Bethel Visiting Nurse Association

09/04/2019

2019 Flu Clinic Schedule is Posted!

Our 2019-2020 flu clinic schedule is posted on our web site - www.bethelvna.org

09/04/2019

SEPTEMBER is SEPSIS Awareness Month!

Sepis is the body's overwhelming and life-threatening response to infections, which can lead to tissue damage, organ failure and death.

Every September, healthcare providers, the public and organizations come together to raise awareness of sepsis, the leading cause of death in US hospitals. Sepsis is a public health crisis, taking a life every 2 minutes. 270,000 lives are lost to sepsis every year in the US, more than opioid overdoses, breast cancer and prostate cancer combined.

With Sepsis, like Stroke and Heart Attack, every minute counts!

The key to savings lives is T.I.M.E. For every hour treatment is delayed, the risk of death increases by as much as 8%. T.I.M.E. is a memory aid, developed by the Sepsis Alliance, to help individuals remember the signs and symptoms of sepsis and the urgent need for medical treatment when they are present. T.I.M.E. stands for:

T - TEMPERATURE that's abnormal
I - Signs of an INFECTION
M - MENTAL DECLINE
E - Feeling EXTREMELY ILL

Please join the Connecticut Statewide Sepsis Taskforce in raising awareness and saving lives. To learn more, visit the Sepsis Alliance web site at www.sepsis.org

Thank you to the CT Association for Healthcare at Home for providing this very important information.

Sepsis is the body’s overwhelming and life-threatening response to infection which can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death. Learn more about the symptoms of sepsis, which kills 270,000 Americans each year.

08/29/2019

https://keystoneplaceatwoosterheights.com/

08/29/2019

https://patch.com/connecticut/danbury/maplewood-senior-living-danbury-names-new-executive-director

Lauren Stowell to was promoted to executive director of Maplewood Senior Living in Danbury.

08/26/2019

BETHEL VNA will be at this wonderful EVENT providing Flu Shots!

Cardiology Prevention for Veterans and First Responders

Thursday, October 10, 2019 3:30 – 8 pm
Newtown Community Center
Fairfield Hills Campus, 8 Simpson Street, Newtown CT

All Veterans and First Responders are Invited

Two timely and relevant discussions:

Combat exposure, deployment and chronic stress greatly increases the risk for heart disease at younger ages in Veterans and First Responders. Presented by Sheila M. Mattei, PA-C, MPH, MSHS

The relationship between oral care and heart health.
Presented by Dental Associates of CT

Flu shots available. Bring your VA or Insurance Card


A Danbury Vet Center and Connecticut DVA representative will be there to assist Veterans, not currently enrolled, and answer questions regarding VA benefits. Bring your DD214, if you have it.

RSVP to Cris Fadus rsvpnewtownevent@gmail.com 203-300-8175 by October 4. Reservations requested but not required.

Sponsored by: Newtown American Legion & Visiting Nurse Association

Non-perishable donations will be accepted for Faith Food Pantry at this event.

08/02/2019

Western CT Health Network is conducting a short community survey to learn more about our community's health needs. Please click the link below to participate in the survey:

Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

07/25/2019

Thank you River Glen in Southbury for a great time at the car show yesterday afternoon/evening. The event was a lot of fun and the cars were amazing. Great job!

06/06/2019

06/04/2019

June is Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness month

https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/10_signs

Get information and resources for Alzheimer's and other dementias from the Alzheimer's Association.

05/14/2019

Our 2019 Breakfast for Care was a wonderfully successful event on May 3rd! A special thank you to our event sponsors, raffle donors, attendees, Board of Directors, Breakfast Committee members, staff and our community who support the Bethel VNA each and every day! We thank you all so very much for your generous support!

05/07/2019

To all of our nursing staff - Happy National Nurses Week! We believe that you were born to be a nurse. You, like so many nurses have a gift. You are all smart, caring and compassionate. We know you see things on a daily basis that pull at your heart strings. We also know you see moments of joy and healing. You affect peoples lives everyday. You provide health care in the home - where people want to be. Remember, you are a gift to all you care for. We are proud of each and everyone of you! In our opinion, every week should be Nurses Week!

04/15/2019

How can I help Bethel VNA?

One of the most important things that you can do for Bethel VNA is to share your experience with others. We have been providing visitng nurse and home health care services in the community since 1927.

People continue to have a misunderstanding of what visiting nurse and home health care services is all about. Bethel Visiting Nurse Association could not exist without the support and good will of the community. Here are a few suggestions on how you can help Bethel VNA.

SHARE:
The most positive way for others to hear about Bethel Visiting Nurses is through you. Let your physician know how Bethel Visiting Nurses has touched you, so they will know how Bethel VNA will benefit other patients. Talk about Bethel VNA's services to your friends, neighbors, church groups and employers.

Chose Bethel VNA by name when you or a loved one needs visiting nurse and home health care services.

INVITE:
If you know of a civic organization, club or church group that would like to have a guest speaker, please contact us at maggie@bethelvna.org with a contact name. We'll set up a speaker to attend the event.

CONTRIBUTE:
Financially, through donations, memorials, wills and fundraising events. Part of our mission is to foster and promote wellness and to provide compassionate, skilled home health care to our patients and community regardless of their ability to pay. Even though Medicare/Medicaid and most insurances pay for home health services, Bethel VNA cherishes the donations, memorials, sponsorship and attendance at fundraising events from our friends in the community. This ensures that visiting nurse and home health care services are available to everyone when needed.

Bethel VNA relies on donations and memorials from our friends and the community. We are a non-profit organization and all gifts are tax-deductible. Donations make it possible for us to extend a hand to everyone who comes to us for care.

Your tax-deductible charity donation helps us pay for services not covered by Medicare or insurance. We are grateful for the generous contributions we receive from individuals, corporations, community, church groups, foundations, bequests and memorials. We thank you for the support that allows us to continue our mission of providing care and comfort with dignity and respect to our community members.

04/02/2019

Bethel Visiting Nurse Association's "Breakfast for Care" - we hope to see you there! A truly wonderful event!

03/05/2019

https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/05/health/luke-perry-strokes-age/index.html

While 52 is considered on the younger side, strokes can happen at any age. Smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, obesity and other cardiovascular diseases put people at greater risk for stroke, the heart association said.

The death of Luke Perry, after the actor suffered what his publicist said was a massive stroke, is evidence that the disease can affect people of any age, the American Heart Association said.

03/04/2019

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-influenza-kidneyfailure/flu-season-may-play-a-role-in-kidney-failure-deaths-idUSKCN1QA2BS
"Flu-like illnesses can induce acute inflammation, making people with kidney failure vulnerable to other infections or even to cardiovascular events."

(Reuters Health) - When influenza-like illnesses spread in the community, death ...

03/01/2019

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324514.php

Welcome to March, Friends! One of this month's observances is NUTRITION. The campaign focuses attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. Read the article below to learn about which diet is best for older adults.

Finding the best way for older adults to lose weight safely can be challenging. A new study may help guide nutritional decisions in this population.

02/28/2019

For those of you who don't receive our e-newsletter in your email, a copy is now available for viewing right from our page. We hope you enjoy this month's issue by clicking on the following link:
https://mailchi.mp/b8a13d5ceff6/bethel-vnas-february-2019-e-newsletter

02/28/2019

https://health.usnews.com/wellness/articles/2017-03-02/can-older-people-have-eating-disorders

"While [eating disorders] most commonly emerge in adolescence and early adulthood, middle-aged and older adults aren’t immune, particularly if they didn't resolve body image issues earlier in life, experts say. If you’re concerned about the eating habits of an older adult in your life, read on.

Clinicians rarely detect the conditions in elderly patients, but they exist – and can be treated.

02/27/2019

https://healthguides.cnn.com/finding-the-right-treatment-for-copd/how-copd-affects-your-brain?did=t1_rss7

"There are several ways that COPD may affect thinking and memory. COPD reduces the amount of air your lungs take in, which, over time, can make your blood low in oxygen. Low levels of oxygen to the brain may cause neural damage. This could increase your risk for memory problems."

COPD causes the lungs to take in less air than normal. This lack of oxygen could have a negative effect on memory and thinking.

02/26/2019

https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2017/how-to-fall-safely.html

While avoiding a fall is job one, knowing how to take a fall when it’s inevitable is a crucial skill.

Helpful tips from a professional stuntwoman for how to fall and hit the ground as softly as possible to prevent serious damage to your health.

02/25/2019

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/ramona-sentinel/our-columns/sd-cm-ram-healthy-aging-january-2019-htmlstory.html

"It can be hard to start a new routine, but a little exercise every day is better than none at all. Federal guidelines recommend two hours and 30 minutes of moderate exercise a week, and walking is a low-impact, safe method to get your heart pumping daily. "

There are countless benefits to exercise, no matter what age, but as populations age, they tend to decrease their physical activity.

02/22/2019

In a study comparing the healthy lifestyle rates of retired late-middle-aged adults with rates among those still working, most baby boomers approach retirement age unwilling to follow basic healthy lifestyle goals established by the American Heart Association. Learn 10 ways to get healthy after 60.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/11/health/seniors-healthy-habits-partner/index.html

It takes moxie to flip an unhealthy lifestyle to a healthy one -- particularly for folks over 60.

02/21/2019

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/can-heart-failure-be-prevented/

The most important task in preventing heart failure is to be vigilant in recognizing the signs and symptoms of heart failure and make an accurate diagnosis. Learn your risk factors and how to get a handle on them to help keep your heart healthy.

Understand your risk factors and steps for prevention

02/20/2019

https://www.everydayhealth.com/hypertension/living-with/lifestyle-changes-help-you-lower-blood-pressure/

If making lifestyle changes feels overwhelming and you don’t know where to start, don’t worry. We’ve got you covered. Here are five tips will help you keep your blood pressure at a healthy level.

High blood pressure (hypertension) is a serious condition that can lead to life-threatening problems, like heart attack and stroke. Eating a low-salt, low-sodium diet and getting enough exercise are two ways to regulate blood pressure levels.

02/15/2019

More bad news for diet soda lovers: Drinking two or more of any kind of artificially sweetened drinks a day is linked to an increased risk of clot-based strokes, heart attacks and early death in women over 50.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/14/health/diet-soda-women-stroke-heart-attack/index.html

Drinking two or more diet sodas a day is linked to an increased risk of stroke, heart attacks and early death in women over 50, a new study says. The risk was highest for obese and African American women.

02/14/2019

https://www.click2houston.com/health/how-love-sparks-better-heart-health

Since ancient times, the heart has been a symbol of our emotions. But, scientists have uncovered a physical link between emotions and heart health.

When you think of your loved one, does your heart feel warm and fuzzy? Or would you say it skips a beat, goes pitter-patter or begins to race?

02/14/2019

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMj_E8UhByg

"The minute I heard my first love story, I started looking for you, not knowing how blind that was. Lovers don’t finally meet somewhere. They’re in each other all along." – Rumi

Happy Valentine's Day! Love, Bethel VNA

fter 60 years of living with your spouse, would you marry that person all over again or would you want to ring his or her neck? Milt and Leona were sweethear...

02/13/2019

The focus for research, now, is not on the workaholic, impatient or aggressive personality but rather on the personality that is "more anxious and depressed. That seems to have a significant correlation with the development of heart disease."
disease.https://www.today.com/health/prevent-heart-disease-cardiologist-reveals-how-he-protects-his-heart-t148138

The latest advice on how emotions, stress, cholesterol and diet affect heart health.

02/12/2019

https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a26291492/heart-misconceptions/

“There is poor understanding of the relationship between body weight and health. Unfortunately, many people seem paralyzed by this lack of knowledge. The positive news is that people only need to lose about 5 percent of body weight to see significant health impacts.”

You know your running routine helps protect your ticker. But are you guilty of believing these common heart myths?

02/11/2019

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/have-heart-failure-heres-4-ways-to-stay-out-of-the-hospital/

"20 percent of heart failure patients are readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of discharge, and 50 percent return within six months [but] experts say some of these readmissions could be avoided."

Preventing rehospitalizations should be a top priority