Lower Valley Care Advocates is Hiring!
LVCA is always looking for caring, compassionate, reliable caregivers to join our team including:
- Certified Nursing Assistants
- Home Health Aides
- Personal Care Attendants
- Homemaker/Companions
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May is Mental Health Month
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Since 1949, Mental Health America and their affiliates across the country have led the observance of May is Mental Health Month by reaching millions of people through the media, local events and screenings. Help spread the word that mental health is something everyone should care about!
Key Messages about Mental Health:
- Mental health is essential to everyone’s overall health and well-being, and mental illnesses are common and treatable.
- So much of what we do physically impacts us mentally. Paying attention to both your physical health and your mental health can help you achieve overall wellness and set you on a path to recovery.
- A healthy lifestyle can help to prevent the onset or worsening of mental health conditions, as well as heart disease, diabetes, obesity and other chronic health problems. It can also help people recover from these conditions.
- Taking good care of your body is part of a Before Stage Four approach to mental health.
- Eating healthy foods, managing stress, exercising, and getting enough sleep can go a long way in making you both physically and mentally healthy.
- Getting the appropriate amount of exercise benefits nearly all aspects of a person’s health. Not only does exercise help control weight, it also improves mental health, and chances of living longer and healthier.
- Recent research is connecting your gut health with your mental health. So, when it comes to diet and nutrition, it’s all about finding the right balance of nutrients to benefit both the mind and body.
For the complete list and more information about mental health,
click here.
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Other National Health Observances in May:
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May is National Stroke Awareness Month
.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 800,000 people have a stroke each year and more than
140, 000 die from stroke.
Do you know your risk for stroke? Women over age 55 have an increased risk of stroke as do African American and Hispanic people. If you have a family member who has had a stroke, you are also at increased risk.
There are things you can do to reduce your risk for stroke. Start today by eating healthy foods and exercising 150 minutes each week. If you smoke quit now to reduce your risk of stroke heart disease, diabetes and cancer. If you have high blood pressure take your medicine as prescribed and know your usual blood pressure numbers.
The National Stroke Association has published a
Stroke Risk Scorecard
to help determine your risk. They also have Stroke Help Line for stroke survivors, caregivers, family members and friends to provide information and someone to talk to about the issues of managing after stroke. Call 1-800-STROKES and leave a message, they will call you back.
For more information call
Visiting Nurses of the Lower Valley
at
860-767-0186.
If you or your loved one is experiencing these symptoms:
Act FAST, Call 911.
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Heart Healthy Kale Slaw Recipe
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Ingredients:
1 head kale, stems removed and thinly sliced
1 large carrot, grated
1/2 an orange, juiced
1/2 a lemon, juiced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 red onion, sliced very thinly
1 slice bacon, cooked crisp and chopped
1 rounded tablespoon mayonnaise
Directions:
Place the kale into a salad bowl. Toss with the carrot, orange juice, lemon juice, and salt and, using your hands, rub the acid into the kale. Let the kale sit a few minutes while you shock the onion. Prepare a large bowl of ice water and a saucepan with boiling water. Place the thinly sliced onion into the boiling water for 15 to 30 seconds, and then shock them in the cold water, stopping the cooking immediately. Drain the water and blot the onions with a paper towel. Add the onion, bacon, olive oil, salt and pepper and toss well. Add the mayonnaise and mix the slaw well. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Can be prepared several hours in advance.
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Meet Mary Murray and Lisa Ferraro,
Per Diem RNs
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VNLV Welcomes Lisa Ferraro!
Lisa has worked as an OR Nurse, an RN Case Manager, a Staff Nurse at assisted living facilities, a School Nurse (moving up to every school with her children as they grew, from elementary school to middle school and then high school, to be on the same schedule as them), and as a Nurse Consultant for preschools and day care centers.
Lisa enjoys vacationing in Newport, RI every summer with her husband, son and daughter.
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VNLV Welcomes Mary Murray!
Mary was born in California and grew up in Bethany, CT. She graduated from Albertus Magnus College with a BS in Health Care Management and from Bridgeport Hospital School of Nursing.
Mary lives in Old Lyme with her husband. She has two dogs that she adores (a Boxer and a Yorkshire Terrier). They enjoy listening to music, boating in the summer and Caribbean vacations in the winter.
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LVCA Provides Respite Care
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If you are the primary caregiver for a loved-one being away from them for any period of time can be stressful. Who will care for your loved-one in your absence? Respite care is the answer and Lower Valley Care Advocates can provide it. Our caregivers can provide round the clock care or just a few hours. Lower Valley Care Advocates can alleviate your schedule by driving your loved one to appointments or providing companionship for a few hours so family caregivers can recharge their own batteries.
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Let's Stay Connected!
Questions?
Call Us! 860-767-0186
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