There is an excitement knowing that you will go outside of your comfort zone and farther from Singapore. Seasoned globetrotters say that once you started traveling, your feet will be restless, itching for adventure all the time. If only traveling is an occupation, you will definitely apply, hope to get hired and wish to be employed forever.

You have to know that it is not purely magical moments. Sometimes traveling can be stressful especially for the new globetrotters. The experiences of seasoned globetrotters made their adventures less of a debacle. This should be your goal but if you are just starting, it is understandable that you will get into some troubles. The important thing here is you learned your lesson at the end of the day.

With this, here are some travel don’ts that you should be aware of:

Dressing appropriately

Depending on the place you are going, you have to research the type of dresses that country allows. Here in Singapore, you can wear short skirts or dresses but in other countries like the Middle East and other parts of Asia, it is not reprimanded. It doesn’t matter what you are used to but wherever you are, you have to adhere to their customs.

Overpacking

If it is possible, you want to bring your whole house when you travel but that doesn’t work. When you travel, you have to avoid overpacking as it can be inconvenient carrying around. You will discover how traveling can be less stressful with lighter and fewer things. Just bring basic things and you will survive. If ever you left something home, the easiest thing to do is buy it overseas.

Changing money

Your money here won’t work when you are overseas so you have to change it before flying. You have to go and check your bank. Most banks here offer money exchange with good rates. You can have your money changed there. Do not change money at airports because it is said that they have the worst exchange rates.

Trying new things

The essence of traveling is to try new things and meet many people. You won’t really live up to traveling if you are just in your hotel room waiting for time to pass. You have to immerse yourself with their culture, food and tradition so you will appreciate it more. It is not always you are given a chance to travel to other places and witness how they live.

When traveling, do not limit yourself. You have to be bold and be flexible. Enjoy your trip, globetrotter!

Who would want dementia? No one but then it can happen to you or your loved ones. If in this case your loved one is suffering from late stage dementia, you have to be more careful and patient. They need you now more than ever. It will not be easy especially dealing with thinking and communication impairment. You cannot just give up and let him/her succumb to the disease.

Caring for patients with late stage dementia poses challenges and you will be stressed for sure but you cannot just let it go. Patients often feel alone and isolated. These negative feelings will lead to anger, denial or worse, depression. Do not wait for them to be distant or estranged. As a caregiver, the crucial thing that you have to remember is to look after yourself first. You cannot take care of your patient if you are weak, right?

Do not forget about your health because as the dementia progresses, you need all your strength since daily tasks will become difficult for the patient to execute. It does not stop there because there will be behavioural changes that if not looked closely will endanger his/her life. It is significant that you know how to care for him/her.

In terms of hygiene, you have to note that patients will become less interested in maintaining it. There will come a time that he/she will not comb hair even brush teeth. At times he/she will not care about a change of clothes or washing. To address this, you need to ensure that he/she is in a relaxed atmosphere. You should also ensure that the sequence of events is the same every day so he/she will mimic.

After that, you have to consider the patient getting dressed. Sometimes you will wonder how come they forgot about the sequence of clothing but you should understand. There are times you end up getting them out when he/she is tangled up in his/her clothing. The good news is that you can make this process correct and easier. You only need to lay out the right sequence of clothes and let him/her do it. The best solution here is to purchase comfortable clothes.

Another important thing that you should look after is their diet as this is for the overall well-being of your patient. However there are times that you can see a patient gaining weight because he/she does not remember the last meal or lose weight because he/she does not remember how to use the cutlery. Eating or feeding should not be a problem.

As for the toilet, patients will lose their ability to control bladder or bowel. This is stressful and can be a problem for you but there are measures that you can consider. For example, make sure that the toilet is easily identifiable by marking it with colors.

You have to understand that as dementia progresses, you will find it difficult to communicate with patients because the patients are having hard time expressing their thoughts and feelings. Remember that dementia will impair the patient’s thinking and communication. Do not try to change it or let the patient succumb to it.

It might be stressful caring for a dementia patient because of the wide range of emotions they emanate from anger to depression but that does not give you the reason to give up. Dementia is a serious disease here in Singapore and the world. It is time that you know how to communicate to them. Enhancing communication can help a lot at the end of the day.

Here are some tips that you can consider to communicate with dementia patients:

Voice matters: You need to talk to them slowly and clearly. It should not be too loud because it will sound annoying or even annoying. You need to use a low-pitched voice when communicating to them. Be calm as much as possible.

Face it: Sometimes it is easier not to establish eye contact but patients need that. If you talk to them, make sure that you are facing them and establish eye contact. They will feel your sincerity.

Use simple words: Do not use elaborate sentences no matter how much you want it. Dementia patients understand easily if you use short but familiar words. When talking to them, use simple sentences too. This will clearly express what you exactly want to reveal. Along the process, do not forget to give them enough time to respond. Do not be too quick on letting them know. Avoid composing complicated words.

Give one instruction at a time: It is good to give them some tasks because they will feel productive. When giving out instructions, make sure to give one at a time. Give another instruction after the first one is fulfilled successfully. You need to break the task into smaller steps.

Avoid arguments: You already know that dementia affects a person’s logic and yet you expect them to understand you fully the first time. This will only lead to more arguments or disagreements. Arguing will be futile so do not waste both your energies.

Caring for patients with dementia poses challenges but the least thing that you can do is not to give up. If you cannot really take it, you have to seek for professional group and even let the patient join a support group. It will be up to you.

Most women who are diagnosed with breast cancer usually feel a sense of urgency to jump right in and start treatment immediately. In most cases though, there’s enough time to do some research to ensure that your diagnosis is correct and that your treatment plan makes sense – and this process may include getting a second opinion. However, just the mere thought of getting a second opinion can feel overwhelming at the start, especially when you’ve just been diagnosed with this serious condition. No need to worry though, since we’re here to walk you through the whole process of getting a second opinion.

Why Get a Second Opinion

Being diagnosed with breast cancer is already a good reason to seek a second opinion. Most people don’t consider shopping around before buying a car, or making other major purchases. In the case of breast cancer diagnosis, it’s critically important to seek another opinion before making a decision about the treatment you’ll have.

You’ll likely be advised to change your treatment plan after seeking a second opinion from a group of Singapore oncologists, surgeons, pathologists and radiologists. Understand that even the most qualified and skilled doctors have different opinions about the best treatment option for your breast cancer type and situation.

When to Seek a Second Opinion

It’s possible to get a second opinion at any point of your breast cancer care process. Still, it’s a much better idea to seek one before starting any cancer treatment, since getting a second opinion will likely change the details of diagnosis, breast cancer screening tests, treatment options, or even the course of your entire treatment plan.

Getting a second opinion usually takes up to a few weeks. In most case though, this delay won’t be a problem and won’t interfere with your treatment’s efficacy. Just make sure that you confirm with your specialist that waiting a bit before undergoing a particular treatment is completely fine.

How to Ask for a Second Opinion

Most breast cancer patients are not comfortable about asking their for another doctor’s second opinion after doing a breast cancer screening test in Singapore. They’re afraid that they might offend their current doctor and damage their relationship that’s just beginning to take shape. After all, he or she’s a highly qualified person to help you in your moment of crisis – so it’s no wonder you’ll feel nervous about asking to consult another health expert. But do remember though, that specialists are used to having patients who seek second opinions, and in most cases, welcome the information other doctors provide.

Getting your doctor involved in this process is essential, since your second doctor will want to see all your medical records, breast cancer screening tests results, as well as your imaging studies to date. You’ll need your doctor’s help in getting health records that you can show your second health specialist. Also, some health insurance agencies require your specialist to get a second opinion on your condition, than by you.

Where to Go for Second Opinion

After informing your doctor, your next step is to find a doctor (or group of doctors) who’ll review your case and give you the second opinion that you want. Your best bet is to look for a breast cancer doctor that works as a part of a multidisciplinary group composed of pathologists, medical oncologists, surgeons, radiologists, and radiation oncologists. That particular specialist will become your point person for getting second opinions from other health experts. However, there may be times where you’ll need to approach the individual experts on your own.

If you’re concerned about the costs of getting second opinions, then you may want to limit your search to Singapore specialists who’ll accept your health insurance, or to those who are part of your health plan. Also, make sure to investigate on what your insurance covers because some plans pay for certain types of second opinions but not for others. For instance, your plan may cover a pathology second opinion but not a treatment second opinion. If cost is no issue, however, then find the doctor whose expertise seems to perfectly fit your situation and needs.

How to Make Sense of a Second Opinion

In general, you can expect getting a second opinion to do one of these three things:

• Confirm Your First Doctor’s Opinion. One of the best things that seeking a second opinion does is to confirm your specialist’s opinion. This can reassure you and increase your confidence in your original breast cancer screening Singapore tests, diagnosis, and treatment plan.

• Provide More Information Without Repealing the First Opinion. Similar with confirming your doctor’s initial opinion, getting a second opinion that provides more information about your breast cancer diagnosis or other treatment options available for you can be reassuring. This way, you get to open up to other options that were not included on your first opinion, such as various treatment approaches.

• Differ or Contradict From the First Opinion. Initially, having a second opinion that completely contradicts the first opinion that you got can be quite worrisome. However, getting a different opinion from another health expert is an opportunity to ensure that you have the right diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan for it.

Make sure that you stay objective as you weigh the information from your first and second opinion. It can be tempting to agree or assume that the ‘friendlier’ doctor is right, or to believe whoever gives the better news. You may also reach the point in this process where you and your family need to make the final decision about what course of action is right for you. But whatever you decide on, its rest assured that you made one of the most informed decision possible by seeking a second opinion.

Plumbing issues can be as erratic as the weather. You will never hear a single peep from them on most days, and on the weekend you decided to go out of town, they suddenly wreak havoc. Fortunately, there are already plumbing companies in Singapore that specialize in providing emergency plumbing services. But aside from merely addressing your problems, emergency plumbers actually offer a lot more than you think. With that in mind, we listed down some of the benefits you will get when you decide to opt for an emergency plumbing contractor.

1. Provides Convenience

Problems in the plumbing system often happen unannounced, which is why it’s crucial that you hire an emergency plumber who is capable of fixing all types of plumbing issues. Doing this will give you so much convenience, since you get to contact and readily hire them whenever you have a plumbing emergency at home. Once you call for them, you can expect that they will be prompt to respond to your concerns and be always ready to handle any type of plumbing situation. Aside from preventing a small issue from turning into a disaster, hiring an emergency fast plumber in Singapore will also let you save the money you were supposed to spend on repairing serious damages.

2. Specializes in a Wide Range of Plumbing Services

Aside from conveniently providing you round-the-clock services, emergency plumbers are also known to offer a wide selection of expert plumbing services. Unlike some regular plumbers in the industry, they are capable of providing and performing all types of services to cater to their client’s specific needs. An emergency plumber is capable of fixing a water heater, a toilet system or even burst pipe. Whatever the situation is, you can rest assured knowing that the emergency plumber you hired is ready and capable of delivering the most fitting plumbing solution.

3. Promotes Customer-Centred Services

Some plumbing companies in Singapore only offer their services on hours that are convenient for them. With an emergency plumber, on the other hand, you get to avail of the plumbing services that you need at your most convenient time. This is certainly a level of customer-centred service that you will not find in most companies. What’s more amazing is these services don’t cost much compared to the ones they offer during regular working hours. This means that whatever amount you pay for the services you get at 4 p.m. is the same for the ones you get at 4 a.m. With this, you get to avail of quality plumbing services at a great value regardless the hour.

4. Uses the Right Plumbing Tools

Noticed a plumbing issue, but don’t have all the right tools to mitigate the problem? That’s what emergency plumbers are for. Just like with most plumbing contractors, emergency plumbers are also equipped with all the necessary tools and equipment to fix a specific plumbing issue. Owning such tools signify their enthusiasm to start the work and deliver quality plumbing services. Possessing the latest tools in the industry also indicates that the plumber is taking his work seriously by investing on the best equipment there is in the market.

5. Offers Services at Cheaper Price

Another good reason why you should hire an emergency plumbing contractor is because they offer their services at a cheaper price. Although an independent plumber might be able to help you, he will likely charge you a great amount for his services during an emergency situation. Your best bet to acquire a good discount is to work with a 24-hours plumber as they will not charge you with any extra fees for getting their services during wee hours. Just make sure that you obtain a copy of an estimate prior to an emergency situation so you will not be shocked when the expenses are summed up.

6. Performs with Utmost Professionalism

Emergency plumbers are considered as experts in the plumbing industry. They are knowledgeable and highly trained, which means they have acquired all the necessary abilities, competencies and skills needed to fix any type of plumbing issue. Hiring these professionals will surely give you quality results, so be sure to let your prospective emergency plumber do the repair work for you.

7. Prioritizes Your Security

Most emergency plumbers in Singapore are licensed individuals. Aside from being bonded, insured and licensed, these people have also undergone a strict background check to give you the assurance that your family’s and your home’s security will not be compromised should you need their plumbing services in the middle of the night.

8. Gives Peace of Mind

Perhaps the greatest benefit you will get from employing an emergency plumber is having a peace of mind – being assured that no plumbing emergency is too great and no schedule will be too inconvenient for your plumbing contractor. Professional plumbers know just how stressful it can be to experience plumbing issues and not having any immediate solution. This is the reason why it’s crucial that you ensure that your prospective contractor offers round-the-clock plumbing services with their most experienced, qualified and reliable plumber.

Having an emergency plumber ready offers more than just fixing your plumbing issues or cutting down your costs. They also give you the assurance that regardless of your problem, they will be able to fix it and get everything back in order at any given time. With that, make sure that you find yourself an emergency plumber whose plumbing works can meet your standards with ease.