For some it's a day to kick back and relax, for others it's a day of remembrance. However it is celebrated, it's important to know the history behind it.
Memorial Day has its roots following the Civil War. The Civil War took more US lives than any other war we've been involved in. Legend has it, this day began with a group of freed slaves in Charleston, but the official landmark is Waterloo, New York. Memorial Day was originally held on May 30th and was known as Decoration Day. Can you take a guess why?
The residents of Waterloo would take the day off to decorate the graves of their friends and family.
As the United States found itself involved in more wars, there were more loved ones lost. Memorial Day became a day to remember those lost defending our country in any war. In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, moving Memorial Day from May 30th to the last day in May.
Memorial Day is often celebrated with parades, by visiting cemeteries and grave sites, or by wearing a red poppy. It can also be celebrated with camping and barbeques, as it is considered the unofficial beginning of Summer. However you choose to celebrate, remember to consider those who lost their lives defending us and the present we are able to have.
Birthdays
Happy birthday to all of our May babies!
Nancy King, 5/14
Ellery Sanchez de Jesus, 5/17
Chris Weigl, 5/18
Jillian Hall, 5/20
COVID-19
COVID-19 Vaccines have begun being distributed in Santa Barbara County. We have had several caregivers sign up and receive their first and second doses now! The COVID-19 Vaccine is a series of two shots, with the second dose taking place three weeks to one month after the first. Even with the vaccine it is important to continue wearing a face mask (even if both caregiver and client are vaccinated), practice social distancing, and wash hands often.
Please remember to continue responding to our daily symptom checks so we can continue to keep our community healthy! Thank you.
Happy Mother's Day
From all of us at Senior Helpers, we wish you a wonderful Mother's Day! Lost on ideas of what to get your mother?
Flowers
Candle of her favorite scent
A magnet picture of all her favorite people (you, siblings, grandkids, etc.)
a handwritten note saying you love her
Fun Food Friday
On April 16th, we held a Fun Food Friday with the office staff and some of our caregivers. We had everyone meet up at the Santa Barbara Mission, providing sandwiches, salads, and good conversation. It was a lovely time catching up with those we had not seen in a while, and getting to know those that are new to us. Thank you all for joining and we hope to see more faces at the next one!
Teepa Snow Webinar
On Tuesday, May 4th, Senior Helpers and Teepa Snow teamed up for a webinar: "How to Communicate with Someone Living with Dementia." It was very informational, emphasizing the value of empathetic and supportive communication to help cope with distress. If you are a caregiver and were unable to attend this webinar, but would like to watch, please let someone in the office know, so we can provide you with the recording link. You will receive an hour of training by watching, taking notes, and providing them to Emalee.
We are Hiring!
Attention Caregivers:As you may have noticed, we have been busy! To keep up with how busy we've been, we are hiring new caregivers. If you know of anyone who is caring and compassionate, dependable, and looking to join a Great Place to Work, please refer them to us.
May is High Blood Pressure Awareness Month
Nearly half of American adults have high blood pressure, and most don't even know they have it! When high blood pressure is left untreated, the damage done to your circulatory system is a big contributing factor to heart attack, stroke, and other health threats. With proper treatment and management, you can control your blood pressure to live a long and healthy life!
If you find that you have high blood pressure, it's important to monitor your numbers daily. It's also important to make changes to your lifestyle in order to protect yourself. Some ways to do this are: eating a well-balanced diet, lower alcohol intake, stop smoking, engage in regular physical activity, manage stress levels, take medications properly, and work with your doctor. Know your numbers and work hard to prevent high blood pressure!
New (and familiar) Faces
April brought us some new (and familiar) faces.
Beatrice worked for Senior Helpers from November 2014 until January 2017 and was a great caregiver. When she wanted to return, we could not say yes fast enough! We are happy she's back with us and we look forward to working with her again.
Yvonne has been a caregiver for about 8 years. She was originally from Santa Barbara and moved to Ojai and has been there since. She enjoys taking care of people and helping them feel comfortable! We can't wait to see her skills put to work!
Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp
May is a beautiful month, full of fresh fruit and sunshine. What better way to celebrate that than with a dish that embodies spring. Our recipe this month is a Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp!
Ingredients:
4 cups fresh Rhubarb - 1 inch diced (4-5 stalks)
4 cups fresh Strawberries - hulled and halved (if large)
For the fruit, toss the rhubarb, strawberries, 3/4 cup of the granulated sugar and the orange zest together in a large bowl. In a measuring cup, dissolve the cornstarch in the orange juice and then mix it into the fruit. Pour the mixture into an 8-by-11-inch baking dish and place it on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper.
For the topping, in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the flour, the remaining 1/2 cup of granulated sugar, the brown sugar, salt, and oatmeal. With the mixer on low speed, add the butter and mix until the dry ingredients are moist and the mixture is in crumbles. Sprinkle the topping over the fruit, covering it completely, and bake for 1 hour, until the fruit is bubbling and the top is golden brown. Serve warm with ice cream!
Extra Info:
if you do not have an electric mixer, a wooden spoon or whisk is okay to use
Rhubarb and Strawberries are in season and can be found at your local farmers market
Game Time
Did you know, playing brain games such as sudoku, doing jigsaw puzzles, or crosswords can be good for you? Research has shown that brain games may help sharpen certain things that tend to wane with age: processing speed, reaction time, short-term memory, etc... Those with dementia may benefit from playing such games as it can bring them comfort or ease some symptoms of their disease.
Senior Helpers Fasth, 1900 State Street Suite B, Santa Barbara, California 93101
.png?upscale=true&width=520&upscale=true&name=Welcome%20New%20Caregivers%20(2).png)
