coronavirus: what you need to know now - lewis county 2020.pdf · monitor your stress levels. if...

Coronavirus: What you need to

know

NOW

Get your prescriptions

refilled NOW! Call ahead to

your pharmacy to have them

ready, and use the drive

through, if possible. Many

insurance companies are

waiving time restrictions and

you are able to refill your

prescriptions sooner! Take

advantage of this!

Do not leave your home. The best way to stop the

spread is to limit your

exposure to other people. Stay

inside! Ask friends and family

to run essential errands for

you, and when they make the

delivery, have them leave

supplies just inside your home

and stay six feet away from

them.

Call ahead to your doctors

if you have symptoms. Call

your primary care doctor and

describe what your symptoms

are. They will have specific

recommendations for you.

Cancel all unnecessary

appointments. You may have

been waiting months to see

that specialist, but if it can

wait, reschedule.

LEWIS COUNTY OFFICE FOR THE AGING

P.O. Box 193, 5274 Outer Stowe Street Lowville, New York 13367

(315) 376-5313 Website – www.lewiscounty.org/departments/office-for-the-aging

April 2020

https://www.lewiscounty.org/departments/office-for-the-aging

Home delivered meal program temporarily expanded

We have temporarily suspended service at our congregate meal sites and all public events hosted by the office for the remainder of March and all of April 2020. OFA operates six congregate dining sites throughout the county located in Harrisville, Croghan, Lowville, Copenhagen, Lyons Falls, and Osceola.

Amid the coronavirus outbreak in the United States, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is encouraging older people and people with severe chronic medical conditions to "stay at home as much as possible.” Certain people are at higher risk of getting very sick from this illness. This includes:

· Older adults · People who have serious chronic medical conditions like heart

disease, diabetes or lung disease.

Due to these factors, and the advice of the CDC, Lewis County Office for the Aging and Lewis County Public Health have made the proactive decision to do all we can to prevent the spread of infection through

closing the meal sites until we have a better understanding of the coronavirus and how it may impact our community. Our top priority is the health and well being of older adults in Lewis County.

OFA is encouraging any person over sixty who is following advice and staying home AND does not have adequate food at home to contact OFA to begin home delivered meals. OFA is temporarily being flexible with eligibility requirements for home delivered meals to meet the needs of all older adults in our community.

Please call OFA at 315-376-5313 for more information on home delivered meals and services in general. If you have questions about the coronavirus please call your doctor or Lewis County Public Health at 315-376-5453.

Use our Volunteer Delivery Program to stay safe at home

If you need groceries, prescriptions or other items delivered to your home to assist with social distancing, just give our Volunteer Delivery Program a call.

Lewis County Department of Social Services and Lewis County Office for the Aging are partnering with local school districts through the Strong Schools Strong Community partnership to assist older community members and those with chronic health conditions to stay at home.

DSS and OFA will assign trusted volunteers from local school districts to run errands. School volunteers will provide grocery shopping, pharmacy pick-up, and other important errands within 3-5 days of a request. If an individual or family does not have money to meet their own needs, DSS and OFA will assist in finding local resources.

For more information or to make a referral, contact Lewis County Department of Social Services at 315-376-5400 from 8:30AM-4:30PM Monday thru Friday. Please ask for the Volunteer Delivery Program.

This effort shows the strength of our schools and community working together. We will continue to provide support for our older community members and those at risk as long as needed to keep our community as healthy as possible.

Managing stress during the Coronavirus outbreak

The Coronavirus outbreak has caused fear and panic for many. Here are some ways to stay safe and manage

stress during this uncertain time.

For Everyone:

Practice good hygiene and plan ahead in case

your routine is disrupted.

Monitor your stress levels. If you experience

major changes in your energy level,

eating/sleeping patterns or ability to

concentrate or have thoughts of self-injury or

suicide, seek help at 1-800-273-TALK

(8255) or text Got5 to 741741.

Choose a few trusted news sources and only

check them once or twice a day.

Exercise, eat healthy foods and get a good

night’s sleep. Avoid staying up late to monitor the news.

Virtually reach out to different types of support networks, like family, friends, colleagues, faith-based

communities and social organizations. Try to avoid isolation.

Keep busy by finding ways to help others, and focus on other things, like movies or TV shows.

Start a gratitude journal or talk nightly with your family about fun or enjoyable moments of the day.

Grounding exercises, sensory modulation, and deep breathing may be helpful for some people.

For Those Receiving Mental Health Services:

As soon as possible, work with a mental health provider on a coping plan. Come up with specific ways

to manage stress and develop alternative options if routine services are disrupted.

Seek positive peer support, whether done directly or through online peer support or peer hotlines.

For Parents:

Rehearse scripts for talking with your kids about COVID-19. Use resources and media to help prepare.

Talk about the situation openly, and answer questions your child asks but don’t give more information

than requested. Reassure your child that it is normal to feel scared or anxious.

Limit information flow about the outbreak and consider watching the news with your child.

Keep as many routines intact as possible and set up a schedule for students who are home from school.

Find fun ways to maintain contact with elderly grandparents, school classmates or others using video

calls, letters, postcards or other means.

Encourage exercise and time outside, and consider teaching purposeful breathing or distraction skills.

For Caregivers:

Help individuals maintain social connections, whether through phone calls or newer technology, and

find ways they can help others, like making check-in calls or entertaining grandchildren on FaceTime.

Encourage individuals to stay active, and help them select reliable sources to get coronavirus updates.

Consider practical ways to help limit anxiety, like volunteering to order the person’s groceries online or

offering to walk the dog.

Take care of yourself, as being a caregiver during uncertain times can be particularly stressful.

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

1% Milk

Offered Daily

Menu is Subject to

Change without

Notice

1

Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Harvard Beets

Broccoli w/ Red Peppers Yogurt

2

Turkey w/ Gravy Stuffing

Green Beans Cranberry Sauce

Ensure Chocolate Pudding

3

Lemon Dill Fish Coleslaw

Asparagus w/ Parmesan

Cheese

Pears 6

Shepherds Pie Parsley Carrots

Cinnamon Applesauce Cook’s Choice Bread

7

Boiled Ham Dinner Boiled Potatoes

Cabbage & Carrots Clementines (2)

8

Chicken Parmesan Pasta w/ Sauce

Italian Blend Vegetables

Apricots

9

Easter Meal! Roast Pork w/ Pineapple Glaze

Butternut Squash Brussels Sprouts

Dinner Roll

Lemon Meringue Pie

10

Salmon Patty w/ White

Sauce Rice Pilaf

Sliced Carrots

Tropical Fruit Cup

13

Salisbury Steak Sweet Potatoes

Stewed Tomatoes Banana

14

Breaded Pork Peas

Succotash Vegetables Pineapple

15

Chicken w/ Peach Glaze Green Bean & Corn

Casserole Cauliflower

Baked Apple Slices

16 Spaghetti w/ Meatballs Italian Blend Vegetables

Garden Salad

Breadstick

Peaches

17

Egg & Cheese Strata Spinach

Bran Muffin Warm Pears LS V8 Juice

20 Corinne’s Chicken Pot Pie

Diced Beets Brussels Sprouts

Fruit Cocktail

21

Cook’s Specialty HDMs

22

Spanish Rice Pureed Winter Squash

Capri Blend Vegetables Hidden Pastures Goat Milk

Gelato

23

Hamburger on WW Bun Lettuce & Tomato

Boiled Potatoes Mixed Vegetables Mandarin Oranges

24

Vegetable Lasagna Lima Beans

Oriental Blend Vegetables Apricots

27

Tuna Mac Salad Lettuce & Tomato

WW Dinner Roll

Tomato Cucumber Salad Grapes

28

Beef Stew Peas

Corn Muffin Pineapple

29

Sweet & Sour Pork w/

Pineapple Seasoned Brown Rice

Spinach & Mandarin Salad Banana

30

Seasoned Baked Chicken Boiled Red Potatoes

Broccoli Peaches

Megan Dolhof, MS, CNS -Nutrition Services Coordinator

LEWIS COUNTY SENIOR NUTRITION PROGRAM (376-5313)

MENU IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT ADVANCE NOTICE!

The suggested donation is $3.50 Guest Fee – $8.35

The Nutrition Program accepts cash, checks & Food Stamps

Copenhagen, Croghan, Harrisville, Lyons Falls, Osceola & Lowville

August 2019






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** Subject to change to serve as many as possible. Please bear with us. **

April

2020

Answers on Next Page

Coronavirus (COVID-19) tips for… Most likely, dementia does not increase risk for COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the new coronavirus, just like dementia does not increase risk for flu. However, dementia-related behaviors, increased age and common health conditions that often accompany dementia may increase risk. For example, people with Alzheimer's disease and all other dementia may forget to wash their hands or take other recommended precautions to prevent illness. In addition, diseases like COVID-19 and the flu may worsen cognitive impairment due to dementia.

Tips for dementia caregivers at home Caregivers of individuals living with Alzheimer's and all other dementia should follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and consider the following tips:

For people living with dementia, increased confusion is often the first symptom of any illness. If a person living with dementia shows rapidly increased confusion, contact your health care provider for advice.

People living with dementia may need extra and/or written reminders and support to remember important hygienic practices from one day to the next.

o Consider placing signs in the bathroom and elsewhere to remind people with dementia to wash their hands with soap for 20 seconds.

o Demonstrate thorough hand-washing.

Alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol can be a quick alternative to hand-washing if the person with dementia cannot get to a sink or wash hands easily.

Ask your pharmacist or doctor about filling prescriptions for a greater number of days to reduce trips to the pharmacy.

Make alternative plans for the person with dementia should adult day care, respite, etc. be modified or cancelled in response to COVID-19.

Think ahead and make alternative plans for care management if the primary caregiver should become sick.

Answers from the

Puzzle on Prior Page

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fabout%2Fprevention-treatment.html

caregivers of people with dementia

Tips for caregivers of individuals in assisted living The CDC has provided guidance to facilities on infection control and prevention of COVID-19 in nursing homes. This guidance is for the health and safety of residents. Precautions may vary based on local situations.

Check with the facility regarding their procedures for managing COVID-19 risk. Ensure they have your emergency contact information and the information of another family member or friend as a backup.

Do not visit your family member if you have any signs or symptoms of illness. Depending on the situation in your local area, facilities may limit or not allow visitors. This is to protect

the residents but it can be difficult if you are unable to see your family member. If visitation is not allowed, ask the facility how you can have contact with your family member. Options

include telephone calls, video chats or even emails to check in. If your family member is unable to engage in calls or video chats, ask the facility how you can keep in

touch with facility staff in order to get updates.

Staying healthy Pay attention to flu or pneumonia-like symptoms in yourself and others and report them to a medical professional immediately. Follow current guidance and instruction from the CDC regarding COVID-19. Tips to keep yourself and your loved ones healthy include:

Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Stay home when you are sick; work from home. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or

wipe. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the

bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. o If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60%

alcohol. o Always wash hands with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.

Volunteer Transportation Center suspends non-essential rides

As we try to better accommodate the recommendations of the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control, the Volunteer Transportation Center has adjusted its standard operating procedures. Regardless if appointments are contracted services or not, we are ONLY taking life-sustaining services, which is a determination we are not making and is one that is up to the client. Obviously, if it’s a trip to the podiatrist for a check-up or a dental cleaning, we would hope the client determines on his or her own it is not life-sustaining. So, essentially, to clarify, non-essential rides are suspended.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/healthcare-facilities/index.html

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fabout%2Fprevention-treatment.html

Social Security offices closed but still providing critical services

All local Social Security offices are closed to the public for in-person service but are still able to provide critical services. Online services remain available at www.socialsecurity.gov. Local offices will also continue to provide critical services over the phone.

Services may be accessed on the Social Security website at www.socialsecurity.gov/onlineservices. You can apply for retirement, disability, and Medicare benefits online, check the status of an application or appeal, request a replacement Social Security card (in most areas), print a benefit verification letter, and much more – from anywhere and from any of your devices. We also have a wealth of information to answer most of your Social Security questions online, without having to speak with a Social Security representative in person or by phone. Frequently asked questions are accessible at www.socialsecurity.gov/ask.

If you cannot conduct your Social Security business online, the online field office locator gives specific

information about how to directly contact your local office. Your local office still will be able to provide

critical services to help you apply for benefits, answer your questions, and provide other services over

the phone. The phone number for the Watertown field office is 1-866-627-6995; it is currently open from

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

If you already have an in-office appointment scheduled, Social Security will call you to handle your

appointment over the phone instead. If you have a hearing scheduled, the agency will call you to

discuss alternatives for continuing with your hearing, including offering a telephonic hearing. The call

may come from a PRIVATE number and not from a U.S. Government phone. Please remember that

Social Security employees will not threaten you or ask for any form of payment.

If you cannot complete your Social Security business online, please call the National 800 Number at 1-800-

772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). It has many automated service options you can use without waiting to

speak with a telephone representative. A list of automated telephone services is available online at

www.socialsecurity.gov/agency/contact/phone.html.

Follow our Facebook page for the most up-to-date

information and any changes to our services.

https://protect2.fireeye.com/v1/url?k=60b0954e-3c88322c-60b26c7b-000babd9f75c-26559e1b91c8bec9&q=1&e=a6a289dd-0f06-40da-aa81-ce797f5d7e4f&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.socialsecurity.gov%2F

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/onlineservices

https://protect2.fireeye.com/v1/url?k=1a30493e-4608ee5c-1a32b00b-000babd9f75c-369619f5c7df7359&q=1&e=a6a289dd-0f06-40da-aa81-ce797f5d7e4f&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.socialsecurity.gov%2Fask

https://secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp

https://protect2.fireeye.com/v1/url?k=e7778506-bb4f2264-e7757c33-000babd9f75c-eae940707861dfed&q=1&e=a6a289dd-0f06-40da-aa81-ce797f5d7e4f&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.socialsecurity.gov%2Fagency%2Fcontact%2Fphone.html

Supporting Your Immune System

By Megan Dolhof, MS, CNS

In addition to social distancing and hand washing, supporting your immune system is important to protect

yourself against the Coronavirus and other communicable diseases. Consuming nutrient dense foods, drinking

plenty of fluids, and practicing other healthy lifestyle

behaviors can help boost your immune system to

keep you healthy.

1. Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water. You

should aim for at least 64 ounces per day.

Unsweetened herbal teas are also a great

beverage choice.

2. Load up on fruits and vegetables. Fruits and

vegetables are a great source of vitamins and

minerals that our bodies need to stay healthy

and protect against illness. Remember, frozen

and canned fruits and vegetables are great

options if you are unable to get fresh! Look

for or request low salt and no sugar added

versions of canned goods.

3. Use immune boosting herbs and spices in

cooking: garlic, ginger, rosemary, sage,

oregano, thyme, turmeric, cinnamon, etc.

4. Avoid consumption of foods and beverages with excess sugar. Sugar from baked goods, packaged foods

and sugary beverages lower your immune system. These foods are often referred to as “empty calories”

because they add extra calories to your diet, but offer little to no nutrients.

5. Practice other healthy lifestyle behaviors: maintain a regular sleep schedule, find an activity to help

relieve stress, get outside for fresh air if able, stay active around your home, call a friend or family

member to chat.

Remember to call the Volunteer Delivery Program at Lewis County Department of Social Services at 315-376-

5400 if you are in need of any groceries or household supplies.

References:

How to Keep Your Immune System Healthy. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

https://www.eatright.org/health/wellness/preventing-illness/how-to-keep-your-immune-system-healthy

Accessed March 19, 2020.

Maggini, S., Pierre, A., & Calder, P. C. (2018). Immune Function and Micronutrient Requirements Change over

the Life Course. Nutrients, 10(10), 1531. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10101531

https://www.eatright.org/health/wellness/preventing-illness/how-to-keep-your-immune-system-healthy

Attention - Atención - 注意 – Aufmerksamkeit - Uwagi

Lewis County Office for the Aging offers interpretation services for more than 200 languages. To inquire about our agencies services for the aging at no cost to you, please call (315) 376-5313.

Oficina del Condado de Lewis para el envejecimiento ofrece servicios de interpretación para más de 200 idiomas preguntar acerca de nuestros servicios de agencias para el envejecimiento, sin costo para usted. Por favor llame al (315) 376-5313.

刘易斯县办公室为老化提供超过200种语言来查询有关我们机构服务的老化，无代价地你的口译服务。

请致电 (315) 376-5313。

Lewis County Office für das Altern bietet Dolmetschdienste für mehr als 200 Sprachen über unsere Agenturen-Dienstleistungen für das Altern, ohne Kosten für Sie zu erkundigen. Bitte rufen Sie (315) 376-5313.

Lewis County urząd starzenie oferuje ustnych dla ponad 200 języków zapytać o nasze usługi agencji na starzenie, bez kosztów dla Ciebie. Proszę zadzwonić (315) 376-5313

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