This newsletter is brought to you by Human Resources.
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Dear Retirees;
We realize that while many of you reading this newsletter reside in the Ithaca area, others are scattered around the globe. Experiences vary so significantly based on geography. Cornell retirees and colleagues located in New York City (or with friends/family in NYC) have especially endured hardships and loss. Our minds and hearts are with the entire Cornell family.
Regardless of location, we are connected by the Cornell spirit. This was on display yesterday when a group of Cornell a cappella students virtually sang the alma mater in celebration of Charter Day from their homes.
Click to enjoy this short clip
.
In this newsletter edition, we have included information and resources that may assist you in the areas of physical and mental health, safety, staying engaged, and helping others. While some information is Tompkins County specific, a majority is applicable to all.
As always, we welcome your
emails
, suggestions, and questions.
Work/Life, Cornell Human Resources
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The amount of information (and misinformation) regarding COVID-19 can be overwhelming. Here are some trusted resources:
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Face Mask Information
New York residents are now required to wear masks outside of their homes. The NY Times has released a
video
on how to make one from a t-shirt and the CDC has a site dedicated to
face mask guidelines
offering
several homemade options - one that requires sewing and two that do not.
As you may have discovered already, face masks can be tricky for those with glasses - their lenses fog up. Check out
this article
from AARP for tips to keep your glasses clear and you safe.
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If you are feeling anxious or stressed right now, you’re not alone! Here are some resources that can help with physical and mental wellbeing:
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COVID-Related Mental Health and Wellbeing Links
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Cornell Wellness – Individual Consults
This may be the perfect time for you to connect with Cornell Wellness staff to talk about your individual wants, needs, and/or how to overcome obstacles. Free and no membership needed, consults can focus on fitness, nutrition, smoking cessation, and other health and wellness topics.
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If you are struggling with a life situation or find yourself feeling increasingly anxious or depressed, consider accessing one of the many Cornell and community based resources.
Listen to Jasmine Jay
,
Lead Clinical Assistant of the Cornell Faculty and Staff Assistance Program, as she talks about mental health and available resources.
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Health Literacy & Caregiving - Strategies to Simplify the Complicated (Webinar)
Thursday, April 30, 2020
from 12:00-1:00 pm
Meeting ID: 936 6169 2085
Today, a growing number of patients survive medical conditions that were previously fatal, resulting in an aging population and an increase in multimorbidity (multiple chronic illnesses). Caregiving and our medical system is complicated -- join us to explore practical ways to communicate more effectively with healthcare plans and teams. In this lunch and learn session, we’ll share practical strategies to address an issue that is estimated to have an economic impact of 238 billion dollars annually.
Presented by Karen Brown MA, Gerontology Programs Manager, Ithaca College Gerontology Institute and Lisa Richards, BS, Finger Lakes Geriatric Education Center Programs Manager. Sponsored by Work/Life in Human Resources
.
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Quarantine Buddy
Self-isolation can be, well,
isolating
. Talking, playing games and solving puzzles, and/or exercising with a buddy – even virtually -- helps to ease the loneliness. But how can we do that when we need to remain in seclusion?
A team of Cornell students, passionate about connecting and empowering people through this uncertain time, founded
Quarantine Buddy.
Eager to connect people of all ages from all around the globe, they designed an algorithm that pairs folks together. Simply fill out their matching form with your hobbies/interests and let them do the rest. They will then introduce you to your "Quaranteammate" via text. The rest is up to you!
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Resources for Tompkins County Residents
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Free and Safe Rides to Tompkins COVID Testing Site
Free and safe rides in a sanitized vehicle now are available for individuals scheduled for COVID-19 testing at the Cayuga Health Sampling Site at The Shops at Ithaca Mall.
Individuals first must register for testing online at
www.cayugahealth.org
or by calling 607-319-5708, then call 2-1-1 between 8:30 am and 5:00 pm to schedule a ride with ASAP cab company. There is no charge for this service.
For other Tompkins transportation Updates visit the Cornell Cooperative Extension
Way2Go website.
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Senior Only Shopping Hours in Ithaca
Several stores in Ithaca have created "Senior Only" shopping hours to help keep our older population safe:
- Walmart - Tuesdays, 6:00 - 7:00 am
- TOPS - Tuesdays & Thursdays, 6:00 - 7:30 am
- Target - Tuesdays & Wednesdays, 8:00 - 9:00 am
- CVS - Tuesdays & Wednesdays, 7:00 - 8:00 am
- Walgreens - Tuesdays, 8:00 - 9:00 am
- Dollar Tree - Daily, 9:00 - 10:00 am
- Greenstar - Daily, 9:00 - 10:00 am
- BJ's Wholesale Club - Daily, 9:00 - 10:00 am
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Rosie Offering Free Delivery
The
RosieApp
is partnering with grocery retailers during the coronavirus pandemic to waive delivery fees on orders for people aged 60 and older. Rosie lets you shop online from local grocers for delivery or in-store pickup. Retailers utilizing Rosie have specially trained Grocery Professionals who will hand-select the freshest, highest quality products for you.
Local participating stores include P&C Ithaca/Cortland, Trumansburg ShurSave, and other locations throughout the United States.
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'We Are Resilient' Business Dashboard
The City of Ithaca Office of Economic Development, in collaboration with the city's GIS Program, has created the 'We Are Resilient’ Business Dashboard.
A resource for business and customers alike, the map's creators hope to source information to support the many local businesses that make Tompkins County such a great place to live, while also helping local consumers find a sense of normalcy, whether it's through a meal from a favorite restaurant or an online learning resource.
You can find the business dashboard by scrolling down the
The Ithaca Voice’s
COVID-19 dashboard page.
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Support for Retirees and/or Their Loved Ones in Residential Communities
If you or a loved one is currently quarantined within a senior care community or nursing home, this can be an especially challenging time.
- The Alzheimer’s Foundation provides tips for caregivers of those with dementia.
These articles suggest some good – albeit imperfect – strategies we can employ to support friends and family in isolation. Phone calls, FaceTime conversations, greeting cards, texting, etc. are all innovative ways to communicate, and many facilities are working closely with families to facilitate these types of communication.
But what do we do for our loved ones who are not well enough – physically and/or mentally – to communicate with us remotely? An exhaustive search has left us with little additional support to share, and we welcome advice and suggestions from within our retiree community. If someone you love is currently living in a residential facility that is closed to visitors due to the pandemic, what are you doing to keep in touch? What other strategies or ideas can you
share
?
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Assured Allies
Assured Allies
has launched a free
COVID19
support hotline, a resource to help older adults and their
caregivers
remain independent and navigate the current crisis.
If you, or a loved one, have any questions or need support to continue to live independently during this period of uncertainty, they are here for you. Call them at (888)-478-1478. There is no cost to call.
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Bird Cams
A sure sign of the change of seasons is the return of area springtime birds. The
Cornell Lab Bird Cams
lets viewers from all over the world view the lives of birds we don't often see. With cameras set up from Bermuda to Texas, the lab watches nests and feeders of multiple birds and raptors - even the hawks right here on our campus. Our Cornell hawks currently have three eggs in the nest - tune in to watch them grow from hatchling to fledgling!
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Thank You to #EssentialCornell Staff
The Employee Assembly has launched a selfie-campaign as a way for members of the Cornell Community to thank essential workers who do not have the option of performing their jobs remotely.
Help us acknowledge our dedicated essential staff who are coming to work each day to care for students and the campus.
Send in photos by posting online with the hashtags #EssentialCornell and #WorkingatCornell or by emailing pics to
Carrie Sanzone
.
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Road Scholar Virtual Learning
Road Scholar
is a nonprofit organization designed to inspire adults to learn, discover, and travel. Although their “traditional” learning adventures take the form of guided travel expeditions worldwide, the organization currently offers a series of free, online lectures from instructors around the world.
Explore topics featured on popular programs from the comfort of your home, or tune into their live webinars and Q & A sessions to engage with the lecturers in real time.
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Experience Performances from Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London
The Globe Theatre in London is
temporarily closed
, but there are opportunities for audiences worldwide to experience productions and stay connected.
Now streaming free (through May 3
rd
) is Romeo and Juliet, recorded in 2009. The Two Noble Kinsmen, recorded in 2018, is available to watch for free from May 4-17. Visit
https://www.shakespearesglobe.com/watch/
for more information.
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Memory Maker Project Offerings
The
Memory Maker Project
provides art, culture, and advocacy programs for people living with memory loss and their care partners. Check out some of their current offerings:
- Art of Conversation: Take a look at art from museums around the world! Flip through the deck and use the accompanying questions as inspiration to share your stories, ideas, and opinions.
- Read Along Stories: We've been writing simple, interesting stories especially for people living with memory loss and their loved ones. These books are meant to be read out loud in pairs or small groups, but can be read solo, too! Check out our first completed book here and stay tuned for more!
- Memory Maker Hour: Fridays from 2:00 - 3:300 pm on WBDY Bundy Radio, 99.5 FM. Tune in to hear old-time radio show clips with interactive questions from our director, Christina Muscatello and Bundy Radio director, Brian Pragacz, or listen live on Facebook. Shows will also be posted to the Memory Maker Project’s website so you can also listen on your own time.
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COVID-19 Time Capsule Project for Adults
A few weeks ago, Natalie Long of
LONG Creations
created a free workbook for her daughter Olivia to record her experiences of living through the coronavirus outbreak. She decided to upload the worksheets on her
Facebook page
.
Other parents had free access to the document so their kids could have a first-person account of what they go through each day during self-quarantine. Now, Long has created a new
workbook
with adults in mind.
Long’s worksheets double as a coloring book and a journal to help get you through this difficult time. So, if you think that because we are living in unprecedented times we should keep some form of log to document the things we do and see each day, this could be the thing for you. Memories aren't as reliable as we like to think. So, write it down. Have some type of written account of what you and your family are experiencing through the COVID-19 outbreak.
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Sew Face Coverings/Masks for Cornell Employees
If you have the ability to sew masks in your own home, please consider helping with this project!
The sewing group at Bartels Hall has been doing a wonderful job of providing masks for Cayuga Medical Center and other front line medical workers.
We have now launched a second project to support our Cornell community needs. If you have sewing supplies on hand at home, please consider helping out with this additional effort.
The CDC has a site dedicated to
face mask guidelines
offering
several
homemade options - one that requires sewing and two that do not.
If possible, please wash and package your completed masks in individual plastic bags. If you aren’t able to do so, however, don’t let that stop you from sewing. We need you!
We are also interested in collecting supplies for those who are willing to sew and have ordered 200 yards of elastic that should be here in a week or so.
If you are interested in helping in any way please contact Cheryl McGraw at
crm54@cornell.edu
.
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Not Sure How to Sew Masks, But Still Want to Help?
Generous volunteers are donating their time each day to sew masks to protect essential workers and the community at large. You can show your appreciation by helping to feed this dedicated group of volunteers. Consider a
donation
of $10 (one lunch), $20 (two lunches), $200 (covering lunch for a whole day) or an amount that works for you.
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Cornell University | 607-255-0388 | hr.cornell.edu/retirees | cornellretirees@cornell.edu
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