life
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‘OLD DOLLS’
IN THE ICU
Sunday, July 26, 2020
Tight-knit group of veteran nurses are signing on for COVID-19 duty
2 | Sunday, July 26, 2020
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Raquel “Rocky” Collanto has been a nurse at Northwestern Cindy Pascalo has been a nurse at Northwestern Memorial Memorial Hospital for 35 years. Hospital for 39 years.
JOSE M. OSORIO PHOTOS, CHICAGO TRIBUNE VIA TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
Valerie Gongaware has been a nurse at Northwestern Memorial Hospital for 39 years.
‘Old Dolls’ anchoring the ICU Members of a tight-knit group of veteran nurses are signing on for COVID-19 duty NARA SCHOENBERG
Chicago Tribune
CHICAGO — Intensive care unit nurse Raquel “Rocky” Collanto is 63 and cares for her 91-year-old mother, so when COVID-19 patients began to arrive at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, her supervisor offered her options. Collanto could transfer to another department or to a different ICU unit where there would be less risk of exposure to the potentially deadly virus. Collanto thought about it; the virus scares her. But then she thought about the young nurses in her unit, the ones who call her “mom.” They were so full of energy and compassion, and they all wanted to stay and fight. “I will stay with my team,” she said. The “Old Dolls,” a group of ICU nurses
in their 50s and older, were a local legend at Northwestern even before COVID-19 struck. And in the days that followed, the 10 who remain in the ICU after 30 years or more have continued to care for some of the city’s sickest patients despite being in an age bracket that puts them at added risk from the virus. Four are now working directly with COVID patients, and all are playing vital roles in the intensive care units, both as caregivers and supervisors, and as “work moms” for younger nurses. “I feel like they are such a symbol of hope,” ICU nurse Katherine Glaser, 23, said of the Old Dolls she works with. “It’s difficult going to work and not really knowing what you’re going to face that day, so having them there, being able to really fall back on them is really, really nice.”
Members of the Old Dolls, originally a group of about two dozen, trace their origins to the 1980s and 1990s at Northwestern. Even then, “doll” was an old-school term of endearment, and the Dolls — hard-charging health care professionals in their 30s — weren’t big fans of the term. But some recall that a fellow nurse, an older man, insisted on using it. “Hey doll, come help me here,” he might say to a female nurse. “We were like, ‘Oh my gosh, why is he saying that?’” recalled ICU nurse Andrea Baer, 58, the youngest of the 10 remaining Old Dolls. “I think that played a role — (Old Dolls) was sort of an homage to that old-fashioned nurse who was not at all P.C.” Many ICU nurses left through the years, taking jobs that were less physical
or less stressful; an intensive care nurse can be on her feet for an entire 12-hour shift, moving patients twice her size, dealing with one crisis after the next, advocating for patients with doctors and pharmacists, and soothing distraught family members. But the Old Dolls who left kept in touch, with some now sending food and messages of encouragement to the Old Dolls who remain in the ICU. “I grew up with everybody, from my 20s, to my 30s, 40s, 50s,” said Old Doll Cindy Pascalo, 60, a nurse in the medical intensive care unit. “We raised children together. We lost parents together. And just the work ethic: In my unit, everybody helps everybody, so you’re never feeling alone.” Both Pascalo and another Old Doll, Linda Michna, 61, have daughters who became nurses at Northwestern.
Sunday, July 26, 2020 | 3
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Kathleen Hoke has been a nurse at Northwestern Memorial Hospital for 39 years.
When the coronavirus crisis came, the Old Dolls got the option to work in non-COVID ICUs, according to Jaime Hosler, a patient care manager at Northwestern. But four of the Old Dolls opted to work with COVID patients, and all continued to anchor the ICU units, with more than 300 years of combined experience. “They’ve been so vital to leading our workforce through these crazy times,” Hosler said. “They are the true leaders of our hospital.” Pascalo has worked directly with dozens of COVID patients as a code nurse whotransfers patients in crisis to the ICU. She feels safe, she said, because staff members are following safety guidelines and wearing recommended protective gear. “The level of (patient) suffering is 100 times what I’m used to,” Pascalo said of COVID. “The hardest part is they can’t have visitors. I can’t imagine having a loved one in the hospital and not even be able to console them or sit by their bedside.” She said the COVID crisis is like nothing she’s seen as an intensive care nurse. And the Old Dolls have seen a lot, including the beginning of the AIDS crisis, when no one knew how HIV was transmitted, but intensive care nurses suited up and cared for very ill patients. The defining thing about COVID, she said, is
Peach Donnan has been a nurse at Northwestern Memorial Hospital for 43 years.
that so many patients are getting so ill so fast. But there are also success stories: Pascalo treated a young man who was very sick, very scared and expecting a child with his pregnant wife. “Don’t worry,” Pascalo said, making two promises to the young man that she felt she could actually keep: “We’re going to take care of you. We’re going to make you comfortable.” The man got extremely ill and had to be sedated and put on a ventilator, but he recovered and was able to transfer out of the COVID unit. Collanto said that, with COVID, she can sometimes see the fear in the faces of younger nurses. She feels fear herself: “It’s really scary.” “The most fear that I have is for my family,” she said. “My mom is older, but I have my own room — we have an extra room where I stay. I use another bathroom. I change my clothes in the garage, and we have working shoes that stay in the unit.” And now, more than ever, being a nurse feels like a calling, she said. Her younger co-workers have canceled their time off, or come to work after the pandemic led them to postpone their weddings. “Everyone is in the unit right now. No one is on vacation,” she said. “I think that keeps me going: to see these kids that are really willing to help out.” Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Andrea Baer has been a nurse at Northwestern Memorial Hospital for 36 years.
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4 | Sunday, July 26, 2020
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Hidden connection between dementia & hearing loss
T
CONCEPT BY IOWA HEARING
here are health issues that commonly accompany hearing loss in older adults including tinnitus, vertigo and even being 3 times more likely to experience a fall — with just mild hearing loss. There is one risk that is so hidden that even some of the best researchers have difficulty coming up with a definitive link between it and hearing loss. That risk is dementia. In a long-term study led by Dr. Frank Lin, Professor of Otolaryngology, Medicine, Mental Health, and Epidemiology at John Hopkins University, Dr. Lin looked at 1,984 older adults and documented the ex-
tent of their hearing issues and the association with falls and the onset of dementia. Dr. Lin found that the annual rates of cognitive decline or dementia, were 41 percent greater in older adults with hearing problems than those without. Dementia is a syndrome — usually of a chronic or progressive nature — in which there is deterioration in cognitive function, beyond what might be expected from normal aging. Close to 50 million people are currently living with dementia and 10 million new cases are diagnosed every year worldwide. With hearing loss, approximately one in three people between the ages of 65 and 74 has detectable hearing loss and nearly
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half of those older than 75 have reported difficulty hearing. While age related hearing loss is a thing, it is important to understand that dementia is not a normal part of aging. One theory on the link between hear-
ing loss and cognitive decline,explored by Dr. Patricia Tun, Associate Director of the Memory and Cognition Laboratory at Brandeis University, suggests Cognitive Load Theory. Cognitive Load Theory states that our
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cognitive load refers to the total amount of mental effort burdening our working memory at any given time. Hearing loss, especially when untreated, can radically increase the weight of this load because the individual works much harder to focus attention, shift attention between different speakers, filter, and decode messagesthan a person who is either wearing the appropriate hearing aid devices or a person who is not experiencing hearing loss. With enough severity, the mental labor required to process basic verbal communication can be exhausting and that exhaustion can manifest as a decline in cognition. The mental energy that would otherwise be reserved for higher level cognitive processes and activities begins to consistently be redirected. A second theory combines hearing loss and cognitive decline with a third component. This third component considers how likely a person is to also self-isolate or experience symptoms of depression — due to hearing loss and cognitive decline. In a study conducted by the National Council on Aging on the connection between untreated hearing loss and social behavior, 30% of examined participants who did not use hearing aid devices reported feelings of depression and,as predicted, they also reported being considerably less likely to participate in social activities as a result. Rapidly burning through cognitive resources just to keep up with conversation can negatively impact self- esteem, energy levels, engagement levels and an individual’s sense of belongingthus driving them into isolation and for some, into depression. So, what is one way someone might end this vicious cycle? For starters, by getting a hearing screening. Research verifies that treating your hearing loss with hearing aid devices can slow the symptoms of related dementia by up to 75%. Hearing aid devices can also help improve your overall quality of life by restoring confidence and helping with getting you re-engaged and navigating social settings with comfort. If you or a loved one are experiencing issues that you think may be related to your hearing health, visit us at www. iowahearing.com and schedule your complimentary hearing screening today.
SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2020 |
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4 THINGS men can do for mental wellness
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O BRANDPOINT
ne in five U.S. adults struggles with mental illness, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. However, while mental illness impacts both men and women, men are less likely to seek treatment and find solutions. “From depression and anxiety to substance abuse and suicidal ideation, there are an excess of mental health conditions that adolescent and adult men experience,” says Dr. Bruce Kehr, author, award-winning psychiatrist and founder of Potomac Psychiatry. “More people are talking about the importance of mental health, but a stigma remains, especially among men who think they should ignore their feelings or simply tough it out.” The self-stigma felt by men who struggle with their mental health creates selfdoubt, shame and isolation. “For those men who experience relentless emotional pain, it’s important to remember you’re not alone.” Kehr offers four steps men can take to improve their mental health:
1. Exercise regularly
Moving your body isn’t just good for your physical health, it supports your mental well-being as well. Aerobic activities like running, boxing and swim-
ming can help relieve stress and get blood more at www.genomind.com. pumping throughout the body. Activities like yoga, walking and stretching are typ- 3. Digitize your therapy ically calmer, but also have the ability to Many men assume going to therapy destress and support mental health. means admitting defeat. Mental illness is not typically something you can tackle 2. Explore genetics on your own. Whether it’s to help get Each person has a specific set of genes through a difficult time (such as a sick that can provide doctors with key insight parent, relationship problems or career into how your body and mind work. Your issues) or to tackle more extensive ongoindividual genes also have a major influ- ing mental illness, a professional has the ence on the way you may react to certain expertise to make a big difference. Working with a therapist traditionally medications. Since your genes never change, this information can help elevate happens in person at their office. Howyour approach to health throughout your ever, technology has opened new options entire life. This is particularly useful for for men who may prefer an alternative apmental health and reducing trial and error proach. Telehealth is a growing option at many clinics, offering the opportunity to with medications and supplements. For instance, Genomind(R) Profes- meet with a mental health professional via sional PGx is a cheek-swab genetic test a video chat or phone call. Digital therapy that gives you and your mental health is another option for people who like to provider access to your unique genetic email, IM or text. profile. It comes with a report that provides insights on how you may react to 4. Spend time outdoors and metabolize certain medications used Many people are naturally drawn to the in mental health treatment, or even re- outdoors, so it’s good news that being in spond to supplements. Many find that the Mother Nature has many benefits. Just “numbers and science” in their genetics breathing in the fresh air can help reduce report help remove the stigma that often stress, increase oxygen levels, clear your comes along with mental heath treat- mind and help you relax. Try to make time ment. Ask your doctor or nurse practi- to be outdoors as regularly as possible, eitioner about Professional PGx and learn ther alone or with a friend or partner.
6 | Sunday, July 26, 2020
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How long should you live in your home? KERRY DOBRUSIN
Director of Marketing and Sales, Friendship Village
The cost of living keeps climbing and lifespans are increasing, leading retirees to ask two common questions when preparing for their golden years. “Will I run out of money when I retire?” “What if I outlive my assets?” The joy of finally paying off a mortgage and minimizing one’s financial obligations during retirement may not be the reality so many had hoped for. In my 25 years of working with older adults, I have seen thousands of seniors deal with financial stress as they take on numerous expensive home repairs while living on a fixed income. — Big-ticket items like a new roof or siding, new HVAC system, and replacement of gutters and downspouts can sneak up on you. — The annual expense of lawn care, added with the aggravation
of fallen tree limbs, overgrown weeds, insect infestations, leaves to be raked, and snow-covered driveways can be just too much at times. — Interior maintenance can be costly in time and headaches, like appliances that fail, a flooded basement, or window replacement. Regular maintenance like replacing air filters, light bulbs and batteries in smoke alarms can be a nuisance expense and forget about balancing on the ladder many feet in the air. — Searching through multiple aisles at the big box home improvement store or finding an affordable carpenter or service provider you trust can be daunting. — It seems real estate taxes just get paid and the next bill magically appears again! Living your best life in retirement and spending your days doing things that you never had time to do before — simply may not be possible while living in your own
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home. If you find yourself in that situation, now is a good time to explore retirement community living. Independent living communities can be a great step toward a retirement that is socially abundant and carefree. Community retirement living can reduce financial stress and free you up for the things that bring you joy. Retirement communities allow retirees to share in the location’s amenity expenses through a monthly payment. This often includes on-site maintenance teams who handle indoor and outdoor chores that prevent you from enjoying traveling, hobbies and grandchildren. There also is hope when it comes to assisted living or nursing care. It can be financially devastating when someone needs higher levels of care in today’s market. Currently in Iowa, costs are $225-$300 per person/per day for long term care. (That’s
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$164,000 to $200,000 per year for a couple!) How long would your lifetime of assets last you? Probably not the Iowa average of seven years in nursing home care. Look for organizations that offer true LifeCare programs. This buy-in plan helps protect your assets and alleviate the high expenses of assisted living and nursing care should you (or your spouse) need further assistance. LifeCare works like this: If you enter a LifeCare community while still independent, you are guaranteed to pay a monthly fee based on the established in-
dependent rate no matter what level of care you need. LifeCare also secures your residence in that community even if you run out of money (through no fault of your own). There are three organizations in Iowa (one in the Cedar Valley) offering true LifeCare, so seek them out. You may ask yourself, “Is living in my home during retirement the best decision I can make financially, socially, or even healthwise?” If it isn’t, explore retirement community living today. It might just be your best investment yet!
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