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GVHEALTHNEWS.COM
MAY 2022 • ISSUE 201
CELEBRATING NURSES National Nurses Week is in May; a great time to thank nurses for their incredible, dedicated and continued work. ALSO INSIDE WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A NURSE, LONG-TERM NURSES LEAD WITH EMPATHY, NURSES AND THEIR HOBBIES,
NEW GERIATRICIAN IN CHARGE Physician Daniel Ari Mendelson is now in charge of medical services at Jewish Senior Life. He talks about his career, his new job and how the nursing industry won’t be the same again after the pandemic. P. 4
HOW TO CREATE A PERFECT DAY P. 10 Cream cheese: the good, the bad, and the lovely P. 17
LOSE WEIGHT THE TOPS WAY TOPS — Taking Off Pounds Sensibly — is an international organization with many affiliates across the nation, including several in the Rochester area. Members of the TOPS Club in Phelps recently discussed how their operations P. 19
P. 13 P. 15 P. 14
Half of World’s People Suffer From Headaches
I
f you suffer from headaches, you have plenty of company. Headaches afflict half of the world’s population, and women are more likely to get them than men, a new paper says. “We found that the prevalence of headache disorders remains high worldwide and the burden of different types may impact many. We should endeavor to reduce this burden through prevention and better treatment,” said study lead author Lars Jacob Stovner, of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. The researchers reviewed 357 studies published between 1961 and the end of 2020. They found that 52% of people have a headache within a given year, including 14% with migraine, 26% with a tension-type headache and about 5% with a headache for 15 or more days a month. On any given day, almost 16% of people worldwide have a headache and nearly half (7%) have a migraine, according to the findings. The results were published April 12 in the Journal of Headache and Pain. All types of headache are more common in women than men, especially migraines (17% in females vs. about 9% in males) and headaches on 15 or more days a month (6% in females vs. less than 3% in males). “Compared to our previous report and global estimates, the data does suggest that headaches and migraines rates may be increasing. However, given that we could explain only 30% or less of the varia-
tion in headache estimates with the measures we looked at, it would be premature to conclude headaches are definitively increasing,” Stovner said in a journal news release. “What is clear is that over-
all, headache disorders are highly prevalent worldwide and can be a high burden. It may also be of interest in future to analyze the different causes of headaches that varied across groups to target preven-
tion and treatment more effectively,” he added. Most of the studies in the analysis included adults aged 20-65, but some also included adults older than 65 and children as young as age 5.
Frank Guido couldn’t be happier he had a choice for treating his prostate cancer! Frank chose non-surgical CyberKnife® at HOA – offering 5 treatments instead of 35! “The original diagnosis was to treat my prostate cancer with seven weeks of radiation, five days a week. I was kind of upset that I was never given the option of CyberKnife,” said Frank. “The precise radiation achieved by CyberKnife, far fewer treatments, and the personalized care I received from Dr. Chin and his team made my decision an easy one. Better, the treatment was a real success!”
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Page 2 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • May 2022
home is where the help is. Living Well Companion Care provides nonmedical services to make living in your own home feel manageable again. We can support you with daily routines, transportation, housekeeping and more. Companions undergo comprehensive background screenings and we only hire those we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Now hiring in and serving eastern Monroe and Ontario counties. Call us at (585) 248-5021 or visit livingwellcompanioncare.org to learn more or to apply to be a companion.
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May 2022 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • Page 3
Meet
Your Doctor
By Chris Motola
Daniel Ari Mendelson, M.D. U.S. Life Expectancy Drops for 2nd Year in a Row
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esearchers report that life expectancy in the United States dropped in 2021, continuing a troubling trend that began in the first year of the pandemic. Specifically, average U.S. life expectancy tumbled from 78.86 years in 2019 to 76.99 in 2020. It then fell by a smaller amount in 2021, to 76.60 years, the new report found. One thing was different about the latest longevity numbers: Losses in life expectancy among white Americans were largely responsible for that continuing trajectory, the new study found. In 2020, Black and Hispanic Americans were disproportionately impacted by the pandemic amid chronic health disparities. The research team speculated that the reason for the changing dynamics in 2021 could be vaccine hesitancy among some white Americans and a resistance to pandemic restrictions, including in states with disproportionately white populations. “We already knew that the U.S. experienced historic losses in life expectancy in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. What wasn’t clear is what happened in 2021. To our knowledge this is the first study to report data for 2021, and the news isn’t good,” corresponding study author, physician Steven Woolf, director emeritus of the Center on Society and Health at Virginia Commonwealth University, said in a university news release. “Early in 2021, knowing an excellent vaccine was being distributed, I was hopeful that the U.S. could recover some of its historic losses,” said Woolf. “But I began to worry more when I saw what happened as the year unfolded. Even so, as a scientist, until I saw the data it remained an open question how U.S. life expectancy for that year would be affected. It was shocking to see that U.S. life expectancy, rather than having rebounded, had dropped even further.” The emergence of the faster-spreading delta and omicron COVID-19 variants played a big role, the experts said.
New geriatrician in charge of medical services at Jewish Senior Life: ‘I honestly don’t think the industry is ever going to be the same again after the pandemic’ Q: What brought you to your new position with Jewish Senior Life? A: I went to college, medical school and residency in Rochester, so I’d been familiar with Jewish Senior Life for a long time. I got interested in geriatrics during medical school and grew that interest as resident. The doctor who got me into geriatrics, he’s since passed away, Dr. Rocco Vivenzio. Rocco was a doctor’s doctor. He was the director of two small nursing homes. I started getting medical direction right out of fellowship at one of those smaller nursing homes. Over the years I’ve done medical direction at Highland Hospital and Monroe Community Hospital. Along that path I remained very active in the Jewish community. I was past president of our temple, and have a daughter who is a cantor, and a number of good friends who are rabbis. So it’s been a big part of my sense of community. So I was actually on the Jewish Senior Life board and a member of the quality committee. I was impressed with the work that they did, and the previous medical directors were mentors of mine. I’ve spent most of my career at the University of Rochester in leadership positions, but I wasn’t really expecting this position to come up within my time frame, but the timing turned out to be very good. My kids are done with school. The pandemic has really made me take stock of things I’d been thinking about, and it just turned out to be a really good time to make a change. A lot of my work at the university has required a lot of travel all over the world, which has been a great experience, but I’m really looking forward to spending the next part of my career focusing on my own community here at home.
Q: Since it was a factor in your decision, how would you say Jewish values influence the position? A: I think it’s in the Jewish values. I’m part of the reform movement, and one of our values is tikkun olam, which meaning “healing the world.” I take that very personally. Being able to make the world a little bit of a better place by helping the most vulnerable is extraordinarily rewarding and meaningful. I think my Jewish identity and Jewish values are a driving force in making those sacrifices for other people, and being present for those residents, for those patients. Q: It’s a particularly challenging to run any medical institution, but nursing homes in particular. What kinds of impacts are your seeing? A: There’s been no part of healthcare more impacted by COVID than long-term care. The elderly are by far the most vulnerable. While they make up a small fraction of the population, they make up a huge fraction of deaths and hospitalizations from COVID-related illness. So it’s very present and on the forefront. It’s a serious and dangerous illness for the folks we care for. Q: How do you balance protecting their health from the virus with their social needs, especially since isolation and loneliness can be such a big issue for seniors? A: It’s a tremendously difficult problem, trying to balance the science and what’s best for the individual. We’ve had patients who have died because of COVID, but not due to COVID. I had a patient I was very close to; the social isolation of the lockdown really affected his ability to engage in life, and I think he just disengaged and faded away. I think of this
Page 4 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • May 2022
as a COVID-related death even if he didn’t die from the virus. So I’m very cognizant of that. At the same time, when you see COVID sweep through a nursing home with half the residents being infected, and many passing away or being hospitalized, it’s a very difficult balance to strike. I think it’s one of those things where there isn’t a clear right answer. That’s where the team approach, which is one of things I really like about Jewish Senior Life, comes into play. So it’s not entirely up to us, but we provide a medical voice to weigh in on some of the realities and try to find the best way to protect our patients while maintaining their quality of life. I hope to be able to continue that tradition. Q: What kind of long-term impact do you want to have on Jewish Senior Life? A: I honestly don’t think the industry is ever going to be the same again after the pandemic. Nursing homes have gotten more attention, and I think people have a greater sense of how hard and important the work is. Hopefully that will be helpful at the legislative level and we’ll get the support we need. Health care in general is suffering from staffing issues right now, particularly in the nursing workforce. What we do is very hands-on. It requires people to care for people. The shortage in nursing is very palpable. I think, because the quality of care and quality of work life at Jewish Senior Life is so good, we’ve had less problems than others, but it’s still a challenge to keep quality staff to care for everybody. Q: What can you do to help retention and avoid burnout? A: One of the important things is simply having enough people. When people work extra shifts, it’s hard for them to recharge their batteries. The work is very intense, both from a physical standpoint and from an emotional standpoint, so people really need to get their breaks. When they’re short-staffed it’s hard to do that. If you’re short-staffed, workloads are too high, and that causes burnout. The other things that can cause burnout is feeling like you aren’t being appreciated or aren’t doing meaningful work, or don’t have a sense of control over their life. I think they’ve done a good job of making sure the staff has a voice in how they work, and in realizing how much work everyone is doing. The little ways that Jewish Senior Life has always shown appreciation to the staff, I think, goes a long way. At the end of the day it’s nice to be in a leadership position, but the work happens on the floor, at the side of a resident.
Lifelines
Name: Daniel Ari Mendelson, M.D. Position: Vice president of medical services and chief medical officer at Jewish Senior Life Education: RIT, University of Rochester Career Highlights: Co-founded the Geriatric Fracture Center at Highland Hospital, as well as the UR Medicine Geriatrics Group (originally Strong Health Geriatrics Group). Also was the founder of the Highland Hospital Geriatrics Palliative Care Clinic Family: Married, two daughters Hobbies: Scuba diving, baking sourdough, training dogs (current dog is a B-student)
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500 New Yorkers Die Every Year Waiting for Transplants increasing the number of people who register to be donors.” In New York state, the need for donors is among the highest of any state in the union, but just 45% of state residents who are eligible have enrolled in the Donate Life Registry. All New York state residents age 16 and older can enroll to donate their organs, eyes, and/or tissues after their death. One organ donor can save eight lives and heal 75 more through eye and tissue donation. • Donatable organs include the heart, kidneys, pancreas, lungs, liver and intestines. • Donatable tissues include the eyes and corneas, skin, heart valves, bone, blood vessels, nerve, cartilage and connective tissues. Following registration, donors receive a letter or email providing information on how to change or limit their donation. Registration is a legal document ensuring the person’s wish to be a donor is carried out. Family will be told of the decision and given
information about the process, but their permission is not needed for the donation to proceed. “New Yorkers are generous, kind and want to help others — they just need to know how. Anyone aged 16 and older can join the New York State Donate Life Registry and potentially save the lives of up to 8 people through organ donation and heal
75 more through tissue donation,” says Aisha Tator, executive director of Donate Life New York State. “Registering as an organ and tissue donor is an extraordinary act, and we encourage every New Yorker to sign up today and give someone in need the gift of life.” New York state has simplified the process to register as an organ and
You can also complete a paper or online registration form, or check to see if you’ve already registered to be an organ donor, atwww.DonateLife. NY.gov. More information is also available at The Center for Donation & Transplant (www.cdtnyvt.org), a federally designated organ procurement organization in Upstate New York.
Health: American Women Rank Last Among Women in Developed Countries
have been influenced by commercial carrier “upcoding” in Advantage plans. Upcoding, which is technically fraud, occurs when a commercial carrier claims that their members are “sicker” than the average Medicare member, so the carrier requires higher payments from Medicare to operate. About 50% of seniors are enrolled in an Advantage plan versus traditional Medicare. To be fair, Advantage plans DO offer more services than traditional Medicare.
of insulin to the Medicare program. Again, our representatives continue to kowtow to the drug industry with this rather harmless bill. As of this writing, it is remains uncertain if Congress will finally pass a bill that minimally allows Medicare to negotiate prices (versus set prices) with drug manufacturers. Without any compunction, Congress has no problem setting prices for physicians and hospitals.
M
ore than 8,500 New York state residents are waiting for an organ transplant that can save their life, according to a review of state data by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. Unfortunately, time will run out for around 500 of them, as that is the average number of New Yorkers who die each year before a compatible organ becomes available. “These aren’t just statistics, but rather our loved ones, coworkers, and neighbors,” says physician Lorna Fitzpatrick, vice president medical affairs and senior medical director at Excellus BCBS. “We can increase their odds for a successful donor match by
tissue donor, including allowing registration through the Department of Motor Vehicles when you apply for a driver’s license or permit (www. DMV.NY.gov), through the Board of Elections when you register to vote, and through the NYS of Health marketplace when you sign up for, or renew, a health insurance plan (www.NYStateofHealth.NY.gov).
In New York state, the need for donors is among the highest of any state in the union.
Healthcare in a Minute
By George W. Chapman
T
he US belongs to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Most of the economically advanced countries in the world are members. The OECD tracks costs, morbidity, access and outcomes among member nations. (Spoiler alert: The US has historically underperformed in most categories.) In a recent study of women’s health, in age group 19-49, involving the top 11 countries by income, the US placed last in most metrics covered. (Notably, the US is the only country in the top 11 without universal healthcare.) The US ranked last in the death rate from avoidable causes like pregnancy-re-
lated complications. The US maternal mortality rate was three times the 11-country average. US women have the highest out-of-pocket costs of all 11 countries in the study which can account for delayed, postponed or put off care. Fifty percent of US women said they had trouble paying a bill versus an average 10% in the other countries surveyed. The US ranked last in meeting mental health needs. US women have the highest rate of multiple chronic conditions. Finally, US women are least likely to have a “regular” provider. The US did manage to retain its No. 1 ranking in per capita cost of care.
Affordable Care Act: Fixing the Glitches
cial insurance online. Individuals who must spend more than 9.5% of their income on employer provided insurance may opt to purchase more affordable commercial insurance (discount based on income) through an exchange. The problem has been that while it helped the individual, it didn’t help their dependents. Five million families were negatively impacted. A proposed rule that will fix the “family glitch” has recently been introduced. The entire household will be eligible for discounted insurance if employer family coverage exceeds 9.5% of family or household income.
Also referred to as “Obamacare,” the ACA became law 12 years ago after intense negotiations with stakeholder trade associations representing commercial insurers, physicians, hospitals and the 50 states. All stakeholders agreed to participate in the ACA with the notable exception of drug manufacturers. At the time, more than 50 million people lacked health insurance. They typically earned too much to qualify for Medicaid and not enough to afford expensive commercial insurance. The ACA has survived more than 60 politically motivated attempts to repeal it. The unanswered question was always “so what is the problem?” Promises to replace the ACA with something “better” were just talk. The goal of critics was simply to repeal it. Today, a record 31 million people are covered by the ACA through either expanded Medicaid eligibility or by purchasing discounted commer-
Medicare Premium Increase After several years of nominal increases, CMS is proposing an 8.5% premium increase for Advantage Plans (Part C) and Drug plans (Part D) for 2023. The rate increase reflects more claims than normal during the pandemic and overall inflation. Skeptics believe the higher rates may
All-purpose Clinics: Walmart At It Again Is this the future of healthcare? Like it not, Walmart will open five new clinics in Florida later this year. The retail giant already operates 20 “full service” clinics in Georgia, Arkansas and Illinois. Walmart is capitalizing on its high foot traffic to offer health services under one roof including: in-person primary care, telemedicine, dentistry, pharmacy, durable medical equipment and basic medical supplies. Walmart claims its all-purpose clinics are typically located in “underserved” areas. Allowing Walmart to solve healthcare inequities in cost, access and quality, is either laudable or scary.
Insulin Costs There are more than 30 million diabetics in the US and about 7.5 million rely on insulin. By a vote of 232-193, Congress recently passed the Affordable Insulin Now Act. Unbelievably, 193 of our representatives voted no! Why? The bill caps outof-pocket costs for Part D Medicare members at $35 per month or 25% of the “negotiated” price. Since drug manufacturers consistently refuse to negotiate prices, it looks like the $35 cap will apply. This is hardly a victory for taxpayers. While welcome relief for seniors by capping out of pocket costs, the bill does absolutely nothing to reduce the actual COST
Page 6 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • May 2022
Birth rate down again It’s not just the US. It’s worldwide. Our birthrate has been declining since 2008. In 2020 there were 3,376,000 deaths and 3,605,000 births for a net gain of just 229,000 people, which is just a fraction of 1% of our 332 million people. The net is being impacted from both ends. There has been an increase in preventable deaths among younger people (drug overdoses, suicides, gun violence) combined with increasing reluctance among younger people to procreate because of climate change, the economy, cost and availability of childcare, the pandemic, a rapidly morphing job market and general anxiety. This trend worries health planners because as our average age increases, so do the costs of healthcare. There are fewer healthy, younger people not only to offset or subsidize the COST of caring for the elderly but to literally PROVIDE care to the elderly. George W. Chapman is a healthcare business consultant who works exclusively with physicians, hospitals and healthcare organizations. He operates GW Chapman Consulting based in Syracuse. Email him at gwc@gwchapmanconsulting.com.
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Habit Stacking for Health Little things can add up to big health benefits By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
W
hile not a new concept, the term “habit stacking” was developed by motivation speaker James Clear to describe of using basic habits to reach larger goals. Most people have at least one health improvement goal, like drinking more water, getting fitter,
building more muscle, eating more produce. It’s easy to chalk up their inability to achieve their goal to a lack of willpower. However, busyness and distraction are more likely the reasons. How hard is it to chug a few more glasses of water? But in the hubbub of a frantic day, the water tumbler goes dry and so do the chances of forming that hydrating
habit. Habit stacking can make a new habit stick for good. Most people would not skip brushing their teeth. If their goal is to drink more water, setting out a glass near the toothbrush would serve as an easy reminder and readily facilitate getting in extra servings of water. “These small ways can help people built up good habits,” said Kelly Herron, a board certified OB-GYN and board certified internal medical physician certified in integrative and functional medicine. She operates Hygeia Life in Rochester. “Self-care is usually not something people even have time for.” By forcing the new habit to piggyback on one already established, people are less likely to forget. It typically takes about 28 days to form a new habit, according to Jess Germano-Fokin, PhD and owner of Seasons of Change Wellness in Rochester. But habit stacking can fast track that process. “Habit stacking can start to change the neural pathway in the brain,” she said. “We change the way in which we think and do things.” Instead of waiting idly by the coffeepot waiting for the first cup, getting in a few reps with free weights will build more fitness into the day, thanks to the sight of the dumbbells on the countertop. Eventually, picking up the weights becomes part of that routine. “If you can get two weeks into it, you’re well on your way,” Germano-Fokin said. “It has to be a regular thing, daily, if not, several times a day or the brain won’t identify that as a new habit-forming behavior.” Austyn Affronti, certified personal trainer and owner of Affronti
Fitness in Rochester, encourages clients to go for a 10- to 15-minute walk after each meal. “If you eat four times a day, that will put in another 6,000 to 7,000 steps,” he said. “Going for a walk as soon as you wake up is also good.” Many people like to unwind by watching TV or a movie. Affronti suggested keeping exercise bands near the couch to add more movement to the day. While it is not the same as a full workout, it helps maintain range of motion and flexibility. For a more vigorous experience, perform body weight exercises like squats, calf raises and push-ups during the show and jumping jacks during the commercial break. “The more times you do little things throughout the day, the more you’re investing in a fitness lifestyle and the more acclimated you become to it,” Affronti said. “It’s no longer a thing you’re dreading but it is part of who you are. If you just go to the gym and you don’t do little things every day, you’re not as vesting in consistency.” The new habit should be measurable. “Getting in shape” is too vague. “Moving up to one larger dumb bell” is measurable. The new habit should be congruent with the old habit. For example, “I’ll do 25 jumping jacks while waiting for the copier” may prove distracting in an office. But “I’ll pace in my office while on the phone” could work. The old habit should be something you do on a similar basis of the desired new habit. Of course, dropping bad habits is just as important as picking up good ones. Adding more exercise won’t make up for a poor diet, for example.
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Page 8 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • May 2022
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U.S. STD Cases Spiked During Pandemic
E
ven as the COVID-19 pandemic kept people isolated at home, sexually transmitted disease (STDs) cases increased across the United States. Although cases fell in the pandemic’s early months, infections rose again by the end of 2020, with gonorrhea, syphilis and congenital syphilis surpassing 2019 levels, according to a new U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report. “STDs have been increasing now for maybe seven years in a row,” said physician Leandro Mena, director of the CDC’s Division of STD Prevention. “These increases have roots in a decrease in funding public health, which has affected health departments’ ability to provide screening, treatment, prevention and partner services,” he added. Increased substance use, which is linked to social practices and socioeconomic conditions making it difficult to access services, also plays a role, Mena said. The new 2020 STD Surveillance Report, released April 12, found that at the end of 2020: • Cases of gonorrhea and primary and secondary syphilis rose 10% and 7%, respectively, compared with 2019. • Syphilis among newborns, called congenital syphilis, also rose
by nearly 15% from 2019, and 235% from 2016. Primary and secondary syphilis and congenital syphilis cases continued to rise in 2021. • Cases of chlamydia dropped by 13% from 2019. • Chlamydia accounts for the largest proportion of reported STDs. Researchers suspect the reported drop in cases owes to reduced STD screening and underdiagnosis during the pandemic, and not a true reduction in new infections. The decline in reported chlamydia cases contributed to a drop in the number of reported STDs in 2020 —from 2.5 million cases in 2019 to 2.4 million in 2020. The researchers cited several factors contributing to the decline in STD cases in the first part of 2020, including: • Less screening. • Public health workers sidelined to work on COVID-19. • Shortages of STD tests and lab supplies. • Lapses in health insurance caused by unemployment. • A surge in telemedicine that resulted in less frequent screening and left some infections unreported. •The highest rates of new STIs were seen among gay and bisexual men and teens, the CDC reported. “Over 50% of all STDs are reported among people who are younger than 24 years old,” Mena said.
SERVING MONROE AND ONTARIO COUNTIES A monthly newspaper published 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. © 2022 by Local News, Inc. All rights reserved. P.O. Box 525, Victor NY 14564. Phone: 585-421-8109 • Email: Editor@GVhealthnews.com
Grow with Us! Rewarding Careers! Open Interview Event • Tuesday, May 17 Noon to 6 p.m. • 817 East Main Street, Rochester Seeking compassionate, energetic and creative people to provide unique, linguistically bilingual and bicultural services to people living in Rochester. Recruiters and program staff will be available to discuss exciting job opportunities with both agencies.
Attendees are encouraged to pre-apply. Walk-ins are also welcome. Bilingual Spanish/English applicants preferred. Spanish and ASL interpreters will be available.
Editor & Publisher: Wagner Dotto Writers: Deborah J. Sergeant, Chris Motola, George Chapman, Gwenn Voelcker, Anne Palumbo, John Addyman, Ernst Lamothe, Rebecca Conklin (D.O.) Advertising: Anne Westcott, Linda Covington • Layout & Design: Joey Sweener • Office Manager: Kate Honebein 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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May 2022 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • Page 9
Live Alone & Thrive
By Gwenn Voelckers
Practical tips, advice and hope for those who live alone
In May: Create Your Perfect Day!
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he month of May is all about new growth and new beginnings. If you could do anything your heart desires, how would you spend a perfect day in May? I was presented with this question a while ago, and it got me thinking. I began to fantasize about what my perfect day would include. The more I thought about it, the more excited I got about making my perfect day a reality. One of the many benefits of living alone is that you have the freedom to choose exactly how you spend your time and energy. Maybe you’re looking for some introspective time to yourself. Or maybe you’ve had enough “alone time” lately and would enjoy the company of friends. Perhaps, like me, your perfect day would include a little bit of both. Like anything worthwhile, creating a perfect day takes a little thought and pre-planning. In preparation, you might ask yourself these questions: • With whom do I want share this precious day? • Which activities bring meaning to my life? • What brings me joy? And, conversely, what steals my joy? • What inspires me to be my best self? Of course, there’s no such thing as a universal perfect day. Each of us is unique and will define our perfect day differently. And by “perfect,” I don’t mean a day without hiccups or disappointments. Perfect, in my mind, includes all the imperfections that come with being human and living in the real world. A day that includes changes, challenges and snafus is also an opportunity to demonstrate your smarts. Not to mention your resilience! You get the opportunity to solve problems and prove to yourself that you are resourceful and wise. How perfect is that?!
After giving the questions above serious consideration, I designed a perfect day for myself in early May. I’ve included it here, in hopes that it might inspire you to embrace this exercise and seize the day. 5:30 a.m. — Rising and Shining I’m an early riser, so my perfect day began like every other — before sunrise. It seems the older I get, the less sleep I need. For me, it’s bonus “me time” in the morning to gently ease into my daily routine. No jarring alarm clock startles me awake; I rely on my biological clock. My eyes naturally open when my body is rested after a good night’s sleep. I stretch in bed and then roll out to pull on yesterday’s jeans to start my perfect day. 6 a.m. — Contemplating and Reflecting After feeding my cat Little Merry and brewing a cup of coffee, I settled onto my couch to meditate and set my intentions for the day. Little Merry popped up on my lap and together our breathing synced in the stillness. I began my day feeling grounded with an open heart, filled with gratitude. 7 a.m. — Moving and Communing with Nature As the sun rose over the tree tops, I made my way to the trail head of a nearby park. Walking is a daily ritual for me, which — no surprise — was part of my perfect day. Not only was I moving (my joints thanked me), I was moved by the serene beauty, earthy aromas, and the warmth of fresh spring air. I find my spiritual bearings in nature. 8:30 a.m. — Taking Care of Business After my invigorating walk, I returned home to enjoy a healthy breakfast, while scanning the news headlines. Then, I turned my attention to taking care of some household chores and tasks that come with being solely responsible for my home and property.
Adolescent Drug Overdose Deaths Rise Exponentially
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he rate of overdose deaths among U.S. teenagers nearly doubled in 2020, the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, and rose another 20% in the first half of 2021 compared with the 10 years before the pandemic, even as drug use remained generally stable during the same period, according to new UCLA
research. This is the first time in recorded history that the teen drug death rate has seen an exponential rise, even though rates of illicit drug use among teens are at all-time lows, said lead author Joseph Friedman, an addiction researcher and M.D. and Ph.D. candidate at the David Geffen School
Far from burdensome, I take these responsibilities in stride and feel pride and, yes, even joy when I fulfill my obligations to myself and others. I made my bed, answered emails, paid bills, confirmed several Airbnb reservations, took out the trash, did laundry, you name it. I did what needed to be done. And that felt good! 10 a.m. — Practicing for Perfection (well, not quite) As a budding percussionist for the New Horizons community jazz band, I picked up my drum sticks, tambourine, shaker and cow bell for a good 45 minutes of practice. On this perfect day, I decided not to admonish myself for my fledgling attempts to better my technique. I love supporting my fellow percussionists and I gave myself a big high-five for making progress — however slowly. 11 a.m. — Playing Pickleball My perfect day would not be complete if I didn’t indulge in my new obsession: pickleball. I arrived at the court to find my new community of friends ready to slam the wiffle ball across the net (not!). We are a kind clan. We laugh, we encourage each other to stop apologizing for our mis-hits and we valiantly try to keep track of the score. It’s so much fun! And it’s great aerobic exercise — good for the heart on so many levels. 2 p.m. — Pampering Myself Exhausted (in a good way) after two hours of pure exhilaration on the pickleball court, I decided to do something just for me. Goodness knows my muscles needed some TLC and I wanted some pampering. In anticipation of my perfect day, I booked a Swedish massage for May 1. It goes without saying — it was “perfekt!” That’s perfect in Swedish. 3 p.m. — Committing a Random Act of Kindness My day wouldn’t be perfect without doing a little something for someone else, without expecting anything in return. On my perfect day I made it happen. On my way home from the spa, I saw the contents of my neighbor’s recycling bin blown helter-skelter. I stopped, gathered up the paper and plastic and returned the items to the bin. This small act kindness put a spring in my step! of Medicine at UCLA. “Drug use is becoming more dangerous, not more common,” Friedman said. “The increases are almost entirely due to illicit fentanyls, which are increasingly found in counterfeit pills. These counterfeit pills are spreading across the nation, and teens may not realize they are dangerous.” The study is published in JAMA. The researchers used the CDC WONDER (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research) database to calculate drug overdose deaths per 100,000 population for adolescents aged 14 to 18 years that occurred from January 2010 to June 2021. They found 518 deaths, or a rate of 2.4 per 100,000, among adolescents in 2010, and a steady rate of 492 deaths (2.36 per 100,000) each subsequent year through 2019. In 2020, there was a sharp increase to
Page 10 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • May 2022
3:30 p.m. — Taking a Catnap Need I say more? 4 p.m. — Enjoying Some Free Time Feeling rested, I enjoyed a few hours of unstructured time to do whatever struck my fancy. On this particular day, I did some spring clean-up in my yard and gardens, swept out the barn, and refilled my birdfeeders. Then, I came inside to relax, read and do a little online shopping. A perfect day for me will always include free time to do nothing or to do something, to work or to play, or experiment and learn something new. 7 p.m. — Sharing a Meal with People I Love I’m lucky this way: It’s not unusual to find myself at my sister Anne’s home to enjoy one of her incredible gourmet meals and the good company of her family. Spoiler alert: I was there on my perfect day. We ate, we laughed, and just hung out (until it was time to do the dishes and I made a bee-line for the door). Kidding! It was a perfect and delicious ending to a perfect day. I was with people I love. What could be better? 10 p.m. — Hitting the Sack Early to bed, with a Rick Steves travel guide in hand, is the perfect nightcap for me. So that’s how I wrapped up my wonderful day. Before I nodded off to sleep, I asked myself: What made this day so perfect? Why do I feel so content? The answer came quickly: connections. My perfect day was filled with connections — with myself, with nature, my best friends, and with family. So, what’s your perfect day? Whatever it is, make it happen. Trust me, you’ll feel renewed and reinvigorated from the inside out. And that’s a perfect combination!
Gwenn Voelckers is the founder and facilitator of Alone and Content, empowerment workshops for women and author of “Alone and Content,” a collection of inspiring essays for those who live alone. For information about her workshops, to purchase her book, or invite her to speak, visit www. aloneandcontent.com 954 deaths (4.57 per 100,000), rising to 1,146 deaths (5.49 per 100,000) in early 2021. Fake versions of prescription drugs such as Xanax, Percocet and Vicodin, whose strength can fluctuate, also contributed toward the increase in overdose deaths, Friedman noted. “Teens urgently need to be informed about this rising danger,” Friedman said. “Accurate information about the risk of drugs needs to be presented in schools. Teens need to know that pills and powders are the highest risk for overdose, as they are most likely to contain illicit fentanyls. Pills and powders can be tested for the presence of fentanyls using testing strips, which are becoming more widely available.” In addition, education and access to naloxone, which can reverse overdoses, are needed in schools and places frequented by teens, he said.
Prostate Cancer Survivor Helps Others Early diagnosis and treatment typically mean better outcomes By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
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hen receiving a cancer diagnosis, most people become bombarded with information—precisely at the time that they feel so shocked by the news that they have cancer. It can be hard to take it all in, to sort out the information and to make any kind of sensible decisions. How will the disease progress? What symptoms are normal? What symptoms indicate the cancer is growing or spreading? Will I be healthy again? What treatments are the best? What side effects will they cause? Can I care for my family through this? Will insurance cover the treatments? The number of questions and incoming information can feel overwhelming. That is one reason that prostate cancer survivor Mark Richardson of Pittsford became the leader of the Us TOO Rochester chapter. The organization provides peer support and information for men with prostate cancer. Like his chapter members, Richardson never thought he would have prostate cancer. When he retired in August 2015 after his 41-year career at Kodak/Carestream, he learned he had prostate cancer. “It was kind of devastating; I never expected prostate cancer,” he said. “I did not have any symptoms.” He only learned he had prostate cancer because he had been receiving prostate specific antigen monitoring and routine digital rectal examinations while taking testosterone for erectile dysfunction. For a decade, his PSA level had been creeping up. Only slight changes indicated something may be amiss: a little more urination, a bit of irritability. Richardson’s wife, Peggy, urged Richardson to see a urologist. Eventually, a biopsy showed cancer. Since it was a small, contained cancer, Richardson and his urologist Jean Joseph of UR Medicine selected robotic
Mark Richardson laparoscopic prostatectomy. Further testing showed stage three prostate cancer, meaning that the cancer had broken out of the prostate but had not spread to other areas of the body. That meant more choices to ensure that the cancer would not metastasize. Richardson and oncologist Jan Dombrowski, also from UR Medicine, decided that radiation would be in order. For some cases, chemotherapy, high intensity focal ultrasound, hormone therapy or radiation seed therapy may be good choices, depending upon the man’s age, cancer grade, potential side effects and other medical conditions. For some, watchful waiting may be more sensible instead of aggressive treatment. In addition to life-changing decisions, Richardson had to learn how to cope with the side effects such as urinary incontinence and fatigue, which lasted for months. He also had to learn about triggers and ways to support good health. “I remain active, try to eat healthy and exercise regularly,” Rich-
ardson said. He began exercising five days a week for 30 minutes on an elliptical machine. While grateful to his medical team, he realized he could help other men with prostate cancer, especially when they are first diagnosed and undergoing treatment. Richardson and Peggy became the chapter leaders of Us TOO Rochester. He wants men and their spouses to feel they have the information they need to make the best decision for their situation. Plus, the camaraderie of talking with a survivor is very comforting and encouraging. The group hosts monthly chapter meetings and provides educational speakers to help attendees better understand the disease, its treatments and its effects on their health. They learn coping mechanisms, how to support good health and ways to deal with the side effects of the disease and its treatments. “I enjoy speaking with and helping other men who have prostate cancer,” Richardson said. Support meeting are held the second Thursday of each month at Spiegel Community Center, 35 Lincoln Ave., Pittsford, from 4 to 6 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome.
How to Contact Contact Mark Richardson at Us TOO at ustoorochesterny@gmail.com or 585-478-0897. For more information on prostate cancer go to zerocancer.org or sites. google.com/site/ustoorochesterny. Us TOO International is a nonprofit established in 1990 in Alexandria, Virginia, to inform and encourage families affected by prostate cancer.
About Prostate Cancer • Prostate cancer is the second-leading cancer among American men, behind skin cancer. • Prostate cancer can metastasize to lymph nodes, bones and nearby organs. • More than 3 million men in the US have prostate cancer, most of which are localized to the prostate. • About 10% of cases are in men aged 45-54; 33% are between 55-64; most are men aged 65-74. • The rate of prostate cancer is highest in African Americans, followed by non-Hispanics and then Hispanics. • Earlier diagnosis and treatment typically mean better outcomes for patients with prostate cancer. The five-year survival rate for local and regional prostate cancer is nearly 100% and 10- and 15-year survival rates are also high. As cancer spreads, these rates decrease. • Symptoms of prostate cancer can include urinary issues such as forceful urination, inability to urinate, or blood in the urine or semen; burning sensation; erectile dysfunction; frequent urination at night; weakness in the limbs or fatigue; pain in the lower back, abdomen or hips. • Risk factors for prostate cancer include advanced age, race and family history.
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Local Delivery & Curbside Pickup Available May 2022 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • Page 11
ty partnerships is essential to the organization. Our vast portfolio of services is all about bringing focus to the region’s health issues. Q. Why do you believe your organization is essential, especially the African American Health and Latino Health Coalition? Health improvement requires a commitment to health equity, and health equity can only be achieved when it is informed by and responsive to culture and the social determinants of health. Our coalitions allow us access to community expertise that can turn our data into information and our analytics into understanding. Q. What are some health issues that you believe are important to the African American and Latino community? The community has been very clear that it is not just issues associated with healthy eating and lifestyles, but also mental health and healthy child development. It is significant that across the region, irrespective of race, class or age, mental and emotional health comes up as a top issue for the community.
Q A &
with
Wade Norwood
Q. What are some new initiatives that you are looking for this year? We are excited about our My Health Story 2.0 to update our regional health scan and our new Latino health report. And our annual Speak Life conference with keynote speaker Harriet Washington, author of “Medical Apartheid.”
Common Ground Health CEO talks about the need to improve health equity in the Rochester-Finger Lakes area By Ernst Lamothe
Q. Why is it important to improve health equity among African American? The amount of avoidable and suboptimal hospital and emergency department visit totals, by our conservative estimate, is $1 billion per year in the Finger Lakes region. That equates to lost opportunity and investment in other aspects of the community. That’s why we need to improve health equity in the community. If we can improve it, we end up raising the bar for everyone in the region and that leads to cost savings, better community health and better experience of care. This is what is known as “the triple aim” of health care. The fourth would be a better experience for providers.
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ochester native Wade Norwood has held leadership positions in the community for more than three decades, including roles in public service, education and health care. In management at Common Ground Health since 2006, Norwood has been central to the nonprofit’s strategic planning process, pushing the organization to become a more effective change agent for all Finger Lakes region residents, especially those most at risk. He also spearheaded the organization’s efforts to engage underserved populations in health improvement, championing the creation of the African American Health Coalition, the Latino Health Coalition and the Partnership for Access to Healthcare, and providing ongoing support for these and other engagement initiatives.
Q. Talk about the overall services Common Ground offers Common Ground Health’s mission focuses on the region’s health issues; research, data, analyt-
ics; reports and studies such as The Color of Health, Overloaded and My Health Story. The grassroots work we carry out in barbershops, churches and through our other communi-
Q. What can our area do better to offer health equity among everyone? First, we need to begin centering mental and emotional health in the work of health improvement. We also need to systemically tackle the social determinants of health with a lens
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toward health equity. Q. Can you talk about the importance of addressing mental health issues? We need to continue to ask folks to think about the challenges we each had to overcome just over the course of our morning to reach where we are at this point of the day. All of us come to the table with a certain amount of weight attached. That weight is only lifted when we are able to solve these challenges. When issues begin to mount, such as transportation barriers, aren’t soluble, kids’ schools’ problems, when there’s too much month and not enough money to make ends meet, our data is very clear on how folks end up feeling overloaded. That often leads to poor mental health. People will fail to take care of their diabetes if they can’t provide safety, shelter and warmth for themselves or their families. Our health care systems need to care for the entire person, not just a slice of their lives. That’s what we mean when we talk about centering mental and emotional health. Q. What partnerships do you view as vital in the area? I would be remiss if I did not recognize the profound impact that our community partners have made on our ability to deliver services across our region, Excellus for underwriting The Color of Health report, demonstrating how much they value health equity. The local health departments, alongside county and city government partners across the Finger Lakes region who made it a priority to reach the community with information about COVID-19 and for coordinating community testing and vaccination efforts. Funders ranging from the United Way, the Greater Rochester Health Foundation, Rochester Area Community Foundation and the ESL Foundation, who have made it possible to reach more people with timely information about COVID-19 and vaccines. Our education partners, who have been key to making sure kids stay safe and transmission levels stay low in schools. The two major health care systems (URMC and RRH) and the network of community nonprofits and FQHCs, which have done the amazing work of getting shots into people’s arms at an unprecedented pace. And we can’t forget our community members who have stepped forward to volunteer in many ways to protect their families, friends and neighbors.
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Page 12 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • May 2022
Nursing
What It Means to Be a Nurse It’s not ‘a job. It is a vocation, a calling’ By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
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ursing is more than a job. It is a vocation, a calling. Many nurses strongly associate their personal identity with their vocation and felt a long-term desire to enter the field before doing so. For Grace Wlasowicz, who holds a Ph.D. in nursing, her profession is about acquiring the best education possible to provide the best care possible. Many role models from her childhood, including friends of her mother, Hannah Saidel, influenced her decision to become a nurse. “Since I was little, I wanted to be a nurse,” Wlasowicz said. “I had some health issues as a young child, so I had a lot of role models of good nursing.” The Webster resident serves on the executive board of the Nurse Practitioner’s Association of New York State and is a member of the Genesee Valley Nurses Association. She operates a private telehealth practice as a psychiatric nurse practitioner. Education — both hers and of
other nurses — has been a big part of the nursing experience for Wlasowicz. After completing her bachelor’s degree in nursing at Syracuse University in 1987, she began teaching at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse. She was told she had to have a master’s degree to continue teaching, so she continued in her education while working in long-term care as a per diem nurse and in neurosurgery. The experience of working with these patients helped Wlasowicz realize that she lacked the education to provide the emotional care they needed. “I could change their dressings and clean up after them, but I didn’t know how to talk with them,” she said. In 1991, she completed her master’s as a clinical nurse specialist in psychology and decided to pursue her Ph.D., as she had received a full scholarship to the University of Rochester. That effort took nine years, as she married and had children in the meantime. “Don’t get discourage if your path isn’t straight,” she said. “I defended my dissertation while 38 weeks pregnant.” She did take some time off to be with her children full time while they were small. However, her dedication to nursing and to educating nurses has always been important. “I’ve taught a lot of nurses over the years,” Wlasowicz said. “I’ve hopefully given them a good educa-
Diane Morrison
Grace Wlasowicz
tion with excellent standards.” She resigned from teaching at University of Rochester in 2020 to focus on her own practice. “I love the fact of helping people,” she said. “I love the fact that I can help them when they’re having the worst day of their lives a lot of times.” She believes that nurses must possess “an intrinsic desire to care for people and empathy, not sympathy.” With the desire to help others comes the risk of burnout. She encourages nurses to take up enjoyable hobbies and to engage in self-care. A focus on patient needs is essential to Diane Morrison, who serves as president of the Genesee Valley Nurses Association. She began her healthcare career as a 14-year-old volunteer at Memorial Hospital in Niagara Falls. “We had cute little blue and white uniforms,” she said. “We delivered mail and flowers. We’d speak with people.” From those early, enjoyable experiences interacting with patients, Morrison realized that nursing was the career for her. She eventually earned her bachelor’s degree at the
University of Maryland in the early 1990s and worked in Maryland in a surgical unit and in the intensive care unit. Eventually, she started working in hospice care. “It was a privilege to travel with their loved one at their end-of-life journey,” Morrison said. “It’s the most important part of their life journey.” After earning her MS in nursing education, she taught for five years at Keuka College and earned her nurse practitioner degree at Keuka College in 2017 and began working at MM Ewing Continuing Care in Canandaigua three years ago. “The wonderful thing about being here is we have our long-term care population you get close to,” Morrison said. “This is their home. We can be here to help those who pass away under hospice or palliative care. My patients become part of my heart.” Like Wlasowicz, she encourages self-care to prevent burnout, including seeing a mental healthcare provider as needed. “I approach things in life with humor,” she said. “You have to have humor in the healthcare field.”
May 2022 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • Page 13
Nursing
From Martial Arts to Photography, Hobbies Help Beat Burnout By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
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urprise! Nurses are real people behind their masks and scrubs. Carving out time to pursue a hobby can help them beat burnout and promote self-care. Some nurses enjoy hobbies that are a bit more unusual than others. Most people expect that their nurse can help them beat illness and injury. But Sheniece L. Griffin, doctor of nursing practice, could also vanquish bad guys as a kung fu-trained martial artist. Griffin serves as inaugural nursing director for diversity, equity and inclusion at URMC and an assistant professor of clinical nursing at University of Rochester School of Nursing. She is also a member of Rochester Black Nurses Association. Griffin has worked as a nurse for 12 years and has seen the increase of job stressors such as staffing issues and racism become more pronounced in the field. Kung fu has helped her deal with her stressors. In 2019, her four children wanted to practice martial arts and she and her husband, Christopher Martin-Stancil-El, became involved as part of a family discount at Rochester Kung Fu and Fitness. Although the children lost interest, Griffin and her husband continued. “I wasn’t getting any workout otherwise,” Griffin said. “This has been great conditioning. It builds up self-confidence. I like the self-defense aspects.” She added that kung fu has taught her that being a hard worker means that one can accomplish anything. Although few patients ever know she practices kung fu, it positively affects her work. “It makes me look at things a little different,” she added. “It helps you learn about self-control. It makes you think outside the box. In class, we talk about focusing your mind, ears, eyes and body. It makes you learn how to focus on what’s in front of you and give that person or whatever you’re doing your full attention. You’re cognizant of your environment and surroundings it gives self-awareness and helps build relationships.” She finds that the deep breathing and meditation in kung fu is an important part of her self-care, along with body conditioning, as the art includes aspects that improve cardiovascular health, balance and flexibility. “Most people can benefit from some type of martial art,” Griffin said. “All martial arts have skills people can learn from.” For Natalie Santacesaria, a registered nurse at the Wilmot Cancer Institute, an interest in event photography has helped her stay more centered and provided a creative outlet. She helps her husband, Edgar “Javee” Javier, with JV Films, a photography and videography business. As his day job, Javier works as a pharmacist at Wegmans in Auburn. While they were dating, he had
Page 14 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • May 2022
Natalie Santacesaria is a registered nurse at the Wilmot Cancer Institute. An interest in event photography has helped her stay more centered and provided a creative outlet. She helps her husband, Edgar “Javee” Javier, with JV Films, a photography and videography business. to plan their dates around his photography engagements. She eventually asked if she could join him and help so they could spend more time together. Soon, she became an integral part of the operation. The couple wed in a small ceremony in 2020. They had two other wedding plans fall through because of the pandemic, but Santacesaria said that those attempts have helped her better understand the level of planning that goes into a wedding. Javier and Santacesaria are selftaught and work at all sorts of events and photo opportunities. “We both have this passion to be creative and innovative,” Santacesaria said. “He started making films in pharmacy school to keep himself occupied. It helps us release that creative energy we innately have.” The couple covers about two events monthly. Santacesaria has used her photography skills at work by taking headshots of fellow clinic nurses and technicians for the staff photography board this past year. As new staff members continue to join, she schedules a time to snap their photograph, edit it to match the rest, and the team adds it to the board. “Patients have said how much they enjoy looking at the board and getting to see everyone’s face, especially in the age of masks,” Santacesaria said. She has occasionally photographed a patient’s family’s event through serendipity or when word of mouth reveals that she is a photographer. Although her side interest keeps her calendar packed, it “offers us a sense of fulfillment,” Santacesaria said. “If we didn’t have this, we would just be sitting on the couch. It’s how we choose to fill our time. We’re making a difference and it’s impactful.” Burnout is one of the big risks in nursing and Santacesaria said that the creativity in photography helps her “ward off compassion fatigue. I’m surrounding myself with so much love. I’m not just rinsing and repeating my nursing job. It allows me to stay fresh and have compassion in emotionally draining situations.”
Nursing
Long-term Nurses Lead with Empathy and Passion Nurses play a vital role in patient care By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
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n a field fraught with burnout — particularly in the past two years — enduring in healthcare for decades represents an important accomplishment worthy of recognition. Along the way, long-term nurses learn a lot about the healthcare industry and the skills hard to teach in a classroom. One such person is Susie M. Gatewood, a 29-year veteran of nursing. A resident of Greece, Gatewood is a clinical nurse leader for Monroe One BOCES and School Health Services in Rochester. She is a member of the Rochester Black Nurses Association. She directs the traditional undergraduate program at Roberts Wesleyan College and works part-time as a flight nurse for Mercy Flight Central. Gatewood always wanted to be a nurse. Her sister had Type 1 diabetes, which offered a glimpse into nursing life. “The doctors and nurses were so attentive and provided education so she could learn about her disease,” Gatewood said. She began working as a home health aide and CNA as a teen. A lifelong learner, she worked her
way up through the nursing degrees at Roberts Wesleyan College until completing her master of science in nursing leadership and administration degree. She has worked in acute care and surgical nursing. One of the biggest things she has learned as a nurse is the vital role nurses play in patient care. “We always looked up to the doctors,” Gatewood said. “But a doctor couldn’t truly take care of the patients if it weren’t for the nurses.” At one of her early jobs, she worked under a doctor who maintained very high expectations from his nurses. Gatewood said that although his demeanor seemed gruff at the time, he helped her and other nurses learn how to improve her professionalism and care quality. Gatewood has also learned that not all nurses share her passion for caring for patients. “Especially with the pandemic, a lot of nurses are chasing the money,” she said. “I remember when I got into it; they said ‘If you want to be rich, a nursing career is not your job.’” Traveling nurses employed by agencies to fill in staffing shortages in different care settings often make much more money that those directly employed by organizations. Gatewood feels that this detracts from
Susie M. Gatewood of Greece has been a nurse for 29 years. “I remember when I got into it; they said ‘If you want to be rich, a nursing career is not your job,” she says. their ability to provide care continuity in a patient-centered care model. She believes that nurses should learn the details of why they perform certain tasks and that “patients aren’t diagnoses and room numbers. They’re people. Every person that has a gall bladder surgery, you may treat the wound the same but you do not treat the patient the same. They have an individual care plan that’s strictly for them. That’s not stressed enough, especially in long-term care.” For Robert J. Dorman, who earned a doctorate in nursing practice and works as a part-time flight nurse for Mercy Flight Central, the biggest change in nursing is advances in technology. “I think that nursing needs to do a good job in keeping up with that,” Dorman said. A Brighton resident, Dorman is
an associate professor and director of the traditional undergraduate nursing program at Roberts Wesleyan College. Dorman believes that the pandemic highlighted and accelerated a few changes in nursing, such as the shift toward quicker hospital discharges. “Patients that used to be on a regular floor are now being cared for at home,” he said “Those that were in ICU were on a stepdown unit. Those in ICU, we’re doing so much more for them. The acuity in the hospital has increased. That’s overall, since 1993. In the last two years, the patients on the floor are so much sicker than when we first started.” Dorman completed his bachelor’s in nursing in 1993 at the University of Rochester. He liked emergency medicine and critical care. But once he started nursing that shifted to pediatrics. He continued earning credits and eventually completed the doctorate degree in nursing practice in 2017. Though he has been an instructor for decades, “I’ve always done something clinical because I never wanted to lose my skills.” Working as a nurse certainly bears a high risk of burnout. Remembering the times when his patients experience a good outcome helps Dorman keep nursing. As for his teaching responsibilities, he focuses on the “enthusiasm of the students as they’re sometimes trudging through their degree program and then the triumph when they finish.” He encourages nurses to avoid burnout by “taking a breath and reaching out to talk with someone. If you need a break, do something for yourself. You’ve got to be good to yourself before you can be good to others.”
Gold Standard
F.F. Thompson Hospital is an ANCC Magnet designated hospital for nursing excellence.
for Nursing Excellence
“I think a hero is any person really intent on making this a better place for all people.” - Maya Angelou
Over the past two years, much has been said about healthcare heroes, and at the outset of the pandemic, there was an outpouring of support for those on the front lines. The truth is, our nurses were heroes long before the pandemic began and will remain heroes long after it has ended. In big ways and small, they touch the lives of our patients, our residents, and their families every day while working hard to uphold the highest standards of quality. They don’t do it because they seek the label of “heroes” or any other kind of recognition. They do it simply because it’s who they are.
To our Thompson Health nurses and nurses everywhere, THANK YOU.
May 2022 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • Page 15
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urses who work long shifts are more likely to experience job dissatisfaction and burnout, and their patients’ care may suffer, according to a new study. The research included nearly 23,000 registered nurses in California, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Florida. Sixty-five percent of the nurses worked shifts of 12 to 13 hours. The three-year study found that nurses who worked shifts of 10 hours or longer were up to 2.5 times more likely than nurses who worked shorter shifts to report job dissatisfaction and burnout. In addition, seven of 10 patient outcomes assessed in the study were significantly worse when nurses worked the longest shifts, the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing researchers found. In hospitals with more nurses working longer shifts, a greater percentage of patients reported that nurses sometimes or never communicated well, pain was sometimes or never well controlled, and they sometimes or never received help as soon as they wanted. The study was published in the November 2021 issue of the journal Health Affairs. “Traditional eight-hour shifts for hospital nurses are becoming a thing of the past,” Amy Witkoski Stimpfel, a registered nurse and postdoctoral fellow at Penn Nursing’s Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research, said in a school news release. “Bedside nurses increasingly work 12-hour shifts. This schedule gives nurses a three-day work week, potentially providing better work-life balance and flexibility.” However, when “long shifts are combined with overtime, shifts that rotate between day and night duty, and consecutive shifts, nurses are at
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risk for fatigue and burnout, which may compromise patient care,” she added. The researchers recommended that the number of consecutive hours worked by nurses should be restricted, nurse management should monitor nurses’ hours worked (including second jobs) and state boards of nursing should consider possible restrictions on nurse shift length and voluntary overtime. “Nursing leadership should also encourage a workplace culture that respects nurses’ days off and vacation time, promotes nurses’ prompt departure at the end of a scheduled shift and allows nurses to refuse to work overtime without retribution,” Witkoski Stimpfel said. “These types of policies that facilitate manageable work hours can contribute to the development of a healthier nursing workforce, prepared to manage the complex care needs of patients and their families,” she added.
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Page 16 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • May 2022
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SmartBites By Anne Palumbo
Helpful tips
The skinny on healthy eating
Cream Cheese: the Good, the Bad, and the Lovely
E
very May, in honor of my mother, I make her favorite dessert: cheesecake with sliced strawberries. I typically don’t feature desserts, because they’re often full of empty calories. But, today, I’m making an exception. On occasion and in moderation, it’s OK to indulge. And, the good news is, most nutritionists agree! (FYI: the recipe that follows is lighter and healthier than most cheesecakes.) The star of cheesecake — and today’s column — is cream cheese.
Produced from unskimmed cow’s milk, cream cheese is a soft cheese (yes! a true cheese) that gets its firm but creamy texture from lactic acid. Let’s begin with the good. Although cream cheese doesn’t provide as much calcium or protein as many hard cheeses, it still has some nutritional merit. Cream cheese is a good source of vitamin A, with an average serving (two tablespoons) providing about 10% of our daily needs. Vitamin A promotes healthy eyesight and helps reduce the risk of vision-related problems, such as night blindness and macular degeneration. Gut health may improve with the consumption of cream cheese. Some of the bacteria used to make cream cheese are probiotics, which are friendly bacteria that keep us healthy by restoring the balance between good and bad bacteria, supporting immune function, and controlling inflammation. Lactose intolerant? You’ll be delighted to know that cream cheese is low in lactose (less than 2 grams per ounce) and so may not cause the GI discomfort associated with some dairy products. Experts recommend tasting a small amount at first to see how your body reacts. Now for the bad. Hold onto your hats, bagel-lovers, a two-tablespoon
serving of regular cream cheese is pretty high in fat and calories: 100 calories, 9 grams of fat. Unfortunately, 6 of the 9 grams of fat is saturated fat, the kind that drives up cholesterol and raises the risk of heart disease and stroke. Of course, we must end with the lovely. Oh, where to begin with luscious cream cheese? Let’s see, its creamy texture, its sweet and tangy taste, its versatility, and its important role in a classic dessert that so many mothers love.
Lighter Cheesecake with Fresh Fruit For the crust: 2 cups crushed graham crackers 6 tablespoons butter, melted ¼ cup sugar ½ teaspoon cinnamon For the filling: 2 (8-ounce) packages of reduced-fat cream cheese, softened ¾ cup sugar 2 eggs, room temperature 2 tablespoons flour 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice Fresh fruit for topping Preheat oven to 375 F. Lightly oil a 9-inch springform pan (or spray with nonstick cooking spray). Set aside.
Drink Up! Daily Coffee Tied to Longer, Healthier Life
I
n yet another finding that highlights the health perks coffee can brew, new studies show that having two to three cups a day not only wakes you up, it’s also good for your heart and may help you live longer. In this largest ever analysis of nearly 383,000 men and women who were part of the UK Biobank, researchers discovered that, over 10 years, drinking two to three cups of coffee a day lowered the risk for heart disease, stroke, dangerous heart arrhythmias, dying from heart disease and dying from any cause by 10% to 15%. “Observational analyses have shown that coffee drinking is associated with lower rates of cardiovascular events and lower all-cause mortality compared to individuals not drinking coffee,” said physician Gregg Fonarow, director of the Ahmanson-University of California, Los Angeles, Cardiomyopathy Center. An earlier analysis of the UK Biobank found that coffee drinking was associated with lower mortality, even among those drinking up to eight cups per day. This finding was seen in people who were fast and slow metabolizers of caffeine. These associations were consistent for ground,
instant and decaffeinated coffee, said Fonarow, who had no part in the latest study. “This new study reinforces these findings associated with two to three cups per day in terms of arrhythmias, cardiovascular disease mortality and all-cause mortality,” he said. Still, Fonarow said that because this is an observational study, it can’t prove that coffee was responsible for these protective effects, only that there appears to be a connection. “Overall, however, these results provide further evidence that coffee
drinking appears safe and may be part of a healthy nutritional approach,” Fonarow added. Decaffeinated coffee didn’t guard against arrhythmia but was linked to lower cardiovascular disease, with the exception of heart failure. That suggests caffeinated coffee is a bit better, the researchers noted. Lead researcher, physician Peter Kistler, is head of arrhythmia research at the Alfred Hospital and Baker Heart Institute in Melbourne, Australia. He said, “Because coffee can quicken heart rate, some people
Choose reduced-fat or nofat cream cheese to cut calories and fat. Many stores also have vegan options. An unopened package of cream cheese is good one month past the “Best When Purchased By” date on the carton. Once opened, cream cheese should be used within 10 days. In a medium mixing bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and cinnamon. Pour melted butter over crumbs and mix well. Pour crumb mixture into center of prepared pan and using your hands or a spoon, press the crumbles down and around the pan in an even layer. Bake your crust for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let it cool while you prep your filling. Lower the oven temperature to 325 F. With an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth, about 4 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until just incorporated, about 1 minute. Beat in flour, vanilla, and lemon juice just until combined, about 1 minute. Pour the mixture into the cooled crust and bake the cheesecake for 4555 minutes or until the middle is set. Let the cheesecake cool for 1 hour, and then transfer it to the fridge. Serve with fresh fruit of choice.
Anne Palumbo is a lifestyle colum-
nist, 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.
worry that drinking it could trigger or worsen certain heart issues. This is where general medical advice to stop drinking coffee may come from.” But, Kistler added in a news release from the American College of Cardiology, the new data suggests that “daily coffee intake shouldn’t be discouraged, but rather included as a part of a healthy diet for people with and without heart disease. We found coffee drinking had either a neutral effect — meaning that it did no harm — or was associated with benefits to heart health.” Coffee has over 100 biologically active compounds, Kistler noted. These chemicals can help reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, improve insulin sensitivity, boost metabolism, inhibit the gut’s absorption of fat and block receptors known to be involved with abnormal heart rhythms, he explained. “There is a whole range of mechanisms through which coffee may reduce mortality and have these favorable effects on cardiovascular disease,” Kistler said. “Coffee drinkers should feel reassured that they can continue to enjoy coffee even if they have heart disease. Coffee is the most common cognitive enhancer — it wakes you up, makes you mentally sharper and it’s a very important component of many people’s daily lives.”
May 2022 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • Page 17
Eye Injury First Aid Wearing protection can help reduce the risk of injury By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
D
o you know what to do if a splinter flies into your eye? Or, what about a splash of cleaning chemicals? What you do between the acute eye injury and when an emergency medical care provider sees you can affect how well your eye recovers. According to Prevent Blindness (www.preventblindness.org), 125,000 Americans are injured annually by common household products and up to 20% of those injuries cause temporary or permanent vision loss. “With all eye injuries, it is extremely important that you do not
rub your eye or apply any pressure to it,” said physician Anna Rothstein at The Eye Care Center in Geneva. “Do not try to remove any objects that are stuck in your eye and see an ophthalmologist or a doctor in the emergency room as soon as possible.” Eye injuries should be taken seriously and not treated with home remedies. This can result in lost vision. The best chance a patient has in recovering well is with prompt emergency medical attention. Physician Andrew Goodfriend at Ocusight Eye Care Center in Brighton echoed Rothstein’s comment. “Pulling something out can cause further damage,” he said. “Put a
shield or cup around it and go to the ER.” The shield can help prevent the object from moving and help minimize further pain and damage. Do not rinse the eye but seek professional medical care. The way a foreign object enters the eye makes a difference. A projectile hitting the eye hard and embedding will likely cause more damage than an object incidentally falling into an eye. In either case, avoid rubbing the eye or pressing on it. If the object is as small as a particle of sand, blinking and flushing the eye copiously with water or sterile saline solution may help flush it out. “If it still feels like something is in there, a doctor can get it out,” Goodfriend said. A larger object will require medical attention. Chemical injuries such as using ear drops instead of eye drops or getting hit with a chemical solution requires flushing with water, eye drops or saline solution meant for contact lens storage. “It’s a pretty safe bet for most liquid chemicals in the eye to flush for five minutes,” Goodfriend said. “With a solid chemical, flush 15. With bases, it’s much more serious, like bleach. It eats through the eye. Acids cause a coagulation. With acids, the injury might not be as deep.” Contact lens wearers should remove the lens before beginning rinsing, if they can do so quickly. The lens should not be worn again. While rinsing, “get someone to get an eyecare provider on the phone,” said physician Laura Puccia with Ocusight’s location in Webster. “You can get a provider to check the pH of the eye. If you can, bring the
THE TIME AND PLACE FOR A
Welcome Change
container of the chemical that was in the eye so we can see which chemical we’re dealing with.” For additional comfort, wearing sunglasses on the drive to the care provider can help lessen pain. Avoid taking pain medication until seen by a provider as these can thin the blood and increase bleeding.
How to lessen your chances of an eye injury • Always wear safety goggles or safety glasses for any activity in which debris or particles will fly, such as weed whacking and woodworking. • Always wear safety goggles or safety glasses when using chemicals labeled dangerous for the eyes. Read the label before you use it. • Wear goggles or a face shield while riding on a motorcycle. • Do not use sunglasses or prescription glasses in lieu of safety goggles. They do not protect as much. Select quality, shatter-resistant safety glasses.
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Page 18 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • May 2022
Bill Fortunato gets on the scale before the Phelps TOPS meeting. Everyone gets weighed before the meeting starts and those who lose weight are commended, although the exact poundage is not revealed.
Members of the Phelps TOPS Club are, from left, Jen Kemak, Mary Scott, Mary Ann Gier, Bill Fortunato and Robin Hilburn. TOPS is an international organization with many local club affiliates and more than 100,000 members.
At a Certain Age and Struggling With Weight? Try TOPS By John Addyman
L
et’s be honest here, we get to be a certain age and realize we’re never again going to squeeze into some of the clothes we’ve loved that are safely preserved in our closet and drawers. So this spring, when we do our annual clean-out, do we give those old clothes away? Or do we finally decide to try some new way of getting back into them? A way to shed pounds for good? Is there such a thing? Could be… TOPS — Taking Off Pounds Sensibly — has been around since 1948. There are chapters of this community-driven weight-loss-and-control all over the Rochester area. Bill Fortunato, 66, of Farmington, is a proud member of the Phelps TOPS club. He’s a social worker for the state Office of People with Developmental Disabilities. “I weighed 250 pounds and really got sick of it,” he said. “I talked to someone at work about a TOPS group. There was no pressure. I joined a club in Manchester. I lost 50 pounds.” When the Manchester club closed, he looked at other clubs in the area. Some were just a little too large for him. But the club in Phelps was just right with a homey seven relaxed and welcoming members. Everyone knows about Weight Watchers, but TOPS is a quiet group with its own simple approach to taking off weight and keeping it off. You have to look for a club. In a 45-second web search on TOPS.org I found a club in my hometown of Newark that I never knew existed. TOPS groups are in Geneva, Walworth, Victor, Fairport, Irondequoit, Rochester, Chili, Spencerport, Henrietta, Avon and Hilton. The Phelps meetings have been held for at least 48 years. Meetings start with a pledge. Anyone can come to a meeting for free. Once you decide to join, there’s a $49 fee and local groups have $1
Mary Ann Gier, 85, recites the Taking Off Pounds Sensibly pledge at the beginning of a TOPS meeting in Phelps in April. At right is member Bill Fortunate. She has been a member long enough to advance to KEPS (Keeping Pounds Off Sensibly) status, where she successfully maintains a weight within a certain range. weekly dues that stay with the local chapter for their activities and prizes. You get a magazine from the national TOPS, a step-by-step guide to healthy living and online tools to help you in your weight-loss efforts. That pledge acknowledges first that you’re an intelligent person who can control your emotions and temptations, and promises that you’ll be honest with yourself: “I will remember, even though I overeat in private, my excess poundage is there for all the world to see.” Ouch! Fortunato explained that weekly meetings start with a private weighin where the pounds are kept secret, but members can tell each other if they’ve gained or lost weight. And, there are prizes for the “Best Loser.” Enjoy sharing that with your friends.
On the other hand, there are penalties for gaining weight; 50 cents a pound and 25 cents for a fraction of a pound. If you don’t think that’s serious, watch the weigh-in at the beginning of the meeting when members take their shoes off before stepping on the scale. Meetings, including the weighin, last about an hour and include presentations led by members, most of whom are retirement age. “People stick with it pretty well,” Fortunato said. “The message is, ‘Don’t get frustrated. We all make mistakes.’” His mistakes, he confessed, usually involve pizza or ice cream. On a trip to Florida he came back 10 pounds heavier. “I keep a photo of my old self on my desk at work,” he said. “The people in our club are
very understanding; they’ve all been through it.” The celebrations of continued weight loss, or maintaining a goal range, are genuine. “If you’ve lost weight, we clap for you,” he said. “We’re glad you’re here. It’s all very supportive and friendly. People are glad to be here because they’re being successful in losing the weight.” Fortunato said the small size of the Phelps group appealed to him. It was easier to get to know people. There are two men and five women on the roster at the moment. “It’s very social,” he added. “We have a picnic in the summer. Some members will bring in low-cal food, like muffins. We’ve shared some pretty good stuff.” “We’re a support group who gives you the suggestions and tools you need to lose the weight,” said Robin Hilburn, the club treasurer. She said that someone coming in has to want to lose the weight. “You have to be focused to do what you want to do,” she said. Mary Ann Gier, 85, the Clifton group’s oldest member, is a KEPS (Keeping Pounds Off Sensibly) participant who has reached her weight goal and now maintains it within a range; three pounds above and seven pounds below. She’s done that for eight years. “I joined the club when I found out my daughter was a member,” Gier said. That was 2008. TOPS suggests that anyone considering joining check out the website for locations and meeting dates and times, and to try attending a couple of meetings at different sites. These clubs are ultra local and each has its own personality. The website lists coordinators and advocates and their phone numbers and email addresses, to get your questions answered or suggestions on the right club for you. There are also Zoom meetings for those who don’t want to drive. For more information, visit TOPS.org.
May 2022 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • Page 19
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AFib: A Common Heart Problem That’s Often Ignored
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eart palpitations can be harmless if they are brief and infrequent. But if you’re experiencing an erratic heart rhythm, you need to get checked out by a doctor for atrial fibrillation, or AFib. AFib — which is marked by rapid, fluttering beats — can lead to serious complications such as stroke and heart failure, when the weakened heart can’t pump enough blood to the rest of the body. Normally, your heartbeat follows a steady rhythm as your heart contracts and relaxes. But when you have AFib, the upper chambers of your heart (atria) beat rapidly and irregularly, sending blood to the lower chambers (ventricles) less efficiently. These episodes can last for minutes to hours or longer, and can cause palpitations, lightheadedness, fatigue or shortness of breath. Over time, AFib tends to become chronic. Age is a common risk factor for AFib, which affects roughly 10% of people older than 75. Other factors include genetics, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and alcohol and tobacco use. The condition has also been linked to viral infections, including COVID-19.
Diagnosing AFib
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If you’re experiencing AFib-like symptoms you need to see your doctor who will listen to your heart and likely recommend an electrocardiogram (EKG) or a treadmill heart test, or you may wear a portable monitor for several weeks to look for abnormal heart rhythms to confirm a diagnosis of AFib. Such tests can help distinguish AFib from less serious conditions that may cause the heart to flutter, like anxiety and stress. AFib affects some three million adults in the United States, a number that is expected to quadruple in the coming decade as the population ages and risk factors like obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure become even more common. The lifetime risk of developing AFib is greater than 20%, yet many people don’t even know they have it.
Treatment Options A growing body of research underscores the importance of lifestyle
Page 20 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • May 2022
‘AFib affects some three million adults in the United States, a number that is expected to quadruple in the coming decade as the population ages and risk factors become even more common’ steps such as exercise, a healthy diet and limiting alcohol for treating AFib. Depending on your age and symptoms, your doctor may prescribe drugs to help control your heart rate, like beta blockers such as metoprolol (Toprol XL); or rhythm, such as antiarrhythmics like flecainide (Tambocor). You may also need an electrical cardioversion, an outpatient procedure that delivers an electrical shock to the heart to restore a normal rhythm. You will be sedated for this brief procedure and not feel the shocks. Catheter ablation is another outpatient treatment for AFib that scars a small area of heart tissue that causes irregular heartbeats. This procedure is becoming more common based on evidence of its safety and ability to normalize the heart rhythm and ease symptoms. Ablations can be effective in people 75 and older, but medication may still be required afterward. If you’re at higher risk for stroke, you may be prescribed a blood thinner, too. In the past, Coumadin (warfarin) was the only such drug widely available, but it requires monitoring with regular blood tests. Newer anticoagulants, like apixaban (Eliquis) and rivaroxaban (Xarelto), don’t have that requirement and have been shown to be just as effective at preventing strokes.
Stay Busy, Stay Healthy: Why a Busy Retirement is Good for You ‘The best mental stimulation is learning new things’ By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
R
etirement is time to sit back, put up your feet and relax. Or is it? Ann E. Cunningham, executive director of Oasis Rochester, wants people of all ages to stay engaged. “Staying connected to loved ones and friends contributes to your overall health and wellbeing, but it is possible to lose your direction, especially after Ann Cunningham retirement,”
she said. “During this time, it is more important to stay active and engaged to find meaning and purpose.” Watching TV all day or napping on a whim may seem like an ideal retirement. However, it can quickly slide into a loss of connection and even feelings of meaninglessness. These factors can harm health. Cunningham encourages staying active by acquiring information and skills. “Studies have found that keeping your mind active, especially by learning new things, can help reduce the risk of dementia by helping improve mental performance and maintaining focus and sharpness,” she said. Oasis Rochester offers learning and volunteering opportunities. Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Rochester Institute of Technology also offers ways to stay engaged. Jane
Is It ‘Pre-Alzheimer’s’ or Normal Aging?
Poll: Americans are unclear about difference
Y
ou regularly can’t remember where you left your phone or your book. You keep missing appointments. You often lose your train of thought during conversation. Many older folks shrug off these instances as so-called “senior moments” — but experts say this isn’t typically part of normal aging. Instead, these are signs of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a stage that exists between the expected declines associated with aging and the more serious degeneration of demen-
tia and Alzheimer’s disease. “Symptoms of mild cognitive impairment can look like senior moments. It can look like you’re forgetting conversations, you’re misplacing items, you’re having a hard time keeping your train of thought. You might lose track of how to say a certain word every now and then,” said Maria Carrillo, chief science officer of the Alzheimer’s Association. “It is, in fact, rarely normal aging, and is an early stage of memory loss that can go on to be quite signif-
Golden Years
Eggleston, chairwoman of marketing, said that this is important once the routine of working has ended. “Our ‘brain’ class, offered by a former neurosurgeon, has covered aging in-depth this year, including the latest research,” she said. “The key to living a long and healthy life includes exercise, mental stimulation, and a healthy diet.” She added that the best mental stimulation is learning new things, not just completing crosswords. By taking classes and mentoring others, retirees can better stimulate their mental health. “We have people in their late 80s or even 90 years old who are still leading courses and are as sharp as a tack,” Eggleston said. Staying physical active is just as important to avoid becoming sedentary. Even retirees who had desk jobs will have much less movement after retirement since they no longer need to get up and go somewhere else for the day. Regular exercise can reduce the risk of disabling falls, weight gain and physical decline. “Staying active is very important for older adults,” said physician Sarah Howd, assistant professor of medicine and geriatrics at the University of Rochester. “The saying ‘if you don’t use it, you lose it’ is very applicable as people age. The more sedentary a person becomes, the weaker their muscles get, resulting in more difficulty with standing and walking. “Arthritis pain often limits people, but studies show that the more active a person is, the less pain they report and fewer medications are required. We also know that physical
activity has a positive benefit on the brain. People who exercise regularly are less likely to develop dementia and those experiencing memory loss may slow down this progression with consistent physical activDaniel King ity.” This may not mean spending hours at a gym but could include a fun activity, like dance class, tai chi group, geocaching or tennis. Many people find that attending a class builds in accountability because other group members expect their attendance. Classes can also help foster new friendships to replace some of the social interaction lost upon retirement. “I like to counsel patients who are nearing retirement to have a good plan in place,” said Daniel King, a geriatrician with Highland Hospital. “Most people have worked their whole life perhaps in one job. There’s going to be a large hole and a lot of free time when they retire.” Making specific goals to learn a new skill, travel to certain venues and volunteer or teach certain skills or populations can offer concrete ways to remain active. Otherwise, King warns patients that they can become complacent and lose function over time. He also encourages patients to keep a schedule to maintain structure in their day, such as rising, dining and going to bed at the same time most days. Planning times to volunteer, exercise and cook healthful meals is also important. Of course, the flexibility in retirement is part of the fun. Having no plan can cause problems since people crave routine. “Retirement is a challenging time for a lot of people and they underestimate how challenging it will be,” King said. “It takes careful planning and thought. You plan your savings. You have to plan for your time in a way that’s rewarding for you.”
icant and develop into dementia,” Carrillo said. More than four in five Americans (82%) know very little about or are not familiar at all with MCI, according to a new Alzheimer’s Association special report on the condition. In fact, more than half (55%) say MCI sounds like “normal aging” when provided a description of the disorder, a survey performed for the report found. “We found that the understanding of mild cognitive impairment is pretty low, even though when asked about it the concern is pretty high,” Carrillo said. Estimates say that 12% to 15% of people 60 or older have MCI, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. The condition has very mild symptoms that are unlikely to interfere with everyday activities. “Once
mild cognitive impairment starts to interfere with everyday life, that actually is moving into an early dementia stage,” Carrillo said. Nonetheless, doctors can detect mild cognitive impairment and distinguish it from normal brain aging, Carrillo said. Even better, physicians can treat MCI much of the time. A person’s MCI might be due to a lack of sleep, poor nutrition, a mood disorder or some other medical reason unrelated to dementia or Alzheimer’s, Carrillo said. For example, vitamin B12 deficiencies can cause MCI symptoms, which are fairly well resolved with B12 injections, Carrillo said. “There’s lots of good reasons to go and check with your physician as to why this might be happening,” Carrillo said.
May 2022 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • Page 21
Golden Years
Pelvic Floor Therapy Can Alleviate Urinary Incontinence
There are several options to deal with this condition By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
I
f you leak urine, pelvic floor physical therapy can help you ditch pads and stop rushing to the bathroom throughout the day. While it would seem like medication or surgery are the only ways to solve urinary incontinence, physical therapy provides a different approach that solves the common yet not normal issue. Elizabeth Loycano, doctor of physical therapy with Finger Lakes Health, said Elizabeth Loycano
that urinary incontinence affects men and women of all ages — not just post-partum and post-menopausal women. “People engaging in contact sports, gymnastics and basketball can experience it,” she said. “Things like surgeries like for prostate, hysterectomy or diverticulitis or anything with the abdomen or pelvis can affect the pelvic floor muscles and that can lead to incontinence.” After taking down the patient’s health history, Loycano looks at the body mechanics, posture, and breathing patterns. All of this affects continence. She also discusses behaviors such as avoiding constipation, lifting mechanics, and movements in daily living such as getting in and out of a car. “I ask people to drink less soda, coffee and tea and more water,” Loy-
Out-of-State Residents Can Now Seek Medical Aid in Dying in Oregon
O
regon will no longer require terminally ill patients to be residents of the state to use its law allowing physician aid in dying. A lawsuit that challenged the
residency requirement as unconstitutional was settled in March, with the Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Medical Board agreeing to stop enforcing the requirement and to ask the Legislature to remove it
cano said. Ironically, many people reduce drinking fluids to help control their incontinence. However, that tends to worsen the problem. Most providers recommend drinking throughout the Jen Morin day and to reduce accidents, stopping three hours before bedtime. Since constipation is sometimes related to urinary incontinence, Loycano encourages patients to have easy, consistent bowel movements by eating enough fiber and using a footstool while eliminating so their bodies are in a better posture for effective elimination. She also discusses when the person experiences leaks. Stress incontinence is caused by sneezing, laughing, lifting objects and other types of movement. Urge incontinence occurs frequently throughout the day when the patient feels an intense need to urinate. Physical therapy can help with both types of incontinence. For many people with incontinence, their bladder control muscles are either too lax or too tight. They may be out of synch with when they want to hold their bladder and when they want to release urine. While many people are aware of Kegel exercises—consciously working the muscles that control urine flow to strengthen them—these are not always the answer. For people with tight bladder control muscles, this worsens the problem. Some people hold stress in their shoulders. Others hold stress in their pelvic floor, which can interfere with continence. Learning stretching exercises in the office that they can perform at home may be the key to conquering
incontinence. By the second visit, some patients may need an internal exam, performed through the vagina for women and through the rectum for men. This can help the physical therapist know how the muscles are engaging. Jen Morin, physical therapist, certified pelvic rehabilitation specialist and co-owner of Evolve Physical Therapy in Pittsford, said that rehabilitative ultrasound is another tool therapists use. “It’s like a pregnant woman would receive on her belly only we’re using it to look at how their pelvic floor muscles move,” Morin said. “It gives us a better idea at how that muscle is working and it’s a visual for the patient as to how their muscle is working.” When someone learns how to perform a bicep curl, she can watch her reflection in the mirror to monitor her movement. Since pelvic floor muscles are inside, the ultrasound gives a peak at what they’re doing. “We’re trying to isolate that pelvic floor muscle and we don’t want people to ‘cheat’ by using their other muscles,” Morin said. Within a few weeks, most patients see improvement in continence. Of course, those who seek treatment sooner tend to see quicker results. “It’s never too late to be seen. Even someone in their 90s can see improvements,” Morin said. “A lot of times it’s learning how our bodies are supposed to work and how they’re currently working. After the first visit, most patients say, ‘Oh, that wasn’t so bad. I don’t know why I didn’t seek this sooner.’” Morin said that few physicians refer people to pelvic floor physical therapy. However, as with any type of physical therapy, patients can go directly to a physical therapist without a referral and most forms of health insurance will cover it.
from the law that was first enacted in 1997, the Associated Press reported. “This requirement was both discriminatory and profoundly unfair to dying patients at the most critical time of their life,” Kevin Diaz, an attorney with Compassion & Choices, the national advocacy group that sued over Oregon’s requirement, told the AP. Compassion & Choices sued on behalf of Nicholas Gideonse, a Portland family practice physician and associate professor of family medicine at Oregon Health and Science University who couldn’t write terminal prescriptions for patients who lived just across the Columbia River in Washington state. While Washington has a similar law, it can be hard to find providers who will do it in the southwestern part of the state, where many hospital beds are in religiously affiliated health care systems that prohibit it, according to the AP. “Any restriction on medical aid in dying that doesn’t serve a specific medical purpose is difficult,” Gideonse told the AP. “In no other way is my practice restricted to Oregon residents, whether that’s delivering babies in the past or other care that I provide.” A group called National Right
to Life opposes physician-assisted death, and spokeswoman Laura Echevarria said that without a residency requirement, Oregon risked becoming the nation’s “assisted suicide tourism capital,” the AP reported. But that’s unlikely, according to Diaz. He pointed out that Oregon’s law has a number of safeguards, including a requirement that physicians determine whether patients are mentally capable, and that it’s extremely difficult for terminally ill patients to make long trips to another state, and that many people want to die near home with their loved ones by their side, the AP reported. “There’s no tourism going on,” Diaz said. Over 2,100 people have died after ingesting terminal drugs under the law since it took effect, according to data published in February by the Oregon Health Authority. California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey, New Mexico, Vermont, Washington state and Washington, D.C., have approved similar laws, all with residency requirements. Montana’s Supreme Court has ruled that state law does not prohibit medical aid in dying.
Page 22 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • May 2022
Golden Years
Half of Americans Die With Dementia Diagnosis
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record number of American adults are now dying with a dementia diagnosis, new research shows. Yet, that increase of 36% from two decades ago may have more to do with better record-keeping than an actual rise in dementia cases, the study authors said. About half of all older adults are diagnosed with dementia before their deaths, according to a study from Michigan Medicine–University of Michigan. The study used data from 3.5 million people over the age of 67 who died between 2004 and 2017, including bills submitted to the Medicare system in the last two years of their lives. About 35% of these end-of-life billing claims mentioned dementia in 2004. By 2017, that statistic was 47%. About 39% of people had at least two medical claims mentioning dementia in 2017, compared to 25% in 2004. This grew most substantially when Medicare allowed hospitals, hospices and doctors’ offices to list more diagnoses on their requests for payment, according to the study. During this time, the National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease also increased public awareness and quality of care while offering more support for patients and their caregivers. The research provides a starting point for individuals to talk to their
families and health care providers about what type of care they would like to receive if they are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or other cognitive decline, the researchers said. End-of-life care for patients with dementia has also changed in these years, including a lower percentage who died in a hospital bed or intensive care unit, or who had a
feeding tube in their last six months of life. Nearly 63% received hospice services, up from 36%. This coincided with a national increase in hospice care overall. “This shows we have far to go in addressing end-of-life care preferences proactively with those who are recently diagnosed, and their families,” said senior study author physician Julie Bynum, a professor of geriatric
medicine at Michigan Medicine. “Where once the concern may have been underdiagnosis, now we can focus on how we use dementia diagnosis rates in everything from national budget planning to adjusting how Medicare reimburses Medicare Advantage plans,” she added in a Michigan Medicine news release. The findings were published April 1 in JAMA Health Forum.
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Working to Transform Elder Care
Elder Justice Committee of www.elderjusticecommittee.org | ejccontact@elderjusticecommittee.org
ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY FORUM June 15, 2022
10:00am – 3:00pm
Expert speakers will discuss: • Neglect/Abuse/Financial Exploitation at Home and in Long-term Care • Practical Solutions/Community Help • Power of Attorney/Health Care Proxy • Guardianships • How to Advocate for Yourself & Others • Making Change Happen LOCATION: Irondequoit Community Center 450 Skyview Centre Pkwy Irondequoit, NY 14622 Pinegrove Dining Room • Complimentary Lunch
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Page 24 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • May 2022
900 Cherry Ridge Boulevard Webster, NY 14580 stannscommunity.com
By Jim Miller
When to Expect Your Social Security Checks Dear Savvy Senior,
I am planning to retire and apply for my Social Security benefits in July. When can I expect my first check, and is direct deposit my only option for receiving my monthly payment? — Almost 62
Dear Almost, Generally, Social Security retirement benefits, as well as disability and survivor benefits, are paid in the month after the month they are due. So, if you want to start receiving your Social Security benefits in July, your July benefits will be distributed in August. The day of the month you receive your benefit payment, however, will depend on your birthdate. Here’s the schedule of when you can expect to receive your monthly check. If you were born on the: • 1st through the 10th: Expect your check to be deposited on the second Wednesday of each month. • 11th through the 20th: Expect your check to be deposited on the third Wednesday of each month. • 21st through the 31st: Expect your check to be deposited on the fourth Wednesday of each month. There are, however, a few exceptions to this schedule. For example, if the day your Social Security check is supposed to be deposited happens to be a holiday, your check will be deposited the previous day. And, if you are receiving both Social Security benefits and SSI payments, your Social Security check will be deposited on the third day of the month. You should also know that for Social Security beneficiaries who started receiving benefits before 1997, their Social Security checks are paid on the third day of the month. To get a complete schedule of 2022 payment dates, visit SSA.gov/ pubs/EN-05-10031-2022.pdf.
Receiving Options There are two ways you can receive your Social Security benefits. Most beneficiaries choose direct de-
posit into their bank or credit union account because it’s simple, safe and secure. But if you don’t want this option, or you don’t have a bank account that your payments can be deposited into, you can get a Direct Express Debit MasterCard and have your benefits deposited into your card’s account. This card can then be used to get cash from ATMs, banks or credit union tellers, pay bills online and over the phone, make purchases at stores or locations that accept Debit MasterCard and get cash back when you make those purchases, and purchase money orders at the U.S. Post Office. The money you spend or withdraw is automatically deducted from your account. And you can check your balance any time by phone, online or at ATMs. There’s also no cost to sign up for the card, no monthly fees and no overdraft charges. There are, however, some small fees for optional services you need to be aware of, like multiple ATM withdrawals. Currently, cardholders get one free ATM withdrawal per month, but additional monthly withdrawals cost 85 cents each not including a surcharge if you use a non-network ATM. To learn more, visit USDirectExpress.com or call 800-333-1795.
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When and How to Apply The Social Security Administration recommends that you apply for benefits three months before you want to start receiving checks. This will give you enough time to make sure you have all the needed information to complete the application. See SSA.gov/hlp/isba/10/ isba-checklist.pdf for a checklist of what you’ll need. You can apply for your Social Security benefits online at SSA.gov, by phone at 800-772-1213, or in person at your local Social Security office – call first to make an appointment. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. May 2022 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • Page 25
Ask St. Annʼs
Ask The Social
By Rebecca Conklin
Security Office
Simple Exercises Can Ease Arthritis Pain
A
sk anyone with a green thumb and they’ll tell you that tending a garden is good for the soul. But did you know it’s also good for the body, specifically joints and muscles that can be affected by osteoarthritis? Gardening is a great example of the kind of daily exercise that can keep arthritis at bay as we age. Digging in the dirt gets the blood flowing, which can relieve pain and soreness in your hands and wrists. If you’re an older adult, consider using an elevated flower bed and long-handled tools to reduce stooping. A gardening stool or mat will also make you comfortable as you work. Just be careful: don’t lift too much, take precautions against sunburn and listen to your body when it needs a rest. Like gardening, there are other simple ways to alleviate arthritis pain and slow its progression. We’ll look at three of these in a moment, but first some background. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis we see in the older adults we treat at Pillar Medical Associates. It’s caused by the wearing down of cartilage between the bones of our joints, causing the bones to rub together. This can result in stiffness of the joints, reduced range of motion, and pain. It primarily affects the knees, hips, and shoulders but can occur anywhere there’s wear and tear on our joints, including hands and ankles. As we age, years of using our joints in work and daily activities can cause the cartilage to break down. This usually becomes noticeable when we reach our 50s or 60s and gets worse the older we get. There’s a wide range in the severity of osteoarthritis. Severe cases may require steroidal injections for pain relief or even joint replacement. However, if the discomfort is relatively mild or just becoming noticeable, simple exercises are the best nonmedical treatment.
will aggravate your joint pain, but actually the benefits far outweigh the risks; a lack of exercise can make your joints even more painful and stiff. Try gentle stretching that puts your joints through the full range of motion (such as raising your arms over your head or rolling your shoulders forward and backward). This supports the muscles around the joints and helps preserve mobility. • Aerobic and strength exercises. Walking is one of the best things you can do for your health. When it comes to osteoarthritis, it not only helps reduce pain, stiffness, and inflammation, it also helps with weight loss which decreases the pressure on your joints. Strength training with light weights and exercises such as squats support specific muscle groups. • Aquatic exercises. These provide a good workout in a low-impact setting, perfect for older adults—just ask the residents of St. Ann’s Community at Chapel Oaks who use the indoor pool for aquafit and water aerobics! These exercises provide the same benefits as regular aerobics but with less pressure on the joints. The resistance experienced by exercising in a pool strengthens muscles and can improve balance and mobility. As a complement to daily exercise, consider an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory (Tylenol) or topical ointments/creams (Aspercream, Voltaren) for pain relief. As always, ask your healthcare provider for the treatment that’s right for you. And by all means, get out there and garden! Rebecca Conklin, DO, is a physician with Pillar Medical Associates, a primary care practice focusing on the needs of older adults. She can be reached at 585-697-6416 or rconklin@mystanns. com.
• Range and flexibility exercises. It’s easy to believe that exercising
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From the Social Security District Office
C
Celebrating a Decade of ‘My Social Security’
an you believe it’s been 10 years since we launched My Social Security? Since then, 67 million people have signed up and benefited firsthand from the many secure and convenient self-service options. And we’ve added and upgraded features that make your life easier when doing business with us online. We take great pride in providing this and all of our services. It’s part of how we help you secure today and tomorrow. If you still don’t have a personal My Social Security account, you’re missing out. A secure account provides personalized tools for everyone, whether you receive benefits or not. If you don’t currently receive benefits, you can: • Estimate your future benefits and compare different dates or ages to begin receiving benefits. • Get instant status of your Social Security application. • Review your work history.
Q&A
• Request a replacement Social Security card (in most states). If you receive benefits, you can use your personal My Social Security account to: • Get your instant benefit verification or proof of income letter for Social Security, Medicare, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). • Check your information and benefit amount. • Start or change your direct deposit. • Change your address and telephone number. • Request a replacement Medicare card. • Get an instant Social Security 1099 form (SSA-1099) or SSA-1042S. • Report your wages if you work and receive disability benefits and SSI. Visit www.ssa.gov/myaccount today and join the millions to take advantage of your own personal my Social Security account. Please also encourage your friends and family to sign up for their personal my Social Security account today.
ministered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). You Q: I just started my first job and my pay- can visit CMS’ Medicare website at check is less than I expected. Why am I www.medicare.gov or call them at paying for retirement benefits when 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). I have a lifetime to live before retire- Online or by phone, you can find anment? swers to your Medicare questions at A: Besides being required by law, CMS. you are securing your own financial future through the payment of Social Q: I understand you must have limited Security and Medicare taxes. The tax- resources to be eligible for Extra Help es you pay now translate to a lifetime with Medicare prescription drug costs. of protection, whether you retire or What does this mean? become disabled. And when you die, A: Resources include the value of your family (or future family) may the things you own. Some examples be able to receive survivors benefits are real estate (other than your primabased on your work as well. Aside ry residence), bank accounts, includfrom all the benefits in your own fu- ing checking, savings, and certificates ture, your Social Security and Medi- of deposit, stocks, bonds, including U. care payments also help today’s retir- S. Savings Bonds, mutual funds, indiees. To learn more, visit www.ssa.gov. vidual retirement accounts (IRA) and cash you have at home or anywhere Q: I have been getting Social Security else. To learn more about Extra Help, disability benefits for many years. I’m and to apply online, visit www.ssa. about to hit my full retirement age. gov/prescriptionhelp. What will happen to my disability benefits? Q: I applied for my child’s Social SecuA: When you reach full retirement rity card in the hospital, but have not age, we will switch you from disabil- received it. How long does it take? ity to retirement benefits. But you A: In most states, it takes an avwon’t even notice the change because erage of three weeks to get the card, your benefit amount will stay the but in some states it can take longer. same. It’s just that when you reach re- If you have not received your child’s tirement age, we consider you to be a card in a timely manner, please vis“retiree” and not a disability beneficia- it your local Social Security office or ry. To learn more, visit www.ssa.gov. Card Center. Be sure to take proof of your child’s citizenship, age, and Q: Where can I find general informa- identity as well as proof of your own tion about Medicare benefits? identity. And remember, we cannot A: Social Security determines divulge your child’s Social Security whether people are entitled to Medi- number over the phone. Learn more care benefits, but the program is ad- at www.ssa.gov.
Page 26 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • May 2022
Health News HCR Home Care wins top workplace award HCR Home Care has been recognized as a top workplace for the fifth straight year. According to an independent survey of HCR employees, the company was awarded a 2022 Top Workplaces honor by the Democrat and Chronicle. The award is based on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by Energage, LLC, a leading provider of technology-based employee engagement tools. The anonymous survey measures several aspects of workplace culture, including alignment, execution and connection. “To be recognized as a great place to work for the fifth year in a row is a great honor, and it is that much more rewarding because it is based entirely on feedback from our employees,” said Louise Woerner, chairwoman and CEO of HCR Home Care. HCR Home Care was again recognized as a top workplace in the large employer category.
CEO of Cancer Support Community Rochester to retire Melinda Merante, CEO of Cancer Support Community Rochester (formerly Gilda’s Club Rochester), will retire early this summer. Merante has led the organization for five years. Her accomplishments include Melinda Merante expanding the nonprofit’s community presence to reach more people impacted by cancer; providing services in a variety of formats, such as launching virtual programming during the COVID-19 pandemic; and implementing a name change to better convey the organization’s mission and services. “Leading this organization has been an incredible way to serve the community,” Merante said. “Being able to help touch the lives of people with cancer has been inspiring and fulfilling beyond words. At CSC Rochester, we talk about cancer as a journey. It’s been my vision and now my sincere hope that my journey with this organization has built a strong, vital foundation from which so many rich opportunities for further growth and innovative services await it in the years ahead.” “On behalf of the entire board of directors, we wish Melinda the very best in her retirement — she has earned it,” said Kathleen Meisenzahl and Larry Yovanoff, co-chairs of the board of directors. “Thanks to Melinda’s leadership, Cancer Support Community Rochester is on solid footing for the future. Building on her successes, we will continue to serve more people with cancer in our community.” A search for the next CEO is underway..
Rochester Hearing & Speech Center Marks 100th Anniversary Year
M
onroe County’s longest standing provider of hearing health, educational and clinical services is marking a milestone anniversary. Rochester Hearing & Speech Center is celebrating 100 years of helping people to improve their hearing and speech health so that they can live life to the fullest. “We are so proud of the incredible legacy we’ve built over the past 100 years in helping children and adults develop the skills they need to communicate for life,” said Bob Russell, president and chief execu-
UofR School of Nursing among top 25 in U.S. The University of Rochester School of Nursing jumped to the Top 25 of the nation’s best master’s nursing programs, climbing five places to No. 21, according to the 2023 Best Graduate Schools guide produced by U.S. News and World Report. The UR School of Nursing’s master’s programs have ranked consistently in the top 40 for the past two decades, but this is the school’s highest rank in its history. The UR School of Nursing also tied for 27th among Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree programs, its highest ranking since the category debuted in 2017, and up 17 places from the 2022 report. Nationally, UR Nursing is one of a group of 23 select schools to rank among the Top 30 in both categories. Among its regional competitors, the UR School of Nursing is the only New York school outside of New York City to rank among the Top 50 in either category. “I am beyond proud of the faculty, staff, and students whose efforts have helped the School of Nursing be recognized once again on a national and local level,” said Kathy Rideout, dean of the UR School of Nursing. “The rankings reaffirm what we already know, which is that our students are getting the best preparation for future clinical, education, and research opportunities from one of the top institutions in the country.” U.S. News surveyed 601 nursing schools with master’s or doctoral programs accredited by either the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. In total, 254 nursing programs responded to the U.S. News nursing statistical data collection survey sent in fall 2021 and early 2022.
tive officer. “We will be celebrating with our current and former clients, families and staff and telling their amazing stories in a variety of ways all year long.” Numerous activities are planned throughout RHSC’s 100th anniversary year, culminating with a signature event to celebrate the milestone. RHSC will host its 100th anniversary gala at 6 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 10, at Locust Hill Country Club. “This is the beginning of an exciting new chapter in the history of our organization,” Russell said. “We’re inviting the entire community to join us as we reflect on our rich history and look forward to the remarkable technological innovations that will enable us to continue to help our clients and their families thrive.” RHSC will also invite people to share their stories on social media using the hashtags #100YearsStrong, #CommunicateForLife and #CentennialJourney. To learn more about their services, celebratory activities throughout the year, and the 100th anniversary gala, visit www.rhsc. org. From this data collection, U.S. News calculated the master’s and DNP rankings based on several factors, including research productively, faculty preparation and national recognition, , student excellence and qualitative ratings from colleagues.
Thompson Health appoints new chaplain UR Medicine Thompson Health recently named the Rev. Janice Lum of Penfield as its new manager of spiritual care and hospital chaplain. An ordained minister in the Church of the Nazarene and former registered nurse, Lum has served in pastoral Janice Lum ministry for over 20 years. She began her work in chaplaincy 10 years ago, most recently serving as a chaplain with UR Medicine affiliate Highland Hospital in Rochester. At Thompson, she oversees compassion partners who meet with hospital patients, long-term care residents, family members and staff members. Lum, who remains on a per diem basis at Highland, received an associate’s degree in nursing from Monroe Community College and a master’s in theology from Northeastern Seminary at Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester. She completed her clinical pastoral education at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C. and the essentials of palliative care chaplaincy course at California State University’s Shiley Institute for Palliative Care. She is expected to receive her Master of Divinity degree this May from Northeastern
Seminary, where she is also pursuing advanced certification in spiritual direction.
Parker is Thompson’s new clinical nurse educator UR Medicine Thompson Health recently named Karen M. Parker of Honeoye Falls its new clinical nurse educator. Parker obtained her doctorate degree in nursing practice, her master’s in nursing and her bachelor’s in nursing from St. John Fisher College in Rochester. She also has a bachelor’s in health services administration from SUNY Fredonia. For the past three years, she served as a nurse practitioner and associate investigator for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases’ Vaccine Research Center at the National Institutes of Karen Parker Health in Bethesda, Maryland. Parker has also worked as a nurse practitioner and nurse in various other settings, and is a former assistant professor at the St. John Fisher’s Wegmans School of Nursing. In addition, she worked as a nursing instructor at both Highland Hospital and the Isabella Graham Hart School of Practical Nursing in Rochester. “Karen is a passionate nurse educator possessing expertise in a variety of classroom and clinical settings. She brings with her over 20 years’ experience in developing and improving programs, designing innovative curricula and learning environments, and creating highly engaging didactic and clinical lessons,” said Thompson Health Vice President of Patient Care Services/Chief Nursing Officer Hazel Robertshaw. Robertshaw added that F.F. Thompson Hospital — which since 2004 has held magnet recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center — is excited to welcome Parker. Parker will be a key player in future magnet applications and will lead the hospital’s nurse residency program. “Having her talent at our highly-regarded community hospital will greatly enhance our commitment to engaging in research as well as the continued professional development of our knowledgeable and skilled nursing associates,” she said.
Jewish Senior Life unveils New Friendship Van Jewish Senior Life recently received a donation of a transportation vehicle from the Alfred and Harriet Feinman Foundation through the Myron S. Silver Fund for the Future at Jewish Senior Life. The friendship van provides residents a ride to a variety of appointments, outings and social events while honoring the leg(continued on page 24)
May 2022 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • Page 27
Health News (continued from page 23) acy of two lifelong friends and dedicated supporters of Jewish Senior Life, Al Feinman and Mike Silver. The two friends met as freshmen at the University of Rochester and forged a bond that lasted over 75 years. Their personal involvement with Jewish Senior Life funded various programs and facilities enhancements, which have helped enrich the quality of life of residents and their families over many years. “The new friendship van represents more than just a ride,” says Thomas McDade Clay, director of major gifts at Jewish Senior Life Foundation. “It provides residents continued independence and self-determination that would otherwise be difficult to maintain. It’s also a testament to the importance of lasting friendship.” The Feinman and Silver families also contributed to the development of The Myron & Helen Silver and Alfred & Harriet Feinman Friendship Park, an outdoor gathering space where residents, their families and friends can spend quality time together.
RRH opens cardiology clinic at Medina Memorial Hospital Rochester Regional Health in partnership with Orleans Commu-
nity Health and Medina Memorial Hospital announced the opening of a new cardiology clinic. Harry McCrea, a cardiologist with the Sands-Constellation Heart Institute, will lead the clinic located with Medina Memorial to service patients in Orleans and surrounding counties. “It is an honor to be able to care for patients in the region in which I grew up,” said McCrea. “This clinic is our commitment to patients to provide them with the best possible care when they need it and where they need it. It encourages them to seek help rather than put off care because they know someone will be there to help them.” “By coming together, Orleans Community Health and Rochester Regional Health are putting patients first by eliminating barriers to healthcare and bringing care closer to home,” said Marc Shurtz, Orleans Community Health CEO. The new clinic is located at on the first floor of Medina Memorial, 200 Ohio St. It offers diagnostic testing and referrals for procedures within the Sands-Constellation Heart Institute. Patients who want to visit the clinic should contact their primary care provider for a referral. The Sands-Constellation Heart Institute (SCHI) is recognized nationally for exceptional cardiac care. SCHI offers comprehensive care to patients including conditions related to heart failure, structural heart, and
abnormal heart rhythms as well as preventive care.
Nurse practitioner joins Shortsville Family Practice Family Nurse Practitioner Renee Morano recently joined UR Medicine Thompson Health’s Shortsville Family Practice. Morano, a Fairport resident, has more than 20 years of experience as a family nurse practitioner, most recently at Hamilton College Health Renee Morano Center in Clinton, in the Mohawk Valley area. She earned her master’s degree as a family nurse practitioner from St. John Fisher College, where she later served as assistant director of the Health and Wellness Center, and her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Nazareth College. She is board-certified in family practice nursing by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. An affiliate of F.F. Thompson Hospital, Shortsville Family Practice is located at 15 Canandaigua St. in Shortsville.
UR Medicine Orthopaedics opens outpatient clinic in Canandaigua UR Medicine Orthopaedics & Physical Performance has opened a new outpatient office at 699 S. Main St. in Canandaigua to offer convenient access to care for people in Canandaigua and areas south of Rochester. UR Medicine Orthopaedics & Physical Performance provides 15,000 surgeries and 220,000 outpatient visits to patients throughout Western New York each year. It offers inpatient and outpatient orthopedic care at Thompson Hospital, as well as numerous UR Medicine hospitals and clinics in Rochester and the Southern Tier. The Main Street Canandaigua outpatient clinic expands Canandaigua-area patients’ options for specialty outpatient care close to home. The new office is located adjacent to a Thompson Health Urgent Care. Many patients with orthopedic injuries who visit the urgent care for initial treatment will be able to schedule follow-up visits at the new orthopedic site, which offers the following sub-specialties: hand and upper extremity, adult reconstruction, sports medicine, operative and non-operative, orthopedic oncology and physiatry and non-operative spine.
Built in 1963, St. Ann’s Home has undergone a total makeover in both structure and design.
St. Ann’s Community Raises $14.3 Million Donors make possible a landmark renovation of St. Ann’s Home
I
n a remarkable show of support for the elders of St. Ann’s Community, generous donors contributed a total of $14.3 million to St. Ann’s For All They’ve Given campaign. The five-year campaign, which ended Dec. 31, is making possible a landmark renovation of St. Ann’s Home in Irondequoit. “Through their generous support, our donors have joined us in honoring our elders for all they’ve given to our community and our lives,” said Michael E. McRae, President and CEO of St. Ann’s Community. “This campaign allows us to say thank you through a transformative capital project that provides them
the beautiful, modern living spaces and personalized care they want and deserve. It enables our staff to continue caring for our elders in the best way possible while keeping St. Ann’s at the leading edge of senior care in Rochester.” The project, totaling nearly $40 million, represents the first major renovation to St. Ann’s Home since 2001. “We are so grateful to our donors for helping usher in this new era for St. Ann’s,” said Jodi L. Revill, vice president and chief development officer, St. Ann’s Foundation. “Our tradition of service to Rochester’s elders dates back nearly 150 years.
Thanks to our For All They’ve Given campaign, we’re ready to serve both our current elders and those to come with living space as warm and comfortable as the homes they’ve known all their lives.” To see videos of renovations to St. Ann’s made possible by the campaign, visit https://stannscommunity.com/for-all-theyve-given
Renovation of St. Ann’s Home Built in 1963, St. Ann’s Home has undergone a total makeover in both structure and design. The result is a warmer, more modern living space
Page 28 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • May 2022
that creates a closer-knit community among elders and their care teams. The renovation project will be fully completed in 2022. Results include: • Upgraded infrastructure including new heating/ventilation/air conditioning systems and technology modernization and enhancements • A new household model reflecting the preference of elders and their families for a more intimate delivery of care • Two households of 15 residents per floor with a shared kitchen and increased common space with modern décor and furnishings • A dedicated care team for each household, creating a feeling of connectedness and stability supported by the new living space • Greater social and therapeutic options for elders right on their floors.
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