Archives 2023

Happy New Year! As we welcome in 2024 this is the time not only to reflect on the past year, but also make resolutions and set goals for the new year. This is a great time to set personal goals for yourself, as resolutions for the new year is such a well-recognized practice. Everyone is making plans, which creates a great mutual support network. Of course it is also well-recognized that many resolutions fail, however it does not have to be that way. Here are some things to consider if you’re going to make resolutions and want them to be successful.

Recovering from a stroke can be a challenging journey, not just for the individual affected but also for their loved ones. One of the key aspects of this journey is adapting the home environment to ensure safety, comfort, and support during the recovery process. At Island Mediquip, we understand the importance of creating a living space that caters to the new needs of stroke survivors. This blog aims to provide practical tips and insights on how to adjust your home post-stroke.

Sleep plays a vital role in overall health, as sleep deprivation is linked to many chronic health problems, including heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, obesity, and depression. Getting enough quality sleep at the right times is vital for mental health, physical health, quality of life, and safety. Here are a few tips for better sleep, and some of the benefits of care beds.

One of the most relaxing and rewarding activities that nearly anyone can do is birdwatching. Vancouver Island especially is a paradise for birds, with hundreds of species making it their permanent or transient home. This is due to the mild climate and our geography offering them a huge diversity of habitats, from dense old growth cedar and douglas fir trees to rocky and sandy shorelines to tidal mud flats to inland rocky hilltops and Garry oak meadows. Birdwatching is a great hobby to get involved with, and we’ll explore why in this blog.

Gardening is one of the most relaxing and rewarding pastimes, whether you’re planting to create a beautiful and serene space, or growing herbs and plants for your kitchen. It’s a great way of spending your free time, keeping your mind and body active in the process.

However, gardening is not without its accessibility challenges, especially for those with mobility issues, which is why it’s important to understand what you can and can’t do, and what can be done in order to fully open up your garden to you so that you can make the most of the space available. To help you, we’ll run through some helpful tips for how to make gardening in a wheelchair comfortable and enjoyable.

Arthritis isn’t a single disease, the term refers to joint pain or joint disease, and there are over 100 types and related conditions, which can affect individuals at any age. Its symptoms include swelling, pain, stiffness, and limited joint movement, which can affect individuals of all ages. Symptoms can vary in intensity and duration, with some remaining stable over time while others progress and worsen rapidly. Severe arthritis can lead to chronic pain and significant challenges in walking and other daily activities. However, there are aids available that can greatly alleviate these difficulties, and in this blog we will explore some of these tools and devices.

Spending time outdoors is a great way to be physically active, reduce stress, and get vitamin D. And it’s especially nice to be out and about on Vancouver Island where we have so many beautiful places to go. But it’s important to keep sun safety in mind, as huge potential health risks are involved. Here we’ll take a look at how to protect your skin from the sun so you can have an enjoyable summer.

When it comes to diminishing or lost mobility, one of the main worries people have is that it will affect their independence and quality of life. For those who are used to living active and varied lives, the possibility of losing their ability to socialize, enjoy their hobbies, and live a self-sufficient daily existence, can be a stressful and difficult idea to deal with. 

However, it doesn’t have to be the case—while there are adjustments to make, there are also ways you can enable a lifestyle that you want. Mobility aids are one such way of doing that, and today we’re going to focus on walkers and how they can help you maintain an active and independent lifestyle.

Cooking is a valuable activity, not just in terms of what it provides with regards to nutrition, but the ancillary benefits it can bring as an enjoyable and expressive hobby. As a key part of your routine, you’ll want it to be as accessible and enjoyable as possible. 

For those with limited mobility this can be a challenging proposition, however it’s not something to be intimidated by. It’s also not something that you necessarily will need to make major renovations or changes to accommodate, as with the right approach and minor changes, you can mitigate challenges and ensure that cooking is an enjoyable and relaxing experience. 

For those with mobility issues and impairments, one of the biggest daily challenges can be having to navigate getting up and down stairs. Luckily there are options available that can make any home a more accessible place and alleviate this issue — usually these options will come down to either a stair lift or an elevator. 

There are of course differences in cost, installation, and the features available, so if you’re weighing up your options and trying to choose between a stair lift or an elevator for your home, then this is the blog for you. We’ll break down some of the key differences so that you can make an informed decision and choose the option that best suits your needs. 

In addition to tasty food and a charming atmosphere, ramps, lifts, and access areas should be at the top of your date night list. While there are unfortunately some activities and venues that aren’t going to be possible to participate in, there are dozens of other fun date ideas. So whether it’s for Valentine’s Day or any other day of the year when you want to have a romantic date, here are a few date ideas that everyone can usually* enjoy, regardless of mobility.

Whether you’re moving to an assisted living residence, retirement community or just to a smaller condo, downsizing can be a daunting and overwhelming process. One of the most difficult aspects is deciding what to bring with you to your new home, but with proper planning and organization, it can be a manageable process. Here are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to organizing your belongings.