National Health Center Week is an annual celebration with to raise awareness about the accomplishments of America’s health centers over the past fifty years.  

There are nearly 1,400 health center organizations with more than 11,000 locations in urban, suburban and rural communities across the country. They can be found in all 50 states and U.S. territories. All health centers offer comprehensive primary and preventive health care. Health centers serve 28 million patients, with the goal of high-quality health care, improving health outcomes, and narrowing health disparities.

As an OT, I am witness to the incredible healthcare systems and healthcare professionals right here in Central Ohio. Just this past June, The Ohio Hospital Association celebrated 64 outstanding nominees for the 2019 Health Care Worker of the Year Award. There are countless of other healthcare workers who give tirelessly of themselves; giving care to our children, spouses, families and our beloved Seniors. 

If you have the opportunity to give a special thank you to a health care worker, this week or in the weeks to come, please do so! Many of us are still here going about our day-to-day based on their devotion to helping, and often times saving the lives of others.

Legal Disclaimer
This blog provides general information and discussions about medicine, health, and related subjects. The words and other content provided in this blog, and in any linked materials, are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice. If the reader or any other person has a medical concern, he or she should consult with an appropriately-licensed physician or other healthcare workers.

Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this blog or in any linked materials. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.

The views expressed on this blog and website have no relation to those of any academic, hospital, practice or other institution with which may have been mentioned or linked to in the article.

Noticing the early signs of Alzheimer’s is key to helping delay onset.

National Alzheimer’s Association ID 10 early signs…

1. Memory that disrupts daily life

2. Changes in problem solving abilities

3. Difficulty with daily activities

4. Confusion on place

5. Perceptual and spatial relationship difficulties

6. New problems with speaking and writing words

7. Misplacing items and being unable to retrace steps

8. Mood changes

9. Decreased or poor judgement

10. Withdrawal from work or social activities

Home Helpers Delaware, Ohio provides home care services throughout Delaware County including Powell, Galena, Westerville, Lewis Center and surrounding areas such as Plain City.  Contact us a (614) 515-6191 for a free in-home consultation to identify how our exceptional caregivers can assist you or a loved one and maximize their quality of life.

Legal Disclaimer
This blog provides general information and discussions about medicine, health, and related subjects. The words and other content provided in this blog, and in any linked materials, are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice. If the reader or any other person has a medical concern, he or she should consult with an appropriately-licensed physician or other healthcare workers.

Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this blog or in any linked materials. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.

The views expressed on this blog and website have no relation to those of any academic, hospital, practice or other institution with which may have been mentioned or linked to in the article.

As I hope many of us enjoyed this past weekend celebrating the Fathers in our lives, I reflect on the loss of my own Father and how preventative health might have helped him live longer.

A statistic that is often not talked about, is that 70% of men’s health issues are preventable. In comparison to women, men are more likely to lead less healthy lifestyles smoking and drinking alcohol; more commonly added to that, is they are more likely to put off routine checkups.

It is important for men to understand their risk factors with so many conditions being preventable. The most common conditions affecting men – heart disease, prostate, testicular and colon cancer, and osteoporosis later in life – have important nutritional implications. All of these when routinely followed up on can have positive outcomes.

As you reflect on the memories of this past weekend celebrating the Dads we love, remind and encourage them of the importance of well checks and physical activity.  We want to celebrate many more Father’s days with these men.

Citation: National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability (NCHPAD)

Home Helpers Delaware, Ohio provides home care services throughout Delaware County including Powell, Galena, Westerville, Lewis Center and surrounding areas such as Plain City.  Contact us a (614) 515-6191 for a free in-home consultation to identify how our exceptional caregivers can assist you or a loved one and maximize their quality of life.

Legal Disclaimer
This blog provides general information and discussions about medicine, health, and related subjects. The words and other content provided in this blog, and in any linked materials, are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice. If the reader or any other person has a medical concern, he or she should consult with an appropriately-licensed physician or other healthcare workers.

Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this blog or in any linked materials. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.

The views expressed on this blog and website have no relation to those of any academic, hospital, practice or other institution with which may have been mentioned or linked to in the article.

When we are discussing safety awareness in the elderly, fall prevention can not be overlooked. There are many risk factors for falls; some preventable and others not.  

Unfortunately, being over the age of 65, having a previous fall and some medications, can increase an individual’s risk for falling. Knowing your risk factors and how to modify your environment are essential to keeping yourself, or a loved one, safe to age in place wherever they call home. 

Some Simple Tips

• Good Lighting in walkways

• Wearing shoes that have a sole and come up around your heel

• Easily marked thresholds

• Remove throw rugs

• Make sure walkways/hallways are free of cords, low to ground debris (baskets etc) and any item easily moved or tripped on if caught on the edge

• Know the side effects of your medications

• Maintain good physical activity: as simple as practicing standing and sitting from a standard height chair.

For more information or for a in home safety assessment contact Home Helpers Home Care Delaware-OH (614) 515-6191

Home Helpers Delaware, Ohio provides home care services throughout Delaware County including Powell, Galena, Westerville, Lewis Center and surrounding areas such as Plain City.  Contact us a (614) 515-6191 for a free in-home consultation to identify how our exceptional caregivers can assist you or a loved one and maximize their quality of life.

Legal Disclaimer
This blog provides general information and discussions about medicine, health, and related subjects. The words and other content provided in this blog, and in any linked materials, are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice. If the reader or any other person has a medical concern, he or she should consult with an appropriately-licensed physician or other healthcare workers.

Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this blog or in any linked materials. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.

The views expressed on this blog and website have no relation to those of any academic, hospital, practice or other institution with which may have been mentioned or linked to in the article.

When a loved one sustains a stroke, there are so many uncertainties and questions the family and loved ones face. Beginning with: How will they recover? Will they be able to care for themselves? And, if they aren’t, who will care for them?  On top of these questions are: How long will they be in the hospital? Will they go to rehab? And then, what’s next?

As an Occupational Therapist for over 18 years, I have watched many families struggle with these questions and become overwhelmed. Often even the professionals can not easily answer the question being posed. The one common theme that helps alleviate some of the overwhelmed feelings, is to begin to put a plan into place. Even if there is no discharge date, if the eventual goal is for your loved one to return home, that is where my agency can assist, Home Helpers Delaware, Ohio.

The caregivers I hire are trained to provide care to those recuperating from stroke, while also giving family peace of mind and the ability to support their loved one by going to work, attending to other family members or even taking some time for themselves.

Home Helpers works with you to provide a tailored care plan for each individual’s needs.

We’re able to assist with: 

• Personal care
• Companion care
• Homemaker services
• Personal monitoring
• Medication adherence and MORE.  

It is never too early to start the process, even as care needs might change over time our agency is willing to be flexible to provide the most individualized and quality care. Contact Home Helpers today for a free in home consultation: (614) 515-6191.

Legal Disclaimer

This blog provides general information and discussions about medicine, health, and related subjects. The words and other content provided in this blog, and in any linked materials, are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice. If the reader or any other person has a medical concern, he or she should consult with an appropriately-licensed physician or other healthcare workers.

Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this blog or in any linked materials. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.

The views expressed on this blog and website have no relation to those of any academic, hospital, practice or other institution with which may have been mentioned or linked to in the article.

As spring arrives we start to notice the buds on the trees and flowers blooming, our neighborhoods come alive again and we enjoy more family activity time.  It can be a time of observing how our older family member and neighbors are maintaining their independence.  During the winter months we are use to not seeing older adults as often, due to tricky driving conditions and cold weather keeping them inside.  As spring and summer arrive with more family and neighborhood gatherings occur, it is a great time to observe how well the older adults in our family our maintaining their independence.  

Some key items to observe and “listen” for in general conversation: Have they fallen over the winter months? Do they report losing their balance or stumbling more often?  Do they comment about not having much of an appetite, loss of weight or change in mood/affect?  Are they struggling with basic tasks that use to come so easily before or are there changes in memory?

All of these are tough questions to ask as they are tough answers to receive; especially when it is a loved one who seems to be struggling.  It can be overwhelming to know what steps to take or when to be concerned.  That is were Home Helpers of Delaware can assist in helping identify the need for additional care to help our loved ones maintain independence and quality of life in their own homes.