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…

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…

qthomasbower's Flickr photostream

Whether be-ribboned with silk or cut out of red construction paper, you can’t help notice the prevalence of hearts this month. Just like all shades of pink have been used to brand breast cancer awareness, “Go Red!” is the mantra of February, American Heart Month.

And with good reason. Heart disease is the number-one cause of death of women 20 and older. In fact, 82 million Americans have at least one or more types of cardiovascular disease. There are certainly many reasons to maintain a healthy heart and many…

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…

Ok, here’s the truth. I noticed this week I have approximately six to thirteen gray hairs on my head. I’m leaning towards six. There are a few spider veins on my leg below my left knee. A sunspot covers an area beneath my left eye which darkens in the summer. It wasn’t there a year ago. Wrinkles. Sure, I have some. I also wonder more about my future. I worry about how I’ll ever retire at the age of sixty-five, or seventy, or seventy-five, or whatever number the government decides to raise the retirement age to…

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…

Rockaway Beach between 85th and 86th Street

Autumn has officially kicked off but this traveling therapist was pleased there was some summer weather last week.

Highlights

• Enjoyed a lunch break along the shore of Rockaway Beach. One of the perks of being assigned to work in a beach-side neighborhood.
• It was a pleasant surprise to have some of the safety equipment I had ordered for my seniors arrive earlier than expected.
• Listening to Ms. B. who is a piano teacher rave about her love for all things Chopin. She promised to play her classical collection…

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…

The facts about Alzheimer’s Disease are staggering:

• 5.3 Million people have Alzheimer’s.
• It is the 7th leading cause of death.
• Alzheimer’s consumes 172 billion dollars in annual costs.
• There are 10.9 million unpaid caregivers assisting someone with Alzheimer’s Disease. (source: Alzheimer’s Association Website)

Tuesday, September 21st is World Alzheimer’s Day, a day set aside each year to raise awareness around the globe about this debilatating disease. This year’s theme is: Dementia, It’s Time For Action since Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia according to the Alzheimer’s Association. It accounts for 60-80 percent of cases of…