State Official Offers Tips for Holiday Visits to Nursing Homes

PRESS RELEASE                                      
For Immediate Release                                

Contact:  Reza Mizbani

Public Information Officer
(518)474-7181
reza.mizbani@ofa.state.ny.us


State Official Offers Tips for Holiday Visits to Nursing Homes

New York State Long Term Care Ombudsman Mark Miller today released a list of helpful tips for people planning holiday visits to residents in nursing homes.  As people travel home for the holidays, many nursing home residents will be eagerly awaiting a visit from family members and friends.   Miller notes that it is important to visitors, as well as the residents, to have these holiday visits be successful.  Miller oversees the State Long Term Care Ombudsman Program that places volunteer ombudsmen in nursing homes and other long term care residential facilities across the state.
 
Visitors should plan ahead to make these visits rewarding for the resident and themselves.  The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, a statewide advocacy service administered by the New York State Office for the Aging, advocates for persons living in long-term care facilities such as nursing homes, adult homes and other residential care facilities.  The program has a corps of more than 1,000 trained volunteers who regularly visit these homes, promoting and protecting residents’ rights and resolving care-related concerns.  New York’s State Ombudsman, Mark Miller, offers the following tips for families when visiting a loved one or friend in a nursing home:

•    Call ahead to arrange a time to visit that is best for the resident.  If your schedule does not permit you to visit during normal visiting hours, talk with the resident and the facility social worker or administrator to arrange an alternate time to visit.

•    Bring the loved one home for a family meal, take them for a drive or to visit friends in the community as a way to share the holiday time.  However, remember that trips outside the nursing home, whether for a few hours, the day or even overnight need to be prearranged and coordinated with both the resident and the home in order to ensure a safe and pleasant visit. 

•    Ask the resident if he or she has any special needs such as personal items, clothing or other necessities that they would like.

•    Many residents had to leave their companion animals when they came to the nursing home.  Ask the home about pet visits and limitations.

•    Many homes plan special holiday events or activities.  Consider planning a visit at those times to share the event with your relative.

•    If you are visiting a friend or relative for the first time, understand that this may be an emotional visit.  Many first-time or infrequent visitors experience mixed emotions.  These typically include feeling nervous, guilty or angry.  These feelings are normal.  Give yourself time to become acclimated to the new surroundings.  Get to know the staff, your loved one’s roommate and other residents.  While children are always welcome visitors, realize that teenagers and older children may have a more difficult time during these visits and may need additional support and time to adjust.

•    Be attentive to the resident’s appearance and demeanor.  Do they appear clean, appropriately dressed and well cared for?  Ask about how they like the food and what activities they participate in, if any.

•    When visiting a family member or friend with dementia, be aware that those visits can be emotionally difficult and potentially unsatisfying.  These residents may not be responsive which makes family member think that their effort to visit was in vain. 

Michael Burgess, Director of the State Office for the Aging, where the Ombudsman Office is located said, “It is important to remember that when we make these holiday visits, residents not only look forward to them, they also feel better because of them. Visits throughout the year, not only at holiday time go a long way to improve residents’ lives.”

According to the State Ombudsman, complaints received by the program traditionally spike during the holidays when nursing home visits by families and friends tend to increase.  If you are concerned about the care or treatment your loved one is receiving, or if they express complaints about their care remember the best place to solve most problems is right where you are --- in the facility.  Try to clearly identify what the problem is then approach the administrator, Director of Nursing or facility social worker with your concern.  Discuss possible solutions and ask when and how the concern will be addressed.  If the problem remains unresolved the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is there to help.  The name and contact information for the local ombudsman is posted prominently in every nursing home.  You can also find the local ombudsman on the web at www.ltcombudsman.ny.gov or by calling 1-800-342-9871.  This is a free, confidential service.

Miller also noted that persons should consider giving a special gift to seniors that will last throughout the year by joining the Family Council of the nursing home or becoming a volunteer ombudsman.  For more information and to contact your local long-term care ombudsman program visit the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program’s web site at www.ltcombudsman.ny.gov or call the New York State Office for the Aging Senior Citizens Helpline at 1-800-342-9871.

Holiday Office Hours

The RSVP and Cornell Cooperative Extension offices will be closed for the holidays from Friday, December 25 thru Friday, January 1.  We reopen on Monday, January 4.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU ALL!

Free Christmas Dinner

The Moose Lodge in Montour Falls will be offering a free Christmas dinner for any and all who want to attend. It will be on 12/25/09 from noon-2:00 p.m. at the Moose Lodge. They will make deliveries as well but really need to know no later than noon that day but would prefer more advanced notice if possible. The phone number is 535-4741. The meal will consist of turkey, ham, potatoes and other goodies.

Yates County Office Hours

Unfortunately, we are no longer able to offer regular office hours in Yates County. Please call 607-535-7105 to schedule an appointment.

Parkinson Disease Support Group

The Finger Lakes Parkinson Disease Support group will meet Thursday, December 17, 2009 at 1:30 p.m. in the Silver Spoon Café at the Schuyler County Human Services Complex, 323 Owego Street in Montour Falls.

This month features the Annual Holiday Celebration and the opportunity for group members to welcome newcomers, share support and fellowship. Participants are asked to bring a finger food, or snack for everyone to enjoy.

The support group is open to individuals with Parkinson disease and their care partners and family members. To RSVP call the Schuyler County Office for the Aging at 607-535-7108 or email ggasparro@stny.rr.com.

Shoe Strings Walking Program

Free and Fun!

 Shoe Strings Walking Program

Watkins Glen High School

Enter at the Field House

 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. Daily

(when school is open and in session)

Happy Thanksgiving!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING
FROM RSVP!

Please note that our offices will be closed on Thursday, November 26 and Friday, November 27.

We're thankful for all of our wonderful volunteers who selflessly give time to better our communities.  What are you thankful for this year?  Tell us in the comments!

CCE Schuyler: Annual Meeting To Feature Director of Arnot Forest

The Annual Meeting of the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schuyler County Association, scheduled for Thursday, December 10, 7:15-9:15 a.m., will feature Peter Smallidge, State Extension Forester and Director of the Arnot Forest, who will give a presentation on “Arnot Forest: A History of Solving Real-World Problems.”

The Annual Meeting is open to the public and will include a full breakfast, short business meeting with election of members to the Board of Directors, and our featured speaker. Cost is $12 per person. Reservations with payment are required by December 4, 2009. Call 607-535-7161 or email to schuyler@cornell.edu for information.

Castel Grisch Winery and Restaurant Hosts Holiday Brunch for CASA of the Southern Tier

 The annual Christmas of Hope brunch will be held on December 13, 2009, at Castel Grisch Winery and Restaurant in Watkins Glen, N.Y., from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. All proceeds benefit CASA of the Southern Tier. Tickets are $20 per person, $10 per child, and may be purchased by calling (607) 936-CASA. Table and time reservations must be made in advance. Call (607) 535-9614.

The holiday brunch is one of our most satisfying events, people relax for an hour. They enjoy great food, a bit of wine, and have fun. Our CASA kids and volunteers deal with tough, sometimes life or death, situations on a daily basis. The brunch is a terrific way to support children who are abused and neglected in our tri-county area.

For more information or purchase tickets, call Amy Miller-Plumley at (607) 936-2272 (CASA).

CASA is a nonprofit organization founded on the belief that the health, safety, and spirit of a child should be the primary concern when families are in crisis. To that end, it is dedicated to providing every abused and neglected child in the court system with a consistent and caring advocate - a court appointed special advocate. For more information on CASA, visit www.casasoutherntier.org.

If you'd like to become a CASA volunteer, please call RSVP at 607-535-7105 or email me at JLG228@cornell.edu.

Help Your Neighbors!

Please think about helping your neighbors in these difficult times.  American Red Cross in the Finger Lakes has an urgent need for volunteers.  People are needed to drliver hot meals to shut-ins, and to teach class in First Aid, CPR, babsitting and other health and safety courses.  People also are needed to respond to local fires, floods and other disasters.  All training to become a certified Red Cross instructor or disaster responder is provided free of charge.  Your service can be scheduled to fit your availability.  You can choose to deliver Meals on Wheels daily, weekly, biweekly or monthly.  WE NEED YOU!  Please help.

Also see HERE for other needs.

Call 607-535-7105 for more information.