Granville Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing With the Best Ways to Cut Down on Clutter

As we age, many seniors look to get rid of stuff as they downsize their living space. The problem is, it’s very easy to accumulate just about everything over the years. The thing is, this problem occurs gradually, so by the time you realize it, you might be overwhelmed and not know where to start.

Granville Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing, however, is here to help with five tips to declutter like a pro.

1. Old Files

Go through your files; chances are you have several folders from vacations, trips, and other life events that you don’t need anymore. Take a look at the information before you toss it, but this is a real quick way to fill up a garbage bag.

2. Gift Bags

How many birthdays, Christmases, and other occasions do you fold up that gift bag and put it in the closet, ready to use when it’s time to give a gift to someone else? Yes, you might use one of two of them, but you don’t need 10 or 20. Keep a couple of bags with neutral colors and isn’t specific to an occasion.

3. Magazines and Reading Materials

You’ve been meaning to get to that article, but you just haven’t had the time over the past few…months. If your coffee table’s magazine stack is rising, take the time to go through them. If you haven’t made time to read an article after it’s been sitting there for a few months, chances are it’s not that important to you and you can toss it in the recycling bin.

4. Expired Medication

If your medicine cabinet or basket is overflowing, do an inventory, and we bet you’ll find lots of expired medication. Drugs wear out over time, so you don’t want to hang on to any products that are too far past its expiration date. 

5. Old Sheets

Old sheets have a tendency to pile up in the linen closet or laundry room “just in case.” Keep enough to have a spare for each mattress in the house, and just let go of the rest. Sheets are one of the highest-priority items when it comes to places that accept donations.

To learn more about Granville Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit https://centershealthcare.com/granville_center/.

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Granville Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing on the Dangers of Staying Still

The benefits of being active can affect just about every aspect of a person’s life. A sedentary lifestyle is associated with dangers like obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.
There’s also a hidden danger to not moving for hours at a time – a condition that frequent travelers are familiar with – which is called venous thromboembolism. These conditions include deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolisms.
Granville Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing would like to go over the dangers of both.

Deep Vein Thrombosis
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is commonly associated with airline passengers taking long flights, but it can affect anyone who doesn’t move for several hours – in fact, the risk increases after about four hours of immobility.
DVT occurs when a blood clot forms in a deep vein (usually in the leg), it then travels to the lungs and blocks the blood supply. Symptoms include pain or tenderness in the legs, swelling, and warmth in the affected area.

Pulmonary Embolism
When the clot travels to the lungs and blocks the blood supply, that’s known as a pulmonary embolism. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, a fast or irregular heartbeat, chest pain, light-headedness, and coughing up blood.

How to Prevent DVT
Simple movements are usually enough to prevent DVT from occurring. Walking around every two to three hours (if you’re taking a long car ride, you should stop every few hours to get up and move around a bit), wearing compression stockings, and doing leg exercises while seated are all useful strategies. Leg exercises can include heel raises, toe raises, knee lifts, and leg extensions – all exercises that can be done from your favorite easy chair at home or even a cramped airline seat.

To learn more about Granville Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit https://centershealthcare.com/granville_center/.

Granville Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing on New Guidelines for Colorectal Cancer Screenings

New research and guidelines on when to begin screenings for colorectal cancer, along with the types and frequency of those screenings, were recently released by the American College of Physicians (ACP).

The ACP released three guidance statements regarding the screenings for colorectal cancer:

• Screenings for average-risk adults (no family history of colon cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, or polyps) should occur from 50 to 75 years of age.
• A variety of screening methods should be considered on a patient-by-patient basis.
• Screening should be discontinued for adults older than 75 or if their current life expectancy is 10 years or less.

Since, according to the report, colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer-related death in men and women, early detection is key.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends starting screenings at 45, but the ACP says the difference between 45 and 50 isn’t large enough to require testing prior to age 50. The ACS, however, prefers their conservative approach.

“The risk of colorectal cancer in people age 45 is now virtually the same as the risk at age 50 when some of the clinical trials were first conducted,” Dr. Richard Wender, chief cancer control officer for the ACS, said in an email to CNN. “While relying on trials is an important and conservative approach to determine the efficacy of screening, once that efficacy is established, we need to move beyond the trials when we need to update a screening guideline based on new data, such as evidence of changing risk of disease.”

The ACP recommends a colonoscopy every 10 years and a fecal immunochemical test (FIT) every two years.

The FIT, which can be done at home, tests for hidden blood in the stool, which can be an early warning sign of cancer. Colonoscopies, of course, are more invasive, as a doctor will use a small camera to visually inspect the inside of the rectum and colon. Colonoscopies can be expensive, require some form of sedation, are time-consuming, and cause side effects like bleeding.

Granville Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing on Caring for Wounds Remotely

Healthcare via phone, computer, smartphone, or other remote means (known as telehealth), has exploded in popularity in recent years. It was used in 76 percent of U.S. hospitals in 2017 – more than double the 35 percent usage rate in 2010.

Telehealth in wound care is also growing in popularity, as a study found that 6.5 million people in this country and using it for that purpose.

Granville Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing is here to explain how you can benefit from this service.

What You Need
Telehealth is best used in follow-up care when it comes to wounds. It can be used at home (if you have a smartphone or a camera connected to a computer) or at a local facility, with a nurse acting as a go-between from the patient and the remote physician or provider. The nurse will need to have excellent assessment and communication skills since they are serving as the eyes and ears of the provider.

Benefits of Remote Care

• Reduced Travel – Many rural areas do not have access to a wound care specialist close by. Additionally, travel can be difficult for older people – whether it’s due to mobility issues or chronic illness.
• Reduced Costs – You will save on travel costs, and your healthcare-related costs will be drastically lower through a remote situation.
• Reduced Risks – Each time you are at a hospital or a large clinic, you open yourself up to potential disease in a waiting room or other areas of the facility.
• Patient Satisfaction – A study conducted in Singapore showed that 98.2 percent of people who received wound care remotely were satisfied with the experience.

Can Tattoos Help You Avoid the Common Cold? Granville Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing Explains

There are several ways to prevent getting knocked out of commission by a nasty cold: get a good amount of sleep each night, take vitamin C, and routinely wash your hands are all ways to keep your immune system strong.

Getting a tattoo, however, probably isn’t on that list. But a research team from the University of Alabama found that they might be able to give you a higher level of resistance over a longer period of time.

The researchers found that getting a tattoo can temporarily lower your resistance because your body’s defense systems are lowered due to the stress of getting a tattoo.

However, they believe that once the body returns to normal levels, it’s actually sets itself at a higher resistance level. They say this is especially true for people who have multiple tattoos.

“After the stress response, your body returns to an equilibrium,” Dr. Christopher Lynn, associate professor of anthropology at the University of Alabama, told the American Journal of Human Biology. “However, if you continue to stress your body over and over again, instead of returning to the same set point, it adjusts its internal set points and moves higher.”

Dr. Lynn equated it to how your body responds to exercise. If you are sedentary, your body will be extremely sore after that first workout. But if you make the exercise a part of your daily routine, your body will get stronger and that will eventually become its new normal.

Dr. Lynn and his research team studied levels of an antibody called immunoglobulin A and cortisol – a stress hormone that is believed to suppress immune responses. They found that levels decreased when a subject got a tattoo, eventually increased, and the decrease was at a lower amount for each subsequent tattoo.

Granville Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing with Four Strategies to Fight Brain Aging

While our brain function naturally decreases with age and genetics can play a part in certain conditions, there are several factors that we can control when it comes to how quickly our brain ages.

Granville Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing would like to present four of these factors that you can adopt in your regimen today.

1. Stay Active

Exercise helps blood flow to the brain, and researchers have found that regular exercise keeps the vessels transporting that blood healthy. This can lead to better cognitive function and reaction time in adults over 60, along with a reduction in the risk of developing Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia.

2. Keep Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Levels in Check

The arteries in the brain are sensitive to high blood pressure and they can be damaged with long-term exposure. Studies show an increased risk of dementia in patients whose systolic blood pressure (top number) is between 140 and 160. High cholesterol levels are believed to increase plaques that are characteristic of Alzheimer’s.

3. Eat a Diet High in Plants, Nuts, Seeds, and Berries

All of these foods have been shown to give brainpower a boost. For berries, blueberries and pomegranate have shown to improve memory in research involving humans. It’s advised that your primary fat source be from nuts (like walnuts) and seeds instead of red meat. Also, cut down on salt, sugar, and processed foods.

4. Check Vitamins D and B12, and Take Omega-3 Supplements

Omega-3 fatty acids (found in walnuts and salmon) can help with your brain volume. Eating foods rich in this, along with taking a supplement, will provide you with a boost. A deficiency in Vitamin B12 can lead to brain problems like confusion, depression, and poor memory. Your body’s ability to absorb this nutrient decreases with age, so a supplement may be your best bet here, too. Vitamin D deficiency also comes with an increased risk of dementia. A blood test should show your level to be between 30 and 45 ng/ml.

Granville Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing on When a Cut or Scrape May Be Infected

Scrapes are a common part of everyday life. However, they can become complicated for seniors because the body’s healing processes slow as we age.

Because scrapes are generally caused by objects that may contain dirt and other foreign substances that contain bacteria, they are at risk for becoming infected. So, how can you tell when it’s time to see a doctor over a cut or scrape?

Granville Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing would like to share these telltale signs of an infection developing in a surface wound.

Clean the Wound to Prevent Infection
Before we get to the signs of infection, you can do your best to prevent infection by cleaning the wound as soon as you can after it occurs. Soap and water are generally enough to get the dirt out. You can use hydrogen peroxide, but if it’s a deeper, open wound, the benefits of using it may not outweigh the pain you will experience by putting it over the wound.

Infection May Not Present Itself Right Away
When the wound occurs, you will likely have redness, swelling, and pain. This is normal for the first day or two, but if you don’t see the redness fade away after a couple of days, it may be infected. A feeling of warmth around the wound is another telltale sign.

More Obvious Signs of Infection
Two signs of infection you don’t want to ignore are:

• Pus or drainage coming from the wound, especially if it has a foul smell.
• A fever develops.

If you notice either of these signs, you should see a doctor because antibiotics will likely be necessary to clear the infection and help the wound fully heal.

Acute vs. Chronic Wounds: Granville Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing Teaches You the Difference

Whether you’re a caregiver to a senior or just have one in your life, it’s important to have a basic knowledge of caring for wounds. Elderly people are more susceptible to wounds due to more fragile skin and generally weaker immune systems that slow the healing process.

It’s also vital to know the different types of wounds. Granville Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing will point out the differences between acute and chronic wounds and let you know when professional treatment is necessary.

Acute Wounds
Acute wounds occur on the skin suddenly, whether it be from a tear, puncture, incision, rupture, or irritation. Typical symptoms include pain, bleeding, and swelling. Basic first aid should be used to get the bleeding to stop and set the wound up for proper healing. This includes cleaning the wound with soap and water or hydrogen peroxide, and then dressing it with gauze and bandages. If you have trouble stopping the bleeding or there’s a risk for infection (puncture wounds, an excess of dirt or dirty water in the wound, etc.), seek medical attention. Antibiotics (topical, oral, or both) may be prescribed so the wound heals without any complications.

Chronic Wounds
When an acute wound fails to heal properly, it can become a chronic wound. A chronic wound doesn’t have blood, oxygen, or nutrients being sent from the body to the injured area. Chronic wounds are at high risk of infection, severe inflammation, and a need for surgery. If you suspect a wound has reached the chronic stage, medical help is required, as a hospital stay may be necessary for effective treatment.

Act FAST to Remember the Most Common Symptoms of a Stroke

Time is of the essence when treating a stroke. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that stroke treatments that work the best are available only if the stroke is recognized and diagnosed within three hours of the first symptoms.

Granville Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing treats both short-term and long-term patients recovering from a stroke, so we want you to be familiar with the warning signs so you can do everything possible to lessen the damage that it can cause.

When it comes to the warning signs, experts urge that you learn the acronym FAST.

F — Face

For the victim, this can feel like sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body. For a witness, ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

A-Arms

Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S — Speech

The victim may feel a sudden onset of confusion, trouble speaking, or understanding speech. An observer should ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is the person’s speech slurred or strange?

T — Time

If you notice any of the signs above, call 911 immediately. Also note the time that symptoms first appear, as it helps doctors determine the best course of treatment.

If you’re suffering a stroke, you may also have the following sudden symptoms: trouble seeing out of one or both eyes, trouble walking, loss of balance, or lack of coordination, and/or a severe headache with no known cause.

One final piece of advice from the CDC: Do not drive yourself or the person you suspect of suffering a stroke to the hospital. Call 911 instead, as paramedics can begin treatment on the way to the emergency room.