Help Support Children With Osteogenesis Imperfecta

Want to join me in making a difference? I’m raising money to benefit The Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation, Inc, any donation will help make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.

OI is a rare and complex genetic disorder of the collagen that is often characterized by fragile bones. Individuals wih OI may experience hundreds of fractures over a lifetime. The two girls in the photo (ages 2 and 4) grew up in full body casts due to their condition. With your donation, you will help support the OI Foundation’s mission and programs to help OI families across the country.

More information about The Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation, Inc: The Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation, Inc. (OI Foundation) is the only voluntary national health organization dedicated to helping people cope with the problems associated with osteogenesis imperfecta. The Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life for people affected by OI through research to find treatments and a cure, education, awareness, and mutual support.

GoFundMe Link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-support-children-with-oi

Written by: Alex Kapantais

5 Steps to Make Sure You Are Prepared for COVID-19

To keep yourself and those you care about safe during this outbreak, make sure to follow these preventative and proactive steps!

1. Know the symptoms.
Symptoms of the Corona-virus include fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, and chest pain. If you or a family member have experienced any or all of these symptoms, it is recommended to stay home. By catching the symptoms early, you can help stop the spread of the virus.

2. Take preventative steps.
Frequent hand washing, social distancing, wearing a mask while in public, and not touching your face are four major ways you can keep yourself healthy. These are important factors in keeping yourself and those around you safe from the virus.

3. Prepare your home for illness.
Disinfecting frequently touched surfaces, taking off masks and gloves worn outside, and making sure you have enough cough and cold suppressants are great ways to keep your home virus-free.

4. What do you do if someone in your home is sick?
After contacting your primary care physician and following their prescribed guidelines, some safety precautions you my take are keeping a safe distance from those infected as well as disinfecting and washing all items used by the sick resident.

5. Prepare a “grab-and-go” hospitalization kit for those at an increased risk of becoming sick.
For the elderly and immunocompromised, it is important to be prepared for immediate hospitalization as the symptoms of the virus can be life threatening. Packing a hospital bag that includes a journal of personal and medical information as well as any pre-existing medical conditions or medications taken can help medical services aid you more quickly.

For more information regarding COVID-19 in Massachusetts, feel free to contact your personal primary care physician or visit https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-updates-and-information. For any other information regarding COVID-19, you may refer to the Centers for Disease Control at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

Written by Alex Kapantais

National K9 Veteran’s Day

Today is National K9 Veterans Day! On this day we honor and commemorate the service and sacrifices of American military and working dogs.

K9’s serve in many different ways, such as rescue missions, bomb detection, and drug sniffing. It is very beneficial for soldiers to be reunited with their dogs after their service. Dogs can also be tremendously helpful for wounded soldiers as guide dogs or emotional support dogs.

At Professional Home Care we also utilize dogs (toy form) because they have been proven to help Alzheimer’s patients!

Golfing for Your Health

Golf is a fun, leisurely pastime that millions enjoy all over the world. But did you know that the sport is very beneficial for your health? Golf is great for the mind and body (it is also Mary’s favorite hobby)!

Fosters Relationships – Golf is a great way to keep in touch with friends and family. Because golf is not a high intensity or competitive sport, there is plenty of opportunity for meeting new people and connecting with a community. There have even been studies showing that a large number of business deals are closed on the golf course!

Physical Activity – Sports improve your physical fitness. Golf is a moderately intense physical activity due to the walking, swinging, and carrying bags. What is great about golf is that you can tailor the amount of physical activity to your level of ability. You can use golf carts and caddies to fit your needs.

Heart Health – Any physical activity is good for your heart. Golf keeps your heart rate up for hours as you walk and play. This can help reduce the risk of heart disease and many other illnesses. 

Weight Loss – Playing golf burns calories! You can easily reach the 10,000 step a day recommendation for weight loss during a game of golf.

Low Injury – Golf is a low-impact activity and is easy on the joints. This is a great sport especially for more mature players because golf has a low risk of injury but still allows golfers to burn calories.

Time Spent Outdoors – Spending time outside is great for your health. Being surrounded by nature is known to help alleviate stress and anxiety. Exposure to sunlight lets the body soak up Vitamin D, which helps promote bone growth as well as reduce depression.

Brain Health – Golf requires focus and memory, and playing regularly can help prevent or reduce cognitive decline.   

Vision and Coordination – Players need to hone in on small objects far away, which helps exercise their vision. While swinging the club you work on your hand-eye coordination, and walking around on the gentle putting greens encourages balance and stability. 

Socialization – Human beings are social animals, and socializing with others is a mainstay to a healthy life! Regular golfers may have enhanced social connections, interpersonal skills and emotional control.

Private Home Care encourages you to come join us out on the putting greens!