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: Charlotte (Regina’s grandniece); Phoenix (Regina’s grandniece) is so glad it’s spring!; Grace (our graphic designer’s daughter) enjoys some social distancing time at a Savannah, Georgia beach.
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FEATURE ARTICLE:
How Stress and Loneliness Can Increase Susceptibility to COVID-19
By
Jeff Fitlow / Rice University
What do stress, loneliness and lack of sleep have in common? They are all factors that can weaken your immune system and make you more susceptible to COVID-19, according to Rice University’s Christopher Fagundes, an associate professor in the department of psychological sciences who studies the link between mental and immune health.
“In my field, we have conducted a lot of work to look at what predicts who gets colds and different forms of respiratory illnesses, and who is more susceptible to getting sick,” Fagundes said. “We’ve found that stress, loneliness and lack of sleep are three factors that can seriously compromise aspects of the immune system that make people more susceptible to viruses if exposed. Also, stress, loneliness and disrupted sleep promote other aspects of the immune system responsible for the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines to over-respond. Elevated pro-inflammatory cytokine production can generate sustained upper respiratory infection symptoms.”And while this previous research has centered on different cold and upper respiratory viruses, he said “there is no doubt” that these effects would be the same for COVID-19
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Photo left to right: Regina’s grandnieces Charlotte and Willa taking a hike; Willa enjoying the sprinkler; Our friend Gloria always looking glamorous!
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THIS CHOIR USES MUSIC THERAPY TO HELP PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA
By Tony Cabrera
A choir in Orange County,California is using music to give people with dementia a dose of music therapy.
OK Chorale meets at Laguna Country United Methodist Church every week and uses music to target everything from mild memory loss to Alzheimer’s in hopes of stimulating the brain and growth of new neuropathways.
“We call it the OK Chorale because our motto is, in here, it’s all OK. You forget the words? It’s OK,” said music therapist and choir director, Karen Skipper.
As seen in the 2014 documentary, “Alive Inside,” music can reach people who are otherwise unreachable.
“If you look at a brain image while someone is engaging in music, particularly music that they like, preferred music, you can see activity all over the brain. Music therapy cannot cure dementia, but what it can do is it can help people to access things that they could not access without the music,” said Skipper.
Kjersti Schmitz comes every once in a while with her mother, and the visits help bring back special memories: “One of the ones we’re singing right now is ‘I love you a bushel and a peck, and when I was a kid, mom used to put me to bed, singing ‘I love you a bushel and a peck’ and so when we sing that, it’s actually really special.”
Skipper hopes that the group maintains cognition because, “until there is a cure, or some kind of scientific breakthrough, that’s a victory right there if you can maintain cognition.”
For the first year, the local Methodist Conference helped fund the program, and now, the church has secured enough funding for it to continue.
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OUR EVERYDAY HEROES
Novia Reid: It seems as though Novia has always been with us, rather than for a mere one year. Her name appears often as in: “Who can we call who will simply ‘parachute’ into this special case and ensure a great outcome for all? Do we have someone who drives, is flexible, mature, professional, and also truly “hands on? Hmmm.“
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SINGING SHOW TUNES PROVEN TO HELP FIGHT OFF DEMENTIA, ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
“Don’t give up on these people.”
by Brandon Voss
A new study finds that singing songs from classic musicals can boost the brain function of people with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, the Guardian reports.
Researchers working with elderly residents at a U.S. care facility found that those who sang their favorite showtunes showed a marked improvement in mental performance compared to other residents who merely listened.
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REGINA'S REFLECTIONS
Opening Up
We Never Closed!
It is hardly with a sense of pride that Connecticut’s citizens realize they hold last place among all 50 states in their leaders’ plans to finally allow businesses to reopen. Exacerbating the situation, the dates for opening, as well as the criteria keep shifting. Far less fortunate were business owners and their employees who sadly saw their companies simply close permanently, after decades of serving their communities. Among the most privileged, however, were those sheltering in place who were actually paid during their time “working at home”.
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AL NIXON HUMOR
IN A TIME OF COVID
Once again, our contributing writer, former client now forever friend, offers up a bit of humor. Like many others, he has been confined to his home, alone, with rare outside ventures. We realize how sad and difficult this tine has been for many.
But for those who manage, support and worry about our clients, our caregivers and their families, there has never been a time when we needed a good laugh.
Once again Al, Thanks for being our friend.
Half of us are going to come out of this quarantine as amazing cooks. The other half will come out with a drinking problem.
I used to spin that toilet paper like I was on Wheel of Fortune. Now I turn it like I’m cracking a safe.
I need to practice social-distancing from the refrigerator.
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MAKING A DIFFERENCE:
Music Therapy Helps Hospice Patients
By: Alex Valverde
LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — From Bluegrass to pop, music connects us. That’s why Bluegrass Care Navigators recently started using music therapy to help its hospice patients.
“Normally, I like to start with the song, ‘Hey Good Lookin’.’ It’s very well known here,” said Maggie Scheppman, who spent Monday morning visiting patients at Saint Joseph Hospital in Lexington.
When Scheppman visits patients, her guitar is right there with her. As a music therapist, she uses songs to help hospice patients, whether it’s with anxiety, agitation, or even pain.
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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: Top: Zoë (Regina’s grandniece) is ready for spring; Bottom: Zoë and Phoenix (Regina’s grandnieces) enjoying the pool with ice pops; Grace and Luke (our graphic designer’s children) go for a hike with Dad; Bottom: Former caregivers daughter Mishelle enjoying the spring weather.
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800.348.0485 ~ We are Always There
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