Coronavirus:
What You Need to Know
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is closely monitoring an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel (new) coronavirus first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Chinese authorities identified the new coronavirus, which has resulted in thousands of confirmed cases in China, including cases outside Wuhan City. Additional cases have been identified in a growing number of other international locations, including the United States. There are ongoing investigations to learn more.

As of 1/31/2020, there have been no confirmed cases of coronavirus in Connecticut.

How to protect yourself from coronavirus:
  • Wash your hands: wet your hands with clean, running water and apply soap. Lather your hands, including the backs, between your fingers, and under your nails and scrub for at least 20 seconds. Rinse.
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue in the bin and wash your hands. If you do not have a tissue to hand, cough or sneeze into your elbow rather than your hands.
  • If necessary, face masks offer some protection as they block liquid droplets. However, they do not block smaller aerosol particles that can pass through the material of the mask. The masks also leave the eyes exposed and there is evidence that some viruses can infect a person through the eyes.
  • Seek early medical help if you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, and share your travel history with healthcare providers.

To learn more, click here .
February: American Heart Month
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women.

You can make healthy changes to lower your risk of developing heart disease. Controlling and preventing risk factors is also important for people who already have heart disease. To lower your risk:

  •    Watch your weight.
  •    Quit smoking and stay away from secondhand smoke.
  •    Control your cholesterol and blood pressure.
  •    If you drink alcohol, drink only in moderation.
  •    Get active and eat healthy.

For more information, click here.
Tips for Choosing a Doctor
Older adults are searching for health care providers the same way many Americans shop for vacation rentals, home contractors and restaurant reservations: online.

Nearly half (43%) of adults ages 50 to 80 have looked up doctor ratings and reviews online, according to new results from the University of Michigan's “National Poll on Healthy Aging.” And among those who checked ratings in the past year, 65% did so to read up on a doctor they were considering, and 34% did so to find a new physician, the survey found.

To read the tips, click here.
Memory Loss: What's Normal?
One symptom of more serious memory loss is that you’re not aware there’s a problem. Family members might seem more worried than you are. If loved ones are talking to you about your memory, take their concerns to heart and see a doctor.

Here’s a checklist for what’s normal, along with causes for concern.

Normal: You forget daily appointments but remember them later.
Cause for concern: You ask friends and family for details over and over again, or need them to do tasks that you used to do yourself.

Normal: You make a mistake balancing your checkbook.
Cause for concern: You have trouble planning or solving problems that used to be easy. It’s hard to do things that involve numbers, like follow a recipe or pay monthly bills.

Normal: You need help once in a while with the microwave settings or a TV remote.
Cause for concern: You can’t work the stove or drive to a familiar spot.

To read the full article, click here.
Stay Warm with Superfood Soups
Cooler weather often puts you in the mood for a hot, steaming bowl of soup — and incorporating “superfoods” into your bowl can provide a whole heap of nutrition for a fairly low number of calories.

Superfoods have no official definition, but most of what we consider such nutritional powerhouses come from plants : vegetables, especially greens and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, kale, cabbage and bok choy; herbs and spices, which are potent antioxidants even in small amounts; and mushrooms, miso and other fermented foods. Legumes, beans, peas and lentils, as well as sweet potatoes and winter squash, make the list with their “resistant starch,” which helps even out blood sugar, aids in digestion and may promote weight loss. And beets and garlic (along with leafy greens) contain naturally occurring dietary nitrates that convert to nitric oxide in your body. Nitric oxide helps relax blood vessels, aiding in blood circulation throughout your body.

To read more, including tips for choosing superfoods, click here .
Content Credit AARP .
We're Hiring!
Weekend On Call RN: Hiring Bonus!
Registered nurse to work every other weekend on-call Saturday 8:00 a.m. – Monday 8:00 a.m. Candidate to triage calls, and make scheduled and unscheduled visits.

BSN preferred. One year of med surg experience required; previous homecare experience and computerized documentation experience required.
RN Per Diem Positions
Registered Nurses to work per diem week days. Must be a graduate of an accredited or approved school of nursing, licensed to practice in the state of CT, have a minimum of one year med-surg clinical experience. Home health care/OASIS experience preferred.


Please submit resumes to info@visitingnurses.org .
Let's Stay Connected!
To learn more about Visiting Nurses of the Lower Valley, click here .
To learn more about Lower Valley Care Advocates, click here.
  Questions? Call Us! 860-767-0186