Golden Horizons Elder Care Services blog. Senior in-home health care companions, Dementia, Alzheimer’s, elderly healthy tips, community involvement and other topics. - Golden Horizons Elder Care

Free COVID-19 Testing

10/30/2020

The Community Health Centers of Connecticut are offering free testing at multiple of their locations. There is a CHC office adjacent to the GHEC office building which offers testing for the next 3 weeks on Thursdays. Testing is fast and can be done through a walk-up or drive-up. After you are tested, you will receive your results in 2-3 days. You can get tested as many times as needed. The dates for the Old Saybrook CHC COVID-19 Testing are:

Thursday November 5, 2020 9AM-1PM
Thursday November 12, 2020 9AM-1PM
Thursday November 19, 2020 9AM-1PM

For more information about testing, please
visit www.chc1.com/covid-19-testing/

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

10/16/2020

According to the World Health Organization Breast Cancer is the most common cancer among women. While there are hundreds of thousands of deaths from breast cancer a year, there are approximately 3.5 million survivors in the Unites States. The death rate from breast cancer has been declining since the early 1990s largely due to the early detection and improved treatment. Women should perform self-breast examinations to detect changes as early as possible. Consult your healthcare professionals if you notice anything unusual. Most often symptoms do not mean you have breast cancer, there can be many explanations for changes. Just like there are many risk factors to getting breast cancer. Some are controllable such as alcohol intake and others such as genetic factors are uncontrollable. For more information about breast cancer, visit www.nationalbreastcancer.org.

Who Should Take Vitamin D?

10/7/2020

Click/tap on the graphic or the highlighted link for more information. Content credit - Consumer Reports.

A Message from the Office

8/28/2020

The seasons are beginning to change, and leaves will be turning different colors before we know it. Autumn is so many people’s favorite season for multiple reasons. The weather is the perfect mixture of warm with a cold breeze, but there is also so much to do! Harvesting is in full swing and local orchards begin offering apple picking. With the abundance of zucchini in gardens, baking breads are a must.

Labor Day is right around the corner and we want to thank all of our amazing workers for their continued dedication and hard work this year. We could not have gotten through this pandemic so far without every single one of you. Everyone should give themselves a pat-on-the-back for keeping all of our clients and caregivers healthy and safe!
~ Golden Horizons Office Team

Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

8/28/2020

Prostate cancer plagues millions of men every year. Some risk factors include family history, genetics, race, diet, and lifestyle. Although scientists don’t have an explanation why, men from African decent are 76% more likely to develop prostate cancer. Some diet and lifestyle factors include high fat and high processed foods, lack of vegetables in diet, and obesity.

Doctors recommend having a “prostate cancer screening schedule” as early as 40 years old. They will assess your risk factors and family history and develop a plan for early detection and prevention. We know that usually the earlier you can detect it, the better the prognosis. Just like how women get regular breast exams, men must get regular prostate exams. Doctors will typically perform lab work and perform a digital rectal exam. Right now there is not any specific urine based test or imaging that could better screen, however the Prostate Cancer Foundation said “are on the horizon”. For more information about prostate cancer, please visit www.pcf.org.

Falls Prevention Awareness Day (FPAD)

8/28/2020

September 22, 2020 is the 13th annual Fall Prevention Awareness Day, led by the National Council on Aging. It is a campaign aiming to raise awareness, nationwide, on how to prevent injuries due to falls among the elder population. In 2018, national, state, and local events and media reached some 154.7 million people. The Connecticut Falls Prevention Coalition is in development through the State Department of Aging and will be participating locally. For more information, visit the National Council of Aging’s website at https://www.ncoa.org/healthy-aging/falls-prevention/falls-prevention-awareness-day/.

Monthly Safety Tips

7/17/2020

Natural disasters can be extremely stressful for anyone, but it could be especially troubling for those with Alzheimer’s and dementia. It is important to create a preparedness plan for situations like tornadoes, hurricanes, and even heat waves. Your plans should include emergency kits and an evacuation plans. For those living in a residential building, know the facility’s plans in case of an emergency. Make sure that everyone that is involved in your emergency plan knows their roles and are confident in executing them. For more information about emergency preparedness please visit www.alz.org for more information.
Source: www.alz.org

Managing Dementia during COVID-19

The Alzheimer’s Association reports that dementia does not increase risk of COVID-19, however the dementia-related behaviors could increase the risk of contraction. This is due in part because many will forget to wash their hands and take other important precautions. Here are some tips to help care for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia.

- Place signs next to sinks to remind them to wash for 20 seconds with soap. You can also have pictures to show proper technique.
- Hand sanitizer is an easy and effective alternative to hand-washing if getting to a sink is challenging.
- When possible, ask pharmacists to maximize prescription refills to reduce number of trips as possible.
- Avoid visitors as much as possible. The more people that come in the house the greater risk of transmission.
- Create alternative plans incase primary care or other health services become closed.
Source: www.alz.org

Message from the President & VP

7/1/2020

July is here - the month we celebrate our independence. In 1776, our Founding Fathers set the course for a grand experiment - a nation “of the people, by the people, for the people.” The United States of American was founded on the idea of independence for the people especially the freedom of the individual to pursue life, liberty, and happiness.

These are some of the driving principles behind our mission at Golden Horizons. We provide care in the home so that our clients can live independently. Our goal is to create an environment of help and support, so they can continue to pursue their passions.

This month, as we celebrate the birth of our nation, let us remember to never take our freedoms for granted. Have a safe and happy 4th of July!
~ Lisa Gradzewicz & Megan Gradzewicz

COVID-19 Updates

6/12/2020

I cannot believe we are halfway through 2020! Connecticut has begun its plan to reopen the state. Currently outdoor eating, retail stores, and outdoor recreation areas are open. Salons and barbers are hoping to open back up on June 1st. Phase two is set to begin June 20th. At that time gyms, libraries, and social clubs will be open. Indoor seating for restaurants is tentatively scheduled to open on June 20th as well. Please continue to stay safe by using masks and gloves when appropriate and wash your hands. Although the state will be open, it does not mean the risk of COVID-19 goes away! To stay up to date on the current state guidelines, you can visit ct.gov/coronavirus.

Monthly Safety Tips

6/3/2020

National Safety Month

This month, we want to stress the importance of safety in the workplace as related to proper attire. Per our employee handbook, closed-toed sneakers or non-slip shoes should be worn while on a shift. Personal care attendants are to wear scrubs; homemakers and companions are to wear khaki or dark colored pants and appropriate tops (no tank tops). Caregivers also should wear their name tags. Proper shoes will help prevent injury; proper attire and wearing name badges will identify you as professionals. We appreciate all your hard work and dedication to our clients and our elders.

Preventing Falls

According to the National Council on Aging, falls are the leading cause of injury and death to people over age 65. Anyone can fall, but older adults are more prone. How do we prevent these falls? Start with awareness - as we age, we lose flexibility and balance, our vision may decline, medications we take can have side effects, and we may have chronic conditions like diabetes or stroke, which can affect our functions and faculties. Preventing falls starts with including the older adult in the process - help them see their own fall risk, encourage them to take steps to prevent it. Discuss their health, vision, and medications with them. Observe them. Are they leaning on furniture or stairs to help themselves up? Do they have trouble getting out of chairs? Do a home walkthrough, checking for grab bars in bathrooms, secure railings for stairs, and ensure lighting is bright enough. These may help prevent falls.
Sources: www.nsc.org, www.ncoa.org

In-Home, Non-Medical Health Care in
Connecticut Counties:
New Haven, Hartford, Middlesex, New London

CT Non-Medical Health Care Jobs
eMail or Call Toll Free Now: 1-800-421-0122
Our Secure Office Fax: 860-388-1773

AWA

Golden Horizons
Elder Care Services
is a Drug-Free
Workplace. Go to:
Employment for
Home Care Jobs

Go to: Resource Center and Golden Horizons' Care Blog

	Memberships & Accreditations
	BBB-CT \| ACHA \| ECCC \| GMCC \| MCCC \| OSCC \| NAHC

We're Hiring at Golden Horizons! Homecare / Caregiving Jobs - Live-In, Homemaker, Companion,
In-Home, Non-Medical Health Aides & Certified Nursing Assistants Jobs. Call today!
Other Services:
In-Home Care Services / Dementia Home Care Assistants / Companion Elderly Care Services, Conn.
Golden Horizons Home, Non-Medical Health Care Attendants within Connecticut Provide Peace of Mind
Golden Horizons Elder Care Services, Inc.,
251 Main St., Suite 101, Old Saybrook, CT 06475
Golden Horizons Elder Care in CT Since 1996, Bonded & Insured. CT State Reg. #HCA.0000133
Call 1-800-421-0122 Today for Senior Home, Non-Medical Health Care Services in Connecticut, USA - eMail Us Today! / Services Offered 24/7

©2020 Golden Horizons. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Accessibility
Website & App Design, CMS, Internet Branding: Design For Communication | !nBusinessSEO™

picturesbyann, riverartcenter, bundesinnung, FixersUK, Alzheimer'sAssociationGreaterIllinois, michael_swan, telephotography

Photos used under Creative Commons from Neal., The National Guard, orca_bc, Kirt Edblom, havens.michael34, Chadica, Tony Fischer Photography, Robert Couse-Baker, @mikescic, Kazuki Koikeda, muha..., havens.michael34, roger_mommaerts, kenteegardin, Yutaka Seki, oneselfsacrifice, Archive: U.S. Secretary of Defense, Benson Kua, cliff1066™, ed and eddie, wuestenigel, timsackton, lisaclarke, usarmyband, 7th Street Theatre, veteranscallusa, 2 million+ views. Humbled and thanks!, ElectroSawHQ, NDJ Mom, Jenn Durfey, DaPuglet, DrVoo, wuestenigel, planetc1, inkknife_2000 (7 million views +), chrisparkeruk, www.jasoncoreyphoto.com, seanflynn1986, Matt McGee, New Jersey National Guard, Seattle Municipal Archives, CDay DaytimeStudios w /1 Million views, Shélin Graziela, Nickolas Titkov, Melissa Hillier, KA Sports Photos, 7th Army Training Command, r.nial.bradshaw, scattered1, DVIDSHUB, ZacheryTWilson, FolsomNatural, wuestenigel, shixart1985, Tony Webster, Tom Hannigan, fechi fajardo, Kyle Taylor, Dream It. Do It., TravelBakerCounty, Clearly Ambiguous, Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com, Named Faces from the Past, scootergenius02, Rod Waddington, pabsanch, Loco Steve, maf04, Western CT State University, marcoverch, Sister72, wuestenigel, Stefans02, rodrigocastro35, wuestenigel, qthomasbower, Doolallyally, Bill Ward's Brickpile, Alzheimer's Association - Greater Illinois