Washing hands with soap and clean water (hot or cold) or at least hand sanitizer can help in avoiding getting those contacted sick especially senior citizens. The CDC has provided some guidelines for best practices. Click/tap here.

More About Washing Hands & Community Settings

more for his money than family, friends or fellow man. He declines Christmas dinner with his nephew, and only begrudgingly gives his employee the Christmas off to be with his family. That night, he is visited by the ghost of his dead business partner, in chains, and the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. They show him scenes from his past, his present, and his future. They 
reveal what people really think of him and how they will rejoice at his death. He wakes a changed man, generous, compassionate, caring for the plight of others. We know this classic as Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. It has been adapted countless times for stage and screen, and the message rings true today, 175 years since it’s first publication, as it did then. The holidays are a time to 
celebrate, and they are a time to remember and give to those in need. Timeless lessons indeed. ​

symtoms; and like most signs and symptoms, they may indicate any number of issues - they overlap. You can't always tell the difference, and that is where a doctor comes in. If you, your loved one or a friend is showing any of these signs below, visit your doctor.

1. Memory loss that causes issues in daily living. 
Example: Forgetting recently gotten information - dates, places, names; needing to rely on reminders like sticky notes.

2. Issues with solving problems or planning things.
Example: Trouble following simple recipes when cooking; issues with concentrating for long.

3. Having trouble with completing familiar tasks at home, work, in free, leisurely time.
Example: A person can't remember the rules to a game they nornally play and enjoy.

4. Confused about places, times, seasons.
Example: A person forgets something is happening if it doesn't happen immediately.

5. Issues following and understanding the visual and spatial.
Example: A person may have issues seeing color contrast in favored art pieces.

6. Problems with speaking and writing.
Example: A person may stop talking in the middle of a conversation and not remember what they were saying or why.

7. Losing items and not being able to "retrace" their steps to find it.
Example: A person with Alzheimer's may missplace an item and then accuse someone of stealing.

8. Impaired judgment.
Example: Someone might easily succumb to telemarketing schemes if they get on the phone with one because they lose the ability to reason well with financial matters.

9. Isolating themselves and withdrawing from social settings.
Example: Someone will likely show lack of interest in hobbies and social activities they normally love.

10. Mood swings and personality changes. 
Example: Someone will often experience personality and mood changes from normally easy going to anxious or upset or confused.

Alzheimer's has no cure. But we can fight back. Donate to the cause and educate yourself. Eat right, exercise, stay sharp and active.

Source: Alzheimer's Association

other disease. I don't say this to belittle the loss people suffer at the hands of other diseases and illnesses, but to emphasize further the need to raise awareness and end Alzheimers. The difference with Alzheimers is that it steals not only the life of the person diagnosed, but both they, and their family and friends have to suffer through the loss of the memory, the personality, the essence of that person in this life while the brain is slowly taken over by the protein plaque build up that interferes with the regular functions.

In 1983, President Ronald Reagan designated November to be National Alzheimer's Awareness Month. At that time, there were fewer than 2 million Americans being diagnosed with the disease. That amount has steadily climbed to where Alzheimer's is now the 6th leading cause of death in Americans.

• Between 2000 and 2015, deaths due to Alzheimer's Disease rose 123%.
• Someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer's every 65 seconds.
• There are about 5.7 million Americans living with the disease.
• In 2018, the projected cost of care for Alzheimer's Disease was $277 billion. The forecast is that it will reach $1.1 trillion by 2050 in America.
• 10% of people over 65 has been diagnosed.
• Approximately 2/3 of all Americans with Alzheimers are women. 
• Alzheimer's Disease is the only one in the top 10 leading causes of death that can't be prevented or cured.
• About 16.1 million people provide unpaid care to those with Alzheimers, with about 18.4 million hours being invested at a value of $232 billion.

There is no cure. But we are working toward one. The Alzheimer's Association is a national nonprofit leading the fight against Alzheimers. They have designated purple as the official awareness color for Alzheimer's Awareness Month and for all campaigns. Their mission:

They have chapters throughout the 50 states. Here in CT, you can reach out to local chapters in South Central Regional Office, Hamden, CT, Southwest Regional Office, Norwalk, CT, Eastern Regional Office, Norwich, CT, Northwest Regional Office, New Milford, CT. Find out about local fundraisers, make a donation, raise awareness. Let's band together to #EndAlz.

Sources:
- Alzheimer's Association, About
- Alzheimer's Association, Facts & Figures
- Alzheimer's Association, Find Your Chapter
- History of Alzheimer's, Rochester Elder Law

I could hardly believe it when I saw the projected temperature for Thanksgiving Day. 27 °F! It is the coldest Thanksgiving Day that I can remember for years. I mean, we just had our first snow storm last Thursday, one week before Thanksgiving. Now I'm not someone who particularly likes the cold, but this year, I am choosing to be thankful for the season and the positives it brings, such as the opportunity to learn snow sports like skiing and snowboarding.

The Pilgrims never had winter easy. In fact, they never had anything easy when they came to America. Yet, they set aside a day to be grateful for all they had, and shared the day with neighboring Native American tribes. They began the tradition of Thanksgiving.

November 2018: Kellyann H - From the moment she joined the Golden Horizons team in January 2018, Kellyann jumped right into the fray. Her friendly disposition and willingness to work have shown her to be invaluable to clients and the company alike. Thank you, Kellyann, for your hard work and dedication to your clients and to Golden Horizons. Congratulations! 

Of mice and men...of teeth and boobs... We've got two more reasons to raise awareness in the month of October.

- Brush your teeth with a softly bristled brush.
- Brush your tongue to get rid of bacteria and your own promote fresh breath.

Now having good dental hygiene is not the only thing we should be raising our awareness about this month. We have "of teeth and boobs"...that's right, it's time to go pink! 

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Often breast cancer doesn't have any external symptoms. It is prudent to have annual mammograms.

Brush well and go pink!

Sources:
- www.adha.org
- www.colgate.com
- www.mouthhealthy.org
- www.nationalbreastcancer.org

What do chiropractors and physical therapists have in common?...

• They both deal with our musculoskeletal infrastructure 
• They both deal with rehabbing injuries
• They both deal with movement and mobility
• They both focus on drug-free treatments
• They both deal with spinal alignment and overall health

October is National Chiropractic Health Month and National Physical Therapy Month. Each has a theme that they are focusing on (and christening a hashtag for you social media folks). For Chiropractic Health Month, the theme is Move 4 Life with #Move4Life. The campaign for Physical Therapy Month is Choose PT with #ChoosePT.

infrastructure, primarily the spine and its functions in relation to the rest of the body.

Chiropractors take a hands-on, drug free approach to treatment, advocating for spinal and body alignment to treat headaches, back pain and free up other functions of the body. They promote pain relief and optimum health through movement and mobility, much like physical therapists. 

are dealing with an opioid and painkiller addiction crisis. The theme for Physical Therapy Month - Choose PT - is a partially a campaign to promote alternatives to drug dependent methods of treatment such as physical therapy, focusing in using the body to help heal itself. It is better in the long term.

This month, choose treatments and preventative care that is drug free and focused on your body. It's Time to Move!!!

October 2018: Jacqueline B - When Jacqueline entered the Golden Horizons office in 2018, our first impression was of a friendly, steadfast person who was ready to work. We were quickly proved
correct. Jacqueline jumped right in accepting shifts, always arriving punctually and communicating with the office. She has demonstrated consistency, care and professionalism. Congratulations Jacqueline!

​Cultural Tidbit: Vincent Price , born May 27, 1911, was an American actor best known for his roles in classic horror films. His career spanned both movies and television and several genres including drama, comedy, mystery, film noir and thriller. Price was famous for his patronage of the arts. He graduated from Yale with a degree in Art History. He was an art collector and a gourmet cook. He released several recipe books with his second wife. Price died on October 25, 1993, having lived a full life.

​It’s that time of year again, Golden Horizons’ annual training month. Over the course of these next few weeks, we will be reaching out to all our caregivers who need to have their in-service training updated. At Golden Horizons, we strive to make sure our caregivers are up-to-date and fully prepared for the services they are providing to our clients. The safety and well-being of our
employees and clients are our utmost priority.

with, management should always be achieved in consultation with your doctors, and other health professionals - dieticians, nutritionists, homeopathic doctors, physical therapists, trainers, chiropractors, instructors etc. These experts are well-trained in their fields and their knowledge can mean the difference between successful pain reduction or eradication, and adding to your pain through reinjury or new injury. Take care of yourself. Your body will thank you.