Page 14 - Senior Times South Central Michigan June 2021 - 28-06

Page 14 Senior Times - June 2021
200 West Michigan Avenue Suite 102 Battle Creek, MI 49017
carewellservices.org
Kinship Korner
Precautions for Summer Travel and Visits are Changing
By: Paulette Porter, Program Manager, Special Initiatives, CareWell Services SW
Family Enrichment Center Regional Resource 3 Team 415 S. 28th Street Battle Creek, MI 49015
Sharon Dewey
Foster Care Navigator Email: SDewey@fecfamily.com
Ph: (269) 660-0448
Fx: (269) 963-0160 www.Fecfamily.com
Happy June! This is the beginning of Summer and hopefully some safe Summer outings for families. At the Family Enrichment Center, we are busy looking for ways to help Kinship Families find safe activities that will strengthen family bonds and relieve some of the stress of school and Winter isolation.
For Kinship families we have State Park passes and family passes to Frederick Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids. We also have many beautiful parks and trails throughout the coun- ty for bicycles and walking. Historic Bridge Park is a great place to put in to take a kayak or canoe trip on the Kalamazoo River.
We are hoping to have Binder Park passes soon. Check our web page, fecfamily.com for availability.
We received a donation of masks so if you need some let me know. Also check our web page for upcoming trainings on issues facing parenting trauma- tized children.
Please call Sharon Dewey at (269) 274-4077 for any of these activities or resources and Safe Journey.
Family Enrichment Center
After over a year of restrictions, travel is on many people’s minds. Despite the pandemic, many US travelers are eager to take a vacation, but safely. Safety matters more than ever.
choice, check for updated COVID cleaning and sanitization policies. Fully vaccinated people should
What should you expect when you hit the road this summer? Travel will feel different. Americans will be visiting the same places, but in different ways. Safety and reliable travel advice are more important
continue to take precautions
in indoor public settings, like wearing a well-fitted mask around those who are at increased risk for severe COIVD-19,
than ever. There will be some relatively safe ways to travel this summer.
Airport and mass transit is expected to be more congested than in the last year. Because
the virus is primarily transmitted via respiratory droplets between people, the fewer encounters you experience, the more you are able to protect yourself and your health. Health experts tell us it
with unvaccinated people from multiple households. Avoid large in-person gatherings that take place indoors.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cleared vaccinated Americans to travel again, but some immunized travelers remain on the fence about making summer plans. Is
is best to avoid public transit, crowded venues, and indoor activities.
Follow CDC and health department travel requirements and recommendations. Mask- wearing, social distancing, and frequent sanitizing will continue to be the norm. Again, the CDC is saying that travel is safe for vaccinated individuals. This is not yet the time to let up on the public health measures that can help us control the pandemic.
it finally safe to fly? What about visiting unvaccinated relatives or traveling with young children?
As COVID-19 changes the landscape for travel, domestic road trip destinations of all sorts are becoming popular. The trips we are taking this summer should be local. Take time to enjoy hiking, the beach, and the pool. Think wide stretches of beaches, remote retreats, idyllic escapes, and other places that embrace
the great outdoors. Find a remote hotel near beaches, or a private vacation rental, pack up your
car for a road trip. Embrace all that you can do. No matter your
While still voluntary, being vaccinated allows for more freedom during travel. For now, vaccinated individuals can resume domestic travel and refrain
Data can rapidly change, and it is important to follow current local authorities’ guidelines and recommendations.
• Stay local, mask up, get
from testing before or after
travel or self-quarantine after travel. Vaccinated individuals may also refrain from testing before leaving the United States for international travel (unless required by the destination) and refrain from self-quarantine after arriving back in the United States. But realistically, there are few
vaccinated. Remember that some people without symptoms may be able to spread the virus.
to the nature of sun damage, it
accumulates over time. Below are
tips to help keep your skin safe in
• Stay hydrated.
• See a dermatologist for regular
the summer sun.
.
• Keep your baths or showers short. It conserves water and helps you avoid over drying
cancer screenings.
international destinations that are allowing US citizens inside their borders.
or who have an unvaccinated household member who is at increased risk for severe COVID- 19 disease. Wear well-fitted masks when visiting indoors
• Stay at least six feet (about two arms’ length) from other people.
• Do not gather in groups.
• Stay out of crowded places and
avoid mass gatherings.
Protecting Your Skin During Summer
By: Cathleen Knoll, Senior Center Coordinator, Heritage Commons Senior Enrichment Center
Who doesn’t love summertime? Working or lounging in the sun, you can enjoy all the delights that summer has to offer especially if you keep in mind a few tips for sun safety.
According to the American
• Seek the shade when you can, especially between the hours of 10am and 2pm when the sun’s rays are most intense.
Academy of Dermatology, aging
skin is more likely to develop
• Wear protective clothing and a hat. Wear gloves when working under the sun to protect your hands.
skin cancer. In part, this is due
your skin.
• Protect yourself from the sun
by applying a broad spectrum, water resistant sunscreen SPF 30 or better.
.
PROMOTING HEALTH
INDEPENDENCE CHOICE
Aging and Disability Resource Line: 1-800-626-6719 General Agency Telephone: (269) 966-2450