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Tweet By Gladys Bayles-Panes, Occupational Therapist with the Visiting Nurse Service of New York  September is National Falls Prevention Awareness Month and National Falls Prevention Week , which kicks off on the first day of Fall, is the perfect time to review a few safety tips that many of us take for granted on a daily basis.  The CDC reports that one out of every four older adults has a serious fall each year, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg: One out of five falls causes serious injury like broken bones or head trauma Three million seniors are treated in emergency rooms after being injured in falls every year Over 800,000 are hospitalized after a fall, with head and hip injuries being the most common More than 95% of broken hips are the result of falls, usually by falling sideways The most common cause of traumatic brain injuries are falls In 2015, victims of falls paid more than $50 billion in medical bills As an Occupational Therapist (...

Mayor Bill de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Porter welcome students back for the first day of school at P.S. 25 in the Bronx. Monday, September 13, 2021. Photo by Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office. Tweet By David Greene  Bronx Voice September 14, 2021 Many of New York City's 1.1 million school children who were sent home last March after the COVID-19 outbreak, returned to the classrooms as the city opened public schools for in-person learning on Monday, September 14. Shortly after joining Department of Education Chancellor Alicia Ross Porter at P.S. 25 on East 149 Street in the Bronx, Mayor Bill de Blasio held a press briefing at City Hall. Photo by Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office D e Blasio said, "This is the day New York City's comeback's in full force." He continued, "This morning I saw it with my own eyes at P.S. 25 in the Bronx." When asked by a reporter about parents who are holding out before sending their children ba...

From left: President of VNSNY’s CHOICE Plans Dr. Hany Abdelaal, VNSNY President and CEO Dan Savitt and Senior Vice President of Partners in Care James Rolla.   By Chandra Wilson    Representatives of  Visiting Nurse Service of New York  (VNSNY) met with the  Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association  (CCBA) at a press conference to discuss VNSNY’s initiatives to address health disparities and continued commitment to New York City’s Chinese community.     The event, which was held at the  VNSNY Chinatown Community Center  at 7 Mott Street, was also an opportunity for many in attendance to welcome Dan Savitt, who became VNSNY President and CEO of the Visiting Nurse Service of New York in February. Savitt announced that VNSNY will soon be opening two new community centers in Sunset Park, Brooklyn and Flushing, Queens.   Visiting Nurse Service of New York and the Chinese ...

By Chandra Wilson Visiting Nurse Service of New York is currently hosting a series of Open Hiring Events for VNSNY Partners in Care , the largest not-for-profit employer of certified Home Health Aides in the New York metropolitan region.  Each free event will be a celebratory occasion where attendees have a chance to meet and talk directly with Partners in Care managers to hear about the many different positions available. They’ll also get a chance to speak to home health aides themselves about their experiences on the job. Home health aides often spend more time with patients than other members of a home care team. From assisting with activities of daily living, to checking vital signs or simply sharing a conversation, they help their clients stay comfortable and live their lives to the fullest. All who work at Partners in Care as a home health aide will receive thorough training to develop skills necessary to be successful in the role and continue their professional growth. “We’...

Subscribe in a reader Follow @Bronxvoice1 Tweet As we near the end of Pride Month, AdvantageCare Physicians and BronxDocs, would like to take this opportunity to explore why it’s important to come out to your health care provider. It’s your choice who you share your identity with—and your doctor’s responsibility to create a safe environment where you feel comfortable—but sharing with your doctor could give them a better understanding of the type of care you should receive.  Dr. Nicole Thomas-Sealey, Vice President of Clinical Training and Education, discusses why it’s important to start the dialogue about your identity with your doctor. Dr. Thomas-Sealey is a leading voice and educator who developed cultural competency training programs to teach clinical staff how to better identify and overcome unconscious bias and how to improve communication with the communities we serve. As a physician, do you have any stories that have stood out to you that highlighted the ...

Subscribe in a reader By Fatima Shell-Sanchez, RN, Visiting Nurse Service of New York Summer is here and it seems that New Yorkers from the Bronx to Brooklyn are eager to get outside and enjoy some fun in the sun—especially after a year of staying locked down at home. As the season heats up, it is important to review a few important health reminders to help keep everyone safe during summer heatwaves.  If you are elderly, or have elderly loved ones living at home, these tips are even more important Stay Cool – Rooms should be kept as cool as possible, using air-conditioner or fans and open windows to improve air circulation. If no air-conditioning is available, try going to places where it is, such as shopping malls, public libraries, movie theaters or cooling centers.  Check https://maps.nyc.gov/cooling-center/ to find a cooling center near you.  Cool baths or showers can also help, as can wearing lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing. I...

By Chandra Wilson   Getting proper healthcare can prove a challenge for many. That challenge becomes even greater for those in the transgender community, who, due to family and societal pressures, may find themselves without access to health care or living without the social supports and resources that many of us take for granted.  SelectHealth , a specialized Medicaid plan from VNSNY CHOICE, is dedicated to painting a new picture of health and empowerment for members of New York’s transgender community, or those who are homeless and/or living with or at risk for HIV/AIDS.  For Trust Robinson, a transgender Bronx resident, helping others is a calling. A way to step up and support members of the community he knows so well. As an Outreach and Enrollment Coordinator with SelectHealth, Robinson looks forward to the day when gender and identity have nothing to do with access to health information, culturally competent medical care and preventive wellness regimes alig...