Golden Nuggets, May 2018

A publication of Golden Horizons Elder Care Services, Inc.

A Message from the Office

Gene Wilder as Willie Wonka in the 1971 movie said, “So much time and so little to do. Wait a minute. Strike that. Reverse it.” In our case, it’s 

newsletter week, with “so little to write and so much room...” Deep breath and...May is here, chock full of things to explore and people to
celebrate - National Military 

Appreciation Month, Older Americans Month, spring weather arriving, Caregiver of the Month, Mr. W’s quote, a puzzle and do you think that May Day and mayday are related? Ready? Here we go.

A few years ago, I had the pleasure of traveling in Europe with some friends. On our way back, we had an overnight layover in Austria. The day we were to fly out, I went for an early morning walk with my friend around the little town we stayed in. Nobody was out. No people, no cars, no bikers, no pedestrians. Come to find out, it was May Day, a recognized holiday in many European countries. It’s roots are in the ancient festival celebrating spring’s arrival, but today is also known as International Workers’ Day, recognizing workers, much like our Labor Day. 

In that spirit, we recognize our employees, the workers who make possible the care of our clients. Thank you. We also recognize our clients, as it is Older Americans Month, and thank them for the privilege of providing services to them, and benefiting from their wisdom and experiences. Many are military veterans. We thank them, and our active military members. They defend our freedoms and come to our rescue whenever we need them.

Speaking of rescue, mayday is the international distress signal. I did a little research, May Day and mayday aren’t related, except that they both say “may” and “day”. As you can see, we have a “May” theme...Whew (sigh) with all that recognition and exploration, it’s time for another deep breath of that beautiful spring air that FINALLY arrived and join us for some deeper exploration!
                                                        ~ Golden Horizons Office Team

Caregiver of the Month

May 2018: Katherine N. - Continuing our May theme, it is seven years ago this month that Katherine N. joined our team. Seven years is a long time in this industry; it demonstrates staying power. Katherine has proven to be an excellent caregiver, reliable employee, and consummate professional. Thank you for all your years of work and dedication! Congratulations!

Mr. W's Inspirational Quotes

​“If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun.” ~ Katherine Hepburn

***Cultural Tidbit: Renowned actress of stage and screen, Katherine Hepburn is one of our own, a nutmegger, born May 12, 1907, in Hartford, and an Old Saybrook townie. She was unconventional and ahead of her time both personally and professionally, shattering traditional female roles as she introduced the world to a fiercely independent womanwith an energetic zest for life. She didn’t obey all the rules,  she made her own fun and created her own adventure.

Katherine Hepburn

May Birthdays

​We would like to wish all our clients and caregivers with birthdays in

May a wonderful birthday. May your next year bring new adventures and your hearts’ desires. 
​
Clients
     - Mrs. O, May 8
     - Mrs. I, May 10
     - Mr. N, May 16
     - Mrs. V, May 31

Caregivers
     - Deb N,  May 10
     - Gaile H, May 19
     - Kellyann H, May 20
     - Andi K, May 24
     - Lee W, May 24
     - Gloria L, May 31

In Gratitude & Memorium

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same." ~ Ronald Reagan

Freedom isn't free. 
​Thank you!

​May is an important month for our military, their loved ones and our nation. May is National Military Appreciation Month. We have 31 days to honor our military, members past and present, to express our gratitude for the
sacrifices they have made to defend our freedoms, and to remember those who have fallen. 

May 8 presents the opportunity for us to recognize and thank military spouses for their sacrifice as well. Every day they live with the possibility of sending their husband or wife off to war, enduring long separations and the ever present possibility that their love may not come home. May 19, 2018, provides us a day to honor all the branches of our military - army, navy, marine corp, air force, coast guard - with Armed Forces Day. Finally, we close out the month with Memorial Day, the day we honor our fallen heroes, from all wars and conflicts in our history, who gave their lives in sacrifice to the preservation of our cherished freedoms and national identity. 

This May, take time to thank a veteran or active service member. They are the reason we are free.

"The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.” – Thomas Jefferson

Respect Your Elders

We have all heard the phrase:  "respect your elders". Sadly, many young folks don’t put it into practice,  Some people don’t put
stock in older generations, thinking them washed up and irrelevant. How wrong they and 

how much they miss out on. Our seniors are some of our greatest assets. Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it, but those who listen to folks who lived through some of said history can improve upon it. Our elders carry wisdom, knowledge and life experience that we can learn from.

May is Older Americans Month, lead by the Administration on Aging. This year’s theme is Engage at Every Age, focusing on how one is never too old to live with purpose, whether improving ourselves or making a difference in our communities. Respect your elders, it may improve your life.

Spring Safety & Nutritional Tips

May means spring. Spring means warm weather and sun. Sun means vitamin D and bright dispositions. Bright dispositions reminds me of citrus fruits - pineapples, oranges, mangoes,
​grapefruits, colored in cheery yellows and oranges. These fruits 

are rich in vitamin C, needed to boost our immune systems and help fight/prevent cancer, heart disease, the common cold, age-related macular degeneration and more. The sun is a good source for our vitamin D - helpful in reducing inflamation, boosting immune systems, aiding cell regeneration - but we must be careful when outside in the sun. Wear appropriate sunscreen and protective clothing. Stay hydrated. Don’t let this beautiful May sun cause you to call out a mayday. Stay safe and enjoy this spring!

Sources: 
- “Vitamin D” & “Vitamin C”, www.ods.od.nih.gov
- www.militarybenefits.info
- “Older Americans Month”, www.oam.acl.gov/
- “9 Surprising Health Benefits of Citrus Fruit”, www.health.com
- www.military.com/militaryappreciation-month