One of our participants has had a very ill daughter for many years. Over the years, her daughter has visited us at the center, enjoyed our entertainment, and always admired the jewelry that her mother made here. Our participant loves jewelry making and has made many necklaces for her daughter. It’s been so therapeutic for her to get involved in these art projects during these difficult years, and it was especially important to her to be able to give her daughter these gifts.

Sadly last week, her daughter passed away. She…

Today much research is being done on infant development and sleep positions. Why? Because it is very important for infant safety that the “Back to Sleep” position be utilized as it has proven to decrease the number of deaths from Sudden Infant Deaths (SIDS). In terms of “tummy time” and infant development, much has been determined since the Back to Sleep Campaign started in 1994. First, the number of head deformities are on the rise. Our infants need tummy time to develop muscle control in their head and neck as…

What I question is my ability to provide support to my husband, John, as he struggles with father’s illness from 1,000 miles away. I would know what to do if I were with his father, Bob. I don’t…

As the heat of summer continues many children and adults take to our many beaches, pools and rivers to swim. There is nothing more refreshing than a dip in calm water to cool off. But the waters surrounding NYC are not calm. Drowning has been the second highest cause of death in children from the year 2000 to 2006. Many of these deaths are in children who can swim. Nothing is more frightening than to be caught in a riptide on one of our beaches or a current in a…

When you hear bingo, what do you think? Do you think of seniors just sitting around? At our center, bingo provides a wealth of therapeutic opportunities to stimulate the mind and body.

We play regular bingo, musical bingo, around-the-house bingo and bingo with personalized questions and answers for special occasions. In our frail program, our higher functioning seniors play multiple cards and you can see their brains working to find the numbers and manage all their cards! Playing bingo utilizes eye-hand coordination and fine motor skills, as well as stimulates cognitive…

A frequent type of call I receive in the Customer Care Center at VNSNY relates to patients who have fallen in their homes. I am reminded of the seriousness of such a call as soon as I open my telehealth triage guidelines as listed below:

At least one-third of patients over the age of 65 years and one-half of those over 85 years fall each year. Falls in the geriatric population are associated with significant potential morbidity and occasional mortality. Non-intentional injury is the seventh* leading cause of death in people over 65 years in…

I remember when I was a little girl, my grandfather would sometimes say to me, “Oh, getting older is so hard. All the aches and pains…” According to him, entering one’s “golden years” was not something to look forward to. However, I did understand why he would say that to me — he had rheumatoid arthritis which crippled his knees, thus impairing his mobility. Although I didn’t realize it at the time, he was in chronic pain. I never saw him take any pills, but he would constantly use Bengay, and sometimes I…

Photo by healingdream at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

We can all agree that routine walking is a great form of exercise especially for the elderly. However improper fitting or uncomfortable shoes can not only lead to foot problems but can cause pain or injury to the knee and the back.

Before you head to your local shoe store take a look at some of the helpful guidelines I found from the online AARP article “When Comfort Counts: Choosing a Walking Shoe”.

• Buy the right size. Don’t choose shoes by the size marked inside. Go by how they…

As the temperature keeps rising and the sun seems hotter than ever, many are retreating to the shade. Smart move as protecting your skin from the damage of the sun starts at a very young age and continues through adulthood. Here are some pointers to be ’sun safe’ this summer:

• Dress in light clothes (whites, etc.) to keep body temperature cooler.
• Peak sun damaging hours are from 10 AM to 3 PM. Retreat to cooler places during this time.
• Children under the age of one should stay out of the sun, especially during peak sun…

(photo by Ed Yourdon)

Your sister agrees to take over a caregiving shift at your parents’ home upon request. Now you have a Friday evening free which hasn’t happened in a few months, so you decide to meet up with a good friend who hasn’t seen you in over a year due to very busy personal and professional schedules.

You tell your friend to meet you at a favorite restaurant in Manhattan — a French bistro with outdoor garden seating to breathe in some air and feel the cool summer evening breeze. You order a…