Today, August 20, 1997
Loma Linda University Community Medical Center
- Adult Day Care Services share activities with Hino, Japan
- Sleep Disorders Center moves to Loma Linda University Community Medical Center
[Today, August 20, 1997 contents]
Adult Day Care Services share activities with Hino, Japan
Loma Linda University Medical Center's Adult Day Services, in conjunction with the Redlands' Sister Cities Association, will be sharing with Redlands' sister city in Hino, Japan, ideas and activities that can be utilized in their adult day-care program.
The clients at the LLUMC Adult Day Services prepared a large box filled with crafts and a 30-minute video tape made by a rehabilitation therapy intern, which included interviews with the staff.
The idea for the Redlands-Hino sister city exchange came about when students from Hino visited a day-care center in Redlands. One of the students told Lowa Anderson, Redlands' Sister Cities Association supporter, that like her mother who was a client at the LLUMC Adult Day Center, his grandfather also went to an adult day-care center. Redlands' Sister Cities Association thought an exchange with a day-care center in Hino would be ideal.
Melissa Campos, activities director, LLUMC Adult Day Services, was contacted and she arranged for crafts and project instructions to be sent to Japan.
Ms. Campos explains, "The activities are a part of developing and maintaining fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination for clients who may be victims of stroke or brain injuries, or who are suffering from Alzheimer's or Parkinson's diseases."
Sleep Disorders Center moves to Loma Linda University Community Medical Center
The LLUMC Sleep Disorders Center that has served patients affected by sleep disorders since 1982, recently moved their facilities from the Jerry L. Pettis Memorial Veterans Medical Center to Loma Linda University Community Medical Center. With specialized facilities at the Loma Linda University Children's Hospital and Community Medical Center, the medical staff is uniquely educated and trained to provide for the needs of patients with sleep disorders. The facilities are designed to provide a comfortable sleeping environment where patients receive optimal care.
A startling 40 million Americans suffer from some form of sleep disorder. Sleep disorders can lead to significant health problems and reduced quality of life. Everyday examples highlight the significance of sleep disorders: the person who snores so loudly that they disturb the sleep of others; the person who stops breathing frequently during the night; and the infant who stops breathing and has to be rushed to the emergency room. These are common examples of patients who suffer from sleep disorders.
Common disorders
Sleep apnea occurs when a person stops breathing during sleep. Sleep apnea can be a severe medical condition significantly affecting sleepers from infancy to adulthood.
Classic symptoms of deep apnea usually involve one or more of the three S's:
Snoring -- usually loud; with a child it may not be loud;
Sleepiness -- excessive and occurring at inappropriate times or places (driving, meetings); and
Sleep apnea -- others around the sleeper may notice periods of time when the sleeper stops breathing.
Commonly, other people such as a spouse, relative, or friend report these symptoms. The sleeper is usually unaware of any problem. The severity of sleep apnea can range from mild snoring to life-threatening conditions, including increased risk of stroke, heart complications, and a greater risk of vehicle accidents.
Narcolepsy is a medical disorder causing patients to become so sleepy it is difficult to stay awake for normal daytime functions. Narcolepsy may also be associated with the inability to move upon awakening, vivid dreams which occur outside the regular sleep period, and difficulty maintaining muscle tone during emotional times such as anger or laughing.
Insomnia, or the inability to sleep, occurs with almost everyone occasionally. However, when the insomnia persists nightly for longer than two weeks, this may signal a more serious problem. Depression and anxiety which can cause insomnia can be treated. In addition, the use of alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, or certain medications may also disrupt sleep.
Fortunately, most patients with sleep disorders respond well to treatment. The professionals at the LLUMC Sleep Disorders Center work closely with other medical and surgical specialists at LLUMC and are experts in using the most advanced techniques in the field of sleep disorders medicine.
For more information about the Sleep Disorders Center call (909) 478-6344.
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