Recognizing and Supporting Caregivers
February is a great month to recognize caregivers. Our caregivers support every aspect of our healthcare system, keeping it running smoothly and providing assistance to medical professionals, patients, and families.
February 21 is National Caregivers Day. Since 2015, the third Friday of February has been recognized as a national appreciation day for caregivers, both professional and non-professional. It includes all those who provide help and support to those with health needs.
Caregivers are critical partners in every facet of the healthcare system. Professional caregivers include registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nurse aides; home health and hospice aides; therapists of all kinds; medical assistants; and other caregivers in long-term facilities and home health or hospice agencies.
Family and friends also provide invaluable service to those who are experiencing serious health issues or who are facing the natural limitations of old age. Family and friend caregivers deserve special attention and appreciation. They are often not trained and can feel “on call” 24/7. This can result in serious burn-out, depression, and even deterioration of their own health. Primary caregivers in particular should be supported by other loved ones so that responsibilities can be shared.
At BCHIP, our Long Term Care Partnership coordinates with our partner hospitals, long-term care facilities, home health agencies, and other medical service providers throughout Bucks County to plan for the future medical needs of our Bucks County residents. We are committed to ensuring that all Bucks County residents will have the necessary health services they need in the decades to come, including long-term care for an aging population.
All our plans for a robust and responsive healthcare system depend on well-trained caregivers in sufficient numbers to provide the very best care to our residents. The Bucks County Workforce Development Board initiated a Direct Care Advocacy, Collaboration, and Training Program (ACT) to address the demand for healthcare workers. A grant from the state allows the ACT Program to offer financial assistance to those interested in being trained as home health aides, personal care aides, or certified nursing assistants. That financial assistance can include free training and certification as well as help with transportation and childcare costs.
For those interested in learning more about the Direct Care ACT Program, either as an employer or individual interested in training, visit our Direct Care ACT Program page on the BCHIP website. You may also contact Colleen Campbell at ccampbell@bchip.org or call (267) 291-7880.
The Bucks County Area Agency on Aging also offers a Caregiver Support Program. The program is a combination of care management support, educational/support sessions, and financial reimbursement for both caregivers aged 60 and older caring for loved ones and for grandparent/relative caregivers, aged 55 and older, providing care and support to grandchildren aged 18 and younger. To learn more about this program, call them at (267) 880-5700.
At BCHIP, we appreciate the wonderful caregivers of Bucks County, without whom we would not be able to provide the excellent medical care that our local hospitals and healthcare facilities offer. Family and loved ones are critical partners in the care of sick or aging relatives. All deserve our support and appreciation.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Our team here at BCHIP cares deeply about the mental health of all Bucks County residents and we know that long days impacted by bad weather and/or slow schedules can be hard.
Seasonal Affective Disorder, known appropriately as SAD, is a form of seasonally-induced depression that lasts for 4-5 months. Most SAD is associated with winter, however, summer-related SAD also exists. The exact biological triggers that cause SAD are not yet well known, but some theories are being tested and there are treatments available to help people overcome the effects of SAD.
Symptoms of SAD
The symptoms of SAD are very similar to the symptoms of other forms of depression, such as sadness and discouragement; loss of interest in or pleasure from activities formerly enjoyed; changes in sleep patterns and moods; feeling guilty, worthless, hopeless; changes in appetite; and even thoughts of self-harm. Winter and summer SAD show distinctly different patterns in a few symptoms.
Winter SAD almost seems to be sending signals to the body to hibernate. Symptoms often include:
- Oversleeping
- Overeating or cravings, especially for carbs
- Weight gain
- Low energy and exhaustion
- Withdrawal from socializing
Summer SAD seems to be turning the body on overdrive, with symptoms such as:
- Trouble sleeping or staying asleep
- Poor appetite
- Weight loss
- Anxiety or agitation
- Increased irritability
Those who have been diagnosed with depression, bipolar disorder, or other mental health problems are more likely to see these extreme changes associated with the seasons.
What may cause SAD
SAD is not to be confused with holiday blues, which can come from the stress associated with the holiday season. Winter SAD usually begins in late fall and eases as the spring progresses, lasting about 40% of the year. The less common summer-related SAD has a reverse cycle: beginning in the spring and easing in the fall.
Because winter-associated SAD is much more prevalent in more northern states than in southern states (for instance, SAD is more common in Alaska than in Texas), the common theory is that fewer daylight hours and less intensity of light are major factors in triggering the disorder.
We hear a lot about circadian rhythm, which is our natural body clock that regulates our bodies’ activity/rest cycles. Many hormones and chemicals play roles in maintaining a healthy balance between rest and activity, but a few very important chemicals we know about are vitamin D, melatonin, and serotonin.
Sunlight helps our bodies produce vitamin D, which is a crucial vitamin for mood regulation, immune systems, sleep patterns, and countless other bodily functions. People who spend little time in the sun tend to have lower vitamin D levels unless they supplement. Fewer daylight hours with less intense sunlight can cause vitamin D to drop even more.
Vitamin D is an important chemical for boosting the production of serotonin, a brain chemical that regulates mood. People who already have reduced serotonin levels may be more susceptible to winter SAD, as research shows that sunlight affects the maintenance of healthy serotonin levels. Fewer daylight hours means even lower serotonin levels, possibly in part, because of lower vitamin D levels.
Melatonin, critical for healthy sleep, could also be a culprit. Lack of sunlight may cause an over-production of melatonin in some people, causing lethargy. Conversely, those who already have low melatonin may find long sunlight hours or hot nights make it harder for them to calm down and fall asleep.
SAD treatments
It is estimated that 5% of adults in the U.S. experience SAD. The symptoms can be mild or very intense, and treatments vary, depending upon the needs of the patient.
Bright light therapy, using a special lamp that mimics sunlight, can be very helpful in curbing symptoms. Spending time outdoors in the sunlight is already considered a helpful treatment for alleviating mild- to moderate-depression and it is also a treatment for SAD. Vitamin D supplementation can also lessen symptoms.
Cognitive behavioral therapy can effectively treat SAD, helping patients challenge unhealthy, negative, or untrue thoughts and reframe their thinking. Therapy can also help a person identify healthy behavioral patterns or activities to engage in that will improve mood and invigorate a sense of interest in seasonal activities (such as ice skating) to create a more positive opinion of the season.
Finally, antidepressants can be helpful for those who need immediate easing of symptoms while these other options begin to take effect.
Finding help in Bucks County
BCHIP’s healthcare partners offer many treatment opportunities for Bucks County residents who are experiencing depression, including those experiencing SAD.
- NAMI Bucks County provides help and support for individuals who are experiencing mental health problems. You can visit their website at namibuckspa.org or call their HelpLine at (866) 399-6264.
- Lenape Valley Foundation offers 24/7 crisis services, both walk-in and mobile. You can call their crisis services hotline 24/7 at (800) 499-7455 or visit their website page lenapevr.org/contact-locations to find offices and hospitals for outpatient and hospital services.
- The Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7 from anywhere in the country simply by calling 988. Trained personnel receive the calls and can connect a person directly with local agencies to provide immediate help.
- PA-Navigate connects Pennsylvanians with local health and social services in their local community. Simply go to pa-navigate.org, enter your zip code, and choose what services you need. (This website is the same as findhelp.org, which can be used throughout the U.S. to find help, in case you know of someone outside of PA who needs help.)
BCHIP is committed to ensuring that Bucks County residents get the help they need, regardless of what their physical or mental health needs may be. If you need assistance navigating these services or determining what is the best resource for you, contact our Newtown office at (267) 291-7882.
Healthcare Issues to Take Care of in the New Year
The New Year is a great time to look at your health and your healthcare plans and make some resolutions for the future. We all start the new year with high hopes and great plans, but most of us struggle with the follow-through. The key is to prioritize and to have strong motivations – a “Why” – to help us continue until we fulfill our goals. Sometimes we also need a little help. At BCHIP, we can help you reach some of those goals.
What are some healthcare issues you may need to address in the new year? Here’s a checklist of suggestions:
- Get a physical check-up
- Get your eyesight checked
- Get your hearing checked
- Create an advance care directive (living will)
- Get updated vaccinations
- Quit smoking
- Start a regular exercise routine
- Quit eating certain junk food and sugary drinks
- Eliminate alcohol use
- Look into long-term care for yourself or a loved one
- Sleep more
- Decrease cell phone and computer screen time
- Find a hobby
- Build or strengthen friend network
Don’t do it alone
Creating new habits can be a challenge, like eliminating unhealthful foods or exercising more. Find a partner who also wants to make a change, and you will have more incentive. We at BCHIP are partnering with other local organizations on a Blue Zone initiative in Bucks County. Blue Zones are areas around the globe where the inhabitants demonstrate good health and live long lives. Do some research and see how you could incorporate some of those healthy habits into your life in the new year.
Do you need to create or update a living will? BCHIP offers free advance care planning consultation to help you work through questions and create a document unique to your needs and wishes. Click here to learn more or call (267) 291-7882 to make an appointment.
Our immunization coalition works to spread awareness of the need for vaccines and offers an “at-home vaccines” program for the home-bound. Click here for more information or call (267) 291-7882 to schedule an appointment. Please note that insurance is required for the at-home service.
The new year is a great time to quit smoking! Get the help you need through our Quit Smoking Program, which meets both online and in person, for your convenience.
Our Long-Term Care Partnership draws together medical facilities and support organizations throughout the county to fill gaps and to make sure our seniors and those in need of care have the highest level of health services available.
BCHIP’s goal is to help Bucks County residents live healthy, long lives and receive the healthcare they need when they need it. How can we partner with you?
Isolation and Mental Health
Community is critical for all of us, regardless of our age or mental/physical conditions. As the poet John Donne wrote centuries ago, “No man is an island.” We all need others in order to be healthy and whole in body, mind, and spirit.
Many of us have the ability to connect with others, either through school or work, a strong supportive family, or extra-curricular activities. Surprisingly, many of these people still struggle with emotional feelings of isolation because of excessive use of cell phones and social media, which were designed to bring people closer together but have paradoxically, through “the law of unintended consequences,” created isolation. Connecting through social media or texting has in many ways replaced face-to-face interaction. But human beings need that personal physical interaction to be at our peak mental health.
Other people do not have convenient opportunities to make connections and struggle with isolation, especially the elderly or handicapped, those struggling with mental illness or substance abuse, and those in financial distress. BCHIP and many other organizations throughout Bucks County offer people opportunities to make those important connections.
The YMCA Pathways Program
As the YMCA explains on its Doylestown website, “YMCA Community Impact and Pathway programs are dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of those in need and in at-risk communities. Our diverse initiatives include support and resources to uplift and empower individuals and families.” The Y Pathways offers free or low-cost programs to connect, learn, and improve health for almost every age group. The programs include:
- Programs for teens (Empower U for teen girls, Stand Up for teen boys, etc.)
- Ability programs for those with special needs
- Healthy Horizons mental health support for adults
- Healthy Lifestyles program
- NORM Running Program for ages 12 and up to learn how to prepare for a 5K
- Senior Community Hub, providing fitness, physical and mental wellness, nutrition, and social activities
- Thrive Cancer Wellness for those recovering or going through treatments
- Veterans Wellness nurturing our veterans in physical and mental health
- We All Wheel wheelchair basketball
Bucks County Government Services
Our Bucks County government offices offer several programs that can help seniors connect with others, which you can find on their website:
Senior Community Centers: There are thirteen senior community centers operating throughout Bucks County providing a variety of recreational and educational programs.
Senior Games: For over 40 years, the annual Bucks County Senior Games have taken place each summer. Participants over 50 years old of any level of ability can enjoy such activities as billiards, bocce, disk golf, bowling, chess, darts, and table tennis.
Transportation: The Bucks County Area Agency on Aging subsidizes transportation to senior centers, medical appointments, libraries, banks, grocery stores, and other important trips. This service is for those 65 and older and for younger people who are disabled or who are on Medicaid.
NAMI
NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) provides NAMI Connection for those with mental health conditions as well as a Family Support Group for their family, friends, and significant others. Groups are flexible in order to support all needs: you can meet weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly, in person or virtually. No one needs to feel alone when dealing with mental health issues.
PA-Navigate.org
For those who are experiencing financial instability, isolation can be a serious problem. The focus on finding sufficient food, housing, or medical care pushes aside all other concerns, and the sense that there is no one to help can create a powerful sense of isolation. But there is help. Whatever a person’s needs, they can find help at pa-navigate.org.
Just put in your zip code and a list of services pops up: food, housing, education, care, work, legal, transit, and more. Click on whatever needs you have and find services near you that can help. You will meet people face to face who really care and who will let you know that you are not alone.
If you have any other needs or would like to speak to someone to help you figure out where to start in tearing down the wall of isolation and connecting with others, contact us here at BCHIP.
Hospitals in Bucks County
Our Bucks County hospitals are among the best in the Philadelphia region, and some are rated among the best in the country. These top-notch healthcare facilities are part of the BCHIP partnership, collaborating with us and other healthcare and advocacy groups in our area to continually improve access to the best health services for the residents of Bucks County.
Grand View Hospital was Bucks County’s very first hospital, founded in 1913 by local doctors who were concerned about the future of medical care in the Bucks and Montgomery County areas. Their foresight has grown into one of the premier health systems in our area, providing a full range of medical services.
For more than 20 years, Grand View has partnered with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) to establish CHOP Newborn & Pediatric Care at Grand View Health, providing neonatal and pediatric expertise for newborns, complicated births, C-sections, and our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
Augmenting their advanced medical services further, Grand View Health recently joined forces with Penn Medicine as part of their Penn Cancer Network, Penn Medicine Orthopedic Surgery, and Penn Trauma Network.
Doylestown Hospital was founded in 1923. Since then, Doylestown Hospital has become a premier area hospital for its state-of-the-art services, and last year, on its 100-year birthday, Doylestown became a teaching hospital, welcoming its first class of family medicine resident physicians.
Doylestown offers the most advanced technology for early lung cancer screening and diagnosis in the region and is a destination hospital for the highest level of heart and vascular care, offering the newest advances in technology and surgical options. It is one of only two hospitals in PA and 33 in the nation to earn Primary Heart Attack Center certification.
Jefferson Bucks Hospital is one of the newer hospitals in our region, established in 1999 in Langhorne, providing leading-edge treatment in a home-like atmosphere. Jefferson Bucks maintains a large network of primary care physicians who focus on preventative health and wellness services. Jefferson Bucks is associated with Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia through the Jefferson Health Network.
Lower Bucks Hospital, located in historic Bristol, was founded in 1954 by a grassroots movement of local residents. This highly respected community hospital serves the Lower Bucks County region with medical, surgical, and emergency care. Lower Bucks has had a well-respected residency program since 2016, training more than 45 residents each year for internal medicine, family medicine, and podiatry. Lower Bucks Hospital offers patients the unique ability to schedule their ER visits to decrease long wait times and expedite care.
St. Luke’s Hospital Upper Bucks is part of the St. Luke’s Health System, founded in 1872 in Bethlehem as community care for the Bethlehem Steel workers and other Bethlehem residents. Since then, St. Luke’s University Health Network has grown to 15 campuses, the region’s first medical school campus, the nation’s oldest operating nursing school, and the largest hospital-based EMS service in Pennsylvania. St. Luke’s was the first hospital in PA to offer robotic surgery and is designated a Level I Trauma Center.
St. Luke’s opened its Upper Bucks Campus in 2019, bringing all that expertise and quality to Bucks County, north of Quakertown. The Upper Bucks Campus offers spacious private rooms, critical care, surgical services, a large emergency room, a state-of-the-art Interventional Radiology Lab, a Women & Babies Pavilion, and a Cancer Center.
St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne joined with several other area hospitals in 2018 to form Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic, the largest Catholic healthcare system serving the Greater Philadelphia region. Originally founded in 1860 by the Sisters of St. Francis, St. Mary moved from Philadelphia to Langhorne in 1973 and became a trusted hospital for cutting-edge medicine infused with compassionate care.
St. Mary is one of the largest hospitals in Bucks County, with 373 beds and a long history of providing top-level care for generations. Recipient of the “America’s 100 Best Hospitals Award” for three consecutive years, St. Mary offers advanced non-invasive treatments, adult and pediatric emergency services, and inpatient medical and rehabilitation facilities, along with supportive health and wellness programs.
Healthy Aging in Bucks County: How BCHIP Supports Seniors
BCHIP is focused on ensuring that our Bucks County seniors receive the highest-quality healthcare available so they can live their lives to the fullest. We are not only making sure that our current seniors have the care they need but are also focused on expanding our services to meet the needs of our growing senior population in the decades to come.
Advanced care planning
Advanced care planning is often referred to as a living will. In this document, you indicate in writing your wishes regarding key healthcare decisions you would like made, in the event that you are unable to speak for yourself. You choose a medical power of attorney to carry out those decisions, such as what life-sustaining care you would or would not like; whether or not you want to donate your tissues or organs; and instructions regarding moral, religious, or ethical considerations.
Creating a living will can seem overwhelming, which leads many people to postpone it indefinitely. But BCHIP offers a template document and free consultation to help walk you through each of the items that you need to consider. You can schedule an appointment with one of our trained facilitators by calling (267) 291-7882.
Long-term care partnership
BCHIP worked in conjunction with the Bucks County Commissioners, Bucks County Health Department, Bucks County Emergency Services, all Bucks County hospitals, and our long-term care facility partners to create the Bucks County Long Term Care Partnership during COVID, with an eye to the future.
Our goal is to develop cooperation and coordination among a wide variety of organizations that offer services to our senior, disabled, and convalescing residents in order to expedite transfers and streamline care so that all our Bucks County residents receive the health services they need, when they need them, at the highest quality of medical service available.
Homebound vaccines
Many seniors and disabled residents of our county find it difficult to receive vaccinations on a timely basis due to limited mobility or lack of transportation. BCHIP has partnered with Eric’s RX Shoppe to provide our homebound residents with home-based vaccine service.
Once you have determined your vaccination needs, contact us to schedule your appointment; you can call (267) 291-7882 or email rconnor@bchip.org when you are ready to schedule. Insurance is required for home vaccine appointments. If you are unsure whether you are covered, contact your insurance company.
Partnerships with hospitals
Bucks County’s hospitals are cornerstones among our BCHIP team of collaborators and are involved in almost all our endeavors in some capacity. For instance, our hospitals are key members of our long-term care partnership; work with our BCHIP Wellness Partnership to provide health education, promotion, and screening activities; and are vital allies in our Building Community Partnership, which bridges healthcare case managers with community partner agencies to improve coordination of patient care upon discharge.
BCHIP strives continually to improve care for all our residents, including our seniors. If you have any questions, needs, or ideas, please contact us. Input from our residents helps us target needs more accurately and serve our residents more fully.
The Role of Bucks County Hospitals in Community Health Improvement
Bucks County hospitals are critical partners in BCHIP’s goal to create a community in which all our citizens experience the highest quality healthcare services. Hospitals play an important part in most of our initiatives and programs and they work with BCHIP to continually develop a coordinated approach to address challenges and fill in gaps in healthcare services.
BCARES (Bucks County Connect. Assess. Refer. Engage. Support), is a warm handoff collaboration with the six Bucks County hospitals and an assigned Certified Recovery Specialist (CRS) to serve individuals who have survived an opioid overdose. The hospitals coordinate with the CRS and other service organizations to provide survivors and their families with recovery support, education, resources, and a direct connection from the emergency department to treatment.
Our Long Term Care Partnership is working in collaboration with hospitals, long-term care facilities, rehab centers, home care and hospice agencies, and other organizations that serve elderly and disabled people to ensure that every resident of Bucks County, regardless of age or physical condition, receives the care he or she deserves in order to live a full and happy life.
The Bucks County Immunization Coalition promotes vaccine awareness and collaborates with hospitals to encourage patients who are not fully vaccinated to receive the vaccines that will provide the most protection.
Our Quit Smoking Program regularly holds meetings at local hospitals for our in-person meeting option.
Hospitals are important partners in a number of our other initiatives, either by providing services or sharing in the brainstorming and collaboration to develop goals and to build partner networks to achieve these goals. Some of these initiatives include:
- BCHIP Wellness Partnership – provides health education, promotion, and screening activities
- Building Community Partners – bridges healthcare case managers with community partner agencies to improve coordination of patient care upon discharge
- PA-Navigate (FindHelp) Committee – develops best practices to improve coordination of care across health systems and agencies
- Advance Care Planning Task Force – provides an opportunity of collaboration between hospitals and community representatives to promote understanding of and preparation for advanced care and sharing of medical records among a patient’s medical providers
- Violence in Healthcare Task Force – develops best practices and identifies resources to prevent violence in the healthcare setting and supports those who have experienced acts of violence
BCHIP partner organizations not only recognize our current needs for our existing population but are actively engaged in developing long-term plans for our future population. Projections for Bucks County indicate that the median age will continue to increase, indicating an aging population, which creates a sense of urgency around healthcare initiatives, especially long-term care initiatives and coordination of medical services. Our Bucks County hospitals are powerful allies in our work:
Substance Abuse Support in Bucks County
Substance abuse is a very serious issue throughout the United States, and BCHIP and its partners are committed to combatting it in Bucks County through enhanced health services, recovery services, and prevention education.
BCDAC: The mission of the Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission (BCDAC) is to eliminate the use of illegal drugs, reduce the use of tobacco, and end the abuse of, misuse of, and addiction to alcohol and other drugs throughout Bucks County. To fulfill its mission, BCDAC is a close partner in many of the prevention, treatment, and recovery services offered in Bucks County to help people break free of substance abuse and prevent further abuse.
Take Back Days: BCDAC partners with hospitals, pharmacies, and other healthcare providers to offer several days each year for the safe collection and disposal of pharmaceuticals and sharps in order to keep them out of circulation and out of the hands of potential abusers. A number of medical collection boxes are situated throughout Bucks County where you can safely dispose of unused medications year-round.
Narcan: BCDAC supplies Narcan to first responders, schools, and community members as a first line of defense for a suspected opioid overdose. If you have a loved one with a history of substance abuse, having Narcan available may save your loved one’s life. BCDAC also provides community Narcan use training sessions.
BCARES: BCARES stands for “Bucks County Connect. Assess. Refer. Engage. Support.” BCARES collaborates with the six Bucks County hospitals to provide a warm handoff to a Certified Recovery Specialist (CRS) for individuals who have survived an opioid overdose. The hospitals coordinate with the CRS and other service organizations to provide survivors and their families with recovery support, education, resources, and a direct connection from the emergency department to treatment. It is available 24/7 in the hospitals.
NAMI: NAMI was started in Bucks County in 1983 by a mother who felt she did not get the support she needed when her son was diagnosed with a mental health disorder. The program quickly spread throughout the country and is now a national organization, supporting all forms of mental health issues, including those associated with addiction. NAMI Bucks offers a variety of services to families, individuals, the community, and local mental health providers, including a hotline for those in distress, support groups for specific needs, youth programs, and education programs.
Education programs: Many hospitals and healthcare services provide education to the community to help prevent substance abuse, whether it be drugs, alcohol, or tobacco. This includes educating pregnant women on the dangers of alcohol and substance abuse for their babies; the Vaping Prevention Campaign to educate adults and children about the dangers of vaping; the BCHIP Wellness Partnership that collaborates with Bucks County hospitals to provide health education, promotion, and screening activities; BCDAC’s in-prison programs to help incarcerated people to break the cycle of substance abuse, which is a problem for many imprisoned individuals.
Hotlines for help
Local, regional, and national hotlines are available for substance abuse and mental health crises.
For urgent, crisis situations for mental health or overdose:
- Call Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 any time, 24/7
- Call Bucks County Crisis Center at Lenape Valley Foundation: 1-800-499-7455 any time, 24/7 – includes dispatching crisis teams or medical assistance
- Text NAMI to 741741 any time, 24/7
- Call NAMI Bucks County Helpline: 1-866-399-NAMI (6264) from 10am-10pm
If you are not in crisis but need help:
- Call PA Get Help NOW Hotline: 1-800-662-4357 (1-800-662-HELP), available 24/7 – offers services for those struggling with addiction and related issues and their families.
- Call the NAMI warm-line, 215-343-3055 from 3pm-10pm, to speak to a trained professional who offers a listening ear and helps callers feel empowered to make necessary changes. Resources are offered if the caller requests help.
- Find help for any needs through PA-navigate.org. This includes food, housing, medical care, transportation, legal help, job search, and more.
No one in Bucks County should ever feel alone or without the help they need. This is the shared goal of BCHIP, BCDAC, NAMI, and every hospital and medical care provider in our county. Please reach out to any of us for resources so that you get the help that you need.
Great American Smokeout
If you’ve been thinking about quitting the nicotine habit, the Great American Smokeout is a great day to begin.
Quitting isn’t easy. Nicotine is not the only physically addictive chemical in cigarettes—tobacco contains a range of addictive chemical compounds, and depending on your brand, there could be other additives that are adding to your addiction. But besides the physical addiction, there are also emotional and behavioral habits that need to be addressed in order to successfully overcome an addiction to cigarette smoking or other use of tobacco. Overcoming these obstacles requires a powerful incentive, a clear plan, and a great deal of support. This is the purpose of the Great American Smokeout.
Held every year on the third Thursday of November, The Great American Smokeout was started almost 50 years ago to give people an incentive to overcome their tobacco habit. The Smokeout event draws attention to the serious health effects of smoking and gives people a date to make a plan to quit or to begin a smoking cessation program.
Getting help to quit
Research shows that people who want to quit smoking are more successful when they utilize a support system, such as BCHIP’s Quit Smoking Program. Our FREE program, which consists of five weekly sessions, offers education, tools, and emotional support to those who are trying to kick the habit. You can attend as often as you feel you need the help. Both virtual and in-person sessions are offered in order to make it as easy as possible for people to attend. Additional help is available through the PA Quit Line, 1-800-QUITNOW, for one-on-one, over-the-phone nicotine dependence counseling.
Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is also available for those who qualify. NRT supplies a low dose of nicotine to cut down on cravings and lessen the physical withdrawal symptoms, making it easier to quit. NRT is especially helpful for heavy smokers, who would experience more severe withdrawal symptoms than those who smoke less. Gum and patches seem to work well, but it also comes in other forms, including lozenges and inhalers. You should discuss with your doctor your desire to quit smoking to determine if NRT would be helpful for you and in what form.
Making a plan to quit
There are many different reasons that people smoke, and there are many different reasons why people want to quit. The first step to quitting is determining your very strong “why.” If it’s not very strong, it will be difficult to continue when the process of quitting becomes uncomfortable.
Common reasons to quit:
- Health: Smoking harms virtually every organ in the body; can cause lung cancer, COPD, tooth loss, and blindness; damages blood vessels; and increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.
- Appearance: Smoking discolors teeth, speeds aging, increases wrinkles, and makes your breath and clothes smell.
- Family: Many people choose not to smoke for the people they love. For instance, they might want to protect their children from secondhand smoke and from giving them an example of a bad habit.
- Finances: Smoking is expensive, especially if you smoke a lot, and medical bills for health problems caused by smoking are very expensive.
Whatever your “why” is, make it clear. Tell your family and friends and post a note on your bathroom mirror in the morning, so it’s the first thing you see every day.
Next, prepare to quit by removing all smoking-related items around your house, in your car, and where you work. If you can, start smoking less so that quitting will be a little less uncomfortable in the beginning. Stock up on oral substitutes, such as sugarless gum, carrot sticks, or some other healthy alternative to putting a cigarette (cigar, chewing tobacco, etc.) in your mouth.
As previously mentioned, there are emotional and behavioral habits that you’ll also need to address. For instance, if you have friends with whom you generally smoke, let them know you’re quitting and ask them to support you. If it is possible for them to not smoke around you, great. If not, let them know you will be seeing them after you have successfully quit, which may be a while. If there are places you frequent where you habitually smoke or where others often smoke, it is best to stop going there. This can be very challenging, so remind yourself of your strong “why,” let people know if necessary, and avoid those locations.
If smoking is something you do when you’re nervous or stressed, it’s time to come up with a healthier way to destress. Smoking support can really help with this because a counselor and the other attendants who are quitting can give you some great tips and the moral support you need to make the changes in your life that will help you succeed in quitting.
Don’t try to quit alone. Join a quitting cessation program, such as our BCHIP Quit Smoking Program, to make this year the beginning of a smoke-free, healthy life! Visit bchip.org/quit-smoking-programs, call (267) 291-7882, or click here to register.
Supporting a Family Member in Crisis
If you have a family member in crisis, whether that be a mental health issue, an addiction problem, housing, abuse, or any other crisis, Bucks County and the wider community have resources to help. Neither you nor your loved one has to go it alone. We will support you and help your loved one through the crisis.
Mental health crises
Mental and emotional health problems are unfortunately on the rise; however, this has had at least one positive effect in that the issue is less stigmatized now. There has been an increase in awareness and a change in conversation. People are much more likely to respond with compassion and want to help. It also means that there are many more resources to help people in mental health crises than there were in the past.
Below is a list of just some of the options:
- Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 988 any time, 24/7 from anywhere in the country for access to trained personnel who can talk people through their crisis and connect them with local agencies that can provide immediate help.
- NAMI Bucks County: NAMI was started in Bucks County in 1983 by a mother to support other parents whose children were diagnosed with mental illness. It has since gone national and offers a wide range of services for both families and affected individuals, including support groups, education, and youth programs, as well as:
- a HelpLine, (866) 399-NAMI (6264) from 10am-10pm
- an Emotional Support Warmline, (215) 353-3055 (press 1) from 3pm-10pm daily
- help by text—text NAMI to 741741 any time, 24/7.
- Lenape Valley Foundation Crisis Services: They offer mobile services and walk-in crisis services at a variety of locations. Call (800) 499-7455 any time, 24/7.
Addiction crises
Bucks County, the state, and the federal government all provide hotlines and websites to help people dealing with addiction. Here is a short list of resources:
- Call PA Get Help NOW Hotline: (800) 662-4357 (1-800-662-HELP), available 24/7
- Reach out to BCARES: Bucks County Connect. Assess. Refer. Engage. Support (BCARES) is a warm handoff collaboration with the six Bucks County hospitals and an assigned Certified Recovery Specialist (CRS) to serve individuals who have survived an opioid overdose.
- Call BCDAC at (215) 444-2700 for local resources and information, M-F 8:30am-4:30pm
- Narcan is distributed at various locations throughout the county FREE of charge or it can be ordered online; BCDAC has a Narcan page on their website that provides a list of locations to get Narcan and free training on how to use it properly.
Other crises
For local support for a wide variety of needs, visit findhelp.org. Enter your zip code and you will discover an extensive list of resources for whatever needs you may have: food, housing, goods, transit, health, finances, care, education, work, and legal. This is a national help website; any zip code entered will bring up local resources.
At BCHIP, we are committed to providing you with the support that you and your loved ones need, regardless of the type of crisis. You are not alone. Reach out for help.
