These days we’re all wondering when the sneezing and runny nose will end. Fall allergies are high this year and according to doctors the ragweed can cause a lot of problems in our homes. However, there are seven things you can do to make yourself feel better and boost your body’s defenses against colds and allergies. Active.com has a great list that includes eating foods like apples, pears and squash. They also recommend eating vegetable based soup, which boost your brain power. Other tips are to avoid junk foods and take time to relax. De-stressing when caring for a long term illness can help increase your energy, keep you healthy and benefit the entire family. If you have other tips on how to avoid the pitfalls of seasonal colds and allergies, let us know by leaving a comment below.
Last week I talked about how to help your children who are dealing with the stress of a sibling facing long term illness. This week I wanted to touch on how you can reduce and manage your own stress during this period. Many parents sacrifice their own health, when caring for a sick child. It’s perfectly normal, however as parents we need to remember it is our job to also care for ourselves so we can be there for our children. KidsHealth recognizes that many of us parents forgo our own healthy eating habits and exercise during these times. This is why they have created a wonderful resource of suggestions for parents who need to manage stress. One of the suggested methods is by practicing yoga. This form of exercise that incorporates controlled breathing, postures and mental discipline is widely known for dramatically reducing stress levels.
According to KidsHealth, parents should make sure they are doing some form of exercise 20 minutes daily to reduce stress. Whether it’s going for a run or learning a simple yoga routine, you’ll find positive results. If you choose to discover how good yoga can be for managing stress, check with the local YMCA or fitness center for classes. If you feel you can’t commit to a class, then look at some of the yoga videos on YouTube. There’s a wide variety for beginners to advanced, giving you the opportunity to find the perfect one for your level of exercise. And of course, talk with your doctor about how yoga can help you manage the stress of being a caregiver to a sick family member. To learn more about the benefits of yoga, check out this article from the Mayo Clinic.
Sometimes it can be difficult finding ways to help children cope with long term illness in your family. Many times they don’t express the confusion or fear in ways we expect. We may assume they are coping fine with the situation, however studies show children do not handle stress the way adults anticipate. If you are wondering if your children are handling the confusion or changes well, consider the advice from About Kids Health. They have a wealth of information that answers questions on how to help your children open up and share their feelings. Here are several points to remember when helping your children cope with long term illness.
Talk with your children about their feelings. Allow them to ask questions and answer them honestly.
Prepare your children for hospital and doctor visits.
Keep a routine that allows them to feel involved in sibling care.
Find time to spend with your children outside of doctor or hospital visits.
Do you have suggestions on how families can help their children deal with long term illness? Leave a comment below and share your advice.
Have you considered working as a long term care nurse in a facility or providing home care? This video is an excellent reminder that providing care in a long term situation means offering more than simply medicine. The women in this video do an excellent job sharing how each person is part of a puzzle that provides effective care for their patients. Although the women in this video are mainly discussing long term care in a nursing home, I thought it was so relevant to what our nurses provide each day to our patients and their families. Some of the advice includes going the extra mile with each patient, setting your own personal problems aside to make sure you are fully invested into each patient and make sure you view the day from the patient’s POV. Overall the consensus was to understand each patient. Make sure you’re providing patience and compassion as you provide care. Do you agree? What other advice would you give to a new home heath care nurse?
Here’s the video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5ICwS8FLfA
One of the hardest days in any parent’s life is when your child is diagnosed with a long term disease or disability. There are a flood of questions and concern about how to provide long term care for your child. If you’ve recently been told your child has autism and are wondering how to find the best home care then consider these points to help you plan. According to the Help Guide Organization, you need to work with your doctor and his team to determine your child’s strengths, weaknesses and the best treatment approach for them. They list several things to do, when developing your child’s treatment plan that will aid you and your home health care nurse.
Develop a plan that focuses on their interests
Make sure it’s a predictable schedule
Keep tasks simple
Plan to have structured activities that engage their attention
Give positive reinforcement for their behavior that incorporates you and the nurse
Your home health care nurse is highly trained and can help you fine tune your treatment plan. If you have questions regarding autism and support, talk with your nurse or doctor.
The Hollywood heartthrob, Robert Pattinson has joined with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to battle cancer. He’s helping them raise awareness of the diseases through Cancer Bites. It’s a way for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to educate and highlight life saving research. The initiative will focus on supporting more research, as well as using modern social media tools to educate the public. Currently you can begin tweeting about the initiative by using the hashtag #cancerbites. You can also follow the initiative through the Twitter profiles @llsusa and @lymphoma.
If you have a family member suffering from these blood cancers you know the need for more research is vital. Help spread the word and join Robert Pattinson in raising awareness. To learn more about this upcoming campaign, visit Cancer Bites and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society News. Here’s a video clip from the Teen Choice Awards where he discusses the upcoming campaign.
We all have heard the latest reports on the growing problem in America with diabetes and obesity. It’s increasing at alarming rates and several organizations are promoting lifestyle changes that will have a huge impact in health. One of those organizations is the American Nurse Association. They recognize that many nurses across the country are focused on helping their patients lead healthy lifestyles but not practicing a bit of self care themselves. That’s why they’ve created a resource of information on how nurses can take care of themselves while caring for their patients.
Simple things such as using ergonomics techniques can protect and strengthen back muscles while on the job. Also adding more vegetables into the diet can increase nutrients that can boost energy levels during long work hours. Dark green leafy vegetables such as kale and spinach can provide excellent sources of potassium and iron; two vitamins that will keep you going throughout the day. Another factor to remember is adding exercise into your daily self care routine. It’s vital that nurses keep their muscles strong, therefore protecting them from on the job injuries.
Practicing self care is important for all nurses in today’s fast paced world. To learn more about ergonomics, recommended exercise levels and more visit the American Nurse Association Resource Center. You can also get excellent tips on developing your own self care habits through Get Synergized.
There’s been a lot of debate over how long children should stay in a car seat or booster. Most parents still do not consider having their 10 or 11 year old in a booster. However, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that’s exactly what you should be doing. In fact, they recommend children up until the age of 12 years old remain in a booster seat. This provides them with the highest level of safety, when traveling in a vehicle. They also suggest keeping children under the age of 12 in the back seat.
As a parent it can be hard to sometimes enforce these guidelines with older children. Do they need the booster seat if they’re over a specific height or weight? Here are a few tips on how to determine if your child under 12 can ride without a booster seat:
The lap belt must lie across the top of the thighs and not across the abdomen.
The shoulder belt should fit comfortably across the chest. The shoulder belt should not be across the face or neck.
It should fit snug, without large gaps that could increase the risk of injury.
If you do decide to follow recommended guidelines, make sure you purchase a booster seat that is within their height and weight. Also make sure you seat belt the booster seat in according to manufacturer guidelines. To learn more about the NHTSA guidelines for car seats and boosters, visit the latest child seat recommendations.
July is Juvenile Arthritis Awareness month, so we wanted to spread some light on this topic! Juvenile arthritis (JA) refers to any form of arthritis or arthritis-related condition that develops in children or teenagers who are less than 18 years of age.
What?
Arthritis typically affects joints, but juvenile arthritis can involve the eyes, skin and gastrointestinal tract as well.
Who Gets JA?
No known cause has been pinpointed for most forms of juvenile arthritis, nor is there evidence to suggest that toxins, foods or allergies cause children to develop the disease. Some research points toward a genetic predisposition,
Cures?
There is no cure for juvenile arthritis. The goal of treatment is to reduce inflammation, control pain and help improve quality of life. Most treatment plans involve a combination of medication, physical activity, eye care and healthy eating.
This week marks National Therapeutic Recreation week, which was established by the National Therapeutic Recreation Society. The purpose of this week is to spread awareness of therapeutic recreation programs and services, and expand recreation and leisure opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
Therapeutic recreation uses treatment, education, and recreation services to help people with illnesses, disabilities, and other conditions. These activities are designed to develop and use their leisure time in ways that enhance their health, functional abilities, independence and quality of life.
Recreational sports can provide many benefits, both psychological and physiological. Some commonly used therapeutic recreations include: aquatic therapy, tai chi, and animal assisted therapy. Check your local papers for activities in your community.
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