Saint Joseph Berea Encourages Healthier Gift Giving This Holiday Season

Berea, Ky. (December 12, 2019) – If you’re looking for that perfect gift to promote better health, CHI Saint Joseph Health and Saint Joseph Berea have a few suggestions. Give the people on your “nice” list the gift of better health this holiday season with these thoughtful suggestions.

“Give a gift that reiterates your loved ones’ goals to help them feel supported,” said Billi Benson, BA, MED, exercise physiologist at the Weight Loss Center at Saint Joseph East. “You could also volunteer to join them at the gym or watch their children while they exercise.”

She also suggests these gifts:

• Exercise accessories – The gift of athletic wear can help motivate someone and give them the confidence to exercise more. New tennis shoes, wireless headphones and activity trackers are perfect gifts for helping a loved one reach fitness goals. Activity trackers that count steps and miles are an extremely popular item, and many new models connect right to a smart phone for easy use.
• Access to fitness – Cost can be a barrier when it comes to access to fitness opportunities. Especially for those who are not comfortable running outside in the winter weather. So, give a gift card to cover fees at a gym or fitness classes. Ask your health care provider for recommendations on affordable locations.

Paula Fox, BSHA, (RT)(R)(CV)(ARRT), market director of cardiovascular operations at Saint Joseph Hospital and Saint Joseph East, said if you are in the market to gift an activity tracker, select one “that is compatible with the receiver’s smartphone and make sure it can track his or her most common activities, such as running, biking or swimming.”

As the holidays wind to a close, many people are thinking about healthy eating. Consider giving a gift that promotes a balanced diet, like a healthy food delivery subscription, a healthy recipe cookbook or a blender for shakes/smoothies and for a quick meal on the go. For the healthy eater who likes to cook, consider food prep items like mixing bowls or measuring cups/spoons, food storage containers or ingredients like olive-based products.

“Gifting someone membership to a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) would be a great way to keep fresh fruits and vegetables in their house while also supporting local farms and farmers,” said Candice Tufano, RD, diabetes educator, CHI Saint Joseph Health – Diabetes and Nutrition Care.

Gifts that support mental health and well-being are always well-received. Caregivers are often in special need of extra support.

Susan Carmical, MHA, FACHE, director of operations at VNA Health at Home, a service of CHI Saint Joseph Health, suggests a gift card for a restaurant, spa, respite care and/or cleaning services.

“Caregivers often struggle to make time for themselves, so giving something that allows them to decompress and enjoy a little self-care is an excellent choice,” she said.

Christmas is a great time to share spiritual gifts. Rachele Holmes, MDiv, chaplain, at Saint Joseph Berea, suggests journals, devotional books, audiobook subscriptions, plants or gift card for a spiritual retreat or yoga classes.

“A lot of spirituality is about creating the time and space to reflect, so we can help nourish our loved ones by providing them with a venue for that meditative reflection,” Holmes said.

Your gifts can help support those who want to stay active and make healthier choices in the new year. Make a commitment to spread the blessing of good health and give the gift of self-care this holiday season.

For more information, visit www.chisaintjosephhealth.org.

About CHI Saint Joseph Health
CHI Saint Joseph Health, part of Catholic Health Initiatives, is one of the largest and most comprehensive health systems in the Commonwealth of Kentucky with 135 locations in 20 counties, including hospitals, physician groups, clinics, primary care centers, specialty institutes and home health agencies. In total, the health system serves patients in 35 counties statewide. CHI Saint Joseph Health is dedicated to building healthier communities by elevating patient care through an integrated physical and behavioral health delivery system. CHI Saint Joseph Health embodies a strong mission and faith-based heritage and works through local partnerships to expand access to care in the communities it serves.

About Saint Joseph Berea
Saint Joseph Berea is a 25-bed critical access hospital located in Berea, KY. Established in 1898 on the grounds of Berea College, the facility serves residents of Madison, Estill, Garrard, Jackson and Rockcastle counties. Saint Joseph Berea recognizes the importance of family, friends and familiar surroundings in the healing process and provides a breadth of services so that getting first-rate care doesn’t have to mean being far from home.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For More Information:
Mary Branham, Director, Communications
P: 859.313.2642
[email protected]