The Bethlen Home Messenger, 1991 (1-3. szám)
1991-09-01 / 3. szám
32tto Símtissfons PasiraI Cberapp Cornr The Bethlen Home staff wishes to extend a warm welcome to the following new residents and their families. ROSEMARIE VALLINO JOANN CAWLEY ELLA FODO VIOLA COOKE BONNIE MC CLINTON ELSIE PICADIO MAYME JONES EVELYN OAKES NELLIE IZZETT ARTHUR HALFERTY GENEVIEVE WILSON CLOE GRAHAM Best wishes to former residents, Evelyn Aitkens and William Dice who were recently discharged to go home. We wish you the best of luck! Jfrom tfte ©irecwr of ©ttrsring November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month. The following article by our Director of Nursing Gloria Jean Short will inform and educate you about this common disorder. REHABILITATION : WHAT IS IT? by: Rhonda Walker, FT Over the last half century a system of care has been developed to address the problems of chronic illness. It is termed rehabilitation. September 15 to 21 is designated National Rehabilitation Week. A chronic illness is one that shows little change or slow progression and long continuance. Rehabilitation is not aimed at curing illness. The goals of rehabilitation are: (1.) to reduce disability (disability is a decreased capacity to accomplish a necessary or desired task). (2.) to improve function (3.) to eliminate handicap (a handicap is measured by the degree to which a person is excluded from participating in the social or physical environment) EPILEPSY Epilepsy ... better known as seizure disorders, affects more than one percent of the United States population or approximately two million people. Every year about 100,000 people are diagnosed with epilepsy and over half of these begin in childhood. In approximately half of the cases the cause is unknown, however, some are caused by head injuries, brain tumors, lead poisoning, problems in brain development and diseases. Children with epileptic parents have a greater risk of developing epilepsy, however, many do not. Most of the time epilepsy develops with no family history of the condition. Epilepsy often considered a condition of the "dark ages" still carries a lot of fear and stigma. Children suffer riducule from peers and family because people have little insight into seizure disorders. Adults are often discriminated against regarding driving, employment, insurance and joining the armed forces. In some areas it is illegal to refuse to hire a qualified person just because he has epilepsy. There are many varieties of seizure disorders ... approximately seven and many new medications to control them including the older ones Delantin and Phénobarbital. Epilepsy can touch all of us. If someone close to you suffers from Epilepsy, find out all you can about it and learn first aid for seizures. Don't fear epilepsy ... educate you and your family by calling the Epilepsy Foundation of America (301-459-3700) or your local Epilepsy Foundation of Western Pennsylvania (412-261-5880). Epilepsy is what they have, not what they are. It's not their whole life. Rehabilitation is not just achieved by the health care professionals, the family and the patient must be active participants. Steps in rehabilitation include: (1.) stabilize the primary problem(s) (2.) prevent secondary complications (3.) restore lost functional abilities (4.) promote adaptation of the person to his or her environment (5.) adapt the environment to the person (6.) promote family adaptation The book Geriatric Rehabilitation states: "Rehabilitation is particularly germane to aging. The most significant health care problem facing older adults is chronic, disabling illness. The prospects of diminished functioning, long-term care, and economic hardship, coupled with a health care system not geared to these kinds of problems, causes both individual hardships for older persons and dilemmas for health care financing."
