Jan. 20, Rockford’s SwedishAmerican Hospital celebrated the birth of Arianna Sepeda-Dominguez — the 100th baby born at the hospital during its 100th anniversary year. Pictured with Arianna are proud parents Brittnee Sepeda and Ernesto Dominguez. A record 2,577 babies were born at the hospital in 2011. (Photo provided)

From the Feb. 1-7, 2012, issue

“Childhood obesity — and related health issues — is most definitely a scary problem,” said Kent State University’s Dr. Natalie Caine-Bish, “but the use of scare tactics and name-calling will not help children to get healthy and fit.”

Instead, Dr. Caine-Bish offers a more supportive and motivational approach, as follows:

1. Parents need to be open with their children, but focus on health instead of weight. It is important for children to feel good about themselves.

2. Recognize that every child is different, which means the causes for being overweight and the solutions for losing weight will depend on the particular child involved and his or her environmental circumstances.

3. Use a multi-faceted health care response that includes a physician, a psychiatrist and a dietitian; it is essential to understand the child and the reason for the weight gain.

4. Parents need to be good role models, demonstrate healthy behaviors and not make comments about their own weight, size or personal body image. The best way to deal with weight issues with children is to make lifestyle changes as a family and not focus on that particular child.

5. Be age appropriate. You can talk more openly about body weight and size with an adolescent than you can with a school-age child.

“Being negative — calling a child fat — does not help with weight loss,” said Dr. Caine-Bish. “A big concern we see is people who are overweight as children actually suffer from eating disorders in early adulthood at a higher rate than the rest of the population. This could be partially attributed to self-esteem. Food is related to people’s emotions, so many times people eat because they are sad or don’t feel good about themselves; attacking self-esteem does not help the process.”

Dr. Caine-Bish, Ph.D., RD, LD is an associate professor in the Kent State University School of Health Sciences. She is a faculty coordinator for the Center of Nutrition Outreach and directs a “no cost” community weight management program called K.I.D.S. (Kids Interested in Diet and Sport) for children between the ages of 8-16. Dr. Caine-Bish is a member of the American Dietetics Association and Society for Nutrition Education.

From the Feb. 1-7, 2012, issue

Staff Report

AURORA, Ill. — 2012 marks the fifth anniversary of the enactment of the Illinois Carbon Monoxide Alarm Detector Act (Public Act 094-0741), which requires homeowners and landlords to install carbon monoxide (CO) detectors in all buildings containing bedrooms and sleeping facilities.

Since the enaction of the law, the Prairie State has led the country in protecting its citizens from the dangers of this invisible, odorless and potentially fatal gas, with dozens of other states, including neighboring Wisconsin, following suit.

Fast-forward five years from groundbreaking legislation, though, and health and safety officials have a growing new concern: the need to replace CO alarms as they approach expiration.

“Thanks to efforts of Illinois legislators, many potential CO-related injuries or deaths have been prevented,” said Deborah Hanson, director of external affairs for First Alert, a leader in residential fire and CO detection devices. “But installing CO alarms is only half of the story — conducting ongoing alarm maintenance, including replacing expired alarms, is necessary to maintain a home’s level of protection.”

While alarm lifespans may vary by model and manufacturer, a properly-maintained CO alarm has a lifespan of approximately five to seven years, according to Hanson. Therefore, homes that installed CO alarms when the Carbon Monoxide Alarm Detector Act first came into effect are likely now due for replacement.

“If you can’t think of the last time you installed a smoke or CO alarm, chances are, it’s time to replace your old ones,” Hanson said. “Installing new alarms ensures a home is protected with the most advanced CO sensing technologies and latest safety features available. Conversely, by neglecting to replace alarms, you could be putting yourself, your family or tenants in serious risk.”

Known as the “silent killer,” CO is a colorless and odorless gas that is impossible to detect without a sensing device. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, CO poisoning is the No. 1 cause of accidental poisoning in the United States and is responsible for an average of 450 deaths each year. Heaters, fireplaces, furnaces, appliances and cooking sources using coal, wood or petroleum products are all potential sources of CO.

CO poisoning can cause symptoms such as nausea, headaches, dizziness, chest pain and vomiting that mimic those of many other illnesses, making it difficult to diagnose. In severe poisoning cases, victims can experience disorientation, unconsciousness, long-term neurological disabilities, cardio respiratory failure or death.

In addition to replacing CO alarms as they reach expiration, Hanson recommended the following tips and tools for keeping your home safer from CO:

• Run kitchen vents or exhaust fans anytime the stove is in use. The kitchen stove is among the most frequent sources of CO poisoning in the home. To help eliminate danger of overexposure, always run exhaust fans when cooking, especially during the holidays when stoves are left on for longer periods of time. Also, open a nearby window periodically when cooking to allow fresh air to circulate.

• Never use generators indoors. In the case of a power outage, portable electric generators must be used outside only. Never use them inside the home, in a garage or in any confined area that can allow CO to collect. And, be careful to follow operating instructions closely. Also, refrain from using charcoal grills, camp stoves and other similar devices indoors.

• Have fuel-burning appliances inspected regularly. Arrange for a professional inspection of all fuel-burning appliances (such as furnaces, stoves, fireplaces, clothes dryers, water heaters and space heaters) annually to detect any CO leaks.

• Test CO alarms. CO alarms are the only way to detect this poisonous gas, yet nearly one-half of Americans report not having CO alarms in their homes. For as little as $25, a First Alert CO alarm can help protect a home and family from potential tragedy. Install alarms on every level of the home and near each sleeping area for maximum protection. Test alarm function monthly and change batteries every six months.

• Be mindful of the garage. Running vehicles inside an attached garage, even if the door is open, is hazardous, as CO can leak into the home.

• Know the number. Call 911 and leave the home immediately if the CO alarm sounds.

Following are additional CO alarm guidelines:

• Clear CO alarms of all dust and debris.

• Ensure alarms are plugged all the way into the outlet or, if battery operated, have working batteries installed. Check or replace the battery when you change the time on your clocks each spring and fall.

• Make certain each person can hear the CO alarm sound from his or her sleeping room and that the sound is loud enough to awaken everyone. If young children are in the house, consider a new Child Awakening Smoke and CO combination alarm from First Alert. Studies have shown that children ages 6 to 10 wake more easily to a voice than to the traditional audible beep of an alarm.

• Make sure the alarms are installed at least 15 feet away from sources of CO to reduce the number of nuisance alarms.

For more about home safety products from First Alert, visit www.firstalert.com. For more about the Illinois Carbon Monoxide Alarm Detector Act, visit http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=094-0741.

From the Feb. 1-7, 2012, issue

Armond and Dorothy Rudolph — 92 and 90 years of age, respectively — didn’t set out to make national news; but their story should serve as a clarion call for overhauling the conflicting, ambiguous and sometimes cruel regulations currently governing end-of-life decisions in this country.

Armond suffered from spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal column that causes acute pain and numbness in the limbs. Dorothy was almost completely physically immobilized. Both had developed early-stage dementia.

In August, after consulting with family and friends, the Rudolphs decided to hasten their deaths by refusing food and water. Three days into their fast, they relayed their decision to administrators of their assisted living facility in Albuquerque, N.M. Although their decision was clearly within their legal rights, facility officials responded to the couple’s intentions by summarily evicting the 90-year-olds from their apartment — the very next morning. The Rudolphs resisted. So, administrators called the police to have the couple forcibly transported to a nearby hospital.

The Rudolphs had no legal recourse to keep their apartment. Fortunately, with the help of their children, they were able to quickly relocate to a private residence. Assisted by hospice workers, they continued their fast. A week later, husband and wife — married 69 years — died within 24 hours of one another, surrounded by family.

Thousands of Americans are just like Armond and Dorothy, burdened with painful, irreversible conditions and considering whether to hasten death. This population isn’t “suicidal.” They do not have an irrational desire to destroy themselves. They have already enjoyed full, long lives, blessed with love and happiness, and they know their time is at an end. They see a dignified death as the natural and appropriate ending to a well-lived life, when life as they knew it is no longer possible.

Instead of treating people like the Rudolphs with compassion and support, however, authorities believe they are in a better position to make life decisions for these mentally competent adults. In fact, just three states — Montana, Oregon and Washington — currently allow physician-assisted suicide. Some states are actually actively cracking down on organizations that provide support to people like the Rudolphs, who choose to hasten death. Notably, Georgia has made it a felony for an outside group even to talk with people about end-of-life options that include self-deliverance.

These restrictive regulations are morally wrong, and they don’t square with public opinion. Polls show that roughly 70 percent of American adults — and about 60 percent of the elderly — think the terminally or irreversibly ill should have the right to end their own lives.

Currently, except for the three states mentioned above, “voluntarily stopping eating and drinking” (VSED) is often the only legal, humane option patients have.

Done right, VSED can bring a safe and peaceful end; however, the process is relatively lengthy, between one and two weeks, on average. To manage any pain, patients require sustained palliative care, which is often difficult and expensive to arrange — 25 percent of individuals who choose this route have difficult and painful deaths. It is often devastating for their loved ones to watch individuals deny themselves food and drink for two weeks, even when those individuals have made a conscious choice to do so.

Americans facing end-of-life choices deserve other options. Inexpensive, safe and pain-free alternatives exist. Yet, just months ago, the FBI, Customs and other heavily-armed law enforcement agencies staged a dawn raid on the home of a 91-year-old woman to stop her from making helium hoods (one such painless alternative) in this country. Sharlotte Hydorn, of El Cajon, Calif., was the only source for such helium hoods in the United States. The agents held handguns to her face to ensure “officer safety” as they “seized” her sewing machine. Ironically, guns are the method of choice in the vast majority of suicides, and yet increasingly, laws and court decisions are making firearms more readily available.

It is time for the nation to recognize the inconsistencies in our approach and the needless suffering to which many people are being condemned. People who make the decision for self-deliverance after much soul searching, consultations with medical staff and discussions with family and friends, deserve a dignified death free of pain and with loved ones at their side during the process. As we move into the second decade of the 21st century, it is certainly time for the legal views on suicide and the rights of individuals to reflect the views a majority of our citizens have held since the mid 20th-century.

Wendell Stephenson is the president of the Final Exit Network. The website for the Network is www.finalexitnetwork.org.

From the Feb. 1-7, 2012, issue

It’s not every day that people are willing to “go jump in a lake” — particularly in the winter — let alone do so with thousands of other people, including members of the law enforcement community. But that’s exactly what will happen at noon, Saturday, March 3, at Rock Cut State Park’s Olson Lake in Loves Park as part of the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge to benefit Special Olympics Illinois.

The event has grown from one location in 1999 to 20 locations across the state. The Polar Plunge series will kick off with a SUPER Plunge — where participants raise a minimum of $2,500 and plunge into Lake Michigan once an hour every hour for 24 hours — Feb. 24-25 at Northwestern University’s North Beach in Evanston, Ill.

Any adventurous soul is invited to join law enforcement officers, as well as media and business and civic leaders from their community, by donning bathing suits, costumes or any clothing of choice (just no wet suits!) to jump in a lake. Each plunger must collect a minimum of $75 in donations that will be used to support Special Olympics programs in Illinois.

Individuals and teams can register for the plunge on the Special Olympics Illinois website at http://www.plungeillinois.com. Locally, those interested in more information about the Polar Plunge at Olson Lake can contact Debbie Kelly at (815) 288-2939.

Plungers are encouraged to form teams to spread the fun. Each team member must raise the minimum of $75 in donations and all team members’ individual fund-raising totals will be merged to form a combined team total. Teams are placed into divisions based on size and are awarded prizes for the most money raised.

All plungers will receive gifts, compete for prizes, and enjoy food and camaraderie with other chilly participants. The more money a plunger raises, the more chances he/she will have to win a seven-night trip for two to Riu Negril in Negril, Jamaica, courtesy of Riu Hotels and Resorts and Apple Vacations. Trip includes roundtrip airfare, transfers to and from resort, all meals, drinks and more. For every $500 a plunger raises, he/she will get an entry into the drawing for this grand prize.

The Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run is the single largest year-round fund-raising vehicle benefiting Special Olympics Illinois. The annual intrastate relay and its various fund-raising projects have two goals: to raise money and increase public awareness for the athletes of Special Olympics Illinois. Each year, more than 3,000 officers in Illinois run more than 1,500 miles carrying the Flame of Hope through the streets of their hometowns and deliver it to the State Summer Games in Normal, Ill., in June.

From the Jan. 25-31, 2012, issue

The Heart Hospital at SwedishAmerican Hospital will present the 17th annual “Cardiology Millennium Conference” Monday, Feb. 6, at Giovanni’s Restaurant and Conference Center, 610 N. Bell School Road, Rockford.

The special one-day conference explores many of the latest developments in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease.

Primary care physicians, cardiovascular specialists, nurses, technical staff and social workers can earn CNE, CME, ASRT, LCSW, LCPC and LCC credits by attending the conference.

For more details or to register, call (815) 968-2500 or (800) 996-9954, or visit http://www.swedishamerican.org/heart_hospital/cardiology_millennium/.

The conference kicks off with Dr. Lucian Lozonschi, Dr. Giorgio Gimelli and Dr. Amish Raval, pioneers in transcatheter heart valve therapies, cardiovascular stem cell and regenerative medicine, and robotic and minimally invasive cardiovascular surgeries at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Jack Barker, a nationally-known expert on creating a culture of safety and process improvement through the adaptation of aviation safety tools, and Tilda Shalof, best-selling author and ICU nurse whose latest book details her own open-heart surgery and recovery, are also featured.

In addition, local and area physicians will speak about other cardiac-related topics such as peripheral arterial disease, appropriate treatments for elderly patients, atrial fibrillation therapies and the diabetes-heart disease connection.

From the Jan. 25-31, 2012, issue

The World Health Organization and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have announced a call to action for Americans to test their homes for radon gas, which has recently been identified as the leading cause of lung cancer for non-smokers in the U.S.

The EPA has officially designated January 2012 to be National Radon Action Month in the United States. The press, local health departments, and the media are encouraged to help save lives in 2012 by promoting this last week of National Radon Action Month.

Radon is a naturally-occurring, radioactive gas that seeps out of the ground and can enter homes and other buildings. Since radon is invisible and odorless, the only way to know if a home has dangerous levels of the gas is to conduct a radon test. Radon problems have been found in every county in the U.S., so the surgeon general is recommending that all homes are tested,

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that as many as 8 million homes in the United States currently have dangerous levels of radon gas. They also predict that if action is not taken to correct this problem, between 15,000 and 22,000 deaths will occur in 2012 from exposure to the gas. This is a health threat of epidemic proportions that needs immediate attention.

Radon causes more deaths each year in the U.S. than any other in-home hazard, including fires and carbon monoxide deaths combined. We can save lives by stopping America’s leading in-home killer. For more information, visit The National Radon Month website, www.RadonMonth.org.

From the Jan. 18-24, 2012, issue

The Rock River Valley Blood Center (RRVBC) announces January is National Blood Donor Month. This annual month-long observance provides the blood banking community with an opportunity to pay tribute to past and present blood donors, and to extend an invitation to donate blood to those healthy, eligible individuals who have previously never given the gift of life. This call to action comes at a time when blood is traditionally in short supply because of the holidays, travel schedules, inclement weather and illness.

Linda Gerber, RRVBC CEO, said: “Blood donors are the backbone of the community blood supply. They are the everyday heroes that ensure blood is there when patients need it. We thank them all year long, but it is important that they be honored for their dedication. We are urging people to start off the New Year by donating blood and by making a commitment to become a regular donor.”

Jennifer Bowman, RRVBC public relations and marketing manager, added: “The need for blood is constant. One in three people will need blood in their lifetime. Each day, patients across the country receive more than 40,000 units of this vital resource. This year alone, more than 5 million patients will require blood transfusions, as accident victims, people undergoing surgery, and patients receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer and other diseases.”

RRVBC serves as a centralized, community blood center and is the only provider of blood products and services to Beloit Health System, Edgerton Hospital and Health Services, FHN, Mercy Harvard Hospital, OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, Rochelle Community Hospital, Rockford Health System, SwedishAmerican Health System and SwedishAmerican Medical Center — Belvidere.

For more details or to make an appointment to donate blood, call toll-free at 877-RRVBC-99 or find RRVBC on the web at www.rrvbc.org.

Following are the hours and locations of RRVBC blood centers:

• Headquarters and Downtown Donor Center — 419 N. Sixth St., Rockford: 6:30 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 6:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Friday; and 7-11 a.m., Saturday.

• Belvidere Donor Center — 1740 S. State St., Belvidere, Ill.: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Tuesday; 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Wednesday-Thursday; 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Friday; and 7-11 a.m., second Saturday of each month.

• Freeport Donor Center — 461 E. South St., Freeport, Ill.: 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday-Tuesday; 7 a.m.-2 p.m., Thursday-Friday; and 7-11 a.m., second Saturday of each month.

• Perryville Donor Center — 3065 N. Perryville Road, Rockford: 6:30 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday-Thursday; and 7 a.m.-1 p.m., Friday-Saturday.

From the Jan. 11-17, 2012, issue

Free EKG screenings for area high school students will be offered by the Young Hearts for Life Cardiac Screening Program at SwedishAmerican Heart Hospital in Rockford and the Belvidere Medical Center.

Appointments will be scheduled in 15-minute intervals at both locations, beginning at 5:30 p.m. on the following days, by location:

• SwedishAmerican Heart Hospital, 1401 E. State St., Rockford — Tuesday, Jan. 17; Wednesday, Feb. 15; and Tuesday, March 27.

• Belvidere Medical Center, 1625 S. State St., Belvidere, Ill. — Wednesday, Jan. 25; Tuesday, Feb. 28; and Wednesday, March 21.

The free screenings are offered by Dr. Kenneth Brin of Midwest Heart Specialists and SwedishAmerican Health System.

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) claims the lives of 30 young adults every week in the United States. The tragedy of these deaths for families and communities is amplified when we realize how needless and preventable they are: one-third of these deaths may have been prevented through a simple, inexpensive heart screening.

Midwest Heart Community Foundation, under the guidance of Dr. Joseph Marek, clinical cardiologist with Midwest Heart Specialists, is working to increase awareness of SCD in young adults.

Register your child by calling Ann Sammons at (815) 968-4400, ext. 62894, or e-mail asammons@swedishamerican.org.

The following information is needed when registering: parent and student names, home address, phone number and e-mail, student birthdate, school and physician.

From the Jan. 11-17, 2012, issue

The YMCA of Rock River Valley announces the joiner fee will be waived for the month of January.

The promotion is to encourage healthy living throughout Rockford and surrounding areas.

The joiner fee will be waived to new members of YMCA of Rock River Valley through Jan. 31. For member information, contact Member Relations at the I.D. Pennock Branch, 200 Y Blvd., Rockford, (815) 489-1252, or the Northeast Branch, 8451 Orth Road, Loves Park, Ill., (815) 489-3352.

Along with the No Joiner Fee promotion, the YMCA of Rock River Valley will be offering a free weekend Jan. 21-22. On these dates, the I.D. Pennock and Northeast branches will be open to the public. Throughout the weekend, there will be activities, games, tours and classes for every member of the family.

From the Jan. 4-10, 2012, issue

Staff Report

Everyone knows smoking is dangerous, unhealthy and increasingly costly. It continues to be this country’s No. 1 cause of preventable death — leading to one of every five deaths in the U.S.

At 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 11, the Winnebago County Health Department (WCHD) will begin a series of 90-minute classes to help people stop smoking. The smoking cessation program consists of seven weekly sessions providing education, support and encouragement to help people end their addiction to tobacco products.

Classes will be in Room 221 at the WCHD’s facility at 555 N. Court St., Rockford.

The program is unique because it moves past the why people should quit and emphasizes how to quit. It focuses on issues like: making a plan for quitting; reducing or tapering off your use of tobacco products; identifying your smoking triggers; dealing effectively with the emotions and stress of quitting; and, most importantly, adjusting your behaviors to deal effectively with your smoking habit and then maintaining those healthier behaviors over a long period of time — truly quitting for good.

“This program is highly structured, offering a systematic approach to quitting, and focuses on behavioral change for long-term success,” said Larry Didier, Tobacco Programs coordinator for the WCHD.

To reduce problems associated with nicotine addiction, the program offers very low-cost (based on ability to pay) nicotine replacement products such as patches, gums and lozenges. These products complement the behavioral goals of the program, and focusing on both is essential for long-term success in quitting.

A registration fee of $35 is requested, but is not required from those who cannot pay. If a participant quits smoking by the end of the seven classes, their $35 will be returned to them.

“Hundreds have participated in the program, and more than two-thirds of them report being tobacco-free after completing the program,” added Didier. “The support participants receive from one another in the class is a primary key of their success in quitting smoking.”

To register, or for more information, call the Tobacco Programs coordinator at (815) 720-4269.

From the Jan. 4-10, 2012, issue

By Pastor Randall Hargate, C.A.P.S. — C.L.T.C.
Crossroads Christian Fellowship

It is estimated that 65 million Americans are caring for an aging family member as a part of their everyday living experience. Any of these caregivers can testify to the fact that it is much more effective to work as a team to provide the most effective care-giving strategies.

Family support teams are nothing new and have been a natural progression of the life cycle ever since humans have existed. Today, however, because of our elders living longer, this season calls for more planning, commitment and teamwork. While we do have the opportunity to withdraw from our responsibilities toward our elders, it is difficult to escape the high calling of participating in caring for our elders. Some of the motivating factors we should consider when caring for our loved ones are quite convincing, factors such as:

1. Our call to “honor our mother and father” is a high calling that compels us to action. This “compelling” originates in the fifth of the 10 commandments. Though each person should consider to what degree they are able to fulfill this Judaeo-Christian instruction, to completely neglect our responsibility or to push it on other family members goes against this Christian principle.

2. To prevent a nursing home stay for our loved one is a loving and practical motivator within itself. A nursing home confinement is the greatest fear most of our elderly have, and if institutionalized care can be prevented, love has shown itself in a way your elder will cherish during the twilight of their life.

3. The inheritance your elders will be leaving to the ones who are most likely to care for them should not be the primary motivation to provide care for your elderly loved ones, but it is a legitimate concern each family should consider. A positive byproduct of participating in your family’s eldercare support team is to prevent the “spent down” on a nursing home confinement. Medicare pays very little of these expenses, and at $70,000 or more a year, the inheritance can be eaten away fairly quickly.

There are many additional motivators that compel eldercare strategies. Any one of these three is reason enough for each family to work together toward their common goal of “honoring their mother and father.”

The following is a list of simple ground rules you can use to establish a family support team your family can implement to care for your elderly loved one:

1. One person is often chosen as a “primary caregiver.” This does not mean they do “primarily all the work.” Their duties include offering oversight and management to the strategy the family has developed. In addition, a list of services that are needed is presented to the participating team members. This list is also presented to those who do not participate in the team. This keeps them aware of the time and effort offered by others.

2. Each person attached to the elder (by blood or friendship bond) should be introduced to their loved one’s needs and the objectives the family has agreed upon.

3. The family should make a list of the daily, weekly and monthly needs the elder has and cannot complete on their own.

4. Understanding that many loved ones do not live in close enough proximity to be able to provide care, be realistic about who can participate. Geographical barriers have caused many eldercare goals to be left to those who live closest. This can cause a disproportional burden upon those who live closest and can cause animosity and bitterness among those who do, those who can’t and those who won’t. If the duties fall upon a single person or a small percentage of family members, then compensation, or a larger inheritance percentage for these disproportionally affected caregivers, is often offered to balance the disproportional burden upon the caregiver.

5. Understand that each team, no matter how large or how small, can only make their best attempt at fulfilling the goals previously defined. No one can predict the outcome of an eldercare strategy, and, if you cannot accomplish your goals, know when to say institutional help is the wisest decision. When your caregiving duties start compromising the health of the caregivers, it is time to reconsider your objectives. The ones who are providing the care are best suited to make these decisions on behalf of their elderly loved one. If the elder is able to contribute their insight, their opinion should always be heavily considered, but at the end of the day, the decision is corporately made by those most affected.

This short overview of family support teams is intended as an overview and a starting point to encourage you to begin preplanning your aging-in-place strategy. Gather family members together and begin discussing this most important issue, and you will be a step ahead of whatever may come your way. Utilizing the services of capable professionals such as social workers or geriatrics care managers is encouraged. Locally, a licensed geriatric care manager can be contacted at Geriatric Care Management Services, (815) 977-9356, www.gcmsofnorthernillinois.com. Lorna Sullivan R.N., C.H.P.N., is a certified geriatric care manager and can help you devise a functional family support team.

Our intention is to help you develop a plan before a crisis occurs. Equally, we hope to offer helpful ideas if you are in the midst of an eldercare crisis. Any questions you would like to see addressed in future articles can be forwarded to my e-mail address at randy@crossroadsadultdayservices.com.

Pastor Randall Hargate C.A.P.S. — CLTC is pastor of Crossroads Christian Fellowship in Rockford and founder of a local adult daycare called Crossroads Adult Day Services. He is also author of the book The First Commandment With Promise — A Christian guide to eldercare planning, available through Amazon.com.

From the Jan. 4-10, 2012, issue

CHICAGO — More than 2.2 million Americans age 40 and older have open angle glaucoma, the most common form of glaucoma. At least half don’t even know they have it.

Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in the world, second only to cataracts, and the leading cause of blindness in African-Americans.

According to research funded by Prevent Blindness America, glaucoma costs the U.S. economy $2.86 billion every year in direct medical costs for outpatient, inpatient and prescription drug services.

As part of January’s National Glaucoma Awareness Month, Prevent Blindness America is joining with other leading eye health organizations in encouraging everyone to educate themselves about the disease as well as make a New Year’s resolution to make eye health a priority.

Glaucoma has long been termed the “sneak thief of sight” because it slowly takes away vision, often without the patient even realizing it.

Glaucoma damages the optic nerve, which sends information from the eyes to the brain. When the optic nerve is damaged, peripheral vision begins to diminish. If left untreated, over time, glaucoma may also damage central vision. Unfortunately, once symptoms are detected, the effectiveness of treatment diminishes. Once vision is lost, it cannot be restored.

Risk factors for glaucoma include advancing age, family history, nearsightedness, eye injury or surgery, and the use of steroid medications. Race is another major risk factor as, according to the National Eye Institute, glaucoma is five times more likely to occur in blacks than in whites, and blacks are four times more likely to go blind from it. Hispanics are more likely to develop glaucoma after age 60 than any other group.

Prevent Blindness America provides free resources to educate consumers about glaucoma, including treatment options and general information at “The Glaucoma Learning Center,” a free website at www.preventblindess.org/glaucoma. Free printed materials are available by request, including the “Guide for People with Glaucoma.” This comprehensive booklet serves as a handbook for patients and includes information about what to expect during treatment and even a list of questions to ask the eye doctor.

The Glaucoma Learning Center also hosts the “Glaucoma Web Discussion Forum,” which allows patients and caregivers the opportunity to discuss online all subjects related to the disease. Topics range from general information about the condition and its treatment, to shared experiences and emotional support.

“We want to stress to everyone that vision can be saved from glaucoma through early diagnosis and treatment,” said Hugh R. Parry, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness America. “Please visit our website or call our toll-free number to get all the free information you can to educate yourself on risk factors, treatment options and even Medicare coverage. Let’s all commit to make 2012 the year to make our eyes a priority and save our sight!”

For more about glaucoma, call Prevent Blindness America at (800) 331-2020 or visit preventblindness.org/glaucoma.

From the Jan. 4-10, 2012, issue

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo. — Dec. 22 marked the first day of winter, and the professional medics at American Medical Response (AMR) would like to remind everyone that plunging temperatures could pose a threat to life and limb. This is especially true for the elderly, small children, the chronically ill, substance-abusers and individuals who stay out in the cold for long periods.

AMR suggests the following tips to help avoid two potentially dangerous conditions — hypothermia and frostbite. Both can happen even in areas known for warm weather, especially when wind chill and the possibility of getting wet in cold water or rain are involved.

To avoid hypothermia and frostbite, wear clothing in layers. Layers of clothes provide much more protection than one thick garment. The layer closest to the body should be thin and made of polyester or similar material to pull moisture from your skin. The next layers should be bulkier, providing more insulation. Wool is a good insulating material, as are newer materials such as polyester pile. When you’re outdoors, the outer layer should resist rain, sleet or snow and have zippers for venting body heat if you become too warm.

Here are some other tips:

• Wear a hat. Forty percent of body heat escapes through the head.

• Wear mittens rather than gloves because mittens keep hands warmer.

• Immediately remove any clothing that gets wet.

• In cold weather, elderly people should be checked on frequently because age can weaken the body’s ability to sense and adapt to temperature changes.

Hypothermia is a general cooling of the body’s internal temperature. Hypothermia victims go through stages of shivering, numbness, confusion and drowsiness before becoming unconscious. Unless emergency aid is provided, death can follow.

First aid for hypothermia includes removing the person from the cold setting. Give CPR if needed. Remove wet clothes and wrap the patient in warm materials. If the victim is alert, give them warm, non-alcoholic drinks. Never give anything by mouth to someone who is less than fully alert.

Frostbite is the freezing of a body part, most often the fingers, toes, ears or nose. The part often feels hard and waxy and may be discolored.

First aid for frostbite includes removing the person from the cold setting. Handle the injured area gently to protect it from further injury and wrap it in dry, sterile dressing. Do not rub the frostbitten area and do not allow the victim to try to use the injured area, such as walking on frostbitten toes. Never put ice on frostbite.

Re-warm the frostbitten body part only if medical care is remote or unavailable. After re-warming, keep the injury from re-freezing.

When hypothermia or frostbite is suspected, call for help from your local ambulance service immediately.

From the Jan. 4-10, 2012, issue

Three hours of fighting a fire stiffens arteries and impairs cardiac function in firefighters, according to a new study by Bo Fernhall, right, a professor in the Department of kinesiology and community health in the College of Applied Health Sciences, and Gavin Horn, director of research at the Illinois Fire Service Institute. (Photo by L. Brian Stauffer)

By Sharita Forrest
News Editor, University of Illinois News Bureau

CHAMPAIGN, lll. — Firefighting causes stiff arteries and “cardiac fatigue,” conditions also found in weightlifters and endurance athletes, according to two recent studies by researchers at the Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI), located at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

The researchers found that three hours of firefighting activity caused acute increases in arterial stiffness and impaired cardiac functioning in young, apparently healthy male firefighters. The study, which was published recently in the journal Vascular Medicine, is believed to be the first study to examine arterial stiffness and blood flow after fire-suppression activities.

“These changes appear to be similar to what is observed after maximal aerobic and/or heavy resistance exercise and are likely due to a combination of thermal, metabolic, and psychological stresses that occur during fire-suppression activities,” wrote study authors Gavin Horn, the director of research at IFSI, and Bo Fernhall, a professor in the department of kinesiology and community health in the U. of I. College of Applied Health Sciences.

The 69 firefighters who participated in the study were in active service and had been medically cleared by their home departments to participate in live-fire activities, although many were overweight, as assessed by body mass index. The participants, all male, ranged in age from 19-48, with an average age of 29.

“It was a representative cross-section of the firefighters who would be in the line doing the firefighting activities, although relatively young,” Horn said.

Wearing full firefighting gear, the participants engaged in typical fire suppression activities — advancing hose, forcing doors open, extinguishing a fire — at IFSI’s training facility. They engaged in four or five activity periods, which lasted 15-25 minutes each, with several 10- to 15-minute rest periods in between to hydrate and cool themselves.

Shortly before and afterward, researchers measured various cardiovascular functions, including heart rate; brachial, carotid and aortic blood pressures; blood flow in their forearms; and arterial stiffness and thickness. Firefighters’ body temperatures were measured using a monitor and a small disposable sensor capsule that they ingested the night before the test.

About one hour before the pre-firefighting data collection, the participants consumed a standardized meal and a 2-gram vitamin C capsule or a placebo so researchers could investigate whether the supplement improved arterial function, mitigating the risk of cardiovascular events, as prior studies suggested. The vitamin C supplements did not appear to affect any of the outcomes, however.

“We found that their arteries changed with firefighting, becoming stiff afterward,” Fernhall said. “Usually, a stiff artery is associated with an increase in inflammation and blood pressure, but we didn’t find any increase in either of those.”

Surprisingly, participants’ endothelial function — blood flow as controlled by the inner lining of blood vessels — improved after the firefighting exercise. Similar effects — improved endothelial function and arterial stiffness — are often seen in athletes after heavy weight training or resistance exercise.

“Firefighters do a lot of resistance-type exercise when they’re fighting a fire — handling heavy equipment, doing forcible entry and other tasks that increase blood flow in their arms, which is where we measured endothelial functioning,” Fernhall said. “However, the arterial stiffening is not a response that we would expect. Whether the results increase the risk of a firefighter having a heart attack or stroke, we don’t know.”

In a related study, using ultrasound and Tissue Doppler Imaging, the researchers found that heart function — its stroke volume, or the amount of blood pumped with each beat; and its diastolic function, its ability to relax between beats — deteriorated after firefighting, a condition called “cardiac fatigue,”which has been documented in athletes who participate in marathons and other endurance sports.

“There’s no question that heart function did deteriorate, according to the measures,” but it is difficult to draw any conclusions because participants’ cardiac loading conditions could not be standardized, Fernhall said.

Almost 75 percent of U.S. firefighters are volunteers, not career firefighters. And, like the average American, many exhibit several of the risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including being overweight and having elevated blood pressure and/or cholesterol. Multiple stressors are inflicted on the body simultaneously during firefighting — heat stress exacerbated by heavy gear that doesn’t allow the body to cool, acute periods of aerobic and resistance exercise, and activation of the “fight or flight” response of the sympathetic nervous system, Horn said.

“If you have a person with a vulnerable heart, that could potentially (cause a problem),” Fernhall said.

While endurance athletes train for months before races, volunteer firefighters may not be in peak condition and physically prepared for the strain of fighting a fire.

About 45 firefighters die each year in the U.S. from heart attacks or strokes while on duty. (That represents about half the on-duty firefighter fatalities nationwide annually.) The triggers of these sudden deaths are unknown, and they are often attributed to overexertion. The potential mechanisms must continue to be studied so interventions can be developed, Horn said.

The Department of Homeland Security Assistance to Firefighters Grant provided funding for the research.

Fernhall also is affiliated with the Exercise and Cardiovascular Research Laboratory.

From the Dec. 28, 2011-Jan. 3, 2012, issue

BELOIT, Wis. — Beloit Regional Hospice will host a seven-week adult grief support group beginning Thursday, Jan. 5, from 10-11:30 a.m. at the Beloit Regional Hospice offices, 655 Third St., Suite 200, in Beloit, Wis.

Grief support groups and resources are open to anyone in the community who has experienced a death. Meeting with other people who are experiencing similar circumstances provides encouragement and support. Coping skills and various aspects of the grieving process are discussed.

This group will meet for seven consecutive weeks. Call (608) 363-7421 or toll-free 877-363-7421 and ask for the Grief Department to register. There is no charge to attend, but advance registration is requested.

Visit the Beloit Regional Hospice website at www.beloitregionalhospice.com for more details or receive their newsletter electronically by e-mailing nmorgan@beloitregionalhospice.com.

From the Dec. 28, 2011-Jan. 3, 2012, issue

I am blessed to have celebrated another year cancer free. In 2000, I was told that I had breast cancer, and because of my belief system and my education, I personally could not do the chemical therapy and radiation. My oncologist told me that I would never see my son, Scott, graduate from high school if I did not do their treatments. I have been blessed to see Scott graduate not only from high school, but with his BFA and currently receiving his MFA.

My cancer was estrogen driven, as with many of my patients. Scientific studies have shown that many of the following symptoms and conditions may be caused by hormonal imbalance caused by high levels of estrogen. If you have ever come to see me, you will know that I preach and have information about why we should not eat soy. Soy is a phyto-estrogen, and high levels of soy will lead to breast and prostate cancer. To counteract high levels of estrogen, I suggest using a natural progesterone cream. Here are issues of an imbalance of estrogen/progesterone.

1. Breast tenderness

2. Cervical dysplasia

3. Decreased sex drive

4. Depression

5. Endometriosis

6. Fat gain around abdomen, hip and thighs

7. Fibrocystic breast 8. Fibroids

9. Hot flashes

10. Infertility

11. Insomnia

12. Irregular periods

13. Miscarriages

And on and on and on the list goes.

All estrogen without the balance of progesterone will increase cell proliferation, and to me, this is the precursor of cancer. If you have ever had a thermogram, you will see high levels of estrogen. Because of my breast cancer story, I only do thermography. In my case, for three years I felt a lump in my right breast, and my medical doctor told me that there was nothing there. The mammogram never picked up my breast tumor until it was 3 cm big. Because of this, I had to do my own research, and I then educated myself on thermograms. I found a medical doctor in Madison, Wis., who did thermograms, and I have been doing them ever since.

I truly believe if I would have done thermograms before I felt my lump, I could have balanced my estrogen/progesterone. Why am I so confident? After my breast cancer surgery, my medical doctor here in Rockford told me my left breast was fine. After doing a thermogram, I was so high in estrogen, I was an accident waiting to happen. I did think it was funny that my medical doctor told me that my left breast was fine when they never did an estrogen test. I also wondered why my medical doctor would only think my right breast could have high levels of estrogen. Another thing that I found interesting was that my surgeon suggested because I have a history of cancer in my family, I should remove both breasts. I then had to educate him on the fact that my ovaries are making the estrogen, not my breast, so I will keep an eye on my estrogen levels, and if there is an issue, I will remove my ovaries.

Let us look at why so many women need progesterone. When there is not a balance of estrogen/progesterone, this will cause EOS (estrogen overload syndrome). Every day we are living in a world where we are bombarded with estrogen — from birth control to hormone replacement therapy to synthetic chemicals, soy and so much more. Natural estrogen is produced by our body, xeno-estrogen is in our pesticides, plastics solvents, industrial waste and car exhaust. Estrogen is pumped into our livestock to make them grow faster and fatten them up, and phyto-estrogens are in our foods such as soy.

Doctors realized that there were problems with hormone imbalance, and to solve this issue, they started adding synthetic progesterone to birth control. But as we all know, the body cannot break this down, and it cannot be absorbed, which then causes serious side effects. These altered synthetic chemicals have been documented in the PDR (Physician’s Desk Reference), which includes blood pressure, blood clots, headaches, changes in libido, just to name a few. Natural progesterone works without any side effects. If you have a history of cancer in your family, you need to know what your estrogen levels are. You need to be proactive with your health. If you have concerns, and your doctor will not order this test, then, by all means, pay for it yourself. I carry hormonal kits in my office (both female and male), for we should all know what our hormonal panel is telling us. If I can help you with your hormonal issues, please feel free to call my office and talk to my Physician Assistant, Kay. She will be able to help you with any questions and concerns.

Dr. Julia Whipkey-Michniewicz is a Naturopathic Doctor who has an office in Rockford, Ill. You may reach her at (815) 962-3326.

From the Dec. 21-27, 2011, issue

Dr. Julia Whipkey-Michniewicz

By Dr. Julia Whipkey-Michniewicz, N.D.
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine

The day after Thanksgiving, I celebrated 12 years free of breast cancer. My oncologist told me I would never see my son graduate, and I have been blessed to see him graduate three times. I personally did not do the chemical therapy and the radiation. I saw my mother given so much radiation to the breast they burned her lungs, and to see her gasping for air as a result of the devastating effects of radiation treatment will always be with me.

Cancer is a much-feared disease because of the treatments. Do you know that cancer is now the second-leading cause of death in America with heart and cardiovascular disease at No. 3, and mistakes made by medical doctors and hospitals at No. 1? (See: Death by Medicine by G. Null)

I believe modern medicine will never find a cure for cancer as long as the focus remains on the development of toxic chemical therapy drugs. With medical mentality of slash, burn and poison, no one is being educated about environmental causes such as parasites, fungus, yeast/candida, virus, heavy metals, chemicals, solvents, pesticides, hormonal disruption and, of course, DIET.

I treated my cancer naturally, and I see many patients who have had cancer. I always educate them about detoxing, supplementation for healthy organs and diet. When it comes to diet, everyone needs to eliminate dead toxic foods. These include all sources of simple, refined and artificial sugars and sweeteners, all sources of trans/hydrogenated fats and oils, all sources of refined carbohydrates, non-organic commercial wheat, soy, corn and other genetically-modified food products and all sources of cow’s milk. Then, I suggest you go one step further. Let us find out what your blood type is, and we give you a booklet about how to eat according to your blood type.

I.V. therapy, I.M. therapy (inter-muscular), nutritional supplementation is a must for people who have gone through chemical therapy treatments. Chemical therapy destroys your immune system. Your immune system needs to be strong for you to be healthy. If a foreign matter overcomes the body, the immune system jumps into action. This system is composed of lymph nodes, blood protein and specialized white blood cells. The lymph nodes cleanse and filter the blood. This filtration process prevents bacteria, cancer cells and other infectious agents from entering the blood and circulating through the system.

When your immune system is so suppressed because of chemical therapy, it is very hard for you to be able to take all of your needed nutritional supplements. You are so depleted in all nutrients that I.V. therapy or I.M. therapy is recommended. As I tell my patients, you would have to take a boat full of supplements, and even then you would still not be able to take enough. This is because you would not be able to absorb and assimilate them. I always wondered, when someone finds out they have cancer or any autoimmune disease, instead of putting chemical therapy into people’s veins, why aren’t they putting vitamins and minerals into their system? I think we all know the answer to that one. Follow the money.

Dr. Julia has an office in Rockford, Ill. You may reach her at (815) 962-3326.

From the Dec. 14-20, 2011, issue

Family and friends are hosting a blood drive in support of 3-year-old cancer patient Christopher Rydeberg, from 2-6 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 17, at the Verdi Club, 782 N. Madison St.

In fact, since each blood donation is separated into components, you can actually help save three lives with one donation! One in three people will need blood in their lifetime. You never know when it might be you or someone you love who will need blood.

For more information or to schedule an appointment to donate, please call (815) 968-8119.

You should be eligible to donate blood if you are at least 17 years old (16 years old with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in general good health.

The Rock River Valley Blood Center serves as a centralized, community blood center and is the only provider of blood products and services to Edgerton Hospital and Health Services, Beloit Health System, FHN, Mercy Harvard Hospital, OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, Rochelle Community Hospital, Rockford Health System, SwedishAmerican Health System and SwedishAmerican Medical Center-Belvidere. For more information or to make an appointment to donate blood, call toll free 877-RRVBC-99 or find RRVBC on the web at www.rrvbc.org.

From the Dec. 14-20, 2011, issue

Crusader Community Health has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for accreditation by demonstrating compliance with The Joint Commission’s national standards for health care quality and safety in ambulatory care organizations.

The accreditation award recognizes Crusader’s dedication to continuous compliance with The Joint Commission’s state-of-the-art standards. Crusader has received accreditation since 1999.

Crusader Community Health underwent a rigorous, unannounced, on-site survey in September 2011. A team of Joint Commission expert surveyors evaluated Crusader for compliance with standards of care specific to the needs of patients, including infection prevention and control, leadership and medication management.

Since 1975, The Joint Commission has developed state-of-the-art standards for outpatient ambulatory care organizations. Nearly 1,900 free-standing ambulatory care organizations maintain Joint Commission accreditation.

Michael Kulczycki, executive director of the Ambulatory Care Accreditation Program for The Joint Commission, said: “Organizations that strive for accreditation in ambulatory care from The Joint Commission are demonstrating the highest commitment to quality and safety to their patients, staff and their community. I commend Crusader Community Health for successfully achieving this pinnacle and for its dedication to continually improving patient care.”

Gordon Eggers Jr., president & CEO of Crusader Community Health, said: “We recognize Joint Commission accreditation as the Gold Seal for providing safe, high-quality patient care. Achieving accreditation from The Joint Commission is a team effort that will bring confidence to our patients and give us a framework to provide the best care possible.”

Crusader Community Health is a community-based, not-for-profit, Illinois corporation, whose mission is to serve the Rock River Valley area with quality, primary health care for people in need. Services are available on a sliding discount basis.

Crusader Community Health has four locations: Crusader Community Health on West State Street, 1200 W. State St.; Crusader Community Health on Broadway-Uram Building, Broadway and Seventh; Crusader Community Health Belvidere, 1050 Logan Ave., Belvidere; and Crusader Community Health Loves Park, 6115 N. Second St., Loves Park. To schedule an appointment, call (815) 490-1600, or for more about Crusader Community Health, visit www.crusaderhealth.org.

The Joint Commission’s ambulatory care standards address important functions relating to the care of patients and the management of an ambulatory care organization. The standards are developed in consultation with health care experts, providers, measurement experts and patients. Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value.

From the Dec. 14-20, 2011, issue

URBANA, Ill. — For many families, the holidays mean running from one house to the next to participate in family events, purchasing the latest and greatest gifts, sending out cards or notes, and eating all sorts of food. But these families may be missing the boat, said Janice McCoy, a University of Illinois Extension family life educator.

“Remember that young children can become stressed and overstimulated by all the sights, sounds and smells they’re experiencing,” McCoy said. “You don’t want to end up proclaiming that you don’t enjoy the holidays and can’t wait for them to be over.”

For families who celebrate Christmas, McCoy recommends the book Unplug the Christmas Machine. In it, authors Jo Robinson and Jean Coppock-Staeheli urge families to escape the stress of the season and create a more joyful time for families. Much of what they write about, however, also applies to families that may not celebrate Christmas.

“One concern voiced by most parents is shielding their children from the excesses of holiday commercialism,” they write. “While adults can mute the TV when the ads get annoying, children are defenseless against the onslaught of ads.”

According to the authors, as early as the age of 4 or 5, kids can lose the ability to be delighted by the sights and sounds of the holidays. Instead, they may gain a two-month-long obsession with brand-name toys. Suddenly, all they seem to care about is how many presents they will be getting and how many days are left until they unwrap them.

“Many families struggle with slowing down the pace of life at this time of year — and other times, too,” McCoy said. “The task might become easier if we think about the four things other than presents that children really want.”

Robinson and Coppock-Staeheli argue that children don’t really want clothes, toys and games exclusively. The four things they really want are as follows:

1. A relaxed and loving time with the family. Children prefer to be in their own homes in a relaxed atmosphere with their families. Many normal family routines are upset during the holiday season. It’s important to slow down and spend quality time with your kids.

2. Realistic expectations about gifts. Kids enjoy looking forward to gifts and then having their expectations met. The key is to manage their expectations. For instance, you might want to explain to your children that advertisers really want you to buy their products even if you don’t need them.

3. An evenly-paced holiday season. The key is to remember that the holidays are a season! We don’t have to visit everyone and do everything in one day. You may want to spread your family visits out to after New Year’s Day.

4. Reliable family traditions. We typically remember the things we did as a family during the holidays, not the gifts we received. So this year, start or renew a family tradition, such as driving around to look at lights, baking cookies for a neighbor, caroling or brightening your home with family-made decorations. Children will likely remember the traditions, not the gifts.

“This year, try to unplug your holiday season, pace yourself, and spend more time enjoying your family,” McCoy advised.

From the Dec. 14-20, 2011, issue

Professional Hearing & Audiology Clinics is urging families within the Rockford area to be alert for relatives and friends who seem to have trouble hearing this holiday season.

Hearing loss affects the ability of people to celebrate the holidays with family and friends, often leading to isolation and depression. Hearing loss is one of the most commonly unaddressed health conditions in America today. More than 34 million people in the United States have hearing loss — roughly 11 percent of the population.

“The holidays are a time to gather together with family and friends,” said Donald R. Kleindl II, BC-HIS, ACA, MCAP, director of Professional Hearing & Audiology Clinics. “But for friends and relatives with untreated hearing loss, the holiday season can be bittersweet. By staying alert to the signs of unaddressed hearing loss, and by encouraging those we love to address the problem, we can help them regain their quality of life and strengthen our relationships with them.”

There is a free and convenient way for people to check their hearing this holiday season, or encourage loved ones to do so. As part of Professional Hearing & Audiology Clinics’ community outreach effort, they are offering complimentary hearing evaluations and video otoscopic examinations in their clinics between now and Christmas. They can be reached at (815) 964-3131; Camelot Tower Medical Building, 1415 E. State St., Rockford.

Hearing loss occurs at all ages. For example, among people aged 46 to 64, about 15 percent already have hearing problems. Sixty percent of people with hearing loss are below retirement age. Hearing loss can occur as the result of exposure to loud music or noises.

Increasing evidence suggests people with certain medical conditions — such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, kidney disease, heart disease, and even vision loss — may be at an increased risk of hearing loss. Numerous studies have linked untreated hearing loss to a range of physical and emotional conditions.

According to a study conducted by the Better Hearing Institute, family members play a critical role in whether loved ones address a hearing loss. More than half (51 percent) of new first-time owners of hearing aids said family members were a key factor influencing their purchase. Fifty-five percent of new hearing aid users sought treatment once they realized, through testing, how serious their hearing loss was.

In the vast majority of situations, hearing aids can help a person hear better. Studies have shown that hearing aid wearers experience significant improvements in quality of life and decreased depressive symptoms; have significantly higher self-concepts compared to individuals who do not wear hearing aids; and their functional health status improves significantly after three months of hearing aid use.

“Many people have decided to get their hearing checked because someone they love suggested it and provided support,” Kleindl said. “If someone you love appears to have a hearing loss, please urge them to have their hearing checked. We are offering complete hearing examinations free of charge to help make it easier for people to take that first, critical step in reclaiming their hearing, quality of life, and relationships. What better gift can you give someone you love this holiday season?”

Signs of hearing loss

People can watch for several social, emotional and medical signs of hearing loss this holiday season.

Social signs of hearing loss could include the following:

• Require frequent repetition;

• Have difficulty following conversations involving more than two people;

• Think that other people sound muffled or like they’re mumbling;

• Have difficulty hearing in noisy situations, like conferences, restaurants, malls, or crowded meeting rooms;

• Have trouble hearing children and women;

• Have your TV or radio turned up to a high volume;

• Answer or respond inappropriately in conversations;

• Have ringing in your ears; and

• Read lips or more intently watch people’s faces when they speak with you.

Emotional signs of hearing loss could include the following:

• Feel stressed out from straining to hear what others are saying;

• Feel annoyed at other people because you can’t hear or understand them;

• Feel embarrassed to meet new people or from misunderstanding what others are saying;

• Feel nervous about trying to hear and understand; and

• Withdraw from social situations that you once enjoyed because of difficulty hearing.

Medical signs of hearing loss could include the following:

• Have a family history of hearing loss;

• Take medications that can harm the hearing system (ototoxic drugs);

• Have diabetes, heart, circulation or thyroid problems; and

• Have been exposed to very loud sounds over a long period or single exposure to explosive noise.

From the Dec. 7-13, 2011, issue

Without doubt, diabetes is a life-changing condition. With nearly 26 million children and adults in America living with diabetes, and another 79 million at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes, the disease is taking a devastating physical, emotional and financial toll on our country.

Recent numbers by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention paint a desperate situation of where we are at, and where we are headed:

• Every 17 seconds, someone is diagnosed with diabetes.

• Diabetes kills more people each year than breast cancer and AIDS.

• Recent estimates project that as many as 1 in 3 American adults will have diabetes in 2050 unless we take steps to “Stop Diabetes.”

Lifescape Community Services is taking steps to help those already diagnosed with the disease and enhance their quality of life. Through its Meals on Wheels program, they supply diabetic meals to more than half of their home-delivered meals clients. These are clients who have already been diagnosed with diabetes and referred to Lifescape by their doctors. These healthy meals help control the symptoms of diabetes and better regulate the level of sugar in a patient’s blood. By collaborating with their physician, Lifescape helps insure a level of independence for seniors in their four-county service area, whether they are homebound or not.

If you’re living with diabetes and looking for ways to better control your condition, consider a home-delivered meal through Meals on Wheels. It’s a simple procedure. Lifescape will supply your doctor with an approved form. He or she completes the request and sends it back to Lifescape, who then adds your name to their list and will soon begin delivery. It’s easy, and you’re soon on your way to better health. Call Lifescape at (815) 963-1609 to learn more about receiving diabetic meals through Meals on Wheels.

Living with diabetes can change your life, but it doesn’t have to stop you from doing what you love. But with your help, diabetes can be stopped.

November is American Diabetes Month. This year, the American Diabetes Association is asking individuals to take a pledge and raise their hand to Stop Diabetes. Visit www.stopdiabetes.com and find out how you can help.

From the Nov. 30-Dec. 6, 2011, issue

Everyone loves eating during the holidays. From the traditional Thanksgiving meal to office parties and New Year’s Eve, there are plenty of opportunities to overindulge in food and drinks that may not be good for you. Some of us try to watch what we eat; others not so much. But what about the 25.8 million children and adult diabetics in this country who are faced with challenging holiday eating situations — and the serious health consequences as a result of it?

Misconceptions about what you can eat and long-held family traditions often make it confusing and difficult to do what is right for your overall health.

Rockford Health Physicians dietician Angela Bianchi, R.D., offered some tips to make the holidays easier for diabetics. “Research shows that most adults tend to gain a few pounds during the holidays,” she said. “They may lose one or two pounds, but usually keep at least one extra pound per year. The holidays are not a time for deprivation. Try to take the focus off food and make it more about family and friends.”

Some things to remember:

• People think there is such a thing as a diabetic diet, but people who eat a diabetic-type diet are just eating healthy generally. People with diabetes are following a healthy diet, the way we all should be eating.

• Don’t go to that big meal overly hungry. Eat sensibly throughout the day — breakfast, lunch and dinner, with maybe even a small snack before the big meal.

• Have a plan and be prepared. Look over the spread first and pick the food you really enjoy. Fill up with fruits and vegetables.

• Use reduced-fat and milk products, and go easy on sodium. You can flavor food with herbs and spices.

• Do a crustless pumpkin pie, which saves calories. But you still get the benefit of the beta carotene in the pie.

From the Nov. 30-Dec. 6, 2011, issue

URBANA, Ill. — Shopping, decorating, gift wrapping, cooking, baking, visiting with loved ones, card writing and mailing, and attending holiday events! No wonder the holidays can cause so much stress, said Cheri Burcham, a University of Illinois Extension family life educator.

“Holidays have great meaning in our lives and are great for helping us reconnect with loved ones, friends and valued traditions, but they can also bring a lot of stress into our lives — enough stress that some of us wish we could just skip them for a year or so,” she said.

Burcham said the following four recurring messages keep popping up in the research she’s done on lowering stress levels over the holidays so we can enjoy them the way they’re meant to be:

1. Set realistic goals for what you can accomplish each day. Don’t set yourself up for failure by expecting to complete too many goals in too little time.

2. Remember to build down time into your schedule. People get very grouchy when they’re tired, so build in at least 15 minutes of alone time with no distractions. Just getting in a good stretch or taking a short cat nap can be refreshing.

3. Simplify! It’s OK to use paper plates this year instead of the good china or to buy the rolls instead of making them from scratch.

4. Don’t abandon healthy habits. You continue to need daily exercise and adequate rest, especially during the holidays when everyone tends to overeat and overindulge.

Other ideas for keeping stress at a minimum this holiday season include the following:

1. Modify your holiday cooking habits. Try making casseroles and meals that you can freeze ahead of time. Freeze sugar cookies and save the decorating for later. Host a potluck-style dinner instead of cooking everything yourself.

2. Trade off holiday shopping time with another family. Babysit each other’s children so you can have quality time to shop.

3. Delegate duties and don’t try to do everything on your own.

4. Set differences aside and accept family members and friends as they are. Holiday times may not be the right time to bring up grievances and try to solve past issues.

5. Learn to say no, or at least, “I need to think about it.”

“Finally, always keep your sense of humor!” Burcham said. “This will help you keep the atmosphere light and put a different perspective on the situations that can come up. I wish all of you readers a happy, stress-free holiday season!”

From the Nov. 30-Dec. 6, 2011, issue

Joyce Doyle, 64, poses with country artist Darius Rucker at the NIU Convocation Center recently. Doyle attended the concert, including a one-on-one visit with Rucker, through Passages Hospice Dreams. (Photo provided)

Staff Report

Country music, on a record or the radio, has always gotten Joyce Doyle’s toes tapping. The 64-year-old likes them all, from classics like Johnny Cash to star Garth Brooks — but a special favorite is Darius Rucker.

“He’s got a great voice,” Doyle said, laughing. “And he’s nice to look at, too.”

The hospice patient, a resident of Asta Care Center of Rockford, had the evening of a lifetime as a special guest at Rucker’s concert in DeKalb when she received tickets through non-profit Passages Hospice Dreams.

As an added surprise, Doyle was escorted past the crowds for an exclusive meet-and-greet session with the singer, who gave her a hug and signed the cowboy hat she’d purchased especially for the occasion.

“I’m going to have the best dreams tonight,” Doyle said with a smile.

Doyle’s dream was fulfilled by Passages Hospice Dream Foundation, Ltd., a non-profit charitable organization that provides the Passages Hospice Dreams service, which grants wishes for patients receiving end-of-life care and for the patient’s family members, and through the generous cooperation of the Darius Rucker organization.

For more about Passages Hospice Dreams, or to donate, visit www.passageshospice.com and select “Passages Hospice Dreams.” Passages Hospice can also be reached at (618) 972-7681.

From the Nov. 23-29, 2011, issue

Dr. Chirag Patel and Dr. Shalini Sagi at Dental Group of Rockford have partnered with Toys for Tots to hold a toy drive from now through Dec. 16.

The Dental Group of Rockford office, at 3065 N. Perryville Road, will serve as the drop-off site for the toy drive. Also, for every toy donated, Dr. Patel and Dr. Sagi will take 15 percent off new dental treatment costs.

Donations will be accepted through Dec. 16. Any toys donated will be given to the Toys for Tots. New, unwrapped toy donations are welcome.

For more information, call (815) 637-2273.

From the Nov. 23-29, 2011, issue

The holidays are a time for delicious feasts … not stomach upset. Food safety is especially important during these times, as food is being served in large amounts and in unique displays. Proper storing, cooking and displaying large volumes of food will help prevent food-borne illness. Winnebago County Health Department offers the following tips:

Precautions to take for a holiday buffet. Buffets are festive and fun, so make sure to take extra care during planning, preparing and serving your holiday fare. First, decide how many guests you can safely serve. Take refrigerator space into consideration. Remember that the longer food items are left on the buffet table, the longer food-borne illness bacteria have to multiply. Keep buffet servings small and replenish them often. Keep cold foods at 41 degrees F. or less and hot foods at 135 degrees F. or more. Never leave food at room temperature for more than two hours, unless you are going to throw out the leftovers.

How can you tell if food is safe to eat? It is not always possible to tell by taste, look or odor if a food is safe to eat. Meat, poultry and dairy products left at room temperature allow bacteria to grow to dangerous numbers. These bacteria rarely change the taste, look or odor of food. If you know, or suspect that food has been left out for four hours or handled carelessly, throw it out. Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold.

Holiday foods that should be given special attention. The majority of food-borne illnesses during holidays come from dishes such as meat trays, stuffing, potato salad (mayonnaise-based salads), cream and custard pies, and eggnog. All these dishes contain meat, poultry, eggs or dairy products and tend to be handled more than other foods during preparation. Bacteria transfer very easily from hands to food. Wash your hands between tasks and use clean utensils when preparing foods. Refrigerate foods immediately if you prepare them ahead of time.

Turkey stuffing. The safest method to cook stuffing is to separate from the bird. Bacteria grow rapidly in warm, moist environments. The inside of a turkey is a great environment for bacterial growth, as the thick meat protects the bacteria from extreme heat or cold. If you choose to stuff your turkey, mix the stuffing in advance and refrigerate it separately from the bird. Stuff the bird just before cooking and cook until both the thickest part of the meat and interior of the stuffing reach 165 degrees F. Use a meat thermometer to check the temperature. Remove all leftover stuffing from the bird and refrigerate.

Does thorough cooking eliminate the danger of food-borne illness? NO! Although cooking kills most bacteria, bacteria can spread to food again after it has been cooled. Bacteria can transfer from raw to cooked foods if they come in contact with each other. Bacteria spread from hands to food and from soiled utensils to food. Remember that bacteria from meat and poultry can spread to foods you don’t normally cook (i.e., using the same knife or cutting board on produce without washing it first).

Prevent the spread of bacteria. Wash your hands and kitchen utensils with soap and hot water after handling one food and before moving on to another. Never use the same cutting board for cooked foods and produce that you used for raw meat or poultry. Wash the cutting board and utensils with soap and hot water between uses.

Preparing holiday dishes ahead of time. Place prepared ahead foods in the refrigerator within 30 minutes after cooking. Reheat foods to 165 degrees Fahrenheit before serving. Refrigerate cold dishes immediately after preparation.

Advance purchase of groceries. When purchasing large quantities of groceries for the holidays, be sure to use fresh meat and poultry products within three days of purchase and keep them well refrigerated. Freeze fresh meat and poultry if you plan to keep them longer.

Thawing meat and poultry. Allow time to thaw frozen foods in the refrigerator. Thawing at room temperature or in warm water is unsafe. If it is necessary to thaw a large turkey or other piece of meat outside the refrigerator, it may be thawed in a water-tight package under cold running water. Cook immediately after thawing.

Food-borne illnesses can cause diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps and other unpleasant symptoms that can last for several hours or even days. Don’t let food-borne illness ruin your holiday season.

From the Nov. 16-22, 2011, issue

You see them frequently in the pet store: interesting, oblong-shaped creatures, generally larger than the other rodents they are grouped with. Housed in the same location as smaller rodents, many people think their care is similar to that of a hamster or rat. However, guinea pigs have their own special requirements that differ vastly from those of the other small animals around them.

Guinea pigs, or cavies, are not actually related to pigs, nor are they from Guinea. According to Dr. J. Jill Heatley, associate professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, they are actually native to South America.

“Guinea pigs were domesticated by the ancient South American people as a source of food,” Heatley said. “The ‘pig’ part in their name likely refers to their appearance, as they have shorter legs and large heads.”

Generally docile and inquisitive, guinea pigs can make great pets. Most seem to enjoy human interaction. They are usually fairly quiet, but if they hear the sound of their food being prepared, they can respond with shrill squeaks and boisterous leaps around their cage.

“There is quite a range of sounds in a guinea pig’s vocabulary,” Heatley said. “‘Wheeking’ is a vocalization that is generally heard when a guinea pig thinks it is about to receive food. It may have heard the refrigerator door open and close, and this is its way of begging you to bring its food quickly.

“A ‘rumble’ is a purring sound that usually happens when a male is courting a female,” Heatley continued. “Purring can also happen if your guinea pig is enjoying being stroked. A quick, short purr, followed by the guinea pig going still, means that it just heard a noise that it is afraid of.

“A ‘shriek’ is a very high-pitched wheek that usually is a call of alarm or a cry of pain or fear,” Heatley added. “If a guinea pig chatters its teeth, it is very angry. This is a warning to other guinea pigs or humans that the guinea pig wants to be left alone.”

Guinea pigs can weigh up to 2-1/2 pounds and can reach a length of less than a foot. Their size makes them easier to handle than other smaller rodents. Their average life span is four to eight years, so acquiring a new pig should not be done on impulse.

“As they are social animals, guinea pigs enjoy having at least one companion,” Heatley said. “A guinea pig living by itself will be lonely and can become depressed. Therefore, it is a good idea to have a large cage that can house two compatible guinea pigs together.”

Female pairs and male/female pairs work well, although males need to be neutered before being housed with females to prevent babies. Two males can also be cage mates, but extra caution needs to be taken when introducing them. Guinea pigs occasionally like to have some alone time, so they will appreciate the largest-size cage you can manage. A minimum size of 7-1/2 square feet is recommended for up to two guinea pigs.

“A healthy diet is instrumental in maintaining your guinea pig’s health,” Heatley said. “They require a mixture of fruits and vegetables, along with a high-quality pellet. They should also have continual access to hay. Additionally, guinea pigs cannot manufacture vitamin C, and store-bought pellets will not supply an adequate amount to meet their needs. This is because vitamin C is very heat sensitive and will rapidly degrade in less than a month of shelf storage at a controlled room temperature. Therefore, sufficient supplementation is required.”

This can be achieved by feeding your pigs fruits and vegetables that are high in vitamin C, such as parsley, bell peppers (remove seeds first), kale, kiwi and strawberries. Feed fruit sparingly, as it is high in sugar and can cause obesity if fed too frequently. Offering a mixture of three to five different vegetables per day gives your guinea pigs a good variety. Always introduce new foods gradually, as sudden changes in diet can lead to gastrointestinal upset.

Another consideration for guinea pigs is the fact that their teeth are continually growing. To help keep their teeth filed down, a wood chew should be provided. These can be purchased at pet stores; anything brought in from outdoors should be disinfected first to avoid introducing parasites to the guinea pig’s environment. Additionally, the guinea pig’s toenails will need to be clipped monthly. This can be done using small, scissors-style clippers. Be careful to not cut into the quick, or living part of the nail, which will cause bleeding. You can also use this time to check your guinea pig’s feet for sores and ingrown toenails, as these are common problems.

“Seldom do guinea pigs need baths,” Heatley said. “They do shed, however, so daily brushing with a soft brush can help to remove loose hair and reduce shedding. Brushing is especially important for long-haired guinea pigs to keep the hair from tangling. If your guinea pig does require a bath, make sure to use a shampoo made especially for small animals.”

Be sure to use a shallow bowl of warm water when bathing your guinea pig. Rinse the guinea pig thoroughly, but avoid getting water in its ears. Also, make sure to dry its body meticulously before putting it into its cage to avoid chills.

Finally, guinea pigs benefit from some exercise around the house. Only place them on the floor if they will be monitored, and make sure to adequately block any downward stairs. Guinea pigs do not understand heights, so do not set them unsupervised on a table or ledge. Always hold them securely so that they cannot wiggle out of your arms.

Guinea pigs make fun companions. Each has a unique personality, from the loud male that is constantly on the alert for food to the female that runs up to the front of her cage when her owner walks into the room. If you do your research and provide your guinea pigs with the proper care and space, they can make wonderful additions to your family.

Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be viewed on the Web at http://tamunews.tamu.edu. Suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvm.tamu.edu.

From the Nov. 16-22, 2011, issue

It is estimated that the “baby boomer” generation, which is now beginning a metamorphosis into the “senior boomer” generation, will begin the largest transfer of wealth the world has ever known. It is estimated the senior boomer generation will leave to their heirs more than $40 trillion at their deaths.

In previous generations, with the economy of our nation able to support the dreams and aspirations of most hardworking and industrious people, it was not as large of a concern for seniors to leave an inheritance to loved ones. In this questionable global economy, the opinions of our nation’s seniors and their families are changing.

Besides the obvious desire to leave a surviving spouse with adequate financial means, many are becoming more and more convinced of the need to leave a financial legacy to their descendants.

For those who have a need to leave an inheritance to their loved ones, the biggest threat to this goal is the cost of long-term care. Nursing homes can exceed $70,000 per year, and these prices are expected to triple in the next 20 years. Depending on the number of hours a caregiver is present, home health care can be even more expensive than nursing homes.

For those who have the financial means, financial assistance is not available — these are private-pay expenses. When this occurs, any plans on leaving a legacy to loved ones can be severely compromised.

While there are other more affordable strategies for elder care, such as adult day services, for many, assembling a “family support team” is the foundation behind preserving the family estate.

A family support team is “an organized and combined effort from multiple family members and friends united by the goal of providing the desired care their elder needs.”

When these caregiving duties are not shared, often it becomes the source of friction among family members. This friction can cause scars that sometimes never heal.

When the care recipient is blessed with a living spouse, many times he or she will perform most of the caregiving duties, but this can be a costly proposition. The mental, emotional and physical toll it takes on a spouse can cause them to harm themselves or fall victim to the cumulative emotional toll from taking on too large of a job.

Caregiving is a seven days a week and 24 hours a day job. Besides the exhausting toll on the caregiving spouse, it is dangerous for a 110-pound wife to be transferring or lifting a 200-pound husband who is unable to move on his own.

If the spouse is deceased or unable to provide care, a “caregiver” is required to provide these services. Many times, this caregiver is forced to quit his or her employment to be available for the demands of elder care. This type of sacrifice could be a very expensive solution, especially for the family of the one sacrificing the additional income as a result of their elder care duties.

Many additional problems occur when the duties of elder care are not distributed among a team of people who have a vested interest in keeping their loved ones from exhausting their resources on long-term care. Given the reality that many children and grandchildren live far away from their elders, the terms of the family support team will need to be wisely thought through.

You will find this can be a challenging, but rewarding, endeavor, and the services of a neutral mediator such as a “geriatrics care manager” could be a great asset. The plan to prevent institutional care must be well thought out, but to honor mother and father by preventing a nursing home stay is a noble endeavor.

In the next article, we will give some helpful ideas on setting up your family’s support team.

A series of training classes on establishing a “family support” team will be offered to the public free of charge. These classes will be at Crossroads Adult Day Services, 625 Adams St., Rockford.

To sign up for this class, contact me at my e-mail address at randy@crossroadsadultdayservices.com, or call (815) 489-0560 for more information.

Pastor Randall Hargate C.A.P.S. — CLTC is pastor of Crossroads Christian Fellowship in Rockford and founder of a local adult daycare called Crossroads Adult Day Services. He is also author of the book The First Commandment With Promise — A Christian guide to eldercare planning, available through Amazon.com.

From the Nov. 9-15, 2011, issue

Sadly, we have all heard and read articles about teens, seemingly in peak athletic condition, who suddenly and shockingly have died during sports activities. Sudden cardiac death (SCD) claims the lives of 30 young adults every week in the United States.

The tragedy of these deaths for families and our communities is amplified when we realize how needless and preventable they are: one-third of these deaths may have been prevented through a simple, inexpensive heart screening.

Midwest Heart Community Foundation, under the guidance of Dr. Joseph Marek, clinical cardiologist with Midwest Heart Specialists, is working to increase awareness of sudden cardiac death in young adults.

The Young Hearts for Life Cardiac Screening Program provides free EKG screenings to high school students. The only criteria for the screen is that the student be enrolled in a Boone or Winnebago County high school.

Locally, Dr. Kenneth Brin of Midwest Heart Specialists and SwedishAmerican Health System are offering the screenings at the SwedishAmerican Heart Hospital and SwedishAmerican Medical Center/Belvidere.

Upcoming locations and dates are: SwedishAmerican Heart Hospital — Thursday, Nov. 10 and Wednesday, Dec. 7. SwedishAmerican Medical Center/Belvidere — Tuesday, Nov. 15 and Tuesday, Dec. 13.

Times are 6-7:30 p.m., with appointments every 15 minutes.

From the Nov. 9-15, 2011, issue

Fazlur Zahurullah, M.D.

Staff Report

Rockford Memorial Hospital is the first hospital in Illinois to own and operate a new medical device called Acclarent Cyclops, a state-of-the-art surgical scope used to treat difficult sinus conditions more effectively and efficiently than conventional tools.

Fazlur Zahurullah, M.D., a Rockford Health Physicians otolaryngologist, has used the scope in approximately two dozen procedures since June.

“This innovative scope allows us to rotate our view into the nose and inside the sinuses by 90 degrees to each side, which allows the surgeon a full view — it’s like peripheral vision,” he said. “That helps us resolve issues more quickly and easily. It is also less invasive, with no incisions involved, safer and more thorough.”

The device allows surgeons to see every view imaginable of the sinus anatomy. It can verify CT scans visually, see around corners to optimize surgery, and does the job it otherwise takes three or four scopes to perform.

Call the ENT Department at Rockford Health Physicians at (815) 971-2800.

From the Nov. 9-15, 2011, issue

Rock Valley College’s (RVC) Dental Hygiene Program is looking for patients who have not received regular routine dental hygiene (cleanings) for at least five years. The clinic offers low-cost dental hygiene preventive services. Patients will receive full oral examinations and professional cleanings.

Because of the educational nature of the program, several appointments will be necessary to complete care. Expect multiple appointments of 3 1/2 hours in length. Depending on the time of the year and the needs of the students, not all patients who call will be appointed.

The dental hygiene clinic is in RVC’s Stenstrom Center for Career Education at 4151 Samuelson Road, just east of Jefferson High School in Rockford.

For info about the dental hygiene clinic, or to schedule an appointment, call (815) 921-3235.

From the Nov. 9-15, 2011, issue

URBANA, Ill. — Dieting postmenopausal women who want to avoid losing muscle as they lose fat should pay attention to a new University of Illinois study. Adding protein throughout the day not only holds hunger pangs at bay so dieters lose more weight, it keeps body composition — the amount of fat relative to muscle — in better proportion.

“A higher-protein weight-loss diet is more protective of muscle,” said Ellen Evans, a former U of I associate professor of kinesiology and community health and member of the university’s Division of Nutritional Sciences.

Scientists in Evans’ Illinois lab wanted to study the way body composition relates to physical function because older women who diet risk losing muscle as well as fat.

“That loss can affect their strength, balance, and how well they perform everyday tasks, such as climbing stairs and getting up out of a chair,” said Mina Mojtahedi, a researcher in Evans’ laboratory.

The study shows higher protein intake during weight loss can offset negative effects on muscle mass by maintaining more muscle relative to the amount of weight lost. Women who ate more protein lost 3.9 percent more weight and had a relative gain of 5.8 percent more thigh muscle volume than women who did not, she said.

“When a woman has less weight to carry, even if she’s lost a bit of lean mass in her legs, the effect is that she has better physical function,” she said.

It’s likely that such women will be better able to maintain their mobility and independence as they age, she added.

In the six-month double-blind study, 31 healthy, postmenopausal obese women were divided into two groups. Both groups followed a 1,400-calorie weight-loss diet based on USDA’s My Pyramid, but one group received a powdered whey protein supplement in the morning and again in the afternoon or evening; the other received a placebo that contained carbohydrates.

“We believe it’s important to eat protein in the morning and through the day so those amino acids are always available,” Evans said. “Unfortunately, American women tend not to eat much protein, especially when they’re trying to cut calories. But it’s easy to add protein powder into a smoothie or eat a high-protein snack and incorporate a healthier diet into a busy lifestyle.”

Both groups were encouraged to engage in light exercise (walking and stretching) and given diet education, including examples of healthy daily menus and a scale to measure portion size.

Before and after the study, participants were assessed for strength, balance and the ability to perform such physical tasks as walking 50 feet, standing up five times from a chair, and lifting a book 12 inches above shoulder height.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used at the beginning and end of the study to measure muscle volume of the right thigh, the amount of fat around the thigh, and the amount of fat within the thigh muscle.

In both groups, strength decreased as weight decreased. However, the study suggests that an increase in the amount of muscle relative to fat had beneficial effects on balance and performance, Evans noted.

And, even though weight loss in these older women had a negative effect on strength, their reduced weight helped with other aspects of physical function, she said.

“We hypothesize that more vigorous exercise — in particular, resistance training — would preserve even more muscle,” she said.

This research, reported in Mojtahedi’s doctoral dissertation, is available pre-publication online in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences at www.biomedgerontology.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/glr120?ijkey=Jredo9Z8z7jnc60&keytype=ref.

Other investigators include Matthew P. Thorpe of the U of I Division of Nutritional Sciences, Donald K. Layman of the U of I Division of Nutritional Sciences and Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Abby L. Richey of the U of I Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, Curtis L. Johnson and John G. Georgiadis of the U of I Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, and Dimitrios C. Karampinos of the University of California — San Francisco. Funding was provided by the National Dairy Council and the Carraway Foundation.

From the Nov. 2-8, 2011, issue

URBANA, Ill. — As children become teenagers, it may be more challenging to regularly include them in family meals, but doing so is key to heading off such problems as eating disorders, obesity and inadequate nutrition in adolescence, said Barbara Fiese, a University of Illinois professor of human development and family studies and director of the U of I’s Family Resiliency Center.

“The common belief is that teens don’t want to be around their parents very much, and that teens are just too busy for regular meals with the family,” she said. “Parents may not be able to get their families together around the table seven days a week, but if they can schedule three family meals a week, they will safeguard their teens’ health in significant ways.”

She advises family members to pull out their schedules and find out which nights they can commit to, then follow through and make family meals on those nights a priority.

In the June issue of Pediatrics, Fiese and postdoctoral research associate Amber Hammons reviewed 17 recent studies on eating patterns and nutrition involving more than 182,000 children and adolescents.

The results showed teens who eat at least five meals a week with their families are 35 percent less likely to engage in disordered eating than teens who don’t. The researchers defined disordered eating as bingeing and purging, taking diet pills, self-induced vomiting, using laxatives or diuretics, fasting, eating very little, skipping meals, and/or smoking cigarettes to lose weight.

“For children and adolescents with disordered eating, mealtime provides a setting in which parents can recognize early signs and take steps to prevent detrimental patterns from turning into full-blowing eating disorders,” she said.

Children who ate at least three family meals a week were also 12 percent less likely to be overweight than those who ate with their families less often. And they were 24 percent more likely to eat healthy foods and have healthy eating habits than those who didn’t share three meals with their families.

The researcher said families who share meals together are likely to be more connected, which may encourage teens to talk within their families about unhealthy behaviors they’ve slipped into and other problems they’re experiencing.

“If you look at national surveys, the frequency of shared mealtimes does begin to drop off in the teen years, but a lot of that is due to competing demands on teen-agers’ time due to after-school activities, jobs and social life, and not for lack of interest,” she said.

The study showed teens are interested in participating in family mealtimes and believe they eat healthier when they share meals with their families, she said.

According to the expert, research on adolescent development indicates teens want to stay connected with their parents. “Family meals give them a place where they can go regularly to check in with their parents and express themselves freely,” she said.

“If family meals are not a forced activity, if parents don’t totally control the conversation, and if teens can contribute to family interaction and feel like they’re benefiting from it, older kids are likely to welcome participating,” she added.

If you’ve gotten out of the family meal habit and don’t relish the prospect of receiving one-word answers from your teen-agers (Q: What happened at school today? A: nothing), Fiese and her colleagues have compiled some conversation starters for both English- and Spanish-speaking families.

Here’s one: If you won a million dollars, what would you do with it and why?

Amber J. Hammons is lead author on the USDA-funded study.

From the Nov. 2-8, 2011, issue

Local pediatrician Christine Zimmerman will discuss flu myths and what parents need to know to protect their children from the flu at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 3, at Rockford Health Physicians-Perryville, 3401 N. Perryville.

Zimmerman’s discussion will address the following:

• the flu and specifics relating to flu vaccines, including the different types of vaccines and who is eligible for each;

• the timing of the vaccine;

• flu strains in the vaccine;

• appropriate treatments for flu; and

• when you should see a doctor and when you should take antiviral medications.

Attend this FREE presentation and erase any doubts or misconceptions you may have about the flu.

The presentation is free, and those who attend will have the chance to enter their name for a chance to win a $100 gift card to Target.

To reserve a space, call the Rockford Health System Information line at (815) 971-1999.

From the Nov. 2-8, 2011, issue

The Stars of Light Theatre troupe gave a stirring presentation last week for the members of the Kiwanis Club of Rockford at the Stockholm Inn. Members were taken aback by the performance of members of the group, mostly composed of local community members who suffer from one type of mental illness or another.

Under the direction of Stephen F. Vrtol III and producer Mary Gubbe Lee, the group, performing in the area since 1995, gave a moving anecdotal and statistical representation of the perils of those who deal with mental illness each and every day.

To say Kiwanians in the audience were moved by the honesty and professionalism shown was an understatement. In particular, the staggering number of those who are mentally ill and are housed in county, state and federal jails and prisons is particularly disturbing, ranging between 50 and 65 percent.

Of particular interest to Kiwanis Club members was the knowledge that many local children live in families with a member who has an illness, and more moving, the number of children who could be affected themselves. The most frequent diagnoses in the Children and Family Therapy Program at the Rosecrance Berry Campus are ADHD, behavioral disorders, bipolar disorder and depression.

The Stars of Light Theatre troupe travels upon request to schools, churches, clubs and organizations with candid presentations about mental illness, their stigmas and about recovery. The troupe has been performing since 1995 and is composed of people with mental illness, family members, Rosecrance staff and community volunteers. Shows can be tailored to particular audiences. Most shows run for 30 minutes and are followed by a “talk back,” where the troupe answers questions and shares personal stories, most of them gratifying success stories.

But what is particularly rewarding is the uplifting humor involved in the half-hour show in old-time radio style in which short skits are performed. Vrtol is a master of delivering humor and poignant information in one swift, insightful blow, deftly utilizing the real-life stories of the cast.

This is a show that should be seen by every adult in the state, most importantly by police, fire, hospital and other professionals who come in contact with the general public on a daily basis.

Upcoming shows by the troupe will be at 9:30 a.m., Oct. 31, for Winnebago County Corrections personnel at the Winnebago County Justice Center; 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Nov. 16, at the Jubilee Center, 410 N. Church St.; 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., Dec. 6, for NAMI Northern Illinois at Stepping Stones of Rockford, Inc., 706 N. Main St., Rockford.

For more information, call (815) 720-5097.

The Children and Family Therapy Program at the Rosecrance Berry Campus, 8616 Northern Ave., in Rockford, provides individual and family counseling/advocacy and includes four evidence-based practices: Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Counseling can be scheduled voluntarily or for court-ordered individuals.

See the show, be entertained and informed.

Richard Gubbe is an award-winning journalist, public relations specialist and Reiki Master Teacher. He is a longtime Rockford resident who has taught preventive health, visualization and Reiki at Rock Valley College since 2003.

From the Oct. 26-Nov. 1, 2011, issue

“Aging in place” is an industry phrase that means “a well thought-out strategy designed to keep an aging person at home instead of resorting to an institutional setting such as a nursing home.” There is a substantial menu of tools to choose from as a part of your plan for aging in place. In-home care, home-delivered meals, emergency response systems, family support groups and adult daycare are a few examples.

Adult daycare is one of the most affordable and beneficial options to choose from. The intent behind an adult daycare program is to host a site where elderly people who are not capable of remaining alone can be brought during the daytime hours. A comprehensive program has the objective to provide an environment where the elder can enjoy the benefits of socialization, memory care, medical monitoring, mental stimulation and physical activity. Games, crafts, hobbies, meals and other activities serve to enhance the seniors’ lives while providing a lifestyle where they can maintain self-respect and personal identity.

Caregivers who are employed and cannot be with their elder during the daytime hours may choose to use adult daycare five days a week. Without the option of adult daycare, some member of the family support team may otherwise need to quit their job to be with their aging family member.

Most facilities are open early enough to either have the elder picked up from home, or they can be dropped off on their way to work. Other families may choose to use adult daycare on an “as needed” basis. This provides an affordable solution for the caregiver to tend to their personal needs or to just take a break from the demands of caring for an aging loved one. Many times, the primary caregiver is the spouse who is spending seven days a week as a caregiver, and the cumulative toll can wreak havoc upon their own health.

Nursing homes are an expensive option. It is not uncommon for costs to exceed $70,000 yearly, and this must be paid by the elders’ estate until their “spend down” is met.

By devising a strategy that integrates a family support team along with programs such as adult daycare, the costs will be only a fraction of what nursing home care would be. More important than the cost is the goal of keeping your loved one at home for as long as possible. At a time in their life when they have lost many of their closest friends and family, and are experiencing the struggles of declining health as the result of the aging process, a nursing home is the last thing most elderly desire. Adult daycare is an affordable option that can accentuate your elderly loved one’s life, while providing an environment safe from the risks of remaining home alone.

Our intention is to help you develop a plan before a crisis occurs. Equally, we hope to offer helpful ideas if you are in the midst of an eldercare crisis. Any questions you would like to see addressed in future articles can be forwarded to my e-mail address, randy@crossroadsadultdayservices.com.

Pastor Randall Hargate, C.A.P.S. — C.L.T.C., is pastor of Crossroads Christian Fellowship in Rockford and founder of an adult daycare called Crossroads Adult Day Services. He is also author of the book The First Commandment With Promise, a Christian guide to eldercare planning.

From the Oct. 19-25, 2011, issue

SwedishAmerican patient Diane Disch with Ginger. (Photo provided)

Staff Report

SwedishAmerican is celebrating the first anniversary of its Caring Canines animal assisted therapy program.

Beginning with six therapy dogs and handler teams in one hospital unit (Mental Health), the Caring Canines program has nearly quadrupled in size in just one year. Visits now include 21 dogs who see patients on the third, seventh, eighth and 10th floors of SwedishAmerican Hospital, the third and fourth floors of the Heart Hospital and guests in the second-floor Surgical and Cath Lab waiting areas.

From the smallest pediatric patients to those who are frail and elderly, the Caring Canines team brings smiles and comfort to all.

“I am blessed and honored to be able to accompany the volunteers and their dogs on all of these visits,” said Animal Assisted Therapy Coordinator Deb Schwarze, MS, MA, LCPC. “It’s a very special place to be. We can enter a hospital room and give unconditional love and acceptance. We give smiles and hope.”

The Caring Canines, which include everything from a 6-pound longhaired Chihuahua to a 180-pound Great Dane, have made contact with more than 8,000 patients, staff members and guests.

The dogs range in age from the just over a year-old pup to the “mature” ones that show a little gray around the eyes and muzzle.

SwedishAmerican promotes the Caring Canines in many ways. “Visiting Today” posters notify staff and visitors about which dogs will be “making rounds.” In addition to having their own informational cards with key facts, the dogs wear official ID badges, complete with photos and the designation of “volunteer.” Crossing signs in hospital hallways also notify others that man’s best friends are nearby.

Moving forward, SwedishAmerican looks forward to the continued growth of this meaningful program.

From the Oct. 19-25, 2011, issue

Crusader Community Health is hosting its annual fund-raiser, “Fall in Love with Caring,” from 5:45 to 9 p.m., Friday, Oct. 21, at Giovanni’s Restaurant, 610 N. Bell School Road, Rockford.

Cost of the event is $100 per person or $1,000 for a table of 10 (tickets can be purchased online at www.crusaderhealth.org).

The evening includes music by the Firelight Dimmers, an autumn-themed dinner, announcement of the “Spirit of Caring” recipients and a silent and live auction. A listing of auction items is available online at www.crusaderhealth.org.

The raffle is a chance to win the grand prize, a 55-inch Samsung LED TV and a WiFi-ready 1080p Blu-ray player donated by Riverside Community Bank; second prize is $1,000 cash donated by Crusader Community Health Foundation Board members; and third prize is an iPad2 with Wi-Fi + 3 G & 64 GB donated by Rockford Information Technologies.

Raffle tickets are $5 each or five for $20 and can be purchased at the Crusader Community Health Foundation office, 1216 W. State St., Rockford.

Proceeds will benefit Crusader’s chronic disease management initiative and other needs as designated by the Crusader Community Health Foundation Board of Directors.

For the past 39 years, Crusader has strived to ensure all people in the community have access to quality, affordable primary health care. During the past year, the clinic served the health care needs of more than 43,500 individual patients.

Contact the Crusader Community Health Foundation at (815) 490-1620 or visit www.crusaderhealth.org.

From the Oct. 12-18, 2011, issue

Staff Report

Jamie Tworkowski, founder of To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA), will speak at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 26, at Rockford College, 5050 E. State St.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the event is free and open to the public.

TWLOHA is a nonprofit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. The organization aims to encourage, inform, inspire and invest directly into treatment and recovery.

Since its start in 2006, TWLOHA has donated more than $850,000 directly into treatment and recovery and has answered more than 160,000 e-mails received from more than 100 countries.

TWLOHA has one of the largest online audiences of any nonprofit on both MySpace and Facebook, and was recently featured in Rolling Stone. Tworkowski recently won an MTVU Woodie Award.

The organization recently created a YouTube video with Joaquin Phoenix, Miley Cyrus and Liv Tyler in support of the organization.

Visit www.twloha.com for more details.

From the Oct. 12-18, 2011, issue

The debate about AD/HD is over, and the last five years have shown the truth about AD/HD. Research has shown that the Rip Van Winkle of all diseases is real, and every mainstream educational organization, medical and psychological organization have concluded so in their research.

AD/HD is a genuine brain-based medical disorder, and both adults and children benefit from appropriate treatment.

There are several facts that you need to know:

Fact 1: Within every organization such as educational, psychological and medical in the United States, research has come out stating there is such a thing as Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

Fact 2: AD/HD is a common and non-discriminatory disorder. AD/HD affects people of every gender, socio-economic, IQ, age and religious background. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that 9.5 percent of children have been diagnosed with the syndrome. They found boys were diagnosed two to three times more than girls.

Another important aspect to the findings is the NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health) found 4.4 percent of adults 18-44 in the United States experience disability and symptoms.

ADD, AD/HD and ADHD all refer to the same syndrome … the only difference is some who are diagnosed have hyperactivity.

Fact 3: Diagnosing AD/HD is a process that is complex.

The person who is being diagnosed must have many symptoms of the disorder in work, school, and with friends in daily life. They must have the various symptoms for at least six months. What complicates behavior is many of the symptoms appear to be like extreme forms of “normal” behavior; to complicate the situation, many other symptoms mimic AD/HD. In a nutshell, every possible cause of a given set of behavior(s) must be taken into consideration.

What colors AD/HD different from other given behaviors is the persistent, excessive and pervasive behavior of the individual. The frequency, intensity and duration of behaviors are hallmark signs of the syndrome. The behaviors become evident in multiple settings and throughout life.

Not one single test confirms a person has AD/HD; diagnosticians rely on many tools to derive whether the person has AD/HD. One of the best predictors is the information he or she has about his or her environment.

Fact 4: Combined conditions

Around 30 percent or 25-40 percent of those diagnosed with AD/HD have a co-existing disorder to go along with the syndrome.

Seventy percent who have the disorder will be treated concerning depression.

Sleep disorders affect people with AD/HD two or three times more.

Fact 5: AD/HD is NOT UNKNOWN when it is untreated and undiagnosed …

• People have trouble succeeding in school and graduating.

• People have problems occur at work and lost productivity and less earning.

• Problems with relationships.

• More accidents and driving citations.

• Overeating and obesity is a problem.

• Problems with the law have been evident.

Concerning diagnosis, Dr. Joseph Biederman, a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, feels the quality of life is much better as well as saving society billions of dollars a year!

Fact 6: AD/HD is NOBODY’S FAULT.

AD/HD is NOT caused by poor parenting, family problems, poor teachers, and too much TV, too much sugar, or food allergies. AD/HD is genetic, related to specific areas of the brain.

The basic factors are: gender, family history, environmental toxins, parental risk and physical differences of the brain.

Fact 7: AD/HD treatment is highly multi-faceted.

Treatments include education, training, educational support, various types of psychotherapy and medicine.

Fact 8: Frequently, AD/HD impairments are not very noticeable until the teen-age years. When in middle school and high school, more demands are put on the executive functions of the youngster. The demands are more subtle, but disabling.

Fact 9: Medications increase the person’s alertness and improve communication of the cognitive management system.

Fact 10: Research indicates that a person with AD/HD manufactures norepinephrine and dopamine that not everyone else does.

If you think anyone in your family may have the syndrome, please contact Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD), Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA), or the National Resource Center on AD/HD (NRC). You will be doing your friends, family and society a favor.

Ron Weckerly is a family man, retired teacher and nature lover who has lifelong experience with AD/HD. He is the author of Poems, Pathways and Peace: A Baby Boomer’s Journey with ADHD. His students nominated him six times to “Who’s Who Among American Teachers.”

From the Oct. 12-18, 2011, issue

2011 is the year that the first of the baby boomers become “senior boomers.” With the aging of this demographic comes the reality that with age comes declining health.

What we took for granted in our younger years can be a challenge, or even impossible, as we age. The one experiencing a decline in health is not the only one affected. In fact, the ones providing the care are often challenged as much as the one receiving the care.

When our elders’ health takes a serious turn for the worse, institutional care, such as nursing homes or assisted living facilities, can become necessary. However, many times with proper planning, nursing homes can be avoided.

With the costs of nursing homes exceeding $70,000 per year, it is obvious how important alternatives such as a team of supportive family members and community services (such as adult daycare) become. A spouse, children, grandchildren and friends are the ones who generally provide eldercare. This comes with a substantial time commitment, and needs to be organized in a way that shares the duties between all available family members.

When Social Security began in 1935, there were 40 workers paying taxes for every retiree. This made for a tax base that was sufficient to provide benefits for Americans as they retire. Today, this has deteriorated to be approximately a 3.5:1 worker to retiree ratio. Combine this sobering statistic with the addition of programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, Disability Social Security benefits and a host of other unfunded promises, and the complicated reality unfolds.

Going forward, our society will be forced to face changes in our way of dealing with eldercare. Phrases such as Aging in Place, Family Support Teams, Assistive Technology, Medicaid Planning and Managed Care are just a few of the issues families should familiarize themselves with.

This article is the first of a series that will help to inform and encourage families whose aging members need to be cared for. To think that nursing homes will be an automatic solution for anyone who cannot find the time to participate in providing care for their aging family member is wishful thinking.

Nursing homes becoming a default solution to every eldercare scenario does not reflect the Christian ethic, nor is it feasible considering the financial condition of our country.

The following is a list of issues that future articles will address:

1. How to establish a family support team;

2. Community resources that are available to assist you in providing eldercare;

3. Alternatives to nursing homes;

4. How to qualify for state and federal assistance;

5. How adult day care or other third parties can help keep your loved one out of a nursing home; and

6. Many additional issues related to eldercare.

Our intention is to help you develop a plan before a crisis occurs. Equally, we hope to offer helpful ideas if you are in the midst of an eldercare crisis. Any questions you would like to see addressed in future articles can be forwarded to my e-mail address at randy@crossroadsadultdayservices.org.

Pastor Randall Hargate, C.A.P.S. — C.L.T.C., is pastor of Crossroads Christian Fellowship in Rockford and founder of an adult daycare called Crossroads Adult Day Services. He is also author of the book The First Commandment With Promise, a Christian guide to eldercare planning.

From the Oct. 5-11, 2011, issue

The second annual Mental Health Fair will be at CherryVale Mall in Cherry Valley from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 1, in recognition of National Mental Illness Awareness Week.

The event will feature heath-conscious sponsors and vendors showcasing health benefits, services and products to the community in a free-to-the-public setting.

The fair will include products and information from local and national businesses, and is designed to build a more mental health-conscious community.

The fair will be held throughout the main level of the mall. A variety of 30 vendors will be present, promoting the philosophy that there is no health without mental health.

Media sponsors include WNTA, WIFR, The Rock River Times and the Rockford Register Star.

This is the only mental health fair in the greater Rockford area. The event will provide a platform for clinical and complementary medicine, health care outlets, and products and services available in northern Illinois.

In 1990, the U.S. Congress established the first week of October as “Mental Illness Awareness Week” in recognition of the National Alliance on Mental Illness’ (NAMI) efforts to increase understanding about brain disorders. Real recovery from mental illness requires community action, understanding and teamwork.

Recovery is possible because of improved science, better community supports and reduced stigma. Barriers to mental health treatment still exist. Services are at risk, insurance can be insufficient, and stigma still is prevalent.

By hosting the mental health fair, the community will be better informed of access to services and products, and educated about recovery and resiliency.

Contact Mary Gubbe Lee at (815) 720-5097 for details.

From the Sept. 28-Oct. 4, 2011, issue

Mental Illness Awareness Week is the first week in October, and as the month proceeds, several events are planned to increase public awareness of a problem that is always in our midst.

The Art of Healing Gallery will be held Oct. 1-15 at Barnes & Noble in CherryVale Mall. Art will be showcased with special displays related to behavioral health by Barnes & Noble. The Art of Healing Gallery will be included in the Fall ArtScene by the Rockford Area Arts Council Oct. 14-15.

A Mental Health Fair will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 1, at CherryVale Mall. More than 40 displays of health providers will be located throughout the mall.

A Mental Health Rally will be from noon to 1 p.m., Monday, Oct. 3, at the Winnebago County Justice Center, corner of West State and Winnebago streets in Rockford. Objective is to increase awareness of the problem and how it impacts the community.

Red Flags in Children’s Behavior will be presented by the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) in conjunction with Rockford Public School District 205 Parent and Community Empowerment Department from 6:30 to 9 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 4, at Lincoln Middle School Auditorium. This will be a free presentation with free childcare provided.

Bowling for Recovery will be a recreational fund-raiser from 1 to 5 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 8, at Forest Hills Lanes, 7742 Forest Hills Road. Cost is $15 per person, and includes bowling, shoes, pizza, pop and more. Call (815) 963-2470 to register.

The Kennedy 5K Walk/Run for Mind, Body & Soul will be held beginning at 8 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 15 at Rosecrance Berry Campus, 8616 Northern Ave., Rockford. Go to www.active.com to register. This is a competitive 5K or 1-mile fitness walk. Local Road Runners Club and other intermediate or beginner runners will compete, along with family, mental health or community walkers, and teams will compete for pledge donation totals. Family participation is emphasized to help raise funds for local volunteers in mental health services, and also raise funds for Group Hope support services for people with depression and bipolar disorder as well as for other local mental health needs. For more information, go to http://grouphope.org.

From the Sept. 28-Oct. 4, 2011, issue

Staff Report

This September, our nation marks the 10-year anniversary of 9/11. The Winnebago County Health Department (WCHD) has committed to participate in National Preparedness Month (NPM) in September, an event founded after 9/11 to increase awareness and participation in preparedness in the United States. This event is a nationwide, month-long effort hosted by the Ready Campaign and Citizen Corps, encouraging households, businesses and communities to prepare and plan for emergencies.

The Winnebago County Health Department wants to remind our community that by being prepared, in the event of an emergency, aids in being self-reliant for three days without response from police, fire or rescue. Preparedness is a shared responsibility; it takes a whole community.

Preparing can start with three important steps:

1. Get an emergency supply kit — For additional information emergency supply kit instructions, go to http:wwwww.ready.gov/america/getakit/index.html.

2. Make a plan for what to do in an emergency.

3. Be informed about emergencies that could happen in your community, and identify sources of information in your community that will be helpful before, during and after an emergency.

Over the past seven years, the Winnebago County Health Department, along with 164 local public health departments across the country, has been nationally recognized as “Project Public Health Ready.” As local health departments nationwide work to protect the public from infectious disease outbreaks, bioterrorism, natural disasters, and other public health threats, the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) recognized Winnebago County Health Department for its ability to respond to public health emergencies. The first recognition was in 2004, with recertification taking place in 2009,” said Winnebago County Health Department’s Administrator Mike Bacon.

Project Public Health Ready (PPHR) is a unique partnership between NACCHO and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), provides comprehensive benchmarks developed specifically to promote preparedness at local and regional public health departments. To gain recognition, PPHR required Winnebago County Health Department to meet expectations of public health preparedness in three key areas: preparedness planning; workforce competency; and demonstration of all-hazards readiness through exercises or response to real events. The recognition confirms that Winnebago County Health Department has an emergency response plan in place, the plan is appropriately connected to other jurisdictional emergency response plans, agency staff members are trained, and the plan is exercised and used during public health and other community emergencies.

“In the past five years, Winnebago County has experienced flooding, tornadoes, blizzards and the H1N1 influenza outbreak. Through the efforts of our community and collaborative planning and response from county agencies, Winnebago County was able to mitigate the event, reduce the risk of loss, and swiftly recover,” said Winnebago County Health Department’s Public Health Emergency Response Coordinator Dan Reilly.

For more about the Winnebago County Health Department’s local emergency preparedness efforts, go to www.wchd.org, or at (815) 720-4217. Information can also be found on WCHD’s Twitter and Facebook pages.

From the Sept. 21-27, 2011, issue

Sponsored by the OSF Saint Anthony pediatrics, trauma/emergency services and Lifeline departments, the 10th Annual Children’s Health and Safety Safari will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 17, on the campus of OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center.

The event is free and open to the community. A few of the highlights include the following:

• “Furry Critters” Clinic — children can select a free stuffed animal and go through a pretend health care clinic with their new little friend.

• Demonstrations of fitness classes, including Sh’bam, Zumba and yoga

• Medical imaging: How doctors see what’s wrong

• Information about water safety, eye safety, backpack safety, medication safety

• Dental hygiene

• Information about burn and fire prevention; train safety

• Pain management and how to help your child when he or she is in pain

• A child safety car seat inspection will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the State & Roxbury Center in front of the Medical Center

Activities at the booths include tattoo “stitches”; demonstrations of look-alike poisons, a “glow-germ” demonstration before and after hand-washing; and viewing Lifeline Emergency Helicopter and Ambulance.

The Rockford Fire Department will bring the “Safety House” and a fire truck to the event. The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department will offer information about “Stranger Danger,” and the Farm Bureau will highlight snowmobile safety. The Winnebago County Health Department will offer vision screenings for children. The Rockford Park District, Blackhawk Bicycle Club and the YWCA will also have information about their programs.

A highlight of the Health and Safety Safari is the appearance by Troo, the OSF Traumaroo, mascot for the program sponsored by the Trauma Department that emphasizes bicycle safety, home safety, car passenger safety, health safety and playground safety.

Free cholesterol and glucose health screenings for adults will be offered. The event and all activities are free. For more information, call (815) 227-2055.

From the Sept. 14-20, 2011, issue

Registration is still under way for the Second Annual Rockford “Here For Life!” suicide prevention walk, set to begin at 9 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 10, at Baumann Park, 218 S. Walnut St., Cherry Valley.

The walk date this year coincides with International World Suicide Prevention Day, sponsored by the International Association for Suicide Prevention.

The walk is the work of Shannon Messer, a Rockford resident who lost her brother, Daniel, to suicide in 2009, and who organized the first Rockford walk in 2010 in his memory.

“I felt I really needed to do something tangible to honor Daniel,” Messer said. “And I could not think of anything better to do than to prevent future suicides as well as help remove the stigma associated with suicide in our society by doing something that would also help to bring the issue to the public’s attention.”

Messer said the first walk generated more participaton and more funding for suicide prevention services than she anticipated.

“We had over 200 participants and raised over $12,000 to help fund suicide prevention services,” Messer said.

This year, the Here For Life! walk’s proceeds benefit the work of Suicide Prevention Services of America (SPS), based in Batavia.

“They work on all aspects of dealing with suicide,” said Messer, “prevention, intervention and postvention, and deliver services right here in Rockford.”

Those interested in participating in the Here For Life! walk can find more information or register online at www.spsamerica.org or by calling SPS at (630) 482-9699.

From the Sept. 7-13, 2011, issue

iPods and MP3 players are becoming more and more popular these days. Millions of people in the United States use these devices on a regular basis, and new consumers are joining in the trend daily. This new technology is great, but what are the long-term effects of the iPod and MP3 players on the user?

Audioprosthologist Donald R. Kleindl II, BC-HIS, ACA, MCAP, of Professional Hearing & Audiology Clinics, believes iPods and MP3 players are causing serious damage to many people’s hearing.

“Consistent exposure to noise, even at moderate levels, can damage the hair cells in the ear that we use to hear,” Kleindl said. “Over time, this damage accumulates, leading to a hearing loss.”

So, what can be done to lessen or eliminate the hearing loss that is endangering iPod and MP3 users?

“Limiting exposure time to less than one hour per day can help,” said Sheree Anderson, MA, CCC-A, an audiologist at Professional Hearing & Audiology Clinics.

Anderson recommends turning down the volume to about 60 percent of the maximum level and making it even lower if you listen for longer than one hour.

The National Hearing Conservation Association advises that if others can hear the music from your earpiece or must shout above the music to gain your attention, then the volume is at a dangerous level for your ears.

The risk of noise-induced hearing loss seems to be driving some companies to find solutions. Devices, such as the Kid’s Ear Saver, claim to reduce the sound output of listening devices, such as iPods and MP3 players, by more than 15 decibels. Other companies are responding by producing earpieces that aim to block out background noise, so the music can be heard better at lower volumes.

Overexposure to noise is to blame for nearly 40 percent of all hearing loss, according to the Better Hearing Institute. As a precaution, you should get your hearing checked regularly. Studies have shown that hearing loss can contribute to communication difficulties, psychological stress and loss of income. It can also cause unnecessary family problems.

If you suspect you have a hearing loss for any reason, Professional Hearing & Audiology Clinics is offering a free comprehensive hearing examination. Professional Hearing & Audiology Clinics can be contacted by calling (815) 964-3131. Their clinic is at 1415 E. State St., Suite A1, Rockford.

From the Sept. 7-13, 2011, issue

Northern Illinois Hospice and Grief Center will offer an autumn session of volunteer direct care training for 10 weeks from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursdays starting Sept. 1 at 4215 Newburg Road.

Direct care volunteers work closely with hospice patients and their families, offering companionship and support to them during the end-of-life process. Volunteer schedules are based on both the availability of the volunteer, and the needs of the patients and family.

The training will include such topics as hospice philosophy, listening and communication skills, patient and family needs, medical issues/terminal illness, legal/psychosocial aspects of dying, patient and family needs, loss and grief, the funeral home and spirituality, infection control, confidentiality and volunteer responsibilities.

There is a $25 material fee. No experience is necessary.

For more information about becoming a direct care or administrative/clerical volunteer, contact Northern Illinois Hospice and Grief Center at (815) 398-0500 or visit www.northernillinoishospice.org.

From the Aug. 31-Sept. 6, 2011, issue