Health HealthBEAT BEAT MAGAZINE April 2020 A FREE Publication Soap and Water Soap and Water vs Sanitizer vs Sanitizer New Doctors New Doctors To Join Facilities To Join Facilities How Funerals Are How Funerals Are Being Handled Being Handled Grief , Grief , Mental Health Mental Health and Stress and Stress April Is April Is Month Month COVID-19: COVID-19: Coping With Stress Coping With Stress SEND LETTERS SEND LETTERS to to Nursing Homes Nursing Homes Clinic To Offer Clinic To Offer Virtual Doctor Visits Virtual Doctor Visits
Transcript
HealthHealthBEATBEATMAGAZINE
April 2020 A FREE Publication
Soap and WaterSoap and Watervs Sanitizervs Sanitizer
New DoctorsNew Doctors To Join Facilities To Join Facilities
How Funerals AreHow Funerals AreBeing HandledBeing Handled
Grief , Grief , Mental Health Mental Health
and Stressand Stress
April IsApril Is
MonthMonth
COVID-19:COVID-19:Coping With Stress Coping With Stress
SEND LETTERSSEND LETTERS to to
Nursing HomesNursing Homes
Clinic To Offer Clinic To Offer Virtual Doctor VisitsVirtual Doctor Visits
Page 2 • April 2020
The Kensington is part of the Agemark family of senior living communities.
Loving Care for Local Seniors Since 1989.
Call Alex for more information:
402-992-8919
How Funeral Homes Are Coping With COVID-19
and FuneralsThe Center for Disease Con-
trol (CDC) has issued guidelines in the wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which in-cludes limiting gatherings to 10 individuals or less.A statement from the CDC
says, in part, “Large events and mass gatherings can contribute to the spread of COVID-19 in the United States via travelers who at-tend these events and intro-duce the virus to new com-munities. Examples of large events and mass gatherings include conferences, festivals, parades, concerts, sporting events, weddings, and other types of assemblies.”And funerals. Local funerals homes
are abiding by these guidelines. Visi-tations are being limited to 10 people, usually immediate family. Services are not open to the public. Gerdes Meyer Funeral Home is not current-
ly restricting where services can be held. However, some other funeral homes, such as Livingston Butler Vol-land Funeral Home in Hastings, are not having services at churches at all, but only at the funeral home itself.There is at least one way around
the 10-visitor limit, using a televi-sion monitor in a separate room to watch a service. Chris Klinger, Fu-neral Director for Fox Funeral Home in Plymouth said, “I know we have
one church here in town that I've had three services at, that has three separate rooms and they have a TV, so they are able to accommodate 30 family members, but you still have to do the social distancing, 10 per room,
six feet apart.The CDC has made some recom-
mendations to funeral directors, such as:•Have a private viewing for only im-
mediate family and/or close friends.•Delay the funeral and hold it at a
later date. Discuss options for final disposition if you choose this option.•Have a private viewing for only
immediate family and/or close friends and have a large memorial service for
all family and friends at a later date.•Discuss options for
webcasting the funeral so others can view from home.Gerdes Meyer Funeral
Home is currently offering to record funeral services and post the video on their web site. Gerdes Meyer does not yet have the abil-ity to live stream services but they are currently work-ing on making that happen. Some funeral homes are
also giving mourners the opportunity to have a public memorial service at a later date, once the risk from COVID-19 is passed.All this is subject to change as the
situation warrants.
Page 3 • April 2020
402-729-3351
While we’re not physically out and about, this community is always together when it matters most. What we are dealing with as a healthcare provider, a community, and as a country is different than anything we’ve faced before. But like so many things, when we come together, we can accomplish anything. With your help, we can overcome this crisis—and help our neighbors who are most vulnerable.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms call:
• Fever of 100.4° or more• Cough• Shortness of breath
Visit JCHealthandLife.org or www.cdc.gov for updates on COVID-19 and what you can do to protect yourself.
Stress and CopingThe outbreak of coronavirus disease
2019 (COVID-19) may be stressful for people. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Coping with stress will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger.
People who may respond more strongly to the stress of a crisis in-clude:
•Older people and people with chron-ic diseases who are at higher risk for COVID-19
•Children and teens•People who are helping with the
response to COVID-19, like doctors and other health care providers, or first responders
•People who have mental health condi-tions including problems with substance use
Stress during an infectious disease outbreak can include:
•Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones
•Changes in sleep or eating patterns•Difficulty sleeping or concentrating•Worsening of chronic health problems•Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or
other drugsNeed help? Know someone who
does?If you, or someone you care about, are
feeling overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression, or anxiety, or feel like you want to harm yourself or others call:
•Call 911•Call 1-800-985-5990 and TTY 1-800-
846-8517•Call 1-800-799-7233 and TTY 1-800-
787-3224
Thayer County Health Services is excited to have Travis Wright, PA-C join our medical staff May 1. Travis provides primary care with a focus on family care. He will see patients at the hospital and the Bruning, Davenport, and Hebron Medical Clinics. You can schedule an appointment with Travis by calling 402-768-7203.
www.ThayerCountyHealth.com120 PARK AVENUE | HEBRON NE | 402.768.7203
U.S. Department of Health and Human ServicesCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
Handwashing and Hand Sanitizer Use at Home, at Play, and Out and About
CS270631
Germs are everywhere! They can get onto hands and items we touch during daily activities and make you sick. Cleaning hands at key times with soap and water or hand sanitizer is one of the most important steps you can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to those around you.
There are important differences between washing hands with soap and water and cleaning them with hand sanitizer. For example, alcohol-based hand sanitizers don’t kill ALL types of germs, such as a stomach bug called norovirus, some parasites, and Clostridium difficile, which causes severe diarrhea. Hand sanitizers also may not remove harmful chemicals, such as pesticides and heavy metals like lead. Handwashing reduces the amounts of all types of germs, pesticides, and metals on hands. Knowing when to clean your hands and which method to use will give you the best chance of preventing sickness.
When should I use?
Soap and Water • Before, during, and after preparing food
• Before eating food
• Before and after caring for someone who is sick
• Before and after treating a cut or wound
• After using the bathroom, changing diapers, or cleaning up a child who has used the bathroom
• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
• After touching an animal, animal food or treats, animal cages, or animal waste
• After touching garbage
• If your hands are visibly dirty or greasy
Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer • Before and after visiting a friend or a loved
one in a hospital or nursing home, unless the person is sick with Clostridium difficile (if so, use soap and water to wash hands).
• If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol, and wash with soap and water as soon as you can.
* Do NOT use hand sanitizer if your hands are visibly dirty or greasy: for example, after gardening, playing outdoors, or after fishing or camping (unless a handwashing station is not available). Wash your hands with soap and water instead.
Page 5 • April 2020
909 17th St., Fairbury, NE 402-729-2289
www.heritagefairbury.com
• Short-Term Rehabilitation
Get Well - Go Home!• Skilled Nursing
Private Rooms Available• Alzheimer’s & Dementia
Changing the view of Long-Term Care!
As coronavirus continues to spread throughout the world, it’s normal to be worried about catching it – and that’s causing rising anxiety levels globally.
Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations such as an infectious disease outbreak that requires social distancing, quarantine, or isolation. People may feel:
•Anxiety, worry, or fear related to health status
•Time taken off from work and the potential loss of income and job security
•The challenges of se-curing needed things, such as groceries and personal care items
•Loneliness associated with feeling cut off from the world and from loved ones
•Anger at being exposed to the disease because of others’ perceived negligence
•Boredom and frustration at not being able to work or engage in regular activ-ities
•Uncertainty or ambivalence about the situation
•Feelings of hopelessness, changes in appetite, or sleeping too little or too much
How can you manage your fears and anxieties during an outbreak?
•Access reliable information sources. Social media can easily spread rumors, and a constant stream of rumors and questionable information can negatively affect mental health.
•Avoid watching, reading or listening to news that cause you to feel anxious or distressed.
Get the facts. •Share reliable information. Rely on
and share trusted sources of information about the causes of outbreaks from reputable sources like the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention and Nebraska DHHS’s dedicated coro-navirus page.
•Keep connected. Maintaining social net-works can help maintain a sense of normalcy, and provide valuable outlets for sharing feelings and
•Be mindful of assumptions about others. Someone who has a cough or a fever does not necessarily have corona-virus. Coronavirus can affect any age or ethnicity.
Nursing Home res-idents and assisted living tenants need to know now more than ever that they are not alone. You are welcome to send cards and letters, coloring pages, crafts -- even commer-cially made packaged treats. You may send things to residents you know - or just to resi-dents in general.
You can mail to:Gardenside, PO Box
277, Fairbury, NE 68352Cedarwood, 828 22nd
St., Fairbury, NE 68352Heritage Care Center,
909 17th St., Fairbury, NE 68352
If you'd like to drop something off, we can make arrangements. Call Gardenside at 402-729-5220, Cedarwood at 402-729-6100 or Heritage at 402-729-2289
Send Letters to Nursing
Homes
Staying Mentally Strong During The
Coronavirus Outbreak
Page 6 • April 2020
402-682-7661Like Us On FacebookAseracare Hospice-Beatrice
The Reality At AseraCare Hospice:AseraCare Hospice is specialized care provided to
patients wherever they live.AseraCare Hospice is helpful for anyone suffering
the effects of a disease in its final stages.AseraCare Hospice manages the clinical, emotional and spiritual symptoms to provide quality end-of-life care.
AseraCare Hospice is a benefit under Medicare, Medicaid and many private insurance companies.
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Serving Gage, Jefferson, Johnson, Otoe, Pawnee, Nemaha and Richardson Counties
Grief and SupportNo matter if expected or not, the
death of one whom you love gener-ates the most difficult and complicat-ed of human emotions.
The void left in our lives is too vast to ever close. Nor should it. Grief produces a powerful tidal wave of shock, denial, anger, guilt, depression, numbness, confu-sion, overwhelming sadness, fatigue and weakness. You’ll ride deep troughs of despair that he or she is no longer there. Yet from the crests you’ll laugh — humor triggered by a memory, a picture, an object that was special to you both. These emotional ups and downs are frighten-ing. But they’re normal. In time, they will level out into a manageable cycle of regret and joy that will roll like the sea when the storm has passed. We will always grieve for those who have gone before us because they will always be a part of us.
Just as it was our job to accept the transition of death, we must accept grief
and allow ourselves to feel and express our emotions. All of us grieve differently. There is no right or wrong way. Society forces on us stereotypes of grief, and we wonder if we are behaving appropriately. One person might ask: “Why am I always tearful? Shouldn’t I be getting on with life?” Yet another might be responding complete-ly differently and worrying that the forecast flood of tears has not arrived. We should not judge ourselves for not expressing
grief the way others might feel we should. Rather, we should understand that grief itself is a journey that requires us to be patient with our-selves, to develop our own understand-ing of how grief af-fects us, and to have compassion for oth-er family members
and friends who are expressing grief in their own ways.
Bereavement begins with the acceptance of the imminent passing away of a person we love. Often bereavement begins with the transition from
active treatment of the disease to palliative care, the soothing of its symptoms and the hallmark of AseraCare Hospice. Though death has yet to occur, and may be not just hours but days or weeks away, engage-ment of hospice marks a profound transi-tion in the way family and friends feel about the future of the person they have loved for such a long time. The onset of the reality of bereavement triggers grief. By effectively addressing issues relating to bereavement before death has occurred, hospice staff prepare families and friends for grief.
Virtual Visits:•May be used for any medical concern•Will be submitted to insurance. Regular deductibles and copays apply•Requires smartphone or other electronic device with camera and microphone
The process is simple:•Call JCH&L Fairbury Clinic at 402-729-3361 and dial 1 to make an appointment.•Staff will need to know your name, cell phone number or email (if you wish to use a laptop), and symptoms or the reason for the visit.•The clinic staff will send you a link. •At about 10 minutes prior to your appointment time, you will follow the link to the virtual waiting room.
See a medical provider without leaving your home!
402-729-3361 Monday through Friday
8:30 am-4:30 pm
jchealthandlife.orgInspiring a Lifetime of Health
JCH&L Fairbury Clinic to Offer Virtual Visits
JCH&L Fairbury Clinic is offering Virtual visits which will offer a great op-tion for patients to be seen by a family medicine provider without leaving their home.
Virtual visits may be used for any type of medical concern. They could be especially helpful for those who have symptoms they feel might indicate COVID-19.
Virtual visits will be submitted to insur-ance, just as a regular office visit would, but are less costly than office visits. Regular deductibles and copays apply. The patient must have a smartphone or other type of device, such as laptop (must have camera and microphone), iPad, or tablet. If a patient is going to use a family member’s device, they will need to know the phone number or email when they make their appointment.
The process is simple:•Call JCH&L Fairbury Clinic at 402-729-
3361 and dial 1 to make an appointment.•Staff will need to know your name, cell
phone number or email (if you wish to use a laptop), and symptoms or the reason for the visit. They will ask if there a provider you prefer to see.
•The clinic staff will send you a link. At about 10 minutes prior to your appointment time, you will follow the link.
•If you are an established patient you do not need to fill out the demographic infor-mation online.
•You will sign a consent and be put in the virtual “waiting room” until your medical provider joins you.
•If you require testing, you will receive instructions from your medical provider.
•Once the appointment is complete, if you need a prescription, the clinic staff will transmit the prescriptions to your pharmacy of choice.
“We are excited to be able to offer this new virtual visit option to our patients,” said Erin Starr, chief nursing officer at Jefferson Community Health & Life. “As our society works to reduce and delay the spread of COVID-19, virtual visits are a way to seek medical care from your own home.”
To make an appointment, dial 402-729-3361 and choose option 1. If you have general questions about the process, please call patient services at 402-729-3361, and choose option 2.
Jefferson Community Health & Life con-tinues to expand its precautionary mea-sures in preparation for possible cases of COVID-19. To date, no cases have been identified in Jefferson County or surround-ing counties, but the Nebraska number of cases diagnosed continues to grow. In order to protect our staff, patients, resi-dents, and customers, JCH&L is taking the following measures.
As of April 1:•JCH&L Plymouth Clinic will be closed
until further notice.•Outpatient visits, surgeries and proce-
dures with several specialists have been cancelled. All patients with appointments are being contacted.
Reminders of precautions already in
place:•JCH&L Burkley Fitness Center is closed.•JCH&L Fairbury Clinic is scheduling
patients who have respiratory symptoms in the afternoons, and patients without respiratory symptoms in the mornings. Injections and blood pressure checks will also be in the morning.
•The clinics ask that only one other per-son accompany any patient to the clinic for appointments.
•JCH&L Fairbury and Plymouth clinics will no longer take walk-ins. Same day appoint-ments are typically available. Please call 402-729-3361 to make a Fairbury Clinic appointment, and 402-729-6888 to make a
Plymouth Clinic appointment.•Patients are encouraged NOT to drop bill
payments off at the clinics. Please call for other alternatives.
•JCH&L Gardenside and Cedarwood are CLOSED to all non-essential personnel, including family members.
•The JCH&L cafeteria is closed to the public. It will remain open only to staff.
•Hospital visitors are limited to 2 per patient room. All will be screened for recent travel to areas of high incidence/communi-ty spread, signs and symptoms of respira-tory infection (fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat), and whether they have had any contact with persons who have been diagnosed or are under investigation for having COVID-19.
•Hospital visitors may use the main en-trance from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or the ER/Outpatient Entrance (pick up the phone to reach the nurses station) from 4:30 p.m. to 8 a.m.
•All support groups and outside programs have been postponed until further notice and Sterling Connection trips for April have been cancelled.
•Patients for all services continue to be screened. Hospital or clinic patients with positive screening results will be cared for appropriately and given guidance and direction. Non-essential services may be rescheduled.
•Patients who have symptoms of possible respiratory illness are encouraged to call for screening over the telephone before arriving at any medical facility.
Clinic To Offer Virtual Visits
Page 8 •April 2020
How To Protect Yourself And Your Family From COVID-19
www.TheVillaAtFlowingSprings.com | 402-223-3946 | 2211 Sunset Dr. | Beatrice, NE 68310
Enjoy independent, retirement living at its best at The Villa at Flowing Springs. These beautiful and spacious one- or two-bedroom apartments are located in a peaceful, quiet housing development on the southeast edge of Beatrice, Nebraska, complete with a pond and fountains, and smooth, accessible walking trails.
It’s More Than a Home - It’s a Community
• A kitchen appliance package
• Stacked washer & dryer in each
living unit
• All utilities (except personal
phone and cable TV)
• Softened water
• Urgent call system
• Enclosed heated garage
• Exercise room
• Banking office
• Barber/beauty shop
• Guest room
• Library
• Monthly church service
The Villa offers carefree living with:
By now we’ve all heard of COVID-19, the novel coronavirus making headlines. There is currently no vaccine. Communi-ties, states and our nation are working to try to help slow the spread.
The Centers for Disease Control gives these recommendations for protecting your-self and your family:
•The best way to prevent illness is to avoid exposure. The virus is thought to spread mainly from person to person, between those in close contact (within about 6 feet) through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
•Clean your hands often. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds – especial-ly after you have been in a public place or after blowing your nose, coughing or sneez-ing. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.
•Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
•Avoid close contact. Avoid close contact with people who are sick, and put distance between yourself and other people if it is spreading in your community.
•Stay home if you are sick (except to get necessary medical care.) If you feel you need medical care, call your health care provider first.
•Cover coughs and sneez-es. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow. Throw used tissue in the trash.
•Wear a facemask if you are sick. If you are sick you
should wear a facemask when you are around other peo-ple and before you
enter a health care provider’s office. If you are not sick you don’t need to wear a face-mask unless you are caring for someone who is sick and they aren’t able to wear a facemask.
•If surfaces are dirty clean them with soap and water prior to disinfection. Most common EPA-registered household disinfectants will work. Use appropriately for the surface.
