Eating out, Eating Well: How to make smart Choices

In a time when all we do is eat out, it can often be hard to keep a healthy diet. However, you should know that there are many healthy alternatives out there which are readily available. There are a lot of Dining options in New York City. Big portions, too many calories and too much salt can make ordering a challenge. However, small changes in your meal selections could make a BIG difference. Choosing grilled, broiled or baked foods over fried foods or even just choosing water over fruity drinks can help improve your health.

Here are a few tips for you to start making smarter choices:

Downsize! Eat smaller portions.

·         Don’t super size anything. Order the small size whenever you can.

·         Eat only half, and take the other half home for another meal.

·         Share a main course with a friend

·         Let your server know that you are passing on the breadbasket chips.

Eat more Fruits and Vegetables.

·         Choose fruit with your meal instead of chips or pretzels

·         Ask for a side of vegetables or a salad with dressing on the side

Drink water, seltzer or other low-calorie beverages.

·         Skip soda and other sugary beverages, such as sports drinks, “energy” drinks, sweetened tea and lemonade.

·         Compare calories on menu boards. Many coffee and tea drinks are high in calories.

Cut the salt.

·         Ask for sauces and dressings on the side.

·         Choose soy sauce with less sodium.

·         Cut down on cheeses and meats, such as: bacon, ham and salami.

·         Ask for your meal to be prepared without added salt or MSG. You can always salt to taste.

Avoid High Fat foods.

·         Skip the cheese on sandwiches and salads

·         Choose chicken (without skin), fish and lean cut beef and pork.

·         Choose broth-based soup instead of cream based soups.

Maintaining a healthy diet is a very important part of staying in good health. With all this in mind, we want to remind you to be more conscious of what you put in your body. At First Care of New York, we believe everyone’s health is important, which is why we have all our Certified Home Health Aides and Personal Care Aides trained efficiently so that you or your loved ones are getting the right health professionals in your home to provide safe care. If you or someone you know is having difficulty with activities of daily living, please feel free to reach out to us and see how we can help 718-741-5956. Or you can visit our website http://www.1st-care.org/

Beat the Heat!!

Summer is here, and we are experiencing some unusually high temperatures all across the city, First Care of New York wants to remind you, as we did our patients, to make sure you have plenty of fluids at home and try to keep yourself as cool as possible. If you feel you need to go out make sure you have a very cold bottle of ice water handy and take frequent breaks under some shade to allow your body to recover.

One can do many great and fun things as the warm weather approaches. People usually plan outings, visit different places and most people typically take a vacation or some other form of leisure and enjoyable activity. People feel better as the warm weather feels great on our skin and we seem to act like plants by trying to suck up as much sunlight as possible.

However, with the great warmth that approaches one should also plan for some of the burdens that come with the warm weather. We have provided a simple list to keep you safe during this season.

• Drink cool, nonalcoholic, non-caffeinated beverages. (If your doctor generally limits the

amount of fluid you drink or has you on water pills, ask him how much you should drink

when the weather is hot. Also, avoid extremely cold liquids because they can cause

cramps.)

• Rest.

• Take a cool shower, bath, or sponge bath.

• If possible, seek an air-conditioned environment.

• If you don't have air conditioning, consider visiting an air-conditioned shopping mall or

public library to cool off.

• Keep warm areas ventilation if not cooled. Proper ventilation will promote adequate sweat

evaporation to cool the skin.

• Wear lightweight clothing.

• If possible, remain indoors in the heat of the day.\

• Do not engage in strenuous activities.

• Sunblocks and sunscreens with a protection factor of 15 (SPF 15) can be very helpful when

one is exposed to extreme direct sunlight.

The summer is a time for long sunny days to be enjoyed responsibly. If you know someone that might not be able to care for themselves due to a physical or mental disability, but you still want them to be able to enjoy the summer, consider getting them a certified home health aide. At First Care of New York, we have plenty of certified home health aides and personal care aides who can assist them with many activities of daily living. They can help with bathing, dressing, grooming, cooking and cleaning as well as assist them going places and make sure that that are safe and secure during the summer weather. If you would like more information on our services, please feel free to contact us at (718) 364-7251.

National Blood Donor Month

As you may or may not know, January is National Blood donor month. Many people are uncomfortable with the notion of donating blood because they think it may be painful or they are simply afraid of being able to see blood leaving their body. Although, this may be an uncomfortable experience for some of you, one must think of how meaningful it is that you sacrificed your time and efforts to give blood.  You have to be at least 17 years of age to donate blood or have your parents sign a legal consent form. Those of you who are over the age of 75 can continue to donate blood as long as you meet all donor requirements and present a physician's letter allowing you to donate. Something you might want to consider is that you might not be eligible to donate blood. Check out the chart below to learn about what conditions may make you ineligible.

Condition  and Length of time before you can give blood

1. Not feeling well for any reason :Until symptoms are over
2. Cold, sore throat, respiratory infection, flu: Until 3 days after symptoms are over
3.Travel to an area of the world where malaria is a problem: 12 months after return
4.Certain cases of heart disease :Contact us for medical eligibility at 1-800-688-0900
5.Ears, nose or skin piercing: 12 months after procedure unless
6.Tattoos if applied in NJ, no wait: If elsewhere: 12 months after application
7.Blood transfusion: 12 months after receiving blood
8.Full-term pregnancy,abortion or miscarriage: Six weeks after end of pregnancy
9.Surgery, serious injury: When healing is complete and feeling well
10.Syphilis, gonorrhea: 12 months after treatment completed

11.Have had certain forms of cancer Contact us regarding medical eligibility 1-800-688-0900
This chart is from: http://www.nybloodcenter.org/

There are many other permanent reasons as to why you might not qualify to donate; so I suggest you look at

the website listed above to verify whether or not you do.Donating blood is giving the gift of life. Remember that you could give someone the chance to see another day just by sharing some of your blood with them. This safe process; A sterile needle is used only once for each donor and then discarded. It is also good for you to know that in a study conducted by the Red Cross it was determined that the share of people eligible to donate blood in the United Sates was only 38 percent of the population. Your help is needed! Always remember, if you are living on your own, you are not alone. First Care is always here to provide you with the care you need. We provide the proper care for our clients affected by an array of medical issues by utilizing our Certified Home Health Aides or Personal Care Aides to help our clients with their activities of daily living such as: visiting their doctors regularly, assisting with medication reminders and also preparing meals with the dietary necessity to help lower blood pressure and other ailments. If you or a loved one can no longer manage on your own or are having health issues due to medical conditions, do not hesitate to give us a call to find out how we may be able to help. Our number is 718-741-5956.

Cancer

Although this is a topic that many of us are familiar with, I thought it would be good idea to revisit it so that we can all have a clear idea of what this disease is all about. More often than not you hear people saying cancer can spread and it can kill you. However, most of us wonder how it spreads? And how does it literally kill you? According to the American Cancer society, all cancers start because abnormal cells grow out of control. Untreated cancer can cause serious illness and death. As we all know, the body is made up of millions of little cells. These cells are constantly growing, dividing, and dying. At different stages of our lives, this cellular process goes about differently. For example when you are young, the cells divide and multiply at a faster rate to allow you to continue growing. But once we reach adulthood this process slows down and most cell division only occurs to replace damaged or dying cells. Cancer begins when cells in a particular part of the body grow out of control. This type of cell growth is very different from normal cell growth. Instead of dying off, cancer cells continue to grow and form new abnormal cells. These cancerous cells can also grow and invade other tissue cells, which is what makes them even more dangerous. In most cases, these cancer cells will eventually form a tumor.

Cancer cells often metastasize or travel to other parts of the body where they begin to grow and form new tumors. This happens when the cancer cells get into the body’s bloodstream. Over time, the tumors replace normal tissue. Different types of cancer can behave very differently. For instance, bone cancer and skin cancer are very different diseases. They grow at different rates and respond to different treatments. This is why people with cancer need treatment that is aimed at their specific form of cancer. It is also important to remember that not all tumors are cancer. Tumors that are not cancerous are considered benign. Benign tumors can cause problems, but they cannot invade other tissues within the body; meaning that they also cannot spread to other parts of the body. These tumors are almost never life threatening.

Many men and women either know someone, or suffer from cancer themselves. This disease has become very common and this is why it is important to educate yourself about it. The best thing to do is to have an open line of communication with your doctor. Let him or her know if you see or feel something different with your body. Early detection may be the difference between recovery and the need for treatments.

At First Care of New York, we care for many cancer patients and can be there for you and your family, if they have been suffering from cancer and can no longer care for themselves or others. Our highly trained certified home health aides and personal care aides can be there to help them lead the most enriching life possible. You can count on First Care of New York to be available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for any and all Live in Care, Personal Care, Home Health and Companionship needs. For your convenience, we may even schedule a nurse to visit you or your loved one’s at home and evaluate the level of care that is needed. This will help clarify some questions you or your loved one may have. First Care is a licensed home care service agency that provides top quality aides to all our clients. If you would like to have more information, please feel free to contact us by phone at 718-741-5956 or on our website at www.1st-care.org.

Although this is a topic that many of us are familiar with, I thought it would be good idea to revisit it so that we can all have a clear idea of what this disease is all about. More often than not you hear people saying cancer can spread and it can kill you. However, most of us wonder how it spreads? And how does it literally kill you? According to the American Cancer society, all cancers start because abnormal cells grow out of control. Untreated cancer can cause serious illness and death. As we all know, the body is made up of millions of little cells. These cells are constantly growing, dividing, and dying. At different stages of our lives, this cellular process goes about differently. For example when you are young, the cells divide and multiply at a faster rate to allow you to continue growing. But once we reach adulthood this process slows down and most cell division only occurs to replace damaged or dying cells. Cancer begins when cells in a particular part of the body grow out of control. This type of cell growth is very different from normal cell growth. Instead of dying off, cancer cells continue to grow and form new abnormal cells. These cancerous cells can also grow and invade other tissue cells, which is what makes them even more dangerous. In most cases, these cancer cells will eventually form a tumor.

Cancer cells often metastasize or travel to other parts of the body where they begin to grow and form new tumors. This happens when the cancer cells get into the body’s bloodstream. Over time, the tumors replace normal tissue. Different types of cancer can behave very differently. For instance, bone cancer and skin cancer are very different diseases. They grow at different rates and respond to different treatments. This is why people with cancer need treatment that is aimed at their specific form of cancer. It is also important to remember that not all tumors are cancer. Tumors that are not cancerous are considered benign. Benign tumors can cause problems, but they cannot invade other tissues within the body; meaning that they also cannot spread to other parts of the body. These tumors are almost never life threatening.

Many men and women either know someone, or suffer from cancer themselves. This disease has become very common and this is why it is important to educate yourself about it. The best thing to do is to have an open line of communication with your doctor. Let him or her know if you see or feel something different with your body. Early detection may be the difference between recovery and the need for treatments.

At First Care of New York, we care for many cancer patients and can be there for you and your family, if they have been suffering from cancer and can no longer care for themselves or others. Our highly trained certified home health aides and personal care aides can be there to help them lead the most enriching life possible. You can count on First Care of New York to be available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for any and all Live in Care, Personal Care, Home Health and Companionship needs. For your convenience, we may even schedule a nurse to visit you or your loved one’s at home and evaluate the level of care that is needed. This will help clarify some questions you or your loved one may have. First Care is a licensed home care service agency that provides top quality aides to all our clients. If you would like to have more information, please feel free to contact us by phone at 718-741-5956 or on our website at www.1st-care.org.

What is Cerebral Palsy?


In this week’s blog we will be discussing Cerebral Palsy. Every so often we meet an array of people who are branded with this disability, each of them reflect different physical conditions and even different levels of understanding. So much so that at times it makes you wonder what this diagnosis really means. And most importantly, how exactly does it affect the quality of life of the patient and the family? According to the U.S. National library of medicine, Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders that can involve brain and nervous system functions, such as: movement, learning, hearing, seeing and thinking. There are several different types of cerebral palsy, including: spastic, dyskinetic, ataxic, hypotonic, and mixed.

Cerebral palsy is caused by injuries or abnormalities of the brain, which are related to problems that occur during pregnancy. However, the child is still at risk of developing this illness within the first two years of his/her life. In fact, cerebral palsy can be diagnosed before a child reaches the age of two. In some cases the brain is injured due to loss of oxygen, there is no known reason as to why this occurs. It is believed that premature infants are at a higher risk of developing cerebral palsy. It can be caused by bleeding in the brain, brain infections, head injuries, infections in the mother during pregnancy and severe jaundice. Because there are so many variables, cerebral palsy affects people in many different ways. It can range from almost unnoticeable to very severe. Some of the symptoms include abnormal movements like twisting or jerking of the hands, feet, or arms. As well as tremors, unsteady gait, speech and hearing problems.

To learn more about the symptoms of cerebral palsy visit:

www.cerebralpalsysource.com.

Although, there is no real treatment for cerebral palsy, there are things you can do to improve the patients’ quality of life. The goal in each case is to make the person as independent as possible. This requires a lot of effort from both the family and a team of medical professionals. In most cases patients receive physical, speech, and occupational therapy. Cerebral palsy is a lifelong disorder. Long-term care may be required. The disorder does not affect expected length of life. Many adults are able to live in the community, either independently or with different levels of help. In severe cases, the person may need to be placed in an institution.

First Care of New York is a licensed homecare service agency that can help individuals that are having difficulties with activities of daily living. Our HHA’s and PCA’s can help with bathing, cooking, cleaning and even medication reminders, as well as other assistance, depending on one’s needs. One very important factor is that our HHA’s or PCA’s can accompany our clients to their doctor’s appointment to help our clients get the medical attention that they would need. Please feel free to contact us and find out how we can help. You can find out more about First Care of New York Inc. by visiting us on the web at www.1st-care.org or you can call us at (718) 741-5956.

Avoiding Depression

Fall is right around the corner and it’s safe to say that stress is at an all-time high. Children are going back to school; adults are coming home from vacation. The world is upside down! With emotions at an all-time high, it is very easy to fall into a pattern of mood swings and maybe even depression. That is why this week I want to take a moment out to give you a few pointers that could help you battle the emotional ups and downs you might be going through. First and foremost, CALM DOWN! Things are out of whack and you have 1001 responsibilities but guess what? Stressing about it isn’t going to make your problems disappear. One of the things that I find helps me when I am stressed out is organizing. For instance, making a “To do” list, or putting things in order from greatest importance to least can be helpful. However, realistically speaking, making a list isn’t for everyone, but don’t fret, there are other ways to cope with stress.

Since life is an emotional roller coaster, some days you feel like nothing can stop you. Other days you feel completely hopeless. Most of the time, you are somewhere in between both extremes. Understanding the pattern of positive and negative emotions will help you put your feelings in perspective. Next time you feel down, just remember that it’s a natural emotion that will inevitably pass. Knowing that a feeling of depression is only temporary makes it less dreadful. Also, even though you may be pressed for time, try to include some leisurely time in which you can meet up with positive people. Nothing affects the way you think and your emotions more than the people you interact with. Thoughts (both positive and negative) are contagious. If you are surrounded by negative people, it’s only natural that you will start to think and feel the same way. To improve your outlook on life, spend time with positive people. Try to understand the way they see the world. Most likely their happiness will rub off on you. Above all, the best way to stop feeling depressed is to take action. What is your biggest problem? How can you alleviate it? Once you decide to stop moping and start moving forward you won’t have time to feel depressed. Action will occupy your mind and give you something to look forward to. Once you get some results, you’ll build momentum and positive thinking will keep getting easier.

Always remember that First Care of New York provides the proper care for our clients affected by an array of medical issues by utilizing our Certified Home Health Aides or Personal Care Aides to help our clients with their activities of daily living such as: visiting their doctors regularly, assisting with medication reminders and also preparing meals with the dietary necessity to help lower blood pressure and other ailments. If you or a loved one can no longer manage on your own or are having health issues due to medical conditions, do not hesitate to give us a call to find out how we may be able to help. Our number is 718-741-5956.

Understanding Cataracts and how they affect us

Often, as we increase in age many changes begin to occur to our bodies. Of the many things that plague us in our older years, cataracts are a very prevalent issue. Cataracts are a change in the clarity of the lens inside the eye. What happens is that the lens becomes partially clouded eventually blocking and distorting light passing through the lens. This of course, causes visual impediments. The lens is made mostly of water and protein. There are specific proteins within the lens that are responsible for maintaining clarity. Over the course of time these proteins are altered, eventually leading to the clouding of the lens. Since cataracts develop very slowly most people do not know they have them at first. However, the clouding progresses and vision will gradually get worse.It is important to note that even though this is an event that most commonly occurs during old age. There have been a few cases in which cataracts have been detected at birth or in early childhood. Some, factors that can lead to cataracts at an early age are excessive ultraviolet light exposure, diabetes, smoking, and or the use of certain medications like oral, topical or inhaled steroids.

There is no proven way to prevent cataracts, but there are certainly ways of slowing cataract development. You simply have to make small changes in your life style, for example…don’t smoke, wear hats or sunglasses when you are in the sun, avoid sun lamps and tanning booths, eat healthy foods, avoid the use of steroid medicines when possible and keep your diabetes under control. The standard treatment for cataracts is surgery. The most common type of cataracts surgery today is called Phacoemulsification. With the use of a microscope, the surgeon will make a tiny incision in the surface of your eye or near the cornea. They insert a small ultrasound apparatus which emits small ultrasonic vibrations, in this pocket that dissolve the clouded lens. “Once the cataract is removed, an artificial lens is placed into the same thin capsular bag that the cataract occupied”. There are also two other types of surgery: extra capsular and intracapsular. The type of surgery you require depends on how severe your cataracts are. This can be determined by receiving regular eyes exams. Although, an eye test may help confirm a cataract diagnosis, it may not always reflect the patient's quality of life. Some patients who do badly in a test seem to have no problem with daily function; while others who may do well insist that their eyesight is poor and does interfere with ordinary activities. You can find more information on this subject by visiting the following link:

http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/cataract/cataract_facts.asp

First Care of New York is a licensed home care service agency that can help individuals that are having difficulties with activities of daily living. With our certified home health aides (HHA) and personal care aides (PCA), we can provide the services needed. Our HHA’s and PCA’s can help with bathing, cooking, cleaning and even medication reminders, as well as other assistance, depending on one’s needs. You can find out more about First Care of New York Inc. by visiting us on the web at www.1st-care.org or you can call us at (718) 741-5956.

Home Remedies…Are they really effective?


Everyone has a grandmother, aunt, or even a mother who swears she can cure anything by creating some sort of weird concoction. Almost always we laugh at them and just disregard what we consider as old wives tales. However, when we are down and out and we take those home remedies; more often than not we get cured. So what is it about these remedies that cure us? Is it that these crazy concoctions actually have medicinal properties? Or is this just some sort of mind trick, where if you believe something will cure you it does? Extensive research has been done on this subject for the simple fact that some home remedies are just out of this world. For example in my household the simple cold can be cured in many ways: for initial symptoms honey and a lime cut in the form of a cross will do. However, if this has developed into an actual cold, it requires a mixture of onions, aloe, and honey. Home remedies go much farther than lime and honey or aloe. There is an entire civilization out there that has survived on natural medicine. In fact, the National Geographic wrote an article in which they discussed the fact that some of the over the counter medicines we use today is rooted from a form of natural medicine. For example “Digitalis”, which is used to treat chronic heart failure, comes from the leaves of the foxglove plant, and ephedrine, a component of many commonly prescribed respiratory medicines, is derived from a chemical formula from the ephedra plant” (Swerdlow, Joel NGM).


Although, the nature of home remedies has evolved over time, the main principle remains the same. People have the ability and resources to cure themselves of many diseases. Of course some illnesses require more than a few herbs, so don’t stop going to your doctors just yet. We can however entertain the idea that maybe grandma had a point. On the other hand it’s important to note, that like any type of medicine usage, this practice shouldn’t be abused. It’s not safe to decide you’re just going to stop going for your regular checkups. Always consult with a doctor before deciding to treat anything on your own. At least, now you know that you have options, and that sometimes Mother Nature can help you get better.

Always remember that First Care of New York provides the proper care for our clients affected by an array of medical issues by utilizing our Certified Home Health Aides or Personal Care Aides to help our clients with their activities of daily living such as: visit their doctors regularly, assisting with medication reminders and also preparing meals with the dietary necessity to help lower blood pressure. If you or a loved one can no longer manage on your own or are having health issues due to medical conditions, do not hesitate to give us a call to find out how we may be able to help. Our number is 718-741-5950.

What is Hepatitis C?

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) - “Hepatitis” means inflammation of the liver. Toxins, certain drugs, some diseases, heavy alcohol use, and bacterial and viral infections can all cause hepatitis. Hepatitis is also the name of a family of viral infections that affect the liver; the most common types are Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C.

Luckily for us in the U.S. and other developed countries, we can enjoy the benefits that exist, such as vaccines to help prevent Hepatitis A and B. Nevertheless, there is no vaccine available for Hepatitis C. So why is Hepatitis C so bad? The CDC defines Hepatitis C as a contagious liver disease that ranges in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, lifelong illness that attacks the liver. It results from infection with the Hepatitis C virus (HCV), which is spread primarily through contact with the blood of an infected person. Hepatitis C can be either “acute” or “chronic.” Those affected by hepatitis may have symptoms of dark urine, clay-colored bowel movements, joint pain, abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, loss of appetite, fatigue, fever, and/or jaundice (which is yellow color in the skin or eyes)

Chronic Hepatitis C is a serious disease that can result in many different long-term health problems such as: liver damage, liver failure, liver cancer, or even death. It is also the leading cause of cirrhosis, as well as liver cancer and the typical reason for liver transplantation in the United States.

According to the CDC the long-term effects of Hepatitis C:
Of every 100 people infected with the Hepatitis C virus, about
• 75–85 people will develop chronic Hepatitis C virus infection; of those,
o 60–70 people will go on to develop chronic liver disease
o 5–20 people will go on to develop cirrhosis over a period of 20–30 years
o 1–5 people will die from cirrhosis or liver cancer

Therefore, you should always get yourself checked out. At First Care of New York, we believe everyone’s health is important, which is why we have all our Certified Home Health Aides and Personal Care Aides tested for Hepatitis, to provide you the peace of mind that you or your loved ones are getting the right health professionals in your home to provide safe care. If you or someone you know is having a difficulty with activities of daily living, please feel free to reach out to us and see how we can help. Or you can visit our website http://www.1st-care.org/

What it is to be disabled!

There are many ways people describe being disabled, but I like the way it is stated in Disabled World (TM).

A disability is a condition or function judged to be significantly impaired relative to the usual standard of an individual or group. The term is used to refer to individual functioning, including physical impairment, sensory impairment, cognitive impairment, intellectual impairment mental illness, and various types of chronic disease.

Disability is conceptualized as being a multidimensional experience for the person involved. There may be effects on organs or body parts and there may be effects on a person's participation in areas of life. Correspondingly, three dimensions of disability are recognized in ICF: body structure and function (and impairment thereof), activity (and activity restrictions) and participation (and participation restrictions). The classification also recognizes the role of physical and social environmental factors in affecting disability outcomes.*

In addition, there are many different types of disabilities such as:

• Mobility and physical impairment
• Hearing Disability
• Psychological Disorders
• Head Injuries - Brain Disability
• Vision Disability
• Spinal Cord Disability
• Cognitive or Learning Disabilities
• Invisible Disabilities

I included invisible disabilities because there are many people that suffer from such things as chronic pain or some kind of sleep disorder. Often times, even with testing, it might seem as if people are imagining their conditions because the test might not diagnose any specific ailments. But tests are not always the first level of defense to express how one feels or the experiences one may have due to their body.

If you or someone you know is disabled or needs assistance with their activities of daily living, reach out to First Care of New York Inc. and find out the many ways our certified home health aides can be there for you and your family. Our certified home health aides and personal care aides can provide services such as:

• Bathing
• Escort to MD Appts
• Medication reminder
• Feeding
• Toileting
• Grooming
• Sitter
• Light Cleaning
• Dressing
• Cooking
• Companionship
• Personal care

We work with all people regardless of payment needs such as: Medicaid, Workers Comp, No Fault Insurance, Long Term Care Insurance and even private paying customers. As a licensed home care service agency, we have the capability for you to reach us at any time 24/7 - 365 days a year to find out how to obtain services or just find out some information. We provide top service in The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan area.

* http://www.disabled-world.com/disability/types/

The 1-2-3’s about diabetes

Many people might be a little unfamiliar with what exactly it means to have diabetes! Generally when one eats a meal, the sugar (glucose) in that meal stimulates the pancreas to release insulin in an amount that is proportional to the meal that one ate. The reason this must occur in our body is because cells use sugar and other nutrients to function properly. When one has diabetes, this process does not function as it should. So we are going to break it down so you can know the difference and how they affect the human body. First off, it is actually called Diabetes Mellitus (DM); of which Diabetes comes from the Greek word (diabainein), meaning "to pass through," and Mellitus comes from the Latin word meaning “honey-sweet”; this refers to the fact that the urine of a diabetic has a sweet taste.
Type 1 Diabetes (Sometimes called Juvenile Diabetes because it usually occurs in people under 20 years old) Type 1 Diabetes is also found in 5%-10% of all diabetes cases – It is when your own body’s immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas (called beta cells)

Secondary Diabetes (Not to be confused with Type 2) – Is different from Type 1 because the cause of the destruction of the beta cells is by something other than the immune system, such as: pancreatic surgery or cystic fibrosis but none-the-less one ends up with the same results as type 1 diabetes.

Type 2 Diabetes (Is found in 90%-95% of all diabetes cases) – People with Type 2 produce insulin, but it is either not enough insulin or the body cannot use the insulin as it is supposed to.
Gestational Diabetes – Occurs in pregnant women, who never had diabetes before but during pregnancy develop high blood sugar levels and sometimes develops into type 2 diabetes.

The sad part is that there is really no way to prevent diabetes for the most part. Type 2 diabetes can be detected early and possibly treated with medication. If one feels that diabetes might be something you think you have or have a family history of, be sure to have yourself checked out by your doctor.

Some of the common consequences of not properly monitoring and treating your diabetes would be:

• It takes longer to heal from wounds
• Retinopathy – A condition that causes you to have eye problems and can lead to blindness
• Kidney Damage – Note: You need your kidneys to live
• Poor blood circulation – This will increase your chances of having a stroke and heart attack. It can also cause nerve damage because your body is not getting what it needs. This is usually the cause for amputations of the limbs.
• You can go into a diabetic coma

Diabetes is a very serious issue, which can lead to some serious complications and one should always be sure to monitor and keep their diabetes as under control as possible. Taking proper care of one’s diabetes condition is critical to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Once illness gets out of control, it can become quite serious. First Care of New York provides the proper care for our clients affected by diabetes by helping our clients visit their doctors regularly and assisting them with medication reminders as well as other great services. If you or a loved one can no longer manage your diabetes or are having health issues due to medical conditions, do not hesitate to give us a call to find out how we may be able to help you. Our number is 718-364-7251.

Celebrating life through research

For the past few years, First Care of New York has proudly participated in the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center fundraising program; which helps to raise not only funds for the program, but also awareness in our community. Now a days more and more people are being affected by cancer directly or by a loved one who is ill from this type of disease. Cancer is caused when the body stops functioning properly and abnormal growth happens. And though it is something that affects people mainly between the ages of 50 to 70, it is something that can attack at any age and anywhere in the body.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2010, there were 19.4 million¹ diagnosed cases of cancer. In 2012 alone over 577, 000² people are estimated to die from cancer according to cancer.gov. These are startling figures and something that we are trying to bring to an end through research for a brighter tomorrow.

First Care of New York aims to donate time, effort, money and sweat to the cause, as we will be participating in the 10th Achilles Annual Hope & Possibility 5 mile run/walk event this coming June 24, 2012 at Central Park. The event features several thousand runners who come from all walks of life but share one common goal. To come together to shed light, increase awareness and raise hope for those that are suffering from cancer and their family members who are affected by it.

Together we can build a team big enough to raise enough awareness and research funds to make a difference. It has always been said that all things starts with one and end with many. We hope you would come and share with us in the opportunity to make a difference and touch people’s lives with goodness. If you would like to donate, First Care of New York is selling raffle tickets to raise funds at $1 US dollar per ticket. The top three raffle tickets winners will win a Laptop (1), Ipad2 (2) or a Kindle (3) and 100% of the proceeds will go towards donations for cancer research. If you wish to participate in the raffle or are interested in acquiring raffle tickets, you may ask for Rina at 718-741-5956. This is a cause that is near and dear to the First Care family and we are committed to raising funds and awareness in order to help those around us.

¹http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/cancer.htm
²http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/all.html

First Care of New York “We pick up where others leave off”

Spring season for seniors!

The spring brings many things. It provides more daylight; the flowers bloom and the weather sometimes can get nicer. Spring brings the feeling of happiness and good spirits to many of us. But spring can be an unpleasant season for some seniors and one should really take good care of themselves no matter what the season. Keeping active is good physically and mentally for seniors. For seniors that are healthy, it is a great time to enjoy the outdoors and take walks/jog or run, do some bird watching or even play some cards in the park. In the spring time one can enjoy many activities outdoors like playing a little golf, doing a little fishing or even some canoeing. One can enjoy the cool days in some pleasant shade.

For seniors that have limitations, it does not mean they cannot enjoy some of the best spring has to offer. Depending on one’s tolerance to the season’s change, it can still be enjoyable if some proper precautions are taken. One of the primary causes of concern is rise of allergens in the form of pollens and molds. This can really affect those that suffer from allergies and other medical conditions such as: asthma and other breathing conditions as well.

In the spring time, it might be best if one suffers from any medical conditions that might affect their health to wear a light mask if the pollen gets high. Also wearing the appropriate clothing based on the weather conditions outdoor and the activities at hand will make a world of difference for one’s overall well-being in the heat.

Some seniors don’t have that special someone to show them all the great things about spring. At First Care of New York our certified home health aides can provide the joys of spring time. Our certified aides can help seniors enjoy that nice walk outside or enjoy that card game in the park. A certified home health aide can provide all the assistance needed for activities of daily living such as: getting one out of bed in the morning, all during the day and can be until one is tucked in at night. Our certified home health aides can assist getting out of bed, bathing, toileting, dressing, grooming, feeding, cooking, medication reminders and much more. If you would like more information about First Care of New York please feel free to visit our website http://www.1st-care.org/.

Spring cleaning for the 65+

We have already turned our clocks forward an hour and now is the time when everyone starts to talk about the dreaded spring cleaning one must do like an annual pilgrimage or something. But, over time, as we age, we tend to collect stuff and sometimes this stuff starts to build to a point that something needs to be done about it. Now if you are still a self-reliant senior or if you are not so capable to handle your own spring cleaning, there is always help. Just ask friends and family, I’m sure they wouldn’t mind.

Now we must keep in mind one thing if we are going to help anyone other than ourselves, we must do the first rule of kindness: Ask the individual for permission to clean and make some changes around their home. What may look like a pile of junk to you may be their most beloved item. Therefore; just tossing items that look like junk to you might cause them more stress than rest.

Secondly, talk to the person you will help or who will help you and make a list of what can be tossed and what must be kept. Most seniors will really appreciate it when one considers them and their feelings.
While making your list, you should also make a schedule for routine maintenance to have regular household chores like: cutting the grass or cleaning the gutters taken care of if your loved one can’t take care of them themselves. Having someone you can rely on to handle these things can be very important because some things left undone can get out of control very quickly.

Review safety measures
• Make sure you replace the batteries on the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Also, test them to make sure they are working properly. These devices should generally be completely replaced every so often. The general rule is that smoke & carbon monoxide detector should be replaced every five to seven years.
• Check the fire extinguisher and make sure it has been inspected by a professional within the last year and that it is in good working order.
• If your senior is capable of using a fire extinguisher, make sure they know how to use it in case of an emergency. Also, make sure it is in an accessible area where anyone can find it.
• Program their phone with emergency contacts on speed dial and be sure to show them how to use this as well.
• Make sure that someone can always check on your loved one. If needed have 7 different people check in on them. One person per day so no one person is feeling burdened. Or if they have friends, create a buddy system, so they can keep an eye on each other.
• If they have important documents like a trust, will’s, insurance etc… have a professional review the documents to make sure your loved one is properly covered.
• Clean out the medicine cabinet – Make sure that the medicines have not expire, throw out any unused medicine that is not required and look at the medicine to make sure they look as if they have been stored in a cool dry place as most medicine recommends.
• Remove clutter and any other items that might cause someone to fall. Be sure to also check the exterior areas of their property, add non-skid flooring if possible to areas where a slip, trip or fall may occur.

On to the general cleaning
• Be sure to organize everything and make sure everything has a place for it. If not, most likely it will become clutter, which can lead to trips, fire and rodents. This is what we want to avoid.
• Dusting can be pretty irritating to someone that might be sick frail or elderly. Try to dust and wipe things done with a rag or something so you won’t get all the dust in the air.
• Move furniture and other large items to eliminate as much dust, dander and the items themselves if they now present a hazard.
• Be sure to sweep everything. Outside areas, be sure to look for hoses or other items left out in the open.

Maintenance (time for the handyman work)
• Be sure to check all the doors, door locks, windows and the window locks to make sure they are working properly. If not, have them fixed immediately.
• If you are the handy type, check the roof, gutters and exterior areas around the house that might need some TLC before a small issue turns into a major problem.
• Try to save them money on their bills. If you see someone is using regular light bulbs or has a very old toilet consider replacing the bulbs to fluorescent and for the toilet consider a dual flush toilet that wastes less water.
• Finally, give everything one last walk thru to make sure everything is working properly and in its place.

If you or a loved one is having difficulties in the home and is not able to care for themselves, First Care of New York can help. As a license home care service agency FCNY provides highly qualified home health aides which can assist with most of the spring cleaning and every day activities of daily living for that matter. If you or a loved one needs care or someone to look after them, FCNY is your place, as we pick up where others leave off.

The Vertigo basics

Have you ever had a few too many drinks and you stop somewhere or lay in a bed and you feel like the room is spinning or you feel like you’re moving but your actually staying still. Well, if you ever felt this way, that would be my best description of vertigo in a non-medical form but you get the idea.

Vertigo
[vur′tigō, vurtī′gō]
A sensation of instability, giddiness, loss of equilibrium, or rotation, caused by a disturbance in the semicircular canal of the inner ear or the vestibular nuclei of the brainstem. The sensation that one's body is rotating in space is called subjective vertigo, whereas the sensation that objects are spinning around the body is termed objective vertigo
Mosby's Medical Dictionary, 8th edition. © 2009, Elsevier.

Which means the inner ear or vision problems might be the cause of the feeling (unless, of course, you are drunk at the time of the feeling).

The original meaning, according to Medterms.com is:
The word "vertigo" comes from the Latin "vertere", to turn + the suffix "-igo", a condition = a condition of turning about). Vertigo is medically distinct from dizziness, lightheadedness, and unsteadiness.
http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=6129

“A Balance” is defined as a state of equilibrium. It takes a significant amount of work for this to occur in the body. The brain uses inputs from many sources to understand where the body is located in relationship to the world and to allow it to function. Sensory information from the eyes, ears, and position receptors in the rest of the body help keep the body upright and allow it to move in a coordinated fashion. Information comes to cerebellar lobes located in the base of the brain from the vestibular system in the inner ear, vision from the eyes, and proprioception (position) receptors located throughout the body that send signals through the spinal cord. The cerebellum uses that information to maintain posture, coordinate body motions like walking and also coordinate fine motor skills like using a pen to write. Vertigo, a feeling of spinning movement and sometimes accompanied by nausea and vomiting, occurs when any part of the system breaks down. However, people tend not to use that word to describe their symptoms but instead use the word dizziness or lightheadedness. It is up to the health care practitioner to understand the person's symptoms and define vertigo as the cause of their situation.
http://www.medicinenet.com/vertigo/article.htm

There are several causes in which people suffer from vertigo and plenty of treatment programs that can help as well but, if one still feels that “hung over” feeling they may want to lay down as it might cause them to fall and hurt themselves. This can lead to further injury such as: slips, trips and falls that have ended in a injury or even a fatality. In our previous Blog we have discussed some of the dangers of slips, trips and falls and at First Care of New York, we are here to help you and your family avoid such things from happening. We provide services in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens. For your convenience, a nurse can be scheduled to visit you or your loved one at home to evaluate the level of care that is needed at no cost to you, if they participate in our program. The nurse will also be able to evaluate the home to bring to light any potential hazards that might cause harm to you or your loved ones, while suffering from a vertigo episode. They will help clarify some questions you or your loved ones may have. We can provide as much care as is needed from a couple of hours a week to 24-hour live-in care and everything in between. We have highly trained home health aides, personal care aides, homemakers, and nursing care. We help with bathing, cooking, toileting, grooming, medicine reminder, laundry and cleaning services. First Care is a licensed home care service agency that provides top quality aides to all our clients.

For more information about First Care of New York, please visit: http://www.1st-care.org/

Diabetes – To keep OR lose your feet

According to the American Podiatric Medical Association, there are over 26 million people with diabetes and 7 million more people who do not even know they have diabetes yet. First off, diabetes is a disease that affects many parts of your body and in a very negative way.

What is diabetes? According to the Diabetes Research Wellness Foundation (DRWF)
Diabetes is a defect in the body’s ability to convert glucose (sugar) to energy.
Glucose is the main source of fuel for our body. Glucose is then transferred to the blood and is used by the cells for energy. In order for glucose to be transferred from the blood into the cells, the hormone - insulin is needed. Insulin is produced by the beta cells in the pancreas (the organ that produces insulin). In individuals with diabetes, this process is impaired.

How does one develop diabetes? According to DRWF
Diabetes develops when the pancreas fails to produce sufficient quantities of insulin

• Type 1 diabetes or the insulin produced is defective and cannot move glucose into the cells
• Type 2 diabetes - Either insulin is not produced in sufficient quantities or the insulin produced is defective and cannot move the glucose into the cells.

How are your feet affected?
High Blood sugar can damage the nerves in your feet and cause blood flow problems. Once you develop blood flow problems your feet can feel like it has “pins and needles” in them and you can start to lose feeling and not be able to feel heat, cold, pressure or pain. This lack of feeling can be dangerous because you might not be able to feel an injury, blister or sore and if it becomes infected, add that to poor blood flow and it can lead to losing your toes, foot or leg.

How many people have lost parts of their leg due to diabetes? According to the American Podiatric Medical Association

• More than 65,000 lower limbs are amputated annually due to complications from diabetes.
• After an amputation, the chance of another amputation within three to five years is as high as 50 percent

You should visit your primary care physician or a podiatrist to make sure your feet are healthy and in good shape otherwise run the risk of possibly losing your leg or parts of your leg.

First Care is the licensed home care service agency that provides top quality aides to all our clients. Our certified home health aides can help with bathing, dressing, grooming, cooking, cleaning and assist taking you or your loved one to doctor’s appointment. We are regulated by the NYS department of Health and are accredited by The Joint Commission. We provide services in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens. For your convenience, we may even schedule a nurse to visit you or your loved ones at home to evaluate the level of care that is needed at no cost to you. This will help clarify some questions you or your loved ones may have. If you would like to have more information, please feel free to contact us by phone at 718-741-5950 or on our website at http://www.1st-care.org/

Smart Senior Planning 101

As we age “gracefully”, we think about everyone’s needs in our family and try to pay special attention to make sure that they are taken care of; but what about the person whom is the most important – yourself? As the adult, we are taught to care for our children for the rest of their lives. However, in reality, you need to look after yourself to be able to better provide for your children. Sadly, most of us choose not to think of what might happen to us as we age, but if you fail to plan, then you are planning on failing and leaving that burden on your family.
We must face the facts of life as we age. Our body sometimes seems to have a mind of its own and will do whatever it wants, for instance:

• We will undoubtedly get weaker in strength
• Our bodies might hurt more (Arthritis, Osteoporosis etc…)
• We can develop medical conditions (Diabetes, High blood pressure and so on…)
• We start to lose things (like our vision, bladder control and some even our minds)

Therefore, what can we do as responsible adults?

• Create a will to make sure your loved ones get what you would like to leave them
• Get a medical proxy – Someone that can make medical decisions on your behalf if you can no longer do this for yourself
• Get a financial proxy – Someone that can manage your financial affairs on your behalf if you can no longer do this for yourself

Get advice on how to pay for your medical needs if the need arises

o Long term care insurance

o Apply for Medicaid if you qualify

o Apply for Medicare if you qualify

o Get insurance that would cover most of your senior needs

o Get supplemental insurance that would cover other services not provided by your insurance

Other options for finding financing for medical care

o Consider a reverse mortgage if you qualify – it can provide a lump sum or a steady stream of income

The fun part of being old is that one gets to retire and enjoy the grandkids if possible or take that vacation you’ve always dreamt about. The problem is that one day you can slip, trip or fall and break something and you’d be surprise on how quickly one can go from a healthy senior to a debilitated senior. It’s these tough times that one must always plan and prepare for.

At First Care of New York we know the challenges that some families face when their loved ones are struck with illnesses such as: Alzheimer’s, arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), etc. or are hurt due to accidents or falls. A lot of times these things happen suddenly like strokes or embolism, which can leave one severely disabled. It is during these times when you can call First Care of New York to care for yourself or your loved one. We can help you every step of the way from finding financing options to getting the right care you or your loved one may need. Our certified home health aides can assist with all activities of daily living such as: bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, cooking, cleaning, laundry, run errands and even assist with going to doctor visits. Don’t let an accident or declining health become a burden on you or your entire family. We can help anywhere in The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan and we also accept many forms of payment from Medicaid, Private Insurance, workers compensation, as well as private paying clients. If you would like more information, please feel free to give us a call at 718-364-7251 x9 or check out our website at http://www.1st-care.org/.

How to stay committed to your commitments

O.k. so the New Year is upon us. We have made our list of New Year’s resolutions and like every year, we think this year is the time for change. Sadly, two weeks later, we stop going to the gym, one month later we are still fat and now paying a monthly gym membership, yoga class and Pilates, which we thought was going to make us healthy, skinnier and open our minds. By the end of February, our hopes and dreams have once again been shattered until next year.

The big question here is: WHY?

Why do so many of us make New Year’s resolutions (i.e. eating healthy), commit to do things (i.e. love more) and even commit to make changes (i.e. quit smoking), but time and time again we keep failing. This does not make us a bad person or a failure by any means. Most of us have plenty of distractions in our lives, which force us to make different levels of commitments. The shameful truth is that we make excuses because we LOVE comfort, safety and simplicity. We all know the effort it takes to count calories, go the gym and work out, but most times we slip into our old habits with “yeah but” which always trumps our commitments.

In order to stay committed one must learn how to be and stay committed without letting “yeah but” back into our vocabulary. Regardless of the commitments that we make to ourselves or others, here are a few key words of advice to help you stay committed.

Sacrifice
A key to knowing we are committed is by being able to sacrifice for the good of our commitment. Think of the athlete that is willing to train for countless hours at the gym to be able to perform at their personal best. If you are willing to sacrifice for something knowing it will disrupt the comforts of your life then you are committed.

Create a ritual
Make working out part of your schedule. The same way taking your kids to soccer practice every Tuesday and Thursday is part of your routine, you should make the gym or whatever other commitment part of that same schedule. Over time this will make you go to the gym almost subconsciously, since it will be part of your weekly routine.

Determination
There will be inevitable setbacks while you are trying to complete your goals. Like the athlete that could not workout on Monday but decides that they will go to the gym on Tuesday instead to make up for Monday. We must face our challenges with confidence and resilience to make sure that our commitments are met. This involves us learning to solve problems in order to take the necessary steps to work past them.

Get support
There are plenty of people out there and in our lives that would love to help us if we need the help. If you are trying to go to the gym as a regular routine, but sometimes feel discouraged or “out of it”; find someone to go with you so you can motivate them and they can motivate you.

Lastly, it is also important that we keep our goals in context. We should remember that the point of achieving our goal either today or years from now is to improve our lives. However, we are still living in the present and must acknowledge that. If we live only for our goals, we will possibly resent the present, and start resenting our goals as well.

At First Care of New York we are always committed to providing the best home care services possible. We understand the delicacies that come with our clients and the condition they are in versus the life they used to lead. We understand that they want to continue to live freely, independently and with the same energy and fervor that makes them happy. The ability to continue to perform their daily activities, whether it be in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan or Queens areas. You can count on First Care of New York to be available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for any and all Live in Care, Personal Care, Home Health and Companionship. For your convenience, we may even schedule a nurse to visit you or your loved one’s home and evaluate the level of care that is needed. This will help clarify some questions you or your loved one may have. First Care is a licensed home care service agency that provides top quality aides to all our clients. We are regulated by the NYS Department of Health and are accredited by The Joint Commission. If you would like to have more information, please feel free to contact us by phone at 718-741-5950 or on our website at http://www.1st-care.org/.

Senior’s Holiday Blues

The Holiday season is amongst us. It is a time of year when many people are jolly and are usually looking forward to gathering with friends and family; looking forward to getting presents and ringing in a new year. Nevertheless, for many of our seniors, the holiday season is sometimes the roughest part of the year. Many seniors are widows/widowers, have lost friends and other family members as they have aged, are separated from family or their current loved one or themselves could be ill either physically or mentally and can no longer participate in the holiday events like they used to. While many will try to hide their feelings during the holidays, it can be quite a tough time for our seniors, which can lead to the holiday blues and even worse depression.

Several symptoms of the blues are:

• Crying often
• Loss or gaining weight
• Difficulty sleeping
• Difficulty thinking, remembering or concentrating
• Irritability
• Loss of interest
• Sense of worthlessness
• Thoughts of suicide – Contact a mental health professional immediately

One should pay special attention to their friends and family during these times and if you notice any of the symptoms; even if they are not an elderly person, you should approach them and see if they might be feeling blue during the holidays. Listen carefully if someone complains to you about being depressed or says people don't care. That person may be telling you he or she needs help.
There are many things one can do to avoid feeling the blues:

• Volunteer – Helping others is a great way to distract your mind from your own troubles. Churches and other civic groups would appreciate your help.
• Do not be alone – If you cannot be with family during the holidays invite some close friends to come over.
• Avoid alcohol if possible – Alcohol is a depressant and that is what you are trying to avoid.
• Don’t deny or hide your feelings of sadness – Just being able to share your feelings with someone can help you cope with the holiday blues.
• Avoid stress – Stress during the holidays may make you feel more isolated and worsen your mood.
• Honor loved ones – Remembering the person that cut the turkey or dressed as Santa can be difficult, but it can also bring the family closer and aide in having a pleasant holiday.

At First Care of New York, Inc., we are here to help with concerns like the holiday blues and depression. Our staff is trained to recognize and handle clients who may be dealing with depression when visiting patient’s homes in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan. Our home health aides and personal care aides are trained to help you. The aides serve as companions during those hard and dark times. We also have Live-in care for those of you who may need 24 hour support. No matter the time, day or place, we want to brighten your day first with care. We hope you have a very happy and safe holiday season.

The beautiful winter months are coming

The winter brings many joyful things such as: Christmas, the New Year and a bunch of snow and rain. Sometimes the weather turns out worse than expected and we end up in a severe storm that knocks out the electricity, shuts down roads. Severe weather can even lead to people needing to be evacuated from their homes. Every year the weather seems to be more unpredictable than the last and since the winter is only a few weeks away; First Care of New York would like to give you some advice on how to prepare for it.
The basics of winter are as follows:

1. Be sure to check all your doors and windows to check for drafts. If you do feel a draft, try to seal it or find someone that can do it for you. A great deal of heat loss is because of drafty doors and windows leading to higher heating bills.
2. Check your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. With your windows shut, you never want to take the chance of having carbon monoxide creep into your home as it is a colorless and odorless killer.
3. Prepare an emergency kit – You should have all the necessities like spare batteries, medicine, first-aid kit, battery operated radio, flashlights, blankets and a list of emergency contacts. You also want to stock up on non-perishable foods and plenty of bottled water. You never want to get stuck in a storm without having some form of lifeline.

If you are a homeowner you will also want to do the following as well.

1. Replace your heater’s air filter today and every 3 months
2. Have your home’s heater serviced to ensure optimum efficiency (get a furnace inspection)
3. If you have an attic, make sure you are not losing significant amounts of heat due to poor insulation or improper ventilation.
4. If you have a fireplace, order firewood early to get a better price and do not forget to have someone inspect your fireplace to make sure it is still in good working order.

The winter is a beautiful time of year to enjoy hot cocoa, have snowball fights, and have a sleigh ride (granted this is mostly for kids), but we can also enjoy cozy nights, snuggling up for good movies and going ice-skating. This is what winters are supposed to be about, not about freezing temperatures and high heating bills. At First Care of New York, we always want to keep you informed of the best ways to keep yourself and your loved ones safe and healthy. Enjoy the winter!!!