Wellness Words September 2012 Posted on September 13, 2012January 8, 2013 by Dakota PikeHealthLink Littauer’sWELLNESS WORDSSubmitted by Carol Tomlinson RN BSCommunity Health Educator Importance Of Activity For SeniorsFor many adults, growing older seems to involve an inevitable loss of strength, energy, and feeling fit. However, it doesn’t necessarily need to be so!According to the Center for Healthy Aging, the frail health and loss of function we associate with aging such as not being able to walk moderate to long distances, climb stairs or carry groceries, is in large part due to physical inactivity. When it comes to our muscles the old adage, “use it or lose it” applies.There is good news! It is never too late to become more physically active. No one is too old to enjoy the benefits of regular physical activity. Even those with chronic medical conditions can benefit from increased physical activity. Working with their medical provider almost anyone can become more active. According to William Evans, author of “Biomarkers,” a book about healthy aging, “There is no single group that can benefit from physical activity more than the elderly.”Unfortunately, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows the following: 28-34% of adults age 65-74 engage in NO exercise35-44% of adults age 75 and older engage in NO exercise30-40% of all older people are only occasionally activeAt best, 20-35% of seniors regularly achieve the recommended activity levels of at least 20 minutes of exercise 4 or more days a weekOlder women were found to be more sedentary than older menIf you are like most people, especially if you have been sedentary, you won’t be motivated to suddenly take up aerobic dancing, and you don’t have to join a gym to get the exercise you need.Walking is one of the best conditioning exercises and can be done by almost anyone, regardless of age! If the recommendation of 20-30 minutes of walking is unreasonable, you can walk for 10 or even 5 minutes several times a day.Regular physical activity, even stretching different muscle groups daily, can be helpful to increase flexibility and improve balance. There are many classes such as gentle yoga, tai chi, water aerobics, exercise for arthritis, and others offered throughout the area.With the many substantial rewards involved and the fun you can have just getting involved in new activities … it doesn’t make sense to take the retired life sitting down!For more information on getting active, contact your healthcare provider, local senior center, YMCA or HealthLink Littauer at 736-1120. You can e-mail us at healthlink@nlh.org, see our website at www.nlh.org, or visit our wellness center at 213 Harrison Street Ext. in Johnstown, Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. We’re your community health & wellness service of Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home.
Wellness Words August 2012 Posted on August 20, 2012January 8, 2013 by Dakota PikeHealthLink Littauer’sWELLNESS WORDSSubmitted by Carol Tomlinson RN BSCommunity Health Educator ADULT IMMUNIZATIONSMany think of vaccinations as something for children but it’s not just kids stuff. All adults, including those age 50 and older need vaccines. Some of the adult vaccine recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have changed recently. So even if you think you are up-to-date on your vaccines, you should review the following information.FLU VACCINEFlu kills about 36,000 people in theUSevery year and older Americans are among the most vulnerable to this disease. Because each year’s vaccine is made to combat that season’s strain of flu, you need a dose every year. Flu shots are given during the September-to-March flu season. Remember, you cannot get the flu from the flu vaccine.PNEUMONIA VACCINEEveryone age 65 and older needs to have the vaccine once. You may need a second dose if you are 65+ and you had your first dose when you were younger than 65 and it has been 5 or more years since the first dose.SHINGLES VACCINEThis vaccine is now recommended for everyone over age 60, regardless of whether you have had a prior episode of shingles. Shingles is especially painful in older adults. Some experts have recommended only getting this vaccine if you have had chicken pox. However, the CDC recommends everyone over 60 get vaccinated because more than 99% of people over age 40 have had chicken pox, even if they don’t recall having the disease.TETANUS, DIPTHERIA, PERTUSSIS (Td, Tdap)Recently, we have heard a lot about increases in the number of Whooping Cough (Pertussis) cases. The latest CDC guidelines suggest that any adult who is going to be near infants under age 1 should have one booster shot of tetanus, diphtheria and (whooping cough). If you have never had a vaccine that included Pertussis, the recommendation is for you to have at least one dose at your next medical visit. Thereafter, you should have a booster of tetanus and diphtheria at least every 10 years. If you have a deep puncture wound you should contact your doctor to see if you need to have another tetanus shot.MEASLES, MUMPS, RUBELLA (MMR)People born before 1957 generally are considered immune to measles and mumps because they are likely to have had these diseases as a child. However, if you are uncertain of whether you have either had the condition or had the vaccine ask your physician if you should have one dose.OTHER VACCINESYou may also need vaccines for such conditions as Hepatitis A and/or B and Meningitis if you have certain medical conditions or you are going to travel outside the U.S. Contact your physician to determine your level of risk for infection and possible need for any of these vaccines.Remember, vaccines are important to keep yourself and those around you safe from some of the most debilitating and deadly, but preventable diseases!For more information on immunizations, contact the CDC (cdc.gov), your local health department or healthcare provider, or HealthLink Littauer at 736-1120. You can e-mail us at healthlink@nlh.org, see our website at www.nlh.org, or visit our wellness center at 213 Harrison Street Ext. in Johnstown, Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. We’re your community health & wellness service of Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home.
Nathan Littauer Hosted Celebration for Breastfeeding Families Posted on August 8, 2012September 22, 2012 by Dakota PikeThe Road to Lifelong Health Begins with BreastfeedingGloversville, NY…Last night, Nathan Littauer hosted a celebration in honor of 2012 World Breastfeeding Week. Nancy Quinlan, an International Board Certificated Lactation Consultant at Littauer explains, “We held the celebration to support breastfeeding families. The event was such a huge success. Women who were interested in learning more about breastfeeding also stopped by.” She added, “There is support for every family who decides to breastfeed.” Nancy believes the road to lifelong health is not one for mothers and babies to travel alone. “Successful breastfeeding begins with support of families, health care providers, governments, employers and communities,” said Nancy. She concluded, “That is why we held this celebration. To show families there is a tremendous amount of support for breastfeeding in our community.”Left, Stefanie Soto and her baby Lydia Soto and Jessica Herishko and her baby Ezekiel Herishko celebrated breastfeeding at Nathan Littauer. The event: “Sweet Celebration of Breastfeeding 2012” was attended by over 45 people including entire families. Cheryl McGrattan noted, “It was such a nice family atmosphere.” Anyone who is interested in breastfeeding for themselves or for someone close to them is encouraged to call 773-5710.
A summer haven courtesy of Nathan Littauer! Posted on June 29, 2012August 16, 2012 by Dakota PikeCamp SuperStarrs- a camp for special kids Children with health problems find a summer haven in Fulton County for two weeks“I am going to summer camp!” That is what Nathan Littauer Hospital wants every kid to be able to say, even those with medical conditions. And thanks to Camp SuperStarrs, that dream is coming true for many kids. This year, Nathan Littauer Hospital’s Camp SuperStarrs will be celebrating 33 years of bringing summer fun to children with health problems. The dates for this year’s camp will be July 16th to July 20th, and the second session will take place July23rd to July 27th. The camp is held at Woodworth Lake’s Boy Scout Camp.Summer camp begins July 16th Continue reading “A summer haven courtesy of Nathan Littauer!”
Wellness Words June 2012 Posted on June 29, 2012August 16, 2012 by Dakota PikeHealthLink Littauer’sWELLNESS WORDSSubmitted by Carol Tomlinson RN BSCommunity Health Educator SUMMER HEALTH & SAFETYWe all have memories of fun-filled summer days when school was out and we could swim, ride our bikes, camp out and enjoy the beautiful Adirondack weather. Summer in Fulton County is still a beautiful time of year most of us look forward to, but we also need to be prepared for the unique health and safety issues of our warmer months.Every summer many people end up in the Emergency Department for treatment of any one of a number of summer ailments…burns, cuts, food poisoning, heat exhaustion and of course pesky mosquito and tick ailments, to name a few. Here are some suggestions to make your summer safer and more enjoyable!1, Drink plenty of cool, not ice-cold (non-alcoholic) fluids, especially on hot days. Many medications can contribute to dehydration. Check with your doctor on the amounts of fluid you should be drinking if you are on medication.2. Protect yourself from the sun and be sure to wear a hat. Avoid the midday sun, apply sunscreen frequently on all exposed skin and wear sunglasses to protect your eyes. Check with your doctor or pharmacist to see if any of the medications you use should restrict your time in the sun.3. Be careful of the foods you eat, how they are prepared and how they have been stored…BEWARE of undercooked meats and foods left outside or not refrigerated.4. Restrict your activity on very hot and humid days. As we age our bodies do not adjust as well to extremes in temperature and/or humidity, and some medications can impair the body’s ability to regulate its temperature.5. Treat equipment with respect – lawn mowers, weed eaters, saws and ladders, etc. Wear appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes, shut off engines before refueling and clean the work area of debris.6. Take care to use insect repellents safely. Remember to spray outdoors or in a well ventilated area.7. Be prepared for summer storms and power outages. Flash lights with working batteries are a must and a battery operated radio will help keep you aware of emergency information. Don’t forget to have a reserve supply of drinking water and food supplies to last from 1-3 days.8. If you live alone make sure a neighbor, friend or relative knows where you are when a storm approaches. Set up a plan to alert someone if you need assistance should phones not work.9. Ticks and mosquitoes can cause major health issues. Keep lawns mowed, litter picked up and objects that can hold rain water clean and dry. The ground area under bird feeders should be kept clean so it won’t attract small animals that can carry ticks.10. Make sure to carry a small emergency first aid kit with you.HealthLink, your community health and wellness service of Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home, wants to wish you and your loved ones a safe and healthy summer! For more information, call us at 736-1120, e-mail us at healthlink@nlh.org, see our website at www.nlh.org, or visit our wellness center at 213 Harrison Street Ext. in Johnstown, Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
