Fairfield County Boomers & Beyond January 2017 ebook

Boomers d n o y e &B January 2017

Fairfield County

Waveny Lifecare Network brings comfort to your family p2

Consider a clinical trial for Alzheimer’s from CREAD p5

StarOne Home Care and Medical Staffing When a helping hand is all you need p7

Boomers & Beyond - Fairfield County

HEALTHY WEIGHT WEEK 2017 DATES : JANUARY 16 - 20

Healthy Weight Week was created 23 years ago to help people understand that health really isn’t about a number – on the scale or otherwise – and to encourage people to stop dieting and pursue livable and sustainable healthy lifestyles through eating well, living actively and feeling good about themselves.

Changing the Conversation Around Health and Weight Your healthy weight is your natural weight, which is largely determined by your genetics.

If you come from a family of larger or smaller people, you are likely to be larger or smaller.

What is a Healthy Weight?

Achieving and maintaining your healthy weight is supported by healthful, enjoyable living that includes mindful, pleasurable eating and physical activity, effective stress management, adequate sleep and more. It is not a weight that is achieved through restricting what you eat or excessively exercising in order to lose weight.

Source:wtlsc.info/

January, 2017

PAGE 3

New England Dance Theatre Company performs Nutcracker at Waveny PAGE 4

January, 2017

Boomers & Beyond - Fairfield County

photos provided

Residents, patients and Adult Day Program participants throughout Waveny LifeCare Network's continuum of care were delighted by the New England Dance Theatre Company's live ballet performance of The Nutcracker on “Main Street� at The Village. In this ninth year of performing at Waveny for the holidays, Director Ginna Ortiz narrated the program by introducing the main characters and describing each scene to the audience. Afterward, all residents, patients and participants were able to meet and interact with the dancers, view their beautiful costumes up close and share in holiday cheer.

Hearing loss: types, causes and treatment Boomers & Beyond - Fairfield County

January, 2017

PAGE 5

Hearing loss can be caused by many different causes, some of which can be successfully treated with medicine or surgery, depending on the disease process.

Three Types of Hearing Loss • Conductive hearing loss - when hearing loss is due to problems with the ear canal, ear drum, or middle ear and its little bones (the malleus, incus, and stapes).

• Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) - when hearing loss is due to problems of the inner ear, also known as nerve-related hearing loss.

• Mixed hearing loss - refers to a combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. This means that there may be damage in the outer or middle ear and in the inner ear (cochlea) or auditory nerve.

Treatments of Conductive Hearing Loss: Types of conductive hearing loss include congenital absence of ear canal or failure of the ear canal to be open at birth, congenital absence, malformation, or dysfunction of the middle ear structures, all of which may possibly be surgically corrected. If these are not amenable to successful surgical correction, then the hearing alternatively may be improved with amplification with a bone conduction hearing aid, or a surgically implanted, osseointegrated device or a conventional hearing aid, depending on the status of the hearing nerve.

Treatment of Sensorineural Hearing Loss: • Sensorineural hearing loss can result from acoustic trauma (or exposure to excessively loud noise), which may respond to medical therapy with corticosteroids to reduce cochlea hair cell swelling and inflammation to improve healing of these injured inner ear structures.

• Sensorineural hearing loss can occur from head trauma or abrupt changes in air pressure such as in airplane descent, which can cause inner ear fluid compartment rupture or leakage, which can be toxic to the inner ear. There has been variable success with emergency surgery when this happens.

• Sudden sensorineural hearing loss, presumed to be of viral origin, is an otologic emergency that is medically treated with corticosteroids.

Treatments for Mixed Hearing Loss There have been times when the addition of the conductive component made the person a better hearing aid candidate, by flattening out the audiogram for example, while the underlying sensorineural component presented a high-frequency loss.

However, the emphasis would be on treating medically what can be treated.

Source:www.hearingloss.org/

Memory ge etting worrse?

We're looking for people who have memor y or thin king problems that may be early sym ptoms of Alz heimer's disease.

CREAD is a clinica l research study for people a g ed 50 to 85 who are experiencing increasing problems with their memor y.

www.CREADstudy.com

800. 230.5162

CREAD_ Press Ad PT_V1 _ 250516 _US Eng lish

PAGE 6

January, 2017

Boomers & Beyond - Fairfield County

Advertiser’s Index Alzheimer’s Clinical Trial....................................................................5 ColumbiaDoctors.....................................................................................20

Globe Life Insurance............................................................................11

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

LifeExtension.........................................................................................13 Physicians Mutual Insurance Company...................................................9

PillPack...................................................................................................15

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

Waveny Lifecare Network.......................................................................2

Boomers

VNA of Hudson Valley........................................................................19 Fairfield County

& Beyond

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

Our View It’s hard to believe that 2017 is here already!

Our staff at Boomers & Beyond would like to take this opportunity to wish all our readers a very Happy New Year.

We look forward to presenting another year’s worth of interesting, informative articles.

We hope they’ll help make it easier to navigate the many health-oriented aspects of growing older with grace, knowledge and empowerment.

Our goal in 2017 is to serve you, the readers, by offering the next 12 issues on topics that run the gamut from care options for aging loved ones to tips for staying physically and mentally sharp.

We are also grateful to be able to interact with the many wonderful individuals and health-related businesses that you read about in our pages.

They reflect the fact that our region is a great place to live, where we’re fortunate to have access to the best in health care, from infancy all the way up to our golden years.

We’re always glad to receive your comments and suggestions.

Get in touch at info@healthcarenewspaper.com.

Jim Stankiewicz, General Manager

PUBLISHER

Joseph P. Belsito (Joe@belsito.com)

••• GENERAL MANAGER

James Stankiewicz

(Jim@healthcarenewsmagazine.com)

••• MARKETING DIRECTOR

Gregory W. Buff (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

Next Month “Go Red for Women”

American Heart Month Saving women’s lives and beating Heart Disease

(Anthony@healthcarenewsmagazine.com)

National Cardiac Rehabilitation Week

(Michelle@healthcarenewsmagazine.com)

Retirement Communities Lifestyle communities for you

••• CIRCULATION

Michelle Belsito

••• SENIOR CORRESPONDENTS

Dale McKnight

Corporate Information

Healthcare News - Fairfield County, CT edition - Vol. 4 No. 1 - 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.

National Senior Independence week Hospice & Palliative Care

Boomers & Beyond - Fairfield County

Choosing the right short-term rehab facility for seniors

When researching short-term rehabilitation and senior care facilities, whether for yourself or an elderly loved one, it is important to know what to look for to minimize your concerns about the healing and rehabilitative process. Understanding the difference between short-term rehab and long term care is an important first step. Short-term rehab facilities are typically the place aging adults go to recover from health issues in a professional, caring environment. They can receive a variety of therapy and nursing services during their stay as they heal and make progress with the peace-of-mind of having nursing staff available to meet their needs 24-hours a day.

Short Term versus Long Term Rehab The first step to finding an appropriate rehab facility is to determine the approximate length of stay that is required. For example, a minor health issue, such as an uncomplicated surgery, may only require a short term rehabilitation stay of anywhere from a couple of days to a month or so. In other cases, the patient may need to stay at the facility for several months following more advanced medical matters, like cardiac issues. Some facilities offer both types of care, while others specialize in one or the other.

January, 2017

PAGE 7

Key Takeaways • Find a rehab center that can properly provide short or long term rehabilitation for seniors, as needed.

• Tour the senior care facility in advance and examine the rooms, dining area, therapy facilities, and community rooms.

• Talk to several staff members. Ask about qualifications, personalized care plans, and types of therapy provided.

• Talk to past or current residents for a more insightful view into the rehab center for seniors.

Source://www.umh.org/

Transforming healthcare with in home care services that put clients and their families first.

Evaluating the Lifestyle Quality Before making a decision, take the time to visit one or more rehab centers for seniors. Ask to see patient rooms and common living spaces to evaluate the levels of cleanliness, comfort, and privacy that residents have. Some people feel uncomfortable sharing a room when they are ill or recovering, while others enjoy the companionship of a shared room during this time so ask if both private and shared rooms are available. Check out the dining options and menus to get a feel for the types of meals that residents eat each day. Are the options varied and healthy, or nondescript and unappetizing? Visit the community areas too; find out about social events and activities designed to keep residents engaged and entertained. Ideally, the facility should offer a variety of group activities and programs including access to religious services, as well ways to support individual interests.

What to Ask the Staff Although some people are hesitant to ask staff challenging questions, by all means go ahead and talk to them to make sure all your concerns are addressed. In particular, ask about the availability of specialized staff, with regard to you or your loved one’s specific needs. For example, a person with a physical injury might need staff who are trained and qualified in physical therapy and nursing. Inquire about a personalized care plan and get actual details about it in advance. The staff should be able to provide information about the recovery process as well as therapy and rehabilitation.

Star One provides outstanding, person-focused quality home care services. Our highly skilled caregivers offer clients in-home support for well-being, personal care, home care, housekeeping, social connection, health treatments, rehabilitation, assisted daily living, nursing and allied health services and transport.

These services are available for Short term or Live-in Care, including recovering from surgery or injury.

Life is an incredible journey and we are proud to offer support every step of the way

Whether you require a Hourly Support each week or full-time Live-In Care, contact us today for a free consultation and discover why Star One Home care is a superior alternative home care provider.

Connecticut 203-914-9668 Live-In Care available New York City 212-874-2826 Westchester 914-362-0899 New York 718-733-2222

www.staronehomecare.com info@staronehomecare.com

PAGE 8

January, 2017

Boomers & Beyond - Fairfield County

Guide to

senior housing and care ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITIES Assisted living communities provide housing and care to seniors who may need some assistance with daily tasks, but who do not require the skilled care provided at a nursing home. Assistance with medications, activities of daily living, meals and housekeeping are routinely provided. Residents live in private apartments that frequently feature kitchenettes. Staff is available 24 hours per day, activities and entertainment opportunities are plentiful and transportation to appointments is available. A special area for memory care is available in some, but not all communities.

Assisted living communities come in all shapes and sizes. They can be towering apartment buildings in urban centers, sprawling complexes in the suburbs, or more intimate communities catering to a relatively small number of residents. By our own definition, assisted living communities are licensed to care for at least 20 people, but many communities have hundreds of residents.

SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITIES Independent senior living communities cater to seniors who are self-sufficient and who do not need hands-on care. Residents live in fully equipped private apartments that typically include a kitchenette, and sometimes a full kitchen. These communities usually offer a broad range of intellectual, physical and social activities. These communities offer a carefree lifestyle, free of many potentially difficult or burdensome responsibilities, such as meal preparation, housekeeping and laundry and house maintenance. Senior apartments are also considered independent senior living communities, but provide few, if any, amenities.

MEMORY CARE Alzheimer’s and dementia care, also known as memory care, is often provided in a secure area of an assisted living community or nursing home, usually on a separate floor or in its own wing. The secure aspect of memory care communities is intended to prevent residents from wandering off and becoming lost, which is a common and dangerous symptom of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. The security usually takes the form of alarmed exit doors rather than locked exit doors.

Residents usually live in semi-private apartments or private rooms and enjoy structured activities conducted by staff members trained specifically trained to care for those with dementia.

RESIDENTIAL CARE HOMES Residential care homes are regular, private homes that have been adapted to accommodate the care of a limited number of residents. Live-in caregivers provide 24-hour supervision and assistance for residents.

NURSING HOMES Nursing homes are for seniors who require 24hour monitoring and medical assistance. Typical nursing home residents suffer from severe, debilitating physical or mental conditions that leave them unable to care for themselves. They may be bedridden, wheelchair-bound, or have medical needs that require daily skilled nuring care. The good news is that modern nursing homes not only provide for residents’ physical needs, they offer activities tailored specifically to individual abilities along with the luxury of such amenities as restaurant-style meal service.

HOME CARE Home care allows older people to remain in their own homes while receiving the assistance they need to help them remain independent. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 7.6 million Americans receive home care, but this number may be larger when you include all the informal care that’s often provided by friends and family of the elderly. Home care may be appropriate for seniors who prefer to live at home, but need minor assistance with activities of daily living. For seniors who need higher levels of care, or more frequent care, home care isn’t always practical or affordable.

ADULT DAY SERVICES Often called “adult day programs” or “adult day care,” adult day services provide support for caregivers who take care of elderly loved ones at home. Typical programs feature half-day and fullday care for seniors, and many include transportation to and from the adult day center where they’re run. Adult day centers provide social activities and health care services for adults with physical disabilities and/ or cognitive impairments, as well as for frail elders who may otherwise be lonely sitting at home alone. Caregivers who work outside the home, or simply need a break from time to time, frequently use these types of services.

RESPITE CARE The term “respite care” refers to a short-term stay at a senior community, though it may be used in reference to in-home caregiving services used for only a short period.

Source:www.aplaceformom.com

Boomers & Beyond - Fairfield County

January, 2017

PAGE 9

DENTAL Insurance Physicians Mutual Insurance Company

A less expensive way to help get the dental care you deserve

If you’re over 50, you can get coverage for about $1 a day*

Keep your own dentist! NO networks to worry about No wait for preventive care and no deductibles – you could get a checkup tomorrow

Coverage for over 350 procedures – including cleanings, exams, fillings, crowns…even dentures

NO annual or lifetime cap on the cash benefits you can receive

FREE Information Kit

1-800-670-0187 *Individual plan.

Product not available in MN, MT, NH, RI, VT, WA. Acceptance guaranteed for one insurance policy/ certificate of this type. Contact us for complete details about this insurance solicitation. This specific offer is not available in CO, NY;call 1-800-969-4781 or respond for similar offer. Certificate C250A (ID: C250E; PA: C250Q); Insurance Policy P150 (GA: P150GA; NY: P150NY; OK: P150OK; TN: P150TN) 6096C MB16-NM001Cc

PAGE 10

January, 2017

Boomers & Beyond - Fairfield County

12

best leg exercises for seniors and the elderly

Leg exercises are a vital part of senior and elderly fitness. Strengthening the lower body is one of the most effective and efficient methods of preserving your independence and improving your health as you age. Below you will find 12 great lower body strengthening exercises to try. Have a chair handy for some of the standing exercises to help with balance.

Strengthening exercises for seniors should be done at least twice a week.

1. Ankle Circles • This exercise improves your ankle flexibility and ability to move your ankle upward and downward.

• This is a great warm up exercise for the lower leg and feet.

2. Hip Marching • This exercise will strengthen your hip flexor and thighs.

• With correct seated posture it will also help your abdominal muscles.

3. Knee Extension • Strengthening your knees width knee strengthening exercises will improve your ability to stand and balance.

• This exercise will improve your available knee range of motion.

4. Calf Raises • Strengthening your calf muscles with calf exercises will give your more power to step forward on level surfaces or carry you up hills on uneven terrain.

• Helps pump blood up from your legs to your upper-body and brain.

5. Standing Knee Flexion • These knee exercises strengthens your hamstring muscles.

• Helps with your standing balance.

6. Side Hip Raise • Safely strengthens your side hip muscles to help with hip arthritis.

• Helps maintain your lower body endurance to better walk and side step around objects.

7. Sit to Stand • Excellent hip exercises to maintain your leg and hip strength.

• One of the most important exercises used daily to keep your independence and confidence.

8. Heel Stand • Strengthens the front part of the lower leg with ankle stretches.

• You will become better able to raise your toes to avoid tripping.

9. Lunges • To strengthen your quadriceps and hips with leg toning exercises.

• •

Improve your ability to get out of a chair and balance.

Help you with lifting chores around the house.

10. Straight Leg Raise • To increase your quadriceps and hip flexor strength with this leg workout.

• To strengthen your abdominal muscles.

• Allow you to advance your leg during walking with greater ease.

11. Partial Squats • Increase your hip flexibility, quadriceps strength and hip flexor strength.

• Improve your ability to get up from a chair and walk.

• Steady your body for better balance and safety.

12. Hip Extension • This exercise will help with strengthening the hip joint and muscles.

• This will improve the ability to walk and propel yourself forward or up stairs.

Source:https://eldergym.com/

Boomers & Beyond - Fairfield County

January, 2017

PAGE 11

Shopping For Insurance? Put Your Family’s Financial Protection First On Your List Join Our Family Of Satisfied Policyholders

100,000

BUY $

GLOBE LIFE INSURANCE Choose $5,000, $10,000, $20,000, $30,000 Or Up To $100,000 Coverage

• Monthly Rates As Low As $3.49 For Adults & $2.17 For Children & Grandchildren • No Medical Exam - Only A Few Yes/No Health Questions

• 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee For FREE/No Obligation Information Call Toll Free

800-870-6182 Globe Life Has Been Serving Families For Over 65 Years

January is Glaucoma Awareness Month PAGE 12

January, 2017

January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month, an important time to spread the word about this sight-stealing disease.

Currently, more than 3 million people in the United States have glaucoma. The National Eye Institute projects this number will reach 4.2 million by 2030, a 58 percent increase.

Glaucoma is called "the sneak thief of sight" since there are no symptoms and once vision is lost, it's permanent. As much as 40% of vision can be lost without a person noticing.

Glaucoma is the leading cause of preventable blindness. Moreover, among African American and Latino populations, glaucoma is more prevalent.

Glaucoma is 6 to 8 times more common in African Americans than Caucasians.

Over 3 million Americans, and over 60 million people worldwide, have glaucoma. Experts estimate that half of them don’t know they have it.

Combined with our aging population, we can see an epidemic of blindness looming if we don’t raise awareness about the importance of regular eye examinations to preserve vision. The World Health Organization estimates that 4.5 million people worldwide are blind due to glaucoma.

Help Raise Awareness In the United States, approximately 120,000 are blind from glaucoma, accounting for 9% to 12% of all cases of blindnessestimates that 4.5 million people worldwide are blind due to glaucoma.

Are you at risk for Glaucoma?

Everyone is at risk for glaucoma. However, certain groups are at higher risk than others.

Through your generous donations and engaged civic involvement, we can help at-risk groups become aware of early symptoms, increase early diagnosis, and start treatment to preserve vision.

People at high risk for glaucoma should get a complete eye exam, including eye dilation, every one or two years.

The following are groups at higher risk for developing glaucoma.

African Americans After cataracts, glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness among African Americans and people of African descent. Glaucoma is six to eight times more common in African Americans than in Caucasians.

People Over 60 Glaucoma is much more common among older people. You are six times more likely to get glaucoma if you are over 60 years old.

Boomers & Beyond - Fairfield County

Family Members with Glaucoma The most common type of glaucoma, primary open-angle glaucoma, is hereditary. If members of your immediate family have glaucoma, you are at a much higher risk than the rest of the population.

Family history increases risk of glaucoma four to nine times.

Hispanics in Older Age Groups Recent studies indicate that the risk for Hispanic populations is greater than those of predominantly European ancestry, and that the risk increases among Hispanics over age 60.

Asians People of Asian descent appear to be at increased risk for angle-closure glaucoma. Angle-closure glaucoma accounts for less than 10% of all diagnosed cases of glaucoma. People of Japanese descent are at higher risk for normal-tension glaucoma.

Steroid Users Some evidence links steroid use to glaucoma.

A 1997 study reported in the Journal of American Medical Association demonstrated a 40% increase in the incidence of ocular hypertension and open-angle glaucoma in adults who require approximately 14 to 35 puffs of steroid inhaler to control asthma. This is a very high dose, only required in cases of severe asthma.

Eye Injury Injury to the eye may cause secondary openangle glaucoma. This type of glaucoma can occur immediately after the injury or years later.

Blunt injuries that “bruise” the eye (called blunt trauma) or injuries that penetrate the eye can damage the eye’s drainage system, leading to traumatic glaucoma.

The most common cause is sports-related injuries such as baseball or boxing.

Other Risk Factors Other possible risk factors include: • High myopia (nearsightedness) • Hypertension • Central corneal thickness less than .5 mm.

Source://www.glaucoma.org/

Boomers & Beyond - Fairfield County

PAGE 13

January, 2017

“I know the best when I see it.

ProstatePM.”

MKAQAV161102

Mike Ditka Football Coach & Hall of Famer

Get prostate relief today & better sleep tonight!

As a man ages, so does his prostate. And even a normally aging prostate can lead to sleepless nights. You wake up all night long to go ... and then can’t get back to sleep.

That’s why ProstatePM is made with clinically studied ingredients for prostate health and a good night’s sleep.

Nutrients like lycopene, pygeum bark extract, beta-sitosterol, and boron, plus non-habit forming melatonin, all in a convenient once-daily dose to give you the quality shuteye you’ve been looking for.

Protect your prostate health. Try ProstatePM today!

Buy it now and save!

Retail price: $39.99

SAVE

25%

You pay only

29.99

BONUS!

Get FREE Shipping* *Free Standard Shipping (regularly $5.50) in the U.S. only, includes Alaska and Hawaii.

1-month supply

Item #01941 • Non-GMO

ORDER NOW

Call toll-free 1-800-914-7686 For the complete list of ingredients, cautions, references, dosage and use, please visit www.LifeExtension.com This product is not for sale outside the United States.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

PAGE 14

January, 2017

Boomers & Beyond - Fairfield County

TV host and caregiver advocate Leeza Gibbons, who cares for her father, Carlos, offers free online tips and advice on caregiving at lifeline.philips.com/caregiver.

Griffin Hospital Lifeline offers free online tips for caregivers

Griffin Hospital Lifeline and TV host and caregiver advocate Leeza Gibbons have teamed up to offer free online tips and advice for those caring for seniors.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are more than 34 million informal caregivers in the U.S. Often, caregivers face incredible pressures helping to ensure their loved ones are safe and aging well at home, while simultaneously maintaining their own day-to-day life.

As a caregiver herself, Gibbons understands the roller coaster of emotions involved - feeling angry, frustrated, exhausted, alone or sad, while also feeling fulfilled in helping them age healthy and happy. To help other caregivers cope with this unique and important role, Gibbons, who is a caregiver for her father, Carlos, and Philips Lifeline offer these tips:

• Take your oxygen first - Caregivers are nurturers, but if you really want to nurture someone, you have to fill yourself up first - mind, body, soul and spirit. That's the first way to give love to your loved one. When you feel better and are mentally

stronger as the caregiver, you can go the distance and your loved one will also benefit from the positive change.

• Talk as a family - To keep everyone on the same page and ensure everyone's voice is heard, set up time for a family “check in.” This could be a family dinner or monthly video conference, where family members come together to talk through important topics and emotions top of mind with everyone. This also serves as an open environment to make everyone's voice count. You may not all agree but it's a time to go from conflict to consensus.

• Incorporate technology into your caregiving - There are solutions available right now - and they're getting better every day - that can support your role as caregiver. In addition, these solutions can help engage your loved ones to help improve their overall quality of life and independence. One solution is a medical alert service. Have a conversation about how this service can benefit both of you, as it will give you peace of mind knowing your loved one will have access to help, even if you're not there.

More advice from Gibbons are available at lifeline.philips.com/caregiver, including tips for managing caregiver stress, how caregivers can stay healthy, reducing stress when caring for kids and aging parents, balancing family caregiving obligations and your career, and finding caregiver support.

“As caregivers, we worry about parents who live too far away for us to check on them, or fathers who live alone and get up in the middle of the night, or mothers who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, diabetes, or another chronic condition,” Gibbons said. “Being a caregiver can be an isolating experience, and it's hard to know where to turn. I hope these tips and information can lessen the toll caregiving can take on us so that we can care for ourselves and our loved ones.”

Griffin Hospital partners with Phillips Lifeline to provide seniors with America's most trusted medical alert service as well as other caregiving technology to help people to live with greater independence, peace of mind and dignity in the place they feel most comfortable - their own homes. For more information, call (800) 2421306 x4722 or visit griffinhealth.org/lifeline.

Boomers & Beyond - Fairfield County

January, 2017

PAGE 15

Take your meds.

We’ll do the rest. For free.

Tired of sorting your pills?

Chasing doctors for refills?

Running to the pharmacy?

PillPack manages all of this for you. We sort and deliver your meds at no extra cost to you.

CONVENIENT PACKAGING Never sort your medications

DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR Never wait at the pharmacy

You’ll only pay your co-pays and shipping is always free.

AUTOMATIC REFILLS Never chase your prescriptions

24/7 CUSTOMER SUPPORT Always get the help you need

Switch to the only pharmacy designed to fit your life:

800.298.3721

PAGE 16

January, 2017

Boomers & Beyond - Fairfield County

2017

New Year’s Resolutions for Baby Boomers

With the New Year upon us, many are setting their 2017 New Year’s resolutions. So, what should be at the top of the list for the older adult population? Consider these resolutions to create a better you: First and foremost, enjoy life to the fullest. A lot of times the small things in life get in the way of being able to fully enjoy. Make 2017 about getting beyond that, not sweating the small stuff, and making it a priority to spend your golden years doing what makes you truly happy.

Try something that you always wanted to do but never have.

Now is the time to take that photography class you have always thought of or visit that museum you have talked about for so long. Carpe Diem, this is the time so make it happen. Set a goal for yourself of doing a set amount of new things before the end of the year.

Get out of the house. It’s important to get out in the fresh air on a daily basis.

Isolation is all too common for older adults, so fight this urge and get out there. Set plans to go take a stroll with friends, lunch with family, do some window shopping at the mall on bad weather days, or even volunteer at a local soup kitchen or charity that speaks to your heart. The important thing is to get yourself out there in the mix of it all.

Increase your physical activity. While you are out of the house, make sure you are increasing your physical activity too. Physical activity is such an imperative part of growing older and often overlooked as it becomes harder to do so. Join a community center that offers a variety of health and exercise programs to you’re your mind and body in shape.

Exercise helps improve your blood pressure, obesity, cholesterol and diabetes levels. Keep this resolution at the top of your list and make it a priority for a better, healthier you.

Familiarize yourself with technology. This does not mean that you need to be up on the latest and greatest gadget of the moment.

But what it does mean is keeping yourself in the loop of knowing the basics around such things as smart phones, the internet, and social media. Enlist your kids and grandkids to help you.

It can be a wonderful way to stay in touch with family members, make new friends, and keep up with an online group that helps give you the support you have been looking for. It also keeps you in the know of what’s going on in your community and always connected if you need anyone or they need you.

This can be the New Year to a new you, no matter your age. Make it a point to make a difference in your life, even through small daily steps, every little bit matters. Happy 2017 to you and yours!

Source://wellspringprevention.org

The Inn Holiday Party

Boomers & Beyond - Fairfield County

January, 2017

PAGE 17

Residents at The Inn celebrated the holiday season among friends and family at a special party featuring one of the Inn's longest standing holiday traditions – the hanging of bells on the tree. Each of the 35 bells represents a year that The Inn has served the community. Five individuals were chosen to hang bells, representing family, residents, board members, staff and volunteers. Located at 73 Oenoke Ridge in New Canaan, The Inn is part of Waveny LifeCare Network, a non-profit continuum of care. The Inn provides carefree, independent senior living and welcomes older adults from all areas. For more information, call 203.594.5450 or visit waveny.org.

photos provided

Boomers & Beyond - Fairfield County

Hughes Health & Rehabilitation’s Mark Finkelstein honored as a Health Care Hero PAGE 18

January, 2017

Mark Finkelstein, vice president of Hughes Health & Rehabilitation and WFSB 3 news anchor Denise D’Ascenzo enjoyed the festivities at the Hartford Business Journal’s Health Care Heroes 2016 Awards Luncheon held on December 1 at the Connecticut Convention Center.

Finkelstein, a resident of Portland, was honored for his work in “Corporate Achievement – Innovation,” along with seven others health care heroes in different categories. D’Ascenzo served as emcee of the Hartford Business Journal awards ceremony. In her remarks, D’Ascenzo acknowledged many of Hughes’ accomplishment in 2016, including being one of only three skilled nursing facilities nationwide to receive the Gold Excellence in Quality Award from the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living, as well as Finkelstein’s selection as a top performer for the third time in four years by the American College of Health Care Administrators.

Hughes Health & Rehabilitation, a family-owned and operated health care center for more than 55 years, provides quality care for those with chronic illness, as well as those needing convalescence and rehabilitation. Excellent healthcare, coupled with a genuine caring attitude are the hallmarks of Hughes Health. Hughes has been accredited for its quality as a nursing care center by The Joint Commission Consumers’ Research Council of America and received the 2016 My InnerView by National Research Corporation Excellence in Action Award. Hughes has been recognized by the AHCA for achievement in its Quality Initiative Recognition Program and has received the Circle of Excellence Award from the National Association of Directors of Nursing Administration (NADONA) for achieving a deficiencyfree inspection from the Department of Public Health. For more information about Hughes Health & Rehabilitation, visit www.HughesHealth.com.

A New Year’s Resolution: Learn CPR

By Theresa Santoro, MSN, RN, CHCA President & CEO, RVNA

A recent study has found that fewer than one in five Americans has current training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and that among older adults, the number is even lower.

Immediate CPR after sudden cardiac arrest can double or triple a person’s chances of survival after their heart has stopped beating. A survey of more than 9,000 adults 18 and older found that only 18 percent were currently trained in CPR delivery, although about 65 percent said they had received CPR training at some point. Of note, adults 50 years and older were only half as likely to be CPR trained as younger adults. This is significant because cardiac arrest often occurs among people in their 50s and 60s, mostly in the home, yet this is the population that is poorly trained or has not kept up with the most current training. The willingness to begin CPR is very dependent on knowledge of the procedure, which indicates that a focus on getting more people trained, especially seniors, is important.

A key link in the chain of survival with cardiac arrest is bystander response, including the use of

provided

automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) as well as CPR. Therefore, it’s important to understand what gets bystanders to act, what gets them to learn and keep current with CPR, and the ways a community can provide that training. Make it a New Year’s resolution to become CPR trained.

RVNA is offering a public Red Cross CPR class on Wednesday, January 11 from 2:00 to 5:30 pm at RVNA, 27 Governor Street, Ridgefield. The class will cover how to perform CPR and use of an AED. The cost is $55 and an additional $10 if you would like a manual. Reserve a spot by calling 203.438.5555, ext. 1119.

Founded in 1914, RVNA is an accredited nonprofit 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.

The Viisiting Nurse Association of Hudson Va alley fam mily of organizations - provid ding home health services since e 1898.

VNAHV delivers the best quality professional in-home nursing and rehabilitative services to residents of Westchester and P t Putnam C Countie ties.

Ourr carefully screened and d New Yo orkk State-licensed aides off offer a wide range of services to o help you u maintain your independence. ndence.

(914) 666 - 7616

/

Our family-center centered approach allows you to focus on wh hat matters most - quality of life and time spentt with ith your loved l d ones.

VNAHV V.or .org

Corporate Address: 540 White Plains Road, Ste. 300 Tarrytown, NY 10591 Ta

Putnam Addr A ess: 20 Milltow wn Road, Ste. 101 B ewster, NY 10509 Br

PAGE 20

January, 2017

Boomers & Beyond - Fairfield County