 The holiday season is upon us. It is traditionally the time of year of great celebration and family gathering. The season to spread cheer and be merry. For many however, the season can be marked by sadness and the reality of the decline of a loved one. Recognizing that the holidays can be difficult for some, we wanted to give a nod to our home caregivers and the challenge that lies ahead of them. While we cannot ease the burden, we thought we would share some tips to make the holidays less stressful.
Communication Take the opportunity to communicate with loved ones during the holiday. If you are providing care for an individual that is in a state of decline, it may be burdensome to accept visitors and allow loved ones and relatives the chance to visit. There is an opportunity in this. This may give you the ability to communicate with those around you that you may need some help. While it may be difficult, it may be the invitation they need to provide assistance. Find a way to include a note in holiday cards and greetings to distant relatives and loved ones about the individual you are caring for. This can be a nonthreatening way to inform them about the realities of the caregiving situation. Accept and Adapt You may have been the individual that people relied on to entertain during the holidays. Be honest with those around you and inform them that your caregiving responsibilities may be taking a significant amount of your time. It may mean letting go of tradition and allowing someone else the opportunity to host the entertainment. Decisions will have to be made based on what may be simplest and enjoyable for you and the one you are caring for. If you choose to entertain, take into consideration the person you are caring for. It may be best to create a “visiting room” where loved ones can take turns visiting without the distraction of the holiday event causing too much stimulus and anxiety. Focus On Meaningful Traditions Often, we focus too much on making the holidays perfect. Instead, this year focus on meaningful traditions that are easy to execute and maintain. Perhaps when decorating, bring only the most significant decorations out. Take into consideration starting new traditions. Instead of focusing on loss, find new ways to celebrate the holiday. In years past maybe you had walked the neighborhood to view the lights and decorations. Turn this into a comfortable drive instead and find new areas to explore. Meal Adjustments For many, food plays a big part in celebrating the holidays. While this may be difficult, realize that large meals take time to prepare and may be an unwanted expense. Try paring down, instead of eliminating, and simplify the process. Perhaps this year host a potluck or even cater the meal and split the cost with those attending. If there is one menu item that is the star of the meal, focus on that item and prepare less of everything else. Bear in mind the individual you are caring for and ask, if possible, what they would like to enjoy. Keep Self-Care at the Top of The List All throughout the year, you give. The holidays may have you feeling like you have to give even more. This may make you feel run down and as if the tank is empty. It is far too easy to allow your own care to slip at this time of year. Take time for you. Sing holiday songs, eat tasty treats, and enjoy what you can around you. Find assistance that allows you to step away from what you are doing and spend time indulging yourself with a warm cup of coffee or cocoa at a cafe. Your resilience is what can make the holiday brighter. The only way to do this is to carve out some “you time”. Remember that the time you have with loved ones is precious. While the feeling of loss and grief can prevail at times, staying present in the moment with loved ones and those you care for can be the greatest gift of all and time well spent. Don’t borrow trouble from tomorrow and find ways to enjoy the day you are in.
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 Wet wipes and other pre-moistened products for personal and caregiving use have become a staple in the American home. These products often offer patients and caregivers a quick and easy solution that benefits all parties involved. The consumer and professional demand for wipes used in various settings was expected to increase through 2023, but the Covid-19 pandemic has changed the course of these products and all signs point to unforeseen demand in the future with the escalation of personal use.
Why are wipes so wildly popular? The consumer market demand is driven by two factors. Preference and convenience. In a recent study, it was noted that two out of three patients prefer wet wipes to traditional topical creams, ointments, lotions, or gels. When being used in a caregiving scenario, it was noted that wipes allowed for more targeted use that gave comfort when being used. A group of participants in this study noted that individual packages for each wipe are more convenient and discrete when on-the-go, but larger more economical tubes or jars were prefered for home use. Others noted that limiting application to the areas that needed attention was important, but were also less messy than topical applications. It Started with Chicken! Thankfully back in 1958, Arthur Julius had a thought and a vision for what was needed in the market and the first iteration of the wipe came into existence. In 1963 he started selling Wet-Nap products to Colonel Harland Sanders for use in hand washing by customers of Kentucky Fried Chicken. Not long after pre-moistened wipes became a staple in the beauty industry predominantly being used for cleansing or moisturizing the skin, baby care, hand washing, makeup removal, washing the body when bathing was not practical, feminine, and other personal cleansing. Soon, the trend caught on and the use of wipes became a widespread phenomenon. As technology and need developed, pre-moistened wipes were then introduced for therapeutic purposes. Early FDA-approved drugs delivered utilizing pre-moistened applicators include acne treatment drugs, retinoids, antibiotics, antifungals, steroids, and local anesthetics. It seemed as if a time before wipes had never existed! Personal care has become an important part of our daily lives and society interacts with wipes daily. Better than sliced bread? You be the judge. Then Came Pharma-C Reinventing the wheel is not what is needed. Taking the time to improve on a great idea can be a great benefit. At Pharma-C, for over 15 years, we have been dedicated to providing you with high-quality first aid, personal care and home health care products that really work. Wipes are a particular passion of ours and that is why it is important to us that we create products that are both safe and effective while being efficient and practical for those who use them.  In 2022, we’re entering the next phase of the second decade of this century and life is intense. Food and gas prices are high and there’s no way to predict when they will come down or when life will stabilize once again. Life is stressful.
Compounding this, more people than ever are caring for aging loved ones, and it can be overwhelming. If you are raising a family or have a job, the responsibility of making sure your loved one still receives the care they require can weigh heavily upon you. You want to be sure those you are caring for get their needs met. Because caregivers don’t always get the rest they need, you can feel tired throughout the day. Self-care is vital, both for you and the loved one you are caring for. We know this is easier said than done. The following are tips for caregiver self-care that will make a difference in your life by allowing you to be at your full capacity so you can give the quality care that your loved one’s deserve. Get Enough Sleep Depending on the schedule you are keeping as you care for your loved one, making sure you get the sleep you need will give you the energy and vitality to respond when you are needed. Mothers of newborns will often nap when their babies are napping so they can catch up on their rest. It’s the same for caregivers of the aging. It might be tempting to work on a project or watch a movie when your loved one is sleeping, and these tasks are important, but unless you’re getting enough sleep at night, you might want to use some of the time to take a nap yourself. Eat a Healthy Diet Many people know about stress eating. Foods containing sugar or your favorite comfort foods can help sooth your stress, but the effects are temporary and often come with consequences. There is nothing wrong with enjoying your favorite treats occasionally, but make sure your regular diet is healthy. You will feel better and you’ll be able to give your loved one the best care. Take Part in Enjoyable Activities Time may be limited as a caregiver, but as mentioned earlier, self-care is essential so that you can be at your best when caring for the needs of others. Are there activities you enjoy? Make time for yourself. Do things for you, too. Pharma-C-Wipes Finding ways to make life easier will help you give the care you want, both to your loved one and with your own self-care. Pharma-C-Wipes provides products that support you in your day-to-day role. That’s why we created products that are safe and effective while being efficient and practical for those who use them. For more information, visit https://www.pharma-c.com
You don't want to talk about it, so we will. We'll discuss all the ins and outs of bottom care. Learn the importance of keeping clean and how to respect your loved one and treat them with dignity through it all.
 Good personal hygiene is important for all of us, including the loved ones we are caring for. As a caregiver, one of the best ways to help protect your loved one from diseases such as colds and flu is washing your hands with soap and water. Maintaining good personal hygiene will also help prevent you from spreading diseases to the loved one you are caring for.
What is Personal Hygiene? Personal hygiene is how you care for your body. Cleaning your body every day is a way to practice good hygiene, and also washing your hands after using the bathroom to keep conditions around your loved one sanitary. Daily cleansing isn’t always an option, but Pharma-C-Wipes Water-Activated Bathing Cloths are an excellent way to keep you or your loved one clean when traditional bathing just isn’t an option. Simply wet Bathing Cloth with hot or cold water, massage until activated, and cleanse body as needed. There’s no rinsing required, and they’re much more convenient than transporting your loved one to and from the bathtub. Here are a few tips to help keep you and your loved ones clean: When you sneeze, particles and germs spew out into the air and hang around. People can get sick from air born germs. Keep the environment clean by covering your mouth and nose with a tissue (or your sleeve) when sneezing or coughing. Do you have pets? Pets lower blood pressure and have been said to aid in healing when people are sick. Having them around aging loved ones can have positive attributes. Just remember to wash your hands after handling pets and other animals. Germs hide out in many places, especially on the face. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. If you do happen to touch your face, wash your hands. Keep the house clean, especially the kitchen and bathroom. Disinfect doorknobs often and surfaces such as furniture, desks and chairs. Along with this, clean and disinfect objects you use often such as mobile phones, keys and wallets. Change bedding often. Fresh sheets feel good and protect against germs. Fresh air is good for you and the loved one you are caring for. Not only does fresh air feel good and smell good, but it’s also good to get stale musty air out of the house. Open windows and change air conditioning filters to increase the amount of fresh air around you. Pharma-C-Wipes products are available at a number of retailers near you or online. If you are unable to locate a product in your area, please contact us and member of our customer service team will be happy to assist you. https://www.pharma-c.com/where-to-buy.html  As a caregiver, you provide physical and emotional support for an aging or ill loved one. You are often on-call 24 hours a day, catching sleep when you can and resting when things are calm. Unless you have hired help or support from other family members or friends, you also bear the responsibility of daily living on your own. If you are the sole care provider, things that are less important than caring for your loved one slip through the cracks. It doesn’t mean these things aren’t important, it just means your loved one’s needs come first.
Do you know a caregiver? Perhaps someone in your family is serving in that role. Who takes care of them? First and foremost, each of us must do our best to take care of ourselves in whatever ways are possible. But having support or someone else to lean on can make a world of difference. If you’re a caregiver, you understand how helpful this is. If you’ve flown on an airplane, you know about the little presentation the flight attendants do before take off. Just as the flight attendant reminds you to put your mask on first should there be a drop in cabin air pressure, and then help others, caregivers must be sure to put self-care at the top of their list. Seeking support is part of that self-care. There is an important reason for this. Caring for the caregiver helps them to be on top of their game when it comes to responding to a loved one’s care. Knowing what is needed is the first step.
 Caregiving for an aging loved one in their time of need is one of the most loving experiences you can have. But giving or giving back to someone you care deeply for also comes with challenges. It is not always easy, but we know you want to do the best you can.
Let’s talk about a few things you can do to help be the best caregiver you can:
For over 15 years, we have been dedicated to providing you with high-quality first aid, personal care and home health care products that really work. We care about you, the caregiver, and your loved ones.  This is the sandwich generation. People who are still raising youngsters are often making the choice to move the grandparents in as well. Be prepared. Your family life is likely to change. Certainly, there might be ramifications, and understanding them in advance (if you have the time) and keeping an open line of communication with your family will be helpful in moving through the changes. Thinking that you are hurting your children by allowing a loved one to move in and be cared for is not something to feel guilty about.
Sometimes our aging loved ones can still care for themselves. As they age, their level of support increases, and that might mean that you will need to provide more advanced levels of care. Some people choose to do it all themselves, thinking they are protecting their children. Keep in mind, though, that you may be giving your children a gift by allowing them to help out. You will also be sharing the load, and everyone will benefit. By allowing children to help out, you will be teaching them valuable life skills such as responsibility. Just remember that when they grow up, your children may be able to care for you some day. They will also begin learning elements of caregiving that are at their stage of development. This might mean reading a story to or playing cards with the loved one you are caring for. Even this will enhance the lives of everyone involved. Teaching children when they are young how to offer caring support to a loved one in need embeds a sense of responsibility early on. At the very least it teaches compassion. Relationship Building In today’s world, families are farther apart, and the closeness experienced in the “old days” is all but a thing of the past for many. When aging grandparents move in, children can have the opportunity to get to know the people who love them more deeply. Participating in their care will build on those relationships as well as foster lifelong skills that will benefit children as adults. When they see how you care for your loved ones, you will be modeling valuable skills, and when you let them participate, they will benefit from the value of taking part. Pharma-C Products Choosing the right products will help make life more enjoyable for your loved one and easier on the caregiver. For over 15 years, Pharma-C-Wipes has been dedicated to providing you with high-quality first aid, personal care and home health care products that really work.  When was the last time you hugged your parents? Some families use a lot of physical expressions of affection, and others do not. Especially now since the pandemic, touch phobia has increased dramatically. Rightfully so in many cases, but now that we are coming to what is hopefully the end of festering infections, do you ever wonder if we will go back to the way things were- touching, hugging, kissing?
We live in a touch-phobic society. Americans, unlike people in some other countries, touch less. Interestingly, Americans prefer 2 to 4 feet of personal space. If you compare that to Latin Americans and Middle Easterners, that’s twice as much. Even before the pandemic, most of us need more human contact than we’re getting. Supported by countless studies, physical touch has many benefits If you are caring for someone who is suffering from physical pain, did you know that touch can help lessen pain? It has many other physical and emotional benefits as well. Here are a few:
Pharma-C-Wipes products, especially our wipes and hair care products, are supportive as you touch your loved one. Hygiene, along with the touch that you provide, help them to feel better. Pharma-C-Wipes can help you enhance the quality of life for someone who needs it most. Visit https://www.pharma-c.com/frequently-asked-questions.html and read our FAQs for more detailed information. |
Pharma-C-WipesLife is a journey, and at Pharma-C-Wipes, we provide products that support you at each twist and turn. It is important to us that we create products that are both safe and effective while being efficient and practical for those who use them. For over 15 years, we have been dedicated to providing you with high-quality first aid, personal care and home health care products that really work. Archives
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