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

Precautions Against Coronavirus

3/13/2020

Many stores are showcasing empty shelves. As we brace for the novel coronavirus outbreak, on top of the normal flu season, people are buying up every 'anti-bacterial' product to protect against it and prepare for quarantines if needed. Hand sanitizer, toilet paper, paper towels, water, non-perishable food items are flying off the shelves. What are we to do?

First step is to NOT PANIC! Yes, the novel coronavirus is a new illness. There is no vaccine currently available to treat or prevent it. Scientists estimate that it does have a higher mortality rate than flu. It has similar symptoms to the flu. Many don't have immunity built up. It is important to stay calm, be informed, and take precautions.

Preventative measures, recommended by the CDC, are similar to those for the flu:
- Wash you hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- If using hand sanitizer, it must be at least 60% alcohol.
- If you're sick, stay home.
- Don't touch you face, nose, eyes, mouth with unwashed hands.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched places as work and home.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick or if you are sick.
- Don't shake hands to touch others if you, or they, are sick.
- Wear a face mask if you are sick or if you are caring for someone who is sick.
- Practice good etiquette with sneezing or coughing. Blow or cough into a tissue. Throw it away. Wash your hands right after.

With all the hand sanitizer being bought up. There are DIY recipes for it. Take this with a grain of salt. There are differing opinions on it's use, and whether they can be helpful, or actually harmful. Here are some articles for you to peruse.

- "Guide to Local Productions: WHO-Recommended Handrub Formulations", World Health Organization
- "Coronavirus: How to Make Your Own DIY Hand Sanitizer"; Julia Musto, March 7, 2020, Fox News
- "Can't Get Your Hands on Hand Sanitizer? Make Your Own", Megan Cerullo, March 5, 2020, CBS News
- "Newsletter: DIY Hand Sanitizer - Maybe Not the Best Idea", David Lazarus, March 9, 2020, LA Times

Stay informed, take precautions, don't panic. We will do better working together.

COVID-19

3/6/2020

We've all heard about the Corona Virus at this point. It began in Wuhan, China, and has become a global concern. While much is still being learned about it, here are some ways we've come across to help mitigate the risk of contracting it.

From the CDC:
"There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. However, as a reminder, CDC always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Stay home when you are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask.
- CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
- Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

For information about handwashing, see CDC’s Handwashing website
For information specific to healthcare, see CDC’s Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings
These are everyday habits that can help prevent the spread of several viruses. CDC does have specific guidance for travelers."
(excerpted from a letter from the Governor’s office)
As of March 4 (yesterday), the CDC is advising anyone who has recently returned from a country designated as Level 3 – which currently includes China, Iran, Italy, and South Korea – to self-monitor in their homes for 14 days upon returning to the United States. Anyone who has recently returned from a country designated as Level 2 – which currently includes Japan – should limit their interactions with others for 14 days after returning to the United States.

Be safe!

Golden Nuggets, March 2020

3/6/2020

Message from the Office

Bon Voyage Cait!

It is with mixed emotions that we share the news that Caitlin will be leaving Golden Horizons effective March 11, 2020. Caitlin has been with Golden Horizons for 10.5 years and has been an asset to our company. Caitlin has shown dedication,

commitment and has always been someone we can rely on. Over the years Caitlin has worn many hats, her main focus has been in marketing, and as time went on more responsibilities were delegated to her that included scheduling, aiding in client and caregiver relations, computer guru, the main writer of our newsletters, and huntress of telephony and activity sheets. Caitlin always has something witty to say or a funny joke to make everyone laugh. She’s been someone we’ve depended on since the day she was hired, always coming to work with a good attitude and a smile on her face. Golden Horizons has been blessed to have her as long as we did. We are sad to say goodbye but proud of her for pursuing her goals and dreams. We are happy she is setting off on a new adventure and wish her all the success in the world! Good Luck Cait!

Mr. W's Newsletter Inspiration

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” ~ Mark Twain

Twain’s work was inspired by Cultural Tidbit: Mark Twain is an American lecturer, humorist and author, best known for The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Twain, (birth name Samuel Langhorne Clemens) was born on November 30, 1835, in Florida, Missouri, the 6th of 7 siblings. His father, a lawyer and judge, died when Twain was 11. He left school the next year to start

working. Much of Twain’s work was inspired by his myriad of career paths, including miner, river boat pilot, reporter. His lectures led him to travel the world from the shores of the Mississippi River to Europe and even Australia. He married in 1870, had 4 children, and eventually settled his family in our very own Hartford, CT, where his house is maintained as a museum today. He died April 21, 1910, in Redding, CT. His pen name, Mark Twain, is derived from a river boat landsman’s call of 12 feet depth on the river indicating it is safe for the boat.

Caregiver Tip of the Month

Spring is coming, bringing warmer weather and the perfect opportunity to get outside and walk. If you care for someone with dementia, they may be prone to wander. Always supervise! Here are a few tips to help

a) Keep a contact list of family, friends and neighbors to call if they do give you the slip. Ask them to call if they see the person wandering b) Keep a list of likely places the person might go c) Keep car keys hidden and locks out of the line of sight d) Put motion sensors and alarms on doors and windows to signal when they are opened e) Identify most likely times of day they might wander, provide extra close supervision and routine activities to engage and redirect. Enjoy the coming spring days, and worry less with safety precautions in place.

Take a Leap

2/28/2020

Civilizations throughout history have sought ways to keep time using celestial bodies and stars. Some were lunar, some solar. The one we use today, the Gregorian calendar, counts our year based on the one complete orbit of Earth around the sun. One day is 24 hours, one full revolution of the earth's axis. Our calendar is 365 days. However, one actual complete revolution of the earth around the sun is approximately 365.2421 days. So, with about 1/4 day more per year, Julius Caesar began adding February 29, a full 24 hours, to the calendar to help account for this time. The first Leap Day and Leap Year, was in 45 AD.

Leaping is a versatile word. We leap physically...jumping, mentally... to conclusions, emotionally...in mood changes, spiritually...of faith.

We take "leaps of faith" into the unknown, taking risks. These leaps and risks, or lack thereof, are what shape our life experiences.

At Golden Horizons, we work with clients and caregivers whose experiences and accomplishments are wide and varied. They inspire us with their lives and have taught us never to take for granted the time and seasons gifted to us. We never know who we will impact. You count.

2020 is a leap year. Let it inspire you to take a leap in your life!

Source:
https://www.history.com/news/why-do-we-have-leap-year

Protect Your Heart in Cold Weather

2/21/2020

Your heart is one of your most vital organs. It is responsible for cleaning and pumping blood throughout your body. When something goes wrong with your heart, every other function in your body is affected. It is imperative we protect it.

With cold weather here, how do we protect it during the winter? Here are a few tips to help keep you and your heart healthy

during the colder seasons:
- Eat healthy. Our colder months host the holidays, which means many rich foods. Additionally, it is sometimes harder to get fresh fruit and veggies during these months. Make it a point to eat healthy, and get all appropriate nutrients.
- Stay current with all your vaccines so you don't fall prey to diseases like the flu.
- Wash your hands, and use hand sanitizer. Keep yourself clean and germ free to help prevent the spread of sickness. Illnesses make your heart and blood work harder.
- Continue to exercise, but at a reduced regimen and duration if you go out in the cold.
- Get plenty of sleep.
- Stay hydrated.
- Dress warmly.
- Keep a close eye on your blood pressure, and if anything noticeable happens, consult with your doctor.

Sources:
- Protecting Your Heart in Cold Weather, Hillcrest Hospital
- Keeping Your Heart Safe in Cold Weather, January 17, 2018, Advent Health Orlando

It Makes the World Go Round...

2/7/2020

"It's love that makes the world go round." -W.S. Gilbert

I believe love is the most powerful force in the universe. It is incomprehensible and illusive, yet understood and always within reach. You can find it in the most unlikely places, from the most unlikely people. Here's a look at how it has inspired some.

"Love is a choice you make from moment to moment."
- Barbara De Angelis

"The deepest love is often hidden." - Yamamoto Tsunetomo

Today is Valentine's Day. The day we acknowledge and celebrate love. True love is patient, unconditional, deep and selfless.

At Golden Horizons, we would like to express our wish for your love to take root, blossom and grow, whether in giving or receiving it.

Happy Valentine's Day, from our family to yours.

"Love isn't a state of perfect caring. it is an active noun like struggle. To love someone is to strive to accept that person exactly the way he or she is, right here and now."
- Fred Rogers

"Love is a commitment to protecting another person's heart with the same passion you use to guard your own."
- Rob Hill Sr.

"We judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals."
- Immanuel Kant

Golden Nuggets, February 2020

2/4/2020

Message from the Office

February 17th is an important day. No, it’s not a national holiday (well, it is Presidents’ Day this year - 3rd Monday in February - so I guess it is, but we don’t get it off)

or religious holy day. It is not a day that will live in infamy, but every year, it plays a vital role in the collective national attitude. This day, February 17, is National Random Acts of Kindness Day. It is a day that invites each one of us to go out of our way to pay it forward. It encourages us to cross our arbitrary boundaries - creed, religion, color - to recognize and affirm the humanity in each of us. For the duration of February, on the 17th, for every day going forward, live out the Golden

Rule, which embodies RAK Day - do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Be kind. Encourage others to be kind. Pay it forward. ~ Golden Horizons Office Tea

Mr. W's Newsletter Inspiration

“It is far better to be alone, than to be in bad company.”
~ George Washington ~

George Washington, ‘Father of our Country’, is one of America’s most famous Founding Fathers, serving as commander to the Continental Army during the War of Independence and as our first President (1789-1797). Born February 22, 1732, in Virginia, he didn’t have the same formal education as his older brothers, but he had an inquisitive mind. Washington studied trigonometry

and mathematics, and in 1749, received his surveyor's license from the College of William and Mary. Upon the death of his older brother, Washington inherited the famed Mt. Vernon plantation. He was husband to Martha Custis Washington (m. Jan 6, 1759), step father to Martha’s two children, veteran of the French & Indian War, statesman in the Virginia legislature (and Continental Congress and 1st President). He died December 14, 1799, from sickness and blood-letting, at 67, leaving a legacy that impacts us today.

Monthly Safety Tip

Get enough sleep!

Eat healthy. Drink plenty of water. Moderate alcohol intake. Don’t smoke. Get plenty of exercise. Stay positive. Follow your doctor’s orders to hopefully live a long, prosperous, healthy life.

February is National Heart Month. If any problem, ie. heart disease, runs in your family, take precautions. Visit your doctor to get an accurate picture of your heart health. Get enough sleep.

Eat healthy!

Caregivers of the Quarter

Q1 2020: Amanda M. & Mary Ann C.

Amanda M. is celebrating 4 years with our team this month. Amanda is a consummate professional and dedicated caregiver. Her clients have nothing but good things to say about her work ethic and personality. Thank you for all your hard work Amanda!

Mary Ann C. joined the Golden Horizons team in November 2018. In her time with us, she has shown great compassion and provided excellent care to her clients; they have repeatedly thanked us for sending her to them. Thank you for all you do Mary Ann!

February Birthdays

We would like to wish the happiest of birthdays to all our clients and caregivers with February birthdays. May this next year be full of blessings and adventures!

Clients
- Mr. G, February 2
- Mrs. B, February 5
- Mrs. D, February 16
- Mrs. M, February 18

Caregivers
- Tynasia D, February 12

All About Your Heart Health

As we said on page one, February is American Heart Month. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in men and women in the USA, with a rate of 600,000 per year, or 1 in 4 deaths. In women, the rate of deaths is 1 in 3. These statistics translate to a scary figure in the US - every 37 seconds, a person dies of heart disease. So what causes it?

Visited your doctor recently?

Heart disease is an umbrella term for many cardiovascular issues, including heart attacks, heart rhythm problems, heart blood vessel illnesses and more. There is no one-size-fits-all for heart disease symptoms, and

they will differ depending on the specific issue, and in men and women (ie. men have more chest pain, women have more discomfort - short breath, fatigue, nausea), but there are some common factors to watch

for in order to prevent, diagnose, or manage heart disease. Here are a few examples of symptom categories for Heart Disease:

- Heart Disease in Blood Vessels - shortness of breath, chest - pain, tightness, pressure; pain in places like one’s back, jaw, neck, upper abdominal region, throat etc.; if blood vessels are narrow in body limbs, it may include pain, numbing, cold or weakness.

- Heart Disease because of Irregular Heart Beats - tachycardia (racing heartbeat), bradycardia (slower heartbeat); feeling lightheaded, dizzy, faint, short on breath, chest pain or discomfort, fluttering in the chest.

- Heart Disease in Weak Heart Muscle (Cardiomyopathy) - always feeling breathless (with or without exertion); swelling in legs, ankles, feet; irregular heartbeats - fast, fluttering, pounding; feeling dizzy, lightheaded or faint.

Some risk factors that may contribute to a heart disease include: genetic predisposition / family medical history, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, unhealthy diet (ie. high in saturated fat), excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, obesity, diabetes, little to no exercise. Almost half of all Americans have at least three risk factors.

So what do we do? As we said in the Monthly Safety Tip, first visit your doctor! Know what the health status for your heart is. Listen to what your doctor says to improve your health - eat healthy, don’t smoke,

moderate (or quit) your alcohol consumption, exercise, take any medications prescribed as directed. Take control of your health!

Valetine's Word Search

National Thyroid Awareness Month

1/31/2020

January is National Thyroid Awareness Month. Your thyroid is a small, but mighty, butterfly shaped gland at the base of your neck, above the collar, that regulates most bodily functions. It is part of your endocrine system.

There are a number of issues that can arise with your thyroid. The two most notable are hyperthyroidism - overproduction of thyroid hormone causing overactive metabolism and bodily functions - and hypothyroidism - insufficient production of thyroid hormone causing slowing of metabolism and bodily functions.

One of the ways to help prevent thyroid issues is healthy diet and exercise. Here are a few foods that can help your thyroid - oysters, seaweed, spinach, Greek Yogurt, eggs, berries, brazil nuts - they contain nutrients including iodine, selenium and zinc, that help in the production of thyroid hormone.

We All Have Dreams

1/24/2020

"I have a dream...And when this happens, and when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: “Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!” - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, 1963

On August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, gave his famous "I Have A Dream Speech" to a crowd of 250,000 people who joined the March on Washington.

His words have resounded through history; a call rightness, a call to honor, a call to freedom. Let us be thankful for forebears like Dr. King, who made exceptional contributions to move our country forward. Let us all contribute to that dream!

Some Do's and Don'ts of Rock Salt

1/10/2020

Don't Do This ---->
Don't let rock salt / ice melt come into contact with your skin or your pet's skin / fur. It can cause burns, irritation, inflammation etc., and can be very painful. Wear gloves!

Do This ---->
When handling rock salt / ice melt, always wear proper eye safety gear. Rock salt is made of strong chemicals; they are harmful to eyes.

There will be rock salt / ice melt available to our caregivers at the office over the course of the winter. It is important to keep some on hand, safely stored in the car, in case of emergency.

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