March 2021 • FREE
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VICTORY THROUGH VACCINATION Shedding light on phototherapy | Depression in older adults Tax-time budget checkup | Look as young as you feel Spotlight on Life Connection | Masks and hearing loss
Virtual Visits for a Healthy You
PRIMARY CARE FOR FO R THE UNIVERSE OF YOU
Time to look as young as you feel! W
hat does the skin on your face, Do you want to reduce fine lines, neck, chest, and hands reveal acne scars, and age spots (brown DR. HANDLER OFFERS TELEDERMATOLOGY about you? Will the fine lines, brown spots from sun exposure) and shrink Dr. Handler has been providing virtual dermatology for patients in many states over several years. Due to the viral pandemic, spots (age spots), large veins on the pores? Then the non-invasive Clear this may be of interest to his present and prospective patients. Go to Dr. Handler’s website at drharveyhandler.com and scroll hands, and sagging jowls and neck and Brilliant laser is for you. When to the bottom. On the right you’ll find a link to your care. You will receive a diagnosis and treatment program within 24 hours. portray you as tired, withered, and the Clear and Brilliant laser is comolder than you are? Consider a painbined with Thermage CPT Deep its short, one-hour treatment time. This painless procedure is exless and no-downtime cosmetic procedure to reduce your aging, Tip, the results are ideal for patients who desire no downtime or cellent for improving cellulite (a normal development due to estrosun-damaged, and sagging facial skin and eliminate brown pain and predictable results of lifting sagging skin and smoothing gen) and improving the appearance of a “crepe” abdomen and respots. Allow Dr. Handler to evaluate and personally recommend fine lines and shrinking large pores. Dr. Handler is the only derducing the “ handles” in men. This is accomplished by the melting a skin-rejuvenation program for you to reduce the signs of agmatologist in northwest Ohio performing this procedure. of fat and tightening of the skin. The NEW Thermage CPT Deep ing. Look as young as you feel. Are you aware that Dr. Handler personally performs laser Tip procedure utilizes radiofrequency energy (not laser). This proWhenever procedures for removal of body hair from many areas of the body? cedure also encourages a natural repair process with your own aged and spotted This minimally painful laser destroys hairs around the chin, jawline, collagen that results in further tightening, lifting, and younger-looksun-damaged upper lip, underarms, legs, ears, bikini line, etc. Many women are ing skin. With only ONE treatment, many patients see results beskin is discussed, having laser hair removal at a younger age, thereby eliminating the fore leaving the office. Continued tightening and lifting of sagging the term used is need for shaving with resulting shaving nicks and irritation. And this skin occurs over a 6-month time period with results lasting to 2-3 rejuvenation. Wait! laser is not just for women. Many men have this laser procedure years! There is NO downtime and NO pain. The NEW Thermage What about “pre-juperformed to permanently remove hair from the chest and back. CPT Deep Tip system has been utilized by Dr. Handler for many venation”? Prevent Dr. Handler also utilizes the latest in lasers for removal of years with excellent results and very satisfied patients. and reduce the “age spots” (sun spots really) anywhere on the body. Finally, Dr. For lines between the eyes (worry lines, 11’s, ski slopes), signs of future Handler also performs laser removal of unwanted blood vessels crow’s feet, and the “sleepy and tired look with droopy eyelids,” aging and sun damage with a skin-care program designed for the from the legs and those that grow on your face and enlarge with the use of Botox or Dysport works well to improve these areas. Millennial and prior-tanning-booth and sun-bathing generation. Be heat, stress, and the intake of alcohol. Again, pain and downtime The results are diminished lines and a more “wide-awake” and proactive before the lines and age spots appear. Speak with the are minimal with this laser. less tired appearance. One treatment can last 7-12 months! staff at Dr. Handler’s office to inquire about specials for cosmetic Anti-aging and cosmetic enhancements are not for any specifEXCESSIVE UNDERARM SWEATING? procedures and cosmetic products to reduce the signs of aging ic gender. Male cosmetic enhancement and anti-aging procedures Most cosmetically-oriented patients know that Botox and Dysand fade and eliminate “age spots.” have increased almost 300% in the past 5 years for sagging skin, port are used to reduce the signs of aging. However, Dr. Handler Dr. Handler personally performs many anti-aging procedures darkening under the eyes with the “hollow” look, and brown spots. has utilized these products over many years for excessive sweating that are “non-invasive” with minimal discomfort or downtime. You The utilization of fillers, such as Restylane and its family of of the underarms. This excess sweating is known as hyperhidrosis can minimize under-eye darkening, puffiness, and wrinkling and fillers and Juvederm, Radiesse, etc., is excellent for deep smile and is associated with embarrassment and anxiety. Most patients raise those droopy eyelids, shrink pores, lift sagging jowl areas, lines and the “sad and tired look” as evidenced with sagging at require injections twice a year to reduce sweating 80% or more! and appear as youthful as you feel. the corners of the mouth, hollow cheeks, and aging of the hands. The procedure is associated with minimal pain and no downtime. Remember that 80% of the signs of aging are due to prior sun And, of course, the use of Dysport/Botox to reduce forehead The use of fillers, such as Restylane, Restylane Lyft, Juexposure and subsequent skin damage. All the brown spots (“age “worry lines” is superb. vederm, Radiesse, and others, to “fill” deep smile lines and the spots”), broken blood vessels on the face, fine lines, and sagging All of these cosmetic enhancements are performed entirely marionette lines (the sad look) from the corners of the mouth proskin are caused almost entirely by sun! This is something young by Dr. Handler. To view before-and-after photographs of patients duces immediate results lasting 12-15 months! Don’t look tired or people should be aware of since we get 80% of our lifetime sun who have had these procedures performed by Dr. Handler, visit sad when you are not! Since these products are combined with a exposure by the time we are 18-20 years of age. www.drharveyhandler.com. For more detailed information about numbing agent, the pain is minimal. Now, Dr. Handler utilizes the What about the “worry lines” between your eyes, deep smile the above-mentioned procedures or products, please call Dr. injection of new fillers called “Restylane Silk” and “Restylane lines, upper lip lines (lipstick “runs uphill”), and your sagging jowls Handler’s office at 419-885-3400. Also, remember to inquire about Refyne and Defyne.” These products markedly improve upper and neck? These unfortunate changes caused by prior sun expospecial pricing available on many cosmetic procedures and prodand lower lip lines (lipstick lines). Restylane Silk and Kysse also sure and aging can be improved dramatically with pain-free, non-inucts to diminish the signs of aging and obtain a more vibrant and volumize your lips and restore their youthful curve while looking vasive cosmetic procedures performed entirely by Dr. Handler. youthful appearance of your skin. Look as young as you feel! attractive and natural. There is no downtime with these noninvaThe NEW Thermage CPT Deep Tip procedure painlessly HAIR LOSS IN MEN AND WOMEN sive procedures. These products also improve the depression and heats damaged collagen under your skin to tighten and lift sagAre you losing hair from surgery, anesthesia, illnesses, preghollowness under your eyes, causing the darkening and “bags” to ging areas of the neck, jowls, and upper arms. The Thermage nancy, medications, stress, genetics, or “normal” hair loss secbe much less obvious. procedure is frequently known as the “lunch time face lift” due to ondary to aging or low blood levels of nutrients? There are many causes of hair loss in men and women. Most are not simply due to age or family history, and most are treatable. Now these problems of hair loss can be evaluated and there is hope for reducing your hair loss and stimulating new growth. Dr. Harvey Handler, board-certified dermatologist in Sylvania, Ohio, utilizes proven medical treatments for decreasing your hair loss and increasing growth in many patients! Pediatric skin disease diagnosis and treatment is one of Dr. Smoother, tighter, younger-looking skin on face, arms, and chest Handler’s special fields in general Dermatology. Age of the child is not relevant since Dr. Handler diagnoses and treats eczema, hemangiomas, contact and allergic dermatitis, and general “lumps No surgery. and bumps” that children and infants develop. What about “birth No injections. marks,” scalp and body “ringworm,” body and head lice, scabies, No downtime. psoriasis? If there is a lesion or spot on the skin, Dr. Handler is trained to examine, diagnose, and treat it appropriately. ADULT, Also, everyone should have a yearly full body exam to check arvey andLer, m.d., f.a.a.d. for skin cancer, changing moles, and new growths that develop on PEDIATRIC, dipLomate and feLLow of tHe american Board of dermatoLogy our bodies. This comprehensive exam should be conducted solely & COSMETIC by a board-certified dermatologist. Dr. Handler has the newest 5300 Harroun Rd., Suite 126 (in the Medical Office Building on the campus of Flower Hospital) DERMATOLOGY and most innovative medical device that evaluates changing moles. The use of this device with a trained eye and experience HAIR & NAILS assists in determining whether a biopsy may be needed. ❦
www.drharveyhandler.com
Reduce lines, fade sun spots clear + brilliant laser H
L. H
419.885.3400
2 March 2021 | Healthy Living News
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MISSION STATEMENT Healthy Living News offers the residents of northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan a monthly guide to news and information about healthy life styles, health care, sports and fitness, and other issues related to physical, mental and emotional quality of life. The publication promises to be an attractive, interesting and entertaining source of valuable information for all ages, especially those 35 to 50. Healthy Living News is locally owned, committed to quality, and dedicated to serving our great community. Healthy Living News is published the first of each month. The opinions expressed by contributing writers do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Distribution of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of any kind. While HLN makes every attempt to present accurate, timely information, the publication and its publisher and/ or advertisers will not be held responsible for misinformation, typographical errors, omissions, etc.
HEALTH & BEAUTY
ENRICHING YOUR LIFE (continued)
2 Time to look as young as you feel!
25 The Devil and Mrs. Jones, part 11 – What’s the next step? by Megan Benner Senecal
19 Eating well – Personalize Your Plate by Laurie Syring, RD/LD 21 Self-care for parents during the COVID pandemic by Joy Stocker, MA, LPC 22 Mask wearing and hearing loss by Shelly Horvat, AuD, CCC-A
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ENRICHING YOUR LIFE
7 Today’s radiation therapy offers superior safety, accuracy, and outcomes
6 Nobody’s Perfect – Just get the shot! by Sister Karen Zielinski, OSF
8 Mercy Health dermatologist sheds light on phototherapy
9 Training for a 5K run by Amanda Manthey plus Dave’s Races 11 Budget checkup: tax time is the right time 12 A Walk in the Park – What we do all day by LeMoyne Mercer
19 Health Crossword 24 My Social Security: it’s not just for retirees by Erin Thompson
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10 UTMC poised to meet the challenge of depression in older adults 16 Sound Advice from Northwest Ohio Hearing Clinic by Randa Mansour-Shousher, AuD, CCC-A 17 Life Connection of Ohio serves families and saves lives through organ donation 21 New Executive Director to Lead Genacross Lutheran Services Foundation 25 Cancer Connection in Our Community – Living with cancer as a chronic illness, Series 1 by Jean Schoen 27 Senior Living Guide
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OUR COMMUNITY 4 V Project strives to achieve victory over COVID through vaccination
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March 2021 Vol. 26, Issue 3
Dear Readers, behind us—and that just happens to Thank Thank you for picking be the key message of the V Project, up the March issue of Healthy Living which is the topic of this month’s News. We’re highly encouraged to cover story. Founded by Sean Savage see that the rate of new of Savage and Associates COVID cases is trending in collaboration with sevdownward, not just here eral other community in Ohio, but across the leaders, the V Project was nation and, indeed, in established with the goal many countries around of increasing acceptance the world. However, it’s of the vaccine and enimportant to keep in mind suring everyone in our Adam and Chet Welch that this is no time for community has access complacency. In terms of the infection to the vaccine when they become rate, what goes down can come right eligible, regardless of their economic back up again if we don’t continue the or ethnic background. See page 4 for practices that helped get us where we the full story on this vital initiative. are now—masking, social distancing, Also in this month’s issue, new handwashing, etc. Even more import- HLN contributor Kara Steele explains ant, we need to get vaccinated as soon how Life Connection of Ohio serves as we’re eligible to do so. families and saves lives through In fact, vaccination remains our organ donation (p. 17), Dr. Dionis best hope for putting this pandemic Kononov, medical director of Senior
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Behavioral Health at The University of Toledo Medical Center, shares his expert insights on depression in older adults (p. 10), radiation oncologist Dr. Ahmed Akl of The Toledo Clinic Cancer Centers discusses the many benefits of today’s cutting-edge radiation therapy technology and techniques (p. 7), and Dr. Erin Heuring of Mercy Health Dermatology sheds a little light on the treatment of psoriasis and other skin diseases using narrowband UVB phototherapy (p. 8). And that’s just scratching the surface! We’re confident you’ll find something informative or inspirational in this month’s content—all of which is made possible through the support of our advertisers. When you choose any of their products or services, be sure to let them know you “saw it in Healthy Living News.” Adam and Chet Welch Healthy Living News | March 2021 3
V Project strives to achieve victory over COVID through vaccination SINCE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC BEGAN approximately a year ago, we’ve been faced with more questions than answers: How long will this continue? How can we protect ourselves? How many people will get sick? How many will lose their lives? Then, toward the end of the infamous year 2020, we finally got one of the answers we were hoping for in the form of two very safe and effective vaccines against COVID— one produced by Pfizer, the other by Moderna, with still others in the pipeline. At this writing, the vaccination roll-out is well underway with many of the most vulnerable in our community already fully protected. Unfortunately, alongside those who are anxiously awaiting their turn to be vaccinated are many who are wary of the vaccine and reluctant to receive it, whether due to the surprising speed at which the vaccines were developed, the novel nature of the vaccines, social media disinformation, or other factors. Recognizing that vaccination represents our best hope for defeating COVID-19 and regaining some degree of normalcy, Sean Savage of Savage and Associates, in collaboration with numerous other community leaders, founded the V Project with the goal of increasing acceptance of the vaccine and removing barriers that might limit access to it. Savage explains, “Since back in November, I’ve been studying COVID and looking at the different vaccines in production, and it was such great news to hear about the safety and effectiveness of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. However, polling data shows that only 55 percent of the public is accepting of the vac-
4 March 2021 | Healthy Living News
cines—yet we need to vaccinate at least 70 percent of the population to reach herd immunity. That gap was bothering me, so I started reaching out to leaders in the community to put together a coalition.” The response to Savage’s overture was overwhelmingly positive, with local businesses, not-for-profits, faith leaders, healthcare providers, government officials, health departments, and other entities answering the call and coming together with two shared, measurable objectives: get the community to herd immunity and be a leading county in Ohio and the Midwest in terms of numbers vaccinated. “We’re supporting this mission through communication and marketing as well as by supporting logistics efforts,” Savage adds. Overcoming vaccine resistance may be an uphill battle in some cases, but it’s one well worth fighting. Savage points out that those who refuse the vaccine are putting themselves at very high risk because they have no way of knowing how severe their body’s response to the virus will be if infected. “I know people who have died from COVID and people who have been hospitalized in very serious condition. Then there are those who have mild symptoms or don’t even realize they have the virus. The problem is, there’s no way to know where you’ll fall on that spectrum. I’m not personally willing to take that chance,” he says. Kevin Casey, DO, Chief Clinical Officer of Mercy Health – Toledo and a member of the V Project, agrees that vaccination is of paramount importance if we hope to move beyond the pandemic. “I think vaccination is the only way we’re going to beat this thing,” he emphasizes. “Wearing
masks, physical distancing, practicing personal hygiene, and avoiding congregating will all help reduce the amount of transmission, but these measures don’t prevent infection the way vaccination does. It’s really our only way out of this.” One concern on many people’s minds right now is the appearance of new COVID strains and whether they’ll be covered by the current vaccines or whether they’ll take us right back to “square one” in terms of the pandemic. Dr. Casey notes that, according to studies, the new strains that have been identified so far are similar enough to the original strain that both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines should still provide immunity against them. Worry over potential side effects may also discourage some people from getting vaccinated. However, Dr. Casey points out that, as of this writing, Mercy Health alone has already administered over 25,000 vaccinations with minimal side effects, and any side effects that have occurred have been relatively mild, such as fatigue and muscle aches. “Also, keep in mind that side effects are, for the most part, a good sign. They mean your body is recognizing the vaccine and responding to it. I compare it to being home alone at night and hearing a noise in the dark. You jump out of bed with your heart racing and your palms sweating, but once you realize there’s no actual threat, your body soon calms right back down again,” he says. It’s also important to understand that it’s impossible to get COVID-19 from either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. In fact, neither vaccine actually contains the virus. Whether vaccinated individuals can still carry
the virus and unwittingly transmit it to others is not certain, but according to Dr. Casey, if they can be carriers, they will likely have a lower viral load and will, therefore, be able to spread the virus for a relatively brief period. Asked to characterize where the V Project currently stands in terms of meeting its goals, Savage replies, “I’d say we’re in the second inning of a nine-inning game. Early signs are very positive, and I believe our community is doing very well in administering the vaccine considering the limited supply, but we know there’s significant work to be done in the coming weeks and months—and we’re planning and lining up our resources in preparation.” One exciting element of the work that lies ahead for the V Project is a special event called V Day Weekend, which will likely be held in late April or early May, depending on when a ready supply of the vaccine is available. This will be a community-wide weekend with “boots on the ground,” pop-up tents in neighborhoods, and people going door to door educating the community in coordination with medical providers administering the vaccine. “We’re also intensely focused on creating the biggest ‘tent’ possible, ensuring everyone in the community has access to the vaccine when they become eligible—as well as any assistance they might need in getting it—regardless of their economic or ethnic background,” Savage says.
For more information on the V Project, visit vproject.org. ❦
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INDEPENDENT LIVING FOR ACTIVE SENIORS
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Tempt your palate. Our three distinct dining venues and an ever-changing variety of freshly made fare, will keep you coming back again and again. All-inclusive living never tasted so good! Tap into technology and convenience. Resident suites have touchscreens where you can view menus, place service requests, see notifications for deliveries or check when yoga class or happy hour starts. You can even video chat with friends and family.
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Healthy Living News | March 2021 5
by Sister Karen Zielinski, OSF “YOU ARE A GOOD Dr. Wasczak! A nice Dr. Wasczak,” I chattered. I was trying to sweet talk our family doctor when I was five years old decades ago. My mother took me to the downtown Detroit office where I was supposed to get my toddler checkup and a booster shot. I did not worry about it—I obsessed about it. Days before my appointment, I dreamt about the shot, the pain, and passing out in the doctor's office. I cried myself to sleep from anxiety. I really did a fine job working myself up into a near-frenzy about an injection. Despite my mother’s attempts to calm me, I was a nervous wreck. Of course, my two older brothers did not help matters by telling me that “only four out of five little kids die from the painful injection.” Finally, the day arrived and my heart was pounding (I can still feel it today). I jumped up on the examination table, and Dr. Wasczak came in. I looked around for needles on the counter, but there was only some cotton and the wooden tongue things (depressors). So far, so good! Dr. Wasczak washed his hands and asked my mother some questions about me. The doctor then opened a wooden cabinet and I knew my end was near. That’s when I started the brown-nosing, the schmoozing of 10.25x5_ES_SkilledRehFac_Ad_HL_1120_HI.pdf the doctor who was going to give
n body’s perfect
Just get the shot! me that booster shot. My plan was to distract him so that he would forget to give me the shot. I let it rip. “Hi, Dr. Wasczak. You look really nice today. I like you. You are a smart, Dr. Wasczak.” I do not know how he managed it, but he gave me the shot right in the middle of my routine. “You bad Dr. Wasczak!” I shouted as he wiped the injection site with a cotton ball. So today, during this pandemic, our medicine comes through an intramuscular injection. Why does it have to be an injection? Won’t my 1 11/16/20 12:42 PM life with injections ever stop? I asked my friend Judi L. Nath,
Ph.D. (check out her website which is impressive: www.judinath.com)—author, biology professor, and just an excellent medical and health translator for all of us—why we had to deal with the injection delivery route for COVID-19. Judi explained, “When delivering a drug into the body, we have to consider what the drug is made of and where it needs to go. For example, if we need something to act really quickly, it can be delivered directly into a vein. Some drugs like nitroglycerin are given under the tongue (sublingually) so they dissolve rapidly and reach target cells/tissue. This is why some drugs can be given by mouth (orally) while others have
Note: File photos used here were taken prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
6 March 2021 | Healthy Living News
©2020 Elizabeth Scott Community
THEY KEEP COMING BACK.
to be delivered with injection (subcutaneously or intramuscularly).” She continued saying that the drug needed enough potency to reach the target tissue without harming the body. So, if a drug is given by mouth, enough of the drug itself has to reach its target after going through the digestive system. Our livers are really good at metabolizing things we consume—it’s what the liver does. And this metabolism is referred to as “first-pass,” which means once the broken-down products have been through the liver and back out to the bloodstream, there has to be enough drug available to do its job. It’s a tricky balance in drug development: you have to reach the sweet spot. So, with vaccines, the adjuvant, which is the substance that enhances the body’s immune response to an antigen, has to be delivered in a muscle so the drug reaches its target. In all, we need to take into consideration the makeup of the drug, its pharmacodynamics (biochemical and physiologic effects and mechanisms of action), pharmacokinetics (how it is absorbed and distributed), and biotransformation (metabolism). Judi’s information helped me understand a little better why injections are needed to deliver certain drugs efficiently. Knowledge is power, and when I understand more, I feel like I have more control over it. I have n Nobody’s Perfect - continued on p8
How can you judge the quality of care at a rehab facility? Ask the patients who’ve been there. They’ll tell you we offer great, customized care with an emphasis on protecting their health during these trying times. They’ll tell you our response time is fast and the food is good. How can we be so sure? Because our patients keep coming back when they need additional therapy. If your provider prescribes skilled rehabilitation, choose the facility with repeat customers. Contact Matt Bucher, Director of Marketing, for more information.
Independent & Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation 2720 Albon Road Maumee, OH 43537 (419) 865-3002 • elizabethscott.org We love feedback. Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.
Today’s radiation therapy offers superior safety, accuracy, and outcomes RADIATION THERAPY is a long-es- tumor with radiation and prevent tablished, highly effective tool for paralysis. When done immediately, treating various forms of cancer that before paralysis develops, the success yields results similar to surgery while rate is 90 percent,” he says. However, radiation in this scenario sparing healthy tissue and organs. becomes less and less effective the What’s more, in recent years, tremenlonger the patient waits to get treatdous advances in technology and ment. “That’s why it’s so important technique have revolutionized the field of radiation oncology, allowing for patients in this situation to be for much more accurate and target- alert to symptoms such as lower back ed treatments and yielding optimal pain and any weakness or numbness in the legs. If complete paralysis has outcomes for patients. According to radiation oncologist already set in, the chance of recovAhmed Akl, MD, of The Toledo Clinic ery after treatment is only about 10 percent,” Dr. Akl cautions. Cancer Centers, decades of Another emergency research and clinical trials use for radiation therapy have produced excellent is shrinking a lung candata showing that radiacer tumor that is pressing tion therapy can be used against the superior vena successfully as the primary cava—the large vein in the treatment for many cancers, chest that carries blood into especially in the early stages. the heart. When this vein is “For example, radiation can compressed, proper blood be used as the primary and flow and fluid drainage is only treatment for early impeded, causing back presstage skin cancers, oral cansure. As a result, patients cer, certain head-and-neck Ahmed Akl, MD tend to experience swelling cancers, lung cancer, prostate cancer, and many others. The success of the face and arms. Shrinking the rate of these treatments can be as high tumor with radiation opens up the as 90 to 95 percent with preservation superior vena cava, thereby restoring of organs and no compromise of func- proper drainage and reducing swelling. Other examples of emergency tion,” he says. “When treating cancers at more advanced stages, radiation radiation therapy that Dr. Akl proplays a major role in combination with vides include destroying tumors chemotherapy or surgery, or all three that can develop behind the eye in people with leukemia, which can can be used together.” Dr. Akl explains that radiation oncol- prevent them from losing their viogists have several forms of radiation sion, as well as eliminating tumors at their disposal, the most commonly that are compressing the brain and utilized being photon radiation, or causing neurological symptoms. high-energy x-rays. He remarks that “With brain tumors, we first give the photons are electromagnetic waves with patient a steroid to reduce swelling a short wavelength that penetrate to in the brain, then we start radiation the desired depth and work by dam- treatment. Even if there are multiple aging the cancer cells’ DNA so they lesions, we can usually destroy them can’t replicate. “As a result, the cancer completely,” he says. Patients preparing to undergo cells die and disappear, but normal tissue is able to regenerate and return radiation therapy commonly have to normal. This ability to discriminate concerns regarding severe side effects between cancer and healthy cells is from treatment. In some instances, the greatest therapeutic advantage of these anxieties stem from memories of adverse experiences that a parent photon radiation,” he adds. While most people are aware or grandparent had with radiation that radiation therapy plays a vital many years ago. However, Dr. Akl role in cancer treatment, what they reassures patients that radiation might not realize is that it can also today is very different from what it have important applications in man- was in the past. “Modern radiation aging certain medical emergencies technology is so advanced and soassociated with cancerous tumors. phisticated that side effects, if any, Dr. Akl gives the example of spinal are minimal,” he says. “Also, before cord compression caused by tumor each treatment, we take an image growth. “If the patient is not a can- of the entire organ that allows us to n Toledo Clinic - continued on p26 didate for surgery, we can shrink the Connect with our advertisers via our online issue at hlntoledo.com
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ToledoClinicCancerCenters.com Healthy Living News | March 2021 7
Mercy Health dermatologist sheds light on phototherapy PATIENTS WITH CERTAIN DER- She notes that patients often see MATOLOGICAL CONDITIONS that improvement within two to three have not responded to conventional months of therapy and may experitreatments may be able to achieve ence remission for upwards of three significant improvement in their to four months after treatment has symptoms through painless, totally stopped. In addition to psoriasis, photononinvasive phototherapy treatments, now offered at Mercy Health Der- therapy can be effective in treating matology under the directorship of lichen planus, parapsoriasis, chronic itching/pruritus, eczema/atopic Erin Heuring, MD. dermatitis, pityriasis liDr. Heuring explains chenoides, pityriasis rosea, that phototherapy uses vitiligo, mycosis fungoides, ultraviolet (UV) light enand numerous other skin ergy that is similar to the conditions. It’s not a cure UV radiation present in for skin conditions, but it sunlight. However, the UV can be an excellent option energy used in phototherfor managing them. Furapy—called narrowband thermore, phototherapy UVB—has, as the name is very safe with very few implies, a more narrow potential side effects. and focused wavelength. Erin Heuring, MD Good candidates for “Narrowband UVB has phototherapy meet two been found to treat a wide variety of dermatological conditions criteria: 1) they have a skin condiby altering the immune system in tion that responds to narrowband the skin so it acts more normally,” UVB treatments, and 2) they haven’t achieved good results from topical she says. According to Dr. Heuring, psori- therapies such as ointments and asis is probably the most common creams. Dr. Heuring adds, “Other condition treated with phototherapy. patients who might benefit include
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individuals who have a condition that can be managed with pills or injections but are unable to tolerate their side effects, as well as patients who have other conditions that preclude these treatments. For example, if someone has psoriasis along with another medical condition that puts them at risk for infection, or if they previously had cancer, it wouldn’t be safe to treat them with a medication that suppresses the immune system.” She adds that, unlike many treatments, phototherapy is safe for pregnant women. Dr. Heuring emphasizes that phototherapy does involve a certain time
commitment on the patient’s part, with treatments being administered two to three times per week. However, office hours are flexible and patients can expect to be in and out in only about 15 minutes. “Once you’re here, you just have to undress to expose n
the affected area and then we apply mineral oil to the site. We’ll also have you put on goggles to protect your eyes. The actual treatment takes only a few seconds to a few minutes,” she says. The most common side effect of phototherapy is skin redness similar to a mild sunburn, usually appearing the day after treatment. This seldom happens more than once because the treatment dose will then be adjusted to prevent recurrence. Patients may also experience skin dryness and itchiness, which typically resolves after a few treatments. Dr. Heuring also points out that, as with any exposure to ultraviolet rays, there’s a theoretical risk of premature aging and an increased risk of skin cancer with phototherapy. “But studies have not shown conclusively that phototherapy patients are at increased risk of skin cancer and we don’t really see this in practice,” she states. For individuals with skin conditions that haven’t responded to conventional therapies, Dr. Heuring’s key message is that narrowband UVB therapy may be a good alternative. “Phototherapy is more effective than creams and ointments in most cases, and it’s safer with a more favorable side-effect profile than pills or injections. It’s also conveniently accessible right here in our office,” she says. Mercy Health Dermatology is located at 4204 W. Sylvania Ave. Patients may schedule office consultation appointments by calling 567-325-3407. ❦
Nobody’s Perfect - continued from p6
learned a lot in my own medical journey about some medications. I’ve also learned that there are many things I cannot sweet-talk my way out of! If a medication will help me from developing severe disease or delay its progression, I will roll up my sleeve and meet my needle. Life is funny. The little girl who obsessed about her booster shot and for years hated needles and had been on MS-delaying drugs (injections!) for almost 20 years, even self-injecting three days a week, now takes oral MS medication. A number of us have an aversion to needles in our bodies, but the overall good is well worth it for our health and well-being. Do what many of us needle wimps do—close your eyes or look away. And ask for a fun band aid if they have them. Sister Karen Zielinski is the Director of Canticle Studio. Canticle Studio is a part of the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, OH’s overall advancement effort and has a mission of being a creative center where artists generate works, products, and services in harmony with the mission of the Sisters St. Francis. She can be reached at kzielins@sistersosf.org or 419-824-3543. ❦ We love feedback. Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.
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your workout. Eventually, you will be able to run continuously. • Give yourself time to prepare. You may need more time than the 12 weeks outlined below. Listen to your body. If your leg muscles or joints are sore, try cross-training for a few days. If the soreness persists, see your doctor. • Always warm up and cool down with five minutes of walking before and after each workout as well as stretching. • Wear a well-designed running shoe that fits properly. Stop by Dave’s Running Shop, which specializes in running shoes, for an assessment of your needs and a personalized fit.
• Talk with your doctor before training for your 5K. Amanda Manthey is a former collegiate runner at Eastern Michigan University. She writes about running and fitness on behalf of Dave’s Running Shop. ❦
Don’t miss Dave’s races! Runners, get ready to “take your mark” in these exciting community events sponsored by Dave’s Running Shop. For full details on any event, including any applicable fees, please visit davesrunning.com. Dave’s Spring 5K Training Program Monday, March 1–Saturday, April 24, 2021, at Dave’s Running Shop, 5700 Monroe St. in Sylvania, Ohio. Spring means the local road racing season is ramping back up, and Dave’s Running Shop wants to make sure that you put your best foot forward when heading out the door to your local 5K. The Dave’s Spring 5K Program is an 8-week training program that provides expert coaching alongside a fun and motivating community of runners, who are working toward a common goal. Training is always more fun with others, and Dave’s Running Shop will get you on the right track to a healthy lifestyle. Options include The “Newbie,” The Casual Runner, The Fastest of the Fast, and the new Remote Training option (online). Shamrockin’ Mayhem Saturday, March 13, 2021. Welcome to our annual St. Paddy’s themed event, modified for COVID safety. While we can’t wait to shuffle in Downtown Toledo and join everyone for a drink in the Blarney Irish Pub’s party tent again, it just isn’t in the cards this year. But that doesn’t mean we can’t still have a good time. We’re relocating to The Shops at Fallen Timbers, where we’ll paint the town green and create some mayhem a little differently. X&A 5K Sunday, March 21, 2021, 2:00 p.m. (kids 1K fun run at 1:30 p.m.) at 208 N. East Ave., Deshler, Ohio. The month of March not only represents the celebration of Xavier ’s birthday but also the third anniversary of Xavier and Aidan’s entering into eternal life on 3/21. The 3.21 run commemorates this date. Please join us in this community event to run the streets of Deshler, on roads they ran repeatedly over the years, in celebration of their lives. The 5K (3.1-mile) race begins and ends at Pirate Park with all proceeds earned going towards wellness projects in the Patrick Henry community. Healthy Living News | March 2021 9
UTMC poised to meet the challenge of depression in older adults DEPRESSION IS A COMMON ISSUE psychiatrist Dionis Kononov, DO, among older adults that can have medical director of Senior Behavioral a dramatic impact on their health, Health at The University of Toledo well-being, and quality of life. Unfor- Medical Center. “Depression and tunately, depression in this population sadness do not inherently go hand in hand,” he says. “Depresis all too easily dismissed sion can feature sadness; as “just a normal part of however, depression itgetting older” or mistaken self is sadness on a whole for other age-related probnew level. It’s a state that lems, such as dementia. doesn’t just go away and What’s more, due to the is not dependent on an long-term social isolation individual circumstance, imposed by the COVIDconversation, life event, 19 pandemic, the rate of or memory. It’s persistent depression has been risand doesn’t necessarily lift ing overall and taking an quickly.” Dionis Kononov, DO especially heavy toll on Depression is also not those ages 65 and older. interchangeable with However, it’s important to be aware dementia, though both conditions that depression is not a normal aspect can share certain features. As Dr. of the aging process and expert help Kononov points out, “With depresis available in our community for sion, we oftentimes see problems those who experience it. with attention, concentration, and To appreciate what depression is, memory that can mimic dementia. it’s helpful to understand what it is In fact, in people that are advancing not. For example, depression is not in age, we tend to see more cognitive synonymous with sadness, explains symptoms of depression compared to
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people with earlier-onset depression. On the other hand, dementia as a whole is an abnormal rate of decline in cognitive abilities—the ability to think, reason, recall, remember, communicate, perceive the world around us. When we enter a significant enough state of depression, all those aspects can become impaired as well, but they tend to improve as the depression lifts.” He further explains that people
with dementia are often unable to acknowledge to themselves that they’re losing their memory and are unable to answer questions posed to them or recall what to do in a given circumstance. In contrast, people who have depression with cognitive deficits tend to be apathetic about answering questions and may not even try. According to Dr. Kononov, some of the more common signs and symptoms of depression people should watch for in their older loved ones include: • Pervasive (lasting all day, every day) sadness. • Loss of pleasure in activities or hobbies the individual once enjoyed. • Decrease in energy—staying in bed more frequently and not wanting to get up and go through the day. • Changes in appetite—such as eating more carbohydrates or high-calorie foods or exhibiting a loss of appetite. • Impairment of attention and concentration, which can mimic early dementia. • Difficulty falling asleep and often waking up too early—
for example, waking at 5:00 a.m. when the individual typically gets up at 9:00 a.m., then being unable to fall back asleep yet not wanting to get out of bed. • As the depression progresses, beginning to regret living or feeling life is unbearable to the point of considering suicide or creating situations with the potential to cause loss of life.
Exactly why depression arises in older adults is a very complicated question, and Dr. Kononov notes that multiple factors can come into play. “For example, the underlying issue might be a chronic medical illness that is getting worse or harder to manage medically, the loss of control over life overall, changes in living environment, the loss of loved ones who have either moved or passed away, social isolation, or any combination of these factors. Social isolation has been especially problematic for older people during the COVID-19 pandemic, with lockdowns depriving them of in-person contact with loved ones. Depression can even develop when no predisposing factors are present,” he says. Dr. Kononov’s advice to anyone with a senior loved one who may be suffering with depression is, first and foremost, to listen. “Listen to the messages they are giving you, the non-verbal cues. Observe how they are living, and pay close attention to any changes from how they used to live. Are they hoarding? Are they neglecting their appearance? Are they eating? Are they more withdrawn? Are they less interested? Are they avoiding family gatherings? Are n
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UTMC - continued on p11
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Tax preparation may be the only time of year many households gather all their financial information in one place. That makes it a perfect time to take a critical look at how much money is coming in and where it’s all going. In other words, this is a great time to give the household budget a checkup.
Budget checkup: tax time is the right time EVERY YEAR, about 170 million households file their federal tax returns.1 For many, the process involves digging through shoeboxes or manila folders full of receipts; gathering mortgage, retirement, and investment account statements; and relying on computer software to take advantage of every tax break the code permits. It seems a shame not to make the most of all that effort.
Six-step process A thorough budget checkup involves six steps. 1. Creating some categories. Start by dividing expenses into useful categories. Some possibilities: home, auto, food, household, debt, clothes, pets, entertainment, and charity. Don’t forget savings and investments. It also may be helpful to create subcategories. Housing, for example, can be divided into mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities, and maintenance. 2. Following the money. Go through all the receipts and statements gathered to prepare taxes and get a better understanding of where the money went last year. Track everything. Be as specific as
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3.
4.
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possible, and don’t forget to account for the cost of a latte on the way to the office each day. Projecting expenses forward. Knowing how much was spent per budget category can provide a useful template for projecting future expenses. Go through each category. Are expenses likely to rise in the coming year? If so, by how much? The results of this projection will form the basis of a budget for the coming year. Determining expected income. Add together all sources of income. Make sure to use net income. Doing the math. It’s time for the moment of truth. Subtract projected expenses from expected income. If expenses exceed income, it may be necessary to consider changes. Prioritize categories, and look to reduce those with the lowest importance until the budget is balanced. Sticking to it. If it’s not in the budget, don’t spend it. If it’s an emergency, make adjustments elsewhere.
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they avoiding communicating with you when they would previously communicate routinely? You know your family members and loved ones better than anyone else. So, first pay attention to any signs that something isn’t right, and then engage in conversation with your loved one and listen to what they say and even how they say it. Is there a lack of excitement? Is there a lack of connectedness to you as the loved one?” Observing signs of depression can be difficult when COVID-19 is still limiting in-person contact, but, as Dr. Kononov emphasizes, we can still reach out and connect via telephone, text, Zoom, or other technologies. “Sometimes receiving a text message from a loved one can be the difference between life and death. It can create the feeling that someone cares, that someone is listening, that someone is out there they can turn to,” he says. Most importantly, if there is any concern that a senior loved one is experiencing depression or other mood problems, professional help from a primary care physician, psychiatrist, or psychologist should be sought as soon as possible. Don’t try to deal with it alone, and don’t wait until the condition becomes severe. Senior Behavioral Health at UTMC is poised to help seniors who are struggling with depression. “We can help you through this process by first and foremost determining what kind of assistance is needed. Is the problem so severe that it would warrant coming to the hospital and having some time away from the stressors of life, or is this something that is better treated by setting up a visit with our outpatient psychiatrist or our outpatient therapist and counselors? Is this just something that may require an enhancement in social services or perhaps a change in living and safety arrangements at home? We can help delineate where the assistance should come in and in what capacity. With appropriate determination, we can work to treat your loved one—your family member—and improve the state they are in,” Dr. Kononov says. For more information or to contact Senior Behavioral Health at The University of Toledo Medical Center, please call 419-383-6128 or visit utmc. utoledo.edu/clinics/seniorbehavioralhealth/index. ❦ Healthy Living News | March 2021 11
either the time or the money to waste on vacations. Their thoroughly Teutonic heritage taught work as a virtue and relaxation as the first giant step on the steep, downhill road to degradation. “Vacation” for them was a two-fer. There was an infinite supply of chores around the house and the company paid you to stay home and do them. Woohoo! Her father asked in all innocence, “What do you do, just wander around in the woods all day?” Well, yes, I suppose you could look at it that way. We call it hiking. Even today there are people who vaguely understand that we are camping RVers but have no idea what we do all day. Based on their comments,
potential danger, camping must also be incredibly dull. Nothing to do but sit around feeding logs to the fire. Maybe roast some hot dogs on sticks or make s’mores. Sing Kumbaya. Oh, the joy! Just because you are burning up with curiosity, here is a composite picture of what we do all day. This being winter, we are at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in Arizona, right on the Mexican border.
A WALK IN THE PARK Sponsored by Wood County Park District
Sometimes there are genetic mutations, called crestations, on cacti that make their accordion folds run amok.
What we do all day by LeMoyne Mercer WHEN WE WERE MUCH YOUNGER, Shirley and I took the girls on summer vacation, usually to national parks. Yes, I know. What a strange concept. But you undoubtedly have your own ideas about the best way
to spend your vacation. We may not all agree on what to do, but most of us look forward to the time off. Recharge the batteries. Do some self evaluation, and resolve to do better when we return to work. Well, okay, nobody does that. With that said, Shirley’s parents could not understand how we had
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12 March 2021 | Healthy Living News
Though the bull or gopher snake resembles a rattlesnake and uses that as a defense mechanism, he is mostly interested in pack rats and not at all aggressive.
The ocotillo looks like a bundle of thorny sticks until an Arizona shower revives it. This can happen several times a year.
some apparently believe that camping is a form of medieval self-flagellation they describe as “roughing it.” On the one hand, it is dirty and crude and dangerous because of bears and snakes and whatnot. Despite all that
Our day starts at sunrise. Actually a little before. Shirley puts her right elbow in my left ear and says, “Are you awake yet? You gotta see this.” All of our favorite campsites at Organ Pipe face south, so her side of the bed is
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wcparks.org to the east. I quickly throw on some clothes and grab my camera. Sunrise in Arizona is truly a miraculous event as the sky changes from deep purple velvet to vivid yellow, orange, and red in rapid succession. A delay of two minutes can mean missing the climax of the drama. Sunrise is one of those things that costs so little but means so much. Thank you, Lord, for the gift of this day! There are always a few other campers with cameras or dogs on leashes stumbling around in the still-gray campground. Lots of bed hair, but we can brush later. Most of us do, anyway.
might think because Shirley monitors the progress of buds on the various cacti and desert wildflowers. She knows where the phainopeplas and curve-billed thrashers are nesting and which saguaros the Gila woodpeckers are drilling into. We stop at the en-
Coveys of Gambel’s quail are rather shy and scurry across open spaces rather quickly. Some roost for the night in a palo verde tree next to our campsite. Hard to get pix in the dark, though.
The Sonoran Desert, unlike the other three in the US, is noteworthy for flowering cacti.
We finish our morning pot of coffee in the sunshine of our “front porch.” Meanwhile, Shirley has the coffee perking on the RV stove. (Notice that she is not the one who goes out to see the sunrise I don’t want to miss.) When I return, I set up the Coleman stove on the picnic table. We could cook inside on the RV stove, but “eating out” is one of the things that makes camping just an extended picnic. Is this an omelet day? Maybe hash browns with bacon bits and melted cheese? Or biscuits with sausage gravy? Lemon-poppy seed muffins? Does Shirley want her eggs scrambled or over easy? Pancakes? French toast made with cinnamon bread or sourdough? What kind of juice today? An orange or a banana? She is so hard to please. After we finish whatever it is, we take the coffee pot around to the “front porch” (i.e., the sunny side of the RV) to discuss the agenda for the day. Often we start with the Perimeter Trail around the campground. It is only a mile, but it takes longer than you
trance station to say good morning to Francisco and then at the book exchange to see if there is anything new and interesting. There might be a Robert B. Parker novel I haven’t read (not likely), or Shirley could find one of those mysteries that are solved by a prescient cat or an insightful nun.
View Trail that climbs another ridge, runs along the crest, and then loops back. From the ridge, the Mexican town of Sonoyta is clearly visible six miles away. Jackie may wander by to ask if we are interested in hiking back
There is a natural arch in Alamo Canyon. If you squint really tight, you may see two. (But not in this view.)
One of our favorite hikes out to the abandoned Victoria Mine. Or, after breakfast, we might choose to take the five-mile Victoria Mine Trail through numerous arroyos and dry washes and a saguaro forest to the long-abandoned site on the side of a ridge. Might take the Desert
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into Alamo Canyon to the site of a long-abandoned ranch. The remains of a brick building, cattle pens, and an old cistern are still there. The trail follows a dry streambed and is bordered by desert wildflowers and cacti twisted into interesting shapes. The canyon walls come closer together the farther in we go. Perhaps we have registered for the Ajo Mountain Tour in a park SUV. (We took the RV just once, but the road threatened to vibrate everything loose—including the cap on an upper left molar.) Though we have
taken the tour a half dozen times, it is always new because the guides all have different kinds of expertise—geologist, botanist, ornithologist, artist, cultural anthropologist. They point out things we would not otherwise have noticed even with the park guidebook. At Arch Canyon, there is a natural archway up on the canyon rim. Wait. There are actually two arches if you squint. At Bull Pasture, you may be able to distinguish the profile of the bull’s head that gives the place its name. Or pretend you see it anyway just to please the guide. More squinting required. Back in camp for lunch. Often this is just a cup of yogurt sprinkled with granola because, after all, we had a nice breakfast and cocktail hour is not far away. Meanwhile, I walk down to the camp showers to see if the water is hot. Or at least tepid. The showers are solar heated. When they were new, some wag in the National Park Service posted signs cautioning against scalding temperatures. Park management had some valves twisted to remedy that possibility, probably at the insistence of attorneys, so now the showers range from barely warm all the way up to barely warm. A string of earlier shower takers may have depleted all of the barely warm. Shirley waits until I report back. If the group campsite at the edge of the campground is unoccupied, we may use the showers there to improve the odds of getting warm water. In the absence of that, we may put off the showers until the system is recharged by the afternoon sun. Meanwhile, there is time for a nice mile-and-a-half walk down to the visitor center for a ranger presentation. Ranger talks at Organ Pipe tend to be entertaining because the presenters are often young, inexperienced, and from parts of the country where there are no Gila monsters. They may have studied assiduously, but odds are their knowledge of the park is still entirely academic and theoretical. n
A Walk in the Park - continued on p14
Healthy Living News | March 2021 13
A Walk in the Park - continued from p13 All the geezers in the audience know more about their subject than they do, but most of us try to listen politely and not snicker too much. It is always gratifying to observe the enthusiasm with which they approach their task. Young rangers rarely return to Organ Pipe for a second season because there is a grand total of zero social life within 120 miles. Unless you are some weirdo who enjoys hanging out with geezers. By the time we walk back to camp, it is time for a libation. By pure coincidence, our camp hosts and friends Vicki and Jeff just happen to wander by. Jeff is particularly fond of little red cherry peppers stuffed with herbed n
Every day begins and ends in beauty.
cheese, so Shirley always brings four or five jars with us. His favorite beverage is bourbon, so I always bring four or five bottles. Jeff is a jarhead, so he can handle it. I thank him for his service by pouring another. Vicki is usually happy with a box or two of whatever wine Shirley has on hand. She is not at all fussy. There is a good chance that Julia will ride by on her genuine Pee-wee Herman Green & Cream Columbia 5 Star bicycle. She always stops to chat but has never availed herself of our hospitality. Also possible that Sue and Jim may show up. (He hand-turned the wooden barrel of the pen I use to write my travel journal.) Typically, they don’t stay either, except to comment on the beverages. Can’t tell if they are hinting or, perhaps, disapproving. They are from Maine where “No, thank you” sometimes means “Ask us three or four more times and maybe we’ll accept.” The conversation with Vicki and Jeff inevitably turns to a trip across the border for dinner at a “very nice restaurant” in Sonoyta. We have never had the nerve to tell them that there are at least a dozen Mexican restaurants in Toledo that are way better than any in Sonoyta. Way better. So
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Moon rise over Mt. Ajo. we’ll end up going to Sonoyta yet again rather than offend them. We may feel obligated to go to Sonoyta once each winter, but our usual supper is made in camp. There are numerous options: a ribeye in the cast-iron skillet, salmon filets, pork chops, lamb chops, shrimp with grits or angel hair pasta, lemon-pepper chicken thighs, or a Cornish game hen. When I am feeling ambitious and think of it soon enough, I give a rack of baby backs a slow roast in the Cobb grill. Another favorite is pork tenderloin wrapped in Prosciutto and served with a cabernet-fig reduction sauce. This is way easier than it sounds and, because I make two, has the advantage of leftovers for some future supper. By the time we wash the dishes, the sky in the west is turning all rosy and yellow and pink. Even after sunset, the sky does not disappoint. If there is no moon, there is the Milky Way or at least Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. We win either way, but a full moon rising right through the notch of Mt. Ajo can be simply priceless. Just at dusk is also when Bob the resident bobcat makes his tour of the campground with an entourage of campers. Owners of little dust-mop dogs are well advised to take them inside. Then the coyotes begin their serenade. Yep, life roughing it in the desert is just one disappointment after another. Shirley and I may choose to spend a little more time outside, sipping a little postprandial wine. Unless we attend the evening ranger talk. Have we heard this one more than once? Of course we have. So the wine wins. Later, in the distance we can hear the appreciative reaction of the audience at the conclusion of Danielle’s presentation about tarantulas. Time to go in. The desert cools down more quickly than you would believe. Now, don’t get all bent out of shape because of the obvious violation of several hundred COVID rules. This account represents what we
do in a normal year. We pray there is another normal year sometime this decade. In 2021, the number of campsites at Organ Pipe has been restricted to promote distancing. Half the rest rooms have been closed, but we don’t understand the benefit of forcing everyone into fewer places. And we need not worry about the water temperature in the showers because they are all closed. Ranger talks and tours canceled. Other than that, everything is pretty much as it
Hummingbirds often have a favorite perch where they will sit still just barely long enough for your camera to focus. has always been. Please do not think that any of this is a complaint. Even with the restrictions, we are still in sunny, warm Arizona. The curve-billed thrashers are still singing, the hummingbirds are still humming, and several kinds of cacti have blossoms. Compared to cranking up the snowblower at home, this is still just a walk in the park. LeMoyne Mercer is the travel editor for Healthy Living News. There is limited space here for LeMoyne’s photos. You might want to see more at anotherwalkinthepark.blogspot.com. Please leave comments on the site. ❦
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Healthy Living News | March 2021 2/23/21 10:23 15 AM
Q
: My husband was involved in a pretty serious automobile accident where the airbag deployed. He is very lucky to be alive and walked away from the accident with what we thought was little harm. I took him right away to the emergency room for an examination even though EMS evaluated him on the scene. By the time we arrived at the hospital, he started to complain that he felt like he had tinnitus. My question is, could the airbag be the cause of his tinnitus?
A
: First of all, I’m thankful your husband did not suffer greater injuries. I have to concur that airbags can definitely cause tinnitus along with hearing loss and other complications. In September of 1998, the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency went into law requiring that all cars sold in the United States have air bags installed. Of course, it has been successful at reducing the rate of deaths and severity of injuries over the years. To get back to your question, though, yes, airbags do have effects when deployed. The most common complaints are hearing loss and tinnitus. The type of hearing loss varies from a loss in one
ear to bilateral hearing loss, conductive hearing loss (affecting the outer or middle ear), mixed hearing loss (affecting the outer, middle, and inner ear), or even sensorineural hearing loss (affecting the inner ear), also known as nerve loss. Physical injury could occur to the eardrum (tympanic membrane), causing a perforation or hole in the eardrum. If that happens, a hearing loss may develop, and if the perforation does not heal on its own, surgical intervention may be required to patch the tympanic membrane.
A study performed by the Michigan Ear Institute found that the orientation of the ear toward the airbag was associated with the hearing loss, aural fullness, and tympanic membrane perforation. Sometimes if more than one airbag is deployed, the volume of the noise increases and may be louder than if you were standing outside an airplane without ear protection. It has also been thought that it causes more pressure, thereby increasing the risk of a perforation to the tympanic membrane.
The concern I have is that people may not notice the hearing loss or tinnitus or fail to seek help for a mild hearing loss or tinnitus. If the hearing loss is in the range above the speech frequency range, it may not be apparent to the individual right away, so they don’t seek help. We always try to encourage our patients to let us know of even a slight change in their hearing or tinnitus after any kind of event. Be aware that if a hearing loss is temporary from an airbag deployment, you will probably note an improvement within a few hours according to documented studies. I hope you find this information helpful. Be cognizant of the injury your husband sustained and seek medical attention, including a hearing test since the tinnitus cannot be treated without determining whether a hearing loss exists. And, as always, if you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to call Northwest Ohio Hearing Clinic. Randa Mansour-Shousher, AuD, CCC-A, is a Doctor of Audiology with Northwest Ohio Hearing Clinic, located at 1125 Hospital Dr., Suite 50 in Toledo (419-383-4012) and 1601 Brigham Dr., Suite 160 in Perrysburg (419-873-4327). ❦
Cancer’s scary. We fight back. Excellent cancer outcomes close to home. At the Maurer Family Cancer Care Center, we ease your fears with supportive care and personal treatment from a trusted team of specialists. We offer the most advanced radiation therapy, including respiratory gating that actually targets your tumor as you breathe. All to give you the very best chance of a cure.
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Cancer Care Center 16 March 2021 | Healthy Living News
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Life Connection of Ohio serves families and saves lives through organ donation
Will doctors try to save my life if I am a registered donor? Yes. Every effort will be made to save someone’s life, regardless of their choice to donate. The medical staff dedicated to saving lives at hospitals is separate from those who coordinate donation. It is only after all life-saving efforts have been exhausted that donation becomes an option. Can I still have a viewing if I donate? Yes. The organ recovery surgery is a very careful, respectful procedure, and if an open-casket funeral was possible before donation, it should be possible afterward. Is my religion against donation? Probably not. All major religions in the United States either encourage donation, viewing it as a generous last
act of charity, or leave the decision up to the individual. Can rich or famous people buy their way to the top of the waiting list? No. The national transplant waiting list exists because everyone must wait on it, regardless of wealth or celebrity status. The only way to move to the top of the waiting list is to be extremely sick. Will there be a cost to my family if I donate? No. All costs associated with donation are the responsibility of the organ and/or tissue recovery organization. A donor family is only responsible for hospital charges until death is declared and for funeral expenses. Am I too old or too sick to donate? Not necessarily. The oldest organ donor was 92, and people with histories of diabetes, cancer, and other diseases have still been able to give the gift of life. It is important to register as a donor regardless of age or health conditions, as medical professionals
NEED A LITTLE LIFT TODAY? Scan the QR code on your phone to take you to the Zepf Center Prevention YouTube Channel. There you will find short Mental Health Moment videos on topics such as Hope, Anger, Forgiveness, Perspective, and many more- meant to encourage and empower you… as well as give you ‘something to smile about!’
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will determine whether someone’s organs and tissues are healthy enough to transplant after death. The reality is that nearly 110,000 people are waiting for life-saving organ transplants in the United States, including more than 3,000 Ohioans. A new name is added to the national transplant waiting list every 10 minutes, and 20 people die every day waiting for an organ transplant. The good news: Everyone has the power to say “yes” to saving eight lives through organ donation and healing 125 more through tissue donation. To learn more about organ, eye and tissue donation or to register as a donor, visit lifeconnection.org.
Kara Steele is Director of Community Services for Life Connection of Ohio. ❦
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DID YOU KNOW that everyone has the power to say “yes” to saving eight lives through organ donation and healing 125 more through tissue donation? Life Connection of Ohio is the non-profit organization that has promoted and facilitated organ donation in northwest and west central Ohio for more than 30 years. Life Connection of Ohio educates the community about the importance of donation; partners with 71 hospitals and medical facilities to coordinate donation; and offers grief support to families before, during, and after donation. Less than two percent of people die in a way that allows organ donation to be possible, so Life Connection of Ohio is focused on maximizing every gift. Organs that can be donated after death include the heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, pancreas, and small intestine. Tissues that can be donated after death include bone, corneas, heart valves, ligaments, skin, tendons, and veins. Hospitals contact Life Connection of Ohio to provide notification of every death. The organ recovery coordinator on call receives information about the person and determines whether they are medically suitable for organ, eye, and/ or tissue donation. If so, the coordinator obtains the person’s wishes from the Ohio Donor Registry, if available, and the family services coordinator on call consults the family. If the person’s wishes are not available, the family services coordinator offers the opportunity for donation to the family. If the decision is made for donation, the person’s medical/social history, blood tests, and other medical evaluations are coordinated to determine which organs and/ or tissues can be donated, and the matching process begins. Once recipients are identified, the organ recovery coordinator arranges for the surgical recovery of organs and/or tissues. The end result: A donor hero is honored for their generosity, a family is supported through Life Connection of Ohio’s aftercare program, and recipients
receive second chances at life. Although the community is largely supportive of organ, eye, and tissue donation, there are some misconceptions about donation. Here are the facts:
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by Kara Steele
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Healthy Living News | March 2021 17
James D. Diethelm, MD Ryan Szenderski, PA-C
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FORGIVE ME WHILE I write again about hope because I think it’s critical to our moving on from the trials and tribulations of 2020 and those we have already experienced in 2021. I’m turning to the wisdom of our elders to help find reasons for hope at this point in our lives. Who better than those who have experienced life’s twists and turns over a long period of time to help us find reasons for hope in our day and age? Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, priest, paleontologist, theologian, and philosopher, began to question just what it was we knew about the creation of the earth, the planets, the universe, and the cosmos. In his research among the rocks, the fossils, and the many geological digs he participated in, he could not help but notice major shifts in our knowledge about the very universe itself. When he published and shared these new insights and facts, he found himself in deep trouble with his Church and with many others in the scientific community. Being a deeply spiritual man, he saw that just because others disagreed with his findings about the physical world did not mean that he must abandon what he knew to be a major shift in our understanding of the Creator’s way of working in the world in which we live. We continue to have others in our midst today who are challenging even Teilhard de Chardin’s discoveries, and hopefully we will always have new insights garnered from our life experiences. I am especially impressed with his acceptance of new knowledge affecting both his spiritual and scientific understanding. Pope Francis reminds us of the importance of hope and has challenged all of us, especially the young, to be people of hope. He reminds us to “look beyond personal inconvenience,” and that has certainly been evident among the essential workers, especially in health care, during this pandemic, many of whom have gone over and above their regular role in caregiving. He tells us that hope can help us to look beyond “the petty
The future belongs to those who give the next generation reason for hope. +Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, philosopher I invite everyone to renewed hope… Hope is bold; it can look beyond personal inconvenience, the petty securities and compensations which limit our horizon, and it can open us up to grand ideals that make life more beautiful and worthwhile. +Pope Francis, Brothers and Sisters All, 2020 securities and compensations which limit our horizon,” and we see this happening as families must find new and different ways to provide food, shelter, education, and entertainment in a world turned upside down by this pandemic and other events. I think Pope Francis gives us a wonderful reason for hope when he writes, that hope “can open us up to grand ideals that make life more beautiful and worthwhile.” What are some of these grand ideals that are already evidence of change in our society? The cry for unity and peace among all peoples, increased awareness of our need to embrace one another in the midst of our differences, welcoming the stranger into our midst because we too were once strangers and know how it feels to be welcomed as a brother or sister, being willing to dialogue and reach compromises realizing that there are many ways to view an issue and many ways to solve our problems. I challenge myself to be open and look for these more beautiful and worthwhile ways to live together in this very complex world. I especially challenge myself to give a hope-filled pep talk to someone in another generation. I hope this article did that for someone today. Remember—hope is bold and the future belongs to those who give the next generation reason for hope. Sister Mary Thill is a Sylvania Franciscan Sister. She can be reached at mthill@sistersosf.org. ❦
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EVERY YEAR THE ACADEMY OF NUTRITION AND DIETETICS celebrates March as National Nutrition Month®. The mission of this annual campaign is to promote nutrition education and information on healthful eating. This year, the key message is to develop a healthful eating pattern using your favorite foods. We celebrate that America is a cultural melting pot with many different cuisines and approaches to food preparation. Eating should be a fun and joyful experience for everyone, so it’s amazing and gratifying to see supermarkets increasingly diversify their shelves to meet customer needs. It is now easier than ever to create healthful, nutritious meals that align with a variety of cultural preferences. It is also amazing to see the wide range of restaurants in our area that offer delicious foods from different cultures, for example Indian, Asian, Lebanese, and even a very new Peruvian restaurant I can’t wait to try! Variety truly is the “spice of life,” and at mealtime, it’s the wide variety of cultural flavors that really makes life and eating interesting! Personalize your immuneboosting plate I’m switching gears a little here, but I wanted to expand upon the topic of making healthy food choices to boost our immune function—the subject of last month’s column and an ongoing theme here as well. As COVID-19 numbers fluctuate up
EATING WELL Personalize Your Plate by Laurie Syring, RD/LD and down (and hopefully continue trending downward now that the vaccination program is underway), keep in mind that it’s still important to make healthy food choices to keep your body’s natural defenses strong. After all, we still have the annual flu to contend with, not to mention newer strains of coronavirus that are starting to make headlines. When creating your healthy plate, keep these nutrient-dense foods in mind: • Bok choy and leafy greens like spinach and kale—These are rich in magnesium and help the body fight inflammation. They are easy to add into recipes like stir fry, omelets, and
HEALTH CROSSWORD by Myles Mellor • ilovecrosswords.com • Answers on page 25
ACROSS 1 Green vegetable 5 One a day keeps the doctor away, per a saying 9 Average grade 10 Yellow vitamin of the B complex 11 Approval word 12 Maple syrup, for example 13 Above 14 Cleans thoroughly 16 Large tree 18 Seasoning 19 Permanently marking the skin 22 Not as old, in vegetable talk 23 Wheat ____
foods such as yogurt, kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut, and tempeh. These all contain healthy probiotics and act as prebiotics in the gut. • Lastly, the Mediterranean diet—As regular readers know, I’ve discussed the Mediterranean diet many times in this space, but I can’t say enough good things about choosing whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and omega-3-rich foods like olive oil and seafood. This way of eating has been shown to improve immune function significantly and to be anti-inflammatory. Of course, this just scratches the surface of ways to Personalize Your Plate with healthier food choices. For more information and ideas, visit the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ website at eatright.org. Beyond that, try to use National Nutrition Month as an opportunity to spice up your menus with a variety of foods and flavors that you enjoy—as well as a good excuse to add new flavors and expand your palate. Personalize the choices to suit your preferences. And, of course, in addition to making healthy, informed food choices, I encourage you to find a healthy physical activity that you can follow all year long.
26 Knife or fork say 28 Another name for papaya 31 Oenologist’s concern 32 Introduction of blood or plasma into a vein or artery DOWN 1 Vegetables high in vitamin A 2 Kind of lettuce 3 Have an impact on 4 Emissions tester, briefly 5 Gastric juices, e.g. 6 Piggy place 7 Exercise training, for short
8 Part of the alimentary tract 11 Helium, for one 12 It starts the digestive process 15 Gastric problem caused by stress 17 Egyptian’s “plant of immortality,” 2 words 20 Make fun of 21 Beaters of eggs 22 Apricot or plum 24 Genetic abbreviation 25 Problem 27 Baton Rouge campus, briefly 28 Baked Hawaiian dish 29 Kitchen equipment 30 Dripping ___
soups. Other good magnesium sources are legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains. • Vitamin D—We’ve talked about Vitamin D supplementation in previous articles, but it is so important right now when we don’t have the sun to help us manufacture it. Other than the D3 supplements, you can choose fatty fish like salmon and tuna, mushrooms, and vitamin-Dfortified milk, OJ, and cereals. • Fermented foods— Growing research suggests that most of our immune function lives in our gut. Keeping your gut healthy has a direct impact on your immune function. Good bacteria reside in fermented 1
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Across
Down
A Timeline of Milestones in U.S. Women’s History
1848–The rst women’s rights convention, the Seneca Falls Convention, is held in New York, where 300 women and men sign the Declaration of Sentiments in a plea to end discrimination against women. 1848–The Married Woman’s Property Act is passed in New York, enabling married women to conduct business on their own, le lawsuits on their own behalf, collect rents and receive inheritances. The Act is used as a model for other states, all of which pass their own versions by 1900. 1860–The Act Concerning the Rights and Liabilities of Husband and Wife is passed in New York, paving the way for other states. It acknowledges “mothers as joint guardians of their children,” granting married women the same legal authority over their own sons and daughters as fathers. 1869–Wyoming, a territory at the time, becomes the rst state to grant women the right to vote in all elections. 1869–Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton form the National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA). 1872–Victoria Clain Woodhull becomes the rst female U.S. Presidential candidate. 1872–Equal pay for equal work under the law is guaranteed to federal, but not private sector, employees. 1919–The First Woman’s Bank of Tennessee opens as the rst bank to be directed, managed and staffed entirely by women. The bank welcomes deposits from men and women, although its shareholders are male. 1919–Congress passes the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote. 1920–The 19th Amendment is ratied by 36 states and becomes law, ensuring that the right to vote cannot be denied on the basis of sex. 1938–The Fair Labor Standards Act establishes a federal minimum wage to eliminate pay differences between men and women for hourly jobs. 1948–The Women’s Armed Services Integration Act allows women to serve as full, permanent members of all of the branches of the U.S. military. 1963–The Equal Pay Act is passed, protecting all workers against discrimination in pay rates. 1974–The Equal Credit Opportunity Act is passed, prohibiting credit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age or receipt of public assistance. Prior to its passage, banks required male cosigners on credit applications from single, widowed or divorced women, regardless of income. 1974–The Fair Housing Act is amended to prohibit housing discrimination on the basis of sex. 1978–The Pregnancy Discrimination Act is passed, making it illegal for employers to dismiss women from their jobs for becoming pregnant. 1981–Sandra Day O’Connor becomes the rst woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. 1993–The Family and Medical Leave Act becomes law. 1994–The Gender Equity in Education Act is passed to train teachers in gender equity, promote math and science learning by girls, counsel pregnant teens and prevent sexual harassment. 1994–The Violence Against Women Act funds services, resources and rights for rape and domestic violence victims. 2007–Nancy Pelosi becomes the rst female Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. 2016–The Department of Defense opens all military combat positions to women for the rst time. 2020–Virginia becomes the 38th and final state needed to pass the Equal Rights Amendment. 2021–Kamala Harris is sworn in as the first female Vice-President of the United States.
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Self-care for parents during the COVID pandemic For everyday stressors, such as lack of patience, it is so important to PARENTING IS CHALLENGING. find time for self-care. Self-care? Whether you are pregnant, have a During a pandemic? Yes! Selfnewborn, have a teenager, care can be as simple as or anything else in between, drinking more water or parenting is just challengscreaming into a pillow, or ing. Over the past year, the it could be taking time to universe has brought to us exercise or go for a walk. a new challenge, a global Whatever you decide, pandemic. This past year try to spend a little time has tested our boundaries, on yourself. Remember, empathy, and, most of all, you cannot pour from our patience with each an empty cup. other and the people that The biggest form of we care for the most, our self-care you can do is to children. stop trying to be “super When they say, “Abparent”! Lower your exsence makes the heart pectations of yourself and Joy Stocker grow fonder,” never have of those around you. We truer words been spoken. We send are all going through this together. our children to school every day, they Your children’s mental health is have activities they do after school suffering just like yours. This is or after dinner, there are playdates not the time to try to do Pinterest with other children, or parents go crafts with your children or make out for an occasional meal without homemade bread (but if that is their children. This year, however, your form of self-care, go for it). schools were closed for long stretches If your children watch TV or play of time and remote learning took videogames a little more than you over, extracurricular activities were would normally allow, no big deal. severely lacking, if not completely They will be fine. gone, and many restaurants were Stick to a routine. If you had only offering takeout. So, along came your children go to bed by 8:00 an explosion of family time that p.m. before the pandemic hit, keep introduced a chance to irritate each having them go to bed at 8:00 p.m., other all day, every day, as opposed whether you have somewhere to to a few times a week. With that came go the next day or not. The lack the lack of patience and the growing of routine can be detrimental to irritability. your mental health as well as your With some schools shut down children’s mental health. We are at the beginning of the pandemic creatures of habit. Whether we want and many schools, even now, only to admit it or not, we all need some remote learning or having a hybrid type of routine. Try sticking to the schedule, it is increasingly difficult same routine you were doing before to function day to day. Although in terms of bedtime and a morning some schools are open five days a routine so when things go back to week, there are times when fam- normal, it is not a complete shock ilies have had to quarantine due to your system. to exposure. Increased efforts to Lastly, be kind to each other! We keep the children busy so one or are all in this together, and we need both parents can navigate working to be there for each other now more from home has fueled anxiety and than ever. A kind word or words of depression. The lack of routine encouragement can go a long way, because, hey, you have nowhere especially with children. Remember to go, exacerbated irritability and this pandemic is not permanent and left us all wondering if there was we will get through this with a little an end in sight. patience and empathy. So, this raises the question, what can be done to not feel so anxious Joy Stock er, MA, LPC, is a or depressed? Of course, seeing a licensed professional counselor therapist is a huge help, but not at The Willow Center and can everyone can afford a therapist or b e re a c h e d a t 4 1 9 - 7 2 0 - 5 8 0 0 . has the time to devote to therapy. ❦ by Joy Stocker, MA, LPC
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New Executive Director to Lead Genacross Lutheran Services Foundation GENACROSS LUTHERAN SERVICES has announced the appointment of Michael A. George, CFRE, as Executive Director for the Genacross Lutheran Services Foundation. As a member of the senior leadership team of Genacross, Mr. George will be responsible for leading and strengthening a comprehensive fundraising program in support of the organization’s mission and goals. “Mike joins Genacross after an extensive search to ensure we found the perfect person to fill this valuable role,” said Rick Marshall, President/CEO. “He comes to us with many years of philanthropic experience with mission-focused organizations.” Most recently, Mr. George served as Vice President for Philanthropic Services & Advancement at the Mike George, Greater Toledo Community Foundation, where he Executive Director of led the fundraising department and was a member of Genacross Lutheran the executive leadership team. Prior to his work with Services Foundation the Toledo Community Foundation, he was Director of Development & Annual Fund at Lourdes University. “I look forward to working with our current supporters and also sharing the incredible work the Genacross ministries accomplish with those who may not know what we do,” said Mr. George, who resides in Perrysburg, Ohio. Mr. George is a graduate of Miami (Ohio) University with a bachelor’s degree in political science and public administration. He obtained his Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation in 2016. The CFRE certification program is an internationally recognized course of study for fundraisers dedicated to setting professional standards in philanthropy. In addition, he is past president of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Northwest Ohio Chapter and is a member of the Toledo Estate Planning Council and the Society of Financial Services Professionals. ❦
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Mask wearing and hearing loss by Shelly Horvat, AuD, CCC-A IN JANUARY 2020, the World Health Organization declared the SARSCoV-2 virus, or COVID-19, to be a public health emergency. The virus has since spread rapidly across the globe. To slow the pace of the deadly COVID-19 infection, we are all being asked to stay home, avoid public events and social gatherings, social distance at least 6 feet when in public, wear masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE), wash hands frequently, only be in close contact with members of our own household, and get vaccinated when possible. According to health officials across the world, the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over and could yet evolve in unanticipated ways. The worldwide impact of COVID-19 will cause us to be wearing face masks and to social distance for an unknown time into the future. Although the vaccine rollout is promising, mutations in the virus are showing to be more infectious. To our dismay, face masks and social distancing outside of our own household are here to stay and will be a part of our daily lives for the duration of the pandemic. We’re all bothered by face masks in one way or another. Complaints range from the physical discomfort of wearing a mask to the way others aren’t wearing their masks properly. Foggy eyeglasses, sore ears from face mask loops, the perception of not being able to breathe well while mask wearing, being bothered by others wearing the face mask under their nose, and the loss of hearing aids (from removing a mask and inadvertently pulling the hearing aid out of the ear) are just some of the complaints and problems. Although face mask annoyances are plentiful, the largest problem with face mask wearing is how the masks decrease our ability to have a conversation with someone. Face masks decrease our ability to communicate When talking to someone, we use our ears and brain to hear and interpret speech sounds. We also use our eyes and brain to see and
22 March 2021 | Healthy Living News
interpret facial cues to gain mean- by masking and ing and expression from the talker. social distancing is that people Masks aretalker nowis available in cloth, surgical fabric, transparent plastic causing lack sounds in speech, with hearing fabric, trouble N95 will begin When the wearing a mask, of clarity. Below thishave paragraph is a the listener loses most visual cues ortofoam, avoid all social communication surrounded by filtering mesh and clear face shields. Several studies chart and an excerpt from a study and some speech sound cues. If the and end up isolated. been conducted to measure the effects of masks on the speech signal.the In effects general, of various face listener has hearing loss, the speech In their article “The Challenges of comparing masks on speech by Ryan M. Corey, soundsmuffle lost from a mask-wearing Facemasks for People within Hearing masks the high frequency consonant sounds speech, causing lack of PhD, Uriah Jones and Andrew C. talker will be even greater. Loss,” Professor Kevin Munro and clarity. Below is a chart and an excerpt from a study comparing various face Without thinking about it, all lis- Dr. Michael Stone from Manchester Singer, PhD, from the University of at Urbana-Champaign. teners use visual cues “lip reading” University write, “The masks’ effects onorspeech by Ryan M. Corey, PhD,increased Uriah effort Jones Illinois and Andrew C. “The performance of cloth masks while watching the speaker’s tongue, needed to listen and communicate
Singer, PhD from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Figure 1. acoustic High-frequency acoustic attenuation face masks measured with Figure 1. High-frequency attenuation of face ofmasks measured witha loudspeaker. a loudspeaker.
“The cloth masks varies depending the who fabrichave anda thevaries number of layers. depending on the fabric and teeth,performance lip, cheek, andof eye movements is exacerbated in on people the number of layers. Loosely woven to help add to what they are hearing. hearing loss. have According to theeffect WHO,on sound. Densely woven Loosely woven fabrics, such as plain and jersey, the least fabrics, such as plain and jersey, have Visual such cues as become aresound. 1.33 billion people globally fabrics, denimincreasingly and twill, blockthere more To understand the effects of fabric choice important as speech sounds become with hearing loss. Hearing loss leads the least effect on sound. Densely and number of layers on levels speech transmission, we recently tested four masks that and twill, wovenflannel fabrics, such as denim softer or background noise rise. to communication difficulties be- cotton block more sound. To understand the are identical in extremely shape butimportant made of either or four layerscolleagues, of light or heavy fabric. These masks Visual cues are tweentwo family members, effects of fabric choice and number forgrouped people with hearing since 1. and friends. It is with associated with block are on the right loss in Figure Although masks more layers more sound, the they’re missing various parts of the negative factors such as poor social of layers on speech transmission, we four-layer mask of loosely woven flannel performed better than the two-layer mask of tightly speech signal depending on their interactions, isolation, depression and recently tested four cotton flannel that are than identical woven flannel. a three-layer cotton/spandex mask caused lessmasks attenuation a in shape but type and degreeSimilarly, of hearing loss. anxiety, increased risk of dementia, of either or four layers of An unintended consequence reduced quality of life. Innumber fact, made two-layer cotton/spandex maskof withand a tighter weave. While the of layers doestwo affect light or heavy fabric. These masks are mask transmission, wearing is thatthe weweave may unare probably many sound of thethere fabric appears to be the people most important factor for grouped above in Figure 1. Although consciously get closer to people in with hearing loss who were able to acoustic performance.” masks with more layers block more order to hear them better to make up manage but would struggle with the for the sound and visual cues lost by
widespread use of masks.”
sound, the four-layer mask of loosely
someone to hear them. This is exactly what we’re not supposed to be doing when we’re responsibly social distancing to keep the spread of the virus down. Another consequence to the hearing difficulties caused
ent plastic surrounded by filtering mesh or foam, and clear face shields. Several studies have been conducted to measure the effects of masks on the speech signal. In general, masks muffle the high-frequency consonant
mask with a tighter weave. While the number of layers does affect sound transmission, the weave of the fabric appears to be the most important factor for acoustic performance.”
“Clear window masks shields facial expressions. woven flannel performed better than mask wearing. Hence, and people with allow listeners to see lip movements and the two-layer mask Unfortunately, they perform attenuating high frequencies by as muchof astightly 13 woven hearing loss struggling to hearpoorly may acoustically, Does one type of mask allow flannel. Similarly, a three-layer cotton/ be putting themselves at greater risk easier dB. The face shield caused especially strongcommunication? distortion, even at low frequencies. It appears that of catching or spreading the virus Masks are now available in cloth, spandex mask caused less attenuation face masks can provide either high-frequency sound cues or visual cues, but not both. when they lean in and get closer to surgical fabric, N95 fabric, transpar- than a two-layer cotton/spandex
n
NWO Hearing - continued on p23
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NWO Hearing - continued from p22
“Clear window masks and shields allow listeners to see lip movements and facial expressions. Unfortunately, they perform poorly acoustically, attenuating high frequencies by as much as 13 dB. The face shield caused especially strong distortion, even at low frequencies. It appears that face masks can provide either high-frequency sound cues or visual cues, but not both. Fortunately, our results on the directional effects of face masks suggest that wearable microphones can be used with nearly any mask, including those with clear windows.” Practical advice While there is no perfect solution to mask wearing and communication, there are many actions that listeners and speakers can take to improve their ability to communicate while mask wearing. From mask studies, we know that the most loosely woven mask fabric allows sound transmission for good hearing, but these fabrics also allow respiratory droplet transmission and thus provide us with the least amount of protection. We must wear proper face masking for the situation at hand to protect ourselves and others from transmitting the virus. Below are some steps we all can take to make mask wearing less stressful: Hearing loss or not? If you suspect that you have hearing loss, see an audiologist for a hearing evaluation. It’s always a good idea to get a baseline hearing test. If you have enough hearing loss to warrant hearing aids, invest in a good quality set of hearing aids to make communication easier and less stressful for you. Untreated hearing loss can add stress to an already stressful situation and make you miss important information. Since visits with family and friends are already reduced during the pandemic, it’s even more important to hear the best you can when you are out in public. Already wearing hearing aids If you already wear hearing aids, make sure your hearing aids are in good shape and are programmed for your current hearing loss. You can ask your audiologist or hearing aid dispenser if your hearing aids can support an extra program to help turn up the high-frequency sounds lost to mask wearing. For many hearing aids, a remote microphone can be purchased to help decrease back-
ground noise and bring the speaker’s words directly to your hearing aids. Too much background noise When you’re conversing with someone wearing a mask, reduce the background noise as much as possible or, better yet, move to a quieter location. Fast talkers Ask the mask wearer to talk slowly and not to shout. Missing important information Get written clarification of critical information. This can be as simple as pen and paper or a whiteboard with marker. An excellent option is to download a free cellphone or tablet app that translates speech into text in real time. This can make medical appointments, banking transactions, pharmacy visits, or even family visits much easier and stress free. Android phone users can download the Live Transcribe or Ava apps, and iPhone users can download the InnoCaption app. These apps can even be used for hearing classroom lectures, conference calls, worship sessions, or anywhere else a person is struggling to hear speech and needs captioning.
and social distancing once we do leave our homes. This difficulty is worse for people with hearing loss. As talkers and listeners, we can take steps to make our time together less stressful. Hopefully the above tips will improve your ability to communicate while masks are being worn. If you would like to have your hearing tested, please make an appointment to see the audiologists at Northwest Ohio Hearing Clinic. Shelly Horvat, AuD, CCC-A, is a Doctor of Audiology with Northwest Ohio Hearing Clinic, located at 1125 Hospital Dr., Suite 50 in Toledo (419-383-4012) and 1601 Brigham Dr., Suite 160 in Perrysburg (419-873-4327). References: – Greenhalgh T, Schmid MB, Czypionka T, et al. Face masks for the public during the covid-10 crisis. BMJ 2020;369:m1435. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ pubmed/25690777 – Lazzarino AI. Rapid response to BMJ 2020;369:m1435. www.bmj.com/content/369/bmj.m1435 – Smeds K, Wolters F, Rung M. Estimation of Signal-toNoise Ratios in Realistic Sound Scenarios. J Am Acad Audiol. 2015;26(2):183-96. www.bmj.com/content/369/ bmj.m1435/rapid-responses – https://www.entandaudiologynews.com/features/ audiology-features/post/the-challenges-of-facemasksfor-people-with-hearing-loss – https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/ PIIS0140-6736(16)31678-6/fulltext – https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/8/7/e021502 – https://journals.lww.com/thehearingjournal/blog/ OnlineFirst/pages/post.aspx?PostID=8
The pandemic is preventing us from traveling, visiting family and friends, and going to public events. Additionally, our speech understanding ability is hampered by masks
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What’s best for classrooms? Teachers in classroom settings should be using soundfield microphones to amplify their voices while they are wearing masks and face shields as well as providing written backup of information to their students. This will not only provide students with proper speech cues, but it will also reduce vocal fatigue for the teacher. Help for Zoom calls and online meetings If you’re struggling to hear during Zoom calls or online meetings, speakers should add a microphone to improve their own speech signal to listeners at the other end, and listeners should use headphones or earbuds connected to their cell phone or computer/tablet to improve the speech signal coming from their device. Headphones provide superior sound quality over the computer, phone, or tablet speakers. Additionally, the text-to-speech transcription apps listed earlier can provide real-time transcription of Zoom or online calls.
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May 2020 HLN 4.9” x 5.9”
You’re never too old for Super Slow Training THOUGH MOST OF the clients currently taking advantage of the Super Slow Training method offered at TriggerPoint are in their 40s, this evidence-based, time-efficient exercise solution is gaining popularity among people of all ages—including individuals well into their senior years. One such client is Peg Anderson. Anderson learned about Super Slow Training from an ad and article in Healthy Living News and decided to explore the program further. So she came to TriggerPoint, tried it out, and was immediately impressed. “I thought, ‘This is great! I need to keep doing this!” she recalls. At that time, Anderson was beginning to have difficulty managing the stairs outside her home and wasn’t sure whether she would be able to continue living there. She had even purchased two canes to help her navigate the stairs. However, after just a handful of Super Slow Training sessions, she began to notice a positive change. “I could tell a difference after doing the program once a week for just three weeks. I realized
I was getting stronger and could go up and down those stairs without much effort whereas I struggled before. So I said I’m never going to quit this. I’m still not using either of those canes, and I attribute that to coming to TriggerPoint and making my muscles stronger,” she says. TriggerPoint owner Russ Wakefield explains that Super Slow Training involves lifting and lowering weights at a very slow rate, keeping consistent tension on the muscle throughout its whole range of motion. High-tech monitors on the specially designed Super Slow Training equipment help
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24 March 2021 | Healthy Living News
clients maintain the proper form, technique, and tempo during workouts. This method differs from conventional strength-training techniques in that there is no fast momentum to help do the work for you. Though slow, this technique is intense, really working the muscles. It’s also very safe, with highly experienced and educated trainers working oneon-one with clients and monitoring and adjusting their every move. After this intense exercise stimulus, the body recovers for seven days, producing the desired results. Ours is a busy, fast-paced society that allows us little time to focus on health and fitness, so TriggerPoint clients appreciate the fact that Super Slow Training demands no more than a half hour of their time once a week. In fact, the program can be completed over your lunch hour with no requirement to change clothes or shower afterward. What’s more, as you progress through the program and begin to see results you never thought possible, that weekly workout time may actually decrease. Super Slow Training is considered
a high-intensity workout, but that should not discourage anyone from participating as long as they have their physician’s approval. Wakefield notes that clients of all ages, backgrounds, personalities, and body types—even pregnant women—can participate in and benefit from this time-efficient program. Anderson has certain physical challenges, including arthritis in her shoulder, but she says that her trainers at TriggerPoint are fully aware of her age and limitations and are careful to modify her program accordingly. Asked what she would tell others in her age group about Super Slow Training, Anderson states, “You are never too old for this. If you have physical limitations, the trainers will help you work around them. Remember, health problems are expensive and become more and more likely the older you get. You can’t just sit around reading magazines and eating bonbons and expect to stay healthy. You have to get moving and keep moving!” Wakefield urges anyone who is seeking a more efficient strength-training and conditioning alternative—or is simply tired of getting disappointing results from conventional workouts— to follow Anderson’s example by calling TriggerPoint and giving Super Slow Training a try. “This efficient, evidence-based program might just be the exercise solution you’ve been looking for,” he states. For an appointment, call Russ Wakefield at 419-536-0408. TriggerPoint, located at 2449 N. Reynolds Rd., is also on Facebook. ❦
My Social Security: it’s not just for retirees by Erin Thompson You don’t have to be retired or even close to retirement to benefit from a personal My Social Security account. With your personal My Social Security account, you can request a replacement Social Security card, estimate your future benefits, check the status of your Social Security application, and review your work history. If you already receive benefits, you can also request a replacement Social Security card, get a benefit verification or proof of income letter, set up or change your direct deposit, change your address, request a replacement Medicare card, get a Social Security 1099 form, and opt out of receiving certain notices by mail and receive them in the secure Message Center. Let your family and friends know that they can create a My Social Security account today at www.ssa.gov/myaccount. Erin Thompson is a Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in Toledo, Ohio. ❦ We love feedback. Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.
The Devil and Mrs. Jones Part 11 What’s the next step? by Megan Benner Senecal Mrs. Jones was lucky enough to receive her complete COVID-19 vaccination, as were many of her peers and staff in her facility. She is still asked to wear a mask and social distance. Activities are still limited to small groups, and dining is done in small groups and in shifts. Being six
As such, it is important to remember the ability for facilities to commence visitation based on the 6th Amended Visitation order and guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. Facilities have had the ability to allow indoor visitation and continue to be permitted to allow visitation based on the following: 1. Case status in the surrounding community 2. Case status in the nursing home(s) 3. Staffing levels
CANCER CONNECTION IN OUR COMMUNITY
Living with cancer as a chronic illness, Series 1 by Jean Schoen
feet away from people when trying to have a conversation is frustrating—especially because Mrs. Jones has some hearing loss. Mrs. Jones is extremely frustrated. She assumed after the vaccine things would return to normal, but they haven’t. So, what’s the next step? The honest answer is that we can’t be sure. Because we’re in the early stages of vaccine distribution and work is still being done to understand the immunity the vaccine provides, the duration of the protection, and how the vaccine may or may not protect others, any decisions about the future are difficult to predict. Mrs. Jones can understand the caution but still misses her friends and family. Answers to crossword from page 19 1
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4. Access to adequate testing for residents and staff 5. Personal protective equipment supplies 6. Local hospital capacity. Although many facilities have had vaccinations of residents and staff, no new orders exist to reflect those vaccinations. However, based on the information above, facilities have started re-opening visitation options as the case count in communities continues to decline. Additionally, there are still options for compassionate-care visitation. If you have questions about visitation in a facility that you or your loved one resides in, feel free to ask the facility what their plan and policy is for indoor visitation and compassionate-care visitation. If the answer you receive is not satisfactory, or you would like clarification on your rights, please reach out to the Ombudsman for more information. We are here and ready to discuss your concerns about visitation and other facility issues. Please reach out to our intake line at 419-259-2891. We understand that this is still a trying time, and we look forward to discussing your concerns and questions. Megan Benner Senecal is a member of the Ombudsman Office. ❦
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“‘CANCER’ IS A WORD, not a sentence.” So many of us associate cancer with impending death, but this is just not the case anymore. Numerous people are living many years with Stage 4 or advanced cancer. With the progress of clinical trials and immunotherapy treatment, cancer patients are living longer in spite of an end-stage diagnosis. How does one live with cancer as a chronic illness? Let’s ask the people who are doing it. This is the first in a series of interviews conducted with local cancer patients: MT was initially diagnosed in 2011 and in 2014 found out that the cancer had metastasized, which identified her as Stage 4. When asked how she adjusted to a Stage 4 diagnosis, she explains that she is a person who does a lot of research and wants as much information as possible. “I always assumed that my cancer would return, so in some ways I spent three years preparing for it. I got as healthy as I possibly could, ate well, exercised, and lived my life as fully as possible so that when I was re-diagnosed I was ready.” What helps you live with cancer as a chronic illness? “This is a difficult question. I think in many ways I got lucky because my personality type is well suited to dealing with this. I am a person who does not believe that everything happens for a reason nor that there is a higher power controlling the cancer cells in my body. I believe in science and that I have cancer because of genetic,
environmental, or other undiscovered causes. I do not believe in sickness as a punishment. My cancer is, in some ways, no different than someone who catches a cold. It just is. It is now a part of me and a part of my life. I have had treatments in one form or another every three weeks for the last six years. Keeping myself alive is a daily task, and I embrace the challenge of it and the joys of still being here. I know that even when terrible things happen in my life, that in a matter of weeks, I will be given a different perspective. This enables me to accept life as it is and look for the moments of peace and joy that occur every day.” What advice would you give to others? “Every person has their own way of coping with a cancer diagnosis— some people just want to be taken care of and only know what they need to know. I am not that person. My advice is, first and foremost, do not stop moving or living. Regardless of what stage you are diagnosed at, find things that you love and enjoy them. Find reasons every day to embrace your existence. Good books, good food, good wine, travel...whatever you need to do to keep that spark alive inside of you regardless of what’s going on around you. My second piece of advice is to take control of your life and your treatment. If you are not capable, then find someone who will fight for you and include this person in every decision.”
Jean Schoen is the founder and president of Cancer Connection of Northwest Ohio, Inc. (419-725-1100). ❦ Healthy Living News | March 2021 25
Build a personal support system by Daniel J. Jachimiak, BA ISOLATION IS A major cause of depression. As we move into adult responsibilities, such as work, Daniel J. Jachimiak parenting, marriage, we tend to let our relationships fade into the background. In the ever-increasing tasks of “adulting,” self-care often takes a back seat. Selfcare includes physical, emotional, spiritual, personal, and professional tasks. A healthy support system plays a role in all these categories of self-care. Who do you already have in your life? Ask yourself, “Do I feel respected by this person? Does this person bring out my best qualities? Does this person allow me to feel good about myself?” We often ask ourselves, “When do I ask for help? What do I think will happen? Do I have positive or negative expectations?” Here are some great tips to build a personal support system: Turn to family and friends There is no substitute for family and good friends to support and
encourage you when the chips are down. Sometimes just talking with someone can lift your spirits and help take the weight off your shoulders. Having someone listen to your concerns helps make you feel supported and understood, which in turn encourages you to look at things differently. Cultivate a variety of interests Read more, go to the movies or a play, listen to great music, enjoy beautiful art. Engaging in healthy and mind-expanding activities can preoccupy you when you need a healthy distraction. Not only do they preoccupy you, but they help you grow and develop, therefore leaving less time to brood or stay down very long. Exercise and play sports Have an assortment of exercises or fun sports you can draw upon to work out and let off some pent-up energy and steam. There is nothing like a good workout to stimulate your endorphins, the “happy hormones.” Take a short, affordable trip We all have someplace we’ve always wanted to visit but just never got around to it. Travel to a big city like Chicago or Toronto and partake in the cultural treasures it has to offer. The experience can expand your horizons and give you that change
Toledo Clinic - continued from p7 direct the beam very accurately so the full dose is delivered to the cancer while the surrounding tissue is spared. Once patients complete their course of radiation treatment, they can usually get back to their normal lives within a matter of weeks.” The Toledo Clinic Cancer Centers, located at 4126 N. Holland Sylvania Road, Suite 105, also provides imaging, laboratory, chemotherapy and IV services. The cancer center consists of 7 medical and 3 radiation oncologists along with 8 nurse practitioners and 4 research nurses. The cancer center also has satellite centers in Maumee, Napoleon, Bowling Green, Wauseon, and Monroe. The Toledo Clinic Cancer Centers has earned Patient-Centered Specialty Practice level 3 recognition and Oncology Medical Home recognition from the National Committee for Quality Assurance. Oncology homes align systems and resources with coordinated care focused on cancer patients and their needs. This reduces fragmentation, supports shared decision making, and improves the patient experience. They are the first oncology practice in the state of Michigan and the second oncology practice in the state of Ohio to receive this recognition. For more information, please call The Toledo Clinic Cancer Centers at 419-479-5605. ❦ n
of scenery you need. Or just take a trip to the countryside and enjoy the bucolic surroundings. Create a quiet place or sanctuary for yourself Find a quiet place in your home, a corner in your local library, or a park where you can go to meditate, contemplate, or rejuvenate yourself. You can go for a stroll in the park and enjoy the flowers, trees, and birds and connect with your surroundings. Volunteer at a hospital or nursing home Take a day and volunteer your services to someone who needs your help. Giving support is as important as receiving it. It will put things in perspective. Rather than resorting to unhealthy outlets, such as overeating, alcohol, or other harmful substances, when we are down, we can find positive ways of expressing ourselves while at the same time building resilience. Take care of yourself! Daniel J. Jachimiak, BA, is a Feature Writer/Jour nalist and Speak er. Dan can be reached at djachimiak@ bex.net or 419-787-2036. ~ You can have a better life ~ ❦
Community Services Do you have a Worker’s Compensation injury claim
NW OH’s Care Experts Since 1988
and can’t find a doctor to treat or help you with it? We understand Worker’s Comp and the paperwork involved. We also work with dozens of other health care professionals who participate in Worker’s Comp, who we refer to. We treat you like a person, not a number. Call us and let’s get you help. We can help.
Call Dr. Dan Lollar DC at Lollar Health Services, LLC 419-537-8624
LH S
LLC
When memory care isn’t enough. Toledo 419.381.9447
parkcliffe.com
Northwood 419.698.3822
Nancy Lollar, RN 419‐460‐2263
PROVIDING PRIVATE IN HOME NURSING CARE
• manages medications/doctors appointments/transportation • coordinates care • hires/res staff • trains staff • schedules staff for 24‐hour care
26 March 2021 | Healthy Living News
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Elizabeth Scott Community 2720 Albon Road Maumee, OH 43537 419-865-3002 www.elizabethscott.org
Continuing Healthcare of Toledo 4420 South Ave. Toledo, Ohio 43615 419-531-4201 www.ContinuingHC.com
Rosary Care Center 6832 Convent Blvd. Sylvania, OH 43560 419-824-3600 www.sistersosf.org
Genacross Lutheran Services Wolf Creek Campus
Senior Star at West Park Place
Park Terrace Nursing and Rehabilitation
2001 Perrysburg-Holland Rd. Holland, OH 43528
3501 Executive Parkway Toledo, Ohio 43606
2735 Darlington Rd.
419-861-2233
419-442-8563
www.GenacrossLutheranServices.org
www.seniorstar.com/westparkplace
Senior Living Guide Choosing a senior living community that’s right for you or a loved one is among the most important—and challenging— decisions you’ll make in your lifetime. We’re fortunate here in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan to have a wide variety of high-quality senior living options, including independent living, assisted living, continuing-care, and subsidized low-income housing communities. To make your decision a bit easier, we’ve assembled this guide to all the senior living properties that regularly support Healthy Living News through advertising. In addition to referencing this page for each organization’s contact information, we urge you to see their ads in the pages of this issue, check out their websites, and give them a call to schedule a tour if you are interested in hearing more about all the services and amenities they offer.
Toledo, Ohio 43606 419-531-4465 www.parkterracenursing.com
Parkcliffe Community 4226 Parkcliffe Lane Toledo, OH 43615 419-381-9447 www.parkcliffe.com
Pelham Manor 2700 Pelham Rd Toledo, OH 43606 419-537-1515 www.jewishtoledo.org
St. Clare Commons
The Manor at Perrysburg
Gardens of St. Francis
Fieldstone Villas
12469 Five Point Road Perrysburg, OH 43551
250 Manor Drive Perrysburg, OH 43551
930 S. Wynn Road Oregon, Ohio 43616
9640 Sylvania-Metamora Rd. Sylvania, OH 43560
419-931-0050
419-874-0306
419-698-4331
419-386-2686
www.homeishere.org
www.ManorAtPerrysburg.com
www.homeishere.org
www.sunset-communities.org
Sunset House
Ohio Living Swan Creek
Franciscan Care Center
The Lakes of Monclova
4030 Indian Rd. Ottawa Hills, OH 43606
5916 Cresthaven Lane Toledo, OH 43614
4111 N. Holland-Sylvania Rd. Toledo, Ohio 43623
Monclova Road Maumee, Ohio 43537
419-536-4645
419-865-4445
419-882-6582
419-866-3030
www.sunset-communities.org
www.ohioliving.org
www.homeishere.org
www.lakesofmonclova.com
The Woodlands
Plaza Apartments
The Laurels of Toledo
4030 Indian Rd. Ottawa Hills, OH 43606
2520 Monroe Street Toledo, Ohio 43620
1011 Byrne Road Toledo, OH 43607
Browning Masonic Community
419-724-1220
419-244-1881
www.sunset-communities.org
419-536-7600
www.vmc.org
www.laurelsoftoledo.com
Sunset Village
Genesis Village
9640 Sylvania-Metamora Rd. Sylvania, OH 43560
2429 S. Reynolds Rd. Toledo, OH 43614
Genacross Lutheran Services Toledo Campus
419-724-1200
419-720-1286
www.sunset-communities.org
www.genesisvillage.org
Connect with our advertisers via our online issue at hlntoledo.com
131 Wheeling St. Toledo, OH 43605 419-724-1414 www.GenacrossLutheranServices.org
8883 Browning Drive Waterville, Ohio 43566 419-878-4055 www.bmcohio.org
The Glendale Assisted Living 5020 Ryan Road Toledo, Ohio 43614 419-340-6721 www.glendaleassistedliving.com Healthy Living News | March 2021 27
Virtual Visits for a Healthy You Health has taken on a new importance these days. But at Mercy Health, yours has always been our top priority. And we’re as committed as we’ve always been to providing you with high-quality, personalized care—whether safely in our clean facilities or virtually from the comfort of your own home. Visit mercy.com/primarycare to connect with a primary care provider today.
PRIMARY CARE FOR FO R THE UNIVERSE OF YOU
28 March 2021 | Healthy Living News
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