By John Mills, Co-Founder of
http://www.ecarediary.com
Being a caregiver is an incredibly stressful experience and a recent study by the MetLife Mature Market Institute has some startling conclusions about its impact. The report examined employees serving as caregivers and found that they are more likely to suffer from health problems like diabetes, high blood pressure and depression than their co-workers.
Some of the key findings in the study include:
- Caregivers have health costs which are 8% higher than people who are not caregivers and cost employers $13.4 billion a year.
- Employees serving as caregivers were more likely to report poor health than their co-workers. For example, 17% of female employees ages 50 and older who were caregivers reported fair or poor health compared to 9% of non-caregivers.
- Employed caregivers find it difficult to take care of their own health care needs and are less likely to get preventive care such as mammograms, annual physicals and preventive health screenings.
- Caregivers were more likely to engage in high risk behavior that hurt their health like smoking or excessive alcohol use.
- Absenteeism amongst caregivers is higher. The study found that 10% of caregivers had missed at least one day of work during the previous two weeks.
- Caregivers report feeling more stress at home than non-caregivers.
The report finds that employers have traditionally focused on providing eldercare assistance programs and have largely ignored the health of the caregiver. The report recommends an integrated solution combining eldercare benefits and wellness programs so that caregiver health receives a higher priority. The specific proposals include:
- Combining time off programs (vacation, sick time, personal days) into one Paid Time Off (PTO) benefit that provides more flexibility.
- Providing telecommuting options to help caregivers juggle work and home demands. These programs are in place for many working parents and have been found to increase productivity and worker loyalty.
- Allowing flexible schedules so people can get their work done and also tend to family needs.
- Offering stress reduction seminars and programs to help workers cope with the difficulties of caring for a sick relative or parent.
- Providing decision support systems to make it easier for caregivers to get information and manage care.
- Awarding financial incentives to people who engage in wellness programs and take better care of themselves.
- Establishing legal and financial assistance programs which can help caregivers deal with issues like Medicare, Medicaid and end of life planning.
This report highlights that caregiving does not occur in isolation and impacts all parts of the caregivers life. The study has many excellent suggestions on how to make it easier for caregivers to balance their jobs and the needs of their loved ones. Despite the tough economy, I hope that employers will review these findings and see that it is in their interests to assist employees who are caring for others.
Click here to learn more about the study and to get a copy of it.
Our health is, really, all we have. If you think about it, if you don't have your health, you have inconvenient complications, a reduced quality of life and/or something worse. Whether it's a teenager, a middle-aged adult or the elderly, it is important to "take the reigns" and ensure you are the driver when it comes to your health.
We've written before about the importance of being your own health advocate. One of the best ways of doing this is to educate yourself (they don't say 'Knowledge is power' for nothing, after all). How can you do this? One way is to be prepared. In just five easy steps, you can achieve this in a cinch:
- Do research ahead of time - learn about symptoms you think you may be experiencing, read up about (a) condition(s) you may have.
- Write down a list of things you'd like to address, such as concerns you may have, any major life changes that you've experienced, questions you may have.
- Prior to going to the doctor, be sure to sit down and think about these things so you are able to make the most out of the short time you are there.
- Bring a list of medications (including vitamins and supplements!) you are currently taking and anything else you'd like to address.
- Be sure to bring something to take notes on and/or even a voice recorder (with the permission of your doctor, of course).
We love the idea of making a list. Making a list will not only help you to remember the things you'd like to address, but it will also help you stick to the point and communicate clearly. From young children to seniors, many people are afraid of going to the doctor because it can make them feel vulnerable, but having a list of questions and being educated can help anybody regain some control and feel more confident.
That's why we've come up with a series of checklists to jump-start your journey to health advocacy. From "Questions to Ask About Drug Treatment" to "Questions to Ask About Cholesterol" and more, our Resources serve to empower you to "take the wheel" and never look back. See for yourself.
Doing good deeds, family and friends, and laughing. Just a few of the things in life that make me happy. Is the laundry list of things that make us happy the true keys to happiness, or is it something deeper? According to Nick Temple of the Global Ideas Bank, compiler of "500 Ways to Change the World," psychologist Dan Baker has identified six key tools that are essential to true happiness:
- "Appreciation: the outward-bound kind of love that gives everything and asks for nothing, making it pure and strong." Think about the last time you forgot your wallet or purse somewhere and how happy you are when a friend or stranger returned it to you-now that's appreciation!
- "Choice: Anyone can choose the course of their lives, but only happy people do it." When you make a choice, you take control over a situation, you assert yourself, you express yourself, all of which can be both liberating and exhilarating.
- "Personal power: A proactive force that gives individuals the power over their feelings and their fate. It is made up of two constituent parts: taking action and taking responsibility." Much like when you make a choice, you are knowingly taking the wheel and driving.
- "Leading with your strengths: Focusing on strengths, rather than focusing on weaknesses, enables a swifter resolving of situations." It has been proven that people respond better to positive reinforcement. And the law of attraction essentially says that the more you focus on something, the more of that something you get-if it's strength, you get strength; if it's positivity, you get positivity.
- "The power of language: Language can be used in a healthy or horrible way, and words have immense power to constrain or liberate." Be honest and open when you speak to others, and be sure to think before you speak whenever possible.
- "Multidimensional living: Putting energy into the three main components of life (relationships, health and purpose) is the final key." Balance is the key to just about everything!
When evaluating your life, think about the things that make you happy. Where do they fit within these categories? Are there areas for improvement? Perhaps these categories can serve as a guide to set your goals and prioritize, or serve as a catalyst to evaluate your life in general.
Depending on who you ask, the economy seems to be on the up and up; the housing market appears to benefitting from the tax incentive extension; and unemployment rates are going down. But people are still stressed out. A new survey conducted by Misericordia University and Braun Research found that three in 10 said healthcare costs have led to arguments and tension with friends and family members, and it doesn't help that the holiday season and the long winter season are upon us.
So what gives? We've come up with some great ways to cut costs, reduce stress and get through the winter with a smile (or, at the very least, without a frown):
- Exercise! Even if you get up and walk around the house, wave your arms in circular motions or do some jumping jacks in between TV shows, getting your heart pumping and blood flowing can facilitate the release of happy hormones that can help to boost your mood. Here are some more ways to exercise indoors this winter.
- Spend time with the people you care about. It costs nothing, whether they live next door or thousands of miles away and here's why: you can use Skype to keep in touch, or plan a get-together. Taking some time to visit with friends, family and loved ones can instantly boost your mood, and it can be a great opportunity to vent if you've been feeling down.
- Use couponmap.com to find deals wherever you may be traveling this holiday season, or even if you're not! Saving money is on the top of just about everybody's list these days and knowing that you are saving money can make you feel better.
- Reduce stress for seniors and people with disabilities this holiday season by increasing your home's visit-ability. Being mindful of making your home more accessible for your visitors can make you feel more prepared while allowing them to feel safe and comfortable. It's a win-win all around!
- Take the guess work out of managing your medications by downloading a helpful medication chart. This is a great way to keep tabs on multiple prescriptions and supplements, for you and your doctor, but without having to remember everything.
The winter doesn't have to be a dreary sentence to months locked behind closed doors; there are so many easy ways to stay positive and reduce stress. What do you do in the winter to boost your mood and reduce stress? Weigh in now!
Adults, seniors, men, women - patients from just about every walk of life can and do develop chronic heart disease, a condition in which it is increasingly difficult for the heart to pump oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. In fact, cardiovascular disease is the leading killer of U.S. women, and there's a growing recognition that heart attack risk increases after menopause. Some say that we aought to pay more attention to heart attack risk for younger women as well.
According to the WSJ Health Blog, in recent decades, heart-attack risk rose for women aged 35 to 54, even as it fell for men in the same age group (Archives of Internal Medicine). Prevalence is still much higher for men in that age group than in women, but this change, many say, is cause for concern. Read more here.
So what is the answer - what can be done to prevent the onset of heart disease? Is legislation to tax fattening foods the solution? Or do we take our health into our own hands and live healthy lifestyles? Weigh in now!
My grandpa Jack (or "Jacko" as we called him) was a rebel. He was a whippersnapper as a child and went on to be kicked out of not one, but two high schools as a teen. I guess you could say that this carried over into his adult years and as he aged, but he rebelled in a different way. Jacko never went to the doctor. I think that a big part of the reason why he never went was fear; he was afraid of what could be. Jacko was happy with not knowing, but is this how things should be? Not if you can help it!
Now, answer a few questions: what kind of relationship do you have with your doctor? Are you comfortable asking questions to clarify something if you don't understand it? Do you feel as though you are being heard and your needs are being met? Everybody - especially aging seniors, like Jacko - should be their own health advocate, and you should truly view the relationship you have with your doctor this way. Developing a collaborative partnership with your doctor can be crucial to your health and wellbeing. Here are some helpful hints to get you started:
Be prepared. Write down a list of things you'd like to address, such as concerns you may have, any major life changes that you've experienced, questions you may have, medications you are currently taking and anything else you'd like to address. Prior to going to the doctor, be sure to sit down and think about these things so you are able to make the most out of the short time you are there. Making a list will not only help you to remember the things you'd like to address, but it will also help you stick to the point and communicate clearly.
Take notes. Along with your list of items to address, bring a pad of paper or a tape recorder (with your doctor's permission) to log what is said during your appointment. This will help you to share the details of what was said in case you have a hard time remembering afterwards or you are not comfortable with restating medical terminology that was discussed.
Keep a health journal. Buy a notebook to jot down the aforementioned items in. Keep it at your bedside and update it each time you get sick or have a new symptom, or just to keep track of how you're feeling each day. And, of course, bring your notebook to appointments and take notes. These helpful insights can provide you and your doctor with context that may help down the road.
Ask questions and give feedback. Again, you are your own advocate and it is your right to play an active role when you visit your doctor. If you need something to be clarified, don't ever hesitate to share any questions you may have with your doctor. In fact, write down all of the questions you have in your notebook to ask at the end of the appointment. You should also feel free to give feedback - let your doctor know if he or she is being too medical, or if they are not explaining things in enough detail. If you do not feel comfortable asking your doctor questions or giving feedback, it may be a sign that you need a new doctor with whom you will feel comfortable because two-way communication is imperative in a doctor-patient relationship.
Whether you adopt all or just a few of these points, the take-away from all of this is to just go. This is so important that we're dedicating an entire series of entries geared toward helping you to assess your relationship with your doctor and empowering you to take the next steps to being an advocate for yourself in the doctor's office. Whether it is finding a new doctor or preparing questions to ask at your next appointment, there are some small steps you can take to promote a solid doctor-patient relationship. Do you have a family member or friend like Jacko? What would you recommend to motivate them to visit their doctor regularly? Share your ideas now!
According to Dr. Jerry Avorn, M.D., the elderly face a double jeopardy from drug side effects-they are more likely to get them and the side effects are more likely to go unrecognized. "'Ageism' is the tendency to attribute all sorts of problems-such as fatigue, depression, incontinence, forgetfulness, or unsteadiness on the feet-in elderly people to the process of getting old. In fact, not one of these problems is part of the normal aging problems." Dr. Avorn goes on to say that the new onset of any symptom can be the side effect of a medication and can often be remedied by simply bringing it to the attention of your physician.
So what can be done to avoid ageism in senior care? If you are experiencing unusual symptoms, don't be so quick to chalk it up to old age. Getting older may, in some cases, mean more health issues, but not necessarily. In fact, healthy aging may not have any side effects or symptoms. Here are some tips on how to avoid ageism:
- The best advice is to ask your doctor. Describe your symptoms and be sure to note whether or not you feel that it may not be associated with aging.
- If you start taking a new medication or alter your diet, document it. Keep a medical journal so you can reference it and identify whether or not your symptoms began before or after your change, and how long they lasted.
- Practice describing how you feel and getting in touch with your body. If something hurts, in what way does it hurt and how much? Does it feel like a sharp pain or just an aching? Is it consistent or on and off? Does it occur at the same time each day or sporadically?
Do you have any tips and tricks that you use to document and describe new symptoms? Share them here!
Research has indicated that drinking one or two alcoholic drinks per day may cut your risk of stroke in half, but drinking more than this amount increases your risk. Strokes are very common, especially among the senior population, and can be prevented both by being able to identify symptoms of a stroke and by taking steps in everyday life to reduce the risk of stroke. Here are some actionable items to guide you:
- Have your blood pressure checked at least every two years. Reducing your diastolic blood pressure by just a little can cut your risk of stroke nearly in half.
- The blood-thinning prescription drug warfarin or aspirin can greatly decrease the risk of stroke.
- Have your cholesterol levels checked, ear a low-fat diet and exercise regularly.
- Walk, if you can. Staying active can reduce your risk of stroke.
- Quit smoking. Ask your doctor about the many strategies available to help you quit.
- Follow your doctor's dietary and medication recommendations for lowering your blood sugar.
- Maintain a healthy weight and eat a nutritious and balanced diet.
- If you have mechanical heart valves, you should be taking warfarin, and your doctor should do blood tests regularly to make sure the dose is correct.
- Although unproven, a diet rich in foods containing vitamin E may reduce the severity of a stroke.
For more information about strokes, preventative measures and life after a stroke, visit the National Stroke Association Web site.
As we age, the people around us do too. Close friends may move away for retirement or to be closer to their families, and our children are now adults who have their own children to care for. Empty nest syndrome can kick in and adjusting to these changes in everyday life can be a daunting task, even making a nutritious meal. If you're used to cooking for many hungry mouths, but now only need to cook for one or two, it's important to adjust the number of servings you're cooking, and for good reason.
Research has shown that, when given larger portions, people typically tend to overeat which can lead to indigestion and weight gain in the short term and obesity, diabetes and heart disease in the long term. And think of all the money you can save in a trip to the grocery store if you size down your portions appropriately.
Check out this scrumptious recipe for two: Steak & Potato Kebabs with Creamy Cilantro Sauce, courtesy of EatingWell.com.
Makes 2 servings
ACTIVE TIME: 40 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 40 minutes
EASE OF PREPARATION: Easy
1/4 cup packed fresh cilantro leaves, minced
1 tablespoon red-wine vinegar or cider vinegar
1 tablespoon reduced-fat sour cream
1/2 small clove garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon chile powder
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon salt, divided
4 new or baby red potatoes
10 ounces strip steak, trimmed and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
1 poblano pepper or 1/2 large green bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 large sweet onion, cut into 1-inch chunks
1. Combine cilantro, vinegar, sour cream, garlic, chile powder, cumin and 1/8 teaspoon salt in a small bowl. Set aside.
2. Preheat grill to high.
3. Place potatoes in a microwave-safe container. Cover and microwave on High until just tender when pierced with a fork, 3 to 3 1/2 minutes.
4. Toss the potatoes, steak and pepper pieces with oil and the remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Thread the potatoes, steak, peppers and onion chunks onto 4 skewers. Grill, turning once or twice, until the steak reaches desired doneness, about 6 minutes for medium. Serve the kebabs with the reserved sauce.
NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 269 calories; 9 g fat (3 g sat, 4 g mono); 65 mg cholesterol; 16 g carbohydrate; 30 g protein; 2 g fiber; 368 mg sodium; 769 mg potassium.
Nutrition bonus: Vitamin C & Zinc (35% daily value), Potassium (22% dv), Iron (15% dv).
1 Carbohydrate Serving
Exchanges: 1 starch, 4 lean meat
MAKE AHEAD TIP: Equipment: Four 10- to 12-inch skewers
Do you have delicious recipes for one or two? Share them here!
An article in May about the death of the self-proclaimed "oldest blogger" Spanish blogger Maria Amelia Lopez prompted an interesting discussion. This "Web-sensation" had developed a following of 1.7 million people throughout the course of her 880 posts - that's a lot of people! Lopez swore that blogging changed her life and she recommended that all elderly do it.
Socializing is so important as we grow older and maintaining the connections we once had may become more and more difficult with time. Social media/networking/computing is a collection of technology based tools that facilitate conversations, networking, and collaboration between participants in a generally Web-based environment. These tools give us the ability to publish our ideas, communicate interesting content we run across, or create. It lets us form communities of interest, or join communities that interest us.
Forms of social media, including blogging, have changed the way people communicate and this is one great example, as it carries the potential to keep the elderly and people with debilitating disabilities connected and engaged. Blogging can also be a great way to share your thoughts and feelings, solicit feedback from a captive audience, make new friends and keep in touch with loved ones who may live far away. Blogging can stimulate brain activity, boost your mood and relieve stress, all of which can make a significant impact on people with dementia, Alzheimer's, depression and other conditions.
It's a brave, new world - how many of your are utilizing social media? How do you incorporate it into your daily life? Share your stories!