‘Tis the season to be merry!

While we are busy with family gatherings, nights out with friends, cocktail parties, and other fun holiday activities, we can sometimes get carried away and not pay attention to healthy lifestyles. Here are some tips to help you stay healthy during this festive season.

• Eat healthily

Before you enjoy special holiday foods, make sure to consume vegetables and fruits which are high in nutrients and support optimal health. Limit your portion sizes and foods high in fat, salt, and sugar. 

• Stay active

Make sure you stick to doing some physical activity every day– whether that is a walk, a run, or an online workout.

• Stay hydrated

Drink plenty of water. Avoid alcohol, sugary drinks, and/or caffeine as they are loaded with sugar, sodium, and other ingredients that remove water from your tissues.

• Wash your hands often to help prevent the spread of germs

It’s flu season ensure to wash your hands often and also dress warmly to avoid getting the flu.

• Manage stress

Give yourself a break if you feel stressed out, overwhelmed, and out of control. Some of the best ways to manage stress are to find support, connect socially, and get plenty of sleep.

• Don’t Sit Down All Day

Encourage the whole family to get out for a walk at some point – ideally, after dinner to aid digestion. Do games and other activities.

• Get enough sleep

Being tired can lead to increased stress, low energy, and making unhealthy eating and drinking decisions. Don’t overbook yourself with holiday events and try to stick to a regular bedtime every night.

Stay safe and healthy during this festive season and remember for any health concerns, Klarah is here for you.

www.klarah.com

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.

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

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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