In the U.S., nearly 13,000 children under the age of 21 are diagnosed with cancer every year. Although childhood cancer rates have been rising slightly for the past few decades, significant treatment advances in recent decades have improved the outlook for many young children fighting the disease.  In 2013, more than 80% of children with… Continue reading Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

Press Release  For Immediate Release  8/28/13 SHIELD HEALTHCARE ANNOUNCES 13th ANNUAL CAREGIVER STORY CONTEST Valencia, CA – Shield HealthCare, a leading provider of medical supplies for care at home, is pleased to announce its 13th annual story contest on “What Makes Caregiving Rewarding?” The story contest honors the challenging role of family caregivers and health… Continue reading Shield HealthCare Announces 2013 Caregiver Story Contest

What is Down Syndrome? At the time of conception, 46 chromosomes are inherited by a baby – 23 from the mother and another 23 from the father. In approximately 1 out of 700 births, an extra copy of chromosome 21 is passed on, totaling 47 chromosomes.  This additional genetic material causes the characteristics associated with… Continue reading What Is Down Syndrome?

Caregiver Story Spotlight | Shield HealthCare “What Makes Caregiving Rewarding?” Story Contest Story by Lynn P. “My name is Lynn.  I am the caregiver for my wife, Lorraine, who has PSP (Progressive Supranuclear Palsy) and macular degeneration.  Her first symptoms of PSP were in 1999 when she was 54.  In 2003, she became wheelchair bound because of… Continue reading Caring for My Wife Saved My Life: A Husband’s Story

Caregiver Story Spotlight | Shield HealthCare “What Makes Caregiving Rewarding?” Story Contest Story by Marianne S., 2009 Contest Runner-up “My daughter, now 3 years old, is the most beautiful, inspiring gift I’ve ever received. Born into a family with various mental health issues, Bi-Polar, Autism Spectrum, and Schizophrenia disorders are few of the many daily concerns our… Continue reading What I Learned From My Daughter: A Dedicated Mom of a Child with Special Needs Shares Her Story

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating, inflammatory disease that affects the insulating and protective coating on nerve fibers, known as the myelin sheath.  With MS, the body’s own immune system attacks its nervous system, damaging the myelin sheaths that cover nerve cells.  This can occur along any area of the brain, optic nerve, and spinal… Continue reading What is Multiple Sclerosis (MS)?

We all know the importance of using sunscreen to protect our skin from the sun’s harmful rays, but what about protection for our eyes? July is UV Safety Month, and Eye M.D.s across the nation are urging Americans to protect their eyes and their children’s eyes by wearing sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats. Recent studies have… Continue reading How to Prevent Eye Damage from UV Radiation

Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia that causes brain cells to degenerate and die, which leads to a decline in memory function and thinking skills.

We are pleased to share the following caregiver resource from our friends at Home Instead Senior Care: The Home Instead Senior Care Network has teamed up with the American Society on Aging (ASA) and Dr. Amy D’Aprix to present a series of free web seminars throughout the year that address pertinent caregiving issues.  This family… Continue reading Family Caregiver Support Webinar Series for Professionals

Warm summer weather brings many terrific opportunities to enjoy outdoor activities with family and friends. While exposure to sunlight has many benefits, such as helping your body synthesize Vitamin D and melatonin, too much sunlight increases your risk of developing skin cancer. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States,… Continue reading Recognizing UV Safety Month