Putting a loved one in a nursing home can be a tough decision, but in some cases, it may be the best choice for their health, safety, and quality of life. Many nursing homes allow a person a level of independent living while still ensuring that he or she is safe and getting the medical care that he or she needs. If you’re considering putting a loved one in an assisted living community, here are a few things you need to do.
1. Be Open About the Decision.
The first thing you should do is be as open as possible about the decision. It can be a tough realization for an elderly parent to come to, that they need help and can no longer live safely with the same amount of independence and to admit that they need help. Trying to force a parent into a long term care facility might make the process more difficult than just being open about your concerns and what needs to be done to help them.
2. Find a Place That Will Suit Your Parent’s Future Needs.
Admitting a parent to an assisted living community is usually a permanent move, so making sure that whichever facility you choose will be able to accommodate his or her future needs is essential. Having to move into a new place will be enough of an adjustment without having to pick up and move to another one in a few years.
3. Figure Out Finances.
Assisted living homes do cost money, so it’s important to plan well and figure out how it’s going to be paid for in the long term before actually making the decision. Again, putting parents in a home is a big decision, and you don’t want to disrupt their lives further by having to move them. Do your research and evaluate your resources before committing to a facility.
Do you have any other advice about what a person should do before putting a parent in assisted living? Feel free to let us know in the comments section. Continue your research here.
It seems like every time you turn the page in a magazine, there’s an ad for a new hair loss treatment. But the sad reality is that most of these treatments aren’t evidenced based, and won’t result in any hair regrowth at all. If you want to narrow your search to treatments that have been shown to be both safe and effective, here are the main three hair loss solutions you should consider:
- Medical Treatment:
Much male pattern baldness is caused by something called miniaturization. This is a phenomenon in which strands of hair become thinner, shorter and weaker with each cycle of hair growth. Early on, one of the most common treatments for balding caused by miniaturization is medical (drug) treatment. There are two drugs that have been approved by the FDA for treatment of male pattern baldness. Arguably the most effective option is Propecia, a prescription that is only available for men. Another popular option, Rogaine, can be used by both men and women.
- Hair Transplant Surgery:
There are two main kinds of hair transplant surgery (follicular unit extraction and follicular unit transplantation), but it’s best not to get bogged down in the details until you actually talk to a hair transplant surgeon and figure out if you’re a candidate for either one. In both cases, the surgeon removes donor grafts from one area of the head or body, and then implants them in a bald spot or along a receding hairline. Although the transplanted hairs themselves may fall out, the implanted follicles begin to produce natural hair growth on their own. This makes hair transplant procedures the most effective treatment available for people suffering from severe hair loss.
- Laser Hair Growth Stimulation:
Don’t panic — these aren’t the same lasers that are used to remove hair. Low level laser therapy, or LLLT, has been shown to sometimes be effective in encouraging follicles to produce more or thicker hair. It’s thought that this works by energizing the hair follicle. There’s not as much support for laser treatment as there is for the previous two methods, so it’s often used in conjunction with other treatments in order to maximize results. As with all hair loss solutions, you should consult a respected hair loss doctor before proceeding.
Are there any other hair loss treatments you’ve been considering? Share your thoughts or ask questions in the comments section below.
Although most people have a regular general physician that they go to when they are sick or injured, many of these doctors offices hold normal office hours or even custom hours that are not always convenient for when your body decides to get sick. After hours urgent care centers are the perfect solution for when you can not get to your normal doctor in the case of sickness or other medical emergency. Urgent care hours are specifically designed to accommodate those needing medical attention in otherwise inconvenient time frames. When an injury or sickness occurs when you are on vacation or away from home, after hours urgent care clinics are often your best bet for affordable treatment. Urgent care facilities are often utilized in medical emergencies that a general doctor is unable to help with, but not always severe enough to go to the emergency room at the hospital for.
- Emergency department visits can cost upwards of ten times the amount the same treatment or diagnosis would in an urgent care facility
- Over a quarter of all emergency room visits could easily have been treated in an after hours urgent care location
- The American Academy of Urgent Care Medicine requires urgent care facilities to be open seven days a week, where private practices are not
- There are over seven thousand urgent care centers in the United States which take care of over 160 million visits a year
- Urgent care facilities are able to diagnose or provide an analysis of the patient, prescribe antibiotics, prescribe pain medication, and provide further facts and literature on the prognosis for the individual
- The majority of after hours urgent care facilities are able to provide x-rays for fractures, breaks, and sprains as well as have the ability to set the injury
When looking for care that is more cost efficient than he emergency room and more convenient time wise than the normal doctor, consider finding an after hours emergency care center. For more information, read this website.
With Thanksgiving in the rear view mirror and Christmas coming up on the horizon, it’s fair to say that we’re knee deep in the holiday season already. On the one hand, it’s an obvious and obligatory time to celebrate — to eat, drink, and be merry. On the other hand, it’s also a time when everyone typically gains weight if they’re not careful.
Luckily, family practice physicians know some little habits and tricks that can help keep weight gain at bay. Here’s a simple weight loss system you can put in place to help make sure those Christmas cookies, cups of eggnog, and plates of Turducken don’t pack the pounds on you.
Water Is Your Friend.
Family practice doctors say that drinking more water is always a good idea. Twelve-ounces of cold water before a meal can help suppress your appetite, which means you’re less likely to overeat. Plus, it also increases your metabolism, which means you’ll burn the calories off faster. Water is an essential part of any weight loss system.
Pare Down Your Other Beverages.
While we’re on the subject of beverages, a good weight loss system excludes unnecessary, caloric beverages. This means no more soda or coffee creamer. Cutting sugary sodas out of your diet will help you trim a whopping 1,350 calories a week off of your diet. Taking your coffee black (or with zero-calorie sweeteners) would shave 360 calories per week off.
Eat Your Meals on Small, Blue Plates.
Eating your meals on small, blue plates is a neat little psychological trick you can incorporate into your weight loss system. If you put the same amount of food on a small plate as you might put on a big plate, it’s going to look like a larger meal, which will trick you into thinking you’re eating more, and make you feel fuller faster. Also, blue has been proven to suppress appetites, which means you’ll also feel even more full even faster.
Getting a weight loss system in place during the holidays can seem a bit tricky, but you’ll be glad you did once you step on the scale. If you have any questions about these weight loss system tricks, feel free to ask in the comments. More.
Many people ignore back pains and look for instant remedies when they experience pain. But if the pain starts interfering with your daily life, it’s time to get a back pain examination. Seeing a chiropractor will save you from missing work and other normal routine practices.
A chiropractor knows the human body, and so, they will tailor treatment for your needs. They will also offer you the attention you require and answer any questions about back pain. Specialized care will help you feel relieved after one or two visits. Chiropractor services are more cost-effective than going to the doctors. Most health professionals are not experts in pain management, and so they will incur lots of charges as they try which medication will work for you. If you always have lower back pain, visit a chiropractor for affordable treatment.
A chiropractor will help you prevent future back pain, and they will teach you the correct way to do stretching and exercises to relieve back pain. If you have arthritis back pain symptoms, ask your chiropractor about lifestyle changes that may help you prevent pain. No one would want to live with chronic pains. So check on the internet for the best chiropractor for arthritis pain in lower back treatment and schedule a visit.
If your chronic back pain has started to interfere with your daily life, it might be time to find a chiropractor.
Back Pain Can be Debilitating
Back pain is one of the most commonly-cited reasons for missed work, and the second most common reason for visits to the doctor’s office. The only condition that outpaces back pain is upper-respiratory infections. Experts believe that up to 80% of the population will experience back pain at some point in their lifetime. According to the Global Burden of Disease 2010, lower back pain is also the leading cause of disability worldwide.
So what can you do about your back pain to keep it from interrupting your life? Fortunately, the best chiropractors are there to help.
What Do Chiropractors Do?
Chiropractors treat the neuromusculoskeletal system using techniques like spinal adjustment, manipulation and massage. The neuromusculoskeletal system includes bones, muscles, ligaments, nerves and tendons, though most chiropractic techniques are designed to address back and neck pain.
Some chiropractors will also treat headaches, injuries from auto accidents, repetitive strains and sports injuries. Other chiropractors even offer diet and nutritional counseling and can help with weight loss. Research shows that 35% of patients who seek out chiropractor are looking for mid to lower back pain relief.
How Can I Find the Best Chiropractor for Me?
You can check chiropractor ratings and reviews online to find the best chiropractor for your condition, or you can ask your doctor for a referral. Friends and acquaintances might have recommendations as well, so be sure to ask around.
What Can I Expect at My First Visit
Your first visit to the chiropractor will usually last anywhere from 30-60 minutes. Your chiropractor will go over your medical history, perform an exam, discuss any diagnoses and outline a treatment plan.
You don’t have to live with back pain. Contact a chiropractor today!
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The legalization of medical marijuana has long been a controversial issue. In spite of its many medical benefits, many people are concerned that it is a gateway to more serious drug use. Medicinal marijuana use is now legal in 23 states, as well as the District of Columbia. People are realizing that using marijuana as medicine does much more good than harm, and it’s worth considering, when discussing the potential legalization of medical marijuana.
Top Conditions Treated by Medical Marijuana
- Migraines – Doctors in California have treated over 300,000 migraines with medical marijuana.
- Insomnia – Marijuana helps with relaxation and pain reduction, as well as relieving anxiety and certain sleep disorders.
- Cancer – Marijuana helps relive nausea and vomiting for people going through chemotherapy, and also helps to increase their appetite to keep them healthy.
- Glaucoma – Marijuana has very powerful effects on glaucoma, and its effectiveness is one of the best-documented uses of medical marijuana.
- Alzheimer’s – Though marijuana is often said to have bad effects on the brains of its users, it has proven to work to prevent Alzheimer’s by blocking the deposits in the brain that cause the disease.
Proponents of the legalization of medical marijuana are not looking to legalize the drug for mass recreational use. With more than 20,000 studies on marijuana and its components having been published, its time to see medical marijuana for its medically beneficial aspects.
With all of the medicinal benefits that marijuana provides, its ignorant to just dismiss it without consideration. No one is trying to encourage serious drug use, only to provide some relief for people who have been suffering from serious illness. While the legalization of medical marijuana will always be a hotly-contested issue, it’s important to make sure you’ve done your research and know the facts about medical marijuana before getting involved in the discussion.
If you’re looking for effective rosacea treatment, there are plenty of skin care products out there that can help you, but there are also plenty of skin care ingredients to avoid that will only make things worse.
Even the best rosacea treatments can only work so well if your other skin care products are triggering flare-ups of your condition. So what should you watch out for when purchasing skin care products?
- Rosacea irritants: Plenty of patients find that certain ingredients trigger skin irritation and rosacea flare ups. These include substances like alcohol, witch hazel, peppermint, menthol and eucalyptus oil. Patients should also steer clear of harsher astringents and exfoliating options that can be harmful to more sensitive skin. If you have to, keep a journal of when your flare-ups occur and what products you were using to find out what triggers your rosacea.
- Fragrances: Fragrances are an extremely common culprit when it comes to triggering allergic reactions and inflaming skin. Steering clear of products with fragrances and going for allergy-tested products will reduce allergic reactions on your skin, which will reduce your chances for a rosacea flare-up.
You should test any product you decide to use on a small patch of less visible skin first, since irritants can vary widely from person to person. If you have a reaction, make a note of the ingredients and avoid them in the future.
You can also cut down on the skin care products you use in general. This can help you reduce skin irritation from the few products you do end up using.
If you still have problems, there are plenty of rosacea treatments and rosacea creams that can help you treat skin irritation. Though most of these treatments are designed to prevent irritation, you should still check them for ingredients you’ve found irritating, just in case.
If you’re suffering from chronic pain, now might be the right time to search for an elbow joint replacement doctor. The elbow joint is just one of many where various bones connect to facilitate motion. Essentially, elbows provide the link between shoulders and hands, thus allowing the hand to be placed as desired.
The elbow joint consists of a pair of joints, actually: the ulnohumeral joint and the radiounlar joint which, together, provide a hinging device that allows for extension, rotation and pivoting. The full range of motion in our hands that’s needed to perform all the daily functions we depend on them for is made possible, largely, by the elbow.
Here’s a Quick Look at Some of the Most Common Sports-Related Elbow Injuries
A very commonly diagnosed injury, tennis elbow is not merely confined to folks that play racquet sports. It can afflict anyone that plays a sport (or performs a work related task) that involved extension of the wrist (against resistance) and/or repetitive twisting. Pain is usually experienced along the outer, bony edge of the elbow. Surgery is sometimes required, but is usually preceded with a series of injections and physical therapy.
Pretty much an identical injury to tennis elbow, except it’s occurs along the elbow’s inner side. The treatment process is very similar.
A pained clicking or locking sensation in the elbow is often caused by what are called ‘loose bodies’ — a.k.a. arthritis. The loose bodies are actually bits of the joint’s cartilage lining which have broken off and are floating around. This can cause a clicking sensation or even cause the joint to lock altogether, but sometimes they just cause pain. An x-ray can help differentiate this injury from tennis elbow.
This injury is most closely associated with strength training athletes, and involves the rupturing of the tendon that connects the bicep and the elbow as the result of an unusually strong contraction.
Other common elbow injuries include posterior impingement and various dislocation possibilities which need immediate medical attention in order to avoid ongoing instability (which lead to future injuries). The similarity of all of these conditions, save for the bicep rupture, makes a trip to an elbow joint replacement doctor of paramount importance.
Finding an elbow joint replacement doctor is a good idea if you’re an athlete or engage in any regular strenuous activity at work. Many times, the same specialist can assist with shoulder joint replacement surgery, total hip replacement surgery and knee joint replacement surgery should you ever need these things, in addition elbow joint replacement surgery.
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