Life is great at St. Anne's!
I just wanted to help get the word out: we are looking for another nurse to assist with the care of our residents. If you, or someone you know, is interested in the positions, I’d encourage you/them to visit: www.stannesguesthome.org/employment.html or stop by to fill out an application.
Click here to view and print a job application which may be turned in at St. Anne’s front reception desk. If you would prefer, the MS Word version can be completed and emailed to stannesguesthome@gmail.com.
It’s wonderful to again be able to take our residents for an “outdoor walk!” During the winter, we confine ourselves to walking the first floor halls of St. Anne’s. While they are spacious, it’s not the same as getting some good, fresh air. I am looking forward to seeing the blossoms on our flowering ornamental crab tree someday soon when I walk with them. I’ll probably even pick some to set on the reception desk here.
Trees, in fact, are very healthy. According to a study cited in a Huffington Post article, 850 lives were saved and almost 700,000 acute repertory symptoms were prevented in a single year by their mere presence. Did you know that trees actually remove pollution and make the air healthier to breathe, especially for people living in the city? This same article would have us believe so. It also shared the fact that polluted air can cause difficulty breathing for asthma victims as well as cancer, birth defects, lung injury and brain/nerve damage. Oxygen gained from a breath of fresh air can help energize you as well.
Stepping outside can be beneficial, even to one’s immune system. Being in close quarters with other people “exposes you to all sorts of germs,” according to . Exercise stimulates numbers of “natural killer cells.” Also, the scents of flowers can help your mood, and even pine can help with relaxation and lowering stress. Actually, with greater oxygen intake, more serotonin is produced, which also helps your mood and sense of well-being, according to yourstandardlife.com.
Fresh air actually cleans your lungs and gets more oxygen to your cells, improving your lungs’ cleansing action. Breathing fresh air can help your mental clarity. Your brain, in fact, uses 20% of the body’s oxygen. Fresh air also helps with effective food digestion, according to this source. Consequently, according to goodrelaxation.com, fresh air can even help you lose weight. Furthermore, it is noted, that blood pressure and heart rate are improved by fresh air.
So, be advised, don’t just stay indoors all the time, breathing the same air over and over. According to yourstandardlife.com, “breathing this stale air will not supply your body with enough oxygen to keep your cells fueled and functioning properly.” When you get a chance, get outside and enjoy some fresh air and exercise. If you live in the area, you could even take a walk over to St. Anne’s and visit our residents!
Here at St. Anne’s, we have two dogs for our residents. In honor of April’s “National Pet Month,” a well-qualified friend of ours wrote an article about the positive effect of our canine comrades:
Article by Judy Jacoby, RN, MSN, HAB, PHN
Dogs have been around for 15,000 years. Dogs were used to assist people with chores, to round up cattle and sheep, to monitor the surroundings of a home and to pull carts for the American Indians. 12,000 years ago, in Northern Israel, a human skeleton was found holding a puppy.
In the earlier years of civilization, dogs provided special duties. As early as the early 1800’s, dogs were used to assist police stations regarding high crimes. A dog was used to sniff out a criminal who could not be found a police search team. Due to the lack of police officers on a police force, dogs were used to do security rounds to ensure the security within towns.
During the last 55 years, we have seen benefits that affect the human body regarding the ownership or relationships with dogs. Paws for People, is an organization that explains the benefits of dogs in therapy. Physical benefits include how dogs assist with lowering the blood pressure, improving cardiovascular health, releasing endorphins which cause a calming affect and diminishing physical pain. A dog can facilitate motivation in a person to recover faster in reducing loneliness. The act of petting a pet, produces an automatic relaxation response in humans and reduces the amount of medication that was previously required to relieve pain.
Studies indicated strong emotional benefits for people with depression when being around dogs. Interactions with dogs lifted spirits and lessen depression, decrease the feelings of isolation and alienation. In addition, dogs encouraged communication, provided comfort, increased socialization, reduces boredom and lowered anxiety. Studies done with children who have speech and emotional disorders showed that dogs helped resolve speech and emotional disorders. In children, dogs have been shown to help children focus better and improve literacy skills.
The dog provides an avenue for non-stress, non-judgmental and unconditional love. This produces self confidence and reduces self consciousness. Dogs in physical therapy with humans can assist with increased joint movement and improve the recovery time with walking. This maintains or increases motor skills and provides motivation to move more, stretch farther and exercise longer.
Studies conducted in the elderly, demonstrated that patients with chronic illness and cardiac issues have prolonged life due to owning a pet. Owner of dogs or those who are close to a dog find an avenue of physical health benefit with their companion. The presence of a dog in a room helped decrease blood pressure. Decreased depression and anxiety are also benefits that have been associated with having a dog close by.
As I pondered the benefits of walking my dogs, each morning and night I realized that I walk at least 2-3 miles a day. This daily routine with my dogs, has improved my health, increased my strength, made me realize how fortunate I am that I can smell the Spring air and watch the morning light wake up the mountains around me.
This week, Americans celebrate National Volunteer Week. I thought this was noteworthy for us at St. Anne’s since we are blessed by the kindness of volunteers throughout the year and on special occasions as well. This commemoration has been recognized by the government and is also honored by various organizations on the local level. Not that our volunteers do this for selfish reasons, but according to an article on this week, volunteers can have the added benefits of “increased satisfaction, improved sense of belonging, lower blood pressure, increased protection from Alzheimer’s, and decreased mortality.” Who hasn’t felt the gratification of having lent a hand and getting a job done?
At. St. Anne’s, we will be honoring our volunteers at a special gathering in May, but I’d like to take the opportunity now to thank all those who volunteer at St. Anne’s in various capacities. For more information on our volunteer program, please visit: https://stannesguesthome.org/Volunteers.html.
On a personal level, I am grateful to the ladies who fill in for me, doing reading hour and Bible Study for me when I am away at times.
There are so many ways that our volunteers help us and we appreciate it!
If you are a St. Anne’s Volunteer, I’d be happy to share your thoughts on volunteering; please let me know!
At St. Anne’s, along with our Basic Care unit, we also offer low-rent housing in efficiency departments. (For more information on the distinctions between levels of care, see my article from last fall.)
I’d like to share an article which our former resident, Scott, wrote in our newsletter a couple years ago for the occasion of fair housing month:
Food, clothing and shelter are the absolute necessities of our life. All these are essential for all.
Beginning with the civil rights movement of the 1960s, which focused on fair, non-discriminating housing, the federal government passed the Fair Housing Act of 1968. This insured the opportunity for everyone to be able to get a fair deal on renting and buying homes. Generally, in addition to the anti-discrimination aspect of housing, affordable housing is available to many people. Usually, on housing assistance, 30% of one’s income goes into rent with the balance taken care of through this Housing and Urban Development (HUD) program. St. Anne’s is involved in the HUD program.
April is Fair Housing Month. Social organizations, religions and the government help in getting people housing. There is still a problem of homelessness but there is a great effort today to make homelessness only a temporary situation for individuals.
We had some fun with our resident newsletter, The Broadcaster, this month; we claimed that April Elves got a hold of our computers so the front and back pages are full of fun, made up articles of news from St. Anne’s. If you haven’t seen it already, check it out! If you’d like to get our newsletter via email on a monthly basis, please let us know; it is normally not available online. Below is a preview of the first page.
Little did I know on Friday, when I decided to scrub the floors, that it was National Cleaning Week. Because many of the floors at our convent are waxed, I didn’t want to use my favorite vinegar-water, for fear of removing the polish. Instead I used warm water with a splash of dish soap. I’ve learned that there are lots of different products one can use for the same thing, and just as many theories about which is better. An article on Mother Nature Network provided an interesting, comprehensive breakdown of the various cleaning solutions. I’d encourage you to visit that site, as it offers the pros and cons in a clear and helpful manner.
One of our volunteers at St. Anne’s, Kathy Lieberg, has more information to share. She’s learned about home-made cleaning products, which she appreciates because you “can avoid harsh chemicals and save money.” She finds that “they work wonderfully!”
Kathy shared with me a sampling of just some of the many homemade cleaners that can be made using ingredients you probably have on hand; I’d like to pass this information on to you.
“OxyClean Cleaner”
1 part baking soda
1 part peroxide
2 parts water
CarpetCleaner
1 cup peroxide
a few drops of Dawn soap
Orange/Vinegar Cleaner
Fill a quart jar with orange peel. Add white vinegar to top – let stand 2 weeks and drain into sprayer. Save your orange peels in a bag in the freezer until you have enough to fill a quart jar.
As I begin compiling this blog post, I am in the middle of working another night shift at St. Anne’s. I enjoy night work and am glad to help out in this way when needed. However, someone recently commented that doing this “isn’t very healthy.” I begged to differ that an occasional night shift isn’t the end of the world; it’s better to be available when there’s a staffing problem than to selfishly say “I need my beauty rest.” However, I realize that healthy sleeping habits are important and deserve consideration, especially as people age. In this article, I’d like to share with you some of what I found about healthy sleeping habits, especially for seniors. How much sleep do you get? How much do you need? I’ve wondered this myself. According to an article on senior sleep habits (sited later in this article), “most healthy adults tend to require between seven and a half to nine hours of sleep per night to function at their best.” They did note, however, that needs vary for different individuals. According to helpguide.org, “consistently going to sleep and rising at the same time leaves people feeling “much more refreshed and energized.” They suggest resisting the urge to stay up late and sleep in on weekends. They even suggested napping to compensate for missed zees, rather than sleeping in late. However, this same site warned about the dangers involved in napping, with the risk of causing insomnia. Not napping too late in the day, and also limiting the nap to 30 minutes are a couple of ways of reducing this risk. An article by the Mayo Clinic also stresses the importance of maintaining a sleep schedule. This same article suggests limiting naps. It also shares some helpful information about the two types of sleep: non-rapid eye movement — or NREM sleep — and rapid eye movement — or REM sleep. NREM sleep…We cycle through the NREM-REM stages of sleep approximately every 90 minutes.” (The deepness of sleep depends on this.) The helpguide article shared that one important factor in sleeping ease and sleepiness is exposure to light. To help with alertness, increase your exposure to light and take advantage of daylight outdoors. On the other hand, when you’re trying to fall asleep, don’t use the TV or computer, as these can hinder your ability to sleep. I’ve even heard it said that a person should not use the computer for an hour before going to bed as it may cause difficulty in falling asleep. Avoiding bright lights, both before bed and when getting up at night, is also suggested. Following a set bedtime routine is another way of helping your body get into “sleep mode.” Some examples include: reading a book or magazine (using soft light), taking a warm bath, listening to soft music, making little preparations for tomorrow, and winding down with a hobby. Some of these same practices can be applied if you wake in the middle of the night. Keeping your bedroom free of noise and also at a comfortable temperature also can help. You don’t want it too hot or too cool, as this can make sleeping difficult. Another thing that can keep you from sleeping is worrying; there may be a lot that has to be done the coming day. Although some people offer relaxation exercises, why not try something as simple as making “to-do list.” A time of prayer before bed, entrusting these and other worries to our Lord, is a great way to conclude the day that is past and prepare for sleep. (Check out my article on Our Franciscan Fiat for an explanation on doing a daily examen in the evening.) This can be a helpful bedtime “ritual.” Another article by this same source (helpguide.org) shares information more specific to seniors: It is noted that changes in sleep patterns (earlier sleeping and waking and less deep sleep) are normal. Insomnia, however, is not to be accepted as part of aging. In fact, good sleep is important for seniors for helping with concentration and memory; it also lets your body repair cell damage and “refreshes your immune system. Actually, if you are a senior who doesn’t sleep well, you are more suseptable to “depression, attention and memory problems, and excessive daytime sleepiness [as well as] more nighttime falls [and] increased sensitivity to pain. Also, you’re likely to “use more prescription or over-the-counter sleep aids.” This same source about seniors also noted that “insufficient sleep can also lead to…an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, weight problems, and breast cancer in women.” An article by the Sleep Foundation also pointed out that people tend to have a harder time falling (and staying) asleep as they age. Although seniors still need the same sleep, they tend to have less deep sleep (including less REM sleep). Consequently, they may need to spend a longer time in bed to get the quality sleep they need. This source also pointed out that insomnia is more frequent among seniors. According to the helpguide article, one issue at hand in senior sleep needs is the fact that your body makes less growth hormone as you age, leading to lessening of deep sleep and melatonin production. According to Mayo, seniors may also be more sensitive to noise and environmental factors, which may hinder sleep. While all this is normal, there are some causes of insomnia in older adults that we should note. The leaders among these include:
Conversely, this article also shared some tips to help you get a good night’s sleep:
Compiled by Retired Nurse, Kathy Neumann
St. Anne’s Guest Home serves de-caffeinated coffee for our residents, but maybe caffeine isn’t so bad after all! Coffee gets a bad rap, but studies show this habit can actually be good for you. People who drink a cup or two have a lower skin cancer risk, and coffee may also help fight cavities.
“Coffee is incredibly rich in antioxidants, which are responsible for many of its health benefits,” it may play a protective role in some health conditions, whether you go for decaf or regular.
You may be surprised to learn that coffee can also decrease your odds of developing a stroke by 25%. It also reduces the risk of diabetes because it is rich in minerals of magnesium and chromium, which may help control blood sugar levels. Stress can be reduced by coffee. People with a family history who drink coffee are less likely to develop the debilitating neurological disease. Coffee drinkers also have a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Type II diabetes and many other diseases.
Also, in one study, women who drank a cup of coffee more than four times a day had a reduced risk of breast cancer. Also, mouth and throat cancers were found to be 40% less in people who drank four or more cups daily. An important point: unfiltered coffee contains up to 80 times as many coffee-specific fatty acids, which have been linked to slower growth of cancerous cells. Heart disease can be lowered also by this bad habit.
But, enough about coffee – here’s some more information about caffeine in general…
One can feel the effects of caffeine in as little as 10 minutes, and makes one most alert after 45 minutes and may last up to 3 to 5 hours.
Bees also love caffeine, and it helps their brains too!
However, people with certain health issues, such as high blood pressure or high blood sugar, are encouraged to limit their caffeine intake. Overdoing it with caffeine can lead to interrupted sleep or even insomnia, stomachaches, a racing heart, nervousness, irritability, and nausea. Cappuccinos add a lot of calories to your coffee and can actually raise your risk for diseases like stroke and diabetes.
Resources:
http://www.everydayhealth.com/diet-nutrition/0310/9-healthy-reasons-to-drink-coffee.aspx
http://mic.com/articles/84925/14-surprising-facts-about-caffeine-explained-by-science
On multiple levels, card playing can be very beneficial for seniors. Playing card game with others, along with having the value of brain stimulation, have the added bonus of social interaction. Our activities staff often play cards with residents. When I work the front desk here in the evenings, I also offer residents the opportunity to stop by for some games of cards. We used to have quite the crowd that would come, necessitating the use of a card table pulled up to the desk and chairs and a stool gathered from all parts of the office. More recently, less people have been coming, which is really too bad since card playing is very beneficial for mental and social stimulation.
Games which stimulate the mind, according to Boomers-with-elderly-parents.com, may slow various forms of dementia.
Furthermore, this same source shares that “games involving acuity, concentration and focus enhance the brain’s capability to utilize and stimulate brain cells, electrical connections and keep neural pathways open and functioning.”
Along with card games, board games, logic and crossword puzzles, etc. can help with mental and cognitive functions, to which helps with reasoning, problem solving, memory, processing and concentration.
According to an article by Stephanie Henkel, “decline in brain power…can be slowed by exercising our brains and challenging our new brain cells with a variety of stimulating activities.” Another interesting point she makes is that “just as our bodies need physical exercises and training to keep fit, so our brains need to be exercised…”
Actually, games that require more skill and strategy are better, such as pinochle, bridge or canasta, according to this same source. Making a periodic effort to learn new games is also suggested, however, I have learned that some people simply often don’t have the motivation or mental capacity for this. One of my favorites doesn’t do a ton for brain stimulation, but is good to keep you moving physically, and that is “spoons.”
Another article on the benefits of card playing adds some additional considerations:
“Cards are portable…” Also, along with the mental advantages, playing cards can help people “improve their fine and gross motor skills” and hand-eye coordination. Another point this article shared is that “shuffling and dealing may help quicken your reflexes.” For those who lack the dexterity, as they age, to hold all their cards easily, I’ve seen rack devices where they can place their cards and which can be very helpful.