The luminaria ceremony held under the light of the full moon was led by Harmony’s own Caregiver Advocate, Linda Burhans. The crowd was silent as everyone walked a lap together reading each candle lit bag and remembering the loved one whose name was written on it. Afterwards, the walking and activities continued into the wee hours of the night and Harmony’s team banded together to keep each other motivated. Fifteen hours later, the Relay ended…but the memories will always live on.

This got me thinking about how we deal with unexpected “storms” in our own lives. We either try to avoid them or we try to escape them. If we have advance notice, we can reschedule plans, get out of harm’s way, and protect ourselves from the effects of the storm. If we have enough warning for something bigger like a hurricane, we can escape altogether by evacuating. But what about the storms that affect our lives unexpectedly through disease or aging? When it comes to these, avoidance and escape are not the answers. Preparation and education are. The more we know about what we are facing and the more we put into place ahead of time, the better we can weather the storms of deteriorating disease or injury as we age.

These are a few examples of what can strike out of nowhere like lightning:

• Stroke
• Heart Attack
• Cancer or Other Disease
• Dementia Related Disorders
• Accident or Injury

Any one of these can have a lasting effect on your life and the lives of those who love you. Any one of these can uproot the foundation of your life like a storm and leave you reeling to restore balance. Knowing the answers to the following questions ahead of time can make a huge difference:

• What benefits do you need to have?
• Who do you want as your health surrogate and power of attorney?
• How will you access the help you need as you recover?
• Who can you trust to advise you?

We have to remember…we are not just protecting ourselves; we are looking out for all the people that show up to help us. Like all the volunteers who were going to be part of the Relay who would have been affected by the storm firsthand – so will be our family and friends and neighbors if we don’t plan ahead for our own care as we age. We are all familiar with the phrase…”save for a rainy day” and we all know that it’s going to rain someday. What we need is to get comfortable with what to do when the storm hits…before it actually does.

For more information on our trusted resources, please call our team today at (727) 723-7532.

Our first effort for 2012 will be the “Senior Cell Phone Safety” Project. Members of the Fall Prevention Coalition will collect and redistribute used cell phones to senior citizens in our community to have on hand in case of an emergency.

Too many senior citizens are seriously injured or even die from complications due to not getting help soon enough after they have fallen.

We want to provide used cell phones to those seniors with no financial means to purchase one on their own or have access to a medical alert system (like Lifeline) that would guarantee help when they need it. Since all cell phones are equipped to dial 911 even without a paid account with a wireless carrier, these cell phones could literally be their lifeline in case of an emergency.

The Coalition will be coordinating volunteer efforts with local high school groups and providing supply kits and instructions for students to collect and clean the donated phones (they must be wiped clean electronically, as well as, physically). All prepared phones will be bagged with Fall Prevention Tips and distributed throughout both counties to designated senior groups with the help of the Area Agency on Aging (AAAPP).

If you would like to join us in this worthy effort, please contact Christine at Harmony Home Health and she will help you get started. In addition, please take a few moments to visit the Fall Prevention page on the AAAPP website for all the info on what resources are available and how you can get involved with this dedicated group of professionals. Simply CLICK HERE to take a look now.

The next Fall Prevention Coalition meeting is April 12th in Palm Harbor. If you’d like to attend or be added to the mailing list, please contact Christine. THANK YOU!

This year, Jonathan is supporting the Largo “Relay for Life” in a unique way. He and his wife, Melanie (Harmony’s Senior Advocate), are being raffled off as “Harmony Helpers”   in a fundraising effort  for the Relay. This will put Jonathan back “in the field” for one day and ONE DAY ONLY!

This is YOUR chance to have Jonathan and Melanie serve YOU…Harmony style.

Jonathan and Melanie Bowman will be YOUR "Harmony Helpers" if you win the Relay for Life raffle!

They will prepare  a home-cooked meal of your choosing, bring it to your home, serve it, and clean up afterward too!

The Bowmans love to cook and make the ultimate team in every way. They are passionate about fresh, organic ingredients and are always sharing recipes with Harmony staff. You’re sure to be in for a culinary treat if you win this raffle! (How can you resist them in their matching aprons?)

Ticket donations are $5 each or 3 for $10

Just drop by our office or see any Harmony Home Health team member to get your tickets. The winner will be announced at the end of the Relay on April 22nd. You need not be present to win.

P.S. We still need more team members!

This is an 18-hour walk — and getting enough FEET to split up those hours is no easy feat! Please consider joining us for even just an hour. You can add your name to our Relay team roster by clicking HERE and going directly to our Relay web page. We would love to show our community partnerships by having you walk with us. This event is sure to be AWESOME! If you have any questions or need help registering on-line, just contact Christine at 727-723-7532.

THANK YOU!