December 2023 Newsletter

 "It's the most wonderful time of the year."

A Word from Our CEO:

Krystin Albert; RN, BSN

The holiday season is upon us, and the new year is still on the horizon. It is all too easy to miss out on the joy of the holiday season as we get caught up in the struggles of our time, in the day-to-day of our work, and fears for the future. Now is the time to slow down, appreciate the little things, be fully present with loved ones, and spread grace and joy throughout our community.

At Franklin VNA & Hospice, we consider ourselves one big family. And, to me, our community is family as well. I would like to thank everyone throughout the Lakes Region for trusting us with your medical care this past year. Whether it was helping you through a surgery, educating you or a loved one on a new medical diagnosis, caring for individuals in their golden years, being there for you and your loved ones during the Hospice process, or anything else in between, it is always our pleasure to help you and your family.

As I reflect back on 2023, I want to take a moment to appreciate how far as a community we have come. Throughout the year, I’ve continued to see our Franklin VNA & Hospice Family and our community come together and help out however they could. Your acts of hope, strength, optimism, positivity, kindness, and unfaltering perseverance have left me truly in awe and grateful for each and every one of you.

Further, I would like to express my gratitude to all of our staff members for their tireless work. I cannot thank everyone enough for all of their hard work, patience, and unwavering commitment to our patients this past year. Their gracious contributions to our community have not gone unnoticed. I am blessed to associate with each of them—a team who is compassionate, works hard, and respects those around them.

I would also like to take a moment to offer my condolences to those who have lost loved ones during this past year. Losing a loved one is never easy. If you can, take a moment to remember your family members and friends who are going through the holiday season without the loved ones they lost this year. I would encourage you to send them a message and let them know they are in your thoughts and prayers. 

Lastly, know that you have the right to choose your Home Health and Hospice agency. I urge you to do your research and choose the agency that is right for you. Franklin VNA & Hospice remains a small independent agency who believes in quality and compassionate care for all patients. Choose local…choose Franklin VNA & Hospice.

Thank you to all the staff at Franklin VNA & Hospice for continuing the Mission of excellent and compassionate care to our communities and all the patients we serve. 

Franklin VNA & Hospice is your choice for excellence in Homecare and Hospice. Choose local. Choose Excellence. Choose Franklin VNA & Hospice as YOUR agency.  

Celebrating Universal Human Rights Month

We have seen our share of cruelty and hate. We can do better. That’s why the world is observing Universal Human Rights Month during December. This month is a reminder that the United Nations General Assembly codified the basic human rights of every person. It’s also a time to reflect on the way we treat others, and to do what we can in the fight for equality, especially in a time when topics such as systemic racism are widely being addressed.

HOW TO OBSERVE UNIVERSAL HUMAN RIGHTS MONTH

Reread the Bill of Rights.

• Research what these freedoms mean to you. This time of understanding also honors the work of those who brought them into existence.

Do Some Volunteering.

• Organizations such as Amnesty International (a charity that works to support and spread awareness of human rights) are always looking for volunteers. Do your part to help protect others.

Give Back to Your Community.

• Help those who are hurting in your own community. After all, to start changing the world, sometimes you just need to start locally.

WHY UNIVERSAL HUMAN RIGHTS MONTH IS IMPORTANT

It Allows Us to Reflect.

• Human Rights Month is a powerful holiday, as it allows us to look back on the ways we’ve treated our fellow human beings.

It Reminds Us of Our Ideals.

• These include individual freedoms which we must fight to protect.

It Empowers Us.

• The principles in the Declaration of Independence are still relevant today. This fact should empower each of us to stand up for ourselves, our own rights, and for the rights of others.

Seasonal Affective Disorder Awareness Month

December is seasonal affective disorder awareness month, also known as seasonal depression. It is a mental health challenge that is active with the change of season, most commonly in late fall or early winter. It can cause many mood disorder symptoms during this period. How is best to limit the impact?  

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) typically comes in two forms: a mild version referred to as the ‘winter blues,’ and a more invasive variant that’s SAD – a classification of depression. Unlike the winter blues, which are often brought on by more time isolated indoors and a lack of sunlight, the latter affects a person’s daily life, including how they think, feel and act. The milder version affects most people (10-20 percent of Americans), often seen by a drop in the neurotransmitter’s serotonin level, notable weight gain, and lethargy.  

SAD impacts about 5 percent of the population. Symptoms that often accompany the condition include: 

• Mood changes, feeling depressed most of the day, more days than not.  
• Loss of interest in activities a person previously enjoyed. 
• Having low energy, often experiencing sluggishness. 
• Problems with sleep; circadian rhythm changes altering REM patterns.
• Difficulty concentrating on aspects of work and personal life.
• Experiencing significant changes in appetite or weight.
• Easily becoming agitated.
• Expressing feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness; isolating.
• Having frequent thoughts of death or suicide. 

For winter-pattern SAD, additional symptoms can include:



• Oversleeping (hypersomnia)
• Overeating, particularly with a craving for carbohydrates, leading to weight gain
• Social withdrawal (feeling like “hibernating”)

For summer-pattern SAD, additional symptoms can include:

• Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
• Poor appetite, leading to weight loss
• Restlessness and agitation
• Anxiety
• Violent or aggressive behavior

Winter-pattern SAD should not be confused with “holiday blues”—feelings of sadness or anxiety brought on by stresses at certain times of the year. The depression associated with SAD is related to changes in daylight hours, not the calendar, so stresses associated with the holidays or predictable seasonal changes in work or school schedules, family visits, and so forth are not the same as SAD.

How is SAD Diagnosed?

If you or someone you know is showing symptoms of SAD, talk to a health care provider or a mental health specialist about your concerns. They may have you fill out a questionnaire to determine if your symptoms meet the criteria for SAD.

To be diagnosed with SAD, a person must meet the following criteria:

• They have the symptoms of depression or the more specific symptoms of winter- or summer-pattern SAD listed above.
• Their depressive episodes occur during specific seasons (winter or summer) for at least 2 consecutive years. However, not all people with SAD experience symptoms every year.
• Their depressive episodes during the specific season are more frequent than depressive episodes experienced at other times of the year.

For more information, visit: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/seasonal-affective-disorder

Danger of Falls

Icy walk ways, throw rugs, the smallest imbalance while walking, stairs, slopes, and health conditions can all cause falls. Sometimes a fall results in no injury, except maybe to our pride, but other times can result in a break, bruise, sprain or worse! The statistics are dire: an older adult falls literally every second, one in five falls results in a serious injury. Also scary, three older adult die every hour from a fall and those numbers are expected to rise to seven an hour by 2030 according to the CDC. 

Even fear of falls is damaging as it causes people to reduce their activities and can increase isolation. 

The good news is that falls can be reduced or prevented in a few easy ways. Fall prevention screenings are a routine part of our assessment for any patient receiving services from Franklin VNA. Physical or Occupational therapy check for things like strength and balance and then match people with fall prevention devices like grab bars, railings, shower seats or other devices that will benefit them.

A talk with your primary care provider about your fall risk can determine if those therapies will help. Others may have dizziness caused by medications, vision changes or even osteoporosis, which can all increase your fall risk. 

Maintaining your strength and balance is also key. There are a variety of ways to do this, including many low impact forms of physical activity that even those with existing mobility issues can take part in. 

So this year, sand the walk ways, de-clutter by getting rid of those pesky throw rugs, and talk with your healthcare provider about ways to further reduce your fall risk. 

Update Your Emergency Kit

Emergency kits are a bit like our wardrobe. They should change with the season, and although you may not replace everything in them each season, or each year, you should give them a good looking over as the seasons change to see if something needs to be replaced, swapped out, or upgraded. Since we are entering that finest of seasons, Winter, it’s a good time to check your kit or build one if you haven’t had the chance to yet. 

Below are some practical tips to follow in order to get your Emergency Kit updated and ready for this incoming winter season.

Franklin VNA & Hospice Annual Tree of Remembrance

Deadline to purchase ornaments is December 10th

December Calendar of Events

• Jillian Aucoin: December 2nd (Celebrating 9 years!)
• Maddie Trefethen: December 7th (Celebrating 1 year!)
• Toni Fitzmorris: December 15th (Celebrating 3 years!)

Join our Team!

*Occupational Therapist (per diem)

*RN Case Manager - $5000 Sign-On Bonus

*Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

*Speech Therapist

*Homemaker

*Full-Time LNA - $1500 Sign-On Bonus

*Physical Therapist - $5000 Sign-On Bonus



 https://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/All/6aebb69c-2770-4ff4-86d8-b1d874ebd931/Visiting-Nurse-Association-of-Franklin