Nurse's Notes August 2026

As summer comes to a close and students prepare to head back to school, I encourage families to make sure children are ready for a healthy and successful school year. Parents and guardians should check that all required health records, immunizations, and annual physical examinations are up to date before the first day of school. Completing these requirements early can help avoid delays in school attendance. It’s not a bad idea to make a plan for your child should they become ill during the school day and/or need to stay home for a few days.

With the return of school and fall sports, safety remains a top priority. Student-athletes should receive a pre-participation physical examination and follow proper hydration, conditioning, and injury prevention practices, particularly concussion protocols. So, please reinforce with your child, the proper use of appropriate protective equipment, to practice good sportsmanship, and be mindful of heat (and cold) weather conditions during outdoor activities.

For all of us, as we enjoy outdoor activities into early fall, please continue to be mindful of infectious diseases. Tick bites remain a concern, and everyone is encouraged to use insect repellent, wear protective clothing, and perform thorough tick checks after spending time outdoors. Foodborne illnesses can also increase during late summer and early fall gatherings and cookouts. Safe food handling, proper refrigeration, and thorough cooking of meats are essential to preventing illness. As we continue to monitor the cyclosporiasis outbreak, be exceptionally careful in thoroughly wash all produces, particularly lettuce. Lettuce seems to be the primary culprit with the current outbreak. For more information, please visit the Public Health Nurse’s page on the town website.

The Healthy Living Program in August will continue to offer educational programs focused on wellness, disease prevention, and healthy lifestyle choices. Please keep an eye out on our local cable channel for the taped version of the presentation.

We will also host community vaccine clinics on September 23rd, September 30th, and October 7th. These clinics provide an opportunity for eligible residents to receive recommended vaccinations in preparation for the upcoming respiratory illness season, and include 'Flu, COVID, RSV, Shingles and Pneumovax vaccines. The clinics are designed for our senior population, but please reach out if you or your family need other vaccination and I can reach out to CVS, who will run the clinics here at Francis Farm. You’ll find the QR code for registration for the vaccines at the Senior Center and at the Public Health Nurse’s office at 27 Francis Farm Rd. and at The Blanding Library. If you have trouble registering, please contact me between 8am-10:30 am Monday-Thursday at 508-252-5947, ext. 3127.

Looking ahead, the Healthy Living presentation in October will focus on Alzheimer's Disease and Cognitive Assessment. The program will feature Athena Lavoie from Butler Hospital, who will discuss recognizing the signs of cognitive decline, the importance of early assessment, available resources, and strategies for supporting individuals and families affected by Alzheimer's disease. It will also be taped and will be offered on the local cable channel in late October.

As always, we continue to offer BP screening at the Senior Center on Mondays, but there has been a time change to 11:30am-12:30pm. Wellness check are offered on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. The wellness checks are designed to assess home safety needs and offer resources where appropriate. The next Podiatry clinic will be September 3rd. Appointments are very limited, but please call if you are interested, and I can put you on the cancellation list. The bereavement support group continues to meet on the first and third Wednesday of the month from 9:30am-10:30am on the nurse’s office at 27 Francis Farm Rd.

For additional information about upcoming programs, vaccine clinics, or other public health services, please contact the Public Health Nurse's office at 508-252-5947 ext. 3127 or visit the town website and go to the Public Health Nurse's page. You can also reach me by e-mail at ghamel@rehobothma.gov 
Enjoy these waning days of summer!

Be safe, be kind and be healthy,
Sincerely,
Geri