Healthy Living 2015

HEALTHY LIVING A special publication of the Lynden Tribune and Ferndale Record.

What’s Inside: Lynden YMCA pool programs can be key to physical recover.

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You’ve got a variety of fitness centers to choose from locally.

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Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, January 28, 2015 | Ferndale Record

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Healthy Living

A pool that’s changed lives Lynden YMCA’s water fitness program has had life-changing benefits

By Cameron Van Til sports@lyndentribune.com

Women use weights to build strength, but gain the benefit of water’s weight buoyancy as they work out in a class at the Lynden YMCA. (Cameron Van Til/Lynden Tribune)

Start the

new year

LYNDEN — Linda Yurk had just undergone neck surgery in 2004 and was being transported from her bed by doctors when her head accidentally got hit. The impact caused a blood clot at the base of Yurk’s spine, not only prompting another surgery, but inflicting permanent damage to her spinal cord.

For six months, Yurk, 65, was confined to a wheelchair. And even after that, she could only move around with the assistance of a walker.

The Lynden YMCA’s water fitness program helped change her situation.

Yurk began attending in 2005, and she said it’s made a world of a difference. Eventually she graduated from a walker to a cane, and over time, she has gotten to the point of simply keeping her cane in the car as a precaution.

right

Exercise and eat well. Pick your favorite active activities to create a fitness plan that works for you! Walk the dog, go to the gym, take a hike, or work in the garden. It doesn’t take a lot to see a difference. Just 30 minutes a day five times a week will bring results. Add in a healthy diet and you’ll see benefits such as weight loss, lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, reduced stress and overall better health.

We’re here to guide you on your health and wellness journey. We take care of individuals and families through all ages and stages of life.

Local clinics, community connections for compassionate and coordinated care.

Visit familycarenetwork.com to find a clinic near you: • Lynden Family Medicine • Birch Bay Family Medicine • Ferndale Family Medical Center

Plus 8 other convenient locations in Whatcom and Skagit counties.

Healthy Living “That pool has been like a miracle,” Yurk said.

And Yurk certainly isn’t alone.

A number of Lynden YMCA water fitness participants have experienced firsthand the benefits that pool workouts can have on improving one’s condition, whether that be arthritis, cancer or hip replacements, to name just a few, water fitness instructor Julie Bailey said.

“It’s unbelievable,” Bailey said. “It’s a miracle where people have started and where they are today. Water aerobics is so great, because there’s no stress on the joints.”

For Yurk, that water floatation allows her to exercise her body in ways she normally wouldn’t be able to.

“When I’m on land, I can’t squat down and get back up — I have to hang on to walls,” Yurk said. “But I can squat and stand up in the pool. I can’t bend my legs and knees on land, but I can do that in the pool.

“So evidently it’s helping me keep things oiled and lubricated. I’m able to make those moves in the pool that I’m just not able to on land.”

The YMCA program features a variety of water aerobics and water resistance exercises, with a typical class consisting of a warmup, cardio, a cooldown, stretching and toning, water fitness instructor Dee Berendsen said.

“We try to work the whole body and do a whole range of motion,” Berendsen said.

“The water is cushion, so it protects the joins — their joints stay where they’re supposed to, without having to worry about them.”

Being able to exercise in a safe manner like this is especially important for participant Rosalie Ter Wisscha, 78.

Ter Wisscha has undergone 17 surgeries, her most recent being a hip replacement last August. She’s also had breast cancer, diabetes, a knee worked on, and operations done on her toes and feet.

“I’ve had a lot of parts fixed,” Ter Wisscha said. “But the water doesn’t hurt you — it protects you. My doctors and chiropractor are all very happy that I’m in the water. You can’t hurt yourself like (you can) with walking.

“It gets your heartbeat up and is a very good way to exercise.”

For Marlene Ryan, 75, just moving around was difficult before she started the program. Ryan would get cramps in her back and couldn’t even walk to her mailbox.

But just two or three months after beginning the water fitness program, Ryan was able to walk her dogs a mile. And like Yurk, she said the water allowed her to do what she wouldn’t have been able to do on land.

“I wouldn’t have persevered with exercising if I had been doing it on land,” Ryan said. “For some reason, on land I just can’t do it. But in the water I can. I don’t know how else to put it.”

And from both the water aerobics and her renewed ability to move around, Ryan received another benefit as well — she lost 20 pounds. That realization then, in turn, led

Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, January 28, 2015 | Ferndale Record

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Riding versus driving Riding the bus shown to be healthier than driving to work

By Brent Lindquist reporter@lyndentribune.com

WHATCOM — Physical activity is obviously beneficial to a person’s health, but a recent study published in the British Medical Journal shows that using transit options can be healthier, too.

The study looked at 7,500 people in the United Kingdom and compared their health and commuting data over time. The study controlled for factors such as income, level of work activity and age.

It showed that commuting by foot, bike or public transit was “significantly associated” with lower rates of obesity.

The researchers stated that although the findings aren’t exactly surprising, actual scientific evidence showing the benefits of active commuting are scarce.

This has proven true for Lynden’s Kent Hendricks, who has commuted to his job at FaithLife (formerly Logos Bible Software) in Bellingham for the past seven years.

“I can’t speak for anybody else, but for me, I typically walk more,” he said.

This is because public transit doesn’t necessarily drop riders off right at their destination. A bit of walking and physical activity is required to complete the trip.

Kent and his wife Shelly only have one car between the two of them, making transit a necessary part of his day. He has found the Whatcom Transit Authority’s bus service to be quite reliable over the years.

“In seven years, the only days it’s been late have been a couple of snow days,” he said. “It’s very reliable.”

For more information about the WTA’s bus schedule, visit www.RideWTA.com.

Studies show that riding the bus is statistically healthier than commuting via automobile. (Courtesy photo/Lynden Tribune)

her to lose even more.

“I figured if I lost 20 pounds, I could lose more,” Ryan said. “So I’ve lost 70 pounds.”

Added Bailey: “You cannot believe the shape these people are in because they do the water fitness. There’s Jane Regier — a 90-year-old lady — and you’d never know she was 90. She keeps right up with the class.

“This is such a great way for people to stay in shape and enjoy their older years.”

As Yurk explains, the program’s instruc-

tors deserve much of the credit.

“Our instructors are so good,” she said.

“They really keep you motivated.”

But for the instructors, it’s witnessing the participants improve that drives them.

“Some of them that come in, they can barely get in the pool,” Berendsen said. “But as they progress they gain confidence, they move better, they become part of the group and it’s just really fun to see how they take off and feel better. It’s just really an improve-

ment.

“It’s so much fun. If I’m out (around town) and I see them, they’re so friendly and so happy to be able to function — to go here and go there and be a part of the community again.”

And as Bailey said, that’s the purpose of not only the program, but the YMCA as a whole.

“That’s what the YMCA’s all about,” Bailey said, “what it does for you.”

Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, January 28, 2015 | Ferndale Record

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Healthy Living

Finding fitness in north Whatcom County A variety of options await fitness seekers

By Tim Newcomb tim@lyndentribune.com

WHATCOM — With a mix of emphases, about a dozen north Whatcom County fitness centers offer plenty to choose from.

Newly opened gyms, newly updated gyms and long-standing stalwarts all offer fitness, strength and extras for those looking to stay healthy in north Whatcom County.

Here’s a rundown of what’s available: HFit 115 E. Homestead Blvd., Lynden Located adjacent to the Homestead golf course, HFit is a 24/7 fitness center complete with a variety of equipment, classes and a swimming pool. HFit has a cardio equipment room — iPod-compatible equipment included — a free-weight room, space for a variety of fitness classes and a year-round indoor/outdoor pool.

YMCA 100 Drayton St., Lynden 5610 Barrett Rd., Ferndale Areas of weights and equipment, racquetball courts and a gymnasium meet the extra wish lists for members of the two north county YMCA locations. The Lynden location also has a swimming pool.

Membership to the YMCA is good at any location, from Bellingham to across the country.

Lynden’s E2 Fitness Center, with two floors for working out, is a recent addition to the local fitness scene. (Tim Newcomb/Lynden Tribune)

E2 Fitness Center 110 Third St., Lynden One of the newer additions to the Lynden fitness scene, E2 offers a two-story fitness center that features equipment and weights aplenty, along with space for a variety of classes. The mission of the group is to have a God-centered encouraging atmosphere for members to enjoy “movement,” no matter where they are on their fitness plans.

Flex Gym 1842 Front St., #D, Lynden Open 24/7 for members via a secure entrance, Flex Gym puts a focus on being a “true gym,” full of free weights and other non-machine tools for strength and conditioning. Flex Gym wants the gym to be a lifestyle, not a hobby, and encourages a strong work ethic in the weight-heavy environment.

Anytime Fitness 6918 Hannegan Rd., Lynden 5905 Portal Way, Ferndale Now with an outlet opening in Ferndale, this 24-hour gym has two locations in north Whatcom County. The secure-access See Fitness on C7

Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, January 28, 2015 | Ferndale Record

Healthy Living

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, January 28, 2015 | Ferndale Record

Healthy Living

Ferndale native pioneers new heartassist device with PeaceHealth For Steven Waschke, this takes the place of a heart transplant

pumping blood to the entire body, so that the left side of your heart doesn’t have to do that work,” said Dr. Cristy Smith, Waschke’s cardiothoracic surgeon.

According to Dr. Smith, many peo-

WHATCOM — Steven Waschke knows something about being a pioneer.

He was in the first class of Ferndale’s Central Elementary School and left generations of family farming to be a welder.

After suffering a heart attack, the Bellingham man learned from his cardiologist, Dr. Andrew Coletti, at PeaceHealth Medical Group Cardiology, that a heart transplant was his best option.

However, it wasn’t likely.

Dr. Cristy Smith

Dr. Andrew Coletti

“The demand for transplant organs is going up, as my generation of Baby Boomers ages,” said Waschke. “But the supply hasn’t increased.”

So Waschke became a pioneer in a different way. He is the first person in the new Mechanical Circulatory Support program at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center to be implanted with a ventricular assist device.

The procedure was done last year in Bellingham.

“Our device takes over the job of

ple in the community — including teenagers and young adults — live with heart failure and, as a result, a reduced quality of life. The new MCS program can help them.

“These patients have a heart that can’t pump blood to their muscles or liver or brain or and other parts of the body,” said Dr. Smith. “So they can’t live a normal life.”

She said the joy of PeaceHealth’s new MCS program is knowing that patients with heart failure who couldn’t otherwise walk from their chair to the front door will be able to push their kids on the swing, go on vacation or take long hikes.

“That’s why I became a heart surgeon, to be able to see the difference it makes,” she said.

Meanwhile, Steven Waschke, with special friend Mari, is enjoying exactly that difference as he moves on from being the MCS pioneer.

Steve Waschke and special friend Mari can enjoy a higher quality of life with the ventricular assist device provided by heart doctors Andrew Coletti and Cristy Smith, pictured left. (Courtesy photo/PeaceHealth)

Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, January 28, 2015 | Ferndale Record

Healthy Living

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Fitness: Ferndale has a new gym offering Continued from C4 entry opens the gym at any time for the weights and equipment. Both locations offer a variety of classes to complement the amenities. A membership to Anytime Fitness is good at any of the franchise’s locations across the country.

Lynden Fitness and Tanning 111 17th St., Lynden The former Fairsquare Fitness and Tanning was sold in 2014, giving rise to the most recent addition on Lynden’s fitness scene. Newly opened within the Fairway Center, expect equipment, weights and tanning.

CrossFit i1uvit 873 Hinotes Court, Building A, Unit 4, Lynden Located at Hinotes Corner, this CrossFit gym removes the machines and treadmills and puts a focus on body movement.

Using everything from barbells, kettle balls and pull-up bars to plenty of bodyweight moves — jumping, squats, throwing, running, etc. — this CrossFit gym has 4,300 square feet devoted to getting fit.

Everyday Fitness 1920 Main Street #11, Ferndale With a variety of equipment and

weights, Everyday Fitness also offers classes — including small group training — at its Ferndale location in the Carnation Oxford building.

Club Barbell 1420 Pacific Place, Ferndale With strength training a focus, Club Barbell has local ownership dedicated to hard work. The extras of plenty of open space and machines and equipment allow members to access the secure-entry facility 24/7, whether for intense weights or general fitness.

Upper Left CrossFit 5640 Third Ave., Ferndale The newest addition to the CrossFit gyms in Whatcom County, Upper Left recently opened to put a focus on CrossFit workouts in Ferndale.

Locker Room Fitness Training 1859 Main St., Ferndale Recently remolded and renamed by owners Jake Locker, Michael Koenen and Wes Herman, the Locker Room Fitness Training facility has a variety of free weights, equipment and classes to keep fitness needs in the forefront. The former Thrive Fitness facility has a dedicated area for kids and is continually adding new aspects since its December 2014 conversion.

Take your pick of the range of exercising equipment at The Locker Room in Ferndale. (Courtesy photo)

Take Heart Action!

February is the best month to love your heart.

Take action and get screened.

Call 360-788-6720 to schedule your low-cost screening at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Cardiovascular Center today.

Cardiovascular Center

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, January 28, 2015 | Ferndale Record

Healthy Living

Five health improvements that will pay off for a lifetime ‘Don’t wait. Commit today to making a few small changes.’

Improving your health and wellness can seem like a daunting task, especially if you know you have some bad health habits to break. But take this as encouragement that several improvements you make today can result in tremendous health benefits.

“It starts with you,” says physician assistant Tricia A. Howard, a faculty member in health professions at South University Savannah. “You have more control over your health than you think you do.”

These are five steps you can take today to have a positive impact on your overall health and wellness.

Stop smoking Everyone knows smoking is bad for you. In fact, people who smoke have by far the greatest risk of lung cancer — the number one cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. — and increased risk of a cardiac event. But many people don’t realize that changes in the lungs caused by smoking can actually improve over time, once a smoker quits.

“Even if you’ve smoked for many years, you can reduce your lung cancer risks just by quitting,” said Howard. “And this isn’t just about your own health.

Smoking puts the ones you love at risk, because even second-hand smoke can cause cancer. So quitting is a win-win for you and those you love.”

People who want to quit smoking do better when they set a target date to quit.

Howard advises working with your primary health care provider who can actually individualize a stop-smoking plan for you.

And, she says, getting support from others is a crucial part of the battle.

Increase your water intake Sixty percent of your body weight is water. Your body depends on water to carry nutrients to cells and to flush toxins out of vital organs, so getting the right amount of fluids each day is crucial.

Men should drink 3 liters, or 13 cups, per day. For women, the recommendation is 2.2 liters, or 9 cups, per day. If that recommendation seems tough to follow, divide it up throughout the day, Howard says.

“Make sure you have water with every meal and also drink water at least once between each meal,” she suggests. “That divides up your fluid intake and can make the amount seem less daunting.”

And you don’t have to stick just to water. Milk, coffee and other drinks that con-

It’s never too late to make a choice for better fitness. Moderate exercise for 150 minutes or vigorous exercise for 90 minutes per week is the recommended guideline. And quitting smoking can actually result in lung restoration to health. (Courtesy photo) tain a lot of water and not a lot of calories count toward your daily fluid intake.

Exercise “Exercise reduces your risk for chronic disease, improves balance and coordination and helps with weight loss,” Howard said. “Exercise is a key part of living a healthy life.”

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends 150 minutes a week of moderate exercise, or 90 minutes of vigorous exercise a week, for adults.

That may sound like a lot, Howard acknowledges. “But if you break it into 15- or 20-minute daily workouts, it’s much easier to fit into your schedule. You don’t have to spend hours at a time in the gym to reap

the benefits.”

Recent studies have shown that even short bursts of exercise can be helpful.

Adopt the Mediterranean diet The Mediterranean diet is a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, olive oil, nuts and fish. The results of numerous studies show long-term health benefits to adopting the diet.

“This is a diet filled with antioxidants and anti-inflammatories,” Howard explained. “This diet has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer when adhered to long-term. Weight loss and improvement in cholesterol can be seen after just a few months.”

Have your cholesterol checked

You might be surprised to learn that you should begin having your cholesterol monitored by a doctor at age 20. And since coronary artery disease is the number one cause of death in the U.S., it’s a recommendation you should take seriously.

“There is no reason to avoid having your cholesterol checked,” Howard said.

“If your cholesterol levels aren’t where they should be, you can change them.”

Levels that are too high can be controlled by diet, quitting smoking, exercise and even prescription medication.

“There are so many things we can do to improve not only the length of our life, but the quality of those years,” Howard said. “Don’t wait. Commit today to making a few small changes, and see how they improve your health over time.”

Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, January 28, 2015 | Ferndale Record

Healthy Living

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Medicare Primer 101 Know how Medicare works before you need to implement it

Whether your 65th birthday is just around the corner or far in the future, it’s always good to know the basics of Medicare and what your options will be.

Healthcare choice is becoming a bigger factor in the lives of pre-retirees as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) — better known as Obamacare — brings significant change to employersponsored and individually purchased health plans. Though it’s a separate federal health insurance system with no connection to Obamacare or its online marketplaces, Medicare is going through its own evolution in terms of plan offerings and customer access.

Here’s a basic primer for future Medicare enrollees: What is Medicare? Medicare is a government-provided health and hospitalization insurance program for people 65 and older and for some people under age 65 based on disability or particular forms of illness.

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Knowledgeable, friendly staff.

What does it cost? Although you’ve likely paid taxes into the Medicare system your entire career, Medicare isn’t a completely free program; you’ll pay premiums deducted from your Social Security checks for some portions of your benefits. There may be copays and deductibles for certain services. If you have health issues already, it’s a good idea to investigate coverage based on the services you’re likely to need over time.

When do I get to join? You can apply for Medicare through your nearest Social Security office (710 Alabama St., Bellingham) up to three months before your 65th birthday. If you wait longer than three months after your 65th birthday to apply, you may face a late enrollment penalty. If you are already drawing Social Security benefits at age 65, you’ll be automatically enrolled in Medicare.

What does Medicare coverage look like? Keep in mind that you can get many current answers to Medicare questions online or in person at your nearest Social Security office. But as of late 2014, here’s an overview of current Medicare plans: • Parts A (Hospital) and B (Outpatient). Part A covers inpatient hospital care and Part B covers outpatient medical care and procedures. You’ll hear Parts A and B referred to as “Original Medicare” or “Tra-

ditional Medicare” because if you choose to take this option, you’ll sign up for them as a pair. You’ll get to go to any doctor, hospital or facility that’s enrolled in Medicare and accepting new Medicare patients.

You’ll end up paying a premium for Part B, which can change from year to year, while Part A is usually free for most people.

• Part C (Medicare Advantage). Call this one-stop shopping for your hospital, outpatient (Part A and B) and usually your prescription coverage (see Part D, below). Medicare Advantage policies are sold by private insurers — Medicare pays its share and you pay your premium. They may include differing assortments of services — vision, prescription drug, dental or hearing. But keep in mind that different Medicare Advantage plans have different rules for services and can charge different out-of-network costs.

• Part D (Prescription drug coverage).

Part D added prescription drug coverage to “Original” Medicare, but as mentioned, may be folded into Medicare Advantage coverage if you elect to take it.

What’s “Medigap” insurance? If you go with “Original” Medicare (Part A and B), you’ll find some gaps in your Medicare coverage. Medigap is the nickname for Medicare Supplement Insurance, which you purchase privately. Some employers

and unions offer Medigap coverage to retirees, and these plans can vary widely in terms of cost, coverage and state participation. Also, if you’re on Medicare Advantage, it’s unlikely you’ll need separate Medigap coverage, but it’s important to check.

What if you plan to keep working with company health benefits after you turn 65? Confer with your financial advisor, human resources department and Medicare before you make any decisions, but you may qualify for a special enrollment period as a result. You’ll need to coordinate with your spouse as well if you share any kind of health coverage as part of coordinating your overall retirement picture.

People who continue to work past 65 may enroll in Part A but bypass Part B and D if they’re already on a company plan.

Are your doctors on the plan? You probably have some experience with this from checking to see whether your physicians are in-network with whatever health insurance you currently carry. You’ll continue to do this on Medicare Advantage.

Check availability of doctors and costs on any plan you’re considering, particularly out-of-network costs.

What can your state do for you? If you find you’re not getting answers on specific See Primer on C12

ENSURING A BRIGHTER FUTURE JOIN THE Y TODAY The Y is for everyone, at every stage & fitness level.

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, January 28, 2015 | Ferndale Record

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Healthy Living

‘Smart sock’ technology holds many potential health benefits Redmond firm announces its innovation Jan. 5 at trade show LAS VEGAS — Redmond, Wash.based Sensoria, a leading developer of wearable solutions, announced Jan. 5 at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that it has been working with RespondWell to create the next generation of rehabilitation patient monitoring using truly wearable textile sensing technology.

Sensoria’s smart sock technology will enable physical therapy patients to perform gait and balance exercises from RespondWell and receive reliable and instant feedback from a virtual therapist on a tablet or large display screen.

By imitating what they see onscreen, patients will receive correct, visual and easy-to-follow instructions for each exercise and are encouraged to complete the prescribed routines. This same feedback information can also be accessed and analyzed remotely and

securely by the patient’s therapist and healthcare team.

Leveraging the Sensoria Developer Kit, this integrated solution enables the future of telehealth scenarios involving patient rehabilitation and healthy aging today.

“By using the Sensoria Sock, we become part of the patient’s daily workflow, which means more data collected on patient health status,” said RespondWell chief executive officer John Grispon.

“Patients using our assessment and physical therapy solution can benefit from the dynamic feedback provided by the Sensoria sock and anklet. The Sensoria Developer Kit offers healthcare developers truly wearable devices to build seamless solutions for telehealth and gait monitoring,” Grispon said.

“Sensoria is two things: a development platform and an integrated suite of smart garments that can turn gait and activity analytics into meaningful behavioral feedback,” said Davide Vigano, Sensoria co-founder and chief executive officer.

Gait exercises help improve dynamic balance and gait functions for elderly individuals. According to a May 2003 study published in the Journal of Clini-

cal Rehabilitation, performing gait exercises regularly for 12 weeks improved dynamic balance and gait functions of frail elderly subjects.

In the future, RespondWell may also use advanced Sensoria wearables technology for stroke rehabilitation, disease management, sports rehabilitation and to improve general wellness.

The RespondWell cloud-based platform currently offers fall prevention and pulmonary, pre-diabetic and senior fitness modules. At the same time, it is designed to improve patients’ rehabilitation experience and adherence using gamification, rewards and challenges.

The Sensoria smart sock is equipped with proprietary textile pressure sensors that connect to a lightweight anklet. The anklet is equipped with an accelerometer, local storage and Bluetooth Smart communication.

The smart sock and anklet together measure a range of parameters including steps, repetitions, activity, balance and plantar pressure.

The data can be transmitted wirelessly to a mobile device for real-time alerts, and to the cloud for ex-post analytics and behavioral feedback.

Sensoria featured a demonstration

John Grispon, RespondWell CEO, holds one of the Sensoria “smart socks” at the Las Vegas show.

(Courtesy photo)

of the integrated RespondWell rehab solution at the company’s booth at the Las Vegas show.

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Healthy Living

Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, January 28, 2015 | Ferndale Record

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Palliative care advances locally Feb. 19 event will take discussion, action initiatives to next stage BELLINGHAM ­ — The Western Washington University RN-to-BSN program and various Whatcom healthcare organizations are partnering to sponsor a palliative care workshop on Thursday, Feb. 19, at Bellingham Technical College.

The Palliative Care Institute invites members of the public to attend “Heal Without Cure: Enacting the Vision,” at 5 p.m. on the 19th in BTC’s Settlemyer Hall. Pre-registration is required by Feb. 8. The event costs $5 and a buffet dinner is included.

The workshop aims to find successful ways to promote a form of medical care that is set on improving the quality of life for those with a serious illness — to heal without a cure.

Participants will convene and review a call-to-action produced out of the summer institute. Later in the evening, smaller groups will spend time

brainstorming project ideas and their potential outcomes and establishing a timeline to achieve the goal of spreading their message throughout the greater Whatcom County community.

Topics include: providing training input for the summer institute; complementary, alternative and allopathic provider partnerships; community-based palliative care service; a website of resources; normalizing the conversation (i.e. card-making party); creating a culture supporting those who are are in the journey of dying; building community awareness, including bus advertisement; improving end-of-life care in skilled nursing and long-term care; and improving caregiver support (i.e. Bellingham At Home).

The event is sponsored by the Palliative Care Institute which is a partnership with WWU, Whatcom Alliance for Health Advancement, Community Organized Group for Health, PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center Palliative Care and Whatcom Hospice. The PCI has been established to help transform palliative care in the Whatcom community and support the human responses to living

and dying.

The workshop will build on work completed in previous institutes. However, new participants are always welcome. Interested parties can register online by clicking the link. The registration deadline is Sunday, Feb. 8. All paper registration applications must be received

by Friday, Feb. 6.

Scholarships are available to those in need of financial assistance. Contact pci@wwu.edu to request assistance.

For more information, visit https:// wce.wwu.edu/bsn/palliative-care-institute.

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, January 28, 2015 | Ferndale Record

Healthy Living

Upcoming senior tours include one snowshoeing at Mount Baker Others are for Seattle Flower & Garden Show, Vancouver Island

By Calvin Bratt editor@lyndentribune.com

WHATCOM ­— Experience some of the marvelous attractions of the Northwest by traveling with the Whatcom Senior Tour Program. These trips are upcoming.

To sign up and find out about costs and deadlines, call 733-4030 ext. 1015; go online to http://wccoa.org/index.php/Tours; or stop by the Bellingham Senior Activity Center at 315 Halleck St., Bellingham.

Seattle Flower & Garden Show, Wednesday, Feb. 11 Seattle boasts the third largest flower show in North America, with over 300 exhibits and 25 garden displays carrying fresh soothing aromas. In easy-learning seminars, learn techniques for creating a variety of structures and foliage for any season or terrain. See how space is no limitation for cultivating plants.

Taste delicious salads made out of the grown produce, and this is an opportunity to buy unique plants.

Vancouver’s Chinese New Year celebration, Sunday, Feb. 22 Celebrate the Chinese New Year in the heart of Chinatown in Vancouver, B.C. There will be paper lion dances, cultural dance troupes, parade floats, marching bands, fireworks and more. You will be able to enjoy an authentic Chinese multi-course lunch and a guided tour of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Gardens.

For crossing the border by motor coach, be sure to take along an enhanced driver's license or passport.

Easy Mt. Baker Snowshoe Tour, Feb. 25 If you have ever wanted to try snowshoeing, this is the perfect opportunity, with gentle trails and slopes for beginners while exploring beautiful Northwest snow-covered trails. The tour guide will cover basic snow-

shoeing techniques and practice simple winter safety skills.

Travel in a snow-equipped van; snowshoes and poles will be provided. You can bring a sack lunch for a picnic break or order lunch at the ski lodge. Departure is at 9 a.m. from the Bellingham senior center, return by 4 p.m.

Cirque Du Soleil performance of “Kurios” in Redmond, two Sundays, March 15 and 22 Take in the new production “Kurios” by internationally acclaimed Cirque Du Soleil, which has performed at the opening of Winter Olympics. This will be an ingenious blend of unusual acts and stunning acrobatic prowess showing the power of imagination.

Trip includes motorcoach transportation to Redmond, matinee seats, coffee stop, no-host lunch and escort.

Tofino and Vancouver Island Storm Watch Tour, March 16-19 Attention, all storm watchers! This is the perfect chance to catch some stormy weather on Vancouver Island.

After leaving the BC ferry, we will explore the Cathedral Grove, a forest of ancient Douglas fir trees, then on to dinner at the Hospitality Inn in Port Alberni. The next day it’s on to the Pacific where you can hear the ocean’s roar from your room at the Tin-Wis Resort Lodge overlooking Mackenzie Beach.

A day of touring galleries, glass studios and gift shops is offered.

This tour includes: bus transportation, round-trip ferry, hotel accommodations, luggage handling, local touring, four meals and a guide.

The Bill Gates Foundation and Frye Museum, Seattle, Tuesday, March 24 Get an inside view at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, famous for global and local humanitarian projects. Take part in innovations at this award-winning green complex. At the Frye Museum get a personally guided tour in this 62th anniversary year of the museum’s founding collection of Northwest art.

Vancouver French Tea and Heritage Churches, Tuesday, March 31

Cruising Alaska’s Inside Passage is a tour offered by the Whatcom Senior Tour Program May 16-23. (Courtesy photo) Tour one of Vancouver’s most vibrant districts, Yaletown. Be served high tea French-style, then tour two historic churches, Christ Church Cathedral and Holy Rosary Cathedral, with their breathtaking French Gothic architecture. Holy Rosary will by guided by church clergy.

Have your enhanced driver’s license or passport ready for the border crossing.

San Diego Ports & Parks, March17-20 Experience day cruising and Coronado Island’s magnificent castle-type sites on this sunny getaway. Tour world-famous Balboa Park and enjoy three happy hours.

Trip includes: harbor cruise of San Diego Bay, Sea World, pass to all Balboa Park museums, welcome dinner and three full breakfasts, all nights’ lodging in Embassy Suites. Payment due at signup.

Jasper Park Lodge and Festival, April 12 -17 Anticipate blue skies, fresh spring air and amazing mountain views to go with terrific fun, delicious meals, entertainment and dancing. From relaxing to craft

courses, dance classes to walking tours, it's all included.

Trip includes: stay at Four Star Fairmount Jasper Park Lodge, deluxe coach, soaking pools, Kamloops, Revelstoke, Lake Louise, two mountain ranges and Fraser Canyon. Final payment due at signup.

Portland by Train, May 2-4 See downtown Portland in its twinkling city lights, with unlimited day access for downtown streetcar or light rail service.

Oregon Rail Museum, deluxe city tour and sights around the City of Roses are options.

Round-trip coastline train transportation from Bellingham. Final payment due at signup.

Inside Passage including Glacier Bay and Alaska Cruise, May 16-23 A seven-day exploration of Alaska’s southeast coast, sailing round-trip from Seattle, including charming ports of Sitka, Ketchikan, Juneau, Victoria and Glacier National Park. Bellingham to Seattle transport to ship. Cruise includes all meals, all fees and taxes. Final payment due now.

Primer: Don't look at issues and choices separately Continued from C9 Medicare subjects from Medicare (http:// www.medicare.gov) itself, your employer, your union, your financial advisor or Social Security, your state is a participant in the State Health Insurance Assistance Program or SHIP. SHIP is a national program that offers one-on-one counseling and assistance

on Medicare to individuals and their families.

What’s the best way to tie all this stuff together? Stop looking at your health, investment, retirement and tax issues separately. Medicare is a critical piece of the healthcare affordability puzzle, but it’s important to consider choices — and potential worst-case scenarios — within the

scope of your broader retirement plan.

If you’ve never sat down with a financial planner and have five years or more until you plan to retire, find one and have a broad discussion about where you stand on health, retirement and estate issues.

To find a qualified planner in your community, start with solid recommendations from friends and family and consult

organizations like the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards or the Association for Financial Counseling Planning and Education (http://members.afcpe. org/search).

Bottom line: Whether you plan to retire at 65 or stay in your career as long as possible, it’s important to understand Medicare and how it can work for you.