Author: alisonjfia

Believe it or not, today is National Napping Day.

This day was created in 1999 by a Boston University professor and his wife. William Anthony Ph.D. and his wife Camille Anthony created this holiday to spread awareness on the importance of getting enough sleep and its benefits. The holiday was meant to help make up for the amount of sleep lost when the hour changes. The date was chosen because studies have shown that people are already at their most tired and sleep-deprived after daylight savings changes. The change of the hour really makes a difference, but National Napping Day can make you feel like there was no change at all.

Did you take a nap today?

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.
_______________________________
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/

_______________________

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.