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Parish Nurse Ministry
Established in 1987, this is a Congregational Health ministry that seeks to provide health education and social services support in the congregation. This program is funded by the cooperative efforts of Advocate Health Care System, Concordia Lutheran Church and Concordia Avondale Campus.
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From Maureen Swanson, RN
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MAY Wellness …
Senior Corner …
Upcoming Events
May 4th: Concordia Church
10:00 AM - Worship
11:00 AM - Healthy Lunch and Fellowship
11:30AM - View the movie “Away From Her” - We’ll watch this movie together in preparation for our presentation on Alzheimer’s Disease on May 18th.
May 7th:
Senior Bee Social
Picnic at Lincoln Park Conservatory. We will meet at our Whipple site at 9:30am, with a blood pressure “check-in”. Our health topic will be on Arthritis. At 10:30am, we’ll leave via CTA to our picnic site. Bring a sack lunch and drink or we can go to the café in the Zoo. We’ll
return to our Whipple location. This event is weather permitting.
May 18th: Concordia Church
10:00 AM - Worship
11:00 AM - Luncheon and Fellowship
11:15AM - Alzheimer’s Disease presentation, by Karen DeSombre, from the University of Miami
Medical School.
June 4th: Senior Bee Social
Leave from our Whipple location at 9:30am ride the CTA to the Metra Station as we take the train together to Geneva Illinois. We’ll walk, shop and enjoy lunch together. We’ll return to our Whipple location together.
May is …
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American Stroke Month
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Asthma & Allergy Awareness Month
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Better Sleep Month
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Lupus Awareness Month
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National Arthritis Month
American Stroke Month
Stroke is the No. 3 cause of death and a leading cause of serious, long-term disability in America. Stroke is a disease that affects the arteries of the brain. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel bringing blood and oxygen to the brain gets blocked or ruptures so brain cells don’t get the flow of blood that they need. Deprived of oxygen, nerve cells can’t function and die within minutes. And when nerve cells don’t function, the part of the body they control can’t function either. The devastating effects of stroke are often permanent because dead brain cells can’t be replaced.
Stroke Warning Signs
The American Stroke Association says these are the warning signs of stroke:
Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.
Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
Sudden, severe headache with no known cause.
If you or someone with you has one or more of these signs, don't delay! Immediately call 9-1-1.“Two months ago I went to visit my Aunt for lunch. During lunch she kept touching one side of her face. Then suddenly that side of her face dropped, most obvious was the side of her mouth that dropped. When I asked her if she was okay she could not speak. I asked her to smile and only one side of her mouth moved. She was frightened. I told her that I was going to call 911 because she might be having a stroke. I called 911. They arrived within 5 minutes and by that time they arrived she was able to talk again. By the time we arrived at the ER she was able to smile a full smile. She was kept at the hospital for 72 hours under observation. This was not her first TIA.
What is a TIA?
A TIA, or Transient Ischemic Attack, is a “mini stroke” that occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery for a short time. The symptoms of a TIA are like the Warning signs of a stroke, but they usually last only a few minutes. About 10 percent of strokes are preceded by TIAs. TIAs are strong predictors of stroke risk. Don’t ignore them. Call 9-1-1 or seek emergency medical attention immediately!Learn your risk of heart attack or stroke take the online test at: www.americanheart.org/presenter.
Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month
Each year, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) declares May to be "National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month." It's a peak season for asthma and allergy sufferers, and a perfect time to educate your patients, family, friends, co-workers and others about these diseases.
If you are interested in or need to know the pollen count where you live, work, or plan on vacationing… log onto www.aafa.org and enter your zip code and get the pollen count for the area of interest or concern. Additional materials and information about managing your asthma, food and environmental allergies is also available.
Better Sleep Month
Maintain a regular bed and wake time schedule.
Establish a regular, relaxing bedtime routine.
Create a sleep-conducive environment.
www.bettersleep.org
Lupus Awareness Month
Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease that can affect various parts of the body, especially the skin, joints, blood, and kidneys. There is no cure for Lupus, early diagnosis and proper medical treatment can control the disease and minimize symptoms. The disease varies from one individual to another as does the treatment. www.lupus.org
National Arthritis Month
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) affects 1.3 million Americans.
Osteoarthritis affects 27 million Americans.
Juvenile Arthritis - 300,000 children have some form of juvenile arthritis.
www.arthritis.org - This website has a wealth of arthritis information regarding, treatment, prevention tips, pain relief, advice, ongoing research, as well as updates on alternative and supplemental treatment.
Health Topics for Preschool
April - was Safety Awareness – Home safety and protecting our personal space.
May – What is an allergy? Sun Safety & relaxation exercises.
June – Eye Safety – fireworks safety & relaxation exercises.