Celebrating Teacher’s Day and Week

By Terry Orr

"Teachers, I believe, are the most responsible and important members of 

society because their professional efforts affect the fate of the earth."

~ Helen Caldicott, author and peace activist

"Teachers teach because they care. Teaching young people is what they do best. 

It requires long hours, patience, and care."

~ Horace Mann

"The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires."

~ William Arthur Ward

"There is an old saying that the course of civilization is a race between catastrophe and education. In a democracy such as ours, we must make sure that education wins the race."

~ John F. Kennedy

"Better than a thousand days of diligent study is one day with a great teacher."

~ Japanese proverb

"The whole art of teaching is only the art of awakening the natural curiosity of young minds for the purpose of satisfying it afterwards."

~ Anatole France

"One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child."

~ Carl Jung

"In a completely rational society, the best of us would be teachers 

and the rest of us would have to settle for something less."

~ Lee Iacocca

"Above all things I hope the education of the common people will be attended to; convinced that on their good sense we may rely with most security for the preservation of a due degree of liberty."

~ Thomas Jefferson

From all of us at KISBYTO, our families and friends –

Thank You!

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National Family Caregiver's Month

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By Nurse and Caregiver Diane

The ability of taking care of an elderly or sick family member at home is very rewarding, and so under-appreciated.  When my husband's uncle passed away, his 90 year old wife was faced with the possibility of moving into a nursing home.  She was a very healthy, young ninety year old, but had the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.  When her children did not want to bring her to live with them, her granddaughter stepped up and took her in.  Things were great, she was able to spend time with her granddaughter and great grandson, she even got a puppy to keep her company while they were at school and work.  Time spent with her family was better than in a facility with strangers.

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This month is National Family Caregiver's Month.  Below is the Presidential Proclamation:

Our Nation's health care professionals provide essential medical services to millions of Americans, yet they do not shoulder their responsibilities alone. Family members, friends, and neighbors devote countless hours to providing care to their relatives or loved ones. During National Family Caregivers Month, we recognize and thank the humble heroes who do so much to keep our families and communities strong.

Across America, daughters and sons balance the work of caring for aging parents with the demands of their careers and raising their own children. Spouses and partners become caregivers to the ones they love even as they navigate their own health challenges. Mothers and fathers resume care for children returning home as wounded warriors. Friends and relatives form networks to support loved ones with disabilities. All of them give selflessly to bring comfort, social engagement, and stability to those they love.

Family caregivers have an immeasurable impact on the lives of those they assist, but their hours are long and their work is hard. Many put their own lives on hold to lift up someone close to them. That is why my Administration continues to support these committed individuals through programs like the National Family Caregiver Support Program and the Lifespan Respite Care Program, and through new initiatives like the National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease. These efforts help caregivers access services, provide quality support, and reinforce their support through respite care options. Additionally, my Administration has pursued workplace flexibility initiatives that help caregivers balance their responsibilities to their employers with their responsibilities to their loved ones. I was also proud to sign the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act, which has helped our most seriously injured post-9/11 veterans and their family caregivers through financial support; access to health insurance, mental health services, and counseling; and comprehensive caregiver training and respite care.

National Family Caregivers Month is a time to reflect on the compassion and dedication that family caregivers embody every day. As we offer our appreciation and admiration for their difficult work, let us also extend our own offers of support to them and their loved ones.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States do hereby proclaim November 2012 as National Family Caregivers Month. I encourage all Americans to pay tribute to those who provide for the health and well-being of their family members, friends, and neighbors.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-seventh.

BARACK OBAMA

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Show your support to those you know who provide care to their family members.

Respiratory Care Week

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By Nurse Diane

When I was going to nursing school, they had another program for respiratory therapy.  We would get together at times during a club meeting for Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA).  Breathing is one of the most basic human needs we have.  Without the exchange of oxygen, we would cease to live.  The respiratory students went through rigorous training and testing to be able to work with patients who had respiratory needs.

According to Wikipedia, the profession of respiratory care was officially established over 60 years ago; and respiratory research has officially existed since the early 1900s.During the early years, respiratory therapists were referred to as "oxygen technicians", and most of their activities involved moving cylinders of compressed gas and administering oxygen via nasal catheter or oxygen tent. Most oxygen technicians were trained on the job, although brief training programs began to appear in the late 1940s and 1950s.  Today the profession hardly resembles what it was in the 1940s. Respiratory Therapists provide direct care, patient education, and care coordination. They are academically trained in respiratory nursing and respiratory medicine. They practice in acute care facilities, long-term acute care facilities, skilled nursing facilities, assisted-living centers, sub-acute care units, rehabilitation centers, diagnostics units, and in the home.

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In the hospital they are responsible not only for transporting oxygen and applying nasal cannulas, but they also perform treatments for inhalers, monitor the life support machines, check oxygen levels in the blood, monitor sleep studies, perform lung percussions, use suction techniques, and assist during heart attack codes.

Some even help to transport patients by ambulance and helicopters.  They work with newborns and the elderly in assisting to aid the breathing process.

If you have ever been in the hospital, you have probably had some contact with a respiratory therapist. This week is designated as Respiratory Care Week.  It is to honor those who specialize in our breathing needs. The American Association for Respiratory Care, or AARC, has listed several ways on their website, http://www.aarc.org/rcweek/ to acknowledge this time.  Some of their suggestions include:

• Celebrate - Hosting activities to honor and reward respiratory therapists for their contributions.
• Motivate - Encouraging patients and their families in their battles against lung disease.
• Educate - Taking awareness of lung diseases like COPD and asthma to the community.
• Inspire - Building the desire in others to enter the respiratory care profession.
• Learn - Maximizing personal and professional skills with new resources.

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For more information, check their website, and don't forget to thank the respiratory therapists you know.

Sandwich Generation Month

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By Terry Orr

This is an annual commemoration and celebration of the dedication, patience and caring of adults who are part of the sandwich generation – those caring for their children as well as their own aging parents.

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The annual recognition of Sandwich Generation Month is every July, with organizations and communities throughout the United States holding events to raise awareness of and provide support for members of the sandwich generation.  This time can be very stressful for those who are part of it. Every day presents new challenges for the Sandwich Generation and these people work very hard to ensure the safety and care of their loved ones.

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Steve Worrall recommends the following steps:

Determine How You’ll Pay for Long-Term Care - Nursing home and assisted living facilities can cost up to $8,000 a month and Medicare will not pick up the tab.

Get The Legal Authority Now to Manage Their Affairs and Maintain Control - If your parents do not have powers of attorney or health care directives that allow you to communicate with doctors, access medical records and manage their financial affairs, it’s a good idea to create them now while mom or dad is still in good health.

Document Their End-of-Life Wishes - Thousands of families each year are torn apart trying to decide what their loved one “would have wanted” in serious medical situations.

Get Organized to Avoid Last Minute Scrambling - Gather your parent’s important information now to avoid any confusion and delays in the event of a medical emergency. Important documents to collect include insurance information, front and back of all ID cards including driver’s license, prescription cards and military ID cards, prior medical history, names and numbers of doctors, copies of their living will, health care directives and a list of current medication and doses.

(Written by Attorney Steve Worrall. For a copy of his Guide, “Surviving the ‘Sandwiched’ Years: How to Protect Your Parent’s Assets, Honor Their Wishes & Provide Long-Term Care . . . Without Losing Money – Or Your Mind!”, please visit www.GeorgiaSandwichGeneration.com.)

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Links:

http://www.sandwichgenerationmonth.com/

http://www.michigan.gov/snyder/0,4668,7-277-57577_59874-281604--,00.html

http://lifefoneblog.com/2011/07/06/sandwich-generation-month/

http://www.eastcobber.com/july-is-national-sandwich-generation-month-4-ways-to-help-aging-parents-plan-for-long-term-care%E2%80%8F/

http://theboomermagazine.com/magazine/caregivers-corner/259-nine-tips-for-the-sandwich-generation.html

Responsible Pet Owners

Friends Forever
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By Akindman,

PET PROMISE

As a pet owner, I promise:

• I will never overlook my responsibilities for this living being and recognize that my pet's welfare is totally dependent on me;
• I will always provide fresh water and quality food for my pet;
• I will socialize my pet via exposure to new people, places and other pets;
• I will take pride in my pet's appearance with regular grooming;
• I will recognize the necessity of basic training by teaching my pet to reliably sit, stay and come when called;
• I will ensure that the proper amount of exercise and mental stimulation appropriate for my pet's age, breed and energy level is provided;
• I will ensure that my pet has some form of identification (which may include collar tags, tattoo or microchip ID;
• I will adhere to local leash laws;
• You can sign the Pet Promise by going to the AKC site and Responsible Pet Owners Days;
• It's up to us as responsible pet owners to reach the public and encourage and teach all pet owners on how to ensure happy lives for their pets. We owe our pets the care they deserve and the unconditional love they give to us;
• The American Veterinary Medical Association Executive Board has compiled their list for responsible pet ownership which we will include here;
• A commitment to the relationship for the life of the pet;
• Recognize pet ownership requires an investment of time and money.
• Keep only the type and number of pets for which an appropriate safe environment can be provided including proper food, water, shelter, health care and companionship;
• Ensure pets are properly identified (tags, microchips, tattoos) and registration information on databases is kept up-to-date;
• Adhere to local ordinances including licensing and leash requirements;
• Control reproductions through managed breeding - containment, spay/neuter;
• Establish and maintain a veterinarian-client-pet relationship;
• Provide preventive (vaccinations, parasite control) and therapeutic health care for the life of pets in consultation with and as recommended by the veterinarian;
• Socialization and proper training for pets which facilitates their well-being and the well-being of other animals and people;
• Prevent pets from negatively impacting other animals, people, and the environment by proper waste control, noise control and not allowing pets to stray or become feral;
• Provide exercise and mental stimulation appropriate to the pet's age, breed and health status;
• Advance preparation to ensure the pet’s well-being in case of an emergency or disaster including assembling an evacuation kit;
• Make an alternative arrangement if caring for the pet is no longer possible; and
• Recognize declines in the pet's quality of life and make decisions in consultation with a veterinarian regarding end-of-life care (palliative care, hospice, euthanasia).

Be One!!
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I encourage you to consider having a playmate for your pet – it does make a difference!

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Good links:

http://www.accordingtosherman.com/pets/index.html

http://itsthepits.rescuegroups.org/info/file?file=11757.pdf

http://canidaepetfood.blogspot.com/2011/12/winter-safety-tips-for-responsible-pet.html

http://www.ashwoodvet.co.uk/news/view-article.php?Title=TOP+TEN+TIPS+FOR+RESPONSIBLE+PET+OWNERSHIP

Showing him how to care for his pet
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Post It!
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Having Fun
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Friends Gathering
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Happy Playmates
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Exercise and Play Time
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What's going on?
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