Happy Thanksgiving from
Senior Adult
Out reach
Mercy Health Center connecting with community
Mercy Community Outreach ****************************
Alzheimer’s Association of Central Oklahoma Education Conference
Theratubing
Unlocking the Mysteries
Mondays and Wednesdays 2:30 to 3:30pm Mercy Neuroscience Institute Atrium $2 per class One of the best ways to increase your strength is to exercise with theratubing. Join Betty Brooks, for this incredible class. For more information, Call 752-3725.
Through Validation Therapy Wednesday, November 9 8:30am to 5pm Embassy Suites Norman, OK Naomi Feil, author and Executive Director of the Validation Training Institute in Ohio, will be training Validation Therapy, a method of communicating with and helping disoriented elderly individuals reduce stress, enhance dignity and increase happiness. There will also be a Q & A Panel Discussion for younger-onset/ early stage only individuals and their caregivers, from 8:30 to 12 noon. Register on-line: alzconference.org Or call 405-319-0780 for cost, details and brochure.
Informed Senior Seminar Friday, November 4 8:30am to 12:30pm OSU/OKC Student Center 900 N Portland Oklahoma City Free education and resources for seniors. Seminar sessions include: Senior Health Panel: Ask the Doctor Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance Secrets to Living to be a Centenarian CPR & First Aid Demonstration Senior Resources Preventing Illness in Your Older Pets Bring your prescriptions, over-thecounter medications, vitamins, and supplements for a medication safety review by an OU pharmacist. RSVP to 752-3600
Senior Safety Tuesday, November 15 2 to 3pm Mercy Conference Center, D&E How NOT to become a victim. Be aware of your surroundings! Join Sheryl Presley, with the Oklahoma City Police Department and learn what you can do to keep yourself safe. Refreshments served. RSVP to 752-3600
Nov/Dec 2011
Care for Caregivers Support Group Thursday, November 17 2 to 3:30pm Mercy Conference Center Interested in finding a caring, supportive group of people to help you through the trials of caregiving? Call Wendy, 936-5821.
Knee Pain Thursday, December 8 6:30 to 7:30pm Mercy Conference Center, C Kimberly Smith, MD, will be talking about knee pain, causes, total knee replacement, and new treatment options. Seating is limited. Refreshments served. RSVP to 752-3600
Calling All Elves! Just a reminder to those who wish to sew, crochet or knit lap robes for nursing home residents. Lap robes are usually 36 inch squares and we must have your finished products by the first week of December to distribute to nursing home residents for the Christmas season. Call for pickup, 752-3935, and leave a message. Thank you for your contribution and generosity!
How to effectively De-Clutter
Fall Prevention: 6 tips to prevent falls by the Mayo Clinic
1. Going room by room, divide your things into four boxes; things to donate, things to throw away, things to keep, and things to store. If you don’t need it or love it, consider getting rid of it!
As you get older, physical changes and health conditions and sometimes medications used to treat those conditions, make falls more likely. In fact, falls are the leading cause of injury among older adults. 1. Make an appointment with your doctor. Take a list of your medications including over the counter and supplements. Your doctor can review side effects with you and any interactions that may increase your risk of falling. If you have fallen before, write down the details of your fall. Details may help your doctor identify specific fall prevention strategies. Could your health conditions cause a fall? Certain eye and ear disorders may increase your risk. Do you have dizziness, joint pain, numbness or shortness of breath? 2. Keep moving. With your doctor’s OK, activities such as walking, water aerobics or tai chi may reduce your risk of falls by improving strength, balance, coordination and flexibility. If you are afraid of falling, your doctor can order physical therapy and they can custom an exercise program aimed at improving balance, flexibility, muscle strength and gait. 3. Wear sensible shoes. Consider changing your footwear as a part of your fall-prevention plan. High heels, floppy slippers and shoes with slick soles can make you slip, stumble and fall. Have your feet measured each time you buy shoes, since foot size can change. Buy properly fitting, sturdy shoes with non-skid soles. Avoid shoes with extra-thick soles. Choose lace-up shoes instead of slip-ons, and keep the laces tied. If you have trouble tying laces, select footwear with fabric fasteners. If you are a woman who cannot find wide enough shoes, try men’s shoes. 4. Remove home hazards. Take a look around your home, your living room, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, hallways and stairways may be filled with hazards. To make home safer: Remove boxes, newspapers, electrical cords and phone cords from walkways. Move coffee tables, magazine racks and plant stands from high traffic areas. Remove loose rugs from your home. Repair loose, wooden floorboards and carpeting right away. Store clothing, dishes, food and other necessities within reach. Immediately clean spilled liquids, grease or food. Use non-slip mats in your tub or shower. 5. Light up your living space. Keep your home brightly lit to avoid tripping on objects that are hard to see: Place night lights in your bedroom, bathroom and hallways. Place a lamp within reach of your bed for middle of the night needs. Make clear paths to light switches that aren’t near room entrances. Consider trading traditional switches for glow in the dark switches.
2. Go through your box of things to keep and find a place for everything. Make it a logical place that’s in the same area where it will need to be used. For example: keep keys by the door. 3. Finish one room before moving on to the next. This can all be done in one day or spread out over weeks in 30 minutes increments. Organize what’s left: As you find places to keep what you’re keeping, be sure that you’re storing things in a way that makes sense and looks nice. For example, kid’s toys can be stored neatly in tubs or large trunks, which provides a quick cleanup and keeps toy clutter out of sight. Getting drawer organizers for your bathrooms and kitchen can keep drawers from overflowing with extra items. Having a filing system for papers makes it easy to put them away and find them when you need them. Putting a little extra effort into organizing your things now will save you time in cleaning up and maintaining order for years to come. Create beauty: Once you have your home decluttered and organized, you can add a few nice touches that can make your home the ideal haven for you to relax. Playing music with relaxing benefits, aromatherapy candles, and home spa supplies are a must for the bathroom. Source: stress.about.com
Turn on the lights before going up or down stairs. Store flashlights in easy-to-find places in case of power outages. 6. Use assistive devices, such as a cane or walker. Other examples: Hand rails for both sides of stairways Non-slip treads for bare-wood steps Grab bars for the shower or tub Sturdy plastic shower seat, plus a hand-held shower head
Community Events DARE TO DREAM CPAP Support & Compliance Group Mercy Sleep Disorders Center (located in the Quailbrook complex, on the north side of Memorial) Dare to Dream meets every 3rd Tuesday of the month at 6pm in the Mercy Sleep Disorders Center. Call 405-936-5208 for more information.
FREE EDUCATIONAL READING MATERIALS
Osteoarthritis Spinal Stenosis End of Life
BETTER BREATHERS December Meeting Friday December 9 Noon Reservations are REQUIRED to attend the December meeting of Better Breathers. Please call Connie McGugan at 752-3647, as seating is limited.
Call 752-3935 and leave a message. We will be happy to send you a copy! ************************** Remember, an investment in fall prevention is an investment in your independence. See page 2 for tips on fall prevention by the Mayo Clinic. **************************
UN-MYSTERY TRIP Thursday, November 17 Departs: 8am Returns: Approximately 6pm $50 Are you looking for a fun day with friends? Enjoy a delicious Thanksgiving dinner. Send your check payable to Turner Tours, to Guy Turner, PO Box 1012, Oklahoma City, OK, 73101. Your check reserves your seat. Meet the bus at Chase Plaza, behind Sonic,at Memorial Road and Portland/Hefner Parkway. Call Guy Turner, at 405-850-2821
Christmas Tree Blessing Holy creator of trees, Bless with your abundant grace this our Christmas tree as a symbol of joy May its evergreen branches be a sign of your never-fading promises. May its colorful lights and ornaments call us to decorate with love, our home and our world. May the gifts that surround this tree be symbols of the gifts we have received from the Tree of Christ’s Cross. Holy Christmas tree within our home, may Joy and Peace come and nest in your branches and in our hearts. Amen. Author Unknown
Christmas in Branson with Turner Tours December 8 –10, 2011 2 nights, 2 dinners, shows include: Baldknobbers Doug Gabriel Show Six Miracle of Christmas Double per pers $399 Triple per pers $369 Quad per pers $349 Single $499 For more information call 1-800-256-0993
Merry Christmas from Mercy Community Outreach “Love all that has been created by God, both the whole and every grain of sand. Love every leaf and every ray of light. Love the beasts and the birds, love the plants, love every separate fragment, you will understand the mystery of the whole resting in God.” Fyodor Dostoevsky
COMMUNITY OUTREACH 4300 W. MEMORIAL ROAD OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73120 752-3498
Mercy Community Outreach is committed to improving the health and wellness of our community. If you know of someone who could benefit from this newsletter, contact us to add them to our mailing list. Senior Outreach - 752-3935 Patty Porter, M.Ed. Health Ministry Outreach - 936-5226 Glenda Bronson, R.N. Caregiver Outreach - 936-5821 Wendy Mobley, M.Ed. Manager - 752-3604 Gaylene Stiles, M.Ed.
Stress: How to Cope Better With Life’s Challenges What causes stress? Feelings of stress are caused by the body’s instinct to defend itself. This instinct is good in emergencies, such as getting out of the way of a speeding car. But stress can cause unhealthy physical symptoms if it goes on for too long, such as in response to life’s daily challenges and changes. When this happens, it’s as though your body gets ready to jump out of the way of the car, but you’re sitting still. Your body is working overtime, with no place to put all the extra energy. This can make you feel anxious, afraid, worried and uptight. What changes may be stressful? Any sort of change can make you feel stressed, even good change. It’s not just the change or event itself, but also how you react to it that matters. What’s stressful is
different for each person. Some stressful events might be retiring, being laid off from work, the death of a spouse, divorce or marriage, an illness, injury, a job promotion, money problems, or moving. Can stress hurt my health? Stress can cause health problems or make health problems worse. Possible signs of stress are: Anxiety and/or depression Back pain Constipation or diarrhea Fatigue Headaches High blood pressure Trouble sleeping Problems with relationships Shortness of breath Stiff neck or jaw Upset stomach Weight gain or weight loss What can I do to manage my stress?
The first step is to choose a way to deal with your stress. Instead of avoidance, the best way is to change how you react to stress. Don’t worry about things you can’t control, such as the weather. Solve the little problems, this can help you gain a feeling of control. Prepare to the best of your ability for events you know may be stressful, such as a job interview. Try to look at change as a positive challenge, not as a threat. Work to resolve conflicts with other people. Talk with a trusted friend, family member or counselor. Set realistic goals at home & work. Avoid over-scheduling. Exercise on a regular basis. Eat regular, well-balanced meals and get enough sleep. Meditate & enjoy a hobby. Courtesy of: Familydoctor.org