Health Tips
Please note: We do not provide professional medical advice. These are tips and tricks learned by our members and shared for you. Check with your professional health experts to ensure information is appropriate for you!
MEASLES INFECTION
Call to 811 provided the following information:
If you had measles as a kid, then you should be immune. If you are not sure, you could either get the vaccine (just in case) or ask for a blood test to check. (There is a blood test that will determine if you have immunity.) However, they would assume anyone born before January 1/1970 to have natural immunity. If you are working in health care, they would look for a birthdate before 1957.
It is spread by droplet. So, close contact, the person breathing around you, coughing, sneezing, sharing drinks or food. The drops can survive in the air for a couple of hours.
Call to 811 provided the following information:
If you had measles as a kid, then you should be immune. If you are not sure, you could either get the vaccine (just in case) or ask for a blood test to check. (There is a blood test that will determine if you have immunity.) However, they would assume anyone born before January 1/1970 to have natural immunity. If you are working in health care, they would look for a birthdate before 1957.
It is spread by droplet. So, close contact, the person breathing around you, coughing, sneezing, sharing drinks or food. The drops can survive in the air for a couple of hours.
MANAGING MULTIPLE MEDICATIONS?
Stay on top of your health with FREE medication review services offered by BC pharmacists & covered by MSP.
Eligibility: BC residents with a valid BC Services Card and 5+ medications prescribed in the last six months.
Here’s How It Works:
1. Contact your local pharmacy to book a medication review.
2. Gather all your medications to bring to your appointment – including prescription & over-the-counter meds,
vitamins, & natural health products.
3. Your pharmacist will provide personalized advice on:
- How & when to take your meds
- Possible side effects
- Medication interactions
- Allergy checks
LEARN MORE:
BC Pharmacy Association – Medication Review Services: bcpharmacy.ca/resource-centre/health-issues/medication-review-services
Check out “Medication Management Tips” from the KB Patient Education Team: kbpacc.ca/2-medications/
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Dental Information |
Dental health is very important for our overall health. Poor oral care may lead to health issues - it is often noted to be present when heart issues arise.
MLA Steve Morissette's office has supplied the following links that will help you get registered for dental care if you are not already PLUS, some avenues to look for extra financial aid.
‘Emergency dental services for the relief of pain are provided to all recipients of income assistance, disability assistance, and hardship assistance. Dentures are provided to recipients who meet specific eligibility criteria.’ Dental & Orthodontic Services - Province of British Columbia
Has the person been able to apply for Canadian Dental Care Plan - Apply - Canada.ca?
A third option if neither of the above work would be to see if they could get a Crisis Supplement - Province of British Columbia.
MLA Steve Morissette's office has supplied the following links that will help you get registered for dental care if you are not already PLUS, some avenues to look for extra financial aid.
‘Emergency dental services for the relief of pain are provided to all recipients of income assistance, disability assistance, and hardship assistance. Dentures are provided to recipients who meet specific eligibility criteria.’ Dental & Orthodontic Services - Province of British Columbia
Has the person been able to apply for Canadian Dental Care Plan - Apply - Canada.ca?
A third option if neither of the above work would be to see if they could get a Crisis Supplement - Province of British Columbia.
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Wellbeing is a sense of feeling good. It is central to your overall health and involves many areas of your life. It includes the mind-body connection, or in other words, the connection between mental health (mind) and physical health (body). Wellbeing can also be impacted by, or it can influence, all the different parts of life. Click the button to find out more!
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Keeping Clean - Getting a Bidet Dec 23/22
One of our members received some information on a bidet which attaches to the toilet. The bidet assists seniors who are nervous about getting into the tub or shower to stay clean in that area and sponge wash the rest of their body at the sink. Doing daily washing this way also means that seniors don’t have to worry about cleaning the tub since it is no longer being used.
The first people with it have had the bidet in use for around two years and found it to be very effective. Using the bidet has greatly reduced the amount of toilet paper used – good news for those of us with septic tanks. (And, those affected by pandemic buying!) A family member helped install the bidet and during early trials, our member has been very impressed with its efficacy.
There are three levers on the side of the toilet now—one to control water temperature, one to control pressure of the water, and one to direct the area the water will hit. (It also has a ‘female’ switch allowing the front area to be washed.) The bidet is hooked up to the hot water coming into the bathroom sink.
NOTE: This bidet and others are available through Amazon or in local plumbing supply stores. The first pictured one costs around $100.00 and provides both cold and hot water. It does require someone to install it.
We believe this is a much less expensive way to go to help seniors stay clean in their own homes, without much assistance, than buying one of those fancy tubs you sit in or a walk-in shower.
One of our members received some information on a bidet which attaches to the toilet. The bidet assists seniors who are nervous about getting into the tub or shower to stay clean in that area and sponge wash the rest of their body at the sink. Doing daily washing this way also means that seniors don’t have to worry about cleaning the tub since it is no longer being used.
The first people with it have had the bidet in use for around two years and found it to be very effective. Using the bidet has greatly reduced the amount of toilet paper used – good news for those of us with septic tanks. (And, those affected by pandemic buying!) A family member helped install the bidet and during early trials, our member has been very impressed with its efficacy.
There are three levers on the side of the toilet now—one to control water temperature, one to control pressure of the water, and one to direct the area the water will hit. (It also has a ‘female’ switch allowing the front area to be washed.) The bidet is hooked up to the hot water coming into the bathroom sink.
NOTE: This bidet and others are available through Amazon or in local plumbing supply stores. The first pictured one costs around $100.00 and provides both cold and hot water. It does require someone to install it.
We believe this is a much less expensive way to go to help seniors stay clean in their own homes, without much assistance, than buying one of those fancy tubs you sit in or a walk-in shower.
Mammograms/Breast Cancer Screening
Recently, we became aware that once you reach age 74, you are no longer notified when you are due for a mammogram. You need to take care of the tracking yourself and then phone to book your appointment.
Please have your BC Services Card/CareCard and the name of your primary care provider available when you're booking your appointment. A primary care provider plays an important role in cancer screening. They can advise you about the benefits and limitations related to screening, order tests, and follow-up on test results.
If you don't have a primary care provider, you can call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1 and speak with a Health Service Navigator. They will review options with you, including how to find a family doctor accepting new patients, accessing walk-in clinics, or finding a nurse practitioner in your community.
Contact BC Cancer Screening Programs, Client Services Center:
1-800-663-9203 or 604-877-6187
This screening is crucial and may save your life. Please be sure to start tracking dates and book your mammogram.
Nurse Specializing in Wound, Ostomy and Continence (NSWOC) services
(Previous title: Enterostomal Nurse) in Trail, Rossland, Fruitvale & Surrounding areas
The title has been changed from ET nurse to NSWOC services - Nurse Specializing in Wound, Ostomy and Continence. The nurse is a registered RN who has specialized training in treating patients with ostomies (ileostomy, colostomy, urostomy) and wound care patients.
For any questions and/or information - contact:
Erin Lukkar RN at phone #: 250-365-4363 or email: [email protected]
For any questions and/or information - contact:
Erin Lukkar RN at phone #: 250-365-4363 or email: [email protected]
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Updated Sept 13/21
WEST KOOTENAY TEETH CLINIC Provides access to more affordable dental care, including dentures, for low income individuals and families throughout the West Kootenay Boundary area. Please inquire about COVID 19 protocols and policies. Applicants must provide proof of income and minimum of 3 month residency to complete the eligibility assessment. Phone the Hot-line to get up-to-date information re registration assistance in a particular community in the West Kootenay and Boundary. Currently, applications and registration available on line or in the following communities: Nelson: - Community TEETH Clinic 632 Front Street: every 2nd and 4th Thursday: 10 am - noon - Community First Health Co-op Resource and Education Centre 204 - 518 Lake Street - Seniors Coordinating Society 719 Vernon St: every Ist and 3rd Thursday 10 am - noon or by appointment in: Kaslo: North Kootenay Lake Community Services: 250-353-7691 ext 303 Castlegar: Community Harvest Food Bank: 250-608-2227 Nakusp: Paulette Sparreboom: 250-265-4020 Salmo: Salmo & District Chamber of Commerce, 100 - 4th Street: 250-357-2596; [email protected] Trail : Esther Brown, First Presbyterian Church, 1139 Pine Ave., Trail on Fridays from 1:30-3:30. Please call 250-921-5484 to book an appointment.
EXERCISE!
The World Health Organization states there are two things in our personal control that have a HUGE impact on our health - you are right if you guessed one is Food - Healthy Eating! Of course, it follows that the other is Exercise! So, are you tired of the same old routines and looking for something new to do? Here are some exercise videos to try. These are from the Western Canadian Center for Activity and Aging - Active at Home site. www.uwo.ca/ccaa/programs/videos/index.html |
Kootenay Boundary Divisions of Family Practice BC
November 29, 2019
Here are some suggestions that will help keep us healthy:
Here are some suggestions that will help keep us healthy:
- Sitting continuously can cause blood clots – after 20 minutes of sitting (in a plane, in a car or even watching tv) - get up and move around for 10. (This does not necessarily mean to use tv ads as a time to restock the snack plate from the fridge!) If you can’t move around freely, then do some chair exercises.
- Have a drink of water when you first get out of bed – helps coat your stomach prior to breakfast and makes it easier to digest meds as well as reducing pressure on your bowels. NOTE: Hydration may help ward off strokes, too!
Another spot of information on Flu Vaccines October 15, 2019
During a recent discussion with the Pharmacist, he mentioned that it takes two weeks for the flu vaccine to take effect. Then, it has the greatest protection for the following three months with a lesser protection level for the fourth month—i.e. if you have the vaccine mid- to end of October, you are protected pretty well until the middle to end of February which covers most of the ‘flu season. Be sure not to ask for vaccine too early, because the protection may end before it is needed!
During a recent discussion with the Pharmacist, he mentioned that it takes two weeks for the flu vaccine to take effect. Then, it has the greatest protection for the following three months with a lesser protection level for the fourth month—i.e. if you have the vaccine mid- to end of October, you are protected pretty well until the middle to end of February which covers most of the ‘flu season. Be sure not to ask for vaccine too early, because the protection may end before it is needed!
