19 Sep October 2020 – Case Managers
What Are Your Advance Care Wishes and Who Knows About Them?
Having conversations with those closest to you about your wishes is important. While some people may think they know exactly what they want, it can be helpful to talk through your wishes with the people closest to you before making final decisions about how you would like to be cared for in a medical emergency, if you become ill or end of life care. When having these conversations, it can be useful to take a step back and
discuss your beliefs and values to determine how these people will play a part in your advance planning wishes. The National Institute on Aging’s website has questions to ask yourself while planning, information on how to choose a power of attorney for health care and more: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/advance-care-planning-healthcare-directives#started. Once you have thought through and finalized your wishes, it is crucial that you complete Advance Planning Directives and file them properly. Contrary to what some people believe, in Wisconsin these documents can be completed free of charge. The form can be found at: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/forms/advdirectives/adformspoa.htm. Finally, it is important that you talk about your wishes with your power of attorney for health care and other people close to you so that everyone is prepared if there comes a time when directives need to be activated.
File of Life is a document used to communicate important information about you to professionals in a time of a medical emergency. A File of Life magnet can be kept on your fridge and a paper copy can also be kept in your wallet or purse. This document needs to be updated often and contains emergency contact information, information on medications, allergies and medical conditions. Don’t have one? Contact a case manager to get one today!
Happy Fall! My favorite season! I’m excited that we are able to offer a few more activities here at the senior center and hope that the health of our community in regards to Covid-19, keeps moving in the right
direction. On a personal note, we have exciting news in my household! Introducing Miss Margo! Don’t let anyone tell you different, puppies are a lot of work! Thankfully we are so in love with her, so it makes it easier!
Stay safe, Julie
Small Changes Can Make a Big Difference
- Turn off the news. Watching too much can create stress and anxiety. Staying informed is a good thing, but once in a while, give yourself a little “news break.”
- Don’t put so much pressure on yourself to “get things done.” We might be spending more time at home, but does that mean you should stress about all the things you think you should be doing? Nope. Nobody said that you have to do those things right now. Give yourself permission to take time to do whatever makes you happy, not stressed. Cleaning out the basement can wait!
- Social media is a great way to stay connected with family & friends, but it can also trigger anxiety. Did you know you can still be “friends” with someone on facebook, but hide what they post? Click on the 3 dots in the top right corner of their post for options. They won’t know since you remain friends, you just won’t see what they post.
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
- In 2019, an estimated 268,600 new cases of invasive breast cancer were diagnosed among women and approximately 2,670 cases diagnosed in men.
- Approximately 1 in 8 women (13%) will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in their lifetime.
- Men are more likely than women (51% versus 36%) to be diagnosed with advanced (regional-or distant-stage) breast cancer, which likely reflects delayed detection because of decreased awareness.
Perform regular self-examinations
Enjoy the changing colors!
Becky
Olivia will be 6 months old on October 11th! She loves her dogs, bananas, country music, eating her feet & anything she can gnaw on to help those little teeth poke through!
