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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Fun Audio Activities for Seniors

In days gone by radio was big. Seniors will remember it well. Now we call it Old Time Radio!

When radio was big, just before TV, families used to gather in the living rooms and sitting rooms where they would grab a comfortable pillow, spot on the floor, some knitting or mending to do, and they would listen to radio shows and performances we now call The Classics of Old Time Radio.

Laurel and Hardy

Amos and Andy

Gunsmoke

Tales of the Texas Rangers

Evening with George Burns

The Danny Kaye Show

Radio City Playhouse

and many, many more!

The choices are numerous and sure to bring back special memories and some new laughs to a lost form of entertainment that the seniors in your care will surely appreciate. It is also a wonderful activity for those with visual impairments or those that are too ill or bed ridden to join in some other activities.

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Pharmacy Technician Course Externship Available At Walgreens

You may not realize it, but We Care Online has a Pharmacy Technician course which is approved by the Kansas Board of Regents. The Pharmacy Technician course has been available and enrolling students for close to two years.  The course is available nationwide.

The Pharmacy Technician course requires a short externship at a pharmacy. Past students have had to find their own externship pharmacy. This summer, We Care Online and Walgreens Pharmacies have come to an agreement allowing our Pharmacy Technician students to perform their externship at Walgreens nationwide!* It's a great opportunity to experience a busy pharmacy.

Pharmacy jobs are growing by leaps and bounds, and entry level salaries and benefits can be quite generous. It's also a stable profession and with continuing education opportunities (usually paid by an employer), you can expect to make a career in the field.

 We Care Online's Pharmacy Technician is an open enrollment course allowing you 90 days to complete the class.  This course gives you the tools to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination (PTCE.) Candidates that pass the PTCE are permitted to use the Certified Pharmacy Technician credential, "CPht." The PTCB certification program is the only pharmacy technician certification program accredited by the National Commission of Certifying Agencies (NCCA).

What are you waiting for? Get started on a pharmacy career today! Click here to get started.

*Individual Walgreen's pharmacies reserve the right to decline an externship at their discretion.

How Reading and Writing Preserve Memory in Older Age

A recent study has found that engaging in mental activities as simple as reading and writing can significantly reduce the rate of cognitive decline in seniors. Older adults who were mentally active throughout their lifetime experienced the lowest rate of memory loss.

Researchers from the Chicago-based Rush University Medical Center gathered 294 older adults to participate in the study. The participants were given a survey to determine how frequently they read books, wrote, or did any other similar activities when they were a child, through adolescence, in middle age, and at their current age.

The seniors were then tested for their memory and other mental abilities every year until they died. Older adults on average, participated in the study for 6 years. The participants also agreed to allow their brain tissue to be examined after they passed.

The researchers found that the rate of cognitive decline among older adults who frequently engaged in mental activity was 32 percent lower than individuals with average mental activity.

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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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Ease Back-to-School Stress for Kids

Change may be good, but it’s not necessarily easy. Switching from the laid-back fun in the sun of summer to rules, homework, and routines can be a big jump for parents and children alike. But with a little preparation and the right attitude, it doesn’t have to be so hard.

It’s normal for a child to have a little flutter of anxiety about going back to school, according to Eileen Kennedy-Moore, a clinical psychologist and coauthor of Smart Parenting for Smart Kids: Nurturing Your Child’s True Potential. After all, they’re getting themselves ready for a lot of newness: a teacher, classmates, tasks, and challenges.

Students may have trouble sleeping at the start of the school year, but that’s nothing to worry about, Kennedy-Moore says. More uncomfortable symptoms might include continued trouble sleeping, decreased appetite, or irritability. Severe cases can involve tears, tantrums, and even refusing to go to school.

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10 Early warning Signs of Pancreatic Cancer

The average general health article on pancreatic cancer states flatly that there are no early symptoms of pancreatic cancer. People diagnosed with pancreatic cancer are typically already in the advanced stage of the disease by the time it's caught, and the typical prognosis is death within five years.
With pancreatic cancer much on everyone's mind due to the untimely death of Steve Jobs, it seems like a good time to ask the question that's on all of our minds: Are there any early warning signs of pancreatic cancer?

The answer is yes, there are. But to understand these signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer, it's important to understand where the pancreas is, and what it does.

Located deep inside the abdomen, the pancreas is only 4 to 6 inches long and shaped like a tadpole. In the "tail" of the pancreas are cells that produce insulin, and tumors at this end are usually endocrine tumors. They're easier to diagnose, but are much rarer. At the other end, the "head" of the pancreas, are cells that produce digestive enzymes, and tumors at this end are called exocrine tumors. These are by far the most common, and are much more difficult to detect.

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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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Vitamin D: How Much Time to Spend in the Sun

Vitamin D is essential for healthy bones, and we get most of our vitamin D from exposure to sunlight. Find out how to make sure you get enough without risking sun damage.

Cover up or protect your skin before it starts to turn red or burn.

Everyone needs vitamin D to absorb calcium and phosphorus from their diet. These minerals are important for healthy bones. A lack of vitamin D (known as vitamin D deficiency) can cause softening and weakening of bones and lead to bone deformities. In children, for example, lack of vitamin D can lead to rickets. In adults, lack of vitamin D can lead to osteomalacia, which causes bone pain and tenderness.

How do we get vitamin D?

Our body creates most of our vitamin D from direct sunlight on our skin.
We also get vitamin D from some foods, such as oily fish (for example salmon, mackerel and sardines), eggs and meat.
Vitamin D is also added to all margarine and infant formula milk, and to some breakfast cereals, soya products, dairy products, powdered milks and low-fat spreads.

How long should we spend in the sun?

There isn't one recommendation to suit everybody. This is because the amount of time you need to spend in the sun for your skin to make enough vitamin D depends on a number of things.
These include your skin type (for example, how dark your skin is or how easily you get sunburnt), the time of year and what time of day it is.

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Summer Family Fun Ideas for Nurses

For nurses who make their living in the US, it’s no secret that the current economic conditions will make it difficult for families to stretch their entertainment dollars this summer. 

People will think twice about leaving home for that trip to the beach or to the mountains, and rising costs on most goods and services related to summer activities are putting a limit on what people are willing to spend when they take time-off.

One of the biggest challenges is finding fun AND inexpensive activities to do as a family.  For those that want to make the most of their vacation and their vacation pay, here are a few ideas that may help:

Family movie night:  During a warm summer night, many families traditionally turn to the local movie theater for “cool” entertainment.  However, between the high-cost of tickets and the expensive (and usually mediocre) movie-food fare, even the movies are no bargain.  A better option is to rent a movie and turn your living room into a movie theater.  Spread blankets and pillows out on the floor, make your own popcorn and snacks (they’ll be healthier than what you get at the MegaPlex), pick a formal starting time (“the movie begins at 7pm”), dim the lights, and make an event out of it!

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For nurses who make their living in the US, it’s no secret that the current economic conditions will make it difficult for families to stretch their entertainment dollars this summer.  People will think twice about leaving home for that trip to the beach or to the mountains, and rising costs on most goods and services related to summer activities are putting a limit on what people are willing to spend when they take time-off.

One of the biggest challenges is finding fun AND inexpensive activities to do as a family.  For those that want to make the most of their vacation and their vacation pay, here are a few ideas that may help;

Family movie night:  During a warm summer night, many families traditionally turn to the local movie theatre for “cool” entertainment.  However, between the high-cost of tickets and the expensive (and usually mediocre) movie-food fare, even the movies are no bargain.  A better option is to rent a movie and turn your living room into a movie theatre.  Spread blankets and pillows out on the floor, make your own popcorn and snacks (they’ll be healthier than what you get at the MegaPlex), pick a formal starting time (“the movie begins at 7pm”), dim the lights, and make an event out of it!

- See more at: http://www.nursetogether.com/summer-family-fun-for-nurses-#sthash.O0LDD3OR.dpuf

For nurses who make their living in the US, it’s no secret that the current economic conditions will make it difficult for families to stretch their entertainment dollars this summer.  People will think twice about leaving home for that trip to the beach or to the mountains, and rising costs on most goods and services related to summer activities are putting a limit on what people are willing to spend when they take time-off.

One of the biggest challenges is finding fun AND inexpensive activities to do as a family.  For those that want to make the most of their vacation and their vacation pay, here are a few ideas that may help;

Family movie night:  During a warm summer night, many families traditionally turn to the local movie theatre for “cool” entertainment.  However, between the high-cost of tickets and the expensive (and usually mediocre) movie-food fare, even the movies are no bargain.  A better option is to rent a movie and turn your living room into a movie theatre.  Spread blankets and pillows out on the floor, make your own popcorn and snacks (they’ll be healthier than what you get at the MegaPlex), pick a formal starting time (“the movie begins at 7pm”), dim the lights, and make an event out of it!

Coping with Aphasia

When I tell people I work for the National Aphasia Association, I usually get a blank look. Then, when I describe the condition, over and over again I hear, "Oh my father had that. He couldn't talk after his stroke. I didn't know that's what it was called."

Aphasia is a condition that usually results from stroke or other brain injury. It damages parts of the brain involved with communication. People with aphasia have trouble expressing themselves and/or understanding what others are saying to them. Many people with aphasia also have trouble with reading and writing. But, their thought process is the same as it was before. It is as if there is a short circuit in the brain between the ability to think and the ability to use language; people with aphasia are literally trapped inside their own heads. Because they have a hard time making their needs known, they can become frustrated, isolated and depressed. Aphasia affects about 25-40% of stroke survivors, or more than 1 million Americans.

It cannot be cured, and there is no pill yet to make it better. Working with a speech-language pathologist is often effective, but insurance and Medicare coverage for speech therapy is becoming increasingly limited.

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Animals are Good for Your Health

Animal lovers have always known it. Now health researchers are confirming it: animals are good for your health.

Just 10 minutes of physical interaction with a beloved pet can lower blood pressure and increase finger temperature—both clear signs of relaxation—according to a number of research studies.
Benefits to people with high blood pressure have been documented as well. A recent study showed that pets can do what medicine cannot. It involved two groups of stockbrokers who were already being treated with ACE-inhibitor therapy.

The study found significant differences in their physiological reactions to stress tests. Those with pets were about half as reactive to stressors. This study demonstrates the health effects of pets in conjunction with medication. That's significant because it's well known that this type of medication plays an important role in controlling resting blood pressure, but does not control blood pressure related to stress.

Another study of people with borderline hypertension shows equally encouraging results.

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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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Cool Summer Food Ideas with Easy Summer Foods

Summer is the time when most of us bring out our swimwear and hit the beach to beat the rising temperatures and searing heat of summer. Well it's also the right time to shed few pounds as well! However instead of going for a strict diet regime that will dampen your sunshine, try to avail of a variety of wonderful summer foods which the summer brings along. 

The secret is that these summer foods will help you to stay fit and healthy. Heavy, high calorie foods as it is seem less appealing in summer so you can easily eat light, healthy food. Listed below are 31 cool summer food suggestions, which are healthy, refreshing and most importantly will help you to stay energized and avoid the ill effects of summer. 

Watermelon - Watermelon has more than 80 percent water, so this summer fruit is an excellent way to satisfy your thirst and keep you hydrated during summers.

Grilled vegetables - Keep your refrigerator stocked with a plate of prepared grilled peppers, grilled onions, carrots, zucchini, garlic, eggplant, celery and asparagus.

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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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Assisted Living: Fun and Stimulating Men's Activities

Men's activities can seem difficult to come up with to keep them occupied, stimulated and interested. Men don’t usually care to do some activities that women love to do, or not for that long. Tea parties, cooking and baking, even bingo and crafts can begin to bore some of the men who would like more masculine things to do and talk about.

But just as women love to talk about the ingredients in a fruit cake, men still love to talk about whatever has interested them. Usually politics, sports and various hobbies they may have had from years ago such as hunting or fishing.

An honorable quality built into most people is the desire to share knowledge and experience. Although the seniors may have less memory recall and less agility they have had many life experiences and knowledge that they would like to share. Sharing with younger people can be very stimulating to the elderly, particularly if the youth are responsive and respectful.

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Difference Between Nurse Leadership and Management

The terms “leader” and “manager” are sometimes used interchangeably. Those of us who have worked for, or with, someone who is one and not the other will see the error in viewing those terms as synonymous. An individual can be a great leader but not a manager. Conversely, a typical nurse can be a manager but not possess many nursing leadership skills. 

What is the difference between nurse leadership versus management?  

A leader often doesn’t have delegated authority. The “power” that the leader has acquired has come informally from others in the group. Leaders focus on empowering others, as well as motivating, inspiring, and influencing others. A leader typically has good nursing communication and interpersonal skills.  True leaders must be sincere and energetic.  A leader may be a risk-taker, but not to the extent that others feel that they are reckless.  

A manager is provided with this status as a formal role which is given to him/her by someone else.  He/she has an assigned position within the formal organization. A manager is expected to carry out specific duties and has definite responsibilities.

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The terms “leader” and “manager” are sometimes used interchangeably. Those of us who have worked for, or with, someone who is one and not the other will see the error in viewing those terms as synonymous. An individual can be a great leader but not a manager. Conversely, a typical nurse can be a manager but not possess many nursing leadership skills. 

What is the difference between nurse leadership versus management? 

A leader often doesn’t have delegated authority. The “power” that the leader has acquired has come informally from others in the group. Leaders focus on empowering others, as well as motivating, inspiring, and influencing others. A leader typically has good nursing communication and interpersonal skills.  True leaders must be sincere and energetic.  A leader may be a risk-taker, but not to the extent that others feel that they are reckless. 

A manager is provided with this status as a formal role which is given to him/her by someone else.  He/she has an assigned position within the formal organization. A manager is expected to carry out specific duties and has definite responsibilities.

- See more at: http://www.nursetogether.com/difference-between-nurse-leadership-#sthash.XaVQUKg0.dpuf

The terms “leader” and “manager” are sometimes used interchangeably. Those of us who have worked for, or with, someone who is one and not the other will see the error in viewing those terms as synonymous. An individual can be a great leader but not a manager. Conversely, a typical nurse can be a manager but not possess many nursing leadership skills. 

What is the difference between nurse leadership versus management? 

A leader often doesn’t have delegated authority. The “power” that the leader has acquired has come informally from others in the group. Leaders focus on empowering others, as well as motivating, inspiring, and influencing others. A leader typically has good nursing communication and interpersonal skills.  True leaders must be sincere and energetic.  A leader may be a risk-taker, but not to the extent that others feel that they are reckless. 

A manager is provided with this status as a formal role which is given to him/her by someone else.  He/she has an assigned position within the formal organization. A manager is expected to carry out specific duties and has definite responsibilities.

- See more at: http://www.nursetogether.com/difference-between-nurse-leadership-#sthash.XaVQUKg0.dpuf