Mind Those Curves!

RVNAhealth well-child clinics, back-to-school

Above: Students off to conquer the world!

With the 2019-20 school year in session, it’s time to pay attention to one big test that many students today face. You might be thinking about those pesky, annual standardized tests, or perhaps the SATs. But today we’re here to talk about posture.

“Kids’ postures are under constant assault these days,” says Gigi Weiss, MSPT, RVNAhealth’s Director of Rehabilitation. She points to a couple of culprits. First, the stuffed-to-the-gills backpacks that students often lug to, from and around school each day. Second, cell phones, which – when stared down at too much – can cause a painful condition known as “text neck.”

Misuse of these ubiquitous accessories places an enormous amount of stress on growing, developing bodies, and can eventually cause a slumping posture. A normal, healthy spine has an S-shaped curve,” says Weiss. “When you’re slumping, the spine has a C-shaped curve.”

Some signs that your child might need a better (or lighter) backpack or less time staring down at a cell phone include discomfort or pain in the neck, shoulder or lower back, or any combination of the above.

To help your child avoid getting text neck or a C-shaped curve, Weiss shares some recommendations:

Backpacks

  • Should ideally be 10 percent, but never more than 15 percent, of body weight (for your 50-pounder, that’s just 5-7 pounds!).
  • Straps should be on both shoulders and cinched tightly to the body.
  • Heaviest items should be placed closest to the body.

Cell phones (this can be trickier!)

  • Teach your kid to look down at the screen with their eyes, rather than bending the neck – or to hold the phone up closer to eye level.
  • When you see hunching, encourage backward shoulder rolls: Shrug shoulders, extend shoulder blades toward each other…enjoy, repeat.
  • Encourage daily physical activity (a win/win, compared to simply limiting device time)

To learn more about keeping your child’s S-curve in tiptop shape, contact the RVNAhealth team at 203-438-5555 or AskOurPT@rvnahealth.org.

RVNAhealth Announces Couri Nursing Education Scholarship Recipients

RVNAhealth Couri Nursing Education Scholarships

RVNAhealth is proud to announce Christine Palmer, RN, BSN and John Apinis, RN, as the inaugural recipients of the Couri Nursing Education Scholarship.  The Couri Scholarship was established in January 2019 for the distinct purpose of supporting nursing education to benefit the individuals and communities served by RVNA, and to provide the opportunity for RVNAhealth clinicians to develop meaningful skills and advance as medical professionals.

Through the Couri family scholarship, Chris Palmer, RN, BSN, achieved her Bachelor of Science in Nursing this past May at Western Connecticut State University, graduating magna cum laude. Palmer is an RVNA Hospice nurse, delivering care and comfort to patients at this very important time of life.  The Couri scholarship has enabled Palmer to expand her knowledge and further her educational goals. She plans to pursue her Master’s degree in the fall.

John Apinis, RN, is currently attending the Cleveland Clinic online to obtain his certification in advanced wound care. As the Director of Nursing at RVNA, Apinis oversees and trains the field nursing staff and provides care and education to patients in their homes.

“RVNA has enjoyed a special friendship and support from the Couri family for many years,” says Theresa Santoro, MSN, RN, CHCA, President and CEO, “and we are particularly grateful for this most recent gift. Education is the foundation for growth and progress and for performing our work at the highest level. The Couri Nursing Education Scholarship is not simply a gift to RVNA and our team, it is a gift to all those we treat. Its impact will touch many lives.”

Photo, left to right: Theresa Santoro, MSN, RN, and Chris Palmer, RN, of RVNA accept the Couri Nursing Education Scholarship gift from Megan and Chris Couri. Missing from photo: John Apinis, RN.

Health Fair: What’s Your Number?

Moonlighting at the RVNA Health Fair, Theresa Santoro, MSN, RN, President and CEO (at right), administered over 80 blood pressure (BP) screenings to attendees. As she observed, “It was very satisfying to see people so invested in their health and truly curious about what their numbers mean.”

Theresa Santoro, MSN, RN, President and CEO (at right), administered over 80 blood pressure (BP) screenings to attendees.

Which begs the question, what do those numbers mean anyway?

Blood pressure is recorded as two numbers, XX over YY.  The first number, XX, is your systolic blood pressure. It indicates how much pressure your blood is exerting against your artery walls when your heart beats. The second number, YY, is your diastolic blood pressure. It indicates how much pressure your blood is exerting against your artery walls while your heart is resting between beats.

In “normal” blood pressure, the first number is less than 120 and the second number is less than 80. Numbers above these indicate ‘elevated’ or high blood pressure, depending on how high they are.  Numbers below indicate low blood pressure.

It’s important to monitor your blood pressure regularly because high blood pressure typically has no obvious symptoms, yet it has clear risks. Namely, it causes damage to your circulatory system that is a significant contributing factor to heart attack, stroke and other health threats.

See RVNA’s schedule of free blood pressure clinics.

Having the Care Conversation

Planning ahead can be both exciting and satisfying, especially when it involves something you’re looking forward to, like a fabulous vacation or a good nap!  At other times, however, it introduces topics that can be sensitive or difficult. Take, for example, the ‘care conversation.’

“The most important and helpful action that adult children can take is to talk candidly and honestly about care options, while their parents are still relatively healthy,” says Deirdre Sommerer, LPN, MS, RVNA’s Home Health Aide Supervisor. “The more that adult children understand about their parents’ wishes, the better prepared they will be to manage declining health, which oftentimes comes with complicated decisions. It’s the ‘not knowing’ that appears to burden adult children – they’re left with a tremendous responsibility to make decisions about health care and finances.”

While the lucky among us may not require care as we age, statistics suggest that most of us will need some level of help. As of 2010, the number of Americans age 85+ had reached 5.5 million and it’s the fastest growing age group of elders.

“The most important and helpful action that adult children can take is to talk candidly and honestly about care options, while their parents are still relatively healthy.”

Deirdre Sommerer, LPN, MS, RVNA

There are many resources that recommend topics to cover in a care conversation, including options and types of care; timing and preferences; legal and financial considerations; planning and preparing. “Having the care conversation empowers an individual to play a role in later decisions about their care and their life,” continues Sommerer, “and it empowers the family members who are responsible for overseeing their care. It’s a true gift to all parties.”

The following links provide helpful information on having the Care Conversation:

Care Conversations.org

Getting Started with Caregivers

Every day, RVNA’s Melissa Woodhouse, RRT, MOT, OTR/L and Deidre Sommerer, LPN, MS, spend time speaking and meeting with families who find themselves in the position of arranging care and aides for a loved one who has begun to encounter challenges with living independently.

“Sometimes people are planning for the future,’ says Sommerer, Home Health Aide Supervisor, “but more often they need help right away because situations can get serious quickly, yet the activities and needs of daily life must go on. They may need just a little bit of help doing errands and preparing meals, or they might need assistance with medication management and personal care.”

“We have absolute respect for both the needs of the family and the desires of the individual receiving care.”

Melissa Woodhouse, RRT, MOT, OTR/L

For families new to this – which are most – they often need help determining the right level and type of care that will make the difference. Plus, they are often in a position of arranging care for someone who may not really want it! RVNA understands this.

“We have absolute respect for both the needs of the family and the desires of the individual receiving care,” Woodhouse, director of RVNA Homecare services, elaborates. “Our aim is to encourage and maintain the highest level of independence and quality of life while ensuring comfort and safety — to offer peace of mind all around.”

RVNA does this in many ways: by carefully matching caregivers to individuals; by creating a smooth transition to care; by developing individual plans of care that focus on areas where help is needed most, recognizing any medical or cognitive needs; and by staying in close contact with families and caregivers .. at all times.

“Individual needs change all the time,” says Woodhouse, “so we stay in close touch with our caregivers and families to ensure we’re providing the assistance that is needed and escalating any new concerns that may need attention.”

To learn more about RVNA’s non-medical caregiving services, call 203-438-5555.

Meet April Rodriguez, RN

A middle aged man wearing a peach-colored shirt gets his flu shot from a blonde nurse wearing a white jacket
If you chose RVNAhealth for your flu shot last year, or travelled recently to an exotic locale and received your travel immunizations from RVNAhealth, then it's distinctly possible that you already know our Community Health Nurse Manager, April Rodriguez, RN.Continue reading