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Mind Body Connection

Monday, July 25th, 2011

Does the mind control the body or does the body control the mind?

As a nation, we in the United States of America consume five billion tranquilizers, five billion barbiturates, three billion amphetamines, and sixteen thousand tons of aspirin every year. This does not include other substances used, such as alcohol, nicotine, and various other stimulants we take each year to cope with the toxic emotions, and the resulting physiological pain it can cause in our bodies.

Unfortunately there is still something missing, these treatments, coping drugs, or medications don’t seem to be turning the tide. Studies are linking more and more modern diseases to an epidemic of toxic emotions in our culture. Heart disease, hypertension, strokes, incidences of cancer, ulcers, skin diseases, and headaches all seem to be on the rise, in spite of medicine, and decades of research and innovative treatments.

According to the American Institute of Stress, between 75 and 90 percent of all visits to primary-care physician’s result from stress-related disorders. In essence we have done very little to get to the core or root of a disease and actually practice prevention. It is possible to live a vibrant, pain-free, and disease free life-in body, mind, and spirit.

These are some guidelines to help you begin to address sickness, pain or disease in your life:

  • What you feel emotionally becomes how you feel physically
  • Deal with the physical pain on three levels, mind, body, and spirit simultaneously
  • Good or bad stress can lead to sickness and disease, the body doesn’t know what caused stress, it only experiences it.
  • There is a connection between what we think in the brain and what we experience in the body.
  • Fear triggers more than fourteen hundred known physical and chemical stress reactions and activates more than thirty different hormones and neurotransmitters
  • A fight or flight response can be a “red flag” to look at toxic thoughts and emotions.
  • Addiction to stress is real and can be harmful to our physical bodies over time.
  • When long-term emotional stress continues and reaches the chronic level, the body begins to internally damage itself.
  • Rage, unforgiveness, depression, anger, worry, frustration, fear, grief, and guilt, are extremely damaging to our physical body if harbored over time.

Professional References: The Healing Connection by Harold G. Koenig

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Fall Prevention for the Family

Sunday, July 24th, 2011

By increasing your awareness of risk factors, making small changes and collaborating with your family physician falls can be minimized or prevented.

Below are tips for fall prevention related to the personal and environmental risk factors as listed in the Common Causes of Falls article are addressed below.

Working with your Family Doctor

  • Make sure to have vision and changes in vision evaluated every year or two.
  • If your family member has had a stroke, head injury or eye injury of any kind, have him/her evaluated immediately for visual changes.
  • Stay on top of cataracts and glaucoma care.  Have cataracts removed if possible.
  • Ask questions and get help with degenerative diseases such as macular degeneration.  There are lots of resources available.
  • If your family member has been diagnosed with a condition, educate your selves on the progression of the disease and which systems of the body it affects.
  • Talk to your doctor about any changes in walking and balance and the possible use of a cane or walker.
  • Collaborate with your doctor closely regarding your family member’s medications.  Make a medication list with dose amounts, name of drug and times administered.  Keep with you for all medical appointments, especially if he/she has multiple doctors.
  • Keep a journal about all falls, changes in behavior, sensitivities or other unusual things that have occurred; especially when your family member has been prescribed a new drug.  Bring this journal with you to your doctor visits.
  • Work with your doctor to have specialized help/therapies (physical and occupational therapy) as these are trained professionals; especially if there are cognitive deficits.

Changes you can make at Home

  • Ideal sitting surfaces are 16” or higher; make sure your feet are flat on floor and knee bent at 90 degree angle.
  • Platforms can be built to add height to chairs and recliners.
  • Avoid chairs that have wheels, swivel or rockers.
  • Try to use chairs that have arms.
  • Ideal toilet height is 17”.  The old toilets are 13”.
  • Use grab bars and/or safety frames (toilets) whenever possible.
  • If bed rails are necessary, try ¼ rail.  This allows leverage, but does not act as a restraint.
  • Remove all throw rugs.
  • Move cords, toys, clutter etc. to keep a clear walk way.  Keep pets from getting under your feet.
  • Make sure room lighting is even (overhead lighting with spot/lamp lighting as necessary).
  • Avoid nightlights (uneven lighting)
  • Low pile carpets are easier to walk on.
  • Fix tears in flooring (carpet or linoleum) immediately.  NOT WITH A RUG!
  • Wear good sturdy foot wear (closed toe and heel).  Make sure your have a little traction.
  • Place non-skid strips on slippery areas (tile, glossy floors, bathrooms etc.)
  • Try to have routine times for getting up to toilet, shower etc. as falls tend to happen at night or early in the morning when people tend to be more tired and unsupervised.

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First Call Employee Wins Award

Friday, July 22nd, 2011

Katrina Pruett Biller/Coder at First Call Wins Award for Her Miniature Meth House

“The miniature meth house I built makes some people uncomfortable, because they are used to seeing fantasy dream homes,” says Katrina Pruett, second-place winner in the Creatin’ Contest, a national miniatures competition.

Katrina, the biller/coder at First Call Home Health, built the meth house to increase awareness of the issues and dangers associated with meth production. It took her nine months to build the house in her spare time.

The house is almost 22 inches high, built on a base that is 2 feet by 3 feet in size. The scale is 1 inch to 1 foot, which has been the most common scale. The next most common scale is 1/4 inch to 1 foot, because it does not take up as much space.

Not your imaginary beach home
The competition required that everyone start out with a basic structure, but the contestants could make modifications and build whatever kind of house they wanted. Katrina was intrigued by online photos of old rental houses that meth cooks had trashed. “I thought a meth house would be more worthwhile than building my imaginary vacation home at the beach,” Katrina stated.

“Most people doing the hobby fantasize about their dream house. The last thing I need is another pretty miniature house catching dust.” In her mind, Katrina pictured a 70’s house that renters had turned into a meth house. She wanted to build a miniature that would be usable to tell a message of the dangers of meth.

A message at miniature shows
Katrina plans to take her meth house to several major miniature shows this year and hopes to find a school or library that will display it. At the shows, Katrina will give out a brochure that describes:

  • the dangers of the materials used in making meth
  • how to know if you have a meth house in your neighborhood
  • what it is like for people who live in a meth house

“If you are looking to rent or buy a place, be aware that there are real toxic issues with the products that are left behind by meth producers,” Katrina warns.

She knows that awareness will not solve the meth epidemic, but believes awareness will help keep some people from being hurt by meth.

“If you are out hiking and come across a clearing that has certain kinds of containers, you are probably looking at meth production,” Katrina advises. “Get out of there immediately, because of the unsafe chemicals and the dangerous meth cooks who are probably nearby.”

We are impacted by meth
Katrina says that sadly, we are all impacted by meth, whether:

  • you can no longer get your allergy medicine over-the-counter
  • you have to pay taxes for police services and rehab or incarceration for addicts
  • you have friends or family whose lives were ruined by meth

More than a hobby
Building miniatures is a standalone hobby for Katrina. She says she was not thinking about work when she built her meth house creation. She did, however, hope that her meth house would convey a message beyond the enjoyment she gets from her hobby.

As a kid, Katrina made miniature houses out of cereal boxes and cardboard. She made her real first miniature about 10 years ago when she bought a kit. Since then she has made four other miniatures, some of which are not totally complete, since there is always more that can be added to them. “In some ways they are never finished.”

Since the economic downturn caused all miniature retail shops in Oregon close, Katrina either orders online or goes to miniature shows for supplies. “Some things you make yourself. How many things you make depends on the use, your budget and your skills.”

Research on meth
Part of Katrina’s process was researching typical meth houses. She says police agencies usually have a department dedicated to drug prevention, so they have a lot of information to share. The real estate market is becoming increasingly alert to the meth problem, because of issues with the toxic waste that go along with meth houses. Hazmat cleanup companies are also well aware of issues surrounding meth houses.

More information
Katrina suggests that a good source for information is the Multnomah County Sheriff’s office, because they have done a lot of work on meth use. They have taken mug shots over time of people arrested for meth (“From Drugs to Mugs”). Local law enforcement is a good place to start for more information on meth and other drug use. The internet is a good source for information about the negative effects of drug use. The following links provide good information:

1.       www.facesofmeth.us

2.       http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/photos/gallery.ssf?cgi-bin/view_gallery.cgi/olive/view_gallery.ata?g_id=2927

http://www.methhelponline.com/meth-labs.htm

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We Put the Client First

Wednesday, July 13th, 2011

We Put the Client First

When persons need home health care, quality of life is linked to meaningful relationships with the caregivers who assist them, according to several reports. People are social beings whose interaction with others gives them comfort, support and affection. These expressions of love and care are universal needs.

The need for reassurance
When clients have functional and cognitive impairments, their need for reassurance is multiplied.
Care providers serve a crucial role in supporting and validating the worth in their clients.

Respect, relationship and excellence
Respect, relationship and excellence of care impact a client’s life. Firsts Call caregivers not only meet the person’s physical needs, but put the individual before the task.

To do this, they:

  • build a relationship with the person and offer friendship and companionship
  • recognize and encourage the individual’s strengths and abilities
  • provide familiar care routines
  • encourage growth and development
  • respect the individual’s religious, cultural and ethnic background
  • promote a sense of well-being

Not too much, not too little
Our care providers do everything needed for the client, yet do not do too much. Persons needing care appreciate doing what they can for themselves. First Call staff find ways for the person to help themselves and maintain a level of independence.

 

Quality Care
To provide quality care, First Call caregivers:

  • identify safety needs and make sure they are met
  • encourage client’s interests, social life and community involvement so they have the fullest life possible
  • ‘read between the lines’ and employ ‘active listening’ skills’ so they can respond to spoken and unspoken feelings expressed by clients
  • are sensitive to light, noise, distractions, room temperature, etc., that may affect their clients

Working with families
Our caregivers recognize that the family is an important part of the care-giving team. They incorporate them and communicate with them whenever possible. They respect the family’s culture, relationships and identity.

Professional care
We train our care providers to practice these professional traits as they care for their clients:

  • they leave their personal life at home: as conversations unfold, they do not burden their clients with personal problems
  • they smile and use a calming voice: even when they speak up because a client is hard of hearing, they maintain a pleasant voice
  • they communicate needs to the person who can meet them: if meds need to be changed, the caregiver communicates directly with the doctor
  • they keep their promises: about when the next visit will be, what they will bring with them next time, what to expect in the future, etc.
  • they encourage clients to make choices: about location of personal items, clothing choices, how to structure their day, etc.
  • they take enough time to show their clients they care

The goal of our care providers is to improve their resident’s quality of life and happiness. At the same time, they maintain professional standards that are outstanding in the field of home health care.

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What is Toxic Thinking? The Mind-Body Connection

Saturday, July 2nd, 2011

Medical research has proven that our thought life can trigger thousands of chemical reactions in our bodies. Positive thoughts such as forgiveness, patience, and self-control help our bodies release chemicals that keep us in a peaceful and healthy state. Toxic thoughts such as un-forgiveness, anger and guilt increase the release of damaging chemicals, making us susceptible to sickness and disease. Toxic thinking is the cause for much of the stress and anxiety in our lives.

In her book, “Who Switched Off My Brain”, Dr Caroline Leaf states that “stress and anxiety harm the body in a multitude of ways; patchy memory, severe mental health issues, immune system problems, heart problems and digestive problems”.

You can identify toxic thinking and train your brain to think more positively.

Proverbs 17:22 says, “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.”

Modern medical research is proving the truth of this proverb.

What is toxic thinking anyway?
Toxic thinking results in physical, emotional and mental stress/anxiety and can be a precursor to disease. Here is a list of some common toxic ways of thinking. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list:

  • Un-forgiveness (includes: bitterness, resentment, anger, hatred, violence) – towards anyone, mother in law, spouse, co-worker, or yourself.
  • Passive aggressive behavior – saying one thing and doing another, not able to say how you feel, fearful of conflict.
  • Fear of man – always analyzing what others are thinking of you, being critical of others or yourself.
  • Self hatred – saying you are sorry for things, thinking you don’t measure up, comparing yourself to others, saying to yourself, “you idiot” or “what’s wrong with you”, the inability to love yourself, lack of selfcare.
  • Guilt – feelings of worthlessness, shame, always feeling like it is your fault.
  • Negative words – saying things like “I can’t do it”, “I always mess up”, “things will never change”, “that’s not fair”, “you always hurt me”.

 

Dr. Caroline Leaf states that, “toxic thinking causes more than 1,400 known physical and chemical responses, activates more than 30 different hormones and neurotransmitters, throwing the body into a frantic state”. Being in a “frantic state” for long periods weakens our body’s abilities to be in balance, creating a doorway for disease to develop. The following is a diagram of some of the common symptoms of stress and anxiety:

(click for larger image)

How do I train my brain to think positively?
As stated, toxic thoughts impact your body in very negative and harmful ways. In order to rid yourself of these toxic thoughts it is important to do a personal inventory, mentally and physically, to determine if you engage in any of these ways of thinking.

For example, if you have a physical condition such as high blood pressure it may be an indicator that you have high stress. The next step would be to identify any possible toxic thinking that may be causing you stress. Your strategy in combating these identified toxic thoughts will be to develop affirmations to counteract them. Affirmations may sound like a foreign or weird concept, but the results cannot be denied.

Research has shown that a new thought can be created in 4 days and existing thoughts can be changed in 21 days.

Proverbs 18:21 states that, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”

See “Achieving Goals By Affirmation” below for help in developing and implementing your personal affirmation.

For more information on this topic please review the books, “Who Switched Off My Brain”, by Dr. Caroline Leaf, and “A More Excellent Way” by Henry Wright.

God bless you on your journey.

Achieving Goals by Affirmation
Directions:

1. Identify a big problem in your life

2. Name the opposite of the problem in a positive way. Do not use any negative words, or words that help to describe the problem.

3. It is important to fill in both your first and last names.

4. Use feeling words that would express your feelings after having accomplished your goal.

5. Example: Problem – Anger; Opposite – Self-control. Affirmation: I, Joe Smith, feel happy and confident as I walk in self-control each day.

1. My problem is ________________________________________________________________________

2. The opposite of this problem is ________________________________________________________________________

3. Goal statement: I, ____________________ ____________________, feel ________________________ And ________________________ as I ____________________________ ____________________________ each day.


Remember
• Affirm this statement, “I am worthy of this goal and by the power of the Holy Spirit I will renew my mind and reach my goal”

• As you verbally say and claim this goal, see yourself doing it and experience the feelings described in the goal.

• Be consistent in reviewing and saying your goal 3 to 5 times each day. Do this for at least 21 days (the average time it takes to develop a new habit).

Feeling Words:

Good Wonderful Terrific Marvelous Great Awesome Super Powerful Strong Clean Happy Proud Joyful Loving Kind Gentle Friendly Confident Optimistic Hopeful Satisfied Determined Ecstatic Handsome Euphoric Excited Exhilarated Pleased Glad Gratified Cheerful Trusting Elated Content Beautiful Carefree

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Common Causes of Falls Around the Home

Sunday, June 26th, 2011

Contrary to popular belief, falls are not random or accidental events that “just happen”, but are actually predictable occurrences.

People 65 and older are at high risk for falls with the probability of falling increasing with advancing age.

Statistics show the highest incidence of injury related falls occurs in the 80-89-year-old age group (Tideiksaar, 2002).

Many things can contribute to falls, some happening individually or in conjunction with other factors.  By carefully evaluating the person and his/her environment, falls can be reduced and even prevented altogether.

Below is a list of some of the common causes of falls.

There are personal factors and environmental factors, so take a look and you will become more aware of some of the risks around you!

Personal Factors/Age Related:

  • Changes in vision (acuity, sensitivity to light/dark, and depth perception)
  • Visual diseases (macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts and hemianopsia)
  • Changes in balance
  • Changes in gait (stride and walking)
  • Medical conditions/acute diseases (incontinence, heart disease, stroke, UTI, pneumonia etc.)
  • Chronic diseases (Parkinson’s, MS, other degenerative diseases)
  • Degenerative cognitive disorders (dementia, depression etc.)
  • Medications (new meds, interactions/polypharmacy; sedatives, psychotropics, diuretics, antihypertensives)

Environmental Factors:

  • Transferring/surface height (moving from one place to another; surface too high or low)
  • Bed rails (full length)
  • Low seats/chairs/couches and toilets (with no grab bars)
  • Unstable or armless chairs
  • Chairs on wheels or rockers
  • Walking in poorly illuminated areas
  • Tripping over items on the floor (cords, throw rugs, thresholds, clutter, toys or pets)
  • Thick pile carpet or upended linoleum
  • Slipping on tile, high gloss or wet floors
  • Not having suitable foot wear on
  • Use of restraints (restraints are anything that keeps someone immobile)
  • New or unfamiliar environments
  • Time of day (night or early morning are the high risk times)

* Information adapted from: Rein Tideiksaar, PhD. (2002). Falls in Older People: Prevention & Management. Third Edition.

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Fruit of the Vine – Pruning Produces Growth

Friday, March 18th, 2011

First Call Administrator Jacob Mullin Talks About Pruning in His Vineyard

People are surprised that I prune about 90% of the wood from my grapevines every year. I do this in early spring, before it gets warm.

Pruning
There are two types of pruning. The kind I do depends on the variety of grape. Some will not bear if they are not pruned with the correct method.

1)      Spur pruning
2)      Cane pruning

I use cane pruning with my Niagara variety to siphon on some of the vigor.  This helps to balance the fruit and vegetative growth and produces higher quality grapes.  I also do cane pruning for the Himrod variety due to variety characteristics. All the other varieties will produce fine when spur pruned.  Cane pruning takes more thought and planning because you have to plan not only for the current year but make sure the buds are positioned to provide a good renewal cane for the next year.  Spur pruning is less intensive and takes much less thought. I do, however, enjoy the strategic thinking that cane pruning provides.

Spur pruning
With spur pruning, I leave a permanent horizontal extension of the trunk in place year after year. Over several decades these horizontal trunks can grow to several inches or more in diameter. Spur locations are developed along the horizontal trunk.  The first bearing year I leave 2 buds per spur at 12 spur locations, equaling 24 buds.  I will add about 12 buds per year, up to about 40 to 50 buds.  You want increase the buds as the vine matures and becomes more capable of bearing more fruit. Each spur usually produces about two grape clusters.

Cane pruning
In cane pruning I replace the horizontal arms/canes every year with at least two canes from last year’s growth.  In this method the vertical trunk remains intact and the horizontal arms are replaced each year.  These horizontal arms/canes are about 3 feet long and contain 6 to 10 buds. The buds from these canes produce fruitful shoots from which come the year’s crop. As the vine matures I will increase the number of canes retained to increase fruit production.  In addition to choosing good canes for this years fruit production I have to make sure I leave enough options (buds pointing in right direction) that will grow well and be a replacement shoot for the next year.

Decisions, decisions
As I prune, I consider the number of fruit buds that I should leave on the vine. If a vine is 1 to 2 years old, I leave about 24 buds per vine. In the third year I add 12 more. From then on I observe the vine to see how many more buds I think I should add. Every year I increase the number of buds that I leave on the vine, up to about 55 buds maximum per vine.

Each bud produces about 2 clusters of grapes. Therefore, older vines produce a large number of grape clusters. However, there is an equilibrium point between best quality and quantity. I want high quality, but if I make a vine produce too much, the quality can go down.

Cuttings
For varieties I like (Jupiter, Swenson Red, Relience and Interlaken), I pot some of the cuttings and root them to become new plants. I can get over 100 cuttings from just one vine. I do not save all my cuttings. In fact, I probably will only pot about 100 cuttings total from all varieties this spring.

I like to give the cuttings away to people who appreciate that variety of grape. Eventually I may sell cuttings.

When I have cuttings that I want to save, I wrap them in damp newspaper and plastic, put them in a refrigerator and can save them for up to a year. I can either plant them this season or wait an entire year to plant them.

It’s really fun to prune and end up with a clean-looking vine. There is something about getting rid of all that junk. I relate it to going through my life and getting rid of the things that do not belong there.

Long-range planning
When pruning grapes, I ask myself how many buds I should leave, consider the direction the vine will grow and envision the future bountiful crop of grapes.

Regarding the renewal spur in cane pruning , I have to think down the road for next year. I have to leave a bud that will grow into a renewal cane. This makes me plan a year in advance. Doing so, I train the plant to produce well. It feels good to give direction to and plan for the future of the vines in my vineyard.

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