In Good Health

in good BATH SALTS What you should know.

Story, Page 3

Sandwich generation: What it’s like to be in between Story, Page 13

Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

November 2012 • Issue 81

Brain Health

Mind over matter: Flex your brain and keep it energized and sharp . See Page 7

Sign of the times for senior citizens One woman’s personal battle with diabetes Story, Page 17 Get ‘In Good Health’ at home.

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Child sex abuse

Story, Page 8

Special Golden Years Edition • Understanding cataracts: See Page 6 • Bonnie Evans: 50 years of nursing See Page 9 November 2012 •

IGH series continues Story, Page 13

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 1

CALENDAR of

HEALTH EVENTS

Got a health-related activity or event that you would like publicized? Call Lou Sorendo at 315-749-7070 or email lou@cnymail.com.

Tuesdays

Opportunity available to share grief GriefShare meets from 6-7:30 p.m.

Tuesdays at The Good News Center, 10475 Cosby Manor Road, Utica.

GriefShare is a faith-based support group.

For more information, contact Andrea, program coordinator, at 315-7356210, andrea@thegoodnewscenter.org or visit www.thegoodnewscenter.org.

Nov. 1

Panel of experts to discuss type II diabetes Learn how to reduce risk of complications from type II diabetes at Rome Memorial Hospital’s free health night lecture at 7 p.m. Nov. 1 in the hospital’s classroom.

Health night is sponsored by Rome

Memorial Hospital. Advance registration is not required. Refreshments will be served. Rome Memorial Hospital’s classroom is located on the second floor of the hospital.

For more information, call 3387143.

Nov. 1

FSLH’S School of Radiography slates open house Those interested in pursuing a career in X-ray technology are invited to attend the School of Radiography at Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare open house on Nov. 1 at 1705 Burrstone Road, New Hartford (across the street from the St. Luke’s Campus).

There will be two sessions—5-6 p.m. and 6-7 p.m.

For questions regarding the open house, call 315-624-9260.

Nov. 1

Nov. 3-4

On Nov. 1, Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare in Utica will host a rehab mobility fair to provide helpful tips for staying active and independent at any age.

The event will take place from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Allen Calder Conference Rooms 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 at the St. Luke’s Campus, 1656 Champlin Ave., Utica. The fair is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Christina Johnston at 315-624-6091 or cjohnsto@mvnhealth.com

Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare’s Regional Cancer Center in Utica is supporting “Hassle in the Castle,” an original musical comedy taking place at 7 p.m. Nov. 3 and at 2 p.m. Nov. 4 at the Mohawk Valley Community College theater, 1101 Sherman Drive, Utica.

FSLH’s Relay For Life team “Angel-Buds” is doing the presentation with all proceeds benefiting The American Cancer Society.

Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased by calling 315-624-5792 or by e-mailing Sheilah Kittle at skittle@mvnhealth.com.

Tickets will also be sold at the door.

The cast of this medieval comedy is made up of FSLH employees, family members, and friends and it is the second annual play put on by “AngelBuds.”

FSLH to host rehab mobility Relay For Life team fair presents musical comedy

Nov. 2

Attend a free Medicare seminar Individuals who are turning 65 or shopping for Medicare coverage can attend a free Medicare seminar and learn more about their health insurance options.

The seminars will detail Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Medicare options including Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans.

Here are some of the Medicare seminars scheduled for the region: • Nov. 7, 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. at VJ’s Restaurant and Diner, 169 Utica St., Hamilton • Nov. 14, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Rusty Rail, 3231 Route 5, Canastota Medicare’s annual enrollment period ends Dec. 7. To register for a Medicare seminar, go to ExcellusMedicare.com or call toll-free 888-834-1408 (TTY/TDD users call 800-421-1220) from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.

Nov. 3

Fundraiser set for powered wheelchair A fundraiser will be held to provide Louis Fraccola with a new powered wheelchair from 6-10 p.m. Nov. 3 at Roselawn Banquet House, 446 Main St., New York Mills.

Organizers include the Fraccola family, The Good News Foundation and the Knights of Casab.

The event will feature a dinner buffet, cash bar, entertainment by Renaissance, 50/50 raffle, and silent auctions for gifts, specialty baskets and gift certificates.

For more information, contact Jan at 982-9423 or Jeanette at 732-1416.

Nov. 3

Gala celebrates RMH’s 125th anniversary Tickets are available for the Rome Hospital Foundation annual gala, which will be held at 6 p.m. Nov. 3 at Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Vernon.

“This year’s event is special as it celebrates the 125th anniversary of Rome Memorial Hospital,” said honorary co-chairs Basil and Joyce Ariglio.

The annual gala is the cornerstone event for the Rome Hospital Foundation, which provides support to the hospital to advance its mission.

Tickets are $125 per person and may be purchased by calling the foundation office at 338-7181. The gala will be held in Turning Stone’s Oneida Ballroom. Black tie is preferred.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • November 2012

Nov. 4

Program focuses on grief, holidays “Grief and the Holidays” will be presented from 2-4 p.m. Nov. 4 at the New Hartford First United Methodist Church, 105 Genesee St., New Hartford.

This program will provide education on how to embrace the holidays while grieving the loss of a loved one.

To register, call Janet Benjamin at 735-6487 extension 271.

There is no charge for bereavement groups or workshops. However, donations are appreciated.

Nov. 4

Are you ready for The Third Option?

The Third Option meets from 6:30-8:30 p.m. every other Sunday at The Good News Center, 10475 Cosby Manor Road, Utica.

The next meeting is Oct. 21.

The Third Option is a support group for troubled married couples.

For more information, contact Andrea, program coordinator, at 315-735-6210 ext. 228, andrea@thegoodnewscenter.org or visit www.thegoodnewscenter.org.

Nov. 4

Separated & Divorced Support Group to meet The Separated & Divorced Support Group meets from 5-6:30 p.m. on the first and third Sunday of each month at The Good News Center, 10475 Cosby Manor Road, Utica. The next meeting is Nov. 4.

The group is free and open to all.

For more information, contact Andrea, program coordinator, at 315-7356210, andrea@thegoodnewscenter.org or visit www.thegoodnewscenter.org.

Nov. 4

‘Night in Paris’ awaits ‘Taste’ goers The Little Falls Hospital’s annual Taste of Little Falls will feature “A Night in Paris” from 5-7:30 p.m. Nov. 4 at the Knight’s Inn, 20 Albany St., Little

Continued on Page 16

Bath salts

Our FOCUS is to provide a higher quality of life

Synthetic amphetamine-type drug now on law enforcement radar

SKILLED NURSING REHABILITATION ADULT MEDICAL DAYCARE

By Amylynn Pastorella

T

hese are not your mother’s bath salts.

America’s war on drugs has been facing a new epidemic with the rise of “bath salt” consumption.

Bath salts is the informal street name for a family of designer drugs often containing substituted cathinones, which have effects similar to amphetamine and cocaine.

All over the United States, bath salts are being used not as common bath salts, which one pours into the bathtub to soak in after a long, hard day of work.

These bath salts are being snorted, smoked and injected.

Common names for bath salts include, “White Lightning, Snow Leopard, Tranquility, Zoom, Ivory Wave, Red Dove, Vanilla Sky.” The Drug Enforcement Administration does not regulate these substances, according to poison control centers and other law enforcement agencies.

According to abovetheinfluence. com, between January and February 2011, there were over 250 calls to U.S. poison control centers related to bath salts. This was well over the 236 calls received for all of 2010. Bath salts are a dangerous drug whose full risks and effects are still unknown.

Users of bath salts have reported experiencing symptoms including headache, heart palpitations, nausea, and cold fingers. Hallucinations, paranoia, and panic attacks have also been reported and news media have reported violent behavior, heart attack, kidney and liver failure, suicide, and an increased tolerance for pain.

Visual symptoms similar to those of stimulant overdoses include dilated pupils, involuntary muscle movement, rapid heartbeat and high blood pressure.

While the origins of bath salts are unclear, more people are learning of their dangerous effects and preventing the sale of this uncontrolled substance.

Federal, state and local governments have taken action by placing bans on the synthetic drugs that have led to crackdowns by law enforcement.

Little Falls Hospital of the Bas-

ENRICHED HOUSING

sett Care Network gave the public an opportunity to learn about bath salts through its recent Lunch and Learn series.

Heather Dora informed attendees of all they need to know about bath salts.

“All of us at Little Falls Hospital hoped that all the attendants came away with a basic understanding of what bath salts are, how they are used and their effects,” said Dora, a licensed clinical social worker.

Bath salts act as a stimulant and are highly addictive, cheap, easily obtained and innocent looking. Many people think they are legal or that the likelihood of being caught and prosecuted are small.

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In July, President Barack Obama signed a federal law banning the sale of bath salts, synthetic marijuana and other synthetic drugs across the nation.

In August, New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued new regulations to crack down on the use of bath salts and other synthetic drugs.

Violators will face fines up to $500 and up to 15 days in jail for either distributing or possessing the illicit drugs.

The government has been working to expand the list of prohibited drugs and chemicals to include dozens more substances that are now used to make synthetic drugs. They also increased the criminal penalties.

“Bath salts are easy to obtain as they are sold on the Internet, in convenient stores, and gas stations. When bath salts came out, they were new and inexpensive to buy. They fall outside of international control and are not detected on urine screens,” said Dora.

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Local News, Inc. Distribution: 20,000 copies. To request home delivery ($15 per year), call 315-749-7070.

In Good Health is published 12 times a year by Local News, Inc. © 2012 by Local News, Inc. All rights reserved. Mailing Address: 4 Riverside Drive, Suite 251, Utica, NY 13502 • Phone: 315-749-7070 Email: lou@cnymail.com Editor & Publisher: Wagner Dotto • Associate Editor: Lou Sorendo Contributing Writers: Patricia Malin, Barbara Pierce, Kristen Raab, Malissa Allen, Amylynn Pastorella, Mary Stevenson, Deb Dittner Advertising: Jennifer Wise Layout & Design: Chris Crocker Office Manager: Laura Beckwith

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Q.: Why did you decide to practice in the Mohawk Valley?

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I like the area and also enjoy outdoor activities, which the Mohawk Valley is perfect for.

Q.: What prompted you to become a doctor?

A.: Almost all of my family members are employed in healthcare. My father is a gastroenterologist.

My mom is a nurse, and my brother and wife are also both doctors. I was born and bred for this and I really enjoy helping people.

Q.: What specific ailments or disorders do you treat?

A.: I treat patients with pancreatic and biliary diseases, cancer staging and Barrett’s esophagus disease.

Q.: What are the newest developments in your field?

A.: The newest developments in my field include advanced resections of early cancers, endoscopic ultrasound and new laparoscopic procedures.

The field is constantly changing and improving.

Q.: How do you keep up on the research related to your specialty?

A.: I read a lot and also attend

conferences.

Q.: What is the most challenging aspect of your job?

A.: The most challenging aspect of my job is the current healthcare environment and I am sure most providers in the healthcare field can relate to this concern.

Q.: What is the most fulfilling aspect of your job?

A.: The most fulfilling part of my job is treating patients and being able to care for them and provide them with a positive turning point in their life. I enjoy staying up to date on the latest procedures and being able to provide patients with safer, faster, minimally invasive care.

Q.: What challenges do you foresee in the future regarding your practice and healthcare in general?

A.: The healthcare environment in general is a challenge for everyone working in healthcare, but I do have to say the surgical arrangement Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare has in collaboration with Digestive Disease Medicine of Central New York is set up for success.

Q.: What do you do to relax from a stressful job?

A.: When I am not at work, I enjoy spending time with my family and playing with my children.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 5

Golden Years

Cataracts

Why we get them, what we can do

By Barbara Pierce

I

t’s almost inevitable: If you live long enough, you will get cataracts.

More than half of Americans will develop cataracts by age 70. The odds are good that you or someone you love will have cataracts.

“Cataracts become more prevalent every decade after 40,” said ophthalmologist Kenneth Novak of Eye Associates of Utica. “It’s important to have a baseline eye exam at age 40 to look for potential problems and determine whether you are at risk of developing cataracts.”

As described by the American Academy of Ophthalmology on www.

GetEyeSmart.org, the normal lens of the eye is transparent, clear. As a cataract develops, the lens becomes cloudy and blocks light from entering your eye. Without enough light, you cannot see as clearly. Often the first symptom of a cataract is difficulty driving after dark.

As the cataracts progress, usually over a period of three to four years, more light is blocked so that it becomes more and more difficult to see, even in daylight.

Your vision may become cloudy, fuzzy, foggy or filmy. You may see halos around lights and become sensitive to glare. You may have double vision, difficulty reading or difficulty seeing the difference between shades of colors.

“If, as an adult, you have a dramatic increase in your nearsightedness and a frequent need for new prescription glasses, that could mean you have cataracts,” Novak said.

Cataracts usually develop slowly and painlessly. Vision in the affected eye or eyes gradually gets worse. Most people with cataracts have similar changes in both eyes, though one eye may be worse than the other.

Risk factors

Persons with diabetes have a higher rate of cataracts, Novak said.

And their cataracts may develop at an earlier age than non-diabetics.

Cataracts are more common in smokers. And those with more ultraviolet sun exposure increase their odds of developing cataracts. Certain medications, such as steroids, can speed up cataract formation.

Family history can be a factor, added Novak. And cataracts may occur in nearsighted persons at an early age.

Surgery

The only treatment is surgery to remove the cloudy natural lens. “The technology is highly advanced and the results are highly reliable,” said Novak.

“The surgery is comfortable.”

Contrary to popular belief, a cataract does not have to be “ripe” for it to be removed. The patient and his ophthalmologist make the decision.

Sharing of oneself Immigrant from Pakistan earns volunteer award

By Patricia J. Malin

W

ith the dizzying pace she maintains as a volunteer, it seems as if Shirin Rashid is actually working fulltime these days.

Rashid, 62, an immigrant and former teacher from Pakistan, has been active for more than a decade at St. Elizabeth Medical Center, the Central New York Association for the Blind, Mohawk Valley Center for Refugees, and Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute.

Recently, the Oneida County Office of the Aging named her outstanding senior volunteer of the year during an awards ceremony at Roselawn restaurant in New York Mills.

In addition, Rashid was recognized at a reception at the state capital in Albany to commemorate Older AmeriPage 6

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cans Month.

Sixty-four senior volunteers were nominated by their respective senior centers in Utica, Rome, New Hartford, Whitesboro, Marcy and New York Mills and cited by Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente Jr. during the dinner at Roselawn.

“We can’t put a price tag on what our volunteers do for the community,” said Picente, addressing the dinner guests. “We couldn’t do it without your help. We need to spread the spirit of volunteering.”

Among the honorees were several couples, including Chet and Loretta Mandry of the New York Mills Senior Center, who have been married 65 years. Ted and Marian Greiner volunteer together at the Neighborhood Center in Utica and celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on June 14.

When the decrease in vision interferes with one’s daily activities, it is time to consider removal.

Cataract removal is one of the safest and most effective surgical procedures.

The good news: “This can be a dramatic way to improve vision,” Novack said.

Most everyone finds his or her vision is much better after surgery.

Colors are brighter and crisper; whites are whiter; contrast is higher. “I feel euphoric,” reported one patient online.

“It floored me! My jaw hit the floor! It was that amazing.”

Seventy-year-old Carol Powell recently had cataracts removed from both eyes. “It’s a startling change,” she said.

“I see everything with a new vision.”

She is delighted with the improvement in her vision; all the colors are much brighter and crisper. “Even with glasses, I never saw this good,” she said.

Donald and Carolyn Van Pelt help out extensively at the Whitestown Senior Club.

“Shirin is a cheerful, outgoing person and has overcome many obstacles to become a productive and outstanding American citizen,” commented Philomena Amodio of the Office of the Aging/Continuing Care. “She is and always has been an outstanding volunteer since she arrived here in 1994.”

Traditional of giving

Rashid started volunteering at the gift shop on Sundays at St Elizabeth Medical Center in 1998. Through the volunteer office at SEMC, she has been assigned to help maintain records of inpatients and outpatients. She used to volunteer at the sewing room, mending clothes for patients, but that center is now closed. She has helped out previously with bazaars and raised money for the extra needs of the patients, according to the nomination form.

She still visits the Central New York Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Utica, even though she moved to Rome a year ago.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • November 2012

The surgery corrects vision problems for some. Some who have worn glasses for years no longer need them following surgery.

The surgery is usually done on an outpatient basis and usually just one eye is done at a time. Eye drops are prescribed to help with healing and prevent infections. Light activities are best in the initial few weeks. Visual function is often good within several days to several weeks.

Complete healing occurs within a few months. If you need glasses or contact lenses to fine tune, they can often be prescribed as early as two to three weeks after surgery.

Complications of cataract surgery are uncommon, explained Novak. The outcome is usually excellent. Though the operation is usually low risk, with any eye surgery there are risks for worse vision. Individuals with coexisting eye diseases such as glaucoma, retinal problems, use of prostate medications like Flomax, or other issues may lead to increased surgical risk.

Ophthalmologists are the only eye specialists that can perform the surgery.

Medicare and other insurances do cover the surgery, provided it is necessary because the cataracts limit one’s ability to perform routine activities.

Reducing your risk

“For folks who want to be proactive, I recommend regular exams every few years beginning at age 40. After 65, yearly exams are recommended,” Novak said.

Novak offers these suggestions to reduce your risk of developing cataracts: • Limit your exposure to ultra violet light by using sunglasses, beginning at a young age.

• Eat well • Don’t smoke.

• Control your diabetes.

She learned how to type Braille and transcribes documents, such as church bulletins and instruction manuals, into readable material for the visually impaired.

She has been a longtime volunteer at the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute. She lends a hand at the annual arts festival and sidewalk art show, which runs for six days in July.

Rashid spent 10 years volunteering with the Utica chapter of the American Red Cross, where she was active in disaster relief, and teaching cardiopulmonary resuscitation, babysitting skills and first aid. She hopes to help out at the Rome chapter now.

“I like volunteering. It’s very relaxing,” Rashid said. Nevertheless, she isn’t sure she deserves the volunteer of the year award. “You meet so many wonderful people. But I think they do so much more than me.”

Michael J. Romano, director of the OneShirin is one of seven children. Her brother, Amjad Rashid, a retired surgeon in Rome, sponsored her when she decided to emigrate to the U.S.

Golden Years

Mind Matters

Keep your brain healthy with online games

By Barbara Pierce

F

it Brains, an online website, offers a series of games and tools that act as a personalized brain trainer to keep your mind sharp.

The Fit Brains site offers more than 30 brain games, tracks your performance, and recommends games to improve your skills.

Award-winning neuroscientist Dr. Paul Nussbaum scientifically designed the games.

Nussbaum is co-founder of FitBrains.

Com. Passionate about brain health, Nussbaum views the games as one part of maintaining a healthy brain.

“You build up the resilience of your brain when Nussbaum you expose it to novelty and complexity,” Nussbaum explained. “Your brain reacts by developing dendrites.

Dendrites are like the branches of a tree. You want to build up more and more dendrites so that your brain looks like a jungle on a Caribbean island.”

“A brain disease in the form of Alzheimer’s or other dementia is a ‘weed whacker,’” Nussbaum continued. “The more your brain looks like that jungle, the more protection you have.”

Experts agree that the brain builds new connections in response to the demands placed upon it. A strong reserve is believed to have the ability to delay the onset of mental deterioration, such as Alzheimer’s disease.

FitBrains.com is scientifically developed to build the brain’s reserve.

“Not only does it build the brain’s reserve, it’s fun,” added Nussbaum.

The five key areas of the brain that

are stimulated and strengthened by the games include memory, concentration and attention, language skills, visual and spatial skills, and executive functions like problem solving, and logic and reasoning.

In his beginning years as a neuropsychologist, Nussbaum describes how he had the “fortune/misfortune” to talk with people with diseases of the brain. “When they would look at someone they had loved, and could not recognize that person, it sent chills down my spine,” he said.

“I got into the ball game because of these people,” he added.

He continued his interest in the brain and people who struggled with brain diseases. He sees the human brain as a miracle and dedicated himself to teaching us what we can do to keep it healthy.

good for your brain.”

• And socialize; be with other humans.

• Maintaining spirituality in your life is important to brain health. Keep your spiritual beliefs active. Relax your brain with a walk in the woods or quiet time.

• Engage in things that are novel and complex, like FitBrains.com. The more you do things that are novel and complex, the more you grow new brain cells. Stimulate your brain to make it healthy.

FitBrains.com originated when Nussbaum met Michael Cole, as Nussbaum consulted for a huge conference

in brain health. Cole, the CEO, and Nussbaum are co-founders.

“We don’t have a cure for dementia,” Nussbaum added. “These exercises aren’t a critical intervention, but they are helpful. Some view the cognitive process as the whole enchilada; I tend not to see it that way.”

Fit Brains offers games and training programs specifically designed to target and exercise your memory.

Your ability to live independently and to function normally is a direct result of a normal memory. In your daily life, you rely heavily on your memory.

And, your personal identity is framed by your memories and ability to learn from these memories.

Fit Brains offers games specifically designed to challenge and improve your ability to concentrate. In today’s fast-paced world, this is an essential survival skill.

We lead busy lives that are full of distractions that challenge our ability to concentrate. Accomplishing any meaningful task requires concentration.

Whether you are studying for an exam, reading in a busy coffee shop or trying to work in a noisy office, you need to focus your attention on the task at hand.

Cognitive training improves concentration by improving your ability to selectively focus. “No matter how old you are, your brain can generate new brain cells,” concluded Nussbaum.

“Your brain doesn’t care how old you are; it wants to be stimulated. Stimulate your brain; build it to be healthy.”

For more information, go to www. fitbrains.com.

The keys to brain health

Nussbaum recommends a five-part proactive brain lifestyle: • First, be physically active. Study after study shows that the more physically active you are, the less chance that you will get dementia.

• Next, nutrition is important.

“Don’t eat trans-fats!” Nussbaum emphasizes. “And eat lots of fish. Fish is

November 2012 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 7

Golden Years Sign, sign everywhere a sign Senior set learning, using sign language own curriculum and I am turning it into a book,” she said.

Jayne’s master’s degree in education gives her the other necessary tools to be an effective instructor.

Learning any new language can prove challenging, but Jayne said, “You only need to learn the signs that you feel will help you.”

By Kristen Raab

“

What did you say? Could you say that again, please?”

If you regularly ask questions such as these, you may have some hearing loss.

Hearing impairment often occurs as people age, and it may make communication difficult. Fortunately, there are senior signing classes that strive to improve communication.

Nancy Jayne offers classes to seniors with the desire to learn American Sign Language.

Classes cost $35 and take place at Trinity United Methodist Church in Whitesboro. Students receive a book and the money becomes a donation to the church.

Jayne said nearly one third of those between the ages of 60-74 experience hearing loss. By 85, that number increases and about half of that age group has hearing loss.

She is in the midst of teaching sign language classes at the Trinity United Methodist Church in Whitesboro.

What causes hearing loss?

Jayne, of Whitesboro, mentions a variety of possibilities that include infections, overexposure to loud noises, allergies, hereditary factors, and side effects from medication. In addition, most hearing loss is gradual, and people are often unaware that it is even happening at first.

Seniors may feel frustrated because at times it can be difficult to participate in even the most ordinary activities of everyday life, Jayne explains. For example, it becomes more difficult for people with hearing loss to understand women or children or to hear someone through background noise. “Hearing loss can cause misunderstandings that lead to frustration, hard feelings, yell-

Enhancing communication The goal of the program is not to make these individuals experts, but instead it allows them to effectively share their thoughts and needs with their loved ones and caregivers. Jayne said some signs are Nancy Jayne provides instruction in American Sign Language to easy because they look just like the senior citizens. word or action that they represent. An ing and quiet,” Jayne says. example of this is the word “baby.” If Jayne’s personal connection began with her mother’s hearing loss, and this you wanted to express “baby” in sign language, you would pretend to rock a helps her to understand the frustration baby in your arms. that individuals sometimes feel. She This is a useful method of increasinitially started signing with her young ing quality of life for those with heargrandchild. Baby signing led to senior ing impairments and their loved ones. signing after a friend asked to learn It can also be a great way to make a some of the signs so that she could senior who is unable to independently communicate better with her husband care for himself or herself feel connectwho had hearing loss. ed to others. “Signing can also be done “Since I didn’t find an appropriate in nursing homes. A good place to start book to use in my classes, I wrote my

Seniors helping seniors Franchise caters to the needs of area’s senior set

By Kristen Raab

S

eniors Helping Seniors in-home services of Oneida and Madison County provides a variety of nonmedical services for seniors.

Services include cooking, cleaning, laundry, providing transportation to doctors, errands, grocery stores or leisure activities such as lunch with friends. The business provides 24-hour care when necessary, but workers do not do personal grooming or toileting. They are registered, insured and bonded.

Terry Rockwell’s franchise serves Oneida County as well as parts of Madison and Herkimer counties. Rockwell entered into the field because her new husband’s dream was to own his Page 8

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own business in a growing industry.

The couple realized that seniors need assistance, and they liked the concept and brand of Seniors Helping Seniors.

Seniors Helping Seniors in-home services has sites throughout the country. The organization was founded by Kiran Yocom, who has a mission and passion to help seniors live independently. Yocom’s personal interest in seniors grew out of her work with the late Mother Teresa.

This was the only organization they found that hires only seniors to help their peers.

Rockwell left behind her 20 years of experience in the insurance business to operate the business full-time for two years. At that point, her husband came

to help her manage the growth.

The business is made up of providers and receivers. Currently, the Rockwells have a growing list of seniors willing to be providers. To determine if an individual would be well suited for the job, Rockwell said she looks for people who are passionate, loving and caring and who want to go out and help.

Further, she said when a person says he or she “wants to give back,” it’s clear that this will be a good person to help the seniors, Rockwell noted. As of June, the oldest provider was 93.

Provider Martha Smith says: “Terry’s organization is wonderful because she checks to make sure the people are well taken care of.”

The decision to become a provider came to Smith after seeing the business’s commercial.

Smith said she “loves taking care of people” and feels that providers are able to give “a lot of love and care” to receivers.

Smith describes the woman she

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • November 2012

is with food items,” she said.

This may seem to be a small step, but Jayne says knowing a few signs can make a big difference in conveying a world of information.

Jayne’s former students speak positively about their experience.

They find the classes fun, easy, and helpful. Barb Joswick Joswick, who has taken multiple signing classes with Jayne, says, “It keeps my mind active and more alert being a senior. It was fun meeting new people that share the same interests. I enjoyed learning something new and interesting.”

Others echo this idea of a fun atmosphere that makes it easy to learn a new, useful skill. Jayne has also received praise for the workout signing gives to arthritic fingers and for the sense of closeness it brings to couples when one of the individuals is hard of hearing.

As Jayne explains, “Avoiding situations where it might be hard to hear makes people feel isolated and depressed.”

These classes could be the solution for seniors who experience hearing loss and want to increase their ability to communicate.

For more information, contact Jayne at 736-6872 or nsigning@gmail. com. currently helps as having a great sense of humor, a love of laughing and a superb conversationalist. As a provider, Smith said she finds joy in helping with household tasks, letter writing and also bringing little gifts such as candy. “Whatever care they need, they get,” she says.

Rockwell estimates that her chapter is providing roughly 2,500 hours per month. During her first year of operation, she received the franchise’s “Rookie of the Year” award.

For Rockwell, the most rewarding part of this experience is matching up the seniors and knowing they will get the care that they need.

She provides the anecdote about a receiver who loved reading but became blind after a stroke. The provider that Rockwell found for her was an ex-librarian who would read to the receiver a few hours a week.

People interested in obtaining thesFor more information, visit www. seniorshelpingseniors.com/Index.aspx or call 315-202-4058.

Golden Years Half-century of caring 50 years of nursing, yet Bonnie Evans still going strong

By Patricia J. Malin

O

nly one thing has lasted longer than Bonnie Evans’s remarkable 50-year-career as a registered nurse at Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare in Utica: her 51-year marriage.

If that is another statistic that puts her in a very rarified atmosphere, perhaps it’s due to a strong sense of devotion and dedication.

Evans is from that “baby boomer” generation born just after World War II. From birth to adulthood and now looming retirement, this generation firmly put its stamp on American culture throughout the last half of the 20th century and now the 21st.

Nurses, doctors and other staff from FSLH honored Evans for her 50 years of service in the nursery at a dinner recently at Daniele’s Banquet House in New Hartford. Evans, 67, made it clear that she is not retiring.

“I like what I do,” she emphasized as she greeted one well wisher after another in the lobby at Daniele’s. “I still work full time.”

Throughout her career, Evans has played a role in helping more than 100,000 babies come into this world at the Birthplace at St. Luke’s.

A graduate of Oneida High School, Bonnie (Arnold) Evans studied nursing at the old Marcy State Hospital. She obtained her registered nurse degree in three years, graduating in 1961. She got a job at Marcy first, but six months later transferred to what was then St. Luke’s Hospital.

“I went to work in the nursery and never left,” Evans said, a testament not only to duty, but to the pleasant working environment. “It’s very satisfying work, absolutely.”

Evans has also shown an ability over the decades to transition to a myriad of changes in the workplace and in the nursing culture overall.

When she started, nurses were required to dress in crisp, starched white uniforms, stockings and pillbox caps, and they were given menial health care responsibilities at first.

The nurses waited on mothers who were bedridden for days before they could be discharged. Nurses delivered meals, bathed patients, changed bandages and even the sheets on the beds.

They hovered over newborns, changed and washed the babies’ cloth diapers, made formula and sterilized baby bottles. Nurses also had the arduous task of writing out pages of notes, in longhand, on every patient.

In the 1990s, nursing uniforms began to be replaced with relaxed garb and fashionable scrubs. Meanwhile, nursing roles began to expand, commensurate with increased demands and a more rigorous and professional education. Skilled nursing care these days requires less physical labor, too.

“The constant changes in technology and processes offer the opportunity for me to continually learn new aspects

Bonnie Evans holds up a commemorative plaque presented by her co-workers from Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare in Utica during a dinner given in her honor at Daniele’s Banquet Specialists. Evans has spent her entire 50-year career in the maternity ward at St. Luke’s and has no plans to retire. of my job and constantly improve my skills,” said Evans. “I feel blessed to have been able to work in this field and in this community for so many years.”

New age of nursing

Today’s nurses have learned to operate advanced medical machinery. Computers help nurses assess and monitor patient health, dispense medicines and plan a patient’s recovery. In the past two years alone, nurses and other hospital staff have switched to using electronic medical records.

Evans never shrank from the increased responsibilities. “I learn by doing and by going to conferences,” she said.

She said she appreciates the development of life-saving technology in the nursery. Incubators are common now and premature babies weighing as little as one pound can be saved, she observed. Intensive care units didn’t always exist, but now they cater to extremely sick patients.

“We didn’t have a lot of technology early on,” she recalled. “We used to have Level III services at Crouse Hospital in Syracuse for the really sick babies.

Survival rates are much better now. We also have the ability now to take care of babies with respiratory problems.”

With advanced technology and improved medications, and shaped by cost-conscious insurance companies, hospital stays have been greatly reduced in the last decade. Most sur-

gical procedures that used to require days of bed rest are now being done on an outpatient basis. Not that it eliminates the need for nurses.

Even after two or three decades on the job, Evans was never content to sit still. She enrolled in advanced courses at SUNY Institute of Technology and obtained her bachelor’s degree in 1998.

“I took courses over several years,” she said. “It took about four years. Yes, I was raising my kids and also working fulltime. It was a very tough road for awhile.”

Bonnie and her husband, Patrick, have four adult children ranging in age from 40 to 50. Two sons followed her into nursing, another development that could not have been foreseen 50 years ago. Ric is an RN and Michael is an LPN. The demand for nurses and doctors has changed dramatically during Evans’s tenure. Staffing used to be consistent and steady on hospital units, but nowadays it fluctuates depending on the number of patients.

With a greater demand for nurses than supply, nurses have benefited with greatly improved salaries. According to one nursing website, it is estimated that nurses in 2012 bring home in a month what the nurses of the 1960s and 1970s earned in a full year of service.

The same baby boomer generation that includes Evans is itself aging, but still having an impact. Not only are patients seeking more healthcare, they have come to expect better care.

The improvements in technology have also allowed for increased longevity of patients and healthcare workers alike.

Because the physical demands on nurses have eased, it allows caregivers like Evans to spend more decades on the job until a younger workforce can take her place. Little do they know they will have big shoes to fill.

Tree of Lights campaign on agenda

T

he annual Tree of Lights reception and ceremony will begin at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 2 inside the hospital lobby.

Dr. Fred Grabo will be honored for his years of dedicated service to the hospital and the Rome community. Entertainment, refreshments and a scroll displaying the names of donors and their honored persons are planned.

NBT Bank is the corporate sponsor of the Rome Twigs Tree of Lights 2012 campaign.

The company has donated $1,000 to the Twigs fundraiser for Rome Memorial Hospital.

It is contributions like these that help the Twigs, a non-profit organization, continue its long tradition of dedicated service in support of the hospital and its mission.

Last year’s Tree of Lights cam-

November 2012 •

paign raised close to $10,000. Those dollars were part of the $49,000 contributed by the Twigs in 2011 for the purchase of trauma stretchers for the hospital’s emergency department and two BiPAP machines for acute respiratory therapy.

A visible symbol of the season, the Tree of Lights project began in 1989, with all donations going to the Rome Twigs for the purchase of hospital equipment and fund renovations.

Individuals may purchase lights to honor a living person, remember a deceased loved one, or express thanks.

Each light on the tree represents a gift of love and remembrance. In order to be included on the scroll, donations of $5 or more for a light must be mailed by noon Nov. 14 to Rome Memorial Hospital, Attention Tree of Lights, 1500 N. James St., Rome, NY 13440. Make checks payable to Rome Twigs.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 9

Can eating tomatoes lower the risk of stroke?

Celebrating 30 Years!

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Cancer & Wellness Symposium Moderated by Carrie Lazarus, News Channel 9

Thursday, November 15, 2012 5008 Brittonfield Parkway • 5 – 8:30 pm Cancer Care Advancements Integrative Therapy, Cancer Prevention & Wellness Success of CyberKnife Radiosurgery Cancer Research & A New Affiliation with Roswell Park Cancer Institute

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E

ating tomatoes and tomato-based foods is associated with a lower risk of stroke, according to new research published in the Oct. 9 print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Tomatoes are high in the antioxidant lycopene.

The study found that people with the highest amounts of lycopene in their blood were 55 percent less likely to have a stroke than people with the lowest amounts of lycopene in their blood.

The study involved 1,031 men in Finland between the ages of 46 and 65. The level of lycopene in their blood was tested at the start of the study and they were followed for an average of 12 years.

During that time, 67 men had a stroke.

Among the men with the lowest levels of lycopene, 25 of 258 men had a stroke. Among those with the highest levels of lycopene, 11 of 259 men had

a stroke. When researchers looked at just strokes due to blood clots, the results were even stronger. Those with the highest levels of lycopene were 59 percent less likely to have a stroke than those with the lowest levels.

“This study adds to the evidence that a diet high in fruits and vegetables is associated with a lower risk of stroke,” said study author Jouni Karppi of the University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio. “The results support the recommendation that people get more than five servings of fruits and vegetables a day, which would likely lead to a major reduction in the number of strokes worldwide, according to previous research.”

The study also looked at blood levels of the antioxidants alphacarotene, beta-carotene, alpha-tocopherol and retinol, but found no association between the blood levels and risk of stroke. To learn more about stroke, visit www.aan. com/patients.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • November 2012

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 11

The Ragin’ Cajun

By Malissa Allen

Child sexual abuse Writer reflects on childhood sexual abuse and how it has changed her life Editor’s note: This is the third and final segment in a three-part series addressing the issue of child sexual abuse.

I

t’s hard to imagine, when we hear so much in the media about children being raped, tortured, and passed around for adult pleasure, even murdered, that one could ever be involved in the pain and suffering of a member of their own family.

It’s our duty as parents to nurture, love, care for and protect them from harm. Family is supposed to be who we feel most comfortable with, happy and safe, especially when we are young children.

This wasn’t necessarily true with me.

Allen The barn is no longer standing where it was 35 years ago, back behind where our home was.

I drive by the place every time I went to my parent’s home my entire life. I wish I could say my grown-up mind could stay on track of the life I have as an adult, but instead my mind returns to when I was 4, 5, 6 and 7. My sexual abuse was by no stranger, like many others like me; it was an uncle, an older, gross, nasty old man.

The hay ropes were something we used and played with all the time.

Most of our days were spent outside fishing, building tree houses and trails.

There is unending entertainment when you live in the country. My mom and dad both worked during the day with the four of us kids being home until they came back. This left the door open for many “friendly” visits.

This time just happened to be when my brother—who I spent every waking moment chasing his every step—had gone away with a childhood friend who lived down the road. I was out playing in the barn by myself and digging worms before walking down the trail to my favorite place to be, the pond.

I felt a hand on my shoulder, and startled, I turned around. There he was.

He had made his way out to my play area, my safe place, and my “hideout.” It was too late to run, too late to fight and too late to hold on to my innocent world that children should have. He had a sneaky way of doing things to me while keeping his eye on the door the entire time. This time was different. He tied my hands with the hay rope I was playing with, then to the wooden post that was behind me.

Instantly his hand was in my pants. It’s still embarrassing to say that, even though I had no control over what was happening. For what felt like a lifetime, he continued to do things to my girl parts, while all I could do was cry. He untied one of my hands and placed it in his pants, giving me Page 12

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step-by-step instructions on what to do.

Much more happened on this day, but I just can’t bring myself to type it out.

Hopefully you get the picture.

I really thought I could sit here and write this all out with no reaction, being today I am 47 years old, but what I found was the little girl back there.

I was angry for my childhood being robbed from me.

Life-changing moment

After the incident that day, I was never the same. My mother was used as a threat to me to keep my mouth shut. I remember lying awake just to hear her car pull in when she worked evenings, horrified of something happening to her. I stayed under her the entire time she would be home.

I remember when we would have grown up company over on weekends; I would crawl under the dining room table and hide at her feet. Until the day she died, I lived my life for her, never ventured far from her, and spent as much time with her as I could, which was usually daily.

I loved her so much that I felt like I was a hero more than a victim, saving her from pain, when truth is I wanted to tell her this horrible secret and have her hold me tight and nurture my forever damaged little soul.

After molestation happens, people

Take action In Herkimer and Oneida counties, the YWCA Mohawk Valley provides 24-hour crisis services for child and adult victims and survivors, including a confidential hotline, advocacy and accompaniment throughout police, hospital, and legal procedures, counseling, support group, information, and referrals to other services.

It doesn’t matter when the abuse or assault occurred. Services are provided regardless and are free and confidential.

The YWCA’s hotline numbers are: 866-0748 in Herkimer County and 797-7740 in Oneida County.

Additionally, Oneida County operates a child advocacy center that works with child victims of sexual abuse and/or severe physical abuse in this county.

To get help, people can call 732-3990. think, “it’s over, why are you STILL hanging onto the details and using it as an excuse for things in your life”? I can assure you since my days of being molested, each detail is just as vivid in my life today as it was 40 something years ago, and it never goes away. I got a break from him when we moved to our new house, but we had family gatherings all the time and there he would be, glaring at me, making motions for me to meet him around the corner or

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • November 2012

something, as if this was a “play date” for me.

The scars from being molested as a child are scars you cannot erase. I became a very withdrawn little girl, afraid of men, afraid of the dark, and knew all too much about sex at a very young age. That is another thing that humiliates me to say as a grown up. I did things as a child that when I think back on it, I feel such shame in myself as if I had a blinking sign on me saying what I had done.

Emotional destruction

I grew up so insecure, nervous, attention-seeking and at times self-destructive. The ability to maintain a real, wholesome relationship with anyone other than my children, I have yet to be successful in. I look at my little girl when she sleeps and I go back to when it was me that would have loved to lie in a bed, safe and sound, dreaming about the things little girls dream.

I repeat the vow that I will give all of me to protect her from evil, making sure she has a childhood of happy, fun, warm memories, instead of flashbacks of people and moments that slowly robbed me of what should have been the best chapter in my life.

I see her and see a love that I have never dreamed of having. An understanding of pain and how easily at the age of 6 your feelings and emotions can be impacted, in both good and bad ways.

When I decided to write this series, I was unprepared for the ladies and the stories I would hear. As I sat and read or listened to each one, story-by-story, we all looked the same. It was as if we were all in the same nightmare together—same signs, same repercussions, and same sadness.

Each one of us discussed how hard it is to trust. How easy it is to be vulnerable and how sad it is to be this lonely even when surrounded by people. Each of us had a history of trying to please everyone but ourselves, weight issues, the need for positive attention, and the overwhelming feeling

Continued on Page 13

Child sexual abuse leaves Mary in the Middle lifelong scars Continued from Page 12 we are never good enough.

Guilt has become our closest friend, forgiveness almost unbearable.

The ability to distance ourselves from people is remarkable, with our fair share of failures. Some spoke of sexual issues even up to today. A couple told me of their many divorces, and children that didn’t reveal their nightmare because of the fear, “What will people think of me if they knew”?

Today I am a grown woman who still has flashbacks to the barn, of the many times I would give in and do things that I knew was wrong. I feel overwhelmed about a grown person being able to live with themselves after doing any kind of harm to a child.

I can be in a room full of people when suddenly I feel just like a little girl again, needing to be nurtured, held and made to feel safe. I am still a very nervous person; I talk fast and need to be liked. I have a tendency of wearing my feelings on my sleeve and take it personally as if I have done something wrong if someone is simply having a bad day. I have to do things with perfection or it’s not acceptable. I am humbled by my growing success in my career, but have a hard time accepting praise and compliments from others and feel undeserving of it all.

I could sit here and keep listing the things I find as my faults. This exact description of me describes all the other ladies who blessed me with their own story of hell. I have a love for children that is deep within me, that drives me forward, helping as many as I can. It tugs at my heart when I see one with special needs. Being blessed with a child with autism, I have seen both sides of the fence, as a mother of a child with special needs and as the child that needed a voice.

I cringe at the thought of just as I am typing this, thousands of children right now are being raped, tortured, abused and even murdered. After I revealed my nightmare to my family when I was 19, I heard, “People just didn’t talk about stuff like this. It was a family secret.” Family secrets destroy lives, usually the lives of innocent ones.

I was at an event recently where numerous celebrities were speaking and singing about peace in our world.

Martin Luther King III made a statement that changed me forever, and when I doubt myself in the things I do, I remember this: “It is a disgrace if you die and leave this earth having not done something good and positive with your life.”

Now read that again and again. I know many people who are adults now that have grown up from a childhood of sexual abuse. I want to say to you: You are not alone; I stand with you.

To those with small children, protect them, listen to them, and trust them to no one.

If they begin to show signs of change, do not assume its growing pains. Nobody will protect and love your child the way you do. There are many organizations needing volunteers to reach out to those that are affected by sexual abuse, many roles you could fill. If you would like to be a part of the world that helps mend broken spirits, reach out to them. You may be what encourages them to continue on, and may give them the only hug they ever got. It is never too late to help dry someone’s tears.

• Malissa Allen is a staff writer with Mohawk Valley In Good Health newspaper. Her “Ragin’ Cajun” column appears monthly. To contact her, email her at jman41904@gmail.com.

Medicare open enrollment now through Dec. 7

M

edicare is stronger than ever with more benefits, better choices, and lower costs to beneficiaries.

Expanded Medicare benefits under the health care law (the Affordable Care Act) continue to be available, including certain free preventive benefits, cancer screenings and an annual wellness visit.

Whether one chooses original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan, take advantage of open enrollment to review cost, coverage, or both for 2013.

• More benefits: Certain preventive benefits—including cancer screenings—are available with no cost to patients when furnished by qualified and participating health professionals.

The annual wellness visit allows people to sit down and discuss with their doctor their health care needs and the best ways to stay healthy.

• Better choices: Medicare will notify beneficiaries about plan performance and use its online plan finder to encourage enrollment in quality plans.

• Lower costs: Average premiums for 2013 for prescription drug coverage and Medicare health plans will remain stable. People who are in the “donut hole” in Medicare’s prescription drug

benefit will enjoy 50 percent discounts on covered brand name drugs and see increased savings on generic drugs.

Open enrollment is the one time of year when all people with Medicare can see what new benefits Medicare has to offer and make changes to their coverage.

• Visit www.medicare.gov/find-aplan to compare your current coverage with all of the options that are available in your area and enroll in a new plan if you decide to make a change.

• Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800633-4227) 24 hours a day/seven days a week to find out more about coverage options. TTY users should call 1-877486-2048.

• Review the “Medicare & You” 2013 handbook. It is mailed to people with Medicare in September.

• If you have limited income and resources, you may be able to get extra help paying your prescription drug coverage costs. For more information, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/i1020 or call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213.

TTY users should call 1-800-325-0778.

• A state health insurance assistance program will provide one-on-one help. Visit www.medicare.gov/contacts or call 1-800-MEDICARE to get the phone number.

By Mary Stevenson

The Sandwich Generation

What’s it like to find yourself in the middle of elderly parents, children?

Editor’s note: “Mary in the Middle” is a monthly column by Vernon Center’s Mary Stevenson as she wrestles with caring for her aging parents, her older children who still need her, and her young foster children who grace her doorstep. She fully realizes she is not the only caretaker and hopes to let others who are doing the same know that they are not alone.

She has been a writer for over a decade and lives in central New York with her husband and children.

A

s I watch our 15month-old foster son meander through the house, touching everything he sees, I am typing on the computer.

My husband is on his laptop in the living room and the television is on.

We are living married life.

Sometimes it seems like we are the only ones who do this; then I realize my parStevenson ents lived life too.

It’s hard to imagine a world without television, phones, computers, Internet, all the technology that we can’t seem to live without.

Hundreds of thousands did that before; some still do that now.

My father watched family entertainment go from gathering around the radio on a Saturday night to television and movies to computers and the Internet. My mother played sports after school before Title IX gave women the right to do so. They both worked hard for what they wanted in their business and professional lives, something they taught us girls all about.

They met. They fell in love. They married and had children. They had good years and they had bad years.

They watched family members come and go, birth to death, as the life cycle

ran its course. They entertained family with barbecues, holiday celebrations and anytime gatherings just to get together. They raised their children with love, patience, understanding and loyalty. They watched their children grow and sprout wings of their own.

Then they were able to do their own things—go bowling, have quiet dinners alone, take trips. The empty nest made for a time of reconnecting with each other and time to take up hobbies they didn’t know they wanted to.

Grandchildren brightened their lives, one at a time. Three boys came along, then four girls and a boy.

Watching their faces light up when their grandchildren came to visit was priceless. It still is a sight to see.

But now, old age and disease is robbing them of their lives. Cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s—all take from my parents in one way or another. We watch as they struggle to perform daily tasks like getting dressed and taking a shower. We, as daughters, struggle to help them as best we can, to keep their dignity intact, above all else.

Now it is our turn to take care of them as well as our families and all that we have going on a day-to-day basis.

We are the Sandwich Generation.

We may not be officially Baby Boomers by year of birth, but we are going through the same toils as they are. We strive to provide the best lives for our children and our parents all while trying to figure out who we are and who we want to become.

It’s a labor of love all the way around.

• Mary Stevenson is a contributing writer for Mohawk Valley In Good Health. Her “Mary in the Middle” column appears monthly in the newspaper.

Local prescription drug plan earns top marks from Medicare

T

he prescription drug plan BlueCross BlueShield Rx PDP is one of four standalone Medicare Part D plans in the nation and the only such plan in New York state with the highest quality star rating from the federal government for 2013.

BlueCross BlueShield Rx PDP is offered locally and throughout the state

by New York’s independent Blue Cross Blue Shield plans.

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, in cooperation with Empire BlueCross BlueShield, Empire BlueCross, BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York and BlueShield of Northeastern New York, administers the prescription drug plan.

BlueCross BlueShield Rx PDP will

November 2012 •

provide drug coverage for Medicareeligible individuals in New York state who are eligible for Medicare Part A (hospital coverage) and/or enrolled in Medicare Part B (physician and medical coverage).

Medicare Part D plans have emerged as a popular option for adults aged 65 and older, with nine out of 10 seniors satisfied with these plans, according to a Medicare Today survey conducted from Aug. 31 through Sept.

10 by KRC Research. The survey is available at MedicareToday.org.

CMS rates standalone Part D plans on a variety of measures, including customer service, member complaints, and medication adherence.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 13

The Balanced Body

By Deb Dittner

Are you part of the health crisis?

Take control of your personal health and change the world

O

ur world is facing a multi-faceted crisis.

Health care today has become more of a “sick” care system as the rise in obesity, heart disease, thyroid conditions and diabetes are abounding.

Research shows that type 2 diabetes has tripled since the 1980s and by 2015 (not that far away) 2.3 billion people will be overweight and 700 million will be obese.

And by 2020, one in two Americans will have diabetes and most of those will still not be diagnosed.

Weight issues, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, dementia and more are problems derived from insulin imbalances. Often Dittner times, people have these conditions and don’t even realize it.

This all sounds somewhat bleak, I know, but if each and every person takes control of their health and makes lifestyle changes, you can improve your overall wellness.

There are many factors that affect our health and wellness.

• Optimal nutrition: Hippocrates

said “Let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food.”

Eating whole foods that are real and fresh that you prepare yourself will prevent, manage and reverse illness.

Eliminating processed foods, sugar, white flour and caffeine (all empty calories) then adding dark green leafy vegetables, omega 3 fatty acids found in seafood, nuts and seeds, lean meat and skinless poultry, legumes, and fruits will help to lower the risk of developing diabetes and other conditions. Adding approximately ½ teaspoon of cinnamon to the diet has also been shown to increase glucose metabolism.

• Movement: Physical movement of 30 to 45 minutes most days of the week will reduce blood sugar, blood pressure, lower bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol, decrease the risk of heart disease and stroke, and improve the body’s ability to use insulin.

A combination of strength training, aerobic activity and burst training will enhance energy, making every day

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more enjoyable.

• Decrease inflammation: It’s a vicious cycle in that what causes inflammation will cause insulin resistance, and anything that causes insulin resistance will cause inflammation. Confusing but one will trigger the other, and vice versa. Triggers of inflammation are sugars, processed foods, hidden food allergies and sensitivities, refined carbohydrates, artificial sweeteners and trans-fats.

• Balance hormones: Insulin is the main hormone to be balanced in diabetes but balancing all of the hormones improves overall health. Thyroid hormones, adrenal or stress hormones, and sex hormones are all interrelated affecting each other. When one is out of balance, others will also be thrown out of control.

• Improve overall digestion: The bacteria in the digestive tract has changed over the years due to processed foods, increased fat, increased sugar, and decreased fiber in the diet causing insulin resistance and inflammation. Antibiotic overuse, acid blockers, anti-inflammatory medications and steroids also aggravate this. These injure and change the gut flora, leading to inflammation.

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• Detoxify the body: Environmental toxins are creating havoc on and in the body. Endocrine disruptors and carcinogenic ingredients found in shampoo and conditioners, plastic food storage containers, canned goods containers, just to name a few, will increase the risk of developing diabetes, heart disease and abnormal liver functions.

• Decrease stress: Chronic stress on the body causes an increase in insulin, cortisol and inflammation. This in turn leads to weight gain and insulin resistance, and eventually diabetes. Breathing techniques, physical movement, yoga, meditation, saunas, and even laughing can have a huge effect on the stress response.

Blood work ordered by a health care provider will determine if you have any of the above mentioned health issues. The numbers that health care providers look at in someone with diabetes are a fasting blood sugar, Hemoglobin A1c, fasting random insulin level, liver enzymes, magnesium and Vitamin D. Other blood work should also be ordered when looking at other conditions.

• Deb Dittner is a family nurse practitioner, Reiki master and a holistic health counselor. Visit her website as www.the-balanced-body.com.

Celebrate National Eating Healthy Day

T

he American Heart Association invites all Americans to celebrate National Eating Healthy Day Nov. 7.

National Eating Healthy Day is a day to raise awareness about the importance of making healthy food choices and to incorporate healthier foods into a daily diet, foods such as fresh vegetables, more fruit, fish, and other healthy choices.

National Eating Healthy Day encourages people to make small changes each day and reinforces the importance of good nutrition and being physically active.

For a healthy diet, the American Heart Association recommends:

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • November 2012

• Fruits and vegetables: At least 4.5 cups a day • Fish (preferably oily fish): At least two 3.5-ounce servings a week • Fiber-rich whole grains: At least three 1-ounce-equivalent servings a day • Sodium: Less than 1,500 mg a day • Sugar-sweetened beverages: No more than 450 calories (36 ounces) a week • Nuts, legumes and seeds: At least four servings a week • Processed meats: No more than two servings a week • Saturated fat: Less than 7 percent of total energy intake

Sticking it to cancer

By Jim Miller

Clinton school community rallies for PE teacher fighting disease

By Patricia J. Malin

E

ven the Halloween pumpkins were pink with envy as Christina Buschmann, a physical education teacher and coach at Clinton Central School, was honored at a special Pink Ribbon Day. Following her annual mammography in August, Buschmann, 53, learned she has Stage I breast cancer. After notifying her family and close friends, Buschmann said she decided to go public when she returned to school a few weeks later in September.

From the beginning, she has been remarkably comfortable in disclosing her condition and her determination to fight it. Buschmann was scheduled to undergo a mastectomy Oct. 29 at Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare’s St. Luke’s campus.

She freely discussed her condition with fellow faculty and members of her modified field hockey team.

Not surprisingly, the field hockey varsity team, coached by Heather Hillage-Scribner, plus the JV and modified teams, all rallied around Buschmann.

At Hillage-Scribner’s suggestion, the teams arranged a “Stick It to Cancer” Day on Oct. 3 when Clinton hosted Little Falls in a Center State Conference game.

Billed as a “Play for the Cure,” parents and students from both schools turned out in large numbers to support the fundraiser by buying raffle tickets, gift baskets, baked goods and hairstyling services (braiding, pink hair extensions, and donations to Locks of Love).

The players from the Clinton modified and JV teams helped out during the event, and cheerleaders entertained during half time. Baked goods that were not sold at the event were sold at Clinton school during lunch the next day.

Approximately $1,700 was donated to the Susan G. Komen Fund and the Carol Baldwin Cancer Foundation. “It could be even more than that,” said Buschmann a week after the event.

“The money is still coming in.”

“This is the first time that our field hockey team has hosted such an event,” Hillage-Scribner explained.

“We felt the need to show Christina our support during this challenging time. Basically, I ran the idea by my varsity field hockey team. They were so excited and I then presented it to some team parents. The idea has blossomed and some team parents have taken the

reins and run.”

Both the Clinton Warriors and Little Falls Mounties made modifications to their uniforms that day, each girl wearing pink knee socks and special T-shirts with Play For The Cure emblazoned in bright pink. They also managed to play the game officially with a pink ball.

Think pink

Hillage-Scriber said the fundraiser was planned not only for her friend and colleague, but to show support for survivors of breast cancer in general.

Many of the fans wore pink shirts, too, including some proudly displaying shirts labeled “survivor.”

Buschmann’s mother, Marlene Brown, executive director of the Children’s Museum of Science and Technology in Utica, added steam to the project by notifying the local media of the Clinton event a few days prior to the game.

“When I asked Christina if I could use her name in the press release, she said, “‘Absolutely!”’ said Brown. “(She) plans on being an advocate of early detection, staying healthy and having a positive mental attitude to help (her) through the tough times. Her philosophy is to be proactive. She knows that by facing it head-on, you will survive.

But it’s also important to get tested regularly.”

As she stood on the sidelines during the varsity game, greeting friends and answering questions from local reporters, Buschmann said she was amazed by the fan turnout. “It’s in honor of me, but I don’t need the money,” she said.

Buschmann intends to remain as physically active as possible throughout her treatment; it’s almost unavoidable. In addition to her coaching duties, she is chairwoman of physical education and health for the Clinton Central School District, a physical education teacher at the Clinton Middle School and director of the community fitness center.

With innumerable balloons, tents and fundraising tables, children playing gaily and local residents out walking their dogs, the scene more closely resembled a village fair. A group of cyclists from the local Ride For Missing Children (who wore their classic blue and pink jerseys) also turned out to show support. Though the weather was gloomy and cool throughout the day, the mood was extremely upbeat.

“I’m very grateful for this today,” Buschmann added. “They’re doing it

STORY IDEAS?

Email them to lou@cnymail.com

Vaccination options for seniors this flu season Dear Savvy Senior, Are there any new or different types of vaccines being recommended to seniors this flu season?

Health Conscious Carol Dear Carol, There are actually several different types of flu shots available to seniors this year, along with a new FDAapproved shot for pneumonia. Here are your options.

Flu Shots

Just as they do every year, the CDC strongly recommends a seasonal flu shot to almost everyone, but it’s especially important for seniors who are more vulnerable. The flu puts more than 200,000 people in the hospital each year and kills around 24,000 — 90 percent of whom are seniors.

This year, all seniors 65 and older have two flu vaccine options from which to choose. A traditional flu shot or a shot of Fluzone High-Dose.

The high-dose vaccine contains four times the amount of antigen (the part of the vaccine that prompts the body to make antibody) as a regular flu shot does, which creates a stronger immune response for better protection.

And if you’re under age 65, your two options are a regular flu shot or a shot of Fluzone Intradermal. The intradermal vaccine uses a shorter, thinner needle to inject the vaccine just under the skin, rather than deeper in the muscle like standard flu shots. If you’re squeamish about needles, this is a nice option.

You also need to be aware that if you’re allergic to chicken eggs or if you have had a severe reaction to a flu vaccine in the past you should not get vaccinated without consulting your doctor first.

November 2012 •

To locate a vaccination site that offers regular, high-dose and intradermal flu shots, ask your doctor or pharmacist, or check the online flu-shot locator at flu.gov. Most chains like CVS, Walgreens, Safeway, Kmart, Walmart and Rite Aid offer all types of shots.

You’ll also be happy to know that if you’re a Medicare beneficiary, Part B will cover 100 percent of the costs of any flu shot. But if you’re not covered, you can expect to pay around $25 to $35 for a regular or intradermal flu shot, or $50 to $60 for a shot of the high-dose.

Pneumonia Vaccine

The other important vaccination the CDC recommends to seniors — especially this time of year — is the pneumococcal vaccine for pneumonia and meningitis. Pneumococcal diseases hospitalize around 300,000 U.S. seniors each year, and kills around 5,000.

The CDC currently recommends all seniors 65 or older get a one-time only shot of the vaccine Pneumovax, as well as those under 65 who smoke or have chronic health conditions like asthma, lung and heart disease, diabetes, or a weakened immune system.

Pneumovax, which protects against 23 strains of the pneumococcal disease, is also covered 100 percent under Medicare Part B, and you can get it on the same day you get your flu shot. If you’re not covered by insurance, this vaccine costs around $45 to $85 at retail clinics.

You also need to know that this year, there’s an alternative pneumococcal vaccine available to people age 50 and older called Prevnar 13. This vaccine, which has been available to children for several years, may provide seniors longer lasting and better protection against pneumonia than Pneumovax.

Talk to your doctor to determine which pneumonia vaccine is best for you.

Prevnar 13 is also covered by most insurers including Medicare Part B, but if you aren’t covered the shot runs between $100 and $150.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit www.savvysenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 15

Between You and Me

How to get people to do what you want them to do H ere’s something about myself I don’t often admit: I think I know best about how people around me should behave. If they would just listen to me and do what I say, their lives would run so much better.

If he would just listen to me, my husband wouldn’t get into those fights with his daughter when she gets mad and refuses to talk to him for six months and he mopes around waiting for her to call. My daughter wouldn’t be trying to run a business with her husband so that they can’t stand the sight of each other most of the time.

Of course they don’t listen to me. Anyone with half a brain doesn’t let his mother or partner tell them what they should do. They Pierce don’t want to hear it. They totally tune you out if you try to tell them.

But I think I have discovered something important that works a lot better than anything else to get people to do what you want them to: positive reinforcement.

When they make the slightest move in the direction you want them to go, praise them. They will keep going in that direction. It works so much better than pointing out to them that they didn’t do it right, which doesn’t work at all.

You’ve seen those dolphins at Sea World that do such amazing tricks. They astonish us as they do synchronized flips or create bubble hoops to jump through. There is always a trainer there, handing out fish treats liberally each time the dolphin completes an act of wonder.

That’s how they train the dolphin, by rewarding him every time he makes the slightest move in the right direction.

They get him to do an impressive series of maneuvers by rewarding him with fish every time he makes the smallest move in the right direction.

This works really well with people too—both adults and children move in the direction of the rewards. Rewards as simple as noticing when they do something right and letting them know. We all love that.

When I tell my husband with a glowing smile, “Thanks for getting that wonderful snapper for our dinner, and it’s so good,” he loves this. Loves it so much that he’ll go out tomorrow and buy and cook something for our dinner.

I’m happy, he’s happy; what could be better?

When I remember to say: “I like our

bedroom so much better when there aren’t dirty clothes lying all over the floor,” the dirty clothes land in the clothes hamper more often. When I yell at him for his dirty clothes on the floor, that doesn’t work at all. Probably makes the problem worse.

I do have to work at it—work to remember to praise someone for doing the right thing—instead of yelling at them for doing it wrong. It’s my natural tendency to point out what went wrong.

I think most of us are like this: We’re quick to point out what others do wrong. Watch most any parent, and you’ll hear a pretty continuous stream of correction aimed at their child. “Don’t touch that, it’s dirty.” “Don’t hit your sister.” “Don’t talk back to me.” We train our children by correcting them when they move in the wrong direction, instead of guiding them to the right direction.

Teaching people about how you want them to behave by using praise works especially well with kids.

They’re eager to please and love to hear that they have done well. Kids do most everything wrong at first when they are learning. How much better to ease them in the right direction by letting them know what they are doing right?

Kind of like that game you may have played as a child. You hide something and the other one finds it by you telling him: “You’re getting warmer; you’re getting warmer, you’re getting hot!”

Test it out for yourself. Notice how often you correct your child or partner when they do things wrong.

Notice what behavior they do bothers you more than anything else. Then do an experiment. See what happens if you never open your mouth to mention it when they do it wrong, and you praise them for the least move in the right direction. See how many days it takes for them to change the way you want them to.

After all, we’re not so different from dolphins.

• Barbara Pierce is a retired licensed clinical social worker with many years’ experience in helping people. If you would like to purchase a copy of her book, “If I’m so fantastic, why am I still single?” contact her at BarbaraPierce06@yahoo.com, or contact her if you have any concerns you would like her to address.

ADVERTISE WITH IN GOOD HEALTH Page 16

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CALENDAR of

By Barbara Pierce

ADVERTISE ONCE, GET RESULTS ALL MONTH LONG

HEALTH EVENTS

Continued from Page 2 Falls.

This event showcases the best of area restaurants and chefs, and attracts over 200 people every year.

Admission is $45 per person. To receive information on sponsorship opportunities and to purchase tickets in advance, contact the Little Falls Hospital Development Office at 315-823-5326.

Nov. 7

St. E’s SOR gets set for open house St. Elizabeth Medical Center School of Radiography in Utica is holding an open house beginning at 6 p.m. Nov. 7 in the multi-purpose room at the St. Elizabeth College of Nursing, 2215 Genesee St. Reservations can be made by calling 798-8258 or by email to dgleasman@stemc.org.

Parking is available at the Marian Medical Professional Building located next to the college of nursing building.

Nov. 7

Leadership program to feature annual mixer Leadership Mohawk Valley will hold its annual mixer from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Nov. 7 at Club Monarch, 16 Erie St., Yorkville.

The evening will include a chance to mix with LMV alumni, board members and Class of 2013, and will include hors d’oeuvres and raffles for one of several prizes.

Admission to the event is $25 per person and includes a complimentary ticket upon entry to be used for either raffle or beverage.

Leadership Mohawk Valley is a 10-month professional development program that builds greater community leadership and civic responsibility.

Over 600 people have graduated from the program in its 20-plus years.

RSVP by Oct. 31 at www.leadershipmohawkvalley.net or by calling 315-792-7551.

Nov. 9-10

Margaret’s House, Jordan Road.

To register for the workshop or for more information, visit www.jackiemichel.com or call 315-859-1470.

Nov. 10

Be prepared to survive the holiday season “Surviving the Holidays” will be presented in two individual programs at The Good News Center, 10475 Cosby Manor Road, Utica.

GriefShare will meet from 10 a.m. to noon Nov. 10, while Divorce Care will be held from 1-3 p.m. Nov. 10.

For details on these free programs and to register, call The Good News Center at 315-735-6210 or visit TheGoodNewsCenter.org—Events Calendar.

Nov. 14

Good News to feature luncheon series The Good News Center, 10475 Cosby Manor Road, Utica, will present its luncheon series featuring Sr. Grace Ann Dillenschneider from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 14.

The cost is $10 per person.

Sr. Grace Ann Dillenschneider of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities recently returned from Rome where she learned about the life of newly canonized St. Marianne Cope.

For details and registration, call The Good News Center at 315-735-6210 or visit TheGoodNewsCenter.org— Events Calendar.

Nov. 17

You deserve it: take time for caregivers’ retreat A caregivers’ retreat featuring Meg Castellini will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 17 at The Good News Center, 10475 Cosby Manor Road, Utica.

The cost is $20 per person, which includes lunch.

For details and registration, call The Good News Center at 315-735-6210 or visit TheGoodNewsCenter.org— Events Calendar.

Nov. 21

Workshop focuses on being Sharps disposal available thankful, happy at Sitrin J. Michel Associates will conduct a

one-day workshop exploring the link between gratitude and happiness Nov. 9 and Nov. 10 in New Hartford.

Participants will learn practical ways to incorporate gratitude into their daily lives.

The workshop, entitled “Be Happier. A New Science. A New Outlook” will give participants the tools needed to start thinking about being thankful all year.

The session will start at 9:30 a.m. and wrap up by 12:30 p.m. A morning coffee break and a light lunch are included in the registration cost of $75. The workshop will be held at St.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • November 2012

Sitrin Health Care Center in New Hartford provides a sharps disposal program, accepting needles, syringes, and lancets from private residences.

Sharps may be dropped off at the maintenance garage of the Sitrin Health Care Center, Tilden Avenue in New Hartford, from 10-11 a.m. and 5-6 p.m. on the third Wednesday of every month.

Sharps must be in a shatter proof, leak-proof container, and clearly labeled “biohazard.”

For more information about Sitrin’s sharps disposal program, call 315-7372415.

Diabetes ‘Why me?’

H ealth News Local Catholic Charities has new leader

Columnist learns to accept diabetes

By Barbara Pierce

“

Me? Diabetes? No way!”

That was my reaction when the doctor told me I had diabetes.

I knew the symptoms: frequent urination, extreme hunger or thirst, fatigue, irritability.

I didn’t have these symptoms. I’d never been overweight. I exercised regularly, and ate a fairly healthy diet.

My sister, well, yes. She has diabetes, but she’s overweight, doesn’t exercise and eats poorly. Why me?

“Diabetes is a disease that has reached epidemic proportions in the past 10 years.

In diabetes, your level of blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is above normal,” said Caroline Jacobus, certified diabetes Pierce educator for the Central NY Diabetes Education program. “It is caused because the pancreas does not make enough insulin, or because the cells do not use insulin properly, or both. As a result, the amount of glucose in the blood increases, while the cells are starved of energy.

“Diabetes and pre-diabetes can be sneaky and you may not even know you have it,” she added.

When blood sugar is not managed, a number of complications can occur, including heart attack or stroke, blindness, kidney failure, and nerve damage leading to amputations.

Persons over 65 are at high risk for the disease. I was only 60. Why me?

So I did what any normal healthy person would do when learning she has a disease that will drastically change her view of herself: I minimized and denied. “I don’t need medication.

I’ll beat this with diet and exercise,” I told my doctor.

Beyond diet, exercise

One year later: “Your plan isn’t working,” my doctor said. “While diet and exercise work for some people, your diabetes cannot be controlled by diet and exercise alone.”

Soon after I started on medication, I had my first experience with a low blood sugar crash. I didn’t know what was wrong. I was weak, shaky, broke out in a cold sweat. Worst of all, my brain switched to “off.” I couldn’t think clearly or even speak coherently.

Stuffing handfuls of hard candy in my mouth gradually brought me back to normal. It was scary.

Low blood sugar episodes are caused when the glucose circulation in your body drops to a low level, and your body takes more from the back

up storage in your liver. The symptoms come as your body works to get glucose back in circulation. The brain needs glucose to function, and when it has no back-up source to draw on, you become incoherent and confused.

Low blood sugar reactions are more harmful to your body than high blood sugar, my doctor explained as he changed my medication. Now I am careful not to go too long without eating, and carry glucose tablets with me.

My doctor suggested I go to a diabetes education class. I said no way.

“Diabetes education should be included for all patients with diabetes,” says Jacobus. “Education helps people with diabetes initiate effective self-management and cope with diabetes when they are first diagnosed.”

So I gave in and found a class in my area. What I heard from the pullno-punches instructor was that poorly controlled diabetes will do much harm to your body.

She did not say it “may” do harm.

She clearly said that it “will” do harm, no doubt about it.

Diabetes is a hefty opponent that you must take notice of and you must control.

Hereditary factors

“It’s not your fault that you have diabetes. It’s your genes that are responsible.” When I heard the instructor say this, tears came to my eyes.

I walked out of the class angry. “I am so mad!” I said over and over, as I pounded up and down the stairs for my morning exercise. “I don’t want this! I shouldn’t have this!”

The instructor emphasized exercise. “Start small,” she said. “Just do something for 10 minutes or so, then build up your time.” So I went up and down the stairs.

Looking at carbohydrates is important, I learned. Women should not eat more than 30-45 grams of carbohydrates per meal. For men it is 45-60.

Eat four or five small meals a day to keep within these limits. Learn to read labels.

Sugar-free foods are not the way to go. They are not low-calorie, low-fat, or even low in carbohydrates. The artificial sweeteners heighten your appetite and you end up eating more. My sister is big on sugar-free foods. But, despite the fact that she religiously eats only sugar-free foods, her diabetes has never been under good control.

That’s not the way to go.

Nutritionists are available to help with meal planning. Talking with a nutritionist helped me recognize what to eat and what to avoid.

CNY Diabetes classes are available both days and evening, held in Utica, Barneveld, and Herkimer. Medicare and most insurance cover the cost.

For more information, call 315-6245620.

• Barbara Pierce is a staff writer and columnist with Mohawk Valley In Good Health.

Denise L. Cavanaugh is the new executive director of Catholic Charities of Oneida & Madison Counties.

In this role, she oversees an $8 million budget and the work of over 200 staff and volunteers of the local Catholic Charities.

Catholic Charities provides a network of Cavanaugh multi-faceted services, including community assistance, counseling, adoption, residences for special needs populations as well as mental health and substance abuse services.

Cavanaugh takes the Catholic Charities helm after serving three years as the business development director with The House of the Good Shepherd in Utica.

Just prior to employment with The House, she held the position of executive director of the YWCA of the Mohawk Valley in Utica.

She received her Bachelor of Science degree in management/economics from Russell Sage College in Troy and a Master of Science degree from SUNY Oneonta.

Her awards have included Business & Professional Women’s Woman of the Year and the United Way’s Isabel Arthur Award for distinguished community service.

FNP joins Boonville Family Care Family nurse practitioner Melissa Muha has joined the staff of Boonville Family Care.

Muha will be soon be joined by full-time family practice physician Elizabeth Lykling, who will begin seeing patients Nov. 1.

“Recruiting primary care providers for rural areas is often difficult because of the nationwide shortage,” said Tracey Muha Hamilton, clinic administrator. “Rome Memorial Hospital remains committed to our patients in the North Country and to providing the highest level of care.”

Lykling will replace Eustace Huggins, who has been helping the practice provide primary care to residents while Rome Memorial Hospital searched for a full-time provider for Boonville Family Care.

The full-time providers will join Vivienne Taylor, pediatrician and internal medicine physician, and Libby Gleasman, nurse practitioner, in meet-

November 2012 •

ing the community’s primary care needs.

A native of Boonville, Muha said she knows the importance of accessible healthcare in a rural area and being able to provide care for her community is important to her. “This gives me a chance to give back to the place where I grew up and still call home,” Muha said. “Working in a small-town clinic allows me to have a more interpersonal connection with my patients.”

After working for eight years as a registered nurse, Muha decided to expand her knowledge of medicine and become a nurse practitioner to make a positive impact on her patient’s health.

Muha received her Associate of Science degree in nursing from Mohawk Valley Community College; her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Keuka College, Keuka Park; and her Master of Science degree in family health from SUNY IT, Marcy.

She and her husband, Glen, reside in Boonville with their 1-year-old son, Alexander.

Family practitioner joins Boonville Family Care Beth Lykling, a family practitioner, will be joining Boonville Family Care full time beginning Nov. 1.

“Dr. Lykling is the perfect fit for our Boonville family,” said Tracey Hamilton, practice manager.

“She is an exceptional physician, with worldclass training from major Lykling medical centers.”

Originally from nearby Mohawk, Lykling said she was searching for a community that was close to home after spending time on both sides of the country. “After spending time in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Washington, I can truly say that nothing feels like home quite like Central New York,” she said.

Board certified in family medicine by the American Board of Family Medicine, Lykling earned her medical degree at the Albany Medical College in Albany. She completed her residency in family medicine, with a concentration in integrative medicine at Tufts University in Malden, Mass.

Located at 13407 state Route 12, in Boonville, Boonville Family Care is a family practice that also offers an on-site laboratory collection center for blood work and other tests

FSLH #1 in state for bariatric surgery For the second year in a row, Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare in Utica has been named the top hospital in the state and among the top hospitals in the nation for its bariatric surgery program with a 5-star rating by HealthGrades.

Continued on Page 18

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 17

H ealth News Continued from Page 17 Favorable outcomes for bariatric surgery patients at FSLH earned the organization a #1 ranking in New York state for bariatric surgery in 2011 and 2012, and among the top 5 percent in the nation for bariatric surgery.

FSLH is also a recipient of the HealthGrades Bariatric Surgery Excellence Award for the fifth consecutive year. The hospital is a designated Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

William A. Graber, bariatric surgeon and medical director for the program, founded the program in 2002.

The bariatric surgery program is located at the St. Luke’s Campus of FSLH and performs an average of 50 procedures a month.

FSLH Foundation event boosts St. Luke’s Home The Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare Foundation’s annual wine tasting and auction benefiting St. Luke’s Home was held recently at the Sadaquada Golf Club in Whitesboro.

The event raised more than $35,000 for St. Luke’s Home.

St. Luke’s Home is a 202-bed facility with a 41-bed sub-acute rehabilitation unit. Proceeds from the wine tasting and auction continue to benefit the residents who make St. Luke’s Home their home. A portion of this year’s proceeds will be used for special equipment for the St. Luke’s Home gazebo.

The gazebo will provide a pleasant and safe area for residents to enjoy the outdoors and attend picnics and special functions.

FSLH makes staff announcement Nader Elgharib has joined the practice of Mohawk Valley Cardiology and Ramzi F. Nassif, located on the fourth floor of the Faxton Campus at Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare in Utica.

Prior to joining Mohawk Valley Cardiology, Elgharib Elgharib worked as an interventional cardiologist at the University of Vermont, Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington, Vt. Elgharib earned his Doctor of Medicine from Saint Joseph University in Beirut, Lebanon. He completed a residency in internal medicine at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tenn., a fellowship in cardiovascular diseases, a fellowship in interventional cardiology at Montreal Heart Institute in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and a fellowship in interventional cardiology at Page 18

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Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Center in New York, N.Y. Elgharib is board-certified in internal medicine, cardiology and interventional cardiology.

FSLH makes medical staff announcement Andrew T. Pellecchia has joined Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare’s gastroenterology department.

Pellecchia performs advanced endoscopic procedures including esophageal ultrasound, endoscopic mucosal resection and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

In addiPellecchia tion to these procedures, he also performs HALO therapy for the treatment of Barrett’s esophagus.

Pellecchia earned his Bachelor of Arts in biology from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and Doctor of Medicine from SUNY Upstate Medical University’s College of Medicine in Syracuse.

He completed an internship and residency in internal medicine at Yale New Haven Hospital in New Haven, Conn., and a fellowship in gastroenterology at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx.

Prior to joining FSLH, Pellecchia held attending positions at Jacobi Medical Center in Bronx and Crystal Run Healthcare in Middletown.

He is affiliated with Digestive Disease Medicine of Central New York.

Pellecchia is a member of the American College of Gastroenterology, the American Gastroenterological Association and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. He is board-certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology.

FSLH unveils new inpatient rehab unit Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare in Utica recently hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its new acute inpatient rehabilitation unit.

The rehab unit is located at the new Center for Rehabilitation and Continuing Care Services on the site of the St. Luke’s Home at 1650 Champlin Ave., and was made possible by a $31.3 million grant from New York state.

The public was invited to tour the facility, which is nearing its final stages of completion. The center is awaiting final approval from the New York State Department of Health before it can admit patients, possibly by the end of November.

FSLH estimates approximately 450 patients are admitted to the inpatient rehab unit annually. They are individu-

als who have suffered a loss of function due to a stroke, a traumatic brain or spinal cord injury, amputation, a neurological disease, and hip and knee replacements.

Many of these patients have limited mobility and use wheelchairs or walkers, so the rehab unit was designed to be comfortable and to meet their needs. The new 24-bed unit has 10 spacious private rooms and seven semi-private rooms.

Occupational and physical therapists from FSLH will be spending time working with patients in a transitional living center that simulates typical household activities, such as preparing meals and cooking. There is also a common dining room and a fully outfitted rehabilitation gym for exclusive use by inpatients.

tion was given to all the MVHI staff members for their hard work and dedication, and to all the people in the community who helped Utica hospitals obtain approval for the open-heart program.

As of the 15th anniversary there have been 51,286 cardiac catheterizations; 18,046 angioplasty cases; 6,635 cardiac surgeries, 9,731 electrophysiology procedures and 86,634 outpatient cardiac rehab visits.

The collaboration between St. Elizabeth Medical Center and Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare through MVHI has not only helped thousands of patients and families, but has also spawned further cooperative efforts.

FSLH makes medical staff announcement

The American Heart Association is reaching out to families to show how children can have fun this Halloween while staying healthy.

Unfortunately, the annual celebration of junk food and candy can have a negative impact far beyond just Halloween. Childhood obesity has reached an alarming level in the United States.

More than one in three children and adolescents are overweight or obese. Obesity can lead to other significant health issues like heart disease, diabetes and stroke. But simple choices can help parents guide their kids toward a healthier path.

Try some of the tips below for a healthier Halloween this year: • Remember to have a healthy meal before you go trick or treating; this reduces the temptation to “snack” while walking.

• Make this a fun family physical activity event. Set a goal of how many houses you will walk to and then stick to it.

• Think about a healthier version of treats to give out at your house: mini boxes of raisins, 100 percent juice juiceboxes, snack-sized pretzels, pre-packaged trail mixes, pre-packaged dried fruits, crayons, stickers, Silly Bandz, bubbles or plastic spiders. Avoid using toys that could be a choking hazard to little ones.

• Find the right sized collection bag for your child. Steer clear of the pillow case method.

So how do you deal with the excess of candy lying around your house come Nov. 1?

Pick out enough candy for one piece a day for five days and put those in the fridge. When your child asks for a piece of candy, make sure to pair it with a healthy snack: an apple, a banana, some healthy nuts, or celery.

“Buy back” the candy from your child with money or tokens they can trade in for a fun activity: a day at the zoo or ice-skating, or sledding.

Some dentist offices have been known to buy back the candy from their patients so be on the lookout for that option.

Kevin C. McCormick has joined Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare’s Adirondack Community Physicians Washington Mills medical office, 3946 Oneida St., New Hartford.

Prior to joining ACP, McCormick was a primary care provider in internal medicine and hospitalist with McCormick St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica. He was in private practice for a number of years and served as a staff internist for the United States Air Force Hospital at Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome.

McCormick earned his Bachelor of Science in biology from Wilkes College in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., and his Doctor of Osteopathy from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Mo. He completed an internship at Oklahoma Osteopathic Hospital in Tulsa, Okla., and a residency in internal medicine at Kennedy Memorial Hospital/University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-University Medical Center in Stratford, N.J. McCormick is certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Internal Medicine and is a fellow of the American College of Physicians. He is a captain in the United States Navy, Medical Corps, and was deployed overseas in 2008 to 2009 to Landsthul Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany.

MVHI celebrates 15th anniversary The Mohawk Valley Heart Institute, 2209 Genesee St., Utica, celebrated its 15th anniversary of cardiac services in October.

The first open-heart surgery was performed on Oct. 17, 1997. Recogni-

IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • November 2012

AHA offers heart-healthy Halloween tips

Continued on Page 19

H ealth News Continued from Page 18

AHA names fit-friendly MV worksites The American Heart Association is recognizing 14 Utica-area organizations as fit-friendly worksites.

Each company promotes physical activity and health in the workplace.

Through the fit-friendly worksite designation, the AHA works locally with area employers on their wellness and health programs.

These 14 companies are being recognized for efforts in the most recent application period.

The AHA congratulates the following organizations on their new gold level fit-friendly status: AmeriCU Credit Union; Charles A. Gaetano Construction; NBT Bancorp; and Sitrin Health Care Center Nine Utica-area organizations renewed their gold level fit-friendly status: ECR International, Inc.; Faxton St. Luke’s Health Care; Fiber Instrument Sales; First Source Federal Credit Union; NYCM Insurance; Rome Memorial Hospital; St. Elizabeth Medical Center; The House of the Good Shepherd; and Utica College More than 14,000 Utica-area residents are working for companies who have received the AHA designation.

To learn more, call 1-800-AHAUSA1 or visit www.heart.org.

St. E’s names mission/ customer services head David R. Spotanski has been appointed director of mission/customer services at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica.

Spotanski is responsible for promoting the original mission of the founding Sisters of St. Francis in 1866. He will also oversee the medical center’s customer service initiatives, pastoral care, volunteers and Spotanski guild, as well as the patient advocate and marketing and public relations departments.

Spotanski received his Bachelor of Science degree in technical journalism from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Ill. Prior to joining the medical center, Spotanski served for eight years in the Catholic Archdiocese of St. Louis, Mo., and 18 in the Diocese of Belleville, Ill., most recently as chancellor for administration and pastoral services.

He and his wife, Sharon, are the parents of three grown children, Erin, Jonathan, and James.

LFH manager receives CNOR certification Tammy Hendrick, nurse manager of the operating room at Little Falls Hospital, has received her certified nurse operating room accreditation.

The CNOR certification examination allows peri-operative nurses to demonstrate their mastery of a rigorous body of knowledge in surgical nursing and their ability to apply this knowledge to their clinical Hendrick practice. Licensure is based on minimum competency while certification denotes proficiency.

“Our goal with encouraging certification is to create a culture of patient safety and exceptional care. The entire healthcare community benefits from certification: from the nurse to the employer and, ultimately, the patient,” said Heidi Camardello, chief nursing officer and vice president of patient care.

LFH breast imaging center of excellence Little Falls Hospital has been designated a breast imaging center of excellence by the American College of Radiology.

By awarding facilities the status of a breast imaging center of excellence, the ACR recognizes breast-imaging centers that have earned accreditation in all of the college’s voluntary, breastimaging accreditation programs and modules, in addition to the mandatory mammography accreditation program.

The breast imaging services at the center are fully accredited in mammography, stereotactic breast biopsy, breast ultrasound and ultrasound-guided breast biopsy.

The ACR, headquartered in Reston, Va., is a national organization serving more than 32,000 diagnostic/interventional radiologists, radiation oncologists, nuclear medicine physicians, and medical physicists with programs for focusing on the practice of medical imaging and radiation oncology, as well as the delivery of comprehensive health care services.

LFH becomes life support central Little Falls Hospital is an American Heart Association training center and life support classes are open to the public.

Basic life support classes cost $35; advanced cardiovascular life support and pediatric advanced life support (full course) cost $135; and ACLS and PALS recertification costs $85.

Call 823-1000 ext. 4360 to check on class locations.

• BLS/CPR certification —Nov. 9, 8 a.m. to noon and 1-5 p.m., Conference Room A —Dec. 3, 8 a.m. to noon and 1-5 p.m.

Conference Room A —Jan. 4, 2013, 8 a.m. to noon and 1-5 p.m.

Conference Room A —Feb. 21, 2013, 8 a.m. to noon and 1-5 p.m.

Conference Room A • PALS certification —Jan. 7-8, 2013, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Conference Room A • ACLS certification —Nov. 12-13, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Senior Center, Main Street, Little Falls —April 4-5, 2013, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Conference Room A • ACLS recertification —Nov. 13, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Senior Center, Main Street, Little Falls —February 19, 2013, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Conference Room A —April 5, 2013, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Conference Room A —June 4, 2013, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Conference Room A • PALS Recertification —Jan. 8, 2013, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Conference Room A —March 21, 2013, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Conference Room A —May 10, 2013, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Conference Room A

Sleep Lab at SDMG receives accreditation The Sleep Lab at Slocum Dickson in New Hartford recently received program accreditation from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

To receive accreditation for a fiveyear period, a sleep center must meet or exceed all standards for professional health care as designated by the AASM. These standards address core areas such as personnel, facility and equipment, policies and procedures, data acquisition, patient care, and quality assurance.

The AASM accredited a sleep disorders center for the first time in 1977. Today there are nearly 2,500 AASM-accredited sleep centers across the country.

Sleep medicine specialist Tatyana Antonevich recently joined SlocumDickson. Antonevich is board-certified in internal medicine, pulmonary medicine, and sleep medicine.

Sitrin fundraiser raises more than $70,000 More than 500 people participated in Sitrin’s first annual Stars and Stripes Run/Walk recently at SUNYIT, raising more than $70,000 to support Sitrin’s new military rehabilitation program.

Sitrin’s Stars and Stripes Run/ Walk, sponsored by Adirondack Bank, GPO Federal Credit Union, Sodexo, and ECR-Utica Boilers, included a 5K run and wheelchair race, a two-mile walk, a military-inspired obstacle

November 2012 •

course, and an adaptive sports symposium.

Teams and individuals were encouraged to participate in the day’s events in honor or memory of loved ones who have served the country.

All proceeds from Sitrin’s Stars and Stripes Run/Walk support Sitrin’s military rehabilitation program, which provides comprehensive care for wounded warriors who have post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injuries, post-acute substance abuse, and other combat-related conditions.

In addition, Sitrin plans to build a lodge/medical treatment center at Camp Sitrin, where members of the Armed Forces can receive care in a holistic and serene environment.

Sitrin Harley-Davidson fundraiser is under way Sitrin Medical Rehabilitation Center has kicked off its annual Harley-Davidson motorcycle fundraiser.

This year’s model is a 2013 Street Glide FLHX, which has been the top selling bike for the past six years. This popular bike is valued at $20,094, and features the Twin Cam 103™ engine.

Tickets are $10 each, and a total of 4,250 will be sold. They can be purchased securely online at www.sitrin. com, in person at Sitrin, or by calling 315-737-2245.

The raffle will be held at noon Feb. 14, 2013 (Valentine’s Day) at the Sitrin Medical Rehabilitation Center, 2050 Tilden Ave., New Hartford.

Ticket buyers do not need to be present at the drawing to win. Entrants must be 18 years of age. Tickets are available to U.S. residents only.

Proceeds from this fundraiser benefit the Sitrin Medical Rehabilitation Center, which provides a variety of comprehensive medical rehabilitation services for children and adults, including the STARS adaptive sports program for people with physical disabilities.

Arc launches annual holiday giving program The Arc, Oneida-Lewis Chapter, NYSARC has launched its 2012 holiday giving program.

Each year the program asks for support in helping to provide a special holiday for families and individuals.

In 2011, more than 1,000 items were distributed to over 45 families and 47 individuals in Oneida and Lewis counties.

The Arc relies on the generosity of community members to meet annual demand.

Those who wish to help adopt a family, donate a gift card to contribute toward a holiday meal, or provide a monetary donation.

For more information or to make a donation, call Jo-Ann Mox at 315-2721529 or email jmox@thearcolc.org.

The Arc, Oneida-Lewis Chapter, NYSARC is a nonprofit human services agency which provides advocacy and services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Oneida and Lewis counties.

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A Caring & Healing Environment For Our Inpatient Rehabilitation Patients Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare announces our new Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit (IRU) - opening soon.

Featuring 10 private rooms, the unit has a rehabilitation gym, private dining room and transitional living center all designed to help our patients rebuild their lives. The IRU specializes in the treatment of stroke patients and those recovering from orthopedic surgery or a neurological impairment. Our team of rehabilitation experts provides each patient with individualized treatment and care, with the goal of helping them regain their independence and return home. The team includes doctorate and graduate level physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists and certified rehabilitation registered nurses (CRRNs), who are specially trained in rehabilitative care.

If you or your loved one needs inpatient rehabilitation, choose Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare.

(315) 624 - 4 808

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Mohawk Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper • November 2012