to improperly functioning valves within the veins. The veins typically appear prominent or look raised. The condition can cause swelling of the legs, ankles and feet. The skin may become discolored due to leakage of blood into the surrounding tissues, and ulcers may form on the skin. Your Podiatrist may advise use of regular compression stockings or other treatments. We can prescribe compression stockings or order them in for you at Central Alberta Podiatry. If the veins are smaller, we can also treat them with laser for immediate results.

Being surrounded by clutter can create feelings of stress and affect your mental health. Dealing with unorganized spaces can cause feelings of frustration, fatigue, and depression. Getting into a clutter-filled vehicle every morning can set you up to feel exhausted and stressed for the rest of the day. Tackling the clutter that may be residing in your vehicle and creating a more organized interior can help ease feelings of stress. Cluttered vehicle interiors can also harbor more bacteria, which can affect your physical health. A professional detailer can help get your vehicle more organized, so you can feel more relaxed.

It can be difficult to get certain tasks on our to-do lists completed, even without the challenges that COVID-19 has presented. This is especially so of estate planning and addressing other important legal matters. The government has deemed legal services to be essential. Lawyers and their firms have taken the necessary measures to ensure the continuity of services through the period of COVID-19 restrictions being in place. Take some time to consider what is on your to-do list in terms of estate planning or other issues, and follow through on completing those in 2021.

Are you cleaning out your cupboards for a fresh start to 2021? If you have unused/expired medications at home, bring them to your Central Alberta Co-op Pharmacy for proper disposal, it’s free! Don’t flush it! Flushing or pouring medications down the drain can end up contaminating our water supply. Clearing out our medicine cabinets regularly can help prevent unused medication from falling into the wrong hands. More information is available at reddeer.ca/medreturn.

Omega-3 is an incredibly beneficial fatty acid that helps support brain and heart health, and assists many people with battling inflammation and aiding in recovery. Omega-3 products can supplement your food intake of this fatty acid, but not all products are created equal. It’s best to find clinical grade omega-3’s that are esterified and monoglyceride rich (high absorption that your body can put to work). When looking for an omega-3 product (beyond sardines and fatty fish in your diet), be sure to speak with a professional so that purchasing a premium product gets you the results you’re looking for.

Violet Elliot, a very familiar face in the Red Deer community and the Golden Circle, is celebrating her 104th birthday this month. Violet was born on February 6th, 1917 in Scotland. During WWII, she met a Canadian soldier and married him on March 4, 1943. The two moved to Canada and after arriving in Red Deer, Vi took a nurse position at Lindsey Thurber High School, beginning her public health nursing career in Canada. Vi has touched many people in her life’s journey and we would like to congratulate her for reaching her 104th birthday!

It might come as a surprise, but there is a connection between heart health and hearing. Both rely on blood flow, so heart problems that cause plaque buildup in the arteries and restrict blood flow can potentially damage ears. Nerves in the ears can also be damaged by poor circulation. Studies have shown that the better someone’s cardiovascular health, the better their hearing tends to be. It’s important that older adults eat a healthy, balanced diet; get regular exercise; quit smoking and have their hearing tested every two years, to help maintain a healthy heart, and therefore healthy ears.