EXPERTCARE NEWS
DECEMBER 2013
WE WISH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
November Contest Winner
Congratulations to Martin Crowley, winner of a $50
Meijer Gift Card!
Thank you to everyone that participated!!
*Please see the last page of this newsletter for trivia answers.
DECEMBER CONTEST
“It's not how much we give but
how much love we put into
giving.” ― Mother Teresa
Each of you has chosen the Caregiver profession, so you share in the
belief that giving feels better then receiving. ExpertCare would like you
to share with us a time when you gave and felt this was more rewarding
then receiving.
For Example:
I knit scarves and hats for the homeless. After I donate the items I feel
filled with joy just knowing that the items will make a difference in
someone else’s life.
I have spent many hours working with my client on budgeting his check
book. After several months of failed attempts, my client was able to
accurately budget his check book by himself. I felt warmth inside
knowing that my time, patience and positive motivation assisted my
client in accomplishing a task that he struggled with until this month.
Even though I was tired after working all day, I went to my son’s game.
The smile on his face when he saw me made giving time so worthwhile.
Above: ExpertCare office staff dressed
in costume for the spooky Trick or
Treating on October 31st.
Thank you to everyone that
stopped by to Trick or Treat. We
had a great turn out and loved
seeing all of the creative
costumes!
Please submit your entry to [email protected]. All entries
received by December 27th will be entered into a drawing. Expertcare
will draw a winner at random; the first winner drawn will receive an
hour massage gift certificate for the Compassion Wellness Center in
Clawson and the second winner drawn will receive a $30 I-Tunes gift
card.
“For it is in giving that we receive.”
― St. Francis of Assisi
.
EXPERTCARE NEWS
DECEMBER 2013
YOU ARE INVITED!
Carhartt’s Big Game for People with Disabilities
Carhartt employees will take on the Red Wings Alumni for the
ninth straight year to benefit children and adults with disabilities
served by MORC.
Friday, December 13th at 7:00pm
Dearborn Ice Skating Center
14900 Ford Road Dearborn, 48126
Tickets are FREE for people with disabilities and Caregivers or
family members who bring them.
Please RSVP at (248) 390-0788
You will receive your tickets at the door on game day.
Discount prices on hot dogs and pop.
Wheelchair accessible.
The Arc Western Wayne County
ANNUAL SNOWFLAKE BALL
December 20, 2013
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
$12 per person
(NO COST FOR STAFF)
Held at the Wayne Community Center
4635 Howe Rd., Wayne, MI 48184
Please register by December 18:
The Arc Western Wayne County
2257 S. Wayne Rd., Westland, MI 48186
[email protected] or
Call (734) 729‐9100.
Please visit expertcare.com for the registration form and map.
HOLIDAY WALK 2013
This is a FREE community event; they ask that you bring non-perishable food,
clothing or personal care items to be donated to the Food Bank of Eastern
Michigan.
Flint Cultural Center on December 3rd from 5:30pm-8:00pm
Don’t miss the Tree Lighting at 5:15pm.
This year’s festivities include: Caroling and Festive Live Music, A visit with
Santa Claus, Planetarium Shows, Holiday Theatre Activities, Hands on Arts and
Crafts, Refreshments & More!
Visit FlintCulturalCenter.org for more information.
Almost New Years – North
Friday, December 27, 2013
6:30p-8:30p
Waterford Oaks Activity Center
2800 Watkins Lake Road, Waterford
Almost New Years – South
Monday, December 30, 2013
6:30p-8:30p
Royal Oak Senior Center
3500 Marias, Royal Oak, 48073
Celebration includes dinner and dancing
for adults with developmental disabilities.
The cost is $9 per person before Dec.17th
or $12 per person beginning Dec.18th
To register, call 248-424-7081.
The Arc Western Wayne County
RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES
Bowling Schedule
WINTER2014
January 11, 18, 25 February 8, 15
March 1, 8, 15 April 5, 12, 26
When: Saturdays, at 9:00 AM
CHECK IN STARTS AT 9:00 AM AND CLOSES AT 9:30 AM
BOWLING BEGINS PROMPTLY AT 9:05 AM,
NO BOWLING TO BEGIN AFTER 9:30 AM
Where: Superbowl Bowling Center
45100 FORD ROAD, CANTON
(E. OF CANTON CTR., BEHIND BURGER KING)
Cost: $6.00 for Two Games, $4.00 for One Game
FREE SHOE RENTAL, ADAPTIVE RAMPS AVAILABLE
The schedule is subject to change due to Superbowl Bowling Center schedules.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT TIM SMITH
313.689.5956 or [email protected] (e‐mail)
EXPERTCARE NEWS
DECEMBER 2013
SAFEGUARD YOURSELF FROM
RECIPIENT RIGHTS COMPLAINTS
and KEEP YOUR CONSUMER SAFE
You know as a Caregiver your main goal is to ensure
your Consumer’s safety. Even though you are doing
your best to ensure safety, sometimes Recipient
Right’s complaints occur because you don’t know
what is in the plan for given situations. Make sure
that you know the safeguards in the IPOS for the
consumers you care for. This keeps them safe and
helps protect you. Safeguards can be very specific
and reflect your consumer’s assessment and
history. If you don’t remember the safeguards in
place, please contact your staffing consultant.
Safeguards may include:
 Keeping your consumer in eyesight/arms
reach
 Know your Consumer’s boundaries
 Be aware of your Consumer’s reactions to
their surroundings
Let Your Supervisor Know about an Emergency
If there is an emergency while you are on your shift,
you don’t have to handle it alone. For any
emergencies please call the office or the after hours
phone (248) 229-3088. The supervisor on call will
help you with the emergency. If the situation
warrants a call to 911 – please make that call before
calling ExpertCare.
MEDICATION REMINDERS
You can provide medication assistance by reminding
and observing, Caregivers can’t dispense medication.
DON’T LET THE BED BUGS BITE!
We have all heard the expression “Don’t let the bed bugs bite!” This expression takes
on a whole new meaning if you have been exposed to these parasites. As Caregivers,
you are frequently going in and out of client’s homes. Below you will find some
information and tips to prevent hitch hikers.
Bed bugs can cause a number of health effects, including skin rashes, psychological
effects, and allergic symptoms. Bed bugs are elusive and usually nocturnal (peak
activity usually occurs between 10:00 p.m. - 6:00 a.m.), which can make their detection
difficult. They often lodge in dark crevices, and the tiny adhesive eggs can be nestled by
the hundreds in fabric seams.
Adult bed bugs are light brown to reddish-brown, flattened, oval-shaped and have no
hind wings. Adults grow to 4–5 mm in length and 1.5–3 mm wide. The life span of bed
bugs varies by species and is also dependent on feeding. Under certain cool conditions
adult bed bugs can live for over a year without feeding, under typically warm
conditions they will try to feed at five to ten day intervals and adults can survive for
about five months without food. Younger bed bugs cannot survive nearly as long,
though even the vulnerable newly hatched can survive for weeks without taking a
blood meal. Bed bugs can survive a wide range of temperatures. The thermal death
point is high: 113 °F and all stages of life are killed by 7 minutes of exposure to 115 °F.
Dwellings can become infested with bed bugs in a variety of ways, such as:
 Bugs and eggs inadvertently brought in from other infested dwellings on a
visiting person's clothing or luggage;
 Infested items (such as furniture, clothing, or backpacks) brought in;
 Nearby dwellings or infested items, if easy routes are available for travel
(through duct work or false ceilings);
 People visiting an infested area (apartment, subway, movie theatre, or hotel)
and carrying the bugs to another area on their clothing, luggage, or bodies.
 Though bed bugs will feed on pets, they do not live or travel on the skin of
their hosts, and pets are not believed to be a factor in their spread.
How to prevent hitch-hikers:

Don’t place your belongings on beds or on the floor near beds.

Carry some plastic trash bags; if you suspect you have been exposed you can
place your clothing and other items in trash bags prior to entering your
home.

Items can be placed into a clothes dryer on highest temperature for 30
minutes
Mechanical approaches, such as vacuuming up the insects and heat treating or
wrapping mattresses, have been recommended. A combination of heat and drying
treatments has been found to be most effective. For public health reasons, individuals
are encouraged to call a professional pest control service to eradicate bed bugs in a
home, rather than attempting to do it themselves, particularly if they live in a multifamily building.
DECEMBER 2013
The Caregiver of the Month for November was Jennifer Lynn
Congratulations and thank you for all your hard work and dedication!
Jennifer has excelled in her role as a Caregiver with ExpertCare. She takes the extra
time to support her Consumer, who has recently been going through a very difficult
time. Jennifer represents the type of Caregiver ExpertCare strives to find each day to
work with our Consumers. She has a positive attitude and is available any time to
support her Consumer. ExpertCare appreciates everything Jennifer does and is proud
to have her represent ExpertCare in this field. Thank you for your hard work and
dedication in changing and supporting the lives of others.
Thank you for demonstrating ExpertCare’s core values of:
*Helping People Succeed *Passion for Success *Can Do Attitude
Thanksgiving Trivia Answers
1. According to the Butterball Corporation, they recommend that you thaw a wrapped turkey in the refrigerator how long per4 pounds of bird?
(c) One Day per 4 Lbs.
2. Thanksgiving is celebrated only in the United States.
False
3. The Greek Goddess of Corn is:
(a) Demeter
4. The first department store to hold a Thanksgiving parade was:
(c) Gimbel's
5. What is the name of the famous rock credited to where the pilgrims first landed? Plymouth Rock
6. Butterball says that once the turkey is done, you should let it stand for 15 minutes before serving because:
(d) to let the stuffing cool a bit before you take it out.
7. The Indians who were invited to the Thanksgiving feast were of the Wampanoag tribe. Who was their chief?
(a) Massasoit
8. What was the name of the ship the pilgrims came over on? Mayflower
9. Who was the captain of this ship? Christopher Jones
10. Thanksgiving became a national holiday thanks to this woman who was an editor of a woman's magazine called "The Godey's Lady's
Book": (a) Sarah Hale
11. Which President was the first to establish Thanksgiving as a legal national holiday to be held the 4th Thursday in November?
(b) Franklin D. Roosevelt
12. In Canada, they celebrate Thanksgiving in what month?
(b)October
13. The term "Cornucopia" means what?
(c) Horn of Plenty
14. What was the original name for the pilgrims?
(a) Puritans or Separatists
15. Butterball recommends that you cover the breast and the top of the drumsticks with aluminum foil when? (c) When it is 2/3 cooked.
16. What part of the turkey is saved and snapped as a superstitious good luck custom? Wishbone
17. The word turkey is said to come from the Hebrew word "Tukki" which means: (a) Big Bird or (b) Pheasant Bird
18. Which President moved Thanksgiving up one week to help stimulate the Christmas shopping economy? (c) Franklin D. Roosevelt
19. What is the name of the book that Governor William Bradford wrote telling of the troubles and experiences of the pilgrims?
(b) Of Plymouth Plantation
20. Captain John Smith founded what colony in Virginia? Jamestown