Learn diabetes awareness, fall risks at Griffin Hospital in Derby

The Diabetes Education & Support Group at Griffin Hospital will host two free presentations about diabetes awareness and fall risks Oct. 9./ Contributed photo

DERBY - The Diabetes Education & Support Group at Griffin Hospital will host two free presentations about diabetes awareness and fall risks Oct. 9 at 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at the hospital, 130 Division St.

Susan Lanzaro-Schroeder, marketing director of the newly-formed Derby Centennial Lions Club, will talk about the club’s focus on diabetes awareness and its first-ever Casual Walk for Diabetes Awareness set for Oct. 20 on the Derby Greenway. Proceeds from the event will benefit diabetes education.

In addition, Rafca Mercilus of Lifeline will be present “Helping People with Diabetes Reduce the Risk of Falling.” This open discussion will cover why those with diabetes have a higher risk of falling as they get older, why they are more likely to be injured than those without diabetes, and what can be done to reduce this risk.

The presentations will be in the hospital’s Childbirth Education Classroom A.

The Diabetes Education & Support Group meets September - June on the second Tuesday of each month to discuss the management of diabetes, its challenges, and day-to-day dietary concerns. Individuals with diabetes and their caregivers are welcome to attend.

No registration is required. 

For more information, call Mary Swansiger, 203-732-1137.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital. 

Learn to prevent falls in program at Griffin Hospital in Derby

Griffin Hospital is offering a free fall prevention program Sept. 22 at the hospital./ Contributed photo

DERBY - The Valley Parish Nurse Program at Griffin Hospital and Griffin Hospital Lifeline will host a free Fall Prevention Program Sept. 22 from 9 a.m.-noon at the hospital, 130 Division St.

The program will discuss the dangers of falling, especially for seniors, and will help attendees prevent falls by: Assessing their fall risk; teaching them to assess their, or a loved one’s, risk of falling; teaching and practicing exercises to improve balance and leg strength; providing a medication review; encouraging annual eye exams; teaching ways to reduce tripping hazards at home and learning how to get up or to call for fast help if a fall occurs.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of three adults 65 and older will fall each year. 
For those 65 and older, falls are the leading cause of injury, death and hospital admissions for trauma. Those who fall, even if not injured, develop a fear of falling. This fear causes people to limit their activities reducing their mobility, causing loss of physical fitness, which in turn increases the actual risk of falling.

A light breakfast will be provided by Griffin Hospital Lifeline.

To reserve a seat or for more information, contact Esther at 203-732-1523 or ejones@griffinhealth.org.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Caregiving resources topic of presentations at Griffin Hospital in Derby

Griffin Hospital and The Valley Senior Services Council will host free presentations and information on caregiving resources at 5:30 p.m. Thursday./ Submitted photo

DERBY - Griffin Hospital’s Healthy U program and The Valley Senior Services Council will host free presentations and information on caregiving resources in the community at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the hospital, 130 Division St.

“Get to Know Your Resources” will feature a variety of presentations on caregiving from area resources, including Wesley Village UMH, Sunset Shores, Griffin Hospital Lifeline, Alzheimer’s Association, TEAM, Valley Transit District, and Agency on Aging. 
The presentations will be followed by a panel discussion and Q&A.

The talk is final part of a series that focuses on providing information, resources, and support to caregivers of seniors, especially those of “the sandwich generation,” who are caring for an elderly loved one while still managing work and care of their children. 
However, the series will share information and resources that are beneficial to anyone caring for another person.

A light dinner sponsored by Valley Senior Services Council and their Valley United Way Special Needs Grant and Griffin Hospital Lifeline will be provided at 4:30 p.m. 
Participants are invited to bring their loved one for whom they provide care.

Space is limited; registration is required. 
Call 203-732-1511 or register online on the hospital events calendar at griffinhealth.org.


This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Learn to prevent falls at Griffin Hospital in Derby

Griffin Hospital is offering a free fall prevention program June 9, featuring fall risk assessments, fall prevention techniques, and exercises to help improve balance./ Contributed photo

DERBY - The Valley Parish Nurse Program at Griffin Hospital and Griffin Hospital Lifeline will host a free Fall Prevention Program from 9 a.m.-noon June 9 at the hospital, 130 Division St.

The program will discuss the dangers of falling, especially for seniors, and will help attendees prevent falls by: Assessing their fall risk; teaching them to assess their, or a loved one’s, risk of falling; teaching and practicing exercises to improve balance and leg strength; providing a medication review; encouraging annual eye exams; teaching ways to reduce tripping hazards at home and learning how to get up or to call for fast help if a fall occurs.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of three adults 65 and older will fall each year. 

For those 65 and older, falls are the leading cause of injury, death and hospital admissions for trauma. Those who fall, even if not injured, develop a fear of falling. 

This fear causes people to limit their activities reducing their mobility, causing loss of physical fitness, which in turn increases the actual risk of falling.

A light breakfast will be provided by Griffin Hospital Lifeline.

To reserve a seat or for more information, contact Esther at 203-732-1523 or ejones@griffinhealth.org.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Learn about fall prevention at Griffin Hospital in Derby

 Griffin Hospital is offering a free fall prevention program  March 10 at the hospital./ Contributed photo

DERBY - The Valley Parish Nurse Program at Griffin Hospital and Griffin Hospital Lifeline will host a free Fall Prevention Program March 10 from 9 a.m.-noon at Griffin Hospital, 130 Division St.

The program will discuss the dangers of falling, especially for seniors, and will help attendees prevent falls by: Assessing their fall risk; teaching them to assess their, or a loved one’s, risk of falling; teaching and practicing exercises to improve balance and leg strength; providing a medication review; encouraging annual eye exams; teaching ways to reduce tripping hazards at home and learning how to get up or to call for fast help if a fall occurs.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of three adults 65 and older will fall each year. 

For those 65 and older, falls are the leading cause of injury, death and hospital admissions for trauma. Those who fall, even if not injured, develop a fear of falling. This fear causes people to limit their activities reducing their mobility, causing loss of physical fitness, which in turn increases the actual risk of falling.

A light breakfast will be provided by Griffin Hospital Lifeline.

To reserve a seat or for more information, contact Esther at 203-732-1523 or ejones@griffinhealth.org.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Griffin Hospital Lifeline offers free online tips for caregivers

TV host and caregiver advocate Leeza Gibbons, who cares for her father, Carlos, offers free online tips and advice on caregiving at lifeline.philips.com/caregiver./ Contributed photo

Griffin Hospital Lifeline and TV host and caregiver advocate Leeza Gibbons have teamed up to offer free online tips and advice for those caring for seniors.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are more than 34 million informal caregivers in the U.S. 

Often, caregivers face incredible pressures helping to ensure their loved ones are safe and aging well at home, while simultaneously maintaining their own day-to-day life.

As a caregiver herself, Gibbons understands the roller coaster of emotions involved - feeling angry, frustrated, exhausted, alone or sad, while also feeling fulfilled in helping them age healthy and happy. 

To help other caregivers cope with this unique and important role, Gibbons, who is a caregiver for her father, Carlos, and Philips Lifeline offer these tips:

· Take your oxygen first - Caregivers are nurturers, but if you really want to nurture someone, you have to fill yourself up first - mind, body, soul and spirit. That’s the first way to give love to your loved one. When you feel better and are mentally stronger as the caregiver, you can go the distance and your loved one will also benefit from the positive change.

· Talk as a family - To keep everyone on the same page and ensure everyone’s voice is heard, set up time for a family “check in.” This could be a family dinner or monthly video conference, where family members come together to talk through important topics and emotions top of mind with everyone. This also serves as an open environment to make everyone’s voice count. You may not all agree but it’s a time to go from conflict to consensus.

· Incorporate technology into your caregiving - There are solutions available right now - and they’re getting better every day - that can support your role as caregiver. In addition, these solutions can help engage your loved ones to help improve their overall quality of life and independence. One solution is a medical alert service. Have a conversation about how this service can benefit both of you, as it will give you peace of mind knowing your loved one will have access to help, even if you’re not there.

More advice from Gibbons is available at lifeline.philips.com/caregiver, including tips for managing caregiver stress, how caregivers can stay healthy, reducing stress when caring for kids and aging parents, balancing family caregiving obligations and your career, and finding caregiver support.

“As caregivers, we worry about parents who live too far away for us to check on them, or fathers who live alone and get up in the middle of the night, or mothers who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, diabetes, or another chronic condition,” Gibbons said. 

“Being a caregiver can be an isolating experience, and it’s hard to know where to turn. I hope these tips and information can lessen the toll caregiving can take on us so that we can care for ourselves and our loved ones.”

Griffin Hospital partners with Phillips Lifeline to provide seniors with America’s most trusted medical alert service as well as other caregiving technology to help people to live with greater independence, peace of mind and dignity in the place they feel most comfortable – their own homes. 

For more information, call (800) 242-1306 x4722 or visit griffinhealth.org/lifeline.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Griffin Hospital in Derby to offer fall prevention program

Griffin Hospital will offer a free fall prevention program March 18 at the hospital. /Contributed photo

DERBY - The Valley Parish Nurse Program at Griffin Hospital and Griffin Hospital Lifeline will host a free Fall Prevention Program from 9 a.m.-noon March 18 at Griffin Hospital, 130 Division St.

The program will discuss the dangers of falling, especially for seniors, and will help attendees prevent falls by: assessing their fall risk; teaching them to assess their, or a loved one’s, risk of falling; teaching and practicing exercises to improve balance and leg strength; providing a medication review; encouraging annual eye exams; teaching ways to reduce tripping hazards at home and learning how to get up or to call for fast help if a fall occurs.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of three adults 65 and older will fall each year. 

For those 65 and older, falls are the leading cause of injury, death and hospital admissions for trauma. Those who fall, even if not injured, develop a fear of falling. This fear causes people to limit their activities reducing their mobility, causing loss of physical fitness, which in turn increases the actual risk of falling.

A light breakfast will be provided by Griffin Hospital Lifeline.

To reserve a seat or for more information, contact Esther at 203-732-1523 or ejones@griffinhealth.org.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital. 

Griffin Hospital in Derby to host fall prevention program Friday

DERBY - The Valley Parish Nurse Program at Griffin Hospital and Griffin Hospital Lifeline will host a free Fall Prevention Program from 9 a.m.-noon Friday at Griffin Hospital, 130 Division St.

The program will discuss the dangers of falling, especially for seniors, and will help attendees prevent falls by: Assessing their fall risk; teaching them to assess their, or a loved one’s, risk of falling; teaching and practicing exercises to improve balance and leg strength; providing a medication review; encouraging annual eye exams; teaching ways to reduce tripping hazards at home and learning how to get up or to call for fast help if a fall occurs.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of three adults 65 and older will fall each year. For those 65 and older, falls are the leading cause of injury, death and hospital admissions for trauma.

Those who fall, even if not injured, develop a fear of falling. This fear causes people to limit their activities reducing their mobility, causing loss of physical fitness, which in turn increases the actual risk of falling.

A light breakfast will be provided by Griffin Hospital Lifeline.

To reserve a seat or for more information, contact Esther, 203-732-1523 or ejones@griffinhealth.org.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Griffin Hospital in Derby to host fall prevention program

Griffin Hospital is offering a free fall prevention program Sept. 25 at the hospital, featuring fall risk assessments, fall prevention techniques and exercises to help improve balance./ Contributed photo

DERBY - The Valley Parish Nurse Program at Griffin Hospital and Griffin Hospital Lifeline will host a free Fall Prevention Program from 9 a.m.-noon Sept. 25 at the hospital, 130 Division St.

The program will discuss the dangers of falling, especially for seniors, and will help attendees prevent falls by: Assessing their fall risk; teaching them to assess their, or a loved one’s, risk of falling; teaching and practicing exercises to improve balance and leg strength; providing a medication review; encouraging annual eye exams; teaching ways to reduce tripping hazards at home and learning how to get up or to call for fast help if a fall occurs.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of three adults 65 and older will fall each year. 

For those 65 and older, falls are the leading cause of injury, death and hospital admissions for trauma. Those who fall, even if not injured, develop a fear of falling. This fear causes people to limit their activities reducing their mobility, causing loss of physical fitness, which in turn increases the actual risk of falling.

A light breakfast will be provided by Griffin Hospital Lifeline.

To reserve a seat or for more information, contact Esther, 203-732-1523 or ejones@griffinhealth.org.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Griffin in Derby to host presentation on aging

Griffin Hospital will host 50 Fabulous Things about Aging, a fun and informative discussion about the positive aspects of aging, on Aug. 6. / Contributed photo

DERBY - Griffin Hospital, 130 Division St., is encouraging seniors to take pride in their age with a free presentation that celebrates aging at 5:30 p.m. Aug 6.

Join Dr. Beverly Kidder, of the Agency on Aging of South Central Connecticut, for “50 Fabulous Things about Aging,” a fun and informative discussion about the positive aspects of aging, some of the benefits and opportunities aging provides, and how to embrace getting older.

This presentation is sponsored by the Valley Senior Services Council and is funded by the United Way and TEAM, Inc.

Dinner will be served prior to the talk compliments of Griffin Hospital Lifeline.

To register or for more information, call 203-732-1511 or visit the events calendar at griffinhealth.org.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Employee at Griffin in Derby certified as medical alert provider

With Philips Lifeline GoSafe service

DERBY - Griffin Hospital recently announced that Diane Betkoski, the hospital’s Lifeline Coordinator, is certified as a Philips Lifeline GoSafe provider.

GoSafe is a leading mobile medical alert service that is designed to help provide peace of mind to seniors at home or on the go.

Betkoski achieved certification through completing a comprehensive training curriculum and program offered by Philips Lifeline, the nation’s first medical alert service. 

Throughout the certification process, Betkoski demonstrated knowledge of GoSafe and expertise in how the technology can help active, independent seniors live life to the fullest.

Featuring the power of up to six location technologies, GoSafe gives seniors the assurance to get up and go while being protected by Philips Lifeline’s 24/7, U.S.-based emergency call response center. 

GoSafe is the only mobile personal emergency response system (mPERS) to utilize this “hybrid” locating approach, which allows response center associates to locate seniors in need of assistance in areas where GPS may not be available. 

Additionally, GoSafe’s built-in AutoAlert fall detection technology can automatically call for help if it detects a fall, providing protection even if the senior is unable to call on their own. 

“We’re proud to offer a service that empowers seniors to age safely and independently while providing their families with peace of mind,” said Ken Roberts, Director of Communications and Public Affairs at Griffin Hospital. 

“By offering GoSafe, we can give seniors the confidence to stay active and on-the-go while keeping them connected to help if they need it. Griffin Hospital Lifeline considers senior health and wellbeing to be our first priority and we’re delighted that Philips Lifeline shares that mission.”

For more information on Philips Lifeline GoSafe, visit www.griffinhealth.org/lifeline.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.