Thursday February 5, 2009 - Whole Foods Market - Oakville, ON
Currently approximately 500,000 Canadians are affected by dementia
related diseases. However, according to the Alzheimer Society that number is expect to rise to between 1 and 1.3 million in the next 25 years - a staggering number. Today, there is no cure and if one is not found these diseases threaten to have the highest economic, social and health cost burden of all diseases in Canada. An aspect of dementia care often overlooked is nutrition and mealtimes says Lori Paton RN, RRT Director of Nursing, for Nurse Next Door. Too often when we think of mealtimes we focus only on the food. Is it nutritious, do I have the ingredients and time to make it etc. But it is also important to think about how we do mealtimes. Challenges and strategies that families have developed to meet the changing needs of seniors with dementia have been identified. As a result of this research, we have come to understand that mealtimes mirror the way the family is living with dementia.
About Dr Heather Keller
Dr. Keller received her BASc in Applied Human Nutrition from the University of Guelph in 1989. After
working as
a clinical dietician and research consultant, Dr. Keller began instructing at the University of
Guelph in 1996 and obtained her PhD in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from the University of Western
Ontario in 1997.
About Nurse Next Door
Nurse Next Door Professional Home Healthcare Services is dedicated to delivering responsive, caring,
and high quality home healthcare services. Our services range from 3 hours per week concierge service to 24 hr per day Registered Nursing care. With 22 locations across Canada, Nurse Next Door is quickly becoming an industry leader. For more information visit www.nursenextdoor.com
Author: cpaton102
Keywords: Nurse Next Door Alzheimer Dementia Dr Keller
Added: February 12, 2009
The Balancing Act Show 1146 - Stay Healthy, Get Support
Here are some tips to be successful as a caregiver for your loved one. First, maintain your own physical and mental health. Exercising, light reading and other activities can help reduce stress. Seek medical help if you have signs of depression. Second, discuss the caregiving situation with family and friends. Realize that support systems are critical to both of you getting and staying healthy.
Author: TheBalancingAct
Keywords: bfw care caregiver generation health healthcare home interim nurses sandwich
Added: February 12, 2009
United Way and Philadelphia Nurse-Family Partnership
Philadelphia Nurse-Family Partnership is an evidence-based, nurse home visiting program that improves the health, well-being and self-sufficiency of low-income, first-time parents and their children.
Author: UWSEPA
Keywords: United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania UWSEPA Philadelphia Nurse-Family Partnership evidence-based nurse home visiting program health well-being self-sufficiency low-income first-time parents children give advocate volunteer live united
Added: February 12, 2009
Vaccines Didn't Cause Autism--CNN report 2/12/09 576x324 dl
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A special court ruled Thursday that evidence presented in three cases by parents of children with autism did not prove a link between autism and certain early childhood vaccines.
A special court denied Mike and Theresa Cedillo's claim that vaccines caused autism in their daughter, Michelle.
A special court denied Mike and Theresa Cedillo's claim that vaccines caused autism in their daughter, Michelle.
The ruling came from a panel of "special masters" who began hearing three test cases in 2007 involving children with autism -- a disorder that their parents contend was triggered by the vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella combined with vaccines containing thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative.
Three families -- the Cedillos, the Hazlehursts and the Snyders -- sought compensation from the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, but the panel ruled that they had not presented sufficient evidence to prove that the childhood vaccines caused autism in their children.
"I feel deep sympathy and admiration for the Cedillo family," Special Master George L. Hastings Jr. wrote in his ruling in the case involving 14-year-old Michelle Cedillo, who cannot speak, wears a diaper and requires round-the-clock monitoring in case she has a seizure.
"And I have no doubt that the families of countless other autistic children, families that cope every day with the tremendous challenges of caring for autistic children, are similarly deserving of sympathy and admiration. However, I must decide this case not on sentiment, but by analyzing the evidence," Hastings wrote. "In this case the evidence advanced by the petitioners has fallen far short of demonstrating such a link." Video Dr. Gupta: A look at the life of Michelle Cedillo
In a statement shortly after the release of the decisions, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said it continues to support research "to better understand the cause of autistic disorders and develop more effective methods of treatment." Paging Dr. Gupta blog: What the ruling tells us
However, "the medical and scientific communities ... have found no association between vaccines and autism."
"Hopefully, the determination by the Special Masters will help reassure parents that vaccines do not cause autism," the statement said.
Autism Speaks, a large autism advocacy organization, called for continued examination of the disorder's contributing factors.
"The causes of autism remain poorly understood. ... We will continue to support authoritative research that addresses unanswered questions about whether certain subgroups of individuals with particular underlying medical or genetic conditions may be more vulnerable to adverse effects of vaccines," the Autism Speaks statement reads, in part.
The Autism Society of America, one of the oldest and largest autism grassroots organization in the country, also called for more research into autism's causes.
"ASA believes that the science of autism causes and treatments need to be more vigorously researched. ... Individuals living with autism need help today, and this case illustrates the need for the medical community to probe further into environmental causes of autism. Like all families affected by autism, these families deserve to be heard and supported in their journey raising their children."
Health Library
* MayoClinic.com: Autism
* MayoClinic.com: Asperger's syndrome
Since 2001, thousands of parents of autistic children have filed petitions seeking compensation from the VICP at HHS. Visit CNNhealth.com, your connection to better living
By mid-2008, more than 5,300 cases had been filed in the program -- and 5,000 of those were still awaiting adjudication, according to the agency. Video Watch Dr. Gupta discuss how court reached its decision.
A litigation steering committee is representing thousands of families that fall into three categories: those that claim that the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine can combine with thimerosal-containing vaccines to cause autism; those who claim thimerosal-containing vaccines alone can cause autism; and those who claim that MMR vaccines, without any link to thimerosal, can cause autism.
Prior to the release of Thursday's rulings, an attorney for the families, Thomas Powers, said the expected rulings would affect only the families that fall under the first category.
