Naomi Miner and Doreen
Greenstein
Cornell Cooperative Extension
If a
farm family member has work restrictions because of an illness
or disability -- call on FarmAbility. FarmAbility is a Cornell
Cooperative Extension project that provides services to people
with disabilities or chronic health conditions that limit
their day-to-day activities. We work with men, women, and
children who live or work on farms, or who are involved in
other agricultural activities.
Here
is how a farmer with diabetes mellitus takes care of himself
as he takes care of daily chores.
Pete
needs to take his diabetes into consideration as he does his
farming tasks.
Diabetes
can decrease his endurance and physical tolerance. Pete finds
that some times he fatigues easily. Pete has learned to use
work simplification techniques taught to him by his health
care professional to avoid getting over tired. He has reorganized
his equipment and tools so that they are located close to
where he uses them for each specific task. He thinks through
his activities for the day before he starts, and schedules
them to allow for the best use of his time and energy.
Pete
has noticed changes in his sense of touch and circulation
over the years. He is careful to compensate for the loss of
sensation in his hands and feet by using his other senses.
Also, he wears gloves and boots that fit properly to prevent
injury and protect his skin.
He tried
not to expose his hands or his feet to temperature extremes.
Pete also inspects the skin on his hands and feet every day
for cuts or blisters. It is important that he gets appropriate
medical attention so that cuts, bruises and other injuries
heal properly.
Skin
injuries can be decreased by wearing gloves when he is working
around rough surfaces. Thoroughly drying his hands after they
are exposed to water is important to keep them from getting
chapped.
Each
day Pete does a special set of hand exercises designed to
keep his fingers flexible. If knobs or other controls are
hard to operate, he uses foam or other materials to make them
larger and easier to grasp. He has found that balls, such
as tennis balls, golf balls, or ping-pong balls, can be easily
slit or drilled and used as replacement knobs when larger
knobs are needed.
Pete
is especially careful to report all changes in his vision
to his doctor.
Because
blood-sugar levels change in relation to Pete's activity level
and diet, he always has a source of communication to summon
help if he needs it. In the barn he uses an intercom system
connected to the house. When he is out doing field work, he
uses his C.B. radio to keep in touch. Pete makes sure that
his wife, family members, or neighbors know where he will
be and arranges for one of them to be within listening distance
of the intercom or C.B. radio. By paying attention to his
senses and pacing himself during his work, Pete can maintain
a successful farming operation and his health.
If you
are a farmer or farm family member with chronic illness or
another disability, please contact FarmAbility for information
and assistance to help you in your everyday farm and homemaking
tasks. Our staff can come to your home or farm, assess the
problems presented by the illness or disability, and suggest
adaptations that can make things easier.
New
York farm families can contact FarmAbility by calling (607)
255-1143. Or write to: FarmAbility, 330 Riley-Robb Hall, Cornell
University, Ithaca, NY 14853.
Disclaimer
and Reproduction Information: Information in NASD does not represent
NIOSH policy. Information included in NASD appears by permission
of the author and/or copyright holder. More
NASD Review: 04/2002
Naomi Miner
and Doreen Greenstein, FarmAbility, Cornell University
Source:
Cornell Cooperative Extension, Cornell University, Ithaca,
NY
Provider: Ag Information Services -- News & Publications,
Penn State
November 11, 1993
Document Number:
28302451
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