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October 22 + 23. 10-3pm. Brain Booster Brian Camp presented by Tanja Yardley, Physiotherapist, brain health clinician & Martina Forster, Occupational Therapist, Cognitive Behavioral Therapist. Brain health is a critical piece of your overall health. Are you or someone you care about experiencing cognitive and mental health changes? Learn how to create an optimizing environment for your brain, how to manage your energy, foods for peak brain performance and how to boost your attention and focus. In a safe and supportive space learn exercises and techniques to create a home program to foster continued brain health.

Staying Social as a Senior

As we get older, health conditions, mobility limitations or a lack of energy can keep us from being as socially active as we once were. A diminishing social life might happen gradually as close friends experience the same conditions and family members grow busy. We may not even notice how long it has been since we last spent time with a friend! Isolation has many physical and emotional health risks. Especially if you live by yourself, staying socially active is critical to enjoying a healthy lifestyle. Volunteer at a local organization, join a senior living community or find a group that focuses on similar interests (e.g., knitting, water aerobics, cooking). Get back to living your best life!

Regaining Mobility & Independence

Our day-to-day lives often involve activities that require us to venture out into public, whether it’s going to the bank, attending medical appointments, shopping, or spending time with friends and family. For those who experience mobility challenges, simple errands can be more difficult and less convenient, especially when having to rely on others for transport. Mobility scooters can help you or your loved one regain a sense of independence and control as errands become easier and access to more destinations becomes possible again. Regaining mobility and independence can simplify our daily tasks and offer us more choices.

Acupuncture for Digestive Conditions

Symptoms like bloating, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, cramping, and abdominal pain are an indication that things are not moving through the digestive tract efficiently. The root cause of many digestive issues is often chronic stress, improper diet, poor sleep habits, and other lifestyle issues. Multiple scientific studies show that acupuncture may benefit the digestive tract by regulating gastric motility, reducing inflammation of the mucosal lining, regulating GI sensitivity (abdominal pain, bloating, irregular bowel movements), and balances the brain-gut axis, which is essentially how the brain communicates with the digestive tract and vice versa.

Building Your Estate Team

It’s important to enlist the help of others and assemble the right people on your estate planning team. Your team should include: 1) Family – Be proactive and clear about your wishes so that no one is in the dark about how you want to share your assets, and who to contact. 2) The Executor – person with the legal authority to represent your estate. Can be a capable friend or family member, or an appointed trust company (fees charged for services). 3) Your Financial Advisor – can help prepare an estate plan, knows your net worth and where to locate your assets.

Shockwave Therapy for Chronic Conditions

Do you suffer from a nagging injury like tennis elbow, achilles tendonitis, frozen shoulder, rotator cuff injuries or plantar fasciitis? Shockwave therapy is one of the best research-backed treatments for chronic musculoskeletal conditions that have not healed properly. It involves the application of acoustic sound waves to kick-start healing, control pain, and restore mobility. Often patients will feel relief after their first treatment and can expect more significant and lasting changes within 3-5 applications. Shockwave Therapy coupled with Class IV Laser Therapy is evidence based and the gold standard in tendon healing.

Book Club

Living Well Beyond Breast Cancer. A Survivor’s Guide for When Treatment Ends and the Rest of Your Life Begins. By Marisa Weiss and Ellen Weiss. With answers for everything from how to deal with hair loss and weight gain to finding online support groups and understanding healthy foods and supplements, Living Well Beyond Breast Cancer contains a greater depth and breadth of information that cover current treatment options and preventative tips for those at high risk for developing breast cancer.

Clean Eating Recipe

Butternut Squash Soup. Ingredients: 15 ml olive oil. 1 onion. 1 butternut squash. 2 celery stalks. 2 garlic cloves. 1 potato. 2 ml pepper. 1, 5 L vegetable broth. 250 ml cooking cream. Directions: Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat and sauté onions for 4 minutes. Add squash, celery, garlic, potato, and pepper. Pour in vegetable broth and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Simmer uncovered for 30 minutes. In a blender, puree mixture into a smooth soup. Return soup to the saucepan and add cream. Reheat over low heat before serving. Stir in 1 tbsp (15 mL) finely grated ginger and 1 tsp (5 mL) hot pepper flakes for a warm, spicy kick.

Single-Event Sports Betting

The CBC article, “Conservative MP says Sask. government has ‘dropped the ball’ on single-event sports betting, featured Waugh’s Bill C-218, also known as the Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act”. Bill C-218, passed by the Canadian Senate and received Royal Assent in June 2021, came into force August 2021. The legislation allows provinces and territories to conduct and manage single-event betting on any sporting event except horse racing. In November, the BC Lottery Corporation (BCLC) announced that BC residents had placed more than $25 million in single-event sports bets within two months of the legalization. If you run into trouble, support is available. (Source: https://bit.ly/3OJU3Um)
Karen Hlady, VI Gaming Support, VIGamingSupport.ca

Rheumatoid Arthritis & Oral Health

Rheumatoid arthritis can sometimes lead to other health complications, including oral conditions such as: 1) Oral infections – including bacterial and fungal infections. 2) Gingivitis – a mild form of gum disease that can cause swollen and tender gums. 3) Temporomandibular joint issues – causing pain when opening and closing your mouth. 4) Periodontitis – affects the bone and tissue supporting the teeth. 5) Sjögren’s syndrome – condition affecting the salivary glands that can lead to oral dryness and tooth decay. By seeing your dentist regularly and keeping up with your oral health through daily brushing and flossing, these conditions may be avoided or improved.

Optimizing Your Brain Health

Are you or someone you care about experiencing cognitive and mental health changes? Join Occupational Therapist Martina Forster and Brain Clinician Tanja Yardley for our Healthy Brain Camps to learn how to create an optimal environment for your brain, how to manage your energy, how to choose foods for peak brain performance, and how to boost your attention and focus. In a safe and supportive space, learn exercises and techniques to create a home program to foster continued brain health. Brain health is a critical piece of your overall health, and your ability to communicate, make decisions, move, and live a productive and useful life.