Odd Fellows Home will be participating in the 13th Annual Taste of Wachusett event to be held on September 22nd 2010. Our own very accomplished Chef, Larry Peak has some  bold and  tasty ideas to be presented during the event.

    So come and sample our food and be a part of this exciting event; which will showcase foods presented by 50 of the region’s finest restaurants, pubs, hotels, caterers and distributors, Also, take a Sky Ride to enjoy the beautiful September foliage, enjoy live entertainment by Borelli Music and much more!

Location: Wachusett Mountain, 499 Mountain Road, Princeton

Date/Time: Sept. 22nd 2010, 4:30PM-8:30PM

For more details visit http://www.wachusettchamber.com/index.php/upcoming-events/ 

or Email Jenny Delorey—jennyg@wachusettchamber.com

   Odd Fellows Home is very passionate about supporting the research for the cure of  inflictions ailing many elders. Join us and show your support to the Alzheimer’s Cure and the Arthritis Cure by participating in the Alzheimer’s Memory Walk and the Arthritis Walk. Both these events take place  in Worcester on the 12th of September. Some of our staff , board members and members from the Grand Lodge will be participating in the Arthritis Walk. Other staff will be participating in the Alzheimer’s Memory Walk .

   If you wish to support the Alzheimer’s cure, you can join the Odd Fellows Home Team  in the Central Massachusetts Walk starting at the Worcester Senior Center, Worcester MA  on 9/12/2010 from 8:30 am – 12:00 pm, or you can help us raise money which would go to the Alzheimer’s Association.

   Please follow the link to walk or donate:  http://memorywalk2010.kintera.org/manh/oddfellowshomema

It is extremely hard work to maintain the health of an elderly member of the family. Often it is an uphill task and one feels frustrated with the lack of response in terms of the health of the aged member. Even with sheer hard work and dedication, if you manage to turn around the situation, there is always some setback with rise of a new health problem. Most of the elders due to their delicate physical conditions and especially those with mental or physical disabilities are susceptible to minor injuries. It is therefore, very essential for a caregiver to have basic knowledge of treatment for wounds and small injuries to deal with such situations.

The most common injuries are minor cuts and scrapes which may be the results of small accidents. These cuts and bruises may look harmless and at times, the elders may not even realize their existence. Such minor injuries may become quite serious in case of the elderly, if they are not treated in time. All such minor injuries should be cleaned, disinfected and dressed immediately upon happening. These wound should not be left unattended as infection may set in. It may sound ridiculous; after all, it is only a minor cut or scrape we are talking about. However neglecting to treat the wounds, may cause serious problems later on because, the infection takes place faster in case of older people. Therefore, a caregiver must be extra vigilant and provide first aid to the elders as soon as possible.

The caregiver must attend a basic first aid course in the initial stages. The community colleges offer basic first aid courses that cover the relevant aspects of wound care for the elderly. Some of the course content is usually common sense, but it helps to be imparted practical training by an instructor, so that you can remember it when the need arises. Even if you have taken a first aid course earlier, it is advisable to take a refresher course that is more specific to elder care. These courses will also include training in wound care.

Another important aspect of wound care is ensuring that the individual has been given the preventive shots on schedule. The Tetanus shot is especially important, as tetanus is the most serious infection that can be contracted. A small open wound will help the infection to spread via the bloodstream. Thus, the most important aspect of wound care is prevention of infection.

Wound care is simple enough to learn for any caregiver, and it can be easily managed with a little practice. It is important to be aware of this aspect of elder care, because neglecting it will create problems which may become unmanageable in the future. Timely care of small injuries in the elderly will ensure great dividends in terms of their general well being and health.

The Joy of Eating and Aging Well

Food for thought: Think healthy eating is all about dieting and sacrifice? Think again. Eating well is a lifestyle that embraces colorful food, creativity in the kitchen, and eating with friends.

For seniors, the benefits of healthy eating include increased mental acuteness, resistance to illness and disease, higher energy levels, a more robust immune system, faster recuperation times, and better management of chronic health problems. As we age, eating well can also be the key to a positive outlook and staying emotionally balanced.

You are the boss when it comes to food choices! Read on for tips on how to supercharge with food.

Feeding the body, mind and soul

Remember the old adage, you are what you eat? Make it your motto. When you choose a variety of colorful fruits and veggies, whole grains, and lean proteins you’ll feel simply marvelous inside and out.

• Live longer and stronger – Good nutrition keeps muscles, bones, organs, and other body parts strong for the long haul. Eating vitamin-rich food boosts immunity and fights illness-causing toxins. A proper diet reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type-2 diabetes, bone loss, cancer, and anemia. Also, eating sensibly means consuming fewer calories and more nutrient dense foods, keeping weight in check.
• Sharpen the mind – Scientists know that key nutrients are essential for the brain to do its job. Research shows that people who eat a selection of brightly colored fruit, leafy veggies, certain fish and nuts packed with omega-3 fatty acids can improve focus and decrease the risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
• Feel better – Eating well is a feast for your five senses! Wholesome meals give you more energy and help you look better, resulting in a self-esteem boost. It’s all connected—when your body feels good you feel happier inside and out

Tips for wholesome eating

Once you’ve made friends with nutrient-dense food, your body will feel slow and sluggish if you eat less wholesome fare. Here’s how to get in the habit of eating well.

• Reduce sodium (salt) to help prevent water retention and high blood pressure. Look for the “low sodium” label and season meals with a few grains of course sea salt instead of cooking with salt.
• Enjoy good fats. Reap the rewards of olive oil, avocados, salmon, walnuts, flaxseed, and other monounsaturated fats. Research shows that the fat from these delicious sources protects your body against heart disease by controlling “bad” LDL cholesterol levels and raising “good” HDL cholesterol levels.
• Fiber up. Avoid constipation, lower the risk of chronic diseases, and feel fuller longer by increasing fiber intake. Your go-to fiber-foods are raw fruits and veggies, whole-grains, and beans.
• Cook smart. The best way to prepare veggies is by steaming or sautéing in olive oil—it preserves nutrients. Forget boiling—it leeches nutrients.
• Five colors. Take a tip from Japanese food culture and try to include five colors on your plate. Fruits and veggies rich in color correspond to rich nutrients (think: blackberries, melons, yams, spinach, tomato, zucchini).

What is Occupational Therapy?

The person who needs occupational therapy could be your father or mother facing changes because of aging. It could be your child, frustrated with being unable to do the seemingly simple things the other children at school can do. It could be you or your spouse coping with illness or the results of an accident. It could be anyone who, for whatever reason, can’t do the things in life they want or need to do.

Occupational therapy is therapy based on performing the meaningful activities of daily life (self-care skills, education, work, or social interaction), especially to enable or enhance participation in such activities despite impairments or limitations in physical or mental functioning.* Occupational therapy is for individuals of all ages-to improve skills that help them perform daily tasks at home and at school, at work and at play.

Occupational therapy practitioners are skilled professionals. Their education includes the study of human growth and development, with specific emphasis on the social, emotional and physical effects of illness and injury. They help individuals with illnesses, injuries, certain conditions or disabilities get on with their “occupations” of living.

Occupational therapy practitioners are unique in that they look at the whole picture when it comes to a person’s treatment- the individual’s abilities, the task to be performed, and the environment in which the task takes place.

In a team of healthcare specialists, a surgeon, for example, will operate on your injured knee. A physical therapist will devise a series of exercises to help the knee heal properly with a maximum range of motion. An occupational therapist will ask, “What do you need your knee to do? What activities do you want to do, so you can adapt (the way you walk, drive, move around at home, etc.) to that knee,” thereby determining the right treatment for keeping you mobile and an active participant in your own life.

Occupational Therapy for Older Adults

Nearly one-third of occupational therapy practitioners work with older adults. They perform many types of activities, employing many types of therapies, with the overriding goal of helping older adults regain or maintain a level of independence that will allow them to age in place for as long as possible. Occupational therapy has been proven effective for seniors living with various medical conditions or recovering from surgery. In addition to working with individuals to increase strength or regain important life supporting skills, occupational therapists work throughout a community, counseling families, local governments, and community groups to ensure that each is doing what it can to help older adults maintain their independence.

Job ID: OFH_MCE082310_003

Basic Job Description:

• 32 hrs/week
• Performs all assigned laundry duties
• Works co-operatively with other departments and employees
• Proper care and use of all laundry equipment
• Performs duties in accordance with facility policy

Requirements:

• Some previous custodial or maintenance experience in a healthcare setting is preferred
• Should be flexible with working hours

To apply, send your complete and up-to-date resume to info@oddfellowshome.com along with the Job Title and Job ID for the position that you are applying for.

Job ID: OFH_MCE061410_002

Basic Job Description:

• 40 hrs/week
• Performs all assigned cleaning duties
• Identifies safety hazards and takes corrective action
• Works co-operatively with other departments and employees
• Proper care and use of all housekeeping equipment
• Performs duties in accordance with facility policy

Requirements:

• Some previous custodial or maintenance experience in a healthcare setting is preferred
• Should be flexible with working hours

To apply, send your complete and up-to-date resume to info@oddfellowshome.com along with the Job Title and Job ID for the position that you are applying for.

Of course, it is a distinct pleasure to have Rosemary back on the team and we’re very excited to have her with us once again. 

 Rosemary Carlson of Grafton brings a lot of experience in health care, a competitive spirit and a “tough but fair” managerial approach to her position as new administrator at the Odd Fellows Home on Randolph Road. She also brings a prior association with the skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility, from 1992 to 2003-serving first as day supervisor of nursing and then as director of nursing.

  Fashionable, businesslike, focused and positive-minded, Carlson heads up a freshly minted leadership team that has Clarence Plant-Secretary of Trustees of the Odd Fellows Home-and others bursting with delight at the prospects that lie ahead. “It’s amazing. I can see changes already,” the ever-buoyant Plant said recently. 

  Carlson, whose previous stints as an administrator had been in Newton, Shrewsbury and Sterling, began her job at the Odd Fellows Home on May 26. She has quickly surrounded herself with lieutenants, some of whom she has personally hired, who are certain to strengthen her hand. These include Director of Nursing Charmaine Smith, Staff Development Director Penny Slayton, Human Resources Director Cara Philbin, Director of Admissions Sherry Mitchell and Director of Social Services, Michael Paika. 

  Jyothsna “Jo” Ramani, who handles marketing and communications for the Odd Fellows Home, is also a relatively recent addition to what is shaping up as an all-star-cast. 

  The new hierarchy, which involves several “old friends” of the home like herself came together almost by accident, Carlson says “It’s not anything that was planned in advance.  It all just fell into place.  In health care in Worcester, you never burn your bridges.”

  Carlson’s first order of business will be upping the home’s census.  “The census is too low and needs to be raised,” she said on July 12.  “It’s gone up over the past several weeks.  It was 82 (capacity is 100).  We are budgeted for 94% occupancy.  Our most important mission is to fill beds and build bridges.  There is a huge competition in Worcester County (for residents).  To be in the race, you have to be competitive and you have to have contracts.” 

  Upgrading the physical plant and instituting “culture change” to foster a more “home-like setting” are also on her to-do list.  In terms of the latter- and ongoing revolution in the health-care field – she said that the Odd Fellows Home will take “baby steps” toward achieving that goal so that it is done right. 

  With a wonderful in-house rehabilitation arm consisting of personnel who provide physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy, a second floor that is dedicated to caring for people with some form of dementia and a commitment to keeping the home deficiency-free, Carlson is glad to be back at the Odd Fellows Home. 

 ”Clarence always told me when I was here, ‘you are the lifeblood of this building,’ but it’s him,” Carlson said, in humbly passing along credit for past- and future- successes.