REMAKINGAMERICANMEDICINE

Proper Approaches To Handling The Elderly

admin — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Knowing how to handle the elderly can be tricky when you are working in the medical field. While there are horror stories and humorous anecdotes all over the web on the matter the fact remains that it can either be very pleasant or very difficult depending on the individual. Some elderly people can be very pleasant and congenial and are more than willing to cooperate while others can be downright nasty and rude, but it is your job as a doctor, nurse, healthcare professional, whatever you call yourself to be able to have the patience and the wisdom to handle these cases.

If you are a nurse that has recently been assigned the responsibility of looking after someone who is elderly then you need to follow a few rules in order to make everyone’s life a little easier. For starters, you need to introduce yourself and try to see if you can establish some common ground with the patient. It doesn’t matter if you are strangers, he or she will come to depend on your so building that trust is key. You also need to be respectful. An elderly person knows when someone is being condescending. You also need to be able to give them their space every now and again. If they are scheduled for a walk but are too busy looking up Texas electricity providers, consider letting them finish up first. The walk will still be there, even if it’s two or three minutes late.

If you can treat an elderly person with the kind of respect and understanding you yourself would want, you should have an easy time of it.

Health benefits of low alcohol consumption

admin — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

It has been noted that low alcohol consumption provides several health benefits that can be useful both longevity purposes. The noted health benefits are reduced risk of heart disease, gall stones, type II diabetes, and several other health conditions. While more than a small glass of wine per day may lead to an increased instance of these same issues, low alcohol consumption does have benefit.

There are other types of health benefits for consuming small amounts of alcohol on a daily basis. The most notable benefits found are in socialization.Get more information here. http://www.everydayhealth.com/longevity/is-red-wine-good-for-you.aspx Many people feel less inhibited under the influence of alcohol. A small amount of it will allow for this slightly lessened inhibition effect. This will allow normally shy or timid individuals to open up and talk to people. This sort of outlet provides great mental health benefits and stress relief.

It should be noted that each individual has a slightly different bio-chemistry. What one person might consider o be low alcohol content might not be the same for another. Typically women will find that they should imbibe roughly half of the same content as men in order to remain in the healthy alcohol zone. One normal sized drink per day works well for both sexes.

Why pressure sores are a concern for nurses

admin — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Pressure sores are also referred to as bedsores and occur when a person stays in one position for too long. The reason that nurses are concerned about this problem is because they frequently take care of patients that are bedridden. Health experts put bed stores into one of four categories. Bed sores in the first category are classified as mild and the skin is still intact. Second stage bed sores are classified as open wounds. Third stage bed sores are classified as a deep wound. People who have pressures sores in the fourth stage experience a loss of tissue and bones and tendons may also be visible.

People who are at an increased risk of developing pressure sores include those who use wheelchairs, paralyzed, in poor health or in a coma. Fortunately, there are a few things that nurses can do to reduce the risk of a patient developing a pressure sore. One of those things is making sure that the patient is moved every so often. It would also be helpful to have the patient perform daily exercise to improve blood circulation. Additionally, making sure that the patient eats a good diet that is filled with Vitamin C and Zinc will also help prevent bed sores.The information doesn’t stop now. Keep looking: My pressure sore is taking over my life

What does age do to my skin

admin — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Our skin is one of our most precious gifts from Mother Nature. It is the largest organ and has much sensitivity. This leads us to the question that plagues men and women alike, “What does age do to my skin?” Age is a key factor in the many changes our skin goes through, but there are many variables that help with the process like: genetics, diet, personal habits, stress, weather and our most offensive opponent-gravity. The list is endless but with proper care we can defend our key organ from some of age’s obstacles.

We fight a continuous battle with our skin, with puberty comes acne and with adulthood we are introduced to wrinkles, sun spots, lost of elasticity and a host of issues that really introduces us to what age does to my skin. Our skin is ALWAYS overworked and the daily damage that it endures can be counteracted with some t-l-c. Each day, we lose essential underlying fats and our skin becomes fragile by thinning. Even the slightest things like facial movements attribute to our skins changes. Combat your rebellious skin with care and it will hold many secrets for you. Like fool the masses about how old you really are.

Getting Proper Medical Care for the Elderly

admin — Fri, 27 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The elderly are often most at risk when it comes to improper medical care. Since they often have trouble caring for themselves, elderly people face hardships when it comes to doctors, incorrect diagnoses and medicines alike. Here are a few of the things you can do to protect your elderly loved one:
Talk with their doctor: If you don’t know your loved one’s doctor, they have no responsibility to you. Make a point to show up at appointments and get involved in the treatment of your elderly friend or family member. Doctors will be far less likely to give inadequate care when they know they’re being checked up on.
Review their medical needs: Periodically, take your loved on in for check ups on the basics including eye care and ear care. Make an appointment with an ophthalmologist to see if your loved one needs new glasses and set up an appointment for a hearing test at Miracle-Ear.com. This way, if any standard medical issues go undetected, you can correct them.
Check in often: If you don’t live with your elderly loved one, check in often and unannounced. Make sure their house is livable or if they’re at a medical care facility, they’re being treated properly. Showing up is half the battle when it comes to getting the medical care your loved one deserves.

Types of elderly neglect we don’t always consider

admin — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The elderly in our society today receive much better care, comfort and attention than ever before. There are numerous aids available to them as well as facilities and care centers that provide useful care, protection and assistance. There is also plenty of resources, both human and financial dedicated to their well being.

However, there are certain areas of the life of the elderly that the society tends to neglect. Some of these are obvious while some are not so obvious. A good example of elderly neglect that society does not consider is the comfort of the elderly among us. We often assume that the general state of things is good and okay for all our use. However, we tend to forget, or to consider that elderly members of our society are frail, weak and not as strong or fast as the rest of us. It might be when using the staircase, an elevator or accessing paths, corridors and door handles. While these tasks are relatively obvious and taken for granted, they are sometimes a challenge for the elderly.

Other areas of neglect may include emotional and psychological neglect. Elderly members of society are physically and emotionally not as strong as they used to be. they may face social and psychological challenges that we may not be aware of. By providing good general and medical attention, these issues may be adequately addressed.

How to overcome morning daily crankiness

admin — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Many people do not like getting up in the morning, especially if they have a laundry list of unpleasant things to do. That can cause a person to be cranky everyday when he or she wakes up. Being in an ill mood not only affects that person, but the people around him or her. It can also affect his or her work productivity. That is why a person needs to make sure that he or she start the morning off on the right foot. Doing simple things like getting a good night’s rest and eating breakfast can boost one’s mood and help him or her feel excited about starting the day.

Sleep deprivation is a common cause of morning crankiness. A person needs to be making sure that he or she is getting the recommended 7-8 hours during the night. A good night’s rest can put anyone in a better morning mood. Many people skip breakfast and that is always a bad idea. Hunger pangs can lead to mood swings, so it is important that one eat breakfast every morning before starting his or her day. A delicious and nutritious breakfast can put a smile on anyone’s face and make them feel better in the morning.

Foods that naturally calm daily anxiety

admin — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000

With the stresses of today, anxiety plays a key role in health. There are countless drugs out there to help with anxiety, however most of the time their side effects are worse than the anxiety itself. In order to avoid these problems, people may turn towards natural means of calming. Many types of food contain neurotransmitters which can alter hormones in the brain, increasing feelings of calmness, peacefulness, and may even take away pain.
Complex carbohydrates such as the ones you find in whole grains are known to increase the levels of serotonin in the brain. Increased levels of serotonin can increase relaxation,http://www.umm.edu/sleep/relax_tech.htm levels. An example of a great relaxation food would be whole grain cereals, without the sugar of course. Higher levels of sugars will increase blood sugar leading to anxiety and stress, thus countering the benefit of complex carbohydrates.
Chocolate,http://www.ghirardelli.com/ is a well known comfort food. Much like the complex carbohydrates, chocolate is also high in tryptophan which alters the brain’s serotonin levels. Chocolate also contains a neurotransmitter that can alter dopamine levels, leading to increased feelings of peace and relaxation.
Green tea is a beverage that may also be calming to the mind and body, however those sensitive to caffeine may not benefit.

Some Major Players on the Scene

www.remakingamericanmedicine.org — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 21:23:39 +0000

Two filmmakers by the names of Frank Christopher and Matthew Eisen got together with a vision to showcase the “type of health care we can all have.” In researching their vision which culminated in the film Remaking American Medicine, the two came across some pioneering individuals and organizations that they refer to as Champions of Change. Following are biographies of a few of the key contributors. (Please see the PBS overview of Eisen’s and Christopher’s film for complete profiles).

Dr. David Link (Chief of Pediatrics at Cambridge Health Alliance) is a firm believer that children with asthma should never have to be seen in emergency room settings. Dr. Link believes that “instead of being reactive and treating chronic illness when it becomes acute, providers and patients are encouraged to become proactive by managing symptoms, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and preventing hospitalizations.” Cambridge Health Alliance has made insightful changes on how patients with chronic diseases (such as asthma) are treated, and early results indicate a decrease in the use of emergency facilities and hospitalizations.
Dr. Tom Landholt (Springfield, MO) is championing technology in his clinic by eliminating paperwork so more quality time can be spent on patient care. To do this, Dr. Landholdt uses electronic medical records (EMR) which affords a computer in every treatment room so patient information can be immediately accessed and updated. This contributes to better time management and opens opportunity for one-on-one patient dialogue. Dr. Landholdt points out that converting an office to EMR can take time, but it affords a quality of care that is measurably increased.
Rebecca Bryson of Whatcom County, WA has ten different medical concerns that result in her having to see 13 different health care providers on an ongoing basis. And since Whatcom County is similar to just about every county in the country, managing the navigation of healthcare was proving to be challenging. Fortunately, Whatcom County responded to the needs of patients and redesigned health care delivery via the Johnson Foundation initiative “Pursuing Perfection in Health Care” and the Shared Care Plan which provides resource-driven solutions to patients juggling multiple conditions by allowing all providers access to an electronic version of the patient’s records. As these initiatives were being explored Rebecca Bryson was invited to participate which means the initiatives heard real patient voices so real patient solutions could be formulated.

Real Life Example: The Josie King Story

www.remakingamericanmedicine.org — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 21:19:40 +0000

You bet it’s time to remake American medicine. The following excerpt is from a speech given to the IHI Conference by Sorrel King and is borrowed from the Josie King Foundation’s website to provide a crystalline example of the necessary changes explored in the film Remaking American Medicine.Josie was 18 months old.In January of 2001 Josie was admitted to Johns Hopkins after suffering first and second degree burns from climbing into a hot bath. She healed well and within weeks was scheduled for release. Two days before she was to return home she died of severe dehydration and misused narcotics.Josie spent ten days in the PICU. I was by her side every day and night. I paid attention to every minute detail of the doctors’ and nurses’ care, and I was quick to ask questions. I bonded with them and was in constant awe of the medical attention she received. Every time Josie moved or fussed someone would be quick to push her pain button. I tried rubbing her head and found that often this would settle her. Much to our relief, Josie was experiencing a quick recovery. Her burns were healing beautifully. She was sent down to the intermediate care floor with expectations of being sent home in a few days. Her three older siblings prepared for her welcome home celebration. We were told that no one had ever been sent back up to the PICU.The following week her central line had been taken out. I began noticing that every time she saw a drink she would scream for it, and I thought this was strange. I was told not to let her drink. While a nurse and I gave her a bath, she sucked furiously on a washcloth. As I put her to bed, I noticed that her eyes were rolling back in her head. Although I asked the nurse to call the doctor, she reassured me that often times children did this and her vitals were fine. I told her Josie had never done this and perhaps another nurse could look at her. After yet another reassurance from another nurse that everything was fine, I was told that it was okay for me to sleep at home. I called to check-in two times during the night and returned to the hospital at 5:30 am. I took one look at Josie and demanded that a doctor come at once. She was not fine. Josie’s medical team arrived and administered two shots of Narcan. I asked if she could have something to drink. The request was approved, and Josie gulped down nearly a liter of juice. Verbal orders were issued for there to be no narcotics given. As I sat with Josie, I noticed that the nurse on morning duty was acting very strangely. She seemed nervous, overly demonstrative and in a hurry. Uneasy, I asked the other nurses about her and they said she had been a nurse for a long time. Still worried, I expressed my concern to one of the doctors, and he agreed that she was acting a bit odd. Meanwhile, Josie started perking up. She was more alert and had kept all liquids down. I was still scared and asked her doctors to please stay close by. At 1:00 the nurse walked over with a syringe of methadone. Alarmed, I told her that there had been an order for no narcotics. She said the orders had been changed and administered the drug.Josie’s heart stopped as I was rubbing her feet. Her eyes were fixed, and I screamed for help. I stood helpless as a crowd of doctors and nurses came running into her room. I was ushered into a small room with a chaplain.The next time I saw Josie she had been moved back up to the PICU. Doctors and nurses were standing around her bed. No one seemed to want to look at me. She was hooked up to many machines, and her leg was black and blue. I looked into their faces, and said to them. You did this to her now YOU must fix her. I was told to pray. Two days later Josie was taken off of life support. She died in our arms on a snowy night in what’s considered to be one of the best hospitals in the world. Our lives were shattered and changed forever.Josie died from severe dehydration and misused narcotics.