PREREGISTERED DROP-IN PROGRAMS SILVER THREADS SERVICE
OTOTOXIC MEDICATIONS: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HEARING RISKS HEAR CENTRAL SAANICH TO THE SHORES OF THE ARCTIC OCEAN MILE ZERO TOURS
SILVER THREADS SERVICE – PREREGISTERED DROP-IN PROGRAMS
What is a preregistered Drop-in Program you may ask? These are weekly or monthly activities that you can attend as fits with your schedule – all you need to do is let us know by phone or in person you plan on attending so we can save your spot! This gives you flexibility and the opportunity to try di erent social, physical and creative activities.
Social Programs range from Bridge, chess, euchre and mahjong. Cost is $2 for members and $5 for non-members. These are o ered every week so you can join as it works for you! The Monthly Socials are o ered at each Centre on Tuesday from 1:30 to 2:30pm and are a good starting point if you are considering attending. The dates in February are the 18th for Victoria and the 25th for Saanich.
All our functional fitness and chair exercise classes, pickleball, badminton and table tennis are o ered weekly, on multiple days and spots can be booked by giving us a call. This allows you to try di erent sports, find one (or more) that you enjoy and go for it!
For those looking for a creative outlet, how about woodcarving? Self directed Painting? Knitting? Joining a choir? These are just some of the possibilities.
Our monthly Movies, Documentaries, Operas and Musical Bingo are an a ordable outing, and you will find the list in our monthly newsletters and in our Winter Program Guide
We operate two Centres, the Victoria Centre (250 388-4268) is located at 1911 Quadra Street near the Police Station. The Saanich Centre (250 382-3151) is at 286 Hampton Road near Tillicum Mall. Silver Threads Service is a charitable, not-for-profit organization that serves individuals 55 Plus. Our Winter 2025 Program Guide is now available, and registration is online, in person or by phone. Visit www. silverthreads.ca to view the Guide online and to register.
Silver Threads Service Session
2 Winter Registered Programs begin in February
Membership is now $25 to the end of March but is not required to participate, it will give you lower fees. Some of the registered
Brain Power Challenge 2025 Movement Split Word Game
programs are listed below, for details and the complete Program Guide visit www.silverthreads.ca
SAANICH CENTRE
286 Hampton Road
250 382-3151
ESSENTRICS starts Thursday, February 20th
EXPERIENCED UKULELE starts Wednesday, February 19th
GENTLE YOGA starts Thursday, February 20th
LINE DANCE starts Wednesday, February 19th
ZUMBA GOLD starts Friday, February 21st
VICTORIA CENTRE
1911 Quadra Street 250 388-4268
ESSENTRICS starts Wednesday, February 19th
QIGONG LEVEL 1 & 2 starts Tuesday, February 18th
EVENING PILATES starts Thursday, February 27th
ART JOURNALING starts Wednesday, February 5th
ART THERAPY starts Thursday, February 20th
BEGINNER UKULELE starts Friday, February 21st
If you are ready to amp up your cognitive function and take a proactive approach to your brain health, Silver Threads Service o ers programs that can support you in this health practice. Our Winter Programs include Dynamic Discussions and Brain Games. These programs are for those 55+ who would like to enhance their memory skills in an active and social group setting.
Call 250 382-3151 or visit www.silverthreads.ca for more information. Use the Movement theme and make words from the syllable fragments in each square. Cross out each grid as you use it.
Ototoxic Medications: What You Should Know About Hearing Risks
If you’ve never heard of ototoxic medication, you’re not alone. These are drugs that can affect your hearing or balance, and while they’re often prescribed for serious health conditions, it’s important to know how they can impact your ears. These medications can play an essential role in treating critical illnesses like infections, cancer, and chronic pain, but they come with some risks that need to be managed carefully. “Ototoxic” literally means “ear poisoning”.
COMMON EXAMPLES OF OTOTOXIC DRUGS INCLUDE :
• Pain relief – from over-thecounter pain relievers, such as Aspirin, to opioid-based narcotics
• Diuretics and some diabetes medications
• High blood pressure drugs
• Antibiotics for infections –aminoglycosides, such as gentamicin
• Chemotherapy cancer treatment – including platinum-based drugs
• Antimalarial drugs –quinine, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine
It’s important to monitor your ear health if you’re taking these medications. Pay attention to any new or changing issues like tinnitus (ringing in the ears), hearing loss, or balance problems. The tricky part is that these effects can develop gradually or appear suddenly, they can be permanent or temporary. That said, the ear is a sensitive organ, and damage can happen before you even notice symptoms – chances are if you are taking an ototoxic medication, you have a lot going on. Regular hearing tests can catch subtle changes early, giving your doctor a chance to assess your treatment plan. For example, they might lower your dose, switch to a less ototoxic medication, or recommend hearing support options.
If you start noticing changes in your hearing or balance—like muf ed sounds, trouble walking straight, or ringing in your ears— don’t ignore it. Speak up! Let your
Tuesday, January 28, 2025
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doctor know right away. Early intervention can make a huge difference in preventing further damage. See an audiologist who can perform ultra high frequency (>8kHz) testing as ototoxic damage is often seen in this range rst.
What can be done if you’re already dealing with hearing or balance issues? An audiologist can assess the extent of the damage and recommend treatments like hearing aids, balance therapy, or other strategies to help you adapt. Your audiologist will also ensure all of the specialists involved in your treatment are aware of the auditory issues and treatment in progress.
The bottom line? While ototoxic medications can be life-saving, they need to be managed with care. Monitoring your hearing and being proactive about any changes is the best way to protect your ears while still getting the treatment you need. Your health—and your hearing—deserve equal attention!
Call Hear Inc. at 778-351-114 5 for to book your hearing or balance assessment.
To the shores of the Arctic Ocean
Considered by many to be the ‘last frontier,’ Canada’s Yukon and Northwest Territories remains an unchecked item on many a traveller’s bucket list. Far more than a frozen wasteland, Canada’s North is absolutely brimming with life. Long days of sunlight in the summer and unbelievably breathtaking sights as far as the eye can see await you in this beautiful untouched wilderness. It’s a region where Canadian heritage is accentuated, with breathtaking ora, abundant fauna and a culture formed by the union of Indigenous Peoples and European settlement. Each summer, local tour operator Mile Zero Tours operates fully guided tours to the Yukon and Northwest Territories.
On the thirteen-day tour, travellers will experience northern culture rsthand. Highlights include trying your luck at gold
Highway to the secluded seaside community of Tuktoyaktuk, nestled on the edge of the Arctic Ocean. Learn about northern life both now and in days gone by, taste traditional arctic fare and dip your toe in the waters of the Arctic ocean.
panning in the Klondike, taking in a show at the famed Diamond Tooth Gerties, riding back in time on the stunning White Pass and Yukon railway, traveling the Top of the World Highway and soaking up the midnight sun. Stunning landscapes with breathtaking vistas can be seen across the north on trips to Tombstone and Kluane park. But perhaps the most memorable part of this journey is hearing the heart of the locals through enthralling tales and legends of this magical land where the compass leads rather than the clock.
While all this would certainly make for a once-in-a-lifetime excursion, the true highlight of this journey is venturing well beyond the Arctic Circle to the shores of the Arctic Ocean over the majestic expanses of tundra by airplane to the far northern community of Inuvik, Northwest Territories. Then travel the new Arctic
For many, travelling to remote destinations like Canada’s North may seem like an unreachable destination. But on a guided tour with Mile Zero Tours, your dream becomes a reality. The tour operator makes travel at any age a possibility for residents of Vancouver Island and offers home pickup and return throughout Greater Victoria. Whether traveling alone or with a friend, small group sizes allow you to create lasting connections with your fellow travellers, as you discover wonders together with the services of a caring and professional Tour Director to make your journey easy. What are your travel plans for 2025? For guided tours that begin and end at your front door, contact Mile Zero Tours at 250.590.0811. For more information or to book an upcoming tour please visit MileZeroTours.com
Their Final Journey: A Pallbearers’ Role in the Funeral Service
By: Laura Van Sprang, Manager of Sands Funeral Chapel of Victoria by Arbor Memorial
When I was young, I remember reading the poem Footprints by Margaret Powers, which is still one of my favourite pieces of writing today. It impacted me greatly, particularly the part where the individual sees only one set of footprints in the sand. When you continue reading, we nd out they haven’t been abandoned, but rather had been carried during the lowest and most hopeless times in their life.
This poem reminds me of the human connection we have for one another. To know that someone cares so deeply for you, they would bear some of the weight when they are needed most. That’s special. It only seems tting, and in our nature, to want to provide that timehonoured tradition of carrying our dearly departed loved ones to their nal resting place.
Being asked to be a pallbearer for a family member or close friend who has died can be a very emotional yet meaningful experience. Being chosen is a clear sign that you are a trusted and valued individual who has played a signi cant role in the person’s life to be given this responsibility. You want to make sure it is done with the dignity and respect it requires. Possibly, you have participated as a pallbearer before or perhaps it is your rst time …maybe even your rst funeral. Rest assured, there will be a team of funeral professionals on-site to guide you and lead you in the process. Including pallbearers in a service is a time-honoured tradition that should be considered even if a cremation is chosen as the nal disposition. We also see individuals chosen to carry the urn for a service,
on its own or with 2 to 4 urn bearers using an urn arch. This is a beautiful way to enter and exit the chapel and the cemetery with an urn.
There are no rules to who can perform the respectful duty. Even if someone is unable to carry to the casket or urn physically, perhaps due to a disability or being of a young or old age - they can still participate by walking beside the casket or urn as an honourary pallbearer. As our family members age, we are often faced with less family and friends available and it’s a good idea to have the conversation about who you would call upon, when the time comes, for you and your family members. It is also okay for you to let important people in your life know, it would be something you would be available and honoured to do.
It is so impactful to watch a casket being carried. The weight that is being taken on is more than just the individual themself - it is also the love, the loss, the honour, the memories, and the realization of this being the nal journey, that will be taken together.
When we are at our most vulnerable and no longer have the ability to carry ourselves, what an amazing gift and duty we perform for our loved ones, ensuring they are carefully transported on that nal journey, by those who loved them most. Many times, it is those who once carried us as children, that we may one day be called upon to carry ourselves, and our two sets of footprints, will again become one.
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Senior driving education vs assessment
Many geriatric researchers presenting at safety conferences agree that education, not testing, is the answer to seniors driving longer and safer.
Prior to intervention by family, government, medical personnel or police, seniors should take charge of their driving situation.
It is best to prepare for an impending driver assessment well ahead of time. It will relieve the stress of the unknown and the arrival of the dreaded letter. Seniors should be proactive, not reactive, when it comes to all sorts of things, particularly as it pertains to driving.
Many people believe seniors have a higher-than-normal crash frequency.
This is not true. They do have a much higher chance of injury in a crash because of the frailty brought on by
advanced age, particularly those over 75 years of age.
Two presenters at a Driving School Association of the Americas conference made a very strong case that senior-driver harassment by governing bodies exists throughout North America. The most common crashes listed in order of frequency and cause of injury are:
• The left turn at intersections, crossing multiple oncoming lanes of traf c, causes injury for all drivers. This type of crash is often due to declining depth perception in seniors and lack of experience in teens.
• The fact that oncoming vehicle drivers could change to the outside through-lane at an intersection, without warning, and be hidden behind the inside lane of two lanes
approaching, was also a factor. For both seniors with slower reaction times and teens lack of experience, lack of scanning contributes to this crash.
• Rear end crashes are very common. This is caused by all drivers not understanding time and distance for stopping. Understanding the consequences of tailgating is a lesson to be learned by all.
Again, seniors are more likely to experience more injury than a teen. Joan Wallace Driving School offers a free seminar for seniors at 2 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of every month.
To sign up, call 250-383-7483
Ask The Dentist!
by Dr. C Ross Crapo DDS
Q: I’m about to retire, so several months ago I visited my dentist. He’s a good guy and a friend so I told him I wanted to x up everything that might need it in the future. I said, “I can see my front teeth wearing, especially the bottom teeth – as well I’ve got this ugly upper front crown that sticks out and is longer than the rest.” He said, “I’ve anticipated this day and I have to say that your bite is one that not many can work with. You have an edge-toedge bite – you don’t have any overbite or underbite. In other words, the lower edges of your front teeth hit exactly the edges of your upper front teeth. This is the hardest bite pattern to x – at least for me. I think I’ll send you to see one of the specialists in the city to take care of you.” “That sounds expensive to me,” I said, “maybe it’s just too much. Couldn’t you do something,” I asked? He said, “I could but I’m not sure I’d get it right and you’d have to have it redone.” I thanked him for his honesty even if I was a bit disappointed, so I thought I’d get a second opinion before taking the referral to a specialist. Is my bite a big deal? Do I need a lot of work? I know my lower teeth are really worn down, so I don’t want that to keep going. What should be done?
A: Edge-to-edge bites are dif cult to restore. Not all edge-to-edge bites are equally dif cult so it takes careful analysis to discern the difference. Your dentist is still your friend and an honest one. It takes a good man or woman to know their limits and be true to them.
A Tough Nut To Crack
In a nutshell, severely worn edge-to-edge bites require full mouth rehabilitation – meaning that all the teeth need to be crowned. Sometimes the wear pattern indicates if this kind of bite can be corrected to a standard bite, which will prevent breakdown. Before anything happens, the restoring dentist must mock up the teeth on a special instrument and
make a diagnosis based on x-rays of the teeth and joints. Once done, he will show you and explain the costs. It is likely you will go through a trial period to test the new bite before it’s made permanent. If it works out that you function well after three to six months, he will make the dentistry permanent. On the other hand, if you nd that your speech and function is thrown off, he will have to mimic your old bite pattern with new teeth. In both cases, a full mouth rehabilitation will be necessary.
At the Victoria Implant Centre we treat all types of patients. It may be that we must get you on a healthy periodontal care program to ensure our implant procedures have the best foundation for success
If we can help, we’d like to. Call 778-410-2080 for a consultation. Based on actual patient cases ©Calvin Ross Crapo
Victoria Implant Centre 778-410-2080
VictoriaImplantCentre.com
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The Greater Victoria area, like much of B.C., has a diverse array
of seniors living, wellness and care options. For local residents, Route65.ca serves as a tool to help identify services that meet speci c needs. Whether for aging in place or transitioning to assisted living, Route65.ca is a resource that aims to reduce the stress often associated with these decisions by providing clarity and support.
The Route65.ca platform re ects BCCPA’s broader commitment to improving access to seniors living, wellness and care services across the province. By centralizing information, Route65.ca provides
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For anyone beginning their journey of navigating the seniors living, wellness and care continuum in B.C., having a reliable starting point like Route65.ca can make a meaningful difference. Visit Route65.ca to explore available options and resources or call our team toll-free at 1-877-955-6565 for navigation support.
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