Fairfield County Boomers & Beyond February 2017 ebook

Boomers d n o y Be

Fairfield County

February 2017

&

GoRed

for Women

Waveny Life Care Offers Person-Centered Home Care! p2 Excellence in Dementia Care at the Greens at Greenwich! p3 StarOne Home Care and Medical Staffing Free in-Home Assessment p7

Columbia Doctors Specializing in Cardiology p20

Valentine’s Day is for everyone

Valentine’s Day isn’t just for young couples – everybody can celebrate! It’s a day to show love and affection to people you care about. It’s also an opportunity to spend time doing fun activities with your older adult.

Valentine’s Day activities for seniors

1. Have fun decorating together Putting up decorations makes a holiday festive and more special. Why not make decorations together? You get the double benefit of saving money and doing something fun together.

2. Make homemade treats to share Valentine’s Day and sweet treats go hand in hand. Have fun and celebrate by making Valentine’s cookies or easy desserts together.

You can even make extras for family and friends!

3. Watch a romantic comedy or romantic movie together After decorating and creating some sweet treats, relax with a fun or romantic movie.

Valentine’s Day is a time for all kinds of love, not just for lovers. Spend time with those you care about and have a good time! source:dailycaring.com

Is home for people diagnosed with some form of dementia or memory impairment. Our philosophy of care centers on the whole person; body, mind, and spirit. We understand that each individual is unique and is deserving of dignity and respect. We celebrate their stories and experiences everyday.

1155 King Street, Greenwich, CT 06830 • 203-531-5500 • www.thegreensatgreenwich.com

Two appointed to Waveny Leadership Team PAGE 4

February, 2017

Bill Piper, Chief Executive Officer of Waveny LifeCare Network, has appointed Lynn Iverson, RN, LNHA, MBA and Edlira Curis to key leadership roles within the non-profit eldercare organization.

Iverson has been named Campus Administrator, and will oversee the operations of the healthcare-focused services, programs and residences on Waveny’s main campus, including Waveny Care Center – the organization’s 5-star rated skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility, The Village – Waveny’s award-winning residence dedicated to memory and dementia care, the Adult Day Program, and the Brown Geriatric Evaluation Clinic. Curis has been named Vice President of Development, and will be responsible for directing Waveny’s fundraising efforts and major campaigns.

Both will play active roles on the organization’s leadership team.

A registered nurse and licensed administrator with more than 30 years of both clinical and managerial experience in acute, sub-acute, rehabilitation and long-term care nursing settings, Iverson most recently served as Administrator for St. Joseph Living Center, a 120-bed non-profit skilled rehabilitation and long-term care facility in Willimantic, Conn. for nine years. Simultaneously, she held volunteer leadership positions with Leading Age of Connecticut, a membership organization “I am very excited to become a member of Waveny LifeCare Network leadership, and I look forward to working with our team to further develop our programs and services.”

Lynn Iverson

Boomers & Beyond - Fairfield County

As a fundraising professional, it’s highly rewarding to work for a mission-driven organization like Waveny, whose values are aligned so well with the needs and priorities of the community it serves.”

Edlira Curis

provided

Lynn Iverson and Edlira Curis have been named to key leadership roles at Waveny, as Campus Administrator and Vice President of Development, respectively.

representing over 130 non-profit healthcare provider organizations within the state, of which Waveny is a long-standing member.

“I am very excited to become a member of Waveny LifeCare Network leadership, and I look forward to working with our team to further develop our programs and services,” said Iverson. “I am fortunate to be joining such a well-respected organization that prides itself on service excellence.”

A professional fundraiser with experience in all aspects of Development, including soliciting

major gifts for Annual Giving programs and Capital Campaigns, Curis was most recently involved with The Giving Collaborative – a philanthropy firm that provides counsel and assistance to non-profit organizations seeking to grow their philanthropy programs. Prior, she devoted ten years of service to independent schools, during which she worked on several campaigns including a $10 million campaign for Rippowam Cisqua School of Bedford, NY and a $6 million campaign for Lauralton Hall High School of Milford, Conn.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed stepping into my new role and getting to know Waveny’s many loyal friends and supporters,” said Curis. “I am inspired by our meaningful conversations and the evident level of support and generosity that Waveny receives from the community. As a fundraising professional, it’s highly rewarding to work for a missiondriven organization like Waveny, whose values are aligned so well with the needs and priorities of the community it serves.”

Waveny LifeCare Network provides a comprehensive continuum of healthcare to serve the changing needs of older adults from all areas. Waveny is a non-profit organization that offers independent living at The Inn, assisted living and respite care for people with memory impairment at The Village, and skilled nursing, inpatient and outpatient Rehabilitation Services at Waveny Care Center. It also includes the Brown Geriatric Evaluation Clinic, an Adult Day Program that provides free door-to-door transportation throughout most of lower Fairfield County, and an array of community-based services through Waveny Home Healthcare, Waveny at Home and Geriatric Care Management. For more information, call 1-855-WAVENY-1 or visit www.waveny.org.

Hidden hearing loss revealed by UConn School of Medicine researchers Boomers & Beyond - Fairfield County

Two researchers at UConn School of Medicine have developed a new hearing test that can identify hearing loss or deficits in some individuals considered to have normal or near-normal hearing in traditional tests.

Many adults report difficulties hearing in everyday situations, despite having their physicians or audiologists tell them that the results of their hearing tests are normal or near-normal.

“We now have a validated technique to identify ‘hidden’ hearing deficits that would likely go undetected with traditional audiograms,” says Leslie R. Bernstein, professor of neuroscience and surgery at UConn, who conducted the study with Constantine Trahiotis, emeritus professor of neuroscience and surgery.

Their newly developed hearing test measures a person’s ability to detect across-ears (binaural) changes in sounds presented at levels of loudness that are close to those experienced in normal conversations.

The binaural system plays a fundamental and predominant role in the ability to localize sounds, to understand conversation in places such as busy restaurants, and to attend to one of multiple, simultaneous sounds.

The researchers studied 31 adults ages 30 to 67 with normal or near-normal audiograms. They found that listeners who have essentially normal clinical hearing test results may exhibit substantial deficits in binaural processing. The results of the study have been published in the Journal of the Acoustic Society of America.

“Our study shows that our novel binaural hearing test can help early identify vulnerable populations of listeners, and perhaps help determine when critical interventions are warranted,” says Trahiotis.

Bernstein and Trahiotis, who have been colleagues for nearly 40 years, including 29 at UConn School of Medicine, are widely considered to be at the forefront of binaural auditory research.

Bernstein notes that acquired hearing loss from excessive noise exposure has long been known to produce significant, and sometimes debilitating, hearing deficits. The new research suggests that hearing loss may be even more widespread than was once thought.

He says experts in the field, for example, used to think that post-concert hearing loss or ear ringing was only a temporary injury that went away. But this new, mounting evidence may change expert opinion.

February, 2017

Hearing problems pose substantial societal and economic problems for the approximately 15 percent of American adults who report some kind of trouble hearing. Worldwide, 360 million people have disabling hearing loss, with the World Health Organization projecting that 1.1 billion teenagers and young adults are at risk of hearing loss due to the lingering effects of excessive noise from personal audio devices and loud concerts.

“Our research team has been working hard to define what normal human hearing really is,” says Trahiotis. “Greater understanding of normal hearing and the early detection of any underlying slight hearing deficits in supposed ‘normal’ listeners could help practitioners have a better chance of identifying ways to slow the progression of debilitating hearing loss in one’s lifetime, and even possibly finding future ways to restore it.”

The team’s research is funded through a $1.5 million grant by the Office of Naval Research. The U.S. Navy has a keen interest in finding new ways to protect its workforce, some of whom are known to be at high risk of noise-induced hearing loss caused by exposure to excessively loud sounds.

UCONN TODAY: http://today.uconn.edu/2016/12/hiddenhearing-loss-revealed/

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February, 2017

Boomers & Beyond - Fairfield County

Advertiser’s Index Alzheimer’s Clinical Trial....................................................................5

ColumbiaDoctors.....................................................................................20 Globe Life Insurance............................................................................17

The Greens at Greenwich........................................................................3

LendingTree.............................................................................................9 MobileHelp.............................................................................................11

Physicians Mutual Insurance Company.................................................15 PillPack...................................................................................................13

StarOne Home Care & Medical Staffing.................................................7

Waveny Lifecare Network.......................................................................2 VNA of Hudson Valley........................................................................19

Boomers Fairfield County

& Beyond

845-534-7500 • (fax) 845-534-0055 Info@HealthcareNewspaper.com PUBLISHER

Joseph P. Belsito (Joe@belsito.com)

••• GENERAL MANAGER

James Stankiewicz

(Jim@healthcarenewsmagazine.com)

••• MARKETING DIRECTOR

Gregory W. Buff

On the cover…

Our View

National Go Red Flag.

Courtesy of American Heart Association

While the weather is often cold and dreary in February, it’s also a month to focus on warmer topics – such as matters of the heart.

Along with Valentine’s Day, another heart-centered event is the “Go Red for Women” national campaign held each February.

Sponsored by the American Heart Association and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, “Go Red” aims to educate and empower women about heart disease.

This issue of Boomers & Beyond features a look at some of the “Go Red” events sponsored by local groups to spread the word about heart-healthy living – offering simple steps to take that can equally benefit both women and men.

In honor of National Cardiac Rehabilitation Week, we also pay tribute to the tireless health professionals who care for heart patients.

And as many Boomers consider the best housing options for their future years, this month’s issue offers a look at lifestyle communities to meet your retirement needs.

Making decisions about hospice and palliative care for a loved one are challenging situations that many families must face at some point. The February issue of Boomers & Beyond explores ways to help make those difficult times easier on you and your family.

And as always, if you have comments, questions or ideas about articles you’d like to see in upcoming issues, we’re eager to hear from you. Get in touch at info@healthcarenewspaper.com.

Jim Stankiewicz, General Manager

(Greg@belsito.com)

••• MANAGING EDITOR

Cathryn Burak

(Cathy@healthcarenewsmagazine.com)

••• SENIOR SALES CONSULTANT

Maureen Rafferty Linell (MRLinell@charter.net)

••• SALES & MARKETING SPECIALIST

Rob Stankiewicz

(Rob@healthcarenewsmagazine.com)

••• MARKETING EXECUTIVE

Anthony Mairo

(Anthony@healthcarenewsmagazine.com)

••• CIRCULATION

Next Month Advances in Rehabilitation

Michelle Belsito

Eyes & Ears Improving your vision and hearing

Dale McKnight

Brain Awareness month

(Michelle@healthcarenewsmagazine.com)

••• SENIOR CORRESPONDENTS

Corporate Information

Healthcare News - Fairfield County, CT edition - Vol. 4 No. 2 - is published monthly, 12 times a year by Belsito Communications, Inc., 1 Ardmore Street, New Windsor, NY 12553. Postage Paid at New Windsor, NY and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to Healthcare Newspaper, 1 Ardmore Street, New Windsor, NY, 12553. No financial responsibility is assumed by this newspaper to publish a display, classified, or legal ad or for typographical errors except of reprinting that part of the ad which was omitted or in error. Omissions or errors must be brought to the attention of the newspaper during the same month of publication.

Managing Diabetes Home Care Dental Care

February is National Senior Independence Month Celebrate your age Boomers & Beyond - Fairfield County

February, 2017

PAGE 7

As we grow older, some of the simplest tasks can become challenges. We understand the fears and doubts that can come with aging.

And, we want to give you the support and confidence to overcome those fears and live life independently.

We recognize the importance of independent living and strive to help residents reach their goals to live a healthy lifestyle on their own.

February marks National Senior Independence Month.

Take this opportunity to evaluate your current living situation; notice the strengths and weaknesses in your daily routine and make adjustments for a better lifestyle.

Ask yourself: What holds you back? What could make daily living easier? Minor adjustments can make a huge difference.

Home Safety Tips Use these techniques to make your home a place you can live safely and independently.

• Brighten Up—Check that every room is well lit, and make any lighting replacements where needed. Installing night-lights throughout the house— especially in dark corners and along staircases—can help improve nighttime visibility and prevent trips and falls over unseen objects.

• Clear Clutter—Keep floors and walkways clear of unnecessary items, such as clothes, books, papers and trash. An alteration as simple as shifting the furniture can be valuable for those who may have balance or vision problems. Move any furniture, wiring or other obstructions, and make sure all pathways are clear enough to move freely without fear of harm.

• Get a Grip—Install grab bars and handrails in the restrooms near the shower, bathtub and toilet. Using non-slip mats and placing double-sided tape under rugs can also help minimize slips.

• Open Access—Everything should be easily accessible, including the refrigerator, cabinets, drawers, doors and shelving. Also, place items on the lower levels of shelves for easier reach.

Stay Active to Avoid Accidents Did you know that daily exercise could help reduce the risk of falls? In fact, being inactive is one of the major risk factors of falls in older adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Don’t let fear of injury keep you from engaging in daily exercise. With your physician’s approval, take part in these activities to help make your fall prevention power greater: • Flowing and stretching exercises, such as T’ai Chi and yoga, are known to .help restore balance and joint flexibility • Mild strength training—with and without weights—can help strengthen your muscles, joints and bones, making it less likely that you will fall or .become injured from a fall • Walking is one of the easiest exercises you can do, and it comes with many benefits, including improved balance, strength and endurance.

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PAGE 8

February, 2017

Boomers & Beyond - Fairfield County

What you can do to prevent heart disease In Your 50s

Unlike the emergence of wrinkles and gray hair, what you can’t see as you get older is the impact aging has on your heart. So starting in the 50s, you need to take extra steps.

• Eat a healthy diet. It’s easy to slip into some unhealthy eating habits, so refresh your eating habits by eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, fiber-rich whole grains, fish (preferably oily fish-at least twice per week), nuts, legumes and seeds and try eating some meals without meat.

• Learn the warning signs of a heart attack and stroke.

Now is the time to get savvy about symptoms.

Not everyone experiences sudden numbness with a stroke or severe chest pain with a heart attack. And heart attack symptoms in women can be different than men.

• Follow your treatment plan.

By now, you may have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or other conditions that increase your risk for heart disease or stroke.

Lower your risk by following your prescribed treatment plan, including medications and lifestyle and diet changes.

In Your 60s+

With age comes an increased risk for heart disease. Your blood pressure, cholesterol and other heart-related numbers tend to rise. Watching your numbers closely and managing any health problems that arise — along with the requisite healthy eating and exercise — can help you live longer and better.

• Have an ankle-brachial index test. Starting in your 60s, it's a good idea to get an ankle-brachial index test as part of a physical exam. The test assesses the pulses in the feet to help diagnose peripheral artery disease (PAD), a lesser-known cardiovascular disease in which plaque builds up in the leg arteries.

• Watch your weight. Your body needs fewer calories as you get older. Excess weight causes your heart to work harder and increases the risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol. Exercising regularly and eating smaller portions of nutrient-rich foods may help you maintain a healthy weight.

• Learn the warning signs of a heart attack and stroke. Heart attack symptoms in women can be different than men. Knowing when you’re having a heart attack or stroke means you’re more likely to get immediate help. Quick treatment can save your life and prevent serious disability.

Source://www.heart.org

Boomers & Beyond - Fairfield County

February, 2017

PAGE 9

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February, 2017

What is Hospice Care

Boomers & Beyond - Fairfield County

What is hospice care?

Hospice focuses on caring, not curing and in most cases care is provided in the patient's home. Hospice care also is provided in freestanding hospice centers, hospitals, and nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.

Hospice services are available to patients of any age, religion, race, or illness. Hospice care is covered under Medicare, Medicaid, most private insurance plans, HMOs, and other managed care organizations.

Considered to be the model for quality, compassionate care for people facing a life-limiting illness or injury, hospice care involves a team-oriented approach to expert medical care, pain management, and emotional and spiritual support expressly tailored to the patient's needs and wishes. Support is provided to the patient's loved ones as well. At the center of hospice and palliative care is the belief that each of us has the right to die pain-free and with dignity, and that our families will receive the necessary support to allow us to do so.

How does hospice care work?

Typically, a family member serves as the primary caregiver and, when appropriate, helps make decisions for the terminally ill individual. Members of the hospice staff make regular visits to assess the patient and provide additional care or other services. Hospice staff is on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The hospice team develops a care plan that meets each patient's individual needs for pain management and symptom control. The team usually consists of: • The patient' s personal physician; • Hospice physician (or medical director); • Nurses;

What is Palliative Care?

• Home health aides; • Social workers; • Clergy or other counselors • Trained volunteers; and • Speech, physical, and occupational therapists, if needed.

What services are provided?

Among its major responsibilities, the interdisciplinary hospice team: • Manages the patient’s pain and symptoms; • Assists the patient with the emotional and psychosocial and spiritual aspects of dying; • Provides needed drugs, medical supplies, and equipment; • Coaches the family on how to care for the patient; • Delivers special services like speech and physical therapy; • Makes short-term inpatient care available when pain or symptoms become too difficult to manage at home, or the caregiver needs respite time; and provides bereavement care and counseling to surviving family and friends.

Palliative care is patient and family-centered care that optimizes quality of life anticipating, preventing, and treating suffering. Palliative care throughout continuum of illness involves addressing physical, intellectual, emotional, social, spiritual needs and to facilitate patient autonomy, access to information and choice.

Improves Quality of Life Palliative care teams specialize in treating people suffering from the symptoms and stress of serious illnesses such as cancer, congestive heart failure (CHF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), kidney disease, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and many more. This type of care treats pain, depression, shortness of breath, fatigue, constipation, nausea, loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping, anxiety and any other symptoms that may be causing distress.

The team will help you gain the strength to carry on with daily life. In short, palliative care will help improve your quality of life.

Close Communication The palliative care team will also spend time talking to you and listening. They will make sure you understand all of your treatment options and choices. By deeply exploring your personal goals, the palliative care team will help you match those goals and options. They will also make sure that all of your doctors are coordinated and know and understand what you want. This gives you more control over your care.

A Partnership of Palliative Care Team, Patient and Family Palliative care teams are specialists who work together with you, your family and your other doctors. They provide an extra layer of support when you need it most. In addition to treating your symptoms, the palliative care team spends as much time as necessary communicating with both you and your family. They support you every step of the way.

The following features characterize palliative care philosophy and delivery: • Care is provided and services are coordinated by an interdisciplinary team; • Patients, families, palliative and non-palliative health care providers collaborate and communicate about care needs; • Services are available concurrently with or independent of curative or life-prolonging care; • Patient and family hopes for peace and dignity are supported throughout the course of illness, during the dying process, and after death

Source://getpalliativecare.org/whatis/

Boomers & Beyond - Fairfield County

February, 2017

PAGE 11

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February, 2017

Boomers & Beyond - Fairfield County

Cardiac Rehabilitation Week February 12-18, 2017

Celebrate national AACVPR National Cardiac Rehabilitation Week 2016 and draw attention to the role of cardiac rehabilitation in reducing the potentially devastating effects of heart disease.

Host a special event at your facility to celebrate the accomplishments you share with your patients and their families and to show your community what you have to offer. For ideas on how to publicize your event – and your program – to the community, please review the following pages. As you plan, don’t forget to invite the physicians who prescribe your services, as well as members of your local media to get the most publicity possible.

When AACVPR National Cardiac Rehabilitation Week is celebrated during February, American Heart Month, as part of a national campaign to draw greater attention to heart health. The week coincides each year with Valentine’s Day. AACVPR National Cardiac Rehabilitation Week 2017 will be celebrated February 12-18.

Where At hospitals, exercise facilities and outpatient rehabilitation centers across the country.

How Host a risk factor screening, health fair, open house, or seminar to share information on the heart, cardiovascular health, fitness and related rehabilitation topics.

Contact your affiliate society or AACVPR for information on activities in your area.

Why National Cardiac Rehabilitation Week was initiated by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) to focus national attention on cardiac rehabilitation’s contribution to the improvement of the health and physical performance of individuals at risk for heart disease and/or those individuals diagnosed with heart disease or dysfunction.

Griffin Hospital to host AARP Driver Safety Program

Griffin Hospital will host an AARP Driver Safety Program from 8:45 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. on Saturday, March 4 at the hospital, 130 Division St., Derby.

The AARP Driver Safety Program is the nation's first and largest refresher course for drivers. While the course is geared toward drivers age 50 and older, the course is open to everyone.

The training is designed to help you learn current rules of the road, how to operate your vehicle more safely in today's increasingly challenging driving environment, and make some adjustments to common age-related changes in vision, hearing, and reaction time. The course also covers such topics as how to maintain proper following distance at all times; the safest way to change lanes and make turns at intersections; the effects of medications on driving; how to minimize the effect of dangerous blind spots; the importance of eliminating distractions, such as eating, smoking, and cell-phone use; proper use of safety belts, air bags, and anti-lock brakes and ways to monitor your own and others' driving skills and capabilities.

Participants will gain a greater appreciation of driving challenges and how they can avoid potential collisions and injuries to themselves and others. As an added bonus, participants can check with their auto insurance company about discounts for completing the course.

The cost is $15 for AARP members and $20 for non-members.

Make checks payable to “AARP.” To register, call Esther at 203-732-1523.

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February, 2017

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February, 2017

Boomers & Beyond - Fairfield County

Cold or Flu? How to Tell WRITTEN BY: Theresa Santoro, MSN, RN, CHCA President & CEO, RVNA

The flu and a common cold can have some symptoms in common, like exhaustion, sore throat and aches and fever, but there are also distinct differences. The most common cold symptoms are mild fatigue, fever, cough, sore throat and head, chest or nasal congestion. A runny nose, sneezing and watery eyes are common too. The common cold can’t be cured with medication, although medications can treat the symptoms. Rest and good nutrition seem to be the most helpful. A cold usually dissipates in a week or so.

On the other hand, compared to a cold, the flu comes on quickly and strongly. The aches and pains of flu are typically deep muscle pains in large muscles such as in the legs and back. Anti-viral medications prescribed within 48 hour of the onset of the flu can reduce the intensity of symptoms and reduce the risk of complications. Both the flu and colds can lead to further problems like pneumonia, bronchitis or sinusitis, but this is more likely with the flu. The best approach is to treat the symptoms and get plenty of rest.

If you haven’t yet gotten a flu shot, it’s not too late. The flu usually peaks after the holidays and into February and March. It takes two weeks for the vaccine to become effective so it’s best to get the shot as soon as possible.

RVNA provides flu shots on a walk-in basis, Monday – Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm and by appointment on Thursdays till 6pm. Call 203 438-5555 to make an appointment.

Founded in 1914, RVNA is an accredited non-profit Medicare-certified home healthcare agency that also supports public health and safety, and promotes the highest quality of life. RVNA provides compassionate care to all individuals, whether young or old, through a continuum of care that encompasses health care at home and in the community. RVNA also provides home health aides and companionship through a non-medical subsidiary called HomeCare by RVNA and outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy in its Rehab by RVNA facility at 27 Governor Street, Ridgefield.

Bridgeport Hospital screenings, support groups, classes in February

Blood pressure screenings – Bridgeport Hospital will offer free blood pressure screenings at the following locations and times.

For information, call 888-357-2396.

• Fairfield Senior Center, 100 Mona Terrace, Monday, Feb. 6, 9:30 - 11:30 am • Shelton Senior Center, 81 Wheeler St., Monday, Feb. 27, noon - 2 pm

Senior driving course – AARP’s Smart Driver course will be offered Saturday, Feb. 4, 9 am - 1 pm, in the first-floor Administration Conference Room at Bridgeport Hospital, 267 Grant St. The fee is $15 for AARP members and $20 for non-members, which covers handouts and instructional materials. Classes are taught by trained AARP instructors. Successful completion may entitle seniors to a discount on automobile insurance premiums. To register, call 888-357-2396 or visit www.bridgeporthospital.org/events.

Boomers & Beyond - Fairfield County

February, 2017

PAGE 15

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February, 2017

Boomers & Beyond - Fairfield County

Preventing falls this Winter season According to the CT Collaboration for Fall Prevention, falls are more common than strokes and their consequences can be just as serious. A fall can be life changing and can happen to anyone. In Connecticut, falls are the leading cause of injury for residents over the age of 70 and when a fall occurs, a task as simple as getting the mail or going to the market may now be filled with fear or dependence on others.

There are steps people can take to avoid a fall. While falls can happen anytime anywhere, winter is an especially critical time to take caution. The State Department on Aging funds the “CT Collaboration for Fall Prevention” Below is a winter walking tip sheet put together by the CT Collaboration.

Winter Walking Tips

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure • Ask yourself: “do I really need to go out in this weather?”

• Make sure you can clearly see your way. Never walk inside or outdoors wearing reading glasses. Multifocal lens can also be hazardous if you need to look straight down to see what you are walking on. Ask your eye doctor for help.

• Assume that all wet, dark areas on pavement are slippery.

• Avoid boots or shoes with smooth (slippery) soles and heels anytime, but especially outdoor in winter. Wear shoes or boots that completely surround the foot and provide traction on snow.

• Use special care when entering and exiting vehicles.

• Walk in designated walkways as much as possible. Taking shortcuts over snow piles and other frozen areas is hazardous.

• Take a lesson from penguins. To improve stability point the feet a bit outward with a slightly wider stance. The trunk is centered directly over the feet and arms extended. Notice she isn’t carrying bags or purses that pull one off-center, obstruct the view of the walking surface or are otherwise distracting. Defying gravity requires our full attention. GO S-L-O-W-L-Y.

• When walking on steps focus. Use the hand rail and plant each foot firmly on each step. Falling up or down stairs is very likely to result in injury-any time of the year. source:www.ct.gov/agingservices/

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February, 2017

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Hebrew HealthCare sells Skilled Nursing Facility to National Healthcare Associates PAGE 18

February, 2017

Hebrew HealthCare (HHC), a non-profit, nonstock 501 (c) (3) corporation, recently announced that it has finalized the sale of its skilled nursing facility and premises at 1 Abrahms Boulevard in West Hartford to National Healthcare Associates. National Healthcare will own and operate the 257-bed skilled nursing facility located on Abrahms Boulevard in West Hartford under its new business, Hebrew Home for Health and Rehabilitation, LLC. Hebrew HealthCare will remain on the property under a 30 year initial lease agreement to operate its other service lines.

The sale will allow HHC to focus on its successful aging business lines, including its specialty hospital, medical model senior day

center, geriatric physician practice, assisted living facility and services, and dementia consultation and education, all of which enhance the financial stability of the organization, and are designed to meet the needs of current and future aging adults. The sale of the skilled nursing component will provide the organization with needed financial relief and allow Hebrew HealthCare to explore and develop additional aging services.

Hebrew HealthCare initially pursued a transaction with National because of its expressed interest in preserving skilled nursing services provided in the context of Jewish traditions.

Gary Jones, Interim President and CEO explains, “The sale of the skilled nursing facility positions

Hebrew HealthCare to move our geriatric services away from the institutional setting, which is in line both with the State’s long term care rebalancing plans and the desires of the burgeoning Baby Boomer population, and allows us to preserve the values of our Jewish heritage and roots. Without the financial burden of the skilled nursing facility, HHC can explore and develop cutting edge services to serve the needs of our 21st century seniors”.

Jones went on to say that “Hebrew HealthCare is committed to continuing its 115 year tradition of serving the needs of the elderly in our community. We will do so by maintaining viable existing services, expanding them as appropriate, and developing new

programs as we move forward.

We are grateful for the support we have enjoyed from the community in the past and will strive to continue to merit its support and confidence in all that we do going forward.”

Hebrew HealthCare leadership plans a comprehensive review of all existing services and will expand both its service lines and areas as needs are identified. It has long been the organization’s practice to review, develop and reinvent itself while remaining true to its mission. “It has always been our willingness to respond to the changing needs of those we serve that has assured Hebrew HealthCare’s continued relevance and its longevity within our community,” Jones concluded.

Nominations sought for Caring Heart Award

provided

The Women’s Heart Wellness Committee (formerly Women & Heart Disease) is seeking nominations for its Annual Caring Heart Awards.

These awards are presented to an individual and a group, organization or business that lives or works in the Lower Naugatuck Valley and has made significant contributions to the heart wellness of an individual or the community at large, and demonstrates a “Caring Heart” by their actions and/or volunteerism.

For a nomination form or information on how to make an email nomination, contact to Eunice Lisk at 203-732-7107 or whw@griffinhealth.org. Nominations must be received by Fri., Feb. 3 to be eligible.

The award winners will be announced in February and presented at the Annual Women's Heart Wellness & Caring Heart Award Brunch set for March 25 from 8:30 a.m.-noon at the Griffin Hospital Dining Room, 130 Division Street, Derby.

The Women’s Heart Wellness Committee consists of healthcare professionals, heart patients and women from throughout the Valley communities.

The Women’s Heart Wellness Committee is seeking nominations for its annual Caring Heart Awards.

The primary focus of the group is to increase heart health awareness among women, empower them to love and save their hearts, and ensure they are provided the means to do so through education and rehabilitation. Membership is open to all interested persons.

Tickets for the 12th Annual Women’s Heart Wellness Brunch and Awards Program event will go on sale in February. To learn more, become a sponsor or make a donation, contact at 203-732-7107 or whw@griffinhealth.org.

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February, 2017

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