12 Jun 2015

GI Foundations: Heal Your Gut, Heal Your Body

By Stephanie Burrough
WHEN: Jun. 17, 2015 Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Mandala Integrative Medicine, 2206 E. 52nd St. Suite A, Davenport, IA 52807
COST: Free
ABOUT: Join Dr. Sayed Shah of Mandala Integrative Medicine as we take a functional tour of the digestive system and highlight why healing digestion can heal so many other common, chronic conditions. Dr. Shah is the Medical Director and CEO of Mandala Integrative Medicine, where he works as a partner in wellness for his clients by tailoring appropriate treatment plans and effective support utilizing conventional healthcare practices alongside more holistic traditions. Stephanie Burrough, Colon Hydrotherapist and owner of QC Colon Hydrotherapy, will also be presenting on the benefits of internal cleansing.
CONTACT: For more information for this event or to RSVP, please call 563-355-7411. Seating is limited! Bring a friend to the GI Foundations talk receive 20% off all supplements.
10 Jun 2015

New Friendships Memory Care: Caring for Seniors with Memory Impairment

By Mark McLaughlin
IOWA/ILLINOIS QUAD-CITIES - Medical advances are helping people live longer than ever before - but with this good news comes a healthcare concern. People are living well into their eighties and beyond, but 80% of those over age 80 experience some form of memory impairment. As more seniors develop such problems, the need to care for these problems must also be addressed.
Friendship Manor, a 5-Star Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC), has been working to create an optimal living environment for residents with memory impairment. After consulting leading experts in the field, they have developed and opened New Friendships Memory Care. These individualized apartment homes focus on the comfort, convenience, safety and security of your loved one.
Located at 1209 21st Ave., Rock Island, IL, Friendship Manor is situated on fourteen acres and includes four interconnected apartment buildings, plus the nationally acclaimed Silver Cross Health and Rehabilitation Pavilion and their convenient, indoor "Main Street." Assisted and Independent Living apartment homes may be leased for a monthly rental fee.
New Friendships is managed by Latoya McMillin, LPN, Memory Care Manager and Certified Memory Care Specialist. Team members who have been instrumental in the development of New Friendships include Ted Pappas, Jr., Chief Executive Officer/President; Lori Steiner, Director of Nursing; and Jeff Condit, Director of Development/Strategic Planning. Every member of their staff is enthusiastic about their eighth service division and is deeply devoted to its success.
Residents of New Friendships are individuals who are experiencing memory-related issues but are still quite ambulatory, although all will need help with different activities of daily living, such as eating, bathing, dressing, continence, grooming, and ambulation/transfers. Their goal is to help each resident enjoy their life longer while providing a stimulating environment to maintain their mental status as long as possible.
"This project has been evolving since the new millennium," said Pappas, "when we first considered how to integrate memory care into our continuum. Four years ago, we engaged the services of behavioral architect Dr. Margaret Calkins. She helped us prioritize how to go forward with memory care. She spent time with key staff members and provided a number of recommendations." Margaret, or Maggie as she is known to colleagues, is an architect and gerontologist with a background in psychology.
Pappas noted that Lori Steiner suggested looking at providing memory care in one of our current assisted living buildings. Thanks to that recommendation, the first floor of Building B is now New Friendships Memory Care.
Friendship Manor's extensive continuum of care makes them a Continuing Care Retirement Community, capable of serving residents with a wide range of needs. "We're the only CCRC in Illinois Quad-Cities," Pappas said. "New Friendships is our eighth service division."
The Daily Routine at New Friendships
New Friendships features 15 apartment homes and outside of each resident's quarters, by the door, is a locking memory box, in which special mementos and pictures of the resident can be kept. Residents enjoy a big-screen TV, an aquarium, a fireplace, a multi-stimulation craft room, and a beauty salon/barber shop. Comfort and safety are built into the unit: even the flooring, which looks like regular wood, is actually made from a softer, cushioned material with a gentle 'give' to it.
New Friendships staff are specifically trained to provide dementia care. This specialized training utilizes the practices that promote the principles of person-centered care. "We provide a trained director manager and trained staff," Pappas said. "We are proud to say that all our residents will have a place here, should they need memory care. If their life takes that path, we will be ready for them and they will not have to go elsewhere."
Therapy for the residents of New Friendships is designed to help slow down memory loss. "We use art, music, and even aroma to stimulate their mental processes," McMillin said. Residents interact with a recreation therapist and engage in a wide variety of activities, from cooking to getting the mail to using electronic tablets.
Residents in New Friendships are encouraged to make decisions and engage in activities. At meal-time, the residents dine family-style in Café MJ's. Servers present them with selections and residents choose what they want.
Residents also enjoy a variety of outdoor activities in Friendship Courtyard, which features several fountains and a garden of forget-me-nots. "We are grateful to more than two-hundred donors who helped to make New Friendships a reality," said Condit. "The donations for the courtyard totaled $100,000. Plus, an additional half-million dollars of donated equity was provided for New Friendships, enabling the $2.5 million project to become a reality."
Friendship Manor is a faith-based, non-profit, 501(c)(3), charitable Continuing Care Retirement Community founded by The International Order of The King's Daughters and Sons, Illinois Branch. For more information, call (309) 786-9667 or visit www.friendshipmanor.org.
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04 Jun 2015

New Hy-Vee KidsFit Website Engages Children in Health and Wellness Just in Time for Summer Break

By Kathleen McGowan

Free, at-home program promotes health, exercise and nutrition for children and families

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (June 2, 2015) ? Even though school is out and kids no longer have their routine physical education classes, parents can keep them active this summer with the newly launched Hy-Vee KidsFit website. Hy-Vee, Inc. designed this free, online program to help kids and families make health, exercise and nutrition priorities in their everyday lives.

Hy-Vee KidsFit is an interactive health and wellness website for children, teens and families that offers a free, online personal trainer. The workouts and activities featured on KidsFit require no equipment or gym memberships, making it accessible to children and teens of all skill levels. The website ? www.hy-veekidsfit.com ? also features fun workout videos, nutrition blogs written by Hy-Vee dietitians and health lessons.

"At Hy-Vee, we want to make it easier for kids and families to make healthier choices. With its easy, fun format, Hy-Vee KidsFit inspires families to establish good fitness and nutritional habits in their daily lives," said Andy McCann, executive vice president and chief health officer at Hy-Vee.

"We know that not every child has the access or interest to play organized sports. We hope a broad range of kids can use the free KidsFit tools to stay active and healthy. Even children who participate in sports can benefit from having equipment-free workouts and tutorials on their computers or phones," McCann added.

The program was developed by certified personal trainer Daira Driftmier, who also serves as the online fitness coach on KidsFit.

"I am excited to help children and families learn more about health, exercise and nutrition," Driftmier said. "My goal is to inspire the next generation to commit to making healthy choices. I want kids to see that fitness is fun and show them how to make it part of their daily routine so they can be healthy for life."

As part of KidsFit, children ages 7-17 and their families can sign up for the 5-Week Challenge, which provides kids with a structure to take control of their personal health and fitness. Participants will earn virtual trophies and badges to help monitor their progress during the 5-Week Challenge, and they will be encouraged to stick to their goals through Driftmier's videos.

Hy-Vee KidsFit was recently introduced at the Exercising Your Character event in Des Moines, Iowa, which teaches fourth- and fifth-grade students about physical fitness, goal setting and character development. To celebrate the announcement, more than 7,300 children from 82 Iowa schools attempted to break the Guinness World Record for most individuals performing jumping jacks simultaneously.

For more information, visit www.hy-veekidsfit.com, or follow Hy-Vee KidsFit on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hyveekidsfit.

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03 Jun 2015

Smiddy Votes to Preserve Critical Healthcare Services

By Robert Jackson Jr.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - In an effort to protect access to healthcare for the most vulnerable citizens in the 71st district, state Rep. Mike Smiddy, D-Hillsdale, is sponsoring legislation that will reduce spending and allow the state greater access to federal funds for Medicaid users.
"Residents of this state deserve first rate health insurance no matter their economic situation," Smiddy said. "This legislation will help reduce the state's continuing financial issues without sacrificing the healthcare resources for the thousands of Illinoisans that depend on Medicaid for their wellbeing."
Smiddy voted in favor of Senate Bill 788, which is estimated to save Illinois $106 million and secure additional federal dollars. The proposed bill will safeguards against fraud and abuse within the system while ensuring patients who qualify for Medicaid will be enrolled in managed care.
"Legislators supporting Senate Bill 788 enable hospitals to continue providing high quality health care services in communities across the state," Illinois Hospital Association President and CEO Maryjane Wurth said. "We appreciate their recognition that steps can be taken to control spending without sacrificing needed patient care."
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02 Jun 2015

Senior Star at Elmore Place Hosts Dinner Seminar on Long-Term Care Insurance June 9

By Christina L. Maggio-Kellerstrass

Davenport insurance agent on hand to help understand long-term care coverage

 

 

DAVENPORT, IA (May 29, 2015) - Senior Star at Elmore Place will host an informative dinner seminar on long-term care insurance at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9 at 4500 Elmore Avenue.

Local State Farm agent Matt Hayes will discuss important information about long-term care insurance and will help attendees understand if long term-care insurance is right for them and the reasons to consider this type of insurance.  Hayes will also share the misconceptions of purchasing long-term care insurance so participants have all the facts prior to making a decision as to whether or not this will meet the needs of their personal situation.

Seating is limited.  Please RSVP no later than June 7 by calling 563.359.0100.

For more information about Senior Star at Elmore Place or to schedule a tour, call 563.359.0100 or visit the website at www.seniorstar.com.

About Senior Star at Elmore Place

Senior Star at Elmore Place, a Senior Star community, features 236 modernly decorated apartments spanning across 20 acres of beautifully landscaped property with many customized amenities to offer its residents three distinctive living experiences:  independent living, assisted living and memory care.  For more information, visit www.seniorstar.com.

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27 May 2015

Take Vacation Days - It's Important

By Janice McInnis

Use Your Vacation Days for a Better You

It's common knowledge that employees in the United States are some of the hardest working in the world, but there are times when that isn't such a good thing.  Americans accumulate more than four hundred million unused vacation days every single year, which adds up to a 224 billion dollar vacation liability for their companies.  This number is more than twenty-four times the annual revenue of the National Football League and almost half the size of the Gross State Product of half of the states in the country.  Even though the number does not include sick leave or personal time, it has still managed to grow by over 65 billion in the last year alone.  These liabilities average out to about 1,800 dollars per employee that the company must pay out when an employee leaves their service.  It seems unlikely that these numbers are going to go anywhere but up; according to the Time Off Project started by the US Travel Association, Americans are taking less time off than ever before.

Employers aren't the only ones losing with this system of long hours and "always on" work schedules.  Employees who don't take the time to take care of themselves often see health and productivity decline as they continue to grind away at the office with no break in sight.  It can often be difficult to take that time - there's always the possibility that a boss or a coworker might call and interrupt a trip - but that is not reason enough to pass on paid time off.  Taking vacation days provides a boost of happiness and wellbeing that stays with employees when they return to the office.

Taking vacations also provides workers with a chance to remember how to relax, which in turn gives them a chance to develop resilience in the work place.  Taking time off renews the neural connections in the brain that produce feelings of calm and peace, according to clinical psychiatrist Deborah Mulhern. Taking the body out of a stressful environment gives it a chance to restore and makes it easier to return to that environment and function in it. People who are worried about losing an edge in the office shouldn't be so concerned either.  There is no evidence of a link between putting in more time at the office and getting a pay raise or bonus. In fact, employees who left eleven to fifteen days of paid time off unused last year are ctually less likely (6.5%) to have received a raise or bonus in the past three years than those who used all of their paid time off.

Taking time away from work to rest and rejuvenate is a great idea for both economic and health reasons, and there's no need to go across the Atlantic or Pacific to find those benefits.  There are many places here in the United States to vacation where it would be impossible to hold on to stress.  For instance, the American Southwest is known for its beautiful weather, gorgeous natural spaces, and an eclectic mix of traditional and modern.  In Sedona, Arizona, vacationers can access incredible state and national parks like the Grand Canyon and miles of hiking trails where walks through nature can help shed off office worries and anxieties.  There are museums and cultural sites to see as well, including Native American ruins from hundreds of years ago, incredibly well preserved for visitors to experience.  There are championship golf courses set amongst the stunning red rocks. Sedona is also becoming increasingly known for its vineyards, art galleries, and shopping - there's no need to travel far abroad for these experiences!

Of course, a vacation can be made or broken by what accommodations are booked, but visitors to Sedona need look no further than El Portal Sedona Hotel.  El Portal is a luxury boutique hotel that offers quiet privacy, a central location, and top-line amenities to their guests. With only twelve suites, El Portal is personal and welcoming to both humans and their pets as one of the best pet friendly hotels in the nation.  Each room may include such features as an adobe corner fireplace or a river rock stone fireplace, French doors, hand-painted detailing, stained glass, high beamed ceilings and arched windows.  The pet friendly hotel offers a unique and beautiful atmosphere that makes it easy to relax away from the office and make the most of those paid vacations days.

26 May 2015

National Senior Health & Fitness Day®

By TRICARE Communications

May 26, 2015

This year marks the 22 annual National Senior Health & Fitness Day. Always set for the last Wednesday in May, National Senior Health & Fitness Day is the nation's largest health promotion event for older adults. This year's theme, "If you keep moving...You'll keep improving," aligns perfectly with health and wellness information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as the goal of the Surgeon General's National Prevention Strategy: to increase the number of Americans who are healthy at every stage of life.

Read more here.

22 May 2015

Loebsack Praises Committee Passage of Bill to Speed Approval of New Medical Cures

By Vonnie Hampel

21st Century Cures Act contains $10 billion for NIH research

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement today after the House Energy and Commerce Committee, of which he is a member, passed legislation that will streamline the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) approval process of new medical cures and drugs. It includes $10 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Innovation Fund. The 21st Century Cures Act is paid for and passed the committee by a unanimous 51-0 vote.

"The 21st Century Cures Act is a truly bipartisan piece of legislation that will have a profound effect on our medical community as well as the people who are suffering from many different diseases, including cancer and type 2 diabetes. I'm particularly excited about the NIH Innovation fund. I'm proud to represent the University of Iowa, an institution that is at the forefront of groundbreaking medical research. The five year, ten billion dollar NIH Innovation fund will at long last provide a boost to funding for medical research. The 21st Century Cures Act is proof that we can accomplish great things when we put our partisan differences aside and come together around a common goal. I'm pleased to be a part of this bipartisan effort."

The 21st Century Cures Act is nonpartisan legislation that is the product of more than a year of listening to patients, researchers, caregivers, and innovators. It seeks to modernize the nation's health care innovation ecosystem, encourage greater biomedical innovation, and help get more cures and treatments to patients faster.

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21 May 2015

Red Cross urges summer blood and platelet donations to prevent seasonal shortage

By Ben Corey

Eligible donors can choose their day to help save lives during "100 days of summer. 100 days of hope." campaign

(May 20, 2015) – The American Red Cross urges donors to choose their day to give hope to patients in need by donating blood or platelets during the "100 days of summer. 100 days of hope." campaign, officially sponsored by Suburban Propane.

"Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer and vacation season, and the start of a seasonal decline in blood and platelet donations," said Ben Corey, external communications manager, Heart of America Blood Services Region. "By choosing a day to give blood or platelets, volunteer donors can give hope and help maintain a sufficient supply for patients in need."

To encourage donations around the Memorial Day holiday, those who come to give blood or platelets from May 23-25 will receive a Red Cross RuMe tote bag, while supplies last.

Summer vacations and travel can contribute to less availability for people to give blood or platelets. In a spring survey of Red Cross blood and platelet donors, nearly 90 percent indicated plans to take vacations this summer. However, patients don't get a summer holiday or vacation from needing lifesaving blood. The Red Cross relies on volunteer donors for the 15,000 blood donations needed every day to support patients at about 2,600 hospitals and transfusion centers nationwide.

As official sponsor of the summer campaign, which begins Memorial Day weekend and runs through Labor Day weekend, Suburban Propane will support an advertising public awareness campaign about the constant need for blood and platelet donations, and encourage employees and customers to give. Additionally, Suburban Propane employees will volunteer at Red Cross blood drives and facilities nationwide in one of the largest national volunteer commitments to the Red Cross Blood Services from a corporate partner.

"The Suburban Propane family is proud to support the mission of the Red Cross and help ensure that blood and platelets are available for patients in need during the challenging summer months," said Suburban Propane's Chief Operating Officer Mark Wienberg. "By partnering with the Red Cross, we are able to continue a noble cause that improves the lives of those in our communities."

The Red Cross has touched the lives of many Suburban Propane employees including Debbie Traub. In May 2014, her 74-year-old father fell from a ladder while power washing his home and suffered life-threatening injuries. He spent 20 days in the intensive care unit and received many blood transfusions. Traub said that she now knows the importance of giving blood and makes a point to donate in honor of her father at the Suburban Propane headquarter blood drives. Her story is just one of many reasons Suburban Propane continues to advocate for blood and platelet donations to the Red Cross.

"Suburban Propane is the steadfast conduit to mobilize its employees, customers and community leaders nationally to support the Red Cross and the blood needs of communities we serve across the United States," added Donna M. Morrissey, director of national partnerships for the Red Cross Biomedical Services. "Through the unwavering commitment of Suburban Propane, the lifesaving blood and platelet donations made to the Red Cross may help families stay together, patients recover and people survive."

How to donate blood

Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver's license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

About Suburban Propane

Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. (NYSE:SPH) is a nationwide distributor of propane, fuel oil and related products and services, as well as a marketer of natural gas and electricity. Headquartered in Whippany, New Jersey, Suburban serves the energy needs of more than 1.2 million residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural customers through more than 710 locations in 41 states.

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18 May 2015

Senior Star at Elmore Place Presents Age-Related Macular Degeneration Lecture

By Christina L. Maggio-Kellerstrass

Public invited to hear local expert doctor address facts about vision health

 

DAVENPORT, IA (May 15, 2015) - Senior Star at Elmore Place is pleased to host Dr. Michael Howcroft, retina specialist, for an informative lecture on age-related macular degeneration at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 26 at 4500 Elmore Drive in Davenport.  During his presentation, Dr. Howcroft will discuss age-related macular degeneration, its symptoms and signs, who is at risk and the latest treatments available.

According to the American Optometric Association's website, age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of severe vision loss in adults over age 50.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 1.8 million people have age-related macular degeneration and another 7.3 million are at substantial risk for vision loss from the disease.  Although there is no cure, early detection and treatment are the best defense against loss of vision.

"It is always beneficial to talk with an expert beyond online research," said Marc Strohschein, executive director at Senior Star at Elmore Place.  "Senior Star is proactive in educating residents, staff and the public about aging well as reflected in our relationships with professional medical groups in the Quad Cities community."

As a physician with Eye Surgeons Associates, Dr. Howcroft's specialties include medical and surgical treatment of age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vascular disease and ocular trauma.

Seats are limited for this informative presentation.  Please RSVP no later than May 22 to reserve your spot today by calling 563.359.0100.

For more information about Senior Star at Elmore Place or to schedule a tour, call 563.359.0100 or visit the website at www.seniorstar.com.

About Senior Star at Elmore Place

Senior Star at Elmore Place, a Senior Star community, features 236 modernly decorated apartments spanning across 20 acres of beautifully landscaped property with many customized amenities to offer its residents three distinctive living experiences:  independent living, assisted living and memory care.  For more information, visit www.seniorstar.com.

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