Community News
Comox Valley Seniors Resource Guide

The 2023 Comox Valley Seniors Resource Guide is now out! This free guide is being dropped at locations around the Valley, but if you want one, or more, set aside for you, please contact the office (250-871-5940) and we will either hold one for you or arrange for delivery! This spiral bound guide were created in partnership between Comox Valley Senior Support and Denman and Hornby Community Health Care Services and are available free of charge.

Meet Your Practitioner

Raymond Gilby is a Registered Hearing Instrument Practitioner / Cerumen Management (RHIP/C) and is the owner of Clear Ear. He is the Vice-President of the Hearing Instrument Practitioners Society of BC, as well as the BC representative for the Canadian Hearing Instrument Practitioners Society. For the past decade, Raymond has been working across Vancouver Island, performing services safely in clients’ homes. Recognizing that many clinics no longer offer cerumen (ear wax) removal, Raymond earned his full certification in cerumen management and offers his clients micro-suction (the gold standard for wax removal), irrigation, and sometimes a combination of the two.

Pain From Your Mattress?

The Better Sleep Council recommends replacing your mattress every 7 to 10 years, but physical changes such as weight loss, injury, or surgery can alter your body’s position when you sleep and make a mattress change necessary before your mattress reaches its end of life. If your mattress no longer provides adequate support, it can lead to a poor sleeping posture. This misaligns the spine and strains muscles, causing or worsening lower back pain. It’s important to choose a mattress that not only supports your back and provides comfort, but also meets your personal preferences, so you can get the best, pain-free night’s sleep possible.

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.

Oral Health Month

April is Oral Health Month! Here are five tips for maintaining good oral health: 1) Make healthy food choices and limit sugary and highly acidic foods to avoid tooth decay and acid erosion. 2) Don’t smoke or use tobacco products, which can stain teeth, cause gum damage, give you bad breath, cause tooth loss, and even lead to oral cancer. 3) Brush twice and floss once daily. 4) Make note of any oral issues you have, including sensitivity, bleeding, pain, or strange lumps. 5) Visit your dentist regularly. We now offer VELScope Oral Cancer Screening in our practice. The exam takes about 2 minutes and is completely safe and painless.

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

According to a recent survey, 90% of homeowners between the ages of 55 and 75 would like to stay in their long-time home as they get older. And, not surprisingly, 66% of seniors believe their home is where they will be most comfortable, with 53% believing they will stay healthier in their own home. But living out that scenario and remaining in the driver’s seat calls for a plan of action – and an understanding of potential safety risks in the home. Home care makes it possible to remain home despite physical challenges. From respite care to 24-hour in-home care, services can be tailored to meet your needs.

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.

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.