General | Disabled Direction

Wheelchair Exercises for Fun and FItness

July 20, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Many people who use a wheelchair may experience physical issues such as stress in the neck and shoulders. Wheelchair exercises can help reduce the stress and pain, as well as adding strength and muscle tone to the individual. Other positive aspects of wheelchair exercises include flexibility and weigh control — and they can help elevate the mood. Here are a few wheelchair exercises.

Resistance training will build strength through using equipment such as stretch bands. These types of exercises target specific areas of the body. These bands can be used for a variety of exercises including trunk and shoulder rotations and leg extensions.

Yoga practice is not only beneficial to the physical body, but to the mental one as well. You can often find yoga classes designed especially for people in wheelchairs. Yoga can improve flexibility and mental health.

Strength training uses dumbbells and other types of weight to improve an individual’s strength level. Many people who started their exercise programs using resistance training, find that the next step is to move to strength training.

Many gyms today are adding programs that recognize the needs of people in wheelchairs or who have other disabilities. Joining a gym will usually give individuals the motivation to continue a regular workout regime. Make sure to find a gym that provides machines are flexible to the needs of the user. For instance, look for weight machines where the seats swing out and have straps or other devices to help keep legs and feet in place.

Filed Under: Clinics, General Tagged With: Physical exercise, Strength training, Wheelchair

Basic Steps in an Elder Abuse Case

May 15, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

If you suspect that a loved one has been abused, you will want to take steps to rectify the situation immediately. It can be a frustrating process, though, to understand what to do and where to go. There are some basic steps that you will want take when dealing with an elder abuse case.

1) Take your loved one out of the care of the suspected abuser. Though this may seem obvious, it is needful. You need to take them out of the abusive situation as soon as you suspect there is a problem.

2) Find a good lawyer. Finding a good lawyer can be a frustrating process. You may find yourself doing google searches with the term elder abuse lawyer Los Angeles before you find what you are looking for. Talk to a few lawyers before you settle on one. Explain your situation and what you know or suspect has happened.

3) Get any and all information together. If your loved one has told you about abuse, document it. If you only have suspicions, write them down. Find any and all supporting information that you can.

Get together with your lawyer and give them the information that you have. They will be able to take it and get more information. They will be able to tell you if you have a case or not. In fact, they may even be able to get other witnesses or other victims together, as well, so that the case is even more solid. Do not stand by and let elder abuse happen. If there is a problem, stand up!

Filed Under: Disability Care, General Tagged With: Abuse, Elder abuse, Los Angeles

Some third world facts and figures

January 29, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Most people know that a third would nation is an extremely poor country facing economic difficulties that hinder its progress and the welfare of its people. However, most people don’t know that this ‘economic difficulty’ has long surpassed the level of a crisis. The extent of poverty in these nations can only be known by taking a look at some of these hard hitting facts:

1. Over 3 billion people or close to 50% of the world’s total population make a daily earning of less that $2.5 while the percentage increases to 80% for those earning less that $10 a day.

2. Over 30,000 children die every day due to poverty, that’s a total of 11 million is a year.

3. An estimated 28% of children in third world countries suffer from malnutrition and have stunted growth.

4. In the year 2005, a minimum of 72 million children of primary school age were not enrolled for education, 57% of these were girls.

5. As the world entered the new century, over 1 billion of its people could not write their name or signature.

6. If the world gave a mere 1% of what it spent on weapons, every child would have been enrolled for education by the year 2000.

7. Around 1.8 billion people consume 20 liters of water a day from a source that is within 1km radius but have no access within the home. People in Britain use 50 liters of water a day just to flush toilets. People in the US consume the most water at 600 liters a day.

8. Out of all the children in the world, one in every two lives in a state of poverty.

9. In the year 2003, 10.8 million children below the age of 5 died. That was equal to the total of child population of Italy, Germany France and Germany)

10. One out of every three people in a city lives in slums.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: Child poverty

Helping Grandparents By Suggesting Assisted Living

December 9, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

: Image by Getty Images via @daylife

People often think that stay at home moms are available at the drop of a hat. They don’t realize that the work of a stay at home mom is a 24/7 full-time job. This misnomer extends not only to friends that call and think an impromptu lunch date will work out, but also to family. As a stay at home mom, you could be in your twenties or thirties, which means you have grandparents that are hitting their golden years. At this point in their life, senior citizens often need help with some of their daily living needs—and since you are at home instead of a job outside the house, family often expects that you will be able to take on these duties.\

In reality, a stay at home mom’s day is jam-packed from first thing in the morning until bedtime, and sometimes throughout the night as well. Laundry, dishes, diapers and the rest of the daily chores take up the majority of the day. This does not even begin to touch on the time spent interacting with the children. If family is asking you to take on more than you can handle, it is time to talk to them about the benefits of assisted living for your aging grandparents. Adult grandchildren often hesitate to bring this topic up because they feel bad for thinking they do not have enough time to take on family responsibilities. This is particularly true when the grandchild is close with their grandparents.

The truth of the matter is that you became a stay at home mom in order to raise your children. If you are taking on the duties of nurse, cook, maid and chauffer with not only your home, but your parents’ home as well, you will not have enough time in the day to accomplish what you need to. Assisted living is an option beneficial to everyone.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: Assisted living, Family, Grandparent, Home, Mothers, Nursing home, Parent, Staying at Home

The Disability Woes: MichaelsHouse.com

December 4, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Pain breeds addiction: this is an unfortunate truth. Few minds, when forced to bear a burden of disability, can sustain against temptation. The ease of prescription medications and the quick relief they provide, will become craved. The desire is to escape a complication and all of the doubt, pity and anger it brings; and substances are taken in excess to make the world seem a far better place. The purpose is relief and it succeeds… until it becomes an abuse.

Those suffering from disabilities often become addicted to the very medications meant to support them. This is never the intention but it is the sad effect — dangerous emotional states tangle with physical pain, and the result is abuse. It is essential, therefore, that these individuals not be left to fend for themselves. They must instead seek treatment and receive the proper care. Counseling is needed, not solitude. And organizations such as MichaelsHouse.com can provide the essential help. All who are trapped to the woes of a disability must be assisted. Thankfully, This is an easy solution to discover, however, as centers can be sought across the country — each offering support for specific drug complications and physical impairments. A thorough therapy of detoxification, psychological sessions and in-house relief will ensure that these individuals gain the courage they need to abandon their addictions… as well defy their difficulties.

And this is the true reward: all will earn the ability to master their own bodies once more, learning to understand their disabilities and to tailor their lives to the demands. This is imperative for defeating an addiction as it removes the concerns that made it so needed in the first place. Medication can become a healer, not an enabler; and all will be offered the confidence to face themselves and their worries.

Filed Under: Disability Care, General Tagged With: Addictions, Centers and Counseling Services, Disability, Disabled, Health, Substance abuse, Substance dependence, United States

Unexpected Medical Expense? No Fax Payday Loans Can Help

August 29, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

: Image via Wikipedia

There are plenty of ways you can get money for your medical expenses, depending on what your current situation is and if you have people around you who can loan you some money. Sometimes, borrowing from friends or family members is the easiest way to get a loan, because you usually don’t have to pay any interest. It can cause hard feelings if you don’t pay it back quickly, though, and loaning money between friends is sometimes a dangerous proposition.

That medical bill isn’t going away, though, so you’ll have to do something to make sure that it’s getting paid. You don’t want to have late charges, interest fees, and credit problems just because you got sick and had to see the doctor. There are so many people without insurance right now that you aren’t the only one in that kind of situation. If you have savings put back for a rainy day, this might be the time to dip into it and pay that bill off. You can replace the savings amount over time, and you’ll keep your good credit intact. You’ll also avoid extra fees, so you’ll be saving more money in the long run by doing things that way.

If you’ve incurred an unexpected medical expense and can’t borrow from family or from your savings, you might wonder where the money to pay the bill will come from. The good news is that there are options for you. If you have a steady, verifiable job, you can apply for one of the many no fax payday loans that companies give out all the time. These loans are easy to get because you don’t need credit approval. Your job is what gets you the loan. You can also get it quickly, so don’t worry about waiting weeks like you would at a bank.

Filed Under: Care & Support, General, Hospital Tagged With: Business, Financial Services, Payday loan

Obsession Compulsive Disorder Information

August 25, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a brain/chemical malfunction that causes a person to dwell on their anxiety and fears – often exaggerating them to extreme proportions. The fears can manifest themselves in repetitive behavior, which is a way the brain deals with fear. If a person dwells on being clean and avoiding dirt or grime, their fear may be dealt with by washing their hands constantly. Even if someone fights against the compulsions, they will keep returning. Sudden distressing thoughts can come out of nowhere and the person can’t stop thinking about them even though the thoughts make no sense.

One way a person with obsessive-compulsive disorder attempts to relieve this anxiety is by making up routines or checking things over and over to make sure they are correct. Obsessions usually have themes like cleaning, counting, getting reassurances, orderliness and repetitive actions. Many people can experience OCD-like episodes during periods of stress, but if your actions or thoughts start to interfere with your normal life, you should see a doctor.

There is no known cure for OCD, but it can be treated with certain medications like Prozac, treatments like psychotherapy, or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Psychotherapy is the most effective in treating this disorder, as it helps retrain the brain. Patients are exposed to their fears and taught to handle them in a healthier, less intrusive way.

To treat OCD, antidepressant medications are sometimes used because the disorder can be caused by a lack of serotonin — and antidepressants increase serotonin production. Most antidepressants contain chemicals that are helpful in the treatment of OCD including Clomipramine, fluvoxamin, fluxetine, paroetine and sertraline.

Most diagnosed cases of obsessive compulsive disorder are chronic. Learning about the disorder can help you understand it and know what symptoms to watch for while on medication. Some people suffering from OCD find that practicing meditation can help them manage their stress and compulsions better. Deep breathing and yoga also help, as does regular exercise of any type.

You should avoid alcohol if you are diagnosed with OCD, as the disorder is often connected to alcoholism and substance abuse problems.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: Anxiety, disorder, Obsessive–compulsive disorder

What is Albinism

August 15, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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Albinism is the total lack of coloring (pigment) in hair, eyes and skin and is caused by a genetic inheritance of recessive genes. Albinism results if both of the parents carry the gene, though the parents themselves may carry the gene but not display the traits. It is possible that two people might marry and have a child without realizing they carry the albino genes, and have an albino child. Albinism can appear in both males and females equally, and albinism can occur in any vertebrate species.

There are two types of albinism, oculocutaneous albinism and ocular albinism. The first affects your skin, hair and eyes where as the second only affects your eyes. Ocular albinos can look perfectly normal but still have vision defects—but oculocutaneous albinos tend to have pale features and very light skin and eyes.

With a total lack of pigmentation (melanin) in their skin, albinos can burn rapidly and seriously when out in the sun. Less melanin means that more radiation from the sun can seep through their skin, making them more susceptible to skin cancer and other skin diseases. The lack of pigmentation in their eyes makes the eyes look pale blue, pink or even purple—and causes albinos to be very sensitive to bright light

Besides changes in color, a wide range of vision problems are associated with albinism. The most common eye condition is nystagmous—a defect that causes rapid involuntary eye movement. Severe near-sightedness is also very common and many albinos must use magnifiers to read. Many people with albinism cannot legally drive a car because of their eye conditions.

If you have albinism, you should avoid going out in direct sunlight when possible. If you do go out, wear high protection sunscreen and long sleeved shirts. Protect your eyes with high-quality sun glasses that wrap around to shield the eyes. Because they look different, some people with albinism dye their hair to blend in and avoid prejudice and discrimination. Despite popular belief, albinos are not sickly and do not have a weak immune system—they are only different in appearance.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: Albinism, Conditions and Diseases, Health

What is ADHD?

August 12, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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ADHD — attention deficit hyperactivity disorder – is a disorder which is made up of a wide variety of symptoms. Symptoms can include the inability to focus, lack of attention to detail, difficulty with being organized, hyperactivity and the inability to listen to and follow instructions. ADHD is common in young children and it’s estimated that over 4.5% of Americans have ADHD, most of which are males.

If a person has at least six of the recognized symptoms, they are diagnosed with ADHD. Controversy has surrounded ADHD since the 70s and many people debate whether attention deficit is an actual disorder or just a symptom of other problems like food allergies.

Treatments vary for ADHD because the symptoms are so individual. Many alternative remedies are popular, but a lack of scientific evidence keeps doctors from recommending them to their patients. Medications used in combination with behavioral treatments are found to work best. Psycho- stimulants – a class of drugs used for mental health issues — have a calming effect on people with ADHD. Common drugs used for treatment include dexmethylphenidate, lisdexamfetamine and methlphenidatea — though some of the drugs used in treatment are addictive. Atomoxetine, a non-stimulant, works like

the psycho- stimilants but isn’t as addictive. Before picking a medication, you should ask your doctor about risks because some of these medications can cause sudden death in people with heart problems.

If your child has ADHD, you may want to consider changing their home environment. Clearing away distractions and simplifying their room may help the child concentrate. Some children benefit from avoiding the dye and sugar in processed foods. Many children are misdiagnosed with ADHD when other problems like allergies are responsible for their behavior. Dealing with ADHD on a daily basis can be exhausting for parents, so helping your child focus can help the whole family.

ADHD is a chronic condition and over 60% of children with it will continue to have attention problems into adulthood. It can be debilitating if left untreated, as the person will not be able to concentrate in school or at work throughout their lifetime.

Filed Under: General, Hospital, Medication Tagged With: ADD and ADHD, Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, Mental health

Car Insurance Quotes and Pharmaceutical Coverage

August 9, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Pharmaceutical drugs are often developed with similar chemicals as those found in the marijuana plant. Since medical marijuana is controversial, researchers use their understanding of the brain processes that respond to the cannabinoids in marijuana. The Cannabis plant has a long history of medicinal use for a great many illnesses and pain injuries

The researchers use this knowledge to develop drugs which hopefully will follow similar pathways in the nervous system and to the brain. The hope is that these newly refined drugs will positively change a medical condition more than have a negative profile of traditional non-medical marijuana.

In the year of 2002, a comprehensive review studying 7,934 drivers found that they were no more culpable to crashes because the driver had cannabinoids in the blood than if he or she did not. As such, the auto insurance industry has no problem with these types of drugs. When getting various car insurance quotes, look at medical coverage provided after an accident. Find out the pharmaceutical drugs and medical intervention are commonly covered for injuries.

The Cannabis plant contains well over 300 compounds, sixty-six which are cannabinoids the foundation used in the medical and scientific use of cannabis. It is difficult for the research scientists to isolate the specific effect of certain compounds because the various inter-compound interactions. Cannabinoids can serve as antispasmodic agents as well as some with analgesic effects.

Thirteen states allow doctors to write scripts for medical marijuana (as of 2010) for patients who are suffering from a variety of ailments. Medical marijuana’s history extends back in use to ancient physicians prescribing it for things such as pain relief or earache, and includes current medical professionals prescribing it for its analgesic effects. However, medical doctors continue to give warnings against the overuse of medical marijuana as over-consumption, even on a controlled basis, has the possibility of causing blindness and impotence.

Filed Under: Care & Support, General, Medication Tagged With: Car Insurance Quotes, Pharmaceutical Coverage