AND BETTER
FIGHTING PARKINSON’S
Stratford program designed to slow progression of disease for residents
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Proper footwear important in snow and ice
Commentary by Dr. David Sullivan and Dr. Kenneth Stumpf
As winter descends, the enchanting beauty of snowflakes and ice can quickly turn treacherous. While many embrace the season’s charm, the hidden dangers of slippery surfaces pose a significant risk to our feet and overall stability. Proper footwear is essential for navigating these conditions safely, and seeking guidance from a podiatrist can help you make informed choices.
The right shoes can make all the difference when it comes to winter safety. Look for footwear designed with features specifically tailored for snow and ice. Key attributes include slip-resistant soles, waterproof materials and adequate insulation. Shoes with deep treads provide better traction, reducing the likelihood of slips and falls. Additionally, a snug fit allows for warmth without compromising movement and helping to prevent frostbite.
Ignoring the need for appropriate footwear can lead to serious consequences. Slip-and-fall accidents can result in sprains, fractures or even chronic pain, leading to long-term mobility issues. Furthermore, inadequate support can exacerbate existing foot conditions, contributing to discomfort and pain. This is where a podiatrist can provide invaluable assistance.
Podiatrists specialize in foot health and can recommend the best types of footwear for your specific needs and activities. They can also assess your foot structure and biomechanics, ensuring you choose shoes that provide optimal support and stability. If you experience pain or discomfort while walking in winter conditions, it’s crucial to consult a podiatrist. They can diagnose underlying issues and suggest tailored solutions, such as orthotics or specialized footwear.
Dr. David Sullivan and Dr. Kenneth Stumpf are both board-certified foot surgeons at Westfield Foot and Ankle, LLC. Contact them at appt@westfieldfoot.com or 317-896-6655.
Why don’t we keep our New Year’s resolutions?
Commentary by Valerie J. Weesner.
The New Year begins, and the gyms are filled with people who will be there maybe once, twice or possibly even for a month or two, despite signing on for a year’s membership. Why do we make New Year’s resolutions and why don’t we follow through?
My thought is that we make our resolutions based on the idea that we want to start fresh. We have high hopes of being healthy, being fit, possibly getting stronger, steadier on our feet, or maybe we have an event to go to and we want to look and feel better in our clothes.
All worthwhile goals. So, why don’t we follow up on our resolutions? This question seems to have a lot of answers — likely having to do not with the goals, but how we choose to execute them. We set a goal to exercise and get healthier. We walk into a gym, which seems OK, or someone told us good things about it, and we sign up. And then we go to work out. Here is what often happens: We don’t know what to do, we don’t feel comfortable, we’re embarrassed, we don’t know anyone, and we end up wandering around, leaving without wanting to return. Or we get a workout in, feel somewhat OK about it, and plan to go back. Possibly, we get injured or at least very sore, because we didn’t know how to manage our time and our work-
outs for the best outcome.
The next time we plan to go, we end up having a harder time convincing ourselves to go, maybe we understand why, and maybe we don’t quite know what the barrier is, but we still don’t return, or we go less frequently. And being there less frequently means we
never really get more comfortable with being there. OK, so let’s back up. We have great goals, but we need to think hard about how we want to execute them. We want to go to a gym, get exercise, feel more fit, maybe lose some weight. How do we do that so that the process we choose is sustainable? How do we set ourselves up for success?
Here are some thoughts:
• Find a gym that is inviting, where you feel safe and comfortable walking in.
• Find a gym that gives you the opportunity to work out safely, with guidance to get the right kind of workout for where you are physically, as well as mentally and emotionally.
• Find a clean, comfortable environment that is inviting to you – with people who greet you, know you and reach out when you are missing.
When we find the right fit and the right way to go about putting our goals into action, we are much more likely to follow through and feel great about having made those resolutions.
Motion 4 Life Fitness member Joe Miller works out. (Photo courtesy of Motion 4 Life)
Valerie J. Weesner is a Ph.D., HSPP and is a staff consultant for Motion 4 Life Fitness.
Retired couple finds home
By Ken Severson editorial@youarecurrent.com
It took a few years and a few moves, but Jim Saucunas and his wife Betty finally found the place where they wanted to live in Indianapolis in May 2024.
Jim and Betty are residents of the Sycamore Reserve Senior Living in Indianapolis. Jim said they are delighted with their new home.
“We moved to Indianapolis 15 years ago,” Jim said. “We had a few places, including a duplex on Ditch Road, but when we heard about Sycamore, it sounded interesting, so we went to visit.”
Jim has not regretted it.
“Since we’ve moved here, we’re very happy,” Jim said. “It’s a beautiful place and the management is friendly and helpful, and they offer so many activities. We want this to be our final move.”
The couple is from Chicago and have been married for 33 years. Betty is a retired nurse, and Jim was a printer for more than 30 years before retiring.
Jim Saucu nas and his wife Betty moved to Sycamore Reserve in May 2024. (Photo courtesy of Sycamore Reserve)
Jim, 77, didn’t think about settling in Indianapolis until his daughter Pamela moved to Indianapolis 20 years ago.
“When Pamela moved here, we used to come down and visit her a couple of times a year,” Saucunas said. “As the years went on, we didn’t have any relatives left there and also started knowing less and less people in Chicago, and things were getting expensive.”
That’s when they decided to move. Saucunas used to dabble in photography but spends most of his time simply enjoying retirement.
For more, visit sycamorereserve.com.
Don’t let winter stop you from thinking about warmer weather. If you are experiencing symptoms of varicose veins and want healthier legs this summer, call our office today to schedule your initial consultation.
WHEN TO SEE A CARDIOLOGIST
TAKING CONTROL OF YOUR HEART HEALTH
By Dr. Nathan Lambert, medical director of Cardiology at IU Health North and Saxony hospitals
Aquestion I am commonly asked by patients, friends and family is,
“When is it appropriate to see a cardiologist?” What I hear is people don’t want to “bother” the cardiologist if their symptoms aren’t actually heart related. I also hear that they don’t want to spend time in an emergency room for a “false alarm.” These can be fatal mistakes. Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States and in Indiana. Proactively addressing your heart health can help prevent serious cardiovascular issues.
HEART DISEASE RISK
We want to think of ourselves as healthy, and we should. However, at the same time, we cannot be in denial about our own underlying cardiovascular risk. Much of our risk is modifiable, such as smoking status, blood pressure, weight and diabetes control. But important components are not. We can’t control our age, and we can’t control our genetics. As we get older, our risk increases, even if we have a very healthy lifestyle. Likewise, if heart disease runs strongly in either side of the family, our risk is elevated.
ASYMPTOMATIC
PATIENTS
Let’s start with asymptomatic patients. These are patients experiencing no discomfort in the chest, no difficulty breathing and no abnormal heartbeats. These patients should see a cardiologist if their cardiac risk is determined to be elevated, even in the absence of symptoms. Probably the two simplest but most powerful screening tests to establish baseline risk are the LDL cholesterol (fasting blood draw) and the calcium score as determined by a heart scan (low dose CT scan). Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is a type of cholesterol that’s often called “bad” cholesterol. High levels of LDL cholesterol can increase your risk of stroke and heart disease. Some folks with a relatively high LDL cholesterol will have an excellent heart scan result and may not need medication. On
the other hand, some folks with what appears to be a reasonably good LDL cholesterol will have an abnormal heart scan and may need medication.
LOWERING “BAD” CHOLESTEROL
There is a lot on the Internet about cholesterol. Simply put, for someone with any degree of elevated cardiac risk, LDL cholesterol is bad. Do not be misled or persuaded otherwise; that can be a serious mistake. The next question is how to lower the LDL cholesterol. After diet and exercise, statins, a specific group of medications, are the mainstay. And again, there’s a lot of misleading information out there. Statins reduce inflammation inside our coronary arteries, which is a powerful way to stabilize plaque and prevent heart attacks. However, we now have several non-statin alternatives. Which medication to use for lowering LDL cholesterol (when medication is needed) is certainly something to discuss with a cardiologist.
SYMPTOMATIC PATIENTS
Next, let’s consider patients with symptoms. Symptoms can be very noticeable, such as heavy pressure in the chest, which may (or may not) radiate down either arm, to the jaw or to the back. Symptoms can also be more subtle, including a shortness of breath or fatigue with activities that used to be easy to perform. Again, none of us want to think we may have a heart problem, but if your chest discomfort only occurs when you walk briskly or otherwise exert yourself, you should not just presume this is acid reflux or sore muscles. Any exertional symptoms that are new or different, and that include any sort of discomfort or tension in the chest, feeling of labored breathing or excessive fatigue, are very appropriate reasons to see a cardiologist. Two old adages apply here: “it’s better to be safe than sorry” and “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” If there is any question of heart risk or heart symptoms, come see the cardiologist – you’re not bothering us! To learn more about heart health, visit iuhealth.org/heart.
Nathan Lambert
Kasie Keyes, wellness associate at The Stratford, works with Jeff Klindera in an emPowerD class. (Photo courtesy of The Stratford)
disease,” he said.
Klindera, who moved to Carmel from Rockford, Ill., had surgery in 2010, when doctors put electrodes in his brain to treat neurological conditions. He worked in computer software but had to retire at age 59 because of the disease.
“When you utilize the research and all the sources that are out there, you can live a very high-quality life for a long time,” The Stratford lifestyle advisor Neal Miller said. “It’s more about being the person in charge rather than allowing the disease to be in charge.”
Miller said exercise, socialization and support groups help people with Parkinson’s live at a very high level for as long as possible and slows the progression of the disease.
The one-hour emPowerD exercise program is conducted twice a week. Klindera works on the boxing bag, along with other strengthening and balancing exercises.
“Walking backwards is my kryptonite. I tend to fall if I walk backwards,” he said, referring to the fictional material that slows Superman. “I haven’t fallen in a year-and-a-half. I get the most out of the balancing (exercises).”
The exercises have given Klindera more confidence.
“I know the disease is getting worse because I can’t talk as well as I used to,” said Klindera, who works on communicating exercises.
Klindera said he also receives help from a chair yoga class and a strength and balancing class.
ATHLETIC MINDSET
The Stratford Wellness Director Heather Mairn said Klindera benefits from the fact he was an athlete when he was younger. He was a gymnast at Rock Valley College, a community college in Illinois.
“The strength he had prior helps him today and we build upon that,” Mairn said. “He’s still doing strict pull-ups and he’s doing pushups. It’s hard because it’s an illness that is never going to go away. What we are trying to do is just fight these symptoms with everything we have and every ability we have, so they can live longer and without the symptoms. I’ve seen him progress but really stay healthy.”
Klindera takes frequent walks and keeps moving.
Stratford program designed to slow progression of disease for residents
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Jeff Klindera has been able to slow the progression of his Parkinson’s disease as a resident of The Stratford in Carmel.
The senior living center started a program called emPowerD to work with residents with Parkinson’s, which is a progressive disorder that affects the nervous system. Symptoms often start slowly, with hand tremors being one of the first signs.
Klindera, 62, has lived at the senior living center for 2 1/2 years. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at age 39.
“I was living by myself, and I was stumbling and falling down a bit,” he said. “My daughter said to ‘come live near me’ (in Carmel). Part of the reason I came here was because they were starting this program. It’s been helpful to me to get to a community where people knew what I was going through.”
Klindera can compare notes with other residents with Parkinson’s.
“We can talk about advancements in treating the
“Maintenance is successful for just the normal aging person,” Mairn said. “Maintenance for somebody living with Parkinson’s disease is an incredible achievement as they age.”
Mairn said she was instructed to train Parkinson’s patients like athletes.
“For our residents, their game is independence,” Mairn said. “Their game is being able to live life to the fullest. Now, somebody with Parkinson’s diagnosis, you have to train like an athlete. You have to up their program. They have to have the mentality of an athlete because their game is life and keeping those symptoms away.”
ON THE COVER: Jeff Klindera works out on a boxing bag during the emPowerD class for residents with Parkinson’s disease. (Photo by Mark Ambrogi).
How to choose an executor of estate
Commentary by Brad Owen
You want to make sure your children get their inheritance without delays or family conflict. But who will handle the paperwork, manage debts and distribute your assets the way you intended? Choosing the right executor is a decision that could directly impact your family’s financial well-being. It’s more than just naming someone in your will — it’s selecting someone who will honor your legacy responsibly. Let’s look at some of the basics and what you should consider when choosing an executor.
What does an executor do?
An executor is the person responsible for carrying out the instructions in your will after you pass away. Their key duties include:
• Managing and valuing your assets.
• Paying off any outstanding debts and taxes.
• Distributing assets to your beneficiaries as specified in your will.
• Handling probate court proceedings and legal filings.
• Resolving disputes among beneficiaries or creditors, if necessary. What to look for in an executor When considering who to name as your executor, prioritize these qualities:
• Trustworthiness: Your executor should be someone you can rely on to follow your wishes honestly.
• Financial competence: Handling taxes, debts, and asset management requires a solid understanding of finances.
• Organizational skills: An executor must manage deadlines, paperwork, and communication effectively.
• Availability: Ensure the person has the time and capacity to take on the responsibilities involved.
• Conflict resolution ability: In case of disagreements, the executor should remain calm and impartial.
Other Considerations
When Choosing an Executor
You may want to also think about:
• Family dynamics: Will your choice minimize or contribute to conflict among heirs?
• Location: Choosing someone who resides nearby can simplify
Choosing the right executor and creating a well-rounded estate plan can provide lasting peace of mind for you and your loved ones. Don’t leave important decisions to chance.
— Brad Owen
logistics.
• Age and health: An ideal executor should be healthy and likely to outlive you.
You can also consider professional executors like estate planning attorneys or trust companies for impartial management of your estate. How our firm can help
Selecting an executor is only one part of a holistic estate plan. At Dillman & Owen Estate and Elder Law, we guide families through the entire process to make sure each decision fits your unique needs. Our comprehensive services include:
• Drafting clear, legally sound wills and trusts.
• Providing guidance on choosing an executor and other key life-planning roles.
• Offering resources for professional executor services, if needed.
Choosing the right executor and creating a well-rounded estate plan can provide lasting peace of mind for you and your loved ones. Don’t leave important decisions to chance. Take control of your future and ensure your wishes are honored by working with experienced professionals who can help you navigate every step of the process.
At Dillman & Owen Estate and Elder Law, we are committed to helping you build a legacy that reflects your values and safeguards your family’s future. Contact us to schedule a consultation and start planning for a secure tomorrow.
Let Meridian Audiology Speak at Your Next Club Meeting!
Meridian Audiology LLC, a private Audiology practice, was founded by Dr. Alison Wyss, Au.D. and Kira VonBlon, M.S. after working together in an ENT setting for more than 12 years. The seasoned Audiologists strive to consistently provide premier care to patients with hearing loss, tinnitus and auditory processing disorders as well as those who want to protect their hearing from damage.
In stark contrast to the medical audiology world where patients are in and out in quick succession, private practice allows Ali and Kira to spend whatever time their patients need from them for their individual hearing healthcare situation.
“We want our patients to know that we are here for them, and we will not rush them out the door so we can get on to the next patient. We love to get to know our patients, and we feel we treat them like we would treat our own family,” VonBlon said. “We’ve had many patients find and follow us to Meridian Audiology and that is a testament to our relationships with them.”
The Meridian Audiology Audiologists pride themselves on keeping up with, and
offering the top-of-the-line newest technology in hearing aids, tinnitus and auditory processing disorder. Beyond comprehensive hearing evaluations and hearing aid sales, service and maintenance, Meridian Audiology also offers the LACE AI (Listening for Communication Enhancement) program which improves comprehension of speech, tinnitus management consultations, hearing protection options and auditory processing disorder evaluation and management. We are also available to speak to your local community clubs about hearing and hearing loss.
Meridian Audiology accepts most major insurances, offers convenient scheduling via phone, email, or online and are independent of other medical practices or hospitals. Hours are 9am4pm Monday-Friday by appointment only.
VonBlon
Wyss
Brad Owen is an attorney with Dillman & Owen Estate and Elder Law.
IVascular practice rebrands, opens new office
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
ndiana Vein Specialists has a new name and new location.
The practice has rebranded to Indiana Vein & Lymphatic. The final day for the west Carmel and Fishers locations will be Feb. 13. They are merging into a larger Carmel location at 11590 N. Meridian St., Suite 270, which will open Feb. 19.
The new name reflects expanded service lines for lymphatic disorders, according to the practice’s owner, Dr. Jeffery Schoonover.
fied lymphatic therapists.
The providers are Schoonover and two nurse practitioners.
The new office is approximately 7,000 square feet.
“We are combining the staff and have the providers in one unified location,” Schoonover said.
Schoonover said there are more than 20 employees with three providers; four ultrasound technologists; and two certi-
CARMEL (317) 660-5132
FORTVILLE (317) 572-7088
PLAINFIELD (317) 660-5122
“The lymphatic therapy component is one of the reasons why we are choosing to move to this facility because it’s such a needed service for people that are dealing with lower limb swelling and skin issues related to it,” Schoonover said. “There is a definite ergonomic benefit from patient flow (in the new office). It does mean we have some room for updated different aspects of the technology. We feel it’s even better for patient parking and access.”
Schoonover said he likes that the new office is across the street from IU Health North.
“We usually work with interventional radiologists that are also relatively close by to the new office,” Schoonover said. Schoonover said finding a new loca-
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Schoonover
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tion had been on the radar for about six months.
Although Schoonover said the practice has patients in their 30s and 40s, there also are patients dealing with chronic swelling in the 55-and-over age group.
“Some of the challenges we’ve seen
in the post-COVID environment, whether it’s people working at home more or people not moving as much, that’s also been a part of this as well,” he said. “Venous and lymphatic insufficiency are chronic conditions, and the best way to take care of folks is with a continuity-based model.”
For more, call 1-317-348-3020 or 1-888-534-8346.
Volunteers essential for Westfield events
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
The City of Westfield has a huge need for volunteers, especially since the Indianapolis Colts training camp moved to Grand Park in 2018.
Other events requiring volunteers include Westfield Rocks the 4th, the Westfield Farmers Market, Touch-a-Truck and Shamrock Drop, among others.
“Volunteers are vital to the success of all the city’s events,” said Logan Charlesworth, communications specialist for the city. “We would not be able to host community events of the scale and caliber our residents have grown
accustomed to enjoying without added support from our incredible volunteer base.”
During weekend day events, Charlesworth said part-time and retired volunteers are essential to successful events because of their flexible schedules.
“It’s difficult to put an exact number on how many 55-and-older volunteers we had on any given date, but I would estimate at least 60 percent of our Colts Training Camp volunteers are 55 or older,” Charlesworth said. “This number jumps during weekday practices.”
Anyone interested in volunteering can visit westfield.in/volunteer.
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