Advantage

ADVANTAGE

Healthy Living Over 55

In this issue

1 Cover Story: Our Life Asleep

4 What You Need to Know About Shingles

5 8 Great Travel Apps for Seniors

6 New Age, New Stage

8 Torrance Memorial and Cedars-Sinai Mark 5 Year Anniversary

10 When Spouse Becomes Caregiver

12 Upcoming Classes, Events and Support Groups

Our Life Asleep

Sleep is Nothing to Yawn At

WRITTEN BY JOHN FERRARI

You may think of sleep as rest – it’s when we relax and lay aside our cares for the day. But inside our bodies, sleep is dynamic. Sleep is when the body heals. During sleep, our brains release hormones that encourage tissue growth to repair blood vessels, healing wounds and

sore muscles. Our bodies produce white blood cells and strengthen our immune systems. Our hearts get a break, too. Our blood pressure drops, our breathing slows and our muscles relax, reducing inflammation which promotes further healing. But sleep is dynamic in other ways, too. Sleep changes as we age, and interruptions to our nightly slumber can result in serious health consequences.

“We know what happens if we don’t sleep,” says Khalid Eltawil, MD, a Torrance Memorial Physician Network board-certi-

“

“There are many specialties that deal with sleep, but the most common cause of sleep deprivation is sleep apnea, which is a pulmonary issue.”

fied specialist in internal medicine, pulmonary disease, critical care and sleep medicine. “Our memory and cognitive functions are affected, even losing a single night’s sleep.” Over time, inadequate sleep leads to poor immune response and increases the risks of health conditions including diabetes, hypertension, heart attacks and strokes.

As we age, our need for sleep changes. While newborns need 15 to 17 hours of sleep a day, and teenagers perhaps 9 or 10 hours a day, mature adults may need 7 or 8 hours. It’s a myth, though, that our sleep needs decrease much more than that as we age.

Our sleep patterns also change. Sleeping involves four basic stages: light sleep or dozing, fully asleep, deep sleep and REM sleep when we dream. In older adults, the amount of deep sleep we experience decreases. Dr. Eltawil notes as we age we are subject to more conditions that interfere with sleep – from aches and pains to stress and emotional distress and physical maladies such as sleep apnea. That explains why Dr. Eltawil, a pulmonologist, is also a sleep specialist.

“Many specialties deal with sleep, but the most common cause of sleep deprivation is sleep apnea which is a pulmonary issue,” he says. “Men are especially vulnerable. About 50% of men over 50 have some degree of sleep apnea.”

Sleep is complex, Dr. Eltawil notes, and it’s not always easy to pinpoint the cause of sleep problems. Insomnia, for example, may be caused by a circadian rhythm issue, which may itself be caused by emotional (such as persistent stress), physical (aches and pains that make bed more comfortable than staying up) or environmental (say, bright light) factors. Other sleep-related conditions

may be common but still mysterious in their origins. Parasomnias – that is, acting out during sleep, such as sleepwalking, may be associated with neurological issues. Restless leg/ limb syndrome may be related to a neurotransmitter disturbance but is still not fully understood.

“We see a lot of other things in older adults that interfere with sleep – lung conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma, orthopedic conditions, poor habits such as excessive caffeine intake in the evening hours, and alcohol consumption – but obstructive sleep apnea is the most common single condition. A new technology like Inspire has the potential to really help people.” •

As we age our need for sleep and our sleep patterns change, and interruptions to nightime sleep can result in serious health consequences. If you show signs or have concerns you should consider seeing a specialist.

Khalid Eltawil, MD, practices at Torrance Memorial Physician Network Pulmonary & Sleep in Torrance and is located at 2841 Lomita Blvd, Ste 235. He can be reached at 310-517-8950.

Torrance Memorial Medical Center is the only hospital in the South Bay to offer Inspire technology

Inspire Sleep Technology

“Sleep,” notes Nathan Eivaz, MD, “is a hot topic in medicine. We’re constantly learning more and more about it.

“What we’ve found,” adds Dr. Eivaz, an ear, nose and throat specialist with Beach Cities ENTS, “is the paradigm we used in the treatment of sleep apnea cannot be uniformly applied. Every individual’s sleep apnea is highly specified to that patient.”

Sleep apnea takes different forms. One of the most disruptive, and potentially harmful, is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). “We are hearing about OSA more for a couple of reasons,” says Torrance Memorial Physician Network otolaryngology specialist Alexander Gertel, MD. “We’re recognizing the serious health problems sleep apnea can cause further down the line, and testing for OSA has become a lot easier. It no longer requires overnight evaluation at a sleep lab. Now it can be done at home using equipment delivered to your house.”

In one sense, OSA is a case of our bodies resting too well during sleep. “In sleep, muscles relax,” Dr. Gertel explains. “When we sleep, some of the soft tissues in the back of our throat can collapse and cause an obstruction. As we age, our muscle tone decreases, we tend to gain weight and we know weight gain adds weight in our neck and throat.”

“It’s a dynamic collapse of the upper airway,” Dr. Eivaz adds. “This is where new treatments such as Inspire come into play. They treat aspects of

sleep apnea that couldn’t be treated before. Inspire works by stimulating the muscles in the palate, throat and tongue, which tend to be the areas we see in patients with dynamic collapse. Inspire senses when the patient is attempting to breathe and cannot, and it sends a signal to the nerve to tense those muscles and open the airway. It’s a strong enough impulse to alleviate the obstruction, but not strong enough to wake the patient.”

The Inspire sensor is implanted in the patient’s chest in an outpatient procedure. A slender lead connects the sensor to the patient’s hypoglossal nerve, which controls movement of the tongue and other key airway muscles. It’s only on when the patient is asleep and at risk of the airway collapse that causes OSA.

“Inspire was FDA approved in 2014,” note Dr. Gertel. “It’s already been around for a number of years with more than 40,000 surgeries in the U.S. since that approval.

“CPAP is a great treatment,” Dr. Gertel continues. “It’s still the gold standard for sleep apnea, but a very high percentage -- up to 50% -- of patients do not tolerate CPAP. They might feel claustrophobic, the mask may fall off or they may be uncomfortable and unable to sleep with air blowing constantly. In the past, there weren’t really any other options. Inspire is for those patients with moderate to severe OSA. Our Inspire program at Torrance Memorial is the only one in the South Bay, and we should be ready to go in the first half of 2023.”

The Lundquist Orthopedic Institute offers one of the most advanced, minimally invasive orthopedic care programs in Southern California, including Mako ® robotic arm-assisted technology.

TorranceMemorial.org/Ortho

Alexander Gertel, MD, practices at Torrance Memorial Physician Network ENT in Torrance and is located at 23550 Hawthorne Blvd, Ste 125. He can be reached at 310-891-6733.

What You Need to Know About Shingles

The Two-Dose Vaccine Protects you from a Serious Disease and Possible Long-Term Pain

WRITTEN BY MELISSA BEAN STERZICK

For the 50 and up crowd, chicken pox was a normal experience of childhood – almost a rite of passage. Brothers, sisters and friends all shared the virus, with its itchy bumps, scabs and scars. Our memories of the experience are vague, but chicken pox can still affect us – in the form of shingles.

Of the medical tests and interventions important in mid and later life, the shingles vaccine is one of the easiest to get and easiest to forget. However, for anyone who has had chicken pox or been exposed to chicken pox, the shingles vaccine is a simple and straightforward way to prevent a painful condition.

Torrance Memorial Physician Network physician Maliha Khan, MD, specializes in internal medicine and primary care. She urges all of her patients aged 50 and up to get a shingles vaccine.

Shingles is a rash located on a specific area of one side of the body. It is caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox called varicella zoster. The virus stays in the body and, later in life, it can reawaken and cause shingles.

Dr. Khan says even if an individual has not had chicken pox, almost everyone in the world has been exposed to the virus, so those over age 50 should consider getting the shingles vaccine.

Shingles is contagious during the blister stage and can be spread to anyone who hasn’t had chicken pox or the shingles vaccine. It’s important to note the chicken pox vaccine does not prevent shingles.

Symptoms

A rash is the most common symptom. Itchy blisters and shooting pain are two early signs. Individuals can also experience fever, chills, headache, upset stomach and swollen lymph nodes.

Treatment

Call your doctor quickly if you have any of these symptoms. There’s no cure for shingles. Anti-viral medications prevent the multiplication of the virus and they are best taken early in the course of the disease. Otherwise, after 72 hours it’s considered too late. Early treatment can shorten a shingles infection and decrease the chance of complications.

Complications

The average case of shingles lasts two to four weeks with rash and pain. More serious effects of the virus can be facial paralysis, and blindness if the rash involves the eye or the surrounding area. The most common serious complication is postherpetic neuralgia – pain in the area of the rash that can last for years.

People over the age of 50, and those who are immunocompromised, are at most risk for getting shingles. In addition, there are connections between stress and shingles, says Dr. Khan. Prolonged high cortisol levels in the body, caused by anxiousness or tension, can act as an immunosuppressant – lowering the body’s defenses and allowing the virus to flare.

“The disease is related to your immune system. The virus is sitting dormant in your nerve cells, so when your immune system is weakened, it can reactivate,” she says.

The vaccine for shingles is two doses administered two to six months apart. Vaccine side effects can occur, but usually last only a couple of days and are considered mild in comparison to the discomfort of shingles complications.

“It’s just worth getting the vaccine. Once you are vaccinated with the two doses, you don’t need to get vaccinated again. It’s two doses and you’re done. You don’t have to worry about an annual shot,” says Dr. Khan. •

Maliha Khan, MD, practices at Torrance Memorial Physician Network Hermosa Beach, 705 Pier Avenue, Suite A. She can be reached at 310-891-6708.

The vaccine for shingles is two doses administered two to six months apart. It is recommended for everyone aged 50 and up.

PackPoint creates custom packing lists based on your gender, destination, travel dates, trip duration and type of travel (leisure or business). PackPoint even checks the weather forecast and includes items to pack based on planned activities. This app makes the packing process less stressful and more manageable.

8 Great Travel Apps for Seniors

With the summer travel months ahead, Advantage recommends some great travel apps to help you navigate local roads, notify you of discounted flights or hotel stays and organize your expenses. Many travel apps can be downloaded to your phone for free, so you can plan without adding to your travel costs.

TripIt organizes your upcoming travel itinerary. All you must do is forward your hotel, restaurant, flight and car rental confirmation emails to plans@tripit.com, and it automatically transfers all the information to your master itinerary, so you can easily view all your upcoming plans at once. If you travel a lot and have a lot of bookings you need to organize, this is a great app to have.

WhatsApp is a popular messaging app used worldwide. You can use it to send messages and make calls over Wi-Fi for free, which is helpful if you don’t have an international data plan.

Shipmate is perfect for cruise passengers who want to track their ship, get a cruise countdown, see deck plans, get ship and port info, budget, photos, tips and webcams. Powered by Cruiseline. com, it also includes features like price alerts, reviews and a chat function to talk with fellow passengers on your upcoming voyages.

Roadtrippers is ideal for those planning a road trip who don’t want to miss out on any epic stops along the way. It also helps with trip planning and points out cool stops during your drive, including unusual roadside attractions, museums, amusement parks, campsites, restaurants and more.

Hopper is an app to use while you’re planning a trip and before you buy any tickets. It tracks flight prices and gives you clear advice on the best time to buy— including notifications when the price drops. It also gives you a date when the price will likely rise.

Tripcoin helps you understand your spending habits while traveling so you can be on top of your budget and organize your finances, no matter what currency you’re using. It also includes a handy currency convertor feature.

Hotel Tonight gives you amazing last-minute discounts on empty hotel rooms. It’s incredibly easy to use, and it doesn’t take long to reserve a room. You can search by city or attraction, or on the map, and then check out the reviews and photos from other travelers. When you need a last-minute room, this is the app for you. •

Savannah Kimball, MD, practices at Torrance Memorial Physician Network Women’s Centers in Torrance and El Segundo: 2841 Lomita Boulevard, Suite 200. Torrance -310-784-6822 | 2110 E. El Segundo Blvd. Suite 220, El Segundo -- 310-784-8745

New Age, New Stage

Talk to your physician about menopause, including Hormone Replacement Therapy

WRITTEN BY MELISSA BEAN STERZICK

Whatever words we use to discuss menopause, the most important thing to do is talk about it openly. Misinformation and embarrassment shouldn’t keep women from awareness and treatment, including Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). Dr. Savannah Kimball, a Torrance Memorial Physician Network specialist in Obstetrics and Gynecology, recommends an open dialogue for every female entering this stage of life.

What is important to understand about menopause?

Like puberty, menopause is a natural milestone in a woman’s life. Females enter menopause when they have not had a period for 12 months and can experience symptoms of the menopausal transition (perimenopause) on an average of three to five years prior. The transition varies for every individual.

What is Hormone Replacement Therapy?

Hormone Replacement therapy (HRT) is a prescribed dose of hormones, typically estrogen and progesterone, to help treat the symptoms of menopause and perimenopause.

What prevents women from getting treatment for perimenopause and menopause?

I find there is a lack of awareness and often avoidance of the subject altogether. Many of my patients say they can just deal with it, but they don’t have to. “Dealing with it” is the narrative women must be strong and suffer through it quietly. This approach is often perpetuated by the medical community, among families and within cultures. The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) is a reliable source of information about menopause, so feel free to discuss their guidelines with your provider.

What does HRT offer perimenopausal and postmenopausal women?

HRT treats vasomotor symptoms such as hot flashes/flushes and night sweats. It can reduce symptoms of Genitourinary Syndrome and prevent bone loss and fractures. By improving very bothersome symptoms, HRT can increase quality of life by helping with mood, focus, sleep and easing depression.

What questions should women ask about HRT?

An OB/GYN will recommend a medication and dosage guided by symptoms. Patients should ask why a specific option is being recommended to them, know all their options, discuss risk factors and may explore lifestyle

adjustments and holistic options. The dose is tapered as symptoms wane, because at a certain point your body adjusts to menopause and reaches a steady state, so a majority do not take it forever.

Why are many women cautious about HRT?

The most obvious reason is women are concerned about risks to their health. When a patient starts HRT, we will discuss health history and risk factors and choose the option best for their overall health. Every woman should discuss their individual risks and preferences with their healthcare provider to determine whether HRT is right for them. Short-term HRT is safe for most menopausal women who take it for symptom management. However, before HRT is prescribed, make sure to have a careful review of your medical history with your doctor. Together you can decide if you have conditions or inherited health risks that would make HRT unsafe for you.

When is it time to talk to your doctor about menopause and HRT?

Anytime is a good time. I try to introduce it to my patients in their 40s when we start talking about screening such as mammograms and colonoscopies. I encourage my patients to be open about all their symptoms including those affecting mood, sex, etc. Women at this stage should continue to see their primary care physician, and I recommend an annual visit to an OB/ GYN. I tell my patients to talk about menopause with their partners, friends and definitely with me - it needs to be a normalized conversation. •

CELEBRATING FIVE YEARS OF SUCCESS:

Cedars-Sinai and Torrance Memorial Mark Partnership Anniversary

Since the affiliation began in 2018, the South Bay community has benefited from closeto-home access to leading-edge oncology, neurosciences and cardiology care.

In 2018 Torrance Memorial Medical Center and Cedars-Sinai announced a new partnership designed to enhance health care access, coordination and quality throughout the South Bay.

Five years later, this affiliation has brought the resources and expertise of Cedars-Sinai’s academic

level oncology, cardiac surgery and neuroscience clinical specialties to Torrance Memorial patients— providing convenient local access to leading-edge treatments and clinical trials for cancer, heart disease and brain disorders.

“Our affiliation with Cedars-Sinai has worked out remarkably well and exceeded our initial expectations,” says Torrance Memorial CEO Craig Leach. “The South Bay community has benefited greatly from these two institutions working together to coordinate

world-class care while also continuing the unique relationships they both have within the communities they serve.”

“When you ask people in the South Bay where they want to get their health care, they say Torrance Memorial,” says Tom Priselac, president and CEO of Cedars-Sinai Health System. “Because Cedars-Sinai is also an institution with community roots, it was natural for us to seek partners for the health system with those similar community roots.”

Strategic Partnerships to Enhance Community Health

The strategic partnership between Torrance Memorial and Cedars-Sinai has enhanced care throughout the South Bay in three key areas:

Oncology

Even before the formal partnership, Torrance Memorial and Cedars-Sinai had a long history of cancer care collaboration. Today Torrance Memorial patients have access to advanced clinical trials, multispecialty clinics and Cedars-Sinai subspecialists who provide advanced care for complex conditions, such as head and neck cancers.

Hugo Hool, MD, medical director of the Hunt Cancer Institute, says Torrance Memorial remains focused on building seamless interactions between the two partners and their physicians, while offering more Cedars-Sinai clinical trials locally.

“We have always had a strong clinical research focus and we’re excited to now give our patients a direct pathway to evolving, novel therapies like CAR-T cell and CAR-NK cell therapies, and we look forward to expanding the repertoire of clinical trials to a variety of new cancers,” Dr. Hool says.

Neurosciences

In the five years since Torrance Memorial’s affiliation with Cedars-Sinai, patients at Torrance Memorial’s Lundquist Neurosciences Institute have experienced expanded access to world-class treatment options, technology and clinical trials. Additionally, patients in the South Bay receive care from a multidisciplinary team of experts from both hospitals who collaborate on all aspects of neurological care.

“The hospitals began their collaboration on the stroke side, but our South Bay patients’ neurological needs go beyond that. So we now have the expertise of specialists in movement disorders, spine, aneurysm repair and brain tumor resection,” says Paula Eboli, MD, medical director of endovascular neurosurgery at Lundquist Neurosciences Institute. Dr. Eboli joined Torrance Memorial from Cedars-Sinai after the affiliation and has helped build the neurosurgery team.

Cardiology

Cedars-Sinai Smidt Heart Institute cardiothoracic surgeons practice alongside Torrance Memorial’s exceptional surgical team to provide the latest and best cardiac surgery options to South Bay patients.

Due to the team’s expertise, the community also has access to innovative technology—including the only extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machine in the South Bay, which is used to support patients with extensive heart damage.

“Our goal is to merge our experience and expertise with Torrance Memorial, partnering with their physicians to make more of these services available to patients at the Torrance Memorial campus,” says Aziz Ghaly, MD, Cedars-Sinai cardiac surgeon and director of cardiac surgery at Torrance Memorial’s Lundquist Lurie Cardiovascular Institute.

Looking Toward a Bright Future

After celebrating the five-year anniversary of their partnership, Torrance Memorial and Cedars-Sinai are looking forward to continued expansion—enhancing access to resources, expertise and clinical trials at Torrance Memorial while enriching the care Torrance Memorial physicians and staff provide to patients, their families and the entire South Bay community.

“These collaborations have enhanced the scope of services we can provide to the people in the South Bay, and we’ve seen a very, very positive response from the community,” says Keith Hobbs, president of Torrance Memorial Medical Center. “Our patients love they can continue to get the care they’ve always trusted close to home at Torrance Memorial and also have access to more resources and expertise of Cedars-Sinai.” •

Torrance Memorial Medical Center is proud to recognize its five year anniversary and strategic alliance with Cedar-Sinai

Even if caregiving is for a shorter term, it can be overwhelming. It’s important to take care of yourself in the process. Torrance Memorial offers a weekly caregiver support group on Tuesday afternoons (see page 14 for details).

When Spouse Becomes Caregiver

WRITTEN BY NANCY SOKOLER STEINER

Ahearty 86-year-old, Fritz Scheiwe still mowed the lawn, took care of household maintenance and managed the household finances. He followed politics and enjoyed reading articles about history.

All that stopped after he was diagnosed with stomach cancer. Now taking oral chemotherapy, “He’s not there like he used to be,” reports his wife, Doris Scheiwe [pronounced SHY-va]. “He has no interest in what he used to do and no appetite for food.”

After more than six decades of marriage, Scheiwe has taken on the role of spousal caregiver, a transition encountered by an estimated 5.7 million adults according to the Well Spouse Association. “Life has totally turned around,” she says. “Everything he used to do, I do now.”

Clinical Social workers Stephanie Rojas and Vivian Lee from Torrance Memorial Medical Center’s Home Health and Palliative Care programs note this shift changes the couple’s dynamic. “There can be conflict in that dual role of partner

and caregiver,” says Rojas. Spouses need to understand and acknowledge this new role, adds Lee. “Things won’t be the same way they were. One spouse is now taking on a work role.”

According to the University of Pittsburgh, spousal caregivers tend to have worse self-rated health than other types of caregivers. A university study found close to one-third of spousal caregivers reported poor physical health at least four days of the previous month. Emotions also take a toll. “Caregivers can feel overwhelmed,

stressed and guilty, as well as isolated,” says Lee. “It’s a tough job. They need a lot of support and to know they’re not alone.”

Rojas notes there are a variety of resources for caregivers. Torrance Memorial offers a weekly caregiver support group on Tuesday afternoons* (see page 14 for details), which is open to the community. Scheiwe participates in this group. “It’s helped tremendously,” she says. “I’ve learned a lot from the questions other participants ask.”

Condition-specific organizations, such as the American Cancer Society, Cancer Support Community and the Alzheimer’s Association also offer support groups. Support groups may be offered by churches, senior living facilities and other hospitals. Short-term telephone counseling is another option. Rojas also suggests having someone who can assist with caregiving, such as an outside caregiver. California’s In-Home Supportive Services program (IHSS) may provide house cleaning, meal preparation, personal care and other services for individuals on Medi-Cal. Caregivers must remember to take care of themselves physically and emotionally. Soon after her husband’s stomach problems began, Scheiwe herself was hospitalized with stomach problems caused by stress.

Lee and Rojas suggest identifying things that help with coping, such as taking a walk, meditating or listening to music.

Scheiwe, for example, swims three times a week and attends two singing groups. “I need to do something for myself,” she says. Sometimes other family members can provide respite. Scheiwe’s son stays for two weeks every other month. During one of his visits, she went on a four-day retreat with friends. Her daughter in Orange County also pitches in.

Lee says couples may have promised they would never send one another into an assisted living or skilled nursing facility. However, they may not have understood the intensity of caring for someone who is ill, particularly toward the end. “We try to help them extricate themselves from this pledge if it’s impractical and to understand it’s okay to look at alternatives.”

Even if caregiving is for a shorter term, it can be overwhelming. Sarah Bruce, age 60, took care of her husband, Stephen Kerr, a media business consultant, when he experienced a relapse of lymphoma. Along with chemotherapy, Kerr, age 70, underwent a stem cell transplant in August of 2020.

“My job was to be objective, do what was needed and update the family,” she says. “I stayed focused on being his advocate and staying in the moment so I wouldn’t fall apart.” A practitioner of mindfulness for more than a decade, Bruce also found meditation helpful. But while Kerr is in remission, Bruce still feels the need to remain vigilant.

Social worker Rojas notes caregivers can be very hard on themselves. “They need to remember to ask themselves what they need and what boundaries they have.” Most importantly, both Lee and Rojas offer one key piece of advice to caregivers: Be kind to yourself.

To register for the Caregiver Support Group, currently held on Zoom, call 310-517-4701.

Upcoming Classes, Events & Support Groups

Advantage Calendar Spring 2023

All classes are online and conducted over Zoom. Please call 310-517-4711 to register for all paid classes. Pricing for an 8-week series is $80 or $72 for ADVANTAGE members and $40 or $36 for a 4 week series in April.

Stretching For Better Balance With Randy

April 3 – April 24

April 6 – April 27

May 8 – July 3

May 11 – June 29

Monday or Thursday, 10 to 10:45 a.m. This fun workout done in a chair is designed to help increase flexibility and mobility to help prevent injuries.

Beginning Muscle Strengthening With Randy

April 3 – April 24

April 6 – April 27

May 8 – July 3

May 11 – June 29

Monday or Thursday, 11 to 11:45 a.m. Learn correct, safe techniques for strengthening your upper and lower body using a chair and flexible exercise bands.

Chair Yoga For Strength and Balances With Sharmone

April 3 – April 24

April 6 – April 27

May 8 – July 3

May 11 – June 29

Monday or Thursday, 2 to 3 p.m. This class uses a chair in seated and standing poses. Perfect for those with injuries or the need to get stronger overall. The focus is on increasing flexibility, and strengthening muscles for balance, posture and your core.

Yoga Basics With Laura

April 3 – April 24

May 8 – July 3

Monday, 4 to 5 p.m. Harmonize body, mind and spirit through gentle stretching exercises, traditional yoga poses, breathing techniques

Yoga For Osteoporosis With Debi

April 4 – April 25

May 9 – June 27

Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Class focus is on poses, breath work and body awareness to stimulate bone growth and range of motion in joints. Floor, chairs and standing poses.

Beginning Tai Chi With Richard

April 4 – April 25

May 9 – June 27

Tuesday, 2 to 3 p.m.

A sophisticated Chinese exercise that inspires physical and mental well-being. This class is an introduction to the form.It consists of slow, graceful, circular movements that improve balance and coordination.

TranscenDance™ With Didi

April 4 – April 25

May 9 – June 27

Tuesday, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

TranscenDance™ takes the mindfulness of yoga off the mat and infuses it with freeform joyful movement. This class helps shake off stress, release tension, rejuvenate the body and center the mind.All fitness and mobility levels are welcome (can also be done in a chair or bed).

Chair Yoga For for Osteporosis With Debi

April 5 – April 26

May 10 – June 28

Wednesday, 11 a.m. to noon

Designed for those with osteopenia

Don’t see what you’re looking for?

or osteoporosis who can’t get up and down from the floor. The focus will be on strengthening your muscles, bones, posture, balance and fall prevention.Breath work for improved immune function and energy production. All levels welcome, and modifications will be offered.

Intermediate Tai Chi With Richard

April 5 – April 26

May 10 – June 28

Wednesday, 2 to 3 p.m. As students become more familiar with the techniques of balancing and relaxation, they will learn more of the movements to complete the form.

Advanced Tai Chi With Richard

April 5 – April 26

May 10 – June 28

Wednesday, 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. Once the form is learned, students will go deeper into the fine points, refining the movements and their connections that lead to improved health and mental focus.

Line Dancing With Sharon

April 5 – April 26

May 10 – June 28

Wednesday, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Jump online and join the fun! In this beginner’s line dance class, you will learn country and western classics such as Electric Slide, Tush Push and Cowboy-Hustle, plus many more. Not only is line dancing great exercise, but it is also great for your brain. No partner needed.

Check TorranceMemorial.org/classes for more information or call 310-517-4666.

Integrated Yoga With Robin

April 5 – April 26

May 10 – June 28

Wednesday, 7 to 8 p.m.

A yoga class integrating pranayama (breath work), asana (postures) and deeply relaxing meditation, such as yoga nidra, which can be the equivalent of four hours of sleep.

Yoga For Anxiety With Lorrie

April 6– April 27

May 11 – June 29

Thursday, 7 to 8 p.m.

This class offers the student tools to help self-regulate the stress response and build resiliency to stress and anxiety. We will explore gentle yoga postures, meditation techniques and focused breathing that allow both the body and mind to gain a sense of calm and ease. We will be using a chair, yoga mat and yoga block in class. Postures will be done on the floor, in a chair and standing. No yoga experience needed.

Virtual Miracle of Living

Join us via Zoom for Torrance Memorial Medical Center’s popular health lecture series. Visit torrancememorial.org/ mol for details.

April 19 6:30 pm

Sleep Disorders

Past lectures include cancer prevention; sports injury prevention and other orthopedic issues; heart disease, complications with diabetes and stroke, valve disease and peripheral artery disease; and a variety of psychological topics such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse, eating disorders and violence presented by Moe Gelbart, PhD, director of behavioral health at Torrance Memorial. Videos are available on-demand at torrancememorial.org/mol

Advantage Online Support Groups

Alcoholics Anonymous

Groups meet on Thursdays at 7 pm and Saturdays at 7:30 pm. Contact Jean Carfagno at 310-784-4879 for more information.

Bereavement Support Group

Meet in a caring and safe environment with other people experiencing grief or loss. Groups consist of eight to 10 members and meet once weekly for six to eight weeks for 90 minutes. To participate or for more information contact Olivia Licea at 310-784-3751

Between Starving and Stuffed

Mindful eating for a healthy weight. Meets every second and third Thursday, 6 to 7:30 pm via Zoom. Call Community Health Education at 310-517-4711 for more information.

Cancer & Nutrition

Whether you are currently going through cancer treatment, have had cancer in the past, or simply looking for general nutrition guidelines to help prevent the development of cancer, this class is for you! This class focuses on the role good nutrition plays in cancer prevention, treatment and survivorship. Meets every third Wednesday, 5 to 6 pm via Zoom. Call 310-517-4711 for information.

Caregivers Support Group

Information and nurturing support for people providing care for another. All types of caregivers are welcome. Group meets every Tuesday with availability beginning on April 4 from 12:30 to 1:30 pm via Zoom. To register, call 310-517-4701.

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance

This peer-based support group is for those dealing with mood disorders. This support group meets via Zoom on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month, 10 am to noon and the first and third Thursdays of the month, 6:30 to 8:30 pm (DBSASouthBay. org). Contact Scott Wood at 310-4978801 or woodscott516@yahoo.com or Barbie Johnson, at 310-293-9185 or barbiejohnson150@gmail.com.

Meditation

Weekly group for practicing meditation, a skill to quiet the mind and help relieve stress. Tuesdays and Thursdays every week from 4 to 5 pm via Zoom. Call 310517-4711 for more information.

Women in Treatment

This group is for women going through cancer, providing them an opportunity to share their stories, vulnerabilities and insights from diagnosis through treatment in a safe supportive space. Meets every second and fourth Wednesday, 5 to 6 pm via Zoom. Contact Brittany at 310-5171230 or Brittany.rudinica@tmmc.com for more information.

WE CAN: Women Empowered Cancer Support Group

This group empowers women to face their diagnosis, recurrence, or experience as a cancer survivor with resilience and support. Meets every second and fourth Tuesday, 10 to 11:30 am via zoom. Register with Anne Milliken at 310-5171115 or anne.milliken@tmmc.com.

Financial Health Checkup

Join Torrance Memorial’s Professional Advisory Council for its series on a variety of financial topics to help you take care of your financial health. Seminars are strictly educational and will be held on select Saturdays from 9 to 11 a.m. in the Torrance Memorial Hoffman Health Conference Center (3315 Medical Center Drive, Torrance 90505).

May 13

Why Estate Planning is Still Important

Learn why you need a trust and Powers of Attorney, how they work and how you can be sure your wishes are carried out.

July 8

Long-term Care Options, Planning and Insurance

Learn what considerations are necessary in long-term care planning for in-home help, residential options and how long-term care insurance works.

RSVP to Margaret Doran at 310-517-4728 or foundation@ tmmc.com. You may also visit TorranceMemorial.org/ financial healthseminars for online registration and up-todate information on topics and schedules.

U.S. News & World Report Ranks Torrance Memorial Top 3% Hospital in California Again!

Torrance Memorial Medical Center has once again been recognized as a Best Hospital for 2022-23 for the eleventh straight year by U.S. News & World Report, placing the hospital in the top 3% in the state. Torrance Memorial remained the 11th highest ranking hospital for overall hospital quality in the state of California and held the ranking of 5th in the Los Angeles/Orange region.

Learn more about the Best Hospital Ranking at torrancememorial.org

Torrance Memorial Medical Center

310-325-9110

TorranceMemorial.org

ADVANTAGE Program Information

310-517-4666

Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.

Torrance Memorial IPA

Learn More: 310-257-7239 TorranceMemorialIPA.org

Members: Toll-Free: 866-568-4472 TTY/TDD: 711

Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Torrance Memorial Physician Network

310-891-6717 TMPhysicianNetwork.org

Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

3330 Lomita Boulevard, Torrance, CA 90505-5073

If you do not wish to receive future issues of this publication, please email publications@tmmc.com with your name and complete address as it appears on the mailing panel.

HELP PREVENT THE SPREAD OF RESPIRATORY VIRUSES SUCH AS CORONAVIRUS

• Stay home when you are sick

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds

• Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 70% alcohol if soap and water are not available

• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then discard

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands

• Wear a mask or cloth face covering when in public spaces like the grocery store

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces

Due to social distancing requirements currently in place, all our regularly scheduled classes and most support groups have been cancelled until further notice. Please check our website at torrancememorial.org/ classes for updates. We hope to see you in class again soon!