Health Beat
Ihave a friend who's already committing to watching the ball drop on New Year's Eve. She wants to make sure 2020 leaves! I can't blame her. To say this year's been challenging is a whopping understatement. But I also warn friends never to ask, “Can it get any worse?" Sadly, the answer is always “yes.” Which brings me to the topic of AFM: acute flaccid myelitis. It's an uncommon, but life-threatening, neurologic condition mostly affecting children. It usually appears in EVEN years ... like 2020. While it resembles polio in that it can cause permanent paralysis, it's a different viral disease. So parents are warned to be alert to symptoms, because early treatment is key. As the CDC explains, most patients had a fever or respiratory illness before the hallmark limb weakness of AFM. The early symptoms could be confused with COVID-19 nowadays. So parents need to keep a close eye on a child exhibiting these symptoms, because their health can decline quickly. Don't waste time, says the CDC, the child needs emergency medical attention. Ninety-eight percent of patients, to date, have been hospitalized. Some even need ventilator support. And yes, this is the time of year we see AFM, with most cases happening between August and November. And every year since the first case was diagnosed in 2014, we've seen the numbers increase, and the CDC expects this year will top years past. Can't put 2020 behind us soon enough.
Participating in an online or telephone support group is a safe and effective way for caregivers to connect with others and find support during these difficult times of COVID-19. Many caregiver support groups conducted in person before the pandemic have transitioned to phone or virtual formats, offering participants the same benefits as traditional in-person groups.
Caregivers say participating in a support group helps them deal with the emotional side of caregiving. They point to several reasons the support groups are helpful: sharing experiences; developing friendships with other caregivers; and learning about the disease and available resources.
Unaware of these benefits, some caregivers are hesitant to participate in a group. Lack of time, lack of support from others, and physical distance can feel like a daunting commitment. Other caregivers find it difficult to reveal what they are going through. For those caregivers who are new to a support group or have found that time or distance have been barriers to attending previously, a telephone support group, like Eddy Alzheimer's Services (EAS) Telephone Support Group, may be just the right fit. Since the support group happens by phone, all that is needed is a phone and a quiet and comfortable place to join the call.
As the facilitator for the EAS Telephone Support