IGH - WNY 73 novemeber 2020

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This Thanksgiving ...

Say ‘No Thank You’ BFOHEALTH.COM

NOVEMBER 2020 • ISSUE 73

LONGEVITY GAP

Read Gwenn Voelckers’ column on page 6

Wealthy outlive poor by nearly 10 years.

We talk to local experts Page 14

Q&A with Michael Weiner ‘We are doing everything we can to generate as much revenue as possible because the need is greater than ever before,’ says president and CEO of United Way of Buffalo & Erie KEEP KIDS MOVING —Lack of physical activity among children is another unwelcomed side effect County.

P. 13 of the pandemic. It is time to get them moving again. WNY has great options to offer. P. 9 ­

Why isFrozen Spinach Such a Healthy Choice?

P. 11

Is Election Stress Getting to You? You’re Not Alone

P. 8

Local Boomers Selected to Appear in 2021 Buffalo 60 Strong Calendar

T

welve Buffalo-area residents in their 60s have been chosen as “pin ups” on an exclusive 2021 calendar that highlights events and activities around Buffalo and serves as a roadmap to good health.

A panel of celebrity judges from Buffalo selected the 60 Strong Ambassadors because they have overcome major health issues, competed at the master level in their sport or dedicated their lives to fighting for a cause or helping others.

Each one has a unique story to tell. And they all exemplify how life

after 60 can be a positive, vibrant and active time. In addition to appearing in the 2021 Buffalo 60 Strong calendar, they will inspire others with their stories during an online Medicare informational event, 3-6 p.m., Monday, Nov. 2.

The winners are: Lynette Barney, Erie; Mary Bonner, Erie; Gerald Buchholtz, Niagara; Karen Calandra, Erie; George Cretekos, Allegany; Linda Gellman, Erie; Jill Gonzalez, Niagara; Dean Hyder, Erie; Ronald Killinger, Erie; Shaila Kokil, Niagara; Kim McWilson, Erie; James “Ozzie”

Osiadlo, Erie.

The Buffalo 60 Strong Ambassadors will each appear in front of a Buffalo landmark, and the calendar will also feature Buffalo 2021 activities, health tips for seniors and information about local Medicare events.

Buffalo 60 Strong is a celebration of seniors who have grit and resilience and inspire others to live life to the fullest. It is sponsored by Buffalo Medical Group in conjuction with the launch of Senior Care Advantage ONE, a new approach that provides quality healthcare to seniors.

Those interested in hearing them speak can sign up for the Nov. 2 virtual event, www.seniorcareadvantageone.com.

The event will also feature experts who will provide an overview about Medicare options. Patients will be able to ask questions. For more information and to RSVP, visit www. seniorcareadvantageone.com.

The Buffalo 60 Strong calendars are now available for pre-order online at www.Buffalo60Strong. com. The cost is $15 for each calendar and all proceeds from the calendar will benefit Hospice and Palliative Care Buffalo, to provide medical care, social, emotional and spiritual guidance and comfort for families and their loved ones facing the end of life.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • November 2020

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1 in 3 U.S. Parents Won’t Get Flu Shots for Their Kids: Survey

T

he coronavirus pandemic and the upcoming flu season could pose a double threat, but many U.S. parents plan to skip flu shots for their kids, a new survey finds.

Though public health experts stress the need for people of all ages to get the seasonal flu vaccine during the COVID-19 pandemic, one in three U.S. parents said they don’t plan on taking their child for a flu shot this fall. Just a third think having their child get vaccinated is more important than usual this year.

Common reasons cited include unfounded concerns about side effects or mistaken beliefs that a flu shot isn’t necessary or effective.

Those are among the findings from the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health at Michigan Medicine. It was conducted in August and included nearly 2,000 responses from parents of children between 2 and 18 years of age.

“We may see peaks of flu

and COVID-19 at the same time, which could overwhelm the health care system, strain testing capacity and potentially reduce our ability to catch and treat both respiratory illnesses effectively,” said poll co-director Sarah Clark.

“Our report finds that even during the pandemic, some parents don’t see the flu vaccine as more urgent or necessary,” she added in a poll news release. “This heightens concerns about how the onset of flu season may compound challenges in managing COVID-19.”

Since 2010, the flu has caused 9 million to 45 million illnesses, 140,000 to 810,000 hospitalizations, and 12,000 to 61,000 deaths a year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Children under age 5, and especially those younger than 2, are at high risk for serious, flu-related complications. Last flu season, 188 children died of the flu, CDC data show.

Nearly 20% of Americans Don’t Have Enough to Eat Problem worsens during the pandemic

M

ore than 18% of U.S. adults do not know whether they will have enough to eat from day to day, and the numbers are worse for Hispanics, Blacks, people with obesity and women, a new report shows.

“The percentage of adults with food insecurity — the lack of access to adequate food — more than doubled between 1999 and 2016,” said Candice Myers, Ph.D., assistant professor at Pennington Biomedical Research Center and lead author of the article published in JAMA. “The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly worsened the situation. The country may face long-term economic and health consequences unless we solve this public health crisis.”

The study looked at national trends in food insecurity among U.S. adults from 1999 to 2016 using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The study found that food insecurity rates jumped to: • 35% among Hispanic adults, from 19.5% • 1% among Blacks, from 12.4%.

• 6% among people with obesity, from 10.4%.

• 2% among women, from 8.7%.

Myers said the study further solidifies the link between food insecurity and unhealthy body weight.

Food insecurity has a range of health consequences, all of them negative, she said. Obesity is key among them.

“Food insecurity and obesity are not mutually exclusive,” Myers said. “Rather, these health issues are linked in such a way that a solution will require public policy that addresses both at the same time.”

Pennington Biomedical Executive Director John Kirwan, Ph.D., said the intersection of food insecurity and chronic disease highlights the impact of the research center’s work.

“Our research has set the stage to not only continue our current efforts to explore these issues, but also develop new and innovative projects that delve into understanding their impact on the health of the citizens of our community, state and the entire country,” Kirwan said.

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Serving Western New York A monthly newspaper published by Local News, Inc. Distribution: 32,500 copies throughout more than 1,500 high-traffic locations in the region In Good Health is published 12 times a year by Local News, Inc. © 2020 by Local News, Inc. All rights reserved.

3380 Sheridan Dr., # 251 • P.O. Box 550, Amherst NY 14226 Phone: 716-332-0640 • Fax: 716-332-0779 • Email: editor@bfohealth.com Editor & Publisher: Wagner Dotto • Associate Editor: Lou Sorendo • Writers: Deborah J. Sergeant, Jim Miller, Gwenn Voelckers, Anne Palumbo, Chris Motola, George W. Chapman, Michael J. Billoni, Eva Briggs (MD), Jana Eisenberg, Jenna Schifferle Advertising: Anne Westcott, Amy Gagliano • Layout & Design: Dylon Clew-Thomas Office Manager: Nancy Niet No material may be reproduced in whole or in part from this publication without the express written permission of the publisher. The information in this publication is intended to complement—not to take the place of—the recommendations of your health provider. Consult your physician before making major changes in your lifestyle or health care regimen.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 3

BlueCross BlueShield Launches Free Depression Screening Tools BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York recently launched free self-screening online tools for anxiety and depression, designed to help individuals understand if they are dealing with depression or anxiety and to then connect them to resources as needed.

With anxiety and depression leading as the most common mental health conditions, BlueCross BlueShield’s simple, interactive self-screening tools are available to anyone in the community, including its nearly one million members.

Users will respond to a brief set of multiple-choice questions based on screeners from Pfizer Inc. to help determine if these conditions may be impacting their overall health and well-being. At the end of the screening, users will receive their results and learn what they mean. For impacted individuals, BlueCross BlueShield will offer a combination of solutions and resources to help them improve their mental and physical health.

“It’s important for our members and community to know that we are here to support their mental and physical health, particularly now, during this critical time,” said physician Thomas Schenk, executive vice president, chief medical officer, BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York. “This is another step we’re taking to build a behavioral health care model that’s designed to effectively treat the whole person.”

Individuals can access the user-friendly tools via phone, tablet or computer on BlueCross BlueShield’s website at bcbswny. com/behavioralhealth. In addition to the screening tools, BlueCross BlueShield’s newly designed site offers a robust menu of digital behavioral health resources to manage mental health, including COVID-19 related stress, and information on behavioral health care management, ADHD care management and depression care management.

The content was developed

by BlueShield’s team of medical professionals, working with Pfizer Inc. and implemented by its digital experience team. Users will not be required to create a login, and responses will not be shared with third-party organizations.

BlueCross BlueShield has a long history of providing innovative behavioral health programs to its members. The health plan recently launched the first local behavioral health value-based payment agreement with Value Network — a behavioral health care collaborative with more than 100 area providers, including BestSelf Behavioral Health, Endeavor Health Services, Horizon Health Services, and Spectrum Health and Human Services. Through this initiative, BlueCross BlueShield rewards behavioral health providers for delivering quality mental health and substance use disorder treatment to its members.

Page 4

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Meet

Your Doctor

By Chris Motola

Patrick D. Glasgow, M.D. For UBMD Family Medicine doctor, preventive care and education are key to good health Q: What are the obstacles to administering preventive care to underserved populations?

A: Typically, when the general public thinks about seeing their doctor, it’s when they’re not feeling well which is, of course, appropriate.

But a huge part of staying healthy is preventive care and making sure everyone is able to live their best lives.

So from that standpoint, because it’s not top-of-the-line for everyone, a lot of what we do is try to educate our patient population about the benefits of preventive care. Preventive care is a bedrock of what we do, so being able to promote and practice whenever we can. Even dovetailing it into visits when a patient comes in for acute care. We want to be able to follow our patients and have that kind of continuity of care.

Q: In practice, what does preventive care look like?

A: In family medicine we have the great privilege of being able to follow people from birth through the twilight years. Preventive care changes and evolves over that timeline. Generally speaking, preventive care consists of making sure immunizations are up to date, making sure you have appropriate cancer screenings and encouraging healthy lifestyles and being able to preempt any issues that may arise.

Q: How do you work around insurance issues, transportation issues — things that prevent people from showing up in your office in the first place, especially when they’re not feeling well?

A: I think

that, for any primary care physician, that is a huge challenge and barrier.

I think, overall, medicine and society are becoming aware of the social determinants of health, and how they’re just as important. That can include issues like maintaining transportation, insurance coverage and cost. Our practice is very fortunate to have a strong partnership with Erie County Medical Center [ECMC] and have our family clinic location on ECMC grounds. That partnership allows us access to wonderful case managers and social workers who work tirelessly to be able to make sure that we can leverage the resources that are available at the local and state level.

Q: What does your patient populace look like?

A: Since our practice is on the ECMC grounds in the heart of Buffalo, we are looking at an area that can be very medically underserved.

We get patients from a wide variety of backgrounds, but we serve a great number of patients who are on Medicare or Medicaid and who are on the lower end of the socio-economic ladder. We all enjoy being able to serve that community and make them be healthier and [able to] make better decisions about their health. In terms of the issues we see, we see a lot of chronic diseases, namely high blood pressure, diabetes, chronic kidney disease.

These are all longstanding issues we see in our patient population.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • November 2020

Q: What’s your approach to trying to convince patients to make changes to their life?

A: It’s not always easy.

I think

the buy-in from patients can vary, but one of the greatest things I feel that I can offer to a patient is my time. So being able to sit with them, talk with them, really hear their concerns can really make a difference.

Q: Do you find it’s easier to build these relationships in family medicine than many specialties?

A: One of the beauties of family medicine is that we have the privilege of having a long-term conversation with our patients. And so I really think being able to listen and have that conversation and why any particular intervention is important is key to that process. I also think medicine is moving from a more paternalistic level toward a shared decision-making process where the patient is much more engaged in their healthcare and feels they are able to not only access the care they need, but engage in terms of questions and decision-making. So many times, with regards to preventive care, as much as we make our medical judgments, shared decision-making comes into play. Hopefully patients feel much more in control of their healthcare.

Q: With regards to COVID-19 and preventive care, there’s been a lot of politicization over preventive measures. Do you find your patients are receptive overall?

A: I do. I think our patients definitely take the pandemic very seriously. I think everyone that I’ve met has been, as far as I can see, trying to socially distance and show sensitivity toward the elderly population. It’s good to see that the message is being understood loud and clear, and that there’s buy-in.

Lifelines Name: Patrick D. Glasgow, M.D. Position: Attending physician and clinical assistant professor of family medicine at University at Buffalo Past employment: Clinical instructor, family medicine, University at Buffalo (2016–2017); family physician, Appletree Medical Group based in Ottawa and Toronto (2015–2016) Hometown: Toronto, Ontario Education: Ross University School of Medicine Affiliations: Erie County Medical Center Organizations: American Academy of Family Physicians; North American Primary Care Research Group; Society of Teachers of Family Medicine Awards and honors: SUNY UB Chairman‘s Award for Scholarship in Residency (2013); Ambassador of Switzerland Prize in French (2003); Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award (1998) Philosophy: ‘I am committed to providing quality medical care to a wide cross section of patients of all ages, with a special focus on preventive care. A unifying theme of my care is patient education and the prevention of disease, and I am dedicated to empowering patients through education and giving them the tools to make informed decisions about their medical care’ Family: Wife (Catherine); Children (Christina and Ethan) Hobbies: Music appreciation (jazz, classical, alternative)

Couples Who Lose Together Lose More

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

A

study published in August

by Lotte Verweij, a registered nurse and Ph.D. student at Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, the Netherlands, indicates that couples lose more pounds than people going alone.

Although the study of 824 patients focuses on heart attack survivors who would benefit from weight loss, smoking cessation and physical activity, the study’s most striking finding is that undertaking weight loss with a partner rather than solo works better.

“Lifestyle improvement after a heart attack is a crucial part of preventing repeat events,” said Verweij as quoted by www.sciencedaily.com.

“Our study shows that when spouses join the effort to change habits, patients have a better chance of becoming healthier — particularly when it comes to losing weight.”

Those with a partner were more than twice as likely to participate in a healthful lifestyle change than those without a partner.

The finding makes sense to Lucy Connery, who has a master’s in public health and serves as executive director of Healthy Communities 2030! in Buffalo.

“It is more helpful when taking part in a fitness program as a couple, family or even in a group of friends because of the support it offers,” she said. “It is difficult to make changes by ourselves, and if the people around you are partaking in unhealthy behaviors, it makes sticking to our goals more challenging.”

The hassle of cooking two meals — a healthful one and a not-sohealthful one — can become a drag.

But cooking a healthful meal to share with someone who wants unhealthful food can hurt the relationship.

That’s why if everyone in the household eats healthfully, it’s easier.

In addition to food, the principle applies to fitness. Undertaking something painful — beginning to exercise again — is easier when someone else is with you.

If the other person is not ready to get healthy with you, you can do it on your own with a little planning.

Richard Derwald coordinates the Erie County Senior Fitness Program in Erie County which before the pandemic drew 1,000 senior participants per week. He gets together with his son, Richard K. Derwald, for workouts and finds that motivational since his wife is not interested in working

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out.

As a boy, the elder Derwald “did not have one athletic gene in my body,” he said.

He began reading about fitness and started exercising as a teen so he could compete in school sports.

By the time he was 19, he was a performing wrestler, participating in wrestling events all over the Northeast.

“Exercise became a lifestyle for me,” he said. “That’s why I’m such a believer in exercise. I am 85 years old and I look and feel pretty good.”

He said that trying to drag an unwilling spouse, girlfriend or boyfriend into working out is futile.

“It starts with yourself; you have to be driven,” he said. “You can’t

make someone do something they don’t want to.”

He added that couples who work out together are often successful because they share a common goal; however, meeting up with a workout buddy can fill that need.

Derwald said that he handles food purchases for their household and he and his wife eat the same foods. They only indulge in a dessert if they go out to eat, which is seldom.

These days, it may be a virtual meet-up or app; however, the effect is similar. Phone apps may also assist in weight loss, since they can be used to track movement, lead workouts, record calories and in a sense become more accountable.

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Live Alone & Thrive

By Gwenn Voelckers

Practical tips, advice and hope for those who live alone

Always Be Ready for a Trip to the ER

A

ccidents happen, and being prepared for an emergency room visit could help speed treatment and reduce anxiety if the need occurs, an expert says.

The first step is determining which ER you want to use in the event of a sudden or severe illness or injury, said Susan Promes, chairwoman of emergency medicine at Penn State Health Medical Center.

“You’ll want to know what’s available in your area, and what options they offer,” Promes said in a Penn State Health news release.

A convenient location is important, but so are the capabilities of the emergency department and hospital.

“Every emergency department offers general emergency care. But are the doctors trained in the specialty of emergency medicine? If you have children, you may also want to know if there are physicians with additional training in pediatric emergency medicine,” Promes said.

For your research, go to a hospital’s website, click its emergency department link, and then click on the providers to see if they’ve had specialty training. The website should also provide information about whether the hospital is a trauma center equipped to stabilize and treat critical injuries, she noted.

When you arrive at the ER, you should have a list of all current medical conditions, medications and doses, and any known allergies.

“I’d even list any previous surgeries and their dates,” Promes said. “It would also be helpful to know who your doctors are and what their phone numbers are in case the emergency medicine physician needs more information to provide the best care.”

Keep this health information in a purse or wallet, or store it in a cell phone, she suggested.

Another recommended document to have ready, especially for older adults, is a Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment form. “If you’re critically ill, it’s really important to be able to communicate what your wishes are,” Promes said.

Page 6

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This Thanksgiving...

Say ‘No Thank You’ I f you are a regular reader of my column, you know that I usually fill my Thanksgiving column with tips and creative ways to manage what can be a challenging holiday for those who live alone.

But this year is unlike any in recent history.

We’ve endured and continue to endure a frightening pandemic, a divisive election process, environmental disasters, an economic crisis and increasing violence in our streets.

This year, I feel compelled to share a different message.

In addition to counting your blessings this Thanksgiving, I encourage those of you who live alone (as well as those who don’t) to say “No thank you” to the things that get in the way of your health and happiness.

• Say “No thank you” to any suggestion that COVID-19 is nothing to fear. You’ve picked up this copy of “In Good Health,” which tells me you are interested in your health and overall well-being.

Follow your instincts and the advice of medical experts, scientists, and researchers to protect yourself, your family and your friends. We all know what to do.

• Say “No thank you” to anyone who mocks you for wearing a mask, keeping your distance or declining an invitation to a gathering or event that you feel poses a risk.

I’m still reluctant to go out to eat unless there is an outdoor option.

That’s my choice. This is my life.

Others may choose differently. That’s fine. I respect their choices and expect the same in return.

• Say “No thank you” to unreliable sources and “pundits” in the mainstream media and online who may be spreading fake news. Even well-meaning members of your inner circle of friends and family may share misinformation, even if unintentionally.

Develop a critical eye and turn to trusted media outlets that follow rigorous editorial guidelines. Look for evidence-based stories by highly trained and experienced reporters.

My favorite fact-checking site is Snopes.com.

• Say “No thank you” to disrespectful, insulting and deceit-ridden public discourse. Turn it off and tune it out.

Turn instead to voices of reason, empathy and compassion. When we really listen to one another and seek to understand each other’s needs, we have a prayer of moving forward and entering into productive conversations and problem solving.

Even when we don’t see eye to eye, we can still show respect and treat each other with loving kindness.

The challenge is to stay present, curious and connected amidst so much pain and turmoil. Let’s all do our part, big or small. Every good intention to improve our world mat-

ters. So does every VOTE. So make a plan. Our lives literally depend upon it.

• Say “No thank you” to hoarding paper items, meat and other essentials. As news of a potential second COVID-19 surge spreads, so spreads a resurgence of panic buying.

Those who can’t afford to buy in bulk or easily find transportation to the store are left looking at bare shelves. They go home empty-handed, often to the expectant eyes of young children or aging parents.

Let this time bring out the best versions of ourselves. Let’s exercise restraint in our shopping and acknowledge those in need. Let’s demonstrate generosity, see who needs assistance, and donate our food, time, and money for the greater good.

• Say “No thank you” to disappearing into TV, a bottle, or online shopping to assuage your fears and dread of what the future may hold.

It can become a slippery slope, so now’s a good time to take notice.

What might feel like a welcome stress-reliever today can turn into a hard-to-break habit tomorrow.

I find that daily meditation eases my anxiety and worries about the future. In the peace and quiet I can open my heart and embrace our collective goodness and care for one another.

I find it reassuring and inspiring.

• Say “No thank you” to languishing on the couch (except on Thanksgiving).

We all get a pass that day!

The more you move your body, the healthier it gets, and the better you can feel, physically and emotionally. The good news? Studies show that it doesn’t take an enormous amount of physical exercise to achieve health-enhancing results. Keep moving.

• Say “No thank you” to beating yourself up for being less than productive during this highly unusual year.

These are trying times.

And many of us, myself included, have experienced “low energy” days when we walk in circles, stare out the window, and just can’t seem to get anything done.

Let’s be kind to

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • November 2020

ourselves. Give yourself a break if you aren’t re-imagining your career, re-inventing your retirement, or re-invigorating your love life. All of that takes energy. Some days, I need all the energy I can muster just to put away the laundry.

• Say “No thank you” to conversations that drift into politics during your Thanksgiving holiday. Even if you are surrounded by friends and family who share your views, the tone and language of these conversations can devolve into headshaking and criticism of the “other side.” It can become a real downer.

Instead, choose to uplift the conversation. Reminisce about the good ol’ days, discuss future travel plans or talk about what’s on your post-pandemic bucket list.

At my Thanksgiving table, we take turns sharing items on our gratitude list, which pairs perfectly with the dessert course!

A closing note: I want to thank you for taking the time to read this column and for thinking with me about how we can help ourselves and each other during this time of unrest.

I’m optimistic that together we can build our capacity for compassion, return to restorative calm, and enjoy a better, brighter, and – importantly – healthier future.

Gwenn Voelckers is the founder and facilitator of Alone and Content, empowerment workshops for women, and author of “Alone and Content,” a collection of inspiring essays for those who live alone. For information about her workshops, to purchase her book, or invite her to speak, visit www. aloneandcontent.com

Group of participants in the 2019 Turkey Trot.

Turkey Trot Celebrates 125th Year — With a Twist Race will be virtual except for 125 runners randomly selected to run in person. Event usually draws more than 14,000 runners

By Jenna Schifferle

F

or many people in Western New York, Thanksgiving officially kicks off at the start line on Delaware Avenue where runners stand shoulder to shoulder before taking an 8K journey through Buffalo.

This year, the YMCA Turkey Trot takes on a new look amid a global pandemic.

To adhere to social distancing guidelines and keep participants safe, the race will take place virtually — with one exception. In honor of the race’s 125th anniversary, 125 runners have been randomly selected to run the event in person.

Planning a COVID-19 Friendly Event

Mario Hicks, the vice president of financial development for the YMCA of Buffalo Niagara and race lead, said the race committee has been working closely with the city of Buffalo to organize a significantly scaled-down event this Thanksgiving.

“We came up with a random selection process that really touches on the diversity of our participants. This year, young, competitive runners will still be running alongside families and Quarter Century Club partici-

pants.” Hicks said. Quarter Century Club runners have taken part in the race at least 25 times.

The 125 runners who hit the course this year will start in waves of 15 people or fewer with less fanfare and additional safety precautions.

More than 14,000 runners from around the world usually gather for the YMCA Turkey Trot each year. It is the largest and only annual fundraiser for the YMCA of Buffalo Niagara, an organization that provides essential services like childcare and food services.

“Our focus is on the well-being of our runners and protecting the route. We want to keep everyone safe while keeping the streets alive,” Hicks said.

Selected participants were chosen at random from a pool of people who opted in to the live event lottery when they registered for the virtual event. To be eligible, runners had to be at least 18 years old, live in one of the eight counties of Western New York, and register by Sept. 25. They will also have to raise $1,000 for the YMCA by Nov. 1 and run the event in under 60 minutes.

Winning the (Race) Lottery

For runners like Jessica Martinez

of Tonawanda, these requirements are a small price to pay to participate in a cherished Thanksgiving Day tradition. For the past five years, she has toed the line at the annual YMCA Turkey Trot in sunshine, snow and everything in between. She loves shouting along with the crowds as she passes by the bridge near Denny’s and high-fiving the firemen as a flag waves proudly from Delaware Avenue and Allen Street.

“It’s just what you do on Thanksgiving. My year is not complete without the trot,” Martinez said.

When Martinez learned about the virtual and live events, she knew she needed to support the YMCA. She signed up for the virtual event with her daughter Isabel and took a chance on the live lottery. She later found herself elated when she received an email congratulating her for getting into the race.

She immediately accepted her spot and spread the word about fundraising on Facebook. By the end of her shift, she already reached 85% of her goal. Shortly after, she hit $1,000 and set to work helping others reach their fundraising goal.

Taking It Virtual

The virtual race will take place Nov. 26 – 29, giving walkers and runners more time to complete the race and the chance to break up the 8K distance any way they choose.

The race committee has worked hard to mirror the excitement and fanfare digitally for those doing the virtual event. Despite the new structure, Hicks is hoping to keep the sense of community alive.

November 2020 •

Participants can virtually run the Turkey Trot course from anywhere by downloading the RaceJoy app. The platform allows users to follow the course on a virtual map as they run their own route. Plus, it gives people the chance to connect and share their accomplishment with others.

Hicks said that so far, this has gotten people from around the world to sign up. Participants from Canada and England still plan to run the event virtually, and one local woman said she plans to send her YMCA Turkey Trot shirt to her son in Japan, according to Hicks.

“The Turkey Trot is a Western New York tradition. People come from all over the country to participate,” Hicks said. “This event is ingrained in our community.”

The annual costume contest will be hosted on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter using #TurkeyTrot125.

As a new addition this year, there will also be a contest for the best Thanksgiving dish and side dish using the same hashtag.

Earning the Shirt

Martinez’s 7-year-old daughter Isabel will be putting in the miles prior to the event to keep the tradition going, support the YMCA, and earn her shirt.

“It’s Buffalo, so there’s a level of camaraderie when you see people in the Trot shirt. It doesn’t matter if they’re a serious, elite runner or just someone who does it every year. You see them and you bond over Buffalo,” Martinez said. “Isabel knows she needs to earn that shirt.”

Anyone interested in earning their own shirt can sign up for the virtual event at ymcabuffaloniagara. org/ymca-turkey-trot.

Participants for both the live and virtual event will receive the signature Turkey Trot t-shirt, bib, and a branded mask. Those who registered prior to Oct. 8 will also receive a commemorative race medal.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 7

Is Election Stress Getting to You? You’re Not Alone

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or most Americans, the 2020 presidential election is a big source of stress, a new nationwide survey shows.

Nearly seven in 10 adults (68%) surveyed called the election a significant source of stress, compared with 52% in 2016, the survey commissioned by the American Psychological Association (APA) showed.

Former Vice President Joe Biden,

a Democrat, is trying to unseat Republican President Donald Trump in a divisive campaign that has put a spotlight on the president’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, the economy and widespread racial unrest.

And pre-election stress is high among people of all political stripes: 76% of Democrats, 67% of Republicans and 64% of Independents, the survey found.

Arthur Evans Jr., APA’s chief executive officer, said this is an election year like no other.

“Not only are we in the midst of a global pandemic that has killed more than 200,000 Americans, but we are also facing increasing division and hostility in the presidential election,” Evans said in an APA news release.

“Add to that racial turmoil in our cities, the unsteady economy and climate change that has fueled widespread wildfires and other natural disasters. The result is an accumulation of stressors that are taking a physical and emotional toll on Americans,” Evans said.

But some groups are feeling the stress more acutely than they did in 2016, the survey found. For example, 71% of Black adults said this election is a source of stress, compared with 46% four years ago.

Adults with chronic health conditions are also more likely than those without one to say this election is stressful (71% versus 64%). Rates were lower in both groups during the 2016 campaign (55% versus 45%).

And the stress, which has intensi-

fied in the past year, goes beyond the election itself.

In 2020, 77% of respondents said they are stressed out about the future of the United States, up from 66% in 2019.

The survey of more than 3,400 adults was conducted online by The Harris Poll from Aug. 4 to 26, 2020.

If election-related stress is getting to you, you can take steps to relieve it, the APA advised.

Avoid dwelling on things you can’t control and focus on what you can control. Limit your media exposure. Do activities you enjoy and get involved in things that matter to you, the experts suggested.

Stay socially connected. Go for a walk or spend time with friends and family. Stay or get active physical activity helps release stress-related energy.

Healthcare in a Minute

By George W. Chapman

COVID-19 Vaccine: Providers, First Responders Among the First to Get It

T

he FDA has made clear it will not take potentially dangerous short cuts when granting emergency authorization to vaccine producers. The White House, eager to get a vaccine approved by the election, has reluctantly acquiesced to the FDA’s authority, expertise and caution. Front runners Pfizer and Moderna believe they will qualify for FDA emergency authorization possibly in December. Providers, first responders, seniors and people with comorbidities will be among the first to be vaccinated in 2021. Whether or not the vaccine will be “free” is undetermined as of this writing.

Big Tech Health Insurance

Despite increasing scrutiny over their potentially monopolistic practices, big tech giants Google, Amazon, Facebook and Apple are venturing into tech driven health insurance. It begins with their wearable monitoring devices which gives them remote and live access to considerable and significant personal health data. Google has already launched their insurance company called Verily. Amazon offers employees coverage through its spinoff called Haven.

It plans to offer it to its 900,000-plus U.S. e-commerce sellers. Big tech enters the health insurance market with literally billions to invest. Traditional commercial health plans like the Blues, Aetna and Cigna are limited by law to no more than 20% profit on their premiums. Any “profit” above 20% must be refunded to the buyer. (They are allowed up to three years to settle.) As long as there is the Affordable Care Act, the 20% profit ceiling should also apply to the big tech newcomers. The billions needed to survive in the industry, then, will come from other operations. Big Tech will reap unlimited profits in wearPage 8

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able devices, internet sales, phones and advertising. Traditional health insurers are merging with retail drug chains where profits are not limited.

If the Supreme Court determines the entire Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional early next year, expect your healthcare premiums to skyrocket as the 20% restriction on profits disappears.

Uninsured Increasing

The impact of the pandemic is evident in fatalities, increased social anxiety, a faltering economy and loss of jobs. It is estimated that as many as 8 million workers will lose their jobs temporarily, if not permanently. Consequently, they will lose their employer based or sponsored health insurance. If the ACA is struck down, subsidized commercial insurance plans on the exchanges will no longer be an option as it is currently for 20 million Americans.

Physicians and hospitals, already in financial peril due to the pandemic, are understandably concerned about the further strain on their revenue sources as patients lose their better paying commercial insurance plans.

The newly uninsured who qualify based on income, will be covered by Medicaid. Those who don’t qualify may decide individual commercial insurance is too expensive and risk being uninsured. Health insurance, for most under 65, has traditionally been employer-based. The ACA was designed to offer an alternative to employer-based plans.

Hospital COVID-19 Reporting

CMS Chief Seema Verma is giving non-compliant hospitals three to four months to get up to speed with daily COVID-19 reporting require-

ments. If they fail to comply, they will lose their participation in Medicaid and Medicare. Among the required daily COVID-19 related stats are: deaths, hospitalizations, ICU admissions, number of ventilators, staffing shortages and remdesivir inventory. In the middle of a pandemic, this seems like a rather reasonable requirement from CMS which pays hospitals for treating patients with COVID-19 and related comorbidities.

Incredibly, the knee jerk reaction from the American Hospital Association is call the reporting requirements overly burdensome and overkill.

Physician Burnout Rising

An international survey of 7,500 physicians, conducted by Medscape, revealed an unsurprising increase in burnout combined with a precipitous decrease in income. Five thousand of the respondents were U.S. physicians. About 25% of U.S. docs said they plan to retire earlier with 64% reporting feeling burned out. Nine percent of U.S. physicians reported 76% to 100% lost income; 14% lost 51% to 75%; 28% lost 26% to 50% and 33% lost 11% to 25% of their income compared to last year. Basically, about half of the reporting physicians lost at least a quarter of their income due to the pandemic. The larger drops in income were among ophthalmologists, allergists, plastic surgeons and ENTs. About 54% of the physicians surveyed treated a patient with COVID-19 and 6% of the physicians got infected. Food was the top source of comfort. To make matters worse for physicians, recalcitrant and rude patients are contributing to staff and provider burnout.

Agitated patients are complaining about masks or outright refusing to wear them. Others are arguing with staff about restrictive visitor policies.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • November 2020

While the reported occurrences are rare, they are deeply upsetting to already frazzled staff. Please understand and be nice!

Employer-based Care 2021

The Business Group on Health revealed employer plans for 2021.

The pandemic has clearly impacted how they will approach next year.

Most commercial insurers and selffunded plans have experienced significant decreases in claims and utilization this year, so 2021 premiums increases are expected to be in the 0% to 4% range. (Neither employers nor insurers are sure of the eventual impact of pent-up demand on costs.)

Fifty-seven percent of employers said they do not plan on shifting more out of pocket costs to their employees.

Fifty-three percent are interested in expanding virtual healthcare where they will also cover chronic care management, mental health, prenatal care and weight management. There seems to be an increase in employer empathy for the plight of their workers. Sixty-one percent plan to provide clinics on site. Eighty-one percent plan on directing employees to condition specific centers of excellence.

George W. Chapman is a healthcare business consultant who works exclusively with physicians, hospitals and healthcare organizations. He operates GW Chapman Consulting based in Syracuse. Email him at gwc@gwchapmanconsulting.com.

Kids playing at Rolly Pollies Children’s Gym in Buffalo.

Central Rock Gym in Buffalo

Keeping Kids Moving Lack of physical activity in our children is another unwelcomed side effect of the pandemic. It is time to get the kids moving again

By Catherine Miller

A

body in motion stays in motion, while a body at rest stays at rest. Newton’s verbiage is as true today as it was when he was munching on apples.

So what happens when you take our children who were once so active walking to school, taking gym classes and going to sporting events, and halt those activities?

Many students now only walk as far as the family room for their schooling and then sit for many consecutive hours. Sports have been minimized and physical education classes are nearly non-existent.

The lack of physical activity in our children is another unwelcomed side effect of our current climate.

It is time to get the kids moving again.

Western New York is home to many indoor facilities that offer great exercise activities.

The Central Rock Gym in Buffalo is one option that offers unique rock-climbing experiences for

children as young as 4 years old.

Early aged classes enjoy working on the boulder climbing area that does not require a harness. A portion of their class revolves around physical activities and non-contact fitness fun.

As the kids get older they are taught to climb walls with harnesses and ropes while one of the Central Rock’s trained employees offer assistance.

“Rock climbing is good for upper body strengthening as well as legs and core. You will utilize your arms, hands, fingers. You will develop fine motor skills and work larger muscle groups,” said Justin Koestler, general manager at Central Rock Gym, “In addition, it is good for problem solving, concentration and confidence.”

Students are taught safety measures and knot tying so that they are aware of correct safety requirements of climbing. Classes run an hour to two hours giving the kids a great amount of time for physical fitness and socialization. Masks are required at their facility. Not a contact sport,

rock climbing can be a great place to hang with friends while continuing to keep health and safety measures in place.

Another great exercise facility geared toward the younger set is Rolly Pollies Children’s Gym. A locally-owned business with several locations, Rolly Pollies is a great place for the family to exercise together and they have classes from infancy through grade school.

“Our most popular class right now is our “Family Class,” said Jim Fleckenstein, who owns Rolly Pollies with his wife Danielle, “Family Class allows families with children of multiple ages to participate together in engaging warm-ups, stretching, obstacle courses, exercise stations, and a healthy dose of free play.”

Rolly Pollies has been recommended by pediatricians and therapists for children that would benefit from motor-skill based classes. It offers a free trial class to determine the perfect class for each child. Rolly Pollies offers a “Caterpillar Class” for babies as young as 4 months until the not-quite-walking stage and aids your child in the physical and emotional challenges of independent walking.

“The Caterpillars Class focuses on vestibular stimulation, core strength, hand-eye and foot-eye coordination, bonding and social skills,” said Fleckenstein “We use songs, group activities, exploration time and individual exercise stations to work on everything from rolling over and sitting up, to crawling and taking those first steps. In addition, this is

November 2020 •

the class where lifelong friendships are made.”

Rolly Pollies presently limits the size of their classes, and their large facilities makes it easy to remain physically distant. There are flexible class make-up policies in place, and health screening is conducted on staff daily. All adults at the facility are required to wear masks, although children participating in gymnastic-based classes are not required to wear a mask.

A quick internet search will show you many other options that our area has to offer for activities, including the Get Air Sports Trampoline Park, the WNY Karate Center and many child-based classes at the YMCA. The Buffalo Museum of Science has activities to get the children’s mind and body in motion. Municipal parks remain open for walking trails and are a great place to take your kids for a hike and wildlife watching.

If you are not able to get your children out of the house there are many at-home activities that can get the kids moving. Consider setting a timer once an hour and have your kids pull an “activity card” out of a homemade deck, listing “jumping jacks,” “toe touches” and similar activities to be repeated for a set time.

You can reward a long study session with a dance party and play their favorite song or put together a short scavenger hunt list with items from around the house for them to gather.

Anything to get their bodies moving on a periodic basis will be beneficial to your child.

Physical activity diminishes stresses, combats weight gain and enhances the immune system, according to various studies. Despite the many changes to our everyday routines, with a bit of imagination, creativity and planning your children can stay active and healthy during this new-normal situation.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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5

Misconceptions About

Arthritis, Bones and Joints

By Ernst Lamothe Jr.

W

hen we look at the dynamics of the human body, we start with examining the bones and joints. People often overlook their importance as the body ages.

The lack of knowledge often leads to bad practices — and just because you are in your 20s, 30s, and 40s doesn’t mean you can’t develop osteoarthritis or other related conditions.

Experts believe it’s essential to debunk false claims.

“When you think about bone health, you must think about all the various preventive measures. I tell people you need to start young and gain all the knowledge you can to keep your bones and joints healthy,” said physician K. Keely Boyle, a lower extremity joint replacement and reconstruction specialist affiliated with Buffalo Medical Group. “This is especially the case for women who suffer bone mass loss quicker than men. There are things you can do for your bones before you ever consider steroid injections or replacements.”

Boyle, a hip and knee replacement specialist who also teaches in the orthopedics department at University at Buffalo, talks about five misconceptions about bones and joints.

MISCONCEPTIONS Arthritis is only an adult 1. disease No one wakes up with arthritis

at 65 without warning signs along the way. Various types of arthritis have different causes, but most begin earlier in life with mild symptoms that often go unnoticed. Arthritis is the swelling and tenderness of one or more of your joints. The main symptoms of arthritis are joint pain and stiffness, which typically worsen with age. The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheu-

matoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis causes cartilage — the hard, slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones where they form a joint — to break down.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease in which the immune system attacks the joints, beginning with the lining of joints. In addition, juvenile arthritis also exists.

“I have younger patients who come in,” said Boyle. “We can’t always predetermine who will end up with arthritis and who won’t so people are surprised when they start feeling symptoms earlier than expected. When you get older, the two most common fractures are hip and spine, and decreased bone health can lead to immobility and have serious health consequences. That is why you have to pay attention to your bones early in life.”

Foods can’t affect joint 2. pain Choosing the right foods is

important in building bone density, strengthening connective tissue and reducing inflammation, which can help prevent injuries over time and will lead you to a long active life. The right diet can help regulate your body, fight inflammation, help strengthen bones and your immune system. There are foods that can reduce joint pain and increase mobility, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Some of those foods include omega-3 fatty acids/fish oils, nuts and seeds, colorful fruits, olive oil, lentils and beans, garlic and root vegetables, whole grains, bone broth and dark chocolate.

“Inflammation can cause arthritis and often we can get inflammation from the foods we eat,” said Boyle.

In addition, Boyle said, processed food and alcohol affects bones.

Exercising makes it worse 3.

Pretending like pain doesn’t exist or hoping it eventually dissipates won’t help your joints.

While you may have to limit your activity or mobility, the solution to having healthy bones is using them.

Limiting your muscles can cause a disastrous effect of weakening them. Weight bearing exercise helps increase bone formation and protect bone health in older adults, including those with low bone density. For those who say exercise puts more stress on your joints are spreading myths that can dangerously deceive people.

“It’s essential to keep your knee and hip movement fluid. I also tell my patients you have to keep your weight in check because that can put a lot of pressure on your knees and joints,” added Boyle. “Putting on weight can accelerate arthritis. You must incorporate some exercising in your life.”

Supplements can’t do 4. anything Calcium and Vitamin D are

an essential combination for bone health. Research shows a calcium-rich diet including foods and supplements helps build and protect your bones. Calcium is a mineral that the body needs for numerous functions, including building and maintaining bones and teeth, blood clotting, the transmission of nerve impulses, and the regulation of the heart’s rhythm. About 99% of the body’s calcium is stored in the bones and teeth. The remaining 1% is found in the blood, muscle, and other tissues. Calcium enables our muscles to contract and our heart to beat. Medical experts suggest replacing energy drinks and soda with water because it keeps your body’s cartilage staying flexible and hydrated with the cushy tissues that support the joints.

“You need both calcium and

Medical Spas: Open for Business

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

M

edical spas have reopened with plenty of precautions and changes. Depending upon the type of treatments offered, area spas have been reopening over the summer as permitted — and as they are able to adjust how they do business to comply with state regulations.

A few area medical spas weighed in on how things are going at their locations.

Laurianne Griffis, spa manager at Advanced Aesthetics Medical Spa in Williamsville, said that the spa follows all the New York state COVID-19 guidelines, such as not permitting walk-in clients.

“We’re back up and running and almost to the level of patients we had before,” Griffis said. “It was a long time waiting to reopen. Clients are coming back, though some are leery.

They read the news and it’s spiking here and there.”

For about seven months, the spa was limited on the services offered.

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As of September, Advanced Aesthetics began offering all its services.

When you visit a spa next, expect to make an appointment. Do not assume you can get an appointment at the same time as a friend; many spas are staggering appointments to allow fewer in the facility at a time and to permit enough time to disinfect surfaces. The staff will ask a few questions about your health and if you have traveled recently.

You will likely have your temperature taken upon arrival, use hand sanitizer and answer a few more questions. Do not bring anyone else with you. If the waiting area is open, the décor will likely be different than before with social distancing markers on the floor, Plexiglas shielding the receptionist and, so it is easier to keep the area clean, fewer soft surfaces. Like many other businesses, it is likely high-touch amenities like beverage centers will be gone. Testers are also a thing of the past. Electronic payments are preferred.

The staff and providers will be wearing masks and you should, too. If your service requires you to

remove your mask, remove it when asked. Your provider will likely wear a face shield or goggles and gown.

The service area will likely look different, too. Some spas may not offer the same services as before the pandemic.

At Advanced Aesthetics, patients do not interact with each other or with staff members unless they are directly providing services. “We take payments from that room so they’re not coming out to a main area to pay for their services,” Griffis said.

At Bel Viso Skin Studio in Williamsville, owner Marie Regan said that in addition to the spa’s already rigorous sanitation practices, she ensures compliance to CDC guidelines.

“We aren’t seeing clients who have traveled outside of New York in the past two weeks,” Regan said.

“We have hand sanitizer all throughout our treatment rooms and front desk. All clients wash their hands before treatment. We’re adhering to all the guidelines. We had to change the waiting room so people are six feet apart. We see only one to two people at a time now.”

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • November 2020

K. Keely Boyle is a Buffalo Medical Group physician specializing in lower extremity joint replacement and reconstruction. She is also an assistant professor in the department of orthopedics at University at Buffalo vitamin D for your bones to stay strong and for you to stay mobile for the rest of your life,” said Boyle.

“Calcium works together to help support the outside structure of your bones. When it comes to vitamin D, especially living in our area where we don’t always get the sunlight other cities receive, that is why it’s important to make sure you receive it in food and supplements.”

Smoking only affects the 5. lungs and nothing else Smoking rates in the U.S. have

declined in recent decades. However, about 15.5% of the population — or about 37.8 million adults — smoke cigarettes according to the latest numbers from Centers for Disease Control. Smoking is an issue that leads to disease and disability and harms nearly every organ of the body and is the leading cause of preventable death.

“Smoking really affects a lot of organs but smoking specially causes your bones to weaken,” said Boyle.

“Smoking blocks the calcium and vitamin D from doing what it is trying After being closed from March 13 to mid-June, the spa reopened to offer only work on lashes and eyebrows. Since mid-September, the rest of the services have been available.

Business has been good for Regan.

“People are coming back,” she said. “I feel like there’s an insatiable need we meet for people.”

In addition to treating troubling issues like acne, the spa meets emotional needs for many clients.

“People are craving human interaction,” Regan said. “I have clients who were coming every six weeks who are now coming every four weeks for some mental wellness.

“They’re very grateful for the additional precautions they see. Our clients in the beginning laughed because they knew we’re fanatical about sanitation. Every year we send out a message to not come to the spa if they’re not feeling well. They find comfort in that that we’re very careful about what needs to be touched.”

The smallest touchpoints are not exempt to cleaning, such as the spa’s iPad, which is cleaned between each use and customers’ own credit cards, which get a wipe with rubbing alcohol before they are returned.

“People are really ready to get back to normal,” Regan said.

A child being examined by a physician at Jericho Road Community Health Center.

The center in 2019, served 20,058 patients.

Jenni Attea and Seth Wagner, family nurse practitioners, working in one of Jericho Road Community Health Center’s COVID isolation units.

Jericho Road: Providing Wholistic Care to the Most Vulnerable

By Jana Eisenberg

T

he pandemic hasn’t stopped Jericho Road Community Health Center from caring for the populations it serves — partly thanks to the philosophy of its founders, physician Myron and Joyce Glick, and its experience working through health crises.

“Pretty early on, when we started seeing COVID cases in Western New York, Dr. Glick called me and Dr. Gable, our COO, and said, ‘We need to talk,’” said physician Allana Krolikowski, Jericho Road’s chief medical officer. The nonprofit, patient-centered medical home has four locations in Buffalo, and global outposts as well. “From experience with our clinics in Sierra Leone, where they have been through Ebola, he knew that we had to start screening people at the door immediately.”

Myron Glick, a medical doctor as well as a deeply spiritual person, founded the healthcare organization with his wife in 1997, followed by a ministry in 2003 sharing the Jericho Road name.

It has gone through several organizational changes over the years, and are now combined into one entity; its current mission statement — “Jericho Road Community Health Center provides wholistic healthcare for the underserved and marginalized communities in Buffalo and across the world in order to demonstrate the unconditional love of Jesus” — succinctly defines the organization, and the attitude of its staff and medical personnel.

Myron Glick was moved to start the health center after having worked with government agencies, performing refugee health assessments when people were arriving in Buffalo from other countries.

“Not many doctors want to serve these populations,” said Krolikowski, Page 12

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speaking by cell phone while conducting rounds at a Buffalo hospital. “We serve the most vulnerable patients — more than 50% of them don’t speak English. Immigrants and refugees are [more or less] a low-income population, and are often also challenged by other social determinants of health, like access to transportation, education level, and financial, food and housing insecurity. More than 75% of our patients receive Medicaid.”

The organization does not refuse patients who don’t have insurance or funds to pay for care.

“The majority of our clients have come from other countries; it’s often their first time in any health system, and they don’t know how to utilize it. We help them learn about and navigate it,” she continued.

The organization is well-respected in the broader community, and has deep partnerships with hospitals and nonprofits, like Kaleida Health,

Safety Net Association of Primary Care-Affiliated Providers of Western New York (SNAPCAP), and the Greater Buffalo United Accountable Care Organization (GBUACO). It now has 340 full-time and part-time employees, and, in 2019, served 20,058 patients.

“At the end of April, when we saw COVID rates going up on Buffalo’s East Side, a group of agencies came together to offer barrier-free, walk-up, no-appointment community testing days. We have stopped doing those, but still offer testing to those who want it — including those who are not existing patients. We also have changed the spaces in our buildings so we have areas where ‘well’ patients are seen, and where, if you’ve tested positive for potential COVID, you can be isolated,” Krolikowski said.

In March, the center and its locations were at around 70% capacity for completed visits, with a focus

As of Oct. 8, Jericho Road Community Health Center tested over 11,000 people for COVID-19; 1,044 have been positive.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • November 2020

on keeping patients safe and ramping up outreach to connect with the most vulnerable ones. During that time, Jericho Road saw overall visits change to 50% telehealth (including phone and video visits).

As of Oct. 8, the organization tested over 11,000 people for COVID-19; 1,044 have been positive.

After a positive test, Jericho Road staff counsels and follows up with patients, most of whom do not have a severe cases of COVID-19, and can self-isolate and get better at home.

It’s not easy to navigate the constant changes and uncertainty in life and in work during the pandemic — morale can be affected.

“For our staff, especially the ones still working from home, our director of spiritual care and wellness organizes things on Google hangout,” she said.

In addition to “straight medicine,” including women, children and maternity care, Jericho Road also deals with what Krolikowsi mentioned are social determinants of a person’s health, like assistance applying for insurance and benefits and spiritual and behavioral health counseling.

“During the pandemic, we’ve seen increases in anxiety and depression,” she said. “Because our behavior health team was already operating in an overall medical model, we were able to safely stay open and provide good in-person care for patients—whether they were a current behavioral health patient or not.” The behavioral health team offers both video and phone visits, as do the various medical teams and locations.

Pre-pandemic, Jericho Road also offered ESL classes, and legal assistance and shelter for asylum seekers through its Vive program; while they are not accepting new clients at the shelter, asylum seekers can still contact the program for assistance.

For more information about Jericho Road Community Health Center and all their programs and services, visit their website at www.jrchc.org.

Because of the increased need of support from nonprofit agencies throughout the county, its annual fundraising campaign began earlier than ever before and will run through March 2021. Weiner said the new Join The Fight fund received a major boost when the National Fuel Gas Company Foundation announced it would match all gifts up to $100,000. To participate, visit www.uwbec.org/jointhefight and to learn more about the agency go to www.uwbec.org.

Q: How is the United Way of Buffalo & Erie County enduring the COVID-19 pandemic?

A: UWBEC has been serving the community for over 100 years. We began our work during World War I and we have followed every war since then. We have endured The Great Depression, the closing of the Bethlehem Steel plant, the Blizzard of ’77 and the recession of 2009. We have been a mainstay organization that has had to deal with all of those situations. It is safe to say, though, we have never, in our history, faced a situation as we are today. This is unchartered territory, and we are all working to figure it out together. It is truly unprecedented.

It has also been a time when our community has truly come together.

This is a community that cares and during rough times it always comes together through collaboration and cooperation and the level of community support is second to none.

COVID-19 has affected families in so many ways. Before the pandemic, the unemployment rate was at 3.5% and now it is over 14%. That has created so many more challenges for our community and its citizens. We are working to mitigate the immediate impact of COVID-19 and make sure there is basic food, housing and childcare for families in need through agencies we support.

Q A &

with Michael Weiner

‘We are doing everything we can to generate as much revenue as possible because the need is greater than ever before,’ says president and CEO of United Way of Buffalo & Erie County

M

ichael Weiner, president and CEO of the United Way of Buffalo & Erie County, is facing the greatest challenge in his 11 years with the organization because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As an essential service, Weiner was

fortunate not to have to furlough or lay off any of the 60 full-time staff who have been working remotely throughout the pandemic.

UWBEC has an annual budget of $18 million and over $31 million with endowments and other assets.

Q: How has the pandemic changed the way the United Way does business?

A: It has dramatically changed our business model as we have gone to a digital-first approach. We have completed a new strategic plan that highlights the importance and value of being more digitally proficient as an organization. Almost all of our programs and special initiatives have been adopted to this new normal.

Q: How has the pandemic affected the annual United Way fund raising campaign?

A: In preparation for our annual

campaign, we surveyed our top 300 corporate accounts and asked them a series of questions about how we can operate our traditional workplace campaign this year. We received some great input and because of the pandemic many companies were still working remotely, and others feared us coming in and meeting with employees. We are now promoting electronic pledge processing which eliminates the need to distribute paper pledge cards. Employees can still donate through payroll deduction or their cell phones through our website and we have also added a rollover option where they can check a box and donate what they pledged last year.

We rely on individual and corporate support as the pillars of our fundraising. We are proud of the more than 700 large and small organizations that participate and the more than 37,000 individuals who helped us raise $13.2 million last year. We are doing everything we can to generate as much revenue as possible because the need is greater than ever before.

Q: Who are you most concerned about as being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic?

A: One of the cohorts we are paying close attention to are ALICE Families—Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed Families or the working poor in our community.

In a 2018 ALICE report, 27 percent of Erie County households (103,000 families) are one emergency away from a financial crisis. If you include families living under the federal poverty level, 40 percent of county households are struggling financially. They are challenged in meeting basic needs of food, shelter, health care, technology and childcare. We are also concerned about the inequity of ALICE Families among races—38 percent of black households and 36 percent of Hispanic households compared with 26 percent of white households. If you take into account the new unemployment numbers the result of the pandemic, the number of low-income households increases exponentially.

In addition, we are equally concerned with the viability and sustainability of the not-for-profit sector.

They are facing insurmountable challenges and we will do whatever we can to help sustain the NFP sector moving forward including supporting new business models that are effective and efficient operationally.

Community Action Organization of WNY

Has Immediate Openings for the following positions Come grow with us!

• • • • • • •

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Program Secretary Food Pantry Clerk/Van Driver Family Partner Home Visitor Youth Services Counselor Teacher (Certified) Teacher I/II/III Nutrition Associate Maintenance Associate Substitute Teacher

Visit us at www.caowny.org to learn more about the requirements and to complete an online application.

www.aloneandcontent.com November 2020 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

CA-00087634

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Page 13

Golden Years

Medicare 101 If the rules of Medicare confuse you, you are not alone

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

Y

es, it’s confusing. An entire industry has developed around explaining the parameters of Medicare to adults anticipating their time to sign up at age 65.

While no one is required by law to sign up for Medicare, it is vital to understand the basics of Medicare to avoid lifelong monthly penalties should you decide to sign up later.

In general, people receiving Social Security income (SSI) for two years for a disability are automatically enrolled. Those who are aged 65 are eligible to enroll in Medicare. The age-related enrollment period is three months before and after the person’s birth month and the birth month.

A person currently with group insurance supplied by an employer of 20 or more can remain on their current plans and wait until they retire and thus lose their coverage.

The same applies to a spouse on their plan. They do not have to wait until the next open enrollment period, which runs Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, because loss of coverage constitutes a qualifying event. Coverage under COBRA does not qualify.

If they don’t like their current insurance, they may choose to drop it in favor of Medicare.

Medicare plans are designated as “Parts.”

• Part A covers hospital care and some home care. If you have worked 40 quarters in your lifetime, it’s free.

• Part B covers doctor visits, diagnostic services and other outpatient care. The base premium is $144.60 per month. Individuals making $87,000 or more or couples making $174,000 or more pay higher premiums. It’s on an income-based, tiered structure, based on income figures from two years ago.

Parts A and B together are also known as “Original Medicare.”

Brian Faraci, director of operations of the insurance department at The Financial Guys in Williamsville and Rochester, said that many people believe that it is mandatory to have Medicare Part B. “If your work has more than 20 employees and you have credible coverage, you don’t have to go on Medicare,” Faraci said. “We’d recommend signing up for Part A as there’s no additional premium. That gets you in the system. There’s no reason not to take it.

“The enrollment periods can be confusing. When turning 65, many think they have to go on Medicare and have to go off work insurance.

That’s not always the case. A lot of people think it will cost a ton of money going on Medicare. It’s different than your job, but there are a lot of plans that cost nothing.”

After age 65, those using the New York State Marketplace must sign up for Medicare. For those receiving Social Security, the premiums are deducted from their monthly checks. Those not receiving Social Security pay quarterly.

Those who do not enroll in Medicare on time will pay a penalty of 10% of the premium for each 12-month period they could have been enrolled in Part B. Someone who waited two years would pay 20% more; those waiting three years would pay 30% more per month for the duration of their enrollment.

Kathy Coler, Medicare specialist and independent broker for ROC Insurance Services in Rochester, said that a recent change to Medicare is the Part B giveback. It rolls money into the Social Security check toward the Part B premium.

“Not all carriers have it but some do,” she said. “It’s worth asking. You can get up to $400 or $500.”

CALENDAR of

HEALTH EVENTS

Oct. 6

Stroke, PAD, Aneurysms: Are You At Risk?

If you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease or a family history of stroke, you may be at risk for vascular disease.

Join the expert panel of Trinity Medical vascular specialists, physiPage 14

•

cians Paul Anain, Gregory Clabeaux, Aimee Swartz and Roger Walcott for a free, live online event, “Stroke, Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), and Aneurysms: Are You At Risk?” from 6–7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6. They’ll discuss the risk factors and warning signs of arterial disease, when to see a vascular specialist, and answer all of your questions, live.

Registration is required by calling 716-447-6205 or visiting chsbuffa-

• Part C, also known as Medicare Advantage, includes amenities like vision, dental care, wellness rewards and fitness. About 36% of those enrolled in Medicare are in Medicare Advantage, as of Sept. 29, 2020.

The plans are offered through private insurers like BlueCross BlueShield, Humana, Aetna, Cigna and United HealthCare and include Parts A and B. Most also include Part D. “One of the biggest misconceptions people have is they think they have to have a specialized plan to get coverage outside their home area — if they travel a lot, they think they need different coverage for emergency care,” Faraci said.

Most plans cover emergency services; however, seeing a specialist may require extra coverage out of the home area.

• Part D is the prescription drug plan offered through private insurance companies.

“New York State has EPIC, a program that works in conjunction with Part D plan to save seniors money on prescription drugs,” said Michael King, broker with Century Benefits Group in Rochester. “If enrolled in EPIC, they can change their Medicare plan at any time of the year.”

People making a higher annual

income must meet a deductible but pay nothing for EPIC. Those with a lower income have a small fee, but no deductible.

• Part F has no deductibles and pays all coinsurance. It covers 80% of expenses.

Supplement plans, also called Medigap, fill in areas that Medicare doesn’t cover, such as expensive cancer drugs or treatments for multiple sclerosis.

“Doing a drug analysis is extremely important to make sure your drugs are covered in the plan and that you’re paying the least cost possible,” King said. “Clients give us a list of drugs and our computer software tells us the plan best for them based on where they live.”

He added that a lot of seniors do not check the drug list.

Where you spend your time also matters. If you travel a lot or snowbird during the winter, make sure your plan covers non-emergency care elsewhere. Emergency care is nearly always covered.

He added that the guidance from brokers is free to consumers because brokers receive a commission based on the companies with which they are contracted.

lo.org/events. Once registered, you will receive a link and information on how to join the event.

Join Catholic Health vascular specialists, physicians Joyce Lin and Julio Alvarez-Perez for a live online event, “My Legs Hurt When I Walk: Could It Be My Arteries?” It will take place from 6 - 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov 5. They’ll discuss the risk factors, symptoms and treatments for arterial disease and answer all of your questions live.

If you are experiencing heaviness in your legs, pain when walking, numbness, discoloration or varicose (bulging) veins, this event is for you.

Registration is required by calling 716-447-6205 or visiting chsbuffalo.org/events. Once registered, you will receive a link and information on how to join the event.

Nov. 5

My Legs Hurt When I Walk: Could It Be My Arteries?

Vascular disease involves any condition that affects the circulatory system. Some circulation problems, like varicose and spider veins, aren’t life threatening. Others, like deep vein thrombosis and peripheral artery disease, can be. Pain in your legs when you walk or climb stairs is a common symptom of vascular disease.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • November 2020

Golden Years

Longevity Gap: Wealthy Outlive Poor by Nearly 10 Years

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

R

esearchers with University College London recently published a study that correlates wealth as the greatest factor that indicates when a person’s health will begin declining with age.

Wealthy people in the study of more than 25,000 adults over age 50 in England and the U.S. lived nine years longer in good health than poor people.

The study indicated that wealthy women were expected to live an average of 33 years without age-related disability compared with those with less money, who live only 23 to 24.6 years in good health.

Well-to-do men could anticipate 31 healthy years but poor men could expect 22 to 23 years.

One reason behind the gap is where a person lives.

According to Erie County New York Community Health Assessment 2017-2019, more than 70% of patients at the county’s health clinic come from ZIP codes 14204, 14206, 14211, 14212 and 14215. In these areas, the unemployment rate “is significantly higher” than in the rest of Erie County, New York state, and the nation.

“Median household income and per capita income are about half of Erie County income levels in three of five of these ZIP codes,” the report further stated. “Analysis of demographic trends as they relate to poor health and need for public health services indicates that where poverty is the highest, poor health outcomes are the greatest” compared with other parts of the county and the state.

It’s tough to correlate how where one lives affects healthy longevity, according to Ju Joh, family medicine physician and associate chief medical officer with Primary Mobile Healthcare Partners in Buffalo.

“It’s a difficult question to answer,” he said. “It comes with a lot of cofounding factors. Do you have access to fresh food and groceries? Is it safe to walk around? Social struc-

ture becomes very important for maintaining health.

“People of a lower socioeconomic level don’t have that social structure. Their ability to invest in their health and the extra time to exercise and eat properly and being able to have resources for that is another way to think about it.”

The stressors of living as a poor person can negatively affect health.

Can we pay the rent? How can we afford these bills? How can I get to work? What will happen if we have an unexpected bill?

Joh added that it matters whether a person understands how to access health insurance so they can afford to prevent bigger health issues.

Neighborhood factors such as high smoking rates, a lack of access to healthful food and exercise opportunities, and unhealthy housing can significantly reduce life expectancies.

The Erie County report states that 19.2% of Erie County adults currently smoke, most of them in the Buffalo metro region, compared with 15.9% in the entire state.

As for access to healthful food, transportation to stores selling fresh foods makes a difference for people who have no vehicle. The county report stated that public transportation is mostly within city limits.

“There is inadequate coverage of bus lines linking the city of Buffalo to either first ring suburbs — Tonawanda, Kenmore Cheektowaga, West Seneca — or second ring suburbs, Amherst, Lancaster, Orchard Park, Clarence, Hamburg,” said Joh. “This inadequacy and infrequency of runs limits residents without access to personal vehicles to only those services that can be reached through the public transportation system.”

The exception is people who receive Medicaid and seniors, who have limited access to transportation offered through Erie County resources.

“When you look at supermarkets and areas to work out, there are disparities depending on where you’re living,” Joh said.

Sufficient safe places to walk and for children to play can help promote good health.

Access to healthcare also makes a big difference for preventing preterm birth, chronic health problems, and emergency room visits.

Protective factors include family and social support, community safety and education. Not everyone who has a low income is uneducated.

For example, an artist or childcare provider may have a good education but not make a lot of money. Their education helps them make better lifestyle choices about health, which can help mitigate other factors of receiving a low income.

“It’s about understanding factors about your health and having health literacy,” Joh said. “Some diseases don’t show up right away. They manifest later.

“I don’t think your fiscal status

has to do with your health. There are low-cost lifestyle changes to go through to keep yourself healthy. It’s more about understanding that what you do now will affect your health later.

“Even with healthcare literacy, if you have no motivation to follow it, if your concentration and work is towards being financially successful rather than healthy, health literacy goes out the window.”

That could include people who are well educated and well-off financially but unhealthy because they do not take the time to care for their health as they should.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that adults who are 25 and lack a high school diploma can expect to die nine years earlier than college graduates.

Approximately 24.6% of Buffalo residents and 31.6% of Erie County residents have a bachelor’s degree, lower than the statewide rate of 34.2% percent.

Richard Derwald is 85 and coordinates Erie County Senior Fitness Program in Erie County. Until the pandemic, about 1,000 seniors in Erie County attended his fitness programs weekly.

An athlete from his teen years, Derwald believes that “life extension depends upon information. I got a lot of information when I was young and I continue to learn about health.”

He recalls that in his youth, schools lacked weight rooms and other amenities that would encourage fitness. Women were cautioned to not lift weights. He is thankful he began lifting weights and wresting as a teen and young adult and continued in fitness while working.

“Just by virtue of the way I make a living the last 25 years keeps me going,” Derwald said. “For a lot of widows, my class is their first experience working out and training. They say they feel so much better.”

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410 Mill St. • Williamsville, NY 14221 • 632-3000 IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

•

Page 15

Overdose Deaths From Cocaine Rising Dramatically

W

hile opioids were grabbing the

headlines, cocaine overdose deaths in the United States have marched upward, nearly tripling over five years, a new government report shows.

After a period of stability, cocaine-induced deaths rose by about 27% per year, on average, from 2013 through 2018, researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

“While much attention has been given to the increase in drug overdose deaths involving opioids, it’s also important to recognize that deaths involving other drugs, such as cocaine, have also increased in recent years,” said Holly Hedegaard, lead researcher and injury epidemiologist at the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).

In 2018, those most likely to die from cocaine were men, adults aged 35 to 44, Black people and city dwellers in the Northeast. Knowing who’s most vulnerable can help in forming prevention strategies, Hedegaard said.

Given this alarming rise, “focused efforts are needed to better understand why the rate of drug overdose deaths involving cocaine has tripled in recent years,” she said.

According to the report: • Cocaine overdose deaths were stable from 2009 to 2013, but by 2018 had jumped from about two to nearly five per 100,000 people.

• Americans aged 35 to 44 were most likely to die of a cocaine overdose in 2018. Those 65 and over were least vulnerable.

• In 2018, Black people had nearly double the rate of cocaine-related deaths compared to white people, and three times that of Hispanics at nine per 100,000 versus five and three, respectively.

• The rate of cocaine deaths in 2018 was nine times higher in Northeast urban counties than in Western rural counties.

Pat Aussem, associate vice president at the Partnership to End Addiction, said several factors may have contributed to the dramatic rise in cocaine overdose deaths.

“In recent years, countries like Colombia have had bumper crops of coca, and the prices of cocaine have fallen dramatically, resulting in a cheap, abundant product for export. With its increase in purity and decrease in price, cocaine can be a less expensive alternative to prescription stimulants like Ritalin and Adderall,” Aussem said.

Cocaine is also often laced with fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, which significantly increases the probability of an overdose, she noted.

The report was published online Oct. 7 in the CDC’s NCHS Data Brief.

Page 16

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Older Adults Cautious on Senior Living Facilities

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

A

re nursing homes and other senior living facilities really a safe place for seniors to live?

According to a Sept. 18 article by Judith Graham published by Kaiser Health, a lot of older adults are rethinking their final planning and considering other options than going to a nursing home or assisted living facility should they need help with activities of daily living.

The article cited a survey in August by the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care that 74% of senior housing executives said families have expressed concern about safety amid rising COVID-19 cases.

To assuage these concerns and to keep residents safe, the industry in general is responding, according to Jennine Sauriol, WNY regional director for admissions and marketing for Centers Health Care, parent company for Ellicott Center and Buffalo Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing.

“As for the cleaning part of it, I know they’ve had some changes and they’re doing more vigorous, deep cleaning,” she said. “We are following all the state guidelines.”

Ramping up measures to quarantine ill residents, limit the contact of all residents with potential sources of infection, using personal protection equipment more, and testing staff for COVID-19 weekly have helped curtail the virus’ spread. Anyone coming in the door must be screened and no visitors are permitted.

Sauriol said that one positive aspect of the pandemic is that facilities will have improved their protocols for the outbreak of any illness regarding preventive measures, acquiring and using PPE, and stocking necessities.

Group activities among residents are still not happening.

“If they’re doing things, it’s on each specific unit,” Sauriol said. “But not taking a patient from Unit A to Unit B for activities.”

The Centers Health Care also try to keep staff members working on the same floors. About 40 to 89 residents live in each unit.

“If there is an outbreak, the gym would shut down and they’d be confined to their rooms,” Sauriol said.

“COVID-19 is a scary thing. People can get it and lose their life. It’s a very serious thing and we’re doing everything we can to stay in between the residents and COVID-19 as much as possible. We don’t want anyone to get ill. We’re doing everything we can to help them.

Right now, nursing homes are probably the safest place for people because so much has been done.”

For those with the means to do so, choosing home health may help reduce the population of people living in nursing homes to a safer capacity. Some estimate that a rate of 80% capacity helps prevent the spread of COVID-19 . But it is difficult to tell what level of care one will need in 10 or 20 years.

“As much as people try to predict whether or not they will need nursing home care, a lot of people will,” said Nate Sweeney vice president skilled services at St. John’s Home in Rochester.

According to AARP, 52% of people turning 65 years old will need long-term care at some point in their lifetime. AARP further states that more than half will need care for more than two years.

“For the folks who do need it, we went to create the safest environment possible with their choices and preference in consideration,” Sweeney said. “We have added more private rooms than we had before.”

In addition to increasing cleaning protocols, technology like ultraviolet radiation machines can help the dedicated cleaning staff disinfect surfaces that are more difficult to disinfect, like upholstery.

Sweeney said that the rules about visitation continue to evolve, but the amount of space at St. John’s helps

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • November 2020

with social distancing.

All the changes taking place have cause caregivers to reevaluate how they operate.

“All of our protocols are constantly being looked at and updated,” Sweeney said. “We have a great interdisciplinary team that comes together from different perspectives to look at anything COVID-related.

That process has been very beneficial for us. You make the best decisions when it’s a variety of diverse perspectives.”

He believes that the pandemic has encouraged cross-discipline collaboration among long-term care providers and greater agility to adapt when unexpected emergencies occur.

Park Creek Senior Living Community, which offers assisted living and memory care in Williamsville, has not experienced any cases of residents with COVID-19 ; however, that doesn’t mean it is business as usual.

“We have seen some changes in residents due to the isolation since they cannot go out with their families and loved ones,” said Geri Robinson, administrator. “Because of that, we’ve changed our activities programs to incorporate different activities we’ve done before and tried to bring more programs.”

This includes streaming entertainment through Netflix and church services and bringing in live performers to the backyard with social distancing. It’s a big change for a center that’s typically “very hands on,” Robinson said. “We’re very afraid for our residents. The average age is 88 and we have some into their late 90s. They’re not used to seeing us in masks. This is a social model. It’s hard to just express with our eyes.

“Many have hearing difficulties.

Things can get lost in translation.”

Visiting with family has been on the patio with the resident on one side and their family members on the other. The situation has been especially difficult for residents in memory care.

“I can’t tell you how hard it is for them to not get hugs,” Robinson said.

Park Creek staff have noticed a decrease in colds and Robinson anticipates that perhaps flu season will be minimized with the limited outside contact and the constant hygiene and sanitizing. But she also thinks that “the seniors have paid the price” since staying inside and away from others can be so isolating.

By Jim Miller

Coronavirus Vs. Flu: How to Tell the Difference Dear Savvy Senior, Can you explain the differences between the coronavirus and seasonal flu? I’m 70 years old, and usually get a standard flu shot, but would like to find out what else I can do to protect myself this winter.

Worried Senior Dear Worried, Great question! Because of the dual danger of influenza (flu) and COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently warned that this fall and winter could be the worst ever for public health. Understanding this, knowing the differences and similarities between the viruses, and knowing what you can do to protect yourself is the best way to stay healthy and safe through this difficult time.

Flu vs COVID Because many of the symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are similar, it may be hard to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone, so testing may be needed to help confirm a diagnosis. With that said, here are some similarities and differences you should know.

For starters, seasonal flu symptoms come on pretty quickly, whereas COVID-19 develops gradually over a period of a few days and then either fades out or gets worse.

Common shared symptoms include fever, sore throat, muscle aches, cough, headache, fatigue and even chest pain. Pinkeye and a dry cough are associated with COVID-19, while it’s now thought that a fever is more likely with the flu, as are diarrhea and nausea.

Many people are having their temperatures taken these days before entering public spaces. But fever occurs in only half of COVID-19 cases.

Fever does not rule out COVID-19, but the absence of fever makes flu unlikely.

You’re also unlikely to have a runny or stuffy nose with the flu, but you may with COVID-19. What sometimes happens within the nose with COVID-19 is loss of smell and, often as a consequence, loss of taste, too.

To learn more about the similarities and differences between flu and COVID-19, visit the CDC website ​ at CDC.gov/flu/symptoms/flu-vscovid19.htm.

How to Protect Yourself While there is currently no vaccine available yet to prevent

‘Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently warned that this fall and winter could be the worst ever for public health.’

COVID-19, the best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. So, stay home as much as you can. If you have to go out, wear a mask and keep at least six feet away from other people. And every time you come home, wash your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds.

There’s also evidence that suggests that people who are deficient in vitamin D may be at higher risk of getting COVID-19, than those with sufficient levels. So, make sure you take in around 800 to 1,000 international units (IUs) of vitamin D from food or supplements daily, and get outside as much as you can.

And to help guard against the flu this year, you should consider getting a flu shot that’s specifically designed for people 65 and older. The “Fluzone High Dose Quadrivalent” or the “FLUAD Quadrivalent” are the two options that provide extra protection beyond what a standard flu shot offers. You only need one flu shot, and if you haven’t already gotten it, you should do it now because takes up to two weeks to build immunity after you receive it.

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

APRIL 2020 • ISSUE 66

CORONAVIRUS Getting on with our lives in this new age Special Issue

Beware of Coronavirus Scams P. 13

Autism: Why Are Incidence Rates So High

Pneumonia Vaccines If you haven’t been vaccinated for pneumonia, you should also consider getting the pneumococcal vaccines. Both flu and COVID-19 can lead to pneumonia, which hospitalizes around 250,000 Americans, and kills around 50,000 people each year.

But these numbers could be much higher this year.

The CDC recommends that all seniors, 65 or older, get two vaccinations — Prevnar 13 and Pneumovax 23. Both vaccines, which are administered one year apart, protect against different strains of the bacteria to provide maximum protection.

Medicare Part B covers both flu and pneumonia shots.

To locate a vaccination site that offers any of these shots, visit VaccineFinder.org and type in your location.

BFOHEALTH.COM

RECORD NUMBER OF PEDESTRIAN DEATHS IN U.S.

Local experts discuss the dramatic increase in cases of autism in the U.S.

Study estimates 6,590 pedestrian deaths in 2019, an increase of 5% over previous years

The Amazing Benefits of Olive Oil

P. 8

Pot Use Among Seniors Nearly Doubled in 3 Years

P. 2

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 17

Ask The Social

Security Office

From the Social Security District Office

Social Security Can Help With Your Plan For Achieving Self Support

Some Seniors Still Wary I of Doctor’s Offices

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

S

ocial distancing may curtail the spread of COVID-19 -19, but it brings its own drawbacks, one of which is the hesitancy of many seniors in seeking care from their providers for ongoing conditions.

Considering the higher risk seniors have of contracting COVID-19 -19, some concern is warranted — and that is the take-away message that has made a deep impression on many older adults who have chosen to stay home as much as possible during the pandemic.

Though initially providers wanted to delay non-urgent care, COVID-19 -19 is now better understood, infection rates are down and providers know how to reduce the risk of transmission.

Jennine Sauriol is WNY regional director for admissions and marketing for Centers Health Care, parent company for Ellicott Center and Buffalo Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing. She said that specialists can come into the centers to see patients for routine matters.

“The only thing they’re going out for is a real specialty type of visit,” she said. “Those were shut down for a while on the physician’s office end of things. Now that has opened up, some have been apprehensive about going out. Once we give them reassurances and make sure they’re comfortable, they’ll want to go.”

While taking residents’ concerns seriously, it is also important to balance caution over COVID-19 with health maintenance. News stories with dramatic accounts of sickened seniors and climbing infection and death rates may make staying home the better idea until the pandemic goes away. However, Sauriol tells older adults to not further delay their doctor’s visits, as “it is better to go now than waiting until there is something really wrong,” Sauriol said.

“We’ll provide you with a mask and make sure you have hand sanitizer or you can wear gloves as well.”

Geri Robinson is the administrator at Park Creek Senior Living Community, which provides assisted living and memory care in Williamsville. She said that staff has been encouraging residents to keep up with Page 18

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their regular doctors’ visits so that chronic conditions and maintenance prescriptions remain well-managed.

“We talk with the doctor’s offices about what they’re doing for safety so we can reassure residents and their families,” Robinson said.

“They need to go to those doctor’s visits now in case we get shut down again for flu or COVID-19 and they can’t get out for another three or five months. I encourage them to get their dental visits, podiatrist visits and any other visits they need.”

She added that overall, the residents seem to trust their judgement that it is safe to go to doctor’s visits.

“You may save someone from catching COVID-19 , but if you ignore chronic issues, you may lose them to something else,” Robinson said.

Ju Joh, a family medicine physician and associate chief medical officer with Primary Mobile Healthcare Partners in Buffalo, said that his organization has received many more request from patients who want to be seen via telemedicine.

“It’s a great opportunity to introduce them to this tech,” Joh said.

He added that visits such as for annual wellness, follow-ups and maintenance have been through telemedicine. But for those who want or need to be seen in-person, “we let them know that all our providers get tested,” Joh said. “If they’re symptomatic, they don’t go to houses and we screen patients for symptoms.

If they do, we don’t want them to come into the clinic. Being able to screen over the phone has been really helpful.”

The organization has also seen a rise in demand for its behavioral health services.

Primary Mobile hopes to soon provide COVID-19 testing through a local lab in patients’ homes, through a drive-through and at a remote site downtown as additional services to patients.

“That all ties into them having services they need to be taken care of,” Joh said.

f you rely on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments or Social Security Disability (SSDI) benefits and want to start working or return to work, we can help.

A Plan for Achieving Self-Support (PASS) is a rule under SSI to help people with disabilities return to work. If you receive SSI or could qualify for SSI after setting aside income or resources so you can pursue — or achieve — a work goal, you could benefit from a PASS. How does a PASS help someone return to work?

• We base SSI eligibility and payment amounts on income and resources (things of value that the individual owns).

• PASS lets a disabled individual set aside money and things he or she owns to pay for items or services needed to achieve a specific work goal.

• The objective of the PASS is to help disabled individuals find employment that reduces or eliminates SSI or SSDI benefits.

Q&A Q: Is it true I can save about $4,900 per year if I qualify for Social Security’s Extra Help with the Medicare prescription drug program?

A: Yes. If your income and resources meet the requirements, you can save nearly $5,000 in prescription costs each year. Resource limits for 2020 are $14,610 (or $29,160 if you are married and living with your spouse). Income limits are $19,140 (or $25,860 if you are married and living with your spouse). If your income or resources are just a bit higher, you might be eligible for some help with prescription drug costs. To learn more, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/ prescriptionhelp.

Q: My spouse died recently and my neighbor said my children and I might be eligible for survivors benefits. Don’t I have to be retirement age to receive benefits?

A: No. As a survivor, you can receive benefits at any age if you are caring for a child who is receiving Social Security benefits and who is under age 16. Your children are eligible for survivors benefits through Social Security up to age 19 if they are unmarried and attending elementary or secondary school full time. Keep

IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • November 2020

You can read all about the PASS program at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN05-11017.pdf.

The plan must be in writing, and Social Security must approve it beforehand. To start, contact your local Social Security office for an application (Form SSA-545-BK) or you can access the form at www.ssa.gov/ forms/ssa-545.html.

There are many people who can help you write a PASS, including a Ticket to Work service provider, a vocational counselor or a relative. Social Security’s Ticket to Work (ticket) program supports career development for SSDI beneficiaries and SSI recipients who want to work and progress toward financial independence. The ticket program is free and voluntary.

Please call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 or 1-866-8332967 (TTY) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET to learn more about the Ticket program.

Your job isn’t just a source of income — it can be a vehicle to independence or a beginning to fulfilling your dreams. Let Social Security’s PASS help you achieve your goals.

in mind that you are still subject to the annual earnings limit if you are working. If you are not caring for minor children, you would need to wait until age 60 (age 50 if disabled) to collect survivors benefits. For more information about survivors benefits, read our publication Survivors Benefits at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs.

Q: Why is it so important that my baby have a Social Security number?

A: Your child may need a Social Security number if you are planning to open a bank account, buy savings bonds, obtain medical coverage, or apply for government services for the child. Your child will also need a Social Security number if you are going to declare him or her on your taxes.

Getting a Social Security number for your newborn is voluntary, but it is a good idea to apply when your child is born. You can apply for a Social Security number for your baby when you apply for your baby’s birth certificate. The state agency that issues birth certificates will give us your child’s information and we will mail you a Social Security card with the child’s Social Security number. Visit www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber for more information.

Technology and Social Media Helpful for Isolated Seniors

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

N

umerous studies and articles have lambasted misuse of social media for its ill effects on young people caught up in bullying, obsessive posting and dissatisfaction with their own lives compared with the “perfect” lives portrayed on the screen.

However, in the past year, social media has proven particularly helpful for the opposite end of the age spectrum as older adults have continued to stay at home to avoid COVID-19.

Jennine Sauriol serves as WNY regional director for admissions and marketing for Centers Health Care, parent company for Buffalo Center and Ellicott Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing. She said that technology has aided in residents in feeling less isolated.

“We’re spending a lot of time making sure families are able to keep in touch via email, Skype or Facetime,” she said. “I think it has helped our staff realize how important it is for residents to socialize and how it’s vital we have the technological advances to help them connect with family.

“Maybe previously no one thought about Facetime and Skype

and a lot of our seniors didn’t think about it. Now they see the value of it. It’s something we’re now doing 10 times a day, when before it was once a month, if that.”

Whether it’s virtually attending a birthday party, chatting with grandchildren or catching up with their adult children on Facebook, technology has helped many seniors avoid feeling left out.

These kinds of measures to enhance connection are vital to good mental health, according to Timothy Holahan, osteopathic doctor and assistant professor of medicine specializing in geriatrics and palliative care with University of Rochester Medical Center.

“Socialization has always been important in nursing homes and not isolating patients,” he said. “I still think that’s very important. We just have to find good ways in terms of infection control to do that.”

He believes that the pandemic has underscored how important socialization is to populations that are already somewhat isolated, including seniors living in long-term care facilities, assisted living communities and independently in the community.

Holahan is medical director for

The Hurlbut, Penfield Place and Woodside Manor. He said that at the homes he oversees, Zoom or streaming events, music and pastoral care have proven popular among residents.

“It doesn’t replace the in-person experience, but it makes it better than not having it,” he said. “They definitely get benefit out of it.”

He also hopes that the pandemic-era use of technology will improve older adults’ acceptance of technology.

But using this technology can also produce unwanted effects. For example, it can leave some older adults at increased risk for scams.

“When using social media, the risk of elder abuse, whether financial or other goes up,” Halohan said. “If they’re not prepped for that ahead of time, it could be an issue. It’s still a viable form of technology, but they need to be aware of the risks.”

In a nursing home, staff are trained to help residents deal with these issues. Older adults living independently may not be aware that anything they post may be used by a scammer. Since most older adults have many traits in common, such as grandparenting, retirement, and use of Medicare, it is easy for scammers to guess how to appeal to them.

But social media can make it even easier, according to Kevin Hanna, Upstate New York regional director of external affairs for AT&T. He said that for example, criminals can more easily pose as stranded grandchildren needing money if they know the family’s background.

He broke down the types of scams into a few categories: imitating authority, such as posing as the IRS, law enforcement, FBI or Social Security administration; temptation, with scams such as claiming the senior has won a prize but must pay a fee to claim it; and sense of urgency, which places pressure on the senior to act now to spare a grandchild from jail time.

“When seniors see these signs, those are important warning signs to notice and to get a second or third opinion and not to react right away,” Hanna said. “Typically, scammers want unusual forms of payment, like gift cards or to be wired money. They may say, ‘Your bank account is at risk. If you give us financial information, we’ll be able to secure your fi-

nances for you much more quickly.’”

Hanna urges older adults to never use public Wi-Fi for social media since anyone can tap into it and help themselves to their personal information.

Ben Roberts, director of public affairs for AT&T, urges older adults to “take advantage of the privacy controls” or get assistance in doing so to help prevent their information from getting into the wrong hands.

But they should not think that solves the problem. Hackers can still take over a trusted loved one’s account and read everything posted and formulate a slick scam from that information.

Older adults unfamiliar with social media can also believe false “news” stories, conspiracy theories and rumors posted by less-than-unbiased sources.

“It’s probably more difficult for older adults to tell the difference if they’re not experienced with the technology,” Holahan said. “If we see an increase in use of technology, we have to educate them in what’s fact checked and vetted and what’s opinions.”

He also stressed the importance of using platforms correctly to ensure that their personal information cannot be exposed.

Scams Abound According to a new survey commissioned by AT&T, 95% of older Americans (aged 60 years or older) have experienced a scam online. These scams cost older Americans an estimated $1 billion last year, according to the FBI. More specifically, the survey found: • 92% of older Americans have experienced some sort of phishing attempt.

• 71% of older Americans have encountered a malicious actor claiming to be someone else (collection agent, company shutting down service, support technician, family member in trouble, etc.).

• Yet, only 30% of older Americans are worried about losing money to a scammer online.

To learn more about online safety for all ages, visit https://about.att. com/pages/cyberaware.

Researchers Concerned About Quality Telemedicine Visits

By George Chapman

A

study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association reveals the impact of the pandemic on the delivery of primary care. Primary care visits were down overall 21% the second quarter of this year versus the same periods the last two years. In 2019, telemedicine accounted for just 2% of primary care encounters. In the second quarter of this year, 35% of primary care encounters were via telemedicine. Eighty percent of the physicians surveyed performed a virtual visit in the second quarter

of this year versus just 9% the first quarter. Before the pandemic, an average 13,000 Medicare members per week would receive care via telemedicine. That jumped to 1.7 million the last week of April.

Researchers expressed some concern about the quality of primary care telemedicine visits right now, but concede it might be too early to sound an alarm because of the pandemic and the fact that everyone is still learning.

They found, overall, when compared to in person office visits, that

virtual primary care visits resulted in fewer blood pressure checks, fewer cholesterol screens and fewer prescriptions.

It’s hard to predict what will happen with virtual primary care delivery once the virus has been eradicated. The longer the pandemic

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lasts, the more telemedicine becomes accepted and ingrained. JAMA wants to be sure that the quality of a virtual visit remains high.

George Chapman is the author of Healthcare in a Minute, a column that runs every issue in In Good Health.

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ECMC’s state-of-the-art KeyBank Trauma and Emergency Department is now open.

Welcome to your new emergency department World-class care now has a world-class facility By listening to the needs of our patients and caregivers, the facility now matches the high-quality care we deliver to over 70,000 Western New Yorkers each year.

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Designed to treat more patients comfortably, the new Trauma and Emergency Department includes: • 57 spacious treatment rooms • Decreased wait times • 100% of RNs with specialized ER training • 100% attending doctors board-certified in ER medicine

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• New imaging and lab spaces

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