DOCEN HR TALK

 

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Every passing minute, there is another complication that arises from the coronavirus, most of which falls mostly on seniors and adults with existing conditions. Evidently, the risk of getting infected is highest among the elderly and those with underlying health conditions. Additionally, the death toll for nursing facility residents is shocking, which is why visiting patients has been banned. Senior facilities that so many of the elderly are dependent upon are now closed. Only meal pickups are available, and this poses a challenge for most seniors because public transportation is scarce. This group of individuals is facing the frustrating challenge of inattention and isolation, which can be as dangerous as the coronavirus itself.

Seniors And Home Health Employees Affected

The federal government has abdicated the usual three-day hospital admission prerequisite for Medicare insurance coverage to accommodate more patients. However, there have been reports that many long-term care centers have not been accepting new patients. Further, most home health companies don’t accommodate new cases because they are having difficulty providing services to their existing clients. And this will apparently worsen as more and more home health employees become ill or are forced to stay home. This would mean that there is a higher number of seniors left in hospital facilities when it is unsafe for them to be there.

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Home health employees may also be carriers of infection and may ultimately endanger the patients and residents that they are providing care for. Although facilities are obliged to screen employees meticulously, the risk will always be there.

Medicaid And Other Companies Affected

Some companies that cater to vulnerable adults have stopped operating at the moment. For instance, in New Jersey, programs for the disabled are currently closed, placing more stress and pressure on families to take care of their loved ones without assistance from certified caregivers. The government has loosened some guidelines on home health providers, allowing more hours of weekly work and also providing salaries to family members who are direct carers of the elderly and vulnerable adults after they have gone through and passed the application process.

As for direct contact, face-to-face care of clients from support and coordination companies is temporarily suspended except for cases associated with health and safety. The issue is that it’s difficult to identify when health and safety are threatened, even with no regular contact. The Division of Developmental Disabilities is operating from its own office and is communicating via the Internet.

Other companies are caring for the disabled and the elderly that are affected as well, and Medicaid is one of these companies. The New Jersey Boards of Social Services have transitioned to remote access and having a skeletal type of system in their offices. Undoubtedly, the process is slower than normal. It is not clear whether or not new applicants for Medicaid can be prepared remotely, as this new system is still in its infancy stages and still mostly paper-driven. Additionally, community nurses who are assigned to evaluate Medicaid applicants are not doing their jobs. So, the application procedure is waived; these new applicants are unable to secure their Medicaid coverage and will, therefore, be possibly denied necessary care. They will also be unable to receive benefits provided by the company.

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These times are not ordinary. We do hope we will soon return to our normal topsy-turvy but happy and COVID-free lives. In the meantime, carers of vulnerable adults seniors, and individuals with disabilities, you must all be keen on protecting your loved ones. Medicaid suggests that you maintain constant communication with them and be assertive in asking for help when necessary. Community agencies, private healthcare companies, and local governments are available to work with you to make sure that our vulnerable loved ones will not break down amidst these devastating times.

 

We all get health issues at some point in our lives, and we all can say that there is nothing more exquisite than to receive the best healthcare possible. Being sick physically has an emotional toll on us. It makes us vulnerable to sadness, loneliness, and even depression. It is a way for us to feel pain, the worst thing about life, and our immortality. Continue reading “The Importance Of Proper Healthcare”

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My family is into celebrating the girls’ 16th birthdays so much that they always throw a big party. A few months before that event, the parents would start contacting venues and caterers to know their availability. There may also be an organizer involved if the party will be too big for them to handle. Then, the invitations will come, the dresses get fitted, and some dance numbers are even prepared.

My 16th birthday turned out as amazing as I wanted it to be. What was only missing at the time was my father, whose legs got temporarily paralyzed due to a slipped disc. He had been talking about lower back pain while preparing for the party. He went to a specialist but decided to postpone his surgery so that he could be a part of my special event. However, on the morning of the festivities, my dad could not get out of bed. He was unable to move his legs without being in so much pain. In the end, he only saw the party through videos and pictures.

My father is doing well now, but what he went through should remind everyone that a slipped disc can never be taken for granted. It will:

Put You In So Much Pain

In case you are unaware of the spinal parts, you should know that there are discs in between its body. These are soft jelly-like structures that serve as a cushion and prevent the bones from grinding against each other. When the disc bulges out or, worse, bursts, your spinal cord may become misaligned, thus putting you in so much pain.

Before a spinal disc explodes, you are more likely to feel back discomfort than not. Once you experience that and a specialist confirms your worries, you should not wait another day before getting treatment. Some herniated discs don’t require surgery, after all, especially if you take care of it.

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Cause You To Miss Out On Important Occasions

Paying no mind to a slipped disc may seem reasonable now that you can still walk and talk. You may think, “Meh. It might go away on its own.” Alternatively, “The issue may not progress if I stop bending down or lifting heavy objects too much.”

But what if it doesn’t happen? What if the herniation is too severe that even picking up a bottle from the floor can cause your disc to explode?

Don’t rely on what-ifs because we are talking about your spine here. It is connected to the brain, so if one nerve that leads to another body part gets damaged, you may not be able to use that anymore.

Worsen The Problem Till You Can No Longer Move

As mentioned above, my father was unable to walk when his spinal disc exploded. The doctors had to place titanium plates where the disc used to be to prevent the bones from rubbing together. According to them, Dad was lucky because his paralysis was temporary. Others with the same condition became paralyzed permanently.

Final Thoughts

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As soon as a specialist diagnoses you with a slipped disc, drop everything and don’t wait for anything else before getting treated. It does not matter whether you have important tasks to do or special events to attend. Those things can wait but not your health.

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Every time summer comes to an end, people get excited about the thought of celebrating Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve. These occasions practically take place a month after the other, after all. The themes are always festive as well, although the decorations may be different.

When it comes to the weather, everyone feels great when the hot weather gets replaced by chilly autumn winds. The changing seasons entail that the colors of the leaves will be different. That’s when a lot of people want to do their photoshoots because they won’t need to edit the background much. And while some folks may complain about snow during winter, they also enjoy skiing and doing other activities on the ice.

The only thing that makes everyone not too happy about fall and winter, though, is the fact that they are flu seasons. You don’t hear an influenza outbreak much in summer because the disease-causing microorganisms can’t stand the heat. Unfortunately, a lot of viruses and bacteria propagate well under wet and cold conditions. The result is that you or your kids may come down with flu one day, and the rest of the family gets the same virus soon after.

To keep the flu from spreading in the house, here’s what you should do.

Give Everyone A Mask

The first thing to consider is giving everyone a mask before leaving your home. I understand that mask-wearing people get flak on the streets, but you cannot let them bother you. Remember that the influenza virus is scarier than the weird looks that others may throw at you. If the mask will save you from airborne diseases, why shouldn’t you wear it?

Wash Hands As Often As Possible

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It is also essential to wash your hands often, no matter what you have done with them. The reason is that you cannot be too confident that the objects you have touched are clean. The barista who handed your coffee to you may be sneezing a lot. Another person who gave up their seat on the bus for you may have used their hands to cover their mouth while coughing before using the same hand to shake yours and tell you to take their spot. Thus, you will end up getting their virus.

Load Up On Vitamin C And Sleep

On some occasions, you have probably heard of a person who has not been infected by the flu virus despite being around ill relatives. It is an indication that they have a robust immune system, which is what you should be aiming for. So, if you don’t want to deal with influenza, make sure to get enough vitamin C and sleep every day to boost your natural protection against viruses.

Isolate The Ill Family Member

In case the precautionary measures don’t work, and a loved one still falls ill, you should put them under quarantine in their bedroom. If it happens to be your spouse, for instance, you need to move to another room while they are recuperating. You can tend to their needs and feed them, but it is best to avoid staying in the same place 24/7.

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Final Thoughts

Staying away from the flu may seem impossible, especially if almost everyone around you carries the virus. Despite that, you can be immune to it if you follow the tips above.

Cheers!

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Is a doctor the last person you ever want to see?

Cool – you are not the only individual who has ever thought of that.

No matter how friendly and smart physicians are, nobody wants to meet them. The reason is that visiting their office usually entails that something is wrong with you physically. It should be tolerable if the doctor merely checks your pupils or uses a stethoscope to listen to the sounds that your internal organs produce. Such procedures are relatively non-intrusive, although it can be a little annoying to have a penlight shining on your eyeballs. When the physician orders blood sampling, however, the person’s courage may start to crumble.

You see, a lot of people fear needles. They don’t want to see it; they don’t want to touch it. The idea of inserting a needle in their arm is enough to make some of them faint. That’s when internal blaming usually takes place. “Why did I set up a doctor’s appointment?” “Why did I even fall ill?”

Breathe. If you are in that situation, I’m sorry – you will most likely have to brave through it. In case you still have a chance to avoid seeing a physician anytime soon, here are practical ways to do that.

Get Enough Sleep At Night

Many sources say that you only need seven to eight hours of rest, but they don’t specify that it should be at night. It is a vital factor to remember because our bodies have been following a circadian rhythm ever since we were kids. Simply put, our system naturally knows when it is time for bed or not.

You can stay up all night and sleep throughout the day, for sure. However, you won’t feel as well-rested as if you sleep during nighttime. Because of that, your immune system may get affected by stress, and you may need to see a doctor soon.

Eat Balanced Meals

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A lot of people seem to love trying diet trends, even if they have no idea whether it’s a fad or the real deal. Some avoid or limit carbohydrate consumption, so they run the risk of having no energy to do anything. Others stick with fruits and vegetables only, so they may not get enough protein and healthy fat in their system.

The truth is that a balanced meal should always consist of carbohydrates, meat, and fruits and vegetables. Eating something from one or two food groups and forgetting the rest cannot be suitable for your health.

Exercise Regularly

Exercising is a practical way to keep the blood flowing all over your body. It can prevent blockages from forming in your veins and vessels. It will ensure that you have more muscles than stagnant fats, too.

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Exercising doesn’t mean that you have to be a gym rat now. Walking is a mild form of cardio workout – walk up and down the stairs every day, and your heart will pump blood well. If you love to dance, you can do aerobics or Zumba. Doing other kinds of sports that you may be interested in can also allow you to exercise regularly.

Follow the tips above to reduce your chances of needing to see a doctor anytime soon. Cheers!

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For the first time, I applied for a healthcare plan. I lived without one for a while because I always thought that it would be unnecessary. I used to say, “I don’t even know if I’ll ever be able to use it. Then, I will have to renew the policy and pay the annual fee again. That’s a waste of money!”

Despite my initial dislike of healthcare plans, my views changed. One time, my best friend and I decided to get an executive checkup together. We went to a hospital and got the necessary procedures, such as blood sampling, urinalysis, ECG, chest X-ray, etc. When it was time to pay, my best friend used his insurance and only needed to cough up 20 bucks. And what about me, you may ask?

A solid $200!

I wanted to blurt out that I didn’t wish to get a general checkup anymore, but all the procedures were already done. So, reluctantly, I handed over my credit card and got 200 bucks deducted from my account.

That experience made me realize, “Man, I should have gotten a healthcare plan when I had a chance!” Allow me to relay my train of thoughts back when I decided to sign up for one after that incident.

It Hurts To Pay Medical Bills Straight From Your Pocket

It cannot be further from the truth. As mentioned above, it is difficult to accept that you need to pay a couple of hundred dollars to get your blood and urine tested and ask someone to take a photo of your internal organs. Granted, those people who did that have a medical license, but you may still feel upset about paying that much.

We cannot change the system, but you don’t need to cough up a lot of money if you have insurance to back you up. From what I heard, visits to specialists cost around 20-25 dollars only with an HMO. If you go to a general practitioner, you may not even have to pay anything upfront.

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You Can Worry About The Prescription Only

Insurance companies offer various healthcare plans. The higher the policy is, the more inclusions you will see them cover. Some will only pay for doctor’s appointments and hospitalization; others will provide prescription medicine.

The thing is, HMOs usually have a set list of drugs that they can cover. Your prescription, therefore, may or may not be handled by them. But even if they can’t, you know, that’s okay. Paying for medical bills is already a huge help. People can buy their own medicine, especially if it’s for mild cases like flu or diarrhea.

It Is Useful During Medical Emergencies

Healthcare plans are also helpful in times when you need to get hospitalized without warning. Accidents and illnesses like appendicitis are the types of emergencies that no one can prepare for. You will only know that you need medical assistance as soon as an unfortunate event happens.

When my best friend had to stay overnight in the hospital one time due to potential viral infection, he had to have a lot of tests done. Upon checking out the next day, he saw that his bill came up to $70,000. My best friend would have had to pay that if he didn’t have insurance. But because he was covered by it, the company merely needed to pay a tenth of the full amount while he was only asked for a miscellaneous fee.

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Final Thoughts

A healthcare plan is something that we never know when we will need. It’s great if you’ll never have to use it. In case you somehow need to, it will still be fantastic if you can use the benefits it comes with.

Considering you don’t have a policy yet, look for a reliable insurance company now!

Stress is not just for adults! It can hit even children, as evidenced by their tantrums as an example. Simple stress, mental fatigue, and mild anxiety are all part of life. Every psychologist says there should be appropriate treatment as early as a simple burnout happens. 

“There are so many ways stress creeps into our lives, yet if we take control of our time and make proactive and healthy decisions, we can stop these negative cycles and truly take care of our mental health.” Sonja Seglin, LCPC said. Understanding why one is stressed or anxious may help. Tracing the root cause is the ultimate cure, but this is not always the go-to remedy. Stress cannot be eliminated but can be managed in the right ways. It should be the case, especially for young adult students who are also undergoing puberty, a transition to adulthood, and school peer pressure. 

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Here are some of the effective stress busters that psychologists always advise their student clients: 

Eat Healthily

Eating healthily is still the first step toward stress relief. The physical self should be healthy because mental health also depends heavily on it. If you are feeling hungry, keep in mind to always eat healthily. Research and science say that a green and leafy plate carries with it nutrients that are good for the mental aspect. “A balanced diet that includes lots of fiber helps keep your gut system running efficiently by helping to support a more diverse gut microbiome.” John M. Grohol, Psy.D. said.

You can have cheat days but keep it in moderation. After all, physical appearance significantly affects confidence. Watch your salt and sugar intake every day. Do not make your physical health suffer in long-term fatigue and disease and then realize it at a very late stage. 

Exercise And Move

“For starters, exercise releases endorphins, the body’s “feel-good hormones,” that can calm the mind and relax the body.” Clinical psychologist Jenny C. Yip, PsyD, said. Most students will hate this tip or will not even think about it. When psychologists ask you to exercise, they mean to move, move, and move around and not do a full-blown workout session every day. 

 

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You can opt for yoga or simply walking and running exercises at home. There are instructional videos online which you can do in less than 15 minutes every day or whenever you have free time. Exercises, no matter how simple or short, is responsible for releasing happy hormones called the ‘serotonin.’ This body chemical will make you feel ‘happy’ and better right after. 

Read Inspirational Quotes

This is a good kick starter of your day! You can read a couple of quotes or short stories of motivation every morning to wake that spirit in you. This way, you will start the day smiling and not in a sluggish way. Remember that a passive or weary attitude in the morning invites stress throughout the day. 

Smile And Laugh

Research shows that smiling makes a person cope with stress more easily than those who hold neutral expressions. In a recent study, those who participated and were told to smile had lower heart rates than those who were told not to.

As they say, laughter is the best medicine. Science shows that laughing reduces stress hormones and boosts the immune system. Moreover, it can be contagious. Share a good laugh with people and see how many friendships you can form. 

Keep A Journal

Sometimes, writing it down relieves all the stress and fatigue inside of us. Keeping a record of what happened generally eases the feeling, and it can help you trace any problem.

A journal can be therapeutic. You can design it and express yourself in it. You can put your achievements and happy memories in it so that you can go back and relive the pleasant feeling again and again. It will calm you and defeat all the thoughts of stress at the end of the day. 

Have Fun With Friends

Do this always with your parents’ consent and permission. You can invite your classmates and friends for a sleepover, do some movie marathons, and binge eat. Go out with them for food trips, small travels, or beach trips. Take your mind off schoolwork for a while. 

Get Enough Sleep

College students take sleep for granted most of the time. They would always sacrifice sleep to balance their social life and studies. It is the biggest mistake they are doing. Without proper rest, physical and mental health aspects suffer. Stress will stay until they get a night of complete sleep. 

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Try napping even for 15 minutes to an hour if stress is completely consuming you. Do not think about the deadlines for a while. If you want to speed up your thinking ability to meet that deadline, nap for a while. See how it will clear up your mind to work more efficiently in the next hour. 

Never let stress and anxiety get to you. If you’re having a hard time, BetterHelp has you covered. BetterHelp is the most convenient way to get access to the best therapists at an affordable price.

Summary

Having a positive mind and better physical health are the best stress busters. These two general points are broken down into manageable steps above so it would be easier for students to follow. Keep in mind that understanding and managing stress at a younger age will make your adult and working life better in the future.

There are so many methods that you need to remember when it comes to fighting depression. The first thing that you have to know is the fact that depression is a mental health issue or a psychological problem and not a mere state of mind. As such, you cannot just summon yourself to get up and continue the battle against depression. There must be a combination of ways that you must employ so that you can become an expert in overcoming depression. Continue reading “A Therapist’s List of Tips To Surviving Depression”