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In this Edition:
Turn on Your Heart Light
Heart Health: Keeping Your Heart Light Shining Brightly
A Real Heart to Heart Story
Turn on Your Heart Light: Strategies for Healthy Mind, Body & Spirit
by Rona Bartelstone LCSW, BCD, CMC, Chief Executive Officer
Since February is National Heart Month and Valentine’s Day, we wanted to focus on heart health from both a physical and emotional perspective. Is it possible to really stay heart healthy? Is it possible to stay really “well” even when life throws a curve and forces us to live with health issues, losses or disabilities?
While there are no guarantees about what the future will bring, perhaps there are things that we can do to try to assure that we can in fact, “get the best from the rest.” Although we realize, as we age, that there are many things over which we have no control, there are several things that we can do that will help us for those future crises. Here are some of those planning things that can make life’s challenges a little easier:
© Learn good self care in the form of preventive health testing, good nutrition and at least a
little physical activity;
© When medical or social issues arise – address them early right away;
© Maintain social connections to feel part of your community;
© Keep your mind stimulated with any activities that you enjoy;
© Find new or continuing activities that provide you with a sense of purpose and meaning; and
© Plan for the worst, while hoping for the best. This means legal planning, financial planning and
healthcare planning, plus sharing ALL of your wishes with your family or close
friends/advisors.
By doing the above, we can all get a head start on coping with any negative changes that may affect our lives. However, coping with the tragedies that sometimes befall us during life requires more than just good planning. Caregivers and people who cope well with adversity have many traits that help them to survive and even flourish. Here are some ideas:
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Acknowledge your feelings. It is ok to have negative feelings when you find yourself in an unhappy situation.
By acknowledging
and giving expression to your feelings you vent them so that you can use your energy for what needs to be done. Even ugly feelings like anger, sadness, anxiety and fear are ok – it is human! |
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Be aware of the way that you talk to yourself and whether you are helping or hurting yourself. Now is the time to be loving, accepting and gentle of who we are. We need to accept our strengths and weaknesses, so that we can get the help that we need to go on. Try to reinforce the strengths and positive qualities, while refraining from punishing yourself about the weaknesses. |
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Build your own self esteem by recognizing all of the things that you do well and all of the strength you have. Acknowledge accomplishments and the good people and things that remain in your life. |
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Choose & set limits. Learn to say “no.” Caregivers get so used to doing everything for another person that it is hard to say “no” to others even when it is appropriate. Limit your emotional reactions by walking away from an uncomfortable situation and dealing with it when you have had time to think about a calm response. |
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Find Relaxation in any healthy way you can. Use music, humor, reading, movies, meditation, respite services, a walk, go fishing, take a hot bath, a massage or anything that gives you a few moments of peace to renew yourself. |
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Improve Communications. Learn to express your emotions in a direct manner that starts with the expression, “I feel…” to help avoid blaming others. Be specific in describing your feelings or needs. When you are not sure what is being communicated, ask for clarification. Try to express warmth, acceptance and love whenever possible. Listen to the feelings not just the words of others. This makes it easier to respond in kind. |
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Stay in the moment and hold onto those precious moments of laughter, joy, reminiscence and peace so that you can call on them again when you need a lift. |
One of my favorite authors is Anais Nin. She wrote, “We don’t see things are they are, we see things as we are.” So if we can be calm and loving, even when we are in pain we are more likely to be able to cope with life’s trials a little better. I am grateful for my optimism because he helps me over many hurtles and keeps my heart light burning brightly!
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Heart Health: Keeping Your Heart Light Shining Brightly
by Sandy Dunlap, RN, LCSW, Director of Nursing
Very often family members and clients report that someone has “heart problems.” When asked what kind of heart problems, they often do not know. In some heart problems, there are no or minimum symptoms and in others the symptoms are very specific. It is important to know and recognize the symptoms and also the situations that may cause these symptoms. There are many heart conditions, including congenital abnormalities, inflammation such as pericarditis and endocarditis, heart valve problems such as mitral valve prolapse. Some of the heart problems which we find in the seniors for whom we provide caregiving include:
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Cardiac arrhythmias which occur when the electrical impulses in the heart are not working properly. These conditions are classified by where in the heart they originate and by the speed of the heart rate. Rapid heart rate (tachycardia) conditions include atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, supraventicular tachycardia, ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, or long QT syndrome. |
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Myocardial infarction is commonly referred to as a heart attack. This occurs when there is not enough oxygen to the heart muscle and some of the muscle dies due to a lack of blood supply. |
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Coronary artery disease is the # 1 killer in America. This is the most common heart problem that we see in the elderly. Coronary artery disease is atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries. Atherosclerosis is a buildup of plaque that narrows the arteries. The narrowing of the arteries may not be able to supply enough oxygen rich blood to the heart. This is a simplified version since there are other mechanisms that occur also. Commonly, the symptom of angina occurs. Angina is described as a burning, pressure fullness, or achy feeling in the chest area, left shoulder, arms, back, or jaw. There may be other symptoms such as shortness of breath, sweating, weakness. Nitroglycerine tables are taken for these symptoms. If symptoms are not relieved, the patient should be taken to the nearest hospital. |
All heart disease is treated by reducing the risk factors. These include:
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Reducing your cholesterol by using low fat and low cholesterol diets. Your overall cholesterol should be less than 200. The “good” cholesterol called HDL should be higher than 40 for men and 50 for women. The “bad” cholesterol should be less than 130. |
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Exercise reduces weight and reduces stress (a factor that can cause an increased need for oxygen to the heart). |
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Smokers should quit. |
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Keep blood pressure under control. |
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If diabetic, keep blood sugar in control. |
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Maintain healthy weight. This can be better achieved with reduction of refined sugars (which reduces your triglyceride level) and eating a heart healthy diet. Exercise is the other key to keeping your weight under control. |
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Medications may be needed in addition to the above. |
There are surgical and other procedures used to treat heart disease but they do not eliminate the continued need to maintain the above reduction of risk factors. Beside reducing your risk factors for heart problem, you will probably feel much better.
Being “heart smart” will help to keep your heart light burning brighter for a longer and healthier life!
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A Real "Heart to Heart" Story
by Susan Fleischer, Chief Operating Officer
Mrs. Valentine is an 88 year old woman who lives alone. She has one daughter who resides in New York City. The daughter and mother have had difficult relationship problems over the years. Recently the daughter became aware of her mother’s complex and multiple medical problems, which include emphysema, hypertension, heart disease, occasional bowel problems and Alzheimer type dementia.
Her daughter decided to hire a care manager from Rona Bartelstone Care Management & Home Healthcare to provide her with accurate reports regarding her mother’s medical condition and care needs.
Sandra Goldberg, a Registered Nurse Care Manager began visiting her on a weekly basis. On a recent visit, Sandy noted that Mrs. Valentine appeared extremely weak, exhibiting breathing difficulties, swollen ankles and was unable to walk without assistance. Sandy immediately spoke to her physician and reviewed her medications with him. Sandy accompanied Mrs.Valentine to his office that afternoon, discussed her symptoms and breathing problems with him. He, as well as Sandy were concerned that she was going into Congestive Heart Failure. The physician indeed diagnosed her with this condition and she was hospitalized. Sandy followed her through her hospital stay and coordinated her discharge plans with the hospital staff. Her daughter was extremely grateful that Sandy was able to monitor her condition and give her accurate daily reports.
After a few days in the hospital, Sandy with the daughter’s approval had a live-in home health aide from Rona Bartelstone Care Management Home Healthcare accompany her home to recuperate. Sandy’s role expanded in providing medical advocacy , ordering appropriate medical equipment, which included oxygen, a hospital bed, an easy lift chair, and bedside commode. Sandy was the liaison in speaking with the doctors, the Medicare nurse, respiratory and physical therapists. She supervised the care provided by the home health aide. However, most prominently became her role in providing supportive counseling for her daughter. Her daughter was able to understand and begin to accept her mother’s behavior and responses. With Sandy’s help she began to learn how to respond to her mother without reacting to her verbal complaints but to accept her for whom she is. With some additional coaching from Sandy, Mrs. Valentine and her daughter had for the first time a real “heart to heart” talk.
If it has been too long since you had a "heart to heart" talk with a family member,
Rona Bartelstone Care Managers can help you to get a new perspective on your relationship.
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