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Senior Residence Tour Checklist

If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. Use this list of questions to help you evaluate a potential senior residence, such as a nursing home, or an active adult, independent living, assisted living, or continuing care retirement community. Environment:…

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Sensory Dysfunction (Taste and Smell Dysfunction)

If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. OVERVIEW Why are smell and taste important? Your senses of smell and taste let you fully enjoy the scents and flavors of foods and drinks. These senses also help protect you from…

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Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)

If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. What is sensory processing disorder? Sensory processing disorder (SPD) is a condition that affects how your brain processes sensory information (stimuli). Sensory information includes things you see, hear, smell, taste, or touch….

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Sever’s Disease (Calcaneal Apophysitis)

If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. OVERVIEW What is Sever’s disease? Sever’s disease occurs in children when the growth plate (which is the growing part of the heel) is injured. The foot is one of the first body…

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Sex: Making the Right Decision

If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. The decision to engage in sexual activity or behavior as a teen or young adult can be a confusing time. Sexual activity includes vaginal (penetration of the vagina by the penis or…

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Sexual Dysfunction (Women)

If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. OVERVIEW What is sexual dysfunction? When you have problems with sex, healthcare providers call it “sexual dysfunction.” Both men and women can have it. There are 4 kinds of sexual problems in…

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Sexuality in Older Adults

If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. What are the benefits of a healthy sex life for older adults? Sex is an important part of emotional and physical health. In a relationship, sexual activity allows you to establish intimacy…

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Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. OVERVIEW What are sexually transmitted infections? Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are infections you can get by having sex with someone who has an infection. These infections are usually passed from person to…

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Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) – Common Sexually Transmitted Infections

If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. Pubic lice (crabs) Symptoms: Women and men may have redness and itching around the genitals. Treatment: Medicine, such as over-the-counter lotions or shampoos (some brand names: Nix, Rid) can kill the lice….

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Shin Splints

If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. What are shin splints? Shin splints are a type of pain you get in your shinbone (tibia). They are often caused by overuse. They usually heal within a few weeks, with rest…

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Shingles

If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. OVERVIEW What is shingles? Shingles is a painful rash.  It is also called zoster or herpes zoster. It is caused by the varicella zoster virus.  This is the same that causes chickenpox.  …

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Shortness of Breath

If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. OVERVIEW What is shortness of breath? When you are short of breath, you may feel like you can’t get enough air or your chest may feel tight. Sometimes the feeling is worse…

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Shoulder Instability

If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. OVERVIEW What is shoulder instability? “Shoulder instability” is what healthcare providers say you have when your shoulder goes a little out of place or feels like it might. “Instability” means that the…

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Shoulder Pain

If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. What causes pain in my shoulder? A common cause of shoulder pain is soreness of the tendon (a cord that attaches a muscle to a bone) of the rotator cuff (the part…

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Sick Sinus Syndrome (Sinus Node Disease)

If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day. OVERVIEW What is sick sinus syndrome? Sick sinus syndrome is the name for several conditions in which the sinus node does not work the right way. The sinus node (also called the…

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