What should you look for when purchasing a puppy?

The rst thing people need to decide is what breed they would like to purchase, and this should be done according to their lifestyle. People who live in apartments probably should get a lower-energy breed. You also need to decide what your expectations for companionship are going to be. Do you want a dog you can go out jogging with or do you want a dog that is going to wait at home for you and sit on your lap?

Then you need to decide whether you want to buy a purebred registered puppy or one of our designer breeds, which is usually a cross between two or more breeds. Once you decide on a breed, you need to research that breed, not only for its behavior and your expectations, but also for health issues that genetically run in that breed. A good source is your veterinarian, such as the veterinarians at Belleview Veterinary Hospital. Speak to your veterinarian about your desired breed and they can give you some good techniques or questions to ask the breeder. Now it’s time to research your breeder, and that may involve going to the internet or social media. Remember, not everything you read there is true, but it’s a tool that can be used. Ask the breeder for references, such as other families that have purchased animals from the breeder and the breeder’s veterinarian. Ask their veterinarian about any health issues their dogs may have and make sure they’re cared for properly. Visit the puppy and its environment to see the living conditions and health of the puppy.

Do not purchase a puppy without a Florida state health certi cate. The health certificate is not only going to let you know that the puppy was physically checked out by a veterinarian before the date of purchase, but it will also guarantee a warranty within the statutes of the pet lemon law. It’s illegal for breeders to sell a puppy without a health certificate in Florida, and without one, you also have no reconciliation if there’s a problem.

When a veterinarian issues a health certi cate, it means the puppy is in good health and t for sale, it’s free of intestinal parasites and received its rst set of vaccines and a deworming. Further vaccines will be needed, usually within the rst two weeks of purchase.

The doctors and sta at Belleview Veterinary Hospital can help guide you through this process to make sure you wind up with a healthy, happy puppy.

Expert: DR. CARA ERWIN-OLIVER Veterinarian at Belleview Veterinary Hospital

10725 SE 36th Ave., Belleview 352.347.3900 / Emergency line: 352.266.0836 belleviewveterinaryhospital.com

Private Duty Home Care

What is Non-Skilled Private Duty Home Care?

Expert: ANDREA SMART

Director of Private Duty at Lake Centre Home Care

10 Market St. Leesburg

352.315.0050 / www.golchc.com

Medicare Certified Home Health Agency License No. HHA299992424

Non-Skilled Private Duty Home Care is non-skilled services provided to you or a loved one in the comfort of your/their own home by a Certi ed Nursing Assistant, Home Health Aide or Companion with the oversight of a registered Nurse.

WHAT TYPES OF SERVICES FALL UNDER PRIVATE DUTY?

The services provided for clients can essentially be split into four categories.

The rst is that of services o ered by private duty homemakers who focus on the maintenance of a safe and clean home environment. To do that, our homemakers o er clients assistance with activities such as washing dishes, vacuuming, doing laundry, linen changes, light cleaning, and meal preparation.

The next category is companionship, and it involves our aides engaging and entertaining clients and their loved ones by reading books, playing board games or cards, building puzzles, taking walks, watching moves, assisting with personal hobbies and much more.

Transportation services provided by private duty caregivers include getting clients to medical appointments, religious services, taking them shopping or to a pharmacy to pick up their prescriptions, to hair appointments at a beauty salon or barbershop, and more. Lastly, our personal care aides provide our clients assistance with things like toileting, bathing, grooming, oral hygiene, dressing and more.

WHO ADMINISTERS PRIVATE DUTY HOME CARE AND HOW ARE THEY VETTED BY THE COMPANY?

All CNA’s, HHA’s and Companions are employed by Lake Centre Home Care. We require them to have a Level II FBI Fingerprint Background check, Florida Board of Nursing license veri cation and clearance for CNA’s. We require HHA certi cation for HHA’s, a valid Driver’s license, CPR, National Sex O ender search and at least 2 reference checks. Con dence in our sta ’s ability to safely care for you or your loved one is our priority.

WHY ARE PRIVATE DUTY SERVICES BENEFICIAL TO THE CLIENT?

Simply put, we believe that seniors thrive in their own home environment, and that is exactly what private duty services allow for.

HOW OFTEN DO PATIENTS RECEIVE SERVICES UNDER PRIVATE DUTY?

The frequency of the visits depends on the client’s needs and requests. Lake Centre Home Care requires a 4-hour minimum and can provide up to 24 hours each day. Private Duty does not require a referral from a physician.

HOW ARE PAYMENTS FOR PRIVATE DUTY SERVICES RENDERED?

Private Duty non-skilled services are an out-of-pocket expense not covered by insurance. Some Long-term care insurance policies cover a portion of services. Each policy is di erent and depends on the long-term Insurance company. At Lake Centre Home Care, clients are responsible for paying the cost and we provide the Long-Term Insurance Company with all the documents they require for your treatment.

WHAT IS THE MINDSET LAKE CENTRE HOME CARE LIVES BY WHEN IT COMES TO CARING FOR CLIENTS?

At Lake Centre Home Care, we are committed to positively impacting the function and well-being of those we serve by assisting each client in reaching his or her utmost potential by delivering the highest standard of care in non-medical services in a safe home environment. The ultimate goal Lake Centre Home Care focuses on is doing everything it can to get patients and clients to live their best life.

Private Duty non-skilled services do not require a physician’s referral.

WHAT ARE LAKE CENTRE HOME CARES’ BELIEFS WHEN IT COMES TO PRIVATE DUTY CARE?

• Providing the highest levels of customer service and satisfaction

• Accepting responsibility to be courteous and respectful to all

• Remaining committed to serving the needs of the community and the organization

Breakthroughs in Radiation Oncology

How has the eld of radiation oncology changed during your 25-year career?

Expert: SACHIN KAMATH, MD

A Board-certi ed radiation oncologist who provides care for all forms of cancer and blood disorders at Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute in The Villages and Ocala.

There is an amazing di erence between what we are doing today compared to 25 years ago. Because of technological advances, radiation therapy now is more focused and precise. We can quickly deliver higher doses of radiation safely and more e ectively.

Today the time frame for radiation treatment is overall much shorter. For example, treatment for prostate cancer that typically would require ve treatments each week for up to nine weeks can now be delivered in half of that time, and sometimes in as little as ve total treatments.

HOW ARE MODERN TECHNOLOGIES IMPROVING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF RADIATION?

Radiation oncology is a very technologically driven eld, and we are only as good as our technology allows us to be. What has always excited me about the eld is the ability to integrate the use of technology with medicine to help patients. We have applied the enormous ongoing advancements in science and technology to improve the way we plan and deliver radiation therapy.

In the past our imaging capabilities were limited to only X-ray, and sometimes we ended up treating a larger target area. We could not always account for the movement of organs, and there was a greater risk of causing more damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

Today, with specialized computer software, we can now plan and more precisely target the radiation on the tumor and spare healthy tissues. More sophisticated imaging in the form of CT and MRI has also been added to our newer radiation machines (linear accelerators). This has helped to minimize side e ects and long-term complications.

At our Villages Cancer Center, we are fortunate to have two stateof-the-art treatment machines that allow us to administer sophisticated types of radiation treatment. Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS) continues to make critical investments in the newest technologies, which keeps us at the forefront of cancer care delivery.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF RECEIVING RADIATION THERAPY IN A COMMUNITYBASED SETTING?

Cancer treatment today requires a multidisciplinary approach and involves many di erent specialties working together to do what is best for each patient.

In our FCS practice, we have medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, pathologists and pharmacists working as a team under one roof along with other clinicians to put the needs of patients rst. Our electronic medical records system gives access to other health care providers who are involved, so we are able to easily share pertinent medical information. This allows us to get things done for patients in a timelier manner and helps to minimize delays in care.

All of these elements make it easier to coordinate and deliver the absolute best treatment for each patient’s unique needs at every step of their cancer journey and increases their chances for achieving the best outcomes.

WHAT ARE SOME EXCITING NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN RADIATION THERAPY?

An increasing percentage of my patients are now receiving a form of outpatient treatment known as stereotactic radiotherapy. This technology allows a high dose of radiation to be delivered with great precision in one to ve treatments to a cancerous tumor while also avoiding surrounding healthy tissue. Long-term outcomes are dramatically better than conventional radiation therapy for treating certain forms of cancer.

Radiopharmaceuticals are another exciting new development. These are drugs in a liquid form that contain a radioactive component, or isotope, which delivers radiation directly to the tumor target inside the body. They can be especially e ective for certain cancers that are more advanced or may have spread.

PLUVICTO is one of the newest radiopharmaceuticals we are o ering at FCS. It provides another good treatment option for men with hormone-resistant metastatic prostate cancer.

We are excited to be part of the clinical research studies that will provide other similar new and exciting options for more cancer types in the next few years.

HOW IS RADIATION THERAPY CONTRIBUTING TO BETTER OUTCOMES FOR CANCER PATIENTS?

When I see a patient with an advanced cancer today, the conversation is vastly di erent than it was just 10 or 15 years ago. It is no longer impossible to think about longterm survival. With more targeted therapy options, like immunotherapy and radiopharmaceuticals, more patients with cancer are living their best lives with their disease under control for longer periods of time. The outlook is more positive and very hopeful.

SERVING

Patients At Four

LOCATIONS IN SUMTER COUNTY:

Brownwood 352.765.7100

2955 Brownwood Blvd., Ste. 107

Villages Buenos Aires 352.750.5105

1503 Buenos Aires Blvd., Bldg. 140

Villages Cancer Center 352.753.9777

1400 U.S. Highway 441 N., Bldg. 500, Ste. 540

Villages North 352.633.8319

1400 U.S. Highway 441 N., Ste. 924

SERVING PATIENTS

At Four

LOCATIONS IN LAKE COUNTY:

Clermont 352.394.1150 / 1340 N. Hancock Road

Leesburg North 352.787.3341 / 9832 U.S. Highway 441, Ste. 101

Leesburg South 352.787.9448 / 601 E. Dixie Ave., Ste. 1001

Tavares 352.343.1117 / 4100 Waterman Way

Learn more or schedule a consultation today! FLCancer.com

•