Assisted Living Services, Inc.
74 South Broad Street Meriden CT 06450
www.assistedlivingct.com
APRIL - MAY - JUNE 2017
SIGNS / SYMPTOMS OF STROKE
What can you do? Learn the signs and symptoms of
strokeact FAST and call 911 immediately if you suspect
someone is having a stroke. Use FAST to remember the
warning signs:
ACT F A S T
Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face
droop?
Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm
drift downward?
Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their
speech slurred or sound strange?
Time: If you observe any of these signs, call 911
immediately.
Stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is
diminished or blocked. When this happens the brain does
not get enough blood or nutrients and brain cells begin to
die!
Remembertime is brain tissue! Learning the warning
signs and acting F A S T could save your life or the life of
a loved one!
Client Testimony
From B. Fontana (for J. Herko)
It was moms wish that if she was ever very sick or
incapable of taking care of herself she would want to stay at
home We could not have done it without Vivian and
the superior people you provided for her care over the years
when Vivian took some well deserved time off. We
know from the first day that Vivian was an angel sent our
way. Vivian become family immediately. She lovingly
cares for our mother as if mom were her own grandmother.
They have such a bond. Every visiting nurse, pastor, social
worker, friends and family would remark how well taken
care of my mother is. She loves music and Vivian sings
for her. We are thankful for the great quality of moms
last years and I have no doubt in my mind it was because of
Vivian {Adetor}.
203-634-8668
Quarterly Newsletter
WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR BRAIN
There are ways to help your brain stay healthy.
Scientists are discovering how closely our minds and
bodies are connected. It turns out the things you do to
keep your body and heart healthy may also be good
for your brain.
Exercise- Walking or playing with grandkids to
get your heart rate increased for 30 minutes a day.
Eat healthy- Lots of fruits and vegetables.
Know your blood pressure- If it is high get it
under control. Speak with your doctor.
Moderate amounts of alcohol- Increased
amounts may cause confusion or accidents.
Get plenty of rest- Poor sleep from insomnia or
sleep apnea may affect memory and thinking.
Discover a new talent- Learning something new
engages your brain. Challenging your brain on a
regular basis is fun and beneficial.
Stay connected with family or friends- Having
regular engagement in social activities has been
shown to reduce some risks to your brain.
See your doctor with any concern of changes in
your brain function.
Summer is a Great
Time to Earn a Little $$
and Help a Friend!
ATTENTION ALL CNAs & HHAs
Get rewarded for sending a friend or a
relative or a co-worker in to apply!
$50 PER REFERRAL
Know someone who is a CNA or HHA who
is looking for live in/hourly work?
WE ARE HIRING!
Tell them to call 203-634-8668 and ask
for Ann once they are hired and work
30 days you receive $50!
 BEDSORES (PRESSURE ULCERS)
Bedsores (known as pressure ulcers or decubiti ulcers) are skin
ulcers that develop when a person remains for a prolonged period
of time in one position. They are a problem often seen in the
elderly, who have difficulty moving, combined with poor
circulation and a decreased feeling in their skin. They usually
develop on skin covering bony prominence, such as heels, ankles,
hips, tailbone and even back of the head.
Pressure ulcers can be caused by these factors either individually or
in combination.
PRESSURE: Results in compression of soft tissue between a bony
prominence and an external surface, such as a bed or wheelchair,
the blood supply to the area is impeded resulting in tissue damage.
FRICTION: Friction is caused when the skin is pulled across a
coarse surface such as bed linens, wash cloths or if incontinence is
a factor. The outer protective layer of skin is pulled away. Soft,
moist layers of skin are exposed which allows bacteria to enter.
SHEAR: Shearing occurs when the skin moves in one direction
while the underling bone moves in the other direction. Shearing
results in cell walls and minute blood cells stretching and tearing.
This can happen when if a patient slides down in bed or chair or
the top of the bed is raised too high.
At risk for bedsores:
Older age individual as their skin gets thinner and
more vulnerable.
Anyone with reduced pain perception.
Poor circulation due to diabetes, vascular diseases,
smoking and compression.
Poor diet. Especially a diet lacking in protein, vitamin C
and zinc.
Reduced mental awareness, due to disease or injury,
may reduce person ability to take preventive action.
Incontinence of urine or feces can cause moist skin. Moist
skin macerates more easily increasing risk of skin damage
and breakdown.
Tips to reduce bedsores from developing:
Moving clients every 15 minutes for wheelchairs and every
two hours while in bed.
Daily skin inspections.
Keep the skin healthy and DRY.
Provide balanced nutrition to enhance good health and
wound healing.
Assist client with exercise, even if they must be done
in bed.
NEVER MASSAGE A REDDENED AREA, this may cause
tissue damage under the skin.
How can you help: Notify the doctor, the visiting nurse
or physical therapist immediately of any new reddened area of
the skin. This is often the first sign an ulcer is forming. DO
NOT WAIT. It is your responsibility to also notify your
state care manager.
EMPLOYEE OF THE
MONTH AWARDS
March, 2017
Lois Adu Live-in
Grace Coffie Live-in
Adult Family Living / Foster
Caregiver Program:
Complimentary Assistive Technologies
Assisted Living Services, Inc. and sister company
Assisted Living Technologies, Inc. have been
offering technology solutions to the Adult Family
Living / Foster Caregiver Program (AFL) clients.
The AFL program is relatively new and is under the
Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders
(CHCPE) and Personal Care Assistance (PCA)
Waiver. Assisted Living Services, Inc. is a
credentialed provider for AFL and has RNs perform
visits that help support the Family Caregivers.
Sometimes we can address particular concerns they
might have by offering a free wireless technology that
can best address the issue, according to Mary
Scagliarini RN, Director of the agencies AFL
Program. We have been using technology to help
supplement care with a program the agency calls
CarePlus for years and more recently for all our
AFL clients as well, said Mary.
For example, Nick DAquila, Technologies Specialist
with Assisted Living Technologies, Inc. visited an
AFL client that was at high risk of falling. The client
sleeps in his room on the first floor and his daughter
is his primary caretaker and sleeps on the second
floor, said Nick. The father wakes up frequently
during the night to use the bathroom without the
daughter hearing him. There were several instances
where he would fall during the night and not be heard
for a period of time. We provided a wireless bed pad
sensor and alarm that alerts the daughter when her
father sits up to get out of bed at night. She can now
quickly assist her father to the bathroom while
reducing the risk of falls during the night, according
to Nick.
If you would like to hear more about our CarePlus
program for AFL clients, please contact Assisted
Living Services, Inc.