Recently, I read a story written by a nurse. It was about a patient who did not design a Living Will that accurately recorded her end-of-life wishes so that her family members could refer to it. The story recounted in vivid detail what the patient had wanted for the end of her life, and what was done instead. As a nurse who has worked at hospital bedsides for many years, I too have witnessed similar scenarios play out. In essence, such a story should remind us of how important it is to have…

Photo by Carlos Porto

There was a recent article in the New York Times highlighting the novel way in which a nursing home in Phoenix, Arizona has been dealing with behavioral issues in those with Alzheimer’s. In a sense, the way a caregiver interacts and the techniques used can help to decrease anxiety and lessen some behavioral issues. It reminded me of a patient I met long ago…

A few years back, I worked at an area hospital on the night shift. Besides waking patients up for every little thing (smile), we would encourage our patients to…

While the cold weather can be be perilous to our roads and sidewalks, it can also be hard on the skin. Indoor and outdoor air can both cause dryness and skin that is cracked and broken is more prone to picking up bacteria. Healthy skin not only feels good, but because it’s a primary defense against infection, it can help keep you healthy. Itchy and raw skin can also be painful to some, so it’s important to combat and protect against dryness.

Here are some suggestions to avoiding dry skin:

• Limit your time in the shower or bath to…

photo by Paul

Taking care of a loved one can be a daunting task. Usually there are many things to take care of, coordinate and track. 

• Are all the medicines filled, and are they put in the pill box correctly?
• When is the next doctor’s appointment, and is it listed somewhere?
• What were the last blood pressure and blood sugar readings?
• What day are we to go in and have the blood test for the Coumadin levels?
• Is there a list of all the current doctors and contact people?

 The questions can be endless, and the information:…

Years ago, when we moved into the house my mother lives in now, we had oil heat. Since heat rises, the upstairs was always warm, but when I would go downstairs, my body would tense up waiting for the cold air to hit me. I didn’t like to stay downstairs too much, because it was also too chilly, which would make me feel miserable. After one winter, my father said that was enough cold air for us, and the house was converted to gas heat. It took several more winters…

In a few hours, thousands of people will descend upon Times Square to ring in the new year. While many other people will go to parties and celebrations near and far, still others will stay at home. Talk will usually revolve around the resolutions and self-improvement plans that we’ll all try to keep for at least the next few weeks, and perhaps longer, if we are lucky. Hopes and aspirations are shared and goals are formed and reshaped.

In years past, I too have gone through this annual mental exercise of sussing out which things I want to improve…

photo by Ian Britton

With Thanksgiving upon us, many people will get together with family and friends to celebrate the holiday. Thanks, however, can come in many forms. One is for the blessings we have received, but still another is for the hardships that our family, friends and patients endure — the ones that make us stronger.

When speaking to others this past week, they’ve recounted issues such as a challenging illness that makes travel difficult, or work that prevents them from attending a family gathering. However, they were able to put…

photo by Filomena Scalise

This past weekend we turned back the clocks. Hopefully everyone was able to benefit from the extra hour of sleep. Sleep is a commodity that many of us feel we don’t get enough of, and oftentimes, that’s true. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the average adult needs 7 to 9 hours of sleep. Adequate sleep is important for improved mood, greater energy and better overall health.

However, it has been found that getting too little sleep has been linked to an increased risk for developing Type 2…

This past weekend, I was privileged to join some like-minded folks, who along with me, volunteered to plant trees in Marine Park, Brooklyn. It was part of MillionTreesNYC, a program that aims to have one million trees planted and cared for in the five boroughs of New York City,within the next decade. Not only do trees provide shade, a place to relax and a source of natural beauty, but trees also help to filter groundwater— which can prevent runoff— and convert carbon dioxide to oxygen. It was a rich experience to work with others to improve…

Now that fall is here, flu season is right around the corner. As many people may have already noticed, the vaccine is available in many places, such as your physician’s office, some local drugstores and perhaps where you work. The CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention), now recommends that all persons over the age of six months receive a flu shot. This year, only one injection is needed.

Photo by renjith krishnan

This year’s vaccine contains three strains of the flu virus:

• H3N2 — predicted to be prevalent this winter
• H1N1 — the strain…