Cold and Flu Season

With cold and flu season around the corner, ensuring you and your visitors practice safe and sanitary health is important. Although we will never force you or your friends and family members to partake in specific vaccines or medications, we will ensure all visitors abide by our safety and health guidelines. As our members age gracefully, they are also more prone to common colds, viruses, and other illnesses. No matter where you go, here are some standard health practices that will help limit the transmission of germs.

 

Hand Washing:

 

Hand washing is a simple yet effective way to avoid spreading germs and illnesses to others. Not only do your hands touch your face, eyes, mouth, etc., but your hands touch everything around you. We recommend visitors wash or sanitize their hands before coming to the facility. We also encourage visitors and residents to use sanitizer frequently and wash their hands throughout the day and on any visits. 

 

Quarantine:

 

If you or your visitors are feeling ill, we will request isolation. Due to the nature of our facility and residents, we cannot increase the chances of viruses and illnesses harming our staff or residents. Mary & Martha’s Personal Care facility will always abide by health and safety practices to the best of its ability. Unfortunately, due to previous worldwide health issues, we know that viruses and germs can quickly affect our facility types, thus causing great harm.

Business Litigation

When it comes to business and your employees, it’s essential to know the law and who can help if and when there is an employee dispute. Employment law can seem tricky to most employers and employees. Employees generally feel they carry all the rights, and their employer has none. This might not always be the case, but it’s essential to know exactly what your employer/business rights are to avoid business litigation. 

 

We’re well-versed in knowing employer and employee rights. As business litigation experts, we understand the laws in Tennessee well. We know exactly what you can and cannot do as a business, so if a dispute occurs, you can count on us to handle it. Tennessee is an at-will, at-work state, meaning employers can hire and fire without reason, without fear of legal liability. However, employers cannot fire someone for their race, sex, age, religion, color, national origin, or disability. 

 

As for employees, they may leave a job at any time, for any reason, with no adverse legal consequences. As an executive employee, you have the right to employment and severance pay agreements, possible bonus plans, agreements, and other deferred compensation agreements. If you’ve been paid on commission, then you’ll need us to sort through your rights to your commissions, plans, and contracts. 

 

There are worlds of information for you and your employees. It’s always good to consult your legal advisory team if you have any questions. 

Coping with Hair Loss

When diagnosed with cancer, one huge question is, “Will I lose my Hair?” When dealing with chemotherapy treatments, it can be hard to know which patients will lose their hair and which won’t. Sometimes, the drugs can cause your hair to thin or can cause hair loss only on the scalp. It is perfectly normal for someone to feel upset about hair loss, but remember that the best thing about losing your hair due to chemotherapy is that it will grow back! 

Preparing for Hair Loss

Find a support group: Even though you know hair loss is sometimes a side effect of cancer treatments, not everyone understands the emotional toll it can take. Having a support group that is going through the same situation to turn to for advice or guidance is helpful. 

Cut Your Hair Before Treatment: The fact is that having long strands of hair fall out in clumps while showering or brushing your hair after starting treatment can be emotionally traumatic. Cutting your hair before beginning treatment can help you accept that your hair will fall out and help you decide how to handle the hair loss due to chemotherapy. 

Buy a Wig: If you decide to wear a wig, the staff here at The Wig Palace can help you choose the perfect wig for your hair loss. We will help you find the wig that makes you feel the most beautiful and comfortable during your cancer journey. We have various styles and cuts for you to choose from and many wig accessories and styling products that will make your wig journey pain-free. 

Social Security and Disability Payments

If you’re one of the millions of Americans living off social security and disability, know that you are not alone in your financial troubles. The Social Security Administration recently revealed its lack of government funding had caused extended delays for recipients. We’re not just talking about a few days or weeks but delayed decisions close to six months or longer. Decisions can take a while, but the added delay is causing many people a financial crisis.

 

Disability applicants need their financial records, work history, medical records, and different checks and balances to confirm they are disabled and no longer able to work traditionally. The process can increase exponentially depending on the applicant’s history. You can download the form from the Social Security Administration website to get started. They also offer a checklist to begin the process here

 

If you’re on disability, it will convert to social security once you hit retirement age. Now, the retirement age varies, as in you can retire and collect at age 62, but you would not get the full amount until you retire at 70. Every month you receive social security before age 70, the social security amount decreases. Social Security (SS) helps millions of Americas after they retire. For many, retirement dreams look like golfing days, traveling, and spending time with family members and grandkids. However, with the inflation and lack of funding, many retirees are experiencing a financial crisis. If you’re looking for help or support, please reach out, and we’ll see how we can expedite or appeal the process.

Fall Activities

Last month, we talked about some Fall fun, so this month we’ll be picking up on the Fall theme but with crafts and activity suggestions. We love a good crafting session as it helps keep our minds young and hearts happy. We talked about food and flavors last time, but here are some of our favorite activities and crafts. The best thing about it is that we can get together as a group at the facility or with visitors like friends and family. 

 

Indoor Activities

 

Quilting is one of our favorite indoor activities, and with Fall’s cooler temperatures, it means more blankets and quilts. It’s not only a great activity for us, but it also gives us happiness and joy to give our work to others for birthday or holiday gifts. We also love painting with Fall themes and colors, as painting helps us see the world even when the weather doesn’t let us go out. We also love the Fall movies for Halloween and leading into the holiday season. 

 

Outdoor Activities

 

We love this season for the cooler weather and the opportunity to enjoy picking some delicious fruits and seasonal items. Apple picking and pumpkin patches are easy Fall favorites. Not only are these flavors delightful to cook and bake with, but we love getting out and feeling young again. There’s happiness, laughter, and sweet families all around. It’s a great activity to do with friends and loved ones. We love seeing our grandkids filled with wonder!

Senior Fall Favorites

With Fall weather quickly approaching, it’s time to discuss some of our favorite Fall activities, food, and fun. One of the favorites is the cooler weather; we all know the heat can be harder on many of our older loved ones. From our last post, you can remember it’s much harder to get and stay hydrated, so cooler weather means more hydration and better walks. Getting out and about helps all seniors with any mental health issues, movement problems, and that “stuffy” feeling they sometimes get. Cooler weather means long outings near Dry Creek or with family and friends. It means walking outside our facility, playing games, and enjoying the cooler morning air. 

 

Fall Food and Beverage Favorites

 

Who doesn’t love a good pumpkin pie or pumpkin-flavored food and drinks? Spices like nutmeg, pumpkin, chai, clove, and others bring on the Fall feels and are also great for our older loved ones. Chai tea is excellent for digestion, heart health, and blood sugar. We love a good chai tea mid-afternoon for a delightful pick-me-up. Not only is nutmeg delicious in pies, bread, and treats, but it’s also a fantastic anti-inflammatory spice enriched with antioxidants. It makes it one of our favorite Fall flavors! Pumpkin is easily the most recognized Fall food and beverage. Pumpkin is excellent for everyone as it has beta carotene, vitamins C and E, and iron. It’s full of antioxidants and is a low-calorie option. Enjoy some of our Fall favorites! 

Miranda Rights and The Supreme Court

We all know if a cop catches you, then “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be held against you in a court of law….” The courts created the Miranda Rights “warning” in 1966 to help prevent police coercion and brutality interrogation techniques. However, the Supreme Court recently ruled that law enforcement couldn’t be sued if they failed to provide the suspects with their Miranda warnings. This ruling doesn’t strike down a person’s Miranda rights; however, it may make some law enforcement officers less likely to comply with suspects and provide the stated rights. 

 

What does this American 1960s law change come from? A case from 2014 with an officer interrogation in Los Angelos, California. It was a sexual assault case with a written apology. This incident sparked so much interest because the officer failed to state the Miranda rights to the suspect and was then civilly sued under Section 1983, which allows individuals to sue state officials like law enforcement over the “deprivation” of constitutional rights and privileges. 

 

At this point, law enforcement still must warn that the person would be losing their rights or, as the Supreme Court stated, “the right to remain silent and speak with an attorney before the interrogation has started.” Though the phrasing is altered, the meaning is the same. Before you are arrested, you have the right to know your rights first. 

Fall is Around the Corner

With Fall around the corner, it’s time for cooler weather and darker wig options. We all know it can be fun to dye and change your hair color. Even though it may be a tough time in your life, know that The Wig Palace is here to help make every wig stage as comfortable and pleasant as possible. We know that wigs have a negative reputation for being too thick or too hot. Cooler weather means the wigs will feel less warm and more enjoyable. 

 

Darker colors for Fall are common for hair colors, wardrobe, and interior design. Fall brings out the spooky in us all! We love having multiple reasons to embrace our collection and spice up you and your wig choices. We understand that you may want something as similar to your natural color as possible, and we support and recognize the difficulty in selecting something different as you go through this challenging process. We can help you embrace the transition to whatever makes you feel like the best version of yourself. 

 

The Autumn season is often associated with brunettes, deep reds, and blacks. We see these tones in nature and the decor around us. If you previously dyed your hair a darker color come Fall, bring in any pictures as references. We can help you feel like you did before the treatments and hair loss. We’d love to see your inspirational photos if you’re embracing something entirely different. We’ll find something that makes you feel beautiful and ready for Fall. 

DUI & Cannabis: Tennessee Law

Though we typically associate a DUI with alcohol, it’s important to note that Driving Under the Influence means driving under the influence of any substance that can and will impair your judgment and driving abilities. DUIs can be for controlled substances, alcohol, and drugs. Tennessee is one of the 13 states where medical cannabis is not available. Tennessee is one of the 19 states where anyone possessing cannabis, even a small amount of a half ounce or less, is punishable by incarceration.

The only form of cannabis allowed in Tennessee is high-CBD, low-THC cannabis oil for seizure patients, which means that any use of cannabis, medically or recreationally, is illegal. As with Tennessee law, cannabis possession and cultivation is illegal. Cannabis possession is a misdemeanor, punishable up to 11 months and 29 days with a fine of up to $2,500. Cultivation of 10 plants or less is a felony, punishable by one to six years in prison with years added per plant over the 10.

When it comes to driving, part of getting a license is to hold yourself accountable to the laws of the land. No matter your personal beliefs on cannabis, you cannot be under its influence while driving. Not only will you be charged with possession, but you will also be charged with a DUI. If you cause injury or death, the charges will increase per incident.

Please drive safely and stay attentive to yourself and others.

Seniors and Heat: Staying Hydrated and Safe

With the added Summer heat, our humidity feels heavier and stickier. We know that keeping hydrated is essential for anybody, especially those with medical needs or older. Seniors are a large part of the population, and we need to watch for signs of heatstroke in those around us.

For our residents, we make sure they have easy access to many beverages, but most importantly, water and Gatorade with electrolytes. Sweating is the body’s way of regulating its temperature; unfortunately, senior citizens do not sweat like younger people. They are more prone to heatstroke, dizziness, and falling. We take extra care of our residents, so you shouldn’t worry too much. However, we recommend a few things if you care for an older loved one.

Recommendations for Seniors

Besides staying hydrated, doctors recommend that seniors stay inside during extreme heat. We provide numerous indoor activities to keep our residents safe and cool. Not only should seniors stay inside during extreme heat and humidity, but they should have as much AC and ventilation as possible to keep cool. Additionally, seniors should be aware of their medications and their side effects. Sun can cause increased side effects on many medications. It’s important to discuss this with a doctor. When it’s hot out, seniors should dress appropriately in light-colored clothing that protects their skin from sunburn and skin cancer. Longer sleeves, hats, and pants can cover the skin properly, and lighter-colored clothing will keep seniors cool.