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Visiting Angels Newton/Canton | Newsletter | August 2024 View as a webpage

August 2024 Angel of the Month | Ndaka Chigariro

Congratulations to Ndaka Chigariro, our Angel of the Month for August 2024. An angel to her very core, Ndaka joined the Newton/Canton team a little more than a year ago, in June of 2023. Since then, she’s cared for 26 different clients, sharing her warmth and charm while continuing to learn a great deal from everyone she meets.

“I find all my clients so fascinating. They’re from all different backgrounds and places, so I get to hear their stories about their lives,” Ndaka shared. “I’m good at breaking the ice and never nervous about approaching strangers, which allows them to really open up to me.”

She believes this skill is something she learned at an early age growing up in Zimbabwe, where her mom ran a little pastry shop and developed connections with many of her customers. Ndaka would help her mom in the shop and watched her utilize many of the same skills that serve her well as a care professional. To this day, Ndaka feels one of her greatest assets is her ability to quickly determine the needs of her clients.

It doesn’t take long to see why clients are quickly comfortable around Ndaka. Her tone of voice is calm and pleasant, while her thoughts on life and aging are refreshingly positive. “It’s all about getting a better perspective on what the world is like through the things my clients share with me. It adds something new to my own personal experience and serves as a reminder that we don’t exist in a vacuum,” she said.

Before moving from Zimbabwe to the United States in the summer of 2021, Ndaka had been developing her skills as a care professional by taking care of seniors with a variety of debilitating conditions throughout her local community. When she applied to work for Visiting Angels, she had been taking care of a private client for a few months, preparing meals, taking her to doctors’ appointments, doing laundry, and assisting with transfers. According to Ndaka, the client was very alert mentally, but her body was failing her. While care could be challenging at times, Ndaka used this experience to learn and grow. She was constantly communicating with the client’s family, even when she noticed the slightest change from the day before. It’s this kind of attention to detail that makes her such an outstanding care professional for Visiting Angels Newton/Canton.

Read more about Ndaka here!

Fall Prevention Tips As We

Head Into Fall

As the leaves start changing and the days get shorter, it's the perfect moment to think about fall prevention. Fall is a beautiful season, but it also brings new safety challenges. Here’s how to ensure you and your loved ones stay safe and enjoy the season without any slips or trips, with helpful tips from Visiting Angels.

1. Declutter Your Space: Start by clearing out any obstacles in common walkways and living areas. Items like loose rugs, electrical cords, and small furniture can easily become tripping hazards. By keeping these areas clutter-free, you reduce the risk of accidents and create a safer environment.

2. Enhance Your Home’s Lighting: As daylight hours decrease, it’s important to ensure all areas of your home are well-lit. Invest in bright, energy-efficient light bulbs for hallways, staircases, and bathrooms. Adding nightlights in key areas can also help prevent falls during those early mornings and late evenings when visibility is low.

3. Secure Your Rugs: Area rugs can be a hidden danger if they’re not properly secured. Use non-slip pads or adhesive strips to keep rugs in place and prevent them from slipping or bunching up. This small step can make a big difference in maintaining a stable walking surface.

4. Inspect and Repair Floors: Take some time to check for any uneven floors, loose steps, or worn-out stair treads. Addressing these issues promptly can prevent falls and ensure that your home remains a safe space. Regular maintenance helps keep your living area hazard-free.

5. Stay Active with Balance-Boosting Exercises: Autumn is an ideal time to engage in activities that enhance your balance and strength. Simple exercises like walking, stretching, or yoga can improve your stability and coordination. Even incorporating a short daily walk can help keep you steady on your feet.

6. Monitor Health and Footwear: Regular health check-ups can help identify any changes in balance or mobility that may need attention. Additionally, wearing well-fitting shoes with good support can significantly improve your stability and reduce the risk of falls.

As we welcome the fall season, let’s take these steps to create a safer environment and enjoy all that autumn has to offer with confidence. Stay safe and have a wonderful season!

by Good News Network

Retired Teacher ‘Jumps for Joy’ at 80th Birthday in Surprise Reunion With Her Favorite Kindergarten Student

Debra Solomon could think of no other gift that would delight her mother more than to reunite her with her favorite kindergarten pupil, decades later.

Retired from 27 years of teaching, Karen Solomon was set to celebrate her 80th birthday in April—and her daughter had a great idea, although it was a long shot for success.

“I could think of only one present for my mom, a reunion with her favorite kindergarten student from the 1980s, when she taught at Laning Ave School in Verona, New Jersey.”

She Googled Seyi Fayanju and was able to reach out to him though his faculty page at Stanford University where he now works as a doctor. Luckily, the reunion was set to take place in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and Seyi has some close friends and family in nearby Chicago, so, despite his busy schedule as a doctor in Palo Alto, California, he was hopeful he might be able to make it.

“As luck would have it, the stars aligned and I was flying back from a conference on the East Coast that week, so a Wisconsin stop was added to the schedule!” he told GNN.

“He gave my mom the thrill of a lifetime,” said Debra in an email to GNN.

When the moment was ready, her granddaughter Mira guided Seyi to come through the doorway and stand right behind Mrs. Solomon.

Her daughter asked her about old students from classrooms past—and then Seyi popped out from behind.

“When he appeared, my mom jumped for joy,” said Debra. “Everyone in the room was crying—tears of happiness and love.

Seyi said, “Mrs. Solomon cried, I teared up, and everyone was happy.”

Protect Your Elderly Loved One From Phone Scams

Helping your senior avoid phone scams is crucial in today's digital age. More and more scammers are employing deceitful methods and tricks to financially exploit the generosity of seniors and their sometimes lack of internet experience.

As these deceptions evolve and become increasingly sophisticated, your understanding of common tactics used by fraudsters is essential in helping your loved one protect their personal and financial information.

Warning Signs for Elder Scams

More than 101,000 seniors reported fraud to the FBI last year. Scams targeting individuals aged 60 and older caused over $3.4 billion in losses—an average of $34,000 per victim.

If you're responsible for the care of an elderly family member or friend, watch out for these warning signs that could suggest they've become a target:

Providing private or financial information over the phone or online
Receiving frequent phone calls from unknown numbers
Receiving unusual requests for trips to the bank
Regularly bouncing checks for typical expenses such as bills

Greek

Pasta Salad

This light and lively Greek pasta salad is great for lunches, picnics, barbecues or potlucks. Enjoy it as is or add chicken, fish or pork to ramp up the protein.

Click here for the recipe!

Join Our Team as an In-Home Caregiver!

Feeling unfulfilled in your current 9-5 job?

If you're craving a career that brings purpose, joy, and meaning to your life, consider joining our team at Visiting Angels Newton/Canton. As a caregiver, you'll have the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of seniors every day.

Say goodbye to the mundane and hello to a rewarding career where your compassion truly shines.

Apply today!

A perfect summer day: the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing... and the lawn mower is broken! Enjoy every moment and let Visiting Angels take care of the rest. What's your favorite way to spend a summer day?