Beat the Heat!!

Summer is here, and we are experiencing some unusually high temperatures all across the city, First Care of New York wants to remind you, as we did our patients, to make sure you have plenty of fluids at home and try to keep yourself as cool as possible. If you feel you need to go out make sure you have a very cold bottle of ice water handy and take frequent breaks under some shade to allow your body to recover.

One can do many great and fun things as the warm weather approaches. People usually plan outings, visit different places and most people typically take a vacation or some other form of leisure and enjoyable activity. People feel better as the warm weather feels great on our skin and we seem to act like plants by trying to suck up as much sunlight as possible.

However, with the great warmth that approaches one should also plan for some of the burdens that come with the warm weather. We have provided a simple list to keep you safe during this season.

• Drink cool, nonalcoholic, non-caffeinated beverages. (If your doctor generally limits the

amount of fluid you drink or has you on water pills, ask him how much you should drink

when the weather is hot. Also, avoid extremely cold liquids because they can cause

cramps.)

• Rest.

• Take a cool shower, bath, or sponge bath.

• If possible, seek an air-conditioned environment.

• If you don't have air conditioning, consider visiting an air-conditioned shopping mall or

public library to cool off.

• Keep warm areas ventilation if not cooled. Proper ventilation will promote adequate sweat

evaporation to cool the skin.

• Wear lightweight clothing.

• If possible, remain indoors in the heat of the day.\

• Do not engage in strenuous activities.

• Sunblocks and sunscreens with a protection factor of 15 (SPF 15) can be very helpful when

one is exposed to extreme direct sunlight.

The summer is a time for long sunny days to be enjoyed responsibly. If you know someone that might not be able to care for themselves due to a physical or mental disability, but you still want them to be able to enjoy the summer, consider getting them a certified home health aide. At First Care of New York, we have plenty of certified home health aides and personal care aides who can assist them with many activities of daily living. They can help with bathing, dressing, grooming, cooking and cleaning as well as assist them going places and make sure that that are safe and secure during the summer weather. If you would like more information on our services, please feel free to contact us at (718) 364-7251.

National Blood Donor Month

As you may or may not know, January is National Blood donor month. Many people are uncomfortable with the notion of donating blood because they think it may be painful or they are simply afraid of being able to see blood leaving their body. Although, this may be an uncomfortable experience for some of you, one must think of how meaningful it is that you sacrificed your time and efforts to give blood.  You have to be at least 17 years of age to donate blood or have your parents sign a legal consent form. Those of you who are over the age of 75 can continue to donate blood as long as you meet all donor requirements and present a physician's letter allowing you to donate. Something you might want to consider is that you might not be eligible to donate blood. Check out the chart below to learn about what conditions may make you ineligible.

Condition  and Length of time before you can give blood

1. Not feeling well for any reason :Until symptoms are over
2. Cold, sore throat, respiratory infection, flu: Until 3 days after symptoms are over
3.Travel to an area of the world where malaria is a problem: 12 months after return
4.Certain cases of heart disease :Contact us for medical eligibility at 1-800-688-0900
5.Ears, nose or skin piercing: 12 months after procedure unless
6.Tattoos if applied in NJ, no wait: If elsewhere: 12 months after application
7.Blood transfusion: 12 months after receiving blood
8.Full-term pregnancy,abortion or miscarriage: Six weeks after end of pregnancy
9.Surgery, serious injury: When healing is complete and feeling well
10.Syphilis, gonorrhea: 12 months after treatment completed

11.Have had certain forms of cancer Contact us regarding medical eligibility 1-800-688-0900
This chart is from: http://www.nybloodcenter.org/

There are many other permanent reasons as to why you might not qualify to donate; so I suggest you look at

the website listed above to verify whether or not you do.Donating blood is giving the gift of life. Remember that you could give someone the chance to see another day just by sharing some of your blood with them. This safe process; A sterile needle is used only once for each donor and then discarded. It is also good for you to know that in a study conducted by the Red Cross it was determined that the share of people eligible to donate blood in the United Sates was only 38 percent of the population. Your help is needed! Always remember, if you are living on your own, you are not alone. First Care is always here to provide you with the care you need. We provide the proper care for our clients affected by an array of medical issues by utilizing our Certified Home Health Aides or Personal Care Aides to help our clients with their activities of daily living such as: visiting their doctors regularly, assisting with medication reminders and also preparing meals with the dietary necessity to help lower blood pressure and other ailments. If you or a loved one can no longer manage on your own or are having health issues due to medical conditions, do not hesitate to give us a call to find out how we may be able to help. Our number is 718-741-5956.

Cancer

Although this is a topic that many of us are familiar with, I thought it would be good idea to revisit it so that we can all have a clear idea of what this disease is all about. More often than not you hear people saying cancer can spread and it can kill you. However, most of us wonder how it spreads? And how does it literally kill you? According to the American Cancer society, all cancers start because abnormal cells grow out of control. Untreated cancer can cause serious illness and death. As we all know, the body is made up of millions of little cells. These cells are constantly growing, dividing, and dying. At different stages of our lives, this cellular process goes about differently. For example when you are young, the cells divide and multiply at a faster rate to allow you to continue growing. But once we reach adulthood this process slows down and most cell division only occurs to replace damaged or dying cells. Cancer begins when cells in a particular part of the body grow out of control. This type of cell growth is very different from normal cell growth. Instead of dying off, cancer cells continue to grow and form new abnormal cells. These cancerous cells can also grow and invade other tissue cells, which is what makes them even more dangerous. In most cases, these cancer cells will eventually form a tumor.

Cancer cells often metastasize or travel to other parts of the body where they begin to grow and form new tumors. This happens when the cancer cells get into the body’s bloodstream. Over time, the tumors replace normal tissue. Different types of cancer can behave very differently. For instance, bone cancer and skin cancer are very different diseases. They grow at different rates and respond to different treatments. This is why people with cancer need treatment that is aimed at their specific form of cancer. It is also important to remember that not all tumors are cancer. Tumors that are not cancerous are considered benign. Benign tumors can cause problems, but they cannot invade other tissues within the body; meaning that they also cannot spread to other parts of the body. These tumors are almost never life threatening.

Many men and women either know someone, or suffer from cancer themselves. This disease has become very common and this is why it is important to educate yourself about it. The best thing to do is to have an open line of communication with your doctor. Let him or her know if you see or feel something different with your body. Early detection may be the difference between recovery and the need for treatments.

At First Care of New York, we care for many cancer patients and can be there for you and your family, if they have been suffering from cancer and can no longer care for themselves or others. Our highly trained certified home health aides and personal care aides can be there to help them lead the most enriching life possible. You can count on First Care of New York to be available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for any and all Live in Care, Personal Care, Home Health and Companionship needs. For your convenience, we may even schedule a nurse to visit you or your loved one’s at home and evaluate the level of care that is needed. This will help clarify some questions you or your loved one may have. First Care is a licensed home care service agency that provides top quality aides to all our clients. If you would like to have more information, please feel free to contact us by phone at 718-741-5956 or on our website at www.1st-care.org.

Although this is a topic that many of us are familiar with, I thought it would be good idea to revisit it so that we can all have a clear idea of what this disease is all about. More often than not you hear people saying cancer can spread and it can kill you. However, most of us wonder how it spreads? And how does it literally kill you? According to the American Cancer society, all cancers start because abnormal cells grow out of control. Untreated cancer can cause serious illness and death. As we all know, the body is made up of millions of little cells. These cells are constantly growing, dividing, and dying. At different stages of our lives, this cellular process goes about differently. For example when you are young, the cells divide and multiply at a faster rate to allow you to continue growing. But once we reach adulthood this process slows down and most cell division only occurs to replace damaged or dying cells. Cancer begins when cells in a particular part of the body grow out of control. This type of cell growth is very different from normal cell growth. Instead of dying off, cancer cells continue to grow and form new abnormal cells. These cancerous cells can also grow and invade other tissue cells, which is what makes them even more dangerous. In most cases, these cancer cells will eventually form a tumor.

Cancer cells often metastasize or travel to other parts of the body where they begin to grow and form new tumors. This happens when the cancer cells get into the body’s bloodstream. Over time, the tumors replace normal tissue. Different types of cancer can behave very differently. For instance, bone cancer and skin cancer are very different diseases. They grow at different rates and respond to different treatments. This is why people with cancer need treatment that is aimed at their specific form of cancer. It is also important to remember that not all tumors are cancer. Tumors that are not cancerous are considered benign. Benign tumors can cause problems, but they cannot invade other tissues within the body; meaning that they also cannot spread to other parts of the body. These tumors are almost never life threatening.

Many men and women either know someone, or suffer from cancer themselves. This disease has become very common and this is why it is important to educate yourself about it. The best thing to do is to have an open line of communication with your doctor. Let him or her know if you see or feel something different with your body. Early detection may be the difference between recovery and the need for treatments.

At First Care of New York, we care for many cancer patients and can be there for you and your family, if they have been suffering from cancer and can no longer care for themselves or others. Our highly trained certified home health aides and personal care aides can be there to help them lead the most enriching life possible. You can count on First Care of New York to be available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for any and all Live in Care, Personal Care, Home Health and Companionship needs. For your convenience, we may even schedule a nurse to visit you or your loved one’s at home and evaluate the level of care that is needed. This will help clarify some questions you or your loved one may have. First Care is a licensed home care service agency that provides top quality aides to all our clients. If you would like to have more information, please feel free to contact us by phone at 718-741-5956 or on our website at www.1st-care.org.

What is Cerebral Palsy?


In this week’s blog we will be discussing Cerebral Palsy. Every so often we meet an array of people who are branded with this disability, each of them reflect different physical conditions and even different levels of understanding. So much so that at times it makes you wonder what this diagnosis really means. And most importantly, how exactly does it affect the quality of life of the patient and the family? According to the U.S. National library of medicine, Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders that can involve brain and nervous system functions, such as: movement, learning, hearing, seeing and thinking. There are several different types of cerebral palsy, including: spastic, dyskinetic, ataxic, hypotonic, and mixed.

Cerebral palsy is caused by injuries or abnormalities of the brain, which are related to problems that occur during pregnancy. However, the child is still at risk of developing this illness within the first two years of his/her life. In fact, cerebral palsy can be diagnosed before a child reaches the age of two. In some cases the brain is injured due to loss of oxygen, there is no known reason as to why this occurs. It is believed that premature infants are at a higher risk of developing cerebral palsy. It can be caused by bleeding in the brain, brain infections, head injuries, infections in the mother during pregnancy and severe jaundice. Because there are so many variables, cerebral palsy affects people in many different ways. It can range from almost unnoticeable to very severe. Some of the symptoms include abnormal movements like twisting or jerking of the hands, feet, or arms. As well as tremors, unsteady gait, speech and hearing problems.

To learn more about the symptoms of cerebral palsy visit:

www.cerebralpalsysource.com.

Although, there is no real treatment for cerebral palsy, there are things you can do to improve the patients’ quality of life. The goal in each case is to make the person as independent as possible. This requires a lot of effort from both the family and a team of medical professionals. In most cases patients receive physical, speech, and occupational therapy. Cerebral palsy is a lifelong disorder. Long-term care may be required. The disorder does not affect expected length of life. Many adults are able to live in the community, either independently or with different levels of help. In severe cases, the person may need to be placed in an institution.

First Care of New York is a licensed homecare service agency that can help individuals that are having difficulties with activities of daily living. Our HHA’s and PCA’s can help with bathing, cooking, cleaning and even medication reminders, as well as other assistance, depending on one’s needs. One very important factor is that our HHA’s or PCA’s can accompany our clients to their doctor’s appointment to help our clients get the medical attention that they would need. Please feel free to contact us and find out how we can help. You can find out more about First Care of New York Inc. by visiting us on the web at www.1st-care.org or you can call us at (718) 741-5956.

What it is to be disabled!

There are many ways people describe being disabled, but I like the way it is stated in Disabled World (TM).

A disability is a condition or function judged to be significantly impaired relative to the usual standard of an individual or group. The term is used to refer to individual functioning, including physical impairment, sensory impairment, cognitive impairment, intellectual impairment mental illness, and various types of chronic disease.

Disability is conceptualized as being a multidimensional experience for the person involved. There may be effects on organs or body parts and there may be effects on a person's participation in areas of life. Correspondingly, three dimensions of disability are recognized in ICF: body structure and function (and impairment thereof), activity (and activity restrictions) and participation (and participation restrictions). The classification also recognizes the role of physical and social environmental factors in affecting disability outcomes.*

In addition, there are many different types of disabilities such as:

• Mobility and physical impairment
• Hearing Disability
• Psychological Disorders
• Head Injuries - Brain Disability
• Vision Disability
• Spinal Cord Disability
• Cognitive or Learning Disabilities
• Invisible Disabilities

I included invisible disabilities because there are many people that suffer from such things as chronic pain or some kind of sleep disorder. Often times, even with testing, it might seem as if people are imagining their conditions because the test might not diagnose any specific ailments. But tests are not always the first level of defense to express how one feels or the experiences one may have due to their body.

If you or someone you know is disabled or needs assistance with their activities of daily living, reach out to First Care of New York Inc. and find out the many ways our certified home health aides can be there for you and your family. Our certified home health aides and personal care aides can provide services such as:

• Bathing
• Escort to MD Appts
• Medication reminder
• Feeding
• Toileting
• Grooming
• Sitter
• Light Cleaning
• Dressing
• Cooking
• Companionship
• Personal care

We work with all people regardless of payment needs such as: Medicaid, Workers Comp, No Fault Insurance, Long Term Care Insurance and even private paying customers. As a licensed home care service agency, we have the capability for you to reach us at any time 24/7 - 365 days a year to find out how to obtain services or just find out some information. We provide top service in The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan area.

* http://www.disabled-world.com/disability/types/

Vision for May

Many people take their eyesight for granted, as most of us have the luxury of being able to see out of both our eyes. But there are millions of people who are affected by vision problems as well as other health issues. Experts estimate that approximately 1.3 million blind people live in the United States, with over 20 million additional Americans reporting significant vision loss. (source: National Center for Health Statistics 2006).Healthy vision month is observed in May by the National Eye Institute (NEI) to promote your eye’s health and protection through eye exams. In which it is very important to each and every one of us.

People have said that “your eyes are the windows to your soul” and for good reason too, as many diseases can be seen by looking into your eyes without surgery. The eye’s are a special part of our body because one can see veins, arteries and even a nerve (the optic nerve). Ophthalmologist can detect diabetes, cholesterol, liver disease and other conditions just by looking at your eyes and the general area around it to include your eye lids and eye brows.

Eye conditions and what they mean:

• The outer part of the brows closet to the ears start to disappear

o This is the sign of a thyroid problem

• Bumpy yellowish bumps on the eyelids - might look like styes

o This is the sign that you may have high cholesterol

• The white part of the eye turns yellow known as jaundice

o Is a sign problems of the liver, gallbladder or bile ducts, including hepatitis and cirrhosis

• Sudden dim vision, double vision or loss of vision

o The possible warnings signs of a stroke

If you or someone you know might have any of the conditions you should seek professional advice and if it’s sudden dim vision, double vision or loss of vision accompanied with sudden numbness or weakness of the arm or leg or face, typically on just one side of the body; trouble walking because of dizziness or loss of balance or coordination; slurred speech; or bad headache STOP and CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY!

At First Care of New York we want to keep you safe and healthy and would recommend you have your eyes checked regular by your doctor or specialist. There are many people out there who can no longer do for themselves due to vision problems and other health issues. If you know someone like this or you are affected by this contact us today at 718-364-7251. We have highly trained home health aides and personal care aides that can help in many activities of daily living and can help you navigate your way around life. Our aides help the visually impaired by reading their mail, setting up appointments, dressing, grooming as well as many other activities of daily living. Remember a healthy lifestyle is related to healthy vision and eye health so have your eyes checked regularly.

Spring season for seniors!

The spring brings many things. It provides more daylight; the flowers bloom and the weather sometimes can get nicer. Spring brings the feeling of happiness and good spirits to many of us. But spring can be an unpleasant season for some seniors and one should really take good care of themselves no matter what the season. Keeping active is good physically and mentally for seniors. For seniors that are healthy, it is a great time to enjoy the outdoors and take walks/jog or run, do some bird watching or even play some cards in the park. In the spring time one can enjoy many activities outdoors like playing a little golf, doing a little fishing or even some canoeing. One can enjoy the cool days in some pleasant shade.

For seniors that have limitations, it does not mean they cannot enjoy some of the best spring has to offer. Depending on one’s tolerance to the season’s change, it can still be enjoyable if some proper precautions are taken. One of the primary causes of concern is rise of allergens in the form of pollens and molds. This can really affect those that suffer from allergies and other medical conditions such as: asthma and other breathing conditions as well.

In the spring time, it might be best if one suffers from any medical conditions that might affect their health to wear a light mask if the pollen gets high. Also wearing the appropriate clothing based on the weather conditions outdoor and the activities at hand will make a world of difference for one’s overall well-being in the heat.

Some seniors don’t have that special someone to show them all the great things about spring. At First Care of New York our certified home health aides can provide the joys of spring time. Our certified aides can help seniors enjoy that nice walk outside or enjoy that card game in the park. A certified home health aide can provide all the assistance needed for activities of daily living such as: getting one out of bed in the morning, all during the day and can be until one is tucked in at night. Our certified home health aides can assist getting out of bed, bathing, toileting, dressing, grooming, feeding, cooking, medication reminders and much more. If you would like more information about First Care of New York please feel free to visit our website http://www.1st-care.org/.

Smart Senior Planning 101

As we age “gracefully”, we think about everyone’s needs in our family and try to pay special attention to make sure that they are taken care of; but what about the person whom is the most important – yourself? As the adult, we are taught to care for our children for the rest of their lives. However, in reality, you need to look after yourself to be able to better provide for your children. Sadly, most of us choose not to think of what might happen to us as we age, but if you fail to plan, then you are planning on failing and leaving that burden on your family.
We must face the facts of life as we age. Our body sometimes seems to have a mind of its own and will do whatever it wants, for instance:

• We will undoubtedly get weaker in strength
• Our bodies might hurt more (Arthritis, Osteoporosis etc…)
• We can develop medical conditions (Diabetes, High blood pressure and so on…)
• We start to lose things (like our vision, bladder control and some even our minds)

Therefore, what can we do as responsible adults?

• Create a will to make sure your loved ones get what you would like to leave them
• Get a medical proxy – Someone that can make medical decisions on your behalf if you can no longer do this for yourself
• Get a financial proxy – Someone that can manage your financial affairs on your behalf if you can no longer do this for yourself

Get advice on how to pay for your medical needs if the need arises

o Long term care insurance

o Apply for Medicaid if you qualify

o Apply for Medicare if you qualify

o Get insurance that would cover most of your senior needs

o Get supplemental insurance that would cover other services not provided by your insurance

Other options for finding financing for medical care

o Consider a reverse mortgage if you qualify – it can provide a lump sum or a steady stream of income

The fun part of being old is that one gets to retire and enjoy the grandkids if possible or take that vacation you’ve always dreamt about. The problem is that one day you can slip, trip or fall and break something and you’d be surprise on how quickly one can go from a healthy senior to a debilitated senior. It’s these tough times that one must always plan and prepare for.

At First Care of New York we know the challenges that some families face when their loved ones are struck with illnesses such as: Alzheimer’s, arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), etc. or are hurt due to accidents or falls. A lot of times these things happen suddenly like strokes or embolism, which can leave one severely disabled. It is during these times when you can call First Care of New York to care for yourself or your loved one. We can help you every step of the way from finding financing options to getting the right care you or your loved one may need. Our certified home health aides can assist with all activities of daily living such as: bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, cooking, cleaning, laundry, run errands and even assist with going to doctor visits. Don’t let an accident or declining health become a burden on you or your entire family. We can help anywhere in The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan and we also accept many forms of payment from Medicaid, Private Insurance, workers compensation, as well as private paying clients. If you would like more information, please feel free to give us a call at 718-364-7251 x9 or check out our website at http://www.1st-care.org/.

How to stay committed to your commitments

O.k. so the New Year is upon us. We have made our list of New Year’s resolutions and like every year, we think this year is the time for change. Sadly, two weeks later, we stop going to the gym, one month later we are still fat and now paying a monthly gym membership, yoga class and Pilates, which we thought was going to make us healthy, skinnier and open our minds. By the end of February, our hopes and dreams have once again been shattered until next year.

The big question here is: WHY?

Why do so many of us make New Year’s resolutions (i.e. eating healthy), commit to do things (i.e. love more) and even commit to make changes (i.e. quit smoking), but time and time again we keep failing. This does not make us a bad person or a failure by any means. Most of us have plenty of distractions in our lives, which force us to make different levels of commitments. The shameful truth is that we make excuses because we LOVE comfort, safety and simplicity. We all know the effort it takes to count calories, go the gym and work out, but most times we slip into our old habits with “yeah but” which always trumps our commitments.

In order to stay committed one must learn how to be and stay committed without letting “yeah but” back into our vocabulary. Regardless of the commitments that we make to ourselves or others, here are a few key words of advice to help you stay committed.

Sacrifice
A key to knowing we are committed is by being able to sacrifice for the good of our commitment. Think of the athlete that is willing to train for countless hours at the gym to be able to perform at their personal best. If you are willing to sacrifice for something knowing it will disrupt the comforts of your life then you are committed.

Create a ritual
Make working out part of your schedule. The same way taking your kids to soccer practice every Tuesday and Thursday is part of your routine, you should make the gym or whatever other commitment part of that same schedule. Over time this will make you go to the gym almost subconsciously, since it will be part of your weekly routine.

Determination
There will be inevitable setbacks while you are trying to complete your goals. Like the athlete that could not workout on Monday but decides that they will go to the gym on Tuesday instead to make up for Monday. We must face our challenges with confidence and resilience to make sure that our commitments are met. This involves us learning to solve problems in order to take the necessary steps to work past them.

Get support
There are plenty of people out there and in our lives that would love to help us if we need the help. If you are trying to go to the gym as a regular routine, but sometimes feel discouraged or “out of it”; find someone to go with you so you can motivate them and they can motivate you.

Lastly, it is also important that we keep our goals in context. We should remember that the point of achieving our goal either today or years from now is to improve our lives. However, we are still living in the present and must acknowledge that. If we live only for our goals, we will possibly resent the present, and start resenting our goals as well.

At First Care of New York we are always committed to providing the best home care services possible. We understand the delicacies that come with our clients and the condition they are in versus the life they used to lead. We understand that they want to continue to live freely, independently and with the same energy and fervor that makes them happy. The ability to continue to perform their daily activities, whether it be in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan or Queens areas. You can count on First Care of New York to be available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for any and all Live in Care, Personal Care, Home Health and Companionship. For your convenience, we may even schedule a nurse to visit you or your loved one’s home and evaluate the level of care that is needed. This will help clarify some questions you or your loved one may have. First Care is a licensed home care service agency that provides top quality aides to all our clients. We are regulated by the NYS Department of Health and are accredited by The Joint Commission. If you would like to have more information, please feel free to contact us by phone at 718-741-5950 or on our website at http://www.1st-care.org/.

Senior’s Holiday Blues

The Holiday season is amongst us. It is a time of year when many people are jolly and are usually looking forward to gathering with friends and family; looking forward to getting presents and ringing in a new year. Nevertheless, for many of our seniors, the holiday season is sometimes the roughest part of the year. Many seniors are widows/widowers, have lost friends and other family members as they have aged, are separated from family or their current loved one or themselves could be ill either physically or mentally and can no longer participate in the holiday events like they used to. While many will try to hide their feelings during the holidays, it can be quite a tough time for our seniors, which can lead to the holiday blues and even worse depression.

Several symptoms of the blues are:

• Crying often
• Loss or gaining weight
• Difficulty sleeping
• Difficulty thinking, remembering or concentrating
• Irritability
• Loss of interest
• Sense of worthlessness
• Thoughts of suicide – Contact a mental health professional immediately

One should pay special attention to their friends and family during these times and if you notice any of the symptoms; even if they are not an elderly person, you should approach them and see if they might be feeling blue during the holidays. Listen carefully if someone complains to you about being depressed or says people don't care. That person may be telling you he or she needs help.
There are many things one can do to avoid feeling the blues:

• Volunteer – Helping others is a great way to distract your mind from your own troubles. Churches and other civic groups would appreciate your help.
• Do not be alone – If you cannot be with family during the holidays invite some close friends to come over.
• Avoid alcohol if possible – Alcohol is a depressant and that is what you are trying to avoid.
• Don’t deny or hide your feelings of sadness – Just being able to share your feelings with someone can help you cope with the holiday blues.
• Avoid stress – Stress during the holidays may make you feel more isolated and worsen your mood.
• Honor loved ones – Remembering the person that cut the turkey or dressed as Santa can be difficult, but it can also bring the family closer and aide in having a pleasant holiday.

At First Care of New York, Inc., we are here to help with concerns like the holiday blues and depression. Our staff is trained to recognize and handle clients who may be dealing with depression when visiting patient’s homes in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan. Our home health aides and personal care aides are trained to help you. The aides serve as companions during those hard and dark times. We also have Live-in care for those of you who may need 24 hour support. No matter the time, day or place, we want to brighten your day first with care. We hope you have a very happy and safe holiday season.

The beautiful winter months are coming

The winter brings many joyful things such as: Christmas, the New Year and a bunch of snow and rain. Sometimes the weather turns out worse than expected and we end up in a severe storm that knocks out the electricity, shuts down roads. Severe weather can even lead to people needing to be evacuated from their homes. Every year the weather seems to be more unpredictable than the last and since the winter is only a few weeks away; First Care of New York would like to give you some advice on how to prepare for it.
The basics of winter are as follows:

1. Be sure to check all your doors and windows to check for drafts. If you do feel a draft, try to seal it or find someone that can do it for you. A great deal of heat loss is because of drafty doors and windows leading to higher heating bills.
2. Check your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. With your windows shut, you never want to take the chance of having carbon monoxide creep into your home as it is a colorless and odorless killer.
3. Prepare an emergency kit – You should have all the necessities like spare batteries, medicine, first-aid kit, battery operated radio, flashlights, blankets and a list of emergency contacts. You also want to stock up on non-perishable foods and plenty of bottled water. You never want to get stuck in a storm without having some form of lifeline.

If you are a homeowner you will also want to do the following as well.

1. Replace your heater’s air filter today and every 3 months
2. Have your home’s heater serviced to ensure optimum efficiency (get a furnace inspection)
3. If you have an attic, make sure you are not losing significant amounts of heat due to poor insulation or improper ventilation.
4. If you have a fireplace, order firewood early to get a better price and do not forget to have someone inspect your fireplace to make sure it is still in good working order.

The winter is a beautiful time of year to enjoy hot cocoa, have snowball fights, and have a sleigh ride (granted this is mostly for kids), but we can also enjoy cozy nights, snuggling up for good movies and going ice-skating. This is what winters are supposed to be about, not about freezing temperatures and high heating bills. At First Care of New York, we always want to keep you informed of the best ways to keep yourself and your loved ones safe and healthy. Enjoy the winter!!!

Breast Cancer Fact & Fiction

October is known as breast cancer awareness month. This tradition began back in 1984 between several organizations aspiring to help bring awareness and education to the general public about breast cancer. Many companies, organizations, athletic leagues and even federal departments all support this cause by sporting pink ribbons. However, too many people remain confused to certain myths and facts concerning breast cancer. Though there is no cure for breast cancer, the best thing to do is get yourself checked out by a physician and let them be the one to give you a clean bill of health. At First Care of New York we would like to provide you with some facts and fictitious things people think of when it comes to breast cancer.

Only women get breast cancer – Fiction
Though rare, men get breast cancer as well. It is equally as important for men to undergo regular breast self-check techniques for prevention and early diagnosis.

Breast feeding – Fiction
There has been no direct correlation of breast feeding and breast cancer. Some scientists actually believe it might help to fight breast cancer.

Underwire bras causes’ breast cancer – Fiction
The verity is that there is not enough evidence to support this argument

All breast lumps are cancerous – Fiction
Not all breast lumps are malignant or cancerous. However, this does not imply that a person should stop reporting any breast changes that occur to their doctor. In order to determine whether a lump is cancerous or not, further diagnostic procedures like mammogram, biopsy or ultrasound should be done.

Birth control pills can lead to breast cancer – Fiction
It is true that birth control pills do contain a small amount of estrogen. Nonetheless; there is no substantial proof to authenticate this statement.

Breast cancer is contagious – Fiction
Breast cancer is not contagious, contradictory to what most people believe it to be. This misconception is mainly due to the fact that a number of cases of breast cancer are linked with a family history.

Antiperspirants and deodorants cause breast cancer – Fiction
I guess people began to think of this because deodorant is applied near the breast area. The Truth Researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) are not aware of any definitive evidence relating the use of underarm antiperspirants or deodorants and the development of breast cancer.

Having a family history of breast cancer means you will get it – Fiction
Although women who have a family history of breast cancer are in a higher risk grouping, most women who have breast cancer have little or none family history. If you have a mother, daughter, sister, or grandmother who had breast cancer, you should take precautions and have a mammogram five years before the age of their diagnosis, or starting at age 35.

Though there might be other fictitious rumors about how one may get cancer. There is only one way to help manage your health concerning breast cancer. Screening by a licensed professional is the only sure way to help identify and treat cancer if detected. If you should ever detect any changes in your breast area, whether you are male or female, you should have yourself checked out. Early detection may be the difference between recovery or the need for treatments.

Using the 5 senses to determine if you or your loved one needs care and assistance

Every day people forget things, fall or just do something that is out of the norm. Most of us do it because of lack of paying attention, being in a hurry or just because we did something foolish without thinking of the consequences. Over time people give off many clues as to their mental and/or physical condition. For people or seniors with mental or physical difficulties, these incidences can be the first clue that things might be becoming more challenging for them. A good way to tell if someone might need care or assistance is by using all of our senses.

Use your eyes – With a visual inspection of someone or their living condition, we can pick up many signs that things are not going well.

• Look to see if their place is a mess or becoming more messy than usual.
• See if their clothes are dirty, stained or if they are wearing the same clothing for several days at a time.

Use your nose – Your nasal senses are very powerful especially in picking up foul odors.

• Sniff around their living quarters to see if it smells like an old gym locker or if the trash has not been taken out in some time.
• Smell the individual to see if they have taken a bath.
• Smell their breath as well to check if they are brushing their teeth and doing everyday activities.

Use your hands – Your hands are the best tools to maneuver through many things.

• Wipe a finger/hand around areas that should generally be clean to check for dust or other dirty conditions
• Bathroom areas – such as the sink and toilet area
• Kitchen – touch to see if things have spilled and the fridge is all sticky
• Living room – Check the TV for excessive dust on it, making it hard to view the screen.

Use your taste buds – Your tongue can distinguish between four basic taste of salty, sweet, bitter and sour.

• Not everything smells like it is spoiled. So give several items in the fridge a small taste test to see if they are good or spoiled. But use caution, because you don’t want to end up being the one that needs care for food poisoning.

Use your ears – Giving people the opportunity to be heard is one of the greatest ways to find out what is going on with them. Listening to how people speak can tell you a lot about their current mental status.

• Listen for clues of repeated events – Such as I fall often, I forget to take my medication; I forgot another doctor’s appointment.
• Listen for signs of sadness, disorientation or confusion.
• Listen to see if their speech is slurred or impaired, as this can signify mental problems.

If you sense that you or your loved one is having these issues, do not hesitate to get them care now. Being proactive can be the difference between them getting hurt and ending up in the hospital or having a safe, happier and healthier life.

For any aspect of care or information on care-giving, please feel free to contact First Care of New York. At First Care of New York we provide services in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens. For your convenience, a nurse can be scheduled to visit you or your loved one at home to evaluate the level of care that is needed at no cost to you, if they participate in our program. The nurse will also be able to evaluate the home to make you aware of any potential hazards that might cause harm to your family member. They will help clarify some questions you or your loved one may have. We can provide as much care as is needed from a couple of hours a week to 24 hour live-in care and everything in between. We employ highly trained and caring home health aides, personal care aides, homemakers, and nursing care. Services provided include: help with bathing, cooking, toileting, grooming, medicine reminder, laundry and cleaning services. First Care of New York is a licensed home care service agency that provides top quality care to all our clients.

Labor Day weekend happiness!

According to the U.S Department of Labor, “Labor Day”, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.” Though this stands true for most people it also means a long weekend for most of us to enjoy and celebrate with our families with backyard barbeques and other activities.
If you are doing the good old barbeque don’t forget to plan accordingly for this weekend. Scores of people will be doing the same thing. There are a few things to have smooth BBQ especially if you are the one hosting the event.

• Make a list of all your supplies you will need for your BBQ – Don’t forget the extra napkins
• Go shopping and pick up all your supplies – Or you might end up going to the store 22 times during the BBQ.
• Prepare the BBQ area the day before if possible – This will make it easier to notice what is missing or give you ides for things you can improve.
• If you are going to a park or some other place – You will want to leave as early as possible to get a “good spot”
• During the event – be a good host and check on all your guests to see if they are enjoying themselves
• Lastly the cleanup – Be sure to clean up the area and recycle all that you can. BBQ grease stuck on your backyard furniture will become a nightmare if you let it sit for a few days.

Once you have enjoyed yourself with friends and family it is time to go out and enjoy the events around town. Below is a brief list of things to do in different boroughs.

Bronx – Check out the baseball game at Yankee Stadium as they are playing against the Baltimore Orioles. Prices vary depending on seats.

Brooklyn – Habana Outpost’s Back to School Bash – Fort Greene

Brooklyn’s eco-eatery sends summer out with a bang. Arts and crafts, stilt walkers, clowns, dancing, face painting and lots more to entertain the crowds. Plus there will be free notebooks and pencils while supplies last, and a concert by Jeremy Plays Guitar. FREE

Manhattan – Holiday Monday at the Met – Upper East Side
The Met is usually closed on Mondays but today it opens for the holiday and offers fun family programs for kids ages 5-12 and their parents. Explore the masterpieces, then sketch and discuss. FREE with museum admission.

Queens – West Indian American Day Jr. Carnival – Crown Heights
All the excitement of Carnival for the smaller set: Catch the festive parade of kids donning colorful garb as they travel from Kingston Avenue and St. Johns Place to Franklin Avenue South, to President Street, into the grounds of the Brooklyn Museum for a costume competition. $2

At First Care of New York we want to keep everyone safe, secure and comfortable during Labor Day weekend. As a leading license home care agency we provide the best possible home care services in New York City. With our highly trained personal care aides and skilled home health aides we provide the adequate care you and your loved ones may need. Our aides provide such services as: grooming, bathing, toileting, dressing and feeding to name a few items. We provide services in the Bronx, Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens.

Can Vitamin D better the life of the Elderly?

Many seniors spend their days doing indoor-related activities to stay active across the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens.  Although, these are great ways to spend your days, there is an increasing lack of sunlight exposure which can cause potential health issues as a person ages.  Vitamin D is a fantastic way to replenish and acquire valuable nutrients that will help you retain valuable functions as you age.  With the help of alzheimersreadingroom.com, we will discuss the value of Vitamin D in the human body, specifically as to how it relates to seniors. 

Vitamin D works in unison with Calcium to keep bones and muscles healthy and strong, preventing osteoporosis.  Calcium is not absorbed and distributed appropriately without Vitamin D.  On its own Vitamin D doesn’t do very much.  There are specific functions within the body that only work correctly by Vitamin D.  Without strong and healthy muscles and bones the elderly are at risk for falls, fractures, and even death.  Falls are the second leading cause of death in the US, with 75% of those falls occurring in the older population.  First Care of New York aides can assist with this problem by helping all of our patients of Live-In, Personal Care, Home Health and Companionship programs take medication and Vitamins to prevent such issues. 

The hormone Calcitonin, which is released from the thyroid gland, can cause cartilage to degrade if Vitamin D didn’t inhibit that process. So in essence this very important vitamin can help by assisting processes or preventing processes.  Many people do not realize the heart is a muscle.  Vitamin D plays an important role in heart health, and there is increasing research recognizing Vitamin D deficiency and its association to heart disease.  Chronic inflammation can cause many diseases which may include rheumatoid arthritis, kidney and prostate disorders, autoimmune diseases, as well as disorders affecting the skin, pelvis, bowels, respiratory, and vascular systems. Vitamin D deficiency also plays a part in Type I Diabetes.

It is recommended that you ask your physician, and advocate for your loved one to get tested for Vitamin D deficiency.  You should not begin a Vitamin D supplement without knowing your lab results or speaking with your physician.  It is possible to overdose on Vitamin D, but what if a simple daily supplement of Vitamin D can help you or your loved one’s quality of life? It’s worth pursuing.

National women’s health awareness week

This week is quite a special week as this is the week that we inspire the beloved women in our lives to get up and get themselves checked out to make sure they are still as healthy as the first day we met them. At First Care of New York we encourage you to stay healthy. While we care for those that are in need of home care services we still believe that a routine check up and screening is a key component to staying healthy. An early screening can mean a better chance of living a healthier lifestyle and a quicker path to recovery.

As per the president Barrack Obama’s proclamation “National Women's Health Week is also an opportunity for women of all ages, ethnicities, and economic circumstances to take simple, everyday steps to embrace healthier lifestyles. This week, we encourage women to schedule their annual checkups and talk to their health care provider about important health screenings, many of which will be free of charge because of the Affordable Care Act. All American women and their loved ones can visit www.WomensHealth.gov and www.GirlsHealth.gov for more information and resources on living longer and healthier lives.”

We at First Care of New York are proud of the fact that all our aides (including the men) are up to date and continue to get their yearly physical keeping them all as healthy as possible to provide the wonderful services that they provide to our clients. First Care aides provide such services as helping our clients with bathing, grooming, toileting, and even housekeeping. Our aides provide the services that help our clients remain healthy throughout the New York City area as we provide services in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens.

A Mother’s Day Blog…

On this very special weekend, we celebrate the women in our lives all over the world who have lost, given, and loved with all of their being. She may have been the person who gave birth to us, or the person who raised us, even the person who taught or fed us. Whether her skin today is flawless or wrinkled, she still possesses that presence, that aura that we respect and love for all the things she has done for us and who she is.

This weekend, we pay homage to those women all over the world: to the Mothers’, Motherly figures, Motherly influences and Mothers’ pulling double duties as fathers as well. Many of these women serve our thousands of clients all across the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan Areas, performing duties for Men and Women of all ages. These women care for these patients with class, style and pride. The women we have that coordinate, assess, administer and provide our great Live in Care, Personal Care, Home Health and Companionship services are to be saluted and thanked for all of their efforts.

Mother’s Day should quite honestly be celebrated every minute, but for this occasion, we at First Care of New York thank all of you who have been so instrumental in allowing us to provide care for our Mothers’ and yours, today and tomorrow.

Private care services

We are proud to introduce a new division of services dedicated to the private pay community. At First Care of New York we are the caring company that individuals and families rely upon for home care services. As a home care provider we are able to help those that are required to pay for home care services out of pocket. Home care is not as costly as it was once thought to be. Being at home, one can continue to enjoy the same lifestyle that one is accustomed to.

We provide private pay home care services in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens. For your convenience a nurse can be scheduled to visit you or your loved one at home to evaluate the level of care that is needed at no cost for you. They will help clarify some questions you or your loved one may have. We can provide as much care as is needed from a couple of hours a week to 24 hour live-in care and everything in between. We have highly trained home health aides, personal care aides, homemakers, and nursing care. First Care is a licensed home care service agency that provides top quality aides to all our clients.

While considering care for yourself or a loved one we must look very carefully at our options. Some might consider a nursing facility or some type of senior living facility if they are elderly. This might sound like a good idea but it can be costly, disruptive to yourself or loved one and you might not be able to know the exact level of care your loved one is receiving if they are away at a facility.

Nursing facilities can accumulate cost at an alarming rate as most services as separated and attached to a different cost. Secondly, you would have to move or have your loved one moved to the facility which we all know moving is always a hassle, things are broken and we lose our beloved neighbors and neighborhoods. At a facility less people will be able to visit you as you or your loved one might be moved to a distant location.

We all enjoy the comforts and safety of our own home especially when we are worried about our health and physical condition. Lastly, not knowing the type of care that is being provided is always an added stress to us. The only easy and realistic solution to all these options would be to get home care services.

We are regulated by the NYS department of Health and are accredited by The Joint Commission. We do a thorough background check and training of all our aides to ensure your level of care is being met by the appropriate personnel. We also consider confidentiality a major priority for all our clients. If you would like to receive more information please feel free to contact us for a free consultation at 718-741-5950 or visit us on the web at http://www.1st-care.org/.

Our partnership with El Especialito

We are also proud to announce our partnership with El Especialito, who will provide us the outlet to offer Homecare services to residents all across the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan. First Care and Especialito will also be doing an editorial on the Queens office as well as a company profile that will provide insight to residents of how First Care services have helped the community. We are still continuing our countdown towards our Health and Wellness event, which will be held 30 days from today at Jehova Shalom Church in the Bronx, NY. First Care is excited to host this event to educate the community in acquiring Homecare Services. July 17th, 2010 is the date, 10am is the time and the opportunity is getting closer, please honor us with your presence and become a part of the First Care family.