11 Best Ways to Thank a Nurse!

Nurses have always been our everyday heroes, and especially now during COVID they are in the spotlight for their hard work, sacrifice and incredible dedication. They work selflessly to help others, sometimes even putting themselves at risk or having to separate themselves from their families while they courageously treat patients. No matter if they are working in a hospital, doctor’s office, private home health care, or any other setting, nurses are front line workers and fight courageously for the well being and health of the American people. Now more than every it is important to show the nurses in our lives gratitude and appreciation!

Practicing social distancing means that we should not throw a big party for nurses, or give hugs, or a gift certificate to a masseuse. In fact, it is helpful for nurses when we wear masks in public and follow safety precautions because it helps keep them safe too! Even though this year is different, there are still many creative ways to thank a nurse!

1. A kind, handwritten note expressing your thanks. 
2. Chocolate – giving the nurse in your life gourmet chocolates is a sweet way to say thank you
3. Compression socks – these socks can soothe aches and prevent swelling during those long shifts!
4. Sending a sincere thank you text, email or leaving a voicemail telling them how much you appreciate the incredible work they do and how proud you are of them. Calls are great too, they just may not be able to pick up during their busy days!
5. Healthy snacks – snacks like granola or energy bars, dried fruit, nuts, dried chickpeas, pretzels, and instant oatmeal are great to give to a nurse because they can be eaten on the go!
6. Caffeine – nurses work long and busy shifts, and caffeine helps them to stay energized. A gift card for their favorite coffee place, a high quality travel mug or bag of quality coffee or tea should do the trick!
7. Flowers – everyone loves getting flowers! You can opt for flower delivery and include a sweet note as well!
8. Yardwork – Nurses are on their feet for long periods of time, and surprising them by helping with labor intensive yardwork will be very appreciated!
9. Small gift – nurses can never have enough pens, and a quality pen or set of pens will go to good use. Nice hand cream is also great, nurses’ hands become dry and cracked due to frequent handwashing and wearing gloves! 
10. Meals – donating pizza or a delivery meal to a nursing unit at a hospital or healthcare center is a great gesture to show your appreciation for our nurses!
11. Public Thank You – Put up a sign on your front lawn or window thanking nurses! You can also show public support with bumper sticks, tshirts, bracelets, and more!

National Nurse’s Day!

National Nurses Day is tomorrow, May 6!

Registered nurses are the lifeblood of any medical facility! The nurse is often the first person a patient sees when they come in and the last person they see when they leave. May 6 is National Nurses Day and the first day of National Nurses Week. With registered nurse staffing always a priority in any hospital, it is important to make sure your nurses feel loved and appreciated, especially now during COVID! Private Home Care honors nurses everywhere and expresses our deep appreciation for nurses and their incredible work and spirit!

The Ideal Hobby for Seniors – Bird Watching

May 4th is National Bird Day. We will tell you why Bird Watching is an ideal hobby for seniors!

Bird watching is a fun activity for any age, and for seniors bird watching is a great hobby. Here are some reasons why:

Any mobility level
Bird watching can be enjoyed from any mobility level. For older adults on bed rest, caregivers can create a comfortable indoor environment for bird watching. Rearrange the room with a reclining chair or bed near a window, add a bird feeder clearly visible from it, and watch the birds flock to your loved one’s view. If they have a balcony, you can also create a small garden with plants to attract native birds. Wheelchair-bound older adults, meanwhile, can enjoy bird watching together with their caretaker by going on wheelchair accessible strolls in their neighborhood. For those who are fully mobile, bird watching can offer light to moderate aerobic exercise and cater to different levels of fitness—from slow walks in a flat park to invigorating hikes further away.

Bird watching is accessible.
For those who may have cognitive impairments or other limitations, bird watching is a great activity that is straightforward and enjoyable. Suggested equipment is a pair of light binoculars and a bird book, but you can still enjoy bird watching from a window or yard even without those things. For those who may be visually impaired, using binoculars can help, or simply listening to the birdsong. For someone who is hearing impaired, they can rely on their eyesight for bird watching.

Independence
Seniors that require care from home care aides or family caregivers are already dependent for so many things. Many are homebound and cannot go anywhere without assistance. Bird watching is something that an elderly adult can enjoy without the need to leave their street or even backyard. As people age, sometimes they have to give up hobbies that they once loved because they are not feasible for them anymore. What is lovely about bird watching is that it can be enjoyed for many years as a person’s condition may change.

It helps reduce stress and anxiety
Spending time in nature is inherently calming. The patience that bird watching requires only serves to enhance this meditative effect. As birders learn to appreciate nature’s slower pace, it inspires reflection, relaxation, and perspective. The exercise benefits that come from walking outdoors also contribute to increased happiness and energy levels. It’s quiet nature can be less stressful for introverts than other activities, while extroverts can also enjoy bird watching in large groups. Birding can help your loved one connect with themselves, others, and nature as a whole.

Cognitively stimulating
Bird watching provides an opportunity to learn about the eating and mating habits of local birds and memorize their appearances, names, and calls. It stimulates cognitive alertness, memory, and awareness of details. Studies have shown that engaging regularly in an activity that requires memory recall can help prevent the onset of dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases. The act of listening and looking for birds activates the area of the brain responsible for sight and hearing. All of this mental activity keeps the brain actively engaged and working.

Exercise
Finding the motivation to get active is usually hard for many seniors. Bird watching, however, gives you plenty of opportunities to go outside. From filling up bird feeders in the yard to taking a walk through the park, bird watching is an activity that motivates less-mobile elderly adults to get up and get moving. Even elderly adults that are confined to a wheelchair can participate if a family member or senior care aide comes along. Lots of seniors don’t even realize they are exercising when they are involved with bird watching.

Melanoma Awareness Day

Today, May 4th, is National Melanoma Awareness Day, and the month of May is National Skin Cancer Month. Now that the weather is warming up, make sure to take extra skin precautions!

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that develops when melanocytes (the cells that give the skin its tan or brown color) start to grow out of control. Melanoma is much less common than some other types of skin cancers. But melanoma is more dangerous because it’s much more likely to spread to other parts of the body if not caught and treated early. Unfortunately, one person dies every hour from melanoma and people of all skin colors and races can develop the disease.

Unprotected exposure to UV rays via sunlight can be extremely hazardous to your health. It is important to be vigilant about taking care of your skin in the sun because unprotected sun exposure in your youth can turn into melanoma or other skin cancers later in life. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the US, 1 in 5 people will develop it in their life. A person’s risk for melanoma doubles if they have had more than 5 sunburns at any age.

HOWEVER, there are many precautions that you can take to lower your risk of skin cancer and melanoma, and safeguard your health!

-Apply sunscreen (at least SPF 30) every day in every season – even on cloudy days up to 40% of the sun’s UV rays can shine down!

-If you are going to be out enjoying the sun, apply a generous amount of sunscreen – the amount that would fill a shot glass is enough for your body.

-Reapply sunscreen (especially if you have been in the water) every 2 hours when you are in the sun

-Wear a hat with a brim

-Cover up with protective clothing

-Try to avoid the sun when it is strongest between 11a-3p, stay in the shade when you can!

-Your eyes need protection from UV rays as well, wear sunglasses with UV ray protection

-Choose broad spectrum sunscreen, it protects from UV and UVB rays

-Reflection caution – when you are out skiing the sun reflects off of the white snow, make sure to use plenty of sunscreen! Same when out on the ocean, it reflects off of the water.

-Avoid direct sunlight

-Use lip balm with SPF

-Drink plenty of water

-Check your medications – sometimes medications can cause increased sensitivity to the sun, check with your doctor.

-Never, ever, use tanning beds or tanning lights. There is no such thing as a healthy tan!

Positivity!

Share the Laughter
Spread the Cheer
Lets be Happy While We Are Still Here!

Private Home Care always encourages positivity, even when the going gets tough!