S is for Smokeout!

Happy 35th Birthday to the Great American Smokeout!  As a 40 something, I have noticed many changes regarding smoking trends, lawsuits, bans, and the like.  It may be just a coincidence, but I just started watching the first season of the AMC series Mad Med, and am really taken aback by the show's cavalier, yet authentic, depiction of cigarette smoking in 1960s.  The contrast between America's attitude towards smoking then and towards smoking now gives me pause.  In the show, I have yet to see a scene with an absence of smoking.  At Sterling Cooper, the Madison Avenue ad agency which is part of the setting the executives in the window offices overlooking the city and the rows of women in the secretarial pool all puff away right at their desks.  I can't even imagine how that could be tolerated in today's workplace.  In the scenes at home, the housewives are rarely shown without cigarette in hand or if their hands are full carrying a child, their cigarette dangles from their lips.  Really?  One of the characters is obviously close to giving birth and she lights up and inhales right along with the non-pregnants.  What?  Maybe it is because the American Cancer Society has done such a great job informing us about the dangers of smoking that seeing this today makes us shake our heads with disgust.   Do you remember a dozen or so years ago the Ad Council ran a campaign showing a growing baby inside a clear amnionic sac?  As the commercial went on to warn pregnant women of the dangers of smoking, the sac began filling with smoke.  What a powerful visual!  Obviously the Ad Council was not yet focusing on the anti-smoking issues in the early '60s.  Going back to Mad Men, in the restaurant scenes, smokers intermingled with non-smokers.  I can recall this being the case when I was a little kid.  In time came the warnings about second hand smoke, which provided the impetus for designated smoking and non smoking sections in most restaurants.  Fast forwarding to today, laws in most states ban smoking in restaurants and bars all together.  Yes, as we continue to learn more about the depth and breadth of the effects smoking has on our bodies and even on our economy, on the healthcare industry, on the politics of DC lobbyists, and the like, we realize that the glorification of smoking has become passe.  Thank goodness we really have come a long way baby!  So today we celebrate the 35th birthday of the Great American Smokeout, and if you smoke or know someone who does, be encouraged by today's birthday celebration.  You may just tack on another birthday for yourself or for that smoker in your life!

For More Info, click this link!

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/respiratory-disorders/articles/2010/11/18/health-buzz-smokers-challenged-with-great-american-smokeout.html

R is for Redux

Watch this great video, which really breaks down the complexities of the Healthcare Reform Law.

http://healthreform.kff.org/the-animation.aspx

R is for Reform; Healthcare Reform that is!

Today we share a concise, quite informative article that should be of interest to employees, employers, and those seeking employment.  After reading the article, you are encouraged to let us know your thoughts on this topic.

Have a happy day!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_health_care_q_a

Q is for Quit It!/Start It!

Why the white space?  To give you pause.  Quit what? Start what?






Did you ever rearrange your kitchen cabinets or move the waste can only to go to reach for something and open the wrong door or go to throw something away and have it end up on the floor where the can used to be? Think about it. We are conditioned by habit. I remember years ago my Father told me that in order for something to become a habit, you had to do it every day for 21 days in a row.  If you miss a day, you have to start all over again until you have done it for 21 straight days.  After that your mind and body will be conditioned and the habit will be formed. Ergo, you will open the right door and go directly to the new location!

With this in mind, let's challenge ourselves.  Today is September 3, 2010.  If we decide on something we'd like to quit or something we'd like to start today, by the end of the month we will have either broken a bad habit or formed a good one.  Hopefully!  In the comments section type the habit you want to break or the one you want to form.  By putting it out there, you may very well be more committed to your goal.  Check in and let us know how you are doing or if you need support or encouragement to succeed!  I was a cheerleader and once a cheerleader, always a cheerleader.  I'll be here motivating and offering moral/morale support!  Ready?  Game On!!!

PS

If you are a Medicare patient, you may find this interesting...

Despite having heard the old saws, bad habits are hard to break and it is said that you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but this week's news from Washington offers a silver lining to an otherwise dark cloud.  On August 28, 2010 the Associated Press published the news that Medicare is expanding coverage to help smokers quit. The article goes on to say: Older smokers who receive counseling are significantly more likely to quit than those who only get standard medical care. One study of elderly heart attack patients found that those who got counseling to help quit smoking were more likely to be alive five years later.  It's unclear why older people who try to quit have better luck than younger smokers.  Some experts think it's because older smokers are more motivated, perhaps from having seen a loved one die of cancer or heart disease, or by recognizing how the cigarette habit has left its mark in their own bodies, anything from wrinklier skin to shortness of breath.  The article is short and interesting, to read more, go to:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38891447/ns/health/

P is for Practice A Random Act of Kindness

Once you begin to acknowledge random acts of kindness-both the ones you have received and the ones you have given-you can no longer believe that what you do does not matter.
-- Dawna Markova

My friend Lisa's morning had not been going very smoothly.  She had pushed snooze button one too many times and had to rush through her morning routine to get out the door.  Road construction had caused the flow of traffic to trickle.  To make matters worse, she had forgotten to program her coffee maker for her compulsory cup of caffeine.  With the Dunkin' Donuts conveniently located close to the office, it was the logical stop.  She pulled into the drive thru with only one car ahead of her, and as she waited with her windows up, she began voicing her frustrations about the person in front of her. "Come on!  I'm late enough already!  What could you possibly be ordering that it is taking this long?  For the love of goodness gracious let's move already!"  For what seemed to her like an hour's wait, she finally ordered her coffee and rounded the corner to the pick up window.  When she got closer and saw the transaction taking place in front of her she yelled,  "Oh my, you're paying with a credit card? Really?  Can you do anything else to make me later for work than I already am?"  

Thank goodness her windows were up because when she moved ahead and went to pay for her much needed, fully caffeinated coffee, the cashier told her that the guy ahead of her had already paid for it.    

Wow.  OK?   Talk about an attitude adjustment.  All of a sudden the negative angst that had been building inside Lisa all morning had vanished.  That random act of kindness gave her pause.  Her mood elevated.  But then she felt a little pang of guilt for her impatience.  A nanosecond later she decided that one good deed deserves another. Lisa handed the cashier $5.00 and told him to pay for the next customer's coffee then keep the change.

Lisa pulled out of DD with an extraordinary feeling of happiness and came into the office with an infectious exuberance for life.  As she recounted her morning for the office staff, my thoughts spiraled.  I couldn't help but thinking how that one little random act of kindness did so much to change Lisa's horrible morning; how kindness is an abstract something that we just can't keep.  I thought about how great is to do something nice for people.  Then I thought about all of the home bound in our community; how they are not out and about to receive these wonderful kindnesses from strangers.  

My stream of consciousness led to appreciating what we do at Superior Home Health Care, sister company of Superior Health, Inc.  Superior Home Health Care serves the non medical needs of those recently home from the hospital or rehab; those with orthopedic injury and surgery recovery; those who suffered a recent stroke or heart attack; those undergoing chemotherapy; those affected by Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease; and those who need assistance with two or more activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, etc. Superior Home Health Care is staffed by experienced and professional caregivers who arrive at our clients with friendliness, courteousness, and especially kindness.  Our caring homemakers brighten the clients' day by keeping their houses in order, doing laundry, making beds, grocery shopping, preparing delicious, nutritious meals, even tending to grooming and personal hygiene needs.  I thought how our personal care services give our clients a boost much like Lisa got from being the recipient of someone's act of kindness. 

I snapped back to focus on a beaming Lisa who had the rest of us coworkers smiling and commenting on how great it feels to do something for others.  I noticed that as the day progressed, the positive energy maintained momentum; everyone seemed just a little friendlier, a little nicer, and yes a lot kinder.  All because some guy randomly paid for a stranger's coffee.  

It's Friday.  It's a happy day.  Let each of us practice a random act of kindness today.  After all we are not standing on this Earth in a single file line.  We are in a circle and what ever we pass around will eventually come back to us.  Here's to passing around a bit of kindness!

I'll close today's entry with a quote from Harold Kushner, author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People.  When you carry out acts of kindness you get a wonderful feeling inside.  It is as though something inside your body responds and says, yes, this is how I ought to feel.

O is for Opportunity

Ben Franklin once said, "In this world nothing can be certain, except death and taxes."

Here's another certainty, as we age or fall victim to illness or accidents, we will at some time seek medical attention.  Despite the doom and gloom of our nation's economy, there are still opportunities out there for qualified people.  Superior Health, Inc. is currently looking for Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and Registered Nurses.  Our patient census is growing almost exponentially and we need quality professionals to cover these new cases.  Whether you are looking for only a few hours a day or just one or two days a week, call us today so we can partner in healing those who are homebound. Dial 610-685-7351 and ask for Lynne.  We are looking forward to hearing from you!

N is for New Website!

According to the latest Facebook post by President Barak Obama, the government has launched its new site, HealthCare.gov, that provides unprecedented transparency into the health care marketplace and gives you more control over your health care as an informed and empowered consumer.  Please follow the link so that you too can better understand today's healthcare climate.  www.HealthCare.gov

M is for MindSet

"Nothing is either good or bad; our thinking makes it so."  ~William Shakespeare

When I logged onto Facebook this morning, I read a post from my ordinarily pleasant and positive friend that said, "Feeling BLAH today...I hope the weekend is better for me:("  My immediate reaction was sadness for my friend and I wanted to post a comment that would lift her spirits.  I typed,  "Happiness is only a MindSet away." My next thought was that today is Friday, my Blog day, and the letter for the day is M.  Aha.  M is for MindSet.  Then the floodgates opened as all sorts of ideas washed over me as I thought about thinking and how we with our own free will  can create our joys and sorrows by our perceptions.
Here is an example, albeit paradoxical, an example none-the-less.  Early in our dating relationship, the love of my life and I traveled to my home town.  As we neared Pottsville, I asked would he mind stopping by the cemetery of my old church.  He may have thought that an odd request, but being the ever polite man that he is, never would have commented so.  I had not been there is years and years, and why I wanted to stop, I still do not know.  We stopped and hopped out of his Jeep and inhaled deeply the smell of autumn.  With the crunch of leaves underfoot, we passed through the wrought iron gates and into my childhood.  You see, the St. Joe's Parish was the Italian Catholic Church.  Back in the early years of Pottsville, each of the ethnicities settled in their own section of town and thus founded their own parish.  The Germans had St. John's; the Irish had St. Pat's; and we Italians had St. Joe's.  As a matter of fact, when I was a little girl, marrying outside the church meant that someone from St. Joe's was marrying someone from St. John's.  The Italian community centered itself in the borough of Palo Alto, nestled at the foot of the glorious "Pally Mountain."  Pally, as it has come to be known, has only three streets, the longest of which stretches just over one mile.  Block after block I could find family members either by blood or by marriage as well as family friends.  So now as I walked past headstone after headstone,  I read the name and relayed a memory.  There was Mr. Mirabella, who owned Angelucci's Sub Shop.  There was nothing like stopping there for subs and if I was lucky a tiny brown bag filled with penny candy.  Then there was Anna and Christy Joy, who started Christy Joy Catering in their garage on Cadbury Street.  My mom was best friends with their daughter Rita.  My mom remembers peeling potato after potato for Old Christy.  In fact that's where she met my dad.  Oh, and then we walked by Mr. and Mrs. Tassone's headstone. He owned Frankie's Smoke Shop, where I would buy gimp and braid for hours.  His wife Francis was my Nonnie's best friend.  Those two talked on the phone for hours on end.  My Nonnie had a party line, and I'm sure the other party would be mighty frustrated at times when they picked up their receiver only to hear them gabbing away.  I remember when my Pop Pop would answer the phone, then yell, "Mamie, Windy is on the phone again!"  Windy was short for wind bag, you see.  I got to see my Uncle Johnny, who grew his own grapes and made the best wine.  I always loved how at Aunt Angie and Uncle Johnny's everyone drank wine out of small juice glasses.  We passed my Uncle Foosie.  He had the best garden.  Oh and the big old pear tree in his back yard, how I couldn't wait until I could make a pouch with my shirt and collect!  I don't think I have enjoyed a pear like those in decades.  I revisited so many memories and even though some of those people met untimely deaths, I could focus on the impact their lives had on me.  My friend Mike Ferugio, who was in the South Tower on September 11, 2001, may have been the kindest soul to ever grace our planet.  There was my friend Chris Garrity who late one summer night died in a car accident less than a mile from home.  Chris always had a big smile with the cutest dimples ever.  Then I saw my Nonnie and Pop Pop, with whom I spent most of my early years while my mom and dad worked.  I thought about how fortunate I was to have known those people, to have loved and been loved by them.  My mindset was of happiness and of reliving a childhood populated by wonderful experiences provided by fantastic people, all of whom are together again in Heaven.  So the paradox of lightheartedness on a visit to a grave yard is the best example for my comment to my friend on Facebook.  Happiness is only a mindset away.  And as the Bard said, "Nothing is either good or bad; our thinking makes it so."  So today my dear friends focus your perceptions with rose colored glasses. After all, it is what it is...only until we spin it...

L is for Love

"Love is saying, 'I feel differently' instead of 'you're wrong.'"  - Anonymous

I encourage you to share your thoughts.

Love is...

K is for Karma

"How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours." - Wayne Dyer

I love this quote because it invites us to examine the way we internalize a situation.  Happy pondering!

J is for Job Fair!

We are excited to share with you the opportunity to meet and discuss employment or higher education opportunities with approximately 25 representatives from local employers and institutions of higher learning!

The Harrisburg Area Community College, Lebanon Campus and the Pennsylvania CareerLink, Lebanon County are jointly sponsoring a Spring Job Fair on Wednesday, May 5, 2010 from 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM at the PA CareerLink, Lebanon County Office.  This job fair can provide an excellent opportunity to interface with potential employers or higher education representatives.

Additionally, there will be two workshops offered.  First,  Workplace Expectations: Mastering the "Soft Skills" will run from 11:000 AM - 12:00 Noon. Then an Unemployment Compensation Review will be presented from 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM.

The PA CareerLink, Lebanon County is located at 243 Schneider Drive, Lebanon, PA 17046.

Representatives from Superior Health, Inc. will be there and we would love to meet you!  So mark your calendar for this coming Wednesday from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.  Here's to a great employment opportunity!

I is for Independent Living

In search for a great blog topic starting with the letter I, I came across this article in this morning's USA Today about an initiative that Congress passed in 2005 called "Money Follows the Person."  The program provides nursing home residents funding and personal support to help them live on their own or in small group settings.  Follow the link below to access the article.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2010-04-21-nursing-homes_N.htm
 
Let us know your thoughts on this exciting legislature that helps not only Superior Health, Inc. as a business, but also our aging population as individuals striving to regain their independence from nursing home environments.

We look forward to your discussion!

H is for Home Healthcare Agency State Survey Results

Superior Health, Inc. reigns supreme when it comes to the Pennsylvania Department of Health!  In order to be found compliant with the state regulations regarding home healthcare agencies, every agency is subject to unannounced audits of their company.  Since Superior Health, Inc. is Medicare/Medicaid certified, the regulations to which we must adhere are far more stringent than those established by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  Thus, when the state came in to conduct the audit of our company, our policies, procedures, and charting were above and beyond the state expectations, and we were found to be completely deficiency free.  We invite you to follow this link to the PA Department of Health website to see the results of not only our unannounced survey, but also all of the agencies in Berks County.  

Remember knowledge is key when choosing a home healthcare agency for your needs.  Compare our survey results to those of our competition.  You may be surprised by which agencies have been found to have deficiencies and ruled noncompliant upon being surveyed!

http://app2.health.state.pa.us/commonpoc/content/publiccommonpoc/commonpocselect.asp?FORMSUBMITTED=normalSearch&selcty=Berks

G is for Glory

God is Good all the Time.  

All the Time, God is Good.

Have a Blessed Easter Season!

F is for Facebook

Today Facebook is as ubiquitous as Cindy Crawford's picture was on magazine covers in the '80s.  Originally "thefacebook" was created in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg, a Harvard student, as a social networking site for Harvard University.   Soon other Ivy League schools were invited to join the network.  In August of 2005 "thefacebook" became Facebook and the rest, as they say, is history.  All college students were given access to the site. Then all high school students were let in.  Now anyone over age 13 can have his or her own Facebook profile.  Interestingly, Facebook is seeing another explosion of users.  Technologically savvy businesses (present company included) have created Facebook pages to highlight news and events, while offering a platform for customers, potential customers, and staff to share thoughts.  If you are already one of the millions of FB users, consider yourself enthusiastically invited to Superior Health, Inc.'s Facebook Page, where you too can become a Fan!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sinking-Spring-PA/Superior-Health-Inc/164607943484?ref=ts
Happy Friday!

E is for Energizing

This morning we received a call from a client's wife telling us that she is really impressed by our services and could not be more pleased with the job we are doing.  She said, "What you do really underscores the fact that you really are Superior!"

That call has nourished our souls.  Knowing that the service we provide is making a positive impact on another's life has energized every department here at Superior Health, Inc. from Intake, to Case Managers, to Nurses, to Aides, to Schedulers, to Performance Improvement, to Marketing, to Billing, to Payroll, right on up to Administration. We used this call as a learning tool.  We looked at how each department's handling of this case had led to that call.  How fortunate we are to have received that feedback because responses like that remind us of how fulfilling our jobs really are!

We would love to use your positive comments and constructive criticism as a learning tools as well.  Please comment here or call us at 610-685-7351  or toll free  at 866-893-0902 and let us know how we as Home Healthcare Agency can better serve you!

D is for Decompression

Happy Friday!  How about it?

C is for COPD

If you go into your doctor and he or she writes SOB in your chart, it means shortness of breath.

Pardon my digression...COPD, COPD, what in the world is COPD?  Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.  Let's break that down; CHRONIC means persistent, lasting or slowly developing; OBSTRUCTIVE means to block or to fill a passage with obstacles; PULMONARY means having to do with the lungs; and DISEASE means abnormal condition.  Putting that together we deduce that a person with COPD has slowly developed abnormal blockage in his airways making it increasingly difficult to breathe.  According to the Mayo Clinic, COPD refers to a group of lung diseases, with emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and chronic asthmatic bronchitis as the main conditions that make up COPD.  The symptoms associated with COPD  include: an ongoing cough that produces large amounts of mucus (often called smoker's cough); shortness of breath, especially with physical activity; wheezing (a whistling or squeaking sound when you breathe); and chest tightness.  Remember in the beginning of this entry we defined chronic as persistent, lasting, and slowly developing?  Here's how that comes into play:  these symptoms often occur YEARS BEFORE the flow of air into and out of the lungs declines.   OK, next question, how can I avoid getting COPD?  That's easy, avoid the risk factors.  QUIT SMOKING!  Steer clear of second hand smoke.  Avoid occupational dusts and chemicals (vapors, irritants, fumes).  Be mindful of indoor air pollutants from some fuels used for cooking and heating in poorly vented dwellings.  Of course asthma, frequent respiratory infections, and a positive family history do increase one's chances of developing COPD, but if you avoid the aforementioned risk factors, you can deter the onset or prevent the disease.
That's all well and good, but what if I am diagnosed with COPD, can it be cured?  Answer NO, but on the bright side, there are treatments and lifestyle changes that can help make a sufferer of COPD feel better, stay more active, and slow the process of the disease.  QUITTING SMOKING IS THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP YOU CAN TAKE TO TREAT COPD.  You may want to talk with your doctor about programs and products that can help you quit.  Additionally, AVOID SECOND HAND SMOKE.  Shy away from using aerosol sprays.  Remember to eat a well-balanced diet, and to drink enough fluid to keep the lungs from stiffening up.  You may have to increase your liquids to 2-3 quarts per day to keep secretions thin if there is a large amount of phlegm present.  Interestingly, it is best to maintain a stable environmental temperature, avoiding extremes of heat and cold.  Be sure to keep the air as moist as possible, using a humidifier if necessary.  Try to practice energy conservation techniques to avoid fatigue.  Establish a formal, consistent exercise program to improve exercise intolerance and quality of life.  Find out if there is a pulmonary rehab program in your area and enroll there.  Ask your doctor about effective coughing and breathing exercises that you can do every day.  Get a flu vaccine every year.  Finally, it should go without saying:  report signs and symptoms of respiratory infections (i.e. fever, change in sputum color or amount, or increased shortness of breath; and take medications and respiratory treatments as ordered.
If you or your aging loved one is diagnosed with COPD, let Superior Health, Inc. help.  We offer supportive care education about the disease process; management and evaluation of patient care; observation and assessment; medication education; assistance with activities of daily living, as well as restorative therapy including physical, occupational, and speech therapies.  And remember you're not an SOB, you just have shortness of breath!

B is for Bone Health

If I knew I was going to live this long, I'd have taken better care of myself. --Mickey Mantle


Heredity aside, having healthy bones is really up to us and the choices we make.  Let's look at the basics for making good choices today for our bone health tomorrow.  First off, the National Osteoporosis Foundation explains that bones play many roles in the body.  They provide structure, protect organs, anchor muscles, and store calcium.  When we choose to incorporate the recommended daily allowance of calcium and weight bearing exercise into our routines, we are taking a proactive approach to maintaining our bone health.


Pardon the pun, but let's get to the bare bones about calcium.  We know calcium is important to our bodily functions and it helps build strong bones and teeth, but how does that happen and why is that important?  Calcium works to maintain normal levels of blood pressure and stomach acid.  It also aids in blood clotting, nerve function, and muscle contraction.  Our bodies are constantly using calcium, which is stored in our bones and teeth, ergo the strength of our bones (and teeth) depends upon the calcium that is stored there.  Think of your skeletal system as your body's checking account.  You deposit your calcium intake there and your body spends it to maintain normal BP and stomach acid, and so on.  If you choose not to replenish the calcium stored in your account (your bones), you will overdraw.  Just like at the bank, if we overdraw our account, we will be charged a penalty fee.  The penalty in this case is that the when body needs calcium it will absorb it from our bones.  Look at the images below to see the damage that too many overdrafts will do to our bone health.

These pictures show the effects of calcium depletion in our bones.  With this in mind think of how many times you have heard that someone fell and broke a hip.  Most times, it is not the fall that causes the break, it is the break that causes the fall.  We can see the decline in bone density so clearly here and hopefully this image is a good reminder for us not to overdraw on our calcium account.

Besides calcium intake, bone health can depend on  our activity level.  Ron Zernicke, PhD, DSc, Director of the Bone & Joint Injury Prevention & Rehabilitation Center at the University of Michigan in the July/August issue of Sports Health reports that just 20 minutes a day of walking, running, dancing, or weight lifting, et al. can be extremely effective in increasing Bone Mineral Density.  Simply put, the more dense the bone, the stronger the bone, and thus the less chance of overdrawing the calcium account.

Armed with the whys and hows of having healthy bones, it is far easier to make better choices.  Now that we know that calcium keeps our blood pressure and stomach acid in check, and that it aids in blood clotting, nerve function and muscle contraction, we realize why we need it.  We've probably always known that calcium is stored in our bones and teeth.  Now we realize that if we don't replenish our calcium stores, our bodies' need for calcium will actually feed off of its own bone mass.  While we may not be able to prevent every aspect of thinning bones, we can certainly take a proactive approach to our bone health by getting the RDA of calcium.  See the table below for more specifics.

If this is your age,	then you need this much calcium each day (mg).
0 to 6 months	210
6 to 12 months	270
1 to 3 years	500
4 to 8 years	800
9 to 18 years	1,300
18 to 50 years	1,000
Over 50 years	1,200

(A cup of milk or fortified orange juice has about 300 mg of calcium)

Excerpted from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The 2004 Surgeon General's Report on Bone Health and Osteoporosis: What It Means to You. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Surgeon General, 2004, page 12

Remember the words of Mickey Mantle, "If I knew I was going to live this long, I'd have taken better care of myself."  If you haven't taken care of your bones thus far, start today!  If you have an aging loved one who may be suffering from thinning or osteoporotic bones and you think that he or she may need help with regular daily activities, or if your loved one has already experienced a break and a fall and needs assistance during convalescence, Superior Health, Inc. can help.  Call 610-685-7351 and put your mind at ease knowing someone can be there to help.

A is for Alzheimer's Disease

Today starts the beginning of an alphabetical series featuring the most prevalent diseases.  We chose to explore Alzheimer's Disease as it is the most common form of dementia.  Statistics show that 4.5 million Americans have AD; 1 out of 3 families are affected by AD; 1 in 10 people over age 65 have AD; and 1 in 3 people over age 85 have AD.  The disease is degenerative and affects the brain from front to back, outside to inside.  To better understand, we need to know which part of the brain controls what.  Our brain weighs about three pounds; with the right side controlling language skills, logic, and spatial reasoning and the left side controlling creativity and emotion.  Four lobes of the brain, frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital, further divide the control.
Remember, AD affects the brain from front to back.  In the front of the brain are the frontal lobe and the temporal lobe.  The frontal lobe controls judgement, attention cognition, and personality.  The temporal lobe controls language.   AD insidiously attacks these lobes first.  Think of of it this way, AD starts as dementia, which is characterized by memory loss and changes in short term memory.  Family and friends may notice that something is not quite right.  In this first stage, the person can cover up problems.  He may become depressed due to fear or embarrassment.  He may have difficulty working with numbers, paying bills, balancing his checkbook, or even making change.  He may have trouble finding the right word or using words incorrectly.  What is frightening is that the person may begin making bad decisions, becoming easily persuaded to make purchases or make unwise financial decisions.  Sadly, it seems as though we are always hearing about elders being victimized by scam artists who prey upon the impaired judgement of the dementia sufferer.  In time the Alzheimer's patient's memory loss  increases dramatically and sleep disturbances begin.  He gets lost even in familiar places.  He needs help with activities of daily living such as bathing, house keeping, and meal preparation.  At this point the AD sufferer becomes suspicious, anxious, or has angry outbursts.  He becomes more confused about time.  It is now that disease has the control and the patient needs constant supervision.  In the last stage, the back of the brain, the parietal lobe controlling sensory perception and skilled movement, and the occipital lobe controlling visual association succumb to the disease.  Motor skills such as walking and eating are lost.  Bladder and bowel incontinence sets in.  The patient has problems swallowing.  His meaningful speech is gone and he does not recognize family or self.  AD is a slow gradual deterioration of the brain that eventually results in death because the areas of the brain that control swallowing, thirst, and breathing will be damaged.  Individuals usually die from complications such as pneumonia, heart failure, diabetes, or infections.
There is not yet a cure for Alzheimer's  Disease, but maintaining good health is important because other conditions can make the disease process worse.  For more information about AD, go to http://www.alz.org/index.asp 
Remember, if your loved one is showing early signs of AD and you need help caring for him or her, let Superior Health Inc.'s quality staff help.  For more information on our services, please go to http://www.superiorhealthinc.com/superiorhealthinc.com/Services.html

Black History Month

Americans know that February is Black History Month.  Most know that we celebrate Black History Month in February because it is the birth month of Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States and issuer of the Emancipation Proclamation, and Frederick Douglass, one of the foremost leaders in the abolitionist movement.  Some may know that it was Dr. Carter G. Wilson who originated the concept in 1926 as Negro History Week, and that in early 1970's it was changed to Black History Week.  It was not until 1976 that we began observing Black History Month to recognize the African American race and to celebrate the impact it has had in history.  Superior Health, Inc. is taking pause today to honor three African American pioneers in the field of medicine.  
In chronological order, we begin with Dr. Daniel Hale Williams who in 1891 founded the first African American owned hospital.  According to Susan Robinson, author of A Day in Black History,  Dr. Williams observed that African American patients were routinely subject to second-class medical care. Also, opportunities for most Black physicians were extremely limited, and it was difficult for African Americans to gain admission to medical and nursing schools because of institutionalized racism. Dr. Williams met a young woman, Emma Reynolds, who had been refused admission by every nursing school in the area. This prompted him to launch a new venture, the first African American owned hospital in the United States. It started as a twelve-bed facility, named Provident Hospital. At Provident Hospital, Dr. Williams also opened the first nursing school for African Americans, where Emma Reynolds and six others made up the first graduating class. Dr. Williams employed African American and White doctors at Provident Hospital, emphasizing the need to provide the best available care to everyone. He required that the doctors at Provident keep abreast of the latest advances in medicine.  Two years later, in 1893, a young man named James Cornish was rushed to Provident Hospital with a stab wound to the chest. Doctors at this time did not have X-ray machines, and the doctors at Provident were unsure what to do for Mr. Cornish. His condition began to deteriorate; his pulse was getting weaker and he started to go into shock, which are signs of internal bleeding. In the operating room, Dr. Williams made the decision to open up Cornish's chest and see what could be done before he bled to death internally. The surgical team found a pierced blood vessel and a tear to the pericardium tissue around the heart. Dr. Williams sutured both of these injuries to stop the bleeding. James Cornish survived the operation. Newspaper headlines reported: "Sewed Up His Heart! Remarkable Surgical Operation on a Colored Man!" Cornish recovered and lived another twenty years. It was the first successful open heart surgery ever performed.
Our next honoree is Dr. Charles Richard Drew whose pioneer work in the field of blood transfusions led to the creation of the first Blood Bank.  Mary Bellis, in her Guide to Inventors, highlights that it was Charles Drew who during his work at Columbia University  made his discoveries relating to the preservation of blood. By separating the liquid red blood cells from the near solid plasma and freezing the two separately, he found that blood could be preserved and reconstituted at a later date.  Moreover, Charles Drew's system for the storing of blood plasma (blood bank) revolutionized the medical profession. Dr. Drew also established the American Red Cross blood bank, of which he was the first director.
Today's final honored pioneer is Dr. Alexa Canady who is credited as not only the first female, but also the first African American Neurosurgeon in the United States.  In 1976, Canady interned at New Haven Hospital, which was affiliated with Yale University, and then applied for a residency in neurosurgery at the University of Minnesota. She became the first black female to enter the field in American history. "When I got a residency in neurosurgery, I got it not because I'm smarter than somebody forty years ago, but because the politics were such that they needed a black woman and I was there and qualified," Canady said in I Dream a World: Portraits of Black Women Who Changed the World. "I had impeccable credentials coming out of medical school, but there was an undercurrent of, 'How can you, a black woman, have the audacity to want to do this? Don't you know that you've got a double whammy?'  Well, I came along at a time when it offered them a double positive. They could fulfill the quotas and say, 'I finished woman. I finished black, and all it took was one person instead of two.' So that became a positive for me."  From her residency at UM, Dr. Canady practiced at the University of Pennsylvania's Children's Hospital in pediatric neurosurgery.  Then in 1982 Dr. Canady moved on to practice at the Children's Hospital in Detroit, where in 1987 she became the Director of Neurosurgery.  In 2001 Dr Canady retired a legend, the first woman, the first African American to practice Neurosurgery in America.
We at SHI wish to thank Dr. Williams, Dr. Hale, and Dr. Canady for dreaming the dream and living the dream.  Let us be inspired by their ground-breaking work and their dedication to the field of medicine, as their works' impact is felt the medical community.

"Gimme a Break!"

Remember the flight attendant's instructions, "Be sure your mask is secure before assisting others."  


Let Superior Health, Inc. give you the break you so richly deserve with our Respite Care Service.  Did you know that most insurance plans allow for respite time for caregivers and that even if Respite Care is not covered by your insurance that Superior Health, Inc. accepts private pay?  Sources say that even though many families take great joy in providing care to their loved ones so that they can remain at home, the physical, emotional and financial consequences for the family caregiver can be overwhelming without some support, such as respite. Respite Care provides the much needed temporary break from the often exhausting challenges faced by the family caregiver or commonly called the informal or unpaid caregiver.  Caring for another is both rewarding and draining.  It warms us to know that because of us our father, mother, spouse or child remains in the comfort of home.  We derive satisfaction in knowing that because of our attention and dedication,  our loved one awakens each morning in his or her own bed.  The flip side of this is the negative feelings associated with what is called "caregiver stress".   It is not uncommon for caregivers to feel guilty about what they should be doing or saying to better help their loved one; to feel guilty for wishing they didn't have to assume so many caregiving responsibilities and to put areas of their own life on hold.   These feelings are natural and there is no need to feel bad about asking for help.  Let SHI's Respite Care give you the break you need. After all if we don't take care of ourselves, how can we take care of others?


For more information about the services SHI offers, visit us at www.superiorhealthinc.com


For more information on caregiver stress, take a look at the AARP Caregiver Stress Quiz by following this link:   http://assets.aarp.org/external_sites/caregiving/homeCare/managing_the_stress_quiz.html

Examining our Resolve!

"That which we persist in doing becomes easier for us to do; not that the nature of the thing itself is changed, but that our power to do is increased."  -Ralph Waldo Emerson


As January winds to a close, it is time for us to reflect upon our resolve.  Most of us begin every new year with resolutions, many of which involve breaking old habits and adopting new ones so that we can be healthier.  Some of us want to quit smoking or to stop eating fast food.  Some of us decide to incorporate exercise into our daily schedules or to drink 8 glasses of water each day.  It seems that we start out with lofty goals, which at times seem unattainable, but we can achieve them.   Think about Emerson's words.  Each day we strive be healthier; each day we strive to embrace our convictions.  This may seem to be a tough challenge, yet with each passing day it does get easier.  If we can go one day without smoking or one day drinking 8 glasses of water, we get a sense of accomplishment.  That success can be given as much or as little reverence as we decide to attribute to it.  Let us be empowered by the daily accomplishments.  Let the days turn to weeks; the weeks to months.  The goals, the resolutions stay the same and if we persist, we can accomplish them.  The bottom line is, if today our resolve is less than stellar, tomorrow is another day.

Training, Training, Training!

Here at Superior Health, Inc. we take every opportunity to keep our staff's fingers on the pulse of learning. With OASIS-C changes that took effect on 1/1/10, our nurses have been clocking in many hours with training modules.  Beyond that, our OASIS Director is fresh from the PHA two day training seminar in Harrisburg and is armed with the tools necessary to facilitate a smooth segue into the newly revised OASIS-C format.  The learning doesn't stop at our nurses, as our CNAs and HHAs have just completed a training seminar on customer service.  This in-service included role-play that gave our aides the chance to put themselves in the shoes (or slippers) of our clients to really experience what it is like to receive services.   Here at SHI, we know the value of continuing education.  After all, the more we know, the better we serve our clients, their families, and their case managers.
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We Deliver Skilled Services!

Do you require assistance when leaving your home?

Does leaving your home require considerable and taxing effort?

Have you been recently discharged from the hospital?

Are you experiencing a new or exacerbated diagnosis?

Has your medication changed in the last 60 days?

Have you had a new prescription in the last 30 days?

Do you have a need for skilled nursing services for any of the following:

Medication administration (other than oral)

Wound Care Tracheostomy Care

Urinary Catheter Care Ostomy Care

IV therapy Ventilator Care

Diabetic Care Phototherapy

If you answered yes to any of these questions, and you want Superior Home Healthcare Service, call Superior Health, Inc. 610-685-7351

www.superiorhealthinc.com