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Helping older adults manage dangerous summer temperatures

With 100-plus degree temperatures setting records and two-thirds of the state recently subject to heat advisories, hot weather is making its sometimes-deadly impact in Minnesota. Older adults are especially vulnerable to hot weather, as aging bodies lose the ability to quickly and easily adapt to high heat. Often compounding the problem are prescription drugs that …

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Seasonal allergies in older adults

Spring’s bounty brings lovely flowering trees and blissful sunshine. Lurking in the warm air for many people, though, are pollens and other allergens that can cause great discomfort. If your senior is suffering from sneezing, a runny nose, and watery, itchy eyes, and it’s clearly seasonal allergies, she’ll probably want relief with an antihistamine. Note, …

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Pinnacle gives back to community

Several Pinnacle Services employees assisted the Salvation Army in Northeast Minneapolis on December 20 to organize toys, stock shelves and assist shoppers preparing for the holiday season. Volunteers included Amanda Halvorson, Desiree Gnerre, Kim Cole, Jamie Plude, Lacey Reierson, Melissa Trebesch, Ashley Stoffer, Kari Griffin, Amber Statz, Jill Cihlar, Debbie Anderson, Mary Johnson, Desire Gnerre, …

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Pinnacle Services hosts third annual Pinnacle Pub Crawl at MSSA

This year’s Minnesota Social Service Association (MSSA) Training Conference & Expo was held March 13-16 at the Hilton Hotel in downtown Minneapolis. At Pinnacle’s informational booth, staff members answered questions and handed out brochures, travel mugs, gift bags and desk accessories. Pinnacle case managers attended a variety of workshops on such topics as poverty, hunger …

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Caregiver Training: What Pinnacle Requires

What kinds of training does a caregiver get before taking care of seniors? Not all agencies require the extensive training that Pinnacle does. According to Karin Malkowski Stende, trainer/human resources associate, Pinnacle requires “very intensive, 30-plus hours of classroom and on-site training that new staff are expected to complete during their initial two weeks of …

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The Stress of Hot Weather on Seniors

The recent stretch of hot weather in Minnesota had everyone looking for relief. And aging adults are more likely to experience the effects of hot weather than younger adults. Physically, older adults cannot adjust to significant changes in temperature the way younger adults can. What’s more, prescription drugs can also reduce the body’s ability to …

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