Identification of a stroke

New Sign of a Stroke
Stick out Your Tongue

STROKE:
Remember The 1st Three Letters.... S.T.R.

My nurse friend sent this and encouraged me to post it and spread the word. I agree.I
f everyone can remember something this simple, we could save some folks. Seriously..Please read:
STROKE IDENTIFICATION:
During a BBQ, a friend stumbled and took a little fall - she assured everyone that she was fine (they offered to call paramedics) .....she said she had just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes.They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food. While she appeared a bit shaken up, Ingrid went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening.Ingrid's husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital - (at 6:00 pm Ingrid passed away.) She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ. Had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke, perhaps Ingrid would be with us today. Some don't die.... they end up in a helpless, hopeless condition instead.It only takes a minute to read this...A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke...totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.RECOGNIZING A STROKE
Thank God for the sense to remember the "
3" steps, STR .
Read and Learn! Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke .Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:
S * Ask the individual to SMILE.
T * Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently) (i.e. It is sunny out today)
R * Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.NOTE:
Another 'sign' of a stroke is this:
Ask the person to 'stick' out his tongue.. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other , that is also an indication of a stroke. If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call an ambulanz immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.
A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this e-mail sends it to 10 people; you can bet that at least one life will be saved.

For help with stroke rehabilitation, MOBILE NURSING/MOBILE DOCTOR please contact:
www.hnp-mobilenursing.com
Home Nursing Providers 0603 78777202
nursing@hnp-mobilenursing.com

Manual Lymphal Drainage at the comfort of your homes

Various parts of the body will receive soft stroking massage

Lymphatic drainage massage LDM

Introduction
The treatment of lymphedema is based on an understanding of how the lymphatic system works. Therapists must understand this system in depth. Patients, and others involved in self-care steps, need to have at least a basic understanding of these functions. It is this basic level of understanding that is presented here.
The functioning of the lymphatic system is closely related to that of the circulatory system. To understand more about how these systems differ,

The Origin of Lymph

Lymph originates as blood plasma. The plasma of arterial blood is rich in “groceries” for the cells. In the capillary beds throughout the body the flow of blood is slowed so that plasma can leave and become tissue fluid. Tissue fluid is also known as intercellular fluid or interstitial fluid.
Tissue fluid delivers the nutrients, oxygen, and hormones required by the cells.
Tissue fluid collects and carries away some cellular waste products.
90 percent of the tissue fluid returns to the capillary bed. Here it again becomes
plasma and continues its journey throughout the body as part of the venous circulation.
Lymph is the 10 percent of the tissue fluid that is left behind. Normally the amount of lymph circulating in the body is one to two quarts and it makes

The Role of Lymph

The role of tissue fluid is to deliver the groceries to the cells. The role of lymph is to take out the trash that is left behind and to dispose of it.
As lymph continues to circulate between the cells it collects waste products that were left behind including dead blood cells, pathogens, and cancer cells. This clear fluid also becomes protein-rich as it absorbs dissolved protein from between the cells.

Lymphatic Capillaries
The lymphatic capillaries form a mesh-like network of tiny tubes that are distributed throughout the tissue spaces and are located just under the skin. These capillaries branch and interconnect freely so that they extend into almost all tissues.
Lymph capillaries are blind-ended tubes with no opening to allow the lymph easy access. The end of the capillary is only one-cell in thickness and these cells are arranged in a slightly overlapping pattern – like the shingles on a roof.
Pressure from the fluid surrounding the capillary forces these cells to separate for a moment. This allows fluid to enter, but not to leave, the capillary.
There are one-way valves within the lymphatic capillaries. These valves ensure the continued flow of the lymph away from the tissues.
Lymph Nodes

At birth there are between 600-700 lymph nodes present in the average human. Although these nodes can increase or decrease in size thoughout life, any nodes that have been damaged or destroyed, do not regenerate.
Afferent lymphatic vessels carry lymph into the nodes where waste products and some of the fluid are filtered out.
Lymphocytes, which are specialized white blood cells located within the lymph node, kill pathogens that may be present. Lymph nodes also trap cancer cells and slow the spread of the cancer until they are overwhelmed by it.
Efferent lymphatic vessels carry lymph out of the node to continue its return to the circulatory system.
Cancer cells that have left their original site travel first to nearby lymph nodes. For this reason lymph nodes play an important role in the detection and treatment of cancer.
The lymphatic system is known to be responsible for the protection of the human body from bacterial infections particularly those inflicted through the damaged skin.

Pathogens can set up infections anywhere in the body. However, lymphocytes will meet the antigens in the peripheral lymphoid organs, which include lymph nodes. The antigens are displayed by specialized cells in the lymph nodes. Naive lymphocytes (meaning the cells have not encountered an antigen yet) enter the node from the bloodstream through specialized capillary venules. After the lymphocytes specialize they will exit the lymph node through the efferent lymphatic vessel with the rest of the lymph. The lymphocytes continuously recirculate the peripheral lymphoid organs and the state of the lymph nodes depends on infection. During an infection the lymph nodes can expand due to intense B-cell proliferation in the germinal centers, this is commonly referred to as swollen glands.
History

Massages have been found in many ancient civilizations including Rome, Greece, Japan, China, Egypt, Mesopotamia and India.
It is now recognized in Europe as one of the treatments for oedemas.

Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD)
A very specialized type of massage called manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) is an important part of the treatment of lymphoedema. To be effective in treating lymphoedema, it is important to use the correct technique. The aim of the massage is to stimulate or move the excess fluid away from the swollen area so that it can drain away normally. Massage also encourages and improves drainage in the healthy lymphatics (which helps keep fluid away from swollen areas).
Manual lymphatic drainage differs from ordinary massage - it is very gentle and aims to encourage movement of lymph away from swollen areas. MLD is particularly useful if there is swelling in the face, breast, abdomen, genitals or elsewhere on the trunk.
Manual Lymph Drainage

Manual lymph drainage (MLD) is commonly referred to as M-L-D. This specialized massage technique is performed by the lymphoedema therapist to stimulate the flow of lymph from the affected area. MLD is based on specialized manual techniques that have been used successfully in Europe since the 1930’s. As shown in this illustration, MLD is a gentle and pleasant treatment.
Massage is the treatment and practice of soft tissue manipulation with physical, functional, and in some cases psychological purposes and goals
Light sweeping MLD movements encourage the flow of lymph into the lymphatic capillaries that are located just under the skin.
Stronger MLD strokes cause the lymph to flow into the lymphatic vessels deeper within the tissues.
Specialized stronger MLD movements are also performed to soften fibrotic tissues.
The MLD portion of the treatment session usually lasts from 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the size of the limb(s), the severity of the symptoms, and the amount of fibrosis.
Side benefits are: relaxation, unwinding from strain, improved immunity, reduction of blood pressure, reduction of sub clinical depression.

Contraindications for MLD

If potential contraindications are present, the therapist may consult the patient’s physician before an MLD treatment is provided. MLD should not be performed if any of the following conditions are present or are suspected:
Cellulitis or any other acute infection.
Fever or other indications of a developing infection.
Deep vein thrombosis, bleeding disorders or taking blood thinner such as wafarin, damaged blood vessels, weakened bones from cancer,osteoporosis, or fracture, and fever.

Heart failure, or other cardiac condition.
Any other major health problems that are not under control unless this treatment has been approved by the patient’s physician.
Some women find deep abdominal massage to be uncomfortable during their menstrual period and, for some, it increases the flow. If this type of massage is part of your treatment, be certain to tell your therapist when you are menstruating.

Alert

The patient can expect an increased need to urinate soon after a treatment and for several hours thereafter. This occurs because the excess fluids that were moved from the tissues have now been processed by the kidneys and are ready to be excreted as urine.
It is important that the patient drink plenty of water after an MLD session to replenish the fluids that were mobilized by this treatment.
Home Nursing Providers has now trained lymphoedema therapists, both male and female. They offer the service to the patient’s residence.
For further enquiries you may contact:

HOME NURSING PROVIDERS, MOBILE NURSING or MOBILE DOCTOR

www.hnp-mobilenursing.com

or nursing@hnp-mobilenursing.com

Tel: 06 03 78777202

Nursing Home versus Home Nursing

Nursing Homes versus Home Nursing!

The controversy of sending the sick and or aged to a nursing home is perhaps as old as nursing homes exist.

While there may be many reasons for people to send a family member into a nursing home/old folks home there are equal number of reasons not to fall for a quick and "comfortable solution".
Let us look from a client’s point of view what it means to be sent to a nursing home.
First and foremost such a person, if still mentally alert, must feel to be deposited, discarded by the family and those she/he has been sharing their lives in the past. It must be assumed that in most cases it is the children who will make such a decision. These are the very same persons who have for all their lives benefited from the care and concern of the now elderly and needy family member.
I wonder whether the persons who make such a decision have ever considered how they would feel, if in the future their children or grandchildren would ‘discard’ them.
Have they ever taken time and contemplate what the person would feel once deposited in a nursing home?
I guess that most people do suppress any thinking in this direction. They just feel that the needy person becomes a burden and since she/he is no more "productive" is ready to be discarded or disregarded.
In the many visits I have made in nursing homes I have observed only one prevailing condition. That was "APATHY and DEPRESSION". It is not surprising, therefore, that about 50% of nursing cases sent into nursing homes pass away within the first 6 months

Apathy and loneliness are the main triggers for depression. Depression in return reduces the immune system. A low immune system makes subjects the person to get infected easily and even a simple cold will be enough to cause the final journey (death). What reason has a burden, discarded, useless, problem-creating and money consuming old and sickly person to fight for?
Where has the filial concern at one time the trade mark of Asian families gone? It has been sacrificed for the money and convenience of those concerned.
I am not intending to go into the conditions that exist in most nursing and old folks homes particularly those run on a commercial basis.
But anyone who has visited some of these homes would have noted that they do not meet with the minimal standard of humanity, respect and dignity.

For sure there are such medically complicated cases where it might be very difficult to keep a person in the family home setting. However these cases should be placed in medical and nursing homes where they can be attended to in a professional and
competent manner. I guess that the percentage of such severe medical conditions is below 5% of all nursing cases.

However in my experience in more that 10 years of home nursing/mobile nursing has shown that with proper professional and caring teams anyone can be attended to in their own home setting.
Even comatose patients with tracheotomy can be managed in the family setting provided the family is willing to cooperate and give the necessary support.
What happened to a person who is "comatose"? Does he still register the surrounding? No serious scientist dares to make a conclusive statement on this matter. However my professional experience has shown many a time that people were making clear signs on stimulations by the sound of a family member, a close friend, and/or certain melody of which the person was familiar with.
It is not unusual that even doctors in the hospital advise the family to look for a nursing home instead of looking at the option of caring for the patient in their own home setting with the available mobile home nursing.
More people grow older and are more likely to become nursing dependent at their final stage of life. Home nursing/mobile nursing should be the first option for anyone to be considered. Nursing homes should be the last option and be left for the absolutely difficult cases.
Mobile nursing which is able to provide any amount of support from simply giving a bath to a 24 hours general or medical nursing care is the correct and appropriate way of managing those who have spent their whole life being concerned about our welfare.
"Let us treat our beloved the same way we want to be treated when we grow old and dependent".

For further information about MOBILE NURSING or MOBILE DOCTOR contact:

Home Nursing Providers Tel +6 03 78777202

nursin@hnp-mobilenursing.com

www.hnp-mobilenursing.com

MOBILIZATION OF STROKE PATIENTS

WHAT IT NEEDS TO DO SUCCESSFUL MOBILIZATION OF STROKE PATIENTS
A lot of times the need of people in the category of Golden Age is beyond the understanding or comprehension of other people. We often tend to forget that reaching the golden age has one‘s own afflictions and problems. These are inherent due to the age span with which goes for some more for some less complication directly related to ageing.
However a considerable number of people also tend to suffer secondary health problems and these are particularly related to strokes. I guess getting a cerebral stroke is to some even more scaring than to get a cardiac infarct. When a cardiac infarct ends up in survival well and good, if not it does not leave behind much to be worried. Unlike a brain stroke, where the chances of survival are much better yet the short and long term consequences are difficult to predict. One of the most common side effects would be paralysis of one or more limbs. Depending on the location of the stroke in the brain speech might also be affected. The scariest form of stroke is perhaps a stroke affecting the brain stem resulting almost always in severe or total paralysis.

The damage to the brain depends on the area affected and the most crucial factor is how soon the patient can receive correct treatment in a hospital. Those would be the main determining factors of the damage to the brain and subsequently to the handicap experienced.
To a great extent paralysis can be reverted. This however depends very much on the time frame of mobilization therapy after the patient has been stabilized. The sooner appropriate therapy is initiated the greater are the chances for recovery.
To understand how the recovery works we have to understand what is really appending to a patient with a stroke.
Stroke / Brain Attack

What is stroke?

Stroke, also called brain attack, occurs when blood flow to the brain is disrupted. Disruption in blood flow is caused when either a blood clot blocks one of the vital blood vessels in the brain (ischaemic stroke), or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, spilling blood into surrounding tissues (haemorrhagic stroke).
The brain needs a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients in order to function. Even a brief interruption in blood supply can cause problems. Brain cells begin to die after just a few minutes without blood or oxygen supply. The area of dead cells in tissues is called an infarct. Due to both the physical and chemical changes that occur in the brain with stroke, damage can continue to occur for several days. This is called a stroke-in-evolution.
A loss of brain function occurs with brain cell death. This may include impaired ability with movement, speech, thinking and memory, bowel and bladder, eating, emotional control, and other vital body functions. Recovery from stroke and the specific ability affected depends on the size and location of the stroke. A small stroke may result in only minor problems such as weakness in an arm or leg. Larger strokes may cause paralysis (inability to move part of the body), loss of speech, or even death.
According to the National Stroke Association (NSA), it is important to learn the three R's of stroke:
Reduce the risk.
Recognize the symptoms.
Respond by calling (your local ambulance service).
Stroke is an emergency and should be treated as such. The greatest chance for recovery from stroke occurs when emergency treatment is started immediately.
Stroke is the third largest cause of death, ranking behind diseases of the heart and all forms of cancer. Strokes kill more than 158,000 Americans each year. About 5.5 million US adults live today with the effects of a stroke.

IF BRAIN DAMAGE TAKES PLACE, HOW CAN A PERSON RECOVER?
That's a good question! The brain is a remarkable organ. When the blood flow is cut off, new pathways can take over and supply the blood to that damaged area. Also, the brain can make compensations. One area will take over the functions that were previously handled by a different area. Remember, people can and do recover from a stroke!

WHAT ARE THE STEPS OF RECOVERY FROM A STROKE?
Usually, recovery happens in phases. It takes place over a period of time that can vary from a few weeks to a few years. Every stroke is different and the extent of damage varies. Below are the general phases that a stroke patient can expect to go through.

TREATMENT FOR THE ACTUAL STROKE- This begins when a person first enters the hospital. Doctors will determine the type of stroke and will provide the appropriate treatment. This may consist of drugs to break up clots and thin the blood or surgery to repair a broken blood vessel. Treatment is aimed at preventing another stroke from taking place and limiting the amount of brain damage that occurs.
RECOVERY- After a stroke, some spontaneous recovery takes place for most people. Abilities that may have been lost will begin to return. This process can take place very quickly over the first few weeks, and then, it may begin to taper off.
REHABILITATION- This phase usually takes place while the patient is still in the hospital. Various therapists and specialists will work with the stroke victim to bring back lost skills. This can be a very frustrating time for the patient as they become aware of their limitations from the stroke. Oftentimes, this is the period where anger or depression can set in. It's good to remember that with proper therapy, many or most skills can be relearned.

RETURNING TO THE HOME ENVIRONMENT-
This can be a very exciting time, but adjustments may have to be made. Some of the adjustments might be temporary or some may last for a lifetime.
For the stroke victim, simple tasks such as tying shoes or fastening pants can be difficult. These are easy to remedy. Velcro shoes and drawstring pants can be worn. Other issues may not be as easy. But take courage. There will be many experts to ease this transition.

In my experience the most crucial aspect is to develop a trust relationship between the therapist and the patient. The greater the trust relationship between the therapist and the patient the greater the chances of progress. While the techniques play a vital role in the recovery process, the cooperation between patient and therapist is the most crucial factor. The therapist is not merely an executer of certain limb movements and contractions of muscles; he is the stimulator, motivator and source of confidence.
It needs also to be understood that the approach to each client has to be adapted to his/her personality. Very important is the knowledge of biography of the patient. Basing on the patient’s interests, hobbies etc. motivation can be initiated.

Motivating the client might be initially the most difficult part of the patient management. Without a personal goal that is to be achieved little success can be expected. What does that mean in practice? As much as the stimulation of the limbs is important so is the continual stimulation in motivation which is a crucial necessity. That is why by merely attaching the patients to machines and instruments which move the limbs without intensive mental contact with the patients is of little benefit. The therapist primary objectives must be the constant motivation and giving feedback to his client. This includes the knowledge of how a stroke affects a patient in his/her day to day physical and mental state.
Only when all of these aspects are being taken in consideration the therapist will be able to provide a basis for successful mobilization.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE EFFECTS FROM A STROKE?
Again, this will depend on which area of the brain is affected. Some common after-effects of a stroke are:
· Paralysis or simple weakness on one side of the body. Remember, this will be the opposite side of the body from which the stroke occurred.
· Difficulty with speech.
· Trouble with swallowing.
· Difficulty with urination.
· Balance and coordination problems.
· Problems with cognitive functions - the stroke victim may have memory problems or may have difficulty following directions.
· Fatigue
· Emotional upsets - these can vary from depression to bouts of spontaneous laughter.

WHAT ABOUT LONG-TERM DISABILITIES?
This can happen. It depends on each individual. Some strokes are mild and will result in complete recovery. Others are severe and will produce lingering problems.

CAN I PREVENT A STROKE FROM OCCURRING?
There are things that you can do to minimize your risk of having a stroke. Many strokes are caused by fatty deposits that reduce the blood flow to the brain. A proper diet, coupled with regular exercise, can keep your body strong and healthy.
Also, there is research that strongly suggests that consuming aspirin and vitamin E on a regular basis may help to prevent ISCHEMIC strokes. The vitamin E keeps the blood thin while the aspirin lowers the clotting ability of the blood. The drawback to this type of preventative course is that it can cause a small number of HAEMORRAGIC strokes. For many people, this type of prevention out weighs the risk. Remember, most strokes are ISCHEMIC in nature.
Do talk with your doctor before you undertake any type of self-treatment. This type of therapy is not appropriate for everyone.

FINAL THOUGHTS
A stroke can be scary, but recovery can and does take place. A positive outlook is one of the most useful tools during the rehabilitation process.
This does include also the environment of the patient. It is not uncommon that relatives and close friends, out of ignorance and pity, consolidate the negative mental state of the affected person. Here too the therapist has a role to play and influence the environment and to be couscous of their comments and impressions on the patient.

"A person will recover as much as SHE/HE sets the goal and believe in it".

For more information about "mobilization/rehabilitation" or MOBILE NURSING/MOBILE DOCTOR please contact:

Home Nursing Providers, Tel: 006 0378777202 or

nursing@hnp-mobilenursing.com

http://www.hnp-mobilenursing.com

"Under Nursing but Over Caring"

"Over Caring or Under Nursing"

To anyone who reads this heading their first reaction will be "HOW"??, Contradictory? NO!
In the years of my professional work and especially since getting involved in mobile nursing, this apparent conflicting phenomenon disturbs me. Confirmed through a visit of a relative in a nursing home, where most of the people were fitted with a nasal tube and received liquefied nourishment.
Obviously this home was not specially for elderly persons who had a problem with swallowing, but rather an issue of convenience to the caretakers, (assisting a person by spoon feeding may be very time consuming).
This experience and that of other observations, brings me to the issue of drawing awareness of the public to the issue of what is correct and professional nursing.
Certainly not:
Over caring, a phenomenon that arises when a person is attended 24 hours by a "care taker" which is being paid to take "good care" of the sick person.. From the point of view of the family, "we want to provide the best care". However from a professional nursing concept it is wrong, because the patient will solicit the service of the "paid " care taker and for all concerned unnoticed the sick person will not be motivated to start doing things for themselves but rely on the care taker do almost everything for him/her.
Thereby loosing very fast the competences and skills to help themselves. Experience has shown that, where the sick person gets only the complementary level of assistance the motivation to regain the former abilities is much greater than for those who have a special care taker. In the long run the developing of a mutual dependency, between that care taker and the sick, will reach a stage where the sick person has lost most of the abilities to do even basic functions and the family is in a stress situation, because sooner or later the financial burden becomes to great, yet the situation has become worse instead of improved. This is also observed in institutional settings, where the patient expects that everything is being doe for him. It is a well observed fact that recovery and regaining of abilities towards self help is greatly enhanced if the person is in his own home environment and fostered to increase his owns kills and abilities to cope with daily task to care for themselves, and is stimulated to pay attention to what is happening within his/her environment, grandchildren, pets, friends, family members etc.
Under nursing, is the other side due to lack of professional nursing. Obvious there is hardly anyone who does not want to provide the best "care" for the sick family member. However the motivation and good intention by it selves, does not compensate for the professional nursing.
A professional nurse needs 3 years of training before getting a certificate of competence, and many years of experience are needed to become skilled in dealing with sick people. And additional skills are required to work in a mobile nursing system providing service in a family setting. The most common problem arise out of lack of knowledge and experience in assuring improvements of the condition, and preventing worsening of the condition. To avoid the sick a lot of suffering and anxiety, the family distress, costly medical treatment and perhaps major hospitalization fees, professional nursing is needed, at least on an advisory level.
The most common problem arising out off:
a) Dehydration; Most elderly persons do not feel thirsty and will generally not ask for liquid, giving the impression that there is also no need for intake of liquid. In many cases of hospitalization of elderly there is always the symptom of dehydration in the forefront. This may result in renal failure, and a chain reaction of complicating problems. Many people have developed temporary "mental impairment" solely due to lack of liquid intake.
b) Improper intake of Medication: No one is fond of swallowing pills. Elderly persons have an aversion to pill taking, in particular when they are insufficiently informed of the working mechanism of the same and the consequences if they are not taken regularly. People like to see medications as a symptom reliever. "I don't need to take them today I am feeling very fine"! Elderly persons are forgetful, (particularly the short term memory) they may not remember if they have taken the medication or not, resulting in double intake or missing out of a doses. Either one may have, depending on the type of medication, severe consequences. Taking medication with liquid other than water, may result in impairment of the effect of the medication or cause avoidable intestinal complications
c) Bed sore: With sick persons who are temporarily or permanently bedridden or wheel chair bound, this is perhaps one of the most frequent problems encountered, yet in most cases avoidable. Simple aids and knowledge can prevent the same development and subsequent suffering and costly treatment to the sick person.
These are just a few of the problems that a family may encounter. In my training experience (of family nurses family members) I come across that care takers are often at loss as to what to do. Having outside nursing care may be too expensive and also infringing in the family setting.

The alternative is:
a) Professional nursing counseling with case assessment;
b) On the spot nursing coaching by experienced and examined nursing staff;
c) Attending of available training in coping with sick and or handicapped family members;
d) Soliciting professional nursing help, where and when needed, on a sporadic or regular basis as may be necessary or desired.
Conclusion:
We are steering to a situation where people become elder and live longer and this includes also more impaired (naturally due to aging) persons in our society. Modern medicine is as good as the surrounding supportive nursing care is available.

If you are looking for advise on correct nursing r MOBILENURSING/MOBILE DOCTOR please :
006 0378777202
Home Nursing Providers:

nursing@hnp-mobilenursing.com

www.hnp-mobilenursing.com

Dehydration and illness in elderly persons

Dehydration and illness in elderly persons

The problem of dehydration is in general not receiving the attention that is deserves.
Approximately 70% to 75 % of our body mass consists of liquid. The reduction of 5% can cause problems and above 10% can lead to a life threatening situation. The Emergency Rooms of Hospitals are meeting this issue day by day. But ones the patient is discharged to home little attention is given to the original cause of the hospitalization, which is dehydration.
Most people are not aware of what is the correct amount of liquid a person should consume a day.
That is because there is no "correct amount" that would apply to all individuals equally.
The amount could vary from between 1 ½ liters to 6 liters in 24 hours depending on the individual and his/her special circumstance.

Factors that influence the need of liquid are;
Physical size
Physical activity
Age
Exposure to temperature
Health condition, such as fever
Medication (diuretics)
Intestinal infection with diarrhea
Endocrinological conditions such as diabetes
And other factors.

To know if a person has the correct amount of liquid consumed is when the urine has a color close to fresh pressed lime water. However most people will be far away from the ideal condition inviting long term consequences; such as
Confusion
Disorientation
Strokes
Kidney stones
Constipation
Fatigue
Wrinkles in the face (There is no cream that can substitute the water)
Cardiovascular problems
And many others………

Elderly people have a less significant feeling of thirst and hence tend to drink less. This can be easily compensated in that they have fresh fruits at their reach ready for consumption. Fruit juices are also more palatable to the elderly. Nutrients with added water such as porridge, jellys etc. are helpful to prevent dehydration. Liquid should be in such a place to be easily senn and available to the elderly.

If you have questions about care taking of elderly,
MOBILE NURSING/MOBILE DOCTOR PLEASE consult:

Home Nursing Providers 006 03 78777202
nursing@hnp-mobilenursing.com
www.hnp-mobilenursing.com

When a nurse is not a nurse

When a nurse is not a nurse!
In recent time we have come across a series of situation where we noticed that so called "nurses" are offering medical, as well as general nursing to the ignorant public.
These "nurses" have at times not more than some vague practical experience often only from observation from nurses, in care taking. These "nurses" are offered by various agencies as well as hospitals to take care of patients in Hospitals and private homes as "private nurse" or a sent to people’s houses to take care of sick people.

Since the word NURSE is not a protected term (only State Registered Nurse =SRN) these people give the impression to the public that they are trained nurses, and competent to do nursing.

We have also come across cases were foreigners on visit passes who do not have certificates of Nursing training from their home country, but do privat nursing They are not registered with the Nursing Board of Malaysia, but working in various institutes and privately as nurses.
The public is often in a situation where they are in urgent need of nursing assistance for their sick family member. They do not dare to ask if these persons are really trained and qualified. They are also not requesting to view the certificate of nursing registration by the Nursing Board of Malaysia.

One does not needs to have a vivid fantasy to imagine what can happen to a sick person, who is attended by such fake nurses who performs various medical nursing tasks without academically qualification or professional training and are lacking skill and knowledge of the task they are performing.

These persons even perform tasks which in developed countries are usually performed by medical doctors only, or specially qualified nurses such as setting of feeding tubes, urethral catheterization etc.

The public is most of the time relying on the words of the referring agency, which just uses the term "they are qualified" or they are "nurses with experience" insinuating that they have a formal training and qualification.

It will not be surprising if such cases will increase in the near future as the need for qualified nurses is constantly increasing, and the supply can not meet the demand.
Genuine qualified foreign nurses are in a predicament, as they will only get a visa if they have an employer. How to get an employer without registration and certification by the Nursing Board? How is the Nursing Board registering a nurse who can not submit her application for registration without a registered employer. How is the Mobile nursing agency getting registered if there are no legal provision for such a registration? A vicious cycle that is difficult to be solved.
The public in the mean time is at the mercy of such unscrupulous practices by fake "Nurses" which not only tarnish the name of the nursing profession, but place the patient in an unpredictable danger as nursing is a professional job which takes 3 years of training and many more years of experience.

No one would send his car to a carpenter for repair. But exactly this is what happens in cases of hiring an unprofessional person to nurse a sick family member.
We can only appeals to the public, to be on guards when hiring "private nurses", and ensure that they can show prove of their qualification.
"Better to be safe than sorry"!

If you are looking for qualified MOBILE NURSING/MOBILE DOCTOR
contact:
Home Nursing Providers
00603 78777202
nursing@hnp-mobilenursing.com
www.hnp-mobilenursing.com