Brighton independent living community spotlights National Caregivers Day
BRIGHTON, N.Y. (WROC) – Friday is National Caregivers Day, which serves as an opportunity to show appreciation for those who take care of their loved ones in times of need.
One story comes right out of St. John's Meadows Independent Living Community in Brighton, where gratitude knows no bounds.
Bill Smith was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease in 2018. His wife, Barbara Smith, has been at his side throughout their journey.
'It's a busy thing. I'm kind of doing things for both of us,' said Smith.
The Smiths are part of the St. John's Meadows community in Brighton, and there, they say they have found a true community.
'National Caregivers Day is very close to our hearts here at St. Johns. About four years ago during COVID, we started an initiative that was aimed at supporting specifically caregivers whose loved ones have dementia. We actually, about a year ago, were able to do a respite program, which provides free resources and respite to caregivers. They can get fellowship, engagement and activities – and the caregiver themselves gets to have some free time,' said Jennifer Lesinski, vice president of marketing at St. John's Meadows.
Friday, the St. John's community highlighted selfless love and care in people like Barbara Smith, as well as the staff who are working to make a difference day in and day out.
'We know a lot of these folks are doing it behind the scenes and are not recognized. It's really hard for caregivers to get time away from the caregiving role. They're doing this 24/7. They often don't have the resources, especially if they don't have family in the area,' said Lesinski.
For Smith, she says there's no shortage of gratitude to St. John's for helping to enhance the quality of life for her husband, and for herself.
'I guess it's just that, yes, it's a lot of work. And yes, it can be stressful. But there's some good things about it, too. I get to spend time with him at this point in our lives and although that time is sometimes stressful, it also is very good. It's very good to spend time together for both of us,' said Smith.
St. John's Meadows is currently raising funds for a new comprehensive center that will be dedicated to treating dementia and supporting caregivers. Officials hope to open the center in 2026.
More information on ways to support St. John's capital campaign can be found here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Migratory birds develop antibodies to bird flu, officials say
(WAVY) – Wildlife officials are keeping a close eye on the spread of avian influenza after along the North Carolina coast earlier this year — most of them brown pelicans. The outbreak has since been linked to the H5N1 strain of bird flu, a virus that continues to mutate and occasionally jump to other species, raising concern among experts. Miranda Turner, a wildlife health biologist with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, said the area is a prime wintering ground for birds — making it easier for disease to spread. 'When you bring a lot of animals together and you have them traveling from different locations, it's a really good way to transmit diseases,' Turner said. In Hampton Roads, bird flu outbreaks aren't new. Lisa Barlow, president of T recalls treating sick and dying Canada geese during a 2021 outbreak on the Lafayette River. 'We dealt with about three to four dozen Canada geese that came in sick and dying,' Barlow said. 'Only six survived the flu, and even those had to be euthanized due to severe neurological symptoms.' Barlow described birds arriving unable to hold their heads up, their beaks caked in mud. Many died within 24 hours. As the virus continues to affect wildlife, it's not just birds at risk. , including seals, cats and even cattle. Experts say it's mutated at least several times since it was first identified. 'I mean, anything that can do that — it's kind of frightening, but amazing,' Barlow said. Despite the concerning spread, health officials emphasize the risk to humans remains low. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 70 human cases have been reported nationwide, including one death. Most infections have been among people with repeated exposure to infected animals, such as poultry or dairy farm workers. 'There's really low risk,' Turner said. 'Still, it's a good idea to clean bird feeders regularly and wear gloves or a mask if you handle injured wildlife.' Barlow also urges caution for those who come across sick birds. 'If you do want to help, wear gloves, protect yourself,' she said. 'Common sense goes a long way.' Meanwhile, as migratory birds continue to interact and spread the virus, some are developing natural antibodies, according to Turner. 'They're bouncing back and creating herd immunity,' she said. Last week, the Associated Press reported the in funding meant to support Moderna's development of a bird flu vaccine. The vaccine, which uses mRNA technology similar to the COVID-19 vaccine, had shown early promise in clinical trials. For now, wildlife officials say they expect to see more outbreaks in the years ahead, especially during peak migration periods. 'Because this virus is so common in migratory birds, it is likely that we will continue to see cases here and there every winter,' Turner said. As of right now, there have been no confirmed human cases of H5N1 in Virginia and although the risk remains low for humans, for birds it can be extremely deadly – leading to large die-off events like the ones we saw near Cape Hatteras. 'Unfortunately, this was the first kind of major large scale mortality event… while it looks really bad at that small scale of seeing 300 brown pelicans die – it's not impacting their population as a whole or the species as a whole,' adds Turner. Turner also explains that the surviving pelicans are still there, 'The brown pelicans that did survive that event were still nesting on that island successfully and are doing well. So really, it's a short scale kind of scary looking event, but nothing that raises alarm for biologists in the long term.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
New coronavirus discovered in China ‘only small step' from infecting humans
A new coronavirus discovered in China is only a small step from mutating and causing another global pandemic, experts have warned. Scientists believe the variant, called HKU5-CoV-2, may infect a broader range of animals than Covid-19 – which caused millions of deaths – and may have more potential for jumping between species. US researchers fear that HKU5-CoV-2, found in China, in February, could also infect humans, leading to a widespread outbreak. The new study, published in Nature Communications, looked at a lesser-known group of coronaviruses called merbecoviruses, which includes HKU5 and MERS-CoV, which is responsible for the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. The team from Washington State University looked at how the new pathogen interacts with human cells. They found that a small change in the virus's spike protein could allow it to attach to human ACE2 cells in people's throats, mouths and noses. HKU5-CoV-2 can infect and replicate inside human cells in both the airways and gut. According to the World Health Organisation, about 35 per cent of people infected with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome die. Since 2012, some 27 countries have reported cases, leading to 858 known deaths due to the infection, which spread from camels. But when HKU5 was discovered in February, scientists warned against exaggerating the risks because it does not enter human cells as readily as Sars-CoV-2, which caused Covid-19. HKU5 was first detected in bats by scientists from the Chinese laboratory where some say Covid originated in 2019. Prof Michael Letko, a virologist who co-led the study, said: 'HKU5 viruses in particular really hadn't been looked at much, but our study shows how these viruses infect cells. 'What we also found is HKU5 viruses may be only a small step away from being able to spill over into humans.' When Covid-19 emerged it was widely blamed on markets in China where different breeds of wild animal are kept caged and often slaughtered close to other animals. Meat is sold at the open-air stalls. Critics said the markets were the perfect breeding ground for new zoonotic diseases – those that spread to humans – to emerge. The scientists, whose experiments studied how the new pathogen interacts with human cells, believe the virus would have to carry certain mutations if it were to infect humans. 'These viruses are closely related to MERS, so we have to be concerned if they ever infect humans,' Prof Letko said. 'While there's no evidence they've crossed into people yet, the potential is there and that makes them worth watching.'
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Uptick in tick bites reported in Central Pennsylvania emergency rooms
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WTAJ) — With summer temperatures reaching Central Pennsylvania, emergency rooms are noticing an uptick in ticks. 'The seasons are now changing and so we're doing a lot more outdoor stuff,' said Nsikak Daniel, M.D., an emergency room physician at Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown. 'Ticks are just one of those things you kind of get when you go out into the woods.' While children and older adults may have the most adverse reactions to tick bites, everyone should take precautions. Juniata College receives approval from state nursing board for new nursing program 'Wear clothing that covers you up, you know, socks and stuff like that with your shoes. Insect repellents sometimes can help,' Daniels said. Lyme Disease is a common illness carried by ticks, often characterized by a bullseye–shaped rash around a bite. While it's become more prevalent, Daniels said it's not the only thing you should worry about. 'One of the complications a lot of people don't think about is something that's called anaplasmosis. It's a very serious, tick borne illness and it's something that can affect your bloodstream. It can affect your organs and cause organ damage,' Daniels said. If you get bit and have any concerns that you did not remove the tick or notice signs of infection such as fever or a rash, you should go to the emergency room immediately. Veterinarians also said they're seeing a rise in bites and infections in dogs. They said the best way to keep your furry friend safe is to use medications and repellents, mow your lawn and avoid high risk areas like tall grass and wooded areas during tick season. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
