Many seniors would prefer to stay at home than move into a senior care home, but there are some challenges to consider. Factors like finances, physical mobility, social network, health concerns, and safety in the home are all things to think about. If you decide to remain in your home, discuss your plans with your family or a trusted advisor. It’s important to prepare your home to ensure you can live comfortably and safely there, using various aids and tools to make things easier. In-home care can also provide much-needed day-to-day support, as well as transportation to appointments and gatherings.
Community News
Community Announcement
The National Seniors Council (NSC) engages with seniors, stakeholders, and experts to provide advice to the Government of Canada on current and emerging issues and opportunities related to the health, well-being, and quality of life of seniors. www.canada.ca/en/national-seniors-council.html Work priorities are determined by the Minister of Seniors and the Minister of Health, based on recommendations from the National Seniors Council (NSC). The NSC is currently focusing on the following 4 work priorities:
1. identifying measures to reduce crimes and harms against seniors, with a particular focus on financial abuse, fraud, and scams
2. considering the federal and provincial strategies and initiatives that include a senior’s dimension, and providing advice on gaps that could potentially be addressed if a national seniors strategy were to be developed
3. providing advice to the government on the development and implementation of existing initiatives using an age-friendly/healthy aging perspective, including, as a first step, observations, and recommendations on ways to strengthen attention to seniors’ housing needs in the implementation of the National Housing Strategy
4. identifying measures to counteract ageism by shifting the public discourse
To examine the above issues and advance its work, the NSC developed a 3-year work plan covering 2018 to 2021, which includes activities such as research, convening expert panels, and consulting with seniors and representatives of organizations serving or advocating for seniors.
Seniors and Stress
Chronic stress is harmful to people of all ages, but its impact on older adults can be particularly severe, increasing the risk of age-related diseases, hastening cognitive decline and even triggering falls. Stressors that are common amongst the elderly include: loss of control, personal loss, declining health, financial worries, personal safety and loss of independence. To reduce stress, get regular exercise, eat balanced meals to ensure the mind and body are properly fueled and ask for help. Talking with a trusted family member, friend or healthcare professional, at the very least, releases pent-up stress and may even lead to a solution.
Learning about BPH
Benign prostatic hyperplasia — an enlarged prostate — is a normal condition of aging in men. It is very common, with the incidence increasing significantly after age 40 and affecting nearly 3 of every 4 men who are over age 70. Symptoms may include increased frequency of urination, incomplete bladder emptying, and difficulty voiding urine. Fortunately, effective treatment options are available. Discuss your symptoms with your doctor and involve your pharmacist in discussions about your treatment. There is plenty that you can learn about prevention, medications, and other treatment options specific to your situation! For more information, see our full article at MedicineShoppeCourtenay.ca.
Hearing Loss Affecting Your Relationship?
Best Hearing Aids For 2021
Purchasing hearing aids is an important and expensive investment to make. The various brands, styles and features give people an opportunity to select a hearing aid that suits their lifestyle, hearing loss and preferences to personalize their hearing experience. Hearing aids are vast in their capabilities and features. For example, there are rechargeable hearing aids, automatic noise adjusting aids, Bluetooth pairing, tinnitus masking and much more. Every person is unique so naturally, hearing aids need to be unique for each individual. Learn more by reading our latest blog post.
Healthy Mouth, Healthy Life
Maintaining good oral health isn’t just about keeping your teeth and gums healthy – it can have an impact on the rest of your body as well. Research suggests that a buildup of dental plaque can be linked to other health issues, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes complications, and even various types of infections. Brushing and flossing away dental plaque each day can help keep buildup under control and limit your risk of other issues linked to poor oral health. It’s important to see your dentist regularly to ensure your teeth, gums, and other oral tissue are in tip-top shape.
How Do I Convince My Spouse to Get a Hearing Test?
In all my years as a hearing health care professional, this is one of the most common and difficult questions to answer. The vast majority of people living with hearing loss are either unaware of their hearing difficulties or do not fully realize the extent of their hearing loss. The number one reason prompting people to get their hearing checked is family members who have grown frustrated living with someone who has hearing loss. Unfortunately, there are many husbands and wives who resist and persist! It’s often a very sensitive topic for retired couples spending so much time together.
When someone has mild-to-moderate hearing loss, typically they will hear relatively well if you are talking to them face-to-face in a quiet environment but will not hear well if you are walking away from them, are in a different room, or if there is some other noise that is interfering with your voice. The hearing-impaired individual will quite often say, “How can I hear you when you’re talking into the fridge?” or “How can you expect to be heard when you talk so softly?” Repeatedly asking others to “please say it again” is a strong indicator that some form of hearing loss exists.
Unfortunately, trying to convince someone that the reason they keep asking people to repeat themselves is because their hearing ability is at fault can seem impossible at times. Don’t give up! It can take a few years for people to accept the fact that their hearing is deteriorating, and they need hearing aids. People may find it difficult in part due to the lingering stigma that wearing hearing aids is effectively admitting you’re “getting old”. Ironically, the symptoms of hearing loss become more prominent and obvious when hearing aids are not used, drawing people to that precise conclusion. Today’s technology allows for the discreet use of hearing aids.
What I suggest is to lovingly explain to your husband or wife that you are growing increasingly frustrated with having to repeat yourself as frequently as you are. Then, let them know that for a one-week period, you are going to notate every time you need to repeat yourself. I would also set the volume on the TV to a certain level, and then track the number of times they need to increase the volume so they can comfortably hear. After 7 days, discuss the results, and gently encourage them to get a hearing assessment, even if it is just to get a baseline of their hearing. You may be fearful that you are nagging them, but you will be doing yourself and them a big favour in the long run.
When they are finally ready to come in for a complimentary hearing assessment, the hearing health professionals at NexGen Hearing will be ready to answer any question or concerns they may have. Learn more or book an appointment today by vising https://www.nexgenhearing.com/relationships/
Available Resources
The Comox Valley Division of Family Practice is committed to achieving meaningful change that benefits patients, doctors, and the community. DivisionsBC.ca/Comox-Valley. The Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Office, BounceBack® is a free skill-building program designed to help adults and youth 15+ manage low mood, mild to moderate depression, anxiety, stress or worry. Delivered online or over the phone with a coach, you will get access to tools that will support you on your path to mental wellness. BounceBackBC.ca or 1 (866) 639 0522.
Available Resources
The Canadian Coalition for Seniors Mental Health works to promote seniors’ mental health by connecting people, ideas, and resources. CCSMH.ca. Crisis. Thinking of suicide? Please call 1-833-456-4566 toll free, 24/7 or visit ChrisisServicesCanada.ca
Vancouver Island Crisis Line 1-888-494-3888, available 24/7
Pain BC aims to enhance the well-being of all people living with pain through empowerment, care, education and innovation. This can’t be done without changing the systems that people in pain rely on to live well. PainBC.ca
Available Resources
The Office of the Seniors Advocate of BC monitors and analyzes seniors’ services and issues in B.C. and makes recommendations to government and service providers to address systemic issues. The OSA was established in 2014 and is the first office of its kind in Canada. 1-877-952-3181. SeniorsAdvocateBC.ca
Make Your Home Safer
Things you can do to make your home safer and reduce the risk of falling:
Remove tripping hazards like clutter, small throw rugs • Keep items you use the most easily accessible • Improve lighting to ensure you can see your path when walking, especially at night • Install grab bars in the bathroom and ensure your home has handrails on all staircases • Wear non-slip shoes both inside and outside of the house • Get a Home Safety Assessment if you are at risk of falling; an Occupational Therapist can help to advise you on making your home safer.
