Old and Unused Medication Collection October 29th in South Portland

Posted 10/11/2011 by ibecadmin

There are so many details when supporting an elderly parent who is living independently.  In addition to visiting, it is likely you have a list of things to do when you are there.  Some of the “chores” may include filling their medications in weekly pre-fill medication boxes.

Medication management is one of the most important tasks you may be providing for your loved one.  You will want to ensure your loved one’s medications are effective. To achieve this you need to be sure of the following:

  • They are taking the right prescription, at the correct dose for the reason intended;
  • The medication has not expired;
  • When a new medication is added to the list (many seniors between the ages of 80-84 take 18 prescriptions per year) a physician or pharmacist needs to review the list so that they are sure that the medications are compatible with each other.

Many seniors are reluctant to dispose of medications (this includes over-the-counter medications) because they feel they may need it someday and they don’t want to waste it.  Eventually it is pushed back into the cupboard and forgotten about.  Taking expired medications or mixing medications without the doctor or pharmacist reviewing your medications with you can be very dangerous and even deadly.

The City of South Portland, supported by agencies and businesses, has begun a Medication Collection event. This year it takes place on October 29th from 10am-noon.  You can bring unused, expired medications and more (sharps and even pet medications) to this event.  One location is the Community Center on Nelson Road, and the other is the HUB CPPC Trailer at 580 Westbrook Street.  Please call Bob Scarpelli, SPPD at 799-5511, ext. 7221 for more information.

Having these medications out of the home and out of harm’s way will help to give peace of mind knowing that your loved one will not be taking anything that they shouldn’t, and that visitors and children will not be at risk, as well as the community at large, as flushing and disposing of these medications improperly is dangerous for us all.

 

 

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Breaking News from VNA Home Health Hospice’s Community Wellness Clinics-Having a positive attitude helps live a long and happy life!

Posted 10/07/2011 by ibecadmin

Martha O’Connor, VNA’s Community Relations CNA has heard it time and again from many of her clients who attend VNA’s Community Wellness Clinics throughout the region.  Starting each day with a positive attitude, whenever possible, helps to make the day brighter, happier and healthier.  Octogenarians and nonagenarians alike have shared this secret with Martha as she takes their vital signs and checks in with them to see how they are feeling.  It’s not just dumb luck but rather the conscious decision to make the most of life and by putting your best foot forward each day.  Those who get dressed in their color-coordinated outfits, matching accessories, hair groomed and even a bit of lipstick seem to make the most of each day and each opportunity to live life to the fullest.  So, it’s no longer a secret-you heard it here first!

 

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Older Adult Wellness

Posted 09/23/2011 by ibecadmin

VNA is focused on supporting the aging community in Southern Maine. As part of our community outreach, we provide flu clinics, blood pressure clinics and more to support the health of our aging population. But does living long equate to living well? What does it mean to have wellness at an older age?   I recently found this on Dr. Bill Thomas’ ChangingAging Blog, where they are trying to redefine and embrace aging:

  • Aging is about growth and development (not decline and decay).
  • Longevity is about living as well as possible (not as long as possible).
  • Health and wellness is about enjoying life and growing no matter your age or condition (not about staying young forever).
  • Dementia and Alzheimer’s is about creating a life worth living regardless of memory ability (not about waging a war against memory loss).
  • Elderhood is a distinct stage of life and growth (not the dead end of retirement).

I hope this philosophy becomes widespread. Imagine how our society would change….

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What Our Patients Don’t Know…

Posted 09/16/2011 by ibecadmin

Often times patients will comment that our lives have touched theirs. They’ll tell us that we’ve made a difference in their lives by our presence. What they don’t know is how much their lives touch ours. As you care for someone clinically, they begin to tell you their stories; their hopes, their dreams, their fears, their life struggles. All these pigments of a life come together; the dark shades of loss, the shimmering bright shades of joy, the every day shades of small victories and triumphs. These tiny strands of color are present in all of our lives. These colors are woven together to form that special “tapestry” which is afterall, uniquely our own.

And, somewhere in my own tapestry are the colored fragments of the lives that have touched mine: the 90 year old gentleman who told me his favorite trees were birch trees because he loved to swing from their flexible branches as a young boy, the 93 year old lady who whispered that her most precious possessions were hidden in a shoe box filled with tissue paper under her bed, and that some of those treasures were sea shells. The 89 year old man who wore a t-shirt that said “older than dirt” and who told me his story of building a pink brick home for his new bride because pink cast off bricks were all he could afford. But that his wife always called it her valentine house and they lived there happily for 55 years.

When I first became a nurse I wondered both to myself and outloud. Would my heart be able to hold and comfort all the new faces that would enter my life? Could my heart stretch enough to give that caring to all of my patients as well as my own family and loved ones. I don’t need to ask that question anymore, now I know the answer is yes. And, if this sounds like a love letter to my patients both past and present, it is.

Written by a VNA Home Health Nurse.

 

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What is Palliative Care?

Posted 07/21/2011 by ibecadmin

Jessica Vickerson, VNA’s Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner, is a nurse practitioner with a social work background who helps facilitate discussion and coordinate care for patients. She views palliative care as a complement to the care patients receive from their primary care doctors, specialists, nurses and other health professionals.

VNA: What exactly is palliative care? Is it the same as hospice?

Jessica: Palliative care and hospice are two different things. Palliative care aims to improve a patient’s quality of life by relieving the pain and anxiety experienced with chronic or life-limiting illness. It’s based on a patient’s goals and the way they want to live their life. Many people feel uncertain about how to handle the changes caused by a serious illness or disease. Palliative care can help set the stage for a continuous conversation between patient, family, physicians, nurses and other caregivers to enhance communication over time, and focus on the patient’s desires.

Hospice is for patients suffering from serious illness with a life expectancy of less than six months, while palliative care can assist patients from their diagnosis onwards – whether they live for a few days or many, many years.

VNA: Who could benefit from palliative care?

Jessica: Patients suffering from cardiac conditions like heart failure, which can be very recurrent, pulmonary diseases, cancer, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s or ALS can enjoy relief from their symptoms with palliative care.

For example, a patient may have cancer and want it treated with chemotherapy as much as possible, but also desire excellent control from a symptom, such as nausea. Another patient might experience shortness of breath, which impairs their ability to get around, but is not bad enough for a hospital visit. A palliative care team member can act as a liaison between the nurse provider and the family, and could make suggestions with them, such as having a more specialized nurse visit.

It’s about clarifying a patient’s goals and managing their symptoms – a collaborative process with various health professionals. We work with Mercy Hospital and VNA to make it happen.

VNA: How long do patients need palliative care?

Jessica: This all depends on each patient’s illness and experience, which can vary at different points in time. Once a patient is diagnosed, we work to clarify their goals, explain their treatment options, and discuss what makes the most sense for them.

For instance, a patient could be doing very well after being discharged from the hospital, then have a problem, and the home nurse might suggest that a palliative care person visit the patient in their home. Providers are asked to do so much these days, but with less time and fewer resources – as part of a palliative care team, I know we are all more than happy to offer our support.


For more information on palliative care and how it can help you, contact: VNA Home Heath Hospice.

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