Your Medical Care and Appointments

What a busy time of year you are in! There are so many advertisements for “special deals”, activities and general busyness. 

You could have doctor’s appointments scheduled. You don’t need to feel additional stress from them.  It can be a lot to juggle so here are a few ideas to help you manage your medical life.

First, be sure you have a working calendar to keep track of important dates.  Keep the calendar in a central place and check it daily.

Next, prepare for your visit to the doctor. Share any health problems or changes in your habits or medications.  Perhaps have 3 or 4 questions prepared ahead as well.

It can be hard to remember all that a doctor tells you.  You can take notes or get a printout of the visit from your doctor.  Don’t be afraid to ask the doctor to repeat something.

If you need any treatments, have a discussion with your doctor on any risks and costs. Are there any options on treatments?

Are you hard of hearing?  Be sure you ask your doctor to speak up or repeat so you can understand any information shared.

Additionally, if you are feeling rushed or uncomfortable let the doctor know.  The time was set up for you and the doctor may need a reminder of its importance to you.

We here at Private Home Health Care want you to be a strong advocate in your medical life.  Don’t be afraid to make sure your doctor supports you as best they can.

Thanksgiving

Private Home Health Care wishes all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving.

We wonder if back in 1621 the Pilgrims from England and the Wampanoag Native Americans indigenous to the land knew the tradition they were starting!

The holiday continued over many years, from 1621, to George Washington’s time through Abraham Lincoln all the way up to today.  

The day of the holiday however, has changed over the years.  For example, Thanksgiving has been on a Friday in the past and also on the last Thursday in November.

It wasn’t officially the fourth Thursday in November until the time of Franklin D. Roosevelt.  While he was President, Congress signed the law making Thanksgiving the next to last Thursday in November. 

Our wish for all is that you feel very blessed this holiday.  We hope that you are able to share a meal and time with family, friends or a group of familiar people.

#HappyThanksgiving

Bereavement and the Holidays

Today as you and I prepare for the upcoming holidays we may be experiencing a loss in our lives.  Feelings can be a bit overwhelming during these special times and we may not know how to carry on.

Each of us goes through common stages of grief:

• Denial
• Anger
• Bargaining
• Depression
• Acceptance

Whatever stage of loss you may be experiencing there are some suggested ways in order to help you cope better.

Practice self-care, meaning make sure you are eating, getting sleep and being good to yourself.  It may help to meditate or pray.  It might help to walk outside.  Try and do what works for you.

Try to get back to your routine.  A loss can cause confusion and you may feel out of sync.  Try to adapt or re-establish your  routine.

You will have many emotions.  Try to be conscious of them and allow yourself to feel them.  You may need to cry.  You might want to remember good memories.  Allow yourself to feel.

Do not forget the other people in your life.  Be sure that you do not isolate yourself because family and friends can be wonderful support.  

Furthermore, finding a grief support group may be a way to help you. Groups are offered at local counseling centers or councils on aging groups in your town.  Attending a support group more frequently during the holidays may help you.

Private Home Health Care understands loss and the grief that accompanies loss. We wish you patience and peace during these holidays.  Try to be gentle and good to yourself as you move through the holidays.

Long-Term Care

For those over the age of 65, there is a 70% chance that you will be in need of long-term care at some point in your life. 

The month of November established National Long-Term Care to offer support to those of you who are caretakers.  Long-term care can be very stressful. 

If you are a caregiver your average age is 46.  You have likely had to change your work schedule.  On average you spend 21 hours providing care. You may have even skipped a vacation because you were the person responsible for the care.

How then do you take care of yourself if you are the main caregiver for a family member or a friend?

Here are some tips from Caring Bridge, a website created for people to share information on day-to-day short or long-term care.

• First, rally family, friends and those in your community for support.  You don’t need to do it all by yourself.  People will help in a variety of ways.

• Next, make sure you take care of your basic needs like eating, sleeping, exercising, doing something you enjoy.  

• Give yourself some appreciation.  Caring without feeling appreciated can be difficult.  You can join an online support group.  If you are comfortable, reach out to friends and let them know your trials and ask for support.

• Do you forgive yourself and practice gratitude? You don’t need to be perfect.  You are doing the best you can and you need to be mindful of that.

• You should accept help from others when offered.  This can be difficult but in the long run you get a break and some time to relax.  

• Finally, find some hobbies for yourself.  Caregiving is important but it doesn’t need to define you.  A hobby can help on many levels.

Private Home Health Care understands how difficult long-term care can be.  We hope those of you in that situation make sure to take care of yourself too.

#LongTermCareAwarenessMonth

Sweet Potatoes

This month we are thinking about sweet potatoes and wondering if you have even tried them?

We have long been aware of the many varieties of white potatoes available.  There are colorfully named potatoes like red, white and yellow. Likewise, russet and fingerling are two more names.

Like us, you have probably heard about the root vegetable sweet potatoes.  Yes, you may be surprised but they are actually a root vegetable and not in the potato family.   

We have a new found love of this vegetable.  You easily find them in the grocery store in funny shapes and with lots of bumps.  Don’t let those scare you.  They cook up great!

You can bake a sweet potato just like a white potato or in the oven with your favorite spices.  Likewise, the air fryer is a great way for you to cook them and enjoy delicious and healthy fries.  Sweet potatoes are very versatile..

Why eat sweet potatoes?  They are packed with lots of good nutrients and a diabetic friendly food eaten in moderation.

Sweet potatoes give you few calories, little fat, protein, manageable carbs and fiber, soluble and insoluble.  

Let’s talk about the vitamins  in a sweet potato.  You’ll get healthy amounts of beta-carotene, vitamin C, and potassium.  Additionally, your body will get manganese and vitamins, B5, B6 and E.  

That’s a lot of goodness in one vegetable!

Private Home Health Care loves to eat sweet potatoes.  We are so happy that we can easily find them in local grocery stores and at farmer’s markets.  This month try a sweet potato if it’s new to you.  You will hopefully be pleasantly surprised!

 #SweetPotatoAwarenessMonth

Loosen Up, Lighten Up Day

Tuesday, November 14th is Loosen Up, Lighten Up Day.  It’s a day for you to try and live stress free, if only for a little while.

Life can bring you ups and downs.  You are entering the season where there can be additional stressors with Thanksgiving and the holidays in December.

On Tuesday, do your best to focus on each moment in your life. Work on not planning far ahead.  If you make a list, have one goal then set it aside.

Give yourself permission to take a break.  Take a walk, have coffee with a friend, read a book.  Do something that you will enjoy.

Is your family at school?  You might use that time.  Is there a time between clients or patients?  What about quiet time at the senior center or your nursing home?  

This day is meant to relax you for as much time as possible.   It doesn’t need to be all day.  Find what works for you.

You could try meditation or yoga!  Meditation has been around for centuries.  Those people long ago and today who meditate must be on to something.

Stress can upset our minds and hurt our bodies.  The older we get the harder it can be to relax.  We have more ailments and it may be harder for us day-to-day.  

Use this day tomorrow to forget it all and have some fun.  Do some exercises, even if they have to be done using a chair.  There are no wrong answers if you can find time to let it all go for a while.

Private Home Health Care knows how stressful life can be at times.  Try to find a way “loosen and lighten up and enjoy some relaxation! 🙂

Veteran’s Day, 2023

Happy Veteran’s Day to all those who have sacrificed for our country.  That includes those who have served in the past and those active-military members serving today.

In a world that continues to see a lack of peace in many areas you and I are especially honored by those who serve in order to keep our country safe.  Those men and women also help those in need around the world.

According to the US government there are approximately 16 million military veterans in our country.  Men and women who patriotically defend us.

If you speak to veterans from wars in the past it can be very difficult for them to share memories.  Wars cause a lot of trauma and for many it can be hard to bear.

This Veteran’s Day there are ways you can show your respect to the veterans in our lives.

Volunteering – you can look for a place to volunteer with veterans.

Donating – check online and find a veteran’s organization to donate to.

Posting – if you are a social media user you can post a message to our veterans.

Veteran’s Day has been used as a day of honoring veterans past and present for over a century now.  We think that you’ll agree that it is a very important day for all of us in this country.

Private Home Health Care honors all of the men and women who have defended us in the past and currently.  As a veteran you should be as proud of your service as we are.

Peanut Butter Lovers Month

Peanut butter is a favorite food in the United States.  That is if you don’t have a peanut allergy!

In 2021, worldpopulationreview.com reported that the average person in the US consumes 7.9 pounds of peanut butter in a year.  That makes us a top consumer!

You have probably enjoyed peanut butter in a sandwich with your favorite jelly.  Perhaps you have dipped apples into peanut butter for a snack.

No matter how you use peanut butter there are good nutrients to be gained.  You need to watch out for brands that use a lot of sugar, vegetable oil and trans fats but with the right brand you get good nutritional benefits.

Peanut butter contains protein, some fiber, vitamin E, niacin, manganese, vitamin B6 and magnesium.  Most peanut butters are also vegan.  Check your labels. 

Additionally, you can use peanut butter in so many more ways than just in a sandwich.  Try adding it to your smoothie.  Spread it on wheat toast for breakfast with some bananas.  Look for dinner recipes that use peanut butter. 

For a treat you could even bake a batch of peanut butter cookies and enjoy them with a nice cup of milk.

For those with nut allergies there are some alternatives.  Almond butter is easy to find and there are also walnut and macadamia butters although these might be harder to find.

Private Home Health Care loves the creamy peanut butter but you may prefer a natural or crunchy type.  Whatever the case, try and add some peanut butter to your diet.  Moderation is a good philosophy and peanut butter is a good choice.

National Pepper Month

What fruit come in green, yellow, orange and red and sometimes in the hot variety?  

If you guessed peppers then you were correct!

The pepper started in Latin America thousands of years ago so they’ve been enjoyed for a very long time.

It’s true that peppers are a fruit and not a vegetable.  It’s all about their seeds. If you’ve ever cut into a pepper you know the multitude of seeds they carry.  (Dry them and plant them and you’ll grow pepper plants.)

You can enjoy a pepper raw, with hummus or cooked to add nice flavor to dishes.  They are a very versatile fruit. Hot peppers like the jalapeno add a kick to dishes if you are feeling adventurous.

The health benefits from peppers are significant.  You won’t get many calories from them but you do get vitamins A and C, potassium, folic acid and fiber. (Red peppers stay on the vine longer so they are the most nutritious.)

Peppers can lower your blood pressure, help your digestion and reduce your risk of diabetes.  All very healthy benefits.

Peppers are not only popular on Earth but up in space as well.  They are grown and enjoyed on the International Space Station!

Private Home Health Care loves to eat peppers.  Sweet, hot, raw and cooked.  All are delicious.  We hope you’ll enjoy some and the health benefits they provide.

The Pomegranate

Pomegranates are a delicious and healthy fruit that you can find from September until January.   

What have you heard about the pomegranate?  Is the word on the street that they are healthy?  If so, that’s true! 

To begin, one pomegranate carries Vitamin C to protect your cells and antioxidants that boost your immune system. 

If that’s not enough, you’ll discover fiber, manganese to help form bone and joint tissues and folate and thiamine to help with cell development and function.  

Furthermore, even though they are high in sugar, if you are diabetic you can enjoy them too.  You can thank the antioxidants that attach to the sugar flowing through your veins for that.

Pomegranates are interesting to look at and once you open them up there are tons of seeds, called arils.

Here are a few tips on how to buy, open and store pomegranates.

You should look for a pomegranate that is heavy.  Avoid any that are bruised, cut or slashed.

In order to open a pomegranate you cut off the top then score along the of the fruit where you see the “ribs”.  Next, pry the sections open with your hands.  You’ll see all the seeds and you can use your thumbs to pop them out into a bowl. 

To store a pomegranate, you should be able to keep the seeds refrigerated in an airtight container for 3 weeks.  You can also freeze them for up to a year.

Pomegranate seeds can be eaten as they are or added to salads.  Likewise you can enjoy them in a smoothie or drink.  They are very versatile.

Private Home Health Care loves to eat pomegranate seeds and we also like to add them to our salads.  Additionally, they are good in smoothies and other drinks.

#NationalPomegranateMonth