Caring@Home: Should health care jump on the social media bandwa...

http://nursejackiehickey.blogspot.com/2011/03/should-health-care-jump-on-social-media.html?spref=bl: "Last month in the UK a surgeon potentially saved the life of an old school friend by diagnosing his symptoms for appendicitis on Facebook. ..."

Should health care jump on the social media bandwagon?

Last month in the UK a surgeon potentially saved the life of an old school friend by diagnosing his symptoms for appendicitis on Facebook.

A family doctor Tweets a mom at home on a Friday afternoon about what time she can squeeze her daughter in for an appointment, in order to prescribe an antibiotic and save an unnecessary trip to Emergency.

A doctor sends an “all is OK” secure Blackberry message (BBM) directly to his patient, informing that her test results were negative, thereby ending her stomach-churning wait and avoiding an unnecessary doctor’s appointment just to hear the news.

We are increasingly hearing these types of social media health care success stories. So, is it time the health care system jumped on the social media bandwagon?

I recently jumped on the social media bandwagon with the goal of providing valuable health care information and advice through this blog. http://www.nursejackiehickey.blogspot.com/ is dedicated to helping family caregivers provide care, directing them to health care resources and offering health tips. I believe social media can make a difference in the way health care practitioners deliver care.

What if we were able to use social media applications to find a caregiver who could meet a client at home on a Friday evening so they wouldn’t have to wait until Monday morning for a hospital discharge?

What if you campaigned on Facebook for an organ donor or canvassed for donations to bring a child overseas for a lifesaving operation… oh, wait a minute, haven’t we already seen this happen?

What if health care professionals posted reliable, evidence-based health education videos on YouTube to be viewed in the comfort of a person’s home, 24/7?... oh, yes, we’re already doing this too.

There may be great potential for the use of social media to support client care in the 21st century.

In my opinion, social media have the potential to enable health care professionals to engage and communicate with patients about their health more effectively. Since social media’s role is to transport instant information, it could benefit health care by facilitating accurate health information and empowering patients to be proactive and take charge of their health. We need innovative health care services that are accessible, convenient and sustainable – and social media are the vehicle to drive these strategies.

Do you know the fastest growing demographic on Facebook is women over 55? – which is also a significant segment of family caregivers.

So, don’t wait. Get on the social media bandwagon today. Join the 600-plus million people on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/). I’ll be your first friend (www.facebook.com/nursejackiehickey). I mentioned in my blog a few weeks ago that I set up my mom with her own Facebook page. Today she has nine friends, communicates with her granddaughter who is studying in New Zealand and checks in with her daughter each day just to make sure everything is all right.

Social media are convenient, accessible and sustainable. You betcha!

Caring@Home: Burnout and lack of support can lead to elder abus...

http://nursejackiehickey.blogspot.com/2011/03/burnout-and-lack-of-support-can-lead-to.html?spref=bl: "Recently, a news headline focused the public’s attention to the distressing case of a Toronto man being accused of keeping his elderly mothe..."

Burnout and lack of support can lead to elder abuse

Recently, a news headline focused the public’s attention to the distressing case of a Toronto man being accused of keeping his elderly mother in an unheated garage. The report had many groups calling for action – saying it's time for elder abuse to be given the same attention that child abuse and anti-violence groups have had. According to the Ontario Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (http://www.onpea.org/), elder abuse is defined as: “a single or repeated acts, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within a relationship where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an older person.” 

“Who are you and how did you get into my house?” “I am sorry it happened again and I couldn’t help it!” “Please don’t lock me in, I promise I won’t go anywhere.” These are outlandish but sometimes real statements made by older adults who have experienced abuse.

Elder abuse has many faces and can occur in different forms – often times the victims don’t even realize it’s happening to them. Why do incidences like this occur? What causes us to make a precarious decision that could ultimately have a life-altering outcome?

One of the causes of elder abuse can be a lack of support for family caregivers. In Canada, one in four family caregivers say they receive no help. The average family caregiver spends four years providing care and devotes 20 hours per week caring for a loved one. There is no vacation time, rescheduling or pay, for that matter – it’s an act of love that no one can fathom unless you have been a family caregiver yourself. 

The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) estimates the economic contribution of informal elder care at $25 billion a year. While 76 percent of caregivers feel rewarded, one in six experiences distress. Since family caregivers are the fastest growing non-profession in health care, it’s important to identify those who may be feeling overwhelmed, stressed or experiencing burnout. How do we recognize the signs of distress? How can we help prevent someone from innocently reaching the boiling point?

In my opinion, it’s vital that we help the millions of family caregivers across the country – the vast supportive arm of home and community care – and recognize the warnings signs of caregiver burnout:

• Ranting about insignificant things such as the mailman putting mail upside down in the mailbox.
• Becoming impatient and irritated by little things or snapping at family members.
• Changes in sleep patterns and problems falling asleep – or just look tired and run down. 
• Changes in eating habits, including not preparing meals, skipping meals or losing weight.
• Neglecting personal needs – which could be physical, emotional or social – and hearing family caregivers   say, “Don’t worry, I’m OK.”
• Seeing they are exhausted and overwhelmed, but not recognizing it. 

What can we do to help?

• Listen to what family caregivers are not saying – not many people take pride saying “I can’t cope.”
• Insist and don’t just offer to help them. For instance, prepare dinner and clean up afterward.
• Put tools into place that will help you, such as assistive equipment and devices or even home renovations. 
• Hire some extra help.

I personally witnessed how being a caregiver to my ailing father took a toll on my mother, and understand the anguish it can cause. There are many family caregivers just like you. However, a little extra help can make a big difference – don’t feel like you have to do it alone. We need to protect the generation that cared for and raised us, and ensure they don’t feel vulnerable – least of all someone we love. Always remember that if you ever feel like you’re close to that “boiling point,” pick up the phone and ask for help.

Caring@Home: Last week, the Toronto Star launched Begging for ...

Caring@Home:
Last week, the Toronto Star launched Begging for ...: "Last week, the Toronto Star launched Begging for Care, an investigative series looking at how the province is dividing up the $1.1 billion ..."

Last week, the Toronto Star launched Begging for Care, an investigative series looking at how the province is dividing up the $1.1 billion allocated for its “Aging at Home” program. The Star highlighted some of the difficult experiences Ontario seniors faced when laying in limbo in an acute care hospital bed, while on the wait list for a long-term care home. Others desperately needed home care services to continue living in their own homes or to support family members who were caring for them.

The state of health care is coming around full circle. Health care professionals and politicians alike are starting to listen and call for change. For example:

• The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) has announced a town hall, Health care in Canada: Time to rebuild medicare, to be held March 1 (http://www.healthcaretransformation.ca/en/).
• Toronto MP Carolyn Bennett is also hosting a town hall, Caregivers and Homecare, 1:30 p.m., March 6, at Christ Church Deer Park, 1570 Yonge Street.
• Ontario Health Minister Deb Matthews was recently quoted by the Hamilton Spectator, saying: “Long-term-care homes are people’s homes and there should not be coercion as they move into that home.” (http://www.thespec.com/news/ontario/article/491214--province-to-hospitals-stop-threatening-1-800-fees).

People are aware and ready for solutions, which is reflected in the online posts and comments about the Star’s Begging for Care series (http://www.thestar.com/news/article/941693). Many are frustrated, scared and want answers. We have personal observations, experiences and opinions, and are not afraid to share them.

In my opinion, the challenges people face is the cosmic complexity of trying to navigate the health care system. Patients are falling through the cracks, lying in hospital beds and struggling alone in their homes with little or no help, resources or alternatives. Our health care system is hugely disconnected. There are three silos – acute care (hospitals), primary care (doctors) and community care (home care) – that need to start working in tandem and better understanding how their own goals and actions affect each other and their patients.

In my role as a care advisor I’m presented with many situations and one that comes to mind is how well we (public and private organizations) can sometimes work together to find the best care for someone. One of my first advisory clients told me she just couldn’t do it alone anymore. Both her parents wanted to stay in their home but needed help. Her father had physical deficits and her mother early dementia. They made a great team until one of them ended up in hospital and could no longer live independently or safely at home. My role was to help them navigate the health system and facilitate care arrangements … to help them solve the health care puzzle.

Some of the important pieces in this puzzle are:

• Learning about your community health resources – both public and private.

• Getting in touch with your government care program to find out what’s available.

• Investigating volunteer and non-profit organizations in your community that provide support services.

• Being proactive about managing your health (e.g., monitor your own blood pressure) and communicating the results back to your health care professionals.

• Looking into online health information resources and services:

1. The Patients' Association of Canada (http://patientsassociation.ca/)
2. Your provincial health ministry (http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/)
3. Community directories such as Find Help 4 Seniors (http://www.findhelp4seniors.ca/)
4. Or pick up the phone and call me at 416-992-4280 or email me at jhickey@bayshore.ca

The time is now. We need collaborative change. $1.1 billion is a fair chunk of dough, in the case of Ontario. We need to spend it wisely, be patient-focused and monitor patient outcomes as well as the impact we have on each other’s services. This will enable us to provide one health care service – our health care service.

Caring@Home: Staying connected is a must for long-distance care...

http://nursejackiehickey.blogspot.com/2011/02/staying-connected-is-must-for-long.html?spref=bl: "Generations have existed for centuries. Lately, people are paying more attention to generations and the impact they have on everyday life, ..."