Senior Services Helpline (678) 377-4150 www.GwinnettSeniorServices.com

“There’s No Place Like Home!” September 2011

Interdepartmental collaboration benefits Gwinnett residentsAn increasing amount of interdepartmental

cooperation is starting to pay dividends for some Gwinnett County residents. Gwinnett County Senior Services staff

has partnered with Fire Services to collect fans, air conditioning units, and portable

heaters to assist seniors suffering from excessive residential heat or chill. As these programs continued, added interdepartmental communication fostered greater understanding of the greater needs of the elderly, the increased risks that vulnerable segments of the population face on a regular basis, and the language barriers that preclude normal messaging.

Coincidentally, the Fire Services Risk Reduction Unit discovered that their desire to launch an extensive ‘slips, trips, and falls’ prevention community outreach program would build on groundwork already being performed by

volunteers aiding seniors. Subsequent discussion revealed that the Sheriff’s Department is striving to train and empower seniors as volunteer safety advocates within their own neighborhoods, thereby complementing the actions of the other departments.

Not to be outdone, Department of Water Resources has provided access to a Collections supervisor to assist with billing problems for seniors. Interestingly, some elevated bills that were the result of plumbing problems were repaired by volunteers. In situations where there is a language barrier and threat of service being cut off, bilingual county employees have been very helpful.

Finally, the Gwinnett County Department of Transportation has supported the Get In Gear demand-response voucher ride program to meet the needs of transportation-challenged seniors and disabled residents.

Prostate cancer awareness month – By Julie Lucas, Office Assistant to Health Services

Prostate cancer currently affects the lives of millions of American men and their loved ones. In an effort to promote awareness about the importance of being checked for prostate cancer, September has been designated National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer among American men. It is a slow-growing disease that mostly affects older men. In fact, more than 60 percent of all prostate cancers are found in men over the age of 65.

Risk factors for prostate cancer include the following:• Increasingage• Familyhistoryofprostatecancer• African-Americanmale

A doctor should be consulted if any of the following symptoms occur:• Sloworfrequenturinarystream• Inabilitytourinate• Painfulurination• Bloodintheurineorsemen• Painorbloodwithejaculation• Painorstiffnessinthelowerback,

hips, or upper thighs

Early detection provides a significant advantage in treatment options and survival. Prostate cancer can often be found early by testing the amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in your blood. Another way to find prostate cancer early is the digital rectal exam (DRE). Discuss your risk factors and these individual tests with your doctor to make screening decisions that are best for you.

Adapted from www.nia.nih.gov

Senior Services Helpline (678) 377-4150 Senior Services is a section of Gwinnett County Health and Human Services.

LawrencevilleRhodes-Jordan Park225 Benson Street

Lawrenceville, GA 30046(770) 822-5180

Buford2755 Sawnee Avenue

Buford, GA 30518(770) 614-2527

Norcross5030 Georgia Belle Court

Norcross, GA 30093(770) 638-5683

Gwinnett County Senior Center Locations

How does sodium harm my body? Sodium causes your body to hold extra water. This can make certain conditions, such as heart failure or kidney disease, worse. For example, if you have heart problems, too much sodium makes it harder for your already weakened heart to pump and can lead to sudden heart failure. Fluid may build up in your

Why is Congress concerned about salt shakers? The average person in America consumes about 3,500 milligrams (mg) of sodium a day. That is more than twice the 1,500 mg recommended for people 40 and older, African-Americans and anyone with high blood pressure. Seventy percent of Americans fit in this category. Congress has received a report from the Institute of Medicine with recommendations on how to lower the amount of sodium in the American diet. Themajorchangesuggestedbythereportistohaverestaurantsandfoodmanufacturers,over

time, lower the sodium in their foods. Sodium can raise blood pressure, multiplying the risk of heart attacks and especially strokes. You can hide the salt shaker and only control eleven percent of the sodium found in your diet. The rest of the sodium naturally occurs in foods and is in processed, pre-packaged, or restaurant foods.

lungs, making it harder for you to breathe, and in your feet, ankles, legs, and stomach.

If you are looking for low-sodium recipes to make at home, visit the Delicious Healthy Eating website for NationalLung,Blood andHeart Institute at http://hp2010.nhlbihin.net/healthyeating

Adapted from “Chef Charles Says” June 2010, Iowa Nutrition Network.

Congress is concerned about your salt shaker! – By Pat Milhous, Nutrition Services Coordinator

Disasters disrupt hundreds of thousands of lives every year. Each disaster has lasting effects, both to people and property. If a disaster occurs in your community, local government and disaster-relief organizations will try to help you, but you need to be ready as well. Local responders may not be able to reach you immediately, or they may need to focus their efforts elsewhere.

You should know how to respond to severe weather or any disaster that could occur in your area – hurricanes, extreme cold, or flooding. You should also be ready to be self-sufficient for at least three days. This may mean providing for your own shelter, first aid, food, water, and sanitation.

Beingprepared can reduce fear, anxiety, and losses that accompanydisasters.Communities, families, andindividuals should know what to do in the event of a fire and where to seek shelter during a tornado. They should be ready to evacuate their homes, take refuge in public shelters, and know how to care for their basic medical needs.

People can also reduce the impact of disasters by flood proofing, elevating a home, moving a home out of harm’s way, and securing items that could shake loose in an earthquake.

Adapted from: http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/why_prepare.shtm

Ask A – By Adrienne Noble, Information and Referral Specialist