RespiteMatch.com Health Blog

Questions to Ask

What disabilities does the individual have?
Are the disabilities temporary, permanent, progressive?
Is the individual having difficulty in any of these areas:
getting in and out of the home?
using the stairs?
moving from one room to another?
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Special Situations

Home adaptations for people with dementia
Home modifications for people with dementia must to take into account the physical changes, cognitive deficits and behaviours associated with dementia — memory loss, wandering, pacing, stumbling, rummaging, incontinence, sleeplessness, disorientation, confusion, agitation, fear of shadows and reflections. Safety is of paramount importance and access usually has to be limited or controlled. The home modifications should provide a calm, safe and comfortable home environment where a person with dementia can perform the Read the rest of this entry »

Key Words
home adaptation, home modification, home safety

Glossary
Activities of daily living (ADLs): Skills that a person must be able to perform in order to live independently.

Instrumental Activities of Daily living (IADLs): Important but not essential skills for someone living independently since services such as home care can provide the required support.
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THE DAILY MOTIVATOR
Thursday, September 7, 2006

Another way
+++++++++++++++++++

Anger is not worth the price you pay for it. Transform it instead into positive resolve.

Despair will only keep you stuck where you are. Choose to exchange it for a good dose of inspiration.

Arrogance will cut you off from the world. Cast it away and replace it with generosity and enthusiasm.
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A Caregiver’s Perspective
By Karen Henderson
One thing that was constantly on my mind as a caregiver was the state of my father’s skin, particularly on his buttocks, as he sat in a wheelchair almost all day.

I learned to examine his skin closely at every opportunity; if I was not around for a few days I always asked the staff to let me know if they saw a problem. Since my father could not express pain or discomfort, if I saw any redness at all or the beginnings of a sore I looked for the cause immediately. He had a sore on his coccyx; the same day I bought a V cushion to help ease the pressure on his lower back. I tried several cushions over Read the rest of this entry »

Questions to Ask
What is causing the pressure sores to develop?
Is mobility a problem? Incontinence? Diet? Disease? Or medication?
What can be done to relieve the sources of pressure, friction or moisture?
What strategies and techniques can be used to prevent or lessen skin breakdown?
What professional and community services are available to assist with personal and nursing care?
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Keywords
bed sores, pressure sores, pressure ulcers, skin ulcers

Glossary
Pressure sore: A skin ulcer, also called a bed sore.
——————————————————————————–
Pressure sores or bed sores are painful skin ulcers that form when constant pressure on a part of the body shuts down the blood vessels feeding that area of skin. The resulting damage first appears on the skin surface as a red or dark patch. As the pressure sore progresses, the skin will break down to form blisters, dead skin, and ultimately infect underlying tissues, bones and joints. As little as two hours of sustained pressure will trigger skin damage. Skin damage can also be exacerbated by friction and moisture. The surface damage is just the tip of the iceberg; the real damage lies beneath the skin.
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THE DAILY MOTIVATOR
Wednesday, September 6, 2006

Give life to beauty
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Think a beautiful thought. Feel a beautiful feeling.

Beauty feels good for a reason. It connects you to life’s best possibilities.

Beauty is truth expressed in a way that cannot be doubted or denied. Beauty can comfort, heal, calm and inspire.

Beauty is a precious gift. Beauty is always there when you choose to experience it Read the rest of this entry »

A urinary catheter drains urine continuously from the bladder through a plastic tube and into a collection bag. This bag should be emptied as often as needed or at least every twelve hours. Leg bags should be emptied every 3 to 4 hours.

Gather supplies and put them in a clean space close to the patient. Before you empty the bag, you will need:
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Many people have questions and concerns about urinary catheters. Some of these concerns and what you can do are listed below.

Concern:

After catheter insertion, the patient feels mild burning or a need to urinate. This is a common feeling.
What you can do:

Try deep breathing, relaxation exercises, or diversion such as reading, watching TV, or visiting with family or friends. Read the rest of this entry »

Receive respectful and honest treatment from health care providers.

Be assertive in making sure the person I assist receives the care they need.

Share my concerns, fears, hopes, and grief with others.

Honor the wishes of the person for whom I care.

Ask for and accept help.

Take care of myself so that I can continue to provide assistance.
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THE DAILY MOTIVATOR
Tuesday, September 5, 2006

The day that is
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This is the day that is. This is the day you now have.

There’s nothing to be gained by wishing for what might have been today. There’s no value to be had in harboring resentment for whatever brought you to this point.

What matters now is that you fill this day with the best that you have. What matters now is that you make full and positive use of the day that is. Read the rest of this entry »

By Maria Cheng, Associated Press | September 4, 2006

BARCELONA — Specialists expressed concerns yesterday that drug-coated heart stents — metal-mesh tubes used to prop open coronary arteries — might increase the chances of potentially fatal blood clots.

Studies released yesterday at the World Cardiology Congress in Barcelona raised new concerns about the risks that might accompany the drug-coated stents, which were introduced in 2000 as an improvement on bare-metal stents. Read the rest of this entry »

Journaling is one way to express your thoughts, feelings, and experiences through writing or audiotaping. Journaling is a safe, personal and private activity that may help you release stress and clear your mind.

How To Journal

You do not have to be a writer to journal, and there are no right or wrong ways to journal. Journaling is for you alone, so it is whatever you want it to be. Some suggestions for keeping a journal include:
Keep paper and pen nearby. You can write in your journal everyday or whenever you feel the need to express yourself. Do not pressure yourself to write. The words will come to you when you are ready to release your feelings and clear your mind. Read the rest of this entry »

Grief is a normal response to the loss of a loved one. Reactions from grief can affect the whole person. These reactions may include physical, emotional, psychological and behavioral changes. The most important thing for you to remember is that these reactions are a normal response to loss.

Signs and Symptoms of Grief Reactions

As you grieve, you may experience none, some, or all of the following physical, emotional, psychological, or behavioral grief reactions:
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