Are You Nervous About Making a Major Life Change?

A recent survey, conducted by Identigene, shows that nearly half of adults in the United States plan to make a major life change in 2014. These changes range from buying a new house, having a new baby, paternity testing, getting married, or contemplating a divorce. Understandably enough, 90% of individuals who are planning a major life change state they are nervous about it.

Even with the best amount of planning there is a still some uncertainty that goes along with making major life changes. There could always be a problem with the house you are buying, skeletons in the closet of the man you are marrying, or financial hardships that make caring for a growing child more difficult. But somehow, even with all the uncertainly, most people do tackle life’s biggest obstacles and are happier for it.

But not all major life changes have to be stressful.



For More.


Learn what it takes to become a Health Unit Coordinator at http://wecareonlineclasses.com/

Nurse Aides: How to have good relationships with other staff

To be an effective Nursing Assistant, you must have excellent communication skills. You will be communicating throughout your daily activities with patients, their family and friends, and an array of medical staff. You will work directly with the Nursing staff. This will be a very important area to develop strong relationships in. You will also be communicating with physicians, X-Ray technicians, lab staff, surgery units, and emergency services.

Therefore, it is very important that you continually work on your communication style and effectiveness. Your job will be much easier if you are able to establish good relationships with other staff members. As a Nursing Assistant, you will be overseen by the Nursing staff. They will depend on your to report accurate information on patient charts. You need to be sure you are documenting what they ate and how much, their vital signs, and any changes you notice.

For More.

Learn more about what it takes to become a CNA: http://wecareonlineclasses.com/

Helping residents get Happy and Healthy

When someone showed Stephanie Gumina a Canadian video featuring seniors singing Carly Rae Jepsen’s pop hit “Call Me Maybe” last year, she thought residents of the Belvedere of Westlake in Ohio, where she is program director, would enjoy participating in a similar activity.
“My residents are very animated,” she told me. “Just because you’re a senior citizen doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. We have fun every day. We laugh every day.”

Stephanie found the perfect vehicle for the Belvedere’s assisted living residents to express their energy—and for her to use skills honed in broadcast school—in Pharrell Williams’ infectious, Oscar-nominated tune “Happy,” which is featured in the children’s movie “Despicable Me 2.” And now the world can see the results of their efforts, because Stephanie posted a video of residents and staff members dancing and singing along to the ditty on YouTube, where it has received more than 3,700 hits in the past month.

For More and original blog.

Like to become an Activity Director?

Boost Your Self-image with 4 Easy Steps

Low self-esteem can negatively affect virtually every facet of your life, including your relationships, your job and your health. But you can take steps to boost your self-esteem, even if you've been harboring a poor opinion of yourself since childhood. Start with these four steps.

Step 1: Identify troubling conditions or situations

Think about the conditions or situations that seem to deflate your self-esteem. Common triggers might include:

• A business presentation
• A crisis at work or home
• A challenge with a spouse, loved one, co-worker or other close contact
• A change in life circumstances, such as a job loss or a child leaving home

Step 2: Become aware of thoughts and beliefs

Once you've identified troubling conditions or situations, pay attention to your thoughts about them. This includes your self-talk — what you tell yourself — and your interpretation of what the situation means.

For More.

Interested in changing your career to one in the healthcare industry?

Earth Day 2014: 3 Gardening Activities for Seniors

What can you do to make an impact this Earth Day, April 22 and beyond? Going green at your assisted or independent living home is a great start to saving the planet. This can mean investing in energy-saving fluorescent bulbs, growing a self-sustaining garden, or simply planting flowers outdoors. For seniors, the latter may hold a special appeal in several ways:

• It’s a fitting tribute to Earth Day as you toil and enrich the soil, while directly connecting with nature
• Gardening is a fantastic outdoor exercise, therapeutic in many ways, plus as you give back to the earth you’re rewarded with the sunshine vitamin D  
• Planting a food garden can represent the symbiotic relationship between nature and man’s sustenance.

With these in mind tryout four (4) good gardening tips you’ll enjoy reaping their benefits:

Grow Organic Food – DIY Compost and Mulch!

Compost is one of the best, most eco-friendly fertilizers there is, and you can do-it-yourself (DIY) free for use every time. Just get a compost bin or make a pile in your garden; your compost material can include grass cuttings, leaves, fruits and vegetable scrapes, and coffee grounds (you don’t have to use manure).

For More.

Learn what it takes to become a home health aide.

Oral Healthcare and Your Health

Your mouth is connected to the rest of your body. Did you know that your oral health can offer clues about your overall health — or that problems in your mouth can affect the rest of your body? Your mouth is connected to the rest of your body. To understand how the mouth can affect the body, it helps to understand what can go wrong in the first place. Bacteria that builds up on teeth make gums prone to infection. The immune system moves in to attack the infection and the gums become inflamed. The Inflammation continues unless the infection is brought under control.


Research has found an association between gum disease and rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of the joints. Experts say the mechanism of the destruction of connective tissues in both gum disease and RA is similar. Eating a balanced diet, seeing your dentist regularly, and good oral hygiene helps reduce your risks of tooth decay and gum disease. Experts stop short of saying there is a cause-and-effect between gum disease and these other serious health problems, but the link has shown up in numerous studies.
For More and Original Article.

To learn what it takes to become a restorative aide: http://wecareonlineclasses.com/

Farm-To-Table Dining Approach for Senior Living

Eating “local,” courtesy of regional farms, suppliers, and nearby farmer’s markets has been one of the biggest recent movements in the food industry. It’s not unusual to see which local beef farmer provided the steak on your restaurant menu. Much like the organic and natural food trends, accessing local food sources has become more affordable, allowing big institutions like the senior living industry to participate.

Residents are benefiting from this new farm-to-table dining experience.
The dining component of senior residences has taken on a much bigger role, particularly for those potential residents evaluating a senior setting and interested in healthy, gourmet, and creative food options. The senior living company, Northbridge Communities, has made a commitment to the local food concept, but is making it a major focus of their Wayland, Mass. location, Carriage House at Lee’s Farm.

According to SeniorHousingNews.com, the farm-to-table approach incorporated at Carriage House has the dining service director and chef operating on a local producer-centric calendar.
For More.

Learn what it takes to become a certified nurse aide at http://wecareonlineclasses.com/

Celebrate World Health Day April 7

World Health Day is celebrated on 7 April every year to mark the anniversary of the founding of WHO in 1948. Each year a theme is selected that highlights a priority area of public health. The Day provides an opportunity for individuals in every community to get involved in activities that can lead to better health. The topic for 2014 is vector-borne diseases.

What are vectors and vector-borne diseases?

Vectors are organisms that transmit pathogens and parasites from one infected person (or animal) to another. Vector-borne diseases are illnesses caused by these pathogens and parasites in human populations. They are most commonly found in tropical areas and places where access to safe drinking-water and sanitation systems is problematic.

The most deadly vector-borne disease, malaria, caused an estimated 660 000 deaths in 2010. Most of these were African children.

To Learn More.

Want to start a career in healthcare? Learn what we have at: http://wecareonlineclasses.com/

April 6 - 13 is National Volunteer Week

Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University recently discovered that seniors who regularly volunteer decrease their blood pressure by 40 percent! 

The study's lead author Rodlescia S. Sneed said, "As people get older, social transitions like retirement, bereavement and the departure of children from the home often leave older adults with fewer natural opportunities for social interaction. Participating in volunteer activities may provide older adults with social connections that they might not have otherwise. There is strong evidence that having good social connections promotes healthy aging and reduces risk for a number of negative health outcomes."

Volunteering is also great for the brain. Dr. Patricia Boyle of Rush University in Chicago explains that as we grow older, we may lose our sense of purpose in life—and this actually puts us at greater risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Volunteering provides the kind of meaningful activity that promotes cognitive health.

Volunteer service also is a powerful tool for fighting depression. University of California, Riverside neurologists used sophisticated brain imaging to demonstrate that practicing acts of kindness boosts connections in the brain that reverse depression and apathy.

For More. 

Like to learn how to become an activity director?