Health&Wellness March 2021

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Vol. 18 • Issue 6 • March 2021

SENIOR H E A LT H FEATURED STORIES:

Daisy Hill Senior Living Loving Life

Bluegrass Elderlaw Navigates Unknown Legal Waters With You

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“With True Health Solution Breakthroughs, You Can ELIMINATE Diabetes, Neuropathy, Hypertension, Over-Weight, Pain & MORE!” BEFORE TRUE HEALTH SOLUTIONS

AFTER TRUE HEALTH SOLUTIONS

Robert, age 62, started with Dr. Miller in February, 2020. Within just 5 months he Eliminated High A-1C, Eliminated High Blood Pressure, Lost over 58 lbs, Eliminated Sciatic Nerve Pain and Has More Energy!

Q: Robert, why did you go to Dr. Miller?

A: “I heard Tom Leach (6.30AM radio) talk of Dr. Miller and the results he gets. I was on about 7 drugs a day, which I hated to take, and my health was getting worse. I really needed to do something to get my health and life back.”

Q: You’ve been seeing other medical doctors, what about Dr. Miller was different?

A: “Dr. Miller makes everything very clear as to what is causing the poor health issues and what exactly needs to be done to eliminate what is causing poor health. Dr. Miller really takes the time to listen and looked at my whole health history.”

Q: What did Dr. Miller do to find out what’s not working correctly in your body?

A: “Dr. Miller has an amazing blood panel lab he orders through Lab Corp. Then he does a ‘Computer Assessment’ that uncovered exactly what was causing my High A-1C (Type 2 Diabetes), Hypertension, Over-Weight and Sciatic Nerve Pain.

It’s really very impressive.”

Q: Robert, what did Dr. Miller recommend for you to Eliminate Your Poor Health Issues?

A: “Dr. Miller laid out a very clear plan, he makes it all very clear and started off by seeing me every week to ensure I would win and walk away from all these diseases. I’m really happy with how he treats me as a patient. And my Sciatic Nerve Pain is GONE!” Q: What are the results of your treatment from Dr. Miller?

A: “My results are very satisfying!

The change has been remarkable!

Not only got my health back, I dropped so far over 58 lbs! I highly recommend Dr. Miller.”

“My High A1c went down to 5.4 off meds! I’ve lost over 58 lbs., my Hypertension, Fatigue and Body Pain are gone and I’ve got my energy and life back! And I’m just getting started!”

Integrated Care | Nutrition | Chiropractic Dr. Mark A. Miller, DC and Associates, PLLC

(859) 223-2233

www.TrueHealthSolutionsForYou.com You have the right to rescind within 72 hours any agreement to invest in services that are performed the same day in addition to advertised free services.

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Health&Wellness is a proud product of

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MARCH 2021: SENIOR HEALTH

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CONTENTS

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FEATURES 4

Looking at Long-Term Care & Other Senior Living Possibilities

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Gloomy Golden Years? Depression is a Real Concern

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Loving Life: Making Every Day Count at Daisy Hill Senior Living

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Bluegrass Elderlaw Navigates Unknown Legal Waters With You

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Seniors and the COVID Vaccine

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Seniors, Watch Out for Shingles

Health&Wellness Magazine can be found in 20 central Kentucky counties and is distributed to over 90% of medical facilities, including chiroprator’s, eye doctor’s and dentist’s offices. You can also pick up your FREE copy of Health&Wellness at most grocery and convenience stores as well as many restaurants throughout Central KY.

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ELDER LAW Elder Law Attorney Can Help With Asset Protection Planning FITNESS & PHYSICAL THERAPY Aspects of Normal Aging Can Be Improved with Strength Training FAMILY DOC What is a Medicare Wellness Exam?

INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE Optimism is Good Medicine

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Brian Lord | Publisher David Bryan Blondell | Golf & Special Sections Director Jennifer Lord | Customer Relations Specialist Barry Lord | Sales Representative Anastassia Zikkos | Sales Representative Kim Wade | Sales Representative Janet Roy | Graphic Designer Purple Patch Innovations | Web & Social Media

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PET HEALTH: Pets and Healthy Aging

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NATURE'S BEAUTY

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FOOD BITES

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e-mail brian@rockpointpublishing.com

© Copyright HEALTH&WELLNESS Magazine 2021.

All rights reserved. Any reproduction of the material in this magazine in whole or in part without written prior consent is prohibited. Articles and other material in this magazine are not necessarily the views of Health&Wellness Magazine. Health&Wellness Magazine reserves the right to publish and edit, or not publish any material that is sent. Health&Wellness Magazine will not knowingly publish any advertisement which is illegal or misleading to its readers. The information in Health&Wellness should not be considered as a substitute for medical examination, diagnosis or treatment.

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FROM TANYA J. TYLER

EDITOR Dear Friends, The older I get, the more grateful for I am for each new year.

Of course, aging has its challenges – arthritis, eye problems, dementia – but if you can tough through it and maintain a healthy outlook on life and stay active and positive, you’re a hero in my book! As the saying goes, “Old age is not for sissies.”

We have so much to look forward to even in the twilight years of our lives. And with so many medical innovations and examples of older people being vibrant, effective leaders (think

President Biden), we know we don’t have to stay on the front porch sitting passively on our rockers. We can jump out there into the world and have our says and make our marks. Go find your niche and show them how it’s done with the grace, aplomb, wisdom and joy only aging can bring!

Here’s to your health, Tanya

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LOOKING AT LONG-TERM CARE & OTHER SENIOR LIVING POSSIBILITIES

Everyone should have a plan for the kind of care they want as they age.

IT’S NOT INEVITABLE, BUT IT HELPS TO KNOW YOUR OPTIONS – JUST IN CASE

By Health&Wellness Staff The ideal scenario for seniors as they age is to be able to stay in their own homes, independent and active. But the reality is, a majority of older adults will have to make a decision about whether that is a viable option, both from a financial and a physical standpoint. You may have to decide on a different option if living independently at home becomes too difficult for you.

Some of your options (with average costs) include: • Home Health Care.

Health care providers will come to your home to help you with activities of daily living (ADLs) – bathing, shaving, meal preparation. They may offer medication reminders, physical therapy or much-needed companionship. They can be a liaison between you and your family, especially if they live far away, by keeping them appraised of how you’re doing. The average cost for in-home care is about $49,920 a year for 40 hours of help per week.

• Independent Living.

Many senior care facilities are cropping up all over, and one option they offer is independent living on their campuses.

Here you may be in your own apartment or house, with the option of having home health care when needed and having first dibs on moving into assisted living when it becomes necessary. Senior housing usually offers a vibrant, active social life, nutritious meals and

housekeeping. And you won’t have to rake leaves or shovel snowy sidewalks.

• Assisted Living.

You may, again, be in your own apartment, but staff will be available to assist you with ADLs. And you will be able to take advantage of what the senior living facility can offer – meals, excursions, companionship, therapy. The average cost of a one-bedroom assisted living care facility apartment averages $57,000 per year.

• Long-Term Care.

According to AARP, more than 70 percent of people turning 65 years old can expect to use some form of long-term care during their lives, especially as more Americans are living longer these days. When you need skilled nursing – say you’re recovering from knee or hip replacement surgery – this is the option to look into. If you are recovering from surgery, a long-term care facility can offer you the medical assistance and therapy opportunities you need. Average costs for a year’s care in a private Medicarecertified long-term-care nursing home is $104,000.

Everyone should have a plan for the kind of care they want as they age. You never know when injury, illness or a cognitive impairment will arise to spur you to make a

choice sooner rather than later. Sit down with your family and discuss all the choices available to you.

Look into long-term-care insurance to help you afford this type of care when and if you need it. Make appointments to visit facilities that interest you. Many senior living facilities allow you to come for

a meal or tour or even stay overnight. In the end, you will want to find a place that makes you feel comfortable, secure and cared for – a place to call home.

Sources:

• AARP (www.aarp.com) • Wise Geek (www.wise-geek.com)

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For advertising information call 859.368.0778 or email brian@rockpointpublishing.com | March 2021

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GLOOMY GOLDEN YEARS? DEPRESSION IS A REAL CONCERN FOR SENIOR HEALTH

By Health&Wellness Staff Especially now, during the isolation and uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, depression is a very real problem for many senior adults. According to the American Psychological Association, 15 percent to 20 percent of Americans over age 65 years have experienced depression. Important life changes that happen as we get older often cause stress and sadness. These include the death of a spouse or other loved one, retiring and dealing with physical illness or other problems of aging.

Depression is more than just “feeling sad.” It can be a threat to your physical as well as your mental health. It can compromise your immune system and interfere with your ability to fight infections – something that could be dangerous in the face of the current pandemic.

Some signs of depression include: • lack of energy or feeling tired; • having trouble sleeping or sleeping too much; • being uninterested in activities that used to bring satisfaction; • loss of appetite or, conversely, overeating; • having frequent bouts of crying;

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being unable to concentrate; having trouble making decisions; having more anxiety or fear; increasing irritability; feeling hopeless, guilty, worthless, or helpless; & having thoughts of death or suicide.

Risk factors for depression can be genetic; it’s known that people who have a family history of depression may be more likely to develop it than those whose families do not have the illness.

Older adults who had depression when they were younger are more at risk for developing depression later in life. People with depression may have different brain chemistry than those without the illness. Depression, especially in middle-aged or older adults, can co-occur with other serious medical illnesses such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease and Parkinson’s disease.

Treatment for depression often includes medications such as antidepressants (which help improve the way your brain uses certain chemicals that control mood or stress) and psychotherapy – talking to a psychologist, psychiatrist or therapist.

Different people respond to different treatments in different ways, so you may have to try multiple treatment options before finding one that works

I wish I had

HELP

for you. If you do take antidepressants, be sure to follow the recommended regimen. If you are taking medications for other conditions, tell your doctor so she can be aware of any possible adverse drug interactions. Ask your doctor about side effects to watch out for. Do not stop taking the antidepressants on your own, even as you begin to feel better; follow your doctor’s guidelines to safely cut back on the dosage. Getting outside and exercising is another good way to combat depression. Although face-to-face meetings with friends and family are discouraged or restricted by social distancing guidelines and mask wearing, many seniors are embracing the technology of apps such as Facetime and Zoom to stay connected with their loved ones. It’s not the same as meeting in person, but it’s certainly better than nothing.

Depression is not a normal part of aging. If you find yourself increasingly unable to get your spirits up to your previous levels, be sure to talk to your primary care provider. Certain medications and some medical conditions can cause the same symptoms as depression. Your doctor can rule out these possibilities by doing a physical exam. She will be able to help you find ways to get back to your sunny self again, looking forward to gleeful, not gloomy, golden years.

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Loving Life Making every day count – to serve, to bless, to enjoy, to love.

Daisy Hill Senior Living’s emphasis is on aging in place, pared with plenty of activities and opportunities for social interaction, in an atmosphere that supports the spiritual, emotional, social, physical and intellectual needs of every resident.

Our Memory Care Unit, “Pathway” is under final phases of construction and we plan to open later this year.

March 2021

“I love our social model for care,” Laurie said.

“You really get to know the residents and their life stories. We involve them in planning activities and their individualized service plans to ensure their participation and quality of life.

We continue to follow guidelines set forth by the cabinet for Health & Family Services in regards to restrictions related to the virus to keep our residents safe. Fortunately, our community has received both boosters of the COVID 19 vaccine.

We have an active working relationship with our local Public Health Department and will have priority in the community for any incoming staff, employees or residents to receive this vaccine as it becomes available.

“Family communication is also a priority at Daisy Hill,” Laurie further states.

“Typically, we initiate what we call a service plan with the resident and their family,” she said.

“We want to be sure their quality of life improves after moving instead of experiencing a decline. their baseline We try to have Whatever is, we do our best to maintain and improve it everything upon arrival.

“It’s like a triangle they could ever with the resident at the top, the family in want or need their corner and now Daisy Hill also in their corner,” she added. in house.

“There must be a good communication line and partnership with any family members who may be involved. We help them make the transition into long term care” Currently, Daisy Hill offers two lifestyle options for residents. The one-story Villas are designed for independent living. They are ideal for people who want to live a maintenance-free, active lifestyle and also have services available as needed.

“We see those residents as very independent, coming and going, cooking, cleaning and utilizing optional services along the way,” Laurie said.

Each one or two-bedroom Villa has a fully furnished kitchen, laundry room, walk-in closet, patio, screened in porch or sunroom and garage.

You can choose to rent or select the life lease option. Basic services include ground maintenance and snow removal, interior and exterior maintenance; an emergency call system that is monitored 24 hours a day; utilities; and trash removal. Optional services include transportation, dining services; housekeeping; weekly laundry services; and access to a hair salon, nail technician, approved private duty care givers, podiatry visits, in home nurse practitioners and delivering local pharmacy services.

“We try to have everything they could ever want or need in house,” included Laurie.

Villa residents have priority when it comes time to move to Daisy Hill’s assisted living facility.

Should they have an event or something occurs overnight and they need availability the next day in the assisted living facility, they are the priority,”.

Daisy Hill’s main goal on the campus is to provide a safe and secure environment for each resident that also promotes dignity and respect.

In our certified Assisted Living model, we offer seven different floor plans ranging from alcoves to studios to two-bedroom units with porches. Here residents receive assistance with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing and medication reminders and monitoring. A 24-hour emergency call system is available for everyone; residents receive call pendants should they need assistance outside of tasks outlined on their individual service plan or have a fall.

These pendants notify our resident assistants of the need for service. Kitchenettes are furnished with a microwave and refrigerator, but residents don’t need to cook because homestyle meals are prepared and served three times a day in the dining room. The community focus is on providing a variety of food choices and varying menu options so residents have choices in their selections. In-home nurse practitioners and home health providers also partner with our assisted living community to help residents maintain their overall independence and health and well-being.

Daisy Hill offers residents an exciting calendar of different opportunities for learning, creativity, exercise and spirituality every month, from musical entertainment and guest speakers to exercise, games and classes, services and celebrations, shopping, movies and more.

Given the circumstances over the last year with the restrictions surrounding COVID 19 in the long-term care industry, we have made it a continual priority to be intentional and creative in making connections with our residents. “We see activities and socialization as being everything here,” Laurie stated. “Activities are just as important as the medication residents may take, so we really use all staff to implement activities and meaningful connections throughout the day.

We have a pretty full calendar with a lot of things going on.”

“Our Memory Care Unit, “Pathway” is under final phases of construction and we plan to open later this year. We are currently developing a list of families who are interested in learning more,” Laurie said. “Our Pathway care unit will be in a secure building and will offer special programming that includes music and pet therapy, intergenerational activities and individualized care planning.” Providing a licensed Personal Care environment for those

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residents who benefit from a medical model gives us the opportunity to meet the needs of those who also benefit from the approaches.

All this is in line with the belief of Gary Keckley, the CEO of GoodWorks Unlimited, Daisy Hill’s parent company.

“Our parents loved us and it’s our honor and our duty to love them back and that’s what, in faith, we do at GoodWorks,” he said. “We look forward to joining your family to love your parents. It’s the highest compliment we can receive when your loved one moves into Daisy Hill, because it’s our goal to create a really special home for them.”

Daisy Hill’s mission – to promote greater health awareness by providing information, activities and services designed to support healthy lifestyle choices – is found in Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God’s handiwork, created to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” On the wall in the activities room is a loving reminder for residents, staff and visitors alike: “Live, Laugh, Love Every Moment Every Day Beyond Words.”

Laurie encourages potential residents to come to Daisy Hill for a “trial run. ”It’s sort of like having the option to test drive a car before buying it,” she said. “We offer short-term stays, so if someone wants a trial run, they can come stay for two weeks up to three months in a furnished apartment.

They can receive all services, meals, everything, to see how it feels and make sure this is where they want to be at an affordable daily rate with all the included services and amenities.”

Being able to offer independent and assisted living, and soon bringing Memory Care to the community of Versailles, is an exciting time for us.

Meeting the needs of our residents and families will always be what we strive for as a local resource.

Making a difference in the lives of those we are able to serve is a gift!

SENIOR LIVING VERSAILLES 1001 Crossfield Drive Versailles, KY 40383 For more information, visit www.daisyhillsrliving.com or call Laurie at (859) 753-2000

Elder Law.

ELDER LAW ATTORNEY CAN HELP WITH ASSET PROTECTION PLANNING CRUCIAL FOR SENIORS SEEKING TO MAINTAIN A HIGH-QUALIT Y STANDARD OF LIVING

By Mikel D. McKinley, Attorney Recently, I was brainstorming with my wife about how to explain what an elder law attorney does and why it’s important. I kept running these ideas past her that were very logical, analytical and compelling to a guy like myself. Phrases such as “fiscally responsible,” “preservation of assets,” “generational planning” and “tax avoidance” flowed from me. I was thoroughly impressing myself with words such as “legacy” (don’tcha just love that word?) and comparing elder law attorneys to the armed guards on the Titanic who got to choose who got in the lifeboats and who had to go down with the ship (I know it’s a stupid analogy, but that’s what brainstorming is for).

As I was imparting all of this brilliance to my wife, her expression kept changing in a very confusing way. Instead of nodding and smiling at my brilliant metaphors, she was frowning and shaking her head from side to side. She finally interrupted me and asked me why I didn’t just explain how crucial asset protection planning was for the elder to maintain a high-quality standard of living.

“People don’t care about money; they care about their parents.

Stop talking about the money and talk about how much better their parents’ lives are going to be because you have protected the money.”

Sayeth my wife.

I am willing to admit it: Sometimes my wife is right and I am wrong.

Even a blind squirrel can find an acorn every now and again. No one is perfect, not even me. So I am going to take my wife’s advice.

Asset protection planning, in a nutshell, is positioning your assets in such a way that they are not an “available resource” to a nursing home and won’t have to be spent down during the “Medicaid Spenddown.” By protecting these assets from the Medicaid Spenddown, they are still available to you (or, more specifically, to your family members responsible for your wellbeing) when you need them.

The traditional route to Medicaid is to spend all your money until you only have $2,000 left. At $85,000-$100,000 per year, this doesn’t take long for most people. Once that happens, there is nothing put aside to provide for your care if you need something that isn’t covered

by Medicaid. That leaves your children in the position of having to pay out of pocket themselves to provide for you or make you do without.

Remember, after you have completed the Medicaid Spenddown, all of your income goes to the nursing home. You get to keep $40 per month (in Kentucky) of your income. That won’t buy much.

Having money set aside won’t guarantee that you will have a good quality of life. Much of your quality of life will depend on your health.

We all know of people who were wealthy beyond imagination and still had a horrible quality of life due to their poor health. Even with money, you still need family members or friends that care enough about you to spend that money in such a way that it will improve your standard of living. While everyone values independence, the sad reality is that if we live long enough, we will come to depend on others to have our needs met.

Asset protection planning gives you options. It gives your children a way to provide for you without you becoming a burden to them. Items such as wheelchairs, handicap- accessible minivans, new clothes, computers, phones, hearing aids, hairdos, manicures, pedicures, flowers, room decorations, televisions, Hoping hearing assist devices and on and on can be puryou die chased by your family to help you live a more fulfilled and enjoyable life. Along with money set before you aside for a trip, for caregivers to travel with you, run out of to be able to leave the nursing facility on occasion money is in a safe manner – these are all things available to people who have done asset protection planning. not a good Contrast the person who did planning to the plan. person who didn’t. Often they share a room. Their food is the same, their care is the same and the view outside their window is the same. The difference is that the person who did the planning has access, through their power of attorney (POA) or child, to the assets they protected. If they need something, their POA/ child can access those funds to provide for them. Unfortunately, this is not an option for the person who didn’t do the planning. That person spent all their money in the nursing home and now has nothing left to leave their children and nothing to access for any needs they might have.

That person’s children have to come out of pocket to provide any additional luxuries at all.

No one wants to go to a nursing home. For elder law attorneys, much of our planning revolves around keeping our clients out of the nursing home through Life Care Planning. The sad reality is, if we live into our late 70s, it’s a flip of the coin whether we go to a full-skilled nursing home. Currently there are thousands of people in this state residing in a nursing home. Not a single one of them chose to be there. I feel a good attorney should always plan for the worst-case scenario, and hoping you die before you run out of money is not a good plan.

ABOUT Protecting Legacies and Empowering Elders | Phone: (1-888-9Legacy) or 1-888-953-4229 | Fax: 866-823-0490 Email: eldercare@eldercarelegacy.com | Hours of Operation: Mon–Thu 8:30am–4:30pm, Friday 8:30am–4:00pm, Sat–Sun Closed

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November 20th • December 4th • December 11th NOON

Daisy Hill Senior Living 1001 Crossfield Drive Versailles, KY 40383 859-753-2000 Preston Greens www.daisyhillseniorliving.com 1825 Little Herb Way Herb Lexington, KY 40509 859.309.1897 1825 Little Way Offering Certified Assisted Living Lexington, KY 40509 OPENING SPRING 2020 & Independent Living—A Villa 859-274-4070 Community. Services We Offer: PrestonGreensSeniorLiving.com • 45 residential suites with Preston Greens is a brand new optional floor plans luxury senior living community • Full dining services with three offering Personal and Memory meals daily Care. Opened in Summer 2020, we • Housekeeping and laundry offer amenity rich surroundings, services including studio, one, and two • 24-hr assistance/3-hr well checks bedroom apartment living • Medication reminders and options. Receive the care you monitoring deserve in the privacy of your own • Full range of social activities apartment while living your very • Beauty/Barber Salon best life at Preston Greens.

• Emergency support systems

Caring Transitions Malone’s Prime • 3373 Tates Creek Road • Lexington, KY 40502 Premiere Estate Seating Auctions is limited - RSVP today 859.274.4533 859-543-9848 Visit our leasing office to learn what sets Alliance Medical & Home Care 1411 Delaware Avenue Preston Greens apart from the rest.

3716 Willow Ridge Road Lexington, KY 40505 Lexington, KY 40514 www.CaringTransitionsLex.com PrestonGreensSeniorLiving.com 859-296-9525 www.Lex.CTBids.com www.alliancelexington.com Caring Transitions is the nation’s Alliance Medical & Home Care is largest professional resource a medical staffing agency, but we specializing in downsizing, move also provide non-clinical home management, estate sales, house care: offering personal care, respite clear-outs. With 10+ years of care, light housekeeping, errands/ experience serving seniors in transportation, medication the Lexington area, we make it reminders, meal preparation, and easy! Call for a free consultation. companionship.

Bonded and insured. Offering

859.274.4533

Estate Auctions to help our clients sell their lifelong possessions.

Items sold through our online auction site: Lex.CTBids.com.

IN-HOME CARE

The Home Place at Midway 101 Sexton Way Midway, KY 40347 859-846-4663 www.TheHomeplaceAtMidway.com As Kentucky’s first Green House® Residence, The Homeplace at

Humana Michael Ayersman 2530 Sir Barton Way, 1st Floor Lexington, KY 40509 859-317-3861

Bridgepointe at Ashgrove Woods 5220 Grey Oak Lane Nicholasville, KY 40536 859-971-4910 www.bridgepointeassistedcare.com Bridgepointe at Ashgrove Woods senior living was designed to help families grow closer as loved ones

MEDICAL

Bluegrass Home Care Services 1002 Park Central Ave., Ste. C Nicholasville, KY 40356 859-334-0744 BluegrassHomeCareServices.com We are a personal and companion

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ATTORNEYS-AT-LAW

Call Today: 859-281-0048 MEDICAL FITNESS FACILITY is Century Schoolbook Regular Bluegrass Elderlaw, PLLC Two color logo is standard 2600 Gribbin Drive Can be used as one solid color depending on project Lexington KY 40517 Logo may appear with Ellis or without “Medical Fitness Facility” Carolyn L. Kenton - Mary Patton - Amy E. Dougherty 859-268-8190 Take Control of Your Future! www.bodystructure.com Our dedicated, multi-generational, and experienced team of Red Black Gold Colors helps families address the planning and implementation Personal training.

Physical therapy.

Match to PMS 186C Match to PMS 4515C attorneys issues of becoming elderly, dealing with disability, and handling C12/M100/Y91/K3 C31/M31/Y69/K2Our team Fitness memberships. death transfers. The Hearing & Speech Center R206/G32/B47 R180/G162/B105 350 Clay of physicalHEX therapists, When planning for yourHenry future and the Blvd. future of your loved ones, you HEX #B4A269 personal #CE202F deserve peace of mind throughout the process. At the law office of Lexington, KY 40502 Bluegrass Elderlaw PLLC we listen carefully to your objectives, clearly and thoroughly explain the options to best achieve your goals, and 859-268-4545 Seal equip you to approach your future with confidence. www.hscky.org Over the past 60 years, The Hearing & Speech Center has transformed from a deaf DonnaElder@remax.net oral preschool to a statewide www.BestRealtorForSeniors.com Seal may appear with or without ribbon, can be used with shadow depending on project organization providing comprehensive hearing healthcare Slogan to children adults Slogan isand Gloucester MT Extra(twinkle Condensed Italic to wrinkle) in The Family Hearing Center.

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Social

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90% to 95% of my business is repeat and referral

Recognized as one of America’s top Real Estate Professionals by REAL Trends

www.bgelderlaw.com

120 N. Mill St. #201 120 N. Mill St., Ste. 201 Lexington, KY 40507 Lexington, KY 40507 859-281-0048  Asset Preservation www.bgelderlaw.com  Estate Planning, Wills and Trusts At Bluegrass Elderlaw, our team of  Medicaid Planning and Crisis attorneysPlanning work with you to help  Powers of Attorney you find peace of mind.  Guardianship Practice areas  Medicaidinclude: Applications  Special Needs Trusts and • Estate Planning Planning • Wills and Trusts THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT • Powers-of-Attorney • Asset Preservation • Guardianship • Medicaid Planning & Applications • Special Needs Planning • Estate Settlement and Probate

REAL ESTATE

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Silver Lexington 859-351-5890 www.silverlexington.com Silver Lexington Senior Living Placement Service can help navigate the overwhelming process of finding the right senior living community. I will work one on one with families to find a community that best fits your needs based on budget, care level and location.

Donna Elder, RE/MAX Creative Realty (859)-983-9107 www.BestRealtorForSeniors.com Knowledge, communication, and negotiation skills are just a few words that describe Donna Elder. My designations include SRE–Senior Real Estate Specialist, CPRº–Certified Probate Expert, CPRES–Certified Probate Real Estate Specialist. Please call me at (859)-983-9107 or email at DonnaElder@remax.net.

There’s No Place Like Home!

Personal Care Respite Care

Light Housekeeping

Errands / Transportation Medication Reminders Meal Preparation Companionship

ALLIANCE Medical Home Care

3716 Willow Ridge Rd. Lexington KY 859-296-9525

Make a difference in

your community and in someone’s life.

Volunteer to Drive.

Enjoy meeting great people while making a direct impact in your community!

Volunteers are needed right now to provide rides to seniors and adults with visual impairments. Help provide safe, convenient transportation for some of our city’s most vulnerable, so that they can continue to get to essential appointments without fear of Covid infection.

ITN will provide personal protective equipment and training.

A driving and criminal background check is required.

Even one ride makes a difference!

Call 859-252-8665

For more information, please visit us on the web www.itnbluegrass.org or email us at info@itnbluegrass.org

PERSONAL TRAINING | PHYSICAL THERAPY | FITNESS MEMBERSHIPS

Helping Individuals Live a Healthier Life

COVID-SAFE PHYSICAL THERAPY AND GYM “ I lost a lot of strength and muscle mass after my third cancer diagnosis and subsequent right lung removal. I asked for a referral to Body Structure in hopes that I could remedy the loss. From the onset, I knew this place was where I needed to be. I can see so much change in my strength and I feel so much better. Thank you, Patrick, Beth, and the whole Body Structure family!

—Kim L.

”

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You Can Choose Your Physical Therapy Provider – Most Insurances Accepted

March 2021

Fitness & Physical Therapy.

15

Here is a basic guideline for designing a weight-training program: • Strength improvement = 1 to 7 repetitions (number of times you lift a weight) per set of exercise • Muscle hypertrophy or muscle-building = 8-12 repetitions • Muscle endurance = 12 or more repetitions

ASPECTS OF NORMAL AGING CAN BE

IMPROVED WITH STRENGTH TRAINING

You simply cannot stay in any one of these repetition ranges for too long. I often hear, “I’m trying to tone up or lose weight, so I am doing light weights with high repetitions.” As shown above, light weights with high repetitions falls into the “muscle endurance” category. To build muscular strength, lifting in the lower repetition ranges with heavier weights would be more beneficial.

The higher repetition ranges with lighter weights are more beneficial for bodybuilders looking to increase the look of visual striations in the muscle, which is probably not the look most people I talk to are going for.

If you want to diminish those aches and pains, improve your performance, balance or posture, lose weight or get back to doing something you love, you should consider improving your strength, power and muscular endurance.

The team at Body Structure can help if you have any concerns about old injuries or if you want help putting together your own individualized strength training plan. Body Structure provides a safe, evidence-based path, starting with a physical therapist (covered by insurance) and then graduating to one of our exercise specialists.

The list of benefits from exercise are extensive and ALL to your advantage. Here are a few: • Arthritis: Strength training improves and maintains muscular strength to support joint function and health, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIH, 2021).

• Mobility: Consistent strength training delays the onset and progression of mobility disability in aging (Granacher, 2013).

Article Provided by Body Structure Why does a person work hard all their life saving up for retirement? Is it just to sit around and do as little as possible, maybe to be served and cared for by someone else? Maybe you fall on the opposite end of the spectrum; you want to be adventurous and independent, the cool grandparent the grandkids want to come visit. Unfortunately, the likelihood of that happening decreases as the body becomes more weak and frail. Falls are the No. 1 injury-related cause of death among those age 65 years and older, and a frail, weak body will dramatically increase that risk.

There are aspects of normal aging that can be improved or significantly delayed by increasing physical activity, specifically strength training.

Sarcopenia, or muscle weakness, is a normal, age-related phenomenon that occurs at a rate of 1 percent to 5 percent of muscle loss per year after age 30 years (Avers, 2009). This diminished strength can lead to an increased risk of aches and pains, falls, disability and decreased function. It is critical to stop this downward spiral of muscular atrophy by incorporating strength training into your life, especially if your goals are to be active and independent into your golden years.

Strength training in a conservative manner is safe, and the benefits far outweigh any risks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends doing strength training activity a minimum of twice a week. The training should work all major muscle groups to gain health benefits. Participating in strength training more frequently will result in greater fitness and performance.

ABOUT BODY STRUCTUREO

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• Aches and Pains: Regular pains of aging can be a barrier to physical exercise, but an increase in exercise leads to decreased pain, functional improvement and elevated mood (Zagaria, 2012).

• Balance: Improvement in muscular strength leads to enhanced balance, decreasing the risk of falls and resulting injuries (Lee, 2014).

• Bone Density: Improved bone density was found in those who participated in regular resistance training, most important for postmenopausal women (Watson, et al 2017).

• Metabolism: Muscle burns more calories at rest than other tissues, such as fat. It is commonly said building muscle is the key to increasing how many calories you burn at rest. This means the calorie-burning benefits of weight training are not only limited to the time you are exercising (Tinsley, 2017).

• Mental Health: Engaging in regular physical activity in older adulthood improves symptoms of depression, anxiety, dementia, fatigue and loneliness (Callow, 2020).

• Chronic Conditions: Strength training decreases sedentary behavior, improving chronic conditions such as weight gain and obesity (Callow,

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March 2021 | Read this issue and more at www.healthandwellnessmagazine.com |

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BLUEGRASS ELDERLAW

NAVIGATES UNKNOWN

LEGAL WATERS WITH YOU

By Tanya J. Tyler, Health&Wellness Editor

Most people don’t think about things such as wills, estate planning, probate court or powers of attorney (POA) until – almost always unexpectedly – they have to.

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ATTORNEYS-AT-LAW

Call Today: 859-281-0048 120 North Mill St., Suite 201 www.bgelderlaw.com Lexington, 40507 120 N. Mill St., Ste.KY 201 (859) 281-0048 Lexington, KY 40507 www.bgelderlaw.com 

Asset Preservation



Estate Planning, Wills and Trusts Estate Planning

AREAS OF PRACTICE

Veteransand Planning Medicaid Medicaid&Planning Crisis Planning Guardianship  Probate Powers ofand Attorney Estate Planning 

Guardianship



Medicaid Applications



Special Needs Trusts and

ften at Bluegrass Elderlaw, the initial contact with a client comes in the form of a panicky phone call: “My mom just died. What do I do?”

It can be a tough, confusing time for anyone who hasn’t had to deal with these types of legal matters before. “You just don’t know what you don’t know,” said Mary Patton, a partner with the law firm that specializes in helping people negotiate the unchartered territories of trusts, advanced directives, Medicare and Medicare, guardianships and more. Bluegrass Elderlaw is very experienced in crisis planning.

“When we meet our clients, we sit down and have a long meeting with them to find

out about their family, their assets, their goals,” Mary said. “We try to help them meet their goals by constructing a customized plan. We try to get people to do things sooner rather than later. It gives you more time to think about what you want and make sure the right people are appointed to do the right things.” Bluegrass Elderlaw’s accessible Web site has a wealth of information presented in an easy-to-understand format.

“We were originally formed by a woman named Carolyn Kenton,” Mary said. “When she started the business, she was one of the very few people in the area doing elder law. She was joined shortly thereafter by Amy Dougherty. Amy and Carolyn worked

March 2021 together for a long time, and then I joined them as a part-time associate in 2014. Later, Katie Finnell joined us. She had been a solo practitioner doing what we did. We met her and we liked her so much that we said, ‘Why are you doing this by yourself when you could be doing it with us?’ So we brought her in.”

The attorneys work closely together to make sure their clients are well informed about all their options.

“Amy and Katie in particular do a lot more with Medicaid than I do,” Mary said. “We all cover areas of specialty, but we work together as a team. If someone hires one of us, they get all three of us, and that’s what I really love about our firm.”

Other Bluegrass Elderlaw staff includes office manager Carol Weleski, Medicaid paralegal Carolyn “Coop” McCown and paralegal Annie Slone.

Elder law focuses particularly on issues that arise later in life. “Elder law starts with general estate planning – your will, your POA, things like that,” Mary explained. “I always tell people it’s really middle-class estate planning. Most of our clients are concerned about their estate.

They don’t think they have assets that are worth addressing with a lawyer, but most of us actually do have assets or we have people in our lives we want to make sure we protect.”

Mary says she is very passionate about educating clients about powers of attorney, a major area of their practice.

“POAs can do a lot of things for people and can prevent things like guardianship,” she said.

“But they also allow your loved ones to adjust to changes in your life and changes in the law. If

you have a good POA, it allows for the agent, the person you’ve appointed, to do things for you.”

When it comes to writing your will, it’s very important to work with attorneys such as those at Bluegrass Elderlaw, rather than going to a do-it-yourself legal Web site. A legitimate will must be drafted precisely and contain elements required by statute.

“DYI legal stuff costs thousands and thousands of dollars to fix if it’s not done correctly,” Mary said. “We try to help clients get it right the first time. We also try to practice what we preach, so most of the types of documents we talk about we all have done ourselves.”

Mary understands many people aren’t comfortable discussing the inevitability of death, but it’s important to do so. “I try to explain to people it’s a gift to their family to have these things done and in place,” she said.

“I tell them to keep a running list of where their assets are, where the life insurance is. Some clients put all their documents together in a three-ring binder so if something happens, they can just grab that binder and that can be their starting-off point. Starting your documents sparks a good discussion with your family about your wishes.”

For more information, check out Bluegrass Elderlaw’s Web site at www.bgelderlaw.com or call (859) 281-0048.

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We try to

help clients get it right

the first time.

The Bluegrass Elderlaw Team (Front row, left to right): Katherine E. Finnell, Member Amy E. Dougherty, Member Mary Ellis Patton, Member (Back row, left to right): Annie Slone, Paralegal Carol Weleski, Office Manager Carolyn McCown, Medicaid Paralegal

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“I’M THE LUCKIEST PERSON ALIVE.” Mark Meade considers himself to be the luckiest person alive, and for good reason.

Mark had gone to UK HealthCare for a cardiac stress test. After being on the treadmill for a few minutes, Mark collapsed and suffered a massive heart attack. Over the next nine hours, a team of over a dozen doctors, nurses and anesthetists worked tirelessly to keep Mark alive. After repairing Mark’s heart, he was placed on ECMO and unconscious for the next six days. To everyone’s surprise, Mark woke up alert, determined to heal and wondering how the Kentucky Wildcats had played over the weekend.

Mark is proof of The Power of Advanced Medicine

YOUR HEART HEALTH CAN’T WAIT At Kentucky’s #1 hospital – according to U.S. News & World Report – we’re adapting quickly to make our hospitals and clinics even safer for you.

At the UK Gill Heart & Vascular Institute, we want you to know that we’re still the place to come if you or a loved one needs cardiac care.

Minutes can mean the difference between life and death when someone is having a heart attack. If you or a loved one experience any of the following symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately and seek care: • Chest discomfort (squeezing, pressure, pain) • Discomfort in the arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach • Shortness of breath • Nausea or vomiting To learn more about heart health and the ways that UK HealthCare is caring for the people of Kentucky, visit ukhealthcare.uky.edu/blog/ heart-health and sign up.

To make an appointment with a cardiologist, call 859-323-0295.

M21-0380

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events MARCH 2021

ongoing Daily

Centered Community Space Centered Studio at 309 N. Ashland Ave. Suite 180 in Lexington has a community space where we welcome community groups to gather at no cost. Get in touch with Centered to arrange this for your group. 859-721-1841

Mondays

Post-partum Support Group with Sarah Wylie Van Meter Every Monday at 11:00am Attending this group will give birth parents a time and safe place to feel supported and be in community during their postpartum time journeys. Those who join will be in attendance to each other and to themselves as we exchange ways to care for our own bodies, our emotions, our babies, and our partnerships. Babies of all ages and stages are welcome. Come with or without your baby/babies and don’t fret if you arrive late.

Donations-based class. Centered Studio, 309 N. Ashland Ave. Suite 180 in Lexington.

Mondays

Mindfulness Meditation with Brent Oliver Every Monday 8:00pm-9:00pm at Centered Studio, 309 N. Ashland Ave. Suite 180 in Lexington. Mindfulness Meditation is a welcoming meditation community open to everyone. We define mindfulness as concentration power, sensory clarity, and equanimity all working together.

Donations-based class.

Now – April 20 Norton Sports Health Kentucky Derby Festival Training The Norton Sports Health Kentucky Derby Festival Training Program is a FREE 15-week program designed for runners and walkers of all experience levels. The training will be conducted virtually this year with weekly training talks and tips, nutritional information, and weekly runs conducted individually. The first 800 to register for the Norton Sports Health Training Program, and the Kentucky Derby Festival mini or Marathon, will receive a FREE Tech Shirt. Visit the Race Running Calendar at healthandwellnessmagazine.com for details.

Tuesday/Friday Gentle Community Yoga w/ Lauren Higdon & Terry Fister

Every Tuesday and Friday at 10:30am-11:30am at Centered Studio, 309 N. Ashland Ave. Suite 180 in Lexington. This weekly restorative class integrates gentle yoga, breathing techniques, meditation and wellness tips for all ages and levels of physical condition. Classes may include chair yoga, restorative, yin yoga, tai chi, and more. Perfect for beginners as well as experienced yogis! Donations-based class.

lace up!

Check out our online race calendar, featuring hundreds of local running events every month:

www.healthandwellnessmagazine.com

ARE YOU IN NEED OF A MAMMOGRAM? WOULD YOU LIKE A TAKE-HOME COLON CANCER SCREENING KIT? HAVE YOU RECENTLY BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER? Give us a call today! We may be able to help you!

(859) 309-1700 www.kycancerlink.org Sponsored in part by:

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h HOSTING A HEALTHY EVENT IN CENTRAL KY? Share with our readers by e-mailing details to: brian@rockpointpublishing.com

Eligibility Requirements:

Free Mammograms and Pap Tests

All I Need to Know is Where I Need to Go! Call 1-844-249-0708

• Age 21 or older • Has a household income less than 250% of the federal poverty level • Has no health insurance (no Medicare,

no Medicaid, or no private health insurance)

Your Family, Your Health, Our Passion Family Practice Associates of Lexington, P.S.C. Proudly serving Kentucky for 35 years.

NEW

• Family Practice • Pediatrics • Internal Medicine • Primary Care for your entire family!

Hamburg Pavilion Location

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859.278.5007 www.fpalex.com

Family Doc.

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WHAT IS A

MEDICARE WELLNESS EXAM?

Medicare Wellness Exam is a preventative screening visit your provider wants you to have once a year. This visit is free and is separate from your annual physical exam (if your plan covers annual physicals). Traditional Medicare does not pay for a physical – it only covers a Wellness Exam.

What is a Wellness Exam? The visit is covered once every 12 months (11 full months must have passed since your last visit). It is designed to help prevent disease and disability based on your current health and risk factors. Your provider will have you fill out a Health Risk Assessment before the exam. The questionnaire asks about your health status, injury risks, behavioral risks and urgent health needs. Answering the questions can help you and your provider develop a personalized prevention plan so you can stay healthy and get the most out of your visits. The Wellness Exam may also include: • a review of your medical and family histories; • developing or updating a list of current prescriptions; • height, weight, blood pressure and other routine measurements; • detecting cognitive impairment; and • an assessment of your ability to perform activities of daily living, such as bathing and dressing.

Additional services are often offered during this Wellness visit, some of which you may not otherwise receive. These may include a fall risk assessment and a mini hearing screening; advanced care planning; and a chance to discuss services Medicare pays for that you may not be aware of. If you meet certain criteria, you may qualify for a low-dose CT scan to screen for lung cancer or an ultrasound to screen for abdominal aortic aneurysms or hepatitis C. You will also discuss recommended testing, such as mammograms, colonoscopies or osteoporosis screenings and when you last had them. You’ll receive a written schedule listing when those screenings

will be due again. If you need vaccines, referrals, lab work or personalized health education, you can talk to your primary care provider about these issues at your Wellness Exam.

The exam is longer than a typical visit because it’s a chance to discuss and update your medical history as well as comprehensively review different aspects of your health. You can also discuss advance directives, which outline your desires for medical decisions and interventions if you become too ill to speak for yourself. These legal documents let your family, friends and health care providers know what kind of health care you want and who you want to make health care decisions for you, should you become incapacitated. You can choose to have a health care proxy or a living will, which describes treatments you want, such as artificial nutrition, breathing machines or resuscitation if you stop breathing or your heart stops beating.

Your yearly Medicare Wellness Exam is important because it allows your primary care provider to focus on managing any chronic and acute illnesses you are currently dealing with. The goal is to keep you healthier longer and improve your outcomes. Schedule your Medicare Wellness Exam soon.

About the Author January Hamby, APRN, has experience in critical care and geriatrics. After working for 18 years as an RN in hospital critical care units and at the VA Medical Center, January decided to further her education and graduated as a Board Certified Adult Gerontological Nurse Practitioner in August 2017 from Maryville University in St. Louis, Mo. January enjoys geriatric health and preventive medicine but can see adult patients of all ages. She also performs annual Medicare Wellness exams. To schedule an appointment with January Hamby, APRN, call the FPA office at (859) 278-5007 or request an appointment through your online portal access.

ABOUT FAMILY PRACTICE ASSOCIATES OF LEXINGTON TWO LOCATIONS: 1775 Alysheba Way, Ste. 201 and 615 East Brannon Road, Ste. 100 • 859.278.5007 • www.fpalex.com Proudly serving Kentucky for over 35 years, Family Practice Associates of Lexington is a group of primary care providers who are dedicated to giving family-centered care from birth to later years.

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March 2021

pet health

PETS AND

HEALTHY AGING M

any older Americans live with pets and consider them part of the family.

Pets can offer companionship and have a positive impact on a person’s health and well-being. In October 2018, the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging asked a national sample of adults ages 50-80 years about their pets, reasons for having – or not having – pets and the benefits and challenges of owning a pet. Here is what they found.

More than half of older adults (55 percent) reported having a pet. Among pet owners, the majority (68 percent) had dogs, 48 percent had cats and 16 percent had a small pet such as a bird, fish or hamster. More than half of pet owners (55 percent) reported having multiple pets. They also found adults ages 50-64 years were more likely than adults ages 65-80 years to have a pet.

Pets Help Improve Life The survey respondents said their pets help them enjoy life (88 percent), make them feel loved (86 percent), reduce stress (79 percent), provide a sense of purpose (73 percent) and help them stick to a routine (62 percent). Respondents also reported their pets help them be physically active (64 percent overall and 78 percent among dog owners) and help them cope with physical and emotional symptoms (60 percent), including taking their mind off pain (34 percent). It is amazing how these wonderful furry or feathered friends help us improve life each day.

Challenges of Pet Ownership While most pet owners reported positive experiences with their pets, some also noted some challenges. Take some of these into account if you are considering getting a pet. More than half (54

percent) reported pets make it difficult to travel or enjoy activities away from home, and about one in five (18 percent) indicated pet care puts a strain on their budget. Vet bills are expensive, not including the food, toys and daily care items needed.

Implications These surveys suggest pets can provide a myriad of benefits for older adults, including boosts to emotional and physical health. The majority of pet owners believe their animals connect them to other people, provide companionship, reduce stress, help them be physically active and help them cope with physical and emotional symptoms, including pain. They also help them enjoy life, feel loved and provide a sense of purpose.

While many respondents reported their pets positively contribute to their health and well-

The survey respondents said their pets help them enjoy life and make them feel loved.

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being, more than one in four pet owners in fair or poor physical health report their pet’s needs take priority over their own health needs. You, your family and your health care professionals should be aware of the important role pets play in the lives of many older adults, as pets have the potential to help – or at times hinder – self-care and adherence to treatment plans.

Of course, pets are not for everyone. Not everyone wants a pet, and others face barriers to having pets, such as the costs of pet care or living in a location where pets are not allowed. For older adults who enjoy the company of pets but cannot have one, volunteering at a local animal shelter, having pet therapy visits or pet sitting are good ways to engage with animals without the responsibilities of pet ownership.

There are many factors to consider when deciding to get a pet. A good understanding of the pros and cons can help older adults decide if getting a pet is right for them or if they need to pursue other options for enjoying the company of animals.

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Integrative Medicine.

26

March 2021

OPTIMISM IS GOOD MEDICINE We are experiencing an epidemic of stress in America...

S

urveys show increasing levels of anxiety, depression, loneliness, substance abuse and suicide. Optimism can help you fill your cup, promote resilience, prevent burnout and perhaps save your life – and you can cultivate it.

What is Resilience?

The American Psychological Association (APA) describes resilience as “the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or significant sources of stress, such as family and relationship problems, serious health problems or workplace and financial stressors. It means bouncing back from difficult experiences.” The APA says resilience is ordinary, not extraordinary. “People commonly demonstrate resilience. Being resilient does not mean a person doesn’t experience difficulty or distress. In fact, the road to resilience is likely to involve considerable emotional distress. Resilience is not a trait people either have or do not have. It involves behaviors, thoughts and actions that can be learned and developed in anyone.”1 Resilience is an internal resource for managing stress, preventing burnout and recovering from compassion fatigue, emotional numbness and psycho-spiritual exhaustion. It helps us rebalance when we live our lives disconnected from joy, meaning, purpose, values, belief and faith. Resilience is determined by the way we explain events to ourselves – our explanatory style.

What is Optimism?

A positive explanatory style is the most important determinant of resilience.2 Are you a “cup half full” person or a “cup half empty” person? Your explanatory style involves the mental processing of life events, assigning meaning

to them and assessing them as threats/dangers or challenges/ opportunities. The words and images in our heads affect our stress levels. An optimistic explanatory style is related to far greater resilience and much less stress than a pessimistic explanatory style.

Optimists are more successful in school, at work and in athletics.

They are healthier and live longer.

They are more satisfied with their marriages and less likely to suffer from depression and anxiety. And rather than thinking it is a static trait you are born with, you can learn to grow optimism – increasing your resilience, health, well being and fulfillment in relationships. One way to grow optimism is through the practice of imagining your best possible self.3 Best Possible Self Exercise.

Allow 10-15 minutes for this practice. Think about how your life would look in your best possible future (say in the next 10 years).

Imagine that you have reached your goals, everything has gone as well as it possibly and feasibly could.

Use vivid images of scenes with as much detail as possible. Perhaps you have reached the pinnacle of your dream career, you have loving relationships, great friends and family and good health. Think of this as the realization of the best possible life you could ever hope for yourself.

Then, for 10 minutes, write about what you imagined. Use these instructions: 1. Be as creative and imaginative as possible.

2. Use whatever writing style you wish, writing without stopping or analyzing, erasing or editing. Just write what you imagined.

3. Don’t worry about grammar and spelling.

ABOUT MIND BODY STUDIO Mind Body Studio

Are you a “cup half full” person or a “cup half empty” person?

4. Be specific. It will increase the effectiveness of the exercise. For instance, imagine the precise nature of your future work or your relationships in as much detail as possible.

5. Then allow yourself to really savor and relish this experience.

Know this future self is possible and that you deserve it.

We are all affected by stress. An optimistic, positive explanatory style promotes resilience and helps you manage that stress wisely. Practicing your Best Possible Self exercise may be a useful tool for your personal self-care and stress-survival toolkit.

Starting with yourself, you can then teach your children, students, clients and patients to do the same.

Resources

1. The Road to Resilience. American Psychological Association www.apa.org/helpcenter/roadresilience 2. Seligman, Martin, Ph.D. Learned Optimism

https://positivepsychologyprogram. com/learned-optimism/ 3. Picture Your Best Possible Self www.mindful.org/how-to-fosteroptimism/

About the Author Dr. John Patterson is past president of the Kentucky Academy of Family Physicians and is certified in family medicine, integrative holistic medicine, mind-body medicine, yoga therapy, MindfulnessBased Stress Reduction (MBSR), mindful medical practice and physician coaching. He is on the family practice faculty at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Saybrook College of Integrative Medicine and Health Sciences (Pasadena, Calif.) and the Center for Mind Body Medicine (Washington, D.C.). He operates the Mind Body Studio in Lexington, where he offers mindfulness classes, coaching and integrative, mind-body medicine consultations, focusing on burnout prevention and stress-related chronic disease. He can be reached through his website at www.mindbodystudio.org.

517 Southland Drive, Lexington • 859.373.0033 • www.mindbodystudio.org Offering integrative medicine consultations and experiential health and wellness education to help you mobilize your natural healing ability by integrating mind, body, spirit and our relationship with each other and the earth.

For advertising information call 859.368.0778 or email brian@rockpointpublishing.com | March 2021

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Be sure to get BOTH shots as scheduled.

SENIORS AND THE COVID VACCINE SIGN UP TO GET YOUR SHOT SOON

By Health&Wellness Staff A year later, we are still battling the COVID-19 pandemic. But thankfully, there are now vaccines available. We’ve known from the beginning that seniors are most susceptible to the virus. Older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions such as heart or lung disease or diabetes are at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And, the CDC adds, older adults die more frequently from COVID-19. So it is imperative that you get the vaccine as soon as possible.

The rollout for the vaccine has not gone as ideally as planned.

Seniors age 65 years and older, who were supposed to be placed at the top of the list precisely because of their vulnerability, have had problems accessing the state Web sites and getting their appointments. Getting an appointment may be even more difficult for older Americans with limited or no Internet access or family members who can help them sign up.

However, the CDC urges seniors and their caregivers to keep trying until they finally receive their shots.

The planned allocation was as follows (as of Dec. 22, 2020): • Phase 1a. Healthcare personnel and long-term-care facility residents.

• Phase 1b. Persons age 75 years and older and frontline essential workers.

• Phase 1c. Persons age 65-74 years old, persons age16-64 years old with high-risk medical conditions and other essential workers.

• Phase 2. All persons 16 years and older not previously recommended for vaccination.

The exact length of each phase was uncertain and varied due to distribution logistics and vaccine availability. Most states are still developing criteria for subsequent Phase 1 prioritization, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. In the meantime, here are some facts to keep in mind about the vaccine: • The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released a plan ensuring all Americans, including seniors, have access to the COVID-19 vaccine at no cost.

• All COVID-19 vaccines were tested in clinical trials involving tens of thousands of people.

• Both the Pfizer and the Moderna vaccines generate just as good antibodies in people over age 65

•

•

•

•

•

years as they do in people in their 20s. They both demonstrated high (above 90 percent) efficacy.

Because the vaccine is not a live virus, there does not seem to be a risk for those who are immunocompromised due to cancer treatment.

Short-term side effects include pain in the arm where you got the shot. You may run a fever and experience body aches, headaches and tiredness for a day or two afterwards. The chance of having noticeable side effects is higher after the second shot.

These side effects indicate your immune system is responding to the vaccine.

The mRNA COVID-19 vaccines may be administered to people with underlying medical conditions, provided they have not had a severe or immediate allergic reaction to any of the ingredients in the vaccine.

You should still get a flu shot.

This will offer double protection from both the flu and the coronavirus (and they are two different things).

Be sure to get BOTH shots as scheduled. It is vital to get the follow-up booster shot on time. You are not considered appropriately protected after the first shot. It takes up to two

weeks after the second shot for your immune system to fully respond to a vaccine and provide protection against an infectious disease.

• People who have already had COVID-19 should still get the vaccine because re-infection with COVID-19 is possible.

• The COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. All the myths and nonsense about the vaccines injecting different substances or even surveillance paraphernalia into your body are just that – myths and nonsense.

• You will still need to wear your masks (two are now recommended), avoid crowds, use hand sanitizer, follow safe social distancing guidelines (staying at least 6 feet away from others) and quarantine after exposure to COVID-19 even after you receive your vaccine. Experts need to learn more about the protection COVID-19 vaccines provide under real-life conditions.

Sources:

• Care.com (www.care.com) • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov) • Johns Hopkins Medicine (www.hopkinsmedicine.org) • Market Watch (www.marketwatch.com)

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March 2021 | Read this issue and more at www.healthandwellnessmagazine.com |

N AT U R E ' S

HandWmagazine

B E A U T Y

PAPEDAS Ancient ancestor of citrus fruit makes Key lime pie possible

By Tanya Tyler, Editor Health&Wellness We love to introduce you to fruits, plants and vegetables you may not have heard of before. Papedas, according to Gardening Know How, are the ancestors of many common citrus fruits. The subgenus papeda includes the Ichang lemon, yuzu and kaffir lime. Many types of papeda citrus occur in the wild. The exact origin of papeda citrus is unknown, but the fruit are believed to have originated in the Malay Archipelago in Southeast Asia. They have been growing there for about 2,000 years. Today, papeda citrus are found in many parts of Asia, including the Philippines, Borneo, India, China and Japan, appearing in both tropical and arid regions. Even so, they are actually one of the

more frost-tolerant of the citrus tree species.

We certainly do enjoy oranges, lemons, grapefruit and other citrus fruits, but papedas – not so much. They are the least cultivated species of citrus fruit because of their sour or bitter taste. Papedas are round with a thick, bumpy skin. They may be yellow or green, depending on the variety. They are somewhat edible, but some (most) of them are nearly unpalatable and thus have little commercial use. They have dry, pulpy flesh and a tough skin. The small, thorny, slow-growing papeda tree serves various other purposes since it isn’t the best of produce producers. Some of the trees are used in ornamental landscaping. The Ichang papeda, for example, is known for its interesting form and scented blooms. Some papeda trees are used as rootstock; as such, they help improve trees’ resistance to common threats such as drought

and citrus disease, and also improve hardiness.

Others are used as flavoring agents. Papedas, like many other citrus trees, need a warm, sunny location with at least six hours of sunshine and light, well-draining soil. Once planted, the tree should have a training stake for the first few years to keep the main trunk growing straight.

The skin and leaves of the papeda are used in some Asian cuisines as seasoning, a better employment for them rather than casual consumption. Papedas’ fragrant oil, which smells like lemons, is used in

Papedas are the ancestors of many common citrus fruits.

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30

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March 2021

SENIORS, WATCH OUT FOR SHINGLES HERE’S ANOTHER VACCINE TO ADD TO YOUR LIST

By Health&Wellness Staff Remember when you had chickenpox as a kid? You may have thought once it was gone, it was gone for good. However, chickenpox can come back in the form of shingles when you’re an adult.

Shingles lurks out there for many people. After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus stays dormant (inactive) in the body. According to the National Institutes of Health, one out of three people over age 60 years will get shingles, and 50 percent of all Americans will experience this disease before they’re 80 years old. Because the immune system weakens as we age, the risk for shingles increases as you get older.

What is shingles? Also known as herpes zoster, shingles is a viral infection that occurs when the inactive chickenpox virus (varicella zoster virus) reactivates. Almost every U.S. adult age 50 years or older is infected with this virus.

Shingles usually starts out as severe pain, burning or tingling on one side of your body. It later develops into an itchy, painful rash and possibly blisters. The rash usually appears as a single stripe on either the left or right side of the face or body, following a nerve path. It could develop on the torso, arms, thighs or head. While most of the time the rash lasts only two to four weeks, it can also develop into a chronic, debilitating pain that lingers even after the rash clears up.

While the rash is present, you can get relief from the symptoms by taking cool showers and avoiding direct sunlight. Just as they told you when you were a child, try to resist scratching the rash. This can

Almost every U.S. adult age 50 years or older is infected with the chickenpox virus.

lead to a bacterial skin infection.

In some cases, if shingles invades the eye, it may result in facial scarring and, in rare instances, loss of vision. Shingles can also result in long-lasting pain called postherpetic neuralgia (or PHN).

With PHN, nerve fibers that have been inflamed or damaged by shingles continue to send pain signals to your brain months or even years after the blisters have disappeared. The older you are when you get shingles, the more likely you are to develop PHN. There is a vaccine against shingles available, so talk to your doctor about it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends all adults age 50 years or older with healthy immune systems get vaccinated, even if you are not sure whether you ever had chickenpox. You will need to get two doses of the shingles vaccine called Shingrix (recombinant zoster vaccine), separated by two to six months, to prevent shingles and its complications. There is no maximum age for getting Shingrix.

Even if you had shingles in the past, the vaccine can help prevent future occurrences.

While shingles is not contagious and cannot be passed from one person to another, it can cause chickenpox in someone who has never had it. So you may want to be extra careful if you’re around grandchildren or young

people who have not contacted chickenpox.

Sources: • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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Mediterranean-Style Diet Keeps Senior Minds Sharp People who eat a Mediterranean-style diet – particularly one rich in green leafy vegetables and low in meat – are more likely to stay mentally sharp in later life, a study shows. Closely adhering to a Mediterranean diet was associated with higher scores on a range of memory and thinking tests among adults in their late 70s, the research found. These latest findings suggest a primarily plant-based diet may have benefits for cognitive functioning as we get older.

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh tested the thinking skills of more than 500 people aged 79 years who did not have dementia.

The tests included problem solving, thinking speed, memory and word knowledge, as well as a questionnaire about their eating habits during the previous year. The team used statistical models to look for associations between a person’s diet and their thinking skills and brain health in later life. The findings show that, in general, people who most closely adhered to a Mediterranean diet had the highest cognitive function scores. This gives evidence that a healthier lifestyle, of which diet is one aspect, is associated with better thinking skills in later life.

Source: Sciencedaily.com

Munch On Mealworms (Maybe?)

The European Union’s food safety watchdog, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), has deemed mealworms safe for human consumption. French company EAP Group Agronutris submitted the application for approval of mealworms in 2018. (Despite their name, mealworms are not actually worms – they are the larvae of the mealworm beetle.) Rich in fat and high-quality protein, mealworms offer a sustainable source of food with a lower carbon footprint.

However, eating the bug may not be advisable for people with seafood and dust mite allergies. EFSA experts are hopeful the European Commission will soon approve mealworms as a food product fit for supermarket shelves, kitchen pantries and restaurant menus across the EU. The International Platform of Insects for Food and Feed (IPIFF) welcomed the approval. IPIFF President Antoine Hubert said the approval marks a crucial step towards the wider EU commercialization of edible insects. The organization’s secretary-general,

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Christophe Derrien, says they hope the EFSA’s approval will lead to the marketing of mealworms by mid-2021. Mealworms and other edible insects require less labor and fewer resources to breed, unlike conventional farm animals, because insects can grow and reproduce at a much faster rate than livestock. Despite these advantages, it’s hard to imagine millions of people accepting edible bugs as food with open arms (and mouths). It will no doubt take a massive positive PR campaign to get people on board the bug bandwagon.

Source: Food Science News

New Locust Swarms Overwhelm Control Measures In Ethiopia and Somalia, locust infestations increased over the past month due to favorable weather conditions and widespread seasonal rains. Cyclone Gati in Somalia brought two years’ worth of rainfall within two days, transforming a hostile terrain into a favorable breeding ground. New locust swarms are also threatening to re-invade northern Kenya, while breeding is already underway on both sides of the Red Sea, posing a new threat to Eritrea, Sudan, Yemen and Saudi Arabia, according to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Last January, a massive locust infestation broke out in East Africa and the surrounding regions, blighting crops and further pushing affected communities to the brink of starvation. The locust outbreak was the worst seen in Kenya in seven decades and the worst for East Africa in 25 years. The FAO and its partner organizations increased surveillance in several affected regional areas and established control operations to minimize the outbreak. The measures were initially successful, saving around 2.7 million tons of cereal in countries already hard hit by acute food insecurity, pandemic and poverty. These efforts, however, were not enough to stop the new generation of locust swarms this month, especially in war-torn countries such as Somalia and Yemen, where control operations had to cease due to the ongoing conflicts. A typical desert locust swarm contains up to 150 million locusts per square kilometer, travels around 60 to 90 miles in just a day and destroys as much food crops in a day that could feed 2,500 people.

“We have achieved much, but the battle against this relentless pest is not yet over,” said FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu.

Source: Food Supply News

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