FM #415 Franklin Senior Center Nurse P-Collatos - 12/09/20 (audio)

FM #415 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 415 in the series.

 
This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Patricia (Trish) Collatos, the nurse at the Franklin Senior Center. The conversation was conducted via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

The recording runs almost about 23 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Trish. Audio link = https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HcSKYqfS 

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The Town of Franklin Senior Center page  https://www.franklinma.gov/fsc

Senior Center updates during this pandemic

https://www.franklinma.gov/home/pages/senior-center-resources-and-support

Curbside Cafe = https://www.franklinma.gov/Curb 

Prior sessions with Trish

• April, 2020 =  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/04/fm-253-senior-ctr-nurse-trish-collatos.html 
• February, 2020 = https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/02/fm-205-intro-conversation-with-trish.html  

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial. 

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

FM #415 Franklin Senior Center Nurse P-Collatos - 12/09/20 (audio)

FPS Voice: Get the Facts from the Franklin Public School Nurses (audio)

A group of our Franklin Public School nurses share important information related to Health Office procedures, guidelines, and COVID-19 testing. 

 
Topics covered include: 

• FPS Dismissal Procedures 
• Reporting of Absences  
• COVID-19 Testing and Timelines 
• Travel Information 
• Over the Counter Medicine 
• Where to find information!

Thank you to Franklin TV & Radio for their assistance in creating this podcast! 

Audio file => https://anchor.fm/fpsvoice/episodes/Get-the-Facts-from-the-Franklin-Public-School-Nurses-enpre1

FPS Voice: Get the Facts from the Franklin Public School Nurses (audio)

Please Send A Christmas Card to a Nursing Home Resident

Hi I am the Nursing Home Administrator at Cedarwood Gardens the former Franklin Nursing and Rehab. As we all know the holiday season can be a tough time for many. If anyone in the community would like to send a holiday card to a resident please address the envelope to

Resident

Cedarwood Gardens

130 Chestnut Street

Franklin

Thank you and be well,

Lisa Rice

“The days just sort of would go by”

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"From the beginning of the pandemic, most were aware of the disease’s devastating mortality rate among older people.

As of Aug. 11, Massachusetts residents over age 70 accounted for 86% of the state’s COVID-19 deaths, according to data released by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. About 65% of the total deaths reported in the state have occurred at skilled-nursing facilities, nursing homes and rest homes.

Still, as COVID-19 tore across the state and new cases surged from March through late June, skilled-nursing facilities, assisted living facilities and many independent living facilities became hot spots for the infectious disease.

Joining first responders, doctors and nurses — familiar heroes in times of crisis — residents, caregivers and staff at these facilities found themselves on the front lines of the pandemic. Too often, they found themselves alone in the fight."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) 

https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200824/senior-living-facilities-bore-brunt-of-covid-19-in-massachusetts-now-hear-from-staff-and-resident-about-life-on-front-lines?rssfeed=true 

In the News: Annie's book store closes; planning underway to allow visitors to long-term care facilities

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"Books hold a special place in the heart of Ann Durant -- so much so that they are like members of her family, each variously holding within its whispering, ink-fragrant pages memories of past times spent together or promises of new friendships, new discoveries and new adventures.

So it should come as no surprise that Durant, owner of Annie’s Book Stop on Plainville’s Man-Mar Drive, has been on a very determined mission the last couple of weeks: To leave the collection of books in her second-hand bookstore in equally loving hands.

Durant has found herself in the difficult position of having to close the business her mother -- the late Eleanor Arnold -- opened nearly four decades ago, and that she herself has been operating for nearly 25 years. While she has overcome some significant business challenges over the years, including competing with big box book stores and online book purveyors, the coronavirus pandemic has proven to be too much to surmount.

“Basically, my decision to close is directly because of the pandemic, when you count what it would cost me to stay open,” she said. “I have jumped hurdles -- the big box stores, the online stuff. I’ve always found a way around it, but this ... whether it’s my age or the length of time I’ve done this ... this I couldn’t find a way over it or under it or around it.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200526/a-wonderful-journey-comes-to-end-in-plainville-as-annies-book-stop-closes-amidst-coronavirus-pandemic

"As the state’s economic reopening gets underway in earnest this week, Gov. Charlie Baker said Tuesday that COVID-19 public health data indicates “that we are trending in the right direction,” and the head of the state’s COVID-19 Command Center said plans are in the works to allow people to once again visit their loved ones in long-term care settings.

Opening his first press conference since many consumer-facing businesses were allowed to reopen Monday, the governor highlighted two of the metrics that he has said will be key considerations when deciding when to launch subsequent phases of the reopening plan.

Baker said the average positive test rate is down to about 9% and has “been pretty much in that general vicinity now for about a week.” And the number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 has shown “a significant decrease over the course of the past two or three weeks,” he said."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200526/medical-advisory-board-working-on-plan-to-allow-visitors-to-long-term-care-facilities-in-massachusetts-again-visitors-were-banned-due-to-coronavirus-outbreak

Video link for May 26 update by Gov Baker: https://youtu.be/X1Dq6fENwtI

"Massachusetts is not alone in facing unprecedented circumstances"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"The Massachusetts unemployment rate surged above 15% in April, smashing four and a half decades of records as the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting public shutdowns caused massive job losses.

State labor officials announced Friday that Massachusetts shed 623,000 jobs in April, the first full month during which non-essential businesses were ordered to close their physical locations to employees and customers and most residents were urged to stay at home whenever possible.

From March to April, the unemployment rate increased 12.3 percentage points to 15.1%, the highest level since the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking seasonally adjusted unemployment rates at the state level in 1976. The numbers reflect the waves of new jobless claims that have been filed in recent weeks, and show how far the state now has to go to both defeat the virus and return people to their old jobs or new ones.

Michael Goodman, executive director of the UMass Dartmouth Public Policy Center and a co-editor of MassBenchmarks, said joblessness in Massachusetts may not have reached such elevated levels since the recession immediately following World War II."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200522/states-jobless-rate-surges-past-15

https://www.mass.gov/topics/unemployment

"Crisis communications professionals told the Daily News that nursing homes would be wise to share the number of fatalities, even if that means communicating rising death tolls.

“You have to be credible in crisis communications, because if your community loses trust in you, you are dead in the water,” said Capt. Thomas Lennon, a retired U.S. Coast Guard Captain and current chair of the emergency management department at Massachusetts Maritime Academy.

Administrators at North Hill and Briarwood Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Needham had already publicly announced 27 of the 33 reported deaths in the town before the town officially announced the first known COVID-19 related deaths.

Both skilled-nursing facilities hired Ball Consulting Group LLC - a crisis communications firm based in Newton - to help with external messaging during the pandemic."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200522/crisis-communications-experts-you-have-to-be-credible-in-reporting-effects-of-coronavirus

FM #253 Senior Ctr Nurse Trish Collatos 4/23/20 (audio)

FM #253 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 253 in the series.

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Patricia (Trish) Collatos, the nurse at the Franklin Senior Center. The conversation was conducted via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

We talked about some of the virtual services provided by the Senior Center, some are being added, about some mental challenges to keep the synapses going. They are beginning to look at what it would look like to re-open, how many could come in, what meals and the seating would be like, etc.

WE talked about Trish’s experience giving blood recently and how the need is there to donate blood if you can. The process is set up to take blood safely and to adhere to all the requirements social distancing, etc.

The recording runs almost about 28 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Trish   https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HDbXQ9s7




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Senior Center updates during this pandemic
https://www.franklinma.gov/home/pages/senior-center-resources-and-support

Most recent update: https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/alerts/update4-24.pdf

The Town of Franklin Senior Center page https://www.franklinma.gov/fsc

To donate blood find a location and date/time at Red Cross Blood
 https://www.redcrossblood.org/

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm).

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

 

FM #253 Senior Ctr Nurse Trish Collatos 4/23/20 (audio)

"Staffing is the biggest expense for nursing homes" ... "There were years in which my staff got no raises"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"Christopher House of Worcester is in relatively good shape for a nursing home. Residents — some who have lived there for years — receive attentive care and take part in activities such as the ice cream social several were enjoying on Wednesday. The 24-year-old building is in comfortable condition.

“Nobody wants to go to a nursing home, but sometimes people really thrive here,” said Sandra Mahoney, administrator of the nonprofit Christopher House.

Mahoney said it’s a constant frustration finding money to adequately pay direct care staff to maintain high quality care and to invest in the physical plant.

That’s because Medicaid, the state-administered program that pays for long-term care for people with low income, effectively limits nursing homes’ revenue through payment based on costs that are several years old. About two-thirds of nursing home residents, nearly 30,000 frail elders statewide, rely on Medicaid to pay for their care."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200309/residential-care-at-crossroads

Sandra Mahoney, MHA, FACHCA Administrator with resident (Christopher House photo

FM #205 - Intro Conversation with Trish Collatos (audio)

FM #205

This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 205 in the series. We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm).

With my mobile recording equipment, I went to the Senior Center to sit with Patricia (Trish) Collatos. We talk about how she got to this role and what she does. As you’ll hear, there is a whole lot going on.

From blood pressure and blood sugar testing at the beginning, she began to expand the services offered. There is a balance and strength class, run for 5 weeks at a time. What is covered is primarily prevention and avoiding the fear of falling.

Trish’s overall goal is to keep the seniors healthy. A friendly reminder that the Senior Center is open to those 50 and older. While most services are geared to this ‘senior’ population, many services are provided to all of Franklin.

Trish is at the Center on Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you need to talk with her, she does have an open door policy.

Check out the Senior Center newsletter for the activities available Monday through Friday. Links to subscribe to the newsletter and to the current newsletter (including prior month archive) are included in the show notes

The conversation with Trish was lively and the time just runs along, so without further ado, here is the recording (approx 17 minutes):

https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/H6xtVQHX




Sign up for the newsletter https://www.franklinma.gov/subscribe

Current Newsletter
https://www.franklinma.gov/franklin-senior-center/pages/franklin-connection-newsletter


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This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but I can't do it alone. I can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
• If you don't like this, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements.
Thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

FM #205 - Intro Conversation with Trish Collatos (audio)

“Supervised injection facilities are an important, evidence-based tool"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"Doctors, legislators and medical students spoke during a recent Statehouse hearing in support of implementing so-called “safe injection sites” - facilities where trained medical personnel oversee people using illicit substances.

The safe injection sites, also known as safe injection facilities or safe consumption facilities, are public health spaces that provide hygienic equipment and areas for people who use drugs to take pre-obtained illicit substances. Trained medical staff are on-site in case of overdose, according to the Massachusetts Medical Society.

But U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling is on record as being strongly opposed to the practice, saying it “amount(s) to giving up” on the opioid crisis. Last week he reaffirmed his position after a federal judge ruled in favor of a Pennsylvania nonprofit seeking to open a safe injection site, ruling it would not violate federal drug laws.

Despite the controversy, speakers at the Statehouse hearing strongly favored implementing a “pilot” safe injection site in Massachusetts."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20191008/safe-injection-sites-controversial-but-many-in-mass-support-pilot-program

The wikipedia entry for "supervised injection site"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supervised_injection_site

The Dept of Nursing at USC has a complete article with pros cons and an overview of the progression of supervised injection sites
https://nursing.usc.edu/blog/supervised-injection-sites/

https://nursing.usc.edu/blog/supervised-injection-sites/