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Wellness Words 2020

January 15, 2020

HealthLink Littauer’sAlicia DeRuscio-Head

WELLNESS WORDS

Submitted by Alicia DeRuscio, B.S.

 

Eye Health

When you think of good health, you probably picture someone free of illness or chronic conditions. What about someone with good eye health? Your eyes are an important part of your body – they help you see, connect with, and experience the world around you.

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), your eyes experience many changes as you age. For example, some of the cells in your eyes, called rod cells, are more likely to break down over time. These cells are responsible for helping your eyes focus and adjust, and are affected by certain lifestyle factors including smoking or excessive sun exposure. As rod cells break down, you may experience trouble with your vision.

The AAO lists several common problems that older adults experience with age:

  • A gradual loss in ability to see things up close, known as presbyopia.
  • Difficulty adjusting or focusing eyes when moving from a poor-lit area to a well-lit area, or vice versa.
  • Difficulty adjusting to light or dark when driving, especially in the rain.
  • Contrast sensitivity, or trouble separating an image from its background with a similar color or tone.

Aging also makes you more likely to develop eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma or cataracts. Many eye diseases do not have any signs or symptoms, so it’s important to keep your eyes healthy and get them checked regularly.

In order to maintain good eye health, the National Eye Institute (NIH) recommends:

  • Getting a dilated eye exam every year to check for eye diseases.
  • Wearing sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of UVA and UVB radiation.
  • Wearing protective eyewear such as goggles or safety glasses when playing sports or performing manual labor.
  • Giving your eyes a rest every 20 minutes when looking at a computer or TV screen.
  • Washing your hands before putting in or taking out contacts.
  • Disinfecting contact lenses and replacing them regularly

As with any health-related disease, it’s also important to maintain good physical health in order to protect your eyes. Adopting healthy lifestyle habits like eating a nutritious diet, getting adequate sleep, quitting smoking and getting regular physical activity can decrease the risk of developing eye diseases.

Certain foods, like spinach, kale, tuna, halibut and salmon are beneficial to eye health. Sleeping also promotes eye health by providing continuous lubrication, helping eyes to rid themselves of dust or other irritants that may have built up during the day.

While some changes in vision naturally occur because of age, others do not. Low vision, or vision loss that makes daily activities difficult, is usually the result of an eye disease. Low vision can include both losses of central and side vision, as well as blurred or hazy vision. Common symptoms include difficulty reading, driving, shopping or recognizing faces.

If you experience low vision or have trouble with any of these tasks, be sure to contact your eye doctor. Scheduling a visit with an eye doctor will help determine if you have an eye condition and provide you with resources to aid with low vision.

For more information on healthy lifestyles, contact HealthLink Littauer at 518-736-1120. You can email us at healthlink@nlh.org or visit our wellness center at 2 Colonial Court in downtown Johnstown.  We’re your community health & wellness service of Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home.

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Littauer’s Baby of the Year!

January 6, 2020

GLOVERSVILLE, NY – A couple battling a snow squall on their way to The Birthing Center at Nathan Littauer Hospital may not have realized they would be bringing home a little celebrity. Barbara Ralph and Daniel Williams, who traveled all the way from Speculator, ended up having the local New Year’s Day Baby!

Barbara checked into Littauer’s Birthing Center at 3:34 p.m. on December 31st.

Mother; Barbara Ralph, and Father; Daniel Williams, were very excited to bring baby Daniel into this world. “I was so excited for Daniel,” mom says.

Mother and Father of Baby Daniel pictured with Nathan Littauer’s Auxiliary.

21 hours and seven minutes after check-in, Baby Daniel Scott Williams, was born January 1st at 1:31 p.m. He weighed 8 lbs. and 2 oz. with a length of 21”, making him the very first baby delivered at Nathan Littauer Hospital for the year 2020.

Holding Daniel, dad says, “He is a very peaceful and happy baby.”

As tradition, Nathan Littauer’s Auxiliary made a donation to the family of the Baby of the Year. Littauer’s Auxiliary donated over 200 dollars in special gifts for little Daniel and his parents.

Inside the gift basket, are: clothes for baby Daniel, blankets, pacifiers, and little plush toys. President of Nathan Littauer’s Auxiliary, Norma Cozzolino, Director of Nathan Littauer’s Volunteer Services, Sue McNeil, Auxiliary Volunteer, Fran Mosconi, all presented the basket to little Daniel and his family.

“This is so nice,” says mom. “We’re very happy to have had our baby with Littauer.”

Mom and Dad are very excited. They look forward to bringing Daniel home.

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About Nathan Littauer

Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home is a full-service, 74 bed acute care hospital with an 84 bed skilled nursing home. Since 1894, Nathan Littauer has provided safe, high-quality health and wellness services with a focus on securing appropriate new technologies for people residing in Upstate New York. Over the years, the hospital has expanded its services in order to offer health care that is comprehensive, accessible, and relevant to the needs of the communities they serve.  More information can be found by visiting www.nlh.org.

 

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Wellness Words December 2019

December 18, 2019

HealthLink Littauer’sAlicia DeRuscio-Head

WELLNESS WORDS

Submitted by Alicia DeRuscio, B.S.

Community Education Assistant

 

Preventing Illness During The Holidays

The holidays provide us with a great opportunity to celebrate life, reflect on what’s most important to us and spend time with family and friends. However, the holidays can also expose us to many germs, especially if we must travel or prepare meals for relatives, leaving our bodies susceptible to illness.  This holiday season, be mindful of your health and take some extra steps to prevent spreading germs to both yourself and others.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one of the most important things we can do to prevent sickness both during the holidays and throughout the year is to properly wash our hands. In order to eliminate and prevent the spread of germs, the CDC recommends the following:

  • Wash hands with clean, running water.
  • Lather your hands with soap and be sure to rub the backs of your hands, in between your fingers and underneath your nails.
  • Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds.
  • Rinse your hands thoroughly with clean, running water.
  • Dry your hands with a clean towel or let them air dry.
  • If you do not have clean, running water and soap, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Apply the sanitizer to the palm of your hand and rub both hands together.
  • Make sure all parts of your hands are covered with sanitizer and continue rubbing them together until they are completely dry.

As many of us touch our face, mouth and eyes without even realizing it, following these handwashing steps will help minimize the spread of germs.

It’s important that we utilize proper hand-washing during travel time, too. The American Automobile Association (AAA) estimates that over 100 million Americans travel during holiday time.  With so many people entering airplanes, buses or trains, there’s a vast amount of germs spread throughout these areas.

If you are planning to travel, make sure to carry an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with you for your hands as well as other surfaces. If you are traveling on an airplane, bus or train, sanitize areas such as tray tables, arms rests and bathroom door handles before touching them.  If you use the bathroom, avoid touching bathroom surfaces; turn the sink off with a clean, dry paper towel and use the paper towel to open the bathroom door.  Practicing these small hygiene habits will ensure fewer germs are spread to both you and those you’re traveling to see.

While you may not necessarily have to travel on an airplane, bus or train, you will likely still enjoy a holiday meal with loved ones. Whether you are cooking for family or going to relative or friend’s house, it’s important to practice proper food safety.  If you or a loved one plans to cook, follow the CDC’s four steps to food safety:

  • Step 1: Clean – Make sure to wash hands and all kitchen surfaces with warm, soapy water before preparing food.
  • Step 2: Separate – Keep raw meat, seafood, poultry and eggs separated from one another as well as from other foods. Make sure to use different cutting boards when preparing each item and keep them stored in separate containers.
  • Step 3: Temperature – Cooking foods to high temperatures will kill germs and prevent illness. Be sure to use a food thermometer to determine if foods such as whole cuts of meat, fish, poultry and ham are cooked properly. If you have to thaw foods, do so in the refrigerator, microwave, or in cold water. Avoid thawing foods on the counter because bacteria can grow more quickly at room temperature.
  • Step 4: Chill – After the meal, refrigerate all perishable food items within two hours. Refrigerators should be kept below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Handwashing, travel hygiene and food safety are all important in preventing illness in combination with practicing healthy habits. Don’t forget to continue consuming a healthy, well-balanced diet, drinking enough fluids and getting proper sleep over the holidays. While we may not always be able to avoid germs, following these guidelines will help decrease your risk of getting sick this holiday season.

For more information on preventing illness, contact your healthcare provide or call HealthLink Littauer at 518-736-1120. You can email us at healthlink@nlh.org or visit our wellness center at 2 Colonial Court in downtown Johnstown.  We’re your community health & wellness service of Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home.

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Brandis, MD, Wins Reader’s Choice Award

December 6, 2019

GLOVERSVILLE, NY – Robert Brandis, MD, of Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home was chosen as the Reader’s Choice for The Leader Herald.

“Dr. Brandis is yet another Gem in the Adirondacks,” says Cheryl McGrattan, Vice President of Marketing and Communications of Littauer. “We’re glad to have him as one of our providers – our patients are too!”

Dr. Brandis was voted as the best Doctor and Physician in the Adirondack region.

“We’re honored to have Dr. Brandis in our midst,” says Patrice McMahon Vice President of Littauer’s Primary Care Centers. “We say thank you to our staff and our community as Dr. Robert Brandis wins this award.”

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About Nathan Littauer

Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home is a full-service, 74 bed acute care hospital with an 84 bed skilled nursing home. Since 1894, Nathan Littauer has provided safe, high-quality health and wellness services with a focus on securing appropriate new technologies for people residing in Upstate New York. Over the years, the hospital has expanded its services in order to offer health care that is comprehensive, accessible, and relevant to the needs of the communities they serve.  More information can be found by visiting www.nlh.org.

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A Gift of Artful Healing

December 6, 2019

GLOVERSVILLE, NY – Recently, Mr. Joseph Rossi made a generous donation to Nathan Littauer’s Auxiliary, a volunteer service within Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home. Mr. Rossi made the sole donation of $17,000 funding a large format art installation. The tiled, mosaic waterfall mural was revealed in Littauer’s Reflection Garden this past August. The mural is a tribute to Mr. Rossi’s wife, JoAnn Rossi, and other loved ones who have passed. Jo Ann worked with Nathan Littauer’s Auxiliary for 12 years.

The mural was created by artists Tammy Merendo, Linda Biggers, and Susan Ruscitto. It was also a collaborative effort of numerous Littauer employees and volunteers. The mosaic was not only created to represent our spirituality and humanity, but it was made to honor loved ones who have passed.

“It is made of stained glass, agate, clay, and Love,” says Sue McNeil, Director of Volunteer Services. “Jo Ann loved working in our Extended Care Facility. She would visit each and every resident, if time allowed.”

“Art is most needed where you don’t expect to find it,” says Cheryl McGrattan, Vice President of Marketing and Communications with Littauer. “A hospital is a place where joy and sorrow meet all too often. The memories of those passed will continue to live-on through the mural.”

To honor Mr. Rossi’s generous donation, Nathan Littauer’s Auxiliary purchased a plaque to commemorate Jo Ann.

“Being an Auxiliary member runs in the family,” says Mr. Rossi. “My mother was an Auxilian with Littauer for over 20 years. So, my wife and I found it very fitting to be involved with the auxiliary.”

Mr. Rossi wants people to know about Jo Ann. He explains, “She was an extremely caring person and would always come and visit with the residents in the Extended Care Facility.” It’s very fitting for the mural and plaque to have a place in the Reflection Garden, where they would share time together.

President and CEO of Littauer, Laurence E. Kelly, Director of Volunteer Services with Littauer, Sue McNeil, President of Littauer’s Auxiliary, Norma Cozzolino, and Mr. Rossi had gathered November 12, to pay homage to Jo Ann.

The plaque reads:

“In Loving Memory of Jo Ann Rossi –

‘If there was a resident in the Nursing Home who had no one coming to visit them, I would be there. I loved visiting with the residents, sharing stories, and listening to them talk about their wonderful lives.’

Donated by Husband and Best Friend – Joseph”

Mr. Rossi reflects on the meaningfulness of the plaque and mural:

“Thank you to Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home and The Auxiliary for all the good deeds they perform each and every day. The Auxilians are a special group of people that are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of others. It is an honor to support this outstanding organization by donating the funding for the beautiful mosaic waterfall mural. It is in memory of my wife, Jo Ann, who was one of those dedicated Auxilians and in memory of other loved ones.”

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About Nathan Littauer
Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home is a full-service, 74 bed acute care hospital with an 84 bed skilled nursing home. Since 1894, Nathan Littauer has provided safe, high-quality health and wellness services with a focus on securing appropriate new technologies for people residing in Upstate New York. Over the years, the hospital has expanded its services in order to offer health care that is comprehensive, accessible, and relevant to the needs of the communities they serve. More information can be found by visiting www.nlh.org.

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INTRODUCING QUICK N SICK

December 4, 2019

Need medical care on the weekend?

QUICK N SICK is YOUR primary care- when you need it most. Introducing Littauer’s QUICK N SICK, urgent and primary care offered every weekend by the providers you trust most. And yes, walk-ins are welcomed.  You need not be a current patient. Visit us at the Gloversville Primary Care Center, next to the hospital, 8:00 am -4:30 pm Saturdays and Sundays.  99 East State Street, Gloversville, NY 12078. Call 518-773-5690 for more information or to book an appointment.

Offering primary and urgent care on the weekends! Saturdays and Sundays 8:00 am -4:30 pm in our Primary Care offices on 99 East State Street

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NLH Nurse Tapped to Lead

November 25, 2019

Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home’s Eileen Breckenridge, RN, Nurse Educator, and Nursing Administration Supervisor was recently elected as the Secretary of the New York State Emergency Nurses Association (ENA). Eileen will serve the ENA in this position on the Board of Directors for two years. She currently serves the ENA as the President of the Adirondack Chapter.

(Left) Eileen Breckenridge accepts the election to serve as Secretary on the ENA’s Board of Directors from the President of the New York State ENA, Mary Ann Teeter. (Right)

“It is one of the most educational and inspiring processes I have ever been involved with,” says Eileen.

The ENA is an international professional organization with approximately 43,000 members worldwide. In New York State alone, there are 2,600 members divided into three chapters. The Adirondack Chapter of the ENA is the largest chapter that exists within the ENA. The ENA’s mission is to provide evidence-based education to establish quality care for the emergency care patient.

Eileen has been an active member of the ENA for ten years. In her newly elected position, Eileen says her goal is: “To help foster and develop future instructors ensuring the integrity of the courses the ENA provides.” She will also continue to develop programming for the New York State ENA Conference.

The ENA was originally founded by two nurses; one nurse that resides in New York and another that resides in California. Later in 2020, the ENA will celebrate its 50th anniversary commemorating the merging of the state committees. To mark the occasion, October 14, 2020, the Empire State Building will be illuminated purple, celebrating the ENA’s achievements.

“Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home is proud to have such distinguished nursing staff like Eileen,” says Cheryl McGrattan, Vice President of Marketing with Littauer. “Our nurses not only focus on delivering excellent patient care, but their willingness to create meaningful educational opportunities for nurses at all stages of their careers is inspiring.”

“This is a great thing,” Eileen continues. “The ENA is an organization of renowned nursing professionals. We’re leading the charge and it’s giving us a big voice.”

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About Nathan Littauer

Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home is a full-service, 74 bed acute care hospital with an 84 bed skilled nursing home. Since 1894, Nathan Littauer has provided safe, high-quality health and wellness services with a focus on securing appropriate new technologies for people residing in Upstate New York. Over the years, the hospital has expanded its services in order to offer health care that is comprehensive, accessible, and relevant to the needs of the communities they serve.  More information can be found by visiting www.nlh.org.

 

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