Friday, December 31, 2010

How to Stick with Your Fitness Routine over the Holidays


Here come the holidays, between the decadent foods and desire to get out of the cold, this stretch of weeks can compromise anyone's movement regimen.

Hello, I am Marcy O'Koon Moss, editor-in-chief of Arthritis Today and will be providing a few tips on how to overcome the holidays and keep moving:

Make an "appointment."
Schedule your exercise as you would a meeting or party – and keep the appointment. It's even easier if you are part of a regular class, such as the Arthritis Foundation's warm-water Aquatic Program or land-based Exercise Program.

Sneak it in.
"Your exercise routine may get derailed by shopping trips and errands but try to fit in extra steps by parking far from the front door of the store, taking extra laps around the mall, and trying to use the stairs instead of the elevator, if you are able.

Break up your workout.
Experts tell us we should get at least 30 minutes of exercise to see the benefits of physical activity. Try segmenting your workout into three 10-minute sessions that you can squeeze in throughout the day.

Work out at home.
When time is tight, don't waste it driving to the gym. Stay put and dust off the stationary bike or treadmill, or pull workout videos/DVDs off the shelf.

Involve visitors.
When family or friends are in town, it's important to get to spend time talking with them while getting your exercise. Invite your loved ones to get moving with you: Take them for a walking tour of your neighborhood, do exercises with you or have them join you at the gym.

Set realistic goals.
Instead of working out five times per week, you may have to settle for three. But that's OK: A study conducted by the American College of Sports Medicine found those who set realistic goals were more apt to stick with exercising than those who set loftier goals.

http://lmt.arthritis.org/our-community/podcasts/how-to-stick-with-your-fitness-routine-over-the-holidays.php?WT.mc_id=MBS_12StayFit

Friday, December 3, 2010

Your Home Health Care Aide: Establishing A Positive Relationship

by Kim Champion
You've made the decision to let an aide come into your home to assist. That was hard enough. Now you re getting apprehensive about what to expect when the aide arrives for work. If you don't have experience with in-home assistance, all sorts of "worst case scenarios" are whirling about in your head. And then there are the questions. What should you do if you don't like the aide?

How should you approach problems? Who supervises the aide? Assuming that you have hired an aide from a home health care agency, you can expect a lot of support in easing your anxieties. It is the agency's job to answer your questions in advance and resolve any issues that arise. The key to facilitating your satisfaction and comfort is good communication with the agency management and with your aide.

Here are a few tips for establishing positive relationships with your home health care professionals:

Be completely honest about your needs

Overcome any embarrassment or guilt associated with describing why you need help and what kind of help you need. Remember that you are dealing with professionals who have helped a variety of clients. They are experienced in meeting the needs of people just like you. Home Health Care professionals are prepared to deal with tough situations such as Alzheimer's, alcoholism, Parkinson's, strokes, incontinence and stressful family circumstances.

State your preferences from the start

The best way to get exactly what you want is to be specific. Give a detailed request to the agency so that the aide they send will meet your needs. Items to include are your household rules, such as "no smoking" or "kosher kitchen". Also express your daily routines and how to follow the, such as "up at 7 a.m.", "breakfast first, medicine second, shower last" , "I need privacy from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.", "transportation to salon every Friday, using employee's car".

Give feedback to the agency on a timely basis

"Nip it in the bud," is good advice. Most problems start out small and can be best resolved when addressed promptly. If you are experiencing a problem with the aide, call the agency. This benefits you in two ways: you do not have to be involved in reprimanding the aide, and it prompts the agency to diplomatically resolve the problem. Employee supervision is the responsibility of the agency. If the problem cannot be resolved to your satisfaction, request the agency send a different aide. The agency will handle the hiring and firing for you.

If you start off with honesty and communication, having a home health care aide will be a successful and beneficial experience.
http://www.caregiver.com/articles/homecare/home_healthcare_aide.htm