Around the United States, registered nurses are being saluted.

On May 6, 2012, we are joining the American Nurses Association in commemorating Nurses: Advocating, Leading, Caring, as part of National Nurses Week, which is on May 6-12, yearly. The goal of the week-long observance is to draw attention to of the significance of nursing and  help with educating consumers about the role nurses perform in meeting the health care goals of the American people.

To honor the dedication, commitment, and tireless drive of the nearly 3.1 million registered nurses across the country to boost and maintain the health of this nation, the American Nurses Association is honored to appreciate registered nurses world over on this selected day for the caregiving and excellent quality work they provide seven days a week, 365 days a year.

In tribute to Nursing: Advocating, Leading, Caring, all registered nurses in America are urged to proudly wear the official ANA “RN” pin or any other pin that distinctly identifies them as registered nurses, and/or their nurses uniform on May 6, 2012.

Nurses: Advocating, Leading, Caring

Usually referred to as an art and a science, nursing is a business that embraces committed people with various interests, strengths and dreams because of the many jobs the profession provides. Nurses are caregivers, work in emergency rooms, school based clinics, and homeless shelters, to mention a few. They have many responsibilities – from staff nurse to educator to nurse practitioner and nurse researcher – and present all of them with interest for the industry and with a strong commitment to patient safety.

National Nurses Week History    

National Nurses Week commences each year on May 6th and ends on May 12th, Florence Nightingale’s birthday.

These solid dates strengthen planning and pose National Nurses Week as an well-known recognition celebration. As of 1998, May 8 was designated as National Student Nurses Day, to be commemorated annually. And as of 2003, National School Nurse Day is celebrated on the Wednesday within National Nurses Week (May 6-12) each year.

The nursing business has been supported and endorsed by the American Nurses Association (ANA) since 1896.

Each of ANA’s state and territorial nurses associations promotes the nursing profession at the state and regional levels. Each conducts celebrations on these dates to recognize the contributions that nurses and nursing make to the community.

If you know a registered nurse, be sure to thank him or her for their service during National Nurses Week 2012.

For information about how Family Bridges Home Care can help your family with caregivers in Cincinnati OH, or the surrounding areas, call our caregivers today, (513) 531-9600. We are a home care agency providing quality caregivers to veterans, and the disabled in our community.

Are you providing senior care in Mason OH for an aging loved one?

Here are some ways to spread the spirit of gardening in your community.

Plant a Row for the Hungry at a Local Community Garden

In this land of great quantity it’s tough to visualize lacking access to high quality food at a cheap charge. Having said that, for countless Americans, finding a healthy meal is not always very easy. It’s projected almost 33 million people, including 13 million children, resort to  emergency food because they cannot find the money for the food they need.

Participate In a Plant Swap at a Nearby Church

The best plants aren’t always from your nearby garden center or seed catalog. As a substitute they are assembled through quick cuttings or by gathering seeds from the garden of a friend or family member. These “pass-along plants” supply both natural beauty and feeling to your garden.

Have a Spring Cleaning Green Up Day at a Senior’s Home

Spring cleaning — indoors and out — is a ritual that marks late winter and  the start of a brand-new season, and like many events, it’s more fun when you share it. A senior’s home, your street, neighborhood, town park, and any other public space could use some greening up; it just takes someone to organize a small group.

Yard Sale Philanthropy

The arrival of spring, accompanied by a bit longer days and higher temperatures, invokes ideas of green oases teeming with tomatoes and brimming with beans. Spring is also a time for cleaning out. This year, celebrate National Garden Month in an unexpected way-by visiting yard sales in search of second-hand stuff that every senior’s garden needs.

Organize a Garden Visit with Senior Friends, Over Tea!

Gardeners grow more than plants – every one of us has stories to share. For a change, why not share them in over tea? Socialization and admiration of another person’s garden brings joy to everyone.

Other options for celebrating with seniors in your area:

-Organize or take part in a town beautification day.

-Visit your area farmers’ market.

-Flatter a neighbor on his or her garden.

-Gather with neighbors to purchase compost and mulch in bulk quantities.

-Volunteer to plant and preserve a garden at your town library.

-Publish a gardening article or essay to your local paper.

-Arrange to Talk With an elder to learn what foods his or her family grew when he or she was a child.

-Seek out neighbors from numerousethnic groups to study about their native cuisine and gardening techniques.

-Clean up your street or a local park by picking up trash.

-Share a cutting of one of your favorite landscape or houseplants with a senior neighbor.

-Look at your gardening gear (e.g., pots, seeds, stakes) and gift the excess to a area gardening program, assisted living facility or school garden.

-Celebrate other important “green” holidays: Earth Day (April 22) and National Arbor Day (April 26).

-Volunteer at your local school’s garden.

-Volunteer at a local senior center’s garden.

-Start a neighborhood garden club.

-Share your garden’s bounty with a senior neighbor.

-Have fun doing a gardening project with a senior.

-Deliver houseplants or flowers to a nursing home, assisted living or children’s hospital.

-Donate past issues of gardening magazines to your library, or buy the library a gift subscription.

For information about how Family Bridges Home Care can help your family with senior care in Mason OH, or the surrounding areas, call our caregivers today, (513) 531-9600. We provide senior care and assistance to veterans, and the disabled in our community.

Are you considering homecare in Dayton, OH for your aging loved one with Parkinson’s Disease?

Parkinson’s disease (PD) follows the same mold as a group of ailments called motor system disorders, which are the final result of the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells.

The four major symptoms of PD are tremor, or trembling in hands, arms, legs, jaw, and face; rigidity, or stiffness of the limbs and trunk; bradykinesia, or slowness of movement; and postural instability, or impaired balance and coordination.

As these signs or symptoms become more definite, patients may have challenges walking, talking, or completing other simple jobs.

Parkinson’s Disease usually has an effect on some people over the age of 50.  First signs of PD are slight and occur steadily.  In some men and women the disease takes its toll more speedily than in others.

As the disease takes its toll, the shaking, or tremor, which affects the majority of PD patients may begin to hamper with daily activities.  Other indicators may include depression and other emotional changes; difficulty in swallowing, chewing, and speaking; urinary problems or constipation; skin problems; and sleep disruptions.

There are currently no blood or laboratory tests that have been confirmed to help in diagnosing sporadic Parkinson’s Disease.  For this reason the diagnosis is based on medical history and a neurological examination.

The disease can be challenging to diagnose properly.   Medical doctors may sometimes ask for brain scans or laboratory tests in order to rule out other diseases.

Is there any remedy?
Today, there is no cure for Parkinson’s Disease, but a wide variety of medications supply extraordinary comfort from the problems.

In-Home Care and Treatment

In the beginning, Parkinson’s disease may not drastically disrupt your life. But for a lot of people, the disease gets to be more disabling with time. Homecare can support patients as they adapt, and as the disease progresses. This of course, assists them to continue to be self-reliant for as long as possible. The quality of their life may rely in part on their proficiency to continue working, take care of a home, care for their family, and remain independent. They may require adaptive devices such as canes or walkers as the disease goes on.

Aspects of Private Duty Homecare that are valuable for any individual with PD consist of:

• Altering their tasks and their family home, like streamlining their every day activities and modifying the position of furniture so that they can hang on to something as they move around the home.

• Eating healthy foods, including plenty of fruits, vegetables, grains, cereals, legumes, poultry, fish, lean meats, and low-fat dairy products.

• Exercising and doing physical therapy, which have benefits in both early and advanced stages of  the illness.

• Dealing with tremor, which may include putting a little weight on the hand to help reduce tremor and restore control.

• Improving speech quality by working with a speech therapist (also called a speech-language pathologist).

• Reducing problems with eating and drooling by changing how and what they eat.

• Dealing with “freezing” by various means, such as stepping towards a specific target on the ground.

• Addressing depression. If they are feeling sad or depressed, ask a friend or family member for help. If these feelings don’t go away, or if they get worse, talk to their doctor. He or she may be able to suggest someone for you to talk to or give them medicine that will help.

• Dealing with dementia. Dementia is common late in Parkinson’s disease. Symptoms may include confusion and memory loss. If a family member notices that they are confused a lot or have trouble thinking clearly, talk to their doctor. There are medicines that can help dementia in people with Parkinson’s disease.

For information about how Family Bridges Home Care can help your family with homecare Dayton KY, or the surrounding areas, call our caregivers today, (513) 531-9600. We provide homecare and assistance to veterans, and the disabled in our community.

Occupational therapy makes it possible for people of all ages to live life to its fullest by helping them to boost health, prevent—or live better with—injury, illness, or disability. It is a practice deeply rooted in science and is evidence-based, meaning that the plan designed for each individual is supported by data, experience, and “best practices” that have been developed and proved over time.

If a senior in your life is receiving home care services, you might also consider asking their physician about Occupational Therapy services that are often covered by Medicare.

Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants focus on “doing” whatever occupations or activities are special to the person. It is occupational therapy’s objective to get beyond issues to the methods that assure living life to its fullest. These treatments may be adaptations for how to do a task, changes to the surroundings, or supporting people to alter their own behaviors.

When using the services of an occupational therapy practitioner, systems and alterations are personalized for each particular person to resolve complications, improve function, and support everyday living activities. The purpose is to maximize potential. Through these therapeutic strategies, occupational therapy assists people design their lives, produce needed skills, adjust their environments (e,g., home, school, or work) and build health-promoting habits and practices that will permit them to succeed.

By utilizing the full picture into account—a person’s psychological, physical, emotional, and social makeup as well as their environment—occupational therapy assists clients to do the following:

• Achieve goals
• Perform at the highest level
• Concentrate on what matters most to them
• Maintain or rebuild their self-sufficiency
• Take part in daily endeavors that they need or want to do.

Founded in 1917, the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) represents the interests and concerns of more than 140,000 occupational therapists, assistants and students nationwide. The Association educates the public and advances the profession of occupational therapy by providing resources, setting standards including accreditations and serving as an advocate to improve health care. Based in Bethesda, Md., AOTA’s major programs and activities are directed toward promoting the professional development of its members and assuring consumer access to quality services so patients can maximize their individual potential. For more information, go to www.aota.org.

For information about how Family Bridges Home Care can help your family with home care in Erlanger KY, or the surrounding areas, call our caregivers today, (513) 531-9600. We provide home care and assistance to veterans, and the disabled in our community.

(ARA) – For some people, spring suggests the budding of flowers and longer days filled with warm sunshine. But for  1 in 5 individuals, spring also signifies allergies are in full scope.

Seasonal allergies, also known as allergic rhinitis, cause cold-like sympstoms such as itchiness in the nose, roof of the mouth, throat, eyes and ears, along with watery eyes, runny nose, congestion and sneezing. But in contrast to a cold, allergies aren’t triggered by a virus; they are generated by an allergic reaction to outdoor or indoor allergens, such as mold, trees, pollen and pet dander.

Allergies, which have an impact on an estimated 60 million people in the United States both young and old, can really take a toll on your daily regimen, and they are a pest both in daily life and professionally. Regardless of whether you’re afflicted year-round or during a specific season, discovering how to handle allergy symptoms can be vital to fixing your relaxation and well-being.

This problem can also be expensive to handle . From 2000 to 2005, the fee for treating allergic rhinitis nearly doubled from $6.1 billion to $11.2 billion, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. More than half of that was expended on prescription and over-the-counter medications. Experts suggest patients purchase store-brand, over-the-counter medicines as an effective means of handling both the allergy concern and its associated prices.

“There are a number of very effective over-the-counter treatments to address the symptoms of seasonal allergies,” says Dr. William Berger, professor of allergy and immunology at the University of California, Irvine. “In fact, to help patients save money, I would recommend many of the store-brand, non-sedating antihistamines sold at leading retailers and pharmacies, such as Cetirizine or Loratadine. These products are approved by the FDA, but cost significantly less than the brand names.”

According to Berger, several allergy sufferers should find higher relief of their symptoms by taking one of these newer, more effective treatments now on hand in the aisle, like Fexofenadine, which just switched from prescription to over-the-counter in 2011.

“Effective management with medicines, ideally before the allergy symptoms start, is key,” he says.

When an aging loved one needs elder care, take note of the interactions between over-the-counter medications and the elderly person’s prescription drugs.

You may think that over-the-counter (OTC) medications are always safe. But if you are  a senior  and additionally taking prescription medications, this kind of thinking can get you into some distress.

“The average number of prescription medications taken by people over 65 is five or six,” says Michael H. Perskin, MD, an assistant professor of medicine and an internist at the New York University Langone Medical Center. “As you get older, it increases and so does the potential for drug interactions.”

So how can you find useful and risk-free remedy from arthritis and other pain, and cold or allergy symptoms? “When in doubt, ask your pharmacist,” Perskin says. “If you have taken the medication before, it’s probably OK. But if it’s new or your other medication regimen has changed, check it out.”

You can find more information about the signs and symptoms and treatments for allergic rhinitis at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (www.aaaai.org), or the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (www.acaai.org).

For information about how Family Bridges Home Care can help your family with elder care in Erlanger KY, call our caregivers today, 888-900-0048. We are an elder care agency providing care and assistance to our seniors, veterans, and the disabled in our community.

Some states are now making driving tests for seniors or for people who have been in three or more accidents in one year, mandatory. This is because elderly drivers are more vulnerable to either being injured or killed. Statistically, older people are more frequently in hazardous or fatal wrecks than any other ages. The best way to efficiently make certain that the unsafe drivers are off the roads is for them to be required to take a test to see who should and who shouldn’t be driving. A few see this as bias, while many others see it as a peace of mind and a way to know for sure that their loved one will be safe while on the road. Many people, especially those with older family members, are already mindful of the possible dangers.

A terrific substitute for keeping your elderly parent or loved one safe is to use a home care agency that will provide transportation. Home care agencies not only make available transportation but more to the point they offer the chance for individuals to keep their independence. This also helps prevent seclusion and assists them to continue to get around to their own doctor appointments as well as run their own errands.

There are many unique ways to find out how to get assistance in your community. Make contact with your local Area Agency on Aging. If they do not offer transportation, they can help you learn more about your options in order to find someone who does. There are also door-to-door services in most areas and driver volunteers. The door-to-door service do require you to call and give them notice on what your plans are but this may offer the most flexibility.

However, if you are more interested in paying a fee for each designated stop you should ask about a fixed route. The fees charged are discounted at senior citizen rates and in some cases are actually free. The option available with driver volunteers usually is a great option for people who need to be taken to a specific place at certain times such as doctor appointments or senior centers. For more information you can call the National Transit Hotline Toll Free at 1-800-527-8279, they can provide you with a list of local home care agencies that can help you find the right alternative to fit your specific needs.

For information about how Family Bridges Home Care can help your family with home care in Cincinnati OH, or the surrounding areas, call our caregivers today, (513) 531-9600. We provide home care and assistance to veterans, and the disabled in our community.

When a senior can no longer move through their own home safely, it can be time for you to hire a caregiver. They can deliver safety, relaxation, care and support and trustworthiness, all from the comforts of the seniors own residence. This can also ease any stress and anxiety the rest of the family may be feeling. Here are some pros to employing a caregiver.

Caregivers employed through an agency are pre-trained, screened and in case they call in sick, a back-up will be available to fill in. They are trained to be informed of potential risks and safety concerns with respect to medication, falls and aid in daily activities.

Identifying possible risks is essential and needs to be at the top of the list when it pertains to senior care. A caregiver must be able to check up on the recipient daily to make sure everything is in order and if there are any medications that need to be taken, it’s done so in a timely manner. They will also be able to ensure that there aren’t any fallen objects or tripping risks lying around the home that could cause a safety challenge. CPR and first aid is also a requirement for a companion in this field and will be an asset in case an emergency occurs.

Accomplishing daily chores can become a tough accomplishment for some seniors. Activities like changing light bulbs, getting the mail in icy weather, grocery shopping, cleaning, and meal preparation can all be demanding. Retaining the most suitable companion will give the care recipient and the family peace of mind that they can still live in their own home, yet have help in carrying out these tasks that they can now not do by themselves.

A companion will also be able to help in personal care needs. These may include toilet help, bathing, dressing and aiding in their mobility. Companions can also provide companionship to seniors living independently. It’s easy to be doing simple things and have an incident. By having a caregiver deliver continual daily care, the care receiver will feel relaxed and feel less tension knowing that another person is caring for their best interests and making them their top priority.

Companions are trained and know exactly what to look for and take care of to make certain your loved ones are safe, secure and provided with only the best care.

If you would like information about caregivers in Erlanger KY, contact the caregivers at Family Bridges Home Care. We provide quality and affordable home care to seniors, veterans and the disabled loved ones in our communities. Call (888) 900-0048.

With a home care agency, remembering to take medications on time will probably be a lot simpler–to say the least. The reason is that a home care agency will supply you with the necessities to do what is essential, regarding your medications. One of the necessities that you will recieve is a companion, and although your caregiver will be unable to administer your medications for you, he or she  will be around to remind you to consume them on-time, as well as to guide you if you need help. In addition to that, your caregiver will be there to help you keep track of your medications by making note of what you took and when you took it, ensuring that you are following your doctor’s orders and that you are not taking to little or overdosing.

True, your personal aid will not be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but that is okay. You are able to acquire your scheduled medication reminders through an automated system, which is a phone call that will be made at predetermined times. This means that you do not have to worry about being hounded with calls throughout the day, and you do not have to worry about carrying on a conversation when the calls are made, considering that the calls will not be made by a live representative. Instead, the computerized voice can either tell you your medications or ask you if you are feeling well. If the answer is yes, you will be instructed to push number one; if the answer is no, you will be instructed to push number two.

Aside from getting medication reminders and phone calls on how you are feeling, you are going to receive the amount of care that is needed to keep you healthy and alert. For that reason, you can sleep well at night, knowing that your medications are taken and that you are being cared for.

For information about how Family Bridges Home Care can help your family with home care in Cincinnati OH, or the surrounding areas, call our caregivers today, (513) 531-9600. We provide home care and assistance to veterans, and the disabled in our community.

For senior this can be dangerous, as it could cause low blood sugars, low blood pressure, fainting, and falls. Homecare for our aging family members is one of the most effective ways to address these problems. Homecare gives your loved ones assistance with light meal preparation, always being careful to make adjustments for each individuals specific nutritional requirements. Frequently the elderly may have difficulty swallowing, therefore homecare agencies even provide them with texture modified diets or thickened liquids to assist them in consuming their food.

Homecare is actually a different possibility, as it allows the senior to live in their own property and  get care, encouraging them to maintain a sense of dignity and independence. Homecare also provides them with specialized supervised support, as well the bonus of having some extra people around once in a while. A number of  in-home care workers establish lifelong friendships with their patrons.

In some circumstances, the individual may have to accept not being in a position to feed themselves. This can be an really difficult  as an adult, because feeding yourself is one of the most ingrained functions that we have. Homecare providers understand that feeling of loss of independence. Home care caregivers also can assist shopping for groceries and meal planning, if there is a need for it. That’s why homecare caregivers spend the time, and put out increased effort for making mealtime very special. No matter what the main reason why anyone may need home care, whether they be disabled or elderly a great homecare agency presents solutions to some of the most complicated matters a senior has to contend with.

For information about how Family Bridges Home Care can help your family with homecare in Dayton OH, or the surrounding areas, call our caregivers today, 888-900-0048. We provide homecare and assistance to veterans, and the disabled in our community.

A colonoscopy really should be done one time just about every ten years. During this procedure, the large and small bowels are observed with a very small camera. This is done to identify and remove any polyps and is essential to initial cancer diagnosis. The first colonoscopy should be performed at age fifty.

While a colonoscopy permits the exam of the entire four to five feet of the colon, a flexible sigmoidoscopy makes it possible for the sigmoid colon or the final two feet to be seen. A colonoscopy is a favored check over a sigmoidoscopy; however, a sigmoidoscopy is shorter. A sigmoidoscopy should be completed every five years.

A fecal occult blood test is a procedure of colorectal cancer screening that should be done each year. This requires a stool sample being routed off to a lab for testing. Chemicals are used to discover blood that cannot be seen. If blood is observed in the stool, further testing is expected. A patient may be referred for a colonoscopy.

A double contrast barium enema may be used every five years for additional testing. This is a strategy in which an X-ray of the colon is taken. The barium used in this test  highlights the large intestine. It is at the same time delivered to expand the colon, allowing for clearer images. The barium will pass out of the body with stools.

Anyone between the ages of fifty and seventy-five should have standard testing for colorectal cancer. Testing should be initiated sooner with family history of colorectal cancer or with a diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease. Tests is also recommended in some seniors who are over the age of seventy-five. Talk to your primary care physician about colorectal cancer screening today.

For information about how Family Bridges Home Care can help seniors in Mason OH, or the surrounding areas, call our caregivers today, 888-900-0048. We provide home care and assistance to seniors, and the disabled in our community.