MA Paid COVID Leave Program

The recruiting and payroll departments have noticed that quite a few employees have been having issues accessing their iSolved accounts. Because of this, I felt it necessary to send out this email with some useful information regarding iSolved. The Employee Self-Service User's Guide has been emailed to you. It's a lengthy 21 pages long, so here are some specific pages you should review, especially if you are having issues accessing your account: Pages 3-7 are helpful with the registration process and the first time you log into your account. Pages 13-15 are helpful with viewing your pay stubs, tax forms, etc. Pages 16-17 are helpful regarding benefits. Pages 17-19 are helpful with updating your address, phone number, tax exemption status, etc. Each Friday, payroll will go through the list of employees who have not registered with iSolved and send out a registration email to all of them. This email has the link to register your iSolved account. The link is only good for 72 hrs, so if that time has passed, you will need to wait until the following Friday to use the new link to register. After you have registered, you will need to use one of the two iSolved websites to log in and access your account. iSolved/MassPay do not have an app for our employees to use, so this is the only way to access your account: https://mp-hr.myisolved.com/UserLogin.aspx https://mp-hr.myisolved.com/cloudservice/login Your username will always be your email address. If you have any further questions, please feel free to reach out to the payroll and recruiting departments.

Managing the Risk Factors for Stroke

Ever felt nervous about a work project, a doctor appointment or being late for a meeting? Everyone feels anxious sometimes and the result can be headaches, stomach upset, a racing heartbeat or feeling miserably tense. At times like this, you want to calm down — but how? For ongoing anxiety, learning and practicing yoga and meditation can help. There are also calming techniques to soothe anxious feelings while you’re on the go. No matter how much or little time they require, these stress-soothing strategies can produce a similar effect. They spark the body’s natural relaxation response, slowing breathing and heart rate, controlling blood pressure and promoting a sense of well-being. Tips for going from frazzled to calm: Focus on your breathing. Take long, deep breaths, inhaling into your abdomen. Exhale slowly and repeat several times. Silently repeat a calming phrase. Some people use a short prayer, mantra, or a soothing phrase such as “All is well” or “I am fine.” Mentally scan your body. While anxiously waiting for a meeting, breathe slowly as you focus on one part of your body at a time. Consciously relax your muscles, mentally releasing any tension you feel there. Tell yourself, “I can do this.” Every day millions of Americans help sick or incapacitated elders or disabled family members with daily tasks and medical care. Experts from the CDC and the National Institute on Aging advise caregivers to practice the following routines to stay healthy while faced with the emotional and physical stress of daily caregiving: Create personal health goals, find time to be physically active most days, eat a healthy diet and ensure adequate sleep. Don’t neglect your own health. Get vaccinations, screening and other care as your health care provider advises. Maintain your personal interests and friendships. It’s not healthy to allow your caregiving to consume your entire life. Remember, there’s no perfect caregiver. Set realistic goals to lower stress. Prioritize, establish a daily routine and say no to requests that drain your energy. Learn to delegate whenever you can. Family members and friends often want to help — if they are reliable, let them assist with chores big or small. Join an online support group. Connect with other caregivers to share information and experiences to feel less isolated. Short breaks, such as taking a walk, are important, but consider longer breaks when possible, including respite care — short-term, professional care provided to people with disabilities so you can step away from daily caregiving. Learn more at www.caregiver.org

Falls account for nearly one-third of all non-fatal injuries in the U.S. , according to Injury Facts . For some people, falls result in embarrassment, skinned knees or broken bones. For others, falls can signal the beginning of lifestyle changes – or even lead to death. Every 20 minutes, an older adult dies from a fall , and many more are injured, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC data indicates : More than one in four older adults falls every year; fewer than half tell their doctor 3 million older adults are treated in emergency departments each year for fall injuries More than 800,000 patients are hospitalized each year because of injuries due to a fall, most often because of a head injury or hip fracture  Because the aging process can affect vision, strength and balance, adults 65 and older are at elevated risk for falls. However, falls are not a natural part of aging and can be prevented. You can identify simple steps that can make a big difference: Practice balance exercises at home, like these from the Go4Life program from the National Institutes for Health . Check your risk for falling. This self-assessment from CDC allows you to compute your fall risk. Be sure to share the results with your doctor. Make Your Home Safer While falls can occur anywhere, they most often occur at home. Be sure to: Clear your floor: Remove clutter, small furniture, pet gear, electrical cords, throw rugs and anything else that might cause someone to trip Arrange or remove furniture so there is plenty of room for walking Put essential items where they are easy to reach Add grab bars inside and outside of your bathtub or shower and next to the toilet Put railings on both sides of the stairs, and make sure stairs and hallways have good lighting Make sure outdoor areas are well lit and walkways are smooth and free of puddles and ice Use a cane or walker if necessary While we all are aging every day, falls do not have to be a part of that process. Understanding fall risks is the first step to keeping our loved ones and ourselves safe. Source: https://www.nsc.org/community-safety/safety-topics/older-adult-falls

Beat the Heat

Mother's Day is a wonderful time to celebrate the woman who raised you.

We've compiled some of our favorite holiday cookie recipes and we hope that you enjoy them!