Dr. Mauk’s Boomer Blog
Each week, Dr. Kristen Mauk shares thoughts relevant to Baby Boomers that are aimed to educate and amuse.
Dr. Kristen L. Mauk, PhD, DNP, RN, CRRN, GCNS-BC, GNP-BC, FAAN
Guest Blog: Common Skin Conditions Affecting the Elderly
No matter how well we take care of ourselves, advancing age eventually takes its toll – especially on our skin. Over time, the various components that make up our bodies gradually become less able to resist the onset of decay. The epidermis, which is the body’s largest organ, is no exception. As we age, it dries out, grows thinner, and becomes more vulnerable to disease. These naturally-occurring difficulties are compounded when an elderly patient is confined to a long-term care facility.
In some cases, a skin problem may indicate an underlying condition that has gone undetected. Skin conditions can also arise from problems in positioning for patients who are confined to a bed or a wheelchair for an extended period. Once the wound has been healed, the caregiver should make sure that its cause is determined and addressed, and nothing else is being overlooked.
While there are many possible skin disorders that can affect the epidermis of an elderly patient, not all of them will require treatment. Some do, however, and the following are a few of the more common conditions and their possible treatments.
Allergic Reactions
It has been estimated that approximately 5-10% of people 65 or older suffer from an allergic disease. In addition to those who suffer from allergies throughout their lives, some individuals only develop allergies once they reach an advanced age. Underlying medical conditions, memory issues, the use of several medications simultaneously, and overall poor health, can also contribute to the late appearance of an allergy problem in an elderly patient.
Prescription medications are often the culprit when a geriatric patient develops a systemic allergic reaction. Because of this, anyone who does have allergies should be asked about any recent new medications he or she may have begun taking. However, there are other potential causes, including exposure to detergents or mites. Allergic reactions can present in a wide array of symptoms, making it difficult to sometimes narrow down a specific cause.
Allergic reactions should always be treated with topical steroids for one to two weeks. The caregiver should also make sure that the cause of the reaction has been addressed.
Fungal Infections
The most common fungal infection, regardless of a patient’s age, is candidiasis, which is a yeast infection that tends to appear on occluded regions of the epidermis, such as in the folds of the skin or under dressings. It’s most dangerous to older patients and most transmittable to patients who are confined to bed or a wheelchair. In geriatric patients, candidiasis presents with chills, fever, pustular skin lesions, and in some cases, symptoms indicating sepsis.
Fortunately, candidiasis can be prevented by applying miconazole powder to at-risk patches of skin. When it does appear, it should be treated by applying clotrimazole or nystatin cream to the affected areas. If it becomes a recurring problem for patients, bowel eradication using nystatin pastilles should be considered. The provider should also be sure to check the patient for signs of retinal lesions, as many elderly patients suffer from cataracts.
Another common fungal problem is seborrheic dermatitis, which is caused by infection from a different type of yeast, malassezia furfur. It presents as red and scaly patches of skin typically found in areas where hair is present; particularly the head, neck, and chest. It can be treated with ketoconazole (nizoral) 2% shampoo or selenium sulfide 2.5% (Selsun Blue).
Staph and Strep infections
Staph and strep infections are also among the most common problems health professionals will face in patients at a long-term care facility. Studies have estimated that, at any given time, 30-40% of long-term care residents are experiencing a fungal infection.
A staph infection typically results when bacteria enter the epidermis through a sore or a cut (including in areas where a patient may be attached to a catheter or other medical device). The infection presents painfully as a red, swollen patch on the skin. This may be accompanied by pus drainage, a skin abscess, warmth in the area, and a fever as well. In more severe cases, patients may even experience shortness of breath, chills, chest pain, fatigue, muscle aches, headaches, and rashes.
When a geriatric patient is suffering from a staph or strep infection, it should first be treated with a topical antibiotic such as mupirocin (bactroban). If this does not cure the infection and it enters the surrounding tissue, a tissue culture should then be taken to determine what organism is causing the problem. Depending on the results, a systemic antibiotic – usually augmentin, bactrim, ciprofloxacin, or tetracycline – should be given to the patient.
Guest Blog: 7 Ways How Sustainable Sourcing Supports A Healthy Lifestyle?
Introduction
As mindfulness encompassing natural issues keeps on developing, more people are looking for ways of taking on eco-accommodating practices in their day-to-day routines. One region in which maintainability assumes an urgent part is in our food decisions. Selecting eco-accommodating eats helps the climate and supports a solid way of life. By zeroing in on maintainable obtaining rehearses, we can guarantee that the food we devour isn’t just great for us yet additionally created with deference for the planet. In this article, we will investigate what practical obtaining means for our food decisions and how it adds to a solid and ecologically conscious way of life.
1. Organic and sustainable agriculture
Sustainable sourcing encourages agricultural practices that are less harmful to the environment. It underlines natural cultivating strategies instead of ordinary ones that depend intensely on pesticides and engineered composts. Natural cultivating maintains a strategic distance from the utilization of these hurtful synthetic substances, diminishing water contamination, soil debasement, and damage to helpful bugs, birds, and untamed life. Consuming natural produce dispenses with possible openness to poisons and guarantees a higher substance of supplements because of the shortfall of destructive compound buildups.
2. Diminished Carbon Impression
Maintainable obtaining decreases fossil fuel byproducts related to food creation and transportation. By focusing on privately obtained fixings, less energy is exhausted in moving food from far-off areas. This implies fresher and more nutritious choices with a significantly lower carbon impression. Picking occasional and privately created food varieties upholds nearby ranchers and organizations and diminishes dependence on petroleum derivatives in food transportation.
3. Encouragement of Biodiversity
Practical obtaining adds to the conservation and insurance of biodiversity. It empowers the development and utilization of assorted and legacy crops, supporting seed banks and hereditary variety. This natural practice shields plant species, guaranteeing their reasonability and versatility despite environmental change and other ecological difficulties. We aid in the preservation of ecosystems and contribute to the maintenance of a balanced and resilient environment by consuming foods that are sourced sustainably.
4. Moral Creature Cultivation
Supportable obtaining stretches out to creature farming, advancing moral and capable practices. It places the humane treatment of animals first, ensuring that they are raised in sustainable natural settings. Natural and feasible cultivating frequently underscores unfenced and field-raised creatures, where creatures approach normal scrounge and are not exposed to packed or upsetting conditions. By consuming creature items from such practices, we support the compassionate treatment of animals and add to the strength of our planet.
5. Keeping Freshwater Resources Safe
Additionally, freshwater conservation is a primary focus of sustainable sourcing practices. Horticulture is a significant water customer, and impractical cultivating practices can drain dirty water sources. Conversely, supportable horticulture executes water protection methods, for example, dribble water system and water collecting that limit water squandering. By picking reasonably obtained food sources, we advance the safeguarding of clean water sources, helping us and people in the future.
6. Foods that are local and high in nutrients
Manageable obtaining supports the utilization of nearby and supplement thick food sources. Privately obtained produce frequently calls for less investment and assets to ship, bringing about fresher and more delectable choices plentiful in nutrients and minerals. Eating an eating regimen bountiful in new natural products, vegetables, entire grains, and reasonably obtained proteins advances, by and large, well-being and decreases the gamble of persistent sicknesses.
7. Kratom of the Red Sort: An Eco-accommodating Choice
Among the different eco-accommodating choices, red strain kratom is an imperative expansion. Kratom is a spice that numerous people use for its other properties, including relief from discomfort and unwinding. Selecting economically obtained red strain kratom guarantees that the sauce is collected and created utilizing harmless ecosystem strategies. This indicates that the plants are harvested ethically, processed without chemicals, and grown naturally. Picking a feasible red strain of kratom upholds a sound way of life while being aware of the climate.
Conclusion
Integrating supportable obtaining rehearses into our food decisions is a fundamental stage toward a sound and ecologically conscious way of life. From natural cultivating to diminishing fossil fuel byproducts and supporting biodiversity, maintainable obtaining offers various advantages. By choosing economically obtained food varieties, we focus on our prosperity while regarding the planet. Allow us to pursue cognizant choices that line up with maintainable acquiring works, selecting eco-accommodating eats that add to a better world for us and people in the future.
Guest Blog: Fraud, Scams, and Other Challenges Elders Face
Elder fraud is an enormous problem that involves massive financial loss and elder abuse. The misappropriation of finances and financial control is known as elder financial abuse or financial exploitation. Elders report losing approximately $1.17 billion each year, but the AARP estimates a more accurate number is probably closer to $40 billion.
Scams and Challenges Faced by Seniors
Elders face losing their independence, neglect and abuse, diminished physical ability, and age discrimination. Even healthy elderly individuals may fall prey to schemes at the hands of criminals or family.
Elderly individuals who require daily assistance may suffer abuse and neglect from caregivers and family members. Being left dirty and unbathed is one of the many signs of neglect that point to elderly abuse. Be on the alert for fraud and abuse perpetrated towards seniors.
What is Elderly Fraud?
Elder fraud is a scam operation that targets seniors. The scammer may be a family member or friend, or a stranger. The most common way for seniors to be targeted is over the Internet or email through phishing techniques, such as:
- Internet offers or emails advertising discount prescriptions and low-cost health coverage
- Internet offers that advertise financial support through home-equity loans or retirement savings
- Friendships evolving through email communications, phone calls, and social media
Telemarketing Frauds and Common Schemes
An FBI sting in 1980 involving specialized AARP members led to 1200 arrests and hundreds of convictions for fraudulent telemarketers selling water purifiers, vacations, sweepstakes, and environmental packages. Telemarketing fraud is still a large concern for seniors. Other typical elderly fraud schemes include:
Romance: Criminals seek to capitalize on elderly victims who desire to find a companion using dating websites and social media.
Grandparent: Criminals contact an elderly individual claiming to be a child or grandchild and needing immediate financial assistance.
Technical support: Criminals contact the elderly individual and offer to fix nonexistent technical issues to gain access to their devices and obtain sensitive information.
Sweepstakes or lottery scams: Criminals contact the elderly victim and claim they won a lottery or sweepstakes for which they require a fee.
Government impersonation: Criminals pose as government employees and threaten to arrest or prosecute elderly individuals unless they provide payments.
Home repair: Criminals appear in person at the elderly individual’s property to offer home-improvement services that they never provide.
Family or caregivers: Relatives and acquaintances of elderly individuals may seek to take advantage of them to obtain money or property.
TV/radio: Criminals seek to target potential victims using false advertisements for services such as reverse mortgages and credit repair.
COVID-19 Elderly Scams
During the COVID-19 pandemic, elderly fraud substantially grew as elders were separated from their close family and friends to avoid the virus. Some COVID-19 scams involved selling counterfeit products like air filters, vaccines, and testing, as well as contact tracing schemes designed to trick elders out of money and gain pertinent personal information.
Multiple scams continue to target the elderly concerning COVID-19, including Social Security Administration (SSA) scams and charity requests. One study estimated that one in 10 seniors fell victim to elderly fraud in 2018, and this number increased during the pandemic as elders faced:
Similar Concerns
Seniors tend to share similar concerns, including high medication costs, a need for healthcare coverage, dwindling retirement funds and plans to provide for their loved ones. Phishing emails on these specific topics grab personal information.
Isolated or Alone
Seniors are uniformly isolated and spend much of their daily lives alone. In many cases of elderly fraud, if the victim had spoken to a family member or a friend, the scam would not have happened.
Naïve and Trusting
While most individuals over the age of 30 do not have any memories without the Internet, most seniors have lived their lives without using email or the Internet and have misappropriated trust. They are unaware of the complexities behind a seemingly safe email.
Diminished Decision-Making Skills
Most seniors experience some diminished mental capacity, and this affects their decision-making abilities.
Elderly Schemes Based on Personal Info
Some schemes are more targeted and involve emails and phone calls using personal information to target the individual. These targeted attacks use information gleaned through general phishing attacks to draw the individual into a scam.
Elderly fraud has resulted in devastating losses for victims, and the US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has found that victims suffer an average loss of $34,200 through such scams. The FBI elder fraud department is focused entirely on elderly scams.
Guest Blog: How to Find a Profitable Side Gig as a Senior Caregiver
Working as a senior caregiver is a rewarding career choice. However, many caregivers find that their role doesn’t pay as much as they would like. Whether you want to save for retirement or supplement your earnings to improve your quality of life, a side gig can offer an additional source of income. A side gig can also provide a sense of personal fulfillment that may be lacking from a job that’s often associated with stress and burnout. As a result, you’ll enjoy a welcome change of pace from your day job and achieve a better overall work-life balance. The trick is finding a side gig that not only pays well but is also enjoyable.
Consider Running an Ecommerce Business
Launching an ecommerce business can be a great side gig for senior caregivers. As a caregiver, you might not have the luxury of a consistent work schedule, but you can run an ecommerce business from anywhere at any time. This will make it easier to balance your caregiving responsibilities with your side business.
Take advantage of online tools to get your business up and running as efficiently as possible. By setting up your business on an ecommerce platform, you’ll be able to build website pages, track analytics, manage inventory, and even process payments from one intuitive dashboard.
Offer and Market Online Freelance Services
Freelancing online is another option. There are a variety of services you could sell to clients remotely, from writing and consulting to web design and development. Freelancing will allow you to work in a field where you have expertise and experience, using your skills to earn extra money on the side of your full-time job. Additionally, compared with launching an ecommerce business, freelancing has lower startup costs which can make it more accessible if you don’t have a lot of money to invest in a side gig.
Creating brochures to advertise your freelancing skills is a great way to help generate more clients and can serve as an excellent supplement to your social media marketing, as well. If you aren’t sure how to get started, there are plenty of free templates that you can customize as needed; click here to know more.
You should also look into content marketing to really expand your customer base. By producing more targeted and exciting content, you can build a reputation for professionalism and expertise in your field. That leads to deeper trust with your customers – and of course, greater sales! In today’s extra-competitive market, freelancers in particular need every advantage they can get.
Provide Local Home Services
Not interested in working online? Selling Revolution suggests offering local home services to people in your community. For example, you could work as a cleaner, lawn care professional, handyperson, pet sitter, dog walker, painter, personal cook, personal shopper, or home organizer. Since you have experience caring for seniors, you could also offer in-home childcare or senior care services.
Pick something that aligns with your skills and interests so your side gig feels more like an enjoyable pastime than another job. You don’t necessarily need professional experience in your field of choice. As long as you’re confident in your skills and can produce great results for your clients, you’ll be successful!
Consider Your Legal Obligations
Whether you decide to start an online business, try freelancing, or offer local home services, make sure you cover your legal bases. One of the first things you’ll need to do is register your business. Pick a business structure, such as a sole proprietorship or LLC, and register with your state. Forming an LLC is generally a good idea as it will limit your personal liability and offer tax advantages. Keep in mind that you can use an online formation service to file your articles of organization if you’d rather not spend money on a lawyer.
If you work as a senior caregiver and you’re looking for ways to bring in extra income, try building a side business! You could start an ecommerce business, freelance online, or start a local home services company in your own city. Pay attention to your legal responsibilities and pick a side gig that’s compatible with your skills and interests to give yourself the best shot at success!
What are Macronutrients and why are they important for Health?
The human body needs some foods and ingredients to grow properly. Without those essential products, a person can’t feel healthy and strong.
Macronutrients are one of those ingredients that you need to take in a higher quantity. Due to their high demand by the human body, these are termed as Macro which means large.
Every nutritionist will direct you to maintain the amount of these ingredients for getting better health.
No matter, either you are looking to gain weight or lose weight, you must think about these ingredients first. Without regulating them, you can’t complete any task regarding your health.
Types of Macronutrients
There are three main types of macronutrients that a human being includes in his meal on daily basis.
The main reason why we take these ingredients is that they will fulfill our body’s energy requirements.
A person who takes foods with an appropriate quantity of macronutrients will be healthy for a longer time.
You should keep a view on what kind of macronutrient you should take for proper health.
- Proteins
- Carbohydrates
- Fats
All these macronutrients have a specific number of calories. It purely depends on your body conditions that which of them you should eat and in which quantity.
Let’s have a look at the process with which you can estimate how much nutrients you should include in your daily meal.
How many macronutrients should we eat?
Many people have this question because they want to maintain their health and body growth.
There are two main ways through which you can calculate the required quantity of macronutrients.
First of all, you can contact any expert nutritionist who will examine your health and give you a proper diet plan.
In this process, you may have to visit the person various times to adjust that plan.
Secondly, you can use a macronutrient calculator available on the internet. With this method, you don’t have to do much work but put some values in the given box according to your health.
For example, you may have to write your weight, height, and few other values. The tool will get an idea about your health and give you a perfect plan of diet to follow.
You can make as many plans as you want just by changing the values according to your growth after few weeks.
In this way, you will be able to keep your health on track properly.
What happens if we take unnecessary macronutrients?
As we have mentioned above that macronutrients are essential for human health. Its deficiency or excessiveness will harm the body badly.
In case, you get lower macronutrients, your body will not be able to make enough energy to work. Also, your bones will be affected badly and you often feel pain in your bones and joints.
On the other side, if you take macronutrients in excessive quantity, your body will convert them into useless materials.
Keep in mind that our body makes energy and blood from different ingredients available in our food. The excessive ingredients will be converted into unwanted fats that are not necessary for the body.
In this way, you will start gaining weight that will lead you towards different diseases. So according to the above discussion, it is very necessary to calculate macros of ingredients that you are going to eat. This will help you to balance your diet and maintain your body and energy level.
Final Note
You should keep track of your body’s growth and adjust the macronutrient quantity with time. It will enable you to keep your health on the right path.
Without macronutrients, your body won’t be able to make enough energy to work properly. That is why you should keep checking this factor by calculating its quantity.
Tips for Nursing Students: The Successful Interview
The National League for Nursing and the National Students Nurses’ Association (NSNA)(2012) stated that “although there is a shortage of registered nurses, the economic recession has flooded the RN market with experienced nurses who were retired, planning to retire, or went from part-time to full-time employment. The need for RNs has declined due to low hospital census”. Nursing students graduating today face a competitive employment market. Much of your success at getting the position you want will depend on how well you interview for the job. Follow these steps to be better prepared and increase your chances for a successful interview.
Be prepared
Submit your resume and application in advance, but do not assume that the person interviewing you has read them carefully. Before the interview, think about how you can highlight important aspects of your experience or education. Do some background research on the organization or place to which you are applying.
Familiarize yourself with the key people in authority, especially focusing on the person who will interview you. During the interview you can use this information to establish some common ground. Consider some key areas such as: How large is the organization and/or the unit where you are applying? What population and geographic area do they serve? What expertise do you have to offer that might be valuable to them? For example, if you are applying for a job on an inpatient rehabilitation unit, did you have a course in rehabilitation or do clinical rotations in rehab? If so, be sure to mention this during the interview.
Look professional
Paul Walden, writing on the NSNA website, stated, “appearance and attitude are everything. Dress in professional attire and smile. Make sure you arrive promptly”. Although professional attire may be more casual than it has been in years past, employers still expect an interviewee to look his/her best. This means no blue jeans, shorts, cut-offs, flip-flops, low-cut blouses, miniskirts, overbearing jewelry, or other extremes in attire. Business casual is usually acceptable, but when in doubt, err on the side of dressing more formally in business attire than casual.
Start with a good beginning
Introduce yourself and offer to shake hands with the interviewer while making direct eye contact. Do not sit down until directed to do so. The interviewer controls the interview. Express enthusiasm for the interviewer taking time to speak with you and make a positive comment about the surroundings or reputation of the facility. Smile and convey friendliness, approachability, and confidence. Most nurse managers are looking for a “good fit” in a new employee with their existing staff and unit milieu. Your personality may be as important to the manager as your skill set. Listen for comments made by the interviewer that suggest he/she is seeking someone who will be a team player and then be sure to share ways in which you have successfully blended with similar groups in the past.
Ask thoughtful questions
Have a few thoughtful questions ready to ask. For example: How does the open position fit within the organizational chart? Is there opportunity for gaining additional education? What type of orientation or mentoring do they provide for new nurses? Are there opportunities for advancement? These types of questions show that you are interested in a long-term relationship with the organization and are willing to learn and increase your professional skills. Asking deliberate questions can also help you assess whether or not this job is the right one for you.
Be memorable
You want the person conducting the interview to remember you in a positive light. What sets you apart from others who might be applying for this job? Answering that question in advance will point you in the direction where you need to shine. This might be your engaging personality, strong evaluations from clinical professors, your flexibility or willingness to learn, your experience in another country with service-learning projects, or your good academic performance.
End the interview well
If you were fortunate enough to be given a tour of the unit or facility, be sure to take advantage of any opportunities to greet or interact with staff or patients. The interviewer may be watching to see if you display positive interpersonal skills. Before you leave the interview, be sure that you know how you will be notified if they wish to hire you. Thank the interviewer and shake hands again (if appropriate), expressing your enthusiasm for this wonderful opportunity. If possible, send a follow-up email or thank you note to the interviewer for his/her time and attention. Be sure to continue to display warmth and cordiality as you leave the facility. You never know who may be watching.