Prioner to President in one Lifetime

The true greatness of anyone is how he or she touches the hearts and the soul of not just those he meets but of those that he does not meet.  The world lost a great man when Nelson Mandela passed away.  A man who became and remained one of the leading citizens of the world as a Senior citizen.

Quotes from Nelson Mandela:

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.

 

I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.

 

A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination.

 

If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.

 

For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.

 

If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.

 

There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.

 

It always seems impossible until its done.

 

After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.

 

There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere, and many of us will have to pass through the valley of the shadow of death again and again before we reach the mountaintop of our desires.

 

There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.

 

We must use time wisely and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right.

 

A good leader can engage in a debate frankly and thoroughly, knowing that at the end he and the other side must be closer, and thus emerge stronger. You don’t have that idea when you are arrogant, superficial, and uninformed.

 

Money won’t create success, the freedom to make it will.

 

There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.

 

Does anybody really think that they didn’t get what they had because they didn’t have the talent or the strength or the endurance or the commitment?

 

Let there be work, bread, water and salt for all.

 

Let freedom reign. The sun never set on so glorious a human achievement.

Signs and Symptoms of Flu

 
     
People who have the flu often feel some or all of these signs and symptoms:

• Fever or feeling feverish/chills
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle or body aches
• Headaches
• Fatigue (very tired)
• Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.
*It’s important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever.

How Flu Spreads

Most experts believe that flu viruses spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby. Less often, a person might also get the flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth, eyes or possibly their nose.
 Period of Contagiousness

You may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick. Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 to 7 days after becoming sick. Some people, especially young children and people with weakened immune systems, might be able to infect others for an even longer time.

How Serious is the Flu?

Flu is unpredictable and how severe it is can vary widely from one season to the next depending on many things, including:
• which flu viruses are spreading
• how much flu vaccine is available
• when vaccine is available
• how many people get vaccinated, and
• how well the flu vaccine is matched to flu viruses that are causing illness

Certain people are at greater risk for serious complications, if they get the flu. This includes older people, young children, pregnant women and people with certain health conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), and persons who live in facilities like nursing homes.

12 Senior Moments of Christmas…..

I would not recommend you try to sing either of these versions of the 12 Days of Christmas.   These are the 12 Rules of Christmas.

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me, a bag salt for the walkway.

On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me, the  neighbours kids phone number to shovel the drive.

On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me, battery operated candles.

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, an extra blanket.

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, batteries for my the carbon monoxide detector and smoke alarm.

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, gift cards to give rather than cash.

On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me, night-lites.

On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, a furnace check up.

On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, timers for the outdoor lights.

On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, rubber soled slippers.

On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me, an emergency kit for in the car.

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, a list of emergency phone numbers.

If you prefer, you can create the 12 Chores of Christmas for your husband   ( because there are no husbands out there brave enough to come up with a list of   chores for their wives – Red Green will vouch for that.)

on the 1st day of Christmas my true love told to me……hire the kid next door to shovel the snow.

on the 2nd day of Christmas my true love told to me……check the batteries in the carbon dioxide monitor and the smoke detector.

on the 3rd day of Christmas my true love told to me……change the furnace filter.

on the 4th day of Christmas my true love told to me……use your ugly sweater to block the draft at the back door.

on the 5th day of Christmas my true love told to me……take the tree out of the closet, and take off  the sheet that’s covering it.

on the 6th day of Christmas my true love told to me……make sure you have lots of gas (in the car).

on the 7th day of Christmas my true love told to me……let someone know your destination and route because I’m tired of telling you where you’re forgotten when you get back home.

on the 8th day of Christmas my true love told to me……don’t light the good candles, they are battery operated.

on the 9th day of Christmas my true love told to me…..yes that’s where the stuffing always goes.

on the 10th day of Christmas my true love told to me…..don’t put the chains on the rear wheels this year, it’s front wheel drive and we’ve had it for seven years.

on the 11th day of Christmas my true love told to me…..yes seventeen Christmas cookies will spike blood sugar levels – again.

and finally, on the 12th day of Christmas my true love told to me……sign my card and but it on that box under the tree, you’ll see what you got me in the morning.

HoHoHo and Merry Christmas !!!

 

Physical Fitness and Our Aging Population

It’s not a secret that we are living longer. Is this a problem? Medical technology certainly has much to do with prolonging life, yet just living longer does not mean you are living a healthier life. For example, simply walk through nearly any senior apartment complex and look at how many folks are sitting watching television all day long – just sitting all day long. Are these seniors healthy? Or, are they aging more slowly than their parents did due to increased medical advances and medications? 

So, how to change this situation? Physical activity is the answer. Now I know that doesn’t surprise most of you, however, the scope of the affect of regular physical activity on developing a “healthy” life style is impressive. Regular exercise can even go so far as to eliminate the need for medical intervention with regard to many of our illnesses that seem to be so prevalent in today’s world. An example would be diabetes. We would agree that many people are overweight. We would also agree that as we age, we tend to put on needless pounds. And, we might also agree that many of those needless pounds are a direct result of a lessening of regular physical activity (not to mention an unhealthy diet).

Granted the life style of the day was not as advanced with respect to exercise as it is today, so the proliferation of “gyms” as we understand them now had not yet begun. Also, “back in the day,” people’s routines lent themselves to more exercise (i.e., cutting their own lawns, shoveling their own driveways in the winter, painting their own houses, etc.). Yet, we know now that regular exercise and better eating habits, or being “fit,” is the way to go if you want to live a healthier life.

That requires some effort on the part of an individual in order to achieve the desired result: live not only longer, but healthier.

Aging is not only the accumulation of genetic reactions in our bodies, but the accumulation of poor habits, in the forms of eating and physical activity. When we let “ourselves go,” we allow these poor habits to take effect on our already aging bodies, speeding the process along. Take for example the number one problem with our elderly – falling. Falling is the result of a person’s inability to maintain balance. This is a result of the person’s psychological fear of actually falling (and the resulting physical damage the person may incur, i.e., broken hip, fractured arm, etc.), and their physical inability to stop themselves from actually falling (which requires muscle strength). Thus, a regular routine of not only aerobic exercise, but also strength training would go a long way in helping to eliminate the incidences of falling, especially in our elder population. For as our muscles gain strength, so does our ability to control our bodies’ movements, thus the increase in the ability to prevent a fall.

Exercise, both aerobic and weight training, is the way to go, for all adults. The programs that include these two forms of exercise will assist in reducing the need for medical intervention, especially as we age. With less required medical intervention, our elder population can remain more independent for longer periods, and, isn’t that what we all fear the most, losing our independence?

 

Don’t forget Fluffy is family too

Benjamin Franklin said, “The only things certain in life are death and taxes.”  At a certain level we all understand and accept that our time on this earth is finite.  We also understand that same thing when it comes to those around us.  Yes even the cat.

Loss tends to be felt the most accutely by those that are least likely to be in a position to be able to accept the loss.  Children and widowed seniors.  We’ve all heard about pets that have passed away right after their owners, and we’ve also heard of people refusing to leave their homes because of the cat.

We are all attached to our pets, but sometimes we forget that when someone looses their pet that there is a grieving process that the person/family has to go through.  It’s not just a dog, its a part of someones life that has passed away.  It’s never just a solitary event either, loosing a pet reminds us of those that have gone before,be it a spouse (to a Senior) or a grandparent (to a child).  Respect, comfort and support are the things that we need to give to those that are grieving.  Understanding the depth of the loss is not totally possible since love in not a rational thing, but allowing someone to grieve and helping them work through that grief is our responsibility.

To steal a passage from John McCrae’s poem In flanders Fields, “ Short days ago, We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved”  Death is the completion of a cycle, but it is not the end of everyting.  It is the beginning of a new stage “To you, from failing hands, we throw The torch: be yours to hold it high.”  A stage filled with warm memories, loving reflection and the reminder that the pain that is left behind will itself pass.

To all of you that have grandparents, parents, pets or anything that you love – please, cherish that love and know that in your heart nothing every truly leaves us until we let it go.

In loving memory of Edwin (the cat) – October 22, 2013.

Home Sweet Home

Home is where the heart is, and if you look for statistics about where is the most common place for a Senior to get hurt, you’ll find home as the number one location.  Is it a coincidence ?    does   it   seem obvious?    I have no idea, and frankly if you’re looking for the magic answers to prevent Seniors from getting hurt, I’m afraid you are going to be sorely disappointed.  I don’t know what the magic answer is.

I do however have a few ideas about improving the safety of Seniors at home.

• Make sure that all the maintenance is done and done right.
• Loose railings make balance difficult. Poor balance leads to falls.
• Carpet that has developed that bump in it has also created a tripping hazard.
• Throw rugs / mats that are not rubber backed will slide leading to slips and falls.
• Improper lighting makes it difficult to navigate safely around obstacles
• Too much ‘stuff’ or too much clutter make it more difficult to move about safely
• Proper footwear improves balance and reduces falls
• The Fire department will replace smoke alarm batteries – stay off that chair !
• Spring rain tends to make lobby floors wet and therefore slippery.
• Wet, slippery conditions also exist in the bathroom.
• Proper handrails in the shower and at the toilet make both safer and easier.
• Consider using a Handheld shower-head and a shower bench.
• A small basket/tray can be used with a walker to carry things from the kitchen.
• Those Canes with 3-4 feet on them can help too.

There are lots of ideas, this is just the start of the list.  Try thinking outside the box, ask friends and neighbours how they deal with certain things and you’ll find that the list of

ways to avoid getting hurt is a wonderful exercise in Hospital avoidance.

Drop me a note and let me know what you think….

The Importance of Respite Care

Lets start with an understanding of the word and concept of RESPITE.  Respite is a short hiatus or a break from certain duties.  In the verbiage of the care industry, respite means to have someone else look after providing care.

Respite care is very important when dealing with a long-term or life long situation.    Acquired brain injuries, MS, Alzheimer and Parkinson’s to name just a few.  But respite is not limited to just the catastrophic issues.  Respite is to provide a relief of the stress and hard work that is involved with any care.

No matter what the issues are that are being faced, the bottom line is that it can be a full-time job.  Yes it is often a labour or love, but looking after the one we love can be taxing both physically and emotionally.  The primary Care-Giver needs respite care to come and relieve them, even just for a few hours.

Time to go out for a walk on your own, go to an appointment or to go shopping, time to just unwind.  These seem simple enough but without respite care in place, the primary care-giver can and will get worn down to the point where he/she starts to suffer as well.  Once this happens, what happens to the one being looked after ?  if the primary care-giver falters, what happens ?

It can be very difficult to accept sometimes, and it may seem selfish to allow someone to come in and do things that you yourself can do.  The reality however is the exact opposite.   It is selfish not to accept the idea that respite care should be part of your care plan for your loved one.  Without respite as part of the plan, you are not addressing your continuity and therefore there is a huge hole in the overall care plan.

Imagine a scenario where a 72 year old lady and her 77 year old husband that suffers from some form of dementia, and that they have been living in their own home for the last 52 years.  What happens when she gets worn down from looking after her husband ? What will happen if she were to have a fall ?

It can be very hard to accept care to come into the house but then again, think of the consequences of not accepting help.

Pride goes before a fall and is followed by a broken hip.

Homecare is not just at the House

According to legend (or history) over 1900 years ago a Roman by the name of Pliny the Elder is credited with the saying “Home is where the Heart is.”  Of course, we all know the saying and most people believe it to be true.  What I doubt Pliny the Elder ever thought about was that Homecare is also where the heart is. 

Just like a Housewife never married a house, Homecare is not about maintenance on the house, nor does it mean services are provided just in at the house.  Rather, the saying tells us that where-ever we are living is where our hearts reside.

Homecare is provided where-ever it is needed, and can certainly follow us anywhere that it is needed.  Regardless if whether a loved one is in a hospital temporarily or for a longer stay, Homecare can be there with them.  Homecare is regularly provided in Long-term care residences, Nursing Homes, hospices, retirement communities, condos and apartments.

Nobody wakes up in the morning and decides that they want Homecare for no reason at all, usually something prompts the decision. Where-ever we are living, and for however long we’ll be there we need to remember that Homecare is available where we call home.  Homecare is there to provide that extra level of service to help ease our burdens and to help make life a little nicer.

As the type of Home you live in changes, so too do your needs.  So too do the Homecare services.  If we are going to be moving into a Seniors Residence we may not need the same type of assistance that we needed before.  For instance the Residence may look after the laundry and the medications, but getting your home organized and dealing with the changes that are happening might be something can be helped with instead.  At the Hospital it might just be to fluff a pillow and to provide a friendly visitor through the day to help deal with anxiety, loneliness, depression or dementia.   Just knowing that someone is there can be such a tremendous benefit.

Home is where the Heart is, and so too is Homecare.