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December 2020

Help-at-Home Sees Successful 2020 Adopt-a-Senior Season

By Featured News, Help-at-Home

Gifts are prepared for delivery. LifeCare Alliance’s Help-at-Home program had a wonderfully successful Adopt-a-Senior program in 2020!

With COVID-19 injecting uncertainty into this year’s Adopt-a-Senior holiday campaign, the Agency wasn’t sure how it would go in terms of donations and volunteers. But everyone pulled together, and generosity prevailed.

Everyone in the Help-at-Home department worked hard to make this year’s campaign happen. That included creating volunteer gift delivery routes, calling clients, and even hitting the road to deliver gifts themselves. This was all done in between the normal services provided by the Help-at-Home team, and multiple members of our field staff went out of their way to deliver extra routes of gifts in addition to providing wonderful service to clients. It truly was a team effort!

At a Dec. 20 gift donation and distribution event, 24 volunteers delivered 350 gifts to over 120 seniors! Workers also wrapped more than 100 gifts. Gift donations came in from members of the community as well as Home Instead and UPS.

All in all, Help-at-Home had enough gifts for 400 clients, comprising over $9,000 in donations!

Many clients shared that these were the only gifts they were going to receive this holiday season. Many were not able to see their families due to COVID-19 concerns. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of this year’s campaign!

-Alli Chrzanowski, Help-at-Home director

Dispatch - Adopt a Family

Columbus Dispatch: LifeCare Alliance’s Adopt-a-Family Helps Those with Cancer Have a Merry Christmas

By Columbus Cancer Clinic, Featured News, LifeCare Alliance in the News

Photo and story published Dec. 22, 2020, by The Columbus Dispatch:

Gracie Davis starts crying every time she sees her Christmas presents sitting by the fireplace.

The 69-year-old Far East Side resident received the gifts through the Adopt-a-Family program by LifeCare Alliance and the Columbus Cancer Clinic.

“There’s people out there that do want to help you,” Davis said. “I’ve never had anybody do anything like that for me.”

The Adopt-a-Family program started in 2006.

The program adopted 54 families this year, which equates to 254 household members, said Christin Brown, director of the Columbus Cancer Clinic.

Click here to read the full story.

Charles Wilson holds meal bag

United Way Honors LifeCare Alliance Employee with Frontline Staff Appreciation Award

By Featured News, Meals-on-Wheels, Press Releases

LifeCare Alliance is proud to announce that longtime Meals-on-Wheels driver Charles Wilson has won a Frontline Staff Appreciation Award from the United Way of Central Ohio.

Charles has been a compassionate, accountable, and excellent employee of LifeCare Alliance for more than 30 years. In that time, he has delivered over 150,000 meals!

As a Meals-on-Wheels driver, Charles ensures that some of the most vulnerable of central Ohio’s seniors continue to receive the nutritional support and daily wellness checks they need to maintain their independence. Most of the people he serves share that their meal driver is the only person they see in a day, so Charles is a true lifeline for many.

Over the past 10 months, that lifeline has become even more critical to ensuring the safety and health of central Ohio neighbors. Charles has not only maintained his commitment to deliver daily on the front lines, but has also adapted quickly and successfully to the new realities presented by COVID-19.

During the coronavirus pandemic, Charles has been an exemplary front-line worker who genuinely cares about the people he serves.Congratulations to Charles for being honored with the Front-line Staff Appreciation Award from the United Way!

Visit the United Way of Central Ohio’s Facebook page to see all of the Frontline Staff Appreciation honorees.

Image of Patient In Doctor's Office Awaiting Vaccination

Health Officials Express Confidence on COVID-19 Vaccine

By Central Ohio Diabetes Association
Manufacturers have begun shipping a vaccine to treat COVID-19. Here is some important information from #InThisTogetherOhio:
  • Ohio is prepared to distribute safe and effective COVID- 19 vaccines statewide. The goals of the vaccine are to save lives and slow the spread of the virus.
  • The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, as well as independent medical experts, have ensured that every detail of these vaccines are thoroughly and rigorously evaluated.
  • The vaccines that will be distributed have been “shown to decrease the severity of illness in people who catch the virus” and will help “prevent serious hospitalizations and death, and will allow a return to normal,” health officials said.
  • Even when the vaccines begin to be distributed it will be important that all Ohioans continue “using all the tools available to help prevent the spread of the virus.” This includes “continuing to wear masks and social distance.”
  • The vaccines may cause side effects, but those will be minimal. Most commonly they will be “fatigue, headache, soreness or redness at the injection site, and muscle or joint pain”. These side effects should not prevent people from getting this critical vaccine when the option becomes available to them.

— This information comes from resources provided through the Ohio Department of Health, compiled by the Central Ohio Diabetes Association

LIFECARE ALLIANCE EARNS 2020 HEALTHY WORKPLACE PLATINUM AWARD

By Featured News, Press Releases

LifeCare Alliance will be among 100 honorees to receive a Healthy Worksite Award from the Healthy Business Council of Ohio in February. LifeCare Alliance earned the organization’s Platinum Award for 2020.

The Healthy Worksite Award recognizes Ohio employers who demonstrate a commitment to employee wellness through comprehensive worksite health promotion and wellness programs. Applicants are scored on the extent their wellness programs facilitate and encourage employee health, enhance productivity and ensure a healthy work environment.

All applications were reviewed and evaluated using objective criteria. Four levels of high achievement were awarded in 2020 —Bronze, Silver, Gold and, new in 2020, Platinum. The HBCO chose to add the Platinum level of achievement in 2020 in an effort to continue to encourage program growth in employer sites throughout the state who have, in recent years, consistently received the previous maximum achievement level of Gold.

“We can all agree that 2020 was a beast of a year for employer sites so this year’s application was modified to recognize the extraordinary efforts employers were making to offer employee wellbeing in spite of it all,” explained the Healthy Worksite Award Co-Chair Annie Laurie Cadmus. “Applicants had the option to complete a ‘Pandemic Response’ section of the application to share how they adjusted their program offerings and continued to offer support to employees during a difficult year.”

Also new in the 2020 application was the addition of questions about the cancer screenings available to employees at worksites. These questions were asked as a direct response to the Ohio Department of Health’s desire to address cancer support resources available throughout the state of Ohio. Every worksite that provided positive responses to these questions will be given a special designation from the Ohio Department of Health in addition to their overall Healthy Worksite Award score. Data regarding worksite offerings in relationship to cancer screenings will be provided to the Ohio Department of Health so they can better assess statewide availability of programming.

The online award application is available to all Ohio-based worksites from mid-August through late October each year. While the 2020 application deadline has passed, Cadmus stressed that the HBCO would like to encourage all worksites, large and small, public and private, for profit and nonprofit, to consider applying for the Healthy Worksite Award in 2021.

“The Healthy Worksite Awards Committee will meet in early 2021 to compile a document with aggregate results of the 2020 award applications and to generate a PDF of the 2021 questions. Those documents will be made available in early 2021 so worksites can identify programmatic areas of improvement and prepare their 2021 application,” Cadmus stated.

The awards ceremony will be offered virtually as part of the Health Action Council’s 2021 Virtual Conference Series & Expo on February 4, 2021. The symposium features national experts on wellbeing, resilience and health reform. The public is invited to register for this event at the Health Action Council website.

The Dunlap children sitting together and smiling.

Sharing the Story of Your Family’s Diabetes Journey

By Central Ohio Diabetes Association, Featured News, It Takes a Family

I recently got a Facebook message from an acquaintance, a parent of a student in Logan’s grade.

“Hey, is Logan diabetic? I believe I remember you sharing that he was.”

They were staring the diagnosis in the face. Their son, Logan’s age, was in the hospital and they had just received the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. She found some comfort in remembering that they were not facing this alone. There was someone else they knew, even if just an acquaintance, that had been through this incredibly scary moment and had been able to find their way through.

You remember this moment. You remember when your child was so sick, and you didn’t know why. Then you remember when you told your child they would have to take medicine for the rest of their life. You remember the first time they told you they didn’t want to be diabetic anymore. You remember the first time you told them that taking their pump supplies with them was not anything to be embarrassed about. And if some asked or laughed about it, educate them — don’t brush it off.

Many people may feel like it’s no one’s business to know our medical journey; or that no one wants to know what is happening with the trials and tribulations of teaching your eight year old how to count carbs; or how heart-breaking it can feel to have to pull your child away from the fun of a birthday party to check his sugar and give him insulin.

But those stories will matter to someone.

According to JDRF, 64,000 people are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes each year. Someone will need to know your story. I promise you.

So how can you share your story more? Social media is probably the easiest way. Share more about the daily routines. Share about the challenges. Let people in your social media world know about your life! Social media can be used as a powerful tool for connection if we allow it to be.

Talk about it in public. Logan is a talker, so I don’t have much to worry about asking him to explain it to people who asked questions, or even people who didn’t. He was going to tell them anyway. But when Logan was first diagnosed, I was able to be a reader for his kindergarten class and I read a book about diabetes. I was able to tell the kids, at a level that made sense to them, why Logan was leaving the classroom so much, or why he didn’t eat all the snacks that they did, or even why he had extra snacks.

And finally, genuinely connect with people. In our world today, we have almost swung to the side of being afraid to talk to new people. But if you take the time to connect with people and be interested in their story, there is a good chance they will talk to you about your story. When that happens, know that you could be serving an incredible need in their life by sharing openly and honestly about your life as a T1D family.

This journey of T1D can feel incredibly lonely if we let it be. We have a tremendous community with CODA and we want others to experience this if they need it! So, continue to be open about your life as a T1D family. Continue to be of service to others who need support and encouragement. You never know when a message will pop up that reminds you that you can never share too much.

In the end, no day is perfect. But that doesn’t mean it is all a loss. How will you find gratitude and joy in your day each day and share that with your child?

About

Family photo of Dunlap family

This blog post is PART NINE of IT TAKES A FAMILY: LIFE WITH TYPE 1, written by Lindsay Dunlap.

The Dunlap family lives with two generations of T1D, and Lindsay is graciously sharing their experience with us. If you’d like to connect with Lindsay, she’d be happy to talk about the highs and lows with you at lindsay@lindsaydunlapcoaching.com.

Learn More

Click here to learn more about the Central Ohio Diabetes Association, including support for families through programs such as Camp Hamwi.

Frequent Handwashing Helps Prevent Spread of Germs in Kitchen

By Wellness

Handwashing is one of the most important things you can do to prevent food poisoning when you are preparing food for yourself or loved ones. Washing your hands frequently with soap and water is an easy way to prevent germs from spreading around your kitchen and to other foods.

Follow these handwashing tips to make sure you have clean hands when preparing food:

Wash your hands often when you cook to prevent the spread of germs. Your hands can spread germs in the kitchen, so wash your hands often to prevent cross-contamination. Handwashing is especially important during key times when germs can spread. Here are some key times to wash in the kitchen:

  • Before, during, and after preparing any food.
  • After handling raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs.
  • Before eating.
  • After touching garbage.
  • After wiping counters or cleaning other surfaces with chemicals.
  • After touching pets, pet food, or pet treats.
  • After coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose.

Follow Five Steps to Wash Your Hands the Right Way

Handwashing is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs, but it’s important to follow these five steps every time.

  1. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
  2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
  3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
  4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
  5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

Wash Hands Before and After Using Gloves

Washing hands is important even if you’re wearing gloves. Be sure to wash your hands before and after using gloves to prevent the spread of germs. You can contaminate gloves with germs from your hands when you put on gloves. Contaminated gloves can spread germs to your hands when you remove the gloves.

Don’t let germs ruin your food plans. Make handwashing a healthy habit while preparing food for yourself and your loved ones!

– Information from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention

Subaru Share the Love Event Returns for 2020

By Featured News, Meals-on-Wheels

Meals on Wheels America and LifeCare Alliance are participating in the 2020 Subaru Share the Love Event, which has helped deliver more than 2.3 million meals to seniors across the country over the past twelve years.

This partnership with Subaru of America, Inc. is vital because too many seniors are struggling to stay independent and healthy. One in four seniors lives alone in isolation and one in seven seniors might not know from where their next meal is coming. This is simply unacceptable, which is why LifeCare Alliance provides the nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks to the seniors of Franklin, Madison, Marion, Champaign, and Logan counties. This support keeps seniors safe, independent, and living in their own homes, where they want to be.

We’re incredibly grateful to Subaru and its retailers for supporting our organization and the seniors we serve. With that in mind, we thought you might want to learn a little bit more about the Subaru Share the Love Event.

HERE’S HOW IT WORKS

This November 19, 2020, through January 4, 2021, for every new Subaru vehicle purchased or leased, Subaru will donate $250 to the customer’s choice of participating charities.* Meals on Wheels is one of four national participating charities and has been since the inception of the event. Through this event, as a member of Meals on Wheels America, LifeCare Alliance will receive a share of the donation from Subaru vehicles sold at participating Subaru retailers.

You might not be in the market to purchase a new car, but if you are, please look into the Subaru Share the Love Event to learn more. If you’re not shopping for a new vehicle, you can still help by spreading the word to your family and friends. A few quick and easy ways to do that:

– Share this article to your social media networks!
– Share our posts about the Share the Love Event on Facebook: (www.facebook.com/lifecarealliance). You can also do this on Twitter (@lifecareallianc) or Instagram (@lifecarealliance).

And remember: this holiday season you can ensure our senior neighbors are not forgotten, when you purchase or lease a new Subaru and select Meals on Wheels as your charity of choice.

*Disclaimer: Subaru will donate $250 for every new Subaru vehicle sold or leased from November 19, 2020, through January 4, 2021, to four national charities designated by the purchaser or lessee. Pre-approved Hometown Charities may be selected for donation depending on retailer participation. For every new Subaru vehicle sold or leased during the campaign period, participating retailers will donate a minimum of $50 in total to their registered Hometown Charities. Purchasers/lessees must make their charity designations by January 15, 2021. The four national charities will receive a guaranteed minimum donation of $250,000 each. See your local Subaru retailer for details or visit subaru.com/share. All donations made by Subaru of America, Inc.