THE CAREGIVER CONTEST DRAWING IS TOMORROW, MARCH 31st!!!
You may have already entered the contest– in which case, please rest assured that once you have entered the contest, your name will be “in the hat” indefinitely: you are eligible to win the award each month, and you are automatically entered to win the Kindle. If you’d like to enter a new caregiver to be considered for the contest, please do so by following the instructions below!
Carebuzz knows that being a family caregiver is a thankless role! That’s why we’re celebrating caregivers on our site and providing you the opportunity to nominate someone in your community, family or yourself who exemplifies the definition of a ‘family caregiver’ and to win the honored Caregiver of the Month Award! Each month, we will select a caregiver to be featured on the Carebuzz site, and the winner will receive a special gift to honor the work they do. Each quarter, all names submitted will have a chance to win a free Kindle! That’s right, a Kindle! As we have learned from an AARP report on caregiving, there are over 65 million potential nominations out there in the United States. So, who do you think deserves to be honored?
How it works:
1. Submit a Nominee for the Family Caregiver of the Month Award by sending an email to carol @ carebuzz.com
2. In your email, use the subject line “Caregiver Contest Entry”
3. In 25 words or less tell us why this family caregiver deserves recognition and be sure to include the nominee’s name and email address
4. We will draw a name out of the “hat” to select the featured caregiver on the 1st of each month
5. Enter one time and we will keep your name in the “hat” for each monthly drawing, as well as the quarterly Kindle drawing!
When a patient or caregiver visits the doctor(s), it would be an interesting question to ask… “why do I have to fill out another patient medical form?” The answer typically given, “we need your current information and health updates and changes”. If that hasn’t changed… at all, “why do I need to come in 15 minutes earlier to fill out a form that was filled out in my last visit?” But the question falls on deaf ears. Medical teams need what they need. But what caregivers need is more time. That 15 minutes could be used meditating or relaxing, something caregivers need to do more to relieve stress.
On Twitter today, there is an article about standardizing all medical forms, so that when you visit the doctor, just make a copy of it and hand it to the receptionist. We hear that doctors complain that the medical history forms are inadequate anyway and we, the patients, complain that we are duplicating our efforts and wasting valuable time. In addition to this, patients or caregivers may not have available, medical information handy at the time. Yet studies have shown that 80-85% of diagnoses are made based on historical information provided by the patient.
An immediate solution could be when caregivers or patients go to the medical office for the first time, they still fill out a basic medical history form by hand, containing basically the same information that could be shared with all medical offices. If we have a standard form, the patient can maintain that information themselves at home, and provide a copy when visiting a new provider. Now that’s a solution we all would buy into! One standardized form. Then our physician could provide corrections and updates to both the caregiver and the patient. The patient would have a transparent view of their health and make clearer, better informed decisions. The goal being, to have patients take responsibility for their own health data.
Seniors and Caregivers – Long Distance Arrangements Can Work
Caring for a senior takes a lot of time and patience and these two aspects are even more important for those who are long distance caregivers. It may seem impossible to be able to care for a senior when there are many miles between you, but it is possible. Below is a list of suggestions and tips that can help long term caregivers continue to provide the care a senior loved on needs.
1. As a long distance caregiver, you will not be able to do everything, which is why it is important for you to ask for help when you need it. Meeting the crucial needs of the senior is the first priority.
2. It is possible to do an assessment from a distance. This will help caregivers determine if changes have to be made or if the senior would benefit from certain improvements. Pay attention during phone calls with the senior. Listen for warning signs and whether the senior refers to any changes in their situation, including physical, financial and social.
3. Plan face-to-face meetings with the senior. While this cannot be done on a regular basis, it is important to develop some type of schedule where you can physically check on the senior. Some long distance caregivers will try to visit once a month. Take this time to assess the senior’s abilities and their living conditions.
4. www.aarp.org offers a lot of information that can help long distance caregivers, including a list of resources available including The FamilyCaregiversOnline.com
If you are a over the age of 55 and don’t want to be scolded by your doctor each time you set foot in the clinic or office, then you need to avoid eating certain foods. It can be tough to say “no” to cookies, potato chips, red meats, french fried potatoes, ice cream, and soft drinks but if you want to avoid the rath of your doctor, then stop eating them. You can begin by adopting a healthy, nutritional meal plan that’s healthy for you. Unlike your doctor; we won’t just tell you what you need to do – here are some tips to help you follow through!
1. Limit red and processed meats – processed red meats are high in saturated fats and come with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease
2. Avoid artificially sweetened drinks – you might have already cut back on soda, but sweetened juices and other drinks can also lead to future heart problems through the development of conditions like diabetes. Even one soda per day increased the risk of developing metabolic syndrome by about 50%, a condition that includes three of the following: a large waist, elevated blood pressure, elevated fasting blood sugar, elevated fasting triglycerides, or reduced HDL or “good” cholesterol and can increase the chance of developing both heart disease and diabetes.
3. Cut out the salt and fat – the fact that you should limit these foods shouldn’t surprise you, so avoid fast food, limit salt and saturated fats (a Mediterranean diet is a great way to go!)
4. No more bad cholesterol – it’s a myth that all cholesterol should be avoided. It’s just the bad kind that comes from saturated and trans fat that should be cut out from a healthy diet. Trans fats are mostly man made and absolutely can be reduced to nearly zero. Most trans fats are formed during the partial hydrogenation of vegetable oils.
The best way to avoid aging quicker in an unhealthy way is to exercise, eat right, and avoid smoking.
When seniors become ill or injured, they may require additional care. While many people believe seniors who require care should be placed into a nursing home, there are many seniors that would benefit from at home care instead. There are some major differences between these two things. Seniors who are cared for at home actually stay healthier and heal faster than those in a nursing home. The information below discusses the major differences between the two.
1. Home care can consist of different services. Some seniors will only require one while other may need a combination of services. The most common at home care services include home health aides, physical therapy, speech therapy, nursing care and occupational therapy.
2. While these same services are available in a nursing home, seniors who are in a nursing home will lose their independence. This is an important thing to consider when making a decision regarding the right form of car for a senior loved one.
3. At home care must be provided by an approved Medicare group.
4. The services offered at many nursing homes, aside from the senior being watched around the clock, include wellness programs, meals, assisted living and activities.
5. While it may seem a nursing home is the easier choice, it does depend on the functioning of the senior. If they are able to care for themselves and just need some additional assistance, there is really no need to place them in a nursing home.
