The American population is older than it used to be, according to new U.S. Census data.
With fewer young children, more baby boomers and even more centenarians, the country's median age is higher — at 38.8 — and the share of people aged 65 and up more substantial, the report showed.
Among the most notable numbers is that the share of people 65 and older grew by more than one-third between the 2010 census and the 2020 census, and that the number of people reaching age 100 grew from more than 53,000 to more than 80,000. Meanwhile, millennials became adults or aged into their 30s, and fewer children were born between 2010 and 2020.
What does that all mean?
“Many more people who have the genetic makeup and environmental exposures that increase one's chances of getting to 100, but who would have otherwise died of what are now readily reversible problems, are able to fulfill their survival destiny,” Thomas Perls, a longevity expert and professor of medicine at Boston University, told the Associated Press.
The share of men living into old age is also larger, which can be attributed to improvements in medical care.
Some of the declines in younger
people are attributed to women having babies later and to birth rates slowing during the 2007 to 2009 Great Recession and not recovering.
“In the short run, the crisis of work-family balance, the lack of affordable child care, stresses associated with health care, housing and employment stability, all put a damper on birth rates by increasing uncertainty and making it harder to decide to have and raise children,” Philip Cohen, a sociologist at the University of Maryland, told the AP.
The 2020 data was delayed by nearly two years as the Census Bureau began a new privacy protection method that obscures respondent identity. The agency also had some trouble gathering information because of the pandemic, the AP reported.
The United States now has 331 million people. Those aged 65 and up comprised 16.8% of the U.S. population in 2020, a share that is still lower than other countries like Japan, Greece and Italy.
White people are the oldest cohort, with a median age of 44.5. Median age for Asian people was 37.2. Black Americans had a median age
of 35.5. The youngest were Hispanic people with a median age of 30. Age also varied by state, with Maine showing a median age of 45.1. Puerto Rico had a median of 45.2. These facts are attributed to baby boomers aging out of the workforce and people leaving Puerto Rico because of hurricanes and government mismanagement, the AP reported.
It matters that the country is getting older because there will be fewer working-age adults to support older Americans on Social Security and Medicare.
“In the long run, immigration is the only way the United States is going to avoid population decline,” Cohen said.
It’s about more than just weight loss. It’s about reducing your risk for serious conditions like heart disease and diabetes — and regaining the stamina, mobility and confidence to take on every day.
Crouse’s bariatric surgery program offers a dedicated team of physicians and providers, as well as psychological and nutritional counseling — all with the expertise to support you every step of the way.
Begin the process from home by viewing our online informational video. Then consult with our bariatric team via telemedicine visits to start your journey. It’s time — and now easier than ever.
Start today at crouse.org/weightloss or call 315-470-8974
It should come as no surprise that OB-GYNs in states with restrictive or confusing abortion laws are considering moving to states that won’t interfere in the care between doctor and patient. The Kaiser Family Foundation published an article about what is happening in Idaho, which just passed a restrictive abortion law. Seventy-five of 117 Idaho OB-GYNs surveyed by the Idaho Coalition for Safe Reproductive Healthcare indicated they were considering leaving the state. Of the 75, 73 said it was because of the newly passed restrictive abortion law. Rural hospitals, typically staffed with minimal OB-GYN physicians, may be forced
The American Medical Association (AMA), the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) and Race Forward are collaborating as “Rise to Health” to mitigate the barriers that must be overcome to achieve health equity among us all. Barriers such as cost, access, isolation, housing and food security and racism, all impede health equity. The three organizations representing providers, payers, pharma and numerous professional societies and associations are combining their heretofore disparate efforts in the battle against impediments to equity and establish a set of common measurements and goals. Hopefully, Rise to Health will address our fragmented healthcare system which frustrates providers and consumers alike.
to close maternal services, forcing pregnant women to travel hundreds of miles out of state to deliver. OBGYNs provide a lot more health services to women besides maternal care. So, their departure from states with restrictive abortion laws will have a far greater impact on women’s overall healthcare than anticipated. A research paper published in February found 76% (3 of 4) current and future (residents and medical students) OBGYNs won’t even apply to work in states with restrictive abortion laws. The threat of potential fines and even imprisonment was too much of a deterrent.
study by J.D. Powers based on 32,656 interviews, customer satisfaction with commercial insurance plans is declining especially among Gen Y and Gen Z generations. Particularly low scores were given to customer service and communication. Only 17% of those who identified their health status as poor or fair were assigned a case manager. Care fragmentation (multiple providers and several prescriptions) usually leads to high costs, poor outcomes and increased patient frustration. Other scores that declined from previous studies were in coverage and benefits and provider choice. Low scores from new members indicate a need for insurers to do better job of onboarding or how to access benefits and navigate our complicates and fragmented healthcare system. Interestingly, digital health tool usage remained low.
business (private physicians and hospitals), a 70% decrease in urgent care business a 1% decrease in emergency room business. (The decrease in non-emergent visits in ERs is a good decrease.) The pandemic was probably a major cause for the 200% increase at retail clinics as consumers got used to getting vaccines and COVID-19 testing there, so primary care usage at these locations grew by association and convenience. Being associated with a drug chain like CVS or Walgreens further enhanced the convenience, continuity of care and one-stop shopping. Ninety percent of retail health clinics are owned by six huge corporations with CVS being the biggest. Believe it or not, the second largest operator of retail clinics is grocery giant Kroger. So, you can see your doctor, get a vaccination, get tested, get your prescription and grab a dozen eggs all in the same place. Most retail clinics are in the Southwest and Midwest.
The CDC estimates almost half of adults have hypertension. Engineers at UC San Diego have developed a simple clip that works with your smartphone camera and flash. It costs less than $1. It is so cheap it could be handed out by providers to their patients so they can easily monitor their blood pressure at home without the hassle of cuffs and BP monitors. The product is not yet available as the engineers are working on making the clip as user friendly as possible.
ing from the pandemic are struggling to break even.
According to a recently released
Over last five years, retail clinics have experienced a 200% increase in business. Compare that to a 13% decrease in traditional primary care
Ever since Facebook introduced the metaverse (a digital world using virtual and augmented reality headsets) cash-rich CVS has filed for a trademark to sell their products in the metaverse. The pharmacy giant will begin to transition some in-store services like primary care, nutrition and wellness counseling to virtual. As they do so, a lot of people will lose their jobs as they plan to close 900 stores. CVS revenue last year was a staggering $304 billion. Meanwhile, cash-strapped hospitals still recover-
You want to help but your 80-plus-year-old parents are resistant. They are confused or believe you are interfering or they are afraid of losing their independence. Possibly all the above. It is the dilemma confronting most family caregivers. Negotiation and dispute resolution may be the answer. Researchers at Northwest University conclude the very same negotiation and dispute resolution tactics that work for businesses can work for families. 1) Determine the clinical, personal and financial issues.
2) What are your parents’ positions?
3) Lay out what are you willing to do as caregiver. 4) Find common ground. 5) What are your parents’ fears? Both real and perceived. Mitigate everyone’s emotions. 6) Ask questions, don’t present parents with edicts. 7) Agree you are all on the same team. 8) If all fails, seek third party help from social workers, family psychologists or case managers. Above all, don’t let the relationship with your parents devolve into resentment.
The average annual increase in the cost of care since 2021 is 4.8%. According to the Milliman Medial Index, healthcare now costs a family of four just over $31,000 this year. It’s $7,221 for an individual. Healthcare inflation tends to lag six months to a year behind general inflation, so 2024 costs will probably go even higher. Driving costs up are supply chain problems, cost of drugs, labor shortages, ransomware attacks and catching up on the backlog of procedures postponed during the pandemic. Milliman expects employees will bear 60% of the increases. As discussed in an earlier column, commercial insurers are recoding record profits.
George W. Chapman is a healthcare business consultant who works exclusively with physicians, hospitals and healthcare organizations. He operates GW Chapman Consulting based in Syracuse. Email him at gwc@gwchapmanconsulting.com.
Monday can be a downer as folks leave weekend play behind. Now, researchers say Monday might also be the most common day for deadly heart attacks.
Doctors at the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland determined this by analyzing patient data in Ireland, though they can't determine the reason why.
Past research has suggested it might have to do with circadian rhythm — the body's sleep-wake cycle.
“Someone is admitted to hospital due to a life-threatening heart attack every five minutes in the U.K., so it's vital that research continues to shed light on how and why heart attacks happen,” said Nilesh Samani, medical director at the British Heart Foundation.
“This study adds to evidence around the timing of particularly serious heart attacks, but we now need to unpick what it is about certain days of the week that makes them more likely,” Samani said in a heart foundation news release. “Doing so could help doctors better understand this deadly condition so we can save more lives in future.”
For the study, the researchers analyzed data from more than 10,500 patients across Ireland, in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, who were admitted to a hospital between 2013 and 2018 with the
most serious type of heart attack.
The ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) happens when a major coronary artery is completely blocked.
The study found a spike in rates of STEMI heart attacks at the start of the working week, with rates highest on a Monday. However, they also found higher-than-expected rates of STEMI on Sunday.
In the United Kingdom, more than 30,000 people are admitted to the hospital with STEMI each year, requiring emergency assessment and treatment to minimize damage to the heart. Typically, this involves an emergency angioplasty, a procedure to reopen the blocked coronary artery.
“We've found a strong statistical correlation between the start of the working week and the incidence of STEMI,” said cardiologist Jack Laffan, who led the research at the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust. “This has been described before but remains a curiosity. The cause is likely multifactorial, however, based on what we know from previous studies, it is reasonable to presume a circadian element.”
The findings were presented in June at the British Cardiovascular Society annual conference. Findings presented at medical meetings should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
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($21 per year), call 315-749-7070.
Editor & Publisher: Wagner Dotto • Associate Editor: Stefan Yablonski
Contributing Writers: Barbara Pierce, Deb Dittner, Gwenn Voelckers, David Podos, Deborah Jeanne Sergeant, Anne Palumbo, Daniel Baldwin
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Summer has finally arrived. Woo hoo!! Time for barbecues, picnics, festivals and fun!
For many people, the summer months provide welcome relief from the soggy transition from winter to spring. Out of the gloom, summer emerges with longer, brighter and warmer days filled with the promise of travel, socializing, and connecting with friends and family.
So why are you feeling so lonely?
As it turns out, the arrival of summer isn’t embraced by everyone. If you live alone and feel socially isolated, summertime can pose a real challenge. It’s easy to feel like an outsider, looking in on other people’s fun-filled days and activities.
After my divorce, I had bouts of the blues and spent too much time alone. I let my relationships with friends and family drift away and my world became very small and quiet.
Sometimes the loneliness would overwhelm me and I’d lose my oomph for doing much of anything. I became a spectator, rather than a participant, in life.
Feel familiar?
Eventually my phone stopped ringing and the weekends stretched out before me like a long, lonesome highway. Without companionship, a beautiful summer day left me feeling heartbroken.
I knew something had to change.
An attitude adjustment was in order. Specifically, I needed to remind
myself that my life is in my hands — that I’m responsible for how lonely (or not) I am, and that I’m in charge of how large or small my life is.
So what did I do? I picked up the phone, called a girlfriend, and made plans for us to get together. Then I picked up the phone again and left a text message for my sister, asking her to give me a call.
And I didn’t stop there.
The next day, I worked up the nerve, rehearsed a few words, and made a third call to a neighbor who also lives alone. I asked if he wanted to take a walk later that evening. He asked for a rain check, but that was OK. We made plans to take a walk the following week, which gave me something nice to anticipate.
I then shifted to my computer and sent out a few “Hi, it’s been too long!” emails to friends, inviting them over to see (and admire!) my newly installed patio garden. I wanted to share it. And to show it off. Why not, right? It’s rewarding to hear “oohs” and “aahs,” and sometimes we need to create our own opportunities for positive feedback.
I was on a roll, and it was illuminating to see how easily I could change my circumstances by doing just a few small things — by converting my newly adjusted attitude into action.
Within weeks, my phone was ringing again, emails and texts were arriving, and I had entered a few
Spotting ADHD early can ensure children with the condition get the help they need sooner rather than later.
But how can parents know if the behavior they're seeing in their child is a sign of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or merely the mercurial mood and behavior swings of a toddler?
An expert at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore offers some guidance.
"Research shows that children with ADHD have abnormal brain development, meaning that ADHD has a biological basis that often makes it a lifelong condition," Mark Mahone, director of neuropsychology, said on the institute's website. "We want to catch ADHD early because it has such a profound effect on learning and academic development. Chil-
dren whose symptoms begin in early childhood are at the highest risk for academic failure and grade repetition."
The team at Kennedy Krieger was among the first to study preschoolers' brains for signs of ADHD using neuroimaging. The researchers found that children with ADHD have a smaller caudate nucleus, a brain structure associated with thinking skills and motor control.
Up to 40% of children have significant attention problems by age 4. ADHD is the most common mental health disorder among preschoolers. About one in 11 school-aged children have an ADHD diagnosis.
Mahone encourages parents to pay close attention to their toddler's behavior.
Look for these specific signs: Your child dislikes or avoids activi-
social events into my calendar. Life felt better!
Part of what motivates me when I find myself in a slump is a passage I found in a sweet little book called “Living Alone and Lovin’ It,” by Barbara Feldon.
In one particularly helpful chapter on loneliness, she recounts a heart-to-heart she had with an “older and very wise friend” named Leo. She was brooding about being lonely and shared how much she wanted to feel loved and protected again, the way she felt when she was a child.
Leo responded quite bluntly: “But you’re not a child and don’t have a child’s needs. A child is in danger without company because it’s helpless, but an adult has access to any need imaginable: food, medicine, companionship. All an adult has to do is pick up the phone…”
Good friends can be such a help! Especially when they tell it like it is. Barbara was energized by Leo’s no-excuses straight talk, and indirectly so was I. As adults, we can
exercise choices; we can choose to stay in a slump or choose to pick up the phone.
My prediction should you start to reach out? Little by little your world will expand, with one connection spawning another, and another, and yet another.
Before you know it, your feelings of loneliness will lessen and you'll be on your way to banishing the summertime blues!
Gwenn Voelckers is the founder and facilitator of Alone and Content, empowerment workshops for women and author of “Alone and Content,” a collection of inspiring essays for those who live alone. For information about her workshops, to purchase her book, or invite her to speak, visit www. aloneandcontent.com
ties that require paying attention for more than one or two minutes. He or she loses interest and moves on to something else after only a few moments.
Talking a lot more and making more noise than other children of the same age can also be an indicator. So, too, can climbing on things when told not to do that.
Children with ADHD may not be able to hop on one foot by age 4. They are nearly always restless, constantly twisting in a seat or kicking their feet. They insist they must get up after being seated for just a few
minutes.
Kids with ADHD may warm up to strangers too quickly or fearlessly get into dangerous situations. They can be aggressive with playmates or get injured by moving too fast.
"If parents observe these symptoms and have concerns about their child's development, they should consult with their pediatrician or another developmental expert," Mahone said. "There are safe and effective treatments that can help manage symptoms, increase coping skills and change negative behaviors to improve academic and social success."
Executive director of 50 Forward Mohawk Valley explains how the nonprofit is helping people to age better, talks about revitalizing the West Side Utica Senior Center as its third site
David L. PodosQ: What is 50 Forward Mohawk Valley, what services do you provide to the community?
A: Well, let me first start off with our mission statement which is to provide programs and services to people who are 50-plus so they can live healthy and vibrant lives. So, we are providing services that help
people through the aging process.
Q: What are these services?
A: We offer a fitness program, a number of educational programs, as well as several evidence-based programs, and, we are the oldest senior center service provider in Oneida County, as well as the largest
We’ve already had some sizzling days, and there will be many more this summer. Not everyone responds to the heat in the same way, and for some people, a stretch of high temperatures can be deadly.
Heat-related illness, known as hyperthermia, results from exposure to extreme heat, with the body unable to properly cool. Prompt treatment with fluids and cooling the core body temperature are critical to reducing illness and preventing death.
“The elderly are prone to heat exhaustion since, as we age, our bodies don’t regulate heat as well as they did when we were younger,” says physician Lorna Fitzpatrick, vice president for medical affairs and senior medical director at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. “Often, seniors aren’t aware of the impact of high temperatures on their bodies until it’s too late,”
In addition to the elderly, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says people at greatest risk for heat-related illness include those who are overweight or have existing medical conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease.
Among the symptoms of heat exhaustion are headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness, irritability, thirst, heavy sweating (or no sweating), elevated body temperature, muscle cramping, and decreased urine output. If untreated, heat exhaustion may progress to heat stroke, a life-threatening condition that can damage the brain or other vital organs and, in severe cases, cause multiple organ system failure and
Fitzpatrick offers the following tips to prevent heat-related illness:
• Check on those at risk. During a heat wave, frequently check on people at risk, such as the elderly, disabled, or homebound. Check on them at least twice a day.
senior center in three counties, that being Oneida, Madison and Herkimer counties. In 2021 we opened our Verona Beach site in Verona Beach. Recently we received a grant to rehabilitate the West Side Utica Senior Center which will come under our purview as 50 Forward Mohawk Valley [as does the Verona Beach site]. Our home base of operations is located at 220 Memorial Parkway, Utica.
Q: That’s really impressive that you have three sites providing services. In regards to those services can you be a bit more specific in detailing what they are?
A: Absolutely. One of our more popular services is the use of our fitness facility, offering a variety of modern workout equipment. Of course, before any new member can use the machines, we do a complete orientation on proper use and care, then the member is on her or his own. We have pickle ball, Zumba and aerobic classes, muscular strength and training, as well as yoga classes to name just a few.
Q: All those programs sound great and I am sure your members take full advantage of them. Do you offer any nutrition programs?
A: We do. Our program department is always putting together workshops. We have speakers that will come in and talk about the particular workshop that they are experts in, nutrition for instance. We have a program that is called “A Matter of Balance” which is a fall prevention program which last for eight weeks. Another popular service we offer is “Aging Mastery Program.” This is a 10-week program and each week we offer a different topic related to aging such as, eating healthy, sleep issues, fall prevention and social and civic engagement.
Q: Does your organization have transportation services?
A: Yes. So we are the mobility managers for the Department of Transportation, and we work
through the Office of Aging of Oneida County to assist in transportation needs. For example, once we get a referral from the office of aging we contact the client, find out the date’s times and place of the appointment they need to go on, then see what volunteer drivers we have available. The volunteer either uses their own personal vehicle or we have several agency vehicles that they can use if available. Just as a side note if someone uses their own car, we provide mileage reimbursement. Additionally, for members at our Utica and Verona Beach sites we will pick up people from their homes and bring them to the senior center.
Q: I am sure your clients appreciate that service. Without it what would they do?
A: It is a big challenge for many seniors who have lost their independence not being able to just jump into a car and go wherever they need to go. We do help them to learn the bus system (if they are interested) but not all seniors like riding the bus, instead prefer to be picked up by our volunteers.
Q: How many members are there in your Utica location and how many in your Verona Beach location?
A: Presently, we have 1,800 members here at our senior center in Utica. At our Verona Beach site we have 670.
Q: How many staff do you have?
A: We have 12 staff.
Q: Where does 50 Forward Mohawk Valley receive its funding from?
A: We receive grants from the Oneida County Office of Aging, the city of Utica, the Community Foundation, Slocum Dickson Foundation, Excellus and membership fees.
Q: Do you have more information on your website and what number can someone reach the center at?
A: For more information, our website is: www.50forwardmv.org. Phone: 315-223-3973.
• Ask your health care provider if you or someone you care for is vulnerable to excessive heat. Some conditions or medications can impair the body’s ability to regulate temperature, inhibit perspiration, or restrict how much fluid can be consumed.
• Wear light clothing. On extremely hot days, dress in lightweight, light-colored, and loose-fitting clothes.
• Drink liquids. In hot weather, make sure you, or the person you care for, consume an appropriate amount of nonalcoholic fluids. Stay away from beverages high in sugar or caffeine, as they cause the body to lose more fluid.
• Don’t wait until you feel thirsty to have a beverage. By the time you recognize the thirst, you are already in need of fluids.
• Take a cool shower or bath. Taking a shower or bath with room-temperature water will allow your body to cool.
First aid for someone with heat exhaustion includes immediate medical attention from an urgent care center or hospital emergency room. If medical care isn’t available, call 911 and stay with the individual until
help arrives. Remove unnecessary clothing, including shoes and socks. Encourage frequent sips of cool water, and apply cold compresses to the head, neck, and face.
An ingrown toenail is one of the most common nail problems, especially in teenagers and young adults. It happens when the toenail curves downward and grows into the surrounding skin. Ingrown toenails occur most frequently on the big toe, but can develop on other toes as well, even the pinky.
We asked Kimberly Hurley, a podiatric surgeon at Slocum Dickson Medical Group, New Hartford, to help us better understand this condition.
1.How do I know if I have an ingrown toenail?
“You will have pain, swelling on the nail edge, redness and warmth or drainage from nail edge,” Hurley replied.
Few feet issues are as painful as an ingrown toenail. As the nail grows and digs into the surrounding skin, the toe becomes red, swollen and hot to the touch. If it becomes infected, it may ooze drainage or pus and smell foul. Infection can happen because of all the bacteria on feet and in shoes.
2. What causes an ingrown toenail?
Cutting your toenails too short can cause ingrown toenails, said Hurley. Or if you round the corners
instead of cutting straight across, this can cause problems. Or, a pedicure when they over trim your cuticles.
Wearing tight shoes — very common with steel toe boots, cleats and hockey skates — can be a cause, she added. Wearing tight shoes squeezes your toes against the sides or tips of the shoes; the pressure can cause toenails to grown into the skin.
Other causes: activities such as soccer or ballet that involve continuous or repeated stress to your toes. Being overweight exerts more pressure on your toes. Injuries to your toe, like stubbing it, or dropping something heavy on it, can force the nail to grown into the skin. If you have sweaty feet, you have a higher chance of developing an ingrown toenail because when the skin is wet; it softens, making it easier for a nail to embed itself in your skin. Heredity and some medical conditions that affect circulation, like diabetes, can increase the possibility of ingrown toenails.
Hurley suggests home remedies such as soaking in Epsom salts (one or two tablespoons of unscented Epsom salts into one quart of warm water and soak your foot for 10-15
Unpaid care provided by 2.2 million family caregivers across New York state is valued at $39 billion a year, according to new state data available in AARP’s latest report in the Valuing the Invaluable series.
This is an $8 billion increase in unpaid contributions since the last report was released in 2019.
The report highlights the growing scope and complexity of family caregiving and actions needed to address the many challenges of caring for parents, spouses, and other loved ones.
“Family caregivers play a vital role in New York’s health care system, whether they care for someone at home, coordinate home health care, or help care for someone who lives in a nursing home,” said David McNally, AARP New York director of government affairs and advocacy. “We want to make sure all family caregivers have the financial, emo-
tional and social support they need, because the care they provide is invaluable both to those receiving it and to their community.”
AARP New York is fighting and will continue to fight for family caregivers and the loved ones they care for. Right now, AARP New York is urging state lawmakers to include in the state budget due April 1:
• $9.5 million more to ensure all who qualify for can receive in-home services for the elderly such as home delivered meals and assistance with daily activities — which support family caregivers in helping older loved ones age at home, rather than in less desirable, far costlier and mostly taxpayer-funded nursing homes;
• Fair pay for home care by setting a floor of 150% of the regional minimum wage for home care workers to address a worker shortage and ensure all who need home care can receive it, and;
minutes at a time. Do this several times a day for the first few days. Always dry your foot completely after soaking). Also she recommends using a triple antibiotic ointment, which can be purchased over the counter, and a Band-Aid.
4. When should I see a doctor?
If your home remedies aren’t working after five to seven days, it’s time to see a doctor, Hurley advised. Also, if the redness is spreading beyond the edge of your nail and stealing up your leg, see a doctor.
If your pain is so severe that it keeps you from everyday activities, a visit with your podiatrist is necessary.
See a doctor immediately if you are diabetic or immunocompromised or if you suspect that your nail is infected. If your nail is infected, it won’t heal on its own. The only way to treat the infection and prevent painful complications is to visit a podiatrist like Hurley.
Your podiatrist is aware of how painful your ingrown nail is. They will gently numb the toe with local anesthesia and remove it from the skin. Nearly everyone walks out of the podiatrist’s office in less pain than when they walked in.
If your toe has become infected, the doctor will prescribe an antibiotic; do take the entire portion, even if your toe feels better.
If ingrown nails are a chronic problem for you, your podiatrist can perform a procedure to permanently prevent ingrown nails.
5.How can I prevent an ingrown toenail?
You can prevent ingrown toenails by cutting your toenails straight
across and at a moderate length. Avoid cutting nails too short or creating rounded corners. If you get pedicures, make the sure the pedicurist knows how to cut nails properly. It’s important to wear shoes that fit properly, shoes that have plenty of room in the toe box and on the sides. Avoid wearing tight shoes that crowd your toes. Be especially cautious of steel toe boots, cleats and hockey skates. Wear protective shoes during sports and other physical activities that pose a risk of toe injury. Wear well-ventilated shoes when you play sports and let your feet air out as often as you can.
If you have diabetes, it’s extremely important to remain mindful of ingrown toenail prevention, as minor cuts or simple scrapes can lead to serious complications.
• $15 million more for the long term care ombudsman program, which provides nursing home oversight and acts as the eyes and ears of residents — most of whose family caregivers are working full-time jobs and raising families of their own –but which has been woefully underfunded.
• $3 million more for the access to home program, which provides financial assistance to make residential units accessible for low- and moderate-income persons with disabilities – which would help support family caregivers in their efforts to ensure
a loved one can remain in their own home.
Read the full report for national and state-by-state data on the economic value of unpaid care by family and friends. Go to aarp.org and type “Insight on the Issues” in the search button. And see local county-level data on number of caregivers, number of hours of caregiving and value of unpaid caregiving for New York state.
Resources and information on family caregiving are available at aarp.org/caregiving.
Buffalo resident was diagnosed with the condition at age 25. Now 52, she has become an advocate for those who suffer from it. “We are all in this together,” she says
By Jane SchmittVitiligo is easily defined as an autoimmune disorder. But it’s not so easily understood.
Lisa Toner knows that all too well.
For many years, the Buffalo woman has lived with the condition, which strips the skin of melanin and results in white spots or blotches. And along the way she has endured the physical and emotional challenges that come with it.
Now she’s looking to help others and increase awareness through a local chapter of VITFriends.org, a national support community for people with vitiligo.
Toner launched Blooming Buffalo VITFriends on Facebook in January with a strong message: “We are all in this together.”
“Being brought up on Buffalo’s west side and spending many years in Texas before returning to New York, I have learned about adapting to change,” she said. “[But] the most agonizing change started when I was 25 years young. That’s when vitiligo inserted itself into my life.”
She was living in San Antonio at the time and working at a restaurant when she noticed tiny white spots
around her cuticles. Over time, the spots spread on her hands and then to other parts of her body. Her primary doctor diagnosed it as vitiligo.
The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) describes vitiligo as a chronic autoimmune disorder that causes patches of skin to lose pigment or color. This happens when melanocytes — skin cells that make pigment — are attacked and destroyed, causing the skin to turn milky white.
Patches typically appear symmetrically on both sides of the person’s body, such as on the hands or knees, but sometimes there can be a rapid loss of pigment over a large area. Vitiligo, which affects an estimated 2% of the population, is seen in people of all ages and races. The condition also may cause abnormalities in the retina.
There is no cure, according to NIAMS, but treatments may hinder the progression and help the skin tone to appear more even. They include medications such as corticoste-
roids; light therapy or phototherapy; and depigmentation therapy.
But costs may be high and insurance coverage varies.
Emotional stress, sun exposure and trauma to the skin such as a cut or burn can trigger the spread of vitiligo. Over the years, Toner herself has tried creams and gels, but said she isn’t satisfied with the results.
“I think one of the biggest misconceptions is that it may be contagious,” said Toner, a direct support specialist at a local nonprofit. “People may be afraid to hug or touch you; they think something bad is going to happen to them. I can see the fear in their eyes, the uncertainty. That has been a struggle for me.”
Indeed, the condition can trigger anxiety, depression and isolation as individuals limit social interaction because of their physical appearance. As Toner put it, they sometimes become “prisoners of their own skin.”
“I have had to constantly remind myself that even though my skin was changing, my true self, my true identity, was not changing along with it,” she said. “It’s hard. When I was younger, my mother told me that people are often afraid of what they don’t understand. And in the 26 years that I’ve lived with vitiligo, I have found that, yes, there is ignorance. But people are more accepting of it now, I believe, because there is more about vitiligo in the media. And there is a lot of information online.”
While outreach and education chip away at the stigma, Toner said there still is much to be done. Working to increase awareness are organizations such as the Vitiligo Research Foundation, the Vitiligo Support and Awareness Foundation and the Global Vitiligo Foundation. Another resource: www.myvitiligoteam.com
June 25 marked the 13th annual World Vitiligo Day. The date serves to create a safe space for those affected by vitiligo to learn, share and celebrate.
“In America there are [millions of] people diagnosed with vitiligo,” said Toner. “There are others who have not been diagnosed because they are afraid to go to a doctor and get checked out. They live in secrecy, they live with shame and embarrassment, and they hope it will go away on its own.”
She created Blooming Buffalo VITFriends as a way of connecting with others. Now she is busy reaching out to area dermatologists who can encourage patients looking for help and resources.
“My goal, first and foremost, is to be a support for people in this community who are living with vitiligo and to let them know that they are not alone,” Toner said. “When they hear a voice inside say, ‘You’re ugly,’ I’ll be that encouragement to them and say, ‘Hey, we are in this together and I’m not going to let you sink deeper into this hole. I have been where you are and was able to get out.’ Everybody has their own journey with vitiligo, but there is help out there.”
“My goal, first and foremost, is to be a support for people in this community who are living with vitiligo and to let them know that they are not alone.”
-Lisa Toner.Photos courtesy of Donny Green.
protein snack store are now in the same building, at 402 Champlin Ave. in Utica.
“She owns the bakery, I own the snack shop and we own an ice cream shop together (in the same building),” Mazza explained. “We own the entire building.”
protein balls “because they mimic ‘monster’ cookies, which contain M&Ms and chocolate chips,” Mazza said.
“Sprinkles are used in the birthday cake balls to mimic birthday cake.”
The process of putting this business together was, in Mazza’s words, labor intensive.
New
Hartford resident and Snack Rack store ownerAmanda Mazza is a health and fitness enthusiast.
She always tries to live a healthy and active lifestyle.
“My husband and I are fitness and health enthusiasts,” Mazza said. “I’ve always been fitness focused and try to live a healthy and active lifestyle. I do CrossFit. I am a huge runner for years. I’ve always been an athlete my entire life. I raise my children this way.”
She also cooks and makes healthy homemade snacks for herself and her family.
“I have five children and a husband who I always cook healthy for and try to make healthy snacks for,” Mazza said. “I am always trying to come up with new and delicious tasting snacks.”
She makes protein bars, protein balls and protein shakes that taste just as good as any dessert, she said.
“My kids love the healthy snacks I make,” Mazza said. “You’re not going to miss the desserts when you’re having my treats. Because they taste just as good — and you get all the health benefits.”
Mazza got the idea of starting
a snack business and selling her protein shake and snacks from her husband, Lawrence Mazza.
“I always made shakes for myself and my husband,” Mazza said. “My husband just said one day ‘you should turn this into a business. Everything is really good. The kids love everything. There’s nothing like this around here.’ So that’s what I did. When I go out, this [type of shop] is something that I would look for and I haven’t been able to find anything like this. So I just wanted to bring that to other people who were like me, looking for that.”
Mazza’s sister, Alyssa Sadallah, owns a bakery in the Mohawk Valley, named Wicked Sweets by Alyssa.
Sadallah wanted to relocate her bakery, and Mazza was trying to find a location for her business. The two sisters decided to work together and run their businesses under the same roof.
“My sister owns a very successful bakery in the area as well,” Mazza said. “She was looking to move from where she was originally. We found this empty lot and we decided to buy it together and build a new building.”
Sadallah’s bakery and Mazza’s
Mazza’s protein shakes, bars and balls are, of course, full of protein — but also are very low in sugar and fat.
Along with the protein powder, Mazza also adds fruits, natural peanut butter, gluten-free oats, unsweetened almond milk and other natural ingredients to her shakes and snacks.
Mazza said that the protein in her creations helps keep you fuller longer.
“It’s very important for everybody to meet their protein requirements for the day,” Mazza said. “My shakes, compared to just a fruit smoothie, are going to keep you fuller longer from this meal to your next meal. They’re very low in sugar. They have good carbohydrates, which are going to convert to energy. Very low in fat. It’s just good nutrition.”
Protein also speeds up a person’s recovery after an injury and helps build lean muscles, according to Piedmont.org, a health-related website.
The bars and balls are made up of protein and natural ingredients — but Mazza also adds M&Ms, chocolate chips and sprinkles to her products to give them that sweet dessert-like taste.
“M&Ms go into one flavor of the
“I think I bought every brand and flavor of protein powder that I could find until I found this one brand that I really like and it’s really great tasting. It dissolves really well and there’s no terrible aftertaste,” Mazza said. “Then I keep coming up with my own recipes for all for my snacks. It was just time consuming and labor intensive; but it’s (business) been really good so far. I got it done.”
Mazza makes all the protein shakes, balls and bars by herself.
“I make everything myself,” Mazza said. “I do not have any help or staff.”
The hard work is paying off, as more and more people are buying Mazza’s protein products and saying good things about them.
“Business is very good,” Mazza said. “I get new customers coming in every day and have many repeat regulars. I have a lot of people who come in, buy the bars, cut the bars and have one piece after dinner, just to curb their sweet tooth. I’m fortunate enough to have no negative feedback at the moment. People love my products and love that I come up with new flavors and snacks all the time.”
Every once in a while, I come across information about a certain food that takes me by complete surprise. I read it and whisper, “Who knew?” I consider friends and family who might benefit from this goldmine of information. And then, I can’t shut up about it.
That’s what happened with kiwis.
Oh, I knew they were beneficial all right — I just didn’t realize they had this particular benefit.
In a word, kiwis are “nature’s broom,” helping to unplug sluggish bowels with each delicious bite!
According to a recent study at Mayo Clinic, eating two kiwis per day was as powerful as prunes at increasing stool frequency and reducing straining. Physician Michael Camilleri, a gut motility specialist at the Mayo Clinic, said the sugar, fiber and other nutrients in kiwis can produce a laxative effect by increasing the water content and volume of stools.
Multiple studies also suggest that kiwis cause less gas, bloating and abdominal cramps than prunes.
Maybe that’s why kiwi-rich New Zealand is one of the happiest countries in the world: few are struggling with blocked bowels! As for here, well, so many are struggling with constipation, it’s our leading digestive complaint.
What’s no surprise is how high
these furry little fruits are in vitamin C, with one kiwi providing over 60% of our daily needs (more than an orange). Although widely known for its immune-boosting capabilities, vitamin C is also our skin’s best friend, creating derma-firming collagen, along with offering protection against age-accelerating sun damage. Research suggests that people who eat more vitamin C have fewer wrinkles.
Lastly, kiwis support heart health in impressive ways. They’re remarkably low in sodium, cholesterol and calories (only 44 per kiwi); they’re a good source of fiber, potassium, and folate (all associated with a lower risk of stroke); and they’re loaded with antioxidants, which help reduce the risk of chronic diseases by gobbling up damaging free radicals.
Anne Palumbo is a lifestyle columnist, food guru, and seasoned cook, who has perfected the art of preparing nutritious, calorie-conscious dishes. She is hungry for your questions and comments about SmartBites, so be in touch with Anne at avpalumbo@aol.com.
Skip artificial sweeteners if you're trying to lose weight, warns the World Health Organization (WHO), noting the sugar substitutes aren't effective for shedding pounds and may also cause harm.
Long-term use of sugar substitutes may cause "potential undesirable effects," according to new WHO guidance. This can include an "increased risk of Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and mortality in adults,” CBS News reported.
Consuming foods and beverages with ingredients like saccharin or sucralose or adding them to foods "does not confer any long-term benefit in reducing body fat in adults or children,” the WHO said after completing a systematic review.
Among the artificial sweeteners WHO officials considered were ace-
sulfame K, aspartame, advantame, cyclamates, neotame, saccharin, sucralose, stevia and stevia derivatives, according to the news report.
“People need to consider other ways to reduce free sugars intake, such as consuming food with naturally occurring sugars, like fruit, or unsweetened food and beverages," said Francesco Branca, WHO director for nutrition and food safety.
Artificial sweeteners "are not essential dietary factors and have no nutritional value. People should reduce the sweetness of the diet altogether, starting early in life, to improve their health," Branca added.
These recommendations do not apply to people who already have diabetes, according to the review. That group was not included in the review.
Dressing:
Choose plump, unblemished fruits that yield slightly to gentle pressure. Firm kiwis, stored at room temperature away from direct sunlight, take about 2-3 days to ripen. To hasten the ripening process, place kiwis in a paper bag with an apple or banana. Ripe kiwis can last up to 4 weeks in the fridge. For optimum health benefits, go ahead and eat the skin (but not if you have a history of kidney stones).
Serves 4-6
2 tablespoons balsamic or red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon coarse black pepper
¾ teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 cup olive oil
Salad:
4-6 kiwis, peeled (or not), sliced into half-moons
3 cups strawberries, quartered
1 cup blueberries
6-8 cups salad mix of choice
½ cup feta or gorgonzola crumbles
In a tightly covered container, shake dressing ingredients until well blended.
Cut all fruit as directed above.
To assemble individual salads, first place greens in salad bowls and drizzle on a little dressing. Then, add cut fruit and drizzle on a little more. This method keeps the lettuce crisp and the fruit bright. Garnish with cheese of choice.
This isn't the only time these artificial sweeteners have raised concerns. Recently, erythritol, an ingredient in the stevia sweetener Truvia, was singled out because of potential harms.
Cleveland Clinic researchers found months ago that people with
higher blood erythritol levels were at greater risk of heart attack or stroke and of dying prematurely. The study, involving 4,000 people, also found that the sugar substitute made it easier for blood clots to form. Those findings were published in the journal Nature Medicine.
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Alicia Olsen, nutritional counselor at the Center for Weight Loss and Surgery at Upstate, offered 10 tips that result in weight loss:
1.Exercise and reduce calories
“It works better when we do both together. To lose weight, we figure out what your daily calorie needs are if they’re at rest. That’s your resting energy expenditure. We can figure it out with formulas and use some testing. Then we add in the activity factor. What do you do for activity? Let’s say by the time we add in the activity factor, you need 2,000 a day for your current weight. Subtract 500 a day to lose a pound a week. That deficit could come from exercise or eating less food or a combination of both. If you’re only walking at a slow rate for 20 minutes, you’re not burning 500 calories. If you’re eating habits don’t include the deficit, you might not meet that deficit.”
2.Eat balanced meals
“I like to ‘reduce by adding.’ I use the My Plate method. Add nutrient dense but low-calorie foods that are high in fiber
to keep you full longer.”
3.Don’t deprive yourself altogether, which is a setup for failure. “Eat a smaller serving of high calories items like meat, starches and fats.”
4.Avoid “diet” foods. “The best foods are foods you’re already familiar with.”
These include whole, unprocessed produce, lean sources of protein, and whole grains.
5.Don’t cook “special meals” for yourself. “I never want my patients to make a whole separate meal for themselves. Use the plate model to make your portions different. You can still offer the same foods but in a different proportion. Start with whole foods that aren’t processed.”
6.Hydrate calorie-free. “Choose less sugary beverages. Go for water or flavored water over sweet tea, soda and juices.”
Prepared fancy coffee drinks, smoothies, shakes, eggnog and blended juices can contain hundreds of calories. If you really want one of these, watch the portion or make your own at home with tweaks to cut calories.
7.Minimize restaurant foods, which are often high in calories. “Cook more at home. Pack a lunch and avoid fast food.”
8.Move more. “It can be in any increments throughout the day. I count my 20-minute walk at lunch, walk the dog and an hour class at the gym. If I have a patient cancel, I do laps across the office. It’s as simple as that. It could be doing squats while helping the kids with homework. Or take the kids on a walk for family time. If you’re watching their football practice, walk laps around the stands.”
9.Seek workouts to find one you like. “There are plenty of great videos online or Netflix, Hulu or Amazon. Use your own body weight.”
10. Count calories.
“Know how much you’re getting in for the day. There are
great apps on your phone to count your calories. But you need to know how many calories you need. But a dietitian can help you calculate your goals.”
Alicia Olsen, nutritional counselor at the Center for Weight Loss and Surgery at Upstate
Men and women can experience a variety of issues related to problems in what’s called the pelvic floor, the network of muscles and ligaments around the pelvis.
Fortunately, strengthening therapy can get these problems under control.
A urologist from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston explains how this works.
“Like physical therapy is helpful for a knee or shoulder injury, pelvic floor therapy works the muscles in the pelvic floor to rehabilitate those muscles from injury or destruction,” physician Rotimi Nettey, an assistant professor in the department of urology, said in a school news release.
The pelvis is bordered by the hip bone and pubic symphysis — the joint between your left and right pelvic bones. It supports internal organs, including the intestines, bladder and
rectum. In women, it also supports the uterus and vagina; in men, the prostate. This network is important for urination, bowel movements, supporting sexual function and childbirth.
Urinary and fecal incontinence, constipation, pelvic organ prolapse, pain with intercourse and sexual dysfunction are conditions that can be treated with pelvic floor therapy.
For women, this can be helpful after childbirth or during pregnancy. Men may seek out therapy after prostate surgery, Nettey said.
Pregnancy is the most common cause of injury to the pelvic floor because the uterus can compress various muscles and nerve groups, straining them as they are relied upon for more support. Vaginal de-
livery can bring trauma to the pelvic floor ligaments and muscles, causing lacerations or tears.
Pelvic floor therapists use a variety of techniques. These can include relaxation and “down” training exercises for those with an overactive bladder or a tense, high tone pelvic floor. Myofascial release -- a type of gentle massage -- can be helpful for patients with pelvic floor pain. Biofeedback therapy is another option.
“Pelvic floor therapy helps empower patients because they can do it on their own once they see a therapist who can extend those lessons they learn in therapy,” Nettey said. “It’s beneficial and harmless to patients and is pretty noninvasive compared to other therapies offered. Patients who are interested in learning more about pelvic floor therapy should consult their urologist or gynecologist.”
As of June 1, the FDA approved the first drug in its class to treat menopausal hot flashes. Veozah (fezolinetant) is an oral medication indicated for moderate to severe hot flashes.
Although hormone therapy is well-tolerated for some women, others do not want it or cannot have it. Hormone therapy has been linked with an increased risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular disease.
“It is good to have a non-estrogen product for women,” said pharmacist Sarah Driscoll, pharmacy operations supervisor at Oswego Health.
Veozah is a different class of medication than previous drugs used to treat hot flashes. It works by interrupting the pathways in the brain related to hot flashes, which is a different mechanism for reducing hot flashes than other prescription drugs. During its trial by week one those taking Veozah experience a 50% reduction of hot flashes and that continues to improve by week 12. The diversity of the trial, both in the ethnicity and BMI of the participants, bodes for a much broader efficacy than trials that include fewer types of women.
“Since it’s metabolized by the liver, if you have liver dysfunction, it’s probably not best for that patient,” Driscoll said.
Patients’ liver function is monitored every three months for the first year they use Veozah for this reason. Patients will need to shoulder these costs.
She added that side effects could include nausea, vomiting, and, because of liver dysfunction, yellowing of the eyes and skin. Veozah is contraindicated for women with liver disease or liver problems.
“It’s a conversation patients should have before starting it,” Driscoll said. “If patients have cirrhosis of the liver or end-stage renal disease, they should not take it.”
Sleepiness is another side effect of Veozah. However, many menopausal women struggle with sleep, so most women do not find that bothersome if they take their dose in the evening. Some women expe-
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Women with abnormally heavy and painful menstruation should not ignore the issue.
Most women experience a period that lasts two to seven days and expel two to three tablespoons of blood over that timeframe. Minimal cramping or managing cramping with over-the-counter medication is normal. However, extremely painful, debilitating cramps are not. The latter can cause women to take sick leave.
For example, extreme bleeding can cause iron deficiency or chronic anemia. Women may experience chronic fatigue. It can even cause issues with mental health and cognition.
Many women delay seeking help for heavy periods. If it’s minimized, they may think they’re “being wimps” for speaking up and asking for help from their healthcare providers.
“Sometimes, it can be embarrassing for women to discuss the amount of bleeding or how much it’s affecting their quality of life,” said Keila Muniz, urogynecologist with St.
Joseph’s Health. “It can be difficult to get into see a clinician, depending on availability, office wait times and insurance coverage. Some patients have a fear of what the pelvic exam actually entails, especially if they’ve had a prior negative exam or history of abuse. The other thing is that sometimes unfortunately, a heavy bleeding episode can indicate a pregnancy or pregnancy loss.
“It’s something that patients need to come to terms with. It’s important for patients to advocate for themselves and if they get resistance, they need to insist they see a specialist who can help them with menstrual issues.”
Many women may also fear a diagnosis of uterine or cervical cancer or a disease in their reproductive system. But Muniz said that it’s more likely that the cause is a benign polyp, uterine fibroids, trauma or an injury or fall.
The thought of various treatments may prevent them from seeking help. However, Muniz said that treatment may include medication, surgery or other interventions.
rience nausea and gastrointestinal upset. The medication should be a “tier 2” medication, indicating that most insurance will cover it with a moderate co-pay for patients. But if it is out-of-pocket, it could cost up to $600 per month. Driscoll said that would be a barrier for many women.
Keila Muniz, urogynecologist with St. Joseph’s Health, said that she offers menopausal patients numerous strategies
for dealing with hot flashes, including using air conditioning and fans and dressing in layers to tame the heat. Some non-hormonal medication may help, like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
“These are used for depression but in low doses are good for just hot flashes,” Muniz said. “It’s a pleasant surprise when patients say that they didn’t know that would help.”
SSRI medication offers dual use. The North American Menopausal Society states on its website that women going through menopause are especially prone to depression and that they experience double the rate of depression of younger women.
“We have non-hormonal medication, hormonal medication and more,” said Michelle Chin, physician with Rochester Regional Health.
As to which is appropriate depends upon other health factors and the patient’s preference.
Heavy periods do not often indicate a serious issue. In fact, “most likely, there’s nothing seriously wrong and there’s a treatment that can give them relief,” said Carol Peterson, physician and assistant professor at URMC.
“It’s important to pay attention to this because most of us don’t have lifestyles that can sustain four to five days of cramps and misery,” she added.
Very heavy periods could also indicate fibroids, endometriosis or cancer. Even these more serious diagnoses can potentially be treated. But the first step is to seek help from a provider.
“Talk with your doctor and figure out what’s going on,” Peterson
said. “You can take medication that help decrease the flow. We have a lot of ways to treat heavy periods. You may have a form of hemophilia, which is treated in a different way. Some just have very heavy periods but can be treated.”
For very heavy bleeding, tampons and pads may need changing more than is convenient. Washable period underwear can also provide an additional barrier of protection against leaks.
Menstrual cups and disks require less frequent attention and are reusable, saving money and landfill space. Using a cup can also help women know exactly how much they’re bleeding as some cups include measuring marks. This information can be helpful when talking with a healthcare provider.
Women should discuss with their healthcare provider how to address heavy periods and how treatments relate to their other health concerns and any medications.
“It’s an amazing experience!” said Bill Fahy of Rome, when asked what music does for him.
“What has music done for me? It’s opened up a whole new world! A whole new world of friends — we meet, we play music, we become friends.”
Fahy, a well-known performer and teacher in the Mohawk Valley for many years, plays guitar, mandolin, banjo and bass.
Our brains are wired for music. Music arouses strong emotions and memories. The right music can instantly alter our mood and our outlook. You’ve probably experienced that. Maybe you’re driving along; you put in a CD or turn on the radio and hear a piece of music that you loved in the past. It triggers a reaction in your brain — a reaction that can bring you an emotional peak experience.
For people with dementia, the part of their brain that responds to the music they loved is the last to go. They become alive and may sing along or dance to their favorite music, bringing a few moments of being who they used to be.
Researchers are studying just how music affects our brains, using MRI and PET scans. Advances in the technology of these tools let researches explore how the arts, especially music, impacts us. They are finding that listening to, or making music, has significant benefits to our brains.
Like exercise, eating right and getting a good night’s sleep, scientists are discovering how music is essential for our health and well-being.
For example, as mothers sing to their babies, it relieves symptoms of postpartum depression and enhances bonding by reducing cortisol, a major stress hormone. Other studies show that music can lift your mood, decrease depression, improve blood flow, lower levels of stress related hormones, and even ease pain. Listening to music before an operation even improves outcomes after surgery.
Listening to or playing music
can stir emotions that reduce anxiety, reduce blood pressure, and improve sleep.
To keep your brain engaged throughout the aging process, listening to or playing music is a great tool, as it provides a total brain workout.
There are few things that stimulate the brain the many ways that music does concluded one of the researchers at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Music activates nearly every region of the brain, suggesting why it has so much power to affect us.
Fahy confirmed this: “When I was in my 40s, I felt like I was missing something in my life. So I started playing bass. I got lost in the music. Then I got into the guitar, the banjo, the mandolin. And I got into Bluegrass.”
“Bluegrass opened up a new form of music to me,” he said. “It’s been an amazing experience. It opened up a whole new world of friends. Music opens a lot of doors.”
He’s now the president of the
Mohawk Bluegrass Association and leads its monthly jam sessions.
“I’ve jumped back into it to see what I could do to increase membership,” he said. “We have monthly jam sessions — the second Monday of the month at the Rome Art and Community Center on Bluefield Street. The doors open at 6:30 p.m.; the music starts at 7. Come join in or just listen.”
Because he understands the huge importance of music, Fahy has done extensive research into the music of the Civil War.
“I’ve looked into how much music affected the soldiers that fought in the Civil War; it’s neat,” he said.
He went through the diaries, journals and letters of the soldiers.
“The diary would refer to a song; I’d find the music to that song and learn to play it. I learned quite a bit,” he added.
Fahy’s research on the music of the Civil War soldiers can be found on a YouTube video called “Soldiers Joy.”
And music has another great advantage, according to Fahy and researchers: Across cultures and age groups, music brings people together and builds social connections. There are hundreds of ways to connect with others musically.
There are chorale groups, community choruses and church choirs — most welcome singers of all experience levels. Music lessons of all kinds are available.
Karaoke is fun and a great way to meet people. Karaoke is offered in bars and venues all over. Some venues are more friendly than others; try several to find one you like.
YouTube has all your favorites, all types of music, all types of performers.
Attending concerts and music festivals is a great way to meet people while you also experience the joys of music.
So whether you’re a participant or an audience, a shower singer or a trained performer, there’s bound to be a way to enjoy music, meet new people and bring so many benefits to your health and your brain.
‘Like exercise, eating right and getting a good night’s sleep, scientists are discovering how music is essential for our health and well-being.’Bill Fahy of Rome is a well-know performer and currently serves as president of the Mohawk Bluegrass Association
By Deborah Dittner
Energy…you are all made up of energy. There are times you may not feel so energetic and other times, nothing can stop you.
The different kinds of energy you work with are physical (the quantity of your energy), emotional (the quality of your energy), and mental and spiritual (the focus of your energy).
Let us focus on positive energy, referring to those who are optimistic, enthusiastic, energetic and animated.
Positivity simply creates more positivity. Negativity breeds more negativity.
Therefore, focusing on the positive will help in improving all aspects of your life. But how do you get to this level and what can you do to improve your own energy?
Especially in times when there are so many questions, you sometimes need to delve deeper.
Create healthier and more positive surroundings both at home and at work. Surround yourself with people that make you happy, foods that nourish the body, quality sleep and movement helping you to develop a strong heart, lungs and body. Be aware of your emotions by paying attention to the value of your mindfulness and self-care.
Decreasing negative energy demands continuous work where success requires patience and persistence.
You may be thinking, who has the time to do this kind of work?
With gumption and willingness
to move forward in a positive manner, you can accomplish anything. Practice mindfulness by paying attention to your thoughts and how you are feeling. Maintain focus on the present. What is past, is past. You can’t do anything about it. What may happen tomorrow…you don’t know yet as it’s in the future. Be present in the moment and breathe as you take action for any change that may occur.
Calming the mind and decreasing stress can be accomplished with meditation. Not enough time to meditate? Start with a few minutes daily and as you become more familiar with this practice, you can increase the time. Sitting in a comfortable position with your feet on the floor and hands resting in your lap…breathe. Concentrate on your breathing by using a 4-7-8 pattern (breathing in through your nose to the count of four, hold to the count of seven, and exhale through your mouth to the count of eight), or a box breathing pattern (4-4-4-4…inhale through your nose to the count of four, hold to the count of four, exhale through your mouth to the count of four and hold to the count of four — repeat a minimum of three times).
Pranayama is a yogic breathing technique to help balance energy creating calmness and a more aware state of being. There are many other examples of breathwork that you may have experienced while practicing yoga and more. Do what is right for you and your body. Through meditation and breathwork you can
learn to control your thoughts and improve your awareness by attracting positive energy. These practices help create stability, center the body and mind, and create a closer inner connection.
A practice in gratitude is another simple way to create positive energy and emotions. Be grateful for the goodness in your life. Meditate on the wonderful things and people you have in your life on a daily basis. These can be simple things in life to start and become more detailed as your practice moves forward. A gratitude journal is a way to write down those things that you are grateful for. You can make this part of your bedtime routine. Start with writing about three things you are grateful for and why. Some write gratitude notes then put them in a jar. Reading these come the New Year (or other event you choose) can be fun and a wonderful way to remember happy moments. Change your words. Now what does that mean? If you are thinking or self-talking about negative things,
change those negative words into positive words. This may take some practice but once you get the hang of it, you’ll see how well it works. Changing those negative words and thoughts by focusing on the positive things that are in your life and the things that you are grateful for will change your inside chatter to positive talk making you feel happier and healthier.
Be positive and create more positivity in your life. Breathe…Balance…Benefit for today and always.
Every July, we take pride in celebrating our nation’s independence. For nearly 90 years, our programs have helped provide financial independence to millions of hardworking people. We have useful online tools like the Social Security Statement (statement) and our benefits estimator tool that help people not yet receiving benefits. The statement shows the benefits that you and your family may be entitled to includes personalized fact sheets tailored to your age and earnings situation. The benefits estimator tool allows you to get estimates based on different ages you want to begin receiving benefits. These tools can help you plan for financial independence in retirement.
Don’t receive benefits? You can get the most out of your online experience if you have a personal My Social Security account. You can:
• Get your statement instantly.
• Request a replacement Social Security card (in nearly every state and the District of Columbia).
• Find out if you qualify for benefits.
• Appeal a decision we made on
Q.: Will my retirement benefits increase if I wait and retire after my full retirement age?
A: Yes. You can increase your Social Security retirement benefit in two ways:
• You can increase your retirement benefit by a certain percentage if you delay receiving retirement benefits. We will add these increases automatically from the time you reach full retirement age until you start receiving benefits or reach age 70.
• If you work, each additional year you work adds another year of earnings to your Social Security record. Higher lifetime earnings may result in higher benefits when you do retire.
For more information, visit www. ssa.gov/pubs to read, print, or listen to our publication, “When to Start Receiving Retirement Benefits.” You also can use our “Retirement Estimator” at www.ssa.gov/estimator to determine your estimated future benefits.
Q.: Will my Social Security disability benefit increase if my condition gets worse or I develop additional health problems?
A: No. We do not base your Social Security benefit amount on the severity of your disability. The amount you are paid is based on
your claim.
Already receiving benefits? If so, you can use your personal my Social Security account to:
• Request a replacement Social Security card (in nearly every state and the District of Columbia).
• Get an instant benefit verification letter for Social Security, Medicare, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
• Start or change your direct deposit (Social Security beneficiaries only).
• Check your information and benefit amount.
• Change your address (Social Security beneficiaries only).
• Request a replacement Medicare card.
• Get a replacement SSA-1099 or SSA-1042S instantly for tax season.
• Report your wages if you work and receive disability benefits or SSI. You can create your personal My Social Security account at www.ssa. gov/myaccount.
With so many services and helpful information available online, we are here for you when it’s convenient for you. Be sure to tell friends and family about all they can do at www.ssa.gov.
your average lifetime earnings before your disability began. If you go back to work after getting disability benefits, you may be able to get a higher benefit based on those earnings. In addition, we have incentives that allow you to work temporarily without losing your disability benefits. For more information about disability benefits, read our publications “Disability Benefits and Working While Disabled — How We Can Help.” Both are available online at www.ssa. gov/pubs.
Q.: My grandfather, who is receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), will be coming to live with me. Does he have to report the move to Social Security?
A: Yes. An SSI beneficiary must report any change in living arrangements before the 10th day of the following month. If you do not report the change, your grandfather could receive an incorrect payment and have to pay it back, or he may not receive all the money that he is due. Failure to report a change to us could result in the deduction of a penalty from his SSI benefits. Your grandfather also needs to report the new address to us to receive mail from us. You can report the change by mail or in person at any Social Security office or call us toll-free at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). You can get more information by reading “Understanding SSI” at www.ssa.gov/ ssi.
Is it possible to collect Social Security benefits from my ex-spouse? We were married for 12 years but have been divorced for almost 20 years now.
Never Remarried
Yes, depending on your specific circumstances, you may very well be eligible for divorced spouses Social Security benefits. Here’s what you should know.
A divorced spouse can collect a Social Security retirement benefit on the earnings record of their ex-husband (or ex-wife) if you are at least age 62, were married for at least 10 years, are unmarried, and are not eligible for a higher benefit based on your own earnings record.
In order to collect, your former spouse must also be at least 62 and eligible for Social Security benefits. But he doesn’t have to be receiving them in order for you to collect divorced spouse’s benefits, as long as you’ve been divorced for at least two years.
Even if your ex is remarried, it won’t affect your right to divorcee benefits, nor will it affect your ex’s retirement benefits or his current spouse’s benefits.
A divorced spouse can receive up to 50% of their ex’s full Social Security benefit, or less if they take benefits before their full retirement age, which is 66 for people born in 1945-1954 but is gradually increased to age 67 for people born in 1960 or later. To find out your full retirement age and see how much your benefits will be reduced by taking them early see SSA.gov/benefits/retirement/ planner/agereduction.html.
Keep in mind though, that if you qualify for benefits based on your own work history, you’ll receive the larger of the two benefits. You cannot receive benefits on both your record, and your ex’s work record too.
To find out how much your retirement benefits will be, see your Social Security statement at SSA.gov/ myaccount. And to get an estimate of your ex’s benefits, call Social Security at 800-772-1213. You’ll need to show your marriage certificate and divorce decree to prove your marriage lasted at least 10 years along with his Social Security number to get it.
You also need to be aware that working can affect your divorced spouse’s benefits. If you start taking benefits while working, and are under full retirement age, your benefits will be reduced $1 for every $2 you earn above the annual limit, which is $21,240 in 2023. In the year you reach full retirement age, however, the annual limit increases to $56,520 and the reduction lowers to $1 for every $3 above that limit. See SSA. gov/pubs/EN-05-10069.pdf for more details.
Another factor that can reduce your divorced spouse’s benefits is receiving a pension from an employer that did not withhold Social Security taxes (like a government). This is a rule know as Government Pension Offset (see SSA.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/gpo-calc.html) which can reduce your benefits by twothirds of the amount of your pension.
You also need to know that when your ex-spouse dies (and if you were married for 10 or more years), you become eligible for divorced survivor benefits, which is worth up to 100% of what your ex-spouse was due.
Survivor benefits are available to divorced spouses as early as age 60 (50 if you’re disabled). But if you remarry before 60, you become ineligible unless the marriage ends. Remarrying after age 60 will not affect your eligibility.
Also note that if you are receiving divorced spouses benefits when your ex-spouse dies, you will automatically be switched over to the higher paying survivor benefit.
For more information visit SSA. gov/benefits/retirement/planner/ applying7.html and click on “Benefits for Your Divorced Spouse.”
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
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The American Heart Association
Oneida Health recently announced that Chief Financial Officer Jeremiah Sweet will also serve as interim president and chief executive officer effective June 1. He succeeds Jonathan Schiller, who left the organization at the end of May.
Oneida Health’s board of directors began a nationwide search for Oneida Health’s next president and CEO in February following Schiller’s announcement. The board anticipated filling the role with a candidate sometime in the fall.
“During this process, we have been able to attract a number of very qualified candidates already for the president and CEO position,” said Michael Kallet, board chairman. “Between our reputation for quality care, breadth of services and our independence as a not-for-profit healthcare
organization, we are a very desirable destination. We will be able to take our pick from some of the nation’s top talent.”
Sweet joined Oneida Health as CFO in 2017 after working many years at the Bassett Healthcare Network.
“Since his entry into the organization Jeremiah has contributed greatly to the continued success of Oneida Health as a regional healthcare provider,” said Kallet. “His competence, collegiality and willingness to go above and beyond have earned him the respect of all of us here at Oneida Health during his tenure. We can all take comfort in knowing that the organization will be in very capable hands as this process concludes.”
Sweet will retain his authority as chief financial officer during the transition.
and Plattsburgh.
Jim Reedhas awarded Excellus BlueCross BlueShield national silver level recognition for its commitments to employee health and well-being as measured in the association’s 2022 Workforce Well-being Scorecard.
The scorecard evaluates factors such as mental health policies, organizational well-being strategies to address burnout, health equity measures, employee financial resources and more to provide a comprehensive assessment of an organization’s culture of health. A total of 381 organizations completed the scorecard in 2022, and all organizations were recognized with an achievement level of platinum (9%), gold (45%), silver (32%), bronze (9%) or completer (5%).
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, headquartered in Rochester, is part of a $6 billion family of companies that finances and delivers health care services across Upstate New York and long-term care insurance nationwide. Collectively, the enterprise provides health insurance to nearly 1.5 million members and employs about 4,000 New Yorkers.
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield maintains a strong local presence through four regional headquarters in Rochester, Syracuse, Elmira and Utica, with additional field offices in Binghamton, Watertown
Excellus BCBS’s employee wellbeing program, be WELL for LIFE, focuses on five areas: emotional support, mindfulness, nourishment, movement, and connection. To meet personal health goals, employees are offered challenges, weekly and monthly classes, webinars, the well-being incentive program, and a variety of resources. The program is run by two full-time employees and facilitated through an employee wellness committee.
For more information and a full list of recognized organizations, visit heart.org/workforce.
For the third year in a row, Life
Lifetime Benefit Solutions offers a full suite of ancillary benefits and specialty programs to help round out employer’s traditional benefits. Each is built with scalability and flexibility in mind, providing added security to help both businesses and employees grow.
“The achievements and accomplishments of our Circle of Excellence members inspire us all to reach higher and do more,” says Robert Deshaies, chief operating officer of the Americas, WEX. “These organizations repeatedly rise to challenges and serve as catalysts for innovation. We are honored and humbled to celebrate their successes.”
ence, Pietryka initially joined Rome Health in 2006 and the Women’s Breast Center at Rome Health in 2022 with an extensive nursing
Trish Mooneytime Benefit Solutions (LBS) has been inducted into the Circle of Excellence by WEX, the global commerce platform. Syracuse-based LBS, with offices in Rochester and Buffalo, is an industry leader in designing, developing, and deploying reimbursement accounts, COBRA, retirement accounts and other employee wellness-related plans that promote employee health while safeguarding a company’s financial health.
“This honor places LBS among the top echelon of third-party administrators,” says LBS President Trish Mooney. “We are so proud of our team.”
Two nurses in Rome Health’s
Breast Imaging Center of Excellence have earned the designation as certified breast health clinical navigators for their skill and competency to navigate patients through the breast patient’s cancer continuum of care.
As certified breast health clinical navigators, registered nurses Kelly Pietryka and Jennifer Shepherd assist patients in accessing care and navigating health care systems. They support patients through advocacy, education, coordination of care and continued assessment of barriers and needs.
With 28 years of nursing experi-
Jennifer Shepherd
background in radiation oncology, medical oncology, plastic surgery and health coaching. She is also a board-certified nurse health coach which helps to enhance our patient’s health and wellness. Shepherd joined the hospital in 2004 and has 22 years of nursing experience. She has extensive experience in all aspects of nursing in Medical Imaging from coordinating and assisting patients in all type of minimally invasive biopsies, and navigating radiology patients. This experience has helped guide the path for many of our imaging patients.
“Because of their experience, Kelly and Jennifer understand the healthcare system to help patients better understand each step of the process as they begin their journey to wellness,” said Medical Imaging Director Sharon M. Carson. “The ability to communicate to patients exactly what to expect when undergoing a procedure helps reduce anxiety, allowing them to become an informed and active participant in their treatment plan.”
Rome Health’s Breast Center is accredited by the American College of Radiology as a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence and participates in the National Quality Measures for Breast Centers program, as evidence of its commitment to provide each patient with the highest quality of care.
Frank chose non-surgical CyberKnife® at HOA –offering 5 treatments instead of 35!
“The original diagnosis was to treat my prostate cancer with seven weeks of radiation, five days a week. I was kind of upset that I was never given the option of CyberKnife,” said Frank. “The precise radiation achieved by CyberKnife, far fewer treatments, and the personalized care I received from Dr. Chin and his team made my decision an easy one. Better, the treatment was a real success!”
engineer says he always wanted
come
He opened Junco Brewing
for a summer of color.
What would you say is the single most valuable thing you can do to stay healthy and happy as you age?
You might say exercising or being active every day, or maybe eating less unhealthy food and more healthy food, or getting a good night’s sleep.
You wouldn’t be wrong — all of those things are valuable.
However, the most valuable is not on that list. The most valuable thing you can do to stay healthy and happy as you age is connecting with others.
This surprising finding is from the Harvard study, done by Harvard Medical School, which has followed a group of Harvard students and other men for the past 85 years. The study found that meaningful social connections play a huge role in our
in this column that I just moved into a retirement complex. I didn’t know anyone living there or anyone in the city I was moving to. I know the importance of connecting with others. As I’m an introvert, I knew I’d need to step outside of my comfort zone to make connections.
In that column, I said I was considering this an experiment — my own research project — and I’d let you know how it worked out.
My experiment was a success; I have made friends with most everybody, of course, some closer than others.
There’s my neighbor, Evelyn, a feisty 91-year-old fighting dementia with all she has. We walk to and from meals together, sit together at meals.
Then there’s Lila, my age, like me still active mentally and phys
his home, car and boat. Before that, the once-research scientist crashed his motorcycle, damaging his brain. He asks me for advice as he recognizes that his judgment is impaired.
I think what helped me make friends is that I’m able to smile easily and make eye contact. As I worked with people all my life, developing the ability to remember their names and stories. People love that I remember.
As I’m reserved in sharing information about myself, I do better asking questions and listening.
“The most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we give each other is our attention,” said author Rachel Naomi Remen in one of her books; she worked with people with terminal illnesses.
I do need to be careful about my question-asking so it doesn’t feel like an interrogation. I need to remind myself to be more open and sharing
And I’ve done things purposely to help me connect to others. Like volunteering to work in the residents-run little store. I’ve become friends with Kay who comes in often to buy an ice cream sandwich, Tom who buys milk duds daily, Rose Marie, cat food. I’m happy to see each
I lead an exercise group, moving to music on YouTube; I’m the bingo caller; I help in the library. And notice when newcomers move in, helping make them
feel OK.
I’ve had the advantage of people living in the same apartment complex to become friends. It’s harder when you have to get in your car and go out to be with people. But I encourage you to do that: find something you would enjoy and go. Volunteer, join a regular social group at a church, community center, and library; investigate a new hobby, or revive an old one.
Remember that friendships don’t grow without effort. When you meet someone intriguing, be bold and suggest a next step, like coffee or lunch. A simple overture can go a long way; you never know where it could lead. Many of us hit a wall here; I certainly do. But if you don’t take action, you won’t form any new relationships.
Once you’ve made a new friend, stay in touch. Regular contact deepens your connection with others.
I’m especially excited because the person that I’ve developed the strongest connection with is a man — he makes me laugh, thinks much the same as I do, enjoys the same things I do.
We want to be together and are moving into an apartment together. A transition that I am sure will bring me much joy.