Support your local Food Bank

When I was a  Director of SHARE FAMILY SERVICES I was and I still am proud of the work the organization is -doing in the Tri-Cities and would like to share the following with you. When I was on the Board, my goal was to eliminate our funding of the FoodBank but the demand just kept growing. This year is no different,  I was hoping that this year the demand for our food bank would be less than in previous years, it is not, the demand is higher. We need your help and support to continue. Please help

SHARE FAMILY SERVICES is well into its seasonal funding raising drive.  So I want to get the word out that the people who use this services need your support.  If you live in another area of the lower mainland or the country, and you can contribute to your local Food Bank and your local charities, I would encourage you to do so.

I plan to continue to contribute this year through monthly payments.  You can also choose to make a one-time donation to the food bank, to purchase a Christmas hamper or to fund other items for families in need.  Thank you in advance for supporting your neighbours who need your support.

For many of us, December is a month of festive events, fond childhood memories, happy get-togethers and warm feelings. But for over 2,200 children and their families in the Tri-Cities area, December is a time of year that is filled with disappointment and sadness because they can’t put food on the table and don’t have the resources to enjoy the season. 

Thanks to generous donors, SHARE has been able to help families in need enjoy the holiday season since 1972. Last year alone over 1,773 families received Christmas hampers, 1,722 children received toys through the Toy Bank, and throughout the year 2,859 families were fed through the Food Bank. This is a reminder that we still need your help and hope you will consider being even more generous than in the past as we try to keep pace with increasing needs in the Tri-cities.

As you read this message consider your own community and those who need your help and if you can support the food bank in your town or city.

Every year, the foodbank count on fundraising and food raising in December to help us get through until the spring. While we will not have final numbers for the amount of food and funds that we have raised until January, we know that our efforts have simply not been able to keep up with the demand that we have been seeing. 

Even though we reduced the size of our Christmas hampers this year, we are still far short of the food and funds we need to put food on the shelves of the Food Bank in January. As most of you know, our Food Banks do not receive government funding…we are able to deliver these services only through the generous donations we receive from the Tri-cities community and the thousands of hours of volunteer time we receive from hundreds of caring people.

We need to generate significantly more donations in the next few days. At this point, donations of funds are preferred to donations of food, as funds allow us to act quickly to make appropriate food purchases. I would appreciate it if you would consider a donation and forward this message to others who might also be willing to help the children and families we serve with our food bank. 

For those of you who have already made a donation, please forgive this appeal and accept our sincere thanks. If you could forward this message to others who might be able to help, we would sincerely appreciate it.

SHARE has a long history of finding a way to help when and where help is needed the most and this is certainly one of those times.

Thank you for your consideration and help at this time of year.

Did you get your flu shot?

Influenza is an infectious disease caused by a virus. Clinically it progresses as an acute inflammation of the upper respiratory tract. Its onset is usually sudden, from a state of full health. It often begins with chills, a headache and a fever rising to 39–40 °C. The ill person has muscle and joint pain, a dry and irritating cough, a runny nose and a dry and sore throat.

Given that the flu is dangerous and can lead to death among seniors, as a cohort we do not get vaccinated in the numbers we should. A recent study looked at why this is and it was published in Science Direct in March of 2017.

The clinical symptoms occur 1–3 days from the start of the infection. Unless there are complications, the symptoms subside in 3–5 days. Complete recovery usually occurs in two to four weeks from the first symptoms.

The flu season begins in October and lasts until April of the following year. The flu can affect anyone, but the group at particular risk are older people over the age of 59 years, people with chronic respiratory problems, cardiovascular disease, reduced immunity of the organism, diabetes, and medical staff who treat patients.

About 90% of the total number of deaths from influenza occur in persons older than 65 years. These deaths are mostly hidden behind the diagnoses of pneumonia and the decompensation of chronic cardiovascular and respiratory diseases,

According to the study the majority (81%) of seniors did not get vaccinated and the remaining 19% were.  Seniors who did get vaccinated did so on the recommendation of doctors and nurses (65%), the influence of family (16%), health concerns (12%), positive previous experience (10%) and the impact of advertising (3%).

A major factor revealed that if a senior had a chronic disease they would likely not get vaccinated. Seniors appear to be worried that if they have a chronic disease getting a vaccination could affect the course of the disease and cause complications. The study found that this was one of the decisive factors for the elderly person not to get vaccinated.

According to the results, another important factor influencing a senior's decision to get vaccinated was the senior's age. The highest percentage of seniors were vaccinated in the age 60–69 years, while the lowest percentage was found in the group of long-living seniors. A reason for this could be that chronic diseases are associated with age, thereby the number of seniors who agree to get vaccinated decreases because they fear that the vaccine is not safe and it will also affect the other diseases and aggravate their condition.

There is some evidence that indicates that the effectiveness of the vaccination depends on the age and ability of the individual to produce antibodies. Full protection is formed 14 days after vaccination in 70–90% of adults. The older the individual is, the lower the ability of the body to produce antibodies. At 80 years of age and above only 30–40% of individuals will create antibodies after the vaccine administration.

Many myths still exist with regards to the flu vaccination. It should be understood, however, that the vaccine itself does not prevent the development of disease, but it is important that a disease with a high probability takes place moderately and there should not be too serious complications.

In the relationship between the perceived risks and the decision to get vaccinated, it was found that the perception of the risk and the severity of the disease are associated with the decision to get vaccinated. This suggests that one of the areas of intervention to support the senior's decision to get vaccinated could include educational programs on vaccination for seniors over the age of 60 years.

Recommendations and information from the health care provider are the strongest predictors for the crucial decision to get vaccinated for most seniors. The nurse providing the nursing care should carry out education, which is for the elderly an integral part of prevention. The aim is to activate the patient's cooperation in prevention and achieve positive changes in lifestyle. In terms of the senior's education, more time, patience and empathy are needed.

If society wants seniors to get vaccinated then information campaigns about vaccination targeted towards the elderly should be introduced to improve vaccine coverage and thus reduce the burden of infection. Some research reports that many seniors did not receive advice on vaccinations recommended by their doctor.

Many seniors do not have family doctors so perhaps a nurse practitioner in a clinic could inform patients before the onset of the influenza season on the most appropriate ways of prevention. The bulletin board of the doctor’s office and any clinic waiting room should provide seniors with the necessary information on proper hand washing, adequate fluid intake, and increased intake of vitamins (especially vitamin C and E).

Finally, it is necessary to familiarize senior citizens with the possibility of a flu vaccine that currently seems to be the best and most effective way to prevent it. This would help remove concerns about possible complications and the inappropriateness of the vaccines.

Why do seniors not protect themselves from pneumonia?

At a workshop I was doing recently I was asked a question, “is pneumonia contagious” I thought it was but I was not sure, but I had pneumonia a few times in my life and so I am concerned about this infectious disease.

  

In 2014 the number of visits to emergency departments with pneumonia as the primary hospital discharge diagnosis was 423,000 and 50,622 died of this infection. The deaths per 100,000 population in 2014 was 15.9, which is high. Source: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/pneumonia.htm

  

Despite this, around two-thirds of older adults do not get the recommended pneumococcal pneumonia vaccination to prevent pneumonia.

Pneumonia can be prevented, particularly in people who do not have chronic lung diseases. By avoiding sick people, staying home when ill, washing hands, and adopting basic health measures, such as getting vaccinated, it is possible to prevent this potentially fatal illness.

Back to the question Is pneumonia contagious? Pneumonia refers to an infection in the lungs caused by certain germs, such as bacteria or viruses. When one-person spreads germs that can cause pneumonia to someone else, the recipient can develop a range of respiratory infections, from mild cold symptoms to pneumonia. The problem is that there are a range of factors that determine whether pneumonia is contagious:

Most cases of pneumonia are due to the spread of bacteria and viruses. Bacteria are living organisms that respond to antibiotics. Viruses are tiny strands of protein and genetic material that cannot be treated with antibiotics. Both viruses and bacteria are contagious.

Pneumonia often develops after a person has had a different infection, such as a head cold. This makes a person more vulnerable to other types of infections. An infection that develops in the lungs is called pneumonia.

Some organisms are more likely to cause pneumonia than others. One common example is pneumococcal disease, a bacterial infection that can cause ear infections, sinus infections, infections of the brain and blood, and pneumonia.

Another type of bacteria called Mycoplasma pneumoniae can cause other forms of pneumonia. Mycoplasma bacteria are also contagious.

The influenza virus or the flu is a common cause of viral pneumonia. The virus spreads easily from person to person, causing a range of symptoms and conditions.

Some causes of pneumonia that can be caused by inhaling food particles or contents from the intestinal tract, some fungi are not contagious.

In most cases, infections are contagious for a few days before symptoms appear and for a few days after. The exact length of time a person is contagious depends on the type of microorganism causing the infection.

Some forms of pneumonia, such as pneumonia caused by mycoplasma, remain contagious for several weeks. If a person has pneumonia, they should speak to a doctor about how long the infection will be contagious.

Although anyone can get pneumonia, some people are at greater risk. Pneumonia occurs when an infection develops within the lungs. It can cause complications with breathing and spread to other parts of the body such as the bloodstream.

People who are more likely to get pneumonia include:

very young children and babies whose immune systems are not fully developed

·       older people with weakened immune systems

·       pregnant women

·       people taking medications that suppress the immune system

·       people with diseases that weaken the immune system, such as cancer, HIV, and AIDS

·       people with autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis

·       people with lung and respiratory conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis (CF), and asthma

·       People at risk of pneumonia need to be especially cautious around people who have recently had pneumonia or another respiratory infection.

Pneumonia is transmitted when germs from the body of someone with pneumonia spread to another person. This can happen in a variety of ways, including:

Inhaling the infection. This can occur when a person with pneumonia coughs or sneezes and another person inhales the infected particles. This is more likely between people in close contact with each other, such as parents and children, or in poorly ventilated spaces, such as airplanes.

Through the mouth or eyes. This can happen when a person touches a surface that an infected person has coughed or sneezed on. When a person with an infection coughs into their hand and then shakes another person's hand, the second person can become infected if they touch their mouth or eyes without washing their hands.

Food particles and irritants from the intestinal tract can also cause pneumonia. This is called aspiration pneumonia and can occur when a person accidentally inhales these substances.

Aspiration pneumonia usually happens in people who have trouble swallowing, such as someone having a diagnosis of a stroke or other central nervous system conditions, such as Parkinson's disease.

Fungal pneumonia typically develops when people inhale microscopic particles of fungus from the environment. People with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop this type of pneumonia.

Most people recover from pneumonia without any lasting effects. In vulnerable people, pneumonia can be fatal. Worldwide, pneumonia accounts for 16 percent of deaths in children under 5. Older people and those with a weakened immune system are also more likely to experience serious complications.

Older people, people with serious illnesses, parents of newborns, and caregivers to sick people should make sure all visitors wash their hands. It is best that people with symptoms of a respiratory illness or fever do not visit a vulnerable person until their symptoms are gone. Other strategies that can reduce the risk include:

·       washing hands before eating, after touching people, and after going out in public

·       disinfecting all surfaces in the home, particularly if someone has recently been sick

·       keeping up-to-date on all vaccinations, especially any household members around infants who are too young to be vaccinated

·       avoiding locations with inadequate air filtration during cold and flu season

Flu shots work better if you are in a good mood

Another reason to have a good attitude as you age. Flu shots work better for seniors that are in a good mood and have a good attitude. Why is this important. According to the World Health Organization, 2016, between 250,000 and 500,000 deaths are estimated to occur worldwide annually as a result of seasonal influenza epidemics

The current research is clear that the vast majority of these deaths (in excess of 90% in industrialised countries), as well as non-fatal influenza-associated hospitalizations, occur in those aged 65 years or older. Influenza vaccination is comparatively poor at inducing clinical protection in those 65 years of age and older. Clinical efficacy is estimated to be only 17–53% in older adults compared to 70–90% in younger adults  

This means influenza vaccination is least effective amongst those in most need of protection. While pharmacological solutions to this issue have shown some promise, the effectiveness of influenza vaccination in older adults remains relatively poor.

According to a study done at Nottingham University in 2017 influenza vaccination is estimated to only be effective in 17–53% of older adults. Multiple patient behaviors and psychological factors have been shown to act as ‘immune modulators’ sufficient to influence vaccination outcomes.

However, the relative importance of such factors is unknown as they have typically been examined in isolation. The study was to explore the effects of multiple behavioral (physical activity, nutrition, sleep) and psychological influences (stress, positive mood, negative mood) on the effectiveness of the immune response to influenza vaccination in the elderly.

One hundred and thirty-eight community-dwelling older adults (65–85 years) who received the 2014/15 influenza vaccination completed repeated psycho-behavioral measures over the two weeks prior, and four weeks following influenza vaccination.

Positive mood on the day of vaccination was a significant predictor of antibody responses at 16 weeks post-vaccination controlling for age and gender. Positive mood across the 6-week observation period was also significantly associated with post-vaccination antibody response at 16 weeks post-vaccination. No other factors were found to significantly predict antibody responses to vaccination. Greater positive mood in older adults, particularly on the day of vaccination, is associated with enhanced responses to vaccination.