Thrive Magazine - Spring 2017

SPRING ● 2017

Do Life Better!

WHAT’S ON YOUR BUCKET LIST ?

CHILDHOOD OBESITY HEALING FROM TRAUMA

Fun&

Active Family Time!

and more!>>> A BRAINERD DISPATCH AND ECHO PUBLISHING PUBLICATION

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Co nt e n ts

SPIRIT

BODY

MIND

Spring 2017

Do Life Better.

It’s A Brain Thing • 4 A relatively new therapy for those suffering from trauma.

Childhood Obesity • 10 More terrifying than some may know.

See how the lakes area is handling this tough issue.

Bucket List • 14

Make one at any age. Get inspired with these ideas including some local ventures.

In this issue:

Regenerative Medicine (Pg 7)

By Dr. Nancy Henry-Socha PHYSICIAN’S COLUMN: An innovative treatment for pain.

8 Truths To Weight Loss (Pg 8) Tried and true tips that stand the test of time.

Get Moving With the Kids (Pg 8)

Ideas to get the whole family moving.

Home Health Care Glossary: (Pg 16)

So many options. What do they mean?

Comparing Generations (Pg 18) Differences from dating to tech and shopping.

Staff

PUBLISHER • Pete Mohs ADVERTISING DIRECTOR • Susie Alters COPY EDITOR • DeLynn Howard DESIGN & CONTENT COORDINATOR • Lisa Henry

To advertise: Advertising@BrainerdDispatch.com 218-855-5895 Comments: Thrive@BrainerdDispatch.com Brainerd Dispatch P.O. Box 974 Brainerd, MN 56401 Read Thrive online: www.brainerddispatch.com

Cover

The Carpenter family at Cuyuna.

Photo by Aaron W. Hautala, RedHouseMedia.

Thrive@BrainerdDispatch.com • THRIVE SPRING 2017 •

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MIND | BODY | SPIRIT

IT’S A BRAIN THING: How EMDR therapy is changing the way we deal with trauma

By Sarah Nelson-Katzenberger

When a person experiences a distressing event that is too great to cope with, they experience trauma. Trauma comes in many different forms and each brain responds to it differently.

“Your brain decides your trauma for you,” explains licensed independent clinical social worker, Julie Christensen of Northern Psychiatric in Baxter.

Over the last year, Christensen has employed a relatively new form of therapy to help enhance her clients’ experience.

“It has completely changed my practice,” Christensen said.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) is a psychotherapy treatment that was originally designed to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories. It was developed by Francine Shapiro in 1987 after she discovered on a walk in the park that eye movements appeared to decrease the negative emotion associated with her own distressing memories. She experimented with her theory and found that eye movement had the same affect

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• THRIVE SPRING 2017 • DO LIFE BETTER

on others as well. The method didn’t remove all symptoms related to the distressing situation, but it did seem to desensitize the anxiety associated with it.

By using one of several sensory treatments including visual stimulation with flashing lights or hand movement, auditory stimulation with sound, or kinesthetic stimulation with a small device held in each hand called “tappers.”

Christensen explained traditional talk therapy engages one side of the brain in recalling traumatic experience. Often there are residual symptoms associated with trauma that can only be addressed when the other side of the brain is engaged.

“EMDR works both sides of the brain at once,” she said.

EMDR is an eight-phase treatment that involves understanding the client’s history, building trust, preparation and education for the hands-on therapy, assessing the client’s ability to move forward before deciding what event needs to be re-processed.

••• Janet’s Story years with Janet, Christensen felt she might be a great candidate for EMDR treatment.

Through her treatment, Janet found it wasn’t the most debilitating trauma that she was working on in her EMDR sessions.

“In my heart I was OK with the things that had happened,” she said. “It was the things that seem smaller that were the biggest focus. I didn’t even realize I had anxiety over those things in my life.”

Janet said she still can’t believe how well her EMDR sessions worked for her. “I don’t know quite how it works, but it does,” she said. “I can talk about the situation and what it is and I don’t get anxiety. It doesn’t take it away or move it, but I’m OK now.”

For the first time in nearly 30 years, Janet said she is completely off of antidepressants. She only has two sessions left with

“Your brain chooses your trauma for you.”

- Christensen

Once a therapist determines which memory to target she works with the clients using one of the various forms of stimulation to induce a biological mechanism similar to what happens in Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep.

As the client processes the memory and feelings attached, the event is transformed from its traumatic roots to an event with emotional closure.

“This really brings hope for people who have dealt with trauma for a longtime,” Christensen said.

Christensen has a light-bar in her office she uses for EMDR. “I used to use a light in my hand, but my arm got really tired,” she laughed.

Patients can also try the “tappers” that buzz back and forth between their hands. “The idea is to turn on the right side of the brain and

ple y Peo a d y r r Eve ear fo w t o o F

Christensen. Her hope is that people will recognize their need for help and take the steps toward wholeness. “People think you have to have a real traumatic thing to get this,” she said. “If it continues to plague you, it’s worth dealing with -- no matter how small. “

I can talk about the situation... It doesn’t take it away or move it, but I’m OK now.” - Janet

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Janet is in her early 70s. She has experienced an extraordinary amount of trauma in her lifetime, including the tragic loss of her daughter to a car accident three years ago.

“I look back and I think, ‘Wow, are you kidding me,” Janet said. “I think some people just plow ahead, they just deal with it, but that doesn’t mean you’re OK.” For more than three decades Janet has taken anti-depressants at various dosages and seen dozens of therapists off and on. She has been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). “I’ve been through a lot of traumatic things,” she said.

After the death of her daughter, Janet began therapy with Christensen. For a long time, she was in Christensen’s office at least once a week. Having spent a couple of

Thrive@BrainerdDispatch.com • THRIVE SPRING 2017 •

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de-sensitize yourself to it,” she said. “We focus on imprinting a relaxing image.”

Christensen said minimizing trauma is a common way of dealing with it. “Sometimes they don’t even know what is all there (in their memory),” she said.

Traumatic memories are stored one of three ways — as a film that replays, a picture or a sound byte. Common trauma can include something as basic as a memory of someone who was unkind to something as devastating as childhood abuse. “Your brain determines what it is,” Christensen explained.

Christensen recalled in her EMDR certification training a memory from her childhood that involved a friend writing all the names of her friends on her Trapper Keeper binder. Christensen’s name was crossed out. “It doesn’t seem like that big of a deal, but it was the first time someone had really intentionally hurt me,” she said. She was overwhelmed with emotion just recalling the story in her training session. “I had to catch the memory up with what I know now.”

Using EMDR allows clients to reprocess an event without having to re-experience it. “You’re able to find peace with those things — the memories,” she said.

Christensen said why EMDR seems to be such a successful method of therapy is still a mystery. “It’s a hard thing to measure when you’re dealing with the brain,” she said. “They don’t know exactly why it works, but it’s remarkable how it does.”

Theories point toward activation of pathways within the brain that were previously lost.

Northern Psychiatric founder Dr. David Anderholm said he first started hearing about EMDR in the early 1990s. “It was a little avant garde — a little weird,” he said, noting it was largely regarded as pop psychology. “It’s becoming much more accepted.”

The office of Veterans Affairs (VA) has started using EMDR to treat military personnel who suffer PTSD, an organization known for its conservative measure in taking on new forms of treatment.

Christensen approached Anderholm about adding EMDR to her repertoire and he was supportive of the idea. They sought out the appropriate certification through the EMDR Institute, founded by Shapiro, and decided to go for it.

Ultimately the proof is in the results.

“If patients say it helps — that’s the goal,” Anderholm said.

“That’s a good thing.”

For more information about EMDR and certified providers in the area, Christensen and Anderholm recommend speaking to your primary care provider or current therapist about availability.

••• Lisa’s Story Lisa didn’t even know she had PTSD symptoms until her doctor referred her to Julie Christensen’s practice at Northern Psychiatric. “There was a horrifying incident that happened over two years ago that I thought I had dealt with,” Lisa recalled. “No one died. I talked with a therapist about it. I thought I was done, but it crept back.”

After a few sessions with Julie, Lisa was introduced to EMDR as a next step in her therapy treatment. Lisa described her treatment: “The first thing she instructed me to do was to look at these blinking lights. Then I talked a little about the incident. Julie stopped me and asked me to look at the lights again. This time I had to think of the last time I was the most calm I had ever been. It took a while, but I was able to imagine being in that time and place.

A tear fell down my cheek.

6

She told me to name this place. I did.

“Home.”

Next, she asked me a few questions, studying me very closely. After a minute or two she stopped me again, told me to look at the lights, then go back to that calm place.

She repeated this process a couple times, each time, a tear trickled down my face. The last time, she told me to say my calm place word.

“Don’t go to that place this time, just say it.”

I melted into the chair. I felt drugged. She asked if I felt relaxed. “’I think so’ is all I could come up with.”

I had a question though. “Why is it that every time I go to that calm place, I cry?”

Julie explained that what Lisa was feeling was what used to be referred to as a “safe place.”

“But people with PTSD never really feel safe,” Lisa said. Lisa’s calming place in her

• THRIVE SPRING 2017 • DO LIFE BETTER

“I thought I had dealt with it... but it crept back.”

- Lisa mind allowed her to relax and with that, there was a release of emotion.

“I was astounded,” Lisa said. Julie instructed Lisa to say her calming word out loud every time she felt anxious or anticipated anxiety coming on. “I practiced at home and was surprised how my body reacted the moment the word came out of my mouth,” Lisa said. “My chest dropped and my belly filled with deep air breathing. My shoulders melted away from my ears, jaw loosened, fingers eased and suddenly I was completely at ease.”

Lisa said her experience with EMDR has been nothing short of life-changing.

SPONSORED CONTENT

Regenerative Medicine PHYSICIAN’S COLUMN

Regenerative Medicine is a cutting edge treatment for certain musculoskeletal injuries, which uses the body’s innate healing mechanisms to help injuries heal more effectively.

By Dr. Nancy Henry-Socha Essentia Health Pain Medicine Specialist

Good Canditates for Regenerative Treatment: • Joint arthritis - Mild to moderate • Chronic “Tendonitis”/ Tendinopathy - Golfer’s Elbow, Tennis Elbow - “Greater Trochanteric Bursitis”/ Gluteus medius tendinopathy • Achilles “tendonitis” Tendinopathy - Plantar fasciitis • Chronic ligament injuries • Persistent pain - Despite multiple steroid injections • Acute sports injuries - Including muscle strains

Regenerative Medicine has been used for over 20 years, and is a common treatment option for professional athletes to help them get back to their sport after an injury.

Regenerative Medicine treatment options include Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and stem cells from bone marrow. With PRP, blood is drawn from a patient and spun in a centrifuge to separate the red blood cells and white blood cells from the plasma, which is rich in platelets and growth factors that help the healing process. The PRP is then injected into the site of injury. Stem cells harvested from a patient’s bone marrow can also be used for more severe injuries.

Regenerative Medicine is not a quick fix, and frequently requires rehabilitation with physical therapy after the injection, such as when someone is healing a sports injury.

While steroid injections are currently considered the medical standard of care, there are some disadvantages to them.

Steroid injections can provide short term pain relief but typically do not provide lasting improvement in pain. They can also interfere with the body’s innate healing mechanisms and potentially damage stem cells at the site that the body needs to heal the injury.

Regenerative Medicine is an innovative treatment option for many common musculoskeletal injuries. It works to treat the root cause of chronic tendon or ligament injuries. It can help improve healing with acute tendon, ligament or muscle injuries and is superior in pain relief with mild to moderate arthritis in a joint compared to a steroid injection.

Dr. Nancy Henry-Socha is a Pain Medicine physician with Essentia Health at the Brainerd Clinic. She received her medical degree from the University of Minnesota and completed a residency in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. She completed an ACGME accredited fellowship in Pain Medicine at the University of Washington, Seattle, and is board certified in Pain Medicine. She is also board certified in Interventional Pain Medicine by the American Board of Interventional Pain Physicians (ABIPP) and has earned board competency in Regenerative Medicine by ABIPP. She is a member of the American Board of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, the Spine Intervention Society, the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians, and the American Institute of Ultrasound Medicine.

To schedule an appointment contact the Pain Medicine Department at the Essentia Health Brainerd Clinic, 218-828-7100.

Thrive@BrainerdDispatch.com • THRIVE SPRING 2017 •

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MIND | BODY | SPIRIT

TRUTHS TO WEIGHT LOSS

By Jennifer Arnhold, OB/GYN

I often get asked by my female patients, “How do I lose the weight and successfully keep it off?” As a working mother myself, I know how difficult it can be to balance work, motherhood, and needing to eat healthy and stay active. There is no quick-fix cure to losing weight and keeping it off. There are some tips that have stood the test of time. Here are the ones I stick to:

1. Exercise or do something active every day. It can be small, but just start incorporating it and soon it will become part of your routine.

At least three times a week, exercise for at least 30 minutes (preferably one that gets you to sweat). Do short power work-outs as you can, like strength training. (See #7 for how to get other ideas).

2 3 2. Cut back on or eliminate processed foods. It makes a huge difference. Try removing one processed snack or drink at a time. You will feel the difference fairly quickly.

3. Don’t eat anything two hours prior to your bedtime, except for water.

If you want something to do with your hands, I’ve had patients take up knitting and crocheting to keep themselves occupied.

Get Moving With the Kids

By Rebecca Flansburg

Does your family spend far too much time watching movies and lazing about the house? It may be time for a change. Here are some other creative (and fun) ways to get everyone in your household moving while bettering their health.

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• THRIVE SPRING 2017 • DO LIFE BETTER

4 5 6 7 8 4. Drink a ton of water! A good rule of thumb is to drink your body weight in ounces every day.

Buy a water bottle that is easy to carry with you so that it’s readily available.

Water will help curb any hunger pains.

5. Sleep. Try to cut all caffeine intake by 3 p.m. Some people can experiment with this time based on when they wake up and go to sleep, but the early afternoon is usually a good rule to go by.

6. Plan ahead -- meal prep is crucial. Pick a day of the week to do your grocery shopping and then prep the food as soon as you return home. Look at your calendar to plan ahead and pack meals and snacks for upcoming days. This helps curb the temptation to grab fast, less-healthy foods, and over time this planning will save you a significant amount of money too!

7. Consider an accountability group to help with food and exercise ideas.

You can get practical suggestions from others who may be in a similar situation as you. It’s great to pool knowledge!

8. Awareness – the “Lose It” app is great. The basic app is free and helps you track calories and exercise. We all have busy weeks, but even if you take a little time to log your food and exercise during a break at work, even intermittently, you’ll be surprised by how much you will learn about your food choices and portions.

Walk/Run

• Good for all ages and fitness levels • Strengthens the heart and lungs • Burns calories • Good for bones • Improves circulation • Can help tone muscles • Can help increase metabolism

Tr y Sour Grapes!

There are endless places to walk in the Brainerd lakes area including indoor walking at the Westgate Mall or outdoors enjoying the fresh air and scenery that the Paul Bunyan Trail has to offer. The Northland Arboretum’s Sour Grapes Half Marathon, 10K Run/Walk and Kids’ Race is a perfect opportunity to get some exercise while supporting a great cause.

Thrive@BrainerdDispatch.com • THRIVE SPRING 2017 •

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MIND | BODY | SPIRIT

CHILDHOOD OBESITY: the growing epidemic

By Sarah Nelson-Katzenberger The damage caused by the epidemic of childhood obesity has left a trail of devastation in its wake. New, never-dreamed-of diseases are cropping up in kids at alarming rates as a result of excessive sugar intake and an overload of carbohydrates.

Things like non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, type-2 diabetes (formerly known as adult-onset diabetes), and high blood pressure are literally threatening the lives of children. Children are developing diseases only previously diagnosed in alcoholics.

“Things have to change,” said Dr. Ste-

phen Park, a family medicine physician who specializes in bariatric care.

Park works with patients of all ages who struggle with weight control. While some research suggests the number of children affected by obesity is decreasing, Park believes the epidemic is getting worse. “The knowledge is getting better,” he noted.

“That is important.”

Park said of his total patient population, about 10 percent struggle with their weight.

Jacob is smart. He’s quiet, and shy, but he knows what he wants and he is com-

mitted to achieving his goals. His current goal: to get Julie Goshey, Registered Nurse with Essentia Health Clinic in Baxter, to stop checking up on him. Goshey is part of a team of health care providers at Essentia who are committed to helping kids like Jacob (whose last name has been withheld for privacy), 11, to make healthy choices when it comes to what he eats and what activities he chooses.

When Jacob met Goshey 18 months ago, he was overweight and addicted to sugar and he liked it that way. He was drinking 5-6 cans of Mountain Dew

Foot to Pedal • Low-impact exercise • Enjoyed by people of all ages • Fun and inexpensive • Good for the environment Crow Wing Energized’s latest project will be offering the option for schools and youth-serving organizations to implement

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• THRIVE SPRING 2017 • DO LIFE BETTER

More reaso n to bike!

biking for health into their curriculum in the fall of 2017. The CWE Bike Fleet program is supported by a grant from the Super Bowl Corporation; a grant that provided the monies to purchase 60 new bikes to be used by third and fourth graders as part of the State of Minnesota’s Walk! Bike! Fun! Program.

Jacob (center) with his mom, Tiffany, meeting with Dr. Stephen Park via teleconference.

Julie Goshey, Registered Nurse with Essentia Health Clinic in Baxter works with Jacob.

Children are developing diseases only previously diagnosed in alcoholics. nearly everyday consuming an incredible 276 grams of sugar. Jacob’s insulin metabolism was at 46.6 — more than seven times the normal level. He was spending a great deal of his free time sedentary, playing video games.

“We live in America,” said Jacob’s mom, Tiffany. “Poor choices in food and activity are easy and fast — everything is so instant.”

Tiffany said Jacob isn’t necessarily a picky eater — he just knows what he likes.

He doesn’t like cafeteria food at school so he tends to skip lunch and many days he doesn’t eat a proper breakfast. So Jacob makes up for what he doesn’t eat by drinking pop and after school is his

48

%

Adolescents who bike are 48 percent less likely to be overweight as adults.

-The People for Bikes organization

time to consume food calories. A habit that is all too common in many pre-adolescents who are faced with a great deal of choices and a desire to show their ability to make them independently.

“The first thing he told Julie was, ‘you’re not taking my pop and you’re not taking my video games,’” Tiffany said. “But Julie wasn’t going to let him off that easy.”

For 18 months Jacob has worked with Goshey to retrain his cravings, revamp his level of physical activity, and take back his childhood “He has made huge strides,” Tiffany said.

Tiffany became aware of Jacob’s need for intervention at a routine well-child check up. He has lost a little weight, but is

learning to make healthier choices. “He’s drinking more water than he ever has,” Tiffany said. “He’s drinking ounces of water at a time where, before, he would go days without water.”

For Jacob the motivation might be to minimize how often he has to see Julie, but she said she’s OK with that. “Whatever it takes to get him healthy.”

“An apple a day keeps Julie away,” Jacob joked.

For the past 10 months Jacob has worked with Dr. Park to take his healthy choices and weight management to the next level. Park, who lives in Ely, meets with Jacob via teleconference to discuss updates on his weight loss, what foods he is eating and how his medications are working.

Jacob likes Dr. Park. He’s a straight shooter and they have an easy

For Community Chances are there are people in your community who need help walking their dogs.

Dog-loving kids may find this very motivational.

Other community service options that offer activity time include volunteering for trash pick ups or helping a neighbor who could use a hand with yard work.

Thrive@BrainerdDispatch.com • THRIVE HRIVE SPRING 2017 •

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INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL

Defining overweight and obese for youth Body mass index (BMI) is used to express the relationship of weightto-height. For youth: “Overweight” means having a BMI at or above the 85th percentile for age and sex, but less than the 95th percentile. “Obese” means having a BMI at or above the 95th percentile.

Higher risk for: 85

95

+

+

Hypertension (high blood pressure) Type 2 Diabetes Joint and spine weakness or disease

Overweight 85th percentile or greater

“Our greatest enemy is sugar...it makes no difference what form it comes in.” - Dr. Park relationship — a trust that Parks said is crucial to Jacob’s success.

Jacob is far from alone. Overall numbers have tripled based on statistics tracked over the last 35 years. (see graphic on the following page for current statistics). In Minnesota, the hard numbers seem alarming , but Minnesota ranks relatively low compared to numbers recorded across the U.S. Locally, ISD 181 is making a proactive effort to help fight back against the

Obese 95th percentile or greater

Hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) Psychological distress

growing epidemic. ISD 181 participates in the farm to school program made possible by purchasing produce through the food hub, Sprout. Sprout has over 50 local farmers supplying area schools, hospitals, and other organizations with quality, fresh, and local produce.

For grades K-4, the school district follows the guidelines of the Health Hungry Free Kids Act — which has strict standards regarding calories, fat, sodium and food selection. ISD 181 food service director Alissa Thompson said there are currently no special options for overweight students unless there is a note from the doctor. Grades 5-12 have access to a full salad bar at lunchtime each day. Thompson said the school prides itself in cooking from scratch and using whole foods in their food service to 12 district sites as well as

Fun Apps Getting together for a walk or hike is a popular way to get everybody out and moving. Add elements of fun and curiosity with geocaching and nature apps.

St. Francis Catholic School in Brainerd.

Thompson said each site provides students with choices on what items they eat for lunch versus serving trays of food. “A student isn’t required to take an item they may not want.” °°° “There is a reason we need to do this with kids,” Park said. “The obesity epidemic is getting worse; we have to make the effort to provide better education — the knowledge is getting better.”

Park said the biggest risk factors are rooted in the overabundance of choices people face in what foods they eat. Our greatest enemy, Parks said, is sugar. “It makes no difference what form it comes in — brown, white, maple syrup, high fructose corn syrup — our bodies process it all the same.”

Geocaching Apps

A great way to discover new areas to explore. Try Geosphere, Geocache Classic and Cachly

Peterson Backyard Birding For those looking to I.D. our feathered friends

MyNature Animal Tracks Get some light on what critters are roaming around the woods

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• THRIVE SPRING 2017 • DO LIFE BETTER

eat

ey

e —

ss

g

Park said years ago experts believed that our fat intake was too high and was leading to an increase in cardiovascular disease. “They took the fat right out of our food supply and replaced it with carbs and sugar.,” Park said. “It didn’t work — the issues were never caused by fat. They are caused by sugar.”

Park said doctors are starting to regularly see biochemical abnormalities related to excessive sugar consumption. “It’s so commonplace in kids and adults,” Park said.

Sugar causes insulin resistance and when left unchecked can cause irreparable liver damage.

Park said there has been an alarming increase in sugar-related liver disease, moving obesity to the third most common reason contributing to the need for liver transplant.

Park’s approach to battling obesity in children is to retrain the way families look at nutrition, by getting them in the mindset that fat is not bad – it’s sugar intake and portion size that need to be evaluated. “I would rather see kids drink whole milk with all the fat than the skim chocolate milk, he said.

Park also stresses the need for daily physical activity. “It is vital to good health to be active for at least one hour per day. “Be creative,” Park said. “As long as they’re moving, it doesn’t matter what they do.”

Essentia Health dietician Teresa Farrell

“As long as they’re moving it doesn’t matter what they do.” - Dr. Park, on kids and exercise. suggest following the 5-2-1-0 meaning five servings of fruits and vegetables, limit screen time to two hours, get in one hour of physical activity and strive for zero intake of sugary beverages.

“That means no pop,” Park added. °°° Jacob is making progress. Since he began his journey toward health, he has lost about 15 lbs. He has more energy. He has some goals too. This year he aimed to run a sub-12 minute mile.

And he did it. Next fall he hopes to join the football team. He still doesn’t like cafeteria food and rarely eats while at school, but he does make healthier food choices than he did 18 months ago. He said he has learned things he just didn’t understand before. “It’s so important that we talk about it — educate people,” Park said. “Parents have to be part of the process.”

Park noted it’s important to remember that gaining control over weight issues is, especially in children, not about willpower. Genetics play a key role in a child’s predisposition to weight gain.

“This is a disease,” Park said. “We have to treat it as such.”

Sources http://www.mynatureapps.com/mynature-animal-tracks/ http://www.cach.ly/ https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/peterson-field-guidesbackyard-birds/id431948401?mt=8 http://getamericafit.org/american-health-facts/ https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/healthstatistics/Pages/overweight-obesity-statistics.aspx http://b.3cdn.net/bikes/e938eeb335fc0f6200_0vm6iaaaf.pdf http://www.dot.state.mn.us/saferoutes/pdf/toolkit/walk-bikefun-curriculum.pdf

Current Statistics

12.7 Million

of children and adolescents in the U.S meet overweight or obese criteria.

30%

17%

overweight

obese

Obesity Numbers in Minnesota

Ranked 44 In obesity for ages 2-4

10-15%

Ranked 32 In obesity for ages 10-17

Of Minnesota high school students are obese

12.3% 14% 2-4 years

10-17 years

Thrive@BrainerdDispatch.com • THRIVE SPRING 2017 •

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MIND | BODY | SPIRIT

BUCKET LIST: Create one at any age

By Sue Smith Grier The term “bucket list” is generally connected with the phrase “kicking the bucket” and refers to making a list of things to do before one dies. An in-depth search on the etymology of the term cites the 2007 movie The Bucket List, with Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson, as the source.

Screenwriter Justin Zackham is credited with coining the phrase and bringing it into popularity.

However, the comment section of some sources reveal people were aware of the term before the making of the movie.

The bucket list is often comprised of those “some day” things. They may require a lot of effort on your part, such as finishing a degree, while others may require an extra dose of courage -- think skydiving. Bucket list items can be anything you want them to be. They can include travel, education, activities or something as simple as learning to bake a cake from scratch, which for some people is a real challenge.

Anybody Can Have a Bucket List No matter your age, a bucket list is appropriate. While it may seem morbid, some young people diagnosed with terminal illnesses have created bucket lists of things they would like to do or accomplish in the time they have. These activities have often resulted in precious, beautiful memories for the entire family. One need not be facing a serious illness to have a bucket list, only a desire to do something beyond the usual.

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• THRIVE SPRING 2017 • DO LIFE BETTER

Educational Pursuits Have you considered sharing your knowledge with others?

If you have ever had the desire to teach a class or share your expertise, Community Education is a perfect place to begin.

The other side of that coin is taking a class.

What have you always wanted to learn? A language? Belly dancing? Painting? Courses abound for all ages in all areas.

Central Lakes College is a resource for classes in addition to Community Education. The Franklin Center for the Arts also offers opportunities for new, artsy learning experiences. And of course, the internet opens up an unlimited variety of educational possibilities.

Making A Difference Minnesota has always been among the top five states with the highest level of volunteerism. Nearly half the state’s seniors over the age of 75 hold volunteer positions. When parents volunteer, their children are more likely to be volunteers as well. Giving back is often on the bucket list, and there are very rewarding avenues for doing that successfully.

Education is highly valued in Minnesota and many people, both young and old, choose tutoring programs such as AmeriCorps to help elementary school kids with their education.

Organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, the Red Cross, Salvation Army and a host of others provide a variety of experiences both at home and abroad.

Thrills and Adrenalin A true bucket list needs to include at least one thing that will make your heart race. Take a zip line tour at Mount Ski Gull or go on a hot air balloon ride. Imagine the thrill of floating across the sky. If that’s too much of an adrenalin rush, stay on the ground and take a lesson in speed racing at the Brainerd International Raceway Performance Driving School.

Pull out some of those dreams and turn them into reality.

Traveling A trip to the Holy Land, Europe or the jungles of Africa are not really far-fetched when you consider going as part of a group or as part of a volunteer service opportunity. However, you don’t have to travel overseas to have amazing travel experiences. Touring America will open your eyes to beautiful areas of our country. Even closer to home, tour the state and come away with a greater appreciation for Minnesota. Explore the Wabasha Street Caves on the St. Paul Gangster Tour. If that isn’t your speed, you may want something more serene such as renting a houseboat on Crane Lake. Alternatively, the Brainerd lakes area offers plenty of cabin respites for a weekend away without going far.

Thrive@BrainerdDispatch.com • THRIVE SPRING 2017 •

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HOME AND HEALTH CARE GLOSSARY

Compiled by Lisa Henry

With so many options and levels of home and health assistance, the terms can get confusing. Here’s a list to help you navigate your home and health care lingo.

HOME CARE­— Supportive care provided by a trained professional or family member to help someone stay in their home who may not be able due to aging, memory impairment, surgical recovery, chronic illness or disability. Trained care givers are usually available from 2-24 hours a day depending on individual need.

Services usually include transportation, personal care and homemaking such as bathing, dressing, cooking and laundry.

PERSONAL CARE ASSISTANCE — Available for individuals, both children and adults, with disabilities, chronic diseases, behavioral diagnoses and mental illness who need assistance with personal care in their home or in the community. These services are funded through government health care programs to help individuals who are unable to fully care for themselves.

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HOME HEALTH CARE ­— Home services provided by a trained professional which may include skilled nursing care such as administering medications and therapeutic services such as respiratory, occupational or physical therapies.

ASSISTED LIVING — Typically for those with physical and/or cognitive impairment. Most consist of private apartments in a senior community setting.

Apartments are equipped with all the amenities of home, but with caregivers and nurses on staff to assist depending on the level of care needed. Many senior communities also include meal delivery, dining areas, activities and social events.

INDEPENDENT LIVING — Also known as retirement communities. These are maintenance-free private apartments or homes for those capable of living alone and want to be part of a senior community.

Some offer housekeeping and meal delivery services as well as activities.

• THRIVE SPRING 2017 • DO LIFE BETTER

SKILLED NURSING REHAB FACILITY — Also known as a nursing home.

A licensed care facility capable of providing equipment and staff for roundthe-clock nursing and personal care. The facility is overseen by a medical director and residents are provided a social worker to assess psychosocial, mental and emotional needs.

ADULT FAMILY HOME — Also known as a group home. These houses are licensed by the state and are shared between adults with similar disabilities or diagnosis. These homes are structured-living homes and supervised by trained resident staff 24 hours a day. Typically residents have a treatment or care plan with skill building and ongoing training.

CONTINUING CARE COMMUNITIES — These offer multiple levels of assistance and accommodations in one location, allowing the client access to more services when needed. Example: One

may start in independent living, then move on to assisted living or need skilled nursing and rehabilitation services all within the same property.

MEMORY CARE COMMUNITY — Specialty care in a secured unit for people with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Typically these are units within assisted living communities or skilled nursing facilities.

ADVISORY AND REFERRAL AGENCIES­­ — Services for families and individuals who would like help deciding on care services and/or facilities. They know the local providers, their services and can save a client a lot of time and confusion in their search for options.

Sources: Accra Care, Edgewood Senior Living, Wikipedia and Vibrant Senior Options.

COMPARING GENERATIONS

By Rebecca Flansburg When multi-generational families gather together under one roof, conversations often times shift to current GENERATION Z / CENTENNIALS and past topics can leave both ends (born 1996 and later) of the age spectrum scratching their Technology: All about smartheads in confusion. This “age gap” phones, iPods and iPads. Ninetyhas also become an accepted reason two percent of this generation is for brushing someone off when differusing online options daily and has ences of opinions do occur ie; “it’s a the highest percentage of online gamers. generation thing.” The exact difference between each generation is often up for debate, but the fact is that there are profound differences between them when it comes They ’re to online activities, money all about and even relationships. tech

Dating/Relationships: The majority of their relationships, and arguably the closest, were formed through social media. Relationships also grow or dissolve via tools like Facetime, Snapchat and texting.

Recreation: They’re more likely to play games online or on their phones. Today’s sports and hobby activities also include activities that were unheard of 20 years ago like drone hunting.

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Senior Living

14211 Firewood Dr, Baxter | 14890 Beaver Dam Rd, Brainerd | 218-828-3691 | edgewoodseniorliving.com Thrive@BrainerdDispatch.com • THRIVE SPRING 2017 •

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GENERATION Y / MILLENNIALS (born 1977-1995)

BABY BOOMERS (born 1946-1964)

Technology: Most have embraced technology as a way of life and use it for everything. Insisting on being available at all times, they cross lines with personal use and business weaving them into both places seamlessly.

Technology: The microwave is possibly the greatest piece of technology for this generation. They typically have older kids at home and are more open to looking for income opportunities or home businesses that will allow flexibility around a busy family life.

Dating/Relationships: Most use apps to find a partner. Several emails, texts and pictures later, they’ll decide to meet but not before they stalk out all social media outlets first. Dating for this generation has essentially been reborn thanks to technology.

Strive for work-life balance Recreation: Spending time with family is a constant priority. They constantly reach for work-life balance. For fun, they’re blogging and watching Netflix activities that were not even a “thing” 20 years ago.

GENERATION X (born 1965- 1976) Technology: While they are aware of and use technology daily, it’s not something that has consumed them. It is primarily used for convenience, when applicable such as banking and shopping.

Ready to go explore

Dating/Relationships: With a career-focused mentality they often allow dating and personal relationships to take a backseat.

Partners are often found at work or through friends.

Recreation: Most are approaching retirement and find themselves embracing more television time and reading versus outdoor activities. With kids gone, they’re more open to travel and exploring new places to dine.

Dating/Relationships: Love was discovered at concerts and protests and relationships were formed through common interests.

It was in this generation that divorce was seen and accepted as reality.

• THRIVE SPRING 2017 • DO LIFE BETTER

Recreation: More than any other generation, Baby Boomers have redefined “retirement” as something to enjoy. Instead of rocking their days away in a chair, they’re checking items off a proverbial bucket list.

SILENT GENERATION/TRADITIONALISTS (born 1945 and before) Technology: They had very limited exposure to computers and other devices and because of that, seldom use them the way most other generations do. They still prefer to do things the “old fashioned way” when connecting with family and banking.

Dating/Relationships: They relied on actual human interaction to form relationships. They asked questions and formed opinions in person, organically, versus researching people ahead of time.

Recreation: Perhaps the most responsible generation, they believe in saving versus spending.

TAs a result, this generation has the luxury of taking

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Give new meaning to the word retire

more vacations with their families. However, this health-conscious age group also knows that a body in motion, stays in motion. Activities enjoyed by the Silent Generation include water aerobics and pickleball.

They are staying active

How do you

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Thrive?

DO LIFE BETTER!

HELPING FAMILIES FOR 25 YEARS. Accra provides support to children, adolescents, adults and families that need help in their homes for a loved one with a disability. We'll help you navigate the different services available to you. PCA Choice services allows you to choose a family member or friend to be your paid caregiver.

Non-Profit Home Care Agency 001521721r1

We accept major insurance plans; Medicaid and private pay.

Call and ask about the possibilities!

Brainerd Office: 218-270-5905 www.accracare.org