Practicing Gratitude

From “Family Solutions for Care”  There is a direct and known correlation between practicing gratitude and increased happiness, as well as health improvement.  This can be especially true and important for the elderly.  It’s not always easy to be grateful, especially in challenging times, but learning to see the good in even the smallest circumstances can have a profound impact on the lives of seniors.  While aging is inevitable, feelings of sadness and distress do not need to be part of the process. Whatever your situation, there are small ways to be grateful that will have a big impact on one’s  daily life as well as in relationships with others.   How Seniors Can Practice Gratitude on Their Own  The easiest way to cultivate gratitude is by putting pen to paper.  Begin by creating a list. The goal of practicing gratitude is to focus on the positive things of your life. Begin with one to five things and see what happens from there.  For example, you might write  The sun came out today,’ or ‘the clerk at the grocery store was especially nice today.’ You may have more to write some days than others, but as you persist you will begin to see some of the amazing benefits: physically, mentally, and emotionally.  How Daily Gratitude Lists Can Help Seniors Combat Depression  Seniors who practice gratitude will notice an improvement in their health.  Practicing gratitude has been shown to lower blood pressure and heart rate, reduce headaches, and improve sleep.  Practicing gratitude helps take the focus off an aging body, and emphasize what value we have.  Grateful people are more likely to recall past experiences positively.  It may be helpful to jot down good memories.  Those who have a habit of being grateful look for the good in others.  This makes people more enjoyable to be around.   How Families and Friends Can Help the Elderly Maintain An Attitude of Gratitude  It’s important that close friends and family show the elderly that they are valued.  Experience alone usually means the elderly have wisdom and insight.  Keep a routine by taking a friend or loved one to lunch each week, or at regular intervals, and make it a point to talk about things for which you can be grateful.  Develop lists together.  Ask the elderly what valuable lessons they have learned from hard situations.   If meeting in person is not possible, perhaps it is possible to help someone learn to use technology for communicating.  Remember to use kind words and tell the elderly person why you are grateful for them.  Celebrating their gifts and talents is a good way to help keep their spirits high.   Gratitude goes a long way toward mental, physical, and spiritual well-being; not just for the elderly, but for all of us. 

Heart Healthy Self Care

Heart disease is a leading cause of death in the United States, but there’s a lot you can do to prevent it. Taking time to care for your heart can be challenging as you go about daily life. But it’s easier than you think to show your heart the love it deserves each day. Small acts of self-care, like taking walks, getting quality sleep, and cooking healthy meals, help your heart. Research shows that self-care can help you keep your blood pressure in a healthy range and reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke. What does “self-care” mean? Researchers define self-care as what you do to stay healthy. It’s also what you do to care for any health problems you have, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or mental health disorders. It’s heart-healthy living. What parts of your self-care routine help your heart? Self-care for your heart is really self-care for your whole self. You can improve and protect your health overall when you: Get a daily dose of physical activity, such as a brisk, 30-minute walk. Cook meals that are low in sodium and unhealthy fats. Take your medications as prescribed and keep your medical appointments. Sleep 7-8 hours a night. Manage stress through, for example, meditation, yoga, a warm bath, or quiet time with a good book or funny movie. Try to reach or stay at a healthy weight by moving more and having snacks like fruits and veggies ready to grab when hunger hits. How can you make self-care for your heart easier? The trick is to plan ahead. Build heart-healthy activities into your daily self-care routine. Schedule things that are both good for you and important to you. You might want to set aside time to: Cook delicious, heart-healthy recipes. Choose some from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s delicious heart-healthy eating website. Go for a bike ride, take an online exercise class, or have a family dance party. Make that doctor’s appointment you’ve been putting off. Many providers now offer telehealth appointments to make accessing care easier. Organize your medications. What’s your health status? Part of self-care is knowing your health status. Even during uncertain and busy times, get your blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels checked. Talk to your health care provider about your heart health. How can technology help with caring for your heart? Your phone or favorite show can make getting off the couch difficult. But technology can be your heart’s best friend! Tools that help with self-care for your heart include: Wearable devices that measure steps, heart rate, and sleep At-home blood pressure, blood sugar, and heart rate monitors Online activity and healthy eating planners, like these from health.gov and MyPlate.gov How does support from others help you care for your heart? Many studies show that having positive, close relationships and feeling connected to others helps our blood pressure, weight, overall health, and more. Even if it’s virtual, that support makes self-care easier and even more effective. Research also shows that text messages can improve self-care. Connect with friends or family for support. Ask them to text you reminders or encouragement to help you meet your goals. Make new friends who share your goals. Join an online exercise class or a weight- management group to connect with other like-minded people and stay motivated. How does self-care play a role if you or your partner is pregnant or considering pregnancy? Self-care for your heart health is particularly important if you’re pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant. Regular physical activity reduces your risk of gestational diabetes, extra pregnancy pounds, and postpartum depression. Talk to your health care provider about what physical activities are safe during pregnancy and soon after delivery. Discuss how to avoid and watch for a type of high blood pressure called preeclampsia. What are the obstacles to self-care? Research shows that the three main obstacles to self-care are: ● Lack of confidence in one’s ability to make a change ● Depression ● Having more than one health concern If you want to boost your confidence, or if you struggle with a mental health disorder, seek support of family and friends, or talk to a qualified mental health provider. Ask your health care provider for help handling the demands of multiple medical conditions. What does it take to give your heart the care—and patience—it deserves? Self-care includes being patient with your body. You may not see or feel the results of your efforts right away. But small steps can lead to big progress. When we take care of #OurHearts as part of our self-care, we set an example for others to do the same. Visit hearttruth.gov for resources and tools to help you and your loved ones make heart-healthy lifestyle changes.  

Covid-19 Vaccines:  Get the Facts 

[caption id="attachment_14307" align="alignleft" width="265"] COVID-19 Vaccinations[/caption] Anyone who can read or hear now knows that vaccines for the Covid-19 virus are becoming available.  Locally, many healthcare workers have already received the first of the two-shot vaccine.  This vaccine is likely the best hope for ending the pandemic.  But as availability for the vaccine increases, so do myths and skepticism The information below is published by the Mayo Clinic to help separate fact and fiction.   Myth:  The COVID-19 vaccine will alter my DNA.  Fact: The first vaccines to reach the market are mRNA vaccines.  According to the CDC, mRNA vaccines work by instructing cells in the body how to make a protein that triggers an immune response.  Injecting MRNA into your body will not interact or do anything to the DNA of your cells.  Human cells break down and get rid of the mRNA soon after they have finished using the instructions   Myth:  The COVID-19 vaccine is not safe because it was rapidly developed and tested.  Fact: Many pharmaceutical companies invested significant resources into quickly developing a vaccine for COVID-19 because of the impact of the pandemic However, companies did NOT bypass safety protocols and did not neglect adequate testing New technology has enabled companies to develop the vaccine much more quickly than previous vaccines have been developed.  The safety of the vaccine is closely monitored by the CDC and the FDA  Myth:  The COVID-19 vaccine was developed as a way to control the general population either through microchip tracking or nano transducers in our brains.    Fact: There is no vaccine “microchip,” and the vaccine will not track people or gather personal information into a database.  This myth started after comments made by Bill Gates about a digital certificate of vaccine records.  This does not refer to a microchip. In fact, the technology Gates was referring to has nothing to do with the development, testing, or distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine.  Myth:  There are severe side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine.   Fact: There are short-term mild or moderate vaccine reactions that resolve without complication or injury.  The early phase studies of the vaccine show that it is safe.  About 15% of people develop short-lived symptoms at the site of the injection.  50% develop reactions which are primarily headache, chills, fatigue or muscle pain or fever lasting for a day or two.  Keep in mind that these side effects are indicators that your immune system is responding to the vaccine and are common when receiving vaccines.  More information can be found at www.mayoclinic.org  

Coping Tools for Happy Holidays During a Pandemic 

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the country is experiencing a resurgence of COVID-10 infections. A recommendation has given to keep gatherings small and travel only as necessary.  With the holidays approaching, this can leave many feeling lonely and fearful.  The lead therapist at the Sharp Mesa Vista Post-Traumatic Stress disorder and Trauma Recovery Program, Kim Eisenberg, suggests that we find tangible and realistic ways to have meaningful experiences this year, even if we can’t be surrounded physically by those with whom we normally celebrate. “We are lifted up and out of our own suffering when we do things that are helpful to others,” she said.   Ms. Eisenberg suggests finding some meaningful service to offset some of the loneliness and isolation.  She says others would benefit by remembering the 4 M’s: Mindfulness, Meaningful Connection, Movement, and Mastery.    Mindfulness  Mindfulness is the awareness that emerges through paying attention and working to stay focused in the present moment. It includes self-care, which involves not letting our minds get side-tracked by strong emotions.  If anxiety starts to set in, practice deep-breathing and take time to see clearly the situation.  Mindfulness helps us know how best to proceed with compassion towards ourselves and others.    Meaningful Connection  Every single person needs connection and needs to be known.  A meaningful connection includes being emotionally vulnerable and open with someone, showing them affection and receiving it in return.  People love to know that someone cares. We need to meaningfully connect in marriage, friendship, and other relationships with our children and neighbors.  This can happen by text, email, phone call, mail, or video chats.   Reach out when you want to connect, check in on someone you care about.  Most people have the desire to connect meaningfully.  If you haven’t found someone who does, keep looking!  Movement  Any type of movement or stretching that you can do in the comfort of your home or yard, helps alleviate negative feelings and emotions.  It improves balance, coordination and flexibility, increases oxygen to the brain, and decreases risk of osteoporosis.    Mastery  Don’t forget brain health.  Taking care of your brain is just as important as taking care of your body.  Try your hand at puzzles, word searches, crosswords, memorizing, and other brain games.  These activities will help stimulate attention, verbal fluency, memory, and other cognitive functions.     

Medicare Annual Part D Open Enrollment 

Fall is a time of change.  Most people love watching the leaves change color and the beauty that nature displays during this time of year.  Some changes are less exhilarating.  One of those kinds of changes could apply to your Medicare drug plan, which could be quite exciting, depending on the amount of money you could save.   October 15th -December 7th is the annual open enrollment for Part D. For Medicare beneficiaries this means:  _-Those who are already enrolled in a drug plan can check to see if all of their medications will still be covered under their current plan in 2021 and if that plan is still the least expensive option. Plans can, and do, change their drug formularies from year to year.   -Even if your plan’s formulary doesn’t change and your drugs are still covered, you could experience a substantial increase in premium. When calculating your drug costs, you should consider premiums, deductibles, and co-pays for the year.  -People who have never enrolled in a drug plan have the chance to enroll.*  If you enroll in Part D for the first time during this open enrollment period, your plan will be effective beginning January 1st, 2021.  Exceptions to this coverage date would be if the person is new to Medicare and is enrolling in a drug plan during their initial enrollment period.  In that case Medicare Part D would begin on the first day of the month after enrollment.  (For instance, if you are new to Medicare and enroll in a drug plan in October, your coverage would begin on November 1st.)  -Although Medicare Advantage Plans are not available in several counties throughout the country (Bear Lake County is one of these), people who have Advantage plans can change during this open enrollment if they so choose.  (Much of the Medicare advertising you see on TV applies to Medicare Advantage Plans, not traditional Medicare).  State Senior Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) are uniquely trained to answer Medicare questions and help beneficiaries during enrollment periods.  Advisors help navigate the different drug plans and tailor them to the individual.  This includes considering all options for acquiring prescription drugs. SHIBA advisors make no commissions, and give free, un-biased advice to beneficiaries.  The locally state-certified SHIBA advisor is Kim Hulme, who can be reached at Bear Lake Memorial Hospital at 208.847.0949.      *If you didn’t sign up for Part D when you were first eligible, you may have to pay a penalty on your premium, which is 1% of the national base premium for every month you could have had coverage.   

Dry Eye Syndrome

From the Mayo Clinic Dry eyes is a common condition that occurs when your tears can't provide adequate lubrication for your eyes. Dry eyes can be uncomfortable, even painful.  Signs and symptoms include:  a stinging, burning or scratchy sensation in your eyes, sensitivity to light, redness, a sensation that something is in your eye, difficulty with night driving, watery eyes (which is the body’s response to the irritation of dry eyes), and blurred vision or eye fatigue.   Your tears are a mixture of water, fatty oils and mucus.  This mixture helps make the surface of your eyes smooth and clear.  It also protects your eyes from infection.  Common causes of decreased tear production include:   Aging   - Medical conditions such as: diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, scleroderma, Sjorgren’s syndrome, thyroid disorders, and vitamin A deficiency. Some medications, including antihistamines, decongestants, hormone replacement therapy, antidepressants, and drugs used for high blood pressure, birth control, and Parkinson’s disease. Wind, smoke, or dry air can cause increased tear evaporation.  So can blinking less often, which tends to occur when you are concentrating, for example, while reading, driving, or working at a computer.   For most people with occasional or mild dry eye symptoms, it’s enough to regularly use over-the-counter eyedrops (artificial tears).  Sometimes other treatment is necessary, depending on what is causing your dry eyes.  In some cases, treating an underlying health issue can help clear up the signs and symptoms of dry eyes. This may mean simply changing one of your medications.  Treatment could be as involved as surgery of the eyelids.   There are a number of prescription medications used to treat dry eyes, including those that reduce inflammation of the eyelid or cornea and tear-stimulating drugs.  There are also various procedures used to alleviate dry eyes, such as closing your tears ducts to prevent tear loss,  and unblocking oil glands.   Some people find relief from dry eyes using non-prescription products or even home remedies.  These could include eyedrops, ointments, or gels.  Daily fish oil supplements seem to relieve dry eye syndrome for some.   Talk with your doctor about your dry eyes.  Tell him about all the symptoms you are experiencing, as there may be an underlying condition that needs to be addressed.  

7 Ways to Boost Your Immune System

Your immune system includes T cells, which attack other, illness-causing cells. They’re able to “remember” an invader, then defend against it better later. When you are older, you make fewer T cells, and most vaccines require new T cells to work. Not only do you make fewer T cells, but the ones you have don’t communicate with each other as well as they once did. Follow the medically recommended suggestions below to help strengthen your immune system. Get a flu vaccination An annual flu vaccination can reduce your risk of infection by 40 to 60 percent. It can take up to two weeks for the flu vaccine to be effective. The vaccine works by stimulating your immune system to create antibodies, which can protect an infection. The flu virus changes from year to year, so you’ll need to repeat the vaccination each year. Eat a Healthy Diet Eating a healthy, nutrient-rich diet is another way to boost your immune system so that it can fight off viruses. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables promotes a healthy immune system. Avoid sugars, fat, and processed foods. If you feel that you’re not getting enough nutrients, ask your doctor about taking a vitamin supplement. Get Active Exercise increases blood circulation and has an anti-inflammatory effect on the body. Aim for 30 minutes three days a week. Lower Your Stress Level Chronic stress can affect your immune system, decreasing its effectiveness. Chronic stress lowers your immune system response. Get Plenty of Sleep Sleep deprivation also reduces the effectiveness of the immune system. Sleep becomes more important with age because it also helps improve brain function, concentration, and memory. Maintain a Healthy Weight Being physically active and eating a healthy diet can help you maintain a healthy weight and can help reduce inflammation. Spend Time Outdoors Vitamin D helps strengthen the immune system. Spending time outdoors allows your body to convert vitamin D from sun exposure. You may want to take a supplement if you don’t spend enough time outdoors.

Masks Matter!

Here are FIVE myths about mask-wearing! With the outbreak of the worldwide pandemic of COVID-19 there has been a lot of confusion and controversy about the use of masks to slow the spread of the disease. It is easy to see where the confusion came from, as in the beginning, the CDC was recommending we did not have to wear masks and they were to be saved for health care professionals and first-line responders. However, with emerging information and data this far into the pandemic, we can now separate fact from fiction about the use of masks as a defense against the disease. The following information is from the Cleveland Clinic and debunks the most common myths surrounding the use of masks during this pandemic. Myth #1: Wearing a cloth mask is no use. Wearing a homemade cloth face mask is an easy way you can help protect others in your family and community. Covid-19 is thought to mainly be spread through viral droplets that come out of people’s nose or mouth when they cough, sneeze or talk. Cloth masks act as a barrier to keep large droplets from spewing out and into the air, allowing someone else to breathe them in and become infected. Studies show that cloth masks reduce the number of microorganisms that someone releases into the air. Myth #2: If I’m not sick, I don’t need to wear a mask. Many people can be infected and not show any symptoms. These people unknowingly pass on the virus to others when they cough, sneeze, or talk. Because we don’t know for sure who is infected, it is safest for us all to wear masks. It’s an act that contributes to the greater public good. Myth #3: If I wear a mask, I don’t need to social distance or stay home. Masks are just one piece of the strategy for preventing the spread of coronavirus. It’s important to follow all of the recommended steps including practicing proper social distancing ( 6 feet apart), not gathering in large groups, washing hands, and not touching your face (unless, of course, you have washed your hands.) Myth #4: My mask just needs to cover my mouth A mask should cover your mouth and nose. It should be snug, but comfortable and you should be able to breathe without restriction. Myth #5: Wearing a mask will make me sick. Social media is rampant with posts that promote the idea that wearing a mask can cause you to rebreathe the carbon dioxide you exhale, and it will make you sick. This is false information and is very unlikely to happen from wearing a cloth mask.

Volunteer of the Year, Scholarships, Thrift Store Changes & other Hospital Auxiliary Updates

Typically, volunteer appreciation is celebrated with a banquet in April, but due to COVID-19 restrictions and precautions Bear Lake Memorial Hospital wants to now acknowledge its Auxiliary and volunteers for their efforts this past year. There are over 100 volunteer who serve in various capacities throughout the hospital and within the Auxiliary. Each volunteer has been given certificates of appreciation. There are 13 individuals who have donated over 500+ hours of their time and four individuals with over 1000 hours.  There was a total of 27,650 combined volunteer hours for 2019-2020. The volunteer members award the honor of Auxiliary Volunteer of the Year to an individual whom auxiliary members vote as being the best representative of their organization during the past year. This year is Taelor Crockett. She has donated countless hours to the auxiliary on behalf of the community members. She is often found helping at events and in the Auxiliary’s Thrift Store. She has been with the organization for 5 years and donated countless hours of her time. This year the group chose two high school scholarship winners. The scholarships are based on the students overall volunteering experience throughout their high school career. Lily Richardson from Cokeville High School and Linda Wilkes from Bear Lake High School have each been awarded $1000 to further their education. The Thrift Store has been closed because of the risk posed to the public and the volunteers, but has now reopened with special donation hours. Appointments must be made for any furniture or large donations by calling 208-847-4445. Otherwise bagged and boxed donations will be accepted Tuesday through Saturday 8am – 3pm. No Mattresses/Box Springs, TVs, or broken items are accepted. Estates and yard sale donations must be carefully sorted prior to donating. The property is under surveillance and no dumping is permitted. Regular store hours are Wednesdays– Fridays 10am through 5pm and 10am – 2pm Saturdays. Everyone is asked to wear a mask to protect everyone that works and shops at the Thrift Store. The Thrift Store provides Christmas vouchers and care totes for all the schools including Cokeville.  The Christmas vouchers allow families in need to receive merchandise from the Thrift Store.  The Care Totes provide warm clean clothes to children in need who are identified by their teachers. The Auxiliary supports the hospital’s health care foundation by providing volunteer workers for their activities including the Salmon BBQ & Run, Raspberry Days Booth/Parade, County Fair Booth, the Golf “Fore” Health tournament, and any other activity needing workers. They continue to provide comfort care to Bear Lake Memorial’s patients and residents by helping fall risk patients, giving social and spiritual support for the lonely, giving transportation to doctor’s appointments, picking up medication and groceries, and assisting with bingo games. This group also assists the hospital, skilled nursing facility, and manor by providing a cafeteria cashier, daily snack cart, assistance with medical records, patient feeding assistance, music therapy and social engagement. They provided calendars for the Brake for Breakfast Breast Cancer Awareness Event in October, tray favors and Christmas stockings to residents at the nursing home and manor, provided breakfast for the Golf “Fore” Health tournament.  Their biggest event the annual Snowball Dance fundraiser held in February. Money raised at this event benefits the hospitals ER renovations and MRI Suite coming in 2021.  Their efforts are and will always be appreciated. If you are interested in being a part of this organization, please contact Lott Crockett at 208-847-4445.

Tools to Thrive During COVID

We are living in unique times. Amidst social distancing, abundant information (good and bad) about the coronavirus, and changes in our daily living patterns, the greatest toll can be on our mental well-being. For social people, not being able to connect with friends and loved ones in the usual way can erode feelings of well-being and interfere with one’s sense of security. Connecting with others and creating healthy routines are important steps to take to help stay on top mentally. Connect With Others— Normally, Americans spend 2.5 hours per day watching television and only half an hour per day socializing. Because of the pandemic and social distancing orders, even less time is spent socializing so it is important to find other ways to connect. Phone calls, texting, social media, emails, and video chats are all ways of keeping in touch with others. Try taking a walk around your neighborhood. It’s possible to chat with neighbors from a distance and still feel connected. Even if you think your situation is fine, there may be someone who could benefit from hearing from you. It’s the connections we make with others that enrich our lives and get us through tough times. Try to spend at least one-half hour a day connecting with others. Create Healthy Routines Studies show that people with more daily routines have lower levels of distress when facing problems with their health or negative life events. When it comes to diet, sleep, and exercise, having good, strong routines is linked to improved mental and physical health By creating routines, we organize our days in such a way that taking care of tasks and ourselves becomes a pattern that makes it easier to get things done without having to think about them. We don’t all have the same schedules or responsibilities and some of us struggle with certain parts of daily life more than others, so it is important to create a routine that’s right for you. All healthy routines should include eating a nutrition-rich diet, exercising, and getting enough sleep. Your routine may not look the same every day, but establishing a pattern will help keep you motivated and grounded. If your schedule is non-existent and you don’t really have a routine, start small. Pick one small thing each week to work on. It could be adding something new and positive, or cutting out a bad habit. Small changes add up. Think about things you do during the day that aren’t so healthy and swap them for better behaviors. For example, if you feel sluggish in the afternoon and usually reach for a sugary snack for a pick-me-up, try going for a walk to get your blood pumping and endorphins flowing. Make time for the things you enjoy, even if it’s just 15 minutes a day. Little habits are key to strong mental health.