WELLNESS BULLETIN

Winter 2023

Welcome to the holiday season! While the Thanksgiving holiday is behind us, we have even more for which to be thankful. With gratitude and in service to others, we can find healing of self.

At Semper Fi & America's Fund, we recognize and appreciate our veteran community and their families for all they have given. We love giving back and look forward to all this season's opportunities: to reflect on the past year, appreciate our accomplishments, and set future goals for the New Year.

If there is anything we can do to assist you, please don't hesitate to contact your case manager, visiting nurse, or veteran lead, or if you've misplaced their number, please contact us at 760-725-3680 or online at thefund.org.

Inside This Issue:

Program Highlight: SF&AF Case Manager
Self-Care Highlight: Budgeting and Financial Wellness
Your Support Team: Veterans Crisis Line
Coming Up This Season
Kids Health Highlight and Kids Corner
Announcements: Cold and Flu Season
Additional Resources, and more!

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PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT

The Fund Case Managers

The Fund's Case Management team provides a collaborative approach with combat-wounded, critically ill, or injured service members, veterans and military families. The goal is to help veterans develop skills for independence and the highest state of well-being.

CM's areas of interest include:

Complex healthcare and support systems
Medical and mental health needs
Substance abuse
Employment
Housing
Education
Finances

CMs use an interactive approach for each veteran. CMs can refer them and families to several different programs, including but not limited to:

Reach out to your Case Manager with any questions!

SELF-CARE HIGHLIGHT

Budgeting and Financial Wellness

A budget is your monthly spending plan. And while budgeting every day can be overwhelming, it's even more stressful during the costly holiday season. But it’s critical to address those seasonal stresses, from food to gifts. Here are six steps for making a budget.

Calculate your net income. The take-home pay you make after taxes and all deductions.
Track your spending. Start with your fixed expenses: monthly bills like rent, mortgage, or car payments. Next, list variable expenses: items that change monthly such as gas or groceries.
Set realistic goals. List short (1-3 years) and long-term (decades) financial goals.
Make a plan. This is where you see what you are spending vs. what you want to spend.
Adjust your spending to stay on budget. Make necessary adjustments to spend your money wisely and have more to put toward your goals. Example: Could you watch a movie at home instead of at a theater?
Review your budget regularly. Check your spending to ensure you are on track!

The Fund's case managers and veteran leads are excellent resources on budgeting, and we have budgeting classes. Don't hesitate to contact your case manager for further information.

YOUR SUPPORT TEAM

Veterans Crisis Line

Do wintry weather and shorter days get you down? You are not alone! Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a common type of depression during the fall and winter.

Less daylight triggers a chemical change in the brain. Luckily, research shows that light therapy, counseling, and antidepressants can help with symptoms.

These symptoms usually appear and disappear at the same time every year. Contact your healthcare team for evaluation if you feel any of them.

Things that can help:

Being around others and confiding in someone
Getting regular exercise
Eating well-balanced meals
Avoiding drugs and alcohol

Feeling better will take time, but even a small step in the right direction is progress.

Some of the most common SAD symptoms are:

Increased sleepiness and daytime drowsiness
Irritability and anxiety
Lost interest/pleasure in activities
Trouble thinking clearly
Decreased sex drive
Increased appetite
Feelings of guilt/hopelessness
Weight gain
Headaches
Social withdrawal and increased rejection sensitivity

Find out more about our Integrative Wellness Program.

The Veterans Crisis Line is a free resource for veterans, service members, National Guard and reserve members, and those who support them. This 24/7, 365-day-a-year service is free, confidential and connects you with a real person. You don’t even have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to call.

Just dial 988 and press 1 or text 838255 to get help!

COMING UP THIS SEASON

The Match is on!

Now through Dec. 31, The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation and PXG will match every donation made to The Fund up to $10 Million! Please encourage others to donate now!

January is National Blood Donor Month

National Blood Donor Month has been observed in the month of January since 1970. The goal is to increase blood and platelet donations during winter – one of the most challenging times of year to collect enough blood products to meet the patient’s needs.

There are several places to donate. Click on the images below to find a location near you.

KIDS HEALTH HIGHLIGHT

Handwashing

Winter months may include more illnesses, such as colds, flu, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), and pneumonia. Handwashing is one of the single most important steps in preventing the spread of germs.

When should you wash your hands?

To stop the spread of germs, make regular hand washing a rule for everyone. It is especially important:

Before eating and cooking
After using the bathroom
After cleaning around the house
After touching animals, including family pets
Before and after visiting or caring for sick friends or relatives
After blowing one's nose, coughing, or sneezing
After being outside (playing, gardening, walking the dog, etc.)

KIDS CORNER

Making memories and breaking up a typical at-home routine can be fun!

Here are some ideas for activities to do at home this winter.

Click each image for more information and directions.

ANNOUCEMENTS

Cold and Flu Season

The upcoming months are flu and cold season! The Visiting Nurse team would like to remind you that the VA provides free flu vaccines. You may also be eligible for a free vaccine in the community. Please see this fact sheet for more information.