Community First Co-op Celebrates AGM 2018

Community First Health Co-op celebrated its 17th annual general meeting with an invigorating chair yoga session with our community members.

Marj Haire lead us through a variety of movements and meditations supporting both our bodies and our minds... those of us lucky enough can join Marj at the Community Complex on Tuesday afternoon to further benefit from this method of yoga.

The group were fully engaged as we lead into the administrative part of the meeting.

Tanya Momtazian, Midwife, Apple Tree

Chair, Debby Zeeben, provided an overview of this past year including the funding for a registered nurse to work with Apple Tree Maternity as well as the 10,000 Steps Initiative in partnership with the city of Nelson.

Board Members – Pegasis McGauley introduced Deb Zeeben, Doug Stoddart, Sarah Popoff, and Sharon Browning, who were present, and Mia Gardiner, who was out of town, as continuing volunteer Board members.

Nominees for Directors – Madeline Collins, Pegasis McGauley, and Eric Ramsden were accepted by acclamation as new Board members by the CFHC members in attendance. 

The West Kootenay Community TEETH Clinic Society board member, Barry Nelson, provided an update on the activities of the low cost dental clinic.

Thanks so much for dropping by... looking forward to your next visit.

Let us know what you think about what's happening with the CFHC and if you're interested in helping out by volunteering just drop us a line.

Talk with you soon,

Eric

Passport to Wellness Health Fair: What's Happening on Saturday, April 8th in Nelson

Hop to IT!

Session Descriptions and Scheduling  

 Saturday, April 8^th, 2017

10:30

Flourishing through Mindfulness- Sonya Franke, Certified Mindfulness Educator

Join Sonya Franke, certified mindfulness educator to learn simple yet effective techniques to increase present moment awareness, helping to cultivate healthy habits of heart, mind and body.  Scientists are calling mindfulness, “Brain Hygiene”.  Mindfulness offers us a way to meet our present moment experience in an accepting, open, compassionate way, developing greater inner patience, resilience, calm and happiness over time.  Learn how to practice in formal and informal ways

. 

Mental Health through Massage – Sherri Bouliane  RMT

Sherri Bouliane will be presenting on how massage can help with a variety of mental health  issues such as stress, anxiety, insomnia , PTSD, trauma and body awareness.

Karen Leman – Services to support mental health in our community and the health care system- IHA

Join Karen Leman as she helps us understand what the role of the IHA is in the mental health of our community and what resources are available for us.  She will be able to answer questions and direct people to appropriate resources.

12:00

Inspiring Change in self: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Relational Somatic Therapy for Chronic Pain and Mood Problems – Tara Emery RSW/RST

Join Tara Emery as she explains these practical treatments and how they can be used to set goals, inspire change, treat depression, anxiety, PTSD, chronic pain and insomnia. Tare is a Relational Somatic Therapist and Social Worker who has been with the RISEBC Wellness Centre for 2 years.

Resilience: Addressing the Challenges of MS ( and other Chronic conditions) , Lonnie Facchina Ms Resource Facilitator for Northern and Interior Regions

This session aims to educate and equip those affected by a chronic health condition with inspiring examples and resources to help put positive thinking to work in their own lives.

Growing Home: Your Personal Journey with Aging, Lee Reid Retired Clinical Counsellor-Specialized in Addictions, Founder of SEEDS & Author

Lee offers a 45- minute slideshow, talk and Q and A for group sharing that illustrates the values and skills rural seniors bring to healthy and creative aging.  The audience will travel into the homes and lives of seniors around the West Kootenay in a personal and intimate way.  The presentation is intended to both inspire, and to challenge, social perceptions of aging.  It is not a problem-solving venue

1:30

Parenting Kids in Anxious Times- Christy Bryceland, PhD and Liz Amaral, Family/Parenting Support- Nelson Community Services

Christy will talk about how to recognize childhood anxiety and offer strategies to support anxious children.  Liz will talk about the pillars of parenting especially needed in these anxious times. 

Emergency Room Perspective on Mental Health:  Dr. Wiedrick- MD CCFP (EM) ER Physician Lead and GP Anesthetist at Kootenay Lake Hospital in Nelson 

Dr. Wiedrick will share his perspective and provide time for group chat and discussion.

 Anxiety: What is it and how to manage it. Laura Barkwell- Registered Clinical Counsellor:

   In this session explore with Laura Barkwell, explore what anxiety is, how it presents, and how is can affect individuals. Tools and strategies will be discussed. In this session feel free to listen share stories and strategies to make this a useful, and productive session.  

Heartfulness Meditation and Peace of Mind- Sarah Sherk, Meditation Coach

Participants will be guided through a relaxation and meditation exercise to discover first hand, how this brings one into the peace of the heart.  Discover how to leave your thought behind and create a quiet space within.  In no particular posture, and in silence, you can learn to do this anywhere and at anytime.  

2:45

Community conversation inspiring action for Mental Well-being and Happiness in our communities.

Facilitated by Mia Gardiner

The “Bite” truck will be on site. Child care is available.

Come spend the day for your Mental Health and Happiness.

See you Friday and Saturday... will be a great two days for our community.

Marion and Eric

Community First Health Co-op AGM and Beyond....

Community First Health Co-op AGM

The CFHC which is celebrating its 10^th year in the Lake Street Building, held their AGM on June 14, 2016 with a good turnout of members and guests.

The presentation for the evening was done by Drs Shiraz Moola and Kevin McKechnie. They were presenting on telehealth and what it could mean for our area.  The realization that the two tier system of health in B.C. is now private or public, but in fact urban and rural. The difficulty for rural communities to access the same level of specialty care as a large centre creates long drives, long wait lists, extra expenses and safety issues for the people who need it.

Telehealth has been piloted in the area for maternity and allows visits from the local hospital or health centre to the doctors in larger centres.  Visits to specialists can be costly and prohibitive for some people so they just do not go to access the help they need.

Telehealth would be an online face to face meeting with the patient, the local doctor and the specialist. Although there are some concerns re privacy, technology and issues to co-ordinate the people needed for the call, it seems to far be outweighed by the benefits.

The fields in which it seems Telehealth is making inroads to have specialists on board are urology, general surgery, pre-surgical screening, cardiology and psychiatry. Also some mobile maternity and ER/ ICU needs. If 1 out of every 3 patients who needed to see a specialist could use Telehealth it would save 2,614 patient visits, 9,410 hours and over $300,000 for the health system, plus the money saved in patient travel costs each year.  Although this is a Kootenay –Boundary initiative, there are multiple projects province wide.

There would need to be incentives for telehealth to be successful from the physician’s perspective as it takes some organization for appointments and connections with specialists.

One of the audience members who had a skype follow-up after his surgery was most pleased with not having to go to Vancouver again.

The way to help is to advocate with the Ministry of Health as to the needs for rural or remote areas to have equality of care. 

The AGM followed after some birthday cake and coffee to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the opening of the Wellness Centre at 518 Lake Street in Nelson.  It has been an extraordinary 10 years.

The highlights of the AGM were:

1.    Deb Zeeben speaking about how the credit union co-ops and health co-ops both came to be in the 1950’s and how we are connected across the world in the co-op movement.
2.  The Wellness centre is about hope, help, care and choice as we try to be a catalyst for integrated health care.
3. The determinants of health show that 25% is determined by wellness and 25% by community and social connectedness. As we continue to connect with our community through the Resource centre, involvement in low cost dental, seniors issues and affordable housing we are supporting wellness in the community.
4. Deb will be leaving the board as she has served her 6 consecutive years but she will continue in an advisory positon and as past chair for the next year.  Thanks for all you have done!
5. The various board members reported on the Resource Centre, Low cost Dental, Heath Fair, Social media and promotion, the Wellness Centre and new partners and our connections in the community.

Our new board will be:

Pegasus McGauley, Marion Hunter, Eric Ramsden, Erin Morrison all in continuing terms, Lynn Adams and Sharon Browning beginning new 3 year terms and two new board members, Lonnie Facchina and Lynn Goodison.

 

Lonnie

Lonnie Facchina is known for her work for the MS Society, the Nelson District Hospice Society and as the volunteer co-ordinator for the Resource Room. We look forward to her expertise on our Board.

Lynn

Lynn Goodison retired from nursing in 2008 and is currently employed with the Nelson and District Seniors Co-ordinating Society as the Home Help Co-ordinator. She brings to the table a medical perspective.

The next meeting will be the Statutory meeting on June 22, 2016 at 11:00 am and the board members will be chosen for executive and committee roles.

We are all looking forward to summer and some down time to replenish for the next year.

Eric and Marion

Community First Health Co-op Update: Passport to Wellness Health Fair, Home Help Organizer and Health Care Co-operative Federation of Canada

Passport to Wellness 2015

               Rain – sun – rain – sun !! It must be spring rounding the corner in the Kootenay’s and with daylight savings about to begin, the light at the end of the winter tunnel is here.

            

Passport to Wellness 2015

  CFHC is gearing up for our second Passport to Wellness Health Fair on April 16, 2016 from 10am-4pm at 518 Lake Street. We are just confirming all of our presenters and information kiosks for the event.   We will have presentations by the Canadian Cancer Society, The Kootenay Division of Family Physicians, Mark McBride (pharmacist and sleep expert), Sandy McLean (Mental Health, Resilience and Illness), Elephant Mountain Counselling and Shauna Robertson (Essential Oils) and more to be added this week, so check for our posters, and in the Nelson Star Community Calendar for more information on our sessions. We will also have kiosks from TEETH and IHA Dental, BC Lung Association, MS Society, Nelson Hospice, Friends of the Family, ALS and Heart and Stroke with more to also be added.

 Plan to join us for a FREE day of information and interaction as you take responsibility for your wellness.

The Seniors Co-ordinating Society has hired a Home Help Organizer, Lynn Goodison. She helps Seniors stay in their homes by providing help with light cleaning, grocery shopping, respite and other areas in which they may need help. She can be contacted at 250-352-6008 or through the Senior Co-ordinating Society Website. The rate of pay for the services varies, but can be subsidized. She organizes for Nelson and the outlying areas of Nelson. She has hours to use, so please give her a call if you or someone you know can use her help.

  Did you know that CFHC is part of a much larger organization – The Health Care Co-operative Federation of Canada?  Established in 2011, the HCCFC serves the health co-op sector across Canada. The mission is to support and promote health and wellness co-operatives in Canada through work within and beyond our sector.  Community First Health Co-op is one of 18 members in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and B.C. They support us through fostering relationships between members and providing access to programs that will enhance our ability to be a more complete health co-op, find evidence and research to convince the public and policy makers of the benefits of community wellness and cost savings that are created by health and wellness co-ops, and they are advocates for health co-ops with the governments of Canada. If you would like to know more about the role they play check out their website – www.healthcoopscanada.coop

    Eric is thinking gardening and Marion is getting her bike springerized to begin her training for her next cycling adventure.    

Yours in health,

 Eric and Marion

West Kootenay Community TEETH Clinic Wins BIG for Our Community!

Check out the Vancouver Sun Article:

Pacific Blue Cross "Share the Care" Winner

The Board:  Barry, Mara, Debby, Eric, Pegasis
Missing:  Christine

Needless to say, we (the board, the many volunteers, Dr. Osepchook and his dental staff) are very excited about this unique success and the opportunity that it provides to the West Kootenay Community TEETH Clinic.

Now that we have been confirmed in receiving the $50,000 grant from Pacific Blue Cross a different kind of challenge – how to best utilize these funds to provide the best possible improvement to our low cost dental services to our West Kootenay Boundary community.

Can we provide an additional clinic to reduce travel and bring direct services to more members of our community?  Are we able to increase our denture program and other clinical services?  So much to think about – what a great problem to have.

Dr. Osepchook and his amazing staff

As well, we have to thank all of those that helped us to garner this success. The local media was a great assistance in the drive to get the word out.  The ability to link into social media to spread the word using Facebook and Twitter provided us a interesting opportunity to spread the word beyond our local borders.  We had people all across the country responding to our plea for assistance in helping our community.

We roll up our sleeves with our next board meeting that is set for Friday, February 5^th at 1:30 p.m. at the Resource Centre in the Community First Health Co-op Building at 518 Lake Street in Nelson.

We would love to have our communities’ involvement on where we go from here.

Thanks again to Pacific Blue Cross for its Share The Care project, part of the not-for-profit health insurer's plan to celebrate its 75th anniversary by giving away $75,000 to by selecting five existing recipients (of their annual funding), making short videos about their work and then asking people to vote online for their favourites.

Thanks you so very much for supporting your community,

Erin, Marion and Eric

HEALTH ALERT: Cold and Flu Season. How to Take Care of Yourself

The Community First Health Co-operative, in Nelson, B.C., has asked its health practitioners to provide us some guidance on how to take care of ourselves during this year's cold and flu season.

Here is our first instalment provided by Shauna Robertson, R. TCM.P, Registered Acupuncturist and Herbalist of Nelson's Acupuncture and Natural Health Clinic.

Cold and flu season is upon us once again and it is important that we keep our bodies at optimum health in order to have the ability to ward off these viruses.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) we view the cold and flu virus as an invasion of external pathogenic wind. This pathogenic wind is able to break through our bodies defenses (immune system) if our system becomes weakened.

Ways in which we can keep our immune systems strong are by eating nutritionally, getting enough sleep, exercising daily and avoiding stress. Dressing according to the weather is also very important. So in the fall this may mean layering clothes because it is colder in the morning and evening but may be very warm in the afternoons.

If however, you do succumb to the cold or flu TCM has a full arsenal of tools to help bring relief. Acupuncture and herbs are very effective at warding off the cold and flu viruses as well as treating the symptoms and allowing you make a speedy recovery.

For more information on Acupuncture and TCM and the cold/flu you can visit my website at http://www.anhc.ca/health-well-news/

There is some really excellent information on Shauna's website including  great healthful recipes, as well as information on Seasonal Affective Disorder and so much more.  Take a moment and check it out by connecting through this link.

Welcome to Nelson BC Acupuncture & Natural Health Clinic:

Acupuncture & Natural Health Clinic of Shauna Robertson, R.TCM.P, Registered Acupuncturist & Herbalist.

We Are Located at 101-518 Lake St. in Beautiful Nelson, BC.

Contact us at:  

1-250-352-2167

Holistic Healthcare, Sports Acupuncture, Allergies, Anxiety, Arthritis, Asthma, Autoimmune Disease, Back Pain, Cancer Care, Carpal Tunnel, Colds & Flu, Depression, Diabetes, Fertility, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, Hypertension, IBS, Insomnia, Menopause, Multiple Sclerosis, Neck Pain, Pain, PMS, Pregnancy, Smoking Cessation Acupuncture & Stress and much more.

Make sure you check in for updates on taking care of yourself during our annual cold and flu season.

Erin, Marion and Eric

Community First Health Co-op and The Living is Easy...

September – and the living is easy!

We are happy to see the sun out and our summer continue for a few more weeks, we can only hope.

The students are back at school and CFHC board is back at work – well we are always doing work, but our official board meetings have begun.

We continue our work in collaboration with others and are so pleased to see the growth of some of our initiatives – TEETH – the West Kootenay Low Cost Dental is a true success story.

We have 3 dentists who volunteer their time to staff the clinic. Over the course of time we have had 16 dental assistants, 7 dental hygienists and 9 receptionists work at the clinic. A big shout out to Dana who has done so much work for this, off the side of her desk.

 In July there as 1 clinic, in August 3 and we are hoping to do 3-4 each month. We have managed to work with 51 patients over the summer.    The Denture project with Dr. Haack from Trail has begun, and though it is still expensive we have been able to help support some clients getting appointment and in one case, some new dentures.

On Oct 1, 2015 in the Nelson Community Complex a Seniors Day will be happening and the TEETH table will be there to give out information or help clients with signing up for low cost dental.

On August 25th we had the distinct pleasure to join in the discussion with President Paul Zysman and John Restakis- ED for Inspiration in Action.

Ed and John sharing their vision

Inspiration in Action is seeking understanding and insights to support co-operative community economic development internationally. 

It gave all of us, that work with Community First Health Co-op, in differing capacities, to reflect on its history, operations, projects, and viability... there was some great energy here and a good reminder why we are all involved with the health co-op.

Proposed Lake Street Housing Project,  presentation by John Restakis on  the possible role a Community Land Trust might play in its realization. John used his work with The Vancouver CLT co-op housing project as an example.

The meeting with Ed and John was definitely re-energizing for our Lake Street Housing Project for affordable housing in our community.

A new initiative we are exploring is the Hans Kai Project in conjunction with other groups within Nelson. Hans Kai was developed in Japan to help people focus on increasing their health knowledge and their ability to monitor their own basic health indicators in a peer-supported environment with the aim of  achieving and maintaining optimal wellness.

It was brought to Canada by Nor ‘ West Co-op in Winnipeg and Robert Cliché Co-op in Quebec.

Stay tuned for more information as we are hoping to bring the Hans Kai trainers here in January.

And hold Saturday April 16^th from 10-4 for our 2^nd PASSPORT TO WELLNESS FAIR”

Enjoy the remaining days of summer. Get out and walk or bike or kayak – for winter will be upon us soon. 

Don't you just love this time of year!

Marion and Eric

Community First Health Co-op Annual Statutory Meeting - June 2015

The CFHC Statutory meeting was held on June 12. 2105 with the full board in attendance. 

Karen and Erin

We welcomed our two new board members Erin Morrison and Karen Hornby.  Erin is a health coach and Karen is a nurse, so both bring a fresh perspective to our board. We are excited for all the possibilities of tapping into their energy and expertise.

It was fun as we told them about the adventures and misadventures of trying things on the board and gave them fair warning, that if you have a great idea and want to fly with it, go for it, but you will be heading the initiative and the rest will be there for backup.

We are very happy to report that we are financially solvent and in good shape.  We have managed to rent out most of our space and we have a continual rental of the Stoddart Room for long term course or workshops.  Thanks to Lynn for managing this for us.

We are making an application for The Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program for some work on our HVAC system. We are hoping to be successful as with all buildings, heat and ventilation and air conditioning always seem to be in need of updating. This is only for infrastructure and so fingers crossed we get this one.  UPDATE:  We just received the great news that we will be receiving $50,000 to support this important initiative.

Our next meeting, unless something comes up , will be on Tuesday September 8 at 2;30 pm.

Have a great summer and as they say, we will catch you on the flip side!

Eric and Marion 

Community First Health Co-op Annual General Meeting and the Kootenay Boundary Division of Family Practice

Health Co-op Chair Debby Zeeben reminds us what an amazing year of accomplishments we have to celebrate

The Community First Health Coop AGM was held on June 9, 2015 with a good number of members in attendance, After a welcome by Deb Zeeben,, where she gave us highlights for the year, the West Kootenay TEETH Low cost dental clinic is up and running Apple Tree Maternity is a collaboration of doctors, midwives and doulas to support families from pre pregnancy to post, and the Passport for Wellness Health Fair, she introduced our guest speakers for the evening.  Julius Halaschek-Wiener, Dr. Trevor Janz and Grace Nakano representing the Kootenay Boundary Division of Family Practice.  

The Kootenay Boundary Division of Family Practice has 100% of family physicians in the area developing a vision for sustaining health communities with health care providers in the region.

Debby introducing our speakers

Julius spoke about working together with practitioners, IHA and Ministry of Health and local community doctors to look at the best ways to provide care for the community. The Division is 5 years old and operated on consensus and true collaboration, a place where the right people are needed to work together.

He also spoke on the GP for Me initiative to recruit and retain family doctors so that everyone can have a doctor.  It also involves improving practice efficiency of practices, optimizing Integrated Primary Community Care, team-based care and a GP for Me Hotline.

Currently there are 4 residents in Trail and 2 in Nelson who are interested in rural medicine and in coming to work in our communities.  There will be a community-supported initiative to put together a team to work on recruitment of physicians to our area. There are currently 2 doctors in the Nelson area taking new patients, but they are becoming full quite quickly.

IPCC ( Integrated Primary Community Care) would include a nurse, dietitian, social worker along with the doctor.  Team-based care would see a social worker embedded in each medical clinic. Currently there is a social worker at the Nelson Medical Clinic under the direction of Dr. Lee McKay.   They are looking at the sustainability of this pilot project. The GP for Me Hotline is given out at emergency if the patient does not have a family doctor or through Mental Health, and when they call the number, a  person will try to hook them up with a physician in their area.  

These are exciting initiatives as BC looks to envision a new way to work with primary care.

The next speaker was Dr. Trevor Janz, who has been an ER doctor in Nelson for over 25 years and is also responsible for the elderly frail in care homes in the area.  He is interested in improving the quality of care for “frail” seniors.   His work in the area of polypharmacy was both fascinating and substantiated in making a difference. He explained that polypharmacy is "when the total negative effect of medications is more than the positive effect on the illness”.

The statistics that he gave on the use of anti psychotic drugs was mind boggling. In Canada if you are 65 and older and living in your own home, then 26% will be on 10 or more medications and 15% will be on 15 or more medications.  However, if you are in a long-term care facility, then 61% will be on 10 or more medications and 21% will be on 15 or more.

Before the work on reducing the medication began in the Kootenay area it was found that 65% of patients in Castlegar, 53% in Trail and 16% in Nelson in long term care homes were using 10 or more medications.  Currently that number has now been reduced to 12% in Castlegar, 22% in Trail and 9% in Nelson. 

This is an initiative that is across BC and Share Care, where practitioners are conferencing once a month, up to 75 of them, both nurses and doctors, and working on using many experts to make a difference.

It is more difficult he admits, to dealing with seniors in their own homes and in assisted living facilities, but they are chipping away at it.

Grace Nakano is a Nurse Practitioner based with Mental health in Nelson and Trail who support the most vulnerable people with mental health issues on the streets, in shelters and at food banks.

A nurse practitioner will have extended training after nursing and is able to write prescriptions, refer patients to specialists, order x-rays and perform extended nursing duties.

She works with high risk clients and meets them at the Salvation army, Food cupboard, Our Daily Bread or on the streets or shelters. She is also at LV Rogers high school once a week to meet with students who have mental health challenges that are referred by the school counselors.

There was excitement in the air after the presentations as people were optimistic about a new level of care for all.

Julius shared with us the Strategic Initiatives for 2014-15 including their Core Principles

The AGM was very brief, and with a quorum present all was approved. 

 A big thank you was extended to our 3 board members who have filled their terms or have retired from the board, Sharon Browning, Sarah Popoff and Joan Reichardt

A welcome extended to our two new Board members:  Karen Hornby, who is a nurse and Erin Morrison who is a health coach. We look forward to a good year for CFHC.

Karen

Erin

We have one more meeting before September and so we wish you all the great summer and, although we may do one or two more blogs, we too will take some time to relax and recharge.

Marion and Eric

Passport to Wellness Health Fair: Saturday, April 18, 2015 in Nelson, B.C.