Month: February 2024

Did you know…?
Transient Ischemic Attack, or TIA, happens when blood flow to the brain is temporarily blocked. Roughly 240,000 Americans a year have a TIA, sometimes called a ministroke, according to the American Stroke Association, though this number is probably higher since they often go unreported. And although they can occur at any age, they’re most common among adults 55 and older.

Major risk factors for TIA include:
*High blood pressure
*Diabetes
*Heart disease
*Atrial fibrillation
*Smoking

Common warning signs include sudden onset of:
*Weakness, numbness or paralysis on one side of your body
*Slurred speech or difficulty understanding others
*Blindness in one or both eyes
*Dizziness
*Severe headache with no apparent cause

If you suspect you are experiencing a stroke, call 9-1-1 immediately.
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If you are a current Faith in Action of Marathon County care receiver who needs a ride to see your doctor for a follow-up appointment, please call our office.

If you are 60+ residing in Marathon County that could benefit from a service like this, or any of our other services, please call us to get an application. We are open Monday-Thursday, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. 715-848-8783

Last week, Executive Program Director Ruth was honored to have presented Faith in Action of Marathon County (FIAMC) to the Wausau Noon Optimists Club. What a great group! Thank you again for allowing FIAMC to share about our program.

If your organization would be interested in having a presentation done regarding FIAMC, please reach out to Ruth. Her email is: fiadirector.ruth@faithinactionmc.onmicrosoft.com

Today is Safer Internet Day

Most American seniors are now online. That number is getting bigger all the time, and for good reason. The Internet is a great way to read the latest news, stay in touch with family, get medical information and manage appointments, renew prescriptions, and access medical records. It’s how many of us shop and bank without leaving our homes.

Like all powerful tools, the Internet and mobile technologies come with some risks. These risks can be managed as long as you follow some basic rules of the road. Below are some great tips to stay safe online:

-Make sure your passwords are strong and unique – include numbers, upper and lowercase letters, and symbols.

-Use privacy settings on your social media accounts.

-Avoid clicking on links in unsolicited emails.

-Don’t send money to people you don’t know – some scammers will try impersonating a family member or friend. Verify you’re truly talking to that person by calling them first.

-Be wary of any offer that’s too good to be true, such as being told you’ve won a contest that you didn’t enter or you’re being offered an incredible price on a vacation or product way below what you’d expect to pay.

-When shopping or banking, look for secure websites with an https in the browser’s address bar. The “s” stands for “secure.” If it’s just http, it’s not a secure site.

To find other helpful tips, go to https://connectsafely.org/seniors-guide-to-online-safety/

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Faith in Action of Marathon County (FIAMC) team members and Volunteers will never call you asking for money. If you suspect someone is calling you impersonating FIAMC, immediately hang up and call our office. We can verify if anyone has reached out to you from our office.

About 50 percent of adults over age 65 have arthritis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); osteoarthritis is the most common form.

You can’t do much to slow the march of time, but you can make plenty of lifestyle changes to show your joints a little love. Below are the seven worst habits for your joints:

1. Smoking
2. A physically inactive lifestyle
3. Overdoing exercise
4. Carrying a heavy load
5. Eating pro-inflammatory foods
6. Frequent texting and/or typing
7. Skimping on sleep
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If you have arthritis and find it difficult to drive, Volunteers with Faith in Action of Marathon County can help. We have transportation services that can help with medical appointments, personal errands, community trips, and grocery help.

If you are a current Care Receiver or someone that could benefit from these types of services, please call our office. We are open Monday through Thursday 9:00am to 2:00pm. 715-848-8783