Personal « The Professional Geriatric Care Manager’s Blog

National Women’s Health Week

May 17, 2012 at 10:30 am | Posted in Amy Shein, GCM | Leave a comment
Tags: Advocacy, Health, Life, News, Personal, Safety, Tips

May 13^th-19^th is National Women’s Health Week. It is a very important week that women really need to look deep into, taking some personal time and care for one’s self. This week-long health observance was coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health. It brings together communities, businesses, government, health organizations, and other groups in an effort to promote women’s health. The theme for 2012 is “It’s Your Time.” National Women’s Health Week promotes women making their health a top priority. It will also encourage women to take the following steps to improve their mental and physical health and lower their risks of certain diseases. Women need to:

Visit a health care professional to receive regular checkups and preventive screenings: mammograms and pap tests, a colonoscopy, and cardiac testing.
Get active and start a regular exercise program. Regular activity can help prevent unhealthy weight gain and also help with weight loss.
Eat Healthy: eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, fat-free or low-fat versions of milk, cheese, yogurt and other mild products. Incorporate of fish, skinless poultry, lean red meats, beans, eggs and nuts. Avoid saturated fats and Trans fats. Low sodium and no added sugar are very important to follow in a women’s diet.
Pay attention to mental health, including getting enough sleep and managing stress.
Avoid unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking and not wearing a seatbelt or helmet when riding a bicycle.

With National Women’s Health Week, we remind women everywhere that they need to visit the doctor, make sure their screenings are up to date, and just take time to think about their own health.

Distinctive Care Geriatric Care Management serves Bergen, Passaic, Rockland and Orange County with nurses licensed in New Jersey and New York. We help families dealing with various issues related to their elderly loved ones and would be happy to discuss any concerns you may have related to long term care.

Please contact us in our Ramsey or Ridgewood Office to schedule a consultation. 201-587-5283.

National Nurses Week

May 11, 2012 at 10:30 am | Posted in Deborah Varisco, GCM | Leave a comment
Tags: Advocacy, Life, Love, Nurse's Week, nurses, Personal

National Nurses Week is celebrated each year from May 6, known as National Nurses Day, through May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale the founder of modern nursing. National Nurses Day was first observed in 1954. The year marked the 100th anniversary of the nursing profession pioneer Florence Nightingale’s mission to treat soldiers during the Crimean War. It wasn’t until the early 1990′s that the recognition of nurses’ contributions was expanded to a week-long event each year.

The 2012 theme of National Nurses Week is “Nurses: Advocating, Leading, Caring.” Nursing is a profession encompassing dedicated individuals with varied interests, strengths and passions. Nursing offers many opportunities. Nurses work in emergency rooms, schools, clinics, doctors offices, rehabilitation centers and home settings. Nurses have many roles. They care for the sick, they are advocates for their patients and they are educators. Nurses work to make a difference everyday to countless patients, their families and their community. They are dedicated, compassionate and professional.

Nurses have been ranked the most trusted and respected profession in America since 2001. Nursing is the largest of the health care professions and continues to grow. The education level of nurses has increased significantly over the past three decades and the work force has become more racially and ethnically diverse. More men also are choosing nursing as a career. To celebrate nurses week hold a special celebration or reception to recognize nurses in your community, place an article in your local newspaper about National Nurses Week and the value of nurses, sponsor a community event such as a coloring or writing contest for school children where they acknowledge their favorite nurse, send a greeting card, or just say “thanks.” National Nurses Week is an opportunity to acknowledge and thank a nurse who made a difference in your life. In addition, as nurses we should take the time to celebrate all the good we accomplish as nurses and celebrate our profession!

Please contact us in our Ramsey or Ridgewood Office to schedule a consultation. 201-587-5283.

Caregiver Burnout

May 4, 2012 at 10:30 am | Posted in Deborah Varisco, GCM | Leave a comment
Tags: Caregiver, Caregiver Burnout, Health, Help, Life, Love, Personal, Prevention

Caregiver burnout is a state of physical, emotional and mental exhaustion. Caregiver burnout can occur when caregivers do not get the help they need or if they try to do more than they are able. Caregivers who are burned out may experience fatigue, stress, anxiety and depression. Symptoms of caregiver burn out include withdrawal from friends, family and loved ones; loss of interest in activities; irritability; changes in appetite and weight; changes in sleep patterns and emotional and physical exhaustion. A caregiver will face disruption in work and social life, sleep habits, exercise routines, household management and financial situations.

Some have described the caregiver role as a “roller coaster ride from hell.” Each day brings new challenges, demands and adjustments. Caregivers are often so busy caring for another that they neglect their own needs. They may place unreasonable demands on themselves and may even become sick themselves. Many individuals are confused when they are forced to take on the role of caregivers. It can be difficult for one to separate their role as a caregiver from their role as a spouse or child. Many are additionally frustrated by a lack of money, resources and skills.

To prevent caregiver burnout:

Find someone you trust and talk about your feelings and frustrations.
Set realistic goals. Accept you may need help with caregiving.
Be realistic about your loved one’s disease, especially if it is a progressive disease such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Do not forget about yourself because you are too busy caring for someone else.
Stay healthy by eating right, getting enough exercise and sleep.
Talk to a professional such as a therapist, social worker or clergy member.
Take advantage of respite care services.
Educate yourself. The more you know about the illness, the more effective you will be in caring for the person.
Join a caregiver support group.
Accept your feelings. It is normal to have negative feelings, such as frustration and anger.

Remember you need to balance your caregiver role and personal life. Prevent burnout by recognizing problems you may encounter. Reward yourself for the positive differences you make in your loved one’s life. Do not stress over the things you did not get done, or can not change. Focus on the good things you do and acknowledge the reality that being a caregiver is filled with stress and anxiety. The best way to be an effective caregiver is to take care of yourself.

Please contact us in our Ramsey or Ridgewood Office to schedule a consultation. 201-587-5283.

An Aspirin a Day

April 20, 2012 at 10:30 am | Posted in Deborah Varisco, GCM | Leave a comment
Tags: Aging, Eldercare, Health, Life, Medication, Personal, Prevention, Safety

Aspirin is used to reduce fever, relieve mild to moderate pain from muscle aches, headaches or toothaches, and reduce pain and swelling in those with arthritis. Doctors prescribe aspirin therapy to prevent blood clots, which reduces the risk of stroke and heart attack. Nearly a third of middle-aged Americans take aspirin daily, mainly in the hope of preventing a heart attack or stroke. More recently individuals have begun to take aspirin to lower their risk of cancer. New studies suggest that aspirin therapy can decrease one’s risk of many cancers, including colon, esophageal, breast and prostate cancer.

Other research studies, though, demonstrate aspirin is not for everyone and sometimes does more harm than good, particularly in the elderly. Aspirin is a medication and all medications have side effects. Aspirin may cause nausea, vomiting, stomach pain and heartburn. More serious side effects of aspirin include hives, rash, swelling of the eyes, tongue or throat, difficulty breathing, bloody vomit, bright red blood in stools or black, tarry stools.

It has been demonstrated that there exists a potential for life-threatening bleeding in people over the age of 70 years who take aspirin daily, which may be greater than the heart disease protection it may offer. The benefit of aspirin therapy in individuals with heart disease is clear, however, and those taking it under a physician’s supervision should not stop.

The benefits of aspirin in older individuals without heart disease is uncertain.

Age is a strong predictor of cardiovascular risk, with the thinking that the benefits of aspirin would be greater in the elderly than those in other age categories. The elderly, though, also have an increased risk of bleeding from aspirin use. Even low dose aspirin can increase the risk of bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract.

So daily aspirin might not be for everyone. Many individuals decide on their own to take an aspirin a day. Aspirin therapy should be prescribed case by case depending on the individual’s risk factors and family history. Consult with your doctor to decide if the benefits of aspirin therapy outweigh the risks and if you should be one of those taking an aspirin a day.

Please contact us in our Ramsey or Ridgewood Office to schedule a consultation. 201-587-5283.

Gastrointestinal Infections on the Rise

March 30, 2012 at 10:30 am | Posted in Deborah Varisco, GCM | Leave a comment
Tags: Health, Life, Personal, Prevention, Safety, Tips

The majority of gastrointestinal infections typically involve diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps and those infected make a full recovery after a few days. Increasingly, gastrointestinal infections are responsible for more deaths in the United States, particularly in the elderly.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that deaths from gastrointestinal infections more than doubled from 1999 to 2007. The majority of those deaths were due to the bacterium, Clostridium difficile. The second leading cause of death from gastrointestinal infections was due to the norovirus. Individuals most often contract Clostridium difficile in hospitals and nursing homes, and in most cases occur primarily among those taking an antibiotic. C. difficile bacterium has two forms, an active infectious form that cannot survive in the environment for prolonged periods and a nonactive form that can survive in the environment for weeks and even months. This form cannot cause infection directly, but when ingested can transform into the active infectious form. The spores can be found on bedpans, toilet seats, furniture, linens, telephones, stethoscopes and floors. It takes bleach or other strong disinfectant to kill the spores. The disease is spread by the fecal-oral route, which makes hand washing after using the toilet so important.

Since healthcare settings are responsible for so many cases of C. difficile, it is important for surfaces to be cleansed with bleach and for healthcare workers to wear gloves and gowns when dealing with infected patients to prevent spreading germs to others.

Individuals with C. difficile can have a high fever, severe diarrhea and abdominal pain which can lead to dehydration and disturbances in the electrolytes in the body. Increasingly, C. difficile has become virulent and drug resistant. Since the overuse of antibiotics can cause C. difficile, all antibiotics should be used prudently. Using antibiotics without an accurate diagnosis or proper reason should be discouraged.

The norovirus causes a highly contagious infection. It is sometimes called the winter vomiting illness and spreads rapidly on cruise ships, prisons, dormitories, hospitals and nursing homes. Symptoms include vomiting, watery diarrhea, fever, stomach pain, tiredness, headache and muscle aches. Symptoms may be more severe in elderly patients. Individuals with the norovirus who are unable to replace their fluids and develop signs of dehydration will need medical care. As with C. difficile, norovirus infections can be prevented using good hand hygiene.

In the past few years, researchers have found deaths from gastrointestinal infections have leveled off. Doctors, nurses, other healthcare workers, hospitals and nursing homes need to continue to take responsibility for preventing gastrointestinal infections as the majority of all gastrointestinal infections occur in healthcare settings.

Please contact us in our Ramsey or Ridgewood Office to schedule a consultation. 201-587-5283.

145 N. Franklin Turnpike, Suite 311, Ramsey, NJ 07446

45 N. Broad St., Suite 503, Ridgewood, NJ 07450

The Benefits of Vitamin D

March 16, 2012 at 10:30 am | Posted in Deborah Varisco, GCM | Leave a comment
Tags: Aging, Diet, Education, Health, Life, Personal, Tips, Vitamins

Vitamin D is a fat soluble essential vitamin. It has been used to treat weak bones or osteoporosis and for preventing falls and fractures in people at risk for osteoporosis. Vitamin D is also used for conditions of the heart and blood vessels, including high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Research has shown that increasing blood levels of vitamin D may additionally protect an individual from chronic or life-threatening diseases, such as diabetes, obesity, muscle weakness, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, bronchitis and tooth and gum disease. It is also used for boosting the immune system, preventing autoimmune diseases and cancer. In addition, deficiencies of vitamin D may be responsible for neuropsychological disorders including depression and memory loss.

Sun exposure is an easy way for individuals to get vitamin D. The necessary exposure time varies with age, skin type, season and time of day. Ten to fifteen minutes of sunshine three times a week is enough to produce the body’s requirement of vitamin D. The sun needs to shine on the skin of your face, arms, back and legs.

Vitamin D deficiency is common. Individuals stay indoors more, cover up when outside or use sunscreen to reduce skin cancer risk. The elderly are particularly at risk for vitamin D deficiency. They are less likely to spend time in the sun, have fewer receptors in their skin that convert sunlight to vitamin D and may not get enough vitamin D in their diet.

It is difficult to get enough vitamin D from food sources alone. Very few foods naturally have vitamin D. Vitamin D can be found in small amounts in a few foods including fatty fish such as herring, mackerel, sardines and tuna, beef liver, cheese, egg yolks and mushrooms. Vitamin D has been added to most dairy products, some juices, cereals and soy beverages. Some individuals may have to take a vitamin D supplement in order to boost their level. The Recommended Dietary allowance for vitamin D for those age 9 to 70 is 600 IU daily. Adults over age 70 should take 800 IU daily.

The best measure of an individual’s vitamin D status is a blood level. Levels below 30 ng/mL are too low for bone or overall health and require a supplement. Vitamin D is important to the body in a number of ways. As with all medications and supplements, speak to your doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider about starting a vitamin D supplement. Vitamin D may interact or interfere with one’s prescription or over-the-counter medications and how your body absorbs or uses them.

Please contact us in our Ramsey or Ridgewood Office to schedule a consultation. 201-587-5283.

145 N. Franklin Turnpike, Suite 311, Ramsey, NJ 07446

45 N. Broad St., Suite 503, Ridgewood, NJ 07450

Hepatitis A In The Elderly

March 15, 2012 at 10:30 am | Posted in Amy Shein, GCM | Leave a comment
Tags: Aging, Health, Life, Personal, Prevention, Tips

Today I went to see one of my long term clients who happens to be 80 years old. She has been living in a skilled nursing facility for over a year now and has been doing very well. She loves everything about the facility, except for the food. She really misses her own home cooked foods that she loves and is part of her ethnic background, which she is so familiar with. She is a beautiful Japanese woman who really misses her Sushi and Sashimi.

As her Geriatric Care Manager, I explained to her that the facility does not offer Sushi to their residents and that I also needed to speak with the Dietician on staff about the safety perspective of bringing food in from the outside, and also needed to consider her medical history and what foods she may be restricted from.

The Dietician educated me that eating raw fish or oysters can contribute to food poisoning. Food poisoning occurs when you consume toxins, bacteria or viruses from water or food that contains harmful substances. Symptoms of food poisoning include nausea, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, headache, weakness and nausea and vomiting.

Sushi lovers are at high risk for Hepatitis A virus infection. Hepatitis A, or HAV, is an acute viral infection of the liver. Symptoms of liver infection are similar to food poisoning; nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, exhaustion, jaundice and pain in the right upper abdomen. HAV is caused by the transmission and ingestion of microscopic contaminated feces that can be found on or within fruit, raw vegetables, drinking water or exposure to an infected person who showed lack of hand washing.

You need to be extremely careful of what restaurants you choose to dine in and the safety that is necessary during your own home preparation of food. Stay with what you know best. According to the Centers for Disease Control, most healthy people recover from HAV infection without complications and could even develop immunity again re-infection. But, HAV exposure in older adults my cause severe and serious symptoms, with risk of both morbidity and mortality and this could increase with age. There are vaccinations available to you for both Hepatitis A and B for its prevention. People that do a lot of traveling to many countries are encouraged to get the Hepatitis A vaccination. Please ask your own physician about the Hepatitis A vaccination and see if they feel it is right for you.

Please contact us in our Ramsey or Ridgewood Office to schedule a consultation. 201-587-5283.

145 N. Franklin Turnpike, Suite 311, Ramsey, NJ 07446

45 N. Broad St., Suite 503, Ridgewood, NJ 07450

The “Good Bacteria” Found in Yogurt

March 8, 2012 at 10:30 am | Posted in Amy Shein, GCM | Leave a comment
Tags: Health, Life, Personal, Prevention, Tips

I remember, as a little girl, the TV commercial for Dannon Yogurt. The commercial starts off with a choir of Russian men singing and dancing. Then the camera closes in on one particular man. Then the voice-over talks about how great Dannon Yogurt is and that the older man agrees with this because he has been eating the yogurt for 105 years.

The history of yogurt and other fermented milk products have primarily been accidental discoveries, as a result of milk being stored by primitive methods in warm climates. Historians attribute yogurt being developed by the people of Central Asia around 6000B.C.. Herdsmen began the practice of milking their animal, and the natural enzymes in the carrying containers curdled the milk, essentially making yogurt. The milk then kept longer and it was thought that people preferred the taste, so they continued the practice of making yogurt, which then just evolved over centuries into our commercial yogurt making. We have the Turkish immigrants to thank for bringing yogurt over to North America in the 1700s.

Yogurt is so popular today, it seems as if a new frozen yogurt shop opens every month. Yogurt is so important, it’s been found, because of the positive benefits from Probiotics, which are the “good bacteria” that we receive from eating foods like our so loved yogurt and kefirs or can also be found in pill-formed dietary supplements. “By definition, a probiotic is any substance containing live-active organisms that, when ingested, have a beneficial effect on the host by altering the body’s intestinal micro flora,” says physician Robynne Chutkan, Associated Professor of Medicine at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, D.C. The theory is that certain strains of these live organisms are good bacteria and can then override the effects of all the bad bacteria in the stomach.

As a geriatric care manager, I have seen many physicians prescribe or recommend probiotics when they place their patient on an antibiotic. Antibiotics wipe the intestines of the bad and the good micro flora, which can be harmful to the person by decreasing their immune system, leading them at risk for other infections. The following information will provide you with more knowledge about the great benefits from yogurt and probiotics.

Fights against inflammation.
Reduces the risk of digestive disorders, colon cancers, inflammatory bowel diseases and infections caused by Helicobacter pylori- bacteria that causes infections on the upper and lower digestive tract.
Enhances the function of the immune system.
Reduces the risks of high blood pressures.
Reduces cholesterol levels.
Promotes healthy bone development.
Decreases and heals the chances of having arthritis.
Prevents vaginal infections.
Prevents diarrhea.
Heals symptoms of lactose intolerance.
Helps alleviate constipation.

Not only does yogurt contain live-active cultures of probiotics, it also contains calcium, riboflavin, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12. I encourage my family and my clients to eat yogurt with active cultures on a daily basis. It would be so wonderful if we all could live a long and healthy 105 years, just like the man I saw on that Dannon commercial.

Aging Eyes

March 2, 2012 at 10:30 am | Posted in Deborah Varisco, GCM | Leave a comment
Tags: Aging, Eldercare, Health, Help, Life, Personal, Prevention, Tips

Your circadian rhythm is a biological clock that regulates many of the systems of your body, such as the sleep-wake cycle, the temperature regulation system and the endocrine system. Circadian rhythms are responsible for rallying the body in the morning and slowing it down at night so the body will rest and rejuvenate. The malfunction of an individual’s circadian rhythm causes circadian rhythm disorders leading to insomnia, heart disease and cancer.

Most of the time your biological clock or circadian rhythm is in sync with the 24 hour day-night. In some individuals, the circadian rhythm is out of sync due to several reasons, which include travel, shift work or neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Symptoms found in individuals with circadian rhythm disorders include difficulty initiating sleep, difficulty maintaining sleep, daytime sleepiness, poor concentration, decrease in cognitive skills, headaches, gastrointestinal distress and poor psychomotor coordination.

Recently researchers have been studying the effect of the aging of the eyes as one of the reasons for some of the health problems that come with age. As we age there is a gradual yellowing of the lens of the eye and a narrowing of the pupil, which results in less sunlight getting through the lens and reaching key cells in the retina, which regulate the body’s circadian rhythm. Studies indicate that by age 45 the photoreceptors, cells in the retina that absorb sunlight and transmit messages to the part of the brain which governs our internal clock, receive only 50 percent of the light needed to stimulate the circadian system. By age 55, it is only 37 percent, and only 17 percent by the age of 75. Due to these changes it is felt that as an individual ages they should make an increased effort to expose themselves to bright sunlight or bright indoor lighting when they cannot get outside. Often older adults spend more time indoors and put themselves at increased risk.

The eye’s role in maintaining good health is becoming increasingly evident. In order to decrease some of the conditions that occur with age, such as depression, slower reaction time, memory loss and insomnia, it is important that the eyes get the proper light exposure they require to maintain one’s circadian rhythm.

Please contact us in our Ramsey or Ridgewood Office to schedule a consultation. 201-587-5283.

145 N. Franklin Turnpike, Suite 311, Ramsey, NJ 07446

45 N. Broad St., Suite 503, Ridgewood, NJ 07450

Aphasia

February 24, 2012 at 10:30 am | Posted in Deborah Varisco, GCM | Leave a comment
Tags: Health, Help, Personal, Therapy, Tips

Aphasia is a disorder that results from damage to the area of the brain which is responsible for language. It can occur suddenly due to stroke or head injury or develop slowly as a result of a brain tumor, an infection, or dementia. Aphasia also will impair the expression and understanding of language as well as reading and writing. The middle-aged or elderly account for the most cases of aphasia. Men and women are equally affected. Once the underlining cause has been treated, the primary treatment for aphasia is speech therapy. Speech therapy focuses on relearning and practicing language skills and using alternative or supplementary communication methods.

A person with aphasia may speak in short or incomplete sentences, speak in sentences that do not make sense, not comprehend other people’s conversations or write sentences that do not make sense. Aphasia is often a sign of a serious problem, such as a stroke. An individual should seek emergency medical treatment if they have difficulty speaking, trouble with comprehending speech, difficulty with word recall or problems with reading or writing.

The best way for family and friends to communicate with an individual experiencing aphasia is to:

Simplify language by using short, uncomplicated sentences.
Maintain a natural conversational manner appropriate for an adult.
Minimize distractions, such as a loud radio or television.
Include the individual in conversation.
Avoid correcting the individual’s speech.
Allow the individual plenty of time to talk.

Organizations such as The National Aphasia Association, The American Stroke Association, and certain medical centers offer support groups for those with aphasia. These groups provide those with aphasia and others affected by the disorder a sense of community and a place to learn coping strategies. Your doctor, speech pathologist or other health care providers can help you locate and get involved in one of these local support groups.

Please contact us in our Ramsey or Ridgewood Office to schedule a consultation. 201-587-5283.

145 N. Franklin Turnpike, Suite 311, Ramsey, NJ 07446

45 N. Broad St., Suite 503, Ridgewood, NJ 07450