Should Hair Relaxers Be Used on Children?

Chemical hair relaxers have been used for decades for coarse, curly, unmanageable hair, and typically lye hair relaxers are used. Lye is sodium chloride, and it can be effective in straightening and relaxing hair, but its use is discouraged because it can damage hair and burn the scalp and skin. It is mostly adult women who chemically relax their hair, but it seems more and more children are having the process done. This practice is not safe, and children should use only natural products on their hair. Children should also not be expected to risk their health for vanity purposes.

Dermatologists agree that chemical relaxers are very dangerous to children (and adults), and would never recommend their use. They have seen it lead to permanent hair loss, allergic reactions, and sight damage if the chemical runs into the eyes. Chemical hair relaxers break down the internal structure of hair strands, drain the hair of moisture, and this leads to damage of breakage of the hair shaft. In addition to the physical dangers to children and adults, it has been questioned if there is a negative psychological impact on a child to go to these extremes for the alteration of their appearance. Perhaps the emphasis should be on their inner beauty, and embracing what nature gives them. A child should not think it needs to be painful or harmful to achieve good looks!

Chemical relaxers should never be used on children, but what about more gentle, natural products? Many parents choose to straighten their children’s hair as a matter of practicality. Tightly curled hair is time consuming and painful to comb out, and when hair is naturally relaxed, it is much easier to handle. Trying to comb out a squirming child’s hair is no easy task, so some control is advantageous; however, natural hair relaxers should always be used and never the chemical products. Natural hair relaxers can gently control hair to make it easier to manage, and make it look great. It can save time and avoid discomfort for a child if the hair is naturally relaxed. Natural hair relaxers can be used on children to enhance control, and can even save time for them to focus on more important things, like schoolwork and play. Natural hair relaxers are available and very effective, and can be used on children and adults without harm.

Grace Enderlein is a freelance writer and editor. “Should Hair Relaxers Be Used on Children” notes the harmful effects of chemical relaxers, and the safety and effectiveness of natural hair relaxers. Freshlookhair.com offers BodipHier, a natural hair relaxer which gives great results on adult and children’s hair.

Focus on the Solutions, Not the Problems

It is truly empowering to expand your focus beyond the problems to the small things you do that tend to make things better in your life.

When You Focus on the Solution, You Become Expert in What Works:
When you focus on the problems, you become an expert on your ineffectiveness and unhappiness. Solution Focused Coaching Focuses on what isn’t working creates discouragement and undermines your confidence and self-esteem. When you switch your focus to your small successes, you become an expert on the choices you make that can improve your life.

Think Small:
True lasting change occurs in tiny increments practiced over time until they become new habits. Slightly larger successes build on previous wins. Gradually, winning habits of thought and behavior get established and become the new norm. Life is made of little things. You make thousands of choices throughout the day – choices about how you act or react, choices about how you think or view the circumstances of your life. Most of us are not aware of the choices we make. We just act.

How to Become an Expert on the Solutions:
Solution Focused Coaching helps to identify problem areas in your life first that you’d like to change:

• It drives you crazy when your spouse does those same things you’ve been complaining about for years.
• You’d like to shed a few pounds.
• Sometimes you’re late paying your bills because they get lost in those mountains of mail on your dining room table.

The first step toward becoming an expert on the solutions is becoming curious about alternative choices you may never have considered before. Consider what you might do differently to impact on these situations.

Lasting transformation occurs through the aggregate of these small actions repeated over time.Solution Focused Coaching focuses on the solutions – choices you can make to improve the situation – rather than getting stuck on what isn’t working in your life, you bring about lasting positive change.
By the third or fourth session, my clients become expert at answering the ‘different and better’ question.

Jeannette Samanen is the author of the article “Focus on the Solutions, Not the Problems” which focuses on the solution rather than problems. Solution Focused Coaching provided by Dr. Jeannette Samanen helps you to achieve your goals of life. Read more on Focus on the Solutions, Not the Problems..

Should You and Your Loved One Consider a Respite Care Program?

If you’re responsible for providing most of the caregiving for an older adult, family member, elderly parent, or loved one, you may want to consider taking advantage of available respite care services. Respite care is short-term, temporary relief to those who are caring for family or loved ones at home, whose relatives would otherwise require treatment at a facility elsewhere. Without respite care, elderly or sick individuals would live in institutions or health care facilities.

Though families appreciate being able to keep their family members or loved ones in the comfort of home, the physical, mental, emotional, and financial burden they carry can often be overwhelming without respite or support. If you’re feeling exhausted facing the challenges of caregiving duties, a Respite Care Program may offer much needed temporary relief. Without valuable respite care programs, caregiving family members may suffer emotionally and financially as they face health problems, social issues, and stress associated with continual caregiving.

Respite Care Programs:

• Sustain family caregiver health and well being
• Allow family members and loved ones to remain at home
• Reduce the likelihood of abuse and neglect

If you or someone you know is facing the challenge of caring for a loved one alone, Respite Care Services can offer a break, stress relief, and balance to your life. Providing care everyday for family or friends may be difficult, but there are Respite Care Service options and care strategies you may not be aware of. It’s good to consider all options to provide the best care for your loved ones and yourself.

Analyze your needs and the needs of your loved ones.Figure out which area you need help most:

Have I allotted enough free time for myself?
Does my loved one need help with walking, eating, or other basic tasks?
Does my loved one need help taking daily medication?
Is my loved one getting a proper amount of exercise?
Is my loved one getting enough mental stimulation?

These questions will help you figure out what further steps to take. Once you assess the type, frequency, and location of your needs, discover what a Respite Care Program can do for you and your loved one. Anticipating regular relief from Respite Care Services can be lifesaving; share the responsibility of caregiving with another individual and get help and support for yourself.

Erica Ronchetti is a freelance writer for Visitng Angels, the nation’s leading, network of non-medical, private duty home care agencies providing senior care, elder care, personal care, respite care and companion care to help the elderly and adults continue to live in their homes across America.Visit the Visiting Angels website to find out more information on Respite Care Programs.

Elder Care during Holiday Times

Holidays are times when we find ourselves rushing around and taking on a little more then we should. If you are a caregiver to an elderly family member or loved one it’s certain that you are overbooked during the holidays. Elder careduring holiday times becomes a bit more complicated then we’re prepared to handle. It’s difficult to accomplish all the holiday tasks alone but with the added responsibility of elder care you may need to enlist the help of an in home elder care specialist. Elder care providers such as Visiting Angels can lend a handle during these busy times.

Elder care on a daily basis requires patience, organization and consistency. When you are not prepared or able to provide your current duties it is best to have assistance. For those who we are caregivers to do not always realize that the extra load of responsibility may be too much for us to handle at times. Those who need elder careare sometimes oblivious to the time of year or the increased responsibility that you may have. The importance is to remain consistent with the elder care duties that you are responsible for so that your schedule can return to normal as the holiday busy season passes. That makes stepping back into your non holiday routine easier and more comforting for all.

Enlisting the help of an elder care provider to fill in with simple responsibilities may be all you need. If your elder care responsibilities include meal preparation and light housekeeping but you are unable to keep up with it during the holidays, an elder care in home professional will be able to work with you to provide those services while you are unable. If it is transportation to medical appointment or medical services you are able to make these arrangements as well. Elder care providers are non medical professionals that can step in to assist you with everyday elder care chores and responsibilities. It’s easy to customize their services to your elder care needs.

Besides everyday responsibilities, you may need assistance from an in home caregiver for your holiday travel time. Elder care in home providers are able to provide care and companionship for a few hours a week, everyday care to overnight care if needed. These services should be booked well in advance to insure that you have coverage you need during holiday travel times.

Elder care responsibilities do not stop because of our busy holiday schedules. Find relief during the holidays and reach out for additional help from an in home elder care provider. The holiday will be less stressful for all.

Linda Dunkelberger is a freelance writer and editor. “Elder Care during Holiday Times” suggests enlisting in home elder care providers for help during the busy holiday times. Visiting Angels provides elder care services in homes across the America. See VistingAngel.com for more information for providers in your area.

Coping with Stress of Senior Home Care

Senior home care is making the decision to care for your aging parents or loved ones in their home or in your home allowing them their independence but taking on the responsibility of their being the caregiver. Caring for aging parents or loved ones carries a lot of responsibility and a range of emotions. No matter how much love in your heart, carrying the load of caring for your loved one will leave you drained physically, emotionally and possibly financially.Coping with the stress of senior home care has to be managed or you will not be able to be an effective caregiver.

Managing the stress of senior home care is all about taking charge. Take charge of your thoughts, your emotions, your schedule, your environment and the way you deal with problems and unexpected situations. The ultimate goal of coping with the stress of senior home care is to achieve a balanced life.

How to reduce, prevent, and cope with the stress of senior home care:

Senior home care requires organization - Organize your time and your schedule. Write everything down so that you or another family member has reference to phone numbers, doctors, medications, in home senior care providers, important insurance and financial numbers.
Start a personal journal- Share your feelings about the stress of senior home care. Writing down your thoughts will help you to take charge of your emotions.

Prioritize your health and well-being. Nurturing yourself is a necessary not a luxury. Healthy ways to relax and recharge:

• Go for a walk
• Call a good friend
• Sweat out the tension with a good workout
• Write in your journal
• Curl up with a good book
• Take a long bath
• Eat healthy and exercise regularly
• Play with your pet
• Work in your garden
• Listen to music
• Savor a cup of warm coffee or tea

Give yourself a break – Enlist the help of a professional senior home care provider. Senior home care providers such as Visiting Angels can provide daily or weekly help to everyday chores, errands, hygiene, meals or transportation needs just to name a few. Senior home care providers can also provide a respite to you responsibilities with as little as 15 minute notice to avoid unnecessary stress if your schedule needs help.

Coping with the stress of senior home care is the only possible way to be an effective caregiver to your loved ones. Your mental and physical health must take priority or you will not be able to manage what needs to be done. Take advantage of these tips. Organize yourself, express yourself, nurture yourself and help yourself by arranging for assistance with a senior home care provider.

Linda Dunkelberger is a freelance writer and editor. “Coping with Stress of Senior Home Care ”shares tips for coping with the stress of senior home care. Visiting Angels is a senior home care provider that helps seniors with everyday tasks, errands, meals, transportation, just to name a few services. For more information on Visiting Angels in your area, see www.Visitingangels.com.

Task List for Elderly Care Caregivers

In home elderly care agencies provide non-medical elderly care to those who need additional help with their daily routine. When you work with a quality elderly care agency these services are provided by a qualified professional who goes through a screening and training process.
Elderly care caregiver agencies usually require a minimum of 3 to 4 hours of elderly care per visit to begin. Many elderly care agencies will begin services with one visit per week, knowing that seniors are sometimes resistant to start care. Typically a senior who is resistant to elderly care will be open to more hours of service once they experience the benefits of an elderly care caregiver’s visits. Elderly care home care agencies will ask clients to commit to a regularly weekly schedule, in order to staff a qualified, consistent elderly care caregiver. It is acceptable to change the hours after your initial start-up, as often the real needs are exposed after the elderly care caregiver has started services.

One you have decided on an appropriate schedule and it may be after a trial and error process, elderly care services vary depending on your needs. Listed below are elderly care services and possible task list.

Task List for Elderly Care Caregivers:

• Assist with walking and light exercise
• Plan and prepare meals, followed by clean-up
• Monitor food expiration dates, make future meals
• Make beds and change linens, as needed
• Light housekeeping to include dusting and vacuuming
• Assist with bathing, dressing and grooming
• Laundry
• Take out garbage
• Run errands (pickup prescriptions, dry cleaning)
• Engage in physical and mental exercises
• Provide medication reminders
• Escort on appointments (hair salon, physical therapy, etc.)
• Escort to religious services or events
• Maintain calendar and organize mail
• Engage in activities (games, memory books)
• Companionship
• Record daily care notes
• Report any significant client changes to the Agency office

Linda Dunkelberger is a freelance writer and editor. The article “Task List for Elderly Care Caregivers” lists services provides by elderly care caregivers. Visiting Angels (www.visitingangels.com) provides assisted living services and in home elderly care services in homes across America.

The Six Stages of Change

Precontemplation
Precontemplation describes the period before you are aware that a change is necessary. Another word for Precontemplation is denial.In Precontemplation, you are living with a problem but refusing to acknowledge that change needs to happen. Others around you may clearly recognize that you need to change, but you insist that the situation is not so serious that you can’t handle it.

If you have known someone in Precontemplation, you may have experienced the frustration that is common among friends and family. To others the problem is clear but until the person in Precontemplation is ready to acknowledge it, they will insist that the cause of their difficulties lies elsewhere.

The prerequisite for moving to the next stage is a willingness to consider the possibility that change may be necessary. You need to recognize that the costs of maintaining the problem behavior may be greater than the costs of changing it.

Contemplation
Once you’ve moved out of Precontemplation, you are willing to understand the truth about the problem behavior or situation and consider the alternatives. Contemplation is the learning stage in which you gather information.

In the stage of Contemplation you examine the pros and cons of the various options available to you. You honestly assess all of the costs and benefits of allowing the situation to continue. You also look at the pluses and minuses of doing things differently. You become fully informed.

Some people go back and forth between Precontemplation and Contemplation for a while before they are ready to move ahead. You are ready to move to the next stage when, on the basis of your analysis, you embrace the need to change.

Planning
Once you have committed to bringing about a change in your life, the next step is to figure out how to do it. You plan your behavior change.

You identify your goal. You research the various ways you might achieve your goal. You enlist help. Often people show up for Intuitive coaching when they reach the Planning stage, knowing that a coach can help them clarify their goal as well as the steps they need to accomplish it.

Once you have formulated a workable plan, you are ready to move into Action.

Action
You implement your plan in the Action phase. This phase can be seen as an experiment in which you learn which parts of your plan work and where the unforeseen obstacles lie.

Circling between Action and Planning is an inevitable part of the change process. No plan is perfect. It is essential to view any problems which arise as an opportunity to improve your plan.

Once your action plan is proceeding smoothly, you are ready to move into the most challenging stage of all.

Maintenance
Most people enter the Action stage filled with enthusiasm and excitement. There is a sense of euphoria as they begin to see positive change and experience the benefits that this change brings.

It is much more of a challenge to maintain that change. As you move further from the negative experiences created by the old behavior, it becomes easier to minimize their costs. Temptations arise which can be difficult to resist.

Maintenance is the long haul during which old habits are being replaced by new ones. Lapses are common during the Maintenance phase. It may be necessary to return to Planning or even to Contemplation to remedy these lapses.

Some people who lapse in the Maintenance stage get so discouraged that they return to Precontemplation. Don’t let this happen to you!

When you understand that change rarely proceeds in a straight line, you can recognize a lapse as a normal part of the change process and get quickly back on track.

Termination (Transformation)
Once the new habits have replaced the old, maladaptive behaviors you can consider yourself in what Prochaska labels the Termination phase. I prefer the term Transformation.

In Transformation, the desired change has been accomplished. With the new behaviors established, you are no longer the same person. You can’t imagine going back to the old behavior patterns. You have achieved your goal.

Understanding the six stages of change described by experienced Intuitive Life Coach will help you to achieve your goals and make your good life better! If you would like to learn more about the six stages of change, I heartily recommend Prochaska’s book, Changing for Good.

If you are considering a change in any aspect of your life, why not contact Jeannette? The expert Life Intuitive Coaching she provides will help you through every stage of the process.

Jeannette Samanen is the author and writer of the article “The Six Stages of Change”. Achieveyourgoals.com provides inner wisdom coaching to achieve your goals. Our Intuitive Life Coach can help you to build your confidence.

A Simple, Handy Way to Access Your Inner Wisdom

When you are looking for a quick yes or no answer and are uncertain which way to go, muscle testing offers easy access to your inner wisdom. By identifying your inner truth you gain the clarity to guide your decision. You can trust the decisions you make when they are based on your own inner truth.
Muscle testing works on the principle that your muscles respond to the energy in your body.
When something is true or right for you, your muscles remain strong. This is a yes.

When something is not right for you, your muscles give way. This is a no.

How do you muscle test?

You muscle test by exerting gentle pressure on a muscle. If the muscle resists, the answer is yes. If it gives way, the answer is no. It’s as simple as that.

Another person can help you muscle test by pressing down on your outstretched arm. If your arm holds firm, you are getting a “yes” signal. When the arm releases, a “no” is indicated.

You can muscle test yourself using your hands. Make a circle by touching the tips of the thumb and pinkie of your left hand together. Then slip the thumb and index fingers of your right hand up through the circle from below. Open up the fingers of your right hand to press gently but firmly on the circle. If the circle holds, the answer is “yes”. If the circle breaks, the answer is “no.”

Avoid rigidly resisting, as that can provide a false positive. Instead, allow a suppleness that is responsive to the message coming to you from within.
To get a feel for a yes and a no, simply state something that you know to be true of yourself and muscle test it. Then state something you know to be false for yourself and muscle test that statement.

Let’s say that you are a married man named John, living in Chicago. You can say “I’m a man,” and then muscle test. You’ll be able to feel what a firm “yes” response feels like. Then say “I am a woman.” You’ll notice the difference when the circle of your fingers breaks open under the pressure you are exerting. Try again with “My name is John,” and “My name is Mildred,” or “I live in Chicago,” then, “I live in Tahiti,” or “I’m married,” then “I’m single.” As you practice with a series of statements such as these, you will become more tuned in to how “yes” feel and how you experience “no”.

Once familiar with this technique, you can use it to replace uncertainty with clarity in any yes/no decision you need to make.
When I was working on controlling my weight, I would enter a bakery, an old habit of mine. Instead of immediately buying myself a treat, as I was accustomed to doing, I’d stand there and silently ask myself, “Should I get that yummy cruller?” Then I would muscle test. When I came up with a “no”, I’d ask about the brownie. “No” again. Thinking that the bran muffin might be somewhat more virtuous, I’d muscle test about a bran muffin, only to receive “no” one last time. Ultimately, I’d walk out without buying anything. I knew that choosing to be guided by my inner wisdom was the best option. In this way I was able to resist temptation and, ultimately, achieve my weight-loss goals.

This technique will provide clarity about what is right for you in any yes/no decision you are facing. Consistently align your decisions with your inner wisdom and you will certainly make your good life better.

Jeannette Samanen is the author and writer of the article “A Simple, Handy Way to Access Your Inner Wisdom”. Achieveyourgoals.com is life coach in Philadelphia providing life stress management & Inner Wisdom Coaching.

The Importance of Organization with Elderly Care

Organization is important for in home elderly care. When managing the elderly care of your parents or loved one you have enough surprises along the way that everything you can control helps. Whether you are the sole caregiver, have other family members or in-home Elderly Care such as Visiting Angels it is important to keep organized so that you can save time, energy, money and undue stress.

It is important to be organized when sharing the responsibilities of elderly care of your parents or loved one in the home so that the flow of communication stays open. Having lists, schedules, files and an emergency plan will help you to avoid any unnecessary stress.

Here are some simple tips on ways to keep the elderly care of your parents or loved one organized:

• Make Lists – Staying at home with elderly care, it is important to get all the household, medical, legal, financial, home maintenance, religious and social information together and put in an easily accessible place. Develop a system where all the names, addresses and phone numbers are in one spot for ease and accessibility.
• Make Copies of all Medical Papers and Bills – The medical information for elderly care is important. Good record keeping can prevent duplicating tests and medicine refills. It is important to have the name, telephone number, address and specialty of each health care provider that cares for your aging loved one.
• Keep a Master Schedule – Develop an elderly care master schedule, to keep track of when medications need to be reordered, appointments are scheduled, when the trash it to go out etc. It sounds silly, but care giving is intermittent, unpredictable and overwhelming at times. It is easy to get distracted and forget something.
• Keep a File System – Develop a file system for all information of elderly care. Sections for filing will be medical bills, legal papers, resources, financial papers. Paperwork can pile up, so make a file for things that will need to be filed.
• Keep a log of who you talk to – Keep a log of those that you talk with in regards to the elderly care of your aging loved one. A call log with the name of the individual you spoke with, date and time and a brief snippet what the call was about is important in case something is missed or care is delayed.
• Always have a back-up or emergency plan.

Organization is the key to stress free elderly care of a parent or loved on in the home. Start with a system as soon as you can and you will be prepared to have other family members or in-home elderly care providers step right in and lend a hand.

Linda Dunkelberger is a freelance writer and editor. “The Importance of Organization with Elderly Care” suggests organizational tips for elderly care of a family member of loved one in the home. Visiting Angels is the nation’s leading, nationally respected network of non-medical, private duty home care agencies providing senior care, elderly care, personal care, respite care and companion care to help the elderly and adults continue to live in their
homes across America.

Assisted Living Care Can Be Made Easy

For many of us the time is here to help our aging parents or family members when it becomes difficult for them to manage on their own. Organizing our own family can be somewhat of a challenge at times and the additional responsibility of our helping our aging parents can be overwhelming. However, no one says you have to carry the responsibility all alone. As working parents with children, we are faced with new stresses to balance work and family. Families who are separated by great distances must make hard choices to provide care. Sometimes nursing homes or special care retirement centers seem to be the only options. You do have a choice and Visiting Angels can help. These options are to provide in-home assisted living care for your loved ones without sacrificing their independence. Visiting Angels can provide assisted living care in the home.

 

The services that are provided through assisted living care providers have been enhanced over the years. These services have changed from providing only medical support to providing total in-home assisted living care for the elderly. It is no longer necessary to have the simplest tasks postponed or left undone because you were not able to find the time to assist yourself. In-home assisted living care providers can help with simple tasks on a daily, weekly or at need basis.

Assisted living care providers are professionally trained and well screened non-medical caregivers. Assisted living care services range from simple companion care to daily chores like meal assistance, hygiene assistance, light housekeeping, medicine monitoring, and errand transportation to name a few. The best thing about assisted living care services is that you are in control and through open communication can easily monitor services provided. Assisted living care caregivers are available on a regular schedule or on demand given a short lead time.
The reality of caring for our loved ones is that it can be overwhelming at times and we don’t have to go it alone. The cost of in-home assisted living care is far more affordable compared to an assisted living facility.Linda Dunkelberger is a freelance writer and editor.“Assisted Living Care Can Be Made Easy” describes in-home assisted living care providers that can help with in-home elderly care. Visiting Angels is the nation’s most trusted name in assisted living care giving and coast to coast care. For more information visit us at www.VisitingAngels.com