AwareGiver with David Happe

Hurricane preparedness is crucial for everyone, especially caregivers who are responsible for the well-being and safety of others. When caring for individuals during a hurricane or any other natural disaster, it's essential to have a plan in place to ensure their safety and comfort. Here are some guidelines for hurricane preparedness for caregivers:Create an Emergency Plan:Identify the nearest hurricane shelters and evacuation routes.Determine how you will transport the person you are caring for in case of an evacuation.Prepare a list of emergency contacts, including healthcare providers, family members, and local authorities.Share the emergency plan with other family members, neighbors, or friends who can provide assistance if needed.Stock Up on Supplies:Have a sufficient supply of necessary medications for the individual you are caring for, including any medical equipment they may require.Stock up on non-perishable food items, bottled water, and other essential supplies such as batteries, flashlights, first aid kits, and personal hygiene products.Consider the specific needs of the person you are caring for, such as dietary restrictions, mobility aids, or communication devices, and ensure you have the necessary supplies.Maintain Communication:Ensure you have a reliable means of communication, such as a charged cellphone or a battery-powered radio, to stay updated on the storm's progress and receive emergency alerts.Have a backup power source, such as a generator or power bank, to keep essential devices charged.Share your contact information with trusted neighbors, friends, or family members who can check on you and the person you are caring for.Secure the Environment:Clear the surroundings of any potential hazards, such as loose objects or debris that may be carried by strong winds.Reinforce windows and doors with storm shutters or plywood.Have a plan for safely moving the person you are caring for to a secure area within the home, away from windows and exterior walls.Monitor Health and Well-being:Stay vigilant about the health needs of the person you are caring for, especially during stressful situations.Keep an adequate supply of necessary medical equipment, such as oxygen tanks or mobility aids, and ensure they are in good working condition.Have a plan for accessing medical care if needed, such as knowing the location of nearby medical facilities that may remain open during the storm.Stay Informed and Calm:Stay updated on weather reports and follow the guidance of local authorities.Remain calm and reassuring to the person you are caring for, as they may be more susceptible to stress and anxiety during the hurricane.Engage in calming activities such as reading, playing games, or listening to music to help alleviate stress for both you and the person you are caring for.Remember, every caregiving situation is unique, and it's important to adapt these guidelines to the specific needs of the person you are caring for. It is also recommended to consult with healthcare professionals or local emergency management agencies for additional guidance on hurricane preparedness for caregivers. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/awaregiver/message

The FDA Postpones A Long-Awaited Decision On Juul's Vaping Products The Food and Drug Administration said it has ruled on whether some electronic cigarette products can remain on the market, but that it's also delaying action on products made by Juul, which accounts for 40% of the e-cigarette market. The FDA said Thursday it has issued marketing denial orders for more than 946,000 flavored vaping products because their applications "lacked sufficient evidence that they have a benefit to adult smokers sufficient to overcome the public health threat posed by the well-documented, alarming levels of youth use of such products." The decisions encompass 93% of the applications companies submitted for approval – but Juul, the largest vape company, was not included in Thursday's action. A federal judge had given the FDA one year to act on a flood of applications submitted by vape companies in a decision stemming from a lawsuit brought by anti-tobacco groups. The agency said it's made progress but needs more time. "We continue to work expeditiously on the remaining applications that were submitted by the court's Sept. 9, 2020, deadline, many of which are in the final stages of review," the FDA said. This audio news story was provided to AwareGiver by NPR --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/awaregiver/message

Pufferfish Toxin Holds Clues To Treating 'Lazy Eye' In Adults A treatment that simulates the loss of an eye may help adults with the vision impairment known as amblyopia or "lazy eye." This audio story provided to AwareGiver by NPR. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/awaregiver/message

The Best Time For Rehabilitation After A Stroke Might Actually Be 2 To 3 Months Later People who have had a stroke appear to regain more hand and arm function if intensive rehabilitation starts two to three months after the injury to their brain. This audio story was provided to AwareGiver by NPR. A study of 72 stroke patients suggests this is a "critical period," when the brain has the greatest capacity to rewire, a team reports in this week's journal PNAS. The finding challenges the current practice of beginning rehabilitation as soon as possible after a stroke and suggests intensive rehabilitation should go on longer than most insurance coverage allows, says Elissa Newport, a co-author of the study and director of the Center for Brain Plasticity and Recovery at Georgetown University Medical Center. "Two to three months after a stroke is when people are at home," Newport notes. "That's not when most people are having their rehabilitation." --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/awaregiver/message

Americans may be able to breathe a tentative sigh of relief soon, according to researchers studying the trajectory of the pandemic. The delta surge appears to be peaking nationally, and cases and deaths will likely decline steadily now through the spring without a significant winter surge, according to a new analysis shared with NPR by a consortium of researchers advising the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This audio story provided to AwareGiver by NPR.   For its latest update, which it will release Wednesday, the COVID-19 Scenario Modeling Hub combined nine different mathematical models from different research groups to get an outlook for the pandemic for the next six months. "Any of us who have been following this closely, given what happened with delta, are going to be really cautious about too much optimism," says Justin Lessler at the University of North Carolina, who helps run the hub. "But I do think that the trajectory is towards improvement for most of the country," he says. The modelers developed four potential scenarios, taking into account whether or not childhood vaccinations take off and whether a more infectious new variant should emerge. The most likely scenario, says Lessler, is that children do get vaccinated and no super-spreading variant emerges. In that case, the combo model forecasts that new infections would slowly, but fairly continuously, drop from about 140,000 today now to about 9,000 a day by March. Deaths from COVID-19 would fall from about 1,500 a day now to fewer than 100 a day by March 2022. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/awaregiver/message

Jojn Dave Happe from AwareGiver as he announces an endorsement of the Credit for Caring Act which will provide up to $5,000 to caregivers to help offset caregiving expenses and provide for technology subsidy to help caregivers taking care of people in residential settings.   You can see the AwareGiver endorsement letter for the Credit for Caring Act here : https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DVcO3ktdXBjbb7GGZdXX5Mq8c6pNUaN-/view?usp=sharing --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/awaregiver/message

Florida lawmakers have debated for a decade whether to expand Medicaid eligibility under the Affordable Care Act. Advocates are trying to circumvent legislature and take the issue directly to voters.

PODCAST TAKEOVER EDITIONThis is a SPECIAL EDITION of the AwareGiver podcast featuring a rebroadcast of the "COLD CALL" podcast from Harvard Business School.  i thought the content was important enough to bring it to you unedited.In 2017, Tommy Hilfiger launched its adaptive fashion line to provide fashion apparel that aims to make dressing easier. By 2020, it was still a relatively unknown line in the U.S. and the Tommy Hilfiger team was continuing to learn more about how to serve these new customers. Should the team make adaptive clothing available beyond the U.S., or is a global expansion premature? Assistant Professor Elizabeth Keenan discusses the opportunities and challenges that accompanied the introduction of a new product line that effectively serves an entirely new customer while simultaneously starting a movement to provide fashion for all in the case, “Tommy Hilfiger Adaptive: Fashion for All.”For most people, the hardest thing about getting dressed in the morning is deciding what to wear. Putting on the clothes is pretty much an afterthought, but anyone who's broken an arm or even a finger can tell you that getting dressed becomes a much bigger challenge when you try to button a shirt or buckle a belt. Just imagine how difficult it would be from the seat of a wheelchair or without fine motor control. Yet, that is a challenge faced by millions of people with physical disabilities each and every day.What we wear affects our psychological state as well as our performance. The journal ScienceDirect introduced the term enclothed cognition to describe this phenomenon. And for those with physical disabilities, it's a problem that until very recently was in search of a solution. Today on Cold Call, we've invited Professor Elizabeth Keenan to discuss her case titled, “Tommy Hilfiger Adaptive: Fashion For All.” I'm your host, Brian Kenny, and you're listening to Cold Call on the HBR Podcast Network. To subscribe to the COLD CALL podcast on the HBR Podcast network, visit https://hbswk.hbs.edu/Pages/browse.aspx?HBSContentType=Cold+Call

Drugmaker Biogen is pulling the plug on its controversial Alzheimer's drug Aduhelm, following disappointing sales. It had been expected to be a blockbuster product.Biogen says patients currently taking Aduhelm will have access to it until November 1, but patients taking the drug in clinical trials will lose access May 1.

Xavier Becerra, Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services talks about increased staffing requirements for nursing home facilities. Roughly 3/4 of long-term care facilities will have to hire additional sfatt to meet the new requirements. In addition, the government will provide over $75m in financial incentives for tuition reimbursement and other benefits to improve nurse retention and attract more people to the industry.

In 2020, the federal government hanged the rules so that hospitals can be paid the same amount to treat patients at home. Today, over 300 hospitals and 125 health systems in 37 States have signed up to offer acute care at home. Patients must meet certain criteria, which incldues living 30 minutes from the hospital, having functional utilities, and having at least one person living with you. Hospital at home services are on a voluntary basis.

Audio from NPR which includes a special news report from Tampa, Florida based WUSF on the challenges of being an unpaid caregiver of someone with dementia"A recent report by the Alzheimer's Association lays out the challenges that unpaid caregivers of people with dementia face.WUSF's Stephanie Colombini explains how one family in Tampa is managing and what they need more of.

This edition of AwareGiver the Caregiver Radio Oasis is sponsored in part by Final Expense Florida. You can reach a licensed Florida agent for Final Expense Florida at (888)434-6471 Extension 2. When someone dies and they don't have money, their family or loved ones may be responsible for paying for their final expenses such as funeral costs, medical bills, and other end-of-life expenses. If there are no funds available, it may become a financial burden for those left behind. Final Expense Insurance is a type of life insurance that is designed to cover the costs associated with a person's final expenses. This type of insurance is also known as burial insurance, funeral insurance, or end-of-life insurance. It is typically a smaller life insurance policy that is purchased to cover the costs of funeral expenses and other final expenses. The policyholder pays monthly premiums, and in the event of their death, the beneficiary receives a lump-sum payment that can be used to pay for funeral and burial costs, medical bills, and other final expenses. The coverage amount for final expense insurance is typically lower than for other types of life insurance policies, and the premiums are generally more affordable. Final Expense Insurance can provide peace of mind for those who want to ensure that their final expenses will be covered without creating a financial burden for their loved ones. It's important to note, however, that like other types of life insurance, there are eligibility requirements and exclusions that may apply. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/awaregiver/message

Tips for Caregivers from NPR's Life Kit podcast. You can listen and follow here : https://open.spotify.com/show/5J0xAfsLX7bEYzGxOin4Sd?si=3hxRTvV3R72G3Ci5l5GzTA&nd=1 The audio portion of this episode was produced by Sylvie Douglas and edited by Meghan Keane. Marielle Segarra is our host. The digital story was edited by Danielle Nett. Our visuals editor is Beck Harlan. We'd love to hear from you. Leave us a voicemail at 202-216-9823, or email us at LifeKit@npr.org. Listen to Life Kit on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or sign up for our newsletter. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/awaregiver/message

Each year, children are injured by hazards in and around the home. The good news is that the risk of injury can be reduced or prevented by using recommended safety practices, by using child products that meet safety standards, and by using child-safety devices. Most of the safety devices are easy to find and are relatively inexpensive. To be effective, they must be properly installed and reengaged after use. Follow installation instructions carefully. Remember, too, that no device is completely childproof; determined toddlers have been known to overcome or disable them. This edition of AwareGiver - the CareGiver Radio Oasis is sponsored by KinderGard child safety products, with information provided by the Consumer Products Safety Commission of the United States Government. AwareGiver is on the Spotify Podcast Network. https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/awaregiver --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/awaregiver/message

Content provided to AwareGiver by NPR If you've been feeling blah recently, you're not alone. The good news is you can retrain your brain to feel happier. Here's how to shift your mood and restore your well-being. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/awaregiver/message

How A Hospital And A School District Teamed Up To Help Kids In Emotional Crisis provided by NPR https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/05/26/1000400903/n-y-hospital-schools-aim-to-improve-kids-access-to-mental-health-provider In 2019, the Rockville Centre school district in Long Island, N.Y., was shaken by a string of student deaths, including the suicides of a recent graduate and a current student. "When you get these losses, one after the other, you almost can't get traction on normalcy," says Noreen Leahy, an assistant superintendent at the school district. "You can't get traction on kids functioning on a day-to-day basis in a school setting." To Leahy, the student suicides were a symptom of a children's mental health crisis that had been brewing for years. She had observed a concerning uptick in depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation among students. Her school district had a team of mental health professionals, but Leahy says they couldn't provide the kind of long-term care many students needed. "Remember, psychologists and social workers and counselors in school districts are there to make sure kids are learning," says Leahy. "We're not hospital wards. We don't do psychotherapy. So it's very limited what we can do for these students." She says she saw an urgent need to connect students to mental health care quickly and easily, and the 2019 tragedy drove her to find a way to make that happen. Her vision ultimately led to the formation of a unique partnership between several Long Island Island school districts and the nearby children's hospital, Cohen Children's Medical Center, which is part of the Northwell Health system. That partnership provides prompt access to mental health care services for students and includes ongoing support for school staff for dealing with kids' mental health, creating a mental health safety net for children and families in the area that didn't exist before. The heart of it is a new behavioral health center focused on serving kids in the community, which the hospital opened in January 2020. Students are evaluated by the center's child psychiatrist and mental health counselor, who start and continue treatment till a child can be connected to long-term care in the community. Mental health experts point to this school-hospital partnership as an effective model — one that meets a growing and urgent need to help children get mental health treatment and avoid unnecessary hospitalization. "It's a real step forward," says Glenn Thomas, a clinical psychologist at Nationwide Children's hospital in Columbus, Ohio. "So many kids and families slip through the cracks because of a lack of resources." 'I just wish there was a place to send these kids' The concerning rise in mental health issues noticed by school administrators mirrors national trends. Roughly 1 in 5 U.S. children meet criteria for a mental health disorder, and the rate of suicide attempts among youth has risen over the past decade, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. continued here ...https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/05/26/1000400903/n-y-hospital-schools-aim-to-improve-kids-access-to-mental-health-provider --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/awaregiver/message

New Device Taps Brain Signals To Help Stroke Patients from NPR https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/06/13/1005556094/new-device-taps-brain-signals-to-help-stroke-patients-regain-hand-function The Food And Drug Administration has authorized a device called IpsiHand, which uses signals from the uninjured side of a patient's brain to help rewire circuits controlling the hand, wrist and arm. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/awaregiver/message

Developing story.  Here's the audio from a breaking news conference where Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announces an increase in Alzheimer's funding.  Thank you Governor Ron DeSantis!   Gov. Ron DeSantis hosted a news conference Monday morning 6/21/21 at an assisted living facility in Jacksonville to highlight funding for Alzheimer’s and dementia care and treatment in the state’s budget. Governor Ron DeSantis spoke from The Windsor at San Pablo in Jacksonville Monday morning, highlighting the efforts made towards the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/awaregiver/message

A new kind of COVID-19 vaccine could be available as soon as this summer. - from NPR It's what's known as a protein subunit vaccine. It works somewhat differently from the current crop of vaccines authorized for use in the U.S. but is based on a well-understood technology and doesn't require special refrigeration. In general, vaccines work by showing people's immune systems something that looks like the virus but really isn't. Consider it an advance warning; if the real virus ever turns up, the immune system is ready to try to squelch it. In the case of the coronavirus, that "something" is one of the proteins in the virus — the spike protein. The vaccines made by Johnson & Johnson, Moderna and Pfizer contain genetic instructions for the spike protein, and it's up to the cells in our bodies to make the protein itself. The first protein subunit COVID-19 vaccine to become available will likely come from the biotech company, Novavax. In contrast to the three vaccines already authorized in the U.S., it contains the spike protein itself — no need to make it, it's already made — along with an adjuvant that enhances the immune system's response, to make the vaccine even more protective. Protein subunit vaccines made this way have been around for a while. There are vaccines on the market for hepatitis B and pertussis based on this technology. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/06/06/1003328413/new-type-of-covid-vaccine-could-debut-soon --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/awaregiver/message