NEW CASTLE (May 16, 2017) – Hundreds of volunteers, family members, and others involved in Delaware’s Foster Grandparent Program will gather Friday, May 19, at Dover Downs Hotel & Conference Center to celebrate the 50 anniversary of the program in the state.

Since 1967, hundreds of Delawareans 55 and older have been meeting one-on-one and with groups of children in day care centers, Head Starts, schools, early learning centers, and via programs at specialized facilities. These seniors have mentored and tutored an estimated 70,000 children with special or exceptional needs in Delaware during that time through the nationally recognized Foster Grandparent Program.

The program, funded by the Corporation for Community and National Service (CNCS), is administered by the State Office of Volunteerism (SOV), part of the Department of Health and Social Services’ Division of State Service Centers (DSSC).

Friday’s event in Dover is designed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Foster Grandparent Program and to recognize the volunteers and various public, private and nonprofit agencies that serve as volunteer stations for the Foster Grandparents to engage and develop appropriate relationships with the children being served.

“The personal commitment made by these senior volunteers as part of the Foster Grandparent Program is making a difference in the lives of some of Delaware’s most at-risk children,” said Governor John Carney. “Foster Grandparents share their love, time and experience with children who are vulnerable and in need of compassion, role models and friendship. I am proud of the success this program has achieved over the past 50 years in Delaware.”

Lottie Banks has mentored scores of children over her 35 years with the Foster Grandparent Program. Grandma Lottie, as she is known to the children she works with, celebrated her 100th birthday Dec. 10, 2016. She has been serving at NCC Head Start Lambson Center for the past three years and previously served at the LaFiesta Day Care in Wilmington and Community Day Nursery in New Castle.

“Having been Grandma Lottie’s FGP Supervisor for the past 12 years has been a joy, to say the least,” said Jane Williams, supervisor of the Foster Grandparent Program in New Castle County. “I am still amazed by this gracious lady every day. … I’ve heard many, including myself say, “When I grow up I want to be just like Grandma Lottie.”

Williams said the teacher in the classroom where Grandma Lottie currently serves says the children all flock to her when she comes in.

“Making a difference early in a child’s life can mean the difference between a child who will see the possibility of success in life and one unable to see many positive outcomes,” said Dr. Kara Walker, Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services. “The influence these seniors are having by spending time with and mentoring these children is priceless.”

Jane Smack has volunteered with the Seaford School District for 15 years through the Foster Grandparent Program. She works one-on-one and with a small group helping students learn to spell, improve reading skills and complete math work.

“It has been an honor to work for the past three years with Mrs. Jane Smack or ‘Mom-Mom Jane’ as she is known by the students in our first grade classroom at West Seaford Elementary School,” said Diana Zlock, a teacher at West Seaford.

“She encourages the students to try their best with their work and be kind to each other. Jane always seems to know the academic needs of the students before I even tell her what I need her to work on with a child, “ Zlock added. “The students in our school district who have had the privilege of learning from Mom-Mom Jane over the past 15 years will always remember her for believing in them.”

The Foster Grandparent Program is coordinated by the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, though the Division of State Service Center’s State Office of Volunteerism in conjunction with the Foster Grandparent Program Advisory Council. In 2016, the statewide program coordinated the activities of 205 Foster Grandparents at more than 115 volunteer stations, reaching more than 1,226 children. Through sharing their love, time, experience and talent, the volunteers in the Foster Grandparent Program spent more than 198,557 hours last year tutoring and mentoring at-risk children.

Delaware’s Foster Grandparents 50th celebration falls during Senior Corps Week (May 15-19), which highlights the nationwide impact of the Foster Grandparent Program, RSVP, and Senior Companion Program, and recognizes volunteers, community sponsors and partners. Across the country, Foster Grandparents are mentoring and tutoring students, Senior Companions are helping vulnerable seniors to remain in their own homes, and RSVP programs are providing such services as disaster relief, caring for the environment, supporting veterans and military families, and providing tax preparation services to low-income and elderly individuals.

Read about and or highlight the work of Delaware’s Senior Volunteers this week using the hashtag #SeniorCorpsWorks. Follow Volunteer Delaware on Facebook to see how Senior Corps is working in countless ways to make Delaware’s communities stronger.

For more information about Delaware’s Foster Grandparents Program: http://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dssc/servede/foster-grandparents.html.

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The Department of Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of life of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.

DOVER – One of the best things about summer weather is more time outside. The Division of Public Health (DPH) urges people to get active and enjoy the outdoors in support of a healthy lifestyle.  The Division also reminds Delawareans to protect themselves from tick and mosquito bites before heading outside. Tick and mosquito bites can cause serious illnesses, and a few small steps, such as using insect repellent, can make a big difference.

In Delaware, the most common tick-borne disease is Lyme disease, which is transmitted to humans by the bite of infected deer ticks. Preliminary data for 2016 indicates there were 506 Lyme disease cases in Delaware.

Symptoms of Lyme disease can include a “bull’s-eye” rash (seen in approximately half of Lyme disease cases in Delaware), fever, fatigue, headache, and muscle and joint aches. Chronic joint, heart, and neurological problems may occur. It usually takes 24-36 hours of attachment before a tick transmits a disease. Anyone bitten by a tick should monitor their health closely, and contact a physician if symptoms develop.

While the attention in the last year has been on the connection between mosquitoes and Zika virus, mosquitoes can also carry West Nile virus (WNV), Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), and several other diseases that cause brain inflammation (encephalitis) and can be fatal to humans and animals. Infected mosquitoes transmit these diseases through their bites.

Approximately 80 percent of human WNV infections are mild and cause no apparent symptoms. The other 20 percent develop a mild illness (West Nile fever), which includes fever, body and muscle aches, headache, nausea, vomiting, and a rash. A small percentage of patients, usually the elderly, develop severe neurological disease that results in meningitis or encephalitis.

DPH recommends these precautions to protect yourself from ticks and mosquitoes

TICK PREVENTION

• Avoid walking in wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter, as this is where ticks are most commonly found.
• Walk in the center of hiking trails, not on the side.
• Wear light-colored clothing to allow you to see ticks easily.
• Wear long sleeves and long pants, and tuck pant legs into socks.
• Apply tick repellents. Repellents containing permethrin can be sprayed on boots and clothing and will last for several days. Repellents containing DEET can be applied to the skin but will last only a few hours before reapplication is necessary. Use insect repellent containing less than 50 percent DEET for adults. Use repellent containing less than 30 percent DEET on children. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that repellents with DEET should not be used on infants less than two months old.
• After being outdoors, check for ticks on yourself and your children (especially the head area), and pets, which should be treated with tick and flea preventive products. Ticks can ride home on pets, then attach to a person later.

TICK REMOVAL

• Avoid removing ticks with bare hands to prevent the tick’s fluids from getting on your skin. Use fine-tipped tweezers, shielding fingers with a tissue, paper towel, or rubber gloves.
• Grasp the tick close to the skin surface and pull upward steadily and evenly.
• Dispose of the tick by flushing it. Cleanse the site of the tick bite with an antiseptic or soap and water, and wash your hands.

MOSQUITO PREVENTION

• When outside, wear shoes, long-sleeved shirts, and pants.
• Use mosquito netting to protect infants and young children in carriages, strollers, and playpens. Netting can protect one’s face and neck during long hikes. Mosquitoes are most active at dusk and during the early morning hours. However, mosquitoes that spread Zika virus are also active daytime biters.
• Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents:
  • Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for reapplication times.
  • Use insect repellent containing less than 50 percent DEET for adults.
  • Use repellent containing less than 30 percent DEET on children. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends using insect repellents containing 10 percent DEET.
  • Do not apply insect repellent onto a child’s hands, eyes, mouth, or on cut or irritated skin. Adults: spray insect repellent onto your hands and then apply to the child’s face.
  • AAP also recommends that repellents with DEET should not be used on infants less than two months old.
• Prevent mosquitoes from entering the house by using screens and keeping windows and doorways tightly sealed. Mosquitoes prefer shallow water and tall vegetation. Eliminate standing water in your yard by changing birdbath water every four days, regularly draining pet dishes and plant pot saucers, and checking gutters, pool covers, and tarps for standing water. Store buckets, wheelbarrows, and wading pools upside down. Keep grass mowed.

For more information, visit cdc.gov and dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/epi/lyme.html.

A person who is deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind or speech-disabled can call the DPH phone number above by using TTY services. Dial 7-1-1 or 800-232-5460 to type your conversation to a relay operator, who reads your conversation to a hearing person at DPH.  The relay operator types the hearing person’s spoken words back to the TTY user. To learn more about TTY availability in Delaware, visit http://delawarerelay.com.

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations. DPH, a division of DHSS, urges Delawareans to make healthier choices with the 5-2-1 Almost None campaign: eat 5 or more fruits and vegetables each day, have no more than 2 hours of recreational screen time each day (includes TV, computer, gaming), get 1 or more hours of physical activity each day, and drink almost no sugary beverages.

NEW CASTLE (May 9, 2017) – When it comes to overall health, patients regularly visit a primary care physician or pediatrician. Regular eye exams are just as important to protect sight and screen for eye disorders and other diseases.

According to Prevent Blindness, both the prevalence and cost of vision problems are set to grow at an alarming rate as the baby-boomer population ages, the number of people in the oldest age groups increases and the minority populations grow.

During Healthy Vision Month, observed each May, the National Eye Institute reminds the public to prioritize eye health to preserve vision. The organization suggests:

• Get a comprehensive dilated eye exam. This is crucial for individuals at high risk or with a family history of eye disease.
• Know your family health history.
• Live a healthy lifestyle.
• Use protective eye wear when playing contact sports, at work or during hobbies.
• Wear sunglasses.

The American Optometric Association suggests adults ages 18 to 60 have eye exams every two years and those at higher risk have eye exams every one to two years. Adults 61 and older should have their eyes examined annually or as recommended.

The Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children recommends pediatric eye health and vision screening for newborns at birth, and within the first month for high-risk newborns, including premature infants and those with a family history of eye disease. The hospital also recommends eye health and vision screening at 1 and at 3 ½ years old. At age 5, children should have eye alignment and vision screening. After age 5, children should have routine vision screenings every one to two years.

“Vision is important to children’s physical, cognitive and social development,” said Dr. Kara Odom Walker, Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services and a board-certified family physician. “A child’s learning and development can be affected by undiagnosed and/or uncorrected vision problems. Early detection and treatment are critical.”

In recognition of Healthy Vision Month, Elisha Jenkins, Director of DHSS’ Division for the Visually Impaired (DVI), has announced several events:

• May 10: Eye Health Summit at the Newark Free Library, 750 Library Ave., Newark, 10:15 a.m.

• May 17: Healthy Vision Family Night at the Delaware Children’s Museum, 50 Justison St., Wilmington, 5 p.m.

• May 18: Healthy Vision Month Smart Glasses Demonstration, 1 p.m. Registration is required. Call 302-255-9800 to register.

For information on any of these events, call the Division for the Visually Impaired at 302-255-9800.

For free information on vision and eye health, call Prevent Blindness at 800-331-2020 or www.preventblindness.org.

The Department of Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of life of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.

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Dover – Even as flu season in Delaware is winding down, the Division of Public Health (DPH) is announcing a potential flu-related death to a child under the age of 2. If confirmed, that would bring the total number of flu-related fatalities for the 2016-2017 flu season to 15. The child passed away near the end of April. To protect the privacy of the child and the family no further information about the child will be released.

“The death of a child is tragic under any circumstances, and our hearts and prayers go out to the child’s family during this very difficult time,” said Dr. Kara Odom Walker, Secretary for the Department of Health and Social Services. “We hope that by sharing this information, we can reach other parents with a reminder that influenza is still circulating in the community and young children, particularly those under age two, are especially at risk if they contract the virus.”

“The influenza virus can continue to circulate even during the summer months,” said DPH Director Dr. Karyl Rattay. “It is important that everyone, and especially those in high-risk groups like young children, continue to take precautions. If you’re experiencing flu-like symptoms, you should immediately consult your doctor, especially if you have underlying health conditions, are under age 5, over age 65 or pregnant.”

As of the week ending April 29, there were 26 laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza reported among Delaware residents with a total of 4,525 cases for the season. Of the 4,525 cases, 810 were ages 4 and under. Thirty-seven children ages 4 or under have also been hospitalized due to the flu.

Of the laboratory-confirmed flu cases this season, 2,159 (47.7 percent) involved infected individuals are from New Castle County, 1,374 (30.4 percent) are from Kent County, and 992 (21.9 percent) are from Sussex County. These numbers reflect lab-confirmed cases and the actual number of illnesses is likely much higher.

Precautions against the flu continue to be vital, including:

• Vaccination.
• Washing hands frequently with soap or using alcohol-based hand sanitizers, especially after you cough, sneeze, or touch your face.
• Covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue and disposing of the tissue immediately. If a tissue is not available, cough or sneeze into your inner elbow. Droplets from a sneeze can travel up to six feet.
• Staying home when sick and not returning to work or school until you are fever-free for 24 hours.
• Ensuring all your loved ones are vaccinated against the flu.
• Taking anti-virals as prescribed by your doctor.

If you are receiving treatment in a long-term care facility or in-home care, ask if the staff is vaccinated against the flu and if not, be certain all non-vaccinated staff members wear a mask at all times. Visits at home or in a facility should be limited if the visitor is under age 16, has the flu, or is at risk of exposure to the flu. The illness can be transmitted prior to someone showing symptoms. If you are living with a senior and a family member contracts the flu, keep the two separate as much as possible and ensure everyone in the home follows sanitary precautions.

DPH recommends that people with flu-like illnesses call — not visit — their medical providers, who may be able to prescribe anti-viral medications by phone.

For more information on influenza prevention, diagnosis and treatment, visit flu.delaware.gov or call DPH at 800-282-8672.

A person who is deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind or speech-disabled can call the DPH phone number above by using TTY services. Dial 7-1-1 or 800-232-5460 to type your conversation to a relay operator, who reads your conversation to a hearing person at DPH. The relay operator types the hearing person’s spoken words back to the TTY user. To learn more about TTY availability in Delaware, visit http://delawarerelay.com.

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations. DPH, a division of DHSS, urges Delawareans to make healthier choices with the 5-2-1 Almost None campaign: eat 5 or more fruits and vegetables each day, have no more than 2 hours of recreational screen time each day (includes TV, computer, gaming), get 1 or more hours of physical activity each day, and drink almost no sugary beverages.

WILMINGTON (May 4, 2017) – The Department of Health and Social Services’ Division of Long Term Care Residents Protection (DLTCRP), New Castle County Vocational Technical School District (NCCVT), Nemours Children’s Health System and Delaware Healthcare Facilities Association (DHCFA) are collaborating on a project for high school students who are certified nursing assistants to intern in Delaware’s skilled nursing facilities.

“As we continue to develop a pipeline for our future health care workforce, this partnership is a great model for the state and other organizations on how to start that pipeline in our high schools,” said DHSS Secretary Dr. Kara Odom Walker, a board-certified family physician. “We anticipate this program will demonstrate the powerful ability to support our local high school students’ continued success with internships that will enhance their work ethic and their dedication to our fast-growing aging population.”

Yvette Santiago, Director of Operations, Delaware Valley Government Relations at Nemours and New Castle County Vo-Tech School Board President, said, “Cooperative education is a unique educational opportunity that integrates academic and career-training programs with paid, planned and supervised work experience in the public and private sectors.” Added Vicki Gehrt, New Castle County Vo-Tech Superintendent, “Co-op allows students to acquire additional career related skills by being exposed to the world of work, thus enhancing their self-confidence and career goals.”

Gehrt said co-op employers understand that eligible co-op students meet and exceed established academic, vocational/technical and employability criteria and that co-op gives them a direct link to highly qualified employees with vocational training. Co-op students who are in apprentice-based trades find that they may qualify for advanced credit toward their apprenticeship certification. That comes in addition to providing the students with a meaningful transition from school to work. Studies have shown that students who participate in co-op are more likely to continue to be employed in career-related employment after graduation from high school.

“This collaboration will benefit residents’ day-to-day lives immensely,” said Mary Peterson, director of DHSS’ Division of Long Term Care Residents Protection. The division is determined to see nursing home residents reach their highest level of functioning. “Having our high school CNAs work in Delaware will help with retention of staff and forge a commitment with a facility and their residents,” Peterson said.

Yrene Waldron, executive director of the Delaware Healthcare Facilities Association, had representatives from schools in the New Castle County Vocational Technical School District, speak to her members about having their CNAs complete co-ops in their skilled nursing facilities. School representatives created a video for association members that showcased their students.

In September 2017, the Healthcare Facilities Association will host a trade show at which representatives from long-term care facilities, hospice, hospitals, home health care, colleges and private corporations will learn about the co-op opportunity that New Castle County Vo-Tech offers.

Renee Purzycki, Social Service Chief Administrator of the Division of Long Term Care Residents Protection, said the New Castle County Vo-Tech staff will reach out to Dan Cohen of Music & Memory to learn how their CNAs can receive certification and Continuing Education Units (CEUs) in this program. Music & Memory is designed to enhance the quality of life particularly for nursing home residents who suffer with dementia. “This certification will assist in making high school CNAs more marketable, as well as give them added experience working with residents with dementia,” Purzycki said. The division has been implementing the Music & Memory Program in skilled nursing homes since January 2017.

Additionally, division trainer Barbara Webb, MS, will work with New Castle County Vo-Tech to explore how classes regarding activities in long-term care facilities can be integrated into the CNA instructional program.

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The Department of Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.