Letter from the CEO

Krystin Albert; RN, BSN

This month we celebrate our Medical Social Workers and everything they do for us, both in the field and in our communities. Our medical social workers are compassionate and dedicated individuals that work hard to support not only our patients and their families in their homes, but they also provides education to those in our surrounding communities.

In patients’ homes our social workers help with an abundance of things, such as navigation of the social, financial, and emotional challenges of managing illness at home, setting up community resources, helping to complete advanced directives, and are great advocators for our patients. In the community they host educational sessions to help with filling out advanced directives and making your final wishes known no matter what your age. They host both drop in and scheduled grief groups at our office as a safe space to express and work through grief after losing a loved one. They also help train and manage our volunteers that provide hospice patients and their families with assistance and respite.

Each one of our social workers work hard to make sure patients and their caregivers are set up for success and feel fully supported through whatever their current situation is. We appreciate all that they do and we hope you will celebrate them with us this month. Thank you Sherry, Emerson, and Sally for your ongoing dedication to our agency, patients, and communities. 

Franklin VNA and Hospice is always here to help you and your loved ones with any of your healthcare needs. Remember that you have a choice, choose

Franklin VNA and Hospice for your

Home Care and Hospice agency

Germ of the Month

Avian Influenza ( Bird Flu)

Kristel Mattice; RN, MSN

Bird flu is caused by avian influenza A virus that spreads among birds. It typically does not infect humans, however avian influenza A(H5) is spreading worldwide. Causing outbreaks in the United States poultry and dairy farms that have caused rare human infections. Infected birds spread the virus through mucous, saliva, or feces.

Human illness symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, fatigue, although in severe cases seizure, altered mental status, or death can occur.

Exposure to infected sick or dead animals is the highest risk factor for contracting bird flu. Eating undercooked poultry, eggs, or unpasteurized milk from infected animals is also a risk for exposure to the virus.

Those who are the most at risk for contracting the virus are those who work with livestock (poultry or dairy farms), veterinary staff, food processing staff who handle potentially contaminated materials, hunters, and zoo workers.

Treatment includes the use of an antiviral medication such as oseltamivir. 

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/about/index.html  

What's Happening in March?

What to Know about the kidneys

The Kidneys are an important organ in the human body. Most people are born with two located just below your rib cage on each side of your body. The Kidney’s main function is to filter waste from the blood and return the blood back to the body filtering about a half of a cup of blood per minute. Each kidney has about one million tiny units called nephrons. Each nephron is made up of a very small filter, called a glomerulus, which is attached to a tubule. As blood passes through the nephron, fluid and waste products are filtered out. Much of the fluid is then returned to the blood, while the waste products are concentrated in any extra fluid as urine which goes into your bladder.

Other Functions of the kidney

The kidney also helps to control blood pressure, red blood cell production and calcium uptake into the intestine, maintain body fluid at the correct levels for the body to function, and controlling body chemistry by regulating the amount of salt, water and other chemicals moving around the body. Without this balance, your body will not function normally.

You also cannot live without at least 1 kidney. Those who are in kidney failure usually go through dialysis in order to filter the waste from their body. Without dialysis, and then a kidney transfer, patients who are in kidney failure do not survive as their body has no other way to filter waste out of the body.

Well-functioning kidneys are essential to your overall health. Early detection of kidney disease can be life-saving. Medication and changes to lifestyle, along with an early referral to a kidney specialist, known as a nephrologist, can prevent or delay kidney failure.

According to the National Kidney Foundation

Ten Signs of Kidney Disease

1.      Less energy or trouble concentrating

2.      Trouble sleeping

3.      Dry and itchy skin

4.      Urinating more frequently

5.      Blood in the urine

6.      Foamy urine

7.      Persistent Puffiness around eyes

8.      Swollen ankles and feet

9.      Poor appetite

10.  Muscle cramping

Tips for Healthy Food Choices

·         Cook with a mix of spices instead of salt.

·        Choose veggie toppings such as spinach, and broccoli.

·        Try baking or broiling meat, chicken, and fish instead of frying.

·        Serve foods without gravy or added fats.

·        Try to choose foods with little or no added sugar.

·       Drink and cook with fat-free (skim) or low-fat milk.

·        Eat foods made from whole grains—such as whole wheat.

·        Read food labels. Choose foods low in saturated and trans fats.

·        Try keeping a written record of what you eat for a week. It can help you avoid overeating foods high in fat or calories.

Lifestyle Choices

Keep active, aim for a healthy weight, get enough sleep, stop smoking, limit alcohol intake, reduce stress, manage diabetes, manage high blood pressure, and heart disease.

If you have diabetes or high blood pressure, you are at higher risk for kidney disease. Other kidney problems also include acute kidney injury, kidney cysts, kidney stones, and kidney infections which can be treated. Any concerns should be discussed with your doctor. If you need to write down questions ahead of time to remember, then do that.

Remember to advocate for yourself. Your Kidneys are depending on you!

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/kidneys

https://www.kidney.org/news-stories/10-signs-you-may-have-kidney-disease

National Poison Prevention Week was established by Congress in 1961 with the aim of creating awareness and lowering the number of unintentional poisonings. National Poison Prevention Week has contributed to an 80 percent reduction in poison-related deaths since the early 1970s.

Since Spring cleaning and National Poison Prevention Week fall in the same week, this is the perfect time to deep clean the rooms in your home, get rid of old and outdated products, and open windows when using strong chemicals to allow fresh air into the house.

Make sure to lock away cleaning supplies and medications so that they cannot get a hold of them.

Did you know poisons pose a threat of widespread danger? On average 30 children die every year by being poisoned by common household items, according the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The Commission also reported that accidental poisoning accounts for more than 2 million calls each year to poison control centers and more than 80,000 visits to the emergency room.

This time of year, it is especially important to have furnaces checked for leaks. Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that has no color or smell. Cars, appliances, furnaces, and other household items can emit carbon monoxide. You won’t know you are being poisoned and it can be deadly. Consider getting a carbon dioxide monitor if you don't already have one!

What Causes Poisonings

·        Iron pills and pain medicines are among common fatal poisonings.

·        Cleaning products

·        Plants

·        Cosmetics

·        Pesticides

·        Paints and solvents

·        Carbon monoxide

·        Lead

4 Ways Poisons Can Enter the Body

·        Skin contact

·        Inhaling

·        Injecting- stings/bites

·        Ingestion

Although serious reactions can happen in all cases of poisoning, most people are not permanently harmed if they are treated right away. Please call poison control if you fear you or a loved one have ben posoned or if you have any question

Northern New England Poison Center Number is 1-800-222-1222.

Visit their website for more information at: https://www.nnepc.org/

https://nationaltoday.com/national-poison-prevention-week/

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/poison

World Tuberculosis (TB) Day is a day celebrated to recognize the discovery of TB and to spread awareness. The United States has worked hard to turn the tables on TB as it was the leading cause of death at the turn of the 20^th century, but through prevention, advances in treatment and research, it is now considered largely controlled in the US despite still being the leading cause of death worldwide.

TB mainly affects the lungs, but can also affect the brain, kidney, lymph nodes, and, spine. There is also inactive, and active TB, meaning not everyone gets sick, but anyone with inactive TB should still be treated to prevent active TB.

TB is a curable and treatable disease however, if not treated properly TB can lead to death. It is important when getting treatment for TB that the entire course of treatment is completed to prevent resistance to medications which can cause multi-drug resistant tuberculosis, which is much harder to treat and cure.

Tuberculosis is spread through the air when a person with active TB coughs, speaks, or sings, especially in places with poor air circulation. People with inactive TB cannot spread TB to others, but those with active TB can spread it especially to those they spend time with everyday.

Common symptoms of active TB are a cough that lasts 3 weeks or longer, chest pain, coughing up blood or sputum, weakness and fatigue, weight loss, loss of appetite, chills, fevers, and night sweats. Testing for TB can be by a blood test or a skin test. Contact your doctor today if you suspect you or a loved one might have tuberculosis, or visit, the CDC website for more information.

https://www.cdc.gov/tb/about/index.html

https://www.lung.org/blog/world-tuberculosis-day-five-things

Irish Beef Stew



Ingredients

• 2 ¼ pounds boneless chuck roast, trimmed and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground pepper
• 2 tablespoons canola oil, divided
• 1 small yellow onion, chopped
• 3 medium carrots, diagonally sliced into 1-inch pieces
• 3 stalks celery, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 (12 fluid ounce) bottle stout beer (such as Guinness)
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
• 4 cups low-sodium beef broth
• 1 ½ pounds baby Yukon Gold potatoes, halved
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons cold water
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, plus more for garnish

Directions

1.  Sprinkle beef all over with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add half of the beef to the pan and cook, turning to brown on 2 or 3 sides, for about 3 minutes per side. Transfer the browned beef to a bowl and repeat the process with the remaining beef and 1 tablespoon oil. Remove beef from the pan and put in a bowl to be used later.

2.  Add onion, carrots, and celery to the drippings in the pot and cook, stirring often, until the vegetables begin to soften after about 4 minutes. Add tomato paste to the pan, stirring constantly for 1 minute. Add the beer and thyme to the pan, scraping the bottom of the pot to release any browned bits, until the liquid is slightly reduced, which takes about 2 minutes.

Add broth and the beef (with any accumulated juices in the bowl) and bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the mixture and cook until the beef is mostly tender, about 1 hour, 10 minutes. Stir in potatoes, cover and cook until the beef and potatoes are tender, which takes roughly 15 to 20 minutes.

3. Whisk cornstarch and cold water in a small bowl. Increase heat to high; add the cornstarch mixture to the pan to cook, stirring constantly, until thickened. This will take about 2 minutes. Remove the pan from heat and stir in parsley. If desired, garnish with additional parsley.

https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/278003/irish-beef-stew/

Employee Recognition

Current Fundraisers

With a donation of $50 you receive a custom brick in the memory of a lost loved one. The brick will be honored in the Teuscher-Wilson Hospice Garden, which is pictured at the top left. Bricks are on sale all year round and dedicated in a ceremony once a year.

 Other opportunities are open for larger donations as Diamond, Opal, and Amethyst sponsors. Please click on the link below for more information.

Clinics and Free Support Groups

Our Drop-In Grief Support Group

no registration needed

Employment Opportunities