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Elder CareTips:
Mastering The Eldercare Maze™
October 1, 2004
"The Pip" is a really
icky illness that chickens get. In my family, when you
have "the pip" you have an unspecified something that
makes you feel like the way a chicken with the pip
looks. In other words, you feel pretty crummy.
I think the flu qualifies.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) estimates that 10 to 20 percent of Americans come
down with the flu during each flu season, which
typically lasts from November to March. Although most
people recover, CDC estimates that in the United States
more than 100,000 people are hospitalized and about
36,000 people die from the flu and its complications
every year.
Your immune system takes time to respond to the flu
vaccine. To give the vaccine time to do its work you
should get vaccinated 6 to 8 weeks before flu season
begins in November. So the time to get your flu shot is
now.
If you are in any of the following groups or live in a
household with someone who is, CDC recommends that you
get the flu vaccine:
•
You are 50 years of age or older or live with someone
who is;
•
You have chronic diseases of your heart, lungs, or
kidneys;
•
You have diabetes;
•
Your immune system does not function properly;
•
You have a severe form of anemia;
• You
will be more than 3 months pregnant during the flu
season;
•
You live in a nursing home or other chronic-care housing
facility.
Of course you can go to your doctor for a flu shot. But
if that doesn't work well with your busy schedule, there
are any number of
local walk-in locations I tried my own ZIP code on
the locator and found more than a dozen locations within
an easy drive.
Medicare will cover the cost of the flu shot, so if
you're eligible or you're taking along someone who is,
remember to bring your Medicare card.
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Cool Stuff For Caregivers Department |
Got a cell phone you use
in the car? We caregivers are a bunch of multi-taskers,
and if you have a cell phone you're probably using it in
the car. A lot. You've heard all the "preachin' and
teachin'" about using a hands-free device. If you've
lost yours, or never had one, there's a resource where
you can get one. FREE. There is a little postage involved.
These aren't refurbished. They're straight from the
original manufacturer, and they work. They have headsets
for all the major brands. Put your brand of phone into
their
locator
and you'll see a photo and description
of the headset styles they have available.
Now you don't have any more excuses to be clutching
that phone to your ear while you're trying to merge onto
the freeway.
Risk more than others think is
safe.
Care more than others think is wise.
Dream more than others think is practical.
Expect more than others think is possible.
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~ Cadet
maxim
U S. Military Academy
West Point |
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