How To Get All Of Your Travel Immunizations In Monterey
Planning on leaving Monterey for a few days to attend an important business conference? Or maybe you're finally taking that family vacation you've been dreaming of. Regardless of whether you're traveling for business or for pleasure, it's important that you take the right steps to protect your health. One of best ways you can stay healthy throughout the duration of your trip is to get all of your travel immunizations before you leave home.
The process of getting your travel immunizations may seem overwhelming at first but after reading this blog, you'll confidently by able to get all of the proper vaccines you need. If you live in Monterey County, you have several resources available to help you, including VNA International Travel and Health Clinic. This makes it easy to get all the travel immunizations you need, no matter where your travel destination is.
Keep reading to learn more about how you can get all of your travel immunizations right here in Monterey.
Do Your Research
The more you know about your destination, the more you likely you are to avoid any health threats in the area. For example, if you are traveling to Mexico there are several travel immunizations the CDC recommends you get. However, if you are just traveling within the United Sates, you may not need to get any vaccines at all.
A quick online search can give you a rough idea of what possible health threats you could encounter during your trip. After you have an idea of what to expect, you can share your questions and concerns with your primary healthcare provider to determine what travel immunizations would be best for you.
Travel immunizations can vary on more than just destinations. A patient's age, life habits, state of health, and other factors can all play a role in determining what vaccines are needed. That's why it's crucial that you consult with a health care professional before you pack your bags. Make sure you have a copy of your vaccination record with you when you go to your appointment to help speed up this process.
Schedule Your Appointment As Soon As Possible
In order to create maximum immunity, health professionals recommend scheduling all travel related medical visits at least four to six weeks before you leave the area. Many vaccines come in a series instead of a single shot, so by giving yourself a buffer of at least a month, you are ensuring that you are fully vaccinated in time.
However, life is rarely convenient. If you find yourself having to leave California quickly to return to your home country or to attend an important business meeting halfway around the world, you may feel like you don't have time to get your travel vaccines. However, that simply isn't the case. No matter how last minute your travel plans are, you can, and should, make sure your health is well-protected. In fact, resources like the CDC have a website page dedicated to helping last minute travelers remain healthy.
Even if you need to depart soon, do your best to see a health care professional in person. This will ensure that all of your important questions are answered. For some places like VNA International Travel and Health Clinic, appointments only take 30 minutes. You can get your vaccines and pack your bags all in the same day.
Visit VNA Travel Health Clinic
One of the most convenient ways to take care of all of your travel health needs is to visit VNA International Travel Health Clinic. For over a decade, VNA International Travel Health Clinic has been providing travelers with consultations, immunizations, and prescriptions. Their clinic is a member of the International Society of Travel Medicine which means you'll have access to qualified travel recommendations.
During your appointment, you'll be able to speak with an experienced travel health RN. Your assigned RN will give you excellent strategies to keep you healthy during your trip based on the following factors:
- Your Travel Destination
- The Nature Of Trip
- Your Health Assessment Results
- The Duration Of Your Stay
- Your Itinerary Plans
Best of all, the VNA Travel Health Clinic understands your busy schedule. There's no need to panic if you're unable to schedule an appointment 4-6 weeks before your departure. VNA's trained staff is often able to help provide patients with the best possible travel protection for last minute departures.
You can find the 5-star clinic nestled within the Ryan Ranch area of Monterey at 5 Lower Ragsdale Drive. They are open five days a week, Monday through Friday, by appointment only. Ready to schedule an appointment? You can contact them by calling (831) 648-3777 and within business day a nurse will call you to schedule an appointment.
Remember, no matter how far away your trip is, it is never too early to take the proper steps to protect your health.
Hollister Hospice Care And Palliative Care: What You Need To Know
Located within the bustling hub of San Benito County, Hollister is a charming city full of opportunities for both the young and old. Originally established by a humble group of farmers and ranch hands, Hollister is now one of the largest cities in California's Central Coast. One can always find tourists and local citizens enjoying the beautiful, historical sights that Hollister has to offer.
As the city of Hollister continues to grow, so does it's aging senior population. If you or an aging loved one are like most senior citizens of Hollister, you probably want to spend your golden years in the private comfort of your home. Unfortunately, aging at home can be difficult without the necessary aid of home health care services. Luckily, the elderly population of Hollister has a variety of resources to choose from.
One of the best home health care providers on the Central Coast is Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice (VNA). For years, VNA's exceptional staff of health care professionals has been providing phenomenal health care services to the citizens of Hollister. Their two most popular forms of home health care are hospice care and palliative care.
If you know an elderly loved one whose health is declining, or if you are a senior citizen yourself who wants to live a quality life at home, palliative or hospice care are great, affordable options. However, deciding which option works best for your unique situation can be tricky. Fortunately, VNA has created a helpful guide to make things easier for you. Keep reading to learn more about hospice care and palliative care, as well as the useful benefits they each provide.
What Is Hospice Care?
Hospice care is a type of end of life care that focuses not on curing but, on providing each patient with compassionate support and customized health care. It can take place in numerous areas and is available to anyone, regardless or race, gender, religion, or illness.
At VNA Hospice, patients and their families are able to collaborate with a team of health care specialists to create a personalized plan of care. This not only helps meet all of the patient's unique needs, it also helps ease the stress many family members and caregivers face when looking after someone who is terminally ill.
What Are The Benefits Of Hospice Care?
Hospice care provides patients with a number of benefits. Here are some of hospice care's most noteworthy benefits:
1.) You Can Age In The Comfort Of Your Home
One of the most common misconceptions about hospice care is that patients need to be in the hospital to be eligible. However, this simply isn't true. While hospice care can take place at the hospital, it usually happens elsewhere. For example, most patients choose to receive hospice care in the comfort of their homes or in a nursing facility. In short, hospice care happens at whatever location the patient would like it to.
2.) You Can Enjoy Personalized Care And Support
Hospice care does so much more than just meet the health needs of each patient. When a patient chooses to get hospice care, they are giving themselves the option to have all of their needs taken care of.
For example, at VNA Hospice, a group of health care professionals will collaborate to make sure each patient's unique physical, emotional, spiritual, and psychological needs are addressed. All of this is done to ensure the patient enjoys the highest quality of life possible.
What Is Palliative Care?
Palliative care is also a form of specialized health care. It focuses on providing pain relief and personalized support for patients and their families. Palliative care is usually provided by a team of medical professionals, including doctors, nurses, occupational therapists, and more. It can also be helpful for patients who need additional help at home but, do not meet all of the requirements needed to receive hospice care.
What Are The Benefits Of Palliative Care?
Like hospice care, palliative care also boasts an impressive number of benefits. In fact, some patients who receive palliative care choose to also receive hospice care as the severity of their illness increases. These patients like that they have the ability to start their care plan much earlier with hospice care. Here are some of the most useful benefits patients receive from palliative care:
1.) You Don't Have To Worry About Time Restrictions
Unlike hospice care, where patients are generally only eligible if they are terminally ill or are within six months of death, palliative care can begin at any time. No time restrictions means you can receive palliative care as early as you like. The severity of your illness or it's current stage will not limit your eligibility for care.
2.) You Can Have Complete Flexibility In Your Treatment Options
Since palliative care does not have any time restrictions, it is easier for patients to get exactly what they want. Patients and their families are able to develop a personalized care plan that fully encompasses the patient's needs. In addition to receiving the same type of care and comfort hospice patients get, palliative patients can also try life-prolonging therapies.
Being able to start palliative at any time allows the patient to fully gage his or her pain limits and comfort needs well before their illness progresses. This extra time makes it easier for everyone involved to decide what treatments would be most beneficial to the patient.
Want To Learn More About Hospice Care and Palliative Care?
Even though end of life care can be a difficult topic to discuss, it is important that loved ones and family members discuss their wishes before it is too late. Knowing one's wishes will be followed even at a time when one cannot express them can be a huge stress relief for many senior citizens. Choosing hospice care or palliative care for yourself or loved ones does not mean you are giving up hope. It means you are choosing to have you and your elderly family members fully live a high quality life to the best of your individual abilities.
To learn more about the benefits of both palliative and hospice care, please contact Visiting Nurse Association at 831-703-8444. One of their nurses will get back to you as soon as possible to answer all of your questions.
5 Warning Signs Your Elderly Parents Need Home Health Care
Even as an adult, you still care about your parents. It's natural to want to do what's best for them. For many people, it can be hard to accept that their parents may need additional help at home. This is especially true for all matters related to home health care. After all, when it's highly likely that if your elderly parents do need help, they will be the last ones to admit it.
One reason for this is parents fear that admitting they need help will lead to a lack of freedom. However, home health care focuses on helping patients enjoy a safe, high-quality life with as much independence as possible. Local Monterey County home health care providers, like Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice (VNA), strive to provide exceptional care to patients and their families throughout the Central Coast.
In fact, many home health care providers offer a diversity of help, including occupational therapists, who can help your parents age comfortably in their homes and home health aides who can provide daily living support. All of these benefits reduce the levels of stress many aging parents face and provide much needed support to overwhelmed family members.
Studies show that almost 90& of Americans would prefer to age within their homes. However, in order for this to happen, they need to get the proper support they maintain their independence and meet their physical and mental needs. Therefore it is up to you to make sure your parents are getting the additional support they need at home. Keep a sharp eye out for these five warning signs your elderly parents need home health care.
1.) Their Appearance Is Disheveled Or Sloppy
Is your father starting to wear the same clothes over and over again? Does your mother's hair look greasy and unkempt all of the the time? These signs of poor hygiene are more than just a potentially embarrassing social situation. If your parents are having noticeable trouble bathing, grooming, or dressing themselves, it is time to seek home health care assistance.
After all, poor hygiene can mean living in an environment full of harmful bacteria, germs, molds, and a whole host of harmful elements. If your parents are unable to maintain their hygiene, they could be putting themselves in an unsafe atmosphere where their health is at risk.
2.) Their Eating Habits Have Changed
It's normal for weight levels to fluctuate, especially if one is a picky eater. However, if you notice your parents are consistently loosing weight then it's time to check-in with them and see how things are going. Their rapid weight loss could be a sign that they are no longer able to properly feed themselves.
Also, burn marks on your parents or burnt pots and pans could be warning signs that your parents are having a harder time than usually preparing their meals. If the fridge, cupboard, and pantry have more cobwebs than food it is highly likely that your parents need help not only preparing and eating their food, but also require assistance purchasing their food.
When it comes to the health of senior citizens, one of the most beneficial things you can do is make sure they are consistently eating a well-balanced diet. If you are noticing any signs that your parents are struggling to eat, reach out to a local home health care provider to see what options are available to ensure your parents get the nutrition their bodies need.
3.) Their Behavior Isn't The Same
It's normal for everyone to act out of the ordinary from time to time. However, it could be a red flag if you are noticing an alarming amount of changes in your parents' behavior. If your parents seem to lack their usual drive to accomplish goals, have dwindling motivation, or have a difficult time keeping up with returning your phone calls, it is time to schedule an appointment with a home health care nurse.
4.) Their Way Of Thinking Is Changing
Is your mom or dad's sense of reasoning deteriorating? Do they suffer from consistent memory lapses? Are they often confused or frequently misplacing things? These are all warning signs that your parents' cognitive abilities are changing. If you've answered yes for any of the above questions, it's important that you speak to your parents' health care provider to express your concerns. The sooner your parents get effective home health care, the better the chance of success mental restoration is.
5.) They Have Unexplained Bruising Or Injuries
One of the most noticeable warning signs that your elderly parents may need home health care is unexplained bruising or injuries. This could be the result of common accidents associated with old age, like falls. Home health care services can teach your parents how to avoid accidents while painting a full life. They can also install safety features in your parents' home, like non-slip floors and grab bars, to create a safer living environment.
4 Major Benefits of Occupational Therapy
When it comes to aging, everyone needs some form of assistance from time to time. One of the best things a senior can do for his health is to get an occupational therapists. These home health care professionals are trained to assist patients' in reaching the goal of living a high quality life as independently as possible. Some of the services occupational therapists provide include:
- A home safety evaluation
- Recommendations on solutions that can improve independence and mobility
- Provide a personalized exercise plan
- Assistance in improving strength, balance, and personal safety
- Guidance in recreating daily routines to maximize quality of life
With all of the services they provide, it's easy to see why occupational therapists are so often recommended to the elderly. After all, these certified professionals give their patients several home health care benefits. Keep reading to learn about the 4 major benefits home health care patients receive from occupational therapists.
1.) A Safer Home
It's common for aging citizens to loose their sense of mobility and balance. Occupational therapists can help keep aging loved one safe by installing safety features throughout the patient's home. This includes handrails, grab bars, ramps, and walk-in bathtubs. These home modifications not only help patients remain safe, they also promote independence.
Another way occupational therapists help keep their patients safe is through fall prevention. In the elderly community, falls can be a major health problem. In fact, falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospital visits for people of the age of 65. Furthermore, falls are the primary leading cause of death for senior citizens.
Occupational therapists help patients become more aware of the fall risks that surround them in their every day life. If you hire an occupational therapist, he or she can teach you muscle building and balance exercises. Occupational therapists can also teach you how to avoid major fall risks while still living an active lifestyle.
2.) Aging In Place
It is common for many Americans to loose their ability to live on their own as they grow older and less mobile. However, nearly 90% of seniors would prefer to age in the comfort of their home instead of moving to a nursing facility or senior home. Thankfully, home health care providers like Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice in Monterey County are here to help. With their help, elderly residents are able to get the assistance they need to spend their golden years at home.
In order to help patients achieve this goal, occupations therapists will work with other people in the patient's community to develop beneficial partnerships. With the addition of safety features like non-slip floors, personal alert systems, and bathroom aides, occupational therapists can teach anyone how to be active and make the most out of their retirement.
3.) Improved Health and Mental Restoration
One of the most popular benefits of having an occupational therapist is that it can improve your health and aid in mental restoration. Any aging senior who wishes to remain in their home and maintain some form of independence can see the immediate benefit in this.
First, occupational therapists do a lot of work to make sure patient's home are safe. They also teach their patients how to stay active and eat well. Therefore, it's no wonder that many patients experience improved health. After all, occupational therapists focus on increasing the quality and satisfaction in each patient's life. Occupational therapists can teach senior citizens how change their daily lifestyles and overcome fears to get the benefit of improved health.
Wondering how occupational therapists help with mental restoration? It's not surprising if you do. After all, one of the aging population's biggest concerns is the loss of mental abilities. However, occupational therapy can help patients retain their brain power. Through techniques like mental exercises, patients can get the mental exercise their brains need.
4.) Caregiver Relief
Anyone who has had to help care for an aging relative knows how caregiving can be both a rewarding and exhausting process. Thankfully, a fully trained occupational therapist can help relieve some of the common stresses and pressures of caregiving.
Wouldn't it be nice to have some time to yourself to run errands, visit friends, or just relax while a certified professional is providing your loved one with quality care? Just as occupational therapist teach their patients how to live active and independent lifestyles, they also teach caregivers who to practice self-care.
Find An Occupational Therapist Near You
Looking for an occupational therapy near you or your loved one? If you live in the Monterey County area, consider reaching out to Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice. Their trained staff are able to assist patients with all of their home health care needs, including occupational therapy. Contact one of their nurses at 831-226-7666 to learn more.