Life Maintenance 101

During the hustle and bustle of the semester, it’s easy for your student to forget about necessary medical check-ups and car maintenance. Make sure they are aware of these local resources so nothing “falls through the cracks” during their time away from home!

First things first – it’s flu season! It’s not too late to get a flu shot. Encourage your students to stop by and see our friends at Ole Town Med to get theirs if they haven’t yet. Flu vaccinations are free with most insurances. Ole Town Med performs physicals and annual check-ups as well, if your student needs that while they are away from home.

As far as teeth cleanings, most dentists recommend a dental visit every six months to help prevent cavities and other problems. We recommend Oxford Dental, University Dental, Ross Family Dental and Lee Family Dentistry to help your student keep up with their oral hygiene.

Our favorite vision clinics in town are Dr. Steve Depriest Optometrist and Oxford University Eye Care. Whether it’s for a yearly eye exam or needing an eye doctor for a vision/eye-related emergency, they can take care of your student!

As far as women’s health, we are lucky to have some excellent OB/GYNs here in Oxford. The Student Health Center on campus can perform most of the same services as an OB/GYN office. If you feel that your daughter needs more of a relationship with her OB/GYN for the nex

t few years we recommend either Oxford Clinic for Women or Oxford OBGYN. The providers at Ole Town Med can perform pelvic exams as well.

We have touched on counselors and therapists in past articles, but keep in mind that there are several options in Oxford, as well as the University Counseling Center on campus. It is so important to make sure that your student is happy and stable during this transition period in their life. If you are concerned that something is going on, please encourage them to make an appointment to talk to someone.

It’s not just your student’s health that needs to be kept up with during the school year but also car maintenance! Oil changes, tire rotations and making sure car tags are up-to-date are just as important! Brannon Auto, Oxford Auto Care and Darby’s Tire & Auto Service, Dipstix and Oxford Tire (which also does service and oil changes) are just a few options of where to take your vehicle to be serviced.

Although we only mentioned things that need to be taken care of a few times a year, remind your student to take care of themselves on a daily basis. This includes eating balanced meals, getting enough sleep and maintaining an exercise routine.

As a college student, I have experienced how easy it is to procrastinate these simple tasks. The longer you put them off, the more of a hassle you create for yourself in the long run. Pass this article along to your student and remind them to take care of themselves and to stay on top of these necessary appointments!