May 28, 2020 | Family
Deciding to care for a loved one with his or her daily task can be deeply rewarding, yet a difficult decision to make. This is a journey that is paved with love and good intentions. However, caregiving is loaded with responsibility filled with daily concerns over how to provide the best care, while still taking care of yourself.
If you are on the journey of caregiving for a loved one, learn to recognize caregiver stress and burnout. Experts say building time into your routine to take care of yourself helps manage stress. To effectively care for someone, you first have to care for yourself. Set aside all the “I should or I will later” and put yourself on the top of the list.
Watch out for signs of stress overload. Some common symptoms of stress overload are memory problems, trouble concentrating, racing thoughts, irritability, anger, sadness, headaches, and changes in sleep or appetite. Chronic stress can lead to or worsen serious health problems, including high blood pressure, autoimmune illnesses, digestive issues, depression, and anxiety.
Be kind to yourself and follow some helpful steps to reduce caregiver stress.
#1 Take a break: Read a book, attend a religious service, watch a favorite television show, go to the movies, call a friend and go out to lunch. Taking a break gives you a fresh “new” perspective.
#2 Ask for help: Accept help when offered by family and friends. Be realistic of your time, don’t pull yourself in different directions; this will only add to your stress. Hire outside help, if needed.
#3 Reach out: Spending time with family and friends can decrease feels of isolation.
#4. Exercise: Go for a walk or do an exercise of your choice. Research shows regular physical activity can help prevent depression and alleviate anxiety.
#5 Be healthy: Eat healthy items and get plenty of sleep. Don’t self-medicate with unhealthy food, medications, or alcohol and curb your caffeine intake. Seek medical advice when needed.
#6 Laugh: Laughter is a great stress reducer. “Find Your Joy,” it is ok to laugh.
#7 Music therapy: Match your mood. Calming music to subdue frustration. Energizing tunes to lift your spirits. Your favorite classics to make you smile.
#8 Support Groups: Find a local support group.
#9 Forgive yourself: It is normal to feel tired and become frustrated, even angry, at your circumstances.
Finally, don’t do it all yourself. Set up a plan and make changes as needed. Being your loved one’s caregiver is not easy, but it is rewarding…and know your loved one appreciates all you are doing.
Christopher Reeve quoted, “I think a HERO is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.”
If you or a loved one are in need of additional support, we’re here to help. Please give us a call at 717- 627-0072 or visit our website at www.yourneighborhoodconnection.org
Be kind to yourself!
Leanne Kiralfy
Executive Director
Your Neighborhood Connection
May 22, 2020 | COVID Update
TO: Residents and Staff
FROM: David Swartley, President/CEO
DATE: May 22, 2020
RE: Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Update #14
Since my last update, there have been no residents or additional employees who have tested positive for COVID-19.
In my last update, I shared that Moravian Manor Communities was contacted by the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) regarding a visit to discuss infection control protocols. On Saturday, May 16, three employees from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) arrived and spent four hours working with our team to discuss “what has been successful” and “what has not been successful.” The CDC personnel were requested by DOH to assist their team as they figure out how to best support long-term care facilities. Our team was privileged to participate and kudos to them for being selected! Indeed, our team’s efforts deserve accolades; however, we also realize that when dealing with a pandemic, it is best to stay very humble as one is never sure what is “lurking around the corner.”
On Wednesday morning, May 20, our COVID-19 Task Force spent two hours discussing reopening implications. Lancaster County moved to the “Yellow Phase” on Friday, May 15. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania does not support this act. Moravian Manor Communities will continue to abide by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s “Stay At Home” order. We are cautiously optimistic that on Friday, June 5, Lancaster County will move to the yellow phase.
I recognize the restlessness that continues to build as we are in the social isolation orders. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania issues all of our licensures; it is clear whose guidance we will follow.
Our Task Force reviewed a list of well over 20 items related to our residential living population. Some of the ones on the list that our team has heard most frequently are regarding the woodshop, train room, garden, and many other questions.
While these areas will remain closed in the short-term, they will be open for residents to use once we move to the Yellow Phase.
Lively conversation surrounded some of the services that we complete for our residents. Our team decided that we would begin to offer housekeeping services and non-essential maintenance services to our residential living residents. These service offerings are contingent upon residents wearing masks and practicing social distancing when staff is in your home. Also we will honor and recognize any resident who would rather our team not enter their home for non-essential services. We also decided that flower delivery for residential living residents is permitted to resume. All flower deliveries for Garden Court Residents and Woods Apartment Residents will be at the main entrance of the buildings. Delivery folks will not be permitted to take the flowers directly to your apartments in those areas.
These changes outlined in the above paragraph are effective on Tuesday, May 26. We will address further changes as Lancaster County moves closer to the “Green Phase.”
Our COVID-19 Task Force also has another subcommittee working on the Skilled Care, Assisted Living, and Personal Care areas. Paramount in their discussions is safe visitation. As the weeks continue to build, the social isolation of residents in our care areas is of significant concern and attention.
We are also processing the latest guidance from DOH asking recommending that 20 percent of residents and staff in the skilled nursing area be tested for COVID-19 every week. Our team is supportive of this testing strategy. However, there is much work to be done regarding personnel policies, as well as balancing resident rights with regulatory guidance.
We are planning to implement this testing strategy next week, or the first full week of June.
I shared during our resident ZOOM meeting earlier today that our staff initiated thank you notes and posters. Your appreciation of their efforts, along with the monetary gift, was much appreciated. I extend our Management Team’s appreciation to the Resident Association Leadership for suggesting this idea. Also, thank you to the many residents who were able to support the initiative. I believe it is a sign of a very healthy community.
Be patient, stay well, and hang in there one day at a time.
Thank you!
May 21, 2020 | Community, Meet the Neighbors
The woodshop at Moravian Manor Communities is a favorite spot for our resident craftsmen, retired from a wide range of careers. Over the years, they have created some pretty amazing things, some of which can be seen around campus including a communion table, wooden cross in the chapel, and landscaping structures. Here, they enjoy not only creating beautiful pieces of work, but also building friendships as well. They carry on the memory of Don Jones, who established the woodshop with several pieces of equipment he brought with him when he moved to Moravian Manor Communities.
Just recently, the woodshop moved from the Founders Campus to its new home on the Warwick Woodlands campus our Operations Center.
Step into the shop with this video and “join” Dale, Tom, and Mark as they discuss their favorite pastime and how being creative is one of the most exciting and rewarding thing a person can do.
After your peek into the woodshop, read about how Mark decided Moravian Manor Communities was the right place to support his retirement lifestyle.
May 19, 2020 | Community
If you love to explore the world with a camera, not being able to get out during the past few months has likely been a challenge. But there is hope, and it lies no further than your house.
A number of years ago, I discovered Contemplative Photography, primarily Miksang, which is Tibetan for “Good Eye” or more accurately, “Pure Eye.” In a nutshell, it works like this. Growing up we learned what a chair looked like and that label, “chair,” stayed with us. Same with all of the other objects we encounter.
Unfortunately, every time we see a chair, we don’t see past the label. We look … chair … nothing interesting here, so we move on. But in doing so we may not “see” fascinating shape or texture or color or geometry. There could be beauty in the shadows created by the chair or perhaps an abstract detail of just the arm that we miss by assuming, “It’s just a chair. Nothing interesting here.”
The point is, there’s a fascinating world out there if we explore seeing perceptively…rather than conceptually. Scan the space you’re in for shapes, color, texture, and geometry. View the scene through these lenses rather than the labels of chair, building, walls, etc. As you scan, something will catch your attention. Don’t over analyze it, just rest with it for a moment and you may discover a fascinating picture.
Miksang, like so many offerings from the East, can be easy in theory and more challenging in practice. And practice is the operative word. Just as all athletes practice their skills, so should we photographers. For myself it’s a daily adventure.
I’d encourage you to watch Quiet Mind – Introduction to Miksang and Contemplative Photography, a short video that will give you a much better understanding of Contemplative Photography and the techniques to practice. Other resources can be found through a Youtube search of “Miksang” or “Contemplative Photography” that will lead you to the works of Michael Wood and Julie Dubose (both photographers have excellent books), as well and others.
The Larry Lefever Photography website also has an array of Miksang examples for you to view to get your creative eye focusing on the beautiful, smaller details in everyday life.
There’s an exciting new world within the very walls of your home just waiting to be photographed and shared. Happy Seeing!
May 18, 2020 | COVID Update
TO: Residents and Staff
FROM: David Swartley, President/CEO
DATE: May 15, 2020
RE: Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Update #13
At the time of this writing, there have been no residents, and no additional employees tested positive for COVID-19.
On Friday afternoon, May 8, Donna Gerofsky, RN, and Donovan Carper, RN, DON, had a lengthy conference call with officials from the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH). The conversation was a collaborative call; both parties were learning from each other. DOH decided that they would like to do some trial COVID-19 testing in our skilled nursing area. They selected Moravian Manor Communities as the site and delivered 300 free test kits this past Monday. On Monday, we tested 57 skilled care residents. On Tuesday, we tested 77 employees, and on Wednesday we tested an additional 55 employees. All test results were negative. Our team could not have been more pleased!
Lancaster County has decided to move forward to a “yellow zone,” which means that some businesses may begin to reopen. This decision is certainly not without controversy. The Lancaster County Chamber of Commerce is recommending that companies be cautious and seek legal counsel before opening. These changes from the County do not impact any guidance we are following at either of our campuses. The positive aspect of this move has been very lively discussions about the impact of the broader community on our care areas. Lancaster County has noticeably “ramped up” support for skilled nursing facilities. I am hopeful that this may bring some relief in our daily scavenging for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Without a doubt, this has been our most significant challenge. We are also processing some guidance that was issued this week from DOH regarding mandatory, weekly testing. While overall, we are supportive of this action, many questions remain in terms of the added cost and administrative burden. However, all these changes are indicative of state and local leaders, realizing where the risk of the Coronavirus is most significant.
Thank you for your participation in our weekly ZOOM calls. Yesterday, we had our largest group yet. I find it a valuable way to connect. Indeed, not as effective as face to face meetings, but is a useful alternative.
Thank you again for your support of our team members. Over 200 donors contributed over $28,000, which was all given to our team! They are most appreciative.
Thank you as well for the spirit you bring to Moravian Manor Communities during these trying times. It is indeed rewarding to see all everyone work through this together.
In closing, I share a letter from Steph and Rich Barbour that they sent to me this week. I believe it tells the “rest of the story” of our community.
Dear Fellow Residents of Moravian Manor Communities:
I write on behalf of Steph and I and all members of our community who are immunocompromised and may have underlying conditions that make us highly vulnerable to the ravages of COVID-19.
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! Thanks for your empathy and compassion to other fellow residents. A community in the truest sense is a group of individuals who, regardless of opinions and preferences, are sensitive and respectful of the needs of all.
While we, residents of Moravian Manor Communities, are all unique and have a wide variety of experiences, it is evident to Steph and me that we have one quality in common, concern for others!
Our thanks to Moravian Manor Communities leadership and staff for the awesome job they are doing keeping us safe and informed, has already been expressed, and cannot be expressed enough!
Steph and I think it time for us to express our sincere appreciation to our fellow residents. Although we are vulnerable, we are not frightened. And the reason for that is our caring community.
Stay Safe! Be Well! Thank You!
~ Steph & Rich Barbour
