Quality Life Services Home Health Care Blog
Speech therapy is a type of physical therapy that evaluates and addresses speech disorders, communication issues and swallowing problems. Although speech therapy is mostly recommended for children who have speech and communication challenges, it has also been proven useful for adults who have suffered a brain injury and must relearn how to talk and eat.
The team at Quality Life Services offers speech therapy to adults. Our highly qualified and compassionate specialists will help you or your loved ones with our first-rate program for speech, language and mouth function issues. In this article, we give an overview, examples and benefits of speech therapy.
How Do I Know I Need Speech Therapy?
A general practitioner, though not trained to offer speech therapy, may detect signs of a speech or communication disorder during an appointment. They may refer you to a speech-language pathologist or speech therapist, and recommend some initial screenings for you or your loved ones. These tests will not only confirm an issue but will also reveal the root cause.
Advantages of Speech Therapy
Speech therapy offers a wide range of benefits, including:
- The ability to properly articulate ideas
- Improvement in swallowing and oral health
- More confidence in social situations
- More control over stutters
- Better enunciation
Examples of Speech Therapy
There are different types of speech therapy that can be used to treat various disorders affecting speech, hearing, and swallowing. These are:
Speech Therapy for Apraxia
Apraxia of speech refers to a neurological disorder where patients find it difficult to say the right sounds and words. A speech therapist can help if you or your loved one has Apraxia of speech. This type of therapy will include exercises such as focusing on getting your muscles to move correctly, teaching your muscles to make sounds again, and saying sounds over and over while using the correct mouth movements.
Speech Therapy for Aphasia
Aphasia refers to a condition in which persons have difficulty speaking, listening, reading and writing due to some sort of brain damage. It is common in people who have suffered a stroke There are many activities a speech therapist might use to help a person with aphasia, including:
- Exercises that improve language skills
- Group therapy to enhance conversational skills
- Gestures and writing to strengthen communication skills
Speech Therapy for Swallowing Difficulty
A speech therapist is also equipped to assist persons who are not able to swallow when they eat or drink. They will allow you or your loved ones to do exercises that strengthen the mouth, increase tongue movement, and improve chewing.
Speech Therapy Techniques You Can Try at Home
There are techniques you can use in between speech therapy appointments. Some general activities to try at home are:
- Being patient and attentive whenever they speak
- Playing games that require your loved one to speak
- Leading by example as a speech model.
Adults with speech disorders can also gain from at-home exercises. You or your loved ones can try:
- Sticking your tongue out, hold for two seconds, then bring it back in. Repeat this process several times a day. This and other exercises help train your tongue to move in coordinated patterns.
- Smiling in front of a mirror can help enhance your motor skills.
- Puckering your lips can help you control the movement of your mouth.
- Reading out loud
- Playing word games can enhance cognitive function and improve your thinking ability.
Speech Therapy in Cincinnati, Ohio
Do you or your loved one have difficulty communicating or swallowing? Reach out to the team at Quality Life Services. Our experts can help you to overcome your speech disorders with our range of services including speech therapy and articulation. Contact us today to request a phone call or to book an appointment.
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Learning that you or your loved one is in need of any type of surgery may be challenging, especially if you are not familiar with the procedure. You may have heard about common surgical procedures such as cataract surgery, joint replacement or heart bypass surgery, but how knowledgeable are you about ostomy and colostomy?
Ostomy and colostomy are not as uncommon as you may think. In fact, one in 500 Americans is an ostomy patient. Reports also show that 100,000 patients in the United States undergo colostomies every year.
If your physician has determined that you too are a candidate for these procedures then it would be helpful to learn all you can. At Quality Life Services Home Health we provide services in ostomy care as well as pre and post-surgical recovery. We know you may have questions about ostomy or colostomy and as such, we would like to help. Read on so that you can better understand what to expect from these procedures.
What Does Ostomy Mean?
Ostomy or stoma surgery is a procedure in which a surgeon creates an opening in the skin (usually the abdomen) as a way for waste products to leave the intestines.
It is performed not only to help patients with severe medical conditions to relieve themselves but to also improve their quality of life as they manage their ailments. You or your loved one may be a candidate if you have medical conditions such as:
- A blockage in your bowel
- Colon or rectal cancer
- Crohn’s disease
- An injury affecting your intestines
- Bladder cancer
- Ulcerative colitis
What is a Colostomy?
This is an operation in which the surgeon creates an opening into the colon through the abdomen. This allows fecal matter to bypass a part of the colon that has been damaged or diseased.
During the procedure, your surgeon will remove any damaged or diseased portions of your colon or rectum. They then take the remaining colon through your abdominal wall and attach it to your skin to create a stoma. A colostomy bag is then pouched around the stoma.
What is the Difference Between a Colostomy and an Ostomy?
As you may have gathered so far, there is not a major difference between a colostomy and an ostomy. A colostomy is actually a type of ostomy that allows the body to pass stool when the colon is not working properly, or if a disease is affecting a part of the colon and it needs to be removed.
Side Effects of Colostomy
Very few procedures are without complications. Contact your doctor if you notice any of the following:
- Leakage of digestive waste
- Skin irritation
- Not passing waste
- Stomach pain, nausea or vomiting
A hernia can also form around a colostomy. To prevent this you should avoid heavy lifting and wear belts, underwear and other types of clothing that offer support.
Side Effects of Ostomy
Below are mild to severe complications that you can look out for in addition to those listed above:
- Diarrhea
- Narrowing of the stoma
- Bowel protruding through the stoma
- Bleeding
- Electrolyte imbalance
- Vitamin B12 Deficiency
- Phantom rectum syndrome – refers to the urge you feel to pass waste even though the rectum has been removed. Thankfully this urge eventually goes away on its own.
- Short Bowel Syndrome – the inability to absorb water and nutrients
- Patients who still have their colon, rectum and anus may experience an occasional rectal discharge
Ostomy Care in Cincinnati, Ohio
As an ostomy patient, it’s important to note that it takes time to adjust, but it will get easier. With support from a knowledgeable and experienced nurse at Quality Life Services Home Health, you can take it one step at a time.
If you or a loved one needs ostomy care at home you can contact us today at (513) 860-1481. You can also request additional information by filling out this online form.
Most of us are familiar with IVs. If you or a loved one has ever been in the hospital, you probably had first-hand experience with them. You would have noticed the metal stand with a bag attached to it, transferring some kind of liquid into the patient’s body. But few people actually know what exactly an IV is and how it works.
What are Intravenous Fluids?
Intravenous – or IV, for short – refers to the administration of specially formulated liquids into the body through a vein or veins. These essential fluids are distributed from a drip bag.
Importance of Intravenous Fluids
IV Drips are a staple in hospitals and other healthcare facilities for the following reasons:
Rehydration
The body must stay hydrated so that it can promote wound healing, immunity, concentration and digestion. IV fluids prevent or treat dehydration and electrolyte imbalances caused by sweating, vomiting, and frequent urination. They are also essential for patients who have to sleep for a long time or are unable to eat or drink following surgery.
Pain Medication
Another added benefit is that IV drips allow for medication to reach the bloodstream much quicker, relieving the patient’s pain much faster than taking a pill. The healthcare professional will of course take into account the patient’s medication, body size and age before administering the medication in this way.
Common Types of IV Fluids
The type of fluids used will be determined by your medical condition and the type of treatment you need. Some common components of IV bags include:
- Saline – This is a solution of salt in water and is the most common type of intravenous fluid. Sodium is an electrolyte, making the saline solution an excellent choice for dehydration and hangovers.
- Vitamins – These are included in IV drips because they give us a boost of energy, strengthen our immune systems, and so much more.
- Electrolytes. These essential elements and compounds refuel our bodies with sodium, potassium, calcium, bicarbonate, magnesium, chloride and phosphate. These in turn hydrate us, regulate our nerve and muscle function, stabilize our blood pressure, and more.
How do IV Drips Work?
Before the nurse administers the IV fluids, your doctor will decide on the type of fluid that is best suited for you. The nurse will then:
- Disinfect the area that will be injected. This is usually the inside of the elbow or on top of the hand.
- Tie an elastic band (tourniquet) around your arm so that blood fills the veins
- Assess the veins to find the exact spot for injection
- Use a sterile needle to enter the vein
- Release the tourniquet and place a small plastic attachment onto the tube
- Examine the tube to make sure a little bit of fluid can go in.
- Fasten the IV needle to your arm with tape so that it stays in place
- Attach the small tube to a longer tube, and then attach it to a bag of fluids
- Hang the bag from a hook on the IV stand
- Turn on a machine that pumps the fluid into the IV line
- Frequently check your IV line and monitor the amount of fluid entering your body
IV Therapy in Cincinnati, OHIO
Quality Life Services Home Health (QLS) offers specialty services that include intravenous (IV) therapy for home health patients. We employ highly qualified and compassionate private nurses who are specially trained in infusion drug administration and line maintenance.
We proudly serve patients in the counties of Brown, Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, Montgomery, Preble and Warren. If you or a loved one is in need of home health care you may reach us at (513) 860-1481. Contact us today.