Author: St. Anne's Living Center

 

The end of the year and holiday season can be a strenuous for many of us.  Between getting finances in order, Christmas gifts, and record-keeping related to such things, we tend to give our eyes a real work out at this time of year, especially. Looking back and forth between the computer screen and a stack of papers can definitely take its toll on your eyes, can’t it? Feeling increased eye fatigue, in the midst of such process, led this post’s writer, recently, to do a bit of research into how to avoid eye strain and fatigue. The most helpful advice came from staff at North Dakota Vision Services, who suggested the “20-20-20 Rule.” Let’s elaborate: For every 20 minutes spent working on the computer, stop and spend 20 seconds staring at something 20 feet away. This simple, easy to remember strategy can really save on your eyes!   When you think about it, 20 seconds is not a long time to interrupt your work.  In the long run, it is well worth it.  It can even lead to longer endurance at a task.  You might even use that 20 seconds to simultaneously re-collect your thoughts or even say a little prayer. Another trick that was pointed out is somehow propping one’s paperwork up to an even height with the screen, either using a paper stand or a clip attached to the computer monitor.  For those of us whose eyes do not focus quickly, this can be especially helpful to avoid losing one’s place. An article from Mayo Clinic on eyestrain offers some other helpful tips. Whatever steps you find most helpful, your eyes will thank you for taking simple precautions to protect them!

Re-posted from 2016 Scoop

We have a couple of announcements to share with you at this busy time of year.  

St. Anne’s is celebrating 75 years of care for the elderly and disabled in eastern North Dakota this year!  As we mark this milestone, we invite you to join us for our 2nd annual Christmas Pageant.
We will be offering two showings: Monday, December 16 at 2 p.m. ~ and ~ 7 p.m.
You are welcome to join us for coffee and Christmas cookies afterward.

Also, you might be interested in our new discount cards!  They’re only $15.
What if you could get great deals and discounts every day of the coming year?
Actually, you can!! We’re selling discount cards, so you can get discounts at 15 local establishments all year round!
(a perfect idea for a Christmas stocking stuffer) Order yours today!
‘St. Anne’s Discount Cards’ will feature:

• Arby’s
• North End Dairy Queen
• Mamma Maria’s
• Office Depot
• Ruffing It
• Dogmahal
• Texas Roadhouse
• Tim Shea’s Nursery
• Dakota Dry Cleaners
• Sonic Drive in
• Burger Time
• Taco John’s
• Popolino’s Pizza
• Thirty-One Products – Miranda
• For Heaven’s Cakes

Order yours today!

 

Here at St. Anne’s, diabetes is something we are frequently addressing; it comes up in our care conferences and other discussions because a good number of our residents have to deal with this ailment every single day.

Although you probably have some familiarity with this condition, we’ll share some interesting facts about diabetes that you may not have known:

An instance of diabetes was first recorded in Egyptian writings around 1500 BC.

Diabetes comes from a Greek word meaning “flowing through” (referring to increased urination).  This term may have first been used around 100 AD.

Today in our country, over 30 million people are afflicted with the disease; a quarter of them are not even aware that they have it.  In recent years, with increasing rates of obesity, the number of people with this condition has increased greatly.  Unfortunately, people of various minority ethnicities are at higher risk of developing type II diabetes.  People who are older, who have a family history, who smoke, and who are overweight are also more likely to be diagnosed. About 7% of pregnancies are plagued with gestational diabetes.  Diabetes costs over $300 billion a year.

Having diabetes makes a person’s likelihood of acquiring heart disease or having a stroke double.  It is also leading cause of kidney disease, limb amputation, and blindness in adults.

The word ‘insulin’ comes from the Latin insula (island) since the Islets of Langerhans (in the pancreas) secrete it.

• https://www.factretriever.com/diabetes-facts
• https://www.verywellhealth.com/trivia-facts-about-diabetes-1087709
• https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/quick-facts.html

We’re getting ready for our ‘Autumn Extravaganza,” and need your help!

Along with our spaghetti dinner, silent auction, and craft sale, we also have a bake sale.  

If this fall weather has put you in the baking mood, we’d gladly be the recipients of some goodies (to put on our sale in a few weeks).

If you’re “achin’ to do some bakin'” and you’d like to share, please let us know.

Today is the memorial of Saints Cosmas and Damien.  For this occasion, we’ll share an article in this month’s St. Anne’s Broadcaster which recognized them as our “Saints of the Month.”  It was written by Kathy Lieberg.

Cosmas & Damien were twins, born during the third century in Arabia. The major shrines for them are at the Convent of the Poor Clares in Madrid, Spain, the Basilica of Saints Cosmas and Damian in Rome and in Bitonto, Bari, Italy. There is virtually nothing known about their lives. It was after their deaths that miraculous things began to happen. It is known that they were both doctors and are thus patron saints of physicians, surgeons and pharmacists.

In Brazil, they are known as protectors of children. September 27 (which used to be their feast day) is commemorated, especially in Rio de Janeiro, by giving children bags of candy with the saints’ effigy printed on them. In Utica, NY there is a yearly celebration which takes place at St. Anthony’s Parish with a two-day festival including several busloads from Canada.

There is an interesting Orthodox icon depicting these saints as vested laymen holding medicine boxes. They are often shown holding a spoon with which to dispense medicine. The handle of the spoon is normally shaped like a cross to indicate the importance spiritual as well as physical healing and that all cures come from God!

Source: Wikipedia

Between this last Friday and today, residents, staff/sisters, and volunteers husked, “de-haired,” and bagged about 1900 ears of sweet corn.

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We are very grateful, first of all, to the Wald family for growing and harvesting all this corn for us! It has been an annual tradition for many years; we appreciate their kindness.

We also want to thank all of the great volunteers who came in to help us! Your hard work and capable hands were a huge asset in “getting the job done.”

Thank you, too, to our staff and residents who were so helpful.

Our residents will be able, thanks to all of you, to enjoy delicious, locally grown sweet corn all year through.

PS: Did you know that, according to the Mayo Clinic’s website, corn provides your body with needed fiber, B vitamins, zinc, magnesium, copper, iron and manganese?  It also contains antioxidants and other things that help you to have healthy eyes.  However, diabetics need to keep in mind its high carbohydrate content.

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It’s been a while since we updated you on our little plum trees…Their journey began about two years ago when pits were saved from plums from a relatives land near Fisher, MN.

Now, they range in height from 3′ 1″ to 3′ 11″, soon to be four, we hope. These four trees are an exciting addition to the lawn on the south side of St. Anne’s.