Category Archives: Resources

American Heart Month 2016

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on February 25, 2016 under Resources | Be the First to Comment

February is American Heart Month and now’s the time to learn more about not only what you can do to prevent having a heart attack, but what the symptoms are for both men and women. Check out the infographic below, originally published on HCA’s blog, to learn more about heart health and heart attack prevention, and these symptoms for men and women, from the American Heart Association:

Heart Attack Signs in Women

Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.
Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain.

If you have any of these signs, call 9-1-1 and get to a hospital right away.

Heart Attack Signs in Men and Women

Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

Links for the Spinal Cord Injury Community

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on January 28, 2016 under Resources, Very Urological | Be the First to Comment

The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center released figures from 2015 that state: “Given the current population size of 313 million people in the U.S., it is estimated that the annual incidence of spinal cord injury (SCI) is approximately 40 cases per million population in the U.S. or approximately 12,500 new SCI cases each year.” Many individuals with a spinal cord injury often use urological supplies, which we here at TotalHomeCareSupplies.com offer our customers. With that in mind, let’s explore several of the informational and supportive sites online for those with the injury, and please comment below if you have others you’d like us to add!

United Spinal Association
From their About Page: “United Spinal Association is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of all people living with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D), including veterans, and providing support and information to loved ones, care providers and professionals.”

Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation
Their mission statement: “The Reeve Foundation is dedicated to curing spinal cord injury by funding innovative research, and improving the quality of life for people living with paralysis through grants, information and advocacy.”

UAB Spinal Cord Injury Model System
“The University of Alabama at Birmingham Spinal Cord Injury Model System (UAB-SCIMS) maintains this Information Network as a resource to promote knowledge in the areas of research, health and quality of life for people with spinal cord injuries, their families, and SCI-related professionals.”

Mayo Clinic
The Mayo Clinic offers definitions, symptoms, test explanations, complications, what to expect from the condition and from doctors appointments and more.

Medline Plus – Spinal Cord Injuries
This government site has a basic explanation of the condition, resources to learn more, videos, research, and patient handouts.

MedicineNet
This site is part of the WebMD family, and their About Page states they’re: “an online, healthcare media publishing company. We provide easy-to-read, in-depth, authoritative medical information for consumers via its robust, user-friendly, interactive website.”

Spinal Cord Injury Zone
This site is a “not-for-profit Spinal Cord Injury educational Knowledge Base. The mission of The Spinal Cord Injury Zone is to archive important Spinal Cord Injury News and Spinal Cord Injury Information for education and awareness.” They also offer personal stories of those with spinal cord injuries.

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!

Accidental Bowel Leakage Products

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on March 31, 2015 under Caregiver Corner, Resources | Be the First to Comment

The word incontinence refers to more than just bladder leakage: it can also refer to what is known in the medical world as fecal incontinence, but is now being termed as accidental bowel leakage (ABL). Some of the products that we sell on TotalHomeCareSupplies.com can be used for ABL – let’s take at products that work well for ABL.

There are products out there that are specific to ABL, but the Washington Post reports that most people have incontinence and bowel leakage, instead of just bowel leakage by itself. For that reason, we suggest trying First Quality’s Adult Briefs. They are excellent for urine incontinence, but they also feature a specifically targeted Fecal Containment Zone that eliminates odor by locking in loose stool.

Both of Prevail’s Bariatric Diapers (in sizes A and B) feature an Advanced Zoning System that has fecal containment zones right where they are most needed. These briefs work well with liquid stool, as they also have OdorGuard technology, meaning all liquid is absorbed and trapped before becoming an odor problem, and they have QUICK WICK™ with MaxSoft that pulls the moisture quickly into the core of the diaper.

For youths with ABL, Prevail offers the Youth Brief. This is also a great product for adult individuals who are petite or slender. Again, this item features the Advanced Zoning System, making sure the areas most affected by urine or fecal matter are extra protected against leaks.

Be sure to seek out medical treatment for your ABL if you have yet to do so.

Ingredients in Skin Care Products

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

At TotalHomeCareSupplies.com we sell many different types of skin care products. Each one of these contain ingredients that help with different skin conditions. So let’s take a look about what is in our products and what they can do for you.

Vitamin A:
Vitamin A, when used in a cream or an ointment, exfoliates skin. This makes it a drying agent, and can be used for treating acne. When used in conjunction with vitamin D, which is a skin protectant, it can be used to treat diaper rash and minor burns. Try Medline’s Vitamin A and D Ointment for these skin issues.

Vitamin D:
This vitamin, when applied as a cream, helps to slow down the too much proliferation of skin cells that can create psoriasis and skin dryness. For those with scaly skin, or for those who have a pressure point from a brace or other medical item, daily application of a cream with vitamin D might prove helpful. Try Bard’s Special Care Cream with vitamins A, B5, D and E, along with Aloe vera, safflower oil and glycerin.

Calamine:
Calamine is actually a mixture of two other ingredients, generally zinc oxide and ferric oxide. These ingredients are what makes calamine an anti-itching agent. This is why calamine is recommended for use on skin that has been exposed to poison ivy or oak, and some people find it helpful when they have a bug bite. For those who are looking for something that is helpful with itchy, dry skin, try FNC’s Medical Ca-Rezz Cream.

We’ll continue this series in another post. If you have any questions about skin care product ingredients, let us know in the comments below and we’ll try to address them next time!

Ways Seniors Can Boost Their Brains

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on February 11, 2015 under Caregiver Corner, Resources | Be the First to Comment

Getting old does not equal getting senile! For those who are ready for a challenge, we have a few! Becoming a senior can just mean your age is going up: it need not affect your cognition, your job, your memory or your physical self. Just keep active, keep happy and keep healthy and your brain will keep supporting you.

Up Your Nutritious Food Intake
Our first suggestion isn’t anything that you’ll actually be “thinking” about – more tasting! Incorporating more antioxidants to your diet can keep your brain able to fight those “bad” chemicals. According to Google, antioxidants are: “chemicals that block the activity of other chemicals known as free radicals. Free radicals are highly reactive and have the potential to cause damage to cells, including damage that may lead to cancer.” Basically, any fruit or vegetable that stains clothes is an antioxidant. And coffee, as well.

Play more games
This includes things like board games, video games, solo games (crosswords, Sudoku, solitaire …) and sites on the Internet like Luminosity. The research may still be out Luminosity-type brain games, but if you’re having fun, that’s what really counts. And don’t forget about the old standby: puzzles. Did you know there are 3D puzzle available now? Be sure to check out your local hobby shop.

Get out there!
Exercise can be extremely helpful to keep both body and brain fit. And if you add in an exercise partner or walking buddy – even better! Can’t find anyone to workout with for your schedule? Try a personal trainer, available through most gyms. If they’re properly certified, they should be able to craft a safe workout (with a check with your doctor) for any activity level.

What are your favorite ways to keep your brain elastic, witty and clever? We’d love to hear more ideas in the comments!

Check Out Our Pinterest Page!

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on January 27, 2015 under Caregiver Corner, Ostomy Care, Resources | Be the First to Comment

We have over 1,700 pins, spread out on thirty boards – and it grows every week! Our boards are varied and include “Helpful Senior Videos,” “Laughter: The Best Medicine” and “Top-Rated Ostomy Supplies and Support.” So come visit us on Pinterest and we’ll see you there!

National Radon Action Month

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

How can you take action on radon? Simple! Purchase a radon testing kit at a hardware/supply store, follow the instructions and send in the results.

But why should you do that? Again – simple! Radon in small amounts that is diluted into the air around us is harmless. But, if your home builds up too much radon, this element is a major cause of lung cancer. And seniors, who spend a lot of time in their homes, and may not air them out as often as others, can be at particular risk.

The best way to keep yourself and others safe is with the simple test. If your results show high levels of radon, it’s not time to panic! It’s recommended to wait another six months before retesting, to lessen the possibility of a false-positive. During that time, you can start airing out the house by opening windows on opposite ends, and purchasing air filters. You can find other recommendations for how to lessen radon exposure here.

There are also a lot of community information sessions offered across the US, especially during this Action month. To find them, search online for your town name and “radon.” During these sessions, experts will show you how to use a testing kit, and some sessions may even give tests away.

It’s important to keep your family safe and eliminate as many carcinogens as possible from your home, or your seniors home. You can learn more about National Radon Action Month at this EPA website.

Last Sale of the Year!

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on December 30, 2014 under Resources | Be the First to Comment

Receive some great savings before the end of the year! Today and tomorrow, you can save 5% on all orders over $50. And receive free shipping! Use the code “NYE2015” to save – but hurry! Offer expires 12/31/14.

Happy Holiday Savings from Total Home Care Supplies

Posted by Jeanne Lowry on December 16, 2014 under Resources | Be the First to Comment

From now through the end of December, you can receive $8 off all orders over $100. And everyday, all orders over $40 are shipped for free! Use the code “SNOWFALL” to save big between now and December 31st.