In Good Health: WNY #85 - November 2021

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NOVEMBER 2021 • ISSUE 85

TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH TODAY

• Eat foods with probiotics and fiber • Get moving • Treat yourself to something fun • Practice self-care • Add a glass of water to your morning • and more...

P. 9

INSIDE: GOLDEN YEARS SPECIAL. P. 15

MARTIN BARRON: ‘WE’RE NEVER BORED’ Martin Barron, a physician at DeGraff Medical Park’s ER, whose father was a rocket scientist, discusses changes in emergency medicine. “We’re never bored,” he says. “We never say no to anyone.” P. 4

PARTNER VIOLENCE: WE ALL KNOW A GABBY Gabby Petito’s disappearance and death reveals that partner violence is epidemic in this country; we just don’t always recognize it by name. P. 5

VAN GOGH-GA: Yoga Classes at the Beyond Van Gogh Exhibit

P. 14

$156,000,000,000

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That’s right: Cancer care costs U.S. $156 billion per year; drugs a major factor

rivate insurers paid out about $156.2 billion in 2018 for U.S. patients with the 15 most common cancers.

Medication was the largest expense and drugs for breast, lung, lymphoma and colon cancers accounted for the largest chunk of those costs, according to a Penn State College of Medicine study.

“The public often hears that the U.S. spends an inordinate amount of money on health care, but no one has quantified exactly how big that number is and how that number [is] broken down for exactly what types of services,” said study author Nicholas Zaorsky, a physician. He’s an assistant professor of radiation oncology and public health sciences at Penn State Cancer Institute in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

“We wanted to look at what private insurances are paying for each kind of cancer and for each type of services,” Zaorsky said in a college news release.

The researchers analyzed a nationwide database that included more than 402,000 privately insured cancer patients under age 65. The patients were treated in 2018 for lymphoma, melanoma and cancers of the breast, prostate, colon, lung, uterus, head and neck, bladder, kidney, thyroid, stomach, liver, pancreas and esophagus.

In all, the patients received 38.4

million types of procedures and services. Breast cancer led the way with about 10.9 million, followed by colon cancer with about 3.9 million.

Breast cancer was the most expensive type of cancer ($3.4 billion), followed by lung cancer and colon cancer, both about $1.1 billion.

The $4 billion spent on drugs was the most expensive treatment category — double the cost of cancer surgeries, according to findings published Oct. 6 in JAMA Network Open.

The study didn’t assess whether treatments provided were cost-effective, but the findings may help guide future research into that area.

“It’s hard to say like what is a reasonable price for a drug or service, but I think it’s fair to say that they make up the plurality of our health care spending in the U.S., then some would argue that this money may be better spent elsewhere in other services,” Zaorsky said. “These figures basically just show you how much the medical system spends on certain types of cancers versus another one.”

He said one might ask if the costs are justified. For example, pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest, Zaorsky said, but the total cost of care devoted to it is relatively low compared to something like indolent prostate cancer, which may exist for a long period without causing problems.

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Change lives, starting with your own.

Spectrum Health is now hiring! Visit shswny.org/careers to learn more.

Your mental health is as important as your physical health; make it a priority and contact us today.

Behavioral Health and Addiction Counseling

Big Rise in Injuries From E-Scooters, Hoverboards

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overboards, electric scooters and electric bikes are the transportation of choice for a growing number of Americans, but they’re taking many straight to the emergency room.

Injuries associated with these socalled “micromobility products” skyrocketed 70% between 2017 and 2020, according to a soon-to-be-released report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

That increase dovetails with greater use of these transportation alternatives as Americans return to work, school and other activities.

Between 2017 and 2020, injuries related to micromobility products resulted in more than 190,000 visits to U.S. emergency departments.

The numbers rose steadily — from 34,000 in 2017 to 44,000 in 2018, 54,800 in 2019 and 57,800 last year, according to a CPSC news release.

E-scooters accounted for much of the surge: 7,700 ER visits in 2017; 14,500 in 2018; 27,700 in 2019; and 25,400 in 2020.

The injuries often involved arms

and legs, as well as the head and neck, the findings showed.

The commission said it’s aware of 71 deaths associated with micromobility products during the study period, but noted that reporting is incomplete.

Hazards associated with e-scooters, hoverboards and e-bikes mainly owe to mechanical, electrical and human factors. To reduce these hazards, CPSC is working with ASTM International (formerly known as American Society for Testing and Materials) and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) to improve voluntary product standards.

Meanwhile, the CPSC called on users to take several steps to protect themselves.

When using micromobility products, always wear a helmet.

And before riding an e-scooter, check it for any damage. This includes examining the handlebars, brakes, throttle, bell, lights, tires, cables and frame. Damage can cause a loss of control and lead to a crash.

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3380 Sheridan Dr., #251 • P.O. Box 550, Amherst, NY 14226 Phone: 716-332-0640 • Fax: 716-332-0779 • Email: editor@bfohealth.com Editor & Publisher: Wagner Dotto Writers: Deborah J. Sergeant, Jim Miller, Gwenn Voelckers, Anne Palumbo, Jenna Schifferle, Daniel Meyer, Amanda Jowsey, Catherine Miller, Brenda Alesii Advertising: Anne Westcott, Amy Gagliano • Layout & Design: Joey Sweener Office Manager: Nancy Nitz 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.

Two locations...

One group of expert emergency physicians.

It takes a lot to provide excellence in emergency care. It takes quick and easy access to care, state-of-the-art technology, and most importantly, it takes physicians who have dedicated themselves to achieving excellence every single day. Physicians who have seen it all and know how to handle essentially anything.

That excellence can be found at the Emergency Center at DeGraff Medical Park (formerly DeGraff Memorial Hospital). Our physicians are second to none and combined with our highly-trained nurses and staff, they all share one goal – to provide patients with outstanding medical care. In fact, they’re the same physicians who provide emergency care at Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital.

Where excellence is.

DeGraffEmergency.org

November 2021 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • Page 3

Meet

Your Doctor

By Christopher Motola

CDC Reports Record High 12-Month Drug Overdose Death Toll Vermont sees largest increase in overdose deaths

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rug overdose deaths in the United States hit a new record for the 12-month period ending March 2021, new government data shows.

A record high 96,779 drug overdose deaths occurred between March 2020 and March 2021, representing a 29.6% rise, new statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics found. The numbers are provisional, and the CDC’s estimate for predicted deaths totals more than 99,000 from March 2020 to March 2021, CNN reported.

“It is important to remember that behind these devastating numbers are families, friends, and community members who are grieving the loss of loved ones,” Regina LaBelle, acting director of the executive office of the president, Office of National Drug Control Policy, said in a statement, CNN reported The state with the largest increase in overdose deaths (85.1%) during that time was Vermont. Opioids accounted for the highest number of overdose deaths, followed by synthetic opioids, excluding methadone, which was linked to the lowest number of overdose deaths.

Three states saw their number of overdose deaths decline from March 2020 to March 2021: New Hampshire, New Jersey and South Dakota. South Dakota’s reported overdose deaths declined by 16.3%, the highest of any state.

Between March 2020 and March 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in the United States and disrupted normal daily routines, CNN noted.

The CDC data also show a 29.7% increase in drug overdose deaths between February 2020 and February 2021.

Earlier this year, the CDC said the more than 93,000 drug overdose deaths already reported in 2020 was nearly 30% more than the number observed in 2019, and the largest single-year increase ever in the United States, CNN reported.

At the time, National Institute on Drug Abuse Director Nora Volkow called the figure “chilling” and said the COVID-19 pandemic has “created a devastating collision of health crises in America.”

Martin Barron, MD

Physician at DeGraff Medical Park’s ER, whose father was a rocket scientist, discusses changes in emergency medicine. “We’re never bored,” he says. “We never say no to anyone.”

Q: How has emergency medicine changed and evolved since you started practicing?

A: For a long time it was the newest medical specialty. The emergency department was the emergency room and it was staffed by young doctors-in-training. It’s so much better today. I’m glad to have been a part of the improvement. The enthusiasm was there initially, but now there’s background and training.

Kaleida’s a teach system, so I’m very happy to participate in the training of young doctors who are learning it as a specialty.

Q: How did you first come to the Buffalo area?

A: My father was a rocket scientist, so we went wherever his work took us. We came to Buffalo when I was in grade school when he went to work for Bell Aero Systems. It’s been home since then. I love it here.

Q: What are some of the main qualities to modern emergency medicine? Do you function as a kind of urgent primary care? How broad is your scope on an individual level?

A: I could talk for hours about this.

Clearly our current situation has put enormous pressure on emergency medicine because we’re fortunate enough to have the safeguards to be able to deal with COVID patients while protecting ourselves. That has been very, very challenging for primary care, so we’re glad to take up that demand. But the emergency department is a lot

of different things. It’s a system in Western New York with specializing in pediatrics, trauma, stroke and cardiovascular. But, there are also a lot of emergency rooms that are not as specialized. That department I’m in is a general emergency room. We used to be a small hospital. DeGraff isn’t a hospital anymore, but we’re closely affiliated with Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital, so we have the necessary backup and disposition to get patients admitted. But as you were asking, emergency providers do need to be jacks of all trades. That’s a defining characteristic. We can’t select our patients — they select us. So we have to be comfortable with not having a lot of control. We have to initially stabilize anything that comes our way. While we refer patients to other specialties, we’re comfortable with seeing just about anything.

Q: How do you work in a specialized field with minimal control?

A: I think psychologically, some practices are able to exert a lot of control. A patient can call with a problem and they can say “that’s not something I can deal with.” But we don’t have that kind of control. We design our environment to optimize our ability to be able to deal with a lot of different things. And it really is a team effort.

The nurses in our emergency department have a lot of experience. Staff who have been there have been there long enough to be very skilled. But we can’t control the volume and we can’t control what they have. Nowadays

Page 4 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • November 2021

I’m only training young doctors specializing in emergency medicine, but over the years I’ve trained doctors from other specialties who rotated through the emergency room.

It became very clear that personality is very important. Some people were just not comfortably able to deal with that lack of control, and were probably better off somewhere you don’t have to improvise.

Q: On the other hand, is the chaos a feature for the right kind of person? Maybe someone who enjoys novelty?

A: It is interesting. We’re never bored. There’s a bit of a—it’s not really a paradox—but in almost every field there’s a practitioner who has narrowed their focus to a very small area. And we know that person knows more than we do about that aspect of medicine. But we’re there 24/7. We never say no to anyone.

I’m really proud of that at this stage of my career. I have an idealistic side, and I’m proud that whether the patient is a paragon of society or someone the ambulance found laying on the ground and we’ll do our best to treat them equally, because they may even have the same problem. are.

Q: You may not even know who they

A: Exactly. We do see patients on their worst days of their lives.

Some of those patients may be dirty or unkempt because of their situation. We’re human, but we try not to judge.

Q: With how politicized COVID-19 has become, especially with stories about overburdened ICUs, what impact has it had on emergency departments?

A: It’s a very unfortunate situation of medical science being overwhelmed by political beliefs. Doctors and nurses are applied scientists, so there was no issue in our group with everyone getting vaccinated. Masks are good. We can’t distance ourselves from our patients. We take barrier precautions. We have an obligation to make our environment as safe as possible. This isn’t my area of expertise, but I’ve been a motivated observer, but I think social media has played a big role in helping crackpots reach a large audience.

Q: What kind of legacy do you want to leave for your students. What do you want them to remember when they’re your age?

A: I’m very grateful and humbled to have been part of a training program that has elevated the quality of care over Western New York. This training program began just about 30 years ago. All over the associated emergency departments, they’re staffed by physicians who were trained in this program. Everyone’s care has benefited. That’s a lasting impact.

Lifelines

Name: Martin Barron, MD Position: Physician at DeGraff Medical Park’s Emergency Department Hometown: Buffalo Education: Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Affiliations: DeGraff Medical Park, Kaleida Health Organizations: None currently Family: Wife, three kids Hobbies: Sailing, performing in his rock band

Partner Violence: We All Know a Gabby

By Barbara Pierce

T

he story of Gabby Petito has blown up in the media: the attractive 22-year-old who went on a cross-country road trip with her fiancé and never returned home.

The young couple set off from Long Island in July in their converted van — documenting their travels on Instagram. Her remains were recovered in Wyoming in September.

It appears that she may have been murdered by her boyfriend or that there was ongoing abuse in their relationship. Partner violence is epidemic in this country; we just don’t always hear about it.

One in three females are victims of domestic violence in their lives, and one in 12 males, say experts. We think it happens to other people, but it can happen to anyone. It may be happening to someone you know.

Maybe even to you.

Partner violence, or domestic violence or abuse as it’s often called, is usually not obvious. A lot of folks think it’s physical: hitting, punching, bruises on the face, things that we can see. But often the most intense and damaging harm happens behind closed doors: emotional abuse, controlling behavior, verbal abuse, things like that.

As a counselor, I worked in an organization that helped victims of domestic abuse. I was stunned, day after day, as woman after woman, and the occasional man, shared their horrific stories. I learned much about abuse from these brave people.

Some of the things I believe are important for us to learn from Gabby’s story: — In a healthy relationship, both people feel respected, supported and valued, decisions are made together, both have friends and interests

outside of the relationship, and disagreements are settled with open and honest communication.

— Both have the right to their own feelings and ideas and to share them without worrying about how their partner will react. Their privacy is respected, including the rights to private conversations, phone calls, text messages, social networking.

— While there isn’t a sure way to spot an abuser, most abusers share some common characteristics.

This list of warning signs means the person may have the potential to be abusive: • Quick involvement: Many victims knew their abuser only for a short time before being pressured to live together or get married. The abuser comes on like a whirlwind saying things like: “You’re the only person I can talk to;” “No one else ever understood me before.” The abuser needs someone desperately and pressures the victim to commit.

• Controlling behavior: The abuser tries to control your life: what you do, who you see, what you think. The abuser will be angry if the victim is “late” coming back.

The abuser will question the victim closely about where the victim went, and who they spoke to.

• Blames others for problems and feelings: Abusers are very good at making victims think they deserve the abuse and will blame the victim for almost anything that goes wrong.

The abuser will say: “You made me mad,” “You made me do it. The abuser blames the teacher for a failed class, blames the cop for a traffic ticket, blames the boss for getting fired.

• Unrealistic expectations: The abuser is very dependent on the victim for everything. The abuser will

Twenty-two-year-old Gabby Petito was reported missing on Sept. 1 when her fiancé returned to their cross-country road trip in Florida alone. She was pronounced dead when her remains were found in late September in Wyoming. Her story reveals a pattern of intimate partner violence that is deeply emotional, and therefore hard to identify.

say things like: “If you love me, I’m all you need. No one will love you like I love you.”

• Isolation: The abuser cuts the victim off from all resources and support. The abuser gets jealous of the other people in the victim’s life. The abuser does not “allow” the victim to make decisions or have friends.

• Verbally abusive: In addition to saying things that are meant to be cruel and hurtful, there is an element of degradation, cursing, and criticizing any of the victim’s actions. The abuser may call the victim stupid; no one else would ever want them.

• Past history of abuse: The abuser may say that a victim was only abused because they made the abuser do it. The victim may hear from the relatives or friends that the partner was abusive in past relationships.

• Threats of violence: Any threat of physical force meant to control the victim. “I’ll slap you,” “I’ll kill you,” “I’ll break your neck.”

At Gabby’s funeral, her father, Joseph Petito, had a lesson for the world: “If there is a relationship that might not be the best for you, leave it now.”

the COVID-19 vaccine, flu vaccine provides a level of protection against illness, and it can also protect those around you.” COVID-19 vaccine and flu vaccine may be administered at the same time.

Caregivers, those who spend time with people at high risk for flu complications, and people who interact with the general public need to make flu vaccination a priority.

The flu vaccine is an additional layer of protection for our community’s most vulnerable. That would include people who care for family members at home, and caregivers who work in child care settings, group homes and other congregate living sites, schools and healthcare facilities.

Prepare for Winter With a Flu Vaccine

Erie County Department of Health recommends flu vaccine for everyone aged 6 months and older

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he Erie County Department of Health strongly recommends a flu vaccine for everyone aged 6 months and older this fall. To encourage county residents to get vaccinated against flu, Deputy Executive Maria Whyte and Commissioner of Health Gale Burstein received their flu vaccination at a clinic for Erie County employees on Sept. 28, run

by Wegmans.

“Now is the time to get your flu vaccine,” said Whyte. “By having more people in our community protected from flu infection this fall and winter, we can protect the most vulnerable in our community and reduce the days missed from work and school due to flu illness.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend a flu vaccine by the end of October.

“Last year, surveillance data showed very little flu activity in New York State and the northern hemisphere,” said Burstein. “Flu vaccination rates, people at home instead of in schools and in workplaces, a decrease in travel, and mask wearing and other non-pharmaceutical interventions contributed to those low flu infection levels. Now, with most people back to school and work and less people consistently masking, flu vaccine is among the best preventive tools we have to protect us at a community level.”

“Flu illness ranges from very mild to debilitating, especially for people who are over 65 years of age, younger than 2 years of age, living with a chronic medical condition, or pregnant or who may become pregnant,” said Burstein. “As we say with

Submitted by the Erie County Department of Health

November 2021 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • Page 5

Live Alone & Thrive

By Gwenn Voelckers

Practical tips, advice and hope for those who live alone

This Thanksgiving: Be Grateful for Goals

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y self-esteem took a real nose dive after my divorce.

It was years ago, but I can still recall how empty, exposed, and embarrassed I felt. It was as if my personal and private failure at a relationship had become very public. I just wanted to hide. And hide I did!

I hid in my work. I hid in my home. I hid in my books.

Divorce — even a fairly amicable divorce — can really knock the wind out of your self-confidence. If you are suffering from the fallout of a failed marriage and are in hiding, as I was, know that you are not alone.

Regaining my self-confidence was a slow process and painful at times, but ultimately very rewarding. The process started with “baby steps.”

While I am a huge believer in positive thinking, I intuitively knew I wouldn’t be able to talk myself into more confidence. Nor could my morning meditations cure my emotional ails.

I knew I would have to work at it. I knew I would have to build my confidence back up one success at a time. And that’s when I discovered the healing power of goals and a “to

do” list.

During the dark days following my divorce, I found the simple act of writing things down and checking them off the list actually helped me get through my day. At the time, my list was pitifully basic: get dressed, make my bed, water the plants, feed the cat, etc.

That list looks pretty silly now, but anyone who has endured a painful loss knows just what I’m talking about.

The simplest tasks can seem insurmountable. So, I would pick an item on my list, do it, check it off, and then go on to the next item.

Remarkably, this process of articulating and accomplishing my mini-goals began to have a real and positive impact on my day and on my self-esteem. Committing things to writing had amazing power.

To this day, I create a “to do” list on a daily basis and still get a confidence boost when I accomplish my mini-goals and check them off the list. This practice has been so rewarding and self-affirming that I now employ a goal-setting process for my bigger life plans.

In fact, I created a “no excuses goal worksheet” for my larger projects, plans, and dreams. My

worksheet captures what every goal should be: written down; expressed in positive, affirming language; assigned specific steps and deadlines; achievable; and, when met, rewarded.

Below is an example of a goal I set for myself one difficult November, when I had no plans for Thanksgiving. My life circumstances had changed and I knew I needed a change of pace and time to myself to think and reflect on my life and my future.

Goal Statement I will (gulp) make plans to spend Thanksgiving on my own. Specifically, my goal will be to enjoy a solo three-day getaway over the Thanksgiving holiday.

Action Steps and Timetable • Day 1: I will share my goal with my best friend and ask her for feedback, support and suggestions.

• By day 5: I will research and identify an Adirondack lodge that serves a home-style Thanksgiving meal with all the fixings.

• By day 10: I will select my destination, ask about community-table options in the dining room, and make a reservation.

• By day 16: I will make arrangements for pet care, stop my mail and the newspaper, and schedule a tire-rotation and fluid check for my car.

• By day 24: I will hit the road with a full tank of gas, map, an audio book and snack pack.

• Later that same day: I will check into the lodge, unpack, and head down to the lounge to relax and unwind in front of the stone fireplace.

• Thanksgiving Day: I will embrace the day with an open heart, ready to enjoy my own company and the company of those around me. I will take a nature walk, write letters (perhaps one to myself) and focus on all the things and relationships for which I am thankful. I will cherish the day in front of me.

Reward I will feel extraordinarily good about myself when I accomplish my goal and I’ll reward myself with a ... (fill in the blank!). My reward was a walnut picker-upper. True. I wanted one. My house is surrounded by walnut trees.

Goals can give your life direction and purpose. And they can put passion into your everyday existence, which is especially important for those of us who live alone.

It may take some time before you regain your footing and self-esteem. Chances are, you’ll take some detours and encounter some bumps along the way. I sure did. But I kept moving forward and soon discovered that setting and accomplishing minigoals and eventually larger life goals was key to regaining my self-confidence.

Actually doing (vs. wishing and hoping) worked for me, and it can work for you, too. For that, we can be very grateful.

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 Voelckers to speak, visit www.aloneandcontent.com

Over 140,000 U.S. Children Have Lost a Caregiver to COVID-19

I

t is an excruciating statistic: One in every four COVID-19 deaths in the United States leaves a child without a parent or other caregiver, researchers report.

The analysis of data shows that from April 2020 to July 2021, more than 120,000 children under the age of 18 lost a primary caregiver (a parent or grandparent who provided housing, basic needs and care), and about 22,000 lost a secondary caregiver (grandparents who provided housing, but not most basic needs).

“Children facing orphanhood as a result of COVID is a hidden, global pandemic that has sadly not spared the United States,” study author Susan Hillis, a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention researcher, said in a U.S. National Institutes of Health news release.

Overall, about one in 500 children in the United States have become orphans or lost a grandparent caregiver to COVID-19, according

to the study published Oct. 7 in the journal Pediatrics.

Children of racial and ethnic minorities accounted for 65% of youngsters who lost a primary caregiver to COVID-19, compared with 35% of white children, even though whites account for 61% of the U.S. population, and people of racial and ethnic minorities represent 39% of the population.

Orphanhood or the death of a primary caregiver due to COVID-19 was experienced by: 1 of every 168 American Indian/Alaska Native children, 1 of every 310 Black children, 1 of every 412 Hispanic children, 1 of every 612 Asian children, and 1 of every 753 white children.

Compared to white children, American Indian/Alaska Native children were 4.5 times more likely to lose a parent or grandparent caregiver, Black children were 2.4 times more likely, and Hispanic children were 1.8 times more likely.

States with large populations — California, Texas and New York — had the highest overall numbers of children who lost primary caregivers to COVID-19.

The researchers also found significant racial/ethnic differences between states.

In New Mexico, Texas, and California, 49% to 67% of children who lost a primary caregiver were Hispanic. In Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi, 45% to 57% of children who lost a primary caregiver were Black. American Indian/Alaska Native children who lost a primary caregiver were more common in South Dakota (55%), New Mexico (39%), Montana (38%), Oklahoma (23%), and Arizona (18%).

The fallout from losing a parent is significant for children: It is associated with mental health problems; fewer years of school; lower self-esteem; high-risk sexual behaviors; and increased risk of substance

Page 6 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • November 2021

abuse, suicide, violence, sexual abuse and exploitation, the researchers noted.

“All of us — especially our children — will feel the serious immediate and long-term impact of this problem for generations to come.

Addressing the loss that these children have experienced — and continue to experience — must be one of our top priorities, and it must be woven into all aspects of our emergency response, both now and in the post-pandemic future,” Hillis said.

“The magnitude of young people affected is a sobering reminder of the devastating impact of the past 18 months,” said study co-lead researcher Alexandra Blenkinsop, from Imperial College London. “These findings really highlight those children who have been left most vulnerable by the pandemic, and where additional resources should be directed.”

Taking Steps to Step up for Autism Austin’s Angels are a blessing for The Resource Center

By Catherine Miller

W

hat’s that old saying? When the going gets tough the tough get going?

Well, that’s exactly what Dory Matwijkow did when she heard that the Step Up for Autism Walk, benefiting The Resource Center of Jamestown, was canceled last year.

Dory took it upon herself to organize her own walk a bit closer to home in October. She and 70 friends and family members marched the walkways at Beaver Island State Park to raise funds for the center, a group home in Jamestown for people on the autism spectrum.

Dory, whose son, Austin, resides at the center, is a local pastry chef and sells baked goods to friends and family throughout the year and sets aside the proceeds to donate at the yearly walk. She, along with her group known as “Austin’s Angels,” has been walking in various fundraising walks to raise funds for autism awareness and facilities for more than 20 years. In addition to last year’s Beaver Island walk, Dory hosted a baked goods sale and enormous basket raffle and added proceeds from those efforts to her yearly donation. At the end of the day, she was just shy of her goal and close friends and family stepped up to hit the mark. The end result was a donation of $10,000 to The Resource Center; a much-needed donation in a time of crisis during the 2020 pandemic.

“It was life-changing for the center,” Dory said. “And it was life-changing for me as well.”

Jenna Schifferle is a writer from Tonawanda. She runs to stay healthy, challenge herself, and collect new stories to write about.

Dory Matwijkow and Austin’s Angels hit the boardwalk at Beaver Island State Park Oct. 16 to raise funds for “Step Up For Autism” This year, Dory had again planned to hold her local Beaver Island State Park walk in addition to participating in the Jamestown “Step Up for Autism Walk,” held by the center. Shortly before their fundraiser was held this September, the center announced that the “Step Up for Autism Walk” would be converted to a virtual walk, erring on the side of caution due to increasing COVID-19 numbers in their area. Dory noted that virtual walks do not produce as many fundraising dollars as face-toface walks.

“Once I found out that The Resource Center had to convert to a virtual walk, I was very glad I had

planned another walk at Beaver Island and I was overwhelmed with the donations that came in,” said Dory. “We live in a very generous community.”

As Dory and her league of Austin’s Angels spread word of the funding challenges in our autism-related community, local artists and corporations stepped up to help. Local optical establishments donated Ray-Ban and Carrera sunglasses for the large basket raffles. Local golf clubs donated golf outings. Roy’s Plumbing donated more than $700 through its “Roy’s Cares” program. Friends and family came out in droves to donate baskets and baked goods.

This October, when Dory and her Austin’s Angels hit the rainyday pavement at Beaver Island State Park, more than 75 people were at her side. More than 50 baskets were donated to the raffle. Dozens of pies, cakes and boxes of cookies were available for purchase. The final donation amount this year was more than $12,000. Once again, Dory and Austin’s Angels stepped up when they were needed most. And rumor has it that the Austin’s Angel Beaver Island Walk will now be a yearly event. To find out more about Step Up for Autism and The Resource Center visit them on Facebook.

Writer on the Run

By Jenna Schifferle

jenna.schifferle@gmail.com

Falling in Love With Running

E

very now and then, I strike up a conversation with someone who seems genuinely interested in starting to run. Their stories always sound similar: They’ve tried running a few times but just can’t get into it. What’s the secret? I’m often asked. Why do you like it so much?

If I’m being honest, I don’t always love running. In the thick of it, it can be grueling and painful (not to mention, it makes me want to curse a lot). I fall off my schedule and stop and struggle for a while before I start again. But in the end, I always manage to jumpstart the habit.

So, what’s the secret? In truth, there isn’t any miracle cure that makes you fall in love with running.

There are, however, a few words of

advice I’ve always lived by that get me going for those early runs. Simply stated: Start slow, go slower, and stop before you’re miserable.

If you’re on a run and find yourself at a comfortable pace, slow down. The second you feel your energy waning, stop. Leave yourself with the feeling that you could have done more. Repeat this pattern as many times as it takes for that feeling that you could do more to get addicting. Your endorphins will flow and leave you elated. Once that happens, you’ll want to go out on runs and before you know it, you’ll start going further and challenging yourself more.

I’ve seen many people, myself included, break their run streak before

hitting their stride. They go out fast and set high expectations, then get let down when they fall short. Couple a slow pace with consistency, on the other hand, and you might just find that you’ll enjoy running.

The same can be said for anything in life. When you’re trying to build a habit, start slow, go slower, and stop before you’re miserable.

Build the habit in small, frequent doses so that you can actually enjoy the journey.

While you’re at it, find inspiration from professionals like Shalane Flanagan. An elite long-distance runner, Flanagan recently set her sights on finishing the six major world marathons — Chicago, Boston, New York, London, Berlin, and Tokyo

— in one season. That’s six marathons in seven weeks. To top off her incredible feat, she recently underwent knee surgery and still managed to finish one of her six marathons in 2:35:04.

Who knows, maybe if you play your cards right, you might find some of Flanagan’s passion as you embark on your running journey.

Until the next mile!

November 2021 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • Page 7

Hospitals with More Inpatient Nurse Practitioners Linked to Better Outcomes

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new study published in September in Medical Care shows hospitals that employ more inpatient nurse practitioners (NPs) have lower surgical mortality, higher patient satisfaction and lower costs of care.

Nurse practitioners are registered nurses (RNs) with advanced grad-

uate education and expanded legal scope of practice to prescribe treatments including pain medications.

Researchers at the Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania studied more than 1.4

million patients in 579 hospitals.

“This is the first large study to document the significant added value of hospitals employing nurse practitioners in acute inpatient hospital care as well as having good RN staffing,” said lead author, professor Linda Aiken, Ph.D., who works at Penn’s Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research and the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics.

“When we compared hospitals with the most and fewest NPs, we estimated that hospitals with more NPs had 21% fewer deaths after common surgical procedures and 5% lower Medicare costs per beneficiary,” Aiken said.

The study also documented significantly higher patient satisfaction in hospitals employing more NPs as well as higher quality of care and patient safety ratings. Having more NPs also enhances the work and clinical environment of the RN staff. The researchers found that RNs practicing in hospitals with greater numbers of NPs had higher job satisfaction, lower burnout, and were more likely to intend to remain in their positions, all good signs given growing concerns over nurse shortages resulting

from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Also, RNs in hospitals with more NPs reported greater confidence that their patients would be able to successfully manage their care after discharge. Indeed, independent measures of actual hospital readmissions show patients are significantly less likely to experience a hospital readmission when their surgery took place in a hospital that employed more NPs. “Our study shows that NPs in advanced clinical roles in inpatient care are a very valuable addition to excellent RN and physician care,” said co-author Regina Cunningham, Ph.D., chief executive officer of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. “This important study shows that nurse practitioners enhance hospitals’ success achieving clinical excellence, patient satisfaction, and lower per patient expenditures while also contributing positively to overall clinician wellbeing during challenging times.”

Funding for the study was from the National Institute of Nursing Research/NIH, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.

cards). The accomplice has been charged with theft of government agency seals to commit fraud and trafficking in counterfeit goods.

Ironically, the fake cards were to be manufactured in China. Beware of scams where a link is sent to a phone requesting personal information (name, Date-of-birth, SSN and picture of your NYS driver’s license) to validate your vaccination status.

no longer be available are totally specious. The proposed legislation is now buried in the $3.5 trillion human infrastructure bill. Because there is no control on drug prices like there are on physician and hospital prices, investing in drugs is a safe bet.

For example, Walgreens is putting up $970 million for a 71% share in Shields Health Solutions to expand its specialty pharmacy business.

Meanwhile, in the hospital world where Medicare sets, not negotiates prices, a survey by Kaufman Hall of 900 hospitals predicts hospitals will lose a collective $54 billion this year.

Without COVID-19 relief, it is estimated the loss would be $92 billion.

As a result of the pandemic, patient acuity levels are way up, services are delayed and adding insult to injury, drug costs have sky-rocketed.

Healthcare in a Minute

By George W. Chapman

Cost, Confusing Technology, Poor Provider Information: Telehealth Dissatisfaction

U

ndoubtedly, the pandemic fostered a surge in virtual care or telehealth. In 2019, 7% of patients reported using it. In 2020, 9% of patients availed themselves of it. This year, 36% of patients reported using telehealth for their care. A recent survey of 4,700 consumers by J.D. Powers revealed underlying dissatisfaction among telehealth users.

On the positive side, 57% of respondents cited convenience; 47% cited

quicker care; 36% cited safety. On the negative side, 24% said services were too limited. Cost, confusing technology and poor provider information were each cited by 15% of respondents. The take here is the demand for telehealth services will continue beyond the pandemic. Providers and insurers need to accept the new reality and work to improve this new and popular service line.

No “Surprise Billing” Ruling

These commercially administered plans, versus the traditional Medicare plan administered by CMS, have seen their enrollment double over the past decade. 42% of eligible seniors have opted to drop their traditional Medicare plan and enroll with a MA plan. There are currently 33 different MA plans offered by commercial giants such as BCBS, United, Anthem, Cigna, Aetna, etc. Premiums may actually decline next year, which could mean less being deducted from a senior’s Social Security check. All of these MA plans offer extra services beyond traditional Medicare to both entice enrollees and improve their care, including: transportation, dental, optical, auditory, mental health, home visits, food delivery and even pest control. All of the major insurers are expanding their footprints and markets to capture more seniors.

The intent of this law is to protect unwitting consumers from exorbitant/surprise out-of-pocket costs for services provided by out of network providers. A typical example would be when a consumer goes to an in-network emergency room and then gets a “balance due after insurance payment” from the out of network emergency room group, specialist or radiology group. A recent ruling requires that disputed bills between the out-of-network provider and the commercial payer be settled by an independent arbitrator. Each party submits their preferred dollar amount to the arbitrator. The arbitrator will reward the party that is closest to a national qualified payment amount. The AHA and AMA argue it favors commercial insurers and it is a form of price setting. (Congress actually DOES set prices for Medicare.)

Consumer advocates laud the ruling which should mitigate surprise outof-pocket expenses.

Medicare Advantage (MA) Plans Open enrollment started Oct. 15.

Fake C19 Cards Two VA employees in Detroit have been charged with theft, fraud and conspiring to sell fake proof of vaccination cards. One has been charged with theft of government property, (actual vaccination record

ACA Updated For those who do not get health insurance from their employer or Medicare, the exchanges have been improved. Commercial plans must pay a user fee every year. It is about 2.5% of their premiums for next year.

It goes toward consumer information, outreach and navigation programs. The number of navigators has been increased to 1,500 thanks to an $80 million grant from CMS. Open enrollment starts Nov. 1 and ends Jan. 15, 2022. Navigators can now help enrollees with how to appeal for financial assistance and reconciling premium tax credits. The previous administration had reduced the number of navigators, allowed states to reduce benefits via a waiver and to offer short-term plans. CMS rescinded the aforementioned in order to broaden assistance, maintain decent coverage and further strengthen health insurance for more than 20 million consumers.

Drug Prices Granting Medicare the ability to negotiate drug prices seems like a no-brainer. Literally tens of billions can be saved. Not surprisingly, fear mongering ads by drug manufacturers have increased significantly.

Medicare would simply be given the ability to NEGOTIATE (not SET) drug prices. Negotiating is a twoway street, so claims by the drug lobby that fewer drugs will come to market or your particular drug may

Page 8 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • November 2021

NYS Vaccine Mandate Just days after the vaccine mandate deadline, NYS climbed to a 92% vaccination rate among hospital and nursing home healthcare workers. It is one of the highest in the country.

This achievement has alleviated fears of massive staff shortages and delays in services. NYS is being sued by a small group claiming a religious exemption based on the fact that cell lines derived from fetuses aborted years ago were used in the development or production of test vaccines.

More than 700,000 people in the US have died as a result of COVID-19.

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.

10 Tips to Improve Your Health

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

Y

ou know the drill: eat right and exercise. But you can do many other things to improve your health also.

1. Eat foods with probiotics and fiber. “Eat foods with probiotics and foods that have fiber because both of those things will help with keeping the gastrointestinal tract healthy. That’s important because obviously, we want to have a normal, healthy digestion and elimination but much of our immune system resides in the GI tract. Adequate hydration is important, for sure.

2. Regulate your nervous system.

“Manage the fight or flight response.

This year has been incredibly stressful for everyone on every front. Many of us have heightened levels of cortisol and living not just in chronic stress, but our nervous system has been living in extended periods of fight or flight. The sleep quality and duration decrease, the body’s ability to recover from fight or flight becomes dulled. We have a harder time recovering from stress. Physically, it affects inflammation, digestion and the way the adrenals and hormones work. The way I prefer to approach the nervous system is breathwork. We tend to dull ourselves by social media for a dopamine hit. It temporarily makes us feel calmer but doesn’t take us out of fight or flight. Breathwork and meditation stimulates the vagus nerve. That controls digestion, heart rate and stress response.

3. Try dry brushing. “The other

thing I encourage is dry brushing.

You take a dry bristle brush before getting into the shower, from the periphery towards the core, spending extra time in armpits, cranial groove, back of the head and over breast tissue. That’s the highest density of lymphatic tissue. It’s light. It takes one to two minutes. It helps the circulation of fluid in the body. It keeps fluid moving, aids in the immune system, can help with congestion. It’s good for the appearance of the skin.

You can search for a dry, natural bush like what your grandma used to use in the bathtub. This should not be expensive. You can exfoliate, shower and moisturize. I have a small one to use on my face in the winter when I’m feeling sallow or dry.

4. Practice active posture work. “I really think that active posture work is more important than ever. Our bodies are under a great deal of stress. With not being outside as much, I’m seeing chronic pain and inflammation from sitting and standing improperly. Full-time foundations training by Eric Goodman is a way to fix your posture by gaining strength.

Posture braces don’t work.

They make problems worse because they don’t build strength.

Doing active posture work at home, finding neutral spine in sitting saves us from chronic neck and back pain and help the nervous system. Being in an improper position puts quite a bit of stress on the body.

5. Try acupuncture. “Acupuncture is a good immune support. We treat the common cold and long-haul COVID-19 symptoms. In its essence, it’s an immune building preventative medicine.”

6. Add a glass of water to your morning. “One thing I always like to tell people is that it’s so easy to hear the message to take things away when we’re moving towards a healthier lifestyle, but we need to add things in, like more water. If you’re a soda drinker, add a glass of water with every glass of soda with the goal of cutting back on sodas.

7. Add fruits and veggies to your diet. “Add in more fruits and vegetables, instead of thinking about eating less sugary things.

Fruits and vegetables add nutrients, fiber and helps you feeling full without added fats, sugars or calories.

8. Get moving. “We can add in movement and physical activities in ways that make us feel happy. Movement can look like whatever makes you happy, like going for a walk, holding a dance party in your living room and even cleaning or raking leaves counts.”

9. Practice self-care. “With the pandemic and COVID-19, we need to think more about selfcare and mental health. Taking care mentally is the important thing. People come in with social isolation, weight gain and

high blood pressure because of a lack of self-care. Take time to phone an old friend to feel less isolated.

10. Treat yourself to something fun at least once a day.

“Sometimes, we have to make time for one fun thing every day to plan and look forward to it. If you’re in a funk, take two minutes to focus on positive things. There are free mediation apps and ones on mindfulness.

Treat yourself one time per month to something like a massage or a restaurant you like. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.”

Sources:

• Tip 1 by Mary Jo Parker, registered dietitian in private practice in Williamsville.

• Tips 2 through 5 by Toni Haugen, licensed acupuncturist, Queen City Health and Wellness, Buffalo.

• Tips 6 through 8 by Justine Hays, registered dietitian and senior nutritionist with Eat Smart, NY • Tips 9 and 10 by physician Scott Darling, UBMD Family Medicine.

November 2021 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • Page 9

Health Career

Healthcare Social Worker’s Role Results in Better Patient Outcomes

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

A

vital cog in how healthcare organizations function, healthcare social workers’ role improves patient outcomes, reduces rehospitalizations and promotes better patient satisfaction. Among their job duties, the healthcare social worker acts as a liaison between the patient or patient’s family and the helpful resources within the community and within the healthcare organization.

In addition to case management and crisis intervention, they may also

help families with insurance questions, provide counseling and help break down barriers to care. While these are all important issues, they are not clinical issues which is where healthcare providers focus.

“Healthcare social workers are very important in the discharge process,” said Stephen Hanse, president and CEO of the New York State Health Facilities Association, Inc, headquartered in Albany and representing facilities statewide. “They

right backknow the ground. In skilled The Bureau of Labor Statistics any case, onnursing states that $51,110 is the the-job trainfacilities in ing helps the commuannual mean wage for healthcare nity. They’ll social workreach out to healthcare social workers in the ers learn the see if they Western New York area. ropes. have the In adability to redition, it is ceive a new helpful if healthcare social worker is patient for subacute care. Sometimes “organized, able to see a situation hothere are issues where the location listically and to think critically about doesn’t work.” situations and has the ability to build For patients about to discharge relationships with the individual’s from the hospital, healthcare social workers may help set up needed sup- family and within other organizations. This ranges from food banks to port at home, such as a home health schools to other places where the pernurse. They may refer the patient son is living, working and thriving,” to agencies that can help them get said Kat Procknal, assistant professor the equipment they need and set up of social work at Daemen College. transportation to doctor’s visits.

Healthcare social workers in At nursing homes, healthcare hospitals work to ensure dischargsocial workers also help ease transiing patients can live safely in the tion of care. community, whether in a short-term “They may work with the hospitals and coordinate incoming patients rehabilitation facility, the home of a relative or in their own home. Disfor the care needed,” Hanse said. charging patients capable of recuper“Different providers have different ating elsewhere helps free up space skills. Some have certain expertise, for more critical patients. like traumatic brain injury. It is Procknal foresees continuing emunique to the situation and circumployment opportunities for healthstances of the patient.” care social workers to keep pace Healthcare social workers may with the healthcare needs of swelling also screen patients for mental number of healthcare consumers and health issues such as depression those in need of mental healthcare and substance use disorders. They and to help facilitate additional safe, help address any barriers to receivcommunity-based care. ing physical and mental healthcare, “The more social workers we including cognition challenges and have in these areas, the better,” she limited finances.

Many facilities employing health- said. “Sixty percent of the people providing mental health services are care social works require applicants to possess the credential of a licensed social workers.” clinical social worker. Some require a master’s trained social worker; a few may hire registered nurses with the

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SmartBites

Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Parmesan, Garlic and Thyme

The Superfood to Eat Year-Round: Sweet Potatoes

1½ lbs sweet potatoes (about 3 medium) 2½ tablespoons olive oil, divided 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 teaspoon dried thyme ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon coarse black pepper ¼ cup grated Parmesan

By Anne Palumbo

The skinny on healthy eating

The problem with sweet potatoes is this: Many people think of sweet potatoes only when Thanksgiving rolls around.

That’s a problem because we should really be thinking about this nutritious tuber all year long!

A few points to ponder: They’re considered a superfood by many; they’re widely available for a decent price; and, they’re delicious.

What makes them worthy of the esteemed superfood title? Put simply, they’re loaded with nutrients and antioxidants that do a body good.

While we can’t list them all, we can focus on a few standouts.

Sweet potatoes are super rich in vitamin A (in the form of beta-carotene), which is important for eyesight. Numerous studies demonstrate that eating adequate amounts of vitamin A promotes healthy vision, prevents the development of night blindness, and may help slow age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness. What’s more, vitamin A helps fight off infections and contributes to building strong, healthy bones.

A great source of fiber, sweet potatoes deliver about a fourth of our average daily needs in one cup. Fiber contributes to good health by stabilizing blood sugar levels, promoting regularity, and ferrying bad cholesterol out. Some studies suggest that

increasing fiber reduces our susceptibility to diseases such as heart disease, colon cancer, and diabetes.

Sweet potatoes brim with antioxidants— powerful compounds that mop up free radicals linked to a host of age-related diseases. They’re also a good source of potassium, an essential mineral for maintaining normal blood pressure, and an excellent source of both manganese, a mineral that promotes a healthy metabolism, and vitamin C, a workhorse vitamin that’s necessary for the growth, development, and repair of all body tissues.

Although sweet potatoes are low in fat, sodium, cholesterol and calories (180 per baked cup), they are high in carbs (46 per baked cup).

The good news is, they’re the complex kind that takes longer to digest, which keeps our engines running longer.

Select small to medium sweet potatoes that are firm and do not have cracks, soft spots or moldy ends. Large ones can be tough and tasteless. Store sweet potatoes in a cool, dark place for up to 10 days. Preparing sweet potatoes with a little fat, such as olive oil, can help boost the absorption of beta-carotene. While topping sweet potatoes with marshmallows and brown sugar is a Thanksgiving tradition for many, there are healthier ways to prepare them.

poor diet quality and higher risk of several chronic diseases,” said study author Filippa Juul, an assistant professor and postdoctoral fellow at NYU’s School of Public Health.

“The high and increasing consumption of ultra-processed foods in the 21st century may be a key driver of the obesity epidemic,” Juul added in a university news release.

The researchers also said the COVID-19 pandemic may have prompted Americans to eat less nutritious foods that have long shelf lives.

“In the early days of the pandemic, people changed their purchasing behaviors to shop less frequently, and sales of ultra-processed foods such as boxed macaroni and cheese, canned

Helpful tips

Adapted from Cooking Classy Serves 4

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Wash potatoes thoroughly and then cut into 1-inch chunks. Place in a large bowl. In a small bowl, stir together 2 tablespoons olive oil, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper. Pour mixture over sweet potatoes, mix with hands (or spoon), and then spread into an even layer on one to two baking sheets.

Roast in preheated oven until tender, tossing once halfway through, about 30 minutes total. Remove from oven, move rack to broiler position (about 6 inches away) and turn on broiler.

While broiler is heating up, drizzle potatoes with remaining ½ tablespoon olive oil, then sprinkle with Parmesan. Return to broiler for about 1 minute. Adjust seasonings and serve.

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.

Americans Are Eating More UltraProcessed Foods

A

mericans’ increasing consumption of ultra-processed foods is putting their health at risk, researchers warn.

Ultra-processed foods are readyto-eat or heat, include additives and contain little, if any, whole foods.

They include frozen pizza, soda, fast food, sweets, salty snacks, canned soup and most breakfast cereals.

Previous research has shown that eating ultra-processed foods is associated with obesity and heart disease.

The New York University investigators analyzed U.S. federal government data and found that the proportion of ultra-processed foods in Americans’ diets grew from 53.5% of calories in 2001-2002 to 57% in 20172018, while consumption of whole foods fell from 32.7% to 27.4% of calories, mostly due to people eating less meat and dairy.

The greatest increase in ultra-processed foods was in readyto-eat or heat meals, while intake of some sugary foods and drinks declined, according to the study published Oct. 14 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

“The overall composition of the average U.S. diet has shifted toward a more processed diet. This is concerning, as eating more ultra-processed foods is associated with

soups and snack foods increased substantially. People may have also eaten more packaged ‘comfort foods’ as a way of coping with the uncertainty of the pandemic,” Juul said. “We look forward to examining dietary changes during this period as data become available.”

November 2021 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • Page 11

throughout the region.

FeedMore WNY has an operating budget of $36 million and 142 employees (including full- and part-time staff).

Catherine Shick is chief communications officer for FeedMore WNY, which has locations at 91 Holt St. and 100 James Casey Drive as well as a warehouse in Falconer.

Q A &

with Catherine Shick

FeedMore WNY’s chief communications officer discusses the nonprofit’s efforts to end hunger in Western New York

W

By Brenda Alesii

hen it comes to basic human needs, quality nutrition is undoubtedly at the top of the list. Yet with all the advances made in today’s world as the new century approaches, thousands of people from every background are in need of food.

Fortunately for residents in

four area counties — Erie, Niagara, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua — FeedMore WNY is here to help. The nonprofit organization, uniting the Food Bank of WNY and Meals on Wheels for Western New York, legally merged Jan. 1, 2020. Each organization, now operating as one, has the same objective: ending hunger

Q. Your agency serves four counties.

With what other organizations do you partner?

A. We have 390 hunger relief agencies and programs, including soup kitchens, relief agencies and programs, food pantries, and shelters. These partners are a great source of support; many have hub sites, locations where volunteers will pick up Meals on Wheels and deliver to the surrounding communities. We serve a wide swath of the area with the same objective for everyone – offering dignity and hope for a brighter future.

Q. How many people did your agency help in 2020?

A. We assisted 180,880 people throughout the four county region.

Q. Speaking of who benefits from your organization, are there misconceptions about who needs assistance?

A. We serve all ages from infancy to older adults. It isn’t just the disadvantaged. I think the pandemic opened people’s eyes because there was so much change — job loss, reduction in hours at certain companies, staying home and managing child care, being homebound. There’s an emphasis on hunger around the holiday season, but hunger happens 365 days a year. And the pandemic has increased that urgency. While we do see a need around the holidays, it is often more related to cold weather. If the heat has to be turned up or if the lights are on for longer periods, sometimes people are forced to choose between paying utilities, paying rent, or having enough to eat.

Help is available for elementary school children with our backpack program filled with kid-friendly food. For older adults, Meals on Wheels provides a prepared hot

Come grow with us!

• HR Specialist • Assistant Director (Asst. Principal) • Principal • Family & Community Partnership Coordinator • Community Crisis Specialist • Housing Outreach Specialist • Maintenance Associate • Nutrition Associate • Teacher IV, III, II • Teacher (Youth Services part-time)

lunch and a cold supper, which meets two-thirds of recommended daily allowance requirements. Sometimes the only contact an elderly resident has is the visit with the delivery person, which serves as a wellness check and a break from social isolation.

Q. What types of food and other donations are needed?

A. We are grateful for any donations and types of food. Canned proteins, peanut butter, whole grains like cereal and pasta, shelf-stable and low-fat, low-sodium items are always in demand. Perishable food — lean meats, dairy, fruits and vegetables — are also gratefully accepted. We are always in need of infant formula and diapers, too.

Monetary donations allows us to allocate dollars where needed. If donors are interested in our Planned Giving Program, we have a team that is available to answer any questions.

Q. Why do you call your volunteers the lifeblood of the organization?

A. We have the most incredible, compassionate volunteers, who inspire me every day. They are vital to the organization. Because there are so many different ways to lend a hand, we pair our volunteers with what interests them. Opportunities include sorting and packing food, working at events, delivering food, hosting food drives, so many options.

Our volunteers come in all ages.

We recently had a 4-year-old child who helped with a food drive! He wanted to make a donation in lieu of a birthday gift. That’s one of the many reasons I love my job — it’s a passion for me and incredibly rewarding.

For more information on FeedMore WNY, visit www.feedmorewny.org or call 716-822-2002

Celebrate the Holidays WITH IN GOOD HEALTH

• Youth Services Counselor (part-time) • Case Worker (Youth Services) • Activity Monitor (Youth Services/part-time) • Program Coordinator (Youth Services) • Senior Program Activity Monitor (part-time) • Family Partner • Home Visitor

For full job descriptions and to apply, please visit our website: www.caowny.org Page 12 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • November 2021

To advertise in the next edition of In Good Health, please send an email to editor@bfohealth.com.

Participants in the Boys on the Right Track program prepare to compete in their first-ever 5k run held last fall at Union Pleasant Elementary School in the village of Hamburg.

5K run, with the volunteer coaches leading the all-inclusive program supporting and encouraging each child regardless of their running ability or previous involvement with other sports.

“What I like is the opportunity for young boys to get out and move,” said Bill Faust, a Lake View resident and past volunteer coach. “It is a great chance for them to get outside, get some fresh air, and just have fun.”

Parents of past participants praise the program for the ability of the Boys on the Right Track curriculum and training sessions to inspire their children.

“Both of my boys really enjoyed Boys on the Right Track because it gave them something to look forward to and provided some consafe and supervised setting. sistently physical activity and also Training sessions are normally allowed the kids to talk about things held twice a week for nine weeks, like self-control and self-confidence with a specific curriculum covering and do so in an environment that a variety of topics that offer tips on physical conditioning as well as help- isn’t a typical classroom setting,” said Faust, whose twin sons participated ful day-to-day life lessons. when they were both 9 years old.

“Our program is designed to “The kids were awesome and I felt teach these boys how to establish great knowing my two boys and the healthy relationships by utilizing other boys were all exercising and effective communication and the learning and having fun together.” best ways to handle potential conFeedback from previous students flict,” said Juliet Meade, the founder regularly features glowing reviews and executive director of Boys on about how much the program prothe Right Track. “We have serious discussions about personal behaviors, vided them with helpful life lessons.

“I like that we spent time with dealing with peer pressure, how to our friends and learned a lot about interact with bullies, and the best running and what it takes to achieve ways to cope with stress and anger something when you set your mind and things that frustrate most chilto it,” said Colton Faust. “It really dren that age.” was a great program.”

There are user-friendly presenta“Boys on the Right Track isn’t just tions on nutrition, including teaching about running,” said Jackson Faust. each boy how to read labels on food “The coaches were very supportive of packages and better comprehend portion sizes and other personal food us and we learned so much. It’s not only about running and how to train consumption topics. for a 5k. We learned about sportsAt the end of the nine weeks of manship and teamwork and how training each boy participates in a

Running With a Purpose Local training program instills leadership, encourages healthy behaviors

By Daniel Meyer

U

sing a non-competitive training concept that stresses the importance of comprehending life and leadership skills for boys of various physical abilities, Boys on the Right Track provides children in Western New York a fun fitness option for parents looking for opportunities for their son to unplug and unwind.

The nonprofit organization has established a program specifically designed to provide boys ages 8 to 13 access to something that can boost their self-confidence, make new friends, learn healthy life lessons and understand the discipline and conditioning needed to train for running in a 5-kilomter race.

Dozens of local schools and youth organizations now offer programming developed by Boys on the Right Track, which was established in 2013. The ability for young boys in the Southtowns, in the Northtowns and in the City of Buffalo to participate has given parents throughout the region confidence in allowing their children to remain active in a

important it is to encourage other boys and be respectful of them.”

The cost of the program for a nine-week session is $165. The fee includes regular coaching by individuals who are CPR certified, 18 lessons focused on empowerment and healthy habits, a program t-shirt, registration for the end-of-session 5k race, a finishers medal and healthy snacks that are provided during each lesson. Some health insurance plans do offer coverage for the program, with financial aid being offered to those who are eligible.

The success of the program comes from constant evaluation of the course curriculum and ongoing research about the challenges young boys face in today’s society both at home and in school.

“Our format allows us to have consistency with satisfied participants,” said Meade. “They are having fun but they are also learning. We have our lessons designed in such a way that the research we conduct is regularly implemented into each week’s activities so that we are constantly updating and reflecting current trends and what type of situations boys this age regularly come across on a daily basis.”

Sessions are offered each fall and spring and are made possible by various program sponsors over the past few years as well as individual donations from community members who reside throughout Western New York.

Find Out More Information about Boys on the Right Track can be found at www.boysontherighttrack.org.

November 2021 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • Page 13

Van Gogh-ga: Yoga Classes at the Beyond Van Gogh Exhibit Artwork, yoga combine in The Immersive Experience

By Amanda Jowsey

T

he word yoga literally means unity.

Yoga creates unity between the mind, body and spirit. It creates harmony between the physical and the spiritual. We are beings with complex physiological and emotional responses. The struggle between the heart and the mind is something we encounter almost daily. We fight to unify our emotions and our thoughts.

We long for inner peace as well as physical health.

For centuries, humans have developed ways of exploring and coping with these internal struggles.

Both science and spiritualism aim to address the human condition.

Whether we create them or simply enjoy them, music and art have always held a prime role in the exploration of our mental, physical and emotional states.

Whether they bring clarity to larger issues or simply attempt to express our inner journeys, these experiences have dramatically impacted our history as human beings.

Van Gogh, one of the most posthumously famous painters, has transcended time and space through his artwork. The new exhibit, “Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience”, allows audiences to experience the inner journey of this artist through physical representations of what both plagued and inspired him: the mind, body and spirit connection.

Inside the exhibit, Uplift Yoga & Strength, a studio owned by April Krantz, is hosting yoga classes on Saturdays from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the Starry Night Pavilion at Eastern

April Krantz owns Uplift Yoga & Strength studio.

Hills Mall. Described as “where yoga meets art,” this class takes you on a guided yoga experience.

“Each class will bring a new sense of awareness through visual experiences, sounds and guides. The immersive art and sounds of “Beyond Van Gogh” are sure to elevate a mind-body connection and create a dreamy and mystical journey through your yoga practice,” Krantz said.

Her mission is “to bring you an empowering, uplifting experience in every class. Our studio exists to develop more fit bodies, happier lives and healthier mindsets. We embrace all ages and fitness levels and help you find the challenge that’s right for you... You’ll discover your inner strength and your inner calm, and be uplifted in mind, body and soul.”

The class is for all skill levels.

“Variations are given for poses.

Postures are explained for beginners to more seasoned participants. All are welcome!” she said.

Guests must bring their own mat, towel and water. After class, they are free to stay and explore the venue.

There are 29 immersive Van Gogh locations nationwide. Of them, New York City, San Francisco, Chicago, Charlotte and Toronto offered yoga classes several days a week over the summer. When asked to be a part of bringing this experience to the Buffalo exhibit, Krantz was thrilled.

“It’s the perfect space for yoga.

Just like with yoga, studies have shown that art can positively impact your health, lowering anxiety and boosting your mood and cognitive function. This makes yoga and art the perfect pairing,” she said.

As described on the “Beyond Van Gogh”v website, “The experience was created with 360-projection technology created by Normal Studios to add new life and animation to Vincent van Gogh’s body of work.

Using his dreams, his thoughts and his words to drive the experience as a narrative, we move along projection swathed walls wrapped in light, color and shapes that swirl, dance and refocus into flowers, cafes and landscapes. Masterpieces, now freed from frames, come alive…”

With each physical pose in yoga, different mental perspectives occur.

You can see the different mental perspectives Van Gogh experienced through each painting. As they are displayed, as they transition, you can see the internal journey he was

Page 14 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • November 2021

on. Yoga itself takes you on an inner journey as well. Your breath synchronizes with the music, your poses flow with the art.

“At the venue, it makes your senses come alive more. It just heightens your awareness of all those connections,” Krantz said. “You’re immersed in the music and the paintings, which are literally moving, and then there’s stillness. Just like with yoga. You can’t help but be present there. That’s a huge thing with yoga as well. The exhibit just naturally allows that to happen.”

Van Gogh suffered from mental illness throughout his life. His mind was chaotic. He organized his mind’s chaos through painting and through nature. Painting, like yoga, grounded his mind to achieve more unity between the spirit and the body.

“It’s very emotional,” Krantz says. “One thing that I really admire about Van Gogh, or noticed more, is just that the paintings are really joyful. They’re colorful, and the pain that he experienced in his life is really being expressed in beauty and in vibrancy… I use that theme within our classes, that no matter what you’re going through, that it is possible to have something very beautiful come from that.”

The experience feels like entering an alternate reality. It’s as if you somehow stepped foot into a framed masterpiece and were pulled inside.

Practicing yoga within this environment elevates both the experience of the exhibit and the experience of yoga itself. As painting did for the artist, it removes you from your everyday reality and gives your mind, spirit and body an ethereal place to come together.

To purchase tickets to this once in a lifetime experience, go to vangoghbuffalo.com and scroll down to “Where Yoga Meets Art.” Tickets are $66.99. Price includes both the class and full access to the exhibit. Located at 4545 Transit Road, Buffalo NY 14221.

Golden Years

Quality Nursing Home Care Each facility can be very different, which is a big factor

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

A

bout half of people will need long-term care eventually. Of those, some will receive care in a nursing home. If you are planning for your own care or for that of a loved one, how can you know if a facility provides quality care?

The New York State Department of Health licenses and inspects nursing homes, examining metrics including quality of care received, quality of life achieved, safety of residents, preventive care practices, and inspections and complaint information. Information on specific nursing homes is available at their website.

Medicare’s website also lists nursing homes with ratings based upon health inspections, staffing and quality of resident care measures.

Consumers can also look for third-party quality accreditation such as by Joint Commission. The independent, non-profit is the oldest healthcare accreditation body in the nation. Organizations must successfully submit copious documentation and complete a rigorous on-site survey by a Joint Commission team every three years to maintain their accreditation.

“There are a variety of factors that should be considered by family members and caregivers when selecting an adult care facility or nursing home, including determining what level of support your loved one needs,” said David Shenk, Erie County commissioner of Senior Services. “You need to take the time for a proper evaluation of the individual and use that information to find a location that provides high-quality services and hires and retains qualified employees.”

“The best advice is to remain focused and determined to find somewhere that believes in the dignity of all people and that fosters an environment that celebrates and respects all of their residents regardless of their age, physical condition or economic status,” he added. “Make it your number one goal to find a caring place that is deeply committed to supporting senior citizens and has a solid reputation in their community.”

Stephen Hanse, president and CEO of The New York State Health Facilities Association, Inc. in Albany, thinks it is a good idea to visit nursing homes in person (if permitted) or

at least virtually.

Reporting sites “are not always up-to-date and accurate,” Hanse said. “The best barometer determining the best facility is to choose a facility that is close to where you live so you can visit.”

While visiting, observe how the residents appear. Are they clean and content? Look for a bulletin board listing activities and events. Does the facility look and smell clean? Visit during a mealtime. Does the food appear appetizing? Do residents who need help receive help in eating?

“It really is what feels right to you?” Hanse said. “You may be able to have a virtual meeting with the facility and talk with the administrator and staff. Talk about your loved one’s needs and find the fit. It’s similar to a process in anything in life where you’re choosing something important like choosing a college.”

Ask about any specific medical or clinical needs and if the facility can meet those needs.

While friends’ recommendations can be part of the decision, Hanse warned that everyone has a different experience and one bad experience with a particular staff member may not warrant writing off a facility. A good nursing home would follow through with further training and possible disciplinary action after an incident.

“A lot of people write down a list of the questions they want to ask,” Hanse said. “Understand the needs and priorities and concerns of your

loved one. Have a candid, open conversation. That’s critical.”

In crisis situations, when the family and patient have little time to plan, they may need to select a nursing home in just a couple of days.

Current staffing constraints and a limited number of beds available also make the options fewer.

If possible, “make it convenient, somewhere nearby,” said Kristin Surdej is a licensed masters of social work and is care manager certified.

She is with Laping, Surdej, Associates, LLC, geriatric card managers in Cheektowaga.

She views online tools as offering only once piece of the picture.

“Honestly, any place can be good or bad,” she added. “It can vary by unit at facilities. Keep an open mind.

Tour places if they can tour them.

Don’t write off a place if you heard of a bad experience from one person.

Communicate with the staff to work out any problems.”

She advises looking at how the staff engages with residents, available activities and entertainment.

These quality-of-life measures can help measure how much the staff and management care about residents.

“Each facility can be very different, which is a big factor,” she said.

“Ask how frequent the visitation is, keeping in mind things are different with COVID-19.”

Resources to Find the Right Nursing Home Medicare: www.medicare.gov/care-compare/? providerType=NursingHome&redir ect=true NYSDOH: https://profiles.health.ny.gov/ nursing_home/#5.79/42.868/-76.809 Joint Commission: www.qualitycheck.org Erie County Senior Services: www2.erie.gov/seniorservices/index. php?q=nursing-homes NYS Department of Health: https://profiles.health.ny.gov/ nursing_home/#5.79/42.868/-76.809

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November 2021 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • Page 15

Golden Years

Long-term Care Can Sap Assets Start planning now for your later care

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

S

ome people assume care of me.’ The statistics that Medicare or say that the caregivers their health insurdie first because of the ance will entirely cover stress of trying to take their cost of nursing care of someone. That’s home care or at-home the difficult part. If you care. It will not. have a daughter, she “It covers some and already has a family and there are some narrow a job. It’s very stressful ways it does it,” said for caretakers.”

Margaret Tomaka, execTomaka encourages clients to consider planutive vice president at ning a means to cover the Specific Solutions, Inc. in costs of assisted living Williamsville. “You need for at least three years to be in the hospital three Roxanne Sorensen and the cost of a nursing home for at days for Medicare to cover it.”

The first 20 days of nursing home least six months.

Nursing home care costs about care for rehabilitation are covered $12,669 a month currently for the and for those who qualify for conBuffalo area. Assisted living costs tinuing care, Medicare covers 100 about 40% of the expense of a nursdays at 80%. ing home. Going with assisted living “If you’re at home and go in the first helps people conserve their rehospital one day, Medicare won’t cover nursing home care at all,” sources for longer use. At the current rates, three years of assisted living Tomaka said.

Specific Solutions is a multi-com- plus six months of nursing home care costs about $258,447.60. pany general agency specializing in It can be important to look at life, disability, long-term care, annufamily health history. Were many of ities and impaired risk. the previous generation long-lived?

To qualify for Medicaid while What health issues do you currently still protecting assets, people must face? Those applying for long-term transfer sufficient assets five years health insurance must have good before applying for long-term care, health to be approved for a policy. although a spouse is permitted to continue living in a house worth “For some people, the cost is so $700,000 or less. significant, they could never afford “A lot of people think they won’t it,” said Roxanne Sorenson owner need long-term care,” Tomaka said. of Elder Care Solutions of WNY in Amherst. “There’s just no way to “Or the men say, ‘My wife will take

get it. A long-term care policy makes sense if you’re trying to pre-plan if you can afford it and qualify. It’s like life insurance. If they find out you have certain conditions, you may not qualify.”

She encourages anyone choosing a long-term care policy to obtain an inflation rider.

“If it’s 25 years before you use it, you want it to pay out at the future rates,” she said. “That’s what happened to some people who bought plans in the ‘80s and ‘90s. They’re now receiving $50 a day. They’re shocked that they have to come up with $450 a day.”

Applying while in the mid-50s to late-60s is still feasible for cost. However, those who are any older find that the premiums are very costly.

Annual premiums for long-term health insurance can range from $2,000 to $5,000 per person, depending on coverage level and health. New York will offer a 20% income tax credit and for some people, the federal government will offer a small deduction.

Care does not have to be through a professional home healthcare agency. With a hybrid plan, the policyholder can cash in the policy for a qualified claim and pay someone for providing Kristin Surdej

Page 16 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • November 2021

care—even a family member—and/or pay a home care agency.

Many people manage homecare by relying on family members living in the home for things like socialization, housekeeping and cooking, and a visiting professional for help with monitoring health, bathing and dressing. Longterm care policies kick in once a person cannot perform two of the six activities of daily living: eating, bathing, toileting, dressing, transferring, and continence.

People with $2 million or more of assets can likely self-fund about three to four years of care without lowering their spouse’s lifestyle.

Someone with less should consider coverage.

The pandemic has underscored the challenges of curtailing outbreak of infectious diseases in facilities compared with living at home. In a facility, family members may not be able to visit their loved ones for months. Because nursing homes are regulated by the Department of Health—unlike assisted living facilities—residents must accept changes to their living environment such as living with residents who have COVID-19.

Although the costs of long-term care insurance may be high, compared with the cost of paying for care in full, it is still a good deal. The insurance offers peace of mind and relieves the family of the challenge of providing care. It also helps policy holders maintain independence longer.

Kristin Surdej, licensed master of social work and care manager certified with Laping, Surdej, Associates, LLC, a geriatric care management group in Cheektowaga, said that more people are going for hybrid life insurance policies because of the expense of long-term care insurance.

“They’re almost taking the place of the old traditional policies no longer offered by tried-and-true providers,” she said. “I’m seeing people who have the old policies, it’s like they’re trying to push them out by raising the premiums.”

She added that clients like that the premiums for hybrid plans are more affordable and clients are guaranteed to receive benefit from it, either for care or for their heirs.

The Medical Power of Attorney The clearer you can be, the better

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

A

s part of end-of-life planning, it is important to complete a healthcare proxy.

Named in this document is the medical power of attorney, a person who has the legal authority to make healthcare decisions for you should you be incapable of making them because of an illness or injury. Selecting this person is a decision to make with care.

“Make sure everyone understands who this person is,” said Margaret Tomaka, executive vice president of Specific Solutions in Buffalo. “If you have a medical condition where you can’t speak for yourself, you need a POA. The medical community is so overworked. They can’t keep up with all the information in patients’ files. You need someone who’s familiar with everything and knows about it.”

The medical power of attorney may also be called a durable power of attorney for healthcare or a healthcare agent. But the role is different from a financial power of attorney, which is someone who can make financial decisions and pay bills for a person who is incapacitated.

“Pick someone whom you feel close to and trust, someone with whom you feel you can share your wishes and feel comfortable that they’ll carry them out,” said Kristin Surdej, licensed master of social work

and care manager certified with Laping, Surdej, Associates, LLC, geriatric care managers in Cheektowaga.

Surdej encourages people completing a healthcare proxy form to discuss in detail end-of-life care, including artificial supports, resuscitation and quality of life issues.

“It doesn’t have to be someone who lives close by or someone with medical knowledge, though it’s helpful to the healthcare team that it’s someone who can be reached easily and knows your wishes,” she said.

Although it can be helpful, the individual does not have to possess medical knowledge. Trust and a thorough understanding of your wishes is much more important.

“If you can, complete Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment form,” Surdej said. “Go through those questions so if and when that comes up in a terminal situation, they’d know what your answers would be.”

She also urges those completing the form, known as the MOLST, to discuss it and share a copy with the medical POA selected. A copy should also be stored in the glove compartment, and it should become part of the medical records.

“Every hospital trip, whether inpatient or out-patient, take a copy,” Surdej said.

Family members represent an

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Healthcare Power of Attorney

A

ccording to Psychology Today, the responsibilities of a healthcare power of attorney could include: • Deciding on medical care, including medical tests, medication, or surgery • Requesting or declining life-support treatments • Authorizing or refusing medication, procedure and pain management • Choosing which hospital, medical facility, nursing home, or hospice is best • Understanding and asking questions about your condition, and available treatment options • Reviewing your medical history chart • Communicating with your family members about your condition and treatment plan • Requesting second opinions or alternative medical care/treatment options Suggested topics to discuss • Allergies, food, medicine, other • Chronic conditions, any ongoing medical conditions • Previous surgeries, when and why • Current medications, when and why • Medical treatments that you would prefer not to receive, why • End-of-life wishes • Life-support treatments that you would or would not like to receive • What your feelings are regarding mechanical breathing (respirator), cardiopulmonary resuscitation, artificial nutrition and hydration, hospital intensive care, pain management, chemo or radiation therapy, and surgery?

• Would you want antibiotics if you developed a life-threatening infection?

• Would you prefer to remain at home if possible, or be in a hospital or hospice environment?

• Any religious or spiritual wishes

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easy choice for a medical POA, but that is not a requirement. In some cases, it may be a bad idea altogether.

“That person has to be comfortable being in that position,” said Roxanne Sorenson, owner of Elder Care Solutions of WNY in Amherst. “Maybe, emotionally your daughter can’t do it. You have to have an in-depth conversation.”

Many years ago, she had a patient whose medical POA would not follow the healthcare proxy because the agent felt guilty for “killing her mother.” The patient lingered for 10 years on life support in an incapacitate state, which was not what she had stated she wanted.

“Make sure that person understand what you want and they can do this,” Sorenson said. “It’s very emotional but the person has to be able to follow through. It may not be your loved ones or significant other or children.”

It’s perfectly legal to name a friend or to pay an attorney to carry out the wishes in the healthcare proxy.

While most people think of medical power of attorney agents as deciding to “pull the plug” or not, they may also be called upon as a point of contact in case of a hospitalization or out-patient surgery for organizing post-discharge or postoperative care or in case of complications.

“It’s always good to have a backup, a contingency plan,” said Adam Bojak, attorney at the Law Office of Richard J. Morrisroe in Buffalo.

“When I do these forms, I ask everyone to give me a back-up in case the primary agent is unavailable so someone can step up.”

Younger people tend to choose their spouse and parents; older adults tend to select their spouse and a child.

But selecting more than one child can cause rifts if the plans are not made clear.

Bojak encourages clients to review their healthcare proxy form along with their estate plan every five or so years. He cautioned against forms from the internet, as they may not be legally sound and executed according to state law.

“The template I use includes leeway to say that we don’t require you to do X Y or Z but it gives you the authority to do so,” Bojak said.

For example, they may want to wait on ending life-sustaining measures so that family members who are out of town have an opportunity to come say goodbye.

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November 2021 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • Page 17

Golden Years

Medicare Parts Here’s what you should consider when picking a plan

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

T

he various “parts” of Medicare may seem confusing. Learning a few principles about how they work can make it much easier to understand. Otherwise, what is covered by the various parts of Medicare can be challenging to sort out.

“Part A is for hospitalization,” said Sean Kelly, a Medicare adviser in Buffalo. “In most cases, you don’t have to sign up for it. With Part B, you have to sign up at age 65 or after two years when you’re on disability on Social Security.”

Most people pay about $150 per month, depending upon income.

People can pay stiff penalties if they do not sign up once eligible. That is not so for people who are still covered by an employer’s qualifying healthcare plan.

Some eligible people skip signing up for Medicare because they do not have chronic health issues or take prescription drugs. But they face lifelong financial penalties when they sign up late.

Parts A and B cover 80% of the

costs for care. Part A covers hospice, in addition to hospitalizations. For nursing home rehabilitation care, it pays for 20 days. After that, patients owe a co-insurance of $185.50 a day up until 100 days, but only if they still qualify for that care. Once a patient “plateaus” in their rehabilitation, the coverage drops. It does not cover long-term care.

Part B covers out-patient services after an annual deductible of $203 for things such as doctor’s visits, laboratory tests, x-rays, diagnostic tests, therapy and other services. It also pays towards durable medical goods.

Private insurance companies administer Part C for the government.

Part C is also called a supplement plan or Medicare Advantage, which pays for what A and B do not cover.

Insurance companies receive money from the government to subsidize the premium costs.

“They pool all the money of all the clients and act as a mini-Medicare to pay the bills,” Kelly said.

“The way they separate themselves

By Jim Miller

Simple and Inexpensive Final Farewells Dear Simple, With the average cost of a full-service funeral running around $11,000 today, many people are seeking simple ways to make their final farewell more affordable. Depending on how you want to go, here are several low-cost options to consider.

Dear Savvy Senior, My husband and I are looking for the simplest and least expensive way to dispose of our bodies when we die. We hate the idea of wasting a lot of money on highpriced funerals and would like some advice on some simple and cheap send-offs.

– Simple Seniors

Direct Cremation If you and your husband are interested in cremation, a direct cremation is the simplest and least expensive way to go. It includes picking up the body, completing and filing the necessary paperwork, the cremation itself and returning the cremated remains to the family.

There’s no embalming, formal viewing or casket. A simple cardboard box called an “alternative container” is used to hold the body.

Depending on where you live and the funeral home you choose, the average cost for a direct cremation

from other carriers is by value-added benefits to entice people to join their company, at first things like gym memberships, dental cleanings, overthe-counter care and transportation.”

Advantage plans “limit out-ofpocket expenses,” said Maria Schenk, licensed sales agent at Sheridan Benefits, LLC in Buffalo. “Advantage plans become primary and often includes dental, vision, prescription and wellness benefits.”

For those who have Medicare A and B but not an Advantage plan, a Medigap plan can cover items not covered by A and B. Parts A, B and sometimes C do not cover prescriptions. Part D is the prescription drug program, which is offered through a private insurance company.

“For someone who’s 65 and not on prescriptions, they don’t think they need it,” Kelly said. “But they will end up getting penalized later if they decide later that they want a Part D plan. In the past, many people didn’t go on an Advantage plan because they thought they’d have to pay for it, but for most people there’s zero or little premium.”

The open enrollment window for signing up for Medicare is three months before and three months after the 65th birthday.

While going for the most expensive Advantage Plan or the plan that someone else likes seems like the best option, Kelly said that’s not always best. He advises clients to carefully examine their healthcare needs to determine what plan suits them.

A Medicare expert can provide help in figuring out the best plan.

Roxanne Sorenson, owner of Elder Care Solutions of WNY in Amherst, cautions clients to look at their providers and prescriptions while reviewing plans.

“Are they covered under your plan?” she said. “What they cover in 2021 may not be what they cover in 2022. Drug costs and copays can be significant. You have the opportunity every year to change so don’t just say, ‘Nothing’s changed.’ It doesn’t hurt to take an hour in the year to look at your health insurance.”

Qualifying policyholders should also look at Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC), a senior program that helps minimize the cost of medications for income-eligible seniors.

She has known of policyholders who signed up for the wrong plan and ended up with many thousands of dollars in medical bills.

To prevent this, she said it is vital to “meet with an independent broker who knows what he’s talking about.

You don’t have to go just once. It’s an important decision. You’ll be locked in for a year. You owe yourself this.”

An independent agent receives a flat amount regardless of the plan chosen, whether a basic one or not.

Clients pay nothing for their consultation.

runs between $1,000 and $3,000. If you want additional services beyond what a direct cremation offers, ask the funeral home for an itemized price list that covers the other services cost, so you know exactly what you’re getting. All providers are required by law to provide this.

To locate nearby funeral homes, look in your local yellow pages, or Google “cremation” or “funeral” followed by your city and state. You can also get good information online at Parting.com, which lets you compare prices from funeral providers in your area based on what you want.

vault.

The Green Burial Council (GreenBurialCouncil.org, 888-966-3330) has a state listing of cemetery operators who accommodate green burials, as well as funeral professionals who provide the services.

Immediate or Direct Burial If you’re interested in being buried, an immediate or direct burial is the most basic and low-cost option.

With an immediate burial, your body would be buried in a simple container shortly after death, skipping the embalming, viewing and use of the funeral facilities.

If your family wants a memorial service, they can have it at the graveside at your place of worship or at home without the body.

These services usually cost between $1,800 and $3,500, not counting cemetery charges, which can run you an additional $1,000 to $3,000.

All funeral homes offer direct burial.

Green Burial An eco-friendly green burial is another affordable way to go that costs anywhere from $1,000 to $4,000 depending on the provider. With a green cemetery burial, the body is buried in a biodegradable coffin or just wrapped in a shroud, without embalming chemicals or a burial

Page 18 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • November 2021

Anatomical Donation If you’d like to eliminate your cremation or burial costs all together, as well as help advance medical research, you and your husband should consider donating your bodies to science. This option won’t cost you a cent, however, some programs may charge a small fee to transport your body to their facility.

After using your body for medical research projects, anatomy lessons and surgical practice, your remains will be cremated and your ashes will be buried or scattered in a local cemetery or returned to your family, usually within a year.

To locate accredited university medical school body donation programs in your state, see the University of Florida’s U.S. program directory at Anatbd.acb.med.ufl.edu/ usprograms, or call the whole-body donation referral service during business hours at 800-727-0700.

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.

Health News Highmark Launches Pilot with Kenmore Gym to Assist Members with Parkinson’s Disease Members with diagnosed Parkinson’s disease will have access to training programs at Parkinson’s Boxing

H

ighmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York recently announced a pilot program with Parkinson’s Boxing Gym in Kenmore to benefit its members with Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Under the program, Highmark BCBSWNY members with a PD

diagnosis can access one-on-one training at Parkinson’s Boxing for $10 a session (normally priced at $125).

The non-contact boxing sessions are designed to relieve the symptoms of PD, especially those associated with balance and body movement.

The program began on Oct. 1 and

Roswell Park appoints nursing leaders in new, expanded roles

clinical nurse manager at the gastrointestinal endocrine center. She began her career at Roswell Park in 2006, rising from a hospital clinical assistant to registered nurse, and has worked on several Roswell Park units or centers, including an inpatient unit, clinical trials unit and the gastrointestinal and endocrine center.

She holds a bachelor of nursing from Daemen College and is an oncology certified nurse.

• Sara Schneller was promoted to nursing supervisor. No stranger to Western New York, Schneller has been caring for patients in WNY for more than a decade. She joined Roswell Park in 2012 and has held roles in intermediate and critical care. She is a Daemen College graduate and a certified medical surgical nurse.

• Jamie Henwood was promoted to clinical nurse manager for lymphoma/melanoma and sarcoma clinics. Henwood brings extensive experience in the care of hematology/oncology patients to her new role. A 13-year Roswell Park veteran, she previously served as a member of the 5 West inpatient team. Henwood is a graduate of the master’s degree program at Western Governors University in Utah, and is a certified medical surgical nurse.

• Rachel Silverman joins as clinical nurse manager for the Amherst and Niagara Falls satellite centers.

A newly-minted Roswell Park team member, Silverman has spent more than 12 years primarily serving as an oncology nurse in Western New York. She is skilled in infusion therapy, wound care and other personalized treatments. Silverman holds her bachelor of nursing degree from SUNY Empire State College

Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center Chief Nursing Officer Mary Ann Long has promoted five veteran nursing team members to new leadership roles in various clinical programs, and appointed another accomplished nurse to a new role at Roswell Park.

“It’s been a wonderful time of growth within our department, with several of these individuals rising from the ranks and demonstrating exceptional care for their patients and support for fellow staff,” says Long. “I am proud to work alongside this compassionate group of men and women each and every day.”

• Nurse practitioner Andrew Storer, Ph.D., was promoted to deputy chief nursing officer. Since joining Roswell Park last year, Storer has led creation of new programs supporting nursing staff and providing new resources to help them further their professional goals and grow as a department. He has created new pathways of opportunity for technicians through one key program, and was pivotal in helping the department recently earn high honors from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) for a nursing residency program.

• Maegan Chmura was promoted to director of inpatient surgical and acute nursing services. Most recently serving as clinical nurse manager for 7 West, Chmura has worn several hats during her more than 15-year tenure at the Cancer Center. In her new role, she will lead the team responsible for the care of patients admitted to Roswell Park as inpatients, and those experiencing time-sensitive or critical issues.

• Pamela McLaughlin was promoted to manager of nursing excellence and the magnet program.

Coming off her tenure as an oncology nurse educator, McLaughlin will tackle engagement with the ANCC’s magnet program, which recognizes outstanding nursing programs.

She started at Roswell Park in 2008, working on 7 East and later a patient care coordinator. McLaughlin is an oncology certified nurse and is currently working toward her doctorate in nursing.

• Heather Sabadasz was named

ECMC’s Terrace View awarded as one of the best nursing homes Terrace View Long-Term Care Facility has been recognized on Newsweek’s Best Nursing Homes 2022 list, according to Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) Corporation, which operates the facility.

This prestigious award is presented by Newsweek and Statista Inc., the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider.

The Best Nursing Homes 2022

to enroll, members can contact the gym directly by calling 716-348-2823 or emailing deoannou@yahoo.com.

“Engaging in an activity that has proven results is vital to the health and well-being of our members who this terrible illness captures,” said physician Michael Edbauer, president, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York. “We are proud to provide access to Parkinson’s Boxing and the health benefits associated with the sport.”

According to the National Parkinson’s Foundation, PD is a neurodegenerative disorder that causes the brain to produce less dopamine, making it harder for the body to coordinate movements and manage emotions.

Parkinson’s Boxing is run by Dean Eoannou, a former heavyweight boxing trainer who now helps PD patients fight through their diagnoses. Eoannou recently contributed to a Northwestern University study in 2021 that studied boxing therapy in PD, which reported that his boxers reported 87% fewer self-reported falls per month.

“Boxing therapy has been proven to make a significant difference in the quality of life of Parkinson’s patients,” said Eoannou. “I commend Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York for ensuring all members affected by PD have the option of coming to our gym to counteract the symptoms of their illness.”

ranking lists the best nursing homes in the 25 states with the highest population size according to The United States Census Bureau.

The list evaluates the best nursing homes according to Quatroche Jr. key performance data, peer recommendations and the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Based on the results of this study, we are very pleased that Terrace View was recognized as a one of Newsweek’s Best Nursing Homes 2022,” said Thomas J. Quatroche Jr., PhD, ECMC president and CEO, said. “Thanks to the dedication and commitment of our Terrace View caregivers, this award is a testament to their focus on superior customer service, high quality, safe and compassionate care for every resident.

With very medically complex patients averaging 68 years of age, this is a significant accomplishment and a great achievement especially during the ongoing pandemic. This recognition of Terrace View is yet another example of the ECMC Family’s dedication and passion for those we serve.”

Terrace View, for which current residents had design input, is 275,500 square feet on five levels. It contains three floors of 96 skilled nursing beds each; one floor containing 66 sub-acute rehab beds; a 20-bed ventilator unit and 16-bed behavioral intervention unit — for a total of 390 beds. The building is connected to the ECMC main hospital and to other facilities on ECMC’s Grider Street health campus via a corridor used to transport patients and residents in need of varying degrees of medical care. The facility is organized into small-scale, 12-bed households, each with a living room and fireplace, kitchen and dining room. Each floor features a generous outdoor terrace and an indoor lounge with a view to the terrace. The ground floor includes shared communal spaces with adjacent gardens and courtyards.

The features offer a stimulating community for residents, families and staff members.

The awards list was announced

Sept. 29 and can be viewed on Newsweek’s website: www.newsweek.com/americas-best-nursing-homes-2022.

Buffalo Prenatal-Perinatal Network Announces Rebrand Buffalo Prenatal-Perinatal Network (BPPN), announced in October that it has completed a major rebranding initiative with the support of The Martin Group.

BPPN’s new logo and brand reflects the expanded work of the agency to support women, fathers, and families.

BPPN was incorporated in 1987 because of a concern from New York state about the high infant mortality and low birth-weight infants across the state. BPPN began with two programs, Healthy Families New York and the Community Health Worker Program, which are still in existence today. These free, home-based programs support clients with accessing health insurance, a health provider, safe housing, support groups, access to food, baby supplies, and more.

The newest addition to the agency’s offerings is the Buffalo Fatherhood Initiative (BFI). BFI empowers healthy father and male involvement for children and families while providing tools and resources to a better future for our children and our community – one father at a time.

The updated logo now includes an image of a father to incorporate this program.

“Buffalo Prenatal-Perinatal Network provides free home-based services. We follow them from prenatal to the postpartum period in the home and our new brand now reflects the full services we offer,” said LuAnne Brown, CEO of BPPN. “Our staff are from the communities they serve. More than 17% are former program participants and they are keenly aware of all the resources that they can refer their clients to. We are excited to launch this new look and continue to support mothers, fathers, and families in our community.”

Visit bppn.org or call the BPPN office at 716084-6711 to learn more about BPPN and its programs.

November 2021 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • Page 19

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Page 20 • IN GOOD HEALTH – Buffalo & WNY’s Healthcare Newspaper • November 2021