Community News
Caring for Hearing Devices

Taking good care of your hearing aids can significantly prolong their life. *Make sure your hands are clean and dry before handling your hearing aids. *Clean them regularly using your hearing aid cleaning kit. *Remove hearing aids before showering, bathing or swimming and store in a dry location away from condensation. *Remove them before applying perfume or hair spray. *Store them in their case or drying cup away from heat sources and direct sunlight. *If you won’t be using your hearing aids for an extended period, remove the batteries and store them separately. *Use a hearing aid expert if you need repairs.

Blockchain and Online Gambling

Blockchain is a method of tracking transactions using a public, globally-distributed ledger. It is most commonly used for cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin. Blockchain automatically and securely keeps a historical record, or ledger, of all transactions; working across a network of computers, cryptocurrencies can operate without a central authority. It is already revolutionizing online gambling and is now emerging in video games. For example, an emerging trend in gaming culture is the integration of cryptocurrency and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). NFTs allow blockchain to issue one-of-a-kind digital assets with unique attributes, meaning that players can acquire securely stored in-game assets. (Source: IntentaDigital http://bitly.ws/sLEU)

Time to Celebrate Women

The Women’s Expo is all about empowerment, wellbeing, pampering, fashion, friends and fun. It is a real celebration of Women complete with wall-to-wall carpets and chandeliers. Lots of great things to explore at the Women’s Expo with over 100 exhibitors showcasing their products and services. The 4th Annual Women’s Expo features wellness seminars, demonstrations, shopping, prizes and fashion shows. The Expo is FREE to attend. Plan to be at the largest Women’s Expo on Vancouver Island taking place in Nanaimo on September 23 and 24th. See the Expo website for Exhibitor Opportunities and information.

Peace of Mind on Vacation

Are you going on a vacation and worried about a loved one being alone? It is good to have options in place so that they can access help in an emergency. There are devices available that can summon help at the push of a button. A daily scheduled phone call is a good way to ensure that they are safe. Ask about our daily phone call Check-In Service. These friendly chats provide peace of mind and ensure that somebody knows that they are doing OK today. Vacation time is a perfect time to sign up a loved one for Lifeline services.

Enriching Quality of Life for Seniors

Quality of Life is about much more than having a roof over your head and food in the cupboard. It’s about what your community provides to ensure the emotional, physical, mental and social well-being of all its residents. SOS provides programs and services for seniors and adults who require assistance in order to age in place and remain independent. To learn more about SOS and how to access or support programs like Meals on Wheels, Oceanside Better at Home and Seniors Connecting, visit our website, call or come by our Community Services Centres in Parksville or at Qualicum Commons.

Make Wellness Your Number One Priority

We are constantly moving on the axis of “Wellness to Illness”. Only when we have repeated symptoms that slow us down and interfere with our busy lives, do we start paying attention to our bodies. It usually starts with stress and worries causing an imbalance of our energy on a cellular level. If this continues, additional stress on the body in the form of environmental toxins, EMFs or unhealthy foods increases the energy imbalance. In order to balance our energies, we need to incorporate wellness practices and routines to return our body back to homeostasis. We can help.

Have You Considered Senior Living?

Are you tired of cooking and cleaning? Do you find the responsibility of home ownership overwhelming? Are you lonely or often find yourself feeling sad? Today’s seniors have the option to live in beautiful surroundings where their independence is respected but assistance is available if required. Say goodbye to the responsibilities of grocery shopping, preparing meals, cleaning and maintenance and say hello to chef prepared meals and snacks, weekly housekeeping, 24 hour emergency response, access to wonderful amenities and lots of recreation and activities. It is recommend that you start looking for options BEFORE you have to do so.

Impact of Gambling Advertising

According to a recent study* in the National Library of Medicine, people with gambling problems report more exposure to and impact from gambling advertising. The study revealed that problem gambling was associated with increased perceived advertising impact on gambling involvement and awareness of gambling. It also revealed that internet advertising was the strongest predictor of perceived advertising impact on gambling involvement and TV advertising was the strongest predictor of advertising impact on knowledge of gambling forms, operators and awareness of gambling. If you need support, we are here. (*Relationships Between Exposure to Different Gambling Advertising Types, Advertising Impact and Problem Gambling)

Treating Heat-Related Health Problems

Summer is here and so is the heat! While many people enjoy the hot weather, it’s important to be proactive and safe when the temperature starts to rise. Some common heat-related issues include: 1) Dehydration – weakness, headache, fainting. Drink more water and electrolytes. 2) Heat stroke – body temperature of 40°C or higher, fast pulse, hot and dry skin. Cool down with shade/AC and water. Seek medical attention. 3) Heat exhaustion – heavy sweating, weakness, nausea. Cool down with shade/AC and drink plenty of fluids. 4) Heat syncope – fainting caused by high temperatures. Lie down with feet up. Drink plenty of water.

Profile: Nurse Next Door

Here at Nurse Next Door, it’s about caring, not just health care™. We help seniors stay in their own homes. The goal is to give families peace of mind and allow seniors to maintain their dignity and remain as independent as possible. Our extraordinary family of Caregivers will take care of your loved one so you can get back to being a daughter or son. Our in-home caregivers build relationships and encourage independence. Matched specially for your loved one, they’re flexible, supportive, and passionate about helping Mom or Dad live more comfortably. Contact us today for a free Caring Consult.

A Key to Better Blood Flow

Nitric oxide (NO) is a crucial molecule for many processes in the body. It is particularly important for blood vessel and brain health. NO promotes a widening of blood vessels which increases blood flow, lowering blood pressure. Research has also shown NO to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. To naturally increase NO, simply start humming. When we hum on the exhale of a breath, vibrations are generated in the sinuses which dramatically increases NO levels. Other options include eating more leafy greens such as Arugula and beets. Even though supplements are also available; nature provides the best way to get your nitric oxide.