First of all let’s define what is Parkinson  Disease.  According to the National Institute of Health www.nih.gov/parkinsondisease:

Parkinson Disease is a brain disorder that leads to shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with walking, balance, and coordination. It currently affects about half a million people in the United States, although the numbers may be much higher. Parkinson’s disease is both chronic, meaning it lasts for a long time, and progressive, meaning its symptoms grow worse over time. It is not contagious.

Parkinson’s disease occurs when nerve cells, or neurons, in an area of the brain that controls movement die or become impaired. Normally, these neurons produce an important brain chemical known as dopamine, but when the neurons die or become impaired, they produce less dopamine. This shortage of dopamine causes the movement problems of people with Parkinson’s.

Parkinson signs and symptoms varies with each person affected by it.  Parkinson’s disease does not affect everyone the same way. Symptoms of the disorder and the rate of progression differ among people with the disease. Sometimes people dismiss early symptoms of Parkinson’s as the effects of normal aging. There are no tests to diagnose the disease, so it can be difficult to diagnose accurately.

Although there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, medicines and surgery can often provide dramatic relief from the symptoms. However, there are limits to the effectiveness of these therapies, and scientists are working to find better ways to treat the disease. Research on Parkinson’s disease is very active, and scientists are making great progress in understanding and treating the disease. Recent advances in areas such as genetics, drug therapy, and brain stimulation offer hope that some day it may be possible to cure the disease, delay its onset, or prevent it altogether.

Medications for Parkinson’s fall into three groups. The first group includes drugs that increase the level of dopamine in the brain. The second group affects other neurotransmitters in the body in order to ease some of the symptoms of the disease. The third group includes medications that help control non-motor symptoms (those that do not affect movement) of Parkinson’s.

The main therapy for Parkinson’s is the drug levodopa, also called L-dopa. It is a simple chemical found naturally in plants and animals. Nerve cells use levodopa to make dopamine to replenish the brain’s dwindling supply. People cannot simply take dopamine pills because dopamine does not easily pass through the blood-brain barrier. The blood-brain barrier is a lining of cells inside blood vessels that controls the transport of oxygen, glucose, and other substances into the brain.

Usually, people take levodopa along with another medication called carbidopa. Carbidopa delays the body’s conversion of levodopa into dopamine until the levodopa reaches the brain. This prevents or reduces some of the side effects that often accompany levodopa therapy. Carbidopa also reduces the amount of levodopa needed.

Levodopa successfully reduces the tremors and other symptoms of Parkinson’s during the early stages of the disease. It allows most people with Parkinson’s to extend the period of time in which they can lead relatively normal, productive lives.

However, not all symptoms respond equally to levodopa. It usually helps most with bradykinesia (slowness of movement) and rigidity. Problems with balance and other non-motor symptoms may not be helped at all.

People with Parkinson’s disease often see dramatic improvement in their symptoms after starting levodopa therapy. However, they may need to increase the dose gradually over time to maintain maximum benefit.

Levodopa is often so effective that some people may temporarily forget they have Parkinson’s during the early stages of the disease. But levodopa is not a cure. Although it can reduce the symptoms, it does not replace lost nerve cells or stop the gradual loss of brain cells that causes the disease.

Sarasota, Florida will have its Annual Suncoast Parkinson Disease Symposium on January 22, 2011. The symposium will discuss the Advances in Treatment of Parkinson Disease.  It is a community education event for patients, caregivers, healthcare providers and the community, sponsored by Sarasota Memorial and the Neuro Challenge Foundation.

For more information visit www.neurochallenge.org or www.smh.com

RIGHT ACCORD Private Duty-Home Health Care specializes in Parkinson Care through intensive training and certification of its caregivers. Caring are provided by certified home health aides and nursing assistants who understand the needs and care of Parkinson clients. Services are provided in-home or in- facility setting in Sarasota, Venice, Longboat Key, Lakewood Ranch, Siesta Key, Nokomis and its neighboring towns.  For a free in-home care assessment, call 941.366.0801.

December 8, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New Employees Passed Strict Screening and Joins RIGHT ACCORD Private Duty-Home Health Care

The following Certified Nursing Assistants (C N A) and Home Health Aides (HHA) passed Caregiver Quality Assessment (CQA) , were recently hired and completed employee orientation with RIGHT ACCORD as of November 30, 2010:

Jenny Dagno, Claudia Borge, Anna Hallett, Yvonne Keim, Alina Maslo, Zarina Maslo, Maria Moncayo, Darlene Monteiro, Reagan Neal, Kelly Spoonmore, and Sybil D’Souza.

We are also proud to recognize caregivers who went above and beyond their call of duty. The following “Caregivers of the Month”, Ofra Nunez for the month of June, Connie Rhymes for July, Samatha Morrow for August, Kelly Spoonmore for September, Maria Martin for October and Anna Robsel for November.

As a son, daughter, sibling or spouse of someone who has, or will need, home care services, nothing is more important than selecting the right caregiver for your loved one. CQA helps to identify home care companies and companion care companies that go above and beyond the norm when selecting quality caregivers and ensure the best care is provided.

The company’s Caregivers are carefully selected individuals who are thoroughly screened for criminal records, employed, bonded and insured. “Special attention is given to matching Caregivers with clients to achieve the utmost safety and compatibility, “Tamunday said.

For further information contact:

Rosemarie Tamunday-Casanova, RN, BSN, MHA

Administrator/Owner

(941)366-0801 www.rightaccordhealth.com

For further information contact:

Rosemarie Tamunday-Casanova, RN, BSN, CCRN, MHA

Administrator

(941) 366-0801

Email: rose@rightaccordhealth.com

www.RightAccordTrainingCenter.com

www.RightAccordHealth.com

September 1, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CARRERS AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN HEALTH CARE

Sarasota, August 16, 2010 Rosemarie Tamunday-Casanova, a Registered Nurse, Owner  and Administrator of RIGHT ACCORD Private Duty – Home Health Care presented a topic on “Careers and Employment Opportunities in Health Care at the Sarasota Women’s Resource Center. Tamunday-Casanova experience in health care industry span over 25 years in acute care settings, home care and health care administration. The free presentation offers women to learn about employment and training opportunities in the health care field.

For more information for the next upcoming free presentation, please visit www.the WomensResourceCenter.org or call 941.366.1700

According to the American Nurses Association (ANA), The nation is facing an impending shortage of nurses, which is expected to peak by 2020; here are some of the prime indicators:

According to projections released in February 2004 from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, RNs top the list of the 10 occupations with the largest projected job growth in the years 2002-2012. Although RNs have listed among the top 10 growth occupations in the past, this is the first time in recent history that RNs have ranked first. These 10-year projections are widely used in career guidance, in planning education and training programs and in studying long-range employment trends. According to the BLS report, more than 2.9 million RNs will be employed in the year 2012, up 623,000 from the nearly 2.3 million RNs employed in 2002. However, the total job openings, which include both job growth and the net replacement of nurses, will be more than 1.1 million. This growth, coupled with current trends of nurses retiring or leaving the profession and fewer new nurses, could lead to a nursing shortage of more than one million nurses by the end of this decade. (For details, see www.bls.gov/emp/#outlook.)

RIGHT ACCORD Private Duty-Home Health Care is a company based in Sarasota, Florida providing  in-home care assistance to seniors in the community who prefers to maintain their independence and lifestyle  at the comfort of their own homes. Caregivers are certified nursing assistants, home health aides, homemakers and companions. We service Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Bradendon, Venice, North Port, Longboat Key, Siesta Key, Osprey, Nokomis and all it’s sorrounding areas.

Getting older does not necessarily mean a person’s driving days are over. But it is important to plan ahead and take steps to ensure the safety of your loved ones on the road. NHTSA offers free materials to help you learn more about how to recognize and discuss changes in your older loved one’s driving.

If you think you need to have a conversation with an older driver about his or her driving abilities, remember that many older drivers look at driving as a form of independence. Bringing up the subject of their driving abilities can make some drivers defensive. So, be prepared with your observations and questions, and – if necessary – provide possible transportation alternatives.

Answering the following questions may help you decide if you need to initiate a conversation with an older driver about driving safely:

- Getting lost on routes that should be familiar?
- Noticing new dents or scratches to the vehicle?
- Receiving a ticket for a driving violation?
- Experiencing a near miss or crash recently?
- Being advised to limit/stop driving due to a health reason?
- Overwhelmed by road signs and markings while driving?
- Taking any medication that might affect driving safely?
- Speeding or driving too slowly for no reason?
- Suffering of any illnesses that may affect driving skills?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might need to talk with an older driver about safe driving.

This article is courtesy of The National Highway and Traffic Administration. For more information visit their website at: www.nhtsa.dot.gov

In Sarasota, there’s a Driver’s Assessment and Re-Education Program given by Sarasota Memorial Hospital.
Designed to evaluate and improve driver safety, the Sarasota Memorial Driver’s Assessment and Re-Education program is coordinated by occupational therapists certified in driver evaluation and rehabilitation.

The program includes:
• Assessment of vision, thinking, visual perceptual, physical skills and reaction time
• Behind-the-wheel exercises in a customized driving program car, beginning in a parking lot and then advancing into more complex traffic. Behind-the-wheel assessments are performed in your community where the area is familiar.

Results of your assessment are sent to your referring physician for follow-up and referrals for further services if needed.

Re-Education & Training
The training and re-education program consists of in-vehicle education and practice in challenging situations, correction of unsafe habits and, if necessary, use of adaptive equipment to facilitate safer driving habits.

Referral
A physician referral requesting a driving assessment and listing a medical diagnosis is required for participation.

Information
We are unable to evaluate and treat people who are obtaining their license for the first time or who must drive while seated in a wheelchair. Individuals must be able to get into and out of a vehicle independently to participate in the program. For information, please call (941) 917-2183.

Functional Capacity Evaluations
A Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) safely and objectively measures:
• Repetitive lifting capacity at various levels
• Repetitive push, pull, and carrying capacities
• Hand grip strength
• Tolerance for elevated work
• Prolonged trunk flexion in sitting and standing
• Prolonged trunk rotation in sitting and standing
• Prolonged crawl, knee and sustained crouch positions
• Repetitive squat
• Tolerance for prolonged sitting and standing
• Maximum walking, stairs and stepladder capacity
• Balance
• Hand coordination

Results and recommendations are discussed with the patient and the referring physician before a program of rehabilitation is designed.

For more information, please call (941) 917-1385 or visit www.smh.com

If you or your loved one is experiencing difficulty with transportation, our caregivers are able to provide companionship, in-home care assistance and incidental transportation services to keep you or your loved ones at home as long as they possibly can. Transportation to doctor’s appointments, errands, social and personal appointments are travel -assisted by our qualified care providers such as certified nursing asssitants, home health aides or companions.

We provide services in Sarasota, Manatee and its’ neighboring towns such as Longboat Key, Siesta Key, Casey Key, Bird Key, Lido Key, Nokomis, Venice, and Osprey.

Click here to start the course: www.ceuassistant.com

If you are a CNA license holder and your license is expiring on December 31, 2009, you will need to complete the mandatory continuing education courses approved by the Board of Nursing in Florida in order to renew your license.

Licenses are verified by the board for approved continuing education at random basis and you need to have an approved course of 12 or 24 hour continuing education credits.

If you are running out of time, visit www.ceuassistant.com to complete your required mandatory continuing education for certified nursing assistants with no sweat at an easy, self-paced learning at the convenient of your own home with your fuzzy, bunny slippers and favorite pajama.

Florida Certified Nursing Assistants CNA are taking mandatory continuing education courses with us. We understand your busy work schedule and the demands of health care jobs. That’s why we want to help you achieve your continuing education credits without  too much interruption of your routine.

Where else can you find such a fast and easy way to obtain your CNA  continuing education courses in Florida? Right Accord Private Duty-Home Care offers you the most convenient way to satisfy this mandatory courses.

Visit us at www.ceuassistant.com and click on RIGHT ACCORD HOME CARE and you’ll be on your way to completing your approved Florida CNA Continuing Education Courses before the December 31, 2009 deadline.

Click here to start now : www.ceuassistant.com

If you are renewing your license in the State of Florida, change in Florida law requires that you renew your Florida license every two (2) years. Don’t get caught without your continuing education credits. Florida State Board of Nursing require that you obtain at least one (1) contact hour or one (1) continuing education unit each month. We have the answers for you. You can take all the approved continuing education credits before the deadline on December 31, 2009 by going to our on-line CE provider. Click here if you wish to start now:

www.ceuassistant.com

The courses are easy to understand and follow with simple 25 test question to complete at the end. Your approved credit is reported to the Board of Nursing. You don’t even have to do anything. It will be submitted for you.

Please do not let your license expire without the approved continuing education units. You may lose your license and take the State licensing again.

Right Accord is committed to assisting caregivers with their continuing education requirements. We value the safety and quality of patient care, therefore, education is a key to making sure caregivers are up to date with the current changes and requirements in health care.

Your clients are dependent on you for care and it is your duty to deliver that quality care that they are entitled to. It is your responsibility to continue learning. After all, life is a lifelong learning.

Click here to start your Approved Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) continuing education courses in Florida before December 31, 2009: www.ceuassistant.com

Most certified nursing assistants working in health care today find the demands of their jobs very hard to meet. That’s why we have put together an easy, fast and convenient approach to meet your Florida CNA continuing education courses. All courses are board approved.

At Right Accord, we are delighted that you have decided to become a nursing assistant and you want to do the best possible job.

Nursing Assistants possess certain traits, attitudes, and habits that are often observed in people who are successful in their work in different health care settings especially on the nursing team. Some of these traits are already built into your personality and you must have had them all along. Other traits can be trained and learned through experience and practice.

A very important trait is interpersonal skills. Interpersonal skills are used in interacting with other persons such as courtesy. Good interpersonal skills enable people to interact or work together in a productive and satisfying manner.

Another very important trait is cooperation. Cooperation is working or acting together to produce an effect or to share an activity for mutual benefit.

Please take the time to renew your CNA license in Florida. Approved Continuing Education are available for all certified nursing assistants for license renewal before December 31, 2009 .

Click here to begin:  www.ceuassistant.com

It can be difficult to find time in your very busy schedule to complete the necessary continuing education courses to keep you up to date and in time to renew your Florida license. That’s why, here at RIGHT ACCORD, we can make it easy and convenient for you to complete the course requirements at an easy to read and at your own pace program right at your fingertips.

All Florida Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) are now in a 12 month or 24 month renewal cycle and must complete 12 hours or 24 hours of continuing education during each renewal period.

If you need CEUs immediately please complete courses on line. Upon completion, you can print your certificate. CE Certificate will be automatically reported to your professional board through the CEBroker that you have satisfied the required hours. CEBroker is a private contractor charged by the state to verify that licensees complete their required continuing education. No need for you to submit the certificate.

To start, Click here: www.ceuassistant.com

Every Certified Nursing Assistant must meet 12 hours of in-service training each calendar year.

For candidates certified during the calendar year, the minimum in-service hours required shall be prorated at the rate of 1.0 hours per month from the month of initial certification to the end of the calendar year.

Every 2 years, in-service training hours shall include, but are not limited to, the following areas:

1. HIV / AIDS, Infection Control
2. Domestic Violence
3. Medical Record Documentation and Legal Aspects Appropriate to Nursing Assistants
4. Resident Rights
5. Communication with Conginitvely Impaired Clients
6. CPR Skills
7. Medical Error Prevention and Safety

We have the solution for you before the deadline in meeting the requirements for continuing education courses to renew your Certified Nursing Assistant license in Florida.

Click here to begin: www.ceuassistant.com