Norwell, MA: (781) 659-1877

Sandwich, MA: (774) 994-2212

71 Route 6A, Sandwich, MA 02563

Ellsworth, ME: (207) 667-0870

We are excited to recognize Cathy Watts as the Cahoon Care "Employee of the Quarter!" Cathy is a mindful, conscientious, and empathetic caregiver who truly cares about her clients. She continues to "step in" and respond to her clients' needs without being asked to do so.

Cathy has made strong connections with CCA clients, allowing her to foster trusting relationships. Her optimism encourages her clients to have better moods, influences their wellbeing, and increases their desire to participate in a variety of activities.

Cathy started her home health care career many years ago, when a neighbor who knew most people in town would refer Cathy to those looking for someone to help take care of an aging loved one. After working with other agencies, Cathy found a home with Cahoon Care in 2019.

Being a caregiver can be both demanding and rewarding, and Cathy always responds with professionalism. Her empathy and flexible mindset allow her to consistently go beyond her scope of caregiver responsibilities, as this feedback from our clients shows:

Make no mistake, we realize caregiving is hard work. We also recognize that caregivers are the heart and soul of CCA, and Cathy has proven to be one of the very best on our team. In addition to caring for our clients' needs, she also supports their loved ones by allowing peace of mind that their parent is well-cared for. Her dedication and passion for helping others are what make her a stand-out caregiver.

Thank you, Cathy, for assisting our CCA clients with their health, wellness, and resilience as they age. You have made a significant impact on their lives!

We're celebrating some important employee anniversaries this quarter:

Pippa MacVarish - 8 years

Jaime Barry - 6 years

Lydia Gwandaru - 6 years

Geralyn Ziino - 6 years

Christy Clark - 4 years

Judy Kobusinge - 4 years

Florence Nakanjako - 4 years

Darlene Blanchard - 3 years

Brianna Connors - 3 years

Mary Grace - 3 years

Guerline Jean - 3 years

Alida Liberty - 3 years

Eileen Mielenhausen - 3 years

Jennifer Sargent - 3 years

Lorraine Buchanan - 2 years

Karen Cavaca - 2 years

Karen Entrot - 2 years

Gloria Finch - 2 years

Wendy Hammond - 2 years

Victoria Harris - 2 years

Leaticia Jean-Louis - 2 years

Donna Levers - 2 years

Steven Roberson - 2 years

Katherine Smith - 2 years

Joanne St. Pierre - 2 years

Carrie Tracey - 2 years

Tonya Chipman - 1 year

Rondy Foggie - 1 year

Madison Lemieux - 1 year

Cynthia Northrup - 1 year

Cassandra Stewart-Palmer - 1 year

This winter we've seen more snowfall here in New England than we have over the last few years. For school-age children, skiers, and snow lovers, this is good news - but for the rest of us, snowstorms can tend to produce more hassles than fun.

While snow snoveling isn't enjoyable, it's often unavoidable - and for seniors and individuals with disabilities who can't clear the snow for themselves, it can become a downright dangerous or difficult situation.

Those who are housebound have an added challenge: they may need to have their sidewalks and driveways cleared early in the day to provide safe access for others to get in (such as nursing assistance, caregivers, or homebound meal delivery), or they may need to be able to leave their home early to be taken to a medical appointment.

In most cases, seniors or their families can simply contract with a plowing company in advance to clear their outdoor areas after each storm. As long as they remain paying customers (and, in some cases, call or text their plowing company the night before a storm to ensure they're still on the list for the morning), they will generally have their snow needs met for the season. If they have time-sensitive issues, they should be sure to let the plowing company know that in advance.

Read more on our blog...

The brain damage experienced by dementia and Alzheimer's patients causes a progressive decline in their ability to understand and process information - creating in essence a different version of reality in which they live.

Forcing them to abandon their version of reality to join the "real world" can cause them tremendous pain, confusion, fear, anxiety, and anger.

That's why many caregivers have begun moving away from reorientating Alzheimer's patients to reality, and instead are adopting a technique called "therapeutic fibbing."

Recognizing that honesty isn't always the best policy with those living in an alternate reality, they rationalize that stepping into their pretend world isn't the same as lying. Using white lies to validate their feelings, reassure them, and spare them unnecessary distress is not the same as malicious lying. It's more comparable to telling a friend that you love her gift even if you're not a big fan; in that case, there's no need to tell her the full truth if your main goal is to preserve the friendship.

Initially it may be difficult for caregivers to begin using therapeutic fibbing, especially when they've been taught all their lives to be completely honest. This may be especially true for adult children taking care of a parent who taught them years earlier to live ethically.

But insisting on only communicating the cold, hard truth can be downright cruel, especially in emotional or trivial matters. Considering that most Alzheimer's or dementia patients suffer from short-term memory loss, many will forget your conversation soon after you have it, which means the topic will come up repeatedly.

Learn more on our blog...

Referrals are a great way to earn EASY MONEY! You can earn up to $300 per referral. Maine Caregivers, call Stacey (207) 801-1633 and Massachusettes Caregivers, call Karen at (781) 635-4968 for details.

Below are recent referrals. Thank you to all who passed along a referral - and enjoy your referral payout!!

(referred Carole Cantwell)

(referred Oliva Lounder)

(referred Kate Dahlquist)

(referred Kayla Durkee )

(referred Heather Huyser)

We're excited to announce 20 new members of the Cahoon Care team this past quarter...and some were referred by YOU:

Marly Adolphe

Cassy Blanc

Tina Boslee

Asannie Campbell

Carole Cantwell

Mariana de Souza

Sandra Nunes Dossantos

Joy Ezeonugo

Gina Follette

Donna Gibson

Nicole Higgins

Sharon Hunter

Pal Kungsawarn

Nancy Lemoine

Olivia Lounder

Kimberly Murphy

Ty Noel

Jelfiline Rodrigues

Jennifer Saunders

Stephanie Trowbridge

We're pleased to announce that both Pal Kungsawarn and Mimi Lippman received employee appreciation baskets for their outstanding service!

When someone suffering from Alzheimer's experiences disturbing hallucinations, it can be tempting to try to orient them to reality, argue, or even get angry!

Renowned brain change expert Teepa Snow believes a far better response is to reflect, validate, and support the individual. Click here or on the video above to find out why - and how!

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Teepa Snow has put together short videos demonstrating examples of successfully addressing an issue for someone with brain change. She first demonstrates intuitive ways of performing these tasks (which are often less effective), and then shows the "Teepa way," using subtle differences that are highly effective.

Look for more amazing Teepa Snow video tips on YouTube and TikTok.

Last quarter's shell game winners were:

Sheila Coffey

Karen Entrot

Mary Grace

Eileen Milenhausen

Jennifer Saunders

We hope you had fun playing and enjoyed your treat!

Caregiving is challenging work. Sometimes we all need to vent and get support. It's important to find an objective audience who is not as close to our experiences as we are, but who can still relate by experiencing similar situations.

If you are on Facebook, take a peek at this amazing support group. You never know - the message you need to hear may be shared there. You'll also have an opportunity to vent to people who will understand and embrace you with open arms.

Many older adults lose mobility due to conditions like stroke, severe arthritis, or injuries from falls. When that happens, activities and hobbies they used to enjoy might now be too difficult.

But loss of mobility doesn't mean the end of good times. There are many ways to have fun, boost mood, and stay engaged in the world without needing to move around too much.

To help you find things that suit your older adult's interests, here are nine wonderful activities for seniors with limited mobility.

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