Topics on Health matters
1st annual ITNCharlestonTrident Walk for Rides April 28, 2012
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For more information visit www.walkforrides.org/ITNCharlestonTrident/
Tips For Balancing Work and Life
Posted by: | DateAchieving balance between work and life is no small feat.
You can make this task easier, however, by following certain steps. You will find the peace
that comes with having an adequate work-life balance is well worth the effort of becoming
balanced.
The Tips For Balancing Work And Life Are:
- Stop And Smell The Roses – Life is too short to be constantly running in high gear. Take some time to sit still and enjoy a moment of peace whenever you can. Also, allow yourself more time for things. Schedule more time between meetings and errands. Slow down and enjoy life and you will find that you are just as productive as before.
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Manage Your Time – Learn to better manage your time at home and at work. Do not procrastinate about things that need to be done as they will pile up. Rethink and set realistic goals and deadlines. You will find that life flows just a little better.
- Get Organized – Some people do not take the time to get organized. You need to “make” the time to get organized. Once you do this, you will save yourself a ton of time in the long run.
- Make sure management is on-board 100% with your efforts.
- Delegate – Do not feel like you have to do everything. Delegate what you can at work as well as at home. At home, delegating age-appropriate chores to your children will teach them valuable skills. Do not worry about perfection.
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Just Say “No” – Do not agree to do everything you are asked just to please everyone who asks you. If you do not have the time to do a good job you are not doing these people any favors. So do yourself and them a favor and pick and choose what you take on.
- Set Priorities – Make a list of things to do and set your priorities. Doing so will help you complete the tasks that really need your attention. It may also help you realize which tasks do not need to be done or may be completed less frequently.
- Simplify – Try to simplify life however you can. Maybe you need to take the time to clean out your closet at home or at work so you can truly get organized. Whatever it is, just do it and you will feel better afterwards.
- Use Technology – Utilize technology to make life easier and faster whenever possible. Contact managers will help you manage your business and personal contacts and save you time looking for a business card. Take breaks from technology too!
Trainer’s tip: Observe residents for signs that may lead to malnutrition
Posted by: | DateThis is an excerpt from the HCPro book, The CNA Training Solution, Second Edition.
The body will begin to break down if it does not get the type and amount of fuel it needs. Malnutrition means, “badly nourished,” another way of saying that the person isn’t getting enough of the right nutrients the body needs to stay healthy. It can be caused by not getting enough nutritious foods or by not adequately digesting and absorbing nutrients from food. Getting too much food can also be harmful. Someone who experiences one or more of the following might be headed for malnutrition:
- Doesn’t eat from the major food groups most of the time
- Eats less than half of two or more meals a day
- Eats less than one hot meal a day
- Changes from solid foods to pureed foods, or makes other dietary changes
- Is socially isolated or depressed and subsequently does not eat
- Uses laxatives excessively, which hinders the digestion of nutrients by causing food to pass through the intestines too quickly
Recognizing body changes that influence proper nutrition
Posted by: | DatePeople who are sick or elderly have different food requirements than young, healthy people. They are also more likely to suffer harm from not eating the right foods. After age 50, there are chemical and physical changes in the body that affect nutritional needs. The metabolic rate (metabolism), which is the speed at which the body uses energy, slows down. Older individuals burn less fuel for daily operations. This means seniors need fewer calories for normal everyday activities. Other nutrition-affecting changes that occur with age include:
- Lean tissue and muscle mass decrease. There is also less bone mass. Body fat increases.
- Stomach acid may decrease and the stomach might not empty as fast. The intestine may absorb less nutrition from food.
- Tooth and gum problems increase, sometimes making it difficult to chew.
- Some people have trouble swallowing, especially those who have suffered from a stroke.
- There is a loss of taste and smell, which often causes people to be less interested in food.
- Sometimes people are too weak or tired to eat an entire meal.
- Appetite and thirst decrease. Many elderly or ill people eat and drink less than they should. This leads to fatigue, sadness, infections, skin breakdowns, and lack of energy. Medications can also affect appetite or thirst.
- Many diseases also affect the way the body uses food or water. Someone with an illness usually needs more food and water because the body needs energy to heal. People with some conditions, however, must carefully control the amount and type of calories they take in (e.g., diabetes).
This is an excerpt from the HCPro book, The CNA Training Solution, Second Edition.