Posted on Thursday, June 30, 2016

Childproofing Your Home

They joys of becoming new parent are fun and overwhelming. There is so much to do to prepare for when you bring your new baby home. And the thought of child proofing your home can be daunting. In order to make this process easier I’ve put together some helpful things to do to get your home safe for your children.

First, use safety gates. Whether it’s at the top or bottom of the stairs or blocking entrance to certain rooms within your home gates prevent them from getting in to areas they shouldn’t be. Also, if you have a pool or any sort of body of water in your yard a safety gate is a must.

Second, install smoke detectors and a carbon monoxide detector in your home. Make sure there are smoke detectors on every level of your home, including the basement. Also, installing a carbon monoxide detector will help protect your family from CO poising. It’s an odorless gas which is virtually impossible to detect. You should check the batteries on your smoke detectors once a month and the carbon monoxide detectors once a year.

Third, use safety locks on all of your cabinets and drawers. Kids get into stuff really quickly. You could turn your back and they could get into something they shouldn’t, such as poisonous chemicals and sharp objects. Also, keep safety locks on the doors to the outside of the house.

Fourth, once baby has started crawling it’s important that you get outlet covers installed immediately. This will prevent children from sticking their fingers or other objects into the outlet. However, be careful that the covers aren’t easy for them to remove. This can pose a chocking hazard.

Fifth, use anchors for furniture and appliances. Once babies start pulling themselves up on stuff everything becomes a potential danger. They can all be pulled down and crush the child. Also, never install things such as pictures directly over their crib, not only can they fall off the wall, but once the child starts standing up they can pull them down and cut or injure themselves.

Sixth, have a plan for emergencies. Keep a book with phone numbers accessible for the children in case there is a situation where you are incapacitated. If you give them the tools, they will be able to call for help in emergency situations. Also, have a designated meeting spot in the event of a fire or other disaster. Explain to your kids that in these circumstances their safety is the most important. And if you have a specified spot, for example the tree in the front yard, as a meeting point, this will allow them to worry about their safety as opposed to finding you or your spouse.

Hopefully these tips have been helpful for how to secure your home for when baby arrives and for your children as they age.

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Posted on Monday, June 27, 2016

Alzheimer’s Disease: Signs and Symptoms

As our parents age things seem to deteriorate. Their eye sight starts to go, their hearing diminishes and their cognition fades. And there comes a time where mom’s forgetfulness may be a more of an issue than you once realized. June is national Alzheimer’s awareness month, and today we will cover what Alzheimer’s disease is, what causes it, how doctors diagnose it, and the signs and symptoms that your loved one may have Alzheimer’s dementia.

First off, let’s define Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s is a general term for memory loss and decrease in mental capabilities. It is the most common form of dementia and makes up around 70% of all dementia occurances. Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease, meaning ones cognition severely worsens as the disease advances and eventually the person becomes introverted and unable to function in a social setting. Doctors don’t know exactly what causes dementia, however, there is usually some sort of genetic component, typically coupled with environmental and lifestyle factors. Sadly, there is no cure of Alzheimer’s dementia at this present time, however, we will discuss some ways to prevent it.

Second, here are some of the signs and symptoms to help you identify if your loved one may be struggling with memory loss or may be in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. Have you noticed that they frequently repeat themselves? Maybe they constantly ask you the same questions about the kids. Or maybe they’ve stopped recognizing family members or are getting lost going to and from once familiar places. Maybe they’re having trouble in crowds. Family dinners were once a breeze but now you may notice them getting really overwhelmed with all of the noise and commotion. These may be some of the early signs that your seniors memory is going. You may also notice mood swings, wandering, changes in their sleeping habits or even delusions of things you know aren’t real.

Third, the only definitive way to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease or dementia is to evaluate the brain after death. However, doctors can do a series of cognitive and behavioral tests to determine if your loved one has Alzheimer’s. They may also want to do other diagnostic tests to be sure there isn’t another underlying cause of the change in their behavior, such as a urinary tract infection. Simple things like this can cause major changes in behavior.

Fourth, there are several things one can do to combat the onset of Alzheimer’s dementia. Getting plenty of sleep, keeping stress under control, having an active social life, keeping your mind sharp, getting exercise and eating a balanced diet can all help delay the effects and onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

If you think your loved one may be suffering from Alzheimer’s dementia you should contact their doctor and set up an appointment for an evaluation. Prevention is key.

For more healthcare tips for you and your family, check out my workbook for dealing with caring for your children as well as your aging parents: Life in the Sandwich Generation. Life in the Sandwich Generation is a workbook filled with information, tips and tricks for managing the demands needing to care for your aging parents, as well as taking care of your children. It details how you can involve your children in the process, how to learn more about your parents health and finances, while still making time for yourself and your spouse. You can find it here for only $10!

Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2016

Concerns For Your Kids While You’re Working

When summer rolls around–and your kids reach a certain age–there comes a time when you’re able to leave them home alone while you’re at work. This can be really helpful, but it can also be really stressful. You’re depending on your child to be responsible for themselves, and possibly their younger siblings. So what should you do when your kids are old enough to be home alone but you still have concerns for their safety? These tips will help put your mind at ease while you’re away.

First, establish rules. This is extremely important. Don’t allow them to have friends over. Depending on their age, don’t allow them to use the stove. This way you don’t run the risk of them accidentally starting a fire. If they plan to go to the park or over to a friend’s house, they must call you before they go and when they arrive there. This way you know where they are at all times.

Second, have your parents or neighbors check in. If grandma and grandpa live in the neighborhood, ask them to stop by every once and a while. But make sure it’s not too often. You want to be sure your kids know that you trust them to be alone, but that grandma and grandpa are there to help with anything they need. If you’re close with your neighbors, ask them to keep an eye on the house. Are the kids coming and going when they’re not supposed to be? Are they having friends over when they aren’t supposed to? Also, let your children know that the neighbors are always available in the event of an emergency.

Third, give them chores to keep them busy. There are plenty of little things they can do around the house that don’t require adult supervision. They can fold laundry, put away the dishes or take the dog for a walk. This will prevent them from sitting around and playing video games all day and it will also help take a little bit of work off of your plate.

Fourth, enroll them in camp. This will get them out of the house and even allow them to make new friends. This way you know they have structure and supervision without hiring a sitter to be at the house with them.

Fifth, send them to the local park or swimming pool. The community that I live in has buses that pick kids up and take them to the pool every hour during the week in the summer. Your kids can walk or ride their bikes to the bus stop and it will take them to the park. This way they can meet up with friends and can be active and play outside. Check for offerings in your area. Also, find what is within safe walking distance.

Sixth, use technology to your advantage. We live in the age of smartphones and GPS trackers. Make sure all of the tracking apps are active on your child’s cell phone or tablet. If your kids don’t have a phone yet you can pick up a GPS tracker at your local electronics store.

Leaving your kids home alone for the first time can be really stressful. Hopefully these tips will help make it a little easier for you.

For more healthcare tips for you and your family, check out my workbook for dealing with caring for your children as well as your aging parents: Life in Sandwich Generation. Life in the Sandwich Generation is a workbook filled with information, tips and tricks for managing the demands needing to care for your aging parents, as well as taking care of your children. It details how you can involve your children in the process, how to learn more about your parents health and finances, while still making time for yourself and your spouse. You can find it here for only $10!