25 Sep Case Managers – October 2022
WINTER PREPARATIONS
The Four Letter Word
Warning! In this month’s article I am going to be using that four letter word that is taboo in Wisconsin at this time of year. SNOW! Wisconsin has always ranked at the top of the charts for falls and deadly falls for adults over 65 and the number of older people that experience hypothermia each year is shocking. The National Institute on Aging has a lot of information on this if you are interested in learning more. Today we are going to discuss how to avoid being included in those statistics.
Snow is Coming
The white stuff will be here in the next month or two, whether we like it or not. Let’s take a proactive look at how we can prepare for winter weather. Are there things you can do around your space to make it safer? Are there changes you can make to your habits or routines to reduce the risk of a fall? Here are a few things we can do and habits we can create to reduce the risk of a fall, hypothermia and more.
Plan your Schedule
Take a look at the weather and plan around the weather. Just like we would plan a picnic for a sunny day, look ahead at the weather and plan your trips out on mild weather days.
Be a Squirrel
Fall is a great time to store some nuts away for winter. Well, you may want a little bit more variety than nuts. Having a little extra food in your home will make it easier to get by for a day or two if the weather is bad.
Carry a Cell Phone
If you don’t have a Life Alert system that detects falls, carry a cell phone or whistle with you to notify someone if you fall. Better yet, travel with a friend.
Slow Down
Plan enough time to get where you are going safely. This goes for walking and driving.
Dress Up
Have appropriate clothing for the weather. Make sure you have a coat, hat, scarf, mittens and boots. If you go out often you may want to consider buying ice cleats or “trax” for your boots (pictured below). I have a pair and they work great!
Challenge
Take fifteen minutes to think about how you could plan better for winter. Need help? Give me a call and we can
discuss it!
Hello! Like Drake, Fall is my favorite time of year! I love to be outside, hike, enjoy some cider and go to the pumpkin patch. I do, however, take some time to make things around my spaces as safe as possible before winter. You may have seen me at the senior center in a medical boot in August. I took a spill down the stairs of a wet deck. Ouch! This experience was a good reminder that falls happen. If you see me at the senior center ask me what I added at my house for fall prevention!
Take care, Julie Larson, Lead Case Manager
HALLOWEEN 
If you would have asked me as a child what my favorite holiday was, I would’ve said without a doubt, Halloween. I have always loved this time of year, the spookiness of it all and of course, the candy! That being said, how many of you know the actual origins of this fall festivity? History.com has a fascinating article meanings and traditions. I will do my best to summarize!
Origins
Halloween is a very old holiday, dating back thousands of years. Historians suggest that the celebration originated as a Celtic festival called Samhain, which was a celebration of ghosts returning to earth. October 31st was viewed as the day where the two worlds crossed, the world of the living and the world of the dead. While this does sound scary, the Celts saw this (mostly) as good. While the ghosts did damage crops, their presence was thought to make it easier for priests to make predictions about the future. These predictions were the good news that carried the people through the harsh, cold winters. Bonfires were lit and often people wore costumes, which is mostly why this is a staple of the holiday today!
Halloween in America:
Naturally, Samhain evolved, was adopted in other parts of the world and changed due to different beliefs and cultures. The Romans added their own spin to things, including honoring the goddess of fruit and trees and is possibly why bobbing for apples is now part of Halloween. Eventually, as Christianity spread, All Saints Day and All Soul’s Day were created. Halloween reached the U.S. in the colonial times due to the protestant beliefs and was most commonly celebrated in Maryland. Due to the hodgepodge of customs coming to America from Europe, a distinct American version of Halloween was formed, including many traditions we still have today.
Trick or Treating
The now famous, and wildly common practice of trick or treating started as a way to ask for money, food, or other resources, by going door to door. By the 1800’s the holiday had evolved into community-wide events. By the 1920’s, almost all of the religious aspects of the holiday were gone, but from the early 1900’s until 1950, vandalism was common during these celebrations and to avoid damage to their home, adults would provide treats. Hence the term, trick or treat. When trick or treaters arrive at your door this month, remember this beloved holiday has been around a very long time. Be sure to have plenty of treats available so you don’t get tricked!
Happy October and an early happy Halloween to all! I hope you get your fill of candy and enjoy the beautiful changing colors of the leaves! PS…..if you have any extra Almond Joys, Mounds Bars or Reese’s, you know where to find me. Have a fantastic October! Drake Deno, Case Manager
