Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 14 November 2003 — Page 17
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People & Trends • Arts & Entertainment To Your Health
C SECTION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2003
Book calls for more care for family caregivers (NAPSI) — A new book may offer family caregivers some welldeserved recognition and support. According to experts, more than 25 million Americans spend 20 hours or more each week caring for a loved one who is disabled, frail, or suffering from a chronic condition. Caregiving is also a social and economic issue of concern to policy makers and insurers alike. The value of these family caregivers’ services is estimated at $ 25? billion a year - more than twice what is spent on nursing home and paid home care nationally. Now a new book, Love, Honor, & Value (Capital Books, $14.95), argues that caregivers should be recognized for their contribution to the health care system, and protected against the physical, emotional and financial complications that often accompany caregiving. Author Suzanne Mintz speaks with the authority of experience: she has cared for her progressively ailing husband for nearly three decades. In 1993 she co-founded the National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA) with friend and fellow family caregiver Cindy Fowler. Mintz makes the case that family caregiving is a public good as vital as firefightingor policing the streets. Approximately 80 percent of all home care services in this country are provided by family caregivers. Said Mintz, “If you haven’t walked in a family caregiver’s shoes, you can never fully understand the emotional and physical stress, the financial burden and the isolation that comes with providing care for an ill or disabled loved one. Some of us are on duty
Special to The Recorder The Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction (DMHA) is preparing for the next disaster—which could come in the form of a flood, a tornado or a terrorist act. DMHA has consulted with the nation’s top disaster mental health expert, Dr. Brian W. Flynn, to develop a comprehensive questionnaire to assess the preparedness of Indiana Community Mental Health Centers (CMHC) to respond to a disaster or emergency event. Indiana is among the first states in the country to devise and conduct such a study. Dr. Flynn assisted in the development ofthequestionnaire. He recently visited Indianapolis to speak to state disaster leaders and community mental health center representatives to discuss how Indiana can effec-
tively move forward to plan for the emerging needs of a disaster response. All .30 Indiana CM HCs completed the Web-based survey. “Responses communicated several needs that we must meet in order for CM HCs to adequately provide services for victims effected by a disaster or an emergency event,” stated Suzanne Clifford DMHA director. These requirements include: the need to optimize mental health disaster plans; to clarify the division of responsibilities and roles; and the ability to develop memoranda of understanding with local entities/agencies such as volunteer organizations, schools, businesses, and emergency management. Clifford added, “We are already strengthening state partnerships to accomplish these goals." DMHA has partnered with the Indiana State Department of Health and serves on its
Bioterroisim Preparedness Advisory Committee. This committee is charged with assuring that policy makers and other elected officials, state and local, are provided with regular updates regarding preparedness activities. “This assessment of the Community Mental Health Centers’ capability to respond to a bioterroism or other public health emergencies is critical to our state’s preparedness planning,” said Joe Hunt, assistant commissioner for Information Services and Policy at the State Department of Health. “Technical assistance and training protocol will be developed now that the assessment data is compiled," stated Drew Klatte, DMHA Emergency Management and Project Aftermath program director. “We are fortunate to have Dr. Flynn here to assist us with this process.”
Many Blacks unaware of Hie dangers of lupus
By ERICKA C. WHEELER Staff Writer When many people think of a disease that attacks the immune system, often times the AIDS infection comes to mind. But lupus, a disease that affects many African-American women, is a very unfamiliar disease plaguing Blacks. Lupus is not a virus - in this disease, the immune system loses the ability to tell the difference between viruses and attacks its own cells and tissues. which may result in joint pains, loss of kidney function and skin disorders. The deadly disease is often misdiagnosed and far too many have never heard of the disease. “I had never heard of the disease, until my doctor informed me of my diagnosis," said Barbara Sander, who was diagnosed with lupus in 1988. Lupus comes in three forms. Discoid, which attacks the
skin, causing rashes and lesions on the face, neck and scalp. Systemic lupus, a more severe form affects the body internally. Often causing complication toall major organs. Drug-induced lupus is a rare f< >rm, w hich Hares up as a cause of a prescribed drug. The symptoms ol this form of lupus are related to the systemic lupus form. “I was diagnosed with discoid lupus in 1983,”said.Iulia Lawson. “In 2001 the disease had turned intosystemir lupus. Sometimes it gets hard." The cause of this disease is unknown, scientists are unable to distinguish if the disease is heredity. Law son feels that genes in her family have a lot to do with the development of lupus. “My mother had it way before the disease was ever detected. Before medication was available. Two of my sisters have recently been diganosed as well.” ► See LUPUS, Page C2
Help someone you love quit smoking this year
(FeatureSource) — The Great American Smokeout is on Nov. 21 and Bill Dodds, author of 1440 Reasons to Quit Smoking (Meadowbrook Press), says this is a golden opportunity to help a loved one quit smoking. But helping a loved one kick the tobacco habit demands tact not just facts. “Often the smoker knows some of the facts," Dodds says. “He realizes he’s putting his
health at risk. She’s aware it’s expensive. Like the sad joke attributed to Mark Tw'ain, they’ve found quitting easy. They’ve done it a hundred times." Dpddfc points out that all the reasons to quit are really the reasons to kick the habit for good. And it’s helping a loved one remain an ex-smoker that’s the real challenge. ► See LOVE, Page C2
YOUR LINK TO A HEALTHY BABY! Mother/Baby Healthline
24 hours a day.” She also demonstrates how family caregivers put their lives on the line to provide quality care to people they love. For instance, research has found that family caregivers can take longer to heal than non-caregivers, due to the effects of stress. Other studies have shown that family caregivers who help with personal care activities are more likely to suffer depression, sleeplessness, and backaches. Among the changes Mintz argues for are: • Create a national network of easily accessible and affordable respite services to allow family caregivers a break from their duties. • Ease the economic burdens of caregiving families through a meaningful tax credit. • Better coverage of the costs of chronic care. Copies are available by calling NFCA at 1-800-896-3650, or online at www.nfcacares.org. The book may also be purchased at online and retail bookstores nationwide.
Submitted by the Health Education, Promotion and Training Department of the Marion County Health Department The Mother Baby Healthline is a free, confidential information and referral telephone service. Callers can receive information about services available in the community related to pregnancy, infants and child care. A professional social services staff member is available to answer all incoming calls. Why did the Mother Baby Healthline begin? The Mother Baby Healthline opened in 1989 as part of the communityeft’orttocombat infant mortality. It is operated by the Marion County Health Department and is funded by the Indiana State Department of Health. The Mother Baby
Healthline receives more than 350 calls a month. How can the Mother Baby Healthline help me? The Mother Baby Healthline can put you in touch with many services like pregnancy testing, prenatal care, medical care for children, Medicaid, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) and the Women. Infants and Children (WIC) program. If you or someone you know is pregnant and needs help, or you are worried about the health of your baby, call the Mother Baby Healthline at 317-221-BABY (2229).. The Mother Baby Healthline is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Voice mail is available during other hours and holidays. All callers who leave messages receive return calls on the next working day.
Sugar, sucking and parents’ touch might help babies during shots
Spocial to The Recorder CHICAGO (AP) - Infants getting shots at the doctor’s office cry' less when they are held by their parents and given sugar water and bottles or pacifiers, a study found. The extra steps eased parents’ minds and took only about five seconds more than the old-fash-ioned way of immunizing infants while they lie on an examining table, without any pain relief. ‘This simple, effective and feasible intervention... can be readily incorporated into standard infant immunization practice,” said researchers led by Dr. Evelyn Cohen Reis at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Their research was reported in November's Archives of Pediatries & Adolescent Medicine, pub-
lished Monday. Doctors used to believe young infants feel little or no pain. In recent years, that thinking has changed, and studies have shown that babies’cryingcan be reduced by giving them sugar or local anesthetics during medical procedures such ;is circumcisions. With the continued introduction of new vaccines, children get up to 20 injections by age two, so pain relief remains a concern throughout early childhood. The researchers recruited families through the Pittsburgh hospital for their study of 116 babies receiving the typical four shots at their two-month immunizations. Infants given the intervention received a bottle of sugar water two minutes before the injeet ions, then used a bottle or pacifier liming the shots while being held.
In those babies, the first cry during the shots lasted an average of 19 seconds, compared with nearly 58 seconds for the regularcare babies. Total crying spells lasted about 92 seconds versus 118 seconds. It is unclear whether breast feeding also would comfort the children, because none of the mothers tried that during the study. Dr. Michael Wasserman, a New Orleans pediatrician with the Ochsner (.Tinic Foundation, said the results were "pretty impressive." "We physicians need to be flexible," Wasserman said. "As long as we think there is limited potential of hurting the patient and distracting us from doing our job properly, sure, w e'rc willing to trv it."
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221-2229
If you or someone you know is pregnant and needs help, or you are worried about the health of your baby, call the Mother Baby Healthline at 3I7-22I-BABY (2229). We can answer your questions concerning: • Pregnancy testing • Prenatal care
Pediatric care Baby supplies and clothing Dealing with your feelings during pregnancy Food Medicaid eligibility Housing resources Financial resources Transportation Family or abuse problems Completing your education Mental health resources Other resources in the community
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