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Saturday, August 8

8:30 a.m. – Noon

Centennial Park and

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Health & wellness fair

Free T-shirt gets kids complimentary admission to the GreatNorthern Carousel, Exploration Works and the YMCA pool!

register by July 31 at stpetes.org

presents

BODY & moresunday, july 26, 2015 1

RMFREVERSE MORTGAGE FUNDING LLC

BY: JENNIFER COLEGROVE, R.D.

St. Peter’s Hospital

No matter what time of year it is, nutrition plays an important role in your child’s development, energy level and well being. The goal is to provide healthy choices that help your child thrive and grow physically and emotionally, and contribute to their sense of well being. Food and beverages you choose for your child should have high nutrition value and not just be empty calories with no nutrition content. Examples of empty calorie foods would be typical summer treats like Kool Aid, popsicles, chips, and soda. Summer is especially important for good hydration as kids are hopefully playing outside more, splashing in water, riding bikes, and enjoying some of our great playgrounds. Here are some tips for healthy beverages and snacks that are

cool, tasty and nutritious!1. Stop providing sweetened beverages to

your child as a thirst quencher. These include sports drinks, sodas, and juice flavored beverages. The added sugar provides no added nutrition value, only empty calories. 2. Water! Make it fun. Have pitchers in your fridge with chilled water that may have sliced strawberries, lemons, limes, oranges, cucumbers or other berries in them. Have your child help you pick a new one to try. Not only does the produce add a hint of flavor, it looks enticing. If you provide it in a jug with a spigot it’s fun to dispense and even a small child can help themselves when they are thirsty. 3. Make frozen treats using yogurt blended with fruit. Mix and fill in small bowls or ice cube trays with a stick or tooth-pick for a handle. Kids love making these, and are more likely to eat what they have made. You can also freeze fruit directly such as bananas or grapes. This is a fun, cool treat that kids will love and provides good nutrients for their bodies and is a much

better option than your typical Popsicle. 4. Who doesn’t like food on a stick? Fruit kabobs are fun to eat and, again, get your kids involved in the production process. Have them help clean fruit and, if old enough, cut it up as well. Provide some sticks and let the creativity begin with kabob designs. You can store the prepared kabobs on a plate wrapped in the refrigerator for several days, which allows very easy access for little ones to grab for an easy snack. Summer fruit is in season and less expensive this time of year, so eat up! 5. Instead of your standard bowl of ice-cream, create yogurt parfaits. Layer yogurt with sweet diced fruit and a variety of chopped nuts for some crunch. A rainbow of color in a bowl is too good to pass up. 6. Plant some cherry tomato plants in pots right on your porch. Having a juicy tomato picked right from the vine in late summer and fall is a true delight. Get to your local farmers market to grab some fresh carrots or pea pods for fun snacking.

Summer is ripe with healthy, juicy, refreshing snacks. These treats can all be options for breakfast or other meals as well, since they are all loaded with nutritious goodness. Providing good fuel for your family will keep the energy levels high for all your great summer activities.For more ideas and information on healthy snacking and activities, plan on joining the free Family Fun Fest on August 8th. There will be organizations and booths with activities, snacks, and ideas for you. Go to stpetes.org to register your child.

Jennifer Colegrove is a Registered Dietitian with St. Peter’s Hospital. She can be reached at jcolegrove@stpetes.org.

family friendly feasting – KEEP YOUR KIDS HEALTHY

BODY & more2 sunday, july 26, 2015

BY: SUSANNA CLARK PT, DPT, OCS

Advanced Rehab

As I am sure the majority of Helena has noticed the summer has been a hot one, and most likely will continue to be. Living

in Montana, we’re not going to let the heat keep us inside when we can be outside on the lake, in the mountains, playing golf, or playing in the garden. With higher temperatures and sunlight not only comes fun, but also some dangers if a person is unaware of how to adapt. Exercising in hot weather places extra stress on the body. When you exercise, your core body temperature increases, adding outside heat will increase the core temperature even more. Our body has a built in natural way of cooling itself, it sends blood away from our organs and muscles and sends more blood to our skin. This creates less blood flow to our muscles, which in turn makes them have to work harder and increases our heart rate. For every degree the body’s internal temperature rises the heart beats approximately 10 beats per minute faster.

Our skin, blood vessels and perspiration level will naturally adjust to the increase in our core temperature when exercising. But if you add high temperatures for longer periods of time, increased sweating and not enough fluid intake could lead to serious health issues due to heat related illness. There is a progression of heat related illness. It starts with cramps, painful muscle contractions that can be caused by just the heart, dehydration and decreased electrolytes. Staying hydrated is one of the most important aspects of controlling heat related illness. The next stage, after cramps, is syncope (fainting). This is when you become light headed due to the heat or exertion in the heat and it can lead to collapse. If you feel light headed make sure to seek shade, sit down and replenish fluids. If you have a ways to go, say half way on your hike, make sure to give yourself time to cool down before starting again, take breaks, and go slowly. After heat induced fainting will come heat exhaustion. This is when your body temp will get up to 104°F. You will start to have symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, headache, weakness, and cold clammy skin. If you start to experience any of this seek medical attention immediately. If it

goes untreated it can lead to heatstroke, which is when your body temperature goes above 104°F. The symptoms of heat exhaustion will worsen but your body most likely will not be able to sweat anymore and your skin may be hot now. This needs to be treated ASAP! If not it can lead to brain damage, organ failure and even death.

SO WHAT CAN YOU DO TO

AVOID ANY HEAT RELATED

ILLNESS?

■ Know your limits: if you have medical conditions that already increase your risk for heat related illness, avoid being out in high heat. Some medications make you more susceptible as well; so check with your medical professional if unsure.

■ Make sure you’re acclimated: you can train yourself to withstand higher temps but ease in to it. For running, they say every degree over 65°F plan to slow your pace by 2 seconds per mile, at least. If you don’t want to change your pace or your activity is not running; cut your time down and ease into doing

the full amount as you acclimate. ■ Drink plenty of fluids: do not wait

till you’re thirsty! Avoid alcohol, which promotes fluid loss. If your exercise session will be longer than 30 minutes, drink 8–12 oz. of water 20–30 minutes prior to exercise plus 6–10 oz. additionally every 30 minutes of exercise to help prevent dehydration. If you are doing higher-level exercise you may need an electrolyte supplement like a salt pill, a few grains of Himalayan sea salt, or electrolyte tablet.

■ Dress appropriately: light weight, loose fitted clothes, and if you wear a hat make sure it is lightweight and breathable as well.

■ Avoid midday sun and know the forecast: go out in the early morning or in the evening when temperatures are cooler and avoid the highest heat.

■ Seek shade if able.

No one wants to be stuck inside during

the summer, but with summer heat

comes responsibility. Make sure to take

the right precautions and make sure that

you enjoy every moment!

BY: SUSANNA CLARK PT, DPT, OCS

Advanced Rehab

s I am sure the majority of Helena has noticed the summer has

Our skin, blood vessels and perspiration level will naturally adjust to the increase in our core temperature when exercising. But if you add high temperatures for longer periods of time, increased sweating and not enough fluid intake could lead to

goes untreated it can lead to heatstroke, which is when your body temperature goes above 104°F. The symptoms of heat exhaustion will worsen but your body most likely will not be able to sweat anymore and your skin may be hot now. This needs to be

the full amount as you acclimate. Drink plenty of fluids: do not wait till you’re thirsty! Avoid alcohol, which promotes fluid loss. If your exercise session will be longer than 30 minutes, drink 8–12 oz. of water 20–30 minutes prior to

summer heat:

How to be safe while having fun outside

BODY & moresunday, july 26, 2015 3

Behind Fuel Fitness • 1005 Partridge Place, Suite 2 & 3, Helena

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ACUPUNCTURE Do you know about qi, the vital energy that flows through the body’s meridians? If you don’t, it’s probably because you’ve never tried acupunc-ture. This traditional Chinese therapy acts on the qi to restore balance, thus helping improve health and alleviate pain. Acupuncture stimulates the body so that it can repair itself whenever pos-sible.

HOW? By stimulating specific areas called

acupuncture points, which are located along the meridians. To do this, acu-puncturists use special needles thatthey insert into the uppermost layerof skin. These needles are very fine,and when inserted the patient mayfind they feel like tiny mosquito bites.Acupuncturists may also use heat,pressure, a light electrical current orlaser light to stimulate these points. During an initial encounter, acu-puncturists evaluate the patient’s energy balance in order to detect any imbalances and to understand the causes. They then decide on a treat-mentplan based on their observations andon the patient’s health. Above all, theywill take into account family historyand the recommendations of other health professionals who have been consulted. Can acupuncture really help you feel better? The answer is a definite yes. Clinical research has shown that

acupuncture is an effective treatment against ailments such as migraines, arthritis, diarrhea, tendonitis, morn-ing sickness, post-surgical pain and sprains. It also helps to reduce stressand treat depression.

REFLEXOLOGY: PAIN

RELIEF THROUGH THE FEET Reflexology is a therapeutic method that is similar to shiatsu and acupunc-ture. It consists of exerting sustained pressure with the fingers on zones or reflex points on the extremities that correspond to organs or internal func-tions. It is based on the principle that each organ, gland or body region has corresponding points in the hands, ears or feet. These are the areas of the body where the most sensitive reflex points are concentrated. By stimulating the nervous system at specific places, a reflexologist can relieve pain felt

elsewhere, in corresponding zones. Reflexology relieves various ail-ments by triggering the healing process of the body and by restoring the bal-ance of the vital energy of the glands and organs. People use this particu-lar type of treatment when they feel stressed or whensuffering from headaches, backache, respiratory or digestive problems. Reflexology is also used to relieve PMS, menopause problems and pain in palliative care patients. During the first visit, reflexolo-gists ask many questions in order to establish the patient’s general state of health. This enables them to know whether certain reflex points should be avoided. Reflexology sessions last about an hour and are very relaxing. They can sometimes cause side ef-fects, such as headaches, nauseaor a need to urinate more often, but these usually disappear soon after the treatment.

pain relief using

Acupuncture and Reflexology

BODY & more4 sunday, july 26, 2015

BY JOELLE JOHNSON, LCSW, LAC,

Intermountain Project Director

According to the 2015 Montana Youth Risk Behavior survey results recently released, alcohol use by youth and young adults remains very high and children are becoming drinkers at a younger age. Here in our area, while the numbers for Broadwater County are not yet available, the statistics for Lewis and Clark and Jefferson County are alarming! For instance, 55.19% of local high school students reported having had their first drink by the time they were 16 and 64.21% report having used alcohol at some point. 18.38% admit to recent binge drinking. In addition, almost 37% of local high school students in Lewis and Clark and Jefferson County have used marijuana. It is not likely that most of these teens would self-identify as “alcoholic,” let alone profess they need or want help to stop drinking. No, the large majority would likely characterize their substance use as “fun” and “harmless.” And while, some parents are completely unaware of their teen’s substance use, almost a third of 8th graders surveyed said they are getting alcohol from home with permission and another 12% said it was given to them by a sibling! The outcome shows up in another statistic as Montana continues to have one of the highest rates of driving under the influence in the country and our state’s drug-induced death rate is higher than the national average. If the status quo remains, a large majority of these youth will not receive any sort of formalized intervention. Many will be seriously injured or will die as a direct result of intoxication and still others will develop an unhealthy if not dependent relationship with substances. Fortunately though, research has shown that treatment for youth and young adults works! As is true for health problems ranging from cancer to diabetes, early

identification, prevention and immediate intervention are keys to reducing the negative effects and improving the quality of life. Research demonstrates substance abuse treatment with young and even reluctant youth is very effective especially when substance use problems are mild or moderate rather than severe. Parents have a responsibility to their children to protect and guide them. If you suspect your teen is using substances, take action early. The action taken may be as simple as educating them.

According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, even youth who are not substance dependent, but are “experimenting” benefit from intervention, though these approaches are very unlike what many think of as “substance abuse treatment”. An example is the requirement for youth who receive a Minor-in-Possession-of-Alcohol ticket to participate in a substance abuse education course. These courses are not intended to demean or criticize a youngster for making choices but to

raise awareness and increase understanding of the risks involved with the choices they make, and provide safe guidelines for adult use of alcohol in the future. Treatment for youth with more severe substance use issues will need more intense interventions that involve teaching coping skills, addressing mental health issues and family therapy. Often, these can be provided at an outpatient treatment center and in some communities, even at school. And, if sought early, these interventions can prevent future consequences. These courses provide guidance, but parents are the first step. If you are concerned about your teen’s substance use, there are places to turn and people to help you. For addiction providers in your area, you can find a list of all

state-approved substance abuse treatment providers on the state’s Chemical Dependency Bureau’s website at http://dphhs.mt.gov/Portals/85/amdd/documents/AMDD%20Website%20Migration%20Documents/Substance%20Abuse/CDProviderlistbyProvider.pdf

BIO:Joelle Johnson, LCSW, LAC has over ten years of experience treating adolescents with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse issues in outpatient and correctional settings and is currently the project director for Intermountain’s unique co-occurring treatment program. Joelle grew up in Helena and is proud to be raising her two “tween” sons in the Queen City.

substance use SOARING among youth

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BODY & moresunday, july 26, 2015 5

KARRIE FAIRBROTHER St. Peter’s Hospital

Enjoying life in Big Sky Country brings us a world of opportunity to explore the outdoors. We generally feel moti-vated to hike, bike, walk, swim, play and enjoy adventures without thought of being too hot. Unfortunately, the feeling of well being we generally enjoy does not remind us that we must pro-tect our skin from ultra violet radiation (UVR). Radiation is still reaching our skin even when we do not feel the heat, for example on a cloudy day, or from refl ective surfaces such as cement, sand, rock, snow or water. Babies need extreme protection by clothing, shade and by not being outdoors during the time the sun is

directly overhead. Teach your children and family members that if they cannot see a long shadow they should seek protection from shade, clothing and sun screen or work or play indoors during those peak hours to avoid UV exposure and skin damage. Too many young people continue to report that they have been sun-burned. Many people would suggest that the burn is the problem, and the pain, erythema, and peeling are con-sidered the “symptoms.” This common misconception is present because short term side effects of sunburn are physi-cal and visible, and therefore easily recognizable. We need to realize that sunburns themselves are symptoms of skin damage and indications of an increased risk of possible future skin cancer. Sunburns are different levels and

degrees of serious damage. In all cases UVR has been absorbed, which causes damage to the cell’s deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). To protect us from a burn and DNA damage, sun screen is available and may be recommended for babies over 6 months old. Many users prefer non-chemical sunscreen for both the youngest and most skin sensitive users. Key ingredients are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide (not to be used on broken skin).

FOR CHILDREN: “FDA guidelines recommend the terminology apply “generously” or “liberally.” Most people do not apply adequate amounts of sunscreen. The Children’s Melanoma Prevention Foun-dation advises using a handful

of sunscreen per application per child. This is the proper dose or amount needed to cover the entire body surface when wearing a bathing suit. As a general rule of thumb, re-application is advised at least every 2 hours. Since sunscreen absorbs or refl ects UV rays it is important to realize that the higher the UV Index, the faster sunscreen will dissipate off the skin. When properly used, sunscreen products should be ex-hausted quickly, not last all summer.” (info@melanomaprevention.org)

CONTINUED PAGE 8

Saving Your Skin! the latest recommendations for sun safety

BODY & more6 sunday, july 26, 2015

BY MARK GOTTLIEB

Mountain-Pacific Quality Health

Diabetes is not a spectators’ sport. If you have diabetes, you need to get off the sidelines and play, if you want to win the game. Your doctor and other health care providers like your certified diabetes educator are your coaches. But you should be the manager of your health care team. You need to take an active role in learning what you need to do to get ahead of the game. That means understanding your diabetes and accepting that you have to make lifestyle changes to take control of it—instead of it taking control of you.

WHAT IS DIABETES? Your body breaks down most of the foods you eat into sugar you can

use for energy. Your pancreas, an organ near your stomach, makes insulin. Insulin helps the sugar from your food get into your body’s cells. If your body does not make enough insulin, or if your body does not use insulin as well as it should, sugar builds up in your blood and cannot get into the cells where it is needed. This is how you develop diabetes. Diabetes is actually a group of diseases identified by high sugar levels in the blood. Type 1 diabetes usually occurs in children and young adults. Pregnant women who have never had diabetes, but who develop high sugar levels in their blood while they are pregnant, have what is called gestational diabetes. But the most common form of diabetes is type 2 diabetes. In fact, type 2 diabetes, sometimes called adult onset diabetes,

accounts for as much as 95 percent of all diabetes diagnoses. Many people who have developed type 2 diabetes do not know they have it. Some common symptoms include: • Havingtourinatealot • Feelingverythirstyorvery hungry, even though you drink and eat enough • Feelingverytired • Havingblurryvision • Havingcutsorbruisesthat take a long time to heal • Feelingtingling,painor numbness in your hands and feet In early stages, you may not notice any of these symptoms. That is why screening is so important. Some people who have developed type 2 diabetes can control it with exercise and healthy eating. Others may need medications or insulin. But type 2 diabetes usually gets worse over time, especially when it goes untreated. So early detection and being active in managing diabetes are key.

THE GOOD NEWS? THERE’S HELP AVAILABLE.

The Diabetes Empowerment Education Program (DEEP)TM is a series of fun, interactive classes that help people with diabetes or those at risk for developing diabetes get the knowledge and the skills they need to live healthier lives. These classes are meant to support—not replace—education you receive from your health care provider or a certified diabetes educator. But they do offer supportive, informative and interactive ways to understand the benefits of making healthy lifestyle changes and choices. The class materials and activities will • helpyoubuildasolid understanding of how diabetes affects your body and your health; • giveyoustrategiesforliving sensibly and successfully, so you can manage your diabetes

in a way that makes the most

sense for your life;

• offerhands-onactivitiesand discussions about how to use

measurement tools, like a blood

sugar meter, and test results from

your health care providers to better

understand diabetes and your

health;

• helpyoubeginchangingoldhabits into healthier ones;

• helpyoubecomeaninformed member of your health care team,

as you work with your doctor,

certified diabetes educator and

other health care providers to

improve your health.

ARE YOU A MEDICARE BENEFICIARY WITH DIABETES? The DEEP class runs for six sessions

at about two hours each, and every

session is absolutely free. While the

classes are geared toward people with

Medicare, anyone with diabetes is

welcome to attend. If you would like to

participate in these fun, interactive

classes, or if you know someone who

would benefit from this education,

there are upcoming sessions in the

Helena area:

Lewis & Clark Library

Wednesdays and Fridays

Sept. 9, 11, 16, 18, 23 and 25

2:00 – 4:00 PM

East Helena Senior Center/Fire Hall

Wednesdays

Oct. 7 – Nov. 18

(excluding Nov. 11, Veterans Day)

10:00 AM – 12:00 NOON

For more information about how to

sign up or how to participate, contact

Mark Gottlieb with Mountain-Pacific

Quality Health at (406) 457-5839 or at

mgottlieb@mpqhf.org.

get in the game to manage your Diabetes

BODY & more8 sunday, july 26, 2015

1511430 © 2015 Touchmark, LLC, all rights reserved

Touchmark offers a wide

range of lifestyle options:

· Independent Living

· Cottages & Apartments

· Assisted Living

· Memory Care

Learn more: 406-204-3774

TouchmarkHelena.com/info

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Full-service Retirement Community

915 Saddle Drive • Helena, MT 59601

At Touchmark ... It’s the people!

Discover the path toyour {FULL} Life!

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CONTINUED from PAGE 5

Sunscreen labeling confi rms that it is supportive of protection from UV if the SPF is greater than 30 and the label states it is broad spectrum to include protection from UVA and UVB. Ap-plication must be thorough and dense enough to fully cover exposed skin. Leave a good coating on the skin and do not rub off the sunscreen by rubbing it in excessively. Usually a full hand-ful of sunscreen needs to be applied to the person using the coverage every 2 hours and additionally when the person sweats or gets wet. Hats for the scalp and better protection for the eyes- sun-glasses, and specifi c lip protection also need to be included. The BEENS acronym helps us to re-member areas we commonly miss when applying sunscreen!

■ BACK OF KNEES,

■ EYES,

■ EARS,

■ NOSE,

■ SCALP

Clothing is historically the oldest protection for the skin. Many com-panies have comfortable and attrac-tive UPF 50+ clothing, hats and swim wear that continues to work when wet. Clothing is a comfortable way to protect your skin. This is also ideal for children and active folks that do not use/reapply sun screen as needed. They only need to apply sunscreen to areas uncovered by their UPF clothing. Using the SunAware message helps! This includes: Avoid unprotected exposure to sunlight; seek shade, and never indoor tan. Wear sun protective clothing, including a long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses year-round. Apply recommended amounts of broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sunburn protection factor (SPF) > 30 to all exposed skin and reapply every two hours, or as needed. Routinely examine your whole body for changes in your skin and report suspicious changes to a parent or healthcare provider. Educate your family and commu-nity about the need to be SunAWARE.

BE SAFE. BE SUNAWARE

http://www.sunaware.org/wp-

Research demonstrates that early skin cancer detection and treatment is the only effective means of combating deadly melanoma. Skin cancer screen-ing is important! The AAD recom-mends checking your birthday suit on your birthday or more frequently as recommended by your dermatology care provider. Many web sites including the AAD, DNA, Skin Cancer Founda-tion and Aim at Melanoma, demon-strate full skin exams. Always ask your providers what to watch during a skin exam. A good method is to look for the “UGLY DUCKLING” –a growth that does not look like others or is new or changing and show these to your HCP. Ask questions and show anything that has any type of change. Be an advocate for skin health-Be SunAware!

Karrie Fairbrother is a Dermatology Nurse Certifi ed RN and a Certifi ed Di-abetes Educator at St. Peter’s Hospital. She can be reached at kfairbrother@stpetes.org.

A

W

A

R

E

AVOID unprotected UV exposure, seek shade

WEAR sun protective clothing, a hat and sunglasses

APPLY sunscreen generously and often

ROUTINELY check skin and report changes

EDUCATE yourself and others

BODY & moresunday, july 26, 2015 7

• Bathing, Dressing and Hygiene

• Homemaker / Companion

• Respite Care

• Skilled Nursing Services

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• And More!

Personal Care Services “Where Your Care Becomes Ours”

Home Care and Personal Care ServicesWith the helping hands of A PLUS HEALTH CARE’S personal

assistants, you can maintain the lifestyle you’ve grown accustomed to.

Compassionate, professional caregivers permit you to remain at home

in a familiar environment where you are most comfortable.

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406-443-3866 • FAX: 406-422-1062

www.aplushc.com

BY MAARTEN FISCHER

A Plus Health Care

We all know someone who is doing their best to take of a loved one, and burn themselves out in the process. Just the other day, the loving spouse of one of our disabled clients was admitted to the ER for a mental health breakdown and fatigue. Diagnosis: Caregiver burnout. Our population, especially in Montana, is aging. More and more people are choosing to live independently and stay in the community, even when their care needs are high. And in general, this is a wonderful thing. At the same time, we are faced with a challenge to provide enough support and care to make it possible to keep people of all ages and abilities living amongst us. But let’s take a minute to discuss what caregiver burnout is, and what people can do about it. Web MD defines caregiver burnout as “a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that may be accompanied by a change in attitude -- from positive and caring to negative and unconcerned.” Signs may include caregivers to have strong mood swings, weakened immune system, lower fitness levels, unexplained health issues and a decreased social life (source: AARP). Unfortunately, there is a stigma around caregiver burnout. People often feel guilty for not caring enough, or allowing other caregivers into their loved ones’ lives. It can be quite the catch 22 that as the care needs of a loved one rise, our risk of burnout increases, but at the same time we feel more needed to put in time and effort to provide the support our loved one needs. But in the end, you will achieve the opposite if you, or others around you, burn out. AARP has some good resources for people to help them cope with or, better yet, avoid Caregiver burnout.

Some examples are talking to your friends, your physician or clergy, joining a support group and making sure you can fill up your own tank by making sure you get good sleep, eat well and get exercise and fun whenever possible. It is also important to plan ahead for when you or your loved ones are going to need more care: who is your back up, can you pay for necessary services, when comes the time to move to some sort of assisted living or a nursing home……things like that. Another option is the many ways to receive respite care through Home Care providers and programs like the Area Agencies on Aging, Medicaid, the VA and others. Unfortunately, respite services are often declined by those that need it most. When clients receive Respite Care a professional caregiver comes into your home to take of a loved one while the caregiver can take a day for themselves. As our need for formal and informal caregivers increases, we are also seeing more innovative programs for people who need Respite. In Flathead County we are piloting recreational respite programs on farms and guided walks that double as support groups for couples living with Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. As a home care provider we see Caregiver burnout every day. It gives us great satisfaction when we can provide the help that prevents caregiver burnout and allows clients and their caregivers to regain their life and energy; and enable clients to stay independent in the community. The flip side of that coin is that our work is always on the sharp edge between informal care (family, friends) and the need for clients to move into a facility, which can be a stressful balance to navigate. This stress will nearly always spill over into our workforce, who can also fall victim to caregiver burnout. It is yet another challenge for our care

attendants, who arguably are one of the most underpaid and undervalued workforce in the country, even though a shortage of care attendants is the largest projected workforce shortage for the coming 10 years in the US. But that is another matter, for another column. If you know someone who is taking care of a loved one, please look out for them and help them not only in the care for their loved one, but also in the care for themselves. As we say at A Plus: we must take care of ourselves, so we can take care of others.

Maarten Fischer works for A Plus Health Care, a Montana Home Care Company. For more information, call Maarten at 406 752 3697, ext. 2004.

Care-Giver BURNOUT ...it happens to the best of us