Monmouth County Health Department March/April Newsletter

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monmouth county health department

March/April 2018

Influenza Update

Monmouth County is still in the midst of a very serious flu season. February saw a sharp spike in reported cases throughout the state. The Monmouth County Health Department (MCHD) continues to provide flu shots. Contact our office to schedule an appointment.  For additional information and reports, visit the NJDOH’s Seasonal Influenza page.


Howell Health Fair

MCHD offers health screenings at the Howell Health Fair

The MCHD will be holding a health fair on Saturday, April 21, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Southard School 115 Kent Road in Howell (Get directions). There will be information on staying healthy, activities and programs available through the MCHD, free screening for eyes, diabetes, cholesterol, body mass index, blood pressure and other screenings and information available. For additional information, contact our office at 732-431-7456.


World Health Day - Health for All

World Health Day is Saturday, April 7 and this year's focus is the topic of Universal Healthcare. At least half of the world’s population is currently unable to obtain essential health services.

 

In order to pay for health services, almost 100 million people are forced to survive on just $1.90 or less a day. Over 800 million people spend at least 10 percent of their household budgets on health expenses. Incurring catastrophic expenses for health care is a global problem. Visit http://www.who.int/campaigns/world-health-day/2018/en/ to learn more.


T-dap Vaccines Available

The MCHD provides T-dap immunizations throughout the year by appointment. Immunizations are free for Board of Health member towns; all others are $15.00. Call our office at 732- 431-7456 ext. 8513 to schedule an appointment. The CDC recommends that grandparents be vaccinated against whooping cough (pertussis) tetanus and diphtheria, ideally at least 2 weeks before visiting newborns.  


Mammography Clinic

The MCHD provides free or low-cost cancer screenings to uninsured women living in Monmouth County. We will be holding a clinic on Thursday, May 3, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Call 732-431-7456 ext. 8513 for more information.


Hoarding – Facing the Challenges

One of the most challenging areas of county/municipal response is hoarding.

 

Hoarding is the persistent difficulty of discarding or parting with possessions, regardless of their actual value. This behavior usually has deleterious effects—emotional, physical, social, financial, and even legal—for a hoarder and family members.

 

Compulsive hoarding is sometimes considered to be a type of OCD. Compulsive hoarding is also considered a feature of obsessive compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) and may develop along with other mental illnesses, such as dementia and schizophrenia.

 

A lack of functional living space is common among hoarders, who may also live in unhealthy or dangerous conditions. Hoarders often live with broken appliances and without heat or other necessary comforts. They cope with malfunctioning systems rather than allow a qualified person into their home to fix a problem.

 

Frequently the hoarder lacks the financial resources and the will to adequately address their problem. Traditional enforcement procedures (summons, mandatory court appearance and the imposition of fines by a municipal court) do not address the underlying issues and therefore fail to achieve any kind of ongoing compliance.

 

Similarly, attempts by family and friends to help with de-cluttering may not be well received by the person who hoards. Until the person is internally motivated to change they may not accept help, for at the end of the day, motivation cannot be forced. Everyone, including people who hoard, has a right to make choices about their objects and how they live. Enforcing officials balance this right against the health and safety of the community. Generally, hoarding does not become enforceable until it affects the surrounding neighborhood.

 

Attempts to “clean out” the homes of people who hoard without treating the underlying problem usually fail. Families and community agencies may spend many hours and thousands of dollars clearing a home only to find that the problem recurs, often within just a few months. Hoarders whose homes are cleared without their consent often experience extreme distress and may become further attached to their possessions. This may lead to their refusal of future help.

 

Successfully addressing a hoarding condition requires an individual approach from a number of related agencies. In an effort to deal with this complex issue, some states have formed Hoarding Response Teams composed of health and police departments, mental health professionals, code and fire officials and sometimes animal control officers, among others. Hoarding requires patience and understanding from all the involved parties.

 

Attributions to:

International OCD Foundation

Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA)


Did you know?

To date, the MCHD's team of Public Health Nurses have provided over 900 seasonal influenza (flu) vaccinations for the 2017-2018 Influenza Season.

Board of Health

Marianne Longobardi, President 

Ann Marie Buontempo, Vice President

Ellynn KahleSecretary/Treasurer

Thomas Calabrese

Brian Charnick

Andrew Wardell

Paul Boisvert


Patrick Impreveduto, Freeholder Liaison 

 

Health Department Meetings

The Board of Health conducts meetings on the third Tuesday of each month, at the County Health Department offices at 3435 Route 9, Freehold. Meetings begin at 7 p.m.


Phone: 732-431-7456

 

Monmouth County Seal 2018