• First, review your medication history- be sure to gather all of your medications- prescription and over the counter medications and bring them to every doctor appointment.  This way you and your doctor can be up to date of all the medications you are on.  Also, you want to bring all your medications to any specialists you may see, so everybody stays on the same page with your medications and each doctor knows what the other has prescribed. 
• Before adding any over the counter products to your medication schedule, be sure to first talk to your doctor or the pharmacist to see if they can interact adversely to any of your prescription medications. 
• Be sure to take your medications as directed and know what each medication’s purpose, amount to take, whether to take with food or not, and side effects of your medications.  It’s important to know what the medication side effects are, so you can be aware if you develop an adverse reaction.
• If you should develop any adverse reaction to your medication- DO NOT WAIT, notify your doctor promptly of any adverse symptoms you experience. 
• Be sure to fill all your medications with the same pharmacy.  This will eliminate any confusion of what your current medications are and may even eliminate possible interactions and contraindications. 
• Keep a list of all your current medications you are on at all times, so if something should happen, medical personnel will have a good idea of what your medication regimen is. 
• If you are prescribed narcotics, be safe and be sure to keep them out of sight of anybody coming into your home and preferably locked up in a safe or lock box.  Unfortunately, there are people who have an addiction to narcotics and will go to great lengths to get them, including stealing from somebody who really needs them. 

Here is a brief list of those who are most at risk to having prescription medication problems:

• Individuals with memory problems
• People who have three or more prescribed medications
• People who have prescriptions filled at more than one pharmacy
• People who live alone

Maine-ly Elder Care provides nursing services to help people with medication management.   We can help with developing a list of current medications, when to take, purpose and side effects of medications. Also, a nurse can help with medication box prefills which make it easier for seniors to take their medications properly. 

Medication safety is important at any age, but is increasingly important as we age. 

Denise Stevens RN, CEO

• Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disease that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills and eventually the ability to carry out the simplest tasks.  We still do not know how the Alzheimer’s disease process begins, and we do not have a cure for Alzheimer’s.  Alzheimer’s is the result of plaque buildup in the brain. 
• It’s important to remember that we all have some memory loss as we age, but the memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s will get worse over time affecting your ability to function at work and at home. 

Here are some early signs of Alzheimer’s disease to be aware of:  Of course memory problems are one of the first signs to appear.  Early symptoms may be different from person to person.  If you have Alzheimer’s you may notice that you’re having difficulty remembering things that have always been automatic for you.  Or you may not notice at all and family members will notice changes.  One of my relatives was affected by Alzheimer’s and one of the early signs I noticed was she would be talking and she would suddenly stop mid-sentence, because she did not remember what she was talking about. 

Here are some other signs:

• Repeating statement and questions over and over, not realizing they’ve been asked before. 
• Forgetting conversations, appts and events
• Misplacing possessions
• And eventually forgetting names of family members and everyday objects. 

Here are some things you can do to reduce your risk for Alzheimer’s disease:

• Keeping socially active and having frequent social interactions.
• A stimulating job
• Mentally challenging leisure activities- such as reading, playing games or learning a new hobby. 
• Lastly stay physically active by exercising on a daily basis.

Maine-ly Elder Care serves a lot of seniors afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease and unfortunately this disease affects the whole family.  If you have questions about Alzheimer’s or would like to inquire about a caregiver for someone with Alzheimer’s, you can contact Maine-ly Elder Care, we would be happy to help you in any way we can. 

~Denise Stevens RN, CEO

October is Breast Cancer awareness month and it’s a good time to create awareness of breast cancer symptoms, early detection screenings and an understanding of breast cancer.  The statistics say that one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their life.  I bet most people know someone who has been diagnosed with breast cancer.  As with all cancer, early detection is paramount to being a breast cancer survivor. Maine-ly Elder Care has developed a list of risk factors, symptoms and early detection methods of breast cancer.  So, let’s start with risk factors:

Simply being a woman is the main risk factor for breast cancer.  Men can develop breast cancer, but this disease is about 100 times more common among women than men.  This is likely because men have less of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone, which can promote breast cancer cell growth. 

• Age- your risk of developing breast cancer increases as you get older. 
• Genetic Risk factors- about 5-10% of breast cancer cases are thought to be hereditary, resulting directly from gene defects call mutations, inherited from a parent.  There are genetic tests available to look for gene mutations, but the pros and cons need to be considered carefully. 
• Race- overall Caucasian women are more likely to develop breast cancer then African –American women.
• Having children- women who have had no children or who had their first child after age 30 have a slightly higher breast cancer risk. 
• Physical activity- evidence is growing that physical activity in the form of exercise reduces breast cancer.  I guess the question is how much exercise and one study suggests as little as 1.25 to 2.5 hours per week of brisk walking reduced a woman’s risk by 18%.   

Here are some early detection screenings that will help detect breast cancer early on and improve the odds of survival:

• Mammogram the best way to find breast cancer early is with a mammogram, if you are a women age 50 or older be sure to have a mammogram every two years.  If you are a woman under the age of 50 you should have a baseline mammogram before the age of 50, unless you have a genetic risk factor for cancer then mammogram screenings should start at an earlier age.   A mammogram is simple, quick and not to painful, I would say it is uncomfortable more than painful. A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast and it can detect breast cancer before you notice any change in your breast. 
• Breast self exam- monthly breast self exams is a great way to become familiar with your breasts and notice changes to your breasts early on. 
• Clinical breast exam- this is a breast exam done by a doctor or a nurse.

Symptoms of breast cancer include:

• A lump or mass in the breast that you can feel or see
• Swelling in the armpit
• Clear or bloody nipple discharge
• Pain or discomfort in the nipple or breast
• Inverted or retracted nipple

This month is a great time to take a proactive approach to breast cancer by being familiar with your risks and the symptoms. 

~ Denise Stevens RN, CEO

• The first step is to prepare yourself and learn more about the cancer diagnosis beforehand, your friend or relative may not want to talk about it.  Also, it’s best to prepare yourself for the physical changes that may occur, such as weight changes, fatigue and hair loss.  It’s best not to comment on the physical changes, a good alternative is to say “it’s nice to see you” 

Here are some tips on how to be the best support for your friend or loved one:

• Ask permission before visiting, giving advice or asking questions and make it okay for them to say no
• Be humorous and fun, this is great to be able to talk about funny things and fun times, laughter can really be healing.
• If you want to offer help, be sure to offer help with specific tasks, such as preparing a meal, taking care of children or the family pet. 
• Follow through on your commitment to help
• Try not to let your friend or relatives condition get in the way of your relationship. 

It’s hard to know what to say when someone you know and love has cancer here are some suggestions on what to say and what not to say:

Do say things like:

• I care about you
• I’m thinking about you
• I’m praying for you
• I’m here to listen if you feel like talking

Try to avoid saying things like:

• Don’t worry
• I’m sure you’ll be fine
• How long do you have?
• I don’t know how you manage

Continuing relationships after a cancer diagnosis is a great way to further the healing process.  Encouragement and support can be helpful to the person with cancer.  I hope these tips help in dealing with the difficult feelings and issues a cancer diagnosis brings. 

~ Denise Stevens, RN

• The first habit you can start to incorporate into your life is to try to eat five small meals a day.  When you eat smaller portions throughout the day, you deliver a steady stream of nutrients, blood sugar and energy to your body through out the day.  This can make a difference in your energy levels as well as your metabolism. 
• Get regular exercise- Exercising 30 minutes a day not only increases longevity, but it maintains physical health versus trying to get it back!  You can start by simply taking the stairs instead of the elevator.
• This one is my favorite- laugh it up-studies show that laughter and joy boost immune functions and actually produce cells that help protect the body from illness. Having a positive attitude can increase your chances of living to 100!
• Build and maintain strong relationships-People who create and maintain a strong social support network of friends and family avoid loneliness and depression.  Healthy relationship building consists of having multiple circles of relationships and also having relationships in different age groups. 
• Get enough sleep- a good night’s sleep is an important healthy habit that can add years to your life.  You should try to get between six hours of sleep a night.
• Keep a routine- Consuming the same diet and participating in the same activities for the majority of one’s life keeps the immune system healthy and strong.  It can be as simple as going to bed and waking up at the same time everyday.  

More and more people are living to 100 and adopting a few simple healthy habits can lead to a greater longevity and also make a long life a lot more enjoyable. 

~Denise Stevens RN, CEO

• The first thing you should do is educate yourself about mental illness.  It’s important to understand that a mental illness is a medical disorder not a character flaw or personal weakness.
• Understand that Mental illness affects attitudes and beliefs.  They may say things such as “I’ll never feel better” it’s important to remind your loved one that these feeling are a result of the illness and they will get better with treatment. 
• Medication Issues- Be prepared that there may be medication issues.  Encourage medication use, but be aware that they may resist.  There are many drug treatments for mental disorders, but they do come with side effects which are a problem for people.  Be respectful, but persistent in urging your loved one to take prescribed medication. 
• Avoid relapse, by knowing the early signs of a relapse, such as depression, difficulty concentrating or withdrawal.
• Recognize that you are powerless over Mental Illness, it is a real illness and you can’t fix it.  Just offer your support. 

There are specific things that you can do to support your loved one who has a mental illness and you can be an important role in helping them get better.  Here are some things you can do:

• Tell them that you support them and won’t leave them.
• Let them know that they are not broken, that they are the same person, but have an illness.
• Help them get treatment.  Offer to drive them to appointments, and make sure they have their medications. 
• Check in on them to make sure they are doing okay and following the treatment plan prescribed by their doctor or therapist. 
• Offer to take care of a chore- whether it is to make dinner or to vacuum, sometimes the smallest thing can make a big difference. 
• Ask the person what they need.  We are all different and just asking what they may need can go a long ways. 

As a caregiver of someone with mental illness it’s important to take care of yourself.  Here are some simple things to do to care for yourself:

• Be sure to create boundaries. 
• Pick reasonable things that you can do for your loved one.
• Remember that no one can do it all and your support doesn’t have to be perfect to be a tremendous help.

Mental illness can affect those diagnosed with it and their loved ones, it’s important to be sensitive to everyone’s feelings.  

˜Denise Stevens RN

The first thing you can do to help prevent heart disease is to know your risk factors.  Risk factors for heart disease include:

• Having a family history of heart disease
• Being older than age 40
• Being post-menopausal

These risk factors are beyond our control- but there are other risk factors for heart disease that we can control and these risk factors include:

• Smoking- quitting smoking can reduce your risk for heart disease significantly and improve your life overall!  It’s never too late to quit a bad habit.
• Managing stress in your life- it’s important to find healthy outlets for stress.  Finding ways to reduce stress can lower your risk for heart disease.
• Physical inactivity and being overweight- dropping those few extra pounds can make a difference in preventing heart disease and exercise is a great way to deal with those stressful days we all experience. 
• Eat a heart healthy diet- a diet low in sodium and trans fats. 
• Know your cholesterol numbers- a general rule is your total cholesterol should be under 200. 
• Control high blood pressure by visiting your doctor regularly and taking prescribed medications. 

Taking care of your heart can add years to your life, so for this Valentine’s Day, give your valentine the gift of a healthy heart!