NEW PRICE - $14.95!

It's official - My Care Necessities is proud to announce the Personal Healthcare Journal has dropped $10 from $24.97 - to $14.95/copy!

Such a great value makes this book a must have for everyone in your family. Your parents, siblings, uncles, aunts, grandparents - everyone!

Click on this link to order your copy(ies) today!

Western New York Family Magazine

ELDER CARE

That's the topic the Western New York Family Magazine tackled in their March issue. It's one we may all face at some point in our lives.

Did you know that the fastest group is people over the age of 70?

Did you also know that it's primarily the daughters who care for aging parents?

Often we see busy mom's with kids of their own at various ages caring for their parents at some level of involvement. Whether it's taking mom to a doctors appointment or a trip to the hospital for tests or an emergency room visit. Things can seem overwhelming. It's always a good idea to take notes before, during and after a healthcare visit. It just helps!

Flip to page 31 where you'll find a short article about the Personal Healthcare Journal.

Enjoy the read - it's a wonderful and incredibly inciteful magazine.

Betsy

AOL's Walletpop.com

While My Care Necessities has been enjoying an increase in sales thanks to Homemakers Magazine, you should also know that this isn't the only thing I do.

Working as a standardized patient for the University of Manitoba is something I very much like to do. If you've ever seen the Seinfeld episode where Kramer plays a patient with gonorrhea - you'll know what I'm talking about. Essentially you receive a script and your job is to play the part the same for each student - hence standardized. I've had the joy of working with pharmacy, occupational and physio therapy students and medical students as well.

Check out Walletpop.com - AOL's finance page for a brief story about my work and how it helps pay the bills.

Homemakers Magazine Part 2

Here it is and isn't it a beautiful sight!

The Personal Healthcare Journal article in the December/January issue of Homemakers Magazine. While I haven't found it on the Homemakers website yet - I do know you'll find it in the paper copy of the magazine on page 45.

Pick up your copy today - or better yet - you can give the gift of subscription for only 9.95 for 9 issues. You'll save 63% off the newsstand price. Click here for more information.

Homemakers Magazine

Tips on healthy and fitness, recipes, contests and much more is what you'll find in the Homemakers magazine.

Quite a while ago Homemakers Magazine was looking for inventors and their inventions to answer the call of My Healthy Invention. I submitted information about the Personal Healthcare Journal and voila was chosen to appear in the December/January issue.

It's been incredibly exciting as this is my first national appearance. In the first few days the Personal Healthcare Journal has already journeyed to parts of Ontario and Quebec.

A BIG thank you to those of you who have already purchased a book. I'd love to hear in a few months time how it's working for you or the person you gifted it to.

Please don't be shy and drop me a line at betsy@mycarenecessities.com

Flashionista

Flashionista is your guide to Fashion, Lifestyle and Well-being.

Sign up for their weekly newsletter and you'll receive valuable information on a variety of topics.

The Personal Healthcare Journal was recently featured in the Flashionista Report. You can check it out by clicking here.

Enjoy!

GOOGLE AND ADVANCED DIRECTIVES - DOES THIS REALLY MAKE SENSE

August 14, 2009

It was recently announced that Google Health, a popular personal health record, will allow patients to store their advance directives.

The Central Line a website dedicated to sharing the ideas, opinions and experiences of emergency physicians calls the initiative an “epic fail,” and illustrates some real-life problems of the idea.

While it is generally thought that making one’s health information available electronically to medical personnel is a reasonable idea, doing so with advance directives may not be. Especially in the emergency department where patients often are unable to give a cogent history.

The Central Line notes that, “Our critically ill patients are usually so critically ill they’re not able to be speak, or they’re altered, or too somnolent to be thinking correctly, let alone be able to type and remember their login to Google Health.”

Even if the doctor was Internet-savvy and able to look up a patient’s medical information electronically, “Is the physician going to spend their precious time trying to login to a website to find out if the patient is DNR/DNI?”

I hardly doubt it.

So... while it may seem like a great idea to store your health information online - a book like the Personal Healthcare Journal provides vital health information for you and your family members when it's needed.

HOW BADLY DO I WANT WHAT'S ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS BRICK WALL I JUST HIT?

GOOD HOUSEKEEPING MAGAZINE - August Edition
Words to Chill By

So stressed you could scream?

As the only Canadian among 9 women, this quote was chosen to be highlighted in their goodadvice section - you can find it on page 129 in the August 2009 edition.

"When I've tried and tried to reach what appears to be an unattainable goal, I ask myself what's preventing me from achieving it. What's my brick wall and how can I get over, under or around it? What do I need to do that fits within my moral and ethical framework that can help me achieve the desired outcome." Betsy Hiebert, Good Housekeeping magazine.

Pick up your copy today!

REGAL - PAGE 15 - RIGHT NEXT TO THE SLIPPER SOCKS

Here it is! The Personal Healthcare Journal in the fall edition of the Regal Catalogue!

If you're looking for a great gift - check out page 15 and you'll find the Personal Healthcare Journal. New to Regal - this easy to use book helps you track appointments, tests, medication and much more.

Pass this on to your friends, family and co-workers.

REGAL CATALOGUE

It's official - My Care Necessities has partnered with Regal - a gift and garden accessory catalogue. Not only can you purchase the Personal Healthcare Journal online, at select retail outlets - but now you can also purchase it through a catalogue.

Since 1929 Regal has been helping Canadians from all backgrounds and education levels make money from home running their own family business!

Simply place an order through your local Regal Representative and your book arrives in about 7-10 business days. The price is the same - $24.95 - but your shipping and handling charges may be lower.

So... the next time you have the opportunity to browse through a Regal catalogue - look for the Personal Healthcare Journal. Order one for a family member, friend, relative or even for yourself. Look for it in the fall catalogue.

icarewear -It Takes a Village

A few years ago we sponsored Thobelile - a young girl from a carepoint in Swaziland.

One in two people in Swaziland have aids. Swaziland is dying because it's people are dying. What if I could make a difference beyond just sponsoring our little girl?

What if we could create a line of shirts that people could buy and 50% of the profits would go to help kids in Swaziland have clean water, clothes, food - you know the necessities of life - the stuff we take for granted.

Check it out - We've opened a little on-line store at cafepress.com

It takes a village to raise a child - what if you don't have a village?
What if we created a village one person at a time?
What if each person that purchased a shirt helped create that village?

This is our hope. Together we can make a difference!

OCD - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

MAYO CLINIC DEFINITION: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a type of anxiety disorder in which you have unreasonable thoughts and fears (obsessions) that lead you to engage in repetitive behaviors (compulsions). With obsessive-compulsive disorder, you may realize that your obsessions aren't reasonable, and you may try to ignore them or stop them. But that only increases your distress and anxiety. Ultimately, you feel driven to perform compulsive acts in an effort to ease your distress.

Up until a few years ago OCD was something I had heard about but hadn't really experienced. The last two weeks I spent with my sister in Hawaii. Her son Ben has OCD. Ben is 14 years old and in grade 8.

Ben is incredibly smart. He is a whiz at all things computer and game related. It's scary how much that boy knows. If you're not careful - he will snatch your computer and do amazing things with it that you never knew it could do.

Aside from his amazing brilliance - he battles everyday with not wanting to touch the door knob, jumping over sections in the house, using his knuckles on the computer keyboard (instead of his fingertips), and just plain avoiding touching things he decides are untouchable.

It's hard to understand and it's even harder I am sure to watch on a day to day basis. School is just about out and he can hardly wait. At the end of July he'll be starting a new school - Waimea Canyon - this could trigger some unwanted behaviors - we'll just have to wait and see.

If you think about it - pray for Ben - for the transition and coping mechanisms - for his parents who want the best for their son and as they battle OCD with him. Much patience, courage and consistency is needed for everyone to stay happy and healthy.

Visit www.bullersinkauai.blogspot.com

Personal Healthcare Journal

New video

FUN and INEXPENSIVE ACTIVITES

One of the best ways to help our parents remain independent is to help them stay active.

Great activities that are not only fun but are inexpensive, and help us stay mobile and feel 16 again:

• walking
• cycling
• running
• tennis
• swimming
• golfing
• yoga
• pilates
• gardening
• fishing
• aerobics
• hiking
• walking

Mother's day and father's day is coming up. Maybe your mom or dad needs a new pair of walking or running shoes. Perhaps a new club for their set or some gardening gloves. Either way - you can't go wrong.

THINGS AREN'T ALWAYS AS THEY SEEM - Susan Boyle

EMBED-Susan Boyle Stuns Crowd with Epic Singing - Watch more free videos

MOTHER'S DAY

Mother's Day is May 10.

What will you buy your mom?

Take a few seconds and fill out our survey to the right.

Remember to pour heaps of love on you mom everyday - don't wait till mother's day to let her know how much you care.

7 BENEFITS OF REGULAR EXERCISE

I love spring. For me it's the newness of life and the promise of summer to come.

Signs of new life are showing all around. Tulips and daffodils are emerging, robins are hopping looking for worms, buds are forming on the trees and the grass is starting to turn green.

Whether you spend time walking the dog, going for a jog, or gardening you are going to feel better, combat chronic disease and help you manage your weight.

According to the Mayo Clinic there are 7 benefits of regular exercise. They include:

1. Improves your mood
   
2. Combats chronic disease
3. Helps you manage your weight
   
4. Strengthens your heart and lungs
5. Promotes better sleep
6. Can put the spark back in your sex life
7. Can be - gasp - fun!
   

So... phone up a friend and go for a walk. Walk to the grocery store, post office or to the coffee shop to catch up.

CRAVING A BETTER SLEEP?

If you're craving a better sleep - it may be time to eliminate snacking before bed.

As a kid growing up I remember my dad eating a bowl of Rice Krispies before he went to bed. Having a bowl of cereal is quick, easy and quite satisfying. On lazy days when we don't feel like making supper I have to confess we've been known to bring out the cereal boxes.

I'm not a snacker so cutting out snacks after supper isn't hard for me. Did you know that if you've already consumed your daily calorie intake you're not doing yourself any favors. In fact eating before bed can be disruptive to your sleep schedule. Thida Ith, a registered dietitian and corporate communications and promotions manager for Dietitians of Canada states that "it's a bit difficult to digest before you go to sleep." When your body is busy digesting - it's not resting.

Think back to when your mom wanted you to eat your breakfast, not trade your lunch at school and eat a good supper. Three square meals a day is still where it's at. Eating just till you are full helps you feel satisfied. When you feel satisfied you tend not to snack or overeat. A settled tummy just might be the ticket to a better sleep.

SAVE MONEY - REDUCE EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS

According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) study they report "patients who have a clear understanding of their after-hospital care instructions, including how to take their medicines and when to make follow-up appointments, are 30% less likely to be re-admitted or visit the emergency department than patients who don't."

So if patients want to reduce the number of hospital and emergency room visits and save money - they need to be in charge of their health!

How do you take charge of your health? Document or chart your health. Write it down! Keep a record of your questions, symptoms, tests and more. This record will help remind you and your family members of the details when they're needed most.

You can save money! You can reduce the number of hospital and emergency room visits.

CONCIERGE SERVICES

Whenever I travel to a new state, country or province and I need to find my way around I can always count on the Concierge for directions, recommendations of places to eat, etc.

Lately I've noticed a there are more and more concierge services popping up to help people and more specifically our parents do odd jobs, organize their homes, downsize, get groceries, etc.

What a great idea!

We're all busy running from here to there, getting this or that and often we don't have time to take Mom or Dad shopping when they want to go. Or if we live in another city - we aren't able to zip to the store for them or help them get this or that.

Check out Extra You.net - they've got this covered in the Virginia area. A little closer to home - that being Winnipeg we've got Concierge One a flourishing business owned and operated by Heather Hlady and Moray Merchant. While they may not specialize in seniors - they do offer services that they can definitely take advantage of like: snow clearing, cleaning and organizing, shopping and much more. If you have a minute - check them out - you'll be glad you did.