Author Archives: Dina

November is National Family Caregivers Month

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Caregiving is both a rewarding and complex situation for families.

Finding affordable and reliable caregivers can be difficult, so many spouses, partners, parents, adult children, and other family members care for their loved ones without paid assistance.

Texas Health and Human Services provides web sites and programs to assist families with this complicated endeavor.

HHS Caregiver Support and Resources: https://hhs.texas.gov/services/health/support-caregivers/caregiver-support-resources. Sections on this site include benefits, in-home care and personal attendant services, transportation and meals, and medication management.

HHS Strengthen the Care You Give: https://hhs.texas.gov/services/health/support-caregivers.Too many caregivers neglect their own physical and mental well-being while caring for their loved ones. This site provides information on caregiver self-care, training and planning, and support and resources.

Take Time Texas: https://apps.hhs.texas.gov/taketimetexas.Take Time Texas connects caregivers of children and caregivers of older adults to information and resources related to respite care.

HHS Turn To: https://hhs.texas.gov/services/health/prevention/turn-to.This site provides information about sources for support. Sections include support for yourself, for your child, for your friends and family, and for your community

Online Wellness Programs for People with Disabilities

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Here are some programs for people with disabilities that promote health and wellness:

Fit With Us is a six-month exercise telehealth study that promotes health and functionality for people with disabilities. Participants must be at least 18 years old with a permanent physical disability, have access to the Internet, and be able to use a computer or smartphone. For more information, click here: https://fitwithus.org/about-the-study/.

My Health My Life My Way is a six-month telehealth study for people with disabilities who also have a chronic condition. Participants must be at least 18 years old with a permanent physical disability and a chronic disease such as arthritis, Type 2 diabetes, or a heart or lung condition. Participants must also have access to the Internet and be able to use a computer or smartphone. For more information, contact: Eric Evans: 205-236-8452: evansej@uab.edu Learn more about the study here: https://myhealthmylifemyway.org/about-the-study/.

In addition, NCHPAD (National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability) offers the following online health and wellness programs for adults with physical disabilities:

Mentor (Mindfulness, Exercise, Nutrition to Optimize Resilience): MENTOR is an eight-week program that focuses on physical, mental, and emotional health.

Growth (Growing Resilience Out of Wellness and Thoughtful Habits): GROWTH is a six-week program that focuses on mental health and well-being.

SOS Everybody (State of Slim): SOS is a 16-week program that focuses on sustainable weight loss.

Coffee Club: Coffee Club meets twice a month to promote social connections and discuss health and wellness.

Learn more about these programs here: https://www.nchpadconnect.org/programs.

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month

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Diabetes is a serious, chronic condition that can lead to heart disease, nerve damage, eye problems, and kidney disease. Type 1 cannot be prevented, but Type 2 can be delayed or prevented by living a healthy lifestyle that includes good nutrition, physical activity, and maintaining a healthy weight.

There is a wealth of information online about diabetes.

A good place to start is Medline Plus, a site that provides information for the public about health topics: https://medlineplus.gov/diabetes.html

Another resource is the Diabetes Information Clearinghouse from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes. The Clearinghouse includes all the basics about diabetes, plus topics such as tests and diagnosis, risk factors for Type 2 diabetes, healthy living with diabetes, and preventing diabetes problems. You can also e-mail the Clearinghouse at healthinfo@niddk.nih.gov, or call 800-860-8747, Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. eastern time. In addition, the Clearinghouse features a page for National Diabetes Awareness Month: www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/community-health-outreach/national-diabetes-month

The American Diabetes Association also has a website with extensive information: https://diabetes.org. Sections on the site include life with diabetes, health and wellness, and food and nutrition. You can search for in-person and virtual diabetes education programs at https://diabetes.org/tools-resources/diabetes-education-programs and locate local American Diabetes Association chapters at https://diabetes.org/local/find-chapter. Contact the national office at 800-342-2383, Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. eastern time, or e-mail askada@diabetes.org.

Many Faces of BARD Program: Using NLS BARD on the HIMS SensePlayer

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Join the National Library Service (NLS) for the Many Faces of BARD program on Thursday, November 14, at 6:00 p.m. central time. The topic will be using NLS BARD on the HIMS SensePlayer.

BARD stands for Braille and Audio Reading Download service and is a registered trademark for the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled. 

Registration is not required. The session is scheduled for one hour with time for questions. Click on the link to join: https://tinyurl.com/29zv8pxe.   

That All May eRead: Using the eReader to Access Online Services

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Join the National Library Service (NLS) on Tuesday, October 29, at 6:00 p.m. central time for the next session of the online series That All May eRead. This session will cover how to access online services using the Zoomax and Humanware braille ereaders.

Registration is not required.

Click on the link to join: https://tinyurl.com/4z5sht89

These sessions will be recorded.  

September is Fall Prevention Month

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Falls can have a devastating effect on an older person’s health and well-being.
Falls can lead to serious injuries, disability, loss of independence, and even death.

But fall prevention can reduce the risk.

Here are just a few aspects of a fall prevention check list:

  • Minimize clutter
  • Remove tripping hazards like throw rugs
  • Maintain adequate lighting
  • Wear proper footwear
  • Manage chronic conditions such as high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes
  • Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about current medications, including possible drug interactions and side effects
  • Exercise when able, including balance exercises, stretching, and strength training
  • Add movement to your at-home routine
  • Consider adaptive aids such as shower chairs, canes, and walkers
  • Eat a balanced diet, stay hydrated, and avoid / limit alcohol
  • Get regular vision and hearing screenings

Your local area may offer exercise and nutrition classes. If not, YouTube is a great resource.

For more information on fall prevention, click on these links:

That All May E-Read: Using the eReader to Read BARD Mobile Books

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Join the National Library Service (NLS) on Tuesday, August 27, at 6:00 p.m. (Central) for the next session of the online series That All May E-Read. This session will cover how to read BARD Mobile books using the Zoomax and Humanware Braille eReaders.

Registration is not required. Click on the link to join: https://tinyurl.com/5n8tmubr.

These sessions will be recorded.  

New NLS Monthly Virtual Program: That All May eRead

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Join the National Library Service (NLS) on Tuesday, July 30, at 6:00 p.m. (Central) for the first session of a new monthly program called That All May eRead, which will focus on using the NLS braille e-readers.

Each session will include a brief demonstration of a feature or use case, with time for questions about both the Zoomax and Humanware Braille eReaders.

Registration is not required. Click on the link to join: https://tinyurl.com/2rnzv5ht

These sessions will be recorded.  

Many Faces of BARD Program: Open Forum

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Join the National Library Service (NLS) for the Many Faces of BARD program on Thursday, July 11, at 6:00 p.m. (Central) which will be an open forum for the tech support team to respond to questions.

BARD stands for Braille and Audio Reading Download service and is a registered trademark for the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled.  

Registration is not required. The session is scheduled for one hour with time for questions. Click on the link to join: https://tinyurl.com/vfhkx3b3.