What a tough year it has been! Everyone is at wit’s end with Covid fatigue. With vaccines now rolling out in care homes and the promise for the rest of Canada’s seniors on the heels of that, we will soon be able to breathe a sigh of relief. It’s been a long, tough haul so it is good to see the light at the end of the tunnel. We just need to remain vigilant a little longer. If you or someone you know is struggling with depression, the Crisis Intervention & Suicide Prevention line is open 24 hours/day with wonderful volunteers who genuinely care – 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433).
Community News
Quit Smoking in 2021
Do you know that in Canada, 100 people die every day from smoking related illness? Smoking is responsible for more deaths than obesity, physical inactivity or high blood pressure. Our unique 3 step Stop Smoking laser treatment package can help you quit smoking FOR GOOD! The cold laser balances the energy flow between acupuncture points to detox your body and helps alleviate all nicotine addiction and cravings. This non-invasive treatment will have you completely detoxed in 72 hours! Within one week with 2-3 Sessions you can be SMOKE FREE! If you have finally had enough, give us a call!
Community Profile: Bastion Physiotherapy
Bastion Physiotherapy offer expert service in the field of rehabilitation. For more than 17 years, D’Arcy Boulton, Registered Physiotherapist B.Sc (PT) and his team, have been providing a warm, welcoming and professional environment. They use the latest therapy techniques to help patients overcome physical obstacles, regain mobility and prevent repeat injuries. Their client centered approach will have you back doing the activities that you love best in the shortest time possible. The clinic offers free Pole Walking seminars that highlighting proper use of poles. The proven benefits of Urban Poling include better balance and stability, increased mobility and healthy weight management.
Welcome 2021
What a relief to have 2020 behind us. Although we still need to adhere to health restrictions for a while longer, 2021 should bring brighter days. We look forward to seeing people in the coffee shops again enjoying the social connection and reading our newsletters. Until that time, you can connect on line with health and wellness resources in our WellnessHUB. We have missed the excitement of our Expos, promoting our vendors, booking interesting seminars and seeing all the attendees. While we are sad that the Women’s Expo will not be happening this year, we are hopeful that the Health Expo is a go for September.
Enjoy the Outdoors!
If there is one thing that we learned from 2020, it is the importance of our health. Make 2021 the year for living a healthy lifestyle. We may still need to wear masks and practice social distancing, but outside our door is the beautiful nature of our Vancouver Island. Whether it is just a walk around the block, or a hike up Mount Benson, the fresh air and exercise boosts 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.
Gambling to Relieve Stress?
Covid-19’s second wave crashed hard onto our shores. Although public health orders restricted our holiday festivities, our credit card bills may be starting to pile up. During these times, online gambling can become attractive to people seeking to relieve stress or to alleviate financial burdens. This could potentially place us in a position to gamble beyond our means, especially when left to our own devices and seeking comfort. If you or someone you love is struggling with a gambling issue, please call 1-888-795-6111. Or go to https://bit.ly/3nxYiFV to directly send a message. A Gambling Outreach Support worker will contact you within 24 hours.
Bereavement and Grief Support
Honouring the life of a loved one is always a unique situation. During our current pandemic situation, stress and overwhelm can increase, making bereavement and grief support more important than ever. Cedar Valley Memorial Gardens and Arbor Memorial offers numerous supports to help you cope with the loss of a family member or friend. Online support groups provide an opportunity for grievers to offer support to one another regardless of their geographic location. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has created challenges involving traditional funeral arrangements, our funeral staff is committed to providing safe opportunities for final goodbyes.
Your Smoking Cessation Action Plan
Do you wish to stop smoking? Your pharmacist can provide advice and guide you through this journey. Here’s an action plan: *Choose a starting point – pick a date and tell your friends and family and ask them for support. *Meet your pharmacist to help determine how dependent you are on nicotine *Follow a personalized treatment plan – your pharmacist can prescribe a tailored solution, including nicotine replacement products *Reward yourself when you’re progressing. Many benefits of a smoke-free life can be felt in the long-term and some benefits are almost instant as well. So keep on going!
Retirement Community Living
With all of the fears about Covid-19, people are struggling to make a decision about moving into a retirement community. It is reassuring to know about the extra cleaning, extra staff, adherence to wearing masks and social distancing rules. Yet it is the fear of the unknown that makes it hard to make a decision. What will happen when I move in? Can I leave? Can I see loved ones? May I have visitors? How are concerns handled? Reach out to the communities, ask your questions so that you can rest assured that you have all the facts to able to make an informed decision.
Tips on Healthy Eating!
Healthy eating habits are more than just the foods we eat. Be mindful of your eating habits; take the time to eat throughout the day and notice when you are hungry or full. Try setting regular break and lunch times without distractions during the day so you can focus on your nutrition. Make water your drink of choice. Try drinking a glass of water first thing in the morning and between and with each meal throughout the day. Filling up a water bottle before you start your day and keeping it nearby will help remind you. You may be surprised at how energized you feel when you are properly hydrated.
Health is a Precious Asset
The arrival of the new year brings new ideas, excitement and New Year’s resolutions. 2020 brought into focus the realization that health is our most precious asset. In the upcoming year, many of us choose to adopt healthy habits including revamping our diets and exercise. Reducing risk factors are another way to improve our health. We participate in risk reduction by wearing masks and physical distancing. For seniors, one of the biggest risk factors is not being able to quickly access help in an emergency. Whether fall or other emergency, quick access to help is directly correlated to improved outcomes.
