What You Can Learn from a Healthy Relationship

“Healthy relationship” seems like a clinical term. Like a tonic or a remedy, it gives the illusion of something used to cure the clinically insane and depraved.

But isn’t a relationship a sort of cure? Aren’t we all a little bit crazy? Isn’t love a medicine for our aching souls? Isn’t a healthy relationship the one tonic we can’t wait to drink?

Healthy relationships are, indeed, a type of medicine. They calm us and heal us. They teach us how to love and make us strong.

They are a healing elixir after all the placebos and toxins. They are the answer to all the unhealthy relationships we’ve been drinking for years.

So what do you learn when you’ve finally taken the right dose? When you’ve finally experienced what it’s like to be in something healthy and right for a change?

Like dying and being reborn again, you learn everything for a second time. You learn what love means and what it doesn’t.

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Don't Go Broke this Holiday Season

Your Guide to Frugal Cheer

Finding it hard to feel festive when all you can think about is that fat credit card bill or those student loans you're (still) paying off? Unfortunately, you're not alone: three in four American households are currently saddled with some kind of debt.
So, as we enter a new holiday season — with shoppers planning to spend even more than last year — here's how to affordably take part in the giving season and keep a lid on debt.

Plan Around Your Real Budget 

Aiming to cap your holiday spend at $500? Map out your spending according to that exact figure, not on money you "think" is going to come rolling in. Avoid temptation by sticking to cash and prioritizing your budget.
First, set aside money for folks who deserve nice tips — the babysitter, dog walker, house cleaner, etc. — and buying a few gifts for the kids.

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How to Balance School and Work as an Adult

Many health care workers work while taking classes at community colleges to try to get ahead. For community college students, more than a quarter work greater than 35 hours weekly. Additionally, nearly one-quarter of college students have dependent children.

In some cases, the rigors of juggling work and school prove to be too much. Given the choice between income and education, and faced with fewer dollars to go around in terms of student loans, many students leave college before attaining a degree, choosing the immediate reward of a paycheck over the expected reward of a higher-paying job upon graduation.


For these nontraditional students, it’s imperative to strategize about how to balance work and school. Using the tips outlined below, you can do both, without either one suffering.

1. Take assignments with you. While I advocate for keeping work and school separate, I do think you can fit in your schoolwork at other times during the day. For instance, if you’re sitting at your daughter’s soccer practice or folding laundry, use the time to study.

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How to Multitask as a Nurse Aide

What is Multitasking?

At some settings, nursing assistants are expected to take care of more than six patients in each shift. This is where your multitasking skills come in handy. Basically, multitasking is a talent to organize and execute two different types of tasks all at one time.

Yes! It is a Skill

There are no findings that nurse aides are provided with training on multitasking during the training classes. Accomplishing different tasks at one go is difficult. It totally depends on your mental and physical capacity to react to different things with equal control and panache. You will accumulate these skills as you spend some time in your occupation.

However, trying to finish two different types of works concurrently may slow you down. It will also restrict your brain to act to its fullest since you are trying to hit two birds with one stone. You will be more in stress and become exhausted very soon. Above all, it will lead to frustration if the outcome is not as expected.

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Job Outlook for Home Health Aides

As the baby boomer generation age, a need for healthcare services, and workers to adequately weather this increasing demand will rise.

One such career is that of a home health aide, an individual who has the capacity to assist and aide and individual with a medical condition within the comfort of their own home. Any career that can exceed a growth rate of over 25% in a 10 year period can be said to be growing faster than the national average. With regards to the job outlook for home health aide careers, the numbers are closer to 50% in a 10 year period. Personal assistant and home aide careers are expected to see tremendous growth as well through to 2018, showing the increasing need for in home services.

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Pharmacy Techs Can be Leaders is Crime Preparedness

Pharmacy technicians work alongside pharmacists every day, and are often the team members who interact first with patients and customers. Located on the front lines of a pharmacy, technicians are likely to encounter a pharmacy theft or crime situation before anyone else on the pharmacy team.

Response to a crisis requires a team effort, and pharmacy technicians can take the lead to create action plans and promote safe environments in their workplaces. To prepare for pharmacy crime situations, technicians benefit from working with pharmacy managers, understanding their own roles in crisis response, making sure their pharmacy’s safety plan is clearly communicated to the pharmacy team, and connecting with local law enforcement agencies to develop procedures.

“Considering the prominent positions of pharmacy technicians on the front lines of pharmacies, PTCB recognizes the critical importance of preparation and training for the possible incident of a robbery,” said PTCB Executive Director and CEO Everett McAllister, MPA, RPh. “Communication and collaboration among pharmacists and technicians are the keys to maintaining safety in the pharmacy.” 

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10 Foods and Drinks You Crave in the Fall

Anyone want to grill out at the barbeque? Go out for ice cream? Share some fruity, ice-cold white wine? Not so much, huh? These things are all top on our food and drink list when summer starts, but there is something about cooler weather and the arrival of fall that changes things.

We stop thinking about beach outings, and instead focus on which ski resorts may be opening early. It somehow seems easier to really get into work or school, instead of daydreaming about playing in the sun. Baseball games start to mean more as we get closer to the magic numbers, and football becomes the water cooler talk in offices across the country.

It also seems that we start to crave different foods. Is advertising taking its toll on our palates? Or, does the body crave things that are in season because fresh food is actually more nutritious than canned or processed options?

"Fresh produce is always better for you than canned, but possibly more importantly, fruits and vegetables hit peak flavor when that crop is in season," said Sara Berzofsky (M.Ed, M.S. Nutrition) of Newtritionalyou.com. "Fall is the season for apples, cranberries, and pumpkins. Thus, it is no surprise that we see more of these products both at the market and in advertising starting in September/October."

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8 Alternative Foods for Nurses

Nurses, have you tried to lose weight but found yourself craving the food you’re avoiding and sabotaging your diet? It could be that your food choices are largely to blame for your poor nursing wellness.  

Eating certain foods can actually stimulate the appetite. So, which foods can cause cravings and should you avoid when you’re trying to lose weight? The answer is manufactured foods that have been stripped of nutrients and fiber. Look for 100% whole wheat on every flour product you purchase. Try eating foods closer to the earth, not foods that have been totally refined and redefined before coming to you in the store. 

Be assured that your cravings for high-starch foods will diminish over time. It is not uncommon to hear people comment that they don’t crave these foods after as little as two weeks.

For More Tips and the Original Article.


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Is an iPad Good for Your Eyes?

In a presentation at the most recent annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Dr. Daniel Roth, an eye specialist and clinical associate professor at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, NJ, offered new findings on why tablet computers are helping seniors read with increased clarity and speed.

Yes, you read right – technology can make life better for seniors, not worse! Dr. Roth’s test results revealed that participants age 50 and above read about 128 words per minute on an iPad, compared to 114 words per minute with a newspaper. The font size was the same – 10-point.

Dr. Roth suggested that the tablet’s illuminated screen enhances the contrast between the words and the background, easing eyestrain and enhancing readability. Since contrast sensitivity (the visual ability to differentiate between foreground and background information) declines with age, a backlit screen can help seniors see better and read more efficiently.

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4 Things That Increase Risk for Falls

Younger people can spring back from a fall. But for elders, taking a spill can lead to broken bones and trigger a domino effect of health problems and decline.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), every 18 seconds, an older adult is treated in an emergency room for a fall, and more than 95 percent of hip fractures are caused by falls.

Since falls can be a major setback, elders—and caregivers—must stay mindful of the specific risk factors that can lead to a big spill.

Here are four key factors that contribute to falls when you're older, and what you can do to prevent them.

1. Household and environment hazards. "Throw rugs, jutting furniture, and grandkids' toys on floor can create household dangers for older people challenged by sight and balance," says Rebecca S. Boxer, geriatric heart failure specialist and assistant professor of medicine. "Outside the home, getting out of the car, stepping up and down from curbs, and slipping on ice are common reasons older people fall."

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5 Tech Gadgets for Aging in Place

We’re hearing the term “aging in place” more and more. Aging in place is the concept of staying in your living space for as long as possible while maintaining your independence, being comfortable, and safe. While typically this refers to a senior’s home, it can also be applied to a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) lifestyle choice.

Recently, a blog post on InsideElderCare.com suggested five technology and gadgets solutions for seniors to age in place.


1. Skype or FaceTime – Many seniors are quickly adapting to tech tools that make their lives easier and more enjoyable. Using Skype’s video chat function helps seniors stay connected with family and friends while in their homes, chatting in real time. Apple has a similar application, FaceTime, that allows users to make video calls from their devices – Macs, iPhones, iPads and the iPod touch.

2. Hearing and vision-enhancing gadgets – Devices that work with phones to amplify sounds or offer magnifying capabilities allow seniors to better compensate for diminished hearing and/or vision.

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How to Plan Your Grandparents Day Event

Whether you're celebrating National Grandparents Day (September 8, 2013) or running a Grandparents Day event at another time of the year, getting started by encouraging participation is the first step.

It's a first step that can lead to many other, bigger steps: increasing overall family and community involvement, building a volunteer base, encouraging greater understanding across generations, building closer bonds between generations, affirming the value of children and older adults, making use of the strengths of both young and old, and mobilizing all generations to deal with some very real societal challenges.

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Common Causes of Family Tensions and Disagreements

It shouldn't surprise anyone that sensitive family dynamics can be one of the most challenging aspects of care giving for an elder, given the tremendous financial, physical, and emotional demands involved.

This doesn't mean that family squabbles are inevitable. In fact, if managed well, the experience of caring for an older family member has the potential to bring relatives closer as you help this person through this final stage of life. Here's how to avoid conflicts with family members and work through them when they occur.

Typically, disagreements arise because of:

• Roles and rivalries dating back to childhood. Mature adults often find that they're back in the sandbox when their family gets together. This tendency can grow even more pronounced under the strain of caregiving.If your sister was the favored child, for example, you may find that -- no matter how successful and capable you are now -- in your parents' or relatives' home you become a jealous, powerless little girl again.
• Disagreements over an elder's condition and capabilities. It's common for family members to have very different ideas about what's wrong with a loved one and what should be done about it. You may be convinced that your family member is no longer capable of driving, while your brothers argue that he needs to maintain his independence.

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Nursing Refresher Program or Not?

Nurses who have left nursing for one or more years may be faced with the decision to complete a refresher program. Refresher programs are time consuming and can be costly, so thoughtful consideration is appropriate. I know of two nurses who attended programs recently, and they each have a different story.

Sandra, a lifelong friend nearing 60, had been a nurse for 35-plus years, working part time in psych, home healthcare and hospice while raising her three children. As an empty nester, she worked per diem in homecare and the wellness and insurance industry. Mix in a couple of moves and an economy that headed south, and her sweet situation slowly dried up and left her waiting for infrequent calls from the agencies. Not ready to retire, she explored other nursing career opportunities more clinically oriented. Big surprise — No one was hiring a candidate with outdated experience.

Technology seemed to be a significant roadblock for re-entering the acute-care arena. And older boomers are not natives to technology.


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Healthy Aging Initiative Helps Low-Income Seniors

For low-income seniors, the lack of access and choice are unfortunate aspects of the general senior housing industry. To promote innovative change in that sector, an exciting new healthy-aging initiative in older adult housing communities will be offered to those with limited incomes.


American Baptist Homes of the West (ABHOW), an industry leader in senior housing and healthcare, has partnered with researchers at the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research to test a new concept that promotes successful aging in two senior housing communities in Redlands, California.


The “Masterpiece Living: Successful Aging in Action” initiative grew out of a MacArthur Foundation 1998 study on aging that found 70 percent of physical aging and 50 percent of mental aging are determined by a senior’s lifestyle. The initiative is a multidisciplinary, holistic programming model that partners with senior housing communities, healthcare, mature-market service providers, and other forward-thinking organizations.

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Healthy Eating Tips for Busy People

How often has this happened to you?

• You're at work and have an unexpected meeting to attend right before your break?
  
  
• You're in a meeting and its gone into overtime and you only have time to grab whatever is near by (donuts or bagels)?
  
  
• You're running errands and lose track of time, and there's nowhere to get a good healthy meal?
  
  
• You're too stressed, too tired, too overworked or just too (fill in the blank), to eat a good nutritious meal and end up eating junk food?

If you answered "yes" to any of the above, take heart in knowing that you're not alone. Oftentimes, despite our best intentions to eat 4-6 small meals of good quality food every day, it doesn't always work out since life happens!

By now you've heard of the importance of eating small frequent meals: 4 to 6 small meals a day, every 2.5 to 3 hours apart. The reason behind this is because when you eat 4 to 6 small meals a day it can assist your metabolism by consistently burning calories, which can result in a quicker more constant level of weight loss. It also helps your hunger levels by being able to snack on different foods every few hours throughout the day.

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Working Out in the Summer Heat

Warmer, sunny days are finally here, but after exercising in cooler Spring temps, hot and humid 80-degree days can feel overwhelming. Running, biking, hiking, even walking feels harder in the heat, so here are some tips to help you get through your Summer workouts.

Be flexible about when you work out: Become obsessed with checking the weather, and find out when temps are going to be the lowest that day. Sometimes it's early in the morning, and sometimes late in the evening, so you'lll need to rearrange your schedule to fit in exercise during the coolest time of day. A plus about morning workouts is many of your neighbors might be watering their lawns, so you can run through their sprinklers to stay even cooler.

• Invest in some wicking clothes: Lightweight, breathable, wicking clothes are a must. They'll pull moisture away from your skin, so you really do feel cooler. Wearing a hat to keep the hot sun off your head and face also helps.
• Take a cold shower: I know it seems a little odd to shower before a workout, but the cold water will cool you down. 

For More Tips and the Original Article. 

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How to Eat Healthy When Eating Out

The new year brings a lot of resolutions and for most, getting healthy is typically at the top of the list. Even though the beginning of a year has quickly slipped out of your fingers you still have plenty of year left to meet any of you healthy living new years resolutions. We know you’re a busy individual and you enjoy dinner out. The problem is finding healthy alternatives or making healthy choices when you’re faced with so many delicious meal options. Here are some great suggestions for learning to eat healthy when dining out.

Choose Simply Prepared Meals

One thing that is often difficult to determine is the amount of calories that go into secret sauces, especially when the sauce involves butter, oil and/or sugar. You can eliminate these unwanted, uncountable calories by choosing plain versions. Stick to a protein that is either grilled, steamed, broiled or poached. Choose poultry that is skinless and preferably white meat. A grilled chicken breast makes a perfect choice. If you would like, you can ask for a side of sauce, such as BBQ, for dipping. Dipping actually uses less calories, as you are only putting a little bit on each bite, as opposed to coating the entire serving.

Swap Out Starchy Vegetables

Choosing different vegetables, as the ones most often offered, can help reduce the amount of calories you consume. Skip the French fries and/or baked potato smothered in bacon, cheese and sour cream. Instead, choose a steamed vegetable, such as broccoli and eat your baked potato plain.

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LPNs Beyond the Bedside

I (Tina Lanciault) spend time in nursing forums answering questions that other nurses may have about alternative careers and I came across a nurse who was asking about forensic nursing. She is an LPN and wanted to know if there were any forensic LPN nurses who were working in this field and how could she get a job in forensic nursing. It struck me when she said, “Forensic LPN.” That statement inspired me to write about LPN nursing careers.

Just for the record, LPN or LVN are also nurses; their role is slightly different but they are still valuable to the nursing profession and very much needed.

So when I’m talking about alternative nursing careers I am also talking to LPNs/LVNs.

You, as an LPN, can work in holistic nursing, forensic nursing or be an entrepreneur. There are even LPNs who do legal nurse consulting. Most nursing specialties include LPNs with the exception of those nurses in advance nursing practices such as nurse practitioner, Clinical Nurse Specialist and those nursing jobs that require a BSN, masters or doctorate.

Anything else is up for grabs for an LPN/LVN.



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I spend time in nursing forums answering questions that other nurses may have about alternative careers and I came across a nurse who was asking about forensic nursing. She is an LPN and wanted to know if there were any forensic LPN nurses who were working in this field and how could she get a job in forensic nursing. It struck me when she said, “Forensic LPN.” That statement inspired me to write about LPN nursing careers.
Just for the record, LPN or LVN are also nurses; their role is slightly different but they are still valuable to the nursing profession and very much needed.
So when I’m talking about alternative nursing careers I am also talking to LPNs/LVNs.
You, as an LPN, can work in holistic nursing, forensic nursing or be an entrepreneur. There are even LPNs who do legal nurse consulting. Most nursing specialties include LPNs with the exception of those nurses in advance nursing practices such as nurse practitioner, Clinical Nurse Specialist and those nursing jobs that require a BSN, masters or doctorate.
Anything else is up for grabs for an LPN/LVN.
- See more at: http://www.nursetogether.com/lpn-beyond-the-bedside#sthash.Uh1hjR5U.dpuf

Mediterranean Diet for Heart Health

The Mediterranean diet is a heart-healthy eating plan combining elements of Mediterranean-style cooking. Here's how to adopt the Mediterranean diet.

If you're looking for a heart-healthy eating plan, the Mediterranean diet might be right for you. The Mediterranean diet incorporates the basics of healthy eating — plus a splash of flavorful olive oil and perhaps a glass of red wine — among other components characterizing the traditional cooking style of countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea.

Most healthy diets include fruits, vegetables, fish and whole grains, and limit unhealthy fats. While these parts of a healthy diet remain tried-and-true, subtle variations or differences in proportions of certain foods may make a difference in your risk of heart disease.

 

Benefits of the Mediterranean diet

 

Research has shown that the traditional Mediterranean diet reduces the risk of heart disease. In fact, a recent analysis of more than 1.5 million healthy adults demonstrated that following a Mediterranean diet was associated with a reduced risk of overall and cardiovascular mortality, a reduced incidence of cancer and cancer mortality, and a reduced incidence of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases.

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