Caring for a client who wants to remain at home takes a team of people working together to help make that happen. This post highlights the role of Home Health Aide (HHA) and the importance he/she has at Divine Home Care.

The job of a HHA is not easy; they work very hard to take care of our clients. Their work can by both physically and emotionally demanding. Because every individual has different needs, it is a bit difficult to describe a “typical day” for an aide, but I am going to try and give you a general idea. It is not uncommon that our clients need help out of bed in the morning so that is often how a HHA starts their day – awake early so they are able to help someone else prepare for their day. HHAs assist with hands-on personal cares such as bathing, nail and skin care, oral hygiene, toileting, shaving and dressing, which helps make daily living a little easier. They also use safe transfer techniques to help a client move around his or her home. A Home Health Aide’s responsibilities often times go further when they need to perform simple dressing changes on a wound, assist with changing a catheter bag or help with colostomy care. Some aides may visit four or five clients on the same day and others may only work with one client. The Divine Home Care Office Managers (who do the scheduling) work very hard to create a consistent schedule so the clients and aides are able to build a trusting relationship.

All of the HHAs at Divine Home Care work under the supervision of a nurse (more specifically, a RN Case Manager). The nurse goes over an individual’s care plan before the aide visits a new client at their home. The care plan gives background information on the client and what cares the aide is responsible for providing. The Case Managers are in regular contact with their client’s doctors so they are always updating the HHAs when there are any changes to that care plan. Our nurses and aides have good communication with each other in order to provide each individual with the best care possible. Ultimately, everyone is working together to keep that client as healthy as possible and happy at home.

There are qualifications that must be met in order for someone to become a Home Health Aide. The individual must be 18 years or older, have a current drivers license and reliable transportation, pass a background study and successfully complete a written HHA test and competency evaluation. Besides meeting these basic qualifications, Divine Home Care is always looking to employ aides who are caring and compassionate. If you are interested in becoming a Home Health Aide and would like to be a part of Divine Home Care, click on “Careers” at the top of the page to learn more!

The author of this blog post is Divine Home Care Office Manager, Colleen Burns-Klang.

February is American Heart Month, which is why Divine Home Care would like to remind everyone that heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. What’s more alarming is that according to The American Heart Association, more women die of heart disease than from the next four causes of death combined, including cancer. This very scary statistic is what prompted The American Heart Association to create an initiative to empower women to take charge of their heart health. That initiative is called Go Red for Women. 

Heart disease has often been thought of as a “man’s disease”.  The goal of Go Red for Women is to raise awareness of how heart disease affects women.  It’s important to know that heart disease can affect women of any age. Gaining knowledge about ways to start living an active, healthy life right now while being aware of potential risk factors, is the best way to prevent heart disease. Some risk factors of can be controlled and others cannot.  Risk factors that can be controlled or treated are: cholesterol, blood pressure, smoking, physical activity, obesity, Diabetes, stress, birth control pills and alcohol/illegal drugs.  Risk factors that are out of your control are:  age, gender, heredity/race and stroke. It is so important to discuss these risk factors with your doctor in order to be pro-active and prevent heart disease all together.

The good news is that simple changes to your lifestyle such as eating a healthy diet and adding exercise into your regular routine can greatly reduce your risk for heart disease.  The Go Red for Women campaign offers so many great tools and resources for women to learn about making these changes and really making your health a priority. Take advantage of American Heart Month and begin your journey to a healthy heart today!

Click on the links below for more helpful information about heart disease:  

• The American Heart Institute
• Go Red for Women
• National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
• Centers for Disease Control

One last note – this Friday, February 3rd, is National Wear Red Day. Encourage friends, family and co-workers to wear red to help spread awareness about the dangers of heart disease among women.

The author of this blog post is Amanda Redepenning, Divine Home Care Registered Nurse.

I realize I am a little late to the punch on this but, January is National Radon Action Month and I think it is important to explain why it is crucial for you to check your home for this dangerous gas. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) describes what radon is: “Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas that seeps up from the earth.” If this gas is inhaled, the radioactive particles damage the cells that line your lungs, which can even lead to lung cancer. In fact, radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and claims about 20,000 lives each year.

So where does radon come from? This simple answer is the soil. Here is your little science lesson for the day – uranium is found in almost all types of soil. When uranium naturally breaks down, it becomes radium. Then, as the radium breaks down, it turns into the radioactive radon gas. According to the Minnesota Department of Health, a shocking one in three MN homes has radon levels that pose a significant health risk. In addition, 80% of MN counties are rated high radon zones. Just because you may live in a new, well-sealed home does not mean you are exempt from this gas. It can be present in your home whether you live in an old home or a new one, whether you have a basement or not, or whether your home is sealed well or drafty. This is all due to the fact that an ongoing supply of radon is being produced in our MN soil and because of how we build and operate our houses based on the climate here.

How does radon get into our well-sealed homes? Well, most MN homes operate under a negative pressure, especially in the winter. Put very simply, negative pressure is caused by too much air leaving the house and a lack of fresh air coming in. This pressure acts as a suction that pulls the radon in through the floors or walls – wherever there is an opening between your house and the soil.

Radon’s pathways into your home (courtesy of Minnesota Department of Health)  

• A. Cracks in concrete slabs
• B. Spaces behind brick veneer walls that rest on uncapped hollow-block foundations
• C. Pores and cracks in concrete blocks
• D. Floor-wall joints
• E. Exposed soil, as in a sump or crawl space
• F. Drain tile, if drained to an open sump
• G. Mortar joints
• H. Loose fitting pipe penetrations
• I. Open tops of block walls
• J. Building materials as brick, concrete, rock
• K. Well water

Now it’s time to test your home for radon. The recommendation of MDH is that every homeowner tests their homes for the gas every 2-5 years. The only way you can find out what amount is present in your home is to perform a radon test. There are two types of tests: short-term tests, which measure radon levels for 2-7 days and long-term tests, which measure the average levels for 90 days. The short-term tests are a quick and inexpensive way to check for radon and the long-term tests give you the most accurate average levels of radon in your home during the year. It is best to do these tests now as it is rare that we Minnesotans have our windows open this time of year; this is when the radioactive gas would be the most prevalent. You can buy these test kits at some hardware stores or contact your local public health department to find out more.

For additional information on radon and testing for it in your home, visit the Minnesota Department of Health’s website for an abundance of helpful resources!

I am a self-proclaimed sun worshiper; I admit it. I know – I am going to be so wrinkly when I’m older, I’m going to have sun spots all over my body, I am going to get skin cancer. You are thinking all of things aren’t you? Unless, of course, you are a fellow sun worshiper. I am aware of the risks of sunning myself on a regular basis but the fact is – the sun makes me HAPPY! So happy! During the winter, I experience a noticeable change in my attitude (and it is not for the better). Minnesota isn’t exactly having a “normal” winter this year, however, they are generally horrendously cold, snowy and lack the sunshine I crave almost on a daily basis. Many people suffer from the same attitude change and others suffer even deeper from Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a very real disorder that many people deal with every winter season. The Mayo Clinic defines SAD as, “A type of depression that occurs at the same time every year.” People usually start to experience symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder in the fall and they can last all the way through the winter months. Symptoms vary from person to person but may include:

• Loss of energy
• Hopelessness
• Social withdrawal
• Feeling sleepy more often, especially during the day
• Lack of interest in normal activities
• Increased appetite and weight gain

With short, dark days and long, darker nights, winter often seems like it will never end. Even if you don’t experience symptoms severe enough to be diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder, you may still feel the winter blues. Here are a few tips to help you cope with the freezing temperatures and brighten your days:

1. Get up at the same time every day. It is sure easy to hit that snooze button on a regular basis but sleeping in, even on weekends, tricks your body. Dr. Michael Terman explains, “It allows your circadian rhythms (your internal body clock) to drift later, out of sync with local time and that can trigger the lethargy and low mood associated with winter.”
2. Even though it’s cold, get outside! Better yet, be active outside. Take a quick walk during your lunch break, go cross country skiing or on a sunny day, find a nice place to sit and soak in the rays – just make sure you wear appropriate clothing.
3. Exercise. If it is just too darn cold to do some kind of exercise outside, make it a priority to get to the gym. If you haven’t heard, exercise is a really, really great way to fight off all bad things – depression, weight gain, poor eating habits, stress, sickness, etc… It should be a staple in your routine – period.
4. Make your environment brighter. If you can, sit by a window at work. Add bright flowers to your desk and around your home. Turn on more lights. Lift all of the shades.
5. Purchase a light therapy box. If you suffer from SAD, your doctor would likely prescribe this light therapy for you. Sitting in front of this box in the morning is supposed to mimic the sunrise and do wonders for your mood. If this is something you are considering, talk to your doctor first.

If you believe you are suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder, contact your doctor right away.

And if the cold, dark, winter months just get you down, try using some of these tips as a way to help brighten your day. Otherwise, think about taking a tropical vacation! Doesn’t that sound fun?

It is commonly known that New Year’s resolutions are made to not keep!  Why is it so hard for us to follow through with a resolution we know will benefit our health, family or lifestyle?  The answer is because we set goals or resolutions without any kind of plan to get us there.  The following information is intended to be used as a guide to help you make a healthy New Year’s resolution.

Often a resolution may be ignored to avoid the feeling of failure.  Most resolutions include words like, “more”, “less”, “quit”, “better”, “improve”, “change” and “never”.  Just reading these words may increase anxiety.   Goals or resolutions are frequently made with the end result being emphasized.  For example, “I will lose 50 pounds”, “I will quit smoking” or “I will reduce my stress”.  These kinds of resolutions may quickly bring feelings of failure and affect your mood or emotions negatively.

Making a resolution that puts emphasis on the end result can also bring about procrastination.  If you have made it your New Year’s resolution to quit smoking, just finding the motivation to cut back may be incredibly difficult.  It’s not to say that you should not make that your resolution, but when you set these goals without smaller ones to lead you there, you may not even start the process.  To make a resolution that is reasonable and can be quickly accomplished, pick a task that is measurable.  Let’s say on an average day you smoke two cigarettes each hour.  Initially, your goal should be something like, “For the first two weeks, I will smoke just one cigarette every hour.”  Then, you can continue improving from there.

To start a new year, make a resolution that is exciting and motivational; one that you strive to complete each and every day!  When you are developing this resolution, think about incorporating small goals or attainable steps that can be quickly accomplished.  For example, if weight loss is your overall goal, make this part of your resolution: “I will go to the gym three days a week and walk for 45 minutes on the treadmill.”  This kind of goal is a personal challenge that is reachable and can be measured each week to see your progress.

Another important note when making your New Year’s resolution – continue to remind yourself of the ways this change will add to your life.  When you quit smoking, you significantly decrease your risk for cancer and heart disease.  When you lose weight, you reduce your chances of developing diabetes and are able to live a more active lifestyle.  Having a clear idea of what the long-term benefits will be when you follow through with your resolution is a big incentive.  Also, knowing exactly why you have made your resolution is important.  Make sure you have decided on these goals because YOU want to make this change for a healthier life.

What kind of resolution will be fun, supportive, challenging and healthy to your life this year?

*This was written in collaboration with Lori Hanson, Divine Home Care Personnel Director and Administrator of Divine Hope Counseling.  Thanks, Lori!

Christmas is five days away. My priority list consists of these things: get last minute shopping done, wrap presents, clean the house, make grocery list, go grocery shopping, prepare appetizers, bake a pie. Notice, “stay healthy this holiday season,” is no where to be found on that list. I’m sure you are busier than ever and hopefully preparing to spend time with family and friends. With the holidays comes shopping, parties, cooking, baking and entertaining, which generally leads to more food, more alcohol, less exercise and more stress. Making it a priority to stay healthy these next few weeks will help to eliminate some of the negative consequences the holiday season can have on your health. (I’m adding this to my list right now).

Let’s tackle eating and drinking too much first. I will admit it; I lack self control when it comes to food. I love food. Luckily, I also love to cook so I always try to be conscious of the ingredients I use. When you are at a holiday party or a family member’s home for Christmas dinner, remember these little tips to help you resist the urge to eat until you can’t breathe:

• Have a little healthy snack before you go so you’re not starving when you arrive.
• Put on your plate only things you know you are going to thoroughly enjoy.
• Portion control is key! (I don’t know about you but portion control does not come easy to me. It is something we should all do our best to work towards.)

And when it comes to beverages, you have to be really careful with all of those hidden calories. Over-indulging in alcohol can come with many consequences so make smart decisions and stick to one (no more than two) drinks for the evening.

Ok, on to exercise. I can completely relate to you if you come up with every excuse in the book to not exercise. I used to be there (and usually still am from Thursday through Sunday). One of the most important things when it comes to staying active is to remember you don’t have to go to the gym every day for an hour. Find an activity that you enjoy and gets you moving; take your dog for a walk (brrr), sign up for that yoga class you’ve wanted to try, go to the gym a few times a week for 30-40 minutes. Don’t let the busyness of the season and the cold temperatures stop you from getting in a good workout a few times a week. If you know you’re going to be indulging a little more than usual, sneak in an extra 10 minutes here and there of exercise and enjoy those appetizers and glass of champagne. Mmm!

Last but certainly not least, dealing with holiday stress. With all of the demands of the holidays, we often forget to take a deep breath and truly remember the reason for the season. Use these tips from the Mayo Clinic to help you prevent or relieve that stress you’re probably feeling right about now:

• Be realistic: Don’t expect perfection. Families grow and change, which means every year is going to be different. Sometimes it is difficult to be flexible and accept that change, but try your best to find new ways to celebrate together.
• Set aside differences: Let Christmas be the time that you put aside any conflicts you may have with a certain family member. Choose a more appropriate time to discuss your differences. If you’re feeling stressed by all of the holiday commotion, chances are they feel it as well.
• Stick to a budget: Money can be the biggest stressor of all. Set a budget for food, drinks and gifts and stick to it. When Christmas is all over, you will be so glad you did.
• Take a deep breath: It is so important to take time for yourself, even if it is 15 minutes. Find a quiet place where you can be alone and clear your mind, take deep breaths and re-energize.

The holidays are a busy time; remember to put yourself first during some point of your day, make staying healthy a priority and most importantly, enjoy your time with family and friends. Merry Christmas from all of us at Divine Home Care!

Let’s face it – we are all in for a long winter. I like to think I am generally a very optimistic person with a good attitude but when it comes to winter, I often struggle to find its appeal, especially when it comes to driving in it. Just thinking about the drifts, blowing snow and icy roads (or worse yet, the icy roads you didn’t know where icy until it was too late), is stressful. Luckily, there are a lot of helpful tips and resources out there to help us prepare for these road conditions we are bound to encounter at some point these next few months.

Make sure your vehicle is in good working condition. This includes checking the:

• Antifreeze level
• Air pressure in your tires (Having good traction depends on your tires being properly inflated. This is especially important when big temperature changes occur.)
• Windshield-wiper fluid level (Make sure you have plenty of extra on hand.)

Also, it is important to keep your gas tank close to full. This will help you avoid ice in the tank and in the fuel lines. For a full vehicle winterizing check list, click here.

Everyone who deals with Minnesota winters should have a winter storm survival kit in your car, located in an easy-to-reach place. We all hope to never utilize this kit but in case of an emergency, it can save your life. The Minnesota Safety Council recommends that your kit include the following things:

• Jumper cables (Your car should always have these)
• Sand (or cat litter) for tire traction
• Ice scraper
• Tool kit
• Warm clothes: gloves, hat, boots, warm jacket and an extra set of warm clothes
• Blankets or sleeping bags
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• First aid kit including any of your necessary medications
• High-calorie, non perishable food like energy bars, nuts and canned fruit
• Compass (If you’re directionally impaired like myself, you should always have one of these on hand.)

Also, if you have a cell phone, always have it with you, as well as a car phone charger.

Even though there are days that some of us want to hibernate and not venture out into the blustery cold, it is important for everyone’s health to remain active. Making sure your vehicle is winter-ready will help to ensure the safety of you and your passengers. Prepare your vehicle today for a long Minnesota winter.

This week (December 4-10) is Ban the Bug week. The Minnesota Department of Health, the Minnesota Coalition for Adult Immunization, local public health agencies and other health care providers are encouraging everyone to go and get their flu shot!

The reason for this big push is because influenza can be an extremely serious illness, especially for certain groups of people:

• Seniors
• People living in nursing homes
• Pregnant women
• Young children, particularly younger than 2 years old
• Individuals living with a chronic condition such as asthma, diabetes or COPD

Even if you consider yourself a healthy person, getting a flu shot will help you stay well and limit the spread of this virus to others. It is also important to get vaccinated if you care for or are around these “high risk” people on a daily basis: anyone working in the health care field, day care providers, teachers, parents with young children, etc…

The words “influenza” and “flu” are often used interchangeably but influenza is not your typical stomach flu. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Influenza (the flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat and lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death.” The elderly population must take extra precautions as the CDC found that in a typical year, 90% of deaths related to the influenza virus are people over the age of 65.

Prices for flu shots vary from clinic to clinic. If you are covered by Medicare, they are free of charge under your Medicare Part B benefit. If you are covered by a private insurance company, be sure to bring that card with you as some insurance plans will cover the cost or at least part of it.

In addition to getting vaccinated, there are many other ways to prevent the spread of the influenza virus:

• Wash your hands frequently with soap or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Always cover your mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• If you are sick, stay at home.
• If others are sick, try to keep your distance from them.

There are a lot of helpful resources that talk about influenza, give statistics and offer other helpful information. Check out the Minnesota Department of Health, the CDC and the American Lung Association or feel free to contact us with any other questions.

Bottom line – no matter how healthy you are, no one is immune to influenza. Get vaccinated and Ban the Bug today!