January Nurses Notes for Rehoboth from the Public Health Nurse

Hello Rehoboth!

Happy New Year!!

We hope your holidays have been peaceful, safe and filled with family and friends.

We also hope that your New Year Resolutions have health related goals.

In early December, as we entered the height of holiday celebrations, I presented a brief health information session related to substance misuse and dangerous interactions of illicit substances and alcohol use with medications, here at our Senior Center. In essence my goal is to make us all aware that illicit substance and alcohol use can have a deleterious effect on the action of one’s medication, likely to cause fainting, falls (which can lead to head or brain injury) bone fractures, and skin injury that often results in the need for stiches. Bone fractures are often to the hip bones and can result in negative outcomes for seniors, whose bone density is compromised. When one has a blood thinner as a part of one’s medication regime, significant bleeding can result from a fall injury and can lead to bleeding in the brain, stroke, and death. I know these consequences sound extreme, but they are indeed a fact of likely injuries that can occur if one is taking medication and uses illicit drugs or alcohol as well. There is no evidence that illicit drug use, of any kind, is safe. Also, alcohol consumption, in clinical studies indicates that 1 drink for females and 2 drinks for men, per day, may be safe. However, this statistic does not take physician ordered medications into consideration. So, no alcohol or illicit drug use is safer when one is taking medication. Though THC, or marijuana, is considered legal in Massachusetts, there is no concrete evidence that says it’s use is safe when used with any medication. A lot to think about, and I hope this offers information for you to consider and adopt into your self-care practices.

Fireman Randy Larrivee visited the Senior Center to provide fire safety teaching and also information on 2 home fires resulting from wood stove use. He urged proper care of your stoves and chimneys to ensure fire safety this winter. He also told us that he will make home visits to install fire or smoke detectors and/or change fire and smoke alarm batteries free of charge as a town service. He can also provide visible numbering for your home, to ease emergency personnel’s ability to find your address if you need emergent care. He can be reached at 508-838-7547. Please reach out to him if you have any questions, he’d be so glad to hear from you, and to provide for the safety of our families. This is not just confined to our Seniors; anyone can call Randy!

Please continue to keep yourself and your families safe from the tripledemic. As I write we are in the VERY HIGH alert category for ‘flu activity. We have cases of ‘flu in the schools and the community at large here in Rehoboth. My assessment of all cases in the tripledemic sees a rise in numbers here in town, daily. Also, as I write, an alarming statistic has been posted by the CDC which states:

“CDC estimates that, so far this season, there have been at least 13 million illnesses, 120,000 hospitalizations, and 7,300 deaths from flu” (12.1.2022)

Please get vaccinated. For COVID-19, Omicron, I look at the data and see incidences of COVID illness, despite vaccination status. Please be aware though, the severity of the illness is less vicious and the likely of hospitalization or death decreases significantly when vaccinated. You will also be protecting those around you, particularly those who are compromised.

As for the ‘flu vaccine, it is primary targeting ‘influenza A, which is by far the most common ‘flu type this year.

If you do become ill with either virus, please mask up and stay home! For more information on both viruses and related vaccinations please visit:

(For ‘flu) https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/index.htm 

(For Covid-19) https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-response-reporting 

And lastly, please be aware of storm, snow and ice safety. Make sure pathway around your home and car are cleared and salted. If you have trouble walking, please wait for someone to assist you when going out of your home. Families, please be aware of your seniors’ needs during snow and freezing weather. Check in and make sure assistance is provided to a loved one, neighbor or friend has trouble with mobility (particularly outside) and/or with snow removal or deicing of pathways. If you have a power outage and do not have a generator (needed for oxygen use or heat) please let us know. We will see what we can do to provide a generator on loan. In the event of prolonged outages, we have the ability to make the Senior Center a warming station. Fire Chief Barresi will help coordinate, if this becomes a need for our community.

Be safe and well,

Sincerely,

Geri and Stephanie
508-252-5947 ext. 3127
508-962-4558