Every day, patients are brought into emergency rooms or other medical scenarios. Often, depending on their symptoms and situations, they are unable to let the clinicians know certain medical information that may be critical to their care and recovery. As medical providers, Kindred Healthcare and our clinicians are familiar with patients' medical information as it pertains to charts, patient interactions and patient advocates. While our facilities generally don't operate typical emergency room settings, we understand the benefits of having your medical information on hand in case of emergency.

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When you are injured or ill, you may need rehabilitation services to help reach your fullest recovery potential. Rehabilitation helps to improve your body’s functions, and there are variety of different care settings available depending on your medical condition. Our Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospitals (also known as IRFs) are for patients who need a higher level of care and more intense occupational, physical and speech therapy.

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Do you experience a shortness of breath from cold air? If you suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), you might find your symptoms worsen when you are outdoors in winter weather. COPD is characterized by limitation of airflow to and from the lungs. It is generally progressive, meaning it can worsen over time. According to the latest estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO), 64 million people currently have COPD and 3.17 million people died from COPD in 2015, equal to 5% of all deaths globally that year. Many people who suffer from COPD acknowledge that harsh winds and frigid air can result in wheezing and breathlessness, which can be frightening and sometimes dangerous. Cold air can be irritating and drying to the mouth and airway passages, and can trigger or intensify symptoms for those suffering from COPD. Read Full Post

By The Members of Kindred’s Inclusion and Equity Council

In February, we celebrate Black History Month in the United States. This is our opportunity to recognize the contributions made by Black Americans who have helped shape our country’s history, growth and culture. Black history is American history.

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2020, a year of unprecedented challenges and hardships, has finally come to a close. COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on our economy, our physical health and our mental well-being. Rates of anxiety and depression have skyrocketed while we struggle with loneliness and isolation. People are more stressed than ever and we’re seeing alarming rates of substance abuse. Read Full Post

Feeling the Winter Blues? You’re not alone. An estimated 10 million Americans experience symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) each winter and this number is likely to increase due to the challenges brought on by the pandemic. The stress of quarantine, job loss, economic hardship and grief over the death of a loved one may aggravate the symptoms of SAD. Read Full Post

Healthcare experts are urging citizens to get the flu shot this year due to fears of a “twindemic” – surging COVID-19 cases and a severe flu season. With a twindemic looming, it is more important than ever to get your flu shot – especially for seniors and children. Getting the flu shot can “blunt the effect of one of those two potential respiratory infections,” according to Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Read Full Post

November is National Family Caregivers Month, a wonderful time to salute those responsible for the health, safety and well-being of loved ones with a chronic illness, disability, substance misuse or the frailty of old age. More than one in five Americans have provided care in the past 12 months so chances are you or someone you know is juggling the physical, emotional and financial strain of caregiving. Read Full Post

It’s been over nine months since the COVID-19 pandemic began and there’s no end in sight. The number of reported confirmed cases continues to climb and more than 200,000 people in the United States have died from the virus. We are living with unprecedented uncertainties, social isolation and a profound sense of loss. It is no wonder depression symptoms are three times higher in the U.S. than before the pandemic. Read Full Post

September 2020 marks the 33rd annual Alcohol and Drug Addiction Awareness month, aimed toward increasing outreach and education regarding the dangers of alcoholism and issues related to alcohol and drug usage. Although its initial intent was to target college students newly introduced to these substances, it has been found that an estimated 14.4 million Americans ages 18 and older reported having an alcohol use disorder (AUD) according to a 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH).1 From that, only about 7.9 percent of adults who had AUD received treatment. Read Full Post