COVID-19 Tips for Caregivers

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Home care tips for caregivers tending to people with suspected or confirmed cases.

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National Child Abuse Prevention Month by Katelyn Millinor, LPC

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April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. This month and throughout the year NOAH encourages all individuals and organizations to play a role in making our community a better place for children and families. By ensuring that parents have the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to care for their children, we can help prevent child abuse and neglect by creating strong and thriving children and families in our communities. Research shows that protective factors are present in healthy families. Protective factors are conditions or attributes that lessen risk and promote healthy development and well being. 

Promoting the following protective factors is one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of child abuse and neglect:

  • Nurturing and attachment.
  • Knowledge of parenting and of child/youth development.
  • Parental resilience.
  • Social connections and support.
  • Concrete support for parents.
  • Social and emotional competence of children.

April is a time to celebrate the vital role that communities play in protecting children and strengthening families. Focusing on ways to connect with families is the best thing our community can do to strengthen families and prevent child abuse and neglect. Visit www.childwelfare.gov for more information.

What is child abuse and neglect?
When a parent, guardian or custodian inflicts or allows the infliction of physical, sexual or emotional abuse, neglect, exploitation or abandonment.

  • Physical abuse includes non-accidental physical injuries such as bruises, broken bones, burns, cuts or other injuries.
  • Sexual abuse occurs when sex acts are performed with children. Using children in pornography, prostitution or other types of sexual activity is also sexual abuse.
  • Neglect occurs when children are not given necessary care for illness or injury. Neglect also includes leaving young children unsupervised or alone, locked in or out of the house, or without adequate clothing, food, or shelter. Allowing children to live in a very dirty house which could be a health hazard may also be considered neglect.
  • Emotional abuse of a child is evidenced by severe anxiety, depression, withdrawal or improper aggressive behavior as diagnosed by a medical doctor or psychologist, and caused by the acts or omissions of the parent or caretaker.
  • Exploitation means use of a child by a parent, guardian or custodian for material gain.
  • Abandonment means the failure of the parent to provide reasonable support and to maintain regular contact with the child, including providing normal supervision, when such failure is intentional and continues for an indefinite period.

What you can do:
Take an active role in your children’s lives. Learn about their activities and people with whom they are involved. Stay alert for possible problems.

  • Make sure your children know that they can talk to you about anything that bothers or confuses them.
  • Teach children accurate names of private body parts and the difference between touches that are “okay” and “not okay.”
  • Educate children about the difference between good secrets (such as birthday surprises) and bad secrets (those that make the child feel unsafe/uncomfortable).
  • Monitor children’s use of technology, including cell phones, social networking sites, and messaging. Review their friend’s lists regularly and ask about any people you don’t recognize.

How to Report?
A report of suspected child abuse, neglect, exploitation or abandonment is a responsible attempt to protect a child. Arizona law requires certain persons who suspect that a child has received non-accidental injury or has been neglected to report their concerns to DCS or local law enforcement (ARS §13-3620.A). You may be a child’s only advocate at the time you report the possibility of abuse or neglect. Children often tell a person with whom they feel safe about abuse or neglect. If a child tells you of such experiences, act to protect that child by calling the toll free Arizona Child Abuse Hotline at 1-888-SOS-CHILD (1-888-767-2445).

Statistics

  • Every year more than 3.6 million referrals are made to child protection agencies involving more than 6.6 million children.
  • About 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys experience child sexual abuse at some point in childhood.
  • The United States has one of the worst records among industrialized nations – losing on average between 4 and 7 children every day to child abuse and neglect.
  • At least 1 in 7 children have experienced child abuse and/or neglect in the past year, and this is likely an underestimate.
  • Children living in poverty experience more abuse and neglect. Rates of child abuse and neglect are 5 times higher for children in families with low socio-economic status compared to children in families with higher socio-economic status.

At NOAH, we offer behavioral health consulting and traditional outpatient counseling programs and services where these highly skilled and trained behavioral health staff work alongside our medical and dental teams to assess, diagnose and effectively treat the core-symptoms of our patients.

Tips for Social Distancing in the Workplace

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What do they mean, and why do they apply to you in the workplace?

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Your Quarantine Shopping List

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Many of us are spending our days housebound due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At some point, you’ll have to venture out to the grocery store and NOAH wants to make sure that you have a printable list of what to get.

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Avoid Cabin Fever During the Coronavirus Pandemic

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As the coronavirus pandemic continues, millions are practicing social distancing at home. By now, you or your children may be going a little stir-crazy. Avoid cabin fever with these top tips to keep kids entertained and give much needed parents a little break.

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30 At-Home Brain Breaks

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Anytime your student begins to feel restless and is struggling to pay attention, try one of these Brain Breaks. Most only take a few minutes and help to take their mind off of the lesson plan at hand

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Treating Yourself to a Good Night’s Sleep by Dr. Xiao Kristin Liang, MD Family Medicine Resident, PGY2

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What better way to jumpstart your day than with a solid, restful night’s sleep? In today’s fast-paced, high-tech world, there is still no substitute for a good old-fashioned snooze, which comes with numerous health benefits. These include improved mood, alertness, work or school performance, and even heart health.

Here are some ways to get the most bang for your buck while you catch those z’s! Also known as “sleep hygiene:”

  • Avoid caffeinated beverages such as coffee and tea in the afternoon.
  • Have a regular sleep schedule and stick to it, e.g. bedtime at 10 pm and alarm clock set for 6 am.
  • Sleep in a cool, dark, and quiet room.
  • If you are unable to fall asleep after 20 minutes, get out of bed and do something relaxing (see activities below) so that your body does not associate the bed with wakefulness.
  • Do something relaxing before bed such as drinking a warm beverage, reading a book, or meditating.
  • Avoid screen time before sleeping, as the blue light from phones and computers stimulates wakefulness.
  • Avoid drinking too much alcohol as it can disrupt your body’s sleep cycle.
  • Regular exercise, ideally in the morning or early afternoon, also improves quality of sleep.

Are you doing all of these things but still having trouble with falling or staying asleep? If so, you may have a sleep disorder. Our doctors at NOAH are happy to work with you to achieve your best sleep, health and wellness. Feel free to call us for an appointment at 480-882-4545.

Creating a Positive Body Image by Stephanie Olsinski, MS, RDN

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In learning about eating disorders and how they can affect everyone, it is important to care for not only those affected but for yourself to ensure that you are always taking care of your health, both mental and physical. 

NEDA created a list of 10 Steps to Positive Body Image which is shared below:

  • Appreciate all that your body can do. Every day your body carries you closer to your dreams. Celebrate all of the amazing things your body does for you like running, dancing, breathing, laughing, dreaming, etc.
  • Keep a top 10 list of things you like about yourself such as things that aren’t related to how much you weigh or what you look like. Read your list often. Add to it as you become aware of more things to like about you.
  • Remind yourself that “true beauty” is not simply skin-deep. When you feel good about yourself and who you are, you carry yourself with a sense of confidence, self-acceptance, and openness that makes you beautiful regardless of whether you physically look like a supermodel. Beauty is a state of mind, not a state of your body.
  • Look at yourself as a whole person. When you see yourself in a mirror or in your mind, choose not to focus on specific body parts. See yourself as you want others to see you; as a whole person.
  • Surround yourself with positive people. It is easier to feel good about yourself and your body when you are around others who are supportive and who recognize the importance of liking yourself just as you naturally are.
  • Shut down those voices in your head that tell you your body is not “right” or that you are a “bad” person. You can overpower those negative thoughts with positive ones. The next time you start to tear yourself down, build yourself back up with a few quick affirmations that work for you.
  • Wear clothes that are comfortable and that make you feel good about your body. Work with your body, not against it.
  • Become a critical viewer of social and media messages. Pay attention to images, slogans, or attitudes that make you feel bad about yourself or your body. Protest these messages: write a letter to the advertiser or talk back to the image or message.
  • Do something nice for yourself; something that lets your body know you appreciate it. Take a bubble bath, make time for a nap, find a peaceful place outside to relax.
  • Use the time and energy that you might have spent worrying about food, calories, and your weight to do something to help others. Sometimes reaching out to other people can help you feel better about yourself and can make a positive change in our world.

Our Care Team at NOAH are here to help you create & manage your healthy lifestyle habits. Need help setting or sticking to your goals? Call 480-882-4545 today!

Signs of an Eating Disorder by Mina Goodman, RDN

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“There are some signs and symptoms of disordered eating that can be a bigger problem such as an Eating Disorder.”

National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA)

Eating disorders are a serious mental and physical illness that can affect anyone. It’s important to know what to look for when it comes to signs and symptoms of an eating disorder so that you are able to get help as early as possible and begin the recovery process. Not everyone will display the same signs and symptoms at once. It’s also important to note that there are both emotional, behavioral and physical symptoms to be on the watch for.

Common symptoms include:

  • Refusing to or discomfort with eating certain foods. This may lead to restrictions or food rules against whole categories of food (e.g., no carbohydrates).
  • Preoccupation with tracking weight, food, calories, carbohydrates, fat, and other nutrients.
  • Impaired immune functioning causing more frequent colds or illnesses.
  • Maintaining an excessive or rigid exercise regime – despite weather, fatigue, illness, or injury.
  • Signs of stealing, hoarding food, disappearance of large amounts of food in a short time period or a lot of empty wrappers and containers indicating consumption of large amounts of food.
  • Spending hours thinking about what food might be served at upcoming events.
  •  Intense anxiety, depression and/or distress if unable to exercise.

To learn more about eating disorders we recommend going to https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/warning-signs-and-symptoms. If you, or someone you know displays any of these symptoms, give us a call. At NOAH, we offer behavioral health consulting and traditional outpatient counseling programs where highly skilled and trained behavioral health staff work alongside our medical, nutrition and dental teams to assess, diagnose and effectively treat the core-symptoms of our patients.

What is an Eating Disorder? by Rhyan Geiger, RDN

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An eating disorder is a mental and physical illness that can affect people of all genders, ages, and weight. An eating disorder is a psychological condition that causes unhealthy eating habits to develop. At times it may present as an obsession with food, body weight or body shape. 

“20 million women and 10 million men in America will have an eating disorder at some point in their lives.”

National Surveys

The symptoms of an eating disorder can vary but the most common include:

  • A severe restriction of food.
  • Food binges.
  • Purging behaviors like vomiting or over-exercising.

In severe cases, eating disorders can cause serious health consequences and may even result in death if left untreated. At NOAH, we offer behavioral health consulting and traditional outpatient counseling programs and services where highly skilled and trained behavioral health staff work alongside our medical, nutrition and dental teams to assess, diagnose and effectively treat the core-symptoms of our patients.