A Special Publication of The Punxsutawney Spirit and Jefferson

Transcription

A Special Publication of The Punxsutawney Spirit and Jefferson County Neighbors
©2016 The Punxsutawney Spirit & Jefferson County Neighbors
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February 2016
Grandparents can make their homes less hazardous with a few steps
(BPT) – It is no secret that
grandparents play an important role in the lives of their
grandchildren. From giving
encouragement and life advice,
to helping out as a caretaker,
many turn to their grandparents
for support. In fact, 72 percent
of grandparents take care of their
grandchildren on a regular basis,
and 70 percent of them see their
grandchildren at least once a
week, according to the American
Grandparents Association.
With an abundance of grandparents overseeing their grandchildren on an ongoing basis,
it is particularly important they
are aware of the dangers that lie
within their household that may
be harmful to children. One
of the most common dangers
includes leaving out medication that is easy to access. In
fact, in three out of four emergency room visits for medicine
poisoning, the child got into
medicine belonging to a parent
or grandparent, according to
Safe Kids World Wide, a global
organization dedicated to preventing unintentional injuries
in children.
Rallie McAllister, MD, MPH,
a family physician in Lexington, Kentucky, and coauthor
of The Mommy MD Guide to
the Toddler Years, encourages
conversation, awareness and
education-surrounding children’s home safety. McAllister
says that each year in the U.S.,
thousands of children are seen in
emergency departments for accidental medication exposures,
which can be fatal. The typical
scenario involves a curious child
finding and ingesting unsecured
medication.
“In almost 40 percent of
cases, the medication belonged
to a grandparent, and the medication was left in a purse or
bag, a pillbox, or on a counter
or nightstand,” says McAllister.
“It only takes a moment for
children to find and swallow
medication that can put their
lives in danger. Parents and
grandparents can protect the
lives of the children they love
by ensuring that all prescription
and over-the-counter medicines
in their homes are stored safely
and securely.”
Families, and grandparents
specifically, should consider the
following steps to ensure their
medications are not available to
their grandchildren:
• Keep medication up high
and out of sight of children.
The orange bottle medications
usually come in is bright and
appealing to children. To them
it may look like a toy that makes
noise when shaken, or a fun
game with pieces that can easily
go straight into their mouth.
• Be absolutely sure the bottle is closed and secure with
the safety lock. With a regular
schedule of taking meds, it may
be tempting for seniors to leave
bottle tops loose for easy access
each time the medicine needs to
be taken.
• Lock up your medication in
a designated spot. Med-Master
offers a variety of durable,
flexible medication storage
solutions that feature locking options including a 3-digit
combination lock, or a wireless
battery operated RFID lock, to
maximize security. In addition
to being a locking storage unit,
once opened, options include a
pill-sorting tray for organization,
a magnifying glass with LED
light for easy label reading, as
well as a magnetic dry erase
kit for important reminders and
notes.
For more information, visit
www.mmfind.com/med-master.
Come in for
a sweet treat at
and
help celebrate our
10th Anniversary!
122 E. Mahoning St.
Punxsutawney • 938-3112
(NewsUSA) – Approximately
60 percent of adults aged 65
and older living alone or in care
facilities receive no regular visitors, according to recent studies.
Loneliness is a challenge for
older adults, especially during
the holidays. Some may have no
close relatives; others may have
family members and friends too
far away to visit regularly.
A daily weekday phone checkin service provides peace of mind
to family and friends of older
adults living alone. The Always
in Touch program, offered free
from Always Best Care Senior
Services, is designed mainly for
seniors or disabled adults who
are homebound, isolated, living
alone or in need of daily contact.
It can be temporary for someone
recuperating from an illness or
surgery, or it may be a more
permanent situation, according
to Always Best Care.
Here’s how it works: Representatives of Always in Touch
call each day and allow the phone
to ring up to 15 times. If no one
answers, they will call again 15
minutes later. If there’s still no
answer, the representative will
try to reach the individual’s designated emergency contacts.
“This unique program allows
us to give back to our communities in a very meaningful way,”
says Michael Newman, Founder
and Chief Executive Officer of
Always Best Care.
Friends and family members
who do live near elderly relatives
living alone also can help address
holiday loneliness by assisting
with opening and reading holiday
cards, arranging for visits from a
representative of a local church,
decorating the home, or organizing a party at a senior facility.
Loneliness often leads to
depression if ignored. Signs of
depression in seniors include
loss of appetite, loss of interest in activities or socializing,
and problems sleeping. Regular
phone calls when family members are distant, as well as when
they live nearby, are an important
way to combat depression by
making older adults feel loved
and cared for.
Always in Touch is not a
substitute for professional medical advice or services, and the
company reminds individuals
and caregivers to call a personal
physician or 911 immediately
if help is needed. To sign up for
the Always in Touch program,
contact a representative from
Always Best Care by calling
855-710-2255. For more information about Always Best Care
services, visit www.always-intouch.com.
2 – News for Seniors, The Punxsutawney Spirit & Jefferson County Neighbors, February 2016
Free senior safety check
offers peace of mind
Seniors can find a wealth of activities at Mahoning Hills Social Center
News for Seniors, The Punxsutawney Spirit & Jefferson County Neighbors, February 2016 – 3
Mahoning Hills Social Center, located beside Longview
Elementary School on Rt. 119,
just south of Punxsutawney, is
a place where area residents
can always find plenty of
fun activities to occupy their
time, learn new things and be
entertained, too!
The center, under the auspices of Aging Services, Inc.
of Indiana, is open Monday
through Thursday from 9 a.m.
until 3 p.m. and on Friday
from 9 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.
Mary Beth Wilson is the center manager.
Wilson emphasizes that the
center’s programs are very important to area seniors. They
offer social contact, companionship and the experience of
learning something. The center provides a support system
that gives seniors a chance
to become involved. Wilson
added that, “This place is
for the young at heart, it’s a
motivator and gives a feeling
of belonging and caring. Our
seniors leave the center every
day with a feeling of being
part of something.”
Free blood pressure screenings are done monthly by Indiana Regional Medical Center, and monthly speakers are
scheduled to talk on a variety
of topics of interest pertaining to health, life skills and
wellness. One speaker, Lisa
Gazda, the APPRISE Coordinator from Aging Services,
Inc., visits monthly to assist
the older adults with services
and information on health
insurance benefits, Medicare and Medicaid eligibility,
claims filing, benefits counseling, telephone assistance,
consumer protection and referrals to other resources and
advocacy. For information on
when she will visit next, call
(724) 286-3099.
The March calendar is filled
with many fun activities! It’s
a “two party month” with St.
Patrick’s Day and Easter. The
St. Patrick’s Day party is on
March 17, and the Easter party
is on March 23 with a special
Easter dinner served at noon.
Both parties require your reservation a day in advance by
calling the center.
Activities at the center are
sure to keep you busy, and you
will never be bored. Activities like “Crafts with Arlene,”
crocheting, fitness class with
instructor Carole Zicha and
trips are just a few of the
regular events. Card games,
jigsaw puzzles, cornhole and
bingo are also regulars.
Monday mornings feature a
hot, tasty breakfast from 9:30
to 11 a.m., and no reservation
is needed. A special Sadie
Hawkins Breakfast is being
held on February 29. Biscuits
and sausage gravy are on the
menu on March 7, French
toast on March 14, buckwheat
cakes and sausage on March
21 and on March 28, lemon
ricotta pancakes round out
the month.
Indiana County Sheriff
Robert Fyock and partner
will visit the center on Tuesday, March 22 and present an
informative program entitled
“Important Awareness and
Safety for Seniors.”
The
presentation starts at 11:15
a.m. and no reservation is
needed to attend and hear the
talk. Should you want to stay
afterward for lunch, you must
make a meal reservation a day
in advance.
The center offers free computer instruction for those persons over the age of 60. A free
computer club meets several
Wednesdays a month to help
those who would like to learn
to use a computer. Several
internet accessible computers
are available for use by any
senior on other days while the
center is open.
The center also has a Wii
Game System which proves
to be a lot of fun for those
attending. If you would like
to learn how to use it, stop by
and let one of the pros show
you how it’s done.
Once a month, Kay Young,
pianist, comes and leads a
hymn sing. No reservation
is needed to attend, however,
should you want to stay and
have lunch, you must call in
your reservation by noon the
day before. In February, the
hymn sing will be on Wednesday, Feb. 24, and again on
Thursday, March 24.
“Hunting for the Pot of
Gold” will be on Friday, March
4 at 11 a.m. and an “Easter
Spelling Bee” is planned for
Friday, March 18 at 11 a.m.
These are just a few of the
unique activities planned.
The lunch time meal is
served at 12 noon and pro- Square dancing is just one of the many activities offered at
vides a tasty, balanced meal Mahoning Hills through Aging Services, Inc. of Indiana.
for those 60 and over at a donation amount of $2. If you’d trips to shopping destinations to ride must be made 24
like to join us for lunch, you and doctors’ offices are avail- hours ahead of time by calling
must call one day in advance able Monday through Friday. 1-800-442-6928 (IndiGO) or
by noon to reserve your meal All trips must be scheduled (724) 286-3099 (Mahoning
for the next day. If you’d like in advance. The vehicle is Hills).
For more information on
to see a menu, a monthly wheelchair accessible.
Rates for the van are truly any of these activities, events
menu and list of activities
appears in the monthly news- economical. Indiana County or services, call the center at
letter, “The Spotlight,” which residents that attend the cen- (724) 286-3099 (Mahoning
is available at the center for ter, age 60 to 64, pay just Hills) or 1-800-442-8016 or
35¢ per issue or is available $1.00 each way; passengers (724) 349-4500 (Aging Serby subscription by contact- 65 and older ride for only vices, Inc.). Plan to attend the
ing either the center or Aging 30¢ each way. Arrangements center, where “Fun is Always
Services, Inc. at (724) 3494500. The Spotlight is also
MAHONING HILLS SOCIAL CENTER
available online on the brand
19298 Rt. 119 N., Puxsutawney, PA 15767
(724) 286-3099
new agency website at www.
(Beside Longview Elem. School)
agingservicesinc.com.
Hours of Operation: 9 am – 3 pm Mon. – Thurs.
Home delivered meals are
9 am – 2:30 pm Friday
available for Indiana CounFeaturing
Exercise
for the Mind & Body
ty senior residents. Anyone
needing meals should call AgEVENTS
ing Services, Inc. for details February 23 – Nutrition: “My Plate-Portion Distortion Game” with
at (724) 349-4500 or 1-800Center Manager Mary Beth Wilson (PLAY & WIN)
February 24 – Hymn Sing with Kay Young at 11 am
442-8016.
Curb to curb transportation February 26 – “LCR” Tournament at 11 am
is provided for senior residents February 29 - Sadie Hawkins Breakfast 9:30 - 11 am
(Ladies Pay – Invite Your Man!)
of North, South, East and West
March
1
&
March
3 – “Crafts with Arlene” at 11 am
Mahoning townships, plus
March 9 – Pie Day (Your choice of Pie)
Montgomery, Grant, Banks
15 - “Diabetes” with Mulberry Square at 11 am
and Canoe townships. Weekly March
March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day Party at Noon & Afternoon Bingo with
Wigs-n-More, Inc.
& Mastectomy Boutique
• Mastectomy • Lumpectomy
• Reconstruction • Birth Defect
• Camisoles & Prosthetics
• Wigs • Hats • Turbans
Hours: M-T-W 10-5 • Thursday 10-7
• Friday 10-4 • Saturday 10-3
724-532-1901
5924 Rt. 981, Latrobe, PA 15650
www.wigsnmore.net
Kim from Hillsdale at 1 pm
March 18 - Easter Spelling Bee at 11 am
March 22 – Indiana County Sheriff Bob Fyock & Partner at 11:15 am
“Important Awareness & Safety For Seniors”
March 23 - Easter Hat Parade at 11 am (Wear Yours) & Easter Party
& Easter Dinner at 12 Noon (Reservations Required)
March 24 – Hymn Sing with Kay Young at 11 am
March 25 – Good Friday Holiday/Center is Closed
March 30 – Computer Club at 11 am/Fitness with Carole at 1 pm
March 31 – Let’s Roll Game at 11 am/Afternoon Shopping
QUESTIONS? Call the center at (724) 286-3099
or Aging Services, Inc. (724) 349-4509 or 1-800-442-8016
A complete schedule of events is available upon request
and can be found at www.agingservicesinc.com
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How to lower blood sugar
levels without medication
Diabetes is a disorder in
which the body cannot properly store and use the energy
found in food. To be more
specific, diabetes compromises the body’s ability to
use glucose.
According to MediLexicon
International, type 1 diabetes
is an autoimmune disease
in which the body wrongly
identifies and then attacks
pancreatic cells, which causes
little to no insulin production.
Those with type 1 diabetes
usually must rely on insulin
shots to remain healthy.
Type 2 diabetes involves
insulin resistance or insufficient insulin production and
is the more common form of
diabetes. The pancreas may
still produce insulin, but not
enough to meet the demands
of the body. Insulin resistance occurs in some cases
because a consistent high
blood-glucose level causes
cells to be overexposed to
insulin and then makes cells
less responsive or immune to
its effects.
Diabetes treatment can in-
clude a combination of strategies, including the following
nondrug remedies.
• Diet: Diabetics can work
with their doctors and nutritionists to come up with a diet
that will be most effective.
Some advocate for eating
foods that are low in carbohydrates or ones with a low
glycemic index. Others say
that it is more important to
restrict caloric intake rather
than sugar intake.
Work with a professional to
create a healthy diet and follow it as closely as possible.
Eat meals at the same time
each day so you can better
regulate blood-sugar spikes
and lulls. Skipping meals may
cause you to overeat later in
the day, which can throw glucose levels off-kilter.
• Exercise: Many people
with type 2 diabetes are carrying around extra weight.
Exercise can help them shed
pounds and maintain healthier
weights.
But exercise does more than
just help you lose weight. The
Joslin Diabetes Center says
strength training exercises
are an important component
of workouts. By maintaining
lean muscle mass, you can
get rid of a larger amount of
glucose in the bloodstream,
thus helping manage diabetes
in the process. Get at least
20 to 30 minutes of moderate activity several days per
week.
• Supplementation: Some
people find that certain natural ingredients can help regulate blood-sugar levels. For
example, pure, organic apple
cider vinegar taken over time
can help people with diabetes
manage their blood-sugar
levels more effectively.
A small amount of cinnamon per day may be able to
reduce fasting glucose levels
by anywhere from 18 to 29
percent, according to a study
in the Journal of Agricultural
and Food Chemistry.
Always speak with a doctor before trying any home
remedies to treat diabetes or
exploring any alternatives
to traditional diabetes treatments.
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1380 Route 286 East, Building 2
Office #223, Indiana, Pa
(StatePoint) – If you’re 65
or older, chances are you know
how important Medicare is to
your health, wellness and budget. While the Medicare annual
election period from October 15
through December 7 is generally the only time you can make
changes to coverage, the offseason is a good time to make
the most of your current benefits
and better understand what you
might need in the future.
No matter what our age,
the old adage “good health is
priceless” remains true. As
we grow older, staying well
both physically and financially
requires a Medicare plan that
supports your individual goals.
According to a survey by Cigna,
a leading health service company and Medicare insurance
provider, health, well-being and
financial security are strongly
linked together in the minds
of Americans. That’s why it’s
crucial Medicare consumers
consider their health and budget
needs as they evaluate health
care options before choosing a
Medicare plan.
“Choosing a plan isn’t as
simple as just keeping the one
you had last year or looking
only at the monthly premium
costs. The goal should be to
A Smart Way to
Protect Your Family...
choose a plan that best meets
your individual needs,” says
Herb Fritch, president of CignaHealthSpring, Cigna’s seniors
business unit. “Comparing affordability alongside the plan’s
benefits and services is an
important balance. Now is the
right time to make the most of
your current plan and take notes
to inform your benefit decisions
next year.”
To help you understand your
current plan and, ultimately,
choose your next one so you can
get the most from it, consider
these five tips:
1. Make a list of your priorities and use it to compare plans.
Focusing on prevention? Keeping out-of-pocket costs low?
Staying active? Take time to
evaluate plan options according
to the health and financial goals
you value most.
2. Be sure your plan offers
comprehensive preventive care
benefits and use them. Many
health plans offer preventive
health benefits at little or no
cost. The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention estimates that 100,000 lives could
be saved each year if everyone
received the recommended preventive care.
3. Know your network. Many
Punxsutawney
Area
Community
Center
plans offer choices with a network of doctors. Choosing primary care doctors and specialists in network can provide
better communication and care
coordination, and keep your
out-of-pocket costs down.
4. Get rewarded for staying
active. Keeping fit is essential
to healthy aging. Original Medicare doesn’t cover gym memberships or fitness programs,
but some Medicare Advantage
plans offer such benefits as part
of their coverage. Many are free
and some reward you for staying active.
5. Use free resources. CMS’
Plan Finder helps you compare
costs, covered medications and
other items. Many insurance
plans offer free seminars with
no obligation to sign up. You
can also check health plans’
websites or call their customer
service number for more information. Local and state
agencies on aging also connect
older adults and caregivers with
community resources. Your
plan may offer newsletters with
helpful information about your
benefits.
With a little research, you can
be sure your Medicare health
plan works for you all through
the year.
Enroll today for
Every Mon., Wed., & Fri.
10:00 am- 11:00 am
Ages 65 & Older
or try our
Fifty & Fit Program
Every Mon., Wed., & Fri.
1-800-414-7222 • 938-4119
EMERGENCY: 911
10:00 am- 11:00 am
Ages 50 & Older
For more information call 938-1008
220 N. Jefferson St. • Punxsutawney
411 1/2 West Mahoning Street
Punxsutawney • (814) 938-6020
www.mulberry-square.com
Providing
quality short stay
rehabilitation
for your
community.
Call for more
information or
to schedule
a tour.
Mulberry Square offers Physical,
Occupational and Speech Therapies!
Embracing Excellence
in Healthcare
Punxsutawney
Community Health
Center
Drs. Elder & Kernich
200 Prushnok Drive
Punxsutawney, PA 15767
814-938-3310
www.primary-health.net
Dr. Nathan C.
StebbiNS
For the latest technology in
eyecare and the most advanced
diagnostic equipment
• Contacts Specialist • Pediatrics
• Developmental Vision • Diabetic Eye Care
• Infant Eye Care • Special Needs Patients
• Ocular Disease • Emergencies
Open Daily; Wednesday Evenings and
Saturday By Appointment
(814) 938-5920
200 S. Findley Street, Punxsy
R emember
Your Loved One
and Remember the Day
When someone you
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Brian P. McCabe, Funeral Director
Lisa J. Waldron, Funeral Director
114 Maple Ave.,
Punxsutawney
(814) 938-0400
Get the most from your Medicare health plan
Dr. Wendy Strouse Watt
opened her optometric practice
in DuBois in August of 1990.
One of her specialties is Low
Vision. The limited improvements that she could make
prescribing magnifiers and
vision aids for those suffering
from Macular Degeneration
frustrated her and limited her
goal of helping every patient
as much as she could.
In 1998, a Macular Degeneration patient heard on Paul
Harvey’s radio show that there
was a treatment for Macular
Degeneration. Watt called the
radio station and was given
the doctor’s contact information. After contacting the
doctor, she visited him and
was trained in the procedure
of micro current stimulation
used for treatment of Macular Degeneration. Watt was a
Principal Investigator (PI) for
the first FDA study for the
treatment in 2003 and 2004,
and local patients took part in
her office. The treatment was
proven safe and effective.
Over the years, Watt fine
tuned the protocol and developed technology to make the
treatment more effective. She
submitted an investigatorsponsored clinical trial to an
Institutional Review Board
(IRB) for approval to conduct
the clinical study in Deccember of 2015. The IRB reviews
clinical investigations for re-
search regulated by the FDA.
The FDA study was approved in January of this
year and is actively recruiting
patients with Dry Macular
Degeneration for participation with the help of the Study
Coordinator, Colleen Titman.
The study is in the process of
being listed on http://www.
clinicaltrials.org. The primary
objective is to treat patients
with Dry Macular Degeneration for which there is no treatment and to bring hope to 90%
of those with the disease.
Dr. Watt’s office is located
at 17 Beaver Dr. where she
can be reached at (814) 3712020.
Survey offers insight for families
considering in-home care
(NewsUSA) – Many of us
would do it without thinking
twice. When a family member
or friend is in need of at-home
care, helping out is the least
we can do.
Caregiving, though, is no
small thing. The ever-important process of arranging
in-home care can prove a
tiresome transition that is both
physically and emotionally
draining for those involved.
“Hardly a family in America
today is immune to the challenges of navigating in-home
care for their loved ones,”
explains Michael Newman,
founder and chief Executive
Office of Always Best Care,
one of the nation’s leading
providers of non-medical
in-home care and placement
services.
To aid families and caregivers in navigating this
sometimes challenging stage,
Newman and his team at
MAHONING PHYSICAL
THERAPY
TWOLICK VALLEY P.T.
Mary A. Fletcher,
PT, DPT, MSPT, OCS, ATC
• Outpatient P.T.
• Incontinence Training
• Lymphedema
Management
• Medicare Certified
• Aquatic Therapy
• Office Hours By
Appointment
Mahoning Physical Therapy
Medical Center • Marion Center • PA
724-397-9100
Twolick Valley P.T. 405 Franklin Street
Clymer, PA • 724-254-1010
Always Best Care presented
a survey to more than 5,000
professional caregivers within
the organization. The survey touched on some of the
keystones of caregiving in
hopes of extracting valuable
information from caregiving
professionals to share with
families.
Survey results revealed that
participating caregivers, who
cumulatively provide millions
of hours of care to seniors
every year, recommend first
and foremost that caregivers,
no matter their experience or
the circumstances, set aside
personal time.
“The physical and emotional toll can be devastating to
the caregiver’s health if they
don’t manage a life balance
in the process,” summarizes
Dana Rambow, Vice Present
of Home Health for Always
Best Care.
Rambow recommends in-
dividuals who are caring for
another “take proactive steps
along the way to get respite
hours.” She suggests ideas
such as exercise, doing something social or simply spending time alone to rest and
relax. “You need to replenish
what you give or the well runs
dry,” she said.
Finally, the survey encourages families to prepare themselves and their loved ones as
best as possible for this new
stage in life. Discuss with
your family the transition
ahead and prepare loved ones
for the arrival of an outside
caregiver by talking through
their role and responsibilities.
Last, create and organize a
care plan and paperwork to
share with the caregiver.
To find the Always Best
Care office nearest you, call
toll-free 1-855-470-CARE
(2273), or visit www.AlwaysBestCare.com.
R.D. Brown
Memorials
314 N. Findley St.
814-938-2100
Day or Evening
We will help you with all your cemetery needs.
If you have been diagnosed with Dry Macular
Degeneration, have vision no better than 20/40
and no worse than 20/200, and you are 50 years of
age or older, you may be eligible to participate in a
research trial for the treatment of Dry MD.
Presently, there is NO treatment option for those
with Dry MD.
Ongoing research is designed to test if the Nova
Oculus device, using BioCurrent Technology (very
low micro-current electrical stimulation) allows
the retinal and macular cells to work more
efficiently, slowing the progression of Macular
Degeneration and increasing vision for people
with Dry MD.
If you have been diagnosed with Dry Macular
Degeneration and would like to see if you qualify
to participate in this clinical research, you can
contact:
Study Coordinator
Colleen Titman
509-244-6502
[email protected]
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Dr. Wendy Watt assists with clinical trial
for Macular Degeneration treatment
R.N. certified as wound care
specialist with In Home Solutions
B rookville – I n
Home Solutions home care,
home health and hospice
agency of Brookville now
has a wound care certified
nurse on staff.
Mary Thomas, R.N., of
Leeper, became Wound
Care Certified through the
National Alliance of Wound
Care and Ostomy. The WCC
certification is the number
one wound care credential
in the United States.
To receive the certification, Thomas completed
a comprehensive 22.75
hour Skin and Wound Management Course offered
through the Wound Care
Education Institute and
then successfully passed an
extensive final exam.
The course offered an
evidence-based approach to
wound management using
the most current standards
of practice. It covered all
aspects of wound care including factors which af-
Mary Thomas, R.N.
fect wound healing, wound
assessment and prevention,
types of treatments, managing ulcers, patient and family education and coordination of services.
With this certification,
Thomas is equipped to provide advanced wound care
to In Home Solutions’ patients to promote successful
and faster wound healing.
She will also oversee the
identification, assessment
and management of skin
and tissue integrity issues
to prevent wounds.
Thomas has worked at
In Home Solutions for two
years and been a registered
nurse for 12 years.
“Mary showed dedication
and determination to become wound care certified,”
said In Home Solutions
Director of Professional
Services Kelly Snell, R.N.
“This achievement will enhance the care we provide
for all of our patients.”
In Home Solutions is
part of the WRC Senior
Services family, which has
been providing care and
services in the area for over
125 years.
For more information
about In Home Solutions
or their wound care, please
call (814) 849-5913 or visit
www.wrc.org.
Nicholas
LORENZO
Attorney at Law
Over 40 Years Experience
• Accidents
• Wills & Estates
• Real Estate
410 W. Mahoning St., Punxsy
938-6390
SMP Home Medical
Don’t let aging take
shares recipe for success your independence
home accessibility items like stair lifts,
ramps, porch lifts, bed lifts, vehicle lifts,
walkers, wheelchairs, powered mobility, beds, canes, crutches, wound care,
ostomy supplies, compression hosiery,
diabetic shoes and testing supplies. We
have four full-time respiratory therapists
on staff and certified fitters in orthotics, compression, mastectomy bras and
forms and other products. SMP accepts
most insurances.
“We consider ourselves a leader in
our markets, and we have constantly expanded our broad range of products and
services with greater brand choice. Our
loyal customer base has great expectations for quality of customer service, and
a 24/7 on-call emergency service is our
trademark and testament to this level of
service,” according to Straub.
We also pride ourselves in maintaining our role as a great “corporate citizen”
through staff and company involvement
within the communities we serve. Visit
our vast DuBois Mall home medical
showroom or call (814) 371-2780) or
stop in our convenient Clearfield store
at 302 S. Second St. where we can be
reached at (814) 768-3500. As always,
call us toll free at 1-800-876-3442 or
visit us on the web at www.smprx.com.
SMP Home Medical…“We’re Keeping
You Healthy at Home.”
(NewsUSA) – When most people
are envisioning their retirement, they
picture themselves doing things they
love, like dancing, playing tennis, or
running around the playground with
their grandchildren. Unfortunately, retirement isn’t always as great as hoped.
These days, too many seniors find
themselves losing their independence
due to the natural aging process.
According to Marketing Charts, 26
percent of seniors surveyed said that
losing their independence was their
biggest fear. That’s higher than the 13
percent of seniors who feared moving
into a nursing home or 3 percent fearing death. Instead of seniors fearing
a loss of independence, let’s look at
some ways they can regain it and start
making all of their retirement dreams
come true.
Invest in a Power Wheelchair
Power wheelchairs provide seniors
with independence and comfort beyond a traditional manual wheelchair.
Seniors can stay independent thanks
to joystick movement, letting them
choose speed and direction they are
comfortable with. Power wheelchairs
also allow seniors to recline and tilt,
helping them raise their legs if they
need to.
Attach Bathroom Aids
Installing grab bars or safety handles
on tubs and walls, along with bath and
shower chairs, can help seniors regain
their independence by giving them the
confidence they need to safely bath
themselves, even if they have a home
health aide helping them.
Install a Stairlift
Seniors looking to recapture their
independence, especially when they
can’t make it up the stairs anymore, can
install an Acorn Stairlift. Seniors with
arthritis don’t have to worry, because
it’s the only approved starlift, with the
Ease-of-Use commendation by the
Arthritis Foundation.
Available for straight or curved
stairs, Acorn Stairlifts provides seniors
with a safe and secure movement from
sitting down to stepping off through
its swivel seat and safety belt. With
this stairlift, seniors also don’t have to
worry about malfunctions with its builtin safety sensors that prevent it from
running into something it shouldn’t. It
also features an easy-to-read numerical
display notifying seniors if it needs
servicing – preventing it from malfunctioning with someone on it.
Learn more about how seniors can
regain their independence by visiting
www.acornstairlifts.com.
We represent all major brands and are the #1 source for all of your home health care equipment
and supplies needs. Professional, knowledgeable, friendly service. We offer FREE home delivery,
setup and complete instruction on proper use. Proud to announce the opening of our new store
location in Clearfield. Serving the area for more than 100 years. Just ask your doctor about us!
• HOME ACCESSIBILITY • RESPIRATORY (CPAP/DiPAP)• MASTECTOMY • OSTOMY
• HOME & PORTABLE OXYGEN & SUPPLIES • DIABETIC SUPPLIES • WHEELCHAIRS
• STAIRLIFTS • WALKERS • MUCH MORE
Call or visit us today...
N EW Clearfield - 302 S. 2nd St. ph 768-3500
DuBois Mall ph 371-2780 or 800-876-3442
St. Marys ph 834-2225
Kane ph 837-8500
Keeping You Healthy at Home!
SMP Home Medical is a division
of St. Marys Pharmacy, Inc., a leading regional retail and long term care
pharmacy in St. Marys. The pharmacy
has its roots on the corner of Railroad
and South St. Marys streets going back
to 1899 and is a multi-generational
family-owned business with many years
of pride in serving its multi-generational
customer base. In July of 2015, SMP
Home Medical celebrated the opening
of its newest home medical location at
302 South Second St. in Clearfield and
marks the fourth retail location of our
fast growing home medical equipment
and supply business.
According to Patrick Straub, COO of
St. Marys Pharmacy, “The health care
business is evolving very quickly. Coverages and benefits are always subject to
change. It’s reacting to change, patient
needs, and strong customer focus that has
always been a key to our success. The
home medical business has seen great
new technology evolve and transition
from hospital to the home setting. This
benefits the patient by allowing them
to recover in a comfortable setting and
keeps overall health care costs down.”
SMP Home Medical offers most
everything medical for the home. Products include home and portable oxygen,
CPAP, BiPAP and all respiratory items,
Does your retirement plan
consider long-term care?
(StatePoint) – When many people consider
their retirement, they dream about the vacations
they’ll take and the time they will have to relax.
And while many savvy consumers are planning
for their retirement financially, experts say that
not enough people consider the potential expense of long-term care.
In fact, only one in five future retirees has
discussed long-term care expenses with a financial advisor, based on research conducted
by Lincoln Financial Group (the marketing
name for Lincoln National Corporation and its
affiliates) and Hanover Research in October
2014. According to the “Managing Long-Term
Care Risks” research, advisors believe potential
long-term care expenses are a significant risk to
clients’ wealth and retirement goals.
Indeed, according to the Long Term Care
Group “2014 Long-Term Cost of Care Survey,” a
private room in a skilled nursing home averages
$97,611 per year, with costs rising to $147,982
in certain areas of the country. It has been estimated that 70 percent of people age 65 and older
will need some form of long-term care.
“It is more critical than ever that Americans
understand the need to properly prepare for possible long-term care events in the future, especially as the population ages. Planning ahead for
long-term care expenses not only helps protect a
retiree’s finances, but it can also help protect the
entire family from having to make hard choices
during an emotional and difficult time,” says
Andrew Bucklee, Head of Insurance Solutions
Distribution at the Lincoln Financial Group.
It’s important to get a better understanding of
the long-term care landscape, the cost of care,
and the solutions available to address long-term
care expenses. While it can be challenging and
uncomfortable to have these conversations,
Bucklee encourages everyone to take the following steps.
• Plan ahead with an advisor to help protect
your family and your wealth from potential
long-term care expenses.
• Consider all options, including hybrid solutions to help address long-term care expenses
with greater financial flexibility.
• Stretch your post-retirement dollar by downsizing your residence, if possible.
• Inflation can be a major source of trouble for
retirees because it drives down the real value of
savings and reduces purchasing power – an effect
that’s exacerbated by higher rates of inflation in
such categories as health care, a high-spend area
for retirees. Seek out retirement products that
help mitigate the effects of inflation.
Free retirement saving tips and tools can be
found at beachieflifeofficer.com.
Don’t let a long retirement catch you off
guard. Through a combination of careful planning, a willingness to receive financial guidance,
and some creative approaches to saving, you can
help ensure a comfortable retirement.
“For Ages
55 & Older”
Call now
for your tour
and to
experience the
luxury you
deserve!
407 East Mahoning St.
Punxsutawney
(814) 938-5474
Locally owned and operated gift shop, seasonal items,
full line of Diabetic Care, Private Consultation Room
• Home Health • Large Selection of Vitamins
and Natural Remedies
Mon.-Fri. 9 am - 7 pm • Sat. 9 am - 3 pm • Closed Sun.
Aging Waiver Program’s in-home
services let couple enjoy their house
Joseph and Clara Agnello
are a lovely couple who reside in Jefferson County and
are able to enjoy the comforts
of their home as they receive
in-home services through the
Aging Waiver Program.
Joseph was born and raised
in Jefferson County. He was
employed by B&O Railroad
and also spent his time working in car shops. Clara was
born and raised in Clearfield
County and was employed
through Sylvania. The two
met in 1953 on a blind date
and later wed on July 25,
1953.
Joseph and Clara have five
children who live in the area.
Along with their children
they have grandchildren,
great grandchildren and
great-great grandchildren.
The couple enjoys spending
time with each other and
with their family. Some of
their hobbies include polka
dancing, gardening and going on vacation.
After retiring in 1982
from B&O Railroad, Joseph
started to experience health
issues and approximately
10 years ago Clara began
experiencing signs of dementia. The Aging Waiver
Program has helped Joseph
and Clara remain together
in their home where they
r e c e iv e d a i l y a s s i s t a n c e
with bathing, dressing, meal
preparation, housekeeping,
shopping, laundry, finance
management, medication
monitoring and supervision.
Both have also received lift
chairs through the Aging
Waiver Program to assist
with transfers.
Joseph said that receiv-
ing the Waiver program has
been wonderful, and he has
only good things to say about
the services he and his wife
receive. When asked about
the perks of being on the Aging Waiver Program, Joseph
stated, “The caregivers are so
wonderful and have become
like family to us. They take
us outside to go for walks,
and what they do for us, we
could never do for ourselves;
the caregivers just go above
and beyond!”
When asked if was difficult to accept the assistance
from the Aging Waiver Program, Joseph said, “It was
difficult to accept the fact we
needed assistance at first, but
the caregivers and the Jefferson County Area Agency
on Aging service coordinators were very pleasant and
made us feel comfortable,
which helped ease the transition. We would recommend
the Aging Waiver Program
to anyone in need of ser-
vices.”
The Aging Waiver Program is designed to provide
services to those individuals
requiring nursing facility
level of care so that they
c a n r e m a i n i n t h e i r ow n
homes. Aging Waiver provides caregivers in the home
to assist with personal care
tasks, meal preparation, light
housework, laundry, shopping, medication monitoring
and more. The program is
designed to ensure the needs
of the consumer are being
met at home.
Other services that can
be provided through the Aging Waiver program are the
Lifeline unit, home delivered
meals and supplies that are
not covered under Medicare
or Medicaid. For more information regarding the Aging
Waiver Program or any of the
other services offered, please
contact the Jefferson County
Area Agency on Aging at
1-800-852-8036.
Nickolas A. Kernich, RPH
Gary L. Bowers, RPH
203 N. Hampton Avenue
P: 814.938.9150
F: 814.938.9151
Email refill requests & questions: [email protected]
Large Selection of Gifts Including
Yankee, Swan Creek, and Thompson
Candles, Stained Glass and Groundhog
Walk-Inse Specialty Items.
Welcom
www.punxsyhometown.com
Surgery
“Taking time to hear your concerns and
answer your questions is very important.”
Dr. Alzuhaili
(Dr. “Z”)
Dr. Alzuhaili and his office
staff are known for the
warm, personal style they
bring to individualized,
precise and effective
care and surgery.
• Accepting all major
Insurances
• Accepting new patients
• Guaranteed appointment
withing 48 hours
• Now seeing patients
at local personal
care homes
Call for an appointment:
938-7045
Medical Arts Building
83 Hillcrest Drive
Suite 100
Punxsutawney
Area Hospital
www.pah.org
Clara and Joseph Agnello
Ways to lend a helping hand to seniors
Men and women looking to
give back to their communities can do so in various ways.
Some might coach youth sports
teams, while others might organize food and clothing drives
for the less fortunate.
Giving back to seniors in
your town or city is another way
to strengthen your community.
Many seniors maintain their
independence long past retirement age, but some may need a
helping hand as they get older.
The following are a handful
of ways you can improve the
quality of life of seniors in your
community.
• Deliver meals. Seniors who
are confined to their homes typically need to have their meals
delivered to them. Men and
women looking to help seniors
can volunteer to work with their
local Meals on Wheels program. Meals on Wheels boasts
a national network of more
than 5,000 independently run
programs, and these programs
rely on more than two million
volunteers to deliver nutritious
meals to seniors with limited
mobility. The need for volunteers to help seniors figures to
grow in the coming decades,
as Meals on Wheels America
notes that the percentage of
the population that qualifies
as seniors will grow from 18
percent in 2010 to 26 percent
by 2050.
• Help around the house.
The work required to maintain a
home is considerable no matter
a person’s age, but that task is
even more difficult for seniors.
Even the healthiest seniors
may not have the mobility or
physical strength required to
keep up with household chores.
Offering to help a senior maintain his or her home is a great
way to improve their quality of
life. Visit an elderly relative or
neighbor and offer to mow their
lawn, take out their garbage or
perform another task they might
find challenging. Performing a
few chores around a senior’s
house won’t take long, but such
gestures can have a big impact
on seniors’ lives.
• Invite seniors over for
dinner. Many seniors suffer
from feelings of isolation,
which can contribute to depression. Families are now more
geographically diverse, and a
senior’s children and grandchildren may not live nearby.
In such cases, it’s easy for
seniors to grow lonely and feel
isolated from their communities. Inviting seniors over for a
weekly dinner or to backyard
social gatherings can help them
maintain a connection to their
communities and reduce their
feelings of isolation. Extending
such invitations also provides a
great way for parents to instill in
their children a respect for and
appreciation of the elderly.
• Arrange transportation
for seniors who no longer
drive. Many seniors stop driving when they realize their
skills behind the wheel have
diminished. But even though
they may relinquish their drivers’ licenses, seniors still need
to keep their doctor’s appointments and get out of the house.
Speak with your neighbors who
also want to help seniors to arrange transportation for those
who can no longer get themselves around town. Explain to
seniors’ physicians when you
or your neighbors are most
available to get seniors to their
appointments. In addition, offer
to drive seniors to the grocery
store when making your own
shopping trips.
Many seniors made valuable
contributions to the communities they call home. And those
communities can give back by
helping seniors overcome the
demands of aging.
Residents of Indiana County,
Did you know?
IndiGO offers public Fixed route and
Shared ride services throughout Indiana
County. Senior Citizens 65 and older ride all
Public Fixed Route Buses FREE every day all
the time. Sign up for a Free Transit Card
Today! IndiGO offers Senior Citizens discounted transportation through the Shared
Ride Program courtesy of the Pennsylvania Lottery program and additional discounts
for clients of aging services. IndiGO also operates Fixed Route ADA Para-Transit
services for those who qualify as well as other Reduced Fare programs. Call us today to
find out how IndiGO can help you with all of your transportation needs.
724-465-2140,
1-800-442-6928 or
on the web,
www.indigobus.com
Four tips to help you live better in retirement
(StatePoint) – The conceptions and realities of retirement
have changed a great deal over
the past several decades, giving
many seniors misgivings about
the future. But your golden
years can be happy, healthy and
productive, say experts.
“For many individuals, confusion, fear and an overwhelming
sense of powerlessness accompany the prospect of growing
old in America. The good news
is that we have power to address
these concerns,” says Scott Page,
author of the new book “It’s
Never Too Late: Getting Older,
Wiser, and Worry-Free in our
Golden Years.”
Are you retired or approaching the end of your working
life? Are you concerned about
an older parent or loved one?
Here, Page offers expert tips on
living better:
Living Ideas
Reducing housing expenses
can have an extra upside. For
example, downsizing your empty
nest offers you the benefit of less
house to maintain. Moving to a
region of the country cheaper
than your current area may take
you somewhere sunnier, warmer
and better suited for aging.
Another popular way to live
more frugally is to consider
taking on a roommate. “Co-living arrangements like the ‘The
Golden Girls’ are becoming more
popular with single or widowed
seniors. It helps save money and
can be beneficial for socialization
and support,” says Page.
Make Money
You can rake in extra income
that doesn’t feel like work. Review your talents and hobbies.
Are you an excellent baker, a
talented woodworker or musician?
“Seniors often have a lot of
time on their hands, and they
may be able to transform hobbies
or interests into a way to make
a little money,” says Page, who
(NewsUSA) – The dusty stereotype of grandparents spending
their 70s and 80s in a nursing
home is fading fast, replaced by
stories of skydiving seniors and
engaged elders contributing to
their communities.
Today’s seniors are considerably healthier and more active than
their grandparents, and they are
remaining in their own homes far
longer than generations past.
Of course, healthy eating and
daily activity are keys to independent living into advanced age, but
researchers also point to less obvious, equally important indicators.
These include maintaining a sense
of purpose, using the health care
system effectively, adapting the
home environment and, perhaps
most importantly, staying socially
active with family, friends, and the
community.
“In our experience, the combination of healthy lifestyle choices
and social engagement is critical
to people extending their independent living years,” says Dr. Philip
Painter, chief medical officer for
Humana at Home, Humana’s
chronic disease management
program that helps nearly 1 million people deal with diabetes,
congestive heart failure and other
conditions.
Aging at home means thinking
beyond medications and medical
procedures, utilizing the health
care system effectively and taking
advantage of the tools it offers,
Painter adds.
As value becomes more important in our health care system,
primary care physicians are acting
as quarterbacks of their patients’
health, overseeing and coordinating all aspects of care, including
resources for social engagement
and unexpected medication side
effects.
Some medications, for example, affect appetite and nutrient
absorption. Loneliness and grief
can also play a role in malnourishment, leading to additional health
issues, which is why it’s important
to keep in touch with your doctor
and let him or her act as an overall
health counselor.
The health plans people choose
also help with successful aging at
home. Some plans, for example,
include exercise and/or wellness
programs.
It’s also a good idea to consult
experts, often found through local senior service agencies, on
making homes safer by reducing
tripping hazards such as rugs and
cords; installing grab bars and
hand rails where needed; and
improving lighting.
Besides the advanced emergency alert systems that some
health companies employ, others like Humana are testing new
technologies to help people more
safely transition from hospital to
home after a surgery and prevent
unnecessary readmissions. By
being open-minded to the vast
array of telehealth tools, you can
stay connected and in your home
longer.
Visit Humana.com/learningcenter for additional information
and health tips.
points out that such activities
can also be an excellent way to
stay engaged and active, keeping
minds and bodies vibrant.
Saving Tips
Don’t be shy about using the
age card. After all, you have
worked hard for it. Senior discounts are available at restaurants,
stores, on travel, adult education
classes and gym memberships,
and sites like Restaurant.com or
Groupon have special bargain
days for seniors.
You can also save by eliminating unnecessary expenses.
For example – do you still need
that landline telephone? Can you
bundle certain services to help
reduce costs?
Do an inventory of your possessions to determine which
objects to keep and which to
discard or sell. Free worksheets,
available at scottpage.com/freetools, can help you make smart
decisions.
Connect with Friends
Consider planning meals with
a support network.
“Maybe Sally takes Monday
nights, Judy takes Wednesday
nights and Sarah takes Friday
nights,” says Page. “Cooking for
more than one person encourages
community, and can be costeffective if everyone is sharing
in the responsibility.”
Maintain an active social
media presence online to stay
connected to friends and family.
Those with the same interests
as you are just a mouse click
away.
More information about the
book can be found at www.
scottpage.com.
With smart strategies you can
free yourself from worry about
aging, while getting wiser over
time.
“I’ve changed my mind.
Now what?”
How seniors can stay
safe and happy at home
We honor pre-arrangements made at any other funeral homes.
One of the many ways we can serve you better is to accommodate
special situations... which includes transferring pre-arrangements.
At no additional
cost to you!
“Serving the community we live in”
33 Hillcrest Drive, Punxsutawney, PA
(814) 938-5400
Alex J. Park
Funeral Director, Supervisor
William C. Deeley
Funeral Director
Funeral Home, Inc.
Douglas A. Deeley
Funeral Director
“Don’t worry. We’re flexible.”
Caring for elderly relatives:
Making it easier on your family
(StatePoint) – It can be difficult for families when an elderly loved one starts to weaken
physically and mentally. While
nursing homes are an option,
most are extremely expensive,
and most seniors would prefer
to remain in familiar surroundings. Fortunately, there are now
more choices available that can
provide seniors the freedom to
continue living safely in their
own home.
The average cost of an assisted living facility is $43,200
annually, and the cost of a nursing home with private room
can cost over $90,000 a year,
according to the 2015 Genworth
Cost of Care Survey. Such a
huge, ongoing expense can have
an enormous impact on the average family, whether they have
prepared financially or not.
“Even for families where
such costs are not prohibitive,
parents are often reluctant to
leave homes filled with years
of memories, and be placed into
an unfamiliar environment, living with strangers,” says health
care systems expert Jack Zhang,
President and CEO of the fastgrowing health technology
company, Vitall Inc.
Caring for older parents and
relatives doesn’t necessarily
need to involve relocation or
spending tens of thousands of
dollars annually. Zhang says
there are a few important things
to consider.
Communication Updates
New technologies make
looking after and staying connected to the seniors in your
life easier and more affordable.
For example, HeyMomDad, the
world’s first two-way communication and wellness monitoring
system, allows loved ones to
see and hear in real-time that
elderly relatives are safe – simply by opening an app on their
smartphones.
Seniors need only press one
button to talk to loved ones, notify them that help is needed, or
to just say hello. Likewise, with
one tap, users can instantly see,
hear and talk back to parents
through the high-quality HD
video and two-way audio component. The camera can be controlled through the smartphone
and directed to any location in
the room, permitting a 270-degree view. It also includes night
vision optics for clear viewing
in dark rooms.
Beyond Monitoring
“Most seniors are reluctant
to call 911 in an emergency
because they’re embarrassed
or don’t want to cause a fuss or
incur an expense – which can be
as high as $1,200, even for false
alarms where paramedics were
dispatched,” says Zhang.
HeyMomDad gives seniors
two different alert options. They
can choose to alert only family and friends, or alert family,
friends and 911. In addition,
the HeyMomDad Bed Monitor
tracks heart rate, breathing rate
and movement at night.
Maintaining Independence
For many seniors, one of the
most difficult parts of aging is
the loss of independence.
When possible, families
should consider making homes
senior friendly, adding safety
bars in the shower and bath,
eliminating tripping hazards,
improving lighting in hallways
and outdoor walkways, and
making kitchens more accessible with countertops and cabinets that can rise or lower with
the push of a button.
And new two-way communication and monitoring systems
can add further peace of mind.
More information can be found
at www.HeyMomDad.com or
1-800-352-0887.
Before making big decisions
about your parents and aging
relatives’ housing and care, take
new innovations into consideration. These alternatives can
save your family thousands of
dollars, give you peace of mind
and improve your family’s quality of life.
Online resource helps patients
through their rehab journey
(NewsUSA) – Not many
things in life are certain, but
odds are you will unfortunately
face at least one health event
that requires hospitalization
and, following that, rehabilitation.
While hospitals provide an
array of helpful rehab services,
most people prefer to get well
in the comfort of their own
homes. Although beneficial in
the recovery process, home care
can also have its own distinct
obstacles. Couple that with a
patient’s fears and struggles of
what’s to come in the weeks and
months ahead, and it can create
a perfect storm for both patients
and caregivers.
To help, the Association of
Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN),
a nearly 6,000-member worldwide organization, has created
ReSTART Recovery, an online
resource that provides information for those who are (or will
be) in rehab for everything from
strokes to joint replacements to
head injuries, and for those who
will be caring for them.
When you consider that
recent studies cite as many as
75 million Americans suffer
from some type of disability, a
website such as ReSTART Recovery can make a huge impact
on understanding what patients
will inevitably experience while
on their road to wellness.
The goal, according to ARN,
is to get patients who have a disability to a point that they are,
once again, as self-sufficient
as possible and able to live a
full life.
“My clients have been
through acute rehab and are
back in their communities,”
Susan Wirt, a former president
of ARN, told The American
Nurse in an interview. “I figure
out how they can be well and
healthy despite their chronic
conditions,” she said.
Indeed, rehabilitation nurses
effectively manage complex
health care issues; collaborate
with other professionals and
disciplines such as occupational
or speech therapists; provide
patients and caregivers with
needed education; set patients’
goals that maximize independence; and establish plans of
care that maintain optimal wellness, according to the ARN.
“Advocacy is also a huge role
for us,” Michelle Camica, MSN,
CRRN, and former president of
ARN, told The American Nurse
in the same interview. “We
serve as the patient’s advocate
when addressing issues with
other members of the health
care team and sometimes with
a patient’s own family. We always want to make sure patients
are getting the right care in the
right place at the right time,”
she said.
For more information, please
visit www.restartrecovery.org.
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New apartments for adults
62 years or older
punxSutawney
SpaciouS 1 & 2
Bedroom
apartmentS
105 north Gilpin St.
punxsutawney
814-938-3008
Professionally managed by NDC Real Estate Management.
Income Guildelines Apply • Section 8 Vouchers Welcome
Helpmates earns top honors
for third consecutive year
C l e a r fi e l d C o m m u n i t y
Nurses (CCN), a division of
Helpmates, Inc., has once
again earned high ranking
as a top performer in home
nursing care in Pennsylvania by the 2015 HomeCare
Elite, a compilation of the
top performing home health
agencies in the United States.
The year 2015 marks the 10th
anniversary of this prestigious
program that acknowledges
the best of the home care
profession.
HomeCare Elite identifies
the top 25 percent of Medicare-certified home health
agencies in the U.S. and highlights the top 100 and 500
agencies overall. Winners are
ranked by an analysis of publicly available performance
measures in quality outcomes,
best practices (process measure) implementation, patient
experience, quality improvement and consistency along
with financial performance.
In order to be considered, an
agency must be Medicarecertified and have data for at
least one outcome in Home
Health Compare. Out of 2,431
Elite agencies, 1,526 have
achieved repeat recognition
from 2014 (CCN) and 382
agencies are first time winners. Winners are recognized
yearly in November during
the annual meeting celebrating National Home Care and
Hospice Month.
“Delivering critical inhome care to our nation’s
elderly, disabled and convalescing patient populations
is an important mission. It
has been an honor to recognize outstanding home health
providers for 10 years,” said
Christine Lang, Vice President of OCS Home Care Product Development.
Valerie Prave, R.N., BSN,
and Manager of Helpmates,
Inc. Skilled Services, stated,
“Once again we are extremely
honored to have achieved such
recognition of being named
Need help caring for
yourself or a loved one?
as one of the top-performing
agencies in the United States
for 2013, 2014 and 2015.
Michelle Emigh, R.N., Admistrator, and staff work
extremely hard on a daily
basis to provide the best care
possible to our patients which
is evident by receiving this
prestigious award. Despite
the changes that occur daily
in our profession, the things
that remain constant are the
dedication and commitment
of all the CCN team players
on every level.”
C l e a r fi e l d C o m m u n i t y
Nurses have been providing
home health services to the
communities they serve since
1999. CCN serves patients
in Clearfield County and in
parts of Centre, Cambria and
Jefferson counties.
For more information on
the services Helpmates, Inc.
and its divisions provide,
please call toll free 1-888772-6850 or visit the website
at www.helpmatesinc.com.
We can help you
stay at home.
As individuals age, various circumstances have to be
reassessed. A current living
situation may not be meeting
the needs of a senior who may
be having difficulty caring
properly for himself or herself.
Families often consider senior
residences to provide welcoming and safe environments for
their loved ones during the
golden years of their lives.
These facilities may range from
independent living homes with
minimal care offered to nursing homes that provide more
intensive care when needed.
Somewhere in the middle lies
assisted living homes, which
blend the independence of
personal residences with other
amenities, such as the housekeeping, medication reminders
or meal services.
Assisted living can be a viable option when a person can
no longer live alone, but such
facilities come with a price.
According to a Market Survey
of Long-Term Care Costs conducted by MetLife, the national
average for assisted living base
rates was $3,550 per month in
2012. In the 2015 Cost of Care
Survey conducted by Genworth
Financial, the assisted living,
national-median monthly rate
was now $3,600 – and it’s only
expected to grow. Affording
these homes and apartments
can be challenging for those
with fixed incomes, but there
are some strategies that can
help.
The payment method that
serves you best will depend on
your unique circumstances, but
there are options available.
• Long-term care insurance: Long-term care insurance is specialized insurance
that is paid into and may cover
the cost of assisted living
facilities and other medical
care, depending on the policy.
The American Association
for Long-Term Care Insurance says that only roughly
3 percent of Americans have
this type of insurance, but it is
something to consider during
working years.
• Personal savings: Some
people have the means to pay
for assisted living with their
own savings and retirement
nest eggs. However, it’s easy
for savings to become depleted
when facing a $40,000+ per
year bill.
• Life insurance: A financial advisor may advocate to
pay for assisted living with a
life insurance policy. Some
companies enable you to cash
out for “accelerated” or “living” benefits, which usually
is a buy-back of the policy
for 50 to 75 percent of the
face value. Other third parties
may purchase the policy for
a settlement of a lump sum,
again roughly 50 to 75 percent
of the policy’s face value,
according to Caring.com, an
online source for support and
information about the needs of
aging people.
• Location: Costs of assisted
living facilities vary depending
on location. It’s possible to get
a lower monthly rate simply by
choosing a facility in a different state.
• Negotiation: Not all prices
are set in stone. Speak with
a manager at the facility and
see if there is any price flexibility or move-in incentives.
You also may be able to get
a lower rate by negotiating
certain a-la-carte costs against
all-inclusive pricing. Perhaps
you do not need laundry or
shopping services, and family
members can fill in the gaps,
reducing your bill.
• Veteran’s benefits: Many
veterans are eligible for care
benefits that can offset the cost
of assisted living care.
• Rooms: Opting for a
smaller room or sharing a
space can keep costs down as
well. See if shared rooms are a
possibility.
Assisted living is a necessity for thousands of people.
Explore the ways to finance
this purchase.
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Managing the costs of assisted living
What to ask before buying a stairlift
(NewsUSA) – As the population of the United States ages,
home stairlifts are becoming
increasingly popular. The installation of a stairlift allows many
older adults who have difficulty
with stairs but are otherwise in
good health to remain in their
homes and retain their independence.
To d a y ’s s t a i r l i f t s a r e q u i e t ,
relatively inexpensive, and can be
installed without any structural
damage to the home or decor.
However, if you are considering
purchasing a stairlift, keep these
questions in mind to help ensure
that you get the best product, one
that’s the right fit for the structure of your home and for your
personal health situation.
• Does it fit? Choose a stairlift
that is available in a range of options to accommodate straight,
curved, and outdoor stairways.
Seek out stairlifts with a modular
design that allows for quick and
easy installation with no damage
or changes to the home.
• Can you get good customer
service after the installation?
Be sure to find out the stairlift
company’s policies on maintenance and follow-up services for
the products. Look for companies
that are available seven days a
week to respond to any questions
or concerns you may have. That’s
why it’s best to buy directly from
the manufacturer when possible.
• What are the safety features? The latest technology of
the best stairlifts, such as those
manufactured by Acorn Stairlifts,
includes safety features such as
sensors on the foot platform that
will stop the lift when triggered.
In addition, make sure to ask
whether your stairlift includes
safety belts and lockable seats
that can swivel for getting on
and off easily, then stay locked
into place.
• Is it easy to use? Consider
who will be using the stairlift.
Look for models with light touch
controls designed for individuals
with limited manual dexterity
because of arthritis in the hands
or other problems. A remotecontrol option is a key element
to consider as well, so family
members or others can operate
the stairlift.
• Is there a long wait to order/
install the stairlift? Companies
o ff e r i n g a m o d u l a r d e s i g n i n
stairlift technology can respond
to an order and install a stairlift
in hours rather than weeks.
For more information and
answers to your questions about
choosing a stairlift for your home,
visit www.acornstairlifts.com.
DuBois Continuum of Care has
options for all your needs
The DuBois Continuum of Care
Community provides a range of options
for seniors in the tri-county area. Our
community’s foundation was formed in
the late 1970s when the DuBois Nursing
Home opened its doors as a not-for-profit
organization chartered to meet the region’s need for quality long-term care.
In 1996, the nursing home’s board
of directors created DuBois Village – a
personal care community – as an independent organization located on the same
13-acre campus.
In 2000 and 2001, the nursing home
added Memory Lane, a secure Alzheimer’s/Dementia area, and Village View
residential living apartments, respectively. DuBois Village is celebrating its
20th anniversary this year.
To better serve residents’ individual
needs, the two entities – DuBois Nursing
Home and DuBois Village – merged in
2003 and established the DuBois Continuum of Care Community, Inc. With
this seamless continuum of services, residents can tailor their lifestyle as needed
without having to move to another community for extended care.
Services and Amenities provided at
DuBois Village Personal Care Community include:
Recreational Programming
Restaurant Style Dining
Nutritional Oversight: Registered Dietician
Weekly Linen and Housekeeping Service
24 Hour Personal Care Support
Medication Monitoring and Administration
Enclosed Courtyards and Country Garden
WIFI and Direct TV Included
Onsite Beauty/Barber Shop
Pets Allowed (Small dogs, cats, fish and
birds)
Worry-Free Moving Option (within a 20
mile radius)
Maintenance-Free Living
Residential Laundry Areas
Conveniently Located Elevators
Licensed Nurse on Staff
Exercise Room and Fitness Programs
Respite Stays
Computer Center
Comfortable Lobby and Sitting Area
with Fireplace
Quiet Conversation, Social and Recreational Lounge
Convenient Postal Area with Private
Mail Boxes
Spa Centers
Take your medicine
5 steps to make sure you don’t miss a dose
that means you can’t afford
to miss a dose. To help you
overcome your lapses and
stick to the schedule, here
are five tips to make your
medication an effective, not
forgotten, part of your day.
1. Have your medication
d e l ive re d . E l i m i n a t e t h e
weekly or bi-weekly trips
to the pharmacy and have
your medications shipped
directly to you, even while
you travel. There are many
online, mail-order and local pharmacies that offer
delivery service. Make sure
to choose a pharmacy that
offers free delivery and will
overnight your medications
when needed.
2. Pre-sort your medications. Organize your medications by the date and time
you take them. Your pharmacy can do this for you with
i n d iv i d u a l d o s e p a c k e t s .
Presorting your medications
will make it easier to establish a dependable schedule
and get you in the habit of
taking your medications on
time.
3. Make sure you don’t
run out of your medication. To avoid missing a
dose, you can keep track of
your medications yourself or
you can turn to a pharmacy
for help. Some pharmacies,
like PillPack, will contact
your prescriber eight weeks
before your last refill and
take the necessary steps to
get your new prescription
in place, including working with your doctor and
insurance company to obtain
authorization so you have
everything you need.
4. Set pill reminder
alarms on your phone. By
having an alarm reminder,
you’ll remember when to
take your pills. If you have
a smartphone, an even better option is to download
a medication reminder app
for your phone that synchronizes with your medications
and keeps track of the meds
you’ve taken and the meds
you’ve forgotten.
5 . U t i l i z e yo u r p h a rmacist. Your pharmacist is
your most knowledgeable
resource when it comes to
understanding your medication. They understand not
only how your medication
works, but how it will interact with other medications
or anything else you may
consume, such as alcohol.
If you have a question about
your medication your pharmacist is available to help,
especially with many pharmacy services being available 24/7.
To learn more about making your medication easier
to manage and how PillPack,
a full-service, pharmacy focused on simplifying medication management, can help
y o u , v i s i t w w w. p i l l p a c k .
com.
• 2 Bedrooms, Living Room,
Bathroom, Garage, Laundry,
Kitchen and Dining Room
• Covered Porches
• Supportive Services Available:
Meals, Housekeeping and
Transportation
• Central Heat & Air
Conditioning
• Monthly Rate includes all
Utilities, Maintenance, Trash
and Snow Removal
• Appliances included
• Waiting List Available
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John T.
Smelko, D.M.D.
DuBois
(BPT) – Did you remember to take your medication
today? If the answer is no,
you’re not alone. People all
over the country make the
same mistake every single
day. Research shows more
than 50 percent of prescription medication users fail to
take their medications when
they are supposed to. And if
you’re taking more than one
type of medication, it gets
even harder to remember.
As people’s days have gotten busier than ever, it’s not
surprising regular medication doses are forgotten. At
the same time, traditional
helpers such as pillboxes,
calendars, alarms and plastic
bags simply aren’t effective
reminders. They just seem to
add more stress.
“The entire system puts
so much burden on the individual,” says TJ Parker, cofounder of PillPack, a fullservice, online pharmacy.
“They’re not only stressed
about their condition but
are also keeping track of
multiple refills, calling their
doctors, coordinating with
their insurance companies,
c o n s t a n t l y h av i n g t o r e member to take their pills
– it’s a lot for anyone to
have to manage. And then
their chronic condition isn’t
just a life hurdle, it’s allconsuming.”
Nothing is more important than your health and
Surgery and anesthesia: Making it safer
(BPT) – Anesthesia today is
safer than ever. But try telling
that to a nervous parent of a
5-year-old about to have surgery, or to a patient in his 70s
in poor health.
Talking to your surgeon and
physician anesthesiologist before surgery is an important step
in making sure your experience
is as safe and comfortable as
possible – regardless of your
age. But for children and older
adults, that conversation is especially important.
Dr. Daniel J. Cole, president
of the American Society of
Anesthesiologists, has tips for
patients of all ages.
“Most people don’t know
that before their surgery they
can and should talk with their
physician anesthesiologist about
their concerns and about their
health and health habits,” Dr.
Cole says. “This is especially
true for parents of young children who may be worried about
how anesthesia could affect the
child, and for older adults who
might be taking medications
that can increase the risk of
complications.”
Dr. Cole offers these tips.
For adults: Whatever your
age, make sure the physician an-
esthesiologist knows everything
about your health and lifestyle.
Talk about:
• Chronic conditions such as
allergies, asthma, sleep apnea
or diabetes.
• Medications you take, including over-the-counter medications and nutritional supplements.
• Your smoking history and
alcohol consumption.
• Your options for controlling
pain during recovery.
All these factors could influence how anesthesia affects you
and how well you recover from
Don’t double up on
acetaminophen
(BPT) – You know when cold
and flu season has arrived. The
temperature drops, and you can
hear sniffles and sneezes everywhere you go. You see over-thecounter (OTC) medicine aisles
at neighborhood pharmacies
and grocery stores quickly
fill with people buying cough
syrup, throat lozenges, and
nasal sprays to get relief from
their fevers, coughs, congestion,
and more.
Many of the medicines used
to treat these cold and flu symptoms can contain common drug
ingredients such as acetaminophen. Recent research shows
that consumers don’t always
know the potential risks of
doubling dosing on medicine
or that taking two medicines
with the same ingredient could
be harmful. That’s why it’s
important to read and follow
the label every time you take a
medicine. Double Check; Don’t
Double Up!
Acetaminophen is found in
more than 600 OTC and prescription medicines, including
many that treat cough, cold,
and flu symptoms. It’s safe and
effective when used as directed,
but there is a limit to how much
you can take in one day. Taking more than directed is an
overdose and can lead to liver
damage. The U.S. Food and
Drug Administration has set a
maximum daily dose of 4,000
milligrams of acetaminophen
in a 24-hour period.
“If you catch a cold or the flu
and are looking for a medicine
to treat your symptoms, it’s
important to know the ingredients in all of the medicines you
are taking,” said Brian Hatten,
MD. “Always double check
your medicine labels to avoid
doubling up on medicines con-
taining acetaminophen.”
To help you ensure you are
taking acetaminophen safely,
the Acetaminophen Awareness
Coalition – a group of healthcare
provider and consumer organizations dedicated to ensuring
the safe use of acetaminophen
– advises cold and flu sufferers
to follow four safe use steps.
1. Always read and follow the
label. Never take more medicine
than the label says. Taking more
acetaminophen than directed is
an overdose and can lead to liver
damage.
2. Know if your medicines
contain acetaminophen. It is
important to check the active
ingredients listed on the labels
of all your medicines to see if
they contain acetaminophen.
• On over-the-counter medicine labels, the word “acetaminophen” is written on the front
of the package or bottle, and is
highlighted or in bold type in the
active ingredient section of the
Drug Facts label.
• On prescription medicine
labels, acetaminophen is sometimes listed as “APAP,” “acetam,” or other shortened versions of the word.
3. Take only one medicine
at a time that contains acetaminophen. You can take too
much acetaminophen if you use
more than one medicine that
contains acetaminophen at the
same time.
4. Ask your healthcare provider if you have questions
about dosing instructions or
medicines that contain acetaminophen.
For additional information
and a list of some common medicines that contain acetaminophen, visit KnowYourDose.org
or follow @KnowYourDose on
Twitter.
your surgery.
For older adults: People
who are older are more likely
to have medical conditions or
take medications that could
make surgery and recovery
more difficult. Older adults also
are more at risk for developing post-operative delirium, a
type of confusion that can be
unpleasant for the patient and
alarming for the family. Be
sure to:
• Tell the physician anesthesiologist if you’ve experienced
this type of delirium in the
past.
• Ask for a recovery room
with a window so you’ll know
if it’s day or night.
• Have a loved one stay with
you during your recovery.
• Have familiar and comforting reminders of home with
you: family photos, a calendar
or a special keepsake. These
can all help you feel less disoriented.
• If you wear glasses or a
hearing aid, have them handy
so you can use them as soon as
it’s OK to do so.
To learn more, visit asahq.
org/WhenSecondsCount.
Ralph A. Cardamone
M.D., F.A.C.C.
Board Certified
Cardiologist
Diplomate Certification,
Board of Nuclear Cardiology
Specializing in the Prevention,
Testing and Treatment of Heart Disease
• ICANL Certified Nuclear Cardiology Laboratory
• ICAEL Certified Echocardiography Laboratory
• Stress Testing • Cardiac Catheterization
• 24 Hour and 30 Day Heart Monitors
• Pacemaker Evaluation
• Second Cardiology Opinion
• Affiliations with Several Major Medical Centers
Serving the community for over 26 years
Cardiac Diagnostics
Phone
814•765•7577
Cardiac Diagnostics
10 South Second Street • Clearfield, Pennsylvania

A Special Publication of The Punxsutawney Spirit and Jefferson

Transcription

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