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Walking in a Winter Wonderland: What you need to know about exercising outside Subscribe in a reader Tweet By Sonia Rappaport, Physical Therapist and Rehabilitation Instructor, The Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY) Partners in Care The cold weather is back! Between plunging temperatures and limited sunlight, it’s no wonder some of the most devoted of exercisers hang up their fitness gear and stay inside – whether it’s to hit the couch or the elliptical.   It should come as a surprise to no one that exercise boosts metabolism and mood. But did you know that exercising outdoors, particularly in the winter, can increase those benefits? Believe it. According to a study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, exercising in the cold weather increased participants’ metabolism and their muscles’ capacity to use oxygen – not bad! Meanwhile, a 2017 study found that climbing outdoors, compared to both exercising indoors on a treadmill and...

Subscribe in a reader By Chandra Wilson   Veterans Day is a time to pay respects to the brave service men and women who have served our country and  reflect upon the heroism of those who died in service. We owe a debt of gratitude to those among us who have served and continue to serve and protect our American freedom. It is important to remember our “vets” not just on November 11 th , or during November’s Military Appreciation Month , however—they need our support every day of the year. At the not-for-profit Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY), veterans receive special care with two programs aimed at helping veterans navigate the complex world of healthcare benefits and services that those who’ve served our country are entitled to and so richly deserve. Led by Director Joseph Vitti, himself an Army veteran, the VNSNY Veterans Programs provide veterans and their loved ones with a skilled veteran liaison, who is available to assist and guide them with a...

Yoav Gonen, THE CITY This article was originally published on Nov 2 at 9:15pm EDT by THE CITY On Jan. 1, the 61-year-old ex-NYPD captain will become the second Black man to assume the top slot in City Hall. Now he’s charged with leading a metropolis of 8.8 million residents out of the ravages of the pandemic. He won’t be lacking for challenges. Eric Adams gives his mayoral victory speech in Downtown Brooklyn. | Hiram Alejandro Durán/ THE CITY New Yorkers elected Eric Adams, a retired police captain, former state senator and two-term Brooklyn borough president, as the city’s 110th mayor on Tuesday — hoping he can lead a metropolis of 8.8 million residents out of the ravages of the pandemic. After a competitive Democratic primary in June where Adams eked out a victory by just 7,197 votes , he handily defeated Republican radio host and Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa in the general election. The Associated Press called the race shortly...

Tweet By Chandra Wilson As the pandemic continues, home health care is magnified as an essential bridge from the hospital to home. Highly trained physical therapists and occupational therapists play a vital role in helping New Yorkers recover and regain stability following surgery, illness and many of the physical changes associated with aging.  At the Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY), highly trained physical therapists and occupational therapists work with patients daily to develop goals for treatment and coordinate with other medical providers—like doctors and nurses—to deliver a plan of care that meets their individual needs to help them get safely back on their feet. Physical therapists (PTs) work on improving a patient’s major motor function—things like walking, stair-climbing, and balance.  Occupational therapists (OTs) address the practical functions involved with activities of daily living. They may help a neurological patient learn to...

Subscribe in a reader Tweet By Gladys Bayles-Panes, Occupational Therapist with the Visiting Nurse Service of New York  September is National Falls Prevention Awareness Month and National Falls Prevention Week , which kicks off on the first day of Fall, is the perfect time to review a few safety tips that many of us take for granted on a daily basis.  The CDC reports that one out of every four older adults has a serious fall each year, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg: One out of five falls causes serious injury like broken bones or head trauma Three million seniors are treated in emergency rooms after being injured in falls every year Over 800,000 are hospitalized after a fall, with head and hip injuries being the most common More than 95% of broken hips are the result of falls, usually by falling sideways The most common cause of traumatic brain injuries are falls In 2015, victims of falls paid more than $50 billion in medical bills As an ...

Mayor Bill de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Porter welcome students back for the first day of school at P.S. 25 in the Bronx. Monday, September 13, 2021. Photo by Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office. Subscribe in a reader Tweet By David Greene  Bronx Voice September 14, 2021 Many of New York City's 1.1 million school children who were sent home last March after the COVID-19 outbreak, returned to the classrooms as the city opened public schools for in-person learning on Monday, September 14. Shortly after joining Department of Education Chancellor Alicia Ross Porter at P.S. 25 on East 149 Street in the Bronx, Mayor Bill de Blasio held a press briefing at City Hall. Photo by Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office D e Blasio said, "This is the day New York City's comeback's in full force." He continued, "This morning I saw it with my own eyes at P.S. 25 in the Bronx." When asked by a reporter about parents who are holding out before...

Subscribe in a reader By Chandra Wilson    National Suicide Prevention Week begins Sept. 5 and sadly, suicide has climbed into the Top 10 leading causes of death in the United States in recent years. The CDC reports the number of Americans struggling with depression has increased over the past 18 months, which included COVID pandemic, lockdown-related layoffs, social injustice and fears of an uncertain future.  There is hope, however, and Deirdre DeLeo, Associate Director with Community Mental Health Services at the Visiting Nurse Service of New York is encouraging those in need to reach out.   “We’re still in the midst of a public health crisis and suicide is another public health crisis,” DeLeo said. “We really do need to be looking out for each other and we need to have a brave momen...