HOME CARE SERVICES: making the right decision for your loved ones

Home Care Services is the Emirates Medical Services’ newest attraction. It was started last month and has been made available to the communities of Fujairah.

According to Chief Nursing Officer Abdul Rahman Abu Ajamieh, it aims to provide the much needed home care services for persons needing professional medical attention and care right inside their home. HCS clients include discharged hospital patients, elderly persons, persons with special needs and persons needing hospice care. Sometimes, independently living elderly and disabled persons need nursing care that their family members do not have the time and knowledge to do. They can now get this at Fujairah, rather than hiring people from Dubai or Sharjah.

HCS strives to provide the best quality medical services to all persons in every aspect of handicap or disability. HCS staff has been recruited for their professionally driven attitude and their compassionate care for their clients. The health team includes medical doctors, registered nurses and caregivers, all available through our medical centers like Family and Fujairah Medical Centers.

But in the end, it is the availability of right information to the family members for them to make the right decision in availing of our home care services. Passing on the responsibility of care for loved ones is truly an emotional issue; it should be understood that this “delegation of duty” is not necessarily letting go of such responsibility. It is augmenting the already constrained time resource of the family, who has other responsibilities to other family members as well. This is the purpose of having HCS: to help the families continue their normal way of life.

HCS care is provided for clients in their own place, own family and own environment. There is a great correlation of faster healing in a home environment rather than a hospital or hospice; furthermore, it is cheaper. It is also flexible enough to balance client care needs and family time by providing the services on a need basis only. It espouses personalised one-to-one care. It boasts of being affordable and hassle free. The HCS staff can even teach individuals, families and caregivers about home environment dangers to prevent accidents and falls and provide personalised strengthening and mobility exercises to the client. In the end, it is empowering the family members to eventually be able to provide some of the basic home care services to their loved ones.

Other HCS services includes health education for the patient and their family members, medication and equipment supplies on demand, free collection of medical laboratory samples and waste and direct collaboration with the client’s own physician or through our own doctors. The staff also compiles a comprehensive and accurate record of our patient’s progress to ensure appropriate milestones have been met and results achieved.

HCS is dedicated to the improvement of the health status of the community in Fujairah, accomplishing this through the cooperation of caregivers, to provide quality healthcare that is so accessible, affordable and appropriate to the community’s needs.

HOME CARE SERVICES
is your only perfect choice for professional, affordable, and comfortable care.

Introducing our newest service

Home Care Services
Phone: 9-2224838
Fax: 9-2224839

©Alva Carpenter

Thick, healthy, and glossy hair is a visual statement: a symbol of youth and beauty. The fabulous hair styles presented in the media are of impossibly thick, glossy hair with multicoloured highlights and tones which are very difficult for us to achieve naturally. Most magazine pictures are photographically enhanced and the hair pictured often contains extra hair pieces and extensions. The actress, Jenifer Aniston is recently reported to have spent £40.000 to achieve her astonishing sleek style for a recent London film premier. Nevertheless women throughout history have been able to achieve beautiful strong, shiny hair using nature’s own products and natural hair care. Throughout the Middle East long, thick, shiny hair is generally seen as a sign of beauty so how do we keep our hair looking full of health in 2010?

Let’s first look at the many factors that can damage hair and especially in a hot climate.
In hot climates such as southern United States, Africa, the Middle East, South East Asia and Australia, sun, heat, dust and the use of desalinated water and air conditioning - all contribute to hair loss and dry and brittle hair.
The Gulf climate is harsh and you need to take extra special care of your hair and skin to prevent it from becoming dry and brittle. To find out more about climate and hair loss visit www.desalinatedwater.info.

Keeping up with hair fashions can damage your hair
If we want hair as portrayed by the media the standard is impossibly high. Fashion often dictates that we pour chemicals onto our hair to colour it or relax it or to coat it with silicones and polymers to give it artificial cosmetically enhanced high shine. We need heated straightening tongs to iron hair or curling tongs to give it bounce and volume. All this can take its toll on the condition and elasticity of hair and make it dry brittle and prone to breakage. Many cosmetic hair products promise condition and high shine but do not really treat the hair; they simple contain silicone to make the hair appear glossy whilst not really helping you to get your hair back into good condition – which is what women really want.

What can you do to improve your hair?
The first is the most difficult step towards healthy hair because you must cut off every inch that is very damaged and split. Your hair will look better shorter and in good condition and will soon grow back stronger.
Avoid hair abuse; tugging and stretching when wet.
Always give your hair a good brush before you shampoo to remove tangles.
Avoid over-drying and over-use of hot appliances Let hair dry naturally as often as possible and try to wash your hair less often.
Use a weekly oil massage treatment and scalp massage such as Permea Plus Hair Repair Massage Oil to stimulate the scalp circulation with fingertip massage. This product is fragrance free and contains 6 natural oils for bounce and shine. This is the best way to strengthen the hair and encourage new growth.
If hair is weak, avoid chemical processes which change the basic structure of the hair. Decide to be happy with the hair that you have and keep it healthy.
When swimming or sun bathing protect your hair with Permea Plus Hair Repair Massage Oil. Wash chlorine and seawater from the hair with Permea Plus Anti-Sal Shampoo.
Protect your hair from the drying and bleaching effects of the sun.
Think of your hair as a plant and feed it healthy natural ingredients. You need to put the moisture back into the hair with conditioners, hair oils and moisturising treatments
Drink lots of water to keep your hair roots hydrated.
Avoid low calorie diets. If your body isn’t getting enough nutrition, neither is your hair and hair is the last to receive nutrients so it will fall. Be sure to get sufficient protein and then take a comprehensive multivitamin such as Permea Plus to make sure both your body and your hair get the daily nutrition they need.
Hair colouring involves the use of chemicals. Avoid hair colours that contain ammonia as ammonia is very damaging especially if it is left for too long on the hair.
Rinse your hair in cold water for the last and final rinse as this encourage the cuticles to close and your hair will have more shine and be less tangles.
Brush your hair to ensure all knots have been removed before shampooing and brush your hair at night to distribute your own natural hair oil while you sleep.
If your hair is exceptional dry leave the Permea Plus conditioner on the hair and cover with a shower cap and apply heat from the hairdryer to force the moisturising conditioner and nutrients into the hair for extra conditioning.
Permea Plus products are available at most pharmacies in the Gulf.

Low Fat Recipe of the Week
Strawberry Milky Lollies
Quick and healthy make with the kids
Ingredients
• 20x large Strawberries
• 100ml Natural Low Fat Bio Yoghurt
• 100ml Semi Skimmed Milk
Method
1. Slice up the fruit.
2. Throw all the ingredients into a blender and blend till smooth.
3. Divide into 4 lolly makers and freeze over night.

Ask Alva
Q. I would like to take up a dance class but I am very shy, should I just dance at home? Lizzie

A. Just go and join the class as you will meet new friends and you will learn more through having a teacher. If you want to join a class just do it! Alva

STRESS

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
Pregnancy is a stressful time for many women. You may be feeling happy, sad and scared - all at the same time. It’s okay to feel like you do.
Very high levels of stress may contribute to preterm birth or low birth weight in full-term babies. Examples of events that may be highly stressful include loss of job, divorce, or death of a close family member.

WHAT CAN YOU DO:
Recognize that you do indeed feel stressed. Accepting the fact you are stressed and identifying the situations that cause you stress are the first steps in helping reduce it. You can also help reduce your stress by:

• Eating regularly and nutritiously and drinking lots of water.
• Resting when you can – and when your body needs it.
• Exercising (with your health care provider’s supervision and advice).
• Relaxing by meditating, listening to soothing music or writing about your pregnancy in a journal.
• Resisting any urges to drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes or take herbal products or drugs (except those prescribed by your health care provider).
• Staying away from stressful people and stressful situations, when possible.
• Talking – to your partner, friends, relatives, health care professionals and your employer. If you feel overwhelmed, talk with a trained counsellor or other mental health professionals.
• Going to all your prenatal care appointments. This will give you the reassurance that everything is fine with you and your baby or let your health care provider know about a problem while there is still time to do something about it. You’ll feel less stressed because you know you are doing the best for your baby.

SHORTNESS OF BREATH:
Most pregnant women feel short of breath both in early and late pregnancy. This is generally harmless and does not affect the amount of oxygen your baby gets.

CAUSES OF SHORTNESS OF BREATH DURING PREGNANCY:

Early Pregnancy
• In the first few weeks of pregnancy, a normal increase in the hormone progesterone causes you to breathe more often.
• This can look and feel like shortness of breath.
• This hormone expands your lung capacity, allowing your blood to carry large quantities of oxygen to your body.

Late Pregnancy
• As your pregnancy continues and the baby gets bigger, shortness of breath occurs as your growing uterus takes up more room in your belly.
• Your uterus pushes on and shifts other organs in your body.
• Around the 31st to 34th week of pregnancy, the uterus begins to press on the diaphragm (the flat muscle that moves up and down when you breathe).
• These changes may make it hard for your lungs to fully expand.
• This may cause more shallow breathing, and you may feel short of breath.

End of Pregnancy
• During the last few weeks of pregnancy, you may have less shortness of breath when your baby settles deeper into the pelvis to prepare for birth.
• With your baby in this position, some of the pressure on the lungs and diaphragm is relieved and your episodes of shortness of breath decreases.

WHAT CAN YOU DO:
These tips may help you to breathe easier:

• Sit or stand up straight. These positions give your lungs more room to expand.
• Slow down. When you move more slowly, you lessen the work of your heart and lungs.
• Lift your arms over your head. By taking pressure off your rib cage, you can breathe in more air.
• Sleep propped up. To put less pressure on your lungs, prop up your upper body with pillows.

WHEN TO TALK TO YOU HEALTH CARE PROVIDER:
It’s normal to feel a mild breathlessness during pregnancy. Talk to your health care provider immediately if your breathlessness becomes severe or comes on very suddenly. Also, call your health care provider right away if you have any of these symptoms:

• A rapid pulse
• Heart palpitations (your heart beats fast and strongly)
• Feeling dizzy or faint
• Chest pain
• Blueness around the lips, fingers or toes
• A cough that doesn’t go away
• Coughing up blood
• Fever or chills
• Worsening asthma

Any illness that affects breathing can be more serious during pregnancy. If you have asthma, be sure to talk to your health care provider about how to best manage this condition during pregnancy. Your asthma may stay the same, worsen or improve during pregnancy. Women with moderate to severe asthma are at increased risk of an asthma attack during the third trimester of pregnancy and during labour and delivery.

DR. SHAILASHREE B. ITONGGOL
Specialist Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Fujairah Medical Center

Under the management of Emirates Medical Services

“Having spent the summer in my native Scotland with my two children, I came back to Dubai to realise that none of my clothes fit. I had put on half a stone just over the holiday and weighed in at a hefty 10 stone 11 pounds and was struggling to fit into size 14 clothes. Yes, I had a good holiday. Yes, I ate very well and I confess I enjoyed the finer aspects of convivial dining while I was away, but now something had to be done!”

Kaye Glancy a 43 year old full-time mother of two turned to Good Habits to help shed the excess pounds in October 2008 to reach her goal weight of 9 stone 7 pounds. She joined the weekly group and found the chats with and support from other members helpful and motivating.
Kaye explained, “It’s no good doing a diet where you are forbidden certain foods – it has the opposite effect and just makes you crave the ‘bad stuff’. Good Habits is not a diet, but helps you evaluate your lifestyle and your approach to food. Through portion control and sensible eating, cutting out the junk and with regular exercise, I was able to get rid of the excess pounds but still treat myself to my favourite foods from time to time, without having a massive blowout”.
Kaye continued, “The Good Habits cookery book was invaluable with a great selection of recipes full of flavour but without the calories. My husband enjoys cooking and has worked his way through the whole book, not only supporting me but losing weight as well so that we both feel healthier without feeling deprived.”
In addition to Good Habits, Kaye changed her sedentary lifestyle and hit the gym with a vengeance: she exercised six days a week, attending RPM and Body Pump classes (the latter is excellent for toning and firming) as well as running and working out on the cross-trainer.
The result: not only has Kaye reached goal weight, she has relegated her size 14 clothes to the charity shop and is once more a svelte size 8-10. “It’s great – I can get into clothes again that I haven’t been able to wear for ten years and my husband thinks I have bought a whole new wardrobe! I can also slip into a pair of designer jeans and feel fantastic whenever I wear them!”

About Good Habits
Established ten years ago in Dubai, Good Habits offers its members (men and women) motivational support in helping to manage their weight and lead a healthier lifestyle.
The weekly support meeting provide the motivation for change, together with the skills and confidence to manage their weight for life. A combination of approaches is vital, including a healthy diet, being more active and adapting thoughts and behaviour.

Good Habits - Fujairah
At Good Habits, Karen offers motivation and support for weight loss and improved eating habits through group meetings. Good Habits members meet once a week in the VIP room at the Fujairah Tennis & Country Club. The group is small, friendly and interactive.

Contact Karen on 050 653 7854 and start losing weight - “all it takes is good habits”