A dangerous traditionLike sunshine and summer, Americans have associated fireworks with the 4th of July since its first celebration in 1777. In all states except Massachusetts, some forms of consumer fireworks are legal. Unfortunately, they constitute a dangerous form of festivity. In 2020, 18 Americans died from firework-related incidents, while 15,600 people were treated in hospital emergency departments for firework injuries. Unsurprisingly, the … [Read more...]
Raising Awareness of Sexual Assault
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, or SAAM. Sponsored by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC)The theme this year is “Building Safe Spaces Online Together.”Sexual violence statisticsSexual violence is a pervasive According to research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 43.6% of American women (amounting to nearly 52.2 million) experienced some form of contact with sexual violence in their lifetime. Likewise, nearly … [Read more...]
Encouraging Senior Fitness
As we age, our bodies need to stay more active to compensate for the loss of mobility and function.However, as a person nears or finally reaches retirement, exercise may be the last thing that he or she wants to do. Nevertheless, it’s important to develop a healthy exercise regime. Incorporating these five strategies into your clinical practice can help encourage seniors to stay physically fit.1. Make exercise funIf you want to help senior adults get … [Read more...]
Does Daylight Saving Time Help or Hurt?
“Spring forward, Fall back.”Twice a year, many Americans call on the familiar mnemonic device as they adjust their clocks to the new time. First proposed — somewhat satirically — by Benjamin Franklin in 1784, the U.S. adopted Daylight Saving Time (DST) during World War I, along with many other nations, in a wartime effort to conserve energy. However, it wasn’t until 1966 that Congress passed legislation to establish an official, uniform Daylight Saving Time … [Read more...]
Prescribing Exercise for Geriatric Patients
America is aging.Within the next decade, more than 19% of the U.S. population is expected to be over the age of 65. Of this demographic, more than 60% are considered physically inactive. Current guidelines suggest older adults should participate in a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate activity per week with an additional two days of resistance training — but it’s likely that up to 90% of adults over the age of 75 do not meet these guidelines. Prolonged … [Read more...]
Loneliness in Seniors Due to COVID-19
For healthcare providers who work in geriatrics, you understand that social isolation and loneliness was already an issue for many older people, and COVID-19 has only exacerbated this. Luckily, there are proven strategies you can employ to mitigate loneliness in seniors.Human beings require connection to others to survive and thrive. After all, experiencing belongingness and love from interpersonal relationships is part of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. It’s no surprise … [Read more...]