Camp Erin, Where Children Learn to Grieve and Heal
Camp Erin is weekend-long overnight camp designed for children and teens, ages 6 to 17, who are grieving the death of someone close to them. It is a traditional, fun, high-energy camp combined with grief education and emotional support.
Camp Erin will be held Aug. 24-26, 2012, at Camp Kuratli in Boring, OR. Activities begin Friday afternoon and end Sunday afternoon.
Camp Erin is offered at no charge to participants, thanks to the support and funding provided by The Moyer Foundation, Providence Medical Foundations and community donations.
Camp Erin, created and funded by The Moyer Foundation, is the largest nationwide network of bereavement camps for children and teens ages 6-17 who have experienced the death of someone close to them.
For more information, please contact Christopher Olson at 206-749-7689, or by email at christopher.olson@providence.org.
It is a weekend-long experience filled with traditional, fun, camp activities combined with grief education and emotional support — facilitated by grief professionals and trained volunteers. At Camp Erin, children are comforted knowing that there are other children who understand exactly what they are feeling and experiencing. At Camp Erin, grieving children have an opportunity to address their feelings and memorialize their loved ones. They are provided with tools and resources for use during and after camp, including memories and friendships that last long after camp is complete.
As founders of The Moyer Foundation, Karen and Jamie Moyer are more committed than ever to the growth and long term success of the Foundation and Camp Erin. In addition to volunteering their time and talent on a daily basis to raise funds and awareness for the Foundation’s mission, the Moyers have made significant financial contributions over the years including a $1 million dollar gift in 2007 to launch Camp Erin’s national expansion.
Support from The Moyer Foundation and local communities ensures that Camp Erin is free to all campers.
We would like to welcome to the neighborhood Haggen Food & Pharmacy to the Crossroads, Bellevue area. Haggen is a company, founded in 1933 in Bellingham, Washington offering many natural, healthy, scratch-prepared foods, including fresh produce, baked goods, gluten-free products, and an emphasis on local sources. They opened in the former Top Foods location at 156th Ave NE and NE 15th Street, and just in time for National Nutrition Month. We’re happy to have you in Bellevue, neighbor!
Four grocery shopping tips to protect your health and your wallet
Concerned that rising food prices may lead Americans to pinch grocery pennies by skipping healthful vegetables and fruits, experts at the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) recently outlined four ways shoppers can make budget-friendly choices without sacrificing health at the supermarket.
Although higher fuel prices and recent cold snaps that hurt the harvest mean many Americans are paying more for food, “Shoppers can still choose a wide variety of vegetables and fruits and keep their budget lean,” said Alice Bender, AICR Registered Dietitian. “By comparing prices, doing a bit of meal planning and staying flexible, Americans can fill up their grocery carts with healthy foods—and save money while they’re doing it.”
AICR’s advice for making low-cost but healthy choices is based on recent data from the USDA’s Economic Research Service comparing the cost of vegetables and fruit on a cup-for-cup basis.
March is National Nutrition Month. Sponsored by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the American Dietetic Association), this event focuses attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. Visit the academy’s EatRight.org website to learn more about this event and to download a free guidebook, Eating Right for Older Adults.
Who can authorize cremations?
You can preauthorize cremation of your own remains with a written document you have signed in the presence of a witness. If you don’t make prearrangements, a cremation may be authorized after your death by the following (in the order given):
Your spouse
Your adult children
Your parents
Your siblings
A person acting as your representative under your signed authorization
Tickets for the May 5 Authentic German Dinner Fundraiser are now on sale, with proceeds going to benefit Relay For Life’s Partylite team.
Tickets may be purchased at the Relay For Life Kick-Off, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. March 10 at the Snoqualmie Valley YMCA, 35018 S.E. Ridge St, Snoqualmie. You may also contact Bev Jorgenson at 922-8645.
Tickets are $15.
[From the UnitedHealthCare article by Arleen Fitzgerald, L.I.C.S.W.]
You don’t have to be a Zen master to benefit from a quieter, more peaceful mind.
Meditation, an ancient mind-body practice, may do wonders to relieve modern-day stress — and enhance overall well-being.
In general, meditation involves learning to focus your attention. And, yes, it’s been done for thousands of years. But, research on the benefits of this practice is still ongoing.
It has been shown to produce positive changes in the body. For example, meditation may:
Produce a calming, relaxing response
Stimulate “feel-good” areas of the brain
Lower blood pressure
Improve blood flow and digestion
Increase the ability to concentrate during everyday tasks
Some research suggests meditation may be helpful in easing stress and certain conditions, including:
Anxiety
Depression
Chronic pain
Insomnia
Some people with chronic illnesses — such as cancer and heart disease — also use it to help cope with physical and emotional symptoms. Quiet your mind
If you’d like to give meditation a try, you can learn forms of it from classes, books, CDs, DVDs or online programs. But, you can also practice mindfulness on your own. Some basics for beginners:
Find a peaceful place. A quiet, distraction-free zone is best. Get comfortable. Find a relaxing position. You might avoid lying down — if you think you’ll fall asleep. Focus your attention. Some people choose a word, phrase or sound — a mantra, such as om — to repeat aloud or silently. Others just concentrate on their breathing — or visualize a pleasing setting. Don’t worry about perfection. It’s normal to be distracted, especially at first. Masters of meditation say the art is in letting your thoughts just come and go — without mulling them over. Give it time. You might start small — with five-minute blocks of time, for example. As you become more practiced, work up to longer sessions.
The cities of Redmond, Kirkland, Bothell, Duvall and Kenmore have declared March 9, 2012 “Evergreen Healthcare Day” in recognition of Evergreen Hospital’s 40th anniversary of service as a public hospital.
The proclamations recognize Evergreen for its history of dedication to “high quality, safe, compassionate and cost-effective healthcare.”
Redmond Mayor John Marchione and the mayors of the other cities have encouraged all citizens to join them in recognizing Evergreen Healthcare for 40 years of enriching the health and well-being of every life Evergreen has touched.
“On behalf of the board of commissioners, employees, our community provider partners, volunteers and staff, today we celebrate those who had the vision more than 40 years ago to anticipate and meet the health needs of a growing Eastside,” said Evergreen Chief Executive Officer Bob Malte. “For the next 40 years and beyond we’ll continue to honor that vision and provide breakthrough care in all of the communities we are proud to serve.”
National Nutrition Month® is a nutrition education and information campaign sponsored annually by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The campaign is designed to focus attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. NNM also promotes the Academy and its members to the public and the media as the most valuable and credible source of timely, scientifically based food and nutrition information.
The key to a long, healthy life includes eating a wide variety of foods including nuts, fruits, grains, vegetables, and lean meats. This is even more important as we get older and our nutritional needs begin to change.
This year, March is National Nutrition Month, an awareness-raising campaign sponsored by the American Dietetic Association to help people plan their diets in order to support a long and healthy life.
This year’s theme is “Eating Right with Color,” and the goals of the program are to teach people of all ages how to stay healthy and fit.
This information can be useful in a number of contexts, including home care for seniors. Often, seniors receive assistance from elder care professionals who may be responsible for doing their grocery shopping, cooking, or meal planning. This is an important job for any caregiver, and so it is vitally important to understand how to promote healthy eating for older people.
Many caregivers who work with elderly individuals say that they spend a considerable amount of time grocery shopping, cooking meals, or planning meals for their patients. This is important because it gives the caregiver an opportunity to help their patient find foods that are going to be nutritious. There can be a couple of obstacles to this, however. Some seniors regularly take several prescription medications that may interfere with the foods that they can eat. Others may have some kind of health problems that can restrict their diet. When hiring a home care professional, make sure they are aware of any restricted food items so these are avoided when planning meals.
As people grow older, their nutritional needs change, and many older people do not receive the proper amount of certain nutrients, such as calcium and Vitamin B, Vitamin B12, fiber, potassium, and others. These nutrients are important for helping maintain the bones and organs in old age. Many of these important vitamins and minerals are found in fortified cereals, fresh fruits, vegetables, milk, yogurt, and grains.
By working with a home care agency, you can rest assured that the foods provided for your loved one are both high in nutritional content as well as accommodating to their dietary needs. The caregivers will know which foods to avoid when grocery shopping and will be aware of any dietary restrictions or possible complications with medicines. Professional caregivers are well-trained to be able to identify ingredients in medicines that may interact with food products and adjust their menus accordingly.
Caregivers are also trained to know which nutrients are more important for men and women as they age. While both groups have less of an appetite as they get older, their nutritional needs are slightly different. Men should consume more potassium and fibers, whereas women need more Vitamin B12 zinc. Both men and women should increase their daily amounts of Calcium and Vitamin D. This is something that caregivers understand well, and they have the skills they need to properly care for your loved ones as they grow older.
This March, show your support of National Nutrition Month and consider hiring a professional caregiver for your loved one. By doing so, you will ensure that your loved ones are receiving the best possible care that caters to their special needs. All caregivers provide customized care for each patient to see that they receive the best care possible. Healthy eating is important for all people, and proper nutrition becomes even more important as we age. Consider hiring a professional elder care agency to care for your loved ones to be sure that they remain healthy and happy for many years to come.
The theme for March 2011 is “Eat Right with Color.”
National Nutrition Month® is a nutrition education and information campaign created annually in March by the American Dietetic Association. The campaign focuses attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits.
While the trees may be bare in March, there are still plenty of colorful and nutritious foods to fill your plate. During the 2011 National Nutrition Month®, the American Dietetic Association encourages everyone to add color and nutrients to your meals through this year’s theme: “Eat Right with Color.”
“Adding a splash of colorful seasonal foods to your plate makes for more than just a festive meal. A rainbow of foods creates a palette of nutrients, each with a different bundle of potential benefits for a healthful eating plan,” says registered dietitian and ADA Spokesperson Karen Ansel.
“Healthy eating includes more than counting calories alone. In fact, most children don’t get enough of all the essential nutrients critical to normal growth and development,” says Ansel.
“Food variety supplies different nutrients, so to maximize the nutritional value of your meal, include healthful choices in a variety of colors.” Ansel offers ways to brighten up your plate in every season with this quick color guide. Green produce indicates antioxidant potential and may help promote healthy vision and reduce cancer risks.
Fruits: avocado, apples, grapes, honeydew, kiwi and lime
Vegetables: artichoke, asparagus, broccoli, green beans, green peppers and leafy greens such as spinach
Orange and deep yellow fruits and vegetables contain nutrients that promote healthy vision and immunity, and reduce the risk of some cancers.
Fruits: apricot, cantaloupe, grapefruit, mango, papaya, peach and pineapple
Vegetables: carrots, yellow pepper, yellow corn and sweet potatoes
Purple and blue options may have antioxidant and anti-aging benefits and may help with memory, urinary tract health and reduced cancer risks.
Red indicates produce that may help maintain a healthy heart, vision, immunity and may reduce cancer risks.
Fruits: cherries, cranberries, pomegranate, red/pink grape fruit, red grapes and watermelon
Vegetables: beets, red onions, red peppers, red potatoes, rhubarb and tomatoes
White, tan and brown foods sometimes contain nutrients that may promote heart health and reduce cancer risks.
Fruits: banana, brown pear, dates and white peaches
Vegetables: cauliflower, mushrooms, onions, parsnips, turnips, white-fleshed potato and white corn
Ansel recommends choosing a variety of colors when shopping for seasonal fruits and vegetables. “And for additional options in the color palette, choose frozen or dried fruits and vegetables available throughout the year,” she says.
“Instead of grilled chicken and mashed potatoes, consider painting a more colorful plate, such as grilled chicken topped with salsa, mashed sweet potato, asparagus and spinach salad with orange slices. A colorful meal is not only visually appealing, but it also contains a variety of nutrients and is quite flavorful,” Ansel says.
For more information on how to “Eat Right with Color,” visit ADA’s National Nutrition Month website for a variety of helpful tips, fun games, promotional tools, suggested reading lists, and nutrition education resources.
Who says you need green acres to grow your own veggies? Many varieties can flourish on a patio or a porch — or even in a window box.
And, what you harvest can help you get your daily dose of nutritious, colorful produce. Examples of plants that do well in containers:
Tomatoes
Eggplant
Peppers
Lettuce
Spinach
Contain yourself
Ready to plan your plot? Keep these basic tips in mind:
Give roots their space
If a pot’s too small, a plant may not thrive. A roomier container will provide more water and nutrients. For top-heavy plants, such as tomatoes, choose sturdy, heavy pots that won’t tip over.
Allow for drainage
There should be a drain hole on the bottom of each pot. Make one, if necessary.
Start with good soil — and seedlings
Select a light, fluffy potting mix. Fill containers to the rim. Beginners may want to start with young plants — ready to go from a nursery. If you’re feeling more ambitious, you might grow your own seedlings. Plant seeds in pots indoors. Once the young plants are big enough, move them to your containers.
Feed and water your crop
You can add a time-released fertilizer to the soil. But, applying a liquid one — at least monthly — may be better. Containers may need daily watering — particularly in dry weather.
Have more questions? The garden gurus at your local nursery or county extension office can provide advice. You can also learn more about starting your garden from:
