Supporting Loved Ones with Heart Conditions
At Centers Healthcare, supporting loved ones with heart conditions requires a blend of empathy, practical assistance, and emotional support. It’s about being there for them in both the good times and the challenging moments. Listen to their concerns, fears, and needs without judgment, offering a comforting presence and a shoulder to lean on.
Help them maintain a heart-healthy lifestyle by encouraging nutritious eating habits, regular exercise, and stress management techniques. Offer to accompany them to medical appointments, lend a supportive hand and ask questions to ensure they understand their condition and treatment options.
Assist with medication management, ensuring they take their medications as prescribed and organizing pillboxes or reminders if needed. Provide practical assistance with daily tasks, household chores, or transportation to medical appointments, easing their burden and allowing them to focus on their health.
Most importantly, be patient, understanding, and compassionate. Recognize that they may experience physical and emotional challenges, and offer encouragement and reassurance along the way. Your unwavering support can make a world of difference in their journey towards better heart health and overall well-being.
To learn more about Ontario Center, visit centershealthcare.com/locations/onondaga-center or call 800-305-9151
The Connection Between Sleep and Mental Health: Strategies for Better Sleep
Recognizing the intricate link between sleep and mental health is crucial for overall well-being. At Centers Healthcare, we understand that quality sleep is a foundation for mental resilience. Establishing a consistent sleep schedule and creating a relaxing bedtime routine can signal to your body that it’s time to wind down. Limiting screen time before bed helps mitigate the impact of blue light on sleep patterns. Cultivating a comfortable sleep environment and investing in a supportive mattress and pillows enhance sleep quality. If sleep troubles persist, seeking professional guidance is essential. Prioritizing good sleep hygiene is a proactive step towards nurturing mental health, ensuring a more vibrant and balanced life.
To learn more about Ontario Center, visit centershealthcare.com/locations/ontario-center or call 800-305-9151
Adaptive Winter Sports Spotlight
Celebrate the spirit of winter with adaptive winter sports that redefine boundaries and showcase the indomitable human spirit. From adaptive skiing to sled hockey, these sports provide exhilarating opportunities for individuals with diverse abilities. Witness the triumph of determination as athletes conquer icy slopes or glide gracefully on adaptive equipment. This winter, let’s shine a spotlight on inclusivity and applaud the incredible achievements of those who redefine the possibilities of winter sports, proving that passion knows no limits.
To learn more about Ontario Center, visit centershealthcare.com/locations/ontario-center or call 800-305-9151
Telerehabilitation: Breaking Distance Barriers
In this modern day and age, we have been exploring the world of telerehabilitation and how it breaks down geographical barriers to provide accessible care. The convenience and effectiveness of remote rehabilitation sessions using digital platforms can revolutionize rehabilitation care completely. Already, there have been many residents whose success highlights optimal outcomes and patient satisfaction with telerehabilitation. With Centers Healthcare, begin envisioning a future where technology fosters inclusivity and ensures that quality rehabilitation is available to all, regardless of location.
To learn more about Ontario Center, visit centershealthcare.com/locations/ontario-center or call 800-305-9151
5 Important Facts About Melanoma
Melanoma accounts for just 1% of all skin cancer diagnoses, but it’s the deadliest form. Even so, around 90% of those diagnosed will survive the five-year mark of their diagnosis and 85% survive for 10 or more years, so if caught early, it can definitely be managed.
In addition to regular screenings, being informed can also be key to detection, treatment, or recovery.
Ontario Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has five important facts about melanoma.
- UV Rays Are a Major Risk Factor
Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun or an artificial source like a tanning bed is a major risk factor for developing melanoma. When out in the sun, be sure to wear sunscreen of at least SPF 30, reapply every two hours, and cover as much of your head as possible using hats and sunglasses.
- Other Common Risk Factors
There are several other risk factors for melanoma, including being a man over the age of 50, having fair skin, freckles, red or blond hair, a family history of melanoma, and a personal history of other skin cancers.
- Melanoma Can Show in Many Ways
In addition to changes in existing moles or a new spot or patch on your skin, melanoma can also show itself via a band of darker skin, a dark, vertical line under a nail, or a slowly growing patch of thick skin that looks like a scar.
- Surgery Is a Common Treatment
The only way to diagnose melanoma is through a skin biopsy. If it is found early, surgery in a doctor’s office is usually the only treatment necessary, but surgery in a hospital is more likely in complex cases.
- Following-Up Is Key
After treatment, keep up with all your follow-up visits because a recurrence of melanoma is most likely to return within five years if it will at all.
To learn more about Ontario Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://ontario-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org.
Children (and Family) Moving Back In? Ontario Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing With 4 Tips to Make it a Smooth Transition
According to a study, more than half of all young adults lived with a parent in 2020, spurred on my historically high unemployment rates due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While parents may relish the opportunity to have the kids (and grandkids!) in the house again, there are some conversations you should have to avoid some awkward or stressful moments down the road.
Ontario Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has a look at four tips to make the transition from empty to overflowing nest a smooth one.
- Cover the Logistics
Now that the kids are adults, they shouldn’t expect a free ride at home. Cover how long the arrangement will last and who will pay for what. Financial advisors even say that a contract should be drawn up in order for each party to know what to expect and have what they agreed to in writing.
- Don’t Turn Back the Clock
Especially if the children are moving back in because they’re down on their luck, some parents may feel the need to fully support their child again. Don’t charge rent if you don’t feel like doing so, but experts also warn not to provide spending money or otherwise dip into your own savings to provide a bail out.
- Protect What You Have
Unfortunately, there are tales all over where children took advantage of aging parents. Remember, your children are moving back in with you. You still call the shots, so don’t feel obligated to do anything financially that you aren’t comfortable with.
- If Things Are Going Well, Enjoy!
You may not have to draw up formal arrangements if things are going well. For example, the parents may handle the grocery shopping expenses, but the kid and his or her family may buy takeout meals for the whole family a couple times a week. If the situation is fluid but going smoothly, just let things progress, but still make it clear that this is a temporary situation. Everyone will need their own space eventually, especially if larger families with small children are involved.
To learn more about Ontario Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://ontario-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org/.
Ontario Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing on if Is Right for You
In times of financial uncertainty, home loan interest rates generally go down. According to a survey by AAA, getting a lower interest rate was the motivation for nearly 75 percent of people who refinanced their homes. But even getting a lower interest rate may not be reason enough for some people to go through this process. Other reasons include getting cash from the equity you’ve built, changing the length of your loan, and changing the loan type (from adjustable-rate to fixed, for example).
Ontario Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing looks into factors you should consider to see if a home refinancing is right for you.
Offset Refinancing Costs
A home refinancing is basically selling your house to yourself, so there will be the standard closing costs involved. Experts say the savings in your monthly payment should offset the cost of the re-fi in two to three years.
Lower Your Monthly Payment
You’ll want to look into both the monthly payment and how much you’ll pay over the term of the loan. Factors that determine this include the loan type, the length, and the interest rate. Shortening the term of the loan could make for a larger monthly payment unless you can secure a low enough interest rate.
Drop PMI
Private mortgage insurance (PMI) became a thing after the housing crash in 2007. If you didn’t make a down payment of at least 20 percent, you may be paying PMI. If a refinancing, however, can increase your equity by at least 20 percent of the current value of the home, PMI will no longer be necessary.
Credit Score Changes
Your current credit score will play a factor into the interest rate you’re given. If you have a better credit score now than when you bought your home, you have a better chance of getting a more favorable interest rate.
To learn more about Ontario Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://ontario-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org/.
Ontario Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing on a Warning About CBD Pet Products
CBD (cannabidiol) oil is all the rage these days. CBD is one of the naturally occurring active compounds found in cannabis. Unlike THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the other major active compound in cannabis, CBD does not cause users to feel the high that cannabis (or marijuana) is famous for.
Because of that, CBD oil is being marketed for several health benefits, including providing relief from chronic pain, anxiety, inflammation, and depression.
While it’s becoming commonplace, CBD oil products are still not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Also unregulated are a number of CBD oil product lines geared towards pets. Popular uses for pets are to relieve anxiety for stressful situations like car rides or fireworks on holidays, to reduce pain from osteoarthritis, and to help prevent or reduce the number of seizures in epileptic dogs.
A report from Cornell University, however, shows that many CBD products for pets contain little or no amount of the product.
“You’d be astounded by the analysis we’ve seen of products on the shelf with virtually no CBD in them,” Cornell University veterinary researcher Joseph Wakshlag told the Associated Press. “[Some] products had 2 milligrams per milliliter, when an effective concentration would be between 25 and 75 milligrams per milliliter. There are plenty of folks looking to make a dollar rather than produce anything that’s really beneficial.”
The report says the FDA is developing regulations for marketing CBD products, and the agency sent warning letters to over 20 companies making false claims about therapeutic uses for people or pets.
As for veterinarians’ stance on CBD, the American Veterinary Medical Association is telling vets they can tell clients about their knowledge of CBD, but they shouldn’t prescribe or recommend it until the FDA begins approving supplements.
To learn more about Ontario Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit https://centershealthcare.com/ontario_center/.
Ontario Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing with 5 Foods That Weaken Your Immune System
Now more than ever, it’s vital to have our immune system working in tip-top shape. Common ways to harm the immune system include a lack of sleep and exercise, along with bad habits like smoking or drinking alcohol in excess.
Another key part of a healthy immune system lies in the food that we eat. With that in mind, Ontario Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has five foods that can weaken your immune system.
- Candy
While chocolate and other types of candy may make us feel good in the moment, the sugar can wreak havoc with our immune system. Sugar has been found to cause inflammation, which weakens white blood cells. These are what the body relies on to fight off infections.
- Strawberries
This may surprise you, but strawberries have been found to contribute to congestion, as they are histamine releasers. It’s generally not an issue if you’re healthy, but if you’re feeling under the weather, it’s been to skip the strawberries and focus on other fruits like oranges, blueberries, and apples.
- Milk
Milk is another item to avoid when you’re sick and for the same reason as strawberries. Milk, especially whole milk, will thicken mucus and allow allergens to stay in your system longer.
- Cheese
The amount of fat in most cheeses will cause inflammation in the body after you eat it, and like candy, this causes a weakening in white blood cells.
- Caffeine
It’s still okay to have that morning cup of coffee, but with an asterisk. Coffee is a diuretic, which means it makes you go to the bathroom more, and it’s easier to become dehydrated that way. Your immune system will have to work harder if you’re not properly hydrated, so be sure to drink enough water after your morning ritual to keep the body working at its best.
To learn more about Ontario Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://ontario-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org/.
Ontario Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing With the 5 Best Exercises for Losing Weight
Just about half of all American adults have tried to lose weight at some point over a 12-month period, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The two keys to weight loss that sticks are diet and exercise. Gradually losing the weight (around a pound or two a week) and keeping it off with a healthy diet and routine exercise is easier said than done.
There’s a saying that you can’t out-train a bad diet. But there are plenty of exercises you can do that will promote weight loss better than others. So, Ontario Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation is listing five of the best exercises that will help you shed the pounds.
Burpees
People who are familiar with burpees have a love-hate relationship with them. They are effective, but they are tiring! One consists of dropping down, executing a push-up, springing back to your feet and finishing with a jumping jack.
Plank
A plank is the opposite of a burpee as far as motion goes. Planks will test your endurance and your mind, as you try and hold yourself on your forearms and toes as long as you can. They work by building muscle in the arms, legs, and core at the same time.
Pilates
Pilates is great for seniors because it’s lower impact, but it promotes power, endurance, and flexibility. Proponents of Pilates say it gets your metabolism working into overdrive.
Squats
Squats target the quads and glutes, which are large muscles, so it helps burn calories and speed up the metabolism. If balance is a concern, you can use a chair or a wall to serve as an assist.
Stationary Machines – Bike or Elliptical
These pieces of equipment are great for people of any age because of the low impact and the cardiovascular benefits. The elliptical and stationary bike are easy on the joints and will help you burn calories.
To learn more about Ontario Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit https://centershealthcare.com/ontario_center/.
