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A Care New England Hospital Kent Hospital Our clinical affiliation with Brigham and Women’s Hospital, one of the nation’s top-ranked hospitals and cardiac centers, has brought an expert team of their cardiologists to Kent. Brigham and Women’s Cardiovascular Associates at Kent Hospital is available to meet all your cardiac needs, from routine to complex, with expert care locally. This is all part of our continuing commitment to the highest standards of care. With Kent Hospital and our Brigham and Women’s Cardiovascular Associates team, you can expect compassionate care that is patient and family centered. For more information, or to make an appointment, call us at 401-681-4996, email [email protected] or log on to kentri.org/bwcardio. 455 TOLL GATE ROAD | WARWICK, RI | kentri.org/bwcardio | 401-681-4996 At Kent Hospital YOU NOW HAVE ACCESS TO BRIGHAM AND WOMEN’S CARDIOVASCULAR EXPERTISE

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Page 1: April 2013 PrimeTime

� | PrimeTime April 2013� | PrimeTime April 2013

A Care New England Hospital

Kent Hospital

Our clinical affiliation with Brigham and Women’sHospital, one of the nation’s top-ranked hospitalsand cardiac centers, has brought an expert team of their cardiologists to Kent.

Brigham and Women’s CardiovascularAssociates at Kent Hospital is available

to meet all your cardiac needs, from routine tocomplex, with expert care locally. This is all part of our continuing commitment to the higheststandards of care. With Kent Hospital and ourBrigham and Women’s Cardiovascular Associatesteam, you can expect compassionate care that is patient and family centered.

For more information, or to make anappointment, call us at 401-681-4996,email [email protected] or log on to kentri.org/bwcardio.

455 TOLL GATE ROAD | WARWICK, RI | kentri.org/bwcardio | 401-681-4996

At Kent HospitalYOU NOW HAVE ACCESS TO

BRIGHAM AND WOMEN’SCARDIOVASCULAR EXPERTISE

Page 2: April 2013 PrimeTime

April 2013 PrimeTime | 3

Meg Fraser editor

Pr i m eTi m eApril 2013

1944 Warwick Ave.Warwick, RI 02889

401-732-3100 FAX 401-732-3110

Distribution Special Delivery

PUBLISHERSBarry W. Fain, Richard G. Fleischer,

John Howell

EDITORMeg Fraser

[email protected]

MARKETING DIRECTOR Donna Zarrella

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CREATIvE DIRECTORLinda Nadeau

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WRITERSJessica Botelho, Michael J. Cerio, Don Fowler,

Terry D’Amato Spencer, Elaine M. Decker,John Howell, Joan Retsinas,

Mike Fink, Meg Chevalier, Joe Kernan,Kerry Park, Kathy Tirrell

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Donna Zarrella – [email protected] Soder, Lisa Mardenli, Janice Torilli,

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Sue Howarth – [email protected]

PRODUCTION STAffMatt Bower, Brian Geary, Lisa Yuettner

A Joint Publication of East Side Monthlyand Beacon Communications.

PrimeTime Magazine is published monthly and is available at over 400 locations throughout Rhode Island. Letters to the editor are welcome. We will not print unsigned letters unless exceptional circumstances can be shown.

nexTmonTh Do you smell spring in the air? PrimeTime will blossom along with everything else next month for May’s gardening and landscaping issue.

i n T h i s i s s u eIn my interview this month with Dr. Raymond Mis of Kent Hospital, he told me of an interesting research study. A group of subjects were closely monitored for lifestyle habits. They knew they were being monitored. And yet, when it came time for them to report how much alcohol they consumed, they consistently underreported their

intake. It’s funny, but it makes sense. We know it’s bad for us. Maybe we’re a little embarrassed or ashamed, or want to avoid a lecture from our doctor. So we stretch the truth.

It’s just a white lie, right?Unfortunately, when it comes to our health, honesty is the best policy, both with our doc-

tors and with ourselves. It doesn’t take a PhD to know if you’re overweight, or if you drink too much, or if your so-called social smoking is more than social. So to maintain a healthy lifestyle, we’ve got to put all the cards on the table.

In this issue of PrimeTime, we cover a lot of the common health problems Americans face, broken down to each part of the body. Memory loss can be a sign of aging or something more serious. Cataracts are common the longer we live. Heart disease causes 597,689 deaths annually. Regular check ups are essential to gastrointestinal health. And milk isn’t the only key to keeping your muscles and bones strong. Head to toe, we’ve got you covered. This month’s doer’s profile from Joan Retsinas takes the healthy theme even further, going into some of the more holistic approaches to medicine. There’s no one right path when it comes to managing your health and body - do what works for you.

What you’ll notice as you flip through, though, is that we’re not just talking about the warning signs. We’ve tried to put a spotlight on the preventative measures we all can - and

should - be taking to stay healthy and stave off some common ailments. I won’t get into all of them here, but it goes without saying that smoking is bad, drinking must be moderated, exercise is good and the rule of thumb is that if it’s good for your heart, it’s good for the rest of your body, too.

This issue of PrimeTime can serve as a resource. Read through it and take the tips of the experts quoted herein to heart (literally). And do us a favor - stop put-ting off your annual check ups. I hate to drop cliches, but it really is true that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. We’re the only advocates or bodies have, so let’s not let them down.

4 Hungry for prevention Dr. Raymond Mis examines digestive health

6 Does a body good How to keep muscles and bones strong at any age

10 Think about it How to spot cognitive impairments

11 The heart of the issue Dr. Barbara Roberts shares her expertise on cardiac health

23 Eye of the beholder Seeing vision health issues clearly

25 Living with arthritis Keep active, despite your aches and pains

PEOPLE & PLACESDoer’s profile ................................................................................8A Worthy Cause .......................................................................12Glimpse of RI’s past ................................................................20

SENIOR ISSUESAlzheimer’s Association column ...................................14Director’s Column ..................................................................26Retirement Sparks ..................................................................27Not your grandma’s nursing home .............................29

LIfESTYLESWhat do you Fink? .................................................................19That’s Entertainment ............................................................24

PROfESSIONAL PERSPECTIvEYour Taxes ....................................................................................21

Health Specialties

Page 3: April 2013 PrimeTime

� | PrimeTime April 2013

health specialties b y M E G F R A S E R

“ The key here i s to do

regu lar med ica l checks and

phys ica l s . Some o f these

abnormal i t i e s can be p icked

up w i th bas ic screen ings”

Page 4: April 2013 PrimeTime

April 2013 PrimeTime | �

health specialties b y M E G F R A S E R

D r. Raymond Mis, DO, reads the stomach like a roadmap. He knows all the stops along the way. From the colon to the liver, he understands symptoms, recognizes causes and knows just what to prescribe to get the stomach en route to digestive health.

A gastroenterologist with a private practice who also works at Kent Hospi-tal, Mis knows firsthand that stomach problems often go untreated. A patient assumes indigestion or run-of-the-mill stomach aches when something more serious, but often treatable, is to blame. He says it’s better to be safe than sorry, and keep your doctor in the loop.

“We hope, more than anything, that the patient is honest with their physi-cian,” he said.

That can be especially true when it comes to matters of the stomach. Acid reflux and heartburn are uncomfortable conditions that many people of all ages face, but popping a Tums isn’t always the solution. Call your doctor and sched-ule an appointment to talk about your options.

“Most commonly, what we encourage people to do is to modify their diet and their lifestyle. It’s amazing how many people in our population love to eat their food, drink their liquor and smoke their cigarettes - all three of those can make acid reflux worse. The first step should be looking at the diet,” Mis said.

That diet should avoid fried or fatty foods. Chocolate, peppermint, alcohol and nicotine can all make indigestion worse. Mis recommends “grazing,” or eat-ing five to six small meals each day, and never eating within two to three hours of going to sleep.

If this indigestion or digestive discomfort hits late in life, other factors could be at play.

“When somebody starts complaining about symptoms over the age of 50, it becomes an alarm symptom,” Mis said. “The human body is an amazing machine and nothing in medicine is 100 percent, so even if somebody has classic heartburn symptoms, it could be something more serious.”

If heartburn is paired with difficult or painful swallowing, for example, it could be a warning sign of cancer. Ulcers are another common ailment of the stomach, which present themselves with abdominal pain following digestion of food or drink. Ulcers can lead to bleeding, with black or bloody stool, nausea and vomiting.

Although ulcers are anecdotally connected with stress, Mis says that is up for debate. More often, ulcer disease is a product of lifestyle. Frequent use of aspirin or anti-inflammatory drugs, especially when paired with alcohol consumption, puts you at risk. For women, more than one alcoholic beverage daily is consid-ered moderate to heavy consumption; for men, more than two drinks - putting them at risk for irreversible liver injury.

Hungry for Prevention

Alcohol is not the only contributing factor; diet too plays a role in liver disease. Diabetic or obese patients can develop fatty infiltrations of the liver, which puts them at risk for liver disease.

Unfortunately, many of these patients are asymptomatic. Serious liver disease can be a silent predator. Cirrhosis, scarring of the liver that leads to poor liver function, can develop slowly, over time, and patients can live with cir-rhosis for �0 years before symptoms present themselves. Once symptoms show, they include jaundice, or yellowing of the skin or eyes, and bleeding disorders. Enough injury can lead to scarring of the esophagus, where swallowing can be made difficult.

“The key here is to do regular medical checks and physicals. Some of these abnormalities can be picked up with basic screenings,” Mis said.

Aside from grazing and avoiding fatty foods, Mis says high fiber diets or using fiber supplements can reduce risk for various conditions.

“High fiber diets have been associated with lower instances of heart disease, lower instances of colon cancer, diverticulitis ... high fiber diets keep people regular and even help with the healing of hemorrhoids,” he said, adding that it can also lower cholesterol and lower blood sugar.

Women should consume �5 to 30 grams of fiber each day, on average, and men should consume 30 to 35 grams.

“Most Americans fall way short of the fiber they need,” Mis said.Research has suggested that fiber consumption can reduce risk for colon

cancer, the second leading cancer killer in the United States, with 150,000 new cases diagnosed annually. The symptoms are often silent, so preventative medi-cine is crucial. Starting at the age of 50, Americans carry a �0 to 50 percent chance of having polyps in the colon, so colonoscopies are essential for early detection. At age 50, an individual should get a colonoscopy every 10 years. If they have had polyps in the past, or there is a family history of colorectal cancer, the test should be performed more often.

“The key here is to detect it early enough,” Mis said. “This is a lifesaving procedure for many.”

While symptoms can remain hidden, colon cancer eventually leads to anemia, rectal bleeding or bloody stool, abdominal pain or bowel obstruc-tion.&#8�3�; Diet and a healthy lifestyle are important to protect against diseases in all areas of the body, including the stomach, colon and liver. Most important, however, is that patients listen to their bodies, report abnormalities and embrace prevention.

“Patients have to understand, this is their health and they need to advocate for themselves,” Mis said.

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6 | PrimeTime April 2013

health specialties b y M E G F R A S E R

Does a Body Good

“ The absolute best th ing anybody can do, o ld or young, i s phys ica l act iv i ty for bones and musc les . ”

Page 6: April 2013 PrimeTime

April 2013 PrimeTime | �

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W hen it comes to the health problems associated with growing older, bone and muscle weakness is widely publicized. It’s the source of the aches and pains that come with age. We know it happens and our doctors warn us about it, and yet it continues to be a problem.

The International Osteoporosis Foundation estimates that more than half of people over the age of 50 in the United States have low bone mass, which can lead to broken bones, limited mobility and other health complications due to a sedentary lifestyle.

“The absolute best thing anybody can do, old or young, is physical activity for bones and muscles,” said Jessica Manyan, DO, the program director for Kent Family Medicine.

Osteoarthritis is a common diagnosis, and while it impairs mobility, there are programs available that are tailored for people of all abilities. Pain is a serious hurdle, but Manyan says that daily exercise is key to staying healthy, and there should be no excuses.

“Explore - have an open mind about exercise. Don’t limit yourself to saying, ‘this is the only thing I can do and it hurts too much.’ If you can only do five minutes, do five minutes. Exercise itself will help, over the long-term, to decrease pain,” she said.

Low-impact workouts, like walking for 30 minutes each day, are popular for seniors, but bicycling, elliptical machines and aquatic exercise are all alterna-tives for people with joint pain and stiffness. Water-based workouts in particular offload pressure from joints.

Yoga and regular stretching keep the muscles limber and ultimately improve balance - a major factor in senior falls. Yoga can be performed in a chair for people with significant mobility problems.

“A regular daily stretching program is good for all of the joints, and hip joints in particular because most of our daily activities do not stress our hip joints,” she said.

Manyan also puts resistance training on the list. “Doing resistance training with actual weights or with the own body’s weight

three times a week will help prevent Osteoarthritis,” she said, adding that local senior centers are a good place to start for free or low-cost fitness programs.

Diet and lifestyle are likewise important to maintaining bone and muscle strength. Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption negatively impacts all as-pects of a person’s health, and bones and muscles are no different. For women that have more than one alcoholic beverage daily, and men that have more than two, that decreases their body’s ability to absorb calcium.

“It really begins with a varied diet and avoiding smoking or quitting smoking,” Manyan said.

That varied diet should include non-fat dairy as a source of calcium, and a va-riety of fruits and vegetables. Meat can be a good source of calcium, too, but the body should generally not consume more than 50 grams of protein each day.

Manyan tells patients to avoid processed foods, make well-balanced meals and keep hydrated.

“As you age, your thirst drive goes down; it’s a lot easier to become dehydrated. Dehydration is a state that tends to have multiple effects on the body, one of which is to potentially make pain worse,” she said. “I would recommend drink-ing six to eight glasses of fluid a day.”

After a while, Manyan promises it will become a habit, ultimately improving your overall health.

If you make good eating, drinking and exercise choices, she adds, you can put the dozens of medicine bottles away.

“We’ve, over the years, made a lot of different recommendations regarding cal-cium supplementation. The current recommendation is if you have no problems with the bone, you shouldn’t necessarily supplement with calcium,” she said.

health specialties b y M E G F R A S E R

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8 | PrimeTime April 20138 | PrimeTime April 2013

Physician and DOER’S PROFILE b y J O A N R E T S I N A S

“Follow your own values. Live by your own rules. Walk away from the restrictions that others have laid upon you.”

The mantras of the 1960s propelled Gay BenTré (drgaybentre.com). Gay BenTré has gone from fac-tory worker to nurse to entrepreneur to holistic healer – seemingly unrelated careers, but all undergirded by Gay’s conviction that you must follow your values, wisdom she urges her patients to embrace.

As a teenager, Gay rejected the status quo. After all, the status quo included a war in Vietnam, racial segregation and inequality for women. Gay’s parents, her father a professor of international relations at Northwestern University, her mother a composer, en-couraged her. Gay enrolled at Sarah Lawrence College, which required no specific courses.

“That suited me just fine. I could create my own curriculum,” Gay recalls.

As students across the country protested the war in Vietnam, the turmoil spilled over to the Sarah Law-rence campus.

“I dropped out in my senior year, in order to get on with the ‘real’ business of living,” Gay recalled.

Before leaving, Gay was one of the students sup-porting a strike by the college’s housekeepers.

Determined “to make a difference for good,” Gay began sewing in a garment factory. But after several years of failed efforts to organize for better conditions and pay, she left the factory, frustrated.

Gay determined that she needed a professional de-gree. She picked nursing – an occupation that helped people. At Portland Community College, she enrolled

in an LPN program. She soon recognized that many of the students, unaccustomed to studying, would fail or drop out, so she organized study sessions for her fellow students. The result: all passed. But she also rec-ognized that everyone would have twice the earning power and opportunities with an RN degree.

The College had two tracks; theoretically LPNs could transfer to the RN track. Realistically, few did. When all the newly minted LPNs applied to the RN track, the College turned most down, citing a techni-cality. But Gay, with legal help, nudged the school to accept all the applicants. The result: 35 new RNs.

After getting a nursing degree, Gay finished up her BA at Sarah Lawrence. For the next 10 years, she worked as a nurse, mostly in neonatal intensive care in Oregon, later in pediatric and cardiac intensive care at Rhode Island Hospital. After her son was born, she became a visiting nurse to have more time for parent-ing, but a half-decade later, she felt the pull to return to critical care.

When faced with the conflicts of delivering criti-cal medical care under the supervision of physicians with whom she did not always agree, Gay decided to become a physician herself, like her older brother. But the demands of traditional medical training clashed with Gay’s priorities to nurture and parent. Within a year, she left medical school.

“I was developing the confidence to declare my own values, play by my own rules,” she said.

Over the next few months, a recession caused the market for art to plummet, and she joined forces with her sculptor-husband to organize a building design firm that included his art as part of the design plan. This partnership lasted over a decade; their firm built numerous public spaces filled with art.

Then, in her 50s, Gay recalled “an inner voice say-ing there was still something to accomplish.”

She enrolled in the Boston-based school for Tra-

ditional Chinese Medicine, finishing the four-year master’s degree curriculum in three years, earning certification in acupuncture (Chinese and Japanese) and Chinese Herbal Medicine. She independently acquired certification in other holistic healing mo-dalities. As her private practice has grown, she has in-cluded graduate work in pre- and peri-natal clinical psychology, nutrition and hypnosis.

Patients come to Gay with a host of complaints, from infertility to depression to trauma to cancer. Typically, they have undergone treatments from tra-ditional Western medicine, and they seek a different approach.

Gay begins by listening to her patient tell his or her story.

“A patient needs to feel rapport with any health care provider. The lack of rapport will hinder healing,” she said.

From Gay’s vantage, the “illness” is only part of the story. Gay looks at data but sees the complaint in the context of the person. She works to help the pa-tient to right the disturbance, and stimulate the body to heal itself. Western neuroscience is confirming that a patient’s thinking, be it for good or ill, powerfully in-fluences their ability to heal. The connection between mind and body is potent – a connection that Chi-nese healers noted more than 3,000 years ago when they described illness as a disconnect between the yin and the yang energy present in all beings. The goal of health is not so much an absence of disease as a state of well-being.

Gay seeks to restore patients to harmonious well-being.

Healer

Page 8: April 2013 PrimeTime

April 2013 PrimeTime | �

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health specialties

1. Belong to a community, whether of family, friends or colleagues. Talk. We are social beings who need one another.

2. Practice gratitude. Don’t focus on what you lack; be grateful for what you have.

3. Breathe deeply andmindfully, a few minutes every day. That will signal the brain to relax, giving you a respite from daily hassles.

4. Walk, preferably outdoors. Exercise. Garden (a produc-tive physical outdoor activity).

5. Eat real foods that you cook, not the prepackaged foodstuffs that are easy to grab.

Page 9: April 2013 PrimeTime

10 | PrimeTime April 201310 | PrimeTime April 2013

“Senior moment.” It’s a term used often and loosely by people, as they get older. You misplace your keys. You can’t remember your anniversary. You walk into the kitchen and forget what brought you there.

But what is the difference between absentmindedness and a sign that some-thing more sinister could be to blame?

Dr. Brian Ott, director of the Alzheimer’s Disease and Memory Disorders Center at Rhode Island Hospital, says the difference is difficult to detect.

“The general rule you follow is if the cognitive difficulty is bothersome but doesn’t interfere with your ability to conduct your usual activities, it’s probably just general aging,” Ott said.

Once the occasional memory lapse turns into chronic problems, it is time to see a physician. Memory loss doesn’t always mean dementia. Ott can point to more than 70 medical causes for cognitive impairment, from metabolic issues and thyroid disorders to vitamin deficiencies or a side effect to medication. These types of causes can be “readily treated and addressed,” Ott said, and the problem can be tackled with relative ease.

Many patients are reluctant to report memory problems to their loved ones or doctors, however, because they fear the worst. Waiting, Ott says, is the worst thing you can do.

Alzheimer’s disease develops as much as 10 to 15 years before the individual has any memory complaints, and early intervention is crucial.

“When you want to deal with it is when the person can talk rationally about the care plan and the prognosis. To try and work with someone who is very confused is very difficult,” he said.

Initial exams do not take long and are not particularly invasive. A physician will take the patient’s history and give a standard physical exam, followed by a mental health exam that covers 30 or so questions. This will give the doctor a general idea if there is a problem that needs to be investigated. Further testing could include blood tests, a CT scan and an MRI of the brain.

This is particularly important for individuals with cognitive problems who have a history of dementia in their family. Ott estimates those individuals have as much as a 50 to 60 percent higher risk for being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Ott’s average patient comes to the clinic at the age of 7�.

More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, and it is the sixth leading cause of death in the country. But as research and resources improve, so do treatments. Ace inhibitors like Donepezil are a common treatment. Once Alzheimer’s reaches a moderate level of severity, drugs like Memantine can block glutamate receptors.

In terms of prevention, research is less reliable.“The jury is out in terms of the effectiveness of cognitive training,” Ott said,

explaining that the idea that doing a daily crossword or other “brain training” exercises has not yielded convincing evidence for reducing risk.

There is some good news, though, for patients looking to give their craniums a workout.

“There is more evidence that suggests that physical exercise is supportive of brain health. What’s good for the heart is good for the brain,” he said.

In addition to exercise, Ott says that diet has been a focus for recent research. Doctors believe a Mediterranean diet - lauded by cardiologists - is helpful to cognitive health, and particularly a balanced diet that is high in antioxidants, vitamins and Omega-3 fatty acids.

“ The genera l ru le you fo l low i s i f the cogn i t i ve d i f f i cu l t y i s bo thersome bu t doesn ’ t in ter fe re w i th your ab i l i t y to conduc t your usua l ac t i v i t i e s , i t ’s p robab l y jus t genera l ag ing”

Think about it

health specialties b y M E G F R A S E R

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April 2013 PrimeTime | 11

It doesn’t take a secret elixir, an intense regimen of vitamins or even an expensive personal trainer. In fact, Dr. Barbara Roberts says the keys to heart health are quite simple.Don’t smoke.Exercise.Eat healthy.Follow those basic rules and your ticker should be in tip-top condition. If you’ve had heart problems in the past, or are showing early signs of heart disease, these tips are as good as a prescription.“We know we can prevent 80 percent of arthrosclerotic heart disease just with lifestyle changes,” said Roberts, a renowned cardiologist and director of the Women’s Cardiac Center at The Miriam Hospital.Of all the bad habits that people acquire, smoking is the worst for your overall health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the ad-verse effects of cigarette smoking account for nearly one in five deaths in the United States.“The earlier you stop, the better,” said Roberts. “Within a few weeks of stopping smoking, you’ve reversed some of the effects of having sudden cardiac death.”Earlier is better, but Roberts says it is never too late to kick the habit. She notes that nicotine is twice as addicting as heroin, so most people require outside as-sistance, like the cessation programs available through Miriam’s department of behavioral medicine.Exercise, on the other hand, is something that can be handled in-house, based on your schedule and at your own pace. Roberts recommends 150 minutes of exercise each week, broken up as you see fit. Walking is always a good option,

but for individuals with mobility problems, she says stationary bicycles or water-based workouts make exercise possible.“For people who have severe arthritis, I recommend exercise in a pool. It’s well worth an investment,” she said.Most important, and arguably easiest to implement, is a heart-healthy diet. Rob-erts, who is also the author of “The Truth About Statins,” is especially supportive of a Mediterranean diet.“It’s a plant-based diet with olive oil as the main source of fat,” she said. “The take away message is that when you look at people who have striking longevity, plant-based diets seem to have a very strong role.”A Mediterranean diet is largely vegetarian, limiting intake of processed carbo-hydrates and red meats, but also allows for fish. To avoid mercury poisoning, Roberts notes that fish lower on the food chain are better options to tuna or swordfish, which would have a higher mercury count. Avoiding sugar is impor-tant as well.“We are, as a nation, addicted to sugary foods and sweet foods. A huge intake of sugars and refined starches is more dangerous than a high intake of fats,” she said.When you need to indulge, red wine with dinner is actually a factor in the Medi-terranean diet, and dark chocolate can be good in moderation.But when it comes to eating out, Roberts warns that healthy options aren’t al-ways readily available.“It’s difficult to control portions if you eat out a lot. It’s very difficult to avoid some of the processed foods. In order to live and eat healthily, you have to make as much of your own food as you can,” she said.There are often genetic factors in heart disease, but at the end of the day, Roberts says that her patients control their own destinies. Nothing is more important, she said, than leading a healthy lifestyle.“If you have really bad habits, they’re going to trump genetics,” she said. “Genet-ics loads the pistol, but the environment pulls the trigger.”

“ I f you have rea l l y bad hab i t s ,

t hey ’ re go ing to t rump gene t i c s .

Gene t i c s loads the p i s to l , bu t the

env i ronment pu l l s the t r i gger.”

The

Heart of the issue

health specialties b y M E G F R A S E R

Page 11: April 2013 PrimeTime

1� | PrimeTime April 20131� | PrimeTime April 2013

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Across the country, health care and the ability to provide affordable, com-prehensive care for all Americans re-mains one of the most talked about is-sues.

When President Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Afford-able Care Act in March �010, the goal was to reduce the number of uninsured Americans while also cutting the costs of health care. Representing the most significant government expansion and regulatory overhaul of the country’s health care system since the passage of Medicaid and Medicare nearly 50 years ago, its impact is beginning to transform care right here in Rhode Island.

Thanks to being awarded $3 million in federal funding, there is a new facility for East Bay and Newport County resi-dents seeking high-quality health care - the East Bay Family Health Care cen-ter. Operated by the non-profit East Bay Community Action Program (EBCAP), the facility represents an expansion of their health care capabilities. It officially opened on Jan. �8 of this year.

a wORthy cauSE b y M I C H A E L J . C E R I O

Ensuring access to high-quality care

DR. EILEEN GONZALEZ (far right) is one of the board-certified family practice physicians at EBCAP’s East Bay Family Health Care center who helps the organization serve 2,000 patients each year - a number expected to double over the next four years.

Catherine Camparone gets her own dayAtria Harborhill resident Catherine Camparone celebrated her 104th birthday with family and friends on Feb. 24. Camparone received a Proclamation from the city of Warwick signed by Mayor Scott Avedisian, stating that Feb. 24, 2013 was Catherine Camparone Day. Camparone grew up in Federal Hill, the young-est of 11 children of Italian immigrants, who affectionately called her Queenie. She has three daughters, 11 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. Cam-parone completed eighth grade and returned to school as a senior citizen, re-ceiving her high school diploma at the age of 69. When asked about her secret to longevity, she said, “being nice and pleasant to everyone.” (Submitted photo)

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April 2013 PrimeTime | 13

“We have operated community health centers for over �0 years with sites in East Providence and Newport. Health services continue to be a criti-cal part of our array of services,” said Dennis Roy, CEO of EBCAP. “Low-income, uninsured and underinsured Rhode Islanders need a place to receive quality, affordable and comprehensive health care, which is exactly what we’re able to provide.”

The East Bay Family Health Care center is available to all residents of the East Bay and Newport County. For those without health insurance, services are offered on a sliding fee scale based on income and family size. The center also accepts Medicare, Medicaid, RIteCare, Blue Cross/Blue Shield and other pri-vate insurances.

The range of services offered span from preventative and sick care to emer-gency care.

Prior to Rhode Island’s Congressio-nal delegation securing $3 million to construct the new center, part of the $1.5 billion Health Care Reform appro-priation, EBCAP’s previous Newport facility was less than �,000 square feet. As a result of this space limitation, the organization was ill equipped to meet the sharp increase in the number of uninsured and low-income community residents in need of health care.

Now housed in an 11,000-square foot facility with double the number of exam rooms, the design of the new East Bay Family Health Care center pro-motes stronger integrated care, work-flow efficiency and space to incorporate additional services and programs. The additional space also helps people move away from seeking primary and non-emergency care in the Emergency Room - something that is not cost-efficient.

“Many of our patients face com-plex health issues and many social and economic challenges,” said Roy. “The model of providing health care in a multi-faceted community agency such as ours makes it possible for us to offer our patients a seamless and coordinated network of health and social services conveniently located under one roof.”

Board-certified physicians who oper-ate under a patient-centered model of care staff the East Bay Family Health Care center. This model puts each pa-tient at the center of a care team who provides individualized care through-out that person’s life to support the best health outcomes possible. In fact, ac-cording to national data, implementing this model of care has both improved patient health outcomes and been suc-cessful in reducing expense.

“The evolution of the patient-cen-tered medical home model allows the patient to drive their health care and enhances the working relationship be-

tween medical providers and their pa-tients,” said Roy. “This represents a shift from creating an environment that of-fers episodic treatment to one of preven-tative, proactive care.”

Some of the expanded capabilities of the new center include additional supports for the growing population of patients with chronic health issues such as diabetes, asthma and high blood pres-sure. And, representing cutting-edge technology, East Bay Family Health Care utilizes electronic health records and an integrated medical records man-agement system.

The use of electronic health records allows for the efficient exchange of in-formation among care providers, real-time alerts, timelier test reviews and a patient portal that makes it easier for patients to manage their care. A medical records management system supports better delivery and management of each patient’s unique needs.

A critical part of EBCAP’s mission - their commitment to treating the entire needs of an individual and fam-ily - is on full display at the East Bay Family Health Care center. The space of the new health center enables the organization to house key services such as WIC (Women, Infants and Children Supplemental Feeding Program), social services advocacy, behavioral health ser-vices, referrals for specialty care and an on-site lab.

“Our health care center serves as the medical hub of Newport’s North End; an environment designed to improve the educational, economic and overall health of our community,” said Roy. “Most importantly, it means that every infant, child, teenager, adult and senior citizen has a place where they can go for high-quality, affordable health care.”

The East Bay Family Health Care center currently serves �,000 people each year with a goal of doubling that number over the next four years. Always welcoming new patients, Roy encour-ages those interested to come in for a visit to meet the center’s staff and tour the facility. Reflective of the community EBCAP serves, members of the health center’s staff speak several languages. It is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesday evenings until 8 p.m. For more information, call 8�8-�160 or visit www.ebcap.org.

“The new health center is making it possible for us to make a difference in even more lives - our motto is ‘every door is the right door,’” said Roy. “We guarantee that no matter how a person or family enters our agency, they will receive the information and assistance that they need from all of the programs that we offer to make sure we’re caring for the entire individual.”

PEOPLE AND PLACES

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1� | PrimeTime April 20131� | PrimeTime April 2013

The second annual “Unforgettable Gala and Auction” will be held on Ken-tucky Derby Day, May �, this year to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association Rhode Island Chapter. All proceeds from the Gala will help to enhance care, support and re-sources for families dealing with the chal-lenges of Alzheimer’s disease.

Experience the excitement and glam-our of the “Run for the Roses Kentucky Derby” theme with a fun-filled evening featuring mint juleps, games of chance, a live broadcast of the Derby races, prizes for Derby attire, dancing the night away to the Frank Castle trio, a savory dinner, a large silent and live auction, and an opportunity to win $1,000 cash all in one evening.

The venue for the Gala again this year is Wannamoisett Country Club, a private club, rich in tradition and well renowned as one of the best facilities for ambience in Rhode Island. Tickets for the Gala are $85 and include a complimentary mint julep, appetizers, dinner, dessert and entertain-ment.

There are also opportunities for busi-nesses to purchase sponsorships, which include advertising and preferred seating. Health Concepts, Ltd. is the Top Triple Crown Sponsor for this event.

The evening will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a cocktail hour and then live broadcast of the Kentucky Derby at 6:��, followed by the silent auction, dinner and dancing. During the silent auction, bid on an array of exciting auction packages from exclu-sive spa treatments, golf outings at private clubs, theater packages, children’s parties and everything in between. Throughout the evening, purchase raffle tickets to win the grand prize of $1,000, $�50 or $50 to be announced at the end of the evening. Who knows - you may be lucky enough to have your bid number called to receive a special surprise gift during the event.

After dinner, WPRI 1� Meteorologist

senior issues b y C A M I L L A F A R R E L Ldevelopment direc tor, alzheimer ’s association r hode island chapter

An unforgettable occasion

Pictured standing are Donna McGowan, Executive Director, Al-zheimer’s Association and Kenneth Delisi, Administrator at Mor-gan Health Center. Seated are Camilla farrell, Development Di-rector, Alzheimer’s Association and Bella Garcia, Special Event Coordinator, Alzheimer’s Association.

Tony Petrarca will be the master of ceremo-nies and kick off the live auction. For the live auction, place your paddle high to bid on dream vacations, chef dinners, Red Sox tickets and elusive excursions. There is also an opportunity to support local programs with a “fund a need” bid, which helps to expand and sustain our free programs for families. Invite your family, friends and co-workers - this is an event you will not want to miss.

“We are looking forward to a wonder-ful evening and we thank all of the busi-nesses in the community who support this important event to raise funds and aware-ness for people with Alzheimer’s disease in Rhode Island,” said Alzheimer’s Association Executive Director Donna McGowan.

Please order your tickets early, as space is limited. E-mail [email protected] or call our Chapter Office at 800-�7�-3900 by April 19.

About the Alzheimer’s Association The Alzheimer’s Association is the world’s leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research, to provide and enhance care and support for all affected and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.

About the Alzheimer’s Association Rhode Island Chapter The Rhode Island Chapter, an affiliate of the National Alzheimer’s Asso-ciation, is a private, non-profit organization started in 1989 by family caregivers and in-terested community health care professionals. The Chapter programs and services include a ��/7 helpline, support groups, training for families, Live & Learn for Early Memory Loss, newsletters, advocacy, resource library, conferences, lectures, and special fundraising events. Offices are located at ��5 Waterman Street, Suite 306 in Providence. For more in-formation, call 800-�7�-3900, fax ��1-0115 or visit the website at www.alz.org/ri.

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Health Care Today—It’s Good To Be HomePreserving independence and dignity is a primary concern for seniors and peo-ple with disabilities, yet they are often reluctant to admit they need assistance to remain safely at home. Often, help from family or facilities may be unavailable or cost-prohibitive. For many, the ideal solution has been home health care. What is home health care?Home health care includes medical or non-medical services provided in some-one’s own home. Non-medical services may include companionship, meal preparation, and light housekeeping, and aides can assist with tasks such as bathing. For more complex cases, nursing may be required. Many procedures that once required expensive hospitalization are now safe and cost-effective to perform at home. Choosing a providerThere are many things to consider when choosing a home health care provider. Quite often, people focus solely on price while neglecting to ask about other important issues. The following will help you ask the right questions to ensure you get the provider that’s right for you.

• How are employees selected?• Are employees fully insured?• Are employees subject to criminal and reference checks?• Is the agency accredited?• How are employees supervised?• How are scheduling problems handled?• How is the care plan determined?• How are insurance and billing handled?

Standards of excellenceKnowing how employees are selected is crucial because they will be coming into your home. Reputable agencies have stringent hiring standards, which include checking references, criminal background, and work experience.

Ask how an agency supports its employees, handles call outs, and deals with af-ter-hours problems. Is each client assigned a client services manager (who coor-dinates services) and a clinical manager (who supervises care)? Is there an on-call supervisor to handle after-hours calls?

Understand how insurance payments and billing are handled. Does the agency contact insurance companies directly and handle the billing? If you will pay for services yourself, ask how taxes will be paid, if Worker’s Comp insurance is provided, and whether additional charges apply for weekends, nights, and holidays. Accreditation is important. The Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP) is the leader in home care accreditation.

Conclusion For many, home health care is the best way to preserve independence and dignity, and remain at home. Conducting research before hiring an agency will help ensure a positive experience. For questions or additional information, please call BAYADA Home Health Care in Providence at �01-330-�5�5.

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April 2013 PrimeTime | 1�

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Independence. Mobility. Access. Dignity. These are words that describe the fundamental rights of all individuals, especially those who experience debilitat-ing conditions, whether it be a premature infant on a high caloric diet, a young adult in a wheelchair, a wounded veteran, or an elderly neighbor with problems with incontinence. These, and many others, are all individuals who live in our communities and who may need assistance as they endeavor to live a meaningful quality of life.

Charm Medical Supply, which opened in Pembroke, Massachusetts in �000, is a trusted, reliable and full service source for healthcare supplies and medical equipment throughout New England. Now located on Main Street in Paw-tucket, Charm Medical Supply has one overriding goal: to offer support to these individuals and their families as they strive to enjoy the highest quality of life possible. Charm Medical serves hundreds of organizations throughout Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut, including Elder Services (Rest homes and Assisted Living Facilities), Medical Providers such as hospitals and doctor’s offices, and many Human Service Organizations.

One of the greatest challenges of accessing necessary healthcare and medical supplies is navigating the laborious and often confusing world of insurance au-thorizations. One of Charm Medical’s most highly commended services is the assistance they give to their customers throughout this process.

In Pawtucket’s new store, you will meet Kendra Morales. Morales, who speaks fluent Spanish, works closely with each customer to assess what product best addresses their needs and then completes all the necessary insurance paperwork. She will contact the medical provider to obtain and then to file all documenta-tion needed, staying with the request until the process is completed.

Charm’s knowledgeable customer service team handles all Medicare, Medicaid, BCBS and other private insurance carriers’ paperwork. Eric Fernandez, part of the Charm Medical team says “We really put ourselves in the middle of every-body in support of our clients.” Morales and Fernandez personify everything Charm stands for – quality service, accountability and care.

The list of medical supplies and equipment at Charm Medical is lengthy and comprehensive. Some of the many products available on site include:

• Aids to Daily Living (Reachers, hip kits, sock aids)• Nutrition (G-tubes, feeding pumps, Glucerna)• Diagnostics (Diabetic testing equipment, blood pressure cuffs)• Urology (catheters, drain bags)• Personal Care (creams, shampoos, gloves)• Incontinence (Adult briefs, waterproof bedding supplies)• Medical Equipment (wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds, bariatric supplies)• Bath Safety (transfer benches, rails, raised toilet seats, etc.)Living a life of dignity takes more than just loving caregivers and professionals;

it takes a feeling of self-determination and pride. The team at Charm Medical embraces the notion that all people deserve to have that feeling and will work diligently to make the many innovative products that are on the market today available to their customers.

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Charm Medical Supply is located at �37 Main Street in Pawtucket. Call �75-0�00 today, or visit their website at www.charmmedical.com for a full list-ing of their products and services.

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Page 17: April 2013 PrimeTime

18 | PrimeTime April 201318 | PrimeTime April 2013

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April 2013 PrimeTime | 1�

liFestYles

what DO yOu FInK? b y M I K E F I N K

Mr. April himself“Pass between Veterans Hospital and Roger Williams on Chalkstone, go left on

River, and find Robin.”Stan Kapelewski told me how to find the headquarters for “Street Sights.” Out

of this address come newsletters for homeless organizations. Stan also creates and edits a calendar. Each month of the year features a poet and a brief biography of his or her connection to the issue and condition of homelessness. Mr. April for �013 is...me! I composed a verse about my philosophical alliance with people from the shelters, or wayfarers who hide in huts on the riverbanks of town.

My poem sounds better in excerpts than it does as a rhyming essay on the sub-ject. Like, “You are free upon the road that goes...or the river that flows.” Or, “A new friend each noon, or at dawn or dusk, under the sun or moon.”

That may give some dim idea of what I had in mind, an expression of respect and some sort of admiration for those who survive, like the spirits of Thoreau, with-out the comforts and rigid routines most of us demand to get through the day.

One summer afternoon, some years ago, my son, his pal and my dog motor-boated along Narrow River until we came at Middlebridge upon a rather elegant and scholarly graffiti with a quotation from the pen of Jean Anouilh, the French playwright.

“Things are beautiful if you love them.”I hope it summed up my theme for April, which was, “Have no regrets, you

own whatever you enjoy,” or something to that effect.When I found Stan’s house, without much trouble, I rang the bell. I waited

only a few moments, admiring the little statue of a faithful dog at the granite steps and the small birdbath on the narrow strip behind the fence. Stan opened the door into the wee downstairs vestibule, handed me the calendar and the current issue of “Street Sights,” and spoke cheerfully, but briefly and to the point.

“Just had cataract surgery, can’t really quite afford the necessary drops for post-op treatment. Also battling tumors of the bladder and prostate. It’s hell getting old!”

He spoke cheerfully and cordially. I thought, he’s younger than I am, but I won’t tell him that.

“Look backward as well as forward,” I said, instead, wishing him happy memo-ries and high hopes.

He works for free, and shares his talents and ideas with others at monthly meet-ings. I admired him immensely for his zest and zeal, and drove homeward bound buoyed by the spirit of our city, which was founded by a wanderer, for the purpose of welcoming others troubled in body and soul.

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�0 | PrimeTime April 2013

C R A N S TO N • E A S T G R E E N W I C H

�0 | PrimeTime April 2013

PEOPLE AND PLACES

a gLIMPSE OF RI’S PaSt h i s t o r y w i t h Te r ry d ’amaTo S p e n c e r

Marble House was opened to the suf-fragettes for a meeting and, as well can be imagined, it received a great deal of pub-licity. She asked Governor Aram J. Pothier to address the group. Pothier very courte-ously asked her what she would like him to say. Much to his surprise, Alva Vanderbilt-Belmont handed him a number of pages full of anti-male tirades. Pothier, a clever politician, discarded the speech and spoke to the group in soothing platitudes.

As with everything else, Alva immersed herself in the suffragette movement and even led a parade in New York demand-ing that women be given the right to vote. She is also reported as telling a suffragette, “Brace up my dear. Just pray to God and She will help you.”

Alva lived a full, active life well into her 80s. She moved to France to be near her daughter, Consuelo. In a most candid comment, she paved the way for Con-suelo’s annulment of her marriage to the Duke of Marlborough when she said, “I forced my daughter to marry the Duke. When I issued an order, nobody discussed it. I therefore did not beg, but ordered her to marry the Duke.”

The era of Alva ends

After World War I, Alva Vanderbilt-Belmont spent little time in Newport. She sold most of O.H.P. Belmont’s collection to Clarence McKay and much of it can be seen today at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Alva spent her last years in France to be near Consuelo. She continued work for women’s rights and was constantly remodeling her home in France.

When Alva went to Europe in the 19�0s, she sold Belcourt Castle to her brother-in-law Perry Belmont. For a number of years, the “cottage” changed hands several times within the family. Alva owned it for a brief time during that period and eventually Perry Belmont be-came the last family member to own it. Alva died in France in 1933. Meanwhile, Perry Belmont, a brilliant statesman who had served in Congress with distinction and was Ambassador to Spain during Grover Cleveland’s administration, was childless. In 19�0, at age 89, he decided to sell Belcourt to a young businessman, George Waterman. Waterman is primarily responsible for restoring the third floor of the castle to its original design.

The Tinney family

The Tinney family decided to purchase Belcourt Castle as a private residence and a home for their extensive collections. They owned “Seaverge,” an oceanfront �5-room mansion in Newport that had been built for Edward V. Hartford, the founder of the A & P stores. Seaverge was not large enough to house the ever-grow-ing collection of art treasures and furni-

ture from Europe and Asia that the Tin-neys were accumulating. When Belcourt became available in 1956, they decided it would be ideal for their use.

Fortunately, the Tinney family has de-cided to share their treasures and turned Belcourt into a fabulous museum. The architecture of Belcourt, with its variety of authentic European interior style, was ideally suited and the family went to work in turning Belmont’s dream house into a show place for magnificent art treasures.

In 1956, the Tinney family consisted of Harold, his wife Ruth, son Donald and Mrs. Tinney’s aunt, Nellie Fuller. In August 1960, Donald Tinney married Harle Hanson and the ceremony was at Belcourt. The family, whose wealth came from real estate in New England, had been collecting art for over 30 years. Carole J. Maconi, in collaboration with the Tinney family, recorded the early years at Bel-court. Maconi, in the booklet, “Belcourt Castle,” states that, “The thousands of hours of hard labor in the Castle’s restora-tion were rewarded by the pleasure of see-ing this sleeping dream castle come alive.”

By July �8, 1957, after nine months of polishing woodwork and furniture, restor-ing stained glass and hanging draperies, Belcourt Castle Museum was ready for its first guided tour.

A new era of splendorBelcourt has had many gala festivals

that would have rivaled those of Alva Van-derbilt-Belmont. One of these has been heralded as the “greatest party ever held in Newport.” This was the time when the Tinney family hosted the city of New-port’s lavish fete honoring the Eisenhower presidential press. Carole J. Maconi tells us, “1,500 prominent citizens and foreign dignitaries enjoyed flowing fountains of champagne and countless gourmet delica-cies in the Castle’s opulent surroundings.” Maconi also states that among Belcourt’s many gala balls, concerts and festivities, was “the resplendent formal wedding cer-emony of Donald Tinney and Harle Han-son August 1960.”

The Castle is open for tours and for special events throughout the year. It is the only privately owned and shown resi-dence in Newport and the public can en-joy tours by specially trained guides. Here, you can capture some of the history of the fabulously wealthy families of yesteryear, as well as seeing some of the most beauti-ful treasures from palaces and castles of 33 countries. You can “step over the thresh-old of time” to a world of beauty and grandeur.

The sale of Belcourt to Carolyn Rafa-elian, founder of Alex and Ani, a jewelry company, was announced on Nov. 1�, �01�. Rafaelian plans to restore and reno-vate the mansion, and reopen it for events under the name “Belcourt of Newport.”

A new era begins

Congratulations

Debbie & Carl

Congratulations to our winner of the February“Love Story” Contest!

My Love Story began almost �9 years ago this coming June. That is when I answered a Cupid Suggests column in the local Yankee Swap-per.

I picked up the Swapper and read some of the posts in it, where people were trying to meet other people. I found one that caught my eye. After reading the ad, I wrote a short letter about myself, etc. and placed it in a sealed envelope along with a money order for $1.00. The Yankee Swapper would forward my letter to the person who placed the ad.

Never thinking I would hear so soon, Carl called me within a week. The call came on a Wednesday and we chatted for a couple hours. That Sunday we had our first date. Dinner at Chelo’s in Warwick, followed by a round of mini-golf at Lou’s Golf on Oakland Beach Ave. (Not there anymore) Later, we would walk the beach at Goddard Park hand in hand.

Four years later, Carl proposed and we set a date, July 1, 1989. Through all our ups and downs, financial, health issues, children, etc., our love remains as strong today as it was almost �� years ago.

We are soul-mates, lovers, but most of all friends. I truly believe God has blessed us both. The only regret I have is not saving that little ad I answered back in 1985. I will never regret spending a whole dol-lar to answer it!

– Debbie

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Page 20: April 2013 PrimeTime

April 2013 PrimeTime | 21

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Some people must pay taxes on their Social Security benefits, and as the deadline to file taxes fast approaches, it is an important detail in your finances. If you get Social Security, you should have received a Form SSA-1099, Social Security Benefit Statement, by early February. The form shows the amount of benefits you received in �01�.

Here are five tips from the IRS to help you determine if your benefits are taxable:

1. The amount of your income and your filing status affect whether you must pay taxes on your Social Security.

�. If Social Security was your only income in �01�, your benefits are prob-ably not taxable. You also may not need to file a federal income tax return.

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5. If you use IRS e-file to prepare and file your tax return, the tax software will figure your taxable benefits for you. If you file a paper return, you can use the Interactive Tax Assistant tool on the IRS website to check if your benefits are taxable. The ITA is a resource that can help answer tax law ques-tions. There also is a worksheet in the instructions for Form 10�0 or 10�0A that you can use to figure your taxable benefits.

For more information on the taxability of Social Security benefits, see IRS Publication 915, Social Security and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Ben-efits. You can get a copy of this booklet on IRS.gov or by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-8�9-3676).

Page 21: April 2013 PrimeTime

�� | PrimeTime April 2013�� | PrimeTime April 2013

Visit Our Booth at the Senior Living Expo

cRaFt hEavEnCRAFTOPIA, a festival for New England artisans and crafters, will take place at the Hope Artiste village at 1005 Main Street in Pawtucket on Sunday, April 28, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. CRAFTOPIA showcases the work of more than 65 arti-sans, curating a mix of arts and crafts, original handbags, one-of-a-kind jew-elry, paper arts and more. There will be food trucks outside and coffee

inside. Admission is just $1 and kids are ad-mitted for free. visit www.rhodycraft.com for details.

StRatEgIES FOR gOOD cOMMunIcatIOn Home Instead Senior Care will present, “The 40/70 Rule,” a program on how and when to have challenging family discussions, on Tuesday, April 16, at 6 p.m. at the Bethany Home of Rhode Island. Bethany Home is located at 111 South Angell St. in Providence, and guests are asked to RSvP with Beatriz O’Neill at 831-2870 or by e-mail at [email protected].

vOLuntEERSThe Salute to Senior Service program, sponsored by Home Instead, Inc., will celebrate adults 65 and older who give at least 15 hours per month of vol-unteer service to their favorite causes. Nominations were accepted through March, and state winners with then be selected by popular vote at SalutetoSe-niorService.com. voting runs from April 15 to 30. Home Instead will donate $500 to each of the state winners’ favorite non-profits, and $5,000 will be do-nated to the national winner’s non-profit.

I’M gaME The Italian Workingmen’s Club will have their 23rd annual Game Dinner on Saturday, April 20 at 6 p.m., and again on Sunday, April 21 at 1 p.m. Located at 947 Diamond Hill Road, the Workingmen’s Club will offer dinner stations, a cash bar, live auctions, raffles and more. Tickets are $30 and proceeds go to Children’s Wishes, an organization that grants wishes to local children suffer-ing from life-threatening illnesses. To purchase tickets, call 921-1300 or e-mail [email protected].

RuSh hOuR MuSIc Amica sponsors the Rush Hour Series for the Rhode Island Philharmonic on Friday, April 12 at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $38 to $46 for this performance of Beethoven’s 5th at The vets, One Avenue of the Arts in Providence. The full concert will be presented on April 13 at 8 p.m. Call 248-7000 or go to www.

riphil.org for more information.

DaFFODIL DayS aRE bacK at the Blithewold Mansion are back for the 2013 season. From April 6 to 28, join a self-guided or a custom guided tour for a group of eight or more. Blithewold is located at 101 Ferry Road in Bristol, and tours are available daily. Call 253-2707 with questions, or visit www.blithewold.org/tours.

a PERFORMancE nOttO bE MISSEDSt. Columba’s, located at 55 vau-cluse Avenue in Middletown, will host concert harpsichordist Paul Cienniwa for a program featuring the works of Bach, Handel and Scar-latti. There is a suggested donation of $20 for this show, which will take place on Sunday, April 28 at 3 p.m.

For more information, visit www.paulcienniwa.com or call 617-466-9042.

ShOPPIng FOR a cauSESupport Children’s Wishes at the Alex and Ani Charmed by Charity event on April 29 from 7 to 9 p.m. Admission is free, but 15 percent of all sales will benefit the non-profit. The event will take place at the Alex and Ani in Wayland Square, located at 201 Wayland Avenue in Providence. Call 919-5467 or go to www.cwishesri.com for more in-formation.

StaR gazIngDid you know that the Frosty Drew Observatory is open for visitors? Admission is free, and stop by any Friday night, weather permitting, to experi-ence the dome and telescopes. The observatory is open by 7 p.m., and is located at 62 Park Lane in Charlestown. For details, visit frostydrew.org or call 364-9508.

MOvIng tO thE MuSIcMoving to the Music 5K is a run and family walk held by the Amicable Church in Tiverton. The run starts at 9 a.m. on April 6 and the walk starts at 9:30 a.m. The sce-nic course brings participants through Tiverton’s Four Corners to Sakonnet Bay. Music and refreshments will be provided. Fees to participate are $15 and $20. For more information, visit www.Amicable5K.com or call 624-4611.

QuItE thE wORK OF aRtThe Jamestown Arts Center will host its 2013 Mem-bers’ Show through April 12 at its 18 valley Street location. Admission is free and the gallery is open from 5 to 8 p.m. to allow guests to view an exhi-bition celebrating work of local artists. Details are available at jamestownartcenter.org or by calling 560-0979.

caLEnDaR of EvEntS

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April 2013 PrimeTime | 23

M illions of Americans struggle with vision impairments from cataracts or glaucoma to varying degrees of blind-

ness. And while less than 1 percent of the population battles such problems early in life, as we age, eye-related illness in-creases dramatically. In fact, according to the National Eye Institute, more than �5 percent of Americans over the age of 80 have some kind of vision impairment.

Fear often keeps patients out of the optometrist’s chair, but Dr. Maria Jablonski says that the more you know, the better off your eyes will be.

“It’s normal to have a degree of fear or apprehension about the eye exam, but an eye exam is really not invasive at all,” said Jablonski, an optometrist and owner of the EyeSite RI practice in Cranston. “It’s the things we do now that help us to minimize our risk down the road. Early intervention really is key.”

While vision problems have long been associated with aging, Jablonski says prevalence of technology in our lives has magnified the situation. Sitting at a computer all day, or being glued to the television or smart phone causes eye-strain, fatigue, headaches and can aggra-vate existing eye conditions.

“So much of our life is at that com-puter monitor now,” she said. “We don’t just go on and check our e-mail - ev-erything is on the computer. And with seniors, and even into adulthood, we can develop issues with glares or halos around lights.”

Limiting time spent at a monitor can help alleviate that strain, as can protect-ing your eyes from sunlight. Jablonski says that wearing sunglasses is as impor-tant as wearing sunscreen, and purchas-ing a polarized, anti-glare pair will block out harmful UVA and UVB rays.

Sunglasses can be tailored to the needs of individual patients, with lenses designed for corrective vision. Both eye-glasses and sunglasses come in multi-fo-cal designs, correcting near- and farsight-edness, astigmatism and other vision challenges. Contact lenses are another popular alternative.

Sometimes, though, vision problems are inevitable. Cataracts, for example, a

health specialties b y M E G F R A S E R

of the Beholder Eye

clouding of the lens inside the eye, often comes with age.

“Cataracts are more of a normal, age-related change in the eye. If you live long enough, pretty much everybody will develop a cataract,” Jablonski said.

Sunglasses are especially important for people with cataracts, but more seri-ous cases require a more serious course of treatment.

“If it gets to a point where the glass-es don’t help the symptoms, at that point we would talk about surgery,” Jablonski said.

Macular degeneration is another eye-related disease, and one that robs the individual of central sight, leav-ing them with only peripheral vision. Jablonski called the disease “debili-tating,” but said treatments have improved exponentially over the past decade.

“It’s one of the leading causes of blindness for patients over 65 years old, but it’s something that, very often, we can de-tect early on,” she said.

Not surprisingly, Jablonski says that the best offense is a good defense.

“I really fo-cus on preven-tative care and lowering risk,” she said.

In addition to protecting your eyes, she says an annual eye exam is essential. Nutrition can likewise impact vision, and a diet rich in green leafy vegetables and Omega-3 fatty acids can improve long-term eye health.

EyeSite RI is located at 110 Atwood Avenue. They offer night and weekend hours, and are currently accepting new pa-tients. For more information, call 9�3-�770.

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�� | PrimeTime April 2013

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Our first Cracker Barrel encounter was in Nashville, where we enjoyed some great country cookin’ at the res-taurant across the street from the Grand Ole Opry. The popular chain now has more than 600 locations in �� states, including one right off Route 95 at Exit 7 in Coventry.

We have made a tradition of having a family breakfast there on New Year’s Day and other special occasions.

There is usually a short wait for a ta-ble, which the women love because they can shop in their interesting gift shop. You’ll find most of the men waiting for them in the rocking chairs on the porch, even in the dead of winter.

Cracker Barrel is famous for their big breakfasts, which are served all day. My favorite is the farm-raised catfish plat-ter, while big-eater brother-in-law likes Momma’s Pancake Breakfast, which consists of three buttermilk pancakes, two eggs and a choice of sausage or thick-sliced bacon.

They serve the popular southern dish, country-fried steak, which is bat-ter-dipped then fried to a crispy golden brown and topped with brown gravy. The sides range from veggies to French fries, with an emphasis on southern cooking. Try the breaded fried okra (even if you think you don’t like okra), dumplings, hash brown casserole and turnip greens. And don’t pass up the

cornbread. Biscuits and gravy are an acquired taste, served with sausage or bacon, as are chicken and dumplings. Another southern treat is the roast beef dinner, which is really an old-fashioned pot roast that has been slow roasted for 1� hours.

Their food is inexpensive, with many dinners, including catfish and a variety of chicken, for $7.95. It comes with two sides and cornbread or biscuits, but the portions are small. For a couple dollars more, I suggest the platters, which come with three sides, and you can take home what you don’t finish.

The service is prompt and attentive – sometimes too attentive, with wait-persons and managers frequently asking how your meal was.

The kids (and adults) are kept busy looking at the mountains of memo-rabilia hanging on the walls and a peg game on the tables. Cracker Barrel is very family and senior friendly. Cracker Barrel is a short ride from most areas, off Route 95 Exit 7 in Coventry, and is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, or 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Cathleen Naughton Associatescoordinates toiletry donation

As we navigate our way through

these trying times, Cathleen Naughton Associates has developed The Toiletries Program of �013. Naughton has worked at the North Kingstown Food Pantry for many years and said it never fails to put a smile on a client’s face when basic toiletry items are available.

With this in mind, the agency is collecting toiletry items that will be do-nated to Amos House, House of Hope, Domestic Violence Center of South County, Welcome House in Peacedale and the North Kingstown Food Pantry. The program will run through May 1, and the goal is to make up 500 individ-ual bags for men, women and children.

The agency is collecting: deodorant, kids body wash, soap, makeup, body wash, shampoo, mouthwash, condi-tioner, hairspray, facial cleansers, baby powder, toothpaste, Q-tips, toothbrush-es, toilet paper, razors, shaving cream, feminine products and nose clippers.

Any of these items can be dropped off at the Providence or Wakefield of-fice, or businesses are invited to put posters up and Cathleen Naughton Associates will then coordinate pickup times. Volunteers are also needed for “put together” sessions.

For more information, call 751-9660 or visit cathleennaughtonassoc.com.

Happy at 100Mavis Palmer (bottom right), a resident of EPOCH Assisted Living on Black-stone Boulevard, turned 100 in February. On Valentine’s Day, Mayor Angel Taveras (bottom left) paid Mavis a visit to give her a special citation in recog-nition of her landmark birthday. Four generations of Mavis’ family gathered to celebrate, including (top row, from left) granddaughter Christine, daughter Sandra and great-granddaughter Alice. (Submitted photo)

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For 56-year-old Anne Watkins, arthritis is literally a pain to deal with, just about every day of her life. She was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in her teens, but she’d had symptoms since the age of �, and has been living with the condition ever since. She says just when she has reached a point in her life when she has time to enjoy some of her favorite pastimes, like knitting and crocheting, these are the very things that are most difficult to do.

According to the Arthritis Foundation, �7 million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis, a progressive, degenerative joint disease characterized by the breakdown of the joint’s cartilage. The most common form of arthri-tis, it usually affects only certain joints, such as the hips, hands, knees, lower back or neck.

Symptoms of osteoarthritis include pain or stiffness in the joints after periods of inactivity or from excessive use, bony growths at the mar-gins of affected joints, and grating during joint movements.

Patients are typically diagnosed with osteo-arthritis based on their medical history and a physical examination. X-rays and an MRI may also be performed to determine the extent of the joint damage. Heredity is one of the risk factors, as well as joint injury, repetitive use of certain joints, lack of physical activity, aging and being overweight.

According to Dr. John M. Conte at the Rheumatology Associates in Pawtucket, there is no cure for arthritis.

“We hope to stop the progress of arthritis and we can treat the pain where it exists,” he said. “An x-ray doesn’t always predict the degree of pain.”

Dr. Conte said treatments for osteoarthritis are tailored to the patient’s age, health and risk factors. Typical pain relievers are Tylenol or other acet-aminophen products, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or prescription medications, if stronger pain relief is needed.

Eventually, surgery could be an option.“When it’s become so advanced in various joints that patients become

disabled from pain and limited movement, surgery has saved countless peo-ple from being relegated to a wheelchair or permanent sedentary lifestyle,” said Dr. Conte.

About 1 to 3 percent of the population is afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis, which is the most common autoimmune arthritis. Dr. Conte ex-plained that most of the research for new drugs has been focused on rheu-matoid treatment.

“The biggest development in osteoarthritis over the past �0 to 30 years has been the perfection of different forms of joint replacements,” he said.

Conte says these would include total hip, shoulder and even finger joint replacements.

For those who want to slow down the process of developing arthritis or manage it better, the Arthritis Foundation lists the following helpful tips:

• Weight loss of only 15 pounds can cut knee pain in half for overweight individuals with arthritis.

• For every one pound of weight lost, there is a four-pound reduction in the load exerted on the knee for each step taken during daily activities.

• Losing as few as 11 pounds can cut the risk of developing knee osteo-arthritis by 50 percent for some women.

Those afflicted with arthritis can also bene-fit from alternative or complementary treatment methods such as exercise, massage and physical therapy.

The YMCA, in collaboration with The Ar-thritis Foundation, offers some programs that may be very helpful for people dealing with stiff, sore joints and muscles. The land exercise program was developed to help increase joint flexibility range of motion and muscle strength. Exercises are performed while sitting in chairs, with a strong focus on the hands and feet.

In addition, the ‘Y’ offers an aquatics pro-gram. An indoor pool’s heated water provides soothing warmth and buoyancy to help relieve

the pain and stiffness of arthritis. Plus, people have a greater range of mo-tion in the water.

Another method that may help alleviate arthritis pain and stiffness is Reiki, a Japanese healing technique for stress reduction and relaxation.

“Reiki uses techniques commonly called palm healing, or hands-on healing, as a form of alternative medicine,” said Nancie Marshall, a counsel-or for Atlantis Counseling and Wellness in Rumford and a Reiki Master.

Bernadette Pace, who practices Reiki at the Bayside YMCA, said this technique works hand in hand with diet, relaxation, meditation and exer-cise, along with medical treatments.

“Every person has the ability to heal,” Pace said. “Reiki treats the whole person - body, mind and soul.”

Coming up on Sunday, May 19, is the Arthritis Walk, a fundraising event sponsored by the Arthritis Foundation. It will be held at Roger Wil-liams Park, 100 Elwood Avenue in Providence. Registration begins at 9 a.m. The walk/run will start at 10 a.m. For more information, contact Michele DiTraglia at 739-3773 or e-mail [email protected].

“I don’t let arthritis keep me from having a joyful life and I don’t let it define who I am,” said Anne Watkins. “I’m a mom and grandmother, a birdwatcher and writer, a good cook and somebody who also happens to have arthritis.”

health specialties b y K A T H Y T I R R E L L

Living with

Arthritis“ I don ’ t l e t a r thr i t i s

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Department of AudiologyHelping people of all ages enjoy the sounds of life

Our certified and licensed audiologists provide completeAudiological services for patients of all ages, including:

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We offer competitive pricingand a senior citizen discount.

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“Everyone can be greatbecause everybody can serve.”

- marTin LuTher King Jr.

National Volunteer Week, from April �1 to �7, will celebrate its 39th birthday this year - for the first time, unlike most of us, I’m afraid!

Volunteering in America, a federal volunteer agency, reports that more than �13,000 Rhode Islanders volunteered in �011. This ranks us �0th in the nation in volunteer service. Volunteers donated �1 million hours of service to their fel-low Rhode Islanders at an estimated value of $�67 million.

The Corporation for National and Community Service reports that 66,379 volunteers in Rhode Island are 55 or older.

National Volunteer Week is an oppor-tunity to recognize an unusual aspect of Older Americans Act Programs and of the Division of Elderly Affairs (DEA) as a government agency, and that is our reliance on a vast unpaid network of in-dividuals to accomplish our objectives.

This reliance on older volunteers is a win-win, because we don’t have to pay workers with scarce funds to accom-plish our work - but also because studies consistently show a direct correlation between volunteering and good health. According to the Corporation for Na-tional Service, the benefits to older peo-ple when they volunteer are far greater than for younger people.

senior issues b y C A T H E R I N E T E R R Y T A Y L O Rdirec tor, r i depar tment of elder ly affairs

Highlighting the role of senior volunteers

In fact, the very act of volunteering may allow individuals to maintain their independence as they grow older, thus meeting one of the key objectives of our Older Americans Act programming, and helping to fulfill the mission of DEA.

DEA administers several volunteer-based programs to enhance the quality of life for seniors. There are many op-portunities for Rhode Island seniors to serve residents of all ages.

• The Senior Companion Program sup-ports 80 trained volunteers who serve isolated older adults in their own homes, at adult day centers and else-where in the community.

• DEA’s State Health Insurance Pro-gram (SHIP) trains volunteers to pro-vide one-to-one counseling to seniors, adults with disabilities, families and caregivers to help them identify health care options. SHIP counselors are known statewide as trusted advocates who offer objective, accurate, free and confidential assistance to Medicare beneficiaries. At present, we have 70 SHIP volunteer counselors located throughout the state.

• Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) vol-unteers - 50 at present - help Rhode Island Medicare beneficiaries to recog-nize and report Medicare and Medic-aid fraud, waste and abuse.

• The Volunteer Guardianship Program currently has 109 volunteers working

as protectors and decision-makers for elders who are infirm and alone.

• The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program has a core of volunteer om-budsmen who assist a staff of profes-sionals in protecting the rights of pa-tients in long-term care settings. There are currently 1� LTCO volunteers, the majority of whom are over 55.

• Through DEA-sponsored Older Americans Act programs, volunteers deliver Meals on Wheels or serve at congregate dining sites, provide re-spite services and teach falls preven-tion at senior centers.

• More than 3,700 seniors in Rhode Is-land contribute their time and talents in one of three Senior Corps programs operated by ServeRI. Foster Grand-parent Programs across the state serve more than 7,700 special needs chil-dren in schools, day care centers and hospitals. The Retired Senior Volun-teer Program (RSVP) provides a vast array of opportunities for persons 55 years and older to utilize their enthusi-asm, skills and experience. The Neigh-borhood Friendly Visitor Program provides companionship and cheering support to homebound seniors across the state.

• We even use volunteers to get the word out about all that is available to se-niors. “Senior Journal,” DEA’s public access cable television program, relies

on 10 volunteers to produce program-ming that explores the issues of grow-ing older and the challenges faced by adults with disabilities in Rhode Island. “Senior Journal” is produced with the support of Rhode Island PBS and Rhode Island Public, Education and Government Access Television. Programs are aired on Sundays at 5 p.m., Mondays at 7 p.m., and Tues-days at 11:30 a.m. over statewide in-terconnect cable channel 13 and Veri-zon channel 3�. “Senior Journal” was selected last August for the national Volunteers Matter: Excellence in Vol-unteer Services Award, which high-lights successful state-run programs that lead the way in the creative use of volunteers in a community-based long-term care support system.

National Volunteer Week is an op-

portunity for Rhode Island seniors to join millions of Americans who dedi-cate countless hours of service to their community, especially in caring for, protecting and informing their peers, and reap an important health benefit in the bargain. Do something you love, for people you will grow to love. Rhode Is-land can always use more senior volun-teers to help preserve the independence and dignity of seniors and adults with disabilities. I encourage you to join us!

For more information, call DEA at �6�-3000, or go to www.dea.ri.gov. The TTY number is �6�-07�0. You can also contact Serve Rhode Island at 331-��98, or go to www.serverhodeisland.org.

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April 2013 PrimeTime | 2�

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RetirochondriaSo many people are self-diagnosing by Googling their health symptoms that

medical professionals have coined a new term: “cyberchondriacs.” It describes those who get so immersed in health-related research online that they’re sure they have dozens of ailments.

In my first months of retirement, I became more in tune with my body’s aches and pains than when I was going to an office. Either our house is an environmental hazard, or the leisure time that retirement affords leads to physical introspection along with psychological. Of course, there is a third possibility. Like many new retirees, I was watching more TV. This wore thin pretty quickly, but initially I did it just because I could. It seemed every third commercial was for a remedy for some health issue. During a few of these commercials, I noted that I had at least one of the symptoms described.

I was then compelled to go online to learn more about whether my symptoms (morning stiffness and fatigue, for example) meant I have fibromyalgia (for ex-ample) or some other ailment for which treatment is less pricey. This led to more research, and a sizable list of conditions that cause stiffness, fatigue and memory problems (I forgot to mention that one).

Although many of these are normal signs of aging, I was drawn to the more ex-otic explanations. Simply put, I’m at risk of becoming a “retirochondriac.” I’m sure there are thousands like me out there, perhaps too ashamed to admit it.

Know that you are not alone. Step into the light.Some of the information I uncovered was alarming. I’d been experiencing seem-

ingly contradictory symptoms in my toes – both numb and at the same time tingly with sharp pain. A friend said it sounded like neuropathy, but I wasn’t so sure. When I checked these symptoms online, I discovered I might have been stung by a cone snail.

This is not that far fetched. From the photos, I recognized these critters as being among the shells displayed artistically in a basket in our living room. Some of you would say they are simply piled in the basket, but you would be lacking creative vision. Soon, I imagined the snails crawling around at night, looking for toes to sting. Laugh if you must, but I was taking this very seriously. Severe cases of cone snail stings can lead to blurred vision and respiratory paralysis. Note to self: ask eye doctor what he knows about cone snails.

Closer to home was the possibility that I had atrial fibrillation, which my mother had and which more than doubles one’s likelihood of developing dementia after surviving a stroke. My mind was already wandering dangerously close to the out-skirts of sanity. I didn’t need to add to my risk of dementia. The commercial for MULTAQ prompted me to learn the symptoms of AFib and where better to look than online?

senior issuesREtIREMEnt SPaRKSb y E L A I N E M . D E C K E R

Lack of energy – check (especially after a big meal with a glass or two of wine).

Heart palpitations – check (but only when I lie awake at night thinking abouteverything I didn’t get done).

Dizziness – check (especially when I stand up suddenly after a few glasses of wine). This was definitely something for my GP to investigate on my next visit.

I had time for one last symptoms search on WebMD. I decided to see what I could find for being exhausted (especially after clearing out a wall full of books), craving ice cream sandwiches, frequent trips to the loo and mood swings (at least when I’ve run out of ice cream and wine). Wonder of wonders! It looked like I might have been pregnant. That would have meant cutting out the wine, but I was as likely to do that as I was to be pregnant.

So much for self-diagnosis. Seriously, we need to be our own best health advo-cates. The more we understand our bodies and our baseline conditions, the better we can help our physicians keep us healthy. So, get on the Internet, research your symptoms and make your own list of ailments to annoy your doctor about. And don’t forget cone snails.Copyright 2012 Business Theatre Unlimited. Elaine M. Decker’s latest book, “Retirement Sparks Again,” follows her first two books, “Retirement Sparks” and “CANCER: A Coping Guide.” All are available at Books on the Square, the Brown University bookstore and Spectrum-India, on the East Side of Providence, and on Amazon.com, including Kindle editions. Contact her at [email protected] to arrange a meet-and-greet with your organization.

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Saint Elizabeth Community

www.stelizabethcommunity.org

Where RI seniors come first

Ten orthopedic surgeries over the past 15 years have rendered Tom Bosco an expert in rehabilitative care. Diagnosed with progressive advanced osteoarthritis when he was 55, the East Greenwich landscape architect knows all too well the importance of post acute rehabili-tation in the journey from hospital to home.

At the youthful age of 68, Bosco has undergone surgery and rehabilitation for replacement of his shoulders, knees, hip and, earlier this winter, an ankle - a particularly delicate and difficult sur-gery. Over his decade of surgeries, Bosco has followed up each hospital admission with a rehabilitation stay in a skilled nursing setting. For 10 years, he has repeatedly chosen Cedar Crest Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Cranston for his post-hospital rehabilitation.

Bosco’s choice to access rehabilitation services in a skilled nursing setting is not unusual. Over the past two decades, skilled nursing facilities, once more commonly known as nursing homes, have carved out a definitive niche in today’s health care continuum. The type of care these centers provide has changed dramatically.

So too, have the type of people who stay in a skilled facility.

According to a �01� report by the American Health Care Association, of the 3.7 million individuals who re-ceived care in a nursing facility in �009, only 85�,000 - �3 percent - resided in the facility for a year or more. The re-maining 77 percent were admitted, like Bosco, for short-term rehabilitation or recuperation.

Skilled nursing centers have raised their game to accommodate the needs of an onslaught of baby boomers look-ing for a place to recover when neither hospital nor home is feasible.

Cedar Crest is a clear example of these evolving changes. When the facility first

opened its sub-acute care unit in 1995, discharges to home were nearly non-ex-istent. Today, the center discharges 900 individuals home each year.

While the growth of the short-term population has been explosive, the aver-age severity of illness for residents who do remain one year or more is continu-ously increasing as well, creating further changes in the skilled nursing landscape. Overall staffing trends show a steady in-crease in the amount of direct care nurs-ing needed per resident for all levels of nursing staff.

These changes in demographics have brought sweeping changes to skilled nursing facilities. The sheer abundance of specialized services offered by today’s skilled nursing facilities is overwhelm-ing and ever changing. With services like infusion and respiratory therapies, tracheotomy care, cardiac rehabilitation and complex wound care, skilled nurs-ing centers have become “mini-hospi-tals” and staff has responded by earning more specialty certifications than ever before.

An example is Gail Dombeck, BSN, RN, Cedar Crest’s director of nurs-ing, who received her certification as a wound care specialist three years ago. She is among a growing number of health care workers who have earned certification in a variety of specialty ar-eas.

“Having a certification in wound care has really helped improve the care of both our long-term residents and short-term patients who typically come in the facility with wounds related to diabetes or vascular diseases,” said Dombeck. “We don’t have to send them out to wound care clinics - they can get care in place. They heal faster and their out-comes are much better.”

Pam Bibeault, president of Triad Health Care LLC, a clinical and qual-ity improvement consulting company,

began working in nursing homes more than two decades ago and, like Dom-beck, is a fan of specialty training. She has seen significant advancements in skilled nursing facilities and notes that certifications in wound care, rehabilita-tion and gerontology are becoming in-creasingly popular among skilled nurs-ing professionals. Bibeault herself has a Bachelor of Science in nursing and Masters Degree in health administra-tion, as well as certifications in geron-tologic nursing, nursing administration, interdisciplinary practice in geriatrics and legal nurse consulting.

“The industry has truly evolved and our nursing home residents are not the traditional elderly people with simple needs as may have been the case years ago. The population nursing homes are now serving is younger and has complex medical and rehabilitative needs. The nurses caring for these residents have to

be on top of their game. Certifications allow nurses to address the intense clini-cal or traditional gerontological needs in ways that allow for positive resident outcomes,” said Bibeault.

Studies show that the majority of people with direct experience with post acute care in skilled nursing centers tend to give them good marks.

“The care has changed over the years to the point where it is very personal,” said Tom Bosco. “The staff is really on the ball. I tell people they shouldn’t be afraid of nursing homes. I think even more young people should use them for rehabilitation.”

For his part, Bosco is putting his money where his mouth is. He plans to return to Cedar Crest in the fall for post acute rehabilitation after he undergoes his second ankle replacement.

senior issues b y K E R R Y P A R K

Not your grandma’s nursing home

TOM BOSCO and BRENDA HARROP, Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, at Cedar Crest.

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Answers

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