Health Wellness 13
The Current
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
13
2017
Health, Wellness and Senior Living Kidney transplant program under review By BRADY HOLT Current Staff Writer
I
n much of the country, concerns abound about a shortage of health care options. But in the District, medical services undergo rigorous evaluation to prevent over-supply. The “certificate of need” process is intended to ensure that medical services don’t become inefficient due to a lack of patients, in particular when a new competitor tries to enter an existing niche. This process is in the background of a complex legal battle surrounding George Washington University Hospital’s Transplant Institute, which began offering kidney transplants in early 2015. The hospital launched this institute over the objections of Med-
Star — whose Washington Hospital Center and Georgetown University Hospital had been the only District facilities performing these transplants — and of the D.C. State Health Planning and Development Agency, which had denied this application. Two years in, the Transplant Institute has transplanted 89 kidneys. But its existence is once again in question, with the D.C. agency weighing anew whether this program fills a valuable need — or, as it had concluded in 2013, spreads too few patients among competing facilities. George Washington officials hope that this time, the agency acts in its favor. “In just over two years, The GW Transplant Institute has made significant strides in improving
Resident’s epilepsy incident leads to police training boost By BRIDEY HEING Current Correspondent
R
egina Avila and her fiance Giovanni Cappelletti last year experienced a traumatic event that has now led to changes in the Metropolitan Police Department. While walking to the bus stop near their home in the Georgetown area, Cappelletti experienced a convulsive epileptic seizure, falling to the sidewalk and sustaining a broken rib and other injuries. Avila arrived after receiving a call, with the police still on the scene. When she questioned an officer to find out what had happened, the response was chilling, she said: Not only did he not have time to talk to her, but when she later contacted his commanding officer to learn more, she was given similar treatment. “The commanding officer of the policeman who responded told me, ‘He’s an adult, he can take care of himself,’” Avila said. But as Avila points out, this isn’t actually the case. Epileptic seizures cause a debilitating burst of electrical activity in the brain that renders normal functions impossible. “Giovanni doesn’t ever remember his seizures, and it can take up to an hour for him to ‘come around.’ He can’t really speak or understand anyone, and he wants to walk around,” she
Brian Kapur/Current file photo
D.C. officers now receive more training about epilepsy.
said. For Cappelletti, who has little to no control over his post-seizure behavior, Avila fears the police could assume the worst. “The police were the first responders and didn’t seem to understand his post-seizure behavior,” she said. “I’m afraid his behavior after a seizure will be confused with disobedience or aggression.” This string of events showed Avila that a better understanding of seizure disorders was needed among the District’s officers. “I wanted the local police to watch out for him and others like him,” she said. Avila began working to spread awareness of epilepsy and related seizures, calling police officials See Epilepsy/Page 18
access to life-saving care and thus addressing an urgent unmet need in the Washington, DC region,” hospital spokesperson Susan Griffiths wrote in an email to The Current. “We remain fully committed to The GW Transplant Institute and look forward to continuing to provide these critical transplant services.” The program had overcome its earlier setback with the state health agency after George Washington University Hospital appealed the decision to the D.C. Office of Administrative Hearings, which is responsible for a range of topics that also include unemployment compensation, fire code violations and public space permits. An administrative law judge reversed the health planning agency’s decision in 2014,
Brian Kapur/Current file photo
Amid legal wrangling, D.C. is weighing whether a kidney transplant center is appropriate at George Washington University Hospital. granting the hospital the right to open the kidney transplant center. But after a lengthy review process, the D.C. Court of Appeals overturned the approval last fall, concluding that the Office of Administrative Hearings judge
hadn’t given sufficient weight to the health planning agency’s expertise. That judge’s role was to ensure that the agency had been fair and thorough, the court concluded — not to substitute its See Hospital/Page 16
Health Wellness 14
14 Wednesday, March 22, 2017
The Current
2017
Health, Wellness and Senior Living A new take on an old practice: meditation By SUSAN BODIKER Current Correspondent
B
usyness. Stress. Monkey mind. Isolation. It’s the curse of the modern age. Stir in a little madness this town is known for and you have people in desperate need of tranquility and relief. There’s a place for them — and all of us — at Take Five Meditation, a new studio in Dupont Circle. Its mission, according to marketing materials, is to “provide an oasis to Washingtonians� with programs designed to move people out of their heads and into “the wisdom and aliveness of the body.� Studio founders and partners Tara Huber (chief happiness officer) and Eldad Moraru (chief contentment officer) are longtime practitioners of yoga and fitness, and have experienced the benefits of mindfulness and meditation in their own lives. Serendipitously, they discovered a shared interest in bringing these practices to a wider world, and a little more
than a year ago they began cultivating the Take Five concept. Their first task was to find the right location. What they found was a formerly unused rectangular room with a huge bulkhead in an unremarkable building on Connecticut Avenue. But it spoke to them. As Tara describes it, “You know when you’re house hunting and you fall in love with a place? That’s the feeling we had.� Ten months later, Take Five’s vision became a reality — with the paint still drying on the walls as friends and visitors celebrated opening night on Feb. 24. Now a serene space in calming shades of grey and turquoise (the color of the fifth, or communication, chakra), the studio is divided into two parts — one room for classes, with a huge picture window overlooking the street, and an intimate community lounge where guests and students can gather for conversation and complimentary tea, sourced from Teaism. Take Five’s special green herbal blend is especially soothing. The studio plans to host semi-
nars, book readings, art shows and on- and off-site workshops for businesses and groups in the coming months. “It’s our intention to bring the full range of meditation practices to our community — the cultural and physical as well as the spiritual,� Moraru explains. “And depending upon the time of day or your own personal head space, there are classes to settle your mind, open your consciousness or find greater compassion for yourself and others.� By design, Take Five classes are not tied to any one philosophy or religion, and the owners say that the curriculum is likely to evolve along with the needs of members and guests. The instructors, or guides, also represent a range of traditions and practices. At present, there are 12 halfhour classes, including Chi Meditation; Mindful Eating; Mindfulness, Meditation and Aromathera-
Photos courtesy of Take Five Meditation
The recently opened Take Five Meditation in Dupont Circle strives to “provide an oasis to Washingtonians.� py; and Crystal Bowl Meditation. There are also eight 45-minute classes that range from Creating Joy to Gong Bath Meditation and Kabbalistic Meditation for Busy Minds. (Full disclosure: This writer took a class in the Four Foundations of Mindfulness in order to tame her whirl-a-gig mind and focus on her body, feelings, mind and “dharma,� or outside phenomena. Thirty minutes later, she was, Huber noted, “glowing.�)
To the uninitiated, meditation can seem woo-woo or a little intimidating. But to the founders and guides of Take Five, it’s really as natural and beneficial as taking a breath. Take Five Meditation is located at 1803 Connecticut Ave. NW, on the second floor. Details on scheduling as well as instructor bios and events are available at TakeFiveMeditation.com or by calling 202-588-5198. The studio offers member-based and drop-in classes for students at all levels of experience.
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Health Wellness 15
The Current
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
15
2017
Health, Wellness and Senior Living A journalist’s journey from fat to fit to fast By BRIAN KAPUR Current Staff Writer
I
n July 2015, I weighed 240 pounds, I had a 40-inch waist and XXL-sized shirts were a snug fit on me. This year, I ran a marathon and was ranked 17th in the male 20- to 29-year-old-category in Run Washington Magazine for my races. I love sports, but since I’d always been on the heavy side I channeled that passion into reporting on them. I’d never been athletic. I only briefly played basketball, from sixth to eighth grade, before my weight prevented me from continuing to play in high school. In college, I battled a slew of health problems including high cholesterol and high blood pressure. But after years of excuses, poor eating and little physical activity, I finally decided during the summer of 2015 to take control and become fit. Two years earlier, I’d seen how the road had ended for my mother, Neena Kapur, who passed away after complications from open-heart surgery and diabetes. I didn’t want to go that route. Visiting the doctor for the first time in years, I told her I simply wanted to get healthy. The doctor helped me customize a strict diet limited to chicken, turkey, seafood and vegetables — prepared steamed, baked or grilled — along with black coffee, tea and water. It wasn’t easy, but I just worked to stack one good day on top of another. I used MyFitnessPal, an app on my phone, to track my intake. I also started to take my dog, Copper, for long walks — first a mile, then two, then all the way to six.
I would post my miles on social media, and one of my friends, Jennifer Benisek, who had been a cross-country runner in high school, became persistent in trying to get me to run. At first I brushed it off — I wasn’t a runner or an athlete. But Jen wouldn’t let it go. So I started to jog a little during my long walks until I actually began to run, increasing my distance more and more during these outings. By the end of that August, Jen convinced me to sign up for a 5K race. Going into it, I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to finish, but I managed to do so with a time of 35 minutes that included some walk breaks. I became hooked on running. Meanwhile, my weight plunged, dropping from 240 that July down to 199 by that September. Running became my outlet to help with my strict diet. Every run was a fresh start from mile one; I didn’t get to pick up where I’d left off the previous day. Likewise, my eating plan started over again every new morning at breakfast. Just because I’d had a perfect day 24 hours prior didn’t mean I could slack off. That synchrony was a perfect fit. By December I had run a few more 5K races, and another runner and health-conscious friend, Claire Knudsen, convinced me to run a 10K in Annapolis. That gave me the confidence to try a new challenge, and with Jen there to push me I was ready to go for a half-marathon. Jen, who lives in Hagerstown, Md., was training at the time with running coach Lauren Cramer, who heads a company there called More Miles to Go. Her company helps with running, REDUCE pain RESTORE mobility REBUILD strength and balance
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nutrition and strength training. I decided to ask Lauren to be my coach as well, and it was one of the best choices I ever made. Jen and I decided to sign up for the Shamrock Half Marathon in Virginia Beach, and Lauren helped me devise a training plan. We spoke weekly and made tweaks as we had to — and she got me in the best shape of my life. The training process called for a lot of miles, and I learned terms like tempo run (awful) and fartlek (even worse) while building up speed. In March 2016, I ran that 13.1-mile course in Virginia Beach alongside Jen — despite sustained 30-mph winds, temperatures in the 30s and freezing rain that pelted us. We finished in two hours and five minutes, and on that day I felt in my heart I was finally a runner. My running and diet had pushed my weight all the way down to 176 pounds, with a 32-inch waist and a medium shirt size. At my next doctor’s appointment my cholesterol and blood pressure were both normal and my blood glucose was in a good stable range. Due to family history I still remain on small doses of
Photos from Brian Kapur
Current sports editor Brian Kapur (far right), Teresa Green (center) and Jennifer Benisek completed the Walt Disney World Marathon in Orlando in January. Kapur has lost more than 60 pounds since 2015. medication, but just a fraction of where I was when I started. After Shamrock, I completed seven more half-marathons and a slew of 5Ks and 10Ks. But always seeking that next challenge, Jen and I, along with another running buddy, Teresa Green, signed up for our first marathon — the Walt Disney World Full Marathon. Lauren once again provided us with a training plan, and it was grueling. We would run 10 to 22 miles every Sunday and then I would stray from my diet and enjoy brunches afterward — run
hard, brunch harder. In January, we got to Orlando and our training got us exactly where we needed to be. Ending that race, tears flowed, hugs followed and I wore my medal with pride. Crossing that finish line was a different experience than any before it. I wasn’t just a fat guy trying to be fit. I wasn’t a guy who ran for fitness. I wasn’t just a runner either. I was an athlete. Something I had dreamed of being for most of my life. I am far from finished. I plan to continue racing. After all, I still have more miles to go.
Health Wellness 16 16 Wednesday, March 22, 2017
The Current
2017
Health, Wellness and Senior Living OB/GYN clinic aims to offer holistic care
By BRIDEY HEING Current Correspondent
H
ealth care providers walk a difficult line. On one hand, they are professionals who often see large numbers of patients on a daily basis and have to deal with emergencies that require fast thinking and quick actions. But many doctors also work closely with individuals facing complex and difficult situations that are deeply personal. Nowhere is the balance between the two more critical than in obstetrics and gynecology. Few know that balancing act better than Joan Loveland and Scott Osmun of Bloom OB/GYN, a clinic that recently opened new offices in Tenleytown: 4001 Brandywine St. NW, Suite 300. Along with nurse practitioner Flynn O’Neill, they launched Bloom in Foggy Bottom in October 2016, but moved to their current location earlier this year. Together, the staff has almost 30 years’ experience working in hospitals and private practices. They see the move to Tenleytown as a chance to rethink how they can put their vision for a small-scale but comprehensive OB/GYN clinic to work. “The hope is that we can offer more holistic and evidence-based care,� O’Neill said. To do that, Bloom wants to offer a wide spectrum of services and find a balance between support and medical care. “We do surgery and high-risk pregnancy, but we want to be able to have things like workshops at night or groups on diabetes.� After practicing together for about a decade, Osmun and Loveland saw a need for holistic care that provides more than
Photos courtesy of Tenleytown Main Street (above) and Bloom OB/GYN (left)
Tenleytown Main Street and local officials formally welcomed Bloom OB/GYN to the neighborhood in a ribbon-cutting ceremony last Thursday. just clinical assistance. They took what they learned in larger medical environments and the niches they saw as needing to be filled, and Bloom is the result. “Having cared for thousands of patients over the past decade and listening to their concerns about the pace of medicine and frustrations with big box medical practices, we hope we have created a place where patients feel comfortable, receive quality guidance, and can look forward to some innovative opportunities to enhance their lifestyle and health,� Osmun said. While statistics on what women look for in OB/GYN providers are hard to come by, there have been signs that suggest women are eager for options outside the traditional large hospital setting. In 2014, 8 percent of births in hospitals in the United States were attended by midwives, and out-of-hospital births accounted for about 1.5 percent of all births that year according
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to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report. That year had the highest number of births taking place at home since the agency began reporting on those statistics in 1989, the report states. Bloom provides standard OB/GYN services, including labor and delivery through a partnership with Sibley Memorial Hospital. The clinic handles high-risk pregnancies; conducts surgeries; and offers cancer screenings, services for postmenopausal clients and treatments for those with estrogen conditions. But the staff members also provide classes for new parents, host author talks, and have plans to introduce yoga classes, group appointments, acupuncture, and postpartum services to help ease the transition from pregnancy to parenthood. These offerings fall under what they call â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bloom Thrive,â&#x20AC;? according to Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Neill. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We want to be educators for our patients,â&#x20AC;? she said.
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Providing these services is tricky for a group so small; Bloom has just two doctors, one nurse practitioner and a few other employees. But even so, they are able to offer services like in-house lab work, and have built up a comprehensive referral system based on their own experiences and professional contacts. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Neill sees as integral to the kind of experience they hope patients have at Bloom â&#x20AC;&#x201D; one that is at once personal and professional. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easier to give when you have a smaller group â&#x20AC;&#x201D; your communication is much more improved, your collaboration with outside referrals is better,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re at a point in our careers where we know who we trust and practice similarly to in the area. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not just going to give you a list of people for primary care. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re sending you to people we trust or go to ourselves.â&#x20AC;?
HOSPITAL: Legal battle continues From Page 13
analysis for her own. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Because granting or denying a certificate of need impacts the entire community, SHPDA must ensure that these decisions not only advance its policy goals but also balance the interests of the applicant, existing providers, District residents, and any other â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;affected personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; who seeks to participate in the review process,â&#x20AC;? the courtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision states. â&#x20AC;&#x153;SHPDAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s expertise in this complex, esoteric area of regulation is of the sort that induces the highest levels of deference.â&#x20AC;? The courtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision also states that ordinarily, such a decision would require that the Office of Administrative Hearings redecide the appeal case with greater deference to the original expert decision â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a process that would almost certainly reject the certificate of need. The judges instead asked that the matter return to the health planning agency, in light of the years since its initial denial and the fact that the transplant
center is fully operational. That review is ongoing; a spokesperson for the D.C. Department of Health, which includes the health planning agency, didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t respond to a request for comment. Ronald Paul, chairman and CEO of the Bethesda-based EagleBank, donated $2.5 million to George Washington University Hospital to create the Ron and Joy Paul Kidney Center, which helps raise awareness of kidney disease and works with prospective live donors. Paul, who has received two kidney transplants, argued for the certificate of need at a recent health planning agency hearing and in an op-ed in the Washington Business Journal and The Washington Post. â&#x20AC;&#x153;To suggest that a single institution in the District can meet the need flies in the face of facts, statistics and the growing incidence of kidney disease throughout the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capital,â&#x20AC;? Paul wrote. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It would be a tragedy to shut down George Washingtonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kidney transplant center at a time when it has never been needed more.â&#x20AC;?
Health Wellness 17
The Current
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
17
2017
Health, Wellness and Senior Living Organizations help arrange seniors’ getaways By BRIDEY HEING Current Correspondent
T
he baby-boom generation was never one to do things the usual way, and that’s an ethos they are carrying into their senior years. While once retirement was a period of quiet relaxation, more and more seniors are hitting the road for destinations around the world — and a cottage industry has sprung up in their wake. According to AARP, 99 percent of boomers surveyed in 2015 planned on traveling in 2016. Around 5 percent were planning international trips only, while 45 percent planned on both domestic and international travel. One in 10 of those trips was already booked by late 2015. While it’s hard to know how many of the remaining 90 percent of anticipated trips took place last year, it points to the fact that seniors are traveling now more than ever. Adventure is no longer a young person’s game. Benita Lubic, president of the
Chevy Chase-based Transeair Travel, has been organizing trips for almost 60 years. She has worked with organizations, schools, corporations and groups to help plan both local and international excursions. More recently, she’s been working with the Northwest Neighbors Village aging-in-place nonprofit, helping the organization arrange trips along themes like the Underground Railroad; beach days in Delaware; day trips to Baltimore; and more exotic locales like cruises in the Caribbean or trips to Cuba and Europe. “Everything is preplanned,” Lubic said. “The travelers only need to meet at the time and place the daily programs commence. No stress or concerns about tipping, reservations, accommodations, restaurants, entry fees. We do all the worrying and planning for the travelers.” Trips like the ones Lubic plans are in line with what seniors look for in travel. According to surveys by AARP and TripAdvisor, boomers are less likely to use social
media or sites like Airbnb, and only 39 percent use web services like Expedia. But seniors do still want adventure; according to Senior Living Magazine, 80 percent of participants in mystery tours (where you don’t know your destination ahead of time) are seniors. A study by the European Union found that in 2015, the percentage of international tourists over the age of 60 entering the EU was around 12 percent; and the number is expected to rise to over 16 percent by 2030. Those numbers are changing the way travel is done; even as technology focuses on making travel easier for millennials, travel agents and companies specifically focused on boomers are carving out their own space in the market. For seniors, trips are about more than just seeing new places or doing new things (although that is important). According to Danielle Feuillan of Northwest Neighbors Village, these trips provide a chance to socialize — something that can be hard to come by when they are out of the workforce or
Photo courtesy of the Harriet Tubman Byway
Members of Northwest Neighbors Village will visit Maryland’s Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park and Visitors Center in May. living with mobility issues. “Many of our NNV community members live alone in their homes, and these activities provide opportunities to come together and socialize while learning something new,” she said. “Trips and events help combat isolation, and because we strive to make all our events accessible we can offer them to people who may not be able to go someplace on their own.” Of course, travel for seniors does come with its own range of
concerns. Mobility, dietary restrictions, health issues — all of these need to be taken into account when making plans. “We must be concerned about steps, elevators, use of canes and wheelchairs, speaking loudly for hearing impaired, ease in walking, and not to fill the day with too many activities,” Lubic said. For more information on Northwest Neighbors Village and upcoming trips, visit nwnv.org. For more information on Transeair Travel, visit transeairtravel.com.
Health Wellness 18
18 Wednesday, March 22, 2017
The Current
2017
Health, Wellness and Senior Living National study grants D.C. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;gold starâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; status The District recently earned distinction with a high ranking in an assessment of city health policies.
CityHealth, a project of the de Beaumont Foundation, ranked 40 U.S. cities across nine policy areas involving the health and well-being of residents, according to a release. The District ended up as one of five cities to score
the top â&#x20AC;&#x153;gold starâ&#x20AC;? distinction, compared to 12 silver and bronze winners in addition to 21 cities without strong enough policies to warrant a medal. The two-year analysis looked at policies including affordable
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housing, complete streets, pre-K education, paid sick days, alcohol sales zoning, food safety inspections, healthy food procurement, tobacco restrictions and clean indoor air. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The CityHealth rating shows us how we measure up to other cities across the country, where weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re excelling, and where we can make strides to improve the health of our communities,â&#x20AC;? D.C. Department of Health director LaQuandra Nesbitt said in the release. More detail on the Districtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s scores is available at cityhealth. org/city/washington.
Cancer Society joins â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;parkrunâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; initiative
Cybercrime and Fraud Prevention for Seniors
with Certified FBI Instructor Jeff Lanza Thursday, April 6, 2017 $ 2:00pm-5:00pm at the Womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Club of Bethesda, 5500 Sonoma Rd, Bethesda, MD Join us for the first of our 3-part speaker series. This April, retired FBI Special Agent Jeff Lanza brings us 20 years of FBI experience and a keen understanding of identity theft, cybercrime and financial fraud. Mr. Lanza will explain why seniors are ideal fraud targets, how fraud occurs, and what steps they can take to prevent exploitation by cybercriminals and other scam artists.
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The American Cancer Society has joined as a new partner to support the Saturday 5K runs that take place at three parks around the D.C. area, including Fletcherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cove off Canal Road NW. The cancer society recently teamed up with â&#x20AC;&#x153;parkrun USAâ&#x20AC;? to sponsor the timed weekly runs, which are free and run by volunteers. The â&#x20AC;&#x153;parkrunâ&#x20AC;? organization began in the United Kingdom to promote running, jogging and walking in parks around the globe, according to a release. The U.S. currently offers eight total parkrun events each Saturday, including three in the D.C. region. In addition to the Fletcherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cove runs, which started in January 2016, the 5Ks take place at Roosevelt Island in Arlington and Paint Branch Trail in College Park, Md. Another is planned to start this spring in Anacostia, the release says.
The runs start at 9 a.m. each Saturday, with a one-time online registration required. Information on the Fletcherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cove event, which begins at the C&O Canal Towpath at 4940 Canal Road NW, is available at parkrun.us/ fletcherscove. To volunteer, email fletcherscovehelpers@parkrun. com.
Sibley Hospital picks new oncology head
Lung cancer specialist Benjamin Levy has been appointed to lead the medical oncology program at Sibley Memorial Hospital in the Palisades. Levy was recently named the new clinical director of medical oncology and medical director of thoLevy racic oncology for the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center at Sibley, according to a release. He is in the process of developing a multispecialty program for lung cancer that integrates oncology, surgery, pathology and radiation oncology, using new immunotherapeutic strategies. Levy is the former director of thoracic medical oncology and assistant professor of medicine at Mount Sinaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Icahn School of Medicine, according to the release. He earned his medical degree at the Medical College of Georgia, completed a residency at Georgetown University and did his fellowship in hematologyoncology at Weill Cornell Medical College.
EPILEPSY: Police update training From Page 13
around the city and giving testimony to the D.C. Councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Judiciary Committee. She also worked with Cappellettiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s neurologist and the Epilepsy Foundation to ensure the information she was providing was as accurate and helpful as possible. Initially, she struggled to get the attention of someone who could help her make institutional changes, until after several months Ward 3 D.C. Council member Mary Cheh intervened. Cheh helped Avila make inroads that have led to real changes, including speaking engagements by the couple at six roll calls across the city and the introduction of epilepsy training at the Districtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s police academy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Once we were able to speak to officers directly, they were great. They asked questions and thanked us for the information,â&#x20AC;?
Avila said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;One officer stopped Giovanni on the street and said because of our talk, he understood what had happened to someone who was in the middle of the street, bleeding, after a seizure.â&#x20AC;? That response is precisely what Avila wanted. Her hope is to make a real difference in the way the police approach seizure cases, giving them knowledge on how to respond effectively and safely for all involved. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I want officers to know people can be non-responsive after a seizure and are not willfully disobedient,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I want them to remember this if they encounter someone who is â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;out of itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and not responding to their commands.â&#x20AC;? The Metropolitan Police Department did not respond to a request for comment on this story.
Health Wellness 19
The Current
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
19
2017
Health, Wellness and Senior Living ‘Age-Friendly’ effort requests public input
The “Age-Friendly DC” initiative is hosting a series of small group sessions to hear directly from residents about city planning policies and priorities that would benefit all ages. The community consultations, taking place now through April across the city, will address topics of relevance to the over-50 population in D.C. such as transportation, housing, elder abuse, social inclusion, food security and caregiving. The goal is to gather feedback for the next strategic plan for Age-Friendly DC, a local government program aligned with an international effort from the World Health Organization. The gatherings, led by volunteer facilitators, will ideally include between five and eight participants. In Northwest, upcoming sessions include: ■ Friday, March 24, at the Tenley-Friendship Library, 4450 Wisconsin Ave., from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. ■ Sunday, March 26, at the Fourth Street Friendship Seventhday Adventist Church, 1611 4th St., from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. ■ Wednesday, March 29, at the Juanita E. Thornton/Shepherd Park Library, 7420 Georgia Ave., from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. ■ Friday, March 31, at the Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Library 1630 7th St., from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. ■ Friday, March 31, at the Metro Headquarters Building, 600 5th St., from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. A number of other sessions are planned through April 28. For a full listing and the opportunity to RSVP, visit agefriendly.dc.gov/ page/community-consultations-0.
Those interested in participating in or leading a session may also email agefriendly@dc.gov or call 202-727-2736.
Iona offers sessions on retirement prep
Iona Senior Services will host a series called “Changes and Choices in Retirement and Later Life” starting March 29 at Foundry United Methodist Church in Dupont Circle. The five sessions — designed for those who want to prepare for successful aging and retirement — will take place on alternate Wednesdays through May 24, from 5:15 to 7 p.m. The series covers the changes of aging, strategies for physical and mental health, housing and legal issues, and financial management, among other topics. Registration for the program, which costs $50 for the full series or $15 per session, is available at foundryumc.org/calendar. Iona’s offering at Foundry Church, located at 1500 16th St. NW, is a collaboration involving Dupont Circle Village, Asbury United Methodist Church, Mount Vernon United Methodist Church and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, according to a release. In addition, Foundry will host free small-group discussions on alternate Wednesdays between April 5 and May 17 from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m.
Area hospice group seeking volunteers
The nonprofit group Community Hospices is seeking bereavement volunteers to help support area residents grieving the loss of a loved one.
Are you finding it difficult to lose weight? Are you ready to give up? Before you do, contact the Sadkhin Complex of Washington, DC for a FREE CONSULTATION that will explain how to lose weight without surgery, medication/pills, special foods or strenuous exercise.
Do you have 15 minutes to spare? If so, the “WEIGHT” is over!! To schedule an appointment, please call (301) 585-1288, email dc@sadkhin.com or visit us at 8701 Georgia Avenue, Suite 403, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910.
The Washington Home & Community Hospices has served the local area for 129 years. As part of its mission of providing end-of-life services, the group offers free bereavement support in various forms, including pri-
vate phone conversations, one-onone personal visits, monthly mailings, grief education and bereavement support groups, according to its website. Training for prospective bereavement volunteers will be
offered April 27, 28 and 29. To request an application, email dwright@communityhospices. org. Details on the group’s various services are available online at communityhospices.org.