FALL 2015 • TREATING FEET FOR DIABETES HEALTH • FEATURED RECIPE • EXPLORING A COMMON SPEECH DISORDER • MANAGING CHRONIC PAIN
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When Disease or Treatment Causes
CHRONIC PAIN Chronic pain is mild to severe pain that continues more than six months. About 100 million Americans have chronic pain, which can drastically disrupt daily life and mood. You may feel shooting, burning, or aching sensations, or feel uncomfortable, sore, or stiff. This pain can result from direct injury, severe treatments, or lingering after-effects, or it may start without any clear cause. Sometimes serious illness or treatment can also cause chronic pain, which is regarded as a separate condition from the disease and deserves extra attention. Medication is a major solution for pain control, including over-the-counter pain relievers or stronger prescription drugs. Other solutions include physical, occupational, or psychological therapy, or alternative approaches like electrical nerve stimulation or holistic remedies. Your doctor and medical team will work closely with you to find the best approach for you. If you still have pain after trying one approach for a while, tell your doctor — it may be time to try something else. Don’t hesitate to voice your concerns, describe your symptoms, ask questions, and investigate your many options. If you are having difficulty managing your pain, it may be time to seek palliative care in addition to curative treatment. Residential Home Health’s Comfort Path program offers dedicated symptom and pain management that works alongside the primary course of treatment prescribed by your doctor. Is Residential Home Health’s Comfort Path palliative program right for you? Call (866)902-4000 or visit residentialhomehealth.com/pain-andsymptom-management to learn more.
Explore a Common
SPEECH IMPAIRMENT Aphasia is an impairment of speech and language that affects more than one million Americans. This acquired communication disorder occurs suddenly as a result of injury to the brain. The National Aphasia Association reports that 25%-40% of patients who survive a stroke acquire aphasia. Aphasia can affect different aspects of language processing, causing a variety of difficulties with recalling words, constructing sentences, speaking, writing, and even using sign language. However, it is important to note that intelligence is not affected. Recovering from aphasia is a slow process, taking months to regain lost language skills; in some cases, impairment can be permanent. Working with a speech-language pathologist (SLP) can help individuals gain back lost skills, using understanding, education, practice, and adaptation to find the communication strategies best suited to the patient. With patience, innovation, expert therapy, and increased awareness of the condition, patients with aphasia can improve quality of life and be understood.
To determine whether you or your loved one might benefit from in-home speech-language pathology, call (866)902-4000 to discuss your specific situation with a Home Care Specialist today. residentialhomehealth.com
phone: (866) 902-4000
TREAT YOUR FEET for Diabetes Health
Diabetes can damage the body’s nervous system, a condition called diabetic neuropathy, which can cause pain or numbness in the legs and feet. This potential loss of sensation means that problems can go unnoticed, leaving the feet vulnerable.
To lessen symptoms, reduce risk, and prevent injury, follow the four pillars of diabetes foot care: CLEAN: Skin that is too moist or too dry can lead to problem wounds or infections. Proper foot hygiene in diabetes includes daily washing, complete drying, and a protective layer of lotion to keep skin healthy. Remember to test bath water with your elbow to make sure it’s not too hot. COVER: Protect your feet at all times by keeping them completely covered, with socks as well as shoes. Never go barefoot — not even in the shower! Start each day with clean socks, and wear supportive shoes that don’t irritate your feet. CIRCULATE: Increasing blood flow is good for your feet. Start by wiggling your feet and toes and getting up occasionally throughout the day. Building up to longer exercise sessions (slowly and safely, with your doctor’s approval) can have even more positive benefits. CHECK: Wounds that fail to heal (known as diabetic ulcers) can grow worse without care. Spot and treat damage early by doing daily visual inspections and routine screenings.
Visit blog.residentialhomehealth.com/topic/diabetes for more stories and tips about diabetes management.
real-life
results For one patient, managing chronic heart disease and related symptoms was overwhelming. But her Residential Home Health nurse inspired a ‘eureka’ moment. The exhausted patient had fallen behind on housework, introducing clutter and dangerous tripping hazards. She had also gained a lot of weight, a critical warning sign for her condition. Her Residential nurse realized that the patient had not been equipped with the tools to manage her medications, make wise food choices, and better control her symptoms. The Residential Home Health Care Team collaborated with the patient’s family to clean and control clutter. Careful instruction and coaching helped the patient to take her medications successfully and lose that troublesome weight. The patient’s nurse also worked to arrange transportation for doctor appointments, ensuring better oversight by the cardiologist. By the patient’s final visit, she was transformed: for the first time ever, she was empowered to selfmanage her chronic conditions. The education and tools she received from Residential Home Health had made it possible for her to live safely at home without the close supervision of home care. Since her ‘a-ha’ moment, the patient is managing her disease more successfully than ever — and her cardiologist agrees.
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FIND OUT MORE For in-depth information, tips, stories, and our blog, visit:
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Green Lentil Soup
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
Featured Recipe Green Lentil Soup
1 tsp olive oil 1 large onion, diced 2 large carrots, diced 2 ribs celery, diced 1 tsp ground cumin 1 1/2 tsp curry powder 3 1/2 cup water 1 cup green lentils 1/8 tsp red pepper flakes 1/2 tsp salt
Servings: 4 | Calories: 215 per serving 1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot or saucepan on medium-high. 2. Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently, for about 3 minutes. 3. Add the carrots and celery and cook, stirring frequently, for another 3 minutes. 4. Add the cumin and curry powder and cook, stirring frequently, for about 1 minute. 5. Add the water, lentils, red pepper flakes, and salt. 6. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, until lentils are just cooked (about 30 minutes). 7. Ladle into bowls and enjoy! For more healthy recipes, as well as diet and health tips, visit the Residential Home Health blog at blog.residentialhomehealth.com
conversation
STARTERS
Healthcare decisions — such as declining certain treatments or assigning a person to communicate your wishes — are incredibly personal and vary depending on a host of factors. Addressing these topics ahead of time is known as advanced care planning. Although these issues can be difficult to discuss, making decisions in advance can offer better assurance and peace of mind in case they ever arise. All patients have a right to make and stand by their own healthcare decisions, including refusing a treatment. For example, you may feel that lifesaving interventions like CPR, or some artificial breathing and feeding methods, are not in line with your wishes. You might also consider who you want to make decisions for you in keeping with your wishes, in case you cannot speak for yourself. You can assign a trusted person as your ‘healthcare proxy,’ or legally pursue ‘durable power of attorney’ status. All of these decisions can be expressed in legal documents. There are many places to turn to start thinking and talking about what matters to you. Web sites such as The Conversation Project can be helpful guides, some services offer do-it-yourself advance directives like the simple Five Wishes booklet, or you can turn to a professional for more assistance or support. But once communication starts, it shouldn’t end with a completed legal document. Share your wishes with loved ones, doctors, and your care team. Be open and vocal about what matters to you, and you’ll be better positioned to get the care you desire. Visit residentialhomehealth.com/decisions for links to more information and conversation starters, including Five Wishes and The Conversation Project. residentialhomehealth.com
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Editor’s Note This issue of Residential Review highlights a true story about one patient’s ‘a-ha!’ moment: a Residential nurse helped her learn about her condition, and things finally clicked into place. At Residential Home Health, stories like these rank among our favorites. We love helping our patients discover what they can do to manage their conditions right at home, safely and successfully. Should you ever need home care, call (866)902-4000 to speak with a Residential nurse — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also visit us online at residentialhomehealth.com for additional resources, videos, and articles.
READ. DISCOVER. LEARN. SHARE. residentialhomehealth.com
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