(519) 579-0118 E: [email protected]

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013

NEWSLETTER

607 King Street West Suite 5A

Kitchener, ON N2G 1C7

P: (519) 579-5300

F: (519) 579-0118

E: [email protected]

www.biaww.com

www.facebook.com/biaww

PLATINUM SPONSORS

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Wellington is hosting our 6th Annual Mid-Winter Golf Classic on March 21, 22 & 23, 2013; to be held at Golf Without Limits Indoor Golf Club & Academy.

This is a great opportunity for your friends, adult family members or for corporate team building, to get out of the winter blues. Join us for 18 holes of simulated golf in a scramble format and help support the BIAWW. One-Hole events include the Longest Drive, Closest to the Pin Challenge and Guess your Distance Giveaway where great prizes will be awarded courtesy of our Corporate Sponsors. After the tournament, the awards banquet will include dinner, a raffle table, silent auction and an exciting evening of entertainment.

Watch your inbox or mail for more details Robin ([email protected]) or call 519-579-5300 for further information on how you can be involved or register online at www.biaww.com/mid-winter-indoor-golf-classic.html

CARE TO SHARE - CAREGIVERS SUPPORT GROUP Are you a caregiver for a survivor of a brain injury? Do you feel stressed and exhausted? This free 8 week goal-oriented program provides you the caregiver the right knowledge to care for yourself. To learn more or to register for this program please visit www.biaww.com/care-to-share.html

The winter 2013 session will start the week of January 14th. The group will meet every other week until the week of April 22nd.

Guelph: Monday, January 14th at David Starr’s Law Office, 221 Woolwich, Guelph

Kitchener: Tuesday, January 15th at Opportunity Centre, 5A-607 King Street West, Kitchener

6TH ANNUAL MID-WINTER INDOOR

GOLF CLASSIC:

The Brain Injury Association of Waterloo-

OPPORTUNITY CENTRE POKER TOURNAMENT

Coming in February 2013…MC’s Annual Poker Tournament. The sign-up sheet will be posted on our Activities Board the first week of January. All tournament dates are on the 1st, 8th, and 15th of February. These dates occur on Friday, so be positive of the Friday you have chosen. No substitute date will be allowed after your initial sign-up. The final poker table will be on the 22nd of February with Ryan K returning to defend his title. Any questions can be forwarded to MC during regular OC business hours. Good luck to all and may the best man or woman win! The winner shall receive a $50.00 gift-certificate from Centre in the Square

Giving support, hope and answers to survivors of acquired brain injury

It’s a new year, and it’s time for a new you! Every year we make resolutions to better our health and we seem to fail. Why not do it one month at a time? Here is a plan that may help you achieve your goal to become a healthier you!

January: Get a Check-Up

A regular visit to the doctor is vital to good health. If you haven’t seen your doctor recently, you need to know where you’re at health-wise. Know your base line numbers. Get that physical done in January, so you can track all your progress throughout the year.

Blood Pressure:

Having your blood pressure levels checked is important because you may not have symptoms if it is elevated. A normal, healthy blood pressure is les than 120/80, while anything above 140/90 is considered high, and can put your at risk for heart disease, stroke and kidney failure.

Body Mass Index

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a number calculated from a person’s weight and height to determine the overall fitness of an individual. BMI does not measure body fat directly, but is used as a diagnostic tool to identify potential obesity problems. The following link is an easy to use calculator to determine your BMI. www.thedoctorstv.com/main/content/BMI_Calculator

The normal BMI should be 18-25. It is cautioned that people who are overweight or obese are at a higher risk for chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol. Anyone who is overweight should try to lose weight. Even a small amount (just 10% of your current weight) may help you lower the risk of disease. Talk with your healthcare provider to determine appropriate ways to lose weight. February: Get Moving with Aerobic exercise

Start exercising for 30 minutes, 3 times a week.

Aerobic exercise is defined as sustained brisk physical activity that causes your heart and lungs to beat and pump harder to meet increased oxygen demands. Split your workouts in half it’s easier. Performing two smaller workouts that add up to your usual workout still burns the same amount of calories, plus it temporarily revs your metabolism twice instead of once, so your body burns more calories after your workout. Make life less convenient by intentionally parking your car in the farthest spot possible, skip the elevator and use the stairs, use a basket instead of a cart while shopping or

TWELVE MONTH PLAN FOR A NEW YOU IN 2013 Based on The Doctors TV Show – www.thedoctorstv.com simply leave your keys, phone etc in places where

you’ll have to walk a little farther for them. Exercise with friends: it’s fun, supportive and healthy.

March: Curb your cravings

Controlling cravings for the three deadly S’s - salt, sugar and smoking - can give you a big impact on your overall wellbeing. If you crave sugar all day, your breakfast may be the blame. Research shows starting your day with carbohydrates primes your body to crave more sugar. Try starting your day with lean protein instead. April: Eat Fresh

Are you a junk-food junkie? Improve your diet and health by eliminating processed foods that come in boxes and wrappers and enjoying fresh, real foods for 30 days. Generally, people are eating too much processed food, it causes things like asthma, developmental problems, ADHD and there are links to Autism and it can increase your cholesterol. Did you know that by switching from processed to fresh foods, you can drop 8 pounds and reduce your cholesterol by 20 percent? May: Treat and Protect Your Skin

Treat your skin well this year. The three foods that give you benefit for your skin are sweet potatoes, winter squash and salmon. While it is important to eat correctly it is also important to wear your sun screen while outdoors.

► 12 MONTHS continued on Page 3

The Brain Injury Association of Waterloo - Wellington.

For younger-looking skin eat: sweet potatoes, salmon, turmeric spice and curry. Did you know that sweet potatoes can help fight free radicals that cause aging, turmeric prevent skin damage, and salmon helps skin maintain moisture and elasticity. June: Get Medical Procedures you’ve been putting off

Everyone hates medical appointments but it is important to have your checkups to prevent greater complications. Women should undergo regular pap smears, mammograms and breast examinations. Men should have a yearly prostate exam, a colonoscopy for those over 50 years old and everyone should have their cholesterol and blood pressure levels checked. July: Create your bucket list and do something on it

We know that we’re not here forever. We can make the most of life while we can, whether there’s a hidden adventure lurking in your psyche or a goal that’s been rattling around in your brain. Constructing a bucket list could improve your satisfaction with your life; research has shown that the happiest people wake up every day to short and long term goals that involve taking risks, connecting with others and persistence. Set specific, challenging objectives that move you beyond your comfort zone. Properly set goals provide a roadmap for our lives and we end up being proactive instead of reactive, we are also more optimistic because we are always looking forward and not behind. August: Start weight training

Adding weight training to your workouts can improve your health from the inside out. Our muscle mass diminishes with age, so you got to use them or lose them. If you don’t, muscle is going to be replaced with fat. In addition to improving your physique, weight training can have major effects on your overall wellness. It can prevent osteoporosis and increase glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity which can decrease your risk of diabetes. September: Stress Less

Try to stay calm. Stress is different for everyone, so there is no “cookie cutter” solution to manage it. To handle stress a little better, vent by writing in a journal, meditate or pray, exercise and be sure to get plenty of B-Vitamins to support your nervous system. October: Fight Fall Fatigue

Want to boost your energy, improve your mood and cut your risk of disease without breaking a sweat? Try these simple fatigue fighting techniques:

� Once an hour, stand, up, get on your toes and roll up and down. The exercise will improve circulation, allowing more oxygen and glucose to be transported throughout the body, and help you feel more energized.

� When you hit the afternoon slump, drink white tea instead of coffee. White tea has a high concentration of amino acid L-theanine, which simulates the brain waves and boosts alertness

November: Be Charitable

Research has shown that when you give back to others and feel grateful, you are less likely to be depressed, anxious or get sick. Functional MRI studies found that people who volunteer and give money have a release of feel-good endorphins in the brain similar to those who won money, also known as the “helpers high” December: Celebrate You

2013 has been a year of improving and becoming a healthier person both physically and mentally. Celebrate your accomplishments during December.

► TWELVE MONTHS Continued from Page 2


NATURAL OPERATOR PRECEDENCE. This option allows you to calculate the math square in their natural operator precedence; meaning multiplication and division are performed before addition and subtraction.

Try to fill in the missing numbers. Use the numbers 1 through 16 to complete the equations. Each number is only used once. Each row is a math equation. Each column is a math equation. Remember that multiplication and division are performed before addition and subtraction.

1

23

Solutions Page 13


12 TOP REASONS TO WEAR A HELMET

#12 – “Altered level of consciousness related to a traumatic brain injury” is not a cool Facebook status. #11 – Perfect solution for a bad hair day, just strap on the helmet and away you go. It will even hide unseemly bald spots on the gentlemen. #10 – Modern helmets are cool! The excuse “they are not fashionable” can no longer be used. You can even pick a helmet in your favourite colour or have a design painted onto one. Find the perfect helmet for you and wear it. #9 – The excuse “wearing a helmet gives me helmet hair” … well when you get out of bed in the morning you have “bed hair” and that is a hairstyle everyone one wanted to copy. Maybe you will set the next hairstyle trend. But until then there are lots of hair products that can help you control helmet hair. Use an anti-frizz cream or serum and comb it through while your hair is still wet. It not only cuts down on the frizz but helps the loose ends from turning into a rat’s nest. Tote a brush and dry shampoo; after removing your helmet brush your hair out and then apply the dry shampoo from the roots to ends and it helps restore the life into your hair. # 8 – Think you are too good to wear a helmet? The better you play or ride the harder you fall. Beginners fall, experienced people are launched. Even if sitting on your bike talking with friends and you fell and hit your head, your brain could easily be damaged. #7 – Wearing the proper certified helmet while riding or playing means you can concentrate on the enjoyment of the exercise. See below for the proper helmet for activities you enjoy.

#6 – If you wear a helmet you are setting a cool example to your friends, colleagues, the general public and the younger generation. Playing safe is the new sexy and not enough people think about safety, set the trend. #5 – Wearing a helmet will greatly lesson the chance of being one of the 18,000 people in Ontario this year to be admitted to hospital from a traumatic brain injury. Don’t be a statistic …stats are boring. #4 – Helmets today are not only comfortable but also provides ventilation in the summer and warmth in the winter. Most importantly they protect your head and brain. #3 – Wearing a helmet will not give you a headache, neck pain, visual defects or hearing problems if they are fitted properly. Even if you did experience any of these problems they are temporary and treatable. Head injury and damage to the brain are permanent and you will NOT recover totally to your pre-injured self. #2 – A helmet is a lot cheaper than a trip to the hospital and the millions of dollars you will loose in lost wages and the cost of personal, health and rehabilitation care. #1 – It’s cool to wear a helmet because the life you save may be your own. Your life is precious, cherish it, live to ride or play another day. Get a helmet and wear it.

DO YOU KNOW YOUR PROTECTIVE HEAD GEAR? WHAT ARE THESE COOL HELMETS USED FOR?

1) ___________ 2) ________________ 3) ______________ 4) ______________ 5) ______________

6) ___________ 7) ________________ 8) ______________ 9) ______________ 10) ______________

Answers on Page 13


HAPPY NEW YEAR

M I D N I G H T F E L E R N F

R E V E L R Y R N A C E R N L X S Y Z A M I T W N E O E T O N L E P K E E E A H H W H N A

R L A Z N R N T C F I R S T T C E R D T E N Y H T L A E H S E B S A R I G R E G O R I A N

L F I O A P R O S P E R O U S E N O U L S K R O W E R I F Y B E Q O H U U S L V B D N E R

R C C G T A T C E W Y N O S A A R I N G B P I C H D A I T U T Q E D A R A P O E S B S I N

E Y T R A P I L Y N S I E V A

Find these words ACQUAINTANCE BAND BELLS CELEBRATE CHEER ENTERTAIN FESTIVE FIREWORKS FIRST FLOATS FOOTBALL FRIENDS GREGORIAN HAPPY HEALTHY HORN JANUARY KINDNESS MIDNIGHT

NEW NOISE PARADE PARTY PROSPEROUS RENEWAL RESOLUTION REVELRY RING SUCCESS WISHES YEAR


It is 2013 and a New Year. When making your resolutions to get more exercise this year remember to also exercise your brain. Scientist believe that exercising your brain can create a ‘cognitive reserve’ that will help you stay sharp as you age and also help with recovery after an acquired brain injury.

1. Take classes to learn something you’ve always wanted to understand. Learn to play bridge, study a new language or take a Photoshop seminar. It’s up to you! Try something new and crazy, just to say you’ve done it!

2. Do games and puzzles such as crossword puzzles, Sudoku and Scrabble.

3. Read often, with a lot of different books. Take a magazine and dedicate specific time to it. Read the newspaper over your morning coffee. Set your computer homepage to bring up news items of particular interest to you. Read them each time you open the computer. A great way to exercise your brain and keep informed.

4. Remember and repeat groups of words. Memorize your grocery list or friends’ phone numbers.

5. Play computer brain games, such as Brain Age and Nintendo DS.

6. Test and monitor your memory and attention with special computer games.

7. Write or edit a wikiHow article now and then.

8. Meditate often. Take calm, deep breaths out of your nose only. Your brain (and entire body) needs lots of fresh air, so breathe deeply.

9. Eat foods containing omega fatty acids (known to boost intellectual stamina) such as flax, hemp seeds and fish.

10. Perform math functions regularly.

IT’S THE NEW YEAR…EXERCISE YOUR BRAIN

Based www.wikihow.com/Exercise-Your-Brain

11. Learn new words from a word-a-day calendar or dictionary.

12. Use your left hand if you are right handed, and reverse, to exercise the opposite side of the brain.

13. Mess around with a twisty puzzle like the Rubik Cube.

14. Learn to read and play music Classical music increases brain activity more positively than other kinds of music.

15. Draw or paint.

16. Consider the different possibilities of how something could have gone, and explore these consequences. This improves creativity.

17. When trying to learn something or review for a quiz, listen to your favourite song on repeat. This is an association technique where your brain connects what you learned to what you heard. Plus, after an half hour of one song on repeat, you should know the lyrics!

18. Try commuting or taking the bus on varied routes, to prevent your from becoming monotonous.

19. Avoid watching TV for hours; and while watching TV solve puzzles, knit, mend clothes or embroider to increase multitasking.

20. Learn to play new games to increase mind and body coordination.

21. Never avoid breakfast, it’s essential for your brain to function efficiently.

22. Imagine the fourth dimension of an object. (We can see three sides at a time, 3 dimensions, so imagine seeing four sides of an object such as a cube.)

23. Take a fresh morning walk. It makes your mind fresh and helps in protecting from diseases.

Tips

Remember to exercise your body - a healthier mind results from a healthy body. Get plenty of physical exercise. Try doing a few things regularly, like memorizing something new each day, or using a Rubik’s Cube for 15 minutes a day. When exercising, try to walk backward (reverse direction or the usual walking pattern) to tease the sphere of the brain.


A resolution just for you Promise yourself to be strong. That nothing can disturbyour peace of mind. Look at the sunny side of everything and make you optimism come true. Think only of thebest, work only for the best, and expect only the best. Forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future. Give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others. Live in the faith that the whole world is on your side, as long as you are true to the best that is in you!

Life is full of hills and valleys Some of which would want us to

want to quit along the way. It is during these times that we need to check our focus and remember that the focus needs to be on the

finish and not on the difficulties along the

way. Set your eye on the goals.

Do not be worried of the difficulties on

Try not to become a man of success but as

a man of value. ~Albert Einstein~

You miss 100 % of the shots you don’t take.

~Wayne Gretzky~


VALENTINE FLOWERS

The petals of these romantic flowers are overlapping paper hearts, inscribed with words or single letters that spell out a message. If you make them with wire stems, the valentines can be displayed in a vase; with ribbon stems, they can also be tucked into envelopes.

TOOLS AND MATERIALS

� Coloured paper

� Pushpins

� 24 - gauge wire

� Small beads

� Ribbon

� Floral tape or glue

� Scissors

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Cut out five to eight hearts of the same size, and inscribe them. Use a pushpin to make a hole near the pointed end of each heart.

2. For a wire stem, thread a small bead onto a piece of 24-gauge wire which is cut a little longer than you want the stem to be; twist the wire so the bead stays at the end. Thread hearts on the other end until all the hearts are stacked against the bead. Twist the wire again to keep the hearts in place. Cover the stem with floral tape, or glue ribbon around the wire.

3. For a ribbon stem, thread a bead to the centre of a 3-inch length of wire, and bend the wire in half. Send the ends through the hole in each heart. On the back, form the two ends into a small loop around the midpoint of a length of ribbon; trim the excess wire.

All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt. ~Charles M. Schulz~


THIS YEAR GIVE CHARITIES WHAT THEY NEED

The other day I read something on my Facebook wall about a woman who was collecting one million teddy bears to send to folks who was affected by the shootings in Newtown CT to help out. A million teddy bears? On the surface, this is one of those great heart-tugging news stories of someone trying to help out. But think further. If she meets her goal, what will sending a million teddy bears mean for a town of just 28,000 people? Is this what they need? What would they even do with them all? Too often, particularly in the light of a tragedy, we let our emotions and good intentions dictate our giving. We see someone in need, and rather than ask them what would help them the most, we act. But our actions, while well-intentioned, might not actually help the problem. In fact, they might even hurt by getting in the way and delaying real help. Here are some tips on how to give properly

give to your favourite charity or cause. If you want to have that income tax deduction in Canada you must remember that only registered Charitable Organizations can issue you a Charitable Tax Receipt.

1. Cash First: I can’t think of a charity or non-profit that wouldn’t prefer cash over just about any other type of donation. If you can give money, then do so. Don’t earmark the funds, unless there is a specific fund set up for that purpose. You might donate money to an organization and specify that it be used for a specific purpose, but that might not be what the organization needs. Cash especially if unrestricted is immediate and non-perishable, doesn’t incur storage or extra processing costs and above all it is flexible.

2. Donations of Goods: Many organizations accept the donation of specific goods. But before you donate, make sure you understand their guidelines. If you are donating food items, make sure it is what they need. Your best bet is to check their website to see if they have guidelines. Most charities and non-profits will offer both a list of their specific needs, as well as a list of what they don’t want. Just because you have something you no longer need doesn’t mean they can take it off your hands. Thrift shops like Goodwill and the Salvation Army even have strict guidelines about certain items they won’t take

► GIVING continued on Page 11


because of the risk of unsafe and recalled items. Also, make sure you follow the guidelines for HOW to donate your goods. There might be specific instructions on where to drop them off, or what condition they should be in. 3. In-Kind Donations: Perhaps you’ve thought of donating your services. Whether you are a plumber or a web designer, there’s a chance that local charities may be able to use your service. But it is always important not to push yourself in their way. You might be able to build them a website, but they might already have a website with which they are happy. Also, understand that your in-kind donation might not be tax deductible based on the Canadian Revenue Guidelines. For instance, I can donate my social media services to charities, but because what I do isn’t “tangible” it does not qualify for a Charitable Tax receipt. As harsh as this sounds, some charities prefer to pay for services. It might sound as though they aren’t appreciative of your offer of services, but look at this way. If you pay to have the work done, it will get done in a timely fashion. If you have the service donated, the project could get put on the back burner as

the business person attends to their paying customers and clients before getting around to the donated work. This may seem harsh but it is realistic. 4. Volunteering: You might not have cash or goods or even services that you can offer, but you can show up and help out. But just like the above examples check before you show up with a smile and good intentions. All charities have strict guidelines in recruiting volunteers and most will want you to provide a police record check or a vulnerable sector check and to go through a period of training before working with their clients. Don’t be insulted if you are turned away. They have very real reasons for their rules.

There are many ways to become involved with the Brain Injury Association of Waterloo-Wellington as an individual donor, a member, a corporation or as a volunteer. Check out http://www.biaww.com/get-involved.html and learn more about how you can be involved in 2013.

► GIVING Continued from Page 10

How many squares are in the above diagram? ____


2-1-1 is the first number to call to connect people to the services and the help they need for more than a half a million Ontarians who call each year. With the introduction of 2-1-1 in Waterloo Region help is easily available in more 170 languages, 24/7, 365 days a year to the citizens of our community – helping them more quickly with confidentially to access the health, social and community programs that they need.

It is easy to use: just dial 2-1-1 on your phone or visit www.211ontario.ca to search their online database.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES FOR YOU

Community Volunteer Income Tax Program

The objective of this program is to help eligible individuals who are not able to prepare their income tax and benefit returns by themselves. This service is available for low-income people with the following income guidelines.

Single people with income up to $25,000

Couples with income up to $35,000

One Adult with child with income up to $30,000 Please visit http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/volunteer/ for more information. Robin will have a list available by the beginning of March for the clinics being offered in Waterloo Region. If you do not visit the OC often email her at [email protected] and she will email you the list.

Are you looking for a Family Doctor: Call Health Care Connect at 1-800-445-1822 and register for a family doctor. Two fantastic searchable databases to find ABI professionals and Ontario Health Care Professionals

Ontario Brain Injury Association - http://www.obia.ca/index.php/resources/directory-of-services/directory-of-services-list

Trauma Resource Directory - http://www.traumaresourcedirectory.com/


MAJOR FUNDERS IN PARTNERSHIP

PLATINUM SPONSORS

MAJOR SUPPORTERS

BRONZE SPONSORS

Economical Insurance Graves.Richard.Harris LLP

BRILLIANCE IN MUSIC

Errol Blackwood and the Injah Band

Shon Carroll

Sound Rebound

The Opportunities

The Moose Lodge

M&M Meats

Costco

Canadian Linen and Supplies

Rogers “Daytime”

CTV News at Noon

CHYM FM

KOOL FM

Dave FM

Solutions to page 5 math puzzles

1 2 3

Answers to page 6

1) Bike 6) Football

2) Goalie 7) Motorcycle

3) Ski 8) Equestrian

4) Construction 9) Lacrosse

5) Long board 10) Skateboard

(519) 579-0118 E: [email protected]

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Transcript of (519) 579-0118 E: [email protected]