Americans are often faced with having to make difficult decisions, therefore  we do our best to prepare for all the unexpected things. The decision to place a  loved one in someone else’s care or a long term facility is a struggle in every family. We strive to always be there for our loved ones and help them with whatever we can do. When it is out of our reach and when we no longer can help them, the decision to seek for help can be quite a struggle.  We want to make sure that they are ok and are getting the best care. So when we hear of new report done by USA today that 1 IN 5 NURSING HOMES GET LOW STARS,  it concerns a lot of family that are struggling to make an already tough decision.  

USA Today found  that nearly all of the nursing homes that were awarded one or two stars are owned by for-profit corporations.  This finding however was not well received with Medicare’s Thomas Hamilton, who spearheaded the rating system.  He would like to see more improvements. Thomas did say that one positive thing with the data finding is that there was a decrease in the number of one star nursing homes.   

When you are considering of placing your loved ones in a long term care facility, do your research.  Better yet,  choose an alternative option. 

 Choose for your loved ones to stay home surrounded by the people and memories they love. 

 Choose Home & Hearth Caregivers…….

For more on this article visit www.cbsnews.com

MS is a potentially debilitating disease in which your body’s immune system eats away at the protective sheath that covers your nerves. This interferes with the communication between your brain and the rest of your body. Ultimately, resulting in deterioration of the nerves themselves, a process that’s not reversible.

For decades, MS researchers have been forced to make their best guess as to what causes this disease, which affects 300,000 Americans, mostly women, between their 20s and 40s.  

Researchers report that they have identified two new genes that may contribute to the immune disorder multiple sclerosis (MS). The hope is that the discovery will someday lead to the development of more efficient and much-needed MS drugs, as today’s therapies carry serious side effects and address the disease’s symptoms, but not its cause.

The new genes are the first to be linked directly to MS since the 1970s, when researchers initially identified a cluster of DNA on chromosome 6 associated with immune system function. Doctors believe MS is an autoimmune disease, in which the body mistakenly attacks its own healthy cells. But they have never been able to figure out why the body turns on itself, and they hope these new genes may offer a clue. “This is by no means the final, whole answer, but we’ve gotten an incredible glimpse into the cause of the disease,” says Dr. David Hafler, professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School.

As exciting as the discovery is, it’s a small part of the story: the new genes account for less than 1% of the risk of developing MS.  

For more on this article and findings http://www.time.com/time/health/article

The holidays are over and 2009 has come and gone and what a year it was!! There were many events that occured and some we would like to not have happened. A new decade is here and as we reflect on the year we also want to start the new year off with resilience and a positive attitude…  Here are some tips on helping seniors get a jump start to 2010. 

• Give the gifts that seniors will treasure most; your time and companionship.  If your loved one doesn’t live with you, make your visits more frequent. No matter how big or small, a simple gesture will go a long way.

• Get energized. If your loved one is still able, involve them in some form of exercise.  Strength exercises are a great way for helping build muscles and prevent bone loss with age. Exercising will not only keep them active but will give them an overall positive feeling of mind, body and soul.

• Encourage healthy eating.  In most cases seniors are already taking many different types of medications and are recommended by their doctor to eat a well balanced meal. Suggest   taking multi-vitamins and make sure that a good amount of fruit and vegetables are mixed in with their diet. Create new dishes and make healthy eating fun and not a chore.

• Avoid red meat and substitute by eating fish.  Studies show that eating fish such as:  salmon and tuna are beneficial for the heart and brain.

• Keep a positive environment.

• Call often and see how they are doing. Even if you live close by or out of state a phone call can bring a simple smile to their face. Keep the conversation light and always positive. It will give them something to look forward to.

                          Happy New Year!!!  Welcome to the new decade!!