Physical inactivity could cause non-communicable diseases

by | Dec 17, 2022 | Angel, Healthcare, Patient

Did you know physical inactivity is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases?

According to major research, physical inactivity increases the risk of chronic non-communicable diseases which is the number one cause of death and disability in the world.

Non-communicable diseases include illnesses such as:

Parkinson’s disease, coronary heart disease (CHD), diabetes, cancers, autoimmune diseases, strokes, chronic kidney disease, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, mental health conditions including Alzheimer’s disease, most heart diseases, and chronic respiratory diseases, to mention a few.

Non-communicable diseases shorten life expectancy and there cannot be enough efforts to eliminate this cankerworm but we can start by eliminating physical inactivity.

Here are some tips to help you overcome physical inactivity and stay physically active.

  • Add physical activity to your daily routine. For example, walk or ride your bike, take the stairs, exercise while you watch TV, or park a considerable distance from your destination.
  • Develop a set of activities that can be done irrespective of weather conditions, such as (stair climbing, rope skipping, dancing, indoor swimming, etc.).
  • Take advantage of physical activity facilities and programs at work.
  • Plan social activities involving exercise, develop active hobbies, and try a fitness tracker.
  • Select activities that don’t require new skills, such as walking, climbing stairs, or jogging.

The World Health Organization recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate exercises a week to stay physically active, in addition, it is advised to move at least 1 to 2 minutes each hour of sitting.

By exercising more and staying physically active, the risk of non-communicable diseases can be averted.
Stay physically active today.

 

Challenges of being a family caregiver

by | Nov 20, 2022 | Angel, Health Tech, Healthcare, Patient

Care provided at home is often considered the preference of the elderly. Informal care—often provided by spouses, adult children, and other family members, accounts for most of the care the elderly currently receive in developing countries. Caring for a loved one can be rewarding; we feel confident of the care our loved one is receiving, we are able to be there for them and also be around them more often, they feel more comfortable expressing themselves to us an also, it is less costly. To most family caregivers, caring for their loved one is one of the most fulfilling experiences, however, it also comes with its own challenges.

Financial strain
In Cameroon, for example, a greater part of the older adult population experience poverty as they are often on retirement, with little or no retirement plans and benefits. Family Caregivers usually tend to pay for health needs out of their pocket and if they have a job that is very demanding they may sometimes have to quit their jobs to take better care of the loved one. This poses a greater financial strain on them and on the family.

Experience burnout
Taking care of a loved one can be very stressful. There are a lot of tasks to handle, from managing medications to helping with getting dressed or bathing. This can sometimes lead to caregiver burnout. Caregiver burnout is a state of physical, emotional and mental exhaustion. It may be accompanied by a change in attitude, from positive and caring to negative and unconcerned. Caregivers who are “burned out” may experience fatigue, stress, anxiety and depression.

Little time to care for themselves
Depending on how advanced an illness or ailment may be, some patients need round-the-clock care. Eating, bathing, light exercise, medication–these tasks can take up large chunks of a caregiver’s day.

The tendency to mar other valuable relationships
Caring for a loved one can take away time from relationships with others, just as much as it can take away time from self. Dinner dates, hobbies, and other activities with friends and family may seem difficult to attend.

Constant worry
Family caregivers can often find themselves constantly worrying about how their loved one is faring when they are not around them. This can leave the caregiver feeling nervous, restless or tense and quite possibly depressed.

Risk of health issues
Research shows that family members who provide care to individuals with chronic or disabling conditions are themselves at risk. Emotional, mental, and physical health problems arise from complex caregiving situations and the strains of caring for ill relatives. Risk of illness, injury, mortality, weakened immune system, depression and anxiety are usually associated with this situation.

Feelings of isolation
Feelings of isolation and loneliness can arise due to a withdrawal from previous habits and lifestyle. Oftentimes, caregiving duties take up so much of the caregiver’s time that they no longer maintain social connections outside of the home.

Lack of knowledge
Family caregivers typically have little or no medical knowledge. This lack of knowledge can make caregiving seem very daunting, particularly if the older adult’s medical condition is complex and decisions made will impact their health and wellbeing.

Caregiver challenges can have serious ramifications for the lives of family caregivers. It’s important to seek a balance between caregiving and your own life. You can try to; share the responsibility, practice Self Care, be open to technologies and strategies that allow your family member to remain as independent as possible, get a good night’s sleep, focus on what’s truly important, and be up-front about your limitations, ask help from other family members to share in the financial burden.

If practicing these tips still doesn’t help, you can get home health care for your loved one. Home healthcare has the benefit of relieving caregiver stress as someone else can take care of your loved one so you can have time to focus on yourself. You can contact Klarah today to subscribe for home health care for your loved one. Klarah has a network of nurses present throughout Cameroon and can therefore attend to patients from anywhere. Our technological advancement also helps those in the diaspora to keep up with their parents and loved ones health from a distance.

Visit our website: www.klarah.com

Why Home Healthcare is Crucial after Hospital Discharge

by | Nov 19, 2022 | Angel, Healthcare, Patient

Home health care after a hospital discharge ensures that your loved one receives the exact support they need to increase their chance of a full recovery.

Home health care in recent years is becoming a crucial component of care after discharge from the hospital. Sometimes, a major injury, illness, or health event can turn a person’s life upside down and be very burdensome both to the patient and loved ones. So it can be relieving when a loved one is discharged from the hospital. However, the weeks or months after a hospital discharge represent a high-risk period, which can often lead to other complications or sometimes readmission. Seniors who are coming home from the hospital require care, support, and follow-up.

Follow-up intends to help return the patient’s health conditions to a desired state of health. It is a major way to continue care even after patients have left the hospital premises. Katie et al, define follow-up as a vital part of ongoing patient safety which allows for subsequent investigations to be checked and acted upon as well as encourages specialist review of patients thereby ensuring that patients with chronic conditions receive appropriate secondary care.

There’s usually very little home health care in Cameroon after a patient’s discharge from the hospital. According to a report by Project-House, after research at two major hospitals in the South West region, there’s hardly any record of home visits after discharge. According to the report, the hospitals record a readmission rate of 5.7% and 3% respectively after discharge.

A patient’s care shouldn’t end the minute they leave the hospital. Whether your hospital stay was planned or the result of an accident or emergency, you may need extra support to help you settle back into your daily life. How can patients and their families benefit from home healthcare services and improve their experience after a discharge from the hospital?

Home health care can help reduce costs in the long run
Home health care after discharge helps to prevent readmission which can be very frustrating and costly. According to the Commonwealth Fund, healthcare that enables patients to receive acute care at home has proven effective in reducing complications while cutting the cost of care by 30 percent or more.

It provides the patient with more effective and centralized care, thereby speeding complete recovery
Klarah Carer visits the patient regularly, and can also communicate with the patient via telemedicine equipment, to capture any decline in the patient’s condition. Patients can also be monitored using telemedicine equipment.

Proper follow-up after a chronic illness
Depending on the type of illness, home health services are vital to the healing process; Carers can help to monitor responses to exercise and give education about cardiovascular risk factors in case if heart disease or after surgery. Home health care can also help with physical therapy regimes, as well as menu planning that supports healthy nutrition and hydration to promote continued healing.

Safe and proper administration of medication
The carer ensures the correct administration of the medicines at their prescribed time and correct dosage.

Help with activities of daily living
The carer can help the patient with basic daily life activities. Hence enabling patients to have maximum rest and improving their quality of life.

Companionship and support
Recovery at home can be a slow and lonely experience if you do not have family or friends close by. A home health caregiver provides well-rounded support, whether it is emotional, medical, or physical support for the patient.

Assessment and development of a proper care plan
Hospital discharge planning is a critical step in a patient’s recovery. A successful home care plan should involve a comprehensive client assessment, as well as participation in discharge planning resulting in the development and implementation of a client-centered care plan. Home health can take on this task effectively and promptly.

Help with mobility and prevention of falls
Risks such as falls and mobility challenges can be properly addressed and mitigated.

The role of home health care after a hospital discharge cannot be overemphasized.
If you need after-hospital care by trained and caring professionals, look no further, Klarah is here to help you. Visit our website now to learn how we can help you transition from a hospital stay to getting fully recovered and comfortable at home.

www.klarah.com

Rising Diabetes in Cameroon

by | Nov 14, 2022 | Uncategorized

World Diabetes Day is an annual event observed on 14 November, to raise awareness of diabetes as a global public health issue and what needs to be done, collectively and individually, for better prevention, diagnosis and management of the condition.

The day was proposed by the International Diabetes Federation in 1991 with support from the World Health Organisation and became an official United Nations Day in 2006.

Diabetes is a rampant health issue that continues to take a toll on people across the globe. It is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas is no longer able to make insulin, or when the body cannot make good use of the insulin it produces. Mismanagement of diabetes can lead to serious consequences, causing damage to a wide range of the body’s organs and tissues — including the heart, kidneys, eyes and nerves.

The burden of diabetes in Cameroon is not only high but is also rising rapidly. The prevalence of diabetes in adults in urban areas is currently estimated at 6 – 8%, with as much as 80% of people living with diabetes who are currently undiagnosed in the population.
Findings from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2016 study revealed that diabetes mellitus accounted for over 132,000 disability adjusted life years (DALY) and about 4000 deaths in Cameroon. These demonstrate that the burden of diabetes on the society is enormous in terms of morbidity and mortality, and by extension, a significant impact on the economy and healthcare systems.

This year’s World Diabetes Day is commemorated under the theme, “access to diabetes education”, which underpins the larger multi- year theme “access to care”.
Having the right education and at the right time can reduce the risk factors and minimize the chances to develop complications of diabetes and thus reduce morbidity and mortality in diabetics. It is also important to stay physically active, lose extra weight, eat healthy diets, drink water instead of beverages that may be high in sugar as well as eat small portions of food at a time. It is worth noting that, early detection is key in diabetes because early treatment can prevent damage to the heart, kidneys, eyes, nerves, and other vital organs.

If you need more information about the disease or need help managing diabetes, we are here for you. Visit our website www.klarah.com.

We are proud to join the world to raise awareness on this chronic disease, that so plagues our nation, Cameroon, and the world at large.

Most frequently treated illnesses in home healthcare

by | Nov 4, 2022 | Angel, Healthcare, Patient

Home healthcare can be defined as medical services provided at home to treat a chronic health condition or help a patient recover from illness, injury, or surgery. Home healthcare affords the patient skilled care at home and provides wider convenience for clients and their families.
The burden of diseases in Cameroon is gradually shifting to non-communicable diseases. The rise in urbanisation and growing transition to a western lifestyle by Cameroonians reduced physical activity, and tobacco use further compounds the already increasing burden of non-communicable diseases in Cameroon.

The bulk of healthcare expenditures is spent on hospital care and physician services. Hospitals are overcrowded, and the nation is currently facing an acute shortage of staff per the population it has to attend to. In a report from the World Health Organisation, Cameroon faces an acute shortage of health personnel and this is further complicated by the geographic distributional inequalities of the national health workforce. There’s a need for more centered care for patients and especially persons suffering from chronic conditions as well as a system that mitigates cost. Unnecessary visits to hospitals have the tendency of increasing healthcare costs as well as being time-consuming, Home healthcare has the potential to reduce both of these costs and provide the patient with the quality care they need and deserve.

Home health care can be assistive in the effective management of NCDs and help the patient deal with the chronic diseases and their symptoms better. The role of home health care nurses is increasingly important as patients are discharged from hospitals and rehabilitation centers early in the course of illness and require more sophisticated nursing management at home.
Here are some chronic health conditions that can be managed in home health care:

 

1) Cardiovascular diseases

Home healthcare is a source of vital information for disease management, provides guidance on exercises, and stress management helps in connecting the patient to a wide variety of specialists, provide nutritional guidance and planning, manages medication and also introduces new technology on how to better manage your disease.
Through coaching from the carer, patients can develop the skills and confidence needed to participate fully in their disease management.

 

2) Diabetes

In 2010, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) estimated Cameroon’s prevalence of diabetes among adults aged 20 to 79 years at 4.4%. Prevalent undiagnosed diabetes is also very high – about 80%.
Living with diabetes requires constant vigilance to monitor and adjust blood sugar and intervene at the first sign of problems. Home health care can help you or your loved one recover from complications like slow-healing wounds, infections and amputations. Instructions on healthy diets and the importance of exercise can also be provided by the caregiver. Home health care can also help the patient to improve on self-management of their condition.

 

3) Stroke

Coordinated nursing and specialty therapy services can help people who have suffered a stroke recover functionality and regain as much independence as possible. Physical, occupational and speech therapy can help you regain the ability to do everyday tasks and communicate wants and needs with loved ones.

 

4) COPD or other respiratory conditions

If you suffer from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or other respiratory diseases, you know the condition can have a major impact on daily life. Home healthcare can help you reduce symptoms and better manage your condition. With the aid of the home health caregiver, the patient can better recognize symptoms at home and know what steps to take; be better educated about medications and where necessary the carer can help administer them; the patient can be educated about breathing exercises for COPD; Home health care can help deliver oxygen and instruct the patient on how to use the equipment as well as help with doctor’s appointment.

 

5) Cancer

Whether a person is being treated for cancer or recovering from it, home health care might be an option depending on the type of care needed. from assisting with daily activities and housekeeping to ensuring support during nausea, anemia, pain, infection, and other complications, home healthcare mitigates stress and makes clients as comfortable as possible. Home health care can also help to get certain experts to deliver care to your home. Home healthcare takes into account the emotional and psychological aspects of the disease, which may be helpful, especially for elders who present with comorbid diseases.

 

6) Alzheimer’s disease/ Dementia

Home healthcare can be great for people suffering from Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. Whether at an early stage or at a complicated stage of the disease, home healthcare can provide support with: keeping appointments, assistance with remembering to take medications, encouraging participation in activities, making favourite meals, playing favourite music, and other actions that will provide sensory stimulation.

 

7) Comorbid chronic diseases

Comorbid is the co-occurrence of more than one disease. If you or a loved one is dealing with multiple chronic conditions, you’re likely taking numerous medications and seeing several specialists. It may be difficult trying to manage all the symptoms, medications, and side effects. Home healthcare helps: manage medications; monitor early warning signs; teach you and your caregiver how to manage your health; improve your quality of life; connect you with community resources and home care aides to help with daily needs.

 

8) After a joint replacement or surgery

Research has shown that utilizing home health services after a total knee or other joint replacement can greatly improve your ability to perform your daily activities. The home health caregiver can assist with medication management, and wound management as well as work with your orthopedic surgeon to ensure a safe and quick recovery. With limited mobility after surgery, home health care can play an important role in getting you or your loved one back on your feet.

 

9) Depression

Depression is common, especially among the elderly (although not openly discussed in our communities), and is associated with greater morbidity, injury-producing falls, increased risk of hospitalization, and medical costs. But growing older doesn’t have to mean living with depression. A multidisciplinary home health care approach may help overcome depression and anxiety. Nurses and therapists can provide skilled care and teach self-management for chronic conditions.

 

10) Falls and dizziness

Falls account for 95% of all hip fractures in the elderly. To help decrease the risk of a fall, in-home physical and occupational therapists can work to improve your strength, mobility, balance, and motor skills; address environmental risks in the home; make recommendations and provide guidance on exercise and nutrition; as well as provide techniques and equipment to make you safer in your home.

Let Us Help

Do you or your loved one need home health care to manage a chronic or short-term medical condition? Our skilled medical professionals and caregivers are trained to meet your needs and our first-in-class technology is built to improve efficiency in the management of your health condition.

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