From the President's Desk . . .

Repositioning

As we close our fiscal year and begin the next, I’m most proud of the many accomplishments made by the individuals we serve and to you the mentors, coaches, cheerleaders, dream makers and risk takers that made it happen.  Empowerment and self determination fuels the spirit of success for our stakeholders.  We can now move forward with a sense of adventure as the local, state and federal governments continue to face many impeding challenges in the healthcare arena.

For the past forty years, Carobell has been a pioneer through many unknown trials to blaze our mission to “Empower Individuals to Reach Their Fullest Potential.�  That means we continue to strive to improve our core values and corporate vision to develop professional services and quality supports that focus on empowering independence and personal dignity.

Repositioning means getting something in the right position.  It is so important to avoid an environment that breaths familiarity and produces a stagnant (sluggish, inactive) culture.

Carobell's vision is our foundation. Building up from the foundation is our strategic planning, and then we take our course of action.  You as staff and community partners play a vital role.

As we celebrate our 41st Birthday on July 1st, take an honest and candid assessment of where you are personally and professionally.  Once you have a complete understanding of that you'll be able to envision what you can do to assist Carobell in repositioning from our current place to greater and stronger endeavors.

You have to have the ability to think innovatively, imagining how the world is moving and how the markets are evolving.  Then we can together set benchmarks as to where we want Carobell to be, how we're going to get there and when.

Together We Accomplish Much!

Vanessa Ervin

President/CEO

 

 

 

 

  

Dear Friends,

 

As we approach our 41st birthday, I think it is a good time to reflect on Carobell and how and why it has grown from a dream to one of the top Care Facilities in the United States.

 

It all started with two very courageous woman, Virginia Franks and Elizabeth Bell Midgett.  They saw a need and courageously opened their hearts and homes to severely developmentally delayed and medically fragile infants. They provided love and compassion that made these children grow and blossom, many outliving doctor's expectations!  Even though we  have changed Presidents,  Mrs. Vanessa Ervin continues to make Carobell a family environment and a place the individuals can call home.  She inherited the founders vision and enhanced it with out-of-the-box thinking, good leadership, wise financial planning, and a top notched staff.  Mrs. V. raises the bar so to speak and she expects excellence from everyone.

 

 She expects the best, she gets the best, and therefore we are the BEST!

 

One area that makes Carobell unique is the cross training of jobs.  This is an excellent strategy in case a person is out for an extended period of time, the company can still function.  Also, promotions within the company, another great idea, not only encourages individual growth and self enrichment but also helps with longevity of our staff.

 

I think main reason we are the best is because Mrs. V. believes in everyone. She believes everyone has potential;  from the individuals, to her staff and even me!  When I was asked to serve on the Board of Directors I questioned why would she want me? I definitely didn't have a financial or business background, but she saw a potential in me that I didn't see.  I have grown and learned so much since I have been a member of the Board.   I also see how hard it is to keep an organization like Carobell going on a everyday basis.  I know it is hard work, but yet every time I visit I always see such happy faces.  Like a family, everyone helps one another, and accomplishments are recognized.  Carobell  portrays a beautiful, happy, family environment.  Onlookers know that the consumers are well cared for and most importantly loved.   We only hire the folks that portray self-less attitudes, are very caring and loving, (and I know this has to be on the application somewhere) and are excellent cooks!  Because “y’all “ can cook up some good food!!!

 

Now it is time to let everyone else know how great we are.  It saddens me to think that there are still people who are not aware of this wonderful organization.  Part of my job is to spread the word.  I plan to do that through news articles, letters to different organizations, the internet, and of course the best way is word of mouth.   Please join me in my quest to make Jacksonville as well as outside communities aware of who we  are and what we do.  You work too hard to be the “Best Kept Secret in Jacksonville, Hubert and Morehead City!!�

 

Kudos to Vanessa Ervin for her insight and wonderful guidance, our directors for their diligence and our staff for their ongoing compassion.

 

Thank you for a wonderful 41 years!

 

Kath McMillan

 

 

 

 

 

HURRICANE AWARENESS 

 

Hurricane season extends from June 1st through November 30th with peak season from mid August through late October.  We have successfully conducted another Hurricane Drill on June 4th featuring a full scale evacuation within 1 hour 15 minutes of the directive to evacuate.

  

Hurricane Drills are conducted in early summer to evaluate our readiness for the upcoming season.  Realistically, we would not have a storm requiring evacuation until August or September.  However, strong storms can form as early as July and we need to have our measures in place beforehand.  Conducting the drill in June allows us time to make necessary adjustments but still be fresh in our minds should the requirement to evacuate not occur until later.  We also evaluate our preparation time.  Thus, the event is called in worst case scenario where immediate evacuation is required.  We do this to assess the time needed for each segment to evacuate.  In an evacuation situation, we would direct each segment’s evacuation order based on length of time shown in the drills.

  

Thanks to all staff for the cooperation, teamwork, and readiness shown.  We have improved dramatically from last year as evident by contacting guardians in half the time, better organization, and staff expression of understanding their role/responsibility.  We have also learned about our radio communication and seating arrangements.

    

  

Pack an evacuation bag including bedding, clothing, map, as well as important documents such as proof of residence, insurance policies, and recent photos of family and/or pets.

 

Fill up the gas tank and keep cash on hand.

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MOST IMPORTANT – Create a Family Emergency Plan.  Know beforehand what each member is going to do and ensure that everyone knows the plan.  Know how to contact one another.  Know how to get back together should circumstances cause separation.  Include contact information for family members outside of the area as well as close friends and/or neighbors.  Provide a copy of contact information for each family member to keep in wallet/purse, glove compartments, and the home.

 

As always, we hope for the best; but prepare for worst case scenario.  I wish we never need to evacuate, but if we do we will be equipped to the best of our ability.

 

If you have any questions in regards to hurricane awareness, please call me at 326-7600 ext 3026.

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 Summer School Review Session  

   

The lazy dog days of summer are upon us and the kids are out of school.  I thought we could take a break from our review of Dave Ramsey’s Seven Steps to Financial Freedom.  Just in case you may have gotten a failing grade in one of the earlier reviews, I am offering this crash summer course to reinforce your understanding.  Here is what we have learned so far.

    

Establish Your Short Term Emergency Fund

• The concept:  By keeping a $500 emergency fund in savings, you will stop using credit cards to pay for smaller unexpected expenses such as car repairs or home repairs.

The way to do it:

• Keep an extra $100 in checking to cover occasionally overdrafts.
• Save the extra $400 in a savings account.  Use tax refunds, sell stuff, save your change, or review bills to start the savings fund.
• LEAVE IT ALONE – Real Emergencies only

The Debt Snowball

• The concept:  Get a plan on how to pay off all debt except your house payment.

The way to do it:

• Review all your monthly statements and make a list of all balances and minimum payments
• Sort your list with the smallest minimum payment amount first, the largest payment amount last
• Figure out how much extra you can afford to use towards debt payment. (you will not succeed by only making min. payments)
• Pay the minimum amount due on all debt and any extra you can afford will pay off the smallest minimum payment balance
• Once that bill is paid off, focus all extra money on the next smallest minimum payment due.

Long Term Emergency Fund

• The concept:  Establish a long term savings plan for major life events such as: Long term illness, Maternity leave, Job loss, Moving expenses

The way to do it:

• Establish a savings goal that is three to six months worth of your living expenses
• Put this savings in a separate account such as a money market that will earn higher interest rates
• Set up automatic deposits to keep savings on track

  

Share your success in achieving these steps.  I would love to put your accomplishments in the next newsletter, anonymously if you want.  I think if we could hear from each other how the steps are helping it will encourage us all to try harder.  Have you saved your short term emergency fund?  How did you do it?  Have you started your debt snowball?  Have you paid off any bills yet?  Is this easier or harder than you thought it would be?

 

 

 

Protect Against the Sun

  

It is summer and time for fun in the sun! 

Protecting yourself and your family from the sun is more important than ever!!

 

Part of the sun's energy that reaches us on earth is composed of rays of invisible ultraviolet (UV) light. When ultraviolet light rays (UVA and UVB) enter the skin, they damage the skin cells, causing visible and invisible injuries.  Follow these simple steps when you are outdoors this summer.

• Stay in the shade:  Stay inside or in the shade during the middle of the day, as this is when UV rays are most harmful.
• Cover up with clothes, hat and sunglasses:  Your head and neck are very vulnerable to the sun, so wear a wide-brim hat for extra sun protection.  Sunglasses do not just add style to your summer outfit, they protect your eyes.  There are UVA/UVB blocking shades available for children as well.
• Use Sunscreen:  Buy sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15.  Make sure it protects you from both UVA and UVB rays.  Sunscreen comes in creams, gel, wipes, sprays and sticks.  Apply your sunscreen 30 minutes before going out in the sun.  Use it generously and reapply throughout the day.                 

“If you want your life to be more rewarding, you have to change the way you think.� — Oprah Winfrey

 

 

When and Where are UV Rays Strongest?

 

Time of Day—UV is greatest when the sun is at its highest in the sky (between 10 am and 4 pm) and less in the early morning and late afternoon.

• Season—While UV exposure is the greatest in the summer (May—August) in the United States, it is important to remember that UV rays reach Earth every day and you should be sun safe year-round—including wintertime! Snow can reflect 85% to 90% of the sun's UV rays!
• Altitude—The air is cleaner and thinner at higher altitudes, so UV exposure is greater in the mountains than in the valleys. (For example, you can still get sunburned while skiing in the winter!)
• Location—UV is strongest at the equator and gets weaker as you move towards the poles. Going tropical? Be prepared and take your sunscreen with you on family vacations.
• Exposure Time—The longer you are out in the sun, the more UV rays you receive. Remember, you are exposed whenever you're out: picnics, Saturday yard chores, long drives, spectator/sports events, and more!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 WINNERS

 

This past month we have had the pleasure to honor several Carobell and Station Club Enterprise staff with awards for their work ethic, their character, their patience, expertise, and kind nature.  Inez Dent and Debra Howell were nominated by their peers as the recipients of the Ann Wolfe Award presented by NORCARR.  Kim Bruemleve was awarded the Virginia Franks Award of Excellence, also presented by NORCARR.  And Michael Raindrop recently received the Direct Support Professional of the Year from the North Carolina Provider’s Association.

 

These folks are winners.  That got me thinking about what makes a winner?  Webster describes a winner as, “one that is successful, especially through praiseworthy ability and hard work.�   Reading what co-workers had to say about these folks, I would say Webster hit the nail on the head.   But what makes a winner?  Can anyone be a winner?  Do you have to be born a winner?  Can you learn to be a winner?

 

Here’s my answers:  Yes, anyone can be a winner.  No, you don’t have to be born a winner.  And yes, you can learn to be a winner.    And I’ll tell you why I answered this way.   All I have to do is to take a walk to see successful people using their praiseworthy ability and working hard.  I can walk into the Voc building and see a maintenance staff helping a hab tech lift an individual.   On a weekend I can walk over to SRII to see an LPN cooking up barbeque for the staff.  And what about the special people who have moved on from Carobell but still come back to visit individuals who have touched their hearts.   I recently attended a memorial service for one of our individuals and I saw in the eyes of the staff who attended their joy at her release from her life-long afflictions, but also the sadness in their hearts in their loss of a beloved friend.   These are just a few examples of the winners who work at Carobell and Station Club.    I could give many, many more, and so could you.

 

I wish we could give more than one Ann Wolfe award out each year, but even if we could give 10 a year, the decision on who to select would be hard.  But know this, those of you who work at Carobell and Station Club, you are a winner. 

 

 

 

 

 

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“KINDNESS�

   

Recently I experienced a moment in life that makes you still believe that there is hope for mankind to give and care for each other.  Before that happened I was often disappointed in those around me that were not willing to give of their time to help others who continue to give to those in need and ask for so little in return.  It was confirming my believe that most people were takers and had concerns for only their needs.  Then a child did an act of giving and kindness that touched me and restored my faith.  It also made me feel good! Being kind and giving has a profound impact in the lives of others and has positive health benefits.  "Helping contributes to the maintenance of good health, and it can diminish the effect of diseases and disorders serious and minor, psychological and physical."

 

Below are a list of benefits you receive when you give and are kind to others; I hope this encourages you to share the gift of kindness daily and give of yourself when needed: 

• Stress-related health problems improve after performing kind acts. Helping reverses feelings of depression, supplies social contact, and decreases feelings of hostility and isolation that can cause stress, overeating, ulcers, etc. 
• Helping can enhance our feelings of joyfulness, emotional resilience, and vigor, and can reduce the unhealthy sense of isolation.
• A decrease in both the intensity and the awareness of physical pain can occur.
• The incidence of attitudes, such as chronic hostility, that negatively arouse and damage the body is reduced.
• The health benefits and sense of well-being return for hours or even days whenever the helping act is remembered.
• An increased sense of self-worth, greater happiness, and optimism, as well as a decrease in feelings of helplessness and depression, is achieved.
• Once we establish an "affiliative connection" with someone - a relationship of friendship, love, or some sort of positive bonding - we feel emotions that can strengthen the immune system.
• The practice of caring for strangers translates to immense immune and healing benefits.

 

"How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young,

compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak

and strong.  Because someday in your life you will have been all of these."

~ George Washington Carver

 

 

 

  

 

Did you ever want to be a teacher?  

 

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Well, guess what?  You are!!

 

 

Every day, you are the teacher for each individual that you are working with!  What a privilege!!  But what a huge responsibility!!  Their progress depends to a great extent on what you do during the time you are working together!

 

Our job as teachers at an ICF/MR is to show progress. . . . So, to do your job well, you have to look for HOW are we measuring/showing/demonstrating progress on every goal.

 

 

Sometimes, we measure progress by the level of independence (LOA).   These are the goals you see that increase from PH, PE, PF, PE, PT, G, VP, I.

 

Sometimes, we measure progress by increasing the length of time that someone participates.  This could be 5 seconds – 30 seconds or 1 minute to 5 minutes.

 

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Sometimes we measure the progress by the number of times someone can do a task.  You would see this written like:  “Given a VP, ________ will complete task X for 75 non-consecutive trials.�  This just means we want the person to do the task until they get used to doing it as a part of their routine.

 

With every goal, you need to ask yourself some basic questions:

 

You have to think.... what am I trying to teach with this goal?  How is this goal helping the individual to become more independent?

 

Is it increasing the amount of time they can participate with a task?

Is it increasing the level of independence they demonstrate with a task?

Is it increasing the number of ways they can interact with the task?

Is it using repetition to build knowledge into a routine?

Is it adding an additional element on to something they have already achieved?

 

You have to know the purpose, so you can know how to approach your teaching!!  Goals are not written for something the person can ALREADY do....Goals are written so that we can TEACH a person a new skill!!  Guess what.... That makes you their teacher!

Not teaching them and just expecting them to do it on their own would be like the person who just puts the school book underneath their pillow at night and thinks they are going to absorb the information by osmosis.  It’s never going to happen.  They need to open the book and teach themselves the material or go to a class and have someone guide them through learning the material!

 

 

 

So before you start working on a new goal, make sure you understand the purpose of the goal and the teaching objective, before you begin to instruct the individual. You are not simply there to observe what they do and record it.  You are there to teach them!!!!!

 

Enjoy!

 

 

 

   

 

MANAGERS’ MINUTE

Beverly Andrews, Cathy Aguon, Kathy Sue Godwin, Thelma Melvin

Residential Managers

    

Do you know what to do in an extreme heat emergency?

  

Know the terms associated with extreme heat

• Heat Wave — Prolonged period of excessive heat often combined with extreme humidity
• Heat Index — A number of degrees in Fahrenheit that tells how hot it will feels when relative humidity is added to temperature
• Heat Cramps — Muscle pain
• Heat exhaustion — Blood flow to the skin is increased, causing blood flow to decrease to vital organs, fluids are lost through heavy sweating.
• Heat Stroke — Life threatening. Your temperature control system stops working. The body temperature can rise and even cause brain damage and death.
• Sun Stroke — another term for heat stroke

  

What to do during extreme heat

• Stay indoors as much as possible
• Eat light and well balanced meals
• Drink plenty of water regularly
• Never leave pets or children in cars
• Dress in light colored clothing
• Avoid too much sun
• Check on family and friends and neighbors who do not have air conditioning and spend a lot of time alone.

Please keep  the individuals in mind when planning fieldtrips and outings.  As always check the weather and with nursing as well as program director.  Our individuals need to drink a lot of fluids if they are out on a fieldtrip or outside for any length of time.  So bringing a cooler would be great!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Finished products are installed as part of the contract.

 

 

 

 Summer time is here and the Woodshop Program at Station Club has been busier than ever.  Larry and his crew have been cutting, sanding and building wooden furniture for the past two months working to complete a couple of large contracts.  We’ve been fortunate to have a great working relationship between the Carteret County Parks and Recreation Department and also with the Town of Atlantic Beach.  Both of these agencies have ordered furniture from us in the past and have graciously asked us to help furnish a new park being built in Newport and to help add more furniture to the Atlantic Beach area.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with our products, just take a look at the website and you’ll see some of the various types of furniture that Station Club individuals can build.

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We include "Product Testing" for no charge!

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Check out the Station Club woodshop page!

  

It doesn’t get any better than sitting in the shade in one of our specially built Adirondack chairs or rockers or just taking time for lunch in the fresh outdoors at a new picnic table!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  All of our furniture is installed iwith a plaque identifying that it was crafted by Station Club individuals.	Â	We've recently added a new item!  A 6-foot picnic table with a 2-foot overhand for wheelchairs.
Â	 Every now and then we get out of the shop and go on a community outing!  Here we are at the Pine Knoll Shores Aquarium on Emerald Isle.	Â

  

 

 

 

 ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ON THE HOME PAGE!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bone up on Your Bone Health!

What Calcium & Vitamin D have to do with it.

 

Your Mama knew what she was talking about when she used to tell you to “drink your milk.�  We all know that Calcium is essential for bone and dental health, but did you know that if there is not enough Vitamin D in your body, your bones can’t absorb the Calcium?  That is why most milk we buy has been fortified with Vitamin D.

 

Osteoporosis (porous bone) is characterized by low bone mass, or less bone mineral and more air space.  This leaves the bone brittle and more easily broken, especially the wrist, hip and spine.

 

Some of us may already have Osteopenia, a milder thinning of the bones that if left untreated, can progress to osteoporosis.  If your physician ever recommends a DXA (bone mineral density scan,) you would be wise to follow-up on that.  There are now a variety of drugs that can slow or replace bone loss.  You may thank yourself when you’re 80 years old and not hunched over or had a fracture.   Many a life or ability has been lost to a hip fracture or recovery from a hip fracture in the elderly.  And compression fractures in the spine lead to chronic pain.  After age fifty, 50% of women and 25% of men will have an osteoporosis-related fracture in their life.

 

Following are a list of some Risk Factors for developing Osteoporosis; however, if you do not recognize yourself in this list, it does not mean you are at all risk-free, especially if there is a family history of osteoporosis.

• Female White/Caucasian
• Post-menopausal women
• Older adults including men
• Small in body size
• Eating a diet low in Calcium
• Physically inactive Drinking alcohol or Smoking

Weight-bearing exercise or activities help to get more Calcium in to the bones.  Some of these are walking, jogging, running, tennis, stair climbing, jumping rope, dancing, basketball, soccer, weight-lifting.

 

Food is our only natural source of Calcium.  The best ones are dairy products, dark green leafy vegetables, broccoli, almonds and calcium fortified foods, including orange juice, cereal, bread, soy beverages and tofu products.  Check labels.  Supplements are also available.

 

Vitamin D, on the other hand, is less available naturally from food sources.  The best ones include the flesh of fish (salmon, tuna and mackerel) and fish liver oils.  Small amounts are found in beef liver, cheese and egg yolks.

Supplements and fortified foods are another source for Vitamin D.  Check milk, cereal, margarine, orange juice and yogurt labels and choose those fortified with Vitamin D.

 

Sunlight provides is our greatest source of Vitamin D.  Factors that can affect how much we get from the sun’s UV radiation include “season, geographic latitude, time of day, cloud cover, smog, skin melanin content and sunscreen.�*  Suggested exposure is “5-30 minutes…between 10 AM and 3 PM at least twice a week to face, arms, legs or back without sunscreen.�*  Please do keep in mind that “It is not known whether a desirable level of regular sun exposure exists that imposes no (or minimal) risk for skin cancer over time.�*

 

So, don’t forget to drink your fortified milk!

And get some regular exercise and spend a little time enjoying the outdoors.

 

   

Grateful acknowledgement of sources for this article include Center for Disease Control, National Institute of Health & National Osteoporosis Foundation websites.  For more information, click on the following:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 That's All Folks!!  (Until October!)

Direct feedback through the "Contact Us" page of this website.