Dear Friend,
Welcome to our Winter Newsletter!
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We start off 2022 with hopes of a healthier community! Our dynamic team has persevered through another challenging year, including a shortage of healthcare workers and uncertainty in so many ways.
But through all of this we were able to deliver great health care, celebrate each other, and find joy in the work that we do, the people that we work with and in the communities that we serve!
Wishing you a very healthy and Happy New Year! We are here for you in 2022!
Julie Reynolds, RN, MS, President/CEO
(Winter is here-let it snow-we still go!)
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Leaving Our Lights Up 4 Heroes |
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Holiday lights provide an emotional boost to everyone who sees them. This January, the local hospitals are asking everyone in their businesses, communities, and homes to leave their holiday lights on to thank healthcare heroes for all they are doing to help our community fight this pandemic. The "Keep Your Lights Up For Heroes" campaign will run through January 31. To partake in this support, our lights from the Lights of Love event will remain shining on the grounds of Cornerstone VNA through the end of January.
(As the organizers say, "Healthcare heroes have been fighting on the front line for almost two years now, sacrificing time with their families, putting themselves in harm's way, and working long hours to take care of others. We know our healthcare heroes are tired, but they continue to put others first and care for the sickest patients in our hospitals, doctors' offices, ambulances, and all across our communities.")
#LightsUp4Heroes honors healthcare professionals who remain at the front of the fight to end this pandemic.
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Fall Prevention & Winter Safety |
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by Karen Krause, Physical Therapist at Cornerstone VNA
Icy, snowy roads and sidewalks make it easy to slip and fall. Falls are a common occurrence for senior citizens, especially during the winter months. Often these falls cause major injuries such as hip and wrist fractures, head trauma and major lacerations. While younger people often recover relatively quickly from such injuries, older adults face complications, which are a leading cause of death from injury in men and women over the age of 65.
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Take off shoes as soon as you return indoors because often snow and ice attach to the soles and, once melted, can lead to slippery conditions inside
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Carefully shovel steps and walkways to your home or hire someone to shovel for you. Keep supplies like icy melt to spread on walkways to melt ice that has formed.
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Wear boots with non-skid soles so you're less likely to slip when you walk.
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If you use a cane, replace the rubber tip before it is worn smooth. You might also buy (at a medical supply store) an ice pick-like attachment that fits onto the end of the cane to help keep you from slipping when you walk.
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Do not walk on icy walkways; look for sidewalks that are dry and have been cleared.
The American Red Cross offers ten steps people can take to stay safe during the cold weather.
- Layer up! Wear layers of lightweight clothing to stay warm. Gloves and a hat will help prevent losing your body heat.
- Don't forget your furry friends. Bring pets indoors. If they can't come inside, make sure they have enough shelter to keep them warm and that they can get to unfrozen water.
- Remember the three feet rule. If you are using a space heater, place it on a level, hard surface and keep anything flammable at least three feet away - things such as paper, clothing, bedding, curtains or rugs.
- Requires supervision - Turn off space heaters and make sure fireplace embers are out before leaving the room or going to bed.
- Don't catch fire! If you are using a fireplace, use a glass or metal fire screen large enough to catch sparks and rolling logs.
- Protect your pipes. Run water, even at a trickle, to help prevent your pipes from freezing. Open the kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals out of the reach of children. Keep the garage doors closed if there are water lines in the garage.
- Better safe than sorry. Keep the thermostat at the same temperature day and night. Your heating bill may be a little higher, but you could avoid a more costly repair job if your pipes freeze and burst.
- The kitchen is for cooking. Never use a stove or oven to heat your home.
- Use generators outside. Never operate a generator inside the home, including in the basement or garage.
- Knowledge is power. Don't hook a generator up to the home's wiring. The safest thing to do is to connect the equipment you want to power directly to the outlets on the generator.
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Did You Know Cornerstone VNA Offers a Private Duty Program? |
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Are you...
- recovering from surgery?
- interested in learning more about aging in place?
- needing a hand around the house?
Our Life Care Private Duty program can provide personal care, support and respite while you age in place, or during your recovery from surgery or an injury.
We are here for you when you or a loved one needs a hand!
Call 800-691-1133 and ask to speak with a member of our Life Care Team.
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in the
COVID-19 Information Center
for Patients & Community Members
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Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) |
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Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) began as a speech therapy effort and then expanded to the OT and PT disciplines. LSVT is an innovative and clinically-proven method for improving communication and movement in individuals with Parkinson's disease with application to other neurological conditions. Last fall, 14 of our clinicians were certified in this discipline! They join 2 clinicians who were already certified.
We are very excited to offer this program, and our Rehab Manager has formed an LSVT Committee to best serve our patients who need this therapy.
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What is Lymphedema? Lymphedema is the build-up of fluid in soft body tissues when the lymph system is damaged or blocked. The lymph system is a network of lymph vessels, tissues, and organs that carry lymph throughout the body. Lymphedema occurs when lymph is not able to flow through the body the way that it should.
Through our new Lymphedema Program, our certified Lymphedema Therapist has been training our Home Care staff! This program is very beneficial to patients with lymphedema who cannot get to treatment in the community.
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We Are Blessed by Amazing Donors |
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A huge holiday thanks to Bethene and the Mission Committee at the Third Baptist Church in Center Strafford for making the wishes of 5 of our most vulnerable patients come true this Christmas! |
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A wonderfully kind donor dropped off gifts for our patients this holiday season! What a joy it was for our staff to bring these to our patients who are home-bound and love receiving them. |
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Sock and Hat Drive
Thanks to our employees' generosity, we dropped off a huge box of winter hats and socks to Infinity Peer Support on Church Street in Rochester (https://infinitypeersupport.org/) for those in need and struggling with substance misuse, mental health issues and homelessness.
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Resources - Support - Community |
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4th Wednesday of the Month - January 26 at 10:30am |
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3rd Tuesday of the Month - January 18 at 12:00pm |
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Visit our Family Caregiver Page, dedicated to providing resources and support. You can also subscribe to our Caregiver Newsletter. |
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Cornerstone VNA Welcomes New Board Members |
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A Letter From a Patient's Family |
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Join Our Award-Winning Team |
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You could be the perfect fit as an RN, LNA or in home care provider! Explore opportunities to make a positive difference as a member of our team. |
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Donations to Cornerstone VNA help us continue providing access to care for those in need and further support innovate programs and services for people of all ages from birth through end of life. Make a gift today to support our programs and services, or contact our Advancement Department at 603-332-1133 x1203 to learn more. |
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Home Care. Hospice Care. Palliative Care. Life Care - Private Duty. Community Care. |
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Cornerstone VNA | Website | 800-691-1133
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