In This Issue
Featured Article: What have you used to give your loved one energy
The "Keepers" in Our Lives
February is National Heart Month
Our Valentine's Story
Announcing our Two New Programs
Kudos From Kelly
Providers We Love
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Regina McNamara RN, MSN President   *    Kelly McNamara, Chief Operating Officer

 

Here at Always There Home Care, we are grateful you are slowing down to read our newsletter full of items that relate to home care, home health care, aging and eldercare, as well as some useful tips for daily living. Please enjoy in the spirit of community and cooperation in which this newsletter was sent.

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Featured Article:
What have you used to give your
loved one energy

By Bob Demarco, Alzheimer's Reading Room    

 

I am frequently asked by family members of people with Alzheimer's, What can I do to increase the energy of my loved one and help them to enjoy life more?

I never had a problem with energy with my mother, Dotty.
We did have problems with balance and falling when I first arrived in Delray Beach to take care of her (November 17, 2003). We also had a problem with her ability to walk any distance over about 2 city blocks.

To solve those problems, I took Dotty into the gym for the first time when she was 88 years old. I worked her out on the treadmill and weight machines five days a week. We also ate well with fruits and vegetables every day.

Although gym attendance may be impractical for many, there are easy ways to engage a person with Alzheimer's in simple exercise. Walking, sitting exercises, following an exercise video while you join in the activity, can all be effective and easy ways to encourage more exercise.

 

Read the full article       

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leaf   The "Keepers" in Our Lives

This piece is shared with all of you courtesy of my friend Cindy Hart, a keeper, if there ever was one.

I grew up with practical parents.

A mother, God love her, who washed aluminum foil after she cooked in it, then reused it. She was the original recycle queen before they had a name for it.

A father who was happier getting old shoes fixed than buying new ones.

Their marriage was good, their dreams focused. Their best friends lived barely a wave away. I can see them now, Dad in trousers, tee shirt and a hat and Mom in a house dress, lawn mower in one hand, and dish-towel in the other.

It was the time for fixing things. A curtain rod, the kitchen radio, screen door, the oven door, the hem in a dress. Things we keep.
It was a way of life, and sometimes it made me crazy. All that re-fixing, eating, renewing... I wanted just once to be wasteful. Waste meant affluence. Throwing things away meant you knew there'd always be more.

But then my mother died, and on that clear summer's night, in the warmth of the hospital room, I was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't any more. Sometimes, what we care about most gets all used up and goes away... never to return... So... While we have it..... it's best we love it.... And care for it... And fix it when it's broken......... And heal it when it's sick. ■
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leaf   February is National Heart Month.
  Stroke Prevention

It is a good time to remember that stroke is still a major cause of death and disability in the U.S.

Risk Factors for Stroke Treatable Diseases That Increase Stroke Risk:

High Blood Pressure (Hypertension): High blood pressure is a major risk factor for stroke. Blood pressure by definition is the force of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. High blood pressure causes the heart to pump harder to move blood through the body. This can weaken blood vessels and damage major organs such as the brain. Left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to stroke. Hypertension can be controlled by a combination of healthy diet, exercise and stress management.

Our Valentine's story
Bill and Anetta have been married 70 years.

 

They will celebrate their 71st anniversary in May. It is safe to say that few of us can ever hope to reach this milestone in our own  marriages. Their life together has been a series of adventures for
theses two fascinating people. They are blessed with 4 children, 13  grand children and 12 great grandchildren, including the beautiful new twins Sabrina and Katrina. They and their family members have lived all of their lives in lovely Marlborough CT in a heavily wooded area with hundreds of acres of land  in which children, animals and adults can play. They also owned homes in Alaska, a place they love, by a river, where they hunted, fished and enjoyed the spectacular  natural beauty. They have many friends in Alaska since they spent several weeks there every year. They still enjoy visits from their Alaska friends.

When our interviewer for this story, T K, asked what was their secret for such a long lasting marriage, they offered this:

"Always be careful what you say to each other because you can never take the words back."

We are honored to be a part of their lives and to learn from both Anetta and Bill and their wonderful family every day.
Thank you both and Happy Valentines day! ■

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  Announcing our Two New Programs
for Families of Seniors

Geriatric Care Management
& Transition Service

Kudos from Kelly

 

 KUDOS from Kelly

  by Kelly McNamara

    

Patience Harmon: Patience left us a year ago to pursue life in the Iowa.  We thought we had lost this wonderful caregiver forever.  Then she re appeared!  A year older and wiser she was able to jump right back in and do an amazing job with two very special clients and their families.
Continue reading about Patience

Dawn Reed: As our Director of Care Coordination, Dawn has many responsibilities. She supervises new staff, assists with assessments of new clients, is a very valuable support for family members and takes on a few limited care assignments for a small number of very special clients with particular needs.  She is well liked by all the clients' family members and facility staff with whom she is in contact.
Continue reading about Dawn

 

All caregivers mentioned in this column will receive a gift card and our sincere appreciation!  Many many thanks to all of you for once again extending yourselves to ensure that we are of course
Always There...!!

leaf Providers We Love      

We are privileged to have received referrals from and be able to coordinate care with many Assisted Living facilities, rehab facilities, and Medicare Home Care and Hospice agencies.Our growth is in large part due to the trust the staff in these organizations have put in our caregivers.  We are likewise impressed with them and we are committed to referring to them on a regular basis

All About You Home Care Services,
Naugatuck, East Haven and Torrington

All About You has dedicated professionals specializing in providing quality home health care. RN's, LPN's, nurse's aides, homemakers, social workers and speech, physical and occupational therapies are all available to meet any needs.  They also provide case management to help patients and families navigate the health care system. Medicare and all insurance plans cover their services. They will handle your particular requirements in a professional, confident manner. Every patient and family has unique needs their dedicated personnel can provide families with an individualized care plan reflecting all their health needs.  For clients and friends, high quality physical and occupational therapy and rapid response service on weekends especially are essential elements of a great Medicare home care agency. All About You has included as part of their network of services, APRNs who make house calls for those patients unable to travel to a doctor, as well as performing any testing required. It is a privilege to be referral partners with All About You Home Care.   

 

 About Always There Home Care


Always There Home Care provides compassionate, dependable and professional one-on-one care for seniors who need assistance in the comfort of their homes or residential care communities.  Services from highly qualified and trained caregivers range from companionship, meal preparation and incidental transportation to personal care, medication management and RN-directed case management. Available 7 days a week, services range from a few hours a day to 24-hour care.

Always There Home Care understands that every situation is unique and creates individualized care plans to help improve a client's quality of life.

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Our caregivers 

 

Our caregivers are totally committed, highly qualified and carefully selected individuals who are personally and thoroughly screened, bonded and insured. Most are Certified Nurse Assistants or Home Health Aides. Most importantly our caregivers are dependable and extraordinarily caring of others. In addition to their previous experience, our caregivers receive continuous training that includes dementia, hospice care, home safety, nutrition and other topics related to seniors. These highly qualified and trained caregivers are ready to help you and your loved ones with a variety of daily activities such as:

Personal care   /  Meal planning and preparation

Transportation to doctor appointments and other errands

Caring companionship   /  Light housekeeping

Medication reminders  /   Information and referral services   

Our personalized, nurse- supervised services are available 7 days a week and can range from a few hours a day to 24 hour and live in care.


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For more information or service needs, call 24 hours a day at: 800.348.0485 or visit www.AlwaysThereHomeCare-CT.com.

We are Always There!