According to the Institute for Safe Medication Practices Canada, falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospital visits among Canadian seniors. Between 20% and 30% of adults 65 and older have at least one fall per year. Medications are increasingly being recognized as contributors to falls, and common problematic medications include opioids, sedatives, anti-depressants, cardiac medications, and hypoglycemic agents such as insulin. It is important that seniors and their caregivers are aware of possible side effects of medications, and that correct dosages are given and any negative drug interactions are avoided. A pharmacist can assist in determining how and when to use medications to help avoid injury from falls.Source used: https://www.ismp-canada.org/download/safetyBulletins/2015/ISMPCSB2015-12_Falls.pdf. Care at Home Pharmacy, CareAtHomePharmacy.ca
Community News
Book Club:
The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact
by Chip Heath, Dan Heath
Many of the defining moments in our lives are the result of accident or luck—but why would we leave our most meaningful, memorable moments to chance when we can create them? The Power of Moments shows us how to be the author of richer experiences.
Where Is Love?
You’ve decided enough is enough. You have plenty going for yourself and you want to share your life with someone special but where on earth are you going to find them? Times have changed. We live in an electronic world but computers don’t have hearts and you don’t know if the person behind the screen is authentic. You have asked your friends and coworkers if they know anyone right for you and you have been insulted by who they have suggested! A matchmaker specializes in finding love for people who are looking for one special partner. An effective matchmaker meets with all potential clients in person and determines who the right person is for them. A criminal record check should be conducted on each client. When choosing a matchmaker it is important that you work with a service that has been in business for quite some time and has many success stories. Lianne Tregobov, Camelot Introductions, Camelot Introductions.com
Have a Denture Check-up Every Year
Your dentures should be checked on an annual basis to ensure you still have a correct fit. Your face and tissues in your mouth change over the years, while your dentures are rigid and stay the same. Your appearance and comfort can be compromised the longer you delay receiving care from your denturist. Annual visits to your denture clinic can help ward off many potential problems including headaches, neck and joint pain, irritated gums, indigestion, problems with chewing, and even bone loss and occasionally changes in facial contour. Are you due for a check-up? Andrew Fast, Fast Dentures, FastDentures.ca
When to Set an Intention
You could set an intention every day. It could be to work less and make more, or to find a new career that you are passionate about. It could be to get healthy and physically fit, or to spend more quality time with loved ones or alone.
At age 70, Bessie set an intention to become a world famous photographer. Although many thought she was too old, she didn’t. She entered a photo contest and won the first prize of $10,000. Her prize-winning photo toured around the world with a Kodak exhibit. She told me, “We’re never too old to make a dream come true.”
Rev. Anne Ahokangas, Centre for Spiritual Living, CSLwinnipeg.org
Natural Product Review: pureWash Pro
Are you still using detergent to wash your clothes? There’s a healthier, safer, and smarter way to do laundry. The secret is activated oxygen. PureWash Pro transforms ordinary water into a powerful cleaning agent by adding dissolved oxygen, giving you clean clothes while killing up to 99.9% of pathogens, mold, and bacteria. Used by hotels and hospitals for years, this amazing and affordable cleaning and disinfecting technology is now available for home use. Get your clothes clean without the need for soap or bleach, using only cold water. The oxidizing technology helps relax fabrics, so your clothes stay wrinkle-free without using fabric softener. Ideal for anyone with skin sensitivities, this is a product that everyone should use. Protect the environment, your clothes, and your washer. PureWash Pro pays for itself in months, saving you hundreds of dollars on hot water costs and laundry products. See the PureWash Pro at Aviva Natural Health Solutions, AvivaHealth.com
Alkalizing Your Body
Having an overly acidic diet can lead to a weakened immune system. Here are six ways to alkalize your body! 1. Drink half your body weight in ounces of water every day to keep your body systems regulated. For an extra boost in alkalinity – add lemon! 2. Trade coffee for green tea. 3. Use stevia, coconut sugar, or small amounts of honey in place of sugar. 4. Eat more greens. 5. Exercise to create more oxygen and qi flow in the body, and to avoid stagnation. 6. Reduce stress by meditating, practicing deep breathing, doing yoga, and getting plenty of sleep.
Care At Home Pharmacy, www.careathomepharmacy.ca
Daily Routine Important for Seniors
People are afraid of the unknown. If an older adult is losing control over their physical abilities, independence, or cognitive abilities, their world gets filled with more and more unknowns. Establishing routine is extremely important for seniors. A daily routine offers a level of stability that individuals often enjoy, as it allows them to settle into a schedule that they understand. Doing the same basic activities like eating, dressing, and bathing at the same time every day is known to improve sleep quality. A predictable routine also helps to reduce stress and anxiety.
Alevtina (Alia) Tuhari, Reliable Home Care Agency Inc., ReliableHomeCare.ca
Ready for Homeownership?
Here are three steps when considering buying a home:
1. Create a detailed budget in the rental world. Include the financial demands of your social life, hobbies, and other key priorities of your life.
2. Do a second budget, remove the rental items, and include property tax estimate, hydro, water, insurance, and repair estimates. Once you have accounted for all annual required miscellaneous savings that you will put away for monthly, what is left is the mortgage payment you can afford.
3. If you are happy with your numbers from the steps above, it may be time to meet with your financial institution to get pre-approved and see what amount of mortgage your payment will buy. Don’t bite off more than you can chew!
Brian Denysuik, CREDITAID, creditaid.ca
Mindful Holiday Eating
It’s not the shortbread or chocolates that’ll get you. It’s what you THINK about the shortbread and chocolates that’ll do it every year. It’s the extreme all or nothing thinking, the good food/bad food mindset. Mindful eating is the middle ground. Less food provides more joy and satisfaction. The questions to ask yourself this season before eating and drinking are: 1. Am I hungry? 2. How hungry am I? 3. What do I REALLY want? 4. How much will satisfy my hunger/craving, while leaving me feeling peaceful? 5. How do I want to feel in my body after I’m done eating? Lisa Kehler, Off Your Plate Nutrition, OffYourPlateNutrition.ca
Persistent Foot Pain?
Foot pain, especially upon waking up, is a signature symptom of plantar fasciitis, a common and often debilitating foot injury that can affect almost anyone. Plantar fasciitis involves inflammation of a thick band of tissue that runs across the bottom of your foot and connects your heel bone to your toes. Persistent pain caused by plantar fasciitis can undermine your fitness and general health and drag on for years. In some cases, resting, icing, and stretching can relieve your symptoms. Healthwest specializes in the treatment of plantar fasciitis by providing therapeutic massage, shock wave, laser, compression sleeves, and orthotics.
Brent Konantz, Ortho., RMT LCSP C PED. (C), Healthwest Prothotics, MyHealthWest.com
