Healthy Through the Holidays

December 2024

The holiday season is a time that is filled with family, food, and fun. While we are all so busy, it can be very easy to forget some of the little things that help keep us healthy. Let's explore some things to keep in mind, so that you can remain involved in all of the traditions and festivities.

Think Small!

Singling Out Sodium (Preservatives)

Figuring out Food Labels

Finding the Balance (Fluid Retention)

Many times the smallest details can have the biggest impact on us. Before you start thinking about the big picture, make sure you have looked at the smaller things you need to get there!

- Request medication refills 2 weeks in advance, as sometimes appointments are necessary prior to receiving a refill

*Many places have altered holiday hours

- Pack your devices when you travel to maintain your routine and allow your Care Coordinator to continue to monitor you through this busy season

- Keep a close eye on your sodium intake as many of our diets undergo a significant change during the holiday season.

Click the buttons to the left to check out some of our previous emails for a look back on sodium and how to manage it.

General Health and Wellness

As we make our way through the end of the year and all of the various holiday celebrations, there can be an uptick in illness as we find ourselves in close quarters with a lot of people. There are some things you can do to help protect not only yourself but others from getting sick.

-Check in with your Primary Care Physician for recommendations on which vaccines may be in your best interest. This is important as the recommendations change based on several different factors: seasonal offerings such as flu vaccines, new developments such as updated COVID boosters, and your age can determine what preventative care is right for you.

- Wash or sanitize your hands frequently, especially if you have recently sneezed or coughed.

- Wear a mask if you have symptoms of respiratory illness. This will help to reduce the transmission of bacteria or viruses to friends and families.

- Social distance when you can. This is especially important for those who are immuno-compromised. Social distancing will allow you to take part in the festivities while also maintaining a healthy barrier from potentially being infected with anything from other people, whether they know they are sick or not.

Preparing for the New Year

As we prepare to enter the year 2025, there are some things to communicate with your care team in order to continue to receive the best care we can give you. Below are a few items that we would like to ask you to have ready for your January check-in with your Care Coordinator.

-Insurance Cards- we will be verifying your policy and group numbers so that we can update as necessary

- Medication List- your Care Coordinator will be doing a thorough verification of the medications we have on file against the list of what you are taking so that we can correct any discrepancies and start the year off on the right foot!

- We will also be verifying your demographic information (address, phone number, etc.). Please be sure to correct us if we missed updating any information throughout the course of this last year.

Additional Resources

Websites, Articles, and/or Videos

CDC Tips

Mayo Clinic Tips

American Heart Association Tips

Blog Posts

Healthy Through the Holidays

Season of the Sniffles

Caring for your Caregiver

Community Events

Glowing Gardens

Gingerbread Extravaganza

New Year's Eve Fireworks

Still Have Questions?

We love to empower through education. Click on the button below to visit our website to get answers to some common questions, previous education topics, as well as other helpful resources.