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Genesis HealthCare System receives Stroke Awards

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Demonstrates high-quality stroke care for patients

Genesis HealthCare System recently received the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus award with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll as well as Get With The Guidelines® Rural Stroke Bronze recognition. These awards recognize Genesis’ commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized and research-based guidelines.

“Genesis is committed to saving stroke patients’ lives and reducing their potential for disability,” said Keela Barker, director of Rehabilitation & Ambulatory Services at Genesis HealthCare System. “Receiving these awards shows our team puts proven knowledge and guidelines to work daily. The end goal is to ensure more people can have longer, healthier lives.”

High-quality stroke care takes the dedication and teamwork of physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses and staff across many departments at Genesis. To learn more about stroke care at Genesis, visit genesishcs.org/neurosciences.

Press Release

Tue, 08/27/2024 - 08:00

Genesis HealthCare System receives Stroke Awards

These awards recognize Genesis’ commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized and research-based guidelines.

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Donation and sponsorship requests

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Requests for donations and community sponsorships.

Is sleep important?

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Some people long to crawl under the covers at night or stretch out on a couch on a lazy summer afternoon to catch a few Zs. Others gulp coffee, chug energy drinks and splash water on their face to avoid what they consider a waste of time.

So, is sleep important? Can you train yourself to only sleep as much as you want? Take our quiz to find out. We promise not to bore you to sleep.

Genesis HealthCare System’s Health and Wellness content conveniently provides accurate and helpful information. Your health history and current health may impact suggestions provided through our Health and Wellness content. Although we hope this information is helpful, it is not a substitute for your doctor's medical advice. Before making any significant changes, please consult your doctor.

Lifestyle

Quiz

Thu, 08/10/2023 - 08:00

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You Can’t Avoid Stress - and sometimes that is a good thing.

Read more about You Can’t Avoid Stress - and sometimes that is a good thing.

Lost your keys, car broke down, an extra assignment at work. Having a stress-free life is like finding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. It doesn’t happen. Sorry for the spoiler.

So, minimize stress and embrace it to perform at your best and to stay healthy. To learn more, take our quiz. Don’t worry. To make it less stressful, it is true and false, and all the answers are false.

Now that the scary stuff is out of the way, short-term stress is actually good for you. According to a study from the University of California, Berkley, short-term stress can help you be more alert and improve your focus and memory.

According to Harvard Health, analyzing your stress can help you avoid the negative side effects. Figure out what is causing you to be stressed and consider options to fix it.

Looking for more tips to deal with stress? Try some of our other blogs:

Behavioral Health

Quiz

Tue, 08/15/2023 - 08:00

You Can’t Avoid Stress - and sometimes that is a good thing.

Lost your keys, car broke down, an extra assignment at work. Having a stress-free life is like finding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. It doesn’t happen. Sorry for the spoiler.

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Is it Better for My Child to Specialize in One Sport or Tackle Many?

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Tiger Woods started practicing his golf swing at two years old.

Kobe Bryant shot hoops at just three years old.

Serena Williams picked up her first racket as an adorable four-year-old.

Is zeroing in on a singular sport early and sticking with it the key to athletic success?

Though tempting to eager parents and early athletes, according to science, the best playing field for young athletes stands wide and varied.

By hyper-focusing on a single sport, athletes may miss the goal altogether

Researchers that published a study in the American Journal of Sports Medicine estimate that one-third of school-aged athletes concentrate on a single sport, participating in year-round intensive trainings or playing the same sport for multiple teams. Although that statistic grabs significant attention, health professionals don’t recommend it for children’s growing bodies.

Child athletes should not train like tiny adult athletes. With still developing brains, young minds can’t maintain control over their muscles like older teens or adults. In fact, their bodies need more strength to endure the repetitive motion that comes with skilled drills and heavy schedules. So, when young ones give all their energy to one sport, they are at higher risk of overuse injuries (like stress fractures and shin splints).

In fact, variety in sports protects athletes of all ages. For example, 546 adult female athletes reported their pain levels and training regimens to a team of sports medicine doctors for a 2015 study that is on the Journal of Sport Rehabilitation website. The results revealed that single-sport athletes were four times more likely to develop knee injuries than multisport athletes.

Creating all-around champions: Cross-training and multi-sports for the win

In addition to lessening chances for injuries, playing multiple sports increases body awareness and overall athleticism (picture football players taking ballet lessons). By cross-training, athletes improve their creativity and body movements. They also gain exposure to transferable skills, different coaching styles, distinct levels of competitiveness and a wide range of experiences.

Avoiding injury and improving all-around fitness greatly benefits athletes – but don’t forget about having fun. Variety can keep sports exciting for young athletes, defending against athletic burnout and fueling a love of the game.

Lifestyle

Thu, 08/17/2023 - 08:00

Is it better for my child to specialize in one sport or tackle many?

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Is Being Social a Real Pain in the Neck?

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If you’re active on social media, you may have seen friends share posts asking you to respond to a question such as “list something that’s common now but was unheard of 25 years ago.” First, don’t take the bait. They’re originally posted by scammers fishing for clues to your passwords and identity. If you can’t resist trying to come up with a clever answer, here’s one that could trump everyone else – Text Neck.

Text Neck, or “tech nech,” is a repetitive stress injury caused by excessive texting or mobile device use. When the head is tilted forward over screens, the upper body compensates by shifting backward and the hips tilt forward. Leaning forward and looking down causes the weight of the head to increase, increasing the strain on the neck and upper back. This entire unconscious process puts stress on the vertebral column and surrounding muscles, causing neck and shoulder pain, stiffness, soreness, headaches, neck spasms and creaky shoulder joints, for starters.

Long term, the misalignment of the spine can lead to muscle and nerve damage, disc degeneration, early onset arthritis, decreased lung capacity and the development of a hump commonly found in elderly women.

For many, long term is here. A 2021 study in the International Journal of Studies reported that 73% of university students and 64.7% of people who work from home complained of neck, back pain or other problems linked with mobile phones, laptop and tablet use. A January 2023 report released by Common Sense Media found that teens (ages 13-18) average nine hours of online entertainment per day and tweens (ages 8-12) average six, not including time spent in front of a screen for school or homework.

To avoid what researchers and medical personnel claim is a pending epidemic of musculoskeletal problems, adults should follow these tips and encourage their children to do the same:

Take breaks often, pausing to tilt the head upward and look at the ceiling (also called neck extensions). Repeat the movement 10 to 15 times an hour. During the next break, stretch your hands backwards and lock your fingers. Another time, stand and roll your shoulders, rotate your neck, stretch your calf and hamstring muscles, and do a lateral stretch.
Adjust your desk and chair so the devices you’re using are at eye level. You might need to buy a better chair and/or invest in a standing desk. Invest in a monitor stand. Use tablet and smartphone holders to avoid looking down at those screens for long periods of time.
Sit and/or stand straight. It may be difficult at first, but it’s important to keep your spine straight to correct damage or avoid it altogether.

Lifestyle

Wed, 08/23/2023 - 08:00

Is being social a real pain in the neck?

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Are saunas good for my health?

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When we think of saunas, we typically picture a group of older men socializing after a workout. Sitting in a hot room after a cardio or lifting session may be the last thing on your mind. If there were serious health benefits, would you change your mind? Take this quiz to find out if you might add the sauna to your routine.

Be sure to discuss sauna use with your primary health provider before adding it to your regimen. If your doctor gives you the go-ahead, start slow and build your way up to a full session.

Lifestyle

Quiz

Thu, 08/24/2023 - 08:00

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Sing Yourself Happy and Fit

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In 2011, two musicians invited people who regularly came to see them perform on weekends at a small tavern to come the next Tuesday night for something different. That night, the musicians greeted people at the door with music and lyrics to popular songs, taught the different voices their part(s), like a choir teacher would, and ended the evening by leading them in a rousing performance. They recorded it and loaded it to social media.

Word spread. Posts spread. Soon they were meeting in warehouses and other large empty spaces. The “choirs,” mostly amateurs, grew in cities throughout North America. The creators started to receive invitations to perform all over the world.

Now thousands of everyday people show up, learn their parts and sing. That’s it, and they look like they are having the time of their lives.

According to studies on the benefits of singing, they are:

The physical benefits

Singing is a form of exercise that engages various muscles in your body, including your diaphragm, lungs and abdominal muscles. It can improve your respiratory system, increase lung capacity and promote better posture.

Mental and emotional benefits

Singing releases endorphins, which are natural mood-boosting hormones. It can help reduce stress, anxiety and depression. Singing also stimulates the release of oxytocin, which promotes feelings of bonding and connection.

Cognitive benefits

Singing requires mental focus, memory and coordination. Regular singing improves these and other cognitive functions, the most important and impressive abilities the brain is capable of.

Social benefits

Singing in a group or choir can enhance social connections and a sense of belonging. It provides an opportunity to meet new people, build friendships and collaborate with others toward a common goal.

Respiratory benefits

Singing involves controlled breathing techniques, which can improve respiratory control and lung health. It can benefit people with respiratory conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

The health benefits of singing are well-documented, and it’s free. If this sounds like something you’d like, find a choir at a church or civic group in your area.

Lifestyle

Tue, 08/29/2023 - 08:00

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A Hairy Situation: preventing hair loss

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We all have hair, and a lot of us spend time styling, combing or shaving it. However, nearly all of us want to keep the hair on our head for as long as possible. This article isn’t just for the genetically unfortunate. Everybody loses some hair eventually. It’s a natural part of the hair growth cycle.

The anagen phase is when hair grows, and it makes up roughly 85% to 90% of the hair on our head. The catagen phase is when hair follicles shrink before transitioning to the third and final phase. The telogen phase takes about two to four months, and is when hair falls out naturally and our head begins preparing for the next growth cycle.

Unnatural hair loss affects millions of men and women worldwide and can be caused by certain medications like chemotherapy. Irregular hair loss can occur during the telogen phase and is caused by major stress or sudden changes in hormone levels. Traumatic hair loss, or alopecia, can be caused by chemical bleaching or coloring and hairdressing techniques that pull hair tightly or expose the scalp to extreme heat or twisting. According to the American Hair Loss Association, about 85% of men and over 50% of women deal with genetic hair loss before the age of 50.

There are a multitude of hair loss prevention tips and solutions on the market that sometimes over-promise results. Shampoo is designed to eliminate dirt and excess oil, but many chemicals in shampoos are harsh and strip your hair of essential natural oil and fatty acids that keep your hair strong. Read the ingredients in your shampoo and find one that’s close to all-natural or has the least amount of ingredients. Shampoo with Biotin, which is involved in fatty acid synthesis, can help extend your hair’s life and promote a healthy scalp.

Soft brushes made from natural fibers promote healthy sebum oil levels in your hair. Lauric acid found in coconut oil helps bind protein in hair and can help protect from ultraviolet light (UV), so consider trying a coconut oil scalp massage. There are a host of other over-the-counter hair treatment medications to choose from, but not all are the same. Talk to your doctor for recommendations on what is safe and helpful.

Beauty

Tue, 09/05/2023 - 08:00

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Making Time for Yourself When You are Caring for a Loved One

Read more about Making Time for Yourself When You are Caring for a Loved One

Few things in life can be as emotionally and physically taxing as caring for a loved one, or caregiving. Caregiving is a broad term that includes a lot of different situations. It can be as simple as checking in on an older neighbor or as challenging as caring for a loved one after a sudden diagnosis, illness or medical condition.

Caregiving can also include people that are caring for aging parents and children at the same time. These individuals are a part of the sandwich generation.

Regardless of your experience, most caregivers struggle with making time for themselves. When your to do list is never ending, it can feel selfish to take a few minutes for yourself. However, making time for yourself is one of the most important things you can do as a caregiver.

According to the National Library of Medicine, caregivers who experienced high strain were at risk for significant health issues compared to caregivers with less strain.

If you feel burned out and struggle to find time for yourself, you’re not alone. Here are three ways to make time for yourself as a caregiver.