A publication of Golden Horizons Elder Care Services, Inc.
Announcement! We're Moving!
You read that right, we’re moving. As of February 1, 2019, we will be relocating to new office space... Now before you start to worry about how you will navigate to the new place, we are only moving downstairs. We will still be at 251 Main St. in Old Saybrook, but now in Suite 101. The great news with this - fewer stairs! Come visit us on the 1st floor in our regular building. Here’s our full address:
251 Main St, Suite 201, Old Saybrook CT 06475
 | A Message from the OfficeI was watching the weather channel this morning as I was getting ready for my day. They were talking about the “polar vortex” dipping down |
| over most of the continental USA, bringing record-breaking cold temperatures. The upper Midwest was seeing wind chills of -50+ F. These are dangerous temperatures! Thankfully, we are only getting as |  |
low as positive single digits, but it is still cold. We are in the midst of winter. Cold temperatures come with the season. To that end, we need to be diligent in our preparations - ie. winter maintenance on our cars, emergency kits in our cars with shovels, flashlights, food, batteries, water, first aid items, blankets etc. We need to be vigilant in dressing warmly and appropriately for the colder temperatures and take proper precautions in making sure our walkways are clear of ice, snow, and slippery conditions. Winter is a beautiful season - who doesn’t love a gentle snowfall, a roaring fire and a cup of hot cocoa - but we need to accord it proper respect. Stay warm and safe! ~ Golden Horizons Office Team
Mr. W's Inspirational Quotes
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage
to continue that counts.” ~ Winston Churchill
Cultural Tidbit: Is there anyone in the world who hasn’t heard the name Winston Churchill? ...Yes, technically speaking, there are many in the world who haven’t heard his name and who don’t actually know who he is, but the sentiment remains. Winston Churchill was a British writer, politician and officer in the army. His greatest role was as Prime Minister of Great Britain during WWII. He lead that nation through some of her darkest days; from when they stood alone against the Third Reich to the complete Allied victory. His leadership and iron will helped Britain navigate the pre-, during, and post-war worlds and his efforts echo through the halls of history today.
Caregiver of the Month
Luciana joined the Golden Horizons team toward the end of 2018. In her short time with us, she has demonstrated excellence and professionalism in her care for her clients and in her communications with the office. Through her hard work and dedication, she has become a valuable asset to Golden Horizons. She is a true team player. Thank you Luciana. Congratulations!
February Birthdays
We would like to wish the happiest of birthdays to all our clients and caregivers with February birthdays. May this year be full of
| blessings and adventures beyond your wildest dreams. Clients - Mr. G, February 2 - Mrs. B, February 5 - Mrs. D, February 16 - Mrs. M, February 18 Caregivers - Khum N, February 8 - Tynasia D, Februray 12 - Leila H, February 16 - Zanaya B, February 22 - Irene D, February 23 |  |
The Benefits of De-Stressing on the Heart
 Reading helps us to de-stress. | February is also American Heart Month, an awareness campaign lead by the American Heart Association and other organizations with the goals of raising awareness about heart health - heart diseases, cures and prevention methods. |
In this edition of the Golden Nuggets newsletter, and in our blog, we will be exploring these topics in depth. By educating ourselves on these topics, we can make all the difference in our the health of ourselves and our loved ones. Last month, we focused on reading and the many health benefits it offers. One of those benefits was in helping us to relieve stress. Many things can cause stress - an overdue bill, pressure to meet a deadline at work, the unexpected
pain of losing a loved one, getting caught in traffic when you are in a hurry. Everyone feels stress; what triggers stress, how much we feel it, how we respond to it varies from person to person. The level of response can also cause any number of health problems ranging from high blood pressure to hypertension to irritable bowel syndrome.
Many studies have been conducted on the connection between heart health and stress (and many more are needed). Research has shown that high stress can put pressure on the heart and cardiovascular system, as well as the other systems in your body - endocrine, respiratory, digestive etc. Stress can directly affect behaviors that increase one’s chances of heart disease. When stressed, people may turn to excessive drinking, smoking, not exercising, poor sleeping habits, eating too much. All these factors contribute to poor health and an increased chance of heart issues.
Such bad habits make your heart and other body systems work harder to maintain decent health, and like any system, overuse causes worn out parts and breakdowns. In the case of the human body, that means health issues like heart disease or death. Heart disease is the leading cause of death, and high stress doesn’t help that situation.
pain of losing a loved one, getting caught in traffic when you are in a hurry. Everyone feels stress; what triggers stress, how much we feel it, how we respond to it varies from person to person. The level of response can also cause any number of health problems ranging from high blood pressure to hypertension to irritable bowel syndrome.
Many studies have been conducted on the connection between heart health and stress (and many more are needed). Research has shown that high stress can put pressure on the heart and cardiovascular system, as well as the other systems in your body - endocrine, respiratory, digestive etc. Stress can directly affect behaviors that increase one’s chances of heart disease. When stressed, people may turn to excessive drinking, smoking, not exercising, poor sleeping habits, eating too much. All these factors contribute to poor health and an increased chance of heart issues.
Such bad habits make your heart and other body systems work harder to maintain decent health, and like any system, overuse causes worn out parts and breakdowns. In the case of the human body, that means health issues like heart disease or death. Heart disease is the leading cause of death, and high stress doesn’t help that situation.
 Exercise provides an avenue to de-stress. | Research and common sense both point to de-stressing as a way to help prevent health issues, heart and overall. So how do we do that? Here are some tips: a) Read - it offers an escape from our stressful real lives |
b) Unplug from the world of electronics - no email, phones, text messages, TV etc. - take a walk and enjoy nature instead c) Exercise - physical activity can help burn off stressful feelings by releasing chemicals that help boost your mood and adds the benefit of getting your body moving d) Laugh often - laughing is said to be the best medicine. It lightens our moods and helps us stay positive e) Meditate, contemplate, breath - still yourself and take a moment to focus on the good.
The History of Valentine's Day
In the previous section, we talked about the benefits of de-stressing to our heart health. One way we mentioned was to read. Here’s a two for one special; you can 1) de-stress by 2) reading about our main food of the heart - love. In two short weeks, February 14, we will mark a highly commercialized annual celebration of love: Valentine’s Day. Today, it is a consumer-driven holiday - chocolates, candy, roses, dates, dinners, cards, poems - but have you ever wondered about the history behind it? Here’s a little peak.
Our modern Valentine’s Day seems to originate in ancient Rome and early Christendom. The Catholic Church declared a St. Valentine, or Valentinus, from the time of the early church, but the person is shrouded in mystery. Several legends exist: 1) Valentine was a priest who defied Emperor Claudius’ orders to cease performing marriage’s for young lovers and was executed when discovered. 2) Valentine was martyred for helping Christians escape from horrible Roman prisons. 3) Yet another describes him as falling in love with the daughter of his jailer when imprisoned in Rome. He allegedly wrote her a letter and signed it “from your Valentine”. St. Valentine probably died around AD 270. In the 5th
century, Pope Gelasius declared February 14 as St. Valentine’s Day. Some speculate that “St. Valentine’s feast day” was set in February to help “Christianize” the pagan festival of Lupercalia, a fertility celebration. Regardless, down through history, Valentine has been seen as heroic, empathetic and romantic. In the Middle Ages, people in France and England associated February 14 with the start of mating season for birds, further cementing the association of
Valentine’s Day and love. The oldest known written Valentine in existence today was given in 1415 from the Duke of Orleans to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London. Great Britain began celebrating Valentine’s Day as we know it, in the 17th century. It became pervasive in the 18th century, crossing borders into the US, Canada, France, Mexico and Australia as well as Great Britain. With the rise of the printing press and other technological
advances, we now find ourselves with the modern recognition of love: Valentine’s Day. Spread the love this February!
Our modern Valentine’s Day seems to originate in ancient Rome and early Christendom. The Catholic Church declared a St. Valentine, or Valentinus, from the time of the early church, but the person is shrouded in mystery. Several legends exist: 1) Valentine was a priest who defied Emperor Claudius’ orders to cease performing marriage’s for young lovers and was executed when discovered. 2) Valentine was martyred for helping Christians escape from horrible Roman prisons. 3) Yet another describes him as falling in love with the daughter of his jailer when imprisoned in Rome. He allegedly wrote her a letter and signed it “from your Valentine”. St. Valentine probably died around AD 270. In the 5th
century, Pope Gelasius declared February 14 as St. Valentine’s Day. Some speculate that “St. Valentine’s feast day” was set in February to help “Christianize” the pagan festival of Lupercalia, a fertility celebration. Regardless, down through history, Valentine has been seen as heroic, empathetic and romantic. In the Middle Ages, people in France and England associated February 14 with the start of mating season for birds, further cementing the association of
Valentine’s Day and love. The oldest known written Valentine in existence today was given in 1415 from the Duke of Orleans to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London. Great Britain began celebrating Valentine’s Day as we know it, in the 17th century. It became pervasive in the 18th century, crossing borders into the US, Canada, France, Mexico and Australia as well as Great Britain. With the rise of the printing press and other technological
advances, we now find ourselves with the modern recognition of love: Valentine’s Day. Spread the love this February!
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