Imagine the Possibilities

Angie Szumlinski News

Imagine, being diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer. Imagine being 41 years old with this diagnosis. Devastating to say the least, especially since even the latest recommendations for breast cancer screening aren’t until 40 years of age. Interesting. But wait, there may be hope for others!  The CDC identifies 3 “Tier 1” conditions that are “genetic syndromes” with a …

Loneliness – is AI a Cure?

Angie Szumlinski News

Gallup estimates that 44 million people are experiencing “significant loneliness” and that three in four Americans say they experience loneliness. These numbers spiked during the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to be a public health crisis. It is interesting that as we continue this journey post-pandemic, we are also embracing AI-based services. There is some skepticism on whether …

Internet and Dementia

Angie Szumlinski News

For all of us who comment on the amount of time our children/grandchildren spend on their tablets and/or iPads, listen up! According to a recent study, spending 1-2 hours a day online reduces the risk of dementia and may actually be good for brain health! Sure, I personally believe our young people need to decrease the amount of time that …

Mentoring or Miracle Gro

Angie Szumlinski News

I remember my first job as an LPN in a skilled nursing facility, it was frightening! I was hired to work the afternoon shift; however, I was trained on the dayshift, big difference, right? After a 3 day “orientation” period where I learned where the fire pulls were, where the kitchen was, how to turn off the valves for gas, …

Oh, Please! Not the Fries!

Angie Szumlinski News

I really can’t believe it, now there is suspicion that French fries may increase anxiety and depression! Really? When I eat french fries, I feel good all over, not anxious, not depressed, just good, so how can this be?   Well, the researchers tested it on mice, not humans, but still, they found the consumption of fried foods, particularly French fries …

Senior woman lifting weights

Preventing Frailty

Angie Szumlinski News

Physical frailty is weakness, slowness, unintentional weight loss, and fatigue. If your body starts wasting, so does your ability to go about your daily life and do things you enjoy. The body’s hormones that are responsible for maintaining muscle mass decline with age. Since older adults tend to be less active and eat less protein, aging challenges our bodies in …

Remember Third Shift!

Angie Szumlinski News

Working night shifts has been associated with various negative effects, including fatigue, sleep disturbances, and workplace errors. Why is shift work a problem? Well, apparently shift work causes circadian rhythms to misalign with the demands of the environment.   So, what can we do to ensure our caregivers are rested and awake to provide quality care to our residents? According to …

Depression and Insomnia

Angie Szumlinski News

Insomnia in cases of depression is common and difficult to resolve but did you know that poor sleep quality can increase the risk of falls? Yep, those residents who you observe tossing and turning or simply lying quietly, wide awake at night, are at higher risk for many negative outcomes including falls. But did you know that depression can be …

A Spoonful of Sugar Indeed

Angie Szumlinski News

Everyone is aware of the dangers of consuming too much sugar, especially those containing fructose, obesity, coronary heart disease and even depression. But did you know that each additional serving of sugar-sweetened beverage per week increases your risk of gout by 4% and coronary heart disease by 17%? Yikes! The recommendation is to reduce the consumption of free sugars or …

Exercise and Mental Health

Angie Szumlinski News

Did you know that physical activity is highly beneficial for improving symptoms of depression, anxiety, and distress across a wide range of adult populations, including people with diagnosed mental health disorders? Yep, that silly looking activity watch you wear religiously may actually be beneficial when it comes to your overall mental health!  In a recent article published in the British …