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Slate Valley Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing With 5 Additional Uses for a Smartphone

It may seem like everyone has a smartphone, but as the demographics get older, it actually may not be as common as you think. A study in 2020 found that while 86% of Americans ages 50-59 had a smartphone, that number dropped to 81% for the 60-69 age group, and fell even further to just 62% of those 70 and older.

But if you or someone you know is still resisting by sticking with either a flip phone or going without a cell phone at all, you’re missing out on some excellent features (besides talking or texting) that will likely make your life easier.

Slate Valley Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has a look at five additional uses for a smartphone that will make you wonder how you lived without them.

  1. Weather Report Whenever You Want

You don’t have to wait until the weather comes on the news to see what the forecast is, and you can also download weather apps that contain live radar, so you can see if there’s rain or snow heading into your area before you go out.

  1. Quality Photo and Video Camera

Many flip phones are equipped with cameras, but cameras on today’s smartphones take photos and videos that are of great quality. And you can bring your phone to a store that prints photos and select ones to print out, or you can use an online service like Shutterfly to do that.

  1. Radio

Turn your smartphone into a radio and listen to stations from around the world for free. There are apps like Pandora that also allow you to listen to any genre of music that you want.

  1. Timer

If you need an additional timer in the kitchen or want to set a timer for any other reason, the timer function on smartphones allow you to set a countdown and also use it as a stopwatch if you need to.

  1. Library

Download one of several apps (including Hoopla, Libby, and OverDrive) that synch with your local library card and allows you to borrow e-books that you can read right on your device.

 

To learn more about Slate Valley Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://slate-valley-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org.

Slate Valley Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing on Medicines That Can Raise Blood Pressure

Nearly half of all American adults are living with hypertension—high blood pressure—according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For people 60 and older, that number rises to 75%.

And according to a new study, 19% of people with hypertension are taking other medications that could be making their problem worse.

Slate Valley Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has a look at medications that can either cause higher blood pressure or cause blood pressure medications to not work as effectively.

Over-the-Counter Drugs

Extremely common medications can increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke with high doses or prolonged use, according to the American College of Cardiology. These include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs. These include pain relievers ibuprofen and naproxen along with many cough and cold medicines, decongestants, weight-loss stimulants, and antacids that are high in sodium.

Prescription Drugs

The more prescription drugs you take, the more risk there is in mixing them. Common prescription medications that will raise blood pressure include certain antidepressants (fluoxetine, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and tri-cyclic antidepressants), oral steroids used to treat conditions like gout, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis, and some drugs used to treat autoimmune diseases and cancers.

Talk to Your Doctor of Pharmacist

In order to avoid falling into this group of people likely unknowingly potentially sabotaging their blood pressure medication, the first thing you should do is talk to your doctor and make it clear the medications you take—even things that you may only take as needed, such as ibuprofen or a decongestant. In addition, try to get all of your prescription medication from the same pharmacy. This way, one pharmacy has a list of all of the medications that you’re on, and if any can potentially harmfully interact with another, the pharmacist will be alerted before filling the order.

To learn more about Slate Valley Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://slate-valley-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org.

Slate Valley Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing With 6 Foods That Stay Fresher Outside the Refrigerator

As people become more and more familiar with refrigerators as a part of their life as the generations go on, many people assume as a rule that food will stay fresher in the fridge.

That, however, isn’t always the case.

Slate Valley Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing is detailing six foods that are not only fine at room temperature, but they actually stay fresher outside the refrigerator.

  1. Garlic

If you buy fresh garlic, keep it in a cool, dry place. This will allow it to retain its consistency; otherwise, it can get rubbery in the fridge. If you buy garlic in a jar, it may need to be refrigerated. Check the label to be sure.

  1. Potatoes

Moisture from the refrigerator will spoil plenty of vegetables, and potatoes are no exception. They will get gritty and sweet in the fridge. It’s best to store them in a paper bag in a cool, dry place. You should also keep them away from onions (which are also better out of the fridge).

  1. Tomatoes

While moisture is an issue for many fruits and vegetables, tomatoes will actually dry out in the fridge. So keep them out in order to keep them juicy and tasting their best.

  1. Bananas

Bananas will not ripen if you put them in the fridge, as they need warmer temperatures to do so. Plus, moisture will do a number to even ripe bananas, so it’s best to leave them out even as they start to brown.

  1. Berries

This is another culprit of moisture. Another common mistake people make with berries is washing the whole bunch and then sticking them in the fridge. That just adds moisture, so you should wash them just when you’re ready to eat them.

  1. Whole Melons

Watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew are fine to sit on the counter as long as they’re whole. Once they’re sliced, then they need to go into the refrigerator so they don’t rot.

To learn more about Slate Valley Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://slate-valley-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org.

Slate Valley Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing on How to Get Your Sleep Schedule Back on Track

In addition to nearly every other part of life that was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in the hours that we were awake, our sleep was disrupted as well.

According to a study conducted in China and Italy, sleep disruption was found to be at an all-time high with levels of insomnia rising (due to COVID-related anxiety or more inactivity throughout the day) and poor sleep quality (with additional screen time before bed thought to be to blame).

Chances are you experienced some of these effects during the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, so if you haven’t been able to get back on track, Slate Valley Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has a look at three ways to self-evaluate your sleep and find areas to improve.

  1. Start a Sleep Log

Write down what time you believe you fell asleep, when you woke up, the number of times you may have woken up during the night, and whether you woke up due to an alarm or naturally.

  1. Do You See Any Routines?

The key to good sleep is establishing routines. That means you should have a regular sleep schedule. That’s defined as falling asleep and waking up during the same 45- to 60- minute window each day. Any variant in a regular sleep schedule can lead to weight gain, feeling sluggish during the day, and even conditions like hypertension and diabetes.

  1. Connection Between Sleeping and Eating

A lack of quality sleep can affect our impulses when it comes to eating. Studies find that people who don’t routinely get good sleep eat more and make poor choices when it comes to what they eat. On the other hand, a higher sleep quality is associated with a healthier diet of fruits and vegetables along with less snacking before bedtime.

 

To learn more about Slate Valley Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://slate-valley-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org.

COVID-19 Vaccines are Available for our Staff and Residents!

COVID-19 Vaccines are Available for our Staff and Residents!

According to the CDC:
– The vaccines are highly effective at preventing COVID-19
– They will help keep you from getting seriously ill
– They help protect your family and community
– Vaccines have received Emergency Use Authorizations from the FDA

Talk to the facility administrator or social worker—and get vaccinated today.

Slate Valley Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing With 5 Steps to Take to Protect Your Brain From the COVID-19 Pandemic

Neurological issues are one of the prolonged symptoms that doctors are finding from people who had moderate to severe cases of COVID-19, including more than half of people hospitalized due to the virus. These issues can range from relatively benign like a dulled sense of taste or smell all the way to severe issues like confusion (“brain fog”), depression, headaches, and sleep issues.

Just like it’s important to beef up your immune system, it’s also key to train your brain to be as strong as it can be, and that can be quite a challenge as we pass the one-year mark of the pandemic. Slate Valley Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has information on five steps you can take to make your brain as resilient as possible.

  1. Stay Social

It’s easy to settle into isolation, especially with social distancing and quarantining effects of the pandemic being in place for such a long time. The brain can suffer memory loss and dementia can even set in during extended periods of social isolation, so it’s vital to keep your connections open as best you can. If you’re seeing people in person, focus beyond the mask into their eyes to maintain a strong connection.

  1. Feed Your Brain

A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and healthy fats (the Mediterranean diet) has been found to keep inflammation low all over the body, including the brain. On the opposite end of the spectrum, processed and sugary foods increase inflammation levels and with it, the risk for infection.

  1. Exercise

Exercising will bring down the negative effects and stress that isolation brings. Use online fitness apps to start a regimen or get outside and walk, bike, or jog. This will be more pleasant once warmer weather arrives.

  1. Get Your Zzzs

Getting an optimal amount of sleep (7-9 hours) will allow your body to recharge the way it needs to each night. When you’re heading to bed, make sure to give yourself adequate time (30-60 minutes) to wind down, which will help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep.

  1. Learn a New Skill

Ward off those negative thoughts and fears stemming from the pandemic by putting your brain to work. You can learn a new hobby or skill (with online courses, videos, and tutorials, access to knowledge is better than ever), or you can teach something new to others.

 

To learn more about Slate Valley Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://slate-valley-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org/.

Protecting our patients, residents and staff from COVID-19

From the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, our facility has followed the guidelines and recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH). The safety of our residents, patients, staff and their families are our priority and we continue to take an abundance of precaution to protect them.

Our team is well-trained in the importance of proper handwashing and the use of alcohol-based sanitizer, and all are supplied with proper PPE. If they experience symptoms—such as fever or cough—they are instructed to stay home, and they must be cleared before returning to work.

Handwashing and hygiene posters are displayed throughout our facilities, and employee education and training continue based on the latest community and CDC guidelines. In addition, the COVID-19 vaccine is currently being administered throughout the Centers Health Care facilities to staff and residents alike.

For the latest news about visitation and more, please contact our facility.

Centers Health Care celebrates 25 years of experience, innovation and leadership

25 years of improving lives
25 years of compassionate care
25 years of making a difference

Experience matters and we have it.

We’re proud to be part of Centers Health Care, one of the leading post-acute care organizations in the country. 

This year, Centers Health Care is celebrating 25 years of monumental care.

As the leading post-acute healthcare network in the Northeast, Centers’ experience is unmatched, our knowledge unparalleled. We bring more accumulated expertise to the residents and patients we serve than any other post-acute provider in the country, touching more than half a million lives and achieving more than 20,000 successful rehabilitations every year.

Our remarkable insights and ground-breaking achievements over the past quarter-century are exemplary.  We have developed programs that have put our company in the top 5% nationwide for successful rehabilitations such as our specialized care units, ranging from a cardiac care unit that has been certified by the American Heart Association to vent and dialysis care.

We have developed unprecedented outreach to the communities we serve—creating units dedicated to community cultures. Centers has, in short, transformed post-acute healthcare…and that’s just the beginning.

We celebrate as we look back at our successes and look forward to our continuing triumphs.

“Over the last quarter-century,” CEO Kenny Rozenberg says, “we have gained the kind of powerful experience in post-acute healthcare that is unmatched in the industry. I am proud and honored to celebrate the 25th anniversary—and look forward to moving ahead, as we write new chapters in the story of Centers Health Care, leading the way for the next 25 years.”

Slate Valley Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing on Avoiding Common Auto Insurance Claims

We can’t control what everyone behind the wheel is going to do on the road, which is why carrying auto insurance is required by law. There are plenty of factors, however, that are under our control, which can help prevent needless claims that will both take a bite out of the pocketbook and potentially cause insurance premiums to rise in the years to come.

Slate Valley Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has a look at four common auto insurance claims and how you can avoid them. 

 

 

Most rear-end and single-car crashes are entirely preventable. Cut down on distractions by keeping the phone away from your reach. Also be sure to stay at least two seconds away from vehicles in front of you in case they stop suddenly. This is especially true in adverse weather conditions. You’ll also want to make sure to not get too close to stopped cars in traffic or at stoplights to avoid a chain-reaction crash in case you are rear-ended. 

 

 

Park away from other cars in parking lots, and avoid parking next to the spaces that stores set aside to hold shopping carts. Hail storms can sometimes be unpredictable, so park under cover when possible, and if you’re parking on the street, make sure you’re close to the curb and fold in your mirrors.

 

 

Don’t give anyone any tempting ideas by leaving valuables out in plain sight. Use the console, under the back seat, or—best yet—in a locked glove compartment. Also park in well-lit areas, which will also make it safer for you to enter and exit your vehicle.

 

 

Keep a safe distance away from construction and other large vehicles on the highway, as rocks and other debris either falling off or being kicked up by them can chip or crack your windshield. 

 

To learn more about Slate Valley Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://slate-valley-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org/. 

 

Slate Valley Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing on the Signs of Caregiver Stress

Whether its taking care of a young one, an older relative, or a sick spouse, rarely does the attention get focused on the efforts of the caregiver. But more and more, this is changing. People are recognizing the stress that comes with caring for someone around the clock. In fact, it’s one of the reasons why we see new residents at Slate Valley Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing. Sometimes, professional care is needed to ensure that our loved ones are given the best treatment.

If you’re a caregiver, you might be so focused on your duties each day that you might not even be aware of the stress you’re taking on. Slate Valley Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has five signs of caregiver stress and some options for relief.

Signs of Caregiver Stress

There are outward and subtle signs of caregiver stress. If you’re more angry or irritable, making mistakes in your care, and turning to things like alcohol or smoking to cope, these are clearer signs of caregiver stress. Underlying signs include:

If you’re experiencing any of these, you should talk to your doctor. You could simply need a break or there could be other factors at play.

Relieving Caregiver Stress

As we mentioned, taking time for yourself is an easy way to destress. Enlist in the help of a friend or family member to give you a break or look into respite care services in your area. You can also make time for yourself by waking up an hour earlier to exercise or relax.

There are other resources you can tap into, including classes offered by hospitals or senior organizations on taking care of someone with an injury or illness, and there are also support groups – both in-person and virtual ones – that you can join to learn tips and tricks or just have a safe space to share your feelings.

To learn more about Slate Valley Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://slate-valley-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org/.