Rural Leader Magazine October 2016

OCTOBER 2016

To be inspired is great; to inspire is an honor...

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Contents Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Kuanita E. Murphy, PhD Rural Leader Magazine, LLC is a digital publication that highlights every day people doing extraordinary things nationally and abroad. www.RuralLeaderMag.com www.GetRuralLeaderMag.com

Guest Contributors Carnel R. Jones MS, LPC Counselor and Therapist Dr. John Potter International Business Psychologist Robert Sedycias Executive Leadership Coach

Readers’ Forum

Tell us what you think about our publications, if you have a great idea for a story, or to just share. We may print your comments in Rural Leader Magazine. By sending us your comments, you’re giving permission to call you for an interview.

Please be sure to include your name, address, email address, and phone number so we can reach you. Write to us at info@ RuralLeaderMagazine.com— Reproduction in any manner, in whole or in part, in English, or other languages, is prohibited without written consent.

Send editorial ideas to Kuanita Murphy, PhD, Editor-in-Chief editor@ruralleadermagazine.com

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5 What you still don’t know about breast cancer

17 The Uplifting Truth about End-of-Life Care

7 Six Ways to Make Better Decisions

19 Get a Garden Program Growing at Your School with These Tips

9 Identifying Signs of Anxiety in Children 11 Lead Your Own Way 13 A+ ideas for Supporting Classroom Learning

21 A Career in Fitness: Helping Others get Healthy is a Booming Business 22 Twenty Seventeen Nominations Calendar 23 Classifieds

15 For Alzheimer’s Caregivers, Knowledge is Power

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Editor’s Note Dear Readers, The tenth installment of Rural Leader Magazine is here! Inside this issue, we have assembled articles not only to inspire you to live your best life possible.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Please join us throughout the month as we strive to heighten awareness and encourage others to join the cause.

I am also excited to introduce Ms. Carnel Jones. Ms. Jones is a licensed professional counselor, who has over twenty years experience. She will be contributing monthly about various issues and concerns related to counseling and therapy.

Be sure to read her article: Identifying Signs of Anxiety in Children on page 9.

Inside are also various articles on not only leadership (see pages 7 and 10), but education (See page 14), care-giving and end of life decisions (see pages 17 and 19), and health (see pages 21 and 22).

As always, I hope you enjoy this issue and continue to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google +, and LinkedIn. Thanks again for your continual support!

Sincerely, Kuanita E. Murphy, PhD Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

What you do matters.

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What You Still Don’t Know About Breast Cancer

Ford Warriors in Pink 2016 Models of Courage participate in a dance class. This is an example of just one way to create #MoreGoodDays for those in the fight.

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The topic of breast cancer can feel familiar - from October walks to pink ribbons, Americans know breast cancer. That is, until you or a loved one is diagnosed.

Suddenly, breast cancer moves from a topic that feels championed to a topic that is entirely too new, too unknown and too fresh. Suddenly, there is not enough information or resources to help a family cope.

Nearly all Americans are aware that breast cancer poses a serious health threat to both women and men, but despite the vast awareness, many don’t know what it really means to fight this disease. According to a recent study conducted by Ford’s breast cancer awareness initiative, Warriors in Pink, more than 40 percent of Americans are unfamiliar with the day-to-day challenges patients face while in treatment, and even more, nearly 75 percent admit that they are unsure how to best support patients.

Loved ones not knowing how to help makes a difference because family and friends are proven to be patients’ greatest resources for getting through treatment. Supporters may not know where to start in providing support, feeling that the issues facing patients are too big for them to solve. But what you still don’t know about breast cancer is that the little things matter more than ever. In fact, the ability to maintain day-to-day routines during treatment is one of breast cancer patients’ top concerns - second only to life expectancy.

“In terms of the day-to-day, it’s those tasks that were hardest for me,” says breast cancer survivor, Jenn Nudelman. “So my friends and family just came and did things. They didn’t give me a choice. A lot of times people reach out and say, ‘What can I do?’

But I’m not a person who asks for help. It was those friends who didn’t even ask, just acted, that I really shared the journey with.”

The key to care and being able to “just act” is being familiar with what types of support patients need most. When asked what type of support that is, patients report needing the most help with daily activities like household chores, errands and meal preparation while undergoing treatment.

“People brought meals to me,” says survivor Lisa Hedenstrom, “and my husband organized a lot of the logistics - taking me to appointments and helping me organize those appointments. Family and friends would come help with tasks for me, too. Because of them, I didn’t have to worry about grocery shopping or other types of tiring daily chores.”

Another survivor, Lori Redunski, could relate. “My husband hired a cleaning crew to come in and my 6 RuralLeaderMag.com | OCTOBER 2016

kids would come home and see the lines in the carpet, smell the cleanser and feel comfortable in their home. It made our life so much easier,” she says.

These daily tasks are often overlooked, but every action taken to help patients to focus on their health and fighting this disease makes a difference.

“There are missing things that people don’t think about,” says survivor Heidi Floyd. “For example, if you need your side walk shoveled because of the snow, your lawn mowed or your pets cared for. Who has energy to walk their dog when they’re doing eight or nine hours of chemo or daily radiation?”

While help with these daily tasks undeniably lessens the burden on breast cancer patients, it’s important to remember that emotional care is also vital for those going through treatment.

“Through it all, you need at least one supporter who is genuinely there to do just that, to support you; to pray with you and to make you laugh,” says survivor Deborah Hayes. “Amidst trying to be strong throughout treatment and recovery, and making sure that everything in your personal life still gets accomplished, one really does need that supportive friend or group to share your innermost feelings.”

To empower friends and family to take action and support the breast cancer patients in their lives, Ford Warriors in Pink offers free support services that make it easy to respond to their greatest needs - including cleaning services, meal kit deliveries, alternative hospital wear, online scheduling tools and more.

These resources, available on their website at www. fordcares.com, allow loved ones who don’t know how to help to simply click and “just act” - without being asked. Additionally, the site offers tips and ideas on how to help patients have more good days during their journey.

“I was blessed with a great family and friends that were there to bring me support,” Redunski says. “But when people don’t have that support, they really need to feel comfortable with the resources that are available to them - whether through their doctors or online.”

Take the time to learn how you can make the little things add up to a supportive journey for the breast cancer patients in your life. -BPT

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By Dr. John Potter

Six Ways to Make Better Decisions

One of the things about really effective managers and leaders is that they have to be able to make good decisions. However, decision making is not always a simple process. There are invariably many uncertainties, pressures and risks to be assessed and the effective leader and manager has to establish a robust process for ensuring that the decisions she or he makes are sound.

One of the key issues in decision making is to address the issue of uncertainty. Firstly we have to identify the objective of the decision. What are we trying to achieve? What are the important issues in terms of how we go about sorting out the situation and in the outcomes we ultimately create?

How will we know if our decision has been successful?

Secondly, we need to create an environment in which decisions can be made effectively, involving all those individuals who will be affected by the decision. The old world of ‘command and control’ is acceptable for many crisis situations but does not tend to produce long term ‘hearts and minds’ commitment.

A decision-friendly environment where people can offer their ideas freely is important to gain high levels of commitment. Third-

ly we need to understand clearly the full range of issues involved in the decision we have to make and how these issues will be affected by the decision.

You cannot make a good decision unless you frame the problem properly. Number four is that we have to generate alternatives. In the absence of alternatives there can be no genuine decision as the outcome will be predetermined.

It is important to create an atmosphere where brainstorming and other creative techniques can be used to create a broader approach to thinking about the issues involved and create as many alternatives as possible.

Evaluating the alternatives is number five on our checklist and at this stage it is important to consider risk, financial implications and the extent to which each possible solution adheres to the values of the organization. Number six on our list is to choose the best solution or alternative that meets our criteria of level of risk, financial implications and whether the decision fits in with the espoused or spoken values of the organization.

Decision making can be made a lot easier by including other people and talking around issues on the basis of risk, financial im-

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plications and how the proposed decision meets what people in the organization say is important. One of the major decisions we all have to make is about career and our financial future.

To that end, many people feel it is important that we are not exposed to just one source of income but that we establish various revenue streams on a personal level to cope with every increasing changes we all experience in our professional and work lives.

Some people buy property, others act as consultants and an increasing number are looking to the incredible opportunity offered by the Internet as a way of creating personal financial security.

Did you find this article useful?

John Potter is a leading international business psychologist who regularly gives out free information. Making the decision to choose the lifestyle that will make you financially independent is one of the most important decisions you will make during your life.

If you would like to know more about how to develop a second source of income to protect your future with full video and tutorial support please visit the website MaverickMoneyMakersWinsOnline.com.—

Identifying Signs of Anxiety in Children

By Carnel R. Jones MS, LPC

Anxiety is a natural part of everyday life, including the lives of our children. However, anxiety found in children is oftentimes triggered by a single specific uncomfortable event. For example, a young child may experience some form of anxiety when starting preschool or kindergarten, or an older child may see a scary movie or learn some troubling news and have trouble sleeping for a few days.

However, in some cases, anxiety in children can be just as extreme and unrelenting in children as it is in adults, and this anxiousness can oftentimes interfere with their daily routines and activities they love to enjoy.

When anxiety in children becomes constant and severe, and does not go away with support and comfort, it is then classified as an anxiety disorder.

In today’s moment I would like to share with you four anxiety related disorders, and some effective tools and techniques to help your child manage their symptoms, • Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Children who have generalized anxiety disorder, may experience constant, excessive, and uncontrollable fears about any number of everyday things such as grades, family issues, being popular amongst their peers, or even

natural disasters. These children may experience difficulty sleeping, irritability, or they may begin having trouble performing in school • Separation Anxiety Disorder. Toddlers frequently experience separation anxiety when a parent or caregiver leaves the room or as stated earlier when a preschooler attends daycare or preschool for the first time. However, older children may also struggle with being separated from a parent or caregiver, and in the process, they too may experience fear, distress and anxiety. These children are often concerned and afraid that something may happened to themselves or a parent while they are separated. While working with children who witnessed domestic violence, I found that separation anxiety was very prevalent in children living in violent homes.

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Children who have OCD may experience thoughts and actions that they have a hard time controlling. These children may repeatedly perform daily routines, such as washing their hands, or repeatedly rechecking things, in hopes of easing or alleviating their anxiety.

• Post-traumatic stress disorder. Children who develop post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, often do so after witnessing or experiencing a life threat GetRuralLeaderMag.com | OCTOBER 2016 9

ening event. The event may stem from an attack on themselves or a loved one, a natural disaster, (witnessing the devastation of hurricane Katrina on the local news) or even the potential threat of harm and danger. Although it is normal for children to experience some fear and anxiety after a tragic event, it is not normal for a child to continuously struggle with symptoms well after the fact. These children may experience flashbacks, nightmares, intense fear and anxiety; they may isolate themselves and begin avoiding their friends, and they may even start reenacting the event with others long after it occurred.

• Phobias. Children who have a phobia oftentimes experience an intense, irrational fear of something specific, such as a dog bite, sleeping in the dark and even bad weather. However, Children with phobias are less likely to be able to put their fears into perspective and recognize that their fears are irrational and usually not real or true.

Tool and Techniques to Help Children Cope • Be available during difficult times. Children oftentimes find it very difficult to express their thoughts and feelings to their parents, so it is extremely important that you be watchful for any abnormal behaviors and make it a priority to be available at all cost to help your child manage any anxiety related issues.

• Don’t minimize your child’s feelings. Allow your child to feel his/her feelings. Encouraging your child not to give in to their fears or worries, may suggest to them that you may be minimizing their concerns and issues. Let your child know that it is okay to feel bad at times, however, encourage them to talk about the

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issues and their emotions and feelings surrounding the event • Be attentive. We as parents have a tendency to want to fix the most difficult situations in our children lives, however, one of the keys to helping children learn to manage their symptoms, is to listen to their worries, fears, and concerns before we as their parents swoop in to save the day.

• Get your child moving? I’ve found that increased exercise has a tendency to decrease anxiety. So consider taking short walks after dinner with your child or be on the lookout for any community/school events that would be ideal for helping your little peewee manage their symptoms.

• Deep breathing Method. Encourage your child to take consistent deep breaths. (Breath in, count to 7, Breath out Count to 7). The deep breathing method has been effective for decreasing anxiety in the moment.

• Make sure your child maintains a healthy lifestyle.

Encourage your child to eat well and get enough sleep. Changes in sleep and appetite patterns have a tendency to bring on increased stress and increased anxiety.

• Consult a counselor or your pediatrician. Contact your child’s pediatrician or seek out counseling services if you and your child struggling and need additional services.— About the Author Carnell R. Jones is a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 20 years experience in counseling and therapy.

Lead Your Own Way

By Robert Sedycias

Some people are born with the innate ability to lead and to lead well. Others may have to work harder to find it, but that ability does lie within each individual. It just may take work for some people to find it and bring it out. Born leaders by nature have more self-confidence and higher self-esteem. To bring out leadership qualities in yourself, first you must build confidence in your own abilities. If you want to take on a leadership role for the first time, it is best to start small.

Volunteer to lead a small group on a project at work, for example. Or choose to head a committee at your child's school. Often the first step to becoming a good leader is to get over the fear of being in charge.

As the leader, people will look to you for answers.

Even if you are not one hundred percent sure of what the answers are, you have to give off a certain amount of confidence in order to gain the trust of the group.

It is best to volunteer to head a project in an area in which you have some experience or expertise.

Imagine that your child's school wants to run a used book sale in order to raise money to build a new library. Also imagine that you work at a popular bookstore. You know all about selling books, so chairing this project is a perfect fit for you. Despite the fact that you may not have ever led a committee before, you are still bringing powerful knowledge.

Your knowledge in the field should give you confidence that you can best lead this group to raise the funds successfully. Realizing that you have the skills necessary to lead the group is the first step. Second, is volunteering to lead the group and sharing the information that makes you qualified. Again, exuding

confidence is crucial at this point because no one will follow a leader who does not seem to know what he or she is talking about or doing.

There is a difference, however, between confidence and arrogance. It is one thing to show that you are confident in your ability to run a successful program but you should still maintain a degree of humbleness.

It is perfectly acceptable, and even preferable, to say that you believe you could do a good job leading the project, but that you will require the help of the other committee members and that you will value their input and ideas as well.

A good leader always takes into account the strengths and weaknesses of the committee members and ensures that everyone working on a particular project feels an amount of ownership and accountability for the project. To be an effective leader, you not only need to have the confidence in yourself but also in those on your team. You need to know when to delegate and which jobs you really should do yourself because of your expertise.

In the case of the used book sale, you would want to use your bookstore experience to design the layout of the sale or possibly to price the books. But you may want to delegate the task of creating flyers and advertising to someone on the committee who has that kind of expertise. A very important and major component of leadership is delegation and knowing when and to whom to delegate the key tasks. You need to know yourself and your own abilities first in order to do so effectively. In short, you need to know how to lead yourself before you can lead others. — BPT GetRuralLeaderMag.com | OCTOBER 2016 11

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A+ ideas for Supporting Classroom Learning

Proud parents across the country are watching their children head back to the classroom for another exciting school year. The knowledge they gain in class will help set them on a path to success. However, learning shouldn’t stop when the school bell rings at the end of the day.

“Education should be a driving factor of family life,” says Michelle Cote, founder of Bricks 4 Kidz, an award-winning summer camp and after-school program. “Parents hold the key to a child’s success by supporting classroom learning and extending educational efforts to the home and beyond.”

Cote offers simple ideas for parents to help support school lessons and instill a lifelong love of learning in their children.

Know the teacher: Teachers spend as much time in a week with your kids as you do. Build a relationship with them by sending check-in emails, attending conferences and volunteering. Be proactive about asking where your child excels and what areas they may need additional help.

Facilitate homework: Encourage good study habits by creating a comfortable homework space with adequate supplies and few distractions. Be an active partner in your child’s homework and assist when needed. Brainstorm project ideas, answer questions and quiz kids before tests.

Practice school lessons: With a fun, no-pressure approach, go over what your children learn in school.

Have a conversation each day about what they learned, liked and loathed. Then go over important lessons to help your child better understand the material.

Connect lessons to life: One of the best ways to help kids understand classroom lessons is to connect the material to everyday experiences. Practice fractions while cooking. Chat about biology while

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gardening. Head to the beach to talk about marine habitats and why the tide changes.

Choose enriching activities: Select after-school activities that emphasize cognitive development while building self-esteem in a fun environment. For example, Bricks 4 Kidz uses relatable tools like LEGO Bricks to teach science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills. Learn more at www.bricks4kidz. com.

Positive attitude: Kids will mirror your attitude toward school, homework and teachers. Stay positive and model resilience during difficult times.

Show kids how you’re working to improve your own education, whether that be a career certification or a cooking class.

Read together: Reading together is a great way to bond and show joy for the written word. Read the same books your child is assigned in school so you can foster a good discussion about characters and storylines. When you both finish the book, rent the film version and plan a movie night.

Encourage active learning: Reading, writing and solving math problems are passive learning activities.

At home, encourage active learning where your child builds models, creates art projects and can ask questions and give his opinion.

Fuel brain power: There are two ways to support learning that have nothing to do with lessons. The first is to make sure kids are always fueled with a variety of healthy foods. The next is to ensure they are getting a good night’s sleep. Full, well-rested kids are always ready to learn.

A teacher will shape and support your child’s knowledge. It’s up to you to grow their thirst for learning and help them better understand important topics. These simple tips make it easy for education to become a strong thread in the fabric of life.—BPT

For Alzheimer’s Caregivers, Knowledge is Power Michael Snowden was just 12 and his sister 16 when their mother began to exhibit symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Although they didn’t receive a definitive diagnosis until seven years later, the need to assume caregiving roles while still in their teens profoundly affected their lives.

“Not many people understood the disease or how to take care of her,” Michael says. “We did not really understand the disease ourselves after the diagnosis.

Eventually, my sister and I had to take over the caregiving responsibilities. Our lives quickly changed.”

The number of Americans with Alzheimer’s is set to triple over the next 35 years.

“Unless something is done to change its course, the Alzheimer’s crisis will continue impacting not only the millions of Americans currently living with the disease, but their caregivers, friends and family,” says Ruth Drew, director of family and information services for the Alzheimer’s Association. “Caregiving can become anyone’s reality. As the prevalence of the disease increases, more people from all walks of life, economic strata and ages will find themselves helping to support someone with Alzheimer’s in the coming years.”

Approximately two-thirds of caregivers are adult women - typically wives or daughters of people with Alzheimer’s. A growing number of teenagers and men, however, are finding themselves in a full-time caregiving role.

“Facing early-onset Alzheimer’s when my wife,

Chris, was in her mid-40s was devastating,” recalls Mark Donham, whose wife passed away from Alzheimer’s in 2011 at the age of 54. “Since we did not have extended family nearby, I decided that I would quit my job and care for Chris full time. We had to live on savings, knowing our financial future would be difficult.”

In addition to financial burdens, Alzheimer’s caregivers can become so focused on their role that they neglect their own physical, mental, financial and emotional well-being. In fact, according to the Alzheimer’s Association 2016 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report, 20 percent of care contributors sacrificed their own medical care by cutting back on doctor visits.

“My biggest challenge was trying to figure out ‘how to take care of yourself ’ as your loved one declines,” Donham says. For caregivers, he advises, “Be sure to take active steps to take care of yourself so that you can be the best possible caregiver for your loved one.”

With more people becoming primary caregivers, the resources provided by the Alzheimer’s Association are more critical than ever. Across the country, Alzheimer’s Association chapters provide face-toface services such as support groups and educational sessions within communities.

A professionally staffed 24/7 Helpline (800-2723900) provides information and advice to more than 300,000 callers each year. Recognizing the growing GetRuralLeaderMag.com | OCTOBER 2016 15

diversity of Alzheimer’s caregivers, the Helpline also provides translation services in more than 200 languages. The Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregiver Center, part of alz.org, offers a wealth of caregiving tips and resources at every stage of the disease. Online message boards and forums allow caregivers to connect with others facing similar challenges to share information, resources and find support at any time of day or night.

Support and information can be empowering, the Snowdens and Donham say.

“Understand the disease,” Shanelle Snowden says.

“Once you are able to educate yourself on the disease, you will be able to cope better and you will be able to take care of your loved one better.”

Donham learned from others in the same situation. “Early on in Chris’ disease, I developed coping strategies,” Donham says. “I came to accept the disease, got connected to a support group, and educated myself as to the course of the disease and what help I would need to make sure Chris had the best care possible.”

For people facing the task of becoming an Alzheimer’s caregiver, Donham and Snowden offer some advice: Act early, before symptoms become severe.

“Face the diagnosis, and use the earliest times to get legal and financial matters in order,” Donham says. “Connect with a support group so that you are not alone on the journey.”

The Alzheimer’s Navigator helps those facing the disease to determine their needs and develop an

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action plan. In addition to planning for the future, knowing the diagnosis early also enables the person with Alzheimer’s to get the maximum benefit from available treatments and participate in clinical studies that help advance research. Alzheimer’s Association TrialMatch connects individuals with Alzheimer’s, caregivers, healthy volunteers and physicians with current studies.

“Cherish each and every moment with your loved one,” Michael Snowden says. “Create moments of joy by doing the small things like sitting and watching TV together, listening to their favorite song or even just dancing. It will be something you’ll always remember about that person, and not the negative things that come with the disease. Other people out there are going through the same thing. Remember, this was not a curse put upon you or your loved one; it is something that is making you a stronger person.”

To learn more about Alzheimer’s disease and resources for caregivers, visit www.alz.org..#BPT

The Uplifting Truth about End-of-Life Care When a loved one is critically ill, hearing that it’s time for hospice care can be devastating news. On top of the emotional upheaval of coping with a terminal illness, you may be unsure what hospice care really is - and believe it’s just an indication your loved one will likely pass away.

Yet the time your loved one spends in hospice care doesn’t have to be sad - for anyone. In fact, says Toni Norman, the senior director of hospice operations for Brookdale Senior Living, hospice can be a deeply rewarding time of great comfort for patients and their families.

“Hospice care is not about waiting for someone to die, and that’s unfortunately a very common misconception,” Norman says. “The goal of hospice is to provide to a patient, who has a life-limiting illness, the physical comfort and medical care they need to stay in their home for as long as possible, while at the same time supporting their caregivers. The hospice team helps families by educating, supporting and identifying any needs they have, ranging from chaplain support to finding mortuaries and veteran benefits.”

The decision to begin hospice care is a communal one, with the patient, caregivers, loved ones and

medical professionals contributing to the dialogue.

“A terminal diagnosis from a doctor usually begins the process of seeking hospice care,” Norman says.

“Also, as a family member’s health begins to decline due to illness, conversations about end-of-life care are proactive and compassionate.”

Brookdale Senior Living’s hospice care providers often encounter common misconceptions about hospice care. Norman offers the truth behind some mistaken beliefs: * Hospice is for the last few weeks of life. The hospice Medicare benefit is for the last six months, if the disease follows its normal course. “Most people who enter hospice have done so because they’ve received a diagnosis of a life-limiting illness,” Norman says.

“But people who enter hospice often live longer, and with a better quality of life, than terminally ill people who do not go into hospice. Many are even able to come off hospice service if their condition improves.” * Hospice means giving up. Hospice is actually a commitment to a high level of care for a loved one.

“It means making them as comfortable and safe as possible so they may enjoy time with their loved ones for as long as possible,” Norman says. * Patients are heavily medicated. Patients receive GetRuralLeaderMag.com | OCTOBER 2016 17

medication under strict physician guidelines, and caregivers closely monitor comfort care protocols so each patient’s pain and symptoms are uniquely managed. * Hospice patients can no longer see their doctors.

Patients can continue to see any of their previous doctors. Rather than taking anything away, hospice adds a layer of medical support. * Hospice care ends when a patient dies. Because hospice cares for the patient’s caregivers and loved ones as well as the patient, hospice team members continue their support for 13 months after the patient passes away. The hospice team provides grief support for the families and will continue to work with them to address any lingering questions, and to help identify their needs.

“The hospice team is comprised of the assigned physician and nurses to provide the direct medical care to the patient, while a chaplain, social work-

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er and bereavement counselor provide additional support and education to families and caregivers,” Norman says.

Hospice ideally occurs in a patient’s home, whether that’s a personal residence or assisted living community. It is a Medicare-reimbursed benefit, and most private insurance providers do also cover some hospice costs.

“End-of-life care isn’t just about taking pain medications to relieve symptoms until death,” Norman says. “It helps people gain emotional strength and carry on with daily life, while improving the quality of life. The goal is to help patients and their families make every remaining moment as comfortable and enriching as possible.”—BPT

Get a Garden Program Growing at Your School with These Tips As a parent, you probably spend a lot of time trying to keep your kids clean and healthy, but sometimes a little dirt is just what the doctor ordered.

Research shows a direct link between children’s current and future health and their participation in gardening. In fact, kids who garden are more likely to stick with the hobby as adults, have a higher likelihood of excelling in group work and are typically more inclined to eat healthful fruits and vegetables when given the option, according to a compilation of research summarized by the Children and Nature Network.

School garden programs While some children develop a green thumb at home, research by a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation program indicates a growing number of kids are learning about gardening in school - a tactic that’s proving to be a popular, effective way of teaching children important life and nutritional skills.

A survey by Tractor Supply Company, which sponsors the “Dig It” school garden program, found 75 percent of polled adults believe hands-on learning is more effective than memorization and 97 percent believe hands-on activities help kids develop a more positive outlook on learning.

Starting a program If you’re a parent or teacher whose elementary school doesn’t yet have a gardening program, Tractor Supply offers some tips on how to get one started:

1. Grow support Successful gardening programs require collaboration from school administrators, teachers and parents, as well as support from the community. Start by including all stakeholders in the conversation. Express the value of a school gardening program, share information about success stories in other schools, and look for sponsorship opportunities from the corporate community. For example, Tractor Supply’s “Dig It” program, designed for students in kindergarten through fifth grade, is available for schools in California, Pennsylvania and Utah this year.

The program, which launched last year in Tennessee and New York, provided 88 schools with an enriched, hands-on curriculum and $500 grants to start or sustain a school garden program. More than 17,000 students were involved in the program. Upon completion, each student received a kid-friendly garden tool set and Master Gardener Certificate.

2. Choose a location Whether your school has a large plot of land or just a sunny windowsill, it’s always possible to grow a garden. With the help of things like raised planter beds and container gardens, almost anything-including a section of parking lot, an unused play area, even a rooftop-can be transformed into a viable, healthy space for plants to thrive. When selecting a location, consider spots that receive at least six hours of ample sun per day, can be easily watered, and can GetRuralLeaderMag.com | OCTOBER 2016 19

be protected from rodents or deer. Most importantly, though, remember to choose an area that’s safe and easy for children to access.

3. Keep kid-friendly design in mind In addition to finding a safe and accessible location for your school’s garden, it’s also important to create an atmosphere that’s appealing to youngsters. Start by getting students involved in the design process.

If you’ll be using raised beds, ask children for their input on the materials and colors; conduct a poll to determine what vegetables and/or flowers they would like to grow; and plan for decorative touches, such as plant markers or garden stepping stones that students can create on their own or in art classes.

4. Seek and use guidance

Tractor Supply’s Know How Central offers a wealth of information about gardening. You can also find guidance and assistance-such as soil testing services-from local cooperative extensions. Reach out to parents or teachers who are home gardeners to help coach kids through the process of growing and harvesting crops.

“Getting kids outside the traditional classroom setting can be a wonderful, fun way to help them learn important skills and lessons,” said Lisa White, Director of Store Marketing at Tractor Supply. “The value of school gardening programs has been proven repeatedly through programs like Dig It, and the great thing is it’s never too late to begin one at your school.”—BPT

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Imagine waking up early on a Monday morning with a smile on your face. You’re excited to get the week started because you love what you do. Or how about taking a Tuesday afternoon all to yourself, without having to ask permission and use your precious vacation time? It might sound like a dream, but with a career in fitness, it could be your reality.

A career in fitness is not only flexible, but financially rewarding, and caters to a variety of personalities. The fitness industry is booming, so there’s plenty of opportunities to grow and be successful with your very own business. If you’ve been on the fence about a career in the fitness industry, here are some reasons that might convince you to finally make the switch.

Make a living by helping others.

“I love nothing more than using the research based, scientifically proven approach I have learned through my education to help others accomplish their goals,” says Heather Esterline, a graduate of Life Time Academy, a professional fitness trainer program that lets you step into the industry and build upon your career goals. Working in the fitness industry is highly rewarding as you help people improve their health. You have the opportunity to be an important mentor and trusted friend in every client’s life.

See tangible results when working with clients.

As you work with clients and watch them reach their goals, you can see the results of your knowledge and expertise. Whether you’re helping someone lose weight, gain muscle or simply learn the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, you’ll be rewarded as each client continues to make progress.

Choose your specialty.

Whether you want to be a personal trainer, group fitness instructor, yoga teacher or even a health club owner, you have the chance to choose your focus.

No matter how you want to enter the fitness industry, there’s a class or program to pave your path. Life Time Fitness’ personal training certification program

offers several different courses and passes to help you earn the credentials you need to get your career off the ground. The Life Time Academy has two different certification courses that start on October 17 - the Premier and Elite Certification courses. During the Elite Professional Fitness Trainer Courses, participants not only become certified throughout the 24week course, but also get hands on experience during an externship consisting of 120 hours, altogether equaling 260 contact hours. If learning the foundations of personal training and corrective exercise is more of your interest, the Premier Professional Fitness Trainer Course may be better for you, lasting 16 weeks and 120 contact hours.

Work with a variety of people in many places.

When you have a career in fitness, you’re not sitting in an office, having meetings with the same coworkers every day. From personal trainer to health club owner, there are so many opportunities for working in this field. You can be self-employed, work with a team or even establish your own business and employ a staff. Whether you want to work indoors or out, choose your environment, your schedule and enjoy a healthy work/life balance.

It’s one of the fastest growing careers.

Positive vibes and low stress make personal training one of the top rated professions by CNN Money Magazine. And it doesn’t take long for your personal training career to skyrocket. For example, Jason Sweetnam, personal trainer and team weight loss instructor for Life Time Fitness, was 250 pounds and living an unhealthy lifestyle when he decided to begin his fitness journey. He decided to improve his health and is now a working full-time helping others get their fitness and nutrition on track.

Are you looking for a career change that allows you to be passionate about your work? If any of these reasons speak to you, then it might be time to break into the fitness industry. —BPT GetRuralLeaderMag.com | OCTOBER 2016 21

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