General
Reminiscence Therapy – Benefits and Some How-to’s
While working with older adult clients, I have researched, studied and successfully practiced Reminiscence Therapy (RT) with clients. This article describes some of the benefits of RT on emotional and cognitive health. It also lists some questions or “prompts” used in RT to help get the process going with one’s clients or loved ones. Reminiscence Therapy – Benefits & How-to’s
Autobiography in Five Chapters
by Portia Nelson
Chapter I
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk
I fall in.
I am lost … I am helpless.
It isn’t my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.
Chapter II
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don’t see it.
I fall in again.
I can’t believe I am in the same place.
But, it isn’t my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.
Chapter III
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in … it’s a habit … but,
my eyes are open.
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.
Chapter IV
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.
Chapter V
I walk down another street.
This is Your Brain on Nature
“Scientific studies have already begun and continue to demonstrate the powerful healing aspects of Nature. One of the earliest studies, published in 1984 Science, noticed that patients who were recovering from surgery healed more quickly and required less pain medication when placed in hospital rooms that had views of Nature, versus patients placed in rooms facing brick walls. Why is that? Perhaps it is due to when we are in Nature, our brain goes automatically into the involuntary, indirect attention-mode that is connected with the healing alpha-wave brain state. Research suggests that even a short walk in the park during your lunch break, touching a tree on your walk to the office, or literally “stopping to smell the roses” once in a while is beneficial, as it is an evolutionary trait that our brains evolved to do. Furthermore, even passive contact with Nature such as viewing an open pasture in your car or hearing the sound of birds chirping from your window can have the same powerful benefits as an actual immersion in Nature.”
To read the rest of the article, go to http://livingyourlight.posterous.com/how-nature-heals .
The Principles & Guidelines of Attitudinal Healing
Here is a link to a site where you read the 12 Principles of Attitudinal Healing and the 12 Children’s Principles. Attitudinal Healing was created by Dr Jerry Jampolsky, a Stanford educated child psychiatrist. The Principles emerged out of Dr Jampolsky’s early work with terminally ill children, individually, in groups with the children, and in groups with their parents. The power of choice in even the most challenging circumstances, the power of our minds and our thoughts, our attitudes was something that Dr J saw so clearly and says that the children taught him. He has carried that work started then on to thousands of people in 50 countries around the world. Here is the link: http://www.ahinternational.org/about/principles-of-attitudinal-healing .
Questions to Ask Your Doctor – About Being Empowered As a Patient
Here is a list of questions you can draw from when you or your loved one goes to see the doctor. I hope they are of use to you. – Nancy
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This first section is written by Sagar Nigwekar, an internal medicine physician, and Jim Sutton a family practice physician assistant.
Top 5 Questions To Ask Your Doctor
1. How will I know that my treatment is working?
2. How will the medication or treatment you are prescribing treat my condition?
3. Is there more than one condition that could be causing my problem?
4. What exactly is my condition, and what caused it?
5. What symptoms should I look for that means I should contact you or seek immediate help?
Additional questions to consider asking:
Are there treatment choices that don’t involve medications?
How long will it take for me to feel better?
If my symptoms get worse, what can I do on my own before I see you?
Is my medical condition permanent or temporary?
Questions You Should Ask About Your Medications
Any time you are prescribed a medicine you should ask these questions:
Can I take a generic medicine or is this available over the counter?
Can you review my instructions with me?
At what time should I take this medication?
Should I take it with or without food?
Can I take it with other medications?
What are the possible risks and side effects of this medication?
What is the reason for taking this medication, and how does it work?
Will this medication interact with any other medication I am taking?
Additional questions to consider asking
Can my medication be stopped suddenly or does it need to be stopped slowly?
Do I need to follow any restrictions (alcohol, driving, and work)?
Do you think a pill box will help me?
How long will I need to take my medicine?
If I do not tolerate this medication then what are my alternatives?
What should I do if I miss a dose?
Where do I store this medication at home?
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This next part is based on an article by Ginny Dillon, a business development consultant for hospitals and health care in Dallas/Fort Worth:
Physicians are under pressure to see patients in a timely, effective, and efficient manner. Take a little time, organize your thoughts, come prepared and your visit could be much more productive.
What to bring with you to your doctor’s appointment:
Pad and pen… you will likely receive recommendations and many patients forget them as soon as they leave the office.
A list of your medical problems
A list of your medications
A list of your prior surgeries
A copy of pertinent studies (MRI, X-ray, etc)
A copy of pertinent medical records (valuable for second opinions).
Dress appropriately. The physician will need to see the area of concern.
Organize your thoughts. A new orthopedic history (questions your doctor will ask you) may include:
When did the problem start?
What were you doing?
Have you started taking any new medications?
Have you changed your exercise program?
What makes the pain worse?
What makes the pain better?
Do you have pain at night?
Does it awaken you?
Any numbness, tingling or weakness?
Any morning stiffness?
Pain getting up from a seated position?
Pain walking on hills?
Shoulder patients consider what motion causes your symptoms.
Do you have any mechanical symptoms (catching, locking, clicking, etc)?
Do you have any instability (does the joint feel loose)?
Do you have any swelling?
How does the pain affect your quality of life?
What have you tried so far to obtain relief (physical therapy, injections, medications, exercise, etc)?
After the exam and discussion of the findings, your doctor will likely present you with alternatives. Here are some questions you can consider asking at this point in your visit:
What are the possible diagnoses?
Is further testing necessary (If the test will not change the plan of care, then it is possible that you do not require further tests)?
Is an MRI or expensive imaging necessary (many times it is not)?
What are the non-surgical, surgical alternatives available to treat my condition?
What are the possible risks, side effects of the treatment?
What will happen if I choose not to have surgery?
What does the literature or research recommend (many physicians still practice based on anecdotal experience [which might be appropriate, depending on the situation])
Here are some specific considerations for surgical patients:
What are reasonably forseeable risks of the surgical procedure?
What are the realistic goals of the procedure (relief of pain, functional improvement, etc)?
What is my “expected recovery time” (recovery means different things to different people… be VERY CLEAR about your goals)
When can I use my arm/leg?
When can I l use my arm/leg for activities of daily living?
When can I use my arm/leg against resistance (lifting objects or putting weight on your leg)?
When can I drive?
Do you know what I do for a living? When can I return to work?
“Nursing Home Employees Slip Into the Residents’ Shoes”
From KDSK.com 4/3/12
By Heidi Glaus
Aviston, Ill (KSDK) — In the small town of Aviston, Illinois a rather large lesson is being learned at Aviston Countryside Manor.
“This is home sweet home,” Tara Hamilton, the director of nursing points out.
Five employees accepted a unique challenge to move in and sort of walk in their resident’s shoes.
“It’s really hard to tell someone how to empathize with the residents who live here so I thought what better way to teach empathy than to have them actually live here and see what it must be like,” explains Leslie Pedtke, the nursing home administrator.
They didn’t just move in, they were also given a diagnosis.
“I also had a massive stroke as one of my challenges, so I’m paralyzed on my right side, which requires me to eat pureed food and liquids,” says Nicole Richter, a certified nurse’s aide who took the challenge.
There are also other daily challenges each employee has to deal with; things that are rather common for residents.
“They made me these glasses with super glue all over them so everything is blurry. I can see you, but to play bingo or eating my meal everything is kind of a blur,” Hamilton explains.
After only five days, they realized life here isn’t easy.
“Definitely challenging, very frustrating,” Richter says.
It’s also already changed the way they’ll approach their job, when this competition is over.
“I realize we just need to slow down and take your time, take the time to talk to residents and not just go I’ve got to do this and I’ve got to do this,” Richter says.
“We have some individuals here who haven’t seen a visitor in months, maybe years, so to kind of take notice of those people a little bit more, spend a little more time with them,” Hamilton adds.
In the end, the last one standing will receive $500, but in all honesty, the real winners will be the residents at Aviston Countryside Manor.
Happiness for a Lifetime
If you want happiness for an hour – take a nap.
If you want happiness for a day – go fishing.
If you want happiness for a year – inherit a fortune.
If you want happiness for a lifetime – help someone else.
– Chinese Proverb
Knowledge Sharing & Our Stories
“Once upon a time, before technology and endless years of formal education had made us so smart, and before we became preoccupied with material wealth, we learned what mattered most in our lives by living in communities, intertwined with the people around us. They told us their stories; we told them ours. All the stories were unique, yet ultimately they were all the same. They still are the same. They’re about hope and fear, pain and deliverance. They help us make sense of our own lives, give us hope… heal our souls.” – The Theft of the Spirit, A Journey to Spiritual Healing. by Carl A. Hammerschlag, MD, p. 13.
Older Adults in Mill Valley
As Mill Valley Commissioner on the Marin County Commission on Aging, in October 2009 I presented my annual report to the Mayor and City Council members on the status for baby boomers and older adults living in Mill Valley. Here is a link to my report presentation notes – I hope you will find it helpful to give you an idea of some of the opportunities and challenges for older people in Mill Valley as of autumn, 2009. Some things have changed – statistics, numbers, contact information perhaps, so do note that this report is from 2009. Older Adults in Mill Valley
Fall Prevention
Fall Prevention. Falls are a high priority concern for middle age and older people since they are at increased risk for bone fractures and other fall-related injuries. Using a cane or eventually a walker helps many individuals to be steadier and more confident while walking. Some of the reasons, clients cite for falling are: tripping on something, their legs just “giving out”, and feeling dizzy. One often overlooked cause of unsteadiness and lightheadedness is dehydration. As we age, our sense of thirst tends to decrease – so it is important that we consciously make sure to drink plenty of water every day. An easy way to help fight the dehydration that can occur over the course of the night is to keep a glass of water on your night stand. When you wake up, sit up and drink the water before getting out of bed. Also, squeezing your calves and circling your ankles *before you get out of bed* will help increase your lower body circulation and make you feel steadier when you do get up and on your feet. For more fall prevention tips, check out http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fall-prevention/HQ00657 .