Childhood Chronic Disease: A Family Affair
Here are the top 10 ways family members can be supportive when a child has a chronic condition.
Caregivers for People with Chronic Illness
By Amy Walters, PhD, Licensed Psychologist Below is a summary handout about understanding and helping the caregivers in our life. What We Know About Caregivers Report feeling overwhelmed, frustrated and lonely Report high levels of stress and depressed symptoms Are tired and sleep deprived Have higher rates of illness (2x higher) but seek medical attention less often Often neglect their own self care Experience more relationship conflicts Feel a sense of loss – independence, freedom, dreams for the future Attitude matters – those who believe they are not effective have higher levels of stress and depression Strong social support systems [...]
Older Americans: Connect, Create, Contribute
Each year, more and more older adults are making a positive impact for dialysis patients across the country. As advocates, volunteers, employees, employers, educators, mentors and more, they offer insight and experience that benefit the entire community. That’s why Older Americans Month (OAM) has been recognizing the contributions of this growing population for 56 years. Led by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), each May OAM provides resources to help older Americans stay healthy and independent, and resources to help communities support and celebrate their diversity. This year’s OAM theme, Connect, Create, Contribute, encourages older adults and their communities to: Connect [...]
Psychosocial Factors Affecting Children and Families Living with Chronic Illness
During this webinar, Amy Walters, PhD, Clinical Psychologist will discuss: 1) the psychological and emotional side effects of chronic illness on children and families, 2) how illness impacts different stages of childhood development, 3) common concerns reported by parents and children and 4) ways to support children and their families in coping with chronic illness. About the Presenter Amy Walters, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and the Director of Behavioral Health Services for St. Luke’s Humphreys Diabetes Center in Boise, Idaho. Dr. Walters works with patients to overcome barriers to behavioral change, learn to cope with chronic illness, and address issues [...]
Resources for People Living with Chronic Pain
If you missed last week's webinar on Relieving Pain Through Laughter, the recording is now available. In addition, here is a list of resources for people living with chronic pain: Books Explain Pain, 2nd (2014) David Butler and G. Lorimer Moseley. NOI Publications. Painful yarns, Metaphors & stories to help understand the biology of pain. (2012). G. Lorimer Moseley. The Explain Pain Handbook: Protectometer. (2014). GL Moseley & DS Butler. Your Fibromyalgia Workbook, A Neuroscience Approach to the Understanding and Treatment of Fibromyalgia. (2013). Adriaan Louw. Orthopedic Physical Therapy Products. Why Do I Hurt? A Patient Book about the Neuroscience of [...]
Martinlow Spaulding: Humorist, Activist and Family Man
April is National Donate Life Month, and it is also National Humor Month. Martinlow Spaulding, living with kidney disease for over 25 years, easily celebrates the significance of both. Spaulding is a transplant recipient who combines humor and laughter in his daily life. He tells a lot of jokes—some of them get a few giggles, and some of them get a few groans. But his positive attitude and outlook on life help him find the “funny” in a lot of situations. Spaulding, the youngest of five children, is the recipient of not one but two gifts of life—both donated by his [...]
Relieving Pain Through Laughter
Joyology is the lifestyle that skillfully blends laughter, humor, and attitudes to help recover from difficulties and re-awaken the joy of being alive. During this webinar you will: 1) learn about joyology as a lifestyle, 2) discover ways to manage pain and 3) understand how laughter can help ease pain. Presented by: Mary Laskin, MN, RN, ACNS-BC and Steve Wilson, Psychologist, The Joyologist
My Personal Experience with a Rare Condition
By Mark Scirocco, Patient Ambassador I have been on in-center hemodialysis for three years. It was a rough start, as I went through 11 chest catheters in a little over a year. Two of them just fell out while I was sitting at home; the others got clogged. The last one almost killed me, stopping fluid in my upper body and head. My fistula was barely ready when they took that one out and placed a stent in my chest to allow fluid past my upper body. Three months after starting my fistula, I needed a fistulogram to open it up. [...]
Free Monthly Webinars/Conference Calls
The DPC Education Center invites people living with chronic kidney disease (CKD), end-stage renal disease (ESRD), their families and professional staff to join us for our monthly webinars. You can also join by phone or view the recordings online at a later time. The webinars are planned for the fourth Thursday of the month at 2 p.m. Eastern time zone, except for November and December when they will be held during the third week of the month. You can download monthly webinar fliers to share with others and/or register for webinars at www.dpcedcenter.org/news-events/education-webinars. Join by phone by calling 1-877- 399-5186 and [...]
Advance Care Planning
By David Mahoney, MD As a member of Dialysis Patient Citizens, you have chosen to become involved, speak up for what is important to you and take charge of the management of your health. Dialysis modality, diet, medications, exercise, management of your other health-related issues, all require your informed decision-making and action. But despite this high level of involvement in their health care, few dialysis patients have addressed the issue of advance care planning. “I don’t want to talk about that now.” “That’s for sick people, and I am doing well.” “That really scares me.” “I am NOT ready to talk [...]