Author Archives: Jeanne Lowry

Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on December 2, 2014 under Ostomy Care, Resources | Be the First to Comment

December 1^st marked the beginning of IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) Week, also known as Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week. It’s a week to learn more about the diseases, spread knowledge about them and support those afflicted. The goal is to end Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis, two diseases that are actually increasing year over year. There may be a variety of reasons why that is happening, but more research is needed.

You may be asking what Crohn’s and Colitis are, or how they are different or similar. Check out the infographic below, created byThe Great Bowel Movement:

Do you have IBD? Do you know someone with either disease? What are suggestions you have for how spread the word about finding a cure?

Keeping Seniors Warm This Winter

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on December 1, 2014 under Caregiver Corner | Be the First to Comment

Our first suggestion goes hand in hand with keeping warm this winter, but has so much more to do with keeping safe: make sure your home has carbon monoxide alarms. These alarms will be lifesavers if your home or your senior’s home has a gas leak. These leaks are usually due to furnace issues, but can happen in a variety of other ways. Most carbon monoxide alarms are around $20 and they and their battery have a life of around eight years.

So now that your senior is safe, let’s make sure they’re comfortable. While younger people may think nothing of taking off their coat at home and spending the evening in a long-sleeved shirt, older people get colder more easily. This can be due to muscle and fat loss. Make sure your senior has plenty of sweaters around, along with lots of throws. And keep in mind that regular sweaters might prove too tough to put on and take off without help. Some seniors find cardigans much easier to navigate. Make sure to check oft-worn items regularly, to see if there are holes or if they need a wash. As eyesight gets worse, seniors may not notice smaller flaws.

Watch out for space heaters. These should not be left on for long periods of time, or left unattended. While it may seem like it makes more sense to just heat the one room where your senior spends the most amount of their time, if they have a small home or apartment, having the central heat on instead might prove less expensive. To be sure, you would have to try out each option for a month, and compare the electric bill to the heating bill at the end. But it is definitely safer to use the central heating than a space heater, which can be knocked over or forgotten.

What are some tips you use to keep your senior, or yourself, warm when the temperature drops? It’s already been quite cold across the country this season, so we’d love to hear more ideas.

Open Health Care Enrollment on HealthCare.gov

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on November 27, 2014 under Caregiver Corner, Resources | Be the First to Comment

Between now and February 15^th of next year, everyone can enroll for health care under the Affordable Care Act by using HealthCare.gov. This applies to everyone enrolling for the first time. For those that have a health care plan under this act already, they can renew their plan or change it. Anyone who does not make any changes will be automatically reenrolled, but there may be some changes to their premiums.

If one isn’t receiving health care through their job or a family member, HealthCare.gov is a great place to start looking. All plans are crafted to be affordable, and many of them qualify one for a premium tax credit. Additionally, if a person isn’t sure if they qualify for a state Medicaid program, they can also head to HealthCare.gov and apply. If they do qualify, they will be enrolled in that state’s Medicaid program, and if they don’t, they’ll be able to find coverage through the Affordable Care Act.

For those currently enrolled, the infographic below, by America’s Health Insurance Plans, may be helpful:

Are you currently enrolled in the Health Insurance Marketplace? Do you have any tips for navigating the system for those just starting? Please comment below.

Tips for Managing Incontinence During the Holidays

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on November 25, 2014 under BladderMatters | Be the First to Comment

Original post by LiveConfidently.com

The holidays are in full swing, which means many of us are busy buying last-minute gifts, preparing delicious meals, and trying to see as many loved ones as possible. If you experience incontinence issues, you may also be worrying about whether your bladder leakage will take away from the celebrations. As long as you’re prepared and protected, there’s no reason your bladder leakage should interrupt the festivities. Here are our top four tips for managing incontinence this holiday season.

Stay away from caffeine and alcoholic beverages. It may be tempting, but try to stay away from that cup of coffee or red wine. Caffeine and alcohol are both diuretics and can increase your risk of having an incontinence episode.

Locate the restrooms. If you’re at a party or holiday event, find out where the restrooms are when you arrive. This way you know exactly where to go if you feel an episode coming on.

Carry extra protection. Sometimes having a backup can make all the difference for your peace of mind. Be sure to bring plenty of your favorite incontinence protection products, an extra pair of underwear, and maybe even an extra pair of pants with you. It never hurts to be over-prepared.

Don’t overdo it. The holidays are known to be a stressful time. Try to keep strenuous activities, such as heavy lifting or anything that puts pressure on your bladder, to a minimum. This will greatly help reduce the risk of stress incontinence.

Of course, the most important thing you can do to be prepared is to have the right protection. Finding the right incontinence product for your specific needs and lifestyle will not only help you feel confident, but will also make this a stress-free holiday season to remember. If you need any help finding which incontinence products are right for you, LiveConfidently.com’s Incontinence Product Selector is a great place to start.

Have tips to add? Comment below or head to LiveConfidently.com’s incontinence forum and share your thoughts with people just like you!

Original article can be found at Live.confidently.com.

Special Needs Resources

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on November 24, 2014 under Caregiver Corner | Be the First to Comment

The Internet has proven to be an enormously helpful resource to parents. Especially to parents of special needs children, whom have created communities of support and sharing. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at all the places all over the ‘Net that can help out parents of children with special needs.

Articles:

The Huffington Post has quite a few articles about kids with special needs
Mashable has less articles for parents of special needs kids, but they’re quality, and there will likely be more in the future
Some local papers and magazines have special needs sections, but the one on L.A. Parent’s site is particularly commendable

Blogs:

Love that Max is written by a mom raising her son, who has cerebral palsy
Chasing Rainbows was started to keep this mom’s family updated on her son, Gavin, who had an un-diagnosed genetic condition. Gavin has, very sadly, since passed away, but her blog remains a resource for those with special needs children
Fighting Monsters with Rubber Swords is by a dad who is searching for answers about his daughter’s rare disease

Websites:

Disability Scoop has articles about both adults and children with disabilities
SpecialNeedsParenting.net has the subtitle, “Not Alone: Finding Faith and Friendship for the Special Needs Journey”
The Cystic Fibrous Foundation has information, research and ways to get involve

You can find many of these resources, and more, on our Pinterest board: Special Needs Resources.

What are the best sites you’ve found that have tips, advice and support for parents of special needs kids? We’d love to hear about them in the comments below.

Alternate Uses for Underpads

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on November 22, 2014 under BladderMatters | Be the First to Comment

TotalHomeCareSupplies.com has a variety of underpad (also known as chux) brands and sizes. The Prevail underpads come in three sizes (along with an available sample), and we also have underpads from Tena, Attends, Ideal Care and Lew Jan Textiles. These items are generally thought of as being used for older adults who are incontinent, but they actually can be used in a wide variety of ways.

One way is for smaller people. A lot of new parents swear by using underpads on their diaper changing tables. Putting these on top of the changing pads means less laundry. As one reviewer said, “babies oftentimes love to go when that fresh air hits their skin.” Having an underpad there means they are welcome to take advantage of that diaper break. Additionally, when your child is a little older, they can be used for that in-between time of toilet training. Or, when they’re sick, you can use them on the bed for when you’re worried about getting vomit or sweat on the mattress.

Another way is for animals. “Wee wee” pads for puppies and older dogs can be a major convenience for those trying to house train a dog, those who need to let a dog relieve itself while home alone, or those with older dogs who have become incontinent. These pads will give you the same amount of absorbency and have an assortment of sizes. And they can be used for more than the canine world! They can also be used as bird cage liners, especially if the cage has a separate section under the bars. It is not recommended that you allow your bird to tear up the undepad with their beak, but if they’re separate from the pad, this may be the alternative to newspaper that you’ve been looking for.

What are some uses you’ve found for underpads, or, chux? We’d love to hear any and all suggestions.

The Great American Smokeout

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on November 20, 2014 under Resources | Be the First to Comment

There are very few Americans who aren’t aware that smoking is bad for them. Unfortunately, cigarettes are incredibly addictive, and it takes a lot of support to quit. Actually, according to the American Cancer Society, the best way to quit is some combination of medicine, a change of personal habits, and emotional support. But also having a good understanding of the effects smoking has on ones’ health can be part of the wake-up call for the smoker, and, for those who want a loved one to quit, a good argument. Check out the infographic below, from the American Cancer Society, for more about the “True Cost of Smoking.”

Do you know someone today who’s trying to quit? Will you encourage them today to quit? Or are you a former smoker? What advice do you have for those who want to give up smoking?

Your Baby and the Holidays

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on November 19, 2014 under Everything Baby | Be the First to Comment

Yay! The winter holidays are nearly here. If this is your baby’s first winter season, there are many wonderful things for them (and you) to enjoy. But there can also be some hazards or just simple issues – this post will help you navigate those.

Travel
Does your family live far away? Will you be getting on a plane with your baby before the year is over? If so, check out our recent post, “Plane Travel with Your Baby.” If you will be traveling by car, you’ll need all the food your infant might require during the trip, along with diapers and a changing pad for stops. Additionally, it might be a good idea to have a new toy along, or a toy your child hasn’t seen in a long time. The toy can be brought out in the case of a major melt-down. But do make sure the toy is soft, in case there’s a bump on the road and the toy goes flying.

Food
With all the new food around, this might be a great time to introduce your baby to new flavors. A lot of holiday food is perfect for pureeing if your baby isn’t up to full-on solids. Don’t forget to go slow, though. You never know what new food may upset your child’s stomach, or they could turn out to be allergic to something. Not an issue you want to deal with while away from home.

Visiting
There’s lots of visiting over the holidays, even if you’re not traveling. Many people, even those who have kids, do not have baby-proofed homes. It can be hard to keep your child in your arms during an entire visit, so if your baby is mobile, it might be prudent to block out a space for them. That way you can chat without constantly watching where your child is going and what they’re putting in their mouth.

For you parents out there who have done this all before, what’s your best tip for new parents during the holiday season? Or what’s your favorite story from the winter holidays?

The Benefits of Protective Underwear

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on November 17, 2014 under BladderMatters | Be the First to Comment

When a decision needs to be made about what kind of incontinence supplies to purchase, there are many options. One of these is pads and liners. These work great for mild incontinence: they’re easy to adjust to, they keep the wearer in their regular underpants and they’re best for the skin. But when incontinence is moderate to heavy, a pull-up or a brief becomes a better choice.

Protective underwear, AKA pull-ups, have their advantages over briefs, depending on the lifestyle of the wearer and their own personal preferences.

Many types of protective underwear, including our best-selling Prevail Extra Adult Pull-Up, offer cloth-like material as the outer shell. Not only does this material mean better skin health for the wearer, because of the breathability, it is quieter than plastic-backed briefs. Additionally, its stretchability creates a better and more secure fit for the wearer.

There is also protective underwear available that is gender-specific, like the Prevail Per-Fit for Men and Women. This is a feature you will not find in regular adult diapers. Each of these products is designed to look more like the standard underwear of that gender, and the dimensions of each product were created to conform more to that body type.

Additionally, protective underwear can be disposed of just as easily as adult diapers. Almost all of them have tear-away sides, so it’s easy to just rip those sides apart and remove the pull-up. And if you’re looking for a product that provides many of the benefits of protective underwear, with the ability to put the item on while not removing pants, check out Prevail’s Adjustable Underwear. They come with reattachable side tabs that you open to put the underwear on, and still provide a secure and underwear-like fit.

What advantages have you found with protective underwear?

Caregiving in Movies

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on November 15, 2014 under Caregiver Corner | Be the First to Comment

Today marks the eleventh anniversary of the US release of the film “Love Actually.” There are many characters that people may remember this movie for: Hugh Grant as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Alan Rickman as the cheating husband, Liam Neeson as a mourning step-father. But one of the most memorable characters (for us, at least) is Laura Linney as Sarah: an employee of Alan Rickman’s character, in love with her coworker, and a caregiver of her brother. We won’t spoil the film, but it does show the hard balance that a caregiver strives for, between their personal life, and providing support to their caree.

In more recent years, a spade of caregiving-related films have been released, including “Amour,” “Robot & Frank,” “August: Osage County,” “Nebraska,” and more. Each explores the relationship that a caregiver has with their charge. Some of the films show the frustration that a caregiver can feel, and some show the frustration that a caree can feel with themselves, their diagnosis or their caregiver.

This relationship is one that is so complex, and so different depending on the pair and the caregiving team, that a thousand movies could be made on the subject. And, of course, there are also documentaries. While “Alive Inside,” isn’t about caregivers necessarily, it does feature them occasionally, as they react to the film’s goal of providing music to seniors with dementia. The documentary does such a good job of showing the effect of music on the elderly and their memory, it won the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival this year.

Which of these movies have you seen? Which do you love? What are other movies featuring caregivers that you would recommend?