World Elder Abuse awareness is a day I can get behind every day of the year. The senseless acts of abuse of violence our elderly have to endure are unimaginable. 

• Around 1 in 6 people 60 years and older experienced some form of abuse in community settings during the past year.
• Rates of elder abuse are high in institutions such as nursing homes and long-term care facilities, with 2 in 3 staff reporting that they have committed abuse in the past year.
• Rates of elder abuse have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Elder abuse can lead to serious physical injuries and long-term psychological consequences.
• Elder abuse is predicted to increase as many countries are experiencing rapidly ageing populations.

Elder abuse (also called “elder mistreatment“, “senior abuse“, “abuse in later life“, “abuse of older adults“, “abuse of older women“, and “abuse of older men“) is “a single, or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an older person.”^[1] This definition has been adopted by of the World Health Organization (WHO) from a definition put forward by Action on Elder Abuse in the UK. Laws protecting the elderly from abuse are similar to and related to laws protecting dependent adults from abuse.

It includes harms by people the older person knows, or has a relationship with, such as a spouse, partner, or family member; a friend or neighbor; or people that the older person relies on for services. Many forms of elder abuse are recognized as types of domestic violence or family violence since they are committed by family members. Paid caregivers have also been known to prey on their elderly patients.

Those who come before us have paved our way, they have opened doors and they have made tremendous sacrifices. We must hold that dear and help preserve the health of our elderly population. Check on a neighbor or family member today, let them know you care and see if they need anything. 

Melinda

Scleroderma, which is also referred to as systemic sclerosis, describes a group of autoimmune diseases that can cause system-wide effects in the most severe cases. The mechanism of this disease is believed to be an autoimmune response in which the immune system mistakenly attacks body tissue. Some factors that may contribute to triggering the autoimmune response include mutations of the HLA genes and exposure to certain materials, such as certain solvents, white spirits, ketones, and silica. Symptoms are broad-ranging and systemic, including kidney failure, erectile dysfunction, fatigue, stroke, headaches, facial pain, congestive heart failure, skin abnormalities, high blood pressure, chest pain, indigestion, and many more. Treatments are varied and depend on the symptoms, but most patients take medications in an attempt to suppress the autoimmune response. In severe cases, life expectancy is around 11 years from onset. To learn more about scleroderma, click here.

Scleroderma is a chronic illness, meaning that there is no cure for the disease. Scleroderma is a skin disease, which causes the body to produce too much collagen. Sounds good, right? You’ll never age. Wrong. Although, some people with scleroderma have been noted as looking younger. Scleroderma causes the skin to thicken and feel tight. This thickening can occur internally, too, leading to tissue damage and organ function impairment. Scars may form on the lungs or kidneys, and blood vessels may thicken and harden leading to serious circulation issues.

Food and Nutrition for Scleroderma: Chef Katie Simmons

https://youtu.be/olPKUGn7A5E

Melinda

References:

https://patientworthy.com/2022/06/08/june-scleroderma-awareness-month-rare-disease/

Scleroderma Awareness Month

National Men’s Health Week is June 13-20, the week leading up to Father’s Day, because what better way to celebrate dad than to encourage him to take care of his health? The week is all about healthy bodies, hard exercise, good diet, and regular visits to the doctor. It’s part of National Men’s Health Month, a month-long recognition of men’s health with activities and events to remind men to take care of their bodies. So whether you are a man or just love them, take some time this week to celebrate the male form and keeping it in tip-top shape!

Men’s Health Week was created by Congress in 1994 to heighten awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys. The bills creating Men’s Health Week were sponsored by former Senator Bob Dole and former Congressman Bill Richardson. The sponsors cited the cost-effectiveness of a shift from treatment to prevention in health care emphasis when presenting the bill. The supporters of Men’s Health Week also noted that prevention requires public awareness and designating a week would spread information on preventing illnesses affecting males, which includes nationwide events and screenings.

Show the men in your life you care about their health by encouraging them to go to those appointments they have been putting off or go for a walk in the park to help jumpstart their exercise routine. Most important is to let them know you care. 

Melinda

References:

https://nationaltoday.com/national-mens-health-week/

International Men’s Health Week

Running a small business is hard work. There are so many things to do and so little time! It can be tough to keep up with everything, especially when trying to grow your business. That’s why it’s important to utilize technology to help automate some of the tasks taking up your time. In this blog post, we will discuss four ways to use technology to automate your small business. Let’s get started!

Use an online booking system

If you’re still using a paper-based booking system, it’s time to switch to an online system. Many great online booking systems can save you time and help you keep track of your appointments. With an online booking system, you can easily see which days are booked and available. You can also send automatic reminders to your clients, so they don’t forget their appointment. This can save you a lot of time chasing up clients who have forgotten their appointment.

Automate your invoicing

Another great way to save time is to automate your invoicing. With an automated invoicing system, you can easily send out invoices and track payments. This can save you a lot of time chasing up late payments. Many great invoicing systems are available, so do some research and find one that suits your needs. If you’re unsure where to start, we recommend FreshBooks or Xero. Both of these platforms offer a free trial to try them out before you commit to anything. Xero also provides a great mobile app to invoice on the go!

Invest in an online chatbot

If you offer customer support, investing in an online chatbot can be a great way to save time. Chatbots are a great way to handle simple customer queries without human intervention. This can free up your time to focus on more important tasks. Many different chatbots are available, so do some research and find one that suits your business. If you’re researching the best Live chat tool for website, you’re on the right track as you can use a chatbot to automate your marketing tasks. For example, you can use a chatbot to send out automated emails or social media messages and respond to customers while you’re exercising.

Use a project management tool

If you’re working on projects with a team, it’s important to use a project management tool. This will help you to keep track of tasks and deadlines. It can also be used to communicate with your team members. There are many different project management tools available, so do some research and find one that suits your needs. Trello or Asana is recommended. Also, if you’re working with a virtual team, many great tools can help you stay organized and communicate with your team members. We recommend using Slack or Google Hangouts.

Technology has come a long way in recent years, and there are now many great ways to utilize it to automate your small business. You can save yourself time and energy by using an online booking system, automating your invoicing, investing in a chatbot, and using a project management tool.

This is a collaborative post.

Melinda

I don’t write many opinion posts, that’s not why you visit my site. In the wake of the Uvalde mass shooting, the whole trial seems like nonsense. 

This whole media circus has bothered me from the start. No cameras should have been allowed in the courtroom, the judge knew this was a drama-filled case. One thing that burns me is this circus took six weeks, most murder trials don’t last that long.

If you know me at all, you know I am against abuse of any kind with all of my soul. I grew up in a domestic violence household and it took a major toll on me.

This trial was about whether Amber defamed Johnny by insinuating that she was abused in her op-ed. It was not about if Johnny abused Amber or Amber abused Johnny.

It was a defamation case! Nothing more.

I’m not vested in either one of them so this is not a yeah Johnny post.

The fact is she insinuated that Johnny abused her in the op-ed and it had a negative impact on his career.

Amber did not come out and say Johnny abused her, she didn’t own it.

These are a few of her comments after the trial along with my thoughts.

“It is a setback. It sets back the clock to a time when a woman who spoke up and spoke out could be publicly shamed and humiliated.

Amber didn’t speak up like so many women and men do every day. They speak up loudly and get the hell away from the abuser as soon as they can.

“It sets back the idea that violence against women is to be taken seriously.

This trial wasn’t about violence against women.

“I’m sad I lost this case. But I am sadder still that I seem to have lost a right I thought I had as an American – to speak freely and openly.”

She did not speak freely and openly, she insinuated abuse. There is a huge difference.

I think they are both guilty of many things but that wasn’t what was on the table. I have to look at the facts, this was a defamation case not a domestic violence case.

I don’t like her saying that the verdict sets women back. The #MeTOO movement is about women and men calling out their abusers and wanting justice. The brave women and men that finally break away from an abusive relationship want to get far away from them not write an op-ed to bring attention to something she never owned up to. If she had said he abused her it would be a different case.

I know many very strong women who have or are in the process of leaving their abuser. It’s a horrific experience and one that puts them in a very vulnerable position. I can say without hesitation that they said out loud they were abused and once they break away they run far away if they can.

What are your thoughts on the circus?

Melinda