Gv igh 123 nov15

in good November 2015 • Issue 123

The Martian Could “The Martian’s” Scientist Survive on Potatoes Alone?

Expert Alert: Are CT Scans Safe?

Mayo Clinic radiation safety expert writes a paper with clear answers to potential patients’ fear of CT scans

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priceless

Rochester’s Healthcare Newspaper

Alzheimer’s Tsunami Coming How bad is the problem? Pretty bad, experts say. Just consider this: The number of people affected will nearly triple in a few decades.

PLUS: 10 Early Signs You May Have Alzheimer’s

‘Tennis Elbow’ Bothering You?

Saving Lives in Ontario County

Read what the experts say about it

Canandaigua Emergency Squad celebrates 75 years of service US Surgeon General Launches Call to Action on Walking

The organization receives more than 4,000 calls — an average of 80 calls per week., including auto accidents, cardiac arrest, you name it.

In addition, the squad provides paramedic intercept service to any ambulance service in Ontario County requesting assistance.

Why you should eat more leek

Read the SmartBites column

­

Meet Your Doctor Program developed at Highland Hospital in Rochester will be replicated nationally.

Meet Daniel Mendelson, the doc in charge.

November 2015 •

A life devoted to serving the homeless Fran Morse is retiring from her position as director at Dimitri House — after 25 years

Blueberry Extract Could Help Fight Gum Disease, Reduce Antibiotic Use

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • November 2015

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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CALENDAR of

HEALTH EVENTS

Nov 3, 10, and 17

Workshop for women who live alone Do you live alone? Is it a challenge for you? “Living Alone: How to Survive and Thrive on Your Own” is a three-part workshop offered for women who want to rediscover joy

and contentment, and to gain the know-how to forge a meaningful life on their own. You’ll meet others in similar situations and learn practical strategies to overcome loneliness, rediscover your true self, and socialize in a couples’ world. The workshop takes place from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at House Content Bed & Breakfast in Mendon on three consecutive Tuesdays: Nov. 3, 10, and17. Light refresh-

INFORMATION

FREE WORKSHOPS presented by

FOR OLDER ADULTS & CAREGIVERS

Sponsored by

With generous support from

A Day of Hearing

November 5, 9 am - 4 pm Location: Lifespan, 1900 S. Clinton Ave. In conjunction with the Hearing Loss Association of America, Rochester Chapter.

Featuring FREE hearing screenings and information about assistive devices. Informational presentations. Reservations are NOT required.

Stop-in at any time during the day.

Veterans Benefits

November 6, 2 - 3:30 pm Laura Stradley, Director, Monroe County Veterans Service Agency Location: Lifespan, 1900 S. Clinton Ave. Many veterans need additional information about benefits including health care, compensation for injuries in the form of service-connected disability, nursing home pensions and memorial/ indemnity compensation. This presentation will inform veterans and their families about those benefits and how to apply for them.

Medicaid & Financing Long-term Care

November 9, 10 - 11:30 am Alan Illig, Esq., (retired), Financial Specialist, Lifespan Location: Lifespan, 1900 S. Clinton Ave. Learn more about how to prepare financially for the possibility of nursing home care.

Stressbusters

November 10, 10 - 11:30 am Suzanne Feather, MVP Health Care Location: Lifespan, 1900 S. Clinton Ave. What creates stress for you? Learn ways to incorporate stress reduction into your busy day.

This class will discuss stretching and breathing exercises, a simple meditation, and ways to make some time to de-stress throughout your day.

Total Recall

November 13, 10 - 11:30 am Suzanne Feather, MVP Health Care Location: Lifespan, 1900 S. Clinton Ave. Take a look at the mechanism of memory and relieve the concern that changes are unavoidable.

Learn easy techniques to improve your memory, what foods can help, and how to stimulate your brain to keep it sharp now and in the future.

Housing Options for Older Adults

November 19, 5 - 6:30 pm Lisa Wholley, LMSW, Eldersource Care Manager Location: Lifespan, 1900 S. Clinton Ave. Housing options are numerous, confusing and sometimes expensive. In this session we will review what is available in our community and explain the multiple levels of care.

Check for more workshops at lifespanrochester.org

RESERVATIONS Register online at www.lifespanrochester.org/new-events/ ARE REQUIRED. or call 585-244-8400, ext. 401.

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Nov. 21

ments are served. The workshop fee of $145 includes a Living Alone binder, empowerment exercises, and helpful tips and resources you can trust. To learn more, contact Gwenn Voelckers at 585 624-7887 or email gvoelckers@rochester.rr.com. Voelckers is the author of Living Alone column published every month in this newspaper.

Pancreatic cancer group sponsors indoor event The Pancreatic Cancer Association of Western New York will sponsor its 6th annual Step It Up! Cure Pancreatic Cancer 5K Walk, which will take place from 12 – 4 p.m., Nov. 21 at RIT’s Gordon Field House at One Lomb Memorial Drive.

The annual fundraiser, which is held in conjunction with National Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, is an indoor event geared to create awareness and generate financial resources to support local efforts toward early detection and research at the Wilmot Cancer Institute.

Mark Kokanovich, an 11-year pancreatic cancer survivor and a former Wilmot Cancer Institute board member, was named the honorary chairman of the event. Kokanovich was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in February 2004. He underwent over a year and a half of treatment ending August 2005. His professional career spans 22 years in the metalworking machinery industry.

He currently devotes his time to service on numerous civic and community nonprofit and nonprofit boards and councils.

Walk details and registration can be found at www.pcawny.org.

Nov. 6

Luncheon, reception mark national adoption month In honor of national adoption month, Children Awaiting Parents (CAP) will host its annual Heart Gallery Luncheon and a reception at the Rochester Museum & Science Center’s Strasenburgh Planetarium with special guest speaker, psychologist, author and adoptive parent, Michael Bradley. He will share offer tried-and-true strategies to meet the needs of teens. Free to the public, this is a family-friendly event to increase awareness of the need for adoptive homes for older children. The luncheon will start atNoon and will cost $50 per person or $90 for two people.

The reception will be held at 6 p.m. and it’s free of charge.

For more information, visit www.

ChildrenAwaitingParents.org or call 585-232-5110.

Want to share your health-related event with thousands of readers? Just email the item before the 10th of each month to: editor@GVhealthnews.com

Serving Monroe and Ontario Counties in good A monthly newspaper published

Health Rochester–GV Healthcare Newspaper

by Local News, Inc. Distribution: 33,500 copies throughout more than 1,500 high traffic locations.

In Good Health is published 12 times a year by Local News, Inc. © 2015 by Local News, Inc. All rights reserved.

106 Cobblestone Court Dr., Suite 121 – P.O. Box 525, Victor NY 14564.

• Phone: 585-421-8109 • Email: Editor@GVhealthnews.com

Editor & Publisher: Wagner Dotto • Associate Editor: Lou Sorendo Writers: Jim Miller, Deborah J. Sergeant, Gwenn Voelckers, Anne Palumbo, Ernst Lamothe Jr., Chris Motola, George W. Chapman, Jessica Gaspar, Deborah Blackwell, Kathe Healy Advertising: Donna Kimbrell, Anne Westcott Layout & Design: Chris Crocker • Office Manager: Alice Davis No material may be reproduced in whole or in part from this publication without the express written permission of the publisher. The information in this publication is intended to complement—not to take the place of—the recommendations of your health provider. Consult your physician before making major changes in your lifestyle or health care regimen.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • November 2015

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‘Tennis Elbow’ Usually Heals Without Therapy, Study Finds

Expert Alert: Are CT Scans Safe?

For most people, pain is gone within a year

M

ost people with tennis elbow recover without physical therapy and steroid injections, according to a study by researchers in Norway.

“I’m not surprised because that’s really been the classic teaching,” said Joshua Dines, an orthopedic surgeon at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.

“The number that’s often cited is that 90 percent of tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, will get better by the end of the year no matter what you do.”

Study first author Morten Olaussen, a specialist in family medicine at the University of Oslo, agreed that the finding was expected.

But, he added, “it is interesting to note that after one year, as much as one-third of the patients still reported considerable discomfort.”

What was surprising, said Olaussen, was that physical therapy was not effective. “It has been shown to be effective in earlier research but then on more chronic conditions,” he said.

In their study, published recently in BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, Olaussen and his colleagues looked at outcomes for 177 Norwegian patients with a recent onset of tennis

elbow pain.

Symptoms of tennis elbow include a weak grip and pain from damage to tendons in the forearm. Often, this happens from repetitive use, such as with tennis, golf or carpentry.

The patients in this study had experienced their symptoms for up to three months. Each was randomly assigned to one of three groups: either no treatment except for drugs such as naproxen (Aleve); physical therapy for 12 sessions along with two corticosteroid injections to reduce inflammation; or 12 sessions of physical therapy and two placebo injections.

Patients underwent the therapies for six weeks, and they were tracked for one year. At the end of that time, 157 people had completed the study.

Overall, improvement with physical therapy plus placebo injection or steroid injection was about the same as with no treatment at all.

For three-fourths of the patients, the elbow pain had disappeared at one year, regardless of which group they were in.

But at least one-quarter still had symptoms at one year.

W

ith questions lingering about the safety of medical imaging and the radiation that is used in some of those tests, Mayo Clinic radiation safety expert Cynthia McCollough wrote a paper that provides clear answers that she hopes will allay patients’ fears.

McCollough wrote “Answers to Common Questions About the Use and Safety of CT Scans,” which was published Oct. 1 in Mayo Clinic Proceedings as a Q&A in an effort to provide credible, balanced information about how much radiation a CT scan delivers and what levels are considered safe.

So, are CT scans safe?

Yes, says McCollough.

Patients can get a prescribed CT scan without worrying, McCollough says. “Radiation has a bad rap. The Incredible Hulk and Spider Man were mutants created from some radiation exposure; that’s science fiction. The truth is we are all ex-

posed to radiation every day of our lives, with no evidence that those low doses cause any longterm harm.”

Areas that have higher background radiation levels (from the sun and radon in the ground, for example) have lower cancer rates. If there is a cause and effect, it’s simply too small to measure. And, because of increased research and updates in technology, less radiation also is used these days in medical imaging.

“Over the past decade, the radiation doses used in CT have been cut by almost a factor of two,” McCollough says. “The current dose levels are not dangerous, but if we can use less, we will. I can take two Tylenol for a headache and not worry about it being dangerous. But, if one Tylenol will get rid of my headache, it is prudent medicine to take a lower dose — and that is what we want with radiation.”

In addition, radiologists are keenly aware that radiation doses will vary based on patient size, so children are given a child-size dose instead of the amount an adult would receive.

“What we have done over the past decade is, as a community, launched national and international campaigns to make sure that CT providers understand that they need to right-size the dose and dial down for the little ones,” McCollough says.

Healthcare in a Minute

By George W. Chapman

Career opportunity

Researchers predict a shortfall of 130,000 nurses by 2025. There are about 2.8 million active nurses right now. The good news is, while 40 percent of RNs are over 50, the average age (recently peaked at 44) is declining as older nurses leave and younger nurses enter the workforce.

The bad news is the surge in nursing school enrollment in the 2000s has leveled off. Nursing, then, is still a pathway to a steady and good paying job. Nursing jobs at hospitals remain the most competitive, but hospitals typically hold out for experienced nurses as the acuity level of inpatients continues to rise.

Geriatricians needed

As the U.S. population continues to age, there will be an increasing need for these specialists who handle the complex medical problems of seniors. According to an article in Kaiser Health News, we will need 30,000 geriatricians by 2030. Right now, there are only 7,000 of these board certified specialists. The two keys to successfully turning out more geriatricians are medical students electing the specialty and hospitals converting existing residency slots to geriatrics. In any event, all physicians (except pediatricians, of course) will have to make adjustments in their modus operandi as their patients age.

Your doctor bill

As of Oct. 1, 2015, physicians are required to include much more diagnostic information and detail when submitting their bill to your insurance company for payment. The old diagnostic coding system was called ICD9 or International Classification of Diseases version 9. The latest version is ICD10. The number of diagnostic codes jumps from 14,000 under the old system to 69,000-plus under the new. Understandably, there will be some confusion, delays and honest mistakes made as physicians and insurers get used to the incredible amount of extra data required in claims processing. Consequently, you will need to be patient with both your doctor and insurance company as they become acclimated to ICD10. According to Forbes magazine, it is estimated that 25 percent of physicians are not prepared for the transition.

Health Republic Insurance shut down

New York state’s only co-op type healthcare insurer was ordered to cease operations by the NYS Department of Financial Services. Existing policies will be honored but not renewed. Last year Health Republic lost $77.5 million. It is projected to lose over $100 million this year.

Health Republic had a good start with a $241 million low-interest loan November 2015 •

from the feds and 200,000 members.

However, as discussed here previously, no matter how many members enrolled, the relatively low/unrealistic premiums were unsustainable.

Claims surpassed premiums by tens of millions. Inexplicably, the NYS Department of Financial Services, which reviews premiums on behalf of consumers, approved Health Republic premiums that were 30 percent below what other carriers on the exchange were offering. Many thought Health Republic was doomed from the start.

Uninsured decreasing

The Affordable Care Act provided two avenues for previously uninsured or under-insured Americans to purchase healthcare insurance.

First, it expanded Medicaid eligibility from 100 percent of federal poverty guidelines to 133 percent. Despite the fact that the federal government pays the bulk of the additional cost, some states opted out. (New York is in.)

Second, it set up healthcare exchanges so individuals could purchase insurance from private commercial carriers. As a result, in the last two years, the national percentage of uninsured has decreased from 17.3 percent to 11.7 percent. Massachusetts and Rhode Island have the lowest percentage of uninsured at less than 3 percent. New York is at 8.3 percent.

The states with the most uninsured

tend to be those that opted out of the expanded Medicaid program such as Texas at 20.8 percent and Wyoming at 18.2 percent.

Consumer satisfaction

A study based on 27,000 surveys, published in the American Journal of Medical Quality, found that patient satisfaction was somewhat correlated to the site of service. Physician care and concern had the biggest impact on patient satisfaction in outpatient or office based pediatrics. Nursing care was most important to patient satisfaction in hospital care. Overall personal care, or attention paid to the patient by all staff, had the biggest impact in emergency rooms.

Not surprisingly, patient satisfaction dropped precipitously the longer the patient waited for care. The research found that team-based care is the key to higher patient satisfaction.

George W. Chapman is a health consultant who operates GW Chapman Consulting in Upstate New York.

To reach him, email gwc@gwchapmanconsulting.com.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Meet

Your Doctor

By Chris Motola

Daniel Ari Mendelson, M.D. Procedure developed at Highland Hospital in Rochester to be replicated nationally Q: Tell me about the hip fracture treatment standards you developed.

A: So the geriatric fracture center at Highland Hospital is a co-management model for taking care of patients with fragility fractures.

Co-management is the concept of sharing management between two physicians. So all of our patients are assigned both a geriatrician and an orthopedic surgeon when they have a fragility fracture. And what we’ve found is that the sum is greater than its parts. Having a master surgeon and a master medical physician managing a patient is the best of both worlds. As you can imagine, patients with fragility fractures have a lot of other medical issues going on. Those problems will often make a surgeon nervous. Without having a geriatrician to help manage those problems, delays or complications can arise. By having them both work together, the goal is to turn a major life-altering event into a bump in the road.

Q: On some level this seems like a very common sense approach. Is there a reason why this is only starting to happen?

A: Part of it has to do with what the typical reimbursement models have been. Typically people think about what’s medically necessary.

For example, is it medically necessary to have another doctor involved? Isn’t a surgeon a doctor? Yes, of course a surgeon is a doctor, but the world’s become more complex, and patients have special needs that the old systems weren’t addressing.

Under the global payment system, when a surgeon does a procedure, they’re paid for the total medical management of that patient for 100 days for things related to the surgery.

So there wasn’t a natural impetus to say, while the surgeon is managing the fracture, who is managing the heart disease, the pulmonary disease.

Who’s managing the diabetes? The kidney failure? It is common sense for someone who is an expert at managing those issues to be involved, but it was never the tradition. We’re trying to change that. We believe our model should be the standard of care given [based on] how good the outcomes are. The other reason is that there just aren’t enough geriatricians to care for all the patients who could benefit from this. There are between 250,000 and 300,000 hip fractures every year in this country. There are less than 7,000 geriatricians in America. Most of them aren’t hospital-based. However, what we’re looking at a model to help teach other Page 6

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hospital-based physicians do what we do so well. So geriatricians might be setting up the program and doing quality management, but other physicians can help do the bulk of the management.

Q: What factors do you have to be cognizant of when performing surgery on the elderly?

A: One of the biggest is delirium, confusion that happens in the hospital. One of the biggest risk factors is dementia. About 50 percent of the patients we see at Highland have dementia, so the risk of delirium is very high for our patients. By co-managing them, they do a whole lot better.

The other complications you see is kidney issues, breathing issues, infections and even other falls if you don’t have good systems in place.

Q: How widespread is this practice?

A: It’s hard to say for sure.

The Joint Commission now has certification in fracture management,

In the News Older adults hospitalized with hip fractures recover more successfully when orthopedic surgeons and geriatricians care for them in collaboration.

That’s the premise of an innovative program already in place at Highland Hospital that will be replicated on a nationwide scale.

With support from the John A. Hartford Foundation of New York, the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) and the Association of Directors of Geriatric Academic Programs (ADGAP) will develop plans for the launch of a national program designed to replicate this collaborative co-management geriatric care model for older adults hospitalized with hip fractures.

The initiative is spearheaded under the direction of physician Daniel Ari Mendelson, associate chief of medicine at Highland Hospital and professor of medicine, division of geriatrics at the University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry.

and most of those are co-management programs. I know there are at least 50 other programs copying us in the U.S. I’m not aware of any programs as robust as ours though.

Worldwide, there are probably another 50 or so.

Q: What got this program started? Was it the determination to get it done, or did the more outcome-based standards of the new health care law help make its case?

A: The program started when one of our surgeons came to me and noted that we have a different way of working together and he asked a very simple question: why were there two standards of care?

Shouldn’t there just be one? That was in 2003. At the time it was an opportunity to make a difference.

Now as we’re moving toward more universal outcome standards, patient-centered coordinated care is becoming more of a standard.

Q: How good have the outcomes been?

A: The national rate of mortality for hospitalized patients with fragility fractures is about 2 to 4 percent. We’re able to cut that to 1 to 2 percent. If your program is well run, you can usually cut in-hospital complications by half, in-hospital mortality by half, readmission by half. What was surprising to me is that one-year mortality was reduced by quite a bit.

I can’t really explain

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • November 2015

why that is. Once their hip is healed, you’d expect most of the mortality risk would return to baseline, so that was a surprising result.

Q: How would you try to convince more medical students to be geriatricians?

A: There was a study, I think in the New England Journal of Medicine, that said geriatricians report the highest level of satisfaction of any medical subspecialty. Infectious diseases was a distant second. So as far as a satisfying, rewarding career in medicine, nothing beats it. I think it’s because we do intensive care of frail people who really need our care.

It’s not like taking care of worried but well patients who need a more advisory role from their physician.

It’s hard. It takes a high level of creativity. It takes a lot of working with systems to coordinate care. And it allows you to build a relationship with the patient and family. So we get a lot of respect and recognition for all that. So while it’s hard to make it sound sexy as say, transplant surgery, there are a whole lot more geriatric patients out there.

Q: What does the incoming wave of boomers mean for fragility fracture care?

A: There’s been a dip in the number of hip fractures in the U.S. that we attribute to better health care.

We’re just at the very beginning of what we’re calling the “silver tsunami.” Within 20 years, we could be dealing with almost double of what we’re seeing now. Certainly the advances in the management of bone disease will reduce some of the fractures, but you also have people over the age 85 as the fastest growing part of the population. Part of what we’re working on with our dissemination model is to see if it can be applied to other types of surgery. It’s been applied to neurosurgery and trauma surgery with some good outcomes.

So we’re hoping to see application with geriatric co-management in general as the boomers age.

Lifelines Position: Associate chief of medicine at Highland Hospital, Professor of geriatrics at University of Rochester Hometown: Rochester Education: RIT, University of Rochester Affiliations: Highland Hospital, Strong Memorial, Monroe Community Hospital Organizations: American Geriatric Society, American College of Physicians, American Medical Directors Association Family: Married, two college-aged daughters Hobbies: Scuba-diving, hanging out with dogs

US Surgeon General Launches Campaign with National Call to Action on Walking

T

he United States surgeon general recently issued a call to action to address major public health challenges such as heart disease and diabetes.

Step It Up! The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Promote Walking and Walkable Communities articulates the health benefits of walking while addressing the fact that many communities unacceptably lack safe and convenient places for individuals to walk or wheelchair roll.

“Walking is the simplest way to add more physical activity into our everyday lives,” said Lawrence E. Armstrong, president of the American College of Sports Medicine.

“Research demonstrates numerous health benefits of walking and healthy eating, and ACSM supports this call to action to create healthier, more active communities in the U.S.” Data consistently show there are safety and accessibility issues that make communities less walkable. A 2013 study by the U.S. Department of Transportation, for example, found that three out of every 10 Americans

reported that no sidewalks existed along any streets in their neighborhood. In many communities violence – and the perception of violence – may prove a barrier to walking.

“Everyone deserves to have a safe place to walk or wheelchair roll. But in too many of our communities, that is not the reality,” said Vivek H. Murthy, the 19th U.S. Surgeon General. “We know that an active lifestyle is critical to achieving good overall health. And walking is a simple, effective and affordable way to build physical activity into our lives. That is why we need to step it up as a country ensuring that everyone can choose to walk in their own communities.”

The surgeon general calls on community planners and local leaders to create more areas for walking and wheelchair rolling and to prioritize the development of safe routes for children to get to and from schools. The call to action suggests that these designs should include sidewalks, curb cuts, crosswalks, safe crossings for the visually impaired and more green spaces.

Blueberry Extract Could Help Fight Gum Disease, Reduce Antibiotic Use

G

um disease is a common condition among adults that occurs when bacteria form biofilms or plaques on teeth, and consequently the gums become inflamed. Some severe cases, called periodontitis, call for antibiotics.

But now scientists have discovered that wild blueberry extract could help prevent dental plaque formation.

Their report in ACS’ “Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry” could lead to a new therapy for periodontitis and a reduced need for antibiotics.

Many people have had some degree of gum inflammation, or gingivitis, caused by dental plaque.

The gums get red and swollen, and they bleed easily. If left unchecked, the condition can progress to periodontitis. The plaque hardens into tartar, and the infection can spread below the gum line and destroy the tissue supporting the teeth. To treat

this condition, dentists scrape off the tartar and sometimes have to resort to conventional antibiotics.

But recently, researchers have started looking at natural antibacterial compounds to treat gum disease.

Daniel Grenier and colleagues wanted to see if blueberry polyphenols, which work against foodborne pathogens, could also help fightFusobacterium nucleatum, one of the main species of bacteria associated with periodontitis.

In the lab, the researchers tested extracts from the wild lowbush blueberry, Vaccinium angustifolium Ait., againstF. nucleatum. The polyphenol-rich extracts successfully inhibited the growth of F. nucleatum, as well as its ability to form biofilms.

It also blocked a molecular pathway involved in inflammation, a key part of gum disease. The researchers say they’re developing an oral device that could slowly release the extract after deep cleaning to help treat periodontitis.

November 2015 •

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 7

Live Alone & Thrive

By Gwenn Voelckers

Practical tips, advice and hope for those who live alone

Say ‘No thank you’ this Thanksgiving!

I

n addition to counting your many blessings this Thanksgiving, I encourage all my readers who live alone (as well as those who don’t) to say “No thank you” to those things that get in the way of your personal growth and happiness.

Say “No thank you” to feeling sorry for yourself.

Feeling sorry for yourself only perpetuates a cycle of self-pity that can make you feel sad and needy. Chances are, you’ve survived a lot this year and have gained new self-knowledge and growth. Feel good about that.

Say “No thank you” to self-imposed isolation. We humans aren’t meant to be alone. We’re social creatures and need each other for companionship, stimulation and inspiration. Pick up the phone. Schedule an outing. Invite someone over.

Say “No thank you” to an unmade bed, kitchen clutter and any other depressing signs of discontent at home that make you feel lousy about yourself, conjure up bad or sad memories or zap your energy. Clean up and create a pleasing, harmonious

home.

Say “No thank you” to languishing on the couch. The more you move your body, the healthier it gets and the better you can feel, physically and emotionally.

The good news? Studies show that it doesn’t take an enormous amount of physical exercise to achieve health-enhancing results. About 30 minutes a day of walking, swimming, running or biking can have positive health effects.

Say “No thank you” to over-spending and to credit card debt. Think twice before you make that purchase: Do you really need it? And, can you really afford it? Since most everyone spends more on credit cards, you just might want to leave home without it. Increased financial security, peace of mind and a sense of empowerment are the rewards for those who spend within their means.

Say “No thank you” to jumping into a relationship to avoid feeling lonely. It can be risky. When you are lonely and desperate, it shows, which can make you vulnerable

to the advances of someone with less-than-honorable intentions. Use the gift of time alone for some soul searching, problem solving and future planning. A content and confident person is more likely to attract a quality companion.

Say “No thank you” to having a bowl of cereal for dinner, while standing at the sink. As the saying goes, “You’re worth more than that.”

When it comes to eating alone at home, treat yourself as you would treat a good friend you are having over for dinner. Creating a pleasant “table for one” is a great opportunity to focus on yourself and to nourish your body and spirit at the same time.

Say “No thank you” to negative thinking. Negative self-talk (e.g., “I’ll never meet anyone” or “I hate my body”) unwittingly becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Become aware of negativity, stop it in its tracks and replace it with a positive thought.

Say “No thank you” to friends who complain all the time and bring you down. Instead of helping themselves or the world, complainers spread gloom and doom. Who needs it? Hang out with people who make you smile, lift you up, support you in

your efforts to overcome challenges and generally make you feel good to be alive.

Say “No thank you” to “letting yourself go.” How you look says a lot about you and how you value yourself. Leave the house disheveled and you are likely to be ignored. Spend a few minutes on your appearance, put on a pleasant expression, and watch the world open up. When you care about yourself and your appearance, you radiate vitality. It’s intriguing.

And it can draw people and compliments to you.

Say “No thank you” to feelings of helplessness. Babies are helpless, most adults are not. Learning to master things around the house — from making minor repairs to hiring a painting contractor, from changing the furnace filter to winterizing your car — can be a real source of satisfaction and self-pride. It can also make you an even more interesting, secure, and well-rounded person.

Say “No thank you” to that second helping this Thanksgiving. As tempting as that second piece of pumpkin pie might be, you will feel better the day after if you pass it up. You’ll feel proud of your self-discipline, enjoy more energy, and have more room for leftovers.

Happy “No-thanks” giving!

Gwenn Voelckers is the founder and facilitator of Live Alone and Thrive, empowerment workshops for women held throughout the year in Mendon, New York. For information about her upcoming workshops or to invite Gwenn to speak, call 585-624-7887 or email her at gvoelckers@rochester.rr.com.

Could “The Martian’s” Scientist Survive on Potatoes Alone?

I

n the movie “The Martian,” the main character, astronaut Mark Watney (played by Matt Damon), is stranded on Mars and must rely on his own super-science knowledge to survive. Because the crew had packed some potatoes for a Thanksgiving celebration, Watney creates a lab “garden” and is able to survive off the potatoes — after calculating how many calories he would need to survive until a rescue mission could arrive.

According to plant scientists from the Crop Science Society of America (CSSA), growing potatoes in a lab situation was a very good idea, but bringing along just a few ounces of bean seeds — called pulses — on the mission would be a better plan to start any emergency garden. “Pulses” is the broad category of edible beans that are a great source of protein and essential minerals. Pinto beans, chickpeas and peas are all examples of pulses.

“Nutritional diversity is key for survival,” says Roch Gaussoin, a professor at University of Nebraska.

Watney calculates he may need to live for four years before rescue.

“Spuds are great for calories but it’s hard to beat Pulses for nutritional quality,” says Gaussoin. “Both plants would be easy to carry into space and would require minimal space to Page 8

•

grow when compared to many other crops. They are also adaptable to controlled environment production, versus being in the field.” Gaussoin is the current president of CSSA. “Pinto beans would be the perfect nutritional partner with the movie’s potatoes,” says Janice Rueda, a scientist with ADM Edible Bean Specialties. “They’re high in both protein and fiber, as well as many important nutrients like potassium,

magnesium and iron.”

In addition, “pinto beans would also have a positive impact on the agricultural production in a challenging environment like Mars. Like all pulse

crops, beans fix nitrogen into the soil and require very little water to grow — especially when compared to other protein sources.”

Injury Toll in U.S. in 2013: $671 Billion

I

njuries from accidents and violence cost the United States $671 billion in 2013, with men accounting for far more of those costs than women, federal health officials reported in Ocotber.

Fatal injuries cost $214 billion and nonfatal injuries cost $457 billion.

The amounts include lifetime health and work loss costs for fatal and nonfatal injuries treated in hospitals and emergency departments, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Injuries cost Americans far too much money, suffering and preventable death,” CDC Director Tom Frie-

den said in an agency news release.

“The doubling of deaths by drug poisoning, including prescription drug overdose and heroin, is particularly alarming.”

Men accounted for 78 percent ($166.7 billion) of fatal injuries and 63 percent ($287.5 billion) of nonfatal injury costs in 2013. More than half of the medical and work loss costs of fatal injuries were from accidents ($129.7 billion), followed by suicide ($50.8 billion) and murder ($26.4 billion).

Prescription drug overdoses and other drug poisonings accounted for the most fatal injury costs (27 percent), followed by transportation-re-

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • November 2015

lated deaths (23 percent) and gun-related deaths (22 percent).

The cost of injury-related hospitalizations was $289.7 billion, and the cost of injured patients who were treated and released was $167.1 billion. Falls (37 percent) and transportation-related injuries (21 percent) accounted for most of the costs of nonfatal injuries treated in emergency departments, according to the report.

The findings appear in two studies published Oct. 2 in the CDC’s “Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports.”

A Model For Healing From Pixar’s ‘Inside Out’

By Kathe Healy

D

isney/Pixar released a fascinating animated film in April titled “Inside Out.” It is the story of a little girl named Riley and her emotions. The film, which is available on Blu-Ray starting Nov. 3, appeals to children and adults alike and depicts Riley’s emotions as parts of herself that operate from a control panel in her brain. Disney has brought to life an extraordinary picture of the various parts of Riley’s brain and how she copes with a life-changing event in her life. The parts are depicted in characters representing anger, joy, sadness, fear and disgust.

Disney collaborated with the

Internal Family Systems (IFS) Foundation to develop the film based on the IFS model of therapy, which promotes mental health, healing from emotional pain and the development of self-leadership.

The model had its beginning in 1980 when Richard Schwartz, a family therapist from Chicago, began to see the similarities between family systems therapy and the internal systems of individuals. He would hear patients say things like: “A part of me feels this way and another part of me feels differently.”

In the years since the model was born, there has been extensive research on the human brain and

we know that there is an amazing network of thoughts and feelings that effect our emotions and our physical bodies. The goal of IFS is to promote self-awareness of the “Parts” within each of us that operate our human system and to work toward harmony within.

Since its humble beginning in 1980, the Internal Family Systems model has grown and is now practiced by hundreds of certified IFS therapists around the world. The IFS

Foundation continues to support the efficacy of IFS in mental health and research to validate its use in physical illnesses. Information on the model, training schedules, books and videos are available at the central administration of IFS — the Center for Self Leadership, www.CSL.com.

Kathe Healy is a licensed mental health counselor. She is also a certified IFS therapist.

DePaul Seeking Holiday Helpers With the holiday season nearly upon us, DePaul, a nonprofit community support organization based in Gates, is seeking the community’s support for its annual holiday helpers program.

Individuals and service organizations can “adopt” clients from DePaul’s mental health residential programs who may not have family support.

Participants can select from items on a wish list or choose to donate generic gifts such as hats, gloves, personal care items or socks. Past client wishes have included items as simple as a piece of chocolate cake, boots or basic clothing items.

For nearly 20 years, generous members of the community have made the season special for someone less fortunate by taking

part in DePaul’s holiday helpers program.

DePaul serves some 5,000 people annually in programs that encompass mental health residential and treatment services, senior living residential services, addiction prevention and support programs, vocational programs and affordable housing.

For more information about the Holiday Helpers Program, please contact Amy Cavalier at 585-426-8000, ext. 3102 or via email at acavalier@depaul. org. You can learn more about DePaul or make a tax-deductible monetary donation to the holiday helpers program by visiting www.depaul.org or by liking DePaul on Facebook at www. facebook.com/depaul.org.

IT’S ONLY SUPER IF YOU TAKE IT. According to the National Institutes of Health, up to 20 percent of patients fail to fill new prescriptions, and 50 percent of people with chronic health conditions discontinue their medication within six months. If you have a chronic condition like high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol, taking your prescriptions as directed is essential to healthy living. So remember: If you’re not taking your prescriptions as directed, you’re taking a chance. To learn more, visit ExcellusBCBS.com/ TakeAsDirected.

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November 2015 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 9

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By Jessica Gaspar

Crossing things off my baby to-do list First on the list: should I formula feed or breast feed?

O

What if you could choose?

5 Days or 45 Days

ne of the things I’ve really been grappling with is whether I should formula feed or breast feed. Obviously, we all know studies report breast feeding is healthier for the baby and also improves mother-baby bonding. I’m all for improved healthcare and more bonding time.

When my mother was raising us kids, doctors seemed to favor formula feeding infants, so my sister, brother and I were bottle fed.

Because my mom isn’t familiar with breast feeding, it’s hard to ask her questions, but I am leaning toward breast feeding just because of the improved health factors for the baby. However, with my work schedule, I understand it will be hard to breast feed. I usually work 12 hours a day at my fulltime job. I could pump and store, which isn’t a problem. The problem is my job is very fastpaced, and I have customers walking in and phones ringing constantly, so I can’t be away from my desk for more than a couple of minutes at a time.

I struggle with whether or not I will find the time to pump. I guess that will be all worked out with my employer in time, but it doesn’t stop me from worrying right now.

Car Seats

I chose the Graco UrbanLite Click Connect rear-facing car seat with matching stroller because it had some of the best online reviews everywhere I looked. Plus, it had positive reviews in multiple crash test ratings. The stroller holds infants and toddlers up to 50 lbs. and the rear-facing car seat holds infants and toddlers up to 35 lbs., which means they should be used for a couple of years at least.

Clothing

hoacny.com Page 10

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One of the first things I worried about was the weather. With a due date of Jan. 2, he could be born in the middle of a snow storm! I wanted to make sure he would be warm when we left the hospital, so I did buy a long-sleeved zip-up outfit with a matching cap and mittens to bring him home in. My mother bought him a warm fleece blue football-print snowsuit. I also registered for a car

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • November 2015

seat bundler that will keep him warm and tucked into his car seat nicely.

His wardrobe also includes plenty of swaddlers, blankets, onesies, and cute one-piece outfits.

Pediatrician

I did choose a pediatrician for him as well. I work in Greece, not far from Elmgrove Road, and my aunt will be watching him while I’m at work. She lives off of Elmgrove Road, so the pediatricians I chose — Genesis Pediatrics — is on Elmgrove. Their office is friendly, kid-oriented, and has extended weekday and weekend hours to accommodate sick babies and worried parents. When I toured the facility, I really enjoyed the atmosphere and hoped the baby would feel comfortable there. Their office has a nice mix of doctors who’ve been practicing awhile (more than 30 years!) and new pediatricians who recently finished medical school and training.

One More Test

Around my 27th week, I had my one-hour glucose tolerance test to check for gestational diabetes. I was dreading this test. You see, when I was 19, I weighed about 320 lbs.

I had to have a three-hour glucose tolerance test because my doctor thought I might be diabetic. My numbers at the time were borderline, and my doctor cautioned me about my weight. Since then, I’ve lost more than 140 lbs., and I have a much healthier lifestyle now, but those results from 13 years ago still weighed on my mind the days before my recent one-hour test.

Luckily, the range of normal is measured between 80 and 130, and my number was a nice round 110. No gestational diabetes! Phew.

End In Sight

With my baby shower behind me, I’m focusing on setting up the baby furniture and getting my hospital bags packed. Though it’s still a couple of months off, I like to be prepared. Plus, I am still worried about that impending snowstorm that is bound to hit Rochester the moment I go into labor. I might just start camping outside of Strong Memorial Hospital now … just in case.

SmartBites

The skinny on healthy eating

Reach for Nutritious Leeks

O

nce dubbed “poor-man’s asparagus,” leeks are anything but poor when it comes to taste, tears and nutrition. They’re flavorful without being overpowering. They don’t produce tears with cutting.

And — most importantly — they’re loaded with health benefits, much like their well-researched cousins: onions and garlic.

A member of the Allium family of vegetables, leeks are a rich source of allicin, a sulfur-containing compound with multiple merits. Not only is it anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal, but allicin, upon digestion, produces sulfenic acid, a compound that, according to research, neutralizes cell-damaging free radicals faster than any other known compound. Ponce de Leon?

Can you hear me now?

Leeks love hearts. The above-mentioned allicin may reduce cholesterol formation, as well as promote blood vessel elasticity. In addition, leeks’ high concentration of kaempferol, a flavonoid that has

repeatedly been shown to help protect our blood vessel linings from damage, can only do a heart good.

Leeks also love bones, with one cup providing a whopping 50 percent of our daily needs for vitamin K. Vitamin K, most well known for its important role in blood clotting, also promotes bone health by assisting in the transport of calcium throughout the body. With the threat of osteoporosis looming in my future, I’m always looking for foods that may reduce bone loss and decrease the risk of bone fractures.

Consuming leeks is good for the peepers. They’re a super source of vitamin A, an essential vitamin that helps retinas function under low-light conditions; and, they serve up generous doses of two valuable nutrients — lutein and zeaxanthin — that may reduce the risk of chronic eye diseases, including age-related macular degeneration and cataracts.

More great reasons to reach for

leeks: They’re low in fat, cholesterol, sodium and calories (about 50 per sliced cup). They rock with manganese (important for energy and bone health) and folate (essential for red blood cell production and fetal development). And, they boast a decent amount of immune-boosting vitamin C.

Helpful tips

leeks in half lengthwise. Rinse to remove any dirt. Slice leeks into ¼-inch half rounds.

• Heat oil in medium-sized soup pot over medium heat. Add leeks and sauté 3-4 minutes. Add onion and continue sautéing for five minutes until tender. Add garlic and sauté for two more minutes. (Note: Add a splash of water at any time if vegetables start to burn.)

• Add potatoes, stock and thyme. Bring to a boil, turn heat to low, cover pot, and simmer for 15-20 minutes, until potatoes are tender. Add salt and pepper. Using a hand held blender, puree soup until smooth. (Use a potato masher versus a blender if more texture is desired.)

• Stir in sour cream and hot sauce (if using). Top soup with garnish of choice.

Look for leeks that have as much white and light green as possible.

Stalks should be firm and crisp; avoid those with wilted or yellowed tops. Select smaller leeks — those with a diameter of 1½ inches or less for better taste. Store unwashed leeks in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Healthy Potato-Leek Soup Adapted from Feastingathome. com Serves 4 3-4 medium leeks (white and light green parts) 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 small onion, diced 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 baking potatoes, diced 4 cups chicken or vegetable stock 1 tablespoon fresh thyme (or 1 teaspoon dried) 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon coarse black pepper ½ cup light sour cream Frank’s hot sauce (optional) Garnish: fresh chives, freshly grated cheese, whole wheat croutons

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.

• Remove dark leek stems and cut

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Page 11

A life devoted to serving Rochester’s homeless Retiring director at Dimitri House publishing book sharing stories of guests at homeless shelter

By Deborah Blackwell

F

ran Morse wasn’t sure why she felt the strong pull to work with the homeless, but she had an idea. She could relate to the human struggle on a deep level, after enduring trials of her own. So when she was offered an opportunity to volunteer distributing evening meals at Dimitri House through her church’s outreach program, she took it.

That was 25 years ago.

Now Morse, 64, is retiring from her role as director of Dimitri House, where she has devoted her career and her life to serving the homeless in Rochester.

“For some reason I could relate to pieces of everybody’s story,” said Morse. “So during my time as a volunteer I asked the staff if I could be hired because I just felt like it was my niche. I was hired as the administrative assistant in 1991, and then in 1997 I was hired as director.”

Dimitri House is a homeless shelter in Rochester that provides food, shelter and services to the poor and homeless. Morse wrote a book about her time there, “Dimitri House Stories,” published in October.

The collection of short stories describes the struggles of the guests at Dimitri House, in hopes that people will come to understand the reality of the homeless, who have little, if any, family support system.

“The one difference between me and the people who come to Dimitri House is that I had a wonderful family who supported me through hard times,” Morse said. “I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for people who go through hard times because I had gone through hard times. There is a story behind everybody.”

For more than 20 years Morse wrote about the guests as a way to deal with the emotional impact of

working in a homeless shelter. Some, she said, are just five-minute experiences that she put down on paper and there are other stories that cover years of relationships she had with people.

“I cry every time I read the manuscript. Fran captures these poignant and unforgettable moments with such grace, humbleness and ease,” said Nina Alverez, editor, Cosmographia Books, Rochester. “We believe this book will allow our community to empathically connect, even for a moment, to the individuals who live among us but have so little. It’s deeply humanizing.”

Half of the proceeds from the paperback book will be donated to Dimitri House.

“The most important reason I wrote the stories and wanted them published is that people need to know that just because somebody’s homeless doesn’t mean that they are a bum,” said Morse. “There is a lot that led them into the cycle of homelessness. I just want people to know.

I still hear, ‘Why don’t they just get a job?’ If it was only that easy.”

There are many circumstances that bring people to Dimitri House.

Some issues, according to Morse, include mental illness, drug addiction, alcoholism, people who have a disability and are on some kind of public assistance, and joblessness.

Morse sees the plight of the homeless every day, and works hard to help them on their path to self-sufficiency.

“Fran puts her heart and soul into her work at Dimitri House. She listens compassionately to people’s

Volunteers prepare a meal at Dimitri House. Each day the nonprofit offers a free lunch drop-in program where 25-50 needy community members receive a hot and hearty meal and can also relax, socialize, or utilize assistance on their road to selfsufficiency. Photo by Gene Renner Page 12

•

Fran Morse wrote “Dimitri House Stories,” a collection of 21 short memoir pieces about Rochester’s homeless, published by Cosmographia Books that offers a glimpse into the lives of the homeless. Book cover photo courtesy of Cosmographia Books. Photo of Fran Morse courtesy of Gene Renner. stories and embraces their journeys,” said John Albertini, Dimitri House volunteer and board member. “She believes in the innate abilities and goodness of each person who walks through the door.”

Morse said she quickly realized that people are all connected in life, and if we just sit down and talk with somebody we will find that connection. She said it’s about taking care of each other however we are able to, in any capacity.

“The thought of being the director petrified me because I felt like the only thing that qualified me to do my work there was the love of the people,” said Morse. “The administrative stuff made me nervous but I wanted to be the director and I guess I thought that loving it as much as I did qualified me to do it.”

Dimitri House has seven beds for men in residence, but not everyone who goes to Dimitri House is homeless. The afternoon program offers a safe and comfortable place where those in need can have lunch, rest, play cards and socialize.

“It’s like their living room. We set up the coffee pot and make the meal, they come in to meet their friends,” said Morse. “We usually serve between 25 and 50 guests every day for lunch. It depends on the weather, the time of the month, their needs. We are ready, and if they come, we serve them.”

Meals are made by volunteers on site and are usually full dinners such as spaghetti with marinara sauce, chicken dishes, pizza, and hearty soups. For those in residence, accommodations include what Morse calls comfy-cozy needs. There are homemade afghans on the beds, showers, and the stay includes an evening meal and a generous breakfast in the morning.

The shelter is open from November through April and is filled on a

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • November 2015

first-come, first-serve-basis. The average age is 30-40 years old, but clients can be as young as 21 or of retirement age, according to Morse. All are caught in the cycle of homelessness.

“It takes a long time to get out of homelessness. We work with many agencies that help us help the people who stay here,” said Morse. “It takes someone walking with them every step of the way.”

Dimitri House has two fulltime employees, one part-time, a volunteer board of directors, and over 100 volunteers. The 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization receives support through grants, fundraisers, donations and the United Way. For more information, visit www.dimitri-house.org.

Interested in ‘Dimitri House Stories’?

Copies of “Dimitri House Stories” can be purchased on Amazon, or at the following local book readings by author Fran Morse • Community Christian Church, Dec. 10 • Writers & Books with Neighborhood of the Arts Business Association Food & Clothing Drive to benefit Dimitri House, Jan. 21.

Books will also be available for purchase at Writers & Books and the Aurora Center for Creative and Spiritual Arts. For more information, visit CosmographiaBooks.com or send an email to editor@cosmographiabooks.com

Golden Years Hospice Helps Patients Embrace Life Studies show hospice patients can live longer

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

M

any people think that patients who opt for hospice care are “giving up” since they no longer pursue medical treatment for their terminal disease. But the opposite is actually true. In fact, some patients may live longer once they switch to palliative care, according to a study released in August by the New England Journal of Medicine.

The research included patients with non-small-cell lung cancer. On average, patients admitted to hospices survived nearly two months longer than comparable patients who continued receiving traditional treatment for their cancer. They may also transition to hospice care sooner.

“With earlier referral to a hospice program, patients may receive care that results in better management of symptoms, leading to stabilization of their condition and prolonged survival,” wrote the authors of the study.

A 2007 study printed in the Journal of Pain and Symptom found that on average, patients with either congestive heart failure or cancer

of the breast, colon, lung, pancreas or prostate lived an average of 29 days longer than those not receiving hospice care.

The studies correlate with a growing body of research indicating that hospice patients not only experience a better quality of life, but may actually live a little longer in some cases than those who continue to follow treatment.

Hospice and palliative care work with patients and families to improve the patient’s comfort and enjoyment of life during a terminal illness.

Jacqueline Coates, nurse practitioner with hospice and palliative care programs with Visiting Nurse Service of Rochester, said that the research doesn’t surprise her.

“Having them enjoy the time they have left, they actually do hang around longer sometimes,” she said.

She attributes the increased longevity to the increased quality of life and comfort patients receive at the hospice.

“We work together with the patient and their care provider to look at quality of life and sometimes,

Smoking banned in 40 percent of NYS college campuses

T

he American Cancer Society in September released the “Tobacco Free U: 2015 New York State Dean’s List” showing a dramatic trend in tobacco and smokefree campus policies across the state: 85 campuses, or 42 percent of all campuses, now report having a 100 percent smoke-free or tobacco-free campus policy in place, up from only two campuses in 2005.

“The Tobacco Action Coalition of the Finger Lakes (TACFL) applauds the accomplishments of campuses across the state and as students and parents begin touring college campuses in the upcoming months, questions will likely include inquiries about the college’s policy regarding tobacco” said Helen Dunlap, community engagement coordinator, for TACFL. “Parents want to send their graduating students off to a college that promotes both a strong academic program as well as a healthy environment. Our goal at TACFL is to promote good health for our kids and we are here to help make that happen,” said Dunlap.

Smoke-free (SF) and tobacco-free (TF) campus policies are a growing trend across the country and in New York state. A SF campus policy means no smoking is allowed anywhere on college property or in college vehicles. In contrast, a TF campus policy prohibits all forms of tobacco use, anywhere on college property and in college-owned vehicles, including smokeless forms of tobacco, and in most cases, electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes). Evidence suggests that short-term exposure to secondhand smoke, even outdoors, puts people at increased risk, especially those with pre-existing cardiac and pulmonary illness.

According to the American Cancer Society, college campuses are an important target of the tobacco industry. Evidence suggests that if a young person does not begin smoking by the age of 26, it is very unlikely that he or she will ever take up smoking.

In 2014, college age youth (18-24) in New York state had a smoking prevalence rate of 14.9 percent. That rate of young adult smoking is twice the 7.3 percent rate found among New York State high school students, suggesting a significant number of youth are initiating cigarette use while attending New York’s colleges.

November 2015 •

some medications we may add for comfort and we may take away some medications that aren’t as helpful anymore,” Coates said. “I’ve heard people say that hospice is a death sentence. I don’t look at it that way because of what I’ve seen. They can do well and have a peaceful journey.”

Instead of “giving up on life” the patients who select hospice care embrace life and have the means to choose how they want to spend the time they have.

Coates added that many people think hospice is only for the last few hours of a patient’s life when actually, they may request hospice care months in advance. Medicare pays for hospice care when a doctor estimates the patient has six or fewer months to live. If the patient lives longer, Medicare covers additional time.

Many believe that hospice care must occur in an institutional setting; however, the care may be provided to patients at an adult child’s home, hospital, nursing home, hospice facility or an assisted living facility.

“Many could benefit from being

on hospice way sooner,” Coates said.

Her staff helps patients enjoy any activity or hobby they would like to improve their quality of life, such as art, music, pets or going on vacation.

“Sad to say, a lot of our medical community is on the curative model of care,” Coates said. “Sometimes we continue to treat that patient and the patient becomes so ill they may die sooner than they would’ve. We want to give them quality life of whatever time they have left.”

Planning ahead for hospice care can help the patient and family take full advantage of the services offered, so Coates encourages patients to plan early.

Kimberly Wear, associate director of nursing at St. Ann’s Community in Rochester, said that the hospice team covers all needs the patient, from physical to emotional to spiritual, and in the case of hospice care in an institutional setting, moral support to the facility’s staff.

Christian Reitler, program officer with the Health Foundation for Western & Central New York, encourages people with serious illnesses to plan ahead.

“It’s important to drive the care that you’ll be receiving and it’s also beneficial to the caregivers and children because those decisions are already made in advance. It takes some of the stress off the adult children.”

Making the choices early also helps patients feel better in control of how they use their time.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 13

Golden Years Alzheimer’s Tsunami is Coming Number of patients, financial resources to skyrocket, experts say

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

F

rom 2015 to 2050 the cost for caring for Alzheimer’s patients will increase from $226 billion to more than $1.1 trillion, according to the Lewin Group, a healthcare policy research and management consulting firm in Falls Church, Va. In additional to the financial resources needed, experts believe there won’t be enough human resources to provide the care patients will need.

A recent report presented by the Alzheimer’s Association titled “Changing the Trajectory of Alzheimer’s Disease,” states that 5.1 million people 65 and older live with Alzheimer’s Galbier disease currently. By 2050, it’s estimated that

13.5 million will live with the disease.

Physician David Gill, a board member of Alzheimer’s Association of Western New York and the Finger Lakes, said that the increase in Alzheimer’s patients is mainly due to the number of baby boomers aging into Alzheimer’s disease and the longer lifespan expectancy of modern times. Though not a normal part of aging, older age is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.

Gill said that the increase “will create a huge drain on resources, as we know that patients with dementia and their caregivers are very costly, both in monetary terms and in stress on caregivers and society.

“It is also clear that the current system does not have anywhere near the capacity to handle the increased number of patients, not only not enough providers to diagnose and treat these patients, but also the community resources to care for them.”

Alzheimer’s Association has awarded more than $340 million through its International Research Grant Program.

In addition to researching for a cure, the medical community is partnering with organizations — such as the Alzheimer’s Association — to raise awareness among medical providers and give them tools for screening for Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

Kris H. Schiek, administrator at Finger Lakes Health’s The Homestead in Penn Yan, said that educating medical personnel to care for Alzheimer’s patients is an important part of preparing for the coming flood.

“The approach that one uses with a person with Alzheimer’s is so important,” Schiek said.

She said that The Homestead’s individualized care plans include enrichment efforts, activities, music and more to enhance the quality of life for memory patients.

Schiek said that providing enough resources “is of huge concern and is recognized as a need for our aging population.”

Teresa Galbier, president and CEO of Alzheimer’s Association of

Western New York and the Finger Lakes, agrees that “it’s a bit daunting considering the staggering numbers and the cost for society. We are not prepared for this: the sheer number of people. We have to prepare thoughtfully, providing care and support for people living with it today.”

She added that the Alzheimer’s Association is the single greatest private funder of Alzheimer’s research in the world, and when comparing both government and private entities, only the US and Chinese governments surpass the organization.

With all of this effort, only four drugs are available that can potentially help slow — -but not stop — the progression of the disease, which affects memory, balance and ability to make sound choices.

Although early treatment cannot give any hope for a cure, it can buy time for the patient and family to prepare. It can also spare patients from related problems. For example, a patient with impaired memory may neglect to take vital medication. An Alzheimer’s patient may live alone longer than is safe to do so and make poor judgments about handling finances. Or one with balance issues may fall without the needed grab bars and other home modifications.

Because fewer than 50 percent of people are diagnosed by their physicians (compared with 90 percent of cancer patients), Galbier said that more education and outreach to the medical community can raise more awareness of the importance of screening. By instituting routine screenings for people age 65 and older, for example, may help increase early diagnosis.

10 Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer’s

M

emory loss that disrupts daily life may be a symptom of Alzheimer’s or another dementia. Alzheimer’s is a brain disease that causes a slow decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills. There are 10 warning signs and symptoms. Every individual may experience one or more of these signs in different degrees. If you notice any of them, see a doctor.

1

Memory loss that disrupts daily life One of the most common signs of Alzheimer’s is memory loss, especially forgetting recently learned information. Others include forgetting important dates or events; asking for the same information over and over; increasingly needing to rely on memory aids (e.g., reminder notes or electronic devices) or family members for things they used to handle on their own.

What’s a typical age-related change?

Sometimes forgetting names or appointments, but remembering them later.

2

Challenges in planning or solving problems Some people may experience changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. They may have trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills. They may have difficulty concentrating and take much longer to do things than Page 14

•

they did before.

What’s a typical age-related change?

Making occasional errors when balancing a checkbook.

What’s a typical age-related change?

Vision changes related to cataracts.

3

6

4

7

Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure People with Alzheimer’s often find it hard to complete daily tasks.

Sometimes, people may have trouble driving to a familiar location, managing a budget at work or remembering the rules of a favorite game.

What’s a typical age-related change?

Occasionally needing help to use the settings on a microwave or to record a television show.

Confusion with time or place People with Alzheimer’s can lose track of dates, seasons and the passage of time. They may have trouble understanding something if it is not happening immediately. Sometimes they may forget where they are or how they got there.

What’s a typical age-related change?

Getting confused about the day of the week but figuring it out later.

5

Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships For some people, having vision problems is a sign of Alzheimer’s. They may have difficulty reading, judging distance and determining color or contrast, which may cause problems with driving.

New problems with words in speaking or writing People with Alzheimer’s may have trouble following or joining a conversation. They may stop in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue or they may repeat themselves. They may struggle with vocabulary, have problems finding the right word or call things by the wrong name (e.g., calling a “watch” a “hand-clock”).

What’s a typical age-related change?

Sometimes having trouble finding the right word.

Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps A person with Alzheimer’s disease may put things in unusual places. They may lose things and be unable to go back over their steps to find them again. Sometimes, they may accuse others of stealing. This may occur more frequently over time.

What’s a typical age-related change?

Misplacing things from time to time and retracing steps to find them.

8

Decreased or poor judgment People with Alzheimer’s may experience changes in judgment or decision-making. For example, they may use poor judgment

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • November 2015

when dealing with money, giving large amounts to telemarketers. They may pay less attention to grooming or keeping themselves clean.

What’s a typical age-related change?

Making a bad decision once in a while.

9

Withdrawal from work or social activities A person with Alzheimer’s may start to remove themselves from hobbies, social activities, work projects or sports. They may have trouble keeping up with a favorite sports team or remembering how to complete a favorite hobby. They may also avoid being social because of the changes they have experienced.

What’s a typical age-related change?

Sometimes feeling weary of work, family and social obligations.

10

Changes in mood and personality The mood and personalities of people with Alzheimer’s can change. They can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious. They may be easily upset at home, at work, with friends or in places where they are out of their comfort zone.

What’s a typical age-related change?

Developing very specific ways of doing things and becoming irritable when a routine is disrupted.

Source: Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org)

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Dear Savvy Senior, I recently received a letter from my Medicare drug plan provider notifying me that they are increasing my co-pays next year. I’d like to look for a better plan but could use some guidance. What’s the easiest way to do this?

Need a Change Dear Need, Cost increases and coverage changes are an annual event for many Medicare Part D prescription drug plans. Fortunately,

during the open enrollment period (which is Oct. 15 through Dec. 7), you have the ability to shop and compare plans and choose one that better fits your needs and budget. Your new plan will go into effect Jan.1, 2016.

Here are some tips that can help with this process.

Shop Online

If you have Internet access and are comfortable using a computer, you can easily shop for and compare all Medicare drug plans in your area, and enroll in a new plan online.

Just go to Medicare’s plan finder tool at medicare.gov/find-a-plan, and type in your ZIP code or your personal information, enter in how you currently receive your Medicare coverage, select the drugs you take and their dosages and choose the pharmacies you use. You’ll get a cost comparison breakdown for every plan available in your area so you can compare it to your current plan.

This tool also provides a five-star rating system that evaluates each plan based on past customer service records, and suggests generics or older brand name drugs that can reduce your costs.

It’s also important to keep in mind that when you’re comparing drug plans don’t judge a plan strictly by its monthly premium cost.

Low-premium plans are often associated with higher prescription co-payments and may end up being more expensive. Look at the “estimated annual drug costs” that shows how much you can expect to pay over

a year in total out-of-pocket costs, including premiums, deductibles and co-pays.

Also, be sure the plan you’re considering covers all of the drugs you take with no restrictions. Most drug plans today place the drugs they cover into price tiers. A drug placed in a higher tier may require you to get prior authorization or try another medication first before you can use it.

Need Help?

If you need some help choosing a new plan, contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which provides free one-onone Medicare counseling in person or over the phone. They also conduct seminars during the open enrollment period at various locations throughout each state. To find the contact information for your local SHIP visit shiptacenter.org or call the eldercare locator at 800-677-1116.

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Shrinking Donut Hole

You also need to know that Medicare’s “doughnut-hole” — the coverage gap in which you must pay out-of-pocket for your drugs — continues to shrink. In 2016, you will get a 55 percent discount on brand-name drugs, and the federal subsidy for generic medications will rise to 42 percent.

The 2016 coverage gap begins when your total drug cost exceeds $3,310 (that includes your share and the insurer’s share of the costs) and ends when your total out-of-pocket costs reach $4,850. After that, your Part D plan usually covers around 95 percent of your remaining drug costs for the year.

Low-Income Assistance

Also, be aware that if you’re income is under $17,655 or $23,895 for married couples living together, and your assets are below $13,640 or $27,250 for married couples not counting your home, car or life insurance policy, you may be eligible for the federal Low Income Subsidy known as “Extra Help” that pays Part D premiums, deductibles and copayments.

For more information or to apply, call Social Security at 800-772-1213 or visit socialsecurity.gov/extrahelp.

Helping Seniors Stay Safer at Home.  Professional referrals  Care management  Counseling and support  Senior housing placements  Coordination of home health  Long-term care planning care services  Family consultation  Advocacy (585) 364-1465 ona@rochester.rr.com Teresa Hiwale, R.N., PLLC Geriatric Care Management

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Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit www.savvysenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

November 2015 •

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 15

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Attention all NY State and Federal Employees, Retirees and Spouses:

The Social Ask Security Office

By Deborah Banikowski

Helping Veterans and Active Duty Military Members

O

n Veterans Day, the nation honors the men and women who risk their lives to protect our freedom. Social Security honors veterans and active duty members of the military every day by giving them the respect they deserve. A vital part of that is administering the Social Security disability program.

For those who return home with injuries, Social Security is a resource they can turn to. If you know any wounded veterans, please let them know about Social Security’s Wounded Warriors website. You can find it at www.socialsecurity.gov/woundedwarriors.

The Wounded Warriors website answers many commonly asked questions, and shares other useful information about disability benefits, including how veterans can receive expedited processing of disability claims. Benefits available through Social Security are different than those from the Department of Veterans Affairs and require a separate application.

Q&A

Q: I own a small business. How can I verify employees’ Social Security numbers?

A: Employers can use our Social Security Number Verification Service to verify the names and Social Security numbers of current and former employees for wage reporting purposes. For more information, go to www.socialsecurity.gov/employer/ssnv.htm.

Q: I can’t seem to find my Social Security card. Do I need to get a

The expedited process is used for military service members who become disabled while on active military service on or after Oct. 1, 2001, regardless of where the disability occurs.

Even active duty military who continue to receive pay while in a hospital or on medical leave should consider applying for disability benefits if they’re unable to work due to a disabling condition. Active duty status and receipt of military pay doesn’t necessarily prevent payment of Social Security disability benefits.

Although a person can’t receive Social Security disability benefits while engaging in substantial work for pay or profit, receipt of military payments should never stop someone from applying for disability benefits from Social Security.

Learn more by visiting www.socialsecurity.gov/woundedwarriors.

Social Security is proud to support the veterans and active duty members of the military. Let these heroes know they can count on us when they need to take advantage of their earned benefits.

replacement?

A: In most cases, knowing your Social Security number is enough.

But, if you do apply for and receive a replacement card, don’t carry that card with you. Keep it with your important papers. For more information about your Social Security card and number, and for information about how to apply for a replacement, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber.

If you believe you’re the victim of identity theft, read our publication “Identity Theft and Your Social Security Number,” at www.socialsecurity. gov/pubs.

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A memory change that affects daily life is 1 of the 10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Recognizing the symptoms is the first step toward doing something about it. For more information, and to learn what you can do now, go to alz.org/10signs

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Page 16

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • November 2015

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H ealth News Friendly Home has new president/CEO

Glen Cooper has been appointed the new presidet and CEO at Friendly Senior Living, a continuum of caring communities.

In his new role, Cooper will lead Cloverwood Senior Living, Glenmere Assisted Living & Memory Care, Linden Knoll, Friendly Home and Lovejoy Transitional Care Center.

“Glen comes to Friendly Senior Living at a time when care and services for older adults are at the forefront Cooper of change,” said David Whitaker, chairman of the Friendly Senior Living board of directors. “His extensive experience in the aging services and health care community will provide the clear vision and strong leadership necessary to ensure a bright future for Friendly Senior Living and the residents we serve.”

With more than 20 years of experience, Cooper most recently served as executive director of Albany Memorial Hospital, an American Heart Association and American Stroke Association Gold Plus Quality Achievement award-winning hospital and affiliate of St. Peter’s Health Partners.

Cooper received his Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the SUNY Plattsburgh and his Masters of Science in Business Administration from the SUNY Institute of Technology at Utica-Rome. He is a New York state licensed nursing home administrator.

Cooper resides with his wife and children in Pittsford.

Elizabeth Zicari named president of FLONEL HCR Home Care President Elizabeth Zicari has been named president of the Finger Lakes Organization of Nurse Executives and Leaders (FLONEL).

FLONEL is a regional chapter of the New York Organization of Nurse Executives and Leaders NYONEL, which provides a voice for nursing leaders intent on shaping the future of nursing and healthcare in the state.

Its mission Zicari

is to promote excellence in nursing through transformational leadership with the vision of being recognized as a catalyst for collaborative and innovative nursing leadership.

FLONEL’s region encompasses the counties of Chemung, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne and Yates. With this appointment, Zicari also serves on the NYONEL board.

Zicari, a Brighton resident, has more than 30 years of professional experience in nursing, administration and business management. Certified in executive nursing practice, she is a Johnson and Johnson/Wharton Executive Nurse Fellow, and she received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Salve Regina College.

VNS names director of corporate compliance

Visiting Nurse Service appointed Diane Frederico, of Spencerport as director of corporate compliance and regulatory affairs, and HIPAA privacy officer.

Frederico, who has worked in geriatric health care compliance for more than 20 years, will aide Visiting Nurse Service’s commitment to due diligence through staff Frederico education, a corporate compliance program and the monitoring of future regulations in a dynamic regulatory environment.

“Diane is very experienced and has an exceptional reputation in the Rochester area,” said Jane Shukitis, president and CEO of Visiting Nurse Service. “Her expertise will guide us and ensure we uphold our high standards for organizational integrity and excellence.”

Frederico previously worked for Rochester Regional Health as the manager of corporate compliance.

Hospice appoints associate medical director Visiting Nurse Hospice appointed Rashmi Khadilkar, a physician of Pittsford, as associate medical director. She will serve community patients in Monroe County and lead interdisciplinary hospice teams, overseeing patients’ symptom management and assisting with solutions to difficult issues — whether medical, spiritual or psycho-social.

Khadilkar earned her medical degree from Temple University where she completed her residency in internal medicine. She completed fellowships in rheumatology from Temple University in 2008, palliative November 2015 •

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Page 17

H ealth News care from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, and geriatrics from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry.

Khadilkar previously worked as a rheumatologist for Rochester Regional Health and Christiana Care Health System in Delaware.

Mark Fiorini named VNS VP for clinical operations

Mark Fiorini of Webster has been Khadilkar appointed vice president of clinical operations at Visiting Nurse Service.

Fiorini, who has 20 years of experience in the home health care sector, will oversee all the direct clinical care services including the certified home health care, licensed home care and hospice programs that fall under the Rochester-and Finger Lakes-based agencies covering a seven county region.

An expert in the home care field,

Fiorini’s tenure includes the creation of a certified home health care agency, the oversight of home care agencies, the ownership of a licensed agency, administration of a durable medical equipment company, and a clinical background as a respiratory therapist. He most recently worked as the executive director for Gentiva Home Health Care’s Onondaga County operations.

“In addition to understanding patient care, Mark also knows the business behind home care,” said Jane Shukitis, President and CEO of Visiting Nurse Service. “His corporate acumen will be a tremendous asset as we navigate health care reform, new models of care, and new payment mechanisms. We are thrilled to welcome him aboard.”

Fiorini earned his bachelor’s degree in business and health systems from Binghamton University and his master’s degree in health services administration from New School for Social Research. He is currently pursuing his Doctor of Education degree in executive leadership from St. John

Fisher College.

Eastman Institute for Oral Health gets $3.5M award UR Medicine’s Eastman Institute for Fiorini Oral Health has been awarded a $3.5 million grant for an innovative educational initiative — a major step in reducing the health disparities among people with special needs.

Funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the five-year program will train more than 100 pediatric and general dentists, plus numer-

re 15! o t S , 20 n o 5 t r h e g Bri ctob sO n pe

ous hygienists, dental assistants and other staff in treating the unmet oral health needs of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and other conditions they’ve contracted since childhood, such as Type 1 diabetes, congenital heart defects, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy — across their lifespan.

Advances in medicine have led to increases in life expectancy for patients with childhood congenital or acquired diseases. The current system is unequipped to provide high quality dental care for this growing population of patients as they enter adulthood.

Lack of access is the biggest barrier for this patient population to achieve oral health in underserved communities, primarily because 75 percent of dentists do not treat patients with Medicaid, nor do they have adequate training or facilities.

As a result, the number of dental health professionals shortage areas has increased from 1,895 in 2001 to 4,900 in 2014.

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Led by EIOH pediatric dentistry interim Chairman, Sean McLaren, the new program provides four different options for post-doctoral training.

Similar to medical residents who can specialize in internal medicine and pediatrics, pediatric and advanced general dentistry residents can now — for the first time — achieve proficiency in treating patients with special health care needs from birth through advanced age.

The training will take place at UR Medicine’s new Center for Adults with Special Health Care Needs and Eastman Institute for Oral Health, beginning in July.

Institute for the Deaf has new associate dean Todd Pagano of Henrietta has been appointed associate dean for

teaching and scholarship excellence at Rochester Institute of Technology’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf. Pagano is also an associate professor and director of NTID’s Laboratory Science Technology.

In his new position, Pagano will provide general leadership to the NTID community in support of innovative teaching and scholarship initiatives that bolster the inclusion and engagement of NTID students.

He will also coordinate and promote strategic undergraduate research initiatives at NTID. Pagano plans to establish and coordinate a Student Research Scholars program for NTID students and faculty to receive support and recognition for their collaborative research.

Through the position, he also will establish a program to facilitate the professional development of veteran and tenured faculty members who wish to initiate or accelerate a schol-

arship agenda that would strengthen portfolios in preparation for promotion in rank or augment scholarship efforts in annual appraisals.

He also will be available to support tenure-track faculty memPagano bers in STEM fields with their teaching and scholarship initiatives.

A native of Victor, Pagano earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from SUNY Oswego and a Ph.D. in chemistry from Tufts University. In 2012, he was named U.S. Professor of the Year by the Council for Ad-

vancement and Support of Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. He is the first RIT faculty member to earn the award.

Want to share a news item about your organization?

Just email the item to:

editor@GVhealthnews.com

Excellus BCBS to offer new health plan for $0 or $20 a month Excellus BlueCross BlueShield in 2016 will offer a new health plan with monthly premiums of $0 or $ 20 a month.

This new “Essential Plan” is subsidized by New York state and will only be sold to eligible individuals on the New York State of Health marketplace. Each of the Essential Plans offered by the different health insurers will have the same premiums with similar benefits.

“The new Essential Plan is for individuals who don’t qualify for Medicaid and don’t have access to affordable health coverage,” said Lynne Scalzo, vice president of business strategy and administration, Excellus BCBS. “Our goal is to inform eligible individuals that they might be able to purchase affordable health coverage, possibly for the first time,” she added.

Individuals will qualify for the Essential Plan based on household size and income. Households at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level ($17,655 for a household of one; $36,375 for a household of four) will not pay a monthly premium for the plan. Households between 151

percent and 200 percent of the federal poverty level ($23,540 for a household of one; $48,500 for a household of four) will pay a monthly premium of $20 for each adult. Individuals will have access to low-cost coverage and valuable benefits, including: • Access to a wide selection of doctors and hospitals • Routine preventive care checkups, screenings and immunizations for a $0 copayment • No deductible • Prescription drug coverage • $400 a year toward a fitness facility or individual fitness class reimbursement The federal penalty for going without health insurance will increase in 2016. The penalty in 2016 will be $695 per person, or 2.5 percent of your household income – whichever is greater.

“For those who qualify for an Essential Plan, you can now purchase health insurance for $0 or $20 a month and avoid the financial penalty,” Scalzo said. “The Essential Plan might be a good option for young adults purchasing health insurance for the first time.”

November 2015 •

Team Grimshaw was the top fundraising team at this year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s, raising more than $13,000. This is the fifth year the team has participated in the event, raising in excess of $60,000 to date.

Walk To End Alzheimer’s in Rochester most successful to date More than 2,000 Rochester area residents participated in the Alzheimer’s Association’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s, raising more than $240,000 Sept. 26 at Monroe Community Hospital. This was the largest and most successful walk to date for the Rochester and Finger Lakes region, according to the organization.

“It is heartwarming to see so many people come out to honor,

remember or support friends and loved ones affected by Alzheimer,” said Teresa Galbier, president and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association for the Rochester & Finger Lakes Region .

The Rochester Walk is one of five walks occurring in the Rochester and the Finger Lakes region, with an overall goal of raising $458,000.

IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper

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Page 19

Saving Lives in Ontario County Canandaigua Emergency Squad celebrates 75 years of service

By Ernst Lamothe Jr.

K

hristeen Sproul remembers the stories well — the stories that impact a person’s life when they are in emergency situations.

“I had someone who came to us with cardiac arrest and I remember being one of the first people on the scene,” said Sproul, an emergency medical technician who started at the Canandaigua Emergency Squad in 1997. “Five weeks later, I was just walking around town and ran into the person who told me that I saved their life that day. The feeling you get when you help someone out is just incredible.”

The Canandaigua Emergency Squad, 223 N. Pearl St., is celebrating 75 years of service this year. As the busiest 911 volunteer ambulance in Ontario County, it is also the oldest running volunteer ambulance across all of Western New York. Canandaigua Emergency Squad is the primary emergency medical and ambulance provider that responds to traumatic medical crises in Ontario County, serving the towns of Canandaigua, Hopewell, Gorham and Bloomfield and the village of East Bloomfield.

The squad has numerous stories depicting its quick action that has saved lives, such as when it saved a 2-year-old Rochester resident who suffered cardiac arrest at her lake house on Canandaigua Lake a couple of years ago.

They also saved a retired New York State Trooper when he suffered cardiac arrest at the Canandaigua Music & Arts Center last summer.

Forty years ago, the organization received about 700 calls a year.

Today, that number has increased to more than 4,000 calls — an average of 80 calls per week. In addition, the squad provides paramedic intercept service to any ambulance service in Ontario County requesting assistance.

Sproul, who has served in almost a dozen different roles for the organization such as board of directors members and adviser for the chief, was 15 years old when she first got involved.

“The feeling you get when you help someone out is just incredible,” said Sproul.

“There is a real need for this in the community. With the high volume of calls we receive, if our emergency squad didn’t exist, there would be a significant gap in the area and people would have to get delayed care.

That would be very difficult because every minute matters in an emergency.”

‘Personal side of tragedy’

Chief Ken Beers has overseen the squad since 2001. Like Sproul, he also developed his passion for his

Canandaigua Fire Academy: from left: Canandaigua Emergency Squad (CES) Chief Ken Beers; Minority Leader Brian Kolb; CES Board Chairwoman Chris O’Donnell; Michele Wistner, wife of Bob Wistner, retired NYS trooper who was saved by CES; and Steve Williams, general manager, Constellation Brands — Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center (CMAC) who received an automated external defibrillator from CES for CMAC. career as a teenager in the Explorer program. He grew up in Greece and saw his neighborhood firefighters investing in the community and taking care of its people.

“When people are in crisis, it helps them to know that someone is there on their side doing everything they can to help and make it better,” said Beers. “We see the personal side of tragedy.”

His colleagues say he has grown the squad tremendously under his leadership. They say with Canandaigua Emergency Squad being so essential to the community, it was important to have a leader who saw the value of the organization and its

Canandaigua Fire Academy personnel on the scene in Canandaigua at the intersection of routes 5 and 20.

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IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • November 2015

staff. They say the compassion and drive he shows to ensure his members are safe makes the squad run well.

“Ken is incredible. When he first got hired, he made sure that we ate together as a family,” said Sproul.

“He is also an amazing teacher who has a lot of experience, which makes him comfortable in so many situations. Having a strong leader like him makes the entire organization stronger and uplifts us all.”

Beers said people who are in the emergency professions like firefighters are being put in situations where they have to deal with very tough situations.

“That is one of the reasons why I enjoy the squad getting together and staying close knit because they share common experiences,” he said.

“They understand what you are going through and the compassion that you are showing every time you go out there.”

Brian Moore, 45, got involved in the Canandaigua Fire Squad in 1989.

It was his way of getting out in the community and having a connection.

Soon it became his passion and also inspired him to earn his registered nurse degree in emergency medicine where he works at Thompson Health. “It made me want to progress toward getting an advanced level of education,” said Moore.

He also remembers the stories of the people he encounters. They stick in his mind especially those who recover from near-death experience.

“I have had to deal with a car accident where a teenager was in extremely critical situation. We were able to get him the help he needed, and after two years of rehab, he is doing well. It does make you proud that you have the chance to serve the community and help out in any way you can,” added Moore.