When feet hurt …
Fallen arches might be caused by back problems. Are you surprised by this statement? It would have surprised me ten years ago because we are constantly reading and hearing that when we have foot pain we should buy orthotics, insoles and arch supports. When feet hurt, our first step is to get the right shoes and supports, but the answer to pain may be a step further. Consulting a foot health specialist can bring definitive diagnosis and treatment for your pain. In Germany this is called Senk-Knickfuss-Syndrom (fallen-arch-syndrome). The term “syndrome” means that nobody...
Read MoreAre you at Nutritional Risk?
“34% of Canadian Seniors are at Nutritional Risk … says Statistics Canada”. When I first heard this statement on the news last year, the first thought that came to mind was “I believe that statistic in reality is higher”. Additional highlights which the study found were: • 34% of Canadians aged 65 or older were at nutritional risk • 15% skipped meals almost every day • 18% ate fewer than two servings of fruit and vegetables daily • 23% never or rarely ate with someone • 18% found cooking a chore To how many of the above statements can you say “Yes, that’s me!”? The...
Read MoreLessons of Stone Soup
I recently discovered a new – to me – Island magazine Island Farm & Garden Resourceful Living. As a magazine buff, I was really impressed by the quality of both its format and its content. The publisher, Lesley Lorenz, has created a first class magazine and she should be congratulated. Another talented Island woman who makes the Island so special. It is available in print and online. The article below was published the winter 2013/2014 issue and is yet another example of the resourcefulness and tenacity of Island women. Please read this and then consider how we can emulate...
Read MoreListen to the signs
Our body gives us signs long before disease strikes … what are they? Are they easy to notice? Do we need tests? Do they have to be painful? Actually there is only one health problem and that is the inability of cells to communicate with each other. Depending on the area in which this occurs, the problem gets a name and these are the known diseases. The energy that travels throughout the body is called Chi or Qi. This energy is essential for our well being. It travels in channels, called meridians. When the Chi-flow is impeded, the cells cannot communicate properly. We all know...
Read MoreTop 10 greatest things about aging
“Life is a country that the old have seen, and lived in. Those who have to travel through it can only learn the way from them.” – Joseph Joubert Aging is great! We all do it, albeit at seemingly different rates, and we share this trait with each other with varying levels of grace. Wouldn’t it be great to celebrate aging more? Well, I’m not willing to stand by and wait … So here is a list of greatest things about aging, with tongue firmly placed in cheek, for you to enjoy: 1. Time. You have much time to enjoy, or do whatever you please with. All those fun and interesting things...
Read MoreMaking Dreams Come True
Back in summer we wrote about ‘Celebrating Aging’. In that column I wrote about the Dream On Seniors Wish Foundation and how the mission of this foundation is to make the dreams of seniors come true; to celebrate aging. Well, that isn’t the end of this chapter. During the summer, we at Nurse Next Door had the opportunity to team up with Vancouver Island University (VIU) in Nanaimo, with their MBA Program specifically, and raise awareness and funds in the community. The vehicle for the fundraising was a great idea proposed by VIU – an event based on the TV show ‘The Apprentice’,...
Read MoreAlternative Healing Directions
When we don’t feel vital, alert, and full of joy and optimism, our body wants to tell us something … no matter how old we are! Who of us is listening to what our body wants to tell us??? We are told that it is just a part of life or of getting older … and most of us believe this. What can we do to regain well being? We can take pills. The symptoms will go away but the true cause is mostly not addressed; therefore we have to take the pills until the end of our life. What is the true cause? It is most likely physical or emotional trauma, toxins or other environmental hazards that...
Read MoreLoss and Grieving
Three of our longer term clients passed away recently. They were wonderful people and will always be in our memory and a special part of our company’s history. They also made us think of the loss and grieving process in more depth. Grieving has five stages. Although everyone who goes through bereavement will experience all stages, the amount of time spent in each stage, as well as the order in which each stage is experienced, will differ by individual. The five stages are: Denial and Isolation The first reaction to learning of terminal illness or death of a loved one is to deny reality....
Read MoreMy Mom and Michael J Fox
I was surprised years ago by Michael J. Fox’s skill as a writer. I read ‘Lucky Man’ when it first came out in 2002 and wondered if the creative piece that informs his acting also contributes to his engaging writing. What was most notable, however, was his outlook: this was a grateful man. Years after his initial diagnosis of Parkinson’s, he is still feeling fortunate. Upon hearing that there might be what the media is calling an ‘optimism gene’ (based on research by psychologist and neuroscientist Elaine Fox [no relation to Michael]. See article in Maclean’s, August 7,...
Read MoreCelebrating Aging
You know what’s really amazing? It’s something that we all share! Aging. Ok, I’m being a bit facetious here … but isn’t it about time we started celebrating aging more? I mean, we’re all doing it at an alarming rate (especially over the age of 25 when time seems to speed up)! I’m not talking about a STAT day or anything (although June IS the only lonely month without a STAT…) – but celebrating aging with fun, every day! Well, as it turns out, one great new foundation is celebrating aging. The Dream On Seniors’ Wish Foundation aims to celebrate aging and make the dreams of...
Read MoreHow Sweet It Is!
The first pleasure of my mornings starts with drooling a spoonful of golden honey into that first cup of coffee. Only then do the lists and chores of the day follow the sweet sipping from a sturdy wide-bottomed mug. Beekeeping naturally precedes the collection of honey, and beekeeping has often been out of favour in urban areas. But with the growing interest in and appreciation of homegrown food, the option of keeping a hive or two of bees in one’s own backyard is again becoming part of a homeowner’s possibilities for providing her own food. Just this spring, Qualicum Beach adopted a...
Read MoreChanging Landscape of Care
Last month, the Canadian Home Care Association, which is considered the voice for home care in Canada, released the 2013 ‘Portraits of Home Care in Canada’ Report. Released every five years, this extensive report is a reflection of critical home care as a component of an integrated, person-centred health care system. Some of the key areas of focus in this report include governance, access, funding, service delivery, quality assurance, challenges and opportunities. Some of the staggering statistics that came out of the report follow: No. of individuals in Canada receiving home care in...
Read MoreA pain in the butt
This morning I awoke with a jolt. A vicious cramp in my left hamstring is definitely not my favourite way to start the day. I had become increasingly aware, over the past month or so, that my derriere was trying to communicate some discomfort to me – a result of too much sitting. A couple of nights before this rude awakening, I had actually had a discussion with someone about pains in the butt. I was informed that a recent article has declared that sitting has now become the “new smoking” – the danger of too much sitting translates into a heightened increase of many...
Read MoreWhen only you will do
Last article we looked at some best practices for family dynamics and planning for care of aging parents. And typically, what can happen during that planning process is that the parent declines outside help in favour of your help! Declining assistance outside of the family might come in a few different ‘packages’: • “Your mother and I are doing just fine on our own” • “Your father and I don’t want strangers coming in to our home” • “We have you around … Aren’t you able to help us?” (Ouch! Pulling at the guilt strings!) • “Maybe with you and a few of our...
Read MoreAbreast Of Life
“You take on rough waters with the challenge of winning Dragon Boat competitions – it is a brilliant metaphor for your own individual battles and for your many victories over this disease.” Thus did BC’s then Lieutenant-Governor, Her Honour Iona Campagnola, welcome nearly three hundred breast cancer survivors at Government House in 2006. The gala reception and dinner celebrated the tenth anniversary of Victoria’s survivor team, Island Breaststrokers. Our own Central Vancouver Island team of survivors, Abreast of Life was there to hear Her Honour continue, “This is the...
Read MoreFamily preparations are key
Last month, we discussed the primary areas to consider when aging parents are on the cusp of needing some support to remain independent and safe at home. These included discussing expectations, managing at home, identifying additional services, future health wishes, finances, and of course, happiness. In this edition, we will take a deeper dive into the family preparations for upcoming care needs for aging parents. These are not necessarily your parents’ need to prepare, but as you will eventually find out either way, what you need to do as their son or daughter to prepare. And trust me...
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