April17hl

Complimentary April 2017

Living the Good Life

Conover Nursing & Rehabilitation Center Truly a Healing Garden

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LIVI NG

from the publisher

Welcome to the April issue.

If you haven’t already done so, please visit our new website venture, Hickory Living Today at www. hickorylivingtoday.com, where you’ll find out about all things Hickory! We have an online community calendar, bi-monthly features, advertising opportunities, the current month’s issue of Hickory Living Magazine, and more! The new website is continuing to evolve, so check back often; it is dedicated to the greater Hickory area. Hickory Living Today, “Celebrating where you live, work, and play!”

This month would be a great time to spend visiting some of our local landmarks and treasures, such as the Hickory Museum of Art, the Shops on Union Square, Hickory Community Theatre, or any of the other numerous destinations in our county. Remember that Lake Hickory provides fishing and boating opportunities for the water sports enthusiast. Also, in April, Crawdads baseball starts another season and is a fun event for the whole family to enjoy!

Until next month, thank you for reading the April issue of Hickory Living Magazine!

Hickory

LIVING Living the Good Life

April 2017

Mailing Address - P.O. Box 57

Harmony, NC 28634

(704) 546-5511 E-mail - HickoryLiving@gmail.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Kristie Darling • Meredith Collins Kathy Wheeler • Lauren Davidson

COVER PHOTOGRAPHY Shane Greene Photography COVER STORY Conover Nursing and Rehabilitation Center Editorial Stock photography, unless otherwise noted, is from iStock.

Find Hickory Living Magazine on Facebook. http://twitter.com/HickoryLiving

Myron T. Gough Publisher, Hickory Living

WWW.HICKORYLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM • WWW.HICKORYLIVINGTODAY.COM Myron T. Gough Publisher/Founder

Kathy Wheeler Marketing & Design

Don Forrest Business Development

myronlivingmagazine@gmail.com (704) 546-5511

kathylivingmagazine@gmail.com (828) 238-3224

donlivingmagazine@gmail.com (828) 244-6538

Linda B. Wilson Advertising Sales

Bob Church Advertising Sales

Ryan Pegarsch Advertising Sales

lindalivingmagazine@gmail.com (704) 657-0237

Ashley Stevenson Digital Editor

conradchurch@gmail.com (336) 686-7271

ryanlivingmagazine@gmail.com (704) 307-3912

Hickory Living reserves the right to deny any advertisement or listing. Submissions are welcome, but unsolicited materials are not guaranteed to be returned. Hickory Living assumes no responsibility or liability for the information, services, products, claims, statements, accuracy, or

ashley@highprofilemarketing.today intended or unintended results of any advertiser, editorial contributors, company, professional corporation, business or service provider herein this publication. All rights reserved. Reproduction (704) 902-5418

in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher is prohibited.

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content

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April 2017

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• Conover Nursing &

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• Southeast Pain & Spine Care

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• What's Cooking?!

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• Planning The Perfect Party

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• Financially Speaking

Rehabilitation Center Truly A Healing Garden

Pain Management Solved

Easter Brunch

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entertaining | food | local business 6

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Financially Speaking

By Kathy Wheeler

©iStockphoto.com | Dutko

Don’t you wish taxes were a part of April Fools Day?! I’m a self-employed, creative person who hates having to keep track of all those tax deductions. I never get a refund, always have to pay, and really don’t like having to go through my purses to collect my receipts. That last statement gives you an idea of my filing system! Ugh! I’ll probably get tons of calls from accountants offering their services. It’s something I should really consider. I’m now on a mad dash to finish my taxes before the filing deadline of April 18th!

While preparing your tax returns, April is a perfect month to look at your finances. Can you save on items you normally purchase and funnel the extra cash into a savings account? Are you making the maximum contributions to tax-free and tax-deferred accounts to reduce your taxes? Contributions made to IRA, SEP IRA, or 401K plans can help reduce taxes for the current year by deferring taxes to the year when withdraw8

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als are made, unless it is a ROTH IRA. For example, a self-employed person can contribute up to 25% of their net income into a SEP IRA, but no more than $53,000 in 2016. If you have a qualified health insurance policy, a Healthcare Savings Account (HSA) is free from taxes and some HSAs offer investment options after you reach a certain balance. Also, if you have been delaying a major business purchase, maybe 2017 is the year to make that purchase in order to reduce the amount of taxes you pay.

A professional accountant can help you with your plans.

Homeowners and auto insurance are something everyone has to have and could be a potential way to cut costs.

However it is tricky. It is my experience that with some insurance companies you can’t really make an informed decision depending on how long the underwriting process takes. I recently shopped around and found it to be an eye opening experience. I received

quotes from several companies and decided on one that would give me a cheaper rate for the same coverage.

Based on the quote I received, I agreed to switch my insurance. However, more than a month later the premiums came back considerably higher! I had already canceled my previous insurance and paid the first month’s premium. LexisNexis is the company that provided information to the underwriters for the policy I applied for. That information included credit accounts that went back over eight years, insurance claims, driving records and information on my adult children. Things like opening new credit accounts and driving records of anyone in your household can potentially make your premiums considerably higher than the quote.

Whatever your financial goals are for this year, it puts things in perspective when you start going through all of your spending for the previous year. I guess every cloud has a silver lining.

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cover story

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Conover Nursing & Rehabilitation Center Truly a Healing Garden

By Kristie Darling | Photos by Shane Greene Photography

Dave Lingafelt has a longstanding, unique relationship with Conover Nursing & Rehabilitation Center—staff, providers, and residents alike. “I was blessed to go most everyday over the past ten years to visit and care for my mom and my mother-in-law,” he shared. “The people there are truly what makes Conover special. I saw genuine affection for my family, and I know everyone sees their work as so much more than just a job.” Dave’s sentiments are common among those whose loved ones call Conover Nursing & Rehabilitation Center home. As a family-owned (fourth generation) and family-friendly nursing facility, the Center takes pride in fine-tuning their services and maintaining excellent quality of care to meet the needs of those needing short-term healing or long-term, residential assistance. My visit to Conover assured me that Mr. Lingafelt’s assessment is heartfelt and spot-on.

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Dave was quick to comment on the facility’s consistent improvement over those 10 years. “Josh Sherrill is a family man—a local owner—and that makes the difference. He continuously reinvests in his Center and selects his staff with diligence and personal attention,” Dave said. “He does this because he wants to make this a good place for patients and their families. I’m always amazed at Josh’s dedication and high regard for the people and the place. He instills these values in his staff, too.”

A HEALING GARDEN Close your eyes. What comes to mind when “nursing home” is mentioned?

Your imagination can take you from possibly unpleasant, to okay, to just fine.

Now, close your eyes again. Can you hear the soft ripple of gentle waterfalls?

Birds chirping at their feeders? Smell the roses? Is the breeze comforting, your rocking chair relaxing? The newly created healing garden at Conover welcomes residents and families into this peaceful environment every day. “Josh and I worked on this concept together.

We understand how soothing a medita-

tive water feature can be for folks,” Todd Roper explained. “Our courtyard has never been so popular as it is now. It’s a place families love to bring their parents or loved ones for an iced tea, some conversation, or just a comfortable family get together. It’s our one-of-a-kind outdoor oasis that everyone can enjoy.”

Todd Roper is a talented administrator who thinks outside the box. Todd has served as Conover Nursing & Rehabilitation Center’s administrator for ten years, and the improvements and noteworthy enhancements that he’s put in place speak volumes to his commitment and creativity when it comes to ensuring quality of life for the people he serves. For several years, Todd has applied for grants from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (partnering with the NC Coalition for Long Term Care Enhancement), and he has been successful in securing funding for several projects. The healing garden with its pond-less waterfall is the most recent. It’s likely to become the most popular.

It’s easy to describe the healing garden, if you, once again, close your eyes. Green and inviting, the garden and waterfalls are set just beyond the pergola, along the far side of the patio’s seating area.

Ringed with a stone boundary and spotlighted each evening with full-spectrum lights, the three falls gracefully spill from a slight rise, around small boulders, among miniature evergreens and flowering shrubs. It is beautiful. “We’ll use this space for activities, gatherings, concerts, and meals throughout the year,” Nicole Roper, rehabilitation director of ten years, explained. “Tables with chairs, gliders, and comfy rockers will mingle with wheel chairs so that everyone can pull up close to enjoy the sounds of falling water.”

KEEPING BUSY, EATING WELL A first activity for residents will be flower education—learning which plants surround the falls. You’ll find purple ice plants, golden barberry, loropetalum, and rose bushes soon to bloom, along with golden cypress, hinokis, sky pencils, and hollies. Year-round the garden will be delightful. Center activities

Photos:

On the cover, left to right Front row–Dana Withrow, director of nursing; Nicole Roper, rehab director; Jennifer Dyson, director of admissions Back row–Todd Roper, administrator Opposite page–The Conover Nursing and Rehabilitation staff in the healing garden Right–Conover Nursing and Rehabilitation Center resident Diane Watts and Teresa Tester, RN, sharing a quiet moment by the waterfall.

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can move outdoors, perhaps the many concerts that Todd and his trio present, entertainment by popular invited performers, or sing-a-longs, afternoon socials, birthday celebrations, and worship. Gathering for music is big at Conover, whether around the dining hall’s grand piano and warm stone fireplace, in the sun-filled entry, with its own wall-mounted waterfall, or outdoors.

Just like in our homes, daily life can center around mealtime at Conover. Natalie Auton has been dietary manager for ten years. She creates family-style meals that suit all manner of tastes and special needs.

Her meals are also popular with visiting family and friends. “We have guests who eat here all the time,” Natalie said, “and I love taking orders from our deli menu. It sets this facility apart from most. Ordering a grilled chicken salad with soup is perfect for everyone who lives, works, or visits here.”

CARING WITH HEART Conover Nursing & Rehabilitation Center welcomes residents and patients from all walks of life and for many different reasons. Both short-term rehabilitation and long-term skilled nursing services are offered.

“Everyone here is treated the same,” Nicole told me, “which is to say, with personalized care suited to their needs and capabilities. We have a staff of over 200, and, working as a team, each department’s goal is to improve the quality of life for our folks.”

Photos, above, top to bottom:

• Todd Roper, administrator, accompanying resident Dale Hunsucker as he plays a tune on the harmonica.

• Therapists Jason Wall, MPT, and Debbie Paisley, SLP, having fun with resident Vera Foster in the rehab gym.

• Therapists Lydia Beach, PTA, and Jaimie Cansler, COTA, helping resident Michael Ritch prepare for discharge by learning about his favorite hobby.

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Nicole’s rehabilitation department is unlike most.

Physical, occupational, and speech therapists work with patients in the Center’s therapeutic gym, using cutting-edge equipment and therapies. Rehab patients’ rooms surround the indoor track, which, in turn, circles the gym. Patients partner with their therapists to reach their individual goals: to regain or relearn lost abilities like walking, dressing, speaking, or eating independently after illness, surgery, or stroke. Through a prescribed program, patients can return home feeling better, with more ability to enjoy daily activities. “Our best moment is when someone goes home ready and able to resume their life more independently,” Nicole said with a smile.

When you find yourself or a beloved family member in need of long-term care or recovery, I can say with-

Photos, right, top to bottom:

• Therapy Team–Standing–Debbie Paisley, Kim Rollyson, Jaimie Cansler, Nicole Roper, Aaron Leatherman, Lydia Beach. Seated–Jason Wall • Therapists Aaron Leatherman, PTA, and Kim Rollyson, OT, provide assistance to resident Marie Hefner in the ADL Suite.

• Residents Coyte Beal and Doris Hix by the water wall. out reservation that Conover Nursing & Rehabilitation Center should be at the top of your inquiry and visit list. We all want the very best care possible, with compassionate providers, staff, and administrators striving to do their best. We need confidence when we leave at the end of a visit that our parents or grandparents will continue to receive the same devoted care we would provide. At Conover, this dedication is the norm; it is expected and required. “Everyone, in every department—from our CNAs, nursing and therapeutic staff, to housekeeping and maintenance, to our amazing dietary staff and business office personnel— everyone is involved with our residents’ care, all the time,” Todd shared. “It’s a part of who we are that we bring into this setting good people, a forward-looking, personal approach, and a focus on daily well-being that really does enhance lives.”

WHAT THEY SAY Jennifer Dyson, director of admissions, meets every resident and their family. She shared this story, and it says it all: A woman, who’s had several loved ones here, had her mother in the hospital at Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem. The case manager needed her top three choices of rehab centers for Mom. She didn’t hesitate: “#1 Conover Nursing, #2 Conover Nursing, #3 Conover Nursing.” “You don’t understand. I need three choices.” The daughter simply explained, “My mother will only go to Conover Nursing.

They are the best, so I have no other choices.” Plan a visit yourself. You will be as impressed as I am.

Conover Nursing & Rehabilitation Center (828) 695-8282 920 4th Street SW Conover, NC 28613 www.ConoverNursingandRehab.com HICKORY LIVING • APRIL 2017

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Photos:

Left, pictured from left to right–The staff at Southeast Pain & Spine Care, Hickory office. Top–Kim Houston, Kelsey Puckett, RT, Amy Clontz, RN, Jeff Sweeney, Amy Tillison, PA, Dr. Martin Evans, Jennifer Raby, RN, Brandy Hedgpeth, Misty Watson Bottom–Michelle Ellis, RN, Sarah Teague, RN, Autumn Mize, RN Below–Dr. Evans discusses procedure options for back pain with his patient.

Amy Patel, PA, and Michelle Ellis, RN, review a medical record prior to seeing a patient.

Opposite page–Dr. Evans and Kelsey Puckett, RT, prepare for an epidural steroid injection using fluoroscopy.

Southeast Pain & Spine Care

Pain Management Solved

By Meredith Collins | Photos by Shane Greene Photography

Southeast Pain & Spine Care provides interventional, non-surgical treatments for pain.

Since 1997, Southeast Pain & Spine Care has been committed to patient centered treatment, comprehensive services, and a modern approach. Their professionals

help patients across our region improve their quality of life. “Many of our patients speak to the significant difference in their quality of life after being treated here,” Denise Hensel, Southeast Pain & Spine Care administrator, said. “Our patients aren’t necessarily trying to go play competitive sports, but they do want

to be able to do the things we take for granted, like walking their dog or getting the mail from the mailbox, without difficulty.”

Southeast Pain & Spine Care treats patients dealing with a variety of symptoms including back pain, arthritis, headaches, joint pain, post-surgical pain, shingles, and sports or work injuries.

Instead of surgery to alleviate pain, Southeast Pain & Spine Care providers focus on interventional pain procedures and supportive medications, when necessary, to control and relieve pain. “We want people to know there are other alternatives to surgery,” said Lisa Cahill, marketing liaison at Southeast Pain & Spine Care.

The provider reviews patient history, including what has been tried previously to alleviate pain, identifies the source of

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Patients trust Southeast Pain & Spine Care because of their long-time presence in the community, their specific focus on pain, and board certified physicians. Two of the SEPSC’s thirteen pain management clinics are located in Hickory and Valdese. There are four providers who work in both of these locations: W. Martin Evans, M.D., Jeffrey Peacock, M.D., Amy Patel Tillison, PA-C, and Deborah Johnson, FNP. Drs. Evans and Peacock are dual board certified in anesthesia and pain management. “We specialize in pain management,” Dr. Peacock said. “We are trained specifically to focus on pain and how to treat those issues.”

the pain, and develops the best course of treatment. Depending on the issue, non-surgical techniques include a numbing agent injected to relieve pain for a period of time, ablating cells to block the nerve signal of the pain, and spinal cord stimulation so patients do not sense the pain. “The spinal cord stimulator is like a pacemaker for pain,” Dr. Martin Evans said.

“It interrupts the pain signals to the brain. You may be able to move and function like before, but without pain. It’s a great alternative for patients who have tried a number of medications and procedures.”

Get back to pain-free daily living with the help of Southeast Pain & Spine Care.

www.sepainandspinecare.com 866-577-1066 Hickory Location: Blue Ridge Location: 2134 14th Avenue Circle 720 Malcolm Blvd, Valdese 828-330-3351 828-475-7004 Find us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube!

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What's Cooking?!

Easter Brunch

Quiche is a brunch staple, and no variation of this classic is complete without cheese–in this case, a rich, creamy layering of Jarlsberg’s unmistakable flavor does the trick.

Spinach and Sundried Tomato Quiche Recipe courtesy of Jarlsberg Cheese Serves 6

Pie Dough: ¾ cup butter 1 cup white flour 2 tablespoons water Filling: 1 cup fresh spinach 1 red onion, cut into rings Butter 1 cup milk 4 eggs

Salt, to taste

Pepper, to taste ½ cup sundried tomatoes, sliced ¼ cup olives 1 cup shredded Jarlsberg Cheese

Directions

To make pie dough: Heat oven to 400°F. Mix butter and flour in food processor or by hand until mixture has granular consistency. Add water and knead into dough. Let chill 30 minutes. Roll dough and fit into 10inch pie pan. With fork, make holes in dough and bake 15 minutes.

To make filling: Heat oven to 350°F. In frying pan, fry onion and spinach with butter then scoop mixture into quiche base. Whisk together eggs, milk, salt and pepper, and pour over

Directions spinach and onion. Top with olives, sundried tomatoes and cheese.

Bake 35-40 minutes.

Brown Sugar Ham and Cheese Sticky Buns

Recipe courtesy of Chef George Duran Serves 12

Nonstick cooking spray 2 tubes (8 ounces each) refrigerated crescent roll dough Flour, for dusting 4 tablespoons brown sugar, divided 12 slices thin-cut ham 12 slices Jarlsberg Cheese ½ cup grated Jarlsberg Cheese Chives for garnish

Heat oven to 375°F. Spray nonstick spray in 8-by-8-inch pan or similar.

Unroll dough on floured surface and gently stretch until dough is about 8 by 12 inches. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons brown sugar over dough then evenly space six slices of ham and six slices of cheese on top. Starting on short side, begin rolling dough jelly roll style. Cut into six pieces. Repeat with second piece of dough.

Place all 12 buns inside pan.

Sprinkle grated cheese on top.

Bake 20-25 minutes until buns are fully cooked and browned. Garnish with chives or green onions and serve.

Photos and recipes compliments of Jarlsberg Cheese Visit jarlsberg.com for more recipes.

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Planning The Perfect

By Lauren Davidson

No matter the occasion, it’s always a good idea to celebrate all of life’s blessings, and what better way to do that than to throw a party? Although birthdays and holiday gatherings may spring to mind, there’s no reason to wait for a special occasion when you can make your own theme. For example, I recently held a “gin party” where guests made their own gin cocktails and played gin rummy. It was a wonderful way to brighten up a dreary winter evening. To ensure that your fiesta is a smash hit, follow these tips:

Plan and Prepare Choosing a theme for your get-together is the right time to get creative and have fun! This is especially true if you have children. What kid doesn’t want an out-of-the-blue space rocket party? I can’t think of any. If you have a passion for cooking, why not start a progressive dinner club? You don’t need an excuse to get together with friends, and it’s fun to go the extra mile and do something unexpected. It also puts a special touch

on things to make handmade decorations and food. Although this was once a standard when throwing a party, so many decorations are now store bought.

When you put your personal touch on things, your guests will be much more impressed. For inspiration, I suggest checking out used book stores. Vintage party planning and recipe books are full of great ideas that not everyone uses.

Planning is really part of the fun when it comes to parties. Along with party planning and recipe books, I love to consult Pinterest when planning a shindig. For the aforementioned gin party, once I decided that I wanted to host the event, I found inspiration through Pinterest and created a make-your-own gin and tonic bar. It was fabulous, and my guests loved creating crazy combinations!

When shopping for the event, it’s fun to get carried away with all of the creative decorations and activities, but it’s also highly important to make sure that you have enough food and beverages to keep everyone satisfied. Always prepare

more food than you think you need— people will eat it! It’s also important to have options if your guests have dietary restrictions.

In this day and age, it’s also important to make things picturesque or have some kind of photo opportunity, especially if there are millennials or Generation Z’ers in attendance. It’s easy and cost-effective to make your own props and have a little photo station at a birthday party, or you could simply make sure that you have a beautiful spread, like I did with the gin bar.

Have Fun When the day comes for your big event, it’s easy to become stressed and start worrying about people showing up and whether or not everyone’s having fun. Let these concerns go, and enjoy the present moment. Don’t spend the whole time in the kitchen! It makes things easier if you have a friend or spouse (or both!) to help with hosting duties. That way, everyone can have fun—including you!

Winkler’s Grove Baptist Church Presents

“All His Glory”

Easter Musical Drama 2017

Fri-Sun, April 7-9 @ 7pm FREE Admission. Everyone is Invited to Celebrate His Resurrection!

Airport Terminal Rd, Hickory 828-324-7267 Child Care Provided

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©iStockphoto.com | Tabitazn

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