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March Marks American Optometric Association ‘Save Your Vision Month’

Maintaining healthy vision is an important element of overall wellness. To highlight the importance of eye health and vision care, the American Optometric Association (AOA) has named March “Save Your Vision Month.” Founded by members of the AOA in 1927, this annual public health observance is meant to reiterate that everyone deserves comprehensive eye care and remind patients to reschedule any eye care exams, which may have been postponed due to COVID-19.

Related to the pandemic, this year’s AOA campaign theme, “Eye health is too important to leave up to an algorithm,” is meant to emphasize that healthy vision should not be left to an algorithm or chance. Further, the AOA stresses that doctors of optometry professionals should continue to adhere to federal, state and local health directives to ensure the uninterrupted, safe delivery of essential eye care. Equally important, the association shared that patients should not resort to subpar alternatives or forgo their eye care altogether.

“Safeguarding our patients is our top priority,” AOA President William T. Reynolds, O.D., said. “If patients have not been seen by their doctor of optometry within the past year, our members are ready, willing and able to provide the level of eye care that you need, whether it’s time for a comprehensive eye exam, new contact lenses or eyeglasses, or an urgent care need.”

This “Save Your Vision Month,” the AOA wants to relay to the public that doctors of optometry are able to deliver essential eye care. This goes beyond a vision correction prescription and should be a critical component of patients’ preventive health regimen. Despite the availability of some products that mistakenly give the impression that eye health and vision needs are met, the AOA urges patients to seek out their primary eye health and vision care providers.

Tips to help preserve good vision and healthy eyes

  1. Wear high-quality sunglasses: Long-term exposure to UV radiation adds up over time and can increase a person’s risk of developing a cataract or macular degeneration. Long-term UV exposure can also cause tissue elevations on the surface of your eye called pinguecula and pterygium. A simple way to deter these forms of eye damage is to purchase and wear high-quality, protective sunglasses.
  2. Be aware of screen time: Being glued to a computer, smartphone, tablet or other hand-held devices can have a negative impact on vision. The AOA recommends that people observe the “20/20/20 rule.” This means that for every 20 minutes engaging with a digital screen, the user should then take a 20-second break and redirect their vision to something 20 feet away. According to the AOA, other methods of prevention or reduction of vision problems associated with digital eye strain involve taking steps to control lighting and glare on the device screen, establishing proper working distances and posture for screen viewing and assuring that even minor vision problems are properly corrected.
  3. Practice proper contacts care: Corneal ulcers have been known to result from patients sleeping in their contact lenses or wearing them for longer than the recommended periods of time. In severe cases, these ulcers can cause permanent eye damage. To avoid these circumstances, patients must practice optimal contact lens hygiene. Generally, contact lens wearers should wash their hands before handling lenses, minimize contact with water and saliva, use recommended contact lens solutions and follow manufacturer guidelines for replacing your contact lenses.

More about the American Optometric Association

The American Optometric Association was founded in 1898 and is the leading authority on quality care and an advocate for our nation’s health. The association represents more than 44,000 doctors of optometry, optometric professionals and optometry students. Today, the AOA is the acknowledged leader and recognized authority for eye and vision care in the world. The organization’s mission is to advocate for the profession and serve doctors of optometry in meeting the eye care needs of the public.

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3 Reasons to Hire a Caregiver to Assist with Home Care

Caregivers can help care for aging adults and seniors in a number of ways, from assistance with eating, sleeping or mobility to more comprehensive health and wellness needs. While family members often choose to become the caregiver of their loved one, hiring a thoroughly trained caregiver can make a vast difference in the quality of home care they receive. This is because professional caregivers are provided with continuous training on new and emerging technology, safety procedures and care specialties to ensure optimal safety and support. For those with aging loved ones, here are three additional reasons to consider hiring a home care caregiver.

1. Family Dynamics Change

Although many family members may be on the same page about the level of care an elderly loved one requires, others may not be. Furthermore, their feelings on their specific care needs and requirements may change. Family relationships often experience strain at one point or another, and pent up issues may resurface when caregiver questions arise and arguments ensue.

Affirming this notion, the Family Caregiver Alliance states, “Providing care for an aging or ill parent can bring out the best and the worst in sibling relationships. Ideally, the experience of caregiving is a time for siblings to come together and provide mutual support to one another. However, as a stressful transition, the pressure can also lead to strained connections and painful conflict.”

For these reasons, families find hiring a caregiver who is not a direct family member helpful. Without predetermined ideas or opinions, a caregiver can help families make unbiased decisions on what is truly best for the loved one in need of home care. Knowing that a loved one’s best interest is the priority can provide family members with security and peace of mind. This also assists in ensuring that the loved one’s state and current needs are frequently assessed by a home care professional with experience regarding the signs and symptoms associated with aging.

2. Family Caregiving Burnout

As family caregivers are not typically provided with the same training as a professional caregiver, they do not always know what to expect when caring for a loved one long term. Not all designated family caregivers have any medical experience at all, so knowing the ins and outs of providing home care may present an added challenge. Between learning how to best provide home care and actually engaging in care-related duties, these family members can become rapidly overwhelmed and burnt out.

Alternatively, a trained professional has the skills to provide quality care as needed. When a caregiver is employed to care for an individual, their job is to support the client in need of care. For many family members turned caregivers, they need to find a way to balance their existing jobs and responsibilities with the added duties that come with becoming a caregiver.

Caregivers are prepared with the knowledge and skills to cope with the many responsibilities and management associated with home care. Hiring a professional caregiver is a way to make sure that all home care needs are being met, without a family member becoming spread too thin subsequently neglecting elements of their existing lives.

3. Home Care is a Learned Skill

Just because an aging adult is a member of someone’s family does not mean a family member is best suited to become their caregiver. Home care services require a level of skill that is learned and must be acquired through proper education and instruction. Caregivers must have a basic knowledge of health care terms, medical conditions, prescription administration and emergency response procedures. Under certain circumstances, tough decisions need to be made, for which having experienced this home care learning curve is incredibly important.

One instance in which extensive home care knowledge is imperative arises when addressing dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. The onset of memory loss requires a caregiver who is well aware of the challenges that are commonly associated with these conditions. Learning how to care for someone experiencing memory loss can keep a trained caregiver from being surprised by certain situations they may encounter. Professional caregivers have the ability to provide clients the support that is currently required while keeping family members up to date and planning for their future home care needs.

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Celebrate National Nutrition Month During March 2021

Nutrition is an important element of home care, and since March is National Nutrition Month, this is the perfect month to assess one’s diet and health. This annual campaign was established by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to encourage everyone to learn how to make informed food choices and develop healthy eating and physical activity habits. Everyday Home Care realizes there is no single approach to nutrition and health, so it offers custom wellness services.

Its home care wellness services include meal planning and a daily meal program to help clients customize their plate to reach optimal nutrition. There are a number of ways to ensure that each client’s meal plan is as special as they are. For example, Everyday Home Care caregivers factor in healthy histories, food allergies, dietary preferences and known conditions when curating a daily meal program. 

These factors tie in with the 2021 National Nutrition Month theme, “Personalize Your Plate,” which is something all Everyday Home Care clients can expect. In accordance with guidelines from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, there are specific ways in which older adults can obtain the proper nutrition they need. First and foremost, this includes staying hydrated throughout the day. Other ways to build a healthy plate include:

  • Making sure half of each plate consists of fruits and vegetables.
  • Making at least half of all grains whole.
  • Switching to fat-free or low-fat milk, yogurt and cheese.
  • Varying protein choices.
  • Limit sodium, saturated fat and added sugars.
 In addition to these suggestions, Everyday Home Care caregivers provide meals that are enjoyable and of mindful portion sizes. Research shows that people unintentionally consume more calories when faced with larger portions. Oversized portions can be avoided by using smaller plates, bowls and glasses as well.

For those helping to provide care for aging loved ones, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics also shared 20 general health tips as part of the 2021 campaign. These tips serve as guiding principles but may vary in effectiveness, depending on a person’s current health status and ability. Authored by Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics staff members, who are registered dietitian nutritionists, this full nutrition tips list includes: 

  1. Eat breakfast.
  2. Make sure half of the plate includes fruits and vegetables.
  3. Watch portion sizes.
  4. Be active.
  5. Get to know food labels.
  6. Fix healthy snacks.
  7. Consult an RDN.
  8. Follow food safety guidelines.
  9. Drink more water.
  10. Get cooking.
  11. Order out without ditching goals.
  12. Enact family mealtime.
  13. Banish “brown bag” boredom.
  14. Reduce added sugars.
  15. Eat seafood twice a week.
  16. Explore new foods and flavors.
  17. Experiment with plant-based meals.
  18. Make an effort to reduce food waste.
  19. Slow down at mealtime.
  20. Supplement with caution.
While clients may find implementing all of these tips at once challenging, Everyday Home Care recommends gradually implementing ones needing improvement throughout the month of March. Use this National Nutrition Month to reconsider what is being consumed daily to work toward a happy, healthier lifestyle. To help evaluate the wellness care needs of a loved one, schedule a free quality care assessment with Everyday Home Care today.

About the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals founded in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1917, by a visionary group of women dedicated to helping the government conserve food and improve the public’s health and nutrition during World War I. 

Today, the academy represents more than 100,000 credentialed practitioners — registered dietitian nutritionists, dietetic technicians, other dietetics and nutrition professionals holding undergraduate and advanced degrees in nutrition and dietetics, and students — and is committed to improving the nation’s health and advancing the profession of dietetics through research, education and advocacy.

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