SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2015
DECATUR, ILLINOIS
February marks the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women movement to bring awareness and take action to end heart disease and stroke in women. One in three women die of heart disease and stroke, but 80 percent of cardiac events are preventable with education and lifestyle changes. Learn more about the movement at GoRedForWomen.org and join in locally during American Hearth Month and for future heart health events.
Herald&Review
REHABILITATIVE THERAPY
The long struggle back Patients, caregivers face challenges, but there is help, hope
Nuclear pharmacist Eric Lester demonstrates the preparation of PET pharmaceuticals in the Center for Advanced Molecular Medicine at Decatur Memorial Hospital.
Tests provide assurances, early warnings EMILY STEELE H&R Staff Writer
Herald & Review photos, Jim Bowling
Walter Howard walks up and down Decatur Memorial Hospital’s Cardiac Rehab as part of his workout for phase III of his heart attack recovery. EMILY STEELE H&R Staff Writer
DECATUR – The artist's hands that hold the paintbrush are no longer as steady as they used to be and sometimes stray outside the lines, but after having a stroke less than a year ago, it's a miracle that John Lee can hold the brush at all. So much was uncertain when Lee's family first found him unconscious on the floor after a suffering a stroke at age 61. The first hours and days after a heart attack or stroke are focused on caring for the immediate crisis. But if crisis is averted, family members are faced with the difficult task of finding a long-term solution for a parent, spouse or sibling who may be no longer able to take care of themself. At Decatur Memorial Hospital, creating a care plan that extends beyond the hospital setting starts as soon as a patient's heart attack or stroke is identified. "Most times people aren’t back to baseline when they leave the hospital," said Karen Schneller a nurse with the DMH Heart & Lung Institute. "The care needs to continue.” Beyond immediate care, the hospital provides transportation, dietitian consultations and expert advice on issues ranging from living wills to making the home safe for someone after a heart attack or stroke. “There's some very practical information from what kinds of shoes to wear and Mary Rohman observes as his brother John removing rugs,” Lee creates a picture during an activity sesSchneller said. sion at the St. Mary’s Adult Day Services. Lee Education is key. is a stroke survivor that uses the Adult Day After surgery and Services as a care option for at home before they go home, a patients. discharge planner meets with the patient and their family to discuss at-home nursing, assisted living facilities, medical equipment and ongoing physical therapy. Rehab therapy starts as soon as the patient is able. “When I came in here, I could barely walk," said heart attack survivor Walter Howard. Now he does laps through Cardiac Rehab at Decatur Memorial Hospital. Howard, who also has Parkinson's disease, is in phase III of rehab after having a heart attack last year. “They call them widow makers," Howard said of his blocked artery. "If you don't catch it in time, it'll put you down for good." He was taken to DMH and doctors put in a stent. Howard went to a niece's birthday party the next day and spent the next month taking it easy at home before coming in to Cardiac Rehab to get his heart back into shape. There, nurses monitor the heart rate of everyone in the room and guide patients through how and how long to use each of the
DECATUR – A family history of heart disease alone is often not enough determine if a heart attack is inevitable. But for those looking for some peace of mind, area hospitals offer several tests for people with a family history of heart disease, multiple risk factors or early symptoms. The risk of heart disease starts increasing for men at age 35 and women at age 40, according to the American Heart Association. Some heart defects, such as congestive heart failure or congenital heart disease, are preventable or can be improved with less costly lifestyle changes. One of the initial steps is identifying and reducing risk factors such as being overweight or obese, high cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure, being a smoker and family history. From there, a doctor can recommend the following noninvasive tests:
Heart score
Respiratory therapist Jackie Allsop checks Howard’s oxygen level and heart rate between his exercises.
One of the first tests that can be done is a heart score offered in Decatur by St. Mary's and Decatur Memorial hospitals. “Some have strong family history, and they’re worried” said Dr. Theodore Addai with Prairie Heart Institute at St. Mary's Hospital. “We really don’t have enough information to Addai put them on the treadmill, that’s where the calcium score comes in.” The coronary calcium scan or heart score screening checks for the buildup of calcium in plaque on the walls of the heart's arteries, an early indicator of heart disease.
Cardiac PET/CT Dr. Madhu Jyothinagaram, a cardiologist with the DMH Heart & Lung Institute, is the director of nuclear cardiology for the hospital and has a special interest in nuclear imaging of the heart, specifically the Cardiac PET/CT perfusion. Patients need a doctor's referral for the test, which uses low-level radioactive PET isotopes to show the flow of blood in the heart. The isotopes are active for a
TESTS/PAGE 4
Howard walks on the treadmill during his cardiac rehab.
machines. Phase I is for hospitalized patients, phase II an individualized outpatient exercise program for about three months and in the final phase patients graduate to monitoring their own progress under supervision of staff. After 30 days at Cardiac Rehab, Howard said he turned the corner and is now at 90 percent of where he was before the heart attack. "Without it I wouldn't be nearly as good as I am now,” he said. Long-term care for stroke victims often requires a variety of therapy to address speech and balance issues, something Lee's family learned firsthand. Mary Rohman was finishing a late-morning visit to the house where Lee and her parents live on June 6. She remembers commenting on how they hadn't seen her brother yet, which was unusual. They heard his beloved dog, Puppy, yelp and found Lee unconscious on top of the pet. Doctors didn't know if Lee would ever speak or walk again, let alone paint, and told the family he would probably have to go in a
CAREGIVERS/PAGE 4
National Wear Red Day Friday, Feb. 6, is National Wear Red Day to raise awareness about heart disease being the No. 1 killer of women. Join the movement by sending in photos of your red wear on that day to be included in an online gallery highlighting Central Illinois' commitment to preventing heart disease. Show off your red by posting a photo on our Facebook page or Tweet @heraldandreview with the hashtag #GoRedSelfie or email to esteele@herald-review.com.
PAGE 2 GO RED FOR HEART HEALTH
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2015
DECATUR, ILLINOIS
MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR HEART HEALTH DMH Cardiac Rehab orientation
WHERE: Grand Palace, Heartland Community Church CONTACT: Reservations required. Call (217) 464-2511.
WHAT: Orientation of the cardiac rehabilitation program. Requires physician referral. WHEN: 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays WHERE: Heart Center Registration Desk, Lobby level of Decatur Memorial Hospital COST: Free. CALL: (217) 876-2496.
What is electrophysiology? WHAT: Seminar by DMH Cardiac Electrophysiologist Christopher Cadman WHEN: 5:30 p.m. Feb. 26 WHERE: DMH classrooms CONTACT: To register, call (217) 876-2850
Free cholesterol, blood sugar and PSA screenings
Make a smartphone health connection These apps can be real lifesavers EMILY STEELE H&R Staff Writer
DECATUR – Whether it's providing help during a heart attack or tracking heart rate, technology is putting heart health at our fingertips. These eight apps are available for smart phones and tablets through Apple iTunes or the Android Market.
Pocket First Aid & CPR COST: $1.99 CREATOR: American Heart Association USE: Emergency aid This app includes illustrations and videos that can help during an emergency including choking and CPR tutorials. Store, share and access medical information for multiple people including insurance, doctor, allergy and medication. “In Case of Emergency” information can be saved and displayed on a lock screen.
Spot a Stroke F.A.S.T. COST: Free CREATOR: American Heart Association USE: Medical aid Learn to spot the symptoms of a stroke quickly with FAST, face, arm, speech time. The app includes text and photos about symptoms, reminders to call 911 and a hospital locator.
Heart 360 Coach COST: $3.99 CREATOR: American Heart Association USE: Health tracker If you've been told you're at risk for a heart attack or stroke, learn more about and track the factors that affect your heart health, including blood pressure, physical activity, cholesterol, glucose, weight and medications. Log in to this virtual health coach to store information and set goals.
PulsePoint COST: Free CREATOR: PulsePoint Foundation USE: Emergency aid Those who know CPR can sign into the app and be notified and direct them to someone nearby who is having a cardiac emergency and may require CPR. It can also direct citizen rescuers to the closest automated external defibrillator pro-
viding real-time access to emergency care. Users can choose to receive notifications about current notifications similar to a traditional fire scanner.
iNutrient COST: Individual and bundled costs from $1.99 to $9.99 CREATOR: James Hollender USE: Nutrition Quickly get information for nutrient content of food servings in this iNutrient series based on the USDA National Nutrient Database. Categories include: iNutrient for tracking intake, iKals for calories, iCarbs, iCholesterol, iFiber, iPotassium, iProteins, iSatFat, iSodium, iSugars, iProtein and Vitamin K. Enter a food to find out how much it contains of each nutrition as an aid in deciding which and how much foods to eat if on a restricted diet.
Instant Heart Rate COST: Free CREATOR: AZUMIO USE: Health tracker This app measures your heart rate in less than 10 seconds by analyzing color changes on the tip of your finger through the camera lens. A real-time chart will show every heart beat and store it for future reference.
NFL Play 60 COST: Free CREATOR: American Heart Association USE: Fitness Hold onto your device while running and jumping to make the game's avatar move on screen. This app is aimed at getting kids 60 minutes of play and includes goals, obstacles and prizes.
Jump/Hoops for Heart COST: Free CREATOR: American Heart Association USE: Fundraising Get help with the Jump/ Hoops for Heart school fundraising campaign with this app. Request donations with provided text, Facebook, Twitter, email and phone talking points to recruit donations. Send reminders or make a personal donation. esteele@herald-review.com | (217) 421-6968
7 to 10 a.m., Feb. 5, at the South Shores Imaging Center. Call (217) 876-4377. 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., at the Feb. 11, DMH Volunteer Lobby. Call (217) 876-2191. 8 to 10 a.m., Feb. 12, at the DMH Family Medicine. Call (217) 876-4377. 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., Feb. 18, at the DMH Volunteer Lobby. Call DMH PrimeTime, (217) 8762191.
Diabetes self-management program H&R file photo
American Heart Association Macon County HeartWalk and Fun Run. Know About Heart Failure” with speaker, Yvonne Carry, nurse. WHEN: 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17. Free blood pressure screenings before the presentation. WHERE: Decatur Public Library
Heart healthy gourmet cooking
Learn about your heart symptoms
WHAT: Nurse Karen Schneller and Lakshmi Jyothinagaram will prepare a heart healthy gourmet meal with a dinner featuring recipes from the demonstration. WHEN: 5:30 p.m Feb. 19 WHERE: DMH Classrooms INFORMATION: (217) 876-2850
WHAT: Cardiologist Nadal Aker will speak about heart disease. WHEN: 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5 WHERE: Decatur Memorial Hospital classrooms COST: Free CONTACT: To register, call (217) 876-2850.
National Wear Red Day WHAT: Wear red for the day to raise awareness about heart disease in women. The red dress is the movement's symbol. WHEN: All day Feb. 6 CONTACT: Post a #GoRedSelfie to Facebook.com/HeraldAndReview, Tweet it at @herald andreview or email to esteele @herald-review.com to appear in an online gallery of people wearing red in Central Illinois.
Hearts Around the World WHAT: An evening of cuisine and culture from Croatia, Greece, Italy, Monaco and Spain to benefit the DMH Heart & Lung Institute. WHEN: 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7 WHERE: Cafe DMH, 2300 N. Edward St. COST: $75 CONTACT: Decatur Memorial Foundation at (217) 876-2105 or dianned@dmhhs.org.
Lake Shore Connection lunch & learn WHAT: “Heart of the Matter” by Dr. Shobashalini Chokkalinam. WHEN: 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 11 WHERE: Grand Palace, Heartland Community Church CONTACT: Reservations required. Call (217) 464-2511.
Check this calendar for hearthealthy cooking classes.
Dine with a Doc WHAT: Learn about vascular disease and heart health presented by Dr. Aman Khurana of Prairie Heart Institute. WHEN: 11:30 a.m. Feb. 12 WHERE: Senior Center, Effingham. CONTACT: Registration required. Call (217) 347-5569.
Off-Pump heart surgery WHAT: Seminar by DMH cardiothoracic surgeon Marvin Derrick. WHEN: 5:30 p.m. Feb. 12 WHERE: DMH Classrooms CONTACT: Registration required. Call 876-2850.
HeartWalk WHAT: The East Central Illinois HeartWalk promotes physical activity and heart-healthy living in a fun, family environment. WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 15. Noon registration, 1 p.m. opening ceremonies, 1:20 p.m. start for 1.5 mile walking course. WHERE: Cross County Mall, Mattoon
Community Education Series WHAT: “What You Need to
Heartsaver CPR/AED course, Effingham WHAT: This course is designed for members of the community needing CPR and AED certification. WHEN: 6:30 p.m., Feb. 24 WHERE: St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital, Effingham. COST: Free. Registration required. Call (217) 347-1529.
Heart education WHAT: Dietitian Sallie Fischer will present, “Eating Healthy for a Happy Heart.” WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 24 WHERE: St. Mary’s Hospital, Assisi Room INFORMATION: (217) 464-2046.
Lake Shore Connection lunch & learn WHAT: “Heart of the Matter” by Dr. William Ranger. WHEN: 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 25
WHEN: 9 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays for six weeks beginning March 18. Future classes also offered. WHERE: Macon County Health Department, 1221 N. Condit St. in Decatur. CONTACT: Registration required. Call (217) 423-6550.
Stroke screening WHAT: Life Line screenings using ultrasound technology to look for clogged arteries, abnormal heart rhythms, peripheral arterial disease, osteoporosis and abdominal aortic aneurysms. WHEN: March 28 WHERE: Decatur Family YMCA COST: $60 to $70 CONTACT: Preregistration required. Call 1-888-653-6450
Decatur Heart Gala WHAT: This black-tie fundraising gala benefits the American Heart Association with silent and live auctions, dinner and entertainment. WHEN: 6 p.m. April 11 WHERE: Decatur Conference Center & Hotel COST: Varies. CONTACT: (217) 422-8800 or www.decaturheartball.org
Macon County HeartWalk WHAT: Walkers build teams that raise funds for the American Heart Association. WHEN: Oct. 24 WHERE: To be determined. NOTABLE: The 2015 goal is $45,000. CONTACT: www.maconcountyheartwalk.org. esteele@herald-review.com | (217) 421-6968
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2015
DECATUR, ILLINOIS
GO RED FOR HEART HEALTH PAGE 3
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Help is nearby Area hospitals at the ready to provide heart, stroke aid DONNETTE BECKETT H&R Staff Writer
Central Illinois offers patients many options for area hospitals. Although the larger cities are commonly known for the heart care services, the community hospitals are also well-equipped to provide services for heart patients. Many of these hospitals have programs in place to provide emergency care. Programs, such as Prairie Cardiovascular's Prairie STAT Heart Program, guarantees the patient in the smaller hospitals receive emergency heart care as soon as possible, often faster than patients in larger communities. Below is a list of Central Illinois community hospitals and the services they offer for heart and stroke patients.
Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center, Mattoon Sarah Bush Lincoln has a catheterization lab offering patients diagnostic testing to identify their specifics of heart disease. The hospital does not treat patient’s actively having a heart attack. The patients are expedited to St. John’s Hospital. Patients are treated at the hospital by a cardiologist with Prairie Heart Institute of Illinois. The hospital also offers testing for any coronary blockage. If needed, stroke patients are given a drug that dissolves the clot to improve blood flow. The patient is transferred to the nearest primary stroke center of their choice.
Dr. John Warner Hospital, Clinton
Kirby Medical Center, Monticello
Dr. John Warner Hospital's emergency departments, Springfield hospitals and cardiologists of Prairie Cardiovascular work together to provide care for heart patients. Once an emergency room physician has identified an acute heart attack patient, the team is paged to respond. If needed, the patient receives proper medication. The receiving hospital's cardiologist is alerted. Transportation is arranged for the patient, who arrives in the cardiac cath lab within 90 minutes or less.
As soon as a patient enters Kirby Medical Center, the nursing staff will address the patient, then contact the doctor. Testing will involve Xrays, blood and other lab work and history information. The patient may stay at the facility or be transferred to another hospital. At Kirby, patients choose the hospital. The physicians can refer patients to a higher level facility that cares for certain problems in Champaign, Decatur or Springfield. Stroke patients will also receive tests and evaluations. The patient's evaluation will be discussed with other doctors. They then may be sent other hospital. Because of these relationships, the staff is up-to-date with the latest heart procedures.
St. Anthony's Memorial, Effingham Patients can be treated at St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital, or may be transferred to a higher level of care facility depending the severity of the illness. If needed, heart attack patients are transported from St. Anthony’s to St. John’s Hospital in Springfield for treatment within 90 to 120 minutes. For stroke patients, St. Anthony’s ER physicians are provided with a telemedicine robot, connecting a neurologist to the patient. The robot performs a prompt bedside neurological assessment as well as the ability to view the patient’s medical records and brain and Xray images. Prairie Heart Institute clinic is located on St. Anthony’s main campus. Prairie Cardiovascular Consultants is available if additional diagnostic testing is needed. At Prairie Heart Institute at St. Anthony’s, a variety of outpatient services are offered including diagnostic stress testing and echocardiogram.
Abraham Lincoln Memorial, Lincoln When a patient arrives at the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital emergency department with chest pain, or other symptoms of a heart attack, the staff will perform an EKG within five minutes of the patient’s arrival. If it is determined that the patient is experiencing a heart attack, emergency department personnel immediately begin appropriate interventions. The patient is then transported within 30 minutes to a larger hospital, such as Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, to receive a lifesaving angioplasty within 90 minutes, the time recommended by the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association.
Pana Community Hospital, Pana Pana Community Hospital works together with other community health services to provide care for their patients. Other care facilities, Prairie Heart, Pana Ambulance Service and area helicopter services rely on each other to bring the fastest care available. After an EKG is performed on the patient, the Pana Community Hospital's heart team is activated. This includes lab, cardiopulmonary, diagnostic imaging and emergency department staff and physician. The patient is then transferred to either St. John’s or Memorial Medical Center in Springfield. A team of experts will be briefed on the incoming patient’s symptoms and results of preliminary tests and will be ready and waiting for the patient in Springfield. The Pana Community Hospital is able to provide emergency care for stroke patients at beginning of their hospital visit to the time medication is received. In March 2014, the hospital was designated as an Emergent Stroke Ready Hospital from the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Shelby Memorial, Shelbyville After it is determined a patient is having a heart attack, that patient will receive initial stabilizing treatment at Shelby Memorial Hospital. The patient will then be transferred to a facility that specializes in the care needed. The hospital offers cardiopulmonary rehab for patients after surgery and other heart procedures. For
prevention and initial examinations, stress tests, calcium heart scans and sleep studies are performed at Shelby Memorial.
Taylorville Memorial Hospital Taylorville Memorial Hospital's emergency department immediately begin the procedures when a patient presents signs and symptoms of a heart attack. Medical personnel, including lab, respiratory therapy, cardiology and radiology respond quickly to the call. The emergency department physician then assesses the patient, analyzes the EKG and test results. The goal is to treat the patient and send them to a Springfield hospital within 30 minutes of their arrival at Taylorville Memorial. The hospital also has the resources to care for a stroke patient 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A patient with symptoms of a stroke is seen immediately by the physician. Lab work is prepared and the patient is taken to the CT scanner within 20 minutes of arrival. If needed, the patient receives the proper medication before being sent to Memorial Medical Center in Springfield.
PAGE 4 GO RED FOR HEART HEALTH
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2015
DECATUR, ILLINOIS
CAREGIVERS Continued from page 1
H&R file photo
Decatur Memorial Hospital cardiologist Madhu Jyothinagaram shares the cardiac PET CT scan process which allows cardiologists to monitor blood flow and make blockage assessments.
TESTS
Continued from page 1 short amount of time, about 10 minutes, making for a shorter test with fewer false positives. Jyothinagaram said the test was previously only available at research institutions that could produce the isotopes. DMH has been able to offer the test for about two years now by using the hospital's inhouse cyclotron, which creates the isotopes. “Patients like it because it’s easier and more convenient,” Jyothinagaram said. The patient lies under an enclosed scanner and an image of the heart is taken at rest and then “stressed” by an injection of a medication that increases blood flow to the heart. The scanner creates a picture of where the isotopes are in the heart, showing any blocked arteries. The complete test lasts about an hour and results are available the same day.
D-SPECT Another more widely available option for diagnosing heart disease is a D-SPECT test. The heart is imaged at rest and under stress, usually
‘It’s not closed all the way around, it’s open it’s easier to get bigger people in, you’re not going to get claustrophobia.’ Dr. Theodore Addai, Prairie Heart Institute at St. Mary's Hospital from physical exercise. The D-SPECT test can be done while a patient is lying down or sitting upright. “It’s not closed all the way around, it’s open it’s easier to get bigger people in, you’re not going to get claustrophobia,” Addai said. Depending on the outcomes of these tests, the cardiologist can prescribe preventative medication, such as a cholesterol lowering statin, or outline a dietary and physical activity plan. The doctor may also recommend doing a definitive cardiac catheterization through a blood vessel for a better diagnosis. esteele@herald-review.com| (217) 421-6968
KNOW YOUR NUMBERS These numbers are critical health markers for heart disease:
BLOOD SUGAR (The amount of sugar or glucose in the blood.) Recommended range: Prediabetes: HbA1c less than 6 percent Diabetes: HbA1c less than 7 percent Premeal glucose: 70 to 130 mg/dl Post-meal peak glucose: Less than 180 mg More information: Blood sugar is measured by the amount of glycosylated hemoglobin, HbA1c, in the blood. An HbA1c test shows average blood sugar control over several months and how well a diabetes treatment plan is working.
BLOOD PRESSURE (The force of blood against the arteries beating and at rest.) Recommended range: Less than 130/80 More information: Systolic pressure (top number) is the peak pressure in the arteries and diastolic pressure (bottom number) is the
lowest pressure.
CHOLESTEROL (A waxy substance produced by the liver.) Recommended range: A total cholesterol score of less than 180 is considered optimal. More information: Cholesterol is transported to and from cells lipoproteins. Low-density lipoprotein, LDL, is known as "bad" cholesterol; high-density lipoprotein, HDL, is known as "good" cholesterol.
WEIGHT Recommended range: Body mass index (BMI) of 18.6 to 24.9 Waistline smaller than 35” for women Waistline smaller than 40” for men More information: A person's ideal body weight varies by gender, age, height and frame. BMI and waist circumference provide good indicators of a healthy weight. – Source: American Heart Association
SYMPTOMS OF A HEART ATTACK n Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back. n Pain or discomfort in one of both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach. n Shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort. n Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness. As with men, the most common heart attack symptom in women is chest pain or discomfort. But it's important to note that women are more likely to experience the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain.
DURING A HEART ATTACK If you experience any of these signs or symptoms: n Do not wait to call for help. Dial 911, make sure to follow the operator's instructions and get to a hospital right away. n Do not drive yourself or have someone drive you to the hospital unless you have no other choice. n Try to stay as calm as possible and take deep, slow breaths while you wait for the emergency responders.
nursing home. Since Lee is on Medicaid, his family worried about the cost of long-term care. They also worried about how Lee's parents, who are in their 80s, could care for their son at home. But between prayers and physical, occupational and speech therapy, Lee was walking after a few months. That's when the family sat down with the medical staff at St. Mary's Hospital to talk through their options. Speech was and still is Lee's biggest difficulty, but he was mobile enough that they decided to take him home. "When we brought him home, he hadn’t seen that dog in a month, and she shook all over and he cried,” Rohman said. Through Starting Point community care program, an aging and disability center at the health department, they learned of Adult Day Services at St. Mary's. "A lot of them say, 'I don’t know where to start,' " said Barb McNutt, nurse manager for adult day services. From 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays, staff there provide transportation, meals, medication management, a vari-
Herald & Review photos, Jim Bowling
John Lee, left, Jessie Monroe and others create pictures using seashells during an activity session at St. Mary’s Adult Day Services. The services provide a care option for at-home patients. ety of activities and socialization. Most adult children come to them wanting to keep a parent out of full-time assisted living. “That is something every single one of them appreciates so much,” McNutt said. Most clients there are older and have a condition with limited cognitive skills. Some of the short-term
clients come through after a stroke or heart attack. “We thought it would be good for him socially,” Rohman said. "He loves it (there), to get out of the house.” Lee goes to the Adult Day Services three times a week. Rohman, her two other siblings and their parents each have a role in Lee's care when he's not at the
facility. Lee said he enjoys spending time there, especially on craft days. He would love to paint again one day. “If I could do it," he said, one of the hard-earned phrases he's relearned in the past six months. esteele@herald-review.com| (217) 421-6968