CULINARY DELIGHTS
IN THIS ISSUE
Creamy Italian Sausage
and Tortellini
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Ingredients:
• 1 lb. of Italian sausage
• 2 cans of diced tomatoes with Italian seasoning
• 1 “family sized” container of cheese tortellini
• 1 bag of fresh baby spinach, stems removed and rough choppe
d
• 1 box (4 cups) of chicken broth
• 1 (8 oz) block of reduced fat cream cheese
• 1/4 cup of cold water, plus 1 Tbsp of cornstarch
• dried basil and oregano to taste
It’s done when the tortellini are tender and the sauce has reduced
and thickened, roughly about
10 to 12 minutes after adding it all together.
MARCH
17
St. Patrick’s Day
party
MARCH
24
Easter egg
Coloring
MARCH
MARCH
18
St. Patrick’s day
lunch Buffet
MARCH
27
Spittin’ Image,
6:15pm
Spotlight on Social Work
Active After 60
Testimonial
Culinary Delights
Upcoming Events
2 0 2 5 W i g h t m a n S t r e e t , P i t t s b u r g h , PA 1 5 2 1 7
(412) 421-8443 • SquirrelHillRehab.com
Directions:
Brown the Italian sausage in a heavy pot. If it came in the casings
, cut them open and discard
the casing. Break the sausage up into small bite sized pieces as you
brown it. Once it’s no longer
pink, add everything else in. Add the seasoning last, so you can adjust
as needed. Give it a
nice stir to distribute the cream cheese.
UPCOMING EVENTS & HAPPENINGS
Squirrel Hill Squire
EVEN
016
TS 2
MAY
8-14
National nursing
home week
Social work is the
profession of hope—
fueled by resilience and
advocacy. Social workers
matter because every
day they help millions
of struggling people
dream differently. In the
United States, more than
650,000 of these highly
trained professionals
know how daunting
and immobilizing
life’s tragedies and
obstacles can be. But
they also witness the
sheer determination of
countless individuals
and families to
achieve different lives.
Sometimes, all it takes
to help people get
on the right path is
guidance toward what
is possible. Other times,
social workers are an
immediate lifeline in
crisis—providing access
to resources and new life
options.
Spotlight on Social Work
Lynn Ryan has a Masters in social work and has been working in the long
term care field for five years. Lynn has held various mental health positions
in the community as well as an internship in hospitals. Lynn’s role at Squirrel
Hill Center for Rehabilitation and Healing is to act as the liaison between the
residents and families to ensure that all needs are met. Other job functions
include routine assessments and discharge planning. The social work staff
arranges home health, durable medical equipment, and linking residents
with appropriate community resources.
Social Work is one of the best careers centered on helping people. Social
workers meet with clients, find out their needs and help them find supportive
services needed to make for a safe environment while meeting their social/
emotional needs.
Lynn Ryan, Director of
Social Services:
Why I became a social worker…
YOU
You are enough.You have influence.
You are a genius.
You have a contribution to make.
You have a gift that others need.
You are the change.
Your actions define your impact.
You matter.
MATTER
From Angela Maiers’,
“You matter manifest”
Rehabilitation Aide: Tiffany DeVito
NEWS
SPOTLIGHT ON YOUR HEALTH
Staying Active at any Age
http://www.everydayhealth.com/longevity/staying-active.aspx
Exercise and staying active can help you feel
younger- and stay healthier- well into your later
years. Learn how much exercise you need and how
to do it safely.
Looking for the fountain of youth? Increasingly,
experts are telling us that it’s all about lifestyle, the
choices you make, and, especially, staying active by
engaging in regular physical exercise in your sixties,
seventies, eighties, and beyond. Research on the
subject is striking: Regular exercise may prevent or
delay such serious health problems as heart disease
and diabetes. It can boost energy and mood, reduce
arthritis pain, and help you get a good night’s sleep.
And- maybe most important- regular exercise can
help you maintain the physical health you need
to continue living independently. “The best thing
we know to ensure a good quality of life is to be
physically active,” says Dr. Tim Church, director of
Preventive Medicine Research at the Pennington
Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge,
Louisiana.
Staying active, however, is often not quite as
straightforward as it sounds. As you get older, wear
and tear on joints and muscles can turn a once
enjoyable exercise regimen into a painful experience,
or make it difficult for you to start a new routine if
you don’t already exercise regularly. This doesn’t
mean that you should just forget about fitness in your
later years, however. Whether you’re a competitive
athlete or a workout novice, you can still get the
benefits of exercise simply by adapting what you like
to do to your capabilities.
With each passing decade, our bodies lose more
muscle mass and bone density, and, in turn, strength
and flexibility. Fortunately, this process can be
reversed at any stage in your life by revving up your
physical activity. “You’re never too old to exercise,”
says Dr. Rosanne Leipzig, professor and vice-chair
of Geriatrics at Mount Sinai Medical Center, in New
York City. “There are clinical trials, even in nursing
home patients over age ninety, showing that you can
improve your health and well-being by starting to
exercise at any age.”
Most people in good health don’t need their doctor’s
okay to start a moderate exercise program, such as
daily walking. Under certain circumstances, however,
a visit to the doctor’s office is in order. “If you’re
past age sixty and have a serious chronic disease,
let your doctor know before you begin exercising,”
says Dr. Church. “And if you’re planning anything
more rigorous than walking- say, biking, rowing, or
swimming- certainly check with your doctor first.”
For overall health and well-being, it’s important to
incorporate four types of exercise into your routine:
1.
Aerobic, or cardiovascular, activities, to make
the heart and lungs work harder. Try to spend at least
thirty minutes a day engaging in activities like biking,
walking briskly, dancing, swimming, or taking a water
aerobics class. You can also raise your heart rate by
simply doing chores around the house: vacuuming,
gardening, raking leaves, or washing the car.
January 1st was the first day for our new CareRite Rehabilitation Department. The department is being
managed by Janice Mull. Janice is a Speech Pathologist with over twenty years of experience in skilled
nursing care and over ten years as a supervisor.
The Rehabilitation Department offers physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech/language/
swallowing therapy. We offer state of the art equipment including the newest purchase, Dysphagia
Synchrony. This program enables patients to visualize their swallowing ability and participate in virtual
reality exercises. It also uses electrical stimulation to enhance muscle strength and coordination so
patients can receive the least restrictive diet.
Another program the Rehabilitation Department is excited about is the Amputee Walking School,
headed by Todd Schaffhauser and Dennis Oehler, Paralympic gold medalists who have helped over
20,000 amputees worldwide. This program also includes a mentoring program which Todd and Dennis
complete themselves.
The Rehabilitation Department includes therapists with a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences,
making for a wonderful team.
The Physical Therapy Department includes: Lamont Moyes, DPT; Amy Biro, PTA; Morgan Hoone, PTA;
Keith Hall, PTA
The Occupational Therapy Department includes: Carly Marson, OTR; Cheryl Keller, COTA; Lauren Moroz,
COTA
The Speech Therapy Department includes: Dina Cascotti, MS/CCC-SLP; Holly Ross, MA/CCC-SLP
Rehabilitation Aide: Tiffany DeVito
2.
Strengthening exercises, to build bone
density and strengthen muscles used for daily
activities, such as climbing stairs. Aim to do
strengthening exercises two to three times a week,
using dumbbells, resistance bands, weight machines,
or foam weights in a pool. To learn correct form and
prevent injury, take a class at a gym, YMCA, or senior
center.
Janice stated, “I am very honored to be managing such a
great Rehab Team. Not only are they knowledgeable in their
specific areas, they are individuals who genuinely care about
their patients.” Janice also said, “The goal of this Rehab
Department is to help our patients reach their fullest potential
through compassion and the most up to date technology and
programs.”
3.
Stretching, to increase flexibility and allow
easier movement. Stretch on your own for ten
minutes a day, or sign up for a stretching class.
Yoga and Pilates also incorporate many stretching
techniques.
The Rehabilitation Department would also like to thank the
CareRite staff for their warm welcome. “They have been so
helpful in making our transition here a smooth one,” said
Janice.
4.
Balance exercises, to reduce the risk
of falling. Tai Chi and yoga can improve your
equilibrium. Or practice standing on one foot,
then the other- if possible, without holding onto a
support.
Finally, Janice would like to welcome staff, patients, and
families to stop by the Rehab Department on the third floor to
meet the team.