Home Health Care Professionals, Inc.

Volume 1, Issue 3
September 30, 2003
 

Home Health Care Professionals' Newsletter

Stress and Caring for an Ill Family Member

We all know that caring for your family is hard and stressful work. But, that stress seems to be exacerbated if you are caring for an ill family member, especially an elderly person, and in particular a person with some sort of dementia. We will see in this article that prolonged stress for a caregiver can have serious physical and emotional consequences.
The risks of stress
Findings by the research group headed by Dr. Kiecolt-Glaser and her husband, Ronald Glaser have found that a pro-inflammatory cytokine (protein), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), sharply increases in the blood of stressed caregivers.
Studies have associated IL-6 with several diseases and ailments including:
Increase in IL-6 can linger in caregivers for as long as three years after a caregiver had ceased that role.
Common Signs
Relieving stress
Community services that can give help or information

Editor's Note

Recipe Corner: chicken barley soup (low calories)
Are you ready for fall? … No? Me, neither! This summer flew by so quickly! Well, let’s move on… in this issue you will find an article about caring for an ill family member, the third part of our series about getting ready for an emergency and a wonderful chicken soup recipe that will warm body and soul of all ages. Enjoy! V.B.
Ingredients
 3 lbs chicken, cut in pieces 1/2 cup finely chopped carrot
  1/2 cup uncooked barley 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
  9 cup water 1 tablespoon salt
  2 teaspoon lemon Juice 1/2 teaspoon pepper, freshly ground
  3 celery stalks with leaves 1/4 teaspoon celery seed
  1 small onion 1 1/2 cup green beans cut, fresh
  1/2 cup chopped onion  
Directions
Place chicken, water, leaves from celery and small onion in a large saucepan. Reserve celery stalks. Cover saucepan and bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer 1 1/2 hours until chicken is tender. Remove chicken. Strain broth into bowl; chill until fat sets on top. Remove fat. Remove skin and bones from chicken, discard. Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces, set aside. Return broth to saucepan. Chop reserved celery stalks; add to broth with chopped onion, carrot, parsley, barley, lemon juice, seasonings. Cover and simmer 20 min. Add fresh green beans and chicken; continue cooking 15 min or until beans are tender. Each serving is 1 1/2 cup.
  • 11 g carbohydrate, 14 g protein 5 g fat, 145 calories 2 Protein choices, 1 fruit & vegetable choice.
    Source: Choice Cooking c. 1986 Canadian Diabetes Association
    • Everyone at Home health Care Professionals wishes you a happy holiday season, since 'tis this time of the year! Good or better health to all of you and your loved ones, hoping we have made a difference in your life this year. We will continue to be there for you next year. Thanks for your support!

    Are you ready?

    As part three of our series about “getting ready for an emergency”, this article is about keeping the air around you as clean as possible in case of a disaster.
    Protecting Your Body
    Protecting Your Surroundings
    Actually, if you suffer from asthma and allergies, a HEPA and Activated Carbon System air purifier should be good for you.
    Their price range is $230 to over $500. They will also clean the air from odors by trapping most chemicals. In order to eliminate airborne bacteria and viruses, you have to choose an air purifier that has also Ultraviolet lamps. Their prive range starts at $180 to more than $1000. On all air purifier you have to change filters and lamps regularly to keep their efficiency.

    Nurse's Notes: Early Signs of Shock

    It is important for nurses to recognize the early signs of shock. Because there are occasions when shock occurs in individuals not apparently at risk (e.g. after a minor operation), it is essential for the condition to be recognized so that appropriate action can be taken.
    In compensated shock, the vital signs (temperature, pulse, respiration and blood pressure) may not reveal any deviation from normal and in such cases the clinical signs assume greater importance. Development of the ability to recognize the clinical signs of early shock through knowledge and experience is important in nursing.
    Part of this judgment comes from understanding the condition under which shock can occur. It is also important to recognize that some individuals are more vulnerable than others even though the same degree of trauma has been sustained. A person who is predisposed to anxiety and the elderly fall into the category of those more at risk of succumbing to shock.
    Different Types of Shock
    Clinical Signs of Early Shock

    In the next 3 months...

    October 2003

    November 2003

    December 2003
    10/4 - Denver Zoo free day 11/1 - Englewood Halloween Carnival 12/5 & 12/6 - Parade of Lights
    10/6 - Yom Kippur 11/4 - Election Day 12/12 - Luminarias de Santa Fe Art Walk
    10/11 - Columbus Day Parade, Denver 11/7 - Denver Zoo free day 12/20 - Hanukkah
    10/12 - Komen, Denver Race for the Cure 11/8 - Veterans Day Parade, Denver 12/25 - Christmas
    10/13 - Columbus Day 11/11 - Veteran's Day 12/26 - Kwanzaa
    10/15 - Denver Zoo free day 11/22 - Winterfest, Denver  
    10/25 - Englewood Halloween Carnival 11/26 - Denver Zoo free day  
    10/26 - Daylight Saving Time ends 11/27 - Thanksgiving  
    10/31 - Halloween 11/28 - Denver Christkindlmarket  

    N.B.: This newsletter has been re-edited for the web posting.