Disabled Living

Month: December 2020

  • How to Stay Healthy This Winter

    How to Stay Healthy This Winter

    With the long evenings and cold days looming upon us, it is important to keep yourself as healthy as possible this winter. As we get older, changes to our body mean that cold weather and winter illnesses may affect us more than it used to.

    Read on to discover some helpful tips on how to stay healthy this winter.

    Eat a Balanced Diet

    During winter, it is more important than ever to eat well and boost your immune system. Make sure you are eating a balanced diet with lots of fruit and vegetables. During the colder months, it is recommended to eat at least one hot meal a day.

    Although most people receive all the vitamins and minerals they need through eating a balanced diet, sometimes you may need some extra help through taking supplements. During winter, the reduced daylight hours can make it difficult for our bodies to produce enough vitamin D. Vitamin D can be found in oily fish, eggs, margarine, yoghurt etc. However, it may not be enough to rely on diet alone. Age UK recommend that over 65s take 10 micrograms of vitamin D supplements daily to help maintain healthy vitamin D levels.

    If you are elderly or looking after someone who is, Age UK have a great healthy eating guide. Discover their tips for maintaining a balanced diet here: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/isleofwight/our-services/information-and-advice/staying-healthy-this-winter/healthy-eating-guide/

    Make Sure Your Home is Warm

    Your home should be kept warm during the winter to prevent your home from getting damp. Make sure to wrap up well and try to steadily heat your home throughout the day. The NHS recommend ensuring a minimum of 18 degrees.

    If you are elderly, you may find it more difficult to keep warm. From about 55 we lose around 1% of our muscle mass each year, which is what helps to keep us warm. Try to keep as active as possible by moving your arms and legs and try not to sit still for more than an hour at a time to keep the blood pumping around your body.

    Elderly couple in blanket

    Get Your Flu Jab

    If you are aged 65 or over, you are eligible for the free flu jab from a doctor or pharmacist. This will help boost your immune system’s response to the virus to help protect you and others around you. There is also a vaccine for pneumonia. It is worth checking to see if you are also eligible for this when receiving your flu jab.

    Get Your NHS Health Check (if eligible)

    An NHS Health Check is a free health check up for people in the UK aged 40 to 74. It tests for illnesses that are more likely to occur in this age bracket, such as stroke, cardiovascular problems, heart disease, kidney disease, type 2 diabetes, dementia and more. Through having your NHS Health Check, you are more likely to spot these conditions early and it aims to lower the risk of complications occurring.

    You are eligible for an NHS Health Check if you are aged 40 to 74 and you have not been diagnosed with certain pre-existing health conditions including:

    • Heart disease
    • Chronic kidney disease
    • Inherited high cholesterol
    • High blood pressure (hypertension)
    • Diabetes
    • Transient ischaemic attack
    • Atrial fibrillation
    • Peripheral arterial disease
    • Stroke
    • Being prescribed statins to lower cholesterol
    • A previous check which revealed a high risk (20% or above) of getting cardiovascular disease over the next 10 years.

    To see the full list, please visit: https://www.healthcheck.nhs.uk/

    If you are eligible and are wondering how to get an NHS health check, you should automatically receive a letter from your GP surgery or local council inviting you to an appointment every 5 years. Alternatively, if you have misplaced or haven’t received a letter, you may call your surgery to arrange your Health Check.

    If you are worried that something doesn’t feel right or you have found yourself feeling more tired than usual or losing weight this winter, it is important to seek an appointment with your GP as soon as possible. Getting an early diagnosis can often prevent conditions from worsening, so early treatment is always advised.

    If you already have a health condition or disability and you are seeking some impartial advice on products, equipment or services, our OTs at Disabled Living will be more than happy to help! Please contact us on 0161 214 4590 or email us at info@disabledliving.co.uk

    As part of our charity, we also have Bladder & Bowel UK who provide a free helpline for individuals with bladder or bowel issues. For more information visit: https://www.bbuk.org.uk/

  • 5 Best Audiobooks If You Are Raising A Disabled Child

    5 Best Audiobooks If You Are Raising A Disabled Child

    This is an article written by Annabella at 10 Audioz for Disabled Living.

    Parenting can be a challenging aspect of life. Nevertheless, parenting kids with special needs can sometimes pose extra challenges. At first, they need to learn about their child’s disability. Parents will do a lot of locating, research and access resources and effective treatments. The journey of life is never easy. If you have a child with a disability, you may also face extra physical and emotional demands.

    A useful source of knowledge to help you raise a child with a disability is via audiobooks. Here is a list of the best children audiobooks that will help you and your child.

    Will My Kid Grow Out of It? A Child Psychologist’s Guide to Understanding Worrisome Behaviour (2014)

    The audiobook by Bonny J. Forrest provides practical solutions to parents if their child has:

    • Autism
    • Schizophrenia
    • Eating Disorders
    • Depression
    • ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)

    Dr Forrest in Will My Kid Grow Out of It gives invaluable advice to parents. The advice answers many questions that parents may have about their child’s disability. It includes a list of questions that the author suggests parents should ask professionals.

    The audiobook links to notable scientific articles, websites, and books. Additionally, the author believes in screening children from a tender age. Through screening, a child will have access to resources. It also provides assurance to anxious parents on how to cope in this scenario.

    Being the Other One: Growing Up with a Brother or Sister Who Has Special Needs (2005)

    Written by Kate Strohm, the book provocatively tackles how siblings may feel when their brother or sister has a disability. The author grew up with a sibling who had cerebral palsy. Kate Strohm is a health educator as well as a counsellor. She discusses growing up with her sister and some of the challenges that incurred.

    The author explores the feelings she felt and provides coping methods for if things become difficult. This is a must-listen audiobook to work out through emotions. The author uses her own experiences alongside the experiences of others who live with disabled children.

    Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew: Updated and Expanded Edition (2012)

    The audiobook speaks about the characteristics which shed light about autism in children. The experiences and techniques in the audiobook are very much helpful. However, the most important thing parents should remember is that all children are different.

    Parenting can be tough whether your child has a disability or not. The central idea of the audiobook is to help your child progress. Everyone deserves opportunities as well as resources to grow.

    The Complete Guide to Creating a Special Needs Life Plan: A Comprehensive Approach Integrating Life, Resource, Financial and Legal Planning to Ensure a Brighter Future for a Person with a Disability (2013)

    The name of the audiobook reveals its message to parents. Hal Wright’s holistic guide focuses on everything which is needed to raise a child with a disability. The audiobook will teach you several types of planning. It will also give you an insight into legal and financial plans. The author of the book is a notable financial planner and raises a disabled daughter.

    If you are interested in finding out more about how to plan your finances for you child, then why not give this audiobook a listen.

    The Boy in the Moon: A Father’s Journey to Understand His Extraordinary Son

    This memoir has been penned down by Canadian Journalist Ian Brown. Brown’s son has Cardiofaciocutneous, a genetic syndrome. Cardiofaciocutaneous aka CFC is a rare syndrome due to which Ian devoted his life to understanding the disorder.

    The best feature of the memoir is that it is brutally honest. At the same time, the memoir is relatable to many parents with disabled children. Brown’s son’s condition means that him and his wife devote much of their time to nurture him. Moreover, the author suggests how both he and his wife are the son’s greatest advocates.

    Overall Thoughts

    The audiobooks on this will hopefully make life easier for you and your child. The techniques mentioned in these books are unique in their own ways. However, it is important to consider that children might react differently to professional help from books and audiobooks. Visit 10audioz.com to explore a range of audio books for children.

Disabled Living