|
|
CAREGIVER QUARTERLY
The Official Newsletter of Partners In Care
(Fall/Winter 08) |
Greetings!
Thank you for subscribing to our e-newsletter. Please continue to help spread the word about Partners In Care.
|
Safe Travel Tips
for Older Adults
Happy
Autumn! The holidays are fast approaching, and Partners In Care knows
that many older adults (including many of our clients) will be
traveling to visit friends and loved ones. Here are some tips from
our friends at www.aarp.org
for enjoying safe and healthy travels this season:
Talk
to your doctor - Explain
your travel plans and discuss necessary travel precautions. Your
doctor may have you come in for a checkup or to get any necessary
shots. Ask when you should take your meds. If you will be crossing
time zones, ask your physician whether you should take your meds at
your usual home-time-zone time, or switch, and how. Also ask if any
new foods you might eat while traveling could interact with your
meds.
Ah,
the joys of "Coach Class" - Guard
against deep-vein thrombosis (DVT). Older adults run a
higher-than-average risk of DVT, which happens when blood clots form
in your veins, usually in your legs, and block blood flow. Sitting
still for a long time on an airplane or train can contribute to DVT.
But some research finds that wearing special "compression
stockings" can help prevent this dangerous condition. Check
with your doctor.
Write
it down - Ask your
physician to write down the following: 1) any medical problems you
have and how they're being treated; 2) the names (including generic
names) of any drugs you're taking, the doses, and when and how you
take them (whether you use a needle, for instance); 3) the amount of
each drug you need to take with you on your trip. Having all of this
on paper will make it easier for you to get through airport security
or customs, and easier to get replacement drugs if you lose them.
Make a copy of the list; carry one with you and keep the other in
your suitcase.
Keep
pills in their original containers - Do
this with prescription and over-the-counter medicines and
supplements. This will also make your trip through airport security
easier.
Carry
all necessary medications with you - Pack
your medications in your carry-on bag to avoid loss or damage.
Protect
yourself from infection
- Wash your hands or use an alcohol-based "hand sanitizer,"
especially after spending time on a crowded plane, train, or bus, and
before eating. Watch what you eat and drink. The CDC travel site,
www.cdc.gov/travel/,
includes country-by-country information on food- and water-borne
illnesses and how to avoid them. Also, drink water on the plane. The
air inside planes is dry, so bring a large bottle of water and drink,
or ask for bottled water from the flight attendant.
Update
your vaccinations - If
you're traveling overseas, you may need certain shots, up to six
weeks before you leave, in some cases. Visit the Federal Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Web site, www.cdc.gov/travel/
and click on your destinations for required and recommended vaccines.
|
More Honors for Partners In Care
BBB Senior Torch Award
For the second year in a row, Partners In Care has been named a finalist for the coveted Silver Torch Award. The Silver Torch Award recognizes service excellence in the older adult community and is sponsored by the Better Business Bureau Consumer Foundation. The winner of the 2008 Silver Torch Award will be announced Friday, November 7th during lunch in conjunction with the Centralina Area on Aging 2008 Annual Training Conference in Charlotte. This exciting news comes on the heels of a slew of other honors bestowed on Partners In Care lately. In addition to receiving North Carolina's prestigious NOVA Award (2007), PIC director/owner Sally Olin was named one of the Top 25 Women in Business by the Charlotte Business Journal. In recognition of this, Congresswoman Sue Myrick has said that "the elderly community has greatly benefited from (her) hard work," and Representative Ruth Samuelson has personally thanked Sally for her "hard work and community service that has helped make the Charlotte area such a great place to live." Such great accolades have only served to further spread the news that Partners In Care is a special kind of in-home caregiving company, putting seniors and their families first.
|
|
|
|
|
