However, before I make any of those resolutions I took time to reflect on my experiences providing care in the greatest city on earth and here’s what I came up with.

The Value of Home Care

Having choices is good. Having choices when it comes to caring for the older adults in our lives is invaluable. Everyday I witness how home health care improves the quality of life of the elderly and can be an alternative to living in a nursing home.

Finding the Right Words

As I have shared previously I’ve been working to improve my Mandarin which is one of the most widely spoken Chinese dialects. My wife recently pointed out that the majority of my improvement has not been through the online language program I use but is a result of my everyday interactions with the Chinese speaking seniors I work with.

Stepping into the Community

Several times this year I spent time with various local community groups to talk about topics ranging from the benefits of exercise to falls prevention. I quickly realized many of the older adults in the audience actually had prior knowledge of the topics I had come to speak about and the fruit of our time together was our discussion on how to put the discussed principles into daily practice.

Now it’s your turn, drop a comment and let us know what were some of your highlights in the past year.

Photo courtesy of Salvatore Vuono

Our contest details:

Laughter really can be the best medicine! Enter VNSNY’s First-Ever Ugly Holiday Sweater Contest to spread some seasonal smiles and qualify for a chance to win.

Post your holiday sweater photo on Facebook or email it to contest@vnsny.org through December 26, 2011 (extended to January 1, 201).

Winner Selection: One winner will be chosen by the VNSNY Team to receive a $100 American Express Gift Card. Winners will be announced on Facebook on January 3, 2012.

*Visiting Nurse Service of New York reserves the right to remove any images it deems inappropriate. These entries will not be valid for consideration.

To keep our future healthy and thriving, we need to do more to protect and ensure a healthy and safe entry into this world we all share. In the Maternal Newborn and Pediatric Program at VNSNY, we work everyday with these tiny citizens. Everyday we see young mothers with no access to prenatal care, unhealthy lifestyles, and diets that impact their unborn children for the rest of their babies’ lives. In a country of dwindling resources, it seems the children’s programs and preventive care seems to be hit particular hard. So when you vote on the 8th of November, please remember these small citizens. They need to be protected and heard.

If you are not familiar with Pat Summit, she is widely considered the most successful college basketball coach of all time. Her recognition is well deserved after coaching Tennessee University’s women’s basketball team to a record eight national championships and more than 1,000 wins.

Sally Jenkins of the Washington Post writes:

“Denial was followed by anger. For the first few weeks, Summitt would barely even discuss the subject. She told her doctors, ‘You don’t know me. You don’t know what I’m capable of.’ Finally, Summitt realized she would have to accept the diagnosis. ‘I can’t change it,’ she says. After a pause, she adds, ‘But I can try to do something about it.’”

Summit has made it clear that she will continue to coach despite being diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s. I believe Summit’s desire to continue leading her team outshines all her previous accomplishments since she is now one of the public faces of a disease that affects millions of Americans.

Dementia is a progressive disease that causes a loss of brain function, which can result in memory loss and problems with concentration and decision-making. Alzheimer’s Disease is believed to be the most common form of dementia.

Over the years, a number of my seniors who have been diagnosed with dementia have been able to lead productive lives. What is their secret? All of them have had a good support network, which included a combination of caregivers and medical staff. In my next post I’ll lay out a few helpful ways to build a support network after a Alzheimer’s diagnosis.

Are you or someone you know living with Alzheimer’s or a form of dementia? If so, I urge you to take a look at our resource page, Living With Alzheimer’s Disease, which provides helpful tips for managing the disease.

Have a peaceful week.

Losing Independence

For many the very thought of using a cane signals the end of independence altogether. While I spend a good deal of my time trying to convince my clients it’s not, I do understand the feeling.

I’ve always had 20/20 vision and somehow expected I always would. When I look back I realize this expectation was a bit unrealistic, but I never imagined myself in glasses.

The day when my eye doctor told I had to start wearing prescription glasses for driving my immediate thoughts: is the diagnosis correct? I must have had a bad day. Can I retake the eye exam?

Honestly I was in no position to argue against a series of standardized eye exams, especially since street signs were starting to get blurry. The writing was on the wall: I needed to wear the glasses before I hurt myself or someone else on the road.

I felt closer understanding what it was like for my clients.

Gaining independence

There are others who view the cane as the road back to independence. The use of a cane or other assistive devices allows them to get back to living. Here are some observations I have made of the elderly with this perspective:

• They are active within their communities. Some activities may include participation at a local senior center or volunteering. For more examples and stories of the benefits check out Debbie Stricoff’s posts
• They have a network of friends who are of a similar age and who face some of the same challenges associated with aging
• They have seen their peers benefit from using different assistive devices
• They have a support network of caregivers, family and friends who help guide them through different changes in life

In your experience what are some of helpful ways that allow people to embrace change?

Photo by Zironicusso

September Eleventh Two Thousand and One.

My life is clearly delineated into two parts separated by that clear, crisp beautiful Tuesday morning in September. I drove into the Brooklyn VNSNY office from my home in Queens listening to Howard Stern (yes, I like Howard Stern) on the radio as per my usual routine. He announced that a plane had just hit the World Trade Center. I was parking my car and said to myself “how could that happen, what a horrible accident.” As I walked into the office, it became increasingly clear that it was not an accident. I don’t need to recount the details of the day as you all know them. Volunteers were sought to go triage victims of the attack and so I went along with many of my colleagues. I wore my VNSNY issued navy blue sweater so I could be easily identified among the throngs of people, police and firefighters milling about in what seemed to be a fugue. I wound up at Stuyvesant High School across the street from the World Trade Center where we prepared and waited for victims. Mostly what I did that day was wash the eyes out of the firefighters in order to send them back out for what would become months of searching and removing debris from Ground Zero.

What I saw in those brave men when I looked into their eyes was the most profound, childlike sadness and fear I had ever seen and have not seen since. They were desperate and determined along with the police officers and many, many other heroic rescue workers to find and help their fellow citizens and fallen comrades. Late that night I left the triage site and walked alone up the West Side Highway to a friend’s house on 24^th Street. I left a piece of my soul, many, many prayers, and my VNSNY navy blue sweater there.

Here I sit reflective almost ten years later. I have since lost over 140lbs, finished my baccalaureate degree, met my future husband Robbie, started pursuing my masters degree in public health, got married, left VNSNY, had my precious daughter Madeline Grace, bought a house, and proudly returned to VNSNY and now once again I am working in the great city of Brooklyn.

I ask my self how has the experience of that day as a VNSNY employee changed me?

I remember and pray for those lost and their families’ everyday.

I have infinite gratitude that is beyond the use of words that I have life and the ability to profoundly appreciate it.

I strive to feel more of the love in the world and give more love everyday.

I know this can come off as hokey and trying to wrap up a tragic event into a “feel good” message, but the absolute truth is that I am forever changed…

and I have never replaced that navy blue sweater…

Peace,                                                                                                                                         Lisa HS 8.1.11

Dedicated to Louis Modafferi Battalion Chief, his family and all of his brothers at Rescue 5.

The day kicks off with casino style games like roulette, black jack and slots (and prizes like toiletries and picture frames that they can use at home). For lunch, we’re catering a “boardwalk style” lunch including pretzels, corn dogs and ice cream sundaes. In the afternoon, we arranged special Las Vegas style entertainment by Gary Gotta Gotta Lovett! We can’t wait to make new memories with our seniors!

Heart Disease, Cancer, and unintentional injuries are the leading causes of death among men in the U.S. according to the CDC website.

19% of men under the age of 65 do not have medical insurance.

33% of men 20 years of age and older are considered obese.

31% of men 20 years of age and older have hypertension.

12% of men 18 years of age and over are in fair or poor health.

(Data retrieved from CDC Website.)

It makes sense to talk about healthy activities that inspire change in some of these trends during Men’s Health Month.

I asked some of my male colleagues what they do to stay healthy:

• Yousef said, “I find that staying physically active boosts my mental health. After working out or playing sports, I’m in an overall better mood and tend to be more relaxed.” He adds, “I believe a healthy man has some sort of release to attribute to a portion of his good health: sports, work, intimacy, hobbies…the more you have, the better you are.”

• Alex said, “I take few vitamin supplements and I started going to the gym at least three times per week. I also get together with my friends at least 2-3 times per week to clear my head and for the laughs.”

• Carlos shared a cute story about his son who forgot to wash his hands after coming in contact with poison ivy. “Then he went to the bathroom,” Carlos said. “Hand washing is real important to him and to me now!”

No matter if it’s something as simple as hand washing (one of the most effective ways to decrease infection) or as disciplined as a regular exercise regimen, there are endless activities one can do to achieve better health.

Make an appointment for a general physical if you haven’t seen your doctor in a while. (If  you don’t have insurance, seek out free or community clinics. Know your options.) Learn to meditate to decrease stress. Take a walk a couple of times per week. Be social. Laugh with your friends. Just do it! Be healthy!

It was enlightening to hear from colleagues about their thoughts on health, especially since most of our conversations revolve mostly around work processes and tech-related themes. (Thank you, Carlos, Alex and Yousef!)

As the month of June continues please consider talking to your male friends, colleagues and family members about the importance of healthy choices. Ask them what they do to stay healthy. Encourage them, support them, join them.

Visit the Men’s Health Month for general information.

Check out the CDC website  for more info on Men’s Health.

What will you do to celebrate Men’s Health Month? What actions are you taking to improve your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health?

This topic fascinates me. I have advised friends and colleagues on this subject, but in the case of Prince William, when every person on the planet feels a connection to your mother, how do you do it with honor, respect, and most importantly, in a way that has meaning for you?

So I did a little research, and I am pleased to report that there were several ways that Diana was being remembered. This list can be modified to assist commoners in their planning, but if you have access to a 1902 State Landau open-top carriage, go for it.

William gave his mother’s engagement ring to his beloved. I applaud William’s lack of superstition and his desire to have his mom’s memory be a day-to-day presence in their lives.

William’s aunt, Diana’s big sis, planned to wear the same earrings Diana wore at her own wedding. According to Time magazine, these baubles were pear shaped diamonds surrounded by 50 smaller diamonds. They were flown in for the occasion because they are part of the traveling exhibition “Diana: A Celebration” currently on display at Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri.

The newlyweds, as mentioned, left Westminster Abbey in the same carriage that Princess Diana and Prince Charles used as their slow-moving get-away vehicle.

These are physical reminders of Diana, but what about elements that reflect her inner-life, her charitable heart and kind soul? Guests from the charities she valued were invited, close friends like Elton John attended, and what I find most poignant, is that the reverend who christened William and presided over Diana’s funeral gave the wedding address.

Music from Diana and Charles’ wedding was played, as was a hymn that was played at Diana’s funeral. An article from Agence France-Press informs us that it is a Welsh national hymn and is often sung at rugby internationals.

When I got married, my mother had already been dead seven years. We used a ring of hers as my engagement ring, because like William, I wanted my mother to be part of the experience. Our wedding ceremony lasted just over four minutes, so there was no music or prayer or time to really talk about Charlotte. Yet, she was present in the most unbelievable way.

My parents had been divorced when I was very young, and my dad remarried in 1972, so they had not been a part of each other’s lives other than a phone call now and then, for decades. It was not an amicable dissolution, but it must have been the right thing because my dad and step-mom have been happily married nearly 40 years. The morning of my nuptials, when my dad picked me up after getting my bridal up-do, I noticed he was wearing cufflinks. In all of my 28 years I had never known Dad to wear French cuffs, but here they were. I said, “Nice cufflinks.” He responded after a minute, “Your mother gave them to me.” I was kind of speechless. He kept something my mother gave him? He wore them today for me? We drove home in silence the rest of the way, with me a little calmer than before.

Photo by Julio (Flickr: DSC_0141) [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

We all rely heavily on our sense of hearing to get us through the day. Why, then, do so many adults and children walk around with headphones on all the time? Not only are they missing out on the tweets of the birds and the buzz of the bees, but they’re also exposing their ears to continuous noise. (Go ahead and call it music, but our ears need a break from even that, too!) The problem with exposing your ears to continuous noise is: it can lead to hearing loss. Perhaps this is why occupational and recreational damage to ears is on the rise

So, this May, celebrate Speech and Hearing Month by protecting your ears! Avoid loud noises and turn down the volume on your headphones.

Silence is golden, but being able to hear is truly divine!