April 2020 • ISSUE 176
GVHEALTHNEWS.COM
CORONAVIRUS Getting on with our lives in this new age Special Issue
Beware of Coronavirus Scams P. 13
TELEMEDICINE
Dr. Bridgette Wiefling talks about how Rochester Regional Health is helping patients who think they may have the coronavirus get medical consultation without leaving their homes
RECORD NUMBER OF PEDESTRIAN DEATHS IN U.S.
Autismn: Why Are Incidence Rates So High? Local experts discuss the dramatic increase in cases of autism in the U.S.
The Amazing Benefits of Olive Oil
P. 10
Pot Use Among Seniors Nearly Doubled in 3 Years P. 2
Pot Use Among U.S. Seniors Nearly Doubled in 3 Years A mericans may want to rethink the stereotype of the pot-loving teen: More U.S. seniors are using the drug now than ever before. The proportion of folks 65 and older who use pot stands at 4.2%, up from 2.4% in 2015, according to figures from the U.S. National Survey on Drug Use and Health. “The change from 2.4 up to 4.2, that’s a 75% increase,” said senior researcher Joseph Palamar, an associate professor of population health at New York University Langone Medical Center. “It didn’t double, but 75% is a pretty big increase, I think.” Emily Feinstein, executive vice president and chief operating officer at the Center on Addiction, reviewed the study and commented that the trend is “not surprising.” “First, older people are more likely to experience pain and other chronic conditions,” Feinstein said. “Secondly, marijuana has become increasingly available and acceptable within society. Together, these two factors are probably driving this trend.” But Palamar doesn’t think the wave of marijuana legalization sweeping the nation has prompted Grandma and Grandpa to give weed a try, either to ease aches and pains or have a pleasant evening. Rather, he thinks the proportion of aging marijuana users is increasing because more older folks are already familiar with pot. “A lot of people who use marijuana are aging into the 65-and-older
age bracket. I personally think that’s what’s driving this,” Palamar said. “Of course, there are new initiates, but I don’t think there are that many older people trying weed for the first time ever.” There still are a lot fewer seniors using pot than younger folks, Palamar added. It’s just that marijuana use overall has continued to rise in the United States, affecting nearly all groups of people. The NYU researchers analyzed responses from more than 15,000 older adults. Pot use rose more drastically among specific groups of seniors between 2015 and 2018, including: • Women (93% increase) versus men (58%), although nearly twice as many men use compared with women overall. • College-educated (114% increase) versus high school or less (17%). • Households making more than $75,000 a year (129%) or $20,000 to $49,999 (138%), compared with folks making less than $20,000 (16%) or between $50,000 and $74,999 (3%). • Married seniors (100% increase) versus singles (45%). Seniors taking up pot after smoking it back in the day are probably doing so for potential medical benefits, although the survey didn’t ask this question, Palamar said. “From what I see, I think a lot of older people are using weed more for medical reasons rather than recreational reasons,” Palamar said. “I know someone in this age group who
for never in a million years I thought would use marijuana. She eats a marijuana gummy every night to help her sleep, because she feels it helps better than anything else. I think this is becoming more common.” However, the survey showed that marijuana use increased more among seniors with one or fewer chronic health problems (96%) than those with two or more chronic conditions (29%). Palamar said his main concern regarding pot use among older adults is that marijuana has become more powerful over the years while their bodies have aged.
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“If you’re in your late 60s or 70s and you haven’t smoked weed in decades and you reinitiate weed one day, you might not know what to expect,” Palamar said. “Your body is much different in your 60s than it was when you were a teenager. You might not be able to handle it, especially considering that weed appears to be getting more potent.” Seniors whacked out of their minds on strong pot could fall and hurt themselves, or get into a car wreck, Palamar warned. The study was published Feb. 24 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Record Number of Pedestrian Deaths Seen in U.S.
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alking on America’s streets is getting ever more dangerous, a new report shows. Based on data from the first six months of 2019, the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) predicts there were 6,590 pedestrian deaths that year, which would be a 5% increase over the 6,227 pedestrian deaths in 2018. The 2019 figure is the highest number of such deaths in more than 30 years, according to the association. “In the past 10 years, the num-
ber of pedestrian fatalities on our nation’s roadways has increased by more than 50%,” said GHSA Executive Director Jonathan Adkins. “This alarming trend signifies that we need to consider all the factors involved in this rise, identify the high-risk areas, allocate resources where they’re needed most, and continue to work with local law enforcement partners to address the chronic driver violations that contribute to pedestrian crashes,” Adkins said in an association news release.
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Pedestrians are projected to account for 17% of all traffic deaths in 2019, compared to 12% in 2009, according to the GHSA’s annual Spotlight on Highway Safety report, released in February. While there’s been a significant increase in pedestrian deaths over the past decade, the number of all other traffic deaths increased by only 2%. Overall, traffic deaths in the first half of 2019 are projected to be 3.4% lower than in the first half of 2018, according to the report. A number of factors are contributing to the rise in pedestrian deaths. Most pedestrian deaths occur on local roads, at night and away from intersections, suggesting the need for safer road crossings and making pedestrians and vehicles more visible, the GHSA said. Over the past 10 years, the number of nighttime pedestrian deaths increased by 67%, compared to a 16% increase in daytime pedestrian deaths. Dangerous driving behaviors such as speeding, and distracted and drowsy driving threaten pedestrians, and alcohol impairment by the driver or pedestrian was reported in nearly half of pedestrian fatalities in 2018. Pedestrians struck by a large SUV are twice as likely to die as those struck by a car. Passenger cars are the
largest category of vehicles involved in pedestrian deaths, but pedestrian deaths over the past decade involving SUVs increased at a faster rate (81%) than those involving passenger cars (53%).
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“EXPERIENCE MATTERS”
IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • April 2020
Dr. Patrick Solan Dr. Aaron Rickles
Alcoholics Anonymous Most Effective to Beat Drinking Problems
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lcoholics Anonymous, the worldwide fellowship of sobriety seekers, is the most effective path to abstinence, according to a comprehensive analysis conducted by a Stanford School of Medicine researcher and his collaborators. After evaluating 35 studies — involving the work of 145 scientists and the outcomes of 10,080 participants — Keith Humphreys, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, and his fellow investigators determined that AA was nearly always found to be more effective than psychotherapy in achieving abstinence. In addition, most studies showed that AA participation lowered health care costs. AA works because it’s based on social interaction, Humphreys said, noting that members give one another emotional support as well as practical tips to refrain from drinking. “If you want to change your behavior, find some other people who are trying to make the same change,” he said. The review will be published March 11 in Cochrane Database of Systematic Review. Although AA is well-known and used by millions around the world, mental health professionals are sometimes skeptical of its effectiveness, Humphreys said. Psychologists and psychiatrists, trained to provide cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational enhancement therapy to treat patients with alcohol-use disorder, can have a hard time admitting that the lay people who run AA groups do a better job of keeping people on the wagon.
Early in his career, Humphreys said, he dismissed AA, thinking, “How dare these people do things that I have all these degrees to do?” Humphreys noted that counseling can be designed to facilitate engagement with AA — what he described as “an extended, warm handoff into the fellowship.” For the review article, Humphreys and his colleagues evaluated both AA and 12-step facilitation counseling. AA began in 1935 when two men in Akron, Ohio, were searching for a way to stay sober; they found it by forming a support group. They later developed the 12 steps, the first being accepting one’s inability to control drinking; the last, helping others sustain sobriety by becoming a sponsor of a new member. The AA model — open to all and free — has spread around the globe, and now boasts over 2 million members in 180 nations and more than 118,000 groups. Though the fellowship has been around for more than eight decades, researchers have only recently developed good methods to randomize trial participants and measure its effectiveness, Humphreys said. For the Cochrane review, the researchers found 57 studies on AA; of those, 35 passed their rigorous criteria for quality. The studies used various methods to measure AA’s effectiveness on alcohol use disorder: the length of time participants abstained from alcohol; the amount they reduced their drinking, if they continued drinking; the consequences of their drinking; and health care costs.
Serving Monroe and Ontario Counties A monthly newspaper published by Local News, Inc. Distribution: 33,500 copies throughout more than 1,500 high-traffic locations. In Good Health is published 12 times a year by Local News, Inc. © 2019 by Local News, Inc. All rights reserved. P.O. Box 525, Victor NY 14564. Phone: 585-421-8109 • Email: Editor@GVhealthnews.com Editor & Publisher: Wagner Dotto • Associate Editor: Lou Sorendo • Writers: Jim Miller, Deborah J. Sergeant, Gwenn Voelckers, John Addyman, Norb Rug, Mike Costanza, John Ellie, Jr., Ernst Lamothe Jr. • Advertising: Anne Westcott, Linda Covington • Layout & Design: Dylon Clew-Thomas • Office manager: Nancy Nitz No material may be reproduced in whole or in part from this publication without the express written permission of the publisher. The information in this publication is intended to complement—not to take the place of—the recommendations of your health provider. Consult your physician before making major changes in your lifestyle or health care regimen.
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Page 5
Meet
Your Doctor
By Chris Motola
Bridgette A. Wiefling, M.D.
Virtual help: Primary care leader talks about how Rochester Regional Health is helping patients who think they may have the coronavirus get medical consultation without leaving their homes
Doctors’ Ratings Tank When Patients Are Kept Waiting: Study
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ick-tock: A long delay in the waiting room annoys some patients so much that they give their doctors lower ratings, a new study finds. “Waiting to see the doctor is not like waiting in line for a fun ride at Disney World,” said senior author, physician Oren Gottfried, a professor of neurosurgery at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina. He and his colleagues analyzed 15 months of patient ratings after more than 27,000 visits to 22 spine surgeons at Duke University practices. The average clinic visit lasted about 85 minutes, the study found. Every 10-minute increase in waiting time reduced patient scores for overall visit experience and the doctor’s communication by 3%. “While a medical visit is important, it does not have the positive feedback of an amusement park ride where a two-hour wait seems worth it for even a short ride,” Gottfried said in a university news release. “This isn’t entirely surprising, but our data shows it’s something doctors need to be aware of and should manage.” The researchers took waiting room times, in-room times, electronic health record responses and patient demographics into consideration for the study. “Anytime you can improve scores by 3%, that’s big,” Gottfried said. “So if 10 minutes in the waiting room means a drop of 3%, that something that should be addressed, because it’s hard to make up for that in the actual doctor-patient visit.” The study was published online Feb. 21 in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine.
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Q: It seems like an understatement to say we’re in an unprecedented moment when it comes to stress on our modern healthcare system. How are groups like Rochester Regional Health handling it? A: Obviously our biggest focus is on how do we keep our patients safe and our healthcare workers healthy. The work we’ve been doing is around insuring patients understand good prevention: covering your cough, washing your hands with soap and water, sanitizing your hands, making sure you practice social distancing. We’re doing a lot of education with patients. We’re doing a lot of education with our practices around triaging our patients. So patients who are potentially sick with a fever and a cough and maybe has the flu or COVID-19, if we can take care of that at home through either telephone visits or telemedicine through our Care Now program, we’re doing that. If they do need to come into the office, we’re making sure both they and their provider are getting the appropriate masking to prevent droplet spread of the virus, whether it be flu or COVID.
concerned about.
Q: For most people who end up infected with COVID-19, do they necessarily need a lot of medical intervention? A: So the interesting thing about the COVID-19 virus is that most people, around 80%, who come into contact with it will have relatively mild symptoms. It’s patients who are over 60, have co-morbid symptoms like COPD, lung disease, patients who are immune-compromised, which may be because of a cancer treatment, or because they’re pregnant. So those are the populations we’re most
Q: What do patients need to be able to receive telemedicine on their end? A: So for our patients, we’re telling them to call their primary care office and their primary care provider will make a determination for what the right kind of visit is for that patient. So it’s very individualized. They’re trained to be able to triage patients who are having problems and questions to the right mechanism of assessment, whether they want to do a telehealth visit
Q: So is it a matter of having those patients get seen and others to stay away from medical facilities if possible? A: It’s more of a case-by-case basis. If someone has mild symptoms, we want them to stay home and use supportive therapy. So fluids, Tylenol, and staying in contact with their primary case provider in case symptoms do worsen, that way they can be appropriately triaged. It’s really about creating a relationship between the patient and primary care provider and having all the options available to them. We believe that video visits and the Care Now program are a very important asset in our toolkit for how to help keep some vulnerable populations at home. So those patients with chronic diseases, we don’t want to bring them out into crowded emergency rooms and urgent care waiting rooms if we don’t have to. We would rather triage them to home from home. We’re spending a lot of time on that and put a lot of policies into place from that perspective in order to be safe.
IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • April 2020
Bridgette A. Wiefling is the senior vice president for primary care for Rochester Regional Health
or video visit through the Care Now program, or whether they want to bring them into the office if it’s safe to bring them into the office, or direct them to an urgent care office. Not every cough and fever is COVID. There are other illnesses that are treatable that we want to make sure we’re assessing for. Q: What does a telemedicine visit look like? How do you do the things you’d do in a normal check-up from a distance? A: A lot of it is conversation and history. So a patient calls in, if a provider decides a video visit is appropriate, they’ll be instructed on how to access a video visit on the Rochester Regional Health portal. Then you’re connected. It’s a very similar feel to [Apple’s] FaceTime, for those of you who have used FaceTime. The patient is then able to have a conversation with the provider, the provider is able to assess certain characteristics of the patient as far as how severe their illness may or may not be, how distressed they are and get a feel for the concerns patients are having. Video gives us more dynamic information than a phone call. Once it’s completed, there’s a record made, so it’ll show up if they need more care down the line in an emergency room, so the in-person provider will know what concerns were brought up and what was discussed and how things have maybe progressed. It’s a very nice way to ensure all care is integrated in our system and all patients have very good wrap-around care. Q: For older patients who may not be as technologically proficient, does that introduce some issues? A: Well, I’ll tell you, I have some patients as old as 87 who are doing just fine with it. I think FaceTime has done a lot to improve everyone’s skills, so we’re grateful to that. For other patients we have the ability to walk them through the process. A lot of our patients are already on the portal and are texting us, and we’re texting them back. We’re a big proponent of OpenNotes because we think it’s important for patients to be able to see what was in their visit, what their doctor was thinking and for older patients, that their caregivers have a proper understanding of what the patient needs. We are seeing older patients use the portal. Are virtual visits right for everyone? No, but we have multiple other ways of helping patients get seen even if they’re at risk for COVID. Q: What kind of impact has telemedicine had on the current moment? A: We’re seeing virtual visit numbers go up and up. We see that as a good thing because we believe that many of these patients can be managed through virtual care. It’s important that we use this to keep our facilities free for patients who need to be managed there.
Lifelines Name: Bridgette A. Wiefling, M.D. Position: Senior Vice President for Primary Care for Rochester Regional Health Hometown: Butler, Pennsylvania Education: University of Wisconsin, Madison Affiliations: Rochester Regional Health Organizations: American Academy of Physicians Family: Husband, three children Hobbies: Sailing
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Healthcare in a Minute By George W. Chapman
COVID-19: NYS Approves $40 Million Emergency Response Package
N
ew York state has issued a directive prohibiting any insurer, including Medicaid, from charging a member for any out-of-pocket costs related to testing for the virus or any related visits to a physician’s office or emergency department. Gov. Cuomo has also approved a $40 million emergency response package. Self-insured plans are not regulated by NYS, but they would be wise to follow suit. Most commercial carriers have indicated they will follow suit and not charge
their members. The federal government has budgeted $8.3 billion to combat the virus. (As of this writing in mid-March there is a huge shortage of testing kits.) Federal spending goes toward: removing restrictions for treatment via telemedicine; reimbursing states for the virus response and preparedness; buying drugs, masks and personal protection for healthcare workers; and funds for caregivers and communities facing the brunt of the virus.
Amazon’s Huge Influence
intelligence and IT expertise to alter the entire healthcare delivery system. Industry observers believe Amazon will have the same impact on brickand-mortar providers as it did on stores. In lieu of the dire predictions of a physician shortage, Amazon could considerably reduce the deficit with increased automation and artificial intelligence.
Just as Amazon changed the way we shop, resulting in the closure of 9,000 brick-and-mortar stores last year alone, so it is changing the way we receive medical care. It is opening primary care clinics, virtual medical services and an online pharmacy called PillPack. Amazon is working on an Alexa-based program whereby consumers can query drug interactions and side effects as well as manage their meds. Information will be updated regularly. The company is also working on clinical speech recognition whereby provider-patient conversations will automatically be documented in the medical record. This will have a significant impact on “he said, she said” conversations. Amazon has the wherewithal, size, money, supply chain, artificial
ACA in Limbo
The fate of the Affordable Care Act remains up in the air. It won’t be determined by the Supreme Court until mid-2021 or later. Consequently, the delay exacerbates and prolongs the uncertainty and anxiety for insurers, providers and enrolled consumers. The makeup of the Supreme Court has shifted since it April 2020 •
last upheld the ACA over a challenge regarding premium subsidies for the indigent five years ago. Last year, a court of appeals ruled the individual mandate was unconstitutional, but did not conclude the entire law was unconstitutional. Mostly “blue” states are challenging the entire law and therefore sending the issue to the Supreme Court. Politics pervades all decision-making in Washington.
Experience Counts
Hospitals establish minimum volume standards (experience) for every procedure performed before granting a surgeon specific operating privileges. The bigger the hospital and medical staff, the more likely higher volume standards will be required. According to the independent hospital safety watch group “Leapfrog,” the majority of 2,100 hospitals surveyed are performing high-risk procedures with inadequate volume standards. The AHA and CMS are looking into this. In the meantime, it is perfectly acceptable for a patient to ask their physician for her or his experience with a particular procedure.
Non-college Educated Worker “Deaths of Despair” Up
A study conducted by Princeton economists Anne Case and Angus Deaton found that “deaths of despair” — caused by alcoholism, drug abuse, suicides, depression, obesity — are soaring among America’s non-college educated workers. Similar deaths among the college-educated workers have remained stable. The escalating death rate has occurred primarily over the past three decades. This phenomena is
explained in their new book titled, “Deaths of Despair and the Future of Capitalism.” Similarly, advanced countries in Europe are not experiencing this awful trend. Authors Case and Deaton point out that middle-class incomes have stagnated more in the US than other industrialized countries. Exacerbating the problem is our expensive healthcare system which impacts lower paid workers more by draining resources that could be spent on other things which would improve their lives. The “deaths of despair” among the non-college educated workers are up across all ages and races. The study found a growing number of these workers are finding it increasingly difficult to socialize or exercise because of chronic physical or mental conditions. The study found that most non-college educated Americans have decreased feelings of identity or pride with their employer. The authors believe the solutions are obvious, but will be difficult. Our medical system needs to put a higher priority on the health versus wealth of our citizens. Students who graduate from college, including technical schools, make more money and do better in life overall.
George W. Chapman is a healthcare business consultant who works exclusively with physicians, hospitals and healthcare organizations. He operates GW Chapman Consulting based in Syracuse. Email him at gwc@gwchapmanconsulting.com.
IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper
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Page 7
Live Alone & Thrive
By Gwenn Voelckers
Practical tips, advice and hope for those who live alone
Alone and Content: Finding Your ‘True North’
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’ve discovered that a key to living alone successfully is to determine who you really are and what you want from life. My own path to contentment took some time, some growing pains — setbacks as well as successes — and some aching losses before I found my “true north.” It hasn’t always been easy, but it’s been well worth the journey. The reward has been a life on my own filled with more peace, freedom and joy than I could have imagined. The journey began with a set of soul-searching questions to identify and clarify my beliefs, values, likes and dislikes. I was careful to focus on what matters to me and to steer clear of “shoulds” and other people’s agendas. The result? I created a list of personal principles and preferences that illuminated the way forward and shaped my future as a self-sufficient, independent women. Now, in the happy third chapter of my life, I am comfortable being me and expressing my true self. In no particular order, below are just a few examples of my insights (some profound, others practical and a few whimsical) that have inspired and guided me: • Gratitude, forgiveness, and loving kindness are life staples to embrace, practice and model on a daily basis. • Gathering with friends and family around a fire, indoors or out, enhances life. It’s warm, relaxing and hypnotic — a life essential in my book. • If I am unhappy with an aspect
of my life and choose to stick with the status quo, nothing will get better. • A stick shift is, hands-down, superior to an automatic transmission. Driving is so much more fun. It’s all I’ve ever owned. • Hardship, failure and loss can build strength and self-awareness. Taking time and turning inward can create space for reflection and renewal of the spirit. Remember: after rain there are rainbows. • An honest-to-goodness listener (not a pretend listener) melts my heart. • Music makes life better. I enjoy playing and listening to all genres of music, but I always return to the Great American Songbook. • As an introvert, solitude, nature and meditation recharge my batteries. • Letting go of old ways of thinking, of a poor self-image, or of destructive thoughts or behaviors can free us up to embrace life’s blessings. • Gardening is a great teacher. Fertile ground exists in each of us, and a little planning, caretaking and patience can produce beautiful results. • Solo travel is an adventure not to be missed. It’s good for the mind, deepens the soul and fosters confidence. • Living alone doesn’t mean being alone. We are social beings. We need each other. Relationships are the glue. Compiling my full list of insights took time and thought. For those coming out of a long relationship, de-
s d i K Corner
1 in 4 Gets Unneeded Antibiotics at Children’s Hospitals
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ne-quarter of kids who receive antibiotics in U.S. children’s hospitals are given the drugs inappropriately, which increases the risk of antibiotic resistance, researchers say. “Antibiotic resistance is a growing danger to everyone; however, there is limited data on children,”
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said study co-author, physician Jason Newland, a professor of pediatrics at Washington University in St. Louis. “Data on adults have suggested that 30%-50% of antibiotics used in hospitalized adults is inappropriate,” Newland noted in a university news release. He said the goal of the study
termining or rediscovering “who you really are” can be a daunting process. After years of focusing on the needs and desires of a spouse and family, many discover that, somewhere along the way, they have disappeared around the edges and lost their own sense of self. Rediscovering yourself and identifying those things that bring joy and meaning into your life can turn living alone into an adventure of the spirit. Once you establish your individual interests and means of self-expression, you may find that time alone and the silent moments between events no longer feels empty. Below is an exercise to help you get back in touch with your true self. These are but a few of the questions to contemplate on your road to self-discovery. Spend some time answering these 10 questions 1. Search back. What hobbies did you pursue as a child that gave you joy? What did you do particularly well or (perhaps secretly) take pride in? 2. More recently, when do you completely lose yourself in something? What activities make you feel alive and complete, as though nothing is missing? 3. What do you hold most dear? 4. How do you want to be remembered? 5. What is your biggest regret? If you could have a “do-over,” what would you do differently? 6. How would your life change (or get better) if you were a more curious person? 7. What brings tears to your eyes? 8. If you were to dedicate your
was to determine if antibiotics used to treat hospitalized children were “suboptimal.” That means doctors shouldn’t have prescribed any antibiotics; they could have used a more effective antibiotic; or they could have prescribed a different dose or for a shorter duration. “Health care workers must be vigilant since the inappropriate use of antibiotics is fueling dangerous drug resistance in children,» said Newland, who directs the antimicrobial stewardship program at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. About one in three patients in U.S. children’s hospitals receives one or more antibiotics, the researchers said in background notes. They analyzed data from nearly 12,000 patients at 32 U.S. children’s hospitals. The kids were prescribed one or more antibiotics to treat or prevent infections. Of those patients, 25% — or nearly 3,600 — received at least one antibiotic considered inappropriate, according to the study. The most common cases of inappropriate antibiotic use were: giving the wrong antibiotic for a particular infection (27%); prolonged antibiotic use after surgery to prevent surgi-
IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • April 2020
life and resources to a particular cause or charity, what would it be? 9. What does your perfect day look like? 10. How do you want to describe yourself and your life a year from now? Then, take action After answering these questions, ask yourself how you can use these insights to influence the direction of your life. What can you do today to reconnect with a past love or pursuit, to delve more deeply into an existing interest, or to fulfill a new passion or purpose? When you identify your values and the things you love to do, and pursue them, you will feel more integrated and in touch with your true self. You’ll be spending your time immersed in pursuits that bring you personal satisfaction — pursuits that reinforce who you are and who you want to become. Those of us who live alone have the gift of abundant time to ourselves. Use it wisely. Use the time to get to know yourself all over again. With each passing day, I am confident you’ll find your internal compass, unique to you, pointing north – your true north. Gwenn Voelckers leads Alone and Content empowerment workshops for women held in Mendon and is the author of “Alone and Content: Inspiring, empowering essays to help divorced and widowed women feel whole and complete on their own.” For information about workshops, to purchase her book, or invite her to speak, call 585-624-7887, email gvoelckers@rochester.rr.com, or visit www.aloneandcontent.com.
cal-site infections (17%); unnecessary use of antibiotics (11%); and use of broad-spectrum antibiotics when a drug that targets a specific type of bacteria could have been used (11%). Pneumonia, or lower respiratory infections, accounted for the greatest percentage of suboptimal prescriptions — 18%. The researchers also found that about half of inappropriate antibiotic use would not have been detected by current antibiotic stewardship programs designed to prevent antibiotic resistance. “Arguably, this is one of the most important findings because it helps us to identify blind spots in antimicrobial stewardship programs,” Newland said. “Antibiotics currently not targeted for review still have a significant need for oversight. The obvious solution is to expand routine reviews to include all antibiotics. Unfortunately, this is resource-intensive and may not be feasible at some hospitals,” he pointed out. The study was recently published online in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.
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hen choosing the right summer camp for your child with allergies or asthma, it’s not just about whether they prefer horseback riding to sailing. It’s more about figuring out what kind of program best fits your child’s medical needs related to allergy and asthma symptoms. “Parents and kids alike who are dealing with asthma or severe allergies need to know there’s a good fit and that the child’s medical needs are being met,” says allergist J. Allen Meadows, president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI). “Take the time to research camps you think your child will enjoy and ask the hard questions to make sure your child will be well cared for.” Below are suggestions from ACAAI on how to narrow down your camp selection while keeping your child’s allergies and asthma in mind. 1. Consider a specialty camp — If you’re worried that a regular sleepaway or day camp might not be fully prepared to handle your child’s allergies and asthma, consider a specialty camp. Increasingly, there are camps focused solely on kids with asthma, and camps that deal specifically with food allergies. These camps provide specialized medical and non-medical staff who understand how to treat allergic diseases. An internet search should turn up a camp in your area that can provide the special focus your camper might need. 2. Maybe day camp is a better option — If you and your camper are both concerned about the possibility of a severe allergic reaction or asthma flare, a day camp may be a better option — particularly for a younger child. Most day camps have provisions in place to keep kids with allergies and asthma safe. They welcome discussions about what your child can and cannot eat, and what they need to have on hand in case of a severe allergic reaction, or an asthma attack. Make sure the camp you choose has dealt with allergies
and asthma before, knows where the nearest hospital is and how to get there, and is aware of the specific needs of your child. 3. Wherever they go, they’ll need to eat — Food is a big part of any camp experience, particularly sleepaway camp. If your child has a food allergy, talk with the kitchen staff to make sure no areas exist where cross contamination can occur. Find out how the camp monitors and communicates food allergy information and determine whether that works for you and your child. If your child will be attending day camp, send a bag lunch to guarantee they will be eating safe foods. Remind them that eating other kids’ food is never okay. 4. Talk with your allergist before deciding — Your allergist may have insights into which type of program will best suit your child. They can also offer tips on communicating with camp personnel about your child’s medications and specific allergy or asthma treatments. Your allergist should confirm prescriptions are up to date, symptoms are under control and dosing hasn’t changed over the school year. They can also provide a personalized plan for you to share with the camp to help your child have the great experience they deserve. 5. Everybody ready? — You can help the camp staff and administration be prepared by communicating your child’s health needs well in advance. If asthma makes some activities difficult for your child, let their counselor know. Ask the camp what level of physical activities will be involved, what the focus of each day will be and how meals are handled. And convey your expectations to the camp. Tell the staff how you want your child’s medical routine handled and discuss what your child needs in order to fully participate in all activities. To ensure your child has a great summer, do some advance preparation to make sure the camp you select can meet medical needs while allowing for a great camping experience. April 2020 •
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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper
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SmartBites
By Anne Palumbo
The skinny on healthy eating
The Amazing Benefits of Olive Oil I don’t know about you, but I was raised on vegetable oil. Pale in color and neutral in flavor, it found its way into every dish or baked good that needed oil. Once out of the nest, it’s the oil I habitually reached for when I started cooking. But then, for nutritional reasons, I switched over to canola oil. Although canola oil and vegetable oil are both plant-based oils, they differ in their fat composition: canola oil is lower in saturated fat and richer in healthy fats. These days, however, my heart and hearth belong to olive oil — primarily the extra-virgin type referred to as EVOO. Ever since I read that people tend to live longer and healthier lives in regions where olive oil is a staple part of the diet, I decided to embrace one of the world’s healthiest oils. What makes olive oil so good for you? It’s rich in two important nutrients: heart-healthy unsaturated fats and disease-thwarting antioxidants. What makes EVOO particularly good? Because it’s less refined than regular olive oil, it’s notably higher in both. According to the American Heart Association, unsaturated fats — which include monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats — can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke by helping to lower bad cholesterol levels in your blood. When you choose to eat healthy fats over unhealthy fats (i.e., saturated and trans fats), you are doing your body good! Olive oil is especially high in monounsaturated
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fats, quite low in saturated fat, and has no trans fats. Olive oil stands apart from most oils because it boasts a unique and abundant combination of beneficial antioxidants. Antioxidants protect our body from disease and accelerated aging by gobbling up harmful free radicals — byproducts of the oxidation process that can turn good cells bad. Worried about chronic inflammation? Olive oil may be your ticket to quieting the painful and often destructive fire within. Research has shown that olive oil contains two nutrients that can fight inflammation: oleocanthal (an antioxidant) and oleic acid (an unsaturated fatty acid). Chronic inflammation is believed to be among the leading drivers of many diseases, including cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, diabetes and arthritis. Like most oils, olive oil contains about 120 calories per tablespoon. While it’s one of the healthier oil choices, it’s still high in calories compared to actual vegetables. Experts recommend that we use olive oil in moderation and in place of overly processed oils and butter, not with them.
Mixed Greens with Favorite Vinaigrette 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon coarse black pepper
IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • April 2020
Helpful tips Opt for EVOO whenever possible: it has fewer chemicals, more nutrition and a lot more flavor. Scour the label for the words “extra virgin” and “cold pressed” to get an assurance of quality. The bottle or container itself should be opaque, made of either dark glass or metal. When cooking, use EVOO, which has a low smoke point (the temperature at which the oil begins to smoke), for cold dishes, salad dressings, drizzling, and light sautéing. Use regular olive oil, which has a higher smoke point, for searing and frying. Store olive oil in a cool, dark place; best used within six months. 1 1/2 tablespoons minced shallots (or 2 cloves garlic, minced) 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard 1/2 teaspoon sugar 1/3 cup olive oil Salad greens of choice In a small bowl, whisk everything together but the olive oil. Slowly whisk in the olive oil until well blended. Use immediately or store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Place the greens in a large bowl and toss with enough dressing to coat the leaves.
Anne Palumbo is a lifestyle colum-
nist, food guru, and seasoned cook, who has perfected the art of preparing nutritious, calorie-conscious dishes. She is hungry for your questions and comments about SmartBites, so be in touch with Anne at avpalumbo@aol.com.
Best Ways to Kill Coronavirus In Your Home Y our kitchen cabinet may already be stocked with cleaning agents that can kill coronavirus. But not all chemicals will work, and none are as gentle on your skin as commercial hand sanitizers, according to Rutgers University experts. Siobain Duffy, an associate professor of ecology with expertise in emerging viruses and microbial evolution, and Donald Schaffner, a distinguished professor and extension specialist in food science with expertise in microbial risk assessment and handwashing, offer the following tips for cleaning to kill the pathogens that cause COVID-19 and other deadly diseases. “Each disinfecting chemical has its own specific instructions, but an important general rule is that you shouldn’t immediately wipe a cleaning solution off as soon as you’ve applied it to a surface. Let it sit there long enough to kill viruses first.” General Disinfecting Guidelines • The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends daily disinfection for frequently touched surfaces such as tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets and sinks. • The CDC also recommends the use of detergent or soap and water on dirty surfaces prior to disinfection. • If someone in your home is sick with flu-like symptoms, consider regularly disinfecting objects in your home since SARSCoV-2 has been shown to
survive for 16 hours on plastics. • Whatever cleaning solution you use, let it remain in contact with the surface long enough to kill viruses and other pathogens. The time needed will depend on the chemical. • Don’t use different cleaning agents at the same time. Some household chemicals, if mixed, can create dangerous and poisonous gases. Bleach • Bleach can be diluted with cold water to make an effective disinfectant against bacteria, fungi and many viruses including coronaviruses. You can typically use ¼ cup of bleach per 1 gallon of cold water — but be sure to follow the directions on the label of your bleach. • Make dilute bleach solution as needed and use it within 24 hours, as its disinfecting ability fades with time. • Non-porous items like plastic toys can be immersed in bleach for 30 seconds. Household surfaces that won’t be damaged by bleach should get 10 or more minutes of exposure. • Bleach solutions are very hard on the skin, and should not be used as a substitute for handwashing or hand sanitizer.
tizers have a concentration of about 60% alcohol, and Lysol contains about 80%; these are all effective against coronaviruses. • Solutions of 70% alcohol should be left on surfaces for 30 seconds (including cellphones — but check the advice of the phone manufacturer to make sure you don’t void the warranty) to ensure they will kill viruses. Pure (100%) alcohol evaporates too quickly for this purpose. • Containers of 70% alcohol should be sealed to prevent evaporation. But unlike bleach solutions, they will remain potent as long as they are sealed between uses. • A 70% alcohol solution with water will be very harsh on your hands and should not be used as a substitute for handwashing and/or hand sanitizer.
Hydrogen Peroxide • Hydrogen peroxide is typically sold in concentrations of about 3%. It can be used as is, or diluted to 0.5% concentration for effective use against coronaviruses on surfaces. It should be left on surfaces for one minute before wiping.
Natural Chemicals (Vinegar or Tea Tree Oil) • Vinegar, tea tree oil and other natural products are not recommended for fighting coronaviruses. A study on influenza virus found that cleaning with a 10% solution of malt vinegar was effective, but few other studies have found vinegar to be able to kill a significant fraction of viruses or other microbes. While tea tree oil may help control the virus that causes cold sores, there is no evidence that it can kill coronaviruses.
Alcohol • Alcohol in many forms, including rubbing alcohol, can be effective for killing many pathogens. You can dilute alcohol with water (or aloe vera to make hand sanitizer) but be sure to keep an alcohol concentration of around 70% to kill coronaviruses. Many hand saniApril 2020 •
IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper
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Getting on With Your Life in the Age of Coronavirus
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s coronavirus continues to spread across America, people in some areas are quarantined. Conferences, sporting events and travel plans are being called off, while hand sanitizer and toilet paper are flying off the shelves. Short of finding a well-stocked bunker, how can you learn to live with this new normal? An important key to living with the looming threat of this virus is flexibility, experts say. “You have to be willing to change as the situation changes, and it’s likely to keep changing for a while,” said Robin Gurwitch, a psychologist at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina. Living with uncertainty Gurwitch said uncertainty leads to high anxiety and panic. She said that’s likely one of the reasons why people have been stockpiling things like hand sanitizer and toilet paper. During any viral outbreak, “one of the things that helps to reduce anxiety and worry is when we have a very clear and unified messaging from respected officials. Viruses aren’t political, they›re a public health issue,” Gurwitch explained. “What is creating more distress now is that there are really different messages out there. When that
happens, people start filling in the gaps in the messaging themselves, and they may think they’re not being told everything. That’s when you get panic buying,” she said. “Coronavirus has taken quite a bit of our sense of control. But buying supplies is something I can control. I can know that I have enough supplies. And it makes me feel like, ‘I’ve got this,’” Gurwitch said. Here are some additional steps you can take to bring back a little bit of normalcy to your life. At home Plenty of folks were caught short and don’t have a supply of hand sanitizer, but soap and water are fine. “At home, you don’t need alcohol-based sanitizer. Soap and water are also very effective,” said Chunhuei Chi, director of the Center for Global Health at Oregon State University. Chi said when you get home, wash your hands well, and clean your cellphone with alcohol, or put soap and a little water on a paper towel, clean your phone and immediately dry it. Don’t forget to clean surfaces that everyone touches often — doorknobs, toilet handles, faucets and remote controls.
Out and about Life does go on, and you’ll need to go to work, school and shopping. When you leave your home, Chi suggested carrying tissues with you. Whenever you need to open a door, grab a shopping cart or even push an elevator button, use a tissue to create a barrier between you and the object. If you have hand sanitizer — containing at least 60% alcohol — he said you can use it to disinfect your hands. “This virus is very sensitive to alcohol,” Chi said. Many stores also keep sanitizing wipes by their carts for you to clean the handle before you shop. Physician Debra Spicehandler, co-chief of infectious diseases at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, said it’s important to pay attention to potentially common sources of infection. “After touching pens, money, credit cards or even salt and pepper shakers, try to use hand sanitizer right away. If you can’t, don’t touch your hands to your face,” she said. And, Spicehandler said, skip handshakes altogether. Travel Travel is becoming more of a challenge. The U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention is advising people not to fly unless it’s absolutely necessary. Check the CDC website before traveling internationally. The CDC said air travel itself isn’t likely to be a problem. Physician Krystina Woods, director of infection prevention at Mount Sinai West in New York City, explained, “Planes do have filtered air. Proximity [to someone who is ill] is the thing that might be concerning, and you don’t have much control over who is sitting beside you on a plane. But you do have control over whether you wash your hands or touch your face.” If you decide to cancel a flight, policies on whether or not you can get a credit or refund vary, so check with your airline. Large events At least for the foreseeable future, it’s going to be important to check whether or not an event is still taking place. A number of large conferences and events have been delayed or canceled out of an abundance of caution. The big California music festival Coachella has been rescheduled to the fall. New York stalled its big auto show until August, and the South by Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas, was canceled. “Indoor gatherings, especially any with 1,000 or more people, should be avoided,” Chi said. Learning to live with the risk “There’s been a lot of concern, bordering on panic recently. But most people who get the virus have relatively minor illness and the majority are getting better,” Woods said. Gurwitch advised staying upto-date on the situation by checking reliable sources of information, such as the CDC. And take the steps you can to control your personal and family situation. If you do get symptoms — fever, cough, difficulty breathing — call your doctor or local emergency room to find out what to do, Spicehandler advised. The CDC also recommends calling your doctor if you find out you’ve been exposed to someone who develops COVID-19, the illness caused by coronavirus. This article was distributed by HealthDay News.
Stay Sensibly Cautious Amid COVID-19 Crisis By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
E
very month, I interview a few dozen health professionals for articles printed in three editions of In Good Health — Buffalo/Western New York, Rochester and Syracuse/Central New York. That has been a routine for the last several years. As the COVID-19 outbreak spread, fewer public relations professionals were available to schedule care providers for me to interview. Many of those not engaged in patient care were working from home and could not take time for interviews. By early March, it became obvious they were swamped with work, including screening patients for possible COVID-19, developing internal policies regarding the outbreak and forming public statements and
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advisories. That’s a lot to add to their usual patient load. I can see why an interview wasn’t possible. A little more prudence from the public can help them use their time better so they can treat the patients who really need care. Only people exhibiting symptoms identified with COVID-19 should contact a care provider over the phone about their coronavirus concerns. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated on its website that these symptoms manifest between two and 14 days following exposure: fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Severe signs that may require emergency treatment include difficulty breathing or shortness of breath; persistent pain or pressure in the chest; new confusion or inability
to arouse; and bluish lips or face. Keep in mind that amid the outbreak, people still have colds, flu, allergies and breathing issues not related to COVID-19. It wastes resources and needlessly exposes people to germs to rush to the doctor over non-COVID-19 illnesses that could be safely treated at home. People with pre-existing conditions such as a lung disease or illness or lowered immune response and older adults should remain vigilant about their health, call their provider over concerns and remain more reluctant to go out. The outbreak also reminded me about how few people seem to have more than a few days’ food and supplies at home. Since we live in an area that has had the occasional blizzard, we should know better than to let things dwindle to the point where we need to rush to the store to clear out the shelves.
IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • April 2020
My grandparents lived through the Depression and rationing during wartime. They always advised to keep extra groceries on hand just in case. Perhaps tight budgets, megastore convenience and busy schedules all add up to the wave of panic buying recently observed while trying to do some routine shopping. I’ve never seen entire aisles completely bare in my life. The septuagenarian checker who helped me said that she had never seen such a spectacle, either. Use common sense and follow the guidelines of the CDC and local recommendations for hygiene. Get enough rest and try to exercise and eat right. Stay home if you can. Try to think of it as extra time to nurture your family and yourself. Above all, don’t stress. That lowers your immune system’s response and doesn’t help one bit.
Coping with Coronavirus By John Addyman I figured, I’ve got this coronavirus thing handled — no problem. Tell me I’ve got to spend some weeks at home and I’ll enjoy myself. First, my wife and I will have time to enjoy a nice late dinner out, something we don’t do nearly often enough. It’ll be like a date night for us. But wait, they closed the restaurants and taverns. OK, I thought to myself. This is the perfect opportunity to go deep on some books in the library, put a binge readfest together for myself. Then they closed the library. OK, I thought to myself. Instead of improving my mind, I’ll improve my body and set up a daily schedule at our local gym. I’ll be buff as a Greek god by summer. So they closed the gym — while we were there for its last hour of operation. I’ve closed some bars in my flaming youth, but I’ve never closed a gym. “How about a movie?” my wife suggested. Of course the movie theaters were closed. “Wait a minute,” she said, “Hello, Dolly!” is coming up soon. We have tickets!” That sounded great…but within hours, the theater canceled the production. Goodbye, Dolly. “I have a great idea,” I told my wife. “Let’s go to a school board
‘In so many ways, the shape of this worldwide coronavirus tragedy gives some of us a chance we’ve never had to slow down and take on things that we left on the sidelines long ago.’ meeting! We can show our civic pride! We can see what’s going on in our grandchildren’s schools in two school districts! We’ll social-distance ourselves from all the other two or three parents who will be there!” Then the school boards decided to have their meetings by live stream, with no members of the public allowed. We coped, but watching a school board meeting on a computer with a beer and some popcorn is really a weird experience. “What can we do to pass the time?” my wife asked. I looked at her in that old certain way and my eyebrows danced an encouraging and flirty dance on my face.
“You can forget that,” she said. “I’ll make you a to-do list…a long to-do list.” So much for dreams of conjugal bliss. “Maybe we can snoop around and find out where the black market for toilet paper is,” I suggested. My wife just looked at me. “We could rake up all the rest of the leaves in the yard and put them in big bags and sell them, just in case toilet paper disappears completely,” I suggested. My wife went back to reading her book. I decided to watch some movies and because it’s Lent, I decided “The Ten Commandments” would be a good choice…and it was until I got to the part where the Destroyer comes like a green fog in the night for the first-born of Egypt. That’s when it hit me — that’s what this coronavirus is: a secret, scary, silent, sinister and slithery thing that is lurking in the dark to capture us. Some won’t know they’ve acquired it. Some won’t survive acquiring it. And lamb’s blood on our doors won’t do much good this time around. So after some thought, my wife and I have settled on some things about these days of our lives. • First, we’re going to take walks and enjoy our village and perhaps a stray neighbor or two we meet on the way. We’re going to watch
spring bloom. For once in my life, I’m enthusiastic about cutting the grass and spending some time in the garden (doing what, I have no idea). • Second, and we talked about this when we took a ride in the car today — we’re going to enjoy studying and learning again. I’m a retired nurse, but I’m going to take a refresher course on infection control. I’m a retired biology teacher, and I want to get ahead of where my grandkids will be in the fall when they take their living environment course. I have a binocular microscope, and I’m going to study some flora and fauna. I’m going to spend some afternoons with a libretto in my hand listening to opera. • Third, we’re going to reconnect with friends on Facebook and through emails and letters. We know the time we spend putting those notes together will be appreciated and returned. • Fourth, we’re going to move ahead. We’ll fill out the census form and check our voter registration. I’ll throw out old white T-shirts and worn out but oh-so-comfortable sweatshirts and sandals. I will actually read the owner’s manual for my car. In so many ways, the shape of this worldwide coronavirus tragedy gives some of us a chance we’ve never had to slow down and take on things that we left on the sidelines long ago. In the midst of their terror, the Italians found passionate music to express their spirit. As Upstate New Yorkers, we will do no less. John Addyman writes the column “Addyman’s Corner,” which is published in 55 PLUS magazine (roc55.com).
Beware of Coronavirus Scams
By Jim Miller
U
nfortunately, coronavirus scams are spreading nearly as fast as the virus itself, and seniors are often the most vulnerable. These con artists are setting up websites to sell bogus products, and using spoofed phone calls, emails, texts and social media posts as a ruse to take your money and get your personal information. The emails and posts may be promoting awareness and prevention tips, and fake information about cases in your community. They also may be asking you to donate to victims, offering advice on unproven treatments, or contain malicious email attachments. Here are some tips to help you keep the scammers at bay. • Click carefully: Don’t click on coronavirus-related links from sources you don’t know in an email or text message. The same goes for unfamiliar websites. When you click on an email or download a file, you could get a program on your computer that could either use your computer’s internet connection to spread malware or dig into your personal files looking for passwords and other information. • Ignore bogus product offers: Ignore online offers for coronavirus vaccinations or miracle cures. There
are currently no vaccines, pills, potions, lotions, lozenges, or over-thecounter products available to treat or cure coronavirus online or in stores. If you see or receive ads touting prevention, treatment, or cure claims for the coronavirus, ignore them because they’re not legitimate. • Beware of CDC spoofing: Be wary of emails, text messages or phone calls claiming to come from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and/or the World Health Organization (WHO). These scams could take several forms – such as fake health agency warnings about infections in your local area, vaccine and treatment offers, medical test results, health insurance cancellation, alerts about critical supply shortages, and more. For the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus, visit CDC.gov/coronavirus. • Beware of fundraising scams: Be wary of emails or phone calls asking you to donate to a charity or crowdfunding campaign for coronavirus victims or for disease research. To verify a charity’s legitimacy use CharityNavigator.org. But, if you’re asked for donations in cash, by prepaid credit card or gift card, or by wiring money, don’t do it because it’s probably a scam. April 2020 •
• Beware of stock scams: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is warning people about phone calls and online promotions, including on social media, touting stocks of companies with products that supposedly can prevent, detect or cure coronavirus. Buy those stocks now, they say, and they will soar in price. But the con artists have already bought the stocks, which typically sell for a dollar or less. As the hype grows and the stock price increases, the con men dump the stock, saddling other investors with big losses. It’s a classic penny-stock fraud called “pump and dump.” Making matters worse: you may not be able to sell your shares if trading is suspended. When investing in any company, including companies that claim to focus on coronavi-
rus-related products and services, carefully research the investment and keep in mind that investment scam artists often exploit the latest crisis to line their own pockets. For more tips on how to avoid getting swindled, see the Federal Communications Commission COVID-19 consumer warning and safety tips at FCC.gov/covidscams. Jim Miller is the author of Savvy Senior column, published every issue in In Good Health.
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Norb’s Take
Norb Rug is a writer from Lockport. He blogs at WhyWNY. home.blog.
By Norb Rug
Coronavirus: The Sky Is Falling…
S
o now we have a coronavirus pandemic. My wife Donna and I went shopping this morning to pick up a few supplies. We first went for some Tylenol. There was a big vacant space where this used to be. So we went for some lemonade mix. Looks like we weren’t going to get any of this either. Then we proceeded to the pasta aisle. This was so empty that we heard an echo from the squeaky cart wheels. So we decided to pick up some canned sauce and tomatoes to make some sauce for pasta we had at home. No luck there either. This was getting ridiculous. At least we could pick up some dried split peas and beans to make some soup. It turns out the soup was going to be very thin and bland because it would only contain water — there were no beans in the grocery store. At that point it got fascinating to walk up and down the aisles to see what they did have. There were three jars of peanut butter and four jars of jelly on the shelves. Canned soup was MIA unless you were looking for cream of mushroom. We managed to get some mac and cheese. However, it had unicorn shaped pasta. In the canned meats aisle, there was no canned chili, corned beef hash or Spam. We did manage to throw some roast beef
hash into our cart. We also picked up a can of Walmart brand spam and some canned chicken. I’d never had any of this before but at this point I thought it was food we could eat if we had to. I don’t know what we would mix with the chicken because the canned vegetable aisle had as much food in it as a tire store. If you like frozen Brussels sprouts, you were in luck. It seems that even during a pandemic, nobody eats Brussel sprouts. The bottled water aisle was as dry as a desert. However there was plenty of beer. Really? If my kids were going to be home, locked inside my house for a few weeks, I would stock up on beer. Finally we went to the paper aisle to pick up some toilet paper, paper towels and tissues. All the shelves there were as bare as lady Godiva. I don’t know why there is a toilet paper shortage when we don’t have any food to eat. This wouldn’t be our first panic over toilet paper. In 1973, consumers emptied stores shelves for a month due to rumors, fears and a joke. At that time, Americans were concerned about decreasing supplies of gasoline, electricity and onions. A government press release that warned about a possible scarcity of toilet paper created a lot of press coverage but no panic buying until Johnny Carson, the famous late night television host, joked about it in his monolog. In the 2009 the swine flu pandemic lasted from early 2009 to late
2010. Globally, an estimated 151,700 to 575,400 people died from swine flu in the first year of the pandemic. As soon as the outbreak was announced, Mexico notified the U.S. and World Health Organization. Within a few days of the outbreak Mexico City was “effectively shut down”. The HIV/AIDS pandemic (20052012) was first found in the Congo in 1976. HIV/AIDS has proven itself to be a global pandemic that killed more than 36 million people since 1981. Right now, there are around 31 to 35 million people that are living with HIV. We had what was referred to as the Hong Kong Flu pandemic in1968. The first case was reported on July 13, 1968. It took just 17 days until outbreaks of the virus showed up in Singapore and Vietnam. Within three months it had spread to The Philippines, India, Australia, Europe, and the United States. While this pandemic had a relatively low mortality rate (.5%) it nevertheless resulted in the deaths of over a million people. Then there was the Asian flu pandemic from 1956-1958.The Asian flu was a pandemic outbreak that originated in China in 1956 and lasted until 1958. In its two-year spree, The Asian flu traveled from the Chinese province of Guizhou to Singapore, Hong Kong, and the United States. The World Health Organization places the final death toll at approximately 2 million deaths, 69,800 of those in the US alone. As of mid March, at least 4,226
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people in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico have tested positive for coronavirus in the United States; at least 75 patients with the virus have died. Unless you have been in a coma recently I think you have heard all the things you should be doing to protect yourself like frequent hand washing and avoiding crowds, so I am not going to rehash them here. Use common sense and stay away from sick people. I have always said that the Russians, Koreans or even aliens won’t kill us off. It will be a tiny, little, unseen bug that will get us all. — Norb Rug is a writer and blogger from Lockport. You can follow his blog at WhyWNY.home.blog.
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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • April 2020
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Major Nursing Homes in Upstate Remain on High Alert
From St. Ann’s Community to Loretto in Syracuse, large nursing homes in Upstate New York impose restrictions as a way to contain the spread of COVID-19 By Ernst Lamothe Jr.
M
any nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Upstate New York have been on the forefront of battling the coronavirus and making sure their residents stay safe while also making sure the lines of communications remain strong with their loved ones. Older adults and people who have severe underlying chronic medical conditions such as heart or lung disease or diabetes are at a higher risk for developing serious complications from COVID-19. “We have issued a temporary visitor restriction to all our senior care communities,” said Julie Sheedy, chief marketing and engagement officer for Loretto in Syracuse, a
comprehensive continuing healthcare organization that provides a variety of services for older adults. “For us being a nursing home facility, we have always focused on taking the most precautions in any situation. We are always on high alert especially in this time because it is flu season and we had strict protocols in place even before the coronavirus.” Loretto is the ninth largest employer in Onondaga County and employs about 2,500 people. It serves nearly 10,000 individual annually. “The only exception we’re making when it comes to visitors is for residents who are at the end of life where we are making special ar-
rangements,” said Sheedy. “We have stopped any community outings as well as entertainers or events coming into our facilities. We know that we care for one of the most vulnerable populations and we’re meeting daily to assess and reassess any of our protocols.” St. Ann’s Community, which is the largest senior facility provider in the Rochester area — and the seventh largest nonprofit senior living provider in New York state — has assembled a core team of physicians, nurses and care providers to monitor the virus’ spread and obtain updated guidance from the Department of Health and the Centers for Disease
St. Ann’s Community Gives $400,000 in Bonuses to 875 Employees
S
t. Ann’s Community has announced it was giving approximately $400,000 in bonuses to 875 employees in late March in a major show of appreciation and support. The organization’s workers are helping to provide around-theclock care to residents and patients — the most vulnerable and at-risk populations of the rapidly spreading coronavirus COVID-19 global pandemic. “The extraordinary performance of our employees during these unprecedented times deserves appreciation and recog-
nition,” said St. Ann’s Community President and CEO Michael McRae. “We can only hope that the bonuses, along with other measures, help acknowledge their service and sacrifice. We would not be able to provide care to those most in need without our dedicated and brave healthcare workers.” Appreciation bonuses was expected to be paid, March 27, to all full-time and part-time workers. Full-time workers will receive $500 and part-time workers will receive $250. Senior managers are excluded from the bonus. In addition to the bonuses, April 2020 •
smaller measures are also being implemented to show support for staff members. St. Ann’s is providing complimentary food to all workers while on duty, and has also relaxed the uniform and dress code for all employees. “Our team members are balancing work with the support and care they need to provide to their own families, especially during this anxious and difficult time for all of us,” McRae said. “They are incredible, and we are completely in awe of their willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty.”
Control (CDC). The medical team has limited all visitation that are not medical related. Jennifer Aiezza, marketing manager for St. Ann, said the organization releases regular videos, which cover a wide range of topics from visitation restriction, preparedness, resident activities and programs. In addition, it has set up an email address — covidquestions@mystanns. com — for families to also send questions. “Although large-scale events have been suspended, our staff are providing programs for small groups fewer than five residents and individuals to meet their interests and needs,” said Aiezza. “This allows residents to stay on their floors and in their households, socializing with those they ordinarily interact with. Innovation and spontaneity has already taken place; from impromptu birthday celebrations to dance parties in the dining room, we are working together to continue normalcy for our residents,” said Aiezza. St. Ann’s has also implemented a buddy program, which pairs staff with residents for daily visits. During these visits, team members will check-in on residents to talk, listen, and help connect them with their families via video-chat or another way as determined by family preferences. The team members are volunteers from across multiple functions of St. Ann’s. “With visitation being so limited, we have created opportunities for social interaction and engagement,” said Triciajean Jones, St. Ann’s director of life enrichment. “Every resident has been paired with a staff member who will visit daily and help keep in touch with family through video chat or a simple phone call. It’s a friendly visit for both residents and staff.” “So many of our residents enjoy weekly and daily visits from their loved ones, and now, due to restricted visitation, we will do everything we can to keep families connected,” added Aiezza. Based on guidance from the CDC and other health agencies regarding COVID-19, and an abundance of caution, Buffalo-based Elderwood, which operates several senior facilities throughout New York state, has issued temporary visitor restrictions at all of its senior care communities. No unnecessary visitors will be allowed into these facilities. Those individuals that must enter, including Elderwood staff, must complete a health screening prior to moving throughout the facility. Trying times Physician David Gifford, chief medical officer for the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living, understands families panicking because they are not able to visit but he believes these are trying times. “This virus is acting differently in the elderly population, those who are 80 years old and older, especially those who are living in nursing homes and assisted living. The disease for them is very dire,” said Gifford. “We are making recommendations, governors nationwide are making recommendations and the CDC is making recommendations to limit individuals coming into buildings. We know this is a difficult thing to ask but the risk of this virus being spread is very serious.”
IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper
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Meet Your Provider
Hart Hearing & Balance Centers 5 Things You Should Know About Hearing
Q. “I don’t need hearing aids. Hearing aids are for old people, who don’t mind the way they look and the buzzing noise they make.” A. Did you know that over 40 million people have hearing loss? Hearing loss is now the third most prevalent chronic health concern among adults in the US. If you have difficulty following along with a conversation in loud environments or asking people to repeat themselves, it might be a good time to have a hearing evaluation. It’s the best way to get a baseline and see if you have any hearing loss. Today’s hearing aids are very discreet, intuitive and natural sounding. Most of our patients tell us people don’t even know they are wearing them!
Q. “Hearing loss is genetic, I’m really not worried about it.”
A. This is partially true. Some hearing loss is inherited; however, we live in a noisy world and the most common hearing loss is noise induced. Noise induced hearing loss is 100% preventable. A key indicator is if it’s too loud to hear someone’s voice, then hearing protection should be
used. We have a variety of ear plugs for musicians, concert goers, hunters and everyday use. They are easy to use, portable and effective. We want everyone to love what they hear, so protect your ears!
Q. “Hearing aids seem very expensive. How do I make the right choice?”
A. Our team is trained in dispensing the most advanced hearing aid technology. Many insurance plans cover at least a portion of the cost and many employers offer a benefit. We can help you find the solution that suits your needs and fits your budget.
Q. “I have constant ringing in my ears and dizziness. Should I see my primary doctor? Don’t audiologists only take care of hearing loss?” A. Audiologists specialize in hearing care, and the inner ear is home to the hearing and balance centers, or the vestibular system. Our practice is certified by the American Institute of Balance as a center for specialty care and we are now able to serve the
Audiologists at Hart Hearing & Balance Centers: Peter W. Hart (from left), Sarah Hodgson and Stephen T. Hart. The practice has been a leader in hearing and balance care for over 40 years. It has five locations in the region. comprehensive hearing and vestibular needs of the greater Rochester area.
Q. “What makes Hart Hearing & Balance Centers different from other audiologists?”
take them for a test-drive to be sure they are right for you. We want to get you started on the path to better hearing.
A. Our goal with every patient is to find the best solution for their needs, their hearing loss, their lifestyle and their budget. Once we’ve done a complete evaluation, we will provide our recommendations. If the result is being fit for hearing aids, we’ll let you
Hart Hearing & Balance Centers • www.harthearing.com Brighton | Brockport | Fairport | Greece | Irondequoit
Do what you love. Even if it’s nothing at all. As one of the most important people on earth, you should have nothing to worry about but choosing today’s activity, outing or dining option. Or just enjoying quiet time in beautifully maintained surroundings with 24-hour security. St. Ann’s Community at Chapel Oaks has no entrance fee, only a low, monthly service fee for all your amenities. You also have complimentary transportation for appointments and activities, and access to higher levels of care if you ever need it. 1- and 2- Bedroom Apartments • Wellness Center/Pool • Multiple Dining Venues
stannscommunity.com 1500 Portland Avenue l Rochester, NY 14621 l 585-697-6606 Page 16
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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • April 2020
ably,” Panzarella said. “We’re not sure if more doctors are on the lookout for more early warning signs.” Insurance companies are covering more early intervention services because research indicates that “the more services they can get early on, the greater strides you’ll see the child make and more independence the child will have on down the road.” No definitive, objective test exists to indicate whether or not a child has autism. Instead, providers consider a child’s developmental milestones, such as fine and gross motor skills, any sensory disorders, and things parents have noticed that are different about their child compared with neuro-typical children. Panzarella said that some adults on the spectrum who were previously diagnosed as having Asperger’s
still prefer the term as they view it as a cultural, social distinction that better defines their experience. Thanks to greater awareness and acceptance of autism, more community agencies and resources have been made available to help parents of children with autism spectrum disorder and the community in general better understand autism. “Even 30 to 40 years ago, there wasn’t as much information as readily available,” Panzarella said. “There’s so much more information out there and it’s accessible to people so they can educate themselves.” But Panzarella isn’t sure if some factor increasing the incidences of autism to some degree as well. “We don’t really know what causes autism,” she added.
What is Autism?
Why Incidence Rates Are So High By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
T
he prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) was about one in every 150 children in 2000. Currently, it’s about 1 in 59, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, So why do so many more children have a diagnosis of ASD? While some people might look at the issue and think that some outside factor is causing more children to have ASD, experts look to other reasons for the increased rate. “The increase in autism rates are probably a combination of three reasons: there are more places to diagnose ASD, more screenings, and more awareness,” said Mary Brzustowicz, family navigator with AutismUp in Rochester. “I believe that the new DSM definition is not necessarily broader, it is just not parsed out with Asperger’s on one end.” Published by the American Psychiatric Association, DSM — or Diagnostic and Statistical Manual
of Mental Disorders — represents mental health professionals’ book of officially recognized psychiatric disorders. “They removed some subcategories,” said Tracy A. Panzarella, licensed speech-language pathologist and director of clinical services with Autism Services, Inc. in Amherst. “Now it’s ‘autism’ and varying levels under that. Many years ago, there were different labels. There was a continuum and terms like ‘high functioning’ or ‘childhood disintegrative disorders.’” Though she doesn’t know why the terms were removed, she sees some merit in making the changes, since even under the former labels, it was all still ASD. Using “ASD” as an umbrella term is simpler, especially for children with multiple, overlapping and numerous traits difficult to label. “Over the years, the statistics have definitely changed consider-
The Arc of Monroe provides clinical & habilitative services to people with intellectual & developmental disabilities in our out-patient Article 16 Clinic certified by NYS OPWDD.
» Nutrition » Occupational Therapy » Physical Therapy » Psychiatric Care » Social Work » Speech Pathology » Autism Testing » Behavioral Services
Autism is a neurologically-based developmental disability that lasts throughout a person’s lifetime. It is a spectrum disorder that is characterized by social and communication challenges, sensory impairments, restricted behaviors and Interests, and associated medical issues. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) varies widely in severity and symptoms and may go unrecognized, especially in mildly affected children or when it is masked by other more prominent disabilities. Autism is not a mental illness, bad behavior, caused by vaccines, or always associated with cognitive impairment. If you see any of these signs in your child, be sure to inform your child’s pediatrician: • no babbling or pointing by age 1 • no single words by 16 months or two-word phrases by age 2 • no response to name • loss of language or social skills • poor eye contact • excessive lining up of toys or objects • different social responsive-
ness than other children These behaviors have been observed in older children: • impaired ability to make friends with peers in expected ways • impaired ability to initiate or sustain conversation with others • stereotyped, repetitive, or unusual use of language • restricted patterns of interest that are abnormal in intensity or focus • inflexible adherence to specific routines or rituals • Lack of fear or danger awareness • Sudden (to you) changes in mood or demeanor • Dislike of being touched or touching too much • Not responsive to verbal and nonverbal cues • Difficulty expressing needs or responding to questions A developmental evaluation is required to diagnose a child with ASD. From the website of AutismUp (www.autismup.org):
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Virtual Autism Awareness Walk Get ready for a fun, inclusive, and interactive online walk to celebrate diversity and raise awareness for Autism!
Join our event page on Facebook for month-long, pre-walk challenges, incentives, prizes, and day-of event LIVE stream access as we raise awareness for Autism: https://tinyurl.com/AutismWalk2020Facebook Register and pledge online for the walk: https://tinyurl.com/AutismWalk2020
arcmonroe.org/health-services (585) 271-0661 2060 Brighton-Henrietta Townline Rd Rochester, NY 14623
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Page 17
Study Points to Common Plastic as Autism Factor By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
I
f their children face a health condition or a challenge, parents typically want to know the cause. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is no exception. After receiving the diagnosis, parents often want to know the answer to “why?” Though ASD expresses itself through many different combinations of a collection of traits, healthcare professionals have a single answer for its cause: “we don’t know.” Phthalates chemicals used in a variety of consumer goods, from plastic to makeup, are now under scrutiny as a possible contributor to autism. A recent study led by Youssef Oulhote and published in the periodical “Environmental Health Perspectives” indicates that boys born to mothers exposed to phthalates while pregnant have a slightly elevated risk
for autistic type of behaviors, including struggling socially, repetitive behavior and narrow interests. Oulhote, an assistant professor of biostatistics and epidemiology at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, found that the effect was not observed in girls. A few research studies have associated phthalates with an interruption in hormone development in children, which has caused some household product manufacturers to discontinue their use. However, they’re still in many goods consumers use every day. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Phthalates are a group of chemicals used to make plastics more flexible and harder to break. They are often called plasticizers. Some phthalates are used as solvents (dissolving agents) for other materials. They are
used in hundreds of products, such as vinyl flooring, adhesives, detergents, lubricating oils, automotive plastics, plastic clothes (raincoats), and personal-care products (soaps, shampoos, hair sprays, and nail polishes). “Phthalates are used widely in polyvinyl chloride plastics, which are used to make products such as plastic packaging film and sheets, garden hoses, inflatable toys, blood-storage containers, medical tubing, and some children’s toys.” Because of their prevalence, people still have lots of exposure. That’s why it’s a concern on how they could affect people. Oulhote thinks that the differences in hormones between boys and girls may indicate why phthalates
3.5% UNINSURED RATE 35% LOWER
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seem to affect them differently. Oulhote’s research also indicated that taking folic acid supplements in the three months before pregnancy provided protection against the risk. Obstetricians typically advise women of childbearing age to take folic acid supplements because they support fetal health. The March of Dimes advises taking 400 micrograms of folic acid daily before pregnancy and 600 micrograms during pregnancy to prevent neural tube defects, so women already have a good reason to take the supplement. Women who have already had a child with a neural tube defect may be advised to take a higher level of folic acid to before and during pregnancy. The research looked at information from about 2,000 women — a pretty small population for a thorough study. The research acknowledged that different factors appear to play a role in why some children are on the autism spectrum, such as genetics and how certain environmental factors may influence them. But he also advised reducing use of products containing phthalates and using plastic food containers for heating leftovers or cooking, as this can cause chemicals to leech into the food. Mary Brzustowicz, family navigator at AutismUp in Rochester, is also the parent of a young adult with ASD. She said that she found the research interesting and added, “I would be inclined to follow the health guidelines and strive to use materials other than plastic in daily life.”
Upstate New York’s 2018 uninsured rate is among the lowest ever recorded. According to recently released numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau, the uninsured rate in upstate New York was just 3.5 percent in 2018, compared with a New York state uninsured rate of 5.4 percent and a national rate of 8.9 percent. Low health-care costs are a key factor in upstate New York’s low uninsured rate.
For private insurance, Rochester and Syracuse are ranked as having among the lowest health care spending rates among 306 hospital referral regions across the country.* Upstate New York has a proud history of affordable, high-quality health care. It’s the result of regional partnerships and a commitment to nonprofit health care. It helps make our community a great place to live and work.
*Source: “The Experts Were Wrong About the Best Places for Better and Cheaper Health Care.” The New York Times, December 15, 2015 A nonprofit independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association
Page 18
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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • April 2020
Q A &
with
Lauri McKnight Children Awaiting Parents’ executive director talks about uniting children and their new parents Interview by Mike Costanza
C
hildren Awaiting Parents and its placement arm, the Donald J. Corbett Adoption Agency, help children who have long been in foster care find loving, permanent homes. Lauri McKnight, the Rochester nonprofit’s executive director, sat down with In Good Health to talk about its mission, and the processes by which it helps bring children and deserving parents together. McKnight has headed the organization since October 2018. Q. What is the mission of Children Awaiting Parents (CAP)? A. We primarily place children in loving, permanent homes who have been in the foster care system in loving, permanent homes. Often, the children have been in foster care for three or more — and typically many more — years. Q. The children your nonprofit works with have been in foster care with various county agencies in Central and Western New York. Are these kids special in some ways? A. Our agency serves primarily children who are a little bit older — somewhere around the age of 8 or 10 up through 21 — who may have disabilities, who may have been abused,
maltreated, abandoned — any of those things. Q. When CAP was founded in 1972, its ability to serve children who were in foster care and those who wanted to adopt them was much more limited than it is now. Can you give some details about those limitations? A. The only thing they [CAP’s staff] could do was provide advocacy for those children — try to get them promoted, visible. They were able to connect a family and a child, but because CAP was not a state-licensed agency, they were unable to do anything more than match the family and children. Other agencies had to do the placement, the placement services, and the finalization of the adoption. Q. In 2017, CAP created the Donald J. Corbett Adoption Agency to replace the outside agencies that once did the nutsand-bolts of actual adoption. What steps does that agency undertake as part of the adoption process? A. A parent who is interested in adoption would first come to our office for an informational meeting with our adoption specialist to learn about the process, the fees, what adoption would entail and what training looks like. The next step April 2020 •
for them would be to enroll in the training which is a 10-week series of informational and educational classes on what children need, what trauma looks like for these children, how to best parent these children and what you can expect from adoption. At the same time, we are assessing the family to be sure that we think this is a family that could handle one of the children. We want to be sure that this family is going to be able to manage it and is the right family for a child with these situations that I’ve mentioned. Once that 10-week series is over, the parent decides to go forward or not to continue this process. Q. If a potential parent wants to continue the adoption process, and is considered a right fit for one of your children at this point, what happens next? A. Extensive clearance and background checks. There has to be a New York state clearance to make sure that there are no child protective issues, or a history of criminal activity. They have to be fingerprinted, and also checked through a clearance system to be sure that they have not harmed a child through any kind of work that they did. Q. If the parents pass those background checks, what’s the next step in the process? A. A home study is written. This is an extensive process where the home is inspected, the family’s background and their story are then written into a narrative which will then be available for a review by any county and the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. Once a family is trained, their home study is completed and everything’s in place, they’re certified adoptive. Q. Once a family is certified, what’s the next in the adoption process? A. Now, the family is ready for search-and-match. That is where a staff member spends a pretty extensive amount of time reading the home study of the family and then searching with the family for a child that fits what they’re looking for and fits their home. We’re looking for a child that fits the home and a family that fits the child. Once we’ve found that child, then we present the home study to the custodial county. Then, a selection meeting happens with two or three families, and the custodial county chooses a family. If our family is selected, we start the process of getting the family and the child to know one another through phone or Skype or Facetime. The family then goes to visit the child wherever they are, and the child visits the family in New York. If all goes well, that child will be legally placed in that home for a period of six months minimum, until finalization happens in court. Finalization is based on the readiness of the child and the family. Since October of 2018, we’ve placed 13 children in permanent homes. Q. What services does your nonprofit provide for adoptive parents? A. I actually have like a threepage menu of services. It includes training in parenting skills, twice-monthly home monitoring and supervision, family sessions with a licensed social worker, a support group for the families and help navigating the educational system. The children receive training in the skills they need to live in the family and do well in life. Q. How big is CAP? A. We have six full-time and two part-time staff. Our annual budget averages $500,000.
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You don’t have to face hearing loss alone. The Rochester Chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) unites people with all degrees of hearing loss. Come to one of our monthly chapter meetings to meet others with hearing loss and learn from the professionals who treat it. Visit our website for details: HearingLossRochester.org
IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper
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Page 19
Ask St. Ann’s
Aging Feet Need Good Footwear By John Ellie, Jr.
F
eet are complex structures. They serve as all-in-one stabilizers, shock absorbers and propulsion engines instrumental to our overall health and well-being. The average person walks tens of thousands of miles in their lifetime. Yet a 2014 survey conducted by the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) found that 54% of Americans don’t consider foot health to be essential to their overall health and well-being. With warmer weather on its way, podiatrists — physicians and surgeons who assess, evaluate and treat the foot, ankle and related structures of the leg — are putting their feet down. April is APMA Foot Health Awareness Month, a timely reminder to everyone that feet deserve our appreciation, attention and expert care. Daily wear and tear take their
toll on the bone structure, tissues and elasticity of older feet. It’s not uncommon for seniors to develop corns, calluses, skin and nail disorders, bunions and hammertoes. Add foot or heel pain, plantar fasciitis, ingrown toenails, and flat feet, diabetes, and arthritis to the list, and you’ll understand why seniors need a podiatrist on their healthcare team. Monitoring foot health, especially when other illnesses, diseases or health conditions are in the mix, is critical to prevent more severe problems down the road. A lifetime of bad shoe choices is another reason people develop foot problems as they age. Shoes are meant to protect your feet and to help with the overall health of your foot. So, it’s essential to have footwear for different activities and weather conditions that provide
proper support. The podiatrists at the outpatient podiatry practice at St. Ann’s Community recommend choosing shoes with stiff soles and cushioning to provide structure and support for your feet. A properly fitted shoe should be comfortable and snug, but not too tight, to allow for a little wiggle room at the end of your toes. If your shoes slip on and off your heel when you move, try another style or size. If you have a foot condition that makes finding shoes difficult, inserts molded to your foot, called orthotics, can provide the added support you need. Podiatrists often prescribe them as part of a comprehensive treatment plan to address a variety of
foot problems and symptoms, usually having to do with an abnormality, pain or foot discomfort. While it’s easy to buy cushion insoles and arch supports at your local drug store, they don’t provide the protection and support of custom-made orthotics. We at St. Ann’s Podiatry Practice can offer custom-made orthotics and charge less than specialty shoe stores. Your feet will thank you for investing in the real thing.Having healthy feet helps to enhance your life and gives you the mobility you need every day. So, don’t wait! Walk — or run, if you’re wearing well-fitted running shoes — to a podiatrist for a foot, ankle, or leg check-up today.
John Ellie, Jr. holds a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree (DPM) and is a podiatrist at the outpatient podiatry practice located at St. Ann’s Community in Rochester. Contact him at jellie@MyStAnns.com or 585-642-6100, or visit www. stannscommunity.com.
Golden Years
Maria Shriver Sounds the Alarm on Women and Alzheimer’s W hy are two out of three people struck by Alzheimer’s disease women? That’s the question that drove journalist and author Maria Shriver to start the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement (WAM). The group is dedicated to raising awareness that women face a greater risk of Alzheimer’s disease, and aims to fund women-based research for Alzheimer’s disease. “Women’s research is way behind men’s research, and the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement sits there pushing. Because we can’t close the knowledge gap unless we do the research. And we can’t help women on the front lines of this disease without that research,” Shriver said at a WAM luncheon in March honoring new research grant recipients. Shriver, 64, has spoken openly about her father Sargent Shriver’s battle with Alzheimer’s disease, and how it destroyed her “father’s beautiful brain.” But she soon noticed that when people shared their stories of loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease, the stories were disproportionately about women. When Shriver pressed experts on why the brain disease seemed to affect so many more women, she was told it was because women live Page 20
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longer. Not one to let a potentially important story go, Shriver partnered with the Alzheimer’s Association to look closer at this connection. The result was “The Shriver Report,” which confirmed that women were, in fact, being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease far more often than men. And it wasn’t just a factor of women living longer. But no one knows exactly why Alzheimer’s disease ravages so many more female minds. And many women and their families still don’t realize the seriousness of the risk. A woman in her 60s faces an estimated 1 in 6 lifetime risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. For breast cancer, the risk is one in 11, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Therefore, research is essential, WAM says. Some of the early research projects receiving grants from WAM include: • The gut microbiome’s role in Alzheimer’s. Harvard researcher Laura Cox is exploring how the natural bacteria in the digestive system (gut microbiome) might affect the development of Alzheimer’s, and whether adding more beneficial microbes could be a way to treat Alzheimer’s disease in women.
• Sex-based genetic analysis. Massachusetts General Hospital researchers Rudy Tanzi and Dmitry Prokopenko are mapping genetic markers based on gender and looking for genetic markers for Alzheimer’s disease on the female genome. • Sudden hormonal shifts and Alzheimer’s disease. Lisa Mosconi, from Weill Cornell Medicine, is looking at how a rapid shift in estrogen levels might impact a woman’s risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Women in the study are being treated for other conditions, but a side effect of those treatments is early menopause. Mosconi will compare the brains of women before and after these treatments to see how a sudden loss of estrogen affects the brain. • Sex-based brain differences. Using advanced imaging techniques, neuropsychologist Jessica Caldwell, from the Cleveland Clinic, is studying gender-based differences in the brain in people with memory issues and those without to gain a better understanding of what role gender plays in the brain. • Alzheimer’s prevention and sex differences. Physician Richard Isaacson, from Weill Cornell and New York-Presbyterian Hospital, has already published research based on
IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • April 2020
a WAM grant that found women and men with a family history of Alzheimer’s disease can improve their memory and thinking skills on their own with changes in lifestyle. The current grant is to help build a consortium to see if these risk reduction techniques change based on gender, and if there is a way to optimize prevention methods by gender. • Sex-based differences in severity of disease. Sarah Banks and Erin Sundermann, from the University of California, San Diego, are studying factors that may contribute to the more severe brain changes that seem to occur in women with Alzheimer’s compared to men. In particular, they will be looking at whether changes in sleep, diet and exercise are linked to greater inflammation in women with Alzheimer’s disease. Despite the significant challenges that Alzheimer’s disease presents, Shriver said she remains hopeful, encouraged by the progress that has been made since her father was diagnosed with the disease in 2003. “While we don’t have a cure, we do know so much more today about our brain health and what we can do to slow, if not prevent, Alzheimer’s disease in the future,” Shriver said.
By Jim Miller
How Medicare is Covering Coronavirus Dear Savvy Senior,
Is Medicare covering testing for the coronavirus? My husband and I are very nervous about this virus and would like to find out if or when we should get tested, and how Medicare manages it.
coronavirus. So, everyone in these categories need to be vigilant. Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Severe cases can lead to pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and death. If you develop any symptoms that are concerning, you should contact your primary-care provider by phone for guidance. If your doctor believes you need testing, he or she will instruct you on what to do. Unfortunately, there have been reports of test shortages across the country, so depending on where you live you may have to wait a few days.
Nervous Nelly
Prevention Tips
Dear Nelly,
To help you steer clear of COVID-19 the CDC recommends that you avoid close contact with anyone who is sick. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after being out in public, blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. If soap and water isn’t available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. To the extent possible, try to avoid touching your face, nose and eyes. And avoid touching high-touch surfaces in public places, like elevator buttons, door handles, handrails, and handshaking with people. Use a tissue or your sleeve to cover your hand or finger if you must touch something. Also, clean and disinfect your home to remove germs: Practice routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces — tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, toilets, faucets, sinks and cell phones. You should also avoid crowds, especially in poorly ventilated spaces. Your risk of exposure to respiratory viruses like COVID-19 may increase in crowded, closed-in settings with little air circulation if there are people in the crowd who are sick. The CDC also recommends that seniors and high-risk individuals stock up on supplies, such as extra medications and groceries. And, if there is an outbreak in your community, remain at home as much as possible. They also discourage non-essential travel. For more information on the COVID-19, visit Coronavirus.gov.
Yes! Medicare is indeed covering the cost of testing for the coronavirus, or COVID-19. But be aware that getting a test isn’t as simple as going to your local pharmacy or doctor’s office and asking for one. Here’s a breakdown of what Medicare is covering, along with how to get tested if you think you may have symptoms.
Medicare Coverage Medicare (Part B) will cover the lab test to see if you have coronavirus, but only when your doctor or other health care provider orders it. You will pay no out-of-pocket costs for these tests. In addition, Medicare also covers all medically necessary hospitalizations. This includes if you’re diagnosed with COVID-19 and might otherwise have been discharged from the hospital after an inpatient stay, but instead you need to stay in the hospital under quarantine. And while there’s currently no vaccine yet to protect against COVID-19, when one becomes available next year, it too will be covered by all Medicare prescription drug plans (Part D). If you happen to get your Medicare benefits through a private Medicare Advantage plan, you will have access to these same benefits. In addition, many Advantage plans are also expanding coverage of telemedicine, which allows beneficiaries to consult with medical professionals without having to go to a doctor’s office. Check with your plan for coverage details.
When to Call Your Doctor Older adults, age 60 and older (especially those in their 70s and 80s), and people with chronic medical conditions like diabetes, heart, lung or kidney disease are at a higher risk of serious illness if they contract the
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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • April 2020
Ask The Social
Security Office
From the Social Security District Office
Social Security Number for Children
G
etting your newborn a Social Security number is important. If your child is born in a hospital, the easiest way to secure a Social Security number is when you give information for your child’s birth certificate. If you wait to apply for a number at a Social Security office, you may encounter delays while we verify your child’s birth certificate. When you give information for your child’s birth certificate at the hospital, you’ll be asked whether you want to apply for a Social Security number for your child. If you say “yes,” you need to provide both parents’ Social Security numbers, if you can. Even if you don’t know both parents’ Social Security numbers, you can still apply for a number for your child. There are many reasons why
Q&A
Q: When a person who has worked and paid Social Security taxes dies, are benefits payable on that person’s record? A: Social Security survivors benefits can be paid to: • A widow or widower — unreduced benefits at full retirement age, or reduced benefits as early as age 60; • A disabled widow or widower — as early as age 50; • A widow or widower at any age if he or she takes care of the deceased’s child who is under age 16 or disabled, and receiving Social Security benefits; • Unmarried children under 18 or up to age 19 if they are attending high school full time. Under certain circumstances, benefits can be paid to stepchildren, grandchildren, or adopted children; • Children at any age who were disabled before age 22 and remain disabled; and • Dependent parents age 62 or older. Even if you are divorced, you still may qualify for survivors benefits. For more information, go to www.socialsecurity.gov. Q: I receive retirement benefits, but I also still work. How much can I earn and still collect full Social Security retirement benefits? A: Social Security uses the formulas below, depending on your age, to determine how much you can earn before we must reduce your benefit: • If you are younger than full retirement age: $1 in benefits will be deducted for each $2 you earn above
your child should have a Social Security number. You need a Social Security number to claim your child as a dependent on your income tax return. Your child may also need a number if you plan to: • Open a bank account for your child. • Buy savings bonds for your child. • Get medical coverage for your child. • Apply for government services for your child. You can read more about Social Security numbers for children at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10023. pdf. Share this information with people who are expecting a child. Applying for a Social Security card at the hospital will save them time and let focus on the new member of their family.
the annual limit. • In the year you reach your full retirement age: $1 in benefits will be deducted for each $3 you earn above a different limit, but we count only earnings before the month you reach full retirement age. • Starting with the month you reach full retirement age: You will get your benefits with no limit on your earnings. Find out your full retirement age at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/ ageincrease.htm. Q: Why should I sign up for a My Social Security online account? A: My Social Security gives you a personal online account you can securely use to check your Social Security information and do business with us. With a My Social Security account you can: • Keep track of your earnings and verify them every year; • Get an estimate of your future benefits if you are still working; • Get a replacement Social Security card if you meet certain criteria; • Get a letter with proof of your benefits if you currently receive them; and • Manage your benefits: – Change your address or telephone number; – Start or change your direct deposit; – Get a replacement Medicare card; and – Get a replacement SSA-1099 or SSA-1042S for tax season. To find all of the services available and set up an account, go to www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount. April 2020 •
Health News All Access CBD opens in Webster All Access CBD, a Florida-based company started by Rochester native Mike MacArthur in 2018, has recently opened a store in the Rochester area. It’s located at 1991 Empire Blvd. in Webster. It will hold a grand opening April 25. All Access CBD was founded by MacArthur in 2018 in Tampa, Florida. According to MacArthur, All Access CBD is unique as a full line manufacturer, distributor and retail company with an in-house pharmaceutical grade ISO-6 rated laboratory. “Every associate who works in the laboratory is certified under Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP) and we regularly update policies and procedures to comply with regulation changes,” MacArthur said.
Michelle Dwyer promoted at St. Ann’s Community St. Ann’s Community, Rochester’s leading senior housing and health services provider, has recently promoted Michelle Dwyer to director of human resources. Dwyer earned her Bachelor of Arts in sociology from SUNY University at Buffalo in 2007, and she has continued her professional development by obtaining certificates in strategic leadership from Cornell University in 2017 and the Harvard University Division of Continuing Education and Professional Development in 2019. She is certified by the Human Resources Certification Institute as a senior professional in human resources (SPHR). Dwyer joined St. Ann’s Community eight years ago as an office manager in the St. Ann’s Care Center before being promoted to human resources coordinator in 2015.
Elizabeth Wende Breast Care announces expansion, new staff Elizabeth Wende Breast Care (EWBC) announced it has opened a new office in Webster at 55 Barrett Drive. It will offer 3-D mammography exams with results while you wait and screening breast ultrasound for women with dense breasts. The practice also announced the addition of two physicians.. They are: • Leah Rossett obtained her medical degree from SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse and completed her radiology residency at the University of Rochester. She returned home to Upstate New York
to join Elizabeth Wende Breast Care, LLC in September 2019 after finishing her breast imaging fellowship at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. • Sarah Vanderlinde graduated from University of Rochester School of Medicine and completed her radiology residency at St. Luke’s Roosevelt-Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City. She subsequently completed a breast imaging fellowship at New York University. Following the fellowship, she returned to the Rochester area and has been in private practice for over six years before joining Elizabeth Wende Breast Care in November 2019.
Diane Hayton named nursing director at nursing facility Diane Hayton was recently named director of nursing for the M.M. Ewing Continuing Care Center, UR Medicine Thompson Health’s skilled-nursing facility in Canandaigua. The Rochester resident’s career has included positions as a hospital staff nurse on a medical-surgical unit as well as on acute geriatric and oncology units, with a number of leadership positions in both long-term care and rehabilitation settings, as well as in a program for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Most recently, she served as assistant director of nursing for The Hurlbut in Henrietta. With an associate’s degree from Finger Lakes Community College, Hayton graduated from Roberts Wesleyan College in 2018 with her bachelor’s in nursing. Her professional affiliations include the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. “With extensive clinical expertise nursing experience in long-term care, I am convinced Diane will add another layer of success to our quality efforts at the continuing care center. I am pleased that she decided to join our team,” said Thompson Health Vice President of Long-Term Care Amy Daly.
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