to choose from. This class will

be taught on Friday, January

13th at 6 PM. Cost is $6 and

registration is required.

Soy Candles

Make and take soy

candles during this

fun class. Each

participant will go home with

two candles that they have

made along with the

knowledge of how to make

more. All project supplies are

included in the class fee of $8.

Registration is required.

Great Classes Offered This Month

Fabric Rope Bowl

Learn to make this fabric

covered coiled rope bowl,

using scrap fabric and rope.

Participants need to bring basic

sewing supplies, a sewing

machine that will sew a zig-zag

stitch, 3/4” strips of scrap

fabric (30-40 strips), thread and

a sack lunch. This class will be

taught on Thursday, January

5th at 10 AM.

Cost is $10 and

registration is

required.

Cooks Night Out

Join us for a “Cooks

Night Out” as

participants

knowledge of

cooking will be put to the test

through games, trivia, words

searches, etc. Leave your

aprons at home and come have

a bit of fun learning some of

the whys (science) behind why

we do some of the things that

we do when we cook. We will

also have tips on how to select

the one single version of a

recipe when you have so many

January 2017

Office Closed

January 2

Fabric Rope Bowl

January 5

Learn to Sew Series

January 9

Excel and Word for the

Small Business Owner

January 10 & 12

Made by You

January 11

Cooks Night Out

January 13

Office Closed

January 16

Jabez Quilt Seminar

January 17 - 21

Learn to Sew Series

January 23

Soy Candles

January 26

How to Organize Your

Important Household

Papers

January 31

weather, each club member

can take a few minutes to

study the lesson on their own.

The lesson is enclosed in this

newsletter. The small video

will be posted on our FCS

Facebook page and our office

webpage.

Mail-Out HM Lesson for January

Winter weather can sometimes

play havoc on our Homemaker

lesson schedule so we are once

again offering the January and

February lessons through the

mail PLUS a small video that

can be watched by each person

or shown at your club meeting.

This way everyone can still

receive their Homemaker

lesson and not worry about

cancellations schedules and

coming out in the snow. The

lesson for your January Club

meeting is “The Successful

Person’s Guide to Time

Management.” If your club

meeting is canceled due to

It ’s Time to Cast Your Vote

It is once again time to

start planning our

Homemaker Leader

Lessons for our next

program year 2017-2018.

Why plan so early? Well, as agents it takes

several months to gather research based

information and develop a program that we can

deliver to leaders. Enclosed you will find the

Homemaker Lesson Ballot for the upcoming

program year. Please take the time to mark

your top eight choices for Homemaker lessons.

If you have additional suggestions please list

these on the back page. Please return these to

Page 2 Laurel County Extension Homemaker

Judi Cissell O’Bryan

Laurel County Extension Agent for Family & Consumer Sciences Education

SNOW POLICY

If Laurel County Schools are canceled due to bad weather, Laurel County Extension Homemaker programs will be canceled. (No announcement will be made on the radio.) Clubs need to make their own policy, but most clubs follow the Laurel County School system. If you are in doubt whether the meeting is canceled or not, please contact the office (864-4167) for more information. All county closings will be posted on FACEBOOK. Follow us on FACEBOOK at: Laurel County FCS.

be removed.

Reduces medical errors.

With EHRs/EMRs there is

a reduced chance for a

misunderstanding or

misreading of

handwriting. This is good

for preventing errors in

dosages and alerting for

allergies or drug

interactions.

Saves time. Through

EHRs/EMRs a nurse can

enter vitals while the

provider is looking over

your files. They do not

have to wait until one is

done before the other can

be working on the file.

There are also

connections to the

pharmacy, so

prescriptions are moved

along right after the

appointment and do not

have to be called in

directly by the nurse.

You can see information

too. You should be able

to see your files. Ask for

the provider’s instructions

The days of paper forms and

clipboards at the doctor’s

office

seem to

be

going

away.

Instead,

you are more likely to see a

doctor come in with a

computer or tablet to record

your health information. All of

the information that is being

entered is going into your

Electronic Health Record (EHR)

or also sometimes know as the

Electronic Medical Record

(EMR). An EHR or EMR is very

similar to the paper forms

used in the same way. It is a

collection of your health

details. It also has different

charts and areas where

different providers and staff

can find the information

needed about you. Because all

of this information is

electronic, it is much easier to

share. This is great news if you

have more than one

healthcare provider within a

facility. If you have to change

providers, your records are

more easily shared as well.

How does the facility get my

information from EHRs/

EMRs? Many providers have

their own database that keeps

the information. In order to

get access, the provider or

staff member would have to

log into the system with their

username and password.

Some places use thumbprint

identification. For some

systems, they also can allow

the provider to access the

records system remotely,

meaning even when they are

away from their office.

Are there benefits to EHRs/

EMRs?

Yes, there are several benefits

to the use of EHRs/EMRs.

These include:

Stores data safely.

Because the information

is made to be digital, it

cannot be destroyed the

way paper files can.

Further, these records

cannot get misplaced or

misfiled. Once created on

the record, pages cannot

Electronic Health Records

on how to access your

files. From your files you

can see lab results,

provider notes for home

care and even check to

see if there were errors.

What about privacy? There are laws that protect your health information and who can have access to it. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) protects information that providers, nurses or staff put into your records. The laws also protect you when providers have conservations about your health and your health care. If a provider has to send a EHR/EMR to another provider, he or she is required to have protective security to limit access to the information to only those permitted. EHRs/EMRs are becoming more common and they can be great alternative to paper health records. If you have any questions about your EHR/EMR, talk to your healthcare provider.

Electronic Health Records http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/ehrs.htm

Written by: Nicole Peritore Edited by: Connee Wheeler Designed by:

Rusty Manseau Stock Images: 123RF.coml

the office by February 17th so that everyone

has a voice in what lessons you receive. If you

vote at your club meeting please do not

summarize the votes just put the number of

members that voted for each lesson.

_____ Savvy Sellers and Bargain Hunters – Are you wanting to reduce clutter in your home and

learn ways to save money by checking out yard sales and consignment shops? Then this lesson

is for you! Learn how to be a successful shopper or bargain hunter!

_____ Travel Safety: Know Before You Go – Americans are traveling more than ever. Being pre-

pared and organized for a trip can make your travel experience pleasant for you and your fami-

ly. It is always best to, Know Before You Go!

_____ Vegetarian 101: History, Health and Tips - Every day we make choices about the foods we

eat. Some people elect a plant-based eating pattern, ranging from foods with no animal connec-

tions (vegan) to those with mostly plant-based food and minimal animal connections (flexitarian

and vegetarian). This lesson explores vegetarian and vegan diets, providing history, outlining

health benefits and reviewing possible nutrient challenges. Tips for eating vegetarian or vegan

are outlined, as are strategies for moving toward a plant-based diet.

_____ Gardening Options for Everyone – Gardening at home can provide a way for individuals to

engage in physical activity while producing nutritious foods for your family. Regardless of

your living environment, most people can enjoy vegetables grown at home. This lesson will

discuss raised bed gardens and container gardens. We’ll also review things to consider when

planning your garden such as selecting your crops, plant spacing, light requirements and water

requirements. Participants will learn how to create their own planting mix to use for growing

vegetables.

_____ Making Healthy Beverage Choices – Many of us are aware we need to make healthy food

choices. We know to choose vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low-fat or fat-free milk and lean-

protein foods. Many do not realize that making healthy food choices also includes paying atten-

tion to what we drink. Many of our drinks are very high in calories and very low in nutrients.

This program provides examples of daily calorie intake in the form of liquids, and gives sugges-

tions for improving nutritional content and ways to reduce calorie content of favorite beverages.

_____ Holiday Ideas – Come join this lesson, and learn quick and easy ways to decorate and entertain

for the holidays. Participants will also have the opportunity to learn easy gift giving ideas and

register for a hands-on craft.

_____ Extending Your Clothing Budget with Simple Sewing Skills – Ways to re-make clothing

items into creative new items for clothing or home decorating use. How to evaluate whether re-

making an item is worthwhile in the time and energy required.

More Great Lessons on the BACK ...

Homemaker Lesson Ballot

Please take a few moments to select 8 of the following topics for your Homemaker leader les-

sons for the next year. Please make sure every Homemaker member gets to vote. Do not sum-

marize club votes. Return the ballot forms to the Extension Office by February 17, 2017.

Lesson 2017-2018

Page 1 of 2

______ Keeping Family Traditions – This lesson will help families connect with each other and help

them achieve healthy relationships through making traditions!

______ “That Young Generation” – Each generation is significantly different from ones the preceded

and followed it because members of each generation have been shaped and molded by markedly

different societal influences during their developmental years. Learn to understand each gener-

ation’s characteristics and values in order to develop strong generational relationships.

_____ Evaluating Your Health Care Needs – Learn strategies for getting the most out of your health

insurance in order to keep you healthy and financially well.

_____ Blue to You: Depression in Women - Approximately 12% of women in the United States

have depression. In this lesson we will identify the symptoms of depression, reduce the stigma

associated with having depression, and identify resources to find assistance for women with de-

pression.

_____ People Learn with a Purpose - Gain an understanding of the different learning styles and how

to engage others in a positive learning experience.

_____ Toaster Ovens: Have become new again - Toaster ovens became popular household appli-

ances in the mid-1950s, and have changed significantly since those early days. This program

introduces today’s toaster ovens and provides insights on their purchase, use and care. Ad-

vantages and challenges are reviewed, and recipes are included.

______ Keys to Embrace Aging - Aging is an inevitable and unavoidable process that affects each and

every one uniquely. Aging brings on many changes as a person develops throughout the

lifespan. The way in which you take care of yourself though the years both physically and men-

tally will impact the way in which you age. This interactive program highlights 12 keys aimed

at helping you to grow old gracefully, successfully, and with increased longevity.

______ Making Family Mealtimes Meaningful - Gain some tips on building family mealtimes into

the activities of each week. Learn ways to decorate an attractive table that makes family mem-

bers want to be a part of meals together. Learn ways to use your family heirloom dishes, linens,

and recipes to make a family mealtime that is the highlight of the day for you and your children.

______ Grandparents and Children Together - Grandparents and other adult relatives play important

roles in their families’ lives. Those roles vary due to location, ability to communicate, physical

abilities, financial situations, social environment, family stress levels, and stage of the life cycle.

This program identifies the roles that grandparents (and other relatives) pay in their children’s

lives. It describes how levels of involvement have changed in recent years.

Lesson 2017-2018

Page 2 of 2

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2

Office Closed

3 4 5

Fabric Rope Bowl 10AM

6 7

8 9

Learn to Sew Series 6 PM

10

Excel and Word 6:30 PM

11

Made by You 10 AM

12

Excel and Word 6:30 PM

13

Cooks Night Out 6 PM

14

15 16

Office Closed

17

Jabez Quilt Seminar

18

Jabez Quilt Seminar

19

Jabez Quilt Seminar

20

Jabez Quilt Seminar

21

Jabez Quilt Seminar

22 23

Learn to Sew Series 6 PM

24 25 26 27 28

29 30 31

How to Organize Your Household Papers - 6 PM

RED - Meeting held at another location

JANUARY 2017

How to Organize Your

Important Household Papers

A plan for keeping track of important papers can save hours of anxious searching in emergencies and even on an everyday basis. Being organized makes it easier to pay bills on time, find receipts and find essential documents without

Excel and Word for the Small

Business Owner

Own a small

business and

want to learn

the basics of

the most

popular

business software? Attend this

two session class to learn how

to create business letters,

develop eye catching flyers or

newsletters, build basic

spreadsheets to track income/

expenses/budgets, create

professional invoices, produce

colorful charts and graphs,

utilize built-in templates from

each program to save valuable

time, and implement mail

merge to produce mass

mailings, labels and letters

with only a few simple mouse

clicks. Start the New Year off

with increased knowledge of

tools for business productivity.

This class will be taught on

Tuesday, January 10th and

Thursday, January 12th at 6:30

PM at the G.C. Garland

Building. The cost of this class

is $45 and registration is

required.

Sign Up for These Important Classes

delay. Join this important class as we identify and inventory important papers while deciding what and how long to keep them and set realistic goals for getting your important documents in order. This class will be taught on Tuesday, January 31 at 6 PM. Cost is FREE, but registration is required.

Vote for your Homemaker Lessons by February

17th

Office Closed

January 2nd January 16th

emotional and cognitive

functioning.” Animal Assisted

Therapy is led by trained

professionals who are able to

“set specific therapeutic goals,

strategies and outcome

measures.” Depending on a

patient’s needs, a variety of

different animals may be

used, including dogs, dolphins,

horses, Ilamas, and rabbits.

Overall, animals can enhance

lives, and not just for a person

who is sick - they can also

benefit friends, family and

workers. This is because

animals increase the need

and/or desire

to exercise,

they lower

blood pressure

and they

provide stress

Animals Can Enhance Lives

treatments, older adults living

in long-term care, people with

Alzheimer’s disease who are

sun-downing, people

hospitalized with chronic

diseases such as heart failure,

veterans living with post-

traumatic stress disorder and

teens in mental health

facilities. Animals are also

used with children with

mental health issues, epilepsy,

physical disabilities and

autism. While the bond

between animals and humans

is strong, official Animal

Assisted Therapy (AAT) is

more than just spending time

with an animal. AAT is a type

of therapy that involves

animals as a form of

treatment to help “improve

mental, physical, social,

Animals are able

to make many

people smile.

To walk, brush,

pet and care for

an animal has

been found to

help “reduce pain, anxiety,

depression, fatigue.” Animals

also help with improving fine

motor skills and balance. They

increase attention, focus, self-

esteem and help motivate

people to care for themselves

and take fewer medications.

Some believe that animals can

reduce stress, grief and

isolation. The Mayo Clinic

reports that animals assisted

therapy is being used with

children having dental

procedures, prisoners, people

undergoing cancer

and comic relief. And in the

end, it also makes people

happy to come home to a

warm, four-legged friend who

is happy to see you and loves

you unconditionally.

DRC Health (2015). What is Animal Assisted Therapy? Retrieved

November 29, 2016 from http://www.crchealth.com/types-of-

therapy/what-is-animal-assisted-therapy

Mayo Clinic. (2016). Who can benefit from animal assisted therapy?

Retrieved November 29, 2016 from http: www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-

lifestyle/consumer-health/in-depth/pet-therapy/art-200046342?pg=2

Snelling.S. (2012) How Caregivers Can Use Pet Therapy to Care for Their

Loved Ones. Retrieved November 29, 2016 from

http://blog.alz.org/how-caregivers-can-use-pet-therapy-to-care-for-

their-loved-one

Written by: Amy Hosier, Ph.D. Edited by: Connee Wheeler

NON-PROFIT ORG

US POSTAGE PAID

LONDON, KY

PERMIT NO. 103