Colorectal Awareness Month, The Conversation Project, Meet Liz Maxwell, LVC A's Dementia Care                             
  March is Colorectal Awareness Month

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month  

Colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the United States and the second leading cause of death from cancer. Colorectal cancer affects all racial and ethnic groups and is most often found in people ages 50 and older.

The best way to prevent colorectal cancer is to get screened regularly starting at age 50. There are often no signs or symptoms of colorectal cancer – that’s why it’s so important to get screened.

To increase awareness about the importance of colorectal cancer screening, Visiting Nurses of the Lower Valley is proudly participating in Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. 

People over age 50 have the highest risk of colorectal cancer. You may also be at higher risk if you are African American, smoke, or have a family history of colorectal cancer.

Everyone can take these healthy steps to help prevent colorectal cancer:

  • Get screened starting at age 50.
  • Encourage your family members and friends over age 50 to get screened.
  • Quit smoking and stay away from secondhand smoke.
  • Get plenty of physical activity and eat healthy.

For more information, visit Visiting Nurses of the Lower Valley. 
Upcoming Events  

VNLV Health Ministry Network presents:
Hacah Boros RS, MSN, Environmental Health Coordinator from Connecticut Nurses’ Association
Date: March 21, 2017
Time: 6:30-8pm
                                                           Location: St John’s Episcopal Church (3 Cross Street in Essex).
                                                              Have you Had the Conversation?  
Visiting Nurses of the Lower Valley has joined with The Conversation Project to foster meaningful and effective conversations about end-of-life care. Research shows that 40 % of us will not be able to make healthcare decisions for ourselves at some point. We need to have the conversation about our values and wishes for care that benefits people of all ages: spouses/partners, parents, children, grandchildren, and close friends – anybody who might be involved in making decisions for you when you can’t speak for yourself.   You may have experienced or heard about:  
  • The added stress when families don’t know what their loved one would want as they are dying.
  • Conflict within a family if they disagree about what should be done or who should make decisions.
  • Grieving which is more complex when people are left wondering if they did the right thing.
  • The feeling that health care professionals are doing too little or too much treatment because a family is not united or unclear.  What YOU can do:
  • Schedule a one or two part Conversation Project seminar
  • Share the importance of talking about what matters most about our wishes for health care at the end of life 
  • Call 860-767-0186 ext 211 for more information.
  Meet Elizabeth Maxwell, Administrative Manager
Elizabeth "Liz" Maxwell started working at Visiting Nurses of the Lower Valley in August of 2012 as the Scheduler. Her hard work was recognized and Liz was promoted to Administrative Manager. Basically, there is not much that Liz doesn't do! She handles all of the behind-the-scene operations, including: scheduling home health aides and nurses, billing, record reviews, payroll, electronic medical record program coordinator, and "anything else that lands on my desk." In her free time, she likes playing on co-ed softball teams and hanging out with friends and family. She has also done stand-up comedy and plans to return to the stage after she completes nursing school. Liz applied for Goodwin College's Registered Nurse program starting this fall.

Good luck, Liz! We're all rooting for you and wish you the best in this endeavor. You're going to make an excellent nurse!

  LVCA Provides Dementia Care

Memory loss and aging seem to go hand-in-hand. Should you be concerned if you can’t remember where you put the car keys? What is considered normal memory loss associated with aging and what are the signs and symptoms of dementia?

Here are the ten signs of dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association:

  1. Memory changes that affect daily life
  2. Difficulty planning and solving problems
  3. Trouble completing familiar tasks
  4. Confusion with time or place
  5. Challenges with visual or spatial relationships
  6. Problems with words in speaking or writing
  7. Misplacing things or losing the ability to retrace steps
  8. Decreased or poor judgment
  9. Withdrawal from social or work activities
  10. Changes in mood or personality

Dementia care is a specialty of Lower Valley Care Advocates. Our caregivers can help dementia clients maintain a maximum level of independence while offering support to family caregivers. For more information, call Lower Valley Care Advocates at (860) 767-2695 or click here.

Or, if your group needs FREE Alzheimer’s education training, call Deborah Ringen, Faith Community Nurse for the Visiting Nurses of the Lower Valley at (860) 767-0186.

Lower Valley Care Advocates also provides:   
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                                        Questions? Call Us! Phone: 860-767-0186
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