November is National Family Caregivers Month

Each November, we celebrate National Family Caregivers Month — an opportunity for communities across the country to come together to support and recognize the contributions and sacrifices made on a daily basis by family caregivers of all ages.  It is estimated that nearly 44 million adults provide care for an adult or child annually.  As a family caregiver, it may be easy to feel like you are alone.  Please remember, you are not alone.

 

Family caregivers are the heart and soul of our nation’s long-term care system.  Did you know that family caregivers’ make up 80 percent of the long-term care in the United States provided by family and other unpaid caregivers?

 

In addition, many family caregivers do not realize that they are caregivers.  Perhaps it’s because most people think of caregivers as professionals who are trained and paid to provide care for clients with health issues.  They may feel that they are just helping out.  However, if you offer daily assistance to a spouse or other family member, you may be a caregiver.  It is important to recognize this, so you can seek support.

 

As a family caregiver, it is essential that you take care of your own health.  This month, we encourage family caregivers to learn about the services and supports available in southern Illinois.  There are more than you realize!

 

Shawnee Alliance offers a Caregiver Support Program.  The goals of this program are:

• To provide information to family caregivers about available services
• To provide assistance to family caregivers in gaining access to services
• To lead family caregivers to individual counseling, support groups or caregiver training
• To provide respite and supplemental services on a limited basis, to complement the care provided by family caregivers

 

For more information about this program, call (618) 985-8322.

 

The Alzheimer’s Association Illinois Chapter offers a Free 24/7 Helpline – (800) 272-3900.  They also have an online Caregiver Center at alz.org/care.

 

To all family caregivers, thank you for all that you do.  We appreciate you.  And please remember, you are not alone.

 

 

Survey: Many Parents Share Leftover Antibiotics

According to a recent online survey of nearly 500 U.S. parents, about 48 percent say they have kept leftover antibiotics rather than properly dispose of them.  Of those, 73 percent later gave the drugs to siblings, unrelated children and adults, sometimes months after the antibiotic was originally prescribed.  Some of the parents used the leftover antibiotics themselves.

 

This is very dangerous.  Taking antibiotics for colds and other viral illnesses not only won’t work, but it can also have dangerous side effects — over time, this practice actually helps create bacteria that are harder to kill.

So what should you do when your child gets sick?  To minimize the risk of antibiotic resistance, keep these tips in mind:

• Take antibiotics only for bacterial infections.
  It’s a good idea to let milder illnesses (especially those thought to be caused by viruses) run their course.  This helps prevent antibiotic-resistant germs from developing.  But leave it to your doctor to decide if an illness is “mild” or not.
• Seek advice and ask questions.
  Ask your doctor about whether your child’s illness is bacterial or viral, and discuss the risks and benefits of antibiotics.  If it’s a virus, ask about ways to treat symptoms.  Don’t pressure your doctor to prescribe antibiotics.

If you are considering giving leftover antibiotics to a child, sibling, other family member, or friend because of the cost of the visit or the prescription, remember:

• Through the Shawnee Financial Assistance Program, Shawnee Health Service can provide discounts for services provided at our community health centers.  This program can be used by people who are uninsured and people with insurance who have deductibles and co-pays and are determined eligible.  Eligibility is based on family size and gross income (before taxes and deductions).
• Shawnee Health Care, Pharmacy participates in the Public Health Service Drug Pricing Program authorized under Section 340B of the Public Health Service Act.  The 340B Program allows Health Center patients to purchase prescription drugs at significant savings.

 

Below is the full text of the original article:

FRIDAY, Nov. 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — An “alarming” number of American parents save unused antibiotics and give them to family members and other people, a new study finds.

 

This type of misuse helps fuel antibiotic resistance, the study authors said. Their report is scheduled for presentation Monday in Orlando, Fla., at the national conference of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

 

“This is dangerous not only for those given antibiotics that weren’t prescribed for them, but for entire populations of people who some antibiotics may no longer help when the bacteria they target become resistant to them,” study senior author Dr. Ruth Milanaik said in an AAP news release.

 

Milanaik directs the neonatal neurodevelopmental follow-up program at Cohen Children’s Medical Center of New York.

 

The researchers conducted an online survey of nearly 500 U.S. parents and found that about 48 percent said they’d kept leftover antibiotics rather than properly dispose of them.

 

Of those, 73 percent later gave the drugs to siblings, unrelated children and unrelated adults, sometimes months after the antibiotic was originally prescribed. Some of the parents also used the leftover antibiotics themselves.

 

A common reason parents gave for keeping unused antibiotics was to avoid the cost of a second trip to the doctor.

 

The dosage of the unused antibiotics given to others was typically the prescribed dosage, or was estimated based on the age of the child, the study authors said.

 

The survey also found that 16 percent of parents said they’d given adult medications to their children.

 

Milanaik said more needs to be done to educate parents about antibiotics and the risks of taking them without proper medical consultation.

 

“Although the discovery of antibiotics has revolutionized medicine, it is imperative that clinicians emphasize the importance of [proper use and disposal of these medications] to make sure they remain an effective tool against infectious diseases,” she said.

 

Research presented at meetings should be considered preliminary unless published in a peer-reviewed journal.

 

WebMD

Did you know it’s time to sign up for health coverage for 2019?

If you need health coverage, you can enroll at HealthCare.Gov. But hurry, the deadline to enroll in a plan is December 15th – so don’t delay!

Most marketplace shoppers will qualify for financial help to lower their costs, too.  In fact, 85 percent of current enrollees receive a tax credit to help lower their monthly premiums.  Most enrollees pay less than $100/month for their plan.

 

And this year, there are new plans available at new prices.  Even if you’ve looked before, it’s important to check out your options – coverage might be more affordable than you think.

 

There’s a lot of confusion about the state of the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare), but the truth is the ACA is still the law of the land.  Comprehensive health coverage, including key consumer protections like no discrimination against people with pre-existing health conditions, is still available to consumers who need to get covered.  

 

We’re busting some of the most common myths about the ACA – check them out below.

Myth #1:  Financial help to lower premiums and out-of-pocket costs is no longer available.  FALSE. 

Financial assistance is still available for low and middle-income consumers to help lower the cost of their plan. In fact, more than 8 out of 10 consumers last year qualified for a tax credit.

 

Myth #2:  The marketplace is not stable and premiums are skyrocketing. FALSE. 

In fact, premium price increases for 2019 are expected to be much lower than previous years, and some states will even see price decreases.  CMS recently announced a national average drop of 1.5 percent in premiums across states using HealthCare.Gov.

 

Myth #3:  I am no longer protected from discrimination for having a pre-existing condition. FALSE. 

All of the consumer protections created by the ACA are still intact, and all plans sold by HealthCare.Gov must provide comprehensive coverage, and cannot charge a consumer more because of their health status or medical history.  Plans outside the ACA marketplace don’t have to offer the same protections, so always make sure to use HealthCare.Gov when enrolling in coverage.

 

Myth #4:  Insurers are dropping out. FALSE. 

In fact, the highest number of insurers are participating this year since 2015.  There will be 23 more insurers participating in HealthCare.Gov states and 29 insurers are expanding their coverage to additional counties in 2019 compared to 2018.  That means more choices and competitive prices for consumers.

 

As always, application assistance is available at Shawnee Health Service.

Our Navigators can help you go through the online system as well as answer questions you might have about the Marketplace.  There is no cost for this service, and you do not need to be a patient of Shawnee Health Service to receive assistance.

Midwifery at Shawnee Health Care, OB/GYN

 

Many women tend to think of midwives as playing a supporting role in the pregnancy and childbirth experience, similar to doulas or lactation consultants.  But a midwife is, in fact, a professional trained specifically in assisting women with every aspect of pregnancy, from prenatal care to delivery.  What’s more, her job doesn’t necessarily end with pregnancy.  You can see your midwife for just about all your women’s health needs, including your annual exam, contraceptive counseling and prescriptions.

 

Midwives often lend a more personal touch to the pregnancy experience compared to OBs, emphasizing the physical, emotional and social needs of patients.  Rebeccah even knits hats for her patients’ babies.

 

“A lot of women desire a low-intervention, hands-off birth, and this is something that Shawnee has allowed us to provide for our patients,” says Megan Walker, DNP, APN, CNM.

 

Midwives honor the normalcy of women’s life cycle events, and believe in “watchful waiting and non-intervention in normal processes,” according to the American College of Nurse Midwives.

 

What are patients saying about our midwives?

“And of course Megan I can’t say enough about! THANK you for being there for me on one of the scariest days of my life. I was so nervous about childbirth and wanted fabulous people to make the day great and you def made it very special! You will always be a special person in my little families life.”

 

“We couldn’t have asked for better care for Jensen and I and if we ever decide to have another, they will be the ones to share our experience with us again! Thank you all for everything you do!”

 

 

“I had Megan during delivery and she was a light during the storm when I didn’t think I could do it any longer. She reassured me that everything was going to be ok and with that reassurance I delivered a beautiful little boy.”

 

“We could not be more thankful to the midwives and the team at Shawnee! It was a complete 180 experience from our first and I know a lot of the reason why is because of the team we assembled! Yay for rocking the VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean). Thanks for supporting mom’s in efforts many practices won’t!”

 

If you are expecting and think a Nurse Midwife is right for you, call Shawnee Health Care, OB/GYN.
(618) 519-9200.

 

 

Did you know that 1 in 4 older Americans falls every year?

Falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries for people aged 65+. Falls can result in hip fractures, broken bones, and head injuries. And even falls without a major injury can cause an older adult to become fearful or depressed, making it difficult for them to stay active. The good news is that falls can be prevented.

 

What can family physicians do to prevent falls?

Physicians play an important role in identifying and managing older patients’ fall risk. The CDC created the Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries (STEADI) initiative to assist physicians in preventing falls. STEADI  includes three core elements: screen patients to identify their fall risk, assess patients’ modifiable fall risk factors, and intervene to reduce fall risk by using effective clinical and community-based strategies. Combined, these elements can have a substantial impact on reducing falls, improving health outcomes, and reducing health care expenditures.

 

Shawnee Alliance and Shawnee Health Care are working together to implement STEADI at Shawnee Health Care health centers and in the homes of our older patients. We are committed to keeping our older adults and clients with disabilities safe in their home.

 

What can you do to protect your older loved one from a fall?

1. Enlist their support in taking simple steps to stay safe.

Ask your older loved one if they’re concerned about falling. Many older adults recognize that falling is a risk, but they believe it won’t happen to them or they won’t get hurt—even if they’ve already fallen in the past. If they’re concerned about falling, dizziness, or balance, suggest that they discuss it with their health care provider who can assess their personal risk and suggest programs or services that could help.

 

2. Discuss their current health conditions.

Find out if your older loved one is experiencing any problems with managing their own health. Are they having trouble remembering to take their medications—or are they experiencing side effects? Is it getting more difficult for them to do things they used to do easily? Are hearing and vision changes becoming problematic?

 

3.  Ask about their last eye checkup.

If your older loved one wears glasses, make sure they have a current prescription and they’re using the glasses as advised by their eye doctor. Bifocals also can be problematic on stairs, so it’s important to be cautious. For those already struggling with low vision, consult with a low-vision specialist for ways to make the most of their eyesight.

 

4.  Notice if they’re holding onto walls, furniture, or someone else when walking or if they appear to have difficulty walking or arising from a chair.

These are all signs that it might be time to see a physical therapist. A trained physical therapist can help your older loved one improve their balance, strength, and gait through exercise. They might also suggest a cane or walker—and provide guidance on how to use these aids.

 

5. Talk about their medications.

If your older loved one is having a hard time keeping track of medicines or is experiencing side effects, encourage them to discuss their concerns with their doctor and pharmacist. Suggest that they have their medications reviewed each time they get a new prescription. Also, beware of non-prescription medications that contain sleep aids—including painkillers with “PM” in their names. These can lead to balance issues and dizziness.

 

6. Do a walk-through safety assessment of their home.

• Lighting – Increase lighting throughout the house, especially at the top and bottom of stairs. Ensure that lighting is readily available when getting up in the middle of the night.
• Stairs – Make sure there are two secure rails on all stairs.
• Bathrooms – Install grab bars in the tub/shower and near the toilet. Make sure they’re installed where your older loved one would actually use them. For even greater safety, consider using a shower chair and hand-held shower.

 

 

Preventing Falls: Tips for Older Adults & Caregivers