November is a time to show support and to honor our nation's vital caregivers during National Family Caregivers Month. Join us in acknowledging and honoring families who are often caregiving "around the clock". That means around-the-clock dedication, organization, responsibility, scheduling, and hands-on care.

For those of you who may be unfamiliar with the role of a family caregiver, the following is an excerpt from BBPA's In-home Family Caregiver Job Description: —

In-home family caregiving is usually unsupervised (with the exception of those individuals named in the patient’s Healthcare Plan) and the duties and responsibilities are shared between the “family” members based upon their skill set. A family caregiver provides various type of physical and/or emotional care for an ill or disabled loved one at home. In many cases, the primary caregiver is a spouse, partner, parent or adult child. Caregivers often take on the responsibilities of the patient while still providing for themselves and other family members. Caretakers play an important role in communication between doctors and patients by upholding patient preferences for treatment options when the patient cannot or will not speak for him or herself.

For additional information, visit National Family Caregivers.

Hospice care can be provided in the home, in nursing homes, assistive living centers, and facilities specifically designed to provide hospice care.

Hospice care focuses on making the patient as comfortable as possible, while maintaining hygiene, clean and odor free bedding, consistent monitoring and recording of viral signs. The hospice caregiver or nurse will be responsible for updating family on the patient's condition. A physician may reasses the patient to determine pain management. In some states there registered nurse can make a medication change order.

White Ribbon Day is an awareness movement inspired by men and boys working to end violence against women and girls and to promote gender equality and healthy relationships.

Since its inception in Toronto, Canada in 1991, it has become the largest global movement against violence of women and girls. White Ribbon Day is held in solidarity with Canada's National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against women. White Ribbon Week runs from the 25th of November through the 1st of December.

White Ribbon Day is an international campaign that calls on individuals, communities, and organizations to take a stand against violence targeting women and girls. The white ribbon itself is a symbol of men’s commitment to ending violence against women, with men pledging to be part of the solution to this pervasive problem.

The White Ribbon movement began in 1991 to engage men in the prevention of gender-based violence. At the time, there was very little work being done to engage men in this issue.

In its beginnings, White Ribbon joined with other campaigns around the world to mark the 25th of November and the White Ribbon became an important symbol for ending men’s violence against women. White Ribbon was one of the voices that campaigned for the UN recognition of the 25th of November as The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, which was designated by the UN in 2000.

White Ribbon Day continues every year to draw attention to the importance of men being part of the solution to end violence against women and girls, once and for all.

For additional information and resources to promote this event contact whiteribbon.org.uk.

When planning to give gifts to seniors in care facilities there are a few does and don'ts that may help in having a good time. For example:

1. give
   similar items color, size, and shapes could vary - perhaps coin purses
2. give
   commonly identifiable items such as pillows, blankets, gloves, non-slip socks
3. give
   items which require NO maintenance (batteries) and make no sounds or movement
4. give
   reading material, soft bound, Reader's Digest provides stories of many interests

---

5. avoid
   gifts with smells such as flowers, cologne, perfume
6. avoid
   food, since consumption may be in contradiction to diet restrictions
7. avoid
   items with strings, ribbons, bells, hard and any sharp edges
8. avoid
   items which require the senior to use on their own such as gift cards and rideshare tokens.

Make your intentions known to the living facility's staff . Ask the staff when would it be a good day and time to bring gifts, be mindful of visitation restrictions and those in isolation.

Determine the number of participating residents and plan the number of gifts accordingly and add a couple of extras. Wrapping paper and ribbon would be nice but only if the packages are all opened as a group with staff supervision. Help with recycling the paper and ribbon.

Remember, The best gift of all is your compassion and smile.

World Pneumonia Day is an opportunity to strengthen global awareness on pneumonia, an inflammatory infection of the lungs. Some infections start as acute (short span of days) and may progress to chronic (long span of days).

Pneumonia is inflammation of the lungs accompanied by a build up of fluids and is most often caused by a bacterial, viral or fungal infection. Pneumonia makes it difficult to breathe, marked by a fever and cough with yellow, green or bloody mucus. The flu, COVID-19, and pneumococcal diseases can infiltrate the lungs which could lead to pneumonia. Treatment depends on the cause and severity of the pneumonia infection.

Pneumonia is extremely contagious and can be acquired most any where, at school, work, from a crowed of people you pass by; all it takes is to be exposed to any of the pneumonia pathogens.

Influenza (flu) can infiltrate the lungs, and and depending on the patient's recovery the patient's influenza could develop into pneumonia. Most people recover from pneumonia; however, untreated pneumonia could lead to breathing support, dehydration and death.

A review of clinical perspectives on the various type of pneumonia and causative pathogens, please visit one of the authorities list in the chart below.

Keep in mind pneumonia is extremely infectious; if you ever become unwell and suspect a cold or worse pneumonia, stay home and consult a healthcare professional.

Those at greater risk are:

1. over the age of 65 or under the age of 2.
2. living with a lung or heart condition.
3. living with a neurological condition that makes swallowing difficult.
4. in the hospital or at a long-term care facility.
5. smokers
6. pregnant
7. living with a weakened immune system

What are some of the symptoms?

1. congestion and/or chest pain
2. difficulty breathing
3. a fever of 102 degrees Fahrenheit (38.88 degrees Celsius) or higher.
4. coughing up yellow, green or bloody mucus or spit
5. weakness

Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs, and is most often caused by a bacterial, viral or fungal infection — Pneumonia is an infectious disease. Listed below are common form of pneumonia along with a brief explanation of its impact on the human body.

In 2022, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) launched the “#GetToHighGround” campaign to promote awareness about reducing the risk of tsunamis.

The campaign encourages citizens to participate in drills, runs, or walks along tsunami evacuation routes, which helps communities prepare for natural disasters and build their resilience. These events are inclusive and engaging, and they involve all people in raising awareness about reducing tsunami risk.

Tsunamis can be deadly, but they do not need to be. Early warning and early action are effective tools to protect people, save lives, and preventing the hazard from becoming a disaster.

To be effective, tsunami early-warning systems must cover every at-risk person, they must be multi-hazard, and communities must be prepared so they can act quickly. When communities are able to access and understand the risk they face, respond appropriately to early warnings, make informed decisions and engage in the local planning process, then we will have an informed and resilient community.

What if you are suspicious of a tsunami! There may not be time to wait for an official warning, so it is important to be able to recognize natural tsunami warning signs. These include strong or long earthquakes, a loud roar coming from the ocean, and a sudden rise or fall of the sea level that is not tide related. (notice image above)

Persons with Disabilities Day is observed every year on 3rd December. The United Nations introduced this day in 1992 to raise awareness about disability issues and promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities worldwide.

The 2026 theme for International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPwD) 2026 is ‘The CRPD at 20: Building on Progress, Advancing the Future’. It’s been 20 years since the United Nations (UN) agreed to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The CRPD is an agreement between many countries that says that people with disability have the same rights as everyone else and should be able to take part in all areas of life.

The 2026 theme looks at what has improved over the past 20 years and what still needs to change. Themes guide global conversations toward sustainable solutions rather than temporary awareness and calls on governments and communities to:

• build on the progress made
• remove barriers for people with disability
• protect the rights of people with disability
• improve access to information, jobs and community life
• make communities more accessible and inclusive.

Understanding International Disability Day, officially known as the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, focuses on empowering individuals with physical, intellectual, sensory, and developmental disabilities.

Over the years, world disability day has become a powerful platform to encourage inclusive policies, accessible environments, and equal participation in society. The core purpose of world disability day is to bring attention to the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities and highlight the need for social inclusion.

Many limitations arise not from the disability itself but from lack of awareness, accessibility, and acceptance. This day urges communities, institutions, and governments to remove these barriers and create supportive systems that allow individuals to live with dignity and independence.

World AIDS Day is a global movement commemorated every year to unite people in the fight against HIV and AIDS.

World AIDS Day is held on the 1st day of December, each year, to help remind the world that HIV/AIDS is not over and remains a burden in many countries around the world. World AIDS Day is a day for everyone to show their support for people living with HIV and help raise awareness about prevention, treatment, and care.

Take this opportunity to tackle worldwide inequities in HIV prevention, testing, treatment, and quality of life including eliminating the stigma and discrimination of those living with HIV.

World AIDS Day gives us an opportunity to set aside time to help increase awareness about the impact of HIV on the bleeding disorders community, and consider ways to demonstrate ongoing support.

The following is a chart depicting worldwide statistics on people living with and/or acquiring HIV and of those dying. For further information of HIV and and and AIDS please visit the World Health Organization. Please help support your local HIV/AIDS agencies, you will be very glad you did!

Each brick below leads to Web sites which have resources for seniors and those who are victims of elder abuse. The first brick, eldercare locator, provides, among other things, a search engine to locate services in your area. The second brick, OVC, is a governmental (US) resource for those who are victims of financial fraud. And the third brick leads to an abundance of resources for caregivers and victims. Everyone should visit all three sites to gain an awareness of services that are available to seniors, seniors of abuse, caregivers, and families.