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07
May 13

Communicator Award Winner!

Communicator Awards CLiCKPLAYceu.com

We are proud as peaches to announce that we won the 19th Annual Communicator Award of distinction for online video. Are peaches proud? Who knows and who cares, we just thought it was good use of alliteration. We digress, the real story here is that we are honored and humbled to receive an award of this caliber. Our team has worked hard to bring the best of the best in healthcare and human services education through the medium of video. We are so glad to be able to serve those of you who watch and learn from our accredited video presentations. Thank you all!

Read the official Communicator Awards Press Release

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THE 19th ANNUAL COMMUNICATOR AWARDS ANNOUNCES 2013 WINNERS

EXCELLENCE AND DISTINCTION WINNERS NAMED
www.communicatorawards.com

New York, NY (April 30, 2013) – The winners of The 2013 Communicator Awards have been announced by the International Academy of the Visual Arts today.  With over 6000 entries received from across the US and around the world, the Communicator Awards is the largest and most competitive awards program honoring the creative excellence for communications professionals.

The Communicator Awards are judged and overseen by the International Academy of the Visual Arts (IAVA), a 600+ member organization of leading professionals from various disciplines of the visual arts dedicated to embracing progress and the evolving nature of traditional and interactive media.  Current IAVA membership represents a “Who’s Who” of acclaimed media, advertising, and marketing firms including:  AirType Studio, Condè Nast, Disney, Keller Crescent, Lockheed Martin, Monster.com, MTV, rabble+rouser, Time Inc., Tribal DDB, Yahoo!, and many others.  See www.iavisarts.org for more information.

“We are both excited and amazed by the quality of work received for the 19th Annual Communicator Awards.  This year’s class of entries is a true reflection of the progressive and innovative nature of marketing and communications,” noted Linda Day, executive director of the International Academy of the Visual Arts.  She added, “On behalf of the entire Academy I want to applaud this year’s Communicator Awards entrants and winners for their dedication to perfecting their craft as they continue to push the envelope of creativity.”

About The Communicator Awards:

The Communicator Awards is the leading international awards program honoring creative excellence for communication professionals. Founded by communication professionals over a decade ago, The Communicator Awards is an annual competition honoring the best in advertising, corporate communications, public relations and identity work for print, video, interactive and audio. This year’s Communicator Awards received thousands of entries from companies and agencies of all sizes, making it one of the largest awards of its kind in the world.

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02
May 13

Are You Suffering From Compassion Fatigue?

by Angela Magnotti Andrews

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Anyone caring long term for the acutely ill or traumatized is vulnerable to the psychological foe called compassion fatigue (CF). Even mothers of small children and adult children caring for aged parents are subject to the destructive forces of CF. It infiltrates the psyches of even those with the toughest skin, and it is found in nearly every area of the healthcare and human services realm, including the obvious trauma centers and ERs, but also in the halls of busy hospitals, in the tiny patient rooms of a family practice clinic, or behind the desks of busy psychologists and psychiatrists. Anyone inundated on a regular basis by the pain and suffering of others is at risk for developing CF. No one is immune, though some seem to handle the onslaught better than others.

So, if everyone is vulnerable, how do you know if you’re on the slippery slope headed toward compassion fatigue? And more importantly, how do you prevent yourself from falling into the void of CF?

The first step is to recognize the Physical, Emotional, Cognitive (behavioral), and Interpersonal signs of CF. While it is normal to experience any number of these symptoms for brief periods during a healthcare or human services career, experiencing ten or more of any of these symptoms for a prolonged period of time could indicate that you are suffering from CF.

As you read the following lists, take a mental note of how many symptoms from each category you experience at least once or twice a week, especially those you experience after work shifts.

PHYSICAL SIGNS:
Exhaustion/Lethargy
Frequent headaches
Gastrointestinal complaints
Substance abuse
Inability to focus/Difficulty concentrating
Decreased productivity
Sleep disturbances
Hypertension
Appetite changes

EMOTIONAL SIGNS:
Apathy
Depression/Anxiety
Diminished sense of personal accomplishment
Numbness/Dampening of experience of pleasurable feelings
Feelings of incompetency
Hopelessness
General negativity
Nightmares/Flashbacks
Pervasive sense of dread or horror
Fear
Shame
Feeling overwhelmed/Hypersensitivity (sensory overload)

COGNITIVE/BEHAVIORAL SIGNS:
Accident prone
Losing things
Forgetfulness
Poor self-care (hygiene, exercise, etc.)
Suspicion
Powerlessness
Decreased self-esteem
Victim mentality (blaming)
Compulsive behavior (overspending, overeating, workaholism, gambling, addictions)
Cynicism
Mood swings

INTERPERSONAL SIGNS:
Isolation from others
Irritability
Indebtedness
Withdrawn
Mistrust of others’ motives
Chronic lateness
Avoidance of certain clients
Missed appointments
Lack of motivation

If you identify with ten or more of these signs/symptoms, then it’s time to seek help. The good news is that with the right intervention and by making some changes to your practice and to your lifestyle, you can turn compassion fatigue on its head and rediscover yourself and your passion for helping others. For ideas on how to turn the tables on CF and reclaim your life, I invite you to view Section 6 of the “Compassion Fatigue” of training course.

its-ok-tshirt

In this segment of the video, you will learn more about the five guidelines to finding “A CURE”:

(A) Afford Yourself Some Time. Wait to make major decisions until you are in the reconstruction phase of recovery from CF.
(C) Confront Your Pain. When you feel a vague sense of unease, irritability, or disillusionment, don’t stuff it or cover it up with Ben & Jerry’s or a smoke. Instead, begin digging until you find the root of that feeling. Once you find it, take hold of it and follow it to its direct cause. With the help of a good friend or a professional counselor, you can then eradicate that root.
(U) Unwind. Rather than taking that extra shift, take some time to drive into the country or take a hike. Do the job you were hired to do and use any extra time you have to do something that will nourish your soul and spirit.
(R) Reserve Your Energy. Spend your energy looking for solutions rather than complaining. Remind yourself that complaining and negativity will only increase your guilt, shame, and feelings of inadequacy and powerlessness. Instead of using your precious energy to blame others, focus on areas where you can make changes and allow the rest to roll of your back.
(E) Express Your Feelings. Research shows that expressing your feelings through writing, verbal processing, or artistic expression does wonders for moving toward personal power and freedom. Spend time journaling your feelings and chose one or two very close friends or colleagues to confide in.

Don’t forget to read about the Care & Compassion Cycle to further understand how to move from the burnout phase to the reconstruction phase. By following these guidelines and principles, you can recover and thrive in your profession once again. Watch Donn Kropp deliver a life-changing training on Compassion Fatigue right now!

Angela Magnotti Andrews is a freelance writer who has co-written several courses for CLiCKPLAYceu.com, including “Compassion Fatigue”, “Hand Hygiene: Life & Death is in Your Hands”, and “Pain: Friend or Foe”.

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23
Apr 13

Compassion Fatigue

by Angela Magnotti Andrews

Compassion FatigueAlso called “secondary traumatic stress disorder” or “the cost of caring”, compassion fatigue (CF) is an advanced form of burnout characterized by deep physical, emotional, and spiritual exhaustion. Developing slowly over time, it is a quiet and slow erosion of your ability to feel and care for others caused by the overtaxation of your empathy, your energy, and your ministrations. Common among healthcare and human services professionals who work with the traumatized or chronically ill, CF is the result of a daily onslaught of the pain and trauma of others. It can wash away every ounce of your compassion, your energy, and your sympathy, leaving you a hollow shell filled only with guilt and. Whether you’re caring for a friend or family member with a terminal illness or you’re a trained medical or human services professional, compassion fatigue is one of the deadliest adversaries any caregiver can face.

Compassion fatigue is not just a “fluffy” term for burnout. It depletes not only your mind and your body, but the very core of who you are as a human being—the seat of your emotions, your soul. Often appearing as disdain for the frailty of humanity, this psychological foe can lead an otherwise caring and compassionate person to become cynical and jaded, convinced that all human beings are hellbent on destroying without remedy.

Most caregivers dealing with the effects of this black hole called compassion fatigue usually resort to doing what they’ve always done: Work harder and give more until they are completely tapped out. While this will only cause you to slip further into the vortex of CF, arming yourself with a bit of knowledge and making a commitment to adjusting your lifestyle, there is a way out.

If you or someone you know is suffering from CF, be sure to watch our video on “Compassion Fatigue” to learn how you can take a stand against this deadly foe.

Angela Magnotti Andrews is a freelance writer who has co-written several courses for CLiCKPLAYceu.com, including “Compassion Fatigue”, “Hand Hygiene: Life & Death is in Your Hands”, and “Pain: Friend or Foe”.

Resources / Videos / What's New — Leave a comment
09
Apr 13

Latest & Greatest Smoking Cessation Course



 Watch the video above and vote for your favorite tobacco-wielding character by clicking on the links that pop up!  As health and human services professionals, we’re on the front lines of people’s choices and habits, and the effects they have on people’s health.  The information we’re able to share, and the attitude with which we convey it, can make the difference to a patient or client struggling with a health issue.  No matter what area of health and human services realm we work in, we’ll almost certainly have patients or clients who smoke and many who may be trying to quit smoking.  What an impact we can have, and what an encouragement we can be, if we’re prepared with an understanding attitude and specific, helpful advice, instead of an eye roll and a warning about how bad cigarettes are for you.  This also applies if you’re the one struggling with a smoking addiction- you may be trying not to think about the harm that cigarettes are causing you because you don’t feel like you’ll ever succeed at quitting.  For your own healthier life, or for the lives of those you serve, let’s learn about some real, practical steps that people can take to quit smoking for good! You’re asking yourself how to get this knowledge. Well, look no further. We have worked tirelessly to develop a course on smoking cessation that is easy to understand, interesting and approved for continuing education credit. Before you begin watching the course we want to introduce you to our tobacco-wielding cast. We want you to give a warm round of applause to Chad, Chuck, Dan and Eric. After watching the short clip above about their wayward tobacco habits go to our Facebook Page and vote for your favorite character! It is truly our hope that you will take a closer and deeper look at tobacco abuse. Life is so short and so precious-it is sad to see lives cut short and the quality of life plummet just because of an addiction to smoking. Stand with CLiCKPLAYceu.com to help eradicate the dangers of smoking.

Many people have had smoking as part of their daily ritual for so long that just trying to break a pattern of normal routines can be extremely difficult.  The absence of a habit is almost always easier to deal with when it’s replaced with a different action or habit, rather than just removed from a person’s life all together. So what are some of these replacement habits that people can use to avoid a craving?  These will be different for every person, depending on the specific role that smoking has played in their life, but here are seven common strategies that many smokers find useful:

  • Strategy 1: Chewing Gum
  • Strategy 2: Performing Alternative Activities
  • Strategy 3: Roll Your Own Cigarettes
  • Strategy 4: Save Your Money
  • Strategy 5: List Reasons to Quit
  • Strategy 6: Think of Others
  • Strategy 7: Take a Walk

To learn more about smoking cessation go now to our class entitled, Smoking Cessation: Snuffing Out the Habit and get 2 continuing education hours!

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18
Feb 13

Healthcare Beauty?

by Donn Kropp

TPatient Safety Summit_ Donn Kropphe words “beauty” and “healthcare” are not usually used in the same sentence. When we think of beauty, we think of an idyllic field of wildflowers, a gorgeous sunset, or a painting by Monet. What does beauty have to do with healthcare?  Healthcare is messy, bloody, and filled with red tape, litigation, and stress. However, the ultimate goal of healthcare is to heal wounds and protect life.  Life itself is beautiful, so shouldn’t the protection and extension of life be considered beautiful? In my humble opinion, any efforts to sustain and promote life should be viewed as something beautiful as well. Now, you are probably thinking that I am a hopeless romantic or someone who isn’t in touch with the daily realities of the healthcare field. Well, you would be mistaken in that assumption. I have worked in many ERs and trauma centers around the U.S., and have been a member of disaster-response teams who have been on the frontlines after natural disasters. Ironically, it was after the earthquake that devastated Haiti in 2010 that I first witnessed the beauty of healthcare. Let me take you back three years in time and give you a glimpse of what I saw.Donn Kropp treating Haiti earthquake victim     It was early January 2010 when my team was called upon to provide relief after the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12th. We were a ragtag team from northern California who joined forces with strangers from southern California to help Haitians most affected by the earthquake. Even though our two teams had just met each other, as soon as we hit the ground we mobilized to a field hospital and began working together. Helicopters, trucks, and motorcycles deposited the injured and traumatized one after another. It was in this moment that I witnessed the beauty of healthcare. Each of us did what we needed to do to help save lives. It was a simple concept- just save lives. It was a powerful experience for me, because I had lost that simple, beautiful concept. I had been in the healthcare field for ten years and over that time, the red tape, the fear of litigation, and the stress had overwhelmed the core and essence of healthcare- saving lives. The whole point of healthcare is to save lives and prevent disease and injury. The scary thing was that I didn’t even realize that I had lost the essence of healthcare until my time in Haiti.   It was amazing to see so many people all working in conjunction, no matter the task, to see lives saved. I witnessed neurosurgeons kneeling next to chaplains and providing comfort. Physicians and nurses worked together to change linens or empty a catheter. There was no jockeying for position, pulling rank, or refusing to do a certain menial task because of prominence or position. Patients were swiftly and expertly handled and cared for, despite our limited resources. What we did have was an attitude of teamwork, and the desire to aid as many people as we possibly could. No adjective other than beautiful can describe that scene with justice.

Patient Safety Summit_Donn KroppWill you commit to restore the beauty of healthcare in your life and in the institution where you work? I had the privilege of sharing this story at the 2013 Patient Safety Science and Technology Summit in Laguna Niguel, California. At this summit I met many individuals who recommitted themselves to keeping the task of saving lives as their number-one priority, rather than being distracted by stress, hierarchy, or institutional red tape. I hope that you too will find hope in this article, and be filled with a renewed resolve to focus on the true essence of healthcare: helping patients become safe, healthy, and alive.

Donn Kropp is the founding director of CLiCKPLAYceu.com.

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30
Jan 13

Bill Clinton Thanks Our Founder

Donn Kropp being thanked by President Bill Clinton. Photo courtesy of Mike Drummond

It isn’t everyday that you are thanked by a former President. Well, we are proud to say that the founder of this great company was personally thanked for his work in the healthcare realm. The truth of the matter is, all of us in the healthcare and human services industry are worthy to be thanked by dignitaries. To care for another human on any level reaches to the status of heroism in our book. In today’s society we honor, thank and give adulation to someone who can hit a small white ball 300 hundred yards or someone who can throw a 90 mph fastball. As cool as those things are to do they don’t even come close to the work of millions of healthcare workers around the globe who sacrificially give their lives so others may live. There are many out their who think that life is about garnering as much material wealth and status as possible. The CLiCKPLAYceu.com team is more interested in helping educate the planet so that sickness, disease and death can be eradicated. We don’t strive for recognition here but it is nice when efforts to help humanity are noticed. We are grateful to President Bill Clinton for recognizing our founder but we know that there are millions of health workers globally who go unrecognized. We celebrate them and we celebrate you. Thank you for your tireless efforts to help make this world a better place. It is an honor for us as a company to serve those of you in the healthcare and human services field.

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17
Jan 13

The Real Awards

Millions of health workers around the globe save lives every day. Rarely are they thanked or even recognized for their efforts. It turns out that this is all changing. Save the Children Foundation along with a host of other sponsors have decided to honor and recognize all that by developing The Real Awards. This year the Real Awards announced nine honorees in the US and others abroad who are worthy of being appreciated and thanked. We are proud to announce that our very own, Donn Kropp, has been chosen as a recipient for 2013. We couldn’t be happier to celebrate this wonderful accolade with him. We also recognize the other honorees and the millions of health workers who work tirelessly to save lives. Read the official press release below from Save the Children Foundation:

LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif. (Jan. 15, 2013) - Sixty miles southeast of Hollywood, the inaugural class of The REAL Awards health worker honorees was announced last night at the Inaugural Patient Safety, Science & Technology Summit hosted by the Masimo Foundation, and attended by former president Bill Clinton. The nine winners—who represent a variety of sectors, from newborn and mother care to emergency, hospice and at-home care—were recognized for their extraordinary service in healthcare. Two of the honorees were there in person to accept REAL Awards on behalf of the first-year winners at 7 p.m. on January 14.”During Hollywood’s awards season, our attention tends to focus on honoring entertainers,” said Mary Beth Powers, chief of the newborn and child survival campaign at Save the Children. “This awards program puts a new twist on this phenomenon. It gives Americans a chance to celebrate something deeply honorable—the lifesaving work of countless men and women on the frontlines of healthcare.”

The nine U.S.-based honorees include: Kathryn M. Tschiegg (General health care); Dr. Beth Dupree (Chronic disease care); Dr. William Novick and Dr. Robert Clifford (Pediatric care); Carri Butcher (Hospice care); Melissa Courtney and Dr. Joseph Tate (Newborn and mother care); Donn Kropp (Emergency care); and Rhonda Dixon (At-home care). The global winners, revealed in September 2012, include midwives, nurses and community health workers from Africa and Asia.

“Masimo Foundation is delighted to honor the work of dedicated health professionals globally, and here in the United States,” said Joe Kiani, Chairman and Chief Executive Office of Masimo Corporation, one of the awards’ presenting sponsors. “Oftentimes, they do not receive the level of recognition they deserve and yet they continue to dutifully serve millions of communities and families around the world.” ”From southern India to northern Kenya, the life-saving work of these unsung heroes often goes unrecognized,” added Jacob A. Gayle, Executive Director of the Medtronic Foundation, another presenting sponsor. “Medtronic Foundation supports The REAL Awards initiative because we believe those health workers who serve on the frontlines are key to ensuring that our most underserved communities can be linked to existing health care systems and thereby seek the services they need.” Frontline health workers are a main focus of Medtronic Foundation’s work in underserved regions of the world.

“Merck Foundation applauds the honorees for their steadfast commitment to improving access to needed health services, particularly for women and children in vulnerable communities,” said Brian Grill, Executive Vice President of the Merck Foundation. “We are proud to be a founding supporter of this program to honor frontline health workers who are the back-bone of primary care for so many in need.” The REAL Awards, created by Save the Children in partnership with the Frontline Health Workers Coalition, is a first-of-its-kind global awards program designed to develop greater respect and appreciation for health workers and the lifesaving care they provide globally, as well as in the United States. The REAL Awards is made possible by the support of presenting sponsors Medtronic Foundation, Merck Foundation, and Masimo Foundation for Ethics, Innovation and Competition in Healthcare.

The public can read the inspirational stories of the international and domestic REAL Awards honorees at www.theREALawards.com.

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08
Jan 13

12 Caregiver Essentials: Part 3

by Sherry R. Richter

Welcome back to our third installment of our four part series on caregiver essentials. Caring for others is a tough business. Why not make work and life easier with a little help from us. You need to be in top shape mentally, physically, emotionally and even spiritually. Read our recommendations and become the best provider of care possible!

 #6.  Nifty Badge Holder:

Sometimes the quality of life comes down to the small things…the seemingly insignificant. That being said, you may want to consider an upgraded badge holder. This is the thing that holds your identity, come on. You could get a retractable one from Oriental Trading Co. for $6.00. At BojeeBeads.com you can pick up a beaded lanyard for under $20. Express another facet of your identity by having a custom holder made at an Etsy store (BadgeBlooms has lots to choose from).  I’ve seen ones made of glass with photos placed inside. Have a picture of your spouse or  grandchild displayed right next to your mugshot (I meant, official job photo).

#7 Vitamin B-Complex:

Put your 5-hour energy drink away and take vitamin B instead. These vitamins are known to boost energy….and other benefits: ease Stress, treat anxiety and depression, aid memory, relieve PMS. The 11 members of what’s known as the vitamin B complex are critical nutrients for all things mind-related: mood, memory, even migraines can benefit from the B’s. In the right amounts, the B’s can quell anxiety, lift depression, ease PMS, and boost your energy. Plus, getting them couldn’t be easier. The B vitamins are a chemically related family of nutrients that work as a team. Their mood-boosting and other health benefits result from intricate behind-the-scenes work in the body. Some B vitamins help cells burn fats and glucose for energy. Others help make neurotransmitters like serotonin. And some B’s assist with the production and repair of DNA.Many of us don’t get enough B’s; according to the USDA, deficiencies in folic acid, B12, and B6 are especially common. Ensuring that your diet contains plenty of B-rich foods — dark-green vegetables, protein from animal sources, and whole grains — is critical.

But if your stress level is high or your mood feels off-kilter, you’ll benefit from the higher amounts found in supplements. As with all supplements you take. 1st– don’t overdo it (balance is good for all areas of life). 2nd–only take WHOLE FOOD supplements. They are more costly, but in a society where we’re constantly bombarded with the synthetic, your body will recognize the nutrients from whole foods and absorb them easier.  Don’t end up with expensive pee where ingredients difficult for the body to utilize just drain away. *Garden of Life Raw B-Vitamin Complex is a good product.

#8 EFA’s:

Maybe I don’t even have to tell you what that stands for…these days information about EFA’s are all over the place…So, what are they; you may be asking if you don’t watch Dr. Oz. Well, Essential Fatty Acids is the answer. The answer to many health issues that is.  Take a look at this, just in case you’re not eager enough to take a daily dose of cod liver oil. GOOD, HEALTHY FATS: Essential fatty acids are specific fats that are critical to the proper function of your body. Your body is not able to produce these fatty acids on its own, so it is necessary that you eat a diet rich in these crucial building blocks to maintain a healthy body. The two main essential fatty acids that need to be included in your diet are omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids.

How Do Essential Fatty Acids Aid the Body? Essential fatty acids have a ton of benefits on your body and its cells. They help with cellular development and the formation of healthy cell membranes, and they have actually been shown to block tumor formation in animals, as well as block the growth of human breast cancer cells.Essential fatty acids assist in the development and function of the brain and nervous system, and they help regulate proper thyroid and adrenal activity. They play a role in thinning your blood, which can prevent blood clots that lead to heart attacks and stroke. They also possess natural anti-inflammatory qualities that can relieve symptoms of both arthritis and other autoimmune system diseases.

Essential fatty acids regulate blood pressure, immune responses and liver function, as well as help with blood clotting and breaking down cholesterol. They also help you look good, as a diet low in these fatty acids has been shown to create skin problems, including eczema, dandruff, split nails and brittle hair. Both Alzheimer’s patients and children diagnosed with ADHD have been shown to have lower than average levels of these essential fatty acids.

Where are EFAs? According to Mobile Health News, 75% of nurses own smartphones.  So if you fall in that category, this one’s for you. Apps, apps, everywhere apps.  Why not use them for your benefit?  How about starting each shift out with a free app that helps you focus on gratitude?  “10,000 Gifts” is one such as that.  Or, how about “Room With a View”, a visually stunning app that will transport you to places beyond.  Find something that will provide you with inspiration, or efficiency, or humor,  if that’s what you need.  It’s out there!

Stay tuned for our final installment on the essential tools to providing awesome care to fellow humans!

Sherry B. Richter is a writer,  health nut and lover of good nutrition. She is passionate about spreading her knowledge about health and wellness to those in the healthcare and human services industry. She lives in Northern California with her husband and gaggle of two! 

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27
Nov 12

Life & Death is in Our Hands



Our hands were meant to bring life and not death. Tens of thousands of people die each year because we aren’t washing our hands. Life and death is literally within our hands. The importance of handwashing can’t be overstated. We must all do our part so that we can protect others and ourselves from infection, disease and harm. Watch our founder, Donn Kropp, bring an inspiring handwashing public service announcement.

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16
Nov 12

12 Caregiver Essentials: Part 2

Here is Part 2 of our series on Caregiver Essentials. Caregiving is difficult without a well-balanced emotional, mental and physical lifestyle. If you don’t take care of you– you may succumb to the effects of burnout, depression or compassion fatigue. Let’s take a look at some essential accoutrements to help you stay in the “game” of taking care of others.

4. Yerba Mate Tea:  I love me some Yerba Mate Tea.  It has a grassy-ish flavor, slightly resembling green tea.  If not over-brewed, and if mixed with something creamy (such as a little coconut milk, or almond milk), it is delicious and refreshing.  You could add a few drops of liquid stevia in it if you prefer sweet beverages.  The reason I included this in the essential list, is because Mate will give you that extra energy boost, without the typical side-effects that some people experience from caffeine.

Mate contains three xanthines: caffeine, theobromine and theophylline, the main one being caffeine. Preliminary limited studies of mate have shown that the matte xanthine cocktail is different from other plants containing caffeine, most significantly in its effects on muscle tissue, as opposed to those on the central nervous system, which are similar to those of other natural stimulants.  The three xanthines present in mate have been shown to have a relaxing effect on smooth muscle tissue, and a stimulating effect on myocardial (heart) tissue. Shake up some iced Yerba Matte to take with you on your shift!  You’ll get a lot done but without the shakes!

5. Houseplants: Now, stick with me on this one…  Being a healthy, well-taken care of caregiver has many implications.  It’s not just about how you conduct yourself during that 8….12….24 hour shift that’s going to give you longevity.  Living a life that’s balanced with varying life-giving elements will keep you feeling better and thinking clearer.  That leads us to plants. Plants bring a certain peace and tranquility to their environment.  Yes, they also add extra work.  But by taking care of your haven which in fact takes care of you, is worth it.  Also, our cozy homes that bring us relaxation at the end of the day also bring us some not-so-pleasant things to inhale.  Here are some of the common chemicals found in the average household: toluene, xylene, ethyl acetate, methylene, acetone and chloroform, none of which are healthy. Scientists at NASA and the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA) have discovered that there are various houseplants that keep our household air clean and pure and balance indoor humidity. Not only do these plants absorb pollutants, they also scrub harmful gases out of the air and help fight pollution. How incredible!

TOP THREE AIR CLEANING HOUSEPLANTS:

  1. Peace Lily
  2. Dracaena Marginata
  3. Snake Plant

Stay tuned for Part 3 of our series on essential tools for the caregiver.

Sherry B. Richter is a writer,  health nut and lover of good nutrition. She is passionate about spreading her knowledge about health and wellness to those in the healthcare and human services industry. She lives in Northern California with her husband and gaggle of two! 

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