May is National Walking Month. It seems like a fitting time to celebrate because it’s also Nurse’s Month, and no one gets their daily steps in like a nurse on the go!
Getting plenty of exercise and hitting step goals can seem easy while we’re feeling our best, but as we age, we can slow down, and we may not even realize it. Decreased movement can creep up and become problematic after retirement or reducing our workload. While not everyone is headed out to do a marathon, regular walking is a great way to maintain mobility, strength, and long-term independence.
Benefits of Walking:
Strengthens bones and muscles
Reduces stress
Enhances energy
Fortifies the immune system
Improves sleep quality
Brightens your mood, reduces anxiety, and improves depression
Unfortunately, as we age, if we don’t move it, we lose it, so it’s best to address mobility issues as soon as possible. If you are experiencing barriers to everyday movement like walking, don’t delay speaking with your medical team.
Whether you have discomfort when you move around or you’ve slowed down a bit, your doctor may be able to find a root cause for your issues. They may also be able to order physical or occupational therapies.
Outpatient therapists can teach you how to move in a way that limits your pain and maximizes your independence. They can also help you find ways to move to decrease your risk of falling.
Lastly, if you need mobility aids such as a cane or walker, outpatient therapists can help you find safe options. Canes and walkers are not one-size-fits-all. Sure, they’re available at medical supply shops, but they are all different, and some devices could cause harm if they’re not the right size for your needs. Outpatient therapists can help you find the best devices and teach you how to use them so you can enjoy moving again!
How to Make Walking Fun:
Speak with your doctor about any discomfort when you walk to learn the root cause before you begin.
Find a walking partner (join a group or think about starting one).
Scope out a beautiful place to walk, such as an established path at a local park or a trail near lakes and rivers.
If the outdoors isn’t safe for you, consider walking at your local shopping mall during quieter times, or find out if your local schools allow hallway walking.
Wear bright, easily visible colors.
Keep your hands open to catch yourself if you have a fall (avoid holding phones or water bottles).
Watch the ground and everything around you for uneven ground or potential obstacles that could trip you up.
Carry a light bag such as a waist pack or backpack to keep a few essentials handy and your hands free.
Stay hydrated.
Wear comfortable shoes with plenty of grip.
Dress for the weather.
Start small and increase your daily steps/distance as you gain confidence and ability.
If you are in a bad mood, go for a walk. If you are still in a bad mood, go for another walk.―Hippocrates
If you’re interested in how CaringEdge’s outpatient therapists can help you get back on your feet, contact us at info@caringedge.com.
During the month of May, don’t forget to celebrate the fantastic folks who serve as angels on Earth—our nurses! In our fast-paced world, convenience is key. For that very reason, you’ll find nurses working in schools, private office buildings, satellite clinics, behind cameras, on the phone, and in the most comfortable place of all: home! Let’s dive into the work of home health nurses to get a glimpse into how they’re helping patients thrive.
Home Health Nursing
Just like it sounds, home health services provide care where you feel your best—at home. Home health nurses help coordinate the patient care needed for people to succeed while they manage a severe injury, temporary illness, or long-term health condition. They manage everything from taking the patient’s vitals to providing helpful tips and tricks on managing conditions.
Home Health Nurses Offer:
24-hour on-call availability
Rehab nursing
Medication management & education
Patient and family education
Wound care
What’s Considered a Home, and Who Qualifies for Home Healthcare?
Home health nurses can provide services in private residences and congregate settings like senior living communities. While many senior living communities also have staff nurses on-site, skilled nursing from a home healthcare agency is considered extra—it’s typically beyond the scope of nursing care already being provided and offered to treat a serious condition or to help prevent one.
Patients receiving home health services must be considered “homebound,” which means any absences from the home are infrequent, short, and require a taxing effort. Patients may still leave their homes to meet medical needs (e.g., doctor appointments, dialysis, etc.).
A medical doctor orders home healthcare following an office visit to determine needs. It’s sometimes ordered after a hospitalization due to an injury or acute illness.
Medicare is a typical pay source for home health services, but it depends on each patient’s circumstances and any additional insurance they may have. Medicaid and other insurance can also cover home health services.
Some patients qualify for home health care, while others may require more extensive oversight. Doctors can recommend skilled nursing facilities for those who wouldn’t be safe receiving care at home.
Skilled Nursing Facilities Vs Home Health?
Skilled nursing facilities, aka “nursing homes,” are typically reserved for those with complex medical needs requiring high daily care and supervision. A skilled nursing facility has a registered nurse in the building all 24-hours a day.
While a skilled nursing facility might sound like the most comprehensive option for care, not everyone qualifies, requires, or chooses it. Because not everyone wants to move, home health can bridge the healthcare gap that some patients need to succeed in living at home as long as possible.
Common Conditions Supported by Home Health:
Arthritis
Asthma
Cancer
CHF
COPD
Diabetes
Dementia
Chronic kidney disease
Stroke
Recovery after surgery
Frequent falls
These conditions can be complex, especially when combined with other health problems. If they’re left untreated or poorly managed, patients living with them can struggle to stay in their homes. They may also face a revolving door at their doctor’s office, the ER, and the hospital. With the help of home health nurses, patients can gain confidence and understanding about how to live with their condition safely.
Common Patient Outcomes:
Maintaining or regaining independence
Reducing hospitalizations/visits to the ER
Learning to live with chronic illnesses
Improving the overall quality of life
Home health nurses can give patients hope and peace of mind to be safe, comfortable, and healthy at home. If you want to learn how CaringEdge’s home health nurses could help you or someone you know live better at home, email us at info@caringedge.com.
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
