Family Focus May 2020

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Family Focus

MAY 2020

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How to use protective masks and gloves the right way

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ersonal protective equipment is well-known and utilized often within the health care community and various other industries. It only is in recent months that personal protective equipment, or PPE, became something the general population learned more about as the COVID-19 outbreak took hold in the western hemisphere.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, PPE is equipment worn to minimize exposure to hazards that cause serious workplace injuries and illnesses. PPE can include gloves, safety glasses, masks, earplugs, hard hats, respirators, or coveralls. In the medical community, PPE generally extends to gowns/aprons, respirators, face shields, and more.

Even though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were only advocating for the use of masks primarily for COVID-19 patients and the health care workers tending to them, many people began to use gloves and masks of their own accord to safeguard themselves against contraction of the virus. Gloves and masks are only effective if they are used in the proper manner. The following are some guidelines for proper PPE use.

Gloves The CDC says that gloves should fit the users’ hands comfortably.

Gloves can only prevent the spread of pathogens if hand hygiene is performed before and after wear, states the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology.

To remove gloves properly, pinch the outside of one glove at the wrist without touching bare skin. Peel the glove away from the body, pulling it inside out. Hold the glove just removed in the other gloved hand and dispose of it. For the remaining glove, slide your fingers inside the glove at the top of the wrist, being careful not to touch the outside of the glove. Again, turn the second glove inside out while pulling it away from the body. Dispose of the glove properly.

Masks Masks, sometimes referred to as respirators, also need to fit to be effective.

Masks should be tight-fitting to the face. Clean hands and put on the mask, molding the mask over the bridge of the nose and sealing it around the face. One strap should be high on the head, the other low around the base of the neck.

To remove the mask, tilt your head forward and pull the bottom strap over the back of the head, followed by the top strap without touching the front of the mask, says APIC. Keep straps tight during the removal process. Don’t snap the straps or touch the front of the mask, as this can spread germs.

(Directions provided are for N95 respirators. Other mask designs should be removed according to manufacturer recommendations).

PPE has become a household term.

Proper usage is necessary to stay safe if and when masks and gloves are utilized.

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FAMILY FOCUS MAY 2020

How parents can find the right pediatrician for their children

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xpecting parents must make a host of important decisions before their children enter the world. Finding the right pediatrician is one of the decisions that expecting parents, especially those who are expecting their first child, may find challenging.

The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that pediatricians have special training in the health and illnesses of children from birth through adolescence and into the young adult years. In many instances, parents trust the same pediatricians to look after their children’s health for years on end, making the choice of pediatrician a highly important one.

In recognition of that importance, the AAP facilitates the process of finding board-certified pediatricians via the “Find a Pediatrician” tool on the HealthyChildren.org website. Similary, the Canadian Paediatric Society, via the website CaringForKids.cps.ca, provides links to various organizations that can help parents find pediatricians for their children.

The AAP recommends that expecting parents interview pediatricians to learn more about them. Pediatricians are accustomed to such interviews and will likely be happy to schedule visits with expecting parents (or parents who are looking for new pediatricians to care for their children). During such meetings, the AAP advises parents to ask the following questions.

• Which medical school did the pediatrician attend and where did he or she undergo postgraduate or residency training?

• What are the pediatrician’s current hospital appointments?

This is an important question as it can indicate which hospital a child would be admitted to in the event that the youngster had to be hospitalized.

Parents may prefer certain hospitals and may want to find a pediatrician who is affiliated with those preferences.

• Where is the pediatrician’s office located? Parents who rely on public transportation should determine if a pediatrician’s office is accessible by bus or train. Many parents also prefer pediatricians who are local, as that can make doctor’s visits more convenient, especially in the case of sick visits.

• Who returns phone calls?

Parents of newborns often have many questions in the first few months of their child’s life, and some may feel more secure knowing the child’s pediatrician will be the one returning their calls.

• Is this a group practice? If so, how often will my child see our preferred pediatrician? And who covers for the doctors during vacations or times when the preferred pediatrician is out

of the office?

• What are the short notice visitation policies? These policies will indicate how accessible a pediatrician is when children develop spur-of-the-moment issues like colds, sore throats, etc.

Many parents prefer practices that have daily walk-in hours.

• Which insurance does the practice accept?

When interviewing pediatricians, parents should not hesitate to ask any questions they have. A good pediatrician will welcome all questions and patiently answer each one

The CDC notes that preventing the spread of sickness through handwashing is most effective when people know which method to use when cleaning their hands.

When to use soap and water

When to use alcohol-based hand sanitizer

The following are common situations Hand sanitizer should not be applied when the CDC advises using soap to hands that are dirty or greasy. and water to clean hands.

Hands that become • Before, during and after preparing dirty or greasy after activities such food as gardening or fishing should be • Before eating food cleaned with soap and water. The CDC advises using alcohol-based • Before and after caring hand sanitizer: for someone who is sick • Before and after visiting a friend or • Before and after treating a cut or a loved one in a hospital or nursing wound • After using the bathroom, changing home, unless the person is sick with Clostridium difficile (if so, use soap diapers or cleaning up a child who and water to wash hands). has used the bathroom • After blowing your nose, coughing • If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer or sneezing that contains at least • After touching an animal, animal 60 percent alcohol, food or treats, animal cages, or and wash with soap animal waste and water as soon as • After touching garbage you can.

• If your hands are visibly dirty or Children should always be supervised greasy when applying alcohol-based hand When washing with soap and water, sanitizer. When using alcoholthe CDC advises people to wet their based hand sanitizers, the CDC hands with clean running water (warm recommends covering all surfaces of or cold) and applying soap. Lather the hands with the product before the hands by rubbing them together rubbing hands together until they with the soap, making sure to scrub all feel dry, which should happen after surfaces of the hands, including palms, roughly 20 seconds. backs, fingers, between fingers, and Clean hands can prevent the spread under the nails. Scrub for 20 seconds of disease. Knowing which hand before rinsing hands clean under cleaner to use in certain situations running water and drying your hands, can be an especially important be it with a clean towel or air drying. preventative measure.

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amily companionship invaluable. Spending time together with loved ones is an important component of daily life.

However, when an illness affects one person of the household, that highly coveted closeness can put others at risk.

Infectious diseases are equal opportunity hitchhikers. Should a person be waylaid by influenza, strep throat, mononucleosis, or COVID19, casual contact may be all it takes to pass the illness to someone else.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that COVID-19 is primarily spread from person-toperson among people who are in close contact with one another (within about six feet). Respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes can land in the mouths or noses of people nearby or possibly be inhaled through the lungs.

Other viruses and bacteria spread from contact with contaminated surfaces or objects and then touching one’s own mouth, nose or possibly the eyes.

Keeping household members safe when one person is ill can be challenging, but it is possible. These steps can help keep everyone in a household safe, particularly from virulent diseases.

• Wash your hands. This is the most effective way to prevent the spread of germs. As frequently as possible, wash your hands, but especially after touching frequently used items or before and after preparing and eating food.

• Disinfect surfaces. Target areas that are frequently touched by all members of the household. Such surfaces include doorknobs, stairway railings,

bathroom and kitchen faucets, the refrigerator door, light switches, and cabinet knobs. Make sure to keep the disinfectant visibly wet on the surface for the “dwell time” recommended on the label instructions to fully kill the germs.

• Consider color coding. Use microfiber cloths, which don’t harbor germs like porous sponges do, with different colors for cleaning each room of the house to prevent the spread of germs from one area to another.

• Keep your distance. Sick individuals should stay away from others as much as possible. Now might be the time to use a guest bedroom for spouses who normally share a bed. Designate a separate bathroom for healthy individuals. Do not touch hands, hug or kiss others while you are ill. Kaiser Foundation Health Plans also suggests hygiene techniques like coughing or sneezing into a tissue or sleeve to trap the virus.

• Use personal bath towels. Do not share towels and linens with others while sick. Now is the time for a personal bath towel or bathrobe for showering and drying hands, offers Meridian Health.

It can be difficult to avoid spreading disease when one member of a household is sick. But with proper hygiene and diligence, illnesses can be contained.

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n the wake of the global COVID-19 outbreak in early 2020, millions of people across the globe found themselves scrambling for hand sanitizer.

While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note that cleaning hands at key times is one of the most important steps people can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs, there are differences between washing with soap and water and washing with alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

How to avoid spreading illnesses at home

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When to use soap and water, and when to use hand sanitizer

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FAMILY FOCUS MAY 2020

How families can volunteer together

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he efforts of volunteers often go unnoticed, but the thoughtful men, women and children who give up their free time to support worthy causes do a lot to bolster their communities.

Volunteering also pays dividends for the volunteers, and not just because they’re helping to strengthen the communities they call home. According to the Mayo Clinic, research has shown that volunteering can lower rates of depression and promote better physical health compared to not volunteering. In addition, an analysis of data from the Longitudinal Study of Aging found that individuals who volunteer have lower mortality rates than those who do not.

With so many benefits to volunteering, it’s no wonder that families often seek ways to volunteer together. Such efforts can be a great way to spend time together and give back to a community, all the while affording families a chance to reap the many rewards of volunteering. The following are a handful of potential volunteering opportunities that families can consider.

Litter cleanups

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The National Park Service estimates that plastics account for up to 90 percent of the trash floating in the ocean and littering shores. Many national and local organizations aim to combat plastic pollution via beach cleanups, and these efforts welcome volunteers of all ages, making them ideal ways for families to give back together.

But litter is not just a problem for oceanfront communities.

The organization Keep America Beautiful notes that 66 million pounds of litter and recyclables were collected in 2019. KAB hosts various litter cleanup programs in towns and cities across the country and encourages families to join their movement.

Combat homelessness

According to the 2019 “The State of Homelessness in America” report from The Council of Economic Advisers, in January 2018, more than a half a million people were counted as homeless in the United States. Statistics in Canada are not

as recent as those in the United States, but estimates suggest as many as 235,000 Canadians are homeless in any given year.

Volunteering at a nearby homeless shelter is a great way for families to help this often underserved segment of the population. Contact a local homeless shelter to learn about specific volunteering opportunities, which may involve preparing and serving meals; tutoring homeless men, women and children; and involvement in other services shelters offer.

Clothing drives Clothing drives not only benefit the homeless, but they also help people who simply don’t have the means to purchase new clothing. Families can donate their own slightly used clothing to nearby goodwill organizations and organize clothing drives through their schools and places of employment. Encourage neighbors to follow suit and donate their own slightly used items.

Volunteering together is a great way for families to give back to their communities.

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he COVID-19 outbreak of 2020 caught many people, particularly those in the western hemisphere, off guard. As the virus spread, the lives of hundreds of millions of people throughout North America and Europe changed dramatically and seemingly overnight, prompting many to wonder if they or their loved ones were going to get sick.

No one was thought to be immune to COVID-19, though many people were unfortunately believed to be more vulnerable to the disease than others.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, older adults and people with serious chronic medical conditions are at the greatest risk of getting sick from COVID-19.

The American Cancer Society notes that cancer patients, like groups with an elevated risk of getting sick from COVID19, must do all they can to avoid being exposed to the virus. That’s because the immune systems of cancer patients, particularly those in active chemotherapy and bone marrow transplant patients, can be severely weakened. In fact, in March 2020 officials with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center warned that early data from China and Italy, two countries which experienced early and widespread outbreaks of the disease, indicated that cancer patients would be at increased risk of getting the virus.

Are all cancer patients at risk?

Dr. Steve Pergram, the medical director of infection prevention at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, said that patients with blood malignancies are most at risk for COVID-19. Blood malignancies include non-Hodgkin lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, acute

myeloid leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and multiple myeloma. While people with these forms of cancer may be most at risk of getting COVID-19, it’s important to note that all cancer patients, including those who recently concluded treatment, are vulnerable. Those who concluded treatment should know that the aftereffects of treatment can linger long after treatment programs have ended, and those aftereffects may continue to compromise patients’ immune systems.

What can cancer patients do to protect themselves from COVID-19?

Cancer patients should embrace the safety protocols recommended by the CDC, including social distancing measures and limiting direct contact with other people.

Seniors in cancer treatment should take advantages of opportunities to limit their exposure to COVID-19, such as visiting grocery stores during seniors-only hours and opting to participate in digital religious services instead of in-person services. In addition, patients can work with their cancer care teams to devise ways to continue receiving treatment without elevating their risk of exposure to COVID19.

Cancer patients also may need to adjust their expectations in regard to visits with their physicians. Dr. Len Lichtenfeld of the ACS noted that cancer patients may need to book virtual follow-up visits with their physicians or even delay preventative procedures aimed at reducing the likelihood of recurrence.

COVID-19 does not discriminate, but cancer patients may be among the most vulnerable to getting the virus. Learn more about cancer and COVID-19 at www. cancer.org.

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Cancer and COVID-19

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FAMILY FOCUS MAY 2020

The First Mother’s Day

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other’s Day is to be celebrated on May 10, 2020. It’s a day to reflect on how much mom means and the ways she has influenced your life.

The history of the holiday began with Greek origins before becoming an American tradition.

Learn more about the origins of Mother’s Day and how the significance of motherhood has continued to impact the world.

THE EARLIEST DAYS

The History Channel states that celebrations of mothers and motherhood can be traced back to the ancient Greeks and Romans. While citizens held festivals in honor of goddesses Rhea and Cybele, the most modern Mother’s Day precedent is a specific festival named Mothering Sunday.

The holiday was most prominent in the United Kingdom and parts of Europe and fell on the fourth Sunday in Lent. It was initially a time when a mother would return to the main church in their vicinity for a unique service.

As the celebrations progressed, children would recognize their mothers by presenting flowers and other gifts. Soon, the custom would fade before merging with the popular American Mother’s Day celebrations.

Anna Marie Jarvis, pictured in 1930.

THE FIRST AMERICAN MOTHER’S DAY

According to the Legacy Project, the inception of Mother’s Day was suggested by Julia Ward Howe in 1872. The Boston journalist saw it as a day to recognize peace after her generation suffered through the Civil War. Unfortunately, her idea of Mother’s Day never caught the mainstream’s attention.

Howe instead went on to lead the Woman’s International Peace Association, which eventually observed a dedicated day of peace.

The first official observance of the holiday we know today is accredited to Anna Jarvis, of Philadelphia, PA. She desired a way to honor the memory of her mother, who fought for compassion, courage and friendship during wartime.

In 1868, the elder Jarvis organized the first Mother’s Friendship Day to brighten the lives of good mothers. She died in 1905.

It was 1907 when Anna Jarvis put into motion a celebration of her mother’s life with friends. This event would encourage Jarvis to recommend a national day to honor all mothers.

Her hard work paid off as Mother’s Day was celebrated in nearly every state by 1911 and made official by President Woodrow Wilson in 1914.

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Here’s How It Works:

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Sudoku Puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column, and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it get to solve the puzzle!

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that put an emphasis on emotional responsiveness, according to Greater Good Magazine.

Another core component of attachment parenting, according to the organization Attachment Parenting International, is responding with sensitivity. API notes that babies communicate their needs through body movements, facial expressions and crying, and that infants learn to trust when their needs are met with consistency and sensitivity. It’s only after consistent and repeated responsiveness in a sensitive manner that babies will learn to soothe themselves as they get older. These sensitivity strategies should be carried through as a child becomes a toddler or a school-aged child.

Proponents of attachment parenting also advocate against childcare for more

than 20 hours a week for babies younger than 30 months old, says WebMD. At this early developmental stage, the nearly constant presence of a parent is recommended.

One potentially controversial aspect of attachment parenting is cosleeping. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises against sleeping with a young child in the same bed, as it may increase the risk for SIDS. However, workarounds, including having a baby in a separate cradle or co-sleeper very close to a parent’s bed so children can be touched and soothed through the night, are options.

Expecting parents who want to learn more about the philosophy behind attachment parenting and its techniques can visit www.attachmentparenting.org.

OUR NURSES,

The Heart of What We Do

In celebration of National Nurses Week, we proudly recognize the hardworking nurses who help make our hospital, nursing home, home health & clinics, trusted providers of quality medical care and a great place to work.

Our nurses act as advocates, leaders, educators and caretakers through the late nights, the early mornings and every hour in between, making sure each patient receives the compassionate care and attention they’ve come to expect. Today, we warmly thank our respected nurses for all of their contributions toward making us a local leader that is committed to community & committed to care.

Thanks, Nurses.

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any parents aspire to develop close emotional bonds with their children. Children who understand that their parents are nearby and will respond to their needs effectively begin to develop trust in those around them. This nurturing can extend to being well-rounded and emotionally secure into adulthood.

Parents may subscribe to various parenting models as they look to bond with their children. One such approach is attachment parenting. Proponents of this type of parenting include the well-known pediatrician William Sears, M.D., an author who coined the term “attachment parenting.” Attachment parenting promotes methods that aim to build attachments between parent and infant by responsiveness and also through continuous bodily closeness and touch.

Components of attachment parenting include bonding with the baby before and directly after birth, breastfeeding, bedding close to the child, and wearing the baby as much as possible.

Attachment parenting may have evolved from anthropological studies of indigenous childrearing practices

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What is attachment parenting?

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Great ways to bond with your new infant

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parent’s job begins the moment a woman learns she is pregnant. Upon receiving such news, women typically make important changes to ensure the well-being of the fetuses growing inside them.

Once a child is born, the first few weeks with baby certainly can be a whirlwind. During this period, pediatricians note how important bonding with parents is for a baby’s development. Parents may be unaware that the touches, cuddles and feelings of safety and security provided by them help set a foundation for emotional well-being, which can last throughout their child’s life.

According to Jeff Simpson, Ph.D., adjunct professor of psychology at the University of Minnesota and an author of a study about childhood attachment, babies who were securely attached to their mothers

by 12 months old (turning to her for comfort when exploring an unfamiliar place) were more likely to come out of an argument in their early 20s still feeling connected to their partners. Simpson surmises that the ability to trust, love and resolve conflict develops in part from how people are treated as infants.

The Australian parenting website Raising Children Network says repeated human contact like singing, cuddling, talking, touching, and gazing into each other’s eyes enables a newborn’s brain to release hormones that help his or her brain to grow. This, in turn, helps to develop memory, thought and language.

New parents may wonder what they can do to foster strong bonds with their babies. The following are some strategies to build those bonds.

Breastfeed baby baby. Breastfeeding provides more than nutrition. The close contact during nursing helps the child to hear Mom’s heartbeat and gets skin-to-skin contact.

Make eye contact. Parents should keep eye contact with baby when engaging in feedings and other care.

This helps the baby remember who their parents are and reassures them that their parents can be trusted.

Read baby’s messages. A child who wants to engage will make little noises, such as cooing or laughing sounds. He or she also may look relaxed and interested, while some may seek out their parents. React to

these messages promptly.

Respond to cries. Parents can do their best to always respond to cries for attention as it helps the baby to feel safe. This is key during the first three months of the baby’s life.

As the baby ages and has already developed a bond, parents can encourage more self-soothing.

Bonding is important for babies and parents. Developing a connection early on can provide a safe and nurturing environment that can set the course for the child to feel loved and supported throughout his or her lifetime.

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The ideas behind strengthbased parenting

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any a parent is familiar with the notion that children do not come with instruction manuals. Since babies are not born with instruction manuals, the best way to raise children is open to interpretation, and interpretations often lead to theories on parenting.

One such theory is strength-based parenting, an approach that focuses on developing and nurturing a child’s character. Dr. Lea Waters, a Melbourne, Australia-based psychologist and author, has studied ways to improve interactions between parents and their children for decades.

Dr. Waters emphasizes the value of identifying and nurturing children’s character strengths, and the value that such efforts can have in regard to promoting children’s long-term happiness and achievements.

In an article for Greater Good Magazine, Dr. Waters defined character strengths as those

things that are personalitybased and internal, including curiosity, courage, humor, and kindness.

These character strengths work in conjunction with talents, which may include things like athletic ability, musical skills and problem-solving. Strength-based parenting espouses the importance of cultivating kids’ character strengths as much as their talents. Dr. Waters notes that it would be hard to find anyone who made the most of their talents without also relying on their character strengths. For example, even the most gifted natural athletes need to draw on their work ethic in order to reach their full potential as athletes.

Dr. Waters’ research has led her to conclude that children and teenagers whose parents help them to identify and use their character strengths benefit from that assistance in myriad ways. Such children experience more positive emotions and flow, are more persistent, are

more confident, and are more satisfied with their lives compared to children whose parents did not help them identify and use their character strengths. Dr. Waters’ research, published in 2018, also found that children whose parents took a strength-based approach to parenting earned better grades, were less stressed, more capable of coping with friendship issues, and more capable of coping with homework deadlines than children whose parents did not employ a strength-based approach to parenting.

Parenting is a big responsibility, and parents can explore various approaches to raising happy children to fulfill their responsibilities as parents.

One such approach is strength-based parenting, which parents can explore on their own to decide if it’s an approach they want to pursue.

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Simple strategies to meet the neighbors after moving

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lot goes into building safe, strong communities. While no single factor can be highlighted as more important than another in regard to building strong communities, a willingness on the part of residents to connect with their neighbors can greatly benefit local neighborhoods and the people who call those communities home.

According to Mental Health America®, a community-based nonprofit dedicated to promoting the mental health of all Americans, research has shown that social connections increase happiness and lead to improved overall health and even longer lives.

Adults may find that establishing a connection with their communities, and maintaining that connection while juggling the responsibilities of work and a family, is not always so easy.

That’s especially so for adults who have recently relocated to new areas. Reaching out to neighbors can be a great way for adults to build new relationships that can benefit them as individuals and strengthen their communities.

Don’t be shy. People often want to know who’s living next door, so adults who have recently moved need not be shy about introducing themselves to their new neighbors. Introduce yourself and share what inspired you to move to your new neighborhood.

Answer and ask questions. Neighbors will no doubt ask questions when you introduce yourself, so be ready to answer these questions.

Questions may focus on your career and where you grew up. If you grew up in the area where you recently moved, some of your neighbors likely did as well. Sharing stories about your school days and/or local hotspots can be a great way to break the ice. Don’t hesitate to ask some questions of your own as well. Asking questions might reveal some common interests that can serve as strong foundations for budding relationships.

Host a backyard barbecue. Backyard barbecues are laid back affairs, and that pressurefree atmosphere is perfect for meeting new neighbors. Once you have settled in, invite a handful of your neighbors over for the barbecue.

If you have children, invite neighbors who also are parents, ideally ones whose children are the same age as your own. Kids have sparked many a conversation, and discussions about local schools, parks and programs for youngsters can be great ice breakers.

Volunteer. Volunteering with community-based organizations is another great way to meet new neighbors. Volunteering with an organization whose mission you identify with may be even better, as you’re likely to find like-minded neighbors who share your passions when working with such groups.

Strong communities are built around people.

When moving to a new community, adults can overcome the challenges such relocations present by taking various steps to connect with their new neighbors.

hriving communities tend to share certain characteristics. Communities that are inclusive and encourage participation by all residents tend to thrive, as do those where there are opportunities to grow, both professionally and personally. Safety is another common component of thriving communities.

When residents feel safe in their

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communities, they can feel free to pursue their goals, creating the sense that possibilities are endless.

According to the Pan Pacific Safe Communities Network, a membership-based, non-government organization that promotes safety in an effort to prevent injuries and violence, safety benefits communities

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Simple ways individuals can help make their communities safer

in myriad your home can make for an effective ways. The deterrent to intruders. Burglars look PPSCN notes from dark spaces, so they’re more that safe likely to avoid well-lit properties communities than those under the cloak of see a darkness. Urge community leaders reduction in and companies, such as politicians the numbers and local energy providers, to and costs promptly replace street lamp bulbs of injuries when they burn out. Street lamps and violence make communities safer for children and a and pedestrians and can serve as promotion of deterrents to criminals just like lights communityaround individual properties. wide health Reinvigorate neglected areas. and safety, Abandoned parks and run-down all the while public gathering spaces present an instilling image of a community that does a sense of not care about itself. That can make community communities seem like easy targets pride. for criminals. Community members Communities can join together via social media tend to be at groups or more traditional grassroots their safest efforts like door-to-door campaigning when all to collectively reinvigorate neglected members areas within their communities. pitch in to Organize park cleanups that do their part. culminate with a community The following barbecue, which can serve to clean are some up spaces and bring community simple ways members together. individuals Spread the word. Individuals can help are essential to building safe make their communities, but that responsibility communities is community-wide. Spread the safer. word of your efforts via social media, Make an township meetings, community effort to schools, and churches. Your actions know your neighbors. According to may just inspire others to follow suit.

SafeHome.org, an online resource Building safe communities requires that aims to assist consumers as they collective efforts on the part of all search for sensible security solutions residents, who can then reap the for their homes, knowing one’s many rewards of living somewhere neighbors is a great way to recognize safe. when suspicious persons are in the area. This can serve as a safety net against burglaries and The safest communities kidnappings. tend to be those in which Install exterior lighting around everyone pitches in to do your home and make sure street lamps are promptly fixed. their part.

Exterior lighting on the porch and around the perimeter of

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COMPLETE EACH GRID WITH NUMBERS FROM 1 TO 6, KEEPING IN MIND THAT: - a number can only appear once per row - a number can only appear once per column - a number can only appear once in each box of 6 squares

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Help the hedgehog find his way to his delicious mushrooms.

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Which two are exactly alike?

START

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COMPLETE EACH GRID WITH THESE SIX SYMBOLS. Symbols can only appear once in each line, once in each column and once in each box of six squares. Each box of six squares is marked by darker lines. Some symbols are already included in each box to help you get started. Don’t forget: a symbol can’t be repeated in the same line, column or box.

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FAMILY FOCUS MAY 2020

5 ways to share Memorial Day with your kids

Memorial Day, which falls on May 25 this year, is an ideal occasion for kids to learn about the brave men and women who died serving their country. Here are five ways you can pay tribute to our national heroes with your kids on Memorial Day.

1.Visit a cemetery or memorial. While not every community has a veteran cemetery, most have a memorial to fallen soldiers. Visiting such a location with your kids is a good way to honor the fallen and open a dialogue on the topic of service.

2.Attend a parade. If your children have never seen soldiers before, attending a Memorial Day parade will provide an opportunity for them to observe men and women in uniform. If there aren’t any parades in your region, you can watch one on television.

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3.Write to active service members. Help your kids make cards, draw pictures or write letters for soldiers deployed overseas. Active service members will appreciate the gesture and your kids will become more familiar with the importance of supporting our troops.

4.Learn about military history. Watch a

documentary or read a book with your kids to teach them about the role America and its military have played in global history.

5.Share a meal. Make a Memorial Day themed meal with your kids. Little ones are sure to enjoy decorating a starspangled cake, and if you’re planning on hosting family and friends, ask your children to help set the table, decorate the house or greet your guests.

While it’s become associated with sales and celebrations, it’s important to keep the origins of Memorial Day alive for younger generations. This holiday is an ideal time to teach your children about the sacrifices our service members have made.