"We recognize the significant contribution caregivers make to lives of those who desire to remain independent."

Featured Health and Wellness Recipe

Swine Flu Spreads In The US - The CDC has issued a pandemic warning about the recent outbreak of swine flu world-wide. Although adults over 65 years of age and children do not appear to be especially targeted by the virus, the CDC and the World Health Organization believe everyone should take precautions at this time. For more information about swine flu, its symptoms, actions to take if you believe you have the disease, and appropriate actions to lessen the risk of contracting the disease, click on the download button.

New National Online Resource Provides Practical Advice and Hope for People Dealing with Emotional Health Issues Related to Financial Stress

The economic turmoil caused by the current recession can have negative mental and physical health effects. A first-of-its-kind, online guide now provides crucial information and resource referrals for people dealing with emotional or other health problems associated with economic hard times. The “Getting Through Tough Economic Times” guide http://www.samhsa.gov/economy/  provides practical advice on identifying health concerns, developing coping skills, and finding help.

Time Is a Trickster When Cancer Runs the Clock - Anyone who has or has had cancer will appreciate this short essay. As a caregiver of someone with cancer, one is so touched by the way Dana Jenkins helps us to understand this other worldly experience.

Do You Know What bisphenol-A (BPA) Is?  New safety warning about this additive to plastic food and beverage containers may be issued by the Food and Drug Administration. Why should you be concerned? Toxicology reports warn it's dangerous to our health and it is now widely used to produce polycarbonate, a hard plastic. You can follow the developments about the safety of this additive at the FDA website.

New Expert on Veteran's Aid and Attendance Benefit - Please welcome Jerry Rubin to the panel of experts. Mr. Rubin is a graduate of Temple University, served in the Navy and has worked with Veterans of Foreign Wars for the past 20 years advising them on financial matters including retirement planning and long term care. He is an expert on the Aid and Attendance benefit and will advise veterans and their family members on how to apply for and maximize their ability to obtain the benefit. Please go to the "Talk To An Expert" page under the educational resources tab for a link to email Mr. Rubin with your questions.

Now You Can Compare The Performance Of Home Health Care Companies - The Federal Department of Health and Human Services is posting performance ratings for home health care companies providing skilled nursing care nationally. The DHHS system uses 12 quality measures and reports how the agency performs on each measure in comparison to other agencies in the same geographic region. To visit the website, go to http://www.medicare.gov/HHCompare/Home.asp?version=default&browser=IE%7C7%7CWinXP&language=English&defaultstatus=0&pagelist=Home&CookiesEnabledStatus=True.

Vitamin D Levels In Pregnant Women Linked To MS - A research team from Oxford University in the United Kingdom have confirmed a long suspected link between Vitamin D and the development of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Called the "sunshine vitamin," Vitamin D is produced by the body when it comes in contact with the suns rays. Worldwide, MS has a higher prevalence in geographic areas that receive lower levels of sunlight. The Oxford team conducted laboratory experiments and found Vitamin D directly effects a DNA sequence known to be key to the disease. It's now believed that Vitamin D causes these genes to funciton properly. The MS Society in the United Kingdom is encouraging pregnant women to take Vitamin D supplements to prevent the developmenet of the disease in their children. Their study was published in the Public Library of Science Genetics. Retrieved from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/4525873/Vitamin-D-for-pregnant-women-could-cut-MS-rates.html.

There is renewed hope for veteran's families seeking aid for family caregivers. Many vets returning home with injuries sustained in the war in Iraq require assistance to remain at home. Mirroring national trends, where one family member becomes that unpaid assistant, veterans and their family members are asking congress to pass legislation so family members of veterans with brain injury can be paid for their work. To read more about this issue, visit http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/12/us/12veterans.html?th&emc=th