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.
Community News
Silence is Golden
As we are all involved in our daily lives, we fill our days with phone calls, watching TV, attending zoom meetings, and looking after loved ones. How often are you taking a break? Taking a moment, or even better, taking 10 minutes every day where you sit in silence, clearing your mind from the “chatter” can improve your overall feeling and boost your energy. It’s ok, all those things you feel the need to do will still be there when you “get back”. You may even decide that it all doesn’t need to happen right now. Permit yourself to find quiescence.
Foods for Brain Health
The best foods for supporting memory and brain function are those that encourage good blood flow to the brain. Research suggests the following foods may help keep your brain sharp and improve your cognitive function, memory and alertness. 1) Broccoli, cabbage, and dark leafy greens. Enjoy in salads, wraps and stir-fries. 2) Walnuts. Can be added to salads or oatmeal, or just eaten on their own. 3) Berries and cherries. Can be eaten fresh as a snack or added to oatmeal or baked goods. 4) Omega-3 fatty acids. Can be found in seafood, algae, and fatty fish.
March Brain Teasers
1. Name one meal you can never eat for breakfast? 2. What type of cheese is made backwards? 3. A mother has six children and five potatoes. How can she feed each an equal amount of potatoes? 4. What kind of apple is not an apple?
Independence in the Home
Many seniors wish to stay in their own home as long as possible; daily living aid products can help. These products ease the strains of daily activities at home or play. Whether you live by yourself, your spouse or with family, you can minimize change and stressors using assistive products. They can help you improve your quality of life, maintain your sense of independence, and reduce illness and injuries. If you need help selecting products that could benefit you, give us a call, we can help you get the right products into your home.
How to Write a Condolence Note
Finding the words to write a note of comfort to friends and family who have lost a loved one can be difficult. It does not need to be a lengthy message. Generally, a few heartfelt sentences are enough. Simply express your sympathy and let the recipients know that your thoughts are with them during this difficult time. Acknowledge the loss and refer to the deceased by name. Sharing a fond memory of the deceased is a wonderful addition to the message. End the note with a kind word, a hope, a wish or expression of sympathy
Relocation Stress Syndrome
While remaining at home is possible for some seniors, many others may need to move to Independent Living with Services to get the best care possible. Since moving is a major life stressor, some seniors may experience relocation stress syndrome, with symptoms like confusion, loneliness, and anxiety. To help make the transition to assisted living as smooth as possible, it’s important to 1) avoid rushing the process; 2) focus on their well-being; 3) make their new home look familiar with personal belongings; 4) help them get involved in their new community; 5) ensure they have frequent visitors.
Increase Your Sense of Awareness
You may have heard cues “to sense the ground or shift your body weight through your feet.” Many people THINK they are doing what is asked but don’t know how much of this sense they have lost, no matter how strong or fit they feel. There is an exercise that helps people regain better neuromuscular connection on how the feet and hip work together, how to relax the back, and truly feel abs working for balance. Increasing your sense of awareness can instantly change how you breathe, stand, walk and exercise. Check out my blog for a link to a free video demonstration.
Fresh Air & Exercise Boost Wellbeing
Have the icy roads and snowy conditions kept you from enjoying your daily walks? We know the importance of daily exercise and fresh air to our health. Luckily, February on the coast usually comes with more favourable walking conditions. Outside our door is the beautiful nature of Vancouver Island. Whether it is just a walk around the block or a hike up a mountain, the fresh air and exercise boost our wellbeing. So lace up your shoes and wear VoxxLife socks with HPT for enhanced balance and stability. Additional benefits include; enhanced pain relief and management, especially PDN pain and improved mobility.
Avoiding Medication Mistakes
Medications play an important role in maintaining health and longevity for many of us as we get older. Taking multiple medications can be challenging. Here are some helpful hints to manage your medications effectively: *Follow the instructions for each medication carefully, *shake bottles of liquid medications before use, *take all medications as prescribed, *use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, *report any unusual symptoms to your doctor, *never stop taking a medications suddenly without checking with your doctor and most importantly, *conduct annual medication reviews with your doctor or pharmacist.
Celebrate Important Relationships
As February arrives, people are reminded of the importance of spending time with family and about the importance of relationships in their lives. Valentine’s Day brings up mixed emotions for many, with some looking to celebrate it, while others, for various reasons, try to avoid it. If we look at Valentine’s Day as we used to when we were children, we can see the day as a way to celebrate the important relationships we do have, regardless of type, and connect with all of them to let them know we are thinking about them.
