Thursday, December 19, 2013
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Merry Christmas!
Posted by Campus Towers on 10:53 AM
We hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday!
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Holidays Away From Home
Posted by Campus Towers on 11:22 AM
Are you staying in your apartment for the holiday break? Take a look at these ten ways to have a great holiday even if you are away from home. You can learn more at Yahoo.
Tip #1--Remember the real "spirit of Christmas" is one of giving and sharing.
Nothing gets you in the "Christmas spirit" more than being able to help someone else and make their day a little brighter. Just because you can't share Christmas Day with loved ones doesn't mean you can't send cards, letters and packages that let them know you care.
Tip #2--Call home.
Yes, it isn't the same as eating a piece of mom's Christmas pie, but calling and visiting over the phone, or on-line, is the next best thing to being there.
Tip #3-- Attend a Christmas church service.
If you are away from home at Christmas, you may enjoy attending a Christmas church service. Use the local phone directory to find churches in the area, or ask someone for recommendations.
Non-Catholics may even enjoy attending a traditional mid-night mass on Christmas Eve. Most Christian churches of all denominations have special services on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. It serves as a time to celebrate Christ's birth, the true purpose for the Christmas holiday.
Tip #4--Contact the United Way and volunteer for community service.
If you are in the United States, there are local United Way Agencies that can provide you with information on non-profit groups in your area needing Christmas volunteers. Many non-profit groups will gladly welcome you to help with various Christmas activities. They might even find a family to "adopt" you and invite you for a traditional Christmas dinner.
Tip #5--Visit a local nursing home or assisted living center.
Many elderly residents in these facilities are lonely and alone at Christmas time. It can be extremely hard for them to watch other residents being picked up and taken home by their families for the holiday, while they are left behind. From personal experience, I know many would love to have you visit and warmly welcome a little conversation and company.
Ask a nurse or the facility's activities director who could use a little one-on-one attention. If the facility is having a Christmas party, volunteer to help with the festivities. It will help you, and the residents, both feel less lonely making Christmas more joyous for all concerned. If you are going to be in the same area for awhile, you might even choose to "adopt" a foster grandparent to regularly visit during your stay.
Tip #6--Volunteer at a Homeless Shelter or Soup Kitchen
Many non-profit groups need extra help with serving Christmas dinner to the homeless. It would give you an opportunity to stay busy, spending the holiday with others doing a community service that is much appreciated. It also will make you a little more thankful for the blessings you do have.
Tip#7--Postpone traditional Christmas celebrations until you can return home.
This might be an option for those working away from home, but returning soon. Just because the calendar says December 25th doesn't mean you can't wait and practice your own family traditions and celebrations later.
We once postponed Christmas until my husband, who was working and going to an out of state training program could return home. I made a video tape Christmas morning of the boys opening presents in front of the tree and we each recorded a message for him. We sent him the tape to watch, but left the Christmas tree up for two more months until he returned home. Then we had a second celebration when he returned home.
Tip#8--Visit shut-ins.
One of my more memorable Christmas Days was spend four hour's drive from home. My sister-in-law belonged to a community service organization that cooked and delivered free Christmas dinners to the community's shut-ins. The "Meals-on-Wheels" Christmas made us feel better knowing we spent the holiday helping make others' Christmas just a little brighter.
Tip #9--Adopt a child or family for the holiday
If you can afford the added expensive, a wonderful Christmas gesture is to provide Christmas dinner fixings and gifts for a struggling family, especially a single parent with young children.
The Salvation Army and other community service organizations often provide this community service from their donations, but might still need help packaging and delivering these items and might welcome your assistance.
#10--This Christmas, reflect on your blessings
Rather than feel sorry for yourself because you are away from your home and family this holiday, stay busy and count your blessings. You'll feel less blue if you have something constructive to do.
It really doesn't matter where you are or how you choose to celebrate Christmas. It's really a celebration of love and sharing. Its personal significance depends a lot on the traditions you grew up with or practice in your home; they aren't set in stone. Build your own traditions and make Christmas a holiday of love celebrated in your heart no matter where you may be this Christmas Day.
Tip #1--Remember the real "spirit of Christmas" is one of giving and sharing.Nothing gets you in the "Christmas spirit" more than being able to help someone else and make their day a little brighter. Just because you can't share Christmas Day with loved ones doesn't mean you can't send cards, letters and packages that let them know you care.
Tip #2--Call home.
Yes, it isn't the same as eating a piece of mom's Christmas pie, but calling and visiting over the phone, or on-line, is the next best thing to being there.
Tip #3-- Attend a Christmas church service.
If you are away from home at Christmas, you may enjoy attending a Christmas church service. Use the local phone directory to find churches in the area, or ask someone for recommendations.
Non-Catholics may even enjoy attending a traditional mid-night mass on Christmas Eve. Most Christian churches of all denominations have special services on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. It serves as a time to celebrate Christ's birth, the true purpose for the Christmas holiday.
Tip #4--Contact the United Way and volunteer for community service.
If you are in the United States, there are local United Way Agencies that can provide you with information on non-profit groups in your area needing Christmas volunteers. Many non-profit groups will gladly welcome you to help with various Christmas activities. They might even find a family to "adopt" you and invite you for a traditional Christmas dinner.
Tip #5--Visit a local nursing home or assisted living center.
Many elderly residents in these facilities are lonely and alone at Christmas time. It can be extremely hard for them to watch other residents being picked up and taken home by their families for the holiday, while they are left behind. From personal experience, I know many would love to have you visit and warmly welcome a little conversation and company.
Ask a nurse or the facility's activities director who could use a little one-on-one attention. If the facility is having a Christmas party, volunteer to help with the festivities. It will help you, and the residents, both feel less lonely making Christmas more joyous for all concerned. If you are going to be in the same area for awhile, you might even choose to "adopt" a foster grandparent to regularly visit during your stay.
Tip #6--Volunteer at a Homeless Shelter or Soup Kitchen
Many non-profit groups need extra help with serving Christmas dinner to the homeless. It would give you an opportunity to stay busy, spending the holiday with others doing a community service that is much appreciated. It also will make you a little more thankful for the blessings you do have.
Tip#7--Postpone traditional Christmas celebrations until you can return home.
This might be an option for those working away from home, but returning soon. Just because the calendar says December 25th doesn't mean you can't wait and practice your own family traditions and celebrations later.
We once postponed Christmas until my husband, who was working and going to an out of state training program could return home. I made a video tape Christmas morning of the boys opening presents in front of the tree and we each recorded a message for him. We sent him the tape to watch, but left the Christmas tree up for two more months until he returned home. Then we had a second celebration when he returned home.
Tip#8--Visit shut-ins.
One of my more memorable Christmas Days was spend four hour's drive from home. My sister-in-law belonged to a community service organization that cooked and delivered free Christmas dinners to the community's shut-ins. The "Meals-on-Wheels" Christmas made us feel better knowing we spent the holiday helping make others' Christmas just a little brighter.
Tip #9--Adopt a child or family for the holiday
If you can afford the added expensive, a wonderful Christmas gesture is to provide Christmas dinner fixings and gifts for a struggling family, especially a single parent with young children.
The Salvation Army and other community service organizations often provide this community service from their donations, but might still need help packaging and delivering these items and might welcome your assistance.
#10--This Christmas, reflect on your blessings
Rather than feel sorry for yourself because you are away from your home and family this holiday, stay busy and count your blessings. You'll feel less blue if you have something constructive to do.
It really doesn't matter where you are or how you choose to celebrate Christmas. It's really a celebration of love and sharing. Its personal significance depends a lot on the traditions you grew up with or practice in your home; they aren't set in stone. Build your own traditions and make Christmas a holiday of love celebrated in your heart no matter where you may be this Christmas Day.
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Homemade Gift Wrap
Posted by Campus Towers on 11:25 AM
Do you want your presents to be special this year? Check out this homemade gift wrap. It is super festive, and easy to make. Follow the steps below to add something special to your holiday gifts. You can learn more at HeyLook.
I got a little crafty today and put together a few ideas of how to use mini foil baking cups for party decor and packaging. None of these projects require special skills or a lot of time or money. Hope you get a little inspired.
A really simple way to make shiny, shimmery garlands is to flatten the baking cups, fold them in half and attach them to some string with paper glue. If this is too shiny for you, use some regular baking cups and just a few foil ones to add some sparkly highlights to your garlands.
I wanted to make a photobooth or desert backdrop, but only had the mini cups, so I just made this little mock-up. Use large or medium sized baking cups for the full-size version - otherwise it may take you a loooong time to finish a large backdrop.
To put this together, you need baking cups (straightened out and cut in half), large paper sheets as the backdrop base and paper glue. Just stick the half round cups on layer by layer starting from the bottom row. In the end cut off the overlapping cups on both sides of the backdrop and you're done. This mock-up version took me about 25 minutes, so I reckon a large version with bigger baking cups could take around 2 hours.
For some shiny pink and gold packages, find some golden gift wrapping paper, a few sequins, some washi tape in the matching colors, string and whatever else you've got lying around. Then just get creative. Add sparkly sequins to a ready wrapped gift and add a paper pin wheel or some candy cups in different sizes. Squish the centers of baking cups to make mini flowers, thread them onto some string using a large sewing needle and decorate the package with it. Make little prize ribbons with two half opened baking cups - one cut slightly smaller, attach a little round piece of paper to the middle and write a small message on it.
I got a little crafty today and put together a few ideas of how to use mini foil baking cups for party decor and packaging. None of these projects require special skills or a lot of time or money. Hope you get a little inspired.
A really simple way to make shiny, shimmery garlands is to flatten the baking cups, fold them in half and attach them to some string with paper glue. If this is too shiny for you, use some regular baking cups and just a few foil ones to add some sparkly highlights to your garlands.
I wanted to make a photobooth or desert backdrop, but only had the mini cups, so I just made this little mock-up. Use large or medium sized baking cups for the full-size version - otherwise it may take you a loooong time to finish a large backdrop.
To put this together, you need baking cups (straightened out and cut in half), large paper sheets as the backdrop base and paper glue. Just stick the half round cups on layer by layer starting from the bottom row. In the end cut off the overlapping cups on both sides of the backdrop and you're done. This mock-up version took me about 25 minutes, so I reckon a large version with bigger baking cups could take around 2 hours.
For some shiny pink and gold packages, find some golden gift wrapping paper, a few sequins, some washi tape in the matching colors, string and whatever else you've got lying around. Then just get creative. Add sparkly sequins to a ready wrapped gift and add a paper pin wheel or some candy cups in different sizes. Squish the centers of baking cups to make mini flowers, thread them onto some string using a large sewing needle and decorate the package with it. Make little prize ribbons with two half opened baking cups - one cut slightly smaller, attach a little round piece of paper to the middle and write a small message on it.
Monday, December 2, 2013
ECU Receives A Research Grant
Posted by Campus Towers on 11:38 AM
East Carolina University has received a grant to aid in type 2 diabetes and depression research. According to studies, the illnesses could be connected. The research team at ECU hopes to investigate this further to find out what is behind these two illnesses. You can learn more at ECU.
East Carolina University has received a grant of $450,000 to help people with type 2 diabetes and related depression or distress manage their illnesses.
According to ECU researchers, more than half of their patients with type 2 diabetes also suffer from related behavioral conditions including depression and distress. Those conditions are often undiagnosed and untreated.
In an earlier diabetes trial involving 200 African-American women with uncontrolled Type 2 diabetes mellitus, ECU researchers found 40 percent feel distress about their illness, 56 percent have increased distress about managing their illness, 20 percent have depressive symptoms, and 60 percent don't use their medication as prescribed, possibly as a result of distress or depression.
To address the diabetes-related behavioral conditions, ECU researchers, along with community partners in rural eastern North Carolina, will combine medical and cognitive behavioral treatment with community-based support to assist patients.
"These patients are much more likely to end up in the emergency department, and it's been shown that they are dying earlier," said Dr. Lesley Lutes, an associate professor, director of clinical training in the ECU Department of Psychology and one of the researchers leading the project. "Even though diabetes itself is very serious, these other chronic conditions make its impact on patient health much worse."
The project will use a care manager linked to medical, pharmacologic and behavioral colleagues. The community component will also use community health workers to provide support and improve access to resources.
Researchers plan to make the interventions culturally relevant in trusted primary care and community settings. Partners will include the health system, health departments, churches, federally qualified health centers and people with type 2 diabetes.
In addition to Lutes, ECU researchers involved in the project are Dr. Doyle Cummings, a pharmacist and professor of family medicine; Dr. Kerry Littlewood, an assistant professor of social work; and Dr. Kari Kirian, a health psychologist and assistant professor of family medicine.
People with diabetes often have other conditions, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol, along with medications and doctor's appointments for those conditions.
"At a certain point, it becomes overwhelming," Lutes said.
Researchers will measure the success of the project, estimate its financial impact and build a sustainable business model for replication.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one in 10 black women age 20 and older has diabetes, and the rate might be higher in eastern North Carolina, Cummings said. After age 55, the rate more than doubles to one in four. Blacks also suffer high rates of diabetes' most serious complications, such as blindness, kidney failure and amputation.
ECU was one of four recipients nationwide to share in $1.8 million in grants from the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation in this grant cycle. The grants are part of Bristol-Myers' five-year, $100 million "Together on Diabetes" project to improve health outcomes of people living with type 2 diabetes in the United States by strengthening patient self-management education, community-based supportive services and broad-based community mobilization.
The University of Michigan, University of Colorado and Health Choice Network of Florida also received grants in this cycle.
This grant is ECU's second in the Together on Diabetes project. Two years, ago, Lutes, Cummings and Littlewood received $300,000 to implement a "small changes" approach to help black women with type 2 diabetes improve their health and better manage their disease through the use of community health workers to deliver the treatment program. The project, still underway, hopes to demonstrate community support and interaction helped women manage their diabetes better than educational materials alone.
This summer, Cummings and Dr. Dennis Russo, a psychologist and clinical professor of family medicine, received more than $1 million in grants from other agencies to develop a program that will support collaborative diabetes care in rural areas via telemedicine. In that project, secure two-way audio and video links will connect experts at ECU to seven rural primary care sites.
Together on Diabetes is a five-year, $115 million project launched in 2010 by the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation to improve health outcomes of people living with type 2 diabetes in China, India and the United States by strengthening patient self-management education, community-based supportive services and broad-based community mobilization. More information is online at http://TogetherOnDiabetes.com.
To date, the United States program has committed $53 million to 25 grantees working in 60 communities across the country, and the China-India program has committed $4.4 million to 9 grantees with strong networks to reach, educate, serve and mobilize heavily affected communities. China, India and the United States have the most people living with diabetes.
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation is an independent charitable organization whose mission is to reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes around the world for patients disproportionately affected by serious disease.
November is American Diabetes Month.
East Carolina University has received a grant of $450,000 to help people with type 2 diabetes and related depression or distress manage their illnesses.
According to ECU researchers, more than half of their patients with type 2 diabetes also suffer from related behavioral conditions including depression and distress. Those conditions are often undiagnosed and untreated.
In an earlier diabetes trial involving 200 African-American women with uncontrolled Type 2 diabetes mellitus, ECU researchers found 40 percent feel distress about their illness, 56 percent have increased distress about managing their illness, 20 percent have depressive symptoms, and 60 percent don't use their medication as prescribed, possibly as a result of distress or depression.
To address the diabetes-related behavioral conditions, ECU researchers, along with community partners in rural eastern North Carolina, will combine medical and cognitive behavioral treatment with community-based support to assist patients.
"These patients are much more likely to end up in the emergency department, and it's been shown that they are dying earlier," said Dr. Lesley Lutes, an associate professor, director of clinical training in the ECU Department of Psychology and one of the researchers leading the project. "Even though diabetes itself is very serious, these other chronic conditions make its impact on patient health much worse."
The project will use a care manager linked to medical, pharmacologic and behavioral colleagues. The community component will also use community health workers to provide support and improve access to resources.
Researchers plan to make the interventions culturally relevant in trusted primary care and community settings. Partners will include the health system, health departments, churches, federally qualified health centers and people with type 2 diabetes.
In addition to Lutes, ECU researchers involved in the project are Dr. Doyle Cummings, a pharmacist and professor of family medicine; Dr. Kerry Littlewood, an assistant professor of social work; and Dr. Kari Kirian, a health psychologist and assistant professor of family medicine.
People with diabetes often have other conditions, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol, along with medications and doctor's appointments for those conditions.
"At a certain point, it becomes overwhelming," Lutes said.
Researchers will measure the success of the project, estimate its financial impact and build a sustainable business model for replication.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one in 10 black women age 20 and older has diabetes, and the rate might be higher in eastern North Carolina, Cummings said. After age 55, the rate more than doubles to one in four. Blacks also suffer high rates of diabetes' most serious complications, such as blindness, kidney failure and amputation.
ECU was one of four recipients nationwide to share in $1.8 million in grants from the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation in this grant cycle. The grants are part of Bristol-Myers' five-year, $100 million "Together on Diabetes" project to improve health outcomes of people living with type 2 diabetes in the United States by strengthening patient self-management education, community-based supportive services and broad-based community mobilization.
The University of Michigan, University of Colorado and Health Choice Network of Florida also received grants in this cycle.
This grant is ECU's second in the Together on Diabetes project. Two years, ago, Lutes, Cummings and Littlewood received $300,000 to implement a "small changes" approach to help black women with type 2 diabetes improve their health and better manage their disease through the use of community health workers to deliver the treatment program. The project, still underway, hopes to demonstrate community support and interaction helped women manage their diabetes better than educational materials alone.
This summer, Cummings and Dr. Dennis Russo, a psychologist and clinical professor of family medicine, received more than $1 million in grants from other agencies to develop a program that will support collaborative diabetes care in rural areas via telemedicine. In that project, secure two-way audio and video links will connect experts at ECU to seven rural primary care sites.
Together on Diabetes is a five-year, $115 million project launched in 2010 by the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation to improve health outcomes of people living with type 2 diabetes in China, India and the United States by strengthening patient self-management education, community-based supportive services and broad-based community mobilization. More information is online at http://TogetherOnDiabetes.com.
To date, the United States program has committed $53 million to 25 grantees working in 60 communities across the country, and the China-India program has committed $4.4 million to 9 grantees with strong networks to reach, educate, serve and mobilize heavily affected communities. China, India and the United States have the most people living with diabetes.
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation is an independent charitable organization whose mission is to reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes around the world for patients disproportionately affected by serious disease.
November is American Diabetes Month.
