House calls make a comeback

Do you recall the days when doctor would come visit in the home? There were no waiting rooms. Waiting times. Excuses. Seeing your neighbor leaving with a discouraged look on their face.

That time is coming around again. There is currently a huge movement to bring the act of practicing health care back into the home.

Take a look at the article, House calls make a comeback.

Nashville nurse practitioner Jason Boylan’s exam room can be someone else’s living room.

When he needs to see a sick patient, he hops into his blue Hyundai sedan with a backpack full of medical supplies, visiting those too sick to visit him.

He travels to sick people who can’t get to a clinic. The patient’s house becomes his exam room.

House calls, the norm in the early 20th century, are slowly re-emerging as a niche area of medicine, gaining popularity in the last decade.

Doctors and family nurse practitioners visit patients who can’t or don’t want to get out. Sometimes the house calls are made after hours, saving patients a costly emergency room visit for simple maladies such as ear infections, the flu and joint pain.

“There is a lot you can do outside an office setting just by using a stethoscope, otoscope and your clinical acumen,” said Boylan, who owns Nashville House Calls and co-owns a walk-in clinic, 3rd and Church Health Care. “For some people, it’s about convenience, but house calls eliminate unnecessary ER visits and save people money.”

About 3 million house calls were made across the country in 2009, up from just over 2 million the previous year, according to the American Academy of Home Care Physicians, a national membership organization for providers and nurses.

The organization estimates that 4,000 of the nation’s 817,000 doctors make house calls nationwide, though nurse practitioners increasingly have taken over many of the visits. No concrete numbers exist on how many doctors or nurses in Tennessee will visit the home. The group’s Web site lists fewer than a dozen such operations scattered across Tennessee, including in Murfreesboro, Memphis, Cleveland and Woodbury.

For most house-call services, the process is simple: Call to set up a visit, explain the problem and wait for the medical professional to arrive.

Rachel White, a stay-at-home mom with two children, said she likes to use the house call for simple illnesses and as a complement to regular visits with her kids’ pediatrician. Boylan visited White’s 4-year-old son, Jake, last week for an ear infection.

For the rest of the article please visit:

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20100113/NEWS01/1130360/-1/NEWS01/House+calls+make+a+comeback+as+health-care+option

Tragedy has struck again! How to help the people of Haiti.

Want to Help the earthquake Victims in Haiti?

Seeking Information on Family Members in Haiti
The U.S. State Department says Americans seeking information about family members in Haiti should call 1-888-407-4747 or or 202-647-5225.

Due to heavy volume, some callers may receive a recording. “Our embassy is still in the early stages of contacting American citizens through our Warden Network,” the U.S. State Department said in a statement. “Communications are very difficult within Haiti at this time.”

The FBI is cautioning Americans who want to donate to Haiti relief funds to be careful. If past tragedies are any indication, not all of them are legitimate.

FBI Warns Americans About Relief Donations

Text Donations
To make an automatic $10 donation to the Red Cross, text “HAITI” to 90999; the money will be charged directly to your cell phone bill.

To donate $5 via your cellphone to Wyclef Jean’s grassroots organization: text “Yele” to 501501.

Special Report: Haiti Earthquake

Charitable organizations that offer aid to Haiti:
• American Red Cross: Since its founding in 1881 by visionary leader Clara Barton, the American Red Cross has been the nation’s premier emergency response organization.

• Salvation Army: an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.

• Action Against Hunger: Named for the original member of the International Network, Action contre la Faim, or ACF, the ACF International Network shares an overall vision of a world without hunger, collaborating closely and sharing human resources, logistics, and technical capacity.

• AmeriCares: a nonprofit disaster relief and humanitarian aid organization which provides immediate response to emergency medical needs – and supports long-term humanitarian assistance programs – for all people around the world, irrespective of race, creed or political persuasion.

• American Jewish World Service: American Jewish World Service (AJWS) is an international development organization motivated by Judaism’s imperative to pursue justice. AJWS is dedicated to alleviating poverty, hunger and disease among the people of the developing world regardless of race, religion or nationality. AJWS fosters civil society, sustainable development and human rights for all people, while promoting the values and responsibilities of global citizenship within the Jewish community.

• Beyond Borders: Beyond Borders is a registered tax-exempt (501c3) non-profit organization. All contributions are tax-deductible. We are certified by the state of Pennsylvania as a charitable organization.

• CARE: CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty.

• Catholic Relief Services: Help CRS rush humanitarian relief to survivors within hours of man-made and natural disasters around the world.

• ConcernUSA.org: a non-governmental, international, humanitarian organization dedicated to the reduction of suffering and working towards the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest countries.

• Childcare Worldwide: At Childcare Worldwide, our unique programs not only help feed hungry children and their families, they also help children receive an education that leads to employment. Our goal is to help children survive and succeed.

• Direct Relief International: Since 1948, Direct Relief International has worked to help people who confront enormous hardship to improve the quality of their lives.

• Doctors Without Borders: Doctors Without Borders provides aid in nearly 60 countries to people whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect, or catastrophe, primarily due to armed conflict, epidemics, malnutrition, exclusion from health care, or natural disasters.

• Episcopal Relief & Development : In the aftermath of a 7.0-magnitude earthquake, Episcopal Relief & Development is providing critical emergency funds to Haiti.

• Food for the Poor: Food For The Poor ministers to spiritually renew impoverished people throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Food For The Poor raises funds and provides direct relief assistance to the poor, usually by purchasing specifically requested materials and distributing them through the churches and charity organizations already operating in areas of need.

• Feed My Starving Children: Feed My Starving Children is a non-profit Christian organization committed to feeding God’s starving children hungry in body and spirit.

• Friends of WFP : Friends of WFP is a U.S.-based, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that focuses on building support in the United States for the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) and other hunger relief operations.

• Haitian Health Foundation: The Haitian Health Foundation provides health care, development, relief, and the hope of a future to more than 225,000 of the poorest people in over 100 rural mountain villages in southwestern Haiti.

• Hope for Haiti: Hope for Haiti has held the vision from the very beginning that the people of Haiti are the ones who take control of their future and we are here to lend a needed hand along the difficult path.

• International Medical Corps: International Medical Corps is a global, humanitarian, nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives and relieving suffering through health care training and relief and development programs.

• International Relief Teams: International Relief Teams is a nonprofit, international relief organization dedicated to organizing volunteer teams to provide medical and non-medical assistance to the victims of disaster and profound poverty worldwide.

• The Jewish Federations of North America : The Jewish Federations of North America represents 157 Jewish Federations and 400 Network communities, which raise and distribute more than $3 billion annually for social welfare, social services and educational needs.

• Lutheran World Relief : Lutheran World Relief is responding to the affected communities through its partners on the ground in Haiti. LWR anticipates a large response. Every dollar donated to this life-saving effort is critical to providing the necessary emergency support to the people of Haiti.

• Medical Teams International: Since 1979, Medical Teams International has shipped more than $1.3 billion in antibiotics, surgical kits and
lifesaving medicines to care for 35 million people in 100 countries around the world. More than 2000 volunteers meet the needs of people worldwide each year.

• Meds and Food for Kids: Meds & Food for Kids is dedicated to saving the lives of Haiti’s malnourished children and other nutritionally vulnerable people.

• Mercy Corps: Mercy Corps is a team of 3,700 professionals helping turn crisis into opportunity for millions around the world. By trade, we are engineers, financial analysts, drivers, community organizers, project managers, public health experts, administrators, social entrepreneurs and logisticians. In spirit, we are activists, optimists, innovators and proud partners of the people we serve.

• Operation Blessing International: Operation Blessing International Relief and Development Corporation (OBI) is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) humanitarian organization based in Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA.

• Oxfam: Oxfam International is a confederation of 14 like-minded organizations working together and with partners and allies around the world to bring about lasting change.

• Operation USA: Operation USA helps communities alleviate the effects of disasters, disease and endemic poverty throughout the world by providing privately-funded relief, reconstruction and development aid.

• Partners in Health: Our mission is to provide a preferential option for the poor in health care.

• Samaritan’s Purse: Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world.

• Save the Children: Save the Children is the leading independent organization creating lasting change in the lives of children in need in the United States and around the world.

• UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) : Humanitarian fund established by the United Nations to enable more timely and reliable humanitarian assistance to areas affected by natural disasters. CERF will assure that the funds for the relief effort in Haiti will go where they are most needed in the network of international aid organizations.

• UNICEF: UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential.

• World Concern: World Concern works in 24 of the poorest countries on Earth, giving hope and opportunities to vulnerable people in great need.

• World Vision: World Vision helps transform the lives of the world’s poorest children and families in nearly 100 countries, including the United States. Our non-profit work extends assistance to all people, regardless of their religious beliefs, gender, race, or ethnic background.

• Yele Haiti: Yéle Haiti is a Wyclef Jean’s grassroots movement that builds global awareness for Haiti while helping to transform the country through programs in education, sports, the arts and environment.

Making nursing homes fun?

With the health care world changing with the times, comes the rejuvination of nursing homes. I found this particularly interesting article on how nursing homes are attempting to change their stance in the health care world by becoming a destination not a place.

Let me know your thoughts!

Nathaniel

These Nursing Homes Care About Their Elderly Charges

Dick Harron’s buddies think he’s off his rocker when he tells them “how much fun it is” to visit his 99-year-old mother at her nursing home. “It sounds strange,” says the Oshkosh, Wis., retired sales manager, but “when I walk in there, I feel good.” Central to his peace of mind is the easy warmth of the nurses and aides, whom Harron likens to “kid sisters” or his own daughters. Most have been Dorothy Harron’s caregivers for all seven years she has lived at the Evergreen Retirement Community in Oshkosh. Harron enthuses over their respectful yet playful interactions with his mom and the good-night kiss on her cheek when they help her into bed. “It’s an informal, pleasant place,” he says. “It’s jovial.” And it’s a far cry from the usual nursing home image.

Like a growing number of progressive homes, Evergreen focuses on listening to residents, creating an environment less like a nursing home and more like a real one and giving employees uncommon flexibility and freedom. It’s a movement that aims to revamp nursing homes from the inside out, stripping away a culture that has dominated American nursing-home care for decades. “There isn’t a person around who would want to be in an institution,” says Bonnie Kantor, executive director of the Pioneer Network, an advocacy group leading the charge. So residents’ wishes and dignity are put first. Restrictive visiting hours are disappearing; arrangements are being made for opposite-sex roommates. “This is how care can and should be delivered,” says Kantor.

For the rest of the article please visit: http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/best-nursing-homes/2010/01/11/these-nursing-homes-care-about-their-elderly-charges.html

12 Feel Good Ways to a Healthier and Happier 2010

We are already a week into the new year and people are working hard to commit their resolutions but some may be having troubles in doing so.

If this sounds like you take a look at the article below and leave a note about your thoughts on resolutions.

Thanks,

Nathaniel

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If you’ve already broken your New Year’s resolutions, then JANEY HOLLIDAY suggests trying more realistic ones to help you become happier and healthier in 2010.

1. It’s not what you achieve in the first two weeks, it’s what you achieve throughout the whole year. So before you do anything, take some time to think about what you really want. By taking the pressure off, you should find you can reflect more effectively on where you want to be, physically and mentally.

2. Once you have a list, go through every single goal and look at the reasons why you want to do it and what other factors influence it. For example, if you want to exercise regularly but you don’t like the gym, forget about putting ‘Join a gym’ and look at other exercise options instead.

If you want to cut back on over-eating and drinking in the evening, but it’s your escape after a stressful day, look at what is causing you to be stressed – and think about tackling that first.

3. Crazy diets and heavy training schedules aren’t good for you at the best of times, but least of all in January when it’s cold and our bodies have had two weeks of indulgence.

Instead, nourish yourself with good food and quality sleep, and ease yourself into the year. Get back into your groove in your own time and don’t feel bad about it.

4. Start off slowly with your health improvements. Doing six workouts a week for the first two weeks of the year and none for the next three months defeats the purpose, yet it’s exactly what many people do. Why not do one or two this week and next, and increase over time.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1242238/12-feelgood-ways-healthier-happier-2010.html#ixzz0cJroaIPc

Your Caring Network in the News!

Hello everyone,

We are proud to announce that Your Caring Network is being featured in Milwaukee’s Biztimes.com Bubbler section for their innovation in care and keeping families connected.

Take a look!

Home care business offers free care promotion

Your Caring Network, a division of Clear Medical Solutions in Milwaukee, will offer a free two hour promotion to anyone in need of the firm’s services.

Your Caring Network provides non-medical supportive care services to individuals and families throughout southeastern Wisconsin.

“We can help anyone from an expecting mother who may need a little extra help around the house, cooking cleaning or child care; all the way to elderly individuals or individuals with disabilities who may need help from a certified nursing assistant,” said Nathaniel Reid, caring coordinator at the network. “We want people to be able to take advantage of our care for free to see that they will love our service.”

In addition to providing standard care services for individuals and particular the elderly, Your Caring Network also provides Senior Social Networking assistance for those seniors interested in setting up Facebook and Twitter profiles as a way to stay connected to family.

“Our main goal is keeping families connected,” Reid said. “We saw a need for home care early on. Most people who are aging want to do it at home, they shouldn’t have to pack up their things and move to a nursing home. Our services will allow them to stay at home, and the technology assistance we can provide in addition to basic home care will only help them stay connected to their families better.”

Those interested in receiving two free hours of home assistance from Your Caring Network can visit the Your Caring Network website at www.yourcaringnetwork.com or contact Nathaniel Reid directly at Nathaniel@yourcaringnetwork.com

Helping families care for those they love

Happy New Year everybody,

As the new year begins and resolutions start strong, one resolution that everyone should have is to help others that are less fortunate or need help. I came across story today about an organization helping others and would like to share it with everyone.

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La Senora began cooking at the age of 8, preparing elaborate meals for her parents and 15 siblings in Portugal. As a young woman, driven by her passion, she left her family for the United States to pursue a career as a chef.

She settled in Newark’s Ironbound, where she raised five children and worked in a restaurant for 35 years. But her career unraveled when she was diagnosed with critical aortic stenosis, a disease affecting the arteries, and mild dementia.

Today, La Senora is unable to care for herself. She lives with her son and daughter-in-law, who had to leave her job to provide the 24 hour care La Senora needs.

To alleviate the strain on the family, La Senora’s daughter-in-law contacted the Newark Day Center. Today, a home friend visits during the day to assist with La Senora’s care, and give her daughter-in-law a break. The Greater Newark Holiday Fund supports this service.

Youth Consultation Service

When Kelly’s parents got divorced, she thought running away might help them get back together.

When that didn’t work, the 10-year-old cut herself.

After she was released from the hospital, Kelly was sent to the Youth Consultation Center’s Holley Center.

There, with the support of the staff and her father, Kelly came to understand the divorce was not her fault — and that hurting herself is not the solution.

Support for Kelly is made possible through the Greater Newark Holiday Fund.

An anonymous donor has offered a challenge grant to the Greater Newark Holiday Fund. The grantor will match any contribution from a first-time donor, or from those increasing their gifts from 2008, up to a total of $10,000. For more information on the Greater Newark Holiday Fund, or information on how to donate, call 1-866-292-HOPE (4673) or visit holidayfund.org. Carly Rothman may be reached at (973) 392-4169 or crothman@starledger.com.

Stick to your New Year Resolution: 10 simple tips

It’s that time again, once a year, 10 times in a decade, a New Year starts and you make promises to change certain things in your life. Some of these deal with health, finances, and family, but more often than not our resolutions fail because of our resolve.

Here are 10 simple tips to stick to your promises.

1. Set reasonable goals.
2. Keep the resolution list short.
3. If you falter, let it go and try again,
4. Focus on the values or goals you hold dear such as family, health and happiness rather than how good chocolate chip cookies are, for example.
5. Be humble about your ability to resist temptation because those who overestimate their resolve are most likely to falter.
6. Remove temptations from the house, office or car.
7. Seek support in friends, family or organized groups.
8. Don’t let the return old cravings and habits catch you off-guard.
9. Post reminders on the fridge, in Blackberry alerts, in the car, and on the desk at work.
10. Reward yourself for successes.

How can ‘Wii’ enhance the effects of pulmonary rehabilitation?

We all know that excercise at any age is very beneficial. The challenge is finding something that works for you and for the age group.

As scary as technology can be to some, we should find new and fun ways to incorporate it when the benefits are outstanding. Read below for an article about Nintendo Wii being used for Pulmonary Rehabilitation.

Janelle York, lecturer and researcher in nursing, looks at using the Nintendo Wii as a form of for pulmonary rehabilitation.

Pulmonary rehabilitation is an effective strategy for managing COPD. Yet, up-take by patients is low and attrition high. There are multiple factors associated with this including a lack of resources, travel issues and patient motivation. For patients who do attend and complete a rehabilitation programme the gains decline after its termination with data suggesting a return to pre-programme levels of quality of life and exercise capacity within 6 to 12 months. Many programmes often fail after rehabilitation because regular exercise at home and healthy lifestyle options are not maintained. So what more can ‘Wii’ do for patients to improve the experience of rehabilitation and maintain its positive effects in the long term?

Well, Christmas is around the corner and, for many children, a Nintendo Wii console will be at the top of the wish list. For many of us with elderly parents or grandparents the question is always “what are we going to buy them this year for Christmas?” Perhaps a Nintendo Wii is the answer. Contrary to popular believe many older citizens are surfing the internet, know how to operate Skye, and are generally IT savvy.  Playing a Wii game could provide both mental stimulation and physical exercise in the comfort of one’s own home.

The use of Wii technology could provide pulmonary rehabilitation programmes with the extra factor needed keep patients motivated in the long term. Being asked to follow an exercise programme using Wii is no doubt more enticing than following exercise instructions provided on paper. Plus exercising with Wii can get the whole family involved in the process and make exercise more fun and less of a chore. Of course there are financial and safety issues associated with this. However, the use of Wii in the rehabilitation of patients following a stroke and in children with cerebral palsy is gaining momentum. So, perhaps for some patients ‘Wii’ can enhance their experience of pulmonary rehabilitation.

Wishing you all a very happy Christmas and New Year.

Janelle York, Lecturer and Researcher in Nursing, University of Salford

Taking a road trip for the holidays? Take a look at how to stay safe.

We know that the holidays are filled with love, joy, and of course some traveling! To ensure your road trip is as safe as possible take a look at the 5 best ways to stay safe on the road.

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From the New York Times

Holiday fruitcake? Check. Christmas gifts? Check. Car door de-icer? Hold the phone.

The holidays are a time for family — and, for many, that means it’s time for a road trip. According to AAA, 77.7 million travelers will be hitting the road this holiday season, an increase of more than 4 percent from last year.

Packing for a winter road trip entails more than just setting aside an extra suitcase for gifts. Here is a guide to some highway essentials to help you get to grandma’s house in time for the holiday ham.

1. EMERGENCY KIT: Any car, regardless of whether it’s going on a road trip, should have an emergency kit in case of, well, emergencies. It should contain at least a basic first-aid kit ($20-$30 on Amazon.com), a flashlight with extra batteries and roadside flares in case of a nighttime breakdown.

Another good item to pack is a car lock de-icer. These cheap aerosol sprays will thaw and lubricate frozen locks and doors during cold weather — and they only cost a few dollars at a hardware or auto supply store such as Napa or AutoZone.

2. BASIC SUPPLIES: Keep a supply of bottled water, snacks and blankets. You never know when or where a breakdown might strike, and you’ll want to stay warm and hydrated until help arrives — which could be awhile if the weather gets ugly or you are in a remote area.

”It’s much better to buy water at the market than to have to melt snow,” advises Jamie Jensen, author of the travel guide ”Road Trip USA.”

3. SPARE TIRE AND PRESSURE GAUGE: To save weight, many cars today no longer come with spare tires, so check your trunk or undercarriage to make sure you’re prepared in case of a flat.

In addition, keep a pressure gauge handy and check your tires’ pressure before you set out. According to AAA spokeswoman Christy Hyde, tire pressure drops approximately 1 pound per square inch for every 10-degree drop in temperature.

Hyde advises against following the tire maker’s recommended pressure. Instead, go with that recommended by the vehicle manufacturer, which can be found on the driver’s side doorjamb, she says.

4. MOBILE PHONE AND CHARGER: You probably never leave the house without a cell phone. What you might not be able to do is keep it charged. There is an array of charging adapters on the market sporting either a USB port or electrical outlet. These plug into your car’s cigarette lighter and should keep your phone juiced so you don’t run out of batteries on the long drive.

Many start for as little as $10 and are sold at most electronics stores.

5. SNOW BAILOUT KIT: There are few sounds more maddening to a driver than the high-pitched whirring of a tire stuck in the snow. Your first line of defense is a decent collapsable shovel that stows in your trunk or back seat. These cost as little as $10 at any auto supply store or big-box retailer like Wal-Mart or Target.

If you can’t dig your way out of that snow bank, your second line of defense is traction. Keep a bag of sand or cat litter in your trunk and pour generously around your car’s drive wheels if your car still isn’t moving.

Another (pricier) option is a traction mat — a corrugated plastic or rubber sheet that, when placed under the car’s tires, will grip the treads and get you moving.

Be prepared for the cold weather, don’t let it catch you off guard!

We all know that being in cold weather harms your health, but certain populations are more susceptible to illnesses because of cold weather.

Currently in the north eastern part of the US, people are being buried with snow. I mean seriously buried in snow. Don’t let this weather catch you off guard or your loved ones.

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Better health, take charge: Be proactive in preparing for cold-weather hazards

What you should know

Cold temperatures create special safety challenges to people with disabilities, children, pets and vehicles.

Anyone who cares for infants, children and the elderly should know how to prevent health problems common in cold weather.

Prevention includes dressing properly for indoor and outdoor activities and reducing risks of accidents associated with heating, cooking and extreme weather.

Many homes are too cold because people don’t want to pay high heating bills. Some homes have inadequate heating systems. Seniors over age 65 need a large easy-to-read thermometer in their homes.

The risk of household fires and carbon monoxide poisoning increases greatly in the winter months. Some people unwisely heat small living areas with flaming hot space heaters, fireplaces or gas stoves.

While winter months are mild in the Mid-South, they can be treacherous to the unprepared. Slick roads, sleet, ice storms and frozen pipes can isolate people in their homes without adequate food, water, medicine or heat.

Cold weather can damage the skin or cause hypothermia (a dangerous drop in body temperature). People with reduced blood circulation or nerve damage due to diabetes may not sense how cold it is.

Ointments, lotions, gloves and hats can protect sensitive skin that may become chapped and even frostbitten. Sun protection for the skin and eyes is also important in cold weather.

For the rest of this article please visit:

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2009/dec/21/be-proactive-in-preparing-for-cold-weather/