A Healthy Dose of 2011 Reflection

As we wrap up 2011 and look towards 2012, I can’t help but think of the quote by Maya Angelou, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”.

Christmas Giving Doesn’t Always Come With a Bow.

When I was a new nurse, I can remember being shocked at how many people spent the holidays in the hospital, alone without any family or friends to celebrate the holiday season.  These patients were often dropped off by family members or transferred from skilled facilities due to illness.  They spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, not surrounding by family and friends, but with nurses, physicians and nursing assistants that would have rather been home with their families than spend the holidays at work. I remember feeling sad for these patients. Sad that they were alone during a time that was meant to be a celebration of giving, receiving, and joy.

Staying Healthy Through the Hustle and Bustle of the Holidays

The holidays are upon us! The trees are decorated, Christmas cards are sent, presents are bought and the cookies are made (well, at least for some of us).  There is joyous anticipation for the holiday’s gatherings – getting together with family, enjoying the Christmas feast and singing carols around the piano. But for some of us, the hustle, bustle and overindulgence can wear us down leaving us vulnerable to illnesses – especially if we already have a chronic disease. It is during the busiest time of year that we need to be more vigilant in order to stay healthy. After all, we don’t want to miss out on the celebration!

Knowledge is Power! A Key to Illness Prevention is Knowing Your Family History.

When a patient accesses health care either by admittance to the hospital or when they see a new physician for the first time, somebody (typically a nurse) obtains their history.  Just like complying your individual medical history, an important component of that history is family history. Most people underestimate the significance of knowing their family history and can’t recall important family illnesses. However, your family illnesses can provide valuable clues to help prevent the same thing from happening to you.

Avoid readmission to the hospital by paying more attention to your discharge

The last thing anyone wants to do when they come home from a hospital stay is to return to the hospital. Readmission rates seem to be on the rise, especially readmissions within 30 days. It is estimated that approximately 20% of patients admitted over the age of 65, will be readmitted to the hospital within 30 days. Although some of these readmissions are planned, many of them are not and can be avoided. 

Giving Thanks for a Bountiful Harvest: Celebrating Caregivers.

Many years ago in Europe, festivals were held before and after the harvest cycles to give thanks for a plentiful crop. This was also a time for the community to celebrate the hard work done by all. The people sacrificed their individual needs for the good of the community. These celebrations were combined into what we all know as Thanksgiving Day. It’s one day for each of us to reflect and give thanks for a plentiful “harvest”.

It is during this Thanksgiving week, that we can celebrate the hard work done by the many caregivers and the sacrifices they make for the good of their families – their “community". Caregiving can sometimes be a thankless job, one that isn’t often recognized as important and vital to sustaining a community. But it is the quintessential selfless role that many play, ensuring a plentiful harvest for years to come.

How can you support and celebrate caregivers during this Thanksgiving week?  Consider the following:

•  Offer to stay with their loved one for an afternoon to allow the caregiver a few hours to themselves
•  Offer to cook a meal
•  Run errands, i.e. post office, dry cleaners, or grocery shopping, etc.
•  Hire somebody to clean their house, shovel their snow, rake their leaves or cut their grass
•  Do their laundry
•  Take their kids out for the day
• Sit with their loved one while they attend church

Not sure? Just ask. “What can I do for you today?”

The key is to recognize their sacrifices and hard work by celebrating and supporting what they do. They take care of those that worked hard to give us the plentiful harvest we enjoy today.

May you all have a healthy and joyous Thanksgiving Holiday. Take care and be well.

R.Thompson, MSN, RN

To find out how advocacy can help you or your loved one, please contact the advocates at Uppta at www.uppta.com

Every Patient has a Story: Putting your story together when you need it most.

Illness doesn’t discriminate. From the very young to the very old, people may find themselves faced with an unexpected illness or injury.  When this occurs, they seek medical care.  To enable health care providers to make good decisions regarding diagnosis and treatment, they rely on a full understanding of a patient’s “story” or medical history.