January 2019

Welcome to the Weinberg Campus newsletter, dedicated to sharing news
and information with employees, residents, families and special friends.
Message From The President
Everyone loves a good story. Stories can make us laugh, and they can make us cry. Sometimes they can be so funny that they make us laugh until we cry! Stories can inspire us to accomplish things we never thought possible. They can impart wisdom and create joy. Very importantly, we can use stories to help us understand how we can be better at what we do.

At our recent managers meeting we used the power of storytelling to help us understand the role that all our employees play in helping ensure that our visitors, clients, residents and their families have the best possible experience at Weinberg Campus. We asked our managers to share with each other their own personal health care experiences – the good and the bad – and to talk about what made those experiences so special or, in some cases, experiences that could have gone a lot better. More often than not, it was how they were treated by caregivers that made all the difference. It was that personal touch – a sense of caring and concern – that was so memorable.

We have that same opportunity at Weinberg - making every interaction an opportunity to become a memorable one for those we serve. We can create positive stories through simple acts of caring and concern, stories that we would be happy to tell if we were the ones being cared for.

I often receive letters from residents and family members describing their experiences at Weinberg Campus. As I think about it, each one is its own little story. Most of them are inspirational stories that talk about the terrific services our employees have provided. Some of them lend wisdom to how we could do things better.

I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year. I am confident 2019 will be a good year for Weinberg. I have great faith in our employees. I know they will continue to create good stories for everyone we serve.

Questions or comments? Feel free to contact me at rmayer@weinbergcampus.org or (716) 639-3311 ext. 2468.
What's New
Keep Your Brain Healthy & Fit
Ongoing research indicates that certain lifestyle habits can reduce the risk of cognitive decline. Ready to start the new year with some brain-healthy resolutions? Check out the below tips recommended by the Alzheimer’s Association.

Exercise your mind. Take a class and continue your education. Paint a picture, solve a puzzle or play a challenging game. Choose your favorite activity that makes you think –it may benefit your brain now and in the future. Check out Weinberg's activities calendars.

Exercise your body. Whether you go for a walk or visit a gym, increasing your heart rate helps blood flow to the brain and body. Weinberg residents can join in group exercise classes or chair aerobics.

Be social. Sharing activities with others may support brain health. Remember, you can always check out our activities calendars for a few ideas about how you can stay social on and off Campus.

Eat smart. Some evidence supports that a diet lower in fat and higher in vegetables and fruit, such as the Mediterranean diet, helps to support healthy brain function.

Sleep tight. Getting enough sleep helps with memory and thinking. Talk to your doctor if you have trouble falling or staying asleep.

Quit smoking. Keeping your brain at optimal function is one more reason to avoid lighting up.

Take heart. Risk factors for cardiovascular disease and stroke, such as high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity, can also impact your cognitive health. Be sure to talk to your health care provider about managing your risk factors.

Protect your noggin. While no one plans for brain injuries or accidents, head trauma can raise your risk of cognitive decline and dementia. So watch your step to prevent falls, tell your grandkids to wear a bike helmet, and don’t forget to buckle up in the car.

Manage mental health. Depression, anxiety, stress or other mental health issues may increase the risk of cognitive decline, according to some studies. Be sure to seek medical treatment.

Source: alz.org
When Is It Time For Memory Care Living?
Dementia often comes on gradually and may include a variety of symptoms, such as confusion, disorientation, memory loss, delusions, agitation, sleeplessness and personality changes. When these symptoms progress, individuals may benefit from a specialized living situation offering a safe, pleasant and structured environment. Here are a few signs that it might be time to consider a memory care community.

Your loved one is:

·         Losing track of finances or paying bills.
·         Hoarding or showing unusual habits or disarray at home.
·         Getting lost, forgetting to turn off the oven or having trouble driving.
·         Slipping in their personal care and hygiene.
·         Forgetting to take medications to manage health care issues. 
·         Missing meals, or eating too many meals.
·         Feeling lonely or isolated
·         Declining physically, or are at risk for falling.
·         Living alone, or having needs that exceed the capacity of a caregiver. 

When living at home may no longer be a safe option, Garden House Enhanced & Special Needs Memory Care Assisted Living offers a beautiful setting designed specifically for the ever-changing needs of seniors. Here, a variety of care levels are available so that residents - especially those with Alzheimer’s or dementia - can experience richly filled days, nutritious meals, safe indoor and outdoor areas, top-notch healthcare and personal care support. Professionally trained staff provide specialized memory care activities in groups and individually, and a variety of adaptations are available, such as our finger foods program, to allow residents to be as independent as possible.

“Family members of our residents are often surprised by how much their loved one improves after moving in,” says Dana Notaro, Administrator of Dosberg Manor and Garden House. “The structure, support and socialization we can provide in a group setting allows residents with dementia to thrive as much as possible.”

Safety Corner
by Joe Iarocci, HR Manager & Safety Officer
Emotional Eating
by Kim M. Bloomer, RD, CDN
With every New Year comes the common resolution to lose weight, making fad diets that promise quick results a popular choice. But let’s face it. Diets are hard to stick to. Often expectations of what to eat or not eat on a daily basis are too restrictive and unrealistic. 

Whether you choose to eliminate certain foods or calorie count, research shows that dieting in general is not the key to long term success. The majority of dieters have lost weight on more than one occasion, only to gain lost weight back and then some. Research supports that choosing healthy behaviors can make your weight goal more sustainable. One pitfall of fad diets is the absence of addressing eating behaviors.

To be successful long term, we must gain an understanding of WHY we eat what we do in addition to WHAT we choose to eat. It is important to take the time to identify emotional triggers that cause overeating and poor food choices. Boredom, stress, anxiety and frustration are some common triggers. Eating can be soothing when we find ourselves dealing with these situations, but can affect the ability to reach goals in terms of health and sustainable weight loss.

Journaling can be a helpful tool to identify emotional triggers that affect food choice and the amount eaten as you realize non-hunger related reasons that lead you down the wrong path. In the journal, make a list of personal triggers then choose non-food related activities that relieve the emotion. The activity may vary depending on the emotion. For example, if you feel frustrated, you may prefer to call a friend. If you feel stressed, you may choose to listen to music or relax in a hot bath.

Other non-food related activities that can be used to prevent emotional overeating are: read a book, take a yoga class, get a massage, or take time to rest and breathe. Better yet, if weight loss is what you are after, why not burn some extra calories and go for a walk, take a swim, or head to the gym.

It’s a new year. Make a new resolution. Change your focus. Ditch the diet. Eat when you are hungry but be reasonable, not restrictive. Most important, learn new ways to nurture yourself that bring feelings of comfort and peace so that you are not using food to do it.

Sources:
12 Reasons to Ditch the Diet Mentality-Restricting yourself ultimately doesn’t work. Here’s why. By: Christine Byrne, On Assignment for Huff Post
Intuitive Eating. By: Evelyn Ribole MS, RD and Elyse Resch MS, RD, FADA, CEDRD
Letters of Thanks
Below are excerpts from letters received from family members of Weinberg residents.
Dosberg
Dear Teresa,

We want to thank you for taking excellent care of my mom. I so appreciate you lending the phone so that I can Facetime with her.
Rosa
The quality of care given to my mother by her aide, Colleen, is exemplary...she goes over and above to treat my mother with respect and dignity...Colleen is an outstanding aide and a wonderful addition to your staff.
Featured Events
Monthly Activities For Residents
Welcome New Employees
December 2018
Ana Aguilar, Resident Counselor, Greenwood
Tara Brown, RN, Clinic
Tianna Cousins, CNA, Rosa
Julia Fowler, RN Supervisor, Rosa
April Frazier, Food Service Worker
Davonta Gray, PCA, Dosberg
Jamie Hall, Food Service Worker              
Camilya Hicks, CNA, Rosa
Angelique Holland, PCA, Dosberg
Malinka Jackson, CNA, Rosa
Mychelle Johnson, CNA, Rosa
Keyonna Jones, HHA, Garden House
Jetuan McDuffie, CNA, Rosa
DeAnne Miles, CNA, Rosa
Lisette Mota-Nephew, LPN, Rosa
Andre Owens III, Housekeeper
Cierra Redmond, CNA, Rosa
Te'Ara Robinson, CNA, Rosa
Jaydra Smith, Occupational Therapy Coordinator, Rosa
RaeDonah Smith, Housekeeper
Susan Tempest, Receptionist
E'Moni Thomas, Food Service Worker
Fatima Verse, CNA, Rosa
Schantiqua Weatherspoon, CNA, Rosa
Dylan Williams, CNA, Rosa
Photo Gallery
Residents and their families lit up the holiday season with a variety of celebrations, festive food and entertainment. Check out a sampling of the fun, pictured below.