Keeping babies and their moms healthy

LIBERTY, NY — Sullivan County Public Health Services has worked in conjunction with Dutchess County to mirror the program Dutchess implemented to reduce the number of infants born with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS), a form of post-natal opioid withdrawal.

“In 2020, the Sullivan County Drug Task Force, in collaboration with Child Protective Services (CPS) and the county’s health and human services leadership team, secured an experienced maternal child health nurse to offer services to mothers who are using opioids,” explains deputy public health director Wendy Brown. “The information obtained from Dutchess County highlighted the reality of substance use in pregnant women and the effect of NAS not only on babies, but on the health of our communities, and the need for more to be done to address this segment of the substance use crisis.”

“Since May 2020, our nurse has made more than 249 visits,” Brown added. “Referral to treatment and information on services available in the county are given if requested or if the need is identified.”

For more information, contact Public Health Services at 845/292-5910.

Help your family bloom

ONLINE — This last year brought a set of new challenges for raising children. Parenting and Nutrition Educators of Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County have partnered to offer a free virtual workshop, “Helping Your Family Bloom,” on Tuesday, March 9 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

In this workshop, parents and caregivers will interact and learn strategies to balance high-dopamine activities like scrolling through Snapchat or playing video games with low-dopamine activities that foster emotional balance and wellbeing in your children, as well as ways to get children physically active. The interactive nature of this workshop promises to make participation an educational and fun experience.

Register in advance at www.bit.ly/ccefamilybloom. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the workshop. For more information, visit www.CCEOrangeCounty.org/events and email Julika von Stackelberg, Parenting & Family Educator at jv426@cornell.edu or call the office at 845/344-1234 with any questions.

Virtual family caregiver support groups continue

ONLINE — Family caregiver support groups are offered several times a month, providing guidance, community resources and educational materials to individuals assisting an aging or ill family member or friend. Hosted virtually until further notice, Caring for Caregivers support groups are facilitated by Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) Sullivan County’s Caregiver Resource Center in partnership with Office for the Aging of Sullivan County.

Caregivers who care for a person with dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, can join meetings on the third Tuesday of the month at 5 p.m.

Family caregivers can join weekly meetings on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. These meetings are open to all types of caregiving (not specific to any disease).

Registration is required to participate in all support group meetings. To register, contact CCE Sullivan County Dependent Care Educator Bonnie Lewis, RN at 845/292-6180 ext. 122 or register online at www.sullivancce.org/events. Meetings can be joined by computer or phone.

Healthcare enrollment in Pennsylvania open again

PENNSYLVANIA — If you’re satisfied with your healthcare coverage plan, no action needed. However, if you would like to update your plan, you can do so now at www.pennie.com.

Due to COVID-19, Pennie, Pennsylvania’s state healthcare exchange under the Affordable Healthcare Act, is allowing its customers until Saturday, May 15 to update their plan if they wish. This limited enrollment period will not affect your current 2021 coverage.

Following May 15, you can still change your plan if you experience a qualifying life event and become eligible for a special enrollment period.

For more information, call the Pennie Call Center at 844/844-8040.

Garnet Health Doctors earns national recognition for patient-centered care

HARRIS, NY — Garnet Health Doctors has received the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s (NCQA) New York State Patient-Centered Medical Home (NYSPCMH) recognition for using evidence-based, patient-centered processes that focus on highly coordinated care and long‐term patient relationships.

“This puts our medical group among a select few practices nationwide to be recognized for its ongoing commitment to advancing quality, patient-centered health care,” said President of the Garnet Health Doctors Dr. Gerard Galarneau.

Garnet Health Doctors’ Pediatric practices in Liberty and Middletown and the Bethel Primary Care practice have received this prestigious distinction from the NCQA and are now certified as NYSPCMHs. Certification is valid for one year.

These offices join Garnet Health Doctors’ Primary Care offices in Callicoon, Livingston Manor, Middletown, Monroe and Monticello, which are all currently recognized NYSPCMH practices.

For more information about Garnet Health Doctors visit www.garnethealth.org/doctors.

NYSEG and RG&E remind customers of natural gas safety tips

REGIONAL — New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) and Rochester Gas & Electric (RG&E) urge the public to recognize the potential signs of a natural gas leak and review the following safety tips about what do if a leak is suspected.

It’s important that customers know the warning signs to protect themselves, their families, homes and businesses. Knowing how to detect and respond to natural gas leaks can help protect both individuals and property.

A natural gas leak is usually recognized by smell, sight, or sound.

Smell: Natural gas is colorless and odorless. For safety, a distinctive sulfur-like odor, similar to rotten eggs, is added so that customers can recognize it quickly. If customers smell natural gas, they should immediately get up, get out and call for help from a safe location.

Sight: A white cloud, mist, fog, bubbles in standing water or blowing dust are also warning signs of a gas leak. Customers may also see vegetation that appears to be dead or dying for no apparent reason.

Sound: Customers may also hear unusual noise like roaring, hissing or whistling.

NYSEG and RG&E offer these tips on what customers should do if they suspect a natural gas leak:

• Get up, get out and get away. Then immediately call 911, NYSEG (1-800/572-1121) or, RG&E (1-800/743-1702) from a safe location.
• Do not smoke or operate electrical switches or appliances. These items may produce a spark that might ignite the natural gas and cause an explosion.

March events from the Alzheimer’s Association

ONLINE — The Alzheimer’s Association Hudson Valley Chapter will host the following virtual events via Zoom in March. To register for any of these programs, call the Alzheimer’s Association at 800/272-3900.

“Ten Signs of Alzheimer’s” will be held on Friday, March 5 from 10 to 11 a.m.; Tuesday, March 9 from 6:30 to 7 p.m.; and Wednesday, March 10 from 10 to 11 a.m. Learn about typical age-related changes, common warning signs of Alzheimer’s, how to approach someone about memory concerns, early detection, the benefits of a diagnosis, the diagnostic process and Alzheimer’s Association resources.

“In Our Right Mind Symposium” will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturday, March 6. There will be a virtual showing of “In Our Right Mind,” a film that tells the stories of African Americans and Hispanics grappling with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, to be followed by a panel discussion featuring producer and narrator Renee Chenault Fattah and Dr. Maria Carrillo of the Alzheimer’s Association.

“COVID-19 and Caregiving” will be held from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 6. This program provides simple tips caregivers can put in place whether the person living with dementia lives at home, in a residential facility, or care providers are coming into the home.

AlzWell Social Club will be held from 1 to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 6. This event features movement to music, a support group with art therapists, dance and other activities.

“Living with Alzheimer’s for Early-Stage Caregivers” will be held from 3 to 4 p.m. on Monday, March 8. This program offers practical answers to the questions that arise in the early stage.

“Effective Communication Strategies” will be held from 12 noon to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, March 9. Get information on how communication takes place when someone has dementia. Learn to decode verbal and behavioral messages delivered by someone with dementia and identify strategies to help you connect and communicate at every stage of the disease.

“Understanding Alzheimer’s and Dementia” will be held from 11 a.m. to 12 noon Thursday, March 11. Learn about the impact of Alzheimer’s, the difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s, disease stages and risk factors, research, treatments and Alzheimer’s Association resources.

These programs are supported in part by a grant from the New York State Department of Health.

For more information and to learn more about the programs and services offered locally, visit www.alz.org/hudsonvalley. To register for any of the above programs, call 800/272-3900.