It is hard to watch the health of your loved one decline. Choosing residential care is an emotional and difficult time for the individual and their family. Exercising due diligence when choosing a home will pay off with a lot of peace of mind knowing that your loved one’s physical and medical challenges are met. Look beyond the decor and focus on the inner “gut” feeling you get when walking into a facility. Smaller private residential care can be a great alternative to the large institutions. It is also a solution while waiting for your turn for an Island Health subsidized bed.

Here are some tips from Parks and Recreation to help you stay active this fall season: * Change Your Perspective – Being active keeps you healthy. * Try Something New – Parks and Recreation now has Zumba drop-in classes at Oliver Wood for only $7. * Get Creative at Home – Invest in a few pieces of equipment and exercise for a few minutes each day. * Buddy Up – Make a commitment to exercise with somebody else. * Set a Goal –How about getting in 10,000 steps every day for three months?
Looking for ways to stay active? Check out the Activity Guide or visit recreation.nanaimo.ca.

Hearing aids have a life span of about 3-5 years. With good maintenance and care, they can last many years after that. However, to receive the best care and technology, it is recommended to invest in new hearing aids after the initial 3-5 years. Faster processing within the hearing aids, improvements in speech-in-noise, rechargeability and wireless connectivity are just some of the technological advancements. Hearing aids are programmed specific to your hearing loss and process sounds to best meet your needs. Contact your hearing professional to find out more about the best investment in technology for your hearing loss and lifestyle.

Kickstart your day with a super clean, raw and nutritionally dense organic drink that increases alertness and stamina. Coconut MCT, Maca super-food, Matcha green tea and many other key juiced powders, together with zero calorie Monk fruit, and even human strain probiotics round out this fantastic Kickstarter! A health-packed alternative to coffee & conventional energy-boosting drinks, PURE GREEN ENERGY gives vigor without potentially harmful effects of excess stimulants. It is also a perfect pre-and-post-workout supplement to replenish essential nutrients, improve cardio performance, and revive your workday energy drain.

Studies show that having a sense of belonging, being part of a community, and making a meaningful contribution to a cause that you believe in, are beneficial to your health. In fact, it greatly enhances your chances of living longer and feeling happier. If you are a woman in the Ladysmith area and would like to be part of a newly formed support group, please put these dates in your diary: 30th Nov and 28th Dec. 6.30-8.30pm. By donation (Suggested $10-20), all proceeds to reforestation projects. Help heal yourself AND save the planet! Contact ElizabethMorelle@gmail.com for information.

Selecting hearing technology and a treatment plan for an individual with hearing loss is very thorough and takes all aspects into consideration. If physical limitations such as reduced dexterity or vision loss are present, Hearing Care Professionals will find the best way to accommodate and meet your needs. They look at various options and work with hearing aid manufacturers to add and/or modify features to accomodate these limitations. In addition, they have alternate ways to manage insertion, removal and maintenance of the hearing aids. Hearing Care Professionals will work with you to solve these and any other issue in question.

Visiting your loved ones in the nursing home helps them stay emotionally engaged. Here are some things to keep in mind when visiting. Respect the resident’s privacy. Knock before you enter the room and step out into the hall when personal care is being provided. Be warm in your interactions and use a gentle touch. Keep the conversation positive and refrain from arguing, especially if visiting a person with dementia. Don’t bring food or beverages unless you check with the staff first. Don’t stay too long. Look for cues that your loved one may be getting tired or stressed.

Sitting down with your loved ones to talk about their lives can be a rich and satisfying experience. Learning about people, places and events that they find memorable, can help bring you closer to the ones you care about. Have the Talk of a Lifetime with the people you hold dear—your parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, your spouse. Sometimes, using a visual prompt such as a photo album, souvenir, or memento, can be a great way to start a conversation. Your conversation can take place anywhere at any time, not just near the end of life.

Mobility problems such as unsteadiness while walking and difficulty getting in and out of a chair are often associated with aging. The number one mobility problem that older people experience is falls. When older people have falls, even if the fall isn’t serious, they often become fearful of falling again. This can lead to inactivity that can cause additional health problems. One of the most important things you can do to help someone with mobility problems and fear of falling is to encourage physical activity. There are many simple exercise that can be done to improve mobility and strength.