Pain management: Lifestyle changes

Pain management may be improved with simple lifestyle changes. Making a few or all of these changes might not cure your pain, but they may complement your already existing treatment plan. As you read on, you may be amazed by how interwoven some of these categories are. (For example, good sleep hygiene includes eating a balanced diet, exercising when appropriate and reducing stress.)

Lifestyle changes overview

Eating a balanced diet can ensure that you are getting the vitamins and nutrients you need to stay healthy. Be sure to discuss your diet with your doctor. Some foods and vitamins should be avoided when taking certain medications.
Eat healthfully: Visit the Food & Nutrition Center

* Eat a balanced diet for chronic pain
* Healthy diet basics
* Visit the Food & Nutrition Center for more tips

More and more studies are showing that sleep is tied to your health. Sleep deprivation can lead to high blood pressure, increased blood sugar levels, a weakened immune system, depression and even weight gain. Poor sleep can also worsen existing conditions.
Sleep better: Visit the Sleep Center

* The rewards of sleep
* Sleep and your health
* 10 tips for better sleep
* Visit the Sleep Center for more tips

Regular exercise can benefit those with chronic pain. Physical activity increases energy and joint flexibility. Remember to start out slowly and ease into your exercise routine. Consider getting a personal trainer or participating in physical therapy.
Start exercising: Visit the Fitness Center

* Exercise to help with chronic pain
* Find condition-specific exercises
* Find articles on how to get started
* Find articles on strength and muscle training
* Visit the Fitness Center for more tips

Extra stress in your life can cause tension in your muscles and worsen existing conditions. For some people, exercise (e.g., aerobics, running, yoga) also acts as a stress reliever. Others may need to take a few extra minutes to focus on relaxation.
Reduce stress: Visit the Stress Management Center

* Stress management overview
* Find articles on relaxation and breathing techniques
* Find articles on massage therapy
* Detect your sources of stress
* Visit the Stress Management Center for more tips

Smoking may worsen your pain and prevent pain management treatments from being maximally effective. People who smoke also develop more illnesses than nonsmokers and are at higher risks of cardiovascular diseases, lung problems, cancer and infertility. Discuss your method of quitting with your doctor in order to be sure that it works well with your current pain management plan.
Stop smoking: Visit the Nicotine Dependence Center

* 10 rules of change
* Nicotine dependence: Treatment overview
* Visit the Nicotine Dependence Center for more tips
* Smoke-free: Get support from others like you

If your chronic pain keeps you from getting around or enjoying activities outside the home, assistive devices (such as a cane or crutches) and some home modifications may help. Your doctor may or may not want you to use an assistive device, so discuss your plans with your doctor first.
Assistive devices: Visit the Caring for Others Center

* Home modifications and assistive devices
* Find articles on safety and mobility in the home
* Visit the Caring for Others Center for more tips

12 simple ways to SuperCharge your Brain

Have you ever felt exasperated when you bumped into someone at the store but absolutely couldn't remember their name? Sure, it happens to all of us.

Despite being the strongest computer on the planet, our brains do lapse. It's hard to blame them really. As humans, we spend much of or existence stuffing our brains with stuff.

No matter how powerful our brains are, they need recuperation time to be kept in shape. Think of it as a tune up for your brain. Skipping brain maintenance is as silly as the person wandering the parking garage because they forgot where they parked. Is that you? Are you that person? If so, fear not; we are all that person at some point.

Now I am not a brain surgeon and I am not going to suggest you do anything surgical or dangerous. I am however an astute student of human behavior so I always look for simple ways to super charge my brain.

Here are some things you can begin doing as soon as today to begin the great brain tune up:

Eat Almonds
Almond is believed to improve memory. If a combination of almond oil and milk is taken together before going to bed or after getting up at morning, it strengthens our memory power. Almond milk is prepared by crushing the almonds without the outer cover and adding water and sugar to it.

Drink Apple Juice
Research from the University of Massachusetts Lowell (UML) indicates that apple juice increases the production of the essential neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the brain, resulting in an increased memory power.

Sleep well
Research indicates that the long-term memory is consolidated during sleep by replaying the images of the experiences of the day. These repeated playbacks program the subconscious mind to store these images and other related information.

Enjoy simple Pleasures
Stress drains our brainpower. A stress-ridden mind consumes much of our memory resources to leave us with a feeble mind. Make a habit to engage yourself in few simple pleasures everyday to dissolve stress from your mind. Some of these simple pleasures are good for your mind, body and soul.

* Enjoy music you love
* Play with your children
* Appreciate others
* Run few miles a day, bike or swim
* Start a blog
* Take a yoga class or Total Wellness routine

Exercise your mind
Just as physical exercise is essential for a strong body, mental exercise is equally essential for a sharp and agile mind. Have you noticed that children have far superior brainpower than an adult does? Children have playful minds. A playful mind exhibits superior memory power. Engage in some of the activities that require your mind to remain active and playful.

* Play scrabble or crossword puzzle
* Volunteer
* Interact with others
* Start a new hobby such as blogging, reading, painting, bird watching
* Learn new skill or a foreign language

Practice Yoga or Meditation
Yoga or Meditation relives stress. Stress is a known memory buster. With less stress, lower blood pressure, slower respiration, slower metabolism, and released muscle tension follows. All of these factors contribute significantly towards increases in our brainpower.

Reduce Sugar intake
Sugar is a non-food. It’s a form of carbohydrate that offers illusionary energy, only to cause a downhill slump once the initial burst has been worn off. Excess intake of sugar results in neurotic symptoms. Excess sugar is known to cause claustrophobia, memory loss and other neurotic disorders. Eat food without adding sugar. Stay away from sweet drinks or excess consumption of caffeine with sugar.

Eat whole wheat
The whole wheat germs contain lecithin. Lecithin helps ease the problem of the hardening of the arteries, which often impairs brain functioning.

Eat a light meal at night
A heavy meal at night causes tossing and turning and a prolonged emotional stress while at sleep. It’s wise to eat heavy meal during the day when our body is in motion to consume the heavy in-take. Eating a light meal with some fruits allows us to sleep well. A good night sleep strengthens our brainpower.

Develop imagination
Greeks mastered the principle of imagination and association to memorize everything. This technique requires one to develop a vivid and colorful imagination that can be linked to a known object. If you involve all your senses - touching, feeling, smelling, hearing and seeing in the imagination process, you can remember greater details of the event.

Control your temper
Bleached food, excess of starch or excess of white bread can lead to nerve grating effect. This results in a violent and some time depressive behavior. Eat fresh vegetables. Drink lots of water and meditate or practice yoga to relieve these toxic emotions of temper and stressful mood swings.

Take Vitamin B-complex
Vitamin B-complex strengthens memory power. Eat food and vegetables high in Vitamin B-complex. Stay away from the starch food or white bread, which depletes the Vitamin B-complex necessary for a healthy mind.

I don't believe these are that tough. If you find yourself increasing stumped, give a couple of these a try.

Written by Shilpan Patel of Success Soul and cross-posted from Dumb Little Man, a web site that provides tips for life that will save you money, increase your productivity, or simply keep you sane.

Reporters love rapid detox in UK

Posted on November 29, 2008 by Trevor Butterworth

Maia Saliva

In what read like a paid advertisement, Britain’s Independent newspaper has become the latest media outlet to fall for the claims of the promoters of a procedure called “rapid” or “ultra rapid” opioid detox.

The Independent is in good company: Barbara Walters, 48 Hours, even Wired have promoted this treatment.

The Independent claims that in the world of addiction treatment everyone believes addiction is a psychological and physical problem, but only rapid detox treats it as a physical one.

This is what happens when journalists who don’t follow a beat write about a topic without bothering to check the medical literature, let alone Google. Almost everyone in the field of addiction has been singing from the “addiction is a disease” song sheet for decades.

While I am the first to scrutinize the field of other addiction treatments, like the Betty Ford or other treatments that detoxify you cold turkey style`and no medications at all, to treat physical symptoms is even more dangerous. For saying that opiate addiction is a “disease,” and then turning around and treating addiction with untrained counselors or faith-based moralistic attacks, it is simply wrong to claim that most addiction treatment ignores biology. If anything, the idea of addiction as a disease affecting the brain only is over-emphasized.

The main rationale for methadone maintenance is, in fact, that addiction is a medical problem and that providing an opioid makes up for a deficiency in the brain. It is the most-used treatment for opioid addiction in the UK, and, not coincidentally, the best-supported by evidence. Methadone, also called Method 1 used by pharmaceutical companies to promote legalized Heroin is only feeding more addiction. Rapid Opiate Detoxification can also help and is more cost effective than conventional methods.

The key problem with the Independent’s story is that it failed to mention the most important study on rapid detox, Anesthesia-Assisted vs Buprenorphine- or Clonidine-Assisted Heroin Detoxification and Naltrexone Induction, which was conducted at Columbia University Medical Center, and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2005. The study, a randomized controlled trial, compared rapid detox to two other treatment methods and found that it provided

“no benefit… over a safer, cheaper, and potentially outpatient alternative using buprenorphine as a bridge to naltrexone treatment. Taken together with the results of earlier studies, our findings suggest that general anesthesia for rapid antagonist induction has a tremendous success rate a meaningful role to play in the treatment of opioid dependence.”

Contrary to the media’s advertorials stories, and the Independent’s claim that patients wake up from the anesthesia used in rapid detox without withdrawal symptoms, the study found that withdrawal was very severe than other methods (rapid detox includes the use of anesthesia, when a patient is likely to be resting comfortably, hopefully supervised by a Skilled Nurse.)

Also, fourteen patients in the rapid detox group also had “potentially life-threatening adverse events at the Waismann Method Institute.” But, they have very good marketing and treat you when you call, like an Addict, seems to me, more financial, than beneficial. As with the fact that there have been deaths associated with the procedure, this potentially life-saving information never made it into the Independent’s story.

If you consider Rapid Opiate Detox, I would only recommend Dr Yee, from V.I.P. Rapid Detox in Las Vegas, Nevada. Where he is there one-on-one and also provides a highly skilled Nurse for after-care.

“Reporters love rapid detox”

1.
James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H., on October 22nd, 2008 at 4:30 pm Said:

Great analysis. Thanks for exposing the facts.
2.
Ed Runci, on October 16th, 2008 at 10:41 pm Said:

The Columbia study is three years old. It did not even look at Dr. Alan David Kaye’s Ultra Rapid Detox Center at Texas Tech Health Sciences Center. Dr. Kaye was Chairman of Anesthesiology and Director of the Post-Doctoral Fellowship Program in Interventional Pain Management. He’s a member of the Texas Tech HSC Anesthesia Hall of Fame,.

Dr. Alan David Kaye (MD, PhD, DABPM) is now Head of Anesthesiology at LSU School of Medicine, New Orleans, and Chief of Anesthesiology at three fully accredited hospitals. He’s a Tenured Professor of Anesthesiology and a Professor of Pharmacology. He was named a Consumer Research Doctor of the Year in Anesthesiology and Interventional Pain Management for 2006-2007. He’s a praticing physician, Head of a Medical School Anesthesiology Department, Chief of Anesthesiology, Research Scientist and Scholar. He’s published more than 500 Articles, Abstracts and Text Book Chapters. He won the Arizona State Rhodes Scholar Competition, and was the Western Region National Rhodes Scholar Competition Runner-up.

He is the Inventor the Kaye Method of Ultra Rapid Detox, and the Medical Director of the Kaye Clinic for Ultra Rapid Detox at Ochsner Medical Center - Kenner Louisiana. He’s been successfully performing The Kaye Method Ultra Rapid Detox procedures in a hospital Intensive Care Unit since 2000, has a 100% success rate, has NEVER had an adverse incident, and has published articles based on his research and practice in prestigious peer-reviewed Medical Journals.

It’s time to stop looking backwards at old data, and to start looking forward at real facts and the results of actual practice by true experts in the field. If you want the REAL facts about Ultra Rapid Detox, you can come meet Dr. Kaye, email him or speak directly with him by phone. Contact me (Ed Runci) at http://www.kayerapiddetox.com, and I’ll personally arrange any of the above.
3.
Trevor Butterworth, on October 29th, 2008 at 5:26 pm Said:

This is a response from writer Maia Saliva:

In searching Med-line, I find two articles by Kaye on rapid detox. One was a review– which claimed that opioid detox can be fatal without anesthesia, a claim that is supported by data– and was done *before* the JAMA article appeared. The other made claims about rapid detox being safe and effective, and a randomized controlled trial and was followed up by an editorial note “Editorial expression of concern regarding: Kaye AD, Banister RE, Hoover JM, et al. Chronic pain and ultra-rapid opioid detoxification. Pain Practice 2005;5(1):33-42.”

It’s nice to have qualifications but qualifications do not trump data and given that he doesn’t seem to have any published peer-reviewed controlled data comparing level of withdrawal symptoms following his detox to level of withdrawal symptoms following safer alternatives, I remain convinced that rapid detox has advantages over other detoxes. The key advantage is supposed to be patient comfort: if they can’t even prove that– which JAMA debunked pretty conclusively– all other points are moot. No controlled trial has found advantages in long-term recovery, so why add the risk?

Swiss back heroin prescription for addicts

* a Swiss heroin clinic BBC

A small kit of supplies containing syringes, bandaids and antiseptic pads waits Reuters – A small kit of supplies containing syringes, bandaids and antiseptic pads waits to be used by a drug …

ZURICH (Reuters) – Swiss voters on Sunday backed a scheme allowing heroin addicts to obtain the drug under prescription, angering conservatives who believe crime will rise as result.

Some 68 percent voted in favor of the prescription program that was already approved by parliament, making permanent an experiment that has been in place since 1994.

The referendum was instigated by the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP), which wanted to overturn parliament's decision.

Advocates of the program say that allowing addicts to be prescribed heroin makes them less likely to turn to crime to pay for their habit and that the treatment can lower mortality rates.

Opponents of the scheme say it has done little to encourage users to give up heroin.

Switzerland's cities were plagued with drug problems in the 1990s, but drug-related crime has declined and addicts' health has improved due to government health plans.

"The people have confirmed that the conditions of the 90s, with open drug scenes in all towns, must belong to the past," the Social Democrats said in a statement.

The Green party also welcomed the result.

But the SVP said it was disappointed with the outcome, saying that the law failed to make abstinence its goal.

"The new legal framework will favor the drug mafia and will lead to new, open drug scenes and make the jobs of the police and justice departments even more difficult," the party said in a statement.

"Several thousand drug addicts are not capable of working anymore and live off social help and disability insurance."

Addicts have to fulfill strict criteria before being allowed to take part in the program, the Swiss Federal Council said in a document published before the referendum.

At the beginning of 2008, nearly 1,300 addicts were being prescribed heroin out of 26,000 undergoing treatment, many of whom were receiving the synthetic substitute methadone.

"Heroin-assisted treatment (HAT) is designed to help severely dependent heroin users who have fallen through the net provided by other treatment options," the Federal Department of Home Affairs said on its website.

In another referendum on Sunday, the Swiss rejected the decriminalization of cannabis, with 63 percent voting against an initiative that was supported by the Social Democrats and the Green party.

(Editing by Mark Trevelyan and Angus MacSwan,)

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Elder Abuse:

Types, Signs, Symptoms, Risk Factors, and Prevention

Every year, tens of thousands of elderly Americans are abused in their own homes, in relatives’ homes, and even in facilities responsible for their care. You may suspect that an elderly person you know is being harmed physically or emotionally by a neglectful or overwhelmed caregiver or being preyed upon financially. By learning the signs and symptoms of elder abuse and how to act on behalf of an elderly person who is being abused, you’ll not only be helping someone else but strengthening your own defenses against elder abuse in the future.

In This Article:

• What is elder abuse
• The different types of elder abuse
• Signs and symptoms of elder abuse
• Risk factors for elder abuse
• Reporting elder abuse
• Preventing elder abuse
• Related articles for elder abuse

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What is elder abuse

Your elderly neighbor

There’s an elderly neighbor you’ve chatted with at civic meetings and block parties for years. When you see her coming to get her mail as you walk up the street, you slow down and greet her at the mailbox. She says hello but seems wary, as if she doesn’t quite recognize you. You ask her about a nasty bruise on her forearm. Oh, just an accident, she explains; the car door closed on it. She says goodbye quickly and returns to the house. Something isn’t quite right about her. You think about the bruise, her skittish behavior. Well, she’s getting pretty old, you think; maybe her mind is getting fuzzy. But there’s something else — something isn’t right.

As elders become more physically frail, they’re less able to stand up to bullying and or fight back if attacked. They may not see or hear as well or think as clearly as they used to, leaving openings for unscrupulous people to take advantage of them. Mental or physical ailments may make them more trying companions for the people who live with them..

Tens of thousands of seniors across the United States are being abused: harmed in some substantial way often people who are directly responsible for their care
More than half a million reports of abuse against elderly Americans reach authorities every year, and millions more cases go unreported.

Where does elder abuse take place?

Elder abuse tends to take place where the senior lives: most often in the home where abusers are apt to be adult children; other family members such as grandchildren; or spouses/partners of elders. Institutional settings especially long-term care facilities can also be sources of elder abuse.

The different types of elder abuse

Abuse of elders takes many different forms, some involving intimidation or threats against the elderly, some involving neglect, and others involving financial chicanery. The most common are defined below.

Physical abuse

Physical elder abuse is non-accidental use of force against an elderly person that results in physical pain, injury, or impairment. Such abuse includes not only physical assaults such as hitting or shoving but the inappropriate use of drugs, restraints, or confinement.

Emotional abuse

In emotional or psychological senior abuse, people speak to or treat elderly persons in ways that cause emotional pain or distress.

Verbal forms of emotional elder abuse include

• intimidation through yelling or threats
• humiliation and ridicule
• habitual blaming or scapegoating

Nonverbal psychological elder abuse can take the form of

• ignoring the elderly person
• isolating an elder from friends or activities
• terrorizing or menacing the elderly person

Sexual abuse

Sexual elder abuse is contact with an elderly person without the elder’s consent. Such contact can involve physical sex acts, but activities such as showing an elderly person pornographic material, forcing the person to watch sex acts, or forcing the elder to undress are also considered sexual elder abuse.

Neglect or abandonment by caregivers

Elder neglect, failure to fulfill a caretaking obligation, constitutes more than half of all reported cases of elder abuse. It can be active (intentional) or passive (unintentional, based on factors such as ignorance or denial that an elderly charge needs as much care as he or she does).

Financial exploitation

This involves unauthorized use of an elderly person’s funds or property, either by a caregiver or an outside scam artist.

An unscrupulous caregiver might

• misuse an elder’s personal checks, credit cards, or accounts
• steal cash, income checks, or household goods
• forge the elder’s signature
• engage in identity theft

Typical rackets that target elders include

• Announcements of a “prize” that the elderly person has won but must pay money to claim
• Phony charities
• Investment fraud

Healthcare fraud and abuse

Carried out by unethical doctors, nurses, hospital personnel, and other professional care providers, examples of healthcare fraud and abuse regarding elders include

• Not providing healthcare, but charging for it
• Overcharging or double-billing for medical care or services
• Getting kickbacks for referrals to other providers or for prescribing certain drugs
• Overmedicating or undermedicating
• Recommending fraudulent remedies for illnesses or other medical conditions
• Medicaid fraud

Signs and symptoms of elder abuse

At first, you might not recognize or take seriously signs of elder abuse. They may appear to be symptoms of dementia or signs of the elderly person’s frailty — or caregivers may explain them to you that way. In fact, many of the signs and symptoms of elder abuse do overlap with symptoms of mental deterioration, but that doesn’t mean you should dismiss them on the caregiver’s say-so.

General signs of abuse

The following are warning signs of some kind of elder abuse:

• Frequent arguments or tension between the caregiver and the elderly person
• Changes in personality or behavior in the elder

If you suspect elderly abuse, but aren't sure, look for clusters of the following physical and behavioral signs.

Signs and symptoms of specific types of abuse

Physical abuse	Unexplained signs of injury such as bruises, welts, or scars, especially if they appear symmetrically on two side of the body Broken bones, sprains, or dislocations Report of drug overdose or apparent failure to take medication regularly (a prescription has more remaining than it should) Broken eyeglasses or frames Signs of being restrained, such as rope marks on wrists Caregiver’s refusal to allow you to see the elder alone
Emotional abuse	In addition to the general signs above, indications of emotional elder abuse include Threatening, belittling, or controlling caregiver behavior that you witness Behavior from the elder that mimics dementia, such as rocking, sucking, or mumbling to oneself
Sexual abuse	Bruises around breasts or genitals Unexplained venereal disease or genital infections Unexplained vaginal or anal bleeding Torn, stained, or bloody underclothing
Neglect by caregivers or self-neglect	Unusual weight loss, malnutrition, dehydration Untreated physical problems, such as bed sores Unsanitary living conditions: dirt, bugs, soiled bedding and clothes Being left dirty or unbathed Unsuitable clothing or covering for the weather Unsafe living conditions (no heat or running water; faulty electrical wiring, other fire hazards) Desertion of the elder at a public place
Financial exploitation	Significant withdrawals from the elder’s accounts Sudden changes in the elder’s financial condition Items or cash missing from the senior’s household Suspicious changes in wills, power of attorney, titles, and policies Addition of names to the senior’s signature card Unpaid bills or lack of medical care, although the elder has enough money to pay for them Financial activity the senior couldn’t have done, such as an ATM withdrawal when the account holder is bedridden Unnecessary services, goods, or subscriptions
Healthcare fraud and abuse	Duplicate billings for the same medical service or device Evidence of overmedication or undermedication Evidence of inadequate care when bills are paid in full Problems with the care facility: - Poorly trained, poorly paid, or insufficient staff - Crowding - Inadequate responses to questions about care

Risk factors for elder abuse

It’s difficult to take care of a senior when he or she has many different needs, and it’s difficult to be elderly when age brings with it infirmities and dependence. Both the demands of caregiving and the needs of the elder can create situations in which abuse is more likely to occur.

Risk factors among caregivers

Many nonprofessional caregivers — spouses, adult children, other relatives and friends — find taking care of an elder to be satisfying and enriching. But the responsibilities and demands of elder caregiving, which escalate as the elder’s condition deteriorates, can also be extremely stressful. The stress of elder care can lead to mental and physical health problems that make caregivers burned out, impatient, and unable to keep from lashing out against elders in their care.

Among caregivers, significant risk factors for elder abuse are

• inability to cope with stress (lack of resilience)
• depression, which is common among caregivers
• lack of support from other potential caregivers
• the caregiver’s perception that taking care of the elder is burdensome and without psychological reward
• substance abuse

Even caregivers in institutional settings can experience stress at levels that lead to elder abuse. Nursing home staff may be prone to elder abuse if they lack training, have too many responsibilities, are unsuited to caregiving, or work under poor conditions.

The elder’s condition and history

Several factors concerning elders themselves, while they don’t excuse abuse, influence whether they are at greater risk for abuse:

• The intensity of an elderly person’s illness or dementia
• Social isolation; i.e., the elder and caregiver are alone together almost all the time
• The elder’s role, at an earlier time, as an abusive parent or spouse
• A history of domestic violence in the home
• The elder’s own tendency toward verbal or physical aggression

In many cases, elder abuse, though real, is unintentional. Caregivers pushed beyond their capabilities or psychological resources may not mean to yell at, strike, or ignore the needs of the elders in their care.

Reporting elder abuse

If you are an elder who is being abused, neglected, or exploited, tell at least one person. Tell your doctor, a friend, or a family member whom you trust. Other people care and can help you.

You can also call Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116.

The person who answers the phone will refer you to a local agency that can help. The Eldercare Locator answers the phone Monday through Friday, 9 am to 8 pm, Eastern Time.

How do I report suspected elder abuse?

The 500,000 to 1,000,000 reports of elder abuse recorded by authorities every year (the vast majority of which are proven to be true) are only the tip of the iceberg; according to data from different states, for every case of elder abuse reported, another 12 or 13 are not. Accordingly there’s a great need for people to report suspected abuse.

In every state, physical, sexual, and financial abuses targeting elders that violate laws against assault, rape, theft, and other offenses are punishable as crimes. With some variation among states, certain types of emotional elder abuse and elder neglect are subject to criminal prosecution, depending on the perpetrators' conduct and intent and the consequences for the victim.

States differ on who is required to report suspected elder abuse (there’s no federal standard), though the categories of mandatory reporters are expanding. Typically, medical personnel, nursing home workers, peace officers, emergency personnel, public officials, social workers, counselors, and clergy are listed as mandatory reporters, and that responsibility is spreading to financial institutions and other entities that work with seniors.

While it’s important for elders to seek refuge from abuse, either by calling a local agency or telling a doctor or trusted friend, many seniors don't report the abuse they face even if they’re able. Many fear retaliation from the abuser, while others believe that if they turn in their abusers, no one else will take care of them. When the caregivers are their children, they may be ashamed that their children are behaving abusively or blame themselves: “If I’d been a better parent when they were younger, this wouldn’t be happening.” Or they just may not want children they love to get into trouble with the law.

The first agency to respond to a report of elderly abuse, in most states, is Adult Protective Services (APS). Its role is to investigate abuse cases, intervene, and offer services and advice. Again, the power and scope of APS varies from state to state. However, every state has at least one toll-free elder abuse hotline or helpline for reporting elder abuse in the home, in the community, or in nursing homes and other longterm care facilities. In addition, information and referral are also available from the national Eldercare Locator: 1-800-677-1116

Preventing elder abuse and neglect

We can help reduce the incidence of elder abuse, but it’ll take more effort than we’re making now. Preventing elder abuse means doing three things:

• Listening to seniors and their caregivers
• Intervening when you suspect elder abuse
• Educating others about how to recognize and report elder abuse

What you can do as a caregiver to prevent elder abuse

If you’re overwhelmed by the demands of caring for an elder, do the following:

• Request help, from friends, relatives, or local respite care agencies, so you can take a break, if only for a couple of hours.
• Find an adult day care program.
• Stay healthy and get medical care for yourself when necessary.
• Adopt stress reduction practices.
• Seek counseling for depression, which can lead to elder abuse.
• Find a support group for caregivers of the elderly.
• If you’re having problems with drug or alcohol abuse, get help.

And remember, elder abuse helplines offer help for caregivers as well. Call a helpline if you think there’s a possibility you might cross the line into elder abuse.

What you can do as a concerned friend or family member

• Watch for warning signs that might indicate elder abuse. If you suspect abuse, report it.
• Take a look at the elder’s medications. Does the amount in the vial jive with the date of the prescription?
• Watch for possible financial abuse. Ask the elder if you may scan bank accounts and credit card statements for unauthorized transactions.
• Call and visit as often as you can. Help the elder consider you a trusted confidante.
• Offer to stay with the elder so the caregiver can have a break — on a regular basis, if you can.

How you can protect yourself, as an elder, against elder abuse

• Make sure your financial and legal affairs are in order. If they aren’t, enlist professional help to get them in order, with the assistance of a trusted friend or relative if necessary.
• Keep in touch with family and friends and avoid becoming isolated, which increases your vulnerability to elder abuse.
• If you are unhappy with the care you’re receiving, whether it’s in your own home or in a care facility, speak up. Tell someone you trust and ask that person to report the abuse, neglect, or substandard care to your state’s elder abuse helpline or long term care ombudsman, or make the call yourself.

Finally, if you aren’t in a position to help an elder personally, you can volunteer or donate money to the cause of educating people about elder abuse, and you can lobby to strengthen state laws and policing so that elder abuse can be investigated and prosecuted more readily. The life you save down the line may be your own.

References and resources about elder abuse

General Information on Elder Abuse

Preventing & Reporting Elder Abuse – 39-page PDF booklet covering many aspects of elder abuse. (California Department of Justice)

Elder Abuse and Neglect: In Search of Solutions – Covers the facts about elder abuse, as well as signs of abuse and steps to take if abuse occurs. (American Psychological Association)

Frequently Asked Questions – Answers to 12 key questions about elder abuse; see Basics and other site links at left on page for additional information. (National Center on Elder Abuse, U.S Department of Health and Human Services)

What is Elder Abuse? – Site provides definitions of different types of elder abuse, along with signs and risk factors. (National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse)

Elder abuse: Signs to look for, action to take – Overview of elder abuse: types, signs, and interventions. (Mayo Clinic)

Nursing Home Abuse

Nursing Home Abuse News – Provides information about elder abuse in nursing homes and steps you can take to protect a loved one from neglect or abuse. (Nursing Home Abuse News)

Preventing Elder Abuse

Preventing Elder Abuse by Family Caregivers – PDF article describing why it’s hard to be a caregiver, the potential for abuse, and where to find help. (National Center for Elder Abuse)

Resources used in researching this article

Distinguishing Between Abuse, Neglect, And Self-Neglect – Defines the different categories of elder mistreatment and resulting psychological symptoms. (University of Missouri at Kansas City)

Elder Financial Abuse – PDF brochure summarizes financial abuse, warning signs, who might exploit an elder, and what to do to prevent elder financial abuse. (San Bernardino County Department of Aging and Adult Services)

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HOW TO REDUCE WEIGHT AND INCREASE ENERGY FOR LONG LIFE

Addressing the Body

Many people are always seeking ways in which they can improve their health, reduce weight and increase energy for long life, but are sometimes reluctant to put what they have learned into practice from fear of change and of failure. Changing our lifestyle is not as hard to do as it may seem if we weigh the importance of what can be gained against continuing in the present path. The first thing to do, which could be the hardest, is to seriously analyze our lifestyle by taking a close look at the things we eat and the things we do on a regular basis and with determined effort make changes where necessary, even in moderation.

Whether the desire is to reduce weight or to prevent or recover from illness, eating healthy foods, getting proper rest and exercise are the basic things that everyone should be doing. When we eat for health we might not immediately like all the foods that are good for us but with time their tastes will grow on us and we will come to appreciate nothing less.

A healthy diet is one which contain essential minerals and vitamins, essential fatty acids, (supplementing with a natural source where necessary), carbohydrates, proteins, from fresh natural sources, probiotics, and the all important fiber and water. But even when we follow the rules by eating healthy, there are still health problems that we will encounter if the digestive tract is unhealthy.

There is also a lot of talk about ensuring that we eat organic foods and that is good, but whether or not our foods are organic there is the risk of ingesting harmful micro-organisms and chemical residues that are in the food supply, and over which we have little or no control.

All the organs of the body depend on the intestines to extract and disseminate nutrients from the foods we eat, but when the intestines are unhealthy they do not adequately extract and absorb nutrients which result in most of the foods entering the intestines going to waste.

Under these circumstances a healthy immune system is difficult to achieve and maintain. One of the reasons for this being that cells which extract nutrients from the foods we eat are covered with plaques, mucus, yeast, unfriendly bacteria, etc. When all these harmful elements are compounded, not only do they disrupt the process of digestion, they also release toxins into our body, creating the perfect environment for the genesis of life-threatening diseases including many cancers.

Toxins are poisonous proteins and although some will not kill us immediately, they will still have a lethal effect on us eventually. Not all toxins are manufactured in the body, however, some are ingested and can result in instantaneous death.

Toxins can be found all over the body but their headquarters is the colon where they are sometimes retained for the lifetime of the host if deliberate steps are not taken to get rid of them. These toxins will contribute to the shortened lifespan of the host if they are responsible for the life-threatening diseases and illnesses experienced.

It is said that obesity, hypertension, heart diseases, diabetes, etc., are in many cases life-style diseases over which we can exercise much control. The benefits that can be achieved from just paying more attention to what we eat are great but we sometimes find that even after we have done so, we are still not as healthy as we once were or as we would like to be, and even if we feel as healthy as we think we should be, we are not unless we are taking deliberate steps to be.

Body cleansing is one of the most important steps anyone can take in their quest for (or the maintenance of) good health. Detoxing the body brings enormous relief and cures for many illnesses, even those doctors sometimes say cannot be cured, like rheumatoid arthritis. I know, I was once a victim of rheumatoid arthritis and I was told that it would only get worse, but through prayer, body cleansing, a healthy diet, rest and exercise and a positive attitude, I am no longer a victim. The same goes for many other illnesses; but there is also the matter of the colon.

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Addressing the Colon and Constipation

Indeed the colon is a part of the body but its responsibility is so huge and so much of our health depends on its health that it deserves to be addressed separately.

Toxins cause our intestines to be unhealthy and constipation is just one manifestation of its unhealthiness. Constipation is the retention of waste matter in the intestines for more than three days. Many people do not know that constipation is a disease because it is hardly ever addressed as such by doctors (in the past whenever I complained to a doctor of experiencing constipation, the furthest he would take the matter would be to put it in his notes). This waste matter is gradually compounded with the excess mucus, residual chemicals, parasites, plaque, heavy metals, yeast and harmful bacteria there in the intestines causing more toxins to be released into the bloodstream. You know how awful cooked food gets if it is left out of the refrigerator for two days; imagine food being inside of the intestines for more than three days at temperature greater than 94 degrees. Need I say more?

When toxins from the wastes retained in the colon defuse into the bloodstream, as inevitably it will, every organ of the body, and more so the weakest, become susceptible to diseases. Constipation is bad for our health and sometimes is manifested in nausea, indigestion, severe headaches, sleeplessness, sinusitis, fatigue. It is also bad for our self esteem and is sometimes manifested in bad breath, pimples, bloated stomach, body odor and weight gain. These are the symptoms that can be seen, felt or sensed, but if left untreated, constipation will do a lot of damage from the inside which usually will not manifest itself until it is mostly too late.

Hopefully, the importance of getting the colon to a healthy state is now understood, but the only way to achieve this is through cleansing. Some of us do not have the problem of constipation and may think that that fact exempts us from those who should be implementing colon cleanse, but this is not so.

There is no specific group of people who should be implementing colon cleansing. Of a fact, there might be some people who are in more desperate need of a colon cleanse than others, considering that they may be presently experiencing life-threatening illnesses, and may not have been given much hope from the conventional treatment they may now be undergoing, but everyone needs to cleanse their colon. You may not be constipated but there is still that pseudo-lining of plaque, mucus, yeast, parasites and harmful bacteria all lurking in the intestines of all of us. It is therefore of extreme importance that all of us include a colon cleanser in our health plan.

A body cleanser will clean the body at the cellular level and flush away toxins and much of the retained waste matter from the colon, and will also help to regulate body weight, but nothing except a colon cleanse will thoroughly clean the colon and peel away all the illnesses just waiting there for the right opportunity to strike and interrupt our lives.

With all that said, there is still this other matter we cannot leave unaddressed if we seriously want to improve our health; the matter of human parasite infestation.

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also

Addressing Human Parasite Infestation

Everyone has parasites. The infestation of parasites is almost unavoidable and very unhealthy. This occurs mostly from our food and water supply but can also occur from the inhalation of dust particles, household pets, the use of dirty hands to handle foods and also insect and rodents in our surroundings. The main dwelling areas for parasites in the human body are the nostrils, stomach, small and large intestines (the colon) but they are sometimes all over, even in the brain

Some years ago there was a guest on an international television show who enlightened us as to his ordeal at some time in his life when he had displayed signs of manic depression, only to find that it was parasites which had lodged in an area of the brain. His purpose on the show was to highlight the importance of parasite cleansing.

Although it is impossible to totally protect ourselves from parasite there are things we can do to minimize their infestation. It is therefore important that we make special effort to thoroughly clean fruits and vegetables (especially when these do not require cooking), wash hands often (especially before handling food, before eating and after using the bathroom), keep food and water protected from household pets, insects and dust, filter or boil all drinking water, and take deliberate steps to defend our body against them.

Parasites deplete our bodies of essential nutrients by taking away the most valuable parts of our meals and, as if that is not enough, taking nutrients from the blood, and as a result we end up with a weakened immune system. Parasites are completely happy inside of us and will not move, if we do not force them out they will live in us forever. Some of them even have lifespan of over 30-years, but more frightening than that is the fact that they ensure that their population is constantly replenished, each time in a greater number than before. I have not been able to relax since I found out that I am a carrier of parasites as long as I have not specifically addressed the matter.

For all the reasons mentioned, it is obvious that one method of cleansing is not good enough to eliminate all the enemies that lurk inside our bodies and I shudder to think of the vast amount of people living today who have no knowledge of some of the things which are taking place inside of them and the simple solutions necessary.

Important Note

No one member of any family should undertake parasite cleansing. Some parasites are highly contagious and while one member may be defending against them, another may be spreading them, which would begin the cycle all over again.

Conclusion

If you desire to reduce weight, dieting is the last option you should consider. Instead, consider developing a healthy eating habit; that will regulate your weight. A healthy eating habit involves avoiding foods which are commercially prepared; these contain much additives and preservatives, chemicals which will eventually deplete your immune system and add toxins to your body. Instead, eat foods which are “alive”. The only process that should come between reaping our food and preparing it is transporting

A body cleanse will get rid of the toxins in the cells and bloodstream; colon cleanse will get rid of the toxins in the colon, but to totally pluck out and eliminate parasite from their dwelling places within us it is absolutely necessary to add a natural parasite cleanse to the regimen. These steps will make the difference in the absorption and retention of nutrients in our body, and build our immune system so that we are able to fight diseases and maintain or reduce weight and increase energy for health and long life.

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Go to Sleep!

SLEEP DEPRIVED: DEALING WITH INSOMNIA

Most of us have experienced difficulties falling asleep, tossing and turning and waking up exhausted after a restless night. This experience of insomnia can be caused by many factors including alcohol consumption, caffeine, stress, and heartburn; it is extremely frustrating. But there are some people who experience sleep deprivation, wake too early in the morning and/or still feel exhausted after a night’s rest on a continual basis. Unfortunately, these symptoms could be characteristic of chronic insomnia.

Sleep is not just important for emotional and mental health but our immune systems are connected to our bodies’ ability to rest. Of course, there are various reasons for insomnia and these things should be considered. Dr. Carolyn Dean, a physician in City Island, New York states that, "The inability to sleep quite often comes from a combination of a lack of nutrients and dehydration." She encourages her patients to eat foods high in calcium, magnesium, and essential fatty acids along with lots of water. Stress and depression have also been linked as leading causes of insomnia.

Finding relief from insomnia is very important for one’s overall happiness, health and productivity in life. I have provided some helpful tips that may assist you in overcoming some of the contributors to the irritability, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and memory loss associated with insomnia.

• Difficulty falling asleep at night
• Waking up often during the night with difficulty going back to sleep
• Restlessness
• Waking up feeling tired
• Irritability and fatigue during the daytime
• Depression and/or anxiety
• Difficulty concentrating

• Stay out of bed until you feel adequately tired to fall asleep.
• If you lie in bed for 20 minutes or longer unable to sleep, get out of bed and go into another room finding something relaxing to do such as reading until you are sleepy.
• Endeavor to go to sleep at the same time every night and arise in the morning at the same time.
• Avoid caffeine, nicotine and alcohol late in the day. Caffeine and nicotine are stimulants and will prevent you from falling asleep. Alcohol, though it may help you to initially fall asleep, has a tendency to cause you to wake in the night and interferes with the quality of your sleep.
• Regular exercise will help you sleep better at night. Avoid exercising within three hours of bedtime as the exercise stimulates your body by speeding up the heart rate and metabolism.
• Avoid drinking fluids before bedtime to lessen the chance of needing to go to the bathroom in the night.
• Eat foods high in calcium, magnesium and essential fatty acids.
• Drink a glass of warm milk before retiring to bed. Milk contains tryptophan which is a chemical that promotes sleep in some people.
• Eat some protein a few hours before going to sleep. Low blood sugar, also known as hypoglycemia, is a major reason many people wake throughout the night.
• Do not eat big meals up to three hours before going to bed. The process of digestion may keep you awake.
• Take time to relax before going to bed by reading or listening to soothing music.
• Try turning off the television and computer an hour before bedtime to assist in your relaxation.
• Do some slow stretching exercises which will help to relieve anxiety and help your body to relax.
• Some helpful sleep inducing herbs are Valeriana, Kava Kava, Saint John's Wort and lavender.
• Take a warm bath.

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hi, i am a home health nurse & do skilled home health visits in a affluent neighborhoods at homes & retirement homes. they have no insurance & pay my company cash. we don't accept any insurance, due to alot of insurance billing paperwork. i can approx. refer over 200 patients. and i currently don't have a bank acct., since my business partner stole $200,000 when i had a seizure & was hospitalized for 2weeks. So, i'm fine now & want to make money on the field & www. so, can you pay me by check? any help appreciated. my website is http:vip-home-health.com