Balanced Family, Summer 2019

BALANCED

SUMMER ISSUE | 2019

FAMILY BALANCEDMAG.COM

HEALTH | WELLNESS | PARENTING | LIVING

drive time

One-tank trips offer families fun, budget-friendly alternatives for summer vacation

Age isn’t chronological. It’s Personal.

J

ust as there were a thousand ways to be 25, there are a thousand ways to be 68, 88 or 98. No matter where you are in your journey, we can help — from therapy and brain health education to home health, residential care, and more.

Find out more at MenorahPark.org

Menorah Park • 27100 Cedar Rd., Beachwood, Ohio 44122 • 216-831-6500

™

INSIDE BALANCEDKIDS

Family Matters

4 HITTING THE ROAD

6

Feature story

10 PSST ... BABY ON BOARD

Editor Michael C. Butz discusses nearby options for family vacations and welcomes in the summer issue

16 HELP AWAY FROM HOME

Mental illnesses can arise or be triggered when young adults go to college but parents and organizations like Hopewell, a therapeutic farm community, play important roles in mitigating its effects

On the cover: Cover photo courtesy of Ohio’s Lake Erie Shores and Islands

DRIVE TIME

One-tank trips offer families fun, budget-friendly alternatives for summer vacation To guard against forgotten-baby syndrome, or leaving children locked in hot cars, parents can turn to mindfulness and technology

12 VEXED BY VAPING

Understanding potential dangers can help both parents and teens navigate the increasing popularity of e-cigarette use – and break the habit

BALANCEDADULTS 20 KNOW THE SCORE

Maintaining a healthy credit score – and monitoring for problems – is crucial to a family’s financial well-being

BALANCEDBODY&MIND

22 PHYSICAL CHALLENGES

Proper training is essential to prepare for an obstacle-course race

26 PACKING A PUNCH

Boxing for exercise delivers physical and mental benefits but requires strategy – and sweat

balancedmag.com

SUMMER 2019 | BALANCEDFAMILY | 3

BALANCED

FAMILYMATTERS FROM MICHAEL C. BUTZ

Hitting the road

F

or many Northeast Ohio families, the arrival of summer means departing for vacation. I can relate. By the time this issue of Balanced Family publishes, I’ll have just returned from a family trip to North Carolina’s Outer Banks, where I hope to relax, recharge and have some fun in the sun.

But not every vacation can involve days of driving on the interstate or even hours spent traveling by air. Sometimes, something closer to home is needed – but not too close. After all, as fun and affordable as a Northeast Ohio staycation can be, putting at least a little distance between your destination and home is what’s needed for you and your family. On top of that, work and summer sports schedules can be demanding, leaving little time to plan for extravagant excursions.

That’s why in this issue, we offer a few family-friendly one-tank trips – journeys that can be taken with minimal planning and relatively little gas money. Readers of a certain age likely remember Neil Zurcher’s recurring “One Tank Trips” segment of FOX 8 broadcasts. In those spots, the now-retired newsman drove his 1959 Nash Metropolitan to various locations – sometimes quirky but always interesting – in an

effort to encourage Northeast Ohioans to explore nearby locales.

We at Balanced Family don’t have a classic car to sport, but we offer our one-tank trip suggestions in the same vein as Zurcher in hopes it’ll inspire you and your family to spend time together while on (a likely much-needed) vacation.

Also in this issue, we tackle some serious topics.

Vaping, or the use of e-cigarettes, has become increasingly popular among teens in the same way that smoking cigarettes was prevalent among earlier generations. While vaping is sometimes billed as a safer alternative, it’s not without risk. We talk to a recent high school graduate who quit vaping about the challenges he faced in doing so and how he overcame them, and we seek advice from a local doctor that should prove helpful for concerned parents.

We also talk to a mother and child to learn how the

FAMILY Editor Michael C. Butz editor@balancedmag.com Designer Jessica Simon

President, Publisher & CEO Kevin S. Adelstein Vice President of Sales Adam Mandell CJN Managing Editor Bob Jacob Controller Tracy DiDomenico Digital Marketing Manager

child’s mental illness affected Cheryl Sadler them while transitioning from Events Manager high school to college. Mental Gina Lloyd health is a growing concern Editorial on college campuses, so we Ed Carroll, Jane Kaufman, Becky Raspe, Alyssa Schmitt checked in with experts at Contributing Writers Hopewell, a therapeutic farm Kirby Davis, Shelbie Goulding, community in Mesopotamia Jill McCullough Township that works with Columbus Bureau Chief adults facing mental health Amanda Koehn issues, to learn what parents Custom Publishing Manager and students can do when Paul Bram concerns arise.

Sales & Marketing Manager I think you’ll find both of Andy Isaacs those stories informative and Advertising Marcia Bakst, Marilyn Evans, eye-opening.

Ron Greenbaum, Adam Jacob, In addition, we check in Nell V. Kirman, Sherry Tilson with financial professionals to Design Manager learn more about maintaining Stephen Valentine a good credit score, and we Design talk to fitness experts about Lillian Messner, Larisa DaSilva both training for obstacleDigital Content Producer course races and the benefits Abbie Murphy of boxing as exercise.

Business & Circulation Tammie Crawford, Abby Royer I don’t know about you, but those fitness stories Subscriber Services 216-342-5185 sound exhausting. Think I circulation@cjn.org might need to start planning Display Advertising my next vacation.

216-342-5191 advertising@balancedmag.com

Balanced Family is published by the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company, 23880 Commerce Park, Suite 1, Beachwood, OH 44122. For additional copies, call 216-342-5185. For general questions, call 216-454-8300.

FIND US AT FACEBOOK.COM/BALANCEDMAG

4 | BALANCEDFAMILY | SUMMER 2019

5 A

H

p

“Knowing I’d “Knowing I’d have access to have access to high quality high quality healthcare was healthcare was an part an integral integral part of of my my decision.” decision.”

5-star rated healthcare. healthcare.

5-star rated Available 24 hours hours // 77 days days aaweek. week.

Available 24 High quality, personalized care is at the center of everything we do. Our warm and inviting High quality, personalized care is at the center of everything we do. Our warm and inviting provides superior long-term care, short-term skilled nursing and rehabilitative care. provides superior long-term care, short-term skilled nursing and rehabilitative care.

Judson is bringing community to life with our beautiful locations and wide range of educational, cultural and social opportunities.

Learn more at judsonsmartliving.org/its-all-here or call us at (216) 452-0366.

JUDSON PA R K C L E V E L A N D H E I G H TS

JUDSON MANOR UNIVERSITY CIRCLE

SOUTH FRANKLIN CIRCLE C H AG R I N FA L LS

BALANCEDKIDS

drive time

One-tank trips offer families fun, budget-friendly alternatives for summer vacation

By Becky Raspe

F

amilies are busier than ever. With summer approaching, many look to planning vacations but find it hard to coordinate a trip that fits everyone’s schedules. That’s where one-tank trips – drives to destinations that can be reached without stopping for more gas – come in.

Jill Bauer, public relations manager at Ohio’s Lake Erie Shores & Islands in Sandusky and Port Clinton; Bruce Harkey, president and CEO of Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Columbus; and Jordan Steves, director of strategic communications and community relations at the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, N.Y., all suggest there are plenty of such trips to the west, south and east of Northeast Ohio, respectively.

“Years ago, people were doing staycations to save money. But, people then discovered wonderful tourist attractions within one tank of their home,” Harkey says. “It is a great opportunity to discover the area.”

If parents take on more responsibility at work and children get involved with a multitude of

6 | BALANCEDFAMILY | SUMMER 2019

activities, one-tank trips might be the only sure-fire way to spend time together.

“Families are too busy and often both parents are working,” Steves says. “It is difficult to make a longterm commitment to a destination that is far away.”

Bauer says many families don’t have a lot of free time to plan for trips, let alone time to spend on said trips.

“Something like a one-tank trip is a great option and attractive for planning something on the fly,” she explains. “You really don’t need to have accommodations set ahead of time.”

Harkey agrees.

“If you hear about some opportunity in another city, it’s easier to make a plan and pile into the car,” he says. “And with this, you can take many adventures in the summer.”

balancedmag.com

Fishing is among the family-friendly options at the Huron Boat Basin.

Ohio’s Lake Erie Shores & Islands

The Chautauqua Institution offers programs geared toward younger audiences.

Chautauqua Institution

DESTINATION: FAMILY FUN All three one-tank trip destinations represented by Bauer, Harkey and Steves have something to offer Northeast Ohio travelers.

Ohio’s Lake Erie Shores & Islands is a Sandusky-based tourism entity that represents a swath of the north coast bordered by Vermilion to the east, Toledo to the west and the Ohio Turnpike to the south. While that area is best known for attractions like Cedar Point and Kalahari, Bauer says the roads less traveled also offer families enjoyable experiences.

“Here, there is something for everyone,” she says. “A lot of our attractions are geared toward all ages.

For example, we have our African Safari Wildlife Park, which is a drive-through experience. After the drive-through, there is also a walk-through safari as well.”

Island life also offers unique opportunities, Bauer adds. At Put-in-Bay, families can enjoy Perry’s Victory & International Peace Memorial and the Lake Erie Aquatic Center. On Kelly’s Island, attractions are more natureoriented, including hiking and scenic bicycle trails.

The Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens are focused on connecting people, particularly children, with nature, Harkey says.

With the addition of the Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Garden, the conservatory celebrates the changing landscape of Ohio.

Additionally, Franklin Park’s collection

balancedmag.com

of Dale Chihuly nature-inspired glass art is on display.

“It’s a great place for children of all ages to put down their phones to have more green time instead of screen time,” he says.

The Chautauqua Institution is typically geared toward longer, residential visits, but Steves says one-tank trips and short stays are certainly encouraged.

With intergenerational experiences like recreational opportunities, day camp and a concert series, “Chautauqua is a great place to be.”

“It’s an idyllic setting, and kids have a freedom here that you don’t find in modern life,” he says. “All that builds us up as an ideal destination, no matter how long you can commit.”

PRE-TRIP TO-DO LIST When planning one-tank trips, it’s worthwhile to consider destinations with indoor and outdoor options in an effort to account for what Mother Nature might have in store.

“The weather is so fickle,” Bauer says. “Having a good mix of activities is important because that weatherproofs the trip and doesn’t allow the weather to be a downer.

You’ll find any destination has a mix of indoor and outdoor activities, but knowing what (northern) Ohio weather is like, it’s helpful to have varied opportunities.”

Educational opportunities are also a plus.

Harkey thinks back to his own onetank trips with his family while growing

SUMMER 2019 | BALANCEDFAMILY | 7

The Liberty Aviation Museum is among Port Clinton’s attractions.

Ohio’s Lake Erie Shores & Islands

up – trips that inspired his interest in horticulture.

“For families with children, that is key in exposing them to as many different things as possible,” he says. “You never know which of those experiences will trigger a profound interest in the mind of a child.”

It’s also important to gear the trip toward family activities, which Steves says should make for a more enjoyable overall experience.

“The fact our lives now are so immersed in work and other activities around school means there is less time when families can spend time with each other meaningfully,” he says. “If

you can take a few days here and there, you can take yourself out of the routine context of your everyday life.

It helps everyone take a step back.

“It’s the idea of stepping outside of your daily routine.

This forces you to incorporate a different rhythm into your day and makes everyone in the family step back and consider things, and each other, differently. With intergenerational and (varied) experiences, kids are part of the conversation as much as everyone else. ... Sometimes we get so engrossed in our daily routine, we need a bit of a jolt on what it means to be with each other more fully.” BF

There’s much to explore in Franklin Park Conservatory’s children’s garden.

Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

‘CLE-CATION’ OPPORTUNITIES ABOUND, TOO If your family can’t find time to go out of town or out of state, or simply can’t decide on a destination, Northeast Ohio offers many options for hometown staycations. Here’s a smattering: • Akron Art Museum | akronartmuseum.org • Cuyahoga Valley National Park | nps.gov/cuva • Baseball Heritage Museum | baseballheritagemuseum.org • Great Lakes Science Center | greatscience.com • The Children’s Museum of Cleveland | cmcleveland.org • Greater Cleveland Aquarium | greaterclevelandaquarium.com • The Cleveland Botanical Garden | cbgarden.org • International Women’s Air & Space Museum | iwasm.org • Cleveland Cultural Gardens | clevelandculturalgardens.org • Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland | mocacleveland.org • Cleveland History Center | wrhs.org • Playhouse Square | playhousesquare.org • Cleveland Metroparks Zoo | clevelandmetroparks.com/zoo • Rock & Roll Hall of Fame | rockhall.com • The Cleveland Museum of Art | clevelandart.org • Rockefeller Park Greenhouse | city.cleveland.oh.us/node/9824 • The Cleveland Museum of Natural History | cmnh.org • West Side Market | westsidemarket.org • The Cleveland Orchestra | clevelandorchestra.com – Compiled by Becky Raspe

8 | BALANCEDFAMILY | SUMMER 2019

balancedmag.com

We can all be

EVERYDAY HEROES ACTIVITY CENTER & STORY TOUR FOR KIDS OPEN JUNE 4 – AUG 18

Explore the values of what it means to be an everyday hero through books, crafts, movement, and more in an interactive play space!

PLAY AT THE EVERYDAY HEROES ACTIVITY CENTER Make Your Own Masks & Capes Zoom Around the Good Mood Movement Area Paint Kindness Rocks to Share Build a Better World with Legos Be the Hero of Your Own Story at our Puppet Theater Enter the “Who’s Your Everyday Hero?” Contest for Your Chance to Win Weekly Prize Packages And More!

$ 2 OFF

GENERAL ADMISSION* * BRING THIS AD WITH YOU FOR $2 OFF OF GENERAL ADMISSION JUNE – AUG 2019. GOOD FOR UP TO 4 VISITORS. CANNOT BE USED WITH ANY OTHER OFFER. CODE BF619

EXPERIENCE THE EVERYDAY HEROES STORY TOUR Explore our core exhibition, An American Story, on a self-guided tour designed for younger audiences SPECIAL SUMMER PRICING General (12+): $10 Youth (5-11): $5 Children under 5: Free Ask about group rates

HOURS

Closed Mon Tues - Sun, 11AM - 5PM Wed, 11AM - 9PM

MEMBERS ARE ALWAYS FREE NEW HOUSEHOLD MEMBERSHIPS ARE JUST $55 WHEN YOU JOIN JUNE THROUGH AUGUST

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 216.593.0575 OR VISIT W W W.MALTZMUSEUM.ORG

BALANCEDKIDS

Psst...

BABY ON BOARD To guard against forgotten-baby syndrome, or leaving children locked in hot cars, parents can turn to mindfulness and technology

By Jill McCullough

I

t is the stuff of gut-wrenching news stories and night terrors – a baby left inside a hot car.

Dr. Christine Alexander, chair of the Department of Family Medicine at the Cleveland-based MetroHealth System, often talks to parents who have accidentally left their child in the car seat, albeit for a few moments. Her patients are mortified that they could have made such an awful mistake.

“In my career as a family physician, I have luckily not seen a child die from being left inside a car, but parents do come in and talk to me about it. They catch their mistake before anything bad happens,” she says.

Neuroscience research suggests that most instances of babies left inside a car in the United States are the result of memory lapse, not negligence, says Dr. Allison Effron, a pediatrician at Senders Pediatrics in South Euclid. Such accidents occur when taking Baby out of the car seat is not part of one’s typical routine, she says. For example, when Mom offers to drop Baby off at day care on her way to work when Dad is usually the one to do so.

Alexander says it is all about habit and the way the human brain is wired.

Effron calls it “habit brain.”

“Many people can relate to forgetting a planned errand on the drive home from the office,” Effron says. “‘Habit brain’ is working to complete the complex drive home without using active attention to think about every turn or street name. In forgotten-baby syndrome, it is often a similar memory issue, but in this case, the accident can be fatal.”

10 | BALANCEDFAMILY | SUMMER 2019

Alexander

Effron

Apparently, out of sight, out of mind really is a thing.

Forgotten-baby syndrome arguably correlates with laws that mandate car seats be placed in the back seat to prevent injury from airbags during a car crash, Effron says.

Regardless, forgotten-baby syndrome can happen to otherwise responsible people.

“Our brains streamline our thinking, but when parents change their usual routine ... the brain might go into auto pilot. ... We live in a world where we are busier than ever, so we might not always be paying attention to our priorities.

Information is coming at us constantly, and we are easily distracted,” Alexander says.

Such distractions may cause one to rely too heavily on patterns and habits.

“Our brains follow stimuli … and most of the time, parents leave their babies in the car when it is hot outside and the windows are up,” says Alexander, who suggests parents are less likely to forget Baby if the car windows are down.

balancedmag.com

There are ways to train the brain to remember a child in the backseat when deviating from the norm. Stress management and plenty of sleep are good places to start, Effron says.

“The stressed or sleep-deprived brain relies even more on the automatic ‘habit brain,’ which can override other aspects of attention and memory,” she says.

“Talk to your child constantly when you are in the car.

Tell them when you are pulling up to a red light or stop sign.

Sing songs, engage with your child – anything you have to do to keep your child in front of your brain,” says Alexander, who also advocates deep-breathing exercises to practice mindfulness.

Alexander and Effron both suggest placing a purse, cellphone or briefcase in the backseat near the child so parents will always remember to open the back door when they get to where they are going.

“Alternatively, they can place something in the front seat that reminds them of the child, like a favorite toy or hat. Parents can also take advantage of simple technology, like cellphone alarms or text reminders to help them remember to take a child out of a car at the final stop,” Effron says.

Talk to your child constantly when you are in the car. Tell them when you are pulling up to a red light or stop sign. Sing songs, engage with your child – anything you have to do to keep your child in front of your brain.

Dr. Christine Alexander MetroHealth System

High-tech products are available, too.

“I am most excited about the several car models on the market that have backseat sensors ... to specifically address the issue. ... Smart car seats can sense if the chest clip remains fastened after the car is turned off and emit an alarm. Parents can also purchase sensors that connect through Bluetooth to cellphone apps and produce similar alerts,” Effron says.

“My only fear is that people will start to ignore the dings if they hear them too often. We are probably years away from developing truly wonderful technology that will protect children, but at least manufacturers are starting to think about the issue,” Alexander says. BF

Is Addiction Controlling Your Life?

Are You Drinking Too Much Alcohol?

Are You Using Too Much Xanax, Valium, Klonopin or Ativan?

Are You Enslaved to Opiates, Narcotics or Prescribed Painkillers?

Do You, a Beloved Family Member, or Friend Suffer from Addiction?

Addiction Is A Progressive Disease!

Take Action Now! We Can Help!

Just down the road in Erie, PA.

It’s a New Day! Andrews Institute for Addiction Treatment 4125 West Ridge Road Erie, PA 16506 Telephone: (814) 616-0075

Give yourself that extra layer of Privacy & Anonymity!

Gregory A. Andrews, MD JD FCLM Dr. Andrews is both a physician and an attorney. After medical school, he spent seven years of training in Family Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and a Fellowship in Addiction Medicine. Dr. Andrews’ extensive training, in-depth knowledge and years of experience have enabled him to provide optimal care for patients to lead happier and healthier lives.

Check out our website for more detailed information: www.addictionmedicinedoc.com

A Private and Independent Practice

balancedmag.com

SUMMER 2019 | BALANCEDFAMILY | 11

BALANCEDKIDS

VEXED Understanding potential dangers can help both parents and teens navigate the increasing popularity of e-cigarette use – and break the habit

By Kirby Davis and Shelbie Goulding

M

ark Pristash was introduced to e-cigarettes in seventh grade. A New York City resident at the time, he and his friends would buy them, and reusable cartridges, from a nearby store that would “sell anything to anyone at any age,” he says.

Pristash moved to Orange and started his freshman year at Orange High School. He didn’t start vaping regularly until the fall of his junior year, when the phenomenon gained nationwide popularity. The following summer, he realized he had a problem.

“Throughout the summer it was getting expensive and I just felt that I was not healthy,” he says. “I tried to quit, and I would only go a day or two without it. Then I would just buy a new one.”

He said some of his friends, who were also trying to quit vaping, would throw their Juul, a popular vaping device brand, “out their car or throw it out their balcony.” When he attempted the same methods, his success in doing so was only temporary.

In September of his senior year, Pristash went to his school’s

12 | BALANCEDFAMILY | SUMMER 2019

psychologist to ask for help in quitting vaping.

“I couldn’t do it by myself,” he says.

PUTTING IT IN PERSPECTIVE Struggles like those faced by Pristash are increasingly common as e-cigarette use, more commonly known as vaping or “Juuling,” has grown in popularity. It’s a relatively

new phenomenon but one that’s gripping a generation. Only 5.4% of teenagers reported smoking cigarettes in 2017 but 12% said they used vaping products, according to Addiction Resource, a Seattle-based organization that seeks to help those recovering from addiction.

Locally, the Summit County Youth Risk Behavior Survey reported in May that 42% of about 18,000 area middle school and high school students said they’ve used e-cigarettes compared to 26% who’ve used tobacco. The same survey reported 46% of students have used alcohol.

You’re the parent. If you thought your child was underage drinking or doing drugs, you would intervene, so it’s OK to intervene. And then you can pull information and sit down with them and say, ‘This is why,’ because they don’t understand the nature of the addiction to nicotine. ... You want them to be healthy, and it’s not good for them.

Dr. Lolita McDavid University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital

balancedmag.com

Don’t Miss the Upcoming Issue of Balanced Family

LIMITED TIME OFFER!

Of Training

30 DAYS

Expires 10/31/2013 PLUS A FREE

19.99 19.99

FREE

LIMITED TIME OFFER!

FOR ONLY

PLUS A

30 DAYS

26110 Emery Rd. • Suite 400

(Between Emery & Brainard) 26110 Emery Road Cleveland, OH 44128

FOR ONLY

Of Training

30 DAYS

UNIFORM!

UNIFORM!

Contact advertising@balancedmag.com or 216-342-5191 to get your ad in today!

Expires 10/31/2013

• Treating adolescents, teenagers and adults

Omni Pointe Bldg.

LIMITED TIME OFFER!

• State-of-the-art equipment and the latest and most advanced techniques

Of Training 216-595-9900

19.99

Visit our website: www.atacleveland .com e-mail us: atacleveland@yahoo.com

FOR www.ataemery.com 26110 Emery Road Cleveland, OH www.ataonline.com 44128 ONLY

Visit our website: www.atacleveland PLUS A FREE UNIFORM!.com Expires 10/31/2013 e-mail us: atacleveland@yahoo.com

26110 Emery Road Cleveland, OH 44128

• Providing quality orthodontic care in a comfortable and caring environment

Fall/Winter Issue: November 1

• Clear braces and Invisalign • Itero digital scanning

30 Days FREE!

Contact us today to schedule your initial consultation to learn how we can perfect your smile. Dr. Parker, Dr. Streem and their team look forward to seeing your smile!

LIMITED TIME OFFER!

FOR ONLY

PLUS A

30 DAYS

Of Tra

30

LIMITED TIME OFF

Of Training

FOR ONLY

UNIFORM!

Expires 10/31/2013 PLUS A FREE

19.99 19

FREE

(Between Emery & Brainard) 26110 Emery Road Clevela

balancedmag.com

LIMITED TIME OFFER!

FREE

LIMITED TIME 26110 EmeryOFFER! Rd. • Suite 400

Come see the office everyone is talking about!

Eric S. Lawrence, DDS

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends all children receive an orthodontic evaluation by age 7.

Examination and Consultation

2018 - Lawrence Beachwood Health and Wellness Ad 4.75 x 3.37 inches

Page 1

Did you know?

PHILIP D. BOMELI, DDS, MS 6370 SOM CENTER RD., SUITE 101 in SOLON

19.99

11:09 AM

FOR ONLY

3/9/09

Visit our website: www.atacleve e-mail us: atacleveland@y

Solon Ad_Teen Mag2

ph (440) 248-4825 f (440) 683-1273

Omni Pointe Bldg.

30 Days of Training 30 DAYS Of Training Plus a216-595-9900 FREE Uniform!

Twinsburg Office 9945 Vail Drive, Suite 6 Twinsburg, OH 44087

ph (440) 442-4800 f (440) 442-8060

Visit our website: www.atacleveland PLUS A FREE UNIFORM!.com Expires 10/31/2013 e-mail us: atacleveland@yahoo.com

Mayfield Village Office 6519 Wilson Mills Road Mayfield Village, OH 44143

www.ataemery.com Martial 26110Arts Emery Road Cleveland, OH ww 4412

We are now impre ssion thanks less to Intra-o ral scann ing

Specializing in the treatment of Orthodontics, Orofacial Orthopedics and TMJ Disorders

5259 Mayfield Road Lyndhurst, Ohio 44124 (440) 449-1550 smile-maker@att.net www.thesmilesmaker.com

We also offer orthodontic treatment for adults!

In addition to traditional metal braces, we have clear ceramic braces and Invisalign® treatment available.

Call 440.349.5885 today to see how we can help create the beautiful smile you deserve! www.solonorthodontics.com

Offering discount courtesies to those who serve us!

Civil employees, teachers, healthcare workers, providers

SUMMER 2019 | BALANCEDFAMILY | 13

Vaping has recently made national headlines as studies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other organizations have shown the nicotine in e-cigarettes can damage adolescent development just like traditional cigarettes.

Dr. Lolita McDavid, a pediatrician at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, says vaping can damage the brain, heart and lungs just as smoking would, because of the nicotine present.

“A lot of kids think it has no consequences,” she says. “Things that they put in (vaping pipes), that’s what attracts kids. It’s the flavor, and then they get addicted to the nicotine.”

The nicotine in e-cigarettes can hamper adolescent brain development into one’s mid-20s, and those who vape at a young age might be more likely to turn to cigarettes in the future, according to the CDC. Pristash says when talking to other high school students, to put in perspective how damaging vaping can be, he likens it to cigarettes in the 1960s. “(People) thought there was nothing wrong with it,” he says. “They were smoking inside buildings, and everywhere they went, and there was this whole generation of people that got hooked on cigarettes.”

ADVICE FOR TEENS, PARENTS Talking with fellow students about the realities of vaping has become a mission for Pristash. Along with his school psychologist and school counselor, he established a new antisubstance abuse club at Orange High School called About Control, or ABC. “We were all really motivated to form a group (in which) people could just talk about issues and not be judged, and whatever type of questions they had could be answered,” he says.

Initially, he brought a couple friends to ABC club meetings. Now, the organization meets every Thursday in the school’s media center. By the school’s third lunch period of the day, 15 to 16 students are usually in attendance Pristash says.

At the meetings, information is presented on various harmful substances and accompanying videos

14 | BALANCEDFAMILY | SUMMER 2019

Michael C. Butz When Mark Pristash quit vaping, he turned to healthier alternatives like working out, going for walks in the park and visiting coffee shops, including the Starbucks in Woodmere.

are shared. Attendees discuss coping skills for quitting abusing substances and 10 minutes at the end of the meetings are set aside for students to share their own stories and struggles.

Having successfully quit vaping, Pristash advises younger students to take advantage of their middle or high school’s resources.

“I feel like once you’re out of the school environment and on your own, it might be hard to find help when you’re looking for it,” he says. “Maybe you’re on your own, maybe you don’t know where to go, but if you’re in a school setting, you can … find someone to talk to and ask them what you can do from there.”

McDavid says parents should know what a vape pen looks like – some are easy for teens to hide since they look like and are as small as USB drives – and be wary if their children

develop a chronic cough, which could be attributed to nicotine ingestion. She also says parents should talk to their children about vaping.

“You’re the parent,” she says. “If you thought your child was underage drinking or doing drugs, you would intervene, so it’s OK to intervene. And then you can pull information and sit down with them and say, ‘This is why,’ because they don’t understand the nature of the addiction to nicotine. …

You want them to be healthy, and it’s not good for them.”

Pristash plans to study business at college next year, and is still deciding between Cleveland State University, Youngstown State University and The University of Akron. If the school he chooses to attend already has an organization similar to the ABC club, he says he’ll join. If not, he’ll form a new one. BF

balancedmag.com

PROVIDIN G H O S P ICE CA RE TO T H E COM M UNI T Y S I NCE 1 9 9 2

Care and compassion for the entire family.

When the time comes to make difficult end-of-life care decisions, you will find the comfort, dignity and loving care you and your loved ones desire when you choose Vinney Hospice of Montefiore as your care partner.

Our compassionate hospice team, led by a board-certified medical director, is dedicated to providing exceptional levels of physical, emotional and spiritual support. Integrative therapies–art, music, massage and Reiki treatments–are also available to help soothe body, mind and soul.

Hospice care may be provided in the familiar comfort of your residence or in Beachwood at Maltz Hospice House, Montefiore’s “quiet gem.”

To learn more, please call 216.910.2650 or visit

montefiorecare.org for a virtual tour.

One David N. Myers Parkway Beachwood, OH 44122

y a w a p l e H e m o h m o fr Mental illnesses can arise or be triggered when young adults go to college but parents and organizations like Hopewell, a therapeutic farm community, play important roles in mitigating its effects Story by Alyssa Schmitt Photography by Michael C. Butz

Renaissance Craver takes a walk with Jerry, a black Percheron horse who played an integral role in their mental health therapy at Hopewell, a 300-acre farm in Mesopotamia Township that utilizes the healing power of nature and traditional forms of treatment for adults with severe mental illnesses. Craver stayed at Hopewell on three occasions.

16 | BALANCEDFAMILY | SUMMER 2019

balancedmag.com

W

hen Renaissance “Ren” Craver matriculated in fall 2010 at Lorain County Community College in Elyria, they found themselves confronting the challenges that arise between adolescence and adulthood while in an unfamiliar environment. On top of the new schedule and heavy course load college brought, they were dealing with past traumas.

Growing up was difficult on several levels – a disparaging teacher, faltering friendships, a physical disability and trauma brought on by recent deaths of those close to them.

Those factors coalesced into acts of self-harm, hallucinations, bouts of insomnia, and on the opposite end, sleeping all day. They were in a severe depression.

“It was rough,” says Craver, who’s now 27 and identifies using they/them/ their pronouns.

As Renaissance’s adoptive mother, Cheryl Craver wasn’t sure what to do.

She had dealt with helpful and not-sohelpful psychiatrists along the way, and she did her best to take Renaissance to the hospital when needed and to counselor sessions. Her efforts, coupled with trying to comprehend the challenges, became a strain.

“I literally was starting to feel like I was going to have a heart attack and die,” Cheryl says. “I was laying in bed at night, having heart palpitations, having my own anxiety over what was going on with (them). I really was at the point where I thought, ‘I don’t know if I can do this.’”

Then a helpful hand came from a familiar nurse who reminded her of Hopewell, a therapeutic community and facility on a 300-acre farm in Trumbull County’s Mesopotamia Township that utilizes the healing power of nature and traditional forms of treatment for adults with severe mental illnesses. Soon after, Renaissance took up residence.

“When I called there, that was a lifeline for me,” Cheryl says. “I was a single parent, I was working full time

and I had another child. All these things were going on with Renaissance at the time and I just felt like I wasn’t going to make it.

“It was the first time I was able to kind of start to let go and breathe, because once Renaissance was admitted, I could go to work, I didn’t have to worry – well, I still worried, but not on a daily (basis).”

Cheryl and Renaissance’s shared experience is unique to them, but similar struggles with mental illness – experienced by college students and endured by their parents – have increasingly become part of a national conversation on the topic. With the end of the 2018-19 academic year and the arrival of summer break, parents are presented both with opportunities to have conversations with their children about mental illness and identify potential warning signs.

WHAT TRIGGERS MENTAL ILLNESS According to a 2018 study by the American Psychological Association, 35% of first-year college students struggle with mental illness, and in many cases, parents are unaware.

“There is not much you can do to stop (a mental illness) than to pay attention to stressful situations, drug use, the kind of things that often trigger major mental health disorders,” says Daniel Horne, clinical director at Hopewell.

It is “really common,” he says, for conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression to be felt by those between ages 17 and 25. In part, that can be due to genetics, but Horne says some of it is the stressful

nature of college. For the first time, students are away from home, they have greater academic demands and they may end up in social situations that are more difficult to navigate. Students can also get into substance abuse, like binge drinking, smoking marijuana or using opioids.

Then there’s also the feeling of being lost in the shuffle of a campus with thousands of people, says Mary Cassidy, an art therapist and clinician at Hopewell.

“Now, all of a sudden, you don’t have a parent who is checking in with you every morning at breakfast,” she says. “If you don’t make those social connections, isolation can be a huge trigger to go into your head and kind of spiral and increase potential distress.”

Childhood trauma can also lead to mental illness in college. That trauma isn’t necessarily caused from extreme situations like someone going to war, but instead whatever the student determines was a traumatic situation, like a divorce of parents, medical issues or a death in their life.

“Just moving to college can be traumatic for folks, especially if they had maybe a really close support network intact ... they’re left with not a whole lot of foundations (at college),” Cassidy says.

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IS KEY After stopping classes at LCCC, Renaissance went to Hopewell for a sixmonth stay. To all involved, it looked like they were on an upward swing.

While there, Renaissance quickly befriended a black Percheron horse named Jerry. That relationship led Renaissance to equestrian studies at The University of Findlay. However, due to their physical disability, they couldn’t keep up with others when cleaning stalls or mounting horses, which led to insults from classmates.

Subsequently, Renaissance overdosed on therapist-prescribed medication and needed resuscitation. It was a harrowing experience but one that ended OK due to the open and close

HELPFUL HOTLINES National Alliance on Mental Illness offers educational classes for families, individuals and educators. It also has a hotline for those who need individual help. The NAMI HelpLine can be reached from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or info@nami.org. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline offers a 24/7 hotline to help prevent suicide. It can be reached at 1-800-273-8255.

balancedmag.com

SUMMER 2019 | BALANCEDFAMILY | 17

Clinical director Daniel Horne and art therapist/clinician Mary Cassidy on Hopewell’s serene and scenic Trumbull County campus.

relationship Renaissance has with their mother. When Cheryl called and her child didn’t respond after some time, she began calling university officials.

“I had to call the whole campus security, they had to bust into their room and they found them,” Cheryl says. “It was terrible. At that time, I thought there’s got to be something wrong. There had been other things that had happened that I had seen as suicidal ideation and I knew something was wrong.”

For students experiencing a mental illness, something like isolation can look like drinking by oneself, skipping classes and meals and not feeling motivated. But if a student is hundreds of miles away from home, how is a parent supposed to know?

“You need to stay in enough contact to know if big changes are happening,” Horne says. “You don’t want to say ‘I’m going to call you every morning at 8 o’clock and check on how the last day was,’ but you probably don’t want to go a whole quarter or semester and say at the end, ‘Well, how did that go?’”

18 | BALANCEDFAMILY | SUMMER 2019

Parents should seek a balance that allows them to know whether major changes are happening but also allows their children to develop independence and growth, Horne says.

When a student returns home during spring, summer or holiday breaks, parents can note whether their child is having emotional outbursts or staying out late at night, which if out of character for someone can indicate something is going unchecked.

“The biggest thing is, are there big changes from the person they sent away?” Horne says. “They could be: Are they out every single night and they never used to do that? ... The problem with some of this is, alright they’re exploring, they’re 21 and they can drink now. ... That might be OK.” In either case, Horne suggests parents should not overreact and take their child to the hospital.

“It comes down to communication,” he says. “Stay in communication one way or another and opening up those lines. They may say ‘everything is fine.’

It’s communicating all the time so that

you’re open and you’re not going to be angry, judgmental, invalidating.”

EDUCATION, DESTIGMATIZATION Mental health issues often demand being dealt with gently. Cassidy says school is a stressful place, so parents should prepare their student by informing them about the mental health services on campus, reminding them they’re on their insurance until age 26 in case counseling is needed, reaching out to support groups for mental health and telling them to go to their dorm’s residential assistant if they need to.

Horne adds if a student is feeling mentally ill, the “most important thing is to get help early” from any of those resources.

If a student doesn’t feel like they can go to an RA or mental health service center, Cassidy says they can look online for support. There, students can find communities of others suffering from things like isolation, understand they aren’t alone in their struggle and perhaps learn how others handle their situations.

balancedmag.com

Parents, especially those of older generations, likely never saw the destigmatization of mental illness people see today. Celebrities like musicians Lady Gaga and Selena Gomez or Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love have talked openly about their mental health. For parents who got through college fine and think their kids should, too, Cassidy suggests more mental health education might help.

“Knowledge is power,” she says.

“Just like in every other field in the medical arena, the more research we have, the more information we have, the more that we know and can understand. ... This is out there, this is stuff people are experiencing, (parents) have a choice to accept it or not.”

FINDING HOPE AND LETTING GO It takes work and time from parents to help their child thrive and do well.

Providing the support system and taking their child to counseling is just one way. Another is enrolling them at a place like Hopewell, whose residents face mental illnesses like schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder and major depression.

The campus provides a safe area for 30 residents per year, on average, to cope with their mental health in a protected environment. During an average six- to seven-month stay, residents learn a daily routine and learn to trust others. However, letting go of a child can be difficult for parents.

“It’s the parents’ job to let go and figure out the bird-out-of-the-nest thing,” Horne says. “They don’t want this more fragile bird in danger because of the mental illness, (but) in order to succeed, they have to (let go). If they do everything they can to provide the supports ... they aren’t abandoning (their child). Letting go is a completely different thing than abandoning.”

Letting go was a process for Cheryl, but she knew she needed to do so.

“Parents are probably way too involved in their kid’s lives,” she acknowledges. “I don’t think I was way too involved, it’s just when there’s a crisis, I tend to be a doer. In order to help myself feel better, I have to do. ...

In this particular circumstance, I knew (Renaissance) wasn’t getting any better.

I knew that I had so much anxiety and

balancedmag.com

Above: Before her child enrolled at Hopewell, Cheryl Craver, a single parent, admitted thinking “I don’t know if I can do this” with regard to providing the necessary care. Below: Renaissance Craver shares a special moment with Jerry.

stress and my own depression. ... For me, it really became a kind of prayer that I have to let go of this and Renaissance has to find their own way. I spent a lot of nights just repeating that over and over in my head.”

Renaissance’s third and final stay at Hopewell was in 2015. Since then,

they have been able to reflect on their mental illness and learn from it. For those in Renaissance’s shoes, however, moving forward is an ongoing process, Horne says. As for Renaissance’s personal progress, he considers their improvement and perseverance over the years to be “remarkable.” BF

SUMMER 2019 | BALANCEDFAMILY | 19

BALANCEDADULTS

Know the score Maintaining a healthy credit score – and monitoring for problems – is crucial to a family’s financial well-being

By Jane Kaufman

W

hile having a cash cushion may seem like the most important element toward a family’s financial freedom, maintaining stellar credit ratings may help even more.

That’s because credit ratings – whether high or low – have an impact on a family’s chances for getting a car loan, auto insurance, securing a mortgage or even landing an enticing new job.

While catastrophic events can tank a person’s credit rating, there are ways to soften the blow, even when facing a cash crunch.

David Goldberg, vice president of the mortgage division of First Federal Bank in Cleveland, and Troy McMahan, vice president of mortgage lending at Geauga Savings Bank, based in Newbury Township, offer ideas for how to maximize credit scores, mitigate the effect that unexpected financial downturns can have and monitor credit scores.

HOW SCORES ARE DETERMINED In order to maximize credit scores – or to soften the impact of a cash crunch – it helps to understand the elements that factor into determining them.

There are three credit rating bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Lenders – such as mortgage holders, credit card companies and banks – report on outstanding loans or credit. Each of these is known as a trade line on a credit report. Credit reports vary from credit bureau to credit bureau depending on the type of credit report pulled, McMahan explains.

While mortgage holders typically report to all three credit bureaus, auto loan holders and credit card companies may report to fewer, he says.

“If there are no hiccups, no late-pays, no charge-offs, you are in good shape,” McMahan says. “We go back the last 12 months.”

20 | BALANCEDFAMILY | SUMMER 2019

Goldberg

McMahan

AVOIDING POTENTIAL PITFALLS The most obvious and devastating consequences on a person’s credit score are bankruptcy, foreclosure or chargeoffs, or when credit card companies write off as a loss someone’s unpaid credit card debt.

“Pay all your bills on time,” Goldberg advises. “Honestly, living within your means, not taking more credit than is necessary is usually the best strategy for most people.”

Even when someone is routinely paying off all of their loans and credit cards within 30 days, there are other factors that come to play. One is the amount of credit a person carries.

While convenient and perhaps tempting, maximizing one’s use of credit – charging credit cards up to the limit, or even charging up to half of the limit – can have negative consequences on a person’s credit rating.

“There’s a fine line between having too much credit and having just enough,” Goldberg says. “The crazy part of all this is that credit bureaus don’t tell you any of this data. This is all anecdotal. It’s a big mystery. They don’t share any of this information.”

Goldberg advises keeping credit card use to within 20% of the total credit line – for example, $200 on a $1,000 limit.

McMahan says the benchmarks are 30 percent, 50 percent, 75 percent and 100 percent, with credit scores dropping by a letter grade at each benchmark.

One simple way to lower the percentage of credit used on a revolving loan such as a credit card is to ask for an

balancedmag.com

increased credit line without actually using the additional borrowing power.

In addition, the wrong credit mix can result in the lowering of a person’s credit score.

Goldberg cautions against holding – and using – too many credit cards.

“If all you have are revolving credit cards and no other types of installment loans, whether it’s a mortgage or car loan or even a student loan, that’s going to hurt your score more than if you have a good mix of a variety of types of accounts,” he says.

MONITORING CREDIT RATINGS Both Goldberg and McMahan say it’s a good idea to monitor one’s own credit annually by pulling a credit report from each of the three credit bureaus.

“I definitely recommend that people do that for a variety of reasons,” Goldberg says. “Just to track and make sure everything is being reported correctly, no errors on your payment history. ... And then, most importantly, for security. ...

If someone goes and opens up multiple accounts in your name and then doesn’t pay those bills, your credit score gets tanked.”

Some services, such as Credit Karma, offer monitoring on a weekly basis. While both bankers say there is value to seeing credit scores more frequently, they both warn online services’ credit reports may yield scores that are higher – and therefore more favorable – than those pulled by a bank seeking a credit rating for a mortgage.

“So, a lot of times, when people are applying for a mortgage, they’ll say, I just went on Credit Karma and I had a 700 credit

score,” Goldberg says. “And then we pull it and it’s a 600 credit score. It’s just because it’s a different scoring model.”

Goldberg says this discrepancy is often a disappointment.

“It creates a lot of confusion,” he says. “I think it’s a flaw in the credit system. In my opinion, there should be one score.”

IN CASE OF A CASH CRUNCH If a financial emergency takes place, both Goldberg and McMahan advise prompt and clear communication with creditors.

“Most creditors will work with you,” McMahan says. “The worst thing a person can do is to not open the bill or ignore it.”

“A lot of times they’ll make arrangements for you,” Goldberg says. “They’ll let you skip a payment or defer a payment onto the back end of a loan to allow you to keep the mortgage going or car payments. Most creditors are not bad people. ... So, if you work with them, usually you’ll have better luck than if you go into the hide mode, which is what most people do.”

If the worst happens, McMahan recommends one way to begin rebuilding credit is to use Experian’s Boost, which adds trade lines to credit reports for payment of utility bills as a way of showing strong payment history. Using that service, he says, can also help those new to credit build a credit history.

“The problem is, it’s so much easier to go negative on credit than it is to go positive,” Goldberg says. “It takes a lot of years to recover from derogatory credit.”

McMahan says there are no fast solutions.

“There is no quick fix,” he says. “I don’t have any fairy dust.” BF

A family decision you can feel good about.

W hen your loved one requires assistance

with personal needs and medications, yet wants an independent lifestyle, they’ll enjoy the caring atmosphere at one of our beautifully appointed Communities.

Call today for a personal visit!

Highland Heights 440-460-0686

Leading the Way in Assisted Living LifeServicesAssistedLiving.com balancedmag.com

Mentor 440-257-3866

Beachwood 216-295-1700

Strongsville 440-238-3777

SUMMER 2019 | BALANCEDFAMILY | 21

BALANCEDBODY&MIND

Physical challenges Proper training is essential to prepare for an obstaclecourse race

By Ed Carroll

I

f you’re of the belief running is boring, you might want to consider an obstacle-course race, those competitive runs that typically take participants over walls, under rope nets and through pools of mud – among countless other physical challenges. They test endurance and strength as much as they do speed.

Such races have been around for a while; there’s Spartan Race, Tough Mudder and a few others that operate nationally. If that sounds like your jam, two races are coming to Ohio this summer: Warrior Dash, which on July 20 will visit Clay’s Park Resort in North Lawrence, outside of Canton, and Badass Dash, which on Aug. 10 is coming to Victory Sports Park Ohio in North Ridgeville.

But those who’ve made the decision to try an obstacle-course race likely need to train so they don’t embarrass themselves in the mud. Those with experience running 5Ks or marathons might have a small leg up on other competitors but likely shouldn’t rely

22 | BALANCEDFAMILY | SUMMER 2019

on that alone to carry them across the finish line.

“We really pride ourselves on being an event anyone can start and everyone can finish,” says Kelsey Lawson, operations coordinator with Red Fog Events, the company that puts on Warrior Dash. “(Warrior Dash is) as hard as you can make it and easy as you can make it.”

Lawson explains Warrior Dash on July 20 will have distances of 1 mile, 5K and 10K and at least 12 obstacles, all of them optional for racers. She says previous race training could help racers but notes organizers pride themselves on Warrior Dash’s accessibility for all participants.

Christy Angie, who handles marketing for Badass Dash in Ohio and is marketing communications manager at Victory Park Ohio, says experienced runners attempting a Badass Dash often look to crossfit training to help with conditioning.

“I think (previous running training) can help,” Angie says. “With our race, it’s not really so much distance, it’s the obstacle-course challenge. Compared to other obstacle-course races or mud runs, they have more running involved and less obstacle. Our race is more of a traditional 5K in length, but with a minimum of 24 and a max of 40 obstacles, depending on the venue.”

Angie estimates the Badass Dash on Aug. 10 will have at least 30 obstacles and recommends racers focus on endurance in their training since they likely won’t be able to train on specific obstacles that Badass Dash will use.

However, if someone is itching to train on obstacles similar to those in either race, there are options. One

balancedmag.com

Warrior Dash

such option is Adrenaline Monkey in Warrensville Heights. Founder and owner Denise Carkhuff says not only does Adrenaline Monkey have a number of different obstacles to train on, but many exercise classes held at the center are taught by people who run obstacle-course races.

“If you come to a fitness class in the morning or evening, there’s no public people there, or very few (people there) during the week, you have a chance to truly dig in and learn the obstacles with someone who knows what they’re doing – and do it over and over, not having to worry about moving on because there’s someone else behind you,” she says.

The best items at Adrenaline Monkey include its warped walls, she says, because most outdoor obstacle-course races, like Warrior Dash and Badass Dash, have some sort of tall wall that racers will need to scale. The center also has walls set up in a parkour-style course, where racers can climb them

balancedmag.com

Above: Participants take on Muddy Mayhem, one of 17 obstacles in the Warrior Dash arsenal. Below: Badass Dash racers attempt to climb Mount Wedge-More.

Badass Dash

SUMMER 2019 | BALANCEDFAMILY | 23

Warrior Dash

Above: Participants climb through the mud at Warrior Dash. Below: Badass Dash participants attempt the Australian Back Crawl at a Badass Dash race.

Badass Dash

with or without climbing holes or rope.

She also recommends working at Adrenaline Monkey’s climbing walls.

“Because, definitely, climbing is big for those events,” says Carkhuff, adding the center has four different courses guests can select from to work on specific training areas, such as upper body strength and transferring your weight while climbing.

But if someone has no experience in running races, let alone obstacle course

24 | BALANCEDFAMILY | SUMMER 2019

races, where do they start with their training? Ricki Levine, a personal fitness trainer, Thai massage practitioner, yoga teacher and owner of In Shape Fitness & Massage in Beachwood, says to start by building up endurance slowly.

“For the beginner who doesn’t go to the gym, the couch potato, but not quite, you have to start with some sort of aerobic activity,” she says. “You have to have your oxygen, you have to have your lung capacity. You don’t start right

away killing yourself with 10-mile runs.

You build up slowly, three, four days a week, with a mile walk/run, then a little over a mile (with) less walking. The idea is not to kill yourself training, it’s to build up your capacity to make your muscles and organs do what you want them to do. So, a beginner would start with light running, jogging, walking and that would be three, four days a week.”

Levine says strength training is necessary because obstacle course races have things like climbing walls that require some strength, unlike a running race that is mostly about conditioning. She says that should start with major muscle training and acknowledges one doesn’t necessarily need a gym to do this type of training.

“If you go to a gym, you can do leg extensions, leg curls, stuff like that – or you don’t need a gym,” she says. “It’s basically sit-ups, push-ups, pull-ups, lunges, squats, mountain climbing, basic calisthenics.”

Levine says obstacle-course races are designed to test people’s limits, and most will.

“They offer challenges and they’re great ways to test your fitness, if that’s what you’re into,” she says. “The training for it is the most important thing.” BF

balancedmag.com

Advertorial

Future $avings for Medicaid and Patients Could be Billion$ With Newly Formed Care Coordination Program Menorah Park is nationally recognized as an advocate for the health and wellness concerns of our residents and the aging population in general. Through visits to the White House, empowering residents in rallies for change, the sharing of our own residents’ personal stories of struggles and triumphs, and through relationships with those who have the power to make change, we have been there for those who need us most. That’s why MCCP, a program conceived and initiated

by Menorah Park COO Richard Schwalberg that is projected to save billions in Medicaid spending, hospital bills and drug costs – with patients already benefitting, is no surprise.

Coined the MCCP (Medicaid Care Coordination Program), it’s a system Schwalberg has seen as a sure success. (Visit the menorahpark.org news section for more information.)

How it Works: The MCCP is a centralized provider-driven model run by nursing homes. Care services collaboration occurs between multiple service providers. We developed 10 quality and cost metrics and measured these on a weekly, monthly and quarterly basis. All project participants also implemented standardized weekly patient reviews using care templates. The pilot involved a provider-directed program in four states – Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and California with six senior care organizations, an acute care hospital system and a managed care organization participating. On a monthly basis, all six organizations in the pilot conducted a joint project evaluation.

Outcome: Project results in the first quarter were excellent.

Re-hospitalization rates decreased by 5 percent, falls, pressure sores, ER visits and patient monthly drug costs decreased to below national averages, demonstrating improvement in patient care/quality and cost savings to both Medicaid and Medicare. Extrapolating for metrics and cost-saving results nationally, care coordination could offer potential savings of $750 million. This would occur through all nursing homes, reducing both re-hospitalization and drug costs by 5 percent.

Will it Catch on? Legislators recommend expanding the pilot and time frame to include more nursing homes over a one-year time period. A group of elder care professionals participating in the pilot traveled to Washington D.C., to deliver preliminary project results to Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) and other congressional representatives who were very impressed.

According to Schwalberg, “Expanding the MCCP pilot is a first and very crucial step. It is a fundamental redesign in our health care and billing system. It shows that Medicaid care coordination and other collaborative efforts between health care providers have the potential to save billions of dollars that can be used for other important initiatives.”

Goals: Overall goals of the project are to improve care coordination of elderly nursing home clients on Medicaid and save Medicaid and Medicare dollars. MCCP was developed in response to the fragmentation and duplication in current care systems in many states.

There are no standardized care paths and best practices for nursing homes. “I want to forge new ideas, better ways to do things. Let’s think differently because the old ways are just not working. We need to reach people ahead of crisis. We believe excellent care means looking beyond the basics of human touch. It means meeting the needs of the people we serve, by focusing on families, clients and staff, and by focusing on technology, excellence, and measuring how we 2 | BALANCEDFAMILY | SPRING 2019

are doing so we can continue to raise the bar and do better.

Next steps: Grant funding requests to foundations are underway to implement an expanded larger scale MCCP research study involving 50 senior care communities nationally, in collaboration with PhD researchers from the University of Maryland.

Schwalberg advocating for aging adult, shares with resident Elaine Miller, who wrote a letter to legislators to not cut Medicaid, that her letter prompted thousands more to sign petitions.

The Aging Reso A Winter

™

Happy

MenorahPark.org • (216) 831-6500 Featuring Expert Spe balancedmag.com

Ryan Scafuro - Physical Ther

Peter B. Lewis Aquatic & The

BALANCEDBODY&MIND

Packing punch Boxing for exercise delivers physical and mental benefits but requires strategy – and sweat

By Jill McCullough

B

oxers seek the sweet spot – that perfect balance between punching the opponent while avoiding incoming hits. The sport requires forward thinking and refined technique.

Comparable to chess, boxers rely heavily on calculation and strategy to win the day.

Who knew boxing was so cerebral?

“It only looks like two people trying to kill each other,” says Evan Daiber, CEO of 2 Tone Boxing Club in Beachwood.

“There is so much science behind it.”

“The ‘sweet science’ is the nickname given to boxing early in the 19th century. It accurately describes not only the science of the sport – learned techniques and movements to physically defeat your opponent – (but also) it describes … the aspect of boxing that can’t be quantified or perfected … the constant mental game inside the ring,” says Casey Wandell, owner of Title Boxing Club, which has locations in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood, Highland Heights, Medina, Mentor, Solon, Stow, Strongsville and Westlake.

For obvious reasons, boxers and professional fighters need to stay in peak physical condition; the secret to lean muscle, fat shredding and high-intensity interval performance is found in boxing itself, Wandell says.

“Over the last 10 years or so, we have seen a massive spike in popularity in not only professional fighting leagues of all kinds, but also the training behind all of it. It’s been revolutionary not only in terms of health and wellness benefits, but in terms of confidence and stress release as well,” he says.

26 | BALANCEDFAMILY | SUMMER 2019

Daiber

Wandell

The evolution of boxing’s athletes, rules, referees and public relations strategies are driving the surge, he says.

Daiber says boxing’s popularity might also have something to do with the athletes and personalities within the industry.

Middleweight boxer Triple G (Gennadiy Gennadyevich Golovkin) and young, up-and-coming fighters help create fans, he says.

“These are serious athletes who have incredible respect for their opponents and the elite fraternity to which they belong,” Wandell says. “What was once viewed as barbaric and ruthless is now seen as respected and elite. … Boxing has also paved the way for evolved fighting platforms like the Ultimate Fighting Championship.”

It is also a great way for mere mortals to get and stay in shape.

“Self-defense and cardio conditioning are two huge priorities in our world today. Boxing provides both,” says Wandell, who encourages fitness-seekers to turn to boxing to gain muscle and lose fat.

Daiber recommends boxing to folks who complain about cardio.

“Boxing is a huge cardio workout, but it is a way to trick yourself into enjoying cardio,” he says. “If you are boxing, you

balancedmag.com

Summer PREMIERE PARTY

23700 Mercantile Road, Beachwood Rear of National Biological Building

216-896-0295

jsgymnastics.com jsgymnastics@jsgymnastics.com

Summer Camps

June 27 | 6:00 p.m.

The Fairmount Cocktail Bar Purchase $18 tickets at jstylemagazine.com/summerparty

Presenting sponsor CCL LAA S SS ISCI C

Supporting sponsor

Gymkata Camp for Boys & Gymnastics Camp for Girls August 5-9, 2019 • 9am–3pm

Enroll for Summer Session!

Summer Session Wednesday, June 19 - Saturday, August 3, 2019

Open Gym June 21 - Aug 2, 2019 10:30 - 12:00 noon & 3:30 - 5:00

Venue sponsor

New Members are Welcome!

Ask about sibling & military discounts! balancedmag.com

SUMMER 2019 | BALANCEDFAMILY | 27

are burning 1,000 calories per hour and losing 5 pounds a week. It really gets your heart rate up.”

It is also good for mental health.

“Any high-intensity workout is good for you, but when you are punching something, it raises dopamine … and it really gets your heart rate up,” says Daiber, whose gym offers programs for Parkinson’s disease patients.

His favorite client story involves a 70-something-year-old woman who walked into his gym weighing more than 200 pounds. She suffered from osteoporosis, a disease that reduces the density and quality of the bones.

“We got her down to 160 pounds, her bone density came back and she is now off blood-pressure meds,” says Daiber, who also works with autistic and troubled youth. “Boxing turns them into little angels. It helps them in their day-to-day lives. They have fun, and boxing makes them happy. We are really into our kids’ programs.”

Over the last 10 years or so, we have seen a massive spike in popularity in not only professional fighting leagues of all kinds, but also the training behind all of it. It’s been revolutionary not only in terms of health and wellness benefits, but in terms of confidence and stress release as well.

Casey Wandell Title Boxing Club

Wandell reminds his clients that they can work out anywhere, but boxing is unique.

“You and I can go out to any random field and do sprints … we can go climb stairs … the list goes on.

What boxing provides is short bursts of extreme training. Not only do you have to execute physically and keep throwing punches, but you must also constantly be thinking. … It stimulates the natural fight-or-flight response and helps train our minds to react to stressful situations differently,” he says.

Those who wish to get started can contact their local boxing club and book a class or one-on-one session.

Instructors provide hand wraps, gloves and instruction, says Daiber.

Those who do not wish to hit the gym can still box. All that is needed is a mirror, Wandell says.

“Start with shadow boxing, which is just throwing punches in the air while looking at yourself in the mirror doing it,” he says. “This provides a great sweat, the basics of feeling a punch thrown, and another one coming at you at the same time.” BF

Advertorial

SUBSTANCE ABUSE: IT CAN AFFECT ANY PERSON OR FAMILY There are so many substance use disorders today devastating individual and family lives. Alcohol, benzodiazepines (e.g. Xanax, Valium, Klonopin, Ativan), narcotics (heroin, fentanyl, painkillers, other opiates), cocaine, methamphetamines and marijuana are just some of the commonly abused drugs in our geographic area and in the country.

The term “addiction” is derived from a Latin word, meaning “enslaved by” or “ bound to.”

Addiction hijacks the brain and becomes all-consuming in the person’s life, even to the point of continued use, even while their whole life is imploding around them.

Addiction is a disease … a progressive disease. Without treatment, it can potentially become fatal. Addiction plays no favorites; it has no biases or prejudices. It affects all socio-economic, racial, ethnic and religious groups. Like other diseases, if one does not comply with medication and lifestyle changes, the condition only worsens. A holistic approach involving treatment with medication, if indicated, as well as addressing basic health behaviors (including nutrition and exercise), counseling and participation in self-help groups, are all important components for successful addiction treatment. Daily attention to these issues is important to keep the disease of addiction in check and under control.

My medical career as a primary care physician (Family Medicine, OB/GYN) introduced me to a number of patients who had substance use issues. Health, wellness and patient-focused, individualized care have always been my personal and professional

principles for treating patients; these principles are even more important when addressing the complex issues underlying addiction. With addiction being so prevalent in our society, I made a professional decision to use my primary care practice principles and experience to concentrate on addiction medicine. I completed a Fellowship in Addiction Medicine at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio, one of the longest-running Addiction Medicine programs in the country.

My opening of a private and independent Addiction Medicine practice in Erie, Pennsylvania, (Andrews Institute for Addiction Treatment; www.addictionmedicinedoc.com) allows patients to receive individualized outpatient detox treatment, as well as post-detox care. With a successful detox, patients start feeling better and stronger, which helps them make better decisions regarding their next steps in recovery. Traveling to our independent office practice “just down the road” also allows patients to obtain that extra layer of privacy and anonymity that many desire regarding their treatment.

It’s a New Day! 28 | BALANCEDFAMILY | SUMMER 2019

balancedmag.com

and

present

Tickets on sale June 28 at cjn.org/12under36!

STONEWATER August 23 • 6-8 PM

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES STILL AVAILABLE! Questions? Contact Gina Lloyd at 216-342-5196 or glloyd@cjn.org Venue Sponsor:

WELLNESSDIRECTORY

BRIGITTE AT YOUR SERVICE

We are committed to quality care. We provide personal care, meal preparation, transportation to appointments and shopping, laundry, light housekeeping and so much more. All shifts available; we are screened, bonded and insured.

References available.

216-297-0800 brigitteatyourservice.com

THE NANNY CONNECTION

is your personal connection to Professional childcare. Trusted throughout Northeast Ohio since 2004, we will guide you through your search for quality nannies and babysitters. Now booking summer nannies and providing Corporate Back-Up Care (ask your employer for this benefit!)

216-77-NANNY your nannyconnection.com

SENIOR SOLUTIONS LLC

When your loved one has a need, we have a solution. Round the clock care, 365 days/year, provided by skilled, compassionate, caregivers.

Care planning including residential options, home safety assessments.

Coordination with medical providers to insure proper care. Companion care and/or transportation. Flexible scheduling and affordable prices.

Jamie Berns 216-925-3042 seniorsolutions11@gmail.com

VISITING ANGELS

We are an in-home, senior care provider assisting the senior and older adult to live as independently as possible by remaining safely in their own home. Services include hygiene assistance, companionship, medication reminders, light housekeeping, laundry, meal preparation. errands and shopping.

216-231-6400 visitingangels.com/cleveland

Wellness directory is provided by our advertising partners. To be included in future issues email advertising@balancedmag.com

30 | BALANCEDFAMILY | SUMMER 2019

BODY SCULPTING AND BARRE FX

Body Sculpting is a cardiovascular strength-training class designed to make you lean and defined while providing a resultsoriented whole body workout. More than 100 locations in Northeast Ohio.

Barre FX is a boutique ballet barre fitness class offered at an affordable price in Beachwood and Novelty.

Register at www.flexcity.com 440-729-3463 helper@flexcity.com flexcity.com

IN MOTION PHYSICAL THERAPY

Advanced, evidencebased physical therapy for all your rehabilitation needs.

Specialty services also available for spinal pain, dizziness, imbalance, foot and ankle disorders.

Dr. Joseph Moskowitz, PT, DPT 14100 Cedar Road Suite 130 University Heights, OH 44121 216-577-1933 inmotionptohio.com

INSPIRAL MOTION

A boutique-style movement center offering holistic, inspirational instruction in GYROTONICÂŽ and Pilates exercise. We specialize in joint issues, stress relief, self-care, body conditioning, balance and strength.

Private instruction and group classes available. Join us for an hour or so of bliss.

20620 John Carroll Blvd.

Suite 204 Shaker Hts OH 44118 216-320-9446 inspiralmotion.com

PLATINUM HOME HEALTH

Platinum Home Health Services provides intermittent (or part-time) Physical and Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Skilled Nursing and Home Health Care Aides (Skilled, NonSkilled and Companion) to clients in the comfort of their own home by qualified, licensed and insured local professionals. We are proudly Veteran-owned and operated.

Marc Vasil, MPT President Platinum Home Health Services Platinum Home Helper Services Core Physical Therapy of Mayfield Hangar Sports (W) 440-995-0202 ext 5822 (F)440-448-4902 5813 Mayfield Rd Suite 201 Mayfield Hts.OH 44124 homehealthohio.org

balancedmag.com

Dr. A - October 31, 2015 I am a current client

We had a good fit with the caregiver. She was a perfect fit for us. Shelly understands what we need and picked up on where everything is in the kitchen quickly. Communication between us is excellent. She is a real Minnieseeing andagain.

Ramona - October winner. I feel she is someone to look forward

28, 20

I am a past client 216.752.2222 Saf My caregiver isCall so compassionate. was soAm m Today forShe Your Steve V. - September 30, 2015 above and beyond.

Right at Home is a wonderful Da Free Consultation Power of attorney

employees are professionnal, hardworking andAlz alw They were very caring and helpful. Prompt to reply and thorough in their where we need them. We would use them again a approach. The caregivers were exceptional. Can't recommend highly them to anyone. enough.

Dr. A - October 31, 2015 I am a current client

Minnie and Ramona - October 28, 2015

From Clients...

My caregiver is soRamona compassionate.

She so much She went28, 2015 Minnie and - Our October 28,help.

Minnie andwasRamona - 2015 October I am a past client

beyond. Right atI Home a wonderful am a ispast client company and their I above am“Reliable. aand past client employees are professionnal, hardworking andFriendly. always lookingArrived to help at Knowledgeable.

My caregiver is so compassionate. She was so much help. She went My caregiver isthem. so compassionate.

She was so much help. Shecompany where we needtime.

We would them again andat would above and beyond.

Right Homerecommend is a wonderful stated Met alluse my needs.

Attentive to mywent and their above and beyond.

Right at Home is a wonderful company and theirlooking to help them to anyone. professionnal, and always needs. Easy to employees contactareand good hardworking communication. where we need them. Weand would use them again and would recommend employees are professionnal, hardworking always looking to help Absolutely would use again. I recommend this them to anyone.

Dr.service A we - October 31, 2015 where needfor them.

We would use them again and would recommend others.”

I am to a current them anyone.client

We had a good fit with the caregiver. She was a p understands what we need and picked up on whe kitchen quickly. Communication between us is exc winner. I feel she is someone to look forward seei

Steve V. - September 30, 2015 Power of attorney

They were very caring and helpful. Prompt to repl Ca approach. The caregivers were exceptional. Can't enough.

A

Dr. A - October 2015 We had a good fit with the caregiver.

She was a 31, perfect fit for us. Shelly “We used this service for about four years. ampicked a current understands what we need Iand up onclient where everything is in the The service has been outstanding; meeting all We had a goodusfitiswith the caregiver. wasour a perfect fit for us. Shelly kitchen quickly. Communication between excellent.

She is She a real understands what we need and picked up on where everything is in the needs including shopping, cooking, laundry, winner.

I feel she is someone to look forward seeing again.

I am a current clientkitchen quickly. Communication between us is excellent. SheSafety Supervision & Transportation is a real shopping, never more than We bathing had a good When fit with the caregiver. was get atoperfect fit for us. Shelly winner.

I feel sheShe is someone look forward seeing again. Ambulation, Dressing & Bathing Assistance

Dr. A - October 31, 2015

2

w

Steve - September we V. listed, with a complete receipt.

Being Safety Supervision & Transportation understands whatalways we need30, and2015 picked up on where everything is in theDaily Health Reminders, Meal Planning & Preparation Power of attorney vegetarians, we have been so happy to fi nd an Ambulation, Dressing & Bathing Assistance kitchen quickly. Communication between us is excellent.

She is a real Steve V. September 30, 2015 Alzheimer's, Stroke Recovery & Hospice Support They were who very caring and helpful.

Prompt to reply and thorough in2015 their aide isisMinnie flsomeone exible to follow our recipes.

Daily Health Reminders, Meal Planning & Prepa andenough - October winner.

I feel she toofRamona look forward seeing 28, again.

Power attorney approach.

The caregivers were exceptional.

Can't recommend highly Stroke Recovery & Hospice Suppo Hard to think ofaThey any negatives.

Our aide is bright I am past client Supervision & Transportation were very caring and helpful. Prompt to reply and thorough in their SafetyAlzheimer's, enough.

My caregiver is so compassionate.

She was so much help.

She went and attentive; never father neglected approach.felt The my caregivers were was exceptional.

Can't recommend highly Ambulation, Dressing & Bathing Assistance above and beyond.

Right at Home isthe a wonderful companyto and their Steve V. - level.

September 30, 2015 enough. on any Would recommend company Daily Health Reminders, Meal Planning & Pr employees are professionnal, hardworking and always looking to help Power of attorney anyone wanting to stay at home.” where we need them. We would use them again and would recommend They were very caring helpful. Prompt to reply and thorough in their themand to anyone.

“This The is acaregivers great company.

I’ve known Shalomhighly for approach. were exceptional.

Can't recommend a while and Dr. they not only31, provide A - October 2015 great in-home enough.

Alzheimer's, Stroke Recovery & Hospice Su

care but they backclient to many of our local I amgive a current We had a good in fit with the caregiver.

She was a care perfect fit for us. Shelly organizations!

When need of in-home understands what we need and picked up on where everything is in the Right at Home is the place to call!” kitchen quickly. Communication between us is excellent. She is a real winner. I feel she is someone to look forward seeing again.

Family Safety Supervision & Transportation “Rarely have I met an organization that cares so Call the Plotkin Call the Plotkin family Call the Plotkin Family Ambulation, Dressing & Bathing Assistance much aboutSteve seniors and really helping.

The staff is A Tradition of Caring V. - September 30, 2015 A Tradition of Caring Daily Health Reminders, Meal Planning & Preparation A Tradition of Caring lovely, attentive, really caring!”

Power and of attorney

216.752.2222 216.752.2222

Alzheimer's, Stroke Recovery & Hospice Support They were very caring and helpful. Prompt to reply and thorough in their www.ohioseniorcare.net approach. The caregivers were exceptional. Can't recommend highly www.ohioseniorcare.net enough.

Shalom@ohioseniorcare.net

Call the Plotkin Family A Tradition of Caring

216.752.2222 Proud Winner of the 2017, 2018, and 2019 Caring Super Star Award

www.ohioseniorcare.net

Call the Plotkin Family

Plus!

Your prescription is ready for pick up at PHARMACY Trusted Service. Healthy Savings.

FREE

DELIVERY

PHARMACY Trusted Service. Healthy Savings.