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Hoarding

Hoarding is the compulsive purchasing, acquiring, searching, and saving of items that have little or no value. People with this disorder have persistent difficulty in discarding or parting with possessions. This difficulty is due to the strong urges to save items and/or distress associated with discarding. When these behaviors lead to enough clutter and disorganization…

Dissociative Identity Disorder

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), formerly called Multiple Personality Disorder until 1994, is a mental illness that is characterized by having at least two clear, distinct identities or personality states. These personality states are referred to as “alters”, which essentially control the individual’s behavior and may have different reactions, emotions, and body functioning. An alter often…

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Real Life Care Management

When you hear the words “Care Manager,” what comes to mind? Do you think of doctors, nurses, physical therapists? All of these people are part of the caretaking process, but they are not necessarily Care Managers. A Care Manager coordinates the doctors, nurses, insurance companies, attorneys, residences, home care agencies, hospitals, and equipment companies, along…

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Brain Injury and Alzheimer’s Disease

A moderate to severe Traumatic Brain Injury, or head trauma, is one of the strongest environmental risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) refers to an injury in which normal brain function is disrupted by a bump, jolt, or blow to the head. These injuries are seen often with accidents such as motor…

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Motorcycles Are Safer With Helmets

Police in Onondaga, New York report that a motorcyclist who was participating in a protest ride against helmet laws died after he flipped over the motorcycle’s handlebars and hit his head on the pavement. The 55-year old accident victim hit his breaks and the motorcycle fishtailed. The motorcycle spun out of control, and the man…

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What Do Family Caregivers Do?

Family caregivers perform a variety of tasks for loved ones. Routine duties performed by the caregiver may include the administration of medicine, meal preparation, and standard medical and nursing procedures. Examples of the most common tasks include the following: Personal hygiene care Emotional and social support Transportation services Medical and nursing care House management and…

What Is Vocational Rehabilitation?

A large portion of the nation’s unemployed are individuals who have a mental or physical disability. According to the United States Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the unemployment rate is nearly twice as much for people with a disability than those without. Vocational rehabilitation is a service that is provided through state or government agencies…