Life is unpredictable and you never really know which way it will take you. As health professionals, we go in with the expectation (and hope) that we will impart some wisdom, say the right words or perhaps do something that makes “everything all right” for our patients when they encounter experiences they had not anticipated. We have stories to share and we hope it can help others make sense of the chaos life can be.

However at times the tables are turned and it’s the patient who ends up helping us.…

On May 25^th, our center celebrated the 18^th Annual National Senior Health and Fitness Day. This is an annual event observed at more than 1,000 local sites across the country. Organized by the Mature Market Resource Center, this event is the nation’s largest health and wellness event for seniors. Local organizations host senior health and fitness activities that encourage older adults to enhance their quality of life through regular physical activity. We’ve been participating in this event for the past four years. This year’s theme was “Make Fitness a Goal for Life!”

At this year’s event, we…

Spring has sprung and even though these cool temperatures may be keeping you inside, it’s really a good idea get some fresh air and exercise. Bike riding is one of those great activities that attracts children of all ages.

But safety does come first, so be sure your child is always wearing a CPSC—or ASTM—certified helmet! Any cracks in the helmet means it is no longer safe to use, so replace it as soon as you can. Also, be sure to service the bike too. At the very least have someone check that the tires and brakes are in good…

Every day our visiting nurses enrich the lives of the elderly by helping them manage their health needs in the home. The benefits of their visits extend to caregivers, family and friends as well.

Can you imagine a world where the elderly weren’t an important part of our lives? It’s difficult for me to envision a world like this.

When I travel to my home visits, it is a pleasure to see older adults exercising outdoors, socializing with one another at the local bakery or taking their grandchildren for a stroll in the…

Cards from the Cub Scouts.

Did you know that May is Older Americans Month? (http://olderamericansmonth.org/) This year’s theme is Older Americans: Connecting the Community. The theme focuses on how older adults “bring inspiration and continuity to the fabric of our communities.” Seniors, their history and their wisdom are the fabric of our communities and we love to plan activities that “weave” our seniors into a tapestry of younger populations.

Yesterday, our favorite Girl Scout Troop, 1986 Heart of the Hudson, joined us for a truly inspirational day. This year, for the first time, a Cub Scouts troop…

When I wrote about organ donation in February, I knew of one example where a friend’s father donated several organs and my friend met one of the recipients. While the pre-visit jitters were not at all justified, I completely understood them.

In today’s New York Times, there is a wonderful article about a 38-year-old man who suffered a brain hemorrhage and whose wife agreed to donate his organs. In total, EIGHT people were given hope because of Julio and Mirtala Garcia’s selflessness. Mrs. Garcia met with five of the recipients last…

Twenty-five percent of all children in the U.S. are taking prescription medication for a chronic condition.

These chronic-condition medications are, in highest-to-lowest order: Asthma medication (40 million), ADHD/ADD (24 million), antidepressants (10 million), antipsychotics (6.5 million). These statistics do not include children who are treated for acute illnesses (such as ear infections, pain, etc.) Scary, right?

The other scary part of these statistics is that a majority of professionals who write those prescriptions are not specialists in the area in which they are prescribing medications (e.g. psychotic disorders). We can look at this…

Up until this blog entry, I have been writing about topics related to grief and loss surrounding the illness and death of my Dad in July 2010. Of late, I have been struggling with a painful turn of events relating to the care of my Mom, who is 92. In many respects, the pain and grief emanating from my father’s illness and death were easier to cope with than the story I am about to share. I share these details and the story beneath them to support other adult children or families struggling with a…

In the case of Prince William, when every person on the planet feels a connection to your mother, how do you do remember her at your wedding with honor, respect, and most importantly, in a way that has meaning for you?

Just a short post to express my gratitude to all the wonderful nurses I work with at VNSNY, and go to school with and learn from in my Masters of Nursing studies. A special thanks to the smart, caring nurses on Twitter, who constantly spread relevant health information to the masses. I learn from you every day.

It’s an exciting time to be a nurse because we are strengthening our collegiality in order to improve health care. We have so much to give. We are innovators. We are the glue.

I encourage all nurses…