Subscribe in a reader By Jane Sadowsky-Emmerth, RN, Partners in Care, an affiliate of VNSNY Anyone who has a relationship with someone suffering from Dementia or Alzheimer’s knows that even the simplest tasks in daily life can become true challenges—for both caregivers and the family members themselves.  Something as innocent as making and enjoying a morning cup of coffee or tea can turn into an exhausting and frustrating experience—especially with challenges like COVID-19 causing additional stress. Coping is difficult enough on good days, we don’t need the little joys of life to become a burden too. As a registered nurse and clinical case manager at Partners in Care , a licensed home care agency affiliated with the Visiting Nurse Service of New York , I know there are countless potential obstacles that can make even daily rituals extremely difficult for caregivers. My colleagues and I have come up with some ideas for communicating that we hope will help caregivers maintain pa

File photo Subscribe in a reader The Health Department released early flu vaccination data for this year’s influenza season, showing substantial increases compared to the same time last year.  From July 1 – October 24, 2020, there was a 37% increase in the number of adults aged 19 and older who have received the vaccine compared to the same time last year (an increase of 189,017 adults [517,676 last season to 706,693 this season]), and a 27% increase for children 6 months to 18 years old (an increase of 105,881 children [397,626 last season to 503,507 this season]). In total, over 1,210,000 New Yorkers have received this year’s flu vaccine based on doses entered into the Citywide Immunization Registry. However, since adults are not required to be reported to the Registry like children are, likely more doses have been given than captured.  The City aims to have a historic flu campaign this season, with more New Yorkers getting vaccinated than ever before. All New Yorkers older tha

Public Health Advocate Mark Godfrey Supports Diversity and People Living with HIV Mark Godfrey Subscribe in a reader By Chandra Wilson, August 25, 2020 Mark Godfrey, a resident of Ozone Park, Queens, knows that when it comes to healthcare, not everyone feels empowered or understands how to access the care they need. And as the coronavirus crisis continues to show us, that’s especially so for people of color. Mr. Godfrey has two decades’ experience advocating for the complex, comprehensive health care needs of people living with HIV—including himself. Since he was first diagnosed in 2000, Godfrey has worked with at-risk individuals and communities as a Consumer Representative on the Housing Works Executive Board Of Directors, a member of the New York-Presbyterian Consumer Advisory Board, a peer educator at Housing Works and, most recently, as a Certified Recovery Peer Advocate for The Alliance for Positive Change. “We can't just treat the bodies, we must unde