Monmouth County's Ask the Doctor November/December 2019

Did you know that falls are the most common cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries in the elderly? And colder weather brings sluggish joints and less blood flow to the body and the brain. This leads to slower reaction times and more unsteadiness. 1 out of 4 people aged over 65 falls every year. Over 3 million injuries are treated annually in the ER. Over 55 billion dollars are spent on treating the elderly due to falls, of which Medicare and Medicaid shoulder 75% of the cost. Not only is the fall a disastrous event, the after effects of depression, physical decline, feeling of helplessness, and isolation all are very common. This also leads to increased stress for the family or immediate caretaker.

Your podiatrist, Dr. Sanjay Gandhi , is an active participant in the National Fall Prevention Program. This includes a podiatric and gait examination to check for risk factors of falling. If you qualify, you are entitled to balance braces that keep your legs from “wobbling” or “teetering”. You also may be able to get free shoes that provide the proper support and grip to maintain ground reactivity. Preventing falls is essential to keeping those minor bumps and bruises away, but also to preventing major head injuries that can cause bleeding and sometimes permanent damage. If you are over 65, and feeling even the slightest bit unsteady, get screened properly today! You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. A Step Up Podiatry

Dr. Sanjay Gandhi, DPM Our Specialty Services For Adults, Children & Seniors Bunions Children Corns & Callouses Diabetic Foot Care Flatfeet Fungus HammerToeTreatment Heel Pain InGrownToeNails Plantar FasciitisTreatment Plantar Warts Orthotics and Surgery

215 Gordons Corner Road, Suite 2A Manalapan, NJ 07726

Complete Family Foot & Ankle Care

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Teen Privacy- Balance Is The Key By Stefanie Maglio

Teenagers will almost always fight for free- dom in the form of privacy from their siblings and parents. This is where parents may struggle to find the right balance of privacy they allow their teen to have. Many factors can come into play while navigating through this situation. For example, a parent knows their kid best. Do they have a history of making good choices and obey- ing rules? Or have your children demonstrated a history of untrustworthiness?

Trust is a majorly important quality to have in a parent-teenager relationship. The more trust the parent has in the child, the more privacy that is likely to be given. When kids are in their younger teen years, it is okay to be a bit more strict with rules such as monitoring social media and what programs they're watching. However, if the child shows responsibility and capability of handling more privacy, it is okay for the parent to be a bit more lenient and let go even more so. It's truly about finding the perfect balance. A parent shouldn't let go of the reigns too soon, as their child may make dangerous decisions that could threaten their health or future. However, it is also not good for the parent to let go too late, such as being too intrusive without reason. This can dis- empower the child. Most importantly, there should always be an open, caring, and safe dialogue between the child and parent. Honesty is key. It is all about give and take. The teen will earn more privacy as they prove they are responsible and trustworthy. Once they prove to do otherwise, some privacy may be revoked. Remember that it's all about doing what is best for your individ- ual teenager, as they are all unique and different.

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