Grandell Rehabilitation and Nursing Center takes part in Safe Toys and Gift Month 2014

(December 5, 2014) Long Beach, New York --  Grandell Rehabilitation and Nursing Center honors Safe Toys and Gift Month by raising awareness about potential hazardous toys. During this time of year, the toy industry is booming but parents must remain vigilant about the toys and gifts their children receive.

The following guidelines are important for choosing safe toys for all ages:

• All toys should be inspected before purchase. Avoid those that have shooting mechanisms or include parts that fly off.
• The toy should not have sharp corners or edges and should be durable enough to withstand impact without breaking.
• Check toys for age, skill level, and developmental appropriateness.
• Check for labels that certify that the toy has passed a safety inspection. ATSM attests that the toy has met the American Society for Testing and Materials standards.
• Protective equipment should be given alongside sport gear.
• Learn about lead exposure from toys, characteristics of lead poisoning, and what kinds of toys have been recalled in the past. Remember that old toys are more likely to contain lead. If you suspect that your child has been exposed to lead, make sure they wash their hands frequently and thoroughly and contact your pediatrician immediately.
• Do not give toys with small parts to young children. If the toy piece can fit inside a paper towel roll, it is not appropriate for children under 3 years old.

“Here at Grandell Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, we would like to remind everyone about remaining vigilant while toy shopping this year. There are many toys that contain potentially hazardous materials or not age appropriate for your child. Keep up to date about current recalls and important guidelines when toy shopping” says Baruch Gilberstein, administrator at Grandell Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.

Grandell Rehab and Nursing Center, a nursing home in Nassau County is a 278-bed premier skilled nursing and rehabilitation care center providing 24-hour comprehensive inpatient care to adults of all ages. The proud recipient of a 2014 Deficiency Free Survey from the New York State Department of Health, Grandell provides short-term rehabilitation, long-term care and hospice care, along with a renowned Alzheimer's/Dementia program. Grandell Rehab and Nursing Center also offers a highly successful amputee rehab program which utilizes a specially-made 55 foot long harness, the first of its kind in New York State. Grandell is a Glatt Kosher facility under the supervision of the Vaad Harabonim of Queens.

For more information on Grandell Rehab and Nursing Center, visiting hours, or general inquiries, contact Alison Anchin at 516-889-1100. Kindly visit our newly redesigned website at www.GrandellRehab.com. Like us at Facebook.com/LongBeachRehab1. Follow us at Twitter.com/GrandellRehab. Connect with us at Gplus.to/GrandellRehab.

First Annual Out On A Limb Walk-A-Thon

On Sunday October 5th, 2014, the first annual “Out on a Limb” Walk was held at noon on the Long Beach Boardwalk. The event was co-sponsored by A.O. Prosthetic Rehab Center from Ozone Park, and Grandell Rehabilitation and Nursing Center from Long Beach. The walk was to benefit 3 organizations that help amputees both locally and globally; first being the Amputee Coalition of America, second is the Challenged Athletes Foundation, and third is the Living Water Children’s Center Fund.

The event was a complete success as over 200 participants, both amputees and able-bodied walkers joined to walk the boardwalk. In attendance were local vendors, local businesses, corporate sponsors, and prosthetic manufacturers, showing off their goods and services. All ages had fun at the event as a DJ played music, face painters and food were all part of the walk. As everyone returned from walking the boardwalk, over 35 baskets filled with local products and gift certificates including an IPAD were raffled off to lucky winners. Then, for the final grand prizes, 3 very lucky amputees walked away as winners of a custom running prosthesis that were raffled off. The 3 running feet were donated by prosthetic manufacturers Otto Bock, Ossur, and Freedom Innovations, and the prosthetic limbs will be fabricated by the co-host A.O. Prosthetic Rehab Center.

The walkers created many teams and raised over $15,000 for the 3 receiving organizations. Plans for next year’s 2nd annual “Out on a Limb” Walk are already in the works, and the coordinators are excited to soon announce the charitable organizations that will receive the funds raised in next year’s walk.

A Little Laughter A Day Keeps The Doctor Away

Laughter may actually be the best medicine after all. A good sense of humor has been shown to be very effective in keeping one physically and mentally healthy. Laughter has also done a good job at enhancing ones relationships with other people.

Some unbelievable physical health benefits of laughter include how it relaxes the whole body, boosts ones immune system, triggers the release of endorphins, and reduces the risk of heart disease.

Some of the incredible mental health benefits of laughter include how it can reduce stress, recharge a person to get them into action, and shift ones perspective allowing them to view situations in a more realistic and less threatening manner.

Laughter is also highly effective in helping improve ones relationships with those around them. Laughter can unite people together in the toughest of times and is a great way to help solve disagreements between different people. Laughter can be especially effective for people when relating to their loved ones especially their husband, wife or other family members.

So laugh out loud and enjoy what maybe one of the best medicines for your physical health, mental health and improving your relationships with others!

Get Cycling! | Grandell Rehabilitation and Nursing Center

Are you a senior citizen looking for something fun and healthy to do this summer? Want incorporate exercise into your daily active routine but can't figure out how?

For more active senior citizens, biking is a great low-impact sport which is very enjoyable. However, there are certain safety tips seniors need to be aware of before going out for a ride:

1) Know the rules of the road for bikers in your area.

2) Ride on familiar roads or research roads before going biking on them. The roads one bikes on should be designated bike paths and be well lit.

3) For seniors it is especially important to not ride alone but to instead bike with family and friends.

4) Always wear a helmet in order to limit head injuries

Aren't up to biking the trails? A stationary bike maybe a good option. You can bike for miles and miles without leaving home (or your gym), rain or shine!

Hopefully these  tips will help ensure seniors have a more enjoyable and safer biking experience!​