A Community of Compassionate Care
Asthedaysgetshorterandtemperatures drop,it’stimetostartthinkingaboutflu season.Eachyear,influenza(theflu)can affectmillionsofpeople,leadingto missedwork,school,andactivities. Here’s what you need to know to protect yourself and your loved ones this flu season.
WhatistheFlu?
Thefluisacontagiousrespiratoryillness causedbyinfluenzaviruses.Symptoms canrangefrommildtosevereandoften includefever,cough,sorethroat,runny orstuffynose,muscleaches,headaches, andfatigue Insomecases,itcanlead tomoreseriouscomplications,such aspneumonia,especiallyinyoung children,theelderly,andthosewith certainhealthconditions
WhyFluSeasonMatters
Fluseasontypicallypeaksbetween DecemberandFebruary,thoughitcan startasearlyasOctoberandlastaslate asMay Thetimingandseverityofflu seasoncanvaryeachyear,soit’s importanttostayinformedand prepared.
KeyTipstoStayHealthy
1.GetVaccinated:Thefluvaccineis thebestwaytoprotectyourselfagainst influenza.It’srecommendedfor
everyone6monthsandolder.Annual vaccinationisnecessarybecauseflu virusesevolve,andthevaccineis updatedeachyeartoprovidethebest protection.
2.PracticeGoodHygiene:Regular handwashingwithsoapandwateris crucial,especiallybeforeeatingand aftercoughingorsneezing.Ifsoapand wateraren’tavailable,usehandsanitizer withatleast60%alcohol Also,avoid touchingyourface,especiallyyoureyes, nose,andmouth.
3.AvoidCloseContact:Duringflu season,trytoavoidclosecontactwith peoplewhoaresick.Ifyou’resick,stay homefromworkorschooltoprevent spreadingthevirustoothers.TheCDC recommendsstayinghomeforatleast 24hoursafteryourfeverisgonewithout theuseoffever-reducingmedications.
4.BoostYourImmuneSystem: Ahealthylifestylecanhelpsupportyour immunesystem Eatabalanceddietrich infruitsandvegetables,stayhydrated, getregularexercise,andensureyou’re gettingenoughsleep.
5.KeepYourEnvironmentClean: Regularlycleananddisinfectfrequently touchedsurfaces,suchasdoorknobs,
lightswitches,andmobiledevices This canhelpreducethespreadofgerms
WhentoSeekMedicalAttention Ifyouorsomeoneinyourhousehold showsseveresymptoms,suchasdifficulty breathing,persistentchestpainor pressure,confusion,orsevereweakness, seekmedicalattentionimmediately. Antiviralmedicationscanbeprescribed byadoctortohelpreducetheseverity anddurationofthefluiftakenearly.
InSummary
Preparingforfluseasoninvolvesmore thanjustgettingvaccinated it’sabout maintaininggoodhealthpracticesand stayinginformed.Byfollowingthesetips, youcanhelpprotectyourselfandothers fromthefluandensureahealthierseason ahead
Stayhealthyandtakecare! WewillbeofferingourfluandCOVID vaccinationclinicforbothresidentsand employeeson9/17/2024
JodyLennon| DirectorofNursing
World
Alzheimer's Month is an international campaign that takes place every September to raise awareness and challenge the stigma associated with Alzheimer's disease and dementia
TherearemanydaystocelebrateinSeptember,Iwould liketofocusonDementia/Alzheimer’s.SeptemberisWorld Alzheimer’sMonth Itisimportanttounderstandthe differencebetweenthetwoterms.Dementiaisageneral termforadeclineinmentalabilitysevereenoughto interferewithdailylife,whileAlzheimer’sisthemost commoncauseofDementia
Dementiadescribesagroupofsymptomsassociatedwitha declineinmemory,reasoningorotherthinkingskills Many differenttypesofdementiaexist,andmanyconditions causeit.Mixeddementiaisaconditioninwhichbrain changesofmorethan1typeofdementiaoccur simultaneously
Dementiaisnotanormalpartofaging.Itiscaused bydamagetobraincellsthataffectstheirabilityto communicate,whichcanaffectthinking,behavior andfeelings
Alzheimer’sisadegenerativebraindiseasethatiscaused bycomplexbrainchangesfollowingcelldamage Itleads todementiasymptomsthatgraduallyworsenovertime ThemostcommonearlysymptomsofAlzheimer’sistrouble rememberingnewinformationbecausethediseasetypically impactsthepartofthebrainassociatedwithlearningfirst AsAlzheimer’sadvances,symptomsgetmoresevereand includedisorientation,confusion,andbehaviorchanges. Eventuallyspeaking,swallowingandwalkingbecome moredifficult
Hereareafewriskfactorsassociatedwithdeveloping Alzheimer’s:
Age:increasingageisthegreatestknownriskfactor Familyhistoryandgenetics
Headtrauma:studieshaveshownthatpeopleage50 andolderwhohadatraumaticbraininjuryhadan increasedriskofdementia
AirPollution:studieshavefoundthatairpollution particlescanspeedthebreakdownofthenervous system
Excessivealcoholconsumption Poorsleeppatterns
Lifestyleandhearthealth:lackofexercise,obesity, smoking,highbloodpressure,highcholesteroland poorlycontrolleddiabetes
UnfortunatelyAlzheimer’sisnotapreventablecondition. However,youcanstilltakestepsindecreasingyourrisk Stayactive,eatadietoffreshproduce,healthyoilsand lowinsaturatedfats.Exerciseregularlyandkeepyour mindactivewithgames,socialevents,reading,creating art,playinganinstrumentandevendancing
HaveasafeandhappySeptember!
Inthenearfuture,wewouldliketohaveallofour statementsemailedtotheResponsiblePartiesinsteadof snailmailingthem PleaseemailBaileyandletherknowif youagreetoreceiveyourmonthlystatementbyemail Bailey’semailisbbeebe@marianhome.com.
Asalways,ACHisanoptionforyourlovedonesmonthly payment Thisisanautomaticwithdrawalfromtheirbank accounteachmonthonthe7th Youwillstillreceivethe monthlystatementwiththeamountthatwillbepulledfrom theaccountforyoutoreviewandifthereareanyquestions onthestatement,youcanreachouttoBaileytolookat beforethepaymentcomesout Ifinterestedinthis,email Baileyaswell.
Thanks!
Bailey Beebe
Maintenance &Transportation
|TravisFilloon
Therecentmonthsrollercoasterofweatherhas createdgreatgrowingconditionsfortheplants, flowers,andgrassthroughoutourMarianHomeand Villagecomplex.Manyofourresidentsandtenants havehadplanthangersposts/hooks,pots,bird feeders/birdhouses,orevenplanterboxesplaced outsidetheirroomorapartmentswindows.Our maintenancestaffandmowersalwaystrytoclear grass/weedsfromunder&aroundtheseitems. However,wehavenoeasywaytoknowwhena residentortenantortheirfamily/friendsareno longerabletotakecareoforwanttomaintainthose items.Pleaseletusknowifwecanhelpyouortake aminutetoremovetheseexcessorunuseditems.
Thegasgrillshavebeenstayinghotandattheready withcookout’sbeingheldabouteverytwoweeksfor monthsnow.IknowthatourMaintenancestaff membersKevinandTomdoagreatjobandenjoy cookingforthoseevents,butIpersonallywantto giveashoutouttotheentireMarianHometeam Thesecookoutsrequirealotofcoordinationand extraworkoutofeveryone Iamproudtobeapart ofsuchahardworkingandcaringTEAM!
Iamhappytoannouncethatwehaverecentlyhired anewqualityMaintenanceworker.HisnameisTony Sunken,hehas“hands-on”maintenanceexperience withanearbynursingfacilityandagreatpersonality. Pleasehelpmeinwelcominghimwhenhebegins onSeptember3,2024.
Reminder-Ifyouoryourfamilymembersareunsure ofwhenorhowtooperatethetemperaturecontrols intheirapartments,pleasecontactthemaintenance departmentormedirectly.
OnbehalfoftheMaintenance&Transportation DepartmentsattheMarianHomeandVillage,stay safeandhealthyandseeyousoon!
Fallisapproachingfastandthatmeansthesummeris comingtoanend.Thissummerwehadthepleasureof havinglunchoutsidewiththeResidents.Withthehelp oftheMaintenanceDepartmentgrilling,wehad hamburgersandhotdogs,sweetcorn,andseveral differentkindsofsalads.Itwasgreattoseetheresidents enjoythesunandconversationwitheachother.
Inthenextcoupleofmonths,wewillbeswitchingover toourFall/Wintermenus Excitedtoseeallthenew recipes
SocialWorker |MaryLundberg
“ThesoulneedsAutumn.”Ohyes,Ibelievethatitdoes. Thecolorsoffallalwaysseemtobringnewspirittomy soul.Ienjoywatchingthetreesturncolorsandthedays andnightsbeingcooler.Itremindsmethatthereisa someonethatismorepowerfulthanallofusthatcan createthisbeautifulseason.AlthoughIdonotalways wanttorake,Idoenjoythefallseason.Coolernightsand havingwindowsopentoletfreshairinalwaysmakesme happy Sittingoutsidewhentheweatherisniceisalso oneofmyfavoritethingstodo Iwishyouallahappyfall season-(Idonotlikewhatisnext,butIwillgetthrough that)Ifyouhaveanyquestionsandneedanyhelp withanythingfeelfreetoreachouttome.
FromYourActivityDirectors
Septemberisawonderfulmonthfortransitioningintothecoolernightsandthecolorchanges.Therewillbeeveningson thepatiowithafireands’mores.WehaveCDABingoreturningstartingonthefirstWednesdaynightofthemonth.We hopeyouwilljoinusforGrandparentsGAMEDAYonSeptember8th.Bringafavoritegametoplayandjusthaveafuntime celebratingthedaywithyourlovedone.Wehavesomefuncraftsplannedtogetthefallseasonstarted.MauriceJuleswill beheretoentertainuswithhismusic Wewillbehavingstudentsbacktojoinusforsomefunandgamesnowthatschool hasstarted OurSingingAngelsChoirisbusypracticingforournextconcertcomingin October,solookformoreinformationcomingsoon.
Please feel free to contact us in the Activity Department at any time. Our direct line is 515-5745906 or email either of us with questions or suggestions.
Email: photz@marianhome.com or lstein@marianhome.com
