Wellness Wednesday

"Writing and reading decrease our sense of isolation. They deepen and widen and expand our sense of life: They feed the soul. When writers make us shake our heads with the exactness of their prose and their truths, and even make us laugh about ourselves or life, our buoyancy is restored."  Anne Lamott

Why reading is important to your mental health: Mental Health Benefits of Reading Books. We spend a lot of time advocating for our students to read. You must read, too!

Click here: Slideshow of 7 Reasons Why Reading is Important for Children and Adults.

Governor Proclamation on Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), developmental disabilities are defined as impairments in physical, learning, language or behavior areas and include

• Autism spectrum disorders
• Cerebral palsy
• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
• Learning or intellectual disabilities
• Hearing loss
• Vision impairment
• Other developmental delays

This is a nationwide event to raise awareness about the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities and address the barriers that those with disabilities face. Inclusion is necessary since about 15% of the world’s population lives with a disability. We need to understand the relationship between the way people function and how they participate in society and making sure everybody has the same opportunities in every aspect of life to the best of their abilities.

More information about what how you can participate can be found here: National Disability Awareness Month.

It's never overreacting to ask for what you want and need--Amy Poehler

The holidays are a tough time for many people. Whether you simply don’t get along with family members, or the current political climate is causing tension, holidays are hard. You might struggle with depression or anxiety that is heightened by time spent with immediate and extended family. There are techniques to employ that can help you deal with difficult people.

For a detailed explanation of each tip listed below, check out this article: Difficult Family Holidays.

Trauma creates change you don't choose. Healing creates change you do choose.--Michele Rosenthal

This week we are informing you of a FREE benefit that is a part of your DFT membership. The details of a trauma counseling program are outlined in the flyer. If you are not signed up as a member of AFT National, scan codes and emails can be found on the members benefits tab so you can create an account. This account will allow you to access all AFT benefits offered to you as a dues-paying member, not just the trauma counseling program. To see all the benefits of being an AFT member, check out this link on our website. Go to the membership tab, then drop down to member benefits: https://dft231.mi.aft.org/member-benefits.

The Mayo Clinic offers up these five tips to help people create a workout routine that fits into a busy life: 5 Simple Tips To Fit A Workout Into Any Schedule.

Technological advancements make life easier but they can come at a cost. Every day it seems as if a data breach story hits the news. As individuals and families use more technology, there is a lot at stake when it comes to protecting ourselves online. 

Here is a booklet that addresses identity theft: Identity Theft Booklet from FTC.

If you are the victim of identity theft, use this resource to start your recovery plan: https://www.identitytheft.gov/.

Have computer security programs running and regularly updated to look for the latest threats. Install anti-virus software to protect against malware (malicious software) that can steal information such as account numbers and passwords, and use a firewall to prevent unauthorized access to your computer.

Be smart about where and how you connect to the internet for banking or other communications involving sensitive personal information. Public Wi-Fi networks and computers in public places such as libraries or hotel business centers can be risky if they don’t have up-to-date security software.

Ignore unsolicited emails asking you to open an attachment or click on a link if you don’t know who sent it or why. Cybercriminals are good at creating fake emails that look legitimate, but can install malware. Your best bet is to either ignore unsolicited requests to open attachments or files or to independently verify that the supposed source actually sent the email to you by making contact using a published email address or telephone number.

Be suspicious if someone contacts you unexpectedly online and asks for your personal information. A safe strategy is to ignore unsolicited requests for information, no matter how legitimate they appear, especially if they ask for information such as a Social Security number, bank account numbers and passwords.

Use the most secure process you can when logging into financial accounts. Create “strong” passwords that could be easy for you to remember and difficult for others to guess.  The National Institute of Standards and Technology has suggested passwords that are at least 12 characters in length and include multiple character sets, such as a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and keyboard symbols. A good example is “1Banana+1Pineapple.” Change passwords  regularly, and try not to use the same passwords or PINs (personal identification numbers) for several accounts.

Be discreet when using social networking sites. Criminals comb those sites looking for information such as someone’s place of birth, mother’s maiden name or a pet’s name, in case those details can help them guess or reset passwords for online accounts or figure out answers to security questions that some sites use.

Be careful when using smartphones and tablets. Don’t leave your mobile device unattended and use a device password or other method to control access if it’s stolen or lost.

Everyone knows the significance of the date, April 15.  Today we are going to offer up some tips on how to deescalate the stress of filing your income taxes. It is not a fun task to do, but a necessary one.

1. Gather all your documents. Here are a few common forms to look for:

• W-2 for employment earnings
• 1099-DIV for dividends
• 1099-INT for interest received
• 1099-NEC for non-employee compensation
• 1099-R for distributions from 401(k), IRA or pension plans
• Form 1098 for mortgage interest paid
• Form 5498 for IRA, SEP-IRA and SIMPLE contributions

Make a folder on your home computer as well, to keep digital tax forms, online receipts, year-end account statements and other relevant documents. For security's sake, you may want to encrypt and password protect tax-related documents on your computer. Store paper documents in a safe place for at least three years after you file your taxes, along with your completed tax returns.

2. Know your filing status. Not sure what your status is? It's based on your marital status on the last day of the year.

• Single: You are unmarried, divorced or legally separated.
• Head of household: You are single and pay more than half of your living expenses for yourself and a qualifying dependent.
• Married filing jointly: You are married or your spouse passed away during the year, and you are filing only one tax return.
• Married filing separately: You are married and don't wish to file jointly. In some cases, filing separately may save you money.
• Qualifying surviving spouse: Your spouse died within the past two years and you have one or more dependent children.

The IRS has an interactive tax assistant to help you figure out which filing status fits you and, if there's more than one option, which saves you the most money.

3. Do you have life changes?

home computer as 

4. Be aware of tax scams.

Scammers posing as the IRS may go after your personal information or demand payment; fraudsters posing as you may attempt to file taxes in your name.

• Report phishing scams to the IRS. If you receive a suspicious email or text pretending to be from the IRS, report it. The IRS does not make unscheduled phone calls or send unsolicited email or texts requesting personal identifying information or immediate payment.
• Watch out for tax identity theft. A scammer also may use your identity to file a fake tax return and collect a refund. Notify the IRS if you can't e-file your tax return because a return has already been filed under your Social Security or tax identification number.

5. Get help by phone or in person.  Here's how to start:

• Call the IRS at their toll-free IRS helpline.
• IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers (TAS) are available nationwide to provide in-person service for 2025. Many offer extended hours.
• Get volunteer help with tax preparation. Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) provides free tax prep assistance for taxpayers who have lower incomes, disabilities or limited English-speaking skills. Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) offers free tax advice for taxpayers ages 60 and older. Find a VITA or TCE site near you using the VITA Locator Tool.
• Access expert help with difficult cases. Contact the TAS if you have an unresolved issue with the IRS that involves financial hardship, systemic problems (such as lengthy delays) and issues related to fairness and equity.

6. File an Accurate Return.  Inaccuracies on your tax return are a potential trigger for an IRS audit. When you file your taxes, the IRS checks the information in it against W-2 forms from your employer; 1099s from clients, banks or investment companies; and its own record of payments you've made. If your tax return differs from what the IRS has on file, it may be flagged for a manual review, which could delay your refund.

To be extra safe, check your return for accuracy against the information the IRS has on file. You can get a free digital copy of your tax transcript by visiting the IRS's Get Your Tax Record site.

Here's the best advice we can give!

Start early and file on time. This makes the tax preparation process much less stressful. The sooner you can start, the better. Do everything you can to file on time so you can avoid penalties and interest. Your taxes don't get easier to do the longer you wait to do them. Good luck! 🤞

Do you know the difference between a cardiac arrest and a heart attack?

Many of us are providing caregiver services to family and friends. This can be a daunting task. We want to make you aware of a new publication that can provide valuable information to caregivers and their families.  Connect Senior Resource Guide is a booklet, courtesy of Ageways, a nonprofit organization that serves as the Area Agency on Aging for a six-county region that includes Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair and Washtenaw counties.

Although the resource guide does not include Wayne County, the guide has useful articles and guides for

• caregiving from a distance
• figuring out how to get around if you’re no longer driving,
• making your home injury-proof,
• finding the right in-home aide

For Wayne County families, caregivers can find the phone numbers of resources available at The Senior Alliance. The phone number for Wayne County's Area of Aging Agency is 734-722-2830.

To download a copy of Connect Senior Resource Guide: Connect Senior Resource Guide.

If you are a caregiver, here are some tips:

Practice the following to reduce your stress:

Today we are sharing information that was presented to our retirees at their chapter meeting in October. This information comes from The Alzheimer's Association, which has a local chapter in southeast Michigan.

Metro Detroit Office - Chapter Headquarters

25200 Telegraph Rd., Suite 100
Southfield, MI 48033
248.351.0280
Open: Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

You can also seek help by calling 800.272.3900, email helplinegmc@alz.org, or visit their website https://www.alz.org/gmc.

Worldwide, 55 million people are living with Alzheimer's and other dementias. 6 million live in the United States.  Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative brain disease and the most common cause of dementia. Dementia is not a specific disease. It's an overall term that describes a group of symptoms.

There are 10 warning signs of Alzheimer's and this 45 second video names them: 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer's & Dementia.

The following tips are for everyone!