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National Geriatric Care Manager Month – Feinberg’s Ask the Care Manager Program

May 6, 2013 Leave a Comment

ask-manager

To celebrate National Geriatric Care Manager Month, Feinberg Consulting, Inc. will be reaching out to the community with an innovative program called, “Ask the Care Manager.”

Feinberg Consulting offers information, and support, to individuals involved in the complexities of caring for a loved one. “We play an important role in helping navigate the aging process.  As professional geriatric care managers, our nurses and social workers will help support individuals, and their families, with the challenges they are facing through advocacy and coordination of care,” explained Feinberg-Rivkin, a Certified Member of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers.

If you have a question about caring for your loved one, please call to “Ask the Care Manager.”  “Ask the Care Manager” is an initiative to provide a safe place to gain free information, a listening ear, and a qualified and caring professional to help evaluate your situation and provide recommendations based on their extensive experience.

Feinberg Consulting’s Professional Geriatric Care Managers will be available 9:00 am – 5:00 pm EST throughout the month of May to take calls. Their nurses and social workers can be reached toll free at 877-538-5425. All calls are private and you may choose to remain anonymous.

Filed Under: Assisted Living, Counseling Services, Elder Care, Family Caregivers, General Health, General Interest, Happiness, Healthy Living, News

Monday Morning Pearls of Wisdom – Shakti Gawain

May 6, 2013 Leave a Comment

“The more we have given to ourselves,

the more we have to give to others.

When we find that place within

ourselves that is giving, we begin to

create an outward flow.  Giving to

others comes not from a sense of

sacrifice, self-righteousness, or

spirituality, but for the pure pleasure

of it, because it’s fun.  Giving can only

come from a full, loving space.”

Filed Under: Happiness

Therapy Dogs – The different types and their benefits

April 5, 2013 Leave a Comment

therapydog (1)

A therapy dog is a dog trained to provide affection and a sense of comfort to individuals in hospitals, retirement homes, nursing homes, schools, hospices, people with learning difficulties, and stressful situations, such as disaster areas.  Research suggests that interactions with therapy dogs can increase oxytocin levels (responsible for bonding) and dopamine (responsible for happiness), while lowering levels of cortisol (that comes from stress).

There are three different types of therapy dogs:

The first (and most common) are “Therapeutic Visitation” dogs. These dogs are household pets whose owners take time to visit hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabilitation facilities. These dogs help individuals who have to been stuck away from home due to mental or physical illness. A visit from a visitation dog can brighten their day, lift their spirits, and help motivate them in their therapy or treatment with the goal of going home.

The second type of therapy dog is called an “Animal Assisted Therapy” dog. These dogs assist physical and occupational therapists in meeting goals important to an individual’s recovery. Some tasks that these dogs can help to achieve include gaining motion in limbs, fine motor control, and hand-eye coordination. Animal Assisted Therapy dogs typically work in rehabilitation facilities.

The last type of therapy dog is called a “Facility Therapy Dog.” These dogs primarily work in nursing homes and are often trained to help keep patients with Alzheimer’s disease or other mental illness from getting into trouble. They are handled by a trained member of the staff and live at the facility.

Therapy Dogs must:

  • Be well tempered
  • Not shed excessively
  • Well socialized (exposed to many environments)
  • Love to cheer others up!

therapydog

There also exist, service animals. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines a service animal as any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability. If they meet this definition, they are considered service animals under the ADA regardless of whether or not they have been licensed or certified by a state or local government. Some, but not all, service animals wear special collars and harnesses. Some, but not all, are licensed or certified and have identification papers.

Service animals perform some of the functions and tasks that the individual with a disability cannot perform for themselves. Guide dogs are one type of service animal, used by some individuals who are blind. This is the type of service animal with which most people are familiar. But there are service animals that assist persons with other kinds of disabilities in their day-to-day activities. Some examples include:

  • Alerting persons with hearing impairments to sounds.
  • Pulling wheelchairs or carrying and picking up things for persons with mobility impairments.
  • Assisting persons with mobility impairments with balance.
  • A service animal is not a pet.

When Feinberg Consulting, Inc. engages with Case Management Services, we look at the entire spectrum of available resources and match the most beneficial to our clients. Sometimes, that may mean a visit from man’s best friend.

Filed Under: Happiness, News

Announcing May is National Geriatric Care Manager Month

March 22, 2012 Leave a Comment

Announcing New NAPGCM PR Initiative:

May is National Geriatric Care

Manager Month!

NAPGCM is excited to announce the launch of a national annual campaign to promote geriatric care management during the month of May.

We encourage you to participate in this important event. Members throughout the country will celebrate National Geriatric Care Manager Month by providing seminars, webinars, special events related to geriatric care management, open houses, and other educational activities for the public.

This is a great opportunity to promote your profession and your business at the same time. We encourage you to set up speaking opportunities during the month of May at Rotary Clubs and other Community Networking Groups to educate the public on the profession of Geriatric Care Management. Click here for a list of suggested activities, topics, and events during National Geriatric Care Management Month.

To assist you, NAPGCM will be offering our customizable PowerPoint presentation to all members at a 50% discount for the remainder of March and April. This product includes presentations appropriate for both professionals and consumers. Please take advantage of this opportunity and start setting up events now.

Filed Under: Aging Parents, Assisted Living, Elder Care, Family Caregivers, General Health, General Interest, Happiness, Healthy Living, Life Care, Life Care Plan, Medicine, News, Rehabilitation, Retirement Home

Feinberg Consulting Presents an Autumn Caregiver’s Support Group

August 25, 2011 2 Comments

Fall Gently Into Autumn With People Who Care

Are you feeling stressed with the responsibilities of caring for a loved one?  Are you feeling that you don’t have enough time for yourself?  Are you physically and emotionally exhausted?  Are you feeling isolated and looking for new ways to cope and reduce stress?

We understand that sometimes caring for a loved one faced with a medical condition can be an emotional struggle and you may need a supportive shoulder.

Beginning in October, we will meet monthly to lend guidance to those who care for family members with a variety of medical illnesses. We will  offer stress-reducing strategies and coping skills through facilitation and peer support.

Feinberg Consulting is here to join in your commitment to create a greater quality of life for those you love.

Meet Our Facilitator

Jo Elyn Nyman received a masters in Counseling from Oakland University.  She spent five years in Post Graduate work studying analytical psychology at the Jungian Institute of Chicago as well as the Florida Association of Jungian Analysts.  As part of her holistic focus to therapy,  She has also studied alternative therapeutic modalities such as EMDR, EFT, and TAT.  Jo Elyn’s work experience started in the non-profit world working with at-risk adolescents as well as victims of domestic violence, providing individual as well as family therapy.  She facilitated groups ranging from parenting to sexual assault and has extensive experience in assisting with caregiver stress, needs and coping strategies.

Jo Elyn has been in private practice for six years and holds a certification as a Yoga instructor with a strong emphasis on the mind-body connection.

The Caregiver’s Support Group will meet the 2nd Thursday of each month, beginning October 13, 2011

from 4:00pm to 5:00pm at the Feinberg Consulting Offices in Farmington Hills, MI.

Seating is limited.  $120 for the six session series.  Please call Susie at 877-538-5425  or email at ssteinberg@feinbergconsulting.com to reserve your place before September 29, 2011.

 

 

Filed Under: Aging Parents, Assisted Living, Cancer Awareness, Counseling Services, Domestic Violence, Elder Care, Family Caregivers, General Health, General Interest, Happiness, Healthy Living, News

1st Sunday Friendship Day

August 20, 2011 Leave a Comment

Melanoma Research

Melanoma research is an imperative part of increasing our understanding of the disease as well as aiding in possible future treatments, detections, therapies, and preventions. Almost everyone has a friend who has suffered in some way because of melanoma and the best way to celebrate friendship day is to help support continual research. There are many corporations and foundations dedicated to melanoma research. The Melanoma Research Foundation is one of the largest foundations which are committed to raising funds which cover prevention, diagnosis, as well as treatment. The Melanoma Research Foundation also works with other leaders in the field to ensure that this money is well spent on the proper research. This organization was founded in 1996 thanks to Diana Ashby’s struggle with her own ineffective melanoma treatments. This frustration compounded and developed into an investigation of alternative trials and treatments, which led to a lack of proper funding to forward these trials and treatments.

The Melanoma Research Foundation initiated a grant in just two years after its founding, in 1998 which stimulates as well as sustains melanoma research for prevention, research on diagnosis, as well as treatment research. This grant was initially awarded to established investigators who were able to make large breakthroughs in the field and is now awarded to medical students as part of a newer outreach program. There is an independent Scientific Advisory Board which reviews any proposals and then awards the Career Development awards to those researchers who are new and promising to the field of melanoma research. Another award is the Established Investigator which sustains current researchers.

Working in conjunction with the Melanoma Research Foundation, Congress and the Department of Defense have proactively partnered to ensure that a new agenda for melanoma research takes advantage of new opportunities. The Society for Melanoma Research, for example, sponsored an annual International Melanoma Congress. This annual event shares research results among many disciplines and among many members of the international community, encouraging international support and teamwork. The Melanoma Research Foundation has also worked largely with the FDA to initiate dialogue regarding new paths for potential treatments as well as new forms of combination treatment while also encouraging the co-development of biomarkers meant for specific patients.

There have also been breakthroughs in the launch of new institutions to house clinical trial exports who are seeking to develop nationally coordinated combination therapies. This new facility would supported by the Melanoma Research Foundation Breakthrough Consortium. One of the major initiatives of this new group is developing a virtual tracking system which covers all of the trials and treatment options which are taking place, thus facilitating information to everyone involved and guiding translational research.

These initiatives and more are the result of past organizations meeting to ensure future success. Other scientific milestones for melanoma research include the joint operation by the Melanoma Research Foundation and the Society for Melanoma Research in 2005 which created a “roadmap” of melanoma research to come over the next five years. That same year the Melanoma Research Foundation partnered with the Cancer Diagnosis Program which provided funding for six institutions which collect tissue used for a tissue microarrays bank with the potential to allow research to take place on many different tissue samples in a single experiment.

Filed Under: General Interest, Happiness

Happiness Happens this Month

August 16, 2011 Leave a Comment

Joyful occasions should never be an afterthought. But after the long and lazy months of summer, many people forget that August is also the Happiness Happens Month!

The Secret Society of Happy People initially celebrated just one day of the month back in 1999 when ‘Admit You’re Happy Day’ was celebrated on the 8th. But due to overwhelming support of happy people everywhere, in 2000 the celebration increased from 1 day to the entire month and was rebranded as Happiness Happens.

The name change was geared towards being a simple reminder to everyone that regardless of the many trials and tribulations the world faces, happiness still happens.

The three purposes of the month celebration (as outlined by the Secret Society) are:

  • To recognize and express happiness
  • Listen to others talk about their happiness
  • Don’t rain on other people’s parades
Filed Under: Happiness, Healthy Living

Tips for Being Happy

August 15, 2011 Leave a Comment
  • Do things that make you happy and do them often
  • Play and have fun like you did when you were 5 years old
  • Appreciate what you have – you have a lot to be happy for
  • Learn to like yourself and then learn to love yourself
  • Get plenty of sleep – more rest equates more relaxation
  • Lead a healthy life – the body needs to be used!
  • Get out and spend time with friends, family, and loved ones
  • Live in the now – denial and regret are never as fun as now
  • Laugh then laugh some more – this is one drug you can’t overdose on!

Decide to be happy – yes it can be that simple!

Filed Under: Happiness, Healthy Living

The Importance of Being Happy

August 14, 2011 Leave a Comment

Why is being happy important to anyone? This is because as humans, we have a base desire to be content and experience pleasure. People often wish “To be happy”. Songs such as “Don’t Worry Be Happy” or “Shiny Happy People” are upbeat and uplifting.

Happiness helps to offset much of the negativity and stress found in life. Recognizing happiness in your life and learning what brings you joy is vital to being satisfied and content.

As more studies are done in psychology about personal happiness, keys are being found that show how a joyful life is more fulfilling and makes people more resilient to negativity other stressful aspects of life.

Filed Under: Happiness, Healthy Living

Happiness Happens Month

August 13, 2011 Leave a Comment

Ways to Celebrate Happiness Happens Month

  • Send a happy thought to a different friend each day of the month via e-mail, a phone call, or even a letter.
  • Write down all the things that make you happy in your life and then try to find new entries for the list.
  • Throw a Happiness Happens Party – Invite friends and have fun just to have fun!
  • If you see a friend who isn’t happy, go out of your way to make them happy.

Being happy is part of being healthy. You never hear people say, “I wish I was sad.” So celebrate this month. Embrace joy and help happiness happen with those around you.

Filed Under: Happiness