|
In an effort to reach busy adults who may not have time to schedule their flu shot or COVID-19 booster, Jackson County Public Health (JCPH) is offering a free drive-through clinic on Friday, October 20th at Lake Jacomo.
The drive thru clinic will be open Friday, October 20th from 10am-3pm at Lake Jacomo Shelter #3 (7301 W Park Rd, Blue Springs, MO 64015). JCPH will have the updated Pfizer COVID-19 booster, as well as this year’s influenza vaccine available for everyone 6 months of age and older. Vaccines are free while supplies last. Preregister online today at www.jcph.org. Free at-home COVID-19 tests, hand sanitizer, and other give aways are planned. (StatePoint) Roughly 4.4 million Americans will reach the age of 65 in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. While age is just a number in some respects, this particular birthday marks the time when Americans become eligible for the federal Medicare health insurance program. And if you’ll be hitting this milestone soon, you’re in good company, as athlete, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Earvin “Magic” Johnson will be doing the same.
“I’ve been a rookie a few times in my life, but this time, I’m new to Medicare,” says Johnson. Medicare is the government health insurance program for Americans 65 and older, and those under 65 with certain disabilities, providing hospital coverage (Part A) and physician visits (Part B) to those who qualify. During this year’s Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), which takes place between Oct. 15-Dec. 7, 2023, rookies and pros alike can hone their health insurance selection game plan with a little coaching. That’s why Magic Johnson got these tips from Cigna Healthcare, which serves millions of Medicare customers nationwide: 1. Don’t delay. Medicare has a seven-month window around your 65th birthday called the Initial Enrollment Period. Enrolling outside this window could result in higher premiums on Medicare Part B for the rest of your life. However, if you’re still working, you may be able to keep your current plan, depending on the size of your company, and switch to Medicare without penalty when you retire. If you’re not working and you’ve already filed for Social Security, you’ll be automatically enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B when you turn 65. 2. Know what’s covered. Medicare Parts A and B are sometimes called Original Medicare and cover hospital and physician expenses. To cover things like dental, vision, hearing and pharmacy, you may opt for a Medicare Advantage plan (also known as Part C), which covers everything that Medicare does and provides additional benefits, including, in many cases, prescription drugs (also known as Part D). Assessing your budget, health needs, doctor preferences and lifestyle will be important in making the best choice for you. 3. Read the fine print. Before signing up for a particular plan, make sure that your favorite health care providers are in its network. While you may be able to go out of network for care, be prepared to pay more if you do. You’ll also want to factor in all the associated costs of a given plan, including monthly premiums, co-pays and deductibles, as well as the prices and rules around the prescription drugs you take. 4. Get help. Turn to resources and platforms that can help ensure you understand the plan you’re enrolling in. Call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) 24/7. TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048. Or, visit the Medicare Plan Finder website at Medicare.gov/plan-compare. For local assistance, refer to the State Health Insurance Assistance Program at www.shiptacenter.org. You can also contact individual Medicare plans, including Cigna at CignaMedicareInformation.com. 5. Use your benefits. For optimal health, make full use of your plan’s benefits. In particular, be sure to get the wellness checks and preventive screenings needed for your age and health status. If your plan offers extra perks, such as fitness or nutrition programs, take advantage of them. “If you find out that the plan you signed up for last year is not the right fit, lean into the experts about what works best for you and make changes during AEP to set yourself up for a winning year,” says Johnson. (StatePoint) Hospice is intended to provide comfort and support to patients at the end of their life so that they can experience their remaining time in the best ways possible. Experts say that unfortunately, misconceptions about hospice often lead people to make uninformed decisions at a critical, complex juncture in their lives.
“There is often an idea that hospice equates to giving up. But hospice is actually about taking control,” says Paul Mastrapa, president and chief executive officer of Interim HealthCare Inc. “It’s the job of the hospice team to understand what a patient’s goals for end-of-life care are, and help them live that last trajectory of their life the way they want to.” To help patients, their caregivers and family members, and those in the healthcare industry better understand the services and benefits hospice provides, Interim HealthCare is dispelling some of the most common misconceptions: Myth: Hospice means giving up. Fact: The primary goal of hospice is delivering comfort, support and specialized medical care to those ready to forgo curative treatment. Research has shown that a person who spends time on hospice has a greater quality of life at the end of their life. And while the goal is not to prolong life, there are statistics that show that hospice gives patients more time compared to patients who had the same disease trajectory and didn’t receive hospice. Myth: Hospice is only appropriate for the last few days of life. Fact: Hospice can actually last for months, and entering hospice sooner rather than later translates to fewer hospitalizations, better symptom relief and greater comfort. Myth: You must give up all your medications. Fact: While the hospice care team will make recommendations about which medications are still beneficial to a patient at their stage of illness, patients and families get the final say. Myth: Hospice is a place. Fact: Hospice can entail in-patient care, but more typically, services are delivered wherever a patient calls home. The nurse, social worker, spiritual care provider, aide and other members of the hospice care team meet the patient where they are, be that in a residential home, an assisted living community or in another institutional setting. Myth: Hospice is only for patients with specific diseases. Fact: Anyone with a life-limiting chronic disease, from congestive heart failure to pulmonary disease to Alzheimer’s, can choose hospice. Myth: Hospice ends when the patient dies. Fact: Hospice providers often offer support to those who have lost a loved one. In the case of Interim HealthCare, bereavement services are offered for 13 months. Myth: Hospice work is draining. Fact: When done right, hospice work can be extremely rewarding. Hospice care workers help patients and families find peace of mind, and reach a place of acceptance during a complicated and emotional time in their lives. Hospice workers believe in the mission of providing compassionate, patient-centric medical care and support to those at the end of their life, and they’re given a voice in the individualized care they provide. For more information about hospice care services for yourself or a family member, visit https://www.interimhealthcare.com/services/hospice/. “Although people don’t always feel comfortable talking about end-of-life care, having these conversations can ensure one’s final days are peaceful and fulfilling,” says Mastrapa. Cold and flu season is coming and, while you may be stocking your grocery cart with tissues and antibacterial wipes, it’s time to add a few more nutrient-dense options that can support your immune system! Your immune system – comprised of various proteins, cells and organs – protects your body from germs, harmful substances and cell changes that can make you ill. Your immune system fights bacteria and viruses and removes them from your body.
It also recognizes and consequently neutralizes harmful substances from the environment and fights disease-causing changes in your body – such as cancer cells. Consuming a diet rich in vitamins and minerals along with focusing on your hydration can help support your immune system. Check out my top five ways to support your immune system this fall and try adding a few of these ideas to your cart next time you shop at Hy-Vee! When you think of supporting your immune system, consuming more of this vitamin may come to mind first – vitamin C! While most people think of vitamin C in citrus fruit, it is present in a variety of foods. Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that our body needs to obtain through food, and it acts as an antioxidant helping protect our cells from damage that can lead to inflammation or illness. Try snacking on red bell pepper strips or serve cooked broccoli or Brussels sprouts for dinner tonight. The next nutrient to add to your diet is zinc. Zinc supports the growth and proper functioning of immune cells and also acts as an antioxidant, protecting our cells from damaging free radicals. Free radicals are formed when our bodies convert the food we eat into energy or can come from the environment such as exposure to UV rays or cigarette smoke. Serve lean beef at your next meal whether that be in tacos, chili, pasta sauce or burgers on the grill. Or enjoy a bowl of Hy-Vee Tasteeos (fortified with zinc) served with milk for your morning fuel! Vitamin B6 is primarily found in protein sources within our diets such as beef, salmon and chicken. Try adding a vegetarian protein source of chickpeas to your favorite salad or enjoy vitamin B6 in your side dish of baked winter squash at your next family meal. Vitamin B6 plays a key role in the production of white blood cells – specifically T cells, which play a crucial role in our immune response by helping our body fight off infection. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that also acts as an antioxidant and supports our immune system. Vitamin E supports our immune system by helping T cells perform at their peak level! You can add more vitamin E to your diet by snacking on dry roasted sunflower seeds, almonds or peanuts. Or enjoy dark leafy greens such as spinach in your salad or wilted into your pasta sauce for an extra dose of vitamin E while sneaking in those veggie servings! Last but not least: When it comes to supporting your immune system, consider your hydration status! Staying hydrated helps your body deliver critical nutrients to cells, keeps organs functioning properly, prevents constipation, helps you regulate body temperature, keeps joints lubricated and more! Dehydration can occur during illness – especially via excessive sweat, vomiting or diarrhea. It’s important to focus on your hydration in order to support your immune system function. Consider adding electrolytes into your routine with Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier Sugar-Free! With three times the electrolytes of the leading sports drink and essential vitamins such as vitamin B3, B5, B6, B12 and C that support the immune system and energy production – it’s time to add it to your shopping cart. Best of all, it contains no artificial sweeteners and comes in three great flavors. Pick up a box in your Hy-Vee HealthMarket today! Ready to learn more about how a Hy-Vee dietitian can help you? Follow your favorite Hy-Vee dietitians on Facebook and Instagram @HyVeeDietitians to learn more about our services as well as find upcoming classes and events. This information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice. It is back-to-school time and many of us have fallen back into busy schedules. As we are crunched for time it is more important than ever to have pantry staples on hand for quick and easy meals, snacks and ways to stay hydrated!
Packing your pantry full of supplies for quick family meals and nutrient-dense snacks can be key to staying on track with your meal plan this fall and bringing your family back to the dinner table for National Family Meals Month. Hy-Vee registered dietitians can help you pull those family meals, snacks and hydration solutions together with our top five fall pantry staples. Top 5 Dietitian-Approved Pantry Staples:
Last but not least, keep an inventory of what you have in your pantry and keep it updated to avoid stocking up on duplicates you won’t be able to get to before the expiration. This will make it much easier to throw together a quick and nutritious meal and save money by avoiding food waste! Check out the Chicken Sheet Tray Nachos recipe below for a fun way to use some of your pantry staples. To shorten the preparation time even more, you can substitute canned chicken for the chicken thighs. Chicken Sheet Tray Nachos All you need: 1 (5-oz) bag Siete Grain Free Sea Salt Tortilla Chips 2 lbs chicken thighs, bone-in 5 tbsp avocado oil 1 pkg Siete Mild Taco Seasoning Sea salt and pepper, to taste 3 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese (or dairy-free shredded “cheese” of choice) 4 cups prepared guacamole or mashed avocado Sour cream (optional) and lime wedges, for serving All you do:
Recipe source: sietefoods.com Recipe link: https://sietefoods.com/blogs/recipes/chicken-sheet-tray-nachos For even more easy meal ideas, register for an upcoming On-Demand Freezer Meal Workshop. If you are looking for more individualized and consistent guidance, reach out to a local Hy-Vee registered dietitian to get started with our Healthy You Subscription Service. The information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice. (StatePoint) Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Each year, tens of thousands of Americans die by suicide and millions more have serious thoughts about suicide.
September, which is Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month, is meant to shine a light on this growing public health problem, and give people the tools they need to support those who are struggling or in crisis. Here’s how to get involved: • Regularly reach out to family, friends and members of your community. Talking about mental health issues may help them feel more comfortable getting needed help. • Join a local American Foundation for Suicide Prevention chapter, or participate in awareness-raising events, such as a community or campus Out of the Darkness Walk. Events like these give individuals the courage to open up about their personal connection to the cause, and help those struggling feel less alone. • Spread the word about 988, a three-digit dialing code. When someone dials 988, they will be connected to the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. This confidential support line is available 24 hours a day to provide free help to people in suicidal crisis or mental health-related distress. Jackson County Public Works Environmental Health Division inspects all restaurants, grocery stores, schools, mobile food and temporary food establishments in the City of Grain Valley. The following violations were reported in the last 7 days:
El Maguey 102 Buckner Tarsney Road Observed rice, taco meat and fresh vegetables without proper date markings in the walk in cooler. Corrected on site. El Tequilazo Cocina Y Cantina LLC 522 S Main Observed moldy block cheese. Corrected on site. Observed unlabeled chemicals. Corrected on site. Sonic Drive-In 706 Main Observed hot dogs stored in container full of water and unknown particles floating. Corrected on site. Observed containers of shredded lettuce stored in make table kept longer than 24 hours with no prep/discard dates. Corrected on site. Sushi Avenue 1191 NE McQuerry Road Sushi Chef was unable to provide demonstration and knowledge of Approved HACCP Plan. Unable to locate HACCP Plan when requested by inspector. Re-inspection required. Note: Chef did locate approved HACCP Plan. Unable to obtain parasite destruction letter. Corrected on site (letter was located). pH logs were not logged as required under HACCP Plan the last 3 days. Re-inspection required. Chef checked pH for current date in front of inspector. (StatePoint) With cold and flu season upon us, it’s time to protect yourself, not only from those seasonal threats, but also from other health risks.
“During the holidays, our lives get very busy with family and friends,” said Dr. J.B. Sobel, chief medical officer for Cigna Healthcare’s Medicare business. “Before then, please take time to ensure you get the preventive care you need to stay healthy.” Preventive care is critical for everybody, but particularly for older adults, and especially in fall when risks can increase, Sobel said. Recommendations vary based on age, gender and health status, but the following are some of the most common for seniors, according to Sobel. Vaccinations There are a number of vaccines older adults need to consider to protect themselves. Flu and pneumonia, for example, are among some of the most common causes of senior deaths. There is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to vaccination. Timing and frequency vary, depending on your health history. Ask your health care provider which vaccines are appropriate for you. • Flu. This vaccine is administered annually, generally before the end of October, and is designed to match the latest circulating flu strains. • Pneumonia. Administration varies based on health history. If you’re 65 or older and you’ve never had the vaccine before, then you’ll likely need two shots, which are administered a year apart. • Shingles. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends two doses of the shingles vaccine for healthy adults aged 50 and older, spaced two to six months apart, to prevent shingles and related complications. • COVID-19. Ask your doctors about current recommendations for prevention of COVID-19 infections. • RSV. Earlier this year, the Federal Drug Administration approved two separate vaccines to address respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in older adults. RSV, a common respiratory infection, usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms, but can be more severe in older adults and children. Talk to your doctor about whether you should get an RSV vaccine. Health Screenings The following health screenings are commonly recommended for older adults. • Mammogram. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women in the United States, according to the CDC. Every woman is at risk, and risk increases with age. Fortunately, breast cancer can often be treated successfully when found early. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends women 50 to 74-years-old at average risk get a mammogram every two years. • Colorectal screening. Colorectal cancer risk increases with age. Screenings can find precancerous polyps early, so they can be removed before they turn into cancer. The USPSTF recommends colorectal cancer screening for adults age 45 to 75. Though colonoscopy is the most comprehensive test, there are other options you may consider with the help of your provider. • Bone density scan. USPSTF recommends women aged 65 and older, and women 60 and older at increased risk, be routinely screened for osteoporosis, a disease in which bones become weak and brittle. Screening may facilitate treatment that helps prevent fractures. • Eye exam. Routine eye exams can identify early signs of eye disease that are more likely as people age. People with diabetes in particular are prone to retinopathy, which leads to vision loss. It’s recommended that people with diabetes have annual retinal screenings. • Mental health checkup. Many people experience seasonal depression during fall. Mental health is strongly linked to physical health. Talk to your health care provider about both, including your personal and family history. They can connect you with additional mental health resources. To prevent unpleasant surprises, Sobel suggests talking with your health care provider, pharmacist or insurer about preventive care costs. Fortunately, costs are often covered fully by Medicare or Medicare Advantage, he said. The information contained in this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen. Summer is starting to wind down and so are our gardens, but there is some great produce that is still in abundance. Produce that is in season is picked at the peak of ripeness, meaning it often tastes better and its nutrient content is at its highest. Consuming adequate amounts of produce can also help your body get more of the essential nutrients that it needs to stay healthy.
One of the best ways to make sure you are getting a good mix of important nutrients is to eat a variety of fruits, vegetables and herbs of all different colors. Hy-Vee dietitians are here to help you do that this late summer season by sharing their top three favorite end-of-summer produce picks. Top 3 dietitian favorite end-of-summer produce:
Eating fruits and vegetables daily is an important part of a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Eating in season can not only give you an extra nutrient boost but can also put a little savings back in your pocket, as produce that is in season often costs less. For more ideas on how you can use different produce items, check out our virtual Freezer Meal Prep Workshops or sign up for the Healthy Habits menu program. For more personalized guidance and access to all our dietitian resources, consider signing up for a Healthy You Subscription. Grilled Peaches and Chicken All you need: ½ cup peach preserves 2 tbsp Gustare Vita olive oil 2 tbsp fresh orange juice 2 tsp chopped fresh thyme, plus additional sprigs for garnish 1 tsp grated fresh ginger 5 medium peaches, pitted and halved 4 (4- to-5-oz each) boneless skinless chicken breasts Hy-Vee salt Hy-Vee ground black pepper ¼ cup crumbled goat cheese All you do:
Recipe source: Hy-vee.com A quarter of Missouri nursing homes haven’t had health inspection in yearsby Clara Bates, Missouri Independent One in four Missouri nursing homes hasn’t had a standard inspection in two or more years, according to recently-updated federal data. Federal law requires states conduct an unannounced comprehensive inspection for each long-term care facility at least every 15 months to assess compliance with federal health and safety rules. During those visits, inspectors generally spend several days at each facility reporting on factors including medication management, resident rights and quality of life. State rules require annual inspections. Of the 510 nursing homes in Missouri, 126 have not been inspected in at least two years, according to data published by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid in July. The nonprofit investigative newsroom ProPublica’s Nursing Home Inspect database combines several CMS data sources to make them more easily searchable across reports. Need to get in touch?Have a news tip?According to ProPublica’s database, Missouri has among the largest inspection backlogs in the country. The worst backlog is in Kentucky, where 74% of nursing homes are awaiting inspection more than two years. The inspections are run by state agencies but overseen with federal standards. The state is “really behind,” said Marjorie Moore, executive director of VOYCE St. Louis, an advocacy group for long-term care residents. Moore said that makes it harder for people to access accurate information about facility quality, and potentially raises the risk the state is overlooking issues. “When the surveys haven’t been updated in two or three years, there’s a lot of times facilities have changed hands at that point [and] there’s been significant changes in facility quality since COVID,” Moore said. “And then on top of that, they’re not catching some of the important stuff that they would typically catch,” she later continued.
More complaints put inspections on backburner
Nursing home inspections were put on hold during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, creating an initial backlog that was compounded by national staffing shortages and increased demand for inspectors to survey for COVID infection control in facilities. In May, a U.S. Senate committee published a report on the issue called “Uninspected and Neglected” and held a hearing about the “strained nursing home inspection system.” At the congressional committee hearing, Shelly Williamson, who serves as Missouri’s administrator for the section for long term care regulation for the Department of Health and Senior Services, testified about the state’s challenges. COVID meant that “many of our normal survey activities were paused, creating a backlog that is contributing to the difficulties today,” Williamson said. “Infection control surveys were often in nursing homes that were experiencing widespread COVID-19 outbreaks, adding to surveyor stress, illness and burnout.” Now, though — years from the initial pause in inspections and the COVID surges in long term care facilities — a major cause of the delayed inspections is that there has been a significant increase in complaints, Lisa Cox, spokesperson for the Department of Health and Senior Services, said in an email to The Independent. The number and severity of complaints has risen, Cox said, stretching inspectors thin. Those inspectors are required not only to perform annual reviews of facilities but also to investigate specific complaints. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST.
DONATE
The number of complaints against long-term care facilities increased around 36% over the last four years, Cox said. The largest increase was in severe complaints, Cox said, which are defined as complaints that could result in “immediate jeopardy” for residents and require action within 24 hours. Those increased by 125% in those three years, Cox said Complaints categorized as “non-immediate jeopardy high complaints,” which allege actual harm and must be investigated within 10 working days increased by 25%, Cox said. “With this increase in the number of complaints, the section is not able to investigate all within the required timeframes,” Cox said. The state is currently meeting the timeframe for the most-severe complaints, Cox said, and meets the next-most severe “between 65%-70%” of the time. “Because of the increase in the number and severity of complaints, the regulatory functions of [section for long term care regulation] have become reactionary to complaints,” Cox said, “rather than proactive in identifying concerns at nursing homes before complaints occur.” Complaints have risen as staffing numbers within nursing homes declined over the course of the pandemic, Moore said. Pay and benefits for long-term care staff are generally low, she said, and they’re “some of the hardest jobs in health care” — requiring care “a lot of people aren’t willing to do.” She also said she has also observed large corporations increasingly buying facilities and cutting staff to increase profit. In March, Missouri senior care workers rallied at the Missouri Capitol to make the case for improved conditions, KOMU reported. In their letter to the governor, they wrote that “inspectors aren’t out there to find and correct problems, so the whole system is just cycling downward.”
Nurses in high demand
Workforce challenges have exacerbated delays with inspections, Cox said. Annual inspections require at least one registered nurse, she said, and many complaints require a nurse, too, depending on the allegations. The agency has needed to cancel annual inspections because of a lack of available qualified nurses, Cox said. When recertification inspections do happen, Cox said, they often take more time because there has been a trend of increasing number and severity of issues found. Citations for issues are called deficiencies in nursing home inspections. The average number of deficiencies at recertification surveys increased from 6.5 in fiscal year 2019 to 9.7 in fiscal 2023, Cox said. The severity worsened, too: The number of “actual harm and immediate jeopardy deficiencies” increased by 70% over the same time. Those severe deficiencies need to be investigated, taking more resources — for instance, the inspectors may need to interview more residents to ensure the review is comprehensive, and the investigation may broaden in scope to determine the extent of the deficiency. The ProPublica database allows users to search deficiencies in specific nursing homes or geographically. If a home has not had a standard inspection in more than two years, it will have an “inspections delayed” flag at the top of its page.
Vetoed ombudsmen funding
Every state has long-term care ombudsmen, who are staff and volunteers tasked with advocating for long-term care residents. The program has been in place federally since the 1970s. It’s an arm of oversight separate from state-funded inspectors, but they often work “in tandem,” said Moore, whose organization operates the ombudsmen program for St. Louis and Northeast Missouri regions. Sometimes, they may resolve issues before they rise to the level of making a formal complaint to the state and needing a visit, she said. “A lot of times the ombudsmen are there to help the facility and the resident come to solutions before the state needs to step in,” Moore said. Other times, the ombudsmen help report issues to the state. Moore said the ombudsmen often serve as liaisons between nursing home residents and the facilities, looking into complaints such as residents not getting their food on time or not getting enough assistance to go to the bathroom — many issues surround short-staffing, she said. The ombudsmen have been meeting their goals for visiting each facility at least three times each year, Moore said, but could increase their visits and resources to assist with increasing complaints if they had more staff. The legislature approved $2.35 million in the budget to go to the long-term care ombudsmen program in the state, which Moore said would’ve enabled the regional program she oversees to hire more than 20 new ombudsmen to help advocate for nursing home residents. She said it received no public opposition during the last legislative session. But Gov. Mike Parson vetoed $2.2 million of that funding, noting a general need to ensure a balanced budget and the “financial stability of Missouri,” and pointing to another funding source to meet those needs. Moore said due in part to the constraints of the other fund Parson suggested, it is unlikely they receive support from it. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST.
DONATE
Missouri Independent is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Missouri Independent maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jason Hancock for questions: info@missouriindependent.com. Follow Missouri Independent on Facebook and Twitter. |
Categories
All
Archives
May 2024
|
Grain Valley NewsGrain Valley News is a free community news source published weekly online. |
Contact Us |