The Rights of Nursing Home Residents

The rights of people in nursing homes are generally the same as everyone’s rights. Although rights can change when someone becomes less able, and decisions have to be made for them. You may have to act on their behalf to make decisions that you think are best for them.  If you have a loved one in a nursing home, you will want to protect them and make sure they are being cared for properly.

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When they enter a home they will receive a nursing home contract - understanding a nursing home contract can be difficult. Therefore, in this article, we are going to look at rights that particularly affect nursing home residents and what to look for to ensure that they are being respected and upheld.

The rights of all nursing home residents are generally the same. However, when someone becomes unable to communicate or make decisions for themselves, then arrangements should be made on what their preferences were in the past. Their rights such as their privacy and security are still of the utmost importance.

Privacy

Life in a communal home is challenging. Most residents still need to feel that their privacy is being respected, especially when it comes to personal care. Here are some tips on what to look for:

• A patient is involved in decisions that affect them. For example, when they shower, whether they would prefer to only be cared for by female staff and what they wear.
• Personal care is done in private with the door closed.
• Ensuring confidentiality with their care and not openly discussing intimate matters in front of other residents. 
• Being allowed to self-care where they can and retain independence even where it might take them a long time. 

Security

Residents should feel safe and cared for. This includes:

• Offering assistance with tasks that could otherwise be dangerous such as walking or using the toilet. 
• Protecting residents from abuse from staff or other residents.
• Everything is as accessible as possible, and the floor is clear from hazards.
• A clear and accessible complaint process. 
• An atmosphere of care that is open, honest and inclusive. 

Civil Rights

Residents should still retain their rights as citizens as far as they can do so, including:
The opportunity to vote in elections.

• Access to healthcare.
• Assistance claiming appropriate benefits or social services.

Choice

Residents should always have control and choice as far as they can do so. They should be involved in making decisions about their care and be allowed to change their mind daily if they wish to, including:

• Where and what they eat within reason.
• Who they choose to socialize with.
• Activities they can get involved in.
• How to manage their own time and the choice to be flexible with their routine. 
• An opportunity to share preferences.
• Religious or ethical beliefs, which should be respected and upheld by those around them.

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Employees should always aim to communicate with residents, speaking to them at their eye level whilst building rapport and upholding respect. Visitors should be encouraged and welcomed as this is one of the best ways to keep resident’s spirits high.

4 Things to Consider When Buying a Watch

In the days of cell phones, some may wonder why you would even want or need a watch. Watches can be much more discreet than a cell phone. Picture it, you’re in a gathering or meeting, and you need to see what time it is. Pulling out a phone is far more apparent and could be off-putting to others. However, a glance at your watch can go practically unnoticed by others. Another reason you may want a watch is when you may not have a place to keep a phone handy, a watch strapped to your wrist will be easy access to check the time. So now that you’ve decided to buy a watch, here are four things to consider before you make that purchase. 

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1. Function

The function of the watch is essential. Will you be using the watch for business or sports? Do you need a divers watch like the Luminox 3051 Navy Seal that can withstand water and increased pressure? Or are your needs more along the lines of what a smartwatch might provide?

2. Design

Hand in hand with function is the design of your watch. Watches come in a variety of styles, ranging from leather or canvas straps to the expandable steel mesh straps that stretch around the wearer's wrist for a perfect fit.

3. Movement

There are three basic types of watch movements. Manual, automatic, and quartz movement are the most common. Manual is where the wearer must manually wind up the watch, so it keeps accurate time. An automatic watch movement is one in which the motion of the person wearing the watch, keeps the watch wound. Finally, a quartz movement is based on an internal battery and a quartz crystal to keep the watch running.

4. Materials

Depending on the function and design of the watch, they will be made up of different materials. Ceramic watches tend to be more robust and are chosen for their scratch and heat resistance. Steel watches are suitable for moisture and rust resistance. Finally, watches made with titanium tend to be stronger and lighter than other watches. They are resistant against salt, water, and acids that may be present. Titanium is also hypoallergenic so that it may be the best choice for those with sensitive skin.

Buying a watch doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Take your time to find the right watch that fits your style, function, and material needs. With so many choices out there, you’ll hopefully find your perfect watch.

PopSockets Launches National Recycling Program

Do you have any old PopSockets or phone cases sitting around that you no longer use? PopSockets, maker of expandable phone grips, has partnered with recycling leader TerraCycle® to create a FREE recycling program for PopSockets products and packaging, as well as ANY brand of cellular phone case.

Through the PopSockets Recycling Program, consumers can now send in the following products and packaging to be recycled for free:

●           PopGrips®

●           PopMinis®

●           PopGrip® Slide

●           PopWallet® & PopWallet+

●           PopChains®

●           PopSockets® PopMounts®

●           PopSockets® packaging

●           Otter + Pop Phone Cases

●           PopThirst®

●           PopGrip® Lips, PopGrip® Mirror & PopGrip® AirPods Holder

●           PopStation®

●           Any brand of cellular phone case

Participation in the program is easy: simply sign up on the TerraCycle program page at https://www.terracycle.com/en-US/brigades/popsockets and mail in the accepted waste using a prepaid shipping label. Once collected, the waste is broken down, separated by material and the plastics are cleaned and melted into hard plastic that can be remolded to make new recycled products.

Be sure to search around the TerraCycle site, because you would be amazed to find out the things you can have recycled instead of throwing them out. 

6 Life-Altering Health Effects of Divorce on Women

Divorces can be messy and chaotic, and seldom does it happen that spouses come out of a divorce without any pain. Unfortunately, there has been an unprecedented increase in divorces, and it is reported that women suffer from the after-effects of divorce more severely than men.

The common understanding is that women suffer both physically and mentally only if they are involved in an abusive relationship and get a divorce later. But, this understates the mental chaos that the whole process of divorce itself creates in the minds of women.

We have compiled a comprehensive list of the various health effects of divorce on women:

1. Anxiety Spikes:
The occurrence of significant life changes brings about anxiety, and no event is more significant than a divorce in the world of married people. Therefore, it is bound to bring anxiety, because the idea of living alone, the insecurity of being rejected, and conflicting feelings about your partner can be highly disturbing, especially for women.

2. Plunging into depression:
Anxiety should decrease once you get on with your life after being divorced, but you should consult a counselor if it persists for longer. Persistent anxiety turns to depression, which can significantly affect the quality of your life.

Moreover, engage a decent attorney like the ones available at the Divorce Matters law firm, because they will save you from the anxiety of dealing with the legal aspects of divorce.

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3. Getting socially isolated:
Divorced women start judging themselves because they feel that they are somehow inadequate and do not deserve love. This could result in isolating themselves from other women and end up being even more depressed.

4. Becoming an insomniac:
Depressed people often forget about taking care of themselves and find it hard to sleep without prescribed drugs. Under-sleeping leads to several health issues, and statistically, the most common one is hypertension.

5. Aging quicker:
Many women religiously look for ways to keep their skin fresh and smooth for as long as they can, but divorce can take that away from them. It is reported that divorced women age quicker as compared to other women because of divorce-induced depression and insomnia.

Aging does not only mean wrinkly skin, but it also indicates that they are highly likely to face issues while engaging in everyday mobility activities like walking and climbing stairs.

6. Higher likelihood of experiencing cardiac incidents and diabetes:
According to a study conducted by researchers at Duke University, divorced women are more likely to experience cardiac events as compared to married or single women. On the other hand, this study states that divorced men do not see any such increase in the risk of experiencing cardiac incidents.

Moreover, it is stated by another study that divorced women are at least 20 percent more likely to experience diabetes at some point in their lives.

Photo by Engin Akyurt from Pexels

Losing Health Insurance
A significant portion of women depend on their husbands for health benefits. Therefore, a lot of women lose health insurance as a result of divorce, and that can lead up to looming medical conditions.

In a nutshell, divorces obviously must not be taken lightly, especially if you are a woman. It might not be a bad idea to start making plans or having things in place if you suspect you may end up divorcing your spouse.

How Smokers Can Lead a Healthier Lifestyle

Many people who get into the habit of smoking don’t often think of it as a problem, usually until non-smokers point it out. Smokers make up a large portion of the general population; in the U.S., there are well over 30 million smokers. And the truth is, although smoking is associated with several adverse health effects, you can still lead a full, healthy lifestyle despite the "bad" habit.

If you are a smoker, it doesn’t matter how you got into smoking, why you smoke, or whether you’re looking to quit or cut down. You should put extra effort into taking care of your physical health. It's unfair to think that smokers don't care about their health or well-being. Smoking is not a behavioral defect or an indication of a flawed personality or character traits. Here are a few ways you can help to maintain a healthier lifestyle, even as a smoker.

Moderate Your Smoking

The first step towards leading a healthy lifestyle as a smoker is moderating the smoking. Quitting is often a tall order for many smokers, but moderation is the next best thing. Try cutting down on smoking or looking into safer alternatives like patches and ecigs to take the edge off from time to time. Begin slow, for instance, by cutting one or two cigarettes every week and gradually work up to an optimum amount. Baby steps is often the way to go.

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Eat a Healthy Diet

Everyone, and especially smokers, need to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet. Include lots of rich fruits, vegetables, and nuts in your daily diet. Some of the essential minerals, vitamins, and nutrients can help counteract some of the negative effects of smoking. For instance, smoking is known to block calcium and vitamins C and D from being absorbed into the body, increasing fruits and vegetables in the diet can help restore these essential nutrients.

Engage in Physical Activity 

Engage in regular physical activity to maintain physical health. Physical exercise makes the blood flow faster and increases breathing, both of which are beneficial towards strengthening the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. You can go to the gym for rigorous exercises, go on hikes and bike ride, or try mild physical exercises such as cardio and yoga. Physical activities can also help you manage cravings if you're trying to quit or cut down on smoking.

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It makes total sense to be a smoker and still want to improve your physical health and wellness. You can practice regular health routines, just like non-smokers. All you have to do is find the perfect health and wellness rhythm that aligns with your goals and abilities.