Issue 2

Coffee May Help DepressionYou may have read about the benefits of one or two cups of coffee a day: reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and dementia. Now it looks as though a little java may also decrease the risk for depression.

“There is certainly much more good news than bad news, in terms of coffee and health,” says Frank Hu, MD, MPH, PhD, nutrition and epidemiology professor at the Harvard School of Public Health.

New research published after a 10-year study of more than 50,000 older women suggest that the risk for depression may decrease as coffee consumption increases. Those who drank 2-3 cups a day had a 15% decreased risk of depression compared to women who drank one cup a day or less.

“People have often worried that drinking caffeinated coffee might have a bad effect on their health, but there is more and more literature, including this study, showing that caffeine may not have the detrimental effect previously thought,” according to lead author Michel Lucas, PhD, RD, epidemiologist/nutritionist at Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.

The study is published in the September 26, 2011 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Selecting and UsingA CaneWhen a resident has limitations in balance, joint motion, coordination or strength, a cane can sometimes be a useful tool in restoring mobility. The first key is having the right ambulation aid for the user’s needs and abilities. The second is gait training to achieve the safest walking pattern.

The resident’s vision, balance and stability need to be considered, as well as his or her ability to learn new things and use good judgment. If a cane is the right aid for the resident, it can provide support, balance, stability, safety, independence and relieve stress on the legs and feet.

A quad cane with four feet is the appropriate choice for a resident who is weaker on one side than another, such as after a stroke.

Here’s one way to determine the right height for the cane: Turn it upside down with the handle on the floor. With the resident’s arms at his side the tip of the can should be level with the wrist. Wooden canes can be shortened by removing the rubber tip and cutting with a saw. Aluminum canes have holes and pins to

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Residential CareJournal

Pathways

Residential CareJournal

Pathways Residential Care Journal

Yogurt & Colorectal Cancer: Possible PreventionYogurt may offer some degree of protection against colorectal cancer (CRC) according to a prospective study done in Italy. Yogurt intake was found to be inversely associated with CRC risk.

More than 45,000 volunteers participated by completing dietary questionnaires that included specific questions about yogurt intake. In the following 12 years 289 participants were diagnosed with CRC. High yogurt intake was significantly associated with decreased CRC risk, suggesting that yogurt should be part of a diet to prevent the disease.

The protective effect of yogurt was evident in the entire cohort, but was stronger in the 14,178 men in the study.

The study, done at Fondazione IRCSS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milano, Italy, was published in the International Journal of Cancer. 2011; 129(11):2712-9 (ISSN: 1097-0215)

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Fruits & Veggies May Improve Lung Function in COPD Mom was right. Eating fresh fruits and vegetables IS good for you. So good, in fact, that it may improve lung function and reduce flare-ups in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to a patient trial done in Greece. The improvements were seen with all types of fruits and vegetables.

Researchers believe that the high antioxidant content of fruits and vegetables may help protect the lungs from some of the damage caused by smoking and air pollution, improving respiratory volumes. “Our findings suggest that a dietary (change) to higher antioxidant foods intake may be associated with improvement in lung function. The place of dietary interventions in the management of COPD warrants consideration,” the researchers conclude.

adjust height by the inch; there are extenders for very tall people.

To use a cane, the resident should hold it on his or her stronger side. When walking, the resident should move the cane and the weaker leg together. When climbing up stairs, the resident should first step up with the stronger leg, then push to move the cane and the weaker leg up. To go down stairs, the resident should first step down with the weaker leg and the cane. Then, using the cane for support, he or she can lower the stronger leg down.

“We can do no great things on this earth, only small things with great love.”

-- Mother Teresa

Gentle Thoughts

Helping Neighbors on Life’s Journey

Fiber in Diet Reduces Risk of Breast Cancer

What do avocados, apples, oatmeal and black beans have in common? They are all very high in fiber. So? A study done at Soochow University in

China has demonstrated that raising your fiber intake can significantly reduce your risk of breast cancer.

After examining 10 studies of dietary fiber intake and risk of breast cancer involving 16,848 cases and 712,195 participants, they found that the more fiber added to the diet, the lower the breast cancer risk fell. The study was published in the American Journal of Nutrition, 2011; 94(3):900-5 (ISSN: 1938-3207).

12 Great Sources of Fiber: avocados, artichokes, raspberries, blackberries, lentils, black beans, broccoli, vegetable beef soup, pears, apples, oatmeal, and barley.

Dementia Care TrainingAt Pathways we work hard to meet the particular needs of our patients, such as those with dementia.

To ensure expert care to these unique patients, all home health aides from Pathways Hospice have specialized training in dementia care.

Our aides are trained in communication techniques, recognizing pain, stimulating interventions, and ways to use Pathways’ own Tool Kit for Advanced Memory Loss.

When you have residents with dementia, you can refer them to Pathways knowing they will be in good hands.

Unexplained, Persistent CoughDo you know a resident with a persistent dry cough that really can’t be explained? If he or she is being treated for congestive heart failure or high blood pressure, the answer may lie in their medication if they take an ACE inhibitor. The most common side effect of ACE inhibitors is a persistent, dry cough.

What makes blood pressure rise?Regulation of blood pressure is a delicate dance with lots of performers. When the body senses low blood pressure, low sodium or low blood volume, the kidneys release renin. This starts a cascade of changes that

eventually results in narrowing the blood vessels, raising the blood pressure.

What are ACE inhibitors?One of the enzymes involved in this process is call Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE). Drugs that prevent blood pressure from going up by interrupting the cascade are called ACE inhibitors.

ACE inhibitors usually end in with “pril.” Examples are:

• enalapril: Vasotec, Renitec• ramipril: Altace, Tritace, Ramace, Tamiwin• quinapril: Accupril• perindopril: Coversy, Aceon• lisinopril: Lisodur, Lopril, Novatec, Prinivil,

Zestril• benazepril: Lotensin

Side effectsAbout 1 of every 5 people taking ACE inhibitors will get a persistent, dry cough. The resident should let the doctor know if you observe this sort of cough, because there are drugs that may be useful to reduce the coughing. In severe cases the resident may need to stop taking the ACE inhibitor.

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Pathways Residential Care Journal

Grief: A ProcessFeeling a LossGrief is the emotional suffering caused by a loss. It often begins before the loss, like the sadness upon learning that a resident or a loved one does not have long to live.

Spouses and others grieve for the companionship they will lose and dreams that won’t happen, that life will be changed forever.

Natural ProcessGrief is a natural part of life. People express it in their own ways. There is no timetable for grief and there is no right or wrong way to grieve. It can come and go.

Grief takes different forms at different times. At first, the bereaved person may feel disbelief and expect to see their loved one even though they know the person is gone.

They may also feel anger at being “abandoned” by the loved one. Or they may feel guilt—for the anger, for still

being here, or for things they may have said or done (or didn’t say or do). These feelings are all normal.

When to Get HelpBut there are times when grief is so intense or so prolonged that the health of the bereaved person is at risk. There are some signs that let us know a person may need help in coping with their grief.

Although deep sadness is a natural part of bereavement, in some individuals death triggers a lasting depression that may cause withdrawal from friends and family, thoughts of suicide and lack of energy. This is one of the times when outside help is needed.

Mild weight loss, fatigue, insomnia and anxiety may be expected early on. But it may be time for the grieving person to see their doctor or a mental health professional if after three months or so you see:• Intense feelings are not starting to lighten.• Excessive weight gain or weight loss.• More than 12 or less than 4 hours sleep a night.• Constant crying.

For more information about grief support services available at no cost from Pathways, visit us online at www.pathwayshealth.org or call 1.888.755.7855.