Author Archives: Jeanne Lowry

Caregiving Blogs – October Highlight

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on October 8, 2015 under Caregiver Corner | Be the First to Comment

As we get further into fall, we thought it might be a nice idea to highlight a few blogs that you can bookmark to read as you settle into your favorite comfy chair with a mug of cocoa.

Noah’s Dad
Noah’s parents were surprised when their son was born with Down’s Syndrome. Noah’s dad, Rick, immediately started journaling their story. The blog is full of positivity and super-cute pictures of Noah. There’s lots of advice available for parents of children with Down’s Syndrome, other children with special needs and typical children.

Geriatric OT
This post hasn’t been updated in quite some time, but it still is a great resource for anyone looking for information about how to improve the lives of geriatrics, especially those with disabilities. There are lots of links to sites with great therapeutic suggestions.

Gastroparesis Crusader
Trisha Bundy describes herself as, “a proud mother, teacher, Gastroparesis Advocate, GJ Tubie.” Hers is less a caregiving blog and more of blog from a caree point-of-view. Even with the invisible illnesses Trisha struggles with, she maintains a positive attitude and her writing is very creative.

Conflicts in Caregiving: Self-Awareness

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on September 17, 2015 under Caregiver Corner | Be the First to Comment

One of the many conflicts that can arise when caregiving for an older adult is how self-aware they are. How much do they feel they are capable of versus how much they are capable of?

My friend had grandparents who were in their 80s and doing alright for themselves, but definitely not heeding what their bodies were telling them. The grandfather insisted on getting up on the roof and cleaning the gutters – until his children convinced him not to (mostly by doing it themselves). This was part of what led to a larger discussion about whether or not owning a house was still a good idea for them. They had much more space than they needed, but the couple still enjoyed owning a home. This argument continued in the family for months, before the grandfather slipped on the front step while it was covered in ice and broke his hip.

At that point, the grandparents agreed that perhaps it was time to move into an assisted living facility. And they love it. The complex is large and has several different levels of care. They’re in the lowest level of assistance and have complete independence. This complex even has a few guest rooms where family members can stay for free when they visit.

Unfortunately, sometimes it takes a tragedy to open the eyes of a senior, to help them realize that while they may feel and act young at heart (and they should!) they do need to understand their limits. A time of crises is not when you want to be making life-changing decisions. If possible, gently, and without any specific timelines, speak to your senior about what their plans are when they are not as capable as they currently are. If you approach the topic with love, they may just listen.

Five Tips for Controlling Incontinence During Pregnancy

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on September 10, 2015 under BladderMatters, Everything Baby | Be the First to Comment

Original post written for LiveConfidently.com

Light bladder leakage is common during and just after pregnancy, but can easily be controlled with the right products and lifestyle choices. This happens for many reasons, including heredity, hormonal changes, or weight gain, which are all causes of stress incontinence. During pregnancy, stress incontinence occurs when your uterus grows larger and adds weight to your bladder, giving you less space to store urine. If the women in your family experienced light bladder leakage during or after their pregnancies, there’s a greater chance that you will also experience some form of stress incontinence during or after pregnancy. Read on for five helpful tips on controlling bladder leakage and urinary incontinence during pregnancy.

Note: Before reading our tips, it’s important to make sure that you’re actually leaking urine and not amniotic fluid, which is clear and does not have a smell. If you think it could be amniotic fluid, call your doctor as soon as possible.

1. Select the right products.

Thinking that bladder leakage is solely linked to old age, many pregnant women use feminine pads for protection instead of incontinence-specific products. Feminine products are not made to soak up that much liquid and can also increase the chances of urine odors after some leakage. It’s best to find a pad or brief that is specifically designed for light bladder leakage. Not only will you feel much more comfortable, but you also won’t have to worry about any unwanted smells. You may want to read our blog post on incontinence products versus feminine products for more information.

2. Do your Kegel exercises!

When done in repetition over time, Kegel exercises can strengthen your pelvic floor muscles and greatly improve your bladder control. To begin, lie on the floor and squeeze or pull in the pelvic floor muscles. Keep them tight for several seconds, release, and repeat. It’s a simple exercise that doesn’t take much time, and could make all the difference in controlling your bladder. You may want to read our blog post on pelvic floor muscle exercises for more information.

3. Try to keep the weight gain to a minimum.

Added weight only means added pressure on your bladder. It’s impossible to avoid gaining some weight during pregnancy, but with the right diet and low-impact exercises you can greatly decrease your risk for light bladder leakage. Talk to your doctor to design a meal plan that will give you and your baby the proper nutrition without weighing down your stomach with empty calories.

4. Drink eight glasses of water a day.

Many people who suffer from stress incontinence don’t drink enough water, thinking this will make their situation better. Unfortunately, this can make your bladder leakage much worse. Not only will this leave you more susceptible to dehydration and urinary tract infections, but it can also make your urine more concentrated and cause unwanted odors.

5. Cross those legs.

As a last line of defense, it can help to cross your legs when you’re about to sneeze, cough, or laugh. Of course it’s impossible to predict these things, so it’s always best to make sure you’re wearing the right product for your level of bladder leakage.

Have some tips to add? Head over to our incontinence during pregnancy forum to discuss this topic with people just like you!

You can find the original article here.

Fruits and Veggies – More Matters Month 2015

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on September 3, 2015 under Caregiver Corner, Resources | Be the First to Comment

September is bountiful month, full of fresh produce arriving to your local grocery store. It is beautiful to look at, but can be a lot to take in. Which fruits and vegetables are in season? How many produce items should I buy or not buy so they don’t go bad? What should I do with these things? And possibly even – what is this?

This Fruits and Veggies – More Matters Month is the perfect time to learn more about those tasty foods we should be eating more. Did you know over 90% of all adults and children in the US do not eat the recommended amount of fruits and veggies? That means if you do, you’re in an elite (and healthy!) minority.

All of us are busy, and caregivers even more so. So what are some easy tips and tricks to get more of that produce on your plate?

For one thing, keep in mind that ALL forms of fruit and veggies count towards your daily recommended amount, so anything canned, frozen, dried or juice that says 100% on the label contains the same goodness as fresh.

With that in mind, smoothies become so much easier! You can have everything ready to go and not have to worry about anything going bad after just a week. Frozen blueberries, yogurt, milk, OJ, leftover kale, canned peaches: toss any or all of it into a smoothie. Smoothies are incredibly forgiving. If you have some spinach that’s about to go bad, you can toss it in with some soy milk, honey, juice, an almost moldy nectarine and even some old cupcakes (believe me, I’ve tried). As long as you have enough liquid and enough sweetness (honey, agave syrup or cocoa powder work great) you can get away with practically any smoothie ingredient.

If you’re wanting to fill your cart with fruit and vegetables but can’t remember while at the grocery store what is in season, print out a pocket-sized guide (your best bet is to find what works for your region, so search for your state and then add “fruits and veggies in season chart”), or download an app onto your smart phone.

Good luck! And if you need more advice, recipes and ideas, be sure to head to The Fruits and Veggies More Matters site, where we found much of the above information!

Series: Alzheimer’s in Other Countries

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on August 27, 2015 under Caregiver Corner | Be the First to Comment

This is the fourth post in a series on Alzheimer’s disease in places beyond the borders of the United States.

The “World Alzheimer Report 2015: The Global Impact of Dementia” was issued earlier this week. The report gave a grim view of dementia statistics around the world and called on governments and societies to begin making necessary changes to support older adults.

There is a chance that dementia is becoming less prevalent in high-income countries. Medscape reports:

Despite interest in the possibility that the age-specific prevalence of dementia may be declining in high-income countries because of public health improvements, “the evidence to support this is currently weak and inconclusive,” said the report.

You can find more information in Medscape’s article here.

ConvaTec Stomahesive Paste: 183910

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on August 20, 2015 under Ostomy Care | Be the First to Comment

This article is part of our continuing series on ostomy items that we carry here at TotalHomeCareSupplies.com. Last time we talked about Hollister’s Adapt Paste – this time we’d like to explore a different paste: ConvaTec’s Stomahesive Paste.

Paste, when in reference to ostomies, is not an adhesive. Rather, it’s something of a filler to help with uneven skin surfaces, to help the bag stay closer to the skin. ConvaTec’s Stomahesive Paste is hydrocolliod-based – a hydrocolliod substance is something that becomes a gel when exposed to water. So this paste is gel-like and able to to be molded to the shape needed by the wearer.

How does this paste increase the wear-time of the ostomy bag system and protect the skin? On retracted and flush stomas, this paste can caulk in the crevices and make sure that skin barrier is as flush to the the surrounding skin as possible. This means less leaks, so the skin is safer and the seal is more likely to last longer.

Keep in mind that this is a pectin-based formula as well, for those with any allergy concerns.

There are two ways to apply the paste. One way to apply the paste is directly to the skin. Since some people find the paste more moldable when the it has been allowed to “set” for a bit, so the paste can be applied right after the cleaning of the skin, while allowing the area to dry before applying any skin barriers.

Another way to apply the paste is to the skin barrier or wafer. In this case you’d apply a small amount around the opening of the wafer. Do not spread it around, rather, apply the wafer to the skin to allow the paste to spread and create an additional seal around the stoma,

Do you have any other tips about using paste to help create a better seal for ostomy skin barriers? We’d love to hear them in the comments below!

Conflicts in Caregiving: In-Laws

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on July 30, 2015 under Caregiver Corner | Be the First to Comment

Today is actually National Father-In-Law Day. Do you have father-in-law that you love? Are you currently caring for one of your parents-in-law? Helping to care for the person or persons who raised your spouse, welcomed you into their family and have been a wonderful grandparents can be the perfect way to give back and help. But sometimes conflicts can arise from helping those outside of your immediate family.

Oftentimes, a married couple will be a team, helping to take care of one or another’s parents. But depending on careers, personalities and traditional roles, the wife can be the one more likely to end up caring for her husband’s parents. And that in turn can lead to resentment. What can be done to help with couples make the best of these situations?

All caregivers should know that some people take to caregiving better than others. Caregiving is not for everyone. Each spouse needs to be aware of this and try to determine if they are capable of providing care for an elderly parent. If they discover that the work is more than hard (all caregivers, even if they love their role, find the work hard) but is making them miserable for a variety of reasons, they need to have an open discussion about that with their spouse, and the other spouse needs to respect their feelings on providing care.

If one spouse is determined to be able to care better for the elderly parents, and agrees to do so, the other spouse needs to be extremely supportive to them. Keep this mantra in mind: If you can’t BE a caregiver, SUPPORT a caregiver.

Incontinence Products vs. Feminine Products

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on July 28, 2015 under BladderMatters | Read the First Comment

Original post written for LiveConfidently.com

For women, bladder control issues can occur at various stages of life. Light bladder leakage is most commonly experienced during pregnancy, after childbirth, and throughout menopause. When these symptoms of incontinence arise, many women use feminine hygiene products for protection due to convenience or their level of comfort selecting and purchasing these products in the store. However, not all absorbent products are equal, and using feminine hygiene products for incontinence needs can lead to issues with odor and leakage.

Consider this example. While pantiliners for feminine hygiene and incontinence needs appear similar at a glance, there are important product differences. Pantiliners for feminine hygiene are designed to absorb small amounts of occasional discharge, while pantiliners for incontinence protection are designed to rapidly absorb and lock away urine flow. Incontinence protection products for women are also available for a multitude of absorbency needs, ranging from very light liners to more absorbent pads. In general, these products are designed to lock fluid away so an active person doesn’t have to worry about leakage during normal daily activities.

Many modern incontinence protection products also include odor control systems that neutralize the creation of odors caused by urine. This means that the products actually prevent odors from forming instead of attempting to conceal odors by masking them with a fragrance. To find out which incontinence protection products are available for your needs, take a look at our incontinence product selector tool.

On occasion, women are embarrassed to purchase incontinence products and instead buy feminine hygiene products for their light bladder leakage needs. This occurs because feminine care products are considered a normal part of women’s protection needs, while incontinence may be viewed as a medical issue or problem. Increasingly, incontinence products are being designed to look and feel like feminine hygiene pads and pantiliners to reinforce a sense of normalcy when purchasing or using these products. In addition to retail store locations, products are available through online retailers for worry-free shipping and convenience. You may want to refer to our product retailer locator for a list of stores and websites that sell incontinence protection products.

What factors do you take into consideration when purchasing products for light bladder leakage? Let us know on our female incontinence forum!

You can find the original article here.

Social Wellness Month

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on July 16, 2015 under Caregiver Corner | Be the First to Comment

July is Social Wellness Month, a month where everyone is encouraged to nurture their relationships with friends and focus on taking care of themselves.

So what does this mean for busy caregivers, who can barely find time as it is? Here are some tips for sneaking in some time for yourself and time to spend with friends, among all the demands on your time:

Buy some plants and water them while doing other things
Plants can bring new life into a house and make things a little more vibrant. But watering them can be a pain to remember. Try combining two activities, like watering in the morning while brushing your teeth. This way you can watch the plants grow during the couple minutes of brushing time.
Chat during dinner
The speaker mode on your phone can be a life-changer. Assuming you’re not eating anything too crunchy or slurpy, a very good friend likely won’t mind if you chat with them over a meal. Hopefully they’ll just be thankful that you found a few minutes to catch up with them.
Include your friends in your caregiving duties
Do you take a stroll everyday with your caree, either walking or with them in a wheelchair? If not, you may want to try to add that to your routine – it can do wonders for both of you. And if you do, could you invite one of your friends to join you on that walk? And maybe stick around for an afternoon cup of coffee? Even if you only have time for a half-hour visit, don’t be afraid to ask a friend to drop by. They probably have been hoping they could, but don’t want to impose.

Even if you’re not able to fit these ideas into your busy schedule, try and focus on the fact that you need time for yourself and you are worth it. Even entertaining fantasies of doing things alone or with friends is better than getting stuck in the idea that everyday is crazy.

What will you be doing for Social Wellness Month?

Caregiver Blogs – July Highlight

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on July 9, 2015 under Caregiver Corner | Be the First to Comment

Wow! We’re already well into summer, but before it passes us by, we’d like to take another moment to highlight a few caregiver blogs that we’ve really been enjoying lately.

The Cute Syndrome
Hillary Savoy decided to call her blog “The Cute Syndrome” because while she was discussing her daughter’s un-diagnosed genetic disorders and various syndromes with a friend, the friend commented, “yeah, she has a syndrome. A cute syndrome.” And the pictures of Esme on this blog are really very cute. Hilary has also written a book about her journey with Esme through the world of genetic testing that is available through her site.

The Purple Jacket
This blog is written by Chris MacLellan, AKA, The Bow Tie Guy. Chris was a caregiver of his partner, Richard, until Richard passed away in 2014. Now Chris helps advocate for caregivers. The story of him caring for Richard during his last days was told in the Sun Sentinel newspaper and has been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.

Chasing Rainbows
Kate Leong’s tale is one of both sadness and hope. Her first child, Gavin, was born with some disabilities, exacerbated by bouts with both Botulism and Respiratory Syncitial Virus (RSV) while he was still under six months of age. Kate continued to write about Gavin and the therapy he received for his special needs, along with his younger brother, Brian – until Gavin’s death in 2013. Since then, Kate’s blog has focused on the grief and happiness that has come with her son’s death, and her new daughter Hope. While her current story is just as compelling as her past, her older blog posts about Gavin’s therapy may be helpful for those with special needs children of their own.