Neither you nor your loved ones have to experience this season of life alone. ---Mattyee

Neither you nor your loved ones have to experience this season of life alone.  ---Mattyee

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Stroke Survival



"Stroke Survival" is a four-part series focusing on stroke.
 
Part I:  Understanding Stroke
Part II:  Stroke Aftercare
Part III:  Adaptive Clothing
Part IV:  Assistive Technology Products

Stroke Survival:  Understanding Stroke (June 2014) defines a stroke, also referred to as apoplexy, cerebrovascular accident, cerebral hemorrhage, or transient ischemic attack is caused by the effects of any interference with circulation within the brain. 

It is the fourth leading cause of death.
 

This article includes:  Warning Signs, Types of Stroke, Risk Factors, Statistics, Rehabilitation Options, and Resources.




 
 

 
Stroke Aftercare (July/August 2014) addresses the SaeboFlex®-- a "revolutionary" new therapy offered by Saint Francis Memorial Hospital--the Saebo Reach splint.  Shanna Humphrey, OT tells the readers what they need to know to make an informed decision for qualifying as a candidate for the use of the SAEBO in occupational therapy sessions.


"Cerebral vascular accidents, or strokes, affect over 700,000 Americans each year.  Many stroke survivors have a long-term loss of hand function and a resulting loss of independence.  The Saebo Reach splint was designed by occupational therapists to address this type of injury."


SaeboFlex®
 
Adaptive Clothing for Stroke Survivors (September 2014) describes adaptive clothing by Simple Closures which fasten down the front with easy closure which will be particularly helpful for people with strokes.  The clothing are Designed in San Francisco.  Made in the U.S.A.

"Adaptive clothing" is designed specifically for women who experience wide-ranging physical and/or mental challenges.

© Photo Courtesy Simple Closures





For the complete articles in this series visit www.westsideobserver.com.


©2014.

 

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

San Francisco's first Healthcare Decisions Day





APRIL 16, 2014

An invitation was extended to 29 branches of the San Francisco Public Library for the 7th Annual National Healthcare Decisions Day to participate by setting up a display of books and related materials on advance directives, wills, trusts and estate planning from April 9 through April 16 in acknowledgment of National Healthcare Decisions Day. Three branches participated: Chinatown Branch, Glen Park Branch and Visitation Valley Branch.
 
Photos used with permission.






NATIONAL HEALTHCARE DECISIONS DAY - APRIL 16, 2014
SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY - CHINATOWN BRANCH

 




NATIONAL HEALTHCARE DECISIONS DAY - APRIL 16, 2014
SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY - GLEN PARK BRANCH


©2014.


 


Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Health Care Decisions Day - San Francisco

 
 
 

 
National Healthcare Decisions Day Set for April 16

April 16 is the 7th Annual National Healthcare Decisions Day.  The day is designed to raise public awareness of the need to plan ahead for health care decisions related to medical decision-making and end-of-life care whenever patients are unable to speak for themselves and to encourage the specific use of advance directives to communicate these important healthcare decisions so that fewer families and health care providers have to struggle with making difficult health care decisions in the absence of guidance from the patient.
An advance directive is a written document in the form of a living will or durable power of attorney prepared by a competent individual.  It specifies your decisions in the future regarding health care, end-of-life care, nutrition, hydration, hospice care, No CPR and organ donation, when you become unable to express your decisions.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “Advance Directives and Advance Care Planning Report to Congress,” August 2008:  “it is estimated that 18 to 36 percent of Americans have executed an advance directive.  Fewer than half of severely or terminally ill patients have an advance directive.  Two-thirds of physicians whose patients had advance directives were unaware of the existence of those documents.”
(http://aspe.hhs.gov/daltcp/reports/2008/ADCongRpt.htm)
Advance Directives are of such importance I have submitted a request for a Mayoral Proclamation for the Healthcare Decisions Day in San Francisco; and, asked the City Librarian to include libraries citywide in acknowledging the day with books display the week of April 9 through April 16.

Prepare for the unexpected.  Set aside time on April 16—visit the library; discuss your wishes with your loved ones, primary care physician, or attorney.  Name someone to speak for you when you cannot speak for yourself.
 
Mattyee
Elder Care Consultant
Advocate, National Healthcare Decisions Day
 
___________________________________________________________________



Healthcare Decisions Day Proclamation
WHEREAS,  Healthcare Decisions Day is designed to raise public awareness of the need to plan ahead for health care decisions related to medical decision-making and end of life care whenever patients are unable to speak for themselves and to encourage the specific use of advance directives to communicate these important health care decisions; and
WHEREAS, your agent whom you named in your Advance Health Care Directives will have the authority—in writing—to discuss your situation with your doctor, ask for and receive medical reports, relate your concerns to the doctors and hospital personnel and make the kind of decisions you would want made about your health care, including end of life care, nutrition, hydration, hospice care, No Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, and organ donation; and
WHEREAS, it is estimated that 18 to 36 percent of Americans have executed an advance directive.  Moreover, it is estimated that fewer than half of severely or terminally ill patients have an advance directive; and
WHEREAS, one of the principal goals of Healthcare Decisions Day is to encourage health care facilities to participate in a statewide effort to provide clear and consistent information to the public about advance directives, as well as to encourage health care professionals and lawyers to volunteer their time and efforts to improve public knowledge and increase the number of citizens with advance directives; and
WHEREAS, as a result of April 16, 2014, being recognized as Healthcare Decisions Day in San Francisco, more citizens will have conversations about their health care decisions; more citizens will execute Advance Directives to make their wishes known; and fewer families and health care providers will have to struggle with making difficult health care decisions in the absence of guidance from the patient;
THEREFORE, I,                               , do hereby recognize April 16, 2014, as HEALTHCARE DECISIONS DAY in San Francisco, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.
Submitted March 6, 2014 to Mayor Ed Lee
©2014


Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Preparing for the Unexpected


March article will address planning for the unexpected from the health care professional perspective.  April will present the elder law attorney perspective.

When a resident is admitted to a long-term care facility, he or she must provide information for:  the responsible party, next of kin in an emergency and mortuary preference.

Advance Directives and Durable power of Attorney provide instructions in your own words to family/caregivers, friends and health care professionals when there is a significant condition change.

Visit www.westsideobserver.com, Senior Smarts:  Preparing for the Unexpected - Part I (March 2014) for:  defining care planning; medical management; related approaches for addressing the problem; National Healthcare Decisions Day; resources; terminology.

Saturday, November 9, 2013

Veterans Health Care




 
 
















Veterans Day honors men and women who served in the United States Armed services. In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11 as Armistice Day to remind Americans of the tragedy of war. A law adopted in 1938 made the day a federal holiday. In 1954, Congress changed the name to Veterans Day to honor all United States Veterans.

Health care specific to veterans is outside of my area of expertise except for an internship at Letterman Army Medical Center, Presidio of San Francisco, in the curriculum for Medical Record Technology.

The Department of Veterans Affairs is an important resource for veterans, their family/caregiver and friends. The San Francisco telephone directory White Pages (US (Federal) Government) listings provide departments and telephone numbers. The Department's website (www.sanfrancisco.va.gov) provides information on services available to veterans and their families for: health care, benefits, crisis line, veteran services, and burials and memorials.

Visit westsideobserver.com, page 8, or pick up a newsrack copy of the November issue, for the complete article "Senior Smarts."
 

Photo:  Private - US Army, World War II
           Courtesy of Mattyee 

©2013.
 





©2013.

Friday, November 1, 2013

Homebound Survival

 
At sometime in our life, some of us are homebound due to injury, accident or chronic illness.

According to an article on the National Center for Biotechnology Information website,www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC30445921, "there are up to 3.6 million people considered homebound. People who are homebound suffer from a multitude of medical and psychiatric illnesses. The homebound elderly suffer from metabolic, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal disease, as well as from cognitive impairment, dementia and depression at higher rates than the general elderly population."

In San Francisco, as of 2008, approximately 106,169 seniors (approximately 20 percent of the City's residents aged 60 and over) were living in San Francisco. Seniors are defined by the U.S. Census as adults 60 years and older.

Questions for boomer and senior readers:

If you are homebound, why?
What are the challenges?
What tools can help you age in place?
 
Visit westsideobserver.com, page 8, or pick up a newsrack copy of the October issue, for the consultant's article "Senior Smarts: Homebound Survival" for the definition, contributing factors, problem management, what are homebound ministries.
_____
"Caring for an Aging Loved One: The Family Caregiver's Guide Book", ©2007. This article is an excerpt. 

©2013.
 

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Celebrating Independence


 Managing at-home living changes when one reaches the season of "old age" ["the golden years"].  Walking becomes more difficult, hearing and vision decreases, you cannot enjoy some of the foods you love to eat.


Neither you nor your loved ones have to experience this season of life alone.  Everyone goes through each season.  The difference is how it is experienced and who is willing to walk with you.

When I decided to write a reference book for the elderly, their caregivers, family members and friends that would include a Glossary for non-medical caregivers, I asked a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist to write one page for Caring for an Aging Loved One:  The Family Caregiver's Guide Book, ©2007.
 
Visit westsideobserver.com, page 6, or pick up a newsrack copy of the July issue, for the consultant's article "Senior Smarts: Celebrating Independence." 
 

©2013.