How Weather Can Affect Your Mood

Whether it’s clear skies or cloudy days, our mood can be affected by the weather. A 1984 study looked at different mood variables, i.e., anxiety, depression, optimism, etc., and how other weather variables: the amount of sunshine, precipitation, temperature, wind, humidity, and barometric pressure, affect our mood.

The study found the amount of sunshine, temperature, and humidity affected moods the most. Further, high humidity lowered concentration and increased sleepiness.

Also, a 2005 study found that higher moods and better memory are associated with spending more time outdoors. The study found Spring was linked to improving the moods of those coming out of tough winter seasons and that hotter weather was linked to lower moods in the summer.

However, a 2008 study found that weather didn’t affect mood. They discovered that sunnier and warmer weather wasn’t a factor in our moods. But, it did find that sunlight, wind, and temperature could affect negative moods.

Regardless of if you think the weather affects our moods or not, people seemingly are happier when it’s their ”favorite” type of weather, which might cause a change in mood.

Granville Center understands that mental health is essential, and when going through the healing process, you’re in a good state of mind to help the healing process.

To learn more about Granville Center, visit granville-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org or call 800.546.3090

Employee Spotlight: Trista Welch

Meet Trista Welch
LPN, Granville Center

Bio
Trista has been an LPN for 23 years and has worked at Granville Center for nine years. She is currently working towards her RN degree.

Noteworthy
Trista has four adult children and six grandchildren. Two of her daughters also work for Centers Health Care—one is a CNA, and the other is an LPN resource nurse.

Quoteworthy
“There is always room for growth and advancement here, plus there is tuition reimbursement. I enjoy working with my co-workers, and I love our residents.”

Major Purchases to Make and Avoid in a High-Inflation Economy

For most of 2022, inflation has hovered at around 10%, which is at a level that hasn’t been seen in 40 years.

Americans will typically limit spending when inflation is high, which brings on recession-type conditions. There are some purchases, however, that could be smart buys during this economic situation.

Slate Valley Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has a look at five examples and whether you should go ahead and pull the trigger or wait until the economy is more favorable.

1. Downsize Your Home

With interest rates rising, the housing market is beginning to cool. But if you’re looking to downsize and have paid off the mortgage on your existing home, it can still pay off to make the move. The key will be to avoid taking on a mortgage at the new property since interest rates aren’t as good of a deal as they were in previous months and years.

2. Buying a Smartphone

Experts say that demand outweighed supply for much of 2021 when it came to purchasing a new smartphone or upgrading to the latest model, but that’s flipped in late 2022. That being said, cell phone carriers are offering good deals on upgrades that can decrease the amount you’re paying per month on your existing device.

3. Televisions

The cost of a TV dropped 15% from the summer of 2021 to the same point in 2022, and the market remains flooded with models that likely are bigger and have more features than the TV you currently have, so now’s a great time to upgrade or add a TV in a different room.

4. House Renovations

Construction materials remain in high demand and still carry a high cost, and contractors are also still dealing with delivery delays. So unless it’s a necessary repair, hold off on that kitchen or bathroom remodel.

5. Buy New Furniture

Supply-chain issues are still impacting the furniture industry, causing prices to go up 10% (pacing inflation) since early 2021. Experts believe things will get back to normal in this space at some point in 2023, so the advice is to avoid new furniture purchases for at least the rest of 2022.

 

To learn more about Granville Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://granville-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org.

What to Know About Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans

Throughout November and until Dec. 7, it’s open enrollment for Medicare Part D prescription drug plans.

It can be confusing, however, when there are over 700 Part D plans to choose from. Some have similar coverage but can be more expensive, and other plans can cover only certain kinds of drugs.

Granville Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has a look at questions you can ask to narrow down the plans and find one that’s right for you.

1. Look for the Lowest Premium?

Experts warn against just choosing the cheapest plan because it may mean that some types of drugs won’t be covered. And with the average Part D plan costing $32 per month, you can get quality coverage for a reasonable price.

2. Find Coverage That Matches Your Needs

Instead of looking at solely the cost, you should check to see which plans offer medications that you regularly use. Fortunately, Medicare must provide coverage for certain types of medication, including antidepressants, immunosuppressants, and anticancer drugs. Commonly used drugs like beta-blockers and diuretics will also be included in all plans.

3. What Do the Drug Tiers Mean?

Tier 1 medications are common generic medications and will have the lowest costs. The highest number is Tier 4, which is ahead of preferred brand-name prescriptions and ventures into the nonpreferred category. There is also a Specialty Tier that covers new and very specialized drugs, such as certain cancer medications.

4. Can I Use My Pharmacy?

Just about every actual pharmacy in the United States is included, but if you choose a preferred pharmacy, that may give you a better price on your overall Part D plan.

 

To learn more about Granville Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://granville-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org.

What Is Brown Noise and How Can It Help You?

You’ve probably heard of white noise—sounds that contain all frequencies and can help people be calm or focus in situations where you’re both awake or trying to sleep. The sound of ocean waves is an example of white noise.

Researchers and psychiatrists, however, say that brown noise may be more beneficial for sleeping and helping those with challenges like ADHD to better concentrate.

Granville Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has a look at this research and what the key differences are between white and brown noise.

What Is Brown Noise?

Brown noise is like white noise but only using sounds that are at a lower frequency and higher bass level.

Examples of brown noise can be water running from a shower, strong waterfalls, and the hum you hear from an engine in an airplane.

How Does It Work to Help the Brain Focus?

Scientists believe that brown noise in itself isn’t distracting but is enough to for your brain to pay attention to it. This mild stimulation is enough to keep the brain occupied and will prevent it from wandering to other thoughts that can distract you from what you’re trying to accomplish.

How Can Brown Noise Help With Sleep?

In addition to keeping your brain from straying while you’re trying to sleep, brown noise can effectively drown out sounds that can break the silence and either prevent you from falling asleep or waking you up. These sounds include animals outside, movements from neighbors (especially in apartment buildings), traffic sounds, and even snoring from a partner.

If you’re interested in trying out brown noise for yourself, here’s an eight-hour YouTube clip that you can play the next time you’re feeling like you need to concentrate.

 

To learn more about Granville Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://granville-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org.

When Should You Look Into Getting a Hearing Aid?

With the recent ruling by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that will allow hearing aids for mild and moderate hearing loss to be sold over the counter in stores and online, it’s good news for millions of Americans who are either reluctant to visit their doctor about hearing loss or are unable to afford the devices.

Once available in October, it’s expected that the current number of people who should have a hearing aid but do not (estimated at around 80% by the National Institutes of Health) will drop.

With that in mind, Granville Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has a look at four signs that you may have mild to moderate hearing loss and be a good candidate for these new over-the-counter devices.

1. Muffled Noises

You may consider hearing loss to be the inability to hear, but the inability to understand can also be corrected. If other people’s speech or sounds in general seem muffled, that can be corrected.

2. Trouble Isolating Sounds

Another early sign of hearing loss is if you have trouble if you can’t see the person talking along with problems hearing when you’re in a group, in a noisy area, or on the phone.

3. Asking People to Repeat Themselves

These hearing aids will be able to help if you find yourselves asking people to repeat themselves or speak louder or more clearly.

4. Turning Up the Volume

If you have to really crank up the volume on your phone, television, or radio, you may want to get your hearing checked. This is especially the case if other people are noting that the TV or other device sounds too loud to them.

 

To learn more about Granville Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://granville-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org.

The Health Benefits of 8 Different Types of Teas

If your knowledge of tea varieties is limited to sweet or unsweet, you have a bit to learn about tea—and also how the many different varieties contain several health benefits.

Granville Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has a look at eight different varieties of tea that can make for a healthier you.

1. Black Tea

The most common tea, the first thing you’ll want to do, along with limiting the amount of sweet tea you drink, is stick to the fresh-brewed ones and avoid bottled teas at the supermarket or convenience store. If you prefer black tea (hot or iced), it’s high in theaflavins, which can help lower cholesterol, and antioxidants. Black tea also has the most caffeine of any tea, but it’s still around half of what’s in coffee.

2. Green Tea

Green tea has around half the caffeine of black tea but is better at fighting disease than black tea, so drink some green tea the next time you’re sick. It can also boost your metabolism and help with insulin sensitivity.

3. Oolong Tea

Oolong tea is a Chinese tea that has similar health benefits of black tea but comes in a variety of flavors, from fruity to earthy.

4. Matcha Tea

Matcha comes from green tea leaves that are ground into a powder and mixed with hot water. This increases the caffeine level to more of what you would get in a cup of coffee and also has three times the antioxidants of traditional green tea.

5. Masala Chai

This is black tea that’s infused with a variety of spices to improve its antioxidant properties and anti-inflammatory benefits.

6. White Tea

White tea comes from buds instead of leaves and generally has less caffeine than green or black tea, along with a milder taste. It’s better for your mouth, however, as it won’t cause stains on your teeth and also helps in plaque prevention.

7. Chamomile Tea

Herbal teas are caffeine-free, so it’s a great option to drink at night while winding down for bed. Chamomile tea also has an antioxidant that helps you fall asleep and can reduce symptoms of insomnia, especially as you get older.

8. Hibiscus Tea

Another herbal (thus caffeine-free) tea that has a nice fruity but a little sour taste. It has more antioxidants than chamomile tea but can have a laxative effect if you drink too much.

 

To learn more about Granville Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://granville-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org.

3 Senior Scams Gaining Popularity in 2022

While technology has its benefits, there’s a dark side as well: scammers looking to take advantage with new ways to commit fraud, especially against seniors, who are considered easier targets due to not being as familiar with new technologies and taking people more at their word.

It’s believed that around 3.5 million older adults were scammed out of a total of $3.5 billion in 2019.

In an effort to stay one step ahead of the swindlers, Granville Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has a look at three scams that are becoming more and more popular this year.

1. Cryptocurrency ATM Scams

The details surrounding cryptocurrency remain a mystery to a large percentage of the population, and bad guys are taking advantage of that. You may have noticed cryptocurrency ATMs popping up at convenience stores and even larger retailers. People will contact you and pretend to be from a government agency, a utility, or a sweepstakes company and pressure you to make a deposit or payment into one of these ATMs. Once that happens, the money is gone and untraceable. The key thing to know here is that no legitimate agency or business will tell you that you can only pay via cryptocurrency.

2. Tax Collection Imposters

This isn’t a new scam but continues to be a popular one. People claiming to be either from the IRS or your local state, county, or city tax department and claiming that you owe money, and oftentimes, they will threaten you with a loss of your driver’s license or invoke financial penalties. In reality, all tax agencies will only communicate via mail—all phone calls and emails are scammers.

3. Getting Gift Cards as a Favor

This is primarily done over email and is popular among businesses, but people can get them on their personal accounts as well. Someone will create an email account that mimics that of your boss or friend and will message you saying that they are in a hurry but forgot to get a gift card for a friend’s birthday or company giveaway. They then ask you go to get the gift card and give them the number. If you do this, the money is gone once you give the number away. The first thing you should do if you receive an email like this is to match that the email address is actually the correct one, and then if you’re still not certain, call the person to verify.

 

To learn more about Granville Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://granville-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org.

Granville Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing With 4 Less Typical Signs of Heart Disease

Chest pain and shortness of breath are hallmark signs of a cardiac event, but there are often telltale signs of heart disease that occur before a major problem like a heart attack or stroke happens.

Granville Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has the details on four everyday signs that you should keep an eye on, especially if they are coupled with issues like high cholesterol or high blood pressure.

1. Waking Up to Use the Bathroom

While people will gradually begin to wake up more and more at night to use the bathroom, if you’re getting up more than once, it could be the sign of a larger problem. It’s a sign of heart disease because a weak heart pumps less blood to the kidneys, which can lead to ankle swelling. At night, the fluid is redistributed in the body while you’re laying down, filling up the kidneys and leaving you with a greater need to urinate.

2. Bad Breath

Bad breath isn’t just a social problem, it can also lead to more serious physical issues as well. The bacteria that causes bad breath can get into your bloodstream through diseased gums, and that can cause inflammation in the body. Chronic inflammation is one of the leading causes of heart disease and other ailments like certain kinds of cancers.

3. Swollen Ankles

We mentioned earlier why swollen ankles can be a sign of heart disease, as a weaker heart cannot adequately pump blood properly throughout the body. Swelling typically occurs in both legs in this case. If it’s just in one, a blood clot or an infection could be to blame.

4. Unexplained Feelings of Nausea

Weak blood flow can lead to bloating and water retention, which can make you feel full faster, a decreased appetite, or general nausea. Nausea is also more typically reported as a heart attack symptom in women. If you have nausea with shortness of breath or chest, jaw, or shoulder pain, you should call 911.

 

To learn more about Granville Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit https://granville-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org.

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