June/July 2023 Newsletter

Hey Kokua! I hope everyone is enjoying their summer so far! It’s so nice to have some sunshine and warm weather, and to be able to be outside. I hope you are taking advantage of it!

As an agency, we have been working extra hard to help you fill open shifts and get people up and delegated, and it’s starting to pay off!

Thank you to everyone for their flexibility and patience and for going the extra mile to make sure that the people we support are well cared for and living a life they find meaningful.

Here’s to a wonderful summer full of fun and sunshine! Don’t forget to drink plenty of water and bring along sunscreen.

The Kokua Picnic returns for the first time since Covid! Friday 8/25 from 11-1 @ Tumwater Historical Park.(Seeflier for more details), but be sure to RSVP by AUGUST 1ST!

Congratulations are in order for our very own Julie Clark, who after much hard work and advocacy has been appointed to the state Developmental Disabilities Council and will be continuing her efforts to help advocate for better services and supports for those with disabilities, and their family members.

This behind the scenes stuff is vital to the funding, and legislation that guides DDA policy and the work we do, and the people, (and staff), who are a part of it all. Way to go Julie!

Guess what else is back inperson?...hummingbird! Sessions were held this month, in-person, for the first time since March 2020!, as part of the Olympia Armory Arts Intervention.

hummingbird studio continues to work on and expand into its new location, on 4th Ave., across from New Moon Café, inside the old Ben Moore’s restaurant. Stay tuned for launch dates for this location as there will be many more in-person stuff to come!

** Join us for Monday art at Squaxin Park -Rose Pavilion Sessions will be held: Monday: August 21st, 28th & September 11th, 18th: 1-2, 2:30-3:30 & 4-5 email hummingbird@kokuaservices.org to reserve your spot! **

https://www.kokuaservices.org—Support. Encourage. Empower

BC visits Comicon at the fairgrounds in Puyallup

Ebony, Chris B., and Kevin C., (both from CG), float down the lazy river at Wild Waves!

Thanks Sean, for the ice cream on the 4th!

Cool ideas to beat the heat!

Walk to the gas station or corner store for a cool treat!

Have a BBQ get together with friends from another house!

Make a fresh fruit or vegetable salad with produce from the Farmer’s Market. (Come stop by Lunch Bunch on Thursdays from 113, to pick it up. EBT accepted and senior market vouchers).

Frolic in the Heritage Park Fountain or the Garfield Elementary Spray Park on the west side.

Hit the YMCA, or head outdoors to the Tanglewilde Pool in Lacey for open swim, 14:30 pm; Adults 18+ are $9 if paid in cash. Non swimmer chaperones are $3.

Hit the mall for an air conditioned walk and browse/shop experience. Bring a lunch or money to eat and have lunch in the food court.

Head to an afternoon, matinee, movie. Once again, with air conditioning, this is a cool way to beat the heat!

Upcoming local fun:

Jul 21 @ 5:00 pm – 11:30 pm- Tenino Music Festival 2023 @ Tenino City Park

Jul 21 @ 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm- Senior Services for South Sound’s 50th Anniversary @ Olympia Senior Center

Jul 22 @ 10:00 am – 7:00 pm- Nisqually Valley BBQ Rally @ Yelm City Park

Jul 22 @ 6:00 pm- Eco Concert & BYO picnic @ Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Jul 23 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm- Music in the Park @ Sylvester Park-downtown Oly

Jul 23 @ 11:30 am- Shark Spree: Sharks 101 & Live Dissection w/ Sandy Zeiner @ Puget Sound Estuarium– Entry- $5/ind, FREE with EBT card.

Jul 29 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm; 7-9 pmPacific Northwest Theater The Addams Family @ Good Shepherd Olympia- $5 sugg donation.

July 26th– 30th– Thurston County Fair @ Thurston County Fairgrounds. (Admission Tickets are $7 for adults per day or $21 for all days. Or $6 for seniors 60 and over or $18 for all days. Ride tickets are an additional cost. There is still plenty to do and watch without spending on more than admission, however).

Jul 29 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm- Drop-In Zine Workshop @ Olympia Timberland Library

Jul 30 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm- Music in the Park @ Sylvester Park-downtown Oly

Aug 4 @ 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm- Bubble Festival Plaza Pop-Up @ East Bay Public Plaza

Aug 5 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm- Slime Saturday @ WET Science Center

https://www.kokuaservices.org—Support. Encourage. Empower

Scott B. had a wonderful, Lunch Bunch birthday Bash and Kokua friends turned out to celebrate another year around the sun for him! Thanks to everyone for coming out for the fun!

This new version of “The Marci” is a pretty talented pose! Way to balance the phone and do double peace signs!

Summer information: The Wonders of Water!

Please read the following as continuing education about heat, sunlight, hydration and safety. Please make sure you encourage all clients to stay in the shade, wear hats and sunscreen and drink plenty of fluids. Beware of those medications that may cause photosensitivity (see below) and contact medical providers if your clients are sunburnt, have signs or symptoms of heat stroke or any other sun related medical issue. And don’t forget to take care of yourself while you are at it! It is vitally important for our clients and staff to be hydrating themselves regularly. Summer brings with it added challenges and an increased need to drink lots of water. Below are some notes on why water consumption is so important. Please remember to encourage drinking water with all of your clients as well as your co-workers and yourself.

It takes a loss of only 1% - 2% of your body's ideal water content to cause dehydration.

You MUST remember to drink even when you're not thirsty.

An average person loses about 90 ounces of water daily.

Drink more if you're engaged in sweaty exercise.

Beverages containing alcohol and caffeine create an unquenchable thirst in the body.

Only water truly hydrates the body and alleviates the diseases of dehydration.

Drinking ice cold water actually makes you lose weight because fat calories are burned to bring the water temperature up to internal 98.6 degrees F. Some people find they have stomach cramps from this, so experiment and see if your body is ok with this.

The sense of thirst dims with age - so make sure older people are drinking plenty of water.

Those on high-blood pressure or other medications should consult with their doctor to determine their proper water consumption.

Don't misinterpret your thirst drive as hunger. Drink an "ice-cold" glass of water and wait a minute or two. You'll find your not as hungry as you thought.

Drinking enough water is the best treatment for fluid retention. Give your body plenty of water and the stored water will be released. If you don't drink enough water, your body's reaction is to retain the water it does have. This in turn hampers kidney function and waste products accumulate. Your liver is then called upon to flush out the impurities. As a result, one of your livers main functionsmetabolizing fat into useable energy - is minimized.

Average, "within proper weight" people should drink eight, 8 oz. glasses of water each and every day. (About 2 Quarts) Over-weight people need one additional glass for every 25 pounds of excess weight.

Water helps maintain proper muscle tone and prevents sagging skin.

Water helps rid the body of toxic waste.

Water helps detoxify the body from the effects of long term smoking, helping to eliminate the insidious tar and acidic nicotine from the lungs.

Water has a profound effect on brain function and energy levels. Even a slight dehydration can produce a small but critical shrinkage of the brain, impairing neuromuscular coordination, concentration and thinking.

A deficiency of water can alter the concentration of electrolytes such as sodium, potassium and chloride which has a negative effect on the function of the brain.

Beverages that contain caffeine, i.e. coffee, some tea and some sodas act as diuretics, increasing urine production and promoting loss of fluids.

Dehydration reduces blood volume, creating thicker, more concentrated blood which stresses the heart. This also decreases the ability to transport oxygen and nutrients to the muscles and other living cells.

Source: http://www.gotwater.net/water_tips.htm

The wonders of water, continued…

Water aids in digestion, nutrient transportation, and joint lubrication, and helps regulate body temperature, which is particularly important during the hot summer months. But only about 80 percent of our water intake comes from drinking. The other 20 percent comes from food. While filling up your water bottle is a good habit, you can also add some of the delicious water-filled foods below to your diet to stay hydrated this summer.

Cucumber - 96% (water content) Lettuce - 95%

Celery - 95% Zucchini- 95%

Tomato - 94% Spinach - 92%

Watermelon - 92% Strawberries - 92%

Broccoli - 91%

Cantaloupe - 90%

Grapefruit - 91%

Peach - 88%

100% Orange Juice - 88% Carrots - 87%

Pineapple - 87% Raspberries- 87%

Apricot - 86%

Yogurt - 85%

Cherries - 81%

Blueberries- 85%

Apple - 84%

Banana - 74%

Source: http://www.coreperformance.com/daily/ nutrition/22-foods-to-keep-you-hydrated.html

A Short Word About Medication-Related Photosensitivity…

Whether you're taking a reductase inhibitor to cut cholesterol levels or an antifungal cream to get rid of athlete's foot, you probably aren't thinking about painful scarring or sunburn. However, both of these types of drugs and a number of others can create chemically induced photosensitivity and should be taken with proper precautions, like avoiding direct sunlight and using plenty of sunscreen.

Drug-induced photosensitivity is a surprisingly common side effect of medications, herbal remedies and even sunscreens and perfumes. It can take two forms. The most common is phototoxicity, where exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays makes certain drugs create free radicals that damage skin tissue, resulting in bad sunburns on areas exposed to direct sunlight.

Source: http:// health.howstuffworks.com/skincare/information/healthfactors/5-medicines-that-causesun-sensitivity.htm

The other is called a photoallergy, where exposure to sun radiation converts some drugs into an allergen called a hapten, which produces an allergic response in the skin, likely as a rash or hives. Unlike phototoxicity, this kind of condition can spread to unexposed areas of the skin.

When taking any medications prescribed or not make sure you clearly read the label and check with your doctor about their potential for producing photosensitivity.

https://www.kokuaservices.org—Support. Encourage. Empower

Taking Care of an Air Conditioning system...

Some of the houses use air conditioners. Here are some tips on maintenance of those machines.

1. If you take care of your air conditioning unit, you could prolong its life and get the most use out of it. Generally you should be able to do most of the maintenance yourself. However, in the more serious cases, it would be better to hire a contractor.

2. The first and most simple step to take to prolong your air conditioner's life is to change the filter. You should change it whenever it gets dirty. Depending on the usage, that could range from every three to six months. There are some filters out there, which can last up to a year. Ask someone in the hardware store for more tips!

3. Once a year be sure that you check the evaporator coil located inside the air handler to make sure there is no dust build up.

4. When the weather starts to cool you should check the outside of the air conditioner. You should check around the unit and make sure there is no debris on the surface of the condenser that will stop airflow. Also you should check between the fins of the condenser to see that it's not plugged with dead bugs or pollen. Spraying the condenser with a hose will usually be good enough to get rid of all the debris.

5. Although many air conditioners today use direct drive motors, it is a good idea to check the belt in the air handler. You may have to replace it. If no change is required, you may only have to oil the motor bearings once a year.

6. It is also good to check air conditioning contactors and other electrical; most of them are located inside the condensing unit. The contactor operates the compressor and the contacts get pitted and need to be replaced occasionally. Different manufacturers use different types of contactors so check the manual to find what kind you need.

Source: http://www.footbridgemedia.com/ contractor_articles/cooling_care.html

for your willingness to go the to have you at Kendra. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!

Natalia (RM 22nd)- Your Advocacy and support for MW has been really amazing and you have been doing a great job over there with him. Thank you for your hard work and dedication! -Anon

Tricia, RM at 59th - thank you for always being considerate and kind, you really are such a good person!

Myriah, SQA - you are such a hard worker, I admire your tenacity.

Marsha - You really know how to bring out the best in us. Thanks for always listening to our concerns and making us feel heard.

-

Alyssa

Ps thanks for the cute graphic at left :-)

This is a BIG shout out to all who donated PTO recently to anyone in need...it is beyond amazing to be able to have an employer and coworkers that genuinely care so much as to lend support when it is really needed so that those of us that have life things come up, don’t have to worry about work too. It really is our cultureinaction and we are all so blessed to be in the company of such care and support. Mahalo and best– Meredith

Holy Cow Mick! Mick recently celebrated 19 years of employment with Kokua! Thank you for your dedication and commitment over the years to helping support people to live their best lives! You are a rockstar!!!

Shout out to Rebecca for all her hard work on getting everybody up and delegated! - Everybody

Shout out to Training for working so hard to fill shifts for us! - Everybody

Shout out to Tracie in Finance for her way of talking with and supporting each client who calls or stops in. She is always so bubbly and genuinely happy to see them and it’s really fun to hear. Anon

To Sam at 51st B, for ensuring that JC is getting out of the house and enjoying life and all it has to offer. So excited to see how well taken care of she is, thank you for your dedication to the mission and all of the long hours!! -Sean

This one is just for you Cari :

Kokuber has been intermittently in and out lately...when it is not, don’t forget to be reaching out to Noah to schedule rides!

New Staff!

Janita McKeever

Janet Ooko

Lakeisha Aker

Abygail Thompson

Destiny Ensastegui

Samuelle Willhite

Marae Holley-Fowlkes

Brooklyn Divers

Vaoatea Ione

Dyliene Mesa

Olivia Callaghan

Ulysses Castillo

Aiyana Leetch

Felomino Paez

Dear New DSP, Welcome and congratulations on your new job!

We want you to know that when you start working here, you will be working with people with many different hopes, dreams, abilities, disabilities, and personalities. We want you to treat us all fairly, equally, and with respect.

When you work with us, we don’t want you to judge us by our disabilities, pick favorites, or nag us. You are not our parent, and we want to be treated like people.

We would like you to give us more support in learning new skills and information, learning how to become a better person, and learning how to make choices for ourselves.

Lastly, we would like you to treat us the way you would like to be treated. :-)

-

Sincerely, Self-Advocates

* Adapted from a letter written by self-advocates at Sertoma Centre in Alsip, Illinois.

https://www.kokuaservices.org—Support. Encourage. Empower

• Workplace concerns

• Grief and loss

• Interpersonal conflicts

• Addiction and recovery

• Anxiety, depression, or trauma

• Stress management

• Mental wellness

• Parenting or eldercare support

877-313-4455

EAP provides short-term, solutions-focused counseling servicesthatareeasytoaccess. Your benefit includes up to 3 sessions per concern, and covers all household adults. And, EAP can be used multiple times a year if you have a new concerntoaddress

https://www.kokuaservices.org—Support. Encourage. Empower