Friday, March 29, 2013
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
The Language of Disability
This blog on “The Language of Disabilty” is so thoughtful. I wanted to share it. Kate makes the point that a reference to someone’s disability should really be secondary to the more important aspects of the person’s life and his or her achievements. Raising awareness in our use of language is the first step and perhaps a change in mindset the second.
Blog Link
Monday, March 25, 2013
Fear of Falling
I recently came across this interesting article. It is a good read. Falling is a major issue in a person’s life. The damage that comes from falling can be life altering. EasyUndies can help eliminate the risk of falling. EasyUndies are easy to put on and take off. Every little thing a person can do to keep themselves safe is important. EasyUndies for the ease of everyday life.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Speaking Up For Others
Something we all need to think about. Speaking up for those who cannot.
I am on the express line at a supermarket today. On the other express line is an elderly woman. She has four items. She is moving slowly which is not unusual for a person of her age. The cashier rings up her few items. The woman opens her bag and takes out her checkbook to pay for her four items. Again, her age keeps her from moving fast. She slowly starts writing a check. No one in line is complaining or making any gestures of rushing this woman. But the cashier starts yelling at her. Tells her that "she is not allowed on the express line with a check as she is holding up the line." The older woman is so taken aback. She says, “I only have four items and I only have checks.” Again, the cashier starts yelling at her to the point of upsetting her.
I needed to come to the elderly woman's defense. She left the store very upset. The cashier was then upset with me for getting involved and helping the woman. According to the cashier the woman is too slow to be on the express line. I went to the store manager and filed a complaint. Speak up. We all move at a different pace. No one should be treated differently. We are all equal. Speak up for those who cannot!
I would like to think the cashier is overworked and has been told to keep the line moving. But on the other hand are we as a society moving so fast that we look past people who take a little more time do things? Do we look past a person who is different, a person with disabilities?
I ask everyone to look around, take a good look at the person next to you. Treat a person as you would want to be treated. A little kindness goes a long way. Smile and the world smiles with you. Frown and you will be all alone.
We each need to try and make everyone's life a little bit easier.
Take care,
Rochelle
Monday, March 18, 2013
Stress cans do so much damage to your life
Managing stress and coping with the emotional aspects of life with a chronic illness promotes mind-body health. Take care of your mental well being and your body will benefit.
As I have said in my past blogs, keeping your mind strong and healthy is very important. It will help you deal with all that life gives you. When your mind is stress free life is stress free.
EasyUndies is one of those products that can help make life a little bit easier by helping with the simplest of things we each do everyday.
Make it easy... make it simple... make it an EasyUndies day.
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Wonderwall: High-tech home-assisted living for the elderly
A good read. With that said it is not affordable for everyone. Technology brings a lot of advantages in communication, but at a cost.
You don't have to have all the bells and whistles to have a high-tech home for the elderly. Look into options that fit into your budget. An iPad or tablet is a great option. Teach your parent or anyone you are caring for how to use it. You can download programs that give you many free services. This can bring some comfort if you do not live very close to the person you are caring for. Skype is one of those programs. You call up a person and look at them. Sometimes seeing someone when talking to them can help. You can get TV, movies, books and a lot more all from one device. This can help when a person is homebound or has mobility issues.
Take Care,
Rochelle
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
The Two Sides of Disability
Disability is truly two-sided in its nature and affects both individuals and those around them. One of the many advantages of adaptive clothing is that it is not only helpful to individuals with mobility issues, but also to caregivers. In 2003, this OHSAH study documented the reduction in injury to staff members using adaptive clothing to dress residents at medium- and long-term care facilities.
OHSAH study
Monday, March 11, 2013
Tips for Caregivers
With the rising cost of assisted living facilities many people are caring for a chronically ill or disabled spouse, parent or other family member at home. Caregiving can be a rewarding experience, especially when you know that your care makes a positive difference. But caregiving can be difficult. Here are three tips to being a good caregiver:
- Take care of yourself.
- Don't help too much. Let the person do as much as he or she can.
- Ask for help. Sometimes just a day off can makes all the difference.
When you are caring for a spouse, parent or family member and they seem to be angry and don't appreciate what you are doing for them, remember they are scared. When a person is totally dependent on someone else for day-to-day living it is hard. Try not to take it personally.
Flowers in a room or a pretty picture can help brighten anyone's mood. Use magazine photos as placemats. It will bring a different picture to every meal and give the person you are caring for a little something to look forward to at each meal. Little things like that can make a world of difference. And as I mentioned already, ask for help if you need it. You are doing something very special in caregiving, but you need to always take care of yourself.
Regards,
Rochelle
Thursday, March 7, 2013
A friend sent me this story. I need to share it.
A Dog's Purpose
(according to a 6-year-old)
Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.
I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.
As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.
The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.
The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up with, ''I know why.''
Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try to live.
He said,''People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?'' The six-year-old continued, ''Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.''
Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.
Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
Take naps.
Stretch before rising.
Run, romp, and play daily.
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Be loyal.
Never pretend to be something you're not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.
There comes a time in life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh, forget the bad, and focus on the good. So, love the people who treat you right. Think good thoughts for the ones who don't. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Falling down is part of LIFE . . . Getting back up is LIVING . . .
Have a great life.
Monday, March 4, 2013
March is Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month
Aging in Place
I really enjoyed reading this article, and in particular the comment, “What I find so unappealing about all these choices is that each means growing old among people with whom I share no history.” To me, “aging in place” allows one to grow old with family and good friends and live in a familiar environment. While I appreciate that it is not an option for everyone, to my mind, it is a meaningful alternative to long-term care facilities and senior housing. I hope that the “age in place” trend continues.
Article Link
Happy People
I read this on colormeprincess.com and it is so true:
“The HAPPIEST people don’t have the best of everything, they just make the BEST of everything.”
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