Evercare

【第一型糖尿病】：是兒童才會得的病嗎？認識成因、症狀及管理方法

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 03:44:09 GMT

第一型糖尿病（Type 1 diabetes），曾被稱為幼年型糖尿病（Juvenile diabetes）或胰島素依賴型糖尿病（Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus，簡稱IDDM），是一種影響全球數百萬人的慢性疾病。與第二型糖尿病不同，第一型糖尿病是由於免疫系統攻擊並破壞胰臟中產生胰島素的細胞所致。胰島素是調節血糖的關鍵激素，缺乏胰島素會導致血糖過高，長期下來可能引發嚴重的健康問題。Evercare為你整合第一型糖尿病的成因、症狀、治療與生活管理，幫助你更全面地了解這一疾病。

—> 1. 第一型糖尿病是什麼？

—> 2. 症狀與診斷方法

—> 3. 病情管理

—> 4. 掌握你的健康！Evercare居家照護服務，助你輕鬆管理糖尿病

—> 5. 常見問題

第一型糖尿病是什麼？

第一型糖尿病是一種自體免疫疾病，患者的免疫系統錯誤地攻擊並摧毀胰臟中產生胰島素的β細胞。這導致身體無法產生足夠的胰島素，進而影響血糖的調節。

第一型糖尿病成因：

自體免疫反應： 免疫系統錯誤攻擊自身細胞
基因遺傳： 某些基因增加罹患風險
環境因素： 病毒感染等可能觸發

高風險族群：

有家族病史： 父母或兄弟姐妹患有第一型糖尿病的人
基因遺傳： 某些基因罹患第一型糖尿病的風險較高
年齡： 雖然第一型糖尿病可能在任何年齡發展，但有兩個明顯的高峰，第一個高峰在4至7歲的兒童中，第二個高峰發生在10至14歲的兒童中

症狀與診斷方法

第一型糖尿病的症狀可能突然出現，包括：

第一型糖尿病症狀：

口渴
尿量增多
食量增加
體重減輕
身體疲倦
傷口經久不癒和出現感染
病情不受控制時更會出現嚴重脫水和昏迷等情況

診斷方法：

空腹血糖檢測
口服葡萄糖耐量試驗
隨機血糖檢測
糖化血紅蛋白（HbA1c）檢測
自體抗體檢查
C勝肽檢查
酮體檢查

病情管理

糖尿病暫時未有根治的方法，所以你必須跟從治療方案，以控制病情，預防併發症：

胰島素治療：

傳統胰島素注射
加強式胰島素注射

飲食管理：

均衡飲食，控制碳水化合物攝取
定期監測血糖，調整飲食計劃

規律運動：

有助於提高胰島素敏感性，控制血糖
運動前、中、後需監測血糖，避免低血糖

定期追蹤：

定期覆診，監測血糖與併發症風險
與醫生及營養師合作，制定個人化管理計劃

掌握你的健康！Evercare居家照護服務，助你輕鬆管理糖尿病

管理第一型糖尿病需要持續且專業的照護，居家照護服務提供個人化醫療支持，讓你在熟悉的環境中獲得專業的血糖監測、藥物管理、飲食指導和情感支持，無需頻繁往返醫院，節省時間與精力。Evercare居家照護服務擁有經驗豐富的照護人員，提供度身訂做的護理計劃，讓你和你的家人在舒適的家中安心生活，輕鬆管理糖尿病。立即 Whatsapp +852 9883 3490 或瀏覽 Evercare 網站了解更多，讓家人重拾健康。

常見問題

1. 第一型糖尿病是兒童才會得的病？

不是。雖然第一型糖尿病通常在兒童或青少年時期被診斷出來，但它也可能在任何年齡發生。成人也可能罹患第一型糖尿病，只是相較於兒童和青少年，成人發病率較低。

2. 第一型糖尿病是生活習慣不良造成的？

不是。第一型糖尿病是一種自體免疫疾病，與生活習慣無關。患者的免疫系統錯誤地攻擊胰臟中產生胰島素的細胞，導致胰島素缺乏。而第二型糖尿病才與生活習慣有比較大的關聯。

3. 得了第一型糖尿病就不能吃甜食了？

不是。第一型糖尿病患者可以吃甜食，但需要更仔細地控制碳水化合物攝取量，並根據血糖水平調整胰島素劑量。關鍵在於均衡飲食，而不是完全禁止某些食物。

4. 糖尿病患者不能運動？

運動對糖尿病患者非常重要，有助於提高胰島素敏感性，控制血糖。但患者在運動前、中、後需要監測血糖，並根據情況調整飲食和胰島素劑量，以避免低血糖。

5. 糖尿病患者一定會失明或截肢？

不是。如果糖尿病患者能夠嚴格控制血糖、血壓和膽固醇，並定期進行併發症篩檢，就能大大降低併發症的風險。早期診斷和治療是預防併發症的關鍵。

6. 所有糖尿病患者都需要注射胰島素？

第一型糖尿病患者需要終身注射胰島素，因為他們的身體無法產生胰島素。第二型糖尿病患者則不一定需要胰島素，可以透過飲食、運動和口服藥物控制血糖。但隨著病情進展，部分第二型糖尿病患者也可能需要胰島素治療。

7. 糖尿病會傳染？

糖尿病不是傳染病，不會透過接觸傳播。第一型糖尿病是自體免疫疾病，第二型糖尿病則與遺傳和生活習慣有關。

8. 糖尿病患者只能吃「糖尿病食品」？

「糖尿病食品」並非必需品，糖尿病患者可以選擇多樣化的健康食物，包括蔬菜、水果、全穀物和瘦肉蛋白。關鍵在於控制總碳水化合物攝取量，並選擇低升糖指數（GI）的食物。

資料來源:

https://diabetes.org/

https://www.who.int/health-topics/diabetes#tab=tab_3

【流感懶人包】即睇流感定義、病徵、預防及應對方法！

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 02:51:33 GMT

本港自一月初進入流感季節，長者健康正受到流感病毒的嚴重威脅。短短四周內，已出現 199 宗成人流感重症個案（需入住深切治療部或死亡），較上一流感季節同期增加不少。其中，122 宗死亡個案更令人震驚，大部分為 65 歲或以上長者。流感病毒傳播快速，對長者、小童及免疫力較弱人士的健康構成重大威脅。Evercare 將為您整合流感基本知識、預防方法及感染後應對方法，助你與家人安然度過流感高峰期。

—> 6.流感季節，Evercare 全方位守護長者健康！

甚麼是流感？

流感，全名為流行性感冒，是一種由流感病毒引起的急性呼吸道傳染病。流感病毒主要透過飛沫傳播，潛伏期約為一至三天。患者通常會出現發燒、咳嗽、喉嚨痛、肌肉酸痛、頭痛、疲倦等症狀，部分患者更可能出現噁心、嘔吐、腹瀉等腸胃道症狀。

病徵

流感的主要病徵包括：

發燒： 通常為高燒，體溫可達38度以上。
咳嗽： 多為乾咳，或伴有少量痰液。
喉嚨痛： 喉嚨紅腫疼痛。
肌肉酸痛： 全身肌肉酸痛，尤其腰背部及四肢。
頭痛： 常為劇烈頭痛。
疲倦： 感到極度疲倦，全身乏力。

傳播途徑

流感主要透過以下途徑傳播：

飛沫傳播： 患者咳嗽、打噴嚏或說話時產生的飛沫，含有大量病毒，可經由空氣傳播。
接觸傳播： 接觸受污染的物品，例如門把、扶手等，再觸摸口鼻，也可能感染流感。

潛伏期

流感的潛伏期一般為一至三天，即由接觸病毒到出現症狀的時間。

傳染期

流感的傳染期由病發前一天至病發後五至七天，即患者在這段時間內具有傳染力。

流感併發症

雖然大部分人可以在幾天至一星期內康復，但對於長者、兒童、孕婦和慢性病患者來說，流感可能引發嚴重的併發症，例如：

肺炎
支氣管炎
心臟病併發症

哪些人較容易感染流感？

流感對某些人士的威脅較大，這些人被稱為流感高危群，他們一旦感染流感，更容易出現併發症，甚至危及生命。以下人士屬於流感高危群，應特別注意預防：

長者（65歲或以上）： 長者免疫力較弱，容易感染流感，且併發症風險較高。
幼童（5歲以下，尤其是2歲以下）： 幼童免疫系統尚未完全發育，對流感病毒的抵抗力較弱。
慢性病患者： 患有慢性疾病，如心臟病、肺病、糖尿病、腎病、肝病、免疫力低下等人士，感染流感後病情容易加重。
孕婦： 孕婦感染流感可能影響胎兒健康，增加早產、流產等風險。
免疫力低下人士： 因疾病或藥物等原因導致免疫力低下的人士，感染流感後病情可能較重。
長期照顧機構居民： 長期居住在護理院、安老院等機構的人士，由於居住環境密集，容易出現流感群聚感染。
醫護人員： 醫護人員接觸流感患者的機會較高，感染風險較大。

甚麼情況下應求醫？

雖然大部分流感患者都能自行痊癒，但若出現以下症狀，則應立即就醫，以避免病情惡化：

高燒不退： 持續高燒（39°C或以上）超過三天，或退燒後再次發燒。
呼吸困難或急促： 呼吸困難、胸悶、氣喘、咳嗽加重，或出現喘鳴聲。
意識不清： 嗜睡、意識模糊、反應遲鈍，甚至昏迷。
胸痛： 胸部疼痛，尤其是在咳嗽或深呼吸時。
咳血或痰中帶血： 咳嗽帶血絲或濃痰。
嚴重嘔吐或腹瀉： 持續嘔吐或腹瀉，導致脫水。
其他嚴重症狀： 如劇烈頭痛、頸部僵硬、皮疹等。

預防流感方法

1. 接種流感疫苗

接種流感疫苗是預防流感的方法之一。疫苗可以刺激身體產生抗體，有效抵抗流感病毒的入侵。建議每年接種一次，以維持免疫力。特別是高危人士，例如長者、幼童、慢性病患者、孕婦及醫護人員，更應及早接種流感疫苗。現時的流感疫苗通常包含多種流感病毒株，能有效預防當季流行的流感病毒。

2. 保持良好個人衛生習慣

勤洗手： 使用肥皂和清水徹底洗手，尤其是在接觸公共物品或咳嗽、打噴嚏後。洗手時應搓揉手掌、手背、指縫、指尖及手腕，並用清水徹底沖洗乾淨。
戴口罩： 在人潮眾多的地方佩戴口罩，減少病毒傳播的機會。建議佩戴外科口罩，並確保口罩緊貼面部，以達到最佳的防護效果。
注意呼吸道衛生： 打噴嚏或咳嗽時，應用紙巾遮蓋口鼻，然後將紙巾丟棄在垃圾桶內。如沒有紙巾，可用手肘內側遮擋口鼻。

3. 增強免疫力

均衡飲食： 攝取足夠的蔬菜、水果和蛋白質，保持身體健康。多吃富含維生素C的食物，例如橙、檸檬等，有助於增強免疫力。
充足睡眠： 保持充足的睡眠，有助於增強免疫力。建議每天保持7-8小時的睡眠。
適度運動： 進行適度的運動，促進血液循環，提高免疫力。例如散步、跑步、游泳等，都是不錯的選擇。
保持心境開朗： 壓力過大會影響免疫力，保持心境開朗，有助於增強免疫力。

4. 保持環境衛生

定期清潔： 定期清潔家居及辦公室，保持空氣流通。
消毒： 使用消毒液清潔經常接觸的物品，例如門把、扶手等。

如何應對流感

一旦出現流感症狀，例如發燒、咳嗽、喉嚨痛等，應盡快求醫，接受專業診斷和治療。延誤治療可能導致病情加重，甚至出現併發症。

及早求醫，尋求專業協助。
確保充足休息和多喝水。
若出現流感病徵，切勿上班或上學。如果病徵持續，請立即求診。
抗生素是治療細菌感染而非病毒感染的藥物，服用抗生素不能治愈流感或加快痊癒。
抗病毒劑能減輕病情和縮短患病時間，但必須經由醫生處方才可服用。

流感季節，Evercare 全方位守護長者健康！

Evercare 提供全方位的長者健康管理服務，包括健康監測、藥物提醒、飲食調理等，協助長者舒適、健康地度過流感期。立即 Whatsapp +852 9883 3490 或瀏覽 Evercare 網站了解更多，給長者最安心的守護。

照顧者應對指南！四大自救方法！

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 08:13:22 GMT

「照顧者憂鬱症」不僅對照顧者的身心健康造成影響，也會影響到病患的照顧品質。因此，了解並應對照顧者憂鬱症至關重要。Evercare為你整合四大自救方法，幫助照顧者有效應對憂鬱症，為自己的健康與幸福找到平衡。

—> 5. 降壓飲食 —「六大快樂營養素」

—> 6. 需要更多協助嗎？讓Evercare為你分憂解勞！

「照顧者憂鬱症」成因

現時，越來越多的人需要擔負起照顧家人的責任。然而，長期的照顧工作往往給照顧者帶來身心的負擔，甚至可能導致「照顧者憂鬱症」的出現。根據研究，有1/4的居家照護者可能面臨著憂鬱症的風險，比例是一般人群的四倍。

照顧者壓力爆煲症狀

照顧者憂鬱症是由長期照顧工作中的壓力與負擔所引起的身心失調。許多照顧者因為長期承受巨大的壓力和責任感，容易忽略自己的身心健康。在照顧過程中，也需要關注自己的身心狀態，當出現下列症狀時可能就是壓力負荷過度：

經常出現煩悶、生氣、憂鬱、坐立不安等負向情緒。
失眠或無法透過睡覺恢復體力，持續感到疲累。
身體開始出現一些警訊，例如，腸胃不適、抵抗力減弱，容易感冒、肌肉緊繃痠痛等。

照顧者自救方法

為了幫助照顧者應對憂鬱症，以下是一些建議的自救方法：

照顧者自救方法一：有效溝通與支持

與家人、朋友坦誠溝通，尋求專業支援，有助於減輕壓力和孤獨感。

照顧者自救方法二：建立健康的界線和時間管理

設定健康的工作與生活界線，安排照顧時間並保留個人空間。

照顧者自救方法三：尋找心靈慰藉和放鬆方式

尋找心靈慰藉和放鬆方式對於照顧者至關重要。從瑜伽、冥想到閱讀、散步，找到適合自己的放鬆方式，讓身心得到舒緩和放鬆。

照顧者自救方法四：照顧者之間的支持與交流

參與照顧者支持群組或與其他照顧者分享經驗，尋求共同面對挑戰的力量。在彼此間的支持和交流中，照顧者可以找到情感上的支持和鼓勵，共同度過照顧的艱難時刻。

照顧者飲食狀況與壓力關係

香港復康會社區復康網絡調查顯示，近九成照顧者處於高壓狀態，飲食不均衡，缺乏營養。大約九成照顧者感受到高壓力，飲食狀況不佳，僅有約兩成攝取足夠蛋白質和奶類。註冊營養帥解釋：「蛋白質吸收不足，除了增加貧血的風險、降低免疫力及令肌肉流失外，值得一提的是蛋白質含有豐富的色胺酸，是製造出令人感到快樂及滿足的血清素的原材料之一。此外，鈣質吸收不足，亦會增加患上抑鬱症風險，因為鈣質有助我們安定神經及舒緩壓力。而缺乏維他命 D 也會提高患上抑鬱症的風險。」

降壓飲食 —「六大快樂營養素」

註冊營養師指出，大部分照顧者沒有進食足夠的肉類、奶類及缺乏足夠日照，蛋白質、鈣質及維他命D攝取量亦可能不足，對照顧者身心均有極大影響，建議照顧者需保持均衡飲食。

以下是「六大快樂營養素」，照顧者可以參考一下：

1. 蛋白質

豆腐
雞蛋

2. 鈣質

牛奶
硬豆腐

3. 維他命D

三文魚

4. 鎂

菠菜
堅果
牛奶

5. 維他命B6

牛奶
香蕉

6. Omega-3脂肪酸

鯖魚
三文魚

需要更多協助嗎？讓Evercare為你分憂解勞！

照顧長者是一份需要付出時間和心力的工作，如果你需要更多專業的協助，或是希望減輕照護負擔，歡迎你參考Evercare提供的專業居家照護服務。我們的專業團隊將提供你度身打造的照護方案，讓你安心無虞。了解更多Evercare長者服務，給家人最完善的照顧！

戰勝認知障礙：「麥得飲食」防失智！讓頭腦年輕7歲半的8大健腦食物

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 03:45:35 GMT

隨著年齡增長，記憶力衰退、腦部退化等問題令人擔憂。認知障礙症已成為全球重要的健康議題。然而，透過調整飲食習慣，我們可以積極預防和延緩認知功能下降。「麥得飲食」(MIND Diet) 是一種被譽為最佳飲食法的健腦飲食方案，它結合了地中海飲食和得舒飲食的優點，著重於攝取天然、未經加工的食物，並限制高飽和脂肪、反式脂肪和精緻糖的攝取。 Evercare為你整合8種「麥得飲食」中的關鍵健腦食物，為你的大腦健康加分！

—> 1. 認知障礙飲食建議

—> 2. Evercare全方位認知障礙症上門復康服務，給予你最安心的照護

認知障礙飲食建議

均衡飲食是維持大腦健康的重要基石。「麥得飲食」由美國洛許大學醫學中心於2015年發表，被評為五大最佳飲食法之一，它著重於攝取天然、未經加工的食物，減少加工食品、飽和脂肪、反式脂肪和精緻糖的攝取，以降低認知障礙和神經退化疾病的風險。

「麥得飲食」8大健腦食物

「麥得飲食」建議的8大食物，均富含各種營養素，有助於維持大腦健康，甚至可能讓你感覺年輕7歲半！，以下列出8大有助於大腦健康的食材：

1. 多吃深綠色蔬菜

深綠色蔬菜(例如：羽衣甘藍、菠菜)富含葉酸、維生素E 、胡蘿蔔素和類黃酮等抗氧化物質，能有效降低認知功能減退風險，並具有抗發炎作用。

建議: 每週至少食用6份深綠色蔬菜，若能每天食用不同蔬菜效果更佳。

2. 每天吃莓果

莓果(例如：藍莓、草莓)富含花青素，具有強大的抗氧化能力。長達20年的研究顯示，經常食用莓果的人，認知功能下降速度較慢。

3. 多吃堅果

堅果(例如：杏仁、核桃、腰果)富含許多對人體健康的油脂、維生素E 等營養素，對大腦具有保護作用。建議長者將部分零食替換成堅果，盡量選購低鹽、少調味的堅果。

4. 多吃雞蛋

雞蛋富含鐵、維生素B12、維生素D和葉酸，蛋黃更富含礦物質和維生素，以及卵磷脂，有助於細胞修復和代謝，促進神經細胞和腦部發育。

5. 定期進食魚類

魚類富含有Omega-3，深海魚的含量更加豐富。Omega-3是多元不飽和脂肪酸，具有抗發炎、對抗腸道過敏、保護心血管和預防記憶力衰退的功效。65歲以上的長者，如果每星期都至少吃1次魚，在記憶力表現上比沒有吃的人更好，而數理邏輯能力上也會比少吃海鮮的人更佳。

建議: 每週至少吃1次魚類

6. 盡量使用橄欖油

建議烹飪時使用橄欖油，最好選擇冷壓初榨橄欖油 (Extra Virgin)，避免使用牛油或人造奶油。

7. 適量飲用紅酒

眾所周知過量飲酒對健康的危害很大，不過有研究指出，少量或適量飲用紅酒是有機會降低患上認知障礙的風險。有節制地小酌一杯 (不多於120毫升)其實是不錯的選擇，但切記不要過量。

8. 少吃紅肉

建議每星期不要吃超過4次紅肉，並且多攝取豆類或大豆等食物，不僅能替代肉類的蛋白質，也富含纖維。有實驗發現，攝取較少豆類的長者，其認知功能下降的速度也相對較快。

五種食物盡量少吃

為了維持最佳的腦部健康，以下五種食物應盡量避免或減少攝取：

1. 牛油及人造牛油

飽和脂肪含量高，不利於心血管健康，也可能影響腦部健康。

2. 油炸及速食食品

高脂肪、高鹽、高糖，容易導致肥胖和慢性疾病，增加認知障礙風險。

3. 紅肉及其加工製品

過量攝取紅肉可能增加罹患心血管疾病和某些癌症的風險，進而影響腦部健康。

4. 芝士

高飽和脂肪含量，應適量攝取。

5. 零食與甜食

高糖分會影響血糖控制，不利於腦部健康。

Evercare全方位認知障礙症上門復康服務，給予你最安心的照護

認知障礙症為病人帶來身體和認知能力上的急劇變化，其照顧者更需要承受極沉重的壓力。Evercare 為認知障礙症病人提供全面的的上門復康護理，我們的專業團隊，包括護理員、註冊護士和物理治療師，將根據患者的個別需求，提供個人化的復康治療計劃，涵蓋日常生活協助、認知訓練、生命徵象監測、臨時護理、家居改造建議、陪診服務、運動指導及預設護理計劃等，陪伴患者和家屬走過每一個階段。讓康復過程變得輕鬆及舒適，不但為病人重拾自信，更有助減輕照顧者的壓力。

長者居家照顧：5大重點輕鬆學

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 18:13:55 GMT

照顧家中的長者，是許多家庭的共同課題，也是一份充滿愛與責任的旅程。你是否也常常擔心家中長者的安全、營養攝取，或是他們的精神狀況？別擔心！ Evercare為你整合簡單易懂的方式，帶你了解長者居家照顧的五大關鍵重點，讓你輕鬆掌握照顧技巧，讓長者們在安全、舒適的環境中安享晚年。

—> 需要更多協助嗎？讓Evercare為你分憂解勞！

1. 安全第一，打造安全的家

長者的行動力可能不如年輕人，所以家裡的安全非常重要。

預防跌倒

整理環境： 把容易絆倒的東西，像是地毯、電線、雜物都收好。
加裝扶手： 在浴室、樓梯加裝扶手，讓長者行動更安全。
明亮照明： 確保家裡光線充足，避免陰暗角落。
防滑地板： 使用防滑的地墊或地板材質。
穩固家具： 檢查家具是否穩固，避免傾倒。

2. 營養滿分：健康飲食好簡單

營養均衡的飲食，是長者健康的重要關鍵。

輕鬆準備營養餐

少量多餐： 分多次少量進食，比較容易消化。
多咀嚼好吞嚥： 準備軟爛、容易咀嚼的食物。
多喝水： 預防脫水，很重要！
營養補充： 如果需要，可以請醫生建議補充營養品。
均衡飲食： 多吃蔬菜水果、全穀類、蛋白質。

3. 身心愉快：快樂最重要

除了身體健康，長者的心情也很重要。

讓長者開心的小方法

多聊天： 陪伴長者聊天、看電視、聽音樂。
參與活動： 鼓勵長者參加一些社交活動。
動動腦： 一起玩遊戲、閱讀，刺激腦部活動。
充足睡眠： 確保長者有充足的睡眠時間。
尋求協助： 如果長者情緒低落，可以尋求專業協助。

4. 定期檢查：健康守護

定期健康檢查，能及早發現問題，及早治療！

別忘了定期健康檢查

年度健檢： 每年至少做一次完整的健康檢查。
慢性病追蹤： 如果長者有慢性病，要定期追蹤病情。
用藥管理： 妥善管理長者的藥物。
記錄病歷： 記錄長者的病史和用藥情況。

5. 善用資源：你不是孤單一人

照顧長者，有很多資源可以幫忙！

照顧資源

政府資源： 了解政府提供的長照服務和補助。
社區資源： 善用社區的長照中心、日間照顧中心等資源。
專業服務： 需要時，可以請居家照護服務或專業醫療人員協助。
家人朋友： 和家人朋友互相幫忙、分擔照顧的責任。

需要更多協助嗎？讓Evercare為你分憂解勞！

香港寬頻與 Evercare 合作推出居家護理服務月費計劃

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 08:20:24 GMT

（香港－2024年11月21日）香港寬頻網路有限公司（「香港寬頻」）宣布夥拍本地領先健康科技平台Evercare，為客戶提供居家護理服務，進一步加強其無限合一策略下創新的醫療保健服務。

港人普遍工作繁忙，難以頻繁抽身陪伴年長或行動不便的家人到醫院覆診及接受護理，或時刻陪伴左右，照顧其日常所需。香港寬頻聯同 Evercare 推出性價比極高的居家護理服務，客戶可選用上門傷口護理、陪診護送服務或居家照顧服務，每月乙次，月費低至 $399 起。服務由經驗豐富的專業護理人員提供，客戶即使無法親身陪伴，亦可安心將摯愛暫托護理人員，確保他們獲得悉心照料。

香港寬頻業務轉型總裁佘雋知 表示：「香港寬頻再次擴展服務範疇，進一步強化無限合一選擇。透過Evercare專業和便利的居家護理服務，我們不僅能夠全方位照顧客戶的生活需求，更能提升香港寬頻整體業務的競爭力。」

Evercare 聯合創辦人王維駿 表示：「九成長者希望在家安享晚年。然而，大多數家庭卻面對如何在家中妥善照顧長者的挑戰。今日，我們與擁有強大客戶基礎的香港寬頻攜手合作，邁出重大一步，為香港一百萬個家庭帶來價格相宜、專業的居家護理服務。」

圖片說明：香港寬頻與健康科技平台Evercare合作推出居家護理服務月費計劃
（左起：香港寬頻業務轉型總裁佘雋知﹔Evercare 聯合創辦人王維駿）

有關香港寬頻x Evercare 居家護理服務月費計劃詳情，請瀏覽 https://www.hkbn.net/personal/evercare/tc

*合約期為12個月。受條款及細則約束。

關於 Evercare

Evercare 是香港領先的健康科技平台，擁有超過三萬名醫護專業人員，為超過一百萬名病患提供護理服務，涵蓋醫院、院舍和居住社區。 Evercare 的專業護理團隊為各類型客戶提供度身訂造的護理服務，旨在讓顧客能夠健康、舒適、獨立地安享晚年，過著更幸福的生活。

Evercare 於 2023 年榮獲 DHL/SCMP 香港商業獎，印證 Evercare 對創新、卓越及優質服務的承諾。有關 Evercare 的詳情，請瀏覽 www.yourevercare.com

關於香港寬頻網絡有限公司

香港寬頻網絡有限公司營運香港寬頻集團（「香港寬頻」或「集團」）旗下與住宅方案相關的業務。集團總部設於香港，業務遍及香港、澳門、中國內地，是具領導地位的綜合電訊及科技服務供應商。集團提供全方位的一站式優質資訊及通訊科技（ICT）方案及無限合一服務組合。香港寬頻的三重光纖網絡覆蓋香港接近260萬住戶及8,200幢商業樓宇及設施。香港寬頻以「成就更美好家園」為核心目標，致力為其業務所至地區帶來長遠效益，於 2024 年獲 MSCI ESG 最高 AAA 評級，表現力壓同儕。集團由數百位自資購入香港寬頻有限公司（香港聯合交易所股份代號：1310）股票的持股管理人（主任及管理級別人才）管理。有關香港寬頻網絡有限公司的詳情，請瀏覽 www.hkbn.net 。

Evercare collaborates with HKBN to launch monthly subscription plan for home care services

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 04:22:31 GMT

(Hong Kong – 21 November 2024) Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited ("HKBN") has partnered with Evercare, a leading local health technology platform, to launch home care services for household customers, further enhancing HKBN’s Infinite-play strategy with innovative healthcare offerings.

In a bustling city like Hong Kong, residents often face challenges in providing adequate care for elderly or mobility-impaired family members due to demanding work schedules. Recognizing this issue, HKBN and Evercare have rolled out a highly cost-effective home care service offering a range of options, including in-home wound care, medical escort services, or home care services, once per month, with monthly fees starting as low as $399. Administered by experienced professional caregivers, these services offer customers the peace of mind that their loved ones will receive capable attentive care, even when they are not present.

Kenneth She, Chief Transformation Officer of HKBN , said, "Our partnership with Evercare further enhances our Infinite-play offerings, allowing us to better cater to our customers’ needs. By leveraging Evercare's professional and convenient home care expertise, we not only deepen our capability to address our customers' healthcare requirements but also elevate HKBN’s overall business competitiveness."

Kenneth Wong , Co-Founder of Evercare, said, “Ninety percent of seniors want to age with dignity at home. However, many families struggle to find adequate home care support for their elderly loved ones. Through our partnership with HKBN, Evercare is taking a significant step forward to bring affordable, professional home care to one million households in Hong Kong."

HKBN has partnered health technology platform Evercare to launch a monthly subscription plan for home care services.

(From left: Kenneth She, Chief Transformation Officer of HKBN and Kenneth Wong, Co-Founder of Evercare)

For details about the HKBN x Evercare home care service monthly subscription plan, please visit https://www.hkbn.net/personal/evercare/en

*The contract period is 12 months. Terms and conditions apply.

About Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited

Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited is the residential solutions arm of HKBN Group (“HKBN” or the “Group”). Headquartered in Hong Kong with operations spanning across Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China, the Group is a leading integrated telecommunications and technology services provider. The Group provides a full range of one-stop, high-quality information and communication technology (ICT) solutions and an unlimited services portfolio. HKBN’s extensive tri-carrier fibre infrastructure covers over 2.6 million residential homes and 8,200 commercial buildings and facilities across Hong Kong. Committed to creating a lasting positive impact to wherever it operates, HKBN embraces a core purpose to “Make our Home a Better Place to Live” and has received a highest possible rating of AAA in MSCI's 2024 ESG Ratings assessment in environment, society and governance. The Group is managed by hundreds of Co-Owners (supervisory and management level Talents in the Group) who invested their savings to buy shares of HKBN Ltd. (SEHK Stock Code: 1310). For more information about Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited, please visit www.hkbn.net/en .

【物理治療】中風患者、長者保健也適合？物理治療定義、適用情況全面睇！

Fri, 08 Nov 2024 03:18:24 GMT

物理治療並非單純的按摩或推拿，而是一套系統性的醫療方案，由專業的物理治療師根據你的個別情況，制定個人化的治療計劃，以達到最佳的治療效果。它結合多種治療方法，目標是恢復你的身體功能、減輕疼痛、改善活動能力，並預防未來再次受傷。尋求專業的物理治療師的幫助，比起自行嘗試治療方法，能更有效地診斷和解決問題，避免延誤病情或造成更嚴重的傷害。

—> 物理治療適用的情況

—> 物理治療治療過程

—> 居家物理治療：Evercare 專業上門服務，舒適便捷，助你快速康復

物理治療適用的情況

物理治療適用於廣泛的疾病和情況，幫助患者恢復功能、減輕疼痛並改善整體健康狀況。以下是一些常見的適用情況：

緩解肌肉骨骼系統疾病:

物理治療師會運用手法治療、運動治療、電療等方法，減輕疼痛，改善關節活動度和肌肉力量。

背痛 (例如：腰椎間盤突出、脊椎側彎)
頸痛 (例如：頸椎病、落枕)
關節炎 (例如：骨關節炎、類風濕性關節炎)
肌腱炎
韌帶損傷
滑囊炎
網球肘
高爾夫球肘

神經系統疾病復健:

物理治療有助於恢復運動功能、協調性、平衡能力和日常生活活動能力。物理治療師會設計針對性的運動計劃，並輔以神經肌肉電刺激等技術，促進神經系統的恢復。

中風復健
腦癱治療
多發性硬化症
帕金遜症
周邊神經病變

手術後康復:

物理治療有助於加速傷口癒合，恢復肌肉力量、關節活動範圍和功能，並預防術後併發症。

關節置換手術
脊椎手術
骨折手術

慢性疼痛管理:

物理治療師會運用多種方法，例如徒手治療、運動療法、電療等，來控制疼痛，改善患者的生活質素。

纖維肌痛症
神經痛

運動受傷復原:

物理治療師會根據傷勢的嚴重程度，制定個人化的康復計劃，包括休息、冰敷、壓迫、抬高原則，以及漸進式運動訓練。

扭傷
拉傷
骨折
肌肉撕裂

骨盆底健康:

物理治療師會指導患者進行骨盆底肌肉訓練，改善肌肉功能。

產後尿失禁
便秘
骨盆疼痛

長者保健:

物理治療可以幫助長者維持活動能力、平衡能力、預防跌倒，並提升獨立生活能力。物理治療師會設計安全有效的運動計劃，並提供姿勢矯正指導。

物理治療治療過程

物理治療師會根據你的個別需要和治療目標，執行以下步驟：

1. 初步評估

治療師會先仔細評估你的病史、症狀、活動能力和疼痛程度，以了解你的身體狀況和需求。這包括詢問你的病史、進行身體檢查，並可能需要你進行一些簡單的動作測試。

2. 個人化治療計劃

基於評估結果，治療師會為你制定一個個人化的治療計劃，並與你詳細討論治療目標和預期效果。這個計劃會根據你的進度進行調整。

3. 治療技術應用

治療師會運用多種技術來改善你的狀況，例如：

徒手治療 : 包括關節鬆動術、軟組織動員術等，以改善關節活動度和減少肌肉緊張。
運動治療 : 治療師會指導你進行一系列針對性的運動，以增強肌肉力量、改善關節活動範圍、提升協調性和平衡能力。這些運動會根據你的情況和進度逐步調整強度和難度。
神經肌肉電刺激: 使用電流刺激肌肉，以增強肌肉力量和耐力，尤其適用於肌肉萎縮或無力的情況。
筋膜鬆展治療: 透過手法鬆解肌肉筋膜的粘連，以緩解疼痛和改善活動受限。
針灸治療: (如果適用) 配合物理治療，以達到更佳的療效，減輕疼痛和炎症。
其他治療模式: 根據你的需要，治療師可能會使用超聲波治療、熱療或冷療等其他治療模式。

4. 居家練習指導

治療師會指導你一些在家中可以進行的練習，以鞏固治療效果，並幫助你持續改善你的狀況。治療師會清楚地示範動作，並確保你理解如何正確地執行這些練習。

5. 進度追蹤與調整

在每個療程結束後，治療師會評估你的進度，並根據你的反應調整治療計劃，以確保你獲得最佳的治療效果。

居家物理治療：Evercare 專業上門服務，舒適便捷，助你快速康復

時間緊迫，行動不便而無法前往診所接受物理治療？ Evercare 提供個人化的上門物理治療服務，讓你在家中也可享受到專業醫療照護。無需排隊等候，無需舟車勞頓，我們的註冊物理治療師會根據你的個人情況制定治療方案，包括筋膜鬆展、運動訓練和針灸等，讓你在舒適的環境中快速康復，重拾健康活力。

長者看護常見問題：外籍護理員與普通外傭差在哪？

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 08:13:55 GMT

在繁忙的現代生活中，照顧年邁的父母或親人往往成為許多家庭的沉重負擔。時間不足、專業知識缺乏，讓許多子女感到無助和焦慮。Evercare為你整合外籍護理員定義、與普通外傭的分別、哪些長者最需要外籍護理員並為你提供全方位的解決方案。

—> 什麼是外籍護理員？

—> Evercare外籍護理員 vs. 普通外傭：專業護理的關鍵差異

—> 哪些長者最需要外籍護理員？

—> Evercare外籍護理員：為長者提供專業貼心的照顧

什麼是外籍護理員？

外籍護理員是指來自海外，擁有專業護理資格或相關經驗的人士。他們經過專業訓練，能提供比一般外傭更專業、更全面的長者護理服務。這些服務包括但不限於：

協助日常生活起居: 洗漱、進食、服藥、穿衣、如廁等。
健康監察: 監測生命體徵、協助服藥、記錄身體狀況變化。
傷口護理: 清潔、包紮傷口，預防感染。
復康訓練: 協助進行物理治療、職業治療等復康運動，促進長者康復。
情緒支援: 提供情感支持，陪伴長者，減輕其心理負擔。
慢性疾病管理: 協助監控病情，管理藥物，提供適切的護理。

他們能根據長者的個別需要提供度身訂造的護理方案，有效提升長者的生活質素和健康狀況，減輕家庭照顧負擔。

Evercare外籍護理員 vs. 普通外傭：專業護理的關鍵差異

哪些長者最需要外籍護理員？

以下情況的長者尤其需要考慮聘請Evercare專業外籍護理員：

患有慢性疾病的長者

例如糖尿病、高血壓、心臟病、中風後遺症、帕金森氏症、失智症等。外籍護理員能協助監測病情、管理藥物、提供適切的護理，減輕家人負擔。

行動不便的長者

需要協助洗澡、穿衣、如廁等日常生活起居。外籍護理員能提供專業的協助，確保長者安全舒適。

需要24小時照顧的長者

一些長者需要全天候的照顧和監護，外籍護理員能提供全天候的服務，讓家人可以安心工作和休息，避免意外發生。

需要復康治療的長者

中風或其他意外後需要進行復康治療，外籍護理員能協助進行復康運動，並提供專業的復康指導，促進長者康復。

獨居長者

缺乏家人照顧的獨居長者，外籍護理員能提供全面的照顧，避免意外發生。

Evercare外籍護理員：為長者提供專業貼心的照顧

選擇 Evercare，為你的家人提供最優質的護理服務。我們的專業團隊由經驗豐富、專業培訓的外籍護理員組成，確保長者獲得最貼心的照顧。我們提供度身訂造的個人化照顧計劃，全天候24小時守護你的家人。另外，我們的費用已包括外籍護理員從馬尼拉到香港的機票、體檢及一年保險的安心保障，讓你全程無憂。立即聯繫我們，為你的家人選擇 Evercare，獲得專業的長者護理服務！

上門護理定老人院好？點揀邊樣適合長者？

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 04:02:29 GMT

了解居家護理和安老院之間的區別，選擇適合長者的照護方案。Evercare為係整合從上門護理到老人院，各自的服務範圍和優點，尋找最合適的護理選擇。

—> 上門護理和安老院有什麼分別？

—> 上門護理服務的好處

—> 如何選擇適合長者的照護方案？

—> Evercare 上門照顧長者服務：專業、貼心，讓愛不再有距離

上門護理和安老院有什麼分別？

選擇家居護理或老人院，取決於老人家的需求和家庭的考量。以下是兩者的詳細比較：

家居護理

定義：

在家中提供護理和支援服務。

服務範圍：

個人護理（如洗澡、更換衣物、進食協助）
家務支援（如打掃）
藥物管理（如藥物提醒）
醫療護理（如換藥、注射）
陪伴和社交互動

服務場所：

家居護理人員在居民的住所提供服務。

醫療設備：

可能提供基本的醫療設備（如血壓計、血糖測量器等）。

專業資格：

家居護理員是有相關培訓和證書的護理人員、登記護士或註冊護士。

優點：

在熟悉的家庭環境中提供照顧，使老年人感到安心。
提供個人化的護理，根據老年人的需求定制。
促進老年人的獨立性和自主性。
陪伴和社交互動有助於心理健康。

老人院

定義：

提供醫療和護理服務的院舍。

服務範圍：

醫療護理（如傷口處理、注射）
藥物管理（如藥物分發）
醫療監測（如血壓測量、血糖測量）
醫生和護士的診療

服務場所：

通常在醫療保健中心或醫院設施內提供服務。

醫療設備：

配備較完整的醫療設備和器材。

專業資格：

通常有註冊護士、醫生和其他醫療專業人員。

優點：

提供專業的醫療護理和監測。
配備完善的醫療設備和器材。
醫生和註冊護士的診療服務，能夠處理複雜的醫療狀況。

上門護理服務的好處

提供舒適和熟悉的環境

上門護理服務讓長者可以留在自己熟悉的家中，這不僅能提供舒適的生活環境，還有助於他們保持心理上的穩定和安全感。對於患有認知障礙症的長者，熟悉的環境尤其重要，有助於減少混亂和焦慮。

個性化的照護計劃

每位長者的需求都不同，居家安老服務可以根據個人的健康狀況、興趣和生活習慣，量身定制個性化的照護計劃。這樣的照護方式能夠更好地滿足長者的獨特需求，提升他們的生活質量。

增強家庭成員的參與

上門護理服務允許家人更直接地參與到長者的照護過程中，這有助於加強家庭成員之間的聯繫和互動。家人可以隨時了解長者的身體狀況和照護情況，並在需要時提供額外的支持。

減少感染風險

相比於住院或入住養老院，居家安老服務能有效減少長者接觸傳染病的風險。在家中接受照護，能夠避免與其他病患或住客的接觸，降低感染的可能性，特別是在流感季節或疫情期間。

經濟實惠

上門護理服務通常比住院或長期入住養老院更經濟實惠。通過選擇合適的上門護理服務，家庭可以節省大量的醫療費用，同時確保長者得到高質量的照護。

如何選擇適合長者的照護方案？

選擇適合長者的照護方案，需要綜合考慮以下因素：

身體狀況和認知能力

長者的身體狀況和認知能力是選擇適合照護方案的重要考量因素。如果長者需要專業的醫療照護，像老人院可能是更合適的選擇。對於認知障礙或慢性病患者，需要提供更為專業的護理和監測。

生活習慣和社交需求

考慮長者的生活習慣和社交需求也是選擇照護方案時的關鍵因素。如果長者喜歡獨處並且希望在熟悉的環境中保持自主性，上門護理可能更為適合。而如果長者渴望社交互動或需要更多專業的醫療監測，老人院可能是更好的選擇。

家庭的經濟狀況

家庭的經濟狀況也是一個重要考量因素。上門護理的費用通常相對較低，而老人院可能需要更高的財務支出。在選擇適合照護方案時，需要考慮家庭的財務能力以及長期的照護需求。

照顧者的時間和精力

如果有家庭成員或照護者可以提供時間和精力來照顧長者，上門護理可能是一個較為合適的選擇。然而，如果照顧者缺乏時間或無法提供足夠的照顧，老人院服務可能提供更全面的護理服務。

長者的意願

最重要的是尊重長者的意願。在做出照護方案的選擇時，應詢問長者的意見並尊重他們的決定。讓長者參與到選擇過程中，能夠增加他們對照護方案的接受度，同時提升他們的生活質量和幸福感。

Evercare 上門照顧長者，讓長者的生活更舒適

在 Evercare，我們深知長者的需求與挑戰。我們的上門護理服務不僅提供日常生活協助，還包括專業的健康監測、情感支持、康復護理、傷口護理和鼻胃管餵食。讓我們的護理團隊成為你家人的守護者，確保他們在家中生活得舒適和安全。

Evercare 提供定期跟進和狀況報告，確保你隨時了解家人的健康狀態和護理進展。我們的目標是為長者和家庭提供一個無憂的照顧經驗。立即了解我們的個上門長者護理服務，讓我們一起為長者打造美好的生活品質！

【留港長者】子女移民後，可以如何照顧老人家？(附社區支援及上門護理推介)

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 08:25:36 GMT

隨著子女移民，留港長者面臨孤獨和抑鬱的風險增加。Evercare為你整合留守長者會遇到的問題及解決方案，如聘請上門護理服務、社區支援等。了解如何在子女離港後，確保老人家的身心健康。

—> 「留港長者」面對的主要問題

—> 如何為留港長者選擇合適的社區活動？

—> 解決方案：確保長者得到適當照顧

—> Evercare 上門照顧長者服務：專業、貼心，讓愛不再有距離

—> 常見問題

「留港長者」面對的主要問題

調查顯示，在2020年或之後移民嘅的受訪子女，其中有超過6成是長者最主要的照顧者。調查亦顯示，比較起沒有子女移民的長者，「留港長者」在社交情況及情緒健康均出現顯著惡化，而他們普遍需要「情緒支援」、「服務轉介」及「實質陪伴」這三方面的服務。以下是「留港長者」面對的4大問題︰

1. 孤獨感和抑鬱傾向

子女移民後，「留港長者」常常感到孤獨，容易產生抑鬱情緒，對他們的身心健康產生負面影響。
調查顯示，近70%的長者有抑鬱傾向、孤單感和情緒問題。
缺乏子女的日常陪伴和支持，使得他們的情緒狀況進一步惡化，進而影響整體健康狀況。

2. 健康問題

長者的健康問題，如高血壓、糖尿病等，需要持續關注和照護。子女離港後，這些問題可能會被忽視或加重。
超過40%的長者表示記憶力變差，更容易失眠，並減少外出娛樂活動。

3. 安全問題

隨著年齡增長，行動不便和記憶力下降，長者在家中生活時容易面臨跌倒、忘記關火等安全問題。
這些問題不僅威脅日常生活安全，還可能引發更嚴重的事故和健康風險。

4. 生活自理困難

許多「留港長者」在日常生活中需要幫助進行基本活動，如購物、烹飪、清潔等。
若這些基本生活需求得不到滿足，將嚴重影響他們的生活質量和自我照顧能力。
專業人士的協助顯得尤為重要，以確保他們能夠維持基本的生活自理能力和尊嚴。

如何為留港長者選擇合適的社區活動？

子女不在港，留港長者往往需要更多的社區支持和參與來保持身心健康。為了幫助長者更好地融入社區並提升生活質量，選擇適合的社區活動至關重要。以下是幾個建議及社區資源推介，幫助你為長者選擇合適的社區活動︰

評估長者興趣和需求

了解長者的興趣和需求是選擇合適活動的基礎。這可以通過以下幾個方法進行：

談天交流：與長者進行深入交流，了解他們的愛好、過往參加過的活動以及他們對未來活動的期望。
健康狀況評估：根據長者的健康狀況，確定哪些活動適合他們。例如，一些長者可能適合參加輕度運動班，而另一些可能更適合靜態的手工藝活動。
社交需求：評估長者的社交需求，了解他們是否希望通過活動結識新朋友或保持與現有朋友的聯繫。

解決方案：確保長者得到適當照顧

聘請上門護理服務

上門護理服務可以為長者提供專業的日常生活協助和醫療護理，確保他們在家中得到良好的照顧。這種服務能夠針對長者的個別需求，提供量身定制的護理方案。除了基本的護理服務，上門護理服務還包括其他輔助服務，以滿足長者的全面健康需求：

健康評估服務

健康評估是上門護理服務的一部分，專業的護理人員會定期到家中對長者進行全面的健康評估，包括血壓、血糖、心肺功能等指標。這樣可以及時發現健康問題，並制定相應的護理計劃。

外傭培訓

為了提升外傭的護理水平，可以安排專業的護理培訓課程，教導她們如何正確照顧長者，包括基本的醫療護理、緊急應對措施和日常生活協助等。這樣可以確保外傭能夠提供高質量的照顧，減輕長者的負擔。

上門物理治療

上門物理治療服務可以幫助有行動不便或康復需求的長者。專業的物理治療師會根據長者的具體情況，提供個性化的康復訓練，幫助他們恢復和維持身體機能，提高生活質量。

上門職業治療

上門職業治療服務可以幫助長者重新學習和培養日常生活技能，提高他們的自理能力和生活品質。職業治療師會根據長者的需求，提供個性化的治療計劃，包括日常活動訓練、動作協調和輔助器具選擇等。

上門言語治療

上門言語治療服務可以幫助長者恢復說話和溝通能力。專業的言語治療師會使用各種治療方法和語言訓練，幫助長者克服語言障礙，提高他們的溝通能力和語言理解能力。

上門營養諮詢

上門營養諮詢服務可以提供個性化的飲食建議和營養指導，確保長者獲得均衡和營養豐富的飲食。專業的營養師會根據長者的健康狀況和特殊需求，制定適合他們的飲食計劃，提供營養諮詢和飲食指導。

社區活動資源推薦

除了上門護理服務，社區支援和參與也是確保長者得到適當照顧的重要環節。社區活動和資源可以為長者提供社交、心理和實際的幫助。以下是一些社區相關醫療服務，可為他們提供健康建議和監督：

Evercare 上門照顧長者服務：守護長者，讓關懷不再缺席

面對留港長者的照顧問題，Evercare 致力於提供可靠的上門護理服務。我們的團隊專注於每位長者的獨特需求，提供日常生活協助（包括扶抱、沖涼及換片等）、健康評估等服務，制定個性化的護理計劃，確保他們在熟悉的環境中獲得關懷。

Evercare 提供定期跟進和狀況報告，確保你隨時了解家人的健康狀態和護理進展。我們的目標是為長者和家庭提供一個無憂的照顧經驗，讓你放心且安心。了解更多關於我們的上門長者護理服務，讓我們一起守護長者的幸福！

常見問題

如何選擇適合的上門護理服務？

評估長者需求

了解長者的具體需求，包括日常生活協助、醫療護理、心理支持等。根據需求選擇適合的護理服務，確保長者得到全面的照顧。可以通過與長者討論、諮詢專業醫護人員和進行健康評估來確定具體需求。

了解護理服務提供商

選擇經驗豐富、口碑良好的護理服務提供商，確保其護理人員具備專業資格和豐富經驗。可以通過網上評價、家庭推薦等方式進行篩選。與服務提供商進行初步諮詢，了解其服務內容、收費標準和護理員背景與經驗。

Reference:

Hket

Y Silver Link 安居通

【長者家居照顧服務】家中長者需要插鼻胃管及日常護理？即睇上門護理6大好處及護理種類！

Mon, 03 Jun 2024 06:53:37 GMT

提供適當的照顧和護理對於需要長期護理的長者至關重要。在家居環境中接受護理服務可以提供舒適和安心感，而私家看護則是一種受歡迎的選擇。Evercare為你整合上門看護的6大好處及各種護理種類。

–> 上門護理服務是什麼？

–> 上門護理的好處

–> 上門護理服務種類

–> Evercare 上門照顧長者服務：專業、貼心，讓愛不再有距離

上門護理服務是什麼？

上門護理服務是指護理人員或專業護理團隊在長者的居家環境中提供護理和照顧服務。這種服務旨在幫助需要長期護理的人們在舒適和安全的家庭環境中獲得所需的護理支持。
上門護理服務通常包括以下內容：

日常生活援助
健康監測
藥物管理
傷口護理
病痛管理
心理支持
家居安全評估

上門護理的好處

1. 安在熟悉環境

在家中接受護理可以讓長者感到更加舒適和放鬆。上門護理服務可以讓他們在熟悉的環境中繼續生活，這有助於減少壓力和不安感。無論是在日常活動還是在照顧方面，長者都可以保持熟悉的節奏，享受自己的家庭生活。

2. 個人化的護理計劃

上門護理服務提供個人化的照顧計劃，根據每位長者的特殊需求和偏好進行調整。護理人員可以更全面地了解長者的狀況和需求，並提供相應的照顧。這種一對一的關懷可以確保長者得到專注和全面的照料。

3. 專業護理員

在提供上門護理服務時，專業護理員是至關重要的一環。他們擁有專業知識和技能，能夠提供高品質的護理服務。

專業護理員能夠提供以下幾個重要支援:

專業知識和技能：專業護理員具備豐富的醫療知識和技能，能夠提供適切的照顧和治療。
安全和可靠：專業護理員經過嚴格的培訓和背景檢查，他們具備必要的資格和能力，能夠確保長者的安全和健康。
關懷和同理心：專業護理員不僅提供醫療照護，還會關心和理解長者的情感和心理需求，能夠提供情感上的支持和安慰。
協助日常活動：專業護理員可以協助長者進行日常活動，如洗澡、穿衣、餵食和行動，確保長者的生活品質得到提升。
藥物管理：專業護理員負責監測和管理長者的藥物，確保藥物按時服用，並提供必要的藥物教育和指導。
緊急情況處理：專業護理員具備處理緊急情況的能力，能夠及時應對意外事件和急需的醫療情況。

4. 減少醫院訪問

上門護理服務可以減少長者到醫院訪問的次數。護理人員可以提供基本的醫療照護，監測健康狀況，定期檢查並管理藥物。這有助於減少緊急情況的發生，並提供早期預防和治療，以保持長者的健康狀態穩定。

5. 減少社交孤立

長者通常會因為健康問題而減少外出，這可能會導致社交孤立。上門護理可以提供一個機會，讓長者與護理人員進行交流，減輕孤獨感。

6. 家庭支持

上門護理服務不僅關注長者的身體健康，還提供家庭支持。護理人員可以與家人交流，提供必要的指導和建議，幫助他們更好地照顧長者。這種支持可以減輕家人的負擔，讓他們感到安心，知道自己的親人得到了妥善的照顧。

上門護理服務種類

上門護理服務為需要家庭照顧的長者提供了方便和專業的護理支持。這些服務可以根據長者的需要和護理程度進行個性化調整。以下是一些常見的上門護理服務種類：

Evercare 上門照顧長者服務：專業、貼心，讓愛不再有距離

關愛長者，讓他們在家中也能享受專業的照顧。Evercare 提供可靠的上門長者護理服務，無論是日常生活協助還是專業醫療護理，我們的專業團隊都能為您的家人提供最貼心的服務。我們根據每位長者的個人需求，設定專屬的護理計劃，涵蓋日常起居、健康監測、健康評估、康復護理、照顧者培訓等多個方面。

選擇 Evercare，您將獲得最全面的支持，確保長者在熟悉的環境中得到最好的照顧。此外，Evercare 還提供定期跟進和狀況報告，確保您隨時了解家人的健康狀態和護理進展。我們的目標是為長者及其家庭提供無憂的照護體驗，讓你感到放心與安心。

【清洗傷口】如何在家處理簡單傷口？

Fri, 09 Feb 2024 15:13:03 GMT

家居意外時有發生，浴室、廚房等地更是容易暗藏危機，一不留神就有機會造成擦傷、割傷。其中以老人家和小孩最常見。在一般情況下，對於小而淺的傷口，如果能迅速止血，不一定需要緊急求醫。有時遇上突發意外，自己能夠先進行初步護理絕對不是件壞事，但你是否了解在家洗傷口的正確程序呢？何時該求醫呢？以下就由 Bowtie 團隊為你逐一分析處理簡單傷口的注意事項！

如不慎擦傷，應該如何處理？

先觀察傷口嚴重程度和大小。
如有髒物，可以用清水和肥皂清洗，但切勿使用自來水 (即水喉水)。
清洗後，用紗布覆蓋，以手輕壓紗布5至10分鐘止血。若超過10分鐘仍未止血，應儘快求醫診治。

甚麼情況可以自行處理傷口？

如果不慎擦傷，觀察後發現只傷及表面皮膚，一般情況下都可以自行處理傷口。一些較嚴重的傷口，例如面積較大，傷口較深入，或傷口裂口不整齊，又或有大量出血情況，需盡早求醫。

清洗傷口常見所需用品包括：

家居洗傷口基本5步驟

清洗雙手
使用用生理鹽水或乾淨清水沖走傷口上的細菌或污物，持續5至10分鐘
使用生理鹽水沾濕棉花棒或紗布，輕輕抹拭傷口；每枝棉花棒或者每塊紗布只使用 1 次
用紗布將傷口輕力印乾，無須將傷口完全印乾
在傷口上覆蓋敷料，用膠布或繃帶適當地固定敷料。

如果為長者處理傷口，應該避免使用以下刺激性清潔劑：酒精、氯己定、碘酒及強鹼性清潔劑。

傷口護理注意事項

洗傷口費用可以 Claim 保險嗎？

Bowtie 觸木保（意外醫療保險）可以實報實銷因意外受傷引致的醫療開支，保障範圍包括門診 (洗傷口、縫針等)、物理治療、手術及住院費用等。

由於洗傷口屬於門診保障中的項目，其賠償限額如下：

保障項目 (因意外而受傷)

各保障項目之賠償限額

門診：包括註冊醫生之門診診費與藥費 (精神科治療除外)、X 光診斷及超聲波掃描

每保單年度合共 $5,000

門診診費及藥費：每次診症或跟進 $580
X 光診斷及超聲波掃描 — 須由註冊醫生書面建議

甚麼時候該尋求專業幫助？

在日常生活中，無可避免會發生一些意外導致受傷。對於體質和免疫力較好的年輕人來說，這些傷口通常可以自行慢慢痊癒。然而，對於年長者而言，因為免疫力和體力的下降，甚至可能是營養攝取不均衡，如果小傷口沒有得到妥善處理，將有可能導致嚴重的後果。

如果家中的長者患有糖尿病、皮膚病或其他疾病，建議尋求醫生或護士的專業幫助。Evercare 的註冊護士可以上門為患者識別傷口情況和適當治療，確保傷口得到妥善處理，減少併發症風險。

Evercare 上門洗傷口收費如下：

單次服務

5次服務

$850

$3,800

原文：不慎擦傷未必需要求醫！即看家居洗傷口的正確程序！

作者

Bowtie 保泰人壽保險有限公司

Bowtie 是香港首間虛擬保險公司，致力於填補健康的保障缺口。Bowtie 透過創新科技及醫療專業，提供零中介、免佣金，更方便的網上平台，讓客戶隨時隨地獲得產品報價、核保及索償服務。Bowtie 提供多款保險產品，以照顧個人及企業客戶所需。

長者需考慮買意外保險嗎？

Fri, 09 Feb 2024 07:51:41 GMT

老人家是家居意外的高風險群體！

人們普遍認為家中應該是最安全的地方，然而實際上，家中往往隱藏著許多潛在危險。稍有不慎，就有機會發生意外，後果可能是無法挽回的。長者是家居意外的高風險群體，尤其是行動不便或獨居的長者更容易發生家居意外。根據資料，每5名65歲的長者中，就有1人在過去一年曾經跌倒，而大部分是在室內發生。

隨着年齡增長，老人家的反應速度較年輕人緩慢，因此更容易發生跌倒、燒傷等常見的家居意外。這些意外事故可能導致身體受傷，需要接受醫療治療，而相應的醫療費用可能相對較高，給家庭增添經濟負擔。

長者常見的家居意外及處理方法

跌倒

根據衛生署的數據，跌倒是香港最常見的家居意外。居家環境中常見的跌倒風險因素包括照明不足、地板濕滑、地面不平、走道堆放雜物等。長者因身體平衡能力較差，跌倒的風險相對較高，且由於骨質密度減少，更容易造成骨折。

處理方法
若傷口出血，應檢查是否有異物存在，若無異物，建議使用乾淨敷料覆蓋並輕壓止血。若受傷部位呈現變形或腫脹，避免移動長者，立即致電求援。

跌倒是最常見的致傷原因，故亦應改善環境預防意外，例如確保家中光線充足、移走容易令人絆倒的物件、使用防滑地墊等。此外，安裝輔助設備如高馬桶座圈或扶手，能有助提升長者獨立感和安全感。

窒息

窒息往往防不勝防，例如吃飯時吞嚥不慎、睡覺時被棉被蓋住頭部、或者頸部意外被窗簾繩纏繞等，都有機會導致窒息。

處理方法

立即將傷者和導致窒息的物品分開，然後馬上致電醫療人員尋求協助。

燒傷/燙傷

根據衛生署的數據，燙傷和燒傷是家庭中最常見的意外之一，客廳、浴室和廚房是高危區域。燒傷和燙傷可造成不同程度的傷害，輕者可以是皮外傷，但嚴重可導致殘疾甚至死亡。

處理方法

用清水沖洗最少10分鐘，以助降溫及減輕痛楚。然後用敷料包紮覆蓋傷口，避免感染。若情況嚴重，應盡早求醫。

鑒於長者的自理能力較低，除了做足家居安全措施外，還建議投購一份保障全面的家居意外保險及個人醫療／意外保險，以防不時之需。

家居意外保險對於保障長者的安全有幫助嗎？

根據消費者委員會的資料顯示，全港約有 11 間保險公司提供近 25 個家居意外保險。

然而，大多數家居意外保險主要針對家居財產進行保障，例如電器、傢私和個人物品等。這些保險一般涵蓋因為意外事件（如盜竊、火災、颱風、水浸等）而導致財物損失或損壞的情況，可向保險公司提出理賠申請。

當中只有少數保險公司對家居意外導致的受傷、傷殘或死亡進行賠償，此外，有些保險公司可能設有年齡限制，或規定投保人必須連續病假4天或以上才能享受相應的保障，索償條件相對嚴格。

投保一份個人醫保才可真正保障長者！

家居意外除了可能導致財務損失，還存在造成傷亡的風險。然而，大多數家居意外保險很少提供醫療保障，因此最好購買一份個人自願醫保或意外保，以應付突如其來的醫療開支，為自己及家人提供必要的保障。

以 Bowtie 自願醫保和意外保為例，不論你是否因為家居意外而受傷，只要符合保單訂明的索償條件，就可以獲得賠償：

原文：長者需要意外保險嗎？

作者

Bowtie 保泰人壽保險有限公司

Evercare 榮獲DHL/南華早報 2023 香港商業獎

Fri, 08 Dec 2023 02:44:48 GMT

2023 年度「DHL /南華早報香港商業獎」昨日揭曉，香港領先的健康科技平台 Evercare 成功脫穎而出獲得獎項。Evercare 秉持改善老齡社會問題、讓長者能夠有尊嚴地度過晚年的承諾，一直努力不懈地以科技創新重新塑造護理行業，提升長者生活質素。此項獎項肯定了 Evercare 的成就及對社會的貢獻。

其他獲獎的企業包括比亞迪股份有限公司、中國建築工程(香港)有限公司、CMRS Digital Solutions Limited、及保利高集團有限公司。獲獎的個人包括蘭桂坊集團主席，盛智文先生、富豪酒店國際控股有限公司之副主席及執行董事，羅寶文女士、及香港麥當勞行政總裁，黎韋詩女士。

Evercare與2023年DHL/南華早報香港商業獎的其他獲獎者

在頒獎典禮上，Evercare 的創辦人及首席執行官王維駿先生利用這個機會感謝 Evercare 的護士和護理人員，他們是香港醫療系統的支柱。

王維駿先生表示：「Evercare 的的主導原則是『家庭至上』。這意味著關心那些最先關心我們的人。家庭至上離不開我們在醫院、院舎及家居無私支持我們家庭的前線醫護人員。他們的照顧不竭不止，他們的奉獻不知極限。」

Evercare 榮獲 2023 DHL/南華早報香港商業獎，表彰他們在護理和安老行業轉型方面的貢獻

Evercare 由王維駿先生及其妻子彭思瑩女士以夫妻檔共同創立，自2016年成立以來，一直走在推進護理行業的前端。透過其領先科技和平台，Evercare 正在應對由全球人口老化及醫護人手短缺所帶來的複雜挑戰。Evercare 的平台幫助醫護人員革新工作模式，讓他們能夠靈活自由地作爲自由職業者工作。Evercare 不僅提高了工作滿意度，保留了成千上萬的醫護人員，還提高了社區的護理質量。

香港商業奬由DHL 及南華早報攜手創立，於1990年首度舉行。該獎項旨在表揚香港工商界人士及機構，對維持及鞏固香港的經濟繁榮與國際地位所作的貢獻。歷年來，該大獎嘉許了不少對香港作出重大貢獻的優秀商業機構及領袖，已成為香港成功企業及人士的終極榮譽。

該獎項表彰Evercare 基於自身技術和知識產權開發、部署和商業化獨特新產品的成果。Evercare在增長和在市場拓展方面表現卓越，對護理和長者領域產生了積極影響。

Evercare wins 2023 DHL/SCMP Hong Kong Business Awards

Fri, 08 Dec 2023 02:44:34 GMT

Hong Kong, 08 December 2023 – Evercare, Hong Kong’s leading health tech platform, wins the 2023 DHL/SCMP Hong Kong Business Awards held on 7th December 2023. The award recognises Evercare’s commitment to reinventing the caregiving industry and enabling the elderly community to age with dignity and independence.

Other companies honoured at the awards ceremony include BYD Company Limited, China State Construction Engineering (Hong Kong) Limited, CMRS Digital Solutions Limited, and Polygroup Holdings. Personal awards were presented to Mr. Allan Zeman, Chairman of Lan Kwai Fong Group, Ms. Poman Lo, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Regal Hotels International Holdings Limited, and Ms. Randy Lai, Chief Executive Officer of McDonald’s Hong Kong.

Evercare with other winners of the 2023 DHL/SCMP Hong Kong Business Awards

At the awards ceremony, Kenneth Wong, CEO of Evercare, used the opportunity to thank Evercare’s nurses and caregivers, who serve as the backbone of Hong Kong’s health system. Wong said, “Evercare’s guiding principle is ‘Family First’. That means caring for those who first cared for us. Family First is impossible without our frontline healthcare professionals who tirelessly support our families in hospitals, elderly homes, and residential communities. Their care never stops and their dedication knows no bounds."

Evercare, husband-and-wife team, Amanda Pang (centre, left) and Kenneth Wong (centre, right) receives 2023 DHL/SCMP Hong Kong Business Award for their contribution in transforming the caregiving and elderly sector

Founded in 2016 by a husband-and-wife team, Evercare has been at the forefront of transforming the caregiving landscape. Leveraging its cutting edge technology and platform, Evercare is tackling the complex challenges posed by a global ageing population, coupled with a shortage of healthcare professionals. By leading the work evolution for healthcare professionals to work flexibly and freely as freelancers, Evercare has not only improved job satisfaction and retained thousands of healthcare professionals in the workforce, but also enhanced the quality of care across the community.

The Hong Kong Business Awards, established in 1990 by DHL and the South China Morning Post, honours distinguished companies and individuals for their contributions in enhancing Hong Kong’s international reputation. Participating companies undergo a rigorous vetting and selection process conducted by a distinguished panel of academics and business leaders.

The Award recognises Evercare’s development, deployment, and commercialization of a unique new product based on its own technology and intellectual property. Evercare has demonstrated excellence in growth and market development, making a positive impact on the caregiving and elderly sector.

為什麼要預防跌倒？老人家跌倒的常見後果

Tue, 15 Aug 2023 00:50:53 GMT

據全球統計，跌倒是意外受傷致死的主要原因之一。在香港，每年約 5個老人家便有1個會跌倒，而其中 75% 會受到頭部創傷和骨折等。隨著我們家人年齡的增長，從跌倒中康復就變得更具挑戰性，有些人更可能無法完全康復。

身體損傷

跌倒後身體受傷的嚴重程度因人而異。有些人只會經歷表面的瘀傷，但對於肌肉較少和骨骼較弱的老人家來說，受傷程度遠比我們想像的嚴重。

髖部骨折

你知道 95% 以上的老人家髖部骨折是由跌倒造成的嗎？

髖部骨折是由長者站立時跌倒，撞擊骨盆而造成的。由此產生的疼痛會讓人痛苦不堪，一些老人家甚至在手術後仍然臥床不起。

你可以考慮在家中安裝扶手，以便你家人在跌倒時有支撐物可以抓住。

髖部骨折可能會讓你家人踏上漫長的康復之路。與其他人相比，因跌倒所導致髖部骨折而住院的老人家，需要長期護理的可能性高出 3 倍。

如果你的家人在手術後需要家庭護理，可以考慮 Evercare 的術後護理和康復護理服務。

髖部骨折還可能導致並發症，引發其他健康問題。研究發現，約 25% 經歷髖部骨折的老人家會在一年內死亡。

定期鍛煉身體和保持肌肉力量，可減輕跌倒受傷的嚴重程度並提高免疫力。

頭部受傷

當老人家平地或側身落地時，可能會發生腦外傷和腦震盪。大腦損傷有機會導致意識喪失、長期認知障礙、言語障礙和聽力受損。

如果你的家人正在服用抗凝血藥 ( 薄血藥 ) ，請在跌倒後立即就醫，因為他們出現延遲性顱內出血的風險會更高。

癱瘓

如果老人家的脊柱直接著地，可能會導致癱瘓和神經受損。並非所有脊髓損傷都會導致立即癱瘓，但你應該注意以下的早期症狀：

四肢知覺減退和無力
膀胱肌肉無力
呼吸困難

老人家應該多鍛煉上肢和核心肌肉力量，以便在萬一跌倒時能作出即時及有效的保護反應，如上肢撐地。

了解 Evercare 防跌計劃所包括的物理治療服務，如何訓練你家人的平衡性和力量。

你的父母難以保持平衡或獨自行走嗎？

我們物理治療師及職業治療師可以上門評估長者的身體狀況及跌倒風險，了解我們的防跌計劃如何為你避免因跌倒而造成的身體和經濟損失。

心理創傷

害怕跌倒。跌倒的後果並不只是身體受傷那麼簡單。對跌倒產生恐懼是跌倒後常見的後遺症，其特徵是自信心受損和自我感覺行動不便。你的家人可能會感到焦慮並高估自己跌倒的風險，從而導致社交參與度和活動能力下降。

與身體損傷相比，跌倒造成的心理影響可能會被忽視。研究發現，在產生跌倒恐懼的老人家中，有 40-60% 的人會限制自己的日常活動。留意你的家人有沒有在跌倒後出現以下情況：

在熟悉的區域行走時變得不自信
故意改變步行方式
不願意到戶外活動或參與社交活動

如果心理創傷長期不受重視，會大大降低你家人的生活質素。我們的物理治療服務可以改善你家人的平衡和協調能力，除了幫助他們重拾信心，還可以確保他們有能力參與有益身心的活動（如晨練、太極拳)。

失去獨立性。身體受傷和信心下降會引發一系列的連鎖反應，危及個人的自理能力。一旦跌倒導致老人家產生恐懼和降低他們的活動能力，下床這麼簡單的動作可能便需要護理人員幫忙。一旦你的家人開始需要依賴照顧者，他們可能餘生都要面對失去尊嚴的問題。

我們經常看到，一些家庭只是在跌倒發生後才採取行動；但有時候行動太晚，已無法挽救跌倒所造成的傷害。與其他健康問題一樣，及早預防是關鍵。 Evercare 推出的防跌計劃旨在幫助你踏出維護你家人安全和獨立性的第一步。從增強肌肉力量到提高居家安全，這個為期 3 週的計劃有助於減少跌倒所造成的嚴重後果。

Why is Fall Prevention Crucial? Understanding the Common Consequences of Falling

Tue, 15 Aug 2023 00:43:12 GMT

Globally, falling has become one of the leading causes of unintentional injury deaths. In Hong Kong, about 1 in 5 elderly experience falls every year and among those who fall, 75% would sustain an injury such as head trauma and broken bones. Recovering from a fall becomes more challenging as your loved ones age, and some may never reach their fullest health potential again.

Physical Aftermath

The severity of physical injuries caused by a fall varies widely. While some only experience superficial cuts and bruises, this is less the case for our loved ones who have less muscle mass and weaker bones.

Hip Fractures

Did you know that more than 95% of hip fractures in elderly are caused by falling?

Hip fractures are most likely caused by falling from a standing height , where the impact is to the pelvis. The resulting pain can be agonizing and can leave some elderlies bedridden even after surgery.

Consider installing grab bars at your home so your loved ones can hold onto something in the event of falls.

Recovery from hip fractures may be lengthy . Elderlies who are hospitalized for a fall-related hip fracture are 3x more likely to require long-term nursing home care than others.

If your loved one requires home care support after a surgery, consider Evercare’s post-operative care and rehabilitation care services.

Hip fractures can also lead to complications and trigger other medical issues. Research has found that about 25% of elderly who experience hip fracture die within one year.

Engaging in regular exercise to maintain muscle strength can reduce the severity of falls and improve your loved one’s ability to recover.

Head Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries and concussions can occur when the elderly lands flat or falls sideways. These may result in the loss of consciousness and long-term cognitive impairment. Damage to the brain can also lead to speaking difficulties and hearing loss.

If your loved one is taking blood thinning medications , seek immediate medical attention as they might have a higher risk of delayed brain bleedings.

Paralysis

If the elderly lands directly on their spine, it may result in paralysis and nerve damage. Not all spinal cord injuries result in immediate paralysis, however you should watch out for these early symptoms:

Decreased sensation and weakness in limbs
Loss of bladder or bowel control
Difficulty breathing

To equip your loved ones with the ability to lessen the impact of falls, exercise programs that incorporate upper limb and core muscle strength can enhance their ability to rotate their trunk to land safely when a fall happens.

Learn how Evercare’s physiotherapists can provide balance & strength training sessions as part of our fall prevention program offering.

IS YOUR PARENT having trouble balancing or walking on their own?

Our team physiotherapists and occupational therapists can provide in-home assessments to evaluate your family's mobility levels and fall risks. Learn how our fall prevention program can protect your loved ones from serious falls and costly hospitalisations.

Psychological aftermath

Fear of Falling. The consequence of falling is not as simple as a physical injury. Fear of falling is a common post-fall complication characterized by impaired confidence and self-perceived mobility problems. Your loved ones may feel anxious and overestimate their risk of falling, resulting in decreased social engagement and mobility.

Psychological impacts of falling may go unnoticed compared to physical consequences. Studies have shown that 40-60% of elders who developed a fear of falling had self-imposed restrictions in their daily activities. Keep an eye on whether your loved one has reacted in any of the following ways after experiencing a fall:

Less confident in navigating a familiar area
Intentionally shifting their walking pattern
Reluctance to go outdoors or participate in social activities

If psychological consequences are prolonged, it can greatly decrease your loved one’s quality of life. Consider our physiotherapy services to improve your loved one’s balance and coordination; helping them regain confidence also ensures that they are able to engage in social activities that are beneficial for their wellbeing (eg: morning exercises, tai chi).

Loss of Independence. Physical injuries and reduced confidence can set off a chain reaction that jeopardizes one’s sense of independence. Once a fall has happened, a simple task such as getting out of bed may start to require the support of a caretaker due to the elderly’s limited mobility and fear. Once our loved ones become dependent on caretaker support, they may end up dealing with the loss of dignity for the remainder of their lives.

More often than not, we see families take action to protect their loved ones from falling only after it has happened. By that point, they run the risk of acting too little, too late. Just like other health conditions, early prevention is key, which is why Evercare’s Fall Prevention Program is designed to help you get a head start on protecting your family’s safety and independence. From increasing muscle strength to making homes safer , this 3-week program can help to reduce the severe aftermaths of falls.

Why Do Elderlies Fall? Understanding the 5 Most Common Causes

Mon, 07 Aug 2023 07:06:58 GMT

The risk of falling increases with age - in Hong Kong 75% of elderly who have experienced falls have sustained injuries, of which 7% were serious injuries. Apart from physical consequences, falls also put a major psychological and financial burden on you and your loved ones. For example, 70% of fallers reported having a fear of falling after such incidents.

Falls happen with a reason, and understanding which risk factors apply to your loved ones can reduce injuries and protect their sense of independence.

1. Poor EYESIGHT & HEARING

Patients with glaucoma are at 3-4x greater risk of falling - putting them at a greater risk than those with cataract or diabetes.
Vision problems and hearing loss can affect depth perception and spatial awareness, causing the elderly to misjudge obstacles and feel confused.
If you find that your loved one has difficulty recognizing faces or objects, consider using corrective devices or visual cues in your home to provide them with a greater sense of security.

Another major factor that increases the risk of falling are environmental hazards. Check out our article on creating a fall-free home environment to learn how to reduce fall hazards and make your home more accessible.

are your parents taking multiple medications?

Early prevention is the key to reducing falls. Our professional physiotherapists and occupational therapists can provide fall-risk assessments and strength training within the comforts of your home. Learn how our fall prevention program can help your loved ones avoid the serious consequences of falling.

2. MUSCLE WEAKNESS & DECREASED BALANCE

Aging causes a natural decline in muscle mass and strength, which makes it harder for the elderly to balance and stay steady on their feet.
Experiencing difficulty when getting up from a seated position or feeling weak in the legs can be an indication of poor nutrition and bone health (e.g lack of calcium and vitamin D).
Consulting with a dietitian can help you understand nutritional deficiencies and stick to a meal plan that enhances muscle mass and cognitive health.

3. CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS

Those with a history of chronic conditions, such as diabetes or depression, have an even higher risk of recurrent falling *. Symptoms like frequent urination and forgetfulness can make it difficult for elderlies to navigate their surroundings safely and independently.

*The impact of these conditions on fall risk can vary among individuals. Consider Evercare’s health assessment service to receive a personalized care plan on how to mitigate the risks associated with your loved one’s condition.

4. MEDICATIONS

The older our loved ones get, the less their bodies are able to handle certain medications. Studies have shown that those who take 5+ medications are at an increased risk of falling. If there are some falls you cannot seem to find a reason for, those may actually be linked to the prescriptions your loved one is taking.

1. Drowsiness and dizziness. Sudden feelings of lightheadedness can lead to poor balance and contribute to fall - especially if you are taking any of the following:

Certain antidepressants, tranquilizers, sedatives, blood pressure medications, hypertension drugs

2. Impaired alertness and coordination are also side effects that cause a delayed response to potential hazards; and can affect the ability to readjust the body in the event of a fall. Pay close attention to how your loved one responds if they are taking any of these medications:

Muscle relaxants, medications to prevent / treat seizures, certain pain medications

3. Increased urination , a seemingly harmless side effect, can expose elderlies to tripping hazards and risks of unaccompanied bathroom visits at night. Evercare’s fall prevention program offers a fall-risk assessment, where our care team can review your medications in relation to fall risk.

5. LACK OF EXERCISE

Many elderly engage in a sedentary lifestyle, participating in little to no physical activities. This often leads to a quicker loss in muscle mass and bone density, making them more prone to fractures in the event of a fall. If you find that your loved one feels dizzy when doing something as simple as standing up, this is a sign that their lack of movement is actually making them more prone to falls.

Yoga and Tai Chi are great examples of daily exercises that elderlies can engage in. The HK government’s Healthy Exercise for All Campaign recommends elderly with poor mobility to engage in physical exercise at least 3 times a week. If your loved one is homebound, Evercare’s in-home physiotherapist can provide strength and motor-skills training all within the comforts of home.

Falls do not have to be considered an inevitable part of aging. While not all falls are completely avoidable, you do have the power to reduce its severity and likelihood.

It is important to stay educated and take proactive steps to avoid costly hospitalisations and lengthy recovery journeys. Learn more about how Evercare’s fall prevention program can help you learn fall prevention and recovery techniques right at home.

老人家為什麼會跌倒？了解老人家跌倒的 5 個常見原因

Mon, 07 Aug 2023 07:06:35 GMT

隨著年齡的增長，跌倒的風險也隨之增加 -- 在香港，75%的老人家曾跌倒受傷，其中 7%傷勢嚴重。除了身體上的損傷，跌倒也會給你和你的家人帶來沉重的心理和經濟負擔。例如， 70%的跌倒者表示在發生此類事件後產生陰影而更害怕跌倒。

跌倒不會無緣無故地發生，而是由多項風險因素互相影響所致。了解你家人的跌倒風險因素，可減少受傷機會並保護他們的獨立感。

1. 視力和聽力不佳

增加跌倒風險的另一個主要因素是環境危害。查看我們關於建造防跌家居環境的文章，了解如何減少潛在家裡的跌倒危機，讓你的家可以更無障礙進出。

你的父母正在服用多種藥物嗎？

及早預防是減低跌倒風險的關鍵。我們專業的物理治療師和職業治療師可以為你提供上門跌倒風險評估和力量訓練。了解我們的防跌計劃如何幫助你家人避免跌倒的嚴重後果。

2. 肌肉無力和平衡能力下降

衰老會導致肌肉質量和力量自然下降，從而使老人家更難保持平衡和站穩。
從坐姿起身時感到困難或腿部無力，可能表明營養不良和骨骼健康狀況欠佳 (如缺乏鈣和維生素D)。
向營養師諮詢可幫助你了解營養不足的情況，並獲取為你而設的增強肌肉質量和認知健康的膳食計劃。

3. 長期病患

有糖尿病或抑鬱症等慢性病史的人，反复跌倒的風險更高 *。尿頻和健忘等症狀會讓老人家難以安全、獨立地掌控周圍環境。

*跌倒風險因人而異。考慮使用 Evercare 的健康評估服務，可獲得度身訂造的護理計劃，全面了解如何降低與你家人病情相關的跌倒風險。

4. 藥物

老人家年紀越大，身體對某些藥物的承受能力就越弱。研究表明，服用 5 種以上的藥物會讓跌倒的風險增加。如果你似乎找不到導致你家人跌倒的原因，那麼可能與你家人正在服用的處方藥有關。

嗜睡和頭暈。突然感到頭暈目眩會導致平衡感變差，從而導致跌倒--尤其是如果你正在服用以下任何一種藥物：

某些抗抑鬱藥、鎮定劑和鎮靜劑
用於治療高血壓或控制心血管疾病的藥物
用於治療失眠的藥物（如安眠藥）

警覺性和協調性受損也是導致對潛在危險反應遲鈍的副作用，並可能影響跌倒時重新調整身體的能力。如果你的家人正在服用以下藥物，請密切關注他們的反應：

肌肉鬆弛劑
預防或治療癲癇發作的藥物
某些止痛藥

即使是看似無害的副作用，如尿頻，也可能讓老人家面臨絆倒的危機和增加夜間無人陪伴上廁所的風險。 Evercare 的防跌計劃不但會提供個人風險評估，我們的護理團隊還會根據你的個人風險而對你的用藥情況進行全面了解。

5 . 缺乏運動

許多老人家久坐不動，幾乎不參加任何體育活動。這通常會導致肌肉質量下降和骨質容易流失，使他們在跌倒時更容易骨折。如果你發現你的家人站起來時都會感到頭暈，這可能表明他們跌倒是因缺乏運動所致。

瑜伽和太極是老人家可日常鍛煉身體的好例子。香港政府推行的全民健康運動建議行動不便的老人家應該每週至少進行3次的體力鍛煉。如果你的家人不便外出，Evercare 的上門物理治療師可以讓老人家舒適地在家中進行力量訓練、功能性訓練和學習防跌技巧。

跌倒並不一定是衰老不可避免的一部分。雖然並非所有的跌倒都可以完全避免，但你的確有能力降低其嚴重性和可能性。只要不斷增加防跌意識並採取積極預防措施，才可以避免昂貴的住院費用和漫長的康復過程。詳細了解 Evercare 的防跌計劃如何幫助降低你和你家人的跌倒風險。

建造防跌家居環境：如何免除滑倒和絆倒的危機

Fri, 28 Jul 2023 04:20:37 GMT

超過 90% 的老人家隨著年齡的增長更喜歡呆在自己的家中，所以我們更有責任創造一個安全的家居環境，讓我們的親人在沒有跌倒的風險下自由活動。據香港衛生署長者健康中心的統計，跌倒是老人家最常見的受傷原因之一。60%的跌倒意外發生在家裡，而其中 37%是由環境因素而造成的。雖然跌倒的風險不可避免地隨著年紀增加，但環境危害（如鬆散的地毯、不平整的走道）是一個可以輕鬆預防及避免的風險因素。

防跌措施 #1：保持地面通暢和乾淨

當地面和你的鞋子之間沒有足夠的摩擦力時，就會發生滑倒和跌傷。為確保老人家能夠站穩，避免給地板打蠟或塗漆，並及時清理或標記濕滑和潮濕的地方。不平坦的地面也會增加絆倒和跌倒的風險，除了確保地面上沒有障礙物和雜物外，你可以參考以下的家居安全清單：

✅ 地毯和墊子的邊緣是否平坦且沒有翹起？

✅ 鬆散的電線是否綁起来，長的電線是否放置在固定的位置（如粘在牆上）？

為確保你的浴室安全：

✅ 淋浴間有防滑墊嗎？

✅ 你有考慮過安裝輔助設備嗎？如：淋浴椅、淋浴板、扶手、坐便椅

✅ 廁所和洗手盆的高度是否合適？

✅ 淋浴用品是否放置在可容易拿到的地方？

你的父母難以保持平衡或獨自行走嗎？

我們物理治療師及職業治療師可以上門評估長者的身體狀況及跌倒風險，了解我們的防跌計劃如何為你避免因跌倒而造成的身體和經濟損失。

防跌措施 #2：安裝適當的燈光和視覺提示

燈光：隨著親人年紀增長，他們的視力無疑會下降。房屋裡的環境，擁有足夠的燈光才可以幫助老人家看清地面並保持平衡感。

如果老人家獨居，請定期幫他們檢查和更換燈泡。參考以下的表格來幫助你評估家裡的照明情況並進行改造：

視覺提示。如果你的親人有視力障礙或認知困難，視覺提示可降低跌倒的風險。你可以考慮如何在家中運用視覺提示：

在台階的邊緣或門檻上塗上對比強烈的顏色
在高風險地方 (如:樓梯台階) 貼上防滑安全膠帶
打印標籤經常會使用的物品 (如:藥瓶、淋浴用品)，幫助視力受損的老人家更好地識別它們。
放置警示牌，有助提醒老人家注意濕滑的地方或低懸掛的物體。

防跌措施 #3：選擇合適的家具和輔助工具

最後，選擇合適的家具和注意家居佈置也同樣重要。椅子除了應該穩定且堅固，我們建議使用高背椅，為老人家的背部提供更有力的支撐。另外，避免過於頻繁地改變家居佈置，並以建立寬闊無阻的空間為主。

座椅高度較高的椅子能減免彎腰動作，可以讓那些肌肉僵硬的老人家更輕鬆地從坐姿過渡到站姿。同樣地，帶扶手的椅子也能為老人家在站立或坐下時提供支撐。

安裝輔助設備，如升高馬桶座圈或扶手，也是促進你親人獨立感和安全感的好方法。我們的職業治療師可以評估你的家居環境和生活狀況，並提供有關輔助設備的建議，讓日常生活變得更輕鬆。

家是一個應該讓每個人都感到安全和有信心地進行日常活動的地方。家居改造看似是一個很大的改變，但這些改變可以分為小步實施，以便你的親人調整和適應。 Evercare 的職業治療師在這方面擁有豐富的經驗，能為獨居或與家人居住的老人家制訂專屬的家居改造計劃和預防跌倒方案。立即預約我們的上門評估服務，了解暗藏在你家裡的跌倒危機及如何幫助你親人在家舒適地度過晚年生活。

Creating A Fall-Free Home: How to Look Out For Slip & Trip Hazards

Fri, 28 Jul 2023 03:16:18 GMT

Over 90% of seniors prefer to stay in their own homes as they age, which makes it our responsibility to create a safe environment that enables our loved ones to move freely without the risk of falling. According to Elderly Health Services , falling is one of the most common causes of injury amongst elderly. Over 60% of falls occur at home, of which 37% were due to environmental factors . Although the chances of falling inevitably increase with age, environmental hazards (e.g loose rugs, uneven walkways) are risk factors that can be easily prevented.

Fall preventative measure #1: Keep a clear and dry walking surface

Slips and falls can happen when there is not enough grip between the walking surface and your footwear. To make sure your loved ones can stand firmly, avoid waxing or coating the floor, and clean up or mark wet areas immediately.

Apart from making sure there are no obstacles and clutter on the ground, here is a housekeeping checklist you can refer to:

✅ Are the edges of carpets and rugs flat and not tilted up ?

✅ Are loose cables tied up and long cables placed at a fixed position, ideally stuck to the wall?

Here are some things you should also look out for in your bathroom:

✅ Is there a non-slip mat in the shower area?

✅ Have you considered installing assistive devices? eg: shower chairs, grab bars, bath boards, commode chair

✅ Is the toilet and wash basin at a suitable height?

✅ Are showering equipments placed at a reachable place?

IS YOUR PARENT having trouble balancing or walking on their own?

Fall preventative measure #2: Install proper lighting & visual cues

Lighting: As your loved ones grow older, their eyesight will undoubtedly deteriorate. Ambient and sufficient lighting around the house can help the elderly see clearly and maintain their sense of balance.

If your loved ones live alone, regularly help them check and replace light bulbs. Check out this table to help you assess your lighting situation at home and make modifications:

Visual cues: can help reduce the risk of falling if your loved ones have visual impairment or cognitive difficulties. Here are some ideas on how you can implement visual cues at home:

Paint the edge of a step or door thresholds with contrasting colors.
Apply non-slip safety tape to high-risk areas (eg: stair steps) to provide better traction.
Utilize print labels for items that are frequently used (eg: medication bottles, shower items) to help elderly with impaired vision better identify them.
Caution signage can help alert the elderly of any slippery areas or low-hanging objects.

Fall preventative measure #3: Choose the right furniture and assistive devices

Finally, choosing suitable, fall-prevention furnitures, while paying attention to your home layout, are equally important. Chairs should be stable, sturdy and high-back chairs are recommended to provide stronger support for the elderly’s back. Avoid changing the furniture arrangement too often and organise them in a way that creates a wide and unobstructed space.

Elevated seating or chairs with higher seat height, can make it easier for your loved ones to transition from a seated position to standing up. This is elderly-friendly for those with stiff muscles as it requires less bending movement of the individual. Similarly, chairs with armrests also provide the elderly with support when standing up or sitting down.

Installing assistive devices , such as raised toilet seats or grab bars, are also a good way to maintain your loved one’s sense of independence and safety. An occupational therapist can assess your living situation and provide recommendations on the best devices to make daily activities easier.

Home is a place where everyone should feel safe and confident to carry out everyday activities. Making home adjustments can seem like a big change, however these changes can be implemented in small steps, so that your loved one has time to adjust and adapt. Evercare’s occupational therapists are experienced in creating home modification and fall prevention plans for elderly who live alone or with family. Book a fall prevention assessment today to understand your loved one’s fall risks and how you can help them age comfortably at home.

養和醫院有24小時門診及注射疫苗服務嗎？收費多少？

info@yourevercare.com (Evercare Evercare) — Wed, 02 Nov 2022 13:54:00 GMT

自疫情以來，公營醫院屢次出現淪陷的慘況，不少私營醫院亦響應政府要求，幫助紓緩本港醫療體制的沉重壓力。位於港島區歷史悠久的養和醫院設有24小時門診服務，更提供多種疫苗服務，其中包括新冠疫苗。Evercare團隊為你一文詳述養和醫院門診及疫苗服務，並提供詳盡的價目表，讓你一目了然！

養和醫院背景及基本資料

養和醫院（Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital）始創於1922年，服務宗旨為「優質服務．卓越護理」。養和是位於港島區的私營醫院，現時約有500張病床及逾30個專科中心，提供24小時門診服務。

電話：2572 0211
傳真：2838 5186
地址：香港跑馬地山村道二號
交通：1號、8X號、19號、117號巴士/電車/銅鑼灣專綫30號小巴
網站： https://www.hksh-hospital.com/zh-hk

養和醫院24小時門診服務

養和家庭醫學及基層醫療中心獲香港家庭醫學學院認可為家庭醫學訓練中心，讓研究生進行家庭醫學培訓，醫療水準獲得肯定。中心提供優質服務及著重「以病人為本」，不但環境舒適，重視病人私隱，更提供24小時全科門診服務，星期日及公眾假期照常開放。

養和醫院每日24小時均有經驗豐富之骨科、外科、眼科、整形外科、心臟科、婦產科及牙科專科醫生候召，病人如在非辦公時間如星期日及公眾假期需要專科醫生應診，可經駐院醫生轉介。門診設施現代化並且設備齊全，同時亦為需要施行緊急手術之病人提供套式收費優惠。

為了幫助新冠肺炎患者，養和家庭醫學門診部更加強了「養和視像會診」服務，配合藥物送遞服務，全力支援在家抗疫確診市民及其緊密接觸者。

地址：香港跑馬地山村道二號養和醫院李樹培院地下
電話： 2835 8600／WhatsApp：5790 6052 (只作查詢)
傳真：2892 7506
電郵： opd@hksh-hospital.com

養和醫院24小時門診價目表

養和醫院門診部門價目表：

*以病人取票時間為準

養和醫院門診部門程序及小手術價目表：

*非正常診症時間：星期一至星期五下午7時至翌日上午9時

星期六下午1時後至星期日及公眾假期

*如服務在非正常診症時間進行，將加收20%附加費

*上述資料僅供參考，實際收費會視乎個別人士的

情況而定，中心會按要求提供上述服務以外的收費

*非辦公時閒之預約或緊急服務的收費會有所調整。

*價格調鏊恕不另行通知

*上述收費並不包括藥費

一般疫苗服務及收費

養和醫院門診部為病人提供一般疫苗服務，價目表如下：

*若在以上提及以外的時段注射，醫生診症費會有所調整。請聯絡養和醫院門診部預約注射，或查詢其他疫苗詳情

*價格調整恕不另行通知

*上述收費並不包括藥費

2019冠狀病毒病疫苗接種計劃

養和醫院投入「2019冠狀病毒病疫苗接種計劃」，設立旗下的門診部和多個家庭醫學及基層醫療中心，為市民免費提供BioNTech「復必泰」及科興疫苗接種服務，並推出網上預約系統顯示未來14天各接種地點的預約狀況，以便利市民。

市民可透過 https://vaccine.hksh.com/Vaccine/Form 查詢未來14日各接種地點的預約情況。透過養和網上預約系統，選擇接種日期及時間，接受2019冠狀病毒病疫苗接種。

電動輪椅有多普及？一文拆解價錢、注意事項、法例

info@yourevercare.com (Evercare Evercare) — Wed, 02 Nov 2022 12:50:32 GMT

隨著全球人口老化問題日趨嚴重，急升的長者人口令輪椅需求增加，電動輪椅的發明亦為殘疾人士或長者等用家帶來便利。本港人多路窄，在街道上使用電動輪椅有很多相關法例和注意事項需要遵守，Evercare團隊為你詳細講解當中細節，並逐一介紹電動輪椅的種類、購買或租借點以及價錢。

選購電動輪椅前，應該考慮哪些問題呢？

市面上電動輪椅的款式琳琅滿目，用家在選購前，應先了解其功能、呎吋及價錢等。以下為大家列出購買電動輪椅時的考慮因素：

可摺型或功能性：可摺型體積較小，易於收藏；功能性則具備較多功能例如避震
大輪或小輪：大輪一般有手推介助圈，當輪椅電池沒電時使用者可以自己推動；小輪則在沒電時需要照顧者從後推動
鋰電池或鉛酸電池：鋰電池壽命較鉛酸電長，而且鋰電重量輕，壽命長因此價格較高
有刷摩打或無刷摩打：有刷摩打起動快且馬力大，價錢比較便宜，惟體積較重；無刷摩打壽命長且易打理，惟價錢較貴

在本港購買電動輪椅的地方及價錢

電動輪椅在本港漸趨普及，因應不同的身體狀況、經濟能力及家居環境等考慮因素，使用者可按自己的需要選擇不同類型的電動輪椅：

在哪些機構有電動輪椅以供租借？

有關機構會訂立租借電動輪椅的條款，租借者需遵守，一般如下：

租賃服務最短期間為一週至一個月起
部分機構設借用期限，路向四肢傷殘人士協會借用期最多為三個月，「逾期歸還」並沒有通知機構，將沒收按金
租用人不得將租借的復康用品轉借、租借或售賣予其他人士，亦不可擅自在該復康用品上移除、加裝或改裝任何裝置/設備，一切因此而造成的後果將由租用人承擔
於退還過程中發現輪椅或部件損壞或故障，且發現產品損壞是人為造成的，有關機構會保留向客戶收取部件更換和維修費用的權利
如果產品被盜或丟失，或由於客戶的疏忽造成損壞，則需承擔賠償責任
部分公司會在租用電動輪椅時，考慮租用者的身體、精神狀況是否能使用電動輪椅，故租用者必需在場

電動輪椅使用者有什麼需要注意的事項？

電動輪椅在香港日趨普及，若不當使用，將對道路使用者構成安全隱患。電動輪椅使用者應接受相關的訓練及詳細講解，並因應個人特殊的心、生理狀況或環境因素，注意以下數項事項：

1. 使用電動輪椅前注意事項

每次使用輪椅時，切勿站在腳踏板上，應踏在實地上
未熟習駕駛輪椅前，宜於公園等安全寬闊的場地多加練習
使用安全帶作固定以確保安全
使用前檢查清楚所有零件及螺絲是否穩固
使用前檢查電池電量是否充足
當使用充氣輪胎時，應保持指定的胎壓，以免造成行駛時的不平穩，或耗損過多電流
在每次使用輪椅前，應確定後方兩邊離合器桿（手/電動）已處於電動狀態
確保已裝上防倒輪

2. 駕駛時注意事項

避免行走陡坡、傾斜地、高台階或溝渠等，亦應避免橫走或斜行於陡斜的地上
在安全的場地多加練習駕駛，初出道路時，應由照顧者陪同
應以步行者身份遵守交通規則，勿自視為汽車駕駛者
應行走於行人道路及斑馬線
不應超速
避免在極端天氣或惡劣道路上行走，應由照顧者陪同
切勿使用電動輪椅搬運物品
輪椅行走時應避免使用手提電話或無線通信器材等，以避免干擾電動輪椅訊號

3. 遇障礙物時注意事項

接近障礙物時應放慢速度，並保持直行
上坡時保持上身挺直，並略向前傾
下坡時保持上身挺直，並輕靠椅背
切勿突然起步或剎停輪椅

有關於電動輪椅在香港的法例

根據香港現時法例，電動輪椅不被定義為車輛，因此不受《道路交通條例》規管。然而若市民於行人路或馬路上魯莽地使用電動輪椅，對其他道路使用者會構成危險，亦有機會觸犯其他相關法例，使用者宜先了解電動輪椅在本港的法例，避免以身試法，承受不必要的法律責任。

本港相關的電動輪椅法例如下：

電動輪椅是一種個人醫療代步工具，並不屬於機動車輛類別。殘疾人士或長者如有醫療証明，則毋須向運輸署登記及領牌，但需遵守適用於行人的交通規則，不應在馬路或單車徑上使用電動輪椅，只准在行人路上使用
根據第228章《簡易程序治罪條例》，任何人無合法權限或明顯需要在行人路上駕駛、或在公眾地方罔顧後果或疏忽地駕駛；及或作出任何行為導致公眾地方、運輸或交通受損或遭受阻礙，分別可能觸犯「在行人路上駕駛或策騎」或「導致公眾地方／航道／運輸／交通受損／遭受阻礙」，一經定罪，可處監禁3個月或罰款2,000元
為教育輪椅使用者正確使用電動輪椅，醫管局轄下醫院的專職治療師在處方電動輪椅時會根據患者的個人需要，教導他們如何安全和正確地使用輪椅
醫管局轄下的社區復康中心亦為電動輪椅使用者提供有系統的小組培訓，讓他們學習安全使用輪椅的技巧及態度，以應對不同的情況，包括使用公共交通工具和公共設施，以及應付室外障礙物等情況
於港鐵範圍內使用電動輪椅的安全守則包括：

- 只供有行動障礙或困難人士使用，港鐵職員有權要求提供有關證明，如殘疾人士登記證或醫生證明

- 小童使用輪椅時須有成人陪同

- 最高時速不得超過6公里

- 輪椅加上使用者的總重量不得超過200公斤

- 內燃機推進的輪椅不得在港鐵範圍內使用

糖尿病必讀的飲食禁忌與菜單患上就不能吃水果？

info@yourevercare.com (Evercare Evercare) — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 02:21:21 GMT

很多人會將糖尿病與戒口扯上關係，認為要控制血糖，飲食必然會變得非常清淡乏味。然而，若改良烹調的方式和精明計算進食量，糖尿病人亦可以如常人般享受美食，Evercare 為你一文拆解糖尿病飲食的迷思。

需要控制飲食的原因

糖尿病患者需要小心控制血糖，以確保血糖保持或貼近正常水平，除了需要監察血糖和按照醫生指示，定時服用藥物或注射胰島素外，飲食上的控制亦十分重要。適當的飲食調節，有助預防或延緩微血管和神經系統疾病、腎衰竭、視網膜病變、白內障及青光眼引致的失明、足部周邊血管病變、神經系統病變、糖尿腳（引致感染、潰瘍、壞疽而導致的截足）、心血管疾病（如心臟病）或中風等嚴重併發症。

升糖指數

升糖指數 (GI-Glycemic Index)，亦即是「血糖生成指數」，是從0到100的等級範圍內，量度各類含碳水化合物（醣質）的食物在進食後對血糖影響程度的數值，從而表示食物對血糖的影響，數字越大，代表碳水化合物消化得越快；而低升糖食物內的碳水化合物會相對高升糖食物消化及吸收得較緩慢，令血糖升幅相對較輕微。

根據香港糖尿聯會的指引，食物的升糖指數 (GI) 分為高、中、低三個等級。升糖指數越高代表對血糖升幅的影響越大。

6個必讀的飲食原則

糖尿病的飲食禁忌

糖尿病患者可以下述的方法計算每天的攝取量來擬定健康餐單，同時亦應留意飲食禁忌，避免進食高糖分、高鹽及高油脂的食物。

含精緻糖的食物和飲料

在選擇食物和飲料時，可留意包裝上有否列明內含果糖、玉米糖漿或砂糖，即使是天然的蜂蜜或蔗糖都屬於精緻糖，會令血糖上升，影響糖尿病的控制。

含動物性油脂的食物

動物性油脂的食物含有大量飽和脂肪，過量進食除了會帶來肥胖的問題，令身體出現胰島素對抗外，大量油脂更會減慢食物的消化，從而令血糖下降得緩慢。

高鈉的食物

鹽份中的鈉質對血壓會造成影響，過高的鈉質會令血壓上升，由於糖尿病患者患上高血壓的風險較高，因此應避免高鈉食物。

加工食物

加工食物如午餐肉或火腿等均含高納質，因此應盡量避免。

酒類

由於部分酒類飲品有添加糖，長期飲用會影響血糖控制。另外，若在空腹的情況下飲酒，酒精會抑制糖份的分解和減低胰島素對抗，造成低血糖。

高糖水果

水果一直被視為健康食物，然而若過量進食高糖份水果如提子，會令血糖上升，糖尿病的病情會因而惡化。

為免影響血糖的控制，糖尿病人可按照下表列出的禁忌食物和蔬果清單作參考：

3 步設計糖尿病飲食菜單

糖尿病人除了需要遵守以上的飲食原則和注意飲食禁忌外，還可以按照個人的體重、運動量及血糖水平，配合以下步驟來計算，為自己度身訂造飲食餐單。

1. 計算每天可吃的總熱量

根據糖尿病患者的每公斤運動量，分為低、中、高程度（卡路里：30至40），亦會考慮該患者需否減磅。

若患者不需減磅，每日總熱量計算方法為體重（kg）X 運動量（高運動量者則為40）
若患者需要減磅，每日總熱量計算方法為理想體重（kg）X 運動量（低運動量則為30）

2. 三大營養素比例

研究顯示每餐中的碳水化合物建議比例為50至60%；脂肪為20至30%；蛋白質為10至20%。

3. 計算自己的營養素份量

根據三大營養素的比例和其熱量，糖尿病患者可以計算出各營養素的份量，從而達到理想的餐單。每一克的碳水化合物熱量為4卡，每克脂肪為9卡，而每克蛋白質為4卡。

若每天建議的總卡路里攝取量為2000卡：

碳水化合物的份量應為2000 X 60%÷4=300克
脂肪為2000X20%÷9=44.5克
蛋白質則為2000X 20%÷4=100克

糖尿病飲食菜單及食譜

大多數人認為患上糖尿病後，便需要完全乏味和痛苦地「戒口」或「節食」，再也不能夠享用美食。事實上，只要能夠掌握竅門，糖尿病人的飲食並不沉悶乏味，反而可以是健康且美味，並充滿變化。以下為大家提供一系列以均衡及多元化飲食原則製作的菜單範例和詳細食譜給大家參考。

糖尿病飲食菜單:

糖尿病飲食食譜

尋求幫助

糖尿病人除了需要自我監察血糖水平外，更要按照醫生指示定時服藥或注射胰島素。另外，糖尿病患者更可能出現併發症例如傷口潰爛、腎病或眼疾等。Evercare居家護理服務為你提供全年365日，24小時無間斷的專業支援，經Evercare 嚴格審批的護理人員可為你及你家人提供藥物的管理、注射胰島素的教導、傷口護理等服務，避免不必要的住院開支和壓力，助你控制穩定的血糖，避免糖尿病惡化及出現後遺症。

Evercare 為糖尿病人士提供的上門復康護理，提供專業護理和健康建議。

【糖尿病併發症】糖尿眼可致盲？一文了解預防方法! - Evercare

【驗血糖】糖尿病人必看：正常血糖度數、異常狀況 - Evercare

【認知障礙症】有何特徵及成因？腦功能衰退非長者獨有？

info@yourevercare.com (Evercare Evercare) — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 03:13:22 GMT

認知障礙症不是正常的老化過程，亦非長者獨有的疾病。此症患者的生活質素會大大下降，照顧者的壓力之大，亦會令他們喘不過氣來。Evercare 專業醫療團隊為大家詳細介紹認知障礙症的症狀、成因及治療方案等，並為患者及照顧者提供相關的援助，在漫長的復康道路上扶他們一把。

1. 認知障礙症的定義

認知障礙症 (Dementia) 是由於大腦神經細胞出現病變，而導致腦部不正常地退化，患者腦內的乙醯膽鹼濃度異常的低，引致腦部的神經細胞之間失去連接，信息因而無法傳遞，令這些細胞無法負擔記憶、學習和溝通的職責。此疾病不但影響患者的記憶、判斷和執行力，更會影響其情緒和行為。此疾病的症狀一開始時發展緩慢，並不明顯，因此較易被忽略，直至後期症狀加劇，便會在各方面影響患者及其身邊的人。

2. 認知障礙症特徵/ 常見症狀

大部分認知障礙症患者會出現不同程度的行為和心理症狀（Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia, BPSD)，在日常行為及心理情緒上均有所偏差，而常見的症狀包括：

記憶力衰退，影響日常生活
決策或計劃能力下降
未能執行以往熟悉的事情
對時間及方位感到混亂
對視覺影像和空間感產生混淆
語言表達或理解有困難
將物件錯放在不適當的地方
判斷力減退、警覺性降低
失去做事的主動性
出現不明原因的情緒和性格轉變

閱讀更多以深入了解認知障礙症的常見症狀及患者的行為問題。

3. 認知障礙症的定義

4. 認知障礙症特徵/ 常見症狀

記憶力衰退，影響日常生活
決策或計劃能力下降
未能執行以往熟悉的事情
對時間及方位感到混亂
對視覺影像和空間感產生混淆
語言表達或理解有困難
將物件錯放在不適當的地方
判斷力減退、警覺性降低
失去做事的主動性
出現不明原因的情緒和性格轉變

閱讀更多以深入了解認知障礙症的常見症狀及患者的行為問題。

5. 我評估認知障礙症小測試

若懷疑身邊人患上認知障礙症，可透過一些小測試作初步評估，各測試涉及的範疇包括記憶力、專注力、語言能力、抽象思考、視覺空間、執行能力、定向等。若患者症狀嚴重，則建議及早求醫。常見的小測試包括：

AD8極早期失智篩檢量表
MMSE（Mini-Mental State Examination）
MoCA（Montreal Cognitive Assessment）

閱讀更多以深入了解認知障礙症的自我評估小測試

6. 認知障礙症藥物治療

透過藥物治療，認知障礙症患者的症狀能夠得到有效的控制，醫生會定期評估患者的病情進展，以調較藥物及劑量。

常用的認知障礙症藥物：

另外，精神科藥物亦常用於認知障礙症患者身上，例如鎮靜劑、抗抑鬱藥及抗焦慮藥等。

閱讀更多以深入了解認知障礙症的藥物治療。

7. 認知障礙症非藥物治療

認知障礙症的非藥物治療與藥物治療是同樣重要。

很多學術文獻已證實非藥物治療的方法，均能有效地改善患者的情緒和行為問題，並減慢患者各方面機能的退化和提升生活質素。常用的非藥物性治療包括：

現實導向 — 減少思緒混亂和善忘問題，協助患者適應現實生活，減少行為問題
認知訓練 — 訓練認知、社交及溝通能力
懷緬活動 — 刺激長期記憶及認知能力，改善情緒及行為問題
感官刺激 — 刺激患者的嗅覺、味覺、觸覺、視覺及聽覺，讓身體作出適當反應以改善行為和情緒問題
自理活動 — 透過提升自理能力，維持患者的自我形象及尊嚴
社交訓練 — 增加快樂及正面的情緒，減少行為問題

閱讀更多以深入了解認知障礙症的非藥物治療。

8. 認知障礙症非藥物治療的準備事項

專業人士會按照患者的病情，而設計最合適的治療，同時亦需要得到照顧者的配合，持之以恆與患者進行訓練，才能達到最佳成效。

認知障礙患者敏感度較高，很容易受到外界的刺激例如光線及嘈音所影響，治療活動宜選取舒適、安全及寧靜的環境，並確保活動內容簡單、有趣味及可重複。

在選用器材方面，應善用患者熟悉的日常生活物品，避免含有激烈動作的活動或使用細小的物料和利器，以減低風險。

閱讀更多以深入了解認知障礙症的訓練的準備及注意事項。

9. 認知障礙患者返家後該如何照顧？

照顧認知障礙患者並非易事，出院前建議先進行完善的規劃，包括改善家居環境以減低風險。另外，家庭及照顧者溝通方法的配合都是必需的，應致力提升患者的正面思想和積極態度，並善用科技，透過網上豐富的資源進行訓練。

認知障礙症為病人帶來身體和認知能力上的急劇變化，其照顧者更需要承受極沉重的壓力。有見及此，Evercare 推出認知障礙症護理服務，主力協助認知障礙症病人延緩病情惡化。在認知障礙症康復道路上的每一個階段，均由護理員、專業登記及註冊護士及專職治療師攜手合作，因應各階段所面對的挑戰和支援，提供個人化的復康治療計劃，例如日常生活協助、認知訓練、監測生命表徵、臨時護理、家居改裝、陪診、運動、預設護理計劃及臨終護理計劃。

Evercare 為認知障礙症病人提供的上門復康護理，讓康復過程變得輕鬆及舒適，不但為病人重拾自信，更有助減輕照顧者的壓力。

你有糖尿病嗎？一文拆解先兆、症狀、成因及預防方法

info@yourevercare.com (Evercare Evercare) — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 02:52:36 GMT

糖尿病是香港常見的都市病之一，由於發病初期症狀並不明顯，甚至沒有病徵，但其併發症卻可以致命，所以被稱為都市病的「隱形殺手」。Evercare 下文為你拆解糖尿病的先兆、症狀、成因、診斷及預防方法。

1. 什麼是糖尿病？

糖尿病的定義

糖尿病（Diabetes Mellitus）是一種慢性的內分泌失調疾病，當身體胰島素分泌不足，或人體無法有效地運用身體所產生的胰島素時，血糖便會上升，並有機會超過腎臟的負荷，然後經尿液排出，故稱為糖尿病。血糖若不受控制而變得過高時，會引致脂肪及蛋白質代謝紊亂，長遠更會引起多個身體系統及器官破壞，包括：心血管、視網膜、神經、腎臟等。

2020年，本港因糖尿病而住院的病人超過12,000 人，佔所有住院總人次0.7%。現時本港約有70逾萬名糖尿病者，佔總人口約一成，即每10名港人便有1名患者，數目正急劇上升。當中年齡小於35歲的人，有2%已患上糖尿病；而年齡大於65歲的人當中，更有超過20%的人患上糖尿病。

糖尿病的類型

糖尿病分為四個種類，其中包括一、二型糖尿病、妊娠糖尿病及繼發性糖尿病。

1. 一型糖尿病

由於分泌胰島素的細胞出現病變，而導致身體無法生產足夠或根本無法生產胰島素。患者大多為小孩及年青人，並一般需要終生依賴注射胰島素來控制血糖。

2. 二型糖尿病

屬於最常見的糖尿病，由於身體分泌的胰島素不足或身體對胰島素產生抗拒。患者大多是中年或以上的人士，一般與肥胖、不健康飲食習慣、有家族病史、缺乏運動等有關係。由於早期的症狀並不明顯，故很多病人較遲才被診斷。

3. 妊娠糖尿病

一般在懷孕約5、6個月時出現，主因是孕婦懷孕期間，荷爾蒙分泌改變以及體重上升，對胰島素需求增加，然而胰臟卻未能提供足夠的胰島素分泌，胰島素的功能亦會降低。此症一般在分娩後會消失，但有研究顯示日後患上糖尿糖的風險會增加，因此宜多注意飲食及多做運動。

4. 繼發性糖尿病

由其他病因而間接導致糖尿病，例如腮腺炎、慢性胰臟炎，或長期服用類固醇等。

2. 糖尿病有甚麼成因?

糖尿病與胰島素息息相關，當胰臟分泌的胰島素不足，或身體對胰島素產生抗拒時，血液中的糖份便會不正常地升高，導致糖尿病。目前醫學界對糖尿病的成因尚未有確實的答案，但以下因素都會增加患病的風險，包括:

有家族糖尿病史
過重或肥胖（體重指標BMI超過23）
缺乏運動
年齡增長：患者大多為45歲以上
長期服用某些藥物，如類固醇，或自身的其他疾病，例如胰臟炎（令胰臟分泌胰島素的功能受到影響）
患有高血壓、高血脂人士
曾有妊娠糖尿病史或曾誕下過重嬰兒 (體重4公斤或以上) 的女士

3. 糖尿病的先兆及症狀

先兆及症狀

糖尿病大多沒有明顯的症狀，因此很多時較遲才發現，我們可了解糖尿病的先兆及症狀，多加留意身邊人或自己有否出現以下症狀，以助及早作進一步檢查和盡早診斷：

經常感到口渴
小便頻密
無故體重下降
容易疲倦及虛弱
情緒化及煩躁不安
視力模糊
出現不易癒合的傷口
皮膚痕癢，女性或會出現陰部發癢的情況
反覆感染（皮膚、牙肉等）

併發症

糖尿病誘發的併發症分為急性及慢性，若未能有效控制血糖水平，糖尿病會導致很多慢性併發症，影響身體不同的器官。除此之外，急性併發症更會令患者有生命危險：

急性併發症

酮酸中毒症 (DKA)：多發生於一型糖尿病患者，因缺乏胰島素導致血糖過高，引致血液酮體上升，令尿酮出現。若未能及時接受治療有機會導致昏迷。
高血糖高滲壓狀態 (HHS)：多發生於二型糖尿病患者，嚴重者可因脫水而導致心跳加快、血壓下降、意識不明及昏迷。
急性血糖過低：患者可能出現心跳加速、嚴重饑餓、頭暈、眼花、震顫、發抖、冒冷汗、嘴唇、舌頭或手指有麻痺感覺、昏昏欲睡、甚至昏迷不醒。

慢性併發症

冠心病
血壓高
蛋白尿、腎衰竭
腦血管病，例如中風
慢性皮膚潰瘍，組織壞死，甚至需要截肢
白內障、視網膜病變，甚至失明
陽痿

4. 糖尿病的診斷標準

若出現糖尿病的先兆及症狀，應盡早求醫及接受檢查以及早診斷，醫生一般會安排驗血檢驗糖化血紅素數值 (HbA1c) 和空腹及餐後血糖值。

當血液中的葡萄糖進入血紅素，與血色素結合，便會形成糖化血紅素 (glycated haemoglobin，HbA1C)。血液中的葡萄糖成份越高，糖化血紅素便會越高，由於紅血球的平均壽命約3個月，透過量度HbA1C，便可反映患者過去2至3個月的平均血糖水平，理想的HbA1C水平應保持在 < 6.5%。

病人亦可以定期自我監察空腹及餐後血糖值，並紀錄數值，除了能給予醫生參考並提供最合適的治療以助控制血糖外，更可以減低出現併發症的風險。

糖化血紅素參考值:

空腹及餐後血糖參考值:

5. 治療糖尿病

目前尚未有根治糖尿病的方法，患者應遵從醫生處方的藥物定時服用，再配合良好的日常生活習慣，以控制血糖水平，減低併發症的風險：

口服降血糖藥物治療：醫生會根據個別病人的身體狀況、對藥物的反應及其血糖控制情況，決定處方的種類及劑量
胰島素注射：常用於一型糖尿病患者及部分已用口服降血糖藥，但仍未能把血糖水平控制的二型糖尿病患者身上。胰島素注射劑可分速效、短效、中效、長效及預混合五大種類，醫生會按照病人的情況來處方胰島素的種類、注射劑量及次數，亦會安排護士教授病人或其家屬注射技巧
適量運動
保持理想體重，避免過重
控制血壓、膽固醇及血脂
保持健康的飲食習慣，奉行「少吃多餐」及「多菜少肉」

6. 預防糖尿病

由於糖尿病的併發症會影響身體多個器官，嚴重的甚至可致命，我們可採取以下的預防措施以減低患上糖尿病的風險：

維持均衡飲食，食物選擇宜低脂肪、低糖、低鹽及高纖維
保持理想體重，避免過重
多做運動
定期接受身體檢查，有助及早偵測糖尿病

7. 常見問題

【糖尿病併發症】糖尿眼可致盲？一文了解預防方法! - Evercare

【驗血糖】糖尿病人必看：正常血糖度數、異常狀況 - Evercare

Evercare 為糖尿病人士提供的上門復康護理，提供專業護理和健康建議。

認知障礙症治療不單靠藥物訓練活動也有作用？

info@yourevercare.com (Evercare Evercare) — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 02:36:36 GMT

認知障礙症患者的心理及行為問題不但為照顧者帶來沉重的壓力，更會大大減低患者的生活質素。到底如何能夠有效地採用藥物及非藥物治療，並達到最佳的療效？Evercare 團隊為你一文詳細介紹認知障礙症的訓練及治療。

認知障礙症行為問題

文獻顯示，約九成認知障礙症患者會出現不同程度的行為和心理症狀（Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia，簡稱BPSD) ，嚴重性會根據病患的類型或階段，其症狀會有所分別，常見包括：

行為症狀

粗言穢語
不停重複問題
胡亂咒罵別人
進行干擾性或重複的行為
重複收藏物品
遊蕩
暴力行為
拒絕進食或睡眠
隨處大小二便

心理症狀

對身邊事情或人冷漠
抑鬱
焦慮不安
妄想
幻覺

認知障礙症病人的行為及心理問題可以從兩方面處理，分別是藥物治療包括精神科藥物及認知障礙症藥物，以及從人物、環境及活動三大方向的非藥物治療。

認知障礙症的藥物治療

認知障礙症的藥物治療包括針對認知障礙症及精神科藥物，醫生會按照病人實際的病情及身體情況，以處方適當的藥物，並會配合定期覆診，按進度調較藥物的劑量，減少副作用。

常用治療認知障礙症的藥物:

醫生會按照患者的症狀而處方各類精神科藥物，例如鎮靜劑、抗抑鬱藥及抗焦慮藥等。服用精神科藥物後，照顧者除了應該留意患者的情緒行為問題有否改善外，亦需觀察有否出現副作用，如發現有副作用或情緒行為問題惡化，應盡早向醫生求助。

認知障礙症的非藥物治療/訓練活動

透過合適及多元化的非藥物治療活動，認知障礙症患者能保持大腦刺激以延緩退化速度，使他們無論在社交、情緒及身體上都得到關顧，從而改善生活質素及減輕照顧者的壓力。常用的非藥物性治療包括：

1.現實導向

利用輔助器具例如日曆、報紙、時鐘等作環境提醒，使患者重新掌握時間、人物和地點，藉以減少思緒混亂和善忘問題，協助患者適應現實生活，減少行為問題。此訓練亦可作為恆常活動以長遠改善或維持認知能力，適合早、中期認知障礙症長者。

2. 認知訓練

根據患者的病情而進行一些合適及富趣味性的遊戲包括桌上遊戲及電腦程式，多方面地訓練認知、社交及溝通能力。

3. 懷緬活動

透過懷舊物品例如舊相片及懷舊小食等，引導患者重溫往事，從而刺激長期記憶及認知能力，改善情緒及行為問題。

4. 感官刺激

利用涉及不同感官的器具例如刺蝟球、檸檬、電視等，刺激患者的嗅覺、味覺、觸覺、視覺及聽覺，讓身體作出適當反應以改善行為和情緒問題。避免因患者長時間隔絕外界接觸，而令感官功能加劇衰退。

5. 自理活動

透過重複訓練患者的固有技能例如進食、穿衣及梳洗等，在日常生活多加練習自理能力，希望維持患者的自我形象及尊嚴。

6. 社交訓練

透過遊戲或活動以增加患者之間的互動，例如下棋、玩撲克牌等，以增加快樂及正面的情緒，減少行為問題。

認知障礙症訓練活動的準備及注意事項

認知障礙症訓練活動需要事先經過精心準備，為不同病情的患者設計最合適的治療，並得到照顧者的配合，在課餘時間也持續與患者進行訓練，才能達到最佳成效。

由於認知障礙患者容易受到外界的刺激例如光線及嘈音所影響，建議相關的治療活動宜選舒適、安全及寧靜的環境，並確保活動內容簡單、有趣味及可重複。在選用器具方面，應善用患者熟悉的日常生活物品，避免含有激烈動作的活動或使用細小的物料和利器，以減低風險。

認知障礙患者返家後該如何照顧？

認知障礙症會為病人帶來身體和認知能力上的急劇變化，其照顧者更需要承受極沉重的壓力。有見及此，Evercare 推出認知障礙症護理服務，主力協助認知障礙症病人延緩病情惡化。在認知障礙症康復道路上的每一個階段，均由護理員、專業登記及註冊護士及專職治療師攜手合作，因應各階段所面對的挑戰和支援，提供個人化的復康治療計劃，例如日常生活協助、認知訓練、監測生命表徵、臨時護理、家居改裝、陪診、運動、預設護理計劃及臨終護理計劃。

Evercare 為認知障礙症病人提供的上門復康護理，讓康復過程變得輕鬆及舒適，不但為病人重拾自信，更有助減輕照顧者的壓力。

認知障礙如何診斷？小測試助你自我評估

info@yourevercare.com (Evercare Evercare) — Wed, 13 Jul 2022 08:28:37 GMT

認知障礙如何診斷？小測試助你自我評估

認知障礙症並非老年人的「專利」，與年齡沒有必然的關係。若發現身邊人出現記憶力明顯衰退，或認知狀態有所退步的話，我們可透過一些小測試作初步的評估。Evercare 團隊為你一文拆解認知障礙症的診斷方法及用作自我評估的小測試。

認知障礙症簡介

認知障礙症是因大腦神經細胞出現病變，而引致大腦功能衰退的疾病，患者的記憶力、語言能力、視覺空間判斷、執行能力、計算和決策等方面，甚至日常生活、行為及情緒亦會受影響。根據2017年的《精神健康檢討報告》，香港患有認知障礙症的患者高達10萬人，接近長者人口的十分之一。

此症並非正常老化的現象，其病因有很多種類，包括：

阿茲海默症 (Alzheimer’s Disease)
血管性認知障礙症 (Vascular Dementia)
散播性路易氏體認知障礙症 (Dementia With Lewy Bodies)
額顳葉認知障礙症 (Frontotemporal Dementia)
亨廷頓舞蹈症 (Huntington’s Disease)
其他成因包括腦部創傷、腦部良性腫瘤或腦積水、病毒感染、缺乏維生素及荷爾蒙、精神問題如焦慮及抑鬱、藥物中毒、酗酒等

如何診斷認知障礙症？

認知障礙症並不能靠單一檢查作診斷，需要綜合多種方法方能準確地作出診斷，包括：

認知障礙症常見的十大症狀

1. 記憶力衰退，影響日常生活

患者會忘記近期發生的事，因而經常重複相同的動作。

2. 決策或計劃能力下降

不能自行處理事宜，例如為生活費作出預算。

3. 未能執行以往熟悉的事情

忘記以往工作或生活上熟悉的技能，例如煮食。

4. 對時間及方位感到混亂

忘記時間及容易迷路。

5. 對視覺影像和空間感產生混淆

對辨別距離、顏色和光暗等出現困難，甚至未能認得自己。

6. 語言表達或理解有困難

未能清晰地表達自己的想法。

7. 將物件錯放在不適當的地方

隨處亂放東西，及後無法尋回，或會懷疑他人盗取。

8. 判斷力減退、警覺性降低

患者會不顧危險地橫過馬路或未能察覺食物已變壞。

9. 失去做事的主動性

不願外出參與社交活動或認識新朋友。

10. 出現不明原因的情緒和性格轉變

容易出現較大的情緒起伏，常會感到不安﹑疑惑和焦慮感。

小測試助你自我評估

若懷疑身邊人患上認知障礙症，我們可使用以下的小測試，嘗試為身邊人作初步的自我評估，以及早發現早期認知能力變化。各測試涉及的範疇包括記憶力、專注力、語言能力、抽象思考、視覺空間、執行能力、定向等，常見的小測試如下：

AD8極早期失智篩檢量表

這是一項自我測試的篩選工具，用以對認知障礙症作出初步評估，並不能視之為取代專業臨床認知評估。研究顯示，此測試能夠協助長者及家人偵測早期認知障礙症徵兆，整個測試總共有8項問題，包括對嗜好及活動興趣減少、判斷力出現問題如決斷能力退步、重覆問同一個問題或講述同一事情、學習新事物時有困難，如不能學會使用電話、忘記正確的年份和月份、不能處理較為複雜的財務問題，如稅單及雜費、忘記重要約會或覆診日期和持續（如一星期內數次或更頻密）出現思考和記憶方面的問題。

MMSE（Mini-Mental State Examination）

MMSE是一份有三十項問題的問卷，用作評估認知障礙，醫學界常用此來檢查失智症病人。此問卷也藉着在不同時間點評估病人的認知障礙程度，從而得出治療的成效。內容包括七大項：定向感、注意力、記憶、語言、口語理解、行動能力、建構力。

MoCA（Montreal Cognitive Assessment）

此測試獲醫院管理局承認為客觀的測量方法。測試範圍包括專注力、執行能力、記憶力、語言能力、視覺構建技巧、抽象概念及定位等，可篩選出輕度認知障礙症患者。

認知障礙患者返家後該如何照顧？

Evercare 為認知障礙症病人提供的上門復康護理，讓康復過程變得輕鬆及舒適，不但為病人重拾自信，更有助減輕照顧者的壓力。

【中風】一文詳細了解「腦血管意外」

info@yourevercare.com (Evercare Evercare) — Wed, 29 Jun 2022 06:15:38 GMT

【中風】一文詳細了解「腦血管意外」

中風屬於腦血管意外，是香港位列第四的隱形殺手，分為小中風及另外兩大類別：缺血性中風及出血性中風。由於其後遺症長遠並可致命， Evercare 為大家詳細介紹中風的先兆及症狀，並讓各位了解其治療及康復道路。

Evercare的中風護理方案專為客戶制定個人的護理計劃、提供全面的復康服務和預防指導。我們的上門中風看護服務強調幫中風病人將後遺症及損害減到最低，以便回歸正常生活及預防中風復發。

中風的先兆

中風往往來得突然，要減低後遺症帶來的負面影響，應先了解中風的先兆，當中包括：

突發劇烈頭痛或暈眩
大小便失禁
步履不穩，身體失平衡或手腳失去協調
視力出現問題如視力模糊或出現重影、黑影
言語不清或表達困難
吞嚥困難
四肢或面部出現麻痺、軟弱無力，甚至癱瘓

深入了解中風的先兆

中風的症狀

中風可分為三大類別，小中風的症狀及後遺症較輕微，康復程度及時間亦較快。另外兩種較嚴重的則為出血性中風和最常見的缺血性中風，三者的症狀都有所差異。

缺血性中風與小中風症狀較為相似，但後者症狀一般只維持不多於24小時，及後大多可以回復正常，包括手腳或臉部突然無力或麻痺、意識紊亂及失語等。

出血性中風的症狀則一般較為嚴重，包括嚴重頭痛、嘔吐、神智不清、甚至昏迷。

深入了解中風的症狀

如何分辨是否中風？

中風後首3小時被稱為「黃金三小時」，若患者能及時接受適當治療，便可大大減輕其後遺症。談笑用兵」是腦中風的簡單測試，用以分辨患者是否中風：

深入了解中風的測試方法

哪些群組屬於中風的高風險人士？

中風一般發生得突然，除了先天性的因素外，有些屬於後天可以預防及改善的因素。先天因素如男性及年紀大者會增加中風機會，後天因素則包括三高或心血管疾病以及日常生活習慣如吸煙或酗酒，另外曾中風者二次中風的機會亦較高。

深入了解中風的高風險群組及危險因素

如何預防中風？

為了減低中風的風險，我們需要從多方面入手。三高人士應按醫生指示準時服藥，更應改善日常生活習慣，如戒煙戒酒、保持適當體重及注意心理健康等。

深入了解中風的預防方法

中風的後遺症

人腦分為大腦、小腦及腦幹三大部分，而各部分均負責控制不同的活動及功能。中風病人腦部受損的部分不同，其後遺症亦會有所差異，包括不良於行，難以平衡及協調肢體、表達性失語、呼吸及心跳受影響、嚴重者更會陷入昏迷，甚至死亡。

深入了解中風的後遺症

中風的治療

中風的治療需要與時間競賽，患者若能盡快接受適當的治療，包括病發後黃金3至4.5小時內的血栓溶解治療、口服藥物及外科手術，後遺症及負面影響將可以減到最低。

深入了解中風的治療方法

中風復康之路

中風後的首3至6個月是復康黃金期，患者應把握時間及早接受跨專科的復康療程，如物理治療、職業治療及言語治療等，並積極配合一眾專業醫療人員，有助恢復患者最佳的運動功能、吞咽功能、認知功能和日常生活的自理能力。

深入了解中風的復康之路

中風患者返家後該如何照顧？

中風患者即使渡過了危急時期，長遠亦會因後遺症而導致身心受挫，家人或照顧者承受的壓力極大。在復康過程中，建議病人及家人與醫護人員因應病人的情況，共同商討及制定日後的個人化照顧方案，為往後的家居復康及護理作好準備。

深入了解中風的復康過程需要注意事項

中風為病人及其照顧者帶來極沉重的壓力，有見及此， Evercare 推出中風護理服務，主力協助中風病人回歸正常生活。在中風康復道路上的每一個階段均由護理員、專業登記及註冊護士和專職治療師合力，提供個人化的復康治療計劃，例如監察病人生命表徵、教導照顧者和家屬應對可能出現的併發症、改善吞嚥困難及語言障礙等。

Evercare 為中風病人提供的上門復康護理，讓康復過程變得輕鬆及舒適，為病人重拾自信。

【中風治療與復康】首3至6個月是復康黃金期？

Wed, 22 Jun 2022 02:55:40 GMT

中風的後遺症為患者及其家屬帶來長遠的身心創傷，中風治療往往需要與時間競賽，Evercare團隊為你詳細解構中風治療及復康黃金期。

1. 中風的治療

中風的治療包括病發後黃金3至4.5小時內的血栓溶解治療、口服藥物及外科手術：

血栓溶解治療

缺血性中風患者需要把握在中風病發後3至4.5小時內接受血栓溶解治療，方能達到最佳的療效。治療可令血栓塞的血管回復暢通，並減少腦細胞缺氧壞死的情況。若超過4.5小時才接受血栓溶解治療，藥效便會大大減低，甚至未能發揮效果。

藥物治療

醫生會根據病情，為缺血性中風患者處方抗血小板藥 — 阿士匹靈 (Aspirin)、抗凝血藥 — 華法林 (Warfarin) ，或注射低分子肝素鈣 (Low Molecular Heparin) 等。

外科手術

出血性中風患者可能需要以外科手術作止血治療，來控制出血情況，或透過手術移走大型血塊，以減低顱內壓。

2. 血栓溶解治療的條件及風險

由於血栓溶解治療存在嚴重的風險，包括腦部或身體其他器官出血、腦部受損程度惡化，甚至死亡，因此並不是所有患者均適用。

以下患者不適合接受血栓溶解治療：

癌症
心臟病
血壓持續性過高
血管撕裂
凝血功能差
有腦出血的病史
中風症狀已出現超過建議的治療時限（4.5小時）

3. 中風復康 — 首3至6個月黃金期

患者中風後都會面對大大小小的後遺症，因此要把握中風後首3至6個月的復康黃金期，及早接受跨專科的復康療程，如物理治療、職業治療及言語治療等，並積極配合，有助恢復患者最佳的運動功能、吞咽功能、認知功能和日常生活的自理能力。無論你的至親身處哪個階段，Evercare的護理人員總能為你提供全面的中風復康服務。

4. 中風康復之路

中風康復的目標是幫助患者盡可能恢復到中風前的功能狀態，重拾獨立生活的能力。然而，由於腦部損傷的程度和位置不同，每個患者的康復目標和進程也各有差異。有些患者可能目標是恢復到可以單手完成以前需要雙手才能完成的任務，或者藉助輔助工具維持行動能力。重要的是，設定一個切合實際且積極的目標，並持續努力。

中風康復的過程：

中風後的康復是一個持續的過程，並非一蹴可幾。其進程大致如下：

24小時內：許多患者在24小時內會有明顯好轉，但仍需進行全面檢查，以確定病因並採取預防措施。
一周後：若恢復良好，通常表示為輕度中風。
兩周後：對於輕度中風患者，可以對其恢復前景有較為確切的評估。
三個月後：透過積極的復康訓練，受損的身體部位應已達到最大程度的恢復。
兩年後：部分活動技巧可能會有進一步的改善，但恢復速度會相對緩慢。

中風後遺症十分廣泛，因此康復之路十分漫長，需要各科的專業醫療人員攜手合作，協助病人重獲最佳的生活質素，當中涉獵的專業及醫護人士眾多，包括物理治療師、職業治療師、臨床心理學家、神經心理學家、言語治療師、護士及社工等，他們在患者復康的路上，分別擔當著不同的角色：

中風患者返家後該如何照顧？

了解到中風為病人及其照顧者帶來極沉重的壓力，Evercare 推出中風護理服務，主力協助中風病人回歸正常生活。在中風康復道路上的每一個階段，均由護理員、專業登記及註冊護士及專職治療師攜手合作，提供個人化的復康治療計劃，例如監察病人生命表徵、教導照顧者和家屬應對可能出現的併發症、改善吞嚥困難及語言障礙等。別延誤你的康復，立即聯繫Evercare，讓我們幫助你重拾健康生活。

中風可分為三類？有何症狀及後遺症？

Sun, 12 Jun 2022 14:41:46 GMT

中風可分為三類？有何症狀及後遺症？

中風後遺症不容小覷，多數的病人會因腦部的不同部分受損，而造成身體上不同程度的傷殘，輕則會為日常生活帶來不便，嚴重的更會致命。Evercare 今次將為你詳細講解中風的種類、症狀及後遺症。

大腦的結構

中風的種類及症狀

中風可大致分為三種：小中風、缺血性中風及出血性中風。

小中風的症狀與中風無異，兩者主要分別在於時間性，小中風症狀一般只維持不多於24小時，而且及後可以回復正常，其症狀包括：

半邊手腳或臉部突然無力或麻痺
突然失去視力、視力模糊或出現重影
突如其來的暈眩並感到天旋地轉
身體難以平衡或不聽使喚擺向一邊
意識紊亂
難以理解他人的說話
手腳不能協調
突然出現劇烈頭痛
失語，難以用言辭表達自己

另外兩大類分別是缺血性中風及出血性中風，症狀包括：

了解中風的先兆及學習辨別是否中風，能幫助患者將後遺症及損害減到最低。欲更深入了解，可閱讀：

中風的後遺症

由於人腦分為大腦、小腦及腦幹三大部分，而各部分均負責控制不同的活動及功能，中風病人腦部受損的部分不同，其後遺症亦會有所差異：

1. 大腦受損

單邊身體麻痺、軟弱無力
視力模糊，甚至會失去單邊視力
失去空間感
推理、組織、解決問題的能力下降
記憶混亂、失憶
情緒不穩定，變得暴躁及缺乏動力
表達性失語症

2. 小腦受損

暈眩
不良於行，難以平衡及協調肢體
頭痛
作嘔

3. 腦幹受損

不能調節體溫
呼吸及心跳受影響
難以平衡及協調肢體
身體軟弱無力，甚至癱瘓
咀嚼、吞嚥及說話出現問題
視力受損
嚴重者會陷入昏迷，甚至死亡

中風後遺症的復康治療

中風後遺症除了影響活動能力外，吞嚥和語言能力都會有所影響，中風患者在復康過程需配合多方面的醫療專職人員，以望將日常生活的障礙及負面影響減到最低。Evercare的中風護理方案專為客戶制定個人的護理計劃、提供全面的復康服務和預防指導。我們的上門中風看護服務強調幫中風病人將後遺症及損害減到最低，以便回歸正常生活及預防中風復發。

中風患者返家後該如何照顧？

面對中風帶來的後遺症，病人及其照顧者都背負極沉重的壓力，Evercare 的中風護理服務，主力協助中風病人回歸正常生活，同時紓緩照顧者的壓力。在中風康復道路上的每一個階段均由護理員、專業登記及註冊護士及專職治療師合力，提供個人化的復康治療計劃，例如監察病人生命表徵、教導照顧者和家屬應對可能出現的併發症、改善吞嚥困難及語言障礙等。

Evercare 為中風病人提供的上門復康護理，讓康復過程變得輕鬆及舒適，為病人重拾自信。

中風怎樣預防？了解最容易忽略的7個先兆

Tue, 17 May 2022 08:06:37 GMT

Evercare 為中風病人提供的上門復康護理，讓康復過程變得輕鬆及舒適，為病人重拾自信。

中風怎樣預防？了解最容易忽略的7個先兆

突如其來的步履不穩、言語不清，甚至失禁？這些都可能是中風的警號。中風是常見的腦血管疾病，不但可導致身體殘障，嚴重更可致命。Evercare 為你總括中風的7大先兆及預防方法，助你了解此症狀，以減低後遺症。 Evercare的中風護理方案專為客戶制定個人的護理計劃、提供全面的復康服務和預防指導。我們的上門中風看護服務強調幫中風病人將後遺症及損害減到最低，以便回歸正常生活及預防中風復發。

中風：本港第四號「致命殺手」

中風是香港位列第四的致命殺手。2017年的數據顯示，本港共有3124宗因腦血管疾病導致的登記死亡個案。根據2014至2015年的人口健康調查中，其中被診斷為中風的患者分別佔男性的1.7%及女性的1.1%。

中風分為兩大類：

1. 中風7大先兆 — 把握搶救黃金3小時

大部分中風來得突然，而且毫無先兆。由於中風的後遺症既深遠又嚴重，若身邊人出現以下警號，應把握搶救的黃金3小時，立即求醫以盡快接受治療：

突發性的劇烈頭痛或頭暈
出現大小二便失禁
步履不穩，身體失去平衡或手腳不能協調
視力出現問題，如突然視力模糊、出現黑影或重影
言語不清或表達困難
吞嚥困難
四肢或面部出現麻痺、軟弱無力，甚至癱瘓

若患者屬於小中風，以上症狀一般只會持續短時間，之後便會自然康復。

2. 如何分辨是否中風？

醫學研究顯示，中風後3小時最為關鍵，只要患者能及時接受藥物治療，便可大大減輕其後遺症。我們應學習腦中風的簡單測試，透過「談笑用兵」以分辨患者是否中風：

若患者未能通過以上測試，應立即致電999尋求緊急救援。

了解中風的先兆及學習辨別是否中風，能幫助患者將後遺症及損害減到最低。欲更深入了解，可閱讀：

3. 哪些群組屬於高風險中風人士？

中風一般發生得突然，然而有個別因素是可以預防及改善的，讓我們了解中風的高風險群組及危險因素：

1. 日常生活習慣

吸煙或二手煙
酗酒
身型過胖
久坐不動或長期缺乏運動
濫藥習慣，例如服食可卡因

2. 健康風險

高血壓
糖尿病
高膽固醇
心血管疾病，如心臟衰竭、心律不正等
先天性腦血管腫瘤或血管壁過薄
感染新冠肺炎
睡眠窒息症
曾有中風史人士

3. 其他先天因素

年齡（55歲以上人士風險較年輕人高）
種族（非藉美國人）
性別（男性比女性高危）
賀爾蒙（服用賀爾蒙藥物或避孕藥）

4. 如何預防中風？

中風可導致永久傷殘，甚至致命，不但對患者造成嚴重的傷害，其家人或照顧者亦會蒙受極大的壓力。我們需要在多方面作出改善及控制，以預防中風，包括：

控制血壓、血糖及膽固醇：高血壓、高血糖及高膽固醇均是中風的危險因素，患者應定時覆診，並按醫囑服藥，並改善日常生活習慣例如控制飲食、定時運動及作息定時等
戒除煙酒及避免吸入二手煙
維持適當的體重，避免過重或中央肥胖
多進食膳食纖維，包括蔬菜及水果
醫治或控制睡眠窒息症：使用持續性正壓呼吸器（CPAP）
切忌濫藥
處理壓力，學習放鬆
曾患缺血性中風的病人，應按照醫生指示定時服用以下藥物：
抗血小板藥物 (如亞司匹靈）：亞司匹靈能預防血小板凝成血塊，是常用的預防中風藥物
抗凝血劑（薄血丸如華法林 Warfarin）：主要用於心臟疾病如心房纖顫的病人，可有效預防心房纖顫引致的缺血性中風

5. 中風會引致後遺症嗎？

中風導致的腦部受損部位不同，後遺症亦會有所不同，部分屬於短暫性，有些則是永久性損害：

半身癱瘓或肢體軟弱無力
言語不清及吞嚥困難
記憶力衰退
思緖紊亂，決斷力大受影響
肢體疼痛及麻痺
抑鬱症或情緒低落
自理能力大減

6. 身邊人若中風怎麼辦？

中風可以致命，若發現身邊人出現中風的症狀，應保持冷靜，立即致電999要求緊急救援服務，並詳細地向到場或救護中心的工作人員提供資料，包括事發經過、地點、患者的病歷等。

面對清醒病人的應對方法:

保持呼吸道暢通
清理口中可見的異物
鬆開患者的衣物
安慰及陪伴患者

面對昏迷病人的應對方法:

把患者轉側以防氣道阻塞

7. 中風患者返家後該如何照顧？

中風患者會因後遺症而導致身心受挫，家人或照顧者亦要長遠性地承受極大壓力。在準備出院回家前，建議病人及家人與醫護人員因應病人的情況，共同商討及制定日後的個人化照顧方案，為往後的家居復康及護理作好準備。

1. 擬定完善的出院計劃

評估並確定照顧者有能力照顧病人，如扶抱技巧、餵飼技巧及失禁照料等
評估家居的安全性，協助改裝家居設備，例如加裝扶手
購置輔助用具，如步行架
轉介社區服務如社工、社康護士及經濟支援
協助預約覆診，如社區的復康訓練、物理或職業治療服務、營養師咨詢等

2. 家居照料及護理

慎防患者跌倒
皮膚護理及預防壓瘡
正確的餵飼技巧，以防吸入性肺炎或營養不良
協助患者按時服藥
鼓勵及提高患者的自我照顧能力（如廁、梳洗）
預防再次中風（定時服藥、控制三高、良好日常生活習慣）

3. 患者的心靈支援

多陪伴及鼓勵患者
照顧者應保持耐性，切忌責難或對患者抱怨
積極參與中風互助小組

了解到中風為病人及其照顧者帶來極沉重的壓力，Evercare 推出中風護理服務，主力協助中風病人回歸正常生活。在中風康復道路上的每一個階段均由護理員、專業登記及註冊護士中風專科護士及專職治療師合力，提供個人化的復康治療計劃，例如監察病人生命表徵、教導照顧者和家屬應對可能出現的併發症、改善吞嚥困難及語言障礙等。

Evercare 為中風病人提供的上門復康護理，讓康復過程變得輕鬆及舒適，為病人重拾自信。

【老人家易患小腸氣？】了解成因、症狀及手術後護理

Thu, 07 Jan 2021 11:01:32 GMT

原來小腸氣不是氣！究竟小腸氣的成因是什麼？為什麼老人家特別容易得到小腸氣？接受小腸氣手術後，病人和照顧者要如何處理傷口？我們在此為你一一拆解。如果需要出院或手術後照顧，Evercare的護理人員會提供全面的術後/康復護理，歡迎你諮詢或索取服務細節。

小腸氣成因和症狀
小腸氣修補手術基本須知
手術後護理
1. 小腸氣手術後要戒口嗎？
2. 我該如何妥善處理小腸氣手術的傷口？
3. 進行小腸氣手術後要等多久才可以開始做運動？
4. 做完手術後有沒有復發風險？

小腸氣成因和症狀

疝氣，俗稱小腸氣，是指人體組織或器官移位，從腹壁的缺口凸出的現象。小腸氣的成因有很多，包括慢性咳嗽、長期提舉重物、老年腹壁強度退行性病變等。

老人家是特別容易患小腸氣，其成因有幾項。首先，老人家因欠缺活動，腹肌缺乏鍛煉，以致腹壁變薄，導致腹壁肌肉退行性病變。另外，老人家自身免疫力較差，容易患上急性或慢性支氣管炎、肺炎等呼吸道疾病，做成長期咳嗽問題，老人家使勁咳嗽，腹腔內的壓力不斷增加，變薄了的腹壁就更容易穿破，引致小腸氣。除此之外，長期便祕也是成因之一。便祕時腹內壓力增加，加上年老核心肌肉變弱，亦可引致小腸氣。

當小腸氣被勒住而無法縮回腹腔內，小腸氣形成的位置通常會異常凸出，病人會在該處感到持續性痛楚、劇痛、觸痛，或出現紅腫。在這情況下，病人有需要做小腸氣修補手術。

小腸氣修補手術基本須知

小腸氣修補手術有兩種，分別為開放性疝氣修補術和腹腔鏡疝氣修補術，兩者分別在於切口的數量和大小。做開放性疝氣修補手術時，醫生需要在病人身上開一個切口，然後直接開始手術程序；進行腹腔鏡疝氣修補手術前，醫生需要開兩至三個小切口置入腹腔鏡的儀器。開切口後手術程序同樣 —- 首先將小腸氣囊分出及結紮，然後用纖維網修補疝氣位置後壁鬆弛的肌膜，縫合好傷口便完成。手術期間病人需要全身或半身麻醉。

手術後護理

小腸氣修補手術後，病人普遍會感到手術傷口疼痛和疲倦。接受全身麻醉後，病人一般會有渴睡、噁心或嘔吐等副作用。足夠休息和定時服用醫生處方的止痛藥能夠解決輕微和短期的術後痛症，但傷口護理和出院後護理並不能馬虎。

居家護理怎樣幫到你:

Evercare的註冊護士和營養師能提供上門護理服務和飲食評估，協助長者制定飲食計劃，從根本調理腸胃、解決便祕問題。如果有手術後的護理要求，我們的專家都能為病人設計出院護理計劃，確保病人暢順地從醫院過渡到家中。
立即預約居家護理服務或致電 3905 4000 查詢。

1. 小腸氣手術後要戒口嗎？

手術後可以如常進食，但要確保攝取足夠的養份，多飲水和進食高纖維食品以避免便祕。鋅、脂肪、葡萄糖、蛋白質、維生素A和維生素C都是病人康復時所需的營養。它們有促進傷口癒合、預防傷口癒合缺損、減少感染機會和使細胞功能上升的效果。

2. 我該如何妥善處理小腸氣手術的傷口？

蓋著手術傷口的無菌敷料必須保持料完好及乾爽，在洗澡時要特別注意。如果已經蓋上防水敷料，手術後翌日便可沐浴，沐浴後要保持輔料乾爽清潔。

為了預防爆線，病人在術後初期動作不可以太大，打噴嚏或咳嗽時更應用手按着傷口，還要避免提舉重物。傷口如以軟線縫合便不必拆線，軟線會自動溶解及吸收。傷口不是以軟線縫合的話便要在指定日期拆線。

如果照顧者沒有傷口護理經驗，最好請醫護人員上門為病人護理傷口，同時緊密留意病人的身體狀況。萬一發現病人傷口痛楚加劇，出現紅腫、觸痛、滲血、腹痛加劇甚至發熱，也可及時通知醫生診治。

3. 進行小腸氣手術後要等多久才可以開始做運動？

進行小腸氣手術後 48 小時內，病人只可作輕微活動，連打噴嚏和咳嗽都要留意不可以太大動作。六星期內應避免攀高、踏單車、游泳等劇烈運動，在傷口無痛後才該恢復正常運動。病人的康復需時根據手術種類有所不同。如有需要，家人可聘請Evercare物理治療師上門協助老人家進行鍛煉，查看康復護理服務收費詳情，作精明的選擇。

各種手術的復康期如下：

做完有1個大切口(長約六至八厘米)的疝氣傳統修補術後，病人需住院七至十天左右。普通疝的完全恢復時間約三個月，特大疝約六至十二個月。
做完有1個中等切口(長約四至六厘米)的疝氣補片無張力修補術後，病人需住院三至七天左右。普通疝的完全恢復時間一個月，特大疝約三至六個月。
做完有3個小切口(長約亦厘米)的疝氣腹腔鏡修補術後，病人需住院四至七天左右。普通疝的完全恢復時間同為一個月，特大疝約三至六個月。

4. 做完手術後有沒有復發風險？

小腸氣的復發風險根據手術類型而異，傳統的疝氣修補術復發率可達5%，疝氣補片無張力修補術復發率為1%，而疝氣腹腔鏡修補術更可低至0.2%。

總括而言，腹內壓增加乃小腸氣的主要成因。要預防小腸氣形成，老人家更應小心預防呼吸道疾病，調節飲食以保持大便通暢，以減少腹內壓增加的機會。同時，家屬亦可與老人家進行仰卧起坐、平卧抬腿和腹部按摩等運動，加強老人家腹部肌肉力量，減少小腸氣復發的機率。

參考資料：

醫療程序須知 - 疝氣(小腸氣)修補手術-成人

疝氣手術後多久會才能恢復

疝氣 (小腸氣) - 仁德醫務

老年人為什麼也容易得疝氣

【新冠疫苗】接種新冠疫苗安全嗎？有什麼副作用？香港採購疫苗最新進度

Thu, 24 Dec 2020 03:11:00 GMT

隨著輝瑞疫苗、莫德納疫苗等新冠疫苗面世，多國亦準備進行疫苗接種計劃。究竟這些疫苗是否安全？有什麼副作用？香港政府將如何安排全民疫苗接種？下文逐一為你解答。（資料更新：24/12/2020）

各地新冠疫苗研發進度如何？不同研發商的疫苗有何分別？

疫苗對預防新冠肺炎的效用如何？
新冠疫苗有什麼已知副作用？
新冠疫苗適合長者接種嗎？
香港政府採購新冠疫苗最新進度如何？

各地新冠疫苗研發進度如何？不同研發商的疫苗有何分別？

已經完成三期臨床試驗的疫苗分別來自英國牛津大學和阿斯利康、美國莫德納 (Moderna)、美國輝瑞 (Pfizer) 和德國 BioNTech，以及俄羅斯加瑪列亞四個研發商。其中輝瑞疫苗已獲包括英國、加拿大、沙地阿拉伯等地批淮，成為世上首個大規模為民眾注射的疫苗。

四款疫苗可分為病毒載體疫苗和核糖核酸疫苗兩種。

英國和俄羅斯的疫苗都是病毒載體疫苗，儲存在常規冰箱溫度內便可，比較方便疫苗運送。而其餘兩款疫苗則為核糖核酸疫苗。莫德納的疫苗可存放再攝氏2-8度的環境30天，或在攝氏零下20度的環境儲存六個月。輝瑞和BioNTech合作研發的疫苗則須儲存在攝氏零下70度的環境。

四款疫苗都必須接種兩劑才有效。

中國科興生物及國藥集團生產的新冠疫苗則不屬於以上提及的兩種。其新冠疫苗為滅活疫苗，即傳統疫苗。國產疫苗早前已在印尼、土耳其和巴西等地開始進行三期臨床試驗。在巴西的試驗暫停過一次，當局將於12月23日公布科興疫苗後期試驗結果。

國產疫苗整體比海外疫苗進度慢，仍未有第三期臨床測試的初期報告。

疫苗對預防新冠肺炎的效用如何？

據初步數據顯示，莫德納研製的新冠疫苗可以達到將近95%的效能，而65歲以上群組有效率為86.4%；而輝瑞製藥和BioNTech聯合開發的疫苗則據報能夠提供九成的保護率，65歲以上群組保護率更超過94%；英國牛津大學與阿斯利康合作的疫苗有效率為70%-90%，該疫苗被指對長者尤為有效；而俄羅斯的加瑪列亞新冠疫苗有效率則達92%。

但值得留意的是，專家強調仍需更多數據才可證實新冠疫苗是否有助減少傳播。

科興生物聲稱其研發的新冠疫苗在印尼進行最後階段試驗中，97%疫苗接種者中產生了抗體，但其有效性尚未確定。

新冠疫苗有什麼已知副作用？

莫德納疫苗副作用包括注射位置疼痛及發燒；而輝瑞製藥/BioNTech疫苗則可能導致關節痛、疲倦及頭痛等，但兩間藥廠均強調這些副作用只是短期，而臨床實驗階般亦無引致嚴重過敏反應。然而，在疫苗廣泛接種的初期，發生了零星過敏個案。英國醫療衛生監管局於12月9日表示，至今有兩人對輝瑞疫苗出現過敏反應，兩人均有嚴重過敏歷史，反應消退了目前狀態良好。另外在美國有四名接種了輝瑞疫苗的人其後患上貝爾氏麻痺症，導致面部癱瘓，其中三人在10至21天內康復；莫德納疫苗則有三宗類似個案。根據美國食品及藥物管理局的資料顯示，輝瑞的試驗結果顯示接種疫苗後出現副作用的人比接種安慰劑的多，但嚴重副作用只出現在0.5%參與者身上。

新冠疫苗適合長者接種嗎？

香港大學感染及傳染病中心總監何栢良於港台節目中呼籲 50歲以上的市民，不論有否長期病患，亦應認真考慮接種。他認為疫苗即使會有可能出現嚴重副作用，但並非常見，市民應理性決定，平衡接種疫苗的好處及患上新冠肺炎的風險。而率先批淮大規模接種輝瑞/BioNTech疫苗的英國亦優先為80歲以上長者接種疫苗，而港府亦將採取相同方針，為高風險長者優先接種疫苗。

香港政府採購新冠疫苗最新進度如何？

香港政府將為香港全民採購新冠疫苗，預先採購的有三款，分別為國產的科興疫苗、英國的阿斯利康/ 牛津大學疫苗還有美國和德國的輝瑞/ BioNTech疫苗。三款疫苗都屬於不同類別，分別為滅活疫苗、病毒載體疫苗和核糖核酸疫苗。政府與個研發商達成協議，每款疫苗都購入750萬劑。首100萬劑國產疫苗將於明年一月到港，而首100萬劑輝瑞疫苗最快於明年第一季交付。牛津疫苗供應時間較慢，最快明年第二季尾才抵港。

政府將安排幾個群組優先接種疫苗，包括醫務人員、長者、長期病患者和護理院舍員工。全民接種計劃現階段應該以自願的形式進行，為香港市民免費接種新冠疫苗，但市民未必能選擇接種哪一種疫苗。

參考資料：
HK01 (文章1) ， HK01 (文章2) ， Now News ， BBC ， Yahoo News ，政府新聞處 (新聞稿1) ，政府新聞處 (新聞稿2) ，明報

【長期胃氣多？】剖析原因，內附六種有效化胃氣方法（食物、穴位、生活習慣）

Wed, 16 Dec 2020 02:19:00 GMT

點解腸胃成日谷住谷住？是身體出現問題嗎？閱讀文章，了解胃氣多的原因，從食物、穴位、生活習慣等方向，掌握六個不靠胃藥都能成功化解胃氣的解決方法。

如果需要上門護士協助， Evercare可以在24小時內為你配對合適的護理人員提供專業飲食建議，歡迎你隨時與我們聯絡。

Click here for the English version

胃氣多正常嗎？

胃氣多的原因是什麼？

胃氣脹按摩穴位快速化解胃氣？

那些人容易多胃氣？什麼食物、生活習慣的改變才能有效及持久地化解胃氣？

胃氣多正常嗎？

胃氣本身是正常不過的事情，胃氣是消化過程中產生氣體。腸胃中氣體過多的時候，人會透過放屁和噯氣（讀 “er“ 氣）排氣。如有脹氣痛的狀況，代表氣體被困在腸胃裏無法從體內排出。

胃氣多的原因是什麼？

胃氣多的成因繁多，亦視乎個人生活習慣和體質。以下常見的生活習慣是導致胃氣多的原因。

吃了些容易產生氣體的食物。容易胃氣脹的食物有豆製品、酒、薯仔、膨脹或經過發酵的食物，例如饅頭、麵包，以及某些水果，例如蘋果和西瓜等。只要飲食習慣稍作調整，避免大量進食這些食品，就可化解問題。
另外一個較嚴重的引起胃氣的原因是各種胃病。胃潰瘍、胃酸倒流、腸易激綜合症等腸胃問題都會引致胃氣多。胃潰瘍常見病徵包括胃痛、胃出血和體重下降，如果除了胃氣，你或你的家人還有這些症狀，應該盡快求醫。

想解決長者便祕、胃氣問題？

Evercare的註冊護士和營養師提供上門護理和飲食評估，協助長者制定飲食計劃，從根本調理腸胃、解決便祕問題。

立即預約居家護理服務或致電 3905 4000 查詢。

胃氣脹按摩穴位快速化解胃氣？

若萬一出現胃氣脹，你可以輕輕按摩腹部這三個急救穴位，幫助腸胃消化、化解胃氣脹的不適：

中脘穴
穴位位置：肚臍正上方4個手指位
功效：調節消化道機能、消除胃脹氣、幫助排便
水分穴
穴位位置：肚臍正上方1個手指位
功效：緩解胃痛、清理小腸、利水、消漲
關元穴
穴位位置：肚臍正下方4個手指位
功效：促進腸道蠕動、改善小腸機能，加速腹部脂肪的代謝

你將微熱的手放在以上穴位用食指按壓約2~3分鐘，以促進腸道運動，幫助排氣。留意，這只是短暫的舒緩方法。若然你或家裏的老人家長期被胃氣脹纏繞，你可能需要調節飲食生活。

那些人容易多胃氣？什麼食物、生活習慣的改變才能有效及持久地化解胃氣？

以下六種人特別容易多胃氣：

1. 心急的人

日常生活步伐急促，我們進食時會不自覺地，未咀嚼夠就吞下食物，使食物難以消化，引致消化不良。另外，進食速度快，身體沒有足夠時間消化，我們也沒有意識自己已經吃飽了，繼而繼續進食，容易導致過飽的狀況，加重腸胃的負荷。

在這情況下，要化解胃氣，性急的人需要放慢進食速度，細心咀嚼食物。營養師建議每口食物至少咀嚼15下，讓大腦有時間接收飽足感的訊息，避免進食過量。

2. 鼻敏感的人

鼻敏感的人會不自覺地多用口呼吸，從而吸入更多空氣。最直接的解決方法就是多留意並調整自己的呼吸方法。最理想的解決方案就是針對鼻敏感，服食鼻敏感藥和舒暢氣管又潤肺的食物。

3. 患乳糖不耐症的人

乳糖不耐症的患者如果進食乳類食物，當然會刺激腸胃。但就算有好好戒口，由於本身腸胃狀態欠佳，仍會經常面對胃氣的問題。

這些人可以乳酪取代牛奶。乳酪中的乳糖已轉化成乳酸，能促進腸胃蠕動，反對化胃氣帶來正面的效果。另外，亦可多吃薑、菠蘿、米湯和大麥粥等化胃氣的食物，同時要避免進食辛辣等較刺激的食物，減輕飲食為敏感腸胃帶來的負擔。

4. 生活忙碌的人

工作忙碌的人飲食不定時。有時候或會堅持要在做完一件事後才吃飯，或者根本沒有時間坐下進食，或要邊走邊吃，或是一天只吃一至兩餐。腸胃或難適應每天變更的飲食時間，長期會影響腸胃健康。

要解決胃氣問題，一定要進食有時。這些人可以定下簡單時間表，固定進食早午晚餐，改善胃氣的問題的同時確保攝取足夠的養份。生活忙碌的人另外一個弊病是經常邊進食邊說話，因此而吸入特別多氣體。與心急的人一樣，你應該放慢進食速度，細心咀嚼食物，並專心吃飯，盡量不要一心二用。

5. 精神壓力大的人

精神壓力太大會令人感到緊張、心跳加快、血壓上升、肌肉緊繃，因而使腸胃蠕動變慢，氣體便逗留在腸胃中，引致胃脹氣的問題。建議壓力大的人抽時間飯後散步，有助腸胃消化和減壓。輕量的運動可以保持腸道彈性，刺激腸胃蠕動。讓你解決胃氣上事半功倍。

6. 長者

雖然胃氣多是一個很常見的都市病，別以為這只會發生在生活忙碌、壓力大的壯年人身上。過著休閒退休生活的老人家都很容易有胃氣多的問題。老人家胃氣脹的原因可能是由便秘或消化不良引起。

要解決老人家消化不良引起的胃氣脹的問題，老人家一日三餐需定時，晚上儘量的減少進食。飯前大概半小時至1小時可以吃一些有助於消化的水果，再加上適量的運動，對消化、化解胃氣有很大幫助。 Evercare登記護士和營養師能提供上門護理服務和飲食評估，協助長者制定飲食計劃，控制營養及卡路里攝取。

如果胃氣多、胃氣脹是由便秘引致，長者可以多喝水、或進食甘淡、高纖維的蔬菜，如節瓜、番薯、紅蘿蔔、茄子、生薑等，多吃有健脾作用。由於長者的腸胃特別敏感，所以無論是喝水或進食，都要放慢速度或分開幾次進食，避免過程中吸入大量氣體。

要為長者解決長期胃氣多的問題，最緊要有一個周詳的護理計劃，由護士和營養師按照長者的需要制定照顧方案，從日常生活著手改善問題。

參考資料：晴報、每日頭條 (文章一)、每日頭條 (文章二)

Is Bloating Becoming an Issue? Here Are 6 Ways to Fix the Problem

Wed, 16 Dec 2020 01:32:00 GMT

Why do I always feel bloated? What am I doing wrong? Read on to find out how excessive stomach gas is made, and discover a few natural remedies to help your stomach feel better.

點擊此處閱讀中文版本

Is stomach gas normal?

What causes excessive stomach gas?

Are you prone to excessive stomach gas?

Is stomach gas normal?

Gas is naturally produced during digestion. Excessive gas occurs more often than we think, and our body is generally able to release it in various ways. When our body is not able to release excessive gas it gets trapped and can result in many long hours of pain and discomfort.

What causes excessive stomach gas?

There are a number of reasons behind having excessive gas. From genetics to lifestyle choices, below are the most common reasons:

Food choices
Consumption of soy products, alcohol, potato, fermented food products like bread and some fruits like apples and watermelons. Adjusting eating habits to avoid some of these foods can lead to a remarked improvement in digestive health.

Stomach diseases and conditions
Excessive gas is a symptom of many stomach diseases and conditions, such as stomach ulcers, acid reflux and irritable bowel syndrome.

Lifestyle choices
Different lifestyle habits may lead to excessive stomach gas being produced. Individuals with highly stressful and busy lives are prone to stomach pains, with reasons listed below.

Do YOU NEED HELP WITH HEALTHY DIETARY SUPPORT?

Evercare's registered nurses and nutritionists can provide at home dietary assessments and assist elderlies with

formulating a diet plan to alleviate stomach problems. If your family member requires at home guidance, call 3905 4000 to start finding a caregiver.

Are you prone to excessive stomach gas?

Six types of individuals are more prone to stomach gas:

1. Individuals who are generally quite impatient in their daily routine and lives

2. Individuals with allergies

3. Lactose intolerant people

4. Individuals with a busy lifestyle

5. Individuals with a lot of stress

6. The elderly and constipation prone individuals

1. How is patience linked to excessive gas?

Being impatient is linked with excessive gas: those with little patience tend to chew their food less frequently, making the pieces of food harder to digest and affecting overall digestion and gut health. Eating fast also leads to over-eating, which is often the cause of excessive gas. Dieticians generally recommend 15 chews per mouthful of food, which allows the brain enough time to process the feeling of being full.

2. Individuals with allergies

Allergies can be a cause of excessive gas production, as some allergies lead to blocked nose and difficulties breathing. This forces individuals to breathe through their mouths. Targeting allergies with medication and paying attention to breath is key to reducing excessive gas in these situations. Consuming foods and drinks that soothe the respiratory system can also be helpful.

3. Lactose intolerant people

Lactose intolerance is generally caused by a very sensitive digestive system – which is prone to excessive gas and gas build ups. Lactose is generally processed to become lactic acid, promoting intestinal movement. However, those with a sensitive gut will feel an aggressive build up, leading to symptoms such as pain, discomfort, and bleeding.

Foods such as ginger, pineapple, rice soup and barley porridge are all effective in expelling stomach gas, and are all lactose-free. Oily, salty and spicy foods are harsh on the digestive system and can be avoided to reduce discomfort and pain.

4. Individuals with a busy lifestyle

Busy lifestyles tend to lack structure in schedules and meals. Skipping or delaying meals, multitasking whilst eating or “eating on the go” all lead to our digestive system losing its rhythm, and may affect gut health in the long run. A regular meal schedule can help improve our digestive system not only by taking the time to eat and chew, but also by making sure enough nutrients are consumed.

5. Individuals with a lot of stress

Stress can lead to: increased nervousness, heart rate, blood pressure and muscle tension, which all contribute to slower bowel movement. Gas therefore remains in the bowels and leads to bloating. It is recommended that individuals under a lot of pressure take some time to focus on their mental wellbeing, such as taking a short walk or light exercises – which not only reduces stress but also improves digestive health.

6. The elderly and constipation prone individuals

Our digestive system tends to slow down with age, making excessive gas a common discomfort for the elderly. A simple regular meal schedule coupled with light exercise can work wonders on the digestive system, and is highly recommended. This is especially recommended for those who are retired and have more free time.

If individuals suffer from constipation, water, fibre and lighter foods are highly recommended to help ease the problem . Zucchini, tomatoes, carrots, eggplants and ginger are great ingredients to incorporate into a diet. A proper diet, along with a comprehensive care plan could help tackle long-term digestive problems.

Evercare's care professionals are highly trained to provide professional dietary and medical guidance for elderlies, learn more about how our private nursing and home care services can help your loved ones age comfortably.

Sources： Sky Post , kknews.cc (article 1) , kknews.cc (article 2)

【腹膜透析 v.s. 血液透析】邊個更好？所需時間、公立醫院費用、副作用

Thu, 10 Dec 2020 07:12:00 GMT

雖然腹膜透析和血液透析兩種治療方法都是洗腎，但兩者之間有很多分別。需時、收費、事前準備、方便程度、副作用等都成選擇用哪一中洗腎方式時重要的考慮因素。 Evercare可以在24小時內為你配對合適的護士協助腎病病人的個人衛生護理及生活輔助（包括餵食、扶抱、如廁、洗澡、換片)，如果需要上門護士協助，可以與我們聯絡。

Click here for the English version

顧名思義，腹膜透析和血液透析的分別在於它們用作透析治療的身體部位不同。腹膜透析（俗稱洗肚）利用人體的腹膜進行血液淨化，而血液透析（俗稱洗血）則是把血液抽出體外，以機器及人工腎臟進行血液淨化。

1. 腹膜透析和血液透析所需時間

血液透析所需時間
洗腎病人每次進行血液透析都要在診所或醫院坐上四小時，每星期要到醫院或洗腎中心三次。洗血病人要根據診所或醫院的時間表而調整自己的日程，期間無法正常上課或上班，時間上限制多，不及洗肚彈性。

腹膜透析所需時間
腹膜透析比血液透析就較方便。腹膜透析有兩種，分別為持續性非臥床腹膜透析 (CAPD)和家居機器輔助腹膜透析 (APD)，兩種都可以在家進行。洗腎病人進行CAPD時，需要人手換水。把洗肚水導入及排出各需要20-30分鐘。洗肚期間洗肚水會逗留在體內4-8小時，但是病人可以同時做其他事情。

APD就更加省時，洗腎病人只需要借助一台自動化的機器（簡稱洗肚機）在家中進行透析，此台機器與桌面電腦機硬盤大小相若。每晚睡前，洗腎病人將喉管接駁到洗肚機，它會按照預校的程式自動進行大約四至五次的腹膜透析步驟。洗肚過程主要在睡覺時進行，不會阻礙病人日間做自己想做的事。

2. 腹膜透析和血液透析收費

公立醫院費用
費用方面，根據醫管局網上資料顯示，公立醫院每次腹膜透析或血液透析療程劃一費用為港幣$96元，如果需要住院，要另付港幣$75元入院費，隨後每天住院收費港幣$120元。雖然公立醫院的腹膜透析和血液透析費用便宜，但由於需求殷切，很多洗腎病人都需要每週數次跨區接受治療。有見及此，醫院管理局（醫管局）推出「共析計劃」，與私營界別合資格的社區血液透析中心合作，利用公私營協作模式，增加血液透析服務名額，讓末期洗腎病人以公立醫院費用在社區中接受治療。

私家醫院和私家洗腎中心費用
相比公立醫院數百元的收費，私家醫院和私家洗腎中心的腹膜透析和血液透析費用頗為昂貴。如果洗肚病人希望在家洗腎，可以在私家洗腎中心租借或購買洗肚機。租借APD洗肚機費用可高達港幣$5000元一個月，但亦有機構提供免費租借計劃供低收入人士使用。根據媒體報導，購買一部APD機則需港幣$84000元。私家醫院血液透析服務每次收費最少港幣$1950元，還未包括醫生費、住院費等。加上每年港幣 $6000元到港幣$24000元的藥物洗費，總共收費難以估算。

以下我們整合了香港公立醫院、五間私家洗腎中心和五間私家醫院的洗腎療程收費，以供參考：

* 上述資料只供參考，洗腎中心和醫院保留一切更改或刪改以上價錢之權利，建議讀者致電醫院或中心取得最新資訊。

在家洗肚可以讓病人生活質素提升，病人一般都能正常生活，查看我們的上門護理收費詳情以了解醫療護理人員的收費。

3. 進行腹膜透析和血液透析的事前準備

洗肚和洗血的病人都要作充足的事前準備，這包括時間和膳食上的安排，還有手術，所以在開始進行洗腎前絕對要預留數個月的準備。

事前手術
進行腹膜透析前，洗腎病人要先進行腹膜透析導管（洗肚喉）植入手術，才能夠使用洗肚機。進行血液透析前，病人需做血管手術，醫生會在病人的手臂上做一條特別的動靜脈廔管，供洗血時刺穿。

膳食安排
洗肚病人面對的膳食限制不多。相反，洗血病人的限制就較多，一般會嚴格限制鉀，鹽分，蛋白質和水分的攝取。在開始洗腎前，病人應調整飲食習慣，以適應洗腎期間的限制。有需要的洗腎病人更可安排營養師上門做飲食評估，制定飲食餐單，以提升療程的成效。

4. 比較腹膜透析和血液透析的方便程度

腹膜透析和血液透析的另一分別在於它們的治療場所。腹膜透析可「攜帶式」、二十四小時進行。APD洗肚機更容許洗腎病人的家中進行腹膜透析，讓病人能夠在舒適的家中，在家人的陪同下接受治療。

血液透析則不同。由於洗血需用到的儀器不如洗肚機方便攜帶，所以更難在家洗血。因此，進行血液透析的病人則大多選擇在醫院或透析中心接受治療。

即便如此，今年越來越多人選擇家居洗血。病人可隔晚自行透過血液透析機在睡覺時洗血，每次需時6-8小時。因為在家洗血時間比在透析中心長，所以排毒更清，更徹底。在家洗血不影響病人日間活動，讓病人生活質素有所提升，還有研究顯示家居洗血的成效較醫院洗血高2.7倍，多方面為病人的身心健康帶來正面的影響。

如果你在決定腹膜透析或血液透析的選擇方面需要幫助，邀請你預約Evercare私家看護服務，讓我們的護士為你精心打造專屬你家庭的個人護理計劃。

5. 腹膜透析和血液透析的併發症或副作用

腹膜透析的副作用
最常見的併發症包括細菌感染引發的腹膜炎。其他的併發症包括導管出口發炎，出血、血糖過高、皮下導管發炎、導管阻塞或移位等。

洗腎病人也有機會因為洗肚機雜聲影響睡眠。

血液透析的副作用
洗腎病人要先注射防凝結劑，以免血液被抽出來時凝結，洗血完成後再中和。長期有機會令眼部血管變差。

每次洗腎需時四至五小時，期間血液透析機可能抽走二至三公升水，病人或會出現低血壓的症狀，影響心跳或出現心翳，對心血管造成負荷。

其他不常見但嚴重的併發症包括透析不平衡症候群、對人工腎及血透管路過敏反應、痙攣等。

參考資料：

醫管局長期血液透析治療須知

洗腎(血液或腹膜透析)─我該如何選擇呢？

明報 — 家中血液透析成效高2.7倍邊睡邊洗血重拾好生活

腎延敏行－積極面對慢性腎病

【洗肚知多D】有什麼步驟？何謂機洗、手洗？洗肚機、洗肚水點用？洗肚靠工人可靠嗎？

Tue, 08 Dec 2020 05:25:00 GMT

洗肚是腎衰竭病人洗腎的方法之一。現在洗肚機方便攜帶又容易使用，所以家居洗肚非常普遍。由於針對的身體部分既重要又脆弱，所以又很多注意事項照顧者需謹慎留意。如果需要上門護士協助， Evercare可以在24小時內為你配對合適的護士協助腎病病人的個人衛生護理及生活輔助（包括餵食、扶抱、如廁、洗澡、換片)，歡迎你隨時與我們聯絡。

Click here for the English version

腹膜透析，俗稱洗肚，是洗腎病人經常進行的一種治療。一般末期腎衰竭患者都會以洗肚為治療的核心，在輪候器官移植期間維持生命，或以洗肚作為永久腎臟替代治療方法。

腹膜透析主要有兩種模式，分別為持續性非臥床腹膜透析(CAPD)和全自動腹膜透析(APD)。兩者都可以在家中進行。使用CAPD的洗腎病人一般需要手動操作每天洗肚三至四次，所以我們慣常稱之為「手洗」；使用APD的洗腎病人則可在晚上睡覺時開動洗肚機讓程式自動重複洗肚步驟四至五次，我們稱之為「機洗」。開始洗肚療程前，洗腎病人要先進行腹膜透析導管（洗肚喉）植入手術，才能使用洗肚機。

1. 在家洗肚的步驟是什麼？

洗肚前：
病人或照顧者需要用酒精消毒周邊環境，確保潔淨無塵，並徹底清潔雙手。其後，病人或照顧者要整理洗肚工具及檢查洗肚水，用手壓一壓，確保包裝沒有滲漏。

洗肚時：
使用CAPD的洗腎病人每次要先經洗肚喉導入兩公升洗肚水（實際容量視乎用者的體型和腹腔大小），過程大約需時 20-30 分鐘。洗肚水在日間每次可以逗留在腹內四至八小時，夜間可逗留長達十小時。高濃度含糖的洗肚水會把腹膜微血管內的廢物和多餘水分引入腹腔內，然後由膠導管把液體及廢物一併排出體外。期間，使用者可以正常活動，一般都不會感受到痛楚。每次洗肚完結都要把洗肚水排出，過程需時20-30分鐘。

如果洗腎病人使用的是APD洗肚機，洗肚可在晚上進行，病人只要睡醒後把洗肚喉和洗肚機分開便可。APD洗肚亦分為連續性循環機器輔助腹膜透析(CCPD)和每晚間歇式腹膜透析(NIPD)。它們的性質分別不大，唯一分別在於 CCPD使用者在日間會有大概一至兩公升洗肚水留在腹中繼續進行透析，相反NIPD使用者日間不會有把洗肚水留在腹腔內。

留意，使用的傳統葡萄糖的洗肚水時，洗肚水停留在腹腔的時間應不少於四小時，否則洗肚水未能完全發揮作用；同時不可多於十小時，否則洗肚水的透析效應已完全耗盡，脫水效能相對會抵消，更可能導致病人身體積水。另外，照顧者亦應留意洗肚水的葡萄糖濃度。醫生會因應洗腎病人的水分平衡和腹膜的特性，選擇不同濃度的洗肚水，葡萄糖的濃度愈高，脫水量愈多。含最高濃度 (4.25%) 糖分的洗肚水超濾能力雖強，但不宜長期或胡亂使用，應跟從醫生的特別指示。

洗肚後：
完成整個過程後，記得要檢查液體的狀況。一旦發現洗肚水混濁，可能是腹膜炎的徵兆，最好就諮詢醫生意見。

注意事項：
高濃度洗肚水含糖高，故洗腎病人有可能的血糖有可能會因而升高，故需要配合針藥控制血糖。另外，由於吸收大量糖分，故病人會容易有飽肚感覺。然而，病人不要因為飽肚而減少進食量，因為營養不足夠會影響病情控制。

怕自己洗肚風險高?

Evercare 的專業腎科護士皆得到醫管局認可，有多年醫院照顧腎科病人的經驗，可上門提供指導和洗肚支援。

立即預約上門護理服務或致電 3905 4000 查詢。

2. 洗肚有什麼副作用或併發症？

洗肚的副作用種類多，包括低血壓、皮膚搔癢、長期疲倦和睡眠障礙。洗肚的主要併發症是腹膜炎，起因為細菌通過洗肚管出口處進入腹部。如果病人的洗肚水變得混濁、發燒，或腹部疼痛，可能是腹膜炎的徵兆，應盡快求醫並開始治療。治療一般會使用到口服藥，過程多於14天，無須住院。

要避免腹膜炎，洗腎病人需要嚴格遵守更換洗肚水的步驟，時刻保持衛生。開始前和換洗肚水時，洗腎病人或家人要徹底清潔雙手，確保環境潔淨無塵。如有需要，可以先關上門窗和冷氣。換洗肚水的過程中，洗腎病人或家人必須戴上口罩，防止口鼻的細菌進入導管和腹腔。

3. 外傭能夠可靠地幫忙洗肚嗎？

由於洗肚是依靠佈滿微血管的腹膜作治療之用，洗肚的時候需特別謹慎。所有照顧者或洗腎病人都需要受過腎科護士指導和訓練才能夠正確使用洗肚的各種儀器。如果病人因視力欠佳或行動不便而沒辦法自行洗肚，最好的照顧者選擇就是上門護士。如果病人有其他腎衰竭以外的病，洗肚有可能對他們的身體狀況有不同的影響，難以預測。就算外傭學懂洗肚的程序，他們仍缺乏其他醫療知識，在突發程況中不懂應變。如果家屬不熟悉洗肚的步驟，最好聘請專業腎科護士上門協助洗肚。

4. 在家洗肚有什麼好處？

在家洗肚可以讓病人生活質素提升，病人一般都能正常生活，不用舟車勞頓時常來回醫院和住處，更不用長期住院。在家洗肚的方便減少治療對病人身心的負擔，舒緩長期疲倦和睡眠障礙等副作用，看看我們的私家看護及居家護理服務收費詳情，作精明的選擇。只要家中有一套嚴謹的防感染措施，在家中洗肚比在醫院共用洗肚機更清潔衛生，有效降低交叉感染的可能。上門腎科護士熟悉醫院的防感染措施，懂得造口護理、醫療廢物的處理，確保洗肚的環境整潔，給家屬和洗腎病人多一份安心、信心。

參考資料： Mammoth Memory , 腎延敏行－積極面對慢性腎病

Peritoneal Dialysis vs. Haemodialysis: Compare Price, Convenience and Complications

Tue, 08 Dec 2020 04:26:00 GMT

While both peritoneal dialysis and haemodialysis are options for kidney disease, they are very different from each other. Time, cost, preparation, convenience and side effects are all factors you to consider when choosing between the two. If your family member requires professional at-home support, please feel free to contact us so that we can find you a professional nurse within 24 hours to assist with dialysis set up and guidance.

點擊此處閱讀中文版本

The fundamental difference between peritoneal dialysis (PD) and haemodialysis (HD) is the part of the body they target in treatment. PD uses the peritoneum as a filter to extract excess waste and water from the blood, whereas HD directly extracts blood from the body, then filters and cleans it in a machine called the dialyser.

A comparison of both types of treatments has been made below, to help you make a decision on the right treatment for you.

1. How much time does dialysis take?

2. How much does dialysis cost?

3. What preparation is needed before I start dialysis?

4. How convenient is dialysis?

5. What are the possible complications of dialysis?

1. How much time does dialysis take?

Haemodialysis
Haemodialysis is administered in a clinic or hospital. Each session takes approximately four hours, three times a week. There is less flexibility in terms of scheduling because patients need to work around the clinic’s schedule. During the session, the patient is machine-bound and unable to tend to regular activities of daily life.

Peritoneal Dialysis
Peritoneal Dialysis is much more convenient and flexible than HD. There are two types of PD: Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD) and Automated Peritoneal Dialysis (APD). Both can be administered at home. When patients undergo CAPD, they need to deliver and drain dialysate in and out of their abdominal cavity manually, whereas this dialysate exchange is done automatically in APD while the patient is asleep.

For CAPD each round of dialysate exchange takes 20-30 minutes, and the dialysate remains in the abdominal cavity for around 4-8 hours. During this time, the patient is able to go about their daily lives. For APD, four to five rounds of dialysis exchange is done automatically throughout the night by an APD machine, so the patient can go to work or school as normal in the day as well. The only procedure needed for both CAPD and APD is connecting the machine to the PD catheter before bed\ and separating the machine from the catheter when waking up, taking up a total of 40-50 minutes.

2. How much does dialysis cost?

Government-subsidised healthcare costs
According to the Hospital Authority (HA) website, public hospitals provide PD or HD treatment at a rate of $96 per session. If the patient needs an overnight hospital stay, an extra $75 will be charged, and the subsequent hospital stay fee is $120 per day. Although public hospital treatment fees are significantly cheaper than private services, the demand for these services are extremely high and many patients need to travel across districts multiple times each week because of a lack of PD or HD quota near them. In response, the HA has launched the Haemodialysis Public-Private Partnership Programme to increase the quota for haemodialysis services, allowing patients to benefit from community-level clinical services at public hospital prices.

Private hospital and clinic costs
If a patient wishes to do dialysis at home, they can rent or purchase their own dialysis machine. Purchasing an APD machine can cost up to $84000, but some organisations do lend out machines to low-income patients for free. Private hospitals provide haemodialysis for no less than $1950 per session, not including doctor’s consultation fee, hospital stay fee and more. Private patients also spend anywhere between $6000 and $24000 per year on medication .

The following are a few examples of public hospital, private clinic and private hospital fees for dialysis for your reference:

* The above information is only for reference, all dialysis centres and hospitals may change their pricing at any time, and it is recommended that you call these service providers for their latest pricing information.

Home dialysis can improve the quality of life and overall well being of patients. Learn more about Evercare's home care services and our nurses' hourly rates to learn more about how our health professionals we can provide dialysis support at home.

3. What preparation is needed before I start dialysis?

Preparation for Peritoneal Dialysis and Haemodialysis

Both PD and HD require a high degree of preparation before starting the first session. This includes scheduling, dietary restrictions and surgery. Preparations can take a few months.

Pre-dialysis surgery
Before starting PD and HD, patients must undergo a catheter placement surgery or a vascular access surgery. The latter involves a surgically created vein on the arm that is later used to remove and return blood during haemodialysis.

Dietary arrangements
There are few dietary restrictions for PD patients, but many more for HD patients. Strict restrictions are placed on potassium, salt, protein and water intake. It is highly recommended that new dietary restrictions are set in place before dialysis begins, to reduce the shock of undergoing treatment. Dialysis patients may consult dieticians for an in-home diet assessment, which allows a bespoke meal plan to be made depending on preferences, schedules and lifestyle.

4. How convenient is dialysis?

One of the most obvious differences between PD and HD is the location of treatment. PD machines are portable and administered within 24 hours. APD machines allow patients undergo dialysis in the comfort of their own home, and presence of family members.

HD involves a large dialyser and is therefore not as mobile as PD. It is much more difficult for HD to happen at home, so most patients who choose HD use hospital and clinical facilities for treatment.

However, recent developments have allowed for an increase in people choosing at-home HD. Patients can now rent or purchase dialysers to perform HD at home in their sleep. Because the duration of HD is longer at home than in clinics, the dialysis is more thorough and blood is cleaned better. Patients do not have to worry about HD interfering with their activities in the day, increasing their quality of life. Studies have shown that at-home HD is 2.7 times more effective than centre-based HD, as it impacts patients positively in physical as well as mental health.

5. What are the possible complications of dialysis?

Haemodialysis
HD patients must first inject an anticoagulant before starting a session to prevent the blood being extracted from solidifying during dialysis. Using anticoagulant for an extended period of time may lead to degeneration of blood vessels in the eyes.

Every session of HD lasts four to five hours, during which the dialyser may extract two to three litres of water. This may lead to low blood pressure and affect heart rate, causing burden to the heart.

Other rare but severe complications include dialysis dysequilibrium syndrome, allergic reaction to the dialyser and vascular access and cramps.

Peritoneal Dialysis
One of the most common complications of PD is peritoneal infection, which happens when bacteria enters the abdominal cavity through the PD catheter. Other complications bleeding, high blood sugar and various issues relating to catheter placement.

PD patients’ sleep may also be affected by the noise from their PD machine.

We hope our article helps you make a decision on the options of HD or PD. If you have any questions, consult your doctor or contact us to hire a registered nurse to help build a care plan and set up dialysis at home.

Sources: Hospital Authority , Mackay Memorial Hospital , Mingpao , The Chinese University of Hong Kong , Mammoth Memory

Peritoneal Dialysis at Home: Procedures, Options and Complications to Consider

Tue, 08 Dec 2020 04:05:00 GMT

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is one way for patients with kidney failure to substitute the function of a kidney. PD machines are easy to carry and use, making PD at home a popular choice of treatment among patients. Because kidneys are fragile, it is important for caregivers to take great care and caution when assisting patients with PD treatments.

點擊此處閱讀中文版本

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a common treatment for patients with renal failure. Most patients go through PD whilst waiting for a kidney donation, or as a permanent kidney substitution. With PD, waste, excess salt and water are filtered through a membrane in the abdomen called the peritoneum and drained out using a dialysate, which is an electrolyte solution that is introduced into the body to help clean waste.

There are two main types of peritoneal dialysis, namely continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and automated peritoneal dialysis (APD). Both can be done at home. Patients using CAPD must drain their dialysate manually three to four times a day. On the other hand, those using APD only have to set up the APD machine before going to bed, and the machine will automatically perform PD exchanges 4-5 times throughout the night. Before commencing PD treatment, patients should first undergo PD catheter placement surgery, in order to connect their kidneys to the external PD machine.

1. What are the steps to at-home peritoneal dialysis?

2. What are some side effects and complications that might arise from peritoneal dialysis?

3. Are domestic helpers able to reliably help with PD?

4. What are the benefits of at-home PD?

1. What are the steps to at-home peritoneal dialysis?

Before PD:
Patients or caregivers should first sanitise their surroundings with alcohol and wash their hands to ensure proper hygiene. PD equipment and dialysate should also be checked and maintained. Make sure to lightly press the packet of dialysate before using, to ensure that there are no leakages.

During PD:

Every time a patient undergoes CAPD, they have to first fill up their abdominal cavity with around two litres of dialysate through their PD catheter (actual volume of dialysate will depend on the capacity of the patient’s abdominal cavity). This process will last around 20 to 30 minutes. Dialysate can remain in the abdominal cavity for 4 to 8 hours a day, and up to 10 hours at night. Patients should not feel any discomfort during CAPD, and should be able to perform normal daily activities. Dialysate has to be drained out manually after one cycle of CAPD, with the drainage process lasting 20 to 30 minutes.

If the patient has opted for APD, treatment can happen at night. All the patient needs to do is remove the APD machine from their catheter when they wake up in the morning. APD is further divided into two types: Continuous Cyclic Peritoneal Dialysis (CCPD) and Nightly Intermittent Peritoneal Dialysis (NIPD). Their only difference lies in whether or not the dialysate remains in the abdominal cavity in order for PD to continue throughout the day.

Note that typically glucose dialysate should not remain in the abdominal cavity for less than 4 hours, as it requires that amount of time for its treatment effects to occur. It should also not remain in the abdominal cavity for more than 10 hours, as the effects of PD would have been fully exhausted by that time. Moreover, the dehydration effects would be offset, causing excess water build up. In addition, caregivers should pay attention to the glucose concentration of the dialysate. Doctors will choose dialysate with different levels of concentration based on the patient’s fluid balance and the physiological properties of their peritoneum. The higher the concentration, the greater the rate of dehydration. The highest level of glucose concentration available (4.25%) has effective filtration abilities, but should not be used extensively or improperly. The doctor’s instructions must also be followed in great detail.

After PD:
Be sure to check the condition of the dialysate after drainage. If the dialysate appears murky, it could be a sign of peritoneal infection, in which case the patient should consult a doctor immediately.

Things to note:
Highly concentrated dialysate has a high sugar content which might raise the blood sugar levels of the patient, and should therefore be accompanied by insulin injections to control blood sugar levels. Moreover, sugar in dialysate may lead patients to feel full even when they have not eaten much. It is important for patients to eat enough even if they do not feel hungry, so they do not lack the necessary nutrients for building immunity and disease control.

2. What are some side effects and complications that might arise from peritoneal dialysis ?

PD leads to a wide variety of side effects, including low blood pressure, skin irritation, fatigue and sleep problems. The main complication of PD is peritoneal infection, which happens when bacteria enters the abdominal cavity through the PD catheter. Murky dialysate drainage, fever and abdominal pain are all possible symptoms of peritoneal infection, and patients should consult a doctor if they display these symptoms. Treatment for peritoneal infection involves oral medication and lasts over 14 days, and does not require hospital stay.

In order to prevent peritoneal infection, patients must follow a strict procedure when it comes to the PD exchange, and ensure everything is clean and sterile. Washing hands and cleaning surroundings before a PD session is key. If needed, caregivers of patients may close doors and windows and turn off the air conditioner. The patient and caregiver should wear a mask whilst performing a PD exchange to prevent bacteria entering their systems.

3. Are domestic helpers able to reliably help with peritoneal dialysis?

Because of the capillaries all around the peritoneum, it is a particularly delicate part of the body and should be treated with caution. All caregivers and PD patients must undergo training by a renal specialist nurse before they can properly use various PD equipment.

If the patient is unable to self-administer PD due to impaired eyesight or limited mobility, the best choice of caregiver for them is an in-house nurse. This is because PD can affect the patient’s physical condition in different ways, and there are even more things to consider if the patient has other conditions and illnesses. This makes the treatment process an unpredictable one. Even if a domestic helper has learned how to administer PD, they lack the medical knowledge to react and adapt in an emergency situation.

4. What are the benefits of at-home peritoneal dialysis?

Administering PD in the comfort of the patient’s home may allow their quality of life to improve. Patients undergoing PD at home are usually able to go about their daily lives as normal, with many having regular jobs and going to school.

They do not have to travel to hospitals or clinics a few times per week, nor do they have to stay in the hospital long-term. This can minimise the burden on the patient’s body, and ease PD side effects such as fatigue and sleep problems.

As long as a strict sanitation arrangement is in place, PD at home can be significantly more hygienic than PD at a clinic or hospital. The risk of cross-infection is lowered by less exposure to other people and there is no need to share equipment with others. Hospitals are currently high-risk areas for COVID-19 transmissions, therefore PD at home is the safest option now more than ever.

Source: Mammoth Memory , 腎延敏行－積極面對慢性腎病

【驗血糖】糖尿病人必看：正常血糖度數、異常狀況、「篤手指」注意事項

Mon, 30 Nov 2020 06:54:00 GMT

很多糖尿病人都需要定期「篤手指」驗血糖。不過，你檢測的血糖讀數真的準確嗎？你又是否清楚驗血糖的正確技巧、檢測時間和注意事項？在此，我們整合了一個懶人包，解答在家驗血糖的常見問題，協助你和你的家人妥善管理糖尿病。如果家人需要上門護士協助， Evercare可以在24小時內為你配對合適的護理人員提供傷口護理或注射胰島素，歡迎你隨時與我們聯絡。

Click here for the English version

無論你是剛被診斷出糖尿病的新「糖友」、長期糖尿病患者、或是天生患有第一型糖尿病，你都必定需要「篤手指」驗血糖。「篤手指」聽起來簡單，但其實有很多細節需要注意，否則血糖值可能會有差誤，嚴重甚至有機會延緩治療。到底該用哪隻手指採血？應該何時驗血糖？閱讀文章，了解正確的血糖閱讀方式、驗血糖的事前功夫和步驟、如何選擇血糖機。

1. 哪些人最需要驗血糖？

2. 為什麼要測量血糖指數？

3. 何謂正常血糖度數？多少才算高血糖、低血糖？

8. 血糖測試和尿糖測試，哪個更好，更準確？

9. 如果怕「篤手指」痛，還有什麼方法可以監測血糖指數？

10. 血糖機和連續式血糖監測儀，兩者之間有何分別？

1. 哪些人最需要驗血糖？

醫生一般建議45歲或以上人士要定期檢驗血糖。如果你天生患有第一型糖尿病，或者你家族有糖尿病史、又或者你自己本身有高血壓、超重（BMI超過25 kg/m2）等問題，你也應該驗血糖。

如果你家裏有長者，就更需要定期為他們驗血糖。有研究發現，患有糖尿病的長者患上阿茲海默症 (Alzheimer’s disease) 和血管性認知障礙症 (vascular dementia) 的風險比沒有患糖尿病的長者分別高出1.5倍和2.5倍。

另外，如果你發現自己有以下糖尿病症狀：食慾增加、尿頻、經常口渴、體重不正常下降、視力模糊、傷口癒合減慢、皮膚搔癢等，就應該及早求醫，問問醫生你是否也需要定期驗血糖並聘請Evercare護士為你提供專業營養指導。

2. 為什麼要測量血糖指數？

用驗血糖機量度血糖指數，你可以確保你的血糖不會超出目標範圍(target range)。要知道每個人的血糖的目標範圍有別，年齡、飲食、基因等因素都會影響一個人的目標範圍。如果你想知道自己的目標範圍，你可以先諮詢醫生。

居家護理怎樣幫到你：

糖尿病患者可能會引發併發症如眼疾、腎病或四肢潰瘍，Evercare可以提供專業的護士護理(例如: 傷口處理、注射胰島素)，為糖尿病患者及其家人減輕負擔。我們更提供營養師諮詢服務，由營養師提供專業營養指導，與照顧者共同制定飲食計劃以穩定患者的血糖度數。預約上門護理服務或致電 3905 4000 查詢。

3. 何謂正常血糖度數？多少才算高血糖、低血糖？

根據英國糖尿病網站 diabetes.co.uk，一般人的空腹血糖指數為 4.0 – 5.4 mmol/L（72 to 99 mg/dL)。餐後兩小時的正常血糖度數最高可升至 7.8 mmol/L (140 mg/dL)。

如果你是糖尿病患者，你可以參考以下血糖目標範圍：

低血糖 (Hypoglycaemia) 是指成年人空腹血糖濃度低於 4.0 mmol/L，糖尿病患者空腹血糖值低於4.0 mmol/L。低血糖的症狀通常包括頭暈、顫抖、出汗等，嚴重者甚至會出現精神錯亂和昏迷，反覆發作會導致腦部受到永久性的損傷。

相反，高血糖 (Hyperglycaemia) 是指成年人空腹血糖濃度高於 5.4 mmol/L，糖尿病患者空腹血糖值高於7.0 mmol/L。長期高血糖可導致多種併發症，除了為人所熟知的中風、心臟病、高血壓等心血管病變之外，還可導致神經受損、視力問題、腎病等疾病。

通過檢驗血糖水平，您可以及早發現問題並尋求治療，從而降低患上相關併發症的風險。以下是英國糖尿病學會為成年第一型/第二型糖尿病患者提供的血糖指數表，以供參考：

4. 驗血糖有什麼步驟?

血糖測試的作用在於它能快速顯示你血液中的血葡萄糖含量。檢測血糖前，你需要準備以下工具：血糖機、試紙片、採血筆、採血針、酒精棉片、針頭收集筒。

接著，你可以跟從以下步驟驗血糖：

開啟血糖機，取出試紙片並插入血糖機。
採血筆裝上採血針。
先用酒精消毒採血部位，待風乾後再採血，以免影響之後血糖值的準確度。
採血筆貼緊手指末端外側，穿刺採血部位。
扎針後，擠出適量血量滴入試紙片上，等待血糖機讀出血糖值。一般血糖機可以在5秒內顯示你的血糖指數。
紀錄數據。
依照處方給予降血糖藥物或胰島素。

如果需要專業的護理人員為你驗血糖或注射胰島素，請參閱我們的居家護理收費詳情以選擇最適合的護理人員。

5. 在家驗血糖時有什麼注意事項？

不同的血糖檢測儀用法各異，所以使用驗血糖機前，請細閱生產商提供的使用守則。
使用任何血糖測試工具前，請先檢查工具是否過期。
檢驗血糖前，應先清洗和抹乾雙手，避免血糖的讀數受外來污染物（如殘留在指頭上的食物）影響。
切勿與他人共用針頭，以免交叉感染。
應在手指的側面採血，因為指尖較敏感，比手指其他部位更容易感到疼痛。
為減少「篤手指」對日常生活的影響，糖尿病患者應避免在拇指和食指這兩根平日經常使用的手指上採血。
宜經常轉換採血的手指，以避免細菌感染或癒傷組織堆積而形成繭。
穿刺手指後，如未能取得足夠的血液，可以下垂雙手，讓血液流到指頭。
每次驗血糖，都應更換新的採血針。

免費下載營養師設計控糖飲食指南，輕鬆達到減糖目標！

6. 糖尿病患者，一天該測量血糖多少次？

根據衞生署衛生防護中心的指引，血糖受控時，你需要每星期 2 – 4 次，分別在日間不同時間（如睡前、飯後）測量血糖。如果你有以下情況，你需要更頻密地驗血糖，直到血糖受控：

血糖經常過高或者過低
正在懷孕，或準備懷孕
生病
生活習慣改變，尤其出國旅行時、運動量增加、飲食模式改變等

7. 甚麼因素會影響你的血糖指數？

檢測時間是影響血糖讀數的一個重要的因素。糖尿病患者應避免在進食後或運動後立即檢驗血糖。

患者應在飯後兩小時檢驗血糖，時間要從第一口飯開始計算（建議將用膳時間控制在30分鐘內）。我們之所以要等兩小時才可以檢驗血糖，是因為體內血糖指數會因食物改變。一般人用餐後2小時，血糖就會恢復正常。如果2小時後，你的血糖還是超出理想範圍，你就要加倍留意，並諮詢醫生意見，看看是否有需要調整用藥量、飲食習慣等。

另外，運動後，您的血糖水平可能會跌至低於正常水平，這因素都可能左右你的血糖讀數結果。

其他會影響血糖檢測結果的因素包括疾病、荷爾蒙變化（尤其是受月經週期影響）、壓力，和生活習慣改變（飲食、更改用藥後、運動量改變等）。

8. 血糖測試和尿糖測試，哪個更好，更準確？

參考衛生防護中心的資料，血糖測試比尿糖測試更能準確反映你的血糖指數。與指尖血糖測試相比，尿糖測試的局限在於它無法顯示血糖過低的情況。而且，在正常情況下，尿液是不會含有糖份的。只有當血糖水平超過 10mmoI/L ，我們才可以在尿液中驗出糖份。因此，如果血糖低於10.0mmol/L，尿糖測試是無法有效地反映你體內血糖指數。

另外，年紀和藥物，如維生素C、阿司匹林等，都能影響尿糖的準確性，所以驗尿糖只能反映病情的變化，而不能反映真正血糖水平。

9. 如果怕「篤手指」痛，還有什麼方法可以監測血糖指數？

隨著科技發展，近年科學家努力研發可靠而非侵入性的血糖檢測方法，以減少「篤手指」的需要。新面世的血糖科技產品包括 Freestyle Libre 推出的葡萄糖感應器，和 Dexcom 研發的連續式血糖監測儀 (CGM)。話雖如此，患者仍需要用傳統「篤手指」的方式，校准相關的產品。

10. 血糖機和連續式血糖監測儀，兩者之間有何分別？

連續式血糖監測儀是一個可穿戴的裝置，用來持續監測一日的血糖變化。相反，血糖機只可以檢測到一個特定時間你的血糖水平。

如何選擇適合的血糖機？

選擇血糖機前，應該先諮詢醫生的意見。此外，你也應考慮以下因素：

價錢
保險保障
血糖機讀數的準確程度
血糖機的使用容易程度

權衡各方後，你定可以找到適合自己和家人的血糖機。

連續式血糖監測儀能夠透過安裝在皮膚上的傳感器（需定期更換）收集數據，每隔數分鐘測量一次血糖水平。現在市面上已推出防水連續式血糖監測儀，即使患者身上有傳感器，仍然可以淋浴，游泳或運動。使用CGM可以減少「篤手指」的需要，但是如果你的症狀與系統讀數不符，你需要用血糖機再準確測試一次。如果你懷有身孕，或需要進行透析，或患有重病，使用CGM都應先諮詢醫生建議，因為這些情況可能會影響CGM的血糖讀數。

文章裡的資訊並無法取代專業醫生的建議、診斷或治療。如有任何疑問，最好先向醫生查詢。

【在家支援癌症病人】家屬如何照顧癌症病人？附送居家癌症護理指南

Thu, 26 Nov 2020 01:00:00 GMT

癌症病人的日常圍繞著病痛和治療。確診患上癌症為他們的生活帶來翻天覆地的改變。作為照顧者，我們妥善的照顧可加快癌症病人的復原速度。在此文章，我們整合了一個簡單在家支援癌症病人的照顧指南，望能助你和你家人渡過難關。

「我想回家。」相信這是每位癌症病人的夢想。話雖如此，在家支援癌症病人對照顧者來說亦並非易事。家屬應及早制定周詳的療養計劃，扶助癌症病人在家做好日常療養和護理，如盥洗、按摩和護理傷口等，提升病人的生理質素，有助對抗癌症，延長癌症病患壽命。參考以下四步曲，從衣食住行四個方面給予癌症病人最妥善貼心的照顧。

免費下載居家癌症護理指南

衣

衣服最重要是合身。經歷治療後的癌症病人通常體重會大幅下降。家屬可以為他們修改衣服或購置新的衣服。由於癌症治療對皮膚產生副作用，令皮膚變得脆弱易損。購買透氣、柔軟，而且不太緊身的衣服可以好好呵護皮膚。稱身的衣服感覺與醫院的病袍截然不同，能幫助癌症病人增加自信兼提起精神。手術後，癌症病人需要定時清洗傷口，家屬應根據醫生的指示做好消毒、換繃帶、換傷口敷料等步驟，以免傷口發炎並引起併發症。

食

治療方案應配合個人化的餐單，確保癌症病人能夠攝取充足的營養。

一般癌症病人完成化療後胃口會減少。家屬採取少吃多餐的做法，以五至六小餐，代替早午晚三餐。另外，家屬可以在家準備一些代餐飲品，因為他們比固體食物更易入口。在選擇食材時，家屬需考慮到癌症病人的膳食需要，例如需要戒食的食物，選擇較清淡的材料。此外，癌症病人應注意補充水份。家屬可以多提醒癌症病人喝水，並在家中不同位置放置水瓶，方便癌症病人有需要時解喝。

Evercare的癌症護理服務強調對癌症病人整體健康的支援。從居家照顧服務，到24小時癌症看護，我們的服務一應俱備，希望能消除病人從醫院治療過渡到家中療養的壓力。

住

洗澡對癌症病人來說有很多注意事項。水溫不宜太熱或太冷。洗澡後，家屬應溫柔地為病人抹身，並塗上不太刺激的潤膚膏，針對癌症治療後乾燥又脆弱的皮膚。如果治療使癌症病人脫髮，他們的頭皮會比較敏感，所以應該採用較柔和的洗髮水和軟齒梳。

另外，牙齒保健方面也有注意事項。為避免牙齒發炎，癌症病人完成化療後一定要刷牙。家屬可在家中購置毛刷比較軟的牙刷跟梳，並應選擇較天然的牙膏，而非具刺激性、有美白效果的牙膏。市面上很多嗽口水含大量化學成分，可能會對癌症病人有害。醫生會似乎情況，建議癌症病人使用蘇打粉和水混合而成的嗽口水，或者使用化療後專用的嗽口水。

基本梳洗步驟當然要做好，但還有其他事情照顧者可能會忽略。無論是為爸爸剃鬚還是為媽媽化妝，這些看似多餘的動作都能使足不出戶的他們更精神，提高他們的自信心。

行

長期臥床的癌症病人需定時做運動伸展。與癌症病人散步有助處理治療為他們帶來的身心疲倦以及睡眠問題。如果活動能力或範圍有限，癌症病人亦可根據醫生或物理治療師的建議在家做些簡單的動作。

保持正常社交活動對癌症病人的心理健康都非常重要。照顧者為病人安排較為輕鬆的社交活動，如帶他們探望朋友、到公園晨運等。另外，照顧者與癌症病人一同聽音樂、閱讀，甚至做簡單呼吸訓練減壓。

除此之外，準時及適當地服藥也是康復治療的關鍵。若能配合治療方案，藥物就更有效治療癌症，同時亦針對癌症治療的各種副作用和併發症。

免費下載居家癌症護理指南

做好晚期癌症舒緩治療

癌症治療之路漫長而崎嶇，妥善的晚期癌症療養亦是邁向康復的重要一環。除了醫院外，香港現時設有不少備受專業認可的癌症機構，向末期癌症病患及其家屬提供專業資訊和支援，例如香港癌症基金會和香港防癌會，從更多途徑入手，為癌症照顧者帶來不同的資訊、幫助和支持。更多癌症病患支援的資訊可參考香港癌症基金會的小冊子 — 《如何應付系列 · 應付癌症》

不論處於癌症治療的哪個階段， Evercare的保健員及腫瘤科護士都在此支援你的至親，助病人應對任何副作用或不適的狀況。

適時尋找幫助

多項研究指出，癌症病人的心理質素和治療效果有正面關係，不容忽視。在罹癌的逆境中，患者在治療期間身心皆承受龐大的壓力和痛苦，陪伴在身邊的家人也不例外。為了能夠在這漫長的抗爭中陪伴在患者左右，加予鼓勵，家屬亦應注意個人身心健康，積極調適。畢竟，無人能夠長時間在艱難的環境下獨力面對，必要時需主動尋求支持和協助。

晨曦居家護理復康保健服務（Evercare）一直關注癌症病人的支援。Evercare的癌症護理團隊除了在手術後及治療期間提供專業的癌症專科護理外，更提供陪伴護理及職業治療等非醫療協助，務求透過全方位的照顧，讓患者及其家屬能以健康的身心在抗癌路上攜手同行，對抗癌症。

參考資料： WebMD ，《如何應付系列 · 應付癌症》

What You Need to Know About the Hong Kong-Singapore Travel Bubble (Latest updates made on 27/11/2020)

Mon, 23 Nov 2020 06:13:00 GMT

On 11th November, the HKSAR government confirmed the details of the Hong Kong-Singapore travel bubble scheme. Read our summary here to find out how you can travel, what type of testing is required and how to participate in the scheme as quickly as possible.

點擊此處閱讀中文版本

1. What is a travel bubble?

2. Am I eligible to participate in the travel bubble programme?

3. What do I have to prepare before using the travel bubble?

4. How will the Hong Kong-Singapore travel bubble run and what are its COVID-19 testing requirements?

5. When will the travel bubble be implemented?

6. What is the difference between a travel bubble and a travel corridor?

7. Latest Updates

1. What is a travel bubble?

A travel bubble involves two or more countries agreeing to open their borders for each other to allow air, sea and / or land travel. The arrangement exempts travellers from a mandatory 14-day quarantine, but is done so on the grounds of good public health and mutual agreements. This exemption is not to be made with any other country in the aim of lowering the international spread of COVID-19 and special travel arrangements are made for passengers within the travel bubble areas.

2. Am I eligible to participate in the travel bubble programme?

Regardless of nationality, anyone who is currently in Singapore or Hong Kong travel within the bubble. Eligible participants must:

not have visited any country other than Singapore and Hong Kong in the 14 days prior to departure
test for COVID-19 within a government accredited lab within 72 hours before the flight
receive a negative result for their test
arrive at their destination via flights set only for the travel bubble

3. What do I have to prepare before using the travel bubble?

Travellers using the travel bubble have to prepare the following documents in advance to ensure smooth and efficient travel:

Visa (if needed): Travellers should make sure they have enough time to apply for the visa they need and ultimately meet all visa requirements.
Air Travel Pass: All travellers who are not Singaporean citizens, permanent residents or holders of the long term pass are required to present an Air Travel Pass, which can be applied for 7-30 days before departure.
Negative PCR Test Result: Travellers must show a negative result for a COVID-19 PCR test that is accredited by both governments. The test should be done within 72 hours before the flight and travellers must bring the lab report with them to the airport. Click here to get your test now.
TraceTogether Smartphone App: Travellers must download the TraceTogether app before their flight so they can use it immediately when they land. The app functions on Bluetooth only and helps track who you have been in contact or in close proximity with.
SG Arrival Card: Travellers should complete and submit the digital SG Arrival Card online 3 days before departure.

4. How will the Hong Kong-Singapore travel bubble run and what are its COVID-19 testing requirements?

Special flight arrangements:

Travellers using the travel bubble may use flights operated by Cathay Pacific or Singapore Airlines that have been specifically set for this programme. These flights only fly between Hong Kong and Singapore to meet the requirements of the travel bubble.

From 22nd November to 6th December, the government will arrange two flights going from Hong Kong to Singapore and vice versa per day, with each flight carrying 200 passengers. From 7th December onwards, the aim is to increase the route to four flights a day, totaling to 800 passengers per day. After landing in Singapore, all travellers should open the TraceTogether app on their smartphones to ensure efficient and effective tracing of COVID-19 cases.

COVID-19 PCR Testing Requirements:

When travelling between the two countries, travellers must do a government-accredited PCR test 72 hours before flying, and be able to show a negative result. Click here to get your test now. If a traveller is flying from Hong Kong to Singapore, there is no need for them to do another test when they land. However, those flying from Singapore to Hong Kong will have to do a COVID-19 test at the airport and wait for results before they can leave.

Those returning to Hong Kong from Singapore must complete the Department of Health’s “Health & Quarantine Information Declaration” and save the QR code given at the end of the form for use at the Hong Kong airport. Returning Hong Kong people will also have to book a PCR test in advance and pass through the dedicated channel for travel bubble users to get to the testing station. They will be allowed to leave the airport once a negative test result is confirmed.

5. When will the travel bubble be implemented?

The Hong Kong-Singapore travel bubble scheme is confirmed to start on the 22nd November, 2020.

Whether the scheme will continue to run is subject to constant review. If untraceable cases in Hong Kong or Singapore reach a 7-day average of over 5 cases, then the travel bubble will be suspended 2 days later, and the suspension will last 2 weeks. If the average untraceable daily cases return to the level of below 5 by the end of the 2 weeks, then the travel bubble arrangement may resume.

6. What is the difference between a travel bubble and a travel corridor?

The main difference between a “travel bubble” and a “travel corridor” is the method of travel between the countries involved. A travel corridor is used mainly between countries not connected by land. The UK is the first to implement a travel corridor.

The UK first announced a travel corridor list in July, which includes Hong Kong, Finland, Australia, Sweden and more, with Cuba as one of its newest additions. Travellers entering the UK from these countries are exempt from a mandatory 14-day quarantine. The UK government will assess the situation of COVID-19 in each country to decide which countries should be added or removed from the list.

Since August, the UK has removed countries such as France, the Netherlands, Croatia, Trinidad and Tobago and Austria from their travel corridor. Various British higher education institutions have also made changes to their teaching arrangements based on these shifts. Click here to get your test now.

7. Latest Updates

23/11/2020: The launch of the Hong Kong-Singapore travel bubble will be postponed by two weeks due an increase in number of cases in Hong Kong.

Blood Sugar Levels: What’s Normal, How To Measure Them, and When You Should Be Aware

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 07:33:00 GMT

If you or your loved ones struggle with maintaining normal blood sugar levels, it’s important to regularly keep track using a blood sugar metre. We’ll share what to expect and factors to consider when measuring your blood sugar. If your family member requires support with diabetic care, please feel free to contact us so that we can match you with a suitable in-home caregiver.

點擊此處閱讀中文版本

While it may seem intimidating at first, the benefits of regularly monitoring blood sugar levels definitely outweigh the risks. Regularly measuring your blood sugar levels can help identify irregularities, and from there you can seek treatment earlier and reduce long-term health complications. According to the American Diabetes Association , it is especially important for people with high or low blood glucose levels and/or Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes to monitor their blood sugar, so they can take insulin and medication accordingly.

In this article, we’ll explain why it’s important to measure blood sugar levels, how to test blood glucose, and how to choose the right blood sugar metre.

1. Who should check their blood sugar levels?

2. Why do we need to measure our blood sugar levels?

3. What is a normal target range?

4. How do I measure my blood glucose levels?

5. When testing my blood sugar, what should I be aware of?

6. How frequently should I measure my blood sugar?

7. What might affect my results?

8. Why is a blood test more accurate than other tests, such as the urine test?

9. Are there non-invasive alternatives to the finger-prick test?

10. What is the difference between a blood sugar metre and a continuous glucose monitor?

1. Who should check their blood sugar levels?

The elderly would especially benefit from regular monitoring of blood sugar levels, especially those with diabetes (Types 1 and 2) or symptoms of diabetes, so that they can seek treatment earlier if necessary. A recent study found that elderly patients with diabetes were at a higher risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia by approximately 1.5-fold and 2.5-fold, respectively.

If you aren’t already checking your blood glucose levels, you may consult your doctor to discuss whether you should start. You can also book a service with our nurses to receive professional guidance and diabetic care services .

2. Why do we need to measure our blood sugar levels?

By measuring blood sugar levels using a blood sugar metre, you can identify whether your blood sugar levels are too high or too low from your target range. Every person’s target range can vary, depending on a variety of factors such as age, diet, and genetics. To find out your target range, please consult a medical professional.

If your blood sugar levels are too high from your target range, this could result in Type 2 diabetes diagnosis.

As blood sugar levels increase, the pancreas will eventually not be able to produce enough insulin to meet the body’s demands, so the body becomes resistant to insulin, which will then lead to Type 2 Diabetes.

How we can help:

Our nurses can help with insulin injections and wound dressing (wounds are difficult to heal for diabetics).
Our dietitians can help you design a diet change to improve your situation. With proper management, you can reduce your need for insulin injections.
Book a free consultation or call us at 3905 4000 , if you would like to find a private nurse to provide diabetic care services at home .

3. What is a normal target range?

According to diabetes.co.uk, for the majority of healthy individuals, normal blood sugar levels are as follows:

Between 4.0 to 5.4 mmol/L (72 to 99 mg/dL) when fasting
Up to 7.8 mmol/L (140 mg/dL) 2 hours after eating

For diabetics, blood sugar level targets are as follows:

Before meals : 4 to 7 mmol/L for people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes
After meals : under 9 mmol/L for people with type 1 diabetes and under 8.5mmol/L for people with type 2 diabetes

By monitoring your blood sugar levels, you can minimise the risks and complications associated with high blood sugar and low blood sugar through seeking treatment early. According to Healthline , high blood sugar levels can lead to long-term complications, including diabetes, heart disease , nerve damage, vision problems, poor blood flow and kidney disease . Some of the symptoms of low blood sugar levels include confusion, weakness, dizziness, jitters, and sweating.

The image below represents the healthy target range for adults with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes before meals at other times of the day.

4. How do I measure my blood sugar levels?

A blood sugar test can tell you how much glucose is in your blood at any given time.

A blood glucose testing kit should come with test strips. You will also need a lancet – a small needle. To perform the test, you need to start by inserting the test strip into the metre. Using a lancet, prick the side of your finger so a drop of blood comes out. Touch and hold the edge of the test strip towards the blood.

Generally, the procedure is very quick: most blood glucose metres will provide results in 5 seconds .

If you need a care professional to assist with blood sugar testing or insulin injections, feel free to check out our home care pricing details to understand our service fees and hourly rates.

5. When testing my blood sugar, what should I be aware of ?

Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your blood glucose metre. Not every blood glucose metres are the same.
Check the expiry date on all diabetes testing supplies.
Wash and dry hands to get rid of any contaminants (e.g. sugar on your fingers from the food you have been eating) before glucose testing.
Use the sides of your fingers, as these are less sensitive than the fingertips. Avoid the thumb and index finger, and vary the testing points on your fingers to avoid the risk of infection or callus build up.
If you struggle to obtain enough blood, place your hand facing downwards to allow gravity help the blood flow to the fingers.
Change the lancet in the finger-pricking testing device each time you perform a blood glucose test. This will reduce discomfort, the risk of infection and ensure that enough blood is obtained.
Do NOT share needles with anyone else to eliminate the risk of HIV .
Record the results, click here to get access to our free Vital Signs Track Sheet .

Achieve noticeable reductions in blood sugar levels with food. Download our diabetes diet guide below !

6. How frequently should I measure my blood sugar?

The Centre for Health Protection in Hong Kong (CHP) advises you to measure your 2-4 times per week at various times during the day (e.g. before and after eating). You should monitor your blood sugar more often if:

Your blood glucose often tested too high or too low;
If you are pregnant or preparing for pregnancy;
During illness;
If there are changes in your daily routine, such as a trip abroad, an unusual level of physical exercise, or changes in diet.

7. What might affect my results?

Timing is one of the most important factors when measuring blood sugar.

Do not measure your blood sugar immediately after eating or after exercise to avoid obtaining unreliable results. For instance, if you consume starchy foods rich in carbohydrates, this will cause your blood sugar to rise higher than your normal levels. After exercise, your blood glucose levels may be lower than normal, which may not yield accurate results.

Other factors that might affect your blood sugar levels include illness, hormonal changes (menstrual cycles), stress, and changes in lifestyle (diet, medication, exercise levels).

8. Why is a blood test more accurate than other tests, such as the urine test?

According to the CHP , a blood test is much more accurate than a urine test for two main reasons: a urine test cannot detect low blood glucose, and certain medications may affect the accuracy of the urine test.

9. Are there non-invasive alternatives to the finger-prick test?

Scientists are working to develop many non-invasive blood sugar monitors which could significantly reduce the need for routine finger-prick tests, such as the readers and sensors launched by Freestyle Libre , and the continuous glucose monitors (CGM) developed by Dexcom . However, the finger-prick test will sometimes still be required to recalibrate the device.

10. What is the difference between a blood sugar metre and a continuous glucose monitor?

Like the name suggests, a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) is a wearable device that tracks your glucose levels throughout the day, whilst a blood sugar metre measures your blood sugar one point in time. A CGM would benefit someone with diabetes who struggles with maintaining regular blood sugar levels.

Using a sensor under the skin (which needs to be replaced regularly), the CGM measures your blood sugar every few minutes. On the market, there are water resistant CGMs so users can shower, swim, or exercise.

With a CGM, regular finger-prick tests aren’t necessary, but if your symptoms don’t match the system readings, you will likely need to conduct a finger-prick blood glucose test.

Consult your doctor about using a CGM if you’re pregnant, on dialysis or critically ill, as these conditions may affect the blood sugar readings from a CGM.

Choosing the right blood glucose metre

Before choosing a blood glucose metre, it is best to consult with your doctor and consider various factors , especially costs and insurance coverage. Accessibility is also an important factor: Is the monitor easy to use? Would the results be easy to read? After weighing out all your options, you can choose the blood glucose metre that is best for you.

糖尿上眼可致盲？了解預防糖尿病視網膜病變的方法

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 01:46:00 GMT

糖尿病是一種常見的長者疾病，十分受到長者及長者家屬的關注。糖尿病本身的病徵不明顯，但往往會誘發很多嚴重問題。糖尿病視網膜病變則是其中之一。

Click here for the English version

認識糖尿病視網膜病變

糖尿病視網膜病變亦稱「糖尿上眼」，多數出現在高血糖水平的病人身上。糖尿病和眼睛疾病看似毫無關係，但其實高血糖會直接影響到身體所有血管及血液，包括眼部血管。高血糖會引致血液的氧含量下降，加上脂肪等不必要成份運送到眼睛血管，導致視網膜得不到足夠的所需營養，最後使眼睛健康出現問題，甚至引致失明。因此糖尿病與身體各個部位息息相關，長者及家屬不應輕視糖尿病所帶來的問題。

如何預防及治療糖尿病視網膜病？

預防糖尿病視網膜病的方法主要有三個：

1. 按時服食降血糖藥物或注射胰島素

2. 注意均衡飲食

3. 定期作眼部檢查

1. 按時服食降血糖藥物或注射胰島素

把糖尿病的病情控制好，按時服食降血糖藥物或注射胰島素。注意，注射胰島素都需要技巧。無論是注射位置、使用注射器的手勢、還是注射後的保養清潔，都需要額外留意。不正確的注射方式不但會影響降血糖效果，更可能做成脂肪增生等問題。建議患病初期請護理人員上門幫忙注射胰島素，先學習注射的正確方法，之後才自行注射。

2. 注意均衡飲食

多注意均衡的飲食，嚴格遵守飲食原則，減少高糖份食品；多選擇高纖維食品。值得一提的是，網絡上有各種控糖免費餐單和食譜，但這些餐單和食譜並非適用於每一個糖尿病患者。建議患者選用營養師的飲食治療服務，營養師會為客人制定飲食，定期按照客人對個別食物的血糖反應調整療程，並教導照顧者如何調整飲食環境、了解食物的成分、升糖指數等。

免費下載營養師設計控糖飲食指南，輕鬆達到減糖目標！

3. 定期作眼部檢查

按眼科醫生的建議作定期眼部檢查。及早發覺，可預防視力受損。如果不幸確診患有糖尿病視網膜病，亦應盡早尋求治療。眼科醫生會主要採用玻璃狀體清除手術、視網膜手術或激光治療法，因應病人的情況或要求提供相關治療，以回復病者視力。

糖尿病視網膜病的影響深遠，最好的做法是改善生活和飲食的壞習慣，減低患上糖尿病的風險。

參考資料：糖尿病性視網膜病變指引
圖片來源：Optical88

【旅遊氣泡計劃FAQ】香港星加坡檢測要求、航班安排、最新消息 (最後更新：27/11/2020）

Wed, 18 Nov 2020 06:47:00 GMT

十一月十一日，特區政府公布了香港新加坡「旅遊氣泡」計劃的各項細節安排。閱讀此文，了解「旅遊氣泡」的運作、航班安排、核酸檢測要求、參與「旅遊氣泡」計劃的程序和注意事項、最新消息等，供讀者參考。 (最後更新：27/11/2020）

Click here to read the English version

1. 「旅遊氣泡」是什麼？

2. 我符合資格參與「旅遊氣泡」計劃嗎？

3. 申請參與「旅遊氣泡」計劃有什麼事前準備？

4. 星加坡香港「旅遊氣泡」計劃如何運作，有什麼檢測要求？

5. 「旅遊氣泡」計劃何時落實？

6. 旅遊氣泡和旅遊走廊有和分別？

7. 香港「旅遊氣泡」最新消息

1. 「旅遊氣泡」是什麼？

「旅遊氣泡」(travel bubble) 是指兩個或以上國家達成共識，在保障公共衞生的前提下，互相開放邊境（包括海、陸、空各出入境口岸），並免除雙方旅客強制檢疫的安排。

香港政府與星加坡於十月就「旅遊氣泡」計劃達成原則性協議。目的是讓旅客往返兩地之時：

出行目的不設限制
豁免強制檢疫 / 居家通知（Stay Home Notice）
行程不受限制

參與「旅遊氣泡」的國家不會對氣泡以外的國家開放關口，以防輸入個案流入。兩地亦會增設特別航班。2020年五月，波羅的海三國，愛沙尼亞，拉脫維亞和立陶宛率先成立「旅遊氣泡」，是新型肺炎疫情在全球大流行以來，首個成立的「旅遊氣泡」。

2. 我符合資格參與「旅遊氣泡」計劃嗎？

不論國籍，任何目前身處新加坡或香港的人士均能參與新加坡香港旅遊氣泡計劃。符合資格人士必須：

在出發前14天沒有到訪新加坡和香港以外的國家
航班起飛前72小時內採樣進行兩地互認的新冠病毒核酸測試，並取得陰性結果證明
乘搭專屬旅遊氣泡航班抵埗

3. 申請參與「旅遊氣泡」計劃有什麼事前準備？

參與「旅遊氣泡」計劃的旅客要在登記前準備好以下文件，確保旅程順暢省時。

簽證（如有需要) ：旅客應了解清楚新加坡的簽證要求，並預留足夠時間申請。
航空通行證（Air Travel Pass) ：非新加坡公民、非永久居民或非長期准證持有者需於出發前7-30日申請航空通行證。
核酸檢測化驗報告：旅客出發須進行兩地互認的PCR核酸檢測。核酸檢測和採樣程序需於起飛前72小時內完成。旅客需攜帶核酸檢測化驗報告前往機場。
「合力追蹤」TraceTogether應用程式：旅客應在起飛前下載星加坡的TraceTogether手機應用程式並登記使用。登記程序可參考此影片。到達新加坡後，旅客要保持手機上的藍牙功能開放。
新加坡電子入境卡（SG Arrival Card) ：旅客需於抵達新加坡前3天內填寫並提交新加坡電子入境卡。

4. 星加坡香港「旅遊氣泡」計劃如何運作，有什麼檢測要求？

專屬航班安排：
參與「旅遊氣泡」計劃之旅客只可以乘坐國泰航空和星加坡航空營運的專屬航班往返香港與新加坡。

由11月22日至12月6日，政府每日會安排總共兩班航班來往香港和新加坡。每班只載200名旅客。由12月7日起增至來往各兩班，總共四班。同樣，每班載200名旅客。抵達新加坡後，所有旅客都該開放藍牙使用TraceTogether應用程式，方便當局追蹤確診者接觸過的人士。

新冠病毒核酸檢測要求：
乘坐航班往返兩地時，旅客需要在出發前72小時內接受兩地互認的新冠病毒檢測，並取得陰性結果證明。

港人入境新加坡毋須再做檢測。新加坡旅客入境香港後則需要要自費檢測，並在機場等候結果。

由新加坡回港的港人須於抵港前48小時內在網上填寫並遞交衞生署的「健康及檢疫資訊申報」，保留二維碼在香港機場使用。港人需要在出發前預約抵港後的機場PCR核酸檢測，並經機場的「航空旅遊氣泡」專用通道到檢測站。獲得陰性檢測結果的旅客方可離開機場。

5. 「旅遊氣泡」計劃何時落實？

香港與星加坡之間的「旅遊氣泡」計劃原訂會於11月22日開始實施。

現時計劃因疫情發展暫停。根據機制，如果新加坡或香港最近的源頭不明本地個案 7 天平均數字超過每日 5 宗，「旅遊氣泡」計劃將會於兩天後暫停，延續兩週。當兩地的平均數字於暫停兩周的最後一日回落至不超過每日 5 宗，「旅遊氣泡」計劃便可重啟。

6. 旅遊氣泡和旅遊走廊有和分別？

「旅遊氣泡」和「旅遊走廊」的主要分別在於「旅遊走廊」主要適用於沒有陸地連接的地區。英國是最先建立「旅遊走廊」的國家。

英國於七月初公布「旅行走廊」清單，當中包括香港、芬蘭、澳洲、瑞典等多國，最新加入名單的國家有古巴。來自這些地區的旅客入境英格蘭後無須進行自我隔離。英國政府會因應各地疫情變化在清單中加入或剔除一些國家。

八月以來，英國已陸續將法國、荷蘭、克羅地亞、特立尼達和多巴哥、奧地利等國家和地區從「旅行走廊」清單移除。各英國各高等學府亦就著「旅行走廊」清單的變動調整檢疫及上課安排，詳情可瀏覽此處。

7. 香港「旅遊氣泡」最新消息

十一月二十三日：由於香港疫情惡化，旅遊氣泡計劃將順延兩星期。

十一月十一日：香港新加坡旅遊氣泡落實於11月22日開始實行。

十一月二日：商務及經濟發展局估計「旅遊氣泡」計劃的航班的機票會於11月中開售。雙方會採取「雙保險制度」，旅客登上航班前要做檢測，到達目的地後亦要在當地機場做多一次。

十月三十日：新加坡旅遊局公布，新加坡已重開42個旅遊景點，旅客和本地居民同樣要遵守以下特別防疫措施：

景點容量不可以超於一半
訪客要保持一米社交距離
本地團人數不可以超於20人，旅程最多8小時
訪客需使用SafeEntry登記系統，使用該二維碼掃描登記出入場
旅客更需要下載TraceTogether手機應用程式或使用攜帶式防疫器，參與接觸追查計劃，方便當局紀錄並追查確診者接觸過的人士。

十月十五日：邱騰華宣布與新加坡就雙邊「航空旅遊氣泡」達成原則上協議。他指有關安排是雙方的重要里程碑，會與衞生署、機管局、航空公司等落實安排，形容是重要起步。

九月八日：商務及經濟發展局局長邱騰華見傳媒時表示，正與11個國家討論有關「旅遊氣泡」的細節，當中日本與泰國已表達興趣並作雙邊討論。我們根據資料整合了以下各國進展：

已有雙邊接觸：泰國、日本

對計劃感興趣：越南、馬來西亞、新加坡

已經接觸：德國*、瑞士、法國、韓國、新西蘭、澳洲

*歐盟則已委託德國作為歐盟的協調國家，港府將德國商討，探討與歐洲其他國家的安排。

資料來源：Now新聞，RTHK ，明報，BBC，紐約時報，HK01

看清健康碼、回港易、安心出行之分別：申請流程、名額、最新消息 (最後更新：18/11/2020）

Wed, 18 Nov 2020 01:20:00 GMT

為方便市民通關及恢復正常生活，特區政府在月初分別推出「回港易」和「安心出行」計劃。究竟這兩個計劃與香港版「健康碼」計劃有何分別？「健康碼」究竟是否已經落實？以下，我們整理了最新資料以供參考。（最後更新：18/11/2020）

1. 什麼是「健康碼」？與「回港易」、「安心出行」有什麼分別？

2.「健康碼」和「回港易」的申請程序有何不同？

3.「健康碼」、「回港易」有多少個通關名額？誰符合申請資格？

4. 申請「健康碼」和「回港易」所需費用是多少？

5. 有那些地方的「健康碼」可與「港康碼」互認？

6. 「健康碼」最新消息

1. 什麼是「健康碼」？與「回港易」、「安心出行」有什麼分別？

「健康碼」是一個二維碼（QR Code），可作通關之用。一旦達成三地「健康碼」互換和核酸檢測結果互認的共識，申請人往返香港、廣東省和澳門等地時出示「健康碼」，便可獲豁免14日強制檢疫。各地的「健康碼」名稱有別：香港「健康碼」可簡稱為「港康碼」，澳門「健康碼」簡稱為「澳康碼」，廣東省的「健康碼」簡稱為「粵康碼」。

「健康碼」計劃是雙向通關措施，為所有需要通關，來往廣東省或澳門等地的香港人而設。
「回港易」計劃是單向通關措施，對象為身處或居住於廣東省或澳門的香港人，只供他們回港使用。
「安心出行」計劃是一個流動應用程式，對象為所有香港人。計劃屬自願性質，旨在方便市民了解自己的潛在感染風險。

2. 「健康碼」和「回港易」的申請程序有何不同？

「回港易」計劃申請程序有以下四個步驟：

第一步：網上預約登記。由11月18日起，逢周三上午九時至週五下午六時，申請人可於「回港易」網上預約系統登記，預約使用口岸名額。最早可以於出發前7天預約，名額先到先得。申請人需要身份證、姓名、出生日期、回港口岸和時間等資料，再登記接收確認短訊的香港電話號碼，便完成登記。

第二步：進行新冠病毒核酸檢測。申請人需要在回港三天前到認可的機構進行新冠病毒核酸檢測，並取得陰性結果證明。

第三步：申報陰性結果。出發回港前，申請人須透過「澳康碼」或「粵康碼」把有效的檢測陰性結果上傳至衛生署健康申報系統，並填寫電子申報表。

第四步：取得「綠色」二維碼。申請人只需帶同有效身分證名文件，及成功預約名額證明，便可以放心過關使用。留意二維碼只有24小時有效期限。

「健康碼」計劃暫時未實行。跟「回港易」計劃相似，「健康碼」申請人需要上載新冠病毒檢測陰性結果至電子申報系統，方便過關時使用，安排細節仍有待公布。

「安心出行」計劃則毋須特別申請。

3.「健康碼」、「回港易」有多少個通關名額？誰符合申請資格？

「回港易」計劃：每個口岸的通關名額有限，深圳灣口岸的預約通關名額為每日3000個，港珠澳橋口岸的預約通關名額為每日2000個。只適用於任何十四天內沒有去過粵港澳以外地區的港人。使用者需年滿18歲並持有香港身份證。未滿18歲的港人如須預約「回港易」，可由其家人或監護人代為預約。

「健康碼」計劃：據早前消息指，香港和深圳每日各有一萬個通關名額。初期或僅限特定群組，如商貿往來客、跨境學生以及跨境家庭申請「港康碼」往返深圳，安排不包括旅客。最新安排仍有待政府公布。

「安心出行」應用程式：開放予任何人下載，參與計劃人士毋須另外登記。

4. 申請「健康碼」和「回港易」所需費用是多少？

「健康碼」和「回港易」計劃申請人均需自費接受新冠病毒核酸檢測。現階段，香港的檢測服務收費為240-2500元不等。各機構會因應需求和市場需要調整服務，申請人可在檢測前提前向有關機構查詢。

以下是三地政府認可的香港檢測機構、化驗所和社區檢測中心：

5. 那些地方的「健康碼」可與「港康碼」互認？

現時政府尚未公布參與計劃的地區的名單。但結合政府過往資訊，相信香港「健康碼」首階段僅限粵港兩地互通，申請人可於「健康碼」七天有效期內無限次往返廣東省和香港。如果申請人七天後仍需往返內地，就需要續領「健康碼」。最新安排有待政府宣布。

6.「健康碼」最新消息

十一月十一日：政府將於11月23日推出「回港易」的單向通關措施。

十一月九日：消息指香港與內地政府正商討健康碼的「折衷方案」。香港須要連續14天本地確診個案少於10宗，並且實行追查個案源頭系統，才可以推出健康碼。

十一月六日：政府將增設四個社區檢測中心，分別位於鰂魚涌社區會堂、油麻地梁顯利社區中心、沙田瀝源社區會堂和元朗市東社區會堂。社區檢測中心的檢測結果符合「健康碼」核酸檢測結果互認的要求。唯「健康碼」的具體安排及實施時間仍須視乎疫情發展情況及有待三方進一步協商落實。

九月二十八日：政務司司長張建宗在立法會財委會回應議員質詢時指政府已大致完成健康碼系統測試，預料初期只限探親等有需要人士申請，亦有人數限制，何時實施則要視乎香港的疫情。

九月二十六日：行政長官林鄭月娥指，香港健康碼的技術開發工作已經基本完成，會爭取與廣東及澳門當局重啟討論。她表示短期內持核酸檢測陰性證明，是出境必不可少的要求。

九月八日：商務及經濟發展局局長邱騰華交代正與11個國家，包括日本和泰國討論成立「旅遊氣泡」，以便有需要人士（如商務旅客）出入境。他表示，相信當香港「健康碼」準備就緒後，作出有關安排會更方便。

九月一日：港府於九月一日起進行為期14天全民檢測計劃，市民需要留意全民檢測的結果並不可以用來申請「健康碼」。

五至八月：通關用的香港版「健康碼」早在五、六月時已準備就緒，但港版「健康碼」先導計劃因七至八月第三波疫情爆發而延遲推出。

資料來源：Now新聞，RTHK ，HK01，經濟日報，成報，東方日報

Can Diabetes Lead to Blindness? Find Out How You Can Prevent Diabetic Retinopathy

Tue, 17 Nov 2020 01:12:00 GMT

Diabetes is one of the most common diseases among the elderly, making it a great concern for most families. As symptoms are difficult to notice at first, severe complications such as diabetic retinopathy, or blindness, can suddenly affect patients.

Home Care Subsidy Updates and What it Means for Family Caregivers

Thu, 29 Oct 2020 08:22:00 GMT

From October 2020, the Social Welfare Department’s care subsidy scheme, Community Care Service Voucher for the Elderly (CCSV), will be moving into its 3rd phase. What are the differences between the 2nd and 3rd phase? How will the launch affect existing CCSV users? We have all your questions answered here.

點擊此處閱讀中文版本

What is CCSV?

The Community Care Service Voucher for the Elderly (CCSV) is a major government scheme to help the elderly community of Hong Kong “age in place”. The scheme seeks to directly subsidise private healthcare services, enabling the elderly population to continue to age in the comfort of their own home and select services that are appropriate to their healthcare needs.

Why age in place?

According to a 2009 survey, over 95% of elderly respondents expressed never having considered moving to a nursing home – including 81.4% of them preferring to remain in their own home, regardless of their health condition. With a majority expressing the desire to age in place, the Hong Kong government has put in place a program to make various private healthcare services accessible to the majority, such as physical assistance, daily check ups and caregiving help.

The Social Welfare Department and local home care service providers such as Evercare have been collaborating to make private home care and healthcare services more affordable. Covering up to 90% of the cost, and with its eligibility criteria slowly loosening since its launch in 2013, the scheme looks to increase the number of families who can benefit from the subsidies, with an aim to achieve “ageing in place as the core, institutional care as back-up” instead of vice-versa.

1. Eligibility for the CCSV Scheme

2. CCSV Registration Process

3. Voucher Certificate Quota

4. Service Cost

5. Service Scope

6. What service units will I be able to choose from?

7. What happens after I select an organisation?

8. Will the launch of Phase 3 affect holders of Phase 2 voucher certificates?

9. Will my participation in the CCSV scheme affect my position on the Central Waiting List?

10. When can I use my voucher certificate?

1. Eligibility for the CCSV Scheme

2. CCSV Registration Process

Similar to phase 2, families who wish to join phase 3 of CCSV must visit a Medical Social Service Unit, their local Integrated Family Services Centre or the Elderly Services Unit to apply for the scheme. Staff members at any of these centres will do a Standardised Care Needs Assessment for the senior, which will include a home visit and an interview. Seniors who pass the assessment will receive an invitation letter from the SWD to participate in the CCSV scheme. Carers and seniors should fill out the relevant paperwork, after which they will receive a voucher certificate, which will subsidise their use of care services from the service providers who participate in the scheme.

3. Voucher Certificate Quota

4. Service Cost

* Voucher certificate holders may reach out to service providers for assistance and apply for a reassessment of their co-payment level if necessary.

5. Service Scope

6. What service units will I be able to choose from?

7. What happens after I select an organisation?

After selecting a service, the provider will help voucher holders choose an appropriate package for their needs and confirm pricing and co-payment arrangement. Seniors may confirm or adjust their mode of service, service package and payment every month.

8. Will the launch of Phase 3 affect holders of Phase 2 voucher certificates?

No. Phase 2 holders of the CCSV voucher will automatically be included in Phase 3, and may continue to use new and old services.

9. Will my participation in the CCSV scheme affect my position on the Central Waiting List?

No.

After receiving the voucher certificate, participants will not be removed from the Central Waiting List. Instead, the SWD will categorise them as an “inactive case”. When participating in the scheme, and if the senior citizen wishes, a social worker can help change the case status from “inactive” to “active.” Their waitlisting positions will follow the original application dates.

10. When can I use my voucher certificate?

【資助上門照顧】對比社區券（CCSV）第二期和第三期：收費、資格、服務、申請流程

Wed, 21 Oct 2020 07:59:00 GMT

由2020年十月開始，社署的居家安老資助項目「長者社區照顧服務券試驗計劃」（下稱社區券）會踏入第三階段。究竟社區券第二階段與第三階段有什麼分別？第三階段的開展會否影響第二階段社區券使用者的服務？下文將一一為你解答。

Click here for the English version

「長者社區照顧服務券試驗計劃 CCSV」是政府「居家安老」政策下一大重點項目，計劃的目的是要透過服務券直接向參與「計劃」的合資格長者發放資助，讓他們自行選擇最切合本身需要的服務，協助長者留在社區安享晚年。能夠居家安老是不少長者的心願。早於2009年，統計處調查已顯示超過95%受訪長者不打算入住老人院，更有81.4%長者表示即使身體狀況變差亦情願居家安老。然而，這心願需要多方面配合，包括私家護理支援、居住環境、家居設施等。這一切無疑為一眾照顧者帶來沈重的經濟負擔，逼於無奈下要送家人到安老院舍。

社會福利署與本地居家服務機構合作推出的社區券正是要解決此問題。社署2013年九月開展社區券計劃至今已踏入第三期，在收費、資格等各方面放寬，更增添1000個名額，讓更多家庭受益。透過利用社區卷的資助，長者能夠使用香港各區的私家醫療服務，實現「居家安老為本，院舍照顧為後援」。

8. 第三階段的開展會否影響第二階段社區券使用者的服務？

9. 參加「長者社區照顧服務券試驗計劃 CCSV」會否影響長者在中央輪候冊上的位置？

10. 社區券生效日期

1. 社區券申領資格

2. 長者社區券的申領流程

與第二階段一樣，要申請第三階段的社區券，家屬需要先到醫務社會服務部、所屬地區的綜合家庭服務中心或長者服務單位提出申請社區券計劃，並請負責工作員為長者作健康及家居護理評估。評估員透過家訪及會面為長者進行評估。

被評估為中度或嚴重缺陷的長者，即合資格人士，會收到政府的邀請信參與「長者社區照顧服務券試驗計劃 CCSV」。之後，照顧者與長者需填妥並交回相關表格。長者收到一份「社區券證明書」便可以資助金額購買指定社企、非牟利組織、及私人公司的照顧服務。

3. 社區券名額

4. 社區券服務收費

5. 社區券服務範圍

6. 社區券下有那些服務單位讓我選擇？

7. 選擇服務單位後的程序

社區券持有人選擇認可服務單位後，服務供應商會協助客人選取服務類別、服務組合及確定服務組合價值與應付的共同付款金額。長者可以每月檢定及調整服務模式、服務組合，及服務服務組合價值與應付共同付款金額。

8. 第三階段的開展會否影響第二階段社區券使用者的服務？

不會。第二階段社區券使用者完成本月服務後，會自動成為第三階段社區券持有人，繼續享用計劃的各項新舊服務。

9. 參加「長者社區照顧服務券試驗計劃 CCSV」會否影響長者在中央輪候冊上的位置？

不會。長者在獲發社區券證明書後，社署只會將其在中央輪候冊上長期護理服務的申請更改為「非活躍個案」處理，並不會把他從輪候冊上剔除。在參與計劃期間，長者如有需要，可透過負責跟進個案的社工，重新啟動其在中央輪候冊上的輪候狀態，將已列為「非活躍個案」更新為「活躍個案」，而其輪候位置會以原本的申請日期為準。

10. 社區券生效日期

End of Life Caregiving: What To Do When a Loved One Passes Away

Tue, 13 Oct 2020 02:18:00 GMT

This week, we had a one-of-a-kind interview with family caregiver Margaret. Read how she deals with the passing of her mother, the pain, the thoughts, and the technicalities that are so often left out of the conversation. Here, she shares her advice about how to cope with the loss of a family member.

點擊此處閱讀中文版本

After Margaret’s mother had a fall in 2010, Margaret became her primary caregiver , supporting her as she battled various health conditions. After her mother’s passing in 2019, Margaret and her family were met with an unexpected set of challenges. All of a sudden, Margaret had to deal with a gruelling array of bureaucratic tasks – closing bank accounts, applying for death certificates, planning a funeral – all while she was grieving a loss. Though she felt both sorrow and regret after her mother’s passing, she received valuable support and advice from Evercare’s nurses, which helped her with the process.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

1. How did you process your mother’s passing at first?

The day before my mother passed, I was going to take all my grandchildren to see her because she had gone into dialysis, but I was busy that night, so I ended up not taking them. She died the next morning, and of course the first thing I did was kick myself.

I kicked myself for not bringing them the night before, but I thought to myself, the woman had tubes coming out everywhere; that is not the picture I want my grandchildren to have. The picture I want them to have is of her a month before, at her granddaughter’s wedding.

2. What did you wish you had done before your mother passed?

I wish I had talked with my mother about what and how she wanted to leave us. We had to make a decision about whether we wanted to resuscitate her or not. This conversation is difficult to have, especially for Chinese people, as death and illness are the hardest subjects to have with loved ones. However, the discussion has to be done when the patient is still lucid.

3. From your own experience, what do family caregivers need to do when their loved one dies?

When a family member passes away, there are necessary after-death arrangements you need to make, and there are a few things you should prepare for:

Identity card of the deceased

One of the things I was most grateful for was that one of my Evercare nurses told me to keep my mother’s ID. This is because I needed it to do all kinds of procedures and paperwork, whether it be registering the death at the Joint Office within 24 hours, terminating bank accounts, signing legal documents, or applying for death certificates.

Death certificate copies

You will almost certainly need to apply for more than one copy of the death certificate to register the death with various companies, including banks, to stop any transactions on their accounts, mortgage company, and the tax department.

From my experience, family caregivers need to apply for at least three death certificate copies to make technicalities easier.

Clean clothes to care for the body

It’s important to note that every hospital has a limited amount of space in the morgue ; they might ask you to collect the body as soon as possible. Anticipate that you’ll have to get things going quite quickly. Be prepared, whether it be the clothes to dress the deceased with or something to clean the body.

If your loved one passed away in a hospital, you may consider engaging a licensed undertaker to arrange farewell service in the hospital. Most hospitals have farewell rooms for the relatives to hold simple memorial rites. Afterward, the body will be transported directly to a crematorium or cemetery for cremation or burial.

Photos for the funeral

Lastly, I suggest preparing pictures for the funeral. Most people I know struggle to find a good photo with high resolution, one that is not so far away from what people recognise them as they are. I’d suggest family caregivers hire a photographer with the elderly in your family, have a casual family day so you can capture the best moments of your loved ones.

【照顧者分享】至親離世，家屬應如何安排其身後事及撫平喪親之痛？

Tue, 13 Oct 2020 01:32:00 GMT

陪伴至親走完人生最後一段路，對任何人來說都不是易事。這星期，我們邀請到照顧者Margaret進行訪談。除了講述自己走出傷痛的經歷，Margaret亦為我們分享了一些妥善辦理身後事的小貼士。她以過來人的身分與我們分享經驗，使同行的照顧者不再感到孤單。

Click here to read the English version

自從Margaret的媽媽於10年前跌倒後，Margaret就成為了她的照顧者，一直共同面對不同的健康問題。2019年，Margaret的媽媽最終離逝，Margaret一家又再遇到各種困難。至親驟然辭世，傷痛尚未撫平，Margaret就要應付繁複的身後事，包括處理銀行帳戶、申領死亡證明、籌辦葬禮等。可幸的是，被悲傷和內疚等負面情緒籠罩的Margaret得到Evercare的護士的幫忙，協助她緩解至親離世所帶來的哀傷和徬徨無助。

訪問內容經編輯整理

1. 你當時如何面對到媽媽過身的消息？

媽媽離世前一天，我本想帶同外孫們前往探望她，因為她剛完成了腹膜透析的療程。但由於我當天太忙，就取消了計劃。誰知道，第二天早上，我就接到媽媽過身的信息，那一刻，我感到無比的後悔。

但事後我再回想，媽媽離世時一定全身插滿維生的管子，這不是我希望媽媽留下的最後印象。我希望我的孩子記得的，是媽媽一個月前慶祝孫女結婚時開懷的樣子。

2. 回想當時，你會想在媽媽過身之前做什麼事？

當初我們幾兄弟姊妹曾就應否為她進行心肺復甦進行討論。現在回想起來，如果當初我有跟她討論她對自己身後事的看法，以及未完的心願，我想我們就能更妥善地安排一切。討論這些話題固然令人難以啟齒，畢竟「死亡」和「疾病」這些議題在中國社會仍是種禁忌。然而，這些問題都必須在親人還清醒時盡早討論。

3. 你會給剛經歷親人過身的讀者什麼建議？辦理身後事有什麼須知和準備？

無論親人是長年臥病後往生，或是驟然辭世，家人都難免傷痛。儘管如此，家人仍然要振作，為逝者辦理種種的身後事。辦理身後事時，家人必須做好以下準備：

媽媽過身時，我很感激Evercare的護士的提點。他們再三叮囑我要保管好媽媽的身分證。原來很多身後事的程序都需要用到身分證。無論是辦理死亡登記、終止銀行帳戶、簽訂法律文件或是申領死亡證，我都需要那張身分證。

根據我的經驗，家屬最好申請至少三張死亡證明書。因為無論是終止已故親人的戶口、清妥遺產稅證明文件或是處理聯名持有的按揭，家屬都要用到死亡證明書，亦能更方便快捷完成這些複雜的程序。

如果你的至親想在醫院離世，家屬要注意每個醫院的殮房供應有限。醫院可能會要求家屬儘早處理遺體，如果你希望家人離世時替換身上的醫院病人服，就需要及早做好準備。你可以考慮使用醫院的「院出」服務，即在該醫院進行送別儀式。“院出”服務一般只適用於在該醫院去世的病人。

最後，我建議家屬在親人臨終前準備好喪禮適用的照片。我身邊很多朋友在準備照片是遇到很多困難。喪禮適用的照片需要高解像度，而且與辭世者的樣貌相距不能太大。我會建議家屬可以籌辦一個家庭日，請一個攝影師幫忙拍照，這樣就可以拍到你的家人最開心、最自然的面貌。

Reminiscence Therapy: Easy in-Home Cognitive Training for Dementia Patients

Wed, 23 Sep 2020 00:17:00 GMT

Amid the pandemic when day-care centres are closed, in-home Reminiscence Therapy can be a lifeline for dementia patients. Read below to learn about the therapy, its benefits, and what caregivers need to be aware of when providing this type of cognitive training to seniors.

點擊此處閱讀中文版本

While there is no cure for dementia, a wealth of research suggested that appropriate cognitive training, combined with drug administration, can slow down cognitive impairment. A research study published in 2017 — which followed more than 2,800 older adults for a decade — found that participants had marked improvements after receiving cognitive training for five to six weeks.

The study focused on the improvement of memory retention, independent analytical skills, speed of information processing, and more. It concluded that the brain-training intervention could reduce participants’ risk of dementia by 29 percent.

Many day-care centres in Hong Kong provide cognitive training services. Still, apart from day-care centres and nursing homes, simple cognitive training can be easily done at home. Reminiscence Therapy is one type of cognitive training, and it is especially suitable for immobile seniors in the late stage of dementia.

1. What is Reminiscence Therapy?

2. What are the goals and advantages of Reminiscence Therapy?

3. What to consider when conducting Reminiscence Therapy at home?

4. How does Reminiscence Therapy work for seniors at different stages of dementia?

1. What is Reminiscence Therapy?

Reminiscence Therapy advocates the use of sight, smell, and other sensory cues, such as music and food, to stimulate memories. By recalling the past events of one’s life, Reminiscence Therapy helps reinforce seniors’ sense of worth, reorganise their memories and life experiences, and help them regain the meaning of life and self-confidence.

Reminiscence Therapy can be conducted in a group setting or on a one-to-one basis. As the therapy involves a lot of intimate sharing, the patient may feel more at ease having the therapy in the privacy of their home.

2. What are the goals and advantages of Reminiscence Therapy?

According to the Reminiscence Functions Scale proposed by scholar J.D. Webster, the therapy serves seven functions:

Increasing cerebral activity (and therefore reducing inactivity)
Helping patients prepare for death
Affirming self-worth and identity
Maintaining intimacy between patients and their caregivers
Solving problems
Initiating conversation
Helping patients appreciate past pains and difficulties
Informing family caregivers about the patient’s past

3. What to consider when conducting Reminiscence Therapy at home?

No medical tools are needed for the therapy. However, family caregivers can prepare materials that help revive the patient’s memories, such as old photo albums, favourite music, or memorabilia that remind them of their younger years. Family caregivers can begin the therapy by reviewing the most distant past and slowly move towards more recent events, allowing the patient to come to the present time chronologically.

Throughout the therapy, family caregivers are advised to avoid bombarding patients with questions. Evercare professional caregiver, Ms. Chan Choh Hung, suggests that questions can be formulated differently.

“Instead of asking a senior ‘Where was this photograph taken?’, it is more constructive to first give them some pointers. ‘This photograph was taken in Japan. On the left is me, you are in the middle, who is on the right?’”

4. How does Reminiscence Therapy work for seniors at different stages of dementia?

For seniors with mild dementia, the therapy can involve simple conversations, allowing them to use pictures or simple words to recall and share his/her memories.

For seniors in more advanced or late stages of dementia, who are prone to lethargy and can easily experience drastic mood swings, maintaining a conversation can be difficult. At this stage, the caregiver can introduce more sensory stimuli into their daily lives. It can be anything that involves hearing, smelling, tasting, or even touching.

For example, when preparing a meal, family caregivers can invite their loved ones to smell the dish and ask them to share their thoughts and feelings. While picking the cooking ingredients, the caregiver can invite the patient to touch the ingredients. According to research, such sensory-stimulating methods can soothe the mood of the seniors, boost their ability to remember, to better express themselves, and be more focused.

The table below can help caregivers design activities and choose sensory cues appropriate for seniors at different dementia stages:

Source: Occupational Therapist Dr. Shen

【長者認知訓練】在家懷緬治療：改善記憶力、情緒、延緩認知障礙

Tue, 22 Sep 2020 03:44:00 GMT

在家照顧認知障礙症長者，除了照顧日常起居，照顧者也適宜在長者日常生活中安排認知訓練的元素。以下，我們會介紹一種常用認知訓練方法 - 懷緬治療，簡述其理論基礎、好處、注意事項等讓照顧者參考。透過居家懷緬治療，長者無須到社區中心，安在家中也能活動腦筋，延緩腦退化。

Click Here For the English Version

雖然認知障礙症（又稱腦退化症）現時未有方法根治，但及早進行適當認知訓練，配合藥物治療，可以幫助延緩病情發展。外國有一個長達10年的研究，針對二千八百名六十五歲以上的長者進行認知訓練，連續五至六星期鍛煉長者記憶力、推理能力、處理訊息的速度等。研究發現，參與者的認知能力有顯著改善，證明認知訓練有效延緩腦退化。香港很多日間中心都有提供認知訓練，但除了日間中心和老人院，在家中都可以進行簡單的認知訓練，尤其適合行動不便的後期認知障礙症長者。懷緬治療就是其中一種認知訓練，適合不同認知障礙症階段的患者。

1. 懷緬治療理論基礎
2. 懷緬治療的目的與好處
3. 在家進行懷緬治療的注意事項
4. 懷緬治療與不同階段的認知障礙症患者

1. 懷緬治療理論基礎

懷緬治療主張透過場景、氣味、聲音等不同的感官刺激，例如音樂和食物味道，喚起認知障礙症長者的記憶。懷緬治療透過回顧人生，協助長者整頓價值觀、理順自己的回憶和生活歷程，並重新找回生活意義和自信心。懷緬治療可以一對一或群組的形式進行，但由於懷緬治療涉及較多個人分享，在家中一對一進行懷緬治療可讓患者更安心抒發感受。

2. 懷緬治療的目的與好處

根據學者 J.D. Webster於1993提出的「懷緬功能量表」(Reminiscence Functions Scale) ，懷緬治療有以下七種作用：

懷緬治療鼓勵患者抒發情緒，紓緩認知障礙後期患者出現的抑鬱問題，並改善及維持他們的溝通及社交能力。

3. 在家進行懷緬治療的注意事項

進行懷緬治療無須特別購置工具，照顧者只需準備懷舊物件，例如患者年經時的相片、舊香港照片、金曲等。照顧者可由遠至近和患者一起整理回憶，隨著時間的轉換，把患者帶回現在。懷緬時，照顧者要注意避免不斷提問，盡量使用引導式的方法喚起記憶，以免長者面對太多問題感到困擾。

正如資深Evercare 保健員陳楚虹姑娘分享到：「與其拿著照片不斷問長者『這是什麼地方？』，照顧者應引導説『這裡是日本，左邊是我，中間是你，那右邊是誰？』」

4. 懷緬治療與不同階段的認知障礙症患者

如果長者只是患有輕度認知障礙症，懷緬治療可以是簡單的對答，照顧者亦可以請長者用圖畫或簡單文字回顧人生。

如果認知障礙症長者病情以達至中後期階段，長者可能會變得嗜睡或容易情緒波動。這時，照顧者應該在懷緬治療加入更多感官刺激的元素。照顧者可以多訓練患者聽覺、嗅覺、味覺和觸覺（如冷熱、痛、觸壓等感覺）。舉例說，照顧者煮患者喜歡吃得餸菜時，可以請患者在旁看、聞味道，問問他們對味道的意見。挑食材時，可以先讓患者觸摸食材。有研究指，這種有較多感官刺激的懷緬治療可以安撫情緒，有助強化認知障礙症長者的記憶力、表達力，及集中力。

以下圖表可以讓照顧者根據認知障礙症患者的病情調整懷緬治療的環境、感官刺激的活動和教材：

參考資料：職業治療師沈明德

The CCSV Program: Hong Kong Government Voucher Covers up To 95% of Home Care Costs

Fri, 04 Sep 2020 06:06:00 GMT

With the Social Welfare Department’s Community Care Service Voucher for the Elderly (CCSV), Hong Kong elders can now age peacefully at home with reliable access to much-needed nursing support, all while saving thousands on home care costs.

點擊此處閱讀中文版本

According to a government survey , over 80% of senior citizens in Hong Kong would prefer to age in place — to continue to live in the comfort of their home, surrounded by family and neighbours they care about, in the community they love.

However, for families whose elderly loved ones suffer from chronic diseases, finding the right care can sometimes be challenging and expensive. The average cost of hospitalisation and regular check-ups alone can be thousands of dollars. Even the costs of hiring home care support can quickly add up, which strain the budgets of seniors already relying on limited incomes.

Luckily, the Social Welfare Department (SWD) has worked alongside local home care companies to launch the CCSV scheme . The scheme aims to help families in need of home care services while relieving their financial and caregiving pressures. If you would like to participate in this scheme, here’s what you need to know.

1. How do I help my loved ones register?

2. Are my loved ones eligible for the voucher?

3. What services does the CCSV scheme offer?

4. Will my participation in the CCSV scheme affect my queuing position on the Central Waiting List?

5. What will it cost me?

6. Which service organisations can I choose from using the voucher?

1. How do I help my loved ones register?

If a senior citizen is on the Central Waiting List (CWL) for subsidised long term care services and has not been allocated any services, their carer can help them apply for the voucher. They can request the social worker in the nearest elderly centre to do a Standardised Care Need Assessment. Seniors who pass the assessment will receive a letter from the SWD, inviting them to participate in the CCSV scheme.

To obtain the voucher certificate, carers and seniors simply need to fill out the relevant forms. Using the certificate, the elderly can access subsidised care services from designated social enterprises, non-profits, and private care organisations.

2. Are my loved ones eligible for the voucher?

If your elderly loved ones meet the following criteria, they will automatically be eligible to join:

If the senior is assessed to have moderate or severe physical impairment, such as physical disability (for instance, mobility issues caused by stroke) or memory loss due to deteriorating cognitive function.
If the senior is currently on the waiting list for residential care services or community care services.
Also eligible if they have not used residential services or community care services.

In other words, if your elderly loved ones are physically and mentally healthy, and/or have received community care or residential care services, they may not be able to receive the voucher yet. However, the SWD has other schemes to help these families access elder care. Once eligible seniors receive an invitation, they can contact their social workers for assistance in the application.

3. What services does the CCSV scheme offer?

According to the SWD, the voucher is valid for three different types of services. The elderly can choose either elderly day-care services or home care services. Alternatively, they can also opt for both services at once.

Home care services include:

Speech therapy
Nursing support
Hospital outpatient and discharge escort services
One-on-one care
Physiotherapy
Meal delivery services
House cleaning services
Home safety assessment and feedback
Cognitive training
Caregiver training

Elderly day-care services include:

Accommodation
Day-care service
Pickup services to and from the centre

4. Will my participation in the CCSV scheme affect my queuing position on the Central Waiting List?

No, it will not. When the elderly receive their voucher certificate, the SWD will not remove them from the Central Waiting List. Instead, the SWD will categorise their cases to ‘inactive cases.’ When participating in the scheme, and if the senior citizen wishes, a social worker can help change the case status from ‘inactive’ to ‘active.’ Their waitlisting positions will follow the original application dates.

5. What will it cost me?

For 2020-2021, the prices of care packages offered under the CCSV scheme are as follows: $9,870、$8,380、$7,460、$5,970, and $4,130 per month*.

This voucher uses a co-payment arrangement**, meaning the service users and the government will share the costs of care. For the elderly, there are six levels of co-payment: 5%, 8%, 12%, 16%, 25%, or 40% of the total cost of the package. The government will be responsible for paying the remaining balance.

For example, if a senior chooses a service package worth HK$4,130, and their voucher indicates that they only need to pay 5% of the co-payment amount, then he/she only needs to pay HK$205 to get high-quality, one-to-one home care service.

6. Which service organisations can I choose from using the voucher?

At present, Hong Kong has 179 service organisations accredited by the SWD that are eligible to provide services for the CCSV scheme. In early 2020, Evercare became one of the “Community Voucher” approved service providers, providing home care services.

Compared with the elderly day-care centres, private organisations such as Evercare can offer the following advantages:

More service quotas;
A more diverse range of services, suitable to the individual needs of elderly;
No waiting time and complicated registration process, unlike community care or residential care services;
Greater accessibility for elderly with mobility issues. Seniors can avoid commuting to an external centre;
Greater flexibility. Since there are no limits on opening hours, service users can adjust service times based on their needs.

Organisations can arrange long-term or short-term home care services according to the needs of the patients. For instance, this includes arranging medical support staff for home dementia care and training, post-stroke physiotherapy, and so on. Elderly persons with mobility impairments do not need to travel to the day centre and can enjoy the services at home.

As they get older, your elderly loved ones may need different types of specialised care. With this government-funded project, family members can find the best mode of care for the elderly. If you want to know about Evercare’s CCSV service package, please call 3905 4000.

* The value of the community voucher will be adjusted annually based on the comprehensive consumer price index.

** The co-payment arrangement is based on the principle of “pay what you can,” allowing the elderly with lower affordability to receive more government subsidies, up to 95%. The SWD will conduct a means review based on the income of the elderly and their family members, and refer to the median monthly household income updated by the Census and Statistics Department every quarter to determine the co-payment level of the elderly. The assets of elderly households are not counted in this review.

【居家安老】政府推出社區券資助私家護理費用高達95％

Fri, 04 Sep 2020 06:01:00 GMT

希望長者能夠 「居家安老」 ，但私家護理價錢昂貴難負擔？政府推出「 長者社區照顧服務券試驗計劃 CCSV 」（「社區券」），最高可提供超過九成資助，為正在輪候院舍的長者提供適切照顧之餘，又能減輕一眾照顧者的財政壓力。想了解申請資格、申領流程、服務詳情等，以下文章可以解答你的問題。

Click here for the English version

「居家安老」意指協助長者盡可能留在社區中安享晚年。「居家安老」是香港政府一大安老政策之一，亦是大部分長者的心願。根據統計處的數據，超過95%長者沒有打算入住安老院，當中更有81.4%的長者表示，即使日後身體狀況轉差，仍然希望居家安老而不用入住安老院。然而，對於家中有長期病患者的家庭來說，居家安老可謂困難重重。

由於患者多需要長期進出醫院，在家亦需要貼身護理，照顧者或未必有時間精力長期提供照顧。即使坊間有私家看護服務，但聘請專業護理人員上門照顧動輒花費上萬元，並非一般家庭所能負擔。如何做到「居家安老」，是眾多家庭面對的一大問題。為回應社會需要及落實「居家安老為本，院舍照顧為後援」的安老政策方針，社會福利署與本地居家服務機構合作，推出「長者社區照顧服務券試驗計劃 CCSV 」，資助在港家庭使用私家護理服務，藉此舒緩照顧者的財政和照顧壓力。

1.如何為長者申領社區券？
2.我家中的長者符合資格領取社區券嗎？
3. 社區券可以為我帶來什麼服務？
4. 參加「長者社區照顧服務券試驗計劃 CCSV」會否影響長者在中央輪候冊上的位置？

5. 收費如何？

6. 社區券下有那些服務單位讓我選擇？

1. 如何為長者申領社區券？

如果長者在資助長期護理服務中央輪候冊上，暫時未獲分配服務，照顧者就可以請就近老人中心的社工為長者作健康及家居護理評估。符合資格的長者會收到政府的邀請信，參與「長者社區照顧服務券試驗計劃 CCSV 」。照顧者和長者只需填妥並交回相關表格，就會獲得一份「社區券證明書」。照顧者和長者可憑此證明書，以資助金額購買指定社企、非牟利組織、及私人公司的照顧服務。

2. 我家中的長者符合資格領取社區券嗎？

如果長者如符合以下條件，就可以參加「長者社區照顧服務券試驗計劃 CCSV 」:

如果長者在社署安老服務統一評估機制下，被評定為身體機能中度或嚴重缺損，包括身體殘障 (如因中風所引起的活動障礙)和認知失調 (例如因年老出現認知功能減弱或記憶衰退的現象)；
正在中央輪候冊內輪候社區照顧服務及／或院舍照顧服務
同時未曾使用院舍服務或社區照顧服務

換言之，如果長者精神比較有活力，或者曾接受過院舍服務或社區照顧服務，他們暫時未能得到社區券。但社署亦有其他計劃資助這些家庭使用長者照顧服務。合資格長者得到邀請信後，可聯絡負責人員或社區主任取得進一步資訊申請社區券。

3. 社區券可以為我帶來什麼服務？

中心為本的服務包括：

4. 參加「長者社區照顧服務券試驗計劃 CCSV」會否影響長者在中央輪候冊上的位置？

5. 收費如何？

長者社區照顧服務券第二階段試驗計劃提供五個社區券服務組合價值 * 供長者和照顧者選擇。五個社區券服務組合價值分別為：每月為HK$9,870、$8,380、$7,460、$5,970 及 $4,130 （2020-21年度的價格）。長者可根據個人需要選擇合適的社區券服務組合價值。

社區券使用共同付款安排 ** ，即是服務費用由政府和服務使用者共同承擔。共同付款金額共分為六級。長者須支付的共同付款金額為社區券服務組合價值的5%、8%、12%、16%、25% 或40%，政府會負責支付社區券服務組合價值的餘額。舉個例子，如果長者選擇了價值為4,130元的服務組合，而手上的社區券標明長者只須支付共同付款金額的5%，則長者只需付$205，就可以獲得優質一對一上門護理服務。

*社區券的服務組合價值會根據綜合消費物價指數按年調整。
**共同付款安排以『能者多付』為原則，讓負擔能力較低的長者獲得較多的政府資助，資助最高可達95％。社署會根據長者及同住家人的收入進行經濟狀況審查，並參考政府統計處按季度更新的家庭住戶每月收入中位數，以釐定長者的共同付款級別，而長者家庭住戶的資產並不計算在內。

6. 社區券下有那些服務單位讓我選擇？

隨著年紀愈來愈大，家中長者或需不同的照顧和護理模式。有了政府這個資助項目，家人可以為長者找出最好的照顧模式。如欲了解Evercare的「長者社區照顧服務券試驗計劃 CCSV 」服務組合，可致電3905 4000查詢。

【留學生復課安排】英國、美國、加拿大大學新冠病毒核酸檢測政策概覽

Tue, 25 Aug 2020 01:32:00 GMT

開學在即，本地學生、 外國留學生和交流生都 準備重返校園。 鑒於全球新冠肺炎疫情尚未平伏，港英美加 各大學都就復課發佈了最新防疫措施，包括 病毒核酸檢測要求、 自我隔離措施、復課 授課模式 等。欲了解更多，請詳閱下文。(資料更新至 19/08/2020 )

Click here for the English version

新冠肺炎疫情預計仍會持續一段時間，無論是學生抑或是家長，都難免會對復課感到擔憂。為確保莘莘學子能為新學期做好準備，我們整合了一個概覽，列出香港、美國、英國和加拿大各主要/著名大學的復課後病毒核酸檢測安排，以供參考。留意復課措施會視乎疫情變化持續更新，同學應致電相應大學了解最新情況。

本地大學

我們揀選了香港五所主要大學，分別為香港大學、香港中文大學、香港理工大學、香港浸會大學和香港城市大學。如有需要，可點擊連結到各大學的防疫措施專頁了解詳情。

根據各官方網站顯示，以上大學都沒有強制要求學生和教職員在學期開始前進行新冠病毒檢測。只有個別學校，如香港中文大學，列名部分到過指定高風險地區的學生須提供新冠病毒核酸檢測陰性結果證明。詳情可瀏覽此處。目前，以上大學都安排網上及遙距課程，以減少非必要的社交接觸。若然疫情平復，大學將以網上及面對面形式授課。

英國大學

英國是不少香港學生留學的首選之一，我們揀選了以下十間熱門大學，並根據各大學的官方網站 (已包含連結) 整合了一個新冠病毒檢測安排概覽，以供參考：

1. 牛津大學
2. 劍橋大學
3. 杜倫大學
4. 曼徹斯特大學
5. 倫敦國王學院(KCL)
6. 倫敦大學學院 (UCL)
7. 倫敦經濟學院(LSE)
8. 華威大學
9. 諾丁漢大學
10. 埃克斯特大學

留意各校都會因應當地疫情調整校內復課政策。同學如有個別問題，建議向大學索取詳細資料。

加拿大大學

在此部分，我們整合了以下五間加拿大大學的防疫和新冠病毒檢測安排，並根據各大學的官方網站 (已包含連結) 整合了一個概覽，以供參考：

1. 多倫多大學(U of T)
2. 英屬哥倫比亞大學 (UBC)
3. 麥基爾大學
4. 皇后大學
5. 滑鐵盧大學

五間加拿大大學都有類似的新冠病毒檢測安排。如果同學有個別問題，建議向大學索取詳細資料。

復課授課模式

大學將以網上及面對面形式授課。學生可以選擇遙距學習，但校園會正常開放。

新冠病毒核酸檢測安排

五間大學均沒有提及強制新冠病毒檢測安排，但學生有責任密切監察自己的身體狀況。

強制隔離措施

應加拿大政府要求，所有從外國回來的學生需要進行 14天隔離檢測。政府會安排住宿、交通、日常用品的採購以及接受基本服務和醫療照顧的方法。無論旅客是否有病徵，都必須按照該計劃進行隔離。部分大學，如多倫多大學和英屬哥倫比亞大學都有為學生提供自我隔離的地點和配套。

美國大學

在此部分，我們根據 College Factual 挑選了十間較受港生歡迎的美國大學，並整合了各大學的防疫和新冠病毒檢測安排。各校都會因應當地疫情調整校內政策。同學如有個別問題，建議向大學索取詳細資料。我們了解過的學校包括：

1. 哥倫比亞大學
2. 康乃爾大學
3. 紐約大學 (NYU)
4. 加州大學洛杉磯分校 (UCLA)
5. 南加州大學 (USC)
6. 加州大學柏克萊分校 (UC Berkeley)
7. 賓夕法尼亞大學 (UPenn)
8. 約翰霍普金斯大學 (JHU)
9. 波士頓大學
10. 喬治城大學

做好防疫準備，是在新冠肺炎疫情流行下保障自身的最好方法。及早進行病毒檢測，與保持社交距離、保持衛生、進行自我隔離一樣，能夠保障你和你身邊的人健康平安。如果你希望子女在復課前在家中進行核酸檢測「買個安心」，點擊此處了解詳情和登記，24-48內就能得到檢驗結果。

封面圖片由 Annie Spratt 提供

COVID-19 Testing Policy for International Students in the U.S., U.K., and Canada

Mon, 24 Aug 2020 07:55:00 GMT

As students around Hong Kong prepare for the start of term, it’s important to bear in mind COVID-19 requirements, whether you are studying abroad or at home. From testing and quarantine to class arrangements, we will help you prepare for the new academic year. (Research dates to 19/08/2020)

點擊此處閱讀中文版本

For many university students and parents in Hong Kong, starting the 2020-2021 academic year will be significantly different from before, as COVID-19 continues to pose new challenges. Regardless of location, every university will have their own COVID-19 testing requirements and precautions for the start of term. We rounded up the most popular and prestigious universities attended by Hong Kong students – in Hong Kong, UK, US, and Canada – and we have compiled their COVID-19 policy into various posts.

Hong Kong Universities

We selected five of the main universities in Hong Kong: Hong Kong University (HKU), Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) , Polytechnic University (Poly U) , Baptist University (BU), and City University (City U) . The links included are to their COVID-19 FAQ page.

So far, none of these universities require negative COVID-19 test results before the semester starts, but some will require students to sign a health declaration form (such as CUHK ). All five universities have prepared for remote instruction for the time being, minimising in-person classes whenever possible, and when the situation stabilises, they will adopt mixed-mode teaching and learning.

U.K. Universities

For this list, we have chosen ten of the most popular U.K. universities attended by Hong Kong students.All of the information in this section was sourced from the individual university websites, which are linked here:

1. University of Oxford
2. University of Cambridge
3. Durham University
4. Manchester University
5. King’s College London
6. University College London
7. London School of Economics
8. Warwick University
9. Nottingham University
10. Exeter Universit y

Method of Instruction

All 10 U.K. universities mentioned in the article have adapted a flexible teaching program. Students have the option to do remote learning, but in-person activities such as small-group classes and lab practical work may be offered once government restrictions allow.

Testing Requirements

None of the 10 U.K. universities mentioned in the article require COVID-19 testing before term starts. Should you develop COVID-19 symptoms, you are encouraged by the NHS to self-isolate for 14 days. In addition, everyone with symptoms should ask for a test online or call 119 to arrange a test. The U.K. Government has confirmed that there will be no charge made to an overseas visitor for the diagnosis or, if positive, treatment of this coronavirus.

Quarantine Policy

The U.K. government requires anyone arriving from overseas to self-isolate for 14 days, except from this list of exempt countries , which includes Hong Kong.

Canadian Universities

In this section, we have chosen five of the most popular Canadian universities among Hong Kong students. All of the information in this section was sourced from the individual university websites, which are linked here:

1. The University of Toronto (U of T)
2. University of British Columbia (UBC)
3. McGill University
4. Queen’s University
5. The University of Waterloo

All 5 schools have very similar plans for the fall 2020 semester, but before returning it is best to check with the school’s website for more specific information.

Method of Instruction

Mix of online learning and in-person teaching: campus is open but remote learning is available.

Testing Requirements

No COVID-19 PCR test required, but students are expected to self-monitor symptoms as frequently as expected by the specific school.

Quarantine Policy

According to the Canadian Government, anyone entering Canada from abroad must have a 14-day quarantine plan which includes a quarantine location, transportation, how you will access groceries, essential services, and medical care. This plan is mandatory even if you have no symptoms.

Some universities, such as U of T and UBC, are providing locations and packages for students to self-isolate/quarantine.

U.s. Universities

In this section, we look at the COVID-19 testing policies of:

1. Columbia University
2. Cornell University
3. New York University (NYU)
4. University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
5. University of Southern California (USC)
6. UC Berkeley
7. University of Pennsylvania (UPenn)
8. Johns Hopkins University (JHU)
9. Boston University
10. Georgetown Universit y

This list of schools was based on a ranking of the top US schools for Hong Kong students, based on the Hong Kong student presence on campus and quality of education.

The best way to stay safe against COVID-19 is to be prepared: testing negative for COVID-19 will ensure peace of mind, as well as following health and safety precautions (social distancing, hygiene, quarantine when necessary). If you would like to get tested before school starts, click here to register and get your result within 24-48 hours .

【亞洲各國檢疫安排一覽】出入境限制、健康證明、做核酸檢測的需要、強制自我隔離措施

Thu, 13 Aug 2020 05:43:00 GMT

Click here for the English version

何謂核酸檢測？

那些國家要求入境旅客提交新冠病毒核酸檢測陰性結果證明或健康證明？當地有什麼強制隔離措施？

1. 中國內地

2. 澳門

3. 日本

4. 星加坡

5. 馬來西亞

6. 菲律賓

7. 印尼

8. 泰國

9. 韓國

免責聲明：我們明白客人在某些情況下需要外遊，但基於健康和安全理由，我們不鼓勵一切非必要外遊。我們不隸屬任何政府部門。上述資料只供參考。各國會根據疫情調整旅遊限制。若想知道自己是否符合該國出入境資格或有任何疑問，請瀏覽 Iata Travel Center ，並向相關領事館或航空公司查詢。如果您有任何病徵，請立即就醫。

出外公幹需要健康證明和核酸檢測陰性結果證明？選用Evercare的居家病毒核酸檢測服務，你可以安在家中接受檢測，24-48小時內取得結果。點擊此處了解我們的居家病毒核酸檢測服務流程或預約服務。

Coronavirus travel restrictions in Asia: PCR Test, Health Certificate, and Travel Quarantine Rules

Thu, 13 Aug 2020 05:34:00 GMT

Are you Fit to Fly? Before you leave for essential business travel, make sure you take precautions, such as proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test. Check out our article to learn more about travel restrictions, requirements, and the benefits of a negative COVID-19 test in Asia. （Research dates to 07/08/2020）

點擊此處閱讀中文版本

Now that some countries are slowly relaxing their travel restrictions , passengers are able to resume some form of essential travel . To contain the spread of COVID-19, various countries in Asia have specific requirements for travellers.

For example, the most common travel requirement is proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test .

What is a PCR test?

According to The U.S. Food and Drug Administration , a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test for COVID-19 detects nucleic acid from SARS-CoV-2 (the strain of coronavirus causing COVID-19). The samples collected for the test include deep throat saliva samples, and nasal and throat secretions collected with swabs.

As we explained in our last article , government COVID-19 testing cannot clear you for international travel. Fortunately, with Evercare’s PCR test, you can obtain medical certificates valid for international travel under special arrangement.

Which country requires the submission of a health certificate or a proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test? What are their travel quarantine rules?

1. China

2. Macau

3. Japan

4. Singapore

5. Malaysia

6. Philippines

7. Indonesia

8. Thailand

9. Korea

Disclaimer: Though there are some circumstances where essential travel is required, we are not endorsing leisure travel due to health and safety reasons. We are not an authoritative source on immigration requirements. To check your eligibility to travel, please check IATA Travel Centre and consult the relevant embassy of the country you are visiting and the airline you are travelling with.

If you want to travel safely and get PCR-testing in the comfort of your home, click here to learn more about the process and get started.

Let’s Compare In-Home vs. Hospital COVID-19 Testing

Tue, 04 Aug 2020 06:51:00 GMT

Do you want to get tested for COVID-19, but don’t know where to start? Choosing the right test for you means considering factors like cost, health certification, and risks. To make your life easier, here is a comparison of different COVID-19 testing options. （Last updated on 31/07/2020）

點擊此處閱讀中文版本

As Hong Kong faces the third wave of COVID-19, both government and private organisations are launching COVID-19 testing , aiming to make testing accessible to Hong Kong citizens. Here, we have compiled various factors, such as the COVID-19 testing process, fees, health certificate, exploring the pros and cons of different COVID-19 testing options in Hong Kong. We hope that our article can help you compare private and public COVID-19 testing, make an informed decision, and stay safe against the virus.

Items to Consider Before Taking the Test

1. Testing Capacity

*Sample bottles to be collected for at-home COVID-19 testing. It is a voluntary testing scheme, tentatively running for four weeks starting from July 27.

2. Eligibility

3. Testing Methods

*Union Hospital, Canossa Hospital, and Adventist Hospital provide nasal/throat swabs.

4. Testing Procedure

*Precious Blood Hospital and Baptist Hospital have already paused their public testing services. Other private hospitals may not be able to distribute tickets or provide booking slots because of limited quantities. For detailed information, please consult the websites of the specific hospital.

5. Sample Collection/ Submission Method

6. Result Waiting Time

7. Lab Report

8. Testing Fee

There are many ways to get tested in Hong Kong. However, our services offer you time flexibility , speed and accuracy – which can matter a lot to those of use who continue to work or feel unsafe in our environment today. Click here to learn more about the process and get started. For enquiries, please call 3905 4000.

【檢測服務比較】在家病毒核酸檢測服務 vs 醫院檢測服務

Tue, 04 Aug 2020 06:50:00 GMT

病毒核酸檢測服務怎樣選? 在家檢測或是醫院檢測服務那個風險更高，那些服務提供健康證明？檢測的流程又是如何安排？看完這文章就一目了然。（最後更新：31/07/2020）

Click here for the English version

香港爆發第三波新冠病毒疫情，多區接連出現確診個案。為堵截隱形傳播鏈，防止病毒在社區繼續散播，各私人機構和政府相繼推出在家病毒核酸檢測服務，期望做到全民檢測，讓更多港人受惠。以下我們整合了各個在家病毒核酸檢測服務的流程、收費、健康證明服務，並對比了這些服務與一般公立和私人醫療機構服務的性價比、優缺點等供參考。

選擇病毒核酸檢測服務前的考慮因素

1. 檢測服務限額

2. 適用對象

3. 檢測方法

4. 檢測流程

5. 樣本收集方法

6. 獲取檢測結果

7. 化驗所正本核酸檢測報告

8. 檢測費用

上述資料只供參考。診所/醫院會根據需求調整服務，如有任何疑問，請直接致電相關診所/醫院了解詳情。如果您有任何病徵，請立即就醫。

我們提供的病毒核酸檢測服務快速準確，時間有彈性。無論您是想做病毒檢測「買個安心」，或工作上需要健康證明，或是怕外出輪候時間長，都可選用Evercare的居家病毒核酸檢測服務。點擊此處了解我們的居家病毒核酸檢測服務流程或預約服務。查詢詳情，可致電 3905 4000。

How to Read Vital Signs: What’s Normal, When You Should Be Aware, and Other Tips

Fri, 24 Jul 2020 08:35:00 GMT

Vital signs are one of the best indicators of overall health. As a caregiver, it’s important to understand what these numbers mean and what they tell you about your loved one’s current health and possible risk factors. If your loved ones require extra support at home, Evercare's care professionals can monitor patients' vital signs, respond to unexpected situations, and provide a comprehensive range of home care services 24/7.

Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about taking vital signs at home.

點擊此處閱讀中文版本

Vital signs is generally a collection of 4-6 sets of numbers, including oxygen saturation, blood pressure, pulse rate, respiratory rate, and temperature. Vital signs should be monitored and recorded regularly with precision, consistency, and diligence. Regular surveillance allows caregivers to track changes in patient conditions, recognise early deterioration and prevent adverse outcomes.

Download this FREE vital signs record sheet to document the readings so you can keep tabs on the changes.

1. Oxygen Saturation

2. Blood Pressure

3. Pulse Rate (Heart Rate)

4. Respiratory Rate

5. Body Temperature

1. Oxygen saturation

The oxygen levels in our blood tell us how well oxygen is transported through the bloodstream to other body parts. It helps caregivers and doctors determine if the heart and lungs are functioning properly.

How do you measure the oxygen in your blood?

Measure your oxygen saturation with a pulse oximeter. Pick a finger that is warm and pink, with good blood circulation. Place the device on the nail bed. The probe should not be too tight on the finger (which would constrict the circulation), nor should it be too loose.

When should you be aware?

A normal reading of your blood oxygen level (SpO₂) is typically between 95%-100%. However, if you suffer from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), these ranges may not apply. If you’re not sure what is normal for your specific condition, you should consult a doctor.

When the SpO₂ goes below 95 percent, it suggests Hypoxemia, which can lead to low oxygen levels in the tissue and organs (Hypoxia), causing problems such as headaches and shortness of breath. In severe cases, it can damage heart and brain functions and even lead to death.

Tips to prevent a false reading

Simply rub your hands together to warm your hand and fingers before taking the measurements.
Keep your hand still because any movement can interfere with the light and produce false numbers.
Gel nails and nail polish can produce inaccurate measurements of SpO₂, as they block the light transmission. Remove any polish from your nails before using the device.

2. Blood Pressure

Checking your blood pressure regularly at home is an important part of managing hypertension, which can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and other cardiac conditions, and is a major cause of premature death worldwide.

How do you measure your blood pressure?

Measure your blood pressure with a blood pressure monitor. Measurement should be taken at around the same time each day. A blood pressure reading consists of two numbers in millimeters of mercury (mmHg):

Systolic pressure (the first number): the pressure in the blood vessels when the heart contracts to pump blood.
Diastolic pressure (the second number): the pressure when the heart relaxes between beats.

When should you be aware?

Blood pressure fluctuates throughout the day and varies with emotions and different levels of physical activities. Check out the graph below to understand what’s considered normal or unusual, as recommended by the American Heart Association.

Tips to prevent a false reading

Get in the right posture. Be seated comfortably with the back supported. Uncross your leg, and make sure your arm is supported and your upper arm is at the same level as your heart.
Do not exercise, smoke, or have foods or drinks containing caffeine (such as tea or coffee) at least 30 minutes before measurement. Rest and relax for 5 minutes without distractions (e.g., watching television).
Wear loose-fitting clothes.

How we can help:

At Evercare, our professional caregivers regularly monitor patients’ vital signs to evaluate their health status. If you would like to find at home support for your loved ones, find private nursing and home care services or call us at 3905 4000 .

3. Pulse Rate (Heart Rate)

Your pulse rate is the number of times your heart beats per minute. Measuring your pulse rate provides a real-time snapshot of your heart health. Your pulse rate and regularity can change and may signify a heart condition or other developing problems that need to be addressed. In an emergency, your pulse rate can help find out if the heart is pumping enough blood.

How do you measure your pulse rate?

You can easily measure your pulse rate on the inside of your wrist (below your thumb), or on the side of your neck, where your carotid artery is located. Here’s what you have to do:

Gently place your first three fingers on the artery. Do not use your thumb because it has its own pulse rate.
Count the beats for 30 seconds; then multiply the result by two to get the number of beats per minute (BPM).

If you are to check your elderly loved one’s pulse rate in the carotid artery, be careful not to press too hard, they may become lightheaded and fall. If you have trouble measuring your pulse rate, you can buy an electronic pulse meter to automatically check your pulse rate in your finger, wrist, or chest.

When should you be aware?

Your pulse rate typically lies between 60 BPM and 100 BPM. Active people often have a lower resting pulse (as low as 40) because their heart muscle is in better condition and doesn’t need to work as hard to maintain a steady beat.

If your resting pulse goes over 100 BPM, it’s not necessarily due to heart disease. There are a wide variety of non-cardiac factors that can speed the heart rate, including medication, air temperature, and overuse of caffeine. Speak to your doctor if you think your pulse is unusually high or low.

4. Respiratory Rate

The respiration rate is the number of breaths a person takes per minute. A normal respiratory rate tells you whether or not the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in your body is even.

How do you measure your respiration rate?

To measure the respiratory rate, simply count the number of times the chest rises and falls for 30 seconds and multiply the number by two. One complete breath comprises one full rise (inhalation), followed by one fall (exhalation).

As you count, assess the depth (laboured or unlaid) and the rhythm (regular or irregular) of your breaths.

When should you be aware?

Normal adult breathing rate is 12-20 breaths per minute. If the breathing rate goes below or above the normal rate, it can be a sign of central nervous system dysfunction or something serious, like an asthma attack or heart attack.

Tips to prevent a false reading

Always measure your respiratory rate at rest because exercise or even walking across a room can affect a person’s respiratory rate.
If the rhythm of breaths is irregular, instead of counting for 30 seconds, you might need to count for one full minute.

5. Body Temperature

How do you measure your body temperature?

Your body temperature can be measured in many places on your body, which gives a range of body temperature. You can take a patient’s temperature

by mouth (oral temperature)
by ear (tympanic temperature)
by the rectum (rectal temperature)
on the skin of the forehead over the temporal artery
under the armpit (axillary temperature)

Taking a rectal measurement generally provides the most accurate measurement of core body temperature. Rectal and tympanic temperatures are usually 1° higher than the oral temperature. Temperatures collected via the axillary or the temporal route will be 1° lower than the oral temperatures.

When should you be aware?

The normal body temperature of a person varies depending on gender, recent activity, food and fluid intake, time of day, as well as the stage of the menstrual cycle. For a healthy adult, normal body temperature can range from 36.5°C (97.8°F) to 37.2°C (99°F).

In most adults, an oral temperature above 37.6°C (99.7°F) or a rectal or ear temperature above 38.1°C (100.6°F) is considered a fever. Hypothermia occurs as your body temperature falls below 35 °C (95 °F).

In general, fever is a sign one’s body is fighting an infection. A persistent low-grade fever is a sign of an underlying issue. In other cases, a fever may also occur as a reaction to medicines or severe trauma or injury, such as heart attack, stroke, or heatstroke. Download Evercare’s free body temperature log sheet to better monitor your loved ones’ health condition.

Tips to prevent a false reading

If you’ve just taken a hot bath or completed an intensive exercise, wait at least an hour before taking your temperature. Wait at least 20-30 minutes after you smoke, eat, or drink a hot or cold liquid.

【免費下載】生命表徵記錄表

Thu, 02 Jul 2020 02:23:00 GMT

照顧者除了提供照顧，更重要的是要了解患病家人的身體狀況。我們的生命表徵記錄表能讓你有效地紀錄患者的身體狀況和變化，助你安心進行居家護理。

Click here for the English version

生命表徵指「血氧飽和度、體溫、脈搏、呼吸速率及血壓」五個指標，反映患者的即時生理狀況。當病人身體出現異常或疾病的徵兆時，生命表徵就會產生異常變化。記錄生命表徵除了能提示我們潛在疾病的線索，避免遺漏重要的傷害，造成延遲治療，也能了解患者的康復進度，因而讓我們適當調整或改變治療方法，幫助患者早日康復。

下載我們的生命表徵紀錄表，讓你能安心照顧你的至親。如果想了解何謂血壓標準值、上壓下壓的分別、血氧飽和度的重要等，可以看看這個懶人包。

Evercare的護理人員會定期為客人測量並監察生命表徵，讓照顧者因應情況作出即時應對。如果你想了解我們的居家護理服務詳情，可以致電 3905 4000，或瀏覽此網頁。

[懶人包] 一文教你讀懂生命表徵: 標準值、異常狀況、量度方法

【生命表徵懶人包】血氧指數、血壓、脈搏、呼吸速率及體溫

Tue, 30 Jun 2020 08:36:00 GMT

生命表徵是一組反映病人整體健康狀況的重要指標，懂得這組數字對在家照顧病人的照顧者尤其重要。我們需要了解這些表徵和背後的含義。一旦數字出現異常，即使醫護不在身邊，照顧者都可以適時應對。 Evercare的護理人員能為密切監察病人生命表徵，應對突發情況，並隨時提供全面上門護理服務。

以下我們整理了各項生命表徵的含義，正常值與異常數值和量度方法，讓您能在家中為您的至親提供更安心的照護。

Click here for the English version

一般來說，生命表徵 (英文: vital signs) 包含血氧飽和度、血壓(上壓、下壓)、脈搏、呼吸速率、體溫等等四至六個指標。我們在家中量度生命表徵時，不但需要準確無誤，更需要持之以恆地紀錄生命表徵數字，以便醫護人員觀測變化和趨勢，分析箇中原因。

我們的生命表徵記錄表能讓您有系統地記錄各項表徵數字，讓照顧更有效率。

1. 血氧指數

血氧飽和度代表血液中氧氣的濃度。氧氣透過呼吸系統進入人體後，血液就負責輸送氧氣到人體各處。因此，血氧飽和度是反映呼吸系統和循環系統運作的重要指標。若出現血液含氧量不足的情況，有可能是因為心臟或肺部出現問題。

何謂血氧正常值及異常值？

正常血氧飽和度普遍在95% – 100%，95%以下為供氧不足。如果病人出現此情況，病人可能患上低血氧症 (hypoxemia)，即是病人體內細胞出現缺氧 (hypoxia) 的情況。患者會有頭痛、呼吸急促等徵狀，嚴重缺氧更可能導致心臟或腦部受損，甚至死亡。

血氧指數異常有甚麼影響？

隱性缺氧（Silent Hypoxia）是指患者的血液含氧量下降至低於正常的水平，但患者並沒有出現明顯或任何的「低血氧」症狀如心跳加速或呼吸急促等，因此容易延誤診斷及治療，故此危險性較高，較常發生在小童、長者、表達或自理能力較差的人士身上。有些隱性缺氧的患者可以在短時間內由亳無症狀惡化成血氧過低、休克甚至致命。

有哪些測量血氧指數的方法？

要量度血液中的氧氣濃度，醫學上有兩種方法，分別為血氧機和抽血檢驗。

血氧機為非入侵性的方法，不但方便快捷，而且不會帶來痛楚，血氧計所量度到的是SpO2 （脈搏血氧飽和度），不同因素會影響其準確度，例如手指過凍或過濕、周邊環境過於光亮或塗有指甲油等。

抽血檢驗的為SaO2（動脈血氧飽和度），屬於入侵性的方法，需要由醫護人員抽血並需時化驗，此方法較為費時，亦會帶來痛楚，但所得的讀數會較為準確。

如何正確使用血氧機？

正確使用血氧儀有助監察低血氧有否出現惡化。一般可以一天量度兩次血氧濃度（早、晚），或按醫護人員指引作出更頻密的監察。使用血氧計前應確保儀器內正確地置有電池，開啟血氧儀後將食指放入指夾內（指甲需要朝上），然後耐心等候讀數顯示。若久久未有讀數出現，可嘗試放入另一隻手指，並留意手指會否過凍或濕潤、指甲是否塗有指甲油、附近環境會否過光等，以免影響血氧儀運作。

如何讀取血氧機上的數值？

血氧計的熒幕上會顯示兩組數字，SpO2的讀數即代表血氧濃度，另一數字為心跳率，正常水平為100或以下。

如果家人剛出院，Evercare的護理人員可以提供專業的出院後照顧服務，包括觀察病人有否出現術後症狀，並監測病人生命表徵。

2. 血壓

血壓是心臟將血液泵入血管所加諸於血管壁的壓力。最為人熟悉的血壓健康問題是高血壓，它是一種血壓持續處於高水平的慢性疾病，可能會導致中風、心臟病等等嚴重疾病。根據世界衛生組織資料顯示，高血壓是在全球引致早逝一大原因。定期在家中量度血壓能有效監測血壓，及早發現和控制高血壓。

如何量度血壓？
我們可以使用家用自動電子血壓計在家自行量度血壓，並盡量每天在同一時間測量。血壓一般以毫米水銀柱 (mmHg) 為單位，血壓計上的血壓度數由兩個數字組成：

上壓（前者）代表心臟收縮，泵血時對血管壁的壓力
下壓（後者）代表兩下心跳之間，心臟放鬆時血管壁所承受的壓力

何謂血壓標準值、怎樣才是高血壓？
人體血壓在一天中因應我們的情緒波動和活動情況，會在不同時間出現高低起伏。以下是美國心臟協會建議的成年人血壓水平分類：

如何準確量度血壓？

選擇一個舒適的位置靠著椅背坐。量測時不要交叉雙腳，將雙腳平放在地上。伸出手臂，將手肘和前臂自然地搭在桌子上，並確保手臂承托的位置和心臟在同一水平上。
在量度血壓前至少30分鐘內，避免運動、吸煙、進食或飲用含有咖啡因的飲品（例如茶和咖啡）。在一個舒適輕鬆的環境下放鬆心情，休息5分鐘，期間不要分心進行其他活動（例如看電視）。
最好穿著寬鬆的衣服。

居家護理怎樣幫到你：

Evercare 的護理人員會定期為病人紀錄各項生命表徵，評估病人的健康狀況。想了解更多上門照顧服務，可與我們的護理專家預約免費諮詢服務或致電3905 4000查詢詳情。

3. 脈搏（心率）

脈搏能告訴我們心臟一分鐘內搏動的次數。脈搏過快或過慢都可能是心臟出現問題的表徵。在緊急情況下，測量脈搏讓照顧者迅速判斷患者心臟供血的情況。因此，定時量度脈搏能讓我們更有效掌握心臟的健康狀況。

如何量度脈搏？
您可以以手指按在手腕內側（拇指對下），或按在脖子兩側的頸動脈上量度脈搏。以下為簡單的測量步驟：

以食指、中指及無名指的指尖，輕按在手腕/脖子的動脈上。因為拇指有本身脈搏，所以不能使用拇指量度。
量度30秒的脈搏次數，然後把所量度次數乘2，總數就是每分鐘的心跳率。
在替長者量度脈搏時，注意不要太大力按壓，以免他們感到頭暈並跌倒。你也可以購買電子脈搏感測器，只需將感測器放在指尖、手腕、和胸口等部位，就可以測量脈搏。

何謂脈搏正常值、何謂異常？
成年人的正常脈搏為每分鐘60到80下之間。長期接受運動訓練者或運動員因為心臟功能提升，心臟每次搏動的輸出量都較大，脈搏次數亦因此較低（能低至大概每分鐘40下）。
但照顧者要注意，即使一個成年人在靜止時脈搏次數為每分鐘100下以上，也不一定是因為心臟出現問題，因為藥物、空氣溫度、吸取過量咖啡因等等其他外來因素也會影響脈搏。若您覺得脈搏速度有異常，請向您的醫生查詢。

4. 呼吸速率

呼吸為肺部吸入及呼出空氣，一張一縮的連續過程，而呼吸速率就是一分鐘內呼吸的次數。呼吸速率能顯示身體內二氧化碳和氧氣比例是否平衡恰當。

如何量度呼吸速率？
觀察胸或腹部的起伏次數，一呼一吸為一次，量度30秒後乘2就能得出每分鐘的呼吸速率。量度時可以多加留意呼吸的深淺程度和頻率是否平均。
何謂正常呼吸速率？
成年人的正常呼吸速率為每分鐘12到20次，若低於此數，可能是中樞神經系統出現異常，或者是患上哮喘或心臟病等疾病的跡象。
如何準確量度呼吸速率？

盡量在靜止時量度，因為運動甚至行走都會影響呼吸速率。
若呼吸速度不均，可能需要持續量度1分鐘而並非30秒。

5. 體溫

如何量度體溫？
您可以在不同部位測量體溫：

口腔（口溫）
耳朵（耳溫）
肛門（肛溫）
額頭（額溫）
腋下（腋溫）
肛溫和耳溫一般比口溫高1°C，而腋溫和額溫則比口溫低1°C。多種測量體溫的方法，以肛溫最為接近身體內部核心溫度，但由於測量時有一定風險，建議照顧者採用其他測量體溫的方法。現在最常見得額溫測量雖然會受環境溫度影響，但測量快速容易。

甚麼時候要留心體溫？
成年人的正常體溫一般在36.5°C (97.8°F) 到 37.2°C (99°F)之間。當口溫持續在37.6°C (99.7°F)以上，肛溫或耳溫持續在38.1°C (100.6°F)以上，就為發燒；而當體溫低於35°C (95°F)，便會引發低溫症。因應不同性別、活動情況、進食的食物、飲用飲品、時間、月經週期等等因素，人的體溫也會有所不同。
一般而言，發燒是人體發炎反應的表現，代表身體可能在對抗病毒或病菌，例如持續低燒就提示我們身體可能出現毛病了。除此之外，藥物、嚴重創傷、和心臟病發、中風、中暑等等也能導致身體出現發燒反應。
如何準確量度體溫？
洗熱水澡，或進行激烈運動後，需要至少靜待1小時後才能量度出正確體溫。另外，進食冷、熱食品和飲料，和吸煙後，也需要等候20到30分鐘才能量度體溫。

[Free Template] Vital Signs Record Sheet

Tue, 30 Jun 2020 07:21:00 GMT

Abnormalities in one’s vital signs can spell trouble. If you care for a frail senior or a chronic patient at home, this is a useful tool that helps you look for patterns or trends and spot any abnormalities.

點擊此處閱讀中文版本

Vital signs — temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels — are used to measure the body’s basic functions. These measurements help you understand your loved one’s health condition, give clues to possible diseases , and show progress toward recovery.

Use this FREE caregiving tool to heed unstable vital signs so you can get your loved one the required medical attention in time.

Evercare’s professional caregivers can help you monitor your loved one’s vital signs so you can respond timely to their needs. If you would like to learn more about our home care services, visit www.yourevercare.com or call at 3905 4000.

Discharge From Hospital: What Is a Care Plan and Why Do You Need It

Mon, 15 Jun 2020 07:44:00 GMT

Caregiving expert and E vercare’s registered nurse Vinny Choi weighs in on post-discharge care in Hong Kong and explains how a simple care plan holds the key to a speedy recovery and long-term quality of life.

Your recovery from a surgery or a chronic illness does not end when you leave the hospital. There are many things you will need to manage yourself – from medication administration, follow-up visits, to complex medical procedures such as dialysis and tube feeding. Without the necessary expertise from doctors and nurses, patients and their family carers can easily feel disoriented. How can you get the same level of medical care at home after hospital discharge? The answer lies in an organised, personalised care plan.

We sit down with Vinny Choi, a senior lecturer and registered nurse whose nursing career spanned over 40 years. Drawing on her decades of experience in caregiving, she discusses the importance of a care plan, and how it can help post-discharge patients and their family carers better manage their care needs and identify further steps needed to take to cover themselves in the event of an unexpected medical crisis.

1. Can you tell us about yourself? What made you choose this field?

I developed an early interest in nursing after taking care of my mother, who suffered from cancer. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I first started, but my confidence grew with time and practice, and my love for caregiving grew fonder as I progressed. Despite the inevitable long hours and stress, my passion has not wavered after all these years.

2. Why is a care plan necessary for a patient’s recovery?

A care plan outlines the type of support needed to facilitate your recovery post-discharge. It is particularly important for elders and chronic patients transitioning from hospital to home because it will determine if the patient is medically fit to continue their recovery back home.

The plan will help healthcare professionals and family carers anticipate care needs and map out follow-up caregiving measures. Each care plan is personal to the patient, and it should take into consideration what’s important to the patient and their family, as well as their preferences.

If your loved one has just undergone surgery or have been discharged from the hospital, you can consider taking advantage of Evercare's post-operative care services to get 24/7 support throughout the recovery journey.

3. Who can help personalise a care plan?

Registered nurses will start planning your post-discharge care soon after you’re admitted to the hospital. They will provide guidance to both patients and their carers to ensure that patients receive the care as advised. They will learn how to take care of the wound, manage medication, and incorporate special dietary requirements and restrictions.

4. How is a care plan formulated?

Step 1: Assessment

Assess the patient’s health status and psychological and emotional state by reviewing doctors’ orders. Collect and analyse the patient’s data (e.g. vital signs).

Step 2: Nursing Diagnosis

Identify potential causes of symptoms, such as the causes of constipation, anxiety and mood change, and irregular breathing patterns. Unlike a medical diagnosis, a nursing diagnosis has to be conducted by a registered nurse .

Step 3: Planning

Devise strategies to manage symptoms. For example, the care plan will recommend lifestyle changes to relieve constipation, including an adjustment in fibre and water intake. Medication may be allocated when these measures are proved ineffective.

Step 4: Implementation

Put the plan into action. A nurse will help monitor the patient for signs of change or improvement, conduct important medical tasks, educate and guide the patient about further health management.

Step 5: Evaluation

Assess the outcome after a cycle of treatments. If the outcome is not satisfactory, nurses will go back to the first step to determine whether there’s a need for treatment change.

Evercare wants to be part of your recovery process from start to finish. Book a FREE consultation with us so we can help you plan for your post-discharge recovery.

You might also like:

—

About the expert

Home Modification for Fall Prevention: 4 Tips From Occupational Therapist Dr. Fowie NG

Wed, 03 Jun 2020 02:00:00 GMT

Each year, in Hong Kong, one in five individuals aged 65 or above suffer from falls, among which 75% sustain an injury, including head trauma and bone fracture. Falls are avoidable for most seniors. Evercare’s occupational therapist Fowie Ng offers four key pieces of advice.

It all began with a fall. Margaret’s mother , Ms. Cheung, injured her back slightly after she slipped and fell at home. It was not a severe injury, but Ms. Cheung never fully recovered from that fall. Over the years, her health deteriorated, and gradually, it took away her independence.

Ms. Cheung is among the growing number of elders whose lives were displaced by a serious, sometimes fatal fall. According to the World Health Organisation , falls are the second leading cause of accidental or unintentional injury deaths worldwide, accounting for an estimated 646,000 deaths every year. Most fatal falls occur among adults aged 65 or older. The positive correlation between age and the risk of fall can be attributed to balance impairment and reduced muscle strength, both of which increase with natural ageing processes.

Age may be one of the biggest risk factors for falls, but they don’t necessarily have to be an inescapable part of ageing. Here, Evercare’s occupational therapist Fowie Ng discusses the measures family caregivers can take to prevent accidents and injuries at home.

1. What is the first step that family caregivers should take to prevent accidents at home?

Prevention starts with awareness. Family carers should first evaluate their home’s safety. A Home Safety Assessment, usually conducted by an occupational therapist, offers critical information on how to best care for your ageing parents in their home environment. Usually, it takes about half an hour to an hour. Then, the occupational therapist will discuss with the family caregivers about equipment purchase and advise them on what needs to be changed around the home. If there is stock, families can expect to get their supplies within a few days.

2. What changes have to be made at home to accommodate an elder with decreased mobility?

When it comes to home modifications, family members always ask whether they can make changes while avoiding major renovations. Before, it used to be relatively tricky, but now, with all sorts of tools and gadgets available in the market, most of the equipment is flexible and does not require tearing down walls. We do our best to offer simple and cost-effective solutions when modifying a home.

3. What should older adults and their caregivers do to make their homes ready and safe?

For family caregivers, the main priority is to accident-proof your home. Accidents can happen in the bathroom or in the bedroom, where elders usually hoard their possessions. It’s important to help the patient declutter their home because an excess of junk at home, especially in the elders’ homes, can easily lead to a fall.

My second tip is to install grab bars and handrails. One particular room that poses a significant fall risk is the bathroom. Installing safety frames inside the bathroom can make toileting safer and easier. For elderly cancer patients, we typically suggest that they use a commode in the bathroom. At an early stage, the patient can probably still rely on the grab bars. However, as the patient’s health deteriorates, toileting can become difficult. Then is when a commode will come in handy.

Aside from toileting, having a suitable chair is also very important. Certain medications can cause fatigue, which reduces back muscle strength. We suggest that family caregivers purchase a high-back chair for better back support so that the elder can sit up comfortably while they have their meals or watch TV rather than having to lie down all the time.

My last tip is for family caregivers to incorporate signage inside their homes with different reminders and visual cues to prompt patients to stay vigilant and keep an eye out for safety. If they have a domestic helper, signage can help with communication.

Each patient has different needs, which is why we need to personalise each home modification plan.

Your home environment can influence how well your loved ones can perform everyday activities such as having a shower, using the toilet, or simply entering or leaving your home.

We understand that changing your home is a big decision and you should be involved in the process every step of the way. We have a team of experienced occupational therapists who can meet with you to understand your goals and how your home environment is influencing your loved ones’ independence and safety. Book a consultation to learn more .

You Might Also Like:

—

About the expert

How to Help Your Ageing Loved Ones Combat Loneliness in 4 Simple Steps

Thu, 21 May 2020 08:29:00 GMT

Loneliness can physically harm your elderly loved ones – it can raise levels of stress hormones and inflammation, which in turn increases the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, dementia, and other complications. Here’s how you can help your loved ones build resilience against loneliness and support them as they adjust to the changes of ageing.

We’ve all experienced loneliness from time to time: when a family dinner is reduced to mindless TV, when we move to a foreign place, or when everyone’s already made plans and you didn’t. It is a universal, “subjective feeling of sadness at being alone,” as explained by Julianne Holt-Lunstad and Timothy B. Smith, psychologist researchers at Brigham Young University.

However, over the last decade, what seems to be an occasional feeling has spiralled into a global public health concern, plaguing communities across continents. In the U.S., one in three adults over the age of 45 reported feeling trapped by loneliness. In 2018, the same issue was brought forward in the U.K., leading to the appointment of the world’s first “Minister for Loneliness”, whose sole mission is to curb the epidemic. On this side of the world, in Hong Kong, where the silver population continues to grow, there is no exception. According to a 2016 report by the Census and Statistics Department, 13.1% of the elderly in Hong Kong lived entirely by themselves, while 25.2% lived only with their spouse with no family.

Even though the sense of loneliness and isolation affects people of all ages, elderly people face particular disruptions. Studies show that loneliness peaks as people age into their 80s and 90s, in part due to a shrink in social circles and a loss of health and mobility. “It isn’t until the losses begin to mount in much older age — the loss of health and mobility, the deaths of spouses, family and friends — that people begin to be unable to bounce back and loneliness spikes,” Louise Hawkley, senior scientist at the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, told CNN .

When the temporary feeling of loneliness develops into a chronic condition, its impact is not to be underestimated. Earlier, researchers warned that the impact of loneliness is equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day . Seniors who reported they felt isolated or lacked companionship are more likely than others to become afflicted with Alzheimer’s and dementia. It is also well-established that the feeling of loneliness can heighten the risk of heart disease and stroke and raise the risk of mortality by more than a quarter . In Japan, death as a result of loneliness has become so prevalent that a specific word — Kodokushi — was created to describe it.

Furthermore, feelings of loneliness can be amplified during festivals. Festivals do bring together family members from different parts of the world, but for the elderly living alone, the constant emphasis on family-time coupled with the temporary solace provided by visiting children acts as a reminder of yet another year of loneliness, with their loved ones going back to their regular lives sooner than later. Sometimes, festivals also provide a platform to reminisce about old times, which may echo painful memories of one’s past, including tough and irreplaceable losses.

While the elderly might be placed in a vulnerable position during such times, there certainly is hope. Here’s how you can play a part to help your loved ones with feelings of loneliness.

1. Stay in regular contact

This is perhaps the most crucial of all. Being in frequent touch with your ageing parents, especially if you live apart, could go a long way to make them feel loved and cared for. It also instills a sense of security in them. Try to call them at least once a day to ask them if they have eaten, or remind them to take their medication. Checking-in daily would give the impression that you are around, thus making them feel less lonely.

2. Pay a visit from time to time

Nothing can replace the value of intimate, real-time contact with your loved ones. Truly, the physical presence of someone close to us is unparalleled. Help them to overcome isolation by spending quality time together. Activities such as a board game night and movie night can make a positive impact on their lives. Since festivals can be overwhelming in terms of loneliness, you may consider going the extra mile to see your parents even after the festive season is over!

3. Encourage them to volunteer

Giving back to society is one of the purest paths towards finding meaning in life. A sense of purpose in life can also reduce stress levels, commonly experienced during loneliness, and may help one live longer, according to Harvard Medical School. Plus, it would provide a chance for your ageing parent or loved one to step out of the house and interact with the community.

4. Be an active listener

One of the simplest yet effective things you can do is listen. Be it over the phone, via Skype, or in person, encourage the elderly to speak about themselves and their experiences. Oftentimes, amidst our busy schedules, we get so immersed in work that we forget to be a good listener. Ask questions, take an interest in their lives. This will not only provide them with an opportunity to impart wisdom and alleviate their feelings of loneliness, but also allow you to bond with your ageing parents better.

If your loved ones need a companion while you’re away from home, you can consider hiring an in-home caregiver. Click here to learn more.

Feature photo by Jenora Vaswani

[Free Template] Medication Log Sheet

Thu, 21 May 2020 03:37:00 GMT

Have you ever been prescribed multiple medications, all to be taken at different times of the day and week? One pill a day is manageable, but when the medicines add up, staying on schedule can become quite the hassle. This medication log sheet helps you better organise your medications, and ensures you or your loved ones are taking the right doses at the right time.

Sticking to your medication regimen is a primary determinant of health outcomes and treatment success. As one’s health deteriorates, the number and types of medications one takes can change frequently, complicating medication management.

A log sheet is a simple solution. And, it makes a great caregiving tool when multiple caregivers divide up duties. Keeping a medication log sheet helps:

Download our medication log sheet for FREE. Keep track of your loved one’s medication today.

How Can Family Caregivers Work With Music Therapists for Dementia Treatment?

Wed, 20 May 2020 06:46:00 GMT

Music therapy is a way of enhancing, improving, and contributing to quality of life, as expert Helen So rightly puts. Read what she and music therapist Emily Yeung have to say to family caregivers who want to incorporate music therapy in their caregiving routine.

The beauty of music therapy lies in its innate ability to share powerful connections with people who struggle to put their thoughts and feelings into words. People with dementia are often heavily medicated to subside their agitated behavioural tendencies, reducing their ability to fulfil emotional and spiritual needs.

Music therapists and family caregivers currently work together to effectively enhance patients’ communication skills and well-being. According to the Elderly Services Director of an elderly home in Hong Kong as interviewed by Our Hong Kong Foundation , music therapy is the most effective choice for dementia patients with decreased verbal abilities, as “through music they are still enabled to achieve catharsis by other modes of sensory stimulation.”

We chat with professionals Emily Yeung and Helen So who share their insight on how family caregivers can work with music therapists to nurture their relationship with their dementia-diagnosed relatives.

1. What is something caregivers should pay attention to when seeking help from a music therapist?

Emily: During an individual or group session, caregivers may have their own expectations from the patients. To make the best use of the session, they may sometimes overwhelm the patient by providing a lot of instruments and tasks. People with dementia tend to get anxious easily. The caregivers should really take a step back and observe what their patient can do without their assistance. It is about giving them the autonomy to make their own decisions and express themselves independently instead of being offered a lot of things they may not want to do. The important expectation caregivers should set is that they enjoy the session together.

2. How can caregivers work with music therapists to facilitate the treatment?

Emily: Caregivers can provide maximum assistance to us especially during the hands-on work. For example, they usually help in facilitating the patients’ engagement in the sessions if, maybe, they are wheelchair bound. They aid in engaging them with their instruments and providing access to them so that they can play more freely.

We generally make use of the relationship people with dementia share with their family caregivers so that we all can come together to participate as a group or a little community which makes them feel included. Otherwise, oftentimes we collaborate together to discuss the best available treatment for the patient.

Helen: True, the caregiver’s presence does make a lot of difference. The patients may feel more secure and at ease during the session with their presence. They definitely feel reluctant and reserved otherwise, but if a familiar face like a caregiver were present, they would at least be willing to try with us. After all, it is about providing them with the initial momentum to join in.

As an afterthought, Helen So added that according to her research and past experiences, she found that many caregivers and social workers already use music as a form of intervention. It complements well with physical therapy and medication, and professional healthcare workers use it to emotionally engage with their clients.

“Do not assume that people suffering with dementia are unaware. They know things, and can still feel everything. Our framing of them for what we read on google ranging from them being forgetful, needing extra care, responsibility, and so on, is misleading. They know and feel more than we can imagine.

You might also like:

—

About the Experts

Music Therapy: A Soothing Gem for People With Dementia

Wed, 20 May 2020 06:19:00 GMT

Her grandfather was in his late stage of Alzheimer’s, but the moment she would play old Shanghainese tunes, he would hum along, and sometimes, even dance with her. These were the amazing little details that made policy researcher Helen So convinced of the power of music therapy. It allows our elderly loved ones to “live a little”, she firmly believes.

Arts-based therapy is a promising and steadily budding field. According to a research published by Our Hong Kong Foundation , a spate of studies have highlighted the important role it plays in “creating a high-quality social environment where patients are induced to improve their state of mind, hence their quality of life as well.” It employs different art forms such as music, painting or dancing, and helps individuals cope with a mental illness or physical disability , such as dementia. Bound together with cognitive impairment as the commonality, dementia is the umbrella term which includes different types of disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease.

We converse with music therapist Emily Yeung and policy researcher Helen So with a concentration in arts and culture as they help us understand how music therapy works and eases the lives of people with dementia.

1. What is music therapy?

Emily: Music therapy is a research-based form of practice and profession which uses music intentionally to improve people’s well-being. To understand the use of music, we can see it as engaging in activities like singing, playing instruments, and composing music in a therapeutic relationship. Therapy can be understood as the therapeutic goals we have in mind through which we would like to improve a person’s well-being in varied aspects, such as physical and motor skills, speech and language ability, and psycho-social wellbeing. For example, with people with depression, we work to enhance their mood, and gradually help with their deep-seated issues through the emotional expression in music.

Helen: Music, like any other form of expressive art gives people a chance to express and release emotions that have been suppressed inside; it is a form of catharsis.

2. Is there a process you follow when you begin sessions with a new client? What is the tentative duration of the therapy?

Emily: Essentially, we need to understand what their symptoms are. We identify the area they need help in which guides our design of their therapeutic goals. For example, people with dementia may lose their spatial sense and perception of time. One of the aspects of using music clinically is that we can sing to them and the lyrics could be about today’s date, where they are and the address of the care-home that they are living in. So it is a way to anchor them to the here and now. This form of improvised singing helps to reinforce their memory.

Helen: There’s no one formula to it. It is person-centred. From my understanding and the research I’ve conducted , each person is treated as a separate case, starting from zero, because what lies at the crux of music therapy is also the building of mutual relationships and shared mutual respect. We use music as a bridge to connect with the person on a deeper, and non-verbal level.

There is no fixed duration. I would understand it as bringing about a progressive change during the course of the therapy.

You might also like:

3. How does music therapy emotionally aid people with dementia?

Emily: I believe music has a unique power of its own. When we play the elderly’s favourite music or familiar songs, it evokes memories, and especially the emotions behind those memories. This reconnection is very significant in our work with older patients and with patients with dementia who experience a decline in their memories and communication skills. This emotional connection makes them feel that someone understands them without having to use a conventional language to convey that.

Older people may sometimes feel lonely. When they play improvised live music together in the session, music is a way to provide social support to them, so that they can feel that they still have connection with other people. It is a non-verbal sense of communication they share which bounds them together. They tend to feel happier and more connected with each other.

4. We understand that antipsychotic drugs are used for people with dementia. How do drugs and music therapy coexist in this case?

Helen: Sedative drugs have side effects such as feeling moody and depressed. A lot of music therapists would therefore agree that music therapy intervention does not only help with dementia, but also helps to alleviate the side effects that arise out of taking those drugs.

Emily: Music therapy can be understood as a complementary form of intervention working together with drugs. The essence of this therapy is that it helps the patients to connect with their inner emotions. It relieves some sense of loneliness and engages them on an interpersonal level so that they can communicate more easily. I think these social and communicative aspects are those that drugs cannot achieve. When they feel agitated, they find kindness in the music which helps them to gradually calm down. It soothes them.

Let our professional caregivers assist you with activities of daily living and re-introduce music into the lives of your elderly loved ones. Together, we can help them regain their voice and make a meaningful connection with your family.
—

About the Experts

Restructuring Life: Becoming a Family Carer to Your Loved One

Wed, 13 May 2020 06:29:00 GMT

Life took an unexpected turn when Margaret’s mother had a fall in 2010. Now, sharing her lessons learned, Margaret offers advice on how to deal with isolation, burnout, helplessness, and other common issues facing many Hong Kong family carers on the same boat.

Having looked after her mother for the last nine years, Margaret experienced firsthand the harsh realities of caregiving. With each accomplishment came new challenges, fuelling uncertainty and stress. Fortunately, she found her silver lining through professional help. Here, she tells her story of love, strength and resilience, sharing how she pushed through the challenges of caring for a loved one with multiple chronic illnesses.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

1. How and when did you become a family carer?

I became an active carer in 2010. It was something that happened quite suddenly. My mother had a fall, and she hurt her back slightly. That was the first time I became very hands-on with her caregiving. Previously, she lived by herself and took care of her medication and doctor’s appointment. Since that one fall, however, I realised I had to keep an eye on her a bit more.

2. What was it like being thrust into a caregiving role?

When I started to take care of my mother, I realised that I had no idea what health conditions she was in, what medication she took, and how exactly was her condition. I knew she went to a cardiologist and a psychiatrist, but there were all these other issues that she was experiencing that I had no idea of. All of a sudden, I felt lost and overwhelmed.

3. What was the biggest challenge you faced? How did you deal with it?

People expect that just because she’s my parent, I should know how to take care of her. No, you don’t. There’s a whole school of knowledge about caregiving. While I’m not one who shies away from scientific information, the learning curve was still very steep because of the rapidly changing needs and conditions.

A month after my mum succumbed to pneumonia, which happened after she had her second fall, she developed a new condition. Since she was on so many drugs, her kidney was so compromised that it shut down. In the end, we had to put her on dialysis. Every time something happens, it is a whole new ball game. If it weren’t for Evercare’s nurses, who pointed me in the right direction, I would be lost in so much information.

If you, too, ever feel lost, ask questions. A lot of the time, health professionals assume you know. When you don’t, don’t feel stupid asking anything.

4. When caregiving became overwhelming, what did you do to manage the load?

In hindsight, one of the things I’m glad I did was to hire professional help. If you can afford it, do it. It’s very difficult to take care of somebody else. It’s draining; it’s stressful; it plays on your mood. The patient has moods; you have moods. Everybody’s emotional. That is why you need somebody who comes in, who’s not emotionally involved, to do the stuff that needs to be done.

5. How do you overcome the mindset challenges of being a family carer?

As a family carer, you’ll be looked at in a certain light by the community. There has been a lot of finger-pointing on all sides – I felt it from medical professionals, my mother’s friends, and from my own family.

When others blame you for inadequate care and effort, you have to be strong. Don’t beat yourself up because these people don’t know what you’ve gone through. You may find yourself on a track that nobody understands, but always remember that you are already doing everything you possibly can to make the situation better.

6. What is the most important advice you would give to someone suddenly thrust into a caregiving role?

One of the things I did was to find myself a support system. Find someone to be your sounding board, to help you make decisions, or share the burden. When my mother had another bout with her heart conditions a few years ago, I decided to switch to a different doctor. We worked as a team – with a single goal of getting the patient better.

It also helps if you are proactive in making decisions. Once I started to recruit the people that I liked to be on my team, I felt that I was leading the fight, that I was no longer trying to play catchup.

7. What’s the most rewarding thing about caregiving?

For many family carers, there is no happy ending, but one thing that I’m grateful for is that I had the opportunity to do the best I could and learn these many things. Now I feel like I have something that I can share or help the next person. That’s the most rewarding part .

Enrolled Nurse (EN) and Registered Nurse (RN): What’s the Difference?

Tue, 05 May 2020 00:55:00 GMT

Enrolled Nurses (EN) and Registered Nurses (RN) share similar scope of practice, but do you know who is best suited to care for your loved one? Read on to get a better understanding of the available types of nursing services before taking the next step in hiring a professional caregiver.

You are not alone in being confused about the difference between an EN and an RN. The healthcare field can be a maze of confusing jargon and acronyms, complicating choices of service users and professionals alike. Navigating your way around these abbreviations can help you hire the right caregiver for your loved ones.

There are many different levels of nursing credentials. Both RNs and ENs are professionally certified healthcare personnel and valued members of the healthcare force. As of 2018, Hong Kong has over 56,000 registered and enrolled nurses, serving patients across every care setting. While their duties are fairly similar, the main difference lies in their qualification, education and experience.

Professional Nurse Roles:

Qualifications

Duties

ENs and RNs share similar job scope. While ENs possess the basic nursing competence and professional attributes, they tend to work alongside RNs, practicing general nursing under their direction and supervision.

*Certified dialysis nurses can also provide dialysis services

Evercare has a large pool of caregivers that can provide elderly care , cancer care , stroke care and dementia care . If you are looking to find private nursing or home care services , feel free to book a consultation or contact us so that we can find the right support for you within 24 hours.

Price Comparison Between an EN and an RN

In Hong Kong, ENs are usually priced between $199-$216 (per hour), whereas a RNs is generally priced between $225-$246 (per hour). Pricing varies depending on the operator.

At Evercare, we offer competitive pricing on a wide selection of home care services . Learn more about our registered nurses and enrolled nurses hourly prices to make an informed decision that works best for you.

How to choose between the two?

Since most of the ENs graduate from a registered training organisation within the vocational education training (VET) sector, their training is more practical than theoretical. On the contrary, training for RN qualifications is designed based on a theoretical and philosophical framework. RNs are equipped with adequate theoretical knowledge and wide clinical exposure to take an all-encompassing view of the situation surrounding their patients.

If you are looking for someone who can perform a more comprehensive patient assessment, you could use the help of a RN. If your loved ones need help with their basic needs of living or professional nursing care, ENs would be an affordable alternative.

If you would like to learn more about other caregiving options, you can request a free consultation session here .

Caring for a Family Member With Mental Illness: Spot the Warning Signs of a Relapse

Wed, 29 Apr 2020 01:36:00 GMT

When a loved one is diagnosed with a mental illness, they may become withdrawn, anxious, unpredictable, or even aggressive at times. How should caregivers respond in the face of these changes? Psychiatric nurse Ms. Fong shares her advice.

Mental health problems are more common than you think. In Hong Kong, one in six people live with some form of mental disorder. Mental illnesses change people in a way that they are unable to act, feel, or think in ways they want to, the impact varies from day to day and from person to person. For some, this means experiencing extreme and unexpected changes in mood. For others, it means having hallucinations, and not being able to think or communicate properly.

Having worked as a psychiatric nurse, with five years of clinical experience, Ms. Fong has seen how mental illness affects people, as well as their caregivers, in harrowing situations. Here are some of her strategies on how caregivers can help address some of the most prevalent mental health disorders.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

1. What causes mental illness?

Our minds, like our bodies, are shaped by a complex array of factors. While the exact cause of most mental illnesses is not known, it’s become clear, through research, that many illnesses are caused by a combination of biological, psychological, social, economic, and environmental conditions. From the environment we live in to our childhood experiences, from genetic variations to our access to resources, all of which can lead to mental health issues.

2. A lot of severe mental illnesses can be chronic and lead to relapse. What warning signs should caregivers watch out for to prevent a more severe episode from developing?

Warning signs vary between individuals, and may differ from one mental disorder to another, common ones include:

Intense mood swings are one of the telltale signs of a relapse. Patients become tense, irritable, or agitated. For example, a person who has manic syndrome gets annoyed more easily than usual. They might also go from episodes of very high energy to extreme lows of depression.

In many cases, a relapse can put the patient at risk of self-harm. For example, patients who relapse into depression may use self-harm as a way of dealing with intense emotional pain. Everyday objects can turn into unsafe weapons for self-harmers who are in a vulnerable state. I’ve seen patients harming themselves with a pen and chopsticks.

Body language tells a lot about an individual’s emotional status. A person experiencing relapse might have aggressive body language; for example, they might hold their fist or pull their hair.

3. What are some strategies that caregivers could use to cope with a loved one’s sudden breakdown?

While mental disorders such as bipolar disorder and depression can flare up seemingly out of the blue, learning to identify patterns can provide caregivers with clues on when their loved one is in a vulnerable state. The cycles of most mental disorders are not fixed and can stretch for days. By keeping a mood journal or using a mood-tracking app, you can get a better understanding of the triggers of a relapse, develop and refine your coping mechanism.

When your loved one is hovering on the brink of a severe breakdown, a simple distraction is the best medicine. Starting a conversation, for example, is a common strategy psychiatric nurses adopt to redirect patients’ attention to focus on things that do not agitate them. Caregivers can invite their loved ones to engage in mindless activities, such as folding towels to distract them from their distress.

Common mistakes made when caregivers try to de-escalate their agitated loved ones include arguing or taking the emotional state personally. Asking your loved one to calm down is not helpful and can easily increase the acuity of the situation. Instead, caregivers should identify their wants and feelings, listen, and approach their loved ones in a reassuring, respectful, and non-judgmental manner.

If you are caring for someone who’s struggling with mental health issues, it is normal to feel unprepared or confused. When you’re feeling inadequate, there is always professional help available. Evercare has a team of psychiatric nurses to guide you through it. Click here to learn more .

A Psychiatric Nurse’s Tips on How to Cope When Your Loved One Has a Mental Illness

Sat, 25 Apr 2020 01:00:00 GMT

When your loved one struggles with a mental disorder, there are no easy answers, but there are a few things you can do to give the person you are caring for the best chance of recovery.

In Hong Kong, at least one in six residents suffer from a common mental disorder, such as anxiety, depression, and psychotic disorder . These mental disorders result in not only physical changes but also changes in thinking, behaviours, and feelings. The unpredictable and complex nature of these conditions, coupled with the stigma attached to mental illness, presents a particular challenge for caregivers of mentally-ill individuals.

We talk to Ms. Fong, an in-home caregiver at Evercare and a psychiatric nurse with five years of clinical experience. She shares valuable insights into the challenges faced by mental health sufferers, and advises caregivers on how they can provide emotional support to reaffirm their loved one’s sense of self and capacity to recover.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

1. Can you tell us about your work as a psychiatric nurse? What made you choose this field?

Prior to working as an in-home caregiver at Evercare, I practiced at Queen Mary Hospital, caring for youngsters and seniors who struggled with mental illness. Because of the stigma associated with working in psychiatry, my initial decision to serve this vulnerable population was met with many questions and concerns. My colleagues were curious as to why I had chosen to start my nursing career in a psychiatric unit. After all, it was not the most popular of options in the field, but I took an interest anyway. Perhaps it was a calling.

2. You mentioned the stigma around mental illness. How has that affected mental health sufferers?

Stigma has dampening effects on the overall rehabilitation of individuals suffering from mental disorders. Many sufferers are reluctant to seek help or admit to having a problem because they are afraid of being mistakenly labelled as “weak, violent, and abnormal.” Instead, they withdraw from others. Many receive no support or understanding from their families and society. The lack of help and isolation can exacerbate their symptoms, which, in turn, creates a vicious cycle.

3. Do you have any advice for caregivers on how to communicate with and support their loved one who has a mental illness? What are the dos and don’ts?

Understanding is the first step to acceptance, and only with acceptance can there be successful caregiving and recovery. Caregivers should do more research on the illnesses to understand what to expect, its symptoms, and risk factors. Only after that can the caregiver get a better understanding of their caregiving situation and develop effective coping strategies to respond to their loved one’s needs and demands.

Listen non-judgmentally. Be proactive in making conversation and be patient—with yourself, your loved one, and with the process. Don’t raise your voice or attempt to intimidate or “discipline” the person. Avoid sounding patronising or condescending.

At first, it seems like you’re talking to yourself, but over time, the conversation will allow you to gain valuable insight into the experiences your loved one is going through, and it will increase their willingness to hear what you have to say.

Caregivers should be aware that progress is an arduous and enduring process for someone with mental disorders. Therefore, they shouldn’t feel defeated when things don’t progress. When your loved one is experiencing a breakdown or a relapse, stay beside them and give them reassurance.

You might also like:

Featured photo by @ danielcgold

How Can You Get Medical Help While Social Distancing?

Thu, 23 Apr 2020 08:05:00 GMT

Technological advancements have yet again proven themselves to the masses. As the global health crisis continues, with coronavirus sweeping the world, the public has found some benefits in consulting medical professionals online from the safety of their homes.

Human beings have evolved to find new ways of coping with unprecedented changes. Now, even the conventional doctor visits during critical times have taken a reroute — video calling your family doctor instead of making a trip to the clinic. The premise is simple, and the patient-doctor relationship remains intact. If you are experiencing any symptoms or other health problems, the medical professional behind the screen will help in the diagnosis and further monitoring, while educating you on the next steps to be taken.

The coronavirus pandemic has overwhelmed the healthcare systems even in the most well-developed countries. Hospitals are full to the brim and carry the risk of passing the infection. In Hong Kong, The government long ordered the closure of institutional centers, public amenities etc. to contain the transmission of the virus. This led to a major cutdown in the services offered by day care centres for the elderly and other non-governmental organisations, leaving a huge chunk of the population in distress.

Fortunately, the situation has instigated a switch to telehealth or remote check-ups via telephone/video calls . A quick evaluation of whether the person needs more intimate care is made during the virtual interaction after the medical specialist assesses the symptoms and condition.

“This pandemic has been a catalyst for moving providers to use telehealth,” said Dr. Mathew Weimer, US’ Valley Health’s Vice President of health services and chief medical officer, “Using telehealth for sick, well, and routine appointments is safe and effective (as it keeps everyone who is sick from spreading their illness; be it the flu, cold or virus). This is an incredibly important tool for maintaining access to care for our patients while also practicing social distancing.”

Although more and more people have started to accept the new change, some have shown their reasonable hesitation. Virtual meetups do not replace face-to-face interactions and the use of body language is a prime source of communication, particularly for psychologists. The virtual interaction therefore remains limited. Decreased cognitive abilities due to the age factor also make this transition challenging and, most importantly, real time social connections and interactions remain important for the wellbeing of mankind.

Keeping the costs and benefits in mind, research shows that the switch is not the best alternative for everyone. However, it is undoubtedly a practical and safer option for our current situation. Besides, telehealth is also advantageous to us due to the following:

A study by Red Quill Consulting Inc., revealed that an average virtual check-up would cost around $40-$50 while its in-person care counterpart may cost around $176 per visit. Transportation costs, which may be high if you live away from the city or in the rural areas, would also be saved as long as you have a stable internet connection.

While we look at the quick advancement of telehealth and anticipate how this will affect the future of healthcare, we also learn how technology is helping free up hospital resources for people with more urgent needs and alleviate the risk of people who could be successfully treated remotely. With easier access and shorter wait times, telehealth has the potential to enhance engagement between patients and health care providers, improving the continuity of care.

Telehealth allows getting people the care they need anytime and anywhere, without missing work. Telehealth entails that you always have someone to answer your queries just one click away as many healthcare companies even provide easy, 24-7 assistance. In fact, research by Accenture Technologies showed that 78% of the surveyees were inclined towards receiving virtual care as opposed to in-person consultation, citing convenience as their biggest reason.

The Future of Telehealth

For those of us taking care of our loved ones at home, we will know that getting them to the hospital may not be as simple as it sounds. Poorly built access points, private ambulances and dangerous travel are just a few challenges we experience when having to go for checkups. The future of telehealth shows us the increased options we, as caregivers and families, may have with our healthcare team.

Telehealth is definitely here to stay, and expand even further from here.

Contact us here to see how caregiving has also been made digital at Evercare and how our professionals keep you updated throughout your caregiving journey.

When Autistic Kids Are Coming of Age, How Can Parents Be Prepared?

Wed, 15 Apr 2020 07:53:00 GMT

How can we, as a community, support autism into adulthood? Occupational therapist Amanda Wu has the answer.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a general term for a group of complex developmental disorders, characterised by impairments in social interaction, language, and communication skills, combined with rigid, repetitive behaviours. According to government figures, there were more than 10,000 autistic students in the 2017/18 school year in Hong Kong. In the next decades, when these students age out of the school system and transition into adulthood, they will need more support and resources to meet their many needs.

To help parents navigate the special challenges ahead , occupational therapist Amanda Wu shares her advice on how caregivers can ease their child’s transition from childhood to adulthood and help them thrive.

1. How do occupational therapists collaborate with other health care professionals to facilitate the treatment?

The first step on the road to treatment is to determine the goals, which are set through regular interdisciplinary meetings with other health care professionals, such as physiotherapists and speech therapists, as well as family caregivers.

Therapy with autistic patients can last for years because individuals who have successfully managed certain symptoms may need additional treatment as they continue to adjust to changes in life. Additional therapy sessions serve as a way to help patients re-establish control as new life challenges emerge and when circumstances change.

2. Any advice for family caregivers? What can they do to enable their high functioning autistic children a smoother transition into adulthood?

Parents tend to take an appeasement approach when their child throws a tantrum in exchange for a moment of peace. It’s far from the solution. What parents should do, instead, is to identify the reasons behind the mood swing. Then, set attainable goals with the therapist to help their child improve upon things they struggle with and give them tools to live an independent life.

Very often, parents micromanage their child’s life — which is understandable, given that children with autism respond to consequences and punishment differently. However, such a parenting style might not necessarily work as the child grows up. It can backfire, undermining the parent-child relationship and the child’s ability to solve problems. Parents should have a clear sense of where their child’s strengths, challenges, skills, and interests lie and learn to let go of the steering wheel when it’s time.

Decision-making is an important aspect of building confidence. By incorporating small choices into the daily routine and conducting regular reviews, parents can help children understand better the cause and effects in life, and thereby develop positive decision-making skills through adolescence and adulthood.

3. What should family caregivers pay attention to when seeking help from occupational therapists?

There is a misconception among family caregivers that therapy alone is sufficient to cure whatever problems their child is facing. Perhaps due to a lack of understanding and preconceived notions, many parents assume that autistic symptoms will gradually disappear as the child grows up. That is not true. Parents should be in the driver’s seat when it comes to helping children with ASD. Home education and therapy should complement each other. When the child leaves the therapy session, the learning should continue into their home, with parents playing an active role.

Successful treatment demands effective two-way communication between therapist and family caregivers. Therapists and doctors only see one side of the child, so they rely on family caregivers to provide feedback on how the autistic child behaves in other settings. It is, therefore, important for family caregivers to keep in touch with their medical team as often as possible.

About the expert

An Occupational Therapist’s Strategies for Helping Autistic Children Thrive

Sat, 11 Apr 2020 07:23:00 GMT

It’s one of the fastest-growing developmental disabilities in the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) , one in 160 children has an autism spectrum disorder — a lifelong condition that affects social and communication skills. Here’s what you need to know if your child is coping with autism, according to an occupational therapist.

Autism is not a single condition, but a spectrum of complex disorders for brain development. According to Hong Kong’s Education Bureau , there were more than 10,000 autistic students in the 2017/18 school year in Hong Kong, but the Autism Children Foundation puts the number of children with autism at 25,000. While experts agree that there is no cure for autism, early intervention can make a huge difference.

We chat with veteran occupational therapist Amanda Wu as she walks us through the many approaches to managing the symptoms and how an occupational therapist’s involvement can empower those on the spectrum.

1. Can you tell us about your work as an occupational therapist? What made you choose this field?

It became clear during the first job that I was meant to work with children who exhibit neurological disorders and developmental delays. I work with children of different age groups. It is an absolute pleasure to see the progress as they grow up and be able to track their improvement in social and motor skills, among many other things. It brings me such joy and fulfillment.

2. How do occupational therapists help children with autism spectrum disorder?

As an occupational therapist, we provide adapted training. We tailor our program to the particular individual’s strengths and needs to enable them to play their role in various social settings. There are two main fields that we help with.

Sensory processing disorder is common among ASD individuals who get easily overwhelmed by the everyday auditory, visual, and other stimuli. To treat this disorder, we adopt the sensory integration (OT-SI) approach, designing fun, stimulating activities to challenge patients’ senses and empower them with strategies and coping skills. The goal is to extend these learned skills and appropriate responses beyond the clinic to home, school, and life.

We also focus on developing children’s self-care ability, providing them with the therapeutic support they need to access the community and be a part of it. We look at their play skills, social skills, and fine-motor skills. What we are targeting are simple tasks like buttoning their shirt, wiping their mouth, or holding a pencil. As the children transition into adulthood, the focus switches to other functional, vocational skills.

3. Will symptoms of autism be alleviated as one age s ? Are there any differences in treating adults and children?

Autism is a lifelong disorder with no known cure. However, occupational therapists can adjust their therapeutic approach to help set the stage for a smoother transition as the ASD child navigates through different stages of life.

When treating autistic children, we start with basic life skills. As autistic children make the transition from childhood to adolescence to adulthood, we take on a more functional approach, targeting specific transitional and vocational needs. For example, we teach them how to avoid conflicts in the workplace or use tools to complete certain work tasks.

About the expert

Health Care Worker (HCW) and Registered Nurse (RN): What’s the Difference?

Tue, 07 Apr 2020 04:38:00 GMT

There’s a common misconception that all health care professionals are the same, when, in fact, each of them undertakes specialised training, contributing to a difference in their capability level, job scope, and service pricing. This article will help you understand the many differences between an HCW and an RN.

As you care for your loved ones, you will most likely be supported by many different home care professionals, each responsible for providing specific types of care and services. Here’s a review of two of the most common — and confusing — types of health care professionals: Health Care Workers (HCW) and Registered Nurses (RN).

Health Care Worker:

Health Care Workers assist clients with personal care tasks, including bathing and dressing. They can also provide some basic healthcare-related services, such as measuring vital signs, administering medications, or assisting with medical equipment.

In Hong Kong, health care workers must be certified. To achieve certification, a health care worker must complete at least 300 hours of formal training through the government-approved “Health Worker Certificate” course provided by the Employees Retraining Board. In order to practice, the health care worker must pass the certification examination and be registered as a health worker at the Licensing Office of Residential Care Homes for the Elderly of the Social Welfare Department .

Registered Nurse:

In a home setting, registered nurses often serve as case managers, taking care of the planning and coordination of care, overseeing all aspects of the home care service that the client receives through the agency. Registered nurses can perform health assessments, develop care plans, provide nursing care, and supervise other members of the home care team, including enrolled nurses and health care workers.

A registered nurse should hold a Bachelor’s degree in nursing obtained from a 5-year tertiary education program. To practice as a registered nurse in Hong Kong, one must be registered or enrolled as a registered nurse with the Nursing Council of Hong Kong.

Here’s a simple infographic to help you visualise the differences.

If you would like to learn more about other caregiving options, you can request a free consultation session here .

First Step to Successful Caregiving Is to Build Your Care Team

Wed, 01 Apr 2020 07:38:00 GMT

When Wendy Yu’s mother suffered a disabling stroke, it derailed Wendy’s life as well. A little over a year into her caregiving role, she is still very much in a steep learning curve. We sit down with Wendy as she shares her insights coping with the aftermath of this debilitating experience and advice for new caregivers who are finding themselves on similar paths.

1. How and when did you become a caregiver?

I stepped up to be a caregiver after my mum suffered a severe stroke on February 7th, 2019. Our family sent her to Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital , where she underwent surgery. Since then, she has been in a coma, and hasn’t woken up. Seeing my mum in the condition she’s in, I’m still not used to it. I’m not saying I’m upset, but when I see her clothes and pictures lying around the house, I sometimes wonder why this happened to her.

2. In the face of adversity, what would have been most helpful to you as a caregiver?

I’m grateful that I have a great team who’s there for me. If there are any nursing issues, I can contact my agency Evercare. When issues regarding home modification arise, I’d contact my occupational therapist. If we detect any changes in my mum’s health condition, I can call my doctor up. I’ve got all the mentors I need in place helping me along the way, so I’m not lost.

3. You’ve been caring for your mom at home with the help of private nurses, could you share a little more about your experience with home care?

For me, home care was a huge step. When you’re in a hospital, you’re surrounded by nurses and doctors, you can ring a bell when you need them. When you’re back home, you can only dial 999 for emergency care. That is why I rely heavily on my private nurses to monitor my mum’s condition. They need to notify me on when to call the doctor for hospitalisation. They play an indispensable role in my caregiving journey.

4. How would you describe your relationship with your private nurses?

They have been my “hands and feet”. I wouldn’t have been able to manage my caregiving role if it weren’t for their support. When you hire help, it’s less about your ability to take care of your loved ones, but more about the need for professional care under certain circumstances. There are things you can’t do without professional guidance. For example, I tried to learn suctioning but I was afraid. It’s not easy for a health care professional to get certified. Their medical skills are not something you can develop overnight.

5. Any advice for caregivers who are providing post-stroke care at home?

Caregivers need to realise their limitations and seek professional help. For example, one might need an occupational therapist if they want to modify their home, especially if you’re moving your loved one back home from the hospital. As laymen, there are many things we simply don’t know. While we might know how to renovate, or have a contractor on hand who can help, we aren’t necessarily familiar with the specifics of how home modification works and how everything comes together. It’s not about having financial means, rather, it’s about whether you have the right sources.

If you need professional assistance, recognise it, and get help. Just as you would hire a lawyer when you face legal issues, or see a doctor when you’re unwell, if your loved one has a stroke, you must trust an occupational therapist to set up your home safely; if your loved one needs a private nurse, you must enlist an agency.

6. Why did you choose to hire nurses through a home care agency?

My friends were concerned about the trustworthiness of home care services, but I’m not because I know that these care professionals are all certified. I chose to hire nurses through an agency because there’s more security and quality control across different situations. I always say, it’s been a year since I first hired agency nurses, I could have recruited and dealt with them privately. However, I chose not to because if a nurse suddenly bail on me for whatever reason, either they decide to get married, take maternity leave or a holiday, I wouldn’t know where to look for a replacement. What an agency does is that it guarantees a replacement should unforeseen circumstances arise. You don’t have to worry about it.

7. If there’s one thing a new caregiver should know, what would that be?

To other family caregivers out there, make sure you monitor your loved ones closely. Take their body temperature regularly and make a note of warning signs. There are preventative measures you can take. When an accident happens, none can warn you ahead of time, and there’s no second chance. As such, you should always be prepared.

Most importantly, don’t hesitate to go to the hospital for a check-up if your loved ones feel unwell. With money, you can buy a lot of things, but you can’t buy time. Once you miss the timing, you can’t turn the clocks back. That’s why we pay very close attention to my mum’s progress. While we don’t expect her to recover soon, we constantly think about how we can help maintain her physical wellbeing. This is the only way she’ll have a chance of recovering.

Overcoming the Distance: Planning a Loved One’s Hospital Discharge From Abroad

Wed, 18 Mar 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Discharge planning is a critical component in the caregiving process which provides both stability for the person entering recovery and peace of mind for their families. When your loved one in another city is being discharged, how can you ensure a well organised plan while being miles away from loved ones?

Follow-up appointments, regular check-ins with the patient, setting fixed time slots for medication – are just examples of needs that will need careful planning for ageing parents being discharged from hospitals. Organising this new daily routine may not be easy for some of us and the caregiving process can start as early as now.

Discharge planning consists of a personalised and extensive plan of action made for each patient keeping the following in mind: identification, assessment, goal setting, planning, implementation, coordination, and evaluation. It facilitates a smooth transfer of the patient from the hospital to the comfort of your home or community centre.

Family caregivers, volunteers and hospital personnel all play an important role in taking care of the patient towards full recovery and happiness. One of the main goals is to minimise the risk of hospital readmissions, as demonstrated by a study published by the National Centre for Biotechnology Information . The study’s results also highlight that efficient discharge planning is linked with a shorter hospital stay.

Caregiving from afar, can therefore be worrisome, but is absolutely possible with proper planning and hired help. Here’s how professional caregivers can help, regularly keeping clients in the loop, employing in-home care and finding local coordinators for the benefit of your loved one.

1) Ensure a smooth transition

In-home care services by professional caregivers such as at Evercare help in the smooth transfer from hospital to home. From creating a care plan and overseeing home modifications, to the procurement of care equipment and escorting patients back home, in-home caregivers are committed to provide assistance in all aspects.

2) Develop an individualised programme with your family for your loved one’s daily needs

One of the key aspects of discharge planning is a customised discharge plan tailored to your loved one’s health condition. Right from the moment your loved one is in the hospital, professional caregivers work with the medical team to lay out the specificities of an efficient post-discharge process. These include the type of medicines patients need, recommended physical exercises, precautions to keep in mind for the following days or weeks, diet plans, future consultations, personal health-goals, and so on.

3) Locate other local resources for your loved one’s well-being

Professional caregivers can help find and coordinate with local resources or organisations for food, counselling services and support groups etc. From speech therapy to physiotherapy; from home-food outlets for a particular diet to psychologists for emotional distress, abundant resources are available for your ageing parent’s holistic development. Caregivers can help locate these services and even assist the experts in activities.

4) Provide warm and responsive in-home companion care

In-home caregivers also provide companionship to patients, who may otherwise feel isolated due to physical limitations. Instead of adapting to a care centre’s timings, in-home caregiving is more flexible and cost-effective, charging on an hourly basis according to you and your loved ones’ schedule.

5) Help you sit back and relax

Finding such help could drastically reduce your stress levels and allow you to simply check-in with the primary caregiver instead of solely managing all responsibilities. Caregivers can facilitate communication between the patient, remote caregivers, and family members. Their job is also to help you be at ease and take some well deserved respite to focus on yourself.

At Evercare , we believe that family always comes first. That includes you. Call us for a free consultation on remote caregiving services at 3905 4000 or write to us at info@yourevercare.com . We are happy to assist you and your beloved family member with leading a fruitful and stress-free life.

[Free Template] Body Temperature Log Sheet

Mon, 16 Mar 2020 02:18:00 GMT

The elderly and chronically ill are especially susceptible to health issues, and the occurrence of a fever can be the first indication of a problem. Routine monitoring of body temperature can aid early detection and minimise the risk of infection.

Download Evercare’s free body temperature log sheet to better monitor your loved ones’ health condition.

How Home Care Services Help Your Loved Ones With Better Discharge Planning

Wed, 04 Mar 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Hospital discharge planning is a critical step in a patient’s recovery, but it’s often overlooked in Hong Kong’s increasingly strained medical system. Can home care bridge this gap? How can patients and their family benefit from home care services and improve their experience going home from hospital?

The efficacy of discharge arrangement and the quality of patients’ experience of discharge are critical markers for the quality of care. However, in Hong Kong’s overburdened health care system, discharge planning is either reduced to a last-minute exercise or winds up being overlooked .

Its implementation, too, has proven difficult in both public and private healthcare sectors. Patients too frail to be discharged or have caring issues will be engaged in more comprehensive discharge meetings, but with an average of 22 months to receive a subsidised residential care service, execution falls short of ideals. With an ageing population that is projected to double from about 60,000 in 2016 to 125,000 by 2051 , service shortage will only prove more challenging to satisfy.

While staffing is often the source of this ‘bottleneck’ issue, it is important for patients to understand the steps and process of discharge planning. Asking the right questions, or understanding how the transition could help families will not only make external services more valuable, but also help patients and their loved one prepare themselves for changes that are to come. Here are a few examples on how in-home care service could help you and your family coordinate better post-discharge care:

1. Better coordination of care

A major limitation in the current discharge service lies in the fragmentation of health care provision. Multiple agents are involved in the supervision of one patient, making it difficult to coordinate a fully comprehensive discharge plan. Clear communication between healthcare professionals is the bedrock of post-discharge care.

Home care operators such as Evercare have a well-versed team of registered nurses, physiotherapists, personal care aides, occupational therapists, and nutritionist. Operators can form a dedicated care team, working with the patient step-by-step to ensure that their needs and concerns are addressed. Click here to learn the extra post-discharge support you can get from Evercare .

2. Additional guidance in post-acute care

Education and knowledge are key to preventing readmission. However, health care personnel in public hospitals rarely have time to personalise plans and support patients and their families. Care professionals at Evercare train family caregivers and patients on risk diversion techniques, including appropriate ways to evaluate the home environment and monitor medication.

3. Extended support for elderly patients living alone

Discharge planning is particularly essential for old and frailing patients who lack the support network provided by close family and friends. According to a study , patients who live alone “had a substantial burden of dependency in very basic tasks,” and thus may require more intensive and regular support to maintain community living and improve in function after their hospital discharge.

Watch Ruby’s story to learn how home care services work and how we can support your family and your loved ones after a hospital stay. If you would like to learn more about Evercare’s post-discharge care services and how it can complement public health measures, give us a call at 3905 4000.

Hospital Discharge Planning in Hong Kong: The Missing Piece in Quality Care

Wed, 26 Feb 2020 09:08:00 GMT

Hospital discharge has evolved in many ways. Both public and private hospitals offer better processes with the goal of facilitating rehabilitation at home through better education and information. These achievements are unfortunately a far cry from reality as hospital advice proves difficult to implement without professional guidance and sufficient assistance.

Being discharged from the hospital has always been something to look forward to. At discharge, the assumption is that the patient is better and ready to go back to their regular lives. However, without careful planning, this can sometimes be a far cry from reality. Today, hospital discharge remains a process fraught with uncertainty and unknowns for many, not least for elderly patients and those with complex, new care needs. Patients and their families are often left facing a host of issues — administration of new medication, coordination of checkups, and monitoring of symptoms — with limited to no support and preparation.

Discharge planning and post-discharge care are critical in a patient’s recovery. For Evercare, it is a process of developing a personalised care plan, mapping out the patient’s transition from hospital to home life. With the first 28 days after discharge being a crucial time for patients who have gone through a life-changing event, proper care could avert hospital readmissions by 9.6%, according to local research . This number speaks volumes about the importance of post-discharge care in patients’ rehabilitation.

In Hong Kong, however, discharge planning is often hurried as the result of rushed efforts to clear beds and ensure hospitals can continue to function. Ill-equipped patients find themselves with higher chances of relapse and accidents, leading to readmission into hospitals. According to a report published by The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care in 2017, th e unplanned readmission rate within 30 days in the city is as high as 20%.

Considerable resources are injected into our healthcare system to reverse the situation and improve post-discharge care — and these attempts are yielding encouraging results. A local study finds that the government-funded transitional care program “Integrated Care and Discharge Support” (ICDS) has successfully “reduced accident and emergency department attendance by 40%, acute hospital admissions by 47%, and hospital bed days by 31%” within six months. It is estimated that a further cost of HK$22.5 million per annum (approximately US$2.9 million) could be saved off Hong Kong’s current health care expenditure should these efforts continue to grow.

You might also like:

Although progress is being made, the gap in the continuum of care is far from closed. As the elderly population continues to grow, public post-discharge care services struggle to keep up. Under ICDS, patients can at most receive three months of service, which is painfully inadequate for the recovery of patients.

With the overburdened public health care system facing steeper challenges in the years ahead, private home care services represent a solution . Their team of trained healthcare professionals provide dedicated interim homecare service, offering hospital-grade convalescent care and treatment to individuals in the comfort of their own home, w hile a longer-term care package is curated.

These professional caregivers can coordinate with other team members such as health care workers, occupational therapists, and physiotherapists to facilitate patients’ recuperation. Home care companies are also implementing convenient, fast and effective new technologies such as online dashboard that can keep all of the team members and the patient’s family members informed regarding the patient’s condition.

Tapping into the expertise of these care specialists, the HKSAR government is partnering with private care service providers, such as Evercare, and NGOs, rolling out various schemes around the idea of ageing in place. Initiatives such as the Pilot Scheme on Community Care Service Voucher for the Elderly (CCSV) encourage seniors to stay in the comfort of their homes and rely on daycare centres or home care services for support.

Starting this month, eligible patients can enjoy Evercare’s in-home care services with the use of Community Care Service Vouchers (CCSV). If you would like to learn more about the programme or other post-discharge care services, give us a call at 3905 4000.

5 Steps to Properly Disinfect Your Home During an Outbreak

Thu, 20 Feb 2020 00:31:00 GMT

Keeping a clean home is a great starting point to creating a safe environment during an outbreak. Here are a few more home hygiene tips from healthcare professionals on decreasing the chances of spreading a virus and keeping your family in good health.

The spreading of the Wuhan coronavirus has put everyone on guard. “Thorough hygiene” has become the core strategy for infection prevention: masks, hand washing and alcohol gel on repeat. However, with family that might be homebound, creating a safe environment for them is equally important.

Maintaining good environmental hygiene is imperative to the wellbeing of all families, especially those cohabiting with elderly parents or in-home patients, whose weakened immunity places them at a particular disadvantage during an outbreak. Read on to learn the five steps to creating a safe environment amid the health crisis.

1) Establish a regular home cleaning routine

Thorough cleaning is essential for infection control because deposits of dust, soil, and microbes on surfaces transmit infection. Professionals suggest using 1:99 diluted household bleach to clean all surfaces. It is also important to pay particular attention to frequently touched surfaces and objects, such as doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, keyboards, remote controls, and tablets.

For those caring for in-home patients, absorbent disposable towels can be used to remove any blood, body fluids, and secretions such as saliva before cleaning surfaces with 1:99 diluted household bleach. To reduce the risk of infection, professionals also advise to put on disposable gloves and a plastic apron when doing the cleaning. Hand washing after using the protective equipment is imperative.

2) Clean your care tools and medical equipment thoroughly

Proper handling of assistive and medical equipment is a critical part of in-home infection control. Additional attention must be given to the cleaning of devices such as needles and feeding tubes, which will come in direct contact with the patient when in use. They must be handled carefully to prevent contamination.

Procedures for cleaning and disinfecting medical equipment should be carried out based on manufacturers’ instructions and in consultation with health care professionals because they vary depending on the characteristics, purpose, use of equipment, as well as the level of disinfection . If you have any uncertainties, make sure to consult with your caregiver or manufacturer on extra levels of hygiene needed to keep your equipment clean.

3) Dispose of your waste properly

One aspect of home hygiene that is often overlooked is medical waste disposal. If medical waste is not dealt with correctly, it can be hazardous to families and anyone else in contact with it after disposal.

Medical waste can be categorised into home healthcare waste and bio-hazardous waste. Home healthcare waste such as used face masks and soiled tissues should be double-bagged and tied up. It should be handled separately from general household waste. Any potentially infectious waste such as sharp objects and waste containing blood and excrement would be considered bio-hazardous. Proper handling of this kind of waste may require training. Family caregivers should seek disposal advice from health care professionals should they have any doubts.

4) Maintain good indoor ventilation

Keeping good ventilation is a quick intervention to prevent the spread of airborne viruses within households. Earlier, Hong Kong microbiologist Yuen Kwok-Yung warned of the possibility that the coronavirus can be spread through cracks in the seals between an air ventilation pipe and a sewage pipe. While various techniques may be advertised to clean residential pipes within building settings, these three extra steps can be applied to protect yourself: keep windows open, wash dust filters of air-conditioners frequently, and maintain proper function of the air ventilation.

5) Conduct a comprehensive health and safety assessment

To get a complete picture of the hygiene condition of your abode, you may consider getting support from reliable and experienced health care professionals. They can provide an informed assessment of practices in domestic cleanliness and help with the design of solutions that reduce infections in the home.

If you’re still feeling unsure about how you can best safeguard the wellbeing of your family against a possible pandemic , you can schedule a free consultation with our professional caregivers here . They will be able to answer your questions and inform you of your specific situation.

How Our Health Care Workers Stay Protected During a Coronavirus Outbreak

Wed, 12 Feb 2020 01:40:00 GMT

The constant exposure to bacterial and viral agents places health care personnel at greater risk of infection during an outbreak. Extra measures are put into place to keep patients in good health.

At any given time, health care personnel are intimately involved with the care of patients. Tending to matters ranging from assistance with daily living, emergency planning, infection prevention, to the treatment of complex illnesses, it is needless to say that our health care workers need to stay vigilant in their practice of infection precautions and be proactive with personal hygiene to keep themselves and their patients protected amid an outbreak of a novel virus.

1) Take preventative measures

While further investigations are required to understand the spread of the novel coronavirus, preliminary research suggests that, similar to other known coronaviruses, it is possibly transmitted through the air, especially when one sneezes and coughs.

Constant exposure to droplets while taking care of patients makes health care personnel more vulnerable to the fast-spreading virus. To minimise direct contact with the virus, personnel should wear a surgical mask, a face shield or goggles at work, and, most importantly, perform hand hygiene, whether they are on or off duty. Personnel should familiarise themselves with any additional infection prevention and control measures, including the safe application and removal of personal protective equipment (PPE).

2) Stay on top of the latest developments

Staying informed and alert is an effective coping strategy for when there is a health emergency. Health care professionals should keep a lookout for inflammatory reports, which can provoke irrational reactions. Take a step further and do your research to educate yourself about what is known and unknown. The HKSAR government has recently launched a site for the public to keep track of the latest situation in Hong Kong.

3) Notify local health department when encountering suspected cases

If health care personnel observe fever or respiratory symptoms in their patients or identify signs of coronavirus infection in themselves, they / their patients should seek medical advice promptly.

An important point to note is that not all hospitals are equipped to treat suspected coronavirus patients . Since private hospitals do not have areas for infectious disease, they will not accept patients if they show symptoms of pneumonia, visited Mainland China in the last 14 days or have had contact with suspected or confirmed cases.

Suspected cases should be reported to the Centre for Health Protection (CHP), and patients will be transferred to designated public hospitals for further screening, clinical management, and isolation if need be. Certain services, such as the rapid flu test and the electronic ticketing services are temporarily suspended in light of the new arrangement.

Below is a list of private hospitals that have updated their patient admission guidelines in accordance with the CHP guidelines. Learn where to seek help if you or your patient start to develop pneumonia-like symptoms.

Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital
Hong Kong Adventist Hospital
Matilda International Hospital
St. Paul Hospital
Baptist Hospital
Gleneagles Hong Kong Hospital
Union Hospital
Canossa Hospital
Precious Blood Hospital
St. Teresa’s Hospital
Evangel Hospital

At Evercare , we exercise extra caution to ensure safe, trusted care service and the safety of our health care professionals. Health care personnel who have travelled to Mainland China are required to quarantine themselves for a minimum of 14 days before resuming healthcare duties. Staff developing flu-like symptoms such as but not limited to fever, chills & rigour, cough, sore throat, diarrhoea, shortness of breath or other symptoms related to the coronavirus are requested to immediately inform their clients and suspend services. Should this situation occur, please contact us at 3905 4000 so that we can alter your home care services appropriately.

4 Ways In-Home Caregivers Can Help You Fight COVID-19

Thu, 06 Feb 2020 02:14:00 GMT

As the mysterious coronavirus continues to spread at an accelerating rate, seniors and the chronically ill are now at greatest risk. The epidemic is scary, but we’re not powerless against it. Here’s how your family can enlist personal care support to keep the virus at bay.

Last week, the World Health Organization ( WHO ) declared a global health emergency over a new coronavirus that has claimed the lives of at least 490 people and sickened more than 20,000 people in China. Alarmingly, the deadly virus appears to be hitting the elderly and those with prior medical complications the hardest.

According to the health commission’s statement published in January, among the first 17 victims of the virus, the median age of the deaths was 75 (range 48-89) years. Many had underlying conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes, and Parkinson’s disease. “The majority of fatal cases are elderly and/or have a chronic disease that would increase their susceptibility to infectious diseases,” wrote Dr. W. Ian Lipkin, an epidemiologist at Columbia University who advised the Chinese government and the WHO during the SARS outbreak in 2003.

New diseases such as the coronavirus are alien to us. Given that antiviral medications are not available at the moment, strict adherence to personal and environmental hygiene may be the only preventive measure available in this phase. Those with waning immunity, in particular, our ageing loved ones, may need a higher acuity of care than what is typically provided. This is where personal care support can come into play.

1) Help patients build immunity and raise hygiene awareness

In the event of an epidemic, maintaining personal hygiene is the single most important precaution against any possible virus infection. However, for seniors whose physical capabilities and self-care abilities gradually decline, taking care of themselves may be challenging. In this case, arranging personal care assistance can help with overall upkeep.

Virus infection typically occurs among seniors whose immune system is weakened due to other illnesses, such as flu and bronchitis. Professional caregivers can help boost seniors’ immune system by ensuring that they get sufficient fluid intake and rest, keeping track of their diet, medication, and providing nutritional recommendations if necessary.

2) Provide quality care while limiting patients’ exposure to the virus

Due to an anticipated manpower shortage in the local health system, some medical and surgical patients will be discharged early from hospitals to free up hospital beds, more responsibility will thus fall on family caregivers who are generally unprepared to assume the caregiving role.

Employing in-home care support ensures patients get quality medical and personal care at the comfort of their homes while freeing up time for family caregivers to continue to work from home, or redirect their attention to ramping up in-home precautionary measures. Health care personnel can also provide basic health assessments, remove the need to travel to hospital, and therefore lower the risk of exposure or transmission of the virus.

3) Provide guidance on safety measures and infection control

Growing concern over the potential pandemic has sent many concerned caregivers to the internet, hoping to learn how to protect themselves from infection. Yet, along with the panic comes a wave of misinformation and false claims.

Armed with medical know-how, personal care personnel can help to debunk misconceptions and advise on appropriate precautions, for example, infection control, which are measures often overlooked by family caregivers.

During outbreaks of highly contagious diseases , the adoption of effective infection control should be given top priority in any home-care setting because an infection can be life-threatening for patients. Personal care personnel can serve as the educator, instructing caregivers on how they can minimise the risk of catching an infection and, conversely, protect their loved ones from contracting any diseases they carry.

4) Assess the suitability of the intended accommodation for home isolation

Currently, citizens are advised to place themselves in self-isolation should they feel unwell. The idea is to create a safe barrier to separate virus carriers from those who are healthy or are vulnerable to the disease.

Effective as it is, a home quarantine can be tricky to execute. Many factors need to be taken into account when preparing for self-quarantine, including the location of the abode and the number of housemates who are particularly vulnerable. Quarantine therefore requires special consideration, to say the least. Informal caregivers unfamiliar with the practice would greatly benefit from consulting with health care personnel, who can ensure the sanitary conditions and infection control practices of their home are up to par.

What’s the next step ?

Preparedness is our best defence against an epidemic, which makes i n-home health care workers particularly valuable when providing patients and family caregivers with helpful tools and useful information to better protect ourselves and our loved ones against the virus.

Do not hesitate to contact us on 3905 4000 for more information on how we can help you prepare a safe environment, or a free phone consultation .

物理治療師可以為我做甚麼？

Thu, 06 Feb 2020 02:00:00 GMT

人生第一次做物理治療？Evercare請來資深物理治療師楊君健，講解其常用診斷方法，以及病人尋求協助時的注意事項、考慮因素和事前準備。

痛症、舊患發作，不少朋友都會尋求物理治療師的協助。但到底物理治療師的具體工作是什麼？可能很多人都說不清。

物理治療師楊君健這樣解釋：「物理治療師主要透過臨床檢查，例如觀察病人腿部抬舉、膝蓋伸展屈曲等去診斷問題根源。物理治療建基於科學上物理學的原理，以非藥物治療。它揉合了各方的治療手法，如中醫的推拿手法、針灸，再輔以先進的物理治療儀器，根治和預防各種傷病痛症及殘疾。」

先找醫生？還是先找物理治療師？

楊君健說，向誰人尋求幫助，其實取決於病人求助的目的。如果病人求醫是為了尋找痛楚的根源，病人可先向醫生求醫。楊君健指，「物理治療師不能直接診斷，我們需要有醫生轉介，才可向病人提供物理治療服務。」他建議，病人如懷疑自己有坐骨神經痛症，應先向醫生索取醫生紙，及後再帶同醫生紙尋求物理治療師的協助。

首次見面時，物理治療師會透過問診、動作診斷等方法為病人進行檢查，了解病人的狀況。隨後，物理治療師會即時進行第一次治療。物理治療師會根據病人的狀況及自己的判斷，為病人挑選合適的治療手法，例如熱敷、針灸、按摩等。如果病人因長期彎腰，以致腰椎出現結構問題而出現坐骨神經痛，物理治療師會設計復康方案，調整病人的關節和筋膜。

坐骨神經痛並非一次治療便可完全根治好，楊君健建議患者應持續約見物理治療師及/或物理治療師助理，直至痛症得以舒緩。

如何找一個合適的治療師？

物理治療師和物理治療師助理之差兩個字，究竟兩者有何差別？

最大的分別在於其工作範圍。物理治療師助理 (PTA) 擔任輔助角色，主要按物理治療師的指示和訓練計劃協助病人活動身體，進行適當及適量的運動，以維持病人的身體機能的運用，延緩機能衰退。

聘請物理治療師助理的費用比物理治療師低，他們經過物資治療師的指導下，可以協助患者進行復康治療，然而，物理治療師助理沒有能力追蹤病人情況，亦未必有相關專業資格調整治療手法。因此如果預算許可，選擇物理治療師進行復康治療會更理想。

楊君健表示，進行物理治療之先，病人也要做好功課，以便物理治療師進行評估，提高治療成效。

功課一：準備自己的病歷表

「病人應事先詳細列明自己受過的傷患、受傷的時間、懷疑自己出現痛症的原因，就算是您認為無關痛癢的小事，您也可記下，方便物理治療師診治。」

功課二：展示藥物使用及治療記錄

「病人要先向物理治療師交代自己用藥的狀況，包括有否長期服用藥物，有必要時向治療師展示服用的藥物。如果病人曾求醫、接受磁力共振等療程，就要準備好相關文件。」

功課三：預備相應器具

「如果病人希望在家中接受治療，家人最好幫忙安排瑜珈墊或有床的房間，讓病人能夠平躺接受檢查。」Evercare醫療團隊的物理治療師均受過專業訓練，擁有豐富治療經驗。如果你需要協助，歡迎與我們的護理團隊預約。

特別嗚謝Evercare護理團隊的物理治療師楊君健先生為本文章提供有關坐骨神經痛症的專業知識。

“I’d Question Why I Was Even There”: The Pain, Joy, and Sense of Futility of Caring for a Terminal

Wed, 05 Feb 2020 04:57:00 GMT

Stephanie was at the prime of her career when she put it on hold to care for her granduncle with cancer, who only had six months left to live. She shares with us the rewards and hardships of caregiving, and the inevitable sense of futility that comes with the role.

In the summer of 2016, Stephanie, a young and ambitious finance professional, received an email that would derail her life: her beloved granduncle, Ed, had decided to forego chemotherapy after three years of battling pancreatic cancer – the doctors had given him six months to live.

“We were devastated,” says Stephanie. The news was difficult to digest. Despite being thousands of miles away and a generation apart, Stephanie and her granduncle, who migrated to Toronto in his 20s, shared a close relationship. “Over the years, my granduncle and aunt had considered both my mom and me as their own daughters,” says the 32-year-old Singaporean. Now, it was her turn to be there for them. Within a month of receiving the email, she quit her full-time job at Citibank and bought a plane ticket to Canada to tend to her granduncle during his final days. “I am still not sure what compelled me to do this,” she says, but she knew it was a decision she wouldn’t regret.

“When I first walked into the house and greeted my granduncle, he was in such disbelief that he started crying and hugging me,” says Stephanie, revisiting the evening that has now become one of her most cherished memories. “At that moment, I knew my presence showed him how much I cared for and loved him.”

With the goal to provide the best support for her granduncle, Stephanie embarked on her new role. Soon, the realities of caregiving started to hit home. Her days were overwhelmed with errands and unfamiliar duties: from picking up prescriptions, shopping for daily necessities, coordinating care, to maintaining the household. Thrusted into her caregiving role, Stephanie took time to get the lay of the land, but often felt inadequate. “I had not dealt with a loved one with cancer before, and there were a lot of terminologies I did not know and symptoms I could not recognise,” she says in retrospect.

As Stephanie’s granduncle condition deteriorated, her caregiving duties became more mentally taxing. “By the time I moved in with my granduncle, he did not have much energy and was often moody and quiet. It was emotionally challenging to be in that environment 24/7, and having to be positive and energetic,” she says.

Watching the person she cared for slowly weaken and become increasingly frail was excruciating. Perhaps most palpable, however, was the pervasive sense of futility. “I did not know what to say or do to be encouraging and helpful,” she says. Under those circumstances, saying anything could ring hollow. “Sometimes I had to settle for just sitting next to my granduncle as he watched television or read, and just made sure he had sufficient rest and fluids. At times, I’d question why I was even there.”

When the profound fatigue and cascade of negative emotions became too much to handle, Stephanie turned to meditation and exercise for refuge. When the weight of her duty got stifling, She sought solace in writing, and sharing her caregiving journey with her close network of friends who she used as her own support system. For her, these rituals helped her build confidence and resilience.

“A huge part of caregiving was to provide emotional and mental support; a lot of energy was spent making sure my granduncle remained in good spirits, and to help him deal with negativity on bad days,” she explains, “it was imperative for me to stay positive and healthy so I could serve my role as a caregiver to the best of my ability.” As she sees it, self-care is not only essential to a caregiver’s own health, well-being, and sanity, but also vital for the well-being of the patient.

Three years on, Stephanie looks back at her caregiving experience with fondness and gratitude. “It brought me closer to my granduncle during his final days and showed me the importance of family. I had the opportunity to spend quality time with my loved ones, and even celebrate my granduncle’s last Thanksgiving together,” she reflects. “I came to accept that the world goes on without you – career, friends, life – but they will still be there when you are ready to go back to it. I was fortunate to be in a situation where I could spend uninterrupted time with my loved one without worrying about any other financial burdens, and I am glad I took it.”

坐骨神經痛症纏身一文教你如何自救

Thu, 30 Jan 2020 02:00:00 GMT

前文我們分析過坐骨神經痛症的成因及症狀。今次，物理治療師楊君健繼續與我們探討坐骨神經痛症的自救方法與禁忌，分享脊椎護理知識。

腰酸背痛並非長者的專利。近年，坐骨神經痛症患者越趨年輕化，很多年輕人都因長期使用電腦、坐姿睡姿不正確或書包過重等問題引致坐骨神經痛症發作，最年輕患者十幾歲已確診患上此症。要應對此病症並不容易，但除了等待醫生及物理治療師的幫忙，患者其實是可以採取一些方法自療。

以下，物理治療師楊君健為我們整合坐骨神經痛 5 點宜與忌，教患者如何在等待治療的同時照顧好坐骨神經，以免痛症惡化。

坐骨神經痛症宜與忌

坐骨神經痛症的情緒支援

面對突如期來的痛症，很多病人都會感到不知所措，尤其是司機、文員等因工作需求而要長期坐着的患者，都會擔心痛症會影響工作表現。由於無法一時之間改變生活習慣。患者往往會想到最壞的情況，擔心自己一輩子都要承受痛楚。其實如果患者能早日接受治療，盡快根治坐骨神經痛，就不需耍擔心後續。

發現自己有坐骨神經痛，您應接受物理治療師的治療。到此了解更多坐骨神經痛的物理治療。

特別嗚謝Evercare護理團隊的物理治療師楊君健先生為本文章提供有關坐骨神經痛症的專業知識。

The Air in Your Home Can Make Your Family Sick. Take These 4 Actions to Detox Your Home

Tue, 28 Jan 2020 09:20:00 GMT

A face mask can only do so much to protect you from potential health risks when some of the most poisonous substances reside in our homes. Indoor air pollution kills as many as 3.8 million people every year. Learn how to improve air quality in your home for the betterment of all, especially the seniors, who are in jeopardy more than any of us.

Air pollution is often regarded as an outdoor issue, fueled by diesel cars and power plant emissions. While the global community has spent decades battling the problem of outdoor air pollution, less discussed is the fact that our daily exposure to air pollutants largely stems from our daily domestic activities.

According to a research conducted by the Hong Kong Baptist University in 2016, the air pollution in homes is worse than some of Hong Kong’s busiest roads. Researchers found that the levels of PM2.5, the ultra-fine dust particles that can lodge deeply in our lungs, were on average nearly 10% higher indoors than the highest level found outdoors. Levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were, on average, over 1250% higher in kitchens than outdoors.

The research is an increasingly alarming report that calls attention to not only outdoor smog, but also household air pollution that lurks in our insulated home.

The sources of household air pollution generates from routinely used equipment such as gas stoves, air fresheners and cleaning supplies. They emit pollutants like radon, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and even combustion pollutants driven by dryers and water heaters. Secondhand smoking stands as a considerable source too, affecting the elderly to a substantial extent. Individuals exposed to smoke are more prone than others to develop lung diseases or heart ailments. This is why a number of public spaces restrict smoking indoors.

Indoor air pollution poses severe health threats including, but not limited to impaired cognitive skills, increased risk of heart strokes, aggravation of asthma, eye diseases, and so on. The World Health Organisation estimates that about 3.8 million people die annually due to exposure to household air pollution.

You might also like:

4 Ways to Help Your Stubborn Parents Kick Their Unhealthy Habits

Letting Go of Anger May Reduce the Risk of Chronic Illness for the Elderly

The elderly spends most of the time indoors, breathing the air inside the home, community centres or old-age homes. Naturally, it is vital for us, as caretakers, to familiarise ourselves with the many ways indoor air pollution presents itself. Given their weakened immune system, the elderly are more vulnerable to respiratory diseases . It is all the more important to be enveloped in clean air if you have an ageing loved one who is bedridden or physically disabled. We have compiled a list of easy and effective ways through which you can improve the air quality in your home:

1) Enable better ventilation
Simply open the doors and windows in the mornings and evenings to welcome fresh air. The use of artificial products such as heaters or air conditioners does not facilitate fresh airflow into the home. Thus, ventilation is a crucial way to replace the stagnant air with the outside breeze. Letting fumes vacate the vicinity while cooking will also do your loved one some good.

2) Install air purifying machines and plants

T here are two ways to go about this – the natural, cost-effective option or the automated route. Given the serious implications of the problem, we suggest a blend of both as they will complement one another. Air purifying plants like aloe vera, spider plant and peace lily aid in the removal of toxins in the air . Place them on your balcony, or at the entrance of your home for added aesthetics! The air cleaners, at a higher cost, help remove contaminants from the air and are known to be significantly more effective than air purifying plants. Placing one in your ageing loved one’s room could extensively help them breathe fresher and cleaner air.

3) Regular cleaning
Dusting, vacuuming and mopping the floor on a daily basis is of utmost importance. A dirty environment is the perfect breeding ground for indoor pollution. Moreover, dust mites, or the tiny creatures invisible to the naked eye can commonly be found on bedding, curtains and even the clothes we wear. They compromise indoor air quality. From our furniture to our floors to our clothes – everything needs thorough cleansing.

4) Exercise caution
In addition to the points above, bear these points in mind at all times:
a) Do not smoke inside your home, especially if you live in a cramped environment.
b) If you own hairy pets such as dogs or cats, make sure they are well groomed and are kept off the beds and sofas.
c) Practice the act of removing shoes before entering homes to keep outside dirt at bay.
d) Use low-VOC emitting, environmentally-friendly paint the next time you decide to renovate your home.

Personal Care Workers (PCW) and Health Care Workers (HCW): What’s the Difference?

Thu, 23 Jan 2020 03:09:00 GMT

Personal care workers (PCW) and health care workers (HCW) — merely a one-word difference, but they represent two distinct roles, each providing a special type of care to their patients. Here’s what you need to know about the two.

Both health care workers (HCW) and personal care workers (PCW) are indispensable in the provision of care to the thousands of seniors and disabled adults who want to remain active in the community. While both caregiver types perform similar duties in a home setting, they represent two different types of service, varying in qualifications, responsibilities, and price.

Health Care Worker:

Qualifications

Duties

Note that while health care workers offer medical support to those they care for, they are not trained to perform certain health care procedures, including vaccination, suctioning, and chest percussion.

Personal care worker:

Qualifications

Duties

Note that personal care workers perform many of the same tasks as health care workers, but their scope of responsibility is not as broad. Personal care workers do not have the qualifications to manage medical related tasks, such as blood drawing and tube feedings.

Price Comparison Between a PCW and am HCW

In Hong Kong, personal care workers are usually priced between $80-190 per hour, whereas a health care worker is generally priced between $90-320 per hour. Pricing varies depending on the operator.

At Evercare, we offer competitive pricing on a wide selection of home care services. If you would like to learn more about our offering, click here for more information

How to choose between the two?

A personal care worker is a more affordable solution if you or your loved ones need an extra hand at home to help with activities of daily living. If you are looking for more comprehensive physical assistance and someone who can handle certain medically-related tasks, a health care worker would be a better fit.

It is crucial to note that health care workers and personal care workers are not to be mistaken for a registered nurse , who does not share the same level of education. If you would like to learn more about other caregiving options, you can request a free consultation session here .

5 Ways to Involve Your Ageing Relatives in the Holiday Cheer

Mon, 20 Jan 2020 02:00:00 GMT

The Lunar festive season is upon us. Although an exuberant time for one and all, the elderly in our lives might not accommodate as well to the holiday season as us, due to physical or mental limitations. Find out how you can ensure their comfort while encouraging them to be an active part of the celebration.

Holidays call for togetherness. The happy occasion gives a chance for all family members to relentlessly plan, prepare and progress ahead. Despite this, our beloved seniors might need more consideration and care as the holidays could be a tough period for them. A recollection of past memories which cannot be brought back to life, coupled with the blues that stem from the irrevocable losses they have faced in life, the festival could exacerbate feelings of sadness and loneliness that plague old-age.

Shopping and visiting near and dear ones make for the typical holiday experience, but health constraints such as less energy and the inability to walk long distances could break that spirit, which makes seniors more apathetic towards festivities.

We have curated some tips on how you can help the elderly in your life feel more included in the celebrations:

1) Let them contribute to the decision-making process
From the kind of decorations to purchase to the guestlist you want to invite over, this holiday includes intense planning and decision-making. Ask them to help you out in these matters and trust their gut! Seeking advice will make them feel valued and provide a confidence boost (and you, a helping hand). Afterall, seniors have years of experience.

2) Plan a day-out
Bustling bazaars, lit-up streets and the commotion building up to the big festival echo the excitement of the coming year. If health allows, take the elderly out for a shopping spree or a drive through the marketplace to make them experience those festive vibes. This may ignite their eagerness to participate in holiday activities and put them in the right frame of mind to celebrate.

3) Engage in light activities

Playing light games with the elderly is likely to cheer them up and savour the precious moments with their children or caregiver. Watch their favourite holiday movies with them and have fun playing games such as mahjong, jigsaw puzzles and checkers. Or maybe do something such as cooking a specific dish for the holiday. To add on, give them the floor for storytelling. The elderly love to share their wisdom and experiences of the good old days. All of this is instrumental in reminding the seniors of the holiday traditions while actively bonding with the family.

You might also like:

4 healthy, elderly-friendly food swaps for your Chinese New Year candy box

6 gifts ideas for family caregivers

4) Offer positive affirmations

Affirmative words hold the power to alter one’s negative perspective. They are sometimes even more significant when said by the people we love and value. Statements such as “you are strong,” “you have the power to control your own feelings,” “we are always here to love and support you,” can show your ageing loved ones that you unconditionally support them.

The positive words will motivate the seniors to be more enthusiastic and feel blessed during the holidays.
5) Don’t force anything

While the above points would help the elderly to get into the holiday mood, we must keep in mind that everything should flow naturally. Forcing them into activities or decisions would most likely put them off or even make them feel irritable. That’s the last thing you want. Be patient with them, understand why they feel uninterested or reluctant, take baby steps, and do not make them do anything out of their will. Be open to their ideas of fun. If they are not comfortable being a part of large gatherings, respect their decision and try to tailor your plans according to their needs.

4 Healthy, Elderly-Friendly Food Swaps for Your Chinese New Year Candy Box

Thu, 16 Jan 2020 02:00:00 GMT

Huddle over! A healthy makeover of your confectionery box is underway. Read on to find out how you can save your waistline and help your elderly guests stay fit with a few simple food swaps.

The Chinese New Year candy box, known as ‘chuen hap’, is a festival staple as essential a part of the celebration as red pockets and firecrackers. It is typically stocked with various “fortune” candies, which symbolise wealth, happiness, and luck — and potential health risks that stem from extra sugar and fat. To help you and your family kickstart an auspicious New Year, we’ve drawn up a list of healthier alternatives.

1) Choose your nuts wisely

Roasted seeds and nuts such as melon seeds and salted pistachios are candy box essentials. When served right, they can deliver great health benefits: nuts can help stave off illnesses including chronic diseases and inflammation , and promote longevity. However, many of those found in candy boxes are often adulterated with preservatives and flavourings, making them high in fat and sodium content.

Alternatives: unsalted, baked nuts, sunflower seeds, almond fish

When shopping for nuts, avoid the overly salted and honey-glazed versions, which are often packed with unnecessary sugar and sodium. Keep an eye out for seeds with an unnatural layer of gloss because they may have been added with mineral oil, which can cause gastrointestinal discomfort. If your elderly guests have digestive, chewing, or swallowing difficulties, you may want to leave nuts out of the box, in case they pose a choking risk.

2) Stock up on dried fruits

Candied lotus roots, coconut strips, winter melons — these sugar-coated bites are a seasonal specialty among the array of Chinese New Year delicacies. Simmered in sugar syrup, these treats are tooth-achingly sweet and loaded with calories. 6 candied lotus seeds contain as much as 10g of sugar and 100 calories.

Alternatives: Dried apricots, baked banana chips, raisins, baked apple chips

Dried fruits pack a hefty nutritional punch. Not only are they naturally high in fibre, they also contain more antioxidants (such as phenols) than fresh fruit, per ounce. And, they taste as good as they are for you. As Dr. Anthony Komaroff wrote , dried fruits helps fight heart disease, obesity, and several types of cancer, and possibly degenerative brain diseases.

3) Go for some real chocolate and low-sugar jelly

Rabbit milk candy, Ferrero Rocher, and gold chocolate coins are our childhood favorites and candy box fixtures. Still, given their sugar content and other chemical agents, you may want to think about consuming them in moderation.

Alternatives: Dark chocolate, konjac jelly

Compared to milk chocolate, dark chocolate contains more cocoa solids, which can be a fabulous source of flavonoids (a class of antioxidants). Although the nutritional quality of dark chocolate may not be as high as we’d like to believe, it’s still a healthier alternative to most candies in the market. Konjac jelly, in its natural form, is high in fibre and contains virtually zero calories, no sugar, fat, protein, gluten or carbohydrates. While its nutritional value is debatable, it makes for a low-calorie sweet tooth fix.

You might also like:

6 gift ideas for family caregivers

4) Swap deep-fried snacks for rice crackers

Both deep-fried dumplings and sweet egg twists are indispensable treats during the Lunar New Year Festival. For the love of crispy, delectable treats – who wouldn’t want some? However, with that crunchy comfort comes extra calories. That said, there are ways to satiate your crunch cravings without sacrificing your waistline.

Alternatives: homemade rice crackers, rice crispies

Rice crackers are usually low in sugar and fat, making it a great alternative to deep-fried snacks and chips. That said, their nutritional value is minimal since they are usually made from refined white rice with very little fibre and protein; their high GI can also raise blood sugar levels quickly. To boost its nutritional value and slow down blood sugar response, consider serving them with nut butter or hummus, or toppings such as tuna and avocado.

成日腰痠、屁股痛？可能你已患上坐骨神經痛

Mon, 13 Jan 2020 02:20:00 GMT

你有沒有試過行路行久了、站久了、坐久了，就會腰痠背痛？如果你經常有上述不適症狀，就一定要聽聽物理治療師楊君健的講解。

腰痠背痛是現代都市人的普遍問題，但很多香港人都不清楚痛楚的源頭。每當感到痛楚，很多人會以為只是普通腰肌痛而輕視問題。物理治療師楊君健指出，出現這些症狀的原因之一是因為坐骨神經出現問題。何謂坐骨神經痛？甚麼因素會引致這個情況？

如何分辨坐骨神經痛及其他痛症？

楊君健說：「與普通腰痛不同，坐骨神經痛主要徵狀以痲痺為主。患者大多只會在單側的屁股及腿感到不適，僅有少數人是兩側一同受影響。」

疼痛症狀通常出現在坐骨神經四周。坐骨神經是全身最長的神經，匯集下背部神經分支，經過臀部，沿著大腿後側往下延伸，在膝蓋處分支，再通往腳底。坐骨神經痛通常先出現在臀部與腰骶部，並向膝關節、小腿外側至外踝部擴散。小至輕輕的咳嗽、擤鼻涕、大至久坐、久站和舉重物，都有機會令病情惡化。

視乎每個人的身體狀態，坐骨神經痛的痛楚程度不一，由輕微痛至刺痛和灼痛不等，患者也有機會腿部出現麻刺感。有些患者更會因痛楚問題而變得下肢無力，甚至不能站立走動，嚴重影響他們的日常生活。

但一點必須留意，「坐骨神經痛」是一個「症狀」，而不是病因。楊君健解釋，坐骨神經痛的發病原因可歸納為兩大類，一為內感染，又稱原發性坐骨神經炎 ; 二為繼發性坐骨神經痛。

原發性坐骨神經炎

原發性坐骨神經炎是一種較少見的現象，多數為坐骨神經發炎損傷、受寒，或因感染，以及體內其他組織炎症漫延以致坐骨神經出現問題。

繼發性骨神經痛症

繼發性坐骨神經痛症則由其他病患所引致，如果患者身上組織位置與結構異常，導致坐骨神經受壓，便有可能導致坐骨神經痛。

椎間盤突出、椎管狹窄、屁股梨狀肌收緊脹大等，都有可能成為壓迫源。這些壓迫源的形成除了來自個人本身的隱疾，更大機會和我們日常生活的壞習慣，例如翹腳、坐姿或站姿不正確，以及工作環境有關。

誰最容易患有坐骨神經痛？

本身有舊患的病人容易得到原發性坐骨神經痛。另外，從事某些工種也會增加繼發性坐骨神經痛症的患病風險。如果該行業員工需要長期坐着，或常常搬拿重物，就會導致腰部長期勞損，引發繼發性坐骨神經痛。高風險的職業包括司機、文員和搬運工人等。

同樣要面對高風險的還有孕婦。懷孕期間，孕婦腰椎負擔漸漸加重，加上身體開始產生激素讓恥骨鬆弛，讓盤骨及周圍韌帶減壓，為生產做好準備，孕婦腰間支撐會受影響，容易引致坐骨神經痛。

坐骨神經痛患者年齡大多介乎三十至五十歲，但最近患者亦有年輕化的趨勢。如果您懷疑自己患有坐骨神經痛症，可以在這裏了解更多相關資訊。如果您想立即接受治療，可以參考約見物理治療師前的注意事項。

特別嗚謝Evercare護理團隊的物理治療師楊君健先生為本文章提供有關坐骨神經痛症的專業知識。

4 Tricks to Help Elderly Smokers Quit Cigarettes for Good

Thu, 09 Jan 2020 03:14:00 GMT

Your elderly loved ones know the grave health risks attached to smoking. They’ve seen the ads, the horrific image of a smoker’s black lung, they’ve been told hundreds of times, but they just will not budge. What else can you do?

Of all the bad habits people succumb to, smoking is among the most insidious and common. It is widely understood that smokers are more susceptible than non-smokers to a plethora of diseases and complications, including stroke, coronary heart disease, and multiple cancers.

According to a research conducted by the University of Hong Kong and the Department of Health in 2014, one in every two elderly smokers (aged 65 or above) were killed by smoking-related diseases. While most elderly smokers are aware of the health hazards of the practice, quitting smoking is no easy feat for them, given that it has become such a deeply ingrained behaviour. Here are four tricks that will make that journey a little easier for you and your loved ones.

1) Ask questions, don’t offer more information

Oftentimes, we tend to encourage elderly smokers to quit by reminding them of the evils of smoking, which are facts they already knew but don’t want to think about. “When you’re trying to influence people who need motivation, but not information, don’t offer more information. That’s nagging,” Joseph Grenny, behavioral science researcher and the New York Times bestselling author, wrote in Psychology Today .

He said the best way to help someone take on a difficult change, in the case of smoking, is by adopting the motivational interviewing approach. The idea is that, by posing influential questions, we can “create a safe environment” where smokers can tap into the inner motivations they already have. Next time if you want to inspire behavioral changes, you might want to start by asking these questions:

2) Get the timing right

Timing is crucial, especially in the early stage of smoking cessation. Not only do smokers have to endure the physical symptoms of nicotine withdrawal , they also have to overcome the psychological cravings for cigarettes, which can be triggered by everyday events in life, whether it be socialising, drinking, or when under stress.

If you were to help your loved ones beat their smoking habit, you should first identify the cues that signal the need for a cigarette. The best time to start quitting is when your loved ones are away from those triggers. If the elderly smoker is a stress smoker or a social smoker, it might not be the best idea to start their smoking cessation program over the holidays or during their busiest season.

3) Go cold turkey

The idea of quitting smoking abruptly can seem daunting, but researchers say it might lead to lasting smoking cessation.

A study published in Annals of Internal Medicine found that smokers who quit abruptly on a set quit date were significantly more successful at quitting smoking than those who tried to wean themselves off gradually. The study shows that the former group was 25% more likely to remain abstinent for half a year from the date that they quit than smokers who gradually cut back.

That said, going cold turkey may not be the right approach for everyone. It is best if both smokers and those around them gear themselves up for the withdrawal. When in doubt, consult a healthcare professional.

You might also like:

4 ways to help your stubborn parents kick their unhealthy habits

4) Come up with a plan to quit

Tailor-make a plan to quit based on your loved one’s smoking patterns. To quit smoking is a long-term, uphill battle. In order to win this, you must know what you are up against. Dr. Daniel Seidman, a smoking-cessation expert and author of Smoke-Free in 30 Days , identifies the six most common “types” of smokers and the obstacles they face in becoming permanently smoke-free.

Based on your observation and research, you can find nicotine replacement therapies best suits your loved ones’ needs. Here are some of the local resources you can draw on for additional support.

Don’t forget to enlist friends and family members in the plan. Someone who feels supported is more likely to quit smoking for good.

Smokers Could Be at Greater Risk of Mental Illness, What Does This Mean for the Elderly?

Mon, 06 Jan 2020 02:36:00 GMT

A new revelation suggests that smoking may lead to long-lasting mental illnesses like schizophrenia and depression. While many smokers are switching to electronic devices to wean themselves off, we wonder whether e-cigarettes are a feasible solution?

The detrimental effects smoking has on our physical well-being is a well-established narrative. That said, mental health also plays a crucial role in our well-being – a key detail that many neglect. The University of Bristol published a new study in the Psychological Medicine urging that smoking tobacco may increase the risk of developing chronic disorders such as schizophrenia and depression.

The cause and effect relationship between smoking and mental illnesses is two-dimensional. The research, with a sample size of 462,690 participants across Europe, shows that individuals who are already suffering from depression are also more prone to initiate smoking (the evidence is much stronger for depression than for schizophrenia).

“Individuals with mental illness are often overlooked in our efforts to reduce smoking prevalence, leading to health inequalities,” lead author Dr Robyn Wootton points out. “Our work shows that we should be making every effort to prevent smoking initiation and encourage smoking cessation because of the consequences to mental health as well as physical health.”

“Combustible cigarette smoking has been linked with an increased risk of developing major depressive disorder and has also been shown to be highly predictive of future suicidal behavior among individuals with a history of depression,” lead researcher of the study, Dr. Olufunmilayo Obisesan, told Medical News Today .

What does this mean in a greying city like Hong Kong, where elderly smokers (aged 60 or above) make up as much as 23.9% of the city’s daily smoking population ? While the government has made tremendous progress in raising awareness about tobacco’s effects on one’s physical health , little attention has been given to the plausible link between smoking and mental wellbeing. The public remains largely unaware about the psychological effects of smoking.

As it turns out, these serious health risks are not limited to traditional cigarettes . Recent years have seen an alarming rise of electronic cigarettes use in Hong Kong. As per a survey taken in 2017 across 10,000 households in Hong Kong, 5,700 smokers used e-cigarettes or other devices on a daily basis. These alternatives have always been touted as a tool for helping smokers quit, but researchers warn, while they are less dangerous than cigarettes — they are certainly not risk-free . A recent study shows a significant association between e-cigarettes and depression , reporting that e-cigarette smokers are twice as likely to report clinical depression as those who have never vaped.

The key takeaway is that smoking, regardless of the type of cigarette or device you smoke out of, could result in a deterioration of one’s mental well-being. This risk should be widely communicated to elderly smokers who are more susceptible to mental illness. If you are looking to help elderly smokers around you kick this deadly habit, here are some useful tips to get started.

Feature photo by Zakar

4 Ways to Help Your Stubborn Parents Kick Their Unhealthy Habits

Thu, 02 Jan 2020 01:06:00 GMT

Nudging your parents to change their behaviour and adopt a healthier lifestyle doesn’t always yield results. Here are four extra steps you can take to overcome resistance and push for greater changes.

We all know what’s best for us —regular exercise, a healthy diet and adequate sleep — so do our parents, but their habits often overrule what they know is good for them. Most of us have tried to convince our parents into giving up unhealthy life choices — whether it’s drinking too much, or smoking packs of cigarettes a day. “I’m old enough to do what I want” is the usual response to these reminders. Stubborn refusal can make caring for an ageing parent more difficult than it already is. Now, experts say there are ways to work around it to achieve their (or mostly our) end goal.

1) Look into the root cause

Before you forbid your parents to do certain things, it is imperative that you understand why they are reluctant to change and what shapes their behavior. Do they smoke because of stress or boredom? Is there an illness or injury that stops them from exercising? Once you’ve identified the triggers, you can develop interventions to halt those habits, for instance, introduce alternatives to stress management or get exercising advice from a physiotherapist .

2) Bring in the jokes

Sprinkle some humour into your conversation can go a long way. When placed wisely, a joke can disarm people and create a favourable atmosphere for persuasion to take place. It also serves as a great way to defuse tension should it arise during a discussion.

Carolyn Rosenblatt, author of the caregiving handbook “ The Boomer’s Guide to Aging Parents, ” shares how a good joke works its magic on a senior . “After I had the guy cracking up for a sec, I’d quickly take advantage of that moment and slip into the subject about which I wanted to convince him. Now it was time to get out of bed, even if it hurts and yes, you have to do it now. The immediate “laughterglow” of sharing something a little funny is perfect for breaking down resistance.”

You might also like:

Long term care planning – start small, start now

Why setting New Year’s Resolutions can help your loved ones age better

3) Pick the right time

Timing is everything, and researchers say the best time to approach the person you need to persuade is perhaps after they have a satiable meal. A study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences highlights that judges were six times more likely to grant parole in a ruling made after a meal or snack than when it is made before a meal. Researchers explain that people intuitively link the positive feelings from food with the message they are presented with, and thus see things in a more optimistic manner.

Of course, not everyone has the time to prepare a homemade dinner. But the takeaway is, make sure your parents are in a good mood when you bring up the subject. It can reduce the odds of resistance.

4) Rephrase your wording

One of the reasons why nudging doesn’t always work is because it sounds more like a lecture than a discussion. No one wants to be reminded of the erroneous decisions they made or have their beliefs attacked directly. “You should avoid attacking a person by telling them that they’re wrong or being stupid,” Dr. A.J. Marsden, an assistant professor of human services and psychology at Beacon College in Florida, told Reader’s Digest . “Once an attack is made, any chance at persuading them is gone.”

One of the tricks to raise your concern without coming across as critical is to make use of the “yes…and” technique. Compared to the usual “yes…but” approach, “yes…and” creates a sense of openness, affirmation, and positivity. From there, you can then build your own opinion upon the proposed one instead of denying its value.

For example, if your parent says “I’m not taking these medications because I don’t like the way they make me feel,” instead of replying, “yes, I understand, but it’s for your own good,” say “yes, and I feel the same way when I have mine. Here’s what I’d do …”

Persuading a stubborn parent can feel akin to talking to a headstrong child — only the former has an ingrained set of values and way of life. It is a skill that takes time to master, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution to the issue. If you are not sure which method best suits your loved one’s needs, you can always consult a professional .

Why Setting New Year’s Resolutions Can Help Your Loved Ones Age Better

Tue, 31 Dec 2019 00:53:00 GMT

New Year’s resolutions: yet another seasonal cliché or the perfect opportunity to bring about change? We can help you decide!

New Year is right around the corner waiting to unfurl its promises of a fresh start, novel ways and a retrospection of the year nearing an end. The time has come to move forward and achieve the goals we have been yearning to attain. As a caregiver, we constantly strive to motivate the seniors in our lives to be better versions of themselves. This may take the form of finding meaning in life or altering unhealthy ways of living. What better time to implement this than the beginning of a new decade?

Unsurprisingly, having a solid sense of purpose is associated with greater overall well-being and longevity. Research by Harvard Medical School shows that having a purpose in life could reduce stress and inflammation in the body, which may cause cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, a sense of purpose and fulfilment may lead to a longer life as it promotes an active lifestyle and lowers levels of stress, according to the Journal of Biobehavioral Medicine. Researchers from Rush University Chicago, discovered that people with a high sense of life purpose were 2.4 times less likely to develop senile dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

You might also like:

Letting go of anger may reduce the risk of chronic illnesses for the elderly

Long-term care planning – start small, start now

Setting New Year’s goals with the elderly will give both of you a chance to reflect on the past year and things you wish you had done, reform some undesirable habits or relationships, and revitalise your life. Moreover, keeping resolutions with a loved one allows you to mutually inspire each other, learn from mistakes and realise your potential together.

Here are some goals you may set with the elderly (and don’t forget the 3 Rs: reflect, reform, and revitalise) :

1) Set Health Goals:

The long-term benefits of regular physical activity are no secret. Better metabolism, relaxed muscles, and a stronger immune system are just a few out of many. Set daily goals on your smartphone (or buy a pedometer) to track your steps, and gradually increase the amount of time you are exercising. Go on walks with your near and dear ones for enhanced motivation and companionship, or take your pet for a stroll.

Health is wealth. Set a goal to make the right food choices. Adding more fruits and green vegetables to your diet while cutting down on foods high on sugar is a good option. Your body will thank you in the long run.

2) Revisit an Old Hobby:
Miss the old fishing days? Or the times spent singing away with your friends? Make a goal to do at least one activity you enjoyed back in the day. Introduce your family to it and share your ideas of happiness and hobbies with them. We are sure the trip down the memory lane will bring back fond memories, a smile to your face, and may even strengthen the bond with your loved ones.

3) Expand your social circle

Social isolation is a crippling reality in old-age, but there are many ways to overcome it. This New Year, make it a point to join a club that routinely meets for yoga, cooking or playing light games in the evenings. This will enable you to meet new people from all walks of life. Alongside, getting a pet is also an option to consider. In addition to the camaraderie provided by pets, they are also beneficial for your mental and physical health .

Letting Go of Anger May Reduce the Risk of Chronic Illnesses for the Elderly

Fri, 27 Dec 2019 05:12:00 GMT

Anger is a normal response to stress, but it may also be detrimental to our well-being.

Negative emotions are part and parcel of life. While anger may motivate us to do better , sadness and grief aid in processing trauma. But, as they say, excess of everything is bad. And it turns out, daily encounters with anger are associated with poor physical health in elders.

A study published in the American Psychological Association revealed that anger in the elderly may make them more susceptible to higher than usual levels of inflammation and long-term ailments, such as arthritis and diabetes.

Although inflammation helps to fight off infections and wounds, the same may result in chronic illnesses if it outstays its welcome, according to the authors. The age analysis of the study, conducted on 226 adults between 59-93 years, showed that the relationship between anger, inflammation and sickness was more evident in advanced old-age; in individuals above the age of 80.

“We found that experiencing anger daily was related to higher levels of inflammation and chronic illness for people 80 years old and older, but not for younger seniors,” said co-author Carsten Wrosch.

You might also like:

Long-term care planning – start small, start now

Old-age is often associated with irrevocable and profound changes in one’s life, for example, loss of a spouse or the untimely death of a child coupled with diminished physical ability. The elderly may further face social isolation and political disturbances plaguing a modern capitalist society such as Hong Kong. Sustained feelings of anger may thus become inevitable. Now anger does not act as a quick fix to one’s issues, but further prolongs the experience of stressful situations and may lead to physiological imbalances which could potentially elevate inflammation levels.

“ Anger becomes problematic for adults once they reach 80 years old, however, because that is when many experience irreversible losses and some of life’s pleasures fall out of reach,” said lead author Meaghan A. Barlow.

We are living in tough times as social unrest may compound personal issues. Here are 5 ways to regulate our levels of anger:

1) Exercise daily

Researchers suggest that exercising every day is a natural and effective way to manage our emotions.

2) Practice Progressive muscle relaxation

Progressive muscle relaxation is a low-cost method that aims to relieve muscle tension – an indicator of anger, by slowly focusing on relaxing each muscle and letting the intense emotions dissipate.

3) Practice Yoga

The American Psychological Association proposes that stress-relief practices such as yoga helps in working through anger through asanas or yoga postures.

4) Keep the environment as stress-free as possible

The American Institute of Stress proposes that keeping house plants and flowers at your home or workspace is an effective way to keep the stress at bay. Declutter and clean your surroundings regularly as this seemingly petty thing can aggravate stress, and eventually ignite anger.

5) Use rational speech (think before you speak)

Anger is a strong emotion which could lead us to say things or use words we do not necessarily mean. Do not be in a hurry to simply reply to the other person. Listen carefully, use measured speech and calmly respond to the person lest both parties get provoked.

Finally, one must keep in mind the limitations of the research. The study used a small sample size and did not account for individual differences or the circumstances that preceded the surveyees’ angry emotions. Moreover, since the research is based in Canada, cultural differences may arise in addressing issues relevant to human behaviour.

Why Binge-Listening to Christmas Music May Not Be the Best Idea This Season

Fri, 20 Dec 2019 03:48:00 GMT

“ Christmas is here, bringing good cheer. To young and old, meek and the bold…” But along with that joy, your favourite Christmas tunes may also bring bouts of exhaustion, distress and fatigue… How does that make sense, you wonder?

For many of us, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. From starry skies to fluorescent lights to the most beautiful decked up trees and homes, everything spells out the magic of the holiday. We love tuning to the all-time hits like Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is you” and Michael Bublé’s “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” but turns out, these songs may have a negative impact on your mental health.

According to Clinical Psychologist Linda Blair , preemptive and incessant consumption of Christmas music can trigger anxiety.

“Christmas music is likely to irritate people if it’s played too loudly and too early. It might make us feel that we’re trapped – it’s a reminder that we have to buy presents, cater for people, organise celebrations,” she told Sky News .

Sympathising with retail workers who continuously have to listen to the same songs over and over again, she noted that “People working in the shops at Christmas have to tune out Christmas music because if they don’t, it really does stop you from being able to focus on anything else… You are simply spending all of your energy trying not to hear what you are hearing.”

You Might Also Like:

Researchers say: ‘Tis the season for holiday cheers and… heart attack

Such music does not only affect our concentration levels and mood, but given the intimate nature of the festival, it triggers an emotional response. People already struggling with personal issues such as work stress, loss of a loved one , seasonal depression and so on, may feel more suffocated and anxious due to the constant reinstatement of joyous times. On top of that, past memories including particular smells and sights are also said to be recalled by music. If your childhood Christmas memories were filled with disappointment and unmet expectations, then the music may serve as a reminder of the happy holiday you never had. That, in turn, could make you feel gloomy.

Professor Elizabeth Margulis, from the Music Cognition Lab at the University of Arkansas said that repeatedly listening to the same songs makes one feel annoyed as there exists “an inverted-U shaped response to repetition.”

The first few times we hear a song we like, we tend to listen to it on repeat for a number of times. After some passage of time, we reach a saturation point where we might not necessarily dislike the song anymore, but listening to it makes us feel irritated, which ultimately alters our initial perception towards it. This is exactly what happens with the blasting Christmas tunes during the wintry holiday months.

That being said, it’s not the case for everyone. Whether or not you share that holiday cheer depends largely on your approach and your perspective on the season. If Christmas music reminds you of those joyous moments in your life, feel free to jam out to your favorite tunes. After all, we don’t want you to get out of the whole festive spirit, we would just like you to value your mental health and create the next playlist wisely!

For starters, fight that cognitive fatigue by adding a diverse range of tracks from pop to country to classical genre. Keep the volume in check and create the right balance between festive and regular tracks. Festivities can get overwhelming. This Christmas, make sure you look out for yourself and engage in sufficient self-care through introspection, meditation and exercise.

冬季來襲最易被忽略的兩種老人病

Mon, 16 Dec 2019 04:40:00 GMT

穿衣過多反令長者健康風險更高？低溫會影響長者認知能力？冬天是長者的高危季節，面對危機四伏的冬天，有兩種老人病你不可不防。

近日天氣轉冷，很多人都紛紛為家中長者添置大量禦寒衣物，以減少他染上流感的風險。然而，除了流感，寒冷的天氣也會引致其他老人病。除了比較常見的冬季毛病，如慢性支氣管炎、高血壓病、心血管疾病等，還有以下兩種疾病都容易被長者及家人忽略，而他們往往才是冬季的隱形殺手。

骨質疏鬆及骨折

骨質疏鬆症是一種骨骼新陳代謝的病症。患病的主因是骨質密度減少，骨骼結構變得脆弱，變相令患者容易有骨折。隨著年紀增長，長者會容易因為營養流失，或沒有汲取足夠營養，而患上骨質疏鬆症。由於骨質疏鬆症沒有明顯病徵，除非長者感到痛楚或有做定期檢查，否則他們未必意識到自己得了此疾病。

冬天之所以使長者更容易骨折，因為寒冷天氣會令肌肉彈性減少，令骨骼欠缺保護，加上長者一般視力、平衡力較差，因而增加骨折機會。長者亦會因為穿衣過厚影響身體活動，而更易跌倒及骨折。

認知障礙症

認知障礙症是最常見的長者腦部疾病之一，患者的思考能力和記憶力會退化，嚴重影響其日常生活。常見症狀包含情緒不穩、說話和理解力遲鈍，以及行動能力降低等。

早前，有美加學者在 POLS Medicine 發表研究報告，指季節的轉變會對長者的認知能力有一定影響。他們邀請了3353位來自美國、加拿大、法國的長者進行認知能力測試（部分為失智症患者），發現研究對象在冬天和早春時分出現明顯失智症徵狀的機率比夏季和秋季高出31%。研究總結，寒冷天氣有可能令失智症徵狀變得更明顯，甚至惡化，且或會降低長者認知能力，現時團隊仍然努力尋找箇中原因。

另外值得一提的是，氣溫驟降亦有機會影響認知障礙症患者的健康。認知障礙症有機會削弱長者對溫度變化的敏感度，以致在天氣轉涼時，未必意識到天氣變冷而沒有多穿衣服，最終使他們更容易感染其他疾病，例如感冒。主管內科及老人科的李舜華醫生指出，「認知障礙症會逐步蠶食患者的身體機能，擾亂他們的心理狀態。」由於認知障礙症長者的身體機能較其他長者差，一但染上疾病，或有更大機會令病情惡化，造成惡性循環。

其實無論長者是否有老人病，他們的自理能力都比一般人低。因此家人都應多注意長者在冬季的需要，預防他們患病。除添購衣物，暖爐外，家人亦可為長者預備冬日食療，例如根據長者的身體狀況和需要，為他們預備合適的湯水，教他們多做運動，渡過溫暖的冬天。

Researchers Say: ‘Tis the Season for Holiday Cheer and… Heart Attack

Wed, 11 Dec 2019 03:10:00 GMT

Christmas is sneaking up on us, along with some potentially fatal health risks. Read on to find out why Christmas could be deadly and how you can avoid an unexpected visit to the emergency room.

Christmas is the season of great joy, and indulgence. For many, it typifies a flurry of family gatherings, scrumptious feasts, and extravagant parties, but for some, excess merriment and gluttony may trigger a heart attack.

A recent study in the ‘British Medical Journal’ reveals that you are more likely to have a heart attack on Christmas Eve, specifically at 10 pm, right after a hearty meal. Researchers broke the news after tracking and analysing the exact timing of 283,014 heart attacks reported to the Swedish coronary care unit registry between 1998 and 2013.

This 16-year-long study aims to look into the correlation between holidays, sporting events, and heart attacks. Researchers found that the risk of having a heart attack increases by 37% the night before Christmas, when recorded cases of myocardial infarction surge on average from 50 per day to 69. The study also shows that patients aged 75 or above, who had another pre-existing illness, including diabetes and coronary artery disease, are more prone to Christmas heart attacks.

“We do not know for sure, but emotional distress with acute experience of anger, anxiety, sadness, grief, and stress increases the risk of a heart attack. Excessive food intake, alcohol, long-distance travelling may also increase the risk,” Dr. David Erlinge from Lund University’s Department of Cardiology, who led the study, told the ‘Telegraph.’

Not trying to rain on your parade, but as the saying goes, forewarned is forearmed. We’ve put together 4 preventative steps to lower your risk of a heart attack .

1) Be mindful of what you drink and eat

During a time where free-flow alcohol and heavy meals take center stage, overindulgence can lead to more than indigestion. You don’t have to completely abstain from festive grub, but have some portion control over the unhealthy food you eat. If you’re anticipating drinking more than usual, make sure you switch between alcohol and water to give your liver a break from time to time.

2) Carve out some time for yourself

It’s easy to get caught up in the seasonal frenzy, but it’s important to give yourself permission to stop and breathe. Stress is one of the primary triggers of heart and circulatory disease. To lower your risk of having a heart attack, you can engage in low-stress activities, be it having a power nap after lunch or taking a short walk outside.

3) Stick to your exercise regime

Difficult as it may sound, especially with the extra business and events happening around the holidays, you should try to make this a priority. It will not only help curb your appetite for junk food but will also help you work off that Christmas turkey and potato wedges.

4) Know your symptoms and seek help earlier

Learn to identify your symptoms so you can choose the proper medications and receive medical attention in time.

6 Gift Ideas for Family Caregivers

Mon, 09 Dec 2019 08:51:00 GMT

Looking for the perfect present for a family caregiver ? We’ve put together our top picks, guaranteed to bring a smile to any face.

No gift can fully recognise the amount of time, love, and energy that any family member or caregiver puts into their work. That said, the smallest token of appreciation can help caregivers in your life feel recognised, appreciated, and valued. Read on to find out how you can return the love to those who deserve it most.

1) A Curated Playlist

Burnout is rampant among caregivers. When your caregivers are showing signs of burnout , a mood lightening music playlist can provide much needed relief.

It’s been proven that music has the power to regulate our mood, lower aggression, reduce depression, and enhance sleep. One of the ways music achieves that is through dopamine release, a chemical in our brain that plays a crucial role in putting you in a good mood.

“Listening to music is one of the most direct routes to emotional control because it makes us feel things without even having to think about it,’ clinical neuropsychologist Judy Ho, Ph.D. , told Well+Good . “Choose a song that tends to relax and give you confidence—it can be super helpful.”

2) Respite care

When it comes to buying presents, remember that caregivers are human, and could use a helping hand too.

Caregiving is an emotionally and physically demanding job and often can mean long, unpredictable hours. Compounded by their own family and career responsibilities, these duties can take a toll on family caregivers’ well-being.

Treat your family caregivers with respite care service. This offers short-term relief to caregivers, whether it may be taking a holiday or a short break from their loved ones while they are being cared for by professionals.

Having time to recharge is essential in the caregiving process, and respite care is a great way to prevent burnout, isolation, and stress. It is also a way for the caregiver to maintain a life outside of caregiving duties. If you need respite care services, click here . Change link

3) Thank you letter

Nothing is more heartfelt than a hand-written letter.

Write a note to your caregiver to express your gratitude and remind them of the important role they play. If you’re not much of a writer, you could also gift him or her a handmade present to show your appreciation. It’s the thought that counts.

4) Floral bouquet

A fresh, vibrant bouquet is a great sign of trust and support. “Flowers stimulate social trust in many ways. They communicate the intention to invest effort in a relationship,” says Prof. Loretta Graziano Breuning in Psychology Today , author of Habits of a Happy Brain .

Flowers have been scientifically proven to increase the happiness chemicals in our brain, which include Dopamine, Oxytocin, and Serotonin. Though flowers can’t lessen the burden on caregivers, they can at least brighten their mood during the toughest part of their journey.

Best of all? They can be ordered online and delivered almost anywhere!

5) Big hug

Okay, this is cheesy, but it’s not without scientific proof! Anyone who has gone through a rough patch, or a tiring day, could attest to the positive effects of the simple act of hugging.

According to the book Burnout: The Secret to Solving the Stress Cycle by Dr. Emily and Amelia Nagoski, a simple hug (a consensual one of course! ) can do wonders for reducing stress levels. The science behind it is simple. An extended hug helps to release the bonding hormone oxytocin, which is proven to lower blood pressure, slow down your heart rate, and have an overall positive effect on our mood. Next time you see your caregiver, you know what to do.

6) Self-care gifts

For many caregivers, caring for themselves may come last on their priority list, but it is necessary. A gift of relaxation is perfect for caregivers who don’t have time to pamper themselves.

Whether it’s a ticket to a mindfulness retreat, body care buys, healthy treats, or a well-deserved massage, the ultimate goal is to encourage your caregivers to take some time out for themselves.

A thank-you gift for family caregivers doesn’t have to be elaborate or expensive, because the act of care, in itself, already means the world to them.

Feature Photo by JESHOOTS.COM

Advance Care Planning – Start Small, Start Now

Fri, 06 Dec 2019 10:07:00 GMT

By 2064, over 35% of Hong Kong’s population will require some form of advance care planning. Yet, many of us are not prepared for it, let alone thought about it.

The ageing population in Hong Kong is swelling, thanks to a general increase in life expectancy. According to the “Hong Kong Population Projections 2015-2064” , the number of elderly aged 65 or older will reach 2.58 million by 2064, making up almost 36% of the population in the city. By 2066, the average life expectancy will reach 87.1 years for men and 93.1 for women.

While a longer life expectancy can be a cause for celebration, it also raises some fundamental concerns around money and health. Two-thirds of those aged over 65 will need some kind of care, whether it is home care, assisted living, nursing care, or a combination of all three. To finance the anticipated longevity requires careful planning in all aspects.

Among the laundry list of priorities, a long-term care plan often comes as an afterthought. Why? Because many have failed to entertain the possibility that their health could deteriorate, and that end-of-life could arrive sooner than expected — often the result of an illness, a sudden stroke, or even an accident. When this happens, family members are often left having to make decisions on behalf of the patient, with little or no time to reflect on what their loved one might have wanted.

You might also like:

How to take care of yourself when your loved one is dying

4 simple ways to prevent heart diseases

The absence of a genuine end-of-life discussion could have a lasting impact. A study published in 2008 found that a lack of collective decision making (on issues related to the location of care, use of life-sustaining treatments, and availability of comfort measures, etc.) can reduce the patient’s quality of life but also enhance caregiver anxiety and depression.

“Instead of delaying the conversation until it’s too late, family carers should approach end-of-life issues when your loved ones are healthy and able,” suggests Mickey Kwok Keung Li, who’s been working as a professional caregiver since 2013.

Mickey breaks it down into 3 core discussion points when planning for long-term care:

1) Explore care options

2) Define roles and responsibilities for family members

3) Anticipate costs

By covering the basics, family members can develop an initial plan and establish a foundation to build upon later. It is important to note that your loved one’s needs may be subject to change, and it is impossible to plan for every detail or eventuality. To manage the uncertainty and disruption to your daily life as a potential caregiver, we advise family members to frequently check in on the patient’s situation and make adjustments accordingly.

專業護理員傳授獨門溝通秘笈！三招氹掂頑固長者

Mon, 25 Nov 2019 01:36:00 GMT

拋出一句「你聽我講」就處理到問題？長者硬頸不聽勸？護理員郭強利送你三大秘訣，教你如何與固執長輩相處。

隨着家中長輩年紀漸長，與子女相處的時間愈來愈少，日常溝通時出現摩擦也越發頻繁。長者愛囉嗦、動不動就嫌三嫌四，有時候子女勸説一下都被罵，搞到家庭氣氛很僵。Evercare的護理員郭強利擁有6年居家護理經驗，他也經常目睹這些問題。同為照顧者的他，會如何解決紛爭？作為子女，我們又該如何面對？

第一招：耐心聆聽最簡單卻最有效

「我以前XXX」、「我那個年代XXX」都是長者們的經典口頭禪。老人家尤其喜歡回顧陳年往事，發表自己的見解。雖然我們面對長者的嘮叨時，難免會表現出厭煩的樣子，但大家都明白，長者緬懷過去其實是希望自己的人生故事能夠分享给别人，得到别人的理解和肯定 — 而理解必先從聆聽開始。正如強利說：「你要耐心聽，就算你幫唔到佢解決痛楚，就算你聽過個故事好多次，你聆聽起碼可以俾佢一個渠道抒發佢嘅感受，讓佢知道自己講嘅係有人肯聽。」

話雖如此，聆聽往往說時容易做時難。強利認為，聆聽時最重要是心態。「最緊要係要控制自己嘅態度。如果每一次長者開始嘮嘮叨叨講往事，你就要將故事當新事物去聽，搵到新觀點，你就會慢慢學會如何聆聽。」舉個例子，當長者又說同一個故事時，我們與其想著「咦？又說這個故事」，倒不如試著想「咦？這次故事的演繹手法跟上一次稍微不同，好像又加了新的見地」。

第二招：溝通必備三個「心」

不但是對長者，與任何患者溝通時都要謹記這三個「心」– 耐心、愛心、關心。

照顧長者有時很考耐性，也的確會容易令人不耐煩，但當你被負面情緒影響，你可能會忽視患者的真正需要。「佢發脾氣，可能係因為好辛苦，偶爾宣洩下，或者係好想搵人傾訴佢嘅痛苦，你應給予諒解。」強利道。「因為如果冇人諒解冇人聽，佢會覺得佢自己係拖累人，會自暴自棄。」強利道。「不如死咗佢算，連剩下開心嘅日子都唔肯過就好嘥。」

除了耐心、愛心，還有關心，強利鼓勵照顧者要主動了解長者的需要，並在他心情低落的時候開解他。

第三招：時刻謹記長者都是大細路

很多人以為，與長者溝通困難，與患有認知障礙症的長者溝通更是難上加難。即使照顧認知障礙症患者挑戰重重，強利認為，只要跳出框框，用另類方法也可以與患者建立緊密關係。

「認知障礙症患者其實好似小朋友，好需要氹。」強利笑道。「所以，照顧者要放下身段，放下成人嘅身份，以孩子嘅心態同佢哋溝通。」他說，無論是喂藥或是喂食，照顧者都不應「夾硬嚟」，要氹小朋友一樣，先讓他試一點點，如果他喜歡的話，自然會多吃一點。期間都要一邊和他「傾吓偈、講吓笑。」

認知障礙症患者的短期記憶雖然變得模糊、判斷力也降低，卻能清晰地表達多年前或年輕時的往事。強利建議照顧者可以善用這一點，跟患者多談天，勾起他的回憶，以他記得的往事，例如愛吃的東西、去過的地方等作為切入點。強利說：「他們未必每一次都會俾反應你，但佢哋係聽到你嘅講話。」

封面圖片: Getty Image

How to Take Care of Yourself When Your Loved One Is Dying

Wed, 20 Nov 2019 03:27:00 GMT

Professional caregiver Mickey Kwok Keung Li shares his inner reflections on love, life and death.

In 2013, Mickey Kwok Keung Li was working as a full-time sales and marketing officer while tending to his bedridden mother as a primary caregiver for 10 years. It was a prolonged battle and a turning point for Mickey . “When she passed away, I felt relieved, but I was weighed down by the guilt of not being able to provide her the best care because I was unequipped to handle the situation,” he recounts.

Determined not to let others suffer as his mother had, he gave up his comfortable office job to train as a patient care assistant at a local hospital, tending to hundreds of patients while completing a healthcare worker course. He became qualified as a professional healthcare worker two years later. “My goal was simple; I wanted to help others with the techniques I had learnt,” Mickey explains.

Now in his 50s, Mickey has stayed on since. “When I first started, my friends questioned my capability,” he laughs. Their concerns were not unfounded. As Mickey later realised, caregiving was by no means an easy task. “The strain of caregiving can be overwhelming at times, ” the home-care aide admits. “In fact, there are a host of mental health issues that are not being properly addressed within the industry .”

With experience spanning over half a decade, Mickey has witnessed the lows and woes of caregiving. The morning before our interview, he had just bid goodbye to one of his long-term patients. He shares that men in general find it difficult to communicate their feelings when dealing with loss. “No one wants to cry in front of others,” says Mickey . Having worked extensively with the dying and the bereaved, he’s learnt to accept the situation as is and contextualise.

“We are all going to die,” Mickey says, “the ‘when’ and ‘how’ are factors out of your control, but you can choose to adjust your mindset. Instead of focusing on a loved one being gone, think of how you’ve enriched their lives during their final stretch and that they are now free of pain and suffering,” Mickey advises.

“Grief is a natural reaction to losing someone you love. But you can also be happy for them, and give him or her your blessing,” he continues. Mickey views the ability to focus on the positives as paramount for family caregivers to live a meaningful, fulfilled life ahead.

His optimistic attitude, paired with his compassion and expertise, have propelled Mickey to be one of the top male caregivers in a traditionally female-driven industry. Through his narrative, he hopes to shift the lens in which we view caregiving.

“Many families do not want their sons to join the home care sector because it is seemingly an unpromising career,” Mickey points out. The caregiving sector is generally perceived as low-pay and low-status — a stigma that puts young people off from pursuing a caregiving career. The result: a looming manpower crunch.

By 2066, the average life expectancy for Hong Kong citizens will have risen by more than five years to 87.1 years for men and 93.1 for women, Mickey says the workforce gap needs to be duly addressed as more people are reaching the age where they will require support in residential care.

Mickey urges families to set aside their concerns and encourage more young people to get involved in caregiving by highlighting the benefits. Drawing from his personal experiences, Mickey says, “parents should understand that one day, when they grow old, they would likely receive better care if their sons and daughters were better informed and equipped with the right knowledge and expertise.”

Editor’s note: This is the first of a series of features highlighting the highs, the lows, and the complicated that come with caregiving. If you, too, would like to share your stories with our community of caregivers, do shoot us a message via Facebook .

Feature image by Priscilla Du Preez

【認知障礙症照顧】與認知障礙症患者溝通的五大技巧

Thu, 24 Oct 2019 09:38:00 GMT

與認知障礙症患者溝通並非易事。面對日漸退化的認知功能與判斷能力，患者很容易會感到恐慌與不安。負面情緒加上溝通能力下降，情緒控制的能力也隨之減弱。照顧者錯誤的溝通技巧，不但無法解決問題，更可能觸發更嚴重的後果，例如，長者可能變得脾氣暴燥、表現不合作、行為帶攻擊性等。

與認知障礙症患者溝通需要花點心思。以下，我們綜合了5個簡單的溝通技巧，解決認知障礙症患者最常見的溝通及行為問題。

問題 1 : 認知障礙症患者理解能力減慢，容易誤解別人的意思
技巧 1: 避免說話語速太快

這是香港人常犯的毛病！香港人什麼都講求快捷，連語速都比較快。日常生活這樣的語速並沒有問題，但如果要與認知障礙患者溝通的話，就要改改這習慣。年紀越大，認知障礙症患者的反應速度會減慢，容易誤解對方的表情、語氣或動作的意思。

照顧者如果用急促的語氣説話，患者可能會誤會以為對方感到不耐煩。語速太快容易令患者變得激動和緊張。因此，與患者溝通時，照顧者可以用平穩的音調，緩慢清楚地把話說完，好讓患者慢慢理解你的意思。

問題 2 : 認知障礙症患者說話詞不達意
技巧 2: 避免立即糾正

想必大家應該都有類似的經歷。當長者說錯話時，我們都有衝動想要馬上糾正，但其實這樣立即否定可能會使患者更慌亂。

隨著病情惡化，認知障礙症患者的溝通能力大不如前，表達時可能會找不到適合的字詞表達自己、亦無法適當地抒發自己的情緒。有時候，他們講話流暢卻言不成理，沒有明確的內容。理解對方說話亦可能只能夠掌握部份意思。

照顧者面對這些情況，最好的應對方式是靜靜地等患者說完話，簡單附和幾句後，再引導他到正確答案。這樣既不會打擊患者的自信，又可以讓他知道自己的錯誤。

問題 3 : 認知障礙症患者做出不當行為
技巧 3: 避免質疑或責罵

一個較常見的認知障礙症溝通問題是患者可能會因為忘記正常社交的禮儀，而作出不妥的行為，例如打斷別人的說話、不回應別人，甚至變得很自我中心。

當認知障礙症患者作出這些行為時，照顧者千萬不要當場質問他們，因為照顧者的責罵可能會令他有所畏懼或抗拒。與其當場糾正，照顧者可以反思患者做出這行為背後的原因，並思考如何預防他重犯。

問題 4 : 認知障礙症患者不聽勸
技巧 4: 避免使用命令式的用字和語氣

我們知道照顧固執的認知障礙症患者不是一件容易的事，有時候我們可能會失去耐性，直接用命令的口吻指令他配合。這是萬萬不可的做法，長者患了病也有自尊，他能夠感受到我們對他的態度。當我們要爆發的時候，建議先深呼吸，離開一下現場，等自己心情平靜後再使用平和的語氣引導他，以免適得其反。

問題 5 : 認知障礙症患者容易情緒波動
技巧 5: 鼓勵患者獨立，避免什麼事都幫患者做

認知障礙症患者容易因為日常生活中遇到障礙，而感到沮喪，情緒起伏不定。

為提升患者的自信心，照顧者必須訓練患者的自理能力。很多認知障礙症患者仍然有能力完成部份自理活動，如梳洗、穿衣、進食等。只要透過簡化步驟、給予口頭、視覺或觸手提示、多給予嘗試機會等，患者便可以發揮剩餘的自我照顧能力和培養自我照顧的習慣。照顧者可以等他完成任務後說聲謝謝，這種訓練可以讓患者得到成就感與自我實現的感覺，培養正面的人生態度。

【糖尿病必吃】3種超普通但極有用的控糖法寶

Thu, 17 Oct 2019 08:35:00 GMT

提起糖尿病，很多人都會立刻聯想到胰島素針和「戒口」。雖說「戒口」有助調理血糖濃度，但對香港眾多「吃貨」來說卻是一件殘忍的事情。很多患者聽到要「戒口」都叫苦連天。其實糖友們也不需要太擔心，只要選對食材，吃好東西並不是不可能的事。為了大家的口福，我們搜羅了三款天然抗糖尿的食材，並送上食譜，讓糖友們吃得開心，又可以穩定血糖，預防併發症。

1. 吃南瓜讓你少打幾支胰島素針

醫學界有研究發現，食用南瓜比施打胰島素更有效降低血糖和激活胰島素。一般患者之所以患上糖尿病是因為胰島素分泌不足，導致血糖上升。南瓜含有豐富的鉻和鎳，可以激活胰島素，對治療糖尿病有顯著功效。另一方面，南瓜也含有大量植物纖維，可以延緩小腸吸收糖份。糖尿病患者吃過南瓜之後，血糖都不會急劇上升，增加胰島素負荷。所以各位糖友不要誤會，南瓜雖然甜，但卻是患者的天賜良藥。

推介菜色：南瓜番茄扁豆湯【食譜】

2. 蒜頭是高血壓、糖尿病的終極剋星

大家都知道蒜頭是天然殺菌高手，但原來它還有預防和治療糖尿病的神奇功效。有實驗證明，生吃大蒜有提高正常人葡萄糖耐量的作用，更可以促進胰島素分泌和增加組織細胞對葡萄糖的利用，迅速降低體內血糖水平。無論是生吃還是熟食，大蒜對糖尿病患者都有莫大益處。當中，黑蒜更可以防止或緩解一些糖尿病併發症，包括高血壓、心臟病、冠狀動脈硬化等。

推介菜色：香茅蒜片焗雞【食譜】

3. 紅豆降低血糖更見效

糖友們終於有個理由喝一碗飯後紅豆湯！紅豆有降糖作用，紅豆裏的可溶性膳食纖維可以延緩餐後葡萄糖的吸收，維持餐後血糖水平。同時，紅豆有助控制血壓和膽固醇數值，能夠預防糖尿病的併發徵狀，如高血壓高血脂症。但有一點要留意，紅豆中含有酶，容易令人產生胃氣，所以我們建議煮紅豆湯時加少許鹽，有助於排出脹氣。

推介菜色：菊花紅豆糕【食譜】

做自己的醫生：60秒測出9種潛在疾病

Mon, 14 Oct 2019 09:02:00 GMT

外國有醫學研究人員整合了9個DIY健康測試，讓大家在家中都可以檢查到隱藏的身體疾病。大家試做了嗎？

無論你身在何處，看病總是一件令人頭疼的事！等候公共急診服務費時費事，做身體檢查的費用高昂，都令很多想看病的人卻步。有外國的醫學研究人員整合了一系列簡單健康測試，讓你輕鬆在家也可以為自己做身體檢查。以下9個測試分別針對不同症狀和身體部位，讓你1分鐘內揪出隱藏的身體疾病，例如貧血病、甲狀腺問題、認知障礙等等。

1.時鐘測試（clock-drawing test）

時鐘測試透過測試受測者的記憶力、空間感、解難能力和策劃能力，推測受測者有否出現早期認知障礙的情況。做這測試前只需要準備紙和筆。受測者要先畫一個圓形，再按次序寫上12個數字，並且加上時針和分針，針所標示的時間應該為 3:40。每完成一項動作，受測者就可以得到1分。如果受測者得分為4分或以下，他可能已出現認知障礙的徵狀。我們建議受測者見一見醫生，及早處理問題。

2. 起立坐下測試 (The Sitting-rising Test)

這個運動據說可以預測你的壽命！巴西醫生Dr. Claudio Gil Araújo早前於《歐洲預防性心臟病學》醫學期刊發表了一個名為「起立坐下」的測試 (The Sitting-rising Test)，用以測試受測者的身體彈性和肌力。受測者要先交叉雙腳，然後慢慢坐落地下。以滿分10分計，凡是用手掌或手肘碰觸地板就扣1分，凡是失去平衡或搖晃一下，就扣0.5分。得分少於8分、不到3分者，未來6年內死亡的可能性，分別是分數更高者的2倍同5倍。Dr. Claudio Gil Araújo因此指出，「肌肉骨骼的健康程度是51-80歲人士存活率的重要指標。」

3. 手掌測試（Palm Test）

如果你經常感到疲累以及心跳加速，你應該檢查一下掌心。如果你張開手時掌紋發白，甚至顯得毫無血色，可能你身體已經出現缺鐵性貧血的情況。血液裏的鐵質主要功能是製造血紅素。血紅素是構成紅血球的重要物質，負責將氧氣輸送到身體各組織。如果鐵質攝取不足，身體就不能夠製造足夠的紅血球，引致缺鐵性貧血。如果發現這是行常的問題，建議先找個醫生做一個全血細胞計數報告。

4. 腰圍量度

量度腰圍除了可以知道一個人的肥瘦體型，原來也可以讓人窺探到他的內分泌系統的健康狀況。測試很簡單，受測者只需要將量尺圍在肚臍對上一吋位置。一般情況下，女性的腰圍不會超過34吋，男性腰圍不會超過40吋。研究指出如果一個人的腰圍超過這個數字，他的內分泌系統很大機會已經出現問題，患上糖尿病的風險也會比其他人高出5倍。

5. 顫抖測試（ Wobble Test ）

顫抖測試可以告訴你甲狀腺的健康狀況。先伸出雙手，掌心向下，然後放一張紙在手背上。如果你發現紙張有頗大的震動，你可能患有甲狀腺機能亢進症。這個症狀出現是因為甲狀腺體分泌了過量的甲狀腺荷爾蒙，而女性患上這個症狀的機率是男性的4倍，所以女士們要留意一下。話雖如此，少許的震動是正常的，特別是如果你剛剛喝了或吃了含咖啡因的飲品、食品，或者你本身有低血糖、哮喘等病症。

6. 手背測試（ Phalen’s maneuver ）

上班族經常用電腦，好多時候患上了「滑鼠手」(又稱腕隧道症候群)而不自知。想知道自己有沒有這個問題，可以做這個動作：手背對手背，手指向下，手踭向外拗，然後用力壓，並保持這個手勢60秒。如果你發現還沒到60秒你的拇指、食指、中指和部分無名指已開始發麻，那很大機會你已有滑鼠手的問題，是時候讓自己休息一下。

7. 縮肚測試

想知道自己的肝臟是否健康？可以找個鏡子，觀察一下自己縮肚的時候腰上方有沒有一層贅肉，如果有，那些贅肉底下應該藏著內臟脂肪。這些脂肪積聚起來會嚴重影響內臟功能。另外，你也可以留意一下眼白有沒有泛黃的問題，脷苔會不會很厚，因為這些現象的出現其實都是身體在告訴你是時候留意一下肝臟的健康問題。

8. 閉氣測試（ Sthange test ）

這個閉氣測試讓你檢查自己的呼吸系統的功能。先準備一個計時器，然後連續吸氣3次，期間不要呼氣，連續吸氣之後看看你可以忍著不呼氣多久。如果你只忍到40秒或以下，就證明你的呼吸系統不太好。一般人可以忍到40-49秒。如果你可以忍到多過50秒，你的呼吸系統是非常棒。

9. 窗框測試（ Window test ）

窗框測試可以幫助你檢視自己有沒有患老年黃斑部病變的風險。受測者應站在房裏一扇窗的對面，先蓋住一邊眼睛，看著窗框30秒，之後再蓋住另一邊眼睛做同一個動作。如果你視力完好，你望到的窗框線條應該是筆直的，但如果你看到的線條有彎曲，甚至變形，你的眼睛可能已經出現老年黃斑部病變，這病變是60歲或以上人口中導致失明的主要原因之一。

雖說這些測試可以讓你更了解並照顧好自己的身體，但為了保障自己，最好都是看看家庭醫生，聽聽他們的意見。

資料來源： Bruce Mars

【照顧照顧者】要崩潰了？照顧者保持精神健康的三大要訣

Thu, 10 Oct 2019 01:35:00 GMT

他們雖不是病患者，但他們所承受的壓力卻不可小覷。

病患照顧者是一份24小時無休止的工作。照顧者，泛指需要照顧特殊學習需要的兒童、殘疾人士、長者及長期病患者的人，多為被照顧者的親屬。根據2013統計處及香港社會服務聯會的資料顯示，全港現有超過20萬名「同住照顧者」，當中有近6成照顧者，每周照顧時數超過40小時，另外更有1成人每周照顧時數高達100小時。

照顧者除了要照顧病患的生理需要之外，還要處理自己與被照顧者的情緒問題。照顧者很多時為了照顧長期患病的家人而忽視自身的需要，導致精神和身體上都承受巨大壓力。有些照顧者更因長期無法紓解這壓力，出現「過勞」（burnout）這種精神狀態。

今年，世界衛生組織將「過勞」（burnout）重新定義為一種與持續工作壓力有關的慢性綜合症。根據香港衛生處的資料顯示，

如果你有以下徵兆，你有可能已經處於「過勞」的邊緣。

身體：經常感到疲累但有難而入眠、欠缺食慾、易病。
思想：難以集中精神、想法負面、態度消極、覺得前路茫茫。
情緒：容易感到沮喪、鬱鬱寡歡、容易發脾氣。
人際關係：減少與人接觸，甚至對其他人產生怨懟或敵對的態度。

到底應如何避免或改善「過勞」的問題？專家提出了以下幾點建議：

1）捨棄「非我不可」的心態

要知道照顧者在照顧病患以外也有自己的工作和職責，一個人不可能扛下所有責任。因此，照顧者千萬不要抱著「捨我其誰」或「非我不可」的心態，獨自苦撐。照顧者可以寫下一個工作列表，完成了首要的任務，再適度、有系統地把責任分擔予其他親人。除此之外，照顧者可以鼓勵患者做一些能力範圍內可以做到的事情，提高其獨立及自我照顧的能力。照顧者絕對不需要因此而愧疚，也別不好意思開口請人協助。要謹記，你已經盡全力了。「知道有人支援」本身就是一種鼓勵，可以讓人穩定，讓人安心。

2）考慮使用短期暫顧服務

如果照顧者有感眼前的工作已壓得人喘不過氣來，最好先放下照顧工作。照顧者可以利用政府或市面上提供的臨時護理服務，騰空一兩天讓身體稍作休息、緩解壓力。一般臨時的上門護理服務涵蓋不同範疇，無論是上門護理‎、上門打針、出院後護理，或是陪診、照顧起居和進行戶外活動，都是由專業護理員協調。無微不至的私家看護服務至少可以令照顧者安心先處理好自己的事。

3）善待自己

最重要的一點就是要善待自己，給予自己私人空間。有多人可能會反問，單單是照顧別人我都已經忙到身心俱疲，哪裏還有時間和心力「對自己好一點」？如果你無法放下照顧工作去旅行、逛街，甚至連抽時間做運動、閱讀、見朋友或吃好東西，都做不到的話，沒關係，可以從簡單的小事做起。舉例說，如果一口雪糕可以讓你的身心狀態好一點，不妨去做、去吃、去試。在做選擇的時候多為自己打算，獎勵一下自己。

說到底，有健康的身心才能照顧好家人。

6種照顧者最想收到的禮物（只提供英文版本）

想Evercare為您找到最適合的護理人員?只需做多兩步

Thu, 29 Aug 2019 02:07:00 GMT

知道首次使用Evercare服務的大家，都會擔心Evercare提供的護理員未能完全符合您的需要。接到您的電話後，Evercare的護理經理會為您配對護理人員，協助你得到最優質的醫療服務。然而，只要你能做多兩步，我們將能夠更了解你的所需，為你提供最佳醫護人選。

一：詳細地告訴我們你的需要

每一個病人的身體狀況都各有不同，例如即使同樣是中風病人，兩位病人的飲食需求，復康治療等都各有不同，因此如果客人只告訴我們病人的基本病況，我們未必能夠安排最能回應客人需要的醫護人員。我們希望可以了解更多病人的資訊，例如病人的病徵、性格脾氣、特別需求。我們明白客人對Evercare的病情咨詢有所質疑，擔心至親的資料外洩。Evercare可以保證，我們不會把客人的任何資料交給第三方，所有病人資料只供醫療團隊參考使用。同時，我們亦希望客人可以避免太過累贅的陳述，否則我們的醫療團隊難以整合所有資料，尋找最適合的人選。

二，提供時間表

我們明白每個病人都有自己的生活習慣，如果醫療人員突然介入他們的生活，他們可能會覺得自己的日常生活打亂。Evercare希望醫療人員希望可以對病人的影響減到最低，因此希望熟悉病人生活習慣的家屬可以為我們提供一個簡單的時間表，讓我們得知客人期望從我們的醫療團隊中得到的服務，同時避免因雙方溝通問題而造成的誤會，令到Evercare的服務與客人的期望有落差。我們會與醫療團隊溝通，確保醫護人員能盡量滿足客人需要，為病人帶來最好的醫療計劃。

依然對我們的服務有疑問？即到我們的網址與我們聯絡。

如何選擇癌症保險？危疾保險VS醫療保險

Thu, 29 Aug 2019 02:01:00 GMT

癌症治療的醫療開支十分昂貴，病人除了要負擔療程費用，更要支付住院費、康復後覆診等各項開支。因此，很多人都會未雨綢繆，購買醫療保險以便日後患病時能夠取得賠償，應付醫療費用。醫療保險主要分成危疾保險及醫療保險，但大家知道兩者有甚麼分別嗎？

危疾保險：確保有錢治病

危疾保險的保費固定，如果投保人確診患上危疾保險內包含的疾病，保險公司一般都會提供一筆過現金賠償，支付全部或部分醫療費用。即使投保人不需要或拒絕到醫院接受治療，危疾保險都可以確保他們領取到合理的金額。所以，如果你預計自己將來患病會選擇留在家中休養，或者認為確診患病後將急需現金，危疾保險會是更佳的選擇。

雖然危疾保險有助即時解決資金不足的問題，為投保人解決燃眉之急，但對長期病患者來說，這種保險也有自己的限制，因為一次性的賠償未必足以應付病人長期求醫的費用。如果投保人未能好好分配賠償金的運用，長遠而言，危疾保險則不能減輕其負擔。

醫療保險：癌症患者首選

相對來說，醫療保險的保障範圍比危疾保險全面。一旦投保人確診患上疾病，並需要接受治療，保險公司會要求投保人保留醫療開支的單據，作實報實銷之用。這種保險尤其切合癌症患者的需要，因為癌症治療時間可持續好幾年，而且復發機率高，如果你擔心自己一旦患癌沒有足夠資金應付所有療程，你可以選擇醫療保險。另外，如果你本身是長期病患者，需要一份保障支付長期醫療開支，醫療保險也會是個不錯的選擇。

不過，值得一提的是醫療保險的保費會隨着投保人的年齡而增加，如果你不確定將來是否有足夠的流動現金，或者你有醫療以外的開支需要顧及，建議你可以根據自己的能力和需要作出選擇。

癌症治療的開支非同小可，如果你沒有信心應付所需開支，必需預先計劃好如何面對所需費用。在正式購買相關保險前，可以先了解消委會為市民整理出的常見的醫保陷阱。

如何與癌症康復者一起工作?

Fri, 23 Aug 2019 03:43:00 GMT

上文提到癌症康復者的職場生活情況並不理想。那麼，如果有機會與他們共事，我們有甚麼地方需要注意呢？

不應刻意照顧癌症康復者

很多人認識癌症康復者後，由於同情他們的遭遇，因此在生活上會特別照顧他們的需要；而在職場上，上司同事可能會刻意遷就他們，例如為他們安排較簡單的工作、對他們的態度特別好等。其實，除了需要額外時間覆診外，癌症康復者與一般人無異。過多的遷就只會變成對癌症康復者的標籤，令人覺得他們與其他人有異，覺得他們是弱者，反而會對他們造成傷害。癌症康復者期望自己得到與其他人的平等待遇，與他們得到同樣的表現機會。

可以問他們有關癌症的問題嗎？

很多人都會對癌症康復者的經歷感興趣，希望可以了解更多他們的故事，但又害怕這些問題會勾起他們傷心的回憶，因此又把問題藏在心裹。其實，只要你的問題不會冒犯到他們，或者對他們造成傷害，很多癌症康復者都很樂意解答大家的問題，尤其是可以幫助到其他癌症患者的問題。只要你懂得尊重他們，不要強迫癌症康復者回答他們不喜歡的問題，癌症康復者絕對不會拒絕與大家交流。

其實與癌症康復者相處並無特別技巧，他們只渴望得到其他人的尊重，希望其他人不要刻意標籤他們，覺得他們是弱者。我們只需要無差別地對待每一個人，就是對他們最好的支持。

癌症康復者能否找到工作？社企會有支援？

Fri, 23 Aug 2019 03:36:00 GMT

癌症患者在接受治療期間，經常會考慮到自己出院後的各種情況，例如健康狀況，人際關係等。當中最令他們擔心的，就是工作問題。到底癌症康復者的工作機會如何？

癌症康復者的求職情況

很多年輕的癌症康復者離開醫院後都會積極求職，希望可以盡快重投社會。可惜很多癌症康復者都表示自己難以找到工作，因為有些僱主對癌症康復者存有誤解，例如以為癌症康復者需經常請假而影響公司運作，因此不願聘請他們。即使癌症康復者成功得到工作，他們亦可能會在職場上受到歧視，例如因為康復者曾經患病而認定他們工作能力不如其他人，或者刻意標籤他們。因此癌症康復者很難得到公平的工作機會。

癌症康復者有否更好的工作選擇？

考慮到癌症患者在康復初期需要多休息，他們未必應付得到全職工作的上班時間，而且工作量多，壓力很大，因此很多人都會建議康復者申請上班時間較為彈性的兼職/自由職業。但是，這些工作的選擇少，康復者未必能夠在這些工作中發揮所長；加上它們的工資不高，未能應付醫療開支，因此它們不是癌症康復者的最佳選擇。有見及此，某些社企會提供專門為癌症康復者而設的職位，設計最適合的工作時間及工作內容，照顧他們各種需要。

癌症康復者雖然曾受到疾病折磨，但他們其實與一般人無異，在職場上，甚至在其他地方上依然能發揮所長。給癌症康復者多一份關心，多一份機會，少一份歧視，讓他們可以展開第二人生。支持社企的活動，讓他們知道自己並不寂寞。

【人物訪問】從護理員到保健員分別很大也很小

Fri, 23 Aug 2019 03:31:00 GMT

護理員(包括起居照顧員 PCW)及保健員(HW，屬Evercare護理人員其中一個級別) 同樣是居家長者的好幫手，但兩者有甚麼分別呢？這次，我們邀請了同時持有護理員和保健員課程證書的洪姐，分享她的護理服務之道。

從小與長者照顧密不可分畢業即成為護理員

三十多歲的洪姐小時候經常觀察母親如何照顧家中行動不便的長輩。耳濡目染下，她對護理工作有一定認識，更在畢業後，毫不猶豫選擇投身護理行業。「我嘅第一份工咪就係護理員囉！」事隔多年，洪姐依然未忘記初投職場的各種經歷。修讀相關課程後，她便到護老院任職長者護理員的職位。護老院的工作絕不簡單，從餵食、照顧長者情緒，到清潔身體、扶抱、換片等，洪姐每天都忙得不可開交。

驚覺自己能力未夠毅然進修成為保健員

然而某天，老人院的保健員沒有上班，身為護理員的洪姐未能代替她為長者配藥，結果影響了老人院的運作。「嗰時真係覺得好無力，點解我咩都做唔到嫁？」，洪姐深深體會到擔任護理員並不能為長者提供最完善的工作，於是決定要註冊成為一位保健員。「保健員難讀過護理員好多嫁！」洪姐指出保健員課程的教學時數遠比護理員高(編者按：保健員證書課程時數為約300小時，護理員證書課程時數為約50小時)，課程範圍亦更加廣泛。除了個人護理及照顧服務，保健員要額外學習更多醫護知識，例如傷口處理，鼻胃管餵飼技巧等、甚至要嘗試制定護理程序。

從老人院到私人保健員

辭去老人院的職位後，洪姐轉職成為私人保健員。她覺得私人保健員照顧一位長者，不但令她可以更專心觀察長者需要，她更可以與長者建立親密關係。私人保健員的職責比安老院保健員多，洪姐有時需要陪伴長者外出或就診，亦需要與長者家屬有密切溝通，責任比以前高。儘管如此，她依然更喜歡私人保健員的工作：「見到D老人家多謝我，真係覺得好滿足！」。

多年護理經驗換來一個總結

洪姐認為護理員和保健員的職責大同小異，都是以照顧長者為主。但保健員課程所學到的護理知識比護理員深入，提供的護理服亦比護理員全面和複雜。因此她認為如果長者沒有患上疾病，只需普通照顧服務，他們可考慮護理員；相反，如果長者需要傷口處理，敷藥等護理服務，或者家屬想得到更專業的服務，保健員會是更佳的選擇。「點都好啦，最重要都係護理人員有心做野囉！」，從事多年護理行業的洪姐為我們總結出成為出色護理人員的祕訣。

看過洪姐的分享後，你有否被她感動到，希望可以成為護理員的一份子？Evercare誠意招聘擁有護理經驗的護理人員加入我們的醫療團隊，與我們一起為香港人提供舒適的居家護理服務。即到我們的網址進行網上登記，成為我們的一份子。

癌症康復者也可以美容？活動背後反映了甚麼？

Thu, 15 Aug 2019 01:36:00 GMT

韓國某美妝企業每年都會舉行為女癌康復者而設的美容化妝班活動，透過教導她們化妝及護膚保養技巧，改善她們由抗癌療程引致的容貌改變問題。在這個活動背後，我們可以從這個活動中反思到甚麼與癌症康復者有關的議題呢？

癌症康復者的社交生活

這個美容化妝活動令女性癌症康復者可以互相認識和交流心得，幫助他們擴闊社交圈子。癌症康復者在接受治療期間長期留在醫院，欠缺與家人朋友相處的機會，未必能夠與他們如常見面溝通；即使他們能夠見面，身邊的人亦未必了解他們正在面對的難題，給予適當的開解與鼓勵。癌症康復者與昔日的朋友和家人的關係變得生疏，現今亦沒有主流的平台讓她們認識其他癌症康復者，使他們在康復路上難以找到同路人互相扶持。社會現今是否欠缺對癌症康復者的社交支援，我們又有甚麼方法可以幫助他們呢?

癌症康復者的自信

這個活動的創辦機構指出，他們希望透過這個活動，協助癌症康復者重立自信。癌症治療帶來的副作用會改變病人的容貌，例如頭髮眉毛脫落、皮膚狀況變差等，令他們與患病前的外表截然不同。患者未必能接受自己患病後的容貌，因而感到自卑。此外，他們或會因為體能，工作能力等大不如前，感到無力和不安，對自己失去信心，否定自己的價值。我們應學會欣賞癌症康復者的內在美，例如他們在抗癌路上的堅定意志；並給予鼓勵和支持，讓他們覺得自己並非一無事處，亦不應單靠美容活動建立自信。

除了美容化妝班，不同機構亦有為癌症康復者提供各種活動，協助他們認識新朋友，獲得新技能。

癌症要及早治療如何靠新科技評估風險？

Thu, 15 Aug 2019 01:32:00 GMT

癌症不一定是絕症。在癌症初期，癌細胞並未擴散到身體其他部份，因此只要在這時接受治療，患者有很大機會可以痊癒。因此越早察覺癌症並診斷癌症，治癒癌症的機會便越高。但現代人生活忙碌，未必能夠抽空進行身體檢查，到底有將來會有甚麼新科技可以幫助評估患癌風險呢？

是痣，還是皮膚癌？打開手機鏡頭監察皮膚狀況

每個人身上都會有不同大小的痣。但如果您身上的痣出現變異，這可能是患上皮膚癌的警號。基底細胞癌及黑色素癌患者身上都長出與痣相似的有問題細胞，但一般人難以分辨兩者。有見及此，有丹麥醫療公司推出皮膚監測應用程式，為使用者監測和檢測痣的變化，並提供各種皮膚癌資訊，令使用者可以盡早發現皮膚狀態異樣並尋找醫生診斷病症，及早接受治療。使用者只需根據程式指示定時為身上的痣拍照，程式便會提供報告，令使用者足不出戶便可了解身體狀況。

一部機器呼一口氣便可了解身體狀況

以色列醫療科技企業正在研發一款檢測疾病設備。使用者將來只需購買接近手機大小的機器，向它吹一口氣，機器就可以感測到使用者呼吸中所含有的有機化合物，自動以藍牙把數據交由軟件及醫務人員分析。透過追蹤使用者呼吸中不同有機化合物的濃度變化，使用者可知道他們身體裹是否有與疾病或癌症相似相同的化學成分，以預測某些疾病及癌症的風險。

除了上述的科技，市面上亦有很多監察身體狀況的電子產品，例如可以24小時記錄心跳的智能手錶。只要好好利用這些科技，多留意自己的身體狀況，就可以及早解決健康問題，尤其是癌症等疾病。想知更多科技如何使癌症診斷變得更方便，可參考 Digital Technology for Diagnosing and Treating Cancer (英文網址)。

不論處於癌症治療的哪個階段， Evercare的保健員及腫瘤科護士都在此支援你的至親，助病人應對任何副作用或不適的狀況。

OT PT有甚麼分別？認識居家安老長者的兩位好幫手

Thu, 15 Aug 2019 01:29:00 GMT

假如長輩決定要留在家中安享晚年，家屬應如何協助他們生活呢？很多人都會立即想到僱用護理員照顧長者日常生活，但其實長者需要更多的專業支援。職業治療師(OT)及物理治療師(PT)都是復康好幫手，前者注重評估和改善病人生活，減低病人對護理者的依賴；後者則專注診斷和改善身體組織和結構問題。

職業治療師：協助居家安老初期安排

在決定居家安老後，家屬應尋求職業治療師的協助，評估長者的家居狀況，並參考他們的家居改裝建議，為長者建立更安全的居住環境。很多人會覺得長者在熟悉的環境居住多年，熟悉家中每一個角落，突然改變家居環境只會使他們感到不安；家屬亦認為沒有必要浪費金錢改建家中設施。但事實上，職業治療師對於家居環境改裝擁有豐富經驗，可以幫助長者在盡量保留家居原有設備的同時，把家居打造成一個更安全的環境，以減低長者在家中發生意外的風險。

物理治療師：持續為居家安老長者服務

長者的身體機能會隨着年齡增長而下降，甚至出現退化問題，而物理治療師的工作，就是要幫助他們改善這些現象所帶來的動作不靈活及疼痛問題，以恢復長者原有的生理功能。有別於護理員和護士，物理治療師的角色更像一個醫生，改善長者的身體機能，提高他們的活動能力，減低他們因行動問題而帶來的不便。長期僱用護理員照顧長者是個治標不治本的方法，雖然他們可以協助處理長者的日常需要，但長遠而言，長者更需要擁有獨立的能力。

因此，除了長者照顧服務，長者復康服務同樣重要。有見長者未必方便到醫院或復康所接受服務，很多職業治療師及物理治療師都會提供上門服務，令長者能夠足不出戶得到治療。Evercare的護理團隊有多名專業的職業治療師及物理治療師，為長者提供最優質的照顧。立即到我們的網址，向我們的護理團隊了解更多。

接受癌症療程後皮膚感到不適？了解不同療程的副作用

Fri, 09 Aug 2019 01:38:00 GMT

癌症治療往往為病人帶來很多難以忍受的副作用，當中以皮膚問題最令人感到煩惱。病人不但要承受皮膚不適的感覺，他們的外觀更會出現變化，甚至因皮膚護理不佳而令身體發出異味，對他們的日常生活造成很大影響。到底我們可以如何協助病人呢？

不同療程會對癌症病人造成怎樣的皮膚傷害？

普遍來說，在目前最常見的三種療程當中，標靶藥物對皮膚產生的副作用較為嚴重。病人皮膚會變得敏感且呈鱗片狀，出現水泡，並在後期出現俗稱「雞眼」的角質化增生，患處變得疼痛。化療則使病人皮膚痕癢乾燥、變黑及脫皮，亦會對陽光敏感，即病人不能長期接觸陽光。而放射治療與化療帶來的影響相似，但放射治療更易誘發皮膚潰瘍。當然，不同強度的療程會對皮膚及身體帶來其他程度的傷害。

如何幫助癌症病人紓緩皮膚不適感？

基本上，針對以上問題，醫生都會為病人處方蘆薈啫喱或潤膚霜，病人可按需要使用以紓緩皮膚乾燥問題。但市面上很多護膚品都含有果酸或其他刺激性添加劑，患者使用後反而會加劇皮膚問題。另外，家屬亦應確保病人的皮膚乾爽，尤其是腋下等皺摺位置，以免出現濕疹問題。家屬亦要避免病人皮膚擦損，例如可為病人添購透氣寬闊的衣服，阻止他們大力擦拭皮膚。如果病人對陽光敏感，亦可為他們準備透氣的防曬衣物，但如非必要，病人不應使用含有防腐劑及其他化學物的防曬乳霜。

癌症療程為病人帶來的副作用不容忽視，病人不但要承受身體不適帶來的痛楚，他們更會因為這些副作用而影響心情。作為家屬，即使是一個輕微的小舉動，都可以為病人帶來很多鼓勵，成為他們抗癌路上的最大動力。想知道更多對癌症病人的支援提示，可參考癌症基金會：給照顧者的建議。

長者想靠中醫治療癌症？中西醫哪個比較好？

Fri, 09 Aug 2019 01:35:00 GMT

家中長輩有否因為對西醫沒有信心而拒絕求醫，結果導致病情加重？作為親人，我們有甚麼方法可以勸喻他們接受治療？

為甚麼他們不相信西醫？

老一輩的親人也許因為習慣中醫的療法，加上他們對西醫的認識不多，因此對西醫的好感不高，甚至在面對嚴重疾病時，也不願意相信西醫的治療。由於他們對中醫的信任早已深植於心中，因此強迫他們接受陌生的治療方式，只會使他們反感。

可否單靠中醫根治癌症？

就目前的醫學發展而言，很多權威學者都認為西醫比中醫更能有效地對抗癌症。儘管網絡上亦不乏中醫成功治療癌症的例子，但香港的中醫選擇不多，政府及醫療機構亦欠奉完善配套加以協助。因此即使中醫能有效治療癌症，在香港的情況而言，相比中醫，西醫依然是個較佳的選擇。當然，如果病人堅持要選擇中醫服務，作為家屬，我們只能尊重他的決定。

如何勸喻他們接受治療？

中西醫可以互相配合，讓患者在治療期間得到最佳的效果。中醫講求養生，調理身體狀況；而且中藥的藥性比較溫和，對於病人，尤其是長者的身體帶來較低傷害。因此，如果癌症患者因西醫癌症治療的副作用而感到不適，可以參考中西醫的意見後，用合適的中藥調理身體，以舒緩不適症狀。

因此，如果長者不願意接受西醫治療，家人可以嘗試向長者分析中西醫治療的利弊，並鼓勵他們同時接受中西醫治療，避免長者因完全依賴西醫而感到不安。同時，家屬亦不應自己胡亂購買中成藥，必須查詢中醫師意見並服用他們提供的處方，避免因服用錯誤藥物而導致身體不適。了解更多中醫癌症治療及尋找相關食譜，可參考香港防癌會的資訊：中醫藥與癌症。

居家化療是甚麼？未來醫療政策可考慮的方案

Fri, 09 Aug 2019 01:30:00 GMT

威爾斯親王醫院的居家化療服務，去年減省醫院超過一千天住院日數。居家化療在香港仍未普及，但其實它好處多多。它將來能否成為香港醫療體系的良方呢？

對醫護人員而言，居家化療無疑能減輕他們的壓力。現時醫護人員人手緊絀，前線護理人員要同時兼顧多個病人，甚至因為醫療人手不足而超時工作。這個問題不但對他們帶來沉重的精神負擔，更會令他們因精神狀況欠佳而更易導致醫療事故，影響醫療質素。居家化療令更多病人可以留在家中接受治療，減低住院人數，使醫護人員能更專注照顧其他病人，長遠提升香港醫療服務水平。

對病人及家屬而言，居家化療則可降低療程對他們日常生活的影響。病人只需戴着便攜式化療輸注裝置，使可離開醫院，正常進食及運動。機器會定時向病人注射藥物，病人無需擔心因不懂使用機器而影響療程。病人可享有更多私人空間做自己喜歡的事，亦不用擔心因留在醫院而感染其他疾病；病人家屬不用抽時間到醫院探望家屬，可以有更多時間與他們相處。

總括而言，對醫護人員及病人而言，居家化療都是一個非常值得考慮的醫療方案。當然，居家化療並不適用於所有病人身上，在目前的科技水平下亦有一定限制。但我們依然可以期待它的發展。

不論處於癌症治療的哪個階段， Evercare的保健員及腫瘤科護士都在此支援你的至親，助病人應對任何副作用或不適的狀況。

有關更多居家化療在香港的發展情況，可參考：家居化療助抗癌威院率先推行年減1,310住院日數

抗癌偏方食療錯誤多如何破解謬誤？

Thu, 01 Aug 2019 01:55:00 GMT

網絡上流行着很多抗癌偏方，聲稱只要病人跟隨它們的食療養病，就可以紓緩癌症病情。但你又有否留意到當中的謬誤呢？

癌細胞愛糖戒糖可殺菌？

癌細胞的確比起正常細胞需要更多糖。癌細胞主要靠攝取葡萄糖取得養份並進行增殖，使體內的癌細胞數量增加。科學界至今未能在癌症和攝糖量之間找到確實的關係，因此戒糖食療的可信性依然成疑。然而，即使沒有糖分，癌細胞依然可以透過脂肪及胺基酸等其他來源汲取營養，而糖分汲取量不足亦會影響其他細胞運作。

膽固醇是癌症剋星？

我們從小就被灌輸「膽固醇不健康」的概念，覺得膽固醇一定對身體有害。事實上，膽固醇有好壞之分，汲取適量的好膽固醇，反而可以降低患上癌症等致命疾病的風險。但胡亂汲取膽固醇，只會對身體帶來負擔，更有機會誘發其他嚴重疾病。在醫學界中，使用膽固醇治病的案例都需要配合其他藥物而用，他們更不是單純要求病者進食含大量膽固醇的食品以作治療。

其實即使這些食物對抗癌有效，亦不代表每個人都適宜用同樣的食療治病。癌症病人要得到最佳的治療效果，除了跟隨醫生的指示，亦可尋求專業護士或營養師的協助。Evercare為你提供多位註冊護士、登記護士及營養師的癌症護理服務，為你度身訂做最佳餐單，亦有其他醫護人手，令你在抗癌路上不再迷茫。前往我們的網址了解更多。

末期癌症病人不想留院安寧服務是大趨勢

Thu, 01 Aug 2019 01:53:00 GMT

試想想，當你走到人生最後一個階段時，你會想留在病房接受治療延續生命，還是返回熟悉的家中安然逝去？

面對癌症，很多人並不知道除了住院留醫，亦可以選擇安寧服務。安寧服務(Palliative Care)亦稱紓緩治療，是臨終支援的一種，以病人的生理及心理健康為出發點，緩解末期癌症病人的不適症狀，避免他們因治療而受到不必要的痛苦，令病人可以有尊嚴地選擇如何渡過最後的日子。病人可以選擇住在安寧病院，亦可選擇回到家中接受治療。

為甚麼安寧服務將會變成新趨勢？隨着生活水平日漸提升，我們開始注重生活質素，希望可以依照自己的意願而活，令自己的生活過得更有意義。而安寧服務與這個概念不謀而合。安寧服務主張由病人決定如何使用最後的時光，並由家人及專業人士提供協助，讓病人可以在臨終前渡過有意義和有價值的日子。作為家屬，作為病人，我們都明白生命的長度並不等於一切，因為生命的價值在於我們如何運用時間。現時，英國、台灣、日本等各個地區都流行安寧服務，相信安寧服務很快也會進入香港醫療界的討論中。

安寧服務在香港並不普及，現時醫管局豁轄下只有十間醫院設有寧養中心提供服務。相反，居家安寧所需的配套比較完善。市面上很多護理服務機構都提供所需的醫護人員，例如護理員、營養師、物理治療師等。Evercare為你提供所有所需的護理服務，可到我們的網址了解更多。

【照顧者分享】至親離世，家屬應如何安排其身後事及撫平喪親之痛？

信不過居家安老？一文釋除您對安老服務的疑慮

Tue, 30 Jul 2019 03:07:00 GMT

對於傳統的安老院服務，新興的居家安老服務顯然未能完全得到家屬和長者的信任。到底大眾對居家安老服務有甚麼常見問題呢？

問題一：護理員是否可信？

選擇安老院服務的家屬可以親自到心儀的安老院參觀，觀察院舍環境及護理員後，選擇最適合長者的照顧服務。然而，採用居家安老服務的家屬未必能逐一認識每個護理員，只能透過中介公司提供的基本資料選擇護理員，令長者未必找到最適合自己的照顧者；由素未謀面的陌生人照顧家人，更會引起家屬的憂慮。儘管如此，很多中介公司現在會提供更全面的護理員，例如學歷，工作經驗等，甚至邀請護理員拍攝影片自我介紹，允許家屬在接受服務前與護理員進行簡單訪問，讓顧客對護理員有更深入的認識，增強家屬的信心。

問題二：有否提供跟進服務？

安老院職員可以24小時跟進長者的身體狀況，確保他們的健康情況沒有異常，對各種疾病作出適當的預防及治療。然而如果選擇居家安老服務，兼職護理員只會提供照顧服務，缺乏身體健康評估、長者飲食意見等跟進，令家屬擔心長者的健康得不到最全面的把關。隨着市場對於護理服務的要求越來越高，很多家屬都會主動要求護理員提供長者的基本身體報告，例如體重及血壓，追蹤長者身體狀況，使居家安老長者的健康亦能得到保障。

Evercare為你提供最完善的居家安老服務，助你解決以上種種問題，確保長者能得到最貼心的服務。即到我們的網址向我們了解更多。

長者飲食要均衡營養充足有妙法

Tue, 30 Jul 2019 03:01:00 GMT

我們團隊常收到客人查詢，他們家中的長者隨著年齡的增長，身體機能開始退化，因此出現不同的飲食問題，例如胃口變差。這是一個很常見，但不能忽視的問題，因為飲食問題會使長者無法吸收足夠的營養，為他們的健康帶來負面的影響。如果你們也遇過類似的問題，不妨花點時間閱讀這篇文章，從而了解更多長者均衡飲食的資訊。

長者常見飲食問題及原因

咀嚼困難：牙齒鬆脫、假牙裝配不恰當，口水分泌減少等
味覺減弱：味覺神經細胞退化，容易愈吃愈鹹，進食時僱向挑選較濃味的食物
消化系統功能減弱：口水、胃液、消化酵素等分泌減少，進餐後出見胃脹、嘔心、噯氣的感覺
食慾不振：疾病、腸胃不適、藥物的副作用，情緒低落或其他心理因素

長者飲食失衡的影響

飲食問題阻礙長者攝取均衡營養，降低他們新陳代謝的速度，增加免疫力下降的風險，減慢疾病或傷口的復原。

有些長者對飲食存有謬誤，例如以為吃得愈清淡對身體愈有幫助，認為肉類不健康便減少進食。但缺乏蛋白質會加快長者的肌肉流失速度，長遠而言，這甚至會增加長者跌倒的風險。

長者送餐服務打破傳統餐單新穎選擇多
需要幫忙照顧家中長者？三種服務照顧您不同需要

長者健康飲食要訣

長者在家煮食應避免使用會堵塞血管的動物油，轉用植物油做煮食油，例如茶花籽油、橄欖油和芥花籽油
在外進餐應減少進食一些容易增加血管病風險的高脂類食物，以及炒粉麵飯類和油炸類
奉行三低兩高的飲食方法，三低代表低脂、低糖、低鹽；而兩高指高纖、高鈣
每日應進食三份蔬菜及兩份水果，改善便秘問題，幫助增加抵抗力及預防疾病

對一些患有長期病患的長者來說，培養良好的飲食習慣是更為重要的。但長者大多缺乏營養知識，而家人又因忙於工作而無法幫忙準備飲食。有見及此，晨曦居家護理復康保健服務（Evercare）的營養師及護士為長者提供專業的營養指導服務。例如患有糖尿病的長者會容易因為沒有進食晚餐而導致第二天早上起床血糖下降；認知障礙症的長者會堅持自己用餐，以致進食不足。我們的團隊會根據他們的需要來制定飲食計劃，控制營養及卡路里攝取。

長者家屬也要受培訓？三個報讀長者照顧課程的原因

Fri, 12 Jul 2019 02:52:00 GMT

照顧長者的學問很深，照顧員要身兼多職：與長者溝通、照顧長者健康及衛生人、甚至復康照顧、情緒支援等。很多人會把長者交由專業人士照顧。但儘管如此，市面上依然有為家屬而設的長者照顧課程。你有否想過，為何家屬也要受培訓呢？

一：以備不時之需

假如長者遇到緊急情況，或者家屬臨時找不到護理員照顧長者，家屬可以擔當照顧者的角色，為長者提供專業的照顧，確保長者隨時得到足夠和有質素的支援。

二：及時發現長者的潛在健康問題

長者照顧課程為學員提供長者健康資訊，使學員對各種長者疾病有更深入的認識。家屬可以藉此更容易發現患病長者的病徵其及早治療，或幫助長者預防各種疾病。

三：情緒支援

很多人並不知道，長者照顧課程其實會教導學員如何處理長者情緒問題。長者在健康退化的過程中，容易因為身體機能下降而感到不安和困擾；亦會因為朋友的離開而感孤獨。受到情況困擾時，如果不得到即時和妥善的處理，長者的精神健康會惡化，甚至誘化更嚴重的後果。家人對長者的認識較深，往比陌生人更容易開解長者，協助長者走出困局，亦更容易跟進他們的情緒問題。

報讀相關課程前，可先了解更多長者的常見健康問題：長者護理常識及技巧

需要幫忙照顧家中長者？三種服務照顧您不同需要

Fri, 12 Jul 2019 02:49:00 GMT

市面上有各種不同的照顧家中老人服務，迎合各種家庭需要，但哪種服務最適合你的長輩？

如果家人需要上門護士協助， Evercare可以在24小時內為你配對合適的護理人員提供私人看護及起居照顧服務，歡迎你隨時與我們聯絡。

長者送飯服務

如果擔心家中長輩膳食問題，可考慮選用長者送餐服務。機構會把經特別設計的餐飲送到府上，有些機構亦會提供糊餐、糖尿餐、低鹽餐等，迎合不同長者的健康需要。餐單由專業人士設計，確保長者汲取足夠營養，飲食均衡；送飯服務更免除長者購買餸菜及煮食的不便。但應注意很多機構週末不會提供送飯服務，家屬要另尋協助。

鐘點照顧老人服務

如果您需要不定時的照顧服務，可考慮鐘點照顧老人服務。保健員會彈性配合你的時間，為長者提供最佳照顧。他們提供的服務多元化，從家務助理、陪老，到購物及送遞、復康護理，都一應俱全。家屬可考慮長者的實際需要，尋找最適合長者的服務。

短期老人照顧

如果您需要短期老人照顧服務，部分安老院會接受短期留宿，全天候配合長者需要。

醫療機構為長者守護身體健康，但只有家人和朋友的陪伴和支持，才可給予長者心理支援。如果發現家中長者有情緒問題，亦可透過以下網址尋求協助：樂助晚年 (長者精神健康的社區資源)

長者送餐服務打破傳統餐單新穎選擇多
【私人兼職保健員】請專人上門照顧老人　2大注意事項
OT PT有甚麼分別？認識居家安老長者的兩位好幫手

長者晚年何去何從？居家安老是否最佳選擇？

Fri, 12 Jul 2019 02:38:00 GMT

現代人未必有時間照顧家中長者，因此會把長者送到安老院，由專業人士代為照顧。然而長者往往抗拒在陌生的環境頤養天年。到底如何在兩者中取得平衡？

沒有嚴重疾病的長者，建議嘗試居家安老。政府近年大力推廣「居家安老為本，院舍照顧為後援」的安老政策，鼓勵長者在家中安享晚年，同時藉改變家居環境設計、各種支援服務等方法達至最佳效果。但市民對居家安老的意見正反持兩極。到底居家安老有甚麼優點和缺點呢？

一：政府支援

政府的居家支援服務屬起步階段，很多社區中心、醫療院宿等硬配套發展未成熟，未能為長者提供所有所需服務。但政府亦有嘗試減低長者對相關設備的依賴，例如「樂得耆所」居家安老計劃主動接觸並服務區內長者，減低他們的衰老速度，維持健康水平。

二：經濟考慮

居家安老可能會為家庭帶來額外的支出，例如在家居改裝時，家屬可能要為長者添購各種安全設備，甚至要進行重建，因此某些家庭未必能承擔費用。而長遠而言，居家安老可節省僱用護理員的費用，減輕家屬的經濟負擔。

其實安老院和居家安老不必二擇其一，長者家屬亦可按情況暫托居家長者到安老院。參考長者自身的意願，同時考慮他們的需要，才可為長者帶來最佳的照顧。

想了解更多「居家安老為本，院舍照顧為後援」政策，可參考：
立法會十七題：《安老服務計劃方案》

長者跌倒手尾長居家護理除憂慮

Fri, 12 Jul 2019 01:59:00 GMT

我們團隊常收到客人查詢，家中獨居的長者因為跌倒後造成的骨折而導致行動不便，難以照顧自己。而家人都要上班，但長者很抗拒居住於安老院。他們因而感到很煩惱。

你們有遇過類似的問題嗎？如果有的話，不妨花點時間閱讀以下的文章，必定能為你提供滿意的解決方法。

長者跌倒原因

長者跌倒是由於多項因素所導致，包括：

視覺障礙如白內障、青光眼，老花等
藥物方面如安眠藥、降血糖藥，鎮靜藥等
病理因素如柏金遜症、低血壓，中風等
環境因素如地面濕滑、雜物太多，照明不足

長者跌倒影響

根據2018年香港衛生署的統計，在社區居住的65歲以上長者之中，有30%至40%每年至少跌倒一次。長者跌倒的後果嚴重，重則有機會引致頭部創傷和骨折，甚至可能因失救而導致死亡；輕則亦會造成長期的生理及心理影響。

生理影響方面，部分長者在跌倒後會因受傷失去活動能力，從而降低自我照顧能力。心理影響方面，在跌倒後，長者容易產生陰影，甚至因爲而對自己失去信心。他們會因為害怕再次跌倒而減少外出，影響社交生活，造成情緒低落。

這時候，居家護理是其中一項有效的復康保健措施，為長者提供合適的居家照顧，使他們在家也能得到適心照料。晨曦居家護理復康保健服務（Evercare）提供專業的綜合式居家護理服務，例如在生理方面協助長者進行輕量運動及戶外活動，以及在心理方面與長者進行友善交談，了解他們的心理質素，使長者能夠得到全方位照顧，能夠更全面、迅速康復。

如何預防長者跌倒？

最後，所謂「預防勝於治療」，長者跌倒並非必然，有多方面的措施可以幫助減低長者跌倒的風險，包括輕量運動提升老人家的活動能力及穩定性，專業家居環境評估以幫助防止環境因素導致長者跌倒，等等。

晨曦居家護理復康保健服務（Evercare）提供專業的防跌計劃，提供全方位風險評估及個人化建議，幫助長者大大減低跌倒風險，減輕家人的憂慮。

【認知障礙症照顧者】打工仔身兼多職　兼職保健員是出路

Tue, 05 Mar 2019 01:55:00 GMT

認知障礙症又名癡呆症或失智症，泛指患者的智能及記憶力有減退的跡象，以致其逐漸失去判斷及抽象思考的能力，除了嚴重影響患者的日常生活外，還導致照顧患者的至親飽受肉體及精神上的壓力。

由於患上認知障礙症的病人失去了照顧自己的能力，家人惟有親身從旁協助患者的平日起居生活，例如：餵食、沐浴、更衣、個人衛生等。除了體力上的付出外，患上認知障礙症的病人甚或會出現情緒及行為上的問題，有機會迷路或發生突然的性格轉變，又或會有遺忘、疑心、暴躁、妄想的情況，但照顧者仍然要控制情緒，令本身已經疲於奔命的照顧者百上加斤。

兼職保健員是新趨勢

近年社會興起聘請兼職保健員，幫助看顧有認知障礙症親戚朋友。照顧者知道自己難以全天候24小時都在患者身邊，也沒把握可以完全掌握照顧認知障礙症患者的技巧。相反，保健員經過專業的訓練，知道患者的需要以及其他注意事項，為照顧者提供了更具彈性的生活空間。而且兼職保護員的薪金也未必如傳統般昂貴，因此愈來愈多病人家屬選擇聘請他們作為專業的照顧者。另外，不少家屬都認為從長遠角度來看，他們最理想的角色是「總指揮」，負責為病人作良好的安排及規劃，不必每件事都親力親為，而兼職保健員便是很好的選擇。

除了日常的生活活動（如：餵食、沐浴、更衣、儀容整理、個人及口腔衛生、如廁及失禁照顧、功能性移動），兼職保健員亦可以提供提示，令患者及家人不會錯過醫生的建議。另外，保健員亦會利用特別的記憶遊戲及康樂活動，向患者提供認知刺激的訓練，減緩衰退。保健員亦可以透過設計貼身的運動方案，令患者在康復期間都能夠鍛練身體，而且會定期向患者家屬更新康復進度及定時記錄並監測患者的身體和心理狀況，使家屬可以緊貼患者的身體狀態。

而為了讓有需要的患者家屬更容易找到兼職保健員，本公司有專人了解你的一需要，為你提供合適的兼職保健員以供選擇。有興趣的朋友可以點擊此處了解更多。

【私人兼職保健員】請專人上門照顧老人　2大注意事項

Tue, 05 Mar 2019 01:28:00 GMT

正所謂「年紀大，機器壞」，隨著年紀漸長，身體出現的問題只會愈來愈多。不少長者都同時患有多項長期疾病，又或是曾接受手術，被術後復原所折磨，更甚者行動不便，無法照顧自己的日常生活，因此他們極度需要身邊人的貼心照顧。雖然家人是很重要的照顧者，但是家人都需要打理自己的工作及生活，所以沒甚可能可以全天候 24 小時陪伴在長者身邊。此時，私人保健員便為忙碌的照顧者提供了可靠的服務，讓他們可以重回正常的生活。

社會福利署規定私人保健員於注冊前，必須接受專業的訓練和教育，因此他們具備專業的經驗及技能，能為長者提供全面的服務，如照顧個人衛生、提供個人簡單護理以及陪診等服務。相比起一般人，私人保健員能更全面有效地照顧長者的日常生活，而且他們大多具備豐富的經驗，擁有和長者相處的技巧。

保健員的職責

保健員的職責主要如以下所列：

照顧長者的個人衛生，例如協助長者沖涼、換片
扶抱、轉移及防跌
陪伴長者外出或就診
餵食
基本的護理工作如餵藥、洗傷口
協助進行輕量運動及戶外活動
監測身體狀況
藥物管理
關懷長者情緒

但需要留意的是，保健員的職責並不包括以下：做家務

抽血
插鼻胃喉及導尿管
出院及手術後照顧

因為以上較複雜的護理工作，需要專業的護理員才可以執行。

兼職私人保健員的收費

不少人一聽到兼職私人保健員，便以為費用一定非常昂貴，但其實不少保健公司都提供不同的收費計劃，讓有不同需要的人士選用，而且價錢合理，所以不少長者家人都會選擇這些服務。以下有一個服務及價錢列表，可供讀者參考，因每間公司所訂的價錢都有所不同，請親自到保健公司詢問收費的方法。

Evercare長者護理按小時收費，其中可能包括夜更或公眾假期的額外費用。價格亦取決於所需護理人員的資歷等級，如果有興趣，可以查詢我們的上門護理服務收費詳情。

¹ 以平均使用 12 小時陪診員服務計

² 以平均使用 12 小時保健員服務計

而為了讓有需要的長者家屬更容易找到兼職保健員，本公司有專人了解你的一切需要，為你提供合適的兼職保健員計劃。有興趣的朋友可以預約免費諮詢服務並獲得專業護理建議和貼士。

設計長者友善家居

Thu, 03 Jan 2019 01:38:00 GMT

雖然有90％的長者表示，他們希望能在家中養老，但並非所有的家居設計都是長者友善。為了提供適當的長者家居照顧，我們需要在裝修時確保家居環境有足夠的照明並防止意外跌倒。以下是一些簡單的家居改裝方法，使我們家中的長者可以在住所內自由活動。

睡房 – 方便讓長者在黑暗中上落床及走動

手電筒：放在靠近床的位置，以供停電時使用
床欄：提供額外支撐
燈：將燈放在床邊可觸及範圍內，避免長者在黑暗中往返來回尋找開關
地毯：使用絨毛地毯，在長者跌倒時起到保護的作用
床：升起睡床方便行動有困難的長者上落床

客廳 – 防止長者意外滑倒

照明：一個80歲的老年人需要比年輕人多3倍的光，改善照明可以幫助減少跌倒和事故
對話系統：方便長者應門，而不用趕到門口
家具：預留足夠的空間供長者自由走動，降低絆倒的風險
電線：需固定在牆上以防止絆倒長者
地毯：移除或用雙面膠帶緊貼在地板上
大屏幕電話：方便老人家與家人和朋友聯繫

浴室 – 為年長家人提供額外支撐，避免意外跌倒

花灑：手持式花灑較方便行動不便的人使用
扶手：在進出浴室或使用廁所時提供額外的支撐
浴凳：有助降低進出浴缸時滑倒的風險
馬桶：架高馬桶方便屈膝有困難的長者
防滑墊：放置在淋浴間外及靠近馬桶和水槽

廚房 – 選用有手柄和不同顏色的廚房用品

跌倒偵測與通報系統：每年大約有三分之一的65歲以上人士跌倒，75歲以上的人數甚至更高。跌倒偵測與通報系統有感應器，可在長者跌倒時通知家居長者照顧員
凳：減輕長者在廚房準備食物時雙腳的負擔
櫥櫃：將常用的煮食用具放在易於觸及的當眼位置，減少長者攀高的動作
廚房工具：選擇有手柄的廚具，如寬柄餐具、雙柄杯或水壺座
對比色：不同的對比顏色可以幫助長者更容易找到廚房用品
手推車：安全地從一個房間移動食物和飲料到另一個房間

隨着年紀漸長，老人家少不免會遇到不少生活上的困難。正因如此，我們要格外關注長者家居護理的需求，為他們提供一個安全舒適的生活環境，讓我們的親人可以在家中享受有尊嚴和獨立的生活。

長者跌倒手尾長居家護理除憂慮

Making Your Home Elderly-Friendly

Thu, 03 Jan 2019 01:35:00 GMT

While 90% of seniors prefer to stay comfortably at home as people age, not all homes are designed elderly-friendly. To ensure proper elderly residential care, much consideration is needed to ensure that the environment has enough lighting and can prevent accidental falls. It can be costly to completely renovate your home into an assisted living one. Luckily, there are some quick-fixes to reduce these physical challenges, so that our elder family members can get around safely and freely. Follow the tips below to make sure your home is as senior-friendly as possible.

Bedroom – Ease the process of getting in and out of bed in the dark for the elderly

Living room – Prevent seniors from accidental slips and falls

Bathroom – Avoid slipping with extra supports for older residents

Kitchen – Select kitchen items with a steady grip and contrasting colours for easy usage

Ageing can be difficult for senior family members. By making your living environment safe and comfortable — with special attention to elder care needs — we can empower our loved ones to live with dignity and independence while enjoying the comforts of home.

Evercare Launches First in Market Home Care Product With Prudential

Thu, 16 Aug 2018 03:44:00 GMT

For Immediate Release

Hong Kong, August 16, 2018

The partnership began when Prudential strived to become a leader in helping their clients recover and rehabilitate at home. Upon hospital discharge, the objective was to facilitate recovery in the safety and comfort of familiar surroundings after a major illness.

“Our goal is to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions. Research shows that 41% of unplanned readmissions could be avoidable with adequate discharge planning. [1] Home care is an increasingly popular alternative for individuals who want to live with dignity and independence.” says Kenneth Wong, CEO & Co- Founder of Evercare.

With a team of nurses and Care Professionals, Evercare’s services include assessing the client’s health condition, while providing trusted care support to their home. Evercare’s proprietary digital dashboard helps family members track and monitor their loved one’s progress and stay connected anytime, anywhere.

4 Simple Ways To Prevent Heart Disease

Tue, 17 Apr 2018 20:34:00 GMT

5 Leading Causes of Death in 2016

1) Eat a Heart-Healthy Diet

As a guideline, aim to keep:
Sodium: to less than 2.3g a day
Added Sugar: to less than 10% of your daily calories
Saturated fat: to less than 10% of your daily calories

2) Regular Exercise

Physical activity can help improve your heart circulation and strengthen your heart function. This could reduce the possibility of developing conditions that may act as a strain on your heart, e.g. diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol.

On a weekly basis:

3) Maintain a healthy, consistent weight

You can do this by measuring your Body Mass Index (BMI). This takes your height and weight into consideration and determines whether your body fat levels are with healthy or not. Try and stay within a range between 17.5-23.

4) Do not take up smoking

Smoking raises your blood pressure and is a leading risk factor that contributes to heart disease. Do not smoke or quit smoking if you are already a smoker. Women who smoke and take birth control pills are put themselves at greater risk of a heart attack or stroke because both can increase the risk of blood clots.