Holidays are traditionally a time of family and friends, a time of sharing food and drink with those we love. Sometimes holidays bring melancholy memories of loved ones we no longer have in our lives. 2020’s holidays are not just like no other — they’re also much harder.

However, thanks to licensed clinical social worker Genevieve Banegas here at Mendocino Coast Clinics and others like her, many of our community members are getting the support they need to manage these tough times. Having someone to talk to with experience and interest in helping you work through difficult emotions and plan for the unfamiliar can really improve your quality of life. We have all been challenged this year and getting support from a professional is a good way to help get through it.

Although licensed therapists such as clinical social workers and psychologists have highly specialized training, Banegas said some of the most important work she does is simply to listen. Having someone really listen to you feels good, and talking through your feelings can help you understand them better.

Though the holidays are often a time of joy, they can also bring increased stress, and our time-tested way to feel better—spending time with family and friends — is out of the question for many of us because of the pandemic. So, what remedies can we turn to for depression and anxiety when our go-to option, the heart and soul of the holiday season, isn’t available to us? Banegas suggests a few simple principles to guide us this year.

First, recognize that this year is different; don’t try to force unrealistic expectations. If you feel down this holiday season, that’s OK. It’s what you do with those feelings that counts. Banegas suggests planning your holidays day by day, rather than simply letting them arrive. Plan your celebration based on what is possible and what makes you happy — food, music, a Zoom or phone get-together, favorite movies or other safe ways to spend time together. Just because it is new, doesn’t mean it isn’t fulfilling.

“We’re all having to find new traditions,” she said. “And maybe don’t start your day off with social media.”

For many, absences have defined 2020 — the absence of time with family and friends, the absence of financial and physical security, and for some, the absence of losing someone dear.

“Especially this year, we need to focus on what we have and the people we have,” Banegas said, and fill the empty spaces with new ways to celebrate. Planning ways to honor those not here, and remembering those who have left us, are not only good things to do, but they can be foundations of a happier holiday.

If happiness feels out of reach, you’re not alone. If you find yourself connecting with people less and less often, if your daily routine is dwindling and you’re no longer interested in regular meals, if personal hygiene is slipping, or if you find yourself drinking or using recreational drugs more often, it could be time to reach out for help. If you’re thinking of harming yourself, it is definitely time to reach out. There is no blame or shame in reaching out for help.

At Mendocino Coast Clinics, Behavioral Health specialists like Banegas, who offers her services in both English and Spanish, have vast toolkits for helping people navigate life’s stressful times. If you are doing fine but someone you care about is struggling, Genevieve recommends resisting the temptation to jump in and try to fix their problems, and instead to simply listen. If appropriate, refer them to local support resources.

Mendocino Coast Clinics’ Behavioral Health team is available Monday – Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at (707) 961-3492. Mendocino County offers what they call their “warm line” for assistance Monday through Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., with operators trained to listen and support people at (707) 472-2311 or toll-free at (833) 955-2510. Mendocino County also has a crisis hotline at (855) 838-0404 for those who need urgent help with mental health and emotional crises. Family and friends for whom someone else’s crisis has become theirs are also welcome to call the warm line or crisis line.

Finally, Mendocino County has a new crisis and advice text service. Those in need can send a text to 741741 to be connected to someone 24/7 for support and advice.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to any of our Behavioral Health staff at Mendocino Coast Clinics if you and your family need support. We are here for you.

Wishing everyone peace and health this holiday season from your neighbors here at Mendocino Coast Clinics!

[Versión en español a continuación]

It’s Open Enrollment time!

Now more than ever, staying healthy is top of mind for most of us. Having healthcare insurance can help to make sure you get the care you need. The open enrollment period for Covered California runs through January 31, 2021.

For regular annual coverage that starts January 1, 2021, you must sign up by December 15, 2020. If you miss that deadline, you can still get coverage starting February 1 if you enroll by the final January 31 deadline.

MCC has Certified Enrollment Counselors on staff to help you choose the best plan for you. They can check how much financial help you qualify for and compare health plans. There is no cost for this service, and you do not have to be an MCC patient. Just give us a call at 964-1251 to set up an appointment.

You can also call Covered California directly at 800-300-1506.

¡Es hora de inscripción abierta!

Ahora más que nunca, mantenernos saludables es lo más importante para la mayoría de nosotros. Tener un seguro médico puede ayudarlo a asegurarse de que reciba la atención que necesita. El período de inscripción abierta para Covered California se extiende hasta el 31 de enero de 2021.

Para la cobertura anual regular que comienza el 1 de enero de 2021, debe inscribirse antes del 15 de diciembre de 2020. Si no cumple con ese plazo, aún puede obtener cobertura a partir del 1 de febrero si se inscribe antes del último plazo del 31 de enero.

MCC cuenta con asesores de inscripción certificados en el personal para ayudarlo a elegir el mejor plan para usted. Ellos pueden verificar la cantidad de ayuda financiera para la que califica y comparar planes de salud. No hay ningún costo por este servicio y no es necesario que sea un paciente de MCC. Simplemente llámenos al 964-1251 para programar una cita.

También puede llamar a Covered California directamente al 800-300-1506.

Con el reciente aumento de casos aquí en la costa norte, MCC quisiera recordarle a nuestra comunidad sobre la diferencia entre aislamiento y cuarentena. Puede ser muy complejo, así que lea con atención.

Estas son las pautas más actuales, pero pueden cambiar a medida que evoluciona la situación. Actualizaremos nuestro sitio web y redes sociales cuando el CDC emita nuevas pautas.

Si da positivo en la prueba de COVID-19, se le indicará que se aísle. Si es un contacto de alguien que es positivo para COVID-19, se le indicará que se ponga en cuarentena.

• Si vive con el caso positivo, esa persona debe aislarse en el hogar para evitar todo contacto con usted.
• La orden de aislamiento es por 10 días, siendo el día 1 el día de la prueba positiva. La orden de cuarentena es de 14 días, siendo el día 1 el último día en que tuvo contacto con el caso positivo.
• Si continúa teniendo contacto con la persona positiva, su cuarentena de 14 días no comenzará hasta que suspenda el contacto o hasta que termine el período de aislamiento de esa persona.

o Si vive en una situación en la que el aislamiento es imposible, tendrá que estar sin trabajar durante casi un mes.

• Si no vive con el caso positivo con el que estuvo en contacto, debe ponerse en cuarentena en su hogar lejos de cualquier otra persona que viva allí, a menos que todos hayan tenido contacto con la persona positiva.

Cuarentena significa:

• Quédese en casa durante su período de 14 días.
• No ir a la tienda, solo salir de casa para buscar atención médica si es necesario.
• Manténgase aislado de cualquier persona en su hogar que no esté bajo órdenes de cuarentena.
• No tenga contacto con nadie que no viva con usted.

o Pida que le entreguen comestibles / suministros / alimentos en la puerta y permita que la persona regrese a su automóvil antes de abrir la puerta para recoger los artículos.

Aislamiento significa:

• Permanezca en una habitación (como un dormitorio con baño separado) lejos de cualquier otra persona en la casa.
• Las comidas deben entregarse en la puerta sin contacto entre usted y nadie más en el hogar.
• Si no tiene un baño separado, debe tener materiales desinfectantes en el baño y limpiar todo (manijas del grifo, lavabo, descarga del inodoro, cualquier cosa que toque) y usar su mascarilla cuando vaya de su habitación al baño. Use su máscara todo el tiempo que esté fuera de la habitación, incluso mientras esté en el baño.

Es importante que todos sigan las pautas cuando estén aislados o en cuarentena. Juntos superaremos esto y ayudaremos a proteger la salud de nuestra comunidad.

With the recent rise in cases here on the North Coast, MCC would like to remind our community about the difference between isolation and quarantine. It can be very complex, so please read carefully.

These are the most current guidelines, but they may change as the situation evolves. We will update our website and social media when the CDC issues new guidelines.

If you test positive for COVID-19, you will be told to isolate. If you are a contact of someone who is positive for COVID-19, you will be told to quarantine.

• If you live with the positive case, that person must isolate in the home to avoid all contact with you.
• The isolation order is for 10 days with day 1 being the day of the positive test. The quarantine order is for 14 days with day 1 being the last day you had contact with the positive case.
• If you continue to have contact with the positive person, your 14 day quarantine won’t start until you discontinue the contact or until that person’s isolation period ends.

o If you live in a situation where isolation is impossible, you will have to be out of work for nearly a month.

• If you don’t live with the positive case you were in contact with, you need to quarantine in your home away from anyone else who lives there, unless you all had contact with the positive person.

Quarantine means:

• Stay home for your 14 day period.
• No going to the store, only leave your home to seek medical care if necessary.
• Stay isolated from anyone in your home that is not under quarantine orders.
• Have no contact with anyone that does not live with you.

o Have groceries/supplies/food delivered to the door and allow the person to go back to their car before you open the door to retrieve the items.

Isolation means:

• Stay in one room (like a bedroom with a separate bathroom) away from anyone else in the house.
• Meals should be delivered to the door with no contact between you and anyone else in the home.
• If you don’t have a separate bathroom, you should have disinfectant materials in the bathroom and wipe down everything (faucet handles, sink, toilet flusher, anything you touch) and use your mask when going from your room to the bathroom. Wear your mask the whole time you are out of the room, including while you are in the bathroom.

It’s important for everyone to follow the guidelines when they are in isolation or quarantine. Together, we will get through this and help to protect our community’s health.

Mendocino Coast Clinics will be closed on Thursday, November 26 and Friday, November 27 for Thanksgiving.

If you need us while we are closed, please call (707) 964-1251 and ask to speak to the provider on call.

We wish you a happy and safe holiday!

Thank you to our friends at the Rotary Club of Fort Bragg CA for sweetening our day with the thoughtful gift of beautiful, delicious cookies from Kristine’s Kitchen]!

We were surprised and delighted by this kind gesture from the Rotary Club, recognizing the essential workers in our community.

Rotary Club President Mindy Slaughter stopped by to personally deliver the beautiful hand-made cookies to our hard-working staff at all four of our sites. They were delighted, and the cookies did not last long! Thank you to the Rotary Club for this considerate gift, and thank you to all the essential workers in our community for all you do!

MCC rocked an amazing COVID-19 testing event today, November 21, at our South Street site! Our tireless and dedicated nurses Bill Simon and Maria Bermudez swabbed 210 people, a record for us at one event!

Our thanks go out to the City of Fort Bragg Police Dept for their invaluable help with traffic control, to Mendocino County Public Health for supplying the test kits, and everyone who patiently waited their turn. We know that there is both a need and a demand for continued testing on the Coast. We are working hard to try and make that happen. We are all in this together!

This Nurse Practitioner Week is more special than ever, since 2020 is the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, recognizing the critical role in healthcare played by the 290,000 Nurse Practitioners across America. NPs diagnose, treat, and educate patients so they live healthier, happier lives.

We are lucky to have on our staff two Nurse Practitioners who specialize in women’s health, Jenna Breton and Kei Velazquez, who is also a Certified Nurse Midwife, as well as a Nurse Practitioner who recently celebrated 40 years of nursing, Linnea Matthews. They are dedicated to caring for our patients for the full cycle of life.