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The June Edition | June 6, 2019
Katherine Peters
President & CEO

Message from the President

Greetings friend, and welcome to the June Comfort Connection! 
In October 2018, 10% of my body was burned. Although my face and neck are doing really well, my hands still need a lot of recovery. To assist with the healing, and for protection of this fragile skin, I need to wear compression gloves.
I spent the winter in Grenada. Not only did I need the compression gloves, which only provide 10% SPF, I wore sports gloves with 50% SPF on top of those gloves. Sunburn on top of my burns would create an instant blister which made recovery excruciating! I write all that to explain – I felt not a little bit weird wearing not one but two pairs of gloves in the hot outdoors.
Here’s the interesting part... people of different cultures have very different reactions to this anomaly. People from Canada or USA don’t say anything. They might look at me sideways, then quickly look away. I’m from Canada. I know what they're thinking: “That’s odd. What’s up with the gloves?” But they wouldn’t say anything because they wouldn’t want to embarrass me or draw attention to the fact that I’m wearing gloves and it’s weird. We are just too "polite," maybe.
Then there are the local people of Grenada. Before the sports gloves, I wore red garden gloves. A stranger on the sidewalk commented, “I like the gloves!” with a big smile. “Hey, thanks!” I thought, "You made my day!" and I smiled back.
A cashier at the store asked with a whimsical smile, “You like GLOVES?” as I put on my second pair before hitting the sunshine. I was able to not feel weird. I made a quick comment, “Yeah, my hands got burned and they can’t be in the sun.” That’s it – quick, fun, and now he had an explanation, and I had a reason for being out of place.
Many people asked outright, “Why are you wearing gloves?” As I told them, they had more questions, which led to heartfelt compassion. I didn’t mind talking about my hands. In fact, I wanted to talk about them! My hands are painful, the gloves are hot, and frankly, I like the attention. The local people of Grenada have a way of reaching out with genuine care and curiosity.
Maybe the next time we see someone who is not quite "normal," we could be a little more curious and actually make someone’s day, instead of glancing quickly, then looking down.
As they say in Grenada – Have a Blessed Day! 

Katherine Peters
President & CEO

Comforts of Home – Care 

Self-Care Tips for Caregivers

Caregiving can be a challenge, but taking time for yourself will make you a better caregiver. No matter how small, do one thing for yourself daily. You are as important as your loved one. You wouldn't neglect them, so don’t neglect yourself. 
You may experience frustration, grief, anger, sadness, guilt and loneliness. There are no right or wrong feelings when you're a caregiver. If you're helping your loved one adapt to emotional feelings, this can impact you too. 
It's easy to believe your needs are not important, but remember, you, and you alone, are responsible for taking care of yourself during this challenging time. If you don’t take care of yourself, you won't be able to care for your loved one.
There are multiple ways to care for yourself...

Continue reading the article (page 8) 

Recipe of the Month: Ginger Carrots

This tasty side dish will delight children and adults alike. 
It's a fantastic source of vitamin A and will give you a fibre boost, too!

Get the recipe

Video: Want Kids to Learn Well? Feed Them Well

"By the time Tommy's in third grade, he's got lower math and reading scores. 

Kids who do not have consistent nourishment have poor cognitive function overall."
 

Watch the video

How to Support Children with Physical Disabilities

Did you know that at Comforts of Home - Care, we provide caregiving supports for children with disabilities, too?
Children with physical disabilities are children first. Like all children, they need opportunities to make choices and do things for themselves, within the limits of their ability.
Resist the temptation to do everything for them. Provide appropriate help, but encourage children to try to do things themselves. This may mean tasks take more time. Remember, doing things independently helps children build self-confidence and independence. Provide encouragement and patience. 
Here's how you can support children with physical disabilities...
Make it easy to move around play areas: 
  • Use heavy, stable furniture that cannot be easily knocked over. 
  • Remove rugs that can be tripped over, or tape them down. 
  • Provide a safe place for walkers, crutches, wheelchairs, or canes so children don't trip over them.

Continue reading for more ideas

Caregiver of the Season

Congratulations to this month's Caregiver of the Season, Robyn!
Robyn has been with us since September 2016, and she is known for being understanding and supportive, as well as bringing joy and fun with her everywhere she goes...

Continue reading

Joke of the Month

Comforts of Home - Care
P: 204.949.3234 | F: 204.949.9049 | E: info@cohcinc.com | W: ComfortsOfHomeCare.ca
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