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NOVEMBER 2020 • ISSUE 177
Embracing the Golden Years Special edition focuses on senior set Pages 5-12
Make right choices
Angela Brown Manager, companion care: Assisting seniors to remain in their homes
Proper diet, staying fit deemed essential for a balanced and healthy body, mind and spirit
Pages 14-15
Why frozen spinach is healthy choice
Fresh, frozen or canned spinach is a superfood. Nutrient-dense and calorie-light, this dark, leafy green provides a remarkable array of health benefits.
P. 14 November 2020 •
Is Election Stress Getting to You? You’re Not Alone P.3 IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper
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Is Election Stress Getting to You? You’re Not Alone
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or most Americans, the 2020 presidential election is a big source of stress, a new nationwide survey shows. Nearly seven in 10 adults (68%) surveyed called the election a significant source of stress, compared with 52% in 2016, the survey commissioned by the American Psychological Association (APA) showed. Former Vice President Joe Biden,
a Democrat, is trying to unseat Republican President Donald Trump in a divisive campaign that has put a spotlight on the president’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, the economy and widespread racial unrest. And pre-election stress is high among people of all political stripes: 76% of Democrats, 67% of Republicans and 64% of Independents, the survey found. Arthur Evans Jr., APA’s chief executive officer, said this is an election year like no other. “Not only are we in the midst of a global pandemic that has killed more than 200,000 Americans, but we are also facing increasing division and hostility in the presidential election,” Evans said in an APA news release.
“Add to that racial turmoil in our cities, the unsteady economy and climate change that has fueled widespread wildfires and other natural disasters. The result is an accumulation of stressors that are taking a physical and emotional toll on Americans,” Evans said. But some groups are feeling the stress more acutely than they did in 2016, the survey found. For example, 71% of Black adults said this election is a source of stress, compared with 46% four years ago. Adults with chronic health conditions are also more likely than those without one to say this election is stressful (71% versus 64%). Rates were lower in both groups during the 2016 campaign (55% versus 45%). And the stress, which has intensi-
fied in the past year, goes beyond the election itself. In 2020, 77% of respondents said they are stressed out about the future of the United States, up from 66% in 2019. The survey of more than 3,400 adults was conducted online by The Harris Poll from Aug. 4 to 26, 2020. If election-related stress is getting to you, you can take steps to relieve it, the APA advised. Avoid dwelling on things you can’t control and focus on what you can control. Limit your media exposure. Do activities you enjoy and get involved in things that matter to you, the experts suggested. Stay socially connected. Go for a walk or spend time with friends and family. Stay or get active physical activity helps release stress-related energy.
Healthcare in a Minute By George W. Chapman
COVID-19 Vaccine: Providers, First Responders Among the First to Get It
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he FDA has made clear it will not take potentially dangerous short cuts when granting emergency authorization to vaccine producers. The White House, eager to get a vaccine approved by the election, has reluctantly acquiesced to the FDA’s authority, expertise and caution. Front runners Pfizer and Moderna believe they will qualify for FDA emergency authorization possibly in December. Providers, first responders, seniors and people with comorbidities will be among the first to be vaccinated in 2021. Whether or not the vaccine will be “free” is undetermined as of this writing.
Big Tech Health Insurance
Despite increasing scrutiny over their potentially monopolistic practices, big tech giants Google, Amazon, Facebook and Apple are venturing into tech driven health insurance. It begins with their wearable monitoring devices which gives them remote and live access to considerable and significant personal health data. Google has already launched their insurance company called Verily. Amazon offers employees coverage through its spinoff called Haven. It plans to offer it to its 900,000-plus U.S. e-commerce sellers. Big tech enters the health insurance market with literally billions to invest. Traditional commercial health plans like the Blues, Aetna and Cigna are limited by law to no more than 20% profit on their premiums. Any “profit” above 20% must be refunded to the buyer. (They are allowed up to three years to settle.) As long as there is the Affordable Care Act, the 20% profit ceiling should also apply to the big tech newcomers. The billions needed
to survive in the industry, then, will come from other operations. Big Tech will reap unlimited profits in wearable devices, internet sales, phones and advertising. Traditional health insurers are merging with retail drug chains where profits are not limited. If the Supreme Court determines the entire Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional early next year, expect your healthcare premiums to skyrocket as the 20% restriction on profits disappears.
Uninsured Increasing
The impact of the pandemic is evident in fatalities, increased social anxiety, a faltering economy and loss of jobs. It is estimated that as many as 8 million workers will lose their jobs temporarily, if not permanently. Consequently, they will lose their employer based or sponsored health insurance. If the ACA is struck down, subsidized commercial insurance plans on the exchanges will no longer be an option as it is currently for 20 million Americans. Physicians and hospitals, already in financial peril due to the pandemic, are understandably concerned about the further strain on their revenue sources as patients lose their better paying commercial insurance plans. The newly uninsured who qualify based on income, will be covered by Medicaid. Those who don’t qualify may decide individual commercial insurance is too expensive and risk being uninsured. Health insurance, for most under 65, has traditionally been employer-based. The ACA was designed to offer an alternative to employer-based plans.
Hospital COVID-19
Reporting
CMS Chief Seema Verma is giving non-compliant hospitals three to four months to get up to speed with daily COVID-19 reporting requirements. If they fail to comply, they will lose their participation in Medicaid and Medicare. Among the required daily COVID-19 related stats are: deaths, hospitalizations, ICU admissions, number of ventilators, staffing shortages and remdesivir inventory. In the middle of a pandemic, this seems like a rather reasonable requirement from CMS which pays hospitals for treating patients with COVID-19 and related comorbidities. Incredibly, the knee jerk reaction from the American Hospital Association is call the reporting requirements overly burdensome and overkill.
Physician Burnout Rising
An international survey of 7,500 physicians, conducted by Medscape, revealed an unsurprising increase in burnout combined with a precipitous decrease in income. Five thousand of the respondents were U.S. physicians. About 25% of U.S. docs said they plan to retire earlier with 64% reporting feeling burned out. Nine percent of U.S. physicians reported 76% to 100% lost income; 14% lost 51% to 75%; 28% lost 26% to 50% and 33% lost 11% to 25% of their income compared to last year. Basically, about half of the reporting physicians lost at least a quarter of their income due to the pandemic. The larger drops in income were among ophthalmologists, allergists, plastic surgeons and ENTs. About 54% of the physicians surveyed treated a patient with COVID-19 and 6% of the physicians got infected. Food was
November 2020 •
the top source of comfort. To make matters worse for physicians, recalcitrant and rude patients are contributing to staff and provider burnout. Agitated patients are complaining about masks or outright refusing to wear them. Others are arguing with staff about restrictive visitor policies. While the reported occurrences are rare, they are deeply upsetting to already frazzled staff. Please understand and be nice!
Employer-based Care 2021
The Business Group on Health revealed employer plans for 2021. The pandemic has clearly impacted how they will approach next year. Most commercial insurers and selffunded plans have experienced significant decreases in claims and utilization this year, so 2021 premiums increases are expected to be in the 0% to 4% range. (Neither employers nor insurers are sure of the eventual impact of pent-up demand on costs.) Fifty-seven percent of employers said they do not plan on shifting more out of pocket costs to their employees. Fifty-three percent are interested in expanding virtual healthcare where they will also cover chronic care management, mental health, prenatal care and weight management. There seems to be an increase in employer empathy for the plight of their workers. Sixty-one percent plan to provide clinics on site. Eighty-one percent plan on directing employees to condition specific centers of excellence.
George W. Chapman is a healthcare business consultant who works exclusively with physicians, hospitals and healthcare organizations. He operates GW Chapman Consulting based in Syracuse. Email him at gwc@gwchapmanconsulting.com.
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper
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Meet
Your Doctor
By Chris Motola
Always Be Ready for a Trip to the ER
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ccidents happen, and being prepared for an emergency room visit could help speed treatment and reduce anxiety if the need occurs, an expert says. The first step is determining which ER you want to use in the event of a sudden or severe illness or injury, said Susan Promes, chairwoman of emergency medicine at Penn State Health Medical Center. “You’ll want to know what’s available in your area, and what options they offer,” Promes said in a Penn State Health news release. A convenient location is important, but so are the capabilities of the emergency department and hospital. “Every emergency department offers general emergency care. But are the doctors trained in the specialty of emergency medicine? If you have children, you may also want to know if there are physicians with additional training in pediatric emergency medicine,” Promes said. For your research, go to a hospital’s website, click its emergency department link, and then click on the providers to see if they’ve had specialty training. The website should also provide information about whether the hospital is a trauma center equipped to stabilize and treat critical injuries, she noted. When you arrive at the ER, you should have a list of all current medical conditions, medications and doses, and any known allergies. “I’d even list any previous surgeries and their dates,” Promes said. “It would also be helpful to know who your doctors are and what their phone numbers are in case the emergency medicine physician needs more information to provide the best care.” Keep this health information in a purse or wallet, or store it in a cell phone, she suggested. Another recommended document to have ready, especially for older adults, is a Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment form. “If you’re critically ill, it’s really important to be able to communicate what your wishes are,” Promes said.
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Satish Krishnamurthy, M.D. Interim chairman talks about recent expansion in Upstate University Hospital’s neurosurgery department. ‘We’re confident that we can offer worldclass care right here in our community’ Q: Tell us about the changes at the neurosurgery department at Upstate. A: I am the chair of neurosurgery. We’ve always had the neurosurgeons take care of all the difficult problems that affect the brain, spinal chord and nerves. Things like injuries, tumors, strokes, aneurysms. Recently we’ve expanded the number of neurosurgeons in our department from seven to 10. We’re not all doing the same thing. There’s subspecialization. Some of us do brain tumors as a specialty. A couple of us do pediatrics. Some of us do vascular neurosurgery. A few of us do functional neurosurgergy. Most of the time seizures are taken care of by medication, but if that’s not working they often need surgical solutions to take out the area that is causing the seizures or pain, or putting in a device that records the abnormal signal coming out of the brain that causes the seizure and stops it in its tracks by giving it an electrical jolt. So it’s called responsive neurostimulation. We’re doing all the things any worldclass institute would do. With this expansion of neurosurgery services, we’re confident that we can offer world-class care right here in our community, so that there’s a decreased burden on our patients and their families. They won’t have to travel to get the best treatment. Q: I take it this also includes equipment? A: We have all the technology; we have the ability to take out brain tumors completely. We can do inter-operative MRIs. And we have a robot that can precisely put electrodes into the brain without causing dam-
age. Upstate is also the regional trauma center, the regional cancer center, the region’s children’s hospital, all of this means that we have a wide number of specialties available to take care of complicated problems. With brain tumors, for example, you’d want not just a neurosurgeon but an oncologist, a radiation oncologist. So you need multiple specialties. Upstate is able to cater to all of those complicated problems. We can treat metastatic tumors that get into the brain in one day with the Gamma Knife. So expansion of the program means that we can provide the best care for our community without having patients leave the area, to go to Boston, New York City or Texas to get their care. Not only is it inconvenient, but not every family can manage the expense, take that much time off of work, get insurance to approve it. We can take care all of that in your backyard. Q: Prior to the expansion, where would patients have had to go to get comparable neurosurgical care? A: We were able to cater to the majority of patients, but with the expansion of the program we can capture a larger service area. Having more neurosurgeons increases the number of things you’re able to do. We’ve been taking care of complicated cases for a decade, but now we can have people focus on specific subspecialties. You might have seen in the press that neurosurgeons are doing brain surgery while the patient is awake, even playing guitar. We had people
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • November 2020
who could do those surgeries, but now we have people available to do those surgeries regularly and expand our services so we can cater to a later population. Q: What’s your subspecialty? A: So I do both vascular neurosurgery and pediatric neurosurgery, but I am also specially trained in minimally invasive surgery. There are a couple of us who do minimally invasive work in the brain. Basically, minimally invasive means that you want to make the smallest cut and cause the least amount of damage to the structures you’re going through. So, for example in relation to aneurysm, you can open the head and operate on an aneurysm, or you can get there through an endovascular route, where you put a catheter through the artery in the wrist and deploy devices to close off the aneurysm. Dr. [Grahame] Gould uses the endovascular approach. I do open vascular surgery. So from a patient’s perspective it offers a choice of treatment strategies. Not everyone can be treated with minimally invasive approaches, but the people we do tend to spend less time in the hospital. For example, spinal fusion surgery may traditionally require several days admission into the hospital, but with minimally invasive approaches, it may only take one day. It also decreases the amount of pain because you’re not cutting through all the muscles. Q: Which subspecialities have benefited the most? A: It allows us to focus our efforts on brain tumors, for example. We have two pediatric neurosurgeons. We also cover the neonatal intensive care unit on Crouse Hospital. We have four functional neurosurgeons, people who deal with Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy. There’s our spine team, with a specialty surgeon. He does mostly big tumors that affect the spinal chord and spine. We have vascular neurosurgery. And then we have a neurosurgeon who does emergent critical care neurosurgery, taking care of patients who need emergent surgery. We have the region’s only dedicated neurologic intensive care unit with specially trained physicians and nursing staff with round-the-clock coverage.
Lifelines
Name: Satish Krishnamurthy, M.D. Position: Professor and interim chairman of neurosurgery at Upstate University Hospital Hometown: Bangalore, India (“Effectively Syracuse at this point”) Education: Residency: Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Pennsylvania State University, 2000, neurological surgery; fellowship: University Of Mainz, Germany, 1999; Internship: Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Pennsylvania State University, 1995, general surgery; MD: Mysore Medical College, Mysore, India, 1984 Research interests: Pediatric neurosurgery; vascular neurosurgery Specialties: Minimally invasive surgery, neurocritical care Affiliations: Upstate University Hospital; Crouse Hospital Organizations: American Medical Association, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, American Association of Neurological Surgeons Family: Wife (professor in the psychiatric department); daughter (entrepreneur) Hobbies: Keeping up with research, particularly on non-surgical treatments for hydrocephalus; outdoor activities
Golden Years
Home remedies Grandma was right: Many of her home remedies are sound By Barbara Pierce
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randma was wise in the ways of the world—especially when you’re not feeling 100%. She had a home remedy for whatever ailed you. New studies show she was clearly onto something. “Most home remedies are good, helpful,” said Peter Corn, owner of Peter’s Cornucopia in New Hartford. A locally owned and operated health food store, Peter’s Cornucopia has been selling natural supplements, organic produce and health items for more than 30 years. Here are some of the home remedies Corn recommends that have been found sound by medical experts:
Oneida, Herkimer In Good
and
Health MV’s Healthcare Newspaper
— Chicken soup for a cold: A bowlful can mitigate cold or flu symptoms. There’s more to this bowl than good taste — there’s some real healing power in it. The hardy broth contains vitamins, minerals, and fat. The warm broth improves cold symptoms, clears up nasal congestion, while the protein in the chicken boosts the immune system. — Honey with lemon for a cough or sore throat: Stirred into boiling water, this isn’t just soothing; it actively fights the throat irritation that comes with a cold or flu. Honey is a natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, properties that can help quiet your cough. Lemon contains vitamin C, which may reduce the duration of
Madison
counties
a cold. — And the heat of the brew matters: In a study, participants with colds were given a hot drink while others were given the exact same drink at room temperature. While both temperatures relieved cold symptoms, only the hot one eased sore throats, too. Some say this is a good remedy for constipation also. — Apple cider vinegar and honey is Corn’s favorite remedy for a number of ailments. Diluted in warm water, people have used it for centuries. Packed with vitamin B and probiotics, it’s beneficial as a regular addition to your diet. Apple cider vinegar has various healthful properties, including the ability to kill or slow bacteria, viruses and fungi, as well as preventing cell damage. What’s more, evidence suggests it may offer benefits such as aiding weight loss, reducing cholesterol, lowering blood sugar levels, and improving the symptoms of diabetes. — Cod liver oil is another of Corn’s recommendations. Commonly taken as a dietary supplement, it’s packed full of nutrients. Turns out grandma was right when she made her kids take it, as it contains large amounts of vitamins A, D, and omega-3 fatty acids.
Add vitamin regimen
A monthly newspaper published by Local News, Inc. 20,000 copies distributed. To request home delivery ($21 per year), call 315-749-7070.
In Good Health is published 12 times a year by Local News, Inc. © 2020 by Local News, Inc. All rights reserved. Mailing Address: 4 Riverside Drive, Suite 251, Utica, NY 13502 • Phone: 315-749-7070 Email: lou@cnymail.com
Editor & Publisher: Wagner Dotto Associate Editor: Lou Sorendo Contributing Writers: Barbara Pierce, David Podos, Deb Dittner, Jessica Arsenault Rivenburg, Brooke Stacia Demott, Daniel Baldwin, Traci DeLore Advertising: Amy Gagliano Layout & Design: Dylon Clew-Thomas Office Assistant: Nancy Nitz No material may be reproduced in whole or in part from this publication without the express written permission of the publisher. The information in this publication is intended to complement — not to take the place of — the recommendations of your health provider.
— Vitamin A is essential for the immune system, bone growth, night vision, and cellular growth. Vitamin D not only prevents rickets but supports muscle function. — Elderberry is a favorite with his customers, said Corn. Packed with antioxidants and vitamin C that help the immune system, it was very popular when the coronavirus was at its worst. Some experts recommend elderberry to help prevent and ease cold and flu symptoms. — Black cherry juice, or tart cherry, in juice or capsule helps gout and inflammation, said Corn. It reduces the length and pain of a gout attack.
November 2020 •
— Cranberry juice keeps your kidneys clean, supports the urinary tract, and fights urinary tract infections. Home remedies recommended by other experts: — Breathe into a paper bag to calm an anxiety attack: This works because when you exhale, you are filling the bag with C02. When you inhale, you inhale that C02. The theory is that, after a moment or two, this will begin to ease your symptoms. However, it’s important to note this is unsafe for people with heart or lung problems. — Slip into a warm bath for just about anything. Hydrotherapy has been hot for centuries. But scientists are now exploring why soaks seem able to relieve pain, lower fevers, and promote better sleep. They’ve found that bathing in 104-to-109-degree water 90 minutes before bed can improve overall sleep quality and help us fall asleep faster. Other research suggests a warm bath may temporarily bring a fever slightly down. And the steam helps loosen sinus congestion and gets mucus to start draining, helping to relieve cold symptoms. Others found the heat causes our blood vessels to dilate, which improves circulation to tissues, which in turn reduces pain. — Eat ginger to settle your stomach: Numerous studies have shown that ginger root (fresh or dried) can be as effective as over-the-counter drugs at treating nausea, motion sickness, and even vomiting. — Coke, Sprite, or ginger ale: But when it comes to stomach distress, many people view a cup of flat soda as just what the doctor ordered. The quick and popular remedy is said to help settle the stomach with its slight fizz and replenish fluids and glucose lost by vomiting and diarrhea. It is wise to talk with your doctor or pharmacist before you try any home remedies, especially if you take prescription or over-the-counter medications, because some can interact with or affect how medications work.
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Golden Years
Health Careers
Angela Brown
Manager, companion care: Assisting seniors to remain in their homes By Barbara Pierce
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ohawk Valley in Good Health newspaper senior staff correspondent Barbara Pierce recently spoke with Angela Brown, manager of companion care, Daughter for Hire, LLC. DfH offers non-medical in-home assistance to senior citizens in the Mohawk Valley and the Capital District, making it possible for them to remain in their own homes. Q.: How did you become involved in this career? A.: When my daughter was old enough to Brown attend school, I decided to pursue a part-time job. I was unsure of the path that I wanted to follow and considered several options. A dear friend pointed out that I am the type of person that wants to help and care for others and suggested that I consider becoming a caregiver. I am thankful for her insight and advice. I interviewed for a caregiver position with Denise (Filhan) and Kathleen (Rutishauser), co-owners of DfH. I was instantly impressed with the mission and culture of the orga-
nization. Their values were a perfect match with mine and I knew this was where I belonged. Since that time, I’ve had two promotions, the most recent of which is my current position as manager of companion care for the Mohawk Valley. As manager, I work with each caregiver and client. I thoroughly enjoy supporting our clients and caregivers in this way. Q.: As manager of companion care, what are your responsibilities? A.: One of my favorite responsibilities is to meet with potential new clients and their families to discuss our services. Once someone decides to work with us, I work hard to understand their likes and dislikes and carefully match their personality with the right caregiver. I love nothing more than hearing a client tell me that they enjoy the time spent with our caregiver; I am happy that I’ve made such a good match. In addition to managing clients’ needs, I oversee and manage the weekly schedules for each client. I’m also responsible for interviewing and hiring new caregivers. I oversee, train
and coach our caregivers so they fully understand our procedures and are supported as they work with our clients.
Q.: What assistance do your caregivers provide? A.: DfH offers caring, compassionate, and dependable non-medical assistance to seniors. We assist clients with daily activities that help them to remain independent in their own homes. Our services include meal preparation, light housekeeping, running errands, taking clients to medical appointments, medication reminders and, most importantly, companionship. For many seniors, it can feel like they are giving up their independence when they are considering in-home care. What we have found is that, with our assistance, clients learn that they are able to do more. Whether it’s going out for a nice lunch or dinner, or easily get to their appointments without worrying about who’s going to take them, our clients quickly see that they can count on us. We guide with our hearts; we treat each client like we would treat our own parent. Q.: What training did it take to become a manager? A.: In addition to being an extremely organized and detail-oriented person, my experience working as a caregiver and communicating with our clients and our office staff was essential for me to become an effective manager. My experience has given me the ability to understand the needs of both our caregivers
and our clients, and to provide the assistance and training necessary to ensure our caregivers feel supported and our clients’ needs are consistently being met.
Q.: What are the rewards of this position? A.: I could go on forever about what I like about this position. I get to leave the office every day knowing the families and clients I have worked with are grateful for our help and assistance. I often hear how much they appreciate their caregiver, and I do too. I am privileged to work closely with some of the kindest, most compassionate people I’ve ever met. There is no better feeling than when I hear the relief in the voice of a family member of someone we have helped, and to know we’ve made a big difference in their life. Q.: What are the foremost challenges? A.: The biggest challenge is finding and hiring caregivers. We get many calls asking for the help of a caregiver; we’re always looking for reliable, caring, and compassionate individuals to join our team. Q.: Anything else you would like us to know about DfH? A.: In response to the COVID pandemic, DfH has implemented strict policies and procedures to reduce caregivers’ and clients’ exposure to the virus while we’re working with them. For more information on DfH, call 315-725-2955 or visit www. daughterforhire.com.
Kidney disease requires ongoing follow up care.
Now serving the Mohawk Valley Region with a new satellite location in Vernon, NY.
Main Office: 1304 Buckley Rd, Syracuse, NY 13212 Satellite Offices: Camillus, Fayetteville, Fulton, and Vernon, NY Ph: 315.478.3311 www.nephrologysyracuse.com Page 6
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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • November 2020
Between You & Me By Barbara Pierce
Ageless problem How old did you say you were again?
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sk me how old I am and I’ll hem and haw and you’ll never know. Because, if you knew, chances are you’d picture a withered old crone in the corner, drooling on the ratty pink blanket wrapped around her. That’s the opposite from how I see myself: robust, contributing, and living life to the fullest. I suppose the truth is in the middle, as it often is. How about you? Do you let people know how old you are? If so, I applaud you. You’re not supporting the prejudices about aging that have been drummed into us. Older people are stereotyped as dependent, frail, out of touch, or a burden. You’d have to live in a cave to miss the messages all around us that being old is to be feared and avoided by any means, says Ashton Applewhite in her book, “This Chair Rocks: A Manifest Against Ageism.” No wonder so many of us are reluctant to admit we’re there. Attempting to “pass” for younger, the way people of color have passed for white and gay people for straight are ways to avoid being discriminated against. Ageism makes growing older in
America far harder than it has to be. We can feel as useless as poinsettias after Christmas. In a society that values young, fit and beautiful, we’re lacking. Our sexuality is mocked, our bodies derided, and our voices silenced. We age in different ways and at different rates; older age is characterized by great diversity. The longer we live, the more different from one another we become, says Applewhite. Think about it: Who is likely to have more in common, a bunch of 17-year olds or a bunch of 77-year-olds? As doctors put it: “If you’ve seen one 81 year-old, you’ve seen one 81 year old.” My darkest nightmare is the possibility of ending my days out of it, drooling in some ghastly nursing home. However, only 4.5% of older adults live in nursing homes and 2 percent in assisted living, Applewhite points out. What about being sick and helpless? It turns out that over three quarters of those over 85 go about their everyday activities without much assistance. Maybe not shoveling their driveways, but dressing, cooking, and wiping their own butts. People
get chronic illnesses, but they learn to live with them. The vast majority of older Americans live independently until they get whatever kills them, says Applewhite.
Ascending to happiness
Contrary to stereotypes, many older people are deeply happy. A study found people are least happy when young, and steadily gain appreciation for life as they age. Most women become increasingly happy after age 55, says Mary Pipher in her book, “Women Rowing North.” Here’s the kicker — people are happiest at the end of their life. Even as age strips us of things we cherished, we grow more content, says Applewhite. The good news is we can change ageism. Here are some suggestions from Applewhite: — Start by acknowledging our own prejudices. Look at our own behavior. We’re complicit when we lie about our age, dye our hair, and Botox our faces or bodies. We head for people our own age at a social gathering on the assumption that we wouldn’t have anything in common with a younger person, or they wouldn’t want to talk to us. — Many older people have almost no contact with the young and vice versa. This is unfortunate for us all. When generations interact, cultures flourish, inspiring and energizing each other. — The next time someone asks how old you are, tell them the truth. When we claim our age, the number loses its power over us. We can’t stop aging, but we can change the way we feel about it. — Does the person you are now have less to offer than the younger you did? Are you less interesting
November 2020 •
now? Less valuable? Less attractive? If that gets a nod, consider industries that make billions on our dissatisfaction with our bodies. Instead of telling people they look great for their age, tell them they look great. — Dump some language: The elderly? Yuck. Seniors? Ugh. The only unobjectionable term is older people. It drives me nuts when a young person calls me “young lady” and expects me to feel complimented. It’s so demeaning; speak up and let them know. If you’re on the receiving end of an ageist comment, ask gently, “Why would you say that?” Don’t assume someone is too old to weigh in on a topic or take on a responsibility. — Assume capacity, not incapacity. Speak to an older person the same way you would to a younger one. Changing the culture is a tall order, but look at how women’s roles have changed in a single generation, and at the amazing progress we’ve made in this century against homophobia. But I’m still not ready to share my age; I’ll work on that. Barbara Pierce is a retired licensed clinical social worker with many years of experience helping people. If you would like to purchase a copy of her book, “When You Come to the Edge: Aging” or if you have questions for her, contact her at barbarapierce06@yahoo.com.
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Golden Years
Home sweet home Should you consider aging in place? By Barbara Pierce
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iven the choice, most of us prefer to stay in our own homes as we age, near family and friends and the comfort of familiar surroundings. Finding new hairdressers, grocery stores and shops is daunting. Establishing ourselves with new health care professionals is a challenging, unwelcome undertaking. But if our home no longer supports us in our daily lives, is not a safe, secure place for us as we age, do we have the choice to stay? The good news is that, with the right help, you may be able to modify your home so you can do what’s called “aging in place.” Rather than relocate, many older homeowners are choosing to improve their home to make it more age-friendly. “We’re living longer; our home needs to support us,” said certified aging in place specialist Linda E. Fake, owner of Uniquely Yours Residential and Commercial Interior Design in Dolgeville. “I’m passionate about this as I’ve seen my grandparents and parents struggle with a home that didn’t support them as they aged.” “An assisted living facility costs $15,000 a month,” she said. “If you put four months of this — $60,000 — into making changes to your home so that you can continue to live there, it’s much more financially viable to remain where you are.” As an aging in place specialist, Fake is one of a small group of designers who are knowledgeable about how to help older people stay in their homes safely and securely. That requires understanding of the aging process and the challenges that a home may present to an older person. If your home doesn’t have the basics to accommodate an older you, you might consider renovations. Fake faces several challenges when adapting homes to accommodate older people. “Many of the homes in our area are older, with the bathroom on the second floor, no bathroom on first floor. My grandfather had a stroke and my grandmother struggled to care for him for 17 years with no bathroom on the first floor. It was so sad to see,” she said. Wider hallways may be necessary if one should need to negotiate in a walker or wheelchair, as are wide doorways and lower counter tops. A shower that does not require you to climb into a tub is a must; having room for a stool in the shower is also smart. Many fixes are simple, Fake said, like removing the threshold to allow you to come through the door on wheels. Also to minimize the risk of falls, make your home safe for someone with increasingly impaired vision Page 8
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with additional or better lighting. Ease of basic maintenance is another consideration when planning agingin-place home alterations.
Take proper measures
Other simple changes include installing grab bars for tubs and toilets in bathrooms, placing sturdy handrails on both sides of stairways, replacing door knobs with lever door handles and applying nonslip tape on outdoor and indoor steps that are not carpeted. These are all quick and inexpensive to implement. Also, it’s advisable to place microwave ovens and other small appliances on countertops, fasten down rugs or runners and replace standard light switches with toggle or rocker-type switches.
Planning ahead is hard because you never know how your needs might change. The first step is to think about the kinds of help you might want in the near future. “Eighty percent of disabilities come on slowly and gradually, over time, like diabetes and heart conditions,” said Fake. One way to begin planning is to look at any illnesses that you or your partner now have and think about how they could make it hard for you to get around or take care of yourselves as these diseases progress. That’s where the help of a specialist comes in. “We begin by surveying your home,” Fake said. “We’ll be able to point out things that you might want to change. Our objective eyes see
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • November 2020
things differently, as we don’t have the memories and emotions you have. We see how we can make this the best possible living environment for you as you age. “We’ll help you create a home that works for a lifetime. We support and enable people to live in their life in the same home.” Technology has come far and older people may not be aware of what’s available, she added. For example, a Ringdoorbell camera lets you see who’s at your door on your phone. This is a huge benefit, as you can see who it is and communicate with them on your phone rather than going to the door. There are options to help finance aging-in-place modifications. The U.S. Department of Energy offers assistance to modify homes for energy savings; the Department of Veterans Affairs offers vets grants to remove barriers and adapt to mobility devices; the Department of Agriculture offers loans and grants to low-income or disabled people in rural locations; or one could tap into the equity they have built up in their home. For more information on Fake at Uniquely Yours, call 315-868-6611 or see uyinteriors.com.
Golden Years
Decisions, decisions
What are my long-term care options? By Barbara Pierce s we age, most of us want is to stay in our own home as long as possible, with assistance from family or a caregiver. Aging in our home has many benefits, but there are disadvantages as well. Like falls, the most common serious injury that older persons suffer, or struggling to keep up with the maintenance needs of a home, transportation issues, the need for increased care, and social isolation. We can’t know what life will throw at us. But we can make “what if” plans. We have a variety of solutions but it can be confusing. There are four main types of senior care: an independent living community, assisted living, skilled nursing care, or memory care. Each of these levels of care features a different cost, as well as a different amount of hands-on care. Once you’ve made the decision to leave your home, the next decision involves the area where you wish to live. It’s wise to visit the areas you’re considering. A new report suggests you may want to leave New York for greener pastures. The state’s high cost of living and astronomical taxes led to its
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ranking as the worst state to retire in. Independent living communities (aka retirement communities or senior housing) are the best fit for self-sufficient people in fair health who wish to minimize their daily responsibilities, socialize, and lead active lives. They do not provide assistance with activities of daily living or medical care. For this reason, they are not covered by insurance like Medicare or Medicaid. The cost can vary widely. Lutheran Care, an affiliate of Community Wellness Partners, operates Preswick Glen in New Hartford. It offers private cottages or apartments and chef-prepared meals daily, while residents are active with social events, classes and activities. Community Wellness Partners and its affiliates provide a continuing care retirement community, which offers the full spectrum of care a senior would potentially need, from supporting people in their own homes, to independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing care, or memory impaired residences, explained Lenora D’Apice, vice president of development. “We’re the largest CCRC in
Oneida County. We accept Medicare and Medicaid when they cover the services you need,” she said. “We’ll help you apply.” The Masonic Care Community is also a CCRC. Acacia Village in Utica, its independent living community, offers several living options, with a full range of activities. “This is an ideal setting for an active adult who wants to be free from home maintenance and is not in need of assisted living. One affordable monthly fee replaces the costs of home ownership and includes all the wonderful amenities,” said director of marketing Mara Roberts.
Enjoying ‘golden years’ Fifteen years ago, in their early 70s, Sarah and Richard Dick moved from their home in Detroit to an independent living community in Florida. They’ve been very happy with their decision. “Aging is less of a burden when living in a retirement home,” she said. “We need more help when our days are numbered. It’s best to move when you’re young enough to adjust to a major move. It might also be a gift for your children. Visit as many retirement communities as possible before making your choice.” — Assisted living: An assisted living facility provides room and board, therapy and nursing services, medication management, and supervision. They are generally less expensive and less medically intensive than a nursing home. Most are not licensed to accept Medicaid. The assisted living beds at Mohawk Homestead, in Mohawk, are specially licensed to accept Medicaid residents. “We provide a range of
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services, including personal care, room, board, housekeeping, supervision, nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical supplies and equipment. And we have a variety of activities going on every day,” said administrator Joseph Franco. “Wiley Hall (Masonic Care’s assisted living facility) is ideal for seniors who have moderate health care needs,” explained Roberts. “Residents enjoy daily meals and personal care services, while maintaining a level of independence recommended by their doctors. It provides the perfect mix of services and activities to address an individual’s needs. “As it relates to Medicaid eligibility, since everyone’s financial situations are different, we recommend that people contact us so that our admissions team can discuss each individual’s situation and possible Medicaid eligibility,” she said. — Nursing homes provide around-the-clock care for people with serious health conditions. Nursing homes do qualify for Medicaid, which kicks in after other assets are depleted. At Alpine Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Little Falls, it has a registered nurse in house 24/7 and a physician on call 24/7 with both in the building most days, explained assistant administrator Casey Bayes. “We have physical, occupational and speech therapy six or seven days a week,” she said. “About half our residents are short-term rehabilitation residents. Their goal is to return home, typically after a hip or other joint replacement, fall, pneumonia, stroke, or heart attack.” The facility provides help with Medicaid applications.
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Golden Years
At Peace with Death
Woman faces end of life with courage “When your time comes to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death song, and die like a hero going home.” — Tecumseh Native American Shawnee warrior chief
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arlene Hughes is dying. If you even try to convey pity on her, she will say softly over the low, constant humming of the portable oxygen machine: “Please do not pity me. I am happy. I have lived a full life. I am at peace with all that has come before me, and I am ready for death to take me.” Hughes has suffered all her adult life from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of severe abuse in childhood. Later in her adult life, she struggled with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. She is in the final stages of both COPD and congestive heart failure. It is the congestive heart failure that Hughes feels will ultimately be her demise. For almost one year now, Hughes has been under the care of Hospice & Palliative Care of New Hartford, where trained caregivers come to her apartment and check in on her, perform any necessary medical procedures, talk, and generally make sure she is as comfortable as possible. “The nurses who care for me are simply the best,” says Hughes. When she says this, a big smile comes across her face, her eyes light up, and in that singular moment you can see she slips out of her pain and is free.
“When I entered into hospice care, it was a big relief for me. I knew I didn’t have to go through any more testing or procedures. That was something I had to endure for a long time, and now that is over. I chose to die a natural death and hospice is here supporting that decision I made,” she said. The word “hospice” derives from the Latin word hospes, which means both “guest” and “host.” Since the 11th century, the concept of hospice was adopted by the Roman Catholic tradition to refer to a place of hospitality for the sick and dying as well as for travelers and pilgrims. The modern usage of hospice as a place for and philosophy of end-oflife care began with the work of British physician Dame Cicely Saunders. In 1963, during a talk at Yale University to doctors, medical students, and chaplains, Saunders introduced the idea of specialized care for the dying, which centered on palliative care rather than treatments to cure. During this talk, she showed pictures of patients who were terminally ill with cancer prior to and after receiving specialized hospice care. The difference in the patients’ appearance and overall well-being was remarkable, and this began the discussion in the United States of providing hospice care to patients for end-of-life care. In 1974, Florence Wald, two pediatricians, and a chaplain founded the first hospice in the United U.S., which was located in Bradford, Connecticut.
Bridge to eternity Hospice care does not provide life-saving treatments or procedures, nor does it offer options for possible cures of sickness and disease.
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Darlene Hughes holds the hat of her deceased husband, who served in Vietnam. Rather, it provides palliative care that is focused on providing as much relief as possible from symptoms of stress and pain that the patient may be experiencing as they near end of life. While Hughes is preparing for her final days, weeks, and months, she enthusiastically mentions her three passions. “Being a church organist for 50 years, I love music. I am also a human rights advocate, advocating for veterans, the homeless, people suffering from mental illness, and the poor,” she said. Hughes earned a bachelor’s degree in human services and has used those skills over a lifetime in service to others. Her third passion is writing, allowing her to reach thousands of people through her online mission for world peace. Hughes has some simple advice to anyone who is going through a traumatic time in his or her life. “Just think of what you are grateful for, and think about the people who have come into your life and have made you a better person. A lot of how we feel depends on what we are focused on,” she said. “Focus on good things; it can really change your
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • November 2020
attitude in a more positive way.” Throughout her life, she lived in many places and met many people throughout the world. Hughes said she has a special place in her heart for Sri Lanka as well as Nepal where she lived, studied, and furthered her practice of Buddhism. “Through my practice of Buddhism, I found the simple restorative path of mindful self realization,” she said. “You come to realize that you have the power to transform yourself and that all answers you seek lie within.” Hughes also has two inspirational names that were bestowed upon her by spiritual teachers: Kamal (meaning lotus) and Amaal (meaning hope). “All of us want peace in the world, and that begins with peace within. Practicing the way to inner peace is the way to health, even when your health is fading like mine,” she said. “You can still find inner peace. Kindness is the heart of practice, from kindness to self springs kindness to others. That is the heart of all I have learned on this beautiful journey.”
Golden Years
Seize the Moment
Elderly are more prone to seizures; caretakers need to be prepared By Barbara Pierce
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s my husband made weird moaning noises and jerked around in bed, I thought: “He’s having another nightmare.” I called his name and shook him, as I’d done often. But this time he didn’t wake up; he just kept jerking and moaning. “He’s having a seizure!” I thought. At 82 years old, he’d never had a seizure before. He calmed down but didn’t regain consciousness, so I called 911. The emergency room physician diagnosed a seizure of unknown origin. That was four months ago; he’s never had another. I’ve learned a lot about seizures in older adults. They are the third most common neurological disorder, after Alzheimer’s and stroke, yet are still somewhat of a mystery. A recent study found older adults are more at risk for seizures and more people will have a seizure in their lifetime than previously thought. “Having a single seizure doesn’t mean you have epilepsy. At least two unprovoked seizures are required for a diagnosis of epilepsy,” said neurologist Christopher Wey, Naples, Florida. Two peak periods during which the onset of epilepsy is most likely are in childhood and after age 65. Seizures are typically described as body stiffening, falling, jerking movements, and loss of consciousness. However, these electrical distur-
“Having a single seizure doesn’t mean you have epilepsy. At least two unprovoked seizures are required for a diagnosis of epilepsy.”
bances in the brain vary significantly, depending on which part of the brain is involved. Symptoms vary from falling to the ground and shaking all over, to just stopping and staring, or some reaction in between, like brief unresponsiveness, lip smacking, language difficulties, or confusion. Seizures last from a few seconds to a few minutes and are followed by confusion. Seizures in older adults can be caused by any condition that affects the brain, like stroke, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, a brain tumor, head injury, sleep deprivation, infection, or genetics. “But, for most older adults no cause can be found,” said Wey. “They often occur without any known risk factor.” Diagnosing epilepsy in older adults isn’t straightforward because seizure symptoms may be attributed to another condition. Stroke is so common that any seizure event in
which language is affected or there is an alteration in awareness may be misdiagnosed as a stroke. The key to identifying seizures in older adults is determining behavior during the seizure and the duration of the episodes. A thorough history is helpful, and family members and caregivers play a crucial role in providing this vital data. Medical tests follow, including an electroencephalogram, imaging tests such as magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography to see what is happening inside the brain.
Modes of treatment Treatment is any one of a wide array of anticonvulsant medications, cranial nerve stimulation, special dietary approaches (the “ketogenic diet”) or, in some special cases, surgery. Because anticonvulsant medications target the brain, they can cause undesirable side effects in an older person, like sleepiness, dizziness, gait instability, memory problems, or confusion. For a person who might have a seizure any time, any place, there are safety concerns. — Restricted driving is one of the most difficult aspects. In New York state, physicians are not required to report a seizure to the Department of Motor Vehicles; the patient is expected to do so. Driving is then restricted until 12 months after the last seizure. Under some circumstances, the
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DMV will reinstate it sooner. — Older adults with epilepsy are advised not to take baths without someone to check on them, because a lapse in consciousness in only a few inches of water may lead to drowning. Swimming alone, climbing ladders, and operating heavy machinery are just a few activities that carry dangerous risks for someone with a seizure disorder. Feeling helpless while watching a loved one, friend, even a stranger, have a seizure is difficult. Gigi Jones of the Epilepsy Foundation offers these suggestions: — Remain calm. — Keep the person safe. Move or guide them away from harm. Turn them on their side if they are not aware and alert. Put something small and soft under their head. Loosen tight clothes around the neck. — Do not restrain the person. Make sure their airway is clear. Do not put any objects in their mouth. If rescue medicines have been prescribed by a health care professional, give the medicine. — Time the seizure; stay with the person until they are awake and alert after the seizure. — Call 911 if the person is having difficulty breathing, if this is a firsttime seizure, or if they are having repeated seizures. Call 911 if the seizure lasts longer than five minutes, occurs in water, the person does not return to their usual state, or they are injured, pregnant, or sick. The Epilepsy Foundation is a nonprofit agency addressing the needs of persons and their families affected by epilepsy or a seizure disorder. For more information on epilepsy and seizure-related issues, see the website Epilepsy.com or call the Helpline at 800-332-1000 to speak with an information specialist.
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Golden Years
All that Glitters is not Golden Perception of the ‘golden years’ has changed through time By David L. Podos
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he term “golden years” has been around since 1959 and was part of an advertising campaign that targeted people aged 55 and over. The campaign figured many people in that age group were nearing retirement and centered their marketing strategy to convince newly retirees to move to warmer climes such as Arizona and Florida. The idea was that retirees could enjoy their “golden years” in sunshine and warmth and on the golf course. It was a huge success. There are about 43 million people aged 65 and over living in the United States. The meaning of the term “golden years” has changed since it was first coined. Stephen Barnes, adjunct professor of education and a senior research associate with the Interwork Institute at San Diego State University, said the third age is the period of life of active retirement following middle age, and is considered by many to be the “golden years” of adulthood. It is generally defined as the span of time between retirement and the beginning of age-imposed physical, emotional, and cognitive limitations, and today would roughly fall between the ages of 65 and 80. Perception of retirement, altered by changing social norms and financial arrangements that create the coveted “nest egg,” have changed drastically over time. People are living longer and generally are in good health, which for many pushes retirement age further out. The average life expectancy of a male in the United States is 76.1 years, while it is 81.1 years for a
female. According to AARP, adults aged 65 and older are twice as likely to be working today compared with 1985, and many of them are making good money. But the likelihood of them being able to work past the traditional retirement age is shaped by how much education they have and what type of work they do. As of February 2019, more than 20 percent of adults over age 65 are either working or looking for work, compared with 10 percent in 1985, says the report from United Income, a financial planning and investment management company. Its study analyzed data from the Current Population Survey, a report compiled monthly by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Elderly keep working The BLS expects the trend of older people working to continue, estimating that 13 million Americans aged 65 and older will be in the labor force by 2024. Social Security’s full-benefit retirement age is 65. A critical reason why Americans need to work past 65 is company retirement plans have changed. At one time, employees who stayed loyal to one company for 20, 25 or 30 years received a pension for their service. These pensions for the most part were 100 percent employer funded, and in many cases, employees were allowed to contribute as well. Today, very few companies offer these kinds of retirement plans. Rather, 401(k) pension plans are more the norm where the employee makes the contribution into an investment portfolio that can be — but often is
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Joe and Fran Guerino of Frankfort are enjoying their “golden years” while coowners of Guerino’s Clock Repair, state Route 5, Frankfort. not — matched by the employer. Typically in any year, only half of workers participate in a retirement plan at work. In 2018, participation by all civilian workers, full- and parttime, was 56 percent, according to the Pension Rights Center. This puts more of a financial burden upon the employee, which can create a situation where the worker needs to work longer to create the proverbial “nest egg,” or money that is needed for financial security upon retirement. According to recent data from the Congressional Research Service, the poverty rate among Americans aged 65 and over has declined by almost 70 percent in the past five decades. In 2017, approximately 9.2 percent of Americans 65 and over had income below the poverty threshold. However, the number of aged poor has increased since the mid 1970s as the total number of elderly has grown.
Clock is ticking Joe and Fran Guerino of Frankfort are in their late 60s, and co-owners of Guerino’s Clock Repair. Fran early in her career was an elementary teacher, while Joe received his college degree in mechanical technology and business
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • November 2020
and spent some time as a college counselor. Both have a different viewpoint of the traditional age for retirement. “When we grew up knowing about the golden years as children, and it was the idea that you didn’t work any more once you hit the golden age of retirement. You had free time to enjoy things you never had time to do before when you were working,” Joe said. “But sometimes that golden time to relax and be financially secure never really comes for many. People get older, life happens to them in numerous different ways, such as sickness and disability for example,” he added. “For others, it’s not always about just kicking back and not working, and for many it is a financial necessity to continue to work.” “Having been a teacher, I thought I would retire at some point,” says Fran. “But after we got married, we decided to work for ourselves, so we never really considered retirement in regards to the more mainstream sense of retirement at a certain age. “ “While financial security is important to us, the joy of being able to have our own business, set our own schedule, and be with family is certainly the most important thing,” she added. “We have no desire or need to retire anytime soon.”
Ask The Social What a pain! Security Office
Wracked with pain? Alleviate the torment By Barbara Pierce
From the Social Security District Office
Social Security can help with your plan for achieving self support
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f you rely on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments or Social Security Disability (SSDI) benefits and want to start working or return to work, we can help. A Plan for Achieving Self-Support (PASS) is a rule under SSI to help people with disabilities return to work. If you receive SSI or could qualify for SSI after setting aside income or resources so you can pursue — or achieve — a work goal, you could benefit from a PASS. How does a PASS help someone return to work? • We base SSI eligibility and payment amounts on income and resources (things of value that the individual owns). • PASS lets a disabled individual set aside money and things he or she owns to pay for items or services needed to achieve a specific work goal. • The objective of the PASS is to help disabled individuals find employment that reduces or eliminates SSI or SSDI benefits.
Q&A Q: Is it true I can save about $4,900 per year if I qualify for Social Security’s Extra Help with the Medicare prescription drug program? A: Yes. If your income and resources meet the requirements, you can save nearly $5,000 in prescription costs each year. Resource limits for 2020 are $14,610 (or $29,160 if you are married and living with your spouse). Income limits are $19,140 (or $25,860 if you are married and living with your spouse). If your income or resources are just a bit higher, you might be eligible for some help with prescription drug costs. To learn more, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/ prescriptionhelp. Q: My spouse died recently and my neighbor said my children and I might be eligible for survivors benefits. Don’t I have to be retirement age to receive benefits? A: No. As a survivor, you can receive benefits at any age if you are caring for a child who is receiving Social Security benefits and who is under age 16. Your children are eligible for survivors benefits through Social Security up to age 19 if they are unmarried and attending elementary or secondary school full time. Keep
You can read all about the PASS program at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN05-11017.pdf. The plan must be in writing, and Social Security must approve it beforehand. To start, contact your local Social Security office for an application (Form SSA-545-BK) or you can access the form at www.ssa.gov/ forms/ssa-545.html. There are many people who can help you write a PASS, including a Ticket to Work service provider, a vocational counselor or a relative. Social Security’s Ticket to Work (ticket) program supports career development for SSDI beneficiaries and SSI recipients who want to work and progress toward financial independence. The ticket program is free and voluntary. Please call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 or 1-866-8332967 (TTY) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET to learn more about the Ticket program. Your job isn’t just a source of income — it can be a vehicle to independence or a beginning to fulfilling your dreams. Let Social Security’s PASS help you achieve your goals.
in mind that you are still subject to the annual earnings limit if you are working. If you are not caring for minor children, you would need to wait until age 60 (age 50 if disabled) to collect survivors benefits. For more information about survivors benefits, read our publication Survivors Benefits at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs. Q: Why is it so important that my baby have a Social Security number? A: Your child may need a Social Security number if you are planning to open a bank account, buy savings bonds, obtain medical coverage, or apply for government services for the child. Your child will also need a Social Security number if you are going to declare him or her on your taxes. Getting a Social Security number for your newborn is voluntary, but it is a good idea to apply when your child is born. You can apply for a Social Security number for your baby when you apply for your baby’s birth certificate. The state agency that issues birth certificates will give us your child’s information and we will mail you a Social Security card with the child’s Social Security number. Visit www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber for more information.
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ain is a pain! Here are some suggestions on how to cope with the most common pains: — Back pain is common and can be due to poor posture, sitting too much, lack of exercise (resulting in stiffening of the spine and weak muscles), or muscle strains. It usually isn’t a serious problem; it might be caused by a strain and would be considered acute pain. What helps: It’s best to continue your normal everyday activities and to keep moving as much as possible. This won’t make it worse; staying active will help you get better. In fact, too much rest can make back pain worse. See your doctor if your pain is severe, long lasting, stops you from working or gets worse. Your doctor will probably refer you to a physical therapist. The best approach for most back pain is treatment under the guidance of a PT. “There are many ways PTs help with pain management,” said Richard Panetta of Inertia Occupational and Physical Therapy, Utica. “A lot depends on the cause and the length of time the pain has been present.” Acute pain is often seen after an injury, such as a strain, he explained. Acute pain usually doesn’t last over three months; it goes away when there is no longer an underlying cause. It responds to several treatments by PTs. Chronic pain lasts longer than three months, and can continue even after the injury that caused it has healed. Pain signals remain active in the nervous system for weeks, even years. “Chronic pain — longer term pain measured in months or years — responds well to strengthening and movement,” added Panetta. “It’s the role of the PT to prescribe the correct intensity of exercise without making the underlying pathology worse. Movements such as yoga, tai chi, or aquatic therapy are under the scope of a PT’s practice, as well as more traditional exercise.” To prevent back pain flare-ups, stretch and strengthen the muscles that support your spine daily. — Arthritis: There are more than 100 different forms of arthritis and all share a common symptom: pain. Joints like knees, hips, feet and spine are most affected. While medications can effectively treat the pain in some cases, they may not eliminate it. Regular physical activity can significantly reduce pain and improve daily functioning. What helps: While the aches may get you down, it’s best to get up. Moving helps reduce pain. Low-impact aerobic exercise, cycling, tai chi and swimming strengthen joints and eases pain. Losing weight, over-thecounter pain relievers, ice or heat and steroid injections also help. — Elbow pain: Most elbow pain has a simple cause and clears up within a few days. Long-term elbow pain can be caused by arthritis. What helps: The first thing to
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Richard Panetta of Inertia Occupational and Physical Therapy, Utica, standing, uses sling therapy on a patient. do is to stop any movements that might be causing your symptoms or making them worse. Then, OTC pain relievers, a few days rest, changing your movements and exercising are recommended. Anti-inflammatory creams help as does placing an ice pack to your elbow for 10-15 minutes every few hours. See a doctor if your pain doesn’t improve after two weeks, if you have tingling, numbness or weakness in your arm or hand or if you haven’t had an injury. — Tension headache is common and feels like a band is squeezing your head. What helps: OTC pain relievers, rest, and drinking water will often do the trick. Be careful not to overdo pain relievers; taking them more than a couple days a week can trigger more headaches. Some find relief from acupuncture, massage, meditation or deep breathing. See your doctor if your headache is sudden or severe, or causes confusion, trouble seeing, speaking or walking. — Sore feet: With 26 bones, 30 joints, and over 100 muscles ligaments and tendons in each foot, it’s no wonder our feet hurt. Arthritis, overuse and injury are often to blame. What helps: Rest and put your feet up. Ice them for 15-to-20 minutes at a time. About opioids: Also called narcotics, they are a mainstay for pain. The most common are codeine, Demerol, OxyContin, Oxycodone and Percocet, and each has a different strength. They carry significant risks. Adverse side effects include constipation, nausea, interactions with other medications, confusion and dizziness, which increases the risk of falls. If you take them for too long, it may be hard to stop; your body will get dependent on them and you may have withdrawal symptoms when you stop.
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SmartBites
The skinny on healthy eating What’s Makes Frozen Spinach Such a Healthy Choice
ultraviolent rays. Studies suggest that diets rich in these two nutrients promote better vision and may help hold off age-related eye diseases, like cataracts and macular degeneration. These same antioxidants, along with several others in spinach, including vitamin C, also boost immune function. Spinach is a vitamin A superstar, providing over twice your daily needs in an average (frozen) serving. This workhorse nutrient is essential for preserving your eyesight, may lower your risk of certain cancers, and supports both bone health and a healthy immune system. More good reasons to fill your freezer with spinach? This nutritious green is a terrific source of folate (vital for a healthy pregnancy), iron (helps prevent anemia), and fiber (keeps things humming south of the border).
Healthy Spinach Gratin Serves 4 to 6
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resh, frozen or canned spinach is a superfood. Nutrient-dense and calorie-light, this dark, leafy green provides a remarkable array of health benefits, above and beyond Popeye’s claim to fame. This month’s column features frozen spinach for three key reasons: it lasts up to a year in the freezer; it’s just as nutritious as fresh spinach (in some cases, more); and it’s a versatile vegetable to have at your fingertips. Spinach is super good for bones,
thanks to its rich supply of two very important nutrients for bone health: vitamin K and magnesium. Just one-half cup of frozen spinach has an astounding 600% of your daily vitamin K needs. Vitamin K may help to lower your risk of bone fractures, and both vitamin K and magnesium improve bone density. Eyes light up for spinach because it contains two potent antioxidants — lutein and zeaxanthin — that can help protect peepers from harmful
Do Fasting Diets Really Work? New Study Finds Little Benefit
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ore and more people are turning to “intermittent fasting” to lose weight, but the jury is still out on whether the tactic works. In a new clinical trial, researchers found that one type of intermittent fasting did help overweight and obese adults drop a couple of pounds over 12 weeks. But they fared no better than a comparison group who ate whenever they wanted. The findings conflict with some recent studies suggesting the diets are effective. And researchers said this is not the final word on intermittent fasting. For one, many people find the tactic easy to follow, according to Krista Varady, a professor of nutrition at the University of Illinois at Chicago. And that’s a plus, she said, since lasting weight loss requires sustainable lifestyle changes. Varady, who was not involved in the new study, does her own research into intermittent fasting — specifically, the version known as time-restricted eating. It gives people a limited time window for eating each day. In a recent study, Varady’s team found that the diet helped people lose about 3% of their starting weight over eight weeks. In contrast, people who stuck with their usual eating routine saw no change. The principle behind time-restricted eating is simple: People don’t Page 14
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have to change what they eat, but simply limit themselves to dining between certain hours. “There’s a natural calorie restriction that happens just by watching the clock,” Varady said. “People seem to like it because it’s simple. There’s no calorie-counting, and you don’t have to buy any special foods.” But liking something does not mean it’s effective. And despite the popularity of fasting-type diets, only recently have studies begun to test them. The new trial, published online Sept. 28 in JAMA Internal Medicine, is the latest. For the study, the researchers randomly assigned 116 overweight or obese adults to either follow a time-restricted diet for 12 weeks, or stick with their usual eating habits. The time-restricted group was told to eat only between noon and 8 p.m. In the end, those participants lost about 2 pounds, on average. But people who stuck with their usual routine also lost a bit of weight — which meant there was no statistically meaningful difference between the two groups. The researchers, led by Dr. Ethan Weiss of the University of California, San Francisco, acknowledged that their findings contradict some previous research. A potential reason, they speculated, is that the 8-hour time window for eating was “not optimal.”
1 16 oz. bag frozen spinach, thawed 2 teaspoons olive oil ½ onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1/3 cup low-fat milk ½ cup Greek or plain yogurt 1 tablespoon reduced-fat mayonnaise 1 tablespoon lemon juice ¼ teaspoon nutmeg pinch of cayenne pepper (optional) salt and pepper, to taste 2 tablespoons whole-wheat breadcrumbs 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Lightly coat a 2-quart baking dish with oil or nonstick cooking spray.
Foods, Medicines That Can Lower Colon Cancer Risk
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ertain nutrients, foods and medicines may help protect you against colon cancer, a large research review suggests. A team of international researchers led by physician Marc Bardou, of Dijon Bourgogne University Hospital in France, reviewed about 80 studies that examined how diet and certain medicines affected colon cancer risk. The studies were published between September 1980 and June 2019. In terms of medicines, aspirin (a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, or NSAID) appears to lower the risk by 14% to 29% at doses as low as 75 milligrams (mg)/ day and as high as 325 mg/day. The use of NSAIDs for up to five years was associated with a 26% to 43% reduction in incidence. High intake of folic acid, a B vitamin, was associated with up to a 15% lower risk, although it wasn’t possible to determine a minimum dose, according to findings published Sept. 28 in the journal Gut. Similarly, eating dairy products appeared to lower risk by 13% to 19%, but the amount needed to protect against colon cancer was unclear. Fiber intake was associated with a 22% to 43% lower risk, while fruit/vegetable consumption with
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • November 2020
Helpful tips
For maximum vitamin retention—whether using fresh or frozen—use quick-cooking methods that don’t include water (or very little): steaming, microwaving, stir-frying or sautéing. When using frozen spinach for soups and stews, you can reduce vitamin C loss by adding it, unthawed, directly to your dish. Other dishes, such as casseroles, however, do turn out better if spinach is quickly thawed in the microwave. Lastly, check with your doctor before consuming spinach in any form, as its nutritional profile is not for everyone. Squeeze water from thawed spinach and put in medium bowl. Heat oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Add chopped onions and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and sauté 1 minute more. Transfer mixture to bowl with spinach and combine. In small bowl, whisk milk, yogurt, mayonnaise, lemon juice and spices until blended. Combine with spinach mixture; transfer to prepared baking dish; top with breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes.
Anne Palumbo is a lifestyle colum-
nist, food guru, and seasoned cook, who has perfected the art of preparing nutritious, calorie-conscious dishes. She is hungry for your questions and comments about SmartBites, so be in touch with Anne at avpalumbo@aol.com.
as much as a 52% lower risk. There was no evidence that vitamins E, C, multivitamins, beta carotene or selenium were protective against colon cancer, the review found. Results on the impact of tea, garlic or onions, vitamin D either alone or combined with calcium, coffee and caffeine, fish and omega-3 were weak or uncertain, and there were inconsistent findings on whether vitamin A and the B vitamins offered any protection. There was conflicting data on high calcium intake and cholesterol-lowering statin drugs. Meat, particularly red and processed meat, was associated with a 12% to 21% increased risk of colon cancer. Alcohol also was linked to significantly higher risk. Even one or two drinks a day increased colon cancer odds, and the more people drank, the higher their risk. In a journal news release, the researchers noted that the level of evidence of nutrients, foods and medicines providing protection against colon cancer is low or very low in most cases. Even so, they said their findings could help doctors advise patients on the best diet to reduce bowel cancer risk and also guide future research. Worldwide, more than 2.2 million new cases of colon cancer and 1.1 million deaths are projected annually by 2030. In the United States, colon cancer strikes about 1 in 20 people.
The Balanced Body
By Deb Dittner
Set Fitness Goals Keeping active equates to generating energy, happiness By Deb Dittner
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taying fit is so very important for a balanced and healthy body, mind and spirit. But I often hear, “I just don’t like to exercise.” That saddens me because I have been an athlete like forever. And no, I don’t expect everyone to go to the gym every day, or run that 3-mile race next month, or learn the latest piece of equipment that gets you toned in 30 days. But I do say time and time again — you need to move! Let’s explore how you can achieve your fitness goals: — We are all individuals and what works for your friend, may not be what your body requires. There is no best workout routine
as advertised in the latest fitness magazine. The best workout plan is the one that you find and stick to — one that you enjoy and works for your fitness goals. I have a client in this exact same boat. She hasn’t moved in years but understood that was something she needed. I asked, “What have you liked doing in the past?” She responded with getting a personal trainer. So that is what she did and is now flourishing. Another client in her 70s said she was “too old” but I kept encouraging her to try chair yoga. Finally over a year later, she went to chair yoga, fell in love with it, and has continued to this day. Understand that your fitness routine is for you and only you. Do not
DRIVERS WANTED We’re looking for dependable people to help us distribute copies of In Good Health, Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper, in offices and other high traffic locations in the Utica-Rome-Clinton region. Great for active retirees or at-home moms in need of some extra cash. Work only one or two days a month during office hours (9 to 5). Compensation: $11.80/h plus 30 cents per mile. It amounts to about $150 per distribution.The paper is usually distributed at the beginning of the month. Drivers pick up the papers (in bundles of 100 copies) in North Utica and leave copies at various locations, following a list of places we provide. No heavy lifting. Drivers are required to have a dependable vehicle, be courteous and reliable. We audit all areas of distribution.
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compare yourself with a family member, your best friend, or the person next to you at the gym. Your fitness goals are all about you and reaching for the best version you can be. — Running yourself into the ground is not in your best interest. Will you feel sore after a workout? Yes, possibly in the beginning. Don’t forget you’ll be working muscles that you haven’t worked in quite some time.
Make it a challenge
A great workout will energize you, and challenge you to come back for more the next day. Is quitting in your future? I truly hope not but there are times that you may feel this way. Some days you may wake up feeling down on the whole movement thing. Granted, you are pushing yourself out of your comfort zone but don’t feel that this is a sign of weakness. Instead, keep moving however small that may be, and this too shall pass. — Some women fear that they will “bulk up” and not be considered
or look feminine. But don’t worry ladies! Women who weight train improve bone density, which decreases the possibilities of developing osteoporosis. Weight lifting also improves self-confidence, overall strength, muscle definition, and increases fat loss. — Quality and not quantity is what I look for in a fitness regimen. You do not need to be in the gym every day or on the road every day, or lifting weights every day. Time is not the important factor here but what you do during that time is what creates quality sessions. — Eating whole nutrient-dense foods are important in achieving your fitness goals. I’m a big foodie and encourage incorporating 6 to 10 servings of vegetables and fruits into your daily nutrition. Healthy fats such as avocado, nuts, and wild-caught fish help to balance along with clean, lean protein. And remember — no one can be “perfect” in what you eat. I once had a client say that she “didn’t want to eat like I eat” even though she didn’t know what I ate on a daily basis. We are all individuals requiring specific needs for our individual health and wellness. Depriving yourself of a favorite food may only make you want it more so. It’s OK to have that piece of birthday cake or an ice cream cone during the heat of summer. Serving size and portion control is important here. Having fun with fitness helps in the reduction of stress and improved sleep. Who couldn’t use less stress in your life or a better night of sleep? Enjoy!
Deborah Dittner is a family nurse practitioner and health consultant. Her mission is to transform as many individuals as possible through nutrition and lifestyle changes. For more information, check out her website at www.debdittner.com or contact her at 518-596-8565.
Health in good
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MILK & HONEY By Brooke Stacia DeMott
Persevering through Pandemics
COVID-19 another test of man’s resolve to keep the faith
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he threat level of the global pandemic is oddly debatable. Rather than making efforts to understand and interpret data objectively, political extremists wield it as a partisan sword. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention initially predicted the United States could lose 2.2 million citizens, setting into motion strict distancing guidelines and wholesale economic shutdowns, actions that continue to be praised by the left, and scoffed at by the right. Eight months later, the CDC has determined that the stand-alone fatality rate of COVID-19 is 94% lower than reported (when accounting for preexisting conditions) with a crude fatality rate of 0.9%. On the heels of such a reassuring new discovery, the political left has turned on the CDC, calling it a “tool of the White House,” and the political right is now hailing its data as infallible.
Meanwhile, states continue to enforce schizophrenic social distancing procedures, refusing to allow certain activities under the guise of public safety, while others are apparently risk-free for no discernable reason. In California, Daily Wire host Ben Shapiro confides that his children’s Jewish school cannot operate, unless it becomes a “day camp.” COVID-19, apparently, spreads through education, but not free play. Likewise, in many New York restaurants, you must wear a mask to enter, but once you sit down, masks are no longer required. Sitting, it seems, increases immunity. Violent riots in major cities have been raging for over 100 days, while police are handcuffed to the will of the criminal. Any efforts to promote law and order would be racist, we’re told, so chaos rules. Such gatherings of thousands, shoulder to shoulder, for 3.5 months, have reported no major COVID-19 outbreaks.
Meanwhile, churches are deemed recklessly dangerous to public health and safety, reducing some — like Grace Church in California — to fighting in court for the privilege of opening their doors. Lack of linear dealings surrounding current U.S. policy begs the question: “Is there something more to this than what we see?” “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.” (2 Timothy 3:1) It is to our advantage to remember that everything is spiritual. The reason that world events seem to be woven behind hidden doors by unseen hands, is because, they are. However, no deception authored by satanic forces, warring with God for our souls, is outside the sovereign hand of the Lord, who “works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28) History demonstrates how even the worst plagues have brought about incredible surges of faith by God’s providence. In 251 AD, an increasingly shaky Roman Empire was brought to its knees by the Cyprian plague. Named for its first victim, the Bishop of Carthage, this precursor to Ebola catapulted from Ethiopia to Rome, taking 5,000 lives per day, recurring for nearly three centuries. The afflicted Bishop Cyprian encouraged other believers to rejoice rather than grieve at the funerals of departed brethren, celebrating that they were the first to enjoy the presence of Christ. He urged believers to redouble their efforts in caring for the sick, as Jesus himself would have done. The church served wholeheartedly, and as reported by historian
Pontianus, “good was done to all men, not merely to the household of faith.”
Faith conquers all Fearless obedience to Christ gained Christianity its historic foothold in Europe. Then in 1351, the Bubonic plague hit Italy like a battering ram. With breathless speed, the ferocious contagion annihilated the developing world, killing its victims within 24 hours of symptomatic onset. Originating in Asia and trafficked via merchant ships, the plague would claim a third of the earth’s population. Just like that, exploration to North America was stalled, the war between England and France ended, and the caste system of British feudalism toppled like a house of cards. By the time the plague reached Wittenberg, Germany, it was 1527 and Martin Luther was a force to be reckoned with. A controversial religious reformer, he was as close to celebrity as antiquity could offer. Friends and political leaders urged Luther to flee the city and save his life, preserving his ability to continue the important work of holding the church accountable to God. Luther refused. His unwavering commitment prompted him to author the tract, “Whether Christians should flee the Plague.” Luther offered this counsel: a Christian doctor, governor, or pastor cannot abandon his God-given jurisdiction; duty to one’s neighbor ought not be abdicated in trial, but amplified. Luther, his wife, and scores of
We did it.
Twice.
Oneida Health is ranked among America’s Top 2% of Hospitals for Patient Safety & Experience
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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • November 2020
believers stayed to serve, and Christianity quickly became the fastest growing religion in the history of the world. God can, and indeed does, work through grave difficulty to build his church. And yet, this time, something is different. Aggressively secular post-modernism has polluted the church. Historic Christianity is replaced either with therapeutic deism — a reassuring siren’s lullaby to the naive that God’s highest end for us is self-actualization — or a works-oriented counterfeit religion that anchors itself on social justice rather than repentance and faith. Meanwhile, this tremendous opportunity to preach the gospel of hope, the forgiveness of sin, and the coming judgment of Christ is slipping away. Some of this is a lack of urgency. COVID-19 hasn’t been nearly as deadly as pandemics passed, and as such, we haven’t really squared off
with our own mortality. The greater concern, however, is that the modern church lacks deep conviction as a result of decades of wayward teaching. Ear-tickling preachers have lulled our spirits to sleep. The church must remember who God is, who we are, and what we must do. The pages of scripture mark the path home. “When the son of man returns, will he then find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8) Brooke Stacia DeMott is a columnist with In Good Health newspaper. Got a question for Demott? Feel free to email her at brooketo@aol.com. The beliefs and opinions expressed in this column are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of this newspaper or any other agency, organization, employer or company.
By Jim Miller
Coronavirus vs. Flu: How to Tell Difference
Dear Savvy Senior,
Can you explain the differences between the coronavirus and seasonal flu? I’m 70 years old, and usually get a standard flu shot, but would like to find out what else I can do to protect myself this winter.
Worried Senior Dear Worried, Great question! Because of the dual danger of influenza (flu) and COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently warned that this fall and winter could be the worst ever for public health. Understanding this, knowing the differences and similarities between the viruses, and knowing what you can do to protect yourself is the best way to stay healthy and safe through this difficult time.
Flu vs COVID
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Because many of the symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are similar, it may be hard to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone, so testing may be needed to help confirm a diagnosis. With that said, here are some similarities and differences you should know. For starters, seasonal flu symptoms come on pretty quickly, whereas COVID-19 develops gradually over a period of a few days and then either fades out or gets worse. Common shared symptoms include fever, sore throat, muscle aches, cough, headache, fatigue and even chest pain. Pinkeye and a dry cough are associated with COVID-19, while it’s now thought that a fever is more likely with the flu, as are diarrhea and nausea. Many people are having their temperatures taken these days before entering public spaces. But fever occurs in only half of COVID-19 cases. Fever does not rule out COVID-19, but the absence of fever makes flu unlikely. You’re also unlikely to have a runny or stuffy nose with the flu, but you may with COVID-19. What sometimes happens within the nose with COVID-19 is loss of smell and, often as a consequence, loss of taste, too. To learn more about the similarities and differences between flu and COVID-19, visit the CDC website at CDC.gov/flu/symptoms/flu-vscovid19.htm.
How to Protect Yourself
While there is currently no vaccine available yet to prevent November 2020 •
‘Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently warned that this fall and winter could be the worst ever for public health.’ COVID-19, the best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. So, stay home as much as you can. If you have to go out, wear a mask and keep at least six feet away from other people. And every time you come home, wash your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds. There’s also evidence that suggests that people who are deficient in vitamin D may be at higher risk of getting COVID-19, than those with sufficient levels. So, make sure you take in around 800 to 1,000 international units (IUs) of vitamin D from food or supplements daily, and get outside as much as you can. And to help guard against the flu this year, you should consider getting a flu shot that’s specifically designed for people 65 and older. The “Fluzone High Dose Quadrivalent” or the “FLUAD Quadrivalent” are the two options that provide extra protection beyond what a standard flu shot offers. You only need one flu shot, and if you haven’t already gotten it, you should do it now because takes up to two weeks to build immunity after you receive it.
Pneumonia Vaccines If you haven’t been vaccinated for pneumonia, you should also consider getting the pneumococcal vaccines. Both flu and COVID-19 can lead to pneumonia, which hospitalizes around 250,000 Americans, and kills around 50,000 people each year. But these numbers could be much higher this year. The CDC recommends that all seniors, 65 or older, get two vaccinations — Prevnar 13 and Pneumovax 23. Both vaccines, which are administered one year apart, protect against different strains of the bacteria to provide maximum protection. Medicare Part B covers both flu and pneumonia shots. To locate a vaccination site that offers any of these shots, visit VaccineFinder.org and type in your location. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
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H ealth News Ophthalmologist joins LFH medical staff
versity/Genesys Regional Medical Center in Grand Blanc, Michigan.
Lorna Grant, a board-certified surgical and medical and surgical ophthalmologist, has joined the Little Falls Hospital medical staff. With training in complex cataract and lens implant surgery, Grant Grant specializes in laser, cataract, lens implant surgery, and glaucoma care. Grant completed her residency and chief residency in ophthalmology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine. She has fellowship training in the diagnosis and treatment of retina and vitreous disease, including macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vascular disorders and hereditary retinal disease. In addition to expanding her practice at LFH, Grant continues to provide surgical and medical eye care with CNY Eye Physicians & Surgeons in Utica.
MVHS receives stroke achievement award
MVHS welcomes new program director Eric Schackow recently joined the Mohawk Valley Health System as program director of the St. Elizabeth Family Medicine Residency Program, located at the Sister Rose Vincent Family Medicine Schackow Center in Utica. Schackow has privileges at St. Elizabeth Medical Center and Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare. Prior to joining MVHS, Schackow was a clinical informatics physician and EPIC physician builder and faculty physician at the family medicine residency program, The Guthrie Clinic, Sayre, Pennsylvania. He also served as clinical assistant professor of family medicine at the department of clinical sciences, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Scranton, Pennsylvania. Prior to that, Schackow was a clinical assistant professor in the department of family medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago in Chicago, Illinois. Schackow received his Bachelor of Science degree and his Doctor of Medicine from Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago. He also received his PhD and served as a postdoctoral research fellow in the department of molecular pharmacology and biological chemistry at Northwestern University. He completed his family medicine residency at Michigan State UniPage 18
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The Mohawk Valley Health System has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines®- Stroke Gold Plus with Honor Roll quality achievement award for the 10th consecutive year. The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence. MVHS earned the award by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period. “The tools and resources provided help us track and measure our success in meeting evidenced-based clinical guidelines developed to improve patient outcomes, said Varun Reddy, MVHS stroke program director. This year, the program also received the Association’s Target: Type 2 DiabetesSM Honor Roll award. To qualify for this recognition, hospitals must meet quality measures developed with more than 90% of compliance for 12 consecutive months. According to the AHA/ASA, stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States. On average, someone in the U.S. suffers a stroke every 40 seconds and nearly 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.
MVHS Foundation cancels ‘Miracle Drawing’ The Mohawk Valley Health System Foundation has announced that its 24th annual $100,000 Miracle Drawing, which benefits the local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital at MVHS, will not take place this year due to COVID-19. In the past, tickets could be purchased for $100 with a $100,000 cash prize. The drawing was canceled this year due to the inability of the MVHS Foundation to safely sell tickets at its usual in-person locations. MVHS was also unable to hold the drawing online due to New York State Gaming restrictions. The money raised each year helps MVHS provide services for women and children with little or no insurance. Funds also support programs and training initiatives for staff, as well as fund specialized care for the Level II special care nursery, located at the St. Luke’s Campus. Each year, this drawing raises $320,000 for babies and children at MVHS and is crucial to providing the best possible treatment patients. Those wishing to continue to give to CMN at MVHS can visit mvhealthsystem.org/cmn to make a
monetary donation. For every $100 donated by an individual, a Teddy bear will be donated to a child at the hospital in their honor. All donations to CMN Hospitals at MVHS stay in the community.
Hematology/oncology group joins MVHS The Hematology-oncology group of Atul Butala, Samir Desai and Alicia DeTraglia recently joined the Mohawk Valley Health System Medical Group. The new name of the practice is the MVHS Hematology/Oncology Group. The offices of Butala, Desai and DeTraglia, located on the Faxton Campus in Utica, Rome and Herkimer remain in their current locations and contact information is also the same. “Drs. Desai and DeTraglia and I have run our practice out of the Faxton Campus for many years, so we see it as a smooth transition to now work in partnership with MVHS and its Cancer Center,” said Butala. “We want to assure our patients that they will have the same providers and experience they have always had with us. We are excited about this new partnership with MVHS and look forward to helping to strengthen cancer diagnosis and treatment in our region.”
Camden Family Care welcomes NP Nurse practitioner Kristen Orts has joined the staff of Camden Family Care and is accepting new patients of all ages. Located at 5 Masonic Ave., in Camden, Rome Memorial Hospital’s primary care practice is a Orts certified patient centered medical home that provides care for adults and children. Orts graduated from Utica College in 2008 with her bachelor’s degree in nursing and advanced her training with a master’s degree in nurse midwifery and post-graduate certification as a family nurse practitioner from Frontier Nursing University, Hyden, Kentucky. Orts started her career as a labor and delivery nurse before she became a midwife and nurse practitioner. For the last three years, she has been providing obstetric and gynecological care to women of all ages in Syracuse. She has been an international board-certified lactation consultant since 2013. “Drawing from my midwifery experience, patient education, shared decision making and promoting wellness are the cornerstones of my practice as a nurse practitioner,” Orts said.
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • November 2020
St. Joe’s hospitalist named program director Gurinder Kaur has been named medical director of the St. Joseph’s Health Hospitalist Program at Rome Memorial Hospital. The hospitalist team specializes in caring for the complex needs of patients Kaur when they are hospitalized. They work collaboratively to coordinate care with each patient’s primary care provider and specialists for continuity of care. In her role as medical director, Kaur seeks opportunities to optimize the infrastructure of the health care system to enable hospitalists, nurses and other clinical professionals to deliver the highest quality of care. Since joining RMH, she has been partnering with the hospital’s multi-disciplinary teams on various process improvement projects. “We want to make it easy for doctors and other clinicians to focus on caring for our patients,” Kaur said. She draws upon her experiences from her rotations at various hospitals to fine-tune processes. Raised in Central New York, Kaur earned her bachelor’s degree from SUNY Albany and her doctor of medicine from Ross University School of Medicine, Dominica, West Indies. She completed her family medicine residency at St. Joseph’s Health, Syracuse, where she served as chief resident and worked as a hospitalist. A team of eight hospitalists provides care at RMH. A physician is on site 24 hours a day so they can immediately respond to a change in a patient’s condition.
Delta Medical welcomes nurse practitioner Nurse practitioner Carey Marrello recently joined the staff of Delta Medical. Marrello joins Elizabeth Scialdone and Libby Gleasman at Rome Memorial Hospital’s adult primary care practice, located at 1819 Black River Blvd., Rome. Marrello A 1998 graduate of St. Elizabeth College of Nursing in Utica, Marrello earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing and graduated from SUNY Polytechnic Institute with her master’s degree as a family nurse practitioner. She is also a certified case manager. “Throughout her career as a
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Overdose Deaths From Cocaine Rising
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hile opioids were grabbing the headlines, cocaine overdose deaths in the United States have marched upward, nearly tripling over five years, a new government report shows. After a period of stability, cocaine-induced deaths rose by about 27% per year, on average, from 2013 through 2018, researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. “While much attention has been given to the increase in drug overdose deaths involving opioids, it’s also important to recognize that deaths involving other drugs, such as cocaine, have also increased in recent years,” said Holly Hedegaard, lead researcher and injury epidemiologist at the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). In 2018, those most likely to die from cocaine were men, adults aged 35 to 44, Black people and city dwellers in the Northeast. Knowing who’s most vulnerable can help in forming prevention strategies, Hedegaard said. Given this alarming rise, “focused efforts are needed to better
understand why the rate of drug overdose deaths involving cocaine has tripled in recent years,” she said. According to the report: • Cocaine overdose deaths were stable from 2009 to 2013, but by 2018 had jumped from about two to nearly five per 100,000 people. • Americans aged 35 to 44 were most likely to die of a cocaine overdose in 2018. Those 65 and over were least vulnerable. • In 2018, Black people had nearly double the rate of cocaine-related deaths compared to white people, and three times that of Hispanics at nine per 100,000 versus five and three, respectively. • The rate of cocaine deaths in 2018 was nine times higher in Northeast urban counties than in Western rural counties. Pat Aussem, associate vice president at the Partnership to End Addiction, said several factors may have contributed to the dramatic rise in cocaine overdose deaths. “In recent years, countries like Colombia have had bumper crops of coca, and the prices of cocaine have fallen dramatically, resulting in a
cheap, abundant product for export. With its increase in purity and decrease in price, cocaine can be a less expensive alternative to prescription stimulants like Ritalin and Adderall,” Aussem said. Cocaine is also often laced
with fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, which significantly increases the probability of an overdose, she noted. The report was published online Oct. 7 in the CDC’s NCHS Data Brief.
1 in 3 U.S. Parents Won’t Get Flu Nearly 20% of Americans Don’t Have Enough to Eat Shots for Their Kids: Survey
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he coronavirus pandemic and the upcoming flu season could pose a double threat, but many U.S. parents plan to skip flu shots for their kids, a new survey finds. Though public health experts stress the need for people of all ages to get the seasonal flu vaccine during the COVID-19 pandemic, one in three U.S. parents said they don’t plan on taking their child for a flu shot this fall. Just a third think having their child get vaccinated is more important than usual this year. Common reasons cited include unfounded concerns about side effects or mistaken beliefs that a flu shot isn’t necessary or effective. Those are among the findings from the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health at Michigan Medicine. It was conducted in August and included nearly 2,000 responses from parents of children between 2 and 18 years of age. “We may see peaks of flu
and COVID-19 at the same time, which could overwhelm the health care system, strain testing capacity and potentially reduce our ability to catch and treat both respiratory illnesses effectively,” said poll co-director Sarah Clark. “Our report finds that even during the pandemic, some parents don’t see the flu vaccine as more urgent or necessary,” she added in a poll news release. “This heightens concerns about how the onset of flu season may compound challenges in managing COVID-19.” Since 2010, the flu has caused 9 million to 45 million illnesses, 140,000 to 810,000 hospitalizations, and 12,000 to 61,000 deaths a year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Children under age 5, and especially those younger than 2, are at high risk for serious, flu-related complications. Last flu season, 188 children died of the flu, CDC data show.
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ore than 18% of U.S. adults do not know whether they will have enough to eat from day to day, and the numbers are worse for Hispanics, Blacks, people with obesity and women, a new report shows. “The percentage of adults with food insecurity — the lack of access to adequate food — more than doubled between 1999 and 2016,” said Candice Myers, Ph.D., assistant professor at Pennington Biomedical Research Center and lead author of the article published in JAMA. “The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly worsened the situation. The country may face long-term economic and health consequences unless we solve this public health crisis.” The study looked at national trends in food insecurity among U.S. adults from 1999 to 2016 using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The study found that food insecurity rates
jumped to: • 35% among Hispanic adults, from 19.5% • 1% among Blacks, from 12.4%. • 6% among people with obesity, from 10.4%. • 2% among women, from 8.7%. Myers said the study further solidifies the link between food insecurity and unhealthy body weight. Food insecurity has a range of health consequences, all of them negative, she said. Obesity is key among them. “Food insecurity and obesity are not mutually exclusive,” Myers said. “Rather, these health issues are linked in such a way that a solution will require public policy that addresses both at the same time.” Pennington Biomedical Executive Director John Kirwan, Ph.D., said the intersection of food insecurity and chronic disease highlights the impact of the research center’s work.
H ealth News Continued from last page nurse and case manager, Carey has developed a holistic view of primary care, which is consistent with our values as a patient centered medical home,” said Kristen Hutchins, RMH’s director of primary care facilities. Marrello started her nursing career as a staff nurse caring for medical-surgical and critical care patients. She spent the last 10 years working as a case manager and then returned to school to become an NP
to help meet the community’s need for primary care providers. She did her clinical rotations at Delta Medical and Camden Family Care. “As a nurse practitioner, I take a holistic view of my patients including their physical and mental health,” Marrello said. “It’s difficult for someone to manage their chronic medical conditions, if we’re not helping them address their anxiety, depression or addiction. “We need to give them the tools
to become more actively engaged in taking care of themselves, which will give them a more positive outlook on their treatment plan.”
RMH services relocate to Chestnut Commons Rome Memorial Hospital has relocated its speech therapy and lymphedema services to its outpatient center at Chestnut Commons Therapy, 107 E. Chestnut St., Suite 104, to consolidate outpatient ther-
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apy services in one location for the convenience patients. Speech-language pathologists assess and treat speech and voice disorders, cognitive deficits and swallowing dysfunction in adults, as well as pediatric speech, feeding, swallowing and voice disorders. Specially trained lymphedema therapists provide a comprehensive approach to managing the buildup of fluid in the extremities due to removal or damage to the lymph nodes.
IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper
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No panic in midst of pandemic Mohawk Valley shows steady signs of improvement while battling COVID-19 By Daniel Baldwin
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he United States is still feeling the aftershocks of the COVID-19 global pandemic, and the Mohawk Valley is slowly but surely trying to regain a sense of normalcy. People are still following the virus guidelines of wearing their masks in stores, staying 6 feet away from other people, washing their hands, and staying home as much as possible. The Mohawk Valley experienced a growth in coronavirus cases in August. Oneida and Herkimer County, who at one time had less than 50 cases in March, came out of the month of August with more than 2,400 cases combined, according to WKTV. Although the valley experienced a growth of cases, working environments at local hospitals and medical facilities are less hectic now than they were March. MVHS Chief Physician Executive Kent Hall said that 25% to 33% of patients that were at the MVHS hospitals and facilities in March and April were either COVID-19 positive or under investigation. As of July, the number of COVID-19 patients significantly dropped to 8 percent.
“From a COVID-19 standpoint, we’re doing better,” Hall said. “We still have gotten some intermediate spikes.” The Oneida County Health Department provides health services and programs to Mohawk Valley and Oneida County residents going through any health-related issues, according to its website ocgov.net. It also has COVID-19 hotline (315-7985431) for people who want to report a case or find out if they are infected with the coronavirus. Although Phyllis D. Ellis, director of health at the Oneida County Health Department, said the department received fewer phone calls from both its hotline and the main line during the summer when compared to March. “The number of positive COVID-19 cases in Oneida County has been fairly consistent since March,” Ellis said. “Phone calls from the public have decreased since the beginning. In March, we fielded over 3,000 phone calls from the public.” Part of the reason for the decrease ofCOVID-19 patients and cases at local hospitals and areas, according to Hall, is based on the amount of people following virus guidelines and taking this pandemic seriously.
Hall said he has seen more Mohawk Valley residents wearing masks, social distancing, and washing their hands. “We’ve done it well and smart,” Hall said. “The community said, ‘we’re taking this seriously. We understand that it’s a burden for us to wear masks and not have venues open, but that’s a burden that we are willing to bear because it’s the right thing to do for our community.’ They’ve done an outstanding job, and I’m really proud to be a citizen of the Mohawk Valley. “There are always going to be some people that don’t follow recommendations, but in general, I think a high percentage of the population that is doing that is really why we are where we are.”
Good for community
Hall also said wearing a mask, keeping your hands clean, socially distancing and staying home can not only prevent one person from getting the virus, but it can also prevent others from getting it and help keep the case rate low in any sort of area. “There was a consistent message that was coming out of Albany,” Hall said. “And that was, ‘This is what we need to do as citizens of this state in order to protect our population and make our population as healthy as possible,’ and I think that the folks in the Mohawk Valley took that to heart and understood that as citizens this was something that was important in order to protect other citizens. “When you wear a mask it protects you, but much more importantly is that it protects other people. People have recognized that this is actually something that they as individuals can do to help contribute to
the greater good of the population in order to keep the spread of this virus down.” It is also important to note that a majority of restaurants throughout the Mohawk Valley already reopened their dining halls. Local hair salons and Sangertown Mall in New Hartford also reopened. “The Mohawk Valley was the first region to begin reopening,” Ellis said. “Our region has consistently entered each new phase on time under the requirements issued by the governor.” While businesses and restaurants in other states tried to reopen but failed to follow health protocols and had to close down again, Hall said the valley has been on a steady upward climb in terms of reopening and had no setbacks. Despite health and business improvements throughout the Mohawk Valley, businesses and health organizations in this area are still on high alert and preparing for the fall and winter season. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is the most common time for people to catch a cold or get the flu. Hall said MVHS partnered with the Oneida County Health Department, Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees, and local colleges in an effort to prepare for the fall season and continue to keep local residents safe and healthy during the pandemic. “We work as an engine to really ask, ‘How can we look to at future at what might be happening, and how do we plan for that?’” Hall said. “So I think partnering with local colleges ensures we are prepared as students are now on campus. We partner with the refugee center to make sure that its population is taken care of.”
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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • November 2020