July 2020

North Carolina & Orange County Require Residents to Wear Face Coverings

Orange County has extended its COVID-19-related state of emergency through Aug. 31 and has mandated the use of face coverings in many situations. Gov. Roy Cooper issued an Executive Order on Wednesday, June 24, that mandates face coverings for all residents older than 2 years old. This order supplants the previous Orange County declaration regarding face-coverings.

The face covering requirement applies to:

All customers, employees and other users of restaurants and grocery and retail stores while they are indoors.
All occupants of public transportation vehicles.
Anyone in an indoor or outdoor situation where they cannot maintain a 6-foot physical distance from others.

Please note, face coverings are not required for those who cannot wear a face covering due to a medical or behavioral condition. If leaving home for a necessary outing with your care recipient, please wear face coverings if possible; however, do not feel pressured to wear one if it will make symptoms much worse.

For more information, please check Orange County's 'Face Coverings' page.

Activities at both Orange County senior centers remain closed, and staff have continued to implement and modify programs and services to help support seniors throughout the crisis. Subscribe to the bi-weekly Endless Possibilities e-newsletter or see the new COVID-19 Resource for Seniors web page for more information.

Department on Aging COVID-19 Resources for Seniors
Aging Information Helpline: 919-968-2087
Aging Information Email: AgingTransitions@orangecountync.gov

Health Department Information Page
COVID-19 Hotline: 919-245-6111
COVID-19 Email Updates: sign up here

Cloth coverings should fit your mouth and nose and fit snugly against the sides of your face.

Summer Hydration

July typically brings a full month of long, hot, and sunny days. With safer-at-home recommendations stretching towards their fourth month, it’s likely that some of us will spend more time than usual in our yards and on our porches. With the heat, it’s incredibly important to remember to stay hydrated this summer. Dehydration can lead to a host of health concerns: dizziness, headaches and nausea in the short term, and fatigue, weakness, dry skin, constipation, and possible kidney challenges over the long term. Both increased age and chronic health concerns can increase the risk of becoming dehydrated.

So how do we stay hydrated in the midst of the summer? The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion has a few tips for caregivers:

Remind and support older adults to drink fluids throughout the day, even if they are not thirsty.
Older adults may seem weak or confused because they are dehydrated. Remember to offer them water; don’t wait for them to ask. Offer medical assistance, if needed.
Keep water accessible, using easy-to-use, non-breakable and non-tippable cups and glasses.
Water can be found in many foods, including soups, fruits, and vegetables. Offer low-sodium broth-based soups, fruit smoothies, and salads often.

Some of the most water-rich foods include:

Watermelon
Strawberries
Cantaloupe
Peaches
Oranges
Cucumbers
Lettuce
Zucchini
Plain Yogurt

For ideas on how to incorporate more water into you or your loved ones day, reach out to a registered dietitian. Consults are available through Nutrition Services at the OC Health Department!

Additional Resources

For more information, check out:

From the Banner Alzheimer's Institute: Dehydration in Dementia Patients

From Commonwise Home Care: 7 Tips to Help the Elderly Stay Hydrated

From Healthline: 19 Water-Rich Foods That Help You Stay Hydrated

From Today's Caregiver: Hydration and Delirium

Smoothies 101 for Caregivers
Smoothies are a simple and delicious way to meet nutritional needs, and can also help with staying hydrated in the summer heat. If you have a blender, you can easily make these at home – join Lisa for a live tutorial on Monday, July 27, at 1:30 via GoToMeeting. Contact Lisa (919-245-4251) for more information.

Announcements

Kendall Kopckick, Eldercare Social Worker

Welcome Kendall!

We are pleased to announce that we have a new team member! Kendall Kopchick, MSW will be serving as our newest Eldercare Social Worker. Kendall will be working on several of our programs for caregivers, as well as our memory cafes. She comes to us with experience at Jewish Family Service and Piedmont Health Services in the PACE Program, and she recently graduated from UNC Chapel Hill. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, baking, knitting and hiking.

Activity Engagement Coaching

As we all continue to spend a lot of time at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it can be challenging to find ways to keep loved ones with dementia engaged throughout the day.

For caregivers connected to our various dementia support programs, we are now offering one-on-one consultations (via phone or GoToMeeting) where we can brainstorm together with you to identify enjoyable activities that are:

person-centered, i.e. tailored to your loved one’s current and past interests, likes, preferences
meaningful
appropriately modified to current level of cognitive ability, thereby reducing frustration and stress

If interested, please contact Lisa Meinert (919-245-4251), certified Dementia Care Partner and Activity Professional or Marie Dagger, OTR/L (919-245-4279).

Tell us your story: "In This Moment" Stories

UNC's Partnerhips in Aging Program (PiAP) is capturing reflections and oral histories during the COVID-19 situation. We want to hear about your current experience, previous life experiences that have influenced how you are managing the situation, and what you have learned.

How did you prepare to maintain social distance and stay at home?
How have other experiences in your life shaped your response to this situation?
What advice would you give to future generations facing something similar?

Visit PIAP's website to hear an example, check out more information, and to sign up to tell your story.

Socially-Distanced Programs

Emotional & Social Wellbeing

Caregiver Support Groups

Available via GoToMeeting. Register one day prior to the meeting. To register, please call 919-968-2087 or email agingtransitions@orangecountync.gov. Contact Kim for more information.

Thursday, July 9 at 1pm
Friday, July 10 at 10:30am
Thursday, July 23 at 1pm
Friday, July 24 at 10:30am

Memory Cafe

Available via GoToMeeting. Register one day prior to the meeting. To register, please call 919-968-2087 or email agingtransitions@orangecountync.gov. Contact Kim for more information.

Tuesday, July 7 at 2:30 pm
Monday, July 13 at 2pm

Chapel Hill Parkinson's Support Group

Available via Zoom - contact Jessica Shurer (919-843-1657) for more information, Please register by Sunday, July 5th.

Visual Changes & Parkinson's: Tuesday, July 7 at 1:30pm

Online Caregiver Support

Caregiver's Corner - Locally-based Facebook Group
Duke Dementia Family Support - Local resources, transitioned online
Memory People - Facebook discussion group
Family Caregiver Alliance's Online Caregiver Support Group - un-moderated email discussion board
Family Caregiver Alliance & Smart Patients Online Community - discussion group
SilverLinings for Seniors - now offering telehealth therapy services
The Institute on Aging's Friendship Line is a 24/7/365 phone line for emotional support: 800-971-0016
The Alzheimer's Foundation of America is beginning two new online support groups. Call AFA at 866-232-8484 to register:
- Support Group for Family Members Whose Loved Ones Reside in a Care Setting During COVID-19
  Date: Every Wednesday; 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
- Family Interactions in the Time of COVID-19: How to Resolve Conflicts and Stressors
  Date: Every Friday; 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm

Physical Wellbeing

Poised for Parkinson's Online

Mondays & Thursdays, June 22-August 13, 5-6:45pm
See here for more information.

Virtual Therapeutic Choir

Get to know others with similar experiences in a small group, de-stress through music, sing a variety of favorite songs chosen with therapeutic qualities in mind, learn vocal and respiratory exercises for use at home to keep speech and respiratory systems strong!
$15 per class/$60 total for 4 weeks.
Thursdays, June 25-July 16 at 1:00pm.
Contact Alie at ossiamusictherapy@gmail.com

Fit Seniors

At-Home exercise and wellness options designed to help keep you fit and healthy with your favorite OCDOA fitness instructors: http://www.co.orange.nc.us/2371/Fit-Seniors.

Educational Events

Care Partners Education Series: Simple Meals for Caregivers
Monday, July 20; 1:30 – 2:30pm
Caregiving can be challenging and time consuming. Learn about how to take something off your plate by putting something simple on it! Ivelisse Colón, LDN from the NC Cooperative Extension will share some tips for making simple healthy meals. This presentation will be conducted virtually via GoToMeeting, and will allow time for questions. Contact Kendall Kopchick (919-245-4278) for more information.

Let’s Talk About Mental Health During COVID
Thursday, July 23; 4:00 - 5:15pm
Join us for a facilitated discussion as we openly and supportively discuss mental wellness and the struggles of staying mentally healthy during COVID. A panel of experts will share their knowledge and experiences on how to address the concerns and obstacles we all could experience, as well as strategies for maintaining your mental wellness. See here for more information.

Smoothies 101 for Caregivers
Monday, July 27; 1:30pm
Smoothies are a simple and delicious way to meet nutritional needs, and can also help with staying hydrated in the summer heat. If you have a blender, you can easily make these at home – join Lisa for a live tutorial on Monday, July 27, at 1:30 via GoToMeeting. Contact Lisa (919-245-4251) for more information.

Traditional Western Medicine & Research
Northwest Parkinson's Foundation
Friday, July 31; 11am
Learn more here.

For more ideas of ways to engage at home, visit our website for a full listing of online programming.