Campaign: Care that Moves You

Essex Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing With Indoor Lighting Options to Brighten Up the Winter Months

We’re in the thick of the winter months, and it’s prime time for seasonal affective disorder (SAD), otherwise known as seasonal depression, to creep up on us. Symptoms include a feeling of listlessness, having excess food cravings, difficulty concentrating, and feeling tired and sluggish.

There are many things that bring SAD on, but a common one is reduced levels of sunlight in the fall and winter months affecting your serotonin (brain chemical that affects mood) and melatonin (hormone that plays a role in sleep patterns) levels.

One common—and relatively easy—method to try and combat SAD is to increase the natural light levels in your home. This process is called phototherapy, aka light therapy.

Essex Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has three products you can try that will help increase the natural light in your home.

1. Daylight Light Bulbs

Instead of soft white light, which is the most common style of bulb, purchase some bulbs featuring natural light. These are brighter, whiter lights (as opposed to the yellow-ish look of soft white) that emit more blue light, which wakes your body up in the morning and keeps it up during the day. Kitchens and bathrooms are popular locations for these kinds of bulbs, but you may want to have soft-white options as well to use at night.

2. Tubular Skylights

These aren’t typical skylights where it’s almost like a window in the ceiling. Rather, these use a light-collecting dome on the roof and a tube reflects the light down into your living space. This creates a lot more light than a bulb can produce—even on an overcast day. The one downside is that professional installation is required, but you will save on energy costs.

3. Sunrise Alarm Clocks

Sleep experts advise going to bed and waking up at around the same time every day, but if you keep your bedroom dark, you won’t get the natural benefit of waking up when the sun comes up if you like to sleep in a little bit (or if you wake up before the sun comes up). If this sounds like you, try a sunrise alarm clock. These begin to gradually brighten starting at around 30 minutes before your alarm goes off and is a more gentle way of waking up instead of being startled by a sound alarm alone.

To learn more about Essex Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://essex.facilities.centershealthcare.org.

Essex Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing on the Popularity of Portable and Standby Generators

Severe weather doesn’t have to be something sudden and dramatic. Of course, power outages from events like thunderstorms, hurricanes, and ice storms are always a threat. But severe weather can also come in the form of heavy snow, frigid temperatures, and torrid heat waves that can put a strain on the electrical grid.

In response, many are turning to generators—either portable ones that can power your essentials for a brief time, or standby generators that can power the whole home with little concern for fuel. Either way, they could prove vital to maintain a climate-controlled environment and to potentially provide power to medical equipment.

Essex Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has a look at both portable and standby generators so you can see if either option would be right for your home or the home of a loved one.

Portable Generators

Portable generators are able to power items like air conditioning and heat by connecting to your circuit breaker or by running power cords out of your house to certain items like a refrigerator. These are cheaper options that generally cost in the hundreds and are powered by gasoline. But what you’re saving on cost you will be paying for in lack of convenience. First, they need to be moved into position and powered manually. If the power event is caused by snow, ice or rain, they will also have to be shielded from the elements.

They are noisy and will run through anywhere from 12 to 20 gallons of gasoline per day in consistent use, depending on what they are used to provide power to.

There are also safety concerns with gas-powered generators, as precautions need to be taken so fumes do not enter the home and lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Standby Generators

Essential businesses have standby generators, and they are becoming increasingly popular in homes. The cost is much higher (in the thousands) and need to be installed by a professional, but once they are in, you don’t have much else to worry about.

In the event of an outage, the generators kicks in automatically to provide power. They also are weatherproofed and insulated so they are quieter than portable generators.

Finally, they can run for days or weeks on propane, and in the case of natural gas versions, they can run indefinitely.

In conclusion, if you can afford the up-front cost, a standby generator is the way to go, whereas a portable generator is more affordable and can be used to provide the same service but with a little more legwork.

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

Essex Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing With 5 of the Best Exercises After 60

While it may get more difficult as we cross the 50- and 60-year-old barrier, exercise remains just as important as it did in our younger years. In fact, it can play an even bigger role in our overall wellness as we try to stay fit and mobile.

Strength training just two days a week helps combat natural muscle loss and can improve balance, helping to prevent falls, which is one of the largest health risks to seniors and can have debilitating—and even deadly—consequences.

Essex Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has five of the best exercises you can do after turning 60, rotating through by performing three to four sets in order to make up one strength-training session.

1. Dumbbell Squat

Holding a dumbbell close to your chest, push your hips back into a squat until your hips are parallel with the ground. Use your heels to power yourself back to a standing base. Do 10-15 reps per set.

2. Side Plank

While on the ground, put one leg on top of the other into a side plank. Lean on one elbow and raise your other arm straight into the air, rotating your shoulder blade, then return to the starting position. Do 10 reps on each side per set.

3. Band Pull-Aparts

Resistance bands can be great for strength training. For this exercise, simply take a light or medium band at shoulder-width apart. Then stretch it so your arms are completely stretched from side to side. Hold for one to two seconds, then return to the starting position. Perform 20 reps per set.

4. Lunge

While keeping your core tight and leaning forward slightly, lower yourself until your back knee touches the ground and bend the front knee at a 90-degree angle. Use the heel of your front foot to propel you back to your feet. Do 10 reps on each leg per set.

5. Push Ups

Be sure to perform a proper push up—keep your body in a straight line going both down and up. If you need a modification, you can start by doing them on your knees instead of your toes. Do 10-20 reps per set.

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

Essex Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing on What it Means for the Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine to Receive Full FDA Approval

Nearly nine months after it was approved for “Emergency Use Authorization (EUA),” the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave full approval to the COVID-19 vaccine created by Pfizer and BioNTech.

What, however, does this designation mean?

Essex Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has a look at what may be happening next now that a COVID-19 vaccine has been fully approved by the U.S. government’s health-safety authority.

What Does Full Approval Mean?

The FDA has completed its full review of the vaccine, following up on any potential long-term side effects conducted in clinical trials and in the millions of doses given since this vaccine was first available on Dec. 11, 2020.

EUAs can be issued in public health emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic when the FDA believes that the benefits of such a product can outweigh the known and potential risks of said product.

“While this and other vaccines have met the FDA’s rigorous, scientific standards for emergency use authorization, as the first FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine, the public can be very confident that this vaccine meets the high standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality the FDA requires of an approved product,” Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock said in a press release.

What Happens Next?

Health experts and government officials are hoping that the full approval will persuade some of the 29% of American adults who are eligible for the vaccine but have not yet taken it. Studies indicate up to 50% of that group was waiting for full FDA approval before getting a jab.

Additionally, expect more businesses, agencies, and even municipalities to require a vaccination before being able to work or even visit a venue. The Pentagon is now requiring U.S. service members to get a vaccine, as are large companies like Google, Facebook, and McDonald’s. New York City will soon require that people going inside a restaurant or a large venue like Madison Square Garden to be vaccinated.

The Next Steps

The full approval was only given for those 16 and older. Currently, people 12 years of age and older can get the Pfizer shot. Moderna and Johnson & Johnson are the other two companies that have vaccines available in the U.S., and they are still in the middle of the approval process.

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

Essex Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing on the Pros and Cons of Video Gaming

Video games are commonly thought to be something that kids and younger people are into, but the COVID-19 pandemic showed that adults and even seniors are getting in on the action as we had more time at home and easier access to games.

In what once was an industry where you could only participate if you had a fast computer or an expensive console, games now are being produced for phones, tablets, and other mobile devices, giving access to the gaming world to nearly everyone.

The number of people over the age of 50 playing video games climbed from 9% in 1999 to 38% in 2016 and 44% in 2019. Given that nearly 240 million people played a mobile-based game called Candy Crush in January 2021, that number is likely much higher in pandemic life.

As with anything, there are positives and negatives to gaming, so it’s important to know what to look out for. Essex Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has a look at three pros and three cons.

PROS:

• Improve everyday skills by enhancing hand-eye coordination, keeping memory sharp by making rapid decisions, and lengthening attention spans.
• Can ease anxiety and depression by improving focus. There are also social aspects of many games now where people can team up with others around the country or world, helping to reduce isolation.
• Can help keep vision sharp by detecting the direction of movement.

CONS:

• Becoming addicted to a game, just like anything else, can adversely affect real-world relationships and productivity.
• Be sure to keep gaming to your free time and not let activities like exercise fall by the wayside.
• Games also help with specific skills as far as cognitive abilities go, so it’s still important to keep your brain sharp with other activities like reading, doing puzzles, and doing activities with others.

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

Essex Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing on How Often to Replace 6 Common Household Items

The COVID-19 pandemic gave all of us a renewed focus on cleanliness and also made us more aware of how unclean things around are house are.

In order to serve as a guide for your health and those living with you, (Center name) Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has the scoop on when to replace six common household items.

1. Toilet Brush

You’ll want to replace your toilet brush every six months—sooner if the bristles start to wear or look damaged. But more importantly, use bleach on your toilet brush after each use in order to kill any lingering bacteria.

2. Towels in Your Bathroom

You may only use your bath and hand towels to dry yourself off when you’re clean, but they can also harbor a lot of bacteria just by being located in the bathroom. You’re encouraged to swap out your bathroom towels every two days and replace them altogether every two years.

3. Shower Curtain Liner

If your shower curtain liner is going from clear to a cloudy white-gray color, you’re not washing it enough. You should wash the liner every month to prevent the buildup of mold and mildew and replace it once a year.

4. Makeup Brushes

These products collect bacteria and oil by the day but rarely get replaced as often as they should—especially ones that are used near the eye, which is an area that’s very prone to infection. Makeup brushes should be replaced every three months, and makeup sponges even more often than that.

5. Medication

Expiration dates on medication are clearly labeled, but that process could be sped up depending on where you store it. Due to the heat and humidity, keeping medicine in the bathroom can cause it to expire faster than you’d think. Find a cool, dry place in the kitchen pantry or in a bedroom that’s away from where a child could access it.

6. Bed Sheets

Bedding is another item that collects dirt, bacteria, and other nasty particles—especially if you snack in bed! You should be washing or changing your sheets weekly and replacing your bed sheets every two to three years.

 

To learn more about Essex Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://essex-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.

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.”