by Julie Ann Anderson on December 19, 2011
More and more patients are turning to social networks such Twitter and Facebook for health information, according to a survey by the National Research Corporation. In the survey of nearly 23,000 people in the United States, 41% said they use social media as a source of health care information. For nearly all of them – [...]
by Julie Ann Anderson on December 16, 2011
Santa Cookies It’s that time of year for seasonal cookies. Try this great recipe that involves no baking. 2 (6 ounce) pkgs white chocolate baking squares, chopped 1 (1 lb) package Nutter Butter sandwich cookies red colored crystal sugar 32 vanilla chips or 32 white chocolate chips 64 miniature semisweet chocolate chips 32 red-hot [...]
by Julie Ann Anderson on December 14, 2011
Start Up Stretching Regular stretching reduces pain, improves flexibility and quality of life Flexibility, or the lack thereof, is probably the single most important factor affecting our quality of life as we age. Don’t assume that with aging you will automatically lose your flexibility. You can counterbalance the effects of aging so that your physiology [...]
by Julie Ann Anderson on December 12, 2011
Seasonal Affective Disorder or Sad… Seasonal affective disorder (also called SAD) is a type of depression that occurs at the same time every year. If you’re like most people with seasonal affective disorder, your symptoms start in the fall and may continue into the winter months, sapping your energy and making you feel moody. Treatment [...]
by Julie Ann Anderson on December 8, 2011
ScienceDaily (July 29, 2011) — Hospice services substantially improved the provision of care and support for nursing home patients dying of dementia and their families, according to an analysis of survey responses from hundreds of bereaved family members. The research comes as hospice funding has received particular scrutiny in the debate over Medicare spending. “People [...]
by Julie Ann Anderson on December 7, 2011
Depression is not a normal part of aging, but when older adults do have depression, it may be overlooked, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Seniors may show different, less obvious symptoms and may be less inclined to experience or acknowledge feelings of sadness or grief. The winter months can be especially challenging [...]
by Julie Ann Anderson on December 5, 2011
December 3 — Petaluma Downtown Holiday Open House – Time: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Holiday, Celebration: Don’t miss the Christmas festivities and open houses throughout Downtown Petaluma, CA December 3 – 4 — Holiday on Florence! – Time: 11am to 5pm Holiday: A Showcase of Fine Local Craft featuring handwoven clothing, pottery, glass, jewelry, [...]
by Julie Ann Anderson on November 30, 2011
Fight the flu “A flu shot is your best protection against catching the flu,” says Randy Bergen, MD, pediatric infectious disease specialist at Kaiser Permanente. The flu virus changes often. The protection given by the flu vaccine only lasts for about a year, so you need to get a flu shot every year, preferably in [...]
by Julie Ann Anderson on November 28, 2011
November is National Family Caregivers Month Every day, more than 65 million family caregivers in the United States fulfill a vital role on the care team. November is National Family Caregivers Month, a great time to honor the family caregivers who devote their lives to caring for senior loved ones. Family caregivers need [...]
by Julie Ann Anderson on November 23, 2011
ScienceDaily (Dec. 26, 2007) — Elderly nursing home residents receive relatively few cancer care services, including screening, surgical treatment, or hospice care, according to a study published online December 25 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Few studies have examined cancer treatment and care among elderly patients residing in nursing homes. [...]
