Welland-McMaster Family Health Team
555 Prince Charles Dr N L3C 6B5 Welland, ON, Canada

November is Osteoporosis Awareness Month. A great way to keep your bones healthy and strong is to exercise. This fall we ran an Urban Pole Walking group and met weekly for walks along the recreational canal. Stay tuned for our next offering of this program when nice weather returns in the Spring!

As we head into winter and COVID-19 cases are on the rise, it is important to adopt daily habits to boost mental health.

Flu shot update: Niagara Region Public Health has advised us that Ontario has distributed 100% of their High Dose flu vaccines. This means that it is no longer available anywhere, nor can it be re-ordered. Please do not hold off getting the regular flu shot in hopes that the High Dose will become available: it's all gone. If you haven't received the flu shot yet this year, you can attend our Flu Shot Clinic tomorrow, Nov 14, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

FYI: COVID-19 Testing at Assessment Centres is now being done by appointment only. No more walk-in testing.

Please note that we unfortunately do not have any high dose flu shots at this time, nor will we have any for the Flu Shot Clinic on Saturday. We still recommend receiving the regular flu shot as it provides broad coverage against four strains of influenza.

We are receiving many calls about flu shots. They are not yet available and unfortunately we don't know when Public Health will send them to us. We will provide updates about the flu shots as soon as we have more information. We ask that you please do not call the office to ask about flu shots, as we already are experiencing high call volumes due to COVID-19. Keep checking our Facebook page for updates about the flu shot, including when our Flu Shot Clinics will be held.

On Remembrance Day, we pause to honour the brave men and women who served, and those who continue to serve our country. 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. It is also the first year that in-person attendance at Remembrance Day services is being discouraged. You can watch the national service on Facebook Live today at 10:45 am. Click here for more details: https://www.legion.ca//remembrance-d/the-national-ceremony

Pathstone Mental Health services are offering in-person as well as video counselling for Children and Youth under 18.

This year has been challenging, and many of our friends and neighbours may be relying on support from their community to help them put a healthy meal on their tables. The Welland McMaster Family Health Team is holding a food drive until Wed Oct 7th. Drop off non-perishable food items in the bin at the bottom of the stairs. The donations will be delivered to food banks in Welland, Pelham, and Port Colborne before Thanksgiving. Thank you for supporting this important cause!

As we continue to provide the majority of appointments virtually, please see this helpful infographic about how to prepare for a telephone or video appointment with your health care provider.

September 10th is World Suicide Prevention Day. This year's theme is Working Together to Prevent Suicide. Talking about suicide can be difficult but reaching out to someone who is struggling and providing a non-judgmental ear can help lesson feelings of isolation and show the person that someone cares about them. Showing compassion and empathy can help turn things around and make all the difference. To learn more about suicide prevention visit https://suicideprevention.ca/im...-concerned-about-someone If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide, or are concerned about a friend or loved one, call the National Suicide Prevention Support line at 1-833-456-4566. If you need immediate help, call 911 or go to your nearest Emergency Department.

Here is a helpful comparison chart for COVID-19, Cold, and Flu symptoms, created by Alberta Health Services. If you are concerned that you or your child may have COVID-19, call Niagara Region Public Health to schedule an appointment for testing: 905-688-8248, press 7.

Please be advised that our office will be closed on Monday, September 7th for Labour Day. The office will be open again, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, on Tuesday, September 8th. Have a happy, safe, and physically distant long weekend!

Are you looking to get active outdoors this Fall? Join us for Urban Pole Walking by the canal! Perfect for people with balance issues or anyone looking to add some activity to their lives. Tuesdays, 9:00 to 10:00 am, September 15-November 3. Weather-permitting. Free and open to everyone. Poles and training provided. Registration is required. Call 905-734-9699 ext. 3 to register.

Our problems have been resolved and the phone system is up and running again. Thank you for your patience, and we apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

September is World Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. As you might know, Niagara has one of the largest senior populations per capita in Canada. According to Alzheimer Society of Niagara Region, as of 2016, approximately 9,640 people in Niagara are living with a form of dementia. By 2026, this number is expected to increase by 30%. To learn more about dementia, or to access support and resources, visit https://alzheimer.ca/en/niagara

Please be advised: The phones for Rose City Medical (Drs. Mueller, Min, Carle, Barker, deWit, and Ollier) are currently not working. We are working to have them fixed as soon as possible. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Thank you for your understanding and patience as we work through this technical difficulty.

Good news! The phone system is up and running again. Thank you for your patience, and we apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

As the school year fast approaches, many of us have to send our kids back to school but are worried about what will happen. Children pick up on our emotions, especially anxiety. Check out this link with helpful information, written by a family physician, about how to prepare your kids for school in a way that will help them to be safe and resilient: https://www.canva.com//DAEEli/nJ5f3SdmrDMODZEV9qNMMQ/view

Even though flu season feels far away right now, we are already planning for our annual Flu Shot Clinic. This year will require some extra resources, including requiring hand sanitizer to be used by everyone who attends. We want to extend a HUGE THANK YOU to Dillon's Small Batch Distillers for donating 12 bottles of their hand sanitizer to us for use during our Flu Shot Clinics this Fall. They continue to be an amazing contributor to Niagara's fight against COVID-19!

Please be advised that we will be closed on Monday, August 3, for Civic Holiday. Our office will reopen on Tuesday, August 4. Enjoy the long weekend, and remember to continue to practice physical distancing (2 metres), frequent hand washing, and wear a mask or face covering in public settings. Have a safe and happy long weekend!

With the Niagara Region's Face Covering Bylaw coming into effect today, it is important for everyone to know how to properly wear and remove a mask. Watch this short video from Health Canada: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvLA--hGU70&feature=youtu.be For more information and FAQ about the Region's Bylaw, visit: https://www.niagararegion.ca/health/covid-19/mask-bylaw.aspx

We need YOU for our Board of Directors! The Welland McMaster Family Health Team (WMFHT) seeks community members for its volunteer Physician/Community led Board of Directors. If you are interested, email your resume and cover letter to Jim Borysko, Executive Director and Board Secretary, at [email protected]. Application Deadline: August 13, 2020.