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| Stroke Prevention Part II: Warning Signs and Prevention |
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Last month we provided you with information on what a stroke is and the risk factors related to strokes. Below is information on the warning signs of a stroke and some tips on preventing a stroke.
What Are the Warning Signs?
Chances of recovery from stroke are better if you can get to a hospital for treatment within three hours from the time symptoms begin. Call 911 if you or someone you know is having a stroke. Warning signs of strokes include:
- Sudden numbness, weakness or paralysis of the face, arm, leg, or one side of the body
- Trouble talking or understanding
- Sudden loss of vision, especially in one eye
- Unexplained dizziness, unsteadiness or sudden falls
- Sudden severe headache
What Can I Do to Prevent A Stroke?
Experts say that 70% of strokes are preventable. Be sure to talk to your doctor about what you can do to prevent a stroke. Some common prevention tips include basic lifestyle changes such as:
- Adopt a healthy diet
- Exercise regularly
- Quit smoking
- Reduce stress
- Reduce alcohol intake (more than two drinks per day doubles your risk for stroke)
- Get treatment for heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol
For more information on strokes, warning signs of a stroke, and stroke prevention, please visit the Stroke Association of Southern California's website at www.strokesocal.org. |
| Tips for Interviewing Potential Homecare Workers |
| When a consumer wishes to hire a new homecare worker, it is important that he/she finds the best candidate for the job. One step that many consumers like to take to assist them in the hiring process is conducting face-to-face interviews. A face-to-face interview usually follows a brief telephone interview and is a good way to meet the provider applicants and determine which applicant will be more suitable for the job.
If possible, face-to-face interviews should be held in a public place. Some public locations suited for a face-to-face interview are community rooms in an apartment building, public libraries, a local senior center, an independent living center, or a nearby coffee shop.
Below are some tips that consumers can follow when conducting the interview.
- Prepare a list of questions to ask provider applicants during an interview.
- If you wish, bring a trusted friend or companion to assist with the interviewing process.
- Remember to ask some of the same questions that were asked during the phone interview.
- Look for consistency in the applicant's answers.
- Explain the job description, work schedule, payment method, and specific tasks that are to be performed.
- Find out if there are any tasks/services that the applicant would not be willing to do.
- Clarify terms of dismissal such as excessive tardiness, absenteeism or use of alcohol or illegal drugs on the job.
- Maintain eye contact throughout the interview, and trust any instinctive feelings.
The above are suggested guidelines that can be used when conducting face-to-face interviews. Ultimately, it is the consumer who must determine if and how he/she wishes to conduct an interview and whom he/she wishes to hire.
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Resource Spotlight: The Center for the Partially Sighted |
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The Center for the Partially Sighted was founded in Los Angeles 30 years ago to address the specific needs of people with low vision who needed help to live independently. The Center offers a comprehensive set of services that include optometry to enhance remaining sight, counseling to address emotional adjustments to vision loss, and rehabilitation training to help individuals perform daily living tasks. Special programs created to target the issues of people with impaired sight include:
Macular Degeneration Program - This program is designed to help people who experience vision loss due to macular degeneration. Macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss among older adults. Doctors work to enhance the person's remaining vision by designing special glasses that deflect the image into the healthier part of the retina. They also teach clients how to use their visual devices to perform daily activities.
Children's Program - This program helps partially sighted children from birth through 18 years of age. Doctors design and prescribe low vision devices for children and work with schools and rehabilitation centers to maximize the child's physical, social, and academic development. Vision is important for a child's development, especially when beginning to walk and talk. Early intervention is important to help a child with vision loss reach his/her full potential.
Diabetes and Vision Loss Program - This program is designed to help people with vision loss due to diabetes manage their diabetes, improve blood sugar control, learn vision rehabilitation techniques, slow vision loss, and manage their activities of daily living.
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| Knowing Your ILCs |
Independent Living Centers (ILCs) provide services at no charge which enable individuals with disabilities to live and work independently in their communities. Services include attendant referrals, advocacy, peer counseling, housing and transportation referrals, and independent living skills training. There are seven Independent Living Centers (ILCs) in Los Angeles County:
Communities Actively Living Independent and Free (CALIF)
CALIF serves North Hollywood, Hollywood, Crenshaw, Los Feliz, W. Adams, Echo Park, Mid Wilshire, Westmont, Florence-Graham, Watts, South Central L.A., South Gate, Vernon, Huntington Park, Gardena, Willowbrook, Compton, Lynwood, and Carson.
Community Rehabilitation Services (CRS)
323-266-0453
CRS serves Commerce, East L.A., Eagle Rock, Highland Park, Hazard, Rancho Park, Glassell Park, Montebello, Altadena, Arcadia, Monrovia, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, Pasadena, El Monte, Monterey Park, Rosemead, San Gabriel, Temple City, and Alhambra.
Disabled Resource Center (DRC)
DRC serves Artesia, Avalon, Hawaiian Gardens, Lakewood, Long Beach, and Signal Hill.
Independent Living Center of Southern California (ILCSC)
ILCSC serves Glendale, Burbank, San Fernando Valley and Northern L.A. County, including the Antelope Valley.
Services Center for Independent Living (SCIL)
SCIL serves Arcadia, Azusa, Bradbury, Baldwin Park, Claremont, Covina, Diamond Bar, Duarte, El Monte, Glendora, Hacienda Heights, Industry, Irwindale, La Puente, La Verne, Monrovia, Pomona, Rowland Heights, San Dimas, Sierra Madre, South El Monte, Walnut, and West Covina.
Southern California Rehabilitation Services (SCRS)
SCRS serves Downey, Bell, Bellflower, Bell Gardens, Cudahy, Huntington Park, Commerce, South Gate, Lynwood, Paramount, Cerritos, Norwalk, La Mirada, Santa Fe Springs, Whittier, and Pico Rivera.
Westside Center for Independent Living (WCIL)
WCIL serves Inglewood, Hawthorne, Hollywood, Culver City, Mar Vista, Santa Monica, Malibu, and San Pedro. |
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