Fall 2016 Quarterly Newsletter

Transcription

1 Fall 2016 Quarterly Newsletter 2016 Regional Client Thanksgiving Dinners Inside this issue: Venture Forthe has a long-standing tradition of hosting annual Thanksgiving dinners for clients and staff. Each VFI regional office held their dinner throughout the month of November, giving every client the opportunity to spend time with their personal staff, as well as family and friends. Traditions vary from region to region, however the goal of the dinner is the same: bring a smile to the face of the clients. Venture Forthe believes in creating a family environment, no matter what the occasion may be. That is especially true for the biggest family event of the year, Thanksgiving. See inside (pages 2-3) for highlights from each region s parties this year. Client Thanksgiving Pictures..Pages 2-3 Hispanic Heritage Event in Dunkirk...Page 4 Fall Fun with VFI staff...page 4 Hollywood Spotlight: Gene Wilder and his private battle with Alzheimer s...page 5 Caregivers Corner: 8 holiday tips...pages 6-7 Venture Forthe Client celebrates 100th birthday...page 7 Employment Opportunities.Page 8

2 Page 2 The client dinners took place between November 6 and November 20. The Rochester dinner was on November 10 at Davinci Restaurant, the Niagara Falls/Buffalo dinner was on November 13 at Volare Lodge, the Chautauqua dinner was on November 13 at Cassadaga American Legion 228, and the Southern Tier dinner was on November 20 at Moonwinks Restaurant.

3 Page 3 PCA OF THE MONTH: MERRANDA REID Merranda Reid is a personal care aide in the Chautauqua County area. The aide, who is known for always going above and beyond, was nominated by her proud supervisors. RN Supervisor, Rhonda Smith, says Merranda is an amazing staff and always advocates for her client's. A great example of her passion was a time when she created a scrapbook for her client. The book was from the perspective of her client telling their story. Merranda had help from the other staff, which ended up bringing all of these caregivers together for a great project. Merranda exemplifies an outstanding Personal Care Aide and Venture Forthe is proud to have her as part of the team!

4 Page 4 H I S P A N I C H E R I T A G E D A Y Venture Forthe employees Evelyn Cruz, Recruiter, and Melissa Peck, Intake and Outreach Coordinator, recently took part in the Hispanic Heritage Day at The Chautauqua Adult Day Program in Dunkirk, NY. Both Melissa and Evelyn had the opportunity to discuss VFI services and employment opportunities with the Mayor of Dunkirk, Willie Rosas. Mayor Rosas expressed his appreciation to VFI for offering services that give the elderly and disabled community an opportunity to remain independent and in their homes. Mayor Rosas also recognized VFI s role as an employer which serves to benefit the economic development of Dunkirk and other communities in Northern Chautauqua County. Pictured above left to right: Venture Forthe employee, Evelyn Cruz; Mayor of Dunkirk, Willie Rosas; and Venture Forthe employee, Melissa Peck. F A L L F U N W I T H V F I S T A F F

5 Page 5 H O L L Y W O O D S P O T L I G H T : G E N E W I L D E R Gene Wilder, a beloved actor best known for his portrayal of Willy Wonka in the 1971 musical fantasy film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, was born Jerome Silberman to Russian Jewish immigrants in Gene s father manufactured whiskey and beer bottles and his mother stayed home primarily due to her persistent health issues. Gene s interest in acting started at a young age when he would attempt to lift his mother s spirits by making her laugh. The young actor s career was delayed when, in 1956, he was drafted into the Army. At the end of recruit training, Gene was assigned to the medical corps. Fortunately, the aspiring actor was able to choose his post; he opted for placement in a town near New York City so that he could take acting classes on the side. In 1957, Gene learned the devastating news that his mother passed away. One year later, he was discharged from the army. Now able to pursue acting full-time, Gene earned a scholarship to the HB Studio. He also supported his passion by taking jobs on the side, such as a limousine driver. After three years of study at the HB Studio, Wilder was accepted into the Actors Studio. He decided to change his name to Gene Wilder, feeling that his birth name did not have a ring to it. His stage name Gene was inspired by his mother, whose name was Jeanne, and the last name Wilder was influenced by the Thornton Wilder stage production Our Town. Wilder was married three times. His most famous and third marriage was to Saturday Night Live actress, Gilda Radner. Sadly, after five years of marriage, Radner passed away after a long struggle with ovarian cancer. Following her death, Gene became active in promoting cancer awareness and treatment. He went on to help establish the Gilda Radner Ovarian Cancer Detection Center in Los Angeles and co-founded Gilda's Club, a support group to raise awareness of cancer. The world was devastated to hear of Wilder s death on August 29, 2016 at the age of 83. The beloved actor died in his home in Stamford, Connecticut. Fans were surprised to learn his death was due to complications with Alzheimer s, a disease he suffered from privately for three years. It was later revealed that Gene did not publicly acknowledge his disease because he did not want to sadden his young fans. Wilder s nephew, Jordan Walker-Pearlman, who was more like a son to the actor, shared that Alzheimer s never stole his uncle s ability to recognize those close to him. Not wanting to cause concerns to fans, especially those who adored his character, Willy Wonka, Gene Wilder quietly left the world while listening to his favorite song Over the Rainbow sung by Ella Fitzgerald.

6 Page 6 C A R E G I V E R S C O R N E R : 8 T I P S T O H E L P Y O U R L O V E D O N E E N J O Y T H E H O L I D A Y S B Y R O N P O K O R S K I If you are the primary caregiver to a loved one or have friends or family members with chronic health issues, you know that the holidays may not always be their favorite time of year. Their holiday spirit may have dissipated over the years. As a caregiver dedicated to improving lives, I have compiled a list of tips I hope you can implement during this holiday season. I truly believe it can help your loved one remember their joy for the holidays. Pictured above: Caregiver Consultant and Author of Caregivers Corner, Ron Pokorski. 1.) Cautiously stroll down memory lane Holidays evoke memories, which can be especially powerful yet more difficult to recall in the later years of life. If a loved one became disabled as a result of a sudden event or chronic illness, bringing up the good old days may not be appropriate. Then again, happy memories can bring about profoundly positive responses from your loved one. Try using picture albums, family videos and music (e.g. theme songs from old radio or TV programs). These can all help stimulate memories and encourage your loved one to share their stories and experiences. I suggest that you try it out in small increments first. Start with recent memories, then go back further in time. 2.) Limit over-stimulation If your loved one tires easily or is vulnerable to over-stimulation and confusion, limit the number of people, activities and duration of these activities to avoid irritability. Holidays are all about family and togetherness, however the noise and confusion of a large family gathering can lead to irritability, exhaustion, and frustration. If you are usually the caregiver, you might want to try to assign another person to look after your loved one. This will give you a break, but it will also give another person an opportunity to get to know the loved one better! 3.) Be aware of surroundings If the gathering is in a place unfamiliar to an older person or person with a cognitive impairment, be aware that they may feel lost and act out. If mobility is an issue, remove slippery throw rugs and other items that could present barriers to someone with balance problems or who has difficulty walking. 4.) Avoid embarrassing moments Try to avoid making comments, and warn others to not make comments, that could inadvertently embarrass your loved one. For example, if your loved one forgets a recent conversation, don t make it worse by saying, Don t you remember?.

7 Page 7 8 T I P S T O H E L P Y O U R L O V E D O N E S E N J O Y T H E H O L I D A Y S C O N T I N U E D 5.) Create new memories Add something new to the holiday celebration, or volunteer for your family to help others. Enjoy activities that are free, such as taking a drive to look at holiday decorations. Anything that you and your loved one can enjoy doing together, or in a group, will help create new and amazing memories that you can make traditions in the future. 6.) Be inclusive Involve everyone in holiday meal preparation, breaking down tasks to include the youngest and oldest family members. Loved ones with physical limitations can still be included in kitchen activities by asking them to do a simple, helpful task, like greasing cooking pans, peeling vegetables, folding napkins or arranging flowers. 7.) Reach out Social connectedness is especially important at holiday times; loneliness is a difficult emotion for anyone. Recent research indicates that elderly and/or disabled individuals who experience frequent loneliness are more likely to suffer from major depression with suicidal thoughts and impulses. 8.) Keep on the sunny side Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), also known as winter depression, is an illness that can be provoked by reductions in sunlight during the short days of winter. It is important for people confined indoors, especially those at risk for winter depression, to make time for activities that will increase exposure to daylight. For more caregiving tips, visit: V E N T U R E F O R T H E C L I E N T C E L E B R A T E S T H Mary Rose, also known as "Millie" by her friends and family, has lived so many years it took three cakes to celebrate her 100th birthday. Her loved ones gathered to celebrate a life well-lived on July 23rd at the Community Center at Morgan Estates. It was an elegant affair with live music and a tasteful spread. Millie has been recognized in many ways for this 100th year milestone including birthday well wishes from current U.S. President, Barack Obama, as well as other living presidents, local politicians and celebrities. Millie is a part of the VFI family and a celebrated community member. Her ability to remain in the community is a gift to all who have the honor of knowing such an incredible woman. From her television interviews to personal invitations to the Buffalo Bills training camp, Millie proves that aging is truly a privilege.

8 Venture Forthe, Inc Packard Road Niagara Falls, NY Featured Employment Opportunities Personal Care Aide (All Regions) We are looking for caring and compassionate people to join our team of caregivers. Personal Care Aides are responsible for providing health and personal care tasks in the client s home. We will provide all necessary training and certification for qualified candidates. Immediate openings in all regions. Registered Nurse (Niagara Falls, Buffalo, Rochester and Bath) The Registered Nurse is responsible for the direction, coordination, and direct supervision of the agency s paraprofessional staff. This position provides in-field professional supervision and on the job training to personal care aides. The Registered Nurse also assists in the agency s continuing education/in services program and field competency testing of all clinical staff. Recruiter (Niagara Falls) The Recruiter is responsible for the recruitment of personal care aides (PCAs) in the Buffalo and Niagara Falls region. Responsibilities include conducting interviews with potential candidates and analyzing responses to find the correct job match for their individual skills by determining applicant requirements and job qualifications. The position requires experience in general office procedures, policies, and methods. Consumer Directed Program Coordinator (Rochester and Jamestown) The CDPAP Coordinator assists the CEO in contracting with insurance providers and other participating agencies. The coordinator will be responsible for educating communities about the program as well as facilitating the referral process. Please visit for complete list of jobs.