Grief and the holidays

2 minutes

Walking around your neighborhood or local shops at this time of year, there is a constant reminder that the holidays are a time of happiness and celebration with family and friends.

But if you are grieving the death of a loved one or have experienced another type of loss, the holidays can often magnify that sense of grief.

If the idea of getting to the New Year feels like a struggle, here are some ideas to help.

Kindness you can hear

2 minutes
In the aftermath of the 2017 terrorist attack in Manchester, United Kingdom, something unexpected happened. The community gathered to honour the dead with a spontaneous rendition of Don’t Look Back in Anger by the local band Oasis. When grief renders words inadequate, music can sometimes provide an outlet for the emotions associated with death and dying. Suzanne Miller has been singing for those near death for the last three years. She is part of a threshold choir in Nelson, B.C. The threshold choir provides comfort to those at the thresholds of living and dying.

Healthy through climate change

2 minutes

The global climate is changing. On average, the temperature of the earth is rising. This is causing more extreme weather events such as the droughts, fires and floods that many of our communities have experienced this year. These changes affect natural and human environments (air quality, clean water and food sources) and also can have negative effects on our health.

Food security and your health

2 minutes

I’m already planning what I want to cook for the December holidays. I’m thinking of a dinner that’s a little less traditional this year and I'm looking at  lemon risotto and stuffed squash recipes. I get excited about the holidays every year. For some reason cooking for celebrations is a completely different experience for me than the Monday to Friday grind of just getting a meal on the table.

Getting patients on their feet faster

2 minutes
The little things were agony, says Gary Gierlichs. “Little things, like putting your socks on or putting your leg in the car,” he says. “I deteriorated pretty fast, which was tough for an active person like me. Hip replacement changed my life—I can’t say enough about it.” In 2018, Dr. Tim Bell and his surgical team performed a hip replacement on Gary at Penticton Regional Hospital using a relatively new procedure for Interior Health called the direct anterior approach. This approach allows the surgeon to replace the hip without cutting through muscle and tendon.

Words matter: stigma hurts those left behind

2 minutes
Stigma. It’s a word used to describe shame and fear of judgment. It’s also the No. 1 barrier people with substance use disorders cite for not seeking help. And if you thought health-care providers are somehow immune and don’t carry prejudices, you would be wrong. Like most health-care workers, RN Shari Smith* has dedicated her life to caring for people. Having spent years in critical care, she has seen the results of teen drinking, drug use and overdose.

How adult day programs transform lives

2 minutes

At 66 years of age, Carolyn inspires those who know her. Born with cerebral palsy, Carolyn lived with her parents until their poor health made it necessary for them to move into a long-term care home three years ago. For the first time in her life, Carolyn needed to figure out the basics of living on her own. She learned how to cook, pay bills and  make the 4.5 kilometre journey from her home to her parents' home on her power wheelchair. She makes this journey once a week to visit her parents, to get some help with her weekly bath, and help the activity team run their regular bingo game.