Greetings !
Here at Always There Home Care, we are grateful you are slowing down to read our newsletter, which is full of items that relate to home care, home health care, aging & eldercare, as well as some useful tips for daily living.
Please enjoy in the spirit of community and cooperation in which this newsletter was sent.
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Please take some time to watch our video!
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Regina McNamara RN, MSN President & Kelly McNamara, Chief Operating Officer
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Photos in top banner: Kim packs up PPE supplies for weekly delivery to caregivers by our staff Darcey supervises; Angie and her nursing colleagues being treated to a McDonald’s appreciation dinner Angie second one right; Kim puts granddaughter Riley to work at her church’s weekly food bank; Tom and Darcey patiently await dinner
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FEATURE ARTICLE:
Tips for Dementia Caregivers at Home & Facilities During COVID-19
By Alz.org
Caregivers of individuals living with Alzheimer’s and all other dementia should follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and consider the following tips:
- For people living with dementia, increased confusion is often the first symptom of any illness. If a person living with dementia shows rapidly increased confusion, contact your health care provider for advice. Unless the person is having difficulty breathing or a very high fever, it is recommended that you call your health care provider instead of going directly to an emergency room. Your doctor may be able to treat the person without a visit to the hospital.
- People living with dementia may need extra and/or written reminders and support to remember important hygienic practices from one day to the next.
- Consider placing signs in the bathroom and elsewhere to remind people with dementia to wash their hands with soap for 20 seconds.
- Demonstrate thorough hand-washing.
- Alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol can be a quick alternative to hand-washing
- Ask your pharmacist or doctor about filling prescriptions for a greater number of days to reduce trips to the pharmacy.
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Photo left to right: Prince Dawn, our Care Coordinator’s regal cat; Riley, Kims granddaughter thanking all who come to her door ! In MANY different languages!; Grace, our graphic designer’s daughter with their new rescued 7 week old kitten, “Tribble”; Regina’s son and family in first outing of year in vintage Porsche. Together but distancing from all others.
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SPOTTY CONNECTION
Will the pandemic force a reckoning for our relationships? No one can say for sure. But Vivek Murthy, the Surgeon General under President Obama and author of “Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World,” believes we face two potential outcomes.
The first is a
social recession where it becomes harder to stay connected.
The second is a
renewed commitment to strengthen our bonds.
Mr. Murthy joined The Future of Everything Festival for the first in a series of virtual talks, where he discussed America’s loneliness epidemic and strategies to reopen the U.S. economy.
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REGINA'S REFLECTIONS
Generosity
and
Kindness
Reduce Fear
This issue of the newsletter belongs to our amazing, courageous, kind, tireless caregivers. Each week we pack and deliver PPE bags to them with all the necessary supplies as hand soap, hand sanitizer, masks, gloves, latest Covid updates, games to share with clients, snacks for them and their clients, vitamins and some surprises. Each week we are rewarded with their sincere thanks…. For remembering them, for being the best place they have ever worked, for thinking of them. They are very generous in their appreciation.
Our Kudos this month includes all caregivers active on cases. Some of them are with clients in facilities, with several positive Covid residents, though none of ours have been affected. Some are live ins, committed to staying with their clients, not wanting to expose them to many different caregivers.
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CANADIAN COVID-19 SUPERHEROES
It seems Superheroes come in all shapes and sizes. This group includes Regina’s son, Scott his wife Marissa, her grandson Ryan and granddaughter Nora.
Scott was flying home to Ottawa from a business trip to NJ on March 12 when his flight’s future was uncertain. The Covid pandemic was in the early stages. He Finally landed but all passengers were checked for signs of Covid. Scott appeared to have symptoms so was required to be tested then quarantined for a period away from his family, until his test was complete and determined to be negative.
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SUPPORTING SMALL WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES - HERE'S A SPECIAL ONE
MASKS AND AMAZING ALTERATIONS
By Regina McNmara
When we all emerge from our semi isolation due to Covid-19 we should support the businesses that failed, reinvented themselves and survived. Especially those owned by WOMEN.
My friend Lia, a few months ago, owned a very fashionable showroom of lovely gowns, and was an expert seamstress and alterations genius! When her business ground to a halt due to high rent and lower demand for formal wear, she abandoned her large space and with the help of her genius, hardworking husband, built a small but lovely alteration business in a studio attached to her home in Waterbury.
For many years I sought Lia’s help as I worked my way from a size 14 to a 4-6, and everything in between.
Her alterations are masterful! She can transform garments from baggy to one-of-a kind designer looks in a short time.
But it was MASKS that brought me to her new (not quite finished) studio. “I NEED 50 CLOTH MASKS NOW!! “and more to come…For my caregivers, and my daughter in law doctor in Canada.” The next day, we were distributing these lovely reusable sturdy cotton masks to all our staff, with a box to Canada.
Lia has now produced over 1,000 masks. All colors, different sizes. And she continues, even with special-orders like Spider-man masks for young children.
But best news of all! She is quickly building up her alterations business as her previous customers find her and new ones discover her impressive, affordable services.
Our obsession with masks will end. And in its place, our need for haircuts and new clothes, which need a few changes. Give Lia a call. Tell her Regina sent you!
Lia’s Tailoring: 32 Clyne Ave, Waterbury, CT
PH: 203 725 3573 CELL: 860-995-8501 ■
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FUNNIES FROM AL NIXON
Al Nixon is a former client. We cared for his wife Eileen, a few years ago. Bu, like many of our clients, he has remained in touch. He is now an Official Forever Friend and Regular Newsletter Contributor.
Since these are especially tough times, his humor contributions have thankfully been overflowing my inbox. These cartoons are just a sample of a recent huge collection of humor. We compiled all of them and constructed “humor books” to include in a recent PPE bag delivery to all caregivers and clients. The result: Many laughs.
If ever there was a time for simple goofy humor, it is now. Many, many thanks, Al!
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PROVIDERS WE LOVE
We are privileged to have received referrals from and be able to coordinate care with many Assisted Living facilities, rehab facilities, and Medicare Home Care and Hospice agencies. Our growth is in large part due to the trust the staff in these organizations have put in our caregivers. We are likewise impressed with them and we are committed to referring to them on a regular basis
- Seabury Active Living Retirement Community, and Seabury at Home, Bloomfield
- Seasons Hospice and Palliative Care, Middlebury CT
- Masonicare Home Health and Hospice - Danielson, Derby, East Hartford, Mystic, Norwalk and Wallingford
- Regional Hospice Danbury Serving CT and NY
- Farmington Valley Hospice
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Photo left to right: Kim’s cat Simba - “Hey, what’s your password?”; Maple our graphic designer’s cat likes to relax while she designs!; Darcy wearing her mask and Darcy driving to work with mom; I’m ready! I got my mask and my out of control hair hidden; Angie and daughter Mishelle both working from home.
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800.348.0485 ~ We are Always There
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