Wildcat PRIDE
June 2016
What’s Inside LIFE Healthy You! Live Well, Work Well Worklife Newsletter Eldercare Vision Care CULTURE and EVENTS Welcome Babies Congratulations Retirees! Congratulations 95210 Points leaders and BLAZE winner! 95210 Points Tipsheet Flat Wildcat AT&T Offer
June 2016
THIS EDITION FEATURES:
Seasonal Produce:
Summer
When You Can’t Afford to Wait Adding Foods for Better Health Be a Healthy Role Model Four Ways to Find Balance
Brought to you by
Summer Seasonal Produce:
Before you know it, the hot temperatures will return and you’ll be getting your daily dose of Vitamin D from the summer sun. (You still need sunblock though!) Don’t let your summer health benefits end there. Eating more fruits and vegetables may help you feel good, look good, and stay healthy. It can even help to reduce your chances for certain chronic conditions. If you enjoy a healthy and seasonal diet, it’s helpful to know which fruits and vegetables are in season in your region. This summer, keep your eyes open for the following fresh summer veggies: Summer squash. Zucchini is one of the best summer veggies because you can add it to almost any dish. Summer squash can be grilled as a side, add flavor to a sandwich, or be roasted and put on a pizza. Fruits and berries. Blueberries, cherries, peaches, plums, and raspberries are great summer snacks. They can also be added to salads and drinks, or turned into a tart.
When shopping locally and seasonally, you get the most nutrients because the produce is “younger” and hasn’t lost its luster. As the weather changes, be sure to get educated and be prepared so you can enjoy the best produce of the season!
Watermelon. Watermelon is the summer staple. A backyard BBQ isn’t complete without a nice, big slice of watermelon. It can be enjoyed by itself, in a drink, as a salad, or even grilled. Veggies. Corn, broccoli, green beans, and tomatoes are in their prime during summer months, so stock up! We all know how great corn on the cob is, but grill up the rest for some great sides or salads. Prepare a healthy snack by dressing your grilled veggies simply with a little olive oil and lemon. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables is always great, but when you focus on seasonal produce, it’s even better.
When You Can’t Afford to Wait Have you ever had something you needed to do, but just didn’t feel like doing it? It’s so easy to focus on feeling good now and worry about pressing priorities later. But procrastination makes it worse, not better. Putting things off stresses you out, keeps you awake at night, and creates resentment in relationships. Instead of procrastinating, and hindering your own success, put in the time and effort to overcome procrastination. Try these steps to make procrastination a thing of the past. • Recognize what distracts you and put it away until a specific time. • Stop waiting! Just jump in and get started. • Aim for a little progress, you may find it’s not as bad as you thought.
Whatever task, project, or you’ve been putting off, tackle it now and face it without fear of failure.
Adding Foods for Better Health Every day you see articles about foods you should avoid or learn that a oncerecommended food is now off-limits. With so much information, it’s hard to know what you should (or shouldn’t) be eating. Instead of focusing on what not to eat, try focusing on the foods that can help improve your health. Adding certain foods to your diet can help you stay nourished and maintain a healthy weight, which can help reduce your risk for chronic conditions. Decorate your plate with plenty of vegetables. Tomatoes, broccoli, dark leafy greens, cabbage, and cauliflower are delicious and have a ton of health benefits. Get creative with veggies to add visual appeal to your meals. Don’t fear garlic breath! Add garlic to your diet for great effects! Garlic is aromatic and flavorful and comes with a host of health benefits. Try chopping garlic into fresh-made salsa and guacamole or adding it to mashed potatoes. Drink coffee and green tea. Coffee contains plenty of antioxidants. Green tea also contains antioxidants including catechins, which keep free radicals from damaging cells. Berries, Berries, Berries. Not only do berries taste great, they have healthy vitamins your body will thank you for...and, they’re head and shoulders above cookies and candy when you need a sweet treat.
Visit choosemyplate.gov for additional information on eating right
Recipe of the Month: Zucchini Carpaccio Ingredients: 2 large zucchini
Pinch of salt
1 avocado
Ground pepper
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
¼ cup pine nuts
1 lemon
Instructions: Cut zucchini lengthwise into paper-thin slices. Slice avocado and arrange on a large plate in overlapping layers with the zucchini slices. Grate ½ tsp of lemon peel and squeeze 1 tablespoon of the lemon juice into a small bowl. Stir with a whisk and add olive oil, salt, and pepper. Drizzle over the vegetables and top with pine nuts.
A Morning Stretch Goes a Long Way We all have our morning routines — a cup of coffee or tea, a warm glass of lemon water, or maybe even meditation. However, there is another simple thing we should be doing every morning to kick the day off in a healthy way: stretching! The benefits of stretching are physical and mental. It will get your blood flowing to your organs and oxygen to your brain. Pick areas to focus on. The areas of your body that need a muscle “reset” each morning are the neck, upper and lower back, hip flexors, and legs. Be gentle. Be careful not to push your muscles too hard and always move in a pain-free range. Use your breath and mind. Breathe deeply and into your lower belly. While stretching, think about positive things. This will work together with stretching to give you a clear and positive mindset for the day ahead. Need some ideas? •S tand up straight, clasp hands together, and round upper back for an upper back stretch. • For a great spinal twist, lie on the ground with arms out at the sides, cross one leg over the other (intending to touch your knee to the ground), while turning your head in the opposite direction. • From a standing position, bend down and reach toward the ground for a hamstring and lower back stretch. Adding a few stretches to your morning routine can make a huge impact on the rest of your day. Not only will it reset your muscles, it will also calm your mind and wake you up!
Be a Healthy Role Model Practicing healthy habits is important for the whole family, and men are no exception. But it’s often women who pay attention and act as caregivers, reminding the men in their lives to take care of themselves. That’s a lot of pressure! Fortunately, men can easily set a good health example for the whole family. And, since June is Men’s Health Month, it’s a great time to get started. Here’s how: • • • • • •
Get important screening tests to prevent or treat health conditions Don’t smoke Drink in moderation or not at all Maintain a healthy weight Be physically active Eat a healthy diet
Having a male role model can teach boys and young men the importance of staying healthy. So try to model healthy behaviors and follow up with your health care provider for the care you need — you won’t be the only one who benefits!
Find out more about Men’s Health Month at menshealthmonth.org
Four Ways to Find Balance With the daily stressors of work, chores, family issues, and other outside factors, it can be challenging to find the balance you need for emotional wellbeing. When work/ life balance is out of whack, it’s important to put in the extra effort to get things back in balance. Here are four great tips for finding your stability. 1. D isconnect. It may be hard, but it’s important to disconnect from our phones, emails, and social media every once in a while. You can set aside full days or a few hours once a week to disconnect, but you should really allow yourself some quiet screen-free time each day. Set a time for yourself each night and make sure your phone is turned off or placed on “do not disturb.” 2. S pend quality time with yourself and others. It is essential that we make time for ourselves and the people who give us positive energy. Treat yourself to a restorative yoga class or take a walk in nature. Make time for family and friends who bring out the best in you — set a date and time to really connect. 3. S et goals. Setting goals will help you to maintain balance in your life. If there is something you want to do for yourself on a personal note, set goals to get there. If you do the same with your work responsibilities, you may also find that you have more time once things get crossed off the list. 4. T ry something new. Seeing things the way children see them is one of the best things we can do for ourselves. Exploring a new hiking trail, taking a painting class, or seeing a new play can help us to be more present and see the world in a new light.
Remember, while it can be difficult to find balance when you have competing obligations, balance is essential to our emotional wellbeing.
Monthly Quiz: 1. The benefits of stretching in the morning are? a. Mental b. Physical c. Both 2. Which is NOT one of the ways suggested to enjoy watermelon? a. As a drink b. In a comedy act c. Grilled d. In a salad 3. Which example was used to show how men can be a healthy role model?
ANSWERS 1.) c
2.) b
3.) c
Brought to you by
a. b. c. d.
Eating more than anyone at the table. Hiding pain. Going to the doctor for important screening tests. Drinking alcohol.
Independence Blue Cross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. The information in this publication is meant to complement the advice of your health care providers, not replace it. Before making any major changes in your medications, diet, or exercise, talk to your doctor.
June 2016
Health and wellness tips for your work and life— presented by The Reschini Group
Detergent Packet Poisoning How to Turn a Bad Day Around Life is full of unexpected frustrations. Running late, spilling coffee on yourself, or getting into an argument can start your day off on the wrong foot. The good news is that you can control your mood and prevent these obstacles from ruining your entire day. The most important thing you can do is to focus on the positive. Studies show that when you’re positive, you have 23 percent fewer health-related effects from stress, you’re 31 percent more productive, you’re 40 percent more likely to receive a promotion, and your creativity levels triple. Here are a few ways to turn a bad day around:
Pinpoint the concrete reason for your frustration and address it immediately.
Write down or recite three things you are grateful for.
Choose not to be a victim of your frustration. Make a conscious effort to be positive.
Set realistic expectations for your day.
Negative emotions can be contagious. It is worth taking control of your mood - not just for yourself - but for those around you. This article is intended for informational purposes only and is not intended to be exhaustive, nor should any discussion or opinions be construed as professional advice. Readers should contact a health professional for appropriate advice. © 2016 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved.
Research is finding that children are consuming a dangerously large number of detergent packets. Calls to poison control centers increased 17 percent from 2013 to 2014. More than 22,000 children (mostly under age 3) were exposed to laundry packets during that period, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The AAP also noted a 14 percent increase in calls to poison centers concerning exposure to dishwasher detergent packets. The packets (or pods) were introduced in 2012 as a less messy alternative to detergent powder, but their colorful designs and strong fragrances can be attractive to children. When ingested, the liquid packets double a child’s odds of being admitted to a medical facility, because they are more toxic than traditional detergents. Exposure to packets of laundry detergent can cause vomiting, throat burns, and eye injuries. More severe cases can include breathing cessation, comas, cardiac arrest, and even death. Procter & Gamble, which makes detergents that include Gain and Tide, has set up ad campaigns to emphasize safety in households that use the packets, and says it has made its packaging more difficult for children to open. Researchers recommend that parents of children under age 6 use traditional laundry detergent instead of the packets. Also, detergent should be stored out of sight and out of children’s reach in a locked cabinet, and monitored closely while the cabinet is open.
Chicken Stir-fry
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
½ cup carrots, peeled and thinly sliced
½ cup celery, thinly sliced
¼ cup onion, cut into strips
1 green pepper, cut into strips
1 Tbsp. garlic, finely chopped
1 Tbsp. ginger, finely chopped
1 lb. cooked chicken, skin removed, cut into strips
½ tsp. sugar
3 Tbsp. soy sauce
3 cups cooked rice (white or brown)
Directions Add vegetable oil to a large pan over high heat. Then add the vegetables, garlic, and ginger. Stir until the garlic is slightly brown. Add the chicken, sugar, and soy sauce. Stir for one minute or until heated through. Serve over rice. Makes: 6 servings Nutritional Information (per serving) Total Calories
247
Total Fat
7.2 g
Protein
19 g
Carbohydrates
25 g
Dietary Fiber
2g
Saturated Fat
1g
Sodium
423 mg
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA
Potential Zika Spread Mapped by NASA NASA scientists have created a map showing the U.S. locations with the highest potential for the spread of the Zika virus. This information will be used to better target future search-anddestroy missions for the female Aedes aegypti - the mosquito responsible for the spread of the virus. Researchers focused on 50 cities within or near the current Aedes aegypti population, applying factors such as temperature, rainfall amounts, poverty levels, and whether people in those cities have traveled to Zika-affected areas. They then took things a step further and analyzed the chance of the mosquito surviving in those locations during each month of the year. In the wintertime, colder temperatures and a lack of moisture lessen the likelihood of mosquito eggs hatching. While results of the study matched researchers’ expectations, they were surprised as to just how far north the virus can spread in the summer months. According to the study, all 50 cities studied exhibit the potential for at least low-to-moderate Aedes aegypti abundance. And most eastern cities are suitable for moderate-to-high Aedes aegypti abundance.
Congratulations Retirees
• John
Barr – 13 years
• Louise
“Pete” Fitch – 35 years
• Sharon
Holoka – 27
• Sharon
Jones – 7.5
years years
• Lynn
Sellers – 27 years
WENDY SKOCZEN – 6 YEARS
CINDY GADZICKI – 29 YEARS
AMALEE SCHWARTZ – 29 YEARS
DAVE RHEN – 33 YEARS
DARYL WALMER- 36 YEARS
PAT UTTLEY – 38 YEARS
Congratulations to all Retirees!!
ENJOY YOUR SUMMER!
Congratulations to the top 10 point earners of the 3-week Blazing Points Challenge:
Congratulations to Nancy Shultz, teacher at West Vincent Elementary, for blazing a healthy trail and winning the fitbit BLAZE smartwatch!
Track Your Daily Health & Wellbeing Fit for Life 95210 members may earn points by tracking tenets of health: sleep, fruits & veggies, screentime, physical activity, sodas & sugary drinks, tobacco exposure, and also water intake, and weight loss. Members may spend points on rewards or for entry into drawings—such as the recent FREE MASSAGE and fitbit BLAZE Drawing.
Nearly 200 staff members are already taking advantage of 95210 to work toward personal health and wellness goals!
Not a member yet? https://www.95210.org/ojrsd Access Code: welcome
Earn points for a healthier life!!! See how points add up. Go to: https://www.95210.org/points
June 2016
Wellness, Productivity, and You!
Quest Employee Assistance Program
Mindfulness on the Move
T
he Mindful Awareness Research Center has opened at UCLA. It shows how mindfulness as an approach to health and wellness is quickly moving into health care. Mindful awareness is paying attention to the present moment, staying centered, and improving self-awareness to manage stress by stopping, breathing, observing, and connecting with one’s inner experience. It’s a powerful concept largely influenced by meditation and the research supporting meditation’s health benefits. Adding energy to the mindfulness movement is the need to manage stress in our modern age. Mastering this stress is not simply about taking a pill to manage anxiety and tension, it’s about learning to use the body’s and the mind’s abilities to intervene and heal. Mindfulness is finding its way into cancer treatment, addiction treatment, and other programs that can benefit from a whole-person approach. Learn more at http://marc.ucla.edu.
Plug In to Peaks of Productivity
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ry this productivity booster: Draw a timeline and identify when you experience your highand low-energy periods during the day. These normal cycles are based upon diet, exercise, and other factors. Do you experience an energy peak about two hours after arrival at work? What about a slowdown after lunch? How about a small peak in the afternoon? This is valuable data. Divide your work tasks according to these energy levels. Perform difficult tasks when energy is high and less-difficult tasks when energy is low. These are A, B, and C activities. Assign them to the right energy slots and you will work more efficiently and get more done!
Dog Ownership Brings Health Benefits
Is EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM A confidential service that helps employees and dependent family members to identify and resolve challenges that may be affecting them either at work or in their personal lives. 1.800.364.6352 www.questeap.com
a senior citizen in your life a bit too sedentary but still able to walk and stroll? Consider striking up a conversation about dog ownership. New research shows seniors who own dogs have more positive health outcomes. They include less frailty, better mobility, and lower risk for coronary heart disease. In the first study of its kind, these seniors also report less social isolation and say they feel more connected to their communities. They also get closer to the 150 minutes of exercise per week recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Senior dog owners must walk Fido year round, even in colder months. They therefore maintain an exercise regimen during that time of the year when non-dog owners may exercise less. http://gerontologist.oxfordjournals.org [search: “dog walking”]
Information in FrontLine Employee is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to replace the counsel or advice of a qualified health or legal professional. For further help, questions, or referral to community resources for specific problems or personal concerns, contact a qualified professional. Add “http://” to source links to follow. Link titles are always case sensitive.
June 2016 FrontLine Employee
Soft Skills to Know. . .
Be “Healthy Competitive”
T
he word “competitive” gets a bad rap in the workplace because it often describes pushy or manic or aggressive behavior. But there is another type of competitive employee—the one who champions reaching for the gold in healthy ways. Healthy competitiveness is a learned skill and an energetic approach to work that shows you are proactive, focused, and positive. You seek to top your best, not that of others. Employers are clamoring for employees with a healthy competitive spirit because they are engaged workers. Grow your competitive spirit by 1) Giving yourself permission to be competitive. Overcome any false scripts suggesting competitiveness means not being fair to others. 2) Identify strengths and skills that are unique to you. Spot opportunities to apply your skill set and establish goals that will add to your achievements while lifting up your employer. 3) Be a “conscious collaborator” by showing your ability to share work, elevate others, and share credit. Being competitive is an easily spotted trait, and you risk irking people if you do not demonstrate humility in this way. 4) Be confident about your skills, use hard work to achieve your goals, and avoid fear of failure. Share the final glory with those who lent a hand along the way, even if you believe it was not significant.
Build a Stress Management “ Tool Kit”
Do
you have a personal stress management program—a collection of techniques to intervene when stress hits? Or when stressed, do you cope with the anxiety and tension without a strategic approach, searching for relief only when it all becomes too much? With a thoughtful approach to stress management, you can reduce the risk of harm from prolonged stress and avoid unhealthy ways of coping with it. To build your stress management “tool kit,” first identify factors central to your stress response pattern. When stressed, do you lose sleep, get headaches or neck pain, eat poorly, eat more, not eat, become irritable, head for salty snacks, or have GI problems? See the long list of stress effects at www.stress.org/stress-effects. Once you pin down these effects, focus on how to fight back. Research the intervention strategies, and try enlisting the help of a professional counselor or your organization’s EAP.
Chronic Pain & Substance Abuse
O
pioid addiction and prescription drug abuse are national problems. One research study discovered that 87 percent of opioid or related medication addicts are self-medicating pain. Does this sound like you or someone you know? Note these warning signs for needing help with addiction: 1) You are using the medication not just for pain but also to achieve a feel-good state. 2) Your prescribed dose seems way too low. It takes more to feel the effects. 3) Your pain has subsided, but your desire to use the medication you were given is growing. You say you’re worried about the pain coming back, but the effect of the drug is really the motivating factor. 4) The medication has become part of your life, and you are planning and coordinating your life around obtaining and using the medication, even to the detriment of your family, things you enjoy, and parts of your life that you value. http://www.bumc.bu.edu [search: “prescription abuse”]
How Emotionally Intelligent Are You?
By
now you have probably heard about emotional intelligence, or EI. EI is your aptitude for perceiving others’ emotions accurately, responding to your emotions in a reasoned way, understanding what other people’s emotions mean, and controlling how you will respond to emotions as you interact with others. People who do these things well are said to have “people skills.” Many social scientists believe EI is at least as important as, and perhaps more important than IQ as a predictor of success. Be careful about online tests to grade your EI. Many are not authoritybased, and others seek to market products to web visitors. The most rigorous research-oriented EI organization is the Emotional Intelligence Research Consortium. The most prominent EI experts are members of it. Source: www.eiconsortium.org/
June 2016 Work/Life Services Newsletter Call our toll-free number 1-800-364-6352 for assistance
Managing Emotional Symptoms of Stress You have much more control over your emotional state than you probably realize. What and how you think can determine what and how you feel. What and how you feel color what and how you think. Getting control of your thoughts changes the way you feel and getting control of your feelings alters the way you think. The techniques described here help you manage this complex equation. You can use some of these techniques by yourself but you may need help with others. Since many techniques involve relaxation, they tend to lower your metabolic rate and general level of physiological arousal. They may interact with any prescription medications you are taking for a seizure, cardiovascular, diabetic, or endocrine disorder. Be sure to check with your physician before using them. Emotional Release You don't want to get rid of emotions, you just want to manage and get them under control. A three-step method of emotional release has helped many of our clients. The first step is to identify exactly what it is you're feeling and label it. As we said before, emotions often defy description, but try. Building a better emotional vocabulary makes it easier. Write down as many adjectives as you can for anger, anxiety, and depression. Use a thesaurus, get words from friends, family, and co workers. Sort your words in order of intensity. Learn to examine your emotional state and attach a label that describes it with some degree of accuracy. Next, experiment with thoughts that increase the intensity of the emotion you're feeling. Then try thoughts that will reduce that intensity. Rate the intensity level of your emotions on a scale from 1 (the lowest level of intensity) to 10 (the hightest level of intensity). Learn to raise and lower your level with your thoughts. Learning to release emotions is the third step. This can happen in a number of ways, such as acting them out, talking them out, or thinking them out. Shouting, crying, or being fearful takes the edge off your feelings, allowing you to think more clearly. You can talk about how you feel with a friend, family member, or counselor. Sometimes, images and thoughts can release you from emotions. We have a friend who cries in her hot bath when she's feeling sad. It's a good way to release your depressive symptoms. Some people act out their frustrations and anger by
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shouting into the wind or beating a pillow. Some clients express their fear and anxiety with pat phrases like "Oh, my God." or "Oh, oh." In releasing your emotions through talking to other people, be sure you don't act out the emotion toward them. Try to stay calm and talk to them rationally about how you feel. A word of caution, we are not advocating expressing feelings irresponsibly just to get them off your chest nor are we suggesting you wallow in your feelings indefinitely. The intensification and expression of feelings is one aspect of learning to manage strong emotions and getting them under control. If you learn how to intensify emotions, you can also learn how to decrease or to transcend them. When you do, you will feel more in control and can choose the emotional option that fits the specific time and place. Here are a few rules to remember about releasing feelings:
Mean what you say, say what you mean, but don't be mean when you say it. Don't break things that don't belong to you. Don't hit other people. Don't hurt yourself (physically or with drugs, food, etc.). Use a little judgment when in public.
Self-monitoring Relate your thoughts to your emotions by keeping track of what you're thinking about when you feel them. Try to make connections between your thoughts and your emotional symptoms. Sort out your irrational thoughts and counter them with rational ones. Irrational thoughts can lead to irrational behavior. Taking Quiet Time for Yourself Set aside quiet time for yourself every day. Do it regularly, don't wait until you're anxious, angry, or depressed. It doesn't have to be a lot of time. Even twenty to thirty minutes is enough time. Pick a place where you can be by yourself and undisturbed. One of our clients chose his lunch hour as his quiet time and spent it in his car in the company parking lot. Deep Breathing There are few self-regulatory exercises as calming as deep breathing. Deep breathing improves the efficiency of your cardiovascular system in delivering oxygen to your body including your brain. Try the "one, two, three" deep breathing exercise we teach our clients: In a seated position, place your elbows on your knees, lean forward, and place your chin in your hands. Now, breathing through your nose, take three deep breaths and hold each one for a slow count of three. Lean back and continue to breathe slowly and deeply through your nose as you let yourself calm down and relax. Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) It's impossible to be relaxed and emotionally tense at the same time. They are mutually exclusive. PMR is a powerful technique not only for releasing muscle tension and
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becoming aware of your body, but also for releasing emotional tension. It involves tensing and relaxing muscles in a progressive series and takes about twenty minutes to complete. It is often taught as an introduction to biofeedback and self-hypnosis autogenic imagery. Visual Imagery As you relax using PMR, conjure up images of emotional release. Try different images until you find one that appeals to you. Often feelings cannot be put into words. Instead they come out through our imaginations. We fantasize scenes that never happen, perhaps what we wish we could have said to the boss or what we should have done to forestall some tragedy. Sometimes the visual image is the memory of a real event that keeps recurring as a "flashback". You can change your images to either increase or decrease the intensity of your feelings. You can use visual imagery when you are ready to let go of your anger, anxiety, or depression. One client, tired of being angry at her landlord, imagined putting her anger in a black balloon and letting it float away. It got smaller and smaller as it soared into the sky. Professional Help and Assistance Behavioral Medicine A specialist in behavioral medicine is generally a psychologist or physician trained in the diagnosis and behavioral treatment of stress-related emotional and physical symptoms and complaints. Many hospitals and medical centers have departments of behavioral medicine or can refer you to a practitioner in your neighborhood. Psychotherapy If these techniques don't work, your anxiety, anger, and depression may be rooted in deep-seated psychological problems and you may need psychotherapy. Psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers are professional psychotherapists. They may come from different schools of thought ranging from doctrinaire Freudian psychoanalysis to cognitive behavioral therapy. Whatever the approach, it has to feel right to you and you have to trust your therapist. If the approach doesn't make sense, or you don't feel comfortable with the therapist, try another one. You can get referrals from your, physician, state professional organizations, mental health centers, or try the Yellow Pages. Make your first session a trial interview. Find out something about the therapist's approach, orientation, training, background, and experience with problems like yours. Ask questions about them as people. Counseling In addition to therapists, professionals such as ministers, priests, and rabbis offer counseling. Counseling is generally much more short-term than psychotherapy and is limited to specific problems and issues. Counselors are more likely to offer advice and assistance in direct problem solving. Stress Directions Š2016
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Summer Travel with Seniors Senior Management Services Summer is nearly here and with the approaching season, travel plans are often being made. Caring for an elderly loved one doesn’t mean that you need to forego a family vacation, but you may find it helpful – both for you and your loved one – to prepare well in advance. 1. Consult with a doctor Before booking any travel details, consult with your family member’s physician regarding your plans to discuss whether the destination and required travel is within the physical abilities of your loved one. Inquire about any additional medications, supplements or vaccinations they may need and be sure to fill all prescriptions before you leave. 2. Arrange special services in advance Does your loved one require a wheelchair at the airport or a specific type of rental car? If your family member needs an accessible hotel room, be sure to call in advance to ensure that the arrangements are confirmed. 3. Scale back It’s important to be realistic about the amount of activities that your loved one can take part in. Plan simple days with few physical or strenuous activities. Always allow plenty of time for rest. 4. Provide a way for your loved one to contact you If it’s possible that you may be separated at various times, provide your loved with an easy way to contact you. A calling card with your number attached or a pre-programmed cell phone that they are comfortable using are good ideas. Carry a photo of your loved one with you in the event that you are separated and need to find them. 5. Plan a schedule that accommodates your loved one Think of your trip through your loved ones’ eyes. Older adults with Alzheimer’s disease, for example, tend to not do as well traveling in the late evening so take this into account when making plans. Both your loved one and you will enjoy the trip much more when they are at their best. 6. Enjoy the lasting memories Sharing travel with loved ones is a special experience and the memories you build together will last a lifetime. Once you’ve done your preparation, enjoy the journey and the time spent together. Your loved one will surely be doing the same.
For additional information about eldercare, please contact Quest at
1-800-364-6352
According to Prevent Blindness America, cataracts are a leading cause of blindness in the United States. More than 20 million Americans ages 40 and older have cataracts, but they can be found in young people as well even newborns.
VISION CARE: CATARACTS Cataracts are a painless clouding of the eye lens which blocks the passage of light needed for vision. If you have cataracts, you may experience blurred or dimmed vision because light is not being properly transmitted through the lens to the retina. Cataracts may stay small and go unnoticed, not seriously affecting your vision, but can grow larger and cause severe vision changes over time. Causes Eye lenses are made of mostly water and protein fibers. The protein fibers are specifically arranged to make the lens clear and allow light to pass through it without interference. As eyes get older, the protein fibers break down and some clump together, clouding small areas of the lens to create a cataract. As the cataract continues to develop, the clouding becomes thicker and consumes more of the lens. Risk Factors Everyone is at risk of developing cataracts - age is the single greatest risk factor. The following factors could also increase your risk:
• Being of Native and/or African American heritage • Being female • Having a family history of cataracts • Having dark-colored irises • Being an adult with diabetes • Suffering from glaucoma • Smoking • Certain infections during pregnancy • Long-term use of steroid medications • Eye injuries • Exposure to ultraviolet light © 2013 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved.
Signs and Symptoms Not all cataracts impair vision or affect daily living, but when they do, common symptoms include:
• Cloudy, blurry, fuzzy, foggy, or filmy vision • Frequent changes in eyeglass prescription • Double or multiple vision • Difficulty performing personal, business, or leisure activities because of vision problems
• Sensitivity to light and glare • Distortion or ghost images • Yellowish or fading colors Cataracts do not typically cause any change in the outside appearance of your eye. Also, they are not dangerous to the physical health of your eye unless they become completely white. Prevention Cataracts seem to occur with age and are unavoidable. Establishing certain lifestyle habits, however, may help slow cataract development. A few of these lifestyle habits include:
• Not smoking • Wearing a hat or sunglasses when exposed to ultraviolet light from the sun or tanning beds
• Eating a diet rich in vitamins C and E • Limiting alcohol intake • Avoiding steroid medications if possible • Controlling high blood pressure and diabetes In addition to a healthy lifestyle, a good eye specialist can detect and track cataracts. Plan to have your eyes checked every two to four years between the ages of 40 and 64, and every year or two thereafter.
to www.att.com/buyonegiveone for more details.
BOGO: Ends 6/30/16. Void in CT, RI, Miami-Dade. Eligible Devices: Includes new Samsung Galaxy S7, Note5, S6 32GB (excludes 64GB), S6 edge, S6 active 32GB (excludes 64GB), S7 edge & S7 active only (excludes Certified-Like New/Pre-owned) purch. on installment agmt. Priced up to $915/each (up to $30.50/mo.). Device retail price divided into monthly installments. After all bill credits, get eligible device priced at up to $695 (up to $23.17/mo for free. May apply max credit towards other eligible devices, which will be discounted but not free. Taxes on full retail prices due at sale. Service: Monthly postpaid svc (voice & data) required on both (currently min. $70/ mo. on Mobile Share Value; existing customers can add to eligible current plans). Bill Credit: Both lines must be on the same acct, active & in good standing for 30 days for credits to start. Credit will be applied towards the lower priced device on a 30-mo. agmt & will not exceed the lower of that device’s price or $695. Will get 30 monthly bill credits of up to $23.17 for installment payments. To get all its bill credits, device must remain on its AT&T Next agmt w/ qual. svc for 30 months (if cancel svc you will owe remaining installment balance of up to $915). If upgrade or pay up/off agmt early your credits may cease. Return: If return one you are not eligible for offer Restocking fee up to $35 each. See store or att.com/buyonegiveone for details. Gen. Wireless Svc Terms: Subj. to Wireless Customer Agmt (att.com/wca). Svc not for resale. Deposit may apply per line. Device Limits: Purch limits apply. Prices vary by location. Credit approval, taxes, fees, overage, monthly, other charges, usage, coverage & other restrs per line apply. Pricing, terms, & restr’s subject to change & may be modified or terminated at any time without notice. You get an off-net (roaming) usage allowance for each svc. If you exceed the allowance, your svc(s) may be restricted or terminated. Other restr’s apply & may result in svc termination. Svc Discounts: Avail. to qual. employees & other auth. indvs. assoc. w/ elig. companies w/ a qual. agmt ("Business Agmt"). Must provide valid employee badge/paystub or other approved proof of eligibility & subscribe to sv under an Indv. Responsibility User account for which the qual. indv. is personally liable. Discount subj. to wireless svc agmt between sponsoring organization and AT&T ("Business Agmt") & may be interrupted, changed or discontinued w/out notice. Discount may vary monthly. Applies only to recurring mo. svc charge of qual. voice & data plans (unless otherwise provided in Business Agmt), not overages. Min. mo. svc charge, add'l AT&T svcs or other elig. req's may apply. Not avail. w/ unlim. voice plans. For Family Talk, applies only to primary line. For all Mobile Share plans, applies only to mo. plan charge of plans with 1GB or more, not to add'l mo. device acces charges. Add'l restr's apply. May take up to 2 bill cycles after elig. confirmed & will not apply to prior charges. Applied after application of any avail. credit. May not be combined w/ other svc discounts. Contact your sponsoring organization or us at att.com/find-a-store w/ questions. © 2016 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T and the Globe logo are registered trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property. All other mark ar the property of their respective owners.