Alzheimer's Disease, by the Numbers

The 2012 Facts and Figures report by the Alzheimer's Association has been released and the numbers reveal the extent of Alzheimer's impact on American families. The report shows that more than 15 million Americans provide unpaid care for individuals with Alzheimer's and other dementias. In addition, paid care is estimated at $200 billion in 2012 alone. Also noted is the fact that one in eight older Americans has Alzheimer's disease. See all the report's information at http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_facts_and_figures.asp

The numbers are sobering, but they also show the tremendous potential for jobs and growth in the healthcare field. More people are turning to in-home care and partial assisted-living situations rather than caring for older relatives themselves. Nurse Assistants, Home Health Aides, and Mental Health Aides play a key role in providing care for individuals with dementia and Alzheimer's, and help ease the burden on family caregivers. If you're reading this blog, you're already interested in the healthcare field. Or maybe you're considering a career in healthcare? The need is there--will you be ready to fill it?

Whatever You Do, Don't Just Sit There

Photo by o5com

We all know that sitting for long periods of time is bad for our health, but did you know that simply standing up a few times an hour can help combat the physiological ills of sitting? Gretchen Reynolds, the New York Times Phys Ed columnist, has a new book called The First 20 Minutes which shows how simple changes--like taking a standing break at your desk--will help your overall health. General advice says that you need to get your heart rate up (like by jogging or lifting weights) to do your body any good, and many people are too busy to get to a gym or carve out time for prolonged exercise, so they simply give up. This book shows you how to get over that hump and take small steps to help your health.

Reynolds was recently on NPR's "Fresh Air" program to discuss her book and her findings. You can read more about it, or listen to the entire audio interview here: http://www.npr.org/2012/05/09/152336802/stand-up-walk-around-even-just-for-20-minutes. You can also find an excerpt from the book at that link.

As the article notes, "Studies have shown that frequent standing breaks significantly decrease your chances of getting diabetes, [Reynolds] says. "If you can also walk around your office, you get even more benefits. You will lose weight, you lessen your chance of heart disease, and you will improve your brain. But if you can do nothing else, stand up!"

Avoid Stupid Mistakes on Facebook

photo courtesy of Adriano Gasparri

Facebook. Whether you use it daily, or just enough to keep in touch with family, there's a good chance that you have a Facebook account. There's also a better than average chance that you're making a few "stupid" mistakes. From sharing too much personal information to being overwhelmed with friend requests, there are many ways to put yourself in a tight spot with Facebook. Here are six "stupid" mistakes you can avoid (and how to fix them), courtesy of the personal productivity blog, Lifehacker. Be sure to check out the additional tips at the end of the article to help make your Facebook experience even better!

The Stupid Things You Do on Facebook (and How to Fix Them)

Kelly Clarkson's "Stronger" at the Seattle Children's Hospital

Recently, a group of nurses, and their patients fighting cancer, got together and performed an inspiring version of Kelly Clarkson's "Stronger". The video went viral on the internet and BoingBoing compiled a great story on it including a message from Kelly to the stars of the video. Read the full story on BoingBoing, and check out the video below.

The True Cost of At-Home Caregiving

The demand for in-home care services is growing by leaps and bounds, and more people are making the decision to become caregivers for aging relatives rather than placing family members in managed care facilities. Each family has its own dynamic and reasons for choosing at-home care over a facility, and the media is finally beginning to cover this trend. A recent series on NPR took a closer look at "Discovering The True Cost Of At-Home Caregiving". It's a deeper look at the financial, lifestyle, and emotional costs that caregivers face.

While most of our students work as professional caregivers, many also care for family members outside of work hours. That's when our online learning options are best. They allow you to increase your skills and knowledge while keeping on top of duties in the home. It's also an example of how training--like the classes we offer at WeCareOnline--can help family members who suddenly find themselves being caregivers. From a basic introductory class like Medical Terminology to the comprehensive Certified Nurse Aide program, our online learning options can help new at-home caregivers make sense of the demands of at-home medical care.

Six Simple Ways to Avoid Burnout

Stress is a constant in many people's lives, but when you work as a caregiver, it can be even worse than usual. It takes a lot of energy to always put other people's needs before your own, and burnout is all too common. "The Simple Dollar" blog offers a few suggestions for making sure you're taking care of yourself! Click on the image below to see it full size, or click here.

Source: TheSimpleDollar.com

National Nurses Week

It's National Nurses Week! From May 6-12, the American Nurses Association encourages people to celebrate nursing and promote the profession. This year's theme is "Advocating, Leading, Caring," and the ANA web site has many suggestions for commemorating the week. You can read about the history of Nurses week here (History) and find a list of activities there, too (How to Celebrate Nurse's Week). Since many of our students begin their nursing careers with our Certified Nurse Assistant classes, and since we have Registered Nurses among our teaching staff, we know how important this recognition is to you, your families, and co-workers. Thank you, RNs, for all you do.

Alternative Methods, Remarkable Results

This is the remarkable story of a former military paratrooper and how he went from walking with crutches and leg braces to sprinting un-aided. When conventional medicine failed, he turned to yoga for solutions. It's a wonderful reminder of the power of the human spirit, and of the benefits of non-traditional healing methods.

Life's too Short for Regret

A former palliative care nurse now writes a wonderful blog called "Inspiration and Chai". Recently, she wrote a piece reflecting on the top five regrets she heard from the patients in her care.

"People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality. I learnt never to underestimate someone's capacity for growth. Some changes were phenomenal. Each experienced a variety of emotions, as expected, denial, fear, anger, remorse, more denial and eventually acceptance. Every single patient found their peace before they departed though, every one of them. "


It's a reminder to live our own lives to minimize regret. But even more than that, it's an insight into what might be going through the minds of the people we care for everyday. As she writes in the blog, "Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly. Choose happiness."

Read more here: Regrets of the Dying

Avoiding Caregiver Burnout

Photo courtesy of aktivioslo

 For most healthcare workers, the caregiving doesn't stop when you leave work. You have children, parents, and even pets that demand your time and attention. There are always meetings and appointments, and never enough hours in the day. In all the hustle, it can be easy to forget to take care of yourself, and start to burn out. But sometimes something as simple as a checklist can help you remember to slow down and take a few minutes to catch your breath. You may only have five minutes to yourself, but it's enough to run through the list and make sure you're not forgetting your basic needs. Use the link below to get an online or printable version of the list, and make sure you're taking care of YOU, too!

Fill Out This Daily Checklist to Avoid Neglecting Your Personal Needs