Understanding Mental Health Disorders Mental Health Disorders Rising Each year: One in 24 people lives with a serious mental illness. In addition, we know of one in 12 people who admit to a diagnosis of a substance abuse disorder; however, many more may exist. Currently, Alzheimer’s Dementia affects one in 10 people. According to […]
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Helpful Ostomy Training Videos from YouTube Blockages and Obstructions If you have an ileostomy or colostomy, you’ll likely be told to avoid blockages and bowel obstructions. This video explains a few of the things that writer, Vegan Ostomy, does to prevent blockages and some tips she has found helpful if she does end up with
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Medication Administration Administering medications occurs through multiple routes of entry. A list of some of the routes of entry include: by way of the mouth (swallowed, through a tube into the stomach, under the tongue, held in the cheek), through injection into the muscle (intramuscularly), into the fat layer (subcutaneously), rectally (suppository, enema), into the
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I want to shout out today to special-needs parents. God bless them; they have their hands full, and their energy tanks are empty most of the time. These caregivers play a dual role as both parent and caregiver. In that role, they are often criticized by everyone they encounter—especially if their special needs child has
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Starting Out as a Caregiver Starting out as a caregiver can make your head spin at first. You may even feel overwhelmed but take a deep breath and let me help you get organized. I’ve been a caregiver for more than thirty years and have some great tips to assist you in getting your feet
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Since I’ve retired, I’ve found myself on a mission to do something about the plight of caregivers. Why am I so stirred up? It’s because there is a severe lack of training for family caregivers. The lack of training is especially true in rural areas where families are expected to perform medical procedures with little to
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My current project is gathering information to write a book on skincare and wound management. Therefore, wound and skincare are on my mind. One of the most important practices I have is to check my husband’s skin regularly for any signs of skin breakdown. If I see the first hint of any break in the
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Managing Venous Catheters Managing Venous Catheters at Home Caregivers frequently receive responsibility for managing venous catheters (IVs) at home a few days prior to patient discharge from the hospital. Whether the catheter enters the bloodstream from outside the body or internally using a long catheter that ends close to the heart, family caregivers receive training
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Healing Skin Breakdown Healing Skin Breakdown Quickly Before It Gets Worse Is Essential Healing skin breakdown quickly and successfully is essential to prevent serious consequences to your family member’s health. Skin breakdown often leads to full-body infection (sepsis), which can lead to death. therefore, as we have previously reviewed, (1) we want to keep it
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Caregiving is a very lonely responsibility. If you have ever been a caregiver, you understand what I mean. All caregivers have probably experienced that feeling of being alone when the smoke clears. The initial burst of enthusiastic help is over. Everyone has returned to their normal lives except you. As the dust settles and the smoke clears to
