Making your home safer

The following is courtesy of Home Helpers of Lake Norman & Central NC.  
Visit our website at www.homehelpers.cc/lkn58445 , or call us at 704.909.7958 .
   Did you know that you are more likely to be injured in your home than most any other place?  Statistically speaking, at home injuries out rank more dangerous activities such as driving your car or flying!  
  Knowing this, the following web site should be of interest: 
   www.ageinplace.org
 While the focus of this particular article is on making the home safer for seniors, the tips and advice they offer are valid for anyone.  Take a moment to review the article and look for items that are familiar to your home, particularly if you are living with senior family members.  Then consider how you can improve the issue.
  Who knows, the person you end up protecting could be yourself!

Some Facts About Stroke

The following is courtesy of Home Helpers of Lake Norman & Central NC.  
Visit our website at www.homehelpers.cc/lkn58445 , or call us at 704.909.7958 .

 Each year, about 780,000 people experience a new or recurrent stroke.  Stroke is a source of serious, long-term disability, and the severity of a stroke influences both the possibility of returning home afterward and how much supportive personal care is needed.  Persons living alone—the majority of whom are women—are at greatest need for personal caregiving services. 

 The following are some findings from studies on returning home after a stroke:

• Compared to 16% of men, 45% of women over the age of 70 with with post stroke impairment are living live alone.
• Women with impaired ability receive less informal caregiving assistance from family members than do similarly impaired men.
• As a result, women who have experienced a stroke are at greater risk of having unmet personal care needs, whether or not they live with a spouse and/or children.
• Personal caregiving services can assist with more complex tasks, like meal preparation and light housekeeping, that patients who have experienced a mild stroke can find difficult.
• In the home, caregivers can also provide help as needed with bathing, dressing, and other personal care assistance.

 After a stroke—even a mild one—a loved one can find it difficult to complete normal daily activities, such as bathing, dressing, meal preparation, and housekeeping. Caregivers can make it possible for them to return home sooner and provider support until functional recovery is complete.

From our 'Did You Know' department... Kidney Stones

 The following is courtesy of Home Helpers of Lake Norman & Central NC.  Visit our website at www.homehelpers.cc/lkn58445 , or call us at 704.909.7958 .

 Kidney stones can be very painful, but there are things you can do to help prevent them.  Most doctors agree that you can cut your risk of kidney stones by drinking 12 glasses of water every day, and limit your intake of caffeinated drinks such as coffee, tea, or soft drinks.  Also, during your next doctor visit, ask to see if you need to change your dietary habits.

 Kidney stones are not fun.  Why not take a few simple steps to avoid them.

Glenn Holden - Home Helpers & Direct Link of LKN and Central NC
www.homehelpers.cc/lkn58445

Davis Regional Medical Center, Statesville N.C.

 The following is courtesy of Home Helpers of Lake Norman & Central NC.  Visit our website at www.homehelpers.cc/lkn58445 , or call us at 704.909.7958 .

  This past weekend (Sept. 18th), Home Helpers of LKN & Central NC was pleased to be able to participate in the Davis Regional Medical Center Health Fair in Statesville, NC.  What was most impressive about this event was the number of people that came out to visit the facility, as well as the availability of free tests and screenings that the center offered.  Davis Regional is a top notch facility, and their staff did an outstanding job of organizing the event.
  If a medical center near you offers a Health Fair, make plans to attend.  You'll likely be able to take advantage of free services, and you'll come away with a better understanding of the role the center plays in your community.  
  Many thanks to all of those volunteers, employees, etc., that came together this past weekend to make this Health Fair such a successful event. 

Glenn Holden - Home Helpers & Direct Link of LKN and Central NC
www.homehelpers.cc/lkn58445

 

The Common Cold

 The following is courtesy of Home Helpers of Lake Norman & Central NC.  Visit our website at www.homehelpers.cc/lkn58445 , or call us at 704.909.7958 .

 As we move into fall, we also move into the 'cold & flu' season.  Why anyone decided to honor these maladies with their own season is a mystery, but that's a moot point.  What is important is knowing some facts about the common cold.

  The big Number 1 about colds:  There's no cure.  You can relieve the symptoms somewhat with over the counter antihistamines  and decongestants, but you can't cure it.

  A cold is usually spread by direct hand to hand contact with infected secretions, or from contaminated surfaces.  A cold virus can live on the surface of objects like keyboards, pens/pencils, telephones, etc., for hours.  When you come into contact with these items, you pick up the virus.  Remember to keep your hands away from your face, and wash them frequently.  BTW, there's no evidence that antibacterial soap works any better than regular soap in protecting you from colds.

  Cold weather itself does not cause a cold.  However, people tend to be more confined, and in closer contact during cold weather.  This leads to a higher likelihood that you will contract a cold.

  The best treatment for a cold?  As mentioned in the big Number 1, there is no cure.  The best thing one can do when they have a cold is to rest and drink plenty of liquids.  Decongestants, throat lozenges, antihistamines, etc., all may help relieve symptoms.  But in the end, you just have to let it run it's course.  If your symptoms become severe, see your doctor.

Glenn Holden - Home Helpers & Direct Link of LKN and Central NC
www.homehelpers.cc/lkn58445

More from our 'Did You Know' department... Smoking

 The following is courtesy of Home Helpers of Lake Norman & Central NC.  Visit our website at www.homehelpers.cc/lkn58445 , or call us at 704.909.7958 .

  In addition to increasing one's likelihood of developing smoking related illnesses, persons who smoke are almost 3 times more likely to develop lower back pain than are non-smokers.  You can read the full report from Medical News Today at this url:  http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/113492.php .

  While the relationship between smoking and back pain is not clear, it provides yet more incentive to stop.  By using proven treatments and medications, group and individual counseling, you can more than double your chances of quitting smoking successfully.  Ask your doctor for recommendations about the best way for you to stop.

Glenn Holden - Home Helpers & Direct Link of LKN and Central NC
www.homehelpers.cc/lkn58445