Winter/Spring Executive Director's Corner

Transcription

1 Winter/Spring 2011 Contents Director's Corner Let's keep everyone safe this winter Scheduled Center closing dates Wendell Diggs The Winter Blues Let's get active Spiritual Care Halloween pictures... 7 Help stop the spread of illness and infection Medication safety The Nurse Among Us..10 Holiday pictures CentraCare 200 W. Michigan Ave. Suite 103 Battle Creek, MI Executive Director's Corner President John F. Kennedy once said, "Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction." Last month CentraCare's Board of Directors and leadership staff members met to work on our first business plan. The completed plan will help guide us for the next three years. One of the questions that we spent quite a bit of time trying to answer for CentraCare is, "What is our purpose?" We want to tell other people in the community what our purpose is. Who are we? What do we do here at CentraCare? We are changing our mission statement so that it is simple and easy to remember. Here is our new mission statement. (Drum roll please...) "Our mission is to deliver exceptional, comprehensive healthcare for frail, older adults." All of us at CentraCare want to provide excellent care to you, our participants and caregivers. We appreciate the opportunity that you give us to serve you. Do you know anyone who would like to learn about our program? If so, please call our Intake Coordinator, Alice Richmond. You can call Alice at (269) Alice would love to schedule a home visit with you and tell you about our CentraCare program. 1

2 Let's Keep Everyone Safe This Winter Winter Transportation CentraCare is responsible to the participants and their families for safe winter travel. Lifecare and Jan, our transportation coordinator, will decide if it is safe to transport participants. Factors to consider for safe travel are the amount of snow we have, ice, and standing water. We want to make sure that driveways, sidewalks and steps are not hazardous. We ask that snow and ice be cleared from these areas for safe transport. Snow and ice on the roadways mean that the Lifecare vans must drive slower. This may cause delays in the pick-up and arrival home times. CentraCare will call participants and caregivers with delays. Please be patient when weather conditions interfere with travel. If you need to cancel an appointment or your day at CentraCare, please call us as soon as possible. We ask that you not wait until the van arrives for pick-up. You can call our number 24-hours a day. Our phone number is (269) Clothing Please be aware of weather conditions. Participants need to wear coats, hats and gloves for protection. If you need assistance with proper clothing for winter months, you can ask one of our staff members for help. CentraCare Closing CentraCare will close if Kellogg Community College (KCC) closes due to weather. CentraCare will call all participants and caregivers if we are closed. CentraCare will make every effort to supply medications and oxygen to the participant's home if we are closed. Very cold temperatures can harm participants with some medical conditions. Our medical staff will watch those who are at risk. There may be times when we will cancel a participant's day at the center because of very cold temperatures. Participants and caregivers will be notified. If we decide to close CentraCare during open hours (7:00a.m. - 5:00p.m.) we will call all caregivers. Participants will be driven home by Lifecare vans. Any needed medical supplies will be sent home with the participant. 2

3 Scheduled Center Closing Dates The Day Center will be closed the following days: Staff Training Day -Wednesday March 16 Memorial Day- Monday, May 30 Independence Day - Monday, July 4 Thanksgiving Day- Thursday, November 24 Christmas - Monday, December 26 New Year- Monday, January 2, 2012 Labor Day- Monday, September 5 Frequently Asked Questions: What happens if the Day Center /Clinic are closed for a day? You will still be able to reach CentraCare 24 hours a day. You can always call (269) or (877) Lifecare will answer the call. Lifecare will let the CentraCare staff know about your call. The staff will call you back to address your question. Phone calls are answered 24 hours / day, 7 days a week, even if the Center is closed. What is the Staff Training Day? CentraCare feels that it is very important to train our staff. One day each year we like to have our staff spend the day together. This day is used to update the staff and to teach new things. They are able to discuss issues and concerns. They have the time needed to focus on improving services and programs. Our goal is to keep the staff up-to-date. Why is the Center closed the day after Christmas and the day after New Year? Since these two holidays will fall on a Sunday, the center will be closed the day after the actual holiday. This allows staff, as well as participants, extra time to enjoy the holiday with family and friends. A Gift from Quilters Ruth Dean from Quilt-n-Go in East Leroy donated pillowcases to our participants for Christmas. Each pillowcase was homemade by a patron of the quilting shop. The pillowcases were made as part of the Better Homes and Gardens Magazine, Pillowcase challenge. Everyone enjoyed these colorful additions for their home. Thanks quilters! 3

4 Welcome to Wendell Diggs PA-C Wendell Diggs, a certified Physician Assistant has joined our staff. A physician supervises a Physician Assistant's work. They are trained to diagnose and treat people with medical conditions. Wendell graduated from Western Michigan University's Physician Assistant (PA) program. He has been a PA for nearly 30 years. He is an experienced healthcare provider in the Battle Creek community. He has made a positive difference in the lives of thousands of patients. Wendell will visit CentraCare participants in their home, the hospital or the nursing home. He will work with the CentraCare team to coordinate services for the participants. We welcome Wendell to the CentraCare team. He will enhance the quality of care and services our CentraCare participants have learned to expect. CentraCare Participants are Getting Active for the Fun of It! The CentraCare staff wants to encourage each participant to be active each and everyday they come to the center. Starting in February, each time a participant is active in a group activity, exercises in our gym, walks, or plays an active game, he or she will earn points. The objective is to win points. At the end of the month, the staff will tally up everyone's points and give prizes to the top nine participants. Three participants will win a $10 third place gift card, three participants will win a $15 second place gift card, and three participants will win a $20 first place gift card. These participants will then be treated to a special outing to spend their prizes. Go Louise, Go! In addition, at the end of three months we will have a Carnival. Each participant is encouraged to earn as many activity points as possible. These points can be turned into tickets to use during our carnival, and win even more prizes! How many points have you earned? This is a great way to encourage good health and have a good time doing it. We hope you will have as much fun with this as we are. 4

5 "The Winter Blues" By Tina Shivley, Center Manager Do you ever feel a little down during the cold, winter months? Maybe you do not have as much energy, or you are not sleeping well. It is common to feel this way when the season changes and we have shorter daylight hours. It is very normal for people to experience lower energy during the winter months, so your winter blues may be normal. Some people suffer from a mood disorder called, "Seasonal Affective Disorder" (SAD). SAD can affect some people during the cold winter months. These people may have normal mental health during the rest of the year. There are some treatments for this disorder. Light therapy and sunlight or bright lights can help. Anti-depressants, hormone supplements and/or counseling can also help with SAD. If you have a more severe depressive reaction during the winter months for at least two winter seasons in a row, you should tell your physician. Your doctor can review your symptoms to see if you need treatment. You may try to get rid of the "winter blues" or "cabin fever" by getting out for a short walk on a sunny day. If you are unable to walk, try sitting by a sunny window. Even when your energy is low and you long to stay in your warm bed, get up, get dressed, and come to the Day Center on your assigned days. Being around others, doing activities, exercising, and helping others that are less fortunate are all ways to make you feel better! You may reference Seasonal Affective Disorder at Hi everyone! My name is Simone and I am an aide (CNA) who assists our wonderful participants. I have a beautiful 18-year-old daughter who attends KCC, where I also take classes. I made the dean's list twice. I hope that I can keep that up! We have a large ginger cat named Tony, as in "Tony the Tiger." I enjoy singing and working with other musicians. I am originally from Northern Ireland and have been in the United States for 16 years. I think it is a blessing to be part of the CentraCare team. I am happy to be part of an awesome program that allows people to keep their dignity and freedom while still getting the help they need. What can I say? The PACE program is Grrreat! 5

6 Spiritual Care Pastor Ralph leads a spiritual care group at CentraCare two times a week. Everyone is invited to attend the meetings on Tuesday and Friday mornings at 10:00. Usually people attend. Many of the CentraCare participants are not able to get out to attend a church. Pastor Ralph wants to help people maintain their spiritual foundation and connect with God. The participants enjoy meeting in a group to share their faith and give each other spiritual support. These four things guide the spiritual care group: 1. Connect Socially 2. Reconnect Spiritually 3. Encourage one another 4. Minister to others The meeting opens with a prayer, followed with some gospel music and traditional hymns. The members enjoy foot tapping, clapping and singing along with the songs they know. Sometimes a person may rise out of a silent or confused state to join in singing or recite a Bible scripture. We all marvel at God's faithfulness and ongoing love and care for us! Pastor Ralph then shares a short Bible message about hope, thanksgiving, forgiveness or encouragement. The group members are encouraged to share stories or concerns. Pastor Ralph says, "Let's make every hour and day mean something special for others and ourselves." Sometimes Pastor Ralph meets with people individually. He can talk to you about your spiritual concerns or questions. He likes to help people reconnect with their faith. He offers counseling on concerns about aging, feelings of hopelessness, and end of life. He has even baptized one of our participants. Pastor Ralph is retired from the US Air Force through the Michigan National Guard. He served for 35 years, which included a tour of duty during the Viet Nam war. He has trained as a combat medic and has worked in medical research. Pastor Ralph has his Doctorate in Theology. He also serves as a hospital chaplain. He is one of the founding pastors of Victory Life Church, which is a non-denominational Christian organization. Pastor Ralph and his wife, Dianne, have an extended family of 13 children, 44 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. They have traveled many places overseas with their missionary work. They have even taken medical teams to remote tribal areas in the Philippines. Proverbs 18:14 "The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, but who can bear a broken spirit?" 6

7 HALLOWEEN ACTIVITIES Who?? Eddie & Johnisha Claribel In the groove Curgie & Louise Mother & daughter Officer, arrest them... Friends / Our crazy staff Biggie Smalls Irene Craft buddies 7

8 HELP STOP THE SPREAD OF ILLNESS AND INFECTIONS Washing your hands is one of the best ways to stop the spread of illness and infections from one person to another. Clean hands can stop germs that spread infections. You should wash your hands often, especially when involved in the following: Before, during and after preparing food or eating After using the toilet After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to reduce the number of germs on them. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), follow these steps to wash your hands the right way: Wet your hands under running cold or warm water. Apply soap Rub your hands together to make lather and scrub well. Be sure to scrub the backs of your hands, between your fingers and under your nails. Rinse your hands well under running water. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer that contains 60% alcohol. However, hand sanitizers do not eliminate all types of germs. Hand sanitizers are not effective when hands are visibly dirty. REMEMBER THAT IT IS ALWAYS O.K. TO ASK someone if they have washed their hands before they will be touching you or providing care to you. It is important that we all work together to stop the spread of infections and illness at all times, but especially during the flu and cold season. Adapted from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Website. New Contracted Providers: Borgess Cardiology Neurosurgery of Kalamazoo Optimal Medical Staffing In House Diagnostics Dr. Joseph Hosner, Advanced Vision Care 8

9 Medication Safety Medications help to improve health and save lives, but can become a danger if measures are not taken to ensure safety. It is very important to be well informed about your medications. Seniors are often prone to adverse side effects. Medication errors are a common and frequent cause of hospitalizations for the elderly. Studies show that at least one out of ten seniors is hospitalized due to adverse drug reactions. Listed below are a few medication safety tips to help prevent serious complications, including death: Update care providers about all your medications, including over the counter medications, vitamins, and herbs. Update care providers about any allergies. Tell your doctors about any new medications you are taking. Take all medications to doctor appointments. Carry a list of medications and allergies with you. Use one pharmacy for your prescriptions so medicines can be tracked and monitored. Read labels, follow directions, and ask questions. Take medications only as prescribed. Do not change the dosage or medication schedule without talking to your doctor. Do not double up on medications if a dose is missed. Do not crush or break pills unless instructed to do so by the doctor or pharmacist. Do not store medications in areas that are too hot, or too cold. Do not take medications prescribed for someone else. Use a pillbox, chart, or calendar to help you take your medicines correctly. Notify your doctor of any problems as soon as possible. Take pain relievers only as needed. Notify your doctor if pain continues. Ask your health care provider how to properly dispose of any expired or discontinued medications. Keep all medications out of the reach of children. You and your caregivers have a right and responsibility to medication safety. Do not be afraid to ask questions. Talk to nurses, doctors and pharmacists regularly about your medications. Be responsible - be safe. Deb Sofia, Clinic RN 9

10 The Nurse Among Us Ruby Gregg really keeps us on our toes. Ruby spent her entire working career as a nurse. She has vast experience in different nursing fields. This includes substance abuse, and working with people with serious injuries. After high school, Ruby went to work in a war plant, sorting piston rings. Then her brother recommended a nurse's training program at St. Mary's Hospital in Kankakee, Illinois. He was stationed near there as a pilot in the Air Force. So Ruby enrolled in the nursing program and was one of the first class of cadet nurses trained to work in military facilities. She had all the rights as other military personnel at a whopping salary of $6 a month! Shortly after, the war ended and Ruby moved to Indianapolis to work in the VA hospital. During her years in Indianapolis, she also worked as head nurse for the Indianapolis Industrial Clinic. There she worked with patients with industrial injuries. Ruby loved the hands-on work of healing injuries, and working with a patient to adapt to living with their injury. Later Ruby worked as head nurse manager of a Substance Abuse Hospital where she retired at the age of 66. Ruby was married to the love of her life, Bob, for fourteen years. Ruby moved to Battle Creek after she retired so she could be near her sister, and her sister's family. She is very close to her nephew, Brian, who makes sure everything is O.K. with his Aunt Ruby. As you can tell, Ruby has been a very independent woman all of her life. She is not shy about telling the CentraCare staff what she thinks...and we like it that way! Ruby says that she is fortunate to have excellent nurse's training. During her career, she learned many interesting things from all over the world. One time she even met a patient with leprosy. It was a time for great medical advances. Ruby saw the end of small pox, the development of the polio vaccine, and the reduction of Tuberculosis. Best of all, she loves our program here at CentraCare. Ruby is an avid reader. She will read anything, but mysteries are her favorite. Luckily, she lives near the library. Ruby loves all animals and enjoys feeding the birds where she lives. She especially loves her cat, Baby Girl. She says the Lifecare drivers like to say "hi" to Baby Girl when they come to pick her up. 10

11 "Tis the Season to be Jolly!" NEWS FLASH: SANTA CLAUS VISITS CENTRACARE Our party planners, Karen & Kathy with Santa Even our vans drivers came AND A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL! 11

12 CentraCare 200 W. Michigan Ave. Suite 103 Battle Creek, MI