Are you one of the 65 million family caregivers in the United States? A recent study released by Elissa S. Epel, Dept of Psychiatry at the University of California reports that this often stressful situation can take up to 10 years off a caretaker’s life. Let me tell you about Jack, age 72. Jack and… Read more »
Through the Generations
Childhood obesity is reaching epidemic proportions and the statistics are alarming. It can lead to many serious health issues, including high cholesterol, high blood pressure and pre-diabetes. Of greatest concern is that research shows one of every three children in the United States is now considered overweight. Health care professionals are working diligently to educate… Read more »
If sugar is your vice, this time of year is sure to gratify your sweet tooth. October kicks off the season with three little words (“trick or treat”) delivering delightful gobs of goodies. November perpetuates the trend with pumpkin pie and candied yams. And all of this leads up to the grand celebratory month of… Read more »
We know the value of common exercise like walking, running, swimming, tennis, golf, soccer, etc. But these simple activities are often out of reach for those living with Parkinson’s. However, there are other exercises, not as strenuous, which can be valuable tools to improve a Parkinson’s patient’s activities of daily living (or ADLs). With Parkinson’s,… Read more »
Our “Lessons in Longevity” column discovers and shares the secrets we seek from our elders on how to live a long and happy life. For this issue, I stopped by Palm Desert’s Joslyn Center. The Joslyn Center is always active and the energy positive and bright. There I met 91-year old Benedict who just finished… Read more »
About 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) each year. Currently, an estimated 7 to 10 million people are living with PD worldwide. This devastating disease impacts many, negatively affecting quality of life for the patient, as well as the family. There is no cure for PD. Symptoms are standardly treated with medication to… Read more »
Music is an integral part of our human experience. Our brains have processed and learned from the natural musical tones and rhythms around us—nature’s music—for as long as man has walked on this earth. Believing that music is life-giving and that humans are hard-wired to benefit from it, SongShine, a music-based speech and voice therapy… Read more »
I love spending time with our elders. I always walk away with a smile on my face and a new appreciation. Recently, I sat down with some new friends at Mission Hills Senior Living to chat about “Lessons in Longevity.” Here some of the words of wisdom–and laughter–from my delightful meeting with Mitzi (98), Rose… Read more »
There are more than 120 arthritic conditions, so it is no wonder that most of us will experience symptoms at some point in our life. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 1 in 2 people may develop symptomatic knee osteoarthritis, and 1 in 4 may develop painful hip arthritis. An estimated… Read more »
I stopped in for lunch the other day at Souplantation in La Quinta. As I browsed and collected from the ‘55 feet of farm fresh fare,’ I overheard a Mom behind me ask her little girl if she wanted broccoli and then cucumber and then spinach. The answer to each was an enthusiastic “yes.” I… Read more »
Parents and coaches come to me frequently asking, “What is the appropriate age for kids to start lifting weights?” I always answer–when they are mentally, emotionally and physically mature enough, that is when they should start. I’ve had boys and girls as young as 11 years old start to lift weights, and on the other… Read more »
School is out for the summer and children are eager to expend their energy. While there may be many summer programs available in the desert, they may not suit your schedule or may exceed your budget. As a mother of two energetic and gregarious girls, I’ve created an exciting reading program with incentives to keep… Read more »
On May 22nd on the campus of Dr. Carreon Academy, the scenario was a toxic chemical spill. On May 23rd, students and teachers survived a campus bomb threat. These two mock scenarios were the basis of JFK Memorial Hospital’s Pediatric Disaster Drill as part of a Career Explorations Program. Co-sponsored by the hospital, the Dr.… Read more »
My mother recently passed away at the age of 87. She started putting her affairs in order when she was 63. She was a wonderful woman for many reasons, and since her passing I’ve become aware of how fortunate we were to be able to “be present with her” during the end of her life.… Read more »
Humans have forever sought eternal youth. The desire to turn back the clock and slow the aging process is the dream of many and an obsession for some. Thanks to research conducted since a 1984 Nobel Prize winning discovery, a growing community of scientists now believe that this dream may be within our reach. “Living… Read more »
It is unlikely that you will ever see a young child bend over to pick up a toy and freeze in pain saying, “Oh no, my back just went out again.” Generally, conditions that will cause such a pain do not appear in children, but it may have started there. Chiropractic care can play an… Read more »
“You have cancer.” Those are three words nobody wants to hear. They can change a person’s life in an instant, and make us feel fearful and anxious, alone in this world, and out of control. What most patients need is not only the very best and most advanced medical care, but also solid emotional and… Read more »
Students thrive with mentors and a clear economic path to a career. This summer, numerous local health care industry partners are stepping up to provide both mentorship and paid internships (JOBS) for twenty local undergraduate health science majors. Health Career Connection (HCC) was founded in 1990 by a group of health care executives who were… Read more »
Wayne Newton’s hit song Daddy Don’t You Walk So Fast was about a boy trying to keep up with a father too busy to pay attention to the young child scurrying to keep up with him. The other end of the spectrum is a caregiver walking ahead of their charge, be it a parent, spouse… Read more »
ElderCaring of Coachella Valley established an annual scholarship program to reward its top caregivers with funds to advance their education in the health and medical field. The scholarship’s first recipients are Monica Carranza of Coachella and Mari Serrano of Thermal. Both caregivers have excelled in client services and have been honored with awards of recognition… Read more »