South Coast Prime Times – March/April 2016

Good outlooks Booming boomers Prescriptions for cancer Heart health Make calories count

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CONTENTS 10

In Every Issue

4 From the publisher 24 In brief

by Elizabeth Morse Read

Prime Living

12 A prescription for cancer?

by Elizabeth Morse Read

16 Cardiac comeback

6

by Sean McCarthy

18 Good Vibra-tions

16

by Sean McCarthy

Prime Season

6

Boomer communities

booming

by Jay Pateakos

20 Caring about calories

by Brian J. Lowney

22 Our parents’ taxes

12

by Sherri Mahoney-Battles

Good Times

10 Getting older and better

by Greg Jones

on the cover: Keystone

Place at Buzzards Bay is a brand-new rental retirement development on the Cape Cod Canal featuring independent living, assisted living and memory care apartments. To learn more about the scenic community, turn to page 9 and also visit www.keystoneplaceatbuzzardsbay.com

30 Fully loaded

2

by Paul Kandarian

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Good outlooks Booming boomers Prescriptions for cancer Heart health Make calories count

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FROM THE PUBLISHER March/April 2016 n Vol. 12 n No. 2 Published by

Coastal Communications Corp.

Publisher and Editor-in-Chief

Ljiljana Vasiljevic

Living happily and healthfully isn’t too difficult – you make positive decisions all the

Editor

Sebastian Clarkin

time. It’s not just choosing to go for a walk, but also putting on that favorite hat or scarf to keep

Online editor

warm. It’s not just about eating wholesome

Paul Letendre

food, but also eating it with friends.

Contributors

Greg Jones, Paul Kandarian, Brian J. Lowney, Sherri Mahoney-Battles, Sean McCarthy, Jay Pateakos and Elizabeth Morse Read South Coast Prime Times is published bi-monthly.

Copyright ©2016 Coastal Communications Corp.

Sometimes health isn’t about who you are, but rather where you are. Across the country, boomers are choosing to live in communities with their peers, resulting in happier and healthier retirements. To learn more about the phenomenon, read Jay Pateakos’s article on page 6.

But healthy living rarely hinges on something as huge as a move. In fact, it depends on lots of little choices we live every day. Take, for

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, by any means, without written permission from the Publisher. All information contained herein is believed to be reliable. Coastal Communications Corp. does not assume any financial responsibility for typographical errors in advertisements, but will reprint that portion of an advertisement in which the typographical error occurs.

example, Elizabeth Morse Read’s article on page 12, all about cancer and the decisions you can make right now to mitigate your risk.

To that same end, make sure you read Brian Lowney’s article on page 20 to pick up some advice on how exactly to count calories (in a way that won’t drive you bonkers.)

And before you say, “well, it’s too late for me to make a change,”

Next issue April 13, 2016

flip to Sean McCarthy’s article on page 16 to read about people who have suffered from heart attacks and made drastic improvements to

Circulation

their health. Why wait until it’s too late?

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However you choose to live, I hope you do so happily and

$19.95 per year

healthfully. The region gives us lots of opportunities – let’s make

M ailing address

the most of them.

South Coast Prime Times P.O. Box 3493 Fall River, MA 02722

Phone (508) 677-3000

Ljiljana Vasiljevic

Website

Publisher and Editor-in-Chief

www.coastalmags.com

E-mail editor@coastalmags.com

Our advertisers make this publication possible —please support them facebook.com/thesouthcoastinsider

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Boomer communities

booming

Baby Boomers began turning 65 in 2011, and by 2029, when all the baby boomers will be over 65, so too will 20 percent of the US population.

As those numbers grow, so too do the Pateakos numbers of people who decide to simplify their lives and downsize their living situations. A lot of them aren’t even waiting until they reach retirement age.

would have an apartment for, but they did not want to move while their house was for sale,” said Panchley.

“Now we are telling people, as soon as you consider selling your house, get on the waiting list so we will have an apart-

Jay

Community building

‘Living in an adult community provides the opportunity for people to build a community together’

Melissa Panchley, Senior Property Manager for a number of over-55 facilities including Northside Village in Dennis, Oakwood Estates in Swansea, Westport Village Apartments, and North Farm Estates in Somerset, noted that people are selling their houses much faster now than they were a few years ago.

“A few years ago, we would have people on the waiting list for a long time, who we

ment for you when your house sells.”

Panchley said they have certainly seen a much younger demographic visiting and

photo courtesy westport village apartments

PRIME SEASON

moving in over the last couple of years.

“It seems the idea of care-free living appeals to those who are 55-65 as much as it does to those who are older,” said Panchley. “I think once people have raised their families, they do not want the burden of all the repairs and maintenance that owning a home requires.”

But what is the big attraction for these new homes? Is it the downsizing? The social aspect? The lack of maintenance and snow-shoveling needed?

“Many of our residents have children who did not stay in the area. Living in an adult community provides the opportunity for people to build a community together. They rely on each other and create memories together. If someone is sick, someone is bringing them soup. If someone wants to go to Bingo, someone wants to join them,” said Panchley.

“Our communities have become a family for many of our residents. That being said, we also have people who prefer to do their own thing and not be as

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Continued from previous page involved, and that is left up to personal preference.”

Choices seem to be one of the best parts of these new communities – choices people didn’t have so much when they owned their own homes. But you can’t argue with the sense of community it brings, added Panchley, for those who want it.

“Our residents seem to really enjoy the sense of community that our properties provide.

There are almost daily opportunities for socializing whether it’s luncheons, card games, Bingo, or birthday parties. Our residents are very engaged in the community, and many of the weekly activities are initiated by them,” said Panchley.

“Additionally, the idea of being able to call someone 24 hours a day to fix something that is not working has endless appeal to our residents. Many of our residents grew up and raised families in the suburbs, and our communities provide the opportunity for them to continue residing in the suburbs.”

Panchley foresees nothing to stymie the popularity of these over-55 communities. Rather, the popularity is likely to just keep getting bigger as the population ages and people continue to live longer, healthier lives.

“We see these communities growing as people gravitate toward care-free living communities that provide opportunities for fun and socialization.”

much with the recent stock market woes.

She sees some older couples still struggling and not being able to choose that over-55 community they so crave just yet.

“The impact our current economic climate has on those interested in over-55 communities varies. For instance, the stock market is in crisis, which affects the retirement income benefits of many.

This is forcing some to go back to work in order to stay afloat,” said Garvey.

“This can influence one’s comfort level in making the decision to perhaps sell the family home – which may have no mortgage – in order to finance the stay in an over-55 community.

“By contrast, those who have safe savings or consistent, sufficient income to cover the cost of residence in a 55-plus community may not be impacted by the economy at all. There are no blanket answers – each individual’s situation is different.”

Garvey said Bay View is an independent living community for those 55 and older, not an assistedliving community, although they do offer medication reminders and there is a Wellness nurse on campus several hours a week. She said their main focus is on providing their residents with the opportunity to enjoy a safe, independent lifestyle free of life’s chores such as home maintenance, cooking, and cleaning.

Worries and wonders

Garvey said there’s a bounty of new and up-and-coming amenities that can be offered in over-55 communities.

“The decision to embrace them should be driven by the needs of the specific community. Not all trends can be, or should be, integrated into the tapestry of

‘Our residents

are very engaged in the community, and many of the weekly activities are initiated by them’

‘Bay View’s main

focus is on providing residents with the opportunity to enjoy a safe, independent lifestyle free of life’s chores’

Jill H. Garvey, Director of Admissions/ Marketing for Fall River’s The Home for the Aged of Fall River, which includes the Adams House and the Freeman Borden Transitional Care Unit, questions if the economy is actually improving all that

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Fringe benefits

an over-55 community. ‘New’ and ‘different’ are terrific for marketing purposes, but in reality the goal is to adapt the trends to the needs of the community so that they serve a meaningful purpose.”

As for what may be missing in these communities to attract baby boomers, Garvey said those needs vary greatly by location, life stage of the residents, and generational expectations.

“The needs and wants of the children of the 30’s and 40’s will be quite different than those of the aging Baby Boomers. Further, I suspect that within the Boomer demographic itself, the services and amenities that will delight the more ‘seasoned’ members will be significantly different from those required by their younger counterparts,” said Garvey. “It’s kind of an Elvis vs. Springsteen thing. It will be challenging and fluid!”

As for the future of over-55 communities, Garvey believes that the need will only increase as the Boomers age.

“It’s no secret that people are living longer. The current money-saving mandates in health care suggest that hospitals now prefer sending patients home with services rather than to short-term rehab facilities,” said Garvey.

“It’s unlikely that this will change in the foreseeable future. This, in conjunction with one’s desire to ‘age in place’, has created the growing need for high-quality, progressive communities that cater to multiple generations – from ages 55 on up. People will increasingly seek the worry-free lifestyle of senior communities and the personal care, programs, and services that they offer.”

My parents never made it to this point of moving into communities like this but I think they both would have loved it. When you see how busy these people become in these communities and how happy they are with the move they made (the only regret being that they should have done it sooner) you can’t help but feel that this is the way our aging population should be spending its time.

Consider it a much-needed reward for raising kids and grandkids, and to finally being able to focus on what makes them happy for once.

J ay Pateakos has been a freelance writer for more than 10 years including daily and weekly newspapers and monthly magazines.

A native of New Bedford, he currently lives in Marion and has three children.

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Keystone Place at Buzzards Bay offers an exceptional value for senior living

K

eystone Place at Buzzards Bay is the Upper Cape’s newest, fullservice, rental retirement community featuring independent living, assisted living and memory care apartments.

The community, which opened late last spring on Main Street in Buzzards Bay, is situated along the Cape Cod Canal with amazing views of the Bourne Bridge, Cape Cod Railroad Bridge and Mass Maritime Academy. The new development is part of Buzzards Bay’s exciting downtown conservation and revitalization plan that includes the adjacent 5-acre Canal Crossways nature trail. Residents enjoy a connecting path to the nature trail and a short walk to the Canal.

Keystone Place’s independent living, assisted living and memory care housing options are located within three distinct Cape-inspired neighborhoods. Residents live independently “Along the Canal,” with assistance at “The Shore” and securely “By the Bay” at Keystone Place.

The community offers some of the area’s largest studio, one- and two-bedroom/ two-bathroom apartments that are also an exceptional value. Families can save money and also ensure that their loved ones have a great quality of life and will receive great care, should they ever need it.

The monthly rental rate for assisted living includes 45 minutes of personal care per day, including assistance with bathing, dressing, grooming, and

medication management. Additional personal care services are available if needed. The community offers restaurantstyle dining, utilities, cable television service, and wireless Internet.

As a medium-sized, private company with lower overhead costs compared to large and publicly-traded companies, Keystone passes on the savings in the form of highly competitive rates.

The cost of assisted living at Keystone Place is lower than most Upper Cape communities.

Their unique Life Enrichment Program offers more than 150 activities each month designed to enhance the social, mental, and physical well-being of residents.

“Many do not know what to expect when they first visit our community.

It’s not the ‘old-age home’ some have an outdated image of,” Kelly Marcimo, the Keystone Place Director of Community Relations, said. “In addition to being a beautiful place to live, our residents benefit from spacious apartments, services that enhance their quality of life and take away their worries, and the peace of mind of knowing that care is available if and when needed.”

Nearly 70% of their apartments are already occupied or reserved. If you’d like a brochure, more information, or to discuss apartment availability, please contact Kelly Marcimo, Director of Community Relations, at (774) 302-4539.

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GOOD TIMES

Getting older and better Greg Jones

The population of our region is going through the same changes as the rest of the country.

It all started with the end of WWII. All those soldiers came home and, tired of the single life and more than a little tired of fighting a war, promptly got married.

It was a prosperous time – there were jobs for the asking, the GI Bill made it possible for millions of veterans to enroll in college, and a vet could buy a house with full assistance from the government.

Education, jobs, housing, good income, new marriages… the inevitable began to happen, in unprecedented numbers: babies. Thousands of babies. Then millions of babies. New schools were built all across the land, and, slowly, year by year, this “baby boom” grew up and the generation became the “baby boomers.”

Now the first of the baby boomers are beginning to retire, and the collective medical needs of this population has given impetus to expanding geriatric care, not just here along the South Coast, but nationwide.

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Taking care of the boomers The first order of business in any discussion of geriatric care is to emphasize that prevention is vastly better than any cure. South Coasters who are at or near retirement age owe it to themselves and their families to stay as healthy and fit as possible.

There will be a lot of them. According to the demographic projections published in March, 2015, and done by the UMass Donahue Institute, Plymouth and Bristol counties and parts of Norfolk County will be “greying” significantly.

In 2010, 14 percent of this population was over the age of 65. Stick around a few years, have a few birthday parties, and by 2035, 24 percent will be at least 65 years old.

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South Coast hospitals are fully aware of this, and there are programs underway that reflect the changing patient population.

Accreditation and training Nurses play a vital role, of course, and in 2015 Saint Anne’s was designated as a site for a geriatric care program that is based at New York University, known by its acronym NICHE (Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders.) Carole Billington, is Saint Anne’s Hospitals’ Vice President for Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer. She is a Registered Nurse, has a Master of Science in Nursing, and is certified as a Nursing Executive, Advanced. According to her, “NICHE is the largest geriatric nursing program available and the only international designation inCarole Billington, rn, msn, nea-bc

dicating a hospital’s commitment to elder care excellence and patient-centered care of older adults.”

It’s not an easy or common distinction.

Saint Anne’s is one of just 15 Massachusetts hospitals and the only hospital in the Fall River-New Bedford area to earn this designation.

In addition to NICHE accreditation, Saint Anne’s has their Senior Behavioral Health Program. Begun in 1996 and consisting of two outpatient programs, it cares for seniors with emotional and psychiatric needs at the Center for Behavioral Medicine.

In 2009, Saint Anne’s opened the area’s only inpatient geriatric psychiatric unit and in 2014 added a 15-bed unit at Saint Anne’s sister hospital, New England Sinai Hospital in Stoughton. It is significant to note that both units are consistently full.

Specialized care

for special needs When elder patients develop cancers specialized care is needed, so in 2014, Saint Anne’s Hospital launched the area’s first Senior Oncology Program at its Hudner Oncology Center in Fall River.

Peter Ward, MD, is a geriatric oncologist and medical director for the Senior Oncology Program.

He explained that the goal of the program “is to develop a personalized Peter Ward, md treatment plan for each senior patient with cancer that is based, not on their chronologic age but on their functional and physiological age.”

The benefits of this program include reducing the side-effects of treatment, thus helping reduce hospitalizations resulting from treatment complications and keeping patients independent longer.

According to Dr. Ward, cancer rates are higher in older patients, “because aging is one of the biggest risk factors for cancer.” Treatment for cancers in an older population has its own unique challenges because, while it would be extremely rare for a younger patient to have more than one type of cancer, “a history of multiple types of cancers is more common as patients age into their 70’s and 80’s,”

said Dr. Ward, adding that, “this can lead to more complex treatments in older patients who are dealing with more than one illness at a time.”

Sandra Marcucci, MSN, RN-BC (Registered Nurse, Board Certified) is a clinical nurse educator and the NICHE coordinator at Saint Anne’s Hospital. Addressing the subject of medical care for geriatric patients, she noted that, “normal aging changes organ structure and function.

These changes are often impacted by genetics, physical activity, diet, alcohol, and tobacco use. As a result, there is a decrease in functional reserve and how the body responds to stress.”

These changes might include the patient’s response to hospitalization or the symptoms of an illness. “An example is an older patient with pneumonia,” said Marcucci. “Elderly patients will have different signs and symptoms than that of a younger adult—for example, older patients often do not produce a fever commonly associated with pneumonia.”

Elderly patients may react differently to medicines and drugs, especially as liver and kidney function changes as part of the aging spectrum.

“Our goal,” said Marcucci, “is to recognize the unique characteristics of older patients and care for them accordingly.”

Joints and bones Changes also occur in the joints and bones as one ages. Knee and hip replacements are well-established procedures, and nearly half of adults 65 or older reported doctor-diagnosed arthritis in 2010-12, according to the Centers for Disease Control. By 2030, it is estimated that 67 million Americans age 18 or older will have doctor-diagnosed arthritis.

The advances seen recently in orthopedic surgery provide even more choices to patients to help them regain mobility and function, and thus independence.

At Saint Anne’s Hospital Center for Orthopedic Excellence, one of the most popular options is MAKOplasty, a robotassisted knee-resurfacing procedure that allows patient to recuperate more quickly and comfortably. Many patients are discharged within 24 to 48 hours, with coordinated follow-up care in conjunction with Steward Home Care. Within the South Coast area, this procedure is only available at Saint Anne’s Hospital.

Take care of yourself With all this technology and advanced care, the responsibility for your health

as you age is yours, however. As noted above, prevention is vastly better than cure, and we should all keep as healthy and fit as possible. Help to set up exercise or diet programs are available, and, “No matter what your age or health, there are programs that can help you stay as fit as possible and help you avoid or delay common problems often associated with aging, such as strength and balance,” according to Billington.

She advises patients to “check out the YMCA, Boys and Girls Club, senior centers, or local gyms. Many offer senior discounts and programs geared to older adults.”

Health care proxy Whatever your age and health, everyone should have an up-to-date health care proxy. Harvey Kowaloff, MD, is Saint Anne’s Hospital’s vice president for medical affairs. This document, said Dr. Kowaloff, will make sure that, should serious injury or illness occur, the patient’s wishes regarding treatment are clearly stated and understood. This becomes increasingly important as we age, but it is true for all adults.”

For patients who are very sick, Dr. Kowaloff recommended working with their primary care providers and complete a newer document called Medical Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (MOLST).

This form is a medical order with clear instructions that can be used by any person of any age who has a serious medical condition, illness, or injury from which they may not recover. It is based on the person’s own preferences and is honored by all health care providers.

We are all getting older, every day.

Whether geriatric care concerns you, your parents, relatives or close friends, it’s affecting your life in some way. Contact your local legislators with any concerns you have about issues affecting older adults.

The Massachusetts Senior Action Council is an advocacy group that addresses these issues. The Bristol County chapter meets in Westport, and is thus easily accessed from anywhere in the South Coast.

Thank you to Anne Ferreira, coordinator of strategic communications at Saint Anne’s Hospital for her invaluable assistance with this article.

G reg J ones is a local writer who lives in Dartmouth.

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PRIME LIVING

A Prescription for Cancer?

Eliz abeth Morse Read

February is National Cancer Prevention Month. When it comes to cancer prevention, we already know the basics: don’t smoke, avoid exposure to radiation, risky behaviors, and toxic substances, get annual checkups and tests, stay physically fit. We also know the last element: wait and pray for “The Cure” even after we’ve all done all of the above.

‘A n Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure’ Here are the basic facts. Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the US, after cardiovascular disease. The most common cancers in American males are lung, prostate, colorectal, and stomach.

In American women, the most common types are breast, colorectal, lung, and cervical. Your most significant cancer risk factor is your age – most invasive cancers are diagnosed after age 65. Most cancers are usually treatable with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and targeted therapies. The average 5-year survival rate for cancer in the US is now 66%, depending upon the type of cancer and the stage at which it is detected and treated.

But almost 90% of cancers are preventable, and the other inherited 10% are now treatable, thanks to recent advances in medical science and public health policies. Cancer prevention in the 21st century means taking proactive steps to reduce your cancer risks – especially when it comes to making personal behavior/ lifestyle choices. [see sidebar]

Emperor of all maladies “Cancer” is actually a class of at least 100 different diseases, all characterized by abnormal cell growth (malignant tumor) that spreads (metastasizes) to other parts of the body through the lymphatic system or blood. The disease has been known since the dawn of recorded history, and got its name from the Greek/Latin words

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for crab, describing how the disease reaches out from the original growth, like the legs of a crab. (Benign tumors don’t spread.)

However, you can’t change your age, your heredity or your hormones, which all influence your chances of developing cancer. Up to 10% of cancers are initiated by inherited genetic mutations.

But at least 90% of other cancers are caused by external “environmental” factors that can be controlled or prevented.

For instance, tobacco use causes more than 25% of cancer deaths, with at least 30% more caused by poor diet, obesity, and excessive alcohol consumption.

About 20% of cancers are caused by viral infections, such as Hepatitis B, and up to 10% are caused by radiation. In other words, it is within your power to minimize your personal chances of developing 90% of cancers.

Why cells go rogue Inside the nucleus of every cell (and there are trillions of cells in the human body) is the blueprint of your unique genetic profile. When decoded, that genetic profile describes your biological past and heavily influences your health and longevity. Any damage to your genetic code can trigger a cancerous growth.

Carcinogenesis is the process that turns normal cells into cancerous cells. All cancers are basically genetic diseases – they’re caused by abnormal changes (mutations) in the genetic codes that control cell development, whether those mutations are

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due to heredity or to cumulative environmental damage during your lifetime.

Cancerous cells proliferate wildly, overwhelming healthy cells, ignoring the normal biochemical message to stop multiplying and die off. It’s a chain-reaction of progressively bad genetic coding, somewhat like what happens when a virus or malware gets into a computer network.

Heredity and hormones Cancer is essentially uncontrolled cell growth, and all of your body’s chemical hormones stimulate cell growth.

Sex-linked hormones, especially, play a significant role in your cancer risk.

For instance, breast cancer affects one in eight American women. Women whose mothers had breast cancer have higher levels of estrogen and progesterone in their blood compared to women whose mothers did not have breast cancer. Men of African ancestry have higher levels of testosterone than non-African men, and as a result also have much higher rates of prostate cancer. Postmenopausal women who’ve undergone hormone-replacement therapy have shown a higher risk of developing female cancers.

The genetic code you inherited from your parents can predispose you to higher risks for developing certain cancers. For example, women born with mutations to the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes have a 75% higher risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer in their lifetime (this was the case with Angelina Jolie.)

Some people are just born with time-

bomb genetic flaws. In 2009, a team of genetic scientists at Rhode Island Hospital discovered that many women of Portuguese descent with a unique mutation have an additional 25% higher risk of developing breast cancer. While this Portuguese breast cancer gene can’t be detected in current BRCA genetic tests, it can be detected in a simple blood test.

Chemoprevention, the newest weapon in the arsenal of cancer prevention, is the proactive treatment for people at a high risk of developing a certain cancer (like a Portuguese-descent woman with the known BRCA mutation). New medicines can lower the cancer risk in people with a family history of cancer or people with precancerous conditions, and they can also help prevent re-occurrences of cancers. Dozens of chemical agents are now being studied, but only a few FDA-ap-

Meanwhile, up to 10% of preventable cancers are triggered by radioactivity. We can’t see, hear or smell electromagnetic radiation, so we aren’t always aware of being “zapped.” But cumulative overexposure to radioactivity can permanently damage our DNA, thereby lighting the fuse for cancers like melanoma or leukemia.

Sure, we can wear sunglasses and sunscreen to block the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation. But we’re just as much at risk if we’ve had too much medical imaging (X-rays, CT scans) over our lifetime, if we’re downwind of a nuclear explosion, or if we’re exposed to carcinogenic gases like radon. And there are some people who believe that living near electric power transmissions – even radio-frequency radiation from cell phones – contributes to radiation cancer risk.

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Don’t wait for ‘The Cure’ Cancer prevention is not some in-denial myth or wishful thinking.

The scientific/medical advances in cancer prevention are here and now.

Everyone can take steps to reduce their risk of developing cancers in their lifetime – practice proactive prevention.

Know thy family history Seeing as how 10% of cancer risks are predetermined by your genetic profile, it’s critical that you take advantage of early-screening tests, regular checkups, vaccines, and chemoprevention therapies.

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Know thyself Seeing as the other 90% of cancers are triggered by external factors, it’s critical that you choose to either avoid them or control your exposure to them. proved treatments are currently available – tamoxifen for breast cancer, finasteride for prostate cancer, and several others specifically targeting colorectal cancer.

Invisible threats: chemicals

and radiation Prolonged exposure to carcinogenic chemicals, pollutants, and heavy metals can cause cancers like mesothelioma and prostate cancer. Pity the poor toll-booth attendants and car mechanics – all day long, they’re breathing in lethal exhaust fumes and the asbestos dust from brake pads. Pity the 9/11 first responders who rushed into a toxic inferno, or uranium miners, or roofers and steam-fitters who handle insulation and tar, beauticians who handle hair dyes, or farm-workers who crawl through pesticide-laden fields, or the clueless homeowners living near chemically-contaminated Superfund sites.

And the carcinogenic potential of radiation and toxic chemicals is greatly amplified when other cancer risks are involved, like smoking, bad genes, poor diet, and risky behavior. Your cancer risk is cumulative.

Going viral Some cancers are caused by invasive viruses, in the same way that polio, HIV and chickenpox are caused by viruses.

The carcinogenic virus wriggles its way into your DNA and wreaks cell-growth havoc. For example, the HPV virus (human papilloma virus), which is spread through sexual contact, has been linked to cervical cancer in women, and to oral/ throat cancers in men. The hepatitis virus, which is spread through intravenous drug use and sexual contact, has been linked to liver cancer.

The good news is that the scientific community has been working hard on find-

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Continued from previous page ing ways to fend off carcinogenic viral infections with cutting-edge vaccinations.

Although it’s been socially controversial, FDA-approved vaccines have been developed to prevent viral infections, such as the HPV vaccines Gardasil and Cevarix.

A diet to die for One huge way we can all protect ourselves against developing cancer is by eating a sane and balanced “real food” diet that keeps us fit and trim. Processed foods loaded with salt, sugar, fats, chemical additives, and artificial flavorings are a recipe for health disasters like obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular disease – and cancer.

Some specific foods can be directly linked to specific cancers – for instance, the high gastric cancer rate in Japan is directly linked to their high-salt diet.

Countries where smoked fish or meats are consumed have high rates of stomach cancer. Beef-eating countries (like the US and UK) have the highest colorectal cancer rates.

On January 1 of this year, the worldrenown MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas announced that their preliminary research indicates a possible link between cancer metastasis and consumption of too much sugar. The typical “western” diet includes a ridiculously high intake of sugar, much of it hidden in processed foods as “high-fructose corn syrup” or “natural sweeteners” on the ingredients label. Think about that before you reach for a Twinkie, malasadas, or the Frosted Flakes. Or a jar of baby food or pasta sauce.

Bringing home the bacon The public health community has long warned us of the link between excessive meat consumption and cardiovascular disease, obesity and possibly certain cancers. The American Cancer Society has long warned us of the possible carcinogenic risk of eating too many charbroiled steaks and processed meats. But now, there’s no doubt about the link between red/processed meats and cancer, as scientifically indisputable as the causal link between tobacco and lung cancer.

Back in November, the United Nations’ World Health Organization (WHO) boldly announced that there is scientific proof that all processed/cured meats (and red meats cooked the wrong way) have been linked to stomach and colorectal cancers.

The WHO now officially classifies

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processed meats as a Class 1 carcinogen (substances that are firmly linked to cancer), which puts bacon, linguica, and pepperoni pizza in the same category as asbestos and tobacco. They also now classify red meat as a Class 2A carcinogen (substances that probably cause cancer), right up there with DDT and mustard gas.

Processed meats are meats “which have been transformed through salting, curing, fermentation, smoking, or other processes to enhance flavor or improve preservation.” Preserved and processed meats contain chemicals called nitrites and nitrates, which are already known to be carcinogenic. [see sidebar] Just 50 grams of processed meat per day can raise your colorectal cancer risk by 18%, according to the WHO report. One hot dog for lunch is about 50 grams, so if you also throw in bacon for breakfast and a sausage pizza or canned ham for dinner, that’s a major overload of potentiallycarcinogenic meat.

Moderate, mindful consumption of processed meats is critical to cancer prevention – but many people are addicted to convenience fast foods at every meal.

Microwaved breakfast burritos, bacon cheeseburgers-to-go, blackened hot dogs at the cookout, smoked turkey deli sandwiches and home-delivered meat-lover’s pizzas have become part of “The American Way.”

‘Where’s the beef?’

In 2014, Americans consumed more than 24 billion pounds of beef. Sixty percent of the meat Americans eat are “red meats” (WHO Class 2A carcinogens) and more than 20% of the meat we eat is processed meat (WHO Class 1 carcinogens).

And, despite what the pork-industry lobbyists are trying to sell you, pork is not “the other white meat.” Only poultry and fish (both low-fat) are white meats.

All furry, four-legged animal meat is a red meat (all high-fat) – whether it’s beef, pork, lamb, venison, goat, camel, or water buffalo. So before you sear those steaks, broil those chops, deep-fry that pig, or char those burgers on the grill, just remember that the carbonized crust surrounding the juicy meat now contains known carcinogenic substances. Cooking methods like frying, broiling, or grilling fatty red meats over a flame or at very high temperatures are bad for your health. (If you eat red meat, how about a nice slow-cooked roast, casserole, or stew, instead?)

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Processed Meat: The Dirty Dozen The meat-processing industry has tried to play bait-and-switch by using celery juice extract as an “all-natural” substitute for carcinogenic nitrates.

But celery juice extract is high in natural nitrates – and the human body doesn’t differentiate between chemical or natural nitrates. So, those “No Nitrates!” processed meats containing celery juice extract are just as bad for you as a can of SPAM. * Canned, smoked or cured ham * Hot dogs, frankfurters, wieners (whether pork, beef, or poultry) * Sausages (including linguiça, brats, Jimmy Dean’s, kielbasa, chouriço) * Chicken nuggets * Bacon (including Canadian and turkey) * Bologna, liverwurst, smoked turkey, mortadella, olive loaf (deli cold- cuts) * Commercially-packaged sliced meats (lunch meats) * Pepperoni, salami, prosciutto (charcuterie) * Corned beef and pastrami (brined/ pickled meats) * Canned meats (like SPAM, Vienna sausage, devilled ham) * Dried meats (Slim Jims, beef/turkey jerky, chipped beef) * Smoked or pickled fish (lox, pickled herring, finnan haddie)

Needless to say, thanks to that seismic WHO announcement, the American meat industry is having a marketing meltdown, the American medical community is heaving a sigh of relief, and all the pescatarians, vegetarians, and vegans are having the last laugh.

February is National Cancer Prevention Month. Do your part to prevent cancer – the life you save may be your own.

To learn more, go to www.cancer.org or www.cancer.com.

E lizabeth M orse R ead is an award-winning writer, editor and artist who grew up on the South Coast. After 20 years of working in New York City and traveling the world, she came back home with her children and lives in Fairhaven.

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PRIME LIVING

Cardiac Comeback

Sean McC arthy

You’ve suffered a heart attack and you’ve got another chance at life. To take advantage of that second chance you’ll need to take into consideration the Three E’s: Eating, Exercising, and Education.

There is no common form of heart attack.

The causes differ, as well as the treatment that follows. Some people may have multiple heart attacks, all varying in severity.

There are many areas of your life to take into consideration after a heart attack.

A patient may meet with a dietician and a physical therapist who can assess that patient’s situation and educate them on living a heart-healthy lifestyle. They may also help with ailments in other parts of the patient’s body that may be in need of attention.

Rehab and rebirth According to Joyce Grusmark, Manager of Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation for Southcoast Health, there is one treatment that should be common among all patients: a positive state of mind.

“The clinicians in our Cardiac Rehab work with each individual to approach their recovery with a positive, wellnessfocused attitude,” Grusmark says.

“As this is a stressful time in their life, we give them guidance on how to manage and decrease their stress, and tips on how to be successful with lifestyle changes that will help them manage their disease.”

Heart attack recovery usually gives the

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patient areas to consider that they may not have thought about previously - controllable elements that reduce risk factors for a second heart attack.

“A patient should pay close attention to blood pressure control, cholesterol control, and blood sugar,” says Southcoast Health cardiologist Mark Desnoyers.

Grusmark also recommends that a patient should also monitor triglyceride levels, work towards reducing obesity, become more physically active, improving their diet, managing stress, and of course, quitting smoking.

Desnoyers points out that certain drugs have shown a decrease in the risk of future heart-related events.

“Following a heart attack, many patients are treated with medication such as beta blockers or an ACE inhibitor, which have been successful in deterring another heart attack,” Desnoyers says.

“Patients are usually treated with at least antiplatelet therapy (aspirin or other drugs) and have other types of medical treatments depending on their particular situation.

“Periodic examination by a cardiologist is usually recommended for patients following a heart attack,” adds Desnoyers.

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Real recovery In 1983 Ed Talbot of Mattapoisett woke up in the middle of the night feeling as if he had an elephant standing on his chest. It was unusual due to the fact that Talbot was an avid runner and was 75 pounds thinner than he had been a few years prior. His doctor who treated him told him that his exercise regimen probably saved his life. Talbot had a Cardiac Catheter installed, and his arteries were confirmed to have no blockage. He would eventually start running again, going far enough to actually run marathons.

And then, in 1996, Talbot passed out at work. His heart had stopped and he would need to have a pacemaker installed after open heart surgery. The doctor surprised Talbot with the counter intuitive news that his high level of exercise brought his heart rate down to a number that was lower than normal. As a result his exercise behavior would have to be reduced. He would walk, hike, swim, bicycle, and be active on a regular basis, and is still getting plenty of recreation into his lifestyle without any heart issues.

“A healthy lifestyle saved my life,” Talbot says. “It’s made me appreciate life more than ever.”

Art Tebbetts of New Bedford had a heart attack five years ago, and has returned to his career as a singer/guitarist with few problems.

“I can laugh about it now but when they’re wheeling you into surgery there’s definitely nothing funny about it at all,” Tebbetts recalls.

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Last year Rocha found himself in Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River after having chest pains. At first he thought it was acid reflux but the pain remained. He

‘A heart attack

made me realize I couldn’t continue living the way I was’ David Greene

Pina was genetically predisposed to having heart problems. He has advice for those people who come from a family with heart related issues: “Definitely get yourself checked out on a regular basis,” he advises. “Be aware of what’s going on with your body and pay attention to how you feel. Your body talks to you.”

“It’s all about lifestyle,” says Tom Rocha of Dartmouth. “Do things in moderation, including eating.”

lifestyle seriously. I was eating five or six cheeseburgers a week with plenty of beer and no exercise. A heart attack made me realize that I couldn’t continue living the way I was.”

Today, Greene’s lifestyle includes aerobic exercise and a half hour workout five times a week. He has a straightforward suggestion: “People should learn about healthy eating, proper exercise, the medications, and just do it.”

Each day at the Y, people of all ages are coming together to get and stay active. Seniors are engaging in social activities and meeting others who share common interests and passions.

They’re participating in group exercise and aquatics classes and learning about proper nutrition. And they’re working side-by-side with our Wellness Coaches to develop more active, productive lives.

and his wife drove to the hospital at one in the morning, where he was stabilized in the Emergency Room. Because he acted quickly he was able to prevent having much damage done to his heart.

“I had my wake-up call and now I’m making better decisions,” Rocha says.

“I’m going to the YMCA five or six days a week and I’ve changed my diet dramatically. Since my recovery I’ve even improved my golf game – I’m hitting the ball farther.”

In 2003, David Greene of New Bedford had quintuple bypass surgery at Charlton.

“If you could be young and stupid – that was me,” Greene says. “I didn’t take my

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“I wish I’d made more changes sooner,” he says. “I should’ve exercised more and paid more attention to my diet. But fortunately the medical community in this area helped greatly with my recovery. And it’s also great to have some friends who can help you get through.”

Ten years ago, Carlton Pina of Dartmouth had the first of his two heart attacks. He had blockages in three of his arteries requiring double bypass open heart surgery. Six years later he had problems with his front artery requiring angioplasty.

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Tebbetts would have quintuple bypass surgery due to several blocked arteries.

Consequently he had multiple stents inserted in his heart.

S ean M c C arthy has been a freelance journalist for 25 years.

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A loved one has been diagnosed with a serious illness or has been in a debilitating accident.

The local hospitals don’t have the facilities to provide the necessary longer stay treatment for a full recovery.

But you won’t have to go too far to find a hospital that can provide the level of treatment that your loved one may require.

Vibra Hospital of Southeastern Massachusetts strives to provide the best possible care for people in the most difficult health situations.

Located in the Sassaquin area of northern New Bedford, Vibra is a hospital for people who require greater acute level care than an average hospital can provide on short term.

Vibra can receive patients who aren’t expected to live. It has been possible in the past for a patient to be admitted on the brink of death and to one day walk out of the facility on their own two feet.

Medical Director and Pulmonary Physician at Vibra. “We’ll often get people on life support from a hospital’s Intensive Care Unit, people with major illnesses or who have had a serious accident. Some of our patients can’t speak or eat. They may be on life support or a ventilator to help them breathe.

One of our jobs is to get them physically stronger, and off ventilators” Vibra considers itself a unique hospital. “We have a lot of technology that area hospitals don’t,” Loerinc says.

A patient may start in bed, but they’re unlikely to stay there.

We work on building strength and weaning them off their machine. Our primary focus is to get the patient medically stable and give them the skilled rehabilitation that could help them to return home.”

“We’re a Long Term Acute Care Hospital,” says Lori Vaudry, Admissions

‘Our primary focus is to get the patient medically stable and give them the skilled rehabilitation that could help them to return home’

Unlike Others “We get the sickest of patients in the greatest of need,” says Dr. Albert Loerinc,

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Director for the facility. Vibra accepts patients from New York, New Hampshire and Maine, but 50 percent of their intakes are from the South Coast area. The New Bedford hospital has 90 beds.

Acute Care Patients will have the same team of caregivers from the moment they enter until the moment they leave.

“Every patient is unique and each patient has individual goals to meet,” says Alice Rebelo, Director of Community Awareness. “For our team, it’s a welcome challenge to draft a plan of care for each patient, as there are many levels of treatment with each patient - physical, psychological and complex medical.”

Each patient is assigned a physician who will lead their team. The interdisciplinary team will be comprised of a rehabilitation therapist, skilled nursing, a nutritionist, a psychologist and a case manager. That team will work with patient until the appropriate level of care is determined for a successful discharge.

Frith Cote, Director of Vibra’s Wound Clinic claims that every patient receives a warm greeting.

“Very early in the treatment we let people know that we are here to meet their needs. Each person has different needs and expectations. Our slogan is ‘Getting you back to better.’”

“We strive to give the patient the hope that they will recover,” says Manny Berthil, Chief Clinical Officer at Vibra.

“We use positive reinforcement to help them focus on their goals. We want to empower and encourage our patients.”

Part of the therapy has Vibra working with families so that everyone feels comfortable that the patient can return successfully to their home. They expect that their patient will leave the hospital healthy and independent.

“We’re a professional family,” Berthil says. “There’s a good rapport amongst the workers and we share the common goal to get people healthy. There’s a high degree of collaboration between the doctors, the patient and the family – we want the patient to feel like a human being.”

Pam Gouveia, Vibra’s Rehabilitation Director, points out the greatest benefit that she and her co-workers receive from their work.

“Seeing the outcomes of the people who have successfully met their goals, is what keeps us going.”

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PRIME SEASON

Caring about

calories Brian J. Lowney

The latest dietary guidelines issued jointly by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the United States Department of Agriculture urge consumers to develop healthy eating patterns that account for all foods and beverages within an appropriate calorie level.

The new guidelines focus on the interconnected dietary relationship that food groups have with each other and the need for consumers to plan and enjoy meals that feature a variety of healthy foods selected from all five food groups.

According to Marin Woods, registered dietitian and Clinical Nutrition Manager at St. Anne’s Hospital in Fall River, the most recent dietary guidelines don’t limit consumption from certain food groups, but rather encourage individuals to eat a variety of foods in moderation and to limit saturated fats, trans fats, added sugars, and sodium.

“Moderation and variety is always my message,” says Woods.

For example, the guidelines suggest that a healthy eating pattern include a variety of vegetables from all subgroups: dark green, red, and orange; legumes (beans and peas) and starches; fruits, especially

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whole fruits, such as apples, oranges and pears; grains, of which at least half are whole grains; fat-free or low-fat dairy products, including milk, yogurt, cheese, and/or fortified soy beverages; oils, such as olive oil; and a variety of protein foods,

‘Moderation and variety is always my message’ including seafood, lean cuts of meat and chicken, eggs, legumes, nuts, seeds, and soy products.

Woods emphasizes that to achieve healthy eating patterns within calorie limits, which can be established by a phy-

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sician or registered dietitian, individuals are urged to consume less than 10 percent of calories per day from added sugar, consume less than 10 percent of calories from saturated fats, and consume less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day.

“The biggest thing is ‘added sugar,’” Woods continues, noting that previous dietary guidelines never addressed this seldom-discussed topic.

Woods notes that “added sugar” can be found in carbonated beverages, salad dressings, condiments such as ketchup and barbeque sauce, tomato sauce, crackers, bread, and other foods.

The dietitian urges consumers to read labels, and to be aware of these hidden sugars that are used to enhance flavor and can quickly add calories to an individual’s daily caloric count.

R aise a glass, mug, or cup For adults who consume alcohol, the guidelines recommend that it be done in moderation – up to one drink for women per day and no more than two drinks for men. The drink equivalent for one alcoholic drink is 12 fluid ounces of beer; 5 fluid ounces of wine and 1.5 fluid ounces of 80 proof distilled spirits.

Woods shares that the new guidelines bear some good news for those who can’t

Tortilla Soup with Grilled Chicken

NEW ENGLAND TAX SERVICE

1 teaspoon salt free, all purpose seasoning blend 1 teaspoon chili powder 1 teaspoon onion powder 1 teaspoon olive oil ½ teaspoon ground cumin ¼ teaspoon dried oregano ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ cup shredded, low-fat cheddar cheese

Ingredients: Cooking spray 2 6-inch corn tortillas, cut in strips 2 cups fat-free, low-sodium chicken broth 2 cups water 8 oz. canned, no salt added tomato sauce 6 oz. cubed, grilled skinless chicken breast, cooked without salt 1 small yellow summer squash (about 4 ounces) 1 small zucchini (about 4 ounces) ½ cup frozen whole-kernel corn

live without a cup of Java.

“Moderate coffee consumption – three to five ounce cups per day can be incorporated into healthy eating patterns,” Woods says, adding this amount of this amount of coffee will provide a person with up to 400 milligrams of caffeine.

The guidelines stipulate that their recommendation is based on strong and consistent evidence that shows that in healthy adults, moderate coffee consumption is not associated with an increased risk of major chronic diseases, such as cancer, or premature death.

However, the recommendations do warn coffee drinkers that whole milk, cream, flavored creamers, and sugar should be limited or substituted with skim or lowfat milk in an effort to reduce calories.

Woods suggests that the new guidelines urge consumers to “make better, healthier choices” and to incrementally make small substitutions as they shift to a program of healthier eating. These small shifts can include eating smaller portions, consuming more fresh fruits and vegetables, and cutting back on sugar and calorie-laden

Directions: Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.

Arrange the tortilla strips in a single layer on the baking sheet and lightly spray with cooking spray. Bake for 10 minutes, or until crisp.

Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, bring the remaining ingredients (except the cheddar) to a simmer over mediumhigh heat. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for about 15 minutes. Ladle into bowls. Just before serving, garnish with the tortilla strips and shredded cheddar.

Each serving contains 168 calories and 288 mg. sodium Adapted from the American Heart Association. desserts and snacks.

“They have no value to our body,” she says. For individuals who must snack, Woods suggests a serving of yogurt, some carrot and celery sticks, a piece of fresh fruit, or a smoothie made with yogurt, blueberries, and low-fat milk.

Woods also recommends that parents and grandparents introduce children to healthy eating at an early age to help prevent diet-related chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes from developing in the future.

The dietitian says that one of the best pieces of advice she can offer is “to avoid going to the supermarket when you are hungry” and to stick to a shopping list.

“Shop at farmers and winter markets,” she notes, adding that more of these facilities are now open year-round to meet the public’s demand for quality, wholesome food.

B rian J. L owney is a freelance writer based in Swansea. He is the author of “Unconditional Love: Pet Tales to Warm the Heart”, which is available in local bookstores.

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Our parents’ taxes This tax season brought a record number of clients burdened with the added responsibility of dealing with their aging parent’s tax situation.

For most people dealing with aging parents, it’s a difficult task added onto the already long list doctor visits, housing issues, and legal matters. Unfortunately, the tax situation often gets pushed off until early April and what ensues is a mad scramble to collect the documents necessary for the filing. In many cases, extensions become necessary when documents aren’t available or easily accessible to someone other than the taxpayer.

My most challenging case this year involved an attorney dealing with her mother’s tax filings. At filing time we identified two missing retirement forms and we spent weeks attempting to obtain these missing forms. One institution would not provide the form needed without a stamped power-of-attorney which my client would not release since there was only one stamped original. We were forced to file the return without the form and relied on the previous year’s form to obtain what was hopefully the correct amounts.

As a result experiences such as these, I have compiled a list of things that you can do to make the process a little less painful, whether you are working on your own taxes or assuming the responsibility for your parents’ tax filings.

Sherri MahoneyBattles

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➤ Start early - Consult with your tax preparer as soon as you know that you will be the person responsible for facilitating your parent’s tax preparation. A review of your parent’s previous tax returns will allow your tax preparer to assemble a checklist of documents necessary for the coming year’s tax preparation and identify what returns will need to be filed. ➤ Complete change of address

forms – If your parent(s) have moved in with you or into a nursing home, pick a designated mailing address for all important documents and notify all brokerages, financial institutions, and tax agencies of the address change.

➤ Complete a durable Powerof-Attorney – Consult with an estate attorney so that you can have a power-of-attorney on hand in the event your parent(s) are no longer able to sign their own documents. Prepare multiple stamped copies since some institutions will only recognize a stamped copy, and you will not want to mail them the only original.

➤ Consolidate funds – Many of older people have dividends and investments with many institutions. It’s not uncommon for some people to receive over thirty different dividend income statements each year. This creates a prob-

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lem when you’re waiting for all of these tax statements to come in each year, and the likelihood of missing forms increases.

When possible, consolidate these funds under one or two select brokerages. It will make the document collection much easier and streamlined.

➤ Collaborate – Assemble a team of professionals to assist with your parent’s financial situation. This team may consist of an estate attorney, tax preparer, broker, and other professionals. These professionals should work together as a team in order to minimize the stress on both yourself and your parents.

➤ Don’t file too early – Many financial institutions run late with their forms or issue amended forms that pose problems for people that file too early in the season. Some early filers find themselves amending returns to correct for late or corrected forms. You can avoid most of these problems if you wait until after February 15th to file your returns. ➤ Schedule your tax appoint-

ment early – An early appointment with the tax professional responsible for your parent’s filing is essential in the event there are forms missing, since it may take some time to obtain the missing forms. This appointment will allow the preparer to start inputting data and pinpoint inconsistencies with the previous year’s filing.

➤ Prepare a list of questions – As the person responsible for preparing your parents tax returns, it’s your responsibil-

ity to ask questions. Could your parents be missing out on a medical deduction? Should they be making estimated payments? Are they having enough tax withheld from retirement distributions?

Are there capital losses being carried forward that could be used to offset some potential future gains? Will payments to a nursing home be tax deductible? Many older people miss out on tax deductions or tax savings opportunities because no one asks these questions.

Experience Exceptional Assisted Living Along the Cape Cod Canal

➤ Plan ahead – An essential component of any successful tax preparation culminates in a map for future years. A solid tax plan will identify investments that should be sold and distributions that need to be taken. One of the most problematic issues faced by older taxpayers is stock sales. When a stock is sold, gain is calculated based on the cost bases versus the selling price of the stock. In some cases, it is necessary to research the cost basis of a stock, particularly those a taxpayer has owned for many years. If you identify the cost basis of the various stocks in a portfolio before they are sold, you can prepare for the resulting gains or losses. As medical expenses increase or nursing home costs are incurred, there may be additional record keeping that needs to be done in order to secure a tax deduction. Proper tax planning is an essential piece of managing your parent’s tax situation and it will make the tax filing burden easier to grapple with in future years.

Above all, it’s important to be patient and sensitive when dealing with these issues. Many of my older clients get frustrated at the loss of control they have over their financial situation and many begin to feel increasingly overwhelmed by a computerized world that moves too quickly for them. As caretakers, we play an important role in assisting our aging parents through this phase in their lives, and we should be diligent about protecting their resources and compassionate as we help them to retain their dignity.

S herri M ahoney-Battles, Enrolled Agent, specializes in income tax preparation for small businesses and individuals and has been representing clients for over twentyfive years in cases of audit, collections, and appeals and does extensive work with non-filers.

Visit her website at www.taxingmatters.com, email Sherilyn@taxingmatters.com or call her at 508-636-9829.

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In brief…

Eliz abeth Morse Read

Happy Leap Year – spring is just around the corner! It may still be cold and dreary outside, but it’ll be jam-packed with family fun and festivities! There’s Valentine’s Day, Super Bowl Sunday, Mardi Gras, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter – and school vacation weeks!

And it’s the best time of year on the South Coast for indoor events – concerts, plays, hockey games, and TV bingeing.

Don’t forget to vote in the Massachusetts’ “Super Tuesday” primary election on March 1 (RI votes on April 26) or to set your clocks an hour forward on March 13!

Regional Notes

Bizz buzz

Mayor Jon Mitchell is pitching New Bedford as a new location for the NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center should the Woods Hole-based facility decide to relocate instead of renovate or rebuild.

The Sam’s Clubs in Fall River, Seekonk and Warwick RI have been shut down, three of the four Sam’s Clubs nationwide being closed by parent company WalMart.

The Whaling Museum and the City of New Bedford have entered into a permanent cultural partnership with the government of Cape Verde.

The Hawthorne Country Club in Dartmouth has closed.

UMass Dartmouth has finally been recognized as a “national doctoral research university” by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Learning.

The federal government has officially designated Mashpee Wampanoag lands as a tribal reservation, clearing the way for construction of a resort casino in Taunton. Stay tuned…

Westport Rivers Vineyard and Winery is celebrating its 30th year. Raise a glass!

Uh oh… once again the future of South Coast Rail may be in jeopardy, due to the fact that the state budget is on a collision course with its debt ceiling.

Rhode Island lawmakers have proposed a sales-tax holiday on August 6-7 of this year, a week before the scheduled salestax weekend in Massachusetts.

Freight ferry service between New Bedford and Martha’s Vineyard may become a reality soon.

General Electric will be moving its corporate headquarters from Connecticut to Boston this summer – the ripple effect of that will inevitably impact the South Coast.

Also in December, a juvenile humpback whale frolicked along the South Coast, with sightings in New Bedford, Marion, Narragansett Bay, and Padanaram.

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The Greater New Bedford Health Center will be adding a second story to its downtown location.

Livestock farmers on the South Coast will no longer have to drive to New York – a state-of-the-art slaughterhouse operated by the Southeastern Massachusetts Livestock Association is being built in Westport.

The GAP and the Hallmark Store at the Dartmouth Mall have closed their doors.

Round 1 Entertainment, a multi-faceted entertainment complex, is now open at the Galleria Mall in Taunton, offering bowling, arcade games, pool/ping pong, karaoke, darts, and a snack bar serving beer and wine.

After almost 40 years, Carmen’s Bakery in the south end of New Bedford has closed its doors.

Electricity rates in Taunton should be slightly lower this year.

The Rochester branch of Rockland Trust Bank has closed.

Cannatech Medicinal Inc. of Attleboro wants to buy land in the SouthCoast Life Science and Technology Park in Fall River in order to grow medical-grade marijuana and open a dispensary.

The Freetown Planning Board unanimously approved AmeriCann’s plan to build a medical marijuana growing and processing facility off Route 24.

A developer specializing in hotels and indoor water parks is looking at property next to the Bourne Rotary.

The site of bankrupt Reed and Barton in Taunton has been sold to property developer Acuity Management Inc. The chronically overcrowded Registry of Motor Vehicles in downtown New Bedford is looking for a new and larger location, preferably still in the downtown area.

A new HomeGoods store will open at the Wareham Crossing shopping center this spring.

At long last, the new Acushnet town library is open in the former Marie S. Howard school building.

On the road again

AHA! Fall River is hosting a fundraising trip to Italy April 24-May 2 that highlights the art, history and architecture (AHA!) of northern Italy. For more info, go to www.ahafallriver.com or a.amaral@italianwineservices.com.

The Dartmouth Friends of the Elderly will host a multi-day trip to the Colorado Rockies July 23-31, and another to Central and Eastern Europe from September 18 to October 1. For more info, call 508-636-6453.

If you’re 50 or older, check out the trips sponsored by the New Bedford Senior

Don’t let joint pain slow you down.

Join Southcoast Health Orthopedic Surgeon Michael Langworthy, MD for a free seminar to learn about arthritis, hip and knee pain and other orthopedic conditions. Learn about non-surgical and surgical options.

Wednesday, March 2 at 6 p.m.

Call to register for this free seminar: 508-973-1101 Southcoast Orthopedic Surgery 300A Faunce Corner Road North Dartmouth

southcoast.org/ortho

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Continued from previous page

Cormac McCarthy

Willie J. L aws Band

Listen to the music

Mark your calendar for the monthly Paskamansett Concert Series at the Dartmouth Grange Hall in Russells Mills. See Mike Couto, Lisa Couto and Ray Cooke on March 12. For more info, visit www. paskamansettconcertseries.weebly.com or call 401-241-3793.

The Narrows Center for the Arts has a fabulous line-up – there’s Leo Kottke March 12, Pousette Dart Band March 26, John Mayall March 27, and Aztec Two-Step April 9! For a complete schedule, visit www.narrowscenter.com or call 508-324-1926.

If you’re a fan of Americana and roots music, check out the Salon Concerts at Travel Program. There’s a St. Patrick’s Day Celebration at the Aqua Turf Restaurant in Connecticut on March 16, a Dolly Parton/Kenny Rogers tribute at Foxwoods March 21, and “Jersey Boys” at the PPAC on April 30. There will be a multi-day day trip to Montreal and Niagara Falls May 15-20. For details, call 508-991-6171.

The Fall River Marine Museum is sponsoring a “Treasures of Italy Tour” September 17- 23. To learn more, go to www.marinemuseumfr.org or call 508674-3533.

Book Lovers! Head for New Bedford’s first Book Festival March 5-6 at Groundwork! on Purchase Street. Meet local authors, publishers and fellow book-worms. For more info, www.newbedfordnow.com.

Climate changers

The avalanche of brutal winter weather and record-high oil prices that started 2015 ended with record-high tempera-

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Pousette-Dart Band

the Wamsutta Club in New Bedford.

There’s Cormac McCarthy March 5, Jim McGrath & the Boatmen March 17-20, Flynn Cohen April 2 – and more! For more, go to www.wamsuttaconcerts.com.

Get back to your musical roots at Common Fence Music in Portsmouth! There’s David Wilcox at Channing Church March 5, Mo Kenney March 19, John Gorka April 16. For more info, call 401-683-5085 or visit www.commonfencemusic.org.

Head for the Sandywoods Center for the Arts in Tiverton. There’s Gary Fish & Friends on February 20, Willie J. Laws Band February 26, Fellswater March 19, Joann and Nothing But Country March tures on Christmas Day, record-low oil prices, with our first dusting of snow just before New Year’s Day. At UMass Dartmouth’s GAEA climate change summit in December, projections showed that access to Wareham’s Tobey Hospital was vulnerable to flooding caused by rising sea levels and storm surge.

According to NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), the waters off Cape Cod are warming up twice as fast as previous computer models predicted. Rising water temperatures have a profound impact on weather patterns, marine life, and commercial fishing.

All the world’s a stage

“America’s Got Talent” star Samantha Johnson will play Betty Rizzo in this summer’s Festival Theatre production of “Grease,” July 22-31 at the Zeiterion in New Bedford. For more info and tickets, go to www.nbfestivaltheatre.org or

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One Night with Queen

25, Forever Young April 1 – and lots more! For a complete schedule, go to www.sandywoodsmusic.com or call 401-241-7349.

It’s all happenin’ at the Z in New Bedford! Don’t miss the NBSO performing Britten, Schumann and Mussorgsky on February 20, A Night with Janis Joplin February 26! Plan ahead for the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus on March 6, the Bohemian Quartet March 10, a St. Patrick’s Day Celtic Sojourn March 18, Experience Hendrix March 24, One Night with Queen April 5, the NBSO performing Poulenc, Ravel and Tchaikovsky April 9, and Doo Wop 12 on April 16! Go to www.zeiterion.org or call 508-999-6276. www.zeiterion.org or call 508-994-2000.

Curtain time! Mark your calendar to see “Almost, Maine” March 10-20 performed by Your Theatre in New Bedford.

For info, go to www.yourtheatre.org or call 508-993-0772.

Plan ahead! Fall River’s Little Theatre will perform “Broadway Bound” March 17-20. For details, call 508-675-1852 or go to www.littletheatre.net.

“Radio T.B.S. (Trailer Park Broadcasting Scandals)” will be performed by the Attleboro Community Theatre on February 19-21 & 26-28 and March 4-6. For details, call 508-226-8100 or go to www.attleborocommunitytheatre.com.

Catch “Murder Ballad” April 9-13 performed by The Wilbury Theatre Group in Providence. For info, call 401-400-7100 or visit www.thewilburygroup.org.

Check out what’s playing at 2nd Story Theatre in Warren! “Hysteria” will be performed through February 14. “Speed-

the-Plow” will be performed March 11-April 3. Call 401-247-4200 or go to www.2ndstorytheatre.com.

“The Hunchback of Seville” will be performed at Trinity Rep in Providence through March 6. “To Kill a Mockingbird” will be performed March 3-April 3, along with “Blues for Mister Charlie” on March 18 & 27 and April 1. For more info, go to www.trinityrep.com or call 401-351-4242.

Find out what’s on stage at the Providence Performing Arts Center! There’s “Pippin” February 16-21, the multi-media concert “Star Trek: The Ultimate Voyage” on February 14, “The Sound of Music” March 9-13, “Sesame Street Live!” April 1-3, “Ragtime” April 8-10. Call 401-4212787 or go to www.ppacri.org.

Plan a dinner theatre night out at the Newport Playhouse! “The Foursome” will play February 18-March 24. For more information, call 401-848-7529 or go to www.newportplayhouse.com.

When the kids are home

Don’t miss the Easter Egg Hunt on March 26 at Livesey Park in north Fairhaven! For more info, go to www.fairhaventours.com.

Take the little ones on Dino Land or Thomas the Tank Engine train rides at Edaville Railroad in Carver! For more info, visit www.edaville.com or call 508866-8190.

Get the kids out of the house and onto the ice! Take them skating at the Driscoll Arena on Elsbree Street in Fall River. For hours and info, call 508-679-3274 or visit www.fmcicesports.com.

Take the kids to Mass Audubon’s Oak Knoll Wildlife Sanctuary and Nature Center in Attleboro! For more info, call 508223-3060 or visit www.massaudubon.org.

Explore the Children’s Museum in Providence! Go to www.childrenmuseum.org or call 401-273-5437. Then find out what’s happening at the Roger Williams Park Zoo! Don’t miss half-price admission during Winter Wonder Days through February 28. For more info, go to www.rwpzoo.org or call 401-785-3510.

Check out what’s going on at the Children’s Museum of Greater Fall River. For more info, go to www.cmgfr.org or call 508-672-0033. Or the Children’s Museum in Easton! For info, call 508-230-3789 or visit www.childrensmuseumineaston.org.

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Continued from previous page

Fun for the whole family

Head for the Newport Skating Center!

For more info, call 1-888-900-8640 x 709, or visit www.skatenewport.com or www.newportwaterfrontevents.com.

Don’t miss the St. Patrick’s Day parade March 12 in Newport! For info, go to www.newportirish.com.

Enjoy FREE family fun and entertainment on AHA! Nights in New Bedford.

The March 10 theme is “All Sewn Up,” and the April 14 theme is “Sustainable Southcoast.” For more details, go to www.ahanewbedford.org or call 508-996-8253.

To celebrate the centennial of the National Park Service, the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park will offer free admission on April 16-24, August 25-28, September 24 and November 11 this year. For more info, go to www.nps.gov/nebe.

AHA! Fall River starts the season with “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” on February 14.

For details, go to www.ahafallriver.com or call 508-294-5344.

Classical acts

Concerts at the Point in Westport will present the Adaskin String Trio on February 21, and the Dover String Quartet March 13. Plan ahead for Emil Altschuler with Thomas Pandolfi April 24. For more info, call 508-636-0698 or visit www.concertsatthepoint.org.

Don’t miss the stunning performances at Rhode Island College – Lauren Fox will sing on March 23, and The Muir String Quartet will perform on April 4.

For info and tickets, call 401-456-8144 or visit www.ric.edu/pfa.

Don’t miss the “Elegance and Opulence” Winter Music Series, performed by Opera Providence, on March 13 at Blithewold Mansion in Bristol. For details, call 401-331-6060, visit www.blithewold.org or www.operaprovidence.org.

Enjoy the centennial season of the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra at the Zeiterion in New Bedford! The NBSO will perform Britten, Schumann, and Mussorgsky on February 20 and Poulenc, Ravel, and Tchaikovsky April 9. For more info, call 508-999-6276 or visit www.nbsymphony.org.

Mark your calendar! The Sippican Choral Society will be performing its Frenchthemed spring concert in Marion on April

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30. For more info, call 508-763-2327 or visit www.sippicanchoralsociety.org.

Time travel

Explore New Bedford’s evolution from a whaling port to an industrial giant at the exhibit “Energy and Enterprise: Industry and the City of New Bedford” at the Whaling Museum. For more info, visit www.whalingmuseum.org or call 508997-0046. While you’re there, visit the whaling-era mansion and grounds at the Rotch-Jones-Duff House in New Bedford.

For more info, call 508-997-1401 or visit www.rjdmuseum.org.

Spend a Sunday afternoon exploring the colonial-era Lafayette-Durfee House in Fall River! Call 508-873-8230 or go to www.lafayettedurfeehouse.org.

Explore 18th- and 19th-century life at the Handy House in Westport. For more info, visit www.wpthistory.org or call 508-636-6011.

Japanophiles! If you’re interested in the history of Japan-America ties, plan a visit the Whitfield-Manjiro Friendship House in Fairhaven, where it all began. Go to www.wmfriendshiphouse.org or call 508995-1219 for details.

Learn about life in the 18th century – take the family to the Coggeshall Farm Museum in Bristol for “Home and Hearth” workshops! For details, visit www.coggeshallfarm.org or call 401-253-9062.

Head for Battleship Cove in Fall River!

Call 508-678-1100 for info or visit www.battleshipcove.org.

Check out the largest collection of Titanic memorabilia in the US, including the one-ton model used in the 1953 movie, at the Fall River Marine Museum in Battleship Cove. For more info, visit www.marinemuseumfr.org or call 508674-3533.

Food, feasts and festivals The indoors winter farmers market at Plimouth Plantation will be open on the second Thursday of the month through May. For more info, visit www.plymouthfarmersmarket.org.

The Winter Farmer’s Market has returned to the ORR Junior High School gymnasium in Mattapoisett, and will be open on the second and fourth Saturday of every month through April.

Happy Days! Sonic Drive-In will open in March in the former Wendy’s Restau-

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rant on GAR Highway in Somerset.

The great outdoors

The new Harbor Walk, a ¾ mile pedestrian/bike path atop the hurricane dike in New Bedford’s south end, has officially opened to the public.

Take a family walk through the Norman Bird Sanctuary in Middletown! EcoTours for all ages. For info, visit www.normanbirdsanctuary.org or call 401-846-2577.

Explore the trails, wildlife and scenery of the Mattapoisett River Reserve – leashed dogs welcome. Hike, fish, picnic, bird-watch and it’s a great place for cross-country skiing! For more info, go to www.savebuzzardsbay.org.

Take a stroll through the newlyrestored Acushnet Sawmills public park and herring weir in the north end of New Bedford! Canoe/kayak launch, fishing, trails. For more info, visit www.savebuzzardsbay.org.

Wander through the urban greenspace of the Allen C. Haskell Public Gardens in New Bedford’s North End – learn more at www.thetrustees.org or call 508-636-4693. Or take a winter walk through the city’s Buttonwood Park and Zoo! For info, call 508-991-6178 or visit www.bpzoo.org.

The Westport Land Conservation Trust is looking for volunteers for the “Tuesday Trail Team.” To learn more, contact pam@westportlandtrust.org or call 508-636-9228.

If you’re near Newport, stroll through Ballard Park! For more info, go to www.ballardpark.org. Or go on a Seal Watch/Nature Cruise in Newport Harbor – the one-hour tours leave from Long Wharf through April. For details, call 401-324-6060 or visit www.savebay.org.

Stroll through the Blithewold Mansion and Gardens in Bristol! Daffodil Days will start March 31. For info, go to www.blithewold.org or call 401-253-2707.

Paskamansett Woods, the newest nature reserve operated by the Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust, is now open to the public. For more info, go to www.dnrt.org.

Explore the Lloyd Center for the Environment in Dartmouth! Try your hand at canoeing or kayaking! For details and dates, call 508-990-0505 or visit www.lloydcenter.org.

ADVERTISEMENT

Why a will

W

hat happens to my property if I die without a will?

In large part, what happens depends on how the property was owned before death.

If you own property jointly with another person or you have put a designated beneficiary on your property, then that property becomes the property of the joint owner or the beneficiary upon your death.

Here are some examples: If you and your husband own your home as joint tenants with the right of survivorship, then when one of you dies the property automatically becomes the property of the surviving spouse.

If you have an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) and you have listed your children as the beneficiary of that account, then when you die, the property automatically becomes the children’s property.

However, if you own property by yourself and there is no beneficiary designation on the property then the property must go through the probate process in order to transfer that property to your heirs. In a Last Will and Testament, you designate who receives your property after your death.

The probate court then oversees the process of transferring the property from you to the person your will said should receive the property after your death. If you don’t have a will, then the State has a law that lists who receives your property after your death.

The people designated by law to receive your property may not be the people you wanted to receive your property. For instance, if you are married and either one of you have living children from a prior relationship, then the property will not go entirely to the surviving spouse. The children of the decedent will also inherit a portion of the property.

If you want to ensure that your property goes to the right person, then you should have a will.

This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

M ichelle D. B eneski is an Attorney at Surprenant & Beneski, P.C. For specific questions email mdb@nbelderlaw.com or call 508-994-5200.

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GOOD TIMES

Fully loaded Jan. 26, 2016

a study by two New York cardiologists in 2013, the United States has more guns and gun deaths than any other developed country in the world. The U.S. has 88 guns per 100 people and 10 gun-related deaths per 100,000 people, more than any of the other 27 developed countries they studied. Japan has .6 guns per 100 people and .06 gunrelated deaths per 100,000, making it the country with fewest guns and gun deaths.

Fact

Jan. 17, 2016

Of the 143 guns possessed by killers in mass murders from 1982-2012, more than three quarters were obtained legally, according to a story in Mother Jones magazine. The arsenal included dozens of assault weapons and semi-automatic handguns with high-capacity magazines.

Just as a murderer used a .40-caliber Glock to slaughter students in Red Lake, Minn. in 2005, so did the one in Aurora, Colo., in 2013, killing his victims in a dark movie theater. In Newtown, Conn., a .223 Bushmaster semi-automatic assault rifle killed 20 young students and six staffers.

According to a USA Today story in 2013, mass killers target Americans once every two weeks. Its survey used FBI data from 2006-2012 and identified 156 murders that met the FBI definition of mass killings where four or more died. All told, the attacks killed 774 people, including 161 children.

In 1791, when the 2nd Amendment was ratified to say “a well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed,” the musket could fire two or three shots per minute.

In 2016, the AR-15 automatic weapon can fire more than 700 rounds per minute.

NRA President David Keene called the AR-15 “the musket of today” and that is should not be on any list of banned assault weapons.

Jan. 11, 2016

Dec. 1, 2015

In Wilmington, Delaware, one is killed and four wounded in a mass shooting.

In San Bernardino, California, 35 are killed and 21 wounded in a mass shooting.

Jan. 25, 2016

Jan. 8, 2016

At the Nayarit Mexican Restaurant in Perris, California, one person is killed and four wounded in a mass shooting.

In Chicago, one is killed and four wounded in a mass shooting.

Fact

After 35 people were killed and 23 wounded in the Port Arthur massacre in Australia, the government instituted a gun buyback program six months later and rounded up and destroyed nearly 1 million firearms. Since then, the risk of dying by gun in Australia was reduced by 50 percent, and gun-related suicides were reduced by almost 80 percent.

I wake up, go downstairs for coffee. The “Today” show is on.

Reporter Jeff Rossen is doing a segment on the Guardian Active Paul K andarian Shooter Detection System. In it, he plays an office worker in a cubicle. A weapons expert playing a gunman enters the building and fires blanks.

The detection system is activated from the sound and muzzle flash, alerting workers throughout the building via computer and text as to where the shooter is, enabling them to gauge their best escape route. The police are also instantly alerted.

Jan. 26, 2016 Two are killed and three injured in a shooting in Seattle

Fact

According to a New York Times story in 2014, it turns out that “big, scary military rifles don’t kill the vast majority of the 11,000 Americans murdered with guns each year. Little handguns do.”

Jan. 23, 2016 At the Three Star Liquor Market in Los Angeles, two are killed and two wounded in a mass shooting.

Fact According to an ABC News story citing

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In Ware Neck, Virginia, one is killed and three wounded in a mass shooting.

Fact

Fact In the U.S., according to a Harvard University study, suicides outnumber homicides by almost two to one. The study showed that in states were guns where prevalent – as in Wyoming where 63 percent of households reported owning guns – rates of suicide where higher. Where gun ownership was less common, suicide rates were lower.

Fact

Jan. 7, 2016 In Memphis, one is killed and three wounded in a mass shooting

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According to the Centers for Disease Control, in 2013, there were 16,121 murders in the United States, more than 11,000 by guns.

Jan. 6, 2016 In Lakeland, Florida, three are killed and one wounded in a mass shooting

Fact

Jan. 26, 2016 I watch the David Rossen piece on the “Today” show which shows real footage of gunmen that he calls “workplace shooters caught on camera,” and outlines the Guardian Active Shooter Detection System, saying the system can pinpoint the shooter’s location within seconds. He is practically giddy when the scenario plays out.

Ed Davis, Boston’s police commissioner during the Boston Marathon bombings, is quoted in the piece saying the system “is a game changer and it’s going to save lives.”

Fact According to Dictionary.com, the phrase “putting the cart before the horse” means “to do or place things in improper order; be illogical.”

Paul K andarian is a lifelong area resident and has been a professional writer since 1982, as columnist, contributor in national magazines, websites and other publications.

He can be reached at pkandarian@aol.com.

It’s not about buying a house, it’s about finding a home Our knowledgeable Mortgage Specialists are dedicated to each of our individual customers. We take the time to walk you through the entire purchase process, to answer questions and to provide sound advice.

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Mechanics-Coop.com

Our Mortgage and Home Loan Specialists (Pictured from left to right) Olga Andrade NMLS # 462149

S S

Diane Aguiar NMLS# 462148

Fadra Northrup NMLS# 462150

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Nos Falamos Portugues

S

Taunton ∙ Dighton ∙ Bridgewater ∙ Fall River ∙ Westport ∙ Swansea ∙ Somerset

MAR 20

THE ADVENTURES OF

SHERLOCK HOLMES IT BEGINS WITH A TICKET...

zeiterion.org

508-994-2900

Zeiterion Performing Arts Center

NEW BEDFORD

parking available adjacent garage

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by your side

No appointment?

No problem.

Coughs & colds? Slips & falls?

Back pain from shoveling snow?

Winter is a great time for visiting and outdoor activities. But minor injuries or sudden illnesses can quickly spoil your fun.

URGENT CARE/WALK-IN CENTERS Minor Injuries, Sprains & Strains Sore Throats, Cough, Flu & Earaches

No problem. Prima CARE has urgent care and walk-in services at four convenient locations in Fall River and surrounding towns.

Bites, Allergies & Rashes

Prima CARE is expert care. Each location is staffed by a primary physician and nurse practitioners or physician assistants. X-ray and lab services are on site, with the support of every Prima CARE specialty team at the ready.

Pre-employment Physicals

Sports & School Physicals

On-the-job (Workers’ Comp) Injuries Minor Surgical Procedures DOT Exams (except Fall River) On-site X-ray and Laboratory Services

For life’s unplanned surprises, trust Prima CARE.

Full Support of Prima CARE Specialists Cardiac, Vascular & Pulmonary GI, Neurology & Orthopedics Cardiac Testing Vascular Testing & Treatment

Urgent Care and Walk-in

Most major insurances accepted (except DOT exams)

www.prima-care.com

FALL RIVER URGENT CARE/WALK-IN

DARTMOUTH MEDICAL CENTER

SOMERSET/SWANSEA MEDICAL CENTER

MAIN ROAD FAMILY MEDICINE

289 Pleasant Street Fall River, MA 508-674-7779

39 Faunce Corner Road Dartmouth, MA 508-996-3311

67 GAR Highway Somerset, MA 508-678-5631

831 Main Road Westport, MA 508-636-0613

Mon–Fri 9 am – 5:30 pm Sat 9 am – 2 pm

Mon–Fri 7:45 am – 4:30 pm

Mon–Fri 9 am – 5 pm

Mon – Fri 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

Clifton

HEALTHCARE CAMPUS

WILBUR AVENUE, SOMERSET, MASSACHUSETTS

Need Short Term Rehab?

Tell your Healthcare Provider you PREFER Clifton…

And, Call Clifton…508-675-7589 for priority placement.

4 Physical & Occupational Therapy 4 Speech & Language Pathology 4 Aquatic Therapy 4 Stroke Rehab 4 Cardiac Conditions / Surgeries 4 Post-Surgical Care 4 Knee, Hip & Joint Replacements

4 Pain Management & Wound Care 4 Admissions 7 days a week 4 Medicare & Medicaid Certified 4 Contracted with leading insurers 4 Transitional Care 4 Ostomy Care, IV Therapy 4 State of the art rehab equipment

 Transitional Care

 Outpatient Rehab

 Short-Term Rehab

 Long-Term Care

 Assisted Living

 Hospice Care

You Have A Choice in Your Care…… .Call Clifton.