Volunteers needed to place flags for veterans

WINSTED — Members of the local VFW post are placing flags at the town’s cemeteries at 8 a.m. May 24.

“It is especially important to keep this tradition going as so many traditions have been canceled this year,” members said.

Volunteers are needed. To participate, meet at East End Park at 8 a.m. May 24.

Volunteersa are asked to wear masks and adhere to social distancing guidance. Many of the volunteers will be older veterans, who are more susceptible to serious complications of COVID-19. Those who do not have a mask, lef the VFW know, and they will try to provide one. Call Robert Baxter at 860-605-4879.

Litchfield announces Mothers of the Year

LITCHFIELD — Litchfield Park and Recreation held its first “Mother of the Year” contest this year. Two winners, a mother of young children and mother of adult children, were recently announced.

The winner in the adult children category is Liza Vincenzi. Her children wrote a moving essay, describing her this way: “A guardian, a friend, a mentor, an idol; a single word nor descriptor can begin to describe this lady whom we’re honored to call Mom. She’s been the catalyst to our family throughout the toughest of times always beaming with positivity and wisdom.”

The winner of the mother with young children is Andrea Markavich. Her 10 year-old daughter Lily penned these words about her: “My mother has been my biggest supporter in everything, even the things that I’m not good at. She came to all of my basketball games and wouldn’t stop cheering for me. She helps me when I run by telling me I can do this. Run like the wind! Sometimes while we run, we make silly jokes that make us laugh and when I say I can’t do this, she has me do the ABC’s of what I am, and when I can’t come up with one, she will fill in saying something silly or something that she thinks I am. My mom is always there for me and won’t miss a thing.”

Litchfield Parks and Recreation would like to thank The Colonial Greenhouse and The Litchfield Hills Nursery for providing Mother’s Day prizes to the winners.

Plant sale is on at NW Region 7

WINSTED — Region 7’s FFA students are selling a large assortment of hanging baskets and geraniums, as well as a wide variety of vegetable and bedding plants for containers and gardens.

Due to Social Distancing, the plant sale will be pre-order, curbside pick-up only. To place an order, go to: nwrgreenhouse.squarespace.com

Pickup times and dates are 9 a.m.-3 p.m., May 9; 9 a.m.-3 p.m., May 14, orders due by May 13 at noon; and May 21, at a time to be announced. Orders due by May 20 at noon; and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. May 23, with orders due by May 22 at noon.

The Agricultural Education Center at Northwestern Regional High School is located at 100 Battistoni Drive, Winsted. Email ewildes@nwr7.org for information.

Center for Healthy Aging offers caregiving tips

Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging, a not for profit member of Hartford HealthCare Senior Services, is providing suggestions for those who are caregivers.

Consistency is key. Stick to a schedule, this helps the individual with dementia know what to expect which can help them to stay calm. Schedules and routines/ rhythms work to lessen caregiver stress also.

Flexibility can help reduce stress. Go with the flow; things are changing for the person with dementia and yourself - adjust expectations as needed.

Be thoughtful about what information you and your loved one with dementia are exposed to. The news, radio, social media and conversations can be overwhelming and at times can increase fear and anxiety

Emotions of caregiving: Caregiver guilt is a harmful emotion because you are spending energy beating yourself up over faults that are imagined or unavoidable, especially with the current changes and challenges due to the COVID- 19 precautions. Adjust your standards from ideal to real!

Caregiver worry can affect your mood and the way you care for yourself. Try setting a timer for 5 minutes and allow yourself to worry for those 5 minutes. When the timer is up, try to focus on something positive such as “how can I help? Who can I call?” Try to change your negative thoughts to positive actions.

Caregiver anger is a completely real and understandable emotion. Rather than trying to avoid it, find healthy and helpful ways to address it. Consider practicing deep breathing, call in to a virtual support group or journaling.

Caregiver grief/sadness can be a very real part of loving someone who has dementia. Spending more time with your loved one can highlight their changes or losses of abilities. This can be very painful. Allow yourself to feel the sadness expressing your grief to others can help you to receive the support you need.

Caregiving can make someone feel as though they have no control over their own life, or how they spend their days due to the responsibilities of caregiving. Resentment is a common feeling for caregivers, especially when providing longterm care. You can love someone and still be resentful - calling it what it is to a trusted friend or family member can be helpful in processing this emotion.

Caregiver defensiveness is normal in regular circumstances, but in light of the current COVID- 19 (Coronavirus) precautions it can be even more challenging when others offer to assist or give you helpful suggestions. It is OK to say yes to help. It is also OK to try things a new or different way!

Loneliness is a very real part of caregiving in normal circumstances, but given the current social distancing recommendations it is easy to feel even more alone. Reach out to family and friends, look for online resources to combat the isolation, join a virtual dementia support group, or reminisce with your loved one about a time or experience that has pleasant memories.

Vital information and important resources for caregivers, families and older adults is available through Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging, a not for profit member of Hartford HealthCare Senior Services. Call Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging at 877-4AGING1/ 877-4244641 or visit http://hhccenter forhealthyaging.org