prime - townnews€¦ · empty nesters, millennials professor helps with alzheimer s care staying...

PRIMEPRIMEA MONTHLY GUIDE TO STAYING ACTIVE | MARCH 2020

UnlikelyUnlikelyhousemates

How a St. Louis startup matches empty nesters, millennials

Professor helps with Alzheimer’s care • Staying healthy with exercise

2 | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2020 PRIME

Oanh Meyer, an assistant adjunct professor with the University of California, Davis, discusses her work with Alzheimer’s disease

in her o� ce at the UC Davis Department of Neurology in Sacramento.THEODORA YU, SACRAMENTO BEE VIA TNS

THEODORA YU | The Sacramento Bee

Oanh Meyer is no stranger to Alzheimer’s dis-ease. Her everyday life revolves around caring for those who su� er from the ailment.

Meyer’s o� ce is at the UC Davis Alzheimer’s Disease Center in Sacramento. But her care goes beyond the clinic: Her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, a progressive disease that commonly causes dementia and has no cure.

As a primary caregiver herself, the University of Cali-fornia, Davis, assistant adjunct professor understands the challenges, barriers and emotional burdens that come with that role — especially for newer immigrants — but are often ignored or dismissed.

Watching over a family memberIt was 3 a.m. and Meyer was awakened by a sound in her

bedroom — someone was unplugging the nightlights. It was jarring, Meyer recalled.

Wearing her usual black pants and a sweater as paja-mas, her mother’s silhouette began to register in the dark. Anh Le, 84, used to unplug the nightlights, scared that the electricity would start a fi re.

Another night, the garage alarm woke Meyer up. Le had wandered down to the garage, went outside and left the door open. Meyer turned o� the alarm and walked Le back to her room.

Sometimes she would have to stay outside of Le’s room to make sure her lights didn’t fl ip back on. Then she’d lie on her bed for an hour or more, taking deep breaths and scrolling through social media to try to fall asleep again to prepare for the upcoming day.

A parallelMeyer has always been interested in mental health is-

sues among Asian immigrants. She even started a post-doctoral degree in 2011 at the University of California, San Francisco, with a focus on mental health issues among Asian minorities.

ALZHEIMER’SUC Davis professor

helps with

CAREWhy her work goes beyond the o�ce

PRIME Wednesday, March 18, 2020 | 3

But that’s when Le started showing symp-toms of cognitive impairment, and was later diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2014. Two years later, Meyer was living with her mother to take better care of her.

Meyer admitted that it’s stressful be-ing her mother’s primary caregiver. Even though she understands on an academic level that her mother will continue to de-cline, she finds it difficult to apply that knowledge to her mother’s case with the emotional turmoil such a concession would entail.

“Sometimes I am proud of myself for not being snappy or short,” Meyer said.

Some days the mask slips and she might be a little curt. When that happens, Meyer said she feels guilty and tries to be extra nice to her mother the next day.

“It is hard when you are dealing with it on a day-to-day basis,” she said. “You are a human being and it’s challenging.”

Stigma, trauma and lack of knowledge

Through her research and her experi-ence as a caregiver, Meyer found that many Vietnamese elders lack knowledge about Alzheimer’s and wait a long time before seeking help or diagnosis.

Sometimes, stigma drives them away from treatment, and in many cases, there are multiple caregivers taking care of one family member, and conflicts can arise when they don’t agree on what to do.

And they aren’t the only ones.According to a report published by the

Alzheimer’s Association, most of the cur-rent studies on dementia among Asian subgroups are unreliable and more studies are needed to draw significant conclusions about the prevalence of Alzheimer’s and other dementias in Asian Americans and subgroups.

In 2015, Meyer published a research paper documenting the experience of Vietnamese caregivers, in an attempt to help them better understand the context of the battle against Alzheimer’s.

Wartime trauma is one factor that could exacerbate the effects of Alzheimer’s and dementia for Vietnamese immigrants. With their long-term memories intact, Meyer noted that many care recipients re-peat traumatic stories about the communist forces coming to attack Vietnam before the fall of Saigon, and running away from the bombing raids.

She wants to study whether wartime trauma, reinforced by immigrating to a new country, could make behavioral symptoms among people with dementia worsen.

In 2018, she published another paper that explores a culturally competent program to

help reduce stress for caregivers taking care of their Vietnamese loved ones suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s, as well as to educate them on how to get appropriate medical care and how to deal with real-life situations as a caregiver, among other top-ics.

She later began a six-week support pro-gram for caregivers based in Sacramento and San Jose.

“For example, caregivers can learn about the protocol when the care recipient refuses to bathe,” Meyer said. They can also learn to manage stress and emotions through breathing exercises and stretching.

Information that many caregivers found useful include the Alzheimer’s Association hotline and the in-home support services for low-income families to help pay for caregiving, Meyer said.

“Once they are in the safe space, they were open in sharing and the stigma is gone,” she said.

You’re not aloneDan Truong, a Sacramento resident and

a caregiver for his wife, enrolled in the pro-gram but was skeptical at first.

“Why should I open my life to peo-ple who are strangers?” he recalled thinking.

But he gave it a shot anyway — and was glad he did.

Truong’s wife of 34 years first showed symptoms of Alzheimer’s, such as memory loss, in 2004, in her early 50s.

Truong said he felt depressed after having to quit his job in the food industry, which he had worked his way up in and loved so much, in order to take care of her.

“I have an eight-hour job. How do I deal with that?” Truong said. “For a while, I would just go to work at 8, come home for an hour to have lunch with her and put her to bed, go back to work again and come home at 4. But it was killing me because who knows what she will do from 12 to 4 p.m.”

“I stayed at home, but there is only so much ‘Judge Judy’ you can watch,” he said.

Because Truong’s wife developed sepa-ration anxiety, a common symptom of Al-zheimer’s, she tagged along wherever Tru-ong went. He later found a job with more flexibility and placed his wife in a day care center while he works.

Truong said the most important realiza-tion he came to through the program was just knowing he isn’t alone.

“There were others struggling like me,” Truong said. “It’s funny because you can identify the things listed (in the program) just happened to me. That was what com-pelled me to go back every week.”

Truong made friends at the program who helped form a support network. One par-

ticipant called him a week ago to update him about her husband and asked whether such and such symptoms happened to him or not. They spoke on the phone for more than an hour.

“It is a relief when you can talk about it,” Truong said. “The stress goes away.”

Having a translator present at the pro-gram to provide interpretation for partici-pants was helpful, too, he said.

“There’s a learning curve to this disease because you are not prepared for it,” Truong said.

Meyer invited experts from the Alzheim-er’s Association and from social service groups to help with questions at the inter-vention and passed out cards with contact information.

“I didn’t know these places like in-home long-term care or respite care exist,” Tru-ong said.

What keeps Truong going is the lucid moment his wife has, every now and then, albeit short-lived.

“Sometimes she doesn’t remember me,” Truong said. “She has a blank stare — she is scared of me. But when she realized it was me, she will squeeze my hand really hard.”

What’s next?For her upcoming projects, Meyer, along

with principal investigator Van Ta Park from UCSF, will develop a registry for the Asian Pacific Islanders in California to help researchers address the gap and disparities by studying a population that is typically left out.

Data about Asian Americans usually lumps the subgroups of different ethnicities together, which could bury issues among subgroups that are often smaller and consist of more newer immigrants. Better detailed data would be able to guide organizations to do more effective outreach in underserved communities.

The registry will gather information from 10,000 API participants, who could be re-cruited to enroll in research and studies on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia.

The National Institute on Aging funded the study. It will be conducted in Cantonese, English, Mandarin, Vietnamese and Korean across Sacramento, Los Angeles and Orange counties, as well as the Bay Area.

In the meantime, Meyer is continuing to research caregivers among the API popula-tion.

“I think it is the desire to give people the support they need,” she said. “I know how stressful it can be as caregivers and a lot of them are not aware of the services out there.”

Peter J. Sakol, MD, LLC2025 Technology Parkway, Suite 205, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050

717.791.2920www.drpetersakol.com

Tearing / Dry Eye Problems / Eyelid Surgery / Cosmetic & Laser Surgery

Too many tears can rundown your cheeks. Too fewtears can make your eyesdry and itchy.

Today, there are many effectiveways to manage too many or toofew tears. If you think you have adry eye or tearing problem,schedule a private consultationwith Peter J. Sakol, MD.

Dr. Sakol is a Board-certifiedOphthalmologist specializing ineye plastic and cosmeticsurgery. He is expert in treatingdry eye and tearing problems.

Dry Eye &Tearing


Sally Lorino pets her dog Tank while Amisha Wankhede prepares her lunch on Jan. 4 in Crestwood, Mo. Wankhede and Lorino

live together as a part of the Odd Couples Housing, a start up that matches older adults

with rooms to spare with students.TROY STOLT PHOTOS,

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

COLLEEN SCHRAPPENSt. Louis Post-Dispatch

W ENTZVILLE, Mo. — When her husband died in a car crash, Karen Krienke, 65,

found herself unexpectedly alone. Her home in Wentzville — once crowded with children — felt big and empty. Moreover, a bad back was slowing her down.

Her daughter worried. “She’s so social,” said Jane Krienke, who lives in Washington, D.C. “I didn’t want her to be by herself.”

Then, this summer, she found a St. Louis startup that matches older adults who have room to spare with millennials — often graduate students — who need a reasonably priced place to live.

Odd Couples Housing, which made its first match in late 2018,

taps into a market driven by un-precedented growth in the over-65 population, baby boomers who want to remain in their homes but may be cash-strapped or could use help with household chores. So far, the company has made about 20 matches; it hopes to increase that tenfold by the end of this year.

Similar services have popped up, largely in high-priced cities, from San Diego to Boston. The National Shared Housing Resource Center lists more than three dozen cross-generational homeshare organizations in the U.S., most of which are operated by nonprofits or government agencies.

“Affordable housing can be the make or break,” said Betsy Werley, executive director of the Encore Network, a San Francisco non-profit that provides resources on

housematesUnlikely

How a St. Louis startup matches empty nesters, millennials


aging and intergenerational connections. “But friendship and companionship is a piece of it.”

Initially, Odd Couples founder John Levis envisioned a “Golden Girls” sce-nario, with older singles sharing ex-penses and space. Levis, a former invest-ment banker, had witnessed the benefits for his mother-in-law when she moved in with her sister. He took the idea to graduate students at Washington Uni-versity’s Olin School of Business to study its viability.

That’s when “The Golden Girls” got a plot twist.

If two seniors move in together and it doesn’t work out, one will be displaced. But millennials are “highly portable,” the researchers told him. And many are swimming in college debt.

The hub of universities in St. Louis — and, particularly, their contingent of international students — makes the city well-suited to such efforts, Levis said.

“Once we saw that this was a need, we decided to build the company around it,” he said.

He enlisted Brian Carpenter, a pro-fessor in Washington U.’s department of psychological and brain sciences, to draft

compatibility questions for potential matches.

Carpenter’s students developed a set of about 40, starting with the deal-break-ers, like whether smoking is acceptable or which neighborhoods are feasible.

“Then we move on to things that are more preferences than rules,” he said. How warm do you like to keep the house? Are you an early bird or a night owl?

And finally, personality types: Out-going or introverted? Optimist or pes-simist?

Carpenter’s students created an algo-rithm that calculates a “match score,” not unlike the formulas dating apps use. As more applications are submitted, the scores will become better predictors, he said.

“We never expect questions to be per-fect,” he said. “It’s a shorthand.”

Karen Krienke’s new housemate moved in recently.

Megan Mattox, a transfer student at Logan University, was sent six potential matches within three weeks of filling out the Odd Couples questionnaire last fall. After talking with Krienke over the phone, Mattox, 33, drove from Iowa for a visit.

While she was here, she raked Krien-ke’s leaves, and the two women agreed on the responsibilities Mattox would take on: bringing in the mail, taking out the trash. They plan to share a couple of meals a week.

“It will be nice to have a little com-pany,” Krienke said.

Mattox declined to say how much she was paying Krienke, but said it was about a quarter of what a nearby apartment would cost. Odd Couples suggests an amount based on how much the “seeker” — the younger housemate — will help out, but doesn’t call the payment “rent” because that would trigger a tax liability for the homeowner.

The company also provides a template for the topics to cover before an agree-ment is signed: daily habits, idiosyncra-sies, special needs.

“Each case is different,” Levis said.He and a partner used their own capi-

tal to launch the company. Eventually, he said, homeowners will pay a fee to look for a match. He also thinks the website will draw advertising from companies that target seniors and millennials. Odd Couples, which has four full-time em-ployees, recently added an on-campus

recruiter and community outreach coor-dinator to help drum up interest.

Sally Lorino, 68, the first homeowner to be matched, heard about the program from a neighbor. The retired Webster University dean uses a wheelchair and had two upstairs bedrooms sitting empty in her Crestwood home.

She connected with Nagesh Khan-vilkar, a graduate student at Webster University, in November 2018. When that went well, she figured she might as well fill the second bedroom. Khanvilkar’s classmate, Amisha Wankhede, moved in in May.

“University housing was very expen-sive,” said Wankhede, 24, who is from India.

Wankhede makes lunch and dinner for Lorino, and pays her $150 a month. Khanvilkar, 32, has fewer household re-sponsibilities and pays $240.

But for Wankhede, affordability is just one benefit. Having an older housemate has given her a fresh perspective.

“I was slogging to achieve my master’s degree,” she said. “When I started staying with Sally, I started to enjoy new things and explore new things. She’s very infor-mative.”

CARLISLE DIGESTIVE DISEASE ASSOCIATES,LTD. & CARLISLE ENDOSCOPY CENTER, LTD.

Board Certified GastroenterologistsRobert Levy, D.O. | Jonathan Verrecchio, D.O.

Patrick McDevitt, D.O. Tareq Yasin, M.D.Atul Bhardwaj, M.D. | Lisa Hardy, C.R.N.P.Kristine Kuhn, PA-C | Jade Etter, PA-C

Melissa Zegley, C.R.N.P.

Thank You for Voting Us The Best Medical Specialists in Cumberland County, 2019

ARE YOUOVER 50?HAVE YOU HAD A

COLONOSCOPY YET?GET SCREENED TODAY!

241 Alexander Spring Road • Carlisle • Pennsylvania • 17015 • 717-245-2228Fax 717-245-0806 • www.carlisledigestive.com


IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO DATE

PRIME WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2020 | 7

GREEN SHOOT MEDIA

Love knows no age. If you are di-vorced, widowed or have always been single, then you may be on the lookout for that special someone.

According to AginginPlace.org, nearly 20 million people ages 65 and older are single. Finding romance at any stage of life can be complex, and seniors can face additional challenges, such as making the decision to start dating again after losing a spouse or partner.

Whatever has you stuck on the dating scene, there are plenty of practical steps you can take to get back in the swing of things, especially if a new relationship is where your heart is leading you.

Read on for some interesting statistics and proven advice on how to fi nd love in your golden years.

Senior dating by the numbersSenior singles in America make up one

of the fastest growing demographics in online dating. In a 2018 study by Medicare Advantage, a total of 29% of surveyed se-niors reported going on a date with some-one in the last year who they met through a dating website.

Key statistics from the survey include: Men over 55 are 83 percent more likely

than women over 55 to say that age is not at all important in a dating partner.

15% of seniors met dates at a bar or nightclub.

6% of seniors met dates at the gym. 18% of seniors met dates through a

social club, activity or hobby. 58% of seniors met through mutual

friends.

Get startedThe thing older adults must realize is

that online dating is all about getting out of your comfort zone and taking the fi rst step.

Here are a few things you can do to get back in the game:

Talk to friends, family members or colleagues who have recently started dat-ing.

Spend time researching dating apps and online sites. If needed, ask a younger family member or friend to help you learn the ropes.

Set up a strong online dating profi le that paints an accurate, honest portrayal of your personality and background.

Finding romance at any stage of life can

be complex, and seniors can face additional

challenges, such as making

the decision to start dating

again after losing a spouse

or partner.

�� .

WELCOME HOMETO THE BRIDGESAT BENT CREEK

��, �� .

The Bridges at Bent Creek offers Personalized SupportiveCare and Memory Care living options. This friendly and

engaging community, with its exceptional staff and servicelevels, provides a maintenance-free lifestyle and all the

comforts of home, as well as the security you desire for truepeace of mind. Enjoy chef-prepared meals, a wide range ofactivities, exciting events and unsurpassed care available24/7 as needed. Come join us to enjoy new experiences

while connecting with your neighbors.

888.388.5043BridgesAtBentCreek.com

2100 Bent Creek Blvd.Mechanicsburg, PA 17050

SUPPORTIVE CARE

MEMORY CARE

8 | Wednesday, March 18, 2020 PRIME

GREEN SHOOT MEDIA

R esearch shows that one of the most important things for our overall health, especially as we age, is a good

night’s sleep.Following a normal sleep schedule is

crucial to keeping your body on track in terms of concentration, memory function and immune system.

Basically, when you fall out of your sleep routine, your health pays for it. Sleep re-quirements vary from person to person, but most healthy adults require seven-and-a-half to nine hours of sleep per night. Feeling sluggish during the day may be an indicator that you aren’t getting enough sleep, so be

sure to pay attention to your body to deter-mine your sleep requirements.

Sleep deprivationOlder adults who don’t sleep well are

more likely to suffer from depression, at-tention and memory problems, excessive daytime sleepiness, and experience more nighttime falls, according to the Sleep Foundation.

As we age, our body produces lower lev-els of growth hormone. This can cause a decrease in slow wave, or deep sleep. When this happens you produce less melatonin, leading to fragmented sleep and more fre-quent wake-ups during the night hours.

These are normal parts of growing older, but by keeping to a strict sleep routine and listening to your body when it’s tired, you can help stave off these potential effects.

Sleep apneaUntreated sleep disorders, like sleep

apnea, can put a person at risk for car-diovascular disease, headaches and other issues. If you or someone you love expe-rience snoring on a regular basis and it can be heard from another room, or make gasping noises during your sleep, these are serious signs of sleep apnea. Check with your physician to see what kinds of tests they offer for determining if you have a

sleep disorder.

Improve your sleepHere are a few tips from the National

Sleep Foundation to get a better night’s sleep:

� Use low-wattage bulbs and turn off the TV and computer at least one hour before bed.

� Make sure your bedroom is quiet, dark and cool.

� Move bedroom clocks out of view to prevent disruptions to your sleep.

� Adjust your bedtime to match when you feel like going to bed, even if that’s ear-lier than it used to be.

KONSTANTIN POSTUMITENKO, ADOBE STOCK VIA GREEN SHOOT MEDIA

Stay healthy with a

good night’s sleep


GREEN SHOOT MEDIA

There aren’t many exercises out there, if any, that are more important to your physical health than walking.

Consider people from older generations before the convenience of transportation. Our walk-happy ancestors were generally less obese because of the regular exercise they received from walking and other phys-ical work.

Frequent walking has been found to lower stress, reduce blood pressure and regulate blood sugar. Even five minutes of walking per day can give you a health boost. So, strap on your tennis shoes and hit the sidewalks in your neighborhood. It’s time to start giving your body the maintenance it deserves.

Start slowFor beginners, five or 10 minutes of walk-

ing is a great start to better fitness and health. Find a safe, familiar place to walk where you can focus on your routine.

Don’t forget to purchase a comfortable pair of walking shoes. Walking in uncom-fortable shoes, especially if you haven’t walked regularly in a while, can ruin the experience for you and lead to strains, stiff-ness or soreness the next day.

Turn up the intensityAlthough a simple walking routine is

great for your health, rev your engine by turning up the intensity and vary your speed. Inclines are a great way to increase exercise intensity when walking. Adjust the incline on the treadmill or find a slightly sloped hill in your neighborhood park.

If you have any medical conditions or chronic illnesses that may get in the way of a new walking routine, consult your doc-tor before getting active. Doctors will have recommendations on how you can integrate more walking into your everyday activities.

Track your stepsA great way of motivating yourself to

walk more is keeping a close eye on how many steps you’re taking. You can find various step-tracking applications for your mobile phone. There are also wear-ables that you can incorporate into your workout gear.

Don’t just use your tracking application for workouts, but also for your day-to-day activities like walking the dog, doing laun-dry or mowing the lawn.

You may be surprised to find how many calories you burn with just these simple activities.

Walking toward a healthier lifestyle

ADOBE STOCK VIA GREEN SHOOT MEDIA


GREEN SHOOT MEDIA

We all know the benefi ts of a healthy lifestyle. Regular exercise can help boost your energy, protect your heart and re-duce your risk of illness. But how much is enough to really reap the benefits of a consistent workout routine?

According to the medical experts at FamilyDoctor.org, it is recommended that seniors age 65 and older get at least two-and-a-half hours of moder-ate aerobic exercise every week, such as brisk walking. Or you should get one hour and 15 minutes of vigorous exercise each week, which includes jogging.

Creating and following an exercise routine doesn’t have to be complicated or difficult. It starts with a desire to be healthier and the willpower to see it through. Read on for a few tips and exercise examples that can help you get off the couch and get into shape.

Physical health benefitsOne of the biggest health benefits

to a regular workout regimen is main-taining a healthy weight. As we age, our metabolism naturally slows. This makes weight management a challenge. Exercise is a great way to increase your

metabolism while burning muscle mass. This helps you burn more calories and lose weight.

Regular workouts can also enhance your mobility and flexibility. You may notice changes in your posture and over-all energy level after you begin working out regularly. These benefits can im-prove your daily living and give you the physical boost you’ve been looking for.

Be sure to always check with your physician before entering into a work-out plan, as they may have specific rec-ommendations or restrictions custom to you.

Best exercises for seniorsHere are some of the best exercises for

seniors: Walking: Walking is a perfect way

to start exercising because it requires no special equipment and is relatively easy to start. Find di� erent places you like to walk so you can avoid falling into a monotonous rut.

Fitness classes: Check in with your local gym to see what kinds of exercise pro-grams are available specifi cally for seniors. Pickleball and cycling are great activities to keep things fresh at the gym.

Water sports: Working out in wa-ter reduces stress and strain on the body’s joints. It’s also a relaxing activity that can be done alone or in groups.

Yoga: If you’re looking for better fl exi-bility, strength and balance, yoga may be for you. Check with your local yoga instructors to see if senior classes are available.

ADOBE STOCK VIA GREEN SHOOT MEDIA

GREEN SHOOT MEDIA

We all know the benefi ts of a healthy lifestyle. Regular exercise can help boost

Creating and following an exercise routine doesn’t have to be complicated or difficult. It starts with a desire to

metabolism while burning muscle mass. This helps you burn more calories and lose weight.

seniors:

to start exercising because it requires no special equipment and is relatively easy to start. Find di� erent places you like to walk so you can avoid falling into a monotonous rut.

Stay healthywith regular exercise


ACTIVITIES FOR EVERYBODYRecreation center specialist champions

GAIL ROSENBLUMStar Tribune (Minneapolis)

VADNAIS HEIGHTS, Minn. — The National Recreation and Park Association didn’t waste a minute before warning us to re-sist the temptation to become too sedentary during colder months. The solution? Turn to local park and recreation cen-ters for many a� ordable indoor and outdoor options.

We spoke to Colleen Tusa who is in a league of her own on the subject. Tusa has worked for St. Paul Adaptive Recre-ation for more than 30 years. She talks about how everybody fi ts in when it comes to fun physical activity year-round.

Q: You practice what you preach, for sure. Tell us about some of your favorite activities.

A: Camping, hiking, garden-ing, swimming, traveling. I also teach fi tness classes six days a week but if I could be outside all the time, I would.

Q: You joined St. Paul Parks and Recreation in 1987, straight out of college, with a mission to build an adaptive recreation program. But that was at a time when the concept was new. What do you remember?

A: I had an interest in the nursing program at Winona State University and with that I was introduced to many peo-ple who had disabilities, both developmental and physical. From this, I began to under-stand that these folks had lit-tle opportunity for recreation, sports and leisure. Many peo-ple were still institutionalized. The names and terms used to describe folks with disabilities were so horrible, insulting. The reality was that there was a need for change in that area, a need for opportunities to en-joy sports and other physical activities, make friends, learn

new skills and become health-ier and happier individuals.

Q: What does your role entail?A: I plan, coordinate, run

and lead programs. Our par-ticipants are of all ages, with various special needs, but like most people they want to join sports teams, be active, have fun and meaningful leisure time. So, many sports teams were created. We have bowl-ing leagues, basketball teams, kickball, fl oor hockey, soccer, archery, weight training and yoga. We run art classes, the-ater and music singalongs. We go on camping trips with bon-fi res, hayrides and archery.

Q: What about your age range?A: Our youngest participant

was an 18-month-old with cerebral palsy who was in our swimming program. And a 91-year-old is still attending our bowling league. The ma-jority of our folks are between 25 and 60.

Q: What kind of feedback do you get from families?

A: I get e-mails, phone calls, cards thanking me for doing what I do. But I’m not looking for a big award. It’s watching the participants that’s the best. Folks who are part of a team, cheering each other on, high-fi ving. They make a basket and have never done that before. At one of our bowling leagues, we supply ramps. With assistance, we line ’em up and the bowlers get pumped when they make a strike. Some want to take on the role of assistant coach, which gives them a feeling of importance. I see folks making friends, feeling proud and con-necting with others.

Q: You’ve also become a matchmaker.

A: True. We have two folks

who met in our program, got to know each other and got mar-ried.

Q: Your activities cater to peo-ple with physical and develop-mental challenges. How do you feel about mainstreaming, in which your athletes would play on teams with nondisabled athletes?

A: I believe there should be choices. I’ve always wanted in-clusion in school settings and the workplace. The Ameri-cans with Disabilities Act was passed in 1990 and this has brought m o r e a wa re -ness, op-portunities and r e g u l a t i o n s . But, again, having choices is key. Many people do best with their peers in equitable programs where they feel more accepted. I love intergenerational pro-grams as well. I love including people with disabilities and non-disabilities, while assur-ing that there are also programs where they can relate with their peers and thrive.

Q: Any 2020 goals?A: I want to continue to cre-

ate more programs for the tran-sition-age youth and young adults, where such programs are more di� cult to fi nd. I would like to see more collab-orations with other programs in the city. And I plan to keep pushing for more inclusion in regular recreational program-ming, starting kids younger and setting them up for success as they get older.

Q: Why have you stayed put for more than 30 years?

A: I do this work because I know it enhances and changes lives. We need communi-ties of accep-tance and support, and social rec-reation is a big part of everybody’s life. We all should have that oppor-tunity.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

who met in our program, got to know each other and got mar-

Your activities cater to peo-ple with physical and develop-mental challenges. How do you feel about mainstreaming, in which your athletes would play on teams with nondisabled athletes?

I believe there should be choices. I’ve always wanted in-clusion in school settings and the workplace. The Ameri-cans with Disabilities Act was passed in 1990 and this has brought m o r e a wa re -ness, op-portunities and r e g u l a t i o n s . But, again, having choices is key. Many people do best with their peers in equitable programs where they feel more accepted. I love intergenerational pro-grams as well. I love including people with disabilities and non-disabilities, while assur-ing that there are also programs where they can relate with their peers and thrive.

Any 2020 goals? I want to continue to cre-

ate more programs for the tran-sition-age youth and young adults, where such programs are more di� cult to fi nd. I would like to see more collab-orations with other programs in the city. And I plan to keep pushing for more inclusion in regular recreational program-ming, starting kids younger and setting them up for success as they get older.

Why have you stayed put for more than 30 years?

A: I do this work because I know it enhances and changes lives. We need communi-ties of accep-tance and support, and social rec-reation is a big part of everybody’s life. We all should have that oppor-tunity.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Colleen Tusa poses for a

portrait at at Griggs

Recreation Center in St. Paul, Minn.

LEILA NAVIDI, STAR

TRIBUNE

PRIME WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2020 | 15

TREVA LINDThe Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Wash.)

Essential oils show up seemingly everywhere. They’re in lotions, hair care products, aromather-apy, cleaning supplies and more.

As gifts, they might arrive in little jars with a di� user device. Essential oils are steam-distilled or cold-pressed extracts of almost any part of a plant such as seeds, fl owers, fruit, leaves, stems and roots — so they retain natural smells and fl avors. Think lavender or jasmine.

Depending on which oil, the products are touted as helping with sleep, alert-ness, relaxation and other benefi ts, but are they always safe? While they’re be-nign for many users if properly used, some people report allergic reactions or breathing problems — potentially an asthma concern.

“There is no evidence that essen-tial oils can help asthma,” said Mela-nie Carver with the Asthma and Al-lergy Foundation of America. “In fact, breathing in the particles released by the oils may actually trigger airway infl am-mation and asthma symptoms.”

“It is best to talk with your health care provider before trying anything new.”

Consumers also should be mindful that bottled essential oils are highly potent and “50 to 100 times” more con-centrated than the oils in the plant itself, a Dec. 10 Washington Post article cited.

Research o� ers promising results, along with mixed evidence of health benefi ts for essential oils, said the ar-ticle, which included comments from

Harpreet Gujral, di-rector of integrative medicine at Sibley Me-morial Hospital in Washing-ton, D.C.

“The research is quite promising,” Gujral said. She also cited continuing clinical studies striving to measure the degree to which oils can alleviate symp-toms of anxiety and nausea, as well as how they a� ect mood. “The results are mixed, but the research is there,” she said. “We just need more.”

About 10 of 100 most common es-sential oils have been researched “in great depth” in recent decades, the ar-ticle cited, with evidence such as “the cooling sensation of peppermint oil, the bacteria-killing power of tea tree oil or the calming e� ect of lavender,” but the results aren’t guaranteed for everyone.

As products distilled from plants, essential oils — like vitamins — aren’t regulated by the Food and Drug Admin-istration.

Sandy Falkner and Peggy Ward of Spokane, Washington, tell people that if you’re new to essential oils, it’s best to start with a small amount applied cau-tiously. The sisters use essential oils and sell them as distributors for Young Liv-ing Essential Oils.

“We always say start low and go slow, meaning you want to start by applying a small amount to the bottom of feet to see if you’ll have a reaction,” Ward said. “Every human body is di� erent.”

essenceGetting

to the

LEFT: This photo shows bottles of lavender and frankincense

from Young Living Essential Oils

BELOW: Sandy Falkner of Young Living Essential

Oils leads an essential oils demonstration in

Spokane Valley, Wa., on Nov. 25.

KATHY PLONKA, THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW

VIA TNS

Essential oils can be beneficial, but they should be used with caution

Please see OILS, Page 16

Wemake Home Happen Here!

Julie Hallisey, US Army VeteranDIRECT: (717) 226-6719

[email protected]

163 N. Hanover StreetCarlisle, PA 17013

Office: 717-243-1000Howardhanna.com

Nicole PearsonDIRECT: (717) 609-7619

[email protected]

Sometimes it takesthe RIGHT realtor atthe right time...

16 | Wednesday, March 18, 2020 PRIME

If using an essential oil in a diffuser, Ward also suggests that people try a shorter period of time at first to test for any reactions. Ward said she has allergies, including to citrus, along with an almond sensitivity.

“I haven’t found any challenges with using any of the essential oils, although I have a ton of allergies. I can’t eat cit-rus, but I can consume and use citrus oils without an effect.

“The reason for that is with steam dis-tillation or cold-press distillation that is done in the citrus oil, it removes the protein that most people would have an allergic reaction to.”

She said another consideration is the quality and purity of oils used. Research a company to make sure there aren’t ad-ditives.

“If you’re using a lower-grade oil, per-fume oil or a floral water, you’re not go-ing to get the effects,” Ward said. “And

there’s a good chance they’re going to contain synthetics, pesticides, fertilizers or chemical extenders.”

Pure coconut, grapeseed or virgin olive oil can be used to dilute an essential oil for topical use, she said. These carrier oils have larger molecules than essential oils, Ward added, so a mixture will penetrate skin at a slower rate.

Ward added that peppermint oil is an example of an essential oil that should be used cautiously and diluted with a carrier oil. Young Living says on its website that peppermint’s cooling sensation can be too intense. Also, children and the elderly often have more sensitive skin, Ward said.

Falkner said customers largely report benefits from use of essential oils such as for facials and skin care. She turned to essential oils in a search of a chemical-free lifestyle.

Most essential oils are distilled, but consumers should check on labels and research companies to make certain that solvents or chemicals weren’t used in the oil extraction process, Falkner said.

“Learn the company, learn how the

oil is distilled, learn how it’s extracted,” Falkner said. “There are many ways you can do it, but the ways that are steam and cold-pressed keep out the chemicals and all the other stuff that can cause breathing problems.”

Dr. Phil Werschler of Spokane Derma-tology Clinic agrees that people are using essential oils more often in a number of ways.

“They are typically used by rubbing or massaging on the body or during bathing,” Werschler said. “They can be inhaled, used in vaporizers, diffusers, steamers.”

In an email, he also listed a caution that because essential oils are naturally occur-ring substances, they are not regulated. “Because of this lack of regulation, virtu-ally any product can claim they contain essential oils even if the ingredients are synthetic, present in only trace amounts or inactive.

“Frequently, the intended use of these oils is to treat the skin and have an olfac-tory effect. Users need to be aware that some may develop skin irritation, rashes

or nasal congestion, coughing, sneezing and even worsening of an airway disease such as asthma.”

As another caution, the National In-stitute of Environmental Health Sciences says its studies have shown that laven-der and tea tree oil may act as endocrine disrupting chemicals. These are natural or manmade compounds that mimic or oppose the actions of hormones produced in the human body.

Also, the agency warns that clinical re-search found a possible link between the topical use of essential oils and the onset of male gynecomastia, or the develop-ment of breast tissue, in prepubescent boys.

NIEHS researchers created different dilutions of pure essential oils and eight selected chemical components and tested their activity. They found as the dilu-tion increased, the endocrine disrupting chemical activity of the oils and chemi-cals decreased, the agency’s website says.

distributed by Tribune content agency, LLc.

OilsFrom 15

exceptional care that places the needs of our patients & their families first

1 dunway drive | carlisle717-761-5530

Visit us atwww.oip.com for a list of services we provide

CALL TODAY FOR AN APPOINTMENT

f o r a l l o f yo u r o r t h o p e d i c n e e d s , o i p i s w h e r e y o u c o m e f i r s t .

Shoulders are themostcomplex joint in the body!Overuse injuries - These are often seen in people who repeatedly use their shoulder for a single motion.Sports injuries - Athletes, both recreational and professional, are quite familiar with shoulder problems.Accidents & Falls - Being in a vehicular accident, or experiencing a fall can injure the shoulderAge - Some people are most suscepitble than others to should problems as they get older.

Regardless of why a should injury occurs,you should see a shoulder pain treatment specialist to determine the best course of action.

prime - townnews€¦ · empty nesters, millennials professor helps with alzheimer s care staying...

Documents