Beatitudes Community
Log in
Log in

Category: Fitness and Wellness

Hello Beatitudes!

Wed, January 18, 2017 Published by

I was asked to write my first article while Jon Schilling was on vacation.  Since I’m one of the newest full time employees, I thought that it would be best for me to take this opportunity to introduce myself to Beatitudes Campus.

I am a personal fitness instructor, certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine since 1996.  I worked as a fitness instructor in various Health Clubs and Medical Clinics. Most of that time I worked at Mountain Shadows Resort and Golf Club in Paradise Valley.

I am a new full time employee, but I am not new to this campus.  Many of you know me from my previous positions.  I started working here for Beatitudes at Home in July, 2012.

I later became the group instructor in the Functional Fitness class.

I left Beatitudes at Home to work in a physical therapy clinic in 2013 for two years, but I continued to be the instructor for the Functional Fitness class.

From the beginning, I made it clear that I enjoyed working with the people in this environment and that I wanted to work here full time.  The average age of my fitness clients, over the course of my 20 year career, has always been 50+ years old.

My new position title is Fitness Specialist.  My duties include Fitness Center Attendant, Personal Fitness Instructor and Group Fitness Instructor.

Now that I am here full time, I will channel all of my studies into fitness training for residents 65 years and older.   This means that I will find the best ways to address age related physical illnesses and injuries.

I am gathering as much literature on dementia as I can find, so I can create effective workout strategies that best serve residents who may suffer from this terrible disease.  I also want to be able to offer useful tips to help friends, relatives and caregivers to communicate with them through troubling times.

The physical therapists who work on campus are wonderful!  I have a good relationship with them.  Residents who have suffered from an illness or injury that work with the campus therapists may want to extend their physical rehabilitation long after they have been discharged.  I can do one on one fitness sessions to extend the physical therapist’s treatment strategies within my limitations as a Certified Fitness Trainer.  It has been three months since I have been a full time employee on Campus.  I DO NOT need any more time to analyze my decision to take this position.  I already concluded that I made the BEST decision to join this team.

I feel very comfortable with the staff and the residents.  I enjoy getting opportunities to share laughs with everyone, especially when I “goof up” during my fitness classes.

If I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting you yet, please stop me in the hallways, come to one of my fitness classes or stop by the Fitness Center.  I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT!

Annual Eye Exams: A Smart Way to Identify Age-related Eye Diseases

Thu, January 5, 2017 Published by

Beatitudes Campus is happy to be working with Blue Cross Blue Shield’s Vision Care.  Come to January’s Town Hall to learn more about some special advantages for you through Vision Care.

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), once you reach age 60, it’s important to have an eye exam every year. Checking your visual acuity isn’t the only reason to get your eyes examined. An eye exam can also help identify age-related conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and other diseases.

What exactly are these common age-related eye diseases? The AAO defines them as:

  • Cataracts – Light rays travel into the eye through the pupil, pass through a clear lens and hit the retina. In an eye with a cataract, the lens gets cloudy and light scatters throughout the eye instead of hitting the retina. The clouding of the eye happens when proteins in the lens break down (typically after age 40). People usually start to have some clouding of their lenses over age 60.
  • Glaucoma – Glaucoma is a disease that damages your eye’s optic nerve. It usually happens when fluid builds up in the front part of your eye. That extra fluid increases the pressure in your eye, damaging the optic nerve.
  • Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) – AMD is a deterioration of the eye’s macula. The macula is a small area in the retina — the light-sensitive tissue lining the back of the eye. The macula is the part of the retina that is responsible for your central vision, allowing you to see fine details clearly.
  • Diabetic Retinopathy – Diabetic retinopathy is the most common diabetic eye disease that occurs when blood vessels in the retina change. Sometimes these vessels swell and leak fluid or even close off completely. In other cases, abnormal new blood vessels grow on the surface of the retina.

Schedule Your Eye Exam – It is important that you schedule your annual eye exam. Your doctor will check for eye health as well as any prescription changes. You can schedule your eye exam by calling Vision Care at 602-358-0223 or visit VisionCareAZ.com.* Located at the Blue Cross Blue Shield of AZ campus at 2444 W. Las Palmeritas Drive, just 2 miles and a free shuttle ride from Beatitudes Campus.

Active Aging Year

Mon, October 3, 2016 Published by

It was so fun to celebrate Active Aging Week like we did last week.  The week long events were fun and the culmination of the Street Fair down Central Park Mall was a fiesta.  But truth be told, every week is active aging week at Beatitudes Campus.  As a matter of fact, it is Active Aging Year at Beatitudes Campus.

The International Council on Active Aging wanted this last week to challenge society’s diminished expectations of aging by showing that, regardless of age or health conditions, adults over 50 can live as fully as possible in all areas of life—physical, social, spiritual, emotional, intellectual, vocational and environmental. Any given week, all you have to do is look around and you will see those diminished expectations burst before your very eyes.

Look at all the resident run efforts and programs, and one quickly sees that nothing could be further from the truth if one thinks that seniors, in this senior living community, don’t have high expectations of themselves and their abilities to make a difference.  You residents started a campus wide recycling program and developed the Elders for a Sustainable Future.  You started the Beatitudes Campus Center for Life Long Learners, now having offered close to a 100 classes and enrolling 150 or more each semester.  You have your own Facebook page which is as good as any out there with great shots of Campus Life.  You serve on Residents Council committees and design and contribute from everything like recreational outings and events to health and wellness programs.  The fitness classes are overflowing and the Fitness Center is rarely empty.  During the summer months, and even in the winter, the folk in the pool are always making waves.

And it doesn’t stop there!  I am amazed at all of the residents who are volunteering for non-profits off Campus, and with our CAREcorps officially launched, even more are volunteering on Campus.  You residents teach Sit and Be Fit and facilitate heady endeavors like Science and Spirituality.  You help in the Gift Shop, run the Beatitudes Backstreet Boutique through the Auxiliary and till the Beatitudes Community Garden making it the envy of every other Life Plan Community. You create game nights, you sing, dance and plan events for your floors and buildings, drawing our community closer and closer together.  When a new resident moves in, you cannot wait to send another welcoming resident to unleash the radical hospitality that makes this community shine.  You saw the need for teaching our immigrant brothers and sisters English and you started an English Language Assistance program and the list can go on and on.

I know I speak for all of us who are fortunate enough to be able to work and serve at Beatitudes Campus when I say that you all are paving the way for the rest of us and inspire us every day.  I only wish your contemporaries knew what you know and do with your lives and see that, if they think a community like ours is for “old people”, then the only thing “old” is their thinking.  You have created a vibrant, energetic, inspiring and anything but inactive community.

It’s Active Aging Year this year and, thanks to you, will be every year hereafter.

Active Aging Kick Off!

Tue, September 27, 2016 Published by

Just in case you missed the amazing start to the week, we had a great turn out and a vibrant event. Lots of people came out to hear what active aging means not just to us but also to the residents here through several testimonials. To see more you can visit activeatbeatitudes.org or go to http://phoenixchamber.com/2016/09/26/active-aging-week-beatitudes-campus-embraces-a-holistic-approach-to-wellness/ for the full article. We look forward to the rest of the week and what it will bring!

img_3079 img_3082 img_3085

Active Aging Week: Explore the Possibilities

Mon, September 26, 2016 Published by

aawlogohi-res2016Active Aging Week 2016, “Explore the Possibilities”, has officially begun!! We hope everyone comes out and attends as many events as possible, takes advantage of the food and drinks, and, most importantly, has fun and get to know your neighbors!  The Life Enrichment Department would like to thank Nancy Campbell, Sherwin Block, Naomi Oglesby, Bonny Hoffman, Farrell Kenimer, Bob Longoni, and Igor Glenn for their time and effort in making this week a success!

Each day has a different theme and we also have suggestions on what type of attire to wear for the day. Back by popular demand, we will start off each day by meeting in front of the Bistro for our Community Walk.  We have a goal for Beatitudes Campus to walk 150 total miles by Friday during the morning Community Walk. We will need to average 30 miles per day.  The more community members we have the faster we will achieve this goal!

  • Monday, wear Purple and White to show your support to end Alzheimer’s.
  • Tuesday is Retro Rewind – Dress how you would have in the decade you were born.
  • Wednesday is Tie Dye day – Let’s make this campus colorful!
  • Thursday wear Sports Attire – Wear your favorite sport’s team’s attire or your workout clothes.
  • Friday is wear High School/College gear – Show your high school or college pride!  Please dress up if you would like and have some fun with these ideas!!

During this week, Beatitudes celebrates Mind, Body and Spirit with the different programs throughout the week. Use this week to get out and try something new, whether it be at the Campus or while you are out with friends and family. Celebrate all the positives we have going on in our lives and all for which we are thankful.  Tell/show someone in your life how much you appreciate everything they do for you and be happy! Enjoy the week!! *

Dances with the Daffodils

Sun, September 25, 2016 Published by

In California, home to many an experimental idea, the latest new trend is to hire what’s called a people walker. According to a national newspaper, entrepreneur Chuck McCarthy, has boosted his income by starting a business offering himself as a walking companion for city strolls, and has found a huge appetite for accompanied walking. We might think LA’s heavy traffic makes it unfriendly to pedestrians, but Chuck McCarthy has found plenty of other reasons why hiring a people walker is taking off in Los Angeles and other cities too.

In his encounters with those who seek his services, Chuck has discovered that many of his customers are engaging with their peers almost exclusively on their phones and computers, often leaving little opportunity for face-to-face interactions, and hence, their need to hire someone to go for a walk with. Apparently many of his customers don’t go out for a stroll simply because they don’t like being alone.

Being alone wasn’t always seen purely as a negative thing. Poets such as William Wordsworth perceived solitude, not as loneliness, but as a time for engaging with nature and with one’s thoughts…

“for oft, when on my couch I lie in vacant or in pensive mood, they flash upon that inward eye which is the bliss of solitude. And then my heart with pleasure fills, and dances with the daffodils.“

No one wants to be alone all of the time, and here at the Campus there are plenty of opportunities to involve ourselves in a rich array of activities, but perhaps it is important for us to reserve some time to be alone, and to use that solitude to good effect.  Christianity has long recognized the merits of retreating from the cares of the world. As the word suggests, a purposeful retreat is a prayerful withdrawing from the world, a time to step back and reflect with God, often in silence. Christ himself spent 40 days in the desert in solitude, where, Luke’s Gospel tells us, in the midst of that solitude came temptation. Perhaps this strikes a chord with those who fear solitude, thinking it will mean wrestling with their own demons. But as Christ’s days in the wilderness show, time alone can be a source of strength, growth and peace. Perhaps a little stroll on our own, or a few quiet minutes at home isn’t such a bad thing after all.

Take advantage of Active Aging Week to combine that stroll with contemplation and prayer!  A walking prayer labyrinth will be set up in the Life Center on Wed. Sept 28th from 9:00-11:00AM. *

Medicare Benefits and YOU

Sat, September 24, 2016 Published by

1620218Late each year, beneficiaries are offered the opportunity to review their Medicare plans and make changes accordingly during the Medicare Open Enrollment Period. Understanding how your insurance selection impacts you is more important today than ever before. This is crucial since the Affordable Health Care Plans and Medicare are key Congressional discussion items.

To help educate and inform you on Medicare updates and available options, we have asked a third party insurance consultant, Ellen Dean from Dean and Associates, to come and discuss changes in Medicare on Monday, October 19th at 2:30pm in the Motion Studio at the Nelson Administration Center.  Mrs. Dean, an expert on senior health insurance since 1992, will inform you on the complexities of Medicare Insurance Coverage and Part D Prescription Drug Coverage.  Ellen’s partner, Katie Ponton, will also be available to specifically discuss changes directly related to the 2017 Part D Drug Plans.  Additionally, Ellen has agreed to meet individually with residents and their families to evaluate insurance coverage and re-enroll you into a different insurance plan if you so desire.  Medicare open enrollment is scheduled for October 15-December 7, 2016 with changes effective for a January 1, 2017 start date.  As a Certified© Financial Planner and Health Insurance Broker, Mrs. Dean and Katie work with many insurance companies and are not restricted to a limited few….their expertise is highly valued!

Like many health care providers, we are not contracted with many Medicare Advantage HMO Plans.  This is due, in large part, to the fact that many HMOs do not reimburse our Health Care Center at the rate that covers the cost of care provided.  Offering high-quality skilled nursing care services is important to us because we know these services are important to you and your family.  In addition, to add to our continuum of care, the services offered by Beatitudes Home Health are only reimbursed by Medicare at this time, as well as our outpatient therapy clinics which are contracted with Medicare and very few other insurance companies.

It is essential that you understand your current options and find a plan that works best for you in regards to costs and access to care.   Our experience has shown that residents who have Medicare with a traditional supplement have greater satisfaction with health care services.  These residents have more choices in providers and may see lower out-of-pocket costs in the event of a medical emergency, post-hospital skilled care event, or cancer treatments.

I hope you will join us on October 19th for this special informational session covering the 2017 Traditional Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage plan (HMO) Benefits. Additionally, you may set a private appointment with Mrs. Dean right here on Campus by calling 602-266-9200. *

Active Aging Week Planning in Full Swing

Sat, August 6, 2016 Published by

AAWlogohi-res2016Initiated in 2003, by the International Council on Active Aging® (ICAA), Active Aging Week takes place each year during the last week of September. The week-long campaign calls attention to, and wholeheartedly celebrates, the positivity of aging today. It showcases the capabilities of older adults as fully participating members of society and spotlights the role models that lead the way.

Active Aging Week challenges society’s diminished expectations of aging by showing that, regardless of age or health conditions, adults over 50 can live as fully as possible in all areas of life—physical, social, spiritual, emotional, intellectual, vocational and environmental. The objective of the annual health-promotion event is to give as many older adults as possible, the means to experience wellness activities and exercise in a safe, supportive environment. It also promotes the benefits of healthier, more active lifestyles across the life span. In 2016, the observance will be held September 25th-October 1st.

ICAA is rooted in the principle of active aging – the conviction that people can significantly improve the quality of their later years by staying active and fully engaged in life. We believe that all individuals have the capability of embracing life within the dimensions of wellness. Active aging is the heart of our philosophy and the basis of “Changing the way we age®”, our grass-roots initiative to change everyone’s perception of aging, young and old.

The Mission of the ICAA is a community of like-minded organizations and professionals who share the goals of changing society’s perceptions of aging and improving the quality of life for aging baby boomers and older adults within the seven dimensions of wellness (emotional, vocational, physical, spiritual, intellectual, social, environmental). The council supports these professionals with education, information, resources and tools so they can achieve optimal success.

The vision of the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) is dedicated to changing the way we age, by uniting professionals in the retirement, assisted living, fitness, rehabilitation and wellness fields to dispel society’s myths about aging. We help these professionals to empower aging baby boomers and older adults to improve their quality of life and maintain their dignity.

This year’s theme will be, “Explore the Possibilities,” in which our entire community will be celebrating Active Aging with a wide range of Mind, Body and Spirit programs throughout the week.  We held the first of many combined planning meetings with the Life Enrichment Team and a handful of community members. We are always looking for other residents to join in the fun!  If you enjoy coming up with fun and enjoyable activities, we invite you join us. We are meeting each Wednesday in the Motion Studio at 3:00PM.  If you want to share your ideas, please stop by, or give Jon Schilling, x18482 or Chris Mason, x16159 if you have any questions. *

Food For Thought

Tue, June 14, 2016 Published by

Your brain is constantly working, even when you are asleep. It takes care of your mind and body, senses, breathing, and heart rate. Since your brain wears so many different hats, it is important to take care of your brain by nourishing it with the right fuel. What you eat will directly affect your brain, so it is crucial to eat the right type of food.

Just like a premium car, your brain will run better when it is fueled with premium fuel. So what is premium fuel for the brain? According to Mayo Clinic, green leafy vegetables, nuts, berries, beans, whole grains, seafood, and olive oil are some of the most brain-healthy foods. Researchers have proven that eating healthy meals can not only improve your mood but can also slow cognitive decline. These brain-healthy foods are full of vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals that nourish the brain and protect the brain cells. A Mediterranean-style diet is an eating style that has been researched and proven to best preserve memory. A Mediterranean diet does not mean eating all-you-can-eat pasta and cheese. It means eating lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, and olive oil instead of red meats and processed food.

Some “low-premium” fuels for the brain include processed foods, red meat, butter and margarine, cheese, refined sugars, such as pastries and sweets, and fried and fast foods. Research has found that refined sugar impairs brain function and increases your chance of depression. In addition, consuming large amounts of trans-fat can lead to brain shrinkage similar to people with Alzheimer’s disease. Trans-fat is the type of fat that is created when hydrogen is added to the chemical structure of a fat, typically vegetable oil. Trans-fats are often found in deep-fried foods, pie crusts, canned biscuits, frosting, shortening, Bisquick, microwave popcorn, store-bought cookies and cakes, non-dairy creamer, and margarine. Trans-fat is also known to raise our “bad” cholesterol levels and lower “good” cholesterol levels. Scientists have linked trans-fats to increased inflammation and plaques in the brain, causing a decline in function.

So what does it all mean? It means we should be more conscious of everyday food decisions we make, in order to improve brain health and our overall mood and physical health. So next time you order food, think twice about what you are ordering and ask yourself whether you are making the best choice for your brain. Perhaps instead of ordering the French fries, you can order a side of vegetables. Instead of eating cake after your meal, maybe you can eat a bowl of fruit. Food is our main source of fuel, so put in the premium fuel you deserve. You are worth it! *
Jiyea Park will be finishing her three month Occupational Therapy Student Internship at Beatitudes at the end of this week. She has really enjoyed her time at Beatitudes Campus and has made a big impact in the short time she has been with us. You’ll have an opportunity to say goodbye to Jiyea at this week’s Wednesdays Sundaes with Dave. Be sure to stop by!

Loss of Mobility

Mon, May 23, 2016 Published by

When I was thirty, I would hop out of bed and charge into my day. Today, over thirty years later, I can assure you this is no longer the case. Rather, it is a roll to the edge of the bed, a slow rise to standing, and a number of steps to get the juices moving in my muscles and joints. There isn’t a date I can point to when this change in my mobility occurred, but it has certainly occurred. However, this is normal since, as we age, there are changes that occur in the extensibility of connective tissue, the viscosity of the spinal discs, the cartilage in our joints, etc.

Then there are the various conditions that will contribute to impair our mobility which include a variety of orthopedic, neurological and medical problems.

For example, hip pain may indeed be due in part to osteoarthritis but there can be a number of other factors that are contributing. There could be a pelvic base dysfunction, a hip capsule restriction, or even a patella (knee cap) tracking issue, all of which can be compounded by myofascial restrictions. There are also a variety of painful conditions that can be alleviated by restoring postural relationships and proper joint bio-mechanics.

Pain can arise from a variety of sources, telling us there is something wrong. Pain, as a result of a medical disease, would need to be ruled out by your personal physician. Orthopedic problems are a very common source of pain; however, the presence of degenerative changes in joints should not be accepted as the full explanation of your pain. It is frequently accompanied by changes in positional relationships or altered joint mechanics that create improper forces and loading across the compromised joint. By addressing myofascial restrictions and adaptive shortening of soft tissue, pain can often be reduced or even eliminated.

Neurological problems include conditions such as strokes and Parkinson’s disease. Over time, these conditions can progress and have a profound impact on mobility. Falls that cause hip, shoulder and wrist fractures and head trauma with the subsequent disabling consequences lead the procession as the primary cause of loss of functional mobility. Are all falls unavoidable? The answer is certainly not. There are numerous factors that contribute to the impairment of balance which can include some very subtle bio-mechanical dysfunctions.

Some of us will experience difficulty with the activities of daily living or ADLs. This includes bathing, dressing, eating, etc. There are a variety of techniques and/or adaptive equipment that could enhance one’s functional abilities, or perhaps energy conservation strategies could improve your tolerance of the day to day activities. Additionally, there are many interventions that Rehab can employ to restore or improve impaired mobility and the ability to function safely as well as address and provide relief for many painful conditions.

It is much easier to regain functional abilities without having to overcome the disabling consequences of a trauma. Rehab would want to see folks before a traumatic event such as a fall resulting in a fracture and hospitalization. If you are uncertain if you have a condition that could be favorably influenced by rehab, you may want to start with your personal physician. You could also, if you like, stop by the rehab department with your questions and concerns.

So as we age and we begin to lose the elastic component of our connective tissue, the fluid is lost from our inter-vertebral discs, and the cartilage is disappearing from some our favorite joints, we will inevitably slow down and lose some of mobility. However, severe impairment in mobility does not need to be accepted as inevitable. If this sounds familiar, stop by and see me in the Therapy Department, or call me at x6153.*

Protect Yourself and Others from the Stomach Bug

Fri, May 20, 2016 Published by

A stomach bug is floating around and we want you to be protected. Here a few pointers on how to stop this bug from “bugging” you.

  1. Practice proper hand hygienetake-washing-1165099
  2. Washing your hands carefully with soap and water for 20 seconds
  3. Use hand sanitizer if soap and water is not available
  4. Stay in your apartment avoiding all public ares if you are not feeling well
  5. Wait 48 to 72 hours before returning to public areas after your symptoms pass
  6. Take care in the kitchen
  7. Do not prepare food while infected
  8. Clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces
  9. Wash your laundry thoroughly

Residents: Notify Kathy Amend at x6192 if you have symptoms. Request free meal delivery at x6192 if feeling symptomatic

Staff: For employees please notify your immediate supervisor if you’re feeling any symptoms.

Arizona Center for Cancer Care Comes to Beatitudes Campus

Thu, May 12, 2016 Published by

Arizona Center for Cancer CareOn Friday, May 13th, at 10:00AM in the Luther Life Center, representatives from Arizona Center for Cancer Care (AZCCC) will present a seminar on cancer prevention, cancer screenings, signs and symptoms, new innovations, and what AZCCC offers.

According to their website, they have more than 35 offices and 55 physicians across Maricopa County. “Arizona Center for Cancer Care’s multi-specialty treatment centers offer patients from the Northeast Valley, Southeast Valley and West Valley the best doctors, best treatment technologies and best research in the country, often just miles from their homes.

Arizona Center for Cancer Care is proud to be Arizona’s only freestanding radiation oncology facility to earn The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval™ for accreditation, as well as leading the charge on critical clinical trials in the areas of breast, prostate, lung, colon and ovarian cancers, among others.”

According to the American Cancer Society, the following are ways cancer may be caused:

  • “Things people do: Some cancers are caused by things people do or expose themselves to. For example, tobacco use can cause cancer of the lungs, mouth, throat, bladder, kidneys, and many other organs. Of course, not everyone who uses tobacco will get cancer, but it greatly increases a person’s risk. It increases their chance of developing heart and blood vessel disease, too. Spending a lot of time in the sun without protection can cause skin cancer. Melanoma is a very serious form of skin cancer linked to sunlight and tanning bed exposure.
  • Radiation can cause cancer: For instance, people exposed to nuclear fallout have a higher cancer risk than those who were not exposed. Rarely, radiation treatment for one type of cancer can cause another cancer to grow many years later. This is why doctors and dentists use the lowest possible doses of radiation for x-rays and scans (much lower than the doses used for cancer treatment). Certain chemicals have been linked to cancer, too. Being exposed to or working with them can increase a person’s risk of cancer.
  • Genes that run in families: About 5% to 10% of all cancers are linked to genes that are inherited from parents.
  • Bottom line: No one knows the exact cause of most cases of cancer. We know that certain changes in our cells can cause cancer to start, but we don’t yet know exactly how it all happens. Scientists are studying this problem and learning more about the many steps it takes for cancers to form and grow.”

If you are interested in hearing more about cancer, cancer prevention, treatments, and the Arizona Center for Cancer Care, please join us at 10AM in the Everett Luther Life Center at Beatitudes Campus on Friday, May 13th. I and the rest of the Health and Wellness Committee hope to see you there. *

Who packed your parachute?

Wed, April 27, 2016 Published by

Sometimes in the daily challenges that life gives us, we miss what is really important. We may fail to say hello, please, or thank you, congratulate someone on something wonderful that has happened to them, give a compliment, or just do something nice for no reason.

Charles Plumb, a US Naval Academy graduate, was a jet pilot in Vietnam. After 75 combat missions, his plane was destroyed by a surface-to-air missile. Plumb ejected and parachuted into enemy lands. He was captured and spent 6 years in a communist Vietnamese prison. He survived the ordeal and now lectures on lessons learned from that experience.

One day, when Plumb and his wife were sitting in a restaurant, a man at another table came up and said, “You’re Plumb! You flew jet fighters in Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!”

“How in the world did you know that?” asked Plumb. “I packed your parachute,” the man replied.

Plumb gasped in surprise and gratitude. The man pumped his hand and said, “I guess it worked!” Plumb assured him, “It sure did. If your chute hadn’t worked, I wouldn’t be here today.”

Plumb couldn’t sleep that night, thinking about that man. Plumb says, “I kept wondering what he might have looked like in a Navy uniform: A white hat, a bib in the back, and bell bottom trousers. I wonder how many times I might have seen him and not even said good morning, how are you or anything because, you see, I was a fighter pilot, and he was just a sailor.”

Plumb thought of the many hours the sailor had spent on a long wooden table in the bowels of the ship, carefully weaving the shrouds and folding the silks of each chute, holding in his hands each time the fate of someone he didn’t know.

Now, Plumb asks his audience, “Who’s packing your parachute?”

Everyone has someone who provides what they need to make it through the day. Plumb also points out that he needed many kinds of parachutes when his plane was shot down over enemy territory – he needed his physical parachute, his mental parachute, his emotional parachute, and his spiritual parachute. He called on all these supports before reaching safety. His experience reminds us all to prepare ourselves to weather whatever storms lie ahead. As you go through this week, this month, this year… recognize people who pack your parachute! *

Physical Activity Wellness Challenge Continues

Wed, April 6, 2016 Published by

Congratulations to Lynette Miller (Accounting) who was the Week 1 winner of the Campus Fitness Club Annual Membership/Renewal and also to Ashley Black (Accounting) who was the Week 2 winner of the towel and water bottle combo package.

Reminder: Turn in your physical activity tracking sheet every Monday to HR.  A Week 3 winner will be drawn Tuesday, April 19th for a pair of primo sports headphones!

All staff members are encouraged to participate.  Every week is a new week and you participate any week or every week.

For a list of the weekly prizes and another copy of the tracking sheet, please see attached or check out the bulletin boards by the time clocks!

Physical Activity Prizes and Tracking 2016

Influenza is Widespread in Arizona

Tue, March 29, 2016 Published by

Have you been feeling under the weather lately? If so, you are not alone. The Arizona Department of Health Services has indicated that the geographic spread of influenza activity currently in Arizona is “Widespread” which is the highest level that is reported to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) weekly. In comparison to last year, we only achieved a regional spread of influenza in 2014-2015.

Most recently we have heard from the local hospitals that they are inundated with patients exhibiting flu and pneumonia like symptoms with the majority of the Influenza viruses testing positive for Influenza A (H1N1). The CDC reported preliminary overall influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) of 59 percent so far at last report in February.

Below are excerpts from an article published on the American Heart Association’s website about flu and pneumonia prevention last updated on December 3, 2015.

“The flu can leave most people sick for a few days, but it can be a much more serious ordeal if you have heart disease or have had a stroke.

In fact, the flu can cause complications, including bacterial pneumonia, or the worsening of chronic heart problems.

Pneumonia is a lung infection that prevents your lungs from getting enough oxygen into the blood, creating a strain on the heart. It can also increase risks for stroke patients.

‘It’s more stress on your heart. It has to work harder to pump blood through your lungs,’ said Donna Arnett, Ph.D., Chair and Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and a past president of the American Heart Association.

Because of potential complications, which can sometimes lead to death when a patient is already sick, it becomes even more important to avoid the flu if you have heart disease and as you get older, Dr. Arnett said.

Flu Season Starts in the Fall

Flu season begins in October and typically runs until early to mid-spring. Though many people confuse colds and upper-respiratory infections with the flu, when you have the real flu its symptoms are usually more severe, Dr. Arnett said.

The flu can strike suddenly and can cause fever, chills, cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches and fatigue. Vomiting and diarrhea associated with the flu is more common in children.

A yearly flu shot can help guard against the contagious illness, which is caused by influenza viruses. Flu vaccines are created to combat the strains of flu expected to be circulating in a given year.
Heart and stroke patients should also be immunized against pneumonia unless they’ve experienced a bad reaction or allergy to the vaccine, Dr. Arnett said. Re-vaccination should be discussed with your doctor and will depend on the person’s age, the type of vaccine used and prior vaccination history.

A scientific advisory by the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology has recommended an annual flu vaccine in injection form for cardiovascular disease patients ‘with coronary and other atherosclerotic vascular disease’.

‘It’s a very safe vaccine,’ Dr. Arnett said, adding that adverse reactions are rare. Occasionally there is soreness in the spot where the shot is given.

People develop some immunity to the flu a week after getting vaccinated, though two weeks is when immunity is most likely to kick in for the majority of people, and at four weeks the response to the vaccine generally peaks. You can get the flu vaccine in September before flu season hits and even months into the season.

Basic Preventive Steps

There are other precautions you can take to avoid the flu. ‘It’s important to stay away from people who are sick. It seems like an obvious thing, but I think it’s one we forget about,’ Dr. Arnett said.
If you haven’t been vaccinated, stay out of crowds, particularly if the flu is spreading through your community, she said. Washing hands frequently is also a good practice, along with keeping your hands away from your face.

If you do suspect you’ve been stricken with the flu, get to your physician early, Dr. Arnett said. If it’s confirmed that your illness is the flu, an oral antiviral treatment can help reduce the duration of the sickness.

It is important to remember that keeping your hands clean through hand hygiene is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. Many diseases and conditions are spread by not washing hands with soap and water. If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol to clean hands. Also, if you are experiencing flu-like symptoms, please contact your physician and try to stay away from others to stop the spread. If you have not yet received your flu or pneumovax shot, please contact your physician to see if one may be a good idea for you. *

Step Lively: Creative and Fun Approaches to Building Balance

Mon, February 29, 2016 Published by

The SAFER Stepping Fall Prevention Course has begun its third session and continues to offer residents targeted balance and leg strengthening exercises, as well as fall risk education and great tips for preventing falls. If you’re interested in signing up for the next fall prevention course this spring, call Jessica at x6110. For those who are also curious about less formal methods for building balance, consider the following two innovative ideas.

Studies show that dancing can improve balance and gait patterns. One study compared seniors who were social dancers with senior non-dancers. The social dancers averaged 80 years of age and danced four times a month. The study found that while the dancing seniors were not stronger than their non-dancing counterparts, they had better balance, safer walking patterns, and more confidence in their balance abilities. Another study of older adults participating in tango classes twice a week found senior tango participants did have better leg strength than a similar group who walked for the same amount of time each week. If you’d like to have fun at Beatitudes while improving your balance, you might try participating in Zumba Gold dance classes on Mondays at 2PM in the Motion Studio or Open Dance Floor in the Recreation Center every 1st and 3rd Tuesday at 4PM.

Another fresh approach to building balance and mobility confidence involves the use of walking poles. Nordic walking is walking with poles similar to ski poles. The use of trekking poles for Nordic walking can provide stability, improve gait length, speed and posture, reduce load-bearing weight on the knees, hips, and spine, and increase strength and endurance in the upper body, making walking a full-body workout. In fact, Nordic walking is widely used as an effective therapeutic walking technique for individuals with Parkinson’s disease. While Nordic walking, you should walk in an upright position and make sure you do not lean forward or backward. Your head should be up and looking forward. The poles are held close to your body with your elbows bent at approximately 90 degrees. When the leading foot moves forward, the opposite arm swings forward to waist height. The opposite pole strikes the ground level with the heel of the leading foot. Trekking poles can be purchased at most sports stores and in many camping departments at department stores. Test out your trekking poles with the morning walking group and take advantage of the beautiful weather! *

Welcome to Heart Health Month: February 2016

Mon, February 8, 2016 Published by

February is American Heart Month and here is a great article from the American Heart Association on how to protect yourself from Heart Disease. This and other articles may be found at www.heart.org.

More than one in three adults has some form of cardiovascular disease. The good news is 80 percent of heart disease and stroke can be prevented.

So how do you protect yourself?

Protect yourself from heart disease, the nation’s No. 1 killer, with Life’s Simple 7® — easy-to-embrace ways to significantly lower your risk of heart disease and improve your health. How simple is it?

Just take a look:

Get Active. You don’t have to join a gym or run in a 5K. Start small by incorporating physical activity into your daily routine more and more: Take the stairs instead of the elevator, park at the farthest end of the parking lot or use your lunch break to take a quick walk. When you’re ready, aim for at least 2 ½ hours of moderate physical activity each week. “That’s basically taking a 20-minute walk every evening,” said V. Seenu Reddy, M.D., a heart and lung surgeon at University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.Up for a more intense workout? You’ll get heart-pumping benefits with at least 75 minutes of vigorous exercise throughout the week. Along with gaining strength and stamina, exercising regularly can lower blood pressure, keep body weight under control and increase your HDL — otherwise known as “good” cholesterol. Exercise also better regulates blood sugar by improving how the body uses insulin. You’ll help prevent bone loss, sleep better and feel good. Learn the American Heart Associations Guidelines for Physical Activity in Adults.

Control Cholesterol. We all have cholesterol, a waxy substance in the bloodstream and in the cells of our body. But despite its reputation, cholesterol it isn’t all bad. In fact, it plays an important role in keeping us healthy. But a balance must be struck to prevent too much cholesterol in the blood. There are two types: the “good” kind (HDL) and the “bad” kind (LDL). High levels of bad cholesterol can clog your arteries, increasing your risk of heart attack and stroke. This is where good cholesterol comes into play: HDL cleans out that bad cholesterol from the arteries.You can produce more of those housekeeping HDLs by exercising regularly and limiting saturated fat, and cholesterol by avoiding too many animal products such as red meats and full-fat dairy, and including healthier fats such as certain vegetable oils. It’s also important to limit trans fats, too. For some people, diet and lifestyle changes alone aren’t enough. Your doctor may prescribe cholesterol-lowering medication to keep your cholesterol levels in check. If you don’t know your cholesterol levels, talk to your doctor about scheduling a cholesterol screening.

Eat Better. Eating the right foods can help you control your weight, blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol. Follow a dietary pattern that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and other healthy choices. Penny Kris-Etherton, Ph.D., R.D., a nutritionist at Penn State University who herself uses Life’s Simple 7 says, “It’s important to choose fruits and vegetables over empty-calorie foods.”
What’s a heart-smart diet? Looking for foods stamped with the American Heart Association’s Heart-Check mark is one sure way to know you’re choosing a food low in saturated fat and cholesterol. Read the full American Heart Association’s Recommendations for Diet and Lifestyle.

Manage Blood Pressure. One in three Americans has high blood pressure — yet one out of every five doesn’t even know they have it. That’s because high blood pressure, “the silent killer,” has no symptoms. Keeping your blood pressure in a healthy range starts with eating a heart-healthy diet. Other important factors are exercising regularly; not smoking; maintaining a healthy weight; limiting salt and alcohol; and taking medication prescribed by your doctor.

Lose Weight. Extra weight can do serious damage to your heart. Too much fat, especially around the belly, increases your risk for high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. So give your heart a break by dropping the extra pounds — and keeping them off. Every little bit helps. You can shed 24 pounds a year by dropping just 2 pounds a month, and losing as little as 3-5% of your body weight can decrease your heart disease risk. The trick is to increase your aerobic physical activity each week while reducing the calories you take in, to a point where you can achieve energy balance and a healthy weight.

Reduce Blood Sugar. Diabetes can quadruple your risk of heart disease or stroke, so keeping blood sugar levels under control is crucial to preventing medical problems involving the heart and kidneys. If left untreated, diabetes can also cause blindness and nerve disease, among other health complications. You can minimize the impact of diabetes on your body — and even prevent or delay the onset of diabetes — by eating right, controlling your weight, exercising and taking medication prescribed your doctor. In some cases, lifestyle changes result in less need for medication.

Stop Smoking. It’s time to kick the habit. Going smoke-free can help prevent not only heart disease and stroke, but also cancer and chronic lung disease. The payoff is almost immediate. Quit smoking and you’ll have the same risk level for developing heart disease as non-smokers within only a few years. *

Living A Full Life – With Diabetes

Mon, February 1, 2016 Published by

According to the American Diabetes Association, approximately 25% of Americans over the age of 60 have diabetes, and the aging of the U.S. population is one of the primary drivers of the diabetes epidemic. As we age, our risk for diabetes increases. The exact causes of diabetes are not entirely clear. However, it is commonly accepted that genetics and lifestyle factors, such as weight, play an important role in the development of diabetes.

What exactly is diabetes? Diabetes is a group of diseases, but type 2 diabetes is the most common. In short, when we eat food, it is broken down into a sugar called glucose, which gives us energy. To use glucose as energy, our bodies need insulin. When one has diabetes, the body does not make enough insulin or use it efficiently enough. When individuals with diabetes or prediabetes successfully manage their blood sugar and insulin through monitoring, diet, exercise, and/or medications, they can lead fulfilling and active lives.

However, according to the Mayo Clinic, the longer one has diabetes – and the less controlled one’s blood sugar – the higher the risk of complications. Possible complications include: heart disease, nerve damage (neuropathy), kidney damage, eye damage, foot damage, skin conditions, hearing impairment, and Alzheimer’s disease. Some of the signs and symptoms of diabetes are increased thirst, frequent urination, extreme hunger, fatigue, irritability, blurred vision, slow-healing sores, and tingling or numbness in the hands or feet.

You can help prevent and manage diabetes by maintaining a healthy weight and staying active. If you are interested in your diabetes risk, the American Diabetes Association encourages you to ask your doctor about the ABCs of diabetes:

  • Hemoglobin A1C can be tested to tell you your average blood glucose level for the past 2 to 3 months
  • Blood Pressure control is very important for decreasing the strain on your heart, blood vessels and kidneys
  • Cholesterol control and reduced body fat can help reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke

For those who have diabetes or prediabetes and those who care for individuals with diabetes, there will be a 6-week Diabetes Management Workshop starting this Friday (2/5/2016) at 10AM in the Agelink Great Hall. The course is designed to support and educate individuals with diabetes, so they can continue to live life to its fullest! This workshop is sponsored by Medicare and will address exercise, nutrition, diabetic medications, caring for eyes, teeth, and feet, and much more. The workshop is also open to the public, so if you have children or friends living with diabetes, they are welcome to register. Call Jessica at x6110 to reserve a spot today. *