IN THIS ISSUE
Dr. Oz Invites Long to Join Website
Women Cancer Patients Get Free Housecleaning Spring Cleaning Your Medicine Cabinet
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What's New at
Guardian Nurses
Long Asked by Dr. Oz to 'be an expert' on Sharecare website With patients looking all over the internet for sound healthcare advice, sites abound for providing information. Founded in 2009, Sharecare is an interactive social QA platform created by Jeff Arnold and Dr. Mehmet Oz in partnership with Harpo Studios, HSW International, Sony Pictures Television and Discovery Communications. After her recent appearance on the Dr. Oz Show, Betty Long was invited by the Dr. Oz Sharecare team to be a content expert. Long will focus her answers on caregiving, healthcare 101, and insurance topics. |
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Speaking of Cleaning...
Women over 18 who are undergoing cancer treatment are eligible to receive free housecleaning services!
Cleaning for A Reason, a non-profit foundation based in Texas, has maid service partners in all 50 states. Their motto is "We focus on your home so you can focus on your health."
After applying on-line, eligible patients receive cleaning services once a month for up to 4 months. |
Lighter Notes
What does the Easter Rabbit get for making a basket?
Two points---just like everyone else! |
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With the daffodils breaking through and major league baseball season in full swing (no pun intended), we can be confident that spring has arrived...despite the recent less-than-spring-like temperatures.
And with spring, who doesn't think of spring cleaning? Though Easter is a few weeks away, I can still remember my mom keeping all six of us kids housebound on Good Friday to do spring cleaning. She said it was either that or going to church all day. Clever woman, my mom.
Spring has always conjured up thoughts of new chances, of new beginnings, or, if you're a Phillies fan, a World Series appearance. While cleaning your house is likely part of your spring agenda, we would also like to suggest adding your medicine cabinet to your efforts. Read below for suggestions and why it's important to your family's health.
 Happy Spring!!!!
Betty Long
Betty Long, RN, MHA, President
Guardian Nurses Healthcare Advocates
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Spring Cleaning Your Medicine Cabinet
What To Throw Away:
- Expired medicines. They can lose their effectiveness and in some instances, become dangerous. Check expiration dates on the label or prescription. If the date is expired or if you've had it longer than 6 months, get rid of it.
- Nearly empty bottles. They just create clutter and may not even have enough medicine left for a full dose. If you don't know what the medicine is, take it to a pharmacist and ask for help to identify it. If you can't read the label or it's missing entirely, do not use it. Get help to identify it or get rid of it.
- Old prescriptions, or partially used prescriptions. Check with your healthcare provider if you have questions about saving prescriptions.
- Old skin care products and make-up. Experts suggest disposing of anything that hasn't been used in three years. Sunscreen, too, can become less effective if it is older than two years.
- Improperly stored items. These meds can partially evaporate, leaving them more concentrated and dangerous. Get rid of items that were not sealed or stored properly.
- Duplicates of items, like sunscreen, that are not used often only create clutter. If you do want to keep duplicates, move them out of the medicine cabinet and into a larger area to store. Try a large bathroom cabinet, or your pantry.
What to Add:
- Sunscreen with the right amount of SPF protection, typically 15 or greater.
- Aloe Vera gel to treat minor skin burns.
- Insect repellent to keep spring's bugs at bay.
- Insect bite relief for when they bite you anyway.
- Heating and cooling packs for sprains and strains during outdoor fun.
- Allergy medications for allergy sufferers.
- Updated First Aid Kit including band aids, antiseptic wash, and ointment for spring scrapes.
With the beginning of spring comes the welcome end of needing winter's flu, cold, and cough medicines. At the same time, spring means sun, insects, and lots of outdoor activities.
It's a great time to add a few necessary items to ensure that you have the right supplies for spring's medicinal needs. Decluttering this one tiny section of your home will get rid of dangerous and outdated items, while getting you and your family ready for a healthy spring.
Happy Cleaning!! |
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