Community News
Helping Seniors Eat Healthy

Seniors need to get adequate nutrients from their meals to help them reduce the risk of serious health conditions, stabilize their mood, and maintain their mental health. Retirement communities help meet seniors’ nutrition needs by providing meals that are low in saturated fats and have moderate amounts of unsaturated fat, which promotes a stable body mass index (BMI) and metabolism. Healthy portion sizes support a healthy weight for older adults by preventing excessive calorie intake. If you or a loved one have questions about proper nutrition and eating habits for seniors, reach out to your care provider or retirement community.

AJ Pedal Wheelchair

Whether your mobility has been impacted by Parkinson’s, MS, a stroke, or knee or hip trouble, the AJ Pedal Wheelchair is designed to get you moving again. Like a bike, it’s powered by you – so you can reconnect with your body, rebuild muscle tone and improve your cardiovascular system. Designed to maneuver in tight spaces, the AJ rides easily into elevators, buildings and shopping centres. More robust than a wheelchair, the AJ allows you to pedal through parks, along sidewalks and even ride public transit. Each AJ is hand built in Victoria, BC, using durable materials for a safe and sturdy ride.

Product Profile: VoxxLife Wearable Technology

Over the past four years, Great Socks for All has introduced pain relief and enhanced balance to the people on Vancouver Island. A Canadian, searching for drug free pain relief for his mother’s MS symptoms, spent several years and millions of dollars analysing brainstem functionality and the peripheral nervous system. The result of the research is a very specific sequence and pattern of neuroreceptor activation on the bottom of the feet. This pattern is incorporated into VOXXLife socks and insoles. Benefits include enhanced pain relief and management, especially PDN pain, enhanced postural stability and balance, improved mobility and higher energy levels.

Be Kind to Yourself

Silencing your inner critic takes time and practice, especially if yours has been taking centre stage. Maryse Cardin, author and motivational speaker from www.selftalklove.com, talks about how it is important to stop and take notice of what we are telling our selves. Is what you’re saying encouraging, complimentary or something you would say to your loved ones? If not, it’s time to turn the station and “switch the song”. Remember a happy time in your life. A time that fills you with joy. Maryse indicates that when we stop catastrophizing, and instead tell ourselves what we are grateful for, we can sooth our systems.

Good Posture is Important

Growing up, most of us heard our mother tell us not to slouch and “Sit up straight”. This was very good advice. A proper posture position keeps your body in alignment. Proper posture decreases the wear and tear of joint surfaces, you have less stress on your ligaments and also makes it easier for your muscles to work efficiently. With good posture, you will have less muscle strain and less back pain. A spine has three natural curves that are retained by good posture. A chiropractor can help you retain or regain the natural curves of the spine which will result in good posture and better overall back health.

Importance of Regular Eye Exams

Many of us take our vision for granted. We assume that if we can see fine then we do not need an eye exam. Periodic eye and vision examinations performed by an optometrist are an important part of caring for your eyes, vision, and overall health since many eye and vision problems have no obvious signs or symptoms. Obvious signs that it is time for an eye exam include; difficulties seeing in the distance or up close, unexplained headaches or trouble reading at any distance. Early diagnosis and treatment of eye and vision problems can help prevent vision loss.

Profile: Westshore Dental Centre

Taking care of their patients’ teeth for life is important at the Westshore Dental Centre. The dental practice is devoted to restoring and enhancing the natural beauty of your smile. They offer a broad range of services, including: *Routine family dental care, *Cosmetic dentistry, *Zoom!®/Sapphire™ bleaching, *One-appointment Crowns. For the comfort of their patients, they offer oral or IV sedation and a TV on the ceiling. Understanding that some patients may feel uneasy about their dental visits, the entire team is dedicated to providing excellent, personalized care and service to make your visits as comfortable and pleasant as possible.

New Health and Wellness Resource

Today, more than ever, people are searching for local health and wellness resources. We are proud to bring Wellnessnews Choices for Healthy Living® to the Westshore. This is the sixth edition on Vancouver Island. To us, Healthy Living means making positive choices and taking ownership and action to improve and enrich our lives in all key areas; physical, mental and spiritual. In order to achieve Healthy Living, we need information about positive health practices and a guide to the resources available to us. Wellnessnews Choices for Healthy Living® is proud to present a One-Stop Resource where our community can find local health and wellness information. Our Wellness Hub enables people on Vancouver Island to easily find and support local businesses, read health tips and find out what is happening in the community.

The Canadian Lower Risk Gambling Guidelines

The Canadian Lower Risk Gambling Guidelines were released in September. They include. Guideline 1: Gamble no more than 1% of household income, e.g.: $60,000 annual gross income = $50/month. Guideline 2: Gamble no more than 4 days per month = roughly once a week. Guideline 3: Avoid regularly gambling at more than two types of games, including lotteries, sports betting, table games, slot machines, scratch tickets, horse racing, bingo, video lottery terminals (VLTs), and online gambling. See more at gamblingguidelines.ca . Mental health & addictions, gambling type and reasons for gambling can make these guidelines difficult to follow. Reach out at VI Gaming Support! We’re here for you!

Reiki Really Works

Reiki is an energy healing treatment that works holistically; on the whole body, mind and spirit. Natural healing vibrations are transmitted through the hands of a Reiki practitioner to the body of the recipient. Reiki treatment can relieve stress and pain, induce relaxation, release emotional blockages, accelerate natural healing, balance subtle energies, and support other medical modalities, including traditional therapies. Reputable medical facilities are now offering patients alternative healing programs such as Reiki, and are analyzing the benefits and submitting them for review and compilation. Look at your options on how you can learn Reiki to experience personal healing and also to help others.

Maximizing Your Retirement

Are you getting the most out of your retirement? Many retirees feel stuck, afraid to make decisions that will have an impact on their finances due to uncertainty around affordability during retirement.
In working with our clients, we develop a cohesive Total Wealth Plan, test boundaries and help clients build confidence around their retirement and finances.
Book a free consultation with our team to learn more about your financial capabilities and make decisions with confidence!