Providing care for someone who is elderly is a bit different than caring for someone who is injured or someone who is ill. Those who are elderly are often fragile and require special attention. They are often unable to hear clearly and sometimes don’t understand the things that you ask of them. When you’re working in an elderly health care Bethesda MD setting, there are a few tips to keep in mind so that you offer the best care possible.

Plan ahead so that the environment is safe for your client. Find out if there are any special pieces of equipment that are needed or any medications that the person needs to take on a daily basis. This information can often be obtained from the person’s doctor or family members. If you aren’t working in a nursing facility, then you’ll likely find everything that is needed for proper care in the person’s home. While providing the proper health care that is safe and beneficial for your client, you should also be prepared to monitor the financial care of the person, especially if there are no family members who can oversee this aspect.

Bathing is often a part of the daily activities associated with caring for the elderly. Use lotions that are gentle to keep the skin from drying out and cracking. If there are any sores that you notice, then report them to a doctor while providing the proper cleaning on a daily basis. Assist with getting dressed by choosing a few outfits so that the person can pick what to wear each day. When you’re assisting with eating, make sure the food is of a consistency that is easy to chew and swallow. Help with small bites, making sure the diet of the person is followed as well, such as sugar-free or low sodium.

Discovering that you are going to have a baby can be one of the happiest moments of your life.  The promise of a new future and an expanding family is something to celebrate!   Because it’s so exciting and there is so much anticipation surrounding becoming a new parent, it’s normal to want it to go as smoothly as possible.

In order to have a positive experience which goes as close as possible to the way that you envision it, follow these tips along the way.

Find a Doctor You Trust

It’s essential that you find a doctor to follow your pregnancy who you trust.  Since you’re not only placing your own life in their hands but also your baby’s, it’s essential to find someone that you know won’t cause you injury or distress during the process.

Rather than choosing the first doctor that you find, you should carefully choose someone that comes recommended.  Be sure to interview them and ensure that they have the same values as you when it comes to the birth process.  It’s important to find someone who listens to you and values your voice as a parent.  Otherwise, you’ll feel frustrated the entire process.

Stay Active

Even though you may feel exhausted during many points throughout your pregnancy, it’s essential to keep your strength up.  Unless your doctor advises against it and encourages you to stay on bed rest for any particular reason, you should try to stay active every day.

Being active doesn’t necessarily mean intensive cardio exercise, but being on your feet and keeping your body moving.  Low impact exercises like swimming and walking are great ways to make sure that you stay active throughout your pregnancy to remain strong and maintain a healthy weight within the recommended amount.

Take a Birthing Class

When it comes to giving birth, there’s no such thing as being too ready.  If this is you and your partner’s first child, you should consider taking a birthing class.

Knowing the ins and outs of the best ways to breathe and stay calm during the labor process is helpful, especially if you have some uncertainties surrounding your pregnancy.

Don’t Rush Too Quickly To The Hospital

Even though you may be anxious to jump in the car and go to the hospital at the slightest sign of a contraction, it’s prudent to stay home during the early part of labor.

If you arrive at the hospital too soon, they may send you home which is a wasted trip.

Stay Flexible

Even though you may have a clear vision of how your birth should play out, it’s important to stay flexible about the process.  Things can change at the last minute, and it’s important to remain open to things changing.

No one starts out their day with the intention of getting injured.  Usually suffering an accident is something which comes as a surprise when we least expect it.   Even though it may be impossible to avoid getting hurt entirely, there are ways to decrease your chances of injury.

Here are some of the most common day to day injuries that occur and what you can do to avoid them.

Slips And Falls

All it takes is one wrong step, and it’s possible to fall and suffer a severe injury.  Falling from the wrong angle can break bones, cause a neck injury, and even cause paralysis!

It’s important to keep an eye out for obstructions when you’re walking in unfamiliar places.  Don’t be a product of someone else’s negligence.  Always look at least three meters ahead of you when walking, especially if you are near vehicles.

If you’re a senior citizen, it’s especially important to take extra care when walking since you can cause even more damage to your body since you’re more fragile. Even though you may not want to admit that you are having more difficulty getting around in your older age, it may be time to consider walking with a cane or a wheelchair.  Breaking your hip is a painful and expensive injury which can easily be avoided by taking the proper precautions.

Poisoning

People getting poisoned happens more often than you think.  People fail to read labels correctly or mistake one item for another.  As a result, they ingest something which leads to them needing emergency medical attention.

If you use the container of a harmless substance to fill with a dangerous one, always make sure that you label it in bold lettering.  This can avoid someone innocently making the mistake of poisoning themselves as a result.

Burns

The average person is gets burned about five times a year.  If you’re cooking, you should always make sure that you turn the pot handle away from the edge of the stove and always be careful about pets and children in the kitchen with you.

Be aware when handling flammable substances and always make sure that you are adequately equipped with preventative fire gear like an extinguisher.

Cuts

Although it’s common to suffer minor cuts on a daily basis when you’re cooking or accidentally graze against a sharp object, there are many situations where a seemingly innocent cut turns into something much more serious.

Always make sure you’re looking when using sharp objects, and be aware of your surroundings if you’re around things which have the potential to cut you.  One of the most effective ways to avoid any kind of injury is simply to remain aware and consider risks before taking action.

Sometimes, by the time you feel constant pain, it’s already too late. That should be a warning that prevention and avoidance of health issues should always be a priority to you, especially when you’re younger, and you can still make decisions that affect you later in life in a positive manner.

Healthy habits are going to be at the core of venting these sensitive issues later in life, so you should take time to research them when you still have a chance. First, you should know that there are ways to calculate pain and suffering. Beyond that, there are immediate things to do like stop smoking and drinking alcohol. And then, you can never go wrong by having healthy habits regarding exercise and nutrition.

Calculating Pain and Suffering

Calculating pain and suffering is a general concept, but the techniques are similar for people to find their own spectrum of consideration. On the one hand, people can self-diagnose and self-report pain and suffering on a scale that they understand is individualized. And then there are the legal definitions of pain and suffering which can also bring into consideration healthy and preventative habits that you should have both inside and outside of your immediate control.

Smoking

One of the single most preventable habits regarding pain management is smoking. If you are a regular smoker, you are asking for pain. It may not hit in the first year, or the first 10, or the first 20. But eventually, inhaling pollutants into your lungs will cause you physical pain. Not only this, but there will be emotional pain associated with you and people who love you as they see you begin to suffer further along down your lifeline.

Drinking

Another huge cause of pain is going to be alcohol and alcoholism. Though many people drink to take the edge off of pain that they feel, ultimately, too much drinking leads to organ failure and addiction. There are different studies right now with conflicting opinions about whether light or moderate drinking can be good for you, but any time you put poison into your body, there will eventually be consequences, and those consequences are often associated with physical and emotional pain.

Exercise and Nutrition

If there’s one set of healthy habits that you can utilize in a positive direction, it’s to get the right amount of exercise and eat the right foods at the appropriate times of your life. It’s not always easy to do this, and it’s not always immediately satisfying. But the point is if you look back from the end of your timeline, you should do is many things that you can to prevent and avoid much of the pain that is associated with living an unhealthy life while you’re younger that catches up to you when you’re old.

Nerve pain is not just for diabetics, you could be experiencing nerve compression. If you’re one of the millions of people who suffer from diabetes, you likely have diabetic nerve pain (diabetic neuropathy).  It’s one of the unfortunate side effects of diabetes, along with vision problems, kidney disease and cardiovascular complications.

If you don’t have diabetes, nerve compression can cause all sorts of aggravating occurrences to happen similar to diabetics.  You know all too well the pain, the tingling, and sharp, burning sensations. You probably feel like someone is stabbing you with pins and needles at some point.

This is how it feels when a nerve has been damaged.  You may also feel neuropathic pain in your feet, ankles or toes, but it doesn’t stop there.  The experts suspect over 20 million people have peripheral nerve damage. You’d be surprised to know there are over 100 types of nerve damage, so no… nerve pain is not just for diabetics.

Neuropathy Symptoms

The symptoms of neuropathy are debilitating as they weaken the muscles.  As the condition worsens, the damage goes through your body, affecting your hands, wrists, and surprisingly, the digestive system. Neuropathy could eventually impair your ability to see, to urinate and even cause the sex organs not to function properly.

The signs or the effects of nerve pain could be numbness, permanent paralysis or the signs could go away with time and treatment.  It really depends on if the sensory, autonomic or motor nerves are involved.  To be honest, the person could suffer with a combination of the aforementioned.

Autonomic nerve impairment affects normal body functions like blood pressure and the heart rate. In addition, the person can develop dry eyes and dry mouth, bladder dysfunction, gastrointestinal problems.  When there’s damage to the optic nerves, a person can have problems with balance.  Of course, motor nerves deal with a person’s reflexes and range of motion or movement.

The peripheral nervous system (motor nerves) talks to your brain and central nervous system or the nerves surrounding the spinal cord. When communication is interrupted, the results can be weakness, and even paralysis. The cause of peripheral damage and neuropathic pain could be the result of some traumatic injury which affects the spinal cord.

More so, it could be due to autoimmune diseases, cancer, side effects of toxic substances like arsenic, too much alcohol, certain medications, vitamin deficiencies, infections or it could be inherited. So, you see nerve pain is not just for diabetics. Nonetheless, the good news is the condition can be treated.

Diabetic Neuropathy Treatment

The goal is to treat neuropathy causes, therefore relieving the symptoms. The doctor may prescribe neuropathy treatment that would regulate blood sugar levels, and change current medications.  For those who are experiencing weakness, physical therapy can improve the sufferer’s movements.

Normally, to treat nerve compression, a neurolysis is done.  To relieve the compression, a doctor will need to “decompress” the nerves. Alternatively, there are pain relievers, creams, meditation, nerve simulator (TENS) acupuncture and hypnosis to consider.

Since neuropathic pain could also be the result of a vitamin deficiency, you may want to get a test to see where your levels are. A number of studies prove vitamins like B12 and B6 improve nerve pain.  At the same time, too much vitamin B6 could be the cause of neuropathy suffering, proving once again nerve pain is not just for diabetics.  This would take years to happen, however.

In addition to taking the B vitamins, high doses of vitamin D will reduce the side effects of neuropathy as well.  It should be taken consistently and over a period of about 90 days to see affirmative results.  NutriNerve, an alternative to nerve pain medication, has a blend of those vitamins as part of its ingredients. Dr. Aaron Vinik, Director of Research at the Strelitz Diabetes Research Center, chose them specifically to renew, repair and improve nerve health.

NutriNerve Natural Nerve Pain Relief

NutriNerve contains natural ingredients to provide relief to individuals who suffer with diabetic nerve pain. The components were hand-picked to decrease the cause of nerve pain and to reduce the inflammation associated with nerve pain. NutriNerve is made with the highest quality ingredients on the market, so you can trust it to work.

• Gamma Linolenic Acid or GLA restores nerve conduction velocity
• Alpha Lipoic Acid is taken orally or intravenously
• B (B1, B6 and B12) vitamins are highly instrumental in reducing the signs of neuropathy and controlling nerve pain
• Vitamin D helps to lessen the signs of nerve pain of those with type 1 and type 2 diabetes

Dr. Vinik added vitamins B12 and vitamin D to NutriNerve as he understands the common deficiencies in diabetic patients affecting their ability to get well. All patients with diabetic nerve pain should talk to their doctor about neuropathy pain and get a screening for diabetes.  Although nerve pain is not just for diabetics, early diagnosis could be the key that makes a considerable difference.

Many people shy away from checking into Tennessee drug rehab programs because they are unsure of what a treatment program is like. Below are a few things you can expect in a quality drug rehab center.

Assessment to Determine Level of Treatment Needed

If you’ve ever wondered what to expect in drug rehab , the first step is to undergo a complete assessment. An intake specialist will ask all the right questions to determine the level of treatment you need and what programs will work best. No two addictions or addicts are the same. Treatment can be somewhat customized to fit the level of addiction and types of drugs or alcohol used. All recommendations will be made with your ultimate success in mind.

Clinical Safe Detox

The next step in the process is to meet your treatment team and prepare for the start of your medical detox. An experienced medical team will begin the process of ridding your body of drugs and alcohol in a safe manner. Every available means will be employed to minimize your discomfort with potential withdrawal symptoms. You have qualified individuals around 24/7 that can help with any medical emergencies. You can feel confident you are in good hands.

Meet Your Therapist and Group Therapy Members

The next step in your experience will involve meeting with your therapist for individual counseling sessions and also for group therapy. You will be involved in therapy with fellow individuals that are in the midst of the same battle. The group therapy environment can be one of your biggest allies and areas of support on the bad days. You can develop supportive friendships that last for life.

Begin Working On Any Coexisting Mental Illness

A mental illness that is diagnosed in conjunction with an addiction must be treated simultaneously. You will then begin treatment that can include specialized therapy and medications. Many find immediate relief when receiving treatment for a mental illness they never knew existed. It’s not uncommon for addictions to develop due to an individual trying to self-medicate away mental illness symptoms.

Eat Nutritious Foods to Improve Health

It’s easy to fall into horrible nutrition patterns when dealing with an addiction. Your body becomes malnourished and lacks the vitamins and nutrients needed to function in a full and healthy way. You will learn what foods are beneficial to reintroduce the nutrition you need to dramatically improve your overall health. The goal in nutrition monitoring is to ensure you are gradually building the strength you need to go back to a normal life and continue your path to recovery. Your body can begin responding positively within days.

Get Healthy Exercise for Relaxation

You will have private time that allows you the opportunity to read, write, or converse with others, but you will also need to focus on healthy amounts of exercise. It’s another way to increase your levels of health and promote better moments of complete relaxation. You will sleep better and be able to focus on your treatment program.

Enjoy a Calm, Enriching Atmosphere

A drug treatment center is not a setting that is full of chaos and anxiety. It is made to feel comfortable, relaxing, and allow you the perfect environment to heal. The furnishings are contemporary and nice, the lighting is sedated and decor made to feel like home. You will not be stuck in a setting that feels like a hospital. Most have outdoor areas to sit and enjoy the views and interact with squirrels, birds, and maybe even see a passing deer. Everything is created to reduce anxiety and stress during treatment.

Prepare to Go Home and Maintain Sobriety

Over the course of weeks you will be building up the knowledge, skills, and strength you need to go out into the world and continue your battle to maintain sobriety. You will be given all the tools you need to feel supported and successful.

You will find that your time spent in a drug rehab center is one that emphasizes the strength you possess to change your life for the better through positive choices. It’s the best opportunity you can give yourself to bring life back to normal.